From Yahoo News: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_ts2435/print
Helen Thomas ends 5-decade career in controversy
After more than 50 years covering the White House, journalist Helen Thomas announced Monday that she is retiring immediately from Hearst Newspapers, amid controversy over remarks she recently made
about Israel.
Hearst News Service broke the news Monday, noting that Thomas' "decision came after her controversial comments about Israel and the Palestinians were captured on videotape and widely disseminated on the Internet."
Since moving from reporter to columnist, Thomas has made her views on Israel and other hot-button issues known. But her recent call for Israel to "get the hell out of Palestine" and have its citizens return to Germany or Poland drew harsh rebukes from political leaders on the left and right. Despite an apology from Thomas, the controversy only grew. Thomas' speakers agency dropped her as a client and a high school canceled her upcoming appearance at graduation. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Monday that the comments were "offensive and reprehensible."
The board of the White House Correspondents Association also weighed in on Monday, calling Thomas' comments "indefensible" and "especially unfortunate in light of her role as a trailblazer on the White House beat."
Thomas has had one of the most distinguished journalism careers over the past half-century in Washington.
She started out with UPI in 1943, and began covering the White House toward the end of the Eisenhower administration. The White House was where she really made her name. Since the late 1950s, Thomas has grilled every sitting president, earning a reputation as a reporter willing to ask tough questions regardless of who's in power.
Thomas holds the distinction of being the first woman to become a National Press Club officer and first woman to become president of the White House Correspondents Association.
Given her accomplishments and unmatched tenure in the briefing room, Thomas has been regarded as the dean of the White House press corps and — until today — held the front-row center seat. Since the beginning of the controversy, it had been an open question whether the board would take away that perk from Thomas.
In its statement, the board said that it doesn't "police the speech of our members or colleagues" or issue White House credentials to reporters.
However, the board announced plans for a special meeting Thursday to decide whether an opinion columnist like Thomas should get a front-row seat in the briefing room. With Thomas retiring, the board won't have to make the uncomfortable decision of moving a legendary journalist to the back of the room, but it may still decide that it's not in the best interest of the association to have opinion writers up front.
— Michael Calderone is media writer for Yahoo! News.
HELEN THOMAS FOR PRESIDENT !!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHelen, who is Lebanese was indeed the dean of the White House press corps. She is "FED UP!" and was merely speaking the truth, which as everyone here at Coto knows, is no longer allowed in the Matrix we now live.
ReplyDeleteGood for HER. Israelis need to get the hell out of Palestine
ReplyDeletetoo bad the truth is couched in pro Israeli propaganda, but here's the video:
Helen has been the thorn in the lion's paw for decades. She's a gutsy lady and I absolutely adore her...especially now !
ReplyDeleteThank you Helen for speaking truth to power!
PS: that video is nothing but zionist bs propaganda. ENOUGH. I'm with Helen .. Get the hell outta Palestine.
WE HAVE A BINGO!!
ReplyDeleteGreat post Mary, correctly addresses the scope, and magnitude of the underlying Tievel Zionist machinations to a tee!
In a nutshell, thank you for exposing the REAL root of the problem.
The names I posted are but a fraction of many who must be turned out.
It is one step of many. Then the EU, SPP, AMERICAN, SOUTH AFRICAN and SAUDI zionist regimes need equal addressing.
ReplyDeleteWhose behind the recent events? Those most silent. Whose that leave out other than a handful of leaders. Keep your scorecard.
COMMITTEE plans going to exact timing. You think the Mayflower had it's spies and plants. The Hamas flotilla did their part well in this triad. I'm waiting for the Hindenburg event.