Self proclaimed Senator NO!, and self proclaimed the most conservative voice in the United States Senate for over 20 years, and all around intolerant right-wing bigot passed away in North Carolina this morning at 86 years old.
He got his start in the 1960’s as a conservative radio commentator on the Tobacco Network in Raleigh, NC. He gained fame as a no nonsense voice against integration and pulling down the separation of Church and State.
Appearing on “Larry King Live” in 1995, Jesse Helms, then the senior senator from North Carolina, fielded a call from an unusual admirer. Helms deserved the Nobel Peace Prize, the caller gushed, “for everything you’ve done to help keep down the blacks.” Given the rank ugliness of the sentiment — the guest host, Robert Novak, called it, with considerable understatement, “politically incorrect” R, North Carolina
Of course Mr. Helms has gone directly to Heaven. In fact he is so revered there he did not even have to stop at the front gate. He was met by God, Jesus and Jerry Falwell who was assigned to show him around the various Heavenly plantations. Falwell stopped at the Mississippi delegation to see if Helms could help with a progressive group of Heavenites asking God to allow Clarence Thomas, Ward Connerly and J. C. Watts the opportunity to apply for admittance. Helms, to his favor, helped mediate the issue with an agreement such people would be given living quarters down the road a piece from the big house itself.
When asked, Jesus said it was what he would do.