News “He used race very effectively.”
posted by on July 4 at 8:55 AM
That’s NPR-speak for, “He was a racist piece of shit.”
Jesse Helms was also a homophobic piece of shit who did everything he could to torment people with AIDS during the darkest hours of the AIDS epidemic—and now he’s dead.
I realize that the death of a prominent piece of shit puts people on the radio and teevee in an awkward position. We’re not supposed to speak ill of the dead… and any honest accounting of this piece of shit’s career requires us to speak very ill of the dead indeed. So perhaps simply noting the piece of shit’s passing—briefly, and just the facts—would be the prudent thing to do. It would certainly be better than inviting a few people on the radio to discuss the piece of shit’s life and accomplishments at the precise moment when decorum requires us to put the nicest possible gloss on the piece of shit. To polish the turd, as it were.
Waking up to a discussion of the highlights of Helm’s career and listening to the oh-so-polite NPR host and his oh-so-polite guests dance around the issue of race—never mind the gay or AIDS issues, which weren’t even mentioned (well, not in the section I caught; I literally woke up to this)—until the host delicately observed in admiring tones, “He used race very effectively,” and the guest chuckled and agreed, well, let’s just say that’s was a very unpleasant way to start the day.
Here’s Helms calling for cuts in AIDS funding in 1995…
Sen. Jesse Helms says the government should spend less money on people with AIDS because they got sick as a result of “deliberate, disgusting, revolting conduct,” The New York Times reported Wednesday.Helms, who has often spoken of his disgust for homosexuals, spoke to the Times as the Senate considers whether to renew a federal program for the care and treatment of AIDS patients.
“We’ve got to have some common sense about a disease transmitted by people deliberately engaging in unnatural acts,” Helms told the Times.
Here’s Jesse Helms’ infamous “hands” ad:
Jesse Helms was a bigoted piece of shit that left a mark—a skid mark, broad and deep—on U.S. Senate. And now the piece of shit is dead. And if you can’t say something accurate, NPR, it would be better to say nothing at all.
UPDATE: Over at Americablog, Joe and John are equally annoyed by a similar don’t-speak-ill-of-the-dead report filed by the AP. They’ve tossed up these gems, among others, to correct the record…
As an aide to the 1950 Senate campaign of North Carolina Republican candidate Willis Smith, Helms reportedly helped create attack ads against Smith’s opponent, including one which 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. (The News and Observer, 8/26/01; The New Republic, 6/19/95; The Observer, 5/5/96; Hard Right: The Rise of Jesse Helms, by Ernest B. Furgurson, Norton, 1986)The University of North Carolina was “the University of Negroes and Communists.” (Capital Times, 11/22/94) Black civil rights activists were “Communists and sex perverts.” (Copley News Service, 8/23/01)
Of civil rights protests Helms wrote, “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.” (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)
I’ve been searching for a particularly infamous clip of Helms on Larry King. But I can’t find it. Here’s the transcript, though…
When he made an appearance on CNN’s Larry King Live in Sept. 1995, a caller praised him “for everything you’ve done to help keep down the niggers.”Helms looked in the camera and replied, “Well thank you, I think.”
UPDATE 2: This one’s for Fnarf…
And Rain in the comments thread writes…
I went to the Daily Oklahoman website to see what they were saying about the Seattle basketball team moving to OKC, and this was on the front page. The animated ad trotted out from the right side and landed right on Jesse’s mug. All I did was take a screenshot and add the text in the gray box at the bottom.
The Daily Oklahoman website is here, and I just went and a dancing chicken trotted out to invite me to a celebration of Helms’ death too. Hilarious. The Daily Oklahoman invites you to “sign the guestbook.” Click through the link and you’ll find exactly two remembrances: “To a great man who kept to his conservative ideals. You will be missed,” and, “REST IN PEACE JESSE HELMS.” You can submit your own remembrance but there’s also this note at the bottom of the page: “Entries are free and are posted after being reviewed for appropriate content.” I just submitted “Jesse Helms was a hateful piece of shit.” We’ll see if it goes up. In the meantime, though, why not go submit your own remembrance?
