Desperate Democrats attack Bobby Jindal’s religion Updated: Are Louisiana Dems editing Jindal’s Wikipedia page? Update: Ad added

posted at 9:44 am on August 21, 2007 by Bryan

I guess we shouldn’t be surprised. The Louisiana Democrats are the same bunch that mismanaged the NOLA levees for years and then planned out much of the politicization of Hurricane Katrina before it ever made landfall, calling in Clintonistas like James Lee Watt to help them craft an anti-Bush message. They failed to use the dozens of school buses all over the city, then screamed for buses from the feds. They kept the Red Cross out of New Orleans and then blamed the feds for the lack of supplies for the stranded. They spread rumors of riots and looting, but couldn’t send their ghost police force, many of whom had deserted their jobs, out to maintain law and order. Of all the cynical and corrupt Democrats in the country, the ones in Louisiana are certainly among the most corrupt and that breeds an unhealthy amount of cynicism to go along with it.

So now they’re attacking GOP front runner for governor, Bobby Jindal, on his religion. The aim is to make Louisiana Protestants fear or loathe him enough to hand the election to yet another machine Democrat. How tolerant.

The Rothenberg Political Report has seen the ad described in the story. The ad itself isn’t online anywhere I could find.

In one of the hardest hitting – Republicans will undoubtedly say “dirtiest” – television ads aired in history, the Louisiana Democratic Party is accusing Rep. Bobby Jindal of being anti-Protestant.

The bizarre charge is delivered by an unidentified woman in a new Louisiana Democratic Party TV ad produced by Carvin/Seder Communications, a Louisiana-based consulting firm whose clients have included former Governor Edwin Edwards (D-La.), Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius (D) and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin (D).

In the TV spot, the announcer charges that Jindal wrote articles that “insulted thousands of Louisiana Protestants,” and she holds up an article in which she says Jindal “doubts the morals and questions the beliefs of Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians, Pentecostals and other Protestant religions.”

The ad directs interested viewers to a website, www.JindalonReligion.com. (However, unless you are a subscriber to The New Oxford Review, you won’t be able to read Jindal’s entire articles.)

That’s clever. Most viewers who do go to the site won’t bother to pay for the subscription or buy the articles individually. But they will see that there’s a real set of articles with Jindal’s by-line on them, so they’ll conclude that the ad had some substance to it without actually reading what Jindal wrote.

Democrats would scream bloody murder if anyone, say, attacked Keith Ellison for being a Muslim, and many have screamed at the mere hint that Barack Obama was schooled in a madrassah as a child. But in Louisiana they’re playing the religion card in a devious, underhanded, desperate way. Hopefully Jindal will make them regret it.

Update: Influence Peddler has the ad and a link to one of the articles that the Democrats are using to bludgeon Jindal. Surprise, surprise, the Democrats are mischaracterizing what Jindal wrote in the now 13-year-old article.

Update: Captain Ed bought the article in question, and finds some not at all surprising intellectual dishonesty at work.

Update: A reader sends in a link to Jindal’s Wikipedia page. It currently includes this paragraph.

A new Democratic party strategy has raised concerns regarding essays Jindal wrote discussing his religious views of Protestants. In a New Oxford Review article Jindal writes that Catholicism has more merit than all other religions. Jindal furthers states that Protestants and other non-Catholics are burdened with “utterly depraved minds” and calls individuals who ignore the teachings of the Catholic church intellectually dishonest. [10]

The footnote links to title of the article that the Democrat ad mischaracterizes, and the paragraph itself takes the position that the Democrat ad takes. So yes, it looks like the Democrats have edited Jindal’s own Wikipedia page to smear him.

Update (AP): Here’s the ad.

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Well, now that Congress’ approval is officially lower than Karl Rove and Cheney’s, Democrats have to do something.

amerpundit on August 21, 2007 at 9:52 AM

Typical Louisiana politics. I am really glad to have escaped from there back in the early eighties. No, I wasn’t born in Texas…. but I got here as soon as I could.

Had Bobby been elected four years ago, I believe the aftermath of Katrina would have been handled a lot better. No doubt the call for federal assistance would have gone out a lot sooner.

Texas Nick 77 on August 21, 2007 at 9:57 AM

De rigueur for many democrats. Too many nutroots in their diet, I guess.

locomotivebreath1901 on August 21, 2007 at 10:03 AM

So now they’re attacking GOP front runner for governor, Bobby Jindal, on his religion.

Pretty sick and very unfortunate.

ColtsFan on August 21, 2007 at 10:04 AM

Something is wrong with the video. It shows a non-white Republican. Must be CGI or something.

Limerick on August 21, 2007 at 10:05 AM

Desperate losers, you think?

tickleddragon on August 21, 2007 at 10:05 AM

Let’s see that guy was Hindu, which translates to having their own Jihadi problem. So even if he were still Hindu . . .

