By Arun Kumar

Washington, June 18 (IANS) Louisiana's Indian American Republican Governor Bobby Jindal has cautioned his party's conservative activists against demonising Democratic President Barack Obama in the fashion some liberals did his Republican predecessor President George Bush.

Recalling what he said were the "shrill, absurd and negative rhetoric" employed by the left during the eight years Bush was in office, Jindal said: "We must not mimic their shallow approach."

In speech Friday in New Orleans, Jindal, who is widely believed to have national ambitions, invoked the debunked notion that Obama wasn't born in America, saying: "I don't question where's he from, I question where President Obama is going."

According to Politico, a Washington news site focusing on politics, Jindal also urged conservatives to channel their disdain for the president. "Hating President Obama is foolish, but defeating President Obama is absolutely crucial."

Criticising Obama's leadership, Jindal said: "I've got no doubt that President Obama loves this country," but what the president "thinks is best for this country is in reality a complete disaster."

"We as Republicans are Americans first - we have to have respect for the office of the president," said Jindal was quoted as saying in an interview later.

"We need to be serious about this debate, it's an important debate about the future of our country. We can't be distracted by ad hominem attacks."

He added: "I think it's hypocritical to say, well, it's not patriotic when they do that to President Bush but it's ok for our side to it to President Obama."

Jindal, Politico said, was less clear about his own intentions, besides reiterating that he's running for re-election in November.

"I've got the job I want," he said, repeating a line he's used in the past.

And as for 2016, would he run for president?

"I'm running for re-election as governor of Louisiana," repeated Jindal.