In a sobering reflection of all that this country stands for and her party reflects, Dr. Ada M. Fisher the North Carolina National Republican Committeewoman-elect and Republican Candidate for the North Carolina House District 77 seat, paused with many in this nation on this the 232nd anniversary of our nation’s independence to recognize those who gave and continue to dedicate their lives to the security and safety of their country. Fisher notes “How fitting it seems that one of this nation’s patriot’s, Senator Jesse A. Helms, died on this day for it must be said, love him or not, he stood firm in his allegiance to this country and demanded that we follow the dictates of the United States Constitution, as well as play by the established rules and laws whether in Congress or other avenues of the public arena. Many will remember Helms as a man who was not afraid to stand firm on principles for which he was labeled ‘Dr. No’; however, I will always remember him as the go to guy if you wanted to get something done. Jesse Helms gave constituent service like no other before him or since. It was Helms whose endorsement of Ronald Reagan led to Reagan’s ultimate success in running for the United States presidency thereby ushering in much of the neo-conservative movement of which most only talk a good game, but few have had the courage to act upon their convictions.”
Fisher remembers that during her tenure in the Public Health Service it was because of Jesse Helms that she was able to help build a community health clinic, The Plain View Health Services, Inc. in a predominantly black town, Greenevers, NC in Duplin County after being denied assistance from then members of democratic governmental administrations. “I also remember Senator Helms’ leading the fight for help to Africa in that continent’s battle against AIDS. From studying Helms’ tenure in the US Senate when Republicans were in the minority, I learned a lot about how to operate with effectiveness when you are in the minority. He understood the rules of the game, whether it was filibustering against perceived outrageous legislation, stalling appointments with which he disagreed or working to ‘git ‘er done’ when he didn’t have the consensus. He was not afraid to stand up to the President or others with whom he disagreed.”
Per Dr. Fisher, “Helms was the master of Parliamentary Procedure and made playing by the rules work for him when he wanted to achieve his purposes. This is something we could all absorb as many want to bend rules for illegal immigrants, lobbyist or in other avenues of avarice. I join in expressions of sympathy to the family of the late Senator Jesse Helms who laid it all on the line for his country. We thank him for his service and his devotion to the people of the great state of North Carolina and the United States of America.”