Conflicted Libertarian

I am not a native of Louisiana or ever lived in the Pelican State. However, I have been a student of Louisiana politics ever since I read in high school the Pulitzer winning history of the Kingfish, Huey Long by T. Harry Williams. Although I cannot condone Long’s corruption and tactics, I do admire his ability to move people to action and his interest in reform necessary for the state: roads, schools, living conditions, etc. Louisiana has long been perceived as one of the most corrupt states in the Union. It seemed to be beyond the power of one man to change it in any meaningful way. I even root for the leading local team: The Saints.

However, in 2003, I heard about (through a column that I cannot find) to a candidate for governor of Louisiana who had an audacious plan to clean up politics in Louisiana and make the state a leader in a number of items including ethics reform. I felt that anyone with that sort of vision was worth looking into. Especially when he was a conservative Republican.

When I heard Jindal’s resume, I was again impressed. He is an intellectual who won a Rhodes Scholarship and, unlike a certain other Rhodes Scholar from a neighboring state, actually graduated from Oxford. At 32, Jindal had already been a state cabinet secretary (Health and Hospitals), the president of a leading university system (Louisiana State University) and a federal sub-cabinet official (Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Planning and Evaluation).

Jindal lost the election and I was disappointed until Katrina hit. I think that 2003 loss was a blessing in disguise. Jindal was elected twice to Congress and then came back to run for governor of Louisiana. This time he won in the first primary.

Jindal was able to push through the legislature in three sessions, ethics reform, reform of taxes unfriendly to business interests, and one time infrastructure projects that were needed and for which a budget surplus existed. Almost immediately, Jindal was instrumental in persuading Albemarle Paper Co. to move its office from Richmond, VA! (Ouch! He could have started somewhere else!)

I did hope Senator McCain would appoint Jindal to be his running mate. No one could have made fun of Jindal in the way they (unfairly) did Governor Palin. I further believe his extraordinary success story, an Indian-American son of immigrants, achieving the American Dream, could be a great role model for youth and a force to revive the Republican Party WITHOUT compromising traditional conservative positions.

Jindal is staunchly pro-life, against gay marriage, has an evangelical Christian testimony, and favored the balanced teaching of intelligent design in the schools. Jindal voted against funding embryonic stem cell research and also voted against the S-CHIP children’s insurance program. He is solidly pro-Second Amendment rights. I may be able to discuss some of these issues in later blogs.

The end of the Kingfish era in Louisiana seemed like a dream on the scale of Lithuania seceding from the Soviet Union. Jindal, however, seems to have started the effort to clean up bayou politics and make the state work. Even his foes agree he seems to know how to gets things done, as described by Deepa Fernandes in the Nation magazine article of July 21, 2008:

“Given Louisiana’s harsh economic landscape and its conservative tilt, many Democrats there seem willing to sacrifice an unattainable agenda for these immediate results.”

Here are specific examples from the Nation article:

“Nonetheless, his Democratic successor as health secretary, David Hood, has nothing but praise for Jindal, calling him “the best secretary of DHH that I have seen in thirty years in state government.” Hood says that Jindal was organized, able to generate excitement among staff and had long-term vision.”

“Political consultant Cheron Brylski, a fierce advocate for women’s rights, is just as laudatory of Jindal. “Even as a liberal,” she says, “I felt that Bobby Jindal was the person who offered the most hope for Louisiana at this time.” Despite years of “butting heads” with him, Brylski fully supports the new governor. When asked why she endorses a man who has voted to restrict and outlaw abortion at every chance available to him, Brylski responds, “He’s smart, and he has good connections in Washington.”"

Lithuania is now independent. Louisiana may be well on her way to ending the Kingfish era. I believe Governor Jindal has ended the Huey Long era in Louisiana. He can get results in Washington. Whether he runs in 2012 or later in life, he will be both a formidable candidate and, if elected, a wise President. Now about the Saints…

Tags: David Hood, Huey-Long, Kingfish, louisiana, LSU, McCain, New Orleans, Politics, republican, Rhodes Scholar, Saints