Apparently Joe Lockhart thinks open antisemitism in the White House Press Corps is acceptable. The former Clinton Administration Press Secretary has decided to defend the antisemitic, anti-Israeli Helen Thomas.

But Joe Lockhart, who served as press secretary under President Clinton, defended Thomas, saying “I hope we are strong enough as a country to sustain voices that are wrong, voices that offend, even voices that incite.”

“The good news is Ari no longer has the weight of government behind him in intimidating voices he doesn’t agree with. And by the way, his attack on Bill Maher, and the cancelling of his show in the aftermath of 9/11 didn’t seem to hurt [Maher’s] career,” Lockhart added.

Here’s the problem: No one is arguing that Thomas is covered by the First Amendment. Fleisher is saying she shouldn’t be covering the White House for Hearst. Lockhart evidently believes it’s just fine and dandy to have a rabidly antisemitic, anti-Israeli witch with her own seat in the White House briefing room.

She should be able to say anything covered by the First Amendment, but not with White House press credentials and front-row access to the presidency. Why not give Stormfront or People’s World a seat, too? After all, they’re covered by the First Amendment and we can surely tolerate dissent in this country.

Furthermore, why is Lockhart going after Fleischer for his attacks on Maher? Here’s what he said:

We have been the cowards. Lobbing cruise missiles from two thousand miles away. That’s cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building. Say what you want about it. Not cowardly. You’re right.

Got it? Right after 9/11, Maher expressed his belief that our troops are cowardly while the terrorists are brave. Surely Maher has the constitutional right to be an asshole, but Lockhart is defending him? If Lockhart were Press Secretary at the time, he wouldn’t have condemned Maher’s comment? That would speak volumes.