Nader says reinstate Helen Thomas

[Lars77]

Run time: 08:42 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z_dcD5ebPQ   Posted on YouTube: June 12, 2010 By YouTube Member: TheRealNews Views on YouTube: 304   Posted on DU: June 12, 2010 By DU Member: Lars77 Views on DU: 2650

 

[John Kerry VonErich]

1. She was terrorized into quitting.

plain and simple.

[stray cat]

2. She resigned - she wasn't fired.

[cascadiance]

11. It was just as much her choice to resign as it was Nixon's earlier...

[breadandwine]

32. If Heleln "Hamas" wasn't clear enough in telling the Jews to clear out, read the hate comments

that followed her resignation on the website and YouTube of the video of the interviewer-----


http://www.rabbilive.com/RabbiLIVE/Home.html


Some people thought Thomas' hate-filled comments were clear enough. If they weren't, her inspiration made some others a little more blatant than she was, if that is possible.

Thomas also said the "Zionists" have "vast power," called terrorists "freedom fighters" and defended Hamas for being democratically elected despite vast Hamas intimidation of fellow Arabs in Gaza where they routinely threaten and kill people who challenge them.

"They control, they have vast power - the Zionists." She said.

Everybody knows who she meant. In the words of Martin Luther King, "When people attack Zionists, they are talking about Jews." Helen was talking about American Jews specifically in the interview in which she said that.

This is the usual "Jewish conspiracy" crap of people like Pat Buchanan.

And her "go back to Germany" is exactly what Ahmadinejad has been saying.

She also tried to whitewash Iran's nuclear program during President Obama's inaugural press conference, in which President Obama had to clarify things because of her obvious ignorance of what is going on in Iran. The UN just voted more sanctions against Iran's nuclear program, including Iranian allies like Russia and China. Thomas is really out to lunch. She also denied all Jewish heritage in the land of Israel on more than one occasion, which goes back thousands of years. She wasn't just talking about parts of Israel but all of it. Jews, she said, have to get out because they have no heritage there. She was talking about Israel as a whole, no Jewish roots there at all she made clear.

It wasn't just one little slip up, Ralph, she's been spewing this crap for years. Hitler said, "Juden raus!" - "Jews out!" It was only when Helen became that blatant that she got criticized. I would say that contrary to Saint Ralph's assertion that she had been treated unfairly, it was exactly the opposite. No anti-Semitic statement she made could be challenged until she got so blatant that even the blind could see that she crossed a line.

She lost her objectivity a long time ago.

[Better Believe It]

36. Ralph Nader is an Arab American. Do you also think he is a terrorist supporter?

And I have to wonder if you think it is just wonderful that the extreme right-wing Israeli regime is armed to the teeth with atomic, chemical and biological weapons.

[LiberalLovinLug]

50. "And her "go back to Germany" is exactly what Ahmadinejad has been saying."

That analysis completely destroys any credit you had.

Do you honestly think, despite Helen's fierce defense of the Palestinians, that she meant she would like to see all Israelis sent back in time to Nazi Germany and roasted in ovens?

:eyes:

[spiritual_gunfighter]

3. Ralph's right n/t

[burrowowl]

57. Yup!

[Go2Peace]

4. Or make an example, add another Journalist known for the same kind of work

instead of another hack that just wants to collect a nice paycheck and bennies.

[Mosaic]

5. She's done nothing wrong

She's entitled to her views. Like Nader said her views are nothing like the vile, violent fantasies of Ann Coulter. Where's the demand to get her fired? Why do discredited neocons like Ari Fleicher get make that call? :mad:

[spiritual_gunfighter]

7. Or

discredited DLCer Lanny Davis.

[leftynyc]

58. She's entitled to her views

She's not entitled to a job. Now she can say whatever she wants, whenever she wants. And Ann Coulter is not in the white house press corps and she's entitled to her views as well. So is Ari Fleisher. Do you see how that works?

[WileEcoyote]

6. Grandstanding, (rolls his eyes AGAIN!)

God I wish this guy had just kept lobbying for better government, honesty and the environment.

Not many remember this but back in the 1970's Nader was asked to run for President. Yet he always refused saying he thought he could get more done by organizing grass roots efforts. Inspiring and empowering the average American to take up the good fight.

It kills me to see Nader embarrassing himself.

[Tutankhamun]

13. Back in the 70's we had a media that would watch over government.

Nader had worked so well to keep the corporations in check, but they began building their massive RW echo chamber, taking almost complete control of the media, shutting Nader out. There really was a huge effort to keep him from being heard.

