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Special Report
What Would Jesse Do?
The Senate needs a new conservative champion of foreign policy realism — who might be the next Jesse Helms?
WASHINGTON — Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Hillary Clinton now control the machinery of United States foreign policy and diplomacy. John Kerry is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. A latter-day Bella Abzug, New York’s Representative Nita Lowey, chairs the House Appropriations subcommittee for foreign affairs, handling the cash for the coming surge in international social engineering and “gender awareness.”
President Obama and Secretary Clinton’s first international policy gesture to a world anxious over war, terrorism and economic crisis was to make taxpayers’ dollars available to abortionists. Except for the absence of ticker tape, one might have mistaken the rites of euphoria amid the permanent bureaucracies at the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development for Times Square on V-E Day.
Conservatives — notably those whose prime concerns are social issues and the pro-life cause — are shut out of influence. Or are they? This is the moment for conservatives, and especially for the surviving specimens of the breed in the United States Senate, to ask: What would Jesse do?
The late Sen. Jesse Helms thrived on adversity. Through his conviction and sense of purpose, his mastery of Senate rules and parliamentary procedure, and his willingness to endure the opprobrium of both liberal Democrats and invertebrate Republicans, Helms became one of the most consequential figures of his generation in U.S. foreign policy.
Just after Ronald Reagan’s election in 1980, I heard Helms address an exuberant crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Speaking of the ousted Carter Administration, Helms said, “We don’t have a foreign policy. We have a foreign policy process.” He also remarked that the State Department “has a ‘desk’ for every country in the world except for the United States of America. Ronald Reagan’s first priority should be to establish an ‘American Desk’ at the State Department.”
With a flourish of Southern populism, Helms said that career officers at State had asked him if it were true that the Reagan transition team was speaking of “taking a broom” to the Department. Helms said, “No, we’ll use a vacuum cleaner.”
Helms was ever so right about the primacy of process in Foggy Bottom. Twenty-eight years and five presidents later, his observation rings just as true. Instead of probing for the intellectual and spiritual core of America’s estrangement from the rest of the world, the foreign policy establishment at the dawn of the Obama Age fixates on reorganization, and of course on more spending and bureaucratic empire building, as substitutes for true reform.
The best the establishment is offering is far from sufficient. The bipartisan “Project for National Security Reform” led by a wise old hand, David Abshire, has recommended what it believes to be, and to some extent probably are, needed organizational changes to update the structure created by the National Security Act of 1947. The establishment at its worst offers another proposal led by a trio of former administrators of the U.S. Agency for International Development, seeking to swell the coffers and “elevate” this anachronistic spending machine into a Cabinet department.
As for the “American Desk,” the U.S. Mission to the United Nations under Jeane Kirkpatrick’s robust leadership during the Reagan Administration was as close as we’ll ever get to this ideal.
And the vacuum cleaner? The industrial-strength model that Helms seemed to have in mind was never utilized. Conservatives had to be content with the occasional use of a senatorial dust-buster to stop a messy nomination or policy from becoming too unsightly.
Though post hoc may not signify propter hoc, it is at least a coincidence that the George W. Bush Administration foreign policy — and “personnel as policy” — descended irreversibly into utopian incoherence after Jesse Helms left Washington in 2002.
For his success using the “hold” to delay or kill legislation and objectionable nominations for ambassadorships and policy positions, Helms was known by both friend and foe as “Senator No.”
Less noted was the effectiveness of the Senate Democrats’ own Great Naysayer — Chris Dodd of Connecticut — during the George W. Bush years. Dodd led Democratic efforts that halted the nominations of Otto Reich as assistant secretary of state for Latin America; and of John Klink and Ellen Sauerbrey as head of the State Department bureau for “population affairs.” The biggest prey Dodd bagged was John Bolton, blocked from confirmation as Ambassador to the United Nations.
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton will nominate as ambassadors and as top policy officials enemies of the unborn, traditional marriage, and the family. This will tend to exacerbate the “clash of civilizations” dividing the secular leftist governing class of the United States from traditional Catholic communities in Latin America and Eastern Europe and conservative Muslim societies in the Middle East and Africa.
The Senate needs a new conservative champion of foreign policy realism who will, to paraphrase Bill Buckley, stand athwart extremist nominees and noxious legislation, yelling “Stop!”
