Helen Thomas to address anti-Israel protests during Netanyahu's visit to U.S.

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"A series of protests against Israeli policy and its support by AIPAC are planned in May to coincide with the AIPAC conference in the U.S. capital and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech there. The protests, under the heading "Move over AIPAC," will include demonstrations opposite the building where Netanyahu will speak and Congress, and a series of lectures and meetings with critics of Israel, including veteran journalist Helen Thomas who lost her place in the White House press room after saying Jews should leave Palestine and go back to Poland, Germany and the United States. Thomas will give the keynote address at the Move Over AIPAC conference, and will receive an award from the women's pacifist organization Code Pink, one of the hundred left-wing American organizations behind the conference."

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[dionysus]

1. hoo boy.

:popcorn:

[madrchsod]

5. to early for beer?

[Drale]

2. Man she seems to have gone crazy lately

She must be getting senile.

[sabbat hunter]

3. Shame on code pink

n/t

[houstonintc]

4. Great she can..,

Tell Code Pink about those evil dastardly Jew... I mean Zionists... right yeah, that control Hollywood and the White House and... errr... the banks... yes those dam money grubbing Je... Zionists.

Heck she can just read off from her Playboy article interview.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[King_David]

6. Why have a prominant AntiSemite adress an anti-Israel protest ?

They keep tellin us they not Anti Jew just anti Israel,Anti Occupation,Anti Zionist etc

THEN they get the most prominant Antisemite in the US today to adress their rally.

Kind of like when Iran hosts David Duke at their 'anti Zionist' conferences.

Is David Duke adressing it too?

[izquierdista]

7. Good for her

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[King_David]

9. She hates Jews and you say good for her?

[shira]

10. The pro-Palestinian movement showing its true colors. n/t

[wellst0nev0ter]

11. Okay, I'll Bite

Where does she say she hates Jews?

And yes, in those exact words.

[shira]

12. Where does Helen say she hates Jews? Even David Duke says he doesn't hate Jews. n/t

[wellst0nev0ter]

13. Wrong Answer, Once Again, Where Does She Say She Hates Jews?

I'll be waiting.

[King_David]

14. By your definition theres no antisemites. Thats the right answer.

You do not get to decide whats the right or wrong answer.

[shira]

15. Of course, since David Duke says he doesn't hate Jews, he must not.

:eyes:

[wellst0nev0ter]

17. Who Saying Anything About David Duke?

We're talking about Helen Thomas, remember?

Now I asked a simple question, and you are evading.

Please point out her hatred of Jews.

[oberliner]

18. She has never said that she 'hates Jews'

She has said that she believes Jews own and/or control the White House, Congress, Wall Street, and Hollywood in various remarks over the past year.

That is some pretty nasty stuff.

[wellst0nev0ter]

20. Quotes Please? n/t

[oberliner]

25. “Congress, the White House and Hollywood, Wall Street are owned by the Zionists”

Thread on it from December:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9680652

Still quite stunned by your response to my other post on this thread with respect to her comments about Jews controlling the White House.

Here's a piece of that exchange for anyone who missed it:

PLAYBOY: In America you’re talking about a relatively small community. Jews make up roughly 2% of the US population. On a worldwide level, the percentage is well under 1%. Those numbers don’t exactly spell domination.

THOMAS: I get where you’re leading with this. You know damn well the power they have. It isn’t the 2%. It’s real power when you own the White House, when you own these other places in terms of your political persuasion. Of course they have power. You don’t deny that. You’re Jewish, aren’t you?

[wellst0nev0ter]

16. And You Do?

Come on, where does it say she hates Jews.

It's a simple question, really.

[King_David]

19. See Oberliner`s answer above.

This is just silly.


When someone starts defending Helen Thomas that someone should examine his own feelings ,reminds me of how everyone defended Ahnadinajad of not being a Jew hater and how he was just mistranslated or some other rubbish and we know how that turned out.

I am sorry but I can not continue a conversation with someone defending this nasty bigot. Perhaps examine your inner motivations to defend an antisemite.

G`Day

[wellst0nev0ter]

21. Well, You Had Several Chances To Back Your Statement Up

I'm equally sorry you were unable to. Have a good life.

[Shaktimaan]

22. actually, you make an excellent point.

During these discussions I think it is important to remember what it is that defines anti-semitism. We have all heard people defend obviously anti-semitic statements with the foil "But I don't hate Jews." And in many cases it is very true. Hating Jews is not a pre-requisite for anti-semitism. Helen Thomas made some remarks that clearly range into anti-semitic rhetoric, both of the classic "Elders of Zion" type as well as the modern kind that cloaks itself in "anti-zionism."

