Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus stepped out of his politically combative office to pitch a series of broad Republican policy proposals to a student audience at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Billed as a speech that would detail Republican principals, Priebus’ speech was heavy on poll-tested messaging and political slogans.
A helpful list of those policies was detailed on a special website for the occasion.
1. CONSTITUTION: Our constitution should be preserved, valued, and honored.
2. ECONOMY: We need to start growing America’s economy instead of Washington’s economy so that working Americans see better wages and more opportunity.
3. BUDGET/DEBT: We need to pass a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution, make government more efficient, and leave the next generation with opportunity, not debt.
4. HEALTHCARE: We need to start over with real healthcare reform that puts patients and their doctors in charge, not unelected bureaucrats in Washington.
5. VETERANS: Our veterans have earned our respect and gratitude, and no veteran should have to wait in line for months or years just to see a doctor.
6. SECURITY: Keeping America safe and strong requires a strong military, growing the economy, energy independence, and secure borders.
7. EDUCATION: Every child should have an equal opportunity to get a great education; no parent should be forced to send their child to a failing school.
8. POVERTY: The best anti-poverty program is a strong family and a good job, so our focus should be on getting people out of poverty by lifting up all people and helping them find work.
9. VALUES: Our country should value the traditions of family, life, religious liberty, and hard work.
10. ENERGY: We should make America energy independent by encouraging investment in domestic energy, lowering prices, and creating jobs at home.
11. IMMIGRATION: We need an immigration system that secures our borders, upholds the law, and boosts our economy.
In the questions afterwards, however, the Program Director, Lara Brown, questioned him about the latest target of online scorn directed at an ad produced by the College Republican National Committee comparing political candidates to wedding dresses.
Brown also questioned Priebus about the RNC’s outreach project conducted right after the 2012 presidential election, referring to it as an autopsy.
But Priebus was more comfortable explaining work he was doing on the ground to build up the Republican ground game.
He also explained that at some point President Obama would be forced to address solutions offered by Republicans, hinting that the party would win back the senate.