White House press secretary Tony Snow is not only reshaping President Bush’s message, he’s reinventing his own job. Snow is making fundraising appearances on behalf of Republican candidates, including one last weekend for House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., the New York Times reported. That hasn’t happened before, as previous press secretaries at least pretended not to be overly partisan. But Snow’s TV background and conservative credentials put him in demand. “It’s like Mick Jagger at a rock concert,” said White House adviser Karl Rove, whose office arranged Snow’s fundraisers. But David Gergen, who served in the Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Clinton administrations, warned that such politicking could undermine Snow’s credibility. “If he is seen as wearing two hats, reporters as well as the public will inevitably wonder: is he speaking to us now as the traditional press secretary, or is he speaking to us as a political partisan?”
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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31 Comments
I’m sure Mick would take offense at the comparison!
Is he doing all this as a government employee?
David Gergen is worried about this undermining credibility for Snow? Uh….Snow never HAD any credibility with any but the low brow bushbots who watch Fox “news” where Snow was most recently employed. Snow didn’t even have to change “hats” when he moved from his anchor job at the ministry of neocon propoganda to the White House. It’s just now his capacity as propoganda minister is official. He will never work in respectable journalism again and he knows it. That is why he is rubbing elbows with party fat wallets.
Ok that finger is scaring me..
LOL Erik! I didn’t notice that.
Think “The Shining” ……
Snow Affecting deep scratchy voice “Tony isn’t here Mrs. Thomas”.
Since when have previous press secretaries been seen, even with a wink and a nod, as nonpartisan? Please. Grow up, Eagle.
If Stephonopolis, as partisan a WH operative as there ever was, could find respectability as a “journalist” at ABC (no, no bias there . . . ), certainly Snow will have no problem doing likewise.
i agree GMC…they hire people to convey their message who think along the same lines as they do, to best get their word out.
People are just mad at him because he is the best press secretary there has ever been. He can shoot jabs back at the press corps when they do their normal partisan shots
GMC
I didn’t say Snow would lack for employment. I said he would never be regarded credibly as a journalist. SO when bush is impeached or when we are otherwise mericfully relieved of his miserable administration, Snow can go right back to Fox “news”.
But then there is really no divide there. Fox “news” is the de-facto propoganda ministry of the bush administratiion.
bush has granted an interview. Guess who he granted it to?? Why none other than that font of lies Bill O’ Reilly! What a softball fest that is.
JR
You mean credible like Chrissy Matthews? Stephy? Do we really need to get into the incestuous relationship between Democrats and the news media?
JR
How about Dan Blather speaking at Dem. party fundraisers in Texas?
God we could just go on and on.
Oh now you really don’t wanna do this again do you Heckler? You ALWAYS lose.
bush met with Neal Boortz, Sean Hannity, BIll O’reilly and a handful of other right wing hate radio shills. Show me something comparable for any democrat president or liberal media. Show me bush welcoming Noam Chomsky, Michael Moore, Al Franken or he CINDY SHEEHAN to the White House for a chat.
that would be a waste and just a media opp for all of those wackos…cindy sheehan, michael moore and al franken? c’mon…i thought you could at least get some people of respect like juan williams.
“Mavdude” I am sure you and I would differ greatly on our definition of “whacko”. Given time you yourself may earn that definition! Do you consider those bush welcomed to the White House as remotely credible or objective? If you do, the “whacko” sign is flashing above your head.
But there can be NO dispute that the right wing way of thinking has entirely too much influence on media. Now they have a cable “news” network and virtually all of radio.
“Fair and Balanced”?
Can’t ANYBODY ’stump’ for a politician?Are there rules about this?If not, then why should we worry about snow-job re-arranging GW’s line of BS??
Yeah what’s up with all the radio stations carrying Fox news now? What a crock. And usually they’re the stations I want to listen to, now I can’t.
Snow’s condescending attitude is helpful as far as I’m concerned.It’s so obvious that he’s spinning that he’ll send more voters to the dems.
they control radio just as much as left agendas control most of TV. Maybe it shows that most of america wants to listen to conservative voices rather than have agendas shoved down their throat on tv. Also they know how to run radio shows, unlike ERR America
“left agendas control most of TV”
Which explains, of course, that hatchet job against Clinton (the fiction Road to 9/11) that they aired.
Yes, anyone may “stump” for a politician; it’s his/her First Amendment right. However, this right must be balanced, in situations such as that of Mr. Snow, against a perceived loss of credibility by those listening to his words. Yes, Press Secretaries are partisan; else, they would not have the job. It has been the practice, as my memory serves, to not actively campaign for candidates in the field, thus preserving the fiction of impartiality.
