Mr. Jindal offered something few others could to a state that is on its knees. Louisiana is more desperate than ever, a place where the glaring needs of its citizens evidently trumped considerations of race and ethnicity.

He has taken an already lengthy public policy résumé, mostly in health care, along with sterling educational credits (Brown University and Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar) and come back home instead of using his credentials as a ticket to escape, as many other accomplished Louisianans do.

Louisiana — largely impoverished, undereducated and unhealthy — has been left behind by whatever national prosperity has accrued in recent decades. Hurricane Katrina only knocked it back further. Mr. Jindal, outside the Louisiana mainstream but within the well-to-do 21st-century American one, seemed to offer a ticket to the latter.

Mr. Jindal is a technocrat and a Roman Catholic convert, a policy aficionado well-versed in free-market solutions to the crisis in health insurance and a proponent of “intelligent design” as an alternative theory to evolution, suggesting it may be appropriate in school science classes.

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[ 22 October 2007: Message edited by: Geneva ]

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Originally posted by josh:
Actually, Clinton won the state by healthy margins both times.

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In 1992 Clinton won 45% (Bush Sr, 41% & Perot 12%)of the popular vote in Louisiana and in 1996 he (Clinton) won 52% (Dole 40% and Perot 7%). When you factor in Perot's votes came overwhelmingly from Republicans, Clinton's margins of victory are not what I would call "healthy".

[ 22 October 2007: Message edited by: I AM WOMAN ]

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Originally posted by I AM WOMAN:
Louisiana has been a red state for a while now. I think it's a great sign of progress that an Indian American can win a statewide election though. I think it sends a strong message that racial bigotry is in decline.

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Originally posted by kropotkin1951:
I wouldn't want to live in a country lead by him and Condie Rice and their elections to me are of the Uncle Tom variety and ergo not a breakthrough for anti-racism but the opposite.

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Originally posted by I AM WOMAN:

I think it's a little racist to throw the "Uncle Tom" insult out there. I think criticizing their policies is fair game but non-white people are entitled to their viewpoint too. To assume that all people of color should think the same way because of a common skin color is just another form of bigotry.

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I have no expectation that all non-whites should think alike so go shoot at some other straw man. I reserve the right however to hold in complete distain all people regardless of their personal characteristics who preach the neo-con theology of the Invisible Hand.

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Originally posted by I AM WOMAN:
I loath the neo-cons as well. I just think it's more civil to criticize people for what they do without bringing race or ethnicity into the mix.

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Louisiana has been a red state for a while now. I think it's a great sign of progress that an Indian American can win a statewide election though. I think it sends a strong message that racial bigotry is in decline.

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Edited to add quotes:

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We seek out viable candidates who lead the fight for:

A robust economy that provides every working family with a living wage;

A health care system that guarantees affordable, high quality care to all Americans;

Education policies that will enable our schools to bring out the highest potential in every student and to ensure that America's great public universities can once again flourish;

A progressive tax system that is fair to working men and women;

Policies that defend the constitution and the civil liberties of all Americans;

Policies that ensure civil and human rights and stand as a model for other nations;

Defense policies that protect the United States while fostering global peace and security;

A fully-funded, safe, and orderly redeployment of American troops from Iraq;

Environmental policies that preserve our precious natural heritage for the benefit of future generations; and

Energy policies that reduce our dependence upon fossil fuels and that promote renewable methods of energy production.

While Barbara Lee was once a lone voice in Congress, today there are millions of Americans who stand with her in calling for change, and One Voice is designed to bring these voices together to make sure they are heard loud and clear.

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[ 23 October 2007: Message edited by: kropotkin1951 ]

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Originally posted by kropotkin1951:
"....not some neo-con who you are apparently enamoured of strickly because of his race. Seems like a funny reason to celebrate a political win, not on the basis of his beliefs but because of his race.

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I'm enamored of him ?

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Originally posted by I AM WOMAN:
Louisiana has been a red state for a while now. I think it's a great sign of progress that an Indian American can win a statewide election though. I think it sends a strong message that racial bigotry is in decline.

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