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The First Lady of 2012?
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Jonathan Ernst / Reuters
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal took a pummeling for his national debut, but his wife, Supriya, is still one of the party’s hottest rising stars. Meghan McCain talks to her about their marriage, her reaction to the negative press on the speech, and why her husband converted to Christianity. Plus, why the GOP needs to stop focusing on its next leader and how Bobby delivered one of their kids in the bathroom.
In the last few weeks, I’ve been writing about figures in the GOP that I do not think positively represent the party. But I am also consistently asked about women I do think are positive role models within the Republican Party—and my mind always seems to jump to Supriya Jindal, wife of Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. At 37, Bobby Jindal is the youngest governor in the US and Supriya, who is also 37, is the youngest first lady. She was born in India—her mother was a stay-at-home mom, her father an engineer—and moved to Baton Rouge when she was four years old. She worked in a chemical plant in Louisiana while earning her MBA from Tulane. She married Bobby in 1997. Unfortunately, Bobby’s recent response to President Obama’s national address received mixed reviews, putting the governor and his wife in the media spotlight.
“[Bobby] knew I had moved to New Orleans, so he tracked me down and left me the funniest message on my machine,” Supriya Jindal said. “You know, the questions were, ‘If you’re not married, call me back.’”
Last summer, I met Surpriya when the Jindals came to my family’s cabin in Sedona, Arizona. It was a meeting much talked about in the media, in part because other high-profile politicians from the Republican Party were also present. I’ve been around politicians my entire life and immediately the Jindals, and more specifically Mrs. Jindal, stood out to me. I was nervous and uncomfortable with the meeting (there were media vans parked directly outside our cabin and the whispers that my father had not yet chosen a running mate lingered in the air), so I just assumed some of the guests were as well. But unlike the usual guarded presence one often gets with the wife of a governor, Mrs. Jindal was warm, friendly, and humorous. She arrived wearing casual pants and a fleece. I took a liking to her instantly.
Not much has been reported about Mrs. Jindal, so I traveled down to Baton Rouge to interview the woman I met in Sedona. Although politically Mrs. Jindal and I may have our differences, I found a woman who is open-minded and realistic about the future of the GOP. For so many reasons, she and her husband represent the American dream—and I wouldn’t be surprised if they just might represent the future of our party.
What is your favorite part about being the first lady of Louisiana?
I never envisioned myself in any form, shape, or way in politics. When I first met Bobby, he was working for the governor of Louisiana and I always thought he was going to go back in the private sector. And lo and behold, one thing led to another and he was running for governor and it has just been this amazing thing. For me knowing how he can help move our state forward is what really got me excited. I always tease him that I never wanted to do this. But he is touching so many lives and making a difference all across the state and that is the most amazing part about what he is doing for me as an outsider.
To be able to travel across the state and meet so many amazing people has been the best part. One thing that I have discovered going on the campaign trail is that it doesn’t matter what kind of an education you have, how big your house is, or what kind of car you drive or what color you are, what party you belong to, what religion you are. None of that matters. At the end of the day, everyone wants the same thing for their families and their children. They all want a better life for their children. We have all these labels and things, but we are all working toward the same goal: We all want a better life for our family than we have for ourselves.
Do you have a least-favorite part?
Oh, wow. It’s exciting, it’s tiring, it’s hectic, it’s crazy. I think the hardest part is that Bobby misses out on time with our family. He does the bedtime stories and rituals and all these things to make sure he has quality time with them, but he misses out on a lot of the day-to-day. There is a lot of meaning in the everyday sometimes. I think I feel bad about that for him because I think he misses it.
How are your children dealing with the increased media spotlight and pressure?
You know, our kids are so young, they don’t understand it very much.
And you?
It’s going OK. It’s a little crazy sometimes because it is not something I ever imagined doing or being a part of in any way. It’s something that has taken a little adjustment to, but the wonderful thing is that people have been so nice and wonderful. I have had such a great experience I can’t really point on anything negative because there is so much positive.
Your background is really fascinating to me because you are so educated. Why chemical engineering?
[Mrs. Jindal looks over at Gov. Jindal’s communications director] She freaked out at me one day because she saw me doing a Sudoku Samurai.
Oh my gosh those are so hard! I can barely add! You do those for fun?
I’ve always been drawn to math and science, even as a child. Growing up, my dad was an engineer and some of my uncles were engineers. So when it came to college, I thought, I will give this engineering thing a try. I always wanted to go to law school and be a patent attorney or a corporate attorney. Once I got into it, I decided to work for a while and just loved it. When I reconnected with Bobby, I was wearing a hard hat and steel-toed shoes and I was climbing vessels every day and working strange shift hours and nights. I had an odd schedule, but I loved it and had such a wonderful time doing it. I went on to get a business degree.
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Hey Meghan, great article, but I promise you she wasn't born in Metairie, India-- or it would be an incredible coincidence-- but there's a Metairie in Jefferson Parish. Was she born in India? Or in Metairie, LA, a few minutes from my house?
Tina Fey
Defined Sarah Palin
Bobby Jindal
Has turned himself
Into a cartoon
That will be nearly impossible
To scrub from
The national brain.
I thought I read that she was born in New Delhi, India back in 1972 while her parents were visiting the country. But she did indeed grow up in Metairie, LA.
I'm glad Meghan McCain did this interview. I agree with her that Jindal is brilliant. It's too bad that so many people have been making fun of his Republican response speech, which I thought was very powerful and sincere. So I'm glad to read about his wife, who is clearly an amazing woman in her own right, and who is a good role model for girls, especially in her love for math and science! She shows that the Jindals are a loving, down-to-earth family who have their priorities straight. Kudos to Meghan for giving us this rare glimpse at them as people, not just as a political family.
