Jindal touts values in Iowa

• By MICHELLE MILLHOLLON
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Nov 23, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:00 a.m.

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WEST DES MOINES, IOWA — Gov. Bobby Jindal told a “family values” crowd Saturday night that he came to Iowa to talk about the American culture, not politics.

“I’m not here to give you a speech about politics … Enough is enough already,” Jindal said, warning hundreds of people in a hotel ballroom that they might go home disappointed.

Despite his declaration, Jindal did talk about politics — or at least the politics important to the conservative supporters of the Iowa Family Policy Center. He discussed the importance of spending time with your family, tougher penalties for sex offenders, the U.S. Constitution, religion and fiscal conservatism.

Jindal was the keynote speaker at a “Celebrating the Family” banquet for the Iowa Family Policy Center, whose supporters are strident about their conservative values. The dinner drew 800 people, including a number of families with small children, and sparked speculation that Jindal is laying the groundwork for a White House race.

Iowa is one of the first stops on the presidential campaign trail because of its January caucus. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who made a failed bid for the Republican presidential nomination this year, won the GOP Iowa caucus with the backing of this group.

Huckabee also traveled to Iowa earlier in the week.

Throughout the day — in Cedar Rapids and later in West Des Moines — Jindal downplayed speculation that he wants to live anywhere but the Louisiana Governor’s Mansion.

The banquet focused on citizenship, marriage and family. Politics also was on the menu, especially in the form of expressions of disappointment over not just the presidential race outcome but over the Republican nominee choice.

The governor acknowledged the criticism that the GOP is evolving into a party of big government spending and Wall Street bailouts.
He said America needs to be fixed, not the Republican Party.

“It all starts with family and it builds outward from there,” he said.

Jindal said the beauty of America is its culture rather than physical landmarks or Iowa’s corn crop. He blamed the economic meltdown on unchecked greed. He criticized what he sees as a coarsening of culture.

Earlier in the day, Jindal toured flood damage in Cedar Rapids and attended a fund-raiser for victims of the summer floods. He wrapped up his visit to Iowa with his speech at the West Des Moines banquet.

The governor’s weekend trip marked his first visit to Iowa, a key state in the presidential race, and it focused heavily on conservative groups. Many in the banquet crowd — most of whom paid at least $50 to hear Jindal’s remarks — said they were there in search of a conservative leader.