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.
It was his job to spin for Bush. I mean.. gee... duh.
All the best to Tony! I am sure it is a sacrifice with 3 young children to support. Plus, with his health, am sure he is trying to maximize the amount of money he can make in case his health prevents him from working for very much longer. He has been great as the spokesperson..better than anyone in this job.
I like the woman Dina(?) who subs for him when he’s gone.. She’s really sharp.. way more sarcastic.. and attractive too.
I would think that between the prices of housing and the cost of keeping his kids in good schools and the extra medical expenses, he might be feeling a very serious financial pinch. His kids will be ready for college and he has had a serious health issue. If I were him, I would want to be able to build up some kind of cushion for my family.
His mortgage was probably based on his previous income.
...... Now if she ONLY had a message.
My father passed away in June due to cancer. He had insurance, but after conventional treatments began to fail, he underwent some experimental treatments, some of which cost $5,000 per treatment.
I can easily believe that medical expenses like that would force a man to change jobs and relocate his family.
huh?
I should have added that the $5,000 treatments were completely out-of-pocket expenses, because they were experimental.
He’s got a lot on his plate.
I’d be trying to build a cushion too
My gut feeling has been that he has been called on to support policies he did not agree with.
I agree; plus the fact that it must be taking a toll on his family. I think possibly he has become disappointed in Bush and knows much more than we do about what Bush’s true Agenda is.
It seems to me, that with an issue as complex as a career, there is never a single reason to switch jobs. There may be one reason that is the main one, but there are always multiple reasons. Those of us who have ever changed jobs know that. When a prospective employer asks me why I am leaving my old company, I would be a fool to give every single reason that is a factor.
Saying that you are changin jobs for financial reasons is usually an honest part of an answer and often the single most important reason. I think we should give Tony Snow the benefit of the doubt and accept his stated explanation. There is no reason for us to question it.
For those who think $168,000 is a enough, you’re right. It’s enough to live comfortably, but it’s not a luxurious income in the DC area. Plus, most of us, if we took a big pay cut, might have trouble meeting our mortgage payment which we took on when our salaries were higher. He may, as many people have said, have large medical bills, and he may want to put aside money for his family. All of this makes sense.
I say we give him our thanks for a job well done and continue to remember him in our prayers.
I think it is the medical bills. It is such a novel comment that I am inclined to believe it on face value. Consider how often we hear “spend more time with the family”.
I think Tony Snow is one of the if not THE best talent to bless that post at the Whitehouse.
I do not agree with his message all the time but I always have respected his brain.
Hopefully this means a up tick in the talent at FNC from the current decent into oprafication.
It seems like any book deal he’d get would more than make up for his losses over the years he’s spent as Bush’s press secretary? Maybe not.
You betcha! Any responsible husband/father would.
Ok, this just sucks. I really like Tony’s command of the press room!
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