(cross-posted to The Agonist)
White House Asks Reporters to Wear Cancer Bracelets
The White House press office has handed out yellow cancer bracelets that say ‘Tony Snow’ to reporters. Member of the press office said they would like the press corps to wear these bracelets during Snow’s on camera briefing Wednesday, scheduled for 1:00pmET. Reporters are divided, some plan to wear them but others are aren’t. This is the first week back to work for White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, who was diagnosed with a recurrence of cancer last month.
On a personal level, I’m glad that White House Chief Propagandist Press Secretary Tony Snow seems to have the upper hand in his battle against cancer. It’s a battle that no one should have to fight. Though I believe that Snow is the worst sort of propaganda monger, I wish him no ill on a personal level. Even I have to draw the line somewhere, though, and the yellow “Tony Snow” bracelets are simply going too far.
Individual reporters in the White House press corps are free, of course, to express their support for Snow’s recovery as they see fit. Let’s keep in mind, though, that the proper relationship between the White House and the White House press corps is an adversarial one. Not that reporters should be looking for their “gotcha” moment, but they should be asking tough questions of those charged with leading and adminstering our national government. When that adversarial relationship blurs to the point where “adversarial” becomes “enabling”, as has happened over the past six years, we have a very real problem. At that point, the White House “press” corps can arguably be held to have morphed into the White House “propaganda” corps. Judging by the past six-plus years, this transformation has long since left the building.
Before long, the press corps will all be obediently wearing their matching “Tony Snow” bracelets. How long before they’re all wearing identical blue suite, white shirts, and red “rep” ties…along with their color-coordinated kneepads? Hey, with as much time as these folks have figuratively spent on their knees fellating members of the Bush Administration, you’d hate to see anyone wear holes in their designer britches.
