A Fly in the Anointment: Bobby Jindal as the Republican Obama

It's official: Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has been anointed--37 months ahead of the Iowa Caucuses--the "Republican Obama." In a Washington Post article that cites Jindal as the next Great Brown Hope, tax-hating, Bush-loving conservative Grover Norquist explains why the Right is stoked to have the 37 year-old, first-generation Indian-American on their team:

"As Republicans, you have a real problem now with younger voters and immigrants. If you were going to central casting for a candidate to deal with all that, who do you have? Jindal. He is young, and he looks young...He's a great communicator. And his record is that he's sharp and quick with policy."

And it's true! Jindal is young, brown, the child of immigrants, and has a delicious way of speaking. And since we, too, are young, brown, and the children of immigrants, I guess that means we're voting for Jindal in 2012! Woohoooooooooooo!

But wait. Not so fast. The Washington Post also reported on Jindal's stance on social issues, which is decidedly not young:

• steadfast opposition to abortion without exceptions
• disapproval of embryonic stem cell research
• his and his wife Supriya's decision in 1997 to enter into a Louisiana covenant marriage that prohibits no-fault divorce in the state
• his decision in June to sign into law the Louisiana Science Education Act, a bill heartily supported by creationists that permits public school teachers to educate students about both the theory of "scientific design" and criticisms of Darwinian evolutionary concepts

And if Jindal wants to be the Republican Obama, he's going to need to capture the youth vote, and these days, young people simply aren't kickin' it old skool with social conservatism. Which means Bobby Jindal has about 37 months to get a brand new steez.

Comments

[jensax]

I have a problem with any person of color who votes republican. They're voting against their own interests. What's worse is that none of them would be invited to the homes of any of their white, republican 'friends.' They are so screwed...

[mamak]

Obama is unique. No one can come close to his level.

Jindal should try to get his own image. But with his ancient conservative religiously clouded political views....he should stay in Louisiana or the South. I have no tolerance for archaic creationist bullcrap.

[SpoxLogic]

Amazing!
I guess being "colored" is now cool. But, what will the racists do? We know the racists in the Dem party couldn't bring themselves to vote for Obama, now the GOP racists will be faced with the same dilemma.

In 2012, it could come down to Jindal vs Obama. It could make for some good entertainment just sitting and watching racists on both sides start convulsing and then explode.

[LewDan]

The idea of choosing a woman vice-presidential nominee to capture the female vote worked out so well for them what could go wrong using a young brown man to get the youth vote and people of color? Since all voters care about is what sex you are, what color and how old? Caring about those pesky "issues" is so "elitest."