Senator John McCain issued the following statement on the passing of Tony Snow:
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Tony Snow. He was a loving father, husband, friend and truly one of America's most gifted commentators. Whether he sat behind a radio mic or stood behind a White House podium, Tony Snow always sought to give the American people new insights into our government, political process and leaders. He asked the tough questions and took them as well. Even when diagnosed with cancer, his fight served as an inspiration to all Americans. In the coming days, we will celebrate the life of a truly great and generous man."
Sen. Mitch McConnell's statement:
Tony, above all else, was a man who cherished his family. He was a man who inspired through example, and who sought to lift others. Through his public courage and optimism in the face of what came to be his last challenge, he sought to give hope to many others. Tony was a remarkable man, and this loss is felt by an enormous family of admirers that has only grown during his many years of public life.Elaine and I send our deepest condolences to the Snow family, but also our gratitude for sharing Tony with us these many years.
Away from the office, what people will remember most about Tony is what a decent man he was. When I heard the news this morning, I thought about something he wrote back in 1998, when Brit Hume's son Sandy died. Like everyone else, Tony was badly shaken; why had such an awful thing happened? A few days later, he wrote:
The day I heard of his death, I raced home and hugged my wife and kids with a ferocity that startled them. Since then, I have clung to them a little tighter, lingered with them a little longer, relished their company a bit more. Suddenly, jarringly, I came to understand: Loved ones are fragile, precious gifts from God. Tragedy, villainy or caprice someday may snatch them away.
From Wolfstar:
Search long enough and you will find posts on FR that call Tony Snow a "RINO." The term, and others like CINO, are thrown around so much here (and elsewhere) that it has ceased to have any substantive meaning. Tony Snow was one of the kindest, least mean-spirited public people of our era in politics. He could STRONGLY disagree with people from across the political spectrum, but he always did so without invective and vitriol.
If we really want to honor the memory of Tony Snow, THE one thing we should all do is follow this particular example he set. We need to stop turning invective and vitriol on each other and on political figures from our side of the aisle, even when we disagree with them strongly on one or more matters of policy.