Representative Virginia Foxx in North Carolina's Fifth District is the latest in a string of GOP house members (and vice presidential candidates, an pundits, etc etc) to impugn the Americanness of certain members of Congress. According to CQ Politics, Foxx has leveled the anti-American charge several times on the floor of the house while debating energy policy and other things.
More below the fold.
Much has been written about the race between Virginia Foxx and Roy Carter in NC-5 several times, most recently his Gold Star mom ad and here on some of Foxx's more shameful votes and recent polling.
To summarize, this is a tried and true Bush Republican who has taken tons of donations from Insurance, Pharma, and Big Oil, was one of the leaders of the Drilling stunts on the house floor, voted against Katrina relief, S-Chip, and was rated 100% by the American Conservative Union. She said as recently as this summer that:
"This is not a failed economy. We are not in a recession. what a shame that Democrats want to talk down the economy...."
Now it seems that Foxx may have some more trouble on her hands. From the CQ Article linked above:
A second-term lawmaker from Watauga County, N.C., Foxx has made a practice of referring to Democrats as the "anti-American energy" party because many of them oppose expanding oil and gas drilling off the nation’s coasts and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
But Foxx went even further last month, according to a transcript of House floor proceedings on Sept. 17.
"We had a great opportunity to pass a bill yesterday that would have created more American energy, but my colleagues on the other side don’t seem to be in favor of more American energy. They seem to be anti-American energy, just as many other things that they support seem to be anti-American power and anti-American control," Foxx said.
Foxx declined to comment on the issue.
Ladies and Gents, this is a perfect opportunity to steal a seat never thought possible in the upcoming election. Roy Carter is a 40 year teacher and down-home progressive Dem who has been a principled opponent of the Iraq war from the start, supports gay marriage, refuses to accept contributions from big Pharmaceuticals, Oil, or Insurance, and will defer congressional healthcare until all Americans have the same option. education. He wants to revamp the American educational system and is widely known as a friend of the environment.
And Roy needs your help. Polling has placed this race in the low single digits, but he needs to compete against Foxx's moneyed interests in Washington.
Here is Public Policy Polling's Tom Jenson on the race:
The closest Congressional district in the state is the 5th, where Virginia Foxx leads Roy Carter 48-46. I really hope the DCCC and other folks take the pick up opportunity in this district seriously. There are races on the Red to Blue list that based on the data I've seen are less winnable than this one. Carter is a uniquely appealing candidate and has the opportunity to pull off the same kind of shocker Larry Kissell almost did in 2006 if he gets the resources he needs to run the strongest campaign possible.
Don't wake up November 5th and wonder what could have been! Donate today and put another progressive Democrat in the House.
www.roycarterforcongress.com
Update x1:
As mentioned in comments, the NRCC sent out fundraisers this summer warning about a Roy Carter victory. It was diaried here.