Top McCain Surrogate Jindal Can't Name Any "Big Idea" Driving McCain Campaign
A nice catch from Steve Benen: When top McCain surrogate Bobby Jindal, who's been discussed as a Veep possibility, was asked by NBC's David Gregory what "big idea" is at the heart of McCain's campaign, Jindal pulled a homina homina homina, citing McCain's energy policy...
In response to the "big idea" question, Jindal said: "I think there's several, but certainly when it comes to domestic issues, he understands the energy crisis is probably the biggest economic obstacle we face..." That doesn't count as a big new original idea.
When pressed again by Gregory for any "big idea," Jindal again filibustered by talking about McCain's energy policy, suggesting that McCain would battle Washington "gridlock." That doesn't count as a big new original idea, either, needless to say.
Late Update: It looks like Think Progress' Faiz Shakir was the first one to flag this. Apologies.















And I'm sure we'll this played over and over and over....NOT.
August 18, 2008 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
exactly, this is really typical and mccain supporters do it all the time, that it has become non-news. I think its good for people to know that mccain has no big ideas, but we have seen a surrogate do worse.. a la surrogate on CNN who didnt know the difference between bush-mccain.
Warren Lied, McCain Wasn’t In The Cone of Silence
August 18, 2008 2:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is a way for the Obama campaign to go on the offensive by switching the discussion from McCain's comment to this one.
August 18, 2008 12:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think this really makes Jindal look like a dope more than it makes McCain look bad. The only reason I say that is Jindal is really green and has no established reputation. McCain does (whether cut from whole cloth or not). If an established wonk had spewed the same dissembling drivel it would look worse for McCain than this does.
August 18, 2008 12:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
What is McCain's big idea? Jindal might have come off looking like a dope because McCain really doesn't have a big idea in his head.
August 18, 2008 4:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
THIS IS EXCELLENT NEWS!! FOR MCCAIN!!!
August 18, 2008 12:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
All's well with the world, now that idiotic is back to help keep things in perspective....
: )
August 18, 2008 1:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't believe this boob is the Governor of my state. I wish he would run as Vice Pres. and crash and burn along with McCain.
August 18, 2008 12:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ha ha! No such luck - he'll probably take the next 4 years to destroy the rest of your state before he moves on to national office. Sound familiar - ask your neighbors to the west.
August 18, 2008 2:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, please! As I've said before, Jindal as McCain's VP would eliminate the racist vote - all their heads would explode!
August 18, 2008 2:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
but, but, but doesn't he believe in Baby Jesus?
August 18, 2008 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain in the cleanup position.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/08/mccains-ohio-ra.html
By the time of the Rep convention Obama's Mile High Hipsterfest will be a distant, mostly forgotten memory.
August 18, 2008 12:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
"McCain in the cleanup position."
McCain needs to be cleaned up, his depends is leaking..
August 18, 2008 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Romney was caught is a similar spot, as was Sanford earlier in the year. McCain's big idea is to tear down Obama and then hope being a POW 35 years ago is enough to get him elected.
August 18, 2008 12:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sullivan goes a little deeper into the "cross in the sand" story.
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/08/the-dirt-in-the.html#more
August 18, 2008 12:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I understand the motivation to get to the bottom of this story. And make it can turn out to be McCain's Bosnia episode. But I doubt any airplay it will receive will have the same effect.
My suggestion, only half-jokingly, would be for Obama to say that if he's elected President he will appoint McCain Secretary of Defense, so that Americans can sleep safely.
Then, without missing a beat, change the subject to economy, jobs, energy, education, health care.
August 18, 2008 12:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. It probably won't get any airplay. But I do think we're well beyond "suspicious" with this issue.
Maybe if Biden is picked as VP and the plagiarism charges re-emerge, then that'll create an opening for this story. But Obama shouldn't touch it.
August 18, 2008 1:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
More...
"No More Mr. Nice Blog points out that The Nightingale's Song, a 1995 book about five graduates of the Naval Academy, one of whom is McCain -- contains a chapter on, of all things, three Christmases McCain spent in captivity. (Thanks to Amazon's 'Search This Book' feature, and the fact that the chapter in question is only four pages long, I've read it, and you can too.) It contains no mention of this incident at all. "
August 18, 2008 1:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought to Obamics the "gaffe and gotcha game" was heretical?
August 18, 2008 12:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think this is a gaffe or a gotcha....
I think this is either an innocent mix up by a 72 yr old man who believes his own press and has incorporated things he has read or heard about into his own memory; or it's a blatant lie told by a man who will do or say anything in order to fulfill his own ambitions of being president. Take your pick.
August 18, 2008 1:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm pretty sure this is Obama's fault.
