1. Mediaite
  2. Gossip Cop
  3. Geekosystem
  4. Styleite
  5. SportsGrid
  6. The Mary Sue
  7. The Jane Dough
  8. The Braiser
Advertisement

Wayne State Univ. Suspends Helen Thomas Diversity Award After Offensive Comments

» 63 comments

Months removed from the anti-Semetic comments that lost her her front row seat at White House press briefings, Helen Thomas‘s continued remarks on the matter have lost her yet another honor– an award given to undergraduates at Wayne State Univeristy in Detroit in her honor, which has now lost its name.

According to the AP, the University announced today the award will no long be available, effective immediately:

Wayne State University says it’ll no longer offer the Helen Thomas Spirit of Diversity Award, citing recent comments made by the longtime journalist.

In a statement Friday, the Detroit school says it “encourages free speech and open dialogue,” but strongly condemns what it says are “anti-Semitic remarks” made by Thomas on Thursday. According to The Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press, the Wayne State alumna said during a speech in Dearborn that Congress, the White House, Hollywood and Wall Street are owned by “Zionists.”

The remarks that lost her this award, however, are not the ones that lost her her longtime job– these were comments made last Thursday that “Congress, the White House and Hollywood, Wall Street are owned by the Zionists.” Thomas, who is 90 years old, went from beloved icon to conflicted media figure almost overnight when the aforementioned video of her telling Jewish Americans to “go home” (to Poland) went viral online.

Follow us on Twitter.

Sign up for Mediaite's daily newsletter.

Email Twitter Facebook Digg Reddit Stumble Upon Yahoo Buzz LinkedIn Tumblr Delicious
  • Atticus Draco

    LMAO
    ‘THEM DAMN jOOOOOSSSS!”

  • Just4thefax

    Fact: Big liberal racist!

  • skyfet

    Gosh not again, what happens to freedom of expression. Zionism is not a race, it’s a political ideology. The first amendment is there to protect offensive speech not polite speech. When people were attacking Rev. Wright and others for Black theology, it wasn’t his race they were attacking they were attacking his ideology. Thats it, all this racist this racist that, is just used to shut people up and stop debate.
    Sad!

  • tigerprez

    Well, I’m just sick about this. The Jews keep forcing Helen Thomas to make racist statements. They’re to blame if you ask me.

    Does this mean that Mediaite has to paint over their Helen Thomas mural and take down their autographed Helen Thomas posters? Perhaps put up some Farrakhan stuff?

  • Atticus Draco

    skyfet said:
    Gosh not again, what happens to freedom of expression. Zionism is not a race, it’s a political ideology. The first amendment is there to protect offensive speech not polite speech. When people were attacking Rev. Wright and others for Black theology, it wasn’t his race they were attacking they were attacking his ideology. Thats it, all this racist this racist that, is just used to shut people up and stop debate.
    Sad!

    Git off your high horse,,
    NO ONE is stoppin’ her from sayin’ her stupid chit!!
    What’s preventing it from being heard though is COMMON SENSE!
    Ridiculous old bag

  • skyfet

    @Atticus Draco
    No one is stopping her physically, but any one who wants to honor or give her a platform is being bombarded to drop her or face boycott or other threat. So her freedom to express herself is being restricted indirectly.

  • timzank

    skyfet said:
    Thats it, all this racist this racist that, is just used to shut people up and stop debate.
    Sad!

    You mean like the word “urban” was used to beat the shit out of Steve King the other day?

  • Atticus Draco

    skyfet said:
    @Atticus Draco
    No one is stopping her physically, but any one who wants to honor or give her a platform is being bombarded to drop her or face boycott or other threat. So her freedom to express herself is being restricted indirectly.

    Jesus!
    (he was a Jew btw)
    You are as hard headed as she is!
    IF you say stupid chit,, yeah,, you are gonna end up being isolated and by yourself
    It sorta like Air America,, or anything else of the angry lib related rhetoric realm,,,
    The audience just kinda leaves,, while the angry lib continues to talk to it self
    freely of course

  • J Baustian

    skyfet said:
    @Atticus Draco
    No one is stopping her physically, but any one who wants to honor or give her a platform is being bombarded to drop her or face boycott or other threat. So her freedom to express herself is being restricted indirectly.

    If they invite her to some dinner or other event and she continues to repeat this bigotry, then it is only natural that questions would be asked about whoever invited her.

    She can say whatever she likes… but there are consequences. At least no one invented something obnoxious and then attributed it to her, or twisted some innocent comment into something abhorrent — she really did say these things and she is not ashamed of her anti-Jewish and anti-Zionist views.

