Saturday, October 30, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Four Days to Go ... Will You Help?
We are down to the wire. We have only four days left to change Washington. While the pundits say the national Republican tide is strong, we have done this before. We have won when the chips are down, and that's why we need you more than ever now.
We are proud to support a man like Billy Kennedy for Congress. His closing remarks at the debate are a clarion call for action in these final days. Click on this link to see Billy's call to change Washington.
After watching the video, sign up to volunteer at one of our get-out-the vote events in an area near you. Call, email, facebook, and twitter your friends and ask them to come help us too. With your help we will fix the broken politics of Washington.
Many of you stepped up to the plate when we asked you to keep our ads on the air, and now we are asking for something just as precious--your time AND your vote.
Friday 10/29
1 pm - 4 pm, 4 pm - 8 pm
Saturday 10/30
9 am-1 pm, 1-4 pm, 4- 8pm
Sunday 10/31
3-5 pm, 5-7 pm, 7-9 pm
Monday 11/1
9 am-1 pm, 1-4 pm, 4- 9pm
Tuesday 11/2
6 am-9 am, 9 am-1 pm, 1-4 pm, 4-7 pm
Door to door canvassers (wear comfortable shoes)
Also need food and drink, gas cards, and general office help at each location.
420 East 2nd Street
West Jefferson, NC 28694
Watauga County Democratic Party Headquarters
770 W King Street
Boone, NC 28607
Wilkes County Democratic Party Headquarters
Behind Rite Aid at 1350 West D Street
N Wilkesboro, NC 28659
Forsyth County Democratic Party Headquarters
1128 Burke Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Billy Kennedy for Congress Elkin Headquarters
110 Alley Way
Elkin, NC 28621
Alexander County Democratic Party Headquarters
204 SW 1st Street
Taylorsville, NC 28681
Iredell County Democratic Party Headquarters
233 E. Front Street
Statesville, NC 28677
Thanks for all your help. Give us a few hours of your time and we will give you a Congressman!
Look forward to working with you over the next few days. Please let us know when we can count on your help by calling 828.262.4940.
We are proud to support a man like Billy Kennedy for Congress. His closing remarks at the debate are a clarion call for action in these final days. Click on this link to see Billy's call to change Washington.
After watching the video, sign up to volunteer at one of our get-out-the vote events in an area near you. Call, email, facebook, and twitter your friends and ask them to come help us too. With your help we will fix the broken politics of Washington.
Many of you stepped up to the plate when we asked you to keep our ads on the air, and now we are asking for something just as precious--your time AND your vote.
GOTV Schedule Friday, 10/29 through Tuesday, 11/2
Friday 10/29
1 pm - 4 pm, 4 pm - 8 pm
Saturday 10/30
9 am-1 pm, 1-4 pm, 4- 8pm
Sunday 10/31
3-5 pm, 5-7 pm, 7-9 pm
Monday 11/1
9 am-1 pm, 1-4 pm, 4- 9pm
Tuesday 11/2
6 am-9 am, 9 am-1 pm, 1-4 pm, 4-7 pm
What we need:
Phone callers (bring your cell phone and charger and/or laptop)Door to door canvassers (wear comfortable shoes)
Also need food and drink, gas cards, and general office help at each location.
Locations:
To RSVP for any location: 828.262.4940
Ashe County Democratic Party Headquarters420 East 2nd Street
West Jefferson, NC 28694
Watauga County Democratic Party Headquarters
770 W King Street
Boone, NC 28607
Wilkes County Democratic Party Headquarters
Behind Rite Aid at 1350 West D Street
N Wilkesboro, NC 28659
Forsyth County Democratic Party Headquarters
1128 Burke Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Billy Kennedy for Congress Elkin Headquarters
110 Alley Way
Elkin, NC 28621
Alexander County Democratic Party Headquarters
204 SW 1st Street
Taylorsville, NC 28681
Iredell County Democratic Party Headquarters
233 E. Front Street
Statesville, NC 28677
Thanks for all your help. Give us a few hours of your time and we will give you a Congressman!
Look forward to working with you over the next few days. Please let us know when we can count on your help by calling 828.262.4940.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Join Billie in supporting Billy! Vote Early!
"She said she has always been a strong Democrat and she was excited to vote for Billy," said Heath.
Heath is an Iraq war veteran who has been working hard in Winston-Salem to get out the vote for Billy.
Join Heath by volunteering and join Billie by voting early today!
This is your opportunity to change your representation in Congress.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Join Us with Elaine Marshall in Winston-Salem
Dear supporters:
I'll be in Winston-Salem tomorrow with a few friends -- Elaine Marshall, Senator Linda Garrou, Representative Earline Parmon, Representative Larry Womble, along with other Forsyth County elected officials and candidates. I hope you'll join us for a big Early Voting Rally.
