Decrying socialism Bobby Jindal wants poor also to pay taxes

Deriding Democrats as socialists and fellow Republicans in Washington as weak and too quick to surrender, Indian-American presidential hopeful Bobby Jindal has proposed making everyone - including the poor - pay federal income taxes.

This was the best way to rein in government spending, he said participating in Wednesday night's undercard CNBC Republican Presidential Debate at Colorado University's Coors Events Center, in Boulder, Colorado.

"I want every American to worry and care about how those folks in DC are spending our money," Jindal said. "Socialism is bad. Not only for taxpayers, but for the people they're trying to help. There's dignity in work. There's dignity in self-sufficiency."

"We are going the way of Europe," he said at one point. "The left is trying to change the American dream into the European nightmare."

Jindal joined three other low polling candidates -- South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and former New York Governor George Pataki -- in the hour-long debate ahead of the main debate among top ten Republican candidates.

Taking up the role of the angry conservative, Jindal lobbed insults both at Democrats and at fellow Republicans in Washington, whom he accused of surrendering to Democrats. Jindal also criticized the budget agreement that the House approved Wednesday as a "very bad deal" and blamed the Republicans of Congress for refusing to fight.

"Here's the problem: the Republicans never want to fight," Jindal said, picking up on a pet campaign theme.

He praised Democrats for fighting effectively for "socialism." "Why won't the Republicans fight half as hard for freedom and opportunity? This is a very bad budget."

The four undercard Republicans, who have all struggled to gain any momentum in the polls, also took aim at the Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton, but they all - including Jindal who has made a habit of attacking Donald Trump - refrained from criticising the party frontrunner .

Jindal ended the debate with an appeal for Americans to think of their country in Christian terms: with faith that a frightening situation could be saved.

"The idea of America is slipping away. As Christians, we believe that the tomb is empty. As Americans we believe that our best days are ahead of us," Jindal said.

It was a reference to the tomb of Jesus Christ, which Christians believe was found empty because Christ had been resurrected after death.

"We can save the idea of America," Jindal said. "Before it's too late."

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)