Helen Thomas spoke candidly about a public health-insurance option, the second Bush administration and her experience as a White House correspondent at the Madison Civics Club Saturday.
Thomas, known as the dean of the White House press corps and a columnist for Hearst Newspapers, has reported on every president since John F. Kennedy.
She spoke in favor of a public health-insurance option and said she was surprised by the lack of support on Capitol Hill.
""I think there's a real wall in Congress against this because all of those pockets have been padded by the health-insurance agency companies, and [lawmakers] have to pay their debts,"" she said.
Thomas said the past eight years were her darkest when covering the White House. She said the American public ""lost [their] rights"" and integrity under the Bush administration.
She discussed how she began her reporting career in a ""man's world"" but said she always ""lived a life of defiance."" Often criticized for her strident watchdog mentality, Thomas said she was never accused of biased reporting.
Now, as a liberal columnist for Hearst, Thomas said she continues to hold the government accountable.
""Reporters should not play ball with the government. We are the watchdog; we should really hold them to account in every way,"" she said.
