Pastor says Jindal should reimburse taxpayers for his helicopter trips to church.
Pastor says Jindal should reimburse taxpayers for his helicopter trips to church.
The Lousiana newspaper the Advocate recently reported that Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) has been using tax dollars to fund helicopter trips to and from church. Now, a Lousianian pastor who heads a national interfaith group, the Interfaith Alliance, says Jindal should reimburse taxpayers for the trips:
The Rev. Welton Gaddy, president of the liberal Interfaith Alliance, sent a letter to the governor this week, saying Jindal should reimburse the state for the trips.
“It appears that you owe the people of Louisiana an apology and the treasurer of the state a reimbursement of at least $45,000 in addition to whatever money was spent in the period not covered by the Advocate’s investigation. No taxpayer money should have been used for your travel,” Gaddy wrote.
A spokeswoman for Jindal responded to Gaddy’s request by attacking the Interfaith Alliance rather than addressing the issue: “This political group opposes putting crosses up in honor of fallen policemen, has attacked the National Day of Prayer and advocates for same-sex marriage, so it’s not surprising that they are attacking the governor for accepting invitations to speak at Louisiana churches.” Last year, Jindal also came under scrutiny for taking state helicopters to attend Chamber of Commerce banquets, a fishing rodeo, and a halftime appearance at a basketball game.
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Assuming that he gets a dose of contrition and pays this money back, what are the odds that it will be paid back out of his pocket (which is what I do when I travel) versus taking money from some campaign funds – once again taking money from the people and using it for something it wasn’t intended for ?
September 2nd, 2009 at 4:53 pmI have five words for Bobby Jindal.
September 2nd, 2009 at 4:54 pmSeparation of church and state.
And how soon do you think he’ll pay it back??? And if he does, where will the money come from??? Politicians caught with their pants down just dip into campaign funds.
September 2nd, 2009 at 4:56 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Yes, yes yes to Pastor Gaddy and no no a thousand times no to Jindal and his arsewipe spokesperson.
Jindal is misappropriating by using state funds and property to engage in campaign activity, and he’s probably going over the line with it. He has no sense of morals, ethics, or legality.
September 2nd, 2009 at 4:57 pmAwwww, now, you godless liberal meanies, give Bobby a break – he’s just rendering unto GOD, yanno??
/$nark
September 2nd, 2009 at 4:57 pmYes, Jindal should reimburse the state and apologize to the residents of LA! Shame on him for trying to disrespect Interfaith Alliance and for abusing his office.
Rethuglicans have hypocrisy, lying, cheating and stealing down to a science. Besides voting NO – It’s what they do best.
September 2nd, 2009 at 4:59 pmPastor says Jindal should reimburse taxpayers for his helicopter trips to church.
– - Return those funds in 30 minutes or less, or Booby has to deliver that pizza.
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:00 pmI surely hope the LA taxpayers will not let this drop. Too many politicians/elected officials abuse public money.
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:02 pm6. Leftside Annie…
Put me in a room with him and I’ll give him a fracking break or two. And a dopeslap into the bargain.
Bobby the Turd has been trying to screw friends of mine who ought to be eligible for the stimulus package unemployment insurance extension. Everyone should really appreciate someone who says “no” on their behalf in order to pander to power and private money. (muttering as virtual pebble wanders off to another thread)
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:02 pmHow stupid!! Sanford just got busted for his personal trips and now Jindal has the balls to charge taxpayers for trips to his church? Can’t he drive? What about carpooling? Isn’t there another church where he can worship that doesn’t require a helicopter? Dear Lord! What is it with these Repugs and there abuse of their travel expenses?
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:03 pmShorter Jindal:
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:04 pmDo as I say, not as I big Government spend.
“it’s not surprising that they are attacking the governor for accepting invitations to speak at Louisiana churches.”
Great big straw man alert.
It’s pretty clear that the pastor is not “attacking the governor for accepting invitations to speak at Louisiana churches” but rather for using state resources to travel via helicopter to those speaking engagements.
You don’t even have to read that closely to get that.
