My legacy will be up to others to describe”-Senator Jesse Helm
JESSE HELMS: THE HELM OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
by eric d. graham
by eric d. graham
The scripture say “There is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecc. 1:9) So, we shouldn’t be surprised, with all the plantation politics and racial rhetoric surrounding Donald Trump in this toxic political climate, currently polluting the airwaves and on the Internet.
Besides, in a state like North Carolina, where its Tar Heel version of Mount Rushmore, would probably bare the faces of: UNC’s legendary coach Dean Smith, Evangelist Billy Graham, former NASCAR driver Richard Petty and controversial, conservative, Republican Senator Jesse Helms, who ran a now-notorious ad that had a pair of white hands crumple up a job rejection letter with a voice over saying, “You needed that job, and you were the best qualified. But they had to give it to a minority because of a racial quota” to defeat former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt, who is Black," in 1990 and 1996.
Oh yeah, good Ole Uncle Jesse, (sorry Dukes of Hazard fans) had a history of racist “southern tactics” to get them “GOOD OLE BOYS ELECTED.” Consider the infamous racist “WHITE PEOPLE WAKE UP” campaign flyer for Willis Smith’s 1950 Senate campaign against Frank Graham, which asked the “good folks” of North Carolina if they favored the “mingling of the races” over the old tradition of the South that, a young Helms allegedly participated in promoting.
But, he, couldn’t help it. It was his nature. For, he was only living out the essence of the segregated southern community of Monroe, NC that gave birth to him and his future political ideology, which had him defending the status quo, opposing Brown V. Board of Education’s attempt to desegregate schools and railing against the Martin Luther King Holiday by saying the slain civil rights leader was a Communist.
See, according to Timothy Tyson’s biography of civil rights leader Robert Williams, entitled Radio Free Dixie: Robert F. Williams and the Roots of Black Power, he (Williams) grew up in Monroe at the same time as Helms’ father, who was known for abusing his power and authority as a police officer. Especially, against the town’s African-American population.
Sadly, the more things change; the more they stay the same. Because, Black people are still suffering at the hands, and in some cases, the guns of the police, which politicians still use to justify their Law & Order rhetoric, during an election cycle. With this knowledge, consider the time in history, while reading an interview with Senator Helms from a March 8, 1974. He sounds, like he is on Fox News, discussing Donald Trump instead of ardent segregationist, former Alabama Governor, George Wallace.
“Well, I think that Governor Wallace is a symbol to a vast number of people in our state. I don't necessarily say that they're conservatives or moderates or liberals. I simply say that they are frustrated, because what they want, in my judgment, is somebody who will tell . . . who will level with them. Whether they agree with him or not. But who will tell them what he thinks and what he will do, and then do it. And George Wallace comes through as a man of that image. I'm sure that a lot of people who don't fully agree with George Wallace voted for him, simply because they felt that they could rely on his word...."
Unfortunately, some of us are probably too young or maybe have simply forgotten how powerful Jesse Helms, a former sports reporter for the Raleigh’s News & Observer and political commentator on WRAL-TV, was to the culture of southern politics. For those, who want to learn more about Jesse, I encourage you to read the entire article entitled How Jesse Helms Invented the Republican Party composed by the SplinterNews to get a true picture of the man, the myth, and the politician.
I know, none of this stuff appeared in our history books. But, for those, who can recall, Helms, who attended Wingate University and Wake Forest University, was the Republican Party's nomination for Vice President in 1976 for then-Republican presidential candidate Gerald Ford alongside with Bob Dole and Ronald Reagan, which Dole got Ford’s nomination, after he withdrew his name.
Helms’ name was thrown back into the political limelight again, four year later, in the 1980 presidential election in order to be the VP to Reagan, who decided to select former Director of the CIA George Bush instead after he withdrew his name for a second-time.
Yes, Jesse Helms, who served 30 years in the U.S Senate had a lot of power and influence, not only locally but internationally..And, if he truly desired it, could have been a presidential candidate. Despite him being a racist, he was still an iconic figure in the state of North Carolina and known as the Voice of Conservatism, due to his support of school prayer and the death penalty, as well as, his opposition to abortion, homosexuality, welfare and gun control.
Helms, however, according to The North Carolina Historical Review article entitled Reversing Gears: Jesse Helm’s Embrace of Christian Zionism, would eventually put on a yarmulke, take a trip to Israel, changing his thoughts about AIPAC, due to fundraising concerns during and after the 1984 Senate campaign, when he ran against Democratic governor James B. Hunt Jr., who accepted between $2 million and $3 million in total contributions from the pro-Israel Jewish community, while soliciting donations by warning that Helms was “building this massive war chest to fight “against things you and I care about….like the security and survival of Israel.”
Wait a minute. None Dare Call It Conspiracy. But, was the stone-cold conservative Jesse Helms, who was considered “anti-Semitic and anti-Israel” paid off by AIPAC in order to get reelected?
Now, to be fair to the Senator, he had connected with the Moral Majority and the Christian Right, which was founded by televangelist Jerry Falwell, who became an active Christian Zionist after Israel’s victory in the 1967 war.
But, I find it disturbing, that Helms would do a total 360, flip-flopping on his former statements and become a lukewarm politician toward Israel. He, even, advocated for the relocation of the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. (Sound, familiar)
“When it comes to standing up for principles that deserve to survive….Helms told a Northside Baptist Church in October 6, 1985."....we too often use our reverse gears”
We, however, see evidence of this playing out in the current political arena as politicians still fear speaking out against Israel. Even, Donald Trump fears this retribution. Despite, once twitting “To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize…”
While, Jerry Falwell, is no longer the face of the Moral Morality and Christian Zionism, the 700 Club’s aging Pat Robeson, with their 24 hour propaganda programming, have picked up the mantle along with Pastor John Hagee and Vice President Mike Pence.
And, unbelievably, Jesse Helms, who died on the Fourth of July in 2008, at 86 years old, on the same day of the Declaration of Independence and the same day that Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died, along with his white middle-class, Evangelist voters were a part of this complicated political cabal. (bobbeethehater.blogspot.com)
