The execrable Helen Thomas has been so for decades. Her "friends" and "supporters" were well aware of her Arab origins and biases.

http://tinyurl.com/2ffv2wn

Editor and Publisher Defends the Indefensible Helen ThomasAugust 28, 2008 by Eric Rozenman
The Washington Post’s Tom Shales, in a moderately complimentary review, criticized an HBO documentary about veteran White House correspondent Helen Thomas. Shales said "Thank You, Mr. President," omits Thomas’"stridency in criticizing Israel and defending its enemies."
The Post headlined his critique, "A Story With a Few Holes; Portrait of Helen Thomas Obscures Flaws (Post, August 18). In it Shales said "the film never hints at Thomas’ anti-Israeli rhetoric" or shows that "especially during the current administration, her ‘questions’ at press briefings have been more like tirades."
He noted that one Thomas question prompted the late Tony Snow, then press secretary for President George W. Bush, "to respond, ‘Well, thank you for the Hezbollah view..."
Jan Schakowsky and other Chicago machine politicians have been close to (the equally liberal) Helen Thomas for years. Thomas keynoted a fundraiser for Schakowsky, Seals and Giannianolous in early May where Schakowsky termed Thomas "awesome."