Barack Obama takes shot at Bobby Jindal on issue of National Guard activation

Saturday, June 19, 2010, 4:00 PM

Times-Picayune Staff 

Largely overlooked in President Barack Obama's Oval Office speech on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill last week was some implied criticism of Gov Bobby Jindal.

Susan Poag,The Times-Picayune archiveGov. Bobby Jindal was photographed June 9 in Grand Isle during a news conference with Major General Bennett C. Landreneau, head of the Louisiana National Guard.

Obama noted that he has authorized the deployment of more than 17,000National Guard members along the coast, with the costs to be paid forby BP. "These servicemen and women are ready to help stop the oil fromcoming ashore, clean beaches, train response workers, or even help withprocessing claims - and I urge the governors in the affected states toactivate these troops as soon as possible," Obama said.

Jindal hasn'tcalled up anywhere close to Louisiana's allotment of 6,000 Guardmembers, though his spokeswoman insists he's called up the numbersrequested and needed to aid the clean-up efforts.