Helen Thomas: The Playboy Interview

[YankeeFan]

She's back:

http://www.playboy.com/articles/helen-thomas-playboy-interview/index.html?page=2

 

[Bucknutty]

This thread article is useless without pictures.

 

[Harry Doyle]

Fascinating interview. Love Helen Thomas's zeal, passion, wit. I wonder, though, whether it really made sense for her to have a seat in the WH press corps. Obviously, she's a legend, but she framed any question with a serious agenda — even if she happened to be correct on the issue. At first glance, I feel like that doesn't belong in that setting. You have to think it drove the non-columnists in the room nuts. At the same time, it's nice to know there was at least one person trying to cut through the "shading" of the truth that goes on in that setting.

Regardless... great interview. Elated Playboy sent a Jew to interview her, and even more thrilled she tried to serve him a ham sandwich.

Oh, Helen.

 

[Boom_70]

There is something about Helen Thomas and Playboy in the same sentence that leaves me limp for words.

 

[dooley_womack1]

Sorry, I read Playboy only for the nudity

 

[sportsguydave]

Great interview. Won't really change any minds, though. The haters will still hate her, and she'll still have her supporters. Most people will be somewhere in the middle, or completely indifferent.

I've never had a position on her one way or the other. She's a trailblazer in the field, and her place in journalism history is secure. She has very strong opinions on the Israel-Palestine situation, and they just happen to be the politically incorrect ones. Kudos to her for sticking to her guns, at a very high personal cost.

 

[YankeeFan]

Yes, anti-Semites will still support her.

Besides, what's her legacy? She was never known as a great reporter or columnist. Her notoriety comes only from her longevity.

 

[sportsguydave]

Sorry, folks, but criticizing Israel does not make one an anti-Semite. As much as you might wish it to be so, it's not.

Anyone who wants to judge her legacy might be well-served to pick up a book or two. You might learn something. A good place to start would be "Front Row at the White House," her autobiography.

Maybe after you know a little more about her personal history and accomplishments, you'll be a little more qualified to discuss her legacy. It's certainly based on much more than longetivity.

 

[21]

There is something about Helen Thomas and Playboy in the same sentence that leaves me limp for words.

I thought it was a headline from The Onion.

 

[black dude with pompano]

Sorry, folks, but criticizing Israel does not make one an anti-Semite. As much as you might wish it to be so, it's not.

I agree with that and wish there was less blind support for Israel from the U.S.

That said, I'm afraid that if you're judging Helen on the totality of her statements (including this interview) it's hard not to say that she is both anti-Israel and anti-Semitic.

 

[waterytart]

You can be appalled by the treatment of the Palestinians without being anti-Semitic. You can't believe that all media and financial institutions are controlled by the Jews without being anti-Semitic.

Helen Thomas is an anti-Semite.

 

[BYH]

Helen Thomas was good at the beginning but she went too far.

(too soon?)

 

[YankeeFan]

That said, I'm afraid that if you're judging Helen on the totality of her statements (including this interview) it's hard not to say that she is both anti-Israel and anti-Semitic.

You can be appalled by the treatment of the Palestinians without being anti-Semitic. You can't believe that all media and financial institutions are controlled by the Jews without being anti-Semitic.

Helen Thomas is an anti-Semite.

Both correct. Helen is an anti-Semite -- based upon her own words. And, she's repeated her beliefs enough times that it's very clear what she believes.

Helen may have been a strong critic of George W. Bush's policies. Maybe some of you agree with her criticism.

It shouldn't blind you to her anti-Semitism. The enemy of your enemy does not have to be your friend.

 

[daemon]

Playbody interview was interesting stuff. It's a shame Thomas can't just limit her comments to Israel/Palestine policy, because she certainly makes some valid arguments that could spur a healthy debate about the United State's stance. Unfortunately, her more extreme points of view on Jews controlling Hollywood, banks, etc. enable people to dismiss her policy beliefs as hate-fueled ramblings from a crazy geezer.

 

[YankeeFan]

Playbody interview was interesting stuff. It's a shame Thomas can't just limit her comments to Israel/Palestine policy, because she certainly makes some valid arguments that could spur a healthy debate about the United State's stance. Unfortunately, her more extreme points of view on Jews controlling Hollywood, banks, etc. enable people to dismiss her policy beliefs as hate-fueled ramblings from a crazy geezer.

Yeah, it would be much better if she hid her blatantly anti-Semitic views. That would be great.

Now, it's hard to take her seriously. Isn't that a shame? She has so much wisdom to offer.

 

[JakeandElwood]

I don't get all the defense for her. She said some pretty nasty ****.

 

[sportsguydave]

Playbody interview was interesting stuff. It's a shame Thomas can't just limit her comments to Israel/Palestine policy, because she certainly makes some valid arguments that could spur a healthy debate about the United State's stance. Unfortunately, her more extreme points of view on Jews controlling Hollywood, banks, etc. enable people to dismiss her policy beliefs as hate-fueled ramblings from a crazy geezer.

That's certainly true. But it seems to me that most anti-Semites are pretty unrepentant about their views, and actually pretty much embrace the label. In the interview, she seems pretty upset about the label.

It is a shame that her dumb comments on Jews overshadow some pretty valid points about the US and Israel. But she has no one else but herself to blame for that.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Helen Thomas is 90 years old. Did she make any of her more hateful and outlandish statements before, say, age 75? When discussing racism, sexism, homophobia etc. among our older relatives, most of us seem to give wide latitude to age. "That's the way he grew up." "Different world." "He isn't as lucid as he used to be and that doesn't represent who he is or was." I remember Mike Royko wrote some major clunkers toward the end that, if people weren't so kind about his advanced age and prior achievements, really could have tarnished his legend.

That could be at work here too.

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

Al Davis is the centerpiece interview in the next issue.

 

[Rumpleforeskin]

Thank God it wasn't her naked.