Ironically, his response was to run against Gore, thereby helping the greedy CEOs who had shut him out.

I heard him on the radio discussing how the corporations and their media made him unable to accomplish the kinds of things he once had.

Not that he wasn't full of shit when he said that Bush=Gore/Gore=Bush.

[defendandprotect]

23. Re your final point .....

Not that he wasn't full of shit when he said that Bush=Gore/Gore=Bush.


Thom Hartman was talking about that the other day -- the difference between the two

parties -- and he was confirming for his audience once again, very minimal differences.

We need to move to a more progressive candidate in 2012 --

and Schultz show yesterday featured his appearance in Oregon -- not sure where -- but

talk and Q&A -- very interesting -- and Schultz recommending liberals/progressives move

to creating a new party.


PLUS, consider the insanity of Gore making Lieberman his VP! Quite a Trojan Horse there!!

:nuke:

[Tutankhamun]

33. Lieberman wasn't really a trojan horse. He was more of a trojan mini horse.

With the face/voice of Droopy the cartoon dog.

[defendandprotect]

42. So it wouldn't have bothered you had Lieberman been VP and perhaps ...

eventually president?

Or -- had something happened to Gore . . . pushed into the presidency?

[Tutankhamun]

48. How does my making fun of his size, face and voice get construed as an endorsement?

You just didn't get the joke.

[defendandprotect]

49. You're right . . . I find it hard to joke about fascists --

but thanks, anyway --

I promise I'll try harder next time!!

:)

[defendandprotect]

22. Government changed and Nader was blocked . . . that's why he ran ...

that is -- government was corrupted -- and made inaccessible to all but corporate lobbyists.

Nader was shut out --

[Ozymanithrax]

8. Ralph, her statement was made on 27 May...

It had nothing to do with the attack on those ships three days later.
Get your facts straight.

[sabrina 1]

17. It had to do with the inhumane and illegal blockade

of Gaza and the occupation by settlers of Palestinian land. I think everyone with a few functioning brain

Since Helen's statement, Egypt has opened its borders, stating that the blockade had only increased militancy. Israel now under pressure from the whole world except the U.S. regarding the blockade, has agreed to ease the restrictions on Gaza.

The shame is that the world did nothing until people were killed trying to bring help to people who badly needed it. Helen's anger at the situation is shared by a vast majority of people around the globe, and the attempt to distract from the issue itself by attacking anyone who expressed frustration over a humanitarian crisis such as the one the Palestinian people have been enduring at the hands of the Israeli government and the illegal settlements simply is not working.

It was the likes of Ari Fleischer who seemed to be ready and waiting to jump on this and turn it into a witch hunt. Ari Fleischer should probably be in jail along with the rest of the criminals he was the spokesperson for, but in our upside-down world, it seems that bad guys get respect while the guys, like Helen, are 'condemned'. I believe that history will put all of this into perspective though. Helen has not lost a single iota of respect from rational people. I don't follow the lead of the rabid rightwing in this country. But some progressives maybe out of fear of being called names or something, repeatedly help them to suppress the voices we so badly need to hear.

[defendandprotect]

25. And worth noting 88% of the public support Helen!!

This suggests rather strongly changing positions re Israel --

and I think Obama should be withdrawing support -- money and weapons --

and reversing the warmongering of Bush/Israel--

[Ozymanithrax]

28. In this case, 88% of the public is dead wrong...n/t

[avaistheone1]

30. Yes, and the world is flat too.

:tinfoilhat: :crazy:

And those Israeli commandos were only armed with paint ball guns...

:sarcasm:

[Ozymanithrax]

37. No sarcasm, Helen Thomas is a racist. A lot of people think that is OK...

because she is a liberal. Well, I wish the rest of the press corps had have her balls. He voice will be missed But she is a racist. She has no place there.

Now if we can just get rid of Fox news and the rest of the racists.

[defendandprotect]

39. Our attacks on Iraq, Afghanistan can certainly be considered racist . . .

and anti-Muslim -- recall Bush referred to a "Crusade" --

Israel's attack on Palestine can also be considered racist --

Israeli immigrants were generally Europeans -- and Palestinians are Arabs - Semites.

Helen Thomas' comments made clear what many Americans are coming to understand and

what the world generally says: "Israel should get out of Palestine"

And, btw, Helen said "Israelis" could return to their European/American origins if they

were unhappy. Helen did not say "Jews."

Also note: Israelis are returning to Germany from Israel and Israel has been trying to

stop it.



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8512348&mesg_id=8517284

[Ozymanithrax]

53. I wonder if Haneen Zoabi would be welcome going back in Poland, Germany, the U.S.A.

since she is an Arab Israeli member of the Knesset.

