I have a question regarding Helen Thomas...

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

She was the only WH press corps reporter who spoke up, in F9/11, about the Saudi and Carlyle connection to the WH during a press conference. It seems she had a rather sudden "retirement" a while back. Though this wouldn't be suprise, I suppose, due to her age, she strikes me as someone who would not be happy with retirement unless it was absolutely her only option. Now she writes OpEd pieces, and seems as sharp as ever.

I thought I had heard or read somewhere that this adminstration pushed her into retirement. Has anyone else heard about this? MKJ

[NMDemDist2]

1. she hasn't retired, she still writes an opinion piece

and didn't she not "retire" but rather lost her job when UPI was sold?

[Reverend_Smitty]

6. I think

that she resigned in protest when UPI was sold to the Moonies. Also the Bush White House put her in the back of the press room to shut her up.

[anarchy1999]

21. That is correct.

HELEN THOMAS

Often called the "The First Lady of the Press," Thomas is a distinguished journalist who covered the White House for 57 years for United Press International before leaving and joining Hearst Newspapers as a syndicated columnist. This week we talk to this press corps legend about her experiences in questioning every president since JFK.

Related Articles and Sites:

American Entertainment International
Helen Thomas

Media Beat; 1/9/03
Not All White House Reporters are Pushovers

CNN; 05/16/00
Helen Thomas reporting 'legend' leaves White House beat

UPI; 05/17/00
White House Reporter Helen Thomas Resigns from UPI

Tufts E-News; 01/31/01
Press Legend Goes On The Record at Tufts

Washington Times; 03/07/03
Press Corp Doyenne Gets No Notice

http://www.kcts.org/productions/kctsconnects/archive/episode_329.htm

[Reverend_Smitty]

7. dupe

double post

[nostamj]

2. she didn't retire

Snotty just doesn't call on her! if you read the 'gaggles' that Josh Marshall posts (www.talkingpointsmemo.com) you see that she gets some shots in.

she also reads her email and does respond!

[e-mail]

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

4. That's great to know, she seems to be the lone voice

in the media wilderness sometimes. She still believes in journalistic principles of investigating and questioning rather than just "going along" I love her OpEd pieces, miss her at the press conferences. MKJ

[Cheswick2.0]

3. I think they put her in the back of the room and never called on her

In effect making sure that her employers had no access. I don't know if she is still there or not.

[senseandsensibility]

5. Yes

I think she was used as an example, and that's one of the ways they keep other reporters from asking tough questios. This administration plays hardball, folks.

[in_cog_ni_to]

8. She's been relegated to the back row

because she asked too many tough questions and the whiney ass repukes can't handle tough questions. I emailed her about 2 years ago to thank her for asking such tough questions and holding the administration accountable and she wrote me back HERSELF! to thank me. :) I love Helen. She's one of the last of a dying breed of "real" journalists.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

11. I just emailed her and let her know how much appreciation

I have for her unwavering journalistic integrity. Thanks for providing the email address. I hope F9/11 brings her more recognition from the younger generation, who don't have much exposure anymore to reporters who do their jobs. MKJ

[in_cog_ni_to]

13. She answers all of her emails herself

so, be sure to check yours! She's an awesome lady.

[Eric J in MN]

9. Ari Fleisher wouldn't call on her at press conferences after

Ari Fleisher wouldn't call on her at press conferences after she said Bush is the worst President ever.

There was a "Saturday Night Live" skit about it.

[hlthe2b]

10. She used to work for UPI, but left when the Moonies bought it & took over

She now works for Hearst Publications as a WH correspondent and columnist

[donsu]

12. Helen is a gift to the race of women

nt

[Tansy_Gold]

18. helen is a gift to the race of humans

n/t

[bluedeminredstate]

14. I just wrote her and asked her

She's written back before so hopefully she'll respond. I told her that McClellan has no respect or manners and that if she's pissing him off then she's doing her job. I also asked her if Bush had to have a sesual encounter with an intern to get her colleagues interested in asking some tough questions.
I love her and have such respect for everything she's done with her career. She was covering Presidents when Bush was tossing his pompons at Andover. The WH might want to think about that before they banish her to journalistic Siberia.
x(

[justgamma]

15. Kerry should

move her back to her rightful place in the front row first thing. For years she was also honored with having the first question. One great lady.

[faithnotgreed]

16. great idea! bring helen back to rightful place when we elect kerry!

[Reverend_Smitty]

17. If anything...

It will be a symbolic FU to the outgoing administration. A kind of "you can try to cover up the truth, but you won't get away with it" type of gesture!

[faithnotgreed]

19. free helen!

[faithnotgreed]

20. i meant to say: free helen! elect kerry!

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

22. kick

for Helen! MKJ


:kick:

[texasdem99]

23. She's still around

You can catch her stuff on commondreams.org pretty regularly.

I think she writes for the Seattle Post Intelligencer now, or another paper out of Seattle.

[TexasSissy]

24. That's why the media is no "nice" to *; if they want access, they must be

nice and polite and not ask questions that are not screened or too embarrassing. Remember the reporter who asked * if he'd made any mistake? * responded that he'd wished he'd known that question was coming --- heh heh heh (he laughed). Bet we won't be seeing him again.

[Kimber Scott]

27. The politicians need the media more than the media need them.

This is where the media has fallen down on the job. They've allowed themselves to be intimidated and manipulated in order to maintain "access." What they should do, if they are denied "access" is to sit around and write rumors. Well, I know they do anyway, (Well, maybe not in Iraq - I'm not going to agree with Wolfowitz here),but they could admit it and use it as a weapon! "Ok, Mr. President. You don't want to answer my questions, I'll get the answers from your opponent, your sworn enemies, etc.. Or, maybe, I just won't write about YOU at all."

[Media_Lies_Daily]

25. She left UPI when a Moonie-owned group bought UPI, but...

...she hasn't retired. I still see her byline every now and then.

[bushvoodoo]

26. She was retired before that but what happened was...

After she asked too many "tough" questions, she was banished to the back of the room and no longer called on.

Considering She was the first question (Due to her seniority) since Reagan, this is despicable. It's business as usual for this administration though.

[hansolsen]

28. Helen Thomas gets first post election interview with Shrub after Kerry win

In a perfect world all the journalist would conspire to let Helen be the first person to Interview Bush after his loss to Kerry. I'd pay to see that.