Bobby Jindal Thinks You're Stupid
In response to Mitt Romney's analysis of why he may have lost the election -- specifically, that the President was successful in promising to bestow financial gifts on various constituent groups -- the Governor of Louisiana has remarked on CBS (correction CNN) and on Fox News Sunday this morning that the Republican Party needs to stop talking down to voters and stop being ... wait for it ... the Stupid Party.
So, let me get this straight. It's not acceptable to call into question whether voters fully comprehended the consequences of their actions in their desire to hold onto or get more government handouts, further bankrupting the nation while ignoring the vast historical evidence about the failure of socialist policies and states that have brought rampant poverty, misery, and destitution to their people? But, for Governor Jindal, it is quite acceptable to call those who did comprehend that "stupid?" Gee, thanks for not talking down to us, Bobby.
Jindal went on to say that Republicans need to be more civil in the way they conduct their debate with the opposition. Hmm ... let's examine that, shall we? Was it Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan who were uncivil? Were their surrogates and supporters uncivil? Or was it Barack Obama, Joe Biden, the Obama campaign, their surrogates, and their supporters who accused the Republicans of being racist, homophobic, anti-women, murderers, and (in the case of Paul Ryan) gleefully pushing the elderly over a cliff in a wheelchair? Yes, by all means, let's be more civil.
Jindal further added that the Republican Party needs to be the pro-growth, pro-middle-class party and let the Democrats be the progressive, big government party. But what's missing from this equation? Would it be uncivil of Republicans to mention that an unrestrained and growing federal government has the unfortunate consequence of stifling, frustrating, and quashing the private sector and entrepreneurs? That espousing support for entrepreneurs and small business doesn't necessarily result in smaller government unless one is insistent that big government needs to severely downsized and confined only to its constitutionally-allowed mandates? Dare we mention that? Or would that be too condescending? Wouldn't want to be all uncivil. Of course, I'm not very smart ... but with the Governor's help I know I can work on that.
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Comments:
Apr '12
Re: Bobby Jindal Thinks You're Stupid
I am loathe to criticize the original Redneck Desi, but Jindal is an opportunist. The weakness of the Republican party is poor fighting technique and not poor principles. Take illegal immigration...is "self-deportation" racist. No. The follow-up question is never asked...who do we want entering this country, skilled workers or professionals or unskilled workers. Who was negative in this campaign, who were the demagogues, who were the liars, and who is pitching solutions to our fiscal train-wreck with no chance of success. Our party and conservatives need to market better, need to be more hip, and we need to be younger.
Nov '11
Re: Bobby Jindal Thinks You're Stupid
The Republican Party is going through a post election bout of self examination. Jindal's comments are part of that. We've had plenty of posts right here on Ricochet doing the exact same thing.
For what its worth, Democrats say the same thing about the Democratic Party.
Dec '10
Re: Bobby Jindal Thinks You're Stupid
Oh, I don't mind being called stupid. It's in the air I breathe, in the very social/cultural milieu I'm swimming in. When I was still a lefty, I sat next to a Gary Hart campaign worker on a flight out of Denver. He had met Reagan along the way and explained to me that, while everyone acknowledged Ronald Reagan was a very nice guy, he was a few cards short of a full deck. Fine. Let 'em think we're stupid.
What burns my butt is the "uncivil" calumny. This is like running the ball against your own goal from Jindal. The left has been wildly successful at portraying conservatives as dishonest and uncaring, when really, the Democrats are the party of ends justify the means. It's all projection. If we continue to let them scapegoat us for their vices and failures, we'll never win again. Period.
Please forgive my momentary lapse, but isn't there one danged Republican who can persuasively make the moral case for conservatism??! Really? How pathetic is that?!
Jun '12
Re: Bobby Jindal Thinks You're Stupid
We have met our governor. He is a genuinely good guy. In fact, he is not that great face to face. He gives great speeches but when you speak with him in person, he is not the typical slick politician with all the "right" answers. He is more like the guy next door passionate with what he does. He stands very strongly for what he believes in and has been very bold with all of his reforms in Louisiana, from balancing the budget to educational reforms. He has been heavily criticized over the years yet he has won 6 out of 7 elections. I don't like what he said about Romney, but I don't think he said out of malice, I think he is just as frustrated as all of us.
Edited on November 19, 2012 at 2:04amDec '10
Re: Bobby Jindal Thinks You're Stupid
Western Chauvinist: ...