The sheer ignorance of Helen's statement is breathtaking. I am aware of what she said. Retiring was the right thing for her to do.

[austin78704]

41. Then there would be no press corps

All people have ugly flaws that come out sooner or later.

Helen's good deeds heavily outweigh her flaws.

[Ozymanithrax]

52. As a columnist, I t think she would be fine. It would be opinion, and...

the right if full of jackasses with opinions. Not on the Press corps. The right has no standards except what is good for the right and what appeals to their demographic. The left must have standards.

[WileEcoyote]

44. You just identified 80% of D/U'ers at times

Part time racists. I generally agree with them save and except for when they get on the bully train against Israel. At which point there is no reasoning with them. They will at least tacitly support all things Hamas while denying it at the same time.

None of them would tolerate rocket attacks on their own town. Hypocrites all who blame Israel.

[Ozymanithrax]

51. Israel is driving itself down the road to its own extinction through apartheid practices...

yes,there is a lot of racism on that side of the divide. I don't support Israel, I don't support the Hamas contentment of the Gaza. I don't' think highly of the PA, though on any scale they are better than Hamas.

People here have complained for a long time about the rampant racism on the right, that folk like Beck, Savage, Hannity, and their ilk should be off the air. I don't believe we should have a double standard toward those on our own side, saying that they didn't mean it, or complaining that one strike and your out is unfair since the other side can swing the snake until it pukes.

Helen Thomas's courage will be missed, her eagerness to ask very tough questions will be missed. I am sorry to see her go. But she needs to be held to a standard of integrity by those of us on the left because nobody speaking on the right, that I know of, is required to have any integrity.

[WileEcoyote]

54. If left to the wolves by Liberals Israelis will turn to the GOP for support

With apologies to wolves. All fine animals.

The way Democrats here on D/U are blaming Israel for all the world's ills paves the way for more and more Conservatives to receive Jewish/Israeli support.

The Israelis will win this war whether we like it or not. No changing that.

Just look at how the flotilla incident has been forgotten in less than two weeks. No legs to that story at all.

However the Israeli investors and State intelligence (Mossad) do have a long memory. They will exact their revenge against standard Liberals in the U.S. by undermining their campaigns.

Expect it. And expect that the common values of Liberalism that we share (like the environment, jobs civil liberties etc.) to be undermined by unhappy Jewish financiers.

So attack Israel at the risk of everything you hold dear.

[Ozymanithrax]

55. Israel and the GOP locked in a mutually abusive relationship...

I've known marriages like that. They never end well.

If you look at the span of history, no nation stays strong forever. It is possible to win every battle and lose the war.

I think Israel has, at best, 20 years before it devours itself.

[WileEcoyote]

56. That's what the detractors said twenty years ago. Thirty and forty years too.

I know some of these people. My ex wife and her mum too. Mum a sweet old gal and a holocaust survivor

Me? I just barely survived her daughter. A "Goyim" is what i be.

These Israelis are troopers. Have seen my mother in law climb right out of her hospital bed after major surgery and storm directly back to her job. And giving the devil her due: My ex has worked some three jobs every week the past fifteen years. No one can get along well with her but the work ethic is admirable...






http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGui5OrFT00&feature=related

[leftynyc]

59. Where did you get that 88%

figure from. I've seen no polls that even asked the question.

[dotymed]

43. The terrible truth

is that the "winners" write history. Just look at the absurd textbooks in Texas. Because Texas is so large, the publishers, after having their textbooks approved by Texas, use those books to supply the nations schools. We are not only a Fascist country, we are quickly becoming an Idiocracy.

[Tx4obama]

9. The media needs to stop saying that Helen said 'Jews', she did not.

Helen Thomas did NOT say 'Jews'.
.... asked whether she had any comments on ISRAEL. "Tell them to get the hell out of Palestine," she replied. "Remember, these people are occupied and it's their land. It's not Germany, it's not Poland," she continued. Asked where they should go, she answered, "They should go home." "Where's home?" Nesenoff asked. "Poland, Germany and America and everywhere else," Thomas replied.

[defendandprotect]

40. Excellent point -- which many don't seem to be hearing ....

[freddie mertz]

10. Nice of him to stand up for this fine reporter.

K & R.

[hlthe2b]

12. Gee Ralph, I just may have to forgive you for 2000

Thank YOU for stepping up and supporting Helen. :thumbsup:

[pennylane100]

14. yes, I am almost liking him.

