opinion

First impression: Jindal talks, but record speaks for itself

Even by a politician’s loquacious standards, Gov. Bobby Jindal can talk. A lot. And fast. Note-taking reporters scribble furiously to keep up. He said his mother keeps reminding him to slow down.

Iowans have had the chance to hear from him often. Only one other Republican candidate, Rick Santorum, has spent more time in Iowa this caucus cycle than Jindal. He’s gained a reputation for being the last person in the room at Iowa stops, shaking hands, posing for photos and chatting with everyone who’s willing.

While meeting with the Register’s editorial board last month, Jindal spoke at length about the importance of preserving the Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses and requiring candidates to “come and stand before voters.”

“I don’t think we should elect our president just based on who can run a TV ad or who can say the most outrageous things on national TV,” he said.

For many conservative Republican caucus-goers, Jindal says the right things. He often makes overt references to his Christian faith and defends religious liberties. He repeats his cut-taxes-and-spending mantra, touts the benefits of shrinking government and reels off multi-point plans to replace Obamacare and ensure solvency for Social Security and Medicare.

Despite all this, he’s struggling to get his message heard. Jindal is far behind in both polling and fundraising. He’s been relegated to the undercard event in all three of the GOP debates. If there’s a glimmer of hope from the latest Iowa Poll, it’s that he’s the second choice of 8 percent of likely caucusgoers.

Unlike some of the outsiders doing better in polls, Jindal is not all talk. He’s slashed taxes and spending in Louisiana, for example, cutting the budget 26 percent and reducing state payrolls by 30,000 jobs.

“I don’t think anybody’s cut that much government spending anytime, anywhere, anyplace,” Jindal said.

But that combination has come under scrutiny as deficits grow. This year's state shortfall could be as high as $200 million, and next year a deficit of at least $700 million is projected, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported.

Louisiana’s Republican senator and state treasurer and conservative columnists have pilloried his handling of the budget and tax policy. The American Conservative magazine declared: “How Bobby Jindal wrecked Louisiana.”

Depending on whom you talk to, Jindal acts either out of ideological purity or political gain. He tried to defund Planned Parenthood — even though it doesn’t perform abortions in Louisiana — but a judge has blocked the effort. Gov. Terry Branstad, meanwhile, has wisely avoided a court battle over defunding.

This year, he issued an executive order preventing the government from taking action against individuals or business for their religiously motivated opposition to same-sex marriage. That, too, is being challenged in court. Jindal said he would take similar executive action as president. That means that even though Jindal supports states’ rights and limited government, he would challenge rights in places like Iowa, which outlaws discrimination due to sexual orientation.

On other big issues, such as immigration, Jindal doesn’t say enough. In the editorial board meeting, he refused to talk about his plans for dealing with the nation’s 11 million illegal immigrants. “I don’t think we can have that conversation until [the border] is secure,” he said. That’s an outright dodge.

The garrulous governor has rocketed to national prominence in the Republican Party, and he still has a bright future. But if he wants to be president, Jindal has some explaining to do.

The Bobby Jindal file

Age: 44

Experience: governor of Louisiana, 2008-present; congressman, 2005-08; assistant secretary of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2001-03; president, University of Louisiana System, 1999-2001.

Education: Bachelor's degree, biology and public policy, 1991, Brown University; master of letters, political science, 1994, New College, Oxford University (as Rhodes Scholar).

Family: Wife: Supriya; Three children: Selia, Shaan and Slade.