Former GOP Senate veteran Jesse Helms dies
Associated Press
Published July 4, 2008 at 9:10 a.m.
Associated Press
In this file photo, Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., high-fives Johnathan Prevette, 6, of Lexington, N.C., during pre-race activities prior to the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway near Concord, N.C. Johnathan Prevette was the young boy charged with sexual harassment by Southwest Elementary School officials in Lexington, N.C., when he kissed a girl classmate on the cheek. Helms has died at age 86, the Jesse Helms research center says.
RALEIGH, N.C. — Former Sen. Jesse Helms, who built a career along the fault lines of racial politics and battled liberals, Communists and the occasional fellow Republican during 30 conservative years in Congress, died on the Fourth of July.
He was 86.
"It's just incredible that he would die on July 4, the same day of the Declaration of Independence and the same day that Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died, and he certainly is a patriot in the mold of those great men," said former North Carolina GOP Rep. Bill Cobey, the chairman of The Jesse Helms Center at Wingate University.
Helms died at 1:15 a.m, the center said. He died in Raleigh of natural causes, said former chief of staff Jimmy Broughton.
"He was very comfortable," Broughton said.
Funeral arrangements were pending, the Helms center said.
"America lost a great public servant and true patriot today," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said few senators could match Helms' reputation.
"Today we lost a Senator whose stature in Congress had few equals. Senator Jesse Helms was a leading voice and courageous champion for the many causes he believed in," McConnell said in a statement.
Helms, who first became known to North Carolina voters as a newspaper and television commentator, won election to the Senate in 1972 and decided not to run for a sixth term in 2002.
"Compromise, hell! ... If freedom is right and tyranny is wrong, why should those who believe in freedom treat it as if it were a roll of bologna to be bartered a slice at a time?" Helms wrote in a 1959 editorial that foretold his political style.
As he aged, Helms was slowed by a variety of illnesses, including a bone disorder, prostate cancer and heart problems, and he made his way through the Capitol on a motorized scooter as his career neared an end. In April 2006, his family announced he had been moved into a convalescent center after being diagnosed with vascular dementia, in which repeated minor strokes damage the brain.
Helms' public appearances had dwindled as his health deteriorated. When his memoirs were published in August 2005, he appeared at a Raleigh book store to sign copies, but did not make a speech.
In an e-mail interview with The Associated Press at that time, Helms said he hoped what future generations learn about him "will be based on the truth and not the deliberate inaccuracies those who disagreed with me took such delight in repeating."
"My legacy will be up to others to describe," he added.
Helms served as chairman of the Agriculture Committee and Foreign Relations Committees over the years at times when the GOP held the Senate majority, using his posts to protect his state's tobacco growers and other farmers and place his stamp on foreign policy.
His opposition to Communism defined his foreign policy views. He took a dim view of many arms control treaties, opposed Fidel Castro at every turn, and supported the contras in Nicaragua as well as the right-wing government of El Salvador. He opposed the Panama Canal treaties that then-President Carter pushed through a reluctant Senate in 1977.
Early on, his habit of blocking nominations and legislation won him a nickname of "Senator No." He delighted in forcing roll-call votes that required Democrats to take politically difficult votes on federal funding for art he deemed pornographic, school busing, flag-burning and other cultural issues.
In 1993, when then-President Clinton sought confirmation for an openly homosexual assistant secretary at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Helms registered his disgust. "I'm not going to put a lesbian in a position like that," he said in a newspaper interview at the time. "If you want to call me a bigot, fine."
After Democrats killed the appointment of U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle, a former Helms aide, to a federal appeals court post in 1991, Helms blocked all of Clinton's judicial nominations from North Carolina for eight years.
Helms occasionally opted for compromise in later years in the Senate, working with Democrats on legislation to restructure the foreign policy bureaucracy and pay back debts to the United Nations, an organization be disdained for most of his career.
And he softened his views on AIDS after years of clashes with gay activists, advocating greater federal funding to fight the disease in Africa and elsewhere overseas.
But in his memoirs, Helms made clear that his opinions on other issues had hardly moderated since he left office. He likened abortion to the Holocaust and the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
"I will never be silent about the death of those who cannot speak for themselves," he wrote in "Here's Where I Stand."
Helms never lost a race for the Senate, but he never won one by much, either, a reflection of his divisive political profile in his native state.
He knew it, too. "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," he said in 1990 after winning his fourth term.
He won the 1972 election after switching parties, and defeated then-Gov. Jim Hunt in an epic battle in 1984 in what was then the costliest Senate race on record.
He defeated black former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt in 1990 and 1996 in racially tinged campaigns. In the first race, a Helms commercial showed a white fist crumbling up a job application, these words underneath: "You needed that job ... but they had to give it to a minority."
"The tension that he creates, the fear he creates in people, is how he's won campaigns," Gantt said several years later.
