“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.” – Helen Thomas
Ms. Thomas is getting pilloried for remarks that she should have never made. She’s smart enough to know they’d be used against her.
Ari Fleischer, chief propagandist for the Water-boarder in Chief, George W. Bush, says “She should lose her job over this.”
Now the right is on the hunt for her head.
Helen Thomas has never been shy about her politics, especially on the Middle East. Now she’s handed her enemies the sword, which Hearst could use to end her career.
Question: Any comments on Israel?
Thomas: Tell them to get the hell out of Palestine. Remember, these people are occupied and it’s their land. It’s not German, it’s not Polish.
Question: So where should they go, what should they do?
Thomas: Go home.
Question: Where is the home?
Thomas: Poland. Germany.
Question: So you’re saying Jews go back to Poland, Germany?
Thomas: And America and everywhere else.
Ms. Thomas has been one of the most courageous journalists, especially in the White House Press Corps. Her reporting has been invaluable to this nation.
Anyone telling immigrants to go back, well, to anywhere, is simply wrong. Right-wingers do all the time.
I love what she said, but I will not defend her right to say it. It’s always stupid to scream fire in a crowded theater. There’s no fool like an old fool. Peace
I detest what she said, but I’ll defend her right to say it, just as I’d defend the right of the Westboro Baptist Church to say that God hates gay people. She is a trusted public figure and she should know better than to say such hateful things. Her credibility is permanently tainted.
exactly. hearst wont say if they will fire her or not. they are waiting to see what happens with this. helen thomas is in the fight of her life to keep her job.
helen thomas was a fav of mine. no longer. what an utterly offensive thing to say.
I don’t understand why Helen Thomas would say something like that. I liked her too and still do in someways but I am not happy at all about what she said. You can rest to sure, the right will go after her like theres no tomorrow.
Helen Thomas was, is, and always will be a favourite of mine. I am sorry about the comment she made. I will not call for her head over this one unfortuanate statement.
Look for Sarah Palin, Rush and the entire Fox News bunch to keep screaming for her to be fired. I like Helen Thomas as well…but what she said was over the top. I don’t think Ms. Thomas should be fired. I seen and heard worse from Republicans senators speaking about Obama.
The right has wanted to get rid of Helen Thomas for a long time. She was after all a thorn in George Bush’s side for eight years. So, they want Ms. Thomas gone…
It never fails to amaze me when “smart” people blurt out the most insanely stupid things. But was what she said any more stupid then any of the brilliant quips from the waterboarder in chief?
As for her being “in the fight of her life” for her job, what is she…110 or so? How about she retire and let someone younger, say 90 or so and possibly with a tad more tact have a shot?
Secular-
110 is the new 60
.
I could not agree with you more. Time as taken it’s toll on Ms. Thomas. Time to move on.
Well we cant have free speech and not expect people to tell the truth about what they are feeling(i.e. Rand Pual) . Ms. Thomas is lebanese so I would ask her this…after all the teabaggers send all the illegals back to mexico….do she think they will stop there? If it were a requirement that we all go back to the country of our orgin there would be plenty of houses vacant in the US. WoW…very poor taste….did not expect this from her. It’s Christmas day for righties everywhere and Helen Thomas delivered them a nice gift…an issue. I’ll put it into context…I work for a company that promote very few minorities (Who are qualified), if one of the directors was heard sayiing all African Americans should go back to Africa on a youtube video…I’d expect Dan Hesse to personally fly down, snatch the EVO phone right out of their hands and show them the door. I would expect nothing less for the NY Times. As much as it pains me to say this (Because Helen was one a a unique crew of Journalist who was asking the tough questions on IRAQ pre-invasion and made Ari’s life HELL) it’s time for her to consider retirement….or better yet…maybe start her own blogg…but the NY TIMES should diffinently give her the boot.
I didn’t realize she works for NY Times.
opsy….my bad
Hearst Newspapers
Her comments were offensive and stupid and she was right to apologize. But those calling for her head should be careful what they wish for. If we are going to start firing otherwise-qualified journalist for saying stupid things or for airing their questionable private views, there’s gonna be a lot of firing going on.
And I am sorry, but for ANYONE at Fox News, including Sarah Palin, to call for her to be fired is truly incredible. That whole organization on any given day spouts offensive, biased views, but they do it under the guise THAT IT IS NEWS!
I think she should get a pass…i mean…if President Obama can be called a socialist, compared by Rush Limbaugh to Chairman Moa, or called a Facist…and no one from faux news or Sarah Palin bats an eye…then I say this is her opsy…I mean…come on…
Fair is fair.
Helen was fired for what she said.
If that is to be the case, then next should be Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and the other right wing hate merchants who spread hateful rhetoric daily.
If Helen isn’t going to be given a pass for what she said, then why should they? Just because they aren’t journalists?
When aren’t these “conservatives” held to the same standards they hold liberals to?