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RIP: Jesse Helms

When a politician dies, it's become fashionable to laud him, no matter how offensive or wrong-headed his or her policies and actions. When Nixon passed, those who read his many obituaries and tributes would've have had a hard time telling he was the man responsible for shaming the Office of the President with clandestine, domestic spying against Democrats, that he cost the country billions of dollars in lost productivity and Federal spending to address his crimes, or that he ushered in a period of distrust of those in Washington, D.C.

So, while others are praising Jesse Helms for the way he stuck to his ideals and values, I think we ought to instead be pointing out how those "values" and "ideals" were hate and intolerance. The irony is that this man, who worked most of his life to deny equal rights to so many, died on Independence Day while so many Americans were celebrating that all men are created equal.

Some may feel this is unfair--that Helms was a product of his times, so we should ignore the bigoted and hateful things he said. I might actually agree with this if so many people don't still believe the same things. The fact these words were uttered by a man who influenced the thinking of so many others is why they deserve to be seen for what they are today, the day after his death.

• "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?" (1950) (Source)
  
• "Crime rates and irresponsibility among Negroes are a fact of life which must be faced." (1981) (Source)
  
• "The University of North Carolina (UNC)... the University of Negroes and Communists..." (1995) (Source)
  
• "All Latins are volatile people." (1986) (Source)
  
• "The government should spend less money on people with AIDS because they got sick as a result of deliberate, disgusting, revolting conduct." (1995) (Source)
  
• "Mr. Clinton better watch out if he comes down here [Fort Bragg]. He'd better have a bodyguard. " (1994) (Source)
  
• "Because she's a damn lesbian. I am not going to put a lesbian in a position like that."--Senator Jesse Helms after failing to block the confirmation of Roberta Achtenberg as assistant secretary for the House and Urban Development Department, May 1993 (Source)
  
• "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 (Source)
  
• "We've got to have some common sense about a disease transmitted by people deliberately engaging in unnatural acts."-- Helms on why he opposed approval of AIDS research. (Source)
  
• "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 (Source)
  
• "Your tax dollars are being used to pay for grade school classes that teach our children that Cannabilism, wife-swapping, and the murder of infants and the elderly are acceptable behavior."--Helms from a fundraising mailer sent out by his campaign (Source)
  
• "The subject matter is so obscene, so revolting, it's difficult for me to stand here and talk about it. I may throw up." 1987, commenting on an HIV prevention comic book (Source)
  
• "There is not one single case of Aids reported in this country that cannot be traced in origin to sodomy." 1988 (Source)
  
• "Think about it. Homosexuals and lesbians, disgusting people, marching in our streets, demanding all sorts of things, including the right to marry each other. How do you like them apples?" 1990, during his re-election campaign (Source)
  
• On Larry King Live, Helms took a call from Tilk, Alabama. "I just think that you should get a Nobel Peace Prize for everything you've done to help keep down the niggers," the caller said. "Thank you, I think," Helms replied. (Source)
  
• "You were the best qualified for that job, but they had to give it to a minority." Helms' 1990 campaign ad (Source)

I will not rejoice in the passing of another human being, but I will not allow a person's death to turn him from ignorant bigot to saint. Helms' words speak for themselves. It's a shame a man in a position of power for as long as Helms was couldn't use his pulpit to enlighten rather than to reinforce false stereotypes and to deny other humans the right to equal protection under the law.

FOX News Issues Three Apologies in Two Weeks

FOX News is very, very sorry. According to the New York Times, the "news" division has had to issue repeated apologies related to the way they're covering Barack Obama. They called Michelle Obama “Obama’s Baby Mama,’’ they called the Obamas affectionate fist bump during the senator’s victory rally “a terrorist fist jab,’’ and Fox News analyst Liz Trotta made a joke about a possible assassination of Mr. Obama.

What I love is that FOX addressed the latest incident by noting “A producer on the program exercised poor judgment." Why not just tell the truth and say that the producer was following the network's well-known and established practice of providing slanted coverage of the Democrats.

Why is it that a network that shows a second of a nipple or bare buttocks gets fined millions of dollars by the FCC, but a "news" network or program that regularly misreports or insinuates falsehoods in a way that could adversely impact an election gets a free ride?

