February 24, 2009 at 23:46:07

Jindal vs Obama: Style Over Substance?

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By Vivian Berryhill (about the author)

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For OpEdNews: Vivian Berryhill - Writer

In 2004, an unknown man-of-color from the south side of Chicago, Illinois bolted onto the national scene with an electrifying speech that mesmerized the American public and catapulted him to the White House. His oratory skills, by far, are second to none... however many in America are now coming to the realization that his much-talk is 'high on style', but often lacks real substance and is frequently full of equivocation, evasion, and nuanced-beating-about-the-bush.

However, President Obama's first–– and much ballyhooed Joint Sessions of Congress mini-State of the Union Address, while fluff-infested, did lay out quite a few more specifics to his stimulus bill... and offered a few more tidbits to his vision of getting this nation back to prosperity.

Now, juxtapose to another unknown man-of-color from the swamps of Louisiana, who history may very well record made his minuscule imprint on the national stage with a no-nonsense, heart-felt chat to the American people immediately following the President's quasi-State of the Union Address. What a difference, as his speech was high on substance... but indeed lacked in style.

Governor Bobby Jindal attempted in a flat, but respectful manner, to take Obama to the woodshed by back-handing the points the President presented during his hour-long address. The Louisiana governor's rebuttal failed to offer credible arguments or facts that would bat down Obama's convincing case to the American people that he, and his new policy team, have a plan.

Parroting GOP talking points when the national spotlight was on him was not effective, and did not gain Jindal any memorable place in speech-making history.

These two men with two different styles, could face off in 2012 to vie for the top Executive job in the land. One represents the first African American and the other the first Indian American elected to their respective positions. One man a big-government, spending liberal... the other a tax-cutting, fiscal conservative present two starkly opposing views on how they would govern and lead this nation in the upcoming years.

While Jindal is currently no match for Obama, if the stimulus bill does not jump-start this country... style and great words will be 'moot', as Obama will be a footnote in history by 2012, and Jindal could be what the fickle American public will be looking for by then.

Vivian Berryhill, founder of a national service organization, is a renowned speaker and travels extensively throughout the United States and abroad. She has addressed audiences in Thailand, Nigeria, Honduras, Peru, Chile, and has traveled to Kenya, (more...)

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