Helen Thomas: New Press Room, Same Old Answers? "I would still like to know why we are in Iraq."

Editor&Publisher: Helen Thomas: New Press Room, Same Old Answers?
By Joe Strupp
Published: July 16, 2007


(Greg Mitchell)
Helen Thomas

NEW YORK White House "dean of correspondents" Helen Thomas, whose time covering presidents dates back to John F. Kennedy, said the renovated press area is cleaner and better, but presidential responses to reporters are not.

"It is state of the art, high-tech and the air conditioning is better, I hope the answers will be," Thomas told E&P Monday, just days after the press corps returned to the White House following nearly a year out of the building. "All we need is better answers. The spin is greater, not better. We are running on empty."

Thomas says she has a desk and phone, and is grateful that she has been able to retain her front row seat, thanks to the White House Correspondents Association Board, which voted to keep her there: "It was a very kind gesture."

Thomas, who spent 57 years with United Press International -- including 39 as White House correspondent -- before becoming a Hearst columnist in 2000, also said she is "crying a river" over UPI's recent cutbacks, which included elimination of the beat she held for most of her career. "It is so sad," she said....

Thomas' comments followed last week's first press briefing in the redecorated press area, which underwent months of renovation and rewiring while the press corps was relocated across the street to temporary quarters. Thomas said she appreciated that President Bush called on her first during the event, but said that does not make up for a continued failure to adequately answer reporters' questions about many important issues.

"What is the approach to the press? There is so much truth that is hidden," she said. "I would still like to know why we are in Iraq. No one can stand up and say, 'this is the reason.'"...

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003612135

if I believed in sainthood she would be at the top of the list.

:D

coming yet again, you wonderful woman, you.

She suffers the fools with grace and integrity--but definitely not gladly.

What a treasure.

And Helen Thomas was one who made it great.

Thomas, who spent 57 years with United Press International -- including 39 as White House correspondent -- before becoming a Hearst columnist in 2000, also said she is "crying a river" over UPI's recent cutbacks, which included elimination of the beat she held for most of her career. "It is so sad," she said....

But the UPI Helen knew, the UPI Helen helped make great, died in May, 2000 - when it was purchased by one Rev. Sun Myung Moon: http://www.mediachannel.org/originals/upi-moon.shtml