The latest to join the far-right chorus of Republicans who want Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) to be John McCain’s running mate is Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who said yesterday that Jindal “would be far and away the best candidate.”
Gingrich, who appeared on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” heaped praise upon the former congressman, saying that he is a “spectacular” governor and predicted that Jindal would be a presidential candidate in the future. […]
Asked whether it could be a problem that the governor, who is 37, might be perceived as not ready to lead the country in case he would have to replace McCain, Gingrich said the case can be made that Jindal’s “experience in the executive branch and in the legislative branch is greater than” that of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.).
“It strikes me that it’s going to be very hard for Obama’s campaign to explain that Jindal, as a governor, who has served as an assistant secretary of Health and Human Services, has served as a congressional staffer, has served as a congressman, is not qualified but Sen. Obama is qualified,” Gingrich said.
For what it’s worth, I actually hope McCain does pick Jindal, so if the McCain campaign takes Gingrich’s advice, I’d be delighted. That said, some of what Gingrich said deserves a closer look.
First, the former House Speaker said Jindal is a “spectacular” governor. That seems like a bit of a stretch — Jindal’s been on the job for literally six months. It’s tough for anyone to qualify as a “spectacular” governor when they probably haven’t fully finished unpacking.
Second, I’m not sure how Gingrich sees similarities in Jindal’s and Obama’s political backgrounds. Jindal has held elected office for less than four years (three in the U.S. House, six months as governor). Gingrich counts Jindal’s works as a staffer on the Hill as part of his qualifications for national office. With all due respect to my many friends working as congressional staffers, I’m not sure Hill work prepares someone to be one heartbeat from the presidency.
But Jindal’s profile is nevertheless on the rise. He shared a few insights of his own yesterday, after Gingrich sang his praises.
For example, Jindal explained his support for teaching intelligent-design creationism in public school science classrooms.
“As a parent, when my kids go to schools, when they go to public schools, I want them to be presented with the best thinking. I want them to be able to make decisions for themselves. I want them to see the best data. I personally think that the life, human life and the world we live in wasn’t created accidentally. I do think that there’s a creator. I’m a Christian. I do think that God played a role in creating not only earth, but mankind. Now, the way that he did it, I’d certainly want my kids to be exposed to the very best science.
“I don’t want them to be — I don’t want any facts or theories or explanations to be withheld from them because of political correctness. The way we’re going to have smart, intelligent kids is exposing them to the very best science and let them not only decide, but also let them contribute to that body of knowledge.”
As reality goes, this is pretty out there. If a school limits science classes to science, it’s “political correctness”? Seriously? Educators should let students “decide” for themselves whether they embrace or reject the science curriculum? I wonder how that’ll work, exactly — “Susie, some people believe the earth orbits the sun. Some people don’t. We’ll devote class-time to both, and it’ll be your call.”
Jindal added, “Some want only to teach intelligent design, some only want to teach evolution. I think both views are wrong.” These are not the words of someone who deserves to be taken seriously.
It’s not quite as entertaining as Jindal’s thoughts on exorcisms, of course, but it does help paint a picture of the kind of conservative we’re talking about here.