SHERRIF ARPAIO
JF-Expert Member
- Aug 25, 2010
- 9,539
- 5,923
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina
(Reuters) - Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal sharply criticized his own party on Thursday for its narrow focus on Washington-based budget battles and said Republicans need to revamp their message if they hope to recover from November's painful election losses.
In a blunt speech certain to bolster speculation about his 2016 presidential ambitions, Jindal told Republican leaders they must "stop being the stupid party" and broaden their effort to appeal to every American voter.
If this election taught us anything, it is that we will not win elections by simply pointing out the failures of the other side, he said.
"A debate about which party can better manage the federal government is a very small and shortsighted debate," Jindal said. "If our vision is not bigger than that, we do not deserve to win."
* On Mitt Romneys 47 percent comments: We must compete for every single vote the 47 percent and the 53 percent, and any other combination that adds up to 100 percent.
* On the partys struggles to court non-white voters: We must reject the notion that demography is destiny, the pathetic and simplistic notion that skin pigmentation dictates voter behavior. The first step in getting voters to like you is to demonstrate that you like them.
* On the likes of Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock: Its time for a new Republican party that talks like adults. We had a number of Republicans damage the brand this year with offensive and bizarre comments. Weve had enough of that.
The party is looking for ways to appeal to growing minority voting blocs like Hispanics and Asians and to bolster their support among women, all of whom helped push Obama to victory over Republican nominee Mitt Romney in November.
Jindal, the son of Indian immigrants, called for Republicans to reject identity politics and appeal to every American. He also took a clear swipe at Romney and his secretly recorded comment that 47 percent of Americans were government dependent and would not vote for him.
"We must compete for every single vote the 47 percent and the 53 percent, and any other combination that adds up to 100 percent," Jindal said.
"Today's conservatism is completely wrapped up in solving the hideous mess that is the federal budget," Jindal said. "We seem to have an obsession with government bookkeeping. This is a rigged game, and it is the wrong game for us to play."
Jindal's attack on congressional Republicans comes at a time when polls show their approval ratings have dropped into the low and mid-teens, making it relatively risk-free.
"We as Republicans have to accept that government number crunching - even conservative number crunching - is not the answer to our nation's problems," Jindal said.
"If you take nothing else away from what I say today, please understand this - we must not become the party of austerity. We must become the party of growth."
"Weve got to stop being the stupid party, he said. It's time for a new Republican party that talks like adults. It's time for us to articulate our plans and visions for America in real terms. Its no secret we had a number of Republicans damage the brand this year with offensive and bizarre comments. Im here to say, Weve had enough of that.
