On Mon, Jun 7, 2010 at 1:18 PM, Dennis Claxton <ddclaxton at earthlink.net>wrote:
>
> http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dcnow/2010/06/white-house-critisizes-veteran-reporter.html
>
>
> Helen Thomas, the legendary White House reporter who broke down barriers
> against female journalists covering politics, will retire after
> controversial remarks criticized by many as anti-Israel.
>
> Hearst News Service, her latest employer, on Monday announced the immediate
> retirement of Thomas, who will be 90 in August.
>
> Thomas told a rabbi at a White House event last week that Jews should "get
> the hell out of Palestine" and go back to Germany and Poland or the United
> States. Her comments were caught on videotape and widely distributed.
>
> The remarks caused a furor even though she immediately apologized. Her
> invitation to speak at a local graduation was rescinded. Jewish groups
> called her remarks ignorant and insensitive and said her apology did not go
> far enough.
>
> "I deeply regret my comments I made last week regarding the Israelis and
> the Palestinians," Thomas said in a statement. "They do not reflect my
> heartfelt belief that peace will come to the Middle East only when all
> parties recognize the need for mutual respect and tolerance. May that day
> come soon."
>
> At his daily briefing, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs on Monday
> condemned the comments, calling them "offensive and reprehensible."
>
> "She should and has apologized," Gibbs said. "Obviously, those remarks do
> not reflect, certainly, the opinion of most of the people here and certainly
> not of the administration."
>
> Working for United Press International, Thomas covered every president
> since the end of the Eisenhower years and was known for her tough
> questioning. She was the first woman to be an officer of the National Press
> Club, the first female member and president of the White House
> Correspondents' Assn.
>
> She has written five books.
>
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>
-- ********************************************************* Alan P. Rudy Dept. Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work Central Michigan University 124 Anspach Hall Mt Pleasant, MI 48858 517-881-6319