Governor catfight
by digby
This sounds like a scene that was left on the House of Cards cutting room floor, but apparently it actually happened:
It started as a Kumbaya moment of bi-partisanship: A group of Democratic and Republican governors gathered at the White House talking to reporters about "common goals" and "working together."
And then possible Republican presidential candidate Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-La., stepped to the microphones.
Jindal blasted President Obama for slow-walking a decision on the Keystone Pipeline and trashed his proposal to raise the minimum wage.
"This president and the White House seems to be waving the white flag of surrender," Jindal said, flanked by several Democratic governors. "The Obama economy is now the minimum wage economy. I think we can do better than that. I think America can do better than that."
With the gauntlet thrown down, the claws came out.
"That's the most insane statement I've ever heard," retorted Gov. Dan Malloy, D-Conn., who elbowed his way to the microphones to say he disagreed with Jindal on the minimum wage and the Keystone Pipeline.
"You just heard what I think just ended up being the partisan statement we heard all weekend," Malloy said of Jindal's comments.
That prompted Jindal to come back to the microphones to further criticize the president on health care. A few minutes later Gov. Martin O'Malley, D-Md., reminded reporters that Jindal had failed to pay his dues to the National Governor's Association.
Kumbaya no more.
Bobby Jindal is a first class jerk and deserved to be slapped hard for that. But you just have to love the fact that Malloy is mad because he's not being bipartisan and O'Malley comes back back at him with personal accusations about his Governor's Association dues. Seriously? That's the best a Democratic Governor can do?
Sheesh, it's not hard to see why so many people reject the Democratic Party even though they agree more with its policies than with the GOP's. It's just too ... embarrassing.
Update: The full story is even better than that original little blurb. Still a catfight but it turns out the Democratic governors got some pretty good licks in:
Louisiana Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal lashed out first, saying if Obama were serious about growing the economy he would approve the Keystone XL pipeline project and take other executive actions.
Instead, Jindal said, Obama "seems to be waving the white flag of surrender" on the economy by focusing on raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10, up from $7.25. "The Obama economy is now the minimum wage economy. I think we can do better than that," Jindal said.
Jindal's statements were the kind that Republicans often make on television appearances or at partisan events, but don't usually come from potential presidential candidates standing yards from the Oval Office. Other governors had been instead expressing wide agreement and appreciation for the president's time. As Jindal spoke, some of his colleagues began shaking their heads, and Hawaii Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie began audibly mumbling to others around him.
Connecticut Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy took over the microphone from Jindal and responded sharply, "Wait a second, until a few moments ago we were going down a pretty cooperative road. So let me just say that we don't all agree that moving Canadian oil through the United States is necessarily the best thing for the United States economy."
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, a Republican who chairs the National Governors Association and supports Keystone, earlier said she asked Obama when the administration would decide whether to allow it and he told her there would be an answer in the next couple months.
Obama Looks to Governors for Help With EconomyPlay videoObama Looks to Governors for Help With Economy
Malloy said Jindal's "white flag statement" was the most partisan of their weekend conference and that many governors support a minimum wage increase.
"What the heck was a reference to white flag when it comes to people making $404 a week?" Malloy snapped. "I mean, that's the most insane statement I've ever heard."
Jindal did not the back down.
"If that's the most partisan thing he's heard all weekend, I want to make sure he hears a more partisan statement," the Louisiana governor responded. "I think we can grow the economy more if we would delay more of these Obamacare mandates."
But Malloy was already walking away from the news conference. He called Jindal a "cheap shot artist" as he departed the White House grounds.
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