  • felixw

    I don’t disagree with this move by Wayne State. But, in all honesty, Helen Thomas has been an embarrassment for decades. Did it really take them more than a quarter of a century to figure it out?

  • J Baustian

    skyfet said:
    Gosh not again, what happens to freedom of expression. Zionism is not a race, it’s a political ideology. The first amendment is there to protect offensive speech not polite speech.

    That is the argument that the ACLU makes when it defends the First Amendment rights of the KKK.

    People who join the Klan and use it as a platform to make anti-Semitic remarks understand, usually, that their words might make them unpopular with a lot of people. They are willing to express those opinions openly and accept the consequences. Helen Thomas is 90 years old but until the last year people cut her some slack — too much slack, it appears. So she never had to face the consequences until now.

  • michiganruth

    felixw said:
    I don’t disagree with this move by Wayne State. But, in all honesty, Helen Thomas has been an embarrassment for decades. Did it really take them more than a quarter of a century to figure it out?

    that’s what I was wondering. and how the heck does Helen Thomas get a “diversity award” named after her in the first place? has she in her long and sullied career ever done anything at all for diversity, other than happening to be a (Jew-hating) Arab?

  • http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

    Couldn’t happen to a better person. She is a Jew hater. She would have been an operator of the ovens.

  • disenlightened

    gordonbloyershow said:
    Couldn’t happen to a better person. She is a Jew hater. She would have been an operator of the ovens.

    She would have been doing her best Julia Childs impression and throwing butter on the bodies while whistling an old Lebanese folk song, if there are any (the Muslims banned all music and art).

  • http://none pyrope

    Yeah, but -0bama’s Nobel Prize is sacrosanct.

  • skyfet

    @J Baustian
    I’ve got news for you, Zionism is not a race.Not all Zionist are from Jewish background. And there are many Jews who are not Zionists. This is basic facts.

  • Elaine B

    Here is a modern day Hero we all can Love and respect!

    Helen Thomas’s continued remarks on the matter have lost her yet another honor– an award given to undergraduates at Wayne State University in Detroit in her honor, which has now lost its name.

    According to the AP, the University announced today the award will no long be available, effective immediately:

    Wayne State University says it’ll no longer offer the Helen Thomas Spirit of Diversity Award, citing recent comments made by the longtime journalist.

    As far as journalist goes, she has and is one of the very best we had. I seriously don’t know any other journalist who had the guts and backbone to ask the reliant questions Helen has

    Love you Helen!! Take care!!

  • Elaine B

    gordonbloyershow says:

    Couldn’t happen to a better person. She is a Jew hater. She would have been an operator of the ovens.

    Your a very sick person who ever you are!

  • Elaine B

    So there we are! So where are we?

  • Elaine B

    News broadcast .. Repo”s are very sick and demented people….. they need medical attention intermediately!! Oh… no…. they don’t have any enough money….. sorry you have to die….. bye bye now

  • BatBoy

    Elaine B said:
    Love you Helen!! Take care!!

    Tommy….is this you in drag!

  • BatBoy

    skyfet said:
    Thats it, all this racist this racist that, is just used to shut people up and stop debate.

    Are you just now getting this….what rock have you been living under.

    This has been a strategy of the libs for the last 25 years and continues to this day.

    Calling someone a “Racist” has always been a conversation stopper. And you seem hurt when one of your darlings is called a “Racist” because she clearly is a “Racist” … maybe “Jew Hater” is a better description.

  • Mr.Papshmer

    skyfet said:
    Gosh not again, what happens to freedom of expression. Zionism is not a race, it’s a political ideology. The first amendment is there to protect offensive speech not polite speech. When people were attacking Rev. Wright and others for Black theology, it wasn’t his race they were attacking they were attacking his ideology. Thats it, all this racist this racist that, is just used to shut people up and stop debate.
    Sad!

    As the old saying goes, she has every right to say what she says, but she has no right to make me listen. This is not a First Amendment issue, people (not the government) decided she was a worthless piece of shit and sent her packing. People (not the government) decided to not give out an award in her honor. Isn’t it cool when We the People make decisions?

  • skyfet

    @
    No it’s not ‘We the People’. its a concerted effort of a pressure group.

  • RichS

    skyfet said:
    Gosh not again, what happens to freedom of expression. Zionism is not a race, it’s a political ideology. The first amendment is there to protect offensive speech not polite speech. When people were attacking Rev. Wright and others for Black theology, it wasn’t his race they were attacking they were attacking his ideology. Thats it, all this racist this racist that, is just used to shut people up and stop debate.Sad!