August 18, 2008 12:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is really written about you...
http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=7574
August 18, 2008 12:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh snap! You told me Lalo. How dare I not engage in the same handwringing that some Obama supporters and ex-Clinton supporters like yourself are doing. I must be drinking EXTRA-kool-aid or something.
I'm going out this morning to get fitted for my armchair. I promise....
August 18, 2008 1:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good. Don't be late.
August 18, 2008 1:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
What? There's a shortage? Everyone must be getting on board the Hater-Express!!!!
August 18, 2008 1:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain's big idea is, "Will someone please just finally let me be President already?"
We'll have to see how that goes over in November.
August 18, 2008 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't be to hard on Jindal. McCain can't name the big ideas behind his campaing either!
August 18, 2008 1:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mcbush's big idea is to play on his pow "experience" all the way to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. He has no other ideas.
August 18, 2008 1:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess he's figuring it will work better than 9/11 did for Rudy Guiliani - who was America's mayor on 9/11 when the alQaeda's attacked on 9/11 with Saddam's box-cutters they snuck on the planes on 9/11.
August 18, 2008 2:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
McGoo doesn't have any ideas? Stop the presses!
Dems better wake up and realize that this election ain't about McGoo. It's about Obama. And if McGoo is allowed to keep smearing Obama with no worries of his own flank being attacked, the country is going to select McGoo.
August 18, 2008 1:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Big Idea" Driving McCain Campaign?
Easy!
1) More wealth for the wealthiest
2) More war and misery for everybody else.
Piece of cake.
~
August 18, 2008 1:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jindal participated in an exorcism in college in which a woman's skin cancer was cured and a demon was supposedly driven out of her.
I'd love to see him in a debate going: "The power of Christ compels you ...."
August 18, 2008 1:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Has he healed McMaverick's melanoma? Is this the new GOP univeral healthcare plan? We call our local priest and they pray it away?
August 18, 2008 2:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Loving it!
August 18, 2008 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do you want to be VP & Assistant Priest/ess of my new faith-based initiative? We have a great plan to improve the economy - I've got a bunch of church ladies who will pray for deficit reduction, full employment, world peace, whatever for a small donation. We'll "invest" the rest in a numbered account in Lichtenstein.
Better deal than the Nigerian emailers are offering...
August 18, 2008 5:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sign me up!
August 18, 2008 8:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lamont Williams, you are correct that this election is not about whether "McSame" is Bush III but rather a referendum on Barack's leadership and character. The GOP has successfully framed the election.
August 18, 2008 1:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Audio from poor old Jindal's piss-poor attempt at McCain surrogacy is up.
August 18, 2008 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Golly, MCCain can't remember anything these days; he forgot the difference between Sunni and Shia, He forgot that Czechoslovakia is now two countries, Czech Republic and Slovakia, and now he goes on to forget that all of his ideas New Energy, Created by expanding drilling, Nuclear power and other forms of domestic energy production sounds an awful lot like GWB's big ideas!
Look Sen McCain the problem isn't the fact that your ideas sounds so bad but its just that 1) you have a hard time remembering details in public (we have already had someone for 8 years that did not seem to understand the finer points in ideas, and most of us are pretty tired at that routine) 2) your party ran on these ideas before and in the end much of your party seems reluctant to accomplish anything in any of these areas other than talk of privatization (no price controls) in the energy industry and expanding domestic production in areas which previous generations saw as untouchable. Look I believe that America has the know how to solve many of these issues we face head on; I also realize that much of the bureaucracy we have hinders the progress we might achieve; I also assume that we can accomplish many of these R&D projects while ensuring and maintaining the upmost standards of safety and ethics. I think there are many issues upon which we may agree but you must understand that when your record and rhetoric for the most part add up to puffery then you can understand why we might be the teeniest bit skeptical. Your service and honor serving this nation in our armed forces can never be over-estimated and your regard for civic duty in your duties as Representative of this US government should not be tarnished. But frankly, as I stated before, your record is one of more bark than bite. And although one can look back upon your history and see that you did draw a line in the sand on some notable issues, I don't think anyone would mistake you for a reformer. If anything it is apparent and palpable in our modern times that many are unsatisfied with the directions we have chosen. Many see strong institutions of the past become overburdened or over bureacracized with administrations and management and others see institutions created for no apparent need. If anything I think many are disallussioned with their governments ability to identify issues and its ability to manage our cultural resources. Now is not the time for the same ol' players, now is the time for a new player, a new type of idea from a new type of player! I am sorry to say but your are not that new type of player and the neo-cons that tried to project that new player built on neo-conservative ideas have failed. Many of those same players now have your ears. they have your time, so how can you possibly say that you will give the American people anything other than the 'status quo'?
August 18, 2008 5:05 PM | Reply | Permalink