When: This Friday, October 22 at High Noon (We are asking everyone
to arrive before 11:45 am.)
Location: The Government Center
201 N Chestnut St
Winston Salem, NC 27101
We've got the momentum, and we've got to keep it going for 12 more days! Please join us.
If you can't make the rally, we need your help making calls. Click here to help us get out the vote.
Sincerely,
Billy Kennedy
I'll be in Winston-Salem tomorrow with a few friends -- Elaine Marshall, Senator Linda Garrou, Representative Earline Parmon, Representative Larry Womble, along with other Forsyth County elected officials and candidates. I hope you'll join us for a big Early Voting Rally.
When: This Friday, October 22 at High Noon (We are asking everyone
to arrive before 11:45 am.)
Location: The Government Center
201 N Chestnut St
Winston Salem, NC 27101
We've got the momentum, and we've got to keep it going for 12 more days! Please join us.
If you can't make the rally, we need your help making calls. Click here to help us get out the vote.
Sincerely,
Billy Kennedy
Monday, October 18, 2010
DownwithTyranny: 5th District winnable for Kennedy
Published at downwithtyranny.blogspot.com
Monday, Oct. 18, 2010
Billy Kennedy's go at the seat Foxx is occupying-- and how it is looking more and more possible. The Winston-Salem Journal endorsement of Kennedy against Foxx was devastating to her, since she's always had the support of the district's biggest newspaper in the past.
Click here to read more...
Monday, Oct. 18, 2010
Billy Kennedy's go at the seat Foxx is occupying-- and how it is looking more and more possible. The Winston-Salem Journal endorsement of Kennedy against Foxx was devastating to her, since she's always had the support of the district's biggest newspaper in the past.
Click here to read more...
Virginia Foxx: Crazy or Just Cruel?
posted at Alan Colmes' Liberaland
October 15, 2010
by Sandi Behrns
Rep. Virginia Foxx, who has inexplicably represented North Carolina’s 5th District for four terms, met her Democratic rival Billy Kennedy Thursday night, for their second debate in three days. Foxx got off to a particularly bad start when she attempted to disparage Billy Kennedy’s claim to be a regular working man. She smirked as she held up her own hands as proof that she works. The audience gasped. It seems everyone in attendance knew that Billy Kennedy lost the tip of his index finger in a workplace carpentry accident almost four years ago. Everyone, that is, except Mrs. Foxx.
Click here to read more....
October 15, 2010
by Sandi Behrns
Rep. Virginia Foxx, who has inexplicably represented North Carolina’s 5th District for four terms, met her Democratic rival Billy Kennedy Thursday night, for their second debate in three days. Foxx got off to a particularly bad start when she attempted to disparage Billy Kennedy’s claim to be a regular working man. She smirked as she held up her own hands as proof that she works. The audience gasped. It seems everyone in attendance knew that Billy Kennedy lost the tip of his index finger in a workplace carpentry accident almost four years ago. Everyone, that is, except Mrs. Foxx.
Click here to read more....
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Kennedy-Foxx Debate full audio now available online
You can now listen to the full audio recording in MP3 format from the Oct. 12 debate between Billy and incumbent Virginia Foxx. Just follow the links below from NPR station WFDD:
Listen to Part 1 (10.20MB)
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Foxx, Kennedy Battle in First Major Debate of Midterm Elections
Published by The Mountain Times
October, 13, 2010
By Jesse Campbell
West Jefferson became center stage Tuesday night for what is shaping up to be a hotly contested race for the Fifth Congressional District seat between Congresswoman Virginia Foxx and Democratic challenger Billy Kennedy.
The Ashe Civic Center was filled to near capacity as some residents found their place against the back wall to hear the candidates exchange in a war of words over some of the more controversial issues facing the nation today including the economy, immigration, abortion, proper use of the nation's military, education and the role of the federal government in those issues. ...
In terms of job retention, Kennedy attacked Foxx's policies on keeping jobs from going overseas and pointed out that the unemployment rate in the district had more than doubled since the beginning of her tenure. Foxx believes that lowering the nation's corporate tax, the second highest in the world, will create more jobs stateside and act as incentive to keep companies from leaving.
Throughout much of the night, Foxx battled claims made by Kennedy that her actions in Congress were influenced by corporate contributions.
Click here to read full article.
October, 13, 2010
By Jesse Campbell
West Jefferson became center stage Tuesday night for what is shaping up to be a hotly contested race for the Fifth Congressional District seat between Congresswoman Virginia Foxx and Democratic challenger Billy Kennedy.
