Last night I attended the incredible debate between Billy Kennedy and the hateful representative Virginia Foxx at the Ashe Civic Center in West Jefferson, North Carolina.
The place was packed to capacity with late-comers still trying to get in the door and "Billy Kennedy for Congress" Tee-shirts. We came to watch this:
Foxx pulled out "God and Country" every chance she got, and at one point she pitted the builders of Noah's Ark against the builders of the Titanic to make her point. Hold on to the side of chair when you watch what Kennedy did with that one! (Can't embed the WXII snippet, short commercial at the front.)
Kennedy took Foxx to task for topics ranging from Afghanistan, education (Foxx doesn't believe the Federal government should be involved in public schools), to the off-shoring of American jobs, to immigration, to abortion rights, and, best of all, to the corporate takeover of America. Foxx got so befuddled, she even argued at one point that she was a farmer like Kennedy, because she ate "fresh green beans" out of her garden last night (No. I'm serious.):
At one point last night, in response to a general question about agricultural issues, Virginia Foxx threw away a line that opened a huge window on her character. She said that she and Tom were really "farmers," both at heart and in practice, and that she had picked and cooked fresh green beans and potatoes the day before. "And they were delicious."
No doubt she's a serviceable cook, but any local gardener instantly recognized the lie. There are zero "fresh green beans" out in any garden at this time of year. There are dried bean husks hanging on leafless bushes.
Foxx threw out there whatever lie she could yank out of the back of her throat, and the crowd yelled back "9/11!!!" when she said, "there were no attacks when George Bush was President."
When Kennedy pointed out that "NO" candidates like Foxx were just playing politics, Foxx said "I've only voted "no" 40% of the time and "yes" 60% of the time:
That qualifies as a big statistical lie. The only way she could squeeze out a 60% "yes" voting record is to count all the "filler" resolutions (like the one "honoring" the Christmas tree industry) and the courthouse-naming bills -- the non-controversial, pro-forma stuff.
But on 451 key, substantive votes catalogued by Project Vote Smart, she performed as follows:
Voted yes 129 times
Voted no 322 times
No wonder the Winston-Salem Journal endorsed Kennedy earlier this week:
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.
The Kennedy campaign promises it will release additional footage of the debate over the next few days, but I just couldn't wait to get these jewels to you. Get out your popcorn. You're going to love it.
In the meantime, open your wallet for a small donation through ActBlue or find the time to make a few on-line calls for Billy Kennedy. We can win this one with your help!