Mourners Weep For "Southern Gentleman"

Jesse Helms Represented N.C. In The Senate For 30 Years, And "Always Stood His Ground"

(AP)  Vice President Dick Cheney and a delegation of U.S. senators joined hundreds of other mourners who paid their respects Tuesday at the funeral of former Sen. Jesse Helms, a five-term Republican who died on the Fourth of July.

Helms' family sat in the front pews of the packed 800-seat sanctuary at Hayes Barton Baptist Church in Raleigh, where Helms worshipped for decades and served as a deacon. A bipartisan group of federal and state officials listened during a nearly hour and a half service as friends an family recalled the conservative icon, who inspired both love and disdain for his strong views.

"Jesse Helms always stood his ground," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said from the pulpit. "He put duty above all else - duty to God, to country, to family ... the simple duty of treating other people well."

Helms, who spent three terms in the U.S. Senate, died at age 86 after years of declining health.

Sen. Elizabeth Dole, who took Helms' seat when he chose not to seek re-election in 2002, attended the service with her husband, former Republican presidential candidate Kansas Sen. Bob Dole. Her counterpart, GOP Sen. Richard Burr, sat nearby.

Democratic Sens. Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Joe Biden of Delaware also were seated in the pews, along with Gov. Mike Easley and several state political figures. Cindy McCain, wife of presumed Republican presidential nominee John McCain, also was on hand as others gathered to watch the funeral service remotely from a church gym.

Jimmy Broughton, Helms' former chief of staff, recalled for the crowd how a woman from Raleigh needed help with Social Security benefits. Her neighbor, a Democrat, couldn't help her with the problem, but advised her to call Helms for help.

The neighbor told her, "I despise the SOB, but I think it's high time you call Jesse Helms," Broughton said, drawing laughter.

The coffin of Helms, who served in the Senate from 1973 to 2003, was covered with a U.S. flag as the front of the sanctuary was decorated with flowers sent by U.S. senators and a painting of Helms at work. Choir members, in red silk robes, stood behind friends and family who spoke during the service.

Cheney did not speak at the funeral nor issue any statements to reporters. But his spokeswoman, Lea Anne McBride, said, "The vice president went just to pay his respects and spend some time with the family."

Helms won his first election in 1972 after a career in newspapers, radio and television commentaries and rose to become a powerful committee chairman.

Helms is remembered by many for his opposition to the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and was considered a polarizing figure both at home and in Washington.

He never lost a political race, but his margin of victory was never large. In the Senate, he forced roll-call votes that required Democrats to take politically difficult votes on cultural issues, such as federal funding for art he deemed pornographic, school busing and flag-burning.

He also ran racially tinged campaigns in his last two runs for Senate, defeating former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt, who is black, in 1990 and 1996.

In the first race, a Helms commercial showed a white fist crumpling up a job application, as a narrator said, "You needed that job, and you were the best qualified. But they had to give it to a minority because of a racial quota. Is that really fair?"

As he aged, Helms was slowed by a variety of illnesses, including a bone disorder, prostate cancer and heart problems, and used a motorized scooter to navigate the Capitol as his career neared an end. In April 2006, his family said he had been moved into a convalescent center after being diagnosed with vascular dementia, in which repeated minor strokes damage the brain

Helms was born in Monroe on Oct. 18, 1921. He attended Wingate College and Wake Forest College, but never graduated and went on to serve in the Navy during World War II.

Raleigh resident Wallace Holloway, 68, waited outside the church for about an hour before the doors were to open. He said Helms will be greatly missed, in part because he believed there's no longer anyone in Congress with his conviction.

"We need more men like Jesse Helms," Holloway said. "He's an icon - a Southern gentlemen. He'll be remembered for integrity and truth."

[nssherlock1]

I feel sorry for the worms that will eat that old b@stard.

[hbevis]

You people are sick.........

[jimfinster]

boohoo

[fee1free4u]

Too bad it isn''t McVet or SgtRDS or BrianBWB in that box.

[fee1free4u]

jeff92706,uh, maybe you guessed wrong there. What if, just WHAT IF, all the *** are in he*ll, and Jesse''s up there chuckling at them? You just don''t know, do you, Mr. As*swipe?

