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Elizabeth Dole Tries to Rename the AIDS Bill After Jesse Helms
July 16, 2008 5:09 PM
Oh my. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-NC, has officially requested that the ”Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008" be also named after the late Sen. Jesse Helms, R-NC.
"That is bizarre," Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., told me this afternoon when I told him this news. "That is absolutely bizarre. The Lantos-Hyde-Helms… the idea that anyone would want to do that is ludicrous...I would try to think of something that would be less appropriate, but even with my disregard for convention it would be hard to do that."
In the July 14, 2008 Congressional Record:
SA 5074. Mrs. DOLE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 2731, to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to provide assistance to foreign countries to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: On page 1, line 5, strike ‘‘and Henry J. Hyde’’ and insert ‘‘, Henry J. Hyde, and Jesse Helms’’.
Helms, you may recall, opposed funding for AIDS research -- even the Ryan White AIDS Act.
He was not a big fan of the gays, Mr. Helms. Gays were "weak, morally sick wretches," he said, and in 1988, opposing an AIDS research bill championed by, among others, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, Helms said, "there is not one single case of AIDS in this country that cannot be traced in origin to sodomy."
In 1995, Helms told the New York Times that the government should spend less on trying to combat AIDS because those suffering from the disease got sick as a result of "deliberate, disgusting, revolting conduct...We've got to have some common sense about a disease transmitted by people deliberately engaging in unnatural acts."
At the time AIDS was, according to the Centers for Disease Control, the leading cause of death for men and women from ages 24 to 44.
Helms also championed legislation that still exists to bar almost every foreign person with HIV from entering the United States for any reason.
Helms later became a supporter of efforts to combat AIDS worldwide going beyond lunches with Bono to support major funding efforts. But he made sure to point out that his epiphany did not apply to the U.S. because of homosexuality. "I don't have any idea on changing my views on that kind of activity," he said, which is the primary cause of the doubling and redoubling of AIDS cases in the United States."
Sen. Dole's press secretary did not return repeated calls for comment.
- jpt
July 16, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (50)
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Isn't this the lady who had to give
$75k back to the Red Cross after she "inadvertantly" took it?
The GOP should be proud. I can't believe anyone would admit to being a Republican these days! Yuck!
Posted by: debbie | Jul 17, 2008 5:28:49 PM
As a NC resident I find Elizabeth Dole and Richard Burr to be worthless and nothing but lackeys of the Republican party. We hear from Mrs. Dole about twice a year and it is usually something irrelevant or downright stupid like this suggestion...Now she is running for re-election stating what a good job she has done representing NC. What a joke!
Posted by: indy_voter | Jul 17, 2008 3:12:55 PM
As for someone who is HIV positive and living in NC, I find that what Mrs. Dole is suggesting here is repulsive! Just because someone has HIV/AIDS does not mean that they are a homosexual or as Mr. Helms might say, "caused by revolting behavior". Both Mr. Helms and Mrs. Dole are two very good examples of what is wrong in American politics today! I hope that soon there will be someone in power that actually cares for the citizens that put them in those positions!
Posted by: SBP | Jul 17, 2008 12:10:56 PM
She has A NERVE, is all I can say!!-Jesse Helms name doesn't need to be put anywhere, but on his headstone!!-I am a NC native, & I know first-hand the embarrassment he was to our state. He was A bigot & a homophobe of the worst way possible!!-
Posted by: Corrie Gillikin | Jul 17, 2008 11:12:52 AM
Actions like this give her points with the redneck community. She is a natural born Republican, she knows how to get those votes in the tarheel state. She makes sure that people see her on t.v. talking about deporting mexicans back to mexico but then does nothing about it, but by just having xenophobes see you support their cause you get their votes, same thing with the anti-gay sentiment, she claims to be Helms's heir, and in NC if you're anti gay you get votes my friend. I hope my home state votes for Kay Hagan this time around.
Posted by: Durham Bull | Jul 17, 2008 11:08:42 AM
Some people just prove that old saying that "only the good die young."
Jesse Helms RIP, I don't think so...