    How does the First Amendment to the United States Constitution in anyway prevent the suspension of this award?

  • RichS

    skyfet said:
    @Atticus DracoNo one is stopping her physically, but any one who wants to honor or give her a platform is being bombarded to drop her or face boycott or other threat. So her freedom to express herself is being restricted indirectly.

    What do you want to do, restrict the rights of those who disagree with her? Do you ever think before you write this stuff?

  • Mr.Papshmer

    Isn’t it cool how, whenever something goes the way that progressives like, the people have spoken. They’re so enlightened, and democracy is a wonderful thing. When things don’t go their way, it’s because of a pressure group or some other retarded reason why they didn’t get their way.

    Skyfet, did it ever occur to you that Helen Thomas is a racist piece of shit, that people see her for what she is, and reject her?

    By the way, by defending Helen Thomas, you advertise your racism, asshole. How does it feel to be a racist piece of shit? Oh, I know you’ll find some reason to justify your racism, by not calling it racism, but you are, in fact, a racist dickhole.

  • The_Reasonable_Lib

    gordonbloyershow said:
    Couldn’t happen to a better person. She is a Jew hater. She would have been an operator of the ovens.

    Are you being serious right now? It’s no wonder even some conservatives view you as insane.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Charlie-Martin/625252424 Charlie Martin

    Hey, Mediaite folks: the word you’re groping for is “anti-Semitic” not “Semetic”.

  • skyfet

    @RichS
    Like she hasn’t said this kind of stuff before, but still they wanted to give her the award. Don’t be naive, in thinking they didn’t stop this from going on because of outside pressure. Now that’s not disagreeing with her, thats trying to isolate her and demonise her for opposing Zionism. Again being a Zionist is not a race, its a political ideology.

  • hgovernick

    gordonbloyershow said:
    Couldn’t happen to a better person. She is a Jew hater. She would have been an operator of the ovens.

    Assholes like you make me want to root for bin Laden. The image of him separating your head from the rest of your piggish body with his sword comes to mind.

  • http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

    hgovernick said:
    Assholes like you make me want to root for bin Laden. The image of him separating your head from the rest of your piggish body with his sword comes to mind.

    You just showed up here and started attacking people. What hole did you crawl out of? Why are you hiding behing that phony name?
    When you get a brain, you can come back but as for now you speak when spoken to. Take your meds and go to bed.

  • disenlightened

    hgovernick said:
    Assholes like you make me want to root for bin Laden. The image of him separating your head from the rest of your piggish body with his sword comes to mind.

    Damn, another leg-shaving, hate-filled lib with pattern baldness. Go check out Democrat Underground.

  • Nahu Tuk

    hgovernick said:
    Assholes like you make me want to root for bin Laden.

    Having read some of your posts I thought you already did.

  • Nachi

    No wonder. That’s heavy Republiscum hillbilly territory. Hayshakers and ridge-runners prevail politically. Uneducated. Unwashed. Duh.

  • Mr.Papshmer

    hgovernick said:
    Assholes like you make me want to root for bin Laden. The image of him separating your head from the rest of your piggish body with his sword comes to mind.

    What kind of dickhole even types stuff like that?

  • hgovernick

    gordonbloyershow said:
    You just showed up here and started attacking people. What hole did you crawl out of? Why are you hiding behing that phony name?
    When you get a brain, you can come back but as for now you speak when spoken to. Take your meds and go to bed.

    You’re easy to attack, dick head. I’ll speak whenever I feel like it.

  • hgovernick

    Mr.Papshmer said:
    hgovernick said:
    Assholes like you make me want to root for bin Laden. The image of him separating your head from the rest of your piggish body with his sword comes to mind.

    What kind of dickhole even types stuff like that?

    The kind that doesn’t have to impress anybody with a handgun for an avitar, ass wipe.

  • hgovernick

    Nahu Tuk said:
    Having read some of your posts I thought you already did.

    Keep finding numb nuts like you around, and it won’t be long before I do.

  • Mr.Papshmer

    hgovernick said:
    The kind that doesn’t have to impress anybody with a handgun for an avitar, ass wipe.

    So you are in fact a dickhole. Okay, thanks for clearing that up, loin lapper.

  • mlong

    skyfet said:
    @RichS
    Again being a Zionist is not a race, its a political ideology.

    Please everyone knows Zionist is used by Anti-Semites like Thomas as a code word for Jews..so please just stop it with that lame excuse…she’s a racist just deal with it.

