The World Newser
World News' Daily Blog
The World Newser is World News' daily blog. Here, you'll find our staff's thoughts on the day's news and the way we build our broadcast. Plus, we'll share reports from our team of correspondents in the field, as well as producers behind-the-scenes.
RECENT POSTS
- Anatomy Of A Rumor
- Car Czar?
- Sing It, Baby
- Hillary Clinton is Throwing a Party
- Karl Rove Has Figured Out Why Obama Won
- The Morning Meeting
- Ridiculously Low Mortgage Rates Might Only Get Better
- Gov. Rendell's Hot-Mic Mis-Hap on Napolitano
- Buy One Car, Get One Free
- Were The Heavens Smiling On Us?
- Quick -- Who's The President?
- Summarize Your Life in Six Words
WORLD NEWSER CATEGORIES
MONTHLY ARCHIVES
« Previous | Main | Next »
George Stephanopoulos: Snow Day
April 26, 2006 10:21 AM
Much of the early commentary about Tony Snow's appointment as White House press secretary (including my own) focused on what Snow was giving up for the job -- money, family time, independence -- rather than what he was getting from the job -- power, prominence and a rare chance to be in the White House inner circle. When Snow worked for Bush 41, he could probably count on two hands the number of times he had private meetings with the President or policy meetings in the Oval Office. Now, he'll have walk-in privileges. A lure almost impossible to resist.
The deal works for Bush too. The fact that Tony has criticized the President in print helps Bush much more than it hurts him. Proves he's reached beyond the Austin circle for some independent advice. Snow doesn't just tolerate his former colleagues in the press corps; he likes them. He's smart but not overbearing and speaks with style and a smile. All that should help Bush in the briefing room. Perhaps even better for Bush, Snow is a movement conservative with a real following in the country. The GOP and the President need to pump up enthusiasm at the grassroots before November. Having Snow at the podium and on the airwaves every day should help at the margins.
For Snow, the biggest adjustment is psychological. He's been out of the White House on his own for more than 15 years, voicing his own opinions, building his own audience. Now he'll have to learn to squelch his private views and deliver the party line with conviction. I went through precisely the opposite process when I left the White House to join ABC. Not sure which move is more difficult, but I do know that neither one is easy or automatic.
The White House will have to make an adjustment too. President Bush said all the right things at today's announcement, and Tony has the chops of a successful press secretary. But after Snow's honeymoon, will he really have the promised access? And can he make good on the openness promised today? Only if the whole White House wants him to. He'll also need some good luck. Good news and rising poll numbers create good press, not the other way around.
April 26, 2006 | Permalink | User Comments (6)
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/433071/4748171
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference George Stephanopoulos: Snow Day:
» The Tony Snow test from Daniel W. Drezner
I will ask my readers to correct me, but I believe that Tony Snow will have had the highest pre-appointment profile of any press secretary to date. Certainly, Snow's relations with his former fellow members of the press will be... [Read More]
Tracked on Apr 26, 2006 10:17:08 PM
George, what you write seems to overlook a crucial point: Snow took the job based on assurance he would participate substantively in domestic policy: what education, background, or training, or experience does he have to qualify him for such a position?
Posted by: Andy | Apr 26, 2006 7:05:20 PM
Andy, I agree with you. That question was the first thing to cross my mind.
The other issue that's greatly troubling is the way this administration has used the media as a propaganda arm in general. The line between government and news outlets has been increasingly blurred - to our detriment, as in the case of Judith Miller. The choice of Snow for this position seems almost to erase the line altogether. His built-in grassroots followers are almost bound to see him as still in the role of objective reporter. Good move for the White House. Very bad move for the country.
Posted by: Jill Nikolaides | Apr 26, 2006 8:27:40 PM
I think we're making a presumption about Tony Snow.
He's got a great personality and the heart of a hippie.
He should make every liberal out there smile but still hold the line on 'stupid' questions submitted by news hounds just trying to get lens time.
Posted by: Charles Glasgow | Apr 27, 2006 2:05:44 PM
How dare Bush appoint someone from the press to be the Press Secretary? Of course, that's what every other President has done, but it's still unprecedented (if you redefine unprecedented to mean it's the same thing that always happens, but hey, why not?). Besides, everybody knows that Tony Snow was the guy Bush hired to plan 9/11 so he could invade Iraq in order to get cheap Iraqi milk duds! If the press would stop praising everything Bush does and report the truth, maybe the public would finally realize that Bush is just the Nazi, baby killing, oil loving terrorist that he is!
Posted by: Dave | Apr 27, 2006 3:15:42 PM
...What's the purpose of the "White House Press Secretary" ??
- Why do we need one ?
- What fate would befall the Republic if Scott McClellan were not replaced at all ?
- Why does the President get to hire personal & partisan Public-Relations agent(s)... but sends the bill to the taxpayers ?
- Why doesn't the White House Press Corps correctly treat the 'Press Secretary' as a public-employee... with a clear duty to communicate truth to his real employer -- the American citizenry ?
Posted by: DeWalt | Apr 27, 2006 7:32:05 PM
Hey George Who did you work for? Oh, that's right you were Clinton's Boy!!!
Posted by: Don Detky | Apr 28, 2006 10:51:25 AM
Post a comment
