Defending Helen Thomas
Yesterday we flagged Tom Shales' review of the new HBO short on Helen Thomas, the dean of the White House press corps. Most notably, he knocked the film for dodging Thomas' criticisms of Israel and America's pro-Jerusalem policies.
Well, today, Greg Mitchell, editor of Editor & Publisher, slams Shales and defends Thomas:
In suggesting that the Rory Kennedy HBO documentary on Helen Thomas performed "cosmetic surgery" on the legendary reporter's alleged major "flaw" – a rabid anti-Israel bias – Tom Shales of The Washington Post revealed, instead, what the Thomases of the world are up against in the media. To criticize Israel at all in the U.S. media generally provokes this kind of outraged and outrageous response. Of course, in Israel itself, Israelis criticize their own government and policies all the time.Shales accuses Thomas of "stridency in criticizing Israel and defending its enemies" but offers no evidence. There might well be a few quotes out there that would make my head explode, but I'd like to see them.
Mitchell proceeds with a point-by-point rebuttal to Shales' piece. In the end, though, what he seems to be saying is that Thomas stood out in her criticisms of Israel, but in a good way – reflecting not ideological zealotry but the general "persistence, tenacity and guts" that she demonstrates in her job (and was praised by Shales in his review).
"One reason" Thomas is such a good example of these stellar journalistic traits, Mitchell argues, is that "she dares to criticize Israel, just like her colleagues – in the Israeli press."
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Dear Friend Rob K,
Are you the righteous one we all have been looking for??
perfection is this thy name ?
When she stands before the court of justice in heaven i’m sure she will be given a golden pass.
She has done more good for the citizens of the U S A than many who have stood where she stood.
Please don’t measure every thing by the needs and feelings of Israel and all Jews.
And i promise you if i should meet you not tø call you “ DIRTY JEW”
Emes, Chaim
There is nothing like the truth to stir up trouble. Helen Thoms verbalized the fact that that hideous idiot in DC is the worst president in US hstory. Like him, that statement is a no-brainer. She challenged Bush’s fraudulent assault on Iraq as what it was, an obvious sham to secure oil properties. It just goes to show, the truth is simply not welcome in the White House.....
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Rob K.
08/19/08 11:59 AM
Are you kidding me? When I hear the name Helen Thomas, the first thing that comes to mind is that she’s an old bat who hates Israel. To leave out her Israel-bashing-based career from some dumb little film by a Kennedy, who wouldn’t even get in the HBO front door without her name, is like doing a film on Adolph without mentioning that he didn’t have a particular fondness for Jews.