'American Journalism's Crazy Old Aunt in the Attic'

And now that she’s no longer with Hearst, she can really let it all hang out. Oh wait, given that this is an interview in Playboy, that’s probably not the best phrase to use. But still:

On the Jews’ influence and power: “[The Jews are] using their power, and they have power in every direction…Power over the White House, power over Congress…Everybody is in the pocket of the Israeli lobbies, which are funded by wealthy supporters, including those from Hollywood.  Same thing with the financial markets.  There’s total control…It isn’t the two percent.  It’s real power when you own the White House, when you own these other places in terms of your political persuasion.  Of course they have power.  [To the interviewer] You don’t deny that.  You’re Jewish, aren’t you?”

But wait, there’s more:

On her belief that Hillary Clinton and President Obama would be liberal: “I thought, naively perhaps, that [Hillary Clinton] and Obama would bring change, that they would be different.  I assumed wrongly that they would be liberal because he’s black and she’s a woman.  It’s maddening.”

Gee, I prefer to judge people as individuals rather than make assumptions based on their gender or skin color, but then, it’s not easy being a rightwing neocon deathbeast knuckle-dragging new journalist type. Which brings us to:

On the changing nature of journalism: “Everyone with a laptop thinks they’re a journalist and everyone with a camera thinks they’re a news photographer.  Where are the standards?  How can we get back to the ethics and standards of journalism?  There’s no editing, no oversight.  It’s just thrown to the wind.  I’m afraid of what’s happening.”

And some people really need editors, lest their comments get thrown to the wind.

Which brings us to:

On her supposed retirement: “I’m not retired! I was fired.  In fact, I’ll die with my boots on.  I’m still writing and I’ll continue to write and ask hard questions.  I will never bow out of journalism.”

Funny, that’s not how it was reported at the time by her former employer, but perhaps they were merely trying to help Helen save face. But then, that’s the great thing about new media isn’t it? There’s no need to bow out, when it’s open to everyone — even Helen Thomas.

(Headline via James Taranto.)