MLK Jr & Jesse Helms

  • Thread starter Thread starter donbosco
  • Start date Start date
  • Replies: 7
  • Views: 133
  • Politics 
donbosco

donbosco

Iconic Member
Messages
2,296
IMG_6768.jpeg

In the interest of Setting the Historical Record Straight - Fan of Jesse Helms now or ever? Then here are the words of the senator from Monroe: "I think most Americans would feel that the participation of Marxists in the planning and direction of any movement taints that movement at the outset . . . . Others may argue that Dr. King's thought may have been merely Marxist in its orientation. But the trouble with that is that Marxism-Leninism, the official philosphy of communism, is an action-oriented revolutionary doctrine. And Dr. King's action-oriented Marxism, about which he was cautioned by the leaders of this country, including the president at that time, is not compatible with the concepts of this country."



Asked before television cameras to say whether he considered King a "Marxist-Leninist," as he had suggested earlier on the Senate floor, Helms at first demurred, then said, "But the old saying--if it has webbed feet, if it has feathers and it quacks, it's a you-know-what." Asked again later if he considered King a Marxist, Helms said, "I don't think there is any question about that."



When asked if his attack on King would cause him political trouble in North Carolina, where he faces a tough race for reelection next year, Helms said bluntly, "I'm not going to get any black votes, period." https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/articles/helms_stalls_kings_day.html



There is considerable more context and fact at the link, including news of Robert Dole and Arlen Spector’s opposition to Helms’ words and actions. Dole and Spector, both, like Helms, Republican Senators, very openly disagreed with North Carolina’s “Senator No” on this occasion. The bill had already passed in The House of Representatives by a 338-90 tally. The Day of Commemoration eventually passed 78-22 in the Senate and it was signed into law (this was a veto-proof margin but the Reagan Administration had, by then, abandoned its objections). It should be remembered that both those vote counts (House and Senate) included bipartisan resistance to the holiday. The bill had also been voted down on multiple occasions in Congress since soon after Dr. King’s assassination in 1968.



One has to wonder if a bill honoring Dr. King would pass today? To be sure there is a great deal of re-writing and sanitizing of the story of the obstacles thrown up by Conservatives to honoring Dr. King and in truth, Senator Helms was right to find Dr. King’s message as one that threatened his worldview. What is unclear today is whether or not there are MORE Helms-Like hearts and minds in the GOP today or less. Or is it really that unclear?
 
donbosco said:
IMG_6768.jpeg

In the interest of Setting the Historical Record Straight - Fan of Jesse Helms now or ever? Then here are the words of the senator from Monroe: "I think most Americans would feel that the participation of Marxists in the planning and direction of any movement taints that movement at the outset . . . . Others may argue that Dr. King's thought may have been merely Marxist in its orientation. But the trouble with that is that Marxism-Leninism, the official philosphy of communism, is an action-oriented revolutionary doctrine. And Dr. King's action-oriented Marxism, about which he was cautioned by the leaders of this country, including the president at that time, is not compatible with the concepts of this country."



Asked before television cameras to say whether he considered King a "Marxist-Leninist," as he had suggested earlier on the Senate floor, Helms at first demurred, then said, "But the old saying--if it has webbed feet, if it has feathers and it quacks, it's a you-know-what." Asked again later if he considered King a Marxist, Helms said, "I don't think there is any question about that."



When asked if his attack on King would cause him political trouble in North Carolina, where he faces a tough race for reelection next year, Helms said bluntly, "I'm not going to get any black votes, period." https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/articles/helms_stalls_kings_day.html



There is considerable more context and fact at the link, including news of Robert Dole and Arlen Spector’s opposition to Helms’ words and actions. Dole and Spector, both, like Helms, Republican Senators, very openly disagreed with North Carolina’s “Senator No” on this occasion. The bill had already passed in The House of Representatives by a 338-90 tally. The Day of Commemoration eventually passed 78-22 in the Senate and it was signed into law (this was a veto-proof margin but the Reagan Administration had, by then, abandoned its objections). It should be remembered that both those vote counts (House and Senate) included bipartisan resistance to the holiday. The bill had also been voted down on multiple occasions in Congress since soon after Dr. King’s assassination in 1968.



One has to wonder if a bill honoring Dr. King would pass today? To be sure there is a great deal of re-writing and sanitizing of the story of the obstacles thrown up by Conservatives to honoring Dr. King and in truth, Senator Helms was right to find Dr. King’s message as one that threatened his worldview. What is unclear today is whether or not there are MORE Helms-Like hearts and minds in the GOP today or less. Or is it really that unclear?
Click to expand...
Absolutely NO WAY does this law pass today. Neither does the Juneteenth holiday.
 
Calheel said:
I think the 13th passes. The 14th and 15th could not pass as written.
Click to expand...
Given how often the 14th Amendment has been used to expand minority rights, it may be the the most hated amendment for conservatives. No way they would allow that to be passed today.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top