Dana Perino, unhinged.....Pt. VIII: The "Thank You Helen Thomas" edition

[marmar]

from ThinkProgress:



Thomas Breaks Press’s 14 Day Silence On Bush’s Torture Approval, Chides Colleagues: ‘Where Is Everybody?’»

On April 9, ABC News reported that in 2002, President Bush’s most senior advisers approved the use of harsh interrogation tactics. Days later, Bush confirmed to ABC he “approved” of the tactics. Sadly, the media have largely ignored the story since it was first reported. Moreover, not one White House press corps reporter has raised the issue with the Bush administration…until today.

During this afternoon’s White House press briefing, reporter Helen Thomas noted that Bush “has admitted that he did sign off on torture” saying it damages “the credibility of this country.” But press secretary Dana Perino denied that the United States has ever tortured detainees and referred to testimony from CIA Director Michael Hayden as evidence:

THOMAS: The president has said <…> we do not torture. Now he has admitted that he did sign off on torture, he did know about it. So how do you reconcile this credibility gap? (…)

PERINO: The United States has not, is not torturing any detainees in the global war on terror. And General Hayden, amongst others, have spoken on Capitol Hill fully in this regard. <…> And you can go back through all the public record.

Watch it: http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/23/thomas-chides-colleagues-torture/


In fact, during a February 5 Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, Hayden said outright that “waterboarding has been used” on three detainees in U.S. custody. But Hayden has refused to label waterboarding “torture,” calling it a “legal term” which seems to fit nicely with the Bush administration’s self-serving narrowed legal definition.

But waterboarding is torture and illegal under both U.S. and international law – with experts, government officials and those who have been subject to the harsh treatment all agreeing.

Seeming to acknowledge her colleagues’ absence on this story, an exasperated Thomas said out loud after her exchange with Perino: “Where is everybody? For God’s sakes.”


http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/23/thomas-chides-colleagues-torture/

[Preston120]

1. Where is the World Court?

[seemslikeadream]

2. Hey PERINO

Mueller thinks it's torture

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3198208

[AndyA]

3. Helen Thomas...again...the only one with the courage to do her job!

Where ARE the rest of them? Physically present, but mentally absent. It's a disgrace.

[Supersedeas]

19. at least someone in the Media is asking the damned question--where'd the journalism go?

[The Call Up]

21. They're more interested in Jeremiah Wright footage

and "gotcha" moments in the Primaries, than covering repeated law breaking by our leaders.

Which in my opinion makes the media complicit.

[tigereye]

4. Helen Thomas - the last sane and honest newswoman

bravo to her.

[VP505]

5. Thank you for posting that!

I saw that this morning and was hoping someone would have Video, what a treasure Helen Thomas is!

[indepat]

6. They're flailing about like a chicken with its head cut off, but exhibiting neither the aplomb

panache. :D

[ThomWV]

16. No they aren't. They are completely in charge and they are telling us to go fuck ourselves.

They aren't panicking at all, they are calmly smirking as they continue to go about whatever business they see fit and fuck us all for it, thank you very much.

[Supersedeas]

26. do you mean the Bushies are flailing or the Media Establishment types

[alstephenson]

7. Thank you, Helen.

You are, unfortunately, one of a kind.

[elizfeelinggreat]

8. It's very hard not to think

that they've all been bought.

[malaise]

9. So is that bimbo denying that Bush and his goons admitted to authorizing

torture?

Thanks Helen - M$M has decided that torture is not newsworthy.

[VP505]

10. Ms Thomas asked her that directly.

THOMAS: "The president has said <…> we do not torture. Now he has admitted that he did sign off on torture, he did know about it. So how do you reconcile this credibility gap"? <…>

[bdamomma]

23. maybe we should make the story newsworthy by e-mailing the article to them

and say why have they not reported on it. NBC Nightly news is a disgrace never mentions anything about Iraq, it is sickening, the media needs to be called out by us.

[rainy]

11. you can hear her say "where is everybody" at the very end. nt

[onethatcares]

12. aside from Ms. Thomas

the rest of these asswipes are in awe of being invited to the whitehouse.they certainly don't represent journalism in any way, shape or form.

[annabanana]

13. back to the top of GD with you. . . .. .n/t

[chat_noir]

14. C&L has the video

Helen Thomas Confronts Perino On Torture; Perino Denies and Lies

God bless Helen Thomas, the best thing about the White House Press Corps. More than a week after the revelation that President Bush knew and endorsed the Principals’ specific plans of torturing detainees, the media has been largely silent over it other than cursory mentions at best. But Helen Thomas isn’t about to go silently into that good night and becomes the first White House reporter to ask White House spokesliar Dana Perino about how the president could have lied multiple times that we do not torture only to turn around and admit that not only do we, but he approved of it.

Unfortunately, the designation of “spokesliar” fits Perino very well, as she denies and lies again that the U.S. does not torture. Who you gonna believe, Perino or your lying eyes?

Think Progress:

During this afternoon’s White House press briefing, reporter Helen Thomas noted that Bush “has admitted that he did sign off on torture” saying it damages “the credibility of this country.” But press secretary Dana Perino denied that the United States has ever tortured detainees and referred to testimony from CIA Director Michael Hayden as evidence. <..>

In fact, during a February 5 Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, Hayden said outright that “waterboarding has been used” on three detainees in U.S. custody. But Hayden has refused to label waterboarding “torture,” calling it a “legal term” which seems to fit nicely with the Bush administration’s self-serving narrowed legal definition.

But waterboarding is torture and illegal under both U.S. and international law – with experts, government officials and those who have been subject to the harsh treatment all agreeing.

Seeming to acknowledge her colleagues’ absence on this story, an exasperated Thomas said out loud after her exchange with Perino: “Where is everybody? For God’s sakes.”

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/04/23/helen-thomas-confronts-perino-on-torture-perino-denies-and-lies/

[ThomWV]

15. God bless that good woman. Where in hell is everybody indeed. Where in hell are the rest of us?

Why in hell isn't the White House surrounded by people with pitchforks and torches? Where in hell is Impeachment. What sort of barbarians have we become to allow barbaric acts in our name, in the name of our nation? What in fuck has gone wrong with us?

[bdamomma]

18. all these unspeakable crimes of this shameful administration will

bite us back, could be happening now with our economy in shambles.

[WifeofPurgedVoter]

28. Helen Thomas remembers her Constititional duty

Could someone please remind the rest of the starstruck press corp? Maybe a highlighted portion of the Constitution that reminds them of their responsibility to hold the Bushies accountable? Shame on all of the other members of the press.

Little Dana's smirk at the end when Helen is berating the other members of the press was just unbearable. Dana knows the other press corp members to be toothless, neutered house pets.

[bdamomma]

17. leave it to Helen to slap Perino down I only wish more of her

colleagues would do the same thing.

[bdamomma]

20. video here just scroll down page

and see Helen, and Dana Perino drips of sarcasm and arrogance.

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/23/thomas-chides-colleagues-torture/#comments

[Elspeth]

22. Sounds like time for more flowers for Helen

And maybe an old sock for Perino.

[bdamomma]

24. or send Perino a history book about the Bay of Pigs!!

[Elspeth]

29. Are we sure she could actually read it?

Maybe the picture book version?

[Javaman]

25. someone ask perino to find cuba on a map. nt

[dysfunctional press]

27. "The United States has not, is not torturing any detainees in the global war on terror. "

follow-up question, please-

is the u.s. using, or has this administration EVER used rendition to have OTHER countries torture our detainees for us?