The Ashe Civic Center was filled to near capacity as some residents found their place against the back wall to hear the candidates exchange in a war of words over some of the more controversial issues facing the nation today including the economy, immigration, abortion, proper use of the nation's military, education and the role of the federal government in those issues. ...
In terms of job retention, Kennedy attacked Foxx's policies on keeping jobs from going overseas and pointed out that the unemployment rate in the district had more than doubled since the beginning of her tenure. Foxx believes that lowering the nation's corporate tax, the second highest in the world, will create more jobs stateside and act as incentive to keep companies from leaving.
Throughout much of the night, Foxx battled claims made by Kennedy that her actions in Congress were influenced by corporate contributions.
Click here to read full article.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Billy Kennedy's Hands Win Another Battle with Incumbent Virginia Foxx
BOONE -- The audience was stunned tonight when Congresswoman Virginia Foxx tried to imply that Billy Kennedy isn't the working man he says he is. She smirked as she held up her own hands as proof that she works.
The audience in the Watauga County Courthouse gasped. Billy Kennedy lost the tip of his index finger in a workplace carpentry accident almost four years ago. Virginia Foxx apparently didn't know that.
After that opening, Virginia Foxx stuck with her Washington talking points.
She said she would like to see 5 percent across-the-board cuts to the federal budget.
What she didn't pause to explain was how 5 percent cuts to Social Security, Medicare and education -- to name only three programs important to 5th District citizens -- would harshly impact seniors, children and others already suffering from job losses and the stock market crash brought on by failed economic policies supported by Foxx.
Kennedy said, "I will not cut Social Security and Medicare."
Foxx defended the corporate takeover of our American democracy. She praised the Supreme Court decision this year that gave the biggest corporations the right to spend unlimited amounts of cash to influence our elections.
Billy Kennedy responded, "I'm all for individual rights. When corporations can show us their birth certificates, then we can give them the same rights as individuals."
Foxx said she supported no federal assistance for education -- zero. Kennedy in response defended the many lower-income students who had benefited from federal loans -- which Foxx has voted against -- and the importance of the Federal School Lunch Program which made learning a possibility for many kids in public school, and which Foxx also voted against.
Foxx suggested that federal unemployment benefits just made workers lazy. Kennedy countered that it takes a cold heart indeed to deny people who are truly hurting for work -- through no fault of their own -- a helping hand until they can find new jobs.
Tonight's encounter was the second face-to-face public exchange that Kennedy and Foxx have had in the past three days, and Kennedy got a second slam dunk.
The audience in the Watauga County Courthouse gasped. Billy Kennedy lost the tip of his index finger in a workplace carpentry accident almost four years ago. Virginia Foxx apparently didn't know that.
After that opening, Virginia Foxx stuck with her Washington talking points.
She said she would like to see 5 percent across-the-board cuts to the federal budget.
What she didn't pause to explain was how 5 percent cuts to Social Security, Medicare and education -- to name only three programs important to 5th District citizens -- would harshly impact seniors, children and others already suffering from job losses and the stock market crash brought on by failed economic policies supported by Foxx.
Kennedy said, "I will not cut Social Security and Medicare."
Foxx defended the corporate takeover of our American democracy. She praised the Supreme Court decision this year that gave the biggest corporations the right to spend unlimited amounts of cash to influence our elections.
Billy Kennedy responded, "I'm all for individual rights. When corporations can show us their birth certificates, then we can give them the same rights as individuals."
Foxx said she supported no federal assistance for education -- zero. Kennedy in response defended the many lower-income students who had benefited from federal loans -- which Foxx has voted against -- and the importance of the Federal School Lunch Program which made learning a possibility for many kids in public school, and which Foxx also voted against.
Foxx suggested that federal unemployment benefits just made workers lazy. Kennedy countered that it takes a cold heart indeed to deny people who are truly hurting for work -- through no fault of their own -- a helping hand until they can find new jobs.
Tonight's encounter was the second face-to-face public exchange that Kennedy and Foxx have had in the past three days, and Kennedy got a second slam dunk.
This just in: Zach Galifianakis endorses Billy Kennedy
Posted at: Greensboro News & Record blog
Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010
This just in from our Wilkes County bureau, aka government editor Margaret Banks:
Democrat Bill Kennedy, who is running against Republican U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx’s in the 5th Congressional District, picked up a bizarre yet important endorsement on Thursday:
Zach Galifianakis.
You know … the comedian? The weird bearded guy from “The Hangover?” The dude who shaved his beard on “Saturday Night Live?”
Galifianakis posted this entry on his Facebook page: “Hi, NC. Just a reminder of who Virginia Foxx is. She is not cool and no relation to Redd Foxx. Vote Bill Kennedy.”