In fact, you have to completely ignore what they said in order to conclude otherwise.
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:04 pmAs for him paying it back out of campaign funds, I’m not really concerned about that. If people are foolish enough to donate to this con artist, they deserve to lose it. The taxpayers didn’t sign on for that though.
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:05 pmThe Modern GOP doesn’t believe in the Separation of Church and State but they do believe in the separation of their Talking Points and Reality.
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:06 pmWell he fits the mold (both ways) for a LA politician. As slippery as wet black mold and fits the crooks for office mould too. A person in industry would be fired over misappropriation of funds.
Recall the bum!!
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:08 pmIf Jindal is using the helicopter to perform official duties as Governor, that’s one thing. If he’s using the helicopter to go to church for personal worship (or using the helicopter for any other personal business), that’s another.
However, it appears that all these churches Jindal is visiting invited him to come and speak, so that would put these trips into “official business” — assuming that he’s going to speak as “Governor Jindal”, and not “Bobby Jindal, some guy”.
Which raises another question. Since when does official business of the state of Louisiana need to be conducted at churches? Are we to believe that the separation of church and state has been strictly maintained here, and that in each case, the church building was the only venue in town that would hold enough people to come hear their governor speak?
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:09 pm13. Ralph the Wonder Llama sez:… Great big straw man alert.
It’s pretty clear that the pastor is not “attacking the governor for accepting invitations to speak at Louisiana churches” but rather for using state resources to travel via helicopter to those speaking engagements. …
Exactly the point, Ralph, sir. He’s getting flak for misappropriation. With a side slap for being a hypocritical slimeball.
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:10 pmSmack! Refreshing, isn’t it, to not hear some right wing nut apologetic explain away why this is not a problem, or even a big deal, and how everybody (liberals, Democrats, the left leaning media) is just over-reacting?
It is good to see someone call this kind of act for what it is, say what everyone else it thinking, and call the Governor out on what he did wrong and how to make it right.
Maybe there is hope…
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:10 pmJindal is a republican, his ethics, morals gene doesn’t exist…
…but he has a few extra corruption and lying genes.
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:11 pmThese church visits are political campaigning under the guise of state business. If Jindal were a Dem the Republicans would be calling for his resignation.
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:12 pm“Pastor says Jindal should reimburse taxpayers for his helicopter trips to church.”
Must be bad karma for the Repubs. This is bad timing for this bit of news out of Louisiana concerning the use of taxpayers’ money for helicopter trips to the church by Jindal when there is an ongoing investigation into the lovesick SC Guv’s use of using state plane for personal use. I only urge an apology from Jindal to his constiuents [which I am holding my breath to that if that does happen] but this should be seriously investigated to whether Jindal use taxpayers’ money for business or helecopter trips for any other personal uses.
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:14 pmIt seems the GOP is back to saying God is with them in their corrupt actions. Sanford is on a mission by God but took a wrong turn with his visit to Maria and using taxpayers money for entertainment. Bobby will do the same as he is so funny handing out Stimulus checks that he refused and attacked the President for trying to help.
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:14 pmInterfaith Alliance: “This political group opposes putting crosses up in honor of fallen policemen”
I hadn’t heard this reported and can’t find it on teh internets. It wouldn’t be a LIE would it?
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:15 pmIs Jindal a member of C-Street? You know, where all those powerful Republican politicians go to do there dirty work and comend each other on how the are the Masters of the Universe? Funny how MSM never talks about C-Street. If it involved Democrats it would be on 24/7.
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:16 pmLouisiana is the State, after all, with the Diapered Whoremonger Senator.
The Bobbeh will have to do something a lot worse than attempting The Consolidation of Church and State on the company dime before he suffers any real consequences.
And, like any good Republican’t, I’m sure he’ll come up with something worse.
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:19 pmCome on, you guys – leave Kenneth the page alone!
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:21 pmVirtual Pebble says:
6. Leftside Annie…
Put me in a room with him and I’ll give him a fracking break or two. And a dopeslap into the bargain.
