Louisiana's Republican governor is challenging his party to change.

Gov. Bobby Jindal made the call in a tough speech to the Republican National Committee Thursday evening in Charlotte, N.C.

In his keynote address, Jindal specifically noted clumsy comments about abortion and rape made by some Republicans during the campaign season.

"We've got to stop being the stupid party, and I'm serious," he told a cheering audience. "It's time for a new Republican party that talks like adults. It's time for us to articulate our plans and our visions for America in real terms."

"It's no secret that we had a number of Republicans that damaged the brand this year with offensive and bizarre comments," he continued. "I'm here to say, we've had enough of that."

Jindal said Republican leaders must reach those outside the party to grow.

"The first step in getting voters to like us is to demonstrate that we like them," he said.

"We've got to compete for every single vote - 47 percent and the 53 percent - and by the way any other combination that adds up to 100 percent," Jindal said.

"You know President Obama and the Democrats, they can continue trying to divide America and their groups of warring communities with competing interests, but we as Republicans will have none of it," he said. "We're going to go after every vote, and we're going to work to unite all Americans."

Jindal also said of his party, "By obsessing with zeroes on the budget spreadsheet, we send a not-so-subtle signal that the focus of our country is on the phony economy of Washington, instead of the real economy out here."

Political observers say Gov. Jindal may be positioning himself for national office.