Below that, he posted a link of Foxx on the House floor in April 2009, discussing Matthew Shepherd, the University of Wyoming student who was tortured and murdered after being lured out of a bar by two men. In the oft-played You Tube clip, Fox says Shepherd was killed while committing a robbery, not because he was gay – sparking outrage across the country.
So why does Galifianakis care? He’s from Wilkesboro, for starters. His parents still live there. He owns property in the county. And he has deep family ties to the Democratic party. His uncle, Nick Galifianakis, served in the N.C. House and the U.S. House, and ran unsuccessfully against Jesse Helms for U.S. Senate in 1972. In fact, it was Nick Galifianakis’ Greek heritage that prompted Helms’ famous slogan: “Jesse Helms: He’s One of Us.”
Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010
This just in from our Wilkes County bureau, aka government editor Margaret Banks:
Democrat Bill Kennedy, who is running against Republican U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx’s in the 5th Congressional District, picked up a bizarre yet important endorsement on Thursday:
Zach Galifianakis.
You know … the comedian? The weird bearded guy from “The Hangover?” The dude who shaved his beard on “Saturday Night Live?”
Galifianakis posted this entry on his Facebook page: “Hi, NC. Just a reminder of who Virginia Foxx is. She is not cool and no relation to Redd Foxx. Vote Bill Kennedy.”
Below that, he posted a link of Foxx on the House floor in April 2009, discussing Matthew Shepherd, the University of Wyoming student who was tortured and murdered after being lured out of a bar by two men. In the oft-played You Tube clip, Fox says Shepherd was killed while committing a robbery, not because he was gay – sparking outrage across the country.
So why does Galifianakis care? He’s from Wilkesboro, for starters. His parents still live there. He owns property in the county. And he has deep family ties to the Democratic party. His uncle, Nick Galifianakis, served in the N.C. House and the U.S. House, and ran unsuccessfully against Jesse Helms for U.S. Senate in 1972. In fact, it was Nick Galifianakis’ Greek heritage that prompted Helms’ famous slogan: “Jesse Helms: He’s One of Us.”
Gloves Off: Foxx, Kennedy Debate Issues Before Full House
Published by High Country Press
Oct. 14, 2010
By Anna Oakes
At a debate in West Jefferson Tuesday, Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx called the 2010 mid-term election “the most important election in my lifetime” and often blamed Democrats for the country’s economic woes, while her opponent, Democrat Billy Kennedy, attempted to paint Foxx as a career politician beholden to corporate interests and vowed to put people over corporations.
The 90-minute debate, hosted by the New River Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), took place at the Ashe Civic Center in West Jefferson. The two candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives seat representing North Carolina’s Fifth Congressional District fielded questions from a panel of three local media professionals.
Click here to read full article.
Oct. 14, 2010
By Anna Oakes
At a debate in West Jefferson Tuesday, Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx called the 2010 mid-term election “the most important election in my lifetime” and often blamed Democrats for the country’s economic woes, while her opponent, Democrat Billy Kennedy, attempted to paint Foxx as a career politician beholden to corporate interests and vowed to put people over corporations.
The 90-minute debate, hosted by the New River Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), took place at the Ashe Civic Center in West Jefferson. The two candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives seat representing North Carolina’s Fifth Congressional District fielded questions from a panel of three local media professionals.
Click here to read full article.
Foxx, Kennedy Debate Issues
Published by the Jefferson Post
On Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010
By Linda Burchette
WEST JEFFERSON -- Republican Congresswoman Virginia Foxx and her Democratic challenger, Billy Kennedy, took every opportunity at Tuesday night’s forum to make clear the differences between them. By Wednesday morning, Foxx’s website was claiming debate victory for the six-year incumbent, but judging by the crowd’s reactions last night Kennedy appeared to be the favorite.
Conducted by the New River Chapter of the Military Officers’ Association of America (MOAA), the forum took place at Ashe Civic Center, with questions submitted by the public and presented by a panel of journalists. Topics included jobs, environment, healthcare, immigration and the economy.
Click here to read full article.
On Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010
By Linda Burchette
WEST JEFFERSON -- Republican Congresswoman Virginia Foxx and her Democratic challenger, Billy Kennedy, took every opportunity at Tuesday night’s forum to make clear the differences between them. By Wednesday morning, Foxx’s website was claiming debate victory for the six-year incumbent, but judging by the crowd’s reactions last night Kennedy appeared to be the favorite.
Conducted by the New River Chapter of the Military Officers’ Association of America (MOAA), the forum took place at Ashe Civic Center, with questions submitted by the public and presented by a panel of journalists. Topics included jobs, environment, healthcare, immigration and the economy.
Click here to read full article.
