In 2013, former Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal challenged the GOP to “ stop being the stupid party .” Bizarre remarks and behaviors from party leaders damaged the brand and kept it in the political wilderness, he believed: Todd Akin ’s “legitimate rape” comment, Christine O’Donnell’s “I’m not a witch” campaign ad, Michele Bachmann , an early front-runner in the 2012 primary, claiming Sept. 11 and Benghazi came as the result of God’s judgment , etc.

It isn’t hard to see that he had a point. Indeed, Republicans didn’t lose a pair of landslide elections to Barack Obama because they didn’t fight hard enough — or curse enough. They lost because they were stupid; they believed stupid things, said stupid things, and raised up stupid leaders. And the public rejected them for it.

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