WASHINGTON -- Is America ready for an Asian American Vice President? This idea may not be as farfetched as some may think. Take it from Rush Limbaugh, the country's most-listened-to political commentator and highly respected thinker in the country's conservative sector.

As reported in mainstream media, Limbaugh had suggested that Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal -- an Indian American and the first Asian Pacific American to be elected to that position -- would be a good vice presidential partner to Sen. John McCain (AZ), who is the likely Republican Party nominee for the November 4 presidential elections. Limbaugh was quoted to have said among Republican circles: "I am going to give you a name that would make me jump up with joy -- Bobby Jindal. I did an interview with him. He is the next Ronald Reagan, if he does not change."

An Asian Pacific American Reagan?

All the Republican presidential aspirants, including McCain, proudly claim to be the most Reagan of them all, if not the next Reagan himself -- but an Asian Pacific American Reagan?

Limbaugh added, "He is young. He was just sworn in for his first term. He's the guy that beat the liberal Democrat machine throughout Louisiana. He did it on 100 per cent conservatism."

Dan Balz wrote in a February 11, Washington Post story, "Political pundits also declared that if McCain picks Jindal, he could negate Democrat Barrack Obama's diversity factor."

In a society that appreciates the eternal search for the fountain of youth even in politics, Jindal can pit his 36-year old youthfulness to Democratic Senator Barack Obama's 46, and make up for McCain being a septeguanarian.

"I'm all for it!" Dr. Sambhu Banik, an Indian-born psychology professor and head of Maryland's Human Rights Commission, told Asian Fortune. "Bobby will be a heck of a good vice presidential candidate. He's smart, articulate and does a good job in everything he does."

"It's too bad the Republican Party did not pick him as convention keynote speaker like what the Democrats did by picking Obama," he added, seeming to imply that Obama was thus advantaged early on to have hitched his leg up the presidential ladder.

[Note: Jindal was just being elected to his first term as U.S. Representative for Louisiana in the 2004 presidential elections -- a position he held until he ran for governor and won in 2007.]

Experts: Jindal as McCain's Running Mate
Obama's 'Asian' Problem

Asian Fortune, News Analysis, Rita M. Gerona-Adkins , Posted: Mar 27, 2008