Newt: Republicans Need To Be A “Happy Party”

Takes a shot at Romney over 47 percent comments.

Image by John Moore / Getty Images

CHARLOTTE — Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich channelled his inner Bobby McFerrin and encouraged Republicans to “be a happy party.”

Speaking at the winter meeting of the Republican National Committee, the former presidential candidate said the GOP needs to engage with Americans where they are, encouraging Republicans to appear on television shows that most Americans watch — like his cameo appearance on “Parks and Recreation.”

“We need to find a thousand ways to be happy…I was just on Parks and Recreation,” Gingrich said, in a Newt-esque segue.

Following an appearance together on the Tonight Show, Newt recalled his wife “Callista sent Snooki an elephant. The elephant now sits on the couch in the show.”

As the Republican Party gathers to recover from its defeat in the 2012 election, Newt encouraged radical change to how the party communicates.

“We are not going to become the governing party of America…with some mid-course correction,” he said.

Gingrich took a shot at the Mitt Romney’s 47 percent comments, saying that the Republican Party will only return to winning elections by reaching out to all Americans.

“I would like to say to every consultant in the party: If you think you are going to target less than 100 percent of the country you’re not going to get any of our business,” he said.