Now couple that with the fact that he’s now Christian.

This will be known as Teh Backfire of the century.

– Teh Cat

MirCat on August 21, 2007 at 10:06 AM

In the TV spot, the announcer charges that Jindal wrote articles that “insulted thousands of Louisiana Protestants,” and she holds up an article in which she says Jindal “doubts the morals and questions the beliefs of Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians, Pentecostals and other Protestant religions.”

Wow.. apparently they’ve decided McCarthyism worked well.

Aren’t they the ones that deplored those tactics? Oh that’s right, it’s ok to use these type of tactics on Republicans since “it’s for the children”. Right?

darury on August 21, 2007 at 10:08 AM

And this differs from every interview or discussion on Romney for his Mormonism because…?

Captain Scarlet on August 21, 2007 at 10:13 AM

Wow.. apparently they’ve decided McCarthyism worked well.

Aren’t they the ones that deplored those tactics? Oh that’s right, it’s ok to use these type of tactics on Republicans since “it’s for the children”. Right?

darury on August 21, 2007 at 10:08 AM

And remember that most of what “McCarthyism” is/was isn’t what actually went down. Again the libs show that while they hate and attack those that they think might be in secret doing said things, they actively support those who do it in the open or actually do those things themselves.

– The Cat

MirCat on August 21, 2007 at 10:14 AM

Democrats attacking Catholicism? I’m shocked! Shocked I tell ya!

Seriously, the audacity of the Democrats hypocrisy no longer shocks me. If the American people can’t see it then shame on them because the ignorance at this point has to be willful.

TheBigOldDog on August 21, 2007 at 10:14 AM

That political analyst looks like John Voight playing Mr. Sir in the movie holes.

windbag on August 21, 2007 at 10:21 AM

And this differs from every interview or discussion on Romney for his Mormonism because…?

Captain Scarlet on August 21, 2007 at 10:13 AM

We’ll see a lot more of this in the campaign. But let’s hope that it is only the democrats doing it, not us.

Texas Nick 77 on August 21, 2007 at 10:21 AM

Given that a large part of the population in south LA is Catholic, running anti-Catholic ads is not going to endear the Dems (many of whom are Catholic) to anyone.

The anti-Jindal ads running here in LA reek of desperation. And Walter Boasso got his undies in a bunch when the state Republican party endorsed Jindal so he (Boasso) switched to the Democrat party since there aren’t any strong Dems running.

There’s another Republican running (John Georges?) who’s running ads, but they are positive ads about him, not anti-Jindal ads.

LibbyLA on August 21, 2007 at 10:37 AM

I was pulling strongly for this guy when he ran against that blowhard before. The Katrina situation would have been completely different. I hope he gets in this time. Louisiana deserves some change.

saltydogg14 on August 21, 2007 at 10:43 AM

I think you have to understand what is going on down here. For as long as I can remember, the Dems in Louisiana have relied on purchasing votes in this state. With the distruction of the 9th ward, their ability to purchase an election is limited. They will still be able to mobilizing a large contigent of people who want and rely on the give away programs that assure Dems success at the polls, but the hurricane did help clean out a portion of the rats.

davidcaskey on August 21, 2007 at 10:46 AM

It’s right here….

The Dems don’t have a chance. They pulled the same crap last time but we will never forget the current Governor, Kathleen Blanco.

roux on August 21, 2007 at 11:01 AM

Mr. Boasso must not have liked the results of his last Tarot Card reading.

PappaMac on August 21, 2007 at 11:05 AM

And remember that most of what “McCarthyism” is/was isn’t what actually went down. Again the libs show that while they hate and attack those that they think might be in secret doing said things, they actively support those who do it in the open or actually do those things themselves.

– The Cat

MirCat on August 21, 2007 at 10:14 AM

McCarthy so far is batting 1000. Every accused ended up being a communist who was actively against the US.

Tim Burton on August 21, 2007 at 11:34 AM

In the TV spot, the announcer charges that Jindal wrote articles that “insulted thousands of Louisiana Protestants,” and she holds up an article in which she says Jindal “doubts the morals and questions the beliefs of Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians, Pentecostals and other Protestant religions.”

Eh. I’m not a Louisiana Protestant, but I have spent plenty of time down there. Somehow I think “Catholic true believer criticizes Protestants” is a headline they’ve seen before.

Shall the Dems dust off the Hugenot controversies next?

Idiots.

Anton on August 21, 2007 at 11:40 AM

Gee, I thought Democrats were against “the politics of personal destruction.” Oh, I forgot, they invented it.

CP on August 21, 2007 at 12:24 PM

davidcaskey on August 21, 2007 at 10:46 AM

Thanks for the great insight.

