Jesse Helms, the conservative icon and former longtime Republican senator from North Carolina, dies on the Fourth of July at age 86. Helms served 30 years in the Senate and "gained notoriety largely through his opposition to racial equality, gay rights and federal appointments that he and his supporters considered to be too liberal."
In his last two runs for Senate in 1990 and 1996, the anti-gay and anti-civil rights Helms defeated former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt, who is black, by running racially polarized campaigns. In the first race, an infamous Helms commercial showed a white fist crumpling up a job application, with these words underneath: "You needed that job ... but they had to give it to a minority."
I am from NC and I witnessed firsthand what Helms did during his tenure. Its a shame that people still support his racist and homophobic dogma.
ReplyDeleteGood Riddens that hateful man is gone... Sure, RNC is proud of his legacy. Wonder how his black daughter is doing???
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 4:ll -- I think you're thinking about Strom Thurmond, who was from South Carolina and had a Black daughter that he supported and who loved him. (Not that I can figure out why she did, except that she was obeying God.) Does Jesse Helms also have a Black daughter? I hadn't heard that. I'm not going to judge him since by now he's already been judged by God. Not only didn't he listen to the Lord when he said "Love One Another" but he must have thought that "what ye reap, so shall you sew" didn't apply to him. My kids have close friends of all races, including Asian, something I wouldn't have thought possible 40 years ago. And a Black man getting ready to be elected President of the only country I would consider living in? Time are changing, and I for one am glad....I don't even mind if he rests in peace.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the "off topic" videos they were very informative and I was enlighten. Will pass all of them to others. You must not be from Tallahassee or the South because you are quite aware and unafraid! THANK YOU,THANK YOU...
ReplyDeleteThe word RACIST is spelled incorrectly. Please correct in Jesse Helms honor! This is what Mr. Helms was speaking of... look how the ignorance continues. Also, 4:33pm has their head on straight -- "don't mind if he rests in peace". No matter what some of ya'll won't forget what we taught you on being faithful, trusting and committed to 'us" even to the end. Teaching 'ya how to read the BIBLE was as good as the Willie Lynch Theory. God Bless America!
ReplyDeleteJesse Helms was a horrible person without a doubt. Apparently he was a hero to people like Anonymous 5:07, but people like him do not matter. He or she is living in his/her own world of bitterness that humanity can't break through. When we encounter people who attempt to build themselves up by tearing others down, we can look upon them briefly with great pity, or ignore them totally, for they no longer have influence in 2008, and it is this that makes them the way they are. Name calling is all they have left; their power has been overcome by this great country called The United States of America. It is a great country -- our country, our state, our city, and our University, built by giants in spite of Jesse Helms and his ilk.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 5:07 you are a sad, pitiful person. Please do your hating somewhere else. That's all. Just go away. Certainly you can find a place to blog where your ignorance will be celebrated by others like you. "Ya'll" (is that a word) haven't kept us down, and whether you like it or not, however we came to learn to read the word of the Lord, we are glad we did. You should be glad, too. What do you think your fate might be, if we didn't love God far more than disdain people like you? You can't drive us all to hatred, and that apparently upsets you. Pretty funny, actually.
ReplyDeleteI swear Jesse Helm has been dead for years, and they took him off the ice yesterday and pronounced him dead on independence day.
ReplyDeleteI am from the North Carolina as well. Not that I wish death on anyone, but I remember teh foolishness of Helms, and the Gantt election. Gantt did not even win in his own city, Charlotte. That was a sad day for blackfolk in the state, that a man such as Helms could continue to represent the state.
ReplyDeleteDespite a couple major metropolitan areas, entire cities whose main industry is Research, all major sports but baseball, oodles of top 25 Universities both private and public, and home to the #2 banking capital in America, North Carolina chose to still shout out to its "confedaracy" roots with Helms. Damn shame.
RIP=Rot In Pieces, Jesse Helms
ReplyDeleteWhen I heard Jesse Helms and Bozo the Clown died on the same day, I thought they were talking about the same person.
ReplyDeleteI grwe up with both BOZO and Jesse Helms. BOZO was much better.
racists don't have black girlfriends... you need to read a little deeper into this biography before slapping a simple label on him.
ReplyDeleteHere is a quote for all the Helm's haters:
ReplyDelete"America never promises anybody happiness – only the pursuit of happiness, whether it manifests itself in the ownership of an automobile or a home or in any one of a thousand other ways. The genius of America is not in winning something or in being given it. The miracle of America is the opportunity to strive and work and earn the things we really want."
Senator Jesse Helms
When Free Men Shall Stand
"July Fourth – A Lesson Learned"
12:03,
ReplyDeleteOk, Helms may NOT have been a racist BUT he sure had racist tendencies !
12:09, what is the point of the quote? that Helms wasn't racist because he made a statement about working and pursuing happiness?
ReplyDeleteRattler Nation: You should be ashamed of yourself for having the name, Jesse Helms, grace this wonderful page. He certainly does not qualify to be named in the same breath with people of decency and quality. Therefore, any mention of this racist should be stricken from Rattler Nation. His horrific views set this good nation back for all the number of years he existed on this beautiful earth.
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