The authors lack of knowledge of the area she twittered that she 'loves so much' is so unfamiliar that she assumed the French named town (in LA) was on the other side of the globe. Did you think to ASK her where is that?
Just answer us this, why is it relevant to compare Obama's race and ethnicity (its not culture. His culture is American as he was raised) compared to Jindal's? Obama was running for president, you might be familiar with the scrutiny. If Jindal ever gets the opportunity, he will too be peeled like an orange.
Bobby may actually have been raised in a different culture. At least most of his life he was a practicing Hindu in LA.
Are you paid for this? Was there some kind of contest to get this job? Who did you beat out? Michael Savage.
Well thanks for the look from the inside. knowing that he can step up to a challenge, by delivering his own child, and not waiting for someone else to do it. This helps me see him as some thing other than a Mr. Rogers figure. He can actually do the right thing when the situation presents itself. That is the diference between a real hero, and someone who is built up to be a hero then falls on their face at the first sign of trouble. Thoes are the people who let bad things keep happening because they can blame someone else.
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Whats not to like about these two? I find them honest and refreshing and hope to see more like them.
What well scripted answers! Mr.s Jinadal (using her first name would imply she is an individual with actual opinions) is the perfect little campaigner for Governor Jindal's political aspirations!
I think this was a great article. Family-that is what it's all about. Politics has it's place, but at the end of the day, it's your family that counts the most. Nice job.
are you serious The Jindals in 2012???? Wait wait i get it the GOP's platform in 2012 is going to be "Vote Republican our candidate can exercise the liberal, black and gay right out of the WHITE house" keep going after that base and remain the permanent minority
I'm waiting for her to insult you, too.
Be careful, Ritarita, tavallai, jaguarxjs and kysersose1982.Your fear and prejudice is showing.
Yes, her answers did seem scripted and rehearsed. But she brought up a good point concerning 2012. She tried to deflect attention away from her husband, but she drew attention to a major flaw in Republican thinking.
The GOP seems more interested in finding a salable character for 2012 who can win their power back than they are interested in finding out what America and Americans want and need.
I hope the GOP blows apart and the sane Republicans rise to the top. Enough with the power-mongering ass-clowns!
I'm a conservative. Bobby Jindal is a douche. Next.
Although I Mr. Jindal seems to be a likeabel guy I did have my problems with his speech as well. Eg. Katrina was an example of government not planning well for disasters ... but volcano research, whats that good for? lol.
As I recall it came out that some of the stories he told didn't actually occur.
Anyway I think his message that we all have common goals, which he shares with Meghan and, for that matter Obama, is absolutely correct.
There are a few people in our country who have stacked the deck against the majority, I think everyone understands that, however if these few keep us fighting against each other its going to stay that way.
On papa they both seem to be really smart but in reality if they in fact were really smart the would not be Confederate Religious Right Wing republicans. He put his hands on a woman & caused the devil to leave her body, are you kidding me ??? These people care about children & won't support Universal Health Coverage for them, are you kidding me ??? Please Megan I think you are grand for standing up to the right wing screwballs but when it comes to honesty, you "NEED" to ask the right questions, questions like health insurance for "EVERY" American, job's for everyone & so on so please Megan, keep up the good work but study the TV show Hardball & try & learn how to prepared to ask the correct questions....
In my opinion, Meghan McCain is starting to show everyone her strong suit.......... "fluff".
Does nobody else notice that this young woman, with her insight regarding the '08 implosion of the GOP, having sat in the front seat during the debacle, has written about nothing, NOTHING!.
Let's see, there was......
"Lack of internet savvy lost it for the GOP".
"All the bad guys who abandoned my daddy".
"Ann Coulter is a big meanie".
"Laura Ingram is a big meanie".
"I can't find a boyfriend".
"I'm fat, so what, don't be mean".
And now a fluff piece that's only worthy of TMZ or Perez Hilton about how wonderful Bobby jindal is.
What about the FORCED EXORCISM!!! What about deciding on something as significant as your first name based on the Brady Bunch for petes sake.
Meghan, nobody will take you seriously, until you write seriously about serious topics. As for right now, you're almost good enough to work in the mailroom of the National Enquirer.
Be serious and we will take you seriously, in the meantime, we'll continue to roll our eyes and chuckle at the poor little rich girl that can't find a boyfriend.
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Errr ... NO !
Keep on DREAMING ...
I always like question mark headlines.
And the answer is no. Bobby Jindal may run in 2012, but he will not win. He is turning down unemployment benefits, he is against taxing the wealthy more than the poor, and he stands for old ideas that have existed since our civil war.
Government is good. Government can help the masses. And the only ones calling for less government don't really believe their lie. Republicans continually expand the military and government. So they are liars, fools, hypocrites. And of course like Bobby Jindal, nerds.
Is it true that Mrs. Jindal turned away for a quick second and Meghan McCain tried to eat her? Well, that's what I heard.
So many vicious Liberal reactions. Relax folks. The Jindals aren't a threat to .your darling...yet.
'Oh my gosh those are so hard! I can barely add!'
Or write.
This sub school-newspaper stuff is not worthy of the Daily Beast. Is this really the best you could find to post as an original piece? Would it have been published but for the surname of the, ahem, journalist?
Where is the substance?
I live in Louisiana, I voted for Gov. Jindal. From what I've learned, he's a darned good administrator, a classic numbers-guy. But I don't agree with his religious views, or the part they play in his willingness to engage in the same "culture war" nonsense that his party does.
Is he built for national leadership? Does he have the charisma, instincts and open-mindedness for it? In my opinion, no.
Thank you.
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