I noted at the end of the clip they Anchor mentioned the Dems not being able to field candidates for 2 state-wide elections. Sounds like they are in disarray.

TheBigOldDog on August 21, 2007 at 12:26 PM

Where’s James Carville when you need him?

He would put a stop to this.

/sarc

cjn on August 21, 2007 at 12:31 PM

Ah, Louisiana…. the state that while I was an undergrad, ran Edwin Edwards for govenor. Edwards had a charming bumper sticker in New Orleans:

Vote for the crook, it’s important!

And they elected him! Of course, they didn’t have much choice, David Duke was his opponent. But where else in America can the local Dem’s run an admitted felon (the Feds nailed Edwards a few years after his election for something or other and no one was shocked)? And New Orleans was the worst.

Vanceone on August 21, 2007 at 12:39 PM

I think you have to understand what is going on down here. For as long as I can remember, the Dems in Louisiana have relied on purchasing votes in this state. With the distruction of the 9th ward, their ability to purchase an election is limited. They will still be able to mobilizing a large contigent of people who want and rely on the give away programs that assure Dems success at the polls, but the hurricane did help clean out a portion of the rats.

davidcaskey on August 21, 2007 at 10:46 AM

One thing my brother, still living there, said last year: “If the ones who left NOLA stay away, and are prevented from voting in Texas AND Louisiana, we will have a much better chance of getting Bobby elected next time. Unfortunately, Texas will be inheiriting our problem: crime.”

My response was that the Louisiana politicos will see to it their constituants will vote absentee, and our “motor voter” law will let them vote in Texas also. A lose-lose situation.

Texas Nick 77 on August 21, 2007 at 1:10 PM

Let’s see this on the national news.

Mojave Mark on August 21, 2007 at 1:36 PM

Good ol boy politics.

Kini on August 21, 2007 at 2:31 PM

Not only do I heartily support Bobby Jindal, in his second gubernatorial bid, he is a dear friend.

What the Dems are trying to do to him is as low as it gets. Nevertheless, with this latest assault, many are thinking they have destroyed themselves.

The following is an e-mail from Bobby’s campaign manager. It’s an excellent read.

The Democratic Party of Louisiana has attacked Bobby Jindal for his decision to publicly profess his faith, and is lying about his writings to try and divide the Faith Community. Bobby Jindal has never been shy or vague about his belief that Jesus Christ died for all and rose again to save us for our sins. He has given his testimony before hundreds of congregations and groups, and he has put his faith in writing.

The Democrats reference one article written when Bobby was a young Christian, and then blatantly misrepresent his beliefs. The ad falsely alleges that Bobby “has referred to Protestant religions as ‘scandalous’, ‘depraved’, ‘selfish’ and heretical.'” It goes on to falsely state that “Bobby Jindal doubts the morals and questions the beliefs of Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians, Pentecostals and other Protestant religions.”

Nothing could be further from the truth. Anyone who takes the time to read the article Bobby wrote as a student will see a profession of faith by a young Christian who was seeking, in his words, “to follow Jesus wherever He leads.”

Bobby’s article describes how the Lord led him to accept Christ, join the Catholic Church, and it expresses his wishes that the Catholic Church follow good examples of devotion set by Baptist and Pentecostals and Lutherans and Calvinists.

In fact, contrary to the Democrat attack ad, the only time in this article in which Bobby mentions another denomination specifically is when he is listing faith practices he wishes his church would adopt – like the “energy and fervor” of Baptists and Pentecostals and the “stirring preaching” of Lutherans.

The very first sentence of Bobby’s article says exactly the OPPOSITE of what the Democrats accuse him: He said, “we do worship the same Trinitarian God who died for our sins.”

In an article in today’s Baton Rouge Advocate entitled “Jindal: Democrats’ ad ‘twists’ religious view”, the paper acknowledges that the inflammatory words were taken out of context. In fact, Bobby only uses the words “depraved” and “selfish” in his article when quoting John Calvin in the context of the doctrine of “original sin”, and the word “heretical” never even appears in the article.

The conclusion to Bobby’s article says exactly the OPPOSITE of what the Democrats allege – he said “I am thrilled by the recent ecumenical discussions that have resulted in Catholics and Evangelicals discovering what they have in common, in terms of both theology and morality…”

The article the Democrats attack sums up Bobby’s belief: “Christ’s death on the Cross truly negates the effects of sin, in both our temporal and heavenly bodies; insofar as we accept the new life He offers us, we are reborn and “washed” (Jn. 13:8) — i.e., restored to a state of grace so that we might have eternal life.”

Our state has seen plenty of low-down political tricks but attacking a born-again Christian for his public testimony is beyond the pale. In a time when the outside world wants to impose purely secular standards on the rest of us, we cannot allow a man’s Christian faith to be misrepresented and misused to divide Believers in this state.

