Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) gave no apology Wednesday regarding his harsh words for President Obama outside the White House earlier this week.
Jindal was criticized for breaching etiquette while blasting the president outside the White House during a press conference Monday after a group of governors met with Obama.
{mosads}“I’m not really sorry for saying it, but to those who are offended, I didn’t really follow the [National Governors Association] etiquette book, the reality is the substance is more important,” Jindal said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
Republicans and the president have major disagreements on a number of issues, Jindal said, citing the Keystone XL pipeline, an increase of the minimum wage and education reform.
“In American, we don’t have a king and the reality is that that house belongs to the people,” he said.
During the Monday press conference, Jindal said Obama was waving the “white flag of surrender” on the economy, a phrase he reiterated Wednesday.
Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) said at the time that Jindal’s words were some of the most “insane” comments he ever heard.
“I just think the president has given up,” Jindal said. “I think he’s focused on campaign rhetoric and tactics instead of real serious policy. We could have had a substantive meeting where we could have said ‘Mr. President, here are specific things you could do with your pen. You said you want to go around congress. Here are specific things you can do.’ Instead we get the same old rhetoric.”
Despite the criticism, Jindal said the meeting with the president was respectful.
He noted that Democrats in the past had been that critical of President George W. Bush and said they are attempting to hold Republicans to a different standard.
“I know Democrats sometimes don’t like the Second Amendment,” he said. “I thought they were still for freedom of speech and the First Amendment. So I am a little surprised. Instead of having a debate about the substance, they just act offended.”
Obama and Democrats have called for a hike of the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, something opposed by congressional Republicans.
Jindal said he is not completely opposed to raising the minimum wage, and recalled voting for an increase while in Congress. He said the increase should be considered as part of a total plan after the economy is in a stronger position.