Posted on 08/17/2007 1:32:28 PM PDT by nuconvert
Financial pressures force Snow departure
By TERENCE HUNT, AP White House Correspondent
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."
Snow has been undergoing chemotherapy after doctors discovered a recurrence of colon cancer in March. He said the last of eight scheduled chemotherapy treatments would be on Friday. On Monday he will have a CAT scan to evaluate his progress.
You don’t know what Tony Snow’s living expenses are. He may have a mortgage and expenses that a 7 figure salary are needed to support. Govt service is probably making him eat into his savings along with his medical treatment. Why do you think only millionaires run for office? They want the connections that come AFTER they leave to enhance their portfolios. Tony Snow’s job does not lend itself to those type of perks.
Lol. well that’s wishful thinking. how do you know he buys tickets?
“I really like Tony’s command of the press room!”
Me too
It may be medical expenses, but it also could be that he’s thinking he needs to really get his finances juiced up in case he’s not able to work many more years (or worse).
In any event, I’m saddened that some here don’t believe Tony is telling the truth. He doesn’t owe us an explanation at all, but if he gives one, I for one, believe him, all the while understanding there are always many, many factors that go into a decision such as this one.
I hope the thought is not foreign to you that a man would move heaven and earth to secure his family's future, particularly when his own mortality has been tested twice in five years.
Also at least one child will be in college before too long, if I recall correctly.
Anyway, Godspeed, Tony.
Exactly.
Very well said. Thank you.
$168,000 is not a liveable wage?
Geez! I’d sure like to try “surviving” on $168,000.
Unfortunately, we and our friends and relatives, neighbors, etc have to survive on a whole lot less.
So my b.s. meter is screaming off into the red zone.
When Tony Snow would sub for Russ L, he sounded pretty decent and good and sensible.
More likely, being forced to change from a decent, sensible, honest human being into a b.s. shill for the Admin and dealing with well-dressed folks in Congress/Senate of character less than the average wino must have finally gotten to him.
“Medical expenses, even with insurance, can and does bankrupt far too many...”
The criminal part of this is that the medical system, especially when it comes to oncology, uses barberic treatments that mostly do not work. They may at some point kill the cancer, and at the same time destroy vital functioning of the body. Chemo severely damages hearts. Chemo destroys the immune system. They measure their “success” by 5 year survival rates. The reason there are no cures being used by conventional medicine is because the things that work are generally inexpensive, and they make no money for Big Pharmaecopea. It is an evil system that generally does not care about the patient, only the money to be extracted through insurance and co-pay. The FDA supports this failure of a system because they are in the business of protecting Big Pharmaecopea, not patients.
Yep, $168,000 is simply not a liveable wage.
Noone can make it on a mere $168,000.
And Tony having pulled down seven figures in years prior.
Rent, food and gas must have eaten that all up.
(sound of B.S. meter going into overload)
VERY nicely put. I couldn’t agree more!
That was a POS piece of work, wasn’t it?
This is a smart business move on Tony's part. If he lands a job while he is working for the pres. his value and negotiations are stronger. If he waits until after, he is less marketable. In that lead times for jobs like his are probably at least a year, this is a good time for him to begin interviews-especially know that his treatments are done.
Also, if he tried to interview quietly the rumors would be flying.
It a shame 168K can’t buy doodle in San Diego. Here in Texas it a handsome salary.
He’s a huge open borders guy.
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