newsobserver.com projects - Galifianakis and Helms, on screen - Comments

Re: Galifianakis and Helms, on screen

kttechwriter — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:59:25 -0400

Let's face it, the Helms' team was smart. People like to vote for people with short names. It's very hard to get elected with any time of long name.

The perfect political name is "Bob Dole". No wonder he was elected so many times to the U.S. Senate, tho it shows that voters are more discriminating for President.

Another of my heroes has a great name: "Jack Kemp". Short and sweet.

Zach can waste his own time with all the hate. It only hurts him, not anyone else. (Don't give into hate, it only leads to the dark side.) Sometimes hate can eat you up. Many people may call Helms a hater. He was probably a racist, as he was from an older generation, but he did not hate.

Thanks.

Re: Galifianakis and Helms, on screen

GrayJ — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:05:00 -0400

I knew Zach was originally from Wilkesboro but had no clue he was related the former congressman.

Galifianakis and Helms, on screen

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 09:46:10 -0400

Another Galifianakis is making waves.

Longtime political observers may remember former U.S. Rep. Nick Galifianakis, best known for his unsuccessful U.S. Senate run in 1972, which paved the way for Sen. Jesse Helms' three-decade career.

His nephew Zach has a new comedy coming out called "The Hangover" and was the subject of a lengthy profile in the New York Times magazine last weekend.

A standup comic, the younger Galifianakis talked about his uncle's political career while on stage at the Purple Onion, in a clip available on YouTube.

"My uncle was winning and then Jesse Helms came out with this slogan ... that said 'Vote for Jesse. He's one of us.' — meaning he doesn't have a freaky long last name and it turned the election," he said. "I hate the right. I hate them with a passion."

Incidentally, Zach Galifianakis stars with a Helms in the new movie — Ed Helms of the TV show "The Office."

We presume he's no relation.