Hopefully Hell is giving him a nice welcome. Dead or not, he was a fuckwad. Good riddance.
Good riddance to bad rubbish. Jesse Helms represented everything that was dark and evil about America. The world is better off without him. He was, indeed, a piece of shit. I'm glad he's dead. I celebrate his racist bastard death. A toast to your repulsive corpse, sir.
Back when Michael Moore was provocative and relevant and funny, he did an episode of his TV program where he sent the local gay men's chorus out to Helms's house to serenade him. It was one of the funniest things I've ever seen.
He was a pig and I am glad he is dead.
Rarely do I think it is good to celebrate a death, but the demise of Jesse Helms is one that should bring no sorrow.
Of course he had family, and friends that cared about him. But, jesus, how could you love such a vile and despicable human being?
It seems entirely appropriate that he would take his last breath on Independence Day. He was a man that did not believe in equality, nor did he conduct himself with the ideas of liberty and justice for all.
May that motherfucker rot in hell.
I was heartened to see this headline this morning. I do hope his death was ugly, protracted and painful.
I hate NPR more with each passing day. ...Anyway, as black gay man who once lived in Helms' state, good riddance, ASSHOLE!!! Next time I'm in NC, I hope to dance on your fucking grave!!!
I swear I am not making this up...I went to the Daily Oklahoman website to see what they were saying about the Seattle basketball team moving to OKC, and this was on the front page. The animated ad trotted out from the right side and landed right on Jesse's mug. All I did was take a screenshot and add the text in the gray box at the bottom.
Image clipped from newsok.com
It's so sad that we've lost this wonderful and thoughtful man. He brought so much to the national debate, didn't he?
When I saw the news about Jesse's passing, I thought "Today is a good day."
*sips coffee*
@7 Now THAT made my day!
America and the world are better off without this piece of shit. Fuck you Jesse Helms, and the horse you rode in on.
As a former NC resident all I can say is it is about time the evil racist motherfucking son of a bitch asshole KKK worthless piece of shit died!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What took him so fucking long!?!
This Motherfucker made me ashamed to be from NC. Because of him everyone else thought we were all a bunch of racist redneck dumbshits (actually that only describes 60% of the state). The fucker is in hell now with a pitch fork up his ass. Too bad he lived 87 years longer than he deserved to.
Now that I have gotten that out, never has some ones death made me so intensely happy!
NPR = cowards.
It's not that they won't speak truth to power, it's that they're even afraid to speak truth to themselves.
My first draft of this comment included stuff about the MSM and objectivity and the truth not being an average or median, but... eh, see my first sentence.
Also, Hitler used religion very effectively.
Thank you for speaking the truth, Dan. May he rot in hell.
and does anyone remember his trip to south africa in the 80's? he came back proclaiming bishop tutu (architect of the truth and reconciliation model) "a fraud" and exhorted his fellow doucheboats to buy more kruegerrands so as to support the apartheid government. boy, he sure had his finger on the zeitgeist, no? what a visionary!
I remember being heavily involved in the founding of the ACT-UP chapter in Phoenix in the early 90s.
The founder, the late art curator Bruce Kurtz, and others were HIV positive and were so personally traumatized and scared by the comments Helms made and the work he did to keep HIV research and education under-funded. I simply could not imagine a man of his position and authority being so hateful and backward in the face of a disease that killed people at that time so pitilessly and relentlessly.
His behavior was disgusting and an embarrassment. Upon his death, I ask everyone to remember that and not gloss it over with politesse.
Shame on Jesse Helms.
Of course Dan's guest book signing will not get in. I doubt mine will either, either even though i avoided words like "shit", but i imagine there will be plenty of this (emphasis added):
all her people... except the non-white, non-hetero ones.
