AMES, Iowa — Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal got what sounded like the loudest applause of any Republican presidential candidate at the Family Leader's annual conference when he criticized the news media.

Jindal identified the New York Times as a challenge the Republican Party needs to overcome to win the White House, and the crowd ate the red meat right up.

He sought to clarify his remarks after stepping off stage.

"I'm not suggesting for a second that anybody in my position should try to censor or to stop folks from being able to say what they want," Jindal told the Washington Examiner. "My criticism wasn't specific to me, I want to be very clear about that. I have no patience for conservatives who are whiners who claim victimhood, that's nonsense. I'm more than happy to talk directly to voters."

In comments to reporters after his appearance, Jindal focused his criticism on former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. In front of the crowd moments earlier, he singled out two other rivals — the press and the Supreme Court.

He expressed particular anger toward Justice Anthony Kennedy and Chief Justice John Roberts. Kennedy and Roberts helped author separate decisions with which conservatives disagreed. These included upholding the federal exchanges created by Obamacare and the legalization of gay marriage.

Jindal is fighting for a spot on the debate stage, and is polling behind 12 other Republican presidential candidates, according to RealClearPolitics' average of polls.