White House correspondent and Hearst columnist Helen Thomas was apparently the "highlight" of a September 30 fundraiser for Democratic Virginia State Senate candidate George Barker.
[She's really burning up the D.C.-area rubber chicken circuit of late. I noted her early September pep talk to University of Maryland Democrats here.]
Wrote contributor snolan of the liberal Virginia politics blog Raising Kaine:
Last night my good friend Kate took me to a Democratic fundraiser for George Barker who is running for State Senate in the 39th district. Becky and David Campbell hosted this event, and the highlight was a visit from Helen Thomas! Helen spoke briefly, and I think I heard her quoting Dick Goodwin (one of the best public policy writers ever), though I may have mis-heard her (the room and house were packed).
What, no quotes from Helen's girlhood friend Karl Marx?
Well before becoming an opinion columnist for Hearst, Thomas racked up a record of biased coverage of U.S. presidents. When she quit UPI in May 2000, MRC's Tim Graham noted Thomas's most notable lines about the occupants of the Oval Office she had covered:
Ronald Reagan. On December 30, 1988 Thomas recalled the Reagan era on the CBS show Nightwatch: "I think there’s a question mark on the domestic policy: I think he left an uncaring society...a government that was not as concerned."
In the July 1993 Good Housekeeping, Thomas elaborated: "All of us who covered the Reagan's agreed that President Reagan was personable and charming. But I'm not so certain he was nice. It's hard for me to think of anyone as nice when I hear him say ‘The homeless are homeless because they want to be homeless.' To my mind, a President should care about all people, and he didn't, which is why I will always feel Reagan lacked soul."
Jimmy Carter. In the same interview, Thomas stated: "In Plains, I saw Jimmy Carter as he really is — a nice, decent man....in terms of compassionate contribution to society, he certainly has proven to be our best past President."
The Kennedys. Thomas discussed the death of JFK Jr. on CNN’s Reliable Sources last July 18: "Everything that happened to the First Family, they added a certain glamour everybody could tie into in some way. And I think that's what happened. We think of the family. We think of all of the tragedies and the glamour and the mischief and so forth all wrapped up into one, but mostly hope."
Bill Clinton. Tom Brokaw declared, "Helen was always fair and never intimidated." But Thomas avoided asking about Juanita Broaddrick’s rape charges in a press briefing the day The Wall Street Journal broke the story on February 19, 1999. Instead she asked Clinton what was learned "from your 13 month ordeal?"
For a comprehensive listing of NewsBusters coverage of the dean of the White House press corps, check here.
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters




















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Comments Policy
I shudder to think what
October 1, 2007 - 12:25 ET by JerryI shudder to think what could have possibly been the "low light".
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
the DNC universe
October 1, 2007 - 12:33 ET by TruthMongerup is down and right is wrong:)
I'm sure Helen is booked up
October 1, 2007 - 12:40 ET by RackieI'm sure Helen is booked up for the 31st.
BWAAAHAAAHAAAHAAA!!!
October 1, 2007 - 12:52 ET by BuxomAnnieMcGreggorBWAAAHAAAHAAAHAAA!!! Good Form Rackie!!
Life can be a real b*tch... so don't vote for one!
BAM... Hey, just wanted
October 1, 2007 - 14:52 ET by bigtimerBAM...
Hey, just wanted you to know I love your tag-line...couldn't agree more!
for Democratic Virginia
October 1, 2007 - 12:56 ET by Chris Normanfor Democratic Virginia State Senate candidate George Barker.
"Barker" - interesting...
Ronald Reagan. "...I will
October 1, 2007 - 13:01 ET by Senior ChiefRonald Reagan. "...I will always feel Reagan lacked soul." Yeah, Thomas, but you lost your brain!
Jimmy Carter. "...he certainly has proven to be our best past President." Yep Thomas, the Palestinains and The Hamas group will agree you 200%.
The Kennedys. "...Everything that happened to the First Family, they added a certain glamour everybody could tie into in some way." Glamour indeed hmm, to many too enumerate!
Bill Clinton. "...But Thomas avoided asking about Juanita Broaddrick’s rape charges in a press briefing the day The Wall Street Journal broke the story..." That's right, because you Thomas are just like the Clintons- you're all full of ***t.
