William Helms: “during the past week, there has been a great deal of misinformation emanating from the ivory towers of liberal newspaper…”

“during the past week, there has been a great deal of misinformation emanating from the ivory towers of liberal newspaper editors in North Carolina. They have made futile attempts to place blame for what they describe as the ``stalled'' aid to Eastern North Carolina victims of Hurricane Floyd. The tone and the substance of those editors are mystifying when we consider that North Carolina has been specified by the federal government to receive more than $2 billion in federal aid. There are some politicians who are feeding the editors false and misleading information while they themselves know better. They complain about politics, even though their actions clearly suggest they themselves are practicing politics in its very worst form. I am dismayed that much of the false and unfair criticism has focused on some distinguished Senate colleagues, who have done far more for North Carolina's flood victims than the political finger-pointers. One in particular who has done much for North Carolina is the distinguished Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Mr. Stevens, who has been deeply and consistently concerned with the plight of the flood victims. Since the day Hurricane Floyd struck North Carolina, nobody has shown more concern or been more willing to help than Ted Stevens. He has stood with us every step of the way, and I shall never forget his friendship and his compassion.”