I like most of the people I write obituaries for but this guy was a total asshole. The Racist Republican North Carolina Senator from 1973 to 2003 died of natural causes yesterday (July 4). Helms was a hardcore conservative who opposed abortion, homosexuality, affirmative action, school integration, etc. This man really hated civil rights.
"At the height of his power," the Rev. Jesse Jackson said, "he fought for the values of the old confederacy. He resisted the new South. He resisted the opportunity to fight for a more perfect union."
And this man was a Senator for 30 years. That's scary. He was also a pioneer of negative TV ads for campaigns. Sadly, all candidates use these now.
Washington Post columnist David S. Broder summed it up well in 2001 when Helms announced that he would retire from the Senate. Broder described Helms as "the last prominent unabashed white racist politician in this country."
This is another great quote from Mother Jones: Smart, fearless journalism: "He has a view of a fundamentalist Christian society in which everyone is not welcome. If you could pick up the South Africa of 20 years ago and transplant it to America, that's what he would do."
When Helms retired from Senate, President Bush said that the Senate was "losing an institution." After hearing about Jesse's death Bush said the following, "Throughout his long public career, Sen. Jesse Helms was a tireless advocate for the people of North Carolina, a stalwart defender of limited government and free enterprise, a fearless defender of a culture of life, and an unwavering champion of those struggling for liberty."
Our President called a rasict "an unwavering champion of those struggling for liberty."
Wow.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
I am Back
So I am in a hot room in Chicago listening to "Everybody Must Get Stoned" by Bob Dylan. Sirius Internet Radio is amazing. This room needs some air conditioning, damn.
Anyway, I decided to take a break from blogging for a while. But I am back now. I am going home tomorrow (today at this point). I look forward to returning to NYC. I start my summer job on Monday so I will get some $$$$ yo.
Anyway, check back here for more posts soon.
Anyway, I decided to take a break from blogging for a while. But I am back now. I am going home tomorrow (today at this point). I look forward to returning to NYC. I start my summer job on Monday so I will get some $$$$ yo.
Anyway, check back here for more posts soon.
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