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Helen Thomas: "The Loser Will Always Blame The Media"
TheBostonChannel.com ^ | 24 Apr 08 | The grande dame of the White House press corps, HELEN THOMAS!!!

Posted on 04/25/2008 10:24:47 AM PDT by seanmerc

If history repeats, the loser of this year’s presidential election will blame the news media.

Richard Nixon, in the wake of his loss in the 1962 California gubernatorial race, bitterly taunted reporters, telling them, “You won't have Nixon to kick around anymore, because, gentlemen, this is my last press conference.”

(Turned out he was wrong on that point.)

Barbara Bush also had some choice words about the press when her husband, President George H.W. Bush, lost his reelection bid in 1992.

The media could be even a larger target this year because of the influence of blogs and talking heads -- folks who are not shy about airing their political preferences. These so-called journalists are willing to go into an attack mode to bolster a favored candidate.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said “to be first lady you have to have the skin of a rhinoceros.”

That goes for politicians too. Heavy criticism, sometimes unfair, goes with the turf. It’s not easy out there with political opponents loaded for bear and spending big money for attack ads.

Then there’s the honey trap that smart reporters and politicians try to avoid.

For example, take Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the likely Republican presidential nominee. McCain has his share of admiring reporters because he often chooses to schmooze with them.

Are both sides of that conversation cozying up? Sure. Reporters are vulnerable when it comes to access; getting close to the candidate might give them some insights into the candidate’s plans.

But there is always the potential problem that the reporter or the candidate may become confused about their roles and mistakenly think of each other as friends. They’re usually not. It’s not that they’re enemies, either. They are simply professionals doing their respective jobs.

On the topic of loyalties, Sen. Hilary Clinton, D-N.Y., must have a few choice thoughts, now that some of her Democratic friends have switched to Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. -- some believing that Obama has a better chance to win the presidency.

Among them was liberal former Labor Secretary Robert Reich who broke with the Clintons when he was still in the Clinton Cabinet.

Two conservative former Democratic senators, David Boren of Oklahoma and Sam Nunn of Georgia, have signed up with Obama. Obama also has the support of rock star Bruce Springsteen and Oprah, the TV and magazine mogul.

Once the Democrats’ civil strife is finished, one way or another, reporters should zero in on the November election candidates and ask relevant questions, such as:

How do we get out of Iraq?

What should be done in Afghanistan?

How can we get the economy moving and get more jobs created?

Do we need more tax cuts at a time of enormous war-time spending and gaping budget deficits?

Enough talk about universal health care -- how do we attain it?

Does our new national policy favor preemptive war? Torture?

What is the solution to global warming?

By now, the candidates should know where they stand on these pressing issues and the voters should be perfectly clear about their solutions when they go to the polls.

It’s the job of reporters to put the candidates on the spot. But if the past is prologue, you can be sure that the media will be blamed by the loser on Election Day.

Helen Thomas can be reached at hthomas@hearstdc.com


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; barackobama; clinton; clintonistas; clintoon; dims; dumbocrats; election; elections; getagriphelen; helenthomas; hillaryclinton; hillaryrodhamclinton; liberalmeathead; newsbabe; obama; obamanation; obamarama; obomber; rats
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Just in time for lunch!!!

1 posted on 04/25/2008 10:24:47 AM PDT by seanmerc
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To: seanmerc

You just gave me a seizure.


2 posted on 04/25/2008 10:26:15 AM PDT by The_Republican (Ovaries of the World Unite! Rush, Laura, Ann, Greta - Time for the Ovulation!)
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To: seanmerc

I don’t blame the media...I blame the average American’s inability to think critically.


3 posted on 04/25/2008 10:26:39 AM PDT by Slapshot68
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To: seanmerc

Came here early so I wouldn’t have to see that thing before lunch, and you went and ruined it for me on the first post...


4 posted on 04/25/2008 10:27:02 AM PDT by Abathar (Proudly posting without reading the article carefully since 2004)
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To: seanmerc
Helen, the only difference between the blogger, talk radio and you Journalists is they are honest about their political views and how it influences their coverage while “Journalists” continually lie about their hyper partisan political bigotry.
5 posted on 04/25/2008 10:27:08 AM PDT by MNJohnnie (http://www.iraqvetsforcongress.com ---- Get involved, make a difference.)
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To: seanmerc

Oh vey........that face in threes??????? What are you trying to do, torture me???????/Just Asking - seoul62........


