That is the “official” explanation. George Lucas has mentioned more than once he wanted the films to “rhyme” and it has been noticed several times that Jar-Jar acts as Yoda did in the original trilogy, when he met Luke; someone even went so far to analyse his movements and theorized is clumsiness is akin to the Drunken Master Kung Fu style.

Jar-Jar binks was a spoiled opportunity. It would have been a good opportunity to go against the public opinion and have the character morph into the real nemesis and catch everyone by surprise.