A Republican Surprise In Louisiana (Bobby Jindal): the nation's first Indian-American governor?

Time ^ | 9-28-03 | MATTHEW COOPER AND PAIGE BOWERS

[GraniteStateConservative]

A close race could produce the nation's first Indian-American governor...

Is the U.S. about to get its first Governor of full-fledged Indian — and we don't mean Native American — ancestry? In Louisiana's race for Governor, Republican Bobby Jindal, 32, born and raised in Baton Rouge by parents who emigrated from India, is in a surprising dead heat for first place with Democratic Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Blanco. Jindal already has a whiz kid's resume: state health secretary, executive director of the national commission on Medicare, president of the University of Louisiana system and a top health-policy adviser to the Bush Administration — all before the age of 30. He has wooed Louisiana's relatively conservative voters with his advocacy of tax cuts for job creation and his opposition to gun control and abortion.

Jindal's popularity surprises even some old Bush Administration colleagues. "I wished the guy luck, but I never thought he'd go anywhere," says one. If, as expected, he and Blanco finish in the top two spots in this Saturday's primary, they will square off in the November general election. Democrats seem to have an edge, but Jindal could win. If he does, he would be Louisiana's youngest Governor ever — and instantly a national figure in a party eager to show that it can reach out to minorities.

[Pubbie]

"In Louisiana's race for Governor, Republican Bobby Jindal, 32, born and raised in Baton Rouge by parents who emigrated from India"

Aren't Indians (The Kind From India) considered to be Caucasian; which therefore means he would not be a "Minority" Governor???

[Mudbug]

He'd be a minority, that's for sure - a professed conservative governor in LA.

[Pubbie]

Yes, Mike Foster is sort of a Conservative Democrat.

Jindal would be a great governor.

[Mudbug]

While I might debate you as to whether Mike Foster has a single conservative bone in his body, I did have the pleasure of meeting Bobby Jindal a few months ago, and I agree that he's the best option. He certainly has run smart campaign.

I have to admit being confused when I hear that Jindal is Foster's-protege. Wasn't Jindal one of the principled few who refused to participate in the meeting of the Cabal? And wasn't Foster a part of that Downing selection? Did I miss something?

[Pubbie]

I don't know enough about the intricacies of La politics to comment on the cabal.

[Bogey78O]

Indeed they did.

Right now New Orleans is essentially fractured. Reading over on DU you can see it. The loony left is rallying behind Leach because he's an absolute unabashed loony while Ieyoub is rather sane but he panders to the loonies by acting like one. While they have a sane democrat named Ewing, they're rejecting him because of his sanity.

So as to who will actualy grab the number 2 spot I have no clue. I think on election day Blanco is going to be suprised, however. Most of the voters she is counting on in New Orleans will probably go with Ewing, with the ringing endorsement he's been getting from more sensible popular elements in New Orleans, while the liberal black vote is almost guaranteed to Leach.

Jindal and Downer will probably pull down a good bit of Jefferson Parish despite Coulon yet again supporting a Democrat.

As always a Leach-Jindal runoff would be the best outcome. When it comes down the the bare facts it's impossible to take the idea of taxing businesses into Louisiana seriously as Leach suggests.

[JohnnyZ]

Wasn't Jindal one of the principled few who refused to participate in the meeting of the Cabal? And wasn't Foster a part of that Downing selection?

Naw, that was one of Foster's fishing buddies, some shipping tycoon from Shreveport or something, who put together the Cabal that selected Downer; not a bad idea to narrow down the field, but it just looks bad to have eleven people making the decision (would have been worse but they only narrowed the GOP field to 4, leaving plenty of choice). It's the kind of stuff that always goes on behind closed doors, re who is going to get establishment funding, but it's almost better if it remains private.

Foster has been supporting Jindal from the get-go, along with a lot of other folks of many different stripes. Some have been suspicious of Piyush "Bobby" Jindal because of it, but most of us look on it as the best thing Foster's ever done as governor.

[JohnnyZ]

Aren't Indians (The Kind From India) considered to be Caucasian

Nope, Asian, although they have their own subcontinent I guess, so you could even call them "Indian". (Get it? LOL geography humor . . .) They ain't white folk.

Actually, Chirinjeev Kathuria's ethnically Indian, too, I assume, although being a Sikh (religiously) kinda trumps the ethnic factor.

[Alouette]

Aren't Indians (The Kind From India) considered to be Caucasian

I think you mean Aryan.

[Mudbug]

Thanks for the background. Foster's been such a disappointment. I hope his support doesn't hurt Jindal too much.

[Sonny M]

Aren't Indians (The Kind From India) considered to be Caucasian; which therefore means he would not be a "Minority" Governor???

I'm indian, my parents came from india, we are not even considered a minority, and we are in no ways white. Recently we were hauled into court for a stupid personal injury case (We really need tort reform), my mother was cross examined, and among the complaints the so called injured made, was that, as indians, we do not understand the plight of minorites in america today and because of our racism (she equated whites and asians in general in the same category) we refuse to settle because we can't sympathize. Right now, our insurance company is seeking to settle.

[Pubbie]

"and we are in no ways white."

Yes, the US Media doesn't associate Asians with the other "Endangered" Minority groups.

[BillyBoy]

>> Actually, Chirinjeev Kathuria's ethnically Indian, too, I assume, although being a Sikh (religiously) kinda trumps the ethnic factor. <<

Jindal's win in LA could be a big boost to Kathuria's U.S. Senate campaign since he's also a conservative Indian candidate who's not supposed to be a factor in the race but has been heading up in the polls. Also Kathuria's Sikh religion requires them to practice self-defense and carry a weapon, so he has really impressed the pro second amendment crowd in by begin (literally!) religiously in favor of gun owners rights.

[votelife]

do you teach at public school? and you said good things about Condi? (sarcasm off)

[ExSoldier]

You know...I work with what I have and comments like that don't help. Do you know...do you have ANY idea of the fight I face in my INNER CITY classroom every day? They are full of half truths and distortions and outright lies they get from parents and pastors and "role models" like the (not so) Rev. Jesse.

Role models they respect are people like Condi Rice, who became a Republican because her father tried to register as a Democrat but the racist Dems who also ran the local factions of the KKK, wouldn't allow this. But the Republicans not only allowed such, they embraced him. The example rubbed off on the daughter who is quite arguably one of the most influential African Americans in the nation. She is very pro-life; very pro-2nd Amendment, anti-affirmative action and she is not a believer in the NWO. To my knowledge, she is not a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

In the last two weeks, at my high school, we have had at least one major gang related fight every day. By major, I define it as requiring a call to the EMT folks to repair the damage or transport to the hospital. We have had at least three major attacks on teachers by gang related elements. There have been two "gun" incidents. So why don't YOU just walk a few miles in my shoes before you start shooting from the lip? I do this job because I'm damn good at it (I have been elected social studies Teacher of the Year in the past) and if I don't teach both sides of the issues, then the liberal agenda will win...and I could not live with myself if I didn't do my bit to fight that evil agenda. Do you know how few conservative teachers (let alone knowlegable pro-gun) there are in the system? So do me a favor...I just got home from a long tough day in the educational trenches. So lay off, will ya?

[JohnnyZ]

The example rubbed off on the daughter who is quite arguably one of the most influential African Americans in the nation. She is very pro-life; very pro-2nd Amendment, anti-affirmative action and she is not a believer in the NWO.

Right . . . except that Condi's "pro-choice" and pro- (some) affirmative action.