Jesse Helms: Another Instance of Conservatives’ Selective Memory…

Well… Jesse Helms died earlier today… much earlier, as it was at a quarter after 1 this morning. I first heard about it on, my favorite Right-Wing Retardation blog, Blogs for Victory (which I refuse to link). I’ll admit that I didn’t know too much about Mr. Helms before today, but I actually felt a bit sad that he died… A veteran statesman passing on… but then I read about Mr. Helms on wikipedia and other sources…

A little history of the man that the right misses so much… He was a Democrat when the Democrats were racist, and then switched to the Republicans when the Democrats started to court black voters and the Republicans switched to their fabled, “Southern Strategy.” He first ran for Senate in 1976, defeating Democratic opponent Nick Galiafanakis under the slogan: “Vote for Helms—He’s One of Us!” He had 4 more victories in his state of North Carolina, none of which exceeded 10% (in an off-year election with lower turnout)–indicating his divisiveness.

His Senate tenure was marred by the same type of bigoted tripe that characterized his pre-Senate career. He reportedly sang Dixie just to offend a black colleague in a Capital Hill elevator, and block a political appointee just because of her sexual orientation.

This man was a perfect illustration of the dark side of American History: the side of racism, bigotry and intolerance. However, you won’t hear that side of the man… You’ll just hear that he was a champion of conservative causes and an political force to be reckoned with in the Senate. You’ll hear colleagues giving fond recollections of his good times, not his racist leanings or homophobic paranoia. He was an obstructionist and a pockmark on the lovely institution that is our legislature, and I’m glad he’s gone.

That’s right–I feel for his family, but his life, career, and continued existence was a horrible reminder of the trash that our country had to do away with. Those who think that one’s skin color or orientation, not their actions, are the first basis for judging a person are that trash–and Jesse Helms is finally in the waste bin with his brethren. It is fitting that he died on July 4th, because maybe the anniversary of our Nation’s birth can mark the birth of a nation where the racists don’t have power–where the intolerant stay in the corner, slowly tearing themselves down.

As long as conservatives cling to fond memories of the intolerant forebears of their movement, such as Jesse Helms and Jerry Falwell, I will never be fully convinced that they have moved past their point in their history.
You cannot just say that Jesse Helms was a good man when he wasn’t–it’s just that simple.

Here are a few of his quotes to end on:

• All Latins are volatile people. Hence, I was not surprised at the volatile reaction.
• Homosexuals are weak, morally sick wretches.
• 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.
• I note your distress at my floccinaucinihilipilification of the CTBT.

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