RACINE — House Speaker Paul Ryan addressed the elephant in the room during the Lincoln Day Dinner Saturday evening:

“It was a rough week in the salt mines,” he said.

Ryan, the third-highest-ranking Republican in the U.S. government, was the keynote speaker at the annual event sponsored by the Republican Party of Kenosha County and Republican Party of Racine County.

But Saturday’s celebration of conservative electoral gains was held the day after an embarrassing defeat for Ryan and President Donald Trump.

Republican leaders pulled their bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) off the House floor when it became clear it would fail — after seven years of nonstop railing against the law.

“It was not the best day,” Ryan told the gathering of 300 Republicans in Festival Hall. “We didn’t get quite over the finish line in our efforts, our seven-year quest to repeal and replace Obamacare, and I am not going to stop until we do.”

Ryan said President Barack Obama’s signature achievement “is doing real damage to this country” as it takes away “citizens’ freedom.”

‘Growing pains’Ryan called Friday’s debacle a “hiccup” partly because Republicans are not yet used to governing as the majority party.

“The country gave us their trust, their confidence, their votes. They gave us the White House, the Senate and the House. We haven’t had that in 10 years,” Ryan said.

Ryan said it will take time for GOP leaders to overcome their “growing pains.”

“We were a pretty good opposition party for the last 10 years. I think our success as an opposition party for the last 10 years helped deliver the election we just had.

“Being an opposition party is really kind of simple and easy — you just vote ‘no;’ you just oppose. We’re trying to go from that mindset and mentality to becoming a governing and proposition party.”

Ryan also promised attendees Saturday evening that he and Trump have “a lot more in store” and have been working in tandem since Trump’s inauguration.

“He’s a very, very engaged guy,” Ryan said of Trump. “We are going to get this stuff done.”

Large gatheringThis marked the first year the Republican parties of Kenosha and Racine co-hosted the Lincoln Day Dinner.

“This is the biggest event of the year for both counties,” said state Rep. Samantha Kerkman, R-Salem Lakes, who helped organize the dinner. “It’s blending the two counties.”

Kerkman said it’s a great time to be a Republican in southeastern Wisconsin, partly because of increased investment and lower unemployment.

“Our theme: Celebrate. We’re celebrating our victory in November,” said Erin Decker, chairwoman of the Republican Party of Kenosha County. “We’re celebrating Kenosha County going red for president.”

Protesters gatherDozens of local activists protested Ryan’s appearance outside Festival Hall.

The protesters, most from Kenosha and Racine counties, decried Ryan’s failed attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and his working relationship with Trump. They gathered in Monument Square, near Main Street and Fifth Avenue.

“(Ryan) never comes to listen to us, so this is the only chance we have,” said 60-year-old Nikki Aiello of Racine. “He ought to put country above party, which he is not doing.”

Kathy Laru, of Racine, held a sign with a picture of Ryan and the caption: “You are paying for my health insurance. I don’t give a damn about yours.”

“We can’t keep letting him get away with all the lies he puts forth,” Laru, 71, said. “It’s about time people start realizing what a fraud he is.”

Bookseller Bill Gregory, of Kenosha, held a large neon flag with “RESIST” printed on it. He is demanding Ryan and other Congressional Republicans investigate Trump’s ties to Russia, which has been linked to dabbling in the 2016 to get Trump elected over Hillary Clinton.

“This is the most pressing issue,” said Gregory, 50. “I try to get out and protest Ryan and Trump two or three times a week.”

Retired Kenosha teacher Barb Delaney wore her old yellow crossing guard raincoat. She is angry with proposed cuts to health care, National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting System.

“They are going after the little guy,” said Delany, 64. “They want cuts for the wealthiest and represent corporations.”

However, Dan O’Donnell, a conservative radio personality on 1130 WISN Milwaukee, laughed off the protest inside the event. O’Donnell, who served as master of ceremonies, said the protesters were “not all that intellectual” and stuck outside in the cold.

“I thought the most honest sign they could be carrying would be: ‘I’m just here because George Soros paid me,’” O’Donnell said, referring to the belief among some conservatives that progressive protesters are compensated and organized by Soros, a billionaire investor and liberal philanthropist.