I'm Voting Republican

Sure, it's a little shallow and heavy-handed, but it is awfully funny (and sadly, more true than not).

This message goes out to Debra Bartoshevich, the bitter Wisonsin delegate to the Democratic National Convention who has announced that since her preferred candidate didn't win the nomination, she's voting Republican.

GOP Again Proves Why It Cannot Be the Party of Change

Here's one of those ads that says more about the person who sponsored the ad than it does the person the ad attacks. The ad is a tiresome rehash of bad Internet rumors spread from ignorant person to ignorant person, but apparently the GOP is fine with collecting votes by spreading disinformation, encouraging ignorance, exploiting fear, and using smear techniques.

I know this is not an official GOP ad, but we've seen this dirty swift-boating tactic before from the Republicans. A GOP-affiliated group launches a dirty campaign, and the candidate and party act as if they have no ability to control, influence, or react to it. This ad comes from Floyd Brown - of Willie Horton fame - through his National Campaign Fund PAC.

Come on McCain and GOP leadership! Prove to us you support a clean campaign. Show backbone, integrity, and a commitment to honesty. Your silence will only prove why the Democrats and Obama are the only answer to the need for change in Washingon, D.C.

One Voice Can Change the World

Call it rhetoric, spin, marketing, or propaganda. Call it whatever you wish. I call this inspirational.

Hillary Wants Obama to Bail Her Out

Let's see if I get this straight: Hillary knew many weeks ago that she would be unable to secure the Democratic nomination, yet she persisted. She continued to solicit donations from Democratic supporters that could've gone into Obama's coffers to help pay for the general election. And, instead of being able to save money for the general election, Obama's campaign had to spend their funds to battle the negative-tinged campaigning (such as the now famous "3 a.m. ad") waged by Clinton's team.

You might think she'd done enough damage, but apparently not. She is now looking to broker a deal with Obama to have him pay her campaign debts. That's right--she wants him to pay for her bad decisions! And in doing so, his campaign will have to tap even more of his funds that should be used campaigning against McCain in fall.

I don't know who annoys me more: Hillary, for acting in a way that damages her party's chances to win in November? Bill, for some of the embarrassing and paranoid things he's been saying as his wife's chances dwindled? (Funny how when the Clintons were stacking the deck to aid Hillary's campaign it was fine and dandy, but once the party leadership demonstrated they could think on their own, Bill cries foul.) People like Bill Maher who acted like there was nothing wrong with Hillary continuing to run long past her ability to win, despite the financial and other adverse consequences to the party? Or maybe it's the voters who claim to care about the war in Iraq, the environment, education, civil rights, and other core issues who decided to continue to fund Hillary's damaging campaign rather than to rally around the future party nominee.

Oh heck, maybe I'll just be annoyed at all of them. But my annoyance will turn to anger if Hillary drains Obama's campaign funds to cover the debts she incurred waging a campaign that should've ceased tens of millions of dollars ago. Rumors are that Clinton's campaign is as much as $40 million in the red. CNN reports Obama's campaign has just over $50 million cash on hand. If the Obama campaign permits Hillary to further damage the Democrat's chances of beating the GOP this fall, I'll be angry at just about all of them--Hillary, Bill, Dean, Obama, all of them.

Here's what I'd suggest: Bill and Hillary can lick their wounds and spend the rest of their lives living with the ramifications of their poor decision to continue and to loan money to a doomed campaign. Considering the kind of money Bill pulls down for speaking engagements, he should be able to pay off Hillary's campaign debt in about eight years.

I understand this opinion is being colored by frustration, but I think Obama should let Hillary find her own way out of her mess. He's going to sew up the nomination soon with or without Clinton's withdrawal, and it's time he starts concentrating on what he needs to do to lead the Democratic Party to victory in November. Paying for Hillary's lack of judgment isn't going to help the Democratic party or his campaign.

Things Younger Than John McCain

Today's hilarious political site is Things Younger Than John McCain. The incredible list includes shopping carts, nylon, Velcro, Cheerios, and a personal favorite of mine, the Cobb Salad.

