Helen Thomas to retire effective immediately
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The Israeli raid of the Gaza aid flotilla mission now has one more casualty, and far from the Hamas-ruled statelet’s shores: the career of long-time White House correspondent Helen Thomas.
Thomas, who long worked for United Press International and is now in the employ of Hearst Newspapers as a columnist, got into hot water at the end of last week when it was revealed that she told a blogger that Israeli Jews were occupying the Holy Land and should go back to Poland, Germany, or America. It was a disappointing statement to many as our Neal Ungerleider explained, and one that confirmed allegations that she was an anti-Semite to many others.
Now according to breaking news alerts, Thomas has announced her immediate retirement from her gig as the White House correspondent for Hearst. The News was first put out by BNO and confirmed on Twitter by Mike Allen of Politico. According to Allen, she stated that, “I deeply regret my comments.”
Update:
Here’s Hearst’s press release which contains Helen Thomas’s full statement:
HELEN THOMAS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
WASHINGTON, June 7, 2010 – Helen Thomas announced Monday that she is retiring, effective immediately.
Her decision came after her controversial comments about Israel and the Palestinians were captured on videotape and widely disseminated on the Internet.
Thomas later issued a statement: “I deeply regret my comments I made last week regarding the Israelis and the Palestinians. They do not reflect my heart-felt 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.’’
Thomas will mark her 90th birthday on Aug. 4.
I’m sure many of Thomas’s harshest critics will take issue with her statement, and Hearst for issuing it under their banner. It will be an uncommon day in the White House press room without Helen Thomas in the first row. But hopefully we can move on to more important discussions and deliberations now.
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by True/Slant and Angie Soliman, Michael Roston. Michael Roston said: Helen Thomas announces immediate retirement http://bit.ly/cXJ1Gl [...]
Helen Thomas made those comments *before* the flotilla raid.
I know, but I think that because of the Gaza setting, they’re more of a lightning rod than they might ordinarily be.
In response to another comment. See in context »[...] years of Presidential coverage came to an end today as Helen Thomas stepped down from her position at Hearst, the second in her long and storied career as a White House [...]
[...] Helen Thomas to retire effective immediately (trueslant.com) [...]
[...] Helen Thomas to retire effective immediately (trueslant.com) [...]
“Thomas will mark her 90th birthday on Aug. 4.”
This has to be one of the most unremarkable controversies extant today. Ms. Thomas expressed an opinion that many people advocate, Palestine is an occupied territory. Highlighting her infirmities, which was done in the video, denigrates whatever Socratic point could have been made for or against her commentary.
This is lowlife shit one would expect from the jerks we just banished from DC. Let’s raise the bar, please.
This is a global comment, not intended as criticism of Mr. Roston or other previous commenters.
[...] Helen Thomas to retire effective immediately (trueslant.com) [...]