Gov. Bobby Jindal is Indian-American, but as Politico reports in a feature on the racial diversity among the GOP 2016 hopefuls, you’ll never hear Jindal describe himself that way. Just as Marco Rubio insists he’s an “American of Hispanic descent,” and Ted Cruz “certainly” identifies as Hispanic—but stresses he didn’t run for office as “the Hispanic guy.”
Politico reports these Republican lawmakers, along with conservative favorite Ben Carson,
who is black, look poised to make the 2016 GOP presidential field the party’s most diverse ever.
They are all mulling over White House runs as the GOP continues to struggle with minority voters and as racial tensions over police conduct have captivated the nation. But none is planning to play up his race or ethnicity in a presidential campaign—or even to stress the potentially historic nature of his candidacy. Instead, according to interviews with donors, strategists, aides and several of the possible candidates themselves, each is more likely to hit broader themes such as the American dream and the importance of hard work, which, for Jindal, Cruz and Rubio, would include nods to their parents’ immigrant experience.
Such messages would, in theory, have more universal appeal by stressing the commonalities of the American experience instead of its divisions—while also avoiding the identity politics that are toxic among GOP primary voters. It’s a tactic that may be welcomed as an expression of unity by some minorities, but it is already seen by others, especially advocates for immigrants, as dismissive of unique hardships facing their communities.
In a recent interview with Politico, Cruz described his approach this way: “When I ran for Senate, I didn’t run as, ‘vote for the Hispanic guy.’ I ran as the strongest conservative in the race. … Now, is the fact that my father came as an immigrant from Cuba, penniless, seeking the American dream, an integral part of who I am? Absolutely.”
If Jindal decides to run, he, too, will most likely offer a pitch centered on restoring the American dream—bolstered with stories about his parents’ immigrant experience—but he won’t specifically highlight his Indian background, says Timmy Teepell, partner at OnMessage Inc. and former chief of staff to the governor.
“As a son of immigrants, he never took for granted the fact that they got to live in America,” Teepell says of Jindal. “That has had a profound impact on him. … He’s the first Indian-American governor in the country’s history. That’s fantastic, but that’s not why he ran for governor. He ran for governor because there weren’t enough opportunities in Louisiana for people to pursue the American dream.” Read the full feature.
