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'Time for a doer': Bobby Jindal takes an outsider's chance with presidential run 'Time for a doer': Bobby Jindal takes an outsider's chance with presidential run
(about 2 hours later)
The Louisiana governor, Bobby Jindal, kicked off his presidential campaign by mounting fierce attacks on both the Washington establishment and Hillary Clinton in becoming the 13th Republican to announce a 2016 bid for the White House.The Louisiana governor, Bobby Jindal, kicked off his presidential campaign by mounting fierce attacks on both the Washington establishment and Hillary Clinton in becoming the 13th Republican to announce a 2016 bid for the White House.
“I am running for president without permission from headquarters in Washington DC,” he said on Wednesday during a rally attended by several hundred supporters at a convention centre in the New Orleans suburb of Kenner.“I am running for president without permission from headquarters in Washington DC,” he said on Wednesday during a rally attended by several hundred supporters at a convention centre in the New Orleans suburb of Kenner.
In a fiery speech Jindal said that as president he would have four objectives, all dear to the hearts of many social and fiscal conservatives. “I will secure our borders, I will replace Obamacare with a healthcare system that focuses on reducing costs and restoring freedom, I will grow the private sector economy by shrinking the size, scope and reach of the federal government and I will rebuild America’s defences and restore our standing on the world stage,” he said.In a fiery speech Jindal said that as president he would have four objectives, all dear to the hearts of many social and fiscal conservatives. “I will secure our borders, I will replace Obamacare with a healthcare system that focuses on reducing costs and restoring freedom, I will grow the private sector economy by shrinking the size, scope and reach of the federal government and I will rebuild America’s defences and restore our standing on the world stage,” he said.
Jindal touched on conventional themes to demonstrate how firmly in tune he is with highly conservative GOP voters on key issues. But the 44-year-old also depicted himself as an insurgent outsider ready to shake up Washington and shrink government bureaucracy, a stance taking him into territory already staked out by a rival in the contest, Ted Cruz, the Texas senator.Jindal touched on conventional themes to demonstrate how firmly in tune he is with highly conservative GOP voters on key issues. But the 44-year-old also depicted himself as an insurgent outsider ready to shake up Washington and shrink government bureaucracy, a stance taking him into territory already staked out by a rival in the contest, Ted Cruz, the Texas senator.
“We have a bunch of great talkers running for president. We’ve had enough of talkers. It is time for a doer. I’m not running for president to be somebody, I’m running for president to do something,” Jindal said. “We can rock the boat and we will rock the boat.”“We have a bunch of great talkers running for president. We’ve had enough of talkers. It is time for a doer. I’m not running for president to be somebody, I’m running for president to do something,” Jindal said. “We can rock the boat and we will rock the boat.”
He also repeatedly criticised Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner, accusing her of promoting divisive, socialist, big government policies that he said undermined the American dream. “Out here in the real world we call that the European nightmare,” he said. “You can’t grow the economy and the government at the same time, it is an either-or choice. Hillary Clinton wants to grow the government in Washington. We want to grow the real economy out here in America,” he said.He also repeatedly criticised Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner, accusing her of promoting divisive, socialist, big government policies that he said undermined the American dream. “Out here in the real world we call that the European nightmare,” he said. “You can’t grow the economy and the government at the same time, it is an either-or choice. Hillary Clinton wants to grow the government in Washington. We want to grow the real economy out here in America,” he said.
Jindal also took the unusual step of denigrating a fellow Republican contender, calling out Jeb Bush for supposedly not being conservative enough. “You’ve heard Jeb Bush say that we need to be willing to lose the primary in order to win the general election. We’re going to help him do that. Let me translate that political speak into plain English. What Jeb Bush is saying that we need to hide our conservative ideals. But the truth is, if we go down that road again we will lose again.”
Jindal’s rally began with a prayer led by Gene Mills, president of the Louisiana Family Forum, a conservative religious advocacy group that is against same-sex marriage and abortion. Jindal’s wife, Supriya, then took the stage and described him as “absolutely fearless” for his approach to reconstructing the state in the years following hurricane Katrina.Jindal’s rally began with a prayer led by Gene Mills, president of the Louisiana Family Forum, a conservative religious advocacy group that is against same-sex marriage and abortion. Jindal’s wife, Supriya, then took the stage and described him as “absolutely fearless” for his approach to reconstructing the state in the years following hurricane Katrina.
