Tony Snow vs. Helen Thomas

Tony once again shows why he was a great choice for WH Press Sec.: his ability to handle hostile folks in the press with a smile:

Helen Thomas, doyenne of the White House press corps, tangles with Tony Snow at today’s briefing over President Bush’s appointment of Karl Zinmeister as domestic policy adviser:

QUESTION: Why did the president pick a man who is so contemptible of the public servants in Washington to be his domestic adviser, saying, People in Washington are morally repugnant, cheating, shifty human beings. Why did he…

SNOW: Apparently an opinion that’s…

QUESTION: Why would he pick such a man to be a domestic adviser?

SNOW: You meant contemptuous as opposed to contemptible I think.

QUESTION: Pure contempt.

SNOW: I’m not sure it’s pure contempt. I know Karl Zinsmeister pretty well and he is somebody who expresses himself with a certain amount of piquancy. You’re perhaps familiar with that, aren’t you, Helen?

(LAUGHTER)

And so, as a consequence from time to time, he’s going to say — he’ll have some sharp elbows.

QUESTION: His attitude toward public servants…

SNOW: I don’t think it is his attitude toward public servants. It may have been toward the press. Just kidding.

(LAUGHTER)

Gotta admire anyone who can battle with the nastiest of ‘em and come out of it grinning

Related Toldjah So posts:

• Tony Snow’s first day as WH press secretary
• Snow gears up for first official press gaggle, slams press
• DNC playing their favorite card: the race card – against Tony Snow
• Confirmed via FoxNews: Snow will be announced as WH press sec. tomorrow
• DC grapevine: Snow “likely” to accept WH press sec. job
• Tony Snow in negotiations to become WH press secretary
• WH press secretary Scott McClellan has resigned