but it was really about targeted homophobia, and--although, as i say that, i feel like, "i hope jesse helms would not like my work." then i'd really have to commit suicide. it is controversial, and it is provocative, and i think that should have a place in a country that pretends to be a democracy. even at the time of the controversy, homoerotic work was among the work banned, right? that language was used? yes. in '89, i believe, there was a statute passed that said the n.e.a. couldn't fund work that could be considered obscene, and they gave you, like, a checklist in case you didn't know what that meant, and homoeroticism was on the checklist. so they went after artists in this medium that were openly gay. when you put together this band you referred to, the n.e.a. four, was that an accidental coming together, or did someone in the arts movement say, "look, "we need four people "who represent a wide range of work or a targeted range of work"? i mean, how much of that was strategy, and how much of it was accident? if it was strategy, it was on the part of the right wing in targeting the fo

i was involved campaign against senator jesse helms when i was in college. when i cannot hear, and was not initially involved politically. -- when i came out here, i was not initially involved politically. i helped to build the lgbt community center. i started doing campaigns. i gradually got involved in democratic party politics. i got involved in the alice b. toklas democratic club. i ran for the democratic central committee in 2004. i ended up sharing the committee. it was a gradual process for me. by the time i started thinking about running for supervisor, it made sense because of my involvement in the community and in politics. >> what did you learn from campaigning for supervisor? >> i learned a lot. i knocked on about $15,000. -- i knocked about 15,000 doors. i met a huge number of people. that is the best way to learn about the neighborhood, the city, and what people want and what their concerns are. i feel i can do so much more than before and started campaigning. -- i feel like i know so much more than before i started campaigning. we're all part

on from its founding, everything from the ban on prayer in public schools that his close friend, jesse helme back to charlie's angels come which seem to be in the session was some call it that it's a nice formula. fully built-up damon lashed out at materialism, self-centeredness. but on this communism abroad and then closed with a passage from chronicles. if my people come which are called financial humble themselves and pray and seek my faith in turn from their wicked ways, they really hear from heaven forgive their sin and heal their land. and there applies, this is me speaking, the assurance of salvation so long as the laws were reformed, new legislation one of the sinful ways corrected. this is a big difference between jerry falwell and jimmy carter. jimmy carter never believed if you necessarily change the law that he would necessarily have the results of a reteamed country. in fact, jimmy carter felt very awkward about making the argument that america was somehow the chosen people of god. jerry falwell was very willing to do that. sherry fowler clearly conflated the american nation wit

and one man told me--he said, "you know, i'm a republican, but i'm here to tell jesse helms to go toyou know, so now, is that dangerous? but no, people felt they could--they could taste it: the transgression. they felt, "ah, here is something; it works for me." [chaotic saxophone music] [atmospheric horn music] now, you're a very sophisticated art world person. he's probably thinking, "but was it very good art?" you know? okay, now at that time, they were almost inseparable for me, because i was so exhausted with the distant, aloof... impotence of classic modernism and this idea if you're gonna win the great sweepstakes, that they'll still be bickering over your work at sotheby's in another 100 years, right? that--i said, "bill, you are in a time-based medium. "these bodies we know. "what is the fear in naked bodies? "obviously--there is the fire, boy. "go--go over there. "and get average people, not the professionals. get average people to come and do something extraordinary." now, the structure has got to be there. it's got to be handsomely constructed. it's got to be thoughtfully

i actually have more respect for the old school racist like strom thurmond and jesse helms who are moreont about it opposed to the rand paul type guys who say things like, i would have marched with dr. king. you don't get points for what you would have done in your imagination. i would have helped jesus escape but i wasn't around. >> are there ever any of the republican candidates so far that have emerged that you would see as potentially not life-threatening? >> hopefully mitt romney. we depend on him to be a giant shape shifter and liar he's always been. there's not an issue, you can go down the line when he was the republican governor of liberal massachusetts, there is not one issue he hasn't done a complete 180 on, from abortion to gun control to campaign finance, whatever it is. i have to think if he got into office, maybe he would be somewhat of a normal president. you don't know because he has to answer to that crazy party. >> has there ever been a president in your life-time who has been properly principled in your eyes? >> jimmy carter was an amazingly principled president. did

ever try to run against jesse helms. it is not just the left or right. i mean to say to west, i haven't watched congress for a lot of years that may have been the most vile, unprofessional and despicable. >> he should have pulled her aside when cameras weren't around and said to her when cameras weren't around you are a vile, despicable human being. >> did i bring something here today that i can't finish a sentence. he is the most vile, disgraceful, disorganized disgusting fool that i have run across in congress. if he would have made that on the floor of the house he would have been censored by h his colleagues. >> sounds like an adequate description of bill mahr. >> picked a fight with an army colonel and didn't expect a fight back? twice. during the campaign took a shot at him. also on the house floor. he had just spoken. he walks out and she takes the shot. he had every right to say exactly what he did because he would have said it whether or not it was debbie wasserman schulz or barry wasserman schulz. is it going after a decorated military veteran?

did you try to run against jesse helms? it's not just the left or right. saying to alan west i watched congress for a lot of years and it may have been the most vile, unprofessional and despicable. >> c'mon. >> bob: you don't say this stuff. >> he should have pulled her aside -- >> bob: you interrupted me. >> andrea: he should have said when the cameras weren't around and say you're vile human being. not bring it in e-mail. >> bob: did i bring something here i can't finish a sentence? >> andrea: go ahead. >> bob: the most vile, disspickable, disgraceful, disgusting, disoperated fool i have run across in congress. to make the statement, if he made it on the floor of the house he would have been censureed because you can't say that stuff. he ought to be ashamed of himself. he doesn't show shame. >> that's an adequate description of bill maher. >> eric: schultz picked a fight with decorated army colonel and didn't expect him to fight back? twice in the campaign she took a shot on him. on the house floor after he walked out, she takes a shot. not even there. s