gdp's Comments

Big Journalism : Helen Thomas Should Not Be Fired -- the Real Problem Lies Elsewhere

Tue, 8 Jun 2010 04:01:19 +0000

OK, I'll check them out.

Big Journalism : Helen Thomas Should Not Be Fired -- the Real Problem Lies Elsewhere

Tue, 8 Jun 2010 03:02:23 +0000

And you need to calm down and reread what I wrote. The whole point is that the Obama administration did not choose Helen Thomas to be in the WH press corp and therefore did not deliberately "give her a platform."

Big Journalism : Helen Thomas Should Not Be Fired -- the Real Problem Lies Elsewhere

Tue, 8 Jun 2010 02:48:14 +0000

Methinks thou doth protest too much as a diversion, because you didn't answer the question. It is arrogant to dismissively conclude that I "...refuse to admit any [raving anti-Semite and overt enemy of Israel] exist or to make any effort looking them up..." I specifically asked you to identify by name who you consider to be a "raving anti-Semite and overt enemy of Israel". You made the assertion, now back it up. As for my "...refusing...to make any effort looking them up..." am I supposed to Google them under that description? Unlike you, I do not presume to read your mind and thereby do not know who you consider to be "a raving anti-Semite and overt enemy of Israel". That's why I asked you to name them. Likewise, I do not put words in your mouth and fairly quote exactly what you wrote.

Big Journalism : Helen Thomas Should Not Be Fired -- the Real Problem Lies Elsewhere

Tue, 8 Jun 2010 02:18:48 +0000

My point was hardly irrelevant. It was a response to the article's author assertion that the President has a "nasty habit of picking advisers who are not just anti-Israel, but anti-Jewish." The listing of the Jews by name and title, all in positions of influence (David Axelrod is Senior Advisor to the President), counters that proposition. Let's hope that those listed are not "anti-Jewish". As for your mind-reading capabilities (not) I was not "...thinking it somehow proves there is absolutely no one in the administration who is not a raving anti-Semite and overt enemy of Israel." But now that you've brought it up, please, for my edification, identify by name each Obama administration person you consider to be a "...raving anti-Semite and overt enemy of Israel."

Big Journalism : Helen Thomas Should Not Be Fired -- the Real Problem Lies Elsewhere

Tue, 8 Jun 2010 02:01:18 +0000

Ref. "The Obama regime is free to give her a platform during press conferences, as I am free to condemn them for giving said platform to an anti-Semite.": each administration inherits the WH press corp comprised of whomever has the press credentials at the time. For an administration to meddle in who gets in or out of the WH press corp for any reason other than security etc. would be considered interfering with the freedom of the press. So the Obama administration did not choose to give Helen Thomas a "platform during press conferences" and, due to her seniority, she was sitting front and center in previous administrations as well.

Big Journalism : Helen Thomas Should Not Be Fired -- the Real Problem Lies Elsewhere

Tue, 8 Jun 2010 01:59:14 +0000

Ref. "The Obama regime is free to give her a platform during press conferences, as I am free to condemn them for giving said platform to an anti-Semite.": each administration inherits the WH press corp comprised of whomever is given the press credentials at the time. For an administration to meddle in who gets in or out of the WH press corp for any reason other than security etc. would be considered interfering with the freedom of the press. So the Obama administration did not choose to give Helen Thomas a "platform during press conferences" and, due to her seniority, she was sitting front and center in previous administrations as well.

Big Journalism : Helen Thomas Should Not Be Fired -- the Real Problem Lies Elsewhere

Tue, 8 Jun 2010 01:29:02 +0000

Obama just happened to be the President when Helen Thomas had her 89th birthday, hence his presenting the cup cakes to the WH press corp doyenne. She was front and center of every WH briefing because of her seniority-- remember she was in the same seat during the Bush administration etc. As far as a putative personal relationship between Thomas and Obama don't forget that she took him to task on more occasions than not and that at her last, June 1st, presser she let loose this zinger, "Our initial reaction to this flotilla massacre - deliberate massacre and international crime was pitiful. What do you mean "...we regret..." when something should be so strongly condemned and if any other nation in the world had done it we would be up in arms? What is this sacrosanct, iron-clad, relationship with a country that deliberately kills people and boycotts every aid and abets the boycott?" Not exactly a warm and fuzzy embrace of the Obama administration.

Big Journalism : Helen Thomas Should Not Be Fired -- the Real Problem Lies Elsewhere

Tue, 8 Jun 2010 01:17:37 +0000

Right but, to stay on point, I was addressing the author's statement that the President has a "nasty habit of picking advisers who are not just anti-Israel, but anti-Jewish." Surely you are not suggesting that the Jews in the Obama administration, listed in my comment above, are anti-Israel and anti-Jewish because they espouse,"...opposition to Israeli policy comes with overt or implied denial of basic national and ethnic rights, or the abolition of the nation as a whole, particularly its Jewish identity...." and endorse "... the Palestinian Authority's claims that Jews have no historic connection to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, or Rachel's Tomb by Bethlehem, then the full blown anti-Jewish aspect of the statements is obvious, denials notwithstanding."

