Billy Kennedy, the Gentleman Farmer

YES! Weekly
By: Keith Barber
Published: May 19, 2010
If you close your eyes, Billy Kennedy could easily be confused with Jefferson Smith, the character played by Jimmy Stewart in Frank Capra’s 1939 classic film, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

In the movie, the nave and idealistic Smith is appointed to the US Senate by a governor that kowtows to the state’s top political boss. Smith runs into political corruption when he tries to advance a bill to create a national boys camp, and becomes discouraged. One of the most famous scenes in the film portrays Smith’s marathon filibuster on the Senate floor. Jimmy Stewart’s performance is the stuff of Hollywood legend, but his profound words are what stay with us forever.

Kennedy, the Democratic candidate for the US House District 5 seat, spoke with the same kind of idealism and conviction as Jefferson Smith during his address to the 5th Congressional District Democratic Party Annual Convention in Statesville on May 15. Kennedy talked about his personal philosophy and ethos, one that he learned from his parents — an ethos based on the Golden Rule. He spoke of his love of farming, building houses and crafting furniture. He said his daily life connects him to the land, which has led him to become an environmentalist. Kennedy talked about his desire to leave his farm to his children someday, and to leave it better than he found it. more...

Billy Kennedy Goes to DC

Billy Kennedy was in Washington, D.C., this week meeting with members of North Carolina's congressional delegation and sharing with them the issues important to residents of Western North Carolina.

News Brief: Kennedy brings down-home message to Democratic Party activists

YES! Weekly
By: Keith Barber
Published: May 19, 2010

As Billy Kennedy hit the 15-minute mark of his speech during the 5th Congressional District Democratic Party Annual Convention at Mitchell Community College in Statesville on May 15, he began to wrap it up by making his plea to the party delegates in attendance.

“I’m reaching out to y’all,” said Kennedy, the Democratic nominee for the US House seat currently held by Republican Virginia Foxx. “Fifty-five percent of the voters in the district are women. I’m challenging all you women to bring these men back to their senses.”

Kennedy’s remark was received by a smattering of laughter from the roughly 75 people in the audience, but the candidate didn’t take a breath. He forged ahead.

“This is not something I’m doing for me — that’s what I remembered early on,” he continued. “I’m doing this for y’all because you’re the people of the 5th District. That’s who representatives are supposed to serve — the people, not themselves.” more ...

News Brief: Foxx challenger addresses Dems

Foxx challenger addresses Dems
Statesville Record & Landmark
May 16, 2010
By Jim McNally

With its current configuration, the terms "Democratic Convention" and "5th Congressional District" may seem incongruent.
Only 44 districts in the nation — out of 435 — were more supportive of Republican presidential candidates in the last two elections than North Carolina's 5th District.
And the seat's current occupant, Virginia Foxx, has captured 58.3 percent of the votes cast in the last three elections against three different Democrats.
Those less-than-encouraging facts notwithstanding, the 5th District Democrats held their convention Saturday in the auditorium of Mitchell Community College's Continuing Education Center in Statesville.
Watauga County farmer, carpenter and radio personality Billy Kennedy will be facing Foxx in this fall's general election and was the keynote speaker at Saturday's convention.
Kennedy said Foxx can be counted among other Republican politicians who, he said, are largely responsible for the economic crisis that has dominated the news for the past two and a half years and then have come to blame the Democrats for their efforts to try to bring an end to it.
Quoting an unnamed source, Kennedy said, "They ran our economy into a ditch and then complained about the size of the two trucks we're using to get it out."
Kennedy spoke about the need for those who are able to help others who are less fortunate.
"There is a value in taking care of others," he said.
He also said there are a number of benefits — including living longer and healthier lives — in societies that tend to treat their members with equality.
"But my opponent, unfortunately, still likes to use divisiveness to try to get re-elected," Kennedy added.

Read full article here.

Billy Kennedy Will Keynote the 5th District Democratic Convention

BETHEL, NC - "Western North Carolina Democrats cannot afford to be complacent or defeatist," said Congressional candidate Billy Kennedy, "not when the most regressive forces in the Republican Party are intent on grabbing power and taking our society back to the same failed economic and social policies they used to drive our country into the ditch. Now all they do is complain about how big a tow-truck is needed to pull us out."

That's the message that Billy Kennedy will take to the 5th District Democratic Convention on Saturday, May 15, at Mitchell Community College (Continuing Education Auditorium, 701 West Front Street in Statesville). The Convention will convene at 11 a.m. following registration and a social hour beginning at 10 a.m.

"Virginia Foxx will be beaten," Kennedy declared, "when Democrats are united in their belief that they represent enlightenment and optimism for the future. All the Republicans offer is a loud 'NO!' to every positive program put forward for working people."

Registered Democrats in the 12 counties of the 5th Congressional District do not have to be officially designated as delegates to attend the convention.

"We need a strong showing of stalwart and enthusiastic Democrats at our annual Convention," said Kennedy. "We can win, but we can't win sitting on our hands, or wringing them either."

Any questions regarding the Convention should be directed to 5th District Secretary Miranda Burgin at mirandaburgin@gmail.com.

Billy Kennedy Looks Forward to Spirited Campaign With Virginia Foxx

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: LAINEY EDMISTEN, CAMPAIGN MANAGER, C.910.616.9729, HQ.828.262.4940, lainey@billykennedy.com

MAY 5, 2010
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Billy Kennedy Looks Forward to Spirited Campaign With Virginia Foxx


BETHEL, NC - I look forward to a spirited campaign this Fall against incumbent Representative Virginia Foxx for a seat in the US House of Representatives.

One in five Republicans in the 5th North Carolina district are unhappy with her representation in Washington. That's because during Ms. Foxx's 8 years in Washington, the people in our district know that they have nothing to show for her representation other than continued hard times. While Ms. Foxx continues to count on us to believe her promises to create jobs and reduce government spending, during her 8 years in Washington, she has done neither.

I can do better for the working people of the 5th district, and I will.