Posted on 01/10/2012 3:14:48 PM PST by La Enchiladita
The conservative community lost a sage and distinct voice Saturday evening with Tony Blankleys passing, and I lost a dear friend whod been a mentor to me.
I came to know Tony when I handled press for thenHouse Republican Conference chairman Dick Armey and he did the same for thenMinority Whip Newt Gingrich. In the culture of Capitol Hill, press secretaries tend to be competitive (as opposed to legislative staffers, who tend to be collaborative.) Especially in the 90s, when the old traditional media were dominant, the mentality of most flacks was a zero-sum one. Every inch of coverage another member of Congress got was an inch your boss didnt. A bad story about someone else was good for you, and if you needed to go on background to help foster that, well, so be it.
Tony was different. He was not only brilliant in advising Gingrich on how to pursue his political and legislative goals through the media, he helped plant positive stories about rising House Republican stars and shepherded a flock of young press secretaries and communications aides, including me.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...
We interrupt this chaotic, contentious political firestorm to bring you a tender reminiscence and tribute to the newly departed Tony Blankley, by a true friend of his.
>>We interrupt this chaotic, contentious political firestorm to bring you a tender reminiscence and tribute to the newly departed Tony Blankley<<
A great conservative voice has been sadly silenced and a fine person (from all accounts that I have ever seen as well as seeing his demeanor on TV) has left this mortal coil. And too young!
This was a nice tribute and I agree a moment of sanity in the midst of a lot of chaos.
RIP, Mr. Blankley and prayers for the family.
He was one of the best.
Oh, no! When did this happen? I listened to him every week on Left, Right and Center. A class act.
This past Sunday....very sad.
He certainly does not look very old. Do we know a cause of death?
Stomach cancer.
I remember the first time I saw him. I think it was on The MacClaughlin Group and I just remember how dashing I thought he looked & sounded. He had real class and real intelligence and he saw no need to shout like a maniac. It was apparent that he had friends from all political stripes after reading some of the tributes.
RIP Mr. Blankley, you were a true gentleman.
I believe he was about 56, and he died from stomach cancer.
I did not recall that he had been a child actor too.
bttt
I always read a what he wrote.
RIP Tony- now with another great Tony- Tony Snow.
That he took the time to endorse Newt Gingrich while on his deathbed is just amazing to me.
He was a class act and will be missed.
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