Lizzie some one gave you a fools errand.
Posted by: HP Boston | Jul 17, 2008 8:10:13 AM
She is insane. She has always been very overrated in the intelligence department and now, as is evident, in the sense of humanity as well. She is lobbying for votes with rednecks in NC in her next election. Despite the smile and "southern charm", she is one of the most brutal, backstabbing political animals in Washington, DC.
Posted by: Tom | Jul 16, 2008 8:58:32 PM
--------------------------------
Yes and she ran the Red Cross into the ground. She sucked so much money off the top it is criminal. I never support the top heavy paid Red Cross thieves.
Posted by: HP Boston | Jul 17, 2008 7:53:00 AM
WHAT??
Jesse had AIDS???
Posted by: HP Boston | Jul 17, 2008 7:49:00 AM
The same old people gets re-elected every six years across this country to congress and some like Sen. Dole you never see in the state until its time to beg for votes. I willing to bet the people of North Carolina give her another 6 years to do nothing and then get on here to complain.
Posted by: jg5012 | Jul 17, 2008 7:04:51 AM
Picky, picky, picky. This is completely consistent for a party that allowed increased particulates under the "clean air act" and first growth cutting under the "save our forest act." George Orwell's laughing aloud somewhere.
Posted by: Brooklyn Democrat | Jul 17, 2008 6:39:44 AM
What is the sound of pure irony? Listen carefully, wherever you are. You can hear the whole state of North Carolina laughing hysterically.
Posted by: Dantheguy9 | Jul 17, 2008 5:17:10 AM
Just when you think Republicans can't possibly top their past stupidity ...
Posted by: The Dancing Kid | Jul 17, 2008 1:27:09 AM
Old Jessie ...just lying there not saying a word taking it all in.
Posted by: linda n carolina | Jul 16, 2008 10:48:44 PM
It is time that the elected in Washington consider the needs of US
citizens over those in foreign countries
We seem to be throwing money toward every little problem around the world when our people here are hurting too much. We can't be the foster parent now. I wonder how much of the aid actually gets to the sick person and not to some bureaucrat.
Posted by: Mary | Jul 16, 2008 10:25:20 PM
There is no need to further antagonize anyone by attaching Mr. Helms name to this piece of legislation. He will have no knowledge of the gesture and would be opposed to it if he did. Maybe his passing will bring a measure of peace to those who are filled with so much hatred.
Posted by: rose | Jul 16, 2008 10:14:41 PM
Hey NY NY -
two states NC, SC - Dole is NC so guess your mother won't be voting for Liddy.
Posted by: NC | Jul 16, 2008 10:02:44 PM
Jesse Helms was a racist and a bigot. The whole world knows that! His name should not be on this bill. His name should be thrown in the trashbin of history along with the rest of his like-minded bigots.
Posted by: Akinyele | Jul 16, 2008 9:26:42 PM
What in the hell!!! Never much liked Elizabeth Dole. She always seemed to be pretty much out of touch with reality. Remember the "repeal the 55 mph speed limit over my dead body" comment in 1986?
Posted by: LongT | Jul 16, 2008 9:21:25 PM
Let me get this straight... she wants to add Jesse Helms' name to an act to help people with AIDS after his death when all he did when he was alive was to NOT fund anything to help people with AIDS because of homosexuality. He didn't even want to help people like Ryan White... All I can say to that is, "WHAT?" I have to wonder if Elizabeth Dole knows or remembers his "legacy" that his ignorance and hate has left behind: millions dead and infected with the government not caring or wanting to do anything to help them, no matter what country they're from and that legacy will be a lasting one that is a mark on the soul of our government and our society.
Posted by: hannah | Jul 16, 2008 9:21:20 PM
“There is not one single case of AIDS in this country that cannot be traced in origin to sodomy.” - Sen. Jesse Helms
Sen. Dole must be suffering from dementia. What else could explain this?
Her next proposal: the George W. Bush Freedom of Information Act.
Posted by: billp | Jul 16, 2008 9:17:13 PM
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