Gov. Bobby Jindal criticizes fellow Republicans: 'Stop being the stupid party'

Louisiana Governor and potential 2016 presidential candidate Bobby Jindal accused the party of being 'stupid' at a gathering of Republicans Thursday night.

" We have to stop being the stupid party, it's time for a new republican party that talks like adults." Jindal added, It's time for us to articulate our plans and our visions for america in real terms. It's no secret we've had a number of republicans this year damage our brands with bizarre and offensive comments. I'm here to say we've had enough of that."

CNN Political Director Mark Preston has the story.In a new CNN.com column, CNN Contributor John Avlon says Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's courage to call out his own party on past mistakes is not enough to change what he called 'the stupid' party.

Jindal, courage is not enough

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal rode into the Republican National Committee retreat in Charlotte, North Carolina, ready to offer a dose of tough medicine for the Republican Party, which he now says "must stop being the stupid party."

"The Republican Party does not need to change our principles," he said in a keynote speech, "but we might need to change just about everything else we do."

Ouch.

There's a problem with Jindal's prescription, however, rooted in an idea that Forrest Gump once articulated - "stupid is as stupid does."

As the GOP enters a period of reassessment, it knows it desperately needs to reach out beyond its older white male conservative populist base. Jindal is an appealing symbol of that needed change - a young Southern governor who is also an Indian American and former Rhodes scholar.

The GOP's problem in reaching out beyond its conservative base is not simply a matter of communication and tone. The problem is in the party's policies.

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