  • nrgetick

    ha ha this poor lady, in another life she could have been a fox noise commentator. just replace zionist with soro and nobody blinks an eye

  • nrgetick

    btw just remember antisemitism has a special place in most bircher-teabagger propaganda. Mel Gibson and glenn beck can fill you in.,,.,.but only if you give them all the jew gold you own,,.lol

  • nrgetick

    mlong said:
    Please everyone knows Zionist is used by Anti-Semites like Thomas as a code word for Jews..so please just stop it with that lame excuse…she’s a racist just deal with it.

    funny i mentioned the same thing in regards to King calling obama very very urban / (n****r)
    ….hes also a racist so just deal with it

  • Elaine B

    Mr.Cockshmer says:

    By the way, by defending Helen Thomas, you advertise your racism, asshole. How does it feel to be a racist piece of shit? Oh, I know you’ll find some reason to justify your racism, by not calling it racism, but you are, in fact, a racist dickhole.

    I think Helen is still a great journalist. I don’t think see was a racist really. But, admiring her for the work she has done doesn’t make me a racist. I am not afraid to say that and I don’t have to fall in line with the likes of you.

    You may not be a racist but most of the repos on this site are, in case you haven’t noticed. Nevertheless your a true jerk and that is damn close.

  • SmartAlec

    hgovernick said:
    Assholes like you make me want to root for bin Laden.

    Nothing should make you want to root for Bin Laden. Except for being an America-hating terrorist, which might lay deep in your subconscious.

  • Nahu Tuk

    hgovernick said:
    Keep finding numb nuts like you around, and it won’t be long before I do.

    You utterly rotten piece of human garbage, how could you possibly say such a despicable thing. Did your father root for the Japanese on 8 December 1941 or is it that he served in the third reich. You are a traitor and your posts are uniquely stupid.

  • Nahu Tuk

    Elaine B said:
    Here is a modern day Hero we all can Love and respect!

    Your standards are very low, aren’t they?

  • hgovernick

    SmartAlec said:
    Nothing should make you want to root for Bin Laden. Except for being an America-hating terrorist, which might lay deep in your subconscious.

    I don’t hate America. I hate what the people here have become – myself included.

    When empty-headed, blood sucking, soulless vampires who care nothing about their fellow man, kicking them when they are down, mocking them when they are in desperate need, choosing slavery to the corporations over compassion for the sick, poor and elderly, then claiming Jesus is their Lord – don’t expect me to root for this class of false patriots. They are no kin to me, and no benefit to this country.

    For your consideration:

    “Terrorism is the best political weapon, for nothing drives people harder than a fear of sudden death” ~Adolf Hitler

    “An evil exists that threatens every man, woman and child of this great nation. We must take steps to ensure our domestic security and protect our homeland.” ~Adolph Hitler

    “The broad masses of a population are more amenable to the appeal of rhetoric than to any other force.”
    ~Adolf Hitler

    “The great masses of people will more easily fall victims to a big lie than to a small one. Especially if it is repeated over and over.” ~Adolf Hitler

    “All propaganda must be so popular and on such an intellectual level, that even the most stupid of those toward whom it is directed will understand it… Through clever and constant application of propaganda, people can be made to see paradise as hell, and also the other way around, to consider the most wretched sort of life as paradise.” ~Adolf Hitler

    “The National Socialist Party will prevent in the future, by force if necessary, all meetings and lectures which are likely to exercise a depressing influence on the German state.” ~Adolf Hitler

    “What luck for the rulers that men do not think.” ~Adolf Hitler

    “Why nationalize industry when you can nationalize the people?” ~Adolf Hitler

    “The National Government will regard it as its first and foremost duty to revive in the nation the spirit of unity and cooperation. It will preserve and defend those basic principles on which our nation has been built. It regards Christianity as the foundation of our national morality, and the family as the basis of national life.” ~Adolf Hitler

    “Society’s needs come before the individual’s needs.” ~Adolf Hitler

    “Let us pray in this hour that nothing can divide us, and that God will help us against the Devil! Almighty Lord, bless our fight!” ~Adolf Hitler

    “Why of course the people don’t want war. Why should some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally, the common people don’t want war: neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But after all it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship…Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger.” ~ Leading Nazi leader, Hermann Goering, at the Nuremberg Trials before he was sentenced to death

    “Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.” ~George W. Bush, 2004.

