Posted on 04/29/2006 12:36:04 PM PDT by MNJohnnie
Naming Tony Snow press secretary is President Bush's most promising decision since Hurricane Katrina winded him nearly seven months ago. The president should let the veteran commentator craft and disseminate the administration's message in clever and concrete ways, as the capable Snow can do.
Snow approaches his position with something outgoing press secretary Scott McClellan lacks: the ability to communicate. McClellan, surely a nice man who loves his country and his family, looks pained and frightened at his briefings. Sniffing blood in the water, reporters chomp into him like sharks devouring a walrus. This leaves McClellan with little to do but meekly repeat his lame talking points. My contacts among the president's conservative base uniformly pity his performance. I shudder to imagine how much McClellan's haplessness has weakened America's image overseas during wartime.
Snow, in contrast, has spent 27 years in print, TV, and radio journalism. He is telegenic, charismatic, sharp, quick, and simultaneously tough and affable. In an administration that seems unable to explain its direction, Snow easily can defend the president's agenda, and even actively promote it.
Snow has the wits and wherewithal to redefine this position. Here are a few ways he could build a better press office:
Showcase the media's shortcomings. Snow should not be the press' errand boy. While he should provide journalists information for their pieces, he also should remind them daily what they are missing and strongly persuade them to cover details and entire stories they neglect.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...
Scott may be one of the reasons behind Bush's low ratings. He didn't deal with the media well as all.
Well, I would be hiring Baghdad Bob and letting him loose on WH press corps - it would serve them right, as they don't deserve any better.
HE IS NOT THE STAR. THE PRESIDENT IS THE STAR. A press secretary that gets in the spotlight will be fired.
The Press secretary can not be a major source of information. If he starts stepping on the turf of the Secretary of State or Secretary of Defense or most other cabinet members he will be fired.
No Press Secretary can be allowed to be in on any decision making for anything. He can not be alowed to know which advisors were for or against a proposal. When the media asks he has to be able to say .. I don't know who was in favore and who was not... if any.
If he knows and will not tell, then his refusal to share information becomes the media story. If he does tell no presidential advisor will advise the president until that press secretary is fired.
That is the real world. Tony has two choices. He can take a different approach and be fired within weeks or he can play the game like Scott did.
That is the real world of Press Secretaries.
Bush should have asked Fliescher to stay until after the 2004 election, and then hire Snow. I don't know why Ari couldn't have waited until Jan 1, 2005.
Remember, Scott was Press Secretary all during the 04 campaign when the press was really out to get the President, he held on and did ok. But, the press has become so pathetic in their attacks, that Scott was overwhelmed. Tony will be a huge improvement and he won't put up with their garbage. He will correct their misstatements and falsehoods, something Scott tried to do, but failed. Tony will laugh in their faces, which is exactly what they need. The White House Press Corps, and the likes of David Gregory, make my skin crawl. They pander to the cameras and completely disregard any factual reporting. Remembr, the public opinion of the media is in the 20 percent range, far below the President's ratings.
They need to completely clean shop over there in the communications dept. Dan Bartlett and Nicole Wallace should find greener pastures too.
The early 40s Ari was getting married to a Foxy 26 year old woman. I think most men would rather be in bed with their foxy brides rather than long hours of a thankless job.
Heaven knows I would. Ari was great, and is great, bu I don't blame him for skipping town when the time was right for him.
Good points! I think Snow is more personable and has some leverage Scott lacked.
Actually, it is the real world of over inflated Freeper Egos. The whole reason Tony was hired was to help with the Communication Problems the White House has been having. I know this will come as a big surprise but what you FEEL is NOT the same thing as a FACT. Nice you have opinions, too bad they are DUMB opinions.
Scott sucked as press secretary, but he's not the only problem w/ PR.
Every time the DBM (LMSM) quotes Bush's poll numbers, Snow and the pajamahedin should remind everyone of hte DBM's lower ratings.
There you go again. Can't just respond like an adult. You gotta throw in the childish insults that add nothing to the debate.
I'm done posting to you.
Murdock has a very good idea, which is organizing the cabinet level press secretaries. In any case, Bush can't expect a grown man like Snot to believe like McClellan, who always gave the impression that the viewer could do a better job than he.
No Press Secretary can be allowed to be in on any decision making for anything.
One man makes that decision and that's the president. President Bush can solicit Snow's opinion on any matter he chooses.
If "spotlight" will get him fired, he shouldn't have been hired.
Great choice.
You obviously did not listen to the President's announcement of Tony or Tony's statement he was given open door access.
The fact of the matter is, as press secretary, Tony is effectively acting as the de facto communications director, not just a press guy. He is being given much more responsibility and freedom than Scott ever had.
think again! the reason why Snow was hired is that he can intelligently explain Bush policy better than Bush can! Bush's star is sinking fast. thats why he hired a talk show pundant to save his sinking ship!
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