At CQ Politics, Craig Crawford, formerly with MSNBC, who co-wrote a book with Thomas (and has been vociferous in attacking the leaders of a different religion on occasion) writes, “With Regret:”
I concur with the following response from my agent to Helen Thomas’ lamentable remarks about Israel, and will no longer be working with Helen on our book projects. — Craig Crawford
“It is with a heavy heart that Nine Speakers, Inc. announces its resignation as the agent for Helen Thomas, Dean of the White House Press Corps. Ms. Thomas has had an esteemed career as a journalist, and she has been a trailblazer for women, helping others in her profession, and beyond. However, in light of recent events, Nine Speakers is no longer able to represent Ms. Thomas, nor can we condone her comments on the Middle East. Nine Speakers will continue to enthusiastically represent all of our other current and future clients.” — Diane Nine
Advertisement
Meanwhile, Jennifer Rubin writes that “Lanny Davis, Clinton adviser and stalwart Democrat, joins Ari Fleischer in calling for Helen Thomas to be booted.” Davis’s statement notes:
Helen Thomas, who I used to consider a close friend and who I used to respect, has showed herself to be an anti-Semitic bigot. This not about her disagreement about her criticisms of Israel. She has a right to criticize Israel and that is not the same as being an anti-Semite.
However, her statement that Jews in Israel should leave Israel and go back to Poland or Germany is an ancient and well-known anti-Semitic stereotype of the Alien Jew not belonging in the “land of Israel” — one that began 2,600 years with the first tragic and violent diaspora of the Jews at the hands of the Romans.
If she had asked all Blacks to go back to Africa, what would White House Correspondents Association position be as to whether she deserved White House press room credentials — much less a privileged honorary seat?
Does anyone doubt that my friends Ann Compton, head of the WHCA, and Joe Lockhart, who believe in the First Amendment right of free expression as much as I do, would be as tolerant and protective of Helen’s privileges and honors in the White House press room as they appear to be if she had been asking Blacks to return to Africa? Or Native Americans to Asia and South America, from which they came 8,000 or more years ago? I doubt it.
Of course Helen has the right as a private citizen under the First Amendment to speak her mind, even as an anti-Jewish bigot — but not as a member, much less privileged member with a reserved seat, in the WH press corps.
As Jennifer adds, “See, that wasn’t so hard. Where is the rest of the media, the White House Correspondents Association, and the White House? As to the latter, no response to my inquiry has been forthcoming. Perhaps, the White House is hoping — you know, like with the BP spill — that it can dodge responsibility for this one. But it is their credentials Helen Thomas uses and their briefing room in which she sits. What say you, Mr. President?”
And Jim Treacher wryly observes, “Remember: You’re a Nazi for saying we should enforce our own immigration laws… But not for telling the Jews to beat it.”
Update: “Hearst silent on whether it’ll fire Helen Thomas.”
Update: Neo-Neocon parses Thomas’ non-apology apology.
Update: Joe Klein, Time magazine’s archliberal, calls Helen, one way or another to “Go to the Back of the Room:”
Helen Thomas’s front-row presence in the White House press room is an honor bestowed by her colleagues, in recognition of her long-time service. She retired as a reporter about a decade ago–and now, at the age of 89, she writes a column for Hearst Newspapers. She is the daughter of Lebanese immigrants and her general views on the Middle East have long been known. Her specific views about Jews became a bit better known last week, when she told them to leave Israel and go back to Europe. This is odious, obviously.
Not that Klein hasn’t said more than a few odious words himself about Jews and Israel, of course.
Update: At Gateway Pundit, over and out?
Politico’s Mike Allen via Twitter: Hearst Newspapers: “Helen Thomas announced Monday that she is retiring, effective immediately. ‘I deeply regret my comments’”
A commenter at Gateway Pundit quips:
I bet John Podesta offered her a job with Van Jones on Sunday.
I just love how brave these folks are with Obama in the White House, speaking out what is in their hearts. It is actually one of the silver linings having Obama as our President. All the assumptions and unspoken knowledge of the liberal elite are being clearly and loudly laid out in speech, laws and actions for all to see.
All of it Anti-American and Anti-Constitution.
If Podesta doesn’t come calling, perhaps, like equally objective centrist journalist Dan Rather, who famously saw no media bias, fundraisers for the Nation magazine could be in Helen’s future.
Leave her there. Leave her there until she dies, as a permanent reminder of exactly what all of those in her political class stand for.
Most of the liberal elites believe exactly as she does. Don’t let them distance themselves from her. Keep her sitting in that front row seat as long as possible.
