Indian-American Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal and Chris Christie, the governor of New Jersey which has a significant presence of the Indian-origin community, exchanged some feisty barbs on the state of the US economy during a Republican undercard debate.
Both Jindal and Christie -- relegated to the undercard GOP presidential debate -- were seen sparring with each other during the debate last night.
"Chris, look," Jindal said in one of the more memorable moments of the debate, "I'll give you a ribbon for participation and a juice box. But in the real world, it's about results. It's about actually cutting government spending, not just talking about cutting government spending."
Christie responded immediately to the jabs by turning the focus onto the Democratic frontrunner, Hillary Clinton.
"Yeah, listen. We stopped Obamacare in New Jersey because we refused to participate in the federal exchange," he said.
"But, here's the bigger issue. What do you think's going to happen when Hillary Clinton is elected president of the US? The woman who tried to impose healthcare on this country over 20 years ago? And, she was stopped then by a strong group of republicans, and an American public that said, 'No, thank you,'" he said.
"What she will do is move us towards a single payer system. She will completely nationalize the federal health care system. That's what she wanted to do 20 years ago, and I guarantee you that's what she'll do if you give her the keys to the White House one more time," Christie said.
"The fact is we need someone who knows how to beat democrats, who knows how to beat democrats in a democratic area. I've done it twice as governor of New Jersey, and Hillary Clinton doesn't want one minute on that stage with me next September when I'm debating her, and prosecuting her for her vision for America," he argued.
Jindal argued that sending a big government Republican to DC is not enough to fix this problem. It's not enough just to beat Hillary Clinton.
"We've got to change the direction of our country," he said.
"What that means is let's shrink the government, not slow its growth rate, but actually shrink the government so we can grow the American economy. That is the fundamental issue we should be debating here tonight," Jindal said.
Christie continued lashing out at Clinton.
"The fact is that if you listen to Hillary Clinton, she has made it very clear, she believes that she can make decisions for you better than you can make them for yourself," he said.
"She believes that Washington DC should pick the winners and losers in our economy, and in our life. And here's what I believe as a Republican, I believe the greatness of America is not in its government. The greatness of America is in the American people. And what we need to do is get the government the hell out of the way and let the American people win once again," Christie said.
Image: Republican US presidential candidate and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal speaks in front of a television camera during a forum for lower polling candidates held by Fox Business Network before the US Republican presidential candidates debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, November 10, 2015. Photograph: Darren Hauck/Reuters
