Why the Republicans Need Jindal in 2012
The Republicans need a candidate like Bobby Jindal to run for President in 2012. I’ll explain why with a few points below. But first, what happened in 2008? Where did Republicans go wrong?
Republicans Are Losers…For Now
Let’s face it. Republicans are hurting after the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election. Obama is now headed for the White House and McCain, sadly, was sent home packing. In addition to the U.S. Executive branch becoming Democratic, the Legislative branch is now more Democratic as a result of many key losses in the Senate and House of Representatives. (View this video of Bobby Jindal discussing what went wrong with the Republicans in 2008)
Why Republicans Need Bobby Jindal in 2012
For the Republican party to regain its ground and re-establish themselves in a country that is still right-of-center, they need a solid candidate in 2012. Here’s why Bobby Jindal is that candidate:
- Republicans Need a Young Candidate
Jindal will be 41 years old by the time the 2012 U.S. Presidential Election takes place. That’s young. Some say too young. Still, he’d be close to the ages of Roosevelt (42) and Kennedy (43) when they took office. If anything, the 2008 election proved that experience doesn’t matter. Obama is one of the most inexperienced presidential candidates to ever take the office. My point is, he was elected. Partly, I think, because McCain was so old. The Republicans can’t afford to put another old candidate out there against Obama in 2012. It has to be someone young, like Jindal.
- Republicans Need a Solid Christian Candidate
Until Governor Sarah Palin was brought in as McCain’s choice for Vice President in the 2008 election, the Christian Conservative base of the Republican party wasn’t interested in the race. Sure, most were going to go out and vote for McCain anyway, based on his Pro-Life stance alone. But other than that there wasn’t much excitement until Palin.
With Jindal, that base will be excited from day one. Jindal is an outspoken Catholic and has been known to give his “testimony” in front of Prodestant churches. This will be well received by the base and will bring back some of the Christians lost to the Democrats in the 2008 Election. I know this may be a controversal point for some of you non-believers but I truly think faith still matters in this Country.
- Republicans Need a Minority Candidate
I for one think the Republican party would have supported a strong minority candidate a long time ago. If Powel would have run in 2000, I think he would have been our President. For some reason he didn’t want to. With that said, I think it’s time they step up and actually support a minority candidate. Bobby Jindal is an Indian-American, and would fit that roll nicely. Believe me, if he can get elected as Governor in Louisiana (as racist as parts of that State used to be), he can get elected as U.S. President.
In my opinion, the Republicans can’t afford to put the “same ole white guy” out there. They need a minority to go up against Obama in 2012 to show to the world that they are a minority-accepting party, even if they truly already are.
- Republicans Need a Smart, Strong Speaker
As much as it hurts to say it…the U.S. Presidential Election has become a popularity contest. McCain just didn’t have the presence and speaking ability of Obama. Regardless of what he said in the debates, McCain was doomed. The vast majority of voters in the U.S. focus way too much on appearance. Still, being quick and well-spoken is a good quality to have in a president. It just shouldn’t be as important of a quality as it’s become. Don’t believe me? View this video of Obama supporters giving their support for McCain policies. Style over substance, my friends.
Bottom line: Bobby Jindal can speak! Have you seen him. He comes across smart and smooth…just like Obama. Not to mention he’s got the other quality that the Republicans want: his support of key conservative issues.
Have any other reasons the Republicans need Jindal? Leave your comments below.
November 15th, 2008 at 11:31 am
I agree with your points, for the most part, and wanted to touch on them briefly.
The Youth Factor – I would say that the American perspective of the President has grown to appreciate a younger face in the office. When you consider that the President is the face of our Republic, it makes sense that we would like to see someone in there who not only has the policies we stand for, but also has the look and appearance of youth, vigor, and health, qualities we would expect to see in a leader who will steer us through tough times.
Christian Factor – While Palin excited the GOP base, many of those voters would have ultimatly voted for McCain anyway. I believe the GOP base clearly wants a Christian candidate, but the Presidency can only be won with the support of the center, and many in the center don’t want religion in their face. In this way, I think it’s good that Jindal is a Catholic, because quite frankly Catholics do a lot less prostheletizing than many “born again=” Christians. I think Jindal would be wise to let everyone know he is a Christian, but not make a huge deal about it because many in the center and many democrats don’t want someone in the White House trumpeting their religion all the time.
Minority Factor – What better sign that the GOP is moving forward? They shouldn’t elect Jindal BECAUSE he is a minority, but the fact that he is a minority is incredibly convenient and valuable, especially on the heels of the Democratic victory with an African American candidate.
Speaking Factor – Obama clearly mastered this attribute but it shouldn’t be confused with style over substance. A huge part of leadership is inspiring people to get up and do something, or to create a movement. This is nearly impossible if you can’t speak. While GWB is notorious for his lack of speaking skills, he was actually a quite skilled orator when he had a prepared speech in front of him (believe me, I saw him in person in 2004 in Ohio). This factor really points to something else I’ve talked about in my blog: “THE UNIVERSAL AXIOM OF PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS,” which states that voters will ultimately choose a candidate that is likeable or familiar, with likeability trumping familiarity. Look back on just about every election over the last five decades or so and you will see this axiom proving true over and over again. Jindal is many things, but thing for sure is that he is likeable, that combined with fresh ideas will make him very compelling in 2012.
November 16th, 2008 at 6:04 am
Thanks for taking the time to comment, Paul, and for expounding on my points.
December 5th, 2008 at 12:04 am
Wow this is sad. I think you guys should rememebr that Obama won not because of his race-but because he was the most intelligent candidate running. He had a vision that Americans related to, which is why he won red states like Virginia and North Carolina, and almost even Montana. This blog shows me just how detached conservatives rally are from mainstream America. The issue isn’t balanced budgets when people are losing their homes and jobs. Republicans preach economics when the people they are talking to have no cash!
