British prime ministers have to appear once weekly before parliament for a grilling – an open Q&A where the questions are tough and where they are often subject to ridicule and jeering. Few American presidents would stand up under such questioning – Reagan never, the Bushes no way, maybe Bill Clinton, certainly JFK.
American presidents instead use a buffer to address the public – the press secretary. These are usually people who are quick-witted and deft at avoiding answering questions. Tony Snow was formidable in that role.
Snow worked for Fox News, that running gag on the American people masquerading as a serious news outlet. It was only natural that Bush look to Fox for a press secretary when Scott McClellen stepped down. And it was appropriate that Snow step out of the role as fake objective analyst and into that of frank apologist and protector of the president. There is no shame in that – he chose to make an open and honest living.
Mainstream American journalists are well-educated and often bring impressive credentials to their job. But if they are supposed to be attack dogs, well they’ve been trained on shock collars by political and corporate masters. They are indeed capable and dangerous, but present no threat to those in power. Most do well in servitude, and collect acclaim and sterling reputation for submissive behavior. But Snow was that odd duck – working for Fox News he could be openly ingratiating to the Bush Administration, and working directly for Bush, had no need to hide his political ideology. He had it good, and was likely the envy of his class.
He was quick and witty and formidable and a good and faithful servant to Bush, and deserves praise for all of that. He knew what his job was, and he did it well. He’ll be missed.
Piece of Mindful 
I always loved Tony. He was obviously conservative, but seldom disrespectful of those he disagreed with. I found him to be a class act.
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I will have to say that, while I am sure that Tony Snow was a good family man and so forth, he was spineless as a journalist. To be able to stand in front of the American people and repeat obvious mis truths and out right lies showed his real character.
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I agree with Rocky and Mark, Tony never was held in question about his beliefs, and because of his open honesty, was respected by many. Except for Shane and some of the commenters at the LA Times.
Over the weekend, Tony Snow died. At the L.A. Times web site — where comments must be approved before they appear — well over 2 dozen commenters reveled in the news.
“CANCER WAS TOO GOOD FOR HIM. HOPE IT WAS PAINFUL. NOW FOR THE REST OF THIS SCUMMY ADMINISTRATION. COME ON CANCER, DO YOUR GOOD WORK………………..”
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Like Russert, Snow “did it well.” His job. Pray for better jobs.
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Well said Steve Kelly.
Swede, putting what I said in the same category as what the commenter’s at the LA Times said is lame. Am I supposed to suddenly fall all over myself singing the praises of a man in death when I despised him in life? I don’t roll that way baby. Here is how I roll:
Tony Snow knowingly stood before the American people and fed them lie after lie after lie. Here is a small sampling. Those are just some of the ones that can be verified now, the others will come out in time.
So no. I don’t respect Tony Snow’s legacy. I am sad for his family, but that is as far as I can go.
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Calling some one a liar vs. celebrating a cancer’s success isn’t quite the same. But any insults before the body cools is uncalled for. I’m sure your proper southern mother reminded you growing up, if you don’t have any thing positive to say about some one, say nothing.
I followed your link to Media Matters, read all the supposed lies that Snow repeated as a commentater. First of all MM is a biased source, I think even Wolf has called them out on their BS at your blog. MM quotes conservatives few controversal statements with any context or full disclosure. Remember Rush’s aganist the troops remark, cut and paste at its worst.
I went back to MM site again looking for any commentary on Tony’s death, Mon thru Sat, no mention.
They must have listened to their mothers advice.
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Shane, you and Westboro Baptist have some thing in common. Tony decieved us all.
http://msunderestimated.com/2008/07/13/westboro-baptist-church-to-picket-tony-snows-funeral/
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