Helen Thomas is in the news again - Raw Story - Playboy Interview

[howaboutme]

Thomas also wanted to set the record straight on her departure from the White House, announced as a retirement by Hearst Corp., where she worked as a newspaper columnist after decades at United Press International (UPI).

"I'm not retired! I was fired. In fact, I'll die with my boots on," she said in the interview, which was conducted in Washington where she took Playboy contributing editor David Hochman to her favorite Palestinian restaurant, the magazine said.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/03/19/veteran-reporter-helen-thomas-lashes-israel-again/

[GKirk]

1. Is she on the cover?

If she is look for the bunny logo, that means Hef slept with her :)

[still_one]

2. Her problem is in this interview, she went out of her way to say she wasn't anti-Jewish, and then

starts to say how America is controlled by the Jews

Criticizing specific individuals is one thing, but making blanket stereotypes about a specific group is exactly what a bias person does

[Exilednight]

4. She did not say that. You took her comments totally out of context

Jewish lobbies had power across the board in the US, she added. "Everybody is in the pocket of the Israeli lobbies, which are funded by wealthy supporters, including those from Hollywood.

And she's right. The Jewish lobby has had a strangle hold on US foreign policy when it comes Israel.

If someone says one bad thing about the Israel, the Jewish lobby groups jump all over it and paint them as an anti-Semite.

[slackmaster]

5. It's amazing how a person can take the same view on Jewish lobbies as the KKK or StormFront on DU

And get a "pass" from a lot of other members.

Her exact words, as quoted in Playboy by the interviewer were:

"We are owned by the propagandists against the Arabs. There’s no question about that. Congress, the White House and Hollywood, Wall Street, are owned by the Zionists. No question, in my opinion. They put their money where their mouth is. We’re being pushed into a wrong direction in every way.”

Source: http://www.playboy.com/articles/helen-thomas-playboy-interview/index.html?page=2

If Tom Metzger had made the same statement, most DUers would (rightfully) be all over him for being an anti-Semitic bigot.

Oh, and in before the move to the I-P forum.

[still_one]

8. and how would you interpret these comments from her:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/onmedia/0311/Helen_Thomas_to_Playboy_Jews_own_the_White_House.html

"There's nothing wrong with remembering it, but why do we have to constantly remember?" she said. "We're not at fault. I mean, if they're going to put a Holocaust museum in every city in Germany, that's fine with me. But we didn't do this to the Jews. Why do we have to keep paying the price and why do they keep oppressing the Palestinians? Do the Jews ever look at themselves? Why are they always right? Because they have been oppressed throughout history, I know. And they have this persecution. That's true, but they shouldn't use that to dominate."

[slackmaster]

12. It's equivalent to complaining about black people getting special treatment because of slavery

I and my fellow white Americans never enslaved anyone, so why should black people today get any special consideration, such as Affirmative Action? We didn't do that to black people. Do black people ever look at themselves? Why are they always right? Because they have been oppressed throughout history, I know. And they have this persecution....

[Boojatta]

14. You forgot to mention the domination.

Candidate Obama could have gracefully exited when the nomination was close. He knows that, at this time in our history, racial issues are still very divisive. Why didn't he at least accept HRC as his running mate? Obviously, he felt a need to utterly dominate. How do we know that Vice President Biden doesn't have at least one drop of African blood somewhere in his ancestry? Since GWB stepped down, the whole political situation in America may have changed. For the next one thousand years, Americans might be living under the iron fist of a secretive and ruthless black power movement.

Is it just a coincidence that a pretty white woman was available as McCain's running mate, to distract white voters when they most needed to keep their eyes on the ball? Only a fool expects a significant fraction of voters to vote for a candidate based purely on physical attractiveness. Martin Luther King, Jr vocally opposed the war in Vietnam. Vietnam is precisely where McCain was when his mind was forcefully and brutally unhinged. Is it all just a coincidence?

:sarcasm:



How was that? I can't tell whether I laid it on too thick or hit too close to home for some people.

[slackmaster]

16. Good stuff Boojatta!

You should apply for a job writing that kind of thing.

