He will not be missed by most decent people. This friend of big tobacco tied his name to every right-wing cause in the book and, shall we say, dallied with the racist right in North Carolina.

Check out his career here, but to give you a flavour:

"Helms once deeply offended a black colleague, Democratic Senator Carol Moseley-Braun of Illinois, by singing part of "Dixie" on a Capitol elevator.

Soon after the Senate vote on the Confederate flag insignia, Sen. Jesse Helms (R.-N.C.) ran into Mosely-Braun in a Capitol elevator. Helms turned to his friend, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R.-Utah), and said, "Watch me make her cry. I'm going to make her cry. I'm going to sing 'Dixie' until she cries." He then proceeded to sing the song about "the good life" during slavery to Mosely-Braun (Gannett News Service, 9/2/93; Time, 8/16/93).[10]

Helms was an ardent supporter of the late Chile dictator Augusto Pinochet.[11]

In 1994, Helms created a sensation when, on the anniversary of John F. Kennedy's assassination, he told broadcasters Rowland Evans, Jr., and Robert Novak that Clinton was "not up" to the tasks of being commander-in-chief and suggested Clinton, "better not show up around here [Fort Bragg] without a bodyguard."[12]

As the song in The Mikado goes:

"He never will be missed, he never will be missed"

And by way of contrast - check THIS review of his life out..http://blog.heritage.org/2008/07/04/jesse-helms-1921-2008/

"Jesse Helms was one of the most consequential figures of the 20th century. Along with Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan, he helped establish the conservative movement and became a powerful voice for free markets and free people. The defeat of Soviet communism and the rise of Ronald Reagan would not have happened without his intrepid leadership at decisive times."

yeah well at least he wasn't a grand dragon in the KKK like Senator Byrd, oh wait he's a leftist so wearing a sheet burning crosses and hanging black people gets given a pass..

His self-promotion not unique but also not commendable. I read he adopted a nine year old son when he and his wife heard the boy on the radio stating all he wanted for Christmas was a family. I hope that good deed helps him on the other side.

he was a good Senator and as Bill Clinton gave missil technology to the chi-coms jesse fought against MFN status for china on human rights grounds

I put it up to our leftists to list the things that they revile him for, and I will match the twice fold with the foibles of those they hold with high reverance in their party.

and racism can't be said in earnest when Byrd is an icon of their party

The Republicans destroyed the sothern Democrats after LBJ brought in race equality in the late 1960s. LBJ knew the consequences for his party, but the greatest tribute to him is that he went ahead, because he thought it was right.

Helms was a racist fossil, but as a creationist he wouldn't have understood what that word meant (fossil that is - I think he understood the Klan pretty well).

Peter gee that was a great retort... I am now convinced of how horrible helms was.

yeah we needed those southern democrats especially Al Gores father who led the campaign AGAINST Civil Rights.

If you knew your history it was the Democrat party that opposed them and LBJs expansion of FDRs policies has been the most destructive force ever in destroying the black community. abd illegitamacy rates of blacks has reached 80%

50 Trillion Dollars have been spent in the war on Poverty and the percentage of poor in this country has remained constant.

I think its time for a withdraw....

Helms was a good guy, may he rest in peace.

A crusty old bigot.

"yeah we needed those southern democrats especially Al Gores father who led the campaign AGAINST Civil Rights."

Troll,

I think you're missing the point. When the other commentators condemned Helms, I took it to be because they don't like him as a man rather than because he was a Republican. All you could come back with was "but...but...there's bad demi-crats too".

Where I come from that's called "whataboutery" and is not a good argument.

No where I come from your argument is called stupidity.

The only reason anyone knows Helms is because he was a politician so you can't leave politics out.

No one here knows the man personally so any judgements have to be made on his public record. He has been called a racist here.

I asked for that to be backed up with proof you know facts. I know that is something beyond your grasp.

What I posted were FACTS.

What you missed or are just to dense to grasp is the same people who are deriding Helms based on nothing will say nothing about PROVEN things like Byrds membership in the KKK and Al Gores father leading the Southern Democrats against civil rights for blacks.

so your argument reg is just stupid.

Troll,

With all due respect, you are talking shite.

I merely pointed out that when Senator Helms (of whom I know relatively little) was criticised by other commentators here, your response was "but, but, but the demi-crats are worse".

That is whataboutery!

I am well aware that the southern Democrats contained a number of unsavoury characters. I also have great respect for a number of Republicans.

If you want to be taken seriously then try to give a positive view of Helms rather than "the other side are worse".