He was also anti-Greek.
In his first Senate campaign in 1972, he ran against a Greek-American Congressman who was born in Durham, NC, attended Duke, and served in the USMC during the Korean War. The slogan he used was, "Elect One of Us!" To Jesse's voters, a funny furrin name and a non-Anglo ethnicity = not fully White. And this guy wasn't even a Yankee, he was born in NC, but you know... funny, furrin name.
Also, Pol Pot used mass murder very effectively.
Wait...you man the media can distort things?
I meant you mean...oh..never mind.
"...opposed civil rights, gay rights, foreign aid and modern art..."
Happy Fourth of July!
This is the greatest Independence Day present ever. (Because freedom from Jesse Helms is the most glorious freedom of all.)
Stick to the dog posts, Julie.
I hope he died of apoplexy after his granddaughter announcing her engagement to a black man. Or better yet, his grandson announcing his engagement to a black man.
Praise Dog!
or should I say Praise the Lard.
This is the best Fourth of July Independence Day ever.
thanks Dan- you rock.
It's hard to believe someone can live that long and learn nothing about compassion, friendship and love. I'm not a big believer in hell, but people like him make me want to believe. He sure lived it in life and made it for others. Pathetic and sad piece.of.shit.
I just signed the guest book with "A hero to his kind everywhere." I signed as POS as in Piece of Shit" and listed my city as Hicksburg, NC. Let's see if it makes it through.
Hey Fnarf, here ya go!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd62dptmpBk
Hooray!
Makes me wish there was a Hell.
Thx Dan, I was not looking forward to turning on the radio to hear people praise this hijo de puta.
May his corpse rot among his fellow worms.
Tony @ #6,
Don't dance on that grave, PISS on it!!!
Give the man the tribute he's deserving of.
xoxoxoxo
What a present! A great thing to celebrate on the 4th!
Hurrah, hurrah, the racist homophobic hater is dead!
Hurrah, hurrah!
I would say NPR were being HUGE FUCKING COWARDS. Especially Ari Shapiro, who is gay himself for fuck's sake! You'd think that the gay host would at least recuse himself from reporting in a diplomatic way about the homophobic and racist piece of shit. In that position I would have refused to do the piece if it meant being nice about the passing of someone who considered my life and my nature to be an abomination.
My gf said "He died thinking a black man might be president." And that is totally awesome. At least a little suffering, though one article said "he was comfortable." Happy Independence Day y'all!
I left the following tribute:
"It just goes to show that everybody has something that they can do to make the world a better place."
I like to think it might be subtle enough to make it through.
Hey, it did! I left one as "Brent Mott". I hope it goes through.
yucca flower @ 32: yeah, i'll do that too!
If you ask me, the best way to be be honest without being insensitive is to say, "He was very controversial because of his anti-civil rights and anti-gay positions".
Jesse Helms had family members, some of whom may well be disgusting vermin themselves, but some of whom perhaps are not, and who still miss him. Showing temporary respect for this used feces-encrusted used condom of a senator is done for their sake, not necessarily his.
Dan- You are to the Dog world what Jesse Helms was to the Gay Community. Happy 4th!
He bears an uncanny resemblance to Darth Vader when the mask is taken off.
It's a Dog World, Julie, and I'm just living in it. Happy 4th to you!
Might want to cut him up and bury him at a crossroads just to make sure he doesn't come back.
Dick Cheney's turn should be up soon, praise jebus.
Just think of all the anti-dog legislation Dan has passed from his perch in the U.S. Senate. Savage is to Dogs what Helms was to Blacks, Gays, and Immigrants.
What's that you say? Dan Savage isn't a U.S. Senator, just a writer with a blog who has posted a few unflattering stories about one particular breed of dogs? Then it looks like Dan isn't to dogs what Helms was to the Gay Community. Julie, however, is a total fucking idiot.