Helms also played a role in national GOP politics — supporting Ronald Reagan in 1976 in a presidential primary challenge to then-President Ford. Reagan's candidacy was near collapse when it came time for the North Carolina primary. Helms was in charge of the effort, and Reagan won a startling upset that resurrected his challenge.
"It's not saying too much to say that had Senator Helms not put his weight and his political organization behind Ronald Reagan so that he was able to win North Carolina, there may have never been a Reagan presidency," Cobey said. "Most people feel like there would have never been a President Reagan had it not been for Jesse Helms."
During the 1990s, Helms clashed frequently with Clinton, whom he deemed unqualified to be commander in chief. Even some Republicans cringed when Helms said Clinton was so unpopular he would need a bodyguard on North Carolina military bases. Helms said he hadn't meant it as a threat.
Asked to gauge Clinton's performance overall, Helms said in 1995: "He's a nice guy. He's very pleasant. But ... (as) Ronald Reagan used to say about another politician, 'Deep down, he's shallow.'"
Helms went out of his way to establish good relations with Madeleine Albright, Clinton's second secretary of state. But that didn't stop him from single-handedly blocking Clinton's appointment of William Weld — a Republican — as ambassador to Mexico.
Helms clashed with other Republicans over the years, including fellow Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana in 1987, after Democrats had won a Senate majority. Helms had promised in his 1984 campaign not to take the chairmanship of the Foreign Relations Committee, but he invoked seniority over Lugar to claim the seat as the panel's ranking Republican.
He was unafraid of inconveniencing his fellow senators — sometimes all of them at once. "I did not come to Washington to win a popularity contest," he once said while holding the Senate in session with a filibuster that delayed the beginning of a Christmas break. And he once objected to a request by phoning in his dissent from home, where he was watching Senate proceedings on television.
Helms was born in Monroe, N.C., on Oct. 18, 1921. He attended Wake Forest College in 1941 but never graduated and was in the Navy during World War II.
In many ways, Helms' values were forged in the small town where his father was police chief.
"I shall always remember the shady streets, the quiet Sundays, the cotton wagons, the Fourth of July parades, the New Year's Eve firecrackers. I shall never forget the stream of school kids marching uptown to place flowers on the Courthouse Square monument on Confederate Memorial Day," Helms wrote in a newspaper column in 1956.
He took an active role in North Carolina politics early on, working to elect a segregationist candidate, Willis Smith, to the Senate in 1950. He worked as Smith's top staff aide for a time, then returned to Raleigh as executive director of the state bankers association.
Helms became a member of the Raleigh city council in 1957 and got his first public platform for espousing his conservative views when he became a television editorialist for WRAL in Raleigh in 1960. He also wrote a column that at one time was carried in 200 newspapers. Helms also was city editor at The Raleigh Times.
Helms and his wife, Dorothy, had two daughters and a son. They adopted the boy in 1962 after the child, 9 years old and suffering from cerebral palsy, said in a newspaper article that he wanted parents.
Some quotes of Jesse Helms, who died on the Fourth of July at age 86:
"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.
"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.
"The destruction of this country can be pinpointed in terms of its beginnings to the time that our political leadership turned to socialism. They didn't call it socialism, of course. It was given deceptive names and adorned with fancy slogans. We heard about New Deals, and Fair Deals and New Frontiers and the Great Society." — From a Helms editorial at WRAL-TV in Raleigh.
"I shall always remember the shady streets, the quiet Sundays, the cotton wagons, the Fourth of July parades, the New Year's Eve firecrackers. I shall never forget the stream of school kids marching uptown to place flowers on the Courthouse Square monument on Confederate Memorial Day." — Helms writing in 1956 on life in his hometown of Monroe, N.C.
"If he taught us anything, he taught us that we are personally responsible and accountable. I remember that day, and always will, when he called in several from the senior class. ... He said you can make it in this country. He said it's going to take hard work. ... He said you're going to succeed. He said you'll own your own homes and you'll have two cars and all that. I thought this man had lost his mind." — Helms reflecting on his high school principal.
"Compromise, hell! That's what has happened to us all down the line — and that's the very cause of our woes. If freedom is right and tyranny is wrong, why should those who believe in freedom treat it as if it were a roll of bologna to be bartered a slice at a time?" — Helms writing in 1959 on compromise in politics.
"To rob the Negro of his reputation of thinking through a problem in his own fashion is about the same as trying to pretend that he doesn't have a natural instinct for rhythm and for singing and dancing." — Helms responding in 1956 to criticism that a fictional black character in his newspaper column was offensive.
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July 4, 2008
9:40 a.m.
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joeblow writes:
On a day that we celebrate and honor our nation's liberty, let us hope that Jesse Helms, before he breathed his last breath, was also liberated from the intractable racism that plagued his entire life.
RIP.
July 4, 2008
9:41 a.m.
