Helen Thomas, a remarkable woman, continues to inspire, motivate and ask the tough questions. Being the longest serving reporter at the White House, she even has the distinction of having her own seating assignment in the center seat of the front row of the White House Press Briefing Room. Alongside her are NBC, AP, CBS, ABC, Reuters and CNN.
When one has the opportunity to listen to Helen Thomas and even ask her questions, a glimpse of history, experience and perspective is gained. Even more important is the notion that regardless of party affiliation of the president, Helen continues to ask for the truth and ask for results not being swayed by eloquence or words used to as propaganda. It is important to remember that once a president takes office, it is no longer a Democratic or Republican agenda – it is an American agenda. Therefore, it is imperative to have a free press and one that seeks to know the truth within all administrations.
In Amendent 1 of the U.S. Constitution is says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or othe right of people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for redress of grievances.”
Helen is known for causing angst in the George W. Bush administration for persistently asking about the war in Iraq. Now, she is causing some anxiousness by asking the Barack Obama administration about results following many eloquent speeches.
Now, turning the tables from asking the questions to offering advice (a new role for Helen), she and Craig Crawford, have co-authored Listen Up, Mr. President: Everything You Always Wanted to Your President to Know and Do.
Having been at the White House since President Lyndon B. Johnson, Helen Thomas has witnessed the best and worst of our times and always been on the pulse of what makes leadership at the White House work or not work. Distilling the years of experience, her main points are offered in the chapter titles:
- Brace Yourself: The Worst is Yet to Come
- Your are not Above the Law: Read the Constitution
- Watch your Image: You’re on YouTube
- Open Up: The People have a Right to Know
- Tell the Truth: You’ll be Forgiven
- Have Courage: Even if it Hurts
- Give Us Vision: It’s Your Legacy
- Do the Right Thing: You’ll Never be Wrong
- Pay Attention: And You Won’t be Surprised
- Listen Up, Voters: It’s Up to You
This advice is suitable for everyone. Not only is the president not above the law, the president is there to serve the voters. It is a two-way relationship.
If one is eligible to vote, vote. It is shocking to see the numbers of people in the U.S. who do not vote and the millions of people around the world who cannot vote for whatever reason. The current situation in Afghanistan is a case in point. Is there widespread corruption or not? It is not new news that a leader does not want to give up an office and the overwhelming economic benefits of leading a country.
This relationship also includes if something is working well – voters should let the appropriate government representatives know. And, if a government program is not working well, it is the right of any citizen to share their opinion and demand accountability. This is what makes a democracy work well.
As Helen has said in the past, read as much as you can, learn history and ask questions. It is your right and your responsibility.
By Keri Douglas, writer/photographer, Washington, D.C.
