Just what CNN needed, a Bush sycophant

April 26, 2008

For reasons that I’ll probably never quite understand, CNN invited former White House press secretary Tony Snow to join what the network bills as the “best political team” on television, overlooking Snow’s record of, well, being something of a Republican hack.

Snow made his debut yesterday on the “Situation Room.” How did it go? Well, it appears that Snow is having a little trouble making the transition back to broadcasting, because CNN’s latest addition seems to think he’s still the White House press secretary.

Blitzer: What do you think about McCain’s decision yesterday? He was very forceful in making it clear he did not like the Bush administration’s handling of Katrina.

Snow: Of course he also doesn’t know a lot about what went on behind the scenes, but you would expect that. You’ve got somebody who’s running for a nomination. The president’s popularity ratings are low. He’s going to put a distance between himself and the president. Everybody hates what happened in Katrina, including the president.

I see, so Bush’s handling of Katrina was fine, and McCain is just making cheap criticism for crass electoral purposes.

Blitzer: Do you think he’ll be doing more distancing of himself on other issues?

Snow: I think he’ll do it when it’s easy. But on the other hand, there are things, like the war, where he’s agreed with the president…. Right now, Democrats have made it clear they don’t have any issue other than the fact they’re not George Bush. What McCain wants to be able to do is say, “Neither am I.”

Hmm. Democrats are running on their ideas regarding Iraq, healthcare, the economy, the environment, veterans’ issues, energy policy, foreign policy, and homeland security. They don’t, however, “have any issue other than the fact they’re not George Bush.” Why, this is the kind of insightful analysis you can only hear from CNN’s highly-paid political analysts — and any fourth-tier right-wing blog.

Wolf Blitzer: Dick Cheney is going to be going to a fundraiser in North Carolina for John McCain, for other Republicans. Is that going to be smart for McCain to be associated with Dick Cheney?

Tony Snow: Yeah. I think so. Look, it’s not going to be smart if you are trying to get Nancy Pelosi’s vote. But if you’re trying to make sure you’ve got the Republican base on your side, absolutely. Dick Cheney is somebody who still really has earned the respect and admiration of a lot of Republicans. You’ll see a lot of people out making speeches. … The fact is, you’ve got a lot of Republicans out there who now have a vested interest in getting a Republican president. McCain will have to sort through the folks who he wants to have speaking on his behalf.

OK, so to summarize, according to the newest member of the best political team on television, John McCain shouldn’t criticize Bush’s handling of the Hurricane Katrina crisis, Democrats don’t have any issues they care about, and Dick Cheney is a great asset for the GOP this year.

As Yglesias put it, “This seems like right-wing hackery so egregious as to be counterproductive to the cause.”

Note to CNN: you paid too much. There are plenty of Bush sycophants — well, in light of his 28% approval rating, “plenty” might be a little strong — who would probably be willing to go on the air and repeat pro-Bush talking points for a fraction of what you’re paying Snow.

It is a mystery to me how the CNN denizens can continually proclaim themselves — with straight faces — “the best political team on television” and “the most respected name in news.” That alone shows how out of touch those poor excuses for journalists are with reality.

  • Of course he also doesn’t know a lot about what went on behind the scenes…

    I think he’ll do it (distance himself from Bush) when it’s easy.

    But on the other hand, there are things, like the war, where he’s agreed with the president.

    you’ve got a lot of Republicans out there who now have a vested interest in getting a Republican president

    Keep talking Tony. Even CNN viewers will understand this. He’s just like Bush – same policies, same facile lying, same level of awareness, and same allegiance to special interests.

  • What we’re seeing is the finishing touches being put to the conservative coup launched by the SC decision in Bush v Gore. Nothing less than an overthrow of the present power structure, an effort that can only start from the bottom up, will slow down this onslaught of ideology or substantially restore what we used to call democracy. What we have now is an illusion of democracy to keep the masses from getting really pissed.

  • You left out the bit where Snow said even he might be going around making speeches for McCain. I found that most interesting of all. It’s like the media just don’t give a fuck about even appearing to be objective anymore. And what’s more, I don’t think the American people care.

  • Actually, beep52, this started when the deregulating conspiracy took over American gov’t back in the Reagan days, and consolidation of ownership of media became possible. One of the first things we’ve got to do when (if?) we regain control of the American gov’t is to hack Disney, Warners, Viacom, et. al. into many separately owned pieces. And I promise you – most of the Democrats, probably including President Obama, are going to do everything they can to stand in the way.

  • CB wrote:There are plenty of Bush sycophants who would probably be willing to go on the air and repeat pro-Bush talking points for a fraction of what you’re paying Snow.

    Hell I’d do it for enough money. As long as I could do that little nose-flicking move to let people in on the con.

    Snow does it with a wink and a nod. I’d just do the wink.

  • SnowFlake must be in the process of melting; his facts (as if he ever had any to begin with) have gone to slush. He does point out one embarrassing issue, though—McSame being different from Bush, except when he’s the same as Bush. Someone needs to start saving every last shred of what this man says on camera, so it can be brought back up later….