Big Journalism : Helen Thomas Should Not Be Fired -- the Real Problem Lies Elsewhere

Tue, 8 Jun 2010 01:03:18 +0000

Well, on the face of it, the difference between Pat Buchanan being able to continue broadcasting his anti-Semitic views and Helen Thomas losing her career for expressing hers is this: Mr. Buchanan is a man and Ms. Thomas is an old woman. Also timing and context is needed in today's discussion of Helen Thomas. Let's not forget the rapid unraveling and end to Ms. Thomas' career was initiated by her June 1st questioning of the US-Israel special relationship-- a very politically sensitive subject and now, apparently, the third-rail for the US press. While the rest of the nation was not paying attention to the international aid flotilla's attempt at breaking the Gaza blockade, she had been following the events and resultant international outcry and condemnation of Israel's Shayetet 13 botched assault on the Mavi Marmara in international waters. In the June 1st White House presser, Ms. Thomas chided the administration for not condemning the May 31st assault of the Turkish ship, an operation that, whatever the reason, resulted in the death of 9 civilians, "Our initial reaction to this flotilla massacre - deliberate massacre and international crime was pitiful. What do you mean "...we regret..." when something should be so strongly condemned and if any other nation in the world had done it we would be up in arms? What is this sacrosanct, iron-clad, relationship with a country that deliberately kills people and boycotts every aid and abets the boycott?" After those questions were asked, the readers' comments in Haaretz.com, The Jerusalem Post (jpost.com), and US conservative websites were vicious, ad hominem, attacks. They wanted Helen Thomas fired, dead, called her an ugly witch etc. This is not to say I agree with Ms. Thomas' comments, I don't, but she is entitled to her opinion. Regrettably her otherwise legendary career ended in ridicule and condemnation. This is a sad day both for Ms. Thomas and the US press. We have lost someone who dared to say the President had no clothes and to ask the hard questions, not just repeat whatever administration's official line.

Big Journalism : Helen Thomas Should Not Be Fired -- the Real Problem Lies Elsewhere

Tue, 8 Jun 2010 00:20:54 +0000

It is curious that you think the President has a "nasty habit of picking advisers who are not just anti-Israel, but anti-Jewish." As listed in the Jewish Virtual Library website http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/US-Is... following are "Jews in the Obama Administration." All listed are in advisory and influential positions. Are you saying they are anti-Jewish? Can't one disagree with Israel's foreign policy and not be called anti-Jewish already? Israel is a country and, while American Jews have great affection for Israel, they are still American and entitled to disagree with Israeli policy. David Axelrod (2009- ) Senior Advisor to the President Jared Bernstein (2009- ) Chief Economist and Economic Policy Advisor to the Vice President Rahm Emanuel (2009- ) Chief of Staff Lee Feinstein (2009- ) Foreign Policy Advisor Gary Gensler (2009- ) Chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Elena Kagan (2009- ) Solicitor General of the United States Ronald Klain (2009- ) Chief of Staff to the Vice President Jack Lew (2009- ) Deputy Secretary of State Eric Lynn (2009- ) Middle East Policy Advisor Peter Orszag (2009- ) Director of the Office of Management and Budget Dennis Ross (2009- ) Special Advisor for the Gulf and Southwest Asia to the Secretary of State Mara Rudman (2009- ) Foreign Policy Advisor Mary Schapiro (2009- ) Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission Dan Shapiro (2009- ) Head of Middle East desk at the National Security Council James B. Steinberg (2009- ) Deputy Secretary of State Lawrence Summers (2009- ) Director National Economic Council Mona Sutphen (2009- ) Deputy White House Chief of Staff

Big Journalism : Helen Thomas Should Not Be Fired -- the Real Problem Lies Elsewhere

Tue, 8 Jun 2010 00:14:15 +0000

It is curious that you think the President has a "nasty habit of picking advisers who are not just anti-Israel, but anti-Jewish." As listed in the Jewish Virtual Library website (http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/US-Israel/obamajews.html), following are "Jews in the Obama Administration." All listed are in advisory and influential positions. Are you saying they are anti-Jewish? Can't one disagree with Israel's foreign policy and not be called anti-Jewish already? Israel is a country and, while American Jews have great affection for Israel, they are still American and entitled to disagree with Israeli policy. Jared Bernstein (2009- ) Chief Economist and Economic Policy Advisor to the Vice President Rahm Emanuel (2009- ) Chief of Staff Lee Feinstein (2009- ) Foreign Policy Advisor Gary Gensler (2009- ) Chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Elena Kagan (2009- ) Solicitor General of the United States Ronald Klain (2009- ) Chief of Staff to the Vice President Jack Lew (2009- ) Deputy Secretary of State Eric Lynn (2009- ) Middle East Policy Advisor Peter Orszag (2009- ) Director of the Office of Management and Budget Dennis Ross (2009- ) Special Advisor for the Gulf and Southwest Asia to the Secretary of State Mara Rudman (2009- ) Foreign Policy Advisor Mary Schapiro (2009- ) Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission Dan Shapiro (2009- ) Head of Middle East desk at the National Security Council James B. Steinberg (2009- ) Deputy Secretary of State Lawrence Summers (2009- ) Director National Economic Council Mona Sutphen (2009- ) Deputy White House Chief of Staff