Chicago Tribune Gets It Wrong On Jesse Helms

Photo of Michael M. Bates.
By Michael M. Bates (Bio | Archive)
July 5, 2008 - 12:26 ET

Today's Chicago Tribune carries a front page story on the late Jesse Helms, "5-time senator 'great patriot' who held fast to his beliefs."

The piece's author, Los Angeles Times staff writer Johanna Neuman, states:

Often he was the lone voice of dissent in the Senate. He was the only senator to vote against confirming Henry Kissinger as secretary of state during the Nixon administration. And he was the only senator to vote against making Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a holiday.

Both assertions are wrong.  MSNBC reported in a 2005 article on secretary of state Condoleezza Rice that Henry Kissinger was approved by the Senate in a 78-7 vote.  And the King Center notes on its Web site that the King holiday bill, sponsored by Senator Edward Kennedy, passed in the Senate by a vote of 78-22.

In its eagerness to portray the late Senator as an isolated, extreme extremist, the mainstream media are making up their own "facts."

He may be dead, but Jesse Helms is still driving liberals to distraction.  May he rest in peace.


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the mainstream media are making up their own "facts."

July 5, 2008 - 12:57 ET by wizardjr

You say that like its a surprise. It comes under the heading of business as usual as far as I can see.

Ah, another writer from the

July 5, 2008 - 13:35 ET by Republic1

Ah, another writer from the LA Times.  That paper can't go out of business fast enough  for me.  

"Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him." -Muhammad

And when Sen Byrd dies...?

July 5, 2008 - 14:04 ET by Gary Hall

And when Sen Byrd dies...?

Needless to say, we don't expect to see a lot of focus on Byrd's historic fillibuster to stop the passage of the Civil Rights Bill. Nor will we expect to see a lot of attention to his earlier allegiance to the KKK:

"The Klan is needed today as never before and I am anxious to see its rebirth ... in every state in the Union."

"I should [rather] die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds."

Yes, over time once closely held views do change. Neuman also spent a bit of effort taking on Helms on HIV/Aids. Looks like she decided not to mention his historic push later in his Senate career to put up, as he joined with Presiedent Bush. From Citizen-Times.com:

Late-career initiatives

In his last years in the Senate, Helms as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, pushed changes that led to reforms at the United Nations and the State Department.

After opposing funding for domestic AIDS treatment for years, toward the end of his career he added his substantial influence to the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa and elsewhere. In 2000, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee co-authored legislation authorizing $600 million in U.S. funds for AIDS treatment and relief on the African continent and in other impoverished nations.

On Friday, John Dodd, president of the Jesse Helms Center Foundation, said he received a phone message from Bono, singer with U2, an internationally popular rock band. Bono had supper with Helms in 2003, part of Bono’s campaign to meet with heads of state and other influential people worldwide on behalf of the impoverished people of Africa.

Dodd said Bono told him that there are 2 million people alive today in Africa because of Helms’ help with AIDS treatment in that continent.

Evangelist Franklin Graham, in a statement Friday from Romania, said, "I remember his courageous speech at the first Christian summit on HIV/AIDS, Prescription for Hope, held by Samaritan's Purse in Washington, D.C., in 2002. Sen. Helms said he was sorry for opposing federal funding and for not doing enough for those suffering. Soon after, he used his remaining time in office to push for the largest funding for HIV/AIDS in our government’s history. He was a man of compassion, sincere moral conviction and a strong Christian.”

Certainly something that the LA Times will always do it's best to keep out of the heads of it's gulible readers.

Deja vu all over again

July 5, 2008 - 17:53 ET by Michael M. Bates

I see a commenter on the Chicago Tribune's Web site notes:

Why would the Trib make up lies about the Senator? It is claimed that he was the lone dissent in two seperate cases. Both assertions are wrong. MSNBC reported in a 2005 article on secretary of state Condoleezza Rice that Henry Kissinger was approved by the Senate in a 78-7 vote. And the King Center notes on its Web site that the King holiday bill, sponsored by Senator Edward Kennedy, passed in the Senate by a vote of 78-22.

In its eagerness to portray the late Senator as an isolated, extreme extremist, the mainstream media are making up their own "facts." 

Gee, that sounds familiar.  Wonder where I saw it before?

I would have voted against a

July 5, 2008 - 19:38 ET by mostlymoderate

I would have voted against a MLK day and I would have voted against Henry Kissinger being secretary of state.  So I guess I like Helms more than I thought.

show me in the rules

July 6, 2008 - 07:31 ET by SouthJersey1953

Show me in the LA Times rule book where it says they have to use facts in their reporting. I am pretty sure it isn't in there.

LA Times and Helms Voting Record

July 6, 2008 - 11:53 ET by Goodie

It does not surprise that LA Times writer cannot simply go to the Internet and get facts on past votes in the Senate.  So, she gets paid for not doing her job?  I will take this as her last blast clearly stating her Liberalism in a Paper that will close the doors soon.