One of his favourite, oft-repeated lines attracted enthusiastic applause from the crowd, which seemed most energised when he spoke about religion: “America did not create religious liberty. Religious liberty created the United States of America,” Jindal said. “I’d be wary of a president who didn’t seek wisdom from the Almighty.”One of his favourite, oft-repeated lines attracted enthusiastic applause from the crowd, which seemed most energised when he spoke about religion: “America did not create religious liberty. Religious liberty created the United States of America,” Jindal said. “I’d be wary of a president who didn’t seek wisdom from the Almighty.”
Jindal started his speech with a reference to his parents, who immigrated to Baton Rouge from India in 1971, the year of his birth.Jindal started his speech with a reference to his parents, who immigrated to Baton Rouge from India in 1971, the year of his birth.
“To them America represented all that was good in the world, a place where you could get ahead if you worked hard and played by the rules … They found that America is indeed the land of the free and the home of the brave,” he said.“To them America represented all that was good in the world, a place where you could get ahead if you worked hard and played by the rules … They found that America is indeed the land of the free and the home of the brave,” he said.
Talking tough on immigration, “radical Islam” and border security, he said would-be immigrants “must be willing to embrace our values, learn English and roll up your sleeves and get to work”.Talking tough on immigration, “radical Islam” and border security, he said would-be immigrants “must be willing to embrace our values, learn English and roll up your sleeves and get to work”.
Jindal had confirmed his candidacy earlier in the day on Twitter and via a “hidden camera” video posted on Facebook, in which he gathers his family around a table in their backyard to tell his children that he is running for president. Jindal describes the decision as something that he and his wife have been thinking about and promises his children that “if they behave they can go back to Iowa”.Jindal had confirmed his candidacy earlier in the day on Twitter and via a “hidden camera” video posted on Facebook, in which he gathers his family around a table in their backyard to tell his children that he is running for president. Jindal describes the decision as something that he and his wife have been thinking about and promises his children that “if they behave they can go back to Iowa”.
A former Rhodes scholar who had long been considered a rising star in the GOP, Jindal’s fortunes have ebbed in recent years.A former Rhodes scholar who had long been considered a rising star in the GOP, Jindal’s fortunes have ebbed in recent years.
His approval ratings in his home state have hit an all-time low and fellow Republicans have railed against a gimmick in his most recent budget that served to disguise an increase in revenue as he sought to address a $1.6bn deficit without giving the impression that he was reneging on a pledge not to raise taxes. About 100 protesters gathered outside the venue on Wednesday, some holding signs making reference to the deficit.His approval ratings in his home state have hit an all-time low and fellow Republicans have railed against a gimmick in his most recent budget that served to disguise an increase in revenue as he sought to address a $1.6bn deficit without giving the impression that he was reneging on a pledge not to raise taxes. About 100 protesters gathered outside the venue on Wednesday, some holding signs making reference to the deficit.
The recent struggles mark a major fall for a Republican who was once considered the future of the GOP. A two-term congressman who was elected the first Indian American governor in US history in 2007, Jindal was tapped to give the Republican response to Barack Obama’s first address to Congress in 2009.The recent struggles mark a major fall for a Republican who was once considered the future of the GOP. A two-term congressman who was elected the first Indian American governor in US history in 2007, Jindal was tapped to give the Republican response to Barack Obama’s first address to Congress in 2009.
“During his terms in Congress and his first year as governor he was seen as a bit of a policy wonk,” said Brian Brox, a political scientist at Tulane University. “Someone who was very comfortable with public policies in a number of different areas, most notably education and healthcare. He seemed to have command of information very easily.”“During his terms in Congress and his first year as governor he was seen as a bit of a policy wonk,” said Brian Brox, a political scientist at Tulane University. “Someone who was very comfortable with public policies in a number of different areas, most notably education and healthcare. He seemed to have command of information very easily.”
