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.
as one who experienced the cost of cancer treatments - and Tony's going through a second round? - I CAN believe it. Even if insurance pays 80%, it leaves you with a mountainous bill = plus related expenses.
I think Tony Snow has more than earned our trust.,,and thunderous appreciation of his incredible dertermination to continue at his post when he has had to have felt very ill, particularly after treatments. It saddens me to see that people would pre-judge this man, especially in a world-wide forum.
Unless you KNOW, and unless you have have also gone though the tortures of the damned that comes with cancer treatment - and the mountainous bills - I wish people would kindly just shut up.
Can we just take Tony at his word for now? He's earned that.
Maybe he knows more than we do - maybe he feels he doesn't have "long term earning potential" and wants to try to leave his family secure.
I hope you who are judging and second guessing this man who has shown his metal on all fronts aren't faced, one day, with the bills that pile up by the hundreds of thousands with cancer, along with the debilitating, horrific treatments, and then want to insure you leave your children safe, in case - for if you are one day so challenged, you just may remember your unjustified postulations.
Thank you for posting with reason - and what may very well be the real case.
and Shame on the rest of you, every one of you who are judging Tony on this -
Exactly! - when my son was going through the cut, burn, poison treatments of hell, we reached the "coverage limit" - it was horrendous...
One weeks worth of 'treatment' could well equal one years net salary for Tony now.
In addition, he has 3 children he likely wants to ensure can go through college - etc etc.
I am going to have to stop reading this thread, for if I continue to come across the judgmental posts that are outnumbering the reasoned ones, I will either throw up or post some very explicit words to the negative posters.
I made a similar argument in a previous thread. Tony could get a high six-figure book advance as well a very nice salary for a radio or television gig. A recurrence of cancer would send most of us a very serious message about mortality.
I too was not happy to see that Tony look more weathered with his hair gone from the sandy colored strands to almost totally gray and somewhat on the thin side.
I know that I and many of us here felt badly to see him shilling the Administration line on illegal aliens but it’s past time to move ahead; we won that battle.
Frankly, I love the guy. I wrote a message or two and received a response back thanking me for the prayers and how much he appreciated it. Even if that note went out to many folks like me, it showed who he is.
And God bless the man and his family. I’m not going to sit here and judge what he does on behalf of his family. I admire his spirit in the same vein I admire Ronald Reagan.
Tony, if you don’t know, we all wish you and your family the best.
I believe that Tony is very, very sick. You can tell by looking at him. He’s giving it up because I don’t think he can keep up much longer. We need to keep him in our prayers.
The man has cancer and is undergoing expensive chemotherapy treatments. Plus, with three kids to feed, $168,000 per year doesn’t go that far in the DC area.
Maybe you should give Tony a break?
I’m sure Tony’s insurance is better than mine and I’ve been undergoing chemo for five months. I’ve been able to make the copays ok.
I think this is more about his health.
and YOU need to get your head out of your...
I'll bet that if you had faced a second round of cancer treatments, you would never have continued to carry on like Tony - he has amazed me, having a good idea of what he has and is going through. Maybe you should, rather than judging a man like Tony, you should get on bended knee and Thank the Good Lord it isn't you...
I have just one for you - but I would be banned
“Financial pressures force Snow departure”
I hope Tony just told us a white lie.
Out of kindness, decorum and respect to The Office of The Presidency.
And that his real reason for leaving is he’s had a belly-full of mendacity
from Dubya regarding defense of our borders.
I’m going through it too. He is in my prayers every day.
Huh? Tell you what - the next time you go through chemo we’ll talk. What a snotty thing to say.
His attitude was:”Yeah? Watch me!”
That was 25 years ago. He still has both arms, tho’ one badly damaged from surgery and radiation = and chemo left him terribly thin - but he is with us!
Oh, He has three beautiful children.
So ignore “statistics” = make your own...and you will be here a long time!
Thanks for the mention. I just have to wonder if the media would explain a departure of a leftist with this excuse, even if it did play a part. Perhaps they would and I’m just too suspicious.
I had a few ideas for him too, bet they are similar to yours. It sure didn’t take long for those afflicted with severe cases of Bush Derangement Syndrome to blight this thread with their posts.
Bookmarking
He could have said ,
"I am leaving because I need my energy to fight this cancer which now threatens my life, and I cannot fight cancer and do the best job as needed by the President."
Anyone can see that likely is the case.
I am afraid Tony has realized that he won’t be recovering from cancer and finds a need to provide for his family while he still can.
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