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Helen Thomas Stands by Her Previous Israel Criticisms, Makes New Ones

1 year ago
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Six months after the uproar that led to her forced retirement, Helen Thomas once again courted controversy, standing by her earlier comments on Israel and going further to claim that Zionists control U.S. policy, the Detroit Free Press reported Friday.

Thomas, a member of the White House press corps for 50 years, doubled down on her criticisms of Israel during a speech Thursday in Dearborn, Mich., on the topic of money in politics.

"Congress, the White House and Hollywood, Wall Street are owned by the Zionists. No question, in my opinion," Thomas, 90, told an audience of about 300 during a workshop on anti-Arab bias. "They put their money where their mouth is . . . We're being pushed into a wrong direction in every way."

In June, Hearst Newspapers announced Thomas, an Arab-American, would be retiring immediately after she told an interviewer on camera that Jews should "get the hell out of Palestine" and "go home" to Germany, Poland or the U.S.

As they did last summer, Jewish groups once again condemned her remarks.

"Ms. Thomas repeated the anti-Semitic stereotypes that have been used for more than a century to incite hatred of Jews. Her comments should be condemned by all people who oppose bigotry," Robert Cohen, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Metropolitan Detroit, told the Free Press Friday.

Thomas, the daughter of Lebanese immigrants, told the newspaper that her criticisms of Israel caused her to be ostracized in Washington.

"I can call a president of the United States anything in the book, but I can't touch Israel," she said.

Filed Under: Scandal

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66 Comments

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JE WA ZA WI

Do those critics not know that maybe a vast majority of Americans feel the same way.Put it on a poll knee jerkers.

January 19 2011 at 2:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
skinnycat

Must be some truth to it. Helen just reached the age when you just feel like saying whatever you are thinking and knowing about the world. Hope she writes a book.

January 02 2011 at 5:18 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
hi cat

After a lifetime career of questions to a lot of president puppets of Bilderberger, apparently she decided she had been force FED enough rancid schmalz for one lifetime. It may have caused some blockage. Look what it did to the USA !

December 06 2010 at 9:51 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JBD

Bottom line - Helen Thomas is telling the truth. Anyone who dares to say anything negative (even the truth) about Jews and/or Israel is going to catch hell. And the Jewish lobby in this country is the 800 pound gorilla in our middle east closet. Democrat or Republican, you want to stay in Washington, you toe the line. And that, my friends, is not bitterness, hatred, or anti-Semitic - it's just telling it like it is!

December 05 2010 at 6:11 PM Report abuse +4 rate up rate down Reply
SMRTNUP

Bitterness translated into hatred is what I'm seeing from Helen Thomas. Our Life's experiences dictate what we ultimately become in old age. Clearly, . . Ms. Thomas is NOT ATTRACTIVE as a human being and has probably gotten poor treatment because of that alone ! . . . Then, add to that, the fact that she stands more strongly upon her own attitude without flrxibility which causes her to be even more un-attractive in general. Time and Personal suffering due to her own individual traits and characteristics have worked together to evolve her into an ugly old bitter bitch. And, . . it's up to HER ALONE to make a change in that because she resists anyone else's opinion and staunchly sticks to her own beliefs. . . Thereby she has isolated herself from anyone who might even attempt to be heopful and a moderating force in her life, it seems. ! . . Best of luck, Ms. Thomas, . . You're gonna need it !!!

December 05 2010 at 6:13 AM Report abuse -5 rate up rate down Reply
badboyl69

WOMAN OF THE YEAR ! Ms. Thomas ..... but will NOT be because ? dah ?

December 05 2010 at 2:24 AM Report abuse -3 rate up rate down Reply
red5963

Don't condemn a people. Identify, then correct the behavior. Where there is smoke there is usually some semblance of fire. The sham is giving up freedom of speech while cowering in the shadow of political correctness...

December 04 2010 at 6:09 PM Report abuse +9 rate up rate down Reply
jectort

For those in support of Helen Thomas' views, I'd like to see you spend some time living under Sharia Law in an Arab nation. For that matter, why does she still live in the US, I'd offer her a ticket to any Arab nation that lives under Sharia Law so she can experience it first hand.. Then, maybe she'd have some credibility on the issue..

December 04 2010 at 11:54 AM Report abuse +4 rate up rate down Reply
jectort

As many have pointed out she has the right to her comments and opinions. But, employers also have the right to fire, err force her into retirement. Learing that she is of Arab decent does start to explain her anti-semitic views and explains her unattractiveness. She makes Hillary look good by comparison..

December 04 2010 at 11:46 AM Report abuse +6 rate up rate down Reply
suebauerle2

Why can't people that have once been in the public eye - just retire and go live their life! This old broad just won't go live her life! I'm sick to death of the hatefulness that has just taken over our society. Remember the lesson that all children (even adult children) should continue to live by - if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all! Believe me it makes you look a lot better!

December 04 2010 at 11:38 AM Report abuse +10 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to suebauerle2's comment
sambengal

It's all about a truth. Standing by a truth is not easy and it's make enemy.
It is not nice to advice someone based on a falls claim his own

January 19 2011 at 2:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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