Boehner Speech to Republican National Committee Winter Meeting

This speech just hit the e-mailbag:

"Good afternoon. I want to thank you all for having me here today, and for your commitment to the Republican Party. I'd also like to thank Jo Ann Davidson, my long time friend and colleague from the Ohio House, and congratulations on a job well done at the Republican National Committee.

"Over the years, Republicans on the Hill have had a good relationship with the Republican National Committee. Haley Barbour and Ed Gillespie were both great friends, and instrumental in the Republican victories of the last twelve years. But I'd be remiss if I didn't say "Thank You" and kudos to outgoing RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman. Ken has worked with House members on a strategic level more than any chairman since I've been in Congress. He has an incredible political mind and is one of the nicest guys in town. Ken's leadership and contribution to our party has set a new gold standard. Thank you, Ken.

"Well - we lost. And the first step in finding our way back is to know what went wrong.

"Democrats didn't win this election. Republicans lost. Public perceptions of Iraq and the President, corruption in Congress, and government incompetence drove the election results. But above all, we didn't really offer the American public anything new. There was a perception among voters that we'd lost our way. The Republican brand became diluted and voters went the other way.

"If Republicans are going to earn back the majority in 2008, we need to develop new, bold and innovative ideas - rooted in our core principles - to help solve America 's problems. And Republicans at all levels must recommit to the principles of limited and accountable government. It's that simple.

"President Ronald Reagan summed up the importance of big ideas in his farewell address in 1989. I believe it has special meaning for the Republican Party in 2007. Reagan said:

'I won a nickname, 'The Great Communicator.' But I never thought it was my style or the words I used that made a difference: it was the content. I wasn't a great communicator, but I communicated great things, and they didn't spring full blown from my brow, they came from the heart of a great nation - from our experience, our wisdom, and our belief in the principles that have guided us for two centuries.'

"This is a critical distinction for us to consider these next two years. We can not rely solely on the mechanics of a campaign - the message, the get-out-the-vote effort, the money, and so on, to carry the day. People need a reason to come out and vote for us - in short, we need new ideas.

"I opened with a Reagan quote NOT because it's popular to do in front of Republican audiences, but because Reagan had a particular influence on me and my political beliefs.

"I grew up in a large Catholic family just outside of Cincinnati . I have 12 brothers and sisters and my Dad owned a tavern.

"I never had an interest in politics. I was more interested in getting a job and making some money. In those years I was in and out of school, and I had every rotten job known to man.

"It was during the 1976 Republican primary that I got my first taste of Reagan's brand of conservatism. He talked a lot about limiting the influence of government in our lives, and he made a lot of sense. In fact, it was after I saw how much the government took from my first paycheck that I knew I was officially a Republican.

"I worked my way up and eventually owned my own small business. As time went by, it was obvious to me that government was more of an obstacle than a help to business. High tax rates and excessive regulation was killing "the goose that laid the golden egg," and I wanted to do something about it. So I ran for local office. And then I ran for state rep. Eventually I found myself in Congress. This too can happen to you.

"Never did I imagine I would be here speaking to you all as Republican Leader. While I was more of a bomb-thrower in the early 90s, the same core beliefs guide me today. I believed then and believe now that the federal government is too big, too costly, and too involved in our lives. And I want to change that. I figure the best way to be a change agent is to help lead the way. It's kind of like being a sled dog - if you're not in the lead, the view never changes.

"Let me be clear: I would never have run for this position if I didn't think we could retake the majority in two years. I have no interest in being the leader of a minority party. I have no interest in being a Congressman for the sake of being a Congressman. What I'm interested in doing is leading the effort to earn our way back to the majority.

"We need to rebuild voters' confidence in Republicans' ability to deliver a government that is limited, honest, accountable, and responsive to their needs. Our goal should not be to "take back" the majority - it should be to earn the majority by reclaiming our position as the party of small government and big ideas.

"In that spirit, the next two years will be a marathon, not a sprint. Many of us want to go full bore, guns blazing, and do to Democrats what they did to us. But their constant negativity isn't what helped them gain the majority - we did. We can't mimic Democrats. We need to make sure people know the outcomes of our policies - how they can benefit American families and help them improve their lives. After all, a congressional majority is simply a means to an end - a chance to use limited power to do great things.

"We know that Americans are pragmatists. We aren't just moved by words - we're moved by ideas and outcomes. We want to see our representatives stand for something, and we want to know how the policies fought out in Washington will help us make our lives better. We didn't provide that narrative. And most importantly, we didn't provide any new ideas.

"Developing new and innovative ideas is critical for the future of our party, and it will take a concerted effort by all of us. There is a certain amount of intellectual complacency that plagues our party today. We need to fight that complacency and fight to reclaim our position as the party of reform.

"I'd like to challenge each of you today to help me begin the process of replenishing our arsenal of innovative ideas. In some ways it's appropriate to hearken back to President Reagan - we're still pushing some of the same ideas he did. And we should. The basics - cutting taxes, strengthening national security, and so on - are sound. But too often we try to fit new problems into old solutions. We need to identify today's problems and develop new solutions. The shelves need to be restocked. And I need your help to do it.

"We will be faced with a number of critical issues in the 110th Congress and beyond.

Health care - what policies should we champion to help deliver quality health care to American families struggling to make ends meet?

Taking the next step in welfare reform - we know the value of work. And we know the value of personal responsibility. How do we integrate these principles into today's welfare system?

Reforming entitlement programs - what policies should we pursue to strengthen Americans' retirement without bankrupting the government or imposing crippling tax hikes on working families?

Energy independence - what policies should we pursue to achieve energy independence within the next decade?

Balanced budget - what should we do to grow the economy and balance the budget?

"Of course, even if we arm ourselves with the best new ideas, we can not remain a national party if we do not compete in all areas of the country. We need to reach out to people in the northeast and the upper Midwest . Democrats went on the offensive in Republican strongholds this past cycle. We need to do the same. We need to run the strongest candidates possible in every district coast to coast. And we need to provide them with the resources - and the ideas - necessary to win.

"Believe it or not, we have a tremendous opportunity over the next two years. The media will be focused primarily on the Democrats and their relationship with the White House. While we will make sure we are a part of every story, we can use this relative downtime to reconnect with the average American family and rebuild the confidence in our principles.

"During his farewell address, President Reagan said his presidency seemed "like the great rediscovery, a rediscovery of our values and our common sense." Republicans now need a similar rediscovery - a recommitment to our vision of a smaller, less costly federal government. And we need a new stock of bold ideas rooted in our core principles.

"Democracy is a contest of ideas - a constant search for bold, common-sense solutions. We have a lot of work to do, but I am confident we will rise to the occasion.

"Thank you everyone - it's time to get to work."

Lots of important stuff to talk about in this one...but I don't have time to delve in to it too deeply at the moment. Maybe later...