When he gave the Republican response to President Obama’s February address to Congress, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal was roundly criticized for a delivery style that fell somewhere between Mr. Rogers and "30 Rock’s" Kenneth the Page. But that hasn’t stopped the 37-year-old up-and-comer from speaking out against Obama. 

Last night, while headlining a Republican fund-raiser for 1,200 in Washington, Jindal weighed in on the side of those (like Rush Limbaugh) who have no problem with hoping for the worst: an Obama administration failure. "My answer to the question is very simple," he said. "’Do you want the president to fail?’ It depends on what he is trying to do."

Jindal, who helped raise more than $6 million for his former House colleagues for the 2010 midterm elections (and perhaps build support for a potential 2012 presidential bid), was speaking 12 blocks from the White House, just before President Obama’s press conference. He called the question of hoping for Obama’s "failure," "the latest gotcha game" played by Democrats against Republicans. "This is political correctness run amok," he said.

"Make no mistake: Anything other than an immediate and compliant, ‘Why no sir, I don’t want the president to fail,’ is treated as some sort of act of treason, civil disobedience or political obstructionism." (Hmmm. Why does that sound so similar to what Republicans used to say to any challenges to George W. Bush’s policies on terrorism, war or torture?)

Jindal also criticized Obama and Nancy Pelosi for their "spending spree." Jindal does put his money where his mouth is: He turned down $98 million in federal stimulus money for expanded unemployment benefits in Louisiana.