Helms didn’t enter the Senate until 1973. He had no vote on the 1960s CRA agenda. What he did was oppose was initiatives such as Affirmative Action, since in practice, it is racist and unfair. Justice and redress of hundreds of years of oppression of Blacks is not accomplished by turning around and penalizing Whites (or Asians, for whom most weren’t even here during the aforementioned period or ever benefitted from “White privilege”).
Also, why should MLK alone be worthy of a holiday given his personal track record ? Why aren’t there holidays for more worthy Black Americans who were accomplished and possessed a higher moral caliber ? (Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver, Medgar Evers, et al).
When Cruz praises Helms, he praises a man whose guide was the Constitution and not the leftist media and political correctness, the latter two of which keep the current GOP paralyzed by statism and fear.
He had a voice in the media from before World War II until he ran for the Senate. His opposition to the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1968, the Voting Rights Act, any and all attempts at integration, and the civil rights movement as a whole were clearly stated by him. Once in he was an unabashed supporter of white ruled South Africa.
Also, why should MLK alone be worthy of a holiday given his personal track record ? Why aren’t there holidays for more worthy Black Americans who were accomplished and possessed a higher moral caliber ? (Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver, Medgar Evers, et al).
We can go on all day long about the flaws of Martin Luther King and whether or not he deserves a holiday. But the thrust of the article that started this thread was what the GOP can do to help convince black voters that the GOP is more attuned to their real interests. And Helms' steadfast opposition to a man who even conservative blacks respect is not helpful.
When Cruz praises Helms, he praises a man whose guide was the Constitution and not the leftist media and political correctness, the latter two of which keep the current GOP paralyzed by statism and fear.
Again, the question is what can the GOP do for blacks? Praising a man who was a stalwart segregationist and opposed to equal rights for a significant portion of the population is not going to do it. There are a lot of other politicians whose guide was the Constitution and who don't come with the baggage that Jesse Helms has.