On July 7th, 2008 at 9:03 pm, 5minutes said:
I’m still waiting on proof of his hatred.

Here’s their proof: He didn’t vote the way Ted Kennedy would have. W-a-a-a-h.

No, this is switching from actively anti-black to actively pro-black. That’s a big change. And obviously not one that Jesse Helms made.

Either that, or Byrd is a racist who’s consitently racist, especially against those who don’t adopt his socialist beliefs.

Never heard it either, but it is a racist term and Allen also said rumors (actually true) of his Jewish heritage were “casting aspersions,” so I don’t know why you’d give this guy the benefit of the doubt. (Then again, Barack says that being called a Muslim is a “smear” so pick your poison.)

I’d give it. If Allen had a consistent history of racist comments, that’d be one thing, but he doesn’t.

Please. You know as well as I that being racist means disliking people of another race or viewing them inferior. Byrd and Helms both fit into this category at one time, and only one had the courage and good character to renounce segregation and apologize.

Whether or not you approve of affirmative action (and I have my own reservations), it is a noble attempt to remedy institutional discrimination by this very country, or parts of it. It doesn’t have a thing to do with racism.

Sure it does. It’s telling black people that they aren’t good enough to make it without good ol’ Uncle Govt’s help. It’s telling poor white people they don’t deserve money from the government because they happen to have lighter skin.

You may feel that government-sanctioned race-based classifications have no part in this country, but it has nothing to do with Jesse Helms hatred.

I’m still waiting on proof of his hatred.

On July 7th, 2008 at 5:09 pm, Ilovemycountry said:

Jesse Helms,

Anyone who truely respects this country would be happy he and his legacy are gone.

No true conservative could support a man like that.

Piss off, troll.

Anyone who truely respects this country would be happy he and his legacy are gone.

No true conservative could support a man like that.

So what’s with the Saint Jesse treatment?

What we have here is not a “he did this when he was one of the bad guys” moment, but a pattern of behavior by a known, admitted racist.

No, this is switching from actively anti-black to actively pro-black. That’s a big change. And obviously not one that Jesse Helms made.

Macaca?

Never heard it either, but it is a racist term and Allen also said rumors (actually true) of his Jewish heritage were “casting aspersions,” so I don’t know why you’d give this guy the benefit of the doubt. (Then again, Barack says that being called a Muslim is a “smear” so pick your poison.)

Why is it that you think affirmative action (aka “money and opportunities given to people because of the color of their skin”) isn’t racist?

Please. You know as well as I that being racist means disliking people of another race or viewing them inferior. Byrd and Helms both fit into this category at one time, and only one had the courage and good character to renounce segregation and apologize.

Whether or not you approve of affirmative action (and I have my own reservations), it is a noble attempt to remedy institutional discrimination by this very country, or parts of it. It doesn’t have a thing to do with racism.

You may feel that government-sanctioned race-based classifications have no part in this country, but it has nothing to do with Jesse Helms hatred.

If the trolls ever bothered to listen to black people instead of their “annointed spokesmen,” they might hear sentiments such as this:

“Nothing could be more insulting to me than the concept of civil rights. It means perpetual second-class citizenship for me and my kind.”
–Dr. James H. Meredith, first African-American student admitted to the University of Mississippi

Then their little troll heads would explode.

#79, it is just laughable to say that a Democrat is racist because he blocks black conservative judicial nominees — the same nominees who block locally-supported affirmative action programs in college and high school. Obviously Thurgood Marshall’s nomination came when Byrd was still one of the bad guys.

Zebras don’t change their stripes. What we have here is not a “he did this when he was one of the bad guys” moment, but a pattern of behavior by a known, admitted racist.

Byrd’s “white n*gger” remark was uncalled for, just as Joe Biden’s remarks about black politicians were last year, and just as George Allen’s macaca remarks were last year.

Macaca? Until someone threw a fit about it on teh intertube webs, I had absolutely zero idea that macaca was a racist term. I’ve lived in the South for all but my first 3 years, and I’ve never – not once – heard the term “macaca” used to refer to anything.

Allen, more than likely, was trying to be funny and failed miserably… but racist? I think not.

I won’t apologizing for Byrd here, but I believe his actions supporting affirmative action to try to remedy the suppression of black people by people like himself speak louder than words. Which I think was the point you were trying to make about Jesse Helms.

Why is it that you think affirmative action (aka “money and opportunities given to people because of the color of their skin”) isn’t racist?

But there is no way that you can say voting against appointed officials solely because of their sexual orientation isn’t the definition of homophobic.

terrig:

I’m with you. Ambassadors represent the entire United States–not just Folsom Street. I couldn’t think of anything more embarrassing to the U.S. or offensive to a host nation than having an “Ambassador McGreevey” incident.

Imagine this headline in the Bangkok Post:
AMBASSADOR FRANK BUSTED IN BOY PROSTITUTION RAID

Oh yeah. That’d help our image.

But there is no way that you can say voting against appointed officials solely because of their sexual orientation isn’t the definition of homophobic.

You may not be a big fan of Senator Helms, but conservative websites heaping praise on this bigot speaks volumes about the state of the conservative movement, does it not?

Byrd’s “white n*gger” remark was uncalled for, just as Joe Biden’s remarks about black politicians were last year, and just as George Allen’s macaca remarks were last year. I won’t apologizing for Byrd here, but I believe his actions supporting affirmative action to try to remedy the suppression of black people by people like himself speak louder than words. Which I think was the point you were trying to make about Jesse Helms.

The bottom line is Michelle Malkin, George Bush, the Wall Street Journal, and most other mainstream conservatives are heaping tons and tons of unqualified praise on a man who typified southern racism for so long without ever renouncing or apologizing for his ways.

#74, what deeds are you talking about that Byrd still practices racism? That 100% NAACP rating is on his votes, not his words.

As I said before, hiring blacks (while calling them “n*ggers” at least as recent as 1982) does not absolve you of racism, and was quite common among segregationist politicians.

His 100% rating is also from the NAACP, which is well-known for its own racism.

Byrd’s made public, racist comments fairly recently, but we can start with his 14-hour filibuster of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and opposition to later Civil Rights Acts. We can then move up to his very public use of the n-word as recently as 2001 (not supposed quote from Helms from 1985, not 1982, that’s only found in “progressive” media”) and Byrd’s ongoing opposition to the appointment of blacks to high office. He’s the only Senator to have opposed the appointment of both black SCOTUS justices and has actively opposed many of Bush’s black nominees to office.