Soooo true.
She actually fills the role of one of the POTUS’ favorite people, “the White House Press Corpse….” leave her there until the rot begins to bother some of them a little more than it apparently does at this point.
Helen Thomas has been insane for many years.
She cannot tell good from evil and is inevitably on the wrong side of each and every issue. She is a racist, secular humanist, devoid of reason and/or commonsense.
She writes in ignorance and hostility.
Lets be sure she takes her meds and that the techs keep the asylum doors locked.
You would expect someone who truely could not tell the difference between good and evil, to be on the side of good close to half the time.
Since Helen’s winning percentage is a lot closer to 0%, I suspect that she is quite cognizant of the difference, and she actively chooses the side of evil.
I am appalled that everyone is piling on this sweet little old lady just because she makes a few ignorant, anti-semitic and bigoted remarks. I believe that our bedrock principals of diversity and inclusion should make room for this this sort of refreshing and non-traditional thinking and that Ms.Thomas should continue to be allowed her favored positon in the front row of all Washington Press Corps functions. In my view she represents the highest standards now found in modern journalism and progressive political commentary and that any effort to dismiss or minimize her should be viewed as an attempt to diminish the status of women in the field of journalism. I look forward to her future insights into the political scene and her advocacy of the need for the the elimination of other troublesome ethnic groups. I hope that that Obama administration does not bow to the pressure from those ignorant and unenlightened elements of public opinion now calling for her scalp. In fact it would behoove the administration greatly to bring her into the White House staff as an advisor on Mid-East policy. After all, most of that staff seems to share her views.
Very well said, Chambers. Sarcasm noted. You have swayed me. I now think she should be promoted to Obama’s new press secretary.
You sound like you should work for the White House. You’ve got that Leftist BS rhetoric down to a tee, good job.
Reading between the lines, I detect sympathy for Helen and the oddly-named mainstream media. It seems clear what you really think is she is a vile old witch who should be cleaning toilets by day and flying through the night air and laying curses on entire villages. If I am wrong in this reading, please accept my apology.
No one should “have a seat” in the WH Press room. There is nothing democratic about the WHCA. There should not be a WHCA. I would like Helen’s seat. I’d like to see regular people have opportuinties to ask the President questions such as when are we going to stop spending $1.50 for every $1.00 coming in? It’s bad enough the Senators and US House reps are hiding from their constituents and no longer having town hall meetings. The WHCA is the gate keeper to access to our president and they have no right to control that access. No one elects them to anything. We need a greater diversity of opinion in the White House press room, not just anti-semites and uber-liberals.
Some of her more inane questions to Gibs has been highlighted in the news this past year. It is rather obvious that she is incapable of asking questions of greater complexity than a 3rd grader could conger up.
My apologies to any 3rd graders I may have insulted by my statement.
Add to that her obvious dislike (dare I say hatred?) of Jews and it seems the ole gal has run her course – time to slither out of the limelight Helen – you’ve had a good run – better than maybe you should have and its time to go.
I suspect she is merely the part of the iceberg we see. Who knows how much Jew hate exists in the media. It’s not like any of them would expose it.
Monument to left/liberal asshattery!
Her comments were utterly revolting, but it’s interesting that she can make idiotic, anti-American, leftist comments for decades and no one on the Left bats an eye. Any decent news organization manager would have booted her years ago, yet she was a fixture. Now, there are calls for her scalp for saying more openly what the rest of them have been saying for a long time via innuendo.
One can never entirely predict when Progressives are going to get their panties in a bunch, I guess.
Which is worse?
“we already have a raghead in the White House”
or
Get the hell out of Palestine!”
See – it all depends on who is in control of speech.
Michael Ledeen once said.. when you visit any country – find out who you may not speak freely of… that’s who is in power.
In America – Jews run the show.
AND they complain that we are all ‘haters’ when we notice.
You simply cannot exercise this kind of absolute control over government and media… and claim innocence and victimhood.
The only victims here are the American people… very much under occupation by an EVIL foreign power.
So much paranoia, so little brain power.
It’s amazing that you can find someone to tie your shoes for you each morning.
Helen Thomas: unabashedly liberal, and now unabashedly anti-Semitic.
I’m with those who say leave her where she is, so she can continue to reveal the left’s true colors. Perhaps those who haven’t yet will catch on.
Remember, too, liberals never apologize. They only issue statements saying they’re sorry you somehow misunderstood or were offended by what they said. It’s always window-dressed to sound really nice, but parsed carefully, it’s never an actual apology.