However, his 2009 speech was widely panned, as Jindal was compared to the character Kenneth the Page from the television show 30 Rock. The Louisiana governor’s political fortunes have never fully recovered.However, his 2009 speech was widely panned, as Jindal was compared to the character Kenneth the Page from the television show 30 Rock. The Louisiana governor’s political fortunes have never fully recovered.
But that analogy isn’t the only obstacle that Jindal’s longshot bid for the White House faces. He has also drawn criticism for making a series of flip-flops on issues like the Common Core, to appeal to his party’s conservative base. Jindal went from being a staunch advocate of the program when it was adopted in Louisiana in 2010 to a vehement critic of the educational standards.But that analogy isn’t the only obstacle that Jindal’s longshot bid for the White House faces. He has also drawn criticism for making a series of flip-flops on issues like the Common Core, to appeal to his party’s conservative base. Jindal went from being a staunch advocate of the program when it was adopted in Louisiana in 2010 to a vehement critic of the educational standards.
Jindal, who converted to Catholicism as a young man, has also drawn national scrutiny for his social conservatism. While drawing closer to a White House bid he has sought in recent years to appeal to national conservatives by staking out common rightwing stances on hot-button issues such as same-sex marriage, immigration, healthcare, abortion, gun control, battling the federal government and religious liberty.Jindal, who converted to Catholicism as a young man, has also drawn national scrutiny for his social conservatism. While drawing closer to a White House bid he has sought in recent years to appeal to national conservatives by staking out common rightwing stances on hot-button issues such as same-sex marriage, immigration, healthcare, abortion, gun control, battling the federal government and religious liberty.
Jindal signed a bill to allow the teaching of creationism in Louisiana schools in 2008. Last week he told Fox News that Barack Obama’s call for the nation to address gun violence in the wake of the Charleston church massacre was a “completely shameful” attempt “to score cheap political points”.Jindal signed a bill to allow the teaching of creationism in Louisiana schools in 2008. Last week he told Fox News that Barack Obama’s call for the nation to address gun violence in the wake of the Charleston church massacre was a “completely shameful” attempt “to score cheap political points”.
His approach, Brox said, risked obscuring his personal story and his talents as a policy strategist. “He’s going to try to be all things to all comers but to me it strikes me as a hard trick to try and do that when there are better exemplars already in the candidate field for each of those paths.”His approach, Brox said, risked obscuring his personal story and his talents as a policy strategist. “He’s going to try to be all things to all comers but to me it strikes me as a hard trick to try and do that when there are better exemplars already in the candidate field for each of those paths.”
He enters the race as a rank outsider, with polls of primary voters putting him at or below 1% and in 15th place among confirmed and likely GOP candidates, with much work to be done for him to overhaul Donald Trump, let alone early frontrunners Jeb Bush, Scott Walker and Marco Rubio. Given his urgent need to improve these standings, his speech appeared calculated to chime with voters in Iowa and New Hampshire, early-voting states he is expected to visit this week. He enters the race as a rank outsider, with polls of primary voters putting him at or below 1% and in 15th place among confirmed and likely GOP candidates, with much work to be done for him to overhaul Donald Trump, let alone early frontrunners Bush, Scott Walker and Marco Rubio. Given his urgent need to improve these standings, his speech appeared calculated to chime with voters in Iowa and New Hampshire, early-voting states he is expected to visit this week.
Still, Brox said that Jindal might struggle to stand out from the crowded pack. “There are other southerners in the race. There are other social conservatives and evangelicals in the race. There are other governors in the race. And there are certainly people with a lot better war chests in the race,” he said.Still, Brox said that Jindal might struggle to stand out from the crowded pack. “There are other southerners in the race. There are other social conservatives and evangelicals in the race. There are other governors in the race. And there are certainly people with a lot better war chests in the race,” he said.
Regardless of the obstacles that he faces Jindal’s candidacy is historic. He is the first Indian American ever to run for the White House.Regardless of the obstacles that he faces Jindal’s candidacy is historic. He is the first Indian American ever to run for the White House.