WASHINGTON -- Treason is the only crime defined in the Constitution.
In Article III, Section 3, it says, "Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort."
So it is clear to me that Jesse Helms should be tried for treason.
His remarks questioning Bill Clinton's ability to perform his constitutional role as commander in chief, and his remarks inviting violence against the president certainly give "aid and comfort" to the enemies of the United States.
His absurd statement that everyone in our armed forces believes Clinton unfit to be their commander could certainly cause demented leaders like Muammar el Kadafi or Saddam Hussein to attack our country or our citizens in the belief that the U.S. military is likely to mutiny if given the opportunity.
Federal prosecutors should also explore whether Helms was threatening the life of the president -- a crime -- when he told him not to come to North Carolina without a bodyguard.
I am not saying prosecutors could win. But I would like to see Helms forced to spend $3 million or $4 million in legal fees.
Not that Helms, a Republican senator from North Carolina, hasn't performed a service to the nation. He has. Ever since their recent election victory, some Republicans have undergone a startling makeover.
Newt Gingrich is no longer a bomb-thrower; he is a statesman.
Bob Dole no longer has the sharpest tongue in town; he is a dignified leader.
But leave it to Jesse Helms to let the facade slip and show the true ugliness and hatred that motivates some people on Capitol Hill.
"Mr. Clinton better watch out if he comes down here. He'd better have a bodyguard," Helms said on the day before the 31st anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. (Which, if nothing else, sets some kind of record for bad taste.)
And, by the way, it is not "Mr." Clinton; it is "President" Clinton. If Helms has no respect for the man, at least he can show respect for the office.
Helms says he was just exercising his right of free speech under the First Amendment.
But considering a man recently sprayed the White House with semi-automatic rifle fire in what prosecutors say was an attempt on the president's life, the Secret Service had to investigate Helms' statements.
And it did. It was forced to check to see if Helms' statement really meant that someone in North Carolina wanted to murder the president.
"We have followed up on the comments and spoken with the senator's staff," Jaime Cagigas, Secret Service spokesman, -Z said.
Cagigas said that Helms, himself, was not a suspect, but that "we had to follow up on the comments."
And I wonder what that cost taxpayers? Weren't the Republicans supposed to be saving us money?
But Helms has accomplished something: He is the first incoming chairman of a Senate committee who had to be investigated by the Secret Service to determine if there was a danger to the president's life.
Helms also makes you wonder if he has an IQ above room temperature: He said if the president dared show his face in North Carolina, "he better have a bodyguard."
Well, I've got a flash for Helms: Presidents always travel with bodyguards.
That's because in modern America there are plenty of nuts who want to shoot presidents.
Plenty of nuts who may listen to threats by influential right-wing senators and get the idea that maybe this is a good time to carry out their murderous fantasies.
But at least Helms is sorry for what he said, right?
Wrong.
"I made a mistake," Helms said and then refused to apologize.
But was his mistake in encouraging potential assassins?
Nah. His mistake was making an "offhand remark" to a reporter.
"From now on," Helms said, "such contacts as I may have with the media will be entirely formal."
So I guess next time Helms wants to imperil the president's life, he will call a formal press conference.
What should happen next is clear: Helms should surrender himself to authorities and face trial for treason.
He has a better than average chance of getting off. Especially if he pleads insanity.