Nomination Speech for Jane Kleeb

Nebraska Democratic Party Chair

June 18, 2016
My name is Jane Kleeb, and I am a Progressive Democrat in the state of
Nebraska. Progressive. A loaded word. It scares people who like things the way
they are, with the scales tipped in their favor.
But its just a word. And at the root of it, is progress. Progress is a concept we
should all strive for.

Progress is a rancher whose never been involved in politics and who

stands up to stop a pipeline despite the immense corporate firepower.
Progress is a group of mothers in North Omaha, saying enough is
enough to a coal plant that was making their babies sick.
Progress is a Dreamer, a 17-year-old kid that learns hes not a citizen and
decides to organize his friends and family to fight for basic rights.
Progress is the faith leader who knew the death penalty was unjust and
created an unlikely alliance of Nebraskans to do away a broken system.

Progress is the antidote to the status quo.

The status quo. The belief that good enough is the best we can do and that the
way things are is they way they always will be. The status quo isnt harmless. It
holds people back who want to make the world better and creates excuses for
those who are just looking out for themselves.
The status quo even has its own political party in this state: they call themselves
Republicans.
For too long the people of Nebraska have been subject to the leadership of a
party that is all too content to sacrifice the progress of the people for the comfort
of the elite.
Republicans flatten funding for education instead of ensuring access to
preschool for every Nebraska student.
Republicans see the suffering of our Native brothers, sisters and children
at White Clay and look the other way as if its not their problem.
Republicans block clean energy initiatives because their corporate
backers tell them to.
Republicans stand by while corporate interests invoke eminent domain to
take the land and water of Nebraska family farmers.
Republicans pretend the right to work is a great thing for workers, and
yet we all know what it really means is a right for big corporations to stop
unions, a lifeblood of Democrats
And Republicans turn their back on expanding Medicaid, seemingly fine
with leaving taxpayer money on the table while sick people wait for care.

Nomination Speech for Jane Kleeb

Nebraska Democratic Party Chair
June 18, 2016
The Republican Party that champions the status quo is due for a wake up call.
That wake up call comes in the form of our newly-energized Democratic Party,
bolstered by Bernie supporters who finally have a seat at the table and Hillary
supporters who are on the cusp of history, putting a woman in the White House.
Its a party of the people, by the people, for the people. We live in urban lofts,
suburban cul de sacs, and third generation farmhouses. We are black, white,
Latino, Asian and Native American. Male and female. LGBT. Young and old.
New blood, and blue bloods. Rich, poor, and middle class. Proud union
members.
And we are, most importantly, at our core, Nebraskans. Honest. No bull. Fierce
and friendly and hardworking all at once.
Ive spent my entire life on the front lines, fighting for and with the people.
We the people joined hands with farmers and ranchers to reject the
Keystone XL Pipeline.
We the people are the mothers in Omaha keeping their babies safe.
We the people are Dreamers, fighting for legal status in our state, so that
they can turn around and make it a better place to live.
We the people know Love Wins. Always.
We the people are the brave leaders who finally put the death penalty out
of its misery.

We the people stand united with Bernie and Hillary, to show Donald
Trump that his hateful, divisive, clueless rhetoric is not welcome in the
Good Life.

In short, we the people get things done.

I stand for the people of this state and the idea that The Good Life is a birth right,
not a privilege. Thats it for everyone. That means economic equality. Civil rights
for all. Clean energy. To put it another way progress.
Progress isnt a bad word. It doesnt need limits. It needs a vision and a leader.
Im here today to tell you that I am that leader. Ive been fighting for the people
for years and it would be my honor to continue to do so as the chair of our
Nebraska Democratic Party. I will ensure that we show up in the streets, on front
doorsteps, and in voting booths to elect representatives that put people first and
look like the communities they are representing.
Thats what progress is. Together, we can bring it to Nebraska. Together, we can
win elections. Together we get things done.