Billy Kennedy: This One Could Surprise Us
Posted by BlueAmerica on October 13, 2010
Dear Friend,
The most appealing things about the Dean tenure's 50 state strategy was the idea that you never know what might happen in any campaign so it was best to be prepared and at least nominally support candidates everywhere just in case the brilliant electoral prognosticators in DC might not always know ahead of time who is and isn't "unelectable." (I can't help but think that if these people were so damned good at picking winners, we wouldn't find ourselves on the brink of electoral disaster quite as often as we do.) So, it's been left to the progressive netroots and grassroots to try to give some of these candidates a little support to make up for the fact that the party refuses to even spend a penny to help them out.
Aside from the important work of spreading the good word and building movement politics for the long term, sometimes unexpected things do happen. For instance, Blue America candidate Billy Kennedy, who is challenging the intellectually challenged Virginia Foxx in NC-05, may just pull this thing out despite the fact that the DCCC has behaved as if the loony Republican is impossible to beat. The major newspaper of the district, the Winston-Salem Journal, which normally endorses Republicans, came out for Kennedy this past week-end and made a very good case for his election:
U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, a Republican from Watauga County, has not achieved any great accomplishments for the residents of the 5th Congressional District, and has angered and embarrassed many with her sometimes wild statements that seem designed to provoke. It’s time for a fresh, progressive voice in the 5th District. We believe that Democrat Billy Kennedy, a Watauga farmer and carpenter who says he’ll work to reverse the high rate of unemployment in the district, is that voice. He’s the best candidate in the Nov. 2 election for the 5th District.
Blue America has raised money this year to run some ads against Foxx and they've upset the poor delicate hate merchant so much she sent out a letter to her constituents to beg them for help: Several liberal organizations have coordinated with our opponent’s campaign to run some personal attack ads against Congresswoman Foxx. You may have seen these disgusting ads. Instead of condemning these ugly attacks, our opponent’s campaign praised them and said that Foxx supporters don’t have a brain or a heart. These types of attacks really cross the line.
That's right, the woman who said on the floor of the House (in the presence of his mother) that the Matthew Shepard hate crime was a hoax is complaining that our ads "cross the line."
Want to help us run some more?
So far our ad has only run in the suburbs of Winston-Salem. Help us raise the money we need to run it across the district between now and election day. Think of how sweet it would be on November 3 to wake up without Virginia Foxx's brand of rancid hate mongering in Washington. And the DCCC will not lift a finger to help. Will you?
It could happen.
Thanks again for doing what you can,
Digby, John, Howie and the Blue America team
Dear Friend,
The most appealing things about the Dean tenure's 50 state strategy was the idea that you never know what might happen in any campaign so it was best to be prepared and at least nominally support candidates everywhere just in case the brilliant electoral prognosticators in DC might not always know ahead of time who is and isn't "unelectable." (I can't help but think that if these people were so damned good at picking winners, we wouldn't find ourselves on the brink of electoral disaster quite as often as we do.) So, it's been left to the progressive netroots and grassroots to try to give some of these candidates a little support to make up for the fact that the party refuses to even spend a penny to help them out.
Aside from the important work of spreading the good word and building movement politics for the long term, sometimes unexpected things do happen. For instance, Blue America candidate Billy Kennedy, who is challenging the intellectually challenged Virginia Foxx in NC-05, may just pull this thing out despite the fact that the DCCC has behaved as if the loony Republican is impossible to beat. The major newspaper of the district, the Winston-Salem Journal, which normally endorses Republicans, came out for Kennedy this past week-end and made a very good case for his election:
U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, a Republican from Watauga County, has not achieved any great accomplishments for the residents of the 5th Congressional District, and has angered and embarrassed many with her sometimes wild statements that seem designed to provoke. It’s time for a fresh, progressive voice in the 5th District. We believe that Democrat Billy Kennedy, a Watauga farmer and carpenter who says he’ll work to reverse the high rate of unemployment in the district, is that voice. He’s the best candidate in the Nov. 2 election for the 5th District.
Blue America has raised money this year to run some ads against Foxx and they've upset the poor delicate hate merchant so much she sent out a letter to her constituents to beg them for help: Several liberal organizations have coordinated with our opponent’s campaign to run some personal attack ads against Congresswoman Foxx. You may have seen these disgusting ads. Instead of condemning these ugly attacks, our opponent’s campaign praised them and said that Foxx supporters don’t have a brain or a heart. These types of attacks really cross the line.
That's right, the woman who said on the floor of the House (in the presence of his mother) that the Matthew Shepard hate crime was a hoax is complaining that our ads "cross the line."
Want to help us run some more?
So far our ad has only run in the suburbs of Winston-Salem. Help us raise the money we need to run it across the district between now and election day. Think of how sweet it would be on November 3 to wake up without Virginia Foxx's brand of rancid hate mongering in Washington. And the DCCC will not lift a finger to help. Will you?
It could happen.
