GayPatriot

The Internet home for American gay conservatives.

Remembering Tony Snow

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In my humble opinion, Tony Snow had as much — if not more — impact on the American political landscape as Tim Russert.  Both were kind, big-hearted family men with a unbridled passion for the country they lived in and tried to make a better place from their positions of influence.Â

One was a life-long liberal (Russert) and received the lion’s share of fawning media coverage from the entire MSM establishment upon his death; the other a reformed liberal-turned-conservative (Snow) and the newspapers, cable networks and rest of the MSM nearly overlooked his passing this weekend.

But Tony Snow achieved something few others in American politics ever will — he was both in and out of journalism and was at the highest position of government public affairs:  White House Press Secretary.  Had cancer not taken him away from that job, I believe Snow would have re-set the standard for WH Press Secretary in the model of Jim Brady & Larry Speakes — and away from the Mike McCurry and Scott McClellan model.  I will leave you to compare the differences.

I once had dinner with Tony Snow.   He never knew it of course, as my table was next to his at a local hangout in Alexandria, VA called Bilbo Baggins.  But I remember feeling like I was in the company of a just a normal (and very tall!) guy and his wife and friends even though I knew he was one of the “biggies” in American journalism at the time.

The differences between Tim Russert and Tony Snow are many, including how the MSM handled each death much differently.  In my mind, a key difference is that we all probably completely understand what we lost in Russert’s premature death; but few people outside of the FOX family and those in the White House staff will fully appreciate what future void Tony Snow’s death is to our nation and its public discourse.

Tony Snow, RIP.

[RELATED STORY: The Character of Optimism – Bill Kristol, The New York Times]

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

Comments

  1. Thank you, Bruce. Tony Snow was the essence of class. As Roger Ailes said, he was a renassiance man. His optimism was astounding. Bill Crystol’s piece really says it all. His death was as much of a shock as Tim Russert’s. The last time I saw Tony Snow on TV, he was rested and well tanned. I guess I thought that he might be beating cancer.

  4. I just read how kind he was to Denise Gallagher, wife of radio host Mike Gallagher – who also just passed away from cancer.
    Tony Snow is what we call: a mensch. He not only appreciated the outpouring of love and support he gave as much of it as he could to other people in a similar predicament.

    He will be sorely missed.

  6. Tony Snow: gone but never to be forgotten. He owned and kept his good name. He will continue to live among us as a model of kindness, decency and humility. Considering that he accomplished this from the heart of the snake pit of politics and media vanity makes his life a singular one.

  7. Actually, speaking as a left leaning centrist, Mr. Snow was brilliant at his job, and was by far Bush’s best (and I would argue most effective) press secretary.

    While I obviously didn’t agree with his politics, it sad that someone as skilled as he was taken at such a young age. His early appearances after the announcement the cancer had returned had me sure he was going to beat the cancer again.

  9. I thought very highly of Tim Russert. He was a very good person and of high character as well. He certainly placed his mark on Meet the Press and NBC and the entire news media will be hard pressed to find his like among them.

    Tony Snow’s job as press secretary was 180 degrees different from Tim Russert’s job. In that respect, you can not compare them. Had Tim Russert been Bill Clinton’s press secretary, he would have had to perform differently. That should be obvious to anyone who has any comprehension of what a press secretary does.

    When Russert died, the vanity press all rushed in front of the camera and talked a little about Russert and volumes about themselves. It was embarrassing to watch the television wake that basically ignored the man himself.

    Tim Russert worked hard not to be a hack left-wing mouthpiece and he pulled it off pretty well. Certainly far better than Bill Moyers or George Snuffleupagus. But to call Tony Snow a right-wing mouthpiece is only useful if you really can’t appreciate a man without dragging your own bile into the equation.

  10. #8 – Even in trying to eulogize, certain people still can’t seem to let their hate and prejudices from bubbling up to the surface.

    Shame on you. Perhaps God can forgive you but I sure as hell won’t.

    Regards,
    Peter H.

  11. This blog = FAIL!

    From the post: “But Tony Snow achieved something few others in American politics ever will — …” is just a stupid, stupid line. Obviously, from Bill Moyers to George Stephanopolous (even mentioned in the comments — PWNED — how embarrassing), there have been media/governmental crossover types — don’ forget Ben Stein! Yes, he was just a script writer for Nixon. Remember? Ben? Stein? Anyone? Buehler? BUEHLER?

  14. Well, Pinky Bear you and Fred Phelps are soul brothers! He is calling for picketing the funeral, will your diaper rash covered pink self be there? Be sure to give the Patriot Patrol the finger.

  15. Dear Helio,

    Aren’t you sweet? While I detest Fred Phelps and hope he will be food for maggots soon, I would love to picket Snow’s funeral for being the Goebbels of the White House. Maybe helping lie to the American People doesn’t rank high in your book as something that is despicable but it does in most decent people.

    I love how you guys resort to imbecilic name calling because your limited intelligence hampers you from making any kind of intelligent statements. Some of us gave up name calling in kindergarten. Hope your stunted child’s mind catches up soon to your chronological age.

  16. Dear That Gay Conservative,

    I am not sure that they use the term Pinko anymore. It is a bit antiquated like most Repuglican Mindsets.

    Being someone of the “Left” as you boys call it is hardly anything to be ashamed of. Being someone who is liberal and feels that we should preserve Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness as well as advance the common good for all People is a good thing. Perhaps it is not quite “PC” in your world view to have health care, to reduce Debt to Foreign Countries like China, to want jobs to stay in America, for Gay People to get married and share benefits, to fund education for our children so we don’t end up a backwater third world country.

    Seems to be a bit controversial in these parts.

