God rest his soul. He joins John Adams and Thomas Jeffersons, other prominent US leaders who also died on Independence Day.

http://www.wral.com/news/local/politics/story/1755723/

7/4/2008 12:07:04 PM

May God rest his soul. A great icon, a man of character and integrity.

7/4/2008 12:08:58 PM

nothing noble about him.

7/4/2008 12:12:25 PM

You know, when liberals have died or had terrible things happen to them, I was able to rise above idealogical differences to hope for the best for those involved. It is a shame that there are those who are so pathetic as humans that they cannot show a shred of compassion for somebody simply because they do not see the world through their eyes.

You are truly a bottom feeding scum sucking leech, nutsmackr. Congrats on being a douche!

7/4/2008 12:20:59 PM

Saying that there's nothing noble about Jesse Helms =/= wishing ill to him or his family.

7/4/2008 12:31:20 PM

^ +1

Quote :

"It is a shame that there are those who are so pathetic as humans that they cannot show a shred of compassion for somebody simply because they do not see the world through"

He's dead. What's this business about compassion?

7/4/2008 12:34:27 PM

Umm for his family?

7/4/2008 12:38:37 PM

I thought Jessie helms was a fucking cunt. I hate to say that, as I do respect his service in the ATTEMPT to help our country, but he was a bitter and unbelievably intolerant ass.

To salute him as a hero and such is really backwards and I'm not going to do it. I will salute him as a former American senator who has died today. I wish it wouldn't have happened but man of character and integrity? Dude, lol.

7/4/2008 12:41:47 PM

he was 86. nothing sad about an 86 year old man dying.

as to saluting his service?

okay:

America mourns the passage of a hateful xenophobic bigot who spent a lifetime of service attempting to divide the country along racial lines.

Amen, and good riddance.






[Edited on July 4, 2008 at 12:46 PM. Reason : ]

7/4/2008 12:44:46 PM

I see all the douchebag leeches are checking in today. Glad you could take time away from setting the American flag on fire!

7/4/2008 12:46:22 PM

^ so says douchbag leech #1, as he checks in.

7/4/2008 12:47:09 PM

^^ You could take the high road. You know, actually initiate a discussion of his life and government service.

But, I guess you like the gutter.

7/4/2008 12:48:35 PM

Oh know, Jesse Helm's lesbian daughter might read this thread on Tdub and get angry.

7/4/2008 12:49:18 PM

This will be a good thread.

7/4/2008 12:49:54 PM

Well he did what he could with what he had now didn't he? Let's see...advancing the interests of big tobacco, retarding the advance of civil rights, stopping a hate crime bill here or a judicial appointment there, stalling as much as possible any work on AIDS. A pretty respectable body of work in his own little killing field.

Hate and intolerance doesn't give you a soldier's honorable goodbye...although as mentioned I respect his service as a senator and I obviously don't rejoice anyone dying.

And I denounce you ever suggesting that because I hold these opinions I'm at any way less of a patriot or would ever even dream of burning flag activities. Do you know how disrespectful that is to say to me?

7/4/2008 12:50:01 PM

joe, you embody the typical bitter heartless meanspirited leftist that oozes over the soapbox like a festering boil. I wouldn't expect anything less from somebody who is a step lower than a maggot on the evolutionary chain, and at least a maggot serves some kind of useful purpose. All you do is take up space and use up oxygen.

7/4/2008 12:51:25 PM

How patently un-American of you and on such a noble day.

7/4/2008 12:52:39 PM

Quote :

"Umm for his family?"

wlfpkc4life said nothing of his family.

I feel bad for his family - I really do. That doesn't make Helms any less despicable, and it's not like disgust for Helms' sentiments are a new thing. The idea that as soon as someone dies, that no bad word can ever be uttered about them again is absolutely ridiculous. Dying doesn't undo what you've done in your lifetime.

Quote :

"joe, you embody the typical bitter heartless meanspirited leftist that oozes over the soapbox like a festering boil. I wouldn't expect anything less from somebody who is a step lower than a maggot on the evolutionary chain, and at least a maggot serves some kind of useful purpose. All you do is take up space and use up oxygen."

