This Guy Wasn't the Real Jindal

Politician's handlers fail to showcase his talents
By Amelia Atlas,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 1, 2009 11:55 AM CST

He may have looked like Bobby Jindal, but the man delivering the Republican response to President Obama's congressional address on Tuesday was no Bobby Jindal. Rather, the "brilliant statesman" was "equal parts Mister Rogers, Bobby Brady, and Kenneth the Page," writes Kathleen Parker in the Washington Post. In real life, Jindal is "the intellectual equivalent of a nuclear power plant," but his handlers forced the embarrassing performance.

Not only did Jindal's speech feature "amateurish stagecraft" and condescending writing, it also failed to showcase his quick mind. Jindal's staff is dumbing him down and by "coaching him to dim the lights a tad, they stole his spark." The lesson to take away? "Governor, fire your staff and retool," Parker advises. "A majority of Americans have demonstrated that they'll vote for the smart guy, even if he talks too fast."
(More Bobby Jindal stories.)

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