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Helen Thomas doesn't know Hamas charter

Reader comment on item: Other Critics of Israeli Strategy in Gaza

Submitted by gary fouse (United States), Feb 10, 2009 at 16:19

Below is my posting on fousesquawk regarding Helen Thomas, her bashing of Israel and her admitted lack of knowledge regarding the Hamas charter.

Gary Fouse

fousesquawk

Anybody who has ever watched a White House news briefing on TV over the past couple of decades knows what a complete fool Helen Thomas is. Of course, she is the longest-serving reporter in the White House Press Corps, so she wears the title of "Dean". Yet, she is flat-out ignorant and completely biased. Thomas is also a fierce critic of Israel and the Iraq war.

Usually, Thomas uses the opportunity to ask questions of presidents and spokespersons to make a fool of herself-especially if they are conservative Republican presidents.

For example, in a press conference on November 30, 2007, Thomas questioned White House Press Secretary Dana Perino as to why Americans should depend on General David Petraeus in determining when to re-deploy U.S troops from Iraq. Perino began to give a reply when Thomas cut her off with, "You mean how many more people we kill?" Perino replied, "Helen, I find it really unfortunate that you use your front row position, bestowed upon you by your colleagues, to make such statements. This is a—- it is an honor and a privilege to be in the briefing room, and to suggest that we, the United States, are killing innocent people is just absurd and very offensive."

Of course, during the Bush presidency, this was standard fare from Thomas. There are too many similar exchanges to list here.

The below e-mail exchange, however, has been provided to me by Professor Gary Epstein, Prof Ermeritus at Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo. It concerns an exchange he had in the past several days with Thomas regarding the Hamas Charter. It has been furnished to me by Epstein along with permission to use it here (I have deleted the email addresses):

Epstein (1-23-09)

"Dear Ms. Thomas,

Just curious. Have you ever read the Hamas Charter?"

Thomas: (2-2-09) "No, but I follow the aggression in the Middle East daily against the helpless."

Epstein: (2-3-09)"Dear Ms Thomas,

I was both surprised and dismayed to learn that you have never read the Hamas charter. As a journalist, should you not strive to have an open mind? In order to write about issues of war and peace should you not make every effort to be aware of the self-proclaimed views and objectives of all parties involved? I googled "Hamas Charter" and found many sources. Among them is;

http://middleast.about.com/od/palestinepalestinians/a/me080106b_5.htm

Please take the time to read it; it is only five pages long. Remember, you must set a good example for future journalists to follow."

Thomas: (2-4-09) "I know what the Israeli goals are embossed on the Knesset-from the Euphrates to the Nile-and they won't stop there in their takeover".

So Helen Thomas, dean of the White House Press Corps, author and journalist, a woman who condemns Israel, has no idea what is in the Hamas charter (to establish one state under Islamic rule-no treaties-no negotiations). How can this ignorant woman pretend to speak on Middle East issues when she has no clue as to the intent of Hamas vis-a vis the Israelis? The charter is explicit. Treaties and negotiation are a waste of time. It is all about Jihad and the obliteration of the Jewish state.

I wonder what else this outspoken woman doesn't know. Does she know about all the suicide bombers that have massacred innocent Israeli civilians on buses, in pizza parlors and in other public places? Does she know about the rockets that Hamas has been lobbing into southern Israel? Does she know that the crackpot leader of Iran has publicly called for Israel to be wiped off the map?

Probably not.

This, ladies and gentleman, is our mainstream news media in action.

Submitting....

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

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Reader comments (19) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
The Tentura LIE (Jeninitis) [6782 words]MiraFeb 7, 2023 20:50292367
Helen Thomas doesn't know Hamas charter [634 words]gary fouseFeb 10, 2009 16:19150181
Re: racist Arab Helen Thomas: Arab-Palestinians should get back to ARABIA where they came from? [3723 words]DaisyJun 7, 2010 11:51150181
PALLYWOOD, Gaza edition - 2009 [424 words]TerryJan 27, 2009 19:42149289
UN, fire despicable 'massacres inspirer' Pallywoody bloody propagandist Khulood Badawi [298 words]NeillMar 22, 2012 03:40149289
Israel needs a strong commited leader. [215 words]vigilantJan 26, 2009 10:43149111
- - - JENINITIS - - - [641 words]AlJan 24, 2009 21:08148981
Jerusalem Post's invaluable Khaled Abu Toameh?? [72 words]james burkeJan 23, 2009 12:27148840
Yes, the INVALUABLE Abu Toameh! [85 words]saraJan 23, 2009 20:12148840
Israel Wins the Battles, Hamas Wins the War [198 words]Stephen HughesJan 20, 2009 16:07148543
Leon DeWinter Gets Inside the Palestinian Head - Harsh Lessons in Reality to Come [427 words]SofasogoodJan 19, 2009 13:54148428
Israeli Policy of Carrot and Stick [680 words]DemsciMar 15, 2009 04:51148428
Then what is the answer? [130 words]Kenny KomodoJan 18, 2009 02:01148328
The problem is the Arabs. Let them take responsibility for creating this problem so called a Palesltinian problem Huh?? [164 words]VIGILANTJan 26, 2009 18:03148328
They Supported Hamas Before Israel's Counter-Terror Operation [269 words]AmerisraelJan 17, 2009 13:02148286
The Media Is The Enemy - Fox's Mike Tobin Reports His Opinion As Fact [248 words]SofasogoodJan 19, 2009 14:39148286
Tobin is a great reporter for Fox news.Period! [47 words]vigilantJan 26, 2009 17:55148286
MIKE TOBIN TODAY OCT 9 2009 ONCE AGAIN MAKES VICIOUS ANTI ISRAEL RHETORIC [91 words]DAVID AARONSOct 9, 2009 06:00148286
I Think I Agree With Radu [316 words]AlexJan 17, 2009 10:59148283

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Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

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