Bent Corner

Finally there is justice in the world. Jesse Helms, that racist old coot from North Carolina is finally not breathing the same air as the rest of us.

His hometown newspaper, The News & Observer, published a joke of an obituary that failed to truly capture the level of absolute racism this man practiced. They described him as “cantankerous” and wrote that “Helms could be the picture of the courtly Southern gentleman“. As if there is anything cantankerous or gentlemanly about hating folks because of the color of their skin.

Not that they failed to mention the Helms’ racism. They wrote:

Although Helms denied he was a racist, his work in the Senate often seemed at odds with the interests of blacks.

Well now, isn’t that putting it rather nicely. Helms was one of two senators for the state of North Carolina, Helms represented many black people. So when his work in the Senate was “at odds with the interests of blacks”, it was at odds with a good many of his own electorate. The very people he should have been representing.

That’s not democracy.

Barack Obama may be leading Hillary Clinton in all the polls and in the overall delegate count, but there is one demographic that Obama has yet to make any progress with – dead people.

Ann Richards, the former Texas governor died in 2006. Even though she is no longer living, she is not letting that stop her from endorsing Hillary Clinton for President. The Clinton campaign released an Internet video that says Richards would have supported Clinton if only she were still alive.

Technically dead people are not allowed to vote. That’s not to say dead people haven’t played a key role in tipping the balance in favor of one candidate over another. No only do dead people vote, some of them vote numerous times in the same election.

I am not sure if any other dead people will be jumping on the Hillary Express. It’s not like anyone can ask them because, well, they’re dead. I do remember that Hillary once talked about having conversations with Eleanor Roosevelt who at the time was quite dead. Will Mrs. Roosevelt endorse Hillary too? It could create a surge for Hillary in the dead community.

Barrack Obama likes to talk about how he can bring all sorts of people together. What about the dead people? Why is Barrack Obama ignoring the departed? Could it be that he is doing so well with those who still have a pulse that he feels that he can essentially ignore dead people? If I was in a position to advice Barack Obama — and I am not — I would encourage him to reach out to the dead. I think ignoring dead people sends a very negative message about the Obama campaign. It makes it appear noninclusive. If he is willing to turn his back on the dead, who will he forsake next?