Helen Thomas, White House reporter for 57 years, resigns over Israel comments - Polidicks

[url]http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/06/07/pol.helen.thomas/[/url] [release]Washington (CNN) -- Longtime White House reporter Helen Thomas has retired effective immediately, Hearst Corporation said Monday. The media conglomerate had employed Thomas as a syndicated columnist for its newspaper chain. Her retirement comes amid a furor created last week by her controversial comments regarding Jewish people. Thomas, 89, was considered the dean of the White House press corps, as she was the longest-serving White House journalist. She has been covering administrations since 1960, when she began covering then-President-elect John F. Kennedy and his family. Thomas, had come under fire late last week when a YouTube video surfaced, showing her saying saying that Israel should "get the hell out of Palestine" and that the Jewish people should go home to "Poland, Germany ... and America and everywhere else." In a posting on her website on Friday, Thomas apologized for her remarks. "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," she wrote. But the apology was not enough to silence critics, who began a rising chorus of calls for Thomas to be either terminated or suspended by Hearst. Just before Hearst's announcement, the board of the White House Correspondents Association released a statement condemning Thomas' remarks. The group of White House reporters, which includes CNN's Ed Henry, called Thomas' remarks "indefensible." The reporters' statement said, "Many in our profession who have known Helen for years were saddened by the comments, which were especially unfortunate in light of her role as a trailblazer on the White House beat." The correspondents' association said it was going to hold a special meeting Thursday to review Thomas' permanently assigned front row seat in the White House briefing room -- as the controversy "does revive the issue of whether it is appropriate for an opinion columnist." And during a Monday morning briefing, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs also criticized Thomas, saying, "Those remarks were offensive and reprehensible. I think she should and has apologized because obviously those remarks do not reflect the -- certainly the opinion of, I assume, most of the people in here and certainly not of the administration." On Sunday, former White House Counsel Lanny Davis was among those calling for Hearst to take action against Thomas. She was also dropped by her agent, Nine Speakers Inc., on Sunday, CNN learned. And Craig Crawford, who co-authored "Listen Up, Mr. President" with Thomas, said in a blog post that he "will no longer be working with Helen on our book projects." Thomas made the comments to Rabbilive.com. Specifically, she was asked, "Any comments on Israel?" "Tell them to get the hell out of Palestine," she responded. The interviewer then asked "Any better comments on Israel?" To which Thomas said, "Remember, these people are occupied, and it's their land. It's not German's. It's not Poland's." Thomas was then asked where the Jews in Israel should go? Thomas responded, "They should go home," which the White House reporter identified as "Poland, Germany ... and America and everywhere else." The Anti-Defamation League said in a written statement that Thomas' apology "does not go far enough." "Her remarks were outrageous, offensive and inappropriate," ADL National Director Abraham H. Foxman said in the statement. "Her suggestion that Israelis should go back to Poland and Germany is bigoted and shows a profound ignorance of history. We believe Thomas needs to make a more forceful and sincere apology for the pain her remarks have caused." Her apology also was not enough for Davis, who served as special counsel to former President Clinton. "Helen Thomas, who I used to consider a close friend and who I used to respect, has showed herself to be an anti-Semitic bigot," Davis said. "This is not about her disagreement about her criticisms of Israel. She has a right to criticize Israel and that is not the same as being an anti-Semite." Davis added, "If she had asked all blacks to go back to Africa, what would the White House Correspondents Association position be as to whether she deserved White House press room credentials -- much less a privileged honorary seat?" Ari Fleischer, who served as press secretary for former President George W. Bush, also said Thomas should be fired because of her remarks. He reiterated that demand in a statement provided to CNN Sunday. "Helen's statement calling for the religious cleansing of Israel is reprehensible," Fleischer said. "If this isn't bigotry, what is? What she said is as bad as someone saying all blacks should leave America and go back to Africa." "Hearst Newspapers should do the right thing and let Helen go," Fleischer added in the statement.[/release] Criticize Israel and you're called an anti-Semite. Nice.

