Why is Obama afraid to call on Helen Thomas?

[Karmadillo]

There's a video at the link. It's strange that Obama doesn't know whether or not any power in the Middle East has nuclear weapons. Hard to believe we're spending all that money on intelligence and don't have a clue on such an important issue.

http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=4900

In part one of his interview with Helen Thomas, longest-serving member of the White House Press Corps, Paul Jay asks her about her first question for President Obama. The question, asking President Obama to name all the countries in the Middle-East that have nuclear weapons, was avoided by the President, who claimed to not want to "speculate". Thomas claims that knowledge of Israeli nukes is very public in DC and Obama's answer shows a lack of credibility. She explains the importance of this question for U.S. policy in the region. Finally, she confides that she has not been called on by the President since that day, but that if she does, she will ask him whether or not he has found any more information about nukes in the Middle-East since their last encounter.

[katandmoon]

1. K&R for Helen. What's Obama afraid of?

[truedelphi]

2. Obama is like when the most charismatic

kid in school gets to head the Student Council.

The night of the 2009 Presidential roast, Helen Thomas, Michelle and Barack were all on the stage together.

Now if Obama was the least little bit like the "progressive" that he ran as, he would have IMMEDIATELY made his way over to her (she was like six feet away.) Those three were the only ones on that part of the stage.

Instead he remained transfixed by people in the audience cheering "Obama! Obama!"

Only when Helen came over to him and Michelle was there any type of interaction.

This interaction only confirmed what his appointments had already told me about him.

And Charisma united with Corporate Control is a very dangerous thing.

[Lord Helmet]

3. Maybe she didn't like the cupcakes he gave her on her birthday.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2009/08/president_obama_brings_cupcake.html

[ixion]

4. For the same reason Bush was.

n/t

[Karmadillo]

5. I wonder which one had the courage to call on her the most.

nt

[upi402]

20. +1^ n/t

[Missy Vixen]

6. Arrogance

He doesn't think he has to. Plus, she's dared to criticize his decisions in print.

It's hard to understand why the President is afraid of a woman in her eighties, isn't it?

[CBR]

12. I hate when people on DU spread RW memes... nt

[Missy Vixen]

18. I hate it when people on DU won't criticize the President, even when he richly deserves it

I might also mention that I am a member of the Democratic Party, and have been since 1979.

[treestar]

7. Why does he have to?

Everyone was full of praise when he cut Faux Noise reporters.

There are zillions of reporters.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

8. Why do people post stupid threads? n/t

[Karmadillo]

9. Zinger!!!!!

nt

[JohnyCanuck]

10. K & R

[marshall]

11. Name me a president who hasn't been afraid to call on Helen Thomas...

She asks really tough questions--ones that they either don't want to answer or don't know the answer to.

[Individualist]

13. JFK for one

[Skittles]

22. you'd be an idiot not to be afraid of Ms. Thomas

yes

[Cali_Democrat]

14. Helen's only trying to stir the pot.

Obama is a statesman and there's a lot more to diplomacy than playing Helen's silly games and railing against Israel. She herself admits that she will go back to asking the very same question....kinda like a game of gotcha. Very immature.

PUMAs shouldn't get more attention than they actually deserve which is ZERO.

Poor little Helen :nopity:

[harkadog]

17. When Bush was in Helen had nothing but praise on DU

Now she has been thrown under the DU bus.

[Posteritatis]

15. Presidents should generally be afraid of calling on Thomas. (nt)

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

16. He's not afraid to "speculate" on Iran's intentions and impose sanctions based on the spectulations.

Bravo for Helen.

[Nikki Stone1]

19. Because Helen holds Presidential feet to the fire, regardless of party

She's one of the very few people of principle left in journalism. When she goes, most of her kind go as well.

[Skittles]

21. I'd be afraid to call on her

she's tough, and it's hard to get tough back at her without looking like you're picking on an elderly gal