    Notice how I didn’t resort to name calling? Isn’t that wonderful? See what civilized humans are capable of?

  19. and feels that we should preserve Life,

    That is, unless your skull is crushed and your brains sucked out.

    advance the common good

    Hence the Pinko.

    Perhaps it is not quite “PC” in your world view to have health care,

    1) I don’t believe in PC. That’s a liberal trait designed to curtail free speech.

    2) I don’t believe in health care paid for by everybody else. People used to take responsibility for their own doctor bills. Now it’s up to everybody else, to the detriment of the country.

    to want jobs to stay in America,

    When you support reducing the second highest corporate tax rate in the world, oppose “windfall profits taxes”, oppose raising minimum wages that only benefit the unions, oppose strangulating regulation on businesses as well as opposing the branding of businesses such as Wal-Mart, Coca Cola, Marlboro etc. as e-ville, I just might believe you have in interest in keeping jobs in America. Otherwise, it’s just meaningless fluff.

    to fund education for our children so we don’t end up a backwater third world country.

    Oh, so you support the right to choose which schools parents send their kids to, eh? Good deal. Or does the right to choose only apply to infanticide?

    As far as gay marriage, no, I don’t support the courts forcing it on the people. Despite popular belief on the left, pushing agendas is not what the courts are for. What’s more, I don’t need anybody’s approval or validation for my own happiness. Neither does my partner.

  20. #17 – Dear Pinky Bear:

    Whether I was or not is really none of your business. However, I daresay someone of your ilk would be the first to criticize one of us if we happened to make a disparaging remark about the death of, say, Teddy Kennedy.

    As far as your perceived “racism” of someone like me turning apoplectic over an Obama presidency, it’s not because of his skin color but because of his (lack of) character and his political inexperience.

    Let’s face it – if he were white you would be wondering why he was in the race and Shrillary was not. YOU are the one taking race into consideration, not me.

    Go hibernate until it’s spring.

    Regards,
    Peter H.

  21. I love how you guys resort to imbecilic name calling because your limited intelligence hampers you from making any kind of intelligent statements. Some of us gave up name calling in kindergarten. Hope your stunted child’s mind catches up soon to your chronological age.

    I simply said that you and Fred Phelps are soul mates. I did not call you a name.

    Nor did I say you have limited intelligence. Nor did I say you have a stunted child’s mind. Nor did I imply that your IQ is less than your chronological age.

    Fred Phelps is full of hate and venom. Pinky Bear spews hate and venom. Fred Phelps believes that Tony Snow was “the Goebbels of the White House.” Pinky Bear believes that Tony Snow was “the Goebbels of the White House.” Ergo: in hate, venom and loathing of Tony Snow, Fred Phelps and Pinky Bear are soul mates. Now, if you try to hump Fred Phelps, you may have a parting of the ways.

    I would imagine that saying Tony Snow was “the Goebbels of the White House” does not fall under the heading of “imbecilic name calling” in your unique view of things.

    Maybe helping lie to the American People doesn’t rank high in your book as something that is despicable but it does in most decent people.

    “I didn’t have sex with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky….” “That is not the Reverend Wright I knew…..” “I voted for the war before I voted against it…..” “I will use the federal campaign funding system when I run for President…..” “I didn’t say I would…..” “No, that is not what I said….” “I never said….”

    Tell us more about lying and decency and being despicable, Pinky Bear, I am mesmerized by your high level of rectitude and your exacting standards.

  22. I just hope GP gets around to cleaning up this thread. Pinky Bear has shown he’s on the exact same moral plane as Fred Phelps. I know nothing Pinky Bear does can really besmirch the memory of a good and honorable man like Tony Snow, any more than his meager achievements can compare to those of the man he tries to tear down. But still, Decent folk leave the dead in peace, and show respect to their families.

    My pledge, when Ted Kennedy or Michael Moore dies, I will not speak ill against them. Not because they are decent and honorable men, they are not. But because *I* am a decent and I hope honorable man.

  24. I’m no right-wing nutjob. NDT and some other here would just assume step on me is they found me bleeding in a gutter, but I have to say that the attacks on Tony Snow seems to be misplaced anger at Bush.

    If you watch him as a Press Secretary, he put the likes of Ari and Scott to shame. No, I don’t care to much for his Boss, but he was skillful as press secretary (as opposed to Ari and Scott who fumbled around the briefings like the keystone cops).

    And even if you do feel that he was somehow responsible for …something, to attack a man who died, by cancer or something else, is really sad.

    You don’t have to agree with what he said to appreciate he did his job, did well, and with a certain dignity that is often lacking in press secretaries (including the current one).

  25. #25 – Thank you Henry. Although I often disagree with your perspective, you have made a wonderful contribution to both this thread and this blog. Kudos!

    Regards,
    Peter H.

  27. lol. my deleted post of #8 didn’t attack tony snow; it attacked your opinion that he had more influence than russert. that is laughable.

    oh, and I see you edited others’ comments in another thread. now, you, syop, are violating your own forum’s rules.

    no wonder this site is dying on the vine. you have about 5 regulars who make personal attacks and you edit them. what a joke.

    like so many others, i won’t be back.

  28. #28 – “like so many others, i won’t be back.”

    This I have got to see. Not that I’m holding my breath or anything. We all remember the last time you said it. You’ve had more comeback appearances than Cher.

    Regards,
    Peter H.

  29. Perhaps it is not quite “PC” in your world view to have health care,

    What’s more, I would NEVER support a healthcare plan in which Tony Snow or Ted Kennedy would have died long ago waiting for their turn at treatment or even a diagnosis.

    like so many others, i won’t be back.

    Promise? Super swear?

    Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Bruce & Dan don’t like ass prints on the door.