No bias here, right Helen?
October 1, 2007 - 13:38 ET by Richard RomanoNo bias here, right Helen?
Ken, in the future could
October 1, 2007 - 13:55 ET by Airforce_5_OKen, in the future could you guys please put up some kind of warning before posting this picture....Ugh...I just ate...Urrrr...Thanks.
The only thing you should feel when shooting insurgents is the rifle recoil.
But it's Halloween season,
October 1, 2007 - 15:10 ET by Ken ShepherdBut it's Halloween season, Airforce.
My own NB poll: Which is
October 1, 2007 - 14:12 ET by drillanwrMy own NB poll:
Which is worse, a picture of Helen Thomas or Rosie?
Helen []
Rosie []
drill,
October 1, 2007 - 14:35 ET by Dave RI'll have to go with Helen. At least with Rosie, you can turn the brightness way down, squint really hard, and imagine that she might have been almost cute way back in her younger days. Of course, a few good belts from a bottle of scotch helps a lot here.
No way that works with Helen Thomas. Not enough scotch on the planet for that.
When I'm president, privatization is off the table because it's not the answer to anything.-Hillary Rodham, September 3, 2007 AARP Legislative Conference.
If you had to imagine what
October 1, 2007 - 20:30 ET by Conservative_in_mass.If you had to imagine what Helen looked like in her younger days, you'd have to imagine what it was like to swim with Plesiosaurs...
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. ~ Unknown
Isn't Thomas Rosie's
October 1, 2007 - 14:38 ET by Airforce_5_OIsn't Thomas Rosie's mother????
The only thing you should feel when shooting insurgents is the rifle recoil.
Drill, you must be punished
October 1, 2007 - 14:39 ET by bassndudeDrill, you must be punished for even thinking of those two at the same time, and including them in the same post with the "picture" you have now implanted in my mind. Do you prefer new or old rope? Nylon or hemp?
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
both tie with Janis Joplin
October 1, 2007 - 15:12 ET by TruthMongerboth tie with Janis Joplin for ugliest man on campus:)
Dental floss?
October 1, 2007 - 16:21 ET by drillanwrDental floss?
What color? Maybe you shoud
October 1, 2007 - 16:24 ET by bassndudeWhat color? Maybe you shoud have to walk around in a Helen Thomas mask for a day. And a picture of Rosi's butt on your back.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
Neither my head nor my back
October 1, 2007 - 16:58 ET by drillanwrNeither my head nor my back are THAT big! <sheeeesh!>
She is already modeling her
October 1, 2007 - 14:13 ET by the_red_stateShe is already modeling her Halloween costume...The Creature from Capitol Hill.
Helen's puss
October 1, 2007 - 14:25 ET by tbbaxterYou know, it seems that conservatives are always making fun of Helen Thomas's appearance as a response to her extreme leftist views.....and I'm no different! Is it just me, or does Helen Thomas look like Danny DeVito as the Penguin in Batman Returns?
Careful, she'll bite your
October 1, 2007 - 14:46 ET by Chris NormanCareful, she'll bite your nose off. :)
it is not just you:)
October 1, 2007 - 14:54 ET by TruthMongerit is not just you:)
No she looks like the witch
October 1, 2007 - 15:24 ET by ahusserNo she looks like Witch Hazel in the Warner Bros. cartoons.
Helen a highlight.... I
October 1, 2007 - 14:55 ET by bigtimerHelen a highlight....
I cannot stop laughing at just the thought of that...
Only in a leftist world.
Makes you wonder what the
October 1, 2007 - 15:06 ET by Airforce_5_OMakes you wonder what the low was. Of course my mind is working over time on this one.
The only thing you should feel when shooting insurgents is the rifle recoil.
Much Too Much
October 1, 2007 - 17:20 ET by NoMoreClintonsWhat, no quotes from Helen's girlhood friend Karl Marx?
Ken:
You're too too much! I'll still be laughing an hour from now!
the last time i saw a face like that
October 1, 2007 - 19:54 ET by lunaticcringeradioi was watching something in the lord of the rings series.
lunaticcringeradio
Ms.Thomas, keep on lady.
October 4, 2007 - 12:23 ET by 4arrowMs.Thomas, keep on lady. Some young punks think they will stay the same age forever.