[Boojatta]

17. Do you mean something like writing for Colbert or something like writing for Glenn Beck?

Sometimes there's a fine line between parody and lunacy.

[slackmaster]

18. Whatever pays better, I suppose

Parody and lunacy both serve important functions in political discourse IMO.

[Boojatta]

19. The pay would be less important to me than ...

the amount of work available per month, and enough months or years of that kind of work.

[cali]

6. Sorry, but she did. She reiterated her statement that Jew control the White House

Not Zionists. Not the lobby. Jews.

[still_one]

7. She said Jewish lobbies control the country. Not only is that statement wrong, the implication is

quite clear, and she also made other reference to Jews as a group in this country

[Exilednight]

10. see reply #8

[NorthCarolina]

24. Out-of-context. That's the way it's done

on 'some' sides of the political spectrum.

[howaboutme]

20. America needs much more in the way of honest and candid discussion

on many issues and differing points of view.

One issue most definitely needed is why do the Muslims hate us? Yet it is avoided if not muzzled when it needs debated.

How did our USA culture ever get to the point that supposedly some "open minds" believe discussion of some issues should be forbidden?

All topics should be on the table. Instead, depending upon the topic, we either get outright resistance to discussion, or it gets muzzled, or maneuvered somehow into being racist or non-politically correct. Why would "candid" discussion be muzzled as racist? If we are an open society then everything needs to be on the table and nothing should be squelched...but some things are and in the end it will create harmful tension that is counter productive.

Racism is not manifested by debate and discussion. Racism is about ACTIONS and such criticism should be about harmful actions, and actual discrimination, but not words.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[geek tragedy]

9. The old bigot should STFU and spare us her poison.nt

[sellitman]

11. She is at least honest in her hatred of Jews

She doesn't use the BULL SHIT of saying it's only the Zionists she hates.


I give her props.

[WinkyDink]

25. Well, that's ONE way to look at her. ;-)

[Nye Bevan]

13. She really turned out to be a nasty, poisonous anti-Semite, didn't she? (nt)

[deaniac21]

15. You have to give our crazy Aunt in the attic her props. She tells it

like she sees it.

[howaboutme]

21. Most in a position of influence tell it so they gain or profit from it

and truth has become irrelevant. Whistle blowers are few and ass kissers are many. That's greed and that's politics and unfortunately that's become America.

I have always respected HT for her candid views. Few Americans in power have the guts to offer candidness and honest opinion on Israel. She does. I don't buy the racist BS. Has she ever hired someone because of ethnicity? Has she fired someone because of ethnicity. That's true racism. Ask AIPAC about that.

I'm surprised she was even given a mouthpiece to state her opinions, right or wrong. Our government and media is full of those who have wrongly been given a megaphone, not just a mouthpiece, for their wrong headed opinions that have in reality bankrupted us and involved us in perpetual wars.

As one of those who has lost wherewithal from the corrupt Wall St and a beholden government that consistently benefits the already rich, I'm all for hearing unfettered candid opinions on where things have gone wrong, and honestly I don't give a shxt that some might find candid opinions offensive. Sometimes opinions are offensive. That's free speech.

Over the last 50 years average Americans have been financially decimated, while a few have prospered. I'm willing to listen to opinions from all, but not willing to put ear muffs on and sip Kool Aid.

Aunt Helen has a way of telling it as she sees it, but never because she is going to gain prominence or profits. Probably PB paid her but only because they'll profit and sell magazines. But the pittance she made is irrelevant compared to what the scum of Wall St have reaped.

No self serving politician or member of the press will ever tell the public how the system works. The American public that has seen our Treasury and country plundered for the benefit of a few and already with wealth are beginning to experience the results. We have become a nation where money doesn't benefit America but only the few and that gives the few political power.

[Very_Boring_Name]

22. That old bag is still at it?

Sheesh, dementia really did a number on her (next she'll be blaming the jews for her mental health problems)

[Warren DeMontague]

23. It'll be fun watching the anti-semites square off vs. the anti-porn crusaders

:popcorn:

think we can get PETA in there, too?