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People, Celebrities
Radio host is new Bush spokesman
President George Bush has appointed a new press
secretary - conservative radio presenter Tony Snow. Mr. Snow
replaces Scott McClellan, who resigned last week as part of a shake-up
of President Bush's top staff. Announcing the appointment, President
Bush praised Mr. Snow - who sometimes had disagreed with him.
Correspondents say Mr. Snow, who was a speechwriter for the president's
father, has sometimes criticized President Bush for not being
conservative enough.
He currently hosts two shows on the Fox News network, which
is owned by the media magnate Rupert Murdoch. President Bush said Mr.
Snow understood the importance of the relationship between government
and those who covered the government's work. "My job is to make
decisions and his job is to help explain those decisions to the press
corps and the American people," President Bush said, as Mr. Snow and Mr.
McClellan stood by his side. Mr. Snow told reporters: "One of the
reasons I took the job is not only because I believe in the president,
because believe it or not I want to work with you." The 50-year-old is
the first Washington pundit to take over the press lectern at the White
House. His record is already being closely examined to see whether he
has expressed views that conflict with the president's. Mr. Snow,
in an Associated Press interview said: "It's public record. I've written
some critical stuff. When you're a columnist, you're going to criticize
and you're going to praise." Correspondents say the White House will be
hoping a former journalist may ensure a smoother ride with the press
than it has enjoyed in recent months. .It is thought that Mr. Tony
Snow may have more of a policy-making role than his predecessor. Mr.
Snow has called on the White House to fight back against its critics and
he now gets the chance to practice what he's preached, our correspondent
adds. WHO IS TONY SNOW? Tony Snow, the man named as the new White House press secretary, is no stranger to life on America's airwaves. An outspoken conservative presenter for Fox News radio and television, he is the first Washington commentator to be appointed to the White House role. Having done a stint as chief speech writer for President George W Bush's father when he was president, Mr. Snow can claim to straddle both press and politics. He replaces Scott McClellan, who announced his resignation as part of a staff shake-up intended to revitalize the Bush administration.
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Relations between the press corps and White House have become increasingly strained in recent months over issues including the Iraq war. Observers say the White House may hope that by appointing a former journalist as its public face, it will ensure a smoother ride with the media ahead of mid-term elections in November.
Photo: Tony Snow was a speech writer for George W Bush's father. Under scrutiny: The 50-year-old commentator is currently best known to Americans as host of The Tony Snow Show on Fox News's radio network. Mr. Snow was also anchor of the high-profile Fox News Sunday television program from 1996 to 2003, during which time he interviewed top Bush administration figures and foreign leaders. Before that, he worked as a columnist for USA Today and editorial page editor of the Washington Times. His record is now under scrutiny to see whether his views may conflict with those of the president. Although he has generally been supportive of the Bush administration, Mr. Snow has recently produced columns openly critical of an apparent lack of direction in its second term.
Tony Snow has been critical of the president in some columns. In November, he wrote that President Bush's "wavering conservatism has become an active concern among Republicans, who wish he would stop cowering under the bed and start fighting back". And a column posted on his website in February described the president's domestic policy as "listless". US newspapers suggest Mr. Snow will aim to use his wide-ranging broadcast experience to take better advantage of the daily White House press briefings. He reportedly agreed to take the press secretary role after receiving assurances he would not just be a spokesman but would also have an influence on policy debates. Commentators observe that in the era of 24-hour news channels, the press secretary is the most visible public face of the administration apart from the president himself - and it can be a grueling role. Mr. Snow, who is from Cincinnati, Ohio, and married with three children, was recently given the all-clear by doctors following treatment for colon cancer last year. NOMINATED FOR POLITICAL REASONS A heavy weight insider told the New York Monthly Herald that Show was selected not "because of his journalistic merits, but for political reasons...Bush number one was instrumental in this appointment...you know how politic go in Washington. You are not who you are but who you know, end of the story!" Others don't agree. They insist that Mr. Snow is highly qualified and knows his way around. After all, journalism is politic too. Tell this to his envious colleagues. Continues on page 9 |
Photo:
Mr. Snow.
