Michelle Malkin » Tony Snow, R.I.P.

Tony Snow, R.I.P.

By Michelle Malkin • July 12, 2008 08:30 AM

Heartbreakingly sad news this morning. Tony Snow has died. He was 53. He was a true mensch, multi-talented–and one of the kindest people I had the honor to meet in the news business.

Tears:

Tony Snow, the former White House press secretary and conservative pundit who bedeviled the press corps and charmed millions as a FOX News television and radio host, has died after a long bout with cancer. He was 53.

A syndicated columnist, editor, TV anchor, radio show host and musician, Snow worked in nearly every medium in a career that spanned more than 30 years.

“The White House has lost a great friend and a great colleague,” said President Bush’s press secretary and Snow’s former deputy, Dana Perino. “We all loved watching him at the podium, but most of all we learned how to love our families and treat each other.”

Snow joined FOX in 1996 as the original anchor of “FOX News Sunday” and hosted “Weekend Live” and a radio program, “The Tony Snow Show,” before departing in 2006. A sometime fill-in host for Rush Limbaugh, Snow said he loved the intimacy of his radio audience.

“It’s a tremendous loss for us who knew him, but it’s also a loss for the country,” Roger Ailes, chairman of FOX News, said Saturday morning about Snow, calling him a “renaissance man.”

Indeed, he was. Here’s Tony jamming with his band at the National Press Club:

And here’s the statement from the White House:

“Laura and I are deeply saddened by the death of our dear friend, Tony Snow. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Jill, and their children, Kendall, Robbie, and Kristi. The Snow family has lost a beloved husband and father. And America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character.

Tony was one of our Nation’s finest writers and commentators. He earned a loyal following with incisive radio and television broadcasts. He was a gifted speechwriter who served in my father’s Administration. And I was thrilled when he agreed to return to the White House to serve as my Press Secretary. It was a joy to watch Tony at the podium each day. He brought wit, grace, and a great love of country to his work. His colleagues will cherish memories of his energetic personality and relentless good humor.

All of us here at the White House will miss Tony, as will the millions of Americans he inspired with his brave struggle against cancer. One of the things that sustained Tony Snow was his faith – and Laura and I join people across our country in praying that this good man has now found comfort in the arms of his Creator.”

Doug Powers: “Stay classy, Associated Press.”

The AP just can’t help but take a swing at a conservative who just died:

With a quick-from-the-lip repartee, broadcaster’s good looks and a relentlessly bright outlook — if not always a command of the facts — he became a popular figure around the country to the delight of his White House bosses.

Classy. When all is said and done though, being accused of not always having a command of the facts by an Associated Press writer is like Joe Hazelwood calling you a lousy boat skipper, and as such doesn’t really qualify as an effective insult.

Tony’s humanity always shined in his writing. This is from a column he wrote for Christianity Today last July reflecting on his bout with cancer:

Blessings arrive in unexpected packages—in my case, cancer.
Those of us with potentially fatal diseases—and there are millions in America today—find ourselves in the odd position of coping with our mortality while trying to fathom God’s will. Although it would be the height of presumption to declare with confidence What It All Means, Scripture provides powerful hints and consolations.

The first is that we shouldn’t spend too much time trying to answer the why questions: Why me? Why must people suffer? Why can’t someone else get sick? We can’t answer such things, and the questions themselves often are designed more to express our anguish than to solicit an answer.
I don’t know why I have cancer, and I don’t much care. It is what it is—a plain and indisputable fact. Yet even while staring into a mirror darkly, great and stunning truths begin to take shape. Our maladies define a central feature of our existence: We are fallen. We are imperfect. Our bodies give out.

But despite this—because of it—God offers the possibility of salvation and grace. We don’t know how the narrative of our lives will end, but we get to choose how to use the interval between now and the moment we meet our Creator face-to-face.

Second, we need to get past the anxiety. The mere thought of dying can send adrenaline flooding through your system. A dizzy, unfocused panic seizes you. Your heart thumps; your head swims. You think of nothingness and swoon. You fear partings; you worry about the impact on family and friends. You fidget and get nowhere.

To regain footing, remember that we were born not into death, but into life—and that the journey continues after we have finished our days on this earth. We accept this on faith, but that faith is nourished by a conviction that stirs even within many nonbelieving hearts—an intuition that the gift of life, once given, cannot be taken away. Those who have been stricken enjoy the special privilege of being able to fight with their might, main, and faith to live—fully, richly, exuberantly—no matter how their days may be numbered.

***

Previous Tony Snow blog posts.