Letter to the Editor View all comments (41) | Leave a comment
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Rocco| 2.9.09 @ 7:05AM
When I lived overseas years ago, I was astounded by the fact that foreign service officers were more advocates of the country in which they were posted than the country they were paid to represent in their host country. Is it any wonder that our supposed diplomacy is screwed up? We negotiate with ourselves and our opposite numbers sit across the table and smile at their good fortune.
Kevin Riley O'Keeffe | 2.9.09 @ 7:59AM
You want to know what America's foreign policy should be? Just ask Patrick J. Buchanan. The last time he got a foreign policy question wrong was when he thought enough time had passed for Reagan to visit Bitburg. I fear TAS doesn't want "the new Jesse Helms" to pursue a Buchananite agenda, however. Probably more like something along the lines Paul Wolfowitz. Apparently, eight years of foreign policy disaster has done nothing but redoubled the neo-"conservative" mindset within the GOP, alas. When will we abandon neo-"conservatism," I wonder? When our country is in ruins, perhaps?
Red Phillips | 2.9.09 @ 8:36AM
Foreign policy "realism" is still internationalist and presupposes an "exceptional" role for America. It, like neoconservatism, considers "isolationism" (non-interventionism) the enemy. What the Senate and the GOP needs is a principled non-interventionist. Realism isn't the same thing.
Interloper| 2.9.09 @ 9:01AM
The evil white supremacist bones of Jesse Helms are rotting in his grave. If there is a Hell below, his soul is engulfed in flames. Best of all, if Helms had been around to run for office in North Carolina last year, he would have lost.
Louis Jenkins| 2.9.09 @ 9:23AM
Like him, hate him, which ever your choice is. Helms was a Katie bar the Door politician and you knew exactly where he stood. Too bad there aren't more in the senate with a backbone. As far as rotting and burning in the afterlife, that is between him and God, not to be decided by earth bound mortals. Nice try.
Pingback| 2.9.09 @ 9:29AM
What Would Jesse Do? - Spectator.org | Action Figures Stores links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Matthias| 2.9.09 @ 11:07AM
Sir, I would like to point out this paragraph is total misinformation:
"The best the establishment is offering is far from sufficient. The bipartisan "Project for National Security Reform" led by a wise old hand, David Abshire, has recommended what it believes to be, and to some extent probably are, needed organizational changes to update the structure created by the National Security Act of 1947. The establishment at its worst offers another proposal led by a trio of former administrators of the U.S. Agency for International Development, seeking to swell the coffers and "elevate" this anachronistic spending machine into a Cabinet department. "
1. David Abshire does not head PNSR nor currently has any involvement with it other than holding an advisory role in it's Guiding Coaltion. PNSR has always been headed by James R. Locher III.
2. "led by a trio of former administrators of the U.S. Agency for International Development." What I know about PNSR leads this assertion completely false. Perhaps members of its Guiding Coalition held these positions, but the organization certainly is not "led" by them. Further, you do not offer any names to this assertion. Perhaps better understanding of this organization is needed before including analysis/off-hand discussion of it in your piece.
Red Phillips | 2.9.09 @ 11:34AM
Interloper, Jesse Helms professed to be a born again Christian believer. If his profession was genuine then we can all rest assured that Jesse's soul is residing safely in Heaven.
But you have to love the moral priorities of rabid anti-racist liberals. If Jesse had ideas that were less than purist egalitarian then he should be burning in Hell, but I guess the souls of people who advocate legalized baby killing are partying it up in Heaven. Anti-racist dogmatists are moral illiterates. If modern style purist egalitarian thoughts were a necessary precondition to entrance into Heaven then no one went there until about 50 years ago. Must have been a lonely place.
Interloper| 2.9.09 @ 11:52AM
Suffice it to say that most persons of Western European descent who have committed evil acts profess to be Christians. It is an easy thing to do and a largely a cultural given. But, being religious and being moral are not synonymous. According to the dogma you profess to believe, immoral people go to Hell if they never repent their sins and atone. Racism is immoral and results in violating the Golden Rule. Jesse Helms died an unapologetic white supremacist. Ergo, he is not strumming his harp, but pitching his fork, Red. Care to join him?
