Helen Thomas, Impartial Journalist, in Today's WH Press Briefing

White House Website ^ | 6 January 2003 | the White House

[SFConservative]

ARI FLEISCHER: And with that, I'm more than happy to take your questions. Helen.

HELEN THOMAS, Hearst Newspapers columnist: At the earlier briefing, Ari, you said that the President deplored the taking of innocent lives. Does that apply to all innocent lives in the world? And I have a follow-up.

FLEISCHER: I refer specifically to a horrible terrorist attack on Tel Aviv that killed scores and wounded hundreds. And the President, as he said in his statement yesterday, deplores in the strongest terms the taking of those lives and the wounding of those people, innocents in Israel.

THOMAS: My follow-up is, why does he want to drop bombs on innocent Iraqis?

FLEISCHER: Helen, the question is how to protect Americans, and our allies and friends --

THOMAS: They're not attacking you.

FLEISCHER: -- from a country --

THOMAS: Have they laid the glove on you or on the United States, the Iraqis, in 11 years?

FLEISCHER: I guess you have forgotten about the Americans who were killed in the first Gulf War as a result of Saddam Hussein's aggression then.

THOMAS: Is this revenge, 11 years of revenge?

FLEISCHER: Helen, I think you know very well that the President's position is that he wants to avert war, and that the President has asked the United Nations to go into Iraq to help with the purpose of averting war.

THOMAS: Would the President attack innocent Iraqi lives?

FLEISCHER: The President wants to make certain that he can defend our country, defend our interests, defend the region, and make certain that American lives are not lost.

THOMAS: And he thinks they are a threat to us?

FLEISCHER: There is no question that the President thinks that Iraq is a threat to the United States.

THOMAS: The Iraqi people?

FLEISCHER: The Iraqi people are represented by their government. If there was regime change, the Iraqi --

THOMAS: So they will be vulnerable?

FLEISCHER: Actually, the President has made it very clear that he has not dispute with the people of Iraq. That's why the American policy remains a policy of regime change. There is no question the people of Iraq --

THOMAS: That's a decision for them to make, isn't it? It's their country.

FLEISCHER: Helen, if you think that the people of Iraq are in a position to dictate who their dictator is, I don't think that has been what history has shown.

THOMAS: I think many countries don't have -- people don't have the decision -- including us.

[dalebert]

I think we should hold her down and let Ari put a plastic bag over her head. Dumb Helen can't connect the dots.

[homeschool mama]

FOFL

[clintonh8r]

And which of those nations "can't defend themselves"?

[UnBlinkingEye]

The President has been quite deliberate and allowed everyone to cooperate before anyone gets hurt.

Famous words of schoolyard bullies around the world.

[billorites]

"I thought Helen exposed Ari as a shill for the policy of pre-emptive attack"

I guess Ari's my shill.

[Alouette]

if Fleischer just stepped out from the podium and went down to Helen and slapped her upside her obnoxious, stupid and butt-ugly head.

I'd applaud a pie in the face. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, the White House press corps is pleased to honor Ms. Thomas on her hundred and eleventh birthday!"

[red-dawg]

I don't think PBS would like her, Bob Vila would cry trademark infringement regarding "This Old Horse".

[HighWheeler]

"I also think Fleischer allowed her too many questions. She demanded two and he let her ask eight (?)."

Hey, if she is sounding like the biased, liberal, idiotic, terrorist loving jack-ass that she is, then by all means he should stand back and let her talk.

[Dog Gone]

Yeah, that's it. We're bullies.

[HighWheeler]

Tagging the Keywords

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[Bogey78O]

So we should only try and muscle countries that can guarantee sufficient American casualties?

You're all heart.

[Ben Hecks]

I like your photo of Helen.....unfortunately, she isn't wearing her leopard fur coat in this one. LOL! I think we should consider donating a shopping cart to Helen the Bag Lady - we might be able to get someone from Fox News to present it to her.

[SJackson]

Thanks for the ping.

Funny how the jihadis decry an attack on Iraq on the basis of the "sudden" threat of Korea (North).

General MacArthur and Chesty Puller knew the North Koreans, nasty guys. Welcome to the last century.

Patience. We should deal with tyrants on our own schedule, each in their own time.

[SFConservative]

UnBlinkingEye

I think I've got it. You have your eyes firmly shut 100% of the time.

[Chu Gary]

"Is one of the prices of freedom allowing a dementia sufferer to incoherently lambast the press secretary from the front row during press briefing? "

Other examples include Jesse the Jackass, Rev. Al and many other amateur race baiters, hatemongerers, prima-donnas, etc.

[visualops]

I recall sometime back some fluff piece on TV profiling her and it was nothing but glowing praise, partly becaus eshe's still alive I guess.
They pulished online here locally and article by her that was nothing but anti-Bush disinformation.
How can she be called a journalist?
She's a propagandist.

[ArneFufkin]

The President has been quite deliberate and allowed everyone to cooperate before anyone gets hurt.

Famous words of schoolyard bullies around the world

Yeah, as long as the bullies are valets and mates with Price Harry and William, and they are jolly fit to crack wise and give the boys a real sticky wicket on the polo grounds.

[Semper911]

Great title, great keywords, great post, and a goddamned good thread.

Someone just needs to walk up and tip her over. Yeah, that's it, cow-tipping in the press briefing room.

(What's with those shades? How the *bleep* does Ari keep a straight face?)