    “I don’t give a goddamn. I’m the President and the Commander-in-Chief. Do it my way. Stop throwing the Constitution in my face. It’s just a goddamned piece of paper.” ~George W. Bush, 2005.

  • hgovernick

    Nahu Tuk said:
    You utterly rotten piece of human garbage, how could you possibly say such a despicable thing.

    => Because I’ve got a Purple Heart from wounds received in combat while serving with the Marine Corps in Vietnam, fighting for the freedom to be able to say whatever I want to say – and for whatever you want to say, you worthless piece of donkey dong.

    ====

    Did your father root for the Japanese on 8 December 1941 or is it that he served in the third reich.

    => If the United States of America in World War 2 was filled with empty vessels, self-absorbed, ego-centric pricks like you, I’m sure my father, who was Jewish, might have considered rooting for the Japanese. If you think it is YOU and people like YOU which makes this country worth fighting and dieing for, don’t flatter yourself. You have to earn that right.

    ====

    You are a traitor and your posts are uniquely stupid.

    => I like being unique. Try it sometime, puppet.

  • disenlightened

    hgovernick said:
    I don’t hate America. I hate what the people here have become – myself included.

    He’s in the theatre. The theatre, I say. He’s an ac….tor. Another failed actor auditioning for the part of Voice of the Liberals. First Maher, then Stewart and now . . . . . . Harry Gloverdick, with shades.

  • Mr.Papshmer

    Elaine B said:
    I think Helen is still a great journalist. I don’t think see was a racist really.

    Keep telling yourself that, and it’ll probably become true in your mind.

  • skyfet

    @mlong
    That’s just plain ignorance. In Israel, being a Zionist is not looked at in an unfavourable manner, people wear it in their sleeves, it’s a proud thing to call one self a Zionist. So don’t tell me it’s used by the racists.

  • skyfet

    @Mr.Papshmer
    Another one of those who use the race card when it suits them, in order to shut people up. How has that work for you so far?

  • Nahu Tuk

    hgovernick said:

    Purple Heart? I got mine about 60 clicks west of Pleiku. If you check your map, that’s in an area known as the parrot’s beak. I was a forward air controller.

    I am not an empty vessel for God is in my heart.

    There is nothing about you that is unique–the world is filled with liberal idiots like you.

  • hgovernick

    Nahu Tuk said:
    Purple Heart? I got mine about 60 clicks west of Pleiku. If you check your map, that’s in an area known as the parrot’s beak. I was a forward air controller.

    I am not an empty vessel for God is in my heart.

    There is nothing about you that is unique–the world is filled with liberal idiots like you.

    First you call me unique as though you’re insulting me, then you tell me I’m not unique. Empty vessel. I don’t believe God is in your heart, or I wouldn’t find you here making such a hypocrite of yourself. Your words betray you and disgrace you in the eyes of the God of the Bible.

  • hgovernick

    disenlightened said:
    He’s in the theatre. The theatre, I say. He’s an ac….tor. Another failed actor auditioning for the part of Voice of the Liberals. First Maher, then Stewart and now . . . . . . Harry Gloverdick, with shades.

    Jealous little person.

  • hu1234

    Good news: this website === http://bingstore.us ===

    we has been updated and add products and

    many things they abandoned their increases

    are welcome to visit our website.

    Accept cash or credit card payments, free transport.

    You can try oh, will make you satisfied.

    ===== http://bingstore.us======

  • hgovernick

    disenlightened said:
    Damn, another leg-shaving, hate-filled lib with pattern baldness. Go check out Democrat Underground.

    You seem to have a fetish fantasizing about men who you hope shave their legs so you can crawl up between them and grab yourself a nice, satisfying suck.

    Sorry, even if I did, you would never get close enough to me for any of your fleas to jump off you and onto me, dog man.

  • hgovernick

    disenlightened said:
    He’s in the theatre. The theatre, I say. He’s an ac….tor. Another failed actor auditioning for the part of Voice of the Liberals. First Maher, then Stewart and now . . . . . . Harry Gloverdick, with shades.

    Don’t quit your day job. Talentless comics are a dime a dozen, and there’s no Old Folks Home for them. Get used to the idea that you’ll just have to die alone, never having tried, never having succeeded.

  • alex020588

    2011 new style!

    http://www.nike4world.com

  • pinkie
  • alex020588

© 2012 Mediaite, LLC | About Us | Advertise | Newsletter | Jobs | Privacy | User Agreement | Disclaimer | Power Grid FAQ | Contact | Archives | RSS RSS
Dan Abrams, Founder | Power Grid by Sound Strategies | Hosting by Datagram