6 posted on 04/25/2008 10:27:40 AM PDT by seoul62
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To: seanmerc

If Obama loses, racism will be blamed.
If Clinton loses, sexism will be blamed.
If McCain loses, McCain will be blamed.


7 posted on 04/25/2008 10:28:00 AM PDT by Leftism is Mentally Deranged
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To: seanmerc

And if the loser is black they will always blame racism.


8 posted on 04/25/2008 10:28:22 AM PDT by joebuck (Finitum non capax infinitum!)
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To: seanmerc
The Loser Will Always Blame The Media

What is she blaming the media for?

9 posted on 04/25/2008 10:29:12 AM PDT by HoosierHawk
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To: seanmerc
Tools/Internet Options/Advanced tab
uncheck Show Pictures.

And the Helen Thomas thread is safe for everyone.

10 posted on 04/25/2008 10:31:39 AM PDT by KarlInOhio (Pray for Rattendaemmerung: the final mutually destructive battle between Obama and Hillary in Denver)
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To: Slapshot68

Here is what I really believe has happened:
1. After 8 years of Moveon.ORG Bush hating and hating everything that is not radical leftist agenda and I mean Venomous hatred, they have been able to convince the media and their own contstituants that a candidate like Barack Obama is desirable. The most liberal left wing candidate they could find.
Now they tried to camoflouge him but the truth is that most Americans do not hate their country and do not hate their president and do not wish defeat for our troops in Iraq. So I believe that by dragging their entire party to the looney left they have created a situation in which even Hillary Clinton looks too far to the right for them. This will ultimately cause them to nominate someone that cannot win. This should be no consolation to true conservatives because Mccain is no conservative. It could be argued whether Hillary Clinton or Mccain would be better to win this thing I believe. At least Clinton would try to position herself in the middle once elected. Mccain would have no loyalty and try and distance himself from most conservatives


11 posted on 04/25/2008 10:36:52 AM PDT by DOGHEAD
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To: seanmerc

Crazy as ever. People ask if she is still alive. There is no way to tell from those pictures.


12 posted on 04/25/2008 10:37:52 AM PDT by noname07718 (The Senate is based on consensus. “Consensus is the absence of leadership” - Lady M.Thatcher)
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To: noname07718

Other than her list of “issues” (”What is the solution to global warming” Blah!), she’s remarkably lucid in this article. You know what they say about a stopped clock....


13 posted on 04/25/2008 10:52:29 AM PDT by Cyber Liberty (Don't trust anyone who can't take a joke. [Congressman BillyBob])
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To: seanmerc

Helen Thomas is blaming the media?


14 posted on 04/25/2008 10:56:15 AM PDT by <1/1,000,000th%
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To: Cyber Liberty

Do you really think Helen Thomas is right twice a day?


15 posted on 04/25/2008 10:59:01 AM PDT by seanmerc
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To: MNJohnnie
Helen, the only difference between the blogger, talk radio and you Journalists is they are honest about their political views and how it influences their coverage while “Journalists” continually lie about their hyper partisan political bigotry.

One other difference is that in the new media any lies, omissions, biases and mistakes are immediately and publicly pointed out, while the numerous layers of editors and fact checkers in old journalism are either asleep or join in the deception.

16 posted on 04/25/2008 11:00:12 AM PDT by RJL
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To: seanmerc

17 posted on 04/25/2008 11:01:48 AM PDT by FReepaholic (Me no bottom man. Me top man.)
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To: seanmerc
Well, no, I guess it came off sounding that way...Just sayin' she sounds a little less whacked out than usual.

I better get back to reading the Friday Silliness Thread.

18 posted on 04/25/2008 11:21:08 AM PDT by Cyber Liberty (Don't trust anyone who can't take a joke. [Congressman BillyBob])
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To: seanmerc
And I was just about to go to lunch and you have to bust out a triple Helen Thomas. The only defense against such a cruel sneak attack will be Megan Fox. My stomach feels better now.


19 posted on 04/25/2008 11:40:25 AM PDT by Proud_USA_Republican (We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good. - Hillary Clinton)
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To: seanmerc

I think FR should only allow that picture in conjunction with extortion threats.

Such as, “If you don’t _____________, then we will post the Helen Thomas picture!”

That is the most disgusting, witchy/bit_hy picture I’ve ever seen in my life.


20 posted on 04/25/2008 11:49:35 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain -- Those denying the War was Necessary Do NOT Support the Troops!)
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