Good lord. I was under the assumption that Chit Chat was at least a little more well-behaved that chit chat.

[Edited on July 4, 2008 at 12:54 PM. Reason : ljkrd]

7/4/2008 12:52:39 PM

I'm done with this. Go back to dancing and spitting on his grave.

kkthnxbye

7/4/2008 12:53:54 PM

Quote :

"I wouldn't expect anything less from somebody who is a step lower than a maggot on the evolutionary chain"

You believe in evolution?

7/4/2008 12:53:59 PM

Quote :

"I'm done with this. Go back to dancing and spitting on his grave. kkthnxbye"

Good riddance. Go have fun shooting rifles at some tincans and stringing up crosses in your lawn. Since you crossed the line, I will. Take one look at your pic gallery tells you all you need to know about this douche we got right here.

7/4/2008 12:55:22 PM

Quote :

"Go back to dancing and spitting on his grave."

That would be impossible since he isn't buried yet.

7/4/2008 12:55:24 PM

Today isn't really any more momentous than when he went crazy from dementia 2 years ago. Just dig up all the other recent Jesse threads and you'll see the same things.

7/4/2008 1:01:17 PM

In memory of Jesse Helms:

Quote :

"Helms was particularly vitriolic when speaking of blacks, gays and lesbians, blaming them for "the proliferation of AIDS," and stating that he disliked using the word "gay" to refer to them since, "...there's nothing gay about them." Helms opposed the Martin Luther King Day bill in 1983 on grounds that King had two associates with communist ties, Stanley Levison and Jack O'Dell; as well, he voiced disapproval of King's alleged philandering. Of civil rights protests Helms stated in 1963 that "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."[7] (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) Helms' referred to the University of North Carolina (UNC) as the "University of Negroes and Communists." (Charleston Gazette, 9/15/95)[8] Helms once deeply offended a black colleague, Democratic Senator Carol Moseley-Braun of Illinois, by singing part of "Dixie" on a Capitol elevator. Soon after the Senate vote on the Confederate flag insignia, Sen. Jesse Helms (R.-N.C.) ran into Mosely-Braun in a Capitol elevator. Helms turned to his friend, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R.-Utah), and said, "Watch me make her cry. I'm going to make her cry. I'm going to sing 'Dixie' until she cries." He then proceeded to sing the song about the good life during slavery to Mosely-Braun (Gannett News Service, 9/2/93; Time, 8/16/93).[8] At this time, his press secretary was Claude Allen, an African American. James Meredith, who earned fame as the first African American student admitted to the University of Mississippi, also served on Helms' staff.[citation needed] While working on the 1950 campaign of Republican Willis Smith against Democrat Frank Porter Graham, Helms helped create an ad that 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. (FAIR 9/1/01, The News and Observer 8/26/01) Helms was an ardent supporter of the late Chile dictator Augusto Pinochet.[9] When Roberta Achtenberg was appointed Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 1993 by President Bill Clinton, Helms attempted to block her confirmation, stating that he refused to vote for her "because she's a damn lesbian." After a protest during his 1986 visit to Mexico, Helms opined: "All Latins are volatile people. Hence, I was not surprised at the volatile reaction." [1] In 1994 Helms spoke out against metal industrial singer Marilyn Manson. Manson responded by painting an anti-gay slur on his chest during a show in Winston-Salem, in a sarcastic and critical display against Helms's social viewpoints. Hendrik Hertzberg of The New Yorker noted in his memoirs that Helms had "the 'humorous habit'" of calling all black people "Fred". Helms used race issues in many elections; for instance, in 1990, he ran the famous "Hands" television ad in a tough re-election race. The ad has become legendary in Southern political circles as the most direct appeal to white backlash in modern American politics. The ad played upon white voters' ideas that affirmative action might lead to a job going to a less-qualified candidate ("Gantt supports Ted Kennedy's racial quota law, that makes the color of your skin more important than your qualifications.") (watch the ad). Helms opposed an amendment offering war reparations to Japanese-Americans who had been interned during World War II; he proposed an amendment stipulating that no reparations would be made unless the Japanese government compensated the families of Americans killed at Pearl Harbor. In 1994, Helms created a sensation when, on the anniversary of John F. Kennedy's assassination, he told broadcasters Rowland Evans, Jr., and Robert Novak that Clinton was "not up" to the tasks of being commander-in-chief and suggested that Clinton had "better not show up around here [Fort Bragg] without a bodyguard."[10] Helms was a strong supporter of drug prohibition, and opposed former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld's nomination as Ambassador to Mexico because Weld supported medical marijuana.[2] Helms proposed several bills as part of the war on drugs.[3]. Helms once claimed that "The New York Times and Washington Post are both infested with homosexuals themselves. Just about every person down there is a homosexual or lesbian." [4] "

