Lots of comments on Hitsville’s item on how the obits on Tony Snow didn’t mention the harsh, Fox News side of the man.

A selected few are below. For another example of the expurgated commentary on Snow, see today’s Wall Street Journal editorial page ($), which lionizes him as someone who was “principled but never nasty.” For a bit of the nastiness the Journal was apparently unfamiliar with, see my original item on the coverage of Snow’s death.

1. Jim Strong aka Stormy

   Jeez, get a life, Wyman, whoever and whatever you are. You and the mopes that get off peeping into keyholes for scraps of quotes to fashion PC scandals or worse sound like justice department creeps on the conspiracy beat. Racism is a pretty serious charge in my book and shouldn’t be tossed around so casually. By your standards Mark Twain makes Jesse Helms sound like Jesse Jackson.

2. Al Cross

   I seriously doubt that Tony Snow “had contempt for his hometown audience,” but Mr. Wyman’s comment should make us wonder if HE does.

3. hitsville

   Thanks to all for taking the time to comment. Racism is a serious charge. Making fun of peoples’ names is a buffoonish, schoolyard form of it, but it’s clearly in the park. On what level, “Stormy,” is what Snow said fair comment, or even defensible?

   I think it’s worse because Snow was not able to couch the accusation in acceptable language, because it could have quickly been refuted by the facts. You’ll note he didn’t say something that would have made his point plain and irrefutable: “Over a period of a year I watched NPR’s hiring practices and, in nine out of the ten hires I followed, a non-white male was given the position. I myself was passed over x number of times by a lesser-qualified person of color” or whatever.

   He didn’t say that because … it didn’t happen. He was lying.

   As for the contempt for his audience issue, I think it’s obvious Snow would never have said that on TV or in Washington. He would know he couldn’t get away with it. But he knew that he could play to the cheap seats at home. He had a lower opinion of the intelligence and tolerance for racist comments of the hometown crowd.

4. Independent

   Your omniscient revelation of Snow’s motivations leads me to believe you’re at least a little paranoid and holier-than-thou. Have you ever been to Cincinnati? Its population is 52.5 percent white; African Americans make up 42.9. Do you really think he expected his comments to play well there? It was a stupid thing to say, but I doubt it was premeditated.

   Snow had his bad side; it was out there for everyone to see. I think I’ve just seen yours. If that comment was his most offensive, then much of the world isn’t in a position to judge him — especially now, when he’s not around to defend himself. I think that’s what is called “cheap.”

5. Charlie Sanders

   The people who rejoice over a person’s death are very sick. Mr. Wyman, there is plenty of time as the mourning passes to complete the obituary if necessary. I cannot even listen to NPR because of its obvious bias. Having Bill Moyers on the team is all the proof anyone needs. The racist card is worn out from misuse. Seems like Mr. Wyman’s views are worn too. Despite my disagreement with your views, I wish you a happy and fulfilled life. It is OK to disagree in this country!

6. melissa

   To be specific, the “Kipling” remark was a smarmy reference to a couple of NPR reporters who have South Asian backgrounds. To any observant person, Indian names are NOT exotic anymore, even in Ohio … infantile, indeed.

Again, thanks to all for contributing.

Independent: I think the magazine Cincinnati Gentleman was not directed at the area’s black population. And if it were you and I both know Snow wouldn’t have said that.

Charlie Sanders: Again I would like to note that I was talking about the articles written on his death. When you are in the public arena, you leave a public record. Snow had a lot of perks in his life; one of the few downsides is that, when you die, the people have a right to hear about the bad as well as the good, and the obits should have included both sides of the man.

In reading some of the other encomiums in the days since his passing I have only come to feel this even more strongly. So many people said Snow “loved his country.” If he loved it so much, why would he speak so disparagingly about immigrants?