American and Proud

Well I didn’t know a whole lot about the man, I was living in NC when he was in office, but I (like so many others these days) didn’t really give a crap about Govenment or the world, I had my own things to do.

Jesse Helms is being talked about fairly nicely in the media, as is customary when a public figure passes. When lefty idiots pass on we on the right recall their exploits with disregard to the feelings of their supporters. I have been visiting a few anti-Jesse sites and folks are just bashing the man… I am sensing he was not very loved by the libtards LMAO.

United States Senator
from North Carolina
Flag of the United StatesFlag of North Carolina
In office
January 3, 1973 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by     B. Everett Jordan
Succeeded by     Elizabeth Dole

So I decided to look back at some of Ol Jesse’s quotes, comments and exploits.

“As an aide to the 1950 Senate campaign of North Carolina Republican candidate Willis Smith, Helms reportedly helped create attack ads against Smith’s opponent, including one which read: “White people, wake up before it is too late. Do you want Negroes working beside you, your wife and your daughters, in your mills and factories? Frank Graham favors mingling of the races.” Another ad featured photographs Helms himself had doctored to illustrate the allegation that Graham’s wife had danced with a black man. (The News and Observer, 8/26/01; The New Republic, 6/19/95; The Observer, 5/5/96; Hard Right: The Rise of Jesse Helms, by Ernest B. Furgurson, Norton, 1986)”

Looking back on this particular statment I would say Helms might have had some racial tendencies.

Ancient history? No. Helms remains unapologetic to this day. Forty years after the Smith campaign, Helms would win election against black opponent Harvey Gantt with another ad playing to racist white fear– the so-called “white hands” ad, in which a white man’s hands crumple a rejected job application while a voiceover intones, “You needed that job…but they had to give it to a minority.”

40yrs later he did something no one else had the balls to do, he took on AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, he didn’t agree that a persons job requirement depended on the color of a persons skin. While he was on very bad footing to carry the argument, he was correct in his message. BUT it took a long time for folks to see it.

In columns, commentaries and pronouncements from the Senate floor, Helms sowed hatred and called names: The University of North Carolina was “the University of Negroes and Communists.” (Capital Times, 11/22/94) Black civil rights activists were “Communists and sex perverts.” (Copley News Service, 8/23/01)

As I said, poor footing to logically argue the point of affirmative action. BUT he was outspoken and WE on the right side of the aisle often talk about the University products being communists or socialists. (He didn’t have to use the N word) Calling black activists Commies and perverts might not have been helpful.

Of civil rights protests Helms wrote, “The Negro cannot count forever on the kind of restraint that’s thus far left him free to clog the streets, disrupt traffic, and interfere with other men’s rights.” (WRAL-TV commentary, 1963) He also wrote, “Crime rates and irresponsibility among Negroes are a fact of life which must be faced.” (New York Times, 2/8/81)

That last statement “Crime rates and irresponsibility among Negroes are a fact of life which must be faced.” is very correct, but his message was clouded with the racist view point. All folks heard was “negro” didn’t hear the crime will have to be faced, now 27 years later we still have not faced it. More blacks are in prison than any other ethnicity (Mexicans are gaining though) and it is not because the “White man” it’s because those BLACKS, WHITES. MEXICANS and OTHERS in prison are committing crimes….

Over the years Helms has declared homosexuality “degenerate,” and homosexuals “weak, morally sick wretches.” (Newsweek, 12/5/94) In a tirade highlighting his routine opposition to AIDS research funding, Helms lashed out at the Kennedy-Hatch AIDS bill in 1988: “There is not one single case of AIDS in this country that cannot be traced in origin to sodomy.” (States News Service, 5/17/88)

Well Jesse You poor bastard I agree with that one… Yep I am a homophobic SOB I guess, but I see Homosexuality as deviant behavior that folks find appealing for its “Taboo” perception, the idea that a person needs to be defined by their sexual desires is disgusting, and the gay marriage issue just takes us down the road of no moral fiber further and further, and blurs the lines for the future generation as to what is acceptable. I would be perfectly fine if the US decided that San Fran is the only place for that behavior, like Vegas… What ever happens stays there.

