I am so proud of Billy Kennedy, Democratic candidate for US House, NC-5, running against incumbent right-winger Virginia Foxx. Billy has now been formally endorsed by the Blue America PAC, and yesterday, Billy had his chance to make his case and show off his fiery populism in an online chat at Crooks and Liars.
Take a look at Billy's responses to questions in the give and take, and you'll see why we here in the 5th congressional district of North Carolina are so excited about our candidate.
Just to whet your whistle, here is some of the introduction from Howie Klein of Blue America:
When I first heard North Carolina farmer/carpenter Billy Kennedy-- an actual progressive, non-Blue Dog, real-life Democrat-- was going to run against lunatic fringe hatemonger Virginia Foxx, I was very excited and I realized that Americans from all over the country would be interested in this race. There are few members of Congress as bigoted and contemptible as Foxx. But as I've gotten to know Billy a bit I realize that regardless of how awful Foxx is, he'd make a truly exceptional, classic Representative of the people.
Snip
...when Blue America announced a couple of days ago that we would be endorsing Billy's candidacy today, there was an immediate outpouring of grassroots contributions that stunned John, Digby and I. We're hoping to give his campaign a boost today with the chat at below in the comments section. But even announcing it has inspired Democrats who still believe in (real) Hope and (real) Change.
Blue America's first question to Billy was how he could run as a progressive in a red district and how he responded to the fact that the "DCCC seems to advise that candidates in districts like NC-05 run as "Republican-lite" alternatives to extremists like Foxx." Pam Spaulding at Pam's House Blend declared "Kennedy on fire with the very first question." Billy's answer, in part:
if the DCCC is advising candidates to run as Republican-lite in red districts, then I would respectfully argue that is a losing proposition. Democrats don’t win in these districts by becoming more like their right-wing opponents. We don’t win in these districts by reaching for "slightly less extreme." Selling out both working people and our values at the same time isn’t a winning strategy in my opinion, not for either the long term or the short term. It isn’t a winner for our Party either.
We win in these districts by continuing (or returning to) the true principles of the Democratic Party of the People. A Democratic Party that stands up strong against corruption and against the political and financial forces that work to pad the pockets of the rich and powerful over the interests of working class Americans and the poor.
People respond to hate and fear because they are scared--because they are losing their jobs, health care, and their faith in government to do anything to make their lives better. People are losing their hopes for theirs and their children’s futures. We Democrats have to show that we can do something to help with these bread and butter issues for the people of our districts and nation. Until we can prove that, people will continue to lash out at whatever or whoever is close by. That’s the nature of fear.
I believe government can work for the people, and I believe working Americans of all political stripes want a government that works for their interests. I’ve been making a lot of calls into my district. People have fallen on really hard times. What has Foxx done for them? Nothing. What will she do if re-elected? Nothing still.
The problem is, instead of proving we Democrats can produce on this front, some of us are up there in Washington jamming up the progress. This feeds into the 30 years plus of right-wing talk (and action to prove the talk) that government is "bad." I intend to force a hole in that logjam, and I intend to do this not strictly as a matter of ideology, but rather to help the people of my district. American interests are hurt by the self interested rather than by government itself.
Billy fielded questions on, among other things, the Senate Health care bill, Congressional powers, the potential for a debate with Foxx, Obama's first year, and how he would define a "robust public option." In his answers, Billy showed a good grounding on the issues and a great sense of humor.
Digby also weighed in:
Between a Tea Party candidate campaigning against Foxx from the right and Billy's plainspoken on-the-ground outreach, the anti-incumbent wave building nationwide this year could unseat an entrenched Republican in a red district, which is just what Alan Grayson and Eric Massa did with our help last year.
Check it out, and join us in our fight to send a Democrat from the "Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party" to Washington to replace Virginia Foxx!
Billy Kennedy's web site
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