December 14, 2006
Tony Snow; One Class Act!
Tony Snow is one of my Heroes. He sent me a very long email when I when I was diagnosed with cancer and followed it up later. This is typical of Mr. Snow.
From today's WH Press Briefing (emph. added):
DAVID GREGORY QUESTION: From a security point of view, does the president believe that it is the primary role of the U.S. military to be responsible for reducing the sectarian violence?And if that's the case, or if it's not the case, how does that inform his decision about what the U.S. troop posture should be: heavier on combat than on training?
TONY SNOW: OK, before I get to that, I want to address something else. Because you and I had a conversation last week that got a whole lot of play in a lot of places, where I used the term "partisan" in describing one of your questions.
And I've thought a lot about that, and that I was wrong. So I want to apologize and tell you I'm sorry for it.
DAVID GREGORY: Thank you.
TONY SNOW: And the reason I do that is not only because it's the right thing, but because I want people in this room and also people who watch these to understand that the relations in this room are professional and collegial.
And if I expect you to do right by us, you have every right to expect that I'll do right by you.
So, at any event, I just want to say I'm sorry for that.
Now, let's -- now on the issue, because I know that this plays off some of the stories today, when it comes to what U.S. force strategies and postures are going to be, again, I'll leave that to the president to announce when he describes the way forward.
But let me, again, and I want to discourage people from taking too much, because there are going to be a lot of -- a lot of people are going to talk about a lot of options.
And many people are working on investigating options. And a lot will say, "Ah-ha, I'm working on this with the clear thought that that is the president's view of the way forward." Some are going to be right and some won't. But the president has not made up his mind.
It is important to understand that a vital part of having an Iraq that can sustain, govern and defend itself is an end to sectarian violence and also clear efforts to force insurgent groups, militias and criminal bands to make a clear choice. They have to face a choice: Either join civil society or be shut down.
So you find out the most effective way to do that. And, again, I'm not going to prejudge, because that's for the president to announce and not for me to announce.
Class, pure class!
GM,
Concur entirely. I am even older than thee and I cannot recall a better Press Secretary than Tony Snow. Not only is a thoroughly nice person, but is a very smart gent into the bargain.
The country, and the President, are well served by him and how he does is very important job.
Posted by tad at December 14, 2006 09:11 PM
Years ago I began reading Tony Snow's columns and would watch him occasionally on TV. (I never watch anything regularly.) I is definitely a class act, has a good sense of humor and the intellect to deal with anyone and everyone in the WH press corp.
Some of his interactions with Helen Thomas and her Hezbellah view will be classics for a long time.
Posted by DADvocate at December 14, 2006 10:06 PM
It was a class act and the right thing to do.
It will be interpreted as an act of weakness.
I sometimes wonder if the MSM refuses to understand the "kindness is weakness" attitude of the jihadists because it comes too close to their own attitude?
Posted by Assistant Village Idiot at December 15, 2006 11:39 AM
AVI, you know, "the MSM refuses to understand the "kindness is weakness" attitude of the jihadists because it comes too close to their own attitude?" is a refreshing thought... refreshing in that I've not considered that before and it seems so "right on the money."
Cinnamon Stillwell has a post up here regarding Carter refusing to debate Dershowitz after saying what is needed on the middle east is more debate.
Too often, the left uses words that doesn't even come close to what they mean, but is sounds good anyway.
That reminds me, your alternative history idea is a gas.
Posted by GM Roper at December 15, 2006 04:59 PM
Before becoming the spinmeister for the White House, Tony Snow was one conservative who was able to present his view of things in a clear, coherant way that a non conservative like me could respect. And he stands out as the one appointment (well, besides Powell, sorta) where you think that, wow, Bush finally got something right. He's the first press secretary since Mike McCurry who actually has a little talent at the job.
Posted by jim hitchcock at December 15, 2006 07:15 PM
...Helen Thomas and her Hezbellah (sp) view...?
Yikes!
Posted by jim hitchcock at December 15, 2006 07:18 PM
But the president has not made up his mind.
He's had three and half years to make up his mind. You'd think it'd be made up by now.
Posted by e. nonee moose at December 16, 2006 07:01 AM
Oh, do I miss the refreshing days of honesty and openess of Clinton's press secretary, Joe Lockhart.
Q. Was it clear then that the job (President Clinton) expected you to do? That you were to be an advocate--
A. Sure. I mean, this was the campaign job. There was no question that as the campaign press secretary, your job was to be political and to advocate on behalf of the president politically. And, you know, he had some ideas.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/clinton/interviews/lockhart.html
And, for the Kerry campaign and the CBS "forged but accurate documents"....
Lockhart tried to “convince me (Burkett) as to why I should give them the documents”. ...However, it now appears that Lockhart was actually able to secure the documents for CBS....
http://www.proteinwisdom.com/index.php/weblog/entry/16763/
Ah, for the good ole days of "honor." Tony Snow is so refreshing in comparison and exhibits the quality character that is so missing in spokesmen for the Democrats.
I really have to agree with the conclusion that the Left often misinterprets the intent of a conservative. Why, we see that all the time in our exchanges with them. They expect the worst and judge the worst in people, because they know that exactly reflects their own values and what they would do.
P.S. I had trouble initially posting this comment and had to do a "work-around" because the filter said:
Your comment could not be submitted due to questionable content: pbs.org
That's a pretty smart filter.
Posted by Woody at December 16, 2006 10:05 AM