[quote]and that the Jewish people should go home to "Poland, Germany[/quote] With a little of ill will you can hear a really bad comment out of this, the big history jews had there wasn't exactly the best. I'm not sure what to think of this yet.

i have big issues with racism, i think it's horrible. but i think the world is taking politically correctness too far, and theres a big difference between political incorrectness and racism. This is a good example. it's great in moderation, but there gets a point where people aren't being allowed their actually well thought out opinions and views because somebody takes offense, regardless of how true and correct those opinions and views actually are.

"and that the Jewish people should go home to "Poland, Germany" Maybe because SHE IS anti-Semite?!

[QUOTE=Ker‎o;22444467]"and that the Jewish people should go home to "Poland, Germany" Maybe because SHE IS anti-Semite?![/QUOTE] saying they should leave the middle east doesn't mean that she's anti semite. That means she's anti israel. It doesn't even mean she wishes bad for them, just for them to leave. not that i think she's right in saying that.

[QUOTE=Keeshond v2;22444666]saying they should leave the middle east doesn't mean that she's anti semite. That means she's anti israel. It doesn't even mean she wishes bad for them, just for them to leave. not that i think she's right in saying that.[/QUOTE] You obviously didn't understand what she had meant.. She said Poland and German, reffering to the two biggest countries where mass extermination was done.

She's 89 years old for Christ sake. I thought old people could get away with racism

Alot of israeli jews are of polish and german descent, since the jews there were procecuted and forced to leave. She is not an anti semite and neither am i for agreeing with her. This is fucking bullshit.

[QUOTE=Keeshond v2;22444666]saying they should leave the middle east doesn't mean that she's anti semite. That means she's anti israel. It doesn't even mean she wishes bad for them, just for them to leave. not that i think she's right in saying that.[/QUOTE] Saying 'dem spics should get out of America and go back to Mexico isn't racist either.

[QUOTE=Ker‎o;22445064]You obviously didn't understand what she had meant.. She said Poland and German, reffering to the two biggest countries where mass extermination was done.[/QUOTE] I'm pretty sure that's not what she meant.

[QUOTE=yawmwen;22446429]Saying 'dem spics should get out of America and go back to Mexico isn't racist either.[/QUOTE] She didn't call them kikes so that's not really a good argument

I'm so fucking sick of Israel.

[QUOTE=TunnelSnake;22446559]She didn't call them kikes so that's not really a good argument[/QUOTE] Ya it is, because if someone is called a bigot for calling every Latino to go back to Mexico it is just as bigoted to call for every Jew to go back to Poland and Germany.

[QUOTE=Ker‎o;22445064]You obviously didn't understand what she had meant.. She said Poland and German, reffering to the two biggest countries where mass extermination was done.[/QUOTE] and america too. I guess she really wants them dead :rolleyes:

[QUOTE=yawmwen;22446649]Ya it is, because if someone is called a bigot for calling every Latino to go back to Mexico it is just as bigoted to call for every Jew to go back to Poland and Germany.[/QUOTE] You missed the point of what I was saying In your example for latinos, you used "spic" In her comments about Jews, Thomas did not use "Kike" which is a comparable slur, like nigger or chink.

[QUOTE=TunnelSnake;22446775]You missed the point of what I was saying In your example for latinos, you used "spic" In her comments about Jews, Thomas did not use "Kike" which is a comparable slur, like nigger or chink.[/QUOTE] So? That wasn't even the point of my argument. It is obvious she didn't call them kikes(at least not publicly). I wasn't making an argument that she did.

Looks like she just said the wrong thing at the wrong time. It's a shame this had to happen, maybe the White House will get a better reporter. [QUOTE=TunnelSnake;22446775]You missed the point of what I was saying In your example for latinos, you used "spic" In her comments about Jews, Thomas did not use "Kike" which is a comparable slur, like nigger or chink.[/QUOTE] The proper terminology isn't Latino, it's Mexican. Ask anyone who lives here in Southern California.

