Democratic governors who have delivered similar presidential responses in recent years also took their share of post-speech criticism—and it doesn't seem to have altered the arc of their careers.
Former Gov. Gary Locke (D-Wash.) is expected to be announced as Obama's Commerce Secretary Wednesday. Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is thought to be the frontrunner to become the Obama administration’s Health and Human Services Secretary. Gov. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) was tapped this year to become the chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Both Sebelius and Kaine drew wide mention as possible running mates for Obama.
These are all appointees. Jindal is not running to be the Secretary of Homeland Security. He is running for president. In theory. Meanwhile, TNR reminds us of the, you know, actual history:
Kathleen Sebelius’s name came up, people would talk about how impressive it is that she’s a strong Democratic voice in a conservative state and that she has true policy credentials--and then they’d say, But did you see her rebuttal? Similar deal with Tim Kaine, who was plagued by his dead fish performance in ’06. Gary Locke, Obama’s likely next pick for Commerce, gave such a bad speech six years ago that it’s a breathtaking act of charity that he’s been allowed to talk in public, in front of other people, with cameras around, again.