Nick| 2.9.09 @ 12:08PM
Interloper is a perfect example that liberals think they are god, and want to pass judgement on all of us. And seeing as they have no patience, they'd rather punish us now, rather than wait until the afterlife.
Red Phillips | 2.9.09 @ 12:16PM
"According to the dogma you profess to believe, immoral people go to Hell if they never repent their sins and atone."
No Interloper, according to the dogma I believe, we are all immoral. People go to Heaven who place their trust in what Jesus did for them on the cross instead of trusting in their own righteousness. What role repentance plays in that is debated.
The Bible prohibits hate, but it DOES NOT require an egalitarian social order. In fact, as a pre-mordern document it pretty much presupposes otherwise. Was ancient Israel egalitarian? Try and make that case why don't you?
If you would take off your modernist blinders you would realize that you are condemning to Hell almost every person who has walked the face of the earth up until 50 or so years ago and a good percentage of those after (especially non-Westerners who haven't been dogmatized by egalitarianism).
That is the problem with dogmatic anti-racists. They pathologize normal human traits that have been around since the dawn of time.
Read Jim Kald's essay on anti-racism, and take a pill.
BTW, is it OK to discriminate against unborn babies?
Alan Brooks| 2.9.09 @ 2:48PM
Interloper! forgot about him-- he must be the one trolling in my name.
Louis Jenkins| 2.9.09 @ 4:46PM
Some more of the story. Helms spoke to my high school graduating class (a long time ago). I wasn't too sure about him then, but he made the statement that we should all "strive to stand on our own two feet and not rely on the government" for support. We should be thankful to be Americans, and do our best for God, our families, and our nation. In that order. Never mind all the other things that life will throw against us. I've come to realize that it was good advice to a bunch of kids moving into the real world. I didn't always agree with his methods and politics, but will always respect his name.
Alan Brooks| 2.9.09 @ 6:35PM
Interloper, if you have been trolling using my name than it is you who will burn in Hell, not Jesse.
Alan Brooks| 2.9.09 @ 6:39PM
pardon,
THEN it is you who will burn in Hell, Interloper; you, like Al Sharpton, are a crypto-racist--
worse than an explicit racist.
Alan Brooks| 2.9.09 @ 7:19PM
or perhaps Obama Rulez
(you would think he'd come up with a better moniker than that)
has been the troll
Interloper| 2.9.09 @ 8:33PM
Red, your disingenuous claim that it is fine to do immoral things, such as be a white supremacist, as long as one claims not to be motivated by hatred, speaks, loudly, for itself. You are providing wiggle room to Helms, and yourself, to deny responsibility for your wrongs. But, worms on hooks wiggle, not moral people. Do you really think that such foolishness will fool God?
Red Phillips | 2.9.09 @ 10:41PM
Interloper, are you really that clueless? The world knew nothing of your purist anti-racist egalitarianism until 100 +/- years ago.
Read the Jim Kalb anti-racism article, and get a clue.
Alan Brooks| 2.9.09 @ 10:46PM
but what about Jeremiah Wright hiding his hatred behind a clerical robe? Jesse Jackson?
I guess perhaps Interloper and Obama rulez are black themselves (or maybe not) coming here to mau mau any would-be flak catchers who might be at AS.
You'd think the intense victimology might end this year-- but guess again. it wont end till every last drop has been squeezed out. it wont end for this generation.
and who do they hate most? former rad-liberals. Did you notice the ferocity with which Jeremiah attacked me?
Alan Brooks| 2.9.09 @ 10:58PM
in a free nation such as ours every singer with no talent thinks he has the right to be on American Idol.
Every black janitor with a room temperature IQ thinks he has a right to someday own the building he sweeps up in, even if he doesn't have what it takes to look after his own family adequately. Change the world? go home and look after your wife and children.
It's called hubris at least; more likely it is all based on delusions of grandeur.
Don L| 2.10.09 @ 5:42AM
"The Bible prohibits hate, but it DOES NOT require an egalitarian social order..."
In response: No less than jesus said that the poor would be with us for all time. This mystery of God allowing evil wasn't made for Caesar's beneifit or concern. The state cannot provide charity, only individuals can. When we allow the government to usurp our humanity in this area of love, we become complacent about our duty, or angry about the inevitable failures that it will create by its very nature. The very problem with the left's grand sceme of providing a welfare state is the lack of humanity that it guarantees by its nature.
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