“What the hell do they think we are, puppets?” Thomas said.- - - - - -
The answer to the question is "Yes. Isn't everybody?"
Unlike Kerry, Obama Covets Soros' Support (7-28-2004 Article)
Posted on 08/09/2009 10:06:41 AM PDT by carenot
Following a testy exchange during Wednesday’s briefing with White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, veteran White House correspondent Helen Thomas told CNSNews.com that not even Richard Nixon tried to control the press the way President Obama is trying to control the press.
“Nixon didn’t try to do that,” Thomas said. “They couldn’t control (the media). They didn’t try.
“What the hell do they think we are, puppets?” Thomas said. “They’re supposed to stay out of our business. They are our public servants. We pay them.”
Thomas said she was especially concerned about the arrangement between the Obama Administration and a writer from the liberal Huffington Post Web site. The writer was invited by the White House to President Obama’s press conference last week on the understanding that he would ask Obama a question about Iran from among questions that had been sent to him by people in Iran.
“When you call the reporter the night before you know damn well what they are going to ask to control you,” Thomas said.
“I’m not saying there has never been managed news before, but this is carried to fare-thee-well--for the town halls, for the press conferences,” she said. “It’s blatant. They don’t give a damn if you know it or not. They ought to be hanging their heads in shame.”
During today’s briefing, Thomas interrupted a back-and-forth between Gibbs and Chip Reid, the White House correspondent for CBS News, when Reid was questioning Gibbs about who was going to decide what questions would be asked of President Obama in a townhall meeting that was scheduled to take place in Annandale, Va., today.
Gibbs then had an exchange involving Reid and Thomas that went as follows:
Gibbs: “… But, again, let's--How about we do this? I promise we will interrupt the AP's tradition of asking the first question. I will let you [Chip Reid] ask me a question tomorrow as to whether you thought the questions at the town hall meeting that the President conducted in Annandale—“
Chip Reid: “I'm perfectly happy to—”
Helen Thomas: “That's not his point. The point is the control--”
Reid: “Exactly.”
Thomas: “We have never had that in the White House. And we have had some, but not-- This White House.”
Gibbs: “Yes, I was going to say, I'll let you amend her question.”
Thomas: “I'm amazed. I'm amazed at you people who call for openness and transparency and—”
Gibbs: “Helen, you haven't even heard the questions.”
Reid: “It doesn't matter. It's the process.”
Thomas: “You have left open—”
Reid: “Even if there's a tough question, it's a question coming from somebody who was invited or was screened, or the question was screened.”
Thomas: “It's shocking. It's really shocking.”
Gibbs: “Chip, let's have this discussion at the conclusion of the town hall meeting. How about that?”
Reid: “Okay.”
Gibbs: “I think—“
Thomas: “No, no, no, we're having it now--”
Gibbs: “Well, I'd be happy to have it now.”
Thomas: “It's a pattern.”
Gibbs: “Which question did you object to at the town hall meeting, Helen?”
Thomas: “It's a pattern. It isn't the question—”
Gibbs: “What's a pattern?”
Thomas: “It's a pattern of controlling the press.”
Gibbs: “How so? Is there any evidence currently going on that I'm controlling the press--poorly, I might add.”
Thomas: “Your formal engagements are pre-packaged.”
Gibbs: “How so?”
Reid: “Well, and controlling the public—”
Thomas: “How so? By calling reporters the night before to tell them they're going to be called on. That is shocking.”
Gibbs: “We had this discussion ad nauseam and—”
Thomas: “Of course you would, because you don't have any answers.”
Gibbs: “Well, because I didn't know you were going to ask a question, Helen. Go ahead.”
Thomas: “Well, you should have.”
Reporter: Thank you for your support.
Gibbs: “That's good. Have you e-mailed your question today?”
Thomas: “I don't have to e-mail it. I can tell you right now what I want to ask.”
Gibbs: “I don't doubt that at all, Helen. I don't doubt that at all.”
Thomas, 89, has covered the White House during every presidency since John F. Kennedy’s.
“What the hell do they think we are, puppets?” Thomas said.- - - - - -
The answer to the question is "Yes. Isn't everybody?"
Unlike Kerry, Obama Covets Soros' Support (7-28-2004 Article)
“Nixon didn’t try to do that,” Thomas said. “They couldn’t control (the media). They didn’t try.- - - - - -
Nixon said: "I am NOT a crook!"
0bama sez:
I am NOT a power-grabbing, Stalinist/Marxist Jack-booted Thug!!!
I would remind Helen that the media is ALLOWING itself to be controlled by Barack Alias Obama.
‘Chicago Way’ ping.
Stuff happens to elderly folks. Y’know, natural causes. Slip and fall at home, no one around... no one suspects foul play when it’s a heart attack...
And always look for the largest display of flowers at the funeral...
However, she loved the cupcakes and has been silent since.
She is suddenly making us all fans.
Righto, not sure if maybe I was missing some other
reference !
Well said. I think Helen may have also exposed something else that she and her fellow travelers possibly haven’t even considered, that is, the dinomedia has been part and parcel of setting the agenda heretofore. Their often incoherent, warm and fuzzy but useful nanny state advocacy gave the pols cover for their steady movement to centralized government in DC. Enter the obamessiah, who wants nothing to do with the slow but steady pace of the feeder streets. He’s entered the freeway and moved into the fast lane to implement his marxist idealogy before the engine blows up. He’s left the dinomedia behind and I daresay he is even making some of the mush heads in the WH press corps a little nervous. They shouldn’t be. I doubt there’s a real American patriot in the bunch. And of all people, Princess Helen should retire if she can’t keep up. ;^)
I'm not sure but I think it was Rumsfeld. She raised her hand to ask a question, but instead gave a long, drawn out rant about "American occupation and imperialism."
He said to her, "Thank you Helen, for bringing us the Hezbollah perspective."
bump to the top
BTTT! Thanks for your post, your work and your analysis. You continually light the way forward for a free republic.
Being reminded of our subjectivity can be humbling but that is who we are, our subjectivity.
Praise the Lord!
I did not mean the exact source it was not put on from CNS because of this thread that had the CNS article in it but like I said good stuff this thread had lots of comments lol
After that Helen Thomas went nuclear with a report at CNSNEWS.COM:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283872/posts
helen, you’re beautiful.
ATTENTION.You are leaving NorthEast Amerika Sector,You are entering the Midwest Amerika Sector No Freedom Zone, under Governor Rahm Emmanuel. You will extend arm for scanning and say what is your reason for entering Midwest Sector! No joking or complaining or you will be forcibly rebuked. Absolutely no bribes allowed. If everything is in order, you will pledge allegiance to King
oy. she looks like Alan Greenspan in drag.
I’ll be the worst guy here.. I like Helen Thomas
Beltway Bob.
Better be careful Helen, or you’ll be in for some of that special Obama-Care End of Life Counciling.
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