Tony Snow heats up airways during UD visit

5:50 p.m., Sept. 22, 2004--Nationally syndicated Fox News Radio personality Tony Snow fielded questions on everything from the war in Iraq to stem-cell research during a live morning broadcast Wednesday, Sept. 22, in Mitchell Hall.

During the three-hour program, the audience of students, faculty and members of the UD community ranged in size from 40 to 80 individuals, as Snow addressed questions and comments ranging from the war in Iraq to the credibility of network news in the wake of an admission by CBS News that it could not vouch for authenticity of documents used in a 60 Minutes II broadcast concerning President George W. Bush’s National Guard service.

Snow took questions from members of the audience as well as from callers in Iowa, Florida, Washington state, Virginia, Texas and Missouri to his radio program, which is broadcast nationwide weekdays on Fox News Radio.

A member of the Mitchell Hall audience, who identified himself as a member of the College Republicans, wanted to know what advice Snow would give to students who support Bush in his bid for re-election to the nation’s highest office.

“College is a place devoted to the pursuit of ideas,” Snow said. “I would encourage students to keep that attitude while engaging others in political discussions.”

In a demonstration of the difference of opinion regarding the necessity of going to war in Iraq, a member of the UD audience asked Snow if he would be interested in paying a visit to Dover Air Force Base where the remains of soldiers killed in Iraq are received for burial in the United States.

“I have been in the business long enough to know that there are going to be casualties in a war like Iraq,” Snow said. “I like to think of the soldiers who died as heroes.”

A caller from Newport News, Va., said that she believed the current Iraq War was justified and that deposed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein did have weapons of mass destruction.

“The war in Iraq is a just war,” Snow said. “If the United States backs down now, it will show people like Osama Bin Laden and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and other terrorists that we can be defeated.”

In matters concerning the current presidential campaign, Snow said that John Kerry’s decreasing poll numbers are a result of the Democratic presidential candidate’s failure to articulate a consistent policy on issues like the war in Iraq.

“John Kerry will have to persuade people that he has a position,” Snow said. “He is a Washington insider who does not want to offend anyone. His only conviction is that he should be president.”

Snow also took aim at CBS News anchor Dan Rather and the controversy surrounding the legitimacy of leaked documents concerning Bush’s National Guard service during the Vietnam War.

“All journalists are bottom-feeders,” Snow said. “Seldom do we have the privilege to feed on one of our own like Dan Rather.”

The controversy over the documents, leaked by Texan Bill Burkett, just reinforces the American public’s misgivings about the accuracy and fairness of the press, Snow said.

“CBS News and Dan Rather got suckered by a bogus report,” Snow said. “Members of the press need to come clean and let people know if they advocate certain political positions.”

Another controversial topic raised by a member of the UD audience was Bush’s refusal to fund stem-cell research that is considered by many scientists to be the key to unlocking the mysteries of diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

“George Bush is not selling out to the right wing of the Republican Party on this issue. This is just what he believes in,” Snow said. “Personally, I feel that if somebody can say to me that stem-cell research can save lives, I will consider changing my view on this issue.”

In a light-hearted moment that drew a nonpartisan round of applause, Snow shared the stage with local celebrity and beloved UD mascot YoUDee.

Snow also welcomed members of the audience who came onstage after the show to shake hands and chat with the radio host, who also is featured on Weekend Live with Tony Snow on the Fox News Channel.

“What I enjoy most about what I do is the freedom that goes with the job and the fact that I get to do a little bit of everything,” Snow said. “Also, when you are live, you have to think on your feet, and I find that invigorating.”

For students interested in a similar career, Snow advised learning trivial things as well as the big things, and to be willing to learn new things each day.

“To prepare a position on an issue you have to be able to write well,” Snow said. “You also should learn how to debate. Most important of all, you should always be willing to learn new things.”

Article by Jerry Rhodes
Photos by Duane Perry

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