'Helen Thomas Announces Retirement'

I added this as an addendum to yesterday’s post on Thomas being dropped by her agent, but for those clicking in via the latest post or the top of the page, Jim Hoft of Gateway Pundit is highlighting this tweet from the Politico’s Mike Allen:

Hearst Newspapers: “Helen Thomas announced Monday that she is retiring, effective immediately. ‘I deeply regret my comments’”

Much more over at Gateway Pundit, including this quip from a commenter:

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.

Update: Found via Hot Air, here’s the official announcement from Hearst:

HELEN THOMAS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

WASHINGTON, June 7, 2010 – Helen Thomas announced Monday that she is retiring, effective immediately.

Her decision came after her controversial comments about Israel and the Palestinians were captured on videotape and widely disseminated on the Internet.

Thomas later issued a statement: “I deeply regret my comments I made last week regarding the Israelis and the Palestinians. They do not reflect my heart-felt belief that peace will come to the Middle East only when all parties recognize the need for mutual respect and tolerance. May that day come soon.’’

Thomas will mark her 90th birthday on Aug. 4.

Much more from Ed Morrissey. And as Glenn Reynolds adds, Thomas “Felled by a Flip Cam,” adding, “I told you those ubiquitous video cameras mattered . . . .”

Indeed sir, indeed.™

Update: This is why Matt Drudge makes the big bucks. That’s definitely a New York Post-quality headline:

Meanwhile, regarding the legacy media, at Power Line, John Hinderaker writes:

Helen Thomas has retired, effective immediately. I might be mistaken about this, but based on a site search, I believe that if you rely on the print version of the New York Times, the first time you will learn about the Thomas controversy will be in tomorrow’s paper. Assuming they cover her resignation.

On the Pajamas homepage, Richard Pollock notes that the Washington Post hasn’t been much better in their coverage so far. But then, “Mass With Class” has long meant giving “progressive” elites a pass.

Update: Meryl Yourish also notes the media’s silence on this story before Thomas’ “retirement.”

Update: James Taranto spots the convergence of Thomas’ remarks:

“Go back to Auschwitz,” say the Turkish “humanitarians.” Go back to Poland, says Helen Thomas. [Leftwing journalist Peter] Beinart claims to be pro-Israel, and we don’t doubt his sincerity. But his determined denial of the nature of Israel’s enemies leads us to doubt his grip on reality.

As Taranto writes, Thomas personifies the reality that Beinart and numerous other American “progressives” deny.  And it was goes without saying, as Jonah Goldberg adds that after decades of working alongside of her inside the Beltway and knowing full-well her opinions, “Suddenly, all of these people and groups are stunned to discover that Helen Thomas is . . . Helen Thomas. Feh.”