Snow to leave White House before Bush [Press secretary cites money as reason for departure]

MSNBC ^

[Sub-Driver]

Snow to leave White House before Bush Press secretary cites money as reason for departure The Associated Press Updated: 1:21 p.m. ET Aug 17, 2007

WASHINGTON - White House press secretary Tony Snow said Friday he'll leave sometime before the end of the Bush presidency because of financial pressures.

He declined to say when he would depart, but that, "I'm going to stay as long as I can."

The 52-year-old Snow, the father of three children, earns $168,000 as an assistant to the president but made considerably more as a conservative pundit and syndicated talk-show host on Fox News Radio. He was named press secretary on April 26, 2006.

The White House has been shaken by the resignations of some of President Bush's closest aides. Political strategist Karl Rove announced Monday that he would leave at the end of the month. Longtime Bush adviser Dan Bartlett left earlier this year and Andrew Card left earlier as Bush's chief of staff.

Bush's term ends on Jan. 20, 2009.

"I will not be able to make it to the end of this administration, just financially," Snow said. "This job has been such a pleasant surprise in how much I like it. I love it."

[saveliberty]

Snowflake ping

[LYSandra]

I would imagine even with helath insurance his out of pocket medical expense with having cancer must be a lot and with children I suppose his thoughts are on earning as much as he can NOW not knowing if he will remain totally healthy no?

[drjimmy]

George Stephanopolous held the same job as Tony in an impeached democrat former president's administration. Steffy is now a "impartial" interviewer on ABC. I'm betting Tony gets a call for a similar job at CBS or NBC within about a month of his departure from the WH. Who want to bet? I know I'm right. (not)

Actually, Tony Snow was chief speechwriter for George H.W. Bush, so he had already been in the White House before becoming an "impartial" interviewer for Fox News. I'm sure he will go back to Fox News within the year.

If you really want to make a bet, how long do you think it will be before Karl Rove is hired by Fox News?

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[jimfree]

It may not directly be his health, but if I was someone with a young family, and I had had cancer and a recurrence of the cancer, I’d sure want to be making as much money as I could and socking it away to help provide for my family in the event of a “worst case scenario.”

Bingo. Tony has had a recurrence of cancer. His projected longevity has got to be a factor. He can get a considerable book advance when he leaves the White House and sock some of that away for the wife and kids. So health, family, and finance converge in this case.

[saveliberty]

You’re welcome, Alamo-Girl!

[LYSandra]

I would imagine even with helath insurance his out of pocket medical expense with having cancer must be a lot and with children I suppose his thoughts are on earning as much as he can NOW not knowing if he will remain totally healthy no?

[org.whodat]

He should just be allowed to get on the congressional health care gravy train and he won’t have a thing to worry about.

With the time he had already spent in the white house and this current term I wouldn't doubt that he isn't on the gravy train. What is it 6 years now?

[ElPatriota]

The 52-year-old Snow, the father of three children, earns $168,000 as an assistant to the president but made considerably more as a conservative pundit and syndicated talk-show host on Fox News Radio. He was named press secretary on April 26, 2006.

Very good move!... Everybody wants money, why not him?... Besides this ship is already tail spinning into obvlibion, sorry to say.

[halfright]

>>>I saw Tony on TV yesterday, he does not look good, I think he needs our prayers.

YOU STOPPED PRAYING FOR TONY?? :-) Snowflakes have been in urgent prayer for our adopted son for a while now....

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

The White House has been shaken by the resignations of some of President Bush's closest aides.

What a pant load of an editorial comment. GWB has had some of the longest serving staff. They have been very loyal and could have made lots of money elsewhere.

[org.whodat]

his out of pocket medical expense

What makes you think he doesn't get the same health coverage as a congressman and/or senator. Well the answer is he does.

[CDHart]

Also there's no way he will ever get more life insurance, without paying a fortune for it.

Carolyn

[dragnet2]

Poor guy can’t scape by on 168K a year.

You ever had to endure and pay for cancer treatment?

One can only imagine what it's like for those in the middle class making 40k per year.

[GOP_Proud]

In an interview just last week he said he was having his last chemo that day. He was celebrating that fact. He’s been on chemo for months since his second surgery, which explains his sickly look. You don’t look too good on chemo.

I’m sure if there was no hope he would have been honest and resigned “due to health”. I hope he can either return to talk radio or FNC as I would assume by his “financial” remark. Sounds like he has an open invite to get back into TV or Radio. That’s where the big bucks are.

[Gabz]

I've heard elsewhere on the forum that he may intend to run for John Warner's senate seat. Anyone know if that's true?

He would have to move to Virginia for that. He is a resident of Maryland. His home is in St. Michael's on the MD Eastern Shore.

[Graybeard58]

$168K a year isn't enough to deal with / gaze upon Helen Thomas.

Excellent point.

[NeoCaveman]

He would have to move to Virginia for that. He is a resident of Maryland. His home is in St. Michael's on the MD Eastern Shore.

Ahh, so Fred Barnes was (once again) full of shiite.

[Non-Sequitur]

ANDY CARD??? You mean Josh Bolten. And he was refering to senior political advisors, not the press secretary.

Oops, I did mean Bolton. But he was referring to the White House staff, not just Rove. And Tony Snow is a senior advisor in addition to being press secretary.

[maggief]

Thanks, sl!

AP - Wed Aug 8, 3:16 PM ET

This two picture combo shows White House Spokesman Tony Snow, in the White House briefing room, on April 30, 2007, left, and on July 18, 2007. Snow says he is hopeful he can overcome his latest bout of colon cancer, calling his high-stress job 'good therapy.' (AP Photo/Files)