RNC chair wants to reform 'circus' debate process

This is a rush transcript from "Hannity," May 15, 2014. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

SEAN HANNITY, HOST: Now, earlier we talked about these very things with RNC chairman Reince Priebus. He joined me at the Hannity Big Board to discuss what the Republican strategy of 2014 should be, and beyond.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HANNITY: All right, the chair of the Republican National Committee Reince Priebus is with us. How are you? Good to see you.

REINCE PRIEBUS, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: Sean, I'm doing great, how are you?

HANNITY: Before we get to some of the issues before us and some of the races, really contested races to get the Senate back, let me first ask you about the debate process. You commented publicly about it. You want to change it. You want penalties to exist for maybe some candidates that accept debate opportunities that the party doesn't sanction. What are you trying to accomplish?

PRIEBUS: First of all, I don't know anyone in America at least that's a Republican that thinks that 23 debates in front of liberal moderators is good for our party. So first of all, it's a circus. So what I've said is, look, we're not going to have 23 debates. We're going to have a reasonable number of debates. And this time around we're going to pick the moderators, debate partners, the frequency and the timing, not the other way around. So I think that this is something really important to our party. I just don't think we ought to have debates any more in front of people who are in the business of trying to destroy our party deposing our candidates.

HANNITY: This is the interesting thing. I've always felt George Stephanopoulos, he is connecting with his friends in the Democratic Party for set-up questions for the candidate who eventually wins in the general election.

PRIEBUS: Worse than that, one cycle ago we had Chris Matthews hosting a debate of Republicans. It's like taking the worst enemy lawyer of your opponent and saying I'm going to voluntarily sit here and be deposed by a person who is in the business of creating news at our expense.

HANNITY: I have a great idea. We'll do a "Hannity" TV-radio extravaganza, make it a couple of hours. I just want to open it up and let the candidates -- I'll try to stay out of the way, we'll make a deal tonight.

PRIEBUS: I want this -- and seriously, you'd be a great moderator. But I want people who can ask fair, tough questions, who aren't in the business of trying to make news at our expense, but people who actually give a darn about the future of not just our country but also our party taking part in these debates. It's a really simple thing. And it's a reasonable solution.

HANNITY: I agree. I think if you go to some of these networks you're crazy. I believe -- the whole thing is going to be a set up.

PRIEBUS: And I'm not interested.

HANNITY: Look at Candy Crowley in the debate, look how big an impact, you know? Right, Candy? There is Obama. She was wrong and Obama was wrong on the issue of Benghazi that he called it a terror attack.

PRIEBUS: First of all, you also had some of these guys doing debates two days in a row, Saturday night, Sunday morning, the next week. So you're not raising money, you're not meeting voters, you're not doing anything other than preparing for debates, the aftermath of the debates, the spin from the debates, and all because you have avail yourself to people who are not interested in the good of our party.

HANNITY: Let me ask you a final question. I look at these conservative governors, Rick Scott in Florida, Nikki Haley, Bobby Jindal, Rick Perry, John Kasich --

PRIEBU: My governor, Walker.

HANNITY: Your governor, Scott Walker. Scott Walker put everything on the line, and now he's given a billion dollars back to the people of Wisconsin and he inherited a $3.5 billion budget deficit.

PRIEBUS: Yes. Everything is turned around.

HANNITY: Everything is turning around. Deficits become surpluses in every one of those states. Unemployment rates go down. I'm a little frustrated with the Republicans on a national level and in Washington. Where is the inspiring agenda that unites the Tea Party and the establishment? I want a five item list that would include an alternative to ObamaCare, a plan to balance the budget --

PRIEBUS: School choice.

HANNITY: School choice is on the list. Control the borders first, and energy is the answer to a lot of our problems. Five things.

PRIEBUS: You bet. Listen, I think no matter who you are in your party, the five things that you believe in, you know, every day of the week and twice on Sunday, release those five things. I think it makes us go from good to great, and I agree with you 100 percent.

HANNITY: In other words, it can't just be against ObamaCare. It's got to be a vision. But there is no consensus yet.

PRIEBUS: I think there will be.

HANNITY: You think there will be?

PRIEBUS: I think there will be. And I think the point is, yes, I think ObamaCare, Obama, all these things are important issues.

HANNITY: But if you give us a chance to govern, we will do this.

PRIEBUS: And every couple times at bat you've got to be for what you're for. I'm with you, five things that bring us together.

HANNITY: When will I hear it so I can stop calling them timid in D.C.?

(LAUGHTER)

PRIEBUS: More to come.

HANNITY: All right, good to see you.

PRIEBUS: Thank you.

HANNITY: Appreciate it.

PRIEBUS: God bless.

HANNITY: Thanks so much.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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