Barack Obama winning the election a few weeks ago means one thing for the Grand Old Party - that they have to get their act together if they can even think of presenting a candidate to run in 2016, let alone 2012. The failed policies of the Bush years are now coming to fruition in the form of a sinking economy and impending worldwide recession. That doesn't even include the two wars we are currently involved in. If the Republicans want to become the powerhouse they once were (does anyone remember the Reagan years?) then they must find their own "wunderkind." There have been many names tossed around and most have agreed that the face of the GOP needs to be younger. However Republicans everywhere realize that it cannot be Sarah Palin. While she did initially boost McCain's ratings, it is my opinion that she cost the Republicans the election (or at least a better turnout). I can't understand a single thing that woman says when she speaks. So who is the new young face of the GOP? In my opinion it is Bobby Jindal, which is why I am dedicating my first blog post to him.
Bobby Jindal is the 37 year old Governor of Louisiana. He is charismatic, ivy-league educated, had a successful career at McKinsey before moving into politics, Catholic, and extremely right wing. Sounds like the perfect antidote to Barack Obama right? Well...yes. However there are many things about Bobby Jindal which leave my confused and with more questions than answers. First off, his name isn't Bobby, it's Piyush - he changed it in grade school. His parents immigrated to the US from India which makes him a first generation Indian and first Governor in history of Indian descent. Secondly, he's Catholic. Born a Hindu, Jindal converted to Catholicism in college, citing spiritual confusion as his reason for reaching out to another religion. As an Indian kid who grew up in the states, I think I can speak for most of us when I say that we al experienced moments of confusion as to our identity and place in America, however not many of us converted. Jindal also attended Brown, where he studied biology. While some may not consider this much of an anomaly, I find it very interesting that someone who studied biology at one of the most liberal schools could vote to teach intelligent design in our schools instead of evolution.
After college Jindal was accepted into both Harvard Med and Yale Law, instead he attended Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. While all these choices are both impressive and commendable, I think they add fuel to the fire and show that Jindal was incredibly confused about what he was supposed to do and become. When I look at Jindals voting record and stances (voted with the Republican party 97% of the time, supports teacher led prayer (Thomas Jefferson must be rolling over in his grave right now...hello separation of church and state), teaching intelligent design in schools, chemical castration of sex offenders, offshore drilling, 100% pro-life, etc) I wonder if he really believes and stands for all those things or if he just trying to develop his identity (which in this part of his life happens to be a super right wing politician). His life background and experiences seem to show that he would have a larger perception of the world and not base his political agenda on such narrow views. Most people of South-Asian descent that I know in the states usually vote for Democrats, and if they do vote for Republicans it is for financial reasons only. I also find it odd that ALL of Jindal's views align perfectly with the Republican party's views (especially the far right). Even Bush varied on his opinions. I was discussing this all with my friend Chris and he commented that, "it's almost like Jindal's friends got in a room together and decided that the key to being a top dog in the Republican party was to be super educated, super conservative, and part of a Christian religion."
Well it looks like Bobby Jindal has accomplished all that. I look forward to seeing how he fares in the next few years and whether or not he will raise to prominence in the party. In order to win any sort of national election, Jindal needs to move his views more the middle in order to attract other Republicans and independents. I am curious to see how he will remake his political identity. Will he sacrifice his ultra conservative views for his political agenda? Or will he stick to what he "believes" in right now. I think the real Bobby Jindal has yet to be revealed to us. Here's hoping to Jindal vs. Obama in 2012 - a more fair matchup and fight than the one we just witnessed. The political landscape is about to be changed forever.