[QUOTE=Pr0vologne;22447034]Looks like she just said the wrong thing at the wrong time. It's a shame this had to happen, maybe the White House will get a better reporter.[/quote] She said something blatantly anti-semitic, and it's just the wrong thing at the wrong time? [quote]The proper terminology isn't Latino, it's Mexican. Ask anyone who lives here in Southern California.[/QUOTE] Latino refers to something else than Mexican.

[QUOTE=yawmwen;22447113]She said something blatantly anti-semitic, and it's just the wrong thing at the wrong time? Latino refers to something else than Mexican.[/QUOTE] People will say anti-semetic things, very few people (especially respected reporters) will say anti-semetic things on camera or in an interview. So is Latino supposed to generalize the people of the countries below the United States?

[QUOTE=Pr0vologne;22447246]People will say anti-semetic things, very few people (especially respected reporters) will say anti-semetic things on camera or in an interview. So is Latino supposed to generalize the people of the countries below the United States?[/QUOTE] Latino is someone from Latin America, Spain, Portugal, The Phillipines, and Italy(I believe Italy is one, but it might not).

[QUOTE=yawmwen;22447373]Latino is someone from Latin America, Spain, Portugal, The Phillipines, and Italy(I believe Italy is one, but it might not).[/QUOTE] Why would you include the Phillipines, aren't they Asian?

I believe they're Pacific Islanders. [QUOTE=yawmwen;22447373]Latino is someone from Latin America, Spain, Portugal, The Phillipines, and Italy(I believe Italy is one, but it might not).[/QUOTE] I'm pretty sure Latino would only correspond with Latin America then. Spain would be Spanish, Portugal Portuguese, Phillipines I'm not sure what it would be called (Phillipino?), and Italy would have to be Italian. I don't see how Latino would have any reference to some of these countries.

[QUOTE=Novistador;22447403]Why would you include the Phillipines, aren't they Asian?[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Pr0vologne;22447417]I believe they're Pacific Islanders.[/QUOTE] They are hispanic.

[QUOTE=yawmwen;22446429]Saying 'dem spics should get out of America and go back to Mexico isn't racist either.[/QUOTE] Um if Mexico came to America and took the South-West and all it was causing was conflict then yeah I'd expect people to want them to get out. And she didn't give any racial slurs so your use of spic is both invalid and obviously there to provoke a reaction.

[QUOTE=yawmwen;22447373]Latino is someone from Latin America, Spain, Portugal, The Phillipines, and Italy(I believe Italy is one, but it might not).[/QUOTE] Italians are not Latinos :eng99:

[QUOTE=yawmwen;22447425]They are hispanic.[/QUOTE] Excuse me? People from the Phillipines are [b]not[/b] Hispanic. Sure they were conquered by spaniards but that doesn't make them hispanic. They're Pacific Islanders.

[QUOTE=Mexican;22447451]Um if Mexico came to America and took the South-West and all it was causing was conflict then yeah I'd expect people to want them to get out. And she didn't give any racial slurs so your use of spic is both invalid and obviously there to provoke a reaction.[/QUOTE] Um according to a lot of people Mexico [i]did[/i] come to America, take the South-West, and are only causing conflict. [QUOTE=TunnelSnake;22447463]Italians are not Latinos :eng99:[/QUOTE] I heard somewhere they were, so I included them.

[QUOTE=yawmwen;22447542] I heard somewhere they were, so I included them.[/QUOTE] This is why fact checking is important, kids

[QUOTE=yawmwen;22447542]Um according to a lot of people Mexico [i]did[/i] come to America, take the South-West, and are only causing conflict. [/QUOTE] Yeah because a few strawberry pickers is comparable to an entire country being allowed to take over land from some other unrelated country.

Dr. Frankenstein vs. Jewish Girl [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFyAxRjx90U[/media]