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#374505

On July 13th, 2008 at 9:16 am, zorro said:

Great idea cjean, five random acts of kindness. I like it and will do it today. Thanks.
#374509

On July 13th, 2008 at 9:34 am, ELINVESTI8 said:

I always liked what I saw in Tony Snow on television and thought he was a kind and gentle soul. After hearing his friends and colleagues describe him after his passing I am sure of it now. May he rest in peace in heaven with Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen!
#374512

On July 13th, 2008 at 9:55 am, Joshua P. Allem said:

We’ll miss you Tony!
#374529

On July 13th, 2008 at 10:50 am, securitymom said:

I live in the same neighborhood at Tony and often saw him in the grocery store. So many people would say “Hi, Tony” and he’d say hi back – he was a great man. He will truly be missed.

Thanks to Michelle for posting his story on living with cancer – it was wonderful.
#374558

On July 13th, 2008 at 12:06 pm, diaphanous said:

Good guy. Will miss him. Bless his wife and children.
#374593

On July 13th, 2008 at 1:43 pm, Turbodog said:

I really hate cancer

He was good dood
#374635

On July 13th, 2008 at 3:41 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

I am sad by this news. Tony was a great man and will be missed.

As a cancer survivor, I know the battle and what the family has been/is going through (I watched a lot of people die from cancer).

They will be in my prayers.
#374650

On July 13th, 2008 at 4:04 pm, mistressjustice said:

Why go over to the Dailykos looking for negative comments to get upset about? What’s the purpose? There will always be fringe partisen nastiness. It will be interesting to see how some of the folks here will behave when Rev’s Al and Jesse pass on. Deranged partisen hate, is what it is…poisonous for the soul.
Moreover, look at comments 81 and 138 and you’ll see conservatives and in at least one case a so-called Christian, wishing Tony Snow’s deadyly fate on other people like Mr. McClellan and “Rob”. Sick stuff…..wishing cancer on people….whether it’s Kos or hypocritial phony MM posters.

Tragedies like this bring out the worse in people, and that’s sad considering the class and dignity in which Tony Snow lived his life. Why poison THIS thread with negativity? I just don’t understand people sometimes.
#374664

On July 13th, 2008 at 4:23 pm, Paul-Cincy said:

On July 13th, 2008 at 4:04 pm, mistressjustice said:
Why go over to the Dailykos looking for negative comments to get upset about? What’s the purpose? There will always be fringe partisen nastiness. It will be interesting to see how some of the folks here will behave when Rev’s Al and Jesse pass on. Deranged partisen hate, is what it is…poisonous for the soul.
Moreover, look at comments 81 and 138 and you’ll see conservatives and in at least one case a so-called Christian, wishing Tony Snow’s deadyly fate on other people like Mr. McClellan and “Rob”.

mj, you’re contradicting your own advice, cherrypicking the thread for negativity. If we’re not supposed to do it at Kos, don’t do it here. If you have values and integrity.
#374668

On July 13th, 2008 at 4:39 pm, mistressjustice said:

Paul I just don’t understand the behavior. I expect kos to trash Snow, so I’m obviously not going to go over there looking to be offended. I read this thread because I’m I a site member, and I read all the comments. I’m not cherrypicking, and I obviously only cited two examples of ugliness. I just don’t think it’s needed to take this time to trash Kos, when members of your own group are wishing cancer on people. This thread got unnecessarily ugly, and for what. Question my values or integrity, but I’m not wishing cancer on people, and I had the integrity to honor a man, whom I never agreed with politically.
#374677

On July 13th, 2008 at 4:51 pm, purplepeep said:

I remember when Tony Snow was on Laura Ingraham’s program last year to try to sell the Amnesty thing as part of his job. You could tell his heart just wasn’t in it.

A fine man has passed on much too soon.
#374680

On July 13th, 2008 at 5:12 pm, Marshall Russ said:

Many tears in this house watching the tributes to a sweet man who loved God, his wife and family, and his country.
#374681

On July 13th, 2008 at 5:14 pm, Blind_Mule said:

mistressjustice said:
Paul I just don’t understand the behavior. I expect kos to trash Snow, so I’m obviously not going to go over there looking to be offended

I did’nt go over to KOS to be offended, I went over there and posted the blog to show the difference between the KOS vitrol and the stark difference of MM posters for example Tim Russert’s passing that’s the difference we can respect someone and their family even if we disagree.
#374683

On July 13th, 2008 at 5:20 pm, Blind_Mule said:

Oh, and again God Bless them both, they were both good news men, that deserve our respect and condalances to the men and their families.
#374685

On July 13th, 2008 at 5:27 pm, purplepeep said:

mistressjustice said:
I obviously only cited two examples of ugliness.

I think there’s an important point you’re missing, MsJustice. I think you are correct that you can go most anywhere on the internet and find commenters who say (at the least) “unkind words for the dead”.

But – and ya knew there was a “but” a comin’ – what you’ve cited where commenters, they come and go and are booted if they get too nasty.