I’ll be happy to sit on him for you. ;o)
~A
p.s. but only if you promise to let me dopeslap him upside his pointy little head too!
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:25 pmI’ll never forget Chris Matthews reaction when Bobby Jindal rounded the corner in that creepy response to Obama’s address. LOL! Jindal lookes like a ghoul sneaking around the corner.
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:31 pmSeptember 2nd, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Little Bobby J. campaigned in the pulpit and now he is using it for re-election. Especially in rural parishes,he picks the biggest most conservative churches for his pitch. It varies between his salvation story and what a humble public servant he is. Frankly church going people love it and will defend his trips as him doing God’s work.Politically,in LA this is a win-win for Little Bobby J.
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:37 pmSlammin’ all the different Churches associated with Reverend Gaddy’s group was one real savvy move on the part of team Jindal.
He’s an up-and-comer to be sure.
Jindal/Palin 2012 !!!
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:38 pmDroopy Dawg is just another RushPub S-L-I-M-E!
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:46 pmoh…and you can tell Droopy that he
needs to stop acting like
Gov. Can’t-Keep-It-In-His-Pants Sanford (flying
around in gov. aircraft on the people’s dime.)
Go here,
http://www.bobbyjindal.com/
or here,
http://www.gov.state.la.us/
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:50 pmI say Jindal has to reimburse taxpayers for his religious junkets.
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:52 pmSince football season is imminent, I start my religious pigskin worship at my semi-sports bar at 9:55 a.m.-whenever/pissed off. Then again, I love it when the chuchies come in around noon. Can’t miss them in their nice clothes and obvious lack of interest in the games. Us lefties love their monetary support of our hedonism!
Jindal is welcome to make an ass of himself at our establishment. We’ll give him a t-shirt and free use of the arcade games if he wants to come to California.
September 2nd, 2009 at 6:14 pmcan’t bobbby swindle take the bus like the majority of his constituents?
September 2nd, 2009 at 8:30 pmWhy should I pay out money to support Mr. Jindal’s religion? What religion is he? Why should i pay out money for any one’s religion? How many religions have i been paying out money to? when will i stop paying out money for Mr. Jindal’s religious pursuits?
September 2nd, 2009 at 8:32 pmI wouldn’t get bent out of shape on this because Jindal is doing what other politicians do, Dems as well as Republicans, when they have the elected office.
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:24 pmHow about doing what everyone else who steals $45,000 or more would do – go to jail. I know there are plenty of people in jail that have stolen much less. Must be nice that all you have to do is give money back and their are no consequences.
Wouldn’t it be nice if the common serf got the consideration our exalted nobles get?
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:51 pmBe it state funds or federal stimulus stimulus ,
September 3rd, 2009 at 12:51 amBobby Swindle likes playing big spender with somebody else’s money.
Oops.
September 3rd, 2009 at 2:21 amI overstimulated my stimulus on my post.
Can he write one of those big stimulus checks to himself? Keep an eye on this Louisiana lightening.
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:21 amGovernor Jindal has the same mentality of our former president. I believe that my governor should repay the state for all monies that have been spent so far by traveling around the state to visit churches on Sunday. Louisiana is still rebuilding and struggling from the past hurricanes, and also the economical collapse which is being hard felt by our state. Furthermore, Gov Jindal has repeatedly taken credit for distribution of stimulous money aroung the state, calling them “funds from the office of the Govenor of Louisiana”. Everyone knows that the money is coming from the assigned stimulus given from the U.S Federal Government. Thank you to the Rev.Dr C. Welton Gaddy for standing up for what is RIGHT and is clearly stated in U.S. Constitution concerning seperation of church and state. I live in Monroe, La. and I’m not a member of the MEGA church, First West of West Monroe, because I have an open mind about religion, race, civil rights and sexuality. Religious views and beliefs should be about love not hate. ” Do justice, Love Mercy and Walk Humbly with our God.”
September 3rd, 2009 at 2:37 pmyou for your sharing.!
September 7th, 2009 at 9:39 am