Fire Helen Thomas??

2010-06-07 12:42:39

#1

lowing: Banned; +1,662|6643|USA

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/06/07/ … tml?hpt=T2

What is going on here? Since when is someone not allowed to an opinion?

Now I understand Helen is a reporter and should do her job objectively and without opinion, just report the news. However, in this case, she was not reporting the news, she was being interviewed and had a personal opinion regarding Israel. There is no mistaking that she was simply expressing her own personal views and was not trying to alter history or influence anyone. She just has an opinion.

Now she faces termination for expressing herself on a personal level totally unrelated to her professional responsibilities. How is it we have come to the point where we can be terminated for our opinions unrelated to our jobs? I think this gotten more attention than what it deserves, and she is being burned at the stake unjustly just becasue she has an opinion that is not liked.

Now I think she is wrong as hell, but still, the fallout over this is not appropriate for a free nation with freedom of press and speech

2010-06-07 12:46:28

#2

eleven bravo: Member; +1,399|5250|foggy bottom

she just retired. she's 90 years old.

Last edited by eleven bravo (2010-06-07 12:46:54)

Tu Stultus Es

2010-06-07 12:47:47

#3

13rin: Member; +977|6471

Yea, she quit. I tend to agree with you on this as well. Every reporter I've met (and I've met dozens of em') have all been biased as hell. It is kinda hard not to be though, but that's what separates a journalist from a great journalist.

I stood in line for four hours. They better give me a Wal-Mart gift card, or something. - Rodney Booker, Job Fair attendee.

2010-06-07 13:12:07

#4

lowing: Banned; +1,662|6643|USA

She did not retire from the white house press corps from how I read the article. Only from Hearst. Still, she should not have to face a public verbal beatdown for a personal opinion.

2010-06-07 13:44:24

#5

Pug: UR father's brother's nephew's former roommate; +652|6533|Texas - Bigger than France

lowing wrote:
She did not retire from the white house press corps from how I read the article. Only from Hearst. Still, she should not have to face a public verbal beatdown for a personal opinion.

I prefer my news neutral, albeit in reality the news is far from it. The reality is news needs a slant, otherwise no one is interested.

2010-06-07 13:50:50

#6

13urnzz: Banned; +5,830|6489

lowing wrote:
How is it we have come to the point where we can be terminated for our opinions unrelated to our jobs?

it's always been that way lowing - "free speech", when exercised, is our right under the First Amendment. the preceding statement does not imply job security, it simply states that we have the right to say something. we are still held to the content of the speech. if an employer does not like the content of your speech, he is free to kick you out of your job.

ain't America great?

2010-06-07 14:02:17

#7

eleven bravo: Member; +1,399|5250|foggy bottom

socialist

Tu Stultus Es

2010-06-07 14:04:06

#8

eleven bravo: Member; +1,399|5250|foggy bottom

never took lowing for the entitlement crowd

Tu Stultus Es

2010-06-07 14:10:29

#9

krazed: Admiral of the Bathtub; +619|6771|Great Brown North

why shouldn't she get yelled at for it?

she's free to say it and people should be free to call her a cunt for it (even though i agree with her somewhat tbh)

freedoms all around bitches

burnzz wrote:
lowing wrote:
How is it we have come to the point where we can be terminated for our opinions unrelated to our jobs?
it's always been that way lowing - "free speech", when exercised, is our right under the First Amendment. the preceding statement does not imply job security, it simply states that we have the right to say something. we are still held to the content of the speech. if an employer does not like the content of your speech, he is free to kick you out of your job.

ain't America great?

indeed

also, why do you have cougar in your avatar?

Last edited by krazed (2010-06-07 14:12:13)

2010-06-07 14:13:14

#10

Pug: UR father's brother's nephew's former roommate; +652|6533|Texas - Bigger than France

Let's be clear here. From the link it appears she's a bigot.

What choice did the news agency have?

2010-06-07 14:38:31

#11

SonderKommando: Eat, Lift, Grow, Repeat....; +564|6651|The darkside of Denver

Does it make me a bad person if I wholeheartedly agree with her?

2010-06-07 14:40:35

#12

CameronPoe: Member; +2,925|6547

I see the anti-semite card got played pretty quickly, which in the context of her comments is a bit inaccurate although her comments are fairly controversial and irrational. It's sixty years too late for her suggestion. Plus free speech comes with a 'pay for what you say' when you are employed by those whose revenues could be dented by your comments, that's life.

Last edited by CameronPoe (2010-06-07 17:06:43)

2010-06-07 16:36:12

#13

Dilbert_X: The X stands for; +1,810|6097|eXtreme to the maX

Thats the thing, freedom of speech doesn't apply to the issue of Israel.

The Israelis have the US, especially its govt, by the balls and aren't letting go any time soon.

