When news was released this morning that former White House correspondent Helen Thomas had passed away at the age of 92, the Internet lit up with outpourings of both support and condemnation for a woman who lived her life on the edge of extreme candor.
Thomas racked up a lot of first-place honors for women in media, and at a time when women weren't allowed in the media: She was the first woman to become a chief White House correspondent for a news wire, the first woman to join the White House Correspondents? Association, and the first woman to serve as the leader of that association. Thomas held a chair in the White House press room over the course of five decades, from presidents Kennedy to Obama.
But it was her refusal to treat any leader or subject with kid gloves that earned her a fierce reputation; she prized piercing honesty well above any inclinations she may have had to stay polite or likeable.
As she was once famously quoted, ?If you want to be loved, go into something else.?
Thomas? career took an ugly turn when a video of her went viral in 2010; in it, she said Israelis should "get out of Palestine" and "go home" to Germany, Poland or the U.S. As a result, she was forced into retirement.
Her supporters contend that her objection was aimed at the practices of the Israeli government, but detractors still call her statements anti-Semitic. Today, the divisive nature of those comments lives on:
@davidfolkenflik judge her by 7+decades as constant irritant to the powerful and comfortable - even while breaking barriers
? Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) July 20, 2013What can be agreed upon is that in her role as a White House correspondent, she never showed deference to authority when there was a tough question to be asked. In fact, she famously called President Bush "the worst president in U.S. history." These are a some of the most notable memories of her.
The Associated Press Reports:
In March 2005, she confronted Bush with the proposition that "your decision to invade Iraq has caused the deaths of thousands of Americans and Iraqis" and every justification for the attack proved false.
"Why did you really want to go to war?" she demanded.
When Bush began explaining his rationale, she interjected: "They didn't do anything to you, or to our country."
"Excuse me for a second," Bush replied. "They did. The Taliban provided safe haven for al-Qaeda. That's where al-Qaeda trained."
"I'm talking about Iraq," she said.
Former AP reporter Jennifer Loven told NPR:
?You know, there is a confederation among journalists that you help each other up until the moment when you have to beat the crap out of each other. And she was true to that.?
Other journalists Tweeted their own thoughts about Thomas:
Pity the poor WH press aide who would try to tell Helen "you can't stand there."
? Mark Knoller (@markknoller) July 20, 2013RIP Helen Thomas - died this morning at 92. Amazing trail blazer, fearless journalist and friend & mentor to so many women reporters
? Judy Woodruff (@JudyWoodruff) July 20, 2013"Without a free press, there can be no democracy."-Helen Thomas
? Ann Curry (@AnnCurry) July 20, 2013Helen Thomas was an enduring and nagging reminder to Presidents and self-involved staff that they were just passing thru the People's house.
? Ron Fournier (@ron_fournier) July 20, 2013"What Thomas figured out early ? and what she taught us ? was that there was value in making powerful people uncomfortable."
? Cari Wade Gervin (@carigervin) July 20, 2013Finally, despite her indomitable reputation, Thomas made fun of it and herself in this 2006 spot from The Daily Show:
What's your take on Helen Thomas' legacy? Leave your thoughts in the Comments.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/helen-thomas-leaves-behind-legacy-controversial-life-she-202946730.html
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