Snow Quits

White House press secretary to quit September 14

08/31/2007
Filed by John Byrne

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White House press secretary Tony Snow will step down Sept. 14, 2007, Fox News reported live on air Friday. CNN quickly confirmed.

Snow will be replaced by White House Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino, who has occasionally done briefings for the President. He joins numerous other high-ranking Bush officials, including Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Deputy White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove, leaving the Administration in recent weeks.

Snow battled cancer earlier this year and previously said he wanted to leave his post, citing the position's "low" pay.

Formerly a conservative pundit and syndicated talk-show host for Fox News Radio, Snow was named press secretary last April.

Washington Post reporter Dana Milbank presaged Snow's exit Thursday with a humorous piece, "Press Secretary May Be Ready to Leave the Circus."

Excerpts follow.

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At yesterday's press briefing, CBS News's Bill Plante asked about a new report by the Government Accountability Office showing problems in Iraq.

"There are a lot of reports," said Snow. "It's a season of reports."

And don't even bother asking him about Sen. Larry Craig. "Thank you for the question," the spokesman spoke. "I've already given my answer."

"No, you didn't," pointed out April Ryan of American Urban Radio Networks.

"Yes, I did," Snow retorted, then reconsidered. "Okay, I gave the answer I'm going to give."

Plante detected a bit of snippiness. "Your tolerance level seems to be slipping," the veteran newsman observed.

"Really?" Snow replied. "Am I getting cranky like you? Wow."

Snow said earlier this month that he'll be leaving his position before the president has left his.

The Raw Story
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