An Article That Will Dispirit You (Unless You're a Racist)

If your day is going a little too well, here's a Washington Post article that will leave you saddened. The article is entitled, "Racist Incidents Give Some Obama Campaigners Pause," and it shares stories of Obama volunteers who have endured comments like, "I'll never vote for a black person," "White people look out for white people, and black people look out for black people", and "Hang that darky from a tree!"

The idea that this sort of racism still exists is dispiriting, but to hear the regularity with which Obama campaigners have faced this sort of crap is profoundly disturbing. It pisses me off and makes me embarrassed for some portion of my race.

Tonight's results from the progressive state of West Virginia suggest this sort of mentality runs deeper than it should in the 21st Century. According to The Herald Tribune, a full 20% of West Virginia voters said race was an important factor in their vote, and that's just the percentage of people who were willing to admit it! How unabashedly racist does a person have to be to admit--even an anonymous pollster--that one believes the color of a person's skin is an important and relevant factor in determining that individual's capabilities?

All of this wouldn't be quite so disappointing if it didn't seem Hillary is courting exactly this sort of Neanderthal thinking ("Sen. Obama's support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again"). I guess "the first black president" wasn't married to the "first black First Lady."

Obama will be victorious for the Democratic nomination, and then we'll see how much race is a factor for the general election. Until recently, I was naive enough to think it would have minimal impact, but now I'm not so sure.

By the way, if you happen to be one of those people who think that race matters when it comes to leadership, please click any of the following: Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King, Jr., Charles R. Drew, Nelson Mandela, Ralph Bunche, Thurgood Marshall, Colin L. Powell, or Carol Moseley Braun.

Hillary Vader versus Barack Skywalker

Someone has a lot of time on his or her hands and a great deal of affection for Barack Obama.

What is Hillary Trying to Accomplish?

Could someone please tell me what Hillary is trying to accomplish at this point in the Democratic primaries?

She cannot win. Period. Check out the NY Times Interactive Delegate Tracker. Even if she won every remaining state by a 55/45 percentage (which is the best she's managed in any primary in the last two months), she'd need to get the support of three-quarters of the remaining superdelegates in order to earn the nomination. The problem with this is that she won't win the remaining states by a ten-point margin; Clinton has been polling neck-and-neck with Obama for weeks, so there's no way for her close that margin.

In order to win, she'd need superdelegates to cast their ballot contrary to the popular election, which no one thinks is going to happen. In fact, she continues to lose superdelegates to Obama. Since Tuesday's primaries, Obama has gained six superdelegates while Clinton picked up one and lost another.

Hillary is running out of money. She's loaned her campaign $11.4M this year, and her campaign still has $10.3 M in unpaid bills as of March 31.

Respected pundits on virtually every media outlet have essentially or explicitly announced that the race is over and Obama has won, following her narrow win in Indiana and substantial defeat in North Carolina.

Even Clinton friends and supporters are calling for an end to this painful situation. George Stephanopoulos, George McGovern, Bill Richardson, Robert Reich and other Clinton loyalists have shifted their allegiance or called on Hillary to pull out of the race.

I understand she has the right to continue to run, but given she cannot win the nomination, what is her motivation to do so? It is clear Hillary's continued presence in the race is doing damage to Obama's and her party's chances to win in the general election:

• She is introducing race into the election, which cannot be good for her party or the country at large. This isn't the first time Hillary or Bill has played the race card, and it gets uglier every time they do it. In an interview today, she said, "Sen. Obama's support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again" and "whites in both states who had not completed college were supporting me." (The deluded woman told USA Today she didn't believe her emphasis on white voters could be interpreted as racially divisive because, "These are the people you have to win if you're a Democrat in sufficient numbers to actually win the election. Everybody knows that.")
  
  
• She continues to push for the Michigan and Florida primaries to count, even though she agreed they should not, even though she was the only remaining candidate on the ballot in one of those states, and even though no campaigning was done in either state by either candidate. If she dropped out, the rift with Dems in these states could be healed since these states' delegates could be seated at the convention. But instead, Hillary continues to push for a retroactive change in the rules, raising concerns this issue could cause a widening of the rift within the party. (If she really cared about including the Democratic voters in those states, Hillary would acknowledge the obvious, drop out, and invite those delegates to play a role at the convention to anoint Obama.)
  
