Helms Apologetic on AIDS, Not Segregation, in Upcoming Memoir

[kskiska]

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Former Sen. Jesse Helms acknowledges he was wrong about the AIDS epidemic, but believes integration was forced before its time by "outside agitators who had their own agendas," according to advance proofs of his memoir.

"Here's Where I Stand," to be published in September by Random House, contains Helms' first extended comments on national affairs since he retired from the Senate in 2003 after five terms.

Helms, 83, was one of the state's leading voices of segregation as a TV commentator in Raleigh in the 1960s and opposed nearly every civil rights bill while in the Senate. He has never retracted his views on race or said segregation was wrong.

In the book, Helms suggests that he believed voluntary racial integration would come about without pressure from the federal government or from civil rights protests that he said sharpened racial antagonisms.

"We will never know how integration might have been achieved in neighborhoods across our land, because the opportunity was snatched away by outside agitators who had their own agendas to advance," he wrote. "We certainly do know the price paid by the stirring of hatred, the encouragement of violence, the suspicion and distrust."

more…
http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB85L1VQ9E.html

[Archae]

1. "Outside agitators"

That's the excuse racists used all the time during the 50's and 60's.
It was outside agitators who caused most of the violence, by rabble-rousing the local Klans and other "Whites iz supeerer" groups.

[LostinVA]

5. Code word for "Jews and Yankees"

It is very interesting to em that he is apologetic about AIDS. He was an absolute evil, ultra-homophobic SOB about it...

[Ratty]

13. He still is.

I haven't read the book of course, or kept up with Helms' state of mind, but last I heard he's only apologetic about the "innocent" victims of AIDS. Those who contracted it through a blood transfusion or the victims of AIDS holocaust currently ravaging through Africa. Reexamine the final quote in the article with this in mind:

"Until then," Helms writes, "it had been my feeling that AIDS was a disease largely spread by reckless and voluntary sexual and drug-abusing behavior, and that it would probably be confined to those in high risk populations. I was wrong."

[TahitiNut]

8. That's what he calls "Americans."

It's fascinating how many ways bigots and reichbots can find to hate America. They haven't the foggiest idea what a 'nation' is.

[comsymp]

2. 'scuse me while I look for my jaw

IIRC, Helms was the one who gave UNC the nickname "The University of Negroes and Communists" among some of his other charming quotes.

As an aside, so Helms wrote a book... wonder who will his target audience get to read it to 'em~

[DFWJock]

3. He's still alive?

.

[MountainLaurel]

10. More's the pity

Folks like Arthur Ashe die young, and this fuck gets to live?

More proof that there is no just god.

[DemoTex]

4. I wonder if Jon Stewart will have Jesse Helms on to plug his book ..

To former Senator Helms, I quote our dear leader, "Who cares what you think!"

[supernova]

7. Wow! I think I'd stay up for that

and watch it live, as opposed to watching it on my Tivo the next day.

[supernova]

6. Nice to know he hasn't changed

Though looks like Bono got to him about AIDS.

integration was forced before its time by "outside agitators who had their own agendas,"

Before its time?!? Who the fuck is he kidding? When would the right time have been? In another couple of centuries when millions more have died of maltreatment and starvation?

How much longer do you have to perpetuate a genocide before the aggressor is comfortable that he has achieved a proper amount of victory?

[UCSBLiberalCat53]

22. why aren't we surprised?

integration was forced before its time by "outside agitators who had their own agendas,"

It's not surprising, that's what Conservatives have always said. "Now's not the time." If we left everything up to Jesse Helms and his ilk, segregation would still be the law of the land and lynchings would still be DAILY entertainment for the KKK.

[fujiyama]

9. A true piece of shit

If hell exists, a special place will exist for him.

He's more vile than his buddy Strom Thurmond.

[David__77]

11. Integration STILL hasn't happened "in our neighborhoods," ASSHOLE!

Segregation STILL exists, albeit without the formal state mandate. Now it's an economic mandate, and in some cases a mandate of racist terror. These nazis are simply trying to soothe some racist guilty consciences. But their crimes are towering.

[kskiska]

12. Kick

:kick:

[struggle4progress]

14. " ... Long before Rush Limbaugh, Helms was on the airwaves ..

.. dismissing the University of North Carolina (UNC) as the 'University of Negroes and Communists.'

This is one of the disturbing legacies of Jesse Helms. Though you won't see it mentioned in the media coverage of his retirement, Helms was in fact an avowed and unapologetic segregationist. As a campaign worker, he helped elect segregation candidates before his own run in 1972. Unlike neoconservatives who espouse state's rights on principle, despite any unwanted outcomes on racial issues, Helms backed state's rights specifically because he wanted states to have the right to segregate. If Helms's position on 1960's civil-rights legislation has changed since then, he hasn't mentioned it ..."

http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-mgraham082301.shtml

This, from an otherwise adoring Aug 01 column on JH in the National Review ...

[struggle4progress]

15. Portland Mercury's Week in Review on learning of Helm's retirement:

Vol 2 No. 13, Aug 30 - Sep 5 2001
THE WEEK IN REVIEW
by Ann Romano
<snip>


"The Negro cannot count forever on the kind restraint that has thus far left him free to clog the streets, disrupt traffic and commerce, and interfere with other men's rights."--Helms on "the Negro problem," 1963. <snip>

"I've been portrayed as a caveman by some. That's not true. I'm a conservative progressive, and that means I think all men are equal, be they slants, beaners, or niggers."-- Helms, 1985, quoted from the Democratic Alliance.

"Your tax dollars are being used to pay for grade school classes that teach our children that CANNIBALISM, WIFE-SWAPPING, and the MURDER of infants and the elderly are acceptable behavior."--Helms from a fundraising mailer sent out by his campaign.

So long, Jesse. You misogynistic, homophobic, racist, fat-ass prick. Oopsy! Don't quote us on that.

http://portlandmercury.com/2001-08-30/one_day.html

[Desperadoe]

16. Just remember one thing

Jesse Helms never stole an election. He was duly elected by the majority of the fine citizens of North Carolina every term he ever served. They elected him and sent him to Washington because the majority of them are just like him....narrowminded, bigoted, racist fools.

The very fact that a United States Senator could carry forth an agenda of hatred for all of those years says more about the citizens of North Carolina than it does about him.

We get the kind of government that we accept.

[evilkumquat]

19. Damn - The Point I Was Going to Make!

I hate it when I get to the party late!

I was dying to quote Mad Magazine, which once had this to say about David Duke (but it could equally work for Uncle Jesse):

Q. "What's more frightening than one racist in the Louisiana State Senate?"

A. "The 250,000 people who elected him."

While certain I got the quote wrong, the gist is what is important.

------------------------------------------

Also, I cannot help but wonder how long it will be after Jesse shuffles off this mortal coil that his illegitimate black children come out of the woodwork?

Evil Kumquat

[bhunt70]

21. actually, many people voted him back in because

he help his constituency immensely.

I'm not an apologist for the man, but he was said to be good on helping his constituents with problems they had (ie making sure social securities checks were there, helping tobacco farmers etc).

Yeah, his social views suck and I will never in my life understand how people could have overlooked his racist bigoted views, but he had a proven track record with his constituents. That doesn't necessarily make them the same as him.

[dsc]

17. What a crock of hooey

His legacy is one of hatred, fear, evil, and thousands if not millions of deaths. He should enjoy his long life, as I have my doubts his afterlife is going to be as good.

[MarkTwain]

18. Drop Dead You Racist Bastard Scum...

.... and go promptly to hell. Do not pass go ... do not collect the two hundred dollars.

[MisterP]

20. HELLms!