[yava]

18. me too I liked this Nader interview but Helen made a mistake:

The Olso agreements broke down with the fall of the USSR and the assassination of Rabin, leading Israel to go for more Palestinian land to house over 600,000 Jews from the USSR.
Some went directly into the settlements outside Israel proper in the West Bank, others' arrival was a thermodynamic engine for expansion and others going into Palestinian land captured in 1967 and recognized as occupied territory by all nations including the US.
She should have said they should go back to Russia instead of Germany.
And when she apologized, I guess at 89, she was to tired to reach out to this argument.

[defendandprotect]

26. First, Israeli Jews are returning to Germany and Israel is trying to stop it .. ..

I'll find a post I made on this the other day and give you the link --

Additionally, this is an illegal blockade and occupation --

We don't seem to really get very involved with how many UN resolutions Israel is ignorning,

but I think we need to get more familiar with that question.

Evidently 88% of the public supports Helen -- so I think Americans are waking up and I

think Israel has caused that themselves with their violence and brutality.

Here you go --

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8512348&mesg_id=8517284

[ChadwickHenryWard]

15. It's interesting that Ralph would comment on Helen Thomas

I think of both Nader and Thomas as two people who have done great service to us as a nation for decades, and yet are too old to continue on. They can't carry on the fight forever, but who is there around to take their places? Ralph's boyhood friend, the indefatigable David Halberstam, has already died. Who has moved in to take up his dutiful service to our republic? This is to me akin the the death/retirement of Clay, Calhoun, and Webster. Modern historians rate the tireless work of the Three Great Compromisers as indispensable to staving off civil war, and cite their departure from the Congress as one of the major contributing factors to the start of the War. What lies ahead for us in a world where we no longer have the service of Nader and Thomas?

[theFrankFactor]

16. Cadwick You're Right. And The Same For Chomsky, Vidal, Zinn...

Where are the great Liberal minds of the 21st century?

[Tutankhamun]

34. Gore Vidal has named Christopher Hitchens his intellectual heir.

As for the great liberal minds of the 21st century, I'd say Bill Maher, Michael Moore, Rachel Maddow, Keith Olbermann, Thom Hartmann fit the bill.

[ChadwickHenryWard]

60. You know, it reminds me of one of my favorite quotes

from Ralph Nader himself, no less: "It is my belief that the job of leaders is not to create followers, it is to create more leaders." It isn't anybody's responsibility to carry all the weight like the few greats have done in the past. It is the job of all of us to do some small part to protect the world in which we live. We all should be exposing the lies of the powerful, combating the rapaciousness of corporate greed, and fighting for justice in our communities.

[defendandprotect]

21. Interesting question . . . do the times produce the leaders or do the

leaders arise on their own?

What we mainly have to notice is that the rw political violence over the last 50 years

has eliminated leadership now before it even rises!!

They don't want anything as big as another Martin Luther King or Bobby Kennedy or JFK

to have to wipe out!! And, as far as I can see, they've succeeded at that in this country!

They've been targeting liberals/progressives in Congress for decades -- and even Repug

moderates/conservationists! Over a long period of time, everyone is gone!

GOP/NRA were also handy helpers in targeting.

Also, CIA was supporting right wing Senators/Reps in Congress with right wing money which

they took from any source - including Nazis.

Two I'm aware of -- Sen. Strom Thurmond and Rep. Gerry Ford!

Pat Buchanan also got sponsored by CIA money --

[defendandprotect]

19. Nader's fantastic .... and good to come out for Helen Thomas . . .

evidently, not a lot in DC who are fair minded enough to join in --

Granted you have to make a bit of an "allowance" for the way Helen put part of

her comments -- but I'll balance that against the fact that she may have also

been reacting to the guy who did the questioning -- Jewish Rabbi/right winger?

Also though Nader made clear another facet of why some of the White House journalists

might not be a little relived she's gone -- "She shows them up!" So true . . .

They're avoiding reality of their responsibility -- "Going along to get along."

And it's short sighted because it endangers our nation and this alleged democracy.

And the White House will also be quite glad to have Helen gone --

No tough questions from here on out!

Also didn't know, but seems like 88% of the public supports Helen -- !!

Which is quite amazing when you consider what we constantly hear about the American

support for Israel not underoing change!! It sure is -- !!!


Thanks Ralph!!

Btw, I'd like to know what Michael Moore is saying -- haven't heard from him since

before the oil "spill."

And hope that some of these progressives -- all of them -- will begin coming together

soon to work on moving the next administration to the left!!

We need a more progressive president in 2012!!