Does this mean she hates Jews?

I think the question misses the point. Maybe she does, maybe not. Who cares, really? More importantly she ascribes to a series of beliefs that are intrinsic to the long, complex tradition of fostering discrimination against Jews. You don't have to actively hate Jews to take part in this process and we should be conscious of not over-simplifying the motive behind her statements, lest we caricature her into a moustache-twirling villain. She is not that, and her statements should be taken all the more seriously because of it.

The real danger is not that Jew-haters exist or that they are out there spreading propaganda. It is that normal, liberal-identifying people can and are being swayed by anti-semitic rhetoric and that THEY are out there spreading propaganda. Propaganda that they reject as even being anti-semitic because they believe it, and they certainly don't hate Jews. The tragedy is that you don't need to actually hate someone to participate in discrimination against them... So long as it is couched in a way that makes it agreeable to you.

[wellst0nev0ter]

24. I See Your Point

However I've still yet to see anyone actually demonstrates how her rhetoric manifests her invidious bigotry towards Jews. Just one quote is all I ask, but it's not coming.

[oberliner]

30. There are a lot of folks who are recognized as bigots (or displaying bigotry)

Some prominent public figures are clearly bigoted against homosexuals, others against Arab-Americans, etc.

There is not always a direct quote that succinctly illustrates that bigotry but it is often clear from the tone and tenor and insensitivity of remarks related to those and other groups.

[LeftishBrit]

32. Where do Dan Pipes and Melanie Phillips say that they hate Muslims?

Would you not consider them as anti-Muslim nevertheless?

Outside fringe-groups, most bigots don't say that they *hate* all members of the group against which they're prejudiced. They may even genuinely like some individual members of that group. But alleging that a small minority group are taking power; that Jews 'own the White House' or that Muslims are 'turning Europe into Eurabia' is pretty intrinsically bigoted IMO.

[azurnoir]

23. more complete list of speakers

Move Over AIPAC is endorsed by changemakers including: writer Alice Walker, journalist Helen Thomas, consumer advocate Ralph Nader, Holocaust survivor Hedy Epstein, The Israel Lobby authors John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt, past American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee President Abdeen Jabara, authors Nadia Hijab and Naomi Klein, Jewish Voice for Peace ED Rebecca Vilkomerson, former US Senator James Abourezk, Israeli activist and researcher Dalit Baum, blogger/writer Laila El Haddad, clown doctor Patch Adams, Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, union organizer Bill Fletcher, analyst Phyllis Bennis, human rights advocate Anna Baltzer, and many more.

http://www.moveoveraipac.org/

guess they're all antisemites?

[shira]

26. Speakers on the wrong side of history. n/t

[azurnoir]

27. being for self determination is the wrong side of history? n/t

[LeftishBrit]

28. Not at all!

But the message of those who support self-determination for Palestine would be much clearer if it were not contaminated by the views of someone who has put it on record that she considers that Jews 'own' the White House and Hollywood.

[azurnoir]

29. There are 17 other speakers listed but that one is all that counts? n/t

[LeftishBrit]

31. No, not all that counts

BUT for instance if a group attacking lack of human rights in Iran got Dan Pipes or Melanie Phillips as a speaker, even if they had 17 other speakers, wouldn't that be seen as regrettable and detract from the positive side of the message?

[azurnoir]

33. but for 'some reason' that is all we're talking about

so how long will it be till this is known as the Helen Thomas conference? As to your assertions that would be a matter of opinion and would in likelihood not be seized upon in as voracious a matter

eta you replied for another poster and IMO changed and 'cleaned up' the meaning of that posters comment

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

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[shira]

37. It'd be nice if some at the "Move over AIPAC" conference criticized the organizers...

...for making Helen Thomas a keynote speaker.

Or do you disagree?

[azurnoir]

49. Exept she is not a speaker at all the statement about her withdrawal made 4/14/11

was right below the list of speaker yet no one 'seemed' to notice? but thanks it has been quite an 'informative' episode in Pro0Israel 'diplomacy' and discussion

[shira]

53. That's great news actually! Pity her current admirers here had no problem with her speaking. n/t

[LeftishBrit]

55. Maybe they did - as she seems to have withdrawn now.

Which is a good thing.

