For many years there were often two sets of rules for White House journalists who covered the President of the United States — one for regular correspondents, and one for Helen Thomas. She was just that powerful. And her permanently reserved front row center seat in the White House Press Room was tangible proof of her authority.
So it’s puzzling why the 89-year-old seasoned journalist Helen Thomas, with all that power, would suddenly throw it all away in an instant with what some are calling a flippant and carelessly controversial comment to another reporter? But she did, and it appears her tart tongue finally caught up to her and ended her career. On Monday, Ms. Thomas announced that she was retiring immediately, after saying that Jews should “get the hell out of Palestine” and go home to “Poland, Germany and America and everywhere else.” Wow!
Once her comments went public, the domino’s around her began to fall: her speaking agency dropped her; a suburban Washington high school where she was scheduled to deliver a graduation speech UNinvited her; and her professional colleagues threatened to take away her choice seat in the front row of the White House briefing room. The damage was done. But does the little known fact that Helen Thomas is actually an Arab-American matter or change the tone of her comments? Does one become more sympathetic to her words once it is recognized she is promoting an opinion regarding the land of people of her own ethnicity? Hmmm…
Nevertheless, it was an unceremonious end to an illustrious career, by a woman who helped clear the path for countless other women in journalism. Ms. Thomas was so beloved, she was honored with the unofficial title of Dean of the White House press corps, and her front row seat even dons a small plaque with her name on it, the only seat in the briefing room designated by the name of a person instead of a news organization. One would be hard pressed to find another White House correspondent afforded the level of deference Helen Thomas was shown, not only by her fellow reporters, but by U.S. President’s from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama. But now those days are long gone.
So what happened? Some say her comments were spot on. Some say she simply made a mistake, while others say at 89 years of age senility might be a factor. Many in Washington spoke of an increasingly hostile and outlandish tone to her questions in recent years, and were quick to note they were not surprised that her age and fervor may have finally caught up with her. So effective immediately, the iconic image of Helen Thomas, front and center at every White House press briefing is no more.
It is a sad and unexpected ending to an impressive career. But is it a correct outcome?
`
DJ:“It is a sad and unexpected ending to an impressive career. But is it a correct outcome?”Well_I guess that depends on what you mean by “a correct outcome.”I think it’s the Only realistic “outcome” for her that stops the bleeding (if you will). Her resignation cuts the "news" story coverage short and minimizes further damage to her otherwise highly respected professional REPUTATION which btw right-wing American Zionists would love to see destroyed because she dared to speak out against Israel and FOR the Palestinians. But that’s a whole OTHER story in and of itself so I’ll simply remain on topic.Look. I am in NO WAY condoning Helen’s remarks. She’s well up in age, of Lebanese heritage, HIGHLY opinionated and she made an absolute Offensive and STUPID comment, which btw is typical of many highly opinionated OLD people. And it cost her her career. No doubt, it would have been wiser… Read more »