My Senator, Jesse Helms, has died

An Icon in the conservative movement has passed away. I speak of former Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina.

Senator Helms was 86 years of age. Jesse spent 5 terms in the US Senate representing the people of his state, North Carolina. This writer grew up in a neighboring county to that of Senator Helms. In fact, our two counties shared a common border. That common border also happened to be the state line between the two Carolinas. We hail from the same part of the US, from the same part of the Carolinas, and we shared the same red clay stains on the knees of our 'britches' (only high-class people wore trousers back then!) growing up as boys. Jesse's father was a former Police Chief of Monroe, NC, in Union County. I know Jesse's people and Jesse's people know mine. In fact, my best friend is a relative of Jesse Helms.

I won't pull any punches here about my view of Jesse Helms. I loved the man. He represented all the things the conservative movement was about. I mean the REAL conservative movement, not the conservative movement the GOP is trying to mold us into today.

For more on Senator Jesse Helms visit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Helms

You should understand two things: If Jesse told you something' you could take it to the bank! Secondly: If you did not want his honest opinion' then you shouldn't ask for it. Over the years I have been in meetings with Senator Helms and NC democrats. It was like 'Old Home Week'. There was a mutual respect between them that had to be witnessed to believe. They addressed him as 'Jesse' ' and he LIKED that. You must understand the native North Carolinian's approach to politics. Native North Carolinians are basically conservative. Even the democrats who, more often than not, 'inherited' their democrat label at birth right (along with their names) are conservative. Conservative democrats, in both Carolinas, is the norm. At least it was until the last 10 to 20 years. NC has had a great influx of 'northern' democrats who tend to be more like, or at least relect, their sterotype' liberal. It created a huge culture shock for both the 'transplants' as well as for native Tar Heels. This 'spike' in liberalism in NC only increased the resolve of the native conservative democrats. It created a certain tension within the ranks of NC democrats that is very real and even palpable at times.Jesse Helms understood that. As a former democrat, Jesse understood that the bulk of the 'old line' NC democrats would support him' even when they wouldn't publicly admit to it. His opponents, over the years, learned this, much to their chagrin, the 'hard way'. No matter what THEY promised, the NC democrat voter BELIEVED Jesse helms' and they voted for him. The thing you must remember is' democrats elected Jesse Helms and kept Jesse in office until HE decided to step down. There are simply not enough registered conservative republicans in the state to do that.We trusted Jesse. If Jesse said white was black, then damnit, white WAS black! Contraray to many reports you will hear over the next few days, Jesse represented the huge majority of North Carolinians ' even those who never voted in their lives. Jesse Helms was, first and foremost, unabashedly southern! He was the quenticential 'Southern Gentleman'.He was proud of his home, his heritage, his family, his culture, his faith, --- and --- of course, his state and his nation. He was deeply, passionately, in love with his country.Jesse Helms dispised the United Nations. He did not pretend to support the UN, as so many of our national leaders do, because they feel, publicly, the US must remain a part of the UN to protect US interests. Jesse felt that was pure hypocracy. He called them as he saw them and he allowed the cips to fall where they might. Had he the power, he would have pulled the US out of the UN in a flash!Jesse Helms was one of a kind. It is simply not enough to say: 'He will be missed.' Jesse was missed the very day he left Washington! He cannot be replaced. There is no one like him. There will never BE anyone like him.NC has lost a treasure. America has lost one of it's most dedicated and loving sons. A vast, unfillable, void has been left where Jesse existed. He was a force for good, for excellence, and for all things patriotic.I am sure that Jesse Helms is delighted that his soul took flight on the anniversary of America's Declaration of Indepenence. I expect that his 'owlish' countenance is beaming in a broad smile of pure pleasure that his passing will be noted in the history books as having ocurred on July 4th, 2008. ( I will not invite massive critcism here by noting that he will share the same 'date of death' as Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, two of our founding fathers. No, I won't do that.)As for me' I am proud to have known Jesse, to have been in the broadcasting industry, in NC, at the same time as Jesse --- and I feel priviledged to have had him represent me in the United States Senate. Rest well, Jesse. You, sir, were a 'good and faithful servant' to your God --- AND --- to your fellowman. With deep respect, and an oath to always remember your service to your state and your country, I bid you fairwell and godspeed.

Longstreet