07 June 2010

So long, Helen Thomas



...Not that anyone will miss her. A sorry excuse for a journalist, respected by only the most hard-core left-wingers and hate-mongers. From FOXNews:
The announcement Monday marked an abrupt end to a career that has spanned decades. Thomas, known as the dean of the White House press corps, has covered every president since Dwight Eisenhower. Her 90th birthday is Aug. 4.

The controversy escalated quickly over the weekend after the video surfaced online showing Thomas last month saying Jews should "get the hell out of Palestine," suggesting they go instead to Germany, Poland and the United States. The video, shot by New York Rabbi David Nesenoff, was posted on several prominent websites and prompted a swift apology from Thomas on Friday.


[...]

Ari Fleischer, President George W. Bush's press secretary, said her comments amounted to a call for "religious cleansing." He told Fox News before the announcement that Thomas should lose her job over the comments.

"This goes beyond all boundaries," Fleischer said. "When you advocate that people need to be separated on the basis of their religion ... this is hatred, this is bigotry, this is prejudice."

Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, said her comments were "outrageous" and urged her to make a "more forceful" apology.

"Her suggestion that Israelis should go back to Poland and Germany is bigoted and shows a profound ignorance of history," he said in a written statement.

The repercussions for the videotaped remarks built rapidly over the past three days. The speaking agency that represents Thomas dropped her over the weekend. Then a Washington-area high school canceled a graduation speech she was scheduled to deliver.

Of course, the Chris Mathews' and Keith Olbermann's of the world will all cry "Freedom of speech!!" Yes, we Americans do have the freedom to express our opinions (at least for the time being). And, your employer has the right to terminate your employment when you say something like telling Jews they need to go back to Hitler's ovens. Which will be Ms. Thomas' departing legacy.

So longs, and don't let the door hit ya...well, you know the rest.