WASHINGTON — Longtime Washington journalist Helen Thomas abruptly retired Monday as a columnist for Hearst News Service following remarks she made about Israel that were denounced by the White House and her press corps colleagues.The 89-year-old Thomas, dean of the White House press corps, has long been a fixture in Washington and has been lauded as a pioneering journalist who has covered presidents since 1960.
Known for her confrontational questioning, Thomas apologized for comments that were captured on video and have spread widely on the Internet. On the May 27 video, Thomas says Israelis should "get the hell out of Palestine," suggesting they go to Germany, Poland or the U.S.
Hearst announced her retirement, effective immediately, shortly after White House press secretary Robert Gibbs called her remarks "offensive and reprehensible."
The White House Correspondents Association also issued a rare statement, calling her comments "indefensible."
"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 trail blazer on the White House beat," said the statement, signed by journalists who are officers of the association.
Thomas had been scheduled to speak at the June 14 graduation of Walt Whitman High School in the Washington suburb of Bethesda, Md., but Principal Alan Goodwin wrote in a Sunday e-mail to students and parents that she was being replaced.
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19 comments:
She accidentally told the truth about her knowledge of the Jewish Conspiracy against the rest of the world.
The only thing she could do was retire.
woooooo,scarey.lol
another reason u need term limits.lol
4:59 you accidentally told the truth about your mental capacity.
If the story follows true, then a house should fall on her soon occupied by Dorothy and Toto.
Helen Thomas is moving in with Mel Gibson.
Who controls the media
Who controls the money
Thank you, 5:39, I was going to make a witch comment, but you did it better!
Helen Thomas was only speaking the truth i found nothing she said offensive nor rude .... the jews really need to lay off palestine .. they are only doing what hitler did to poland or france
so much ignorance in such a little place! lmao!
6:54 It was the Jews land originally, this is no different then telling blacks to go back to Africa . Israel has every right to defend itself but if Israel does fall they will all come here that's why our politicians are so weak on border control !
No disrespect to the elderly but the real mystery here is WHY on earth is she still working at her age?Lifes too short at any age but one would think that at 88 its time to do what the hell you want to do and get out of the rat race.She is from a different time
All from seven tribes, crazy.
doug wilkerson,
8:03, exactly. Like telling the Irish-Americans to go back to Ireland, the Italian-Americans back to Italy, the African-Americans back to Africa, and so on.
As for all the Israelis coming here, wouldn't it be awful if they brought all that medicine, technology, music, art, agricultural innovation, etc. here.
Wait a minute! That sounds good!
Yeah Cory there is nothing offensive. Let the palestians destroy Israel.
And yes, let's have all the jews move back to Germany, Poland and Russia - their favorite coutries. Germany and Russia have done so much for the Jewish people. I believe the holocaust was their favorite with Stalin's purges being runner up.
We patiently await our Messiah and then the world will know who we are and always have been. We are a blessing to the world.
11:26
You mean Jews, not Israelis. We are Jews.
Our place in the world is unique. We are a chosen race of people not just a country. We are still Jews whether we live in Poland, Germany or America.
But thank you for the compliments.
Well 7:46 The Israeli's are acting just like Nazi's these days. Im sorry but im sure if Russia or Germany wanted to invade Israel or any other country they would bitch and bitch hard over it The jew's want everything there and they are pissed because palestine says hands off. My biggest problem with the whole situation is the U.S. has too much intrest in to it ...
Cory,
U.S. has so much interest in Israel because of several reasons:
1. Israel is the only beacon of democracy in that backwards part of the world.
2. Should a conflict break out, Israel is a strong strategic ally.
3. Yes, there is a very strong Jewish lobby.
Palestinians and other extreme arabs have been given chance after chance. Yet, they choose violence.
If you really want to understand the real roots of Israel/Palestinian relations read Exodus by Leon Uris.
7:46
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