Thread by @asanderford

Just watched @CADonKleine change his party to the @NEGOP from the @NebraskaDems.

Presser to come outside involving a number of @NEGOP folks, including @GovRicketts, @NEvnen, @DebFischerNE and @Jean_Stothert.

A lot of state senators, a U.S. senator and a mayor, among others.

Here’s the crew for the presser that starts in a few.

Among folks I can recognize, Dan Welch of the @NEGOP, @DebFischerNE, @GovRicketts, @DonJBacon, @NEvnen, @richpahls, @brinkerh, @MeltonforOmaha and more.

Welch: Today's a great day for me, because I get to announce a great Nebraskan becoming a great Republican. His ethics are beyond reproach. Given most of his life to public service. Been an exceptional leader in this community.

Welch: Our Republican leaders have come from across the state and reworked their calendars to be a part of this today. Announces Ricketts, Fischer, Bacon, Stothert, RNC committee folks, DCRP chair Theresa Thibodeau, Lt. Gov. Foley, state senators: Slama, Linehan, LeGrone, etc.

Welch: Also have Melton and Harding and Pahls from the Omaha City Council and Sarpy County Attorney Lee Polikov.

Welch: "This is an extraordinary day for the Republican Party."

Stothert: I am pleased to welcome to the Republican Party a man who has dedicated himself to justice and fairness. "Don, welcome."

Stothert: His change in party registration will make no change in how he pursues his job. The pursuit of justice must be done regardless of politics. "Don Kleine has always looked to the law and the facts to shape his decision" in what can be a difficult search for the truth.

Stothert: Nothing can undo the needless tragic events of last May in our city. But I look forward to moving forward together.

Bacon: "Our Grand Old Party just got more grand today." We're proud to include you. This great county attorney has served honorably, with distinction. Getting to know all these folks, I heard repeatedly that I'm Republican but I respect Don Kleine.

Bacon: He's done it in a bipartisan, and even better a nonpartisan way. Don Kleine has a tough job, with a lot of ambiguity. What was said about Don Kleine by the Nebraska Democratic Party was wrong and worthy of ridicule. We know that white supremacy is repugnant and evil.

Bacon: But to use these charges as a political club to go after other people is also wrong. Let's stand up against racism, but let's not use the word cheaply.

Fischer: This is just a wonderful day. Every elected official knows that the people of Nebraska, they shake your hand, they look you in the eye and they take your measure. They listen to what you say and they follow what you do. They know if you work hard.

Fischer: They know if you get things done. They know when you put Nebraskans first. It is an honor to be here today to welcome such a man to the Republican Party. He is respected by Republicans and Democrats across this state because he is a man of integrity.

Ricketts: Welcome to the Republican Party, Don, we're very pleased to have you here. When Ronald Reagan left the Democratic Party, he said he didn't leave the Democratic Party, they left him.

Ricketts: What we've seen is the radicalization of the Democratic Party against people who support life or law enforcement. (There are many Democrats who are against abortion, though a smaller number than before, and there are also many who support law enforcement.)

Ricketts: Some have become not just disagreed with law enforcement but become hostile. He has enjoyed bipartisan support in his campaigns. Personally, it's been a pleasure working with Don these past five and a half years.

Ricketts: As Americans, we want our law enforcement and our judiciary to be above politics. "We need people like Don Kleine as county attorney."

Kleine: It's genuinely heartfelt that I'm so humbled from the remarks I've just heard. Thank you. It's inspiring for me to be here. My wife's gonna start crying. Some of the words that have been said were some of the things I planned to say.

Kleine: The beliefs of the people that are here with me are the same as mine. Changed my party. "That's a done deal." "I didn't change who Don Kleine is today. You get what you get with me." It's not going to change how I run the Douglas County Attorney's Office.

Kleine: I have a tremendous staff of people there. I've never asked one person in that office I've hired what party they are. Our mantra in the DC Attorney's Office ... is what can we do today to make Douglas County a better place to live.

Kleine: In criminal justice, there are so many different aspects of helping people. It's more than putting bad guys away. It's helping people be better people. Doesn't matter what race, what gender. It's seeking justice for people who've been victimized by crime.

Kleine: The people that know me, the resolution that the central committee passed was something that was very vile, very hurtful to me as a person. I didn't even know about it. Nobody talked to me about it. I heard about it and thought what is that?

Kleine: The decisions we make in the Douglas County Attorney's Office are based on the facts and evidence. Sometimes people don't like that. But people sometimes don't like the truth either.

Kleine: To politicize that office in that manner is something that's unforgivable and it's something that I will stand for. The person who sponsored this resolution is someone who condoned violence. He glorified somebody who had killed police officers.

Kleine: Denigrated the hard work of first responders on 9/11. Said the courthouse in Louisville was necessary to burn. Didn't see the state central committee of the Democrats denounce those statements.

Kleine: "Like many others, the Democratic Party left me some time ago. Recent events have only reinforced that."

Kleine: I know many of you. I've seen the work that you do. You care. That's why I want to be in this business.

Kleine: I like to be optimistic. I like to be energetic. I like to look to the future. And that's what this is about. That's what the Republican Party is about. The party that wants to form a more perfect union, for liberty and justice for all.

Kleine: In my future, I will run for re-election as the Douglas County Attorney in the future as a Republican.

Kleine: I'm very proud to be an American. I'm very proud to be a Nebraskan. And I'm very proud to be a Republican.

Q: Are you going to vote for President Trump?

A: I already have.

Kleine: I'm a law and order guy. He is too.

Q: You're saying you don't want to politicize the office, why hold something like this? Why not be an independent?

A: I want to be part of a party and a team. I'm very proud to be here. Not looking for the easy way out.

Q: Would you have changed parties without the resolution?

A: Maybe, maybe not. I've been thinking about it a long time. Some of the standards they have with abortion are troubling for me, can't go along with that. When you get called a white supremacist or a racist, that's it.

Q: What if GOP passes a resolution on you?

A: I can take the heat. People might disagree. They have a right to opinions. But they don't have a right to slander somebody. I'm not really worried about the Republican Party doing something like that.

Q: Will you still prosecute cops who break the law?

A: I'll call it like I see it. Let the chips fall where they may.

Q: What do you think about the words white supremacy being tied to your legacy?

A (Kleine): They aren't tied to my legacy. Ricketts also defended him.

Fischer: We hold the same principles and values, but we can disagree within our party.

Q: The resolution criticized what you said about the case. What were you privy to that encouraged you to say what you said?

A: I can't discuss it. But it was clear. We've looked at the evidence again in our office and we came down the same way.

Welch: I have yet to find out where Kara Eastman comes down on this resolution.

Kleine also endorsed Bacon. I was a little troubled when the candidate on the other side of this said this was "cold-blooded murder."

Kleine: That tells me she had a poor sense of judgment to say something that incendiary and divisive.

Here’s a statement from the @NebraskaDems:

This has wrapped up. Story will update soon on @OWHnews. Thanks for following along.

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