Friday, July 27, 2007

Tony Snow The Journalism Teacher

Despite the fact that Tony Snow's job is to be a White House shill, his shillery can be quite amusing at times, especially when he tells journalists how to be...journalists. Demanding a reporter change their "twisted words" is comical in a scary kind of way. Putting aside the notion that a representative of the President is lecturing a member of the Press Corp on how to do their job (you know, freedom of the press issue?), lets look at this in a light-hearted way.

From RawStory:

Towards the end of the briefing Snow called on Les Kinsolving--a long time correspondent and talk radio host, famous for his often bizarre questions and cantankerous attitude--who asked Snow whether the President thinks it would be a good idea for all Americans to prepare an emergency survival kit for a possible terrorist attack or natural disaster.

Snow quickly said he couldn't comment, and then proceeded to take time out to lecture Kinsolving on his job, "Let me just point out," Snow said, "that you need to ask questions that bear on the President's responsibilities."

Snow continued to press Kinsolving, "I saw the piece you wrote the other day, that has been thoroughly twisting[sic] out of context." At this point Kinsolving tried to get a word in, but Snow was having no of it, "You know what I don't care, because the fact is, if someone is going to take questions about things that don't fall under the president's purview, and I answer that question, and it gets twisted, it is a disservice to this White House and the craft of journalism."


Of course Tony never mentioned the piece he was referring to, it was just an act to try and belittle a reporter. Les wasn't fazed though, he went on to his next question, asking if Bush would call for a lame duck session of Congress to pass his immigration reform for the third try. Les sees through Tony, and so do I. The only disservice to the craft of journalism in that room was Mr. Snow.