Suggest removal
dilligaf writes:
I wonder how judgement day is going so far. Am I going to get attacked from the right for making that statement. Now since the far right preaches that this countries laws and constitution was written under god I wonder how a former slave owner will be judged.
This man even had what they used to call a whinch. I guess that is how they spell it. But it doesn't matter you know what I mean.
July 4, 2008
9:46 a.m.
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JimmyTheSaint writes:
Make room in hell. Jesse's coming.
July 4, 2008
10:22 a.m.
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dilligaf writes:
Gene he was one of the founding fathers of the hate party. You know it as the republican party. Racism has been running rapid in your party and it was all started by guys like Jesse. There is a reason the south have almost always been red states. Not because they are conservatives but racism still runs wild in the south. They support the hate party. BURN IN HELL MR HELMS!!!
July 4, 2008
10:22 a.m.
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rickg19611 writes:
Typical hate based responses from the leftwingers.
July 4, 2008
10:23 a.m.
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LOUIE writes:
At least Jesse was honest about who he was. He didn't stab you in the back with his beliefs, he hit you squarely in the jaw. Reminds me of George Wallace. I have to respect a man who is honest, even if I disagree with his opinion and beliefs. It's the sneaky one I want to rid the hen house of...with all respects, goodbye Jesse.
July 4, 2008
11 a.m.
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HolierThanThou writes:
Ironically, Jesse Helms was a leading architect of the economic defeat of America by Communist China. Conservatives invariably support the power of bosses to exploit and abuse workers. In doing so, they provide tax breaks to corporations for offshoring US jobs to China and other foreign countries. This strategy is destroying the American middle class.
The bigotry of Jesse Helms lives on in modern day conservatism. The racism that he embraced was invented to divide Americans by skin color. Now that racism is falling into disrepute, hostilities are being executed against working Americans in other ways. Collective bargaining is portrayed as evil in the corporate media. National health care is branded as "evil socialism". War is used to keep the people distracted from a failing economy, mass foreclosures and evictions, wealthy conservatives robbing the US treasury and running our government into debt, and the corporate taxation (fuel cost is one example) that is wiping out what's left of the middle class.
This is the legacy of Jesse Helms.
July 4, 2008
11:07 a.m.
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Scott writes:
dilligaf sez: "Gene he was one of the founding fathers of the hate party. "
Right along side the KKK's Kleagle Senator Robert Bird. Both of these turds belong in Hell.
Scott
July 4, 2008
11:32 a.m.
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me2 writes:
You have respect for this man? A man who only believed in integration in the bedroom?
What a southern joke.
July 4, 2008
11:43 a.m.
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Kara writes:
This guy was one of the most "hateful" on earth....hopefully he fairs well in hell.
July 4, 2008
12:55 p.m.
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dilligaf writes:
Well then Louie you must have respect for Hitler. He was honest about who he was too.
July 4, 2008
1:19 p.m.
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LOUIE writes:
Ironically HolierThan Thou, war is the necessary evil of the preservation of any nation; you have yet to find an alternative to the age old equation of mankinds insecurity. Diplomacy is often the appeasement of fools, may be popular, but will it secure your nations intrest in an increasingly difficult global economy, opposed by those who would be displaced. From the thoughts of great minds, the problems of international security, of our nations invested financial intrests in the economy of host nations, remain at risk of nationalization of 3rd world dictators, of Machavellian proportions. War is still part of the equation, financial colonialism is still a necessity, why? Because it is human nature to enhance oneself, over the needs of the rest of humanity and that of the world, to survive. Rome had it right; Rome was not only able to survive 2000 years, but conquered civilizations much more brilliant in evolution of thought than itself. America is a little over 200 years old and still evolving in world events. Let our sacrifice in war bring greater inheritance to my children, even if we must pay in blood for this great nation. Please recognize if somebody wasn't willing to die for that flag out on your porch today, regardless of which party ordered the sacrifice, you might be one of the oppressed nations yearning for the freedom to oppose war. How does this conflict with your beliefs? Please don't paper over the insecurities of humanity, they have jealously been with us since Cain and Abel. Your solution? I know, "Love thy neighbor as thyself", doesn't always work. Eutopia is a fantasy, welcome to the real world of governmental genocide in the 3rd world; the reason America has an uphill battle to bring justice to all people of all nations, starting with our own people first. Lead by example and the world may follow.
July 4, 2008
1:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
tirnanog41 writes:
I have been reading online what a great man Jess Helms was.Well There is a special place in hell for that bastard. I hope he suffered a horrible and painful death.And I hope he will never rest in peace.
Those people who think he was a great man are no different than the German people who ignored what Hitler did. He was a sick and twisted and hateful piece of crap and his death should be celebrated. Yea the bastard is dead !!!!! The world is better without someone as hateful as him!!!!
My hope is that when he is in the ground people will go and spit on his grave.
