Our Views: Jindal should set an example
The word “audacity,” a word closely linked with President Barack Obama because he wrote “The Audacity of Hope,” is a word that also came to mind when we heard Gov. Bobby Jindal criticize the president for spending too much time campaigning — and not enough time governing.
Give the governor credit. His ability to say such things with a straight face suggests audacity of the first rank, as more than one observer noted after Jindal offered his remarks to a national audience.
Jindal, who as a sitting governor spent nearly one day of every four last year out of state, mostly doing campaign work for the GOP, would seem an unlikely person to take the president to task for spending too much time on politics.
Nevertheless, Jindal used a recent appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” to do just that.
“My advice to the president: It’s time to stop campaigning. ... Roll up your sleeves and do the hard work of governing,” Jindal told host David Gregory.
We think Louisiana and the nation would be well-served if elected officials at all levels of government spent less time in campaign mode.
It’s time for Jindal, one of the worst offenders in this regard, to lead by example.