Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour criticized Republicans Friday for making comments that alienate many Americans, joining Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal in trying to force a course change in the party's direction before the 2014 midterm elections.
"We've got to stop being the stupid party," Jindal told his fellow Republicans Thursday night at the Republican National Committee winter retreat in Charlotte, N.C.
"Bobby Jindal was exactly right,"
Barbour said on "CBS This Morning."
"When you consider what two Senate candidates, one in Indiana and one in Missouri, the comments that they made were stupid comments, offensive comments. And in today's world, when a candidate says something, the negative effect of that can spill over to lots of other candidates."
Barbour, a former RNC chairman, was referring to controversial comments about abortion made by Richard Mourdock of Indiana and Todd Akin of Missouri during the 2012 campaign. Both lost their races to Democrats.
Barbour also said Republicans should avoid focusing on the confusing details of tax and spending policy.
"When you talk in Washington budget terms, you're committing yourself to a lot of things that not only the public doesn't understand, but it's very misleading," he said.
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