ABC's Shipman: "Probably one of the first things" Snow is going to do is change White House TV channels from Fox News
ABC News' Claire Shipman said that when Tony Snow takes over as White House press secretary in early May, "[p]robably one of the first things he's going to do" is tune White House televisions to outlets other than Fox News. She explained that he would likely do this "because he knows that this White House needs another point of view," but offered no other evidence to support her prediction.
On the April 27 edition of ABC's Good Morning America, senior national correspondent Claire Shipman said that when Fox News host and syndicated columnist Tony Snow takes over as White House press secretary in early May, "[p]robably one of the first things he's going to do" is tune White House televisions to outlets other than Fox News. She explained that he would likely do this "because he knows that this White House needs another point of view," but offered no other evidence to support her prediction.
On April 26, President Bush announced that Snow would replace outgoing press secretary Scott McClellan. In light of the appointment, Shipman examined the cozy relationship between the Bush administration and Fox News in her April 27 report. She noted that administration officials have turned to the network "when times get rough," citing the example of Vice President Dick Cheney, who addressed the controversy surrounding his hunting accident in a February 15 interview on Fox News with Washington bureau managing editor Brit Hume. She further reported that "almost all TV sets inside" the West Wing are tuned to Fox News. But at the end of her report, Shipman predicted that, despite his longstanding ties to the news outlet, Snow would likely "change the channels on those TV sets, because he knows that this White House needs another point of view."
From the April 27 edition of ABC's Good Morning America:
SHIPMAN: You know, this White House has long been familiar with Mr. Snow's talents because, in the West Wing, Fox News is the channel to watch.
[...]
SHIPMAN: Some in this administration prefer to both appear on Fox and to watch it. Almost all TV sets inside the White House are tuned in. A memo on The Smoking Gun website shows the vice president asks his advance team to have the TV turned on to Fox before he arrives in his hotel room.
[...]
SHIPMAN: And, when we talked with Fox News last night, officials there disputed any suggestion that its relationship with the White House is unusual. The White House said the same. And, in fact, [co-anchor] Charlie [Gibson], if this White House is feeling comfortable with Mr. Snow because he comes from Fox News, well they may be surprised. Tony Snow is used to speaking his mind. Probably one of the first things he's going to do when he gets in there is change the channels on those TV sets, because he knows that this White House needs another point of view.
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Yep, Tony Snow, Murdoch's new inside minion, is going to 'stick it to the man' by changing the channel.
This just in..
Monkeys are flying out of my intestinal tract.
whether Snow can make the distinction between his profession as a journalist and as a press secretary. Will be get 'more leaks' or will Fox be informed on news or on upcoming hot items more quickly? It seems that with Snow there and his connections with FOX that news can be spinned more efficiently.
Tony Snow has never been a journalist. He's either been a commentator or editorial writer. Neither profession requires any journalistic skills.
I agree, but that leaves the other arguments open that Snow is not necesarily the right man on the right position. It will be from the Bush perspective, but I think there are other reasons than talking to the press, too, that provided him this position.
ABC News Correspondent: Have you made good on our assertion that the White House will be watching other broadcast news outlets besides Fox?"
TS: Sputter.
of Tony Snow begins....
Is there something wrong with you? Tony Snow from Fox News the highly partisan "news" channel is going to get the Bushco to change channels?
I haven't had a good laugh like this in a long, long time.
Riiiiggghhhht....Snow's first mission is to CHANGE THE STATION! BWAAH-HAA-HA! I heard you can be slapped if you try to grab Bush's remote...
Full disclosure - I happen to know and like Claire on a personal basis.
I'm trying really hard to imagine how I would read this item if its content were identical except for a different MSM journalist, and I'm pretty sure I would still think it's pretty silly to pick on a correspondent for offering her opinion that Snow is an intelligent political operator. The point of her comment isn't really whether or not he would literally change the channels on West Wing TV sets. Instead she is asserting that he is aware that in order for Bushco to have any hope of survival, including positioning their party for a 2008 win, they will have to at least make themselves peripherally aware of the opinions of the 68% of Americans who think they're doing a crummy job.
Nobody who reads MMFA should doubt for a second that Snow endorses the wretched agenda of his new employer. The question is whether he will better than Scotty at making that agenda palatable to those that voted for Bush in 2004 and are now on the other side of the poll numbers. Suggestions that he will aren't worth MMFA's derision - indeed it means that MMFA should hone their own skills so as to continue to effectively refute any of his spin that makes into print or the airwaves.
did not investigate adequately. Snow has spinned and lied quit often as reported by MMFA. Further, as a lot of people mention: once they are around the president, the start to agree as if they have no will left. Further "Tony Snow is used to speaking his mind", if he will do so, he is fired within a week. He is not hired to comment on the president, but to sell the president.
... then I am not interested in her opinion, and she should not be interested in giving it. When I am looking for news, I am looking for facts. At the far outside, I will accept conclusion based on sound and reasoned connection of displayed fact. Opinion based on moonshine does not interest me.
How will Duhbya find out about the latest missing white girl or his favorite lacrosse team?
what he supposedly did today?
..when it's the White House that's telling Fox News what to say?
"this White House needs another point of view."
No, what this administration really needs is a reset button.