In 1972, I was a nine year old boy growing up in North Carolina.  That year, the Democrats nominated a man named Nick Galifanakis, whose parents had immigrated from Greece, for U.S. Senate.  The Republicans nominated a man who, in a campaign designed to appeal to people’s suspicions of those different than themselves, ran on the slogan “Jesse Helms:  He’s one of us.”  Taking advantage of the Nixon landslide over McGovern, Helms and his thinly veiled racist appeal squeaked by Mr. Galifanakis.

So began the most ignominious political career of any federal elected official of my lifetime, that of Jesse Helms.  Helms would spend 30 years in the Senate supporting fascist regimes in Latin America who murdered their own citizens, stigmatizing and demonizing gay men and lesbians (once referring to Clinton appointee Roberta Achtenberg as a “damn lesbian” during her confirmation process, feeling that this was reason enough to prevent her from taking office) , putting politics ahead of public health by crippling our early response to AIDS with “no promo homo” amendments that prevented education and treatment from reaching those most affected by the disease in the early Eighties – gay men – and generally doing as much as he could to retard our nation’s progress towards being a more just and equitable society.  It is a record to be deeply, deeply ashamed of.

Apparently Mr. Helms’ mental faculties slipped in his later years so, when he died last week, he may not have realized the total and complete defeat he had suffered at the hands of those he so hated.  Despite his best efforts and the extensive damage he did, Senator Helms died a man whose entire career was wasted as he, in the end, could not held back the tide of history which in America marches – sometimes fitfully, but always inevitably – towards greater equality for all its citizens..  When Helms took office in 1972, no state protected people from job discrimination based on sexual orientation: today, 20 states do.  When he won his th4th term in 1990, there were no openly LGBT people on TV: today, one of the most beloved entertainers in America, Ellen DeGeneres, hosts a wildly popular daily talk show.  When he left office in 2002, no state recognized the rights of same sex couples to marry: today, two do (including the nation’s largest, California), and more are poised to in the coming years.  Throughout his career, Helms engaged in nakedly racist appeals, beginning with Nick Galifanakis in 1972 and continuing through his “affirmative action stole your job” appeals to white voters when confronted with a black opponent, Harvey Gannt, in 1990: today, we are on the verge of electing our first black President.

In short, Jesse, you lost.  Hell must be knowing that your life and career were a waste, with nothing to show for them.  Wherever you are, Mr. Helms, you know that now.  Congratulations on being a total and complete failure.

In the years to come – as the progress towards justice waxes and the hatefulness Helms personified wanes — there will be more somersaults in his grave than there will be during the Olympic gymnastics competition in Beijing this summer.  It couldn’t have happened to a more deserving bigot.

Posted by Kevin on Monday, July 14th, 2008 at 11:41 am.