On the debate train

Over the last couple of weeks I have closely followed the US elections and (of course) watched the vice-presidential debate last night. I won't go into the details of the debate, or for that matter into the politics of these election. I certainly have an opinion, but that is too unrelated to this website to bring forward.

There was one moment though that was interesting. Joe Biden said:

I have been able to work across the aisle on some of the most controversial issues and change my party's mind, as well as Republicans', because I learned a lesson from Mike Mansfield.

Mike Mansfield, a former leader of the Senate, said to me one day -- he -- I made a criticism of Jesse Helms. He said, "What would you do if I told you Jesse Helms and Dot Helms had adopted a child who had braces and was in real need?" I said, "I'd feel like a jerk."

He said, "Joe, understand one thing. Everyone's sent here for a reason, because there's something in them that their folks like. Don't question their motive."

While I don't disagree with the tenure of his remark, I hated that again it had to be saviourism of adoption used as the free ticket to be beyond criticism. Jesse Helms adopted so Jesse Helms must be a good man. My ass!!!!!

It was Jesse Helms who single handedly blocked the acceptance of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children in his role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and helped make a travesty of a convention, that no other country in the word had any issues with.

But we cannot criticize him for that, because he adopted. Get real!!!