More Reasons to be Worried about Bobby Jindal

Not yet scared of Bobby Jindal, the Louisiana Governor and potential vice-presidential candidate on John McCain‘s ticket?

Well, you should be.

An article in The New York Times tells us a few reasons why Jindal is a “New (True) Champion of the Right”:

In the Legislature, the climate for a conservative Christian agenda is warmer than in years. Some of that agenda, including a school voucher program for New Orleans that Mr. Jindal calls a “scholarship plan,” is being pushed vigorously by the governor. On other parts, like a bill favored by Christian conservatives that opponents say is a stalking horse for teaching creationism, Mr. Jindal has been well in the background, though legislators say they think the governor would sign it, as he has raised doubts about evolution.

…

On the floor of the House this year, several legislators have invoked the position of the Louisiana Family Forum, a faith-oriented, anti-abortion group that is affiliated with conservatives like James C. Dobson of Focus on the Family and Tony Perkins, who helped found it. Its executive director, the Rev. Gene Mills, has become a frequent presence in the legislative halls.

At the group’s modest offices here, Mr. Jindal is seen as practically one of the family.

…

In his election campaign, Mr. Jindal said that “there’s no scientific theory that explains how you create organic life out of inorganic matter,” and that students should “decide for themselves.”

…

Similarly, the vouchers bill, which would provide up to $10 million in state money for 1,500 children to attend private, and conceivably parochial, schools in New Orleans, has been criticized by Democratic lawmakers. State Representative Walter Leger III, Democrat of New Orleans, said the Jindal administration was trying to provide “public funding of private denominational institutions.”

Supporters say there is nothing wrong with sending state money to religious institutions.

This man is trouble.

He’ll be popular if he’s chosen because (I’m almost certain) the media focus will be on his Indian heritage and not so much his policies and political views.

Hopefully, he will be constantly questioned on his warped views. Let him dig his own hole instead of letting him avoid taking stances on some of these positions he clearly favors.

(Thanks to Rose for the link.)

[tags]atheist, atheism, desi, Indian-American[/tags]

EKM

How can a person with a degree in biology take intelligent design seriously? Just because science cannot explain something does not mean some god did it. All it means is that science cannot explain it.
Jason

It is part of the wedge strategy.
Also: I think you should include “yet” at the end of your last sentence.
But to answer your question: Either money, popularity, or religious conviction. None of which have anything to do with science.
Darryl

How can a person with a degree in biology take intelligent design seriously?

That’s a rhetorical question, right? Ideology trumps everything including intelligence and education. I mean, why else is religion so dangerous?

In his election campaign, Mr. Jindal said that “there’s no scientific theory that explains how you create organic life out of inorganic matter,” and that students should “decide for themselves.”

If students could decide for themselves then we wouldn’t need schools, would we?
Brian E

Since being President ages you 5 years every year in office, and McCain already has one foot in the grave, this clown would be our acting president by 2010.
Kristopher

I would prefer to see the federal government out of the education business.

Between watching the the far left push socialist revisionism in the classroom, and the bible thumpers pushing their superstition, I am running out of teeth to grind.

These kind of conflicts are inevitable when you allow government funding of private schools ( or even public schools ).

Unless you are willing to allow atheist, snake-handler, neo-nazi, and muslim academies to go up side-by-side with government funding, I would suggest just saying no, and getting out of the business completely.
non-aethist

NYT writes a hit-piece on a Republican. And the sun rises in the east. What else is new.

“the Rev. Gene Mills, has become a frequent presence in the legislative halls.”

Oh the horror!! A reverend is in the legislature. According to your atheist beliefs, the reverend should not be part of the democratic process, right!
Of course the Ohio Dem gov – Ted Strickland was a former pastor and a possible VP choice for Senator Obama.

That’s not a concern for you right Mr Atheist. He’s a Dem, so he can be a former pastor but he is OK. But Bobby (despite a complete technocrat background) is a religious nut. (sarcasm)
Sabrina

Oh my god…I didn’t know this!

I’m in Louisiana and already have to deal with him. I can’t imagine if he was in the White House.

::shiver:::
bullet

Jindal’s religion is nothing to be worried about as VP. He seemed to be perfectly normal when he was elected to the House, but came back from Washington a first-class panderer. He’s pandering to Xians now because he’s surrounded by them. Put him back in Washington and he’ll just change his tune to suit whomever can do something for him.

Really, the man is a master of double-think. Before the gubernatorial election he would go on a Protestant radio station and talk about personal relationships with Jesus and I.D and downplay his Catholicism. Then he would go to a Catholic station and reverse position, talking about the importance of the Catholic Church and tradition and subtly trash Protestants.

You should worry about PBJ because he is a magnificent chameleon and no one ever calls him on it because he’s Republican and brown.
Finbar

If students could decide for themselves then we wouldn’t need schools, would we?

Right! And your gonna be the teacher? How fortunate for students far and wide!
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