[StBernard] New Louisiana Demo Boasso Blasts Gubernatorial OpponentJindal

[Westley Annis]

Not a bad statement by Walter to distance himself from Jindal.  It's a bit
over written, in repeating the same points, but overall not bad.

However, there are two lines I would have left out:  first, "Unfortunately,
he picked George Bush and Washington Republicans over the needs of our
people here at home."  It would have been better left ending that paragraph
on the stronger point of showing Jindal as purely a "party man" who won't
put politics aside in the face of what's good for all. (2nd paragraph).
This last sentence kinda comes across as taking a shot at President Bush,
which I would advise against.

The second line I would have omitted:  "If it helps Louisiana families
recover and rebuild from the hurricanes I'll support it.  Apparently, that
is a choice Mr. Jindal is not willing to make".  This line is worse than the
other.  It implies Jindal has done "nothing" at all for Louisiana's recovery
effort - and most people know that's not true.  More importantly, it's a
little on the side of "obvious" - and by that I mean the reader has to be
given the opportunity to figure this out for himself.  Pointing it out is an
"obvious" comes across as if Walter is thinking for us readers.  Besides, it
sounds more like a cheap shot than an intelligent statement of how Walter is
different from Jindal.

In the future, if I was Walter - or the person writing his press releases -
I'd try to stay away from comments that sound so obviously like political
rhetoric.

But still, overall it was good "first" statement release where I feel Walter
seized an opportunity to show how he's different from his lead rival.

- John Scurich


----- Original Message -----

> Newly-minted, Walter Boasso Blasted Bobby Jindal in what might be the

first

> direct shot at the seemingly invincible Republican Gubernatorial candidate

> for Governor.  In a statement on Friday, State Senator Walter Boasso,

> candidate for Governor, blasted Bobby Jindal for "casting another vote

> against Louisiana in a House Emergency Funding bill.  The vote last night,

> mostly along party lines, included 6.8 billion in hurricane relief funding

> and was the third vote in recent weeks Jindal has cast against Hurricane

> recovery funding for the state of Louisiana."

>

>

>

> Boasso said, "Voters around the state have been asking what are the

> differences between myself and Bobby Jindal," said Sen. Boasso.  "Last

> night's vote illustrated a huge difference between the two of us.  I would

> have voted for Louisiana families by supporting this much needed revenue

> bill.  Mr. Jindal had to choose between party loyalty and the people of

> Louisiana.  Unfortunately, he picked George Bush and Washington

Republicans

> over the needs of our people here at home."

>

>

>

> Boasso's press release also stated that "The emergency spending bill

> included billions in recovery funding for shrimpers, schools, colleges and

> universities, and local governments in south Louisiana, as well as much

> needed money for levee improvements.  The supplemental bill also included

> language waiving the 10 percent local match for disaster recovery projects

> for local governments affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

>

>

>

> The bill also included $95.5 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and

> Afghanistan, which is $4 billion more than the president requested and an

> additional $5 billion to ensure returning troops receive the care they

> deserve when they return home."

>

>

>

> In a parting shot, Boasso said, "Fancy statistics and slick sounds bites

> won't help Mr. Jindal explain last night's vote.  Bobby Jindal likes facts

> and the fact is Bobby Jindal voted against $6.8 billion in hurricane

relief

> funding.  Our state desperately needs the funding in that bill and Mr.

> Jindal should have had the political courage to do the right thing.  .I

> don't care whether this proposal is a Democratic or Republican proposal.

>

> If it helps Louisiana families recover and rebuild from the hurricanes

I'll

> support it.  Apparently, that is a choice Mr. Jindal is not willing to

> make".

>

>

>

> On Thursday, Jindal testified in Congress regarding ways he felt the

federal

> and state governments were impediments to helping with the Louisiana

> recovery".

>

>

>

> The candidates are competing for the job of Governor which is being

vacated

> by Governor Kathleen Blanco.