Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal -- whose response to President Obama's speech to Congress was widely panned -- has come in for more criticism, this time from the nation's mayors who take him to task for questioning the $50 million slated for the National Endowment for the Arts in the stimulus package
"America's mayors are extremely disappointed by your recent statements questioning the economic impact of the arts to our national, state and local economies," a letter to Jindal from the mayors reads. The money, the letter says, "represents .00635% of the total funding provided in the act" and has "become a convenient political scapegoat."
Jindal's response to President Barack Obama's speech to Congress had already infuriated pols in Alaska, offended by Jindal's mocking of volcano research.
"Volcano monitoring is a matter of life and death in Alaska," Democratic Sen. Mark Begich said in an open letter to Jindal.
The mayors noted that Louisiana -- according to Dun & Bradstreet -- "is home to 7,013 arts-related businesses that employ 27,117 people." And it says that in 2008, Louisiana received 27 grants worth $1.3 million from the NEA.
"Mayors clearly understand the important contribution of the arts to our local communities, financially and in terms of the quality of life for our residents," said the letter signed by Miami Mayor Manny Diaz. "We remain hopeful that the foregoing information will assist you in more clearly understanding this issue, and that, as a result, arts funding will no longer serve as your basis for opposing the act."
The rudderless condition of the GOP is clearly demonstrated when a potential Presidentail candidate (in 4 years) throws down the gauntlet at an Administration that is barely a month old and has not even had time to establish its bona fides.
Talk about a preemptive strike strategy that is doomed to fail.
Posted by: Richard Biggs | March 01, 2009 at 07:03 AM
"What Jindal never really gave a thought to is the fact that for some people, certain things are more important that what HE thinks, i.e. volcano research, because it won't affect HIM..."
This is not just a Jindal problem.. its a Republican problem.. they hate the stimulus because it just might reverse some of the raping the lower and middle classes have had to endure under W's dictatorship. Jindals response summed up the desparation and chaos in the GOP and Republican Party.
Posted by: nomoreGOP | February 27, 2009 at 03:03 PM
Jindal's statement was completely, hmm, I'm lacking a word for this... I guess I could say unfair or insulting? It's no wonder these mayors were speaking up. What Jindal never really gave a thought to is the fact that for some people, certain things are more important that what HE thinks, i.e. volcano research, because it won't affect HIM...
Posted by: Imee | February 27, 2009 at 04:47 AM
Someone should help Bobby pack up his toys and run along home. This man is nowhere near ready to lead a nation.
Posted by: Cort | February 26, 2009 at 05:43 PM