July 4, 2008
2:19 p.m.
Suggest removal
jay writes:
This guy was a ignorant clown.
"They should ask their parents if it would be all right for their son or daughter to marry a Negro."
-- In response to Duke University students holding a vigil after Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, 1968
"The New York Times and Washington Post are both infested with homosexuals themselves. Just about every person down there is a homosexual or lesbian."
"To rob the Negro of his reputation of thinking through a problem in his own fashion is about the same as trying to pretend that he doesn't have a natural instinct for rhythm and for singing and dancing."
"The destruction of this country can be pinpointed in terms of its beginnings to the time that our political leadership turned to socialism. They didn't call it socialism, of course. It was given deceptive names and adorned with fancy slogans. We heard about New Deals, and Fair Deals and New Frontiers and the Great Society."
"There have been 248 different U.S. senators in the 18 years and 5 months I have been there. None-none-have been more capable than Dan Quayle."
"Homosexuals are weak, morally sick wretches."
"The University of Negroes and Communists"...referring to UNC. (must have been a david Duke fan)
"She's a damn lesbian. I am not going to put a lesbian in a position like that. If you want to call me a bigot, fine."...in opposition of appointing a woman to a cabinet position
"Your tax dollars are being used to pay for grade-school classes that teach our children that CANNIBALISM, WIFE-SWAPPING and MURDER of infants and the elderly are acceptable behavior."
"All Latins are volatile people. Hence, I was not surprised at the volatile reaction."
"It's their deliberate, disgusting, revolting conduct that is responsible for the disease."...(about aids)
"For thirty years, jesse helms has been the conscious of our (republican) party"---Trent Lott.
nice "heroes" you folks on the right worship...
July 4, 2008
2:39 p.m.
Suggest removal
jay writes:
quite right...an ignorant clown...added ignorant at the last moment.
an ignorant clown.
you betcha.
July 4, 2008
2:47 p.m.
Suggest removal
LOUIE writes:
My question is this: how did a politician with George Wallace's views get elected in a state like Alabama where the majority of voters are black? Teach me, I do want to learn. How do people like Jesse stay in power for so long without any creditable opposition? Especially in the south in modern times, where all are equal at the electurn? Ridicule me this me: why in a state where those who openly opposed equality of race, be elected forever by a majority of the voters, of those most adversely affected by thier extreme racial beliefs? I didn't mean to offend, but this has been a question I've had. I feel it's an honest question in these online discussions were race has been brought into play. School me, I need it more than anyone.
July 4, 2008
3:04 p.m.
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tirnanog41 writes:
It's very simple Louie white people outnumber black people in the south and also because of the way the last two presidential races went that somehow the black people's votes in North Carolina did not
get counted the same way as white people's votes got counted and so Hitler Helms kept getting elected.
July 4, 2008
3:24 p.m.
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LOUIE writes:
Tirnanog41, not in Alabama pal, the black electorate outnumbered the white vote heavily, George and his old girl ruled as kings in Alabama. If one wasn't in office, the other one was. Even after Authur Bremmer. I'll tell you why, but first give me some thought on the question.
July 4, 2008
3:35 p.m.
Suggest removal
LOUIE writes:
Gone fishin'... beat me up better than the fish; I'll be happy to have learned something. Happy 4th of July, sorry Denver if I lite fuses all night; it's America, regardless of the city ordanances. To all, lets party... America, ain't never been one I'd rather be, an American...except Monaco; sorry, I just thought if wishes were horses, I'd take the stables of Monaco!
July 4, 2008
3:36 p.m.
Suggest removal
tirnanog41 writes:
This blog is about that bastard Jesse Helms who was a senator from North Carolina not Alabama.
this is not about George Wallace who by the way toward the end of his life he actually changed
his tune about race and his beliefs changed but Jesse Helms died a hateful racist bigot.If there is
a hell he is now with his racist hateful friend Strom Thurman who is also rotting in hell.
July 4, 2008
3:43 p.m.
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LOUIE writes:
Strom too? Oh God,...where's my pole?!
July 4, 2008
3:45 p.m.
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LOUIE writes:
Democrat Joe Kennedy liked Hitler, didn't he? Why?
July 4, 2008
4:03 p.m.
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JustMe writes:
I would never wish anyone to burn in hell. But I do not mourn the passing of this man. He was hateful and horrible. I'm glad that at least a small bit of hate is gone from this world. We don't need anymore.
And anyone standing up for this man speaks volumes about who they are. Lets see..he was racist, homophobic, voted many times to cut things to do with the arts and the list goes on. Not a pleasant person, he...he left a legacy of hatred :(
July 4, 2008
4:04 p.m.
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LOUIE writes:
Soon, somebody will hijack this arguement to FTW; Fishing The Wilds...
July 4, 2008
4:13 p.m.
