In Washington a few weeks ago I went to the National Press Club for the first time. While I was on vacation, the club decided to suspend a reporter for asking tough questions to a Saudi crown prince during a press conference there. Here’s the exchange:
HUSSEINI: There’s been a lot of talk about the legitimacy of the Syrian regime, I want to know what legitimacy your regime has sir. You come before us, representative of one of the most autocratic, misogynistic regimes on the face of the earth. Human Rights Watch and other reports of torture detention of activist, you squelched the democratic uprising in Bahrain, you tried to overturn the democratic uprising in Egypt and indeed you continue to oppress your own people. What legitimacy does you regime have — other than billions of dollars and weapons? [...]
TURKI: After how many years since the establishment of the United States did women get to vote in the United States? Does that mean that before they got the vote that United States was an illegitimate country? According to his definition, obviously. So, until, when was it — 1910 when women got to vote — from 1789 to 1910 United States was illegitimate? This is how you should measure things, by how people recognize their faults and try to overcome them.
HUSSEINI: So are you saying that Arabs are inherently backward?
MODERATOR: Sam, that’s enough — this lady to the right, you’re next.
The NPC then suspended Husseini’s membership, which is an absolute outrage. I was actually considering joining the National Press Club; not anymore. And I don’t care that they reversed their decision — 10 days into a two week suspension. If the National Press Club isn’t going to defend reporters asking tough questions, particularly of a dictator, they are completely useless.
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Bronze Dog
November 30, 2011 at 1:24 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Spineless media is one reason why I’m glad I get most of my news from blogs.
I give Husseini a thumbs up for being direct about the issue.
D. C. Sessions
November 30, 2011 at 1:27 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
On the contrary, Ed, they’re extremely useful. They may be scoundrels, or tools, or idiots — but no matter what, they’re useful idiots.
abnormalwrench
November 30, 2011 at 1:29 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
That was an interesting exchange, and I’d have loved to see more of it. I find it interesting that the prince never actually addressed the core of the question, what legitimizes his rule?
Say what you will about women’s rights in America, before that, we still had elected officials.
Bronze Dog
November 30, 2011 at 1:34 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
It also helped that we had a Constitution that could be amended so that we could correct old mistakes.
d cwilson
November 30, 2011 at 1:44 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Follow up question:
So, when will the citizens of Saudi Arabia be allowed to elect someone to hold your office?
Crip Dyke, Right Reverend Feminist FuckToy of Death & Her Handmaiden
November 30, 2011 at 1:49 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Holy effin’ heck. This **is** outrageous.
I’ll admit that I don’t really understand how the reporter got to “backwards” for the 2nd question, but the first question could easily have been asked of a representative of Iran without blowback from the NPC. To suspend a reporter for asking questions that would be praised of him(? it seems so) is a pure, political defense of the powerful from difficult questions when, in fact, it is the actual job of the press. This is atrocious.
Aquaria
November 30, 2011 at 1:58 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’ll admit that I don’t really understand how the reporter got to “backwards” for the 2nd question
Here’s a short list of when women got the vote in various countries (NOT INTENDED TO BE COMPREHENSIVE):
1893 New Zealand
1902 Australia
1906 Finland
1913 Norway
1915 Denmark
1917 Canada
1918 Austria, Germany, Poland, Russia
1919 Netherlands
1920 United States
1921 Sweden
1928 Britain, Ireland
1931 Spain
1944 France
1945 Italy
1947 Argentina, Japan, Mexico, Pakistan
1949 China
1950 India
1954 Colombia
1957 Malaysia, Zimbabwe
1962 Algeria
1963 Iran, Morocco
1964 Libya
1967 Ecuador
1971 Switzerland
1972 Bangladesh
1974 Jordan
1976 Portugal
1989 Namibia
1990 Western Samoa
1993 Kazakhstan, Moldova
1994 South Africa
2005 Kuwait
2006 United Arab Emirates
2011 Saudia Arabia
Saudi Arabia is behind the curve.
michaelcrichton
November 30, 2011 at 2:52 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
The suspension is bullshit but “HUSSEINI: So are you saying that Arabs are inherently backward?” is a bit of a non sequiter.
davidcbrayton
November 30, 2011 at 5:04 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I am appalled by this action. I am flabbergasted that the largest association of journalists doesn’t understand what the first amendment is all about. Asking a leader about the rights of his followers and whether his rule is legitimate is always, always, forever and always, a legitimate subject of questioning, even in the most rude, condescending terms imaginable.
Michael Heath
November 30, 2011 at 7:53 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Husseni’s question is perfectly framed within the ‘just governance’ argument of the Declaration of Independence. It’s pretty disturbing the National Press Club has a cow when a journalist requests an answer from a government official explicitly framed by the fact his country is violating one of the most celebrated enlightenment principles claimed to be held dear by all of Western Civilization.
And the answer to Turki’s question is that the U.S. has absolutely failed and continues to fail to live up the standard of the Declaration of Independence’s ‘just governance’ standard. From that standard we are not legitimate; e.g., the government’s failure to defend the rights of gays and their families while also denying them the equal exercise of their rights, the government’s promotion of religion and failure to defend the individual religious freedom rights of public school students to the point we effectively abuse public school children by denying them an optimal education.
flash
November 30, 2011 at 9:56 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I hereby suggest that the name of the organization be changed to the National Media Whore Club, in order to more accurately reflect their true purpose. As a side note, I couldn’t help but notice the irony of the reporter’s name being evidently Arab in origin. Welcome to America, Inc. Mr. or Ms. Husseni!
Android B
November 30, 2011 at 10:34 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
This is a little off topic but did anyone notice that the Saudi Prince knew off the top of his head roughly (ok, 10 years off, but still pretty close) when the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified and that he didn’t count the beginning of the nation from 1776 but 1789, when the US Constitution was ratified and the US government as we know it began? I have to admit, I’m impressed.
I would venture to guess if you walked around asking average Americans when women got the right to vote and when the US Constitution went into effect they would not exhibit the same knowledge.
It’s a sad indictment of the American education system if it’s anything.
macallan
November 30, 2011 at 10:35 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Easy – his clan beat the crap out of the other clans so the chief declared himself king and named the country after his clan.
Oh, wait, that’s not the politically correct answer? Silly me.
michaelbrew
November 30, 2011 at 10:39 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
The suspension was a little overboard, but to be fair I can see how they might have thought the “backward” comment was out of line and needlessly provocative.
stevebowen
December 1, 2011 at 7:20 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
If I had to take issue with the questions it would be “So are you saying that Arabs are inherently backward?”
If the question had been “So are you saying Arab nations are backward” it might have sounded a little less racist.
matty1
December 1, 2011 at 7:53 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’ve found Mr Husseini’s own account of what happened if anyone is interested.
Also interesting looking through the site is that he appears to make a habit of asking questions other journalists avoid, possibly a man to watch.