While Dan is not a U.S. senator (Thankfully)...Ira Glass or David Sedaris would be much better choices IMHO (why can't they live in Seattle?), he like Helms, uses his voice with the public to further his own agenda. You say racism. I say breedism.
Ever hear of an analogy? Or as some say an anal loogy?
In the guest book, I like the entry that reads "I would like to express my symapthy to his family." That's classy.
Julie - really..."anal loogy?"
I'd say that you were anal loony.
“Crime rates and irresponsibility among Negroes are a fact of life which must be faced.” (New York Times, 2/8/81)
Eighty ONE???!!?
Also, this is why I love The Slog. My ex used to say, "don't speak ill of the dead," about everyone! But I have always believed that some people really need to be spoken ill of, and y'all are happy to thet it all fly. Fuck him. And you know what? Fuck his family, too. I'm sure there a lots and lots of really nice Helms' out there, blah blah blah.
FUCK THEM
Julie, unclench. They're just dogs.
Oh, almost forgot: That Daily Oklahoman thing is possibly the funniest thing I've ever seen in my life.
Rain FTW!!!!!!!!!
There's somebody in the wings waiting to exploit hate for political gain. There always is.
Moms Mabley said:
"You should only speak good of the dead."
"Is he dead?"
"Good."
Way to keep it classy Dan.
He and William F. Buckley can now fellate each other for eternity in Hell.
@55: i hate you for giving me that image. I must cleanse my memory with much hot BBP*
which one of yous put up the "Willie Horton" guest book post?
Nice!
An old Todd Rundgren song, entitled "Jesse."
http://trconnection.com/lyrics/Song.20.11
Julie:
You are to the straight community what you are to the human race...an embarrassment.
Kind of like Jesse Helms, except he's dead.
Happy 4th!
The guestbook must be heavily edited. Only "Wille Horton" got his under the radar. The rest are from mouth breathers actually saying the country needs more Jesse Helms, or is that thinly veiled sarcasm?
You don't typically get gifts on the 4th of July. And this is a particularly nice one.
Dubya called Helms "a kind, decent, and humble man", "a passionate defender of what he called 'the Miracle of America'", a
"great patriot", and prayed "he finds comfort in the arms of the loving God he strove to serve throughout his life."
Looks like Kanye was right.
I bought a new bottle of wine to open to celebrate that fucker's death. Who wants to place bets on when his illegitimate interracial child will come out from hiding?
The Willie Horton post is great. How about a contest on slog to see who can get the most under the radar insult onto the guest book.
RIP Senator Helms. Let us celebrate this great day with fireworks and barbecuing.
Willie Horton (Boston, MA)
I've been offline all day, and this was the first thing I saw when I reconnected with the world. Made my day. Good riddance to one of the most despicable human beings in the last century.
@64 -- I just sent this in:
When I think of what North Carolina truly stands for, when it is allowed to reveal its honest opinions, I am always reminded of Sen. Helms.
Nathan Forrest
Memphis, TN
Now, as you may or may not know, General Nathan B. Forrest was the first Grand Dragon of the KKK.
Let's see if that makes it.
This is all I could think of when I heard about this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igvJ1Mew6Go
Ah, Bill Hicks. Sigh.
MY COMMENT MADE IT!!!! YEAH!!!! :-)
That's for Bruce, you racist dead bastard.
Jesse Helms is sucking Satan's cock right now! LOL Hope he gets HIV.
BTW, Although Helms is gone, Limbaugh just got $400 million to spew hate until 2016.
@56: Oh, I forgot Jerry Falwell. Make that Helms, Buckley and Falwell can now take turns fellating each other and fucking each other in the ass for all of eternity.
Trent Lott speaking on Helms:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zhPmACTdks
My favorite quote:
"He had a philosophy and principles he believed in and he stood and fought for them."
Like bigotry and hatred, for instance?
