Tony Snow, the former White House press secretary who arrived from Fox News, and most recently was a correspondent for CNN, died this morning following a three-year battle against colon cancer. He was 53.

It's always in times of death that even one's enemies find as many good things to say about you as your friends. So while Roger Ailes, Rupert Murdoch, Brit Hume, and the Bush administration has accolades ready for the soundbite, so too do those who found him most appalling, and spent at least part of their careers attacking him.

MSNBC host Keith Olbermann: Tony Snow was an optimistic, funny, and courageous man who could set aside his politics and inspire others to do the same. It might surprise many at all political points, but while we could not have disagreed more on policy, we were in frequent contact, even during his days as Press Secretary, even as I was criticizing his work and he was — in his own words — yelling at the screen as he watched. It was with great sadness that I heard of his death today, and with sincerity I extend my condolences and my staff's to his family. In the best of us, there is a difference between the message and the messenger, and Tony Snow epitomized that."

CBS News president Sean McManus: "It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of Tony Snow this morning. Before Tony entered public service, he was an admired and beloved colleague in our industry. He will be remembered not only for his contributions as both a journalist and a public servant, but for his devotion to his family and his love of life. The condolences of everyone at CBS News go out to Tony's wife, Jill, and their three children."

[CNN, Statements via TVN]