Of course she should be booted. Can you imagine if a right wing columnist said something like that? They would not only be fired, they would be pilloried and black balled for life!
Because she’s old she gets a pass? Because she’s an old lefty she gets a pass? Because her family is from Lebanon she gets a pass. H-ll no! A racist is a racist.
Pat Buchanan comes mighty darn close mighty darn often. Yet he remains a fixture on the talk shows.
Pat Buchanan is not, and has never been, credentialed as a White House Reporter. Any criticisms — over-the-top or not — issuing from his mouth are strictly personal opinions and editorial comments. Big difference.
Pat Buchanon is the person the left loves to pull out in order to embarrass conservatives.
Friendly Griz apparently does not understand the difference between a journalist/reporter (supposed to provide FACTUAL information) and a pundit commentator (supposed to provide OPINION). Uri is right – big difference, but nonetheless one that confuses many.
Why bother with an old witch like Helen Thomas? What about jerks like Pat Buchanan, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Samantha Power, Zbigniew Brzezinski – there are plenty of anti-Semites around far more important than this crone, yet they seemingly get a pass? Let her sit there as a reminder of just how much we can trust the mainstream media to be fair & unbiased.
They are all “shocked” at Ms Thomas’ remarks. I’m waiting with bated breath for those named AND THEIR agents and publishers to display their “moral” superiority and outrage, their championship for free speech by publishing a cartoon of Mohammed. This old woman is far too easy a target for their outrage. Let’s see them really play hard – ball.
I just want to add, they want to get her out of sight, sweep her under the rug, out of sight, out of mind. That’s why I want her to sit there, right up in front, ugly as sin, a visible open sore filled with pus, and when she dies, they should have her stuffed & leave her sitting there. Anyone know a good taxidermist?
Terry, I concur. Let her be a pox on both their houses-the Press Corps(Corpse?)and the White House-serving as a festering, oozing sore for all the civilized world(or what is left of it) to witness.
Sweeping the odious among us under the rug is NOT all that it is cracked up to be, as it hides them in plain sight. However, I do applaud those who are coming round to the notion that old anti-semitic canards have a way of surfacing to the fore at the most opportune moments-at least among the (in)humane left, posing as human rights advocates.
Hi Adina. Sure, they’d love to get her out of sight, the ”respectable” mainstream media prefers a more subtle approach to doing us in. She forgot to disguise her anti-Semitism with BS Leftist rhetoric, the ”humanitarian” story line or some such crap, intellectual dishonesty (aka Taqiyah) is an easier sell. So, do you think this will be a wake-up call to our liberal bretheren in America?
By the way, did you ever read the Sultan Knish blog? He has a very good post today, I just finished reading it, in case you’re interested.
Terry, our liberal brethren in the US are mostly comatose, though a few are awakening from their (deluded) slumbers.
I have read Sultan Knish in the past, he has a VERY interesting and incisive perspective. I do admire his unique moniker….and will look him up today.
I put forth a hypothesis at Feldman’s article today. In light of events unfolding before our eyes, I keep waiting with dread to get the call from my (reservist)sons that they are ‘off to war’,a necessary war, but one NO mother wants to see unfold.
These are very dangerous times. Those who usually don’t pray would do well to start.
Terry, just read Sultan’s article. He said it much better than I ever could, but I have been advocating the same, almost since the destruction of Gush Katif/AKA Gaza in 2005.A mistake of gargantuan proportions, EVEN for Israel’s appeasement oriented leaders.
Glad to see it in print.
I knew you’d appreciate the article. The discussion is moot for the moment since it is inconceivable for the current Israeli leadership to take such a step unless it is in the context of an all-out regional war & even then, it’s doubtful. It would only be a realistic idea if Egypt became an Islamic Republic ruled by the Muslim Brotherhood, then, there would be no other option.
I think our comatose bretheren are waking up – my cousin who is (or rather, was) a very liberal lawyer in Chicago has turned into a bigger war-monger than me. He tells me that many of his collegues have had it with Democrats.
Does it really matter if Helen Thomas is ostracized by the White House Press Corps, dropped by her agent, and shunned by publishers? What is the essential difference between her and the rest of the liberal/left mainstream media? No true journalist would volunteer to be a member of the White House Press Corps, because Obama’s and Robert Gibbs’s news conferences are orchestrated political theater anyway. What Thomas said about Israelis going “back” to Poland and Germany was in the spirit of the Gaza flotilla and world condemnation of it. That “humanitarian” expedition was meant to embarrass Israel and leave it even more defenseless if the blockade is lifted. Thomas and her colleagues and Obama just wish Israel would disappear and let Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, Syria and other Jew-haters have their way. What essential difference is there in that and Hitler’s “final solution,” or Stalin’s policy against the Russian kulaks?
Does it really matter if Helen Thomas is ostracized by the White House Press Corps, dropped by her agent, and shunned by publishers? What is the essential difference between her and the rest of the liberal/left mainstream media? No true journalist would volunteer to be a member of the White House Press Corps, because Obama’s and Robert Gibbs’s news conferences are orchestrated political theater anyway. What Thomas said about Israelis going “back” to Poland and Germany was in the spirit of the Gaza flotilla and world condemnation of the Israeli raid. That “humanitarian” expedition was meant to embarrass Israel and leave it even more defenseless if the blockade is lifted. Thomas and her colleagues and Obama just wish Israel would disappear and let Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, Syria and other Jew-haters have their way. What essential difference is there in that and Hitler’s “final solution,” or Stalin’s policy against the Russian kulaks?
We all know the double standard. Had this been a ‘conservative’ that person’s hide would already be cured and career ruined. Low life morality and lack of human dignity is acceptable and even cultivated by the socialist left. She will be allowed to remain as some perverted excuse for compassion. No tolerance for the conservatives and nothing except tolerance for socialists, no matter how disturbing the behavior.
Ms. Thomas, why don’t YOU go back to Lebanon?
I agree that this evil woman should be allowed to keep her seat, to speak anytime she wishes and to constantly remind the press corp what they have become : namely, nothing but mouthpieces for the Far Left elements in this country. She is a perfect example of why very few people in this country have any respect for the press. They have dishonored their profession by, on so many occasions, presenting slanted views. They may have to go to therapists, en masse, when Obama gets voted out of office!
“Evil” woman?
you mean EVIL 2% that control speech.
The man who said we have a raghead in the white house still has a job.
If he had mentioned the Jew as Chief of staff his career would end.
I don’t like that kind of power… and, unfortunately does the rest of the planet… that’s why the battle is still on for the hearts and minds of Christians who don’t understand real evil.
Helen Thomas is alas as ugly as the ugliest gargoyle and has had to live a very long life with that visible handicap. The fact that she, at her advanced age, sees fit to paint her ugly face speaks volumes about her lack of connection with reality.
The White house press corps have been mouthpieces for the president since JFK. It is disingenuous to believe the WHPC is now somehow blinded to the truth when they watched presidents gangbang in the pool while wives were away, destroy the constitution, consort with terrorists, accept bribes and extort entire nations, trade missiles for hostages, trade cocaine for weapons, sell weapons to our enemies, invade Nations without cause, transfer trillions in Cash to European Banking families…..
get some perspective.
Alex, you forgot the Trilateral commission, the faking of the Moon landing, the Bushes steering Katrina to hit New Orleans, one of the Bushes flying the planes into the Twin Towers (didn’t you see the pilot parachuting out just before they hit?), and there was probably a Bush on the Grassy Knoll shooting our beloved Godking John the First. Heck, they probably poisoned our beloved Godking Franklin the First so that he couldn’t win a fifth election.
Tell me, which Republican set the bomb on the Deepwater Horizon to achieve their twin goals of ruining the environment, especially around New Orleans (boy, those Bushes hate New Orleans, don’t they?) and to make our beloved Godking Barack the First look bad?
The press corps was a mouthpiece for the Reagan and Bush admins? How long has it been since you last had contact with reality?
It really shows the character of the President and his staff that they won’t read the laws they want passed nor the ones they want repealed; but they have bold and outspoken racists in honored positions in their Press Corps…
#18 Sarcast,
Only believe what i can verify. Your posting right wing conspiracies, don’t really subscribe to those theories. Unless you can produce evidence of what you posted, its just more internet nonsense.
#20 alex. Whaaaaaat? You like da cool aid mon/womon. Mebbe mon you don’t unnerstand mebbe whaaaaat “sarcast” it stands for. O boy, da gods dey do have patients wif da igknowrunts amongst us.
That’s funny, alex demanding that others produce evidence.
That whizzing sound you heard this morning was the sound of the point I was making flying well above your head.
Then again, it was obviously so far over your head, perhaps you didn’t hear anything.
They aren’t Dodging this…
THEY A G R E E with her… has nobody else noticed that BHO is also antisemitic?
The only difference between Helen Thomas and the rest of the liberals to include the White House, is that she said out loud exactly what they are thinking.
