Picture and write-up about Helen Thomas's roses from DU from 2004

[madfloridian]

This is in answer to saracat who was looking for a picture. I post it separately as a tribute to a great reporter who still questions as she should. I don't have to agree with her on every topic, but she has most certainly earned the right to speak up to presidents.

Here is a link to saracat's post about our national treasure named Helen Thomas



Floral thanks for White House correspondent Helen Thomas
Photo: Democratic Underground

Bouquets for a Firebrand

The best known member of the White House press corps, 85-year-old Helen Thomas, never worried about people-pleasing, which is just what has made her a great reporter.

After being relegated to the back row, Thomas was at last called upon March 21 by George Bush. Right off, Thomas put him on notice: “You’re going to be sorry.”

“I’d like to ask you, Mr. President, your decision to invade Iraq has caused the deaths of thousands of Americans and Iraqis, wounds of Americans and Iraqis for a lifetime. Every reason given, publicly at least, has turned out not to be true. My question is, why did you really want to go to war? From the moment you stepped into the White House, from your Cabinet—your Cabinet officers, intelligence people, and so forth—what was your real reason? You have said it wasn’t oil—quest for oil, it hasn’t been Israel, or anything else. What was it?”

The President proceeded to rollerblade away from the question.

Bush: ”...we realized on September the 11th, 2001, that killers could destroy innocent life. And I’m never going to forget it. And I’m never going to forget the vow I made to the American people that we will do everything in our power to protect our people.

“Part of that meant to make sure that we didn’t allow people to provide safe haven to an enemy. And that’s why I went into Iraq—hold on for a second—”

Thomas: “They didn’t do anything to you, or to our country….”

[asdjrocky]

1. One of my few heroes who has never disappointed me.

[EFerrari]

2. That was so much fun.

She looks great in that picture. :)

[Greybnk48]

3. THAT"S why she wasn't permitted to speak.

Any question like this was "framed" as "rude", "sour grapes", "tantruming" or "naive". What's astounding is that the press played along. Having grown up with Cronkite and Rather, I couldn't believe the complacency.

Peggy Noonan still pulls that whiney condescending routine, but it's not effective anymore.

[madfloridian]

6. Questions like that were considered unpatriotic at that time.

As was anyone who did not support the invasion of Iraq. We need to be on guard not to let things get that way again.

[Greybnk48]

7. I forgot to add that particular bully tactic, it was #1. Thanks.

[madfloridian]

13. It was a terrible time in our country.

Bush's people were telling us to be careful what we said. Just imagine that in America.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. Some here now want to send her rotten tomatoes for the same reason we sent her roses.

How dare she criticize or question "our guy" about another lost war in the same way she did the other guy and his lost war?

[madfloridian]

12. Well said. She questioned many presidents.

Questioned Bush when no one else was.

And we are fearful of her questioning of this one.

:shrug:

[saracat]

5. Thank you so much! Here are some more pics! From my "'memory lane" thread

But your pic is the one I was looking for! I truly believe that we need more voices like Helen's and it is sad that some refus to listen to what she is saying but prefer to superimpose their own definition upon it. When folks move to "repress" opinion they lose a part of themselves.




http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6775354&mesg_id=6775354

[madfloridian]

9. Thanks, I remember those.

I missed them at your post.

[driver8]

8. I had breakfast with Helen Thomas when I was a college intern in Washington, DC.

It was a small group; maybe twenty people or so. We had breakfast, then Helen spoke, and then we had a question and answer period with her.

Definitely one of the highlights of my time in Washington!

[sabrina 1]

10. I hope she continues to hold elected officials accountable

because few others will do what she has always been willing to do. I remember that after she asked Bush that question, she revealed that she was receiving tons of hate-mail from the rightwingnuts. People then started sending her emails to counter the lunatics on the right. I'm sure she received tons of emails, but she responded to mine, and I've heard she responded to most of those who wrote to her. Just a short note, saying 'thank you'. Not many would have taken the time to do that especially back then.

It's hard to understand what courage it took for her to ask that question at that time. She had been pretty much gagged by the Bushies from the time they got into the WH. I remember her saying how much things had changed in her field over the past several years.

She said that in the past, when one journalist asked an important question, as she did that day, the others would back it up but that now, no one backs you up. They are all too worried about their careers and access to DC inner circles.

Thanks for this post, I remember when that happened and it was a wonderful idea for a great journalist.

[madfloridian]

11. I agree.

It took great courage. We were in the stage still of flags waving from cars, 2 per car where I live...and the shouts of USA USA were still going on all the time.

[sabrina 1]

15. Same where I was, yellow ribbons, flags everywhere

and on internet boards lots of threats to anyone who dared to disagree with Bush. Things have changed a lot since then, but she was vilified all over the place, after asking that question.

I remember friends in Europe asking why we were so excited about what she did, were things so bad that a reporter asking such a simple question was such a huge issue? It was hard to explain to them just how bad things were, you really had to be here. The US press at the time, rated somewhere around 54th in the world, down near third world countries, in terms of the freedom of the press.

Lol, yes, I remember the USA, USA chants also ~ they were scary times for anyone who just could not 'get on board' as one rightwingnut told me to do, 'or get out of MY country'!

[JNelson6563]

14. I disagree with her on Obama but think she's FABULOUS!

I can disagree with her but still absolutely love her! I hope to see her hard at it for many years to come. :toast:

Julie

[madfloridian]

16. Hi Julie. I am reserving judgment right now.

I find myself so upset about the education changes that I have to be careful not to see every area that way.