  • What a great credit to Constant News Network. I’m sure Snow’s recent insistence that he was correct on the assertion that Obama had voted “present” in the U.S. Senate was only one of many things that landed the job.

    Perhaps he could use the new post to correct his past misspeaking, lying and dissemination. Or not.

  • Assuming it’s ratings and profits that drive CNN – and what else could it be? – it just seems like such a peculiar choice to make. Bush is the most unpopular president in history, or will be by the time he’s through, and so news organizations are hiring his spokesperson, Snow, and his political neocon philosopher, Kristol? Polls show 80% of the American people have rejected the policies of this administration (of course, they’re going to put McCain in for four more years of them, but never mind that). You’d think they might guess that’s going to piss off a hell of a lot of people. Why would they do it, from a business point of view? Or a public relations point of view? It doesn’t make sense.

    I like that team of Cafferty, Toobin and Borger, but I’m not going to watch Bush’s sycophant Snow, and I gotta believe I’m not the only one.

  • It does make “the best political team on television” sound a lot like Fuax’s Orwellian “fair and balanced” slogan, doesn’t it.

  • Whoa, Steve, this is the weakest piece I’ve ever seen on TCR. I dislike Bush, Snow, et al, as much as anyone, but frankly this piece uncharacteristically seems like a “conclusions first, work backwards to evidence” endeavor.

    First, it is absolutely true that the Democrats are essentially running on a “we’re not Bush” platform. That makes perfect sense, and the fact that the party has ideas on the environment, economy, and war are all proof that they are, indeed, not Bush. In fact, TCR has been a leading proponent of casting McCain as Bush and you’ve frequently used the phrase “Bush’s third term” in connection with McCain. To be clear, I couldn’t agree more, but I think it’s disingenuous to then turn around and claim that running against Bush (GWB or McCain) is not central to the Democrats’ strategy.

    Then there’s the really cheesy non-sequitor about Katrina:

    Everybody hates what happened in Katrina, including the president.

    I see, so Bush’s handling of Katrina was fine, and McCain is just making cheap criticism for crass electoral purposes.

    Um, look, like I said, I dislike Bush and Snow as much as anyone. But how did you get from “Everybody hates what happened in Katrina, including the president” to “Bush’s handling of Katrina was fine” — I don’t see Snow claiming that at all. In fact, to the extent that Snow considers himself part of “everybody”, he’s saying he hated “what happened” (a weak phrase, certainly).

    Really, this is much poorer quality analysis than I’ve come to expect from TCR. Please don’t take that personally; I only bother saying so and writing this out becuase I love the work you do, and I know that when I produce sub-par results I appreciate constructive criticism.

  • ^ Hmmf. Nested blockquotes don’t work. To be clear “Everybody hates…” is Snow, and “I see” is TCR.

  • First, it is absolutely true that the Democrats are essentially running on a “we’re not Bush” platform. -Brooks

    Linking McCain to Bush’s failed policies is not running on a ‘not bush’ platform.

    We’ve got responsibly ending the war, expanding health care, combating climate change, and so much more.

  • The only true editorial about McCain/Bush/Katrina would include the photo of them together, while New Orleans drowned, in high-and-dry Arizona, with cake!

  • Perhaps CNN noticed the great outcry of support and respect the NY Times has earned by giving column space to the political hack Bill Kristol.

  • Unfortunately this makes perfect sense if the media is OWNED by this corrupt and neo-fascist administration, and is so far up their collective asses and wallets that popularity and policy have little, if any, influence on ‘business’ decisions. You tow the party line, or suffer the consequences.

  • Assuming it’s ratings and profits that drive CNN – and what else could it be? – it just seems like such a peculiar choice to make. Bush is the most unpopular president in history, or will be by the time he’s through, and so news organizations are hiring his spokesperson, Snow, and his political neocon philosopher, Kristol? Polls show 80% of the American people have rejected the policies of this administration (of course, they’re going to put McCain in for four more years of them, but never mind that). You’d think they might guess that’s going to piss off a hell of a lot of people. Why would they do it, from a business point of view? Or a public relations point of view? It doesn’t make sense.

    Unfortunately this makes perfect sense if the media is OWNED by this corrupt and neo-fascist administration, and is so far up their collective asses and wallets that popularity and policy have little, if any, influence on ‘business’ decisions. You tow the party line, or suffer the consequences.

  • CNN has turned into an entertainment network no longer a valuable news source. I gave up satellite TV and went back to the antenna because they were no longer worth watching so why shell out the money for cartoons and shopping networks if all I want is reliable news. I find the Al Jazeera web page much more informative and to the point than any American cable news shows. Bringing on a Bush mouthpiece of disinformation like Snow just proves my point.

  • Why are you puzzled? Herr Blitzer who is himself a first rate hack can only surround himself with hacks. These hacks are so full of themselves that they do not realize how ridiculous they are.

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