Helen Thomas Moved to Second Row of Renovated White House Pressroom

February 21st, 2007 10:32 PM

Here’s a story guaranteed to make every conservative in America instantly happy: when the newly renovated White House pressroom opens for business, Helen Thomas will not be sitting in the front row.

As reported by Politico (h/t Hot Air, emphasis mine throughout):

The press corps is scheduled to move from temporary facilities back into the spiffed-up, rewired briefing room in May or June. [Helen] Thomas, who has been questioning presidents and press secretaries for 46 years, plans to be there. But her front-row seat won’t be. Plans call for her to be moved to the second row to make room for a cable news channel – a sign of Washington’s changing pecking order, and of the new ways that Americans get their news.

I think that deserves a standing ovation! Yet, the fun wasn’t over:

“I didn’t think I had a monopoly on that seat,” Thomas, 86, said in a telephone interview. “Since my peers have decided that I don’t belong there, I’ll bow to their – I’ll drink the – What did Socrates drink?”

 Hemlock?

 “I’ll drink it,” she said. “You have to submit to the will of the people, and apparently this is the will of my peers. It’s OK with me. I’ve had a good run in the front seat.”

I’m verklempt. Talk amongst yourselves.