Essential Estrogen

Venerable political journalist Helen Thomas hopes both Iowans and bloggers understand the depth of responsibility placed on their shoulders.

"I think [blogging] can be very good," Thomas said in a one-on-one interview Thursday afternoon. "It is important, however, for them to get some help and training from legitimate journalists who can tell them about standards and ethics. The problem is that when everyone who has a laptop thinks that he's a journalist, the potential of ruining lives and ruining reputations is there."

She points to training and standards as mechanisms for ensuring all writers maintain a certain level of legitimacy.

"All journalists need to learn standards and ethics -- of being responsible for what they say and do and print," she said during an interview in Des Moines. "When that is reached, that's when [blogging] will be helpful."

Well aware of how Iowa can influence national politics, and how certain personalities in the White House can influence the nation, Thomas also has a reminder for Iowans as our state moves closer to the 2008 caucus.

"I hope that Iowans understand that in leading the way they have an incredible decision to make," she said. "They will be telling the people of the nation 'this is our choice' and 'we have made a real sound judgment.' It is just a tremendous responsibility and one I believe Iowans take seriously."

While she wouldn't name her choice for president, she did have advice for others as they decide.

"They need to think about who could really be best person for our country," she said. "They don't need to think in political party lines or any of that. I hope they think about if the person would be able to rise to all the occasions -- because there will be one crisis after another. Does the person have the stamina, the integrity, the principles? Why is this person here? Is the person simply ambitious -- full of their own ego -- or does the person really want to do something right, something good for us?"

Thomas, 86, was in Iowa to serve as keynote speaker for the annual luncheon of Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa. She served up anecdotes and insights from her years in the White House press corps to the standing-room only crowd. Introduced with reference to her signature phrase for ending closed presidential conferences, "Thank you, Mr. President," Thomas began her official remarks by confessing there were several times she wanted to say, "No thank you, Mr. President." She also assured those in attendance that, although she was visiting from Washington D.C., she was not a candidate for president -- but, if elected, she said she will serve.

The humor and wit continued throughout her 10 minutes of remarks and the lengthier question-and-answer period that followed. This did not mean, however, that she avoided hot-button issues.

"I hope the voters will demand of the presidential candidates the unvarnished truth on mainly the disastrous war in Iraq -- the war without end, the war to nowhere," she said. "There are those in power who cry about government interference in private lives -- until the question of abortion rights comes up. They are very concerned about the unborn; however, the ongoing slaughter -- daily -- in Iraq evokes no shock."

Thomas, who has covered every president since John F. Kennedy, has no qualms about peppering candidates and presidents with tough questions. In response to an observation from a reporter that Thomas seems never to have backed down, she responded:

"Why shouldn't we stand up to them? Who are they? You don't have to back down because they work for us and they answer to us."

Thomas served for 57 years as a correspondent and White House bureau chief for United Press International. She was the first woman officer of the National Press Club, was the first woman member and president of the White House Correspondents Association and the first woman member of the Gridiron Club. She is also the author of four books, including her latest released in paperback in June: "Watchdogs of Democracy? The Waning Washington Press Corps and How It Has Failed the Public."