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JustMe writes:
Oh - and as for those saying leave it to the leftist for hateful comments. Please. When Ted Kennedy was diagnoses with a brain tumor I have never seen such disgusting hateful comments from the right - so it goes both ways.
July 4, 2008
4:16 p.m.
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HolierThanThou writes:
A history note: the Roman Empire did not last 2000 years. It lasted only about 1200 years. If you only count the lifespan of the Roman republic, then that part lasted only 720 years. The ancient Roman republic was destroyed from within by its own conservatives who opened the door for the dictatorship of the Caesars. The Roman Senate did this by neglecting the needs of the common citizens and refusing to empower the tribunes who stood to represent those common citizens.
The United States of America is not likely to last as long as the Roman Empire. Our global competitors are taking our nation apart with the full cooperation of the capitalists who are presently running both the government and the economy. If we want our republic to outlive its own experiment in imperial governance, we would do well to study the actual history of the Roman Empire without romanticizing it or listening to the lies put out on conservative radio and talk shows.
July 4, 2008
4:23 p.m.
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nonayerbsns writes:
HATER is gone!!! Yeah!
July 4, 2008
4:39 p.m.
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AC writes:
LOUIE writes:
"My question is this: how did a politician with George Wallace's views get elected in a state like Alabama where the majority of voters are black? Teach me, I do want to learn."
Louie, how long have you been around? Not meant as an insult, just wondering if you're old enough to remember all this: Blacks might have outnumbered whites in *population* in Alabama but they were not allowed to vote. It takes votes to be elected and just like the Bush campaign in Florida in 2000, the power structure suppressed the black vote turnout. In days past it was the poll tax and the education requirement. Now it's things like culling active voter lists on false pretenses.
The Voting Rights Act didn't even pass until 1965 to do away with the old practices, and we can only wonder how long it took to take hold, if it ever fully did. Why do you think the Freedom Riders were down South in the '60s, some of them getting killed by the klan like Goodman, Schwerner and Chaney?
That's why George Wallace didn't have to worry about courting black voters.
July 4, 2008
5:10 p.m.
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joeblow writes:
Louie, get help, dude. You're a pretty sick guy.
But, to answer the question you posed about George Wallace, i.e., how did he get elected in a state where "the majority of voters are black?" Well, Lou---may I call you Lou---the majority of voters in Alabama ARE NOT black. That is true today and it was certainly true when George Wallace was wreaking havoc on human rights. So, please, disabuse yourself of that particular piece of ignorance, uh, ig-nunce in the lexicon of Jesse Helms.
Incidentally, while there may have been some blacks voting for Gov. Wallace way back when, there was never a majority of blacks who did so. In fact, if you did a little research, you'd find that many blacks who wanted to vote in Alabama pre-1970, were actually denied the right to vote. Ref: Poll taxes and Jim Crow laws, not to mention the heavy handedness of voting officials. Hope that helps, Lou.
Now, Lou, Joe Kennedy may have leaned a little to the right in supporting the Nazis, but he paid for his sins the moment FDR got wind of it. And since, we're on the subject, you seem to take great pride in your knowledge of history with respect to who did or didn't support the Third Reich, you might want to look at Dubya's ancestors, who wore their Nazi allegiance on their bank books.
Tell you what, Lou, stop your mouth breathing, step back from cheerleading for ignorance/ig-nunce and take an objective look at history. I promise, you're going to learn something, at least more than you seem to know now.
Now, Lou, don't thank me now. You can do that anytime.
July 4, 2008
5:37 p.m.
Suggest removal
AC writes:
LOUIE writes:
"Democrat Joe Kennedy liked Hitler, didn't he? Why?"
LOL Louie!! You got the wrong presidential father!!! <chuckle> You're thinking of Prescott Bush.
July 4, 2008
7:59 p.m.
Suggest removal
LOUIE writes:
Fair enough with Wallace, but how did Strom and Helms stay in power until they resigned well into the years 2002-2003, in states that now voted heavily in favor of Mr. Obama? Niether Helms nor Strom ever recanted thier outspoken beliefs while in office that I know of, and remained quite outspoken in thier beliefs till they resigned a few years ago. I think both were replaced by conservatives. How did these states progress this far in 5 years, to overcome the racial legacy of these two powerful senators, to states that now support Mr. Obama? Are you saying that there still wasn't racial equality at the polls in these two states up until a few years ago? I don't mean to offend anyone, I just find it hard to believe anyone, who these two who openly discriminated against, from blacks to gays could still be elected in this day and age. That's an amazing feat for them not to have some validity amongst thier constituents. With Wallace, you made a very valid point(s), and i accept the arguement you made. So how did Helms and Thurmond stay in power until 2003 with thier racial, and bigoted beliefs intact? I really do want to hear more, maybe I can better understand why. I don't mind thanking you.
July 4, 2008
8:30 p.m.
