Scandal in Louisiana?

Since November 5, 2008, political junkies and analysts alike have been discussing the possibilities of 2012, focusing on the potential makeup of the Republican field. Various names surfaced, including now-disgraced governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina and former governor and vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin of Alaska.

Another name, though, received significant mention earlier this year—Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana. Jindal gained this attention after he was selected to deliver the Republican response to Obama’s first address to Congress.

Jindal’s name vanished, however, as discussions about 2012 quieted and as President Obama’s legislative plans concerning the economy and healthcare took center stage. Yet Jindal’s name continued to surface in some political circles, especially in discussions about the future of the GOP.

In a party plagued by scandal and confusion—such as John Ensign’s affair, Mark Sanford’s affair, and Sarah Palin’s mysterious and unorthodox resignation as governor of Alaska—Jindal’s name offered a promising alternative. Jindal’s brief national appearance gave him greater name recognition, which, coupled with three years as a congressman and his current post as governor, made him seem like a viable candidate.

But there’s a new wrinkle in the story. Jindal was recently accused of using taxpayer money for political purposes. He spent $45,000 in state funds to visit parishes that he lost in the 2003 gubernatorial race—leading to charges that he is trying to shore up his electoral support.

This action has added Jindal’s name to the list of so-called fiscal conservatives whose actions say the opposite of their words. According to a report from the Associated Baptist Press, Jindal spent the cash financing helicopter trips all across the state. The expense was discovered by the Rev. Dr. Welton Gaddy, a preacher at Northminster Baptist Church in Monroe, Louisiana, and president of the Interfaith Alliance, an organization which (according to their website) “celebrates religious freedom by championing individual rights, promoting policies that protect both religion and democracy, and uniting diverse voices to challenge extremism.” Gaddy wrote an open letter to Jindal on September 1, calling on the governor to reimburse the state for the expenses.

Jindal’s actions have not yet created a major scandal, but any proverbial skeletons in proverbial closets can create problems for politicians, especially those seeking the highest office in the nation. A statement issued by Jindal’s spokeswoman, supposedly in response to Gaddy, only makes things worse:

“This political group opposes putting crosses up in honor of fallen policemen, has attacked the National Day of Prayer and advocates for same-sex marriage, so it's not surprising that they are attacking the governor for accepting invitations to speak at Louisiana churches.”

The problem with this statement is two-fold in that a) it fails to address the issue of wasting taxpayer dollars—something Jindal has continued to campaign against—and b) it goes into dangerous territory by attacking a reputable organization that promotes religious freedom—a key right outlined in our Constitution. Jindal’s counterattack isn’t even a substantial argument. Millions of Americans support gay marriage, and Rev. Gaddy countered the statement by saying that it was a mischaracterization of his organization. The Interfaith Alliance did not oppose the National Day of Prayer—only the group which organized it. Concerning the display of crosses for fallen policemen, Gaddy said the spokeswoman was referencing a lawsuit in Utah in which a panel ruled that crosses were secular symbols

Clearly, Governor Jindal has made some missteps here, like many of his Republican colleagues. Perhaps he isn’t the savior the GOP has been looking for after all. The 2012 election remains several years away, but if Jindal does intend to run, these are not the steps he should be taking if he hopes to topple an incumbent president.

TRAVIS CRAYTON