[sabrina 1]

20. Excellent, excellent interview with Ralph Nader on

the WH press corps, Helen, and state of our media today.

'Reinstate her'. Apparently he says that polling shows 88% of those polled want her back!

Why are we not demanding this? As Nader pointed out, you can say the most horrific things about Arabs and Muslims, such as Ann Coulter has done and she never had a single talk cancelled.

Either we have a standard that applies to all, or we should not stand by and tolerate this standard where someone gets to choose what group can be demonized and what group cannot. We are to blame for what happened to Helen.

And as he pointed out, this witch hunt was led by Ari Fleischer and Lanny Davis. Not much difference in the far right and the DLC.

Thank you Ralph and all the others who have spoken out in defense of Helen Thomas.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

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

[onehandle]

27. Onehandle says stop campaigning in Florida in the Fall of 2000. nt

[McCamy Taylor]

29. Never ever talk about "the Jews" unless it is in relationship to the Holocaust.

Is exactly analogous to saying "You people" to an ethnic minority. You will be in for a world of hurt. Thomas is a journalist. She knew this. She is either getting senile or she meant to shock.

[Laughing Mirror]

31. White House condemns Helen Thomas rather than condemn aid convoy massacre

In order to free-up coveted center-row front seat in press room for CNN or Fox to occupy. That's the way I'll always remember this sorry escapade.

[Tutankhamun]

35. Ari Fleischer has absolutely no credibility left whatsoever.

The idea that we should listen to Ari Fleischer's opinion on which reporters belong in the White House press corps is particularly laughable. He treated Jeff Gannon/Guckert, the softball-lobbing "hotmilitarystud.com" gay prostitute from phony "Talon News" as a respected journalist. He used to give Gannon/Guckert special, preferential treatment, giving him the scoop BEFORE the rest of the corps even had any access. Shut up, Ari. Just STFU.

[skeptical cynic]

38. It's difficult to discuss this intellectually because

We're talking about an emotional response to an emotional response. Thomas violated the institutionalized victim status of Jews and Israel. She was condemned by people who see nothing wrong with attacking relief ships in international waters, or imposing a blockade that starves children.

Palestinian children equal to American children. Question this simple premise--that one child is as innocent as another--and sacrifice whatever claim to morality that you may have. With this premise, what would our response be if Israel were doing to American children what they are doing to Palestinian children?

I'm beginning to realize that the people we are calling "terrorists" are truly freedom fighters. Their only real crime is being occupants of a land where others have "vital national interests." Vital national interests, for those who haven't been paying attention since World War I, is oil. A nation with the fire bombing of Dresden and Tokyo, and the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in its history hardly has any moral grounds for condemning "terrorists" because they target civilians.

We really need to question a foreign policy, and a national narrative, that condemns those who speak truth to power for simply being willing to speak unpopular truth.

As to who will replace the aging liberal giants? I suggest adding Naomi Klein to the list.

[harmonicon]

45. +1, re: Naomi Klein

I loved it when she was a regular contributor to The Nation. She is not, however, as high profile as many of the older generations, but maybe it's just a question of time. Unfortunately, I think it's more likely that the US is just becoming an incredibly anti-intellectual place. Even on DU I've been criticized by many for being an academic - no one sees value in intellectual curiosity if it can't be transfered to making money.

[skeptical cynic]

46. I don't mean to be too blunt, or maybe I do, but...

I believe Democrats are just as much a part of the anti-intellectualism, neoliberalism and militarism this nation suffers from as Republicans.

It's how we both experience and deny empire.

[DFW]

47. The thought of Helen as a racist rings about as true as the idea of Ann Coulter as a progressive

I've known Helen for decades, and while she does indeed have strong views about the West Bank and Gaza,
she harbors no ill will at all towards Israelis or Jews. Since Arabs are a Semitic people as well as Jews,
the very concept of Helen as an "anti-Semite" is ridiculous.

This was a sneak attack on her, enabled by a video clip whose most useful part (to Helen's detractors) was
edited out and saved for a "proper" occasion.

Although I violently disagree with what Nader did to the country in 2000, I fully agree with him here when
he says Helen was one of the last people out there who asked the tough questions we all wanted asked, but
the others in the Washington press were too intimidated to ask.

I hope Rachel Maddow lives as long as Helen has. I know of no other woman out there with Helen's moxie.

For that matter, I hope Helen lives another 50 years and sticks around somehow asking those tough questions.
Ari Fleischer may grinning from ear to ear, and maybe even Robin Gibbs is snickering, but those of us who
will now suffer presidential press conferences lacking Helen's pointed questions won't forget what's missing.