Hours before President Obama is set to deliver a speech before a joint session of Congress, the Republican tasked with responding has already released excerpts of his address.
Gov. Bobby Jindal, who will be delivering the high-profile presidential rebuttal, will use the platform to criticize Democrats in Congress for proposing tax increases "down the line" as well as his own party for "rightly" losing the trust of the American public through the abandonment of its fiscal principles. He will also offer a dig at Obama, saying: "A few weeks ago, the President warned that our nation is facing a crisis that he said 'we may not be able to reverse.' Our troubles are real, to be sure. But don't let anyone tell you that we cannot recover -- or that America's best days are behind her."
The speech draws on Jindal's personal narrative -- the son of Indian immigrants who rose to become one of the nation's youngest governors -- while taking up the notion that bipartisanship, done right, is in the GOP's interest. "Republicans are ready to work with the new President to provide those solution," the speech reads. "We need more of that attitude from both Democrats and Republicans in our nation's capital. All of us want our economy to recover and our nation to prosper. So where we agree, Republicans must be the President's strongest partners. And where we disagree, Republicans have a responsibility to be candid and offer better ideas for a path forward."
The critique of Democrats for wanting to raise taxes is a curious one, considering the stimulus, passed with no House GOP support, constituted the largest tax cut in the history of the nation. On a broader level, however, Jindal seems poised make the argument -- a traditional one -- that the future is less government, not more. In this vein, he will argue that the stimulus sends the country in the wrong economic direction.
"The strength of America is not found in our government," Jindal will say. "It is found in the compassionate hearts and enterprising spirit of our citizens."
Here are the excerpts as released by the Republican National Committee.
"As I grew up, my mom and dad taught me the values that attracted them to this country - and they instilled in me an immigrant's wonder at the greatness of America. As a child, I remember going to the grocery store with my dad. Growing up in India, he had seen extreme poverty. And as we walked through the aisles, looking at the endless variety on the shelves, he would tell me: 'Bobby, Americans can do anything.' I still believe that to this day....
"Republicans are ready to work with the new President to provide those solutions. Here in my state of Louisiana, we don't care what party you belong to if you have good ideas to make life better for our people. We need more of that attitude from both Democrats and Republicans in our nation's capital. All of us want our economy to recover and our nation to prosper. So where we agree, Republicans must be the President's strongest partners. And where we disagree, Republicans have a responsibility to be candid and offer better ideas for a path forward.
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"The strength of America is not found in our government. It is found in the compassionate hearts and enterprising spirit of our citizens.
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"To solve our current problems, Washington must lead. But the way to lead is not to raise taxes and put more money and power in hands of Washington politicians. The way to lead is by empowering you - the American people. Because we believe that Americans can do anything.
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"Democratic leaders say their legislation will grow the economy. What it will do is grow the government, increase our taxes down the line, and saddle future generations with debt. Who among us would ask our children for a loan, so we could spend money we do not have, on things we do not need? That is precisely what the Democrats in Congress just did. It's irresponsible. And it's no way to strengthen our economy, create jobs, or build a prosperous future for our children.
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"In recent years, these distinctions in philosophy became less clear - because our party got away from its principles. You elected Republicans to champion limited government, fiscal discipline, and personal responsibility. Instead, Republicans went along with earmarks and big government spending in Washington. Republicans lost your trust - and rightly so.
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"A few weeks ago, the President warned that our nation is facing a crisis that he said 'we may not be able to reverse.' Our troubles are real, to be sure. But don't let anyone tell you that we cannot recover - or that America's best days are behind her."