With Kos, “diarists” are given their own parcel of the site to vent hate in headlines. Of course Markos, their Fuhrer, himself is no slouch himself; upon hearing of Americans brutally murdered in Iraq his words were “screw them!”.

So we’re talking about people who are given “respectable power” and the free reign to expound with hateful glee anytime a conservative passes on.

For example, on the death of Jessie Helms:

The Atlantic -
Jesse Helms At An Obama Rally

Or “The Wonkette” -
Jesse Helms Finally Dead

So we’re not talking about anonymous commenters in some thread.

Contrast such examples with Michelle’s reaction to the news that Ted Kennedy is suffering from an extremely serious brain tumor.

(Here’s Michelle’s post in it’s entirety)

Kennedy diagnosed with brain tumor

“Put aside your political differences and join me in keeping Sen. Ted Kennedy and his family in your prayers as they grapple with the news of his malignant brain tumor diagnosis.”

Suffice to say that she is not exactly politically sympatico with Ted Kennedy.

Now I wouldn’t expect someone like Rusty, a fellow wandering blindly in mindless relativism, to differentiate between some commenter thoughtlessly spouting off and VIP writers/bloggers who regularly exude joy at the death of conservatives but I do suspect you can make that important and telling distinction.
#374689

On July 13th, 2008 at 5:36 pm, RogersUmp said:

I saw Tony over Thanksgiving. My family was visiting my dad and his wife in Florida and we were out dancing. I saw him with his family and he looked great! He was enjoying time with them. I wanted to tell him I appreciated his work and enjoyed his press conferences at the white house but didn’t feel right about interrupting him wiht his family. It was amazing how he just blended in and it was as if no one knew who he was. Thanks for the great clip Michelle! He will be missed!
#374698

On July 13th, 2008 at 5:46 pm, BayStateRepublican said:

I will miss Tony on TV very much and know he is in a better place right now. His sister and my wife are commenters on another (non-political) blog. Tony was a class act and didn’t suffer from the intellectual dishonesty we see in the talking heads today.

As for bitter Troll in our midst, I think he’s unable to understand how we provincial types can identify with a media personality. Word is he’s been resentful ever since he learned that Captain Kangaroo wasn’t a real “Captain”. Ruined him for life.

Until we meet again, Tony
#374705

On July 13th, 2008 at 6:11 pm, CO2 Producer said:

Another one of the good guys rides into the sunset. I wish him and his loved ones the best.

In response to MJ (#166), I see your point. It’s easy to hate. Apparently it’s not as easy to be kind. Rejoicing in someone’s death or wishing anyone dead is not funny, witty, or an effective argument. (Well, I would consider Hitler, bin Laden, and Saddam exceptions. By the way, Mad Libs, Bush is not Hitler.) The point applies to both sides. I wish I could prevent some on my side from saying stupid things, but I can’t. I understand, however, that emotion gets the best of people when they comment here or at other blogs. When someone says something ignorant and without substance, it emotes a knee-jerk response in others. Simple to do under the guise of anonymity.

That’s why we Righties check up on Kos, to reaffirm that such hateful, cruel, deranged people exist. And the examples there are aplenty. It’s like keeping one eye on the enemy at all times, like yin and yang. Never turn your back on ‘em. This site is a rebuttal to Kos and HuffPo. Of course we’ll be watching them. They’re watching us.
#374708

On July 13th, 2008 at 6:23 pm, BKennedy said:

Rest in Peace Tony Snow.

Wow, 53 years old, he was only a little older than my parents.

Who wants to bet that since Tony Snow never showed an inkling to support worldwide socialism, the Lettter Networks will not turn his death into a media self-love fest like they did with Russert.

Russert and Snow are gone, both before 60. If objective journalism wasn’t dead before, it dcertainly is now.

Couldn’t believe the AP. This from the same people who wrote a picture caption that got the situation completelely backwards solely because of their hard-left agenda. Forget the bad skipper analogy, this is like Stalin criticizing people for altering photos.

A bad skipper can make a mistake, the AP are liars by design.
#374714

On July 13th, 2008 at 6:38 pm, atheling said:

Sorry, folks, but I’m furious at these leftards who play the double standard.

I refuse to be courteous to any of them when they are discourteous to us.

I am a firm believer that when you are at war, and the enemy hits you, you hit them back harder. That’s the only way to win.

The leftards play dirty. They will stoop at any level to win. The only way we can win this and to win back our country is to hit them back harder. They do not deserve courtesy or tolerance because it is only seen as a weakness, and they take advantage of it.

Again, my apologies, but I can’t let this lie.

And I hope Mr. Snow is praying for our country, because we need it.
#374719

On July 13th, 2008 at 7:00 pm, BayStateRepublican said:

So right atheling, the only thing the school yard bullies understand is a good kick in the groin.