America has rejected ultra conservatism, and no matter what color it is packaged in, it will set you guys up for another big loss in 2012. Haven’t you learned anything from the Palin Disaster? Exploitation won’t get you back in the White House.
I admire your positive thinking however. As a Dem, I felt the same way when Bush won in 2004. But the writing is on the wall, and Dems are here to stay. And lest you forget, Hillary is waiting in the wings in 2016, and there is no way Jindal would beat Hillary.
December 5th, 2008 at 6:15 am
Alex Chambers I must say that Obama didn’t win because of intelligence how ever it didn’t hurt. He won because John McCain was not a very exciting candidate, the media was in the tank, and his campaign, surrogates, and constituents played the race card relentlessly. There was no issue or assocation that wasn’t viewed as racist by his fan club in the media and entertainment industries. Whoopie even took it to the extent of asking Senator McCain if she has to worry about slavery completely ignoring that Abraham Lincon was a republican and democrats was the party of slavery and discrimination in the south. I am glad to see you are putting a happy face on the overwhelming support Mr. Obama received from MSNBC, Hollywood, ABC, CBS, CNN, Washington Post, NYTimes, US weekly, Huffington Post, Daily KOS, Newsweek, Time Warner, among several others. The election was decided by the media and the entertainment industries. You sir, are a jackass.
January 31st, 2009 at 4:13 am
First, I’m going to agree with David- During this past election if you let it be known that you didn’t support Obama, for whatever reason (in my case ideological and practical), you were accused of being a racist. This race card is a bit tired and only a ridiculous version of reverse racism (the proposition that if there is a black or minority candidate you have to vote for him).
Second, Bobby Jindal is the best prospect for the Republican Party in America today. No other potential candidate (that is yet on the radar) has to ability to bring the excitement, the vigor, or the win factor back to the party. I have been a Republican my entire life and this sudden change to a Democrat White House and Legislature (especially with the prospect of a super-majority in the Senate) makes me sad to be an American and instills within me a huge sense of dread. Only time can tell how bad things can get with the Democrats in control. Obama’s pledge to govern from the center and to attempt bipartisanship was ended with his statement “I won…” and his complete disregard of GOP concerns over the stimulus package.
Third, a lot of GOPers are expressing great interest in a Sarah Palin candidacy in 2012. Don’t get me wrong, I like the woman. I respect her accomplishments, her family values, and her adherence to the basic principles of the party. But she will never appeal to the moderates (who we MUST win) and definitely not any of the liberals. They just don’t like her, they don’t respect her educational background or presence. Republicans have always like leaders that we feel we can relate to- laid back, down to earth, and ordinary in some way. Liberals, on the other hand (despite their platform of supporting the little guy), have a thing for the elite. Ivy League educated, wealthy, polished, groomed individuals have always made up the backbone of the Democrat leadership (Kennedy, Clinton, and now Obama come to mind). Mr. Jindal, on the other hand, comes across as having characteristics we can all like. Conservatives see a moral, Christian, nice guy that worked his way to what he has. Liberals see an Ivy League-educated, polished, well-spoken and experienced politician. He’s the best of both worlds.
February 25th, 2009 at 4:01 am
David, I have to congradulate you on that major diss you just gave Alex. Alex, you my friend, just got served. As for the democrats having Hillary waiting in the wings, Hillary is more boring than Mccain. I love Mccain, but Hill-dog is corrupt, knows nothing about economics, and her being the first lady gave her no experience whatsoever. She is just as inexperienced as Obama was a few years ago.
Also, as a Catholic myself, I love the idea of another Catholic running for president. Faith is very important in this country, and our founding fathers said so. They said so and that’s that so taste the rainbow Democrats!!!
February 25th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
First, Bobby Jindal is an amazing and invigorating speaker. Obama is a great reader. To say Obama is a great speaker and put him in the same category as Reagan, Kenedy, or Lincoln is complete and utter ignorance. I know everyone has speeches written for them, but Obama had a teleprompter everywhere he went. Even at his town hall meeting. When you watch him at press conferences, he stutters and says “uhh” or “umm” after every word. Hes not as quick as you think.
He, himself, didnt win the election. Oprah, Charlie Gibson, Diane Sawyer, Katie Couric, Hollywood, Keith Olbermann, Brian Williams, and the cast of Saturday Night Live won the election. For every one positive story about Obama, there were at least 5 negative stories about McCain. There was a huge media bias. Just an example, but when the whole Joe the Plumber thing happened, the media blew it up into something totally different than what Joe was saying. He said that Obama was going to punish him for being successful at his job by raising his taxes because he would be making over 250k if he bought this new plumbing business. The Mod Squad came to Obama’s rescue and dug up all the dirt they could to discredit Joe. The fact is, Obama’s “tax on the wealthy” IS punishment for those who are apparently good at what they do. They would sure as hell have to be good at their job, or they wouldnt be getting paid the salaries they get.
What about Obama? Hes paid more than 250k, in fact as President, hes paid 400k a year. And he will continue to paid 400k a year every year until he is 82. So lets see, hes 46 now, so now multiply 36 by 400k, thats 14,400,000. Im just sayin…
The fact is, Obama thinks he can spend us into oblivion, and still cut the budget by half. You cant spend money you dont have and still cut your budget, AT ALL. Much less by half. But, if he cuts it by half, it will be the same at it was BEFORE he was “elected.”
Thomas Jefferson said “A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take it all away!” Sounds like Obama thinks so too.