7/4/2008 1:04:38 PM

If he didn't die now, he would have died in Novemeber when Obama gets elected.

7/4/2008 1:29:34 PM

Quote :

"stalling as much as possible any work on AIDS"

Whatever bad things you want to say about Sen. Helms, I wouldn't bring this up. He changed his position pretty markedly later in his career.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1187308,00.html

7/4/2008 1:57:19 PM

Quote :

"Whatever bad things you want to say about Sen. Helms, I wouldn't bring this up. He changed his position pretty markedly later in his career life."

he didn't do shit when he had power to change things.

7/4/2008 1:59:07 PM

Quote :

"Senator Bill Frist and I were allies in creating and passing a bill to commit $200 million to fight AIDS in Africa. "

200 million in AIDS relief is a sizeable sum from "Senator No".


Jesse Helms did more for the state of North Carolina than any other Senator. He always looked out for the interests of North Carolinians, and his staff was renowned as the the best in congress when it came to responding to constituents needs.

He was an asshole, but at least he was our asshole.

7/4/2008 2:16:00 PM

It saddens me that this guy was a senator from NC for so long.

Also, suspend Wlfpk4Life

7/4/2008 2:18:26 PM

Quote :

"He always looked out for the interests of North Carolinians, and his staff was renowned as the the best in congress when it came to responding to constituents needs."

perhaps if you were a heterosexual white christian male

7/4/2008 2:22:03 PM

why suspend him when he gave us this gem

Quote :

"ambrosia, stick to something you know about, like obsessing about women who actually look like women, you fat vapid cunt."

?

7/4/2008 2:22:32 PM

Somehow, I'm not surprised at all to see these responses from TWW liberals.

7/4/2008 2:22:41 PM

^^^^^ yeah, he was certainly a racist in his earlier days, and I think probably remained at least somewhat of a racist to the very end (though I think he may have softened somewhat). I certainly hold that against him.

He did do some good things, though--let's not act like he was ALL bad. I really liked the "Senator No" aspect of him (for the same reason that I like Ron Paul), and he was generally a supporter of federalism.

[Edited on July 4, 2008 at 2:28 PM. Reason : ^^^^^]

7/4/2008 2:24:15 PM

HELMS PROPOSES DONUT TAX?

7/4/2008 2:26:04 PM

Quote :

"A great icon, a man of character and integrity."

is that suspendable? lol j/k

7/4/2008 2:29:12 PM

Quote :

"Somehow, I'm not surprised at all to see these responses from TWW liberals."

Are you saying that racism, and hate against homosexuals is a good thing? He wasn't exactly a man of great character.

Also, did you skip over all of Wlfpk4Life's posts? He was by far the most out of line person in this thread.

7/4/2008 2:36:09 PM

Quote :

"He wasn't exactly a man of great character."

I disagree. I believe that he was a man of tremendous character who was born and raised in another era. His racism and homophobia was despicable, but those views were likely a product of his upbringing. If you can look past them even a little bit, you will see a man who never yielded to the influences of corruption in politics, and always stood up for what he believed in. In my book that exudes character.

On a more personal level, after reading in the N&O about a little boy with cerebral palsy who just wanted a mom and dad for Christmas, he adopted the kid and raised him. That shows character to me.