Suggest removal
AC writes:
LOUIE writes:
"Fair enough with Wallace, but how did Strom and Helms stay in power until they resigned well into the years 2002-2003, in states that now voted heavily in favor of Mr. Obama?"
You're very confused, Louie. Thurmond and Helms were Republicans; Obama is a Democrat. NC and SC did not vote heavily in favor of Obama. Listen closely: *Democrats voting in their party primaries in those states* voted heavily for Obama. Winning a party primary is not being heavily voted for by the state's electorate itself.
There are still plenty of Republican racists in the Carolinas to elect conservative white senators.
July 4, 2008
9:58 p.m.
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LOUIE writes:
In the early 1960's didn't the democrats hold power in the south, were not many of these party members racist as well? I think in the early years of civil rights, both partys shared racist views. I always thought Wallace as well as Thurmond were democrats before Thurmond switched partys. I believe the south used to favor the democrats back in the 60's-70's. Today, it seems the south has shifted more towards the republican party. Is this correct and why? I don't think either party can shed it's past contribution to racism, especially the democrats who ruled the south in the early days of civil rights.
July 4, 2008
10:07 p.m.
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LOUIE writes:
Hey, I admit my weakness in this area; thanks for tolerating my lack of knowledge and my barrage of questions. JoeBlow, AC, thanks, I wouldn't ask you guys, if I truly didn't want to know. Did the southern democrats support racism in the early 60's? If so why is the republican party the only one being called to task today?
July 4, 2008
10:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
AC writes:
LOUIE writes:
"Did the southern democrats support racism in the early 60's? If so why is the republican party the only one being called to task today?"
You are correct; in fact the Democratic Party in the last half of the 19th Century after the Civil War was the party of white southern racists. Democratic presidential candidates rarely carried northern or western states, they only carried the south all through then and the first half of the 20th Century. Racist Democrats like SC Sen. Ben Pitchfork Tillman openly talked of lynching blacks and preventing them from voting, and Tillman was in office in the early part of the 20th Century.
Republicans had a lock on the black vote. It didn't start to break down until the early part of the 20th Century and a racial incident called the Brownsville Affair when President Teddy Roosevelt cashiered out a whole regiment of black tropps garrisoned in that Texas city when white townspeople claimed -- falsely -- that one of them had killed a white businessman. Some of those troops had served in Rough Rider regiments with Teddy. That stoked black outrage at Republicans; Willam Taft also fought against seating black delegates who opposed him at the GOP convention. Dems were no better and were openly racist.
FDR and the New Deal helped attract black support but it wasn't until mid-20th Century and the Dixiecrat defection led by Strom Thurmond that the Dems started easing ever so slowly to supporting civil rights legislation that was opposed by Republicans. That sort of sealed the migration of the voting bloc, obviously with many individual exceptions.
But yes you're right, Dems 100 years and more ago were the party of racists and segregationists, old Confederate veterans. The deal was selaed in the stolen Hayes election of 1876, when Republicans agreed to end Reconstruction if the Dems caved on the Tilden candidacy. That pulled Union troops out of southern states and left the good ol' white boys firmly in charge -- enter Jim Crow and segregation and no voting rights for blacks.
July 4, 2008
10:24 p.m.
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LOUIE writes:
AC, I owe you, thanks for suffering my questions; you answered many things for me to be able to research further. I admit, I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer in some areas. Thank you for your time, it is honestly appreciated.
July 4, 2008
10:27 p.m.
Domino writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
July 4, 2008
10:31 p.m.
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dilligaf writes:
Louie all this talk about voting doesn't change that you have been defending a racist and hatemonger. And that makes you one.
July 4, 2008
11:06 p.m.
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PonchoVia writes:
HolierThanThou is right on the money. I couldn't have said it better. I hope he doesn't mind if I copy his earlier comments here:
"HolierThanThou writes:
Ironically, Jesse Helms was a leading architect of the economic defeat of America by Communist China. Conservatives invariably support the power of bosses to exploit and abuse workers. In doing so, they provide tax breaks to corporations for offshoring US jobs to China and other foreign countries. This strategy is destroying the American middle class.
The bigotry of Jesse Helms lives on in modern day conservatism. The racism that he embraced was invented to divide Americans by skin color. Now that racism is falling into disrepute, hostilities are being executed against working Americans in other ways. Collective bargaining is portrayed as evil in the corporate media. National health care is branded as "evil socialism". War is used to keep the people distracted from a failing economy, mass foreclosures and evictions, wealthy conservatives robbing the US treasury and running our government into debt, and the corporate taxation (fuel cost is one example) that is wiping out what's left of the middle class.
This is the legacy of Jesse Helms."
July 4, 2008
11:08 p.m.