"And I hope that you die
And your death’ll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I’ll watch while you’re lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I’ll stand o’er your grave
‘Til I’m sure that you’re dead "
mine is up. heheh:
"Jesse Helms represented the essence of the American character. Please accept our deepest sympathies."
Jesse helms is the greatest white guy in this country because he is really really stupid. His way of thinking and doing things has single handedly turned the USA from an independent industrial powerhouse into a nation of consumers who are dependent on everyone else. His arrogance and way of doing things, in the long run, have benefited minorities everywhere. This country is now owned by minority groups because people see how stupid Helms is and how he screws up everything. So, thank you Jesse Helms, your stupidity has actually helped minorities everywhere. You have given this country away to us.
Maggie at the office today ---
"Well, Jesse Helms will have a buddy in hell as he joins George Lincoln Rockwell."
Among the best quips.
(Rockwell was at one time the leader of the American Nazi Party, of course, Helm's real home.)
Glad he's dead.
Yeah 'cause it's important NPR doesn't seem liberal or anything... honestly, take a stand here NPR and just spend a good 10 curse-filled minutes letting loose on this piece of crap we've finally rid the world of
Adam @ 75,
They didn't post my honest opinion of the man under my own name, so I posted one under the American Nazi's name. Hopefully it will slide under the radar with 'Nathan B. Forrest' and 'Willie Horton'.
I'm expecting mine won't get approved, so I'll post it here:
"Now that this hate-filled man has passed away, let's focus on erasing his horrible legacy."
“The evil pieces of shit do lives after them. The good is oft interred with their shitty bones,”
We just have to pray he stays dead. As long as they sever his head and stuff his mouth with garlic, we may be safe.
We just have to pray he stays dead. As long as they sever his head and stuff his mouth with garlic, we may be safe.
Damn,
George Lincoln Rockwell didn't make it under the radar.
The message wasn't offensive:
"May he recieve his just rewards now that he has passed on..." and "He truly stood for all that his party and the voters represented..."
That should read "He truly stood for all that his party and his voters in NC represented..."
I have no idea why they found it offensive.
Quite simply, the fat's in the fire.
Comparing Dan to Helms was going overboard. I accept the title of "Embarrasment to my Race", deservedly so. I apologize. Helm's was a huge pile of dogshit. Dan registers as a tiny rabbit turd in comparison.
In 1990 the NYTimes referred to Helms as a "Pit Bull Politician". Coincidence?
Okay, fess up, who contributed these?
Joe Palmer (Champaign, IL): May the fruit of your actions here on Earth be multiplied many times to provide you your eternal reward.
Eric Holeman (Anchorage, AK): Words cannot describe how I feel about the Senator's departure from this realm.
Weird; this post reads like the mirror universe version of a Freerepublic thread celebrating Ted Kennedy's brain tumor.
@86: What? Guys, why are she still here?
The late senator deserves a fitting memorial. See http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2008/07/05/jesse-helms/
90, "why are she still here?" because slog comments is an open forum. differing opinions, even insulting ones, are allowed. are you advocating censorship?
dan, here you go, the obituary he deserves:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/04/usa
Here's my entry:
"Where can I send a bouquet of pansies as an expression of sympathy?"
But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.
Helms did too much damage in life for me to be able to celebrate his death, and there are too many more sacks of turds like him who still register a pulse.
Nevertheless, may agony and death strike all his shit-brained fans and supporters and strike down staunch Republicans by the millions.
One can hope...
gee, you think mine'll get published? here's what i posted -->
good riddance to this foul specimen of fascist vermin - even though about a half a century too late... i was wondering why the sun seemed a little brighter, the laughter of the children a little clearer, the songs of the birds a little sweeter on the 4th past. now i know why! this filthy fascist maggot finally slithered off to the deepest sewers of hell where it belongs. i only hope he died screaming. better late than never, i suppose. GOOD RIDDANCE.
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