Thank You, Tony

They never knew quite what to do about their respect for Tony Snow. The problem was, he wore his Christianity on his sleeve. When he had a Fox News show, he often closed with a short, sometimes frankly Christian editorial on his thoughts about something. That embarrassed a lot of his colleagues in the press. But he just did his work so darned well! No one could help respecting him for his professional excellence and his dependable respect and consideration for others.

When he stepped into being Press Secretary for the President, following the long torpor of McClellan's tenure, it was a welcome breath of fresh air for everyone. And Tony seemed born for the job. Unfailingly courteous but nevertheless an aggressive partisan for the President, he did the daily battle of the pressroom with class and integrity. The press responded with new vigor and seemed to thrive in a more heady press-room atmosphere. They grew fond of him. Heck, they loved him. Nobody could not like Tony Snow.

We all followed his battle with cancer, hoping and praying for the best. His death today was very bad news, and we feel a poignant loss of our own as we grieve with his family. We already miss him and his example. But oh, what a memory he left for us!

Thank you, Tony. Thank you.

(For a video of David Gregory's fine recent interview with Tony, go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25649744)