When asked about a domestic telephone database maintained as part of the government's efforts to investigate terrorism, Press Secretary Tony Snow referred Tuesday to a USA Today poll finding that "something like 64 percent" of respondents weren't "troubled" by government possession of "a roster of phone numbers". This column called Snow's accuracy into question, saying his figure "would appear" to come from a different, Washington Post/ABC News poll. Snow was referring, however, to a USA Today/Gallup poll question, which found that 64 percent of respondents would not be concerned "at all" or would not be "too concerned" if they knew the government had their phone records.
The Two Faces of Tony Snow
Wednesday, May 17, 2006; 1:24 PM
A White House press corps smitten with the telegenic, emotional nature of Tony Snow's first formal briefing yesterday -- he laughed! he cried! -- largely neglected to mention a few salient aspects of his performance.
Like, for instance: His inconsistent responses; his sloppiness with certain facts; and his embarrassing verbal gaffe.
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Repeatedly questioned about the National Security Agency's collection of data on domestic telephone calls, Snow acknowledged the existence of the program enough to defend it in general terms -- but when it came to answering specific questions, he refused to admit it existed.
He misreported poll numbers when it served his purposes -- then refused to answer questions about poll numbers he didn't like.
He got away almost scot-free using a term -- "tar baby" -- that many consider racist.
Plus, he brusquely rebuffed an inquiry about Karl Rove -- along with several other legitimate questions -- without even the pretense of explaining why.
Yes, Snow's congeniality is a pleasant change from Scott McClellan's robotic droning. But in terms of content, Snow was hardly an improvement.
Consider, as Exhibit A, Snow's exchanges related to the NSA's reported domestic telephone calls database.
Shortly before Snow took to the podium, Bush briefly appeared in public with Australian Prime Minister John Howard and made thinly veiled comments about the newly disclosed program.
From the transcript :
"Q Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, you've said that the government is not trolling through the lives of innocent Americans, but why shouldn't ordinary people feel that their privacy is invaded by the NSA compiling a list of their telephone calls?
"PRESIDENT BUSH: What I have told the American people is, we'll protect them against an al Qaeda attack, and we'll do so within the law. . . .
