That "old Arab" Helen Thomas

I've never been a fan of Ann Coulter. To me hearing her is like fingers down a chalkboard. So I write this with acknowledged Ann Coulter dislike.

Her February 23rd column defending Jeff Gannon included the comment:

Press passes can't be that hard to come by if the White House allows that old Arab Helen Thomas to sit within yards of the president. Still, it would be suspicious if Dowd were denied a press pass while someone from "Talon News" got one, even if he is a better reporter.

The Universal Press Syndicate version changes this to:

Press passes can't be that hard to come by if the White House allows that dyspeptic, old Helen Thomas to sit within yards of the president. Still, it would be suspicious if Dowd were denied a press pass while someone from "Talon News" got one, even if he is a better reporter.

First I asked myself what is dyspeptic? For those of you like me who don't know and don't want to admit you don't know. Of or displaying a morose disposition.

Second I started to think wow Helen must really get to Ann for her to try to equate her with the most evil of all "Arabs" and an "old Arab" at that. Then I started to reflect on memories of Helen Thomas, all of my childhood memories of presidential press conferences Helen is there. At one time growing up and wanting to be a reporter I wanted to be just like her. Of course I'm not a reporter not even close, but Helen Thomas to me is what journalism is supposed to be about.

She's never been afraid to ask the hard questions, and is now being punished for that under this administration. While Nixon had no problem calling on Helen knowing it would probably be a question he really didn't want to answer, President Bush ignores her, he obviously can't handle her questions.

http://www.antiwar.com/comment/helen.html

HELEN THOMAS: 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.

MR. 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.

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

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

MS. THOMAS: They're not attacking you.

MR. FLEISCHER: -- from a country --

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

MR. 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.

MS. THOMAS: Is this revenge, 11 years of revenge?

That link makes it pretty obvious why President Bush would not want to ask Helen, after all with Jeff there it must have been a hard decision..."hmm softball question or hardball question....ummm Jeff?"

So I write in honor of Helen Thomas who to me I respect and I wish there were more of her courage in Journalism today. I also offer up this interview done with her that I highly recommend reading.

http://www.progressive.org/august04/intv0804.html

Helen if your out there? Many of us love and respect you and believe by honor of the years you've served and your committment to getting us the American public the truth you should have always been a first rower. Knowing Helen I'm sure she will laugh about Coulter calling her an "old Arab" I have this fantasy moment of seeing Helen appear in front of national televsion wearing arabic clothing just for that event.

Having the President call on her and even ask why she's dressed that way so she can tell him , Didn't you know your conservative media bunch called me an Old Arab so here I am baby.....

So Again thank you to Helen for inspiring me and for inspiring my children to be writers your contributions to this country have not been forgotten.