Helen Thomas doesn't know Hamas charter

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.

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