Katherine Jenerette: A Gulf War Veteran for Congress

"The Sarah Palin of the South." That's what a liberal blog called Congressional candidate Katherine Jenerette, recently. Of course, it was meant to be an insult but conservatives in South Carolina's 1st district will more than likely see it as a compliment.

Jenerette is not your average politician. The United States Army veteran, former NCAA track and field star, Republican activist, and mother of four has done more at 39 than most people have in a lifetime and now she's ready to take on Washington D.C.. A Carolina political website describes her as having "Reagan principles" and she doesn't shy away from her conservative beliefs, no matter whose feelings might get hurt. She has been a vocal opponent to both Democrats and the Republicans who are currently residing in Congress. Last year, she told the Georgetown Times,

“The Democrats have a home team advantage now and Republicans need a congressman who can go toe-to-toe with them. We've had a Republican Congress for six years, and we can have more of the same or we can have someone in there that will make a difference. I am not afraid to say what needs to be said and push legislation for family and values, fiscal responsibility, national security and subjects like immigration and border control. Republicans have let liberals run their agenda. Republican values and principals on issues of life, health care, Social Security and marriage issues have been put on the side burner. The Republican members of Congress need to do a better job of getting out our messages and sticking to them.”

She believes the economy is the biggest issue facing our nation today and like any true Conservative, she knows the only way to fix it is through tax cuts. And as veteran who has served in the Middle East, she has strong feelings on the War on Terror. Jenerette believes the only way to stop terrorism on our soil is to stop it overseas first. In other words, "take the fight to their backyard." She is disgusted with politicians who are putting their own personal agenda above Americans safety and security and feels they should be held accountable. And while she takes a tough stance on illegal immigration, she has even stronger feelings about traditional families,

“Traditional families and faith are at the core and the foundation of our nation. Many of the issues from social security, health care, education options, pro-life and marriage issues are of critical importance to the future of this nation. We cannot ignore the fact that with the Baby Boom Generation moving into retirement many of us face the prospect of being ‘sandwiched’ between our teenagers and the needs of our parents. Whether we are talking about retirees and the cost of prescription drugs or sensible, non-bureaucratic approaches to education for our children, these monumental challenges for our government and society cannot be ignored for long."

So are you wondering what qualifies Jenerette for the job? Let's take a look at her background. She's a veteran of the U.S. Army and the Persian Gulf War Operation Desert Storm, and she currently serves as a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. Upon returning home from the Gulf War, she attended the University of South Carolina, Coastal Carolina Campus on a Cross Country and Track scholarship. She graduated with a degree in history and went on to receive her Master's degree from the University of South Carolina at Columbia. She is currently an Adjunct Professor of History at with Southeastern Community College.

Jenerette has been politically active for almost two decades, beginning with her work with the Horry County Republican Women's Club. She served as the Horry County Delegate to the South Carolina Republican State Convention in 1992 and hasn't looked back since. She worked as a campaign volunteer for various governors, including Arthur Ravenel, Jr. and Mark Sanford, Senator Elizabeth Dole, and President George W. Bush. She also served as a Field Representative for Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr.. In 2004, she ran for State Senate District 28 and lost by less than 2,000 votes, nearly defeating Democratic Senator Dick Elliot who has been in office since 1962.

Katherine Jenerette currently lives in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with her husband Van Jenerette, and their four children, a son, Christian David, and three daughters, Benjamin Elizabeth, Drake Katherine, and Wilson Gabrielle. She is a member of the First Baptist Church in North Myrtle Beach and an associate member of the Huguenot Protestant Church of Charleston.

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Virginia Foxx: One of Congress's Most Conservative Members

In 2008, Dr. Virginia Foxx was reelected to her third term in Congress, representing North Carolina's Fifth District. During that time she's been controversial, yet conservative. The non-partisan magazine National Journal has ranked her the most conservative member of Congress. She is also one of 38 Republicans to score a perfect approval rating from the American Conservative Union. Let's take a look at the life and accomplishments of one of Congress's most conservative members.

Foxx was born in The Bronx, New York, on June 29, 1943. She went on to graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Masters degree in Sociology. She earned an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Teaching/Higher Education from University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Foxx began her professional career as a research assistant and secretary at UNC and later moved on to teach at Caldwell Community College, eventually becoming a sociology instructor at Appalachian State University. At Appalachian State, she worked her way up through several positions, holding several administrative positions and eventually becoming the Assistant Dean of the college. She went on to serve as the Deputy Secretary for Management in the North Carolina Department of Administration, under Governor Jim Martin, and served as President of Maryland Community College for seven years.

Congresswoman Foxx has served on a number of state and national committees and has been active in a number of civic and business affairs. She has served on the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry, the Watauga County Board of Education, she was appointment to the National Advisory Council for Women's Educational Programs, she's served on the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation Advisory Panel. In addition, she has served the Board of Directors of the John William Pope Center for Higher Education Policy, Board of Directors of the N.C. Center for Public Research, the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Visitors, National Conference of State Legislatures' Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel on Child Care, was a Charter Member of the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History, and the Foscoe-Grandfather Community Center Board.

Some of Foxx's most notable work as a Congresswoman has been dealing with military and veterans' affairs. In 2006, her first bill was signed into law by President Bush. The Hero Act allows troops to increase retirement savings by investing some of their combat pay into Individual Retirement Accounts. Foxx is also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, which, according to her website, is the "world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization." She currently serves on the Committee on Rules and has recently been outspoken on health care, saying, "Republicans have a better solution that won't put the government in charge of people's health care" and "[the Republican plan] is pro-life because it will not put seniors in a position of being put to death by their government."

Congresswoman Foxx is married to Tom Foxx and they currently reside in Banner Elk, North Carolina. Before becoming a member of Congress, she and her husband owned a nursery. She is also a lay leader at her church and enjoys reading, gardening and being a grandparent.