[fee1free4u]

jeff92706 ,uh, maybe you guessed 100% wrong there. What if, just WHAT IF, all the ga*ys are in he*ll, and Jesse''s up there chuckling at them? You just don''t know, do you, Mr. As*swipe?

[fee1free4u]

In the first race, a Helms commercial showed a white fist crumpling up a job application, as a narrator said, "You needed that job, and you were the best qualified. But they had to give it to a minority because of a racial quota. Is that really fair?"

ANSWER:NO. It wasn''t fair then, and it isn''t fair now.

[vranger]

Its not surprising to see such ignorance, not to mention venom, written so ungraciously by people who don''t have a clue about Jesse Helms other than what they read in a liberal press 15 years ago.

Yes, Senator Helms had a consistently conservative voting record in the Senate. He was hardly alone (you may note that his vote was on the winning side the vast majority of the time), but since he was outspoken, he took a lot of heat as well as a lot of credit.

You may not have agreed with Jesse Helms, but the man stood his ground, and he didn''t come at anyone from behind. He worked hard for his constituents, and the Congressional services performed for North Carolinians who needed a hand were color blind. I saw that first hand. If you didn''t see it first hand, then keep the ignorant comments to yourselves.

When you guys can act on what you believe in as this man did, rather than spew hateful invective after someone dies, then maybe you''ll have a chance for a little respect. Your words here certainly deserve NONE.

[kansas1946]

"Jesse Helms always stood his ground," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said from the pulpit. "He put duty above all else - duty to God, to country, to family ... the simple duty of treating other people well."
********************************

LMAO. Only a little wormy weasle like Mitch McConnell could say "the simple duty of treating others well" about Jesse Helms with a straight face.

Jesse Helms was southern alright, but he was no gentleman.

[lloydbest1]

Whether Jessie should be revered or reviled on death is a personal choice. What concerns me is not those who speak ill or well of the man but an ideology that allows someone like Jessie Helms to rise to prominence in the first place.

During his tenure in the senate he was a living, breathing, walking monument to everthing that was reprehensible about the American way of life. He embodied every "principle" that thousands of progressive activists for peace, justice, equity and pluralism fought against; sometimes even at the expense of their lives. For me, personally, he stood for everything I opposed and everything I considered disfunctional and dystopic about our republic.

It is our ideology that is the foundation for our values; the foundation for our sense of right and wrong; the foundation for our relationship (if any) with our creator; the basis for our roadmap on how we treat others; and the bedrock for everything we say, do, think and feel.

Not all ideologies are created equal. The one Jessie Helms attached his life to and on which he based his entire senatorial career was a slap in the face of every founding principle that justified the creation of our still great country.

[kansas1946]

When you guys can act on what you believe in as this man did, rather than spew hateful invective after someone dies, then maybe you''''ll have a chance for a little respect. Your words here certainly deserve NONE.

********************************

Everyone knows exactly what he has and has not done. I knew from the time I was old enough to talk that all Americans deserved respect and equal treatment. Anything else was evil. This man spent a large percetage of his live promoting the evil of segregation a repression of full-fledged American citizens. He only changed his stripes when it became very politically incorrect not to. He lived through a time in the south when black Americans could not even sit at a lunch counter or attend a white school, and he not only didn''t do anything to stop it, he promoted hit.

[excoachken]

Today, the world is a better place with one less bigot.

[jimfinster]

Helms always took the low road.

I trust that road is where he is now.

[undermyboot]

It''s just no Politically Correct to tell the truth about this unrepentant racist. The damage this throwback did to this country is incalculable, but he still gets a nice funeral and the MSM just glosses over what a complete *** he was.

A racist and fascist to the end. Good riddance to smelly dog sh*t. I hope his death was painful and slow.

[mcvet]

Who in their right mind would call this profound Bigot and master of hate a Gentleman? WHo would Weep that something this evil has left our earth. HAS anyone read what this lower that life piece of trash had to say about the Civil Right''s Bill witch ended one of the saddest chapters in our history?? He NEVER took one word of it back either or admitted he was wrong like Wallace!! It''s embarrassing we have people in THIS nation who can honor such a man... plant the bigot and lets get on with changing this nation!!

