Helen Thomas On 'Rude' Questions, Fox News and Tony Snow

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Asked about new White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, longtime president-watcher Helen Thomas tells The New York Times Magazine this coming Sunday, "I don't think he is going to give us more information. I think he is a little smoother and slicker and he is trying to master how to give you a karate chop and still smile."

Thomas tells Deborah Solomon she does not begrudge Snow's former organization, Fox News, getting special favors, commenting that "if Fox has the access, good. If they can produce the news, that's what we want. We want the people to be informed."

Still, she considers this "the most secretive administration I have ever covered." Yet she admits she has never requested a sit-down interview with the president. "I didn't think it was possible," she explains, "and I don't like to be ignored or turned down."

Asked about questions that may be too probing, she answers, "I don't think there are any rude questions." She adds that she doesn't think reporters should say "thank you" when a president answers a question because that's
"his job." Despite her frequent tough exchanges with former press chief, Scott McClellan, particularly over Iraq, she says, "we were still on speaking terms when he left...We were friends, in a superficial way."

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002576515

[IntravenousDemilo]

1. She's off base on one thing...

Asked about questions that may be too probing, she answers, "I don't think there are any rude questions." She adds that she doesn't think reporters should say "thank you" when a president answers a question because that's "his job."

You know, when a server brings me my food order, I say thank you, even though he's just doing his job. If more people said please and thank you, this would be a much more civil world.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. True,

and for most Presidents, I'd say thanks, because I think they deserve the respect. However Bush thinks he's king, and I fear that saying thanks inflates his ego even more. Just my two cents. I see your point, and you are entitled to your opinion.

[Lefty48197]

3. Bush probably expects the waiter to say "thank you" to him.

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