First They Came for the Cranky White House Columnist: Helen Thomas Learns That Free Speech is a Myth [View All]

[kpete]

First They Came for the Cranky White House Columnist: Helen Thomas Learns That Free Speech is a Myth

by Ted Rall | June 10, 2010 - 11:23am

... I've worked in the media most of my life. So I know that the media is controlled by morons.

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Ari Fleischer, who ought to be in prison for defending torture and concentration camps as press secretary for George W. Bush, called Thomas a fan of "religious cleansing." Equating opposition to Israel with anti-Semitism, ex-Clinton spokesman Lanny Davis called Thomas "an anti-Semitic bigot."

"If she had asked all blacks to go back to Africa, what would White House Correspondents Association position be as to whether she deserved White House press room credentials --much less a privileged honorary seat?" Davis asked.

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So is Helen Thomas an anti-Semite? I don't know. I do know that her comments were not inherently anti-Semitic.

The bigger question is: What if she were? Should she have been fired?

Of course not. Free speech must be defended no matter what--even that of cranky anti-Semitic columnists (if that's what Thomas is/was). Unless we are truly free to say what we think--without fear of reprisal--free speech is not a right. It is merely a permission.

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(whole thing is great mho!):
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/ted-rall/29376/first-they-came-for-the-cranky-white-house-columnist-helen-thomas-learns-that-free-speech-is-a-myth