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Jindal Fudged Katrina Story

Says he helped battle 'bureaucrats' but wasn't actually there

By Neal Colgrass, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 27, 2009 8:28 PM CST

(Newser) – Bobby Jindal's reps are scrambling to explain the heroic Katrina tale he slipped into his big speech on Tuesday night. The Louisiana governor said he was in New Orleans "during Katrina" and backed a sheriff's push to send out rescue boats despite "bureaucrats" who fretted over insurance. A Daily Kos diarist dug up evidence to the contrary, and Jindal's office buckled—at first.

"It was days later" when Jindal showed up and learned about the boats, a rep told Politico, but the governor "didn't imply" that the event "took place during the heat of a fight to release rescue boats." Unsatisfied, Jindal's people kept retelling the story, and Politico kept updating and even deleting parts of it. Finally Jindal's chief of staff told it this way: "This is liberal blogger BS. The story is clear."

[Images (7)]

[Quotes (1)]

Bobby Jindal answers a question as New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin looks on Thursday, June 19, 2008, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

Louisana Governor Bobby Jindal addresses the National Press Club May 2, 2008 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images)

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, right, escorts Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Cindy McCain, around New Orleans on Thursday, April 24, 2008. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

President Bush, joined at left by Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, visits with construction workers and the Louisiana National Guard in New Orleans, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Louisiana Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal gestures as he answers questions at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in Kenner, La. Monday, Dec. 1, 2008. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

Bobby Jindal addresses the National Press Club May 2, 2008 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images)

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The boats were all lined up ready to go—when some bureaucrat showed up and told them they couldn’t go out on the water unless they had proof of insurance and registration. I told him, ‘Sheriff, that’s ridiculous.’ - La. Gov. Bobby Jindal

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Jindal Fudged Katrina Story