Please forgive my momentary lapse, but isn't there one danged Republican who can persuasively make the moral case for conservatism??! Really? How pathetic is that?! · 13 minutes ago
I can snap name three ... Sarah Palin, Herman Cain, Allen West
Edited on November 19, 2012 at 2:02amDec '10
Re: Bobby Jindal Thinks You're Stupid
it's instructive that Palin, Cain and West are all major Tea Party advocates and players ...
May '11
Re: Bobby Jindal Thinks You're Stupid
Bobby Jindal is half right. We aren't a stupid party, but we've allowed the media and the left to create that perception of us without an effective response.
We haven't bothered to make the argument, to write our own narrative.
Jun '12
Re: Bobby Jindal Thinks You're Stupid
But they haven't been winning elections. :(
Dec '10
Re: Bobby Jindal Thinks You're Stupid
Joan Greathouse
But they haven't been winning elections. :( · in 1 minute
Joan, I hear ya ... but, remember that Reagan lost in 1976 and then, in 1980, dramatically changed the course of American history ...
Sep '10
Re: Bobby Jindal Thinks You're Stupid
The GOP the "stupid party;" a "conservative" party that decides to have 15 or so primary debates and gets liberal journalists to moderate them has to raise its IQ 50 or so points before it could be considered stupid.
Aug '10
Re: Bobby Jindal Thinks You're Stupid
ConservativeWanderer: Let me ask everyone here this:
If Jindal turns out to be the 2016 nominee, are you going to vote for him, or sit at home? · 8 hours ago
Yes, I'd vote for him. Maybe Stupid Party is too harsh, but Seriously Outmanuvered Party is spot on. Romney & McCain losses prove that the Republicans have no clue. As much as I hate to say that, as a Republican I know it's true. I'm tired of candidates who bring knives to gunfights. Get real, get a clue. What you've done in the past IS NOT WORKING.
Re: Bobby Jindal Thinks You're Stupid
What makes me nervous about this post is the lack of actual quotations -- much less context -- from Jindal.
I agree with 100% of what I heard Jindal say in response to Romney's (searching for a civil adjective to use here) comments.
Republicans need to immediately stop being so hostile to the voters they need to reach. Thank God someone is standing up to the silliness and saying "this is not what all right of center people believe."
I can't remember which Ricochet member said it but it was something to the effect of how if Reagan were talking about the 47% of Americans who don't pay income taxes, he'd say "Well, it's a start."
That's the GOP that reaches out to voters as a party of free markets and free minds. It's not that Romney is necessarily wrong on the specifics of what he's saying (although frequently he is -- he's dead wrong about why he lost the election, among other things), it's *how he says it.* I don't in any way question his motivations, which I believe were awesome, but his output on behalf of conservatism could be better.
Oct '11
Re: Bobby Jindal Thinks You're Stupid
I, for one, welcome our hyperintelligent Republican overlords. Well, not really. In fact, I think this is another perfect occasion to invoke the Forrest Gump rule. Those do seem to be coming thick and fast lately, don't they? Christie, Romney, Jindal, who's next?
It is good to watch so many vaporous fantasies evaporate.
Jun '10
Re: Bobby Jindal Thinks You're Stupid
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.: What makes me nervous about this post is the lack of actual quotations -- much less context -- from Jindal.
I agree with 100% of what I heard Jindal say in response to Romney's (searching for a civil adjective to use here) comments.
Republicans need to immediately stop being so hostile to the voters they need to reach. Thank God someone is standing up to the silliness and saying "this is not what all right of center people believe."
...
That's the GOP that reaches out to voters as a party of free markets and free minds. It's not that Romney is necessarily wrong on the specifics of what he's saying (although frequently he is -- he's dead wrong about why he lost the election, among other things), it's *how he says it.* I don't in any way question his motivations, which I believe were awesome, but his output on behalf of conservatism could be better. · 20 minutes ago
Here you go:
http://situationroom.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/16/jindal-says-romney-gift-remark-completely-unhelpful/?iref=allsearch
http://video.foxnews.com/v/1976729131001/
Jun '10
Re: Bobby Jindal Thinks You're Stupid
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.: What makes me nervous about this post is the lack of actual quotations -- much less context -- from Jindal.
I agree with 100% of what I heard Jindal say in response to Romney's (searching for a civil adjective to use here) comments.
Republicans need to immediately stop being so hostile to the voters they need to reach. Thank God someone is standing up to the silliness and saying "this is not what all right of center people believe."
Sorry, Molly but listening to Jindal's comments again on Fox make me even more queazy...especially his references to progressivism. Sounds like a good deal of capitulation and appeasement.
Maybe I watched a different campaign but I hadn't noticed Republicans being hostile to voters they needed to reach with the notable exception of Akin who the Romney campaign disavowed.
