Former Senator Jesse A. Helms, Jr., died today after a "period of declining health," according to a spokesman. He was 86. He was born on October 18, 1921. He served in the US Senate from 1972-2003, after which he retired. During his Senate career, he was an outspoken, controversial figure. His name is synonymous with "Old South"-style politics.
The New York Times had this reaction, from former Senator Bob Dole:
"He was a conservative icon," Bob Dole, the former senator and Republican presidential candidate, said in an interview on CNN. "He was a good, decent human being."
But Mr. Dole, known for his wry sense of humor, acknowledged that Mr. Helms was not universally admired on Capitol Hill. "If there was a liberal meeting going on and someone announced that Jesse Helms was coming, the place would have cleared out in 20 seconds," he joked. He added that although he disagreed with Mr. Helms on civil rights, he did not consider the senator to be a bigot. "Was Jesse Helms a racist? I never spotted that in him," Mr. Dole said. "Jesse had black staff members. I could never quite figure it out."
MSNBC had this:
Helms was also well-known for his 1990 "Hands" ad, whose creator is consulting for the GOP in this year's election:
Finally, here's Fox News' take on the life and passing of Senator Helms:
Bob Dole did not see a racist in Jesse Helms? Wow - what a shock. Of course not - Bob Dole, like Helms, is a clueless old man from another time and place. Helms was what he was - an ignorant old idiot showing that any Tom, Dick or Harry can nominated to the Senate by preaching hatred. I had forgotten about Helms and his stupid antics until I was reminded about them in the videos. So Helms, apparently old and near death, said it was OK to help AIDS in Africa but not in the U.S. Priceless - and good riddance to the likes of him.
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TwoGirlsOneCup
10:59PM Jul 4th 2008
He probably looked at the pole numbers and realized a colored boy was gonna be the next President. That seized his heart.
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laura m
11:05PM Jul 4th 2008
there isn't much to say on this. he did not do anything to represent the "new south". so, i guess that leaves us with condolences to his family. The tribute should fittingly rest with Fox.
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daveb
11:31PM Jul 4th 2008
The beloved humanitarian Bono formed an unlikely friendship with Senator Helms - they were united in fighting AIDS in Africa. President Bush (43) has done more than any president to fight AIDS in Africa, as well. Funny how it's always ee-vil, racist Republicans out there helping people to the surprise of everyone. Thank you Senator for your service to your state and country. You are truly an American statesman. RIP
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CAROLINAGIRL
9:34PM Jul 5th 2008
MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH THE EXTENDED HELMS FAMILY.
WE HAVE LOST A TRUE PATRIOT.
GOD BLESS AMERICA.
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ANYBODY-BUT-OBAMA
9:28PM Jul 5th 2008
Barack Hussein Obama is a typical, slimy politician who will stoop to the depths of hell to get what he wants. He and his wife scare the hell out of me!
READ OBAMA'S BOOKS! READ HIS WIFE'S COLLEGE THESIS.
Someone just sent me this link to a comprehensive video covering Barack Obama. In it...is a complete history of where he came from, what he thinks, things he's said (in his OWN voice) and I'm sure he hoped that they would be lost and forgotten forever, but someone has captured them and put them on this shocking video for all to see and hear. It is called "Connect The Dots."
Please watch and listen to this video and share it with others. It is the only way we can wake people up in time and try and stop this "Changeling" from overtaking the White House in November.
We the undersigned will vote for any opponent of Barack Hussien Obama or not vote at all. We believe he is the wrong leader for our country. We do not believe that the future of our nation should be decided by a popularity contest. Remember, each signature is a vote the Democratic Party could have had in November more information for sources can be found on savagepolitics.com
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NO-BARACK-HUSSEIN-OBAMA
9:54PM Jul 5th 2008
OBAMA HAS BASED HIS ENTIRE CAMPAIGN ON LIES. HE HAS TOO MANY TIES TO TERRORISTS AND ANTI-AMERICANS.
HAD THE DNC TOLD THE TRUTH ABOUT OBAMA BEFORE OVER HALF OF AMERICA HAD VOTED, HE WOULD NOT BE THE CANDIDATE --- HILLARY WOULD BE.
WATCH THIS VIDEO! SHOCKING!!! YOU WANT THIS AS A PRESIDENT?
THIS IS THE NATION OF ISLAM TEACHINGS. JEREMIAH WRIGHT GAVE THIS MAN AN AWARD AND OBAMA PRAISED HIS WORK. THIS MAN WAS BANISHED FROM THE NATION OF ISLAM BECAUSE HE WENT TO A SPEECH CARRYING A GUN IN HIS BIBLE TO KILL WHITE PEOPLE. THIS IS WHAT “BLACK LIBERATION THEOLOGY TEACHES”. IT PRODUCED A GREAT SPEAKER BUT THE HATE IS UNNECESSARY.
OBAMA HAS BASED HIS ENTIRE CAMPAIGN ON LIES. HE HAS TOO MANY TIES TO TERRORISTS AND ANTI-AMERICANS.
HAD THE DNC TOLD THE TRUTH ABOUT OBAMA BEFORE OVER HALF OF AMERICA HAD VOTED, HE WOULD NOT BE THE CANDIDATE --- HILLARY WOULD BE.
WATCH THIS VIDEO! SHOCKING!!! YOU WANT THIS AS A PRESIDENT?
THIS IS THE NATION OF ISLAM TEACHINGS. JEREMIAH WRIGHT GAVE THIS MAN AN AWARD AND OBAMA PRAISED HIS WORK. THIS MAN WAS BANISHED FROM THE NATION OF ISLAM BECAUSE HE WENT TO A SPEECH CARRYING A GUN IN HIS BIBLE TO KILL WHITE PEOPLE. THIS IS WHAT “BLACK LIBERATION THEOLOGY TEACHES”. IT PRODUCED A GREAT SPEAKER BUT THE HATE IS UNNECESSARY.
