OPINION & EDITORIAL
Jindal: Beacon of hope for ‘08
Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.
Also by Mike Hahn:
- Recent polls reveal... absolutely nothing (December 4, 2007)
- 'Right to bear arms' stands up to scrutiny (November 27, 2007)
- Democrats play dangerous game (November 20, 2007)
- The pitfalls of holistic admissions (November 13, 2007)
Related Stories:
- Letters to the Editor (November 27, 2001)
- Tuition 'on the move' (February 9, 2005)
- Green threatens UW future (November 7, 2006)
- College Democrats give Green failing grade for tuition hikes (September 28, 2006)
- Primary: a good reason to wake up (September 9, 2002)
by Mike Hahn
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
This past weekend, U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal, R-La., won 53 percent of the vote in an eleven-way race to be the next Louisiana governor. Jindal, the son of Indian immigrants to the United States, will become not only the first nonwhite Republican governor since Reconstruction, but at only 36 years old, he will be the youngest sitting governor in the country.
It begs the question: How did a young, arguably inexperienced, Republican congressman win in a state in which the Bush administration and Republicans in general have been vilified for their handling of Hurricane Katrina? After all, isn’t this supposed to be one of the worst times to be a Republican? Aren’t the conservative movement and the Republican Party on the brink of self-destruction?
Skeptics will say it was the fact that no matter how bad Mr. Bush handled the situation, outgoing Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco handled it much worse. While such a statement is undeniably true, it does not account for the fact that Ms. Blanco was not on the ballot. There were other extremely well-funded Democrats who criticized her handling of Katrina and its aftermath. I suspect the real reason that Mr. Jindal is now the governor-elect of Louisiana is that he ran on a message of competency and — most importantly — a message of hope.
Mr. Jindal won because he had the ability to articulate a message of hope for the future. He won by showing the people of Louisiana it was possible to bring about change and make improvements toa state that had been so badly beaten by nature. The overall message of optimism is extremely important for challengers seeking to win high public office, and this was something that Mr. Jindal has in spades.
He is the epitome of the modern American dream and the success that even a first-generation American citizen can achieve. He didn’t win by demonizing the other opponents or scaring the people of Louisiana — Mr. Jindal won by offering the people hope and optimism for the future.
And therein lies the key to victory for Republicans in the 2008 elections. We won’t win by scaring the American people with threats that only we can prevent the next Sept. 11. We won’t win by scaring Christian conservatives, telling them Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., would be far worse than any candidate we put up against her. The only way we will win is by offering the people a hopeful and optimistic message for the future.
None of this is new. President Eisenhower won by offering hope, as did President Nixon — at least hope for an end to the Vietnam War — and none of us should forget that President Reagan won by claiming that America’s best days were not behind her. President Bill Clinton won as “the man from Hope.” Very simply, Americans like to hear their presidential candidates, and consequently their presidents, speak positively about the future.
For the Republican candidates in 2008, the issue should not be Mr. Bush, nor should it be the days of Mr. Clinton. The focus should be the future. No one should whitewash the fact that there have been mistakes in the Iraq war and the War on Terror, but we cannot dwell on those failures. Candidates must provide a positive view of what they will do better and more effectively.
Mr. Jindal’s win in Louisiana is not an aberration. It is the result of not only hard work, but an effective and positive message for the future of his state. With all the bluster and hyperbole from the Republican candidates for president about who really is the best successor to Mr. Reagan, it would be nice for just one of them to remember what it was that made him so great: his unwavering faith that together we can make America even better than it was today or yesterday.
It is time for morning again in America.
Mike Hahn (mhahn@badgerherald.com) is a senior majoring in history and political science.
Anonymous (October 23, 2007 @ 7:10am):
"I suspect the real reason that Mr. Jindal is now the governor-elect of Louisiana is that he ran on a message of competency and -- most importantly -- a message of hope."
Is Mike Hahn voting Obama '08?
Anonymous (October 23, 2007 @ 9:24am):
Mr. Hahn, I sincerely doubt you've ever lived in Louisiana, much less studied the region in depth. Had you done either, you might be aware that Mr. Jindal ran for governor in 2003, and that the electoral map of Louisiana pretty much flip-flopped, with traditionally Republican districts voting in droves for the Democrat Blanco, and traditionally democratic districts actually lining up to support Jindal.
Bobby Jindal is clearly a bright young politician with an amazing story of success in a state with an ugly history of racism, but you're stretching to find a broader national theme in a situation that has more to do with local politics and particulars.
Anonymous (October 23, 2007 @ 10:32am):
Your use of Reagan rhetoric just caused me to vomit in my mouth.
My favorite part about Reagan was his unwavering faith that together we could make American even better than it was today or yesterday - by ignoring the AIDS crisis, and spending like a fat kid in a candy store with Daddy's credit card.
Anonymous (October 23, 2007 @ 10:35am):
Morning in America? C'mon, dawg.
If you're gonna use empty language, you at least should give us all the details.
Republican's "Morning in America": It's a Sunday morning at 7 am when you were out drinking until 5, and you wake up with a massive hangover, covered in puke, next to some random you picked up at Brothers, you can't find your clothes and it burns when you get up to pee.
Anonymous (October 23, 2007 @ 2:30pm):
"Is Mike Hahn voting Obama '08?"
Well, if he is smart, he will end up supporting another Mike H.
Anonymous (October 23, 2007 @ 11:35pm):
Hey Mike, what's it like looking like a stereotype of yourself?
Add a comment
We welcome your thoughts, but please keep your feedback thoughtful, on-topic and respectful. Offensive language, personal attacks, or irrelevant comments may be deleted.
Login...
Not registered? Sign up now.
It's quick, free, and the email address you provide will not be sold or solicited.
