Anne Schroeder at The Politico started a new rumor that when the newly renovated White House Briefing Room is ready, perhaps the new seating chart will move caterwauling Hearst columnist Helen Thomas (no longer a reporter, more like a Sheehan-style anti-war protester) out of her traditional seat on the front row. For those who do not recall, Helen left United Press International way back in 2000 rather than work for new owners when it was sold to conservatives at The Washington Times.
The new room will have an added seat in each row, but both CNN and Fox News want to move up, so moving Helen would be the logical move to acknowledge that cable-news networks perhaps have more importance 24-7 than once-a-week columnists for Hearst. (Back when I was in the room in '01 and '02, FNC was often sitting in row 3 or 4, not even the second row.)
Schroeder joked that removing the "irascible administration critic" would solve the dilemma, but it's going to be the reporters, not the Bush team, deciding on the musical chairs:
"If you do the math, that's certainly one scenario, but you never know, one network may want to stay in the second row," explained White House Correspondents' Association Prez Steve Scully, adding, "I can tell you categorically no decisions have been made."
Scully said the topic will be discussed during the next White House Correspondents' Association board meeting, which will take place before Bush leaves for South America in March.
He laughed off rumors that he's buckling under pressure from the Bush administration -- again. (Weeks earlier, the affable and popular Scully picked the ever-benign Rich Little to be the entertainer at the association's annual dinner in April, drawing groans from journos everywhere.) "She's the dean of the White House press corps, as far as I'm concerned; we'll make sure she'll get what she needs."
For all her concern about political pressure, perhaps Schroeder could buy herself an "I Love Helen Thomas" T-shirt and wear it down to the White House gate and protest.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center
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Comments Policy
Tim G...same Scully?
February 14, 2007 - 17:20 ET by bigtimerIt's like Gretchen Carlson (sp) said this morning on Fox and Friends....the spot should go to the cable show with the Number One ratings..
Of course Doocey added in for the for the last five years.
Too funny!
Bye-bye Helen.
Btw Tim, is this the same Steve Scully on C-Span in the mornings on the Washington Journal making decisions? (I hope not.)
Yes, it's the same Scully.
February 14, 2007 - 17:27 ET by Tim GrahamYes, it's the same Scully.
Thanks Tim.I tried to get thr
February 14, 2007 - 17:33 ET by bigtimerThanks Tim.
I tried to get through to him today endlessly during the Journal, I was furious...once again.
Nevertheless... being that's the case....
It isn't bye-bye Helen...it's Welcome Back in the A-1 Spot.
Park the old bag out in the h
February 14, 2007 - 17:21 ET by Scout FinchPark the old bag out in the hallway. She's no longer a member of the press! Those seats should be for current and active press members only.
I seem to recall Thomas bel
February 14, 2007 - 17:59 ET by porterjervisI seem to recall Thomas belching " I will not work for the Unification church' when UPI was sold to News World.
Moving Helen Thomas
February 14, 2007 - 18:28 ET by CellaIt is that same morbid curiosity that compels one to look at a train wreck.
I keep looking at that creepy woman in disbelief as Tony Snow gives her credibility by calling on her. Is he following the admonition "wink at some homely girl?"
I love ya', Tony, but enough already!
Cella-- Tony has an earpiece..
February 14, 2007 - 18:33 ET by misterbillCella-- Tony has an earpiece..and he gets messages like -"quick ask the old bag-she may pass away on public television. What a scoop."
An ugly American is one who does not support his country.
Put my favorite, Harris Fau
February 14, 2007 - 18:47 ET by CrimsonfistedPut my favorite, Harris Faulkner front and center. She gets my vote. Or how about Melissa Theuriau?
WhatAMarooncrimsonfisted--Now you have done it--
February 14, 2007 - 18:52 ET by misterbillcrimsonfisted--Now you have done it--I clicked on the Melissa Theuriau link. My pacemaker tripled its beat and I drooled all over my keyboard. And I am an old man.
An ugly American is one who does not support his country.
OK, this is easy, Melissa get
February 14, 2007 - 19:05 ET by VT Con ManOK, this is easy, Melissa gets the front row seat, but we may be dooming GW and Tony to blithering, chattering....well,,,guys.
Kidding
The French get Melissa, we
February 14, 2007 - 19:32 ET by CrimsonfistedThe French get Melissa, we get Diane Sawyer and Katie Couric and Helen Thomas. Go figure.
WhatAMaroon
Fox News
February 15, 2007 - 09:30 ET by pbanks7I vote for Juliet Huddy and Kiran Chetry. (I miss you, Juliet!)
Ignorance is bliss. It's easier to repeat a mindless slogan than to do some actual research.
I don't know if they have &
February 14, 2007 - 19:24 ET by motherbeltI don't know if they have "name cards" for the seats, but if they do, I would suggest just leaving Helen's name off. Then they could tell her the named seats are for current reporters, but she is welcome to take one of the unassigned seats in the back. She would probably, like that sensitive college professor, either "throw up or black out" and refuse to come back. One can only hope.....
Was there a clock in the &quo
February 14, 2007 - 19:38 ET by FastEdWas there a clock in the "old" room? If she's still going to be there at all, then maybe they should hide the clocks, before she stops them.
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
Never happen
February 14, 2007 - 20:20 ET by saurusInteresting comments, all, but you all have to know it will never happen. Why? Because nobody in the present administration (POTUS included) has the balls to toss her ass out.
They refuse to close our border to illegals ... then try to make a deal to "legitimize" them ... then talk of giving "former illegals" our Social Security benefits, when it is broke just from paying off legitimate beneficiaries.
Come on ... who's kidding who, here?
Yeah - I voted for this bunch of losers (TWICE!) ... but only because the alternative was just too horrible to contemplate.
TWICE
February 14, 2007 - 23:00 ET by CTDITTO
Ditto two. Do they even wonde
February 15, 2007 - 09:34 ET by pbanks7Ditto two. Do they even wonder how they lost their base? (It's under Hanger 18).
Ignorance is bliss. It's easier to repeat a mindless slogan than to do some actual research.
I have sat in a room with her
February 14, 2007 - 21:31 ET by ucI have sat in a room with her and maybe fifteen others once. >> If "rosebud" has become just liberal rose petals puff journalism even her syndicate should ask for her to be now seated in the rear. Let us not now also get confused between "the Lady in Red in the Front Row" and the lady in historically once a yellow journalism row.
Everyone who looks as dead
February 14, 2007 - 21:39 ET by 1sttofightEveryone who looks as dead as she does have been in the ground for decades. Why is she still above ground?
I think it would be more disr
February 14, 2007 - 21:52 ET by balboaI think it would be more disruptive to do that than to just let her sit where she normally does, ride it out. She's only one person, and I don't see this as that big a deal. It's an "honorary" seat. Let it go.
Dunce Cap
February 14, 2007 - 23:05 ET by CTThey can leave Helen Thomas in her chair if they provide a dunce cap and a stool facing the back corner of the room for David Gregory.
Wouldn't that be great! I agr
February 15, 2007 - 17:19 ET by the_red_stateWouldn't that be great! I agree...put The Creature in the back row and that smug, arrogant Gregory in the back row along with her and have Tony Snow ignore them both.