[Edited on July 4, 2008 at 2:44 PM. Reason : 2]

7/4/2008 2:43:20 PM

Yeah, anyone remember when he retired, and a ton of fellow Senators, even those very much across the aisle from him politically, had pretty much nothing but good things to say about him? I remember them commenting on his integrity and character, and even how courteous he was in the Senate (which I was kinda suprised to hear, but whatever).

I think even the Independant wrote a piece on him that was actually pretty positive (not praising his politics...just him).

[Edited on July 4, 2008 at 2:53 PM. Reason : I'm not saying he was faultless. Just giving him a fair shake.]

7/4/2008 2:51:13 PM

The news story quotes him as saying, "I had sought election in 1972 to try to derail the freight train of liberalism that was gaining speed toward its destination of government-run everything, paid for with big tax bills and record debt." No, I don't agree with a lot of his positions. I don't agree with the racism, the hatred of gays, drug prohibition, and probably other things. However, he was an important part of the conservative movement, and I think that part of his message is more valuable today than ever.

7/4/2008 3:02:26 PM

Maybe character wasn't the best word to use. He seemed to do his job well and with integrity (I don't really know, he was before my time) which is big in my book. But like it's already been pointed out, he was filled with a lot of hate. I don't really think there's any excuse for being so adamantly biased against certain peoples like he was regardless of your upbringing.

7/4/2008 3:05:10 PM

^^


and ^, no, there is no absolutely excuse for it. It's just easier to understand why, and at least not let that one thing COMPLETELY color (no pun intended) your judgement of the man.

7/4/2008 3:13:20 PM

ding dong the witch is dead

this guy made me embarrassed to live in North Carolina

7/4/2008 3:38:12 PM

anyone know where to find the 2 or 3 snl skits they did making fun of this guy?


one was mike myers giving a press conference...he did a good job at accentuating his speech impediment

7/4/2008 3:41:44 PM

Quote :

""Helms was particularly vitriolic when speaking of blacks, gays and lesbians, blaming them for "the proliferation of AIDS," and stating that he disliked using the word "gay" to refer to them since, "...there's nothing gay about them.""

Mostly true. If gay means happy... these people are usually miserable.

Quote :

"Helms opposed the Martin Luther King Day bill in 1983 on grounds that King had two associates with communist ties, Stanley Levison and Jack O'Dell; as well, he voiced disapproval of King's alleged philandering."

Opposition to a bill because of personal integrity issues surrounding the person isn't something that we should scorn. He had the right to dissent, as all Americans do.

Quote :

"Of civil rights protests Helms stated in 1963 that "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."[7] (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)"

All true. The restraint shown towards protestors of all colors should be acknowledged. Also, crime and irresponsibility in black communities isn't something that should offend or shock anyone. It exists.

[quotes]Helms' referred to the University of North Carolina (UNC) as the "University of Negroes and Communists." (Charleston Gazette, 9/15/95)[8]
Helms once deeply offended a black colleague, Democratic Senator Carol Moseley-Braun of Illinois, by singing part of "Dixie" on a Capitol elevator.[/quote]

I always thought the "N" stood for Nazi. As far as Moseley-Braun, that's funnier than it is offensive.

Quote :

"Soon after the Senate vote on the Confederate flag insignia, Sen. Jesse Helms (R.-N.C.) ran into Mosely-Braun in a Capitol elevator. Helms turned to his friend, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R.-Utah), and said, "Watch me make her cry. I'm going to make her cry. I'm going to sing 'Dixie' until she cries." He then proceeded to sing the song about the good life during slavery to Mosely-Braun (Gannett News Service, 9/2/93; Time, 8/16/93).[8]"

It's because Mosely-Braun is a bitch who doesn't want equal rights, but would rather see a race of people enslaved in retribution for enslaving another. She believes 2 wrongs make a right. Helms was just fucking with her.

Quote :

"At this time, his press secretary was Claude Allen, an African American. James Meredith, who earned fame as the first African American student admitted to the University of Mississippi, also served on Helms' staff.[citation needed]"

This shows that he wasn't a hypocrit, he just didn't enjoy bullshit.

