Democracy for Vancouver

So Jesse Helms finally kicked the bucket, eh? One more wacko who makes me wish I could believe in hell.

And before anyone tells me not to speak ill of the dead, here’s a bit of how Helms handled the living.

On the intellectual power of African Americans:

To rob the Negro of his reputation of thinking through a problem in his own fashion is about the same as trying to pretend that he doesn’t have a natural instinct for rhythm and for singing and dancing.

On sex education:

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.

On gays and HIV/AIDS:

It’s their deliberate, disgusting, revolting conduct that is responsible for the disease.

Ad in Senate campaign against African American Harvey Gantt, on affirmative action:

You were the best qualified for that job, but they had to give it to a minority.

On the nexus of anti-communism, capitalism, and Big Tobacco (one of Helms’ biggest supporters in his home state of North Carolina):

I was with some Vietnamese recently, and some of them were smoking two cigarettes at the same time. That’s the kind of customers we need!

On Bill Clinton trying to get legislation and judicial appointments through the Senate:

Mr. Clinton better watch out if he comes down here. He’d better have a bodyguard.

And, finally, Dummy on Helms’ none-too-soon passing:

Throughout his long public career, Senator Jesse Helms was a tireless advocate for the people of North Carolina, a stalwart defender of limited government and free enterprise, a fearless defender of a culture of life, and an unwavering champion of those struggling for liberty….

So it is fitting that this great patriot left us on the Fourth of July.

As long as racist, misogynist, homophobic assholes like Helms are considered patriots, I want nothing to do with patriotism.