June 7, 2010
Shunning Helen Thomas
Helen Thomas, who has covered the White House for over fifty years, is in the process of being shunned from polite society for her horrifying comments, caught on tape, that Jews should "get the hell out of Palestine" - going to Poland or Germany. Her long time agent, Nine Speaker, Inc. has declined to represent her in the future. Haaretz reports:
"It is with a heavy heart that Nine Speakers Inc. announces its resignation as the agent for Helen Thomas, Dean of the White House Press Corps," wrote Diane Nine, agency president."Ms. Thomas has had an esteemed career as a journalist, and she has been a trailblazer for women, helping others in her profession, and beyond. However, in light of recent events, Nine Speakers is no longer able to represent Ms. Thomas, nor can we condone her comments on the Middle East," wrote Nine.
We shall soon see if the term "polite society" extends to the White House press corps and Hearst.
Update (hat tip: NRO):
Thomas has been disinvited from giving a high school commencement address. Via the Washington Post:
Journalist Helen Thomas was scheduled to be the graduation speaker at Walt Whitman High School later this month - until Sunday, when she was disinvited after comments that she made about Israel and Palestine made many in the community uncomfortable, Montgomery Board of Education President Patricia O'Neill said Sunday."We became aware that there are some unfortunate comments from her that are airing on YouTube," O'Neill said. O'Neill said that especially given the large Jewish population at Whitman, the school was not comfortable with having Thomas speak at the graduation on June 14.