More on Jesse Helms

The vilification of a good man continues on the moonbat sites. Jesse Helms was far from perfect. But he did have one quality that eludes many: the ability to change his mind when confronted by facts. Take this article in the News Observer from North Carolina, Helms's home state:

For "Bullet the Blue Sky," Bono adopted the pose of a prisoner: headband over his eyes as a blindfold, down on his knees, arms raised with wrists crossed. It looked as though it could be commentary on the Abu Ghraib prisoner-abuse scandal in Iraq -- until Bono solemnly intoned at the song's conclusion, "Dedicated to the brave young men and women of the United States military."

But the moment that took the cake was the introduction to "One," the final song before the encores. Bono asked the sold-out mob of 17,000 to turn the arena into a Christmas tree by holding up their cell phones. He went on to say that as long as everyone had their phones out, they should join up with the anti-poverty One campaign by text-messaging a number on the video screen.

Then he paid tribute to a North Carolina political figure whom left-leaning rock stars have vilified for decades -- Jesse Helms, the conservative icon known as "Senator No" during his 30-year tenure in the U.S. Senate. But thanks to Helms, Bono said, more than 400,000 Africans with AIDS are getting medication now.

Here is a piece written by Helms in Time Magazine, that conservative bastion:

When I was first told in 2000 that Bono wanted to meet with me to talk about boosting U.S. aid to Africa, I didn't know who he was. But my Senate staff certainly did. After so many years in Washington, I had met enough people to quickly figure out who is genuine and who is there for show. I knew as soon as I met Bono that he was genuine. He had his facts in hand and didn't have any agenda other than doing all he could to help people in desperate need.

Along with Franklin Graham, Bono, 45, helped me understand the scope of the tragedy in Africa, especially the pain it is bringing to infants and children and their families. Once I understood, I made both men a promise that I would do all I could to help. Senator Bill Frist and I were allies in creating and passing a bill to commit $200 million to fight AIDS in Africa. The challenges are still enormous, but I think there can be a very good future for Africa if the cycles of death, poverty and armed conflict can be overcome.

I admire Bono's dedication and his willingness to make decisions. There is no pretense about him. In fact, he has opened himself up to criticism because he has been willing to work with anyone to find help for these children. After our first meeting, he invited me to be his guest at a U2 concert. My grandchildren were only too happy to come along. Bono enjoys telling people that I said watching the audience swaying to the music reminded me of a cornfield rustling in the wind. It was also a reminder of the millions he manages to touch every day with his music and his heart.

As for his racism, let's just say that the Democrats should really take the plank in their eye out first, before accusing anyone of racism. Helms did oppose the Civil Rights Act. But men like Robert Byrd, a proud member of the Klan for years and years, also opposed it. With the legacy of the Dixiecrats and their staunch opposition to the Civil Rights Act in 1964 -- passed, I might add, because a higher percentage of Republicans voted for it than the Dems -- they have little room to talk. Here's a little history lesson for the kool-aid drinkers:

Civil Rights Filibuster Ended

At 9:51 on the morning of June 10, 1964, Senator Robert C. Byrd [a Democrat] completed an address that he had begun 14 hours and 13 minutes earlier. The subject was the pending Civil Rights Act of 1964, a measure that occupied the Senate for 57 working days, including six Saturdays. A day earlier, Democratic Whip Hubert Humphrey, the bill's manager, concluded he had the 67 votes required at that time to end the debate.

The Civil Rights Act provided protection of voting rights; banned discrimination in public facilities—including private businesses offering public services—such as lunch counters, hotels, and theaters; and established equal employment opportunity as the law of the land.

As Senator Byrd took his seat, House members, former senators, and others—150 of them—vied for limited standing space at the back of the chamber. With all gallery seats taken, hundreds waited outside in hopelessly extended lines.

Georgia Democrat Richard Russell offered the final arguments in opposition. Minority Leader Everett Dirksen, who had enlisted the Republican votes that made cloture a realistic option, spoke for the proponents with his customary eloquence. Noting that the day marked the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's nomination to a second term, the Illinois Republican proclaimed, in the words of Victor Hugo, "Stronger than all the armies is an idea whose time has come." He continued, "The time has come for equality of opportunity in sharing in government, in education, and in employment. It will not be stayed or denied. It is here!"

Never in history had the Senate been able to muster enough votes to cut off a filibuster on a civil rights bill. And only once in the 37 years since 1927 had it agreed to cloture for any measure.

The clerk proceeded to call the roll. When he reached "Mr. Engle," there was no response. A brain tumor had robbed California's mortally ill Clair Engle of his ability to speak. Slowly lifting a crippled arm, he pointed to his eye, thereby signaling his affirmative vote. Few of those who witnessed this heroic gesture ever forgot it. When Delaware's John Williams [a Republican] provided the decisive 67th vote, Majority Leader Mike Mansfield exclaimed, "That's it!"; Richard Russell slumped; and Hubert Humphrey beamed. With six wavering senators providing a four-vote victory margin, the final tally stood at 71 to 29. Nine days later the Senate approved the act itself—producing one of the 20th century's towering legislative achievements.

Next time any holier-than-thou hypocrite Dem yells j'accuse they better be in a position to confront the behavior of their party as well. They don't have clean enough hands to accuse anyone of racism. Period.

Jesse Helms, your support of the cause of Cuban freedom, and your good deeds for the Cuban-American community will always be remembered. Requiescat in pacem.

UPDATE CIGAR MIKE -- Great piece about Helms in the WSJ as a cold war hero. Read it here.

Posted by George Moneo at July 5, 2008 08:27 AM

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