[pelsar]

35. you misunderstand..

some posters really like helen, agree with her viewpoint and are disappointed that the attention is on her...they would prefer it be on someone else so that she can get her message out without interruption.

[azurnoir]

36. posters really like her but do not want attention paid to her?

and what is her 'message'?

[King_David]

38. Jews

How Jews run the Whitehouse,Hollywood,Wallstreet


etc. The same message as some nasty rightwing fanatics.

[azurnoir]

39. You mean like Senator Jon Kyl who hosted Geert Wilders? n/t

[King_David]

41. I do not understand nt

[azurnoir]

43. your quote "The same message as some nasty rightwing fanatics."

I gave you an example of a nasty right winger, but you do not understand?

[King_David]

45. I was thinking more David Duke nt

[azurnoir]

46. that's what I thought seems he is the favorite with some here, however

it seems that Israel has some rather nasty right wing support of it's own, but we shouldn't dwell on that? not when we should be concentrating on right wing support of Palestinians?

[LeftishBrit]

56. For myself, I dwell on both.

Both the pro-Israel AND pro-Palestinian campaigns are damaged when they accept the support of RW bigots.

[pelsar]

40. posters like her...and dont want negative attention on their protest because of her

whats her message?........feel free to redefine her 'protocols of zion" viewpoint anyway you feel like it, nothing new there.

[azurnoir]

42. "feel free to redefine her 'protocols of zion" viewpoint anyway you feel like it, nothing new there.

so I have been redefining the 'protocols' in your opinion?

[pelsar]

44. i wasn't talking about you...

it was just a general comment on those who dont like helen getting any undue attention....if you feel your one of them, then perhaps it fits.

[azurnoir]

47. ah so if the shoe fits I see Lol n/t

[azurnoir]

48. Helen Thomas publically withdrew from this conference 3 days prior to Haaretz article

Statement about Helen Thomas and Move Over AIPAC
On April 14, 2011, in Latest News, by Move Over AIPAC!


Over 100 organizations have come together to endorse the Move Over AIPAC gathering in DC in May during AIPAC’s annual conference. Helen Thomas was invited to speak, as a journalist who is fearless about questioning power and unnecessary wars, but because some of her comments have sparked controversy, several members of the coalition and our grassroots community had concerns about her appearance.

When Thomas was informed about this, she feared that the focus of the events might shift to her, instead of AIPAC and U.S. policy, and she gracefully withdrew her participation. “I am delighted that people are coming together for this gathering and I want to make sure that the focus stays on AIPAC and U.S. policy, not me,” she said.

http://www.moveoveraipac.org/2011/04/life-long-journalist-helen-thomas-to-be-honored-at-move-over-aipac-summit-2/

[oberliner]

50. Iran's Press TV just put up an article saying she is going to address the group

Here is the link:

http://www.presstv.ir/usdetail/175490.html

It looks to be from yesterday (later than the Ha'aretz article).

[azurnoir]

51. The statement is linked from Code Pinks website but I guess we should take Iran's word huh? n/t

[shira]

54. The StormFront crowd was looking forward to seeing HT speaking against the "Zionists". n/t

[LeftishBrit]

57. Well, let's hope they're wrong.

PressTV takes the Iranian government's line on issues, which means that their reports on anything to do with Israel are a wee bit unreliable. At least they didn't call it the Zionist Entity!

[Douglas Carpenter]

52. I think that's for the best - that Helen withdrew from the conference

Statement about Helen Thomas and Move Over AIPAC

On April 14, 2011, in Latest News, by Move Over AIPAC!

Over 100 organizations have come together to endorse the Move Over AIPAC gathering in DC in May during AIPAC’s annual conference. Helen Thomas was invited to speak, as a journalist who is fearless about questioning power and unnecessary wars, but because some of her comments have sparked controversy, several members of the coalition and our grassroots community had concerns about her appearance.

When Thomas was informed about this, she feared that the focus of the events might shift to her, instead of AIPAC and U.S. policy, and she gracefully withdrew her participation. “I am delighted that people are coming together for this gathering and I want to make sure that the focus stays on AIPAC and U.S. policy, not me,” she said.

Organizers of the May gathering are focused on AIPAC because they believe it is one of the great barriers to building a more just US foreign policy in Israel and Palestine based on democracy and human rights. More information about Move Over AIPAC can be found at http://www.moveoveraipac.org/


http://www.moveoveraipac.org/2011/04/life-long-journalist-helen-thomas-to-be-honored-at-move-over-aipac-summit-2/