Or, MAVDUDE, it may be evidence that the folks who listen only own AM radios!
Hey, look, Joe Novascone (MAVDUDE) is back.
What the hollow under the rock got too wet what with the recent rains we’ve been having?
Mr. Snow will find out that his association with the Bush League will forever destroy him, just like it destroyed other semi-decent people such as Colin Powell, former Treasury Sec’ry John O’Neill, CIA director George Tenant etc.
Associate yourself with a great man and you become greater. Associate yourself with Bush, and you become a disgrace.
Mavdude is clearly not very bright. I suggest “mavditto” for a nic.
Heckler,
“You mean credible like Chrissy Matthews?”
How many of these 200+ examples don’t show a pro-Repub bias?http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/people/chrismatthews
“Do we really need to get into the incestuous relationship between Democrats and the news media?”
No, because research shows a RNC –> MSM relationship.An excellent example is how MSM pushed RNC talking points against Gore; farm chores, fancy hotel, ‘Love Story’, “invented” the ‘Net, etc.Proof here, http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh120302.shtml
MSM is also dysfunctional. Example: Gore told some high school students that a letter to him from a student re toxins in Toone TN started the Super Fund.Gore gave the credit to that high school student. MSM changed that to him boasting that he started it.
And there’s the corporate influences…
Perhaps Tony Snow is going out to the fundraisers for Republicans because it has been requested that George W. himself never show his face around the Republicans trying to hold onto their jobs?
It used to be against Military Conduct rules to stump for Politician in uniform or give the appearance of using your military position to support a particular candidate. I suppose it still is?
Maybe Kolbe of Arizona can join Tony Snow on the cammpaign trail:
“Second U.S. lawmaker faces of misconduct allegations
Kildee said he and other board members had a conference call earlier in the day about “other allegations, not about Mr. Foley.” Kildee also indicated the page board had talked about the matter with the second lawmaker.
Last week, a law enforcement official confirmed a report by NBC News that the U.S. attorney’s office and the FBI in Arizona were conducting a “preliminary look” into a camping trip Rep. Jim Kolbe took with two teenage pages and others 10 years ago.
http://www.netscape.com/viewstory/2006/10/16/second-us-lawmaker-faces-of-misconduct-allegations/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fabcnews.go.com%2FUS%2FwireStory%3Fid%3D2575360
Tony Snow has done a great job for his boss, President Bush and will be seen as an excellent press secretary by historians.
I’ll reserve my judgement on Tony Snow after the mid-term elections. If Republicans manage to keep their control, he will do okay for Bush. But if the power shifts and Bush has to actually answer for his actions, then watch Tony do the shuffle dance trying to cover all the scandals, hearings and possible impeachment.
Can we work to insure Tanker Todd is not re-elected? Will we vote for Garth McGINN? I hope so.I think Garth, as unknown as he is, can be a new fresh voice for moderates and independents in district 4. In reviewing todd’s record I can’t see much of anything he has actually accomplished for the district / Kansas in 12 years. He voted 4 times against a Congressional Investigation into the Halliburton, Caci et al contracts in Iraq that have squandered billions and adversely affected our soldiers ability to fight the best fight. He purports to supporting our troops yet has voted for legislation / appropriations that have REMOVED 2 billion dollars from the Military Personnel budget. I cannot find any legislation, supporting the military that todd has sponsored or co-sponsored in the last 4 years. He recently voted for a meager 2.2% pay raise for the military, even though DOD and the Senate had approved a 2.7% pay raise. Todd has also been a close ally of Tom Delay, the Texas rep that resigned when he was indicted for campaign fund raising irregularities in Texas and money laundering. Todd gave and received money from delays various shadowy PACs.GARTH McGINN, although new, can and will be part of the new Democratic Congress that will take aggressive steps in Ethics reform, Immigration reform. and tax reform. I believe he can be instrumental in bringing / advocating for the alternative fuels industry in Kansas, creating thousands of jobs, and providing new revenue sources for kansas farmers — he deserves our support.Tell our friends — tell your neighbors — think of the positive headlines it will bring to the nation when the unknown Democrat, Garth McGINN, from Kansas defeats an entrenched conservative republican lackey without the benefit of much if any help from the DNC.his web site is:www.gogarth.org he will appreciate any help you can provide.
Stealing from IAN :Viva McGINNVote McGINN IN !!!!!!!!!!!!!