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LOUIE writes:
I don't defend Helms viewpoint or opinions as I stated in my first posting. I do respect the man for being up front with it. He said what he believed. It's the one who hides it while decieving the people that I have no respect for. The man stayed in power for decades and held his views up for all to see without lying about it. Regardless of what I think of his opinion and beliefs, that took courage to be that honest with his constituents, who kept him in power. I can respect Jesse Helms, if not for any other reason but his honesty. If that makes me a racist and a hatemonger in your eyes, so be it. I take it you are not in anyway curious about the history of racism in America: I will always ask questions even if I suffer your ridicule in the process. My opinion will forever be evolving as long as there is someone to oppose me. I am little more complex than you might think, Dilligaf. AC put up some great stuff, got me thinking. Give us your take on history of the partys; I'll listen. If you have questions ask, I do. Names and labels are insignificant to me, put up some substance to your thoughts. Anything constructive Dilligaf? I think I'm witnessing history with Mr. Obama; will he win? Maybe, maybe not, but it's history in the making. I refuse to be PC for the sake of being PC. I want knowledge, not politically correct sound bites that make everyone feel rosy about themselves. The history of these two opposing partys, and the men who powered them I find quite valuable. I respect Mr. Helms honesty, not his opinions nor his beliefs.
July 4, 2008
11:30 p.m.
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LOUIE writes:
Dilligaf, in your second post you made it clear the republicans were founding fathers of hate in your rebuttal to Gene. I always heard it was the early democrats, not republicans who ruled the south with racist oppression. I would rather ask someone more knowledgable than myself, than than make a grave error of an opinion like yours as a historical fact, to the founding party of racism in America. I will be the last to rob you of your historical opinions Dilligaf.
July 5, 2008
6:10 a.m.
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Hank writes:
LOUIE, you sound like a conservative Republican trying to confuse the fact that the virulent southern racists were/are conservatives.
"I always heard it was the early democrats, not republicans who ruled the south with racist oppression."
Racist, conservative Democrats did have a solid hold on the south, until the Civil Rights act and Nixon's Southern Strategy when many of those racist conservatives switched to the Republican party - Jesse Helms switched and became a Republican in 1970 and Strom Thurmond switched to Republican in 1964.
Don't think southern racism is rooted in conservatism? Check out the KKK's solidly religeous conservative positions:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/58xte
July 5, 2008
6:50 a.m.
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LOUIE writes:
I trying to point out that both party's have these racial skeleton hanging in thier closet; in the early years, the democrats led the way. Wallace in 1958 ran against a democrat and member of the KKK, Wallace even had the support of the NAACP in the 1958 losing bid. This racist successfully ran on the democratic ticket even in the later years up until 1982. These men both democrat as well as republican were an unbeatable political force in both partys that were part of the political landscape long after civil rights and the voting act. In Alabama, I read where Wallace even led in the predominatly black areas that helped him solitify his bid for governor, gerrymandering wasn't even necessary to that support. I was shocked to read where the NAACP supported Wallace in 1958 against an equally racist opponent. Why? If we are going to take a particular party to task over thier racial histories, why do we let the democrats off so lightly when they were truly the party that endorsed it so heavily in the southern states? The KKK supported the southern democrats. Both partys need to accept the responsibility, not just one. Thanks for the sight, I will look at it. I think both partys need to pony up to thier past. Puting this grave crime solely upon the republican party, is not correct in my eyes. Both partys had racists running for office, well into the 1980's, long after civil rights were brought into play.
July 5, 2008
7:27 a.m.
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LOUIE writes:
As far as sounding like a conservative republican; I vote accross party lines for the one I feel is best apt to lead this nation. I always supported the democrats in the area of labor. I do not support thier platform on gun control and abortion. Mr. Bush lacked greatly in the area of world diplomacy, I believe Iraq to have been unnecessary. The UN was on the right path. Is Mr. Obama capable is a big question for me to answer because of the perilous situation America has been placed in because of Mr. Bush's lack of world vision. McCain is not a great alternative either; I don't think he has vision, a cromwellian protector at best. America needs better choices from both partys, but it not going to happen. It going to be a hard road in America for the years to come.
July 5, 2008
7:51 a.m.
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Hank writes:
"I trying to point out that both party's have these racial skeleton hanging in thier closet"
Then why do you avoid mention of the mass exodus of the racist conservatives to the Republican party that turned the south from solidly Democrat to solidly Republican?
"Wallace in 1958 ran against a democrat and member of the KKK, Wallace even had the support of the NAACP in the 1958 losing bid."
"In Alabama, I read where Wallace even led in the predominatly black areas that helped him solitify his bid for governor, gerrymandering wasn't even necessary to that support. I was shocked to read where the NAACP supported Wallace in 1958 against an equally racist opponent. Why?"
Because his opponent, John Patterson, was supported by the KKK, which Wallace had spoken against, and it was before Wallace made segregation his main issue. In light of those facts Wallace was easily the lesser of two evils.