There is a glaring exception to the prevailing multi-culti tolerance – it’s OK to slam Jews and Israel. Buchanan has spouted his anti-Israel and anti-Semitic rhetoric for years, and he still has his talk show spots. Sharpton incited to violence against Jewish businesses, yet he still has his honored role in the Democratic arena. (Heck, even Gingrich works with him.) One has to wonder why Thomas’ friends and colleagues, now so upset, stood by her for so long. Such sentiments are rarely well hidden.
We in the US are but one step away from what now prevails in the UK, where hostility toward Israel is not just tolerated it is *expected*. Gen. Kemp, former commander of British forces, has been excoriated for *defending* the IDF. Robin Shepherd was driven from his post at Chatham House after he had the temerity to write an article sympathetic toward Israel. (His book “A State Beyond The Pale: Europe’s Problem With Israel” is worth reading.)
Well there goes Her life-time achievment award! In the real world, one is a good as their last action. In professional sports as one ages and their skills wane, we see the same action, hanging on until they embarass themselves to the point their past accomplishments are forgotten. In the sales field, one is a good as their next sale, when they stop producing they go away. In politics and jounalism we witness a marriage at the hip! Journalists are now products of Academias indoctrination. Is it any wonder that the majority of journalists are registered Democrats? The history of “blue collar” reporters has long since vanished. Objective reporting can rarely be found in the alphabet networks or in the Paper Press! Polling America shows a distrust of the press lower than Used-Car salesmen(apologies to the used-car salesmen). The growth of the alternate media is the results of the hunger for truth and information by the public. The journalists condesending attitude that the “unwashed” aren’t sophisticated enough to understand events, is the catalyst that is causing their demise.
Helen was merely stating what everyone else in the press and media don’t have the guts to say,
but think along the same lines!!!! Having been a journalist for 24 years, I know what I hear.
Trust me. And how on earth can you silly people call her Anti-semetic? After all, Helen is
of middle eastern decent. Arabs and Jews alike are semetic.
Steve:
90% of Polish Jews perished in the Holocaust. Helen said that’s were the Jews should “return to”. Maybe you need to review her quote again. If you can’t see anti-semtism in that quote I question your perception.
Leave her there until she dies
—
I thought they did?
Ah, yes, left on left – great. However, our superiors on the left display their ignorance when they assign the first diaspora to the Romans 2600 years ago. It was the Assyrians 2700 years ago, the Roman diaspora was 1900 plus years ago. Oh well, what is a mere 800 years. However, does this mean that it is the ignorant masses, clinging to guns and religion, who are the ones who know the historic facts? Couldn’t be!
25.Steve: “After all, Helen is
of middle eastern decent. Arabs and Jews alike are semetic.”
That would be semitic (root word being semite). She is an arab with a typically distinct distaste for the Jews. This makes her a bigot.
I agree with the sentiments above to the effect of having her stay in her esteemed position among the others to serve as a symbol to all and sundry of the reprehensible views embraced by the left.
25.Steve – the word is semitic not semetic and the term anti-semitism, contrary to what you may have read in “Wikipedia” or heard from the lips of the great liar Yasser Arafat, was coined in 1879 by the German agitator Wilhelm Marr to designate the anti-Jewish campaigns underway in central Europe at that time. Prior to that, no such term existed to describe Jew hatred.
Arabs and other peoples are also Semites, in that they speak semitic languages, but they are not the targets of anti-Semitism as it is generally understood.
And Steve, if you really are a journalist perhaps that explains Helen and the rest of the media – dumb and dumber.
Anti-semitism has only one meaning – hatred of Jews.
JackieAxe – Exactly. A great uncle survived Auschwitz and after many months of walking, returned to his old village in Poland … where he was shot to death by his former neighbour.
Mr. Driscole: I am on the left…her comments were disgusting and anti semetic.. you dont have to be on the left or the right to condem this
Why not? You say worse things every day.
Wait a second. I see a fine opportunity here to arrange a swap. Let the Muslims of Europe go to occupy Israel. In turn the Israelis can have Albania, and those lands of Europe that suffered from the Muslim onslaught. That would be a fair trade. Tell Helen that Bernie is willing.
“The fact that she, at her advanced age, sees fit to paint her ugly face speaks volumes about her lack of connection with reality.”
I dunno. A couple of coats of red enamel over the whole shebang might help a little.
Especially if you sanded her face first.
Wait a minute.
Native Americans came from South America 8000 years ago?
Her agent dropped her.That implies he haa forklift? A gantry crane perhaps?Inquiring physics students want to know/