Is Bobby Jindal Using Veterans For Political Gain? A Response

The Daily Kingfish, a Louisiana progressive blog, has a post up at Jindal's Manipulating Veterans for Political Points? . The Kingfish has a question mark there but it is clear he thinks so without looking at all the facts.

Before we get to that there is another dig toward Bobby on these helicopter trips to "rural" towns and Church trips. As to rural read "North Louisiana" where before Jindal came in we could go decade without seeing a Governor. What is not noted is most of the time these "Church" trips are also coupled with a secular event too.

However as to the complaints. The basic charge is that Bobby is using these events for political purposes. Why not just send the medal to Vets in the mail.

Well I do think some workable exceptions should be made. However I think it is quite clear that Louisiana has decided they want to make this a special public honor in the community with a public event.

However what is really being missed here is what goes on at these ceremonies. Jindal is just a part of it. There are also Federal Vet officials present and in fact the Louisiana Sec of Veteran affairs takes up a huge part of the program. He is there to explain to Veterans what benefits they are trying to give them. He also serves the purpose of educating the general public that is there of what the State of Louisiana is doing to help VETS. Which might be good in these days of budget cuts. So the purpose of the event if far more than just a photo op for Bobby.