Русский военный корабль, иди на хуй!

2010-06-07 16:51:51

#14

Diesel_dyk: Object in mirror will feel larger than it appears; +178|5986|Truthistan

She's 90?! That explains her comments
I'm not sure if its senility in old age that makes people crazy, or just lowers their guard so they actually say what's on their mind. Happened with Charlton Heston with the "too much diversity" comment he made to fat man micheal moore.

I'm impressed that she made it to 90, usually this kind of thing happens to someone in their mid to late seventies, usually we see this with politicans and judges. They hit 75 and start to do crazy things, make crazy decisions or say crazy things.... then they are quickly and quietly retired.

IMO has more to do with old age than anything.... ehhh, with any luck, I should live so long.

2010-06-07 16:54:24

#15

KEN-JENNINGS: I am all that is MOD!; +2,973|6623|949

Dilbert_X wrote:
Thats the thing, freedom of speech doesn't apply to the issue of Israel.

The Israelis have the US, especially its govt, by the balls and aren't letting go any time soon.

actually you'll find that freedom of speech isn't protected in an employee/employer contract. At least most of the time.

2010-06-07 17:26:55

#16

Poseidon: Fudgepack DeQueef; +3,253|6529|Long Island, New York

lowing wrote:
Still, she should not have to face a public verbal beatdown for a personal opinion.

And why not? It's extremely hypocritcal to say she should be able to express her opinion and then berate people for "verbally beating her down" in response to her opinion.

2010-06-07 17:33:12

#17

Turquoise: O Canada; +1,596|6396|North Carolina

Dilbert_X wrote:
Thats the thing, freedom of speech doesn't apply to the issue of Israel.

The Israelis have the US, especially its govt, by the balls and aren't letting go any time soon.

The freedom of speech only covers the government not censoring you. A private employer can mostly do what it feels like.

Granted, I agree with your second sentence.

2010-06-07 20:04:08

#18

unnamednewbie13: Moderator; +2,053|6763|PNW

"We believe Thomas needs to make a more forceful and sincere apology for the pain her remarks have caused."

Be that as it may, is anyone else tired of the ADL sparking furor over every minor offense, perceived or otherwise?

2010-06-07 20:11:19

#19

krazed: Admiral of the Bathtub; +619|6771|Great Brown North

Adl?

2010-06-07 20:12:14

#20

unnamednewbie13: Moderator; +2,053|6763|PNW

krazed wrote:
Adl?

Anti Defamation League.

2010-06-07 20:12:59

#21

Spark: liquid fluoride thorium reactor; +874|6666|Canberra, AUS

unnamednewbie13 wrote:
"We believe Thomas needs to make a more forceful and sincere apology for the pain her remarks have caused."

Be that as it may, is anyone else tired of the ADL sparking furor over every minor offense, perceived or otherwise?

Wow they can go throw themselves down a well. I mean, seriously.

The paradox is only a conflict between reality and your feeling what reality ought to be.
^{~ Richard Feynman}

2010-06-07 20:19:56

#22

unnamednewbie13: Moderator; +2,053|6763|PNW

Spark wrote:
unnamednewbie13 wrote:
"We believe Thomas needs to make a more forceful and sincere apology for the pain her remarks have caused."

Be that as it may, is anyone else tired of the ADL sparking furor over every minor offense, perceived or otherwise?
Wow they can go throw themselves down a well. I mean, seriously.

Maybe she should prostrate herself in front of the Jew Council of Ten, or whatever the ADL has, and plant a wet kiss upon the bejeweled toes of the Grand Poobah.

And then hit the gallows.

2010-06-07 20:27:51

#23

Reciprocity: Member; +721|6572|the dank(super) side of Oregon

cnn wrote:
"There's a difference between telling your opinion and giving someone the finger, which is what she did."

no, there isn't.

Last edited by Reciprocity (2010-06-07 20:28:29)

2010-06-07 20:32:18

#24

Spark: liquid fluoride thorium reactor; +874|6666|Canberra, AUS

Reciprocity wrote:
cnn wrote:
"There's a difference between telling your opinion and giving someone the finger, which is what she did."
no, there isn't.

AWTA.

The paradox is only a conflict between reality and your feeling what reality ought to be.
^{~ Richard Feynman}

2010-06-07 21:18:03

#25

Reciprocity: Member; +721|6572|the dank(super) side of Oregon

Spark wrote:
AWTA.

american working terrier association?

BF2S Forums Fire Helen Thomas??

lowing wrote:

lowing wrote:

burnzz wrote:

lowing wrote:

Dilbert_X wrote:

lowing wrote:

Dilbert_X wrote:

krazed wrote:

unnamednewbie13 wrote:

Spark wrote:

unnamednewbie13 wrote:

cnn wrote:

Reciprocity wrote:

cnn wrote:

Spark wrote:

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