  
• On top of those issues, Hillary is continuing to attack Obama and weaken him for the general election while McCain enjoys criticism-free months. She continues to raise funds that could go to supporting Obama in the general election, and she's forcing Obama to spend his campaign funds running against her rather than against McCain.

The whole mess is just unbelievable. An unpopular GOP president, a horrible war, a weakening economy--this should be an easy election for the Democrats, and right now the candidate who cannot win is threatening to undermine the Democrat who can.

A friend of mine tonight said he believes Hillary is working for the Republicans. I can't see how this is possible, but between her ads that play on voters' fears of terrorism, her mailers featuring pro-gun stands, and her actions in the race, it's an almost believable contention.

Which brings me back to my original question: Could someone please tell me what Hillary is trying to accomplish at this point in the election? (And really, shouldn't the ability to grasp reality be one of the primary qualities we want in a presidential candidate?)

Bill Moyers on Reverend Wright and Religion

Bill Moyers (of course) has some thoughtful things to say about race relations, religion, and Reverend Wright. A worthy six-minute video that provide more perspective than you'll find in hours and hours on CNN or FOX News.

Obama and Clinton - How they're advertising

Once again (as I've often been during this campaign), I am struck with the contrast in the way Hillary and Barack advertise.

Here is Hillary's ad. It's very negative and gives half the story. She paints Obama as unwilling to make decisions when, in fact, he's making tough decisions and not simply going for easy fixes.



Here's another controversial Hillary ad that has received a great deal of criticism from bloggers and pundits. An often-heard refrain is that this was taken from Karl Rove's campaign playbook, with the use of images from Pearl Harbor, the Depression, Bin Laden, and a few other crises. Like her infamous "3 am" ad, this uses fear to convince voters they need her, without actually offering any reasons why or even suggesting she has policies to prevent future disasters. In fact, she almost seems to be campaigning on platform that says she can't stop problems from happening, but at least she can answer the phone in the White House when they do.



Barack's ad certainly is aimed at Hillary, but it isn't negative, it doesn't use fear, it simply talks plain sense about the nonsensical proposal to suspend gas taxes. He points out how little it will save, and how this action (supported by the two GOP candidates, Clinton and McCain) (well if she doesn't want to be called a GOP candidate, she should stop advertising like one) will do nothing to solve the real problems causing gas prices to rise.

Rocky Meets Obama and Hillary

Alas, Pennsylvania did not give Barack-y the win as suggested in this video. But it's still darn funny... [Via Milk and Cookies]

See more funny videos at CollegeHumor

For Which Party's Nomination is Hillary Running?

After getting criticism for borrowing from the Republican play book with her "3 AM" ad, you'd think Clinton might be a little more cautious. But days before the pivotal Pennsylvania primary she's doing it again. CNN reports Hillary Clinton launched a television ad there that includes images from the attacks on Pearl Harbor, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and Osama Bin Laden.

The GOP's use of fear as a campaign weapon has always disturbed me. Despite the fact I am a fiscal conservative and consider myself a very moderate voter, I am rarely tempted to consider a Republican candidate for president because I can't shake the feeling they strive to manipulate voters with fear. (Fear is rarely a good place from which to govern or lead.)

The way Hillary is campaigning is really turning me off. A month ago I scoffed at Democrats who said they would vote for McCain if "their candidate" (either Hillary or Barack) failed to win the nomination. Now, I'm beginning to understand those feelings.

I won't go so far as to say I'll vote GOP if Hillary someone manages to climb past Obama, but I am beginning to understand sentiments such as those voiced by Michael Moore today on his Web site:

Over the past two months, the actions and words of Hillary Clinton have gone from being merely disappointing to downright disgusting. I guess the debate last week was the final straw. I've watched Senator Clinton and her husband play this game of appealing to the worst side of white people, but last Wednesday, when she hurled the name "Farrakhan" out of nowhere, well that's when the silly season came to an early end for me. She said the "F" word to scare white people, pure and simple. Of course, Obama has no connection to Farrakhan. But, according to Senator Clinton, Obama's pastor does...

This sleazy attempt to smear Obama was brilliantly explained the following night by Stephen Colbert. He pointed out that if Obama is supported by Ted Kennedy, who is Catholic, and the Catholic Church is led by a Pope who was in the Hitler Youth, that can mean only one thing: OBAMA LOVES HITLER!