Every Louisianian of faith should let the people who made this ad know that they believe we need leaders who are not ashamed of their Faith. If you would like to join the chorus of Believers who are speaking out against this ad, please send me an email and let me know.

Timmy Teepell
Campaign Manager
Jindal ’07

P.S. Copyright Laws prevent us from mass emailing the text of the entire article. If you would like a full copy of the article you can purchase one from the New Oxford Review.

Aunt B on August 21, 2007 at 4:15 PM

Of all the cynical and corrupt Democrats in the country, the ones in Louisiana are certainly among the most corrupt and that breeds an unhealthy amount of cynicism to go along with it.

No argument with your assessment, however I recently read a book about the Bolger brothers from Boston, Mass and that state sure gives the Louisiana pols a run for their money. The patronage jobs outlined in the book was stunning.

Bradky on August 21, 2007 at 6:28 PM

I had a Government professor at Northeast Louisiana University (now, *cough* *cough* University of Louisiana at Monore), tell me she received her education in “dirty” politics in LA. The state has been corrupt since Iberville and Bienville first set foot there.

This ad should not shock anyone who has ever lived through an election in LA. I remember one year during a TV debate, two of the candidates almost came to blows (the election Treene won). Business as usual.

One good thing that Katrina accompolished is that it may have given the northern part of the state an actual voice in state wide elections, to the detriment of Houston, TX.

Claimsratt on August 21, 2007 at 7:54 PM

Now I have to wonder, did I trade up when I moved to Wisconsin. Hmmmmm, Blanco v. Doyle?? Fiengold v. Landreau?? Anyone??

Claimsratt on August 21, 2007 at 7:55 PM

Using sectarianism as a cheap ploy to gain votes is sickening. Especially when you consider that America was founded on religious freedom. The Louisiana Dems don’t have any ideas so they fall back on demonisation. Pathetic.

aengus on August 21, 2007 at 11:10 PM

Bradky…..And there are still people in MA that would aide and abet Whitey if he returned.(provided he’s still alive)Corruption seems to become a way of life in states that are heavily Democratic? (Change the punctuation to anything you prefer)

jeanie on August 21, 2007 at 11:15 PM

Fellow I knew worked as an administrator for Department of Health and Hospitals (Louisiana). I asked him about Bobby before his last run for the governor’s office. He calmly but emphatically stated that Bobby was by far the best politically appointed person he ever had the opportunity to serve with. The guy knew his stuff and kept as informed as everyone on the staff HELPING them to get the job of re-organizing the cumbersome structure known as government. Within six months there were telling the other states how to cut waste in administration. One thing Jindal ABSOLUTELY HATES is the waste and inefficiency in government.

The Democrats are shaking in their boots here in Louisiana. Their party is almost doomed statewide.

Quite frankly, Jindal is quite possibly the best candidate for any office in the country for the either party.

FYI, that is not entirely true about North Louisiana keeping him out of office, New Orleans shares most of the blame so I guess they did deserve Blank Zero as governor during Katrina.

Kermit on August 21, 2007 at 11:58 PM

Bryan, you have it right.

You see hear how these crooks are praising a disgraced New Orleans city councilman, who took bribes from a parking lot operator, as a man of character and honor. The councilman actually signed a plea agreement to acknowledge his guilt and his supporters (and media) are smearing lipstick on the pig. It is bizarre.

Again, do not send government money to New Orleans and Louisiana until these evil politicians leave the country and take their cronies and hangers-on with them. There are numerous charities here working to rebuild and help the real needy. But, DO NOT funnel government money through New Orleans government, please.

saved on August 22, 2007 at 6:39 AM

The bizarre charge is delivered by an unidentified woman in a new Louisiana Democratic Party TV ad produced by Carvin/Seder Communications, a Louisiana-based consulting firm whose clients have included former Governor Edwin Edwards (D-La.), Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius (D) and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin (D).

Edwin Edwards – now in jail. I knew someone who quit his job when Edwards was last elected, and on his resignation was the statement: “I am moving to another state; I can no longer live in a state that elects the likes of Edwin Edwards to office.” Heh.
Ray Nagin – still screaming for “somebody” to help him rebuild New Orleans. Ray, my dear- that’s YOUR job!
An “elite” group, indeed.
However – South Louisiana is heavily Roman Catholic. I don’t think these ads are being shown here in South La., but people will get wind of them and will NOT be happy. And I think they will have minimal effect in North Louisiana.

reine.de.tout on August 22, 2007 at 8:55 AM

Now you know why I call it the Phlegm ‘n Crap Party .

corona on August 25, 2007 at 2:58 PM

The ad has been tossed down the memory hole.

phelps on June 12, 2008 at 11:19 AM