[yongamerica]

So long to obsolete beliefs that he acted upon with his legislation. So long outspoken neoconservative, who at times was instrumental in opposing civil rights, communism, tax increases, abortion, gay rights, affirmative action, food stamps, secularism, and government-funded healthcare legislation.

Helms will be always be remembered for his campaign ad he wrote that stated: "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?"

May many more of your kind join you in peaceful bliss.

[mcvet]

You people are sick.........

Posted by hbevis at 08:40 PM : Jul 08, 2008

Who is sick?? Certainly not the posters on here! I must say, as someone who had the words of this lower than life bigot used against him, I''m proud of my fellow American''s. Just because the trash FINALLY decided to exit, does NOT mean he has earned any right to dignity.. he has NOT!!

[undermyboot]

Another minion of satan dies and the "good Christians" in the south cry for him? His funeral should have been held in hell, where his black soul is and will never rest.

[randynason]

Helms was many things, the least of which a gentleman. He was a bigotted and hateful creature who will not be missed by many, except other hateful bigots. And, speaking of Mitch McConnell...

[chimpyout]

Appearing at this Helms function is an appropriate task for Mr. G.F.Y. Cheney.

Where this bozo does NOT belong is at ceremonies wherein this dishonorable draft-dodger pins decorations on our war veterans.

[lemonskink]

Oh Puhleeeeze, he was the most ignorant, rascist, uncaring human being outside of GWB the world had known.

[cheetah-man7]

If nothing else, he certainly does not deserve the title of gentleman. He was anything but......

[stn_sage]

I must agree with ALL previous posters---in their suggestions that Helms was NO gentleman, he was arrogant, racist, uncaring toward those different from himself, bigoted, lived the ''low road'', is not deserving of respect just because he died, in deed acted as a minion to Satan, acted in Congress to hurt America, that he probably shouldn''t be honored, that it''s appropriate that Rich Cheney is there to ''honor'' him, and finally that---unfortunately---the nation is better off because this man is no longer amongst us performing evil!

And it pains me to have to say these things, but they are the truth, and I refuse to pretend that he was a great man! He wasn''t.

[misspp-2009]

Good riddance to a piece of trash!

[ubrew12]

How fitting that Cheney was among the mourners. He needs the practice: so much that he values is going to be buried in the next few months. Truly a new day for America, the defeat of the fascist forces that nearly took our country down.

[shingles1]

Someone snuck into wikipedia and wrote this (before it was taken down):

He died on July 4, 2008, slitting his wrists in a washtub out back beneath the pecan tree and writing "I''ve been a bad boy" in his own blood. The skins of several children were found drying in his attic, swarms of horseflies going in and out of the eaves. His wife was quoted on CNN as saying "I always wondered about Jesse''s collection of little shoes."

[fridak-2009]

Jessie Helms was a racist POS pig. Good riddance....

[undermyboot]

They hate Christian Conservatives so much they''''d like to see them all dead.

Posted by globalcool08 at 11:27 PM : Jul 08, 2008
---------

This monster was neither Christian nor conservative. You libel Christians by tying this piece of garbage to them. I am a Christian, and like so many others of us, we would never consider this unrepentant bigot with a heart full of hate a Christian. Maybe if he confessed his sins and showed repentance, but he did not. He was Satan wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross. It does not make him a Christian.

He was no conservative. He was a representative of the worst of a small percentage of Americans- let them grieve for their monster. Conservatives can only hope that Helms is quickly forgotten, and any association with him disavowed. True conservatives do not hate based on race. They do not suborn the Principles of America. They do not pizz on the Constitution.

Good riddance Jesse. May Satan show you the error of your ways- forever.

[taddles3]

"Christ tells us that His road is the narrow path in the Gospels, unlike you godless libs who choose the path of this wicked world system, and not Christ.


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

Posted by globalcool08 at 11:31 PM : Jul 08, 2008"


Spoken like a true supporter of this vile racist scumbag. I''m sure you share his ignorant narrow minded views to a T.

I''m sure Christ would be very proud of the racist hateful message of Jesse Helms, I''m sure that''s what Christ would be all about were he to come back to day. You certainly are forgetful when it comes to the true word of Christ. Of course who needs Christs words when you can just make up your own, right scumbag.