Thanks again for doing what you can,
Digby, John, Howie and the Blue America team
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
WXII-TV reports on Kennedy-Foxx debate
Published at WXII12.com
October 13, 2010
The only debate in the 5th District Congressional race took place Tuesday night between the Republican incumbent Virginia Foxx and Democrat Billy Kennedy. (Click here to watch news report).
October 13, 2010
The only debate in the 5th District Congressional race took place Tuesday night between the Republican incumbent Virginia Foxx and Democrat Billy Kennedy. (Click here to watch news report).
Newcomer Kennedy Wins Debate Versus Incumbent Foxx
WEST JEFFERSON, N.C. -- Kennedy Beats Foxx in First Debate
Billy Kennedy, candidate for US House (NC, 5th District) came out swinging at his debate with incumbent Congresswoman Virginia Foxx tonight at the Ashe County Civic Center. The standing-room-only crowd seemed to agree that Kennedy had won the night.
When asked by the panel about ideas for new technologies and energy sources, Rep. Foxx responded that there was plenty of oil and coal, denied that there was any shortage of resources, saying "that God gave us the earth's resources to use, and we should use them." Kennedy replied, "My dad was a minister, but I think the good Lord gave us brains and the ability to be a part of this society."
"Professional politicians really don't know how to get the job done," Kennedy added.
Kennedy hammered at Foxx for her reliance on corporate money, saying she was "beholden" to the special interests that were funding her campaigns. He pointed to the audience and said, "Send a working man to Washington, one who doesn't owe anything to anyone except to you."
When Foxx said she supported continued tax breaks for companies that ship American jobs to distant shores and supported unlimited and anonymous buying of campaigns by corporations, Kennedy said that's because these same companies were buying Foxx's votes: "When these companies give a candidate, like my opponent, a check for $5,000, they expect $50,000 or $100,000 in return."
When Foxx said the federal government has no business involving itself in education, Kennedy responded that the states couldn't handle the infrastructure and educational needs of students, and that students, teachers, and the nation's future would suffer. Kennedy pointed out that Foxx had even voted against the federal school lunch program.
Foxx said that she knew all about farming and had just eaten fresh green beans and potatoes last night. Kennedy related his own farm wisdom. "I'm concerned about the amount of manure that's being piled on the people of the 5th District."
Kennedy grabbed the upper hand on issues that might be considered safe harbor for a self-professed "conservative" candidate. When Foxx said she didn't support Roe v. Wade, Kennedy reminded her it was the law of the land and that America was a nation of laws.
Debate attendees cheered and applauded as Kennedy took down each of Foxx's talking points one by one, with wit, humor, and respect. The overflow crowd at the Ashe Civic Center did not take kindly to Foxx's declaration that she would do everything she could in Congress to see that the health-insurance reform law was repealed. The crowd actually booed her. When Foxx claimed that there were no terrorist attacks during the presidency of George W. Bush, people in the audience began yelling out "9/11?"
Rep. Foxx seemed genuinely shocked that the audience was not with her. The greatest shock, no doubt, was that she found herself completely undone by a farmer from Bethel.
Billy Kennedy, candidate for US House (NC, 5th District) came out swinging at his debate with incumbent Congresswoman Virginia Foxx tonight at the Ashe County Civic Center. The standing-room-only crowd seemed to agree that Kennedy had won the night.
When asked by the panel about ideas for new technologies and energy sources, Rep. Foxx responded that there was plenty of oil and coal, denied that there was any shortage of resources, saying "that God gave us the earth's resources to use, and we should use them." Kennedy replied, "My dad was a minister, but I think the good Lord gave us brains and the ability to be a part of this society."
"Professional politicians really don't know how to get the job done," Kennedy added.
Kennedy hammered at Foxx for her reliance on corporate money, saying she was "beholden" to the special interests that were funding her campaigns. He pointed to the audience and said, "Send a working man to Washington, one who doesn't owe anything to anyone except to you."
When Foxx said she supported continued tax breaks for companies that ship American jobs to distant shores and supported unlimited and anonymous buying of campaigns by corporations, Kennedy said that's because these same companies were buying Foxx's votes: "When these companies give a candidate, like my opponent, a check for $5,000, they expect $50,000 or $100,000 in return."
When Foxx said the federal government has no business involving itself in education, Kennedy responded that the states couldn't handle the infrastructure and educational needs of students, and that students, teachers, and the nation's future would suffer. Kennedy pointed out that Foxx had even voted against the federal school lunch program.
Foxx said that she knew all about farming and had just eaten fresh green beans and potatoes last night. Kennedy related his own farm wisdom. "I'm concerned about the amount of manure that's being piled on the people of the 5th District."
