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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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I want to see what senators actually vote for this amendment. She's trying to win votes here in NC. Kay Hagen has her on the run.
Posted by: linda n carolina | Jul 16, 2008 9:16:47 PM
Well, what can one expect from a Pineapple heiress?
Posted by: Gypsy | Jul 16, 2008 9:16:09 PM
Now, Now Elizabeth...The Viagra
pills are for Bob, NOT you!
Posted by: spacerook1 | Jul 16, 2008 9:13:05 PM
My God, I thought the headline was referring to Bob Dole... at least then there was an excuse for this senile action. Helms should go down in history with all the other bigots.
Posted by: tiredtoo | Jul 16, 2008 9:02:48 PM
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
Has Dole lost it? I can't figure what she's thinking here, and I can't believe she meant this as a joke.
Next, she'll propose an agreement on global warming named after George W. Bush.
The Daily Show ought to have some fun with this one!
Posted by: billp | Jul 16, 2008 8:57:05 PM
WAITER?
WAITER?
WAITER!!
I'll have a glass of whatever Mrs. Dole had been drinking. Thank you!
Posted by: joe303 | Jul 16, 2008 8:52:07 PM
Senator Dole is one of the Senators representing my state NC. I have written her and told her I oppose any such action to put Jesse Helms name on any humanitarian bill, let alone anything that has to do with aids or aids research. She must be losing it.
Posted by: Foxyloxy62 | Jul 16, 2008 8:46:55 PM
There the Republicans go again, trying to rewrite the truth. Dole apparently believes it is fine to discriminate against US citizens like Helms did. She should resign, now.
Posted by: mars | Jul 16, 2008 8:29:16 PM
Because of his predjudice....
Helm's name should be forgotten, not remembered
Posted by: Brandi | Jul 16, 2008 8:15:17 PM
This is so absolutely ludicrous! If it weren't for the fact that thousands and thousands of his fellow citizens died while Senator Helms spewed vile and hurtful speech, this could be hilarious. Unfortunately, all those sad, evil quotes are true; Sen. Helms WAS hateful to the ill and dying; their family and friends. It is unconscionable for Sen. Dole to attempt to rewrite history in this way.
Posted by: tiredgirlie | Jul 16, 2008 8:14:47 PM
As a life long North Carolinian, I will say that Elizabeth Dole is worthless as a public official. This is her own election year attempt at a toned down "White Hands ad" play for votes. As for people who say we loved him, he never got over 55% in any election and used fear and divisiveness to stay in power. Those days thankfully are over and Libby should resign her newly wrinkle-free self to that fact.
Posted by: TSnow27604 | Jul 16, 2008 7:58:49 PM
So anyone who thinks homosexual behavior is a sin is a biggot? Do I sense any Dartmouth northeastern elitism in this post?
Posted by: Stevereno | Jul 16, 2008 7:42:00 PM
Perhaps Mrs. Dole wanted something good to happen in his name.
Posted by: ellsbells930 | Jul 16, 2008 7:38:35 PM
Two words come to mind....STU PID.
Posted by: Jimbeau | Jul 16, 2008 7:32:51 PM
What the point in posting here??? ABC will just censor you. It's is lunacy that a man so hated for being another other than a humanitarian would be put on a bill. Sen. Dole...Hello?? anyone in there??? Michelle, Everett wa
Posted by: Michelle H | Jul 16, 2008 7:18:25 PM
Mr. Helms was very popular in his home state, serving 5 terms as US Senator. His constituents and friends would probably appreciate the gesture.
Posted by: Independent | Jul 16, 2008 7:11:15 PM
Virginia - don't rewrite history and Mrs. Dole shouldn't make an attempt at putting Helms' name on a humanitarian bill. Briefly: Helms changed little over 55 years. Long before Rush Limbaugh, Helms pioneered the use of television to rally public sentiment. While Ronald Reagan was losing primaries to Gerald Ford, Helms mobilized the religious right and built one of the most profitable political fundraising machines ever. And long after die-hard segregationists like George Wallace and Strom Thurmond began courting black voters, Helms fueled white fears by opposing a national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whistling "Dixie" while standing next to Senator Carol Moseley-Braun, and supporting apartheid in South Africa. He has departed this world, but to put his name on a bill regarding AIDS when thousands died while he turned his back is disgraceful and whether you and Mrs. Dole want to admit it is wrong.
Posted by: OnTheGloryRoad | Jul 16, 2008 7:08:05 PM
A Senate bill promoting foreign aid to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria is consistent with Jesse Helms's backing of similar causes overseas. I would suggest that commentators stick to the relevant points rather than merely vent their hatred against a man whom they did not respect, understand, or probably even know. Tarring Elizabeth Dole with the same hateful brush violates reason, logic and compassion. Heaven help us!
Posted by: Virginia | Jul 16, 2008 6:45:07 PM
Jesse Helms epitomized ignorant hate. So he finally decided to help out some Africans a little in his old age? Selective compassion is not worthy of honor.
Posted by: jock59801 | Jul 16, 2008 6:29:23 PM
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