Finally, I want to say a word about the basic decency I have seen in Mr. Obama. Mrs. Clinton continues to throw the Rev. Wright up in his face as part of her mission to keep stoking the fears of White America. Every time she does this I shout at the TV, "Say it, Obama! Say that when she and her husband were having marital difficulties regarding Monica Lewinsky, who did she and Bill bring to the White House for 'spiritual counseling?' THE REVEREND JEREMIAH WRIGHT!"

But no, Obama won't throw that at her. It wouldn't be right. It wouldn't be decent. She's been through enough hurt. And so he remains silent and takes the mud she throws in his face.

Hillary keeps using fear and attacks to try to save her floundering campaign. I continue to believe this isn't good for the Democrat's chances in the general election. Hillary seemed on track to become the first female president of the United States, if not in 2008 then perhaps in 2012, but I feel she's doing herself a great deal of damage among the Democratic faithful with the way she's chosen to manage her campaign.

Some are suggesting an Obama/Clinton ticket, but the way she's running for president, perhaps we may see a McCain/Clinton ticket instead.

How Hillary Can Still Win

See? It's easy for Hillary to still win. (Extra credit is given for clips from Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure!) [Via OtherCrap]

Clinton and Obama Tied?

Most folks thought the last Democratic debate was a draw, but the daily Gallup polls seem to show otherwise. According to Gallup, Obama and Clinton are now running neck and neck. The latest poll gives Hillary a one-point lead, marking the first time Obama has not led in Gallup's daily tracking since March 18-20.

I'm a bit surprised by this. It will be interesting to see how Pennsylvania votes on Tuesday.

If ABC Moderated the Lincoln-Douglas Debates

It's been widely agreed ABC ran the worst presidential debate in memory this past week. Rather than concentrating on real issues, such as Iraq or the economy, Charlie Gibson and (former Clinton advisor) George Stephanopoulos instead focused on lapel lins, the pastor scandal (which came and went weeks ago), and other gossipy topics. It was sham.

Rather than rant about what media or presidential politics has become, I'll instead point you to a very funny and sad post on Obsidian Wings, which imagines an ABC-moderated Lincoln-Douglas Debate in 1858.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Do you love America this much (extending fingers), this much
(extending hands slightly), or thiiiiiis much (extending hands
broadly)?
LINCOLN: I think we covered this…
GIBSON: If I may
interrupt…
LINCOLN: Please.
GIBSON: I noticed, Mr. Lincoln, that your
American flag pin was upside down…
LINCOLN: Yes, the wind caught it. Now, as
I was saying...
GIBSON: We get questions about this all the time over at
Powerline and on Hannity’s talk show. Mr. Douglas has said this is a major
vulnerability for you in the fall. So I’ll ask again – do you love America?

Click here to read more.

Bill Clinton thinks Hillary voters are wise

Bill Clinton says older voters are too wise to be fooled by Barack Obama's rhetoric. Older voters are tending toward Hilary, but I'm not sure that's because of wisdom.

According to Gallup, those with post-graduate degrees support Obama over Clinton by a more-than-2-to-1 margin. Among those with college degrees, Barack's support is more than 50% greater than Hillary's. And among those with some college, Obama's support is around 33% greater than Hillary's. It is only among those with a high school education or less that Hillary is out-polling Barack.

Also of note is that Gallup is reporting that Obama's lead over Hillary is at it greatest point all year among Democrats. As recently as two weeks ago, in the midst of pastorgate, Hillary was running within three points of Barack, but his lead has been growing since. And in Pennsylvania, where Hillary desperately needs a win next Tuesday, she is polling just five points ahead of Obama with a large percentage of undecideds. The LA Times reports she is "losing traction" in that state.

There's a big debate in Philadelphia tomorrow night. With so much riding on this next primary, this could be an important and interesting debate!

Barely Political on Political Sex Scandals

I should've seen this coming: Barely Political, the folks behind "I Got a Crush on Obama," is weighing in with a funny song about political sex scandals.

Sample lyric:

So many wives have been betrayed,
But what good is power if you can't get laid?

You ought to consider this one NSFW. [Via MilkandCookies]

Political Sex Scandals
by BarelyPolitical