WASHINGTON, March 4, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Arab Americans have taken a swipe at "racist" and "outrageous" remarks against Helen Thomas, one of the first female journalists and the dean of the White House Press Corps, because of her Arab descent.

"Ann Coulter uses this context as an opportunity for Arab bashing and perpetuating Arab phobia," Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) (ADC) said in a statement, a copy of which was obtained by IslamOnline.net, on Thursday, March 3.

In an article published on February 23, Coulter, a syndicated writer and journalist, said that "press passes can't be hard to come by if the White House allows that old Arab Helen Thomas to sit within yards of the president."

Her article was intending to refute claims that the White House denies press passes due to political motivations.

"The implicit characterization of Helen Thomas as a threat to the president due to her Arab-American background is outrageous," the ADC said.

Coulter has a long history of insensitive and outright racist remarks and attitudes toward people of Arab descent and Muslims, the remarks that drew concern of several other civil rights groups in the country.

Among her controversial comments, Coulter said that "we should invade Arab countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity."

The Arab-American group called Thomas, of Lebanese origin, one of the first female journalists and dean of the White House press corps.

She has struggled with the White House to guarantee women reporters would have the same access and privileges as their male counterparts.

As a result, she has interviewed or questioned every elected American President since John. F. Kennedy. Thomas is known to have had personal relations with American presidents.

The ADC said it was deeply distraught over Coulters' repeatedly outrageous claims and attitudes towards Arab-Americans, Arabs and Muslims.

"Her articles often compound paranoia, and outright racism in order to make otherwise unsubstantiated points," the statement said.

"Her attack on Helen Thomas is especially offensive considering Thomas's stature as a pioneer for female journalists, who paved the way for equal access to the White House," it added.

In an earlier comment, the right-wing writer said that "ethnic profiling is the only reasonable security measure that has been thwarted in the war on terrorism."

Coulter is one of the most famous right-wing writers, whose books make best sellers in the United States, according to IOL Correspondent.

She is also a repeated guest in the famous TV shows such as ABC's Good Morning America and Fox News' O'Reilly Factor.

ADC called on those concerned over Courtier’s article to call her or write a letter to Universal Press syndicate to express worry at the remarks.