Reince Priebus
Remarks Upon Election as RNC Chairman
National Harbor, MD
January 14, 2011
[DEMOCRACY IN ACTION TRANSCRIPT]

Wow.  Thank you.  Alright, one time (banging gavel).  Thank you very much.

I'm going to keep this really short.  I just want thank God, I want to thank Jesus for this moment.  I just--I am so blessed, and I've said that to you so many times.  Just being a little kid growing up in Kenosha.  My first date with my wife, a Lincoln Day dinner with Henry Hyde and Jim Sensenbrenner, which should tell you a little bit something about me.  But I've got to tell you with two great kids in Jack and Grace we can't wait to get to work here in the party, and rebuild this party.  Move on to conservative candidates. 

I want to thank the Republican leaders from my home state of Wisconsin, including Steve King, Mary Buestrin, Scott Walker, Ron Johnson, Sean Duffy and Paul Ryan, thank you very much.  I want to thank all the candidates who stepped up and offered themselves to this tall task.  And I want to thank Chairman Steele for his leadership ove the past two years.  Thank you.  And I want to thank all the RNC members who believed in my vision, who understood that some significant work that we need to do on the Committee has to get done.  We have to get on track.  And together we can defeat Barack Obama in 2012, together, unified as a Committee.

With the election over, now is the time for the Committee to unite.  We must come together for our common interest, for the betterment of our party and our country.  With that in mind I want you to know that I am here to earn the trust and support of each and every one of you.  I told you I would serve in humility and work hard, and I'm going to start working right now as your chairman.

We all recognize that there's a steep hill here ahead of us, and the only way we'll be able to move forward is if we're all together. 

We must never forget why we all do this.  Because as Reagan said, our nation is that shining city upon a hill and we must work to keep it that way.

We recognize that the Democrats have taken this country on the wrong path, and it isn't going to be easy or glamorous, but together we must lead the way to a better Committee and a better America.

Now I've spoken to most of you, and you've seen my plan to move this Committee forward, and it starts right now on day one.  It's now my duty to implement this plan and communicate it to the American people in real clear terms.

You all are the board of directors, and while I may be the CEO, we must all remember that each of us, every one of us is still an employee to Republican voters.  It's our job to fulfill the mission of the RNC, and we're going to start by putting a solid business plan in place to operate effectively and efficiently, to begin to restore the faith of our donors.  We will work to develop a new line of communication with state parties, the new Speaker of the House John Boehner, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, and newly elected Republicans across the nation.  With this new focused leadership, the RNC will move forward, by restructuring our financial operation, reviewing our current plans of action, and hiring top notch staff.

I understand the challenges that lie ahead of us go well past raising funds.  We must know how to spend these funds effectively to aid in our redistricting efforts, to support our 2011 candidates, to hold a world class convention, and to be sure that our Republican presidential nominee has the organization in place to beat Barack Obama.

I am completely humbled to have the opportunity to lead this amazing party.  Starting today, starting now, as a Committee let's come together and let's get ready to elect Republicans.  And God bless the Committee and God bless the United States of America.  Thank you very much.  I appreciate it, and I will earn your trust every day.  Thank you.