[undermyboot]

soulless atheist libs
Posted by globalcool08 at 11:27 PM : Jul 08, 2008
----
Globalfool08- Another hater sitting in front of his computer wondering why the world could care less about his foaming at the mouth hatred.

Go with Jesse. He will need the company in hell.

[taddles3]

"Should''''ve known the absolutely soulless libs would be on this forum saying the most vile and wicked things about Sen. Jesse Helms. They hate Christian Conservatives so much they''''d like to see them all

Posted by globalcool08 at 11:27 PM : Jul 08, 2008"

Should have known you "Christians" would be here defending Helms''s hateful racist message. Just like followers of Christ to ignore Christs message and make up your own to justifiy their narrow minded world view.

Christ would puke if he came back and saw the travesty you''ve made of his message and his name. He would cast you down to spend eternity with Helms in contemplation of your vicious disrespect for your fellow man. You have no shame, you have no honor, you are a christian in name but not deed.

Pity the Romans ran out of lions.

[parrot123-2009]

It is a shame Helms is dead...I would have liked him to watch in horror as the Democrats sweep the GOPer NEOCRONIES from power before he croaked! Now that would have been justiced.
Posted by ozilot at 09:15 AM : Jul 09, 2008


This is really Sad .....

As he aged, Helms was slowed by a variety of illnesses, including a bone disorder, prostate cancer and heart problems, and used a motorized scooter to navigate the Capitol as his career neared an end. In April 2006, his family said he had been moved into a convalescent center after being diagnosed with vascular dementia, in which repeated minor strokes damage the brain.

Me thinks he suffered a great deal. Cheers!

[aldon61]

Jesse Helms was a bigot; he was also arrogant and defiant. He will not be missed by most of us, but we should LEARN from his life so we are not bound to repeat history. As for him going to h/e/l/l/, that''s not up to us, just be glad that he is now gone from the earth. I hope his family can find some closure.

[Gary Kempf]

fsw3 ;
Amen!!!!

[raoul12-2009]

"Should''ve known the absolutely soulless libs would be on this forum saying the most vile and wicked things about Sen. Jesse Helms. They hate Christian Conservatives so much they''d like to see them all

Posted by globalcool08 at 11:27 PM : Jul 08, 2008"
____________________

I would have loved to have been there to see that ****** laid up dead in his decorated box. It would have been just great to pisss on his face as the rest of the "Christian conservatives" looked on. This so-called "Christian conservative" was Christian in no sense of the word.

[avigil2]

I don''t wish death on any poor soul, but good riddance to Mr. Helms. He was notorious for spreading his hateful words and bigotry on mostly homosexuals. He succeeded in passing a bill that banned anyone with HIV to entering the country, which major health organizations (such as the US Public Health Service, Word Health Organization and the International Red Cross to name a few) deniably opposed. He convinced the Bush administration not to lift the ban and as of today, we are the only industrialized nation in the world to prohibit travel based on their HIV status. Mr. Helms had a chance to but refused to speak to the mother of Ryan White, the boy who died of AIDS in 1990. And he has said all along, "There is not one single case of AIDS in this country that cannot be traced in origin to sodomy." Poor soul. I hope God had mercy on him.

[newtagagain]

I would say that Helms must have had a good side - he was married to the same woman for sixty-something years and he adopted a son with cerebral palsy. Too bad he never showed this side in his years of racist, bigoted statements and actions. Here''s hoping the true God is not the one he worshipped all those years.

[avigil2]

Oh and another thing, he was definitely opposed to making Martin Luther King, Jr. a national holiday. He didn''t like black people either.

[avigil2]

Oh and another thing, he was definitely opposed to making Martin Luther King, Jr. a national holiday. He didn''t like black people either.

[raoul12-2009]

Poor soul. I hope God had mercy on him.

Posted by Avigil2 at 04:28 PM : Jul 09, 2008
_______________________

If there were a God, which there is not, he would let this ****** be re-born, just so he could die again.

[raoul12-2009]

Oh and another thing, he was definitely opposed to making Martin Luther King, Jr. a national holiday. He didn''t like black people either.

Posted by Avigil2 at 04:39 PM : Jul 09, 2008
______________________

The exact same things could be said about McCain; he also voted against a MLK holiday.