Quote :

"While working on the 1950 campaign of Republican Willis Smith against Democrat Frank Porter Graham, Helms helped create an ad that 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. (FAIR 9/1/01, The News and Observer 8/26/01)"

Dirty politics and scare tactics. Ugly, but part of the game, especially in 1950. Cultural relativism is key.

Quote :

"Helms was an ardent supporter of the late Chile dictator Augusto Pinochet.[9]"

And FDR supported Stalin. Whoopty shit.

Quote :

"When Roberta Achtenberg was appointed Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 1993 by President Bill Clinton, Helms attempted to block her confirmation, stating that he refused to vote for her "because she's a damn lesbian.""

And? He based his decision on the preface that homosexuality is immoral and wrong. IF you believe that, then refusing to vote for someone based on their sexuality is justified.

Quote :

"After a protest during his 1986 visit to Mexico, Helms opined: "All Latins are volatile people. Hence, I was not surprised at the volatile reaction." [1]"

I'd say passive-aggressive as opposed to volatile, but those MS-13 fuckers can get hairy sometimes. They sure are some damn hard workers though.

Quote :

"In 1994 Helms spoke out against metal industrial singer Marilyn Manson. Manson responded by painting an anti-gay slur on his chest during a show in Winston-Salem, in a sarcastic and critical display against Helms's social viewpoints."

Marilyn Manson. Bitch, Please.

Quote :

"Hendrik Hertzberg of The New Yorker noted in his memoirs that Helms had "the 'humorous habit'" of calling all black people "Fred"."

that's pretty awesome.

Quote :

"Helms used race issues in many elections; for instance, in 1990, he ran the famous "Hands" television ad in a tough re-election race. The ad has become legendary in Southern political circles as the most direct appeal to white backlash in modern American politics. The ad played upon white voters' ideas that affirmative action might lead to a job going to a less-qualified candidate ("Gantt supports Ted Kennedy's racial quota law, that makes the color of your skin more important than your qualifications.") (watch the ad)."

Affirmative action often DOES lead to the job going to a less-qualified candidate. Half the bitches at the DMV can barely read, for christ sakes.

Quote :

"Helms opposed an amendment offering war reparations to Japanese-Americans who had been interned during World War II; he proposed an amendment stipulating that no reparations would be made unless the Japanese government compensated the families of Americans killed at Pearl Harbor."

Sound logic. We did what we had to do in a time of WAR. Sorry Japs, can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs, y'know...

Quote :

"In 1994, Helms created a sensation when, on the anniversary of John F. Kennedy's assassination, he told broadcasters Rowland Evans, Jr., and Robert Novak that Clinton was "not up" to the tasks of being commander-in-chief and suggested that Clinton had "better not show up around here [Fort Bragg] without a bodyguard."[10]"

Military support for Clinton was very low, especially since he gutted most of the funding for our defense, forcing the last remaining soldiers from the Vietnam era (ie, those with practical war experience) right into retirement out of frustration.

Quote :

"Helms was a strong supporter of drug prohibition, and opposed former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld's nomination as Ambassador to Mexico because Weld supported medical marijuana.[2] Helms proposed several bills as part of the war on drugs.[3]."

Yes, damn that man for supporting the prohibition of addictive drugs that tear at the very fiber of our communities.

Quote :

"Helms once claimed that "The New York Times and Washington Post are both infested with homosexuals themselves. Just about every person down there is a homosexual or lesbian." [4]"

It's true, though. Both papers are shells of their former selves.


thats all i got. that was fun though.

7/4/2008 4:05:47 PM

lol damn son

7/4/2008 4:08:36 PM

R.I.P. Jesse

7/4/2008 4:30:26 PM

Donnie, I think Regent University is really starting to fuck with your head.

7/4/2008 4:34:26 PM

^^^I agree with every comment Donnie.

RIP Jesse Helms....actually dont...come back and crack some skulls in congress!

7/4/2008 4:50:12 PM

^^

7/4/2008 5:05:05 PM

I actually have a generally positive view of him, but I just don't see how in the hell you could agree with all of those comments.

7/4/2008 5:05:30 PM