His ties to Rezko and the money Rezko contributed to his campaign;
His close association with Wright and Farrakhan;
His claims of having voted for things he never voted for;
His habit of either not showing up for votes,
Or showing up and voting "present" rather than yea, or nay.
Obama is running commercials in PA and elsewhere that make one bizarre (and false) claim after another. A key one is his claim to have "passed" welfare reform. In fact, he opposed President Clinton's welfare reform bill, one of the signal achievements of the Clinton era. He also claimed to have brought about better treatment for wounded veterans. That was legislation almost no one opposed; however, Barack Obama was absent from the vote.
As the WSJ recently put, "Obama is running for Bush's third term."
Barack Hussein Obama has no legislative record of accomplishment, so he's busily making one up.
VOTE FOR JOHN McCAIN IN 2008 --- HILLARY IN 2012.
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4mycountry
2:55AM Jul 6th 2008
Barack Hussein Obama is bi-racial; however, he only acknowledges his "white" heritage when he's in trouble --- otherwise, he claims to be a "black" man.
He plans to help the people of Africa. We need a President who will help the people of the United States of America.
Re: The CORONATION of "Barry" Obama...
When this young, bi-racial "Changeling" first began this race, I was amused at how swiftly he steam-rolled the Clinton machine. My amusement came to a screeching halt however...when I woke up one day and realized that "hey...this guy could end up as our president...!!!"
Time out. The more this guy (and his mean-spirited wife) opened their mouths, the more I read from their writings, followed by the Rev. Wright debacle, followed by the Father Pfleger spectacle, followed by one political gaffe after another...well...my original amusement has now turned to outright panic and so has it ...for just about everybody I know.
I don't quite know who is behind the sudden rise of this otherwise, obscure, inexperienced Senator from Chicago and the press has also bought into it with them, but this bothers me more than anything.
Who? What? And...the biggest one of all...................why???
I must say that I am willing to overlook Jeremiah Wright, Pfleger, and the Muslim accusations.
What scares me to death are his political gaffes that show he will be a president in training.
There is something seriously wrong with the Democratic Party to have selected this novice for the most important job in the country.
VOTE McCAIN IN 2008.
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Derek
12:50PM Jul 6th 2008
An evil, racist, bigot who should have died years ago. If indeed heaven is for good peaople he will rot in hell.
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Tori
5:12PM Jul 6th 2008
Yeah bush is really helping the people with aids in africa.Yeah right.First off if you have aids in africa you have to follow all these absitence and antigay rules to get any assistance.And they are trying to convert africans to fundamentalism and evangelicalism.So threy can be nice little wage slaves walking around like zombies saying have a blessed day to everyone they meet.Also the evil republicans sure are shipping over the corporate fascists fast food resturants and cigarettes,and boozes and drugs to make sure they are nothing but slaves,dazzled with the illusion of one day having more money and a better life,but when that day comes they will be morbidly obese,and their brains will be fried.of course they can always fing comfort in eternal life in heaven with God and jesus if they stay ignorant closeminded,and obey!
Of course the small mostly white elite will be eating healther in fine restaurantes andwill have an excellent education,etc... The republicans are evil,and are manipulated by a cabal of satanists,who want a one world order,which will rule the world by economic subjugation.
Oh yeah,have a blessed day.Don't you dare take off the rose colored glasses,and try to take america back!
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Very Concerned American
11:39PM Jul 6th 2008
RIP, Senator helms was from the old school of hatred and prejudice. He was not a reasonable man when it came to civil rights. His generation is about to expire and hopefully the new generation will embrace human standards that are much higher them those from Senator Helms day. I respect Senator Mc Cain for his service of this country.
With all due respect I think he would make a terrible president and I don't think the American people will vote for him or any republican in November.
Old style politics that the republicans are using will backfire in the general election.
The main problem with the Senator's run for president is he does not have a platform he represents a 3rd Bush term if you analyze what his campaign has been about and what he frames as his platform are identical to that of George Bush.
Americans will have to last word and that will be GET OUT OF IRAQ as soon as humanly possible another 100 years in Iraq are totally unacceptable to most Americans.
Obama represents the kind of CHANGE that Americans want to believe in. There are some Americans that are pre-conditioned with old beliefs which separated our great country and violated civil and human rights and standards. The November 2008 general election will bury all those years of hatred and violations of civil rights.
World leaders will welcome and cooperate with Obama because his message is fresh and his face is new, these 2 reasons are good enough to vote for Obama in November 2008.
Here is a couple of links to a couple of videos that are very inspirational and were created by ordinary Americans and celebrities alike who support OBAMA:
Tens of thousands of people attended Unite for Change meetings in all 50 states. Watch the video and get involved in your community.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/UFCvideo/ I am an ordinary American and I have been a registered voter for over 40 years and I lived through the negativity that all Americans had to endure in the 40's 50's and 60's.
I truly believe that many of the baby boomers were pre-conditioned with beliefs that were filled with hatred for people of color.
I have learned to believe that you can't prove anything without "The theory of assumption" and that is from the time of your birth, if you were taught that the color red was really BLUE you would never believe red was Red.
The moral of this story is, that prejudice is taught and if all your life you were taught to believe that people of color were sub-standard and not as good as they were then you'd be pre-conditioned to a negative belief.
The 60's were a very sad time for most Americans! People were marching throughout the South for equality, not just black Americans, Jewish Americans, White Americans, and Hispanic Americans were marching for the right to be free and to enjoy what the Constitution of the United States of America was founded on.
Please, people vote for "Change We Can Believe in". Vote democratic across the board so we can start making better decisions about what we want for our country. Vote OBAMA 2008.