Jindal Dodges Critics While Media Takes Shots
Bobby Jindal Hides With Family At Disney After Dreadful Speech
Feb 28, 2009
Chris Matthews was heard to say “Oh, God” when he was introduced and Rush Limbaugh has jumped to defend him, but Bobby Jindal has found himself squarely in the midst of the battle to save the Republican party.
Criticism From Media and His Own Party
Lousiana Governor Bobby Jindal’s rebuttal to President Obama’s speech Tuesday night was met with harsh criticism from Democrat and Republican alike. The media may be his harshest critic, however, as Chris Matthews followed up with a comment regarding his on-air gaffe;
“I was taken aback by that peculiar stagecraft, the walking from somewhere in the back of this narrow hall, this winding staircase looming there, the odd anti-bellum look of the scene. Was this some mimicking of a president walking along the state floor to the East Room?”
While his uttering may be a moment of bad judgment and poor journalism, Matthews’ sentiments were echoed by conservative David Brooks of the New York Times, who called Jindal’s rhetoric “insane.” Fox News commentator Juan Williams called Jindal’s delivery of the speech “amateurish.” Rush Limbaugh defended Jindal’s speech, asking listeners to pay more attention to the message than the delivery.
Dodging The Criticism
Not helping the situation, Jindal has retreated for vacation with his family, declining an invitation to Matthews’ Hardball program. While Jindal remains silent on the matter, the firestorm has begun, with remarks about his speech and Matthews’ comments becoming headlines on the internet and television.
If Jindal is shocked by the harsh treatment from the media, he shouldn’t be. Palin received much of the same roughing up when she first came on the scene. Palin and Jindal are both rumored to be potential nominees for the Republican ticket in 2012. As the two have been joined together in discussion, they also began to share the same treatment, as evidenced by articles linking them as early as December 2008. Carl Forsloff, of digitaljournal.com wrote “World Burns while Politicians Palin, Jindal Fiddle,” referencing Palin and Jindal’s desire to drill domestically for more oil.
Another Parody Linked To NBC
In another eerie similarity to the rise of Sarah Palin into the spotlight last Fall, Bobby Jindal is being linked unfavorably with Tina Fey. While Fey was a regular during and after the presidential campaign with her Saturday Night Live portrayal of Palin, Jindal has been compared to a character on Fey’s sitcom 30Rock, Kenneth the Page. The comparison isn’t favorable, as Kenneth the Page is a socially awkward character with a forced smile and sing song delivery of his lines.
Whether he likes it or not, Bobby Jindal is quickly becoming a parody of himself, and can likely expect to see his likeness on television in an unfavorable manner for some time. Jindal will need to quickly turn things around or shy away from the spotlight entirely if he wants to avoid becoming the next water cooler joke. Either way, he’s gotten his first taste of the media, and has squandered the opportunity to present a viable alternative to the Obama administration. While Obama has been cool and collected while on the biggest of stages, Jindal spit the bit while leaving the gate.
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