DUBYA'S ENEMIES LIST
Nixonian Attack On Dean Of White House Press Corps
Organized Official Republican Party Smear Campaign Against Helen Thomas
Bush Assault To Intimidate Media
White House Correspondents' Association Silent
Not since Richard M. Nixon made a little list -- an enemies list -- of those in the press and in politics who disagreed with his policies has a U.S. President launched a public personal attack on a specific American journalist.
Now, the ever-reliable Hotline reports, George W. Bush has mobilized the Republican National Committee to beat up the outspoken truth-teller, venerated senior White House correspondent, and "First Lady of the press," Helen Thomas, because she has DARED to criticize his public policies.
Helen Thomas: Press heroine, Dubya smear target
Helen Thomas has had the courage to say what many are thinking, that Bush is "the worst president in all of American history." For exercising her First Amendment freedom, the entire Republican Party smear machine has now been deployed against the brave and distinguished journalist.
The RNC has sent out a full-scale call to the hardline partisans in its email data base to destroy Ms. Thomas in response to her criticism of their "president." By singling her out, the Republicans seek nothing less than to intimidate the entire press corps:
PRESS PASS:
GOP Asks Activists To Take On Helen Thomas
In response to Helen Thomas' recent column naming Pres. Bush "the worst President in all of American history," the RNC is asking supporters to "Call Her Out." They provide the following information online:
"Helen Thomas -- Hearst News Service
Title: Columnist
Department: Headquarters
E-mail: [e-mail address]
Phone: [phone number]
Fax: [fax number]
Address: [address]"
(RNC e-mail, 2/20).
Where are the editorials in the New York Times and in the Washington Post?
Where are the press freedom groups and journalists' defense organizations?
Where are Daniel Schorr, Mary McGrory, and all of the other surviving targets of Nixon's "enemies list"?
Above all, where is the board of the White House Correspondents' Association, now that their courageous colleague -- who has covered every president since John F. Kennedy, and always commanded the utmost respect -- has been targeted in Dubya's Nixonian campaign to smother all criticism?
* Email the Reporters' Committee for Freedom of the Press and Bob Deans, President of the White House Correspondents Association, to demand public statements defending Helen Thomas's freedom of expression and denouncing George W. Bush for attempting to suppress it.
* Email Helen Thomas to express your full support against George W. Bush's and the RNC's outrageous smear campaign against her.
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