Exploring Lacks Courage
from “Parting Thoughts” on Fox News Sunday
May 23, 1999
by TONY SNOW

The political landscape is crowded with non-candidates, folks like Elizabeth Dole, George W. Bush, Al Gore and Bill Bradley who have formed exploratory committees.

These committees are a wonderful invention. They let an ambitious politician accept unbounded sums of money without having to take a single, hostile question from the press.

The ruse is, the candidates haven't made their minds up about running and just want to explore the possibilities of public service. You know, search for beliefs the way you or I might go start looking for a contact lens, but instead of crawling around on all fours, these folks travel first class. They get entourages, they get free press coverage, they get adoring fans.

What a deal -- I'm so impressed that today, I am happy to announce the formation of my own exploratory committee: Snow Forever. I pledge to give full and prayerful consideration to the idea of running. I will meditate on war, peace, life, death, taxes, regulation, religion, but out of consideration for the public, I will keep my views a secret. That way I can tell everybody what they want to hear, and nobody can ever accuse me of lying.