Kleeb: We're at a defining moment

A nation is defined by moments, and Scott Kleeb said another one of those is upon us.

“Our nation has been defined by moments,” Kleeb told delegates to the Nebraska Democratic Party state convention Sunday morning. “Moments like the speech that Martin Luther King gave when he said ‘I have a dream.’ Moments like the words on the moon that said simply ‘One small step for man; one giant leap for mankind.’ Moments that defined who we are and what we are willing to stand for.

“This year, in 2008, we know that we are at one of those moments,” he added. “When on Nov. 4 we can call Sen. Barack Obama president-elect, we know it will be one of those moments.”

Kleeb is seeking the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Chuck Hagel, who did not seek re-election. Kleeb faces Republican Mike Johanns, Green Party candidate Steve Larrick and Nebraska Party candidate Kelly Renee Rosberg in the November general election.

Now is the time to change the politics of the past and start moving forward, Kleeb said. It’s time to work on an agenda that includes the environment, health care and education.

“We choose not to shrink from the challenges,” he said. “We choose to let those challenges define who it is that we are as Americans, as Nebraskans.

Kleeb, who won a four-way race in the primary for the Democratic nomination, said the challenges we face as a nation can be solved by working together.

He added that the election is about the future.

“This election is about you,” he said. “This election is about your future. This election is about what you believe in.”

Kleeb originally was scheduled to speak at the convention on Saturday, but attended an event in North Platte instead. Attendance for Sunday morning’s session appeared to be about half of Saturday’s when delegates to the national convention were elected.

The convention ended Sunday.