SubscribeR.I.P. Tony Snow, Fair Journalist, Good Man
From the DNC’s Associated Press:
Former Bush press secretary Tony Snow dies
By DOUGLASS K. DANIEL, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - Tony Snow, a conservative writer and commentator who cheerfully sparred with reporters in the White House briefing room during a stint as President Bush’s press secretary, died Saturday of colon cancer. He was 53.
"America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character," President Bush said in a statement from Camp David, where he was spending the weekend. "It was a joy to watch Tony at the podium each day. He brought wit, grace, and a great love of country to his work." …
Snow was working for Fox News Channel and Fox News Radio when he replaced Scott McClellan as press secretary in May 2006 during a White House shake-up. Unlike McClellan, who came to define caution and bland delivery from the White House podium, Snow was never shy about playing to the cameras.
With a quick-from-the-lip repartee, broadcaster’s good looks and a relentlessly bright outlook — if not always a command of the facts — he became a popular figure around the country to the delight of his White House bosses…
"All of us here at the White House will miss Tony, as will the millions of Americans he inspired with his brave struggle against cancer," Bush said.
Snow resigned as Bush’s chief spokesman last September, citing not his health but a need to earn more than the $168,000 a year he was paid in the government post. In April, he joined CNN as a commentator.
As press secretary, Snow brought partisan zeal and the skills of a seasoned performer to the task of explaining and defending the president’s policies. During daily briefings, he challenged reporters, scolded them and questioned their motives as if he were starring in a TV show broadcast live from the West Wing.
Critics suggested that Snow was turning the traditionally informational daily briefing into a personality-driven media event short on facts and long on confrontation. He was the first press secretary, by his own accounting, to travel the country raising money for Republican candidates.
Although a star in conservative politics, as a commentator he had not always been on the president’s side. He once called Bush "something of an embarrassment" in conservative circles and criticized what he called Bush’s "lackluster" domestic policy.
Most of Snow’s career in journalism involved expressing his conservative views…
Mr. Snow was a true gentleman and an excellent journalist. He actually was "fair and balanced."
So of course the Associated Press and the rest of the media will stress that he was a dreaded "conservative."
Which is in contradistinction to what they say about departed liberal reporters, whose politics are never mentioned.
Imagine something like this being written about a liberal journalist:
Tony Snow, a conservative writer and commentator… was never shy about playing to the cameras.
With a quick-from-the-lip repartee, broadcaster’s good looks and a relentlessly bright outlook — if not always a command of the facts — he became a popular figure around the country to the delight of his White House bosses…
Snow brought partisan zeal and the skills of a seasoned performer… he challenged reporters, scolded them and questioned their motives as if he were starring in a TV show broadcast live from the West Wing…
Critics suggested that Snow was turning the traditionally informational daily briefing into a personality-driven media event short on facts and long on confrontation.
Most of Snow’s career in journalism involved expressing his conservative views…
What media bias?
Well, calling Mr. Snow a conservative only brings honor to conservatism.
God speed to a good and courageous man who died in the prime of his life.
The nation will miss him.
19 Responses to “R.I.P. Tony Snow, Fair Journalist, Good Man”
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July 12th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Rest In Peace Tony and prayers to the family.
From the leftards at Dailykos (tho a good portion of these comments were decent, some of these haters just can’t help themselves):
UPDATE>>>>Naturally these posts didn’t last long.
The diary (not a diary at all but a news story copy and pasted) and posts
July 12th, 2008 at 10:10 am
“UPDATE>>>>Naturally these posts didn’t last long.”
I’m glad they removed them. But surprised.
July 12th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Rest in peace friend.
July 12th, 2008 at 11:34 am
RIP
July 12th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Will the MSM give Mr. Snow the same coverage as the massive Russert fanfare?
July 12th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
R.I.P :(
July 12th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Ever notice how good people seem to die sooner, and in greater numbers? They dont, really. It’s just that when bad people die, no one notices, nor do they care.
Tony Snow was one of the few journalists I ever admired and respected. He will be missed.
As for the garbage at Kos…..expecting anything more would be folly. Those are the people who wont be missed at all.
July 12th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Will truely miss Tony, what a good guy and family man. RIP, taken too soon but who am I to question God. As for the retards at kos, I wish i could be there when “ragged but right” meets his maker, but vengence is His….
July 12th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Earlier today C-Span ran a speech he gave last February at CPAC. In it he very eloquently explained the distinction between liberal and conservative ideologies. After hearing him, I have to say I’ve never been more proud to be a conservative. What a speaker! He was a great man and he will be missed.
July 12th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
It is a shame that Mr.Snow passed away. He truly did seem like a very decent man who treated everyone he dealt with respectfully. He was much more level headed and patient with the White House press corp that I would have been. Peace to his family.
July 12th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Mr. Snow was a true gentleman and an excellent journalist. He actually was “fair and balanced.”
Dittos here SG. I was always a Tony Snow groupie. …. RIP Tony Snow! ……Thoughts and prayers to his family.
My father also passed away this morning, at 1:52am. Sniff ….sigh. At least I was by his side. He was a WWII Veteran, is in the Produce Hall of Fame for his many contributions to the industry, was involved in the development and distribution of the sweet 1015 onion and was with the group of businessmen in Poteet who started the Poteet Strawberry Festival.
The World lost two great, humerous and honorable Men this morning. Their love of God, Country and Family was the essence of their very existence. They don’t make men like that anymore. sigh……………………… sigh. :-(
July 12th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
My condolences, Texaspsue
July 13th, 2008 at 4:30 am
Texaspsue,
I’m truly sorry to hear about your father. My condolences to you and your family.
July 13th, 2008 at 5:02 am
Farewell, Tony.
Oh the chats that man will have with Reagan.
July 13th, 2008 at 5:14 am
Texaspsue…….I know how you feel….and I am sorry for your loss. It will get better though…..hey! Now he can talk to a lot of folks he’s missed over the years…..like Tony Snow…and Reagan….hell, even my Dad……WWII himself.
July 13th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
How anyone on Daily Kos can say conservatives are mean and hatefull when you read that drivel which they spew continuously whenever a conservative/Republican dies or has a near miss. . .
You know why the fiberals are so mean about death don’t you? They don’t believe in God or an afterlife - so while we can envision Mr. Snow no longer in pain and talking with Reagan - they just see humans as becoming worm food and so find solace (such as it is) in spewing nastiness. And yet at the same time, they believe that Obamanation is god-like and that mere humans can destroy the World in by using a light bulb or driving a car - their hypocrisy is only outweighed by their stupidity.
Texaspsue - condolences to you and your family.
July 13th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
texaspsue,
Our condolences for your loss. I’m glad you could be with your father as he left this world. Still, I cannot imagine that difficulty. God bless you and your family during your time of mourning.
July 13th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Thanks guy! My heart is full!
July 14th, 2008 at 8:16 am
If you haven’t been following what’s been going on at the Los Angeles Times, they actually allow comments on Tony Snow’s obituary, and refuse to take off hateful statements (which had to be blessed by a moderator to even appear in the first place), in violation of the newspaper’s own policies.
Blog site “LA Observed” (no fan of conservatives at all) fairly reports the controversy: