Absence of Malice
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July 14, 2008 |
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Absence of Malice
July 14, 2008; Page A16
A regrettable by-product of modern media proliferation is its frequent lack of restraint and good humor, especially on the Web. Tony Snow rose above such vituperation as a happy political combatant, which is one reason so many who knew him or watched him in action are now mourning his death from cancer on Saturday at age 53.
As a columnist and radio talk show host, Snow was principled but never nasty. As the host of "Fox News Sunday," he exuded good will, which made him suspect in the eyes of some on the right (and even among some of his Fox colleagues) who wanted him to be a more ferocious questioner. And as White House press secretary, he cheerfully but forcefully sparred with reporters in making the President's case on policy. No doubt because he was confident in his own convictions, he wasn't defensive about his answers. This has not been universally true during the Bush Presidency.
Above all, he took ideas and politics seriously. He was not one of those commentators, on the right and left, who say things merely to shock, sell books and grab ratings points. He did not call anyone who disagreed with him a "liar." He believed that substance mattered more than who won or lost. In this, he resembled Tim Russert, Snow's former Sunday morning competitor at NBC's "Meet the Press," who also died this summer at too young an age.
Those of us in the media often exaggerate the importance of fellow media figures, especially compared to the contributions of those in less public professions. An example of the latter is Michael DeBakey, the pioneering heart surgeon who also died on the weekend, at age 99, and whose innovations saved countless lives. But media celebrities do help set the tone for our political discourse, and both Tony Snow and Tim Russert set the right example.
