Billy Kennedy Weighs in on Foxx's Phone-In Featured on Keith Olbermann

[kpete]

Billy Kennedy, progressive Democratic challenger to batty incumbent Virginia Foxx, issued a press release weighing in on Foxx's phone-in. I thought it was a good response and a good read.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2010
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Billy Kennedy Weighs in on Foxx's Phone-In Featured on Keith Olbermann

BETHEL, NC-When Keith Olbermann showcased Rep. Virginia Foxx in his "Worst Person in the World" segment on his Wednesday night program, he wasn't the only one taking notice of Foxx's phone-in town hall meeting, an event sponsored by a partisan political organization.

On Thursday Billy Kennedy, the Democratic nominee for Congress in North Carolina's 5th district, weighed in as well. "I thought the caller Mary was right on," said Kennedy. "She said she felt politicians were making a career and a killing off their Washington careers and that 'They should go up there to serve and then go back to their regular jobs.'"

"Virginia Foxx has had her chance to make things better for the people of the 5th district, and she has failed," continued Kennedy. "While she has used her Washington connections to pad her campaign coffers and her personal fortunes, the people back home get nothing but meaningless sound bites from her. We still have no jobs and few prospects. It's time to replace the professional politicians in Washington with real working people who understand and will pay attention to the needs of their constituents instead of using the public trust for personal gain."

Foxx is seeking a fourth term in the House of Representatives.

"The people of North Carolina's fifth district really have a very simple choice to make this November. They can re-elect an incumbent professional politician who has done nothing whatsoever for them or they can send a regular working man to Washington who'll spend his time doing everything in his power to bring good-paying jobs back to our communities."

Some of the callers expressed their frustrations with federal immigration policy. Foxx agreed with those frustrations, but offered no solutions. "I'm as frustrated as anyone with Washington's apparent unwillingness to tackle this issue. But Rep. Foxx is as guilty as the rest of them up there in Washington for stoking the issue but doing nothing at all to address it," said Kennedy.

"As an independent contractor, I am well aware of how it feels to have to compete against cheap labor. More than once, I have come out on the short end of that stick." Kennedy continued, "We must find a way to hold employers fully accountable for hiring illegal workers, and we must strictly enforce the current immigration laws."

Kennedy says Foxx is using this issue to fuel fears and turn workers against each other while her votes indicate she's clearly on the side of those looking to make money by paying low wages to illegal immigrants. "Foxx has repeatedly sponsored bills to make it easier for employers to hire illegal laborers, including voting against funding a program to deny driver's licenses to illegal aliens," said Kennedy. "She's all talk and no action."

"Let's face it. Employers who break the law by hiring illegal workers are taking advantage of a broken system. These practices hurt all working people. As long as we, the working people of Western North Carolina, don't address the issue of low wages and too few jobs, we are just bickering about the issue instead of finding solutions to solve it."

more:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/6/11/875006/-Billy-Kennedys-Inspiring-Response-to-Virginia-Foxxs-Phone-In

[waiting]

1. I really hope he defeats the crazy woman.

And I agree completely with his sentiments about professional politicians that are representing floundering districts or states, and after years of increasing their own coffers and personal fortunes, have the gaul to even expect to be re-elected.

[pinboy3niner]

2. It would be good if Kennedy could get more exposure--maybe on K.O.?

Immigration is a hot issue nationwide right now, even with everything else that's going on. Seems like Arizona has really stirred the pot. Ironically, this may blow up in the faces of the racist, nativist groups behind anti-immigrant legislation. With increased attention, polls are now showing increasing support for comprehensive reform.