BSR
#374745

On July 13th, 2008 at 8:51 pm, Barry F. said:

I got a chance to watch some of the coverage on FNC last night on On The Record. Greta had quite a few people on with their recollections of Tony and his work over the years.

In regard to Tony’s balanced approach and journalistic integrity, Newt Gingrich was talking about how Tony had made him mad early on in 1996, when he was hosting Fox News Sunday and Newt was on there. Apparently, Tony was taking Newt to task on one of his positions in the interview and Newt remarked about it during a break that they were supposed to be on the same team. He said Tony replied that he was out to give a full report, not a lop-sided one and, if he did anything because they were on the same team, he would be even tougher, because he doesn’t want anyone claiming that he was throwing Newt softball questions, because of the “R” after his name.

I wish more journalist were like that, regardless of their political affiliations or leanings.

It was a terrible loss yesterday, with Tony’s passing. But, he remained upbeat all the way through his battle and was planning to beat it this time around, while he was in the hospital.

My wife and I were talking last night, while I was watching On The Record and I told her that his passing has bothered me more than any other high-profile person in a long time, because I just always got the feeling that he was the guy next door and you could sit down and just talk to him, if you ever met him, without pretense, etc. She intimated much the same sentiments about him.

Unfortunately, once Great went off, I had to change it, because Geraldo came on. He had the first bit I watched dedicated to Tony Snow and even talked positively about him. But, his show went off into other issues and, as I have stated in other posts on Michelle’s site, I can’t help but change the channel, when Geraldo is on and opens his mouth much.
#374757

On July 13th, 2008 at 9:13 pm, Barry F. said:

Ugh! ~~Great~~ Greta

It must be time for me to log off and go to bed. *sigh*
#374763

On July 13th, 2008 at 9:27 pm, Blind_Mule said:

RogersUmp said:
I saw him with his family and he looked great! He was enjoying time with them. I wanted to tell him I appreciated his work and enjoyed his press conferences at the white house but didn’t feel right about interrupting him wiht his family

Barry F. said:
because I just always got the feeling that he was the guy next door and you could sit down and just talk to him, if you ever met him, without pretense, etc.

That remind’s me of my wife and I went to dinner on the Country Club Plaza here in KC and George Brett was eating at a table next to ours. I wanted to say hey George how are you but I did’nt he looked at me and I him but we never said a word to each other, 3 years later I went to a fund raiser where George was tha main attraction I took a baseball and held it in my hand but could’nt bring myself to ask him to autograph it. I did’nt have to George came up to me and said I remember you how are you doing, I said fine with a confused look and he said you don’t remember? I said remember what? he said a couple of years ago I saw you at a restaraunt on the Plaza and you let me eat my meal uninterupted that’s the only time anyone has let me do that before or since they always want an autograph. I put the ball behing my back and he said give me that ball I’ll be more than happy to sign it for you, I said thanks George he said no problem why don’t you come have dinner at my table tonight and I did. Derrick Thomas was the same way I had a buddy that bowled on his league and he was teaching Derrick how to bowl, he alway’s gave me a hard time if I did’nt bring him something to sign for my kid’s.

I think Tony appreciated people like you RogerUmp you showed him a great amount of respect by not bothering him like so many others had probably done.

BarryF, this is why I go off on those telling me that the well to do are different than us because in my experience most of them are just like us because they have been where we have been at one time in their life and appreciate the little guy and I think that is the way Tony was.
#375435

On July 14th, 2008 at 2:40 pm, RedDog said:

I’m sure it’s been said earlier but I will say it again. To have come in contact with a person like Tony Snow is an honor and a privilege. It is a great disappointment to have his name spit upon by the likes of the AP “reporter” and his friends on the left. God forbid that we should treat them similarly.
#375783

On July 14th, 2008 at 8:54 pm, sillygatboy said:

God love him, God bless him, America and the world needs him. God make his face shine on him and give him peace.

Too soon gone, too late appreciated.
#376548

On July 15th, 2008 at 4:09 pm, emjem24 said:

Rob said:

emjem24 said: Snow was more than a media celebrity or star.

Don’t worry, he will be replaced soon and you can have a new bestest friend.

Rob,

Again, what exactly is your problem? Do you know how to distinguish between simple admiration/respect and familial love? And to use a Robert Frost poem like that.

It’s pretty apparent that you neither liked nor respected Tony. So why even bother posting?

To compare Tony Snow to the likes of gutter snipes such as Paris Hilton or Britney Spears is missing the point. I guess, in your estimation, that Conservatives should admire no one, just as liberals should admire no one.

Just continue pondering your one-way looking glass. I’m sure it will provide you much comfort.