"mr. clinton better watch out if he comes down here. he better have a bodyguard."

[unblock]

once upon a time, the late republican senator from north carolina, jesse helms, got himself much bad press when he, jokingly but insensitively, publicly raised the possibility of bill clinton being assassinated should he ever visit north carolina.

he was just trying to point out the clinton was very unpopular there, but it came out all kinds of wrong.

bill clinton himself politely criticized helms's comment as inappropriate and unwise.


note that helms was absolutely correct in his central point, that bill clinton was, at the time, wildly unpopular in north carolina. note further, that the truth of his central point did absolutely nothing to negate the completely inappropriate nature of his comments.

[Swamp Rat]

1. k&r

The motivation behind such comments is irrelevant (except to judges, prosecutors, and police when and if a threat is made), unless a crime of that nature is committed. That type of rhetoric has no place in politics, nor anywhere else (except maybe KKK meetings?).If someone did try to assassinate Bill Clinton or succeeded, Jesse Helms would be in a heap of trouble.

[WeDidIt]

2. K&R

[supernova]

3. Minor quibble: Helms isn't dead yet

Otherwise, on point. :thumbsup:

[Prophet 451]

7. Really? Shame n/t

[supernova]

9. Suffers from dementia now

at a nursing home.

Pretty sure it will be soon and not looking forward to all the praise and worship of him at the funeral. I hope it will be classy and private so I don't have to hear about it.

[unblock]

11. ok maybe just politically dead.

too late to edit, grr....

[FSogol]

4. Helms is scum. n/t

[PoliticalAmazon]

5. So is Hillary. n/t

[indepat]

12. Sadly, Helms' entire public record stinks imo just as bad as this one not-so-veiled

banter (threat) meant to intimidate. :D

[havocmom]

6. I wonder if Bill's Security Detail sat him down for a chat about his wife's inappropriate behavior

Would think Bill would have THAT coming from the people who put their lives on the line daily for him and others while his wife waves a checkered flag to any unstable 'lone wolves' in the audience. She did not make the Secret Service agents' lives any safer by her mouthing off.

Hope they laid that out real clear for her husband.

[PoliticalAmazon]

8. I was furious with Helms, as were most Democrats....

so I can't understand why some of the Hillary supporters aren't outraged at Hillary's comments?

Helms' intent was clear, and Hillary's intent was clear. So what is the deal here anyway?

[DevonRex]

10. K&R. I was absolutely FURIOUS with Helms for saying that.

Not because I believe he wished harm on Bill Clinton but because who knows what nutcase is out there who would think he could carry out those "wishes."

[jsmirman]

13. Before I read the post, I thought it was a Harlem resident talking about Bill going to his office.

Whoops.