Tony Snow was able to perform a service I could never handle
July 12th, 2008 at 09:39am Pat Cunningham
Former White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, who DIED THIS MORNING of cancer at the age of 53, had an ability I could never match: He could vouch for another person’s correctness in every political instance.
I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that. Every president of the United States has a right to have a public-relations front man, somebody who can represent the administration in the face of questions from the news media about the daily flow of political events.
It’s a talent I’ll never have, because there’s never been a politician with whom I could agree on all matters — and I probably couldn’t avoid revealing my disagreements.
Yes, in most cases I could perhaps explain the political positions of a president for whom I worked. But if the issue was something on which my attitude was profoundly different from the president’s — say, a matter of war and peace — the difference inevitably would come through.
A good press secretary — and Tony Snow was a pretty good one — can pull it off. As I say, it’s a talent.
Entry Filed under: Tony Snow
9 Comments Add your own
1. Menlo Bob | July 12th, 2008 at 11:28 am
“It’s a talent I’ll never have, because there’s never been a politician with whom I could agree on all matters — and I probably couldn’t avoid revealing my disagreements.”
Oh good. Let’s hear your disagreements with Obama.
2. Pat Cunningham | July 12th, 2008 at 11:47 am
For one, just off the top of my head, I disagree with him on the death penalty. He thinks it’s justified in some cases. I don’t. For another, he’s religious. I’m not. He has his own version of Bush’s faith-based initiatives. I think government should stay out of religion altogether. He’s against gay marriage. I’m not. He declined to filibuster against the FISA bill that includes immunity for telecoms. I would have filibustered. I’m sure there are other issues on which we disagree.
3. Pat Cunningham | July 12th, 2008 at 11:49 am
By the way, Bob, are there any politicians with whom you agree on everything? Pray tell, whom and how.
4. Menlo Bob | July 12th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
George Washington.
5. Menlo Bob | July 12th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Give Obama some additional time. I’m sure that he’ll reverse course again to favor the positions that got him the nomination. Right now he’s simply trying to hoodwink the majority. You’re wrong about gay marriage–he came out (so to speak) for it, but your right about faith based initiatives because of the Illinois tax money he steered towards Rev. Wright’s church. Are you feeling good about his more than $750 million earmarks?
6. Pat Cunningham | July 12th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Obama opposes gay marriage but supports civil unions. He also opposes the proposed state constitutional amendment in California that would ban gay marriage. See: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/issues.samesexmarriage.html
7. Pat Cunningham | July 12th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
I don’t think you would have agreed with Washington on everything. He was a Federalist, and the Federalists were at odds with Jefferson and the Republicans (as that gang called itself in those days.) Washington was for a strong central government. Jefferson was more of a state’s rights guy. Washington was in league with Alexander Hamilton, whom Jefferson and Madison hated.
8. Pat Cunningham | July 12th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
One more thing: As for the likelihood of Obama changing positions again, he’ll never catch up with McCain on flip-flops. McCain is the all-time champ. He sometimes switches sides in the same interview and then denies having done so. He can’t remember what he said from one day to the next. I think the guy is losing it.
9. Q Jordon | July 13th, 2008 at 1:04 am
Though I might have disagreed with Tony Snow’s political ideology, he seem to me as someone that tried to maintain civility within politics.
My condolences to his family and friends.
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