Posted on 06/07/2010 4:20:28 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Lanny Davis, the former special counsel to President Clinton and White House spokesman, and Sarah Palin add to the backlash after video circulated of Helen Thomas saying that Jews should "get the hell out of Palestine" and go back to Poland and Germany. The latest responses come the same day the agency that represents Thomas, Nine Speakers,dropped her as a client.
Davis, not mincing words, dismissed Thomas’s apology as “not direct,” and -- comparing her statements to “asking Blacks to return to African” – said that “Helen Thomas, who I used to consider a close friend and who I used to respect, has showed herself to be an anti-Semitic bigot.”
And Palin, on her Twitter stream: “Helen Thomas press pals condone racist rant?Heaven forbid’esteemed’press corps represent society's enlightened elite;Rest of us choose truth”
Davis’s full statement:
“Helen Thomas, who I used to consider a close friend and who I used to respect, has showed herself to be an anti-Semitic bigot. This is not about her disagreement about her criticisms of Israel. She has a right to criticize Israel and that is not the same as being an anti-Semite.
However, her statement that Jews in Israel should leave Israel and go back to Poland or Germany is an ancient and well-known anti-Semitic stereotype of the Alien Jew not belonging in the ‘land of Israel’ -- one that began 2600 years with the first tragic and violent diaspora of the Jews at the hands of the Romans.
If she had asked all Blacks to go back to Africa, what would White House Correspondents Association position be as to whether she deserved White House press room credentials -- much less a privileged honorary seat?
Does anyone doubt that my friends Ann Compton, head of the WHCA, and Joe Lockhart, who believe in the First Amendment right of free expression as much as I do, would be as tolerant and protective of Helen's privileges and honors in the White House press room as they appear to be if she had been asking Blacks to return to Africa? Or Native Americans to Asia and South America, from which they came 8,000or more years ago? I doubt it.
Of course Helen has the right as a private citizen under the First Amendment to speak her mind, even as an anti-Jewish bigot - but not as a member, much less privileged member with a reserved seat, in the WH press corps.
In my opinion, her apology was not direct and didn't address the merits of her belief in the stereotype that Jews are aliens in Israel and don't belong there. She should be at the least suspended from all privileges in the White House press room since bigots don't merit such privileges. And I believe Hearst should consider a similar suspension of her position as a nationally-syndicated columnist until she owns up to her bigotry and apologizes for it.”
Don’t forget, now that they have their Marxist POTUS,
the now feel that they can let their hair down and say whatever they like.
Try two thousand years ago, Lanny. 2600 years ago my namesake, the Babylonians, took captive the Israelis/Jews and the Romans were still just another city state on the Italian pennisula.
I’m surprised Teddy Roosevelt put up with her nonsense.
“one that began 2600 years with the first tragic and violent diaspora of the Jews at the hands of the Romans.”
Huh? Was it 2600 years ago at the hands of the Romans? I agree with his point, though.
You two should know that Lanny Davis is much smarter than you are, as are all Beltway/NYC elites. If he says the Romans were around then, who are we peasants to argue with him?
I think that sums it up.
Liberals like Lanny sure are perceptive. If they didn't already know that old arab hag has a burning hatred for jews; well, it just goes to show how stupid they are.
Eh, he’s a little mixed up. The first major expulsion of Jews does happen around 2600 years ago, but at the hands of the Assyrians. The one most people are familiar with occurs in the first/second centuries AD by the Romans.
Yeah it reminded me of Blutarsky in “Animal House” saying, “was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?”. I just figure Lanny finally got on a roll. A couple of decades late, in regards to Thomas.
I see that Thomas has plenty of supporters in the Politico comments section. It’s great, she’s bringing all the Jew haters out. I’m embarrassed that these fools are my fellow citizens. I don’t want anything to do with them.
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