Jindal urges conservatives to focus on growth at CPAC

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal this afternoon called on Republicans to “recalibrate the compass of conservatism” as he called for a new party message focused on growth and opportunity. Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Jindal reprised some of the same themes that he has sounded since the party lost the White House and failed to take the Senate majority in the 2012 elections. He said it is “small and shortsighted” to have a debate entirely about managing the federal government. If that’s the only argument, “we don’t deserve to win,” Jindal said. “We must not become the party of austerity. We must become the party of growth.” As USA Today reports, Jindal began his remarks by telling some of the same jokes he delivered at the Gridiron Club’s annual dinner last week, which poked fun at himself and President Barack Obama. One example: “What chance does a skinny guy with a dark complexion and a funny name have to get elected president of the United States?” C-SPAN has videos of all of today’s speakers at CPAC, including Mitt Romney and Jindal as well as others, at its website here.