"The KKK supported the southern democrats."
Yes, but not anymore.
"Both partys need to accept the responsibility, not just one."
yes - democrats for the past and republicans for the present.
"why do we let the democrats off so lightly when they were truly the party that endorsed it so heavily in the southern states? The KKK supported the southern democrats"
We don't let the democrats off - that's the past and this is the present. The KKK doesn't support southern democrats today, they support republicans - read the KKK's positions, they are conservative republican positions from one end to the other. The KKK is very conservative as were southern democrats until they fled to the republican party.
"Puting this grave crime solely upon the republican party, is not correct in my eyes."
The democrats deserve it for their past, like when Helms and Thurmond were democrats and the republicans deserve it for the present when both Helms and Thurmond are hailed as solid republicans.
July 5, 2008
9:07 a.m.
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Michael writes:
Even U2's Bono had praise for Sen. Helms on his death referencing the work that Sen. Helms had done with regard to AIDS relief and funding for AIDS relief in Africa. Bono said that 2 million African children are alive today as a DIRECT result of Sen. Helms work. So, regardless of all those that disagree and obviously hate the man and cannot respect that in a man's death it is respectable to find something nice to say or STFU, God bless Sen. Helms and may he RIP and condolences to his family.
July 5, 2008
12:32 p.m.
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LOUIE writes:
Hank, if you support the lesser of two evils, are you not still supporting evil? To me that's poor justification. No, Mr. Wallace's segregationist opinions go far back to the late 1940's. Although I have voted both partys in elections past, my opinions are always going to be under fire. I don't support gun control or abortion, do I paint the democratic headquarters in blood and desecrate graves because of my beliefs? No I tolerate and debate, sometimes I find favor, other times not. My church and the churches cemetary was vandalized some years back here in Denver, because of lack of tolerence, why? When they caught the vandals they were proud to have represented thier views in such a manner. This from people who want to teach tolerence. I can't have an opinion seperate of others without suffering names, attacks, vandalism, yet I always voted for who I felt was best to lead regardless of party. Seems the democrats have become so intolerant as to alienate people like me. My church gets splattered with blood all over the front because it doesn't believe in abortion. Some years ago, they desecrated the graves in the church cemetary over birth control. I agree with protests, but destruction of property and verbal assaults from either party constituents serves no purpose, but to alienate. Just as Jesse alienated many with his beliefs. No matter, I will always try and diagree with you and still respect you. If ever I level a personal attack on anyone, I hope I have the courage to apologize. I will always vote for the best man, even if he doesn't represent all my opinions. We need a leader, regardless of party. This election niether party has put up great canidate, that makes the decision even harder.
July 5, 2008
12:44 p.m.
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LOUIE writes:
Hank, remember when the christian zealots were shooting abortion doctors and bombing clinics? It was wrong, and there can never be justification for such actions from either party. Tolerence is a contract established between opposing viewpoints, a two way street. Maybe we should both pick a party and clean house of the radical elements. It's not just a republican or democratic issue, civility in disagreements and debates are the fabric of a civilized nation.
July 5, 2008
12:54 p.m.
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LOUIE writes:
Recreate 68 is a current example of intolerence; its leader threatens to make the democratic convention more explosive than the streets of Chicago were in 68 if he is opposed. Why? I don't think destruction and violence have a voice in a civilized society where the minds of gentlemen and ladies openly debate. I believe the great philosphers of Greece, would be stoned by thier opposition to teach openly in forum today.
July 5, 2008
6:03 p.m.
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CaptainObvious writes:
GFR you narrow-minded hate monger. The world is a little more tolerant today.
July 5, 2008
9:52 p.m.
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Sweetpickle writes:
He was a major conservative hero.
July 6, 2008
9:15 a.m.
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LOUIE writes:
I liked the Wall Street article, it was fair; still his racial viewpoints were his that he openly put forth. Never realized Democratic Senator Sam Ervin also opposed civil rights, you never see much on that. People never realized both partys share in the racial divisions that where so bitter and a part of history. Often they paint only one party when it was both partys. Pick either party and they are equally culpable of guilt on the issues as they pertain to race. Today, I believe both partys have sought to improve and empower our society to greater ideals. Still, I respect a man regardless of race, who is honest about it. I have little respect for those who only pay lip-service to racial equality, while something much darker lays in thier heart. The coward is one who can never face what he truly is; so he lives a lie. Even though I will never share the opinions of Mr. Helms, I can respect his truthfulness in stating his beliefs honestly. He didn't hide from anyone, and he wasn't one to cower from his beliefs for the sake of being elected. Most politician today spin the truth and say what they think America wants to hear; that wasn't Jesse. For his honesty, I have respect for the man.
July 7, 2008
10:27 a.m.
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GladysKravitz writes:
Though he died on July 4th...the real patriots who died on this date are truely in heaven....May he rot in HELLmes!