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16 years ago @ Big Journalism - Helen Thomas Should No... · 0 replies · 0 points
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Well, on the face of it, the difference between Pat Buchanan being able to continue broadcasting his anti-Semitic views and Helen Thomas losing her career for expressing hers is this: Mr. Buchanan is a man and Ms. Thomas is an old woman. Also timing and context is needed in today's discussion of Helen Thomas. Let's not forget the rapid unraveling and end to Ms. Thomas' career was initiated by her June 1st questioning of the US-Israel special relationship-- a very politically sensitive subject and now, apparently, the third-rail for the US press. While the rest of the nation was not paying attention to the international aid flotilla's attempt at breaking the Gaza blockade, she had been following the events and resultant international outcry and condemnation of Israel's Shayetet 13 botched assault on the Mavi Marmara in international waters. In the June 1st White House presser, Ms. Thomas chided the administration for not condemning the May 31st assault of the Turkish ship, an operation that, whatever the reason, resulted in the death of 9 civilians, "Our initial reaction to this flotilla massacre - deliberate massacre and international crime was pitiful. What do you mean "...we regret..." when something should be so strongly condemned and if any other nation in the world had done it we would be up in arms? What is this sacrosanct, iron-clad, relationship with a country that deliberately kills people and boycotts every aid and abets the boycott?" After those questions were asked, the readers' comments in Haaretz.com, The Jerusalem Post (jpost.com), and US conservative websites were vicious, ad hominem, attacks. They wanted Helen Thomas fired, dead, called her an ugly witch etc. This is not to say I agree with Ms. Thomas' comments, I don't, but she is entitled to her opinion. Regrettably her otherwise legendary career ended in ridicule and condemnation. This is a sad day both for Ms. Thomas and the US press. We have lost someone who dared to say the President had no clothes and to ask the hard questions, not just repeat whatever administration's official line.
16 years ago @ Big Journalism - Helen Thomas Should No... · 8 replies · -2 points
David Axelrod (2009- ) Senior Advisor to the President
Jared Bernstein (2009- ) Chief Economist and Economic Policy Advisor to the Vice President
Rahm Emanuel (2009- ) Chief of Staff
Lee Feinstein (2009- ) Foreign Policy Advisor
Gary Gensler (2009- ) Chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Elena Kagan (2009- ) Solicitor General of the United States
Ronald Klain (2009- ) Chief of Staff to the Vice President
Jack Lew (2009- ) Deputy Secretary of State
Eric Lynn (2009- ) Middle East Policy Advisor
Peter Orszag (2009- ) Director of the Office of Management and Budget
Dennis Ross (2009- ) Special Advisor for the Gulf and Southwest Asia to the Secretary of State
Mara Rudman (2009- ) Foreign Policy Advisor
Mary Schapiro (2009- ) Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission
Dan Shapiro (2009- ) Head of Middle East desk at the National Security Council
James B. Steinberg (2009- ) Deputy Secretary of State
Lawrence Summers (2009- ) Director National Economic Council
Mona Sutphen (2009- ) Deputy White House Chief of Staff