Re: Bobby Jindal Thinks You're Stupid
Brian Watt
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.: What makes me nervous about this post is the lack of actual quotations -- much less context -- from Jindal.
I agree with 100% of what I heard Jindal say in response to Romney's (searching for a civil adjective to use here) comments.
Here you go:
http://situationroom.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/16/jindal-says-romney-gift-remark-completely-unhelpful/?iref=allsearch
http://video.foxnews.com/v/1976729131001/ · 4 minutes ago
Right! When I watch these things, I get a completely different message than you did. But it's hard for me to debate "impressions" without knowing specifically what comments chapped your hide.
I know that his comments didn't sit well with everyone (although many people were favorably inclined, too). I just figured people felt he was going after Romney in a bad way, which I understand -- but I agree with his prescription for the folks on the right ...
Jun '10
Re: Bobby Jindal Thinks You're Stupid
Molly,
Jindal's prescription is what Romney and other Republicans followed during the course of the campaign. I would argue that both Romney and Ryan made the case quite clearly and emphatically about what was at stake in this election. I was more proud of the way that the Romney campaign addressed the issues in person, through surrogates and with TV ads then prior incompetent Republican campaigns with much weaker standard bearers (Ford, Dole, McCain).
Re: my sensitive hide...to be specific:
Jindal: "...You can maintain progressivity."
Really? What does that mean exactly? Except as an olive branch to Leftist progressives (a.k.a. socialists). I don't want to maintain progressivity. I want to dismantle it, oh, how should I put it..."brick-by-brick". Unless the case is made about the insidiousness of progressivism, then the federal government continues to grow unrestrained and it sinks the nation under its own weight.
Jindal is right about making the case for conservatism but I don't have the feeling that it's my kind of conservatism. Conserving progressivism is not exactly what I had in mind.
Re: Bobby Jindal Thinks You're Stupid
Brian Watt: Molly,
Re: my sensitive hide...to be specific:
Jindal: "...You can maintain progressivity."
Really? What does that mean exactly? Except as an olive branch to Leftist progressives (a.k.a. socialists). I don't want to maintain progressivity. I want to dismantle it, oh, how should I put it..."brick-by-brick". Unless the case is made about the insidiousness of progressivism, then the federal government continues to grow unrestrained and it sinks the nation under its own weight.
Jindal is right about making the case for conservatism but I don't have the feeling that it's my kind of conservatism. Conserving progressivism is not exactly what I had in mind. · 5 minutes ago
!!! Come on! His full comment was something to the effect of how the GOP is the party that wants a lower, flatter, simpler tax code. You *can* maintain progressivity, he said, by limiting deductions for the wealthiest.
But, he said let Democrats be the party of government growth. The GOP is the party of economic growth.
You're holding him to a standard that (sadly or not) no GOP office holder maintains. Particularly -- particularly -- not the former GOP office holder Mitt Romney.
Jun '10
Re: Bobby Jindal Thinks You're Stupid
Prior to the election, a friend of mine took a business trip to Europe. He had some time to stop off and say hello to relatives in Germany. Their conversation eventually led to the Presidential Race. Without tipping his hat one way or the other, he asked them what they thought about the race and who they preferred. The answer was immediate. Obama. Why? he asked. "Because Obama is a socialist just like us and we understand that."
In America, we cannot have an honest and open debate because to do so would be to call Obama what he is and what Europeans know full well that he is, a socialist. Mustn't bring up that Obama was tutored by a Communist. Mustn't say the word Marxist. Mustn't challenge him when he says deceitfully that he loves the American free enterprise system. Instead, we must use the word Progressive. Jindal's word, too. So, let's really talk about open and honest debates, shall we? Honestly.
Re: Bobby Jindal Thinks You're Stupid
Brian Watt: Molly,
Jindal's prescription is what Romney and other Republicans followed during the course of the campaign. I would argue that both Romney and Ryan made the case quite clearly and emphatically about what was at stake in this election. I was more proud of the way that the Romney campaign addressed the issues in person, through surrogates and with TV ads then prior incompetent Republican campaigns with much weaker standard bearers (Ford, Dole, McCain).
Being better than Ford, Dole and McCain is something few would find impressive. It really does bolster Jindal's point about the party being "stupid," though.
And I just don't see how it can be argued that I would argue that "both Romney and Ryan made the case quite clearly and emphatically about what was at stake in this election."
I mean, at times they did, I guess. But Ryan was mostly invisible this campaign and Romney was erratic, at best, on make the case, much less clearly or emphatically. Do you remember Romney saying he was proud to be the godfather of Obamacare? I do.