Kennedy grabbed the upper hand on issues that might be considered safe harbor for a self-professed "conservative" candidate. When Foxx said she didn't support Roe v. Wade, Kennedy reminded her it was the law of the land and that America was a nation of laws.
Debate attendees cheered and applauded as Kennedy took down each of Foxx's talking points one by one, with wit, humor, and respect. The overflow crowd at the Ashe Civic Center did not take kindly to Foxx's declaration that she would do everything she could in Congress to see that the health-insurance reform law was repealed. The crowd actually booed her. When Foxx claimed that there were no terrorist attacks during the presidency of George W. Bush, people in the audience began yelling out "9/11?"
Rep. Foxx seemed genuinely shocked that the audience was not with her. The greatest shock, no doubt, was that she found herself completely undone by a farmer from Bethel.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Winston-Salem Journal: Billy Kennedy for Congress
Published Oct. 11, 2010
Winston-Salem Journal
U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, a Republican from Watauga County, has not achieved any great accomplishments for the residents of the 5th Congressional District, and has angered and embarrassed many with her sometimes wild statements that seem designed to provoke. It’s time for a fresh, progressive voice in the 5th District. We believe that Democrat Billy Kennedy, a Watauga farmer and carpenter who says he’ll work to reverse the high rate of unemployment in the district, is that voice. He’s the best candidate in the Nov. 2 election for the 5th District.
“I’d like to make Congress work,” Kennedy, 52, recently told the Journal. “I believe with the bickering going on, they’re not solving problems.”
We endorsed Foxx, 67, in the Republican primary as she ran against an opponent less qualified than Kennedy. Her constituent service is strong, we noted, and we’ve occasionally praised her on this page, as when she sponsored a bill that tweaked the federal tax code so that troops stationed overseas can invest their income in individual retirement accounts.
While fiscal conservatism is good, Foxx, who is finishing her third term, has been too tight with the federal purse strings. For example, she does not support the Blue Ridge Parkway Protection Act, which would allocate $75 million over the next five years to preserve land along the parkway. Foxx has said she’d normally support such a measure, but not in the current economic times. But the parkway, a major cash cow of the state’s tourism industry, brings in more money in a single year — $2.1 billion dollars, through 17 million visitors — than the cost of the entire act. U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, a Republican who also touts fiscal conservatism, realized that when he crossed the aisle to sponsor the protection act with Sen. Kay Hagan.
Then there are Foxx’ statements, which reflect a viewpoint far to the right of many of her constituents. Foxx, a former college educator and graduate of UNC Chapel Hill and UNC Greensboro, said on the House floor in January that the federal government “should not be funding education.”
Last November, she said on the floor that “I believe that the greatest fear that we all should have ... to our freedom comes from this room, this very room, and what may happen later this week in terms of a tax-increase bill masquerading as a health-care bill. I believe we have more to fear from the potential of that bill passing than we do from any terrorist right now in any country.” (In July of 2009, she had said the Republican version of the health-care plan is “pro-life because it will not put seniors in a position of being put to death by their government.”)
In April 2009, she suggested to students at North Surry High School that tobacco was no worse than Mountain Dew. That same month, she said on the House floor that it was a “hoax” that Matthew Shepard’s 1998 killing in Wyoming had anything to do with him being gay.
She issued a quasi-apology for the Shepard statement, and she and her spokesman have sought to explain the other statements by contextualizing them. But the fact remains that she has continued to make such statements, the worst of which was comparing the potential danger of the health-care bill to terrorism. She’s positioned herself so far to the right that, even if her party regains a majority in the House with this election, it’s doubtful that she’d gain any power.
That said, Foxx will be hard to beat. Her district, which stretches from the mountains to Winston-Salem, is heavily Republican. She has more than $1 million in campaign money. Kennedy, making his first run for office, has raised about $240,000.
But Kennedy, a graduate of what’s now Rhodes College in Memphis, says he has a good chance of beating Foxx. He’s getting his message out through canvassing and calling, supported by a small but dedicated core of volunteers working Facebook and Twitter. The 5th District has one of the highest rates of job losses of any district in the country, he said, and people want a candidate who will work hard to create jobs.
“I worry about the middle class getting squeezed. People are suffering,” he recently told the Journal. “They’re worried about losing their homes. People are hurting and they want solutions.”
Kennedy says he’s a good listener, a man who can work with Republicans to solve problems. He’s more even-tempered than Foxx. He says he wants to concentrate on creating jobs and improving education, rather than wedge issues such as gay rights. He wants to take away profit motives to ship jobs overseas by giving tax incentives to companies that hire and keep American workers. Tax incentives for new technology will help as well, he said, as will putting more money into alternative forms of energy. He realizes that money for efforts such as the Blue Ridge Parkway Protection Act is money well spent.
