Posted on 03/05/2005 5:12:17 PM PST by reformjoy
LOUDONVILLE -
Legendary journalist and unofficial first lady of the
White House pressroom Helen Thomas kicked off Siena
College's First Woman President symposium Friday,
saying she was confident that the day will come when a
woman takes that solemn oath to lead the nation.
"If the knuckleheads I've seen bumble through the job can
get elected, then why not a woman," quipped Thomas,
to the applause of a packed house at Siena's Student
Union building. "We will have a woman president by the
end of the century."
Since the day President John F. Kennedy took office,
Thomas has been a mainstay during White House press
conferences, much to the chagrin many of our nation's
leaders who feared her tough questions.
"It's the only forum where the president can be
questioned and be held accountable," said Thomas, who has
been accused by President Bush's handlers of blindsiding
the current president a few times.
Thomas served 57-years as a correspondent for United
Press International and as White House bureau chief.
She helped break down professional barriers for women by
being the first female member of both National Press Club
and White House Correspondents Association. She fully
understands how far women have come since the times when
they were not allowed to vote.
And she agrees with a recently completed Siena survey
that found 62 percent of those polled said they were
ready for a female president in 2008.
The presidency is a quantum leap," said Thomas, who
currently works as a syndicated columnist, "but the
American people are ready for it. ... So let's give them
the best woman leader, who is bright, trustworthy,
compassionate (and) willing to go the distance to make
this a better world."
She also believes that U.S Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) is
probably the best potential candidate out there today.
"Why not. ... She couldn't do much worse than what we
have," she snickered. "Hillary is the frontrunner, no
doubt. ... She has positioned herself well to make it
happen.
"She's a brilliant speaker and learned from her husband
that politics is a personality test."
After being asked by the audience what woman she thinks
would have made the best female president, it only took
seconds for Thomas to answer President Franklin Delano
Roosevelt's wife Eleanor, who had the compassion,
strength and intelligence needed for the job.
"In some ways she was the president in that she was her
husband's eyes and ears and went to the battlefields,"
said Thomas. "She had the brains and the temperament."
Many students and professors in attendance also agreed
that gender should be not be the deciding factor when it
comes to electing people to office.
"I think we're at the point in society where a person's
credentials, talents and strengths should be the
determining factor - not gender," said Siena sophomore
Alexander LaPoint.
Others were hopeful that today's teenagers will take that
philosophy to the next level when they become eligible to
vote.
"Females are in every profession today, and I think the
younger generation has grown more used to seeing women as
equals," said Florida Atlantic University political
studies teacher Judith Selzer. "So yes ... I think we're
absolutely ready for a female president in the next 20
years.
Helen Thomas "snickers"
Hillary Clinton "cackles"
Oh, Lucky us!!
Uh, like, a woman president by 2099! That's a pretty bold prediction. /sarcasm
But liberals aren't gonna like her politics.
Helen Thomas is a very nice and humble lady. I answered the phone where I work and I was greeted with: I'm Helen Thomas, a member of the press, and you are required to help me." I helped her but she didn't like my answers to her questions. Unfortunately the facts didn't match what she wanted to hear.
No more!
No more HT threads!
Oh, the humanity!
I want the BEST president possible, one that
respects our constitution and the beauty of
individual freedom.
Hillary Rodham Clinton is an aspiring dictator.
Her goals are NOT the Founding Father's goals!
It's also amazing that her comrade, Bill Clinton is now
stepping to a place of power in the United Nations, with
a new job that begins in just a few weeks!
The Clintons just keep going and going...
Whether we like it,
or not.
My prediction - Helen Thomas will croak before the end of the century .
"My prediction - Helen Thomas will croak before the end of the century ."
They said that during the last two centuries.
Just nail down her coffin at sunrise each day. And keep garlic and mirrors away from her. There is just the chance that she'll be around at the end of this century, no looking any different than sje does now.
If Larry Summers said that, he would have been hung. And no, I don't mean metaphorically.
Yeah, lets elect a woman just to elect a woman, even if she is an evil power hungry witch ...
Helen Thomas is not a very honest reporter if she says Miss Hitlery is a brilliant speaker. Miss Hitlery sounds like a...kindergarten...teacher...on...the...opening...day...of...school. She always sounds like she's talking down to the little people.
Ugh!! Helen Thomas looks like a creature from a Horror Movie!
And she's drools at the sight
of Hillary....
Just what is the big frikkin deal about a woman President?
Personally I prefer a man... a real man like Bush in the White House. I can't imagine a woman dealing with the likes of men like Saddam. We just don't have what it takes IMHO.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.