Helen Thomas, a very liberal and anti-Semitic member of the White House press corps, issued a statement to try to quiet the controversy over her response to a question posed by Rabbi David Nessenoff.
When Nessenoff asked Thomas for a comment on Israel, she clearly stated that the Jews should "get the hell out of Palestine." She said "they should go home," to Germany and Poland.
From ALLAHPUNDIT, Hot Air, here's Thomas' apology:
“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.”
That statement is nothing more than Thomas trying to do damage control and salvage her front row seat at White House press briefings. Of course, she regrets her comments, because she revealed her true opinion and it's not pretty. She already stated her "heart-felt belief."
What are we supposed to think? That Thomas was temporarily insane? Why would we believe that "Tell them to get the hell out of Palestine" doesn't reflect her views? That's absurd.
Nessenoff gave her an opportunity to back off her offensive remarks. Instead of taking it, she went on. "[The Jews] can go home" to Germany and Poland.
Good grief.
Nessenoff discusses his exchange with Thomas, concluding that her apology is too little, too late. It's time for her to leave.
Video.
I agree with Rabbi Nessenoff and Ari Fleischer. This should cost Thomas her job.
Thomas went too far this time. She doesn't deserve the honor of having the access that she does to the White House and the president.
Of course, Thomas has the right to call for the elimination of the Israeli state and for Jews to be expelled from the Middle East. Free speech. However, this has compromised her integrity and credibility as a JOURNALIST.
Thomas' employer, the Hearst Corporation, should pull her as a White House press correspondent.
If Thomas retains her seat in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room in the West Wing of the White House, and Robert Gibbs recognizes her and allows her to pose questions, it will be the Obama administration's disgrace.
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I find it very troubling that some of Thomas' colleagues are defending her.
[T]here's a sense amongst Thomas' colleagues that little will — or should — be done within the White House Correspondents Association in reaction to this. Much of that is due simply to the high premium placed amongst journalists on one's freedom of speech. Another is out of respect for Thomas' storied career. And, lastly, Thomas turns 90 in just a few months and there is a feeling that she ought to be able to enter the sunset of her life with grace and respect.
Thomas' alleged storied career has been terribly tarnished for years. The notion that because she'll turn 90 in a few months is reason to tolerate her objectionable behavior is ridiculous.
Furthermore, she entered "the sunset of her life" long ago. As far as allowing her to supposedly "enter" that time with "grace and respect," she's made that impossible. Thomas chose to air her stupidity and hate. She lacks grace and respect. A 90th birthday won't give her qualities she doesn't possess.
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From Mediaite, as noted by Simon Owens: Rabbi Who Recorded Helen Thomas Now Suffers From His Own Viral Video Past.
Welcome to the second chapter of the story of Rabbi David Nesenoff. America first got to know this man as the guy who recorded Helen Thomas on his flip-cam saying what many believed to be offensive comments regarding Jews. But just just as a pendulum swings both ways, the nature of viral video swings back to reveal Mr. Nesenoff in what many will surely see as an offensive and stereotypical portrayal of Mexican-Americans in a hackneyed weatherman shtick.
This video was published three months ago, and is just now surfacing, thanks in part to the website Race Wire.
I really don't think there's any comparison to this video of Rabbi Nessenoff and Thomas' remarks. This is an attempt at humor, albeit an unsuccessful attempt.
Although the video is being presented as revealing Nessenoff's stereotypical portrayal of Mexican-Americans, it's hard not to notice that the Mexican-American character is also a priest. Plus, the portrayal of the rabbi relies on stereotypes, too.
It's not the same as Helen Thomas'comments made in all seriousness, calling for the elimination of the Israeli state and the cleansing of Jews from the Middle East.
2 comments:
Bravo to the comments above. I don't watch Keith Olbermann regularly so I don't know the answer to this, but did he make Helen Thomas the worst...person...in...the...world! the day she said this?
as usual if the context of Israel or Jewish is not associated with positive it is anti semite, that's so un-democratic
do different ethnicities get this same treatment in the world?
the comment of Ms. Thomas for Israelis to go back home was wrong but the most valid point, she made was ignored as did the u.s. administration ignore it for 40 years
Israel is occupying Palestina, this is a fact and has been for 40 odd years, it doesnt matter that there are other countries around who do the same as it is still wrong
i hope one day the people of the Isr/Pal region could be living in peace... in the meantime palestinians die slowly, like jews did in the death camps, and the u.s. just watch it like another tv show...
where is the humankind going?
whats more important ?
the wellbeing of us all or our own personal greed?
to add to what Dee Hardwick said (just realised i almost copied your post) all was good in the Palestine region untill the survivors of WWII came,
for two reasons:
(with all the pity in the world for the survivors of WWII),
1st, they went to the holy land with the worst memories you can imagine,
2nd, they were not used to the ways of the middle east which are different than the european ways
peace is the message,
love to everyone
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