Kennedy said that he sees running for office “as a chance to serve others.”
The Journal endorses Billy Kennedy for the 5th District congressional seat.
In the 12th Congressional District, incumbent Democrat Mel Watt faces challenges from Libertarian Lon Cecil of High Point and Republican Greg Dority of Washington, N.C., (Members of the House of Representatives are not required to live in their districts.) Mel Watt, a good congressman, is the best choice by far in this race.
Winston-Salem Journal
U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, a Republican from Watauga County, has not achieved any great accomplishments for the residents of the 5th Congressional District, and has angered and embarrassed many with her sometimes wild statements that seem designed to provoke. It’s time for a fresh, progressive voice in the 5th District. We believe that Democrat Billy Kennedy, a Watauga farmer and carpenter who says he’ll work to reverse the high rate of unemployment in the district, is that voice. He’s the best candidate in the Nov. 2 election for the 5th District.
“I’d like to make Congress work,” Kennedy, 52, recently told the Journal. “I believe with the bickering going on, they’re not solving problems.”
We endorsed Foxx, 67, in the Republican primary as she ran against an opponent less qualified than Kennedy. Her constituent service is strong, we noted, and we’ve occasionally praised her on this page, as when she sponsored a bill that tweaked the federal tax code so that troops stationed overseas can invest their income in individual retirement accounts.
While fiscal conservatism is good, Foxx, who is finishing her third term, has been too tight with the federal purse strings. For example, she does not support the Blue Ridge Parkway Protection Act, which would allocate $75 million over the next five years to preserve land along the parkway. Foxx has said she’d normally support such a measure, but not in the current economic times. But the parkway, a major cash cow of the state’s tourism industry, brings in more money in a single year — $2.1 billion dollars, through 17 million visitors — than the cost of the entire act. U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, a Republican who also touts fiscal conservatism, realized that when he crossed the aisle to sponsor the protection act with Sen. Kay Hagan.
Then there are Foxx’ statements, which reflect a viewpoint far to the right of many of her constituents. Foxx, a former college educator and graduate of UNC Chapel Hill and UNC Greensboro, said on the House floor in January that the federal government “should not be funding education.”
Last November, she said on the floor that “I believe that the greatest fear that we all should have ... to our freedom comes from this room, this very room, and what may happen later this week in terms of a tax-increase bill masquerading as a health-care bill. I believe we have more to fear from the potential of that bill passing than we do from any terrorist right now in any country.” (In July of 2009, she had said the Republican version of the health-care plan is “pro-life because it will not put seniors in a position of being put to death by their government.”)
In April 2009, she suggested to students at North Surry High School that tobacco was no worse than Mountain Dew. That same month, she said on the House floor that it was a “hoax” that Matthew Shepard’s 1998 killing in Wyoming had anything to do with him being gay.
She issued a quasi-apology for the Shepard statement, and she and her spokesman have sought to explain the other statements by contextualizing them. But the fact remains that she has continued to make such statements, the worst of which was comparing the potential danger of the health-care bill to terrorism. She’s positioned herself so far to the right that, even if her party regains a majority in the House with this election, it’s doubtful that she’d gain any power.
That said, Foxx will be hard to beat. Her district, which stretches from the mountains to Winston-Salem, is heavily Republican. She has more than $1 million in campaign money. Kennedy, making his first run for office, has raised about $240,000.
But Kennedy, a graduate of what’s now Rhodes College in Memphis, says he has a good chance of beating Foxx. He’s getting his message out through canvassing and calling, supported by a small but dedicated core of volunteers working Facebook and Twitter. The 5th District has one of the highest rates of job losses of any district in the country, he said, and people want a candidate who will work hard to create jobs.
“I worry about the middle class getting squeezed. People are suffering,” he recently told the Journal. “They’re worried about losing their homes. People are hurting and they want solutions.”
Kennedy says he’s a good listener, a man who can work with Republicans to solve problems. He’s more even-tempered than Foxx. He says he wants to concentrate on creating jobs and improving education, rather than wedge issues such as gay rights. He wants to take away profit motives to ship jobs overseas by giving tax incentives to companies that hire and keep American workers. Tax incentives for new technology will help as well, he said, as will putting more money into alternative forms of energy. He realizes that money for efforts such as the Blue Ridge Parkway Protection Act is money well spent.
Kennedy said that he sees running for office “as a chance to serve others.”
The Journal endorses Billy Kennedy for the 5th District congressional seat.
In the 12th Congressional District, incumbent Democrat Mel Watt faces challenges from Libertarian Lon Cecil of High Point and Republican Greg Dority of Washington, N.C., (Members of the House of Representatives are not required to live in their districts.) Mel Watt, a good congressman, is the best choice by far in this race.
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