Snow Makes Solo Debut at Chaotic Briefing
Tony Snow jumped into the daily informal White House briefing known as the Gaggle Friday morning, according to the
AP's Jennifer Loven.
Tony's continuing to refute the misinformation, too.
Here's the part I especially like: "the White House is cutting and pasting to make a point." You don't say??? How dare the White House actually try putting out the facts. What right do they have to contradict the storyline that the Agenda Media's established for the various issues? Who would've thought that they could actually tell their side of the story? It's obvious that Mr. Axelrod doesn't think highly of being contradicted. He'd better get used to it because Tony will set the record straight.
There's a final point that's worth mentioning about Tony and the Agenda Media: Tony comes from talk radio where you're dealing with people of numerous different perspectives. The White House press corps comes from an insulated world where pretty much everyone thinks alike. That gives Tony a huge advantage. This isn't a fair fight and they'll realize it fast or they'll look like idiots.
Posted Friday, May 12, 2006 5:49 PM
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Snow had announced that he was moving the gaggle to his West Wing office from the theater-like White House briefing room, in hopes of making it more of a casual, intimate conversation. But it got under way several minutes early. And though the press secretary's quarters are among the more spacious in the West Wing, the room quickly filled to overflowing, so that many reporters were stranded, unable to hear or ask questions, in the hallway outside.I've liked Tony's appointment since it was announced, partly because I believe he'll bring a new tone to the briefings. Ms. Loven said earlier in this article that Tony's "built a reputation as a bright, unflappable presence." I'd add that he's very likeable to the average guy. Tony will use his intelligence to refute any misinformation or false premises that the White House reporters will throw at him. I suspect that'll go on for a little while until they start looking foolish. That's when that'll stop.
Asked what he plans to change now that he has taken over as Bush's chief spokesman, Snow laughed: "Apparently the gaggle." He promised to move the session back to the more orderly venue of the briefing room, and look into the requests for information that he hadn't been able to supply. One of his first announcements was to further postpone his first on-camera briefing. Expected to be on Monday, Snow said it has been moved back to Tuesday.
And why not? His boss is giving a speech to the nation Monday night.
Tony's continuing to refute the misinformation, too.
New White House Press Secretary Tony Snow continued to go after the media Thursday by accusing the Associated Press and Washington Post of unfair coverage of President Bush. Since starting his job Monday, Snow has challenged five major news outlets in a clear signal that he will be more aggressive than his mild-mannered predecessor, Scott McClellan.Mr. Axelrod might be upset that Tony pointed out the difference between the information Mr. Axelrod reported and the facts. Eight million seniors signing up for the perscription drug benefit is a meager total. Thirty-seven million sounds substantial. Axelrod is trying to make it sound like the White House is fabricating things to make itself look better but I'm betting that the public will side with Tony on this one.
One of those outlets, CBS News, fired back on Thursday. "The White House is clearly manipulating what I broadcast to fit their agenda," wrote reporter Jim Axelrod on a CBS blog. "And they are wrong to do that." He was responding to a White House e-mail that criticized a report by Axelrod.
"CBS News misleadingly reports that only 8 million seniors have signed up for Medicare prescription drug coverage," the White House said. "But 37 million seniors have coverage."
Axelrod suggested he was the victim of "selective editing on the part of the White House to make their own political points." “Very simply, the White House is cutting and pasting to make a point, something they accuse their critics of doing constantly," he said. "I am always open to criticism," he added, "but if the White House has a point to make, perhaps they should furnish the full and proper context."
Here's the part I especially like: "the White House is cutting and pasting to make a point." You don't say??? How dare the White House actually try putting out the facts. What right do they have to contradict the storyline that the Agenda Media's established for the various issues? Who would've thought that they could actually tell their side of the story? It's obvious that Mr. Axelrod doesn't think highly of being contradicted. He'd better get used to it because Tony will set the record straight.
There's a final point that's worth mentioning about Tony and the Agenda Media: Tony comes from talk radio where you're dealing with people of numerous different perspectives. The White House press corps comes from an insulated world where pretty much everyone thinks alike. That gives Tony a huge advantage. This isn't a fair fight and they'll realize it fast or they'll look like idiots.
Posted Friday, May 12, 2006 5:49 PM
No comments.