Helms remonstrated ten female members of the House of Representatives to “act like ladies” when they interrupted a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing to demand support of a U.N. treaty against gender discrimination, and subsequently had them removed from the hearing by Capitol police. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 10/28/99)

Yeah Jesse was a little cavemanish LOL

And the man ABC News now describes as a “conservative icon” (8/22/01) in 1993 sang “Dixie” in an elevator to Carol Moseley-Braun, the first African-American woman elected to the Senate, bragging, “I’m going to make her cry. I’m going to sing Dixie until she cries.” (Chicago Sun-Times, 8/5/93)

Um nothing to say on that one.

More recently, when a caller to CNN’s Larry King Live show praised guest Jesse Helms for “everything you’ve done to help keep down the niggers,” Helms’ response was to salute the camera and say, “Well, thank you, I think.” (Wilmington Star-News, 9/16/95)

Um Uh  Damn Jesse you didn’t make this easy.

A few more Jesse Quotes:

“I’m so old-fashioned I believe in horse whipping.” — During a debate in 1991 on an AIDS-related amendment.

“Well, there is no joy in Mudville tonight. The mighty ultraliberal establishment, and the liberal politicians and editors and commentators and columnists, have struck out again.” — Helms after defeating black Democrat Harvey Gantt for Senate in 1990.

Mudville=Racist remark maybe???

“I came up between the two world wars during the Depression. All the people around me emphasized working and savings and personal responsibility. They spelled out in one way or another the uniqueness of America. This has largely been lost. Nobody would have thought of turning to the government to solve all our problems.” — 1984 interview.

THIS IS THE BEST QUOTE I COULD FIND FROM JESSE HELMS!
That quote is as true now as it was in 84, BUT the difference is NOW it is common place to seek government assistance for everything from a hurricane to a hang nail. Pathetic but true. AND NOT A RACIST REMARK IN THE QUOTE! While the man is clearly a racist, the message is sound.

I’ve been portrayed as a caveman by some. That’s not true. I’m a conservative progressive, and that means I think all men are equal, be they slants, beaners, or niggers.
– Jesse Helms, North Carolina Progressive, February 6, 1985, quoted from the Democratic Alliance, “Yes, They Really Said It!”

Damn… Again, NOT HELPFUL JESSE!

This bill attempts to make sure that President Clinton is not allowed to do by Executive Order what Congress has declined to enact in the past two congressional sessions namely, to treat homosexuals as a special class protected under various titles of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
– Jesse Helms, introducing an anti-gay bill in January, 1999, quoted from Rhonda Smith, “Jesse Helms Introduces Anti-Gay Bill,” The Washington Blade, February 26, 1999.

No argument there

Your tax dollars are being used to pay for grade school classes that teach our children that CANNIBALISM, WIFE-SWAPPING, and the MURDER of infants and the elderly are acceptable behavior.
– Jesse Helms, part of the text of a fundraising mailer sent out by the Helms campaign, quoted from House of Crooks

EXACTLY CORRECT Jesse Helms. But the message is lost because of his “Racist views”

The Lord did not make me impossible of error. All I’ve had to offer you is the total dedication in serving you as best I know how. And I’ve always leveled with you, and always will, knowing full well that everyone will not agree with me.
– Jesse Helms, campaign debate, News & Observer, July 30, 1984

That in and of itself is more than most politicians have ever or will ever do.

Jesse Helms was a racist, a bigot and for the most part a loyal politician, he was elected to represent folks in his community for a reason and HE did serve his terms, he never hid his beliefs and if he told you what he thought and you were offended, you shouldn’t have asked him for his opinion. I can’t fault him for that.

Rest in peace Jesse Helms, While you may not be missed by all, some will miss your candor and UN-PC ways.  PCness gained ground today with your passing, and for that I am truly sorry.