Washington ? He has called President Bush politically impotent, “the boy who can’t say no” to big spending and “something of an embarrassment.”

And that’s someone incoming White House press secretary Tony Snow actually likes.

Democrats fare worse – they’re “Defeatocrats” in the conservative pundit’s view – and some in the press corps have a “hate Bush” mentality.

Bush on Wednesday made Snow the first media figure in 30 years to be the public face of the White House – betting that someone from the world of sharp-elbowed political commentary is just the kind of person who can help revive an administration on life support.

For Bush, the move appears squarely aimed at wooing back wandering conservatives – disenchanted over Iraq and big spending – by enlisting a genuine star in the firmament of conservative punditry, who appears regularly on talk radio and Fox News Channel.

Snow also played a small but significant behind-the-scenes role in exposing the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky sex scandal by introducing Linda Tripp to a literary agent who helped Tripp get Lewinsky to share details of the affair.

But that past career puts Snow, 50, outside the mold of past White House secretaries who started their jobs as relative unknowns and often steered a more measured course in speaking at the world’s most visible podium.

Instead, Snow brings years worth of his own opinions, which could complicate his ability to articulate Bush’s views, especially when they differ with his own well-published ones, analysts said.

In addition, Snow acknowledged Wednesday he would have to tone down his own remarks, particularly to Bush. He said he believes Bush picked him to offer his unvarnished advice “but probably not in those exact words,” Snow said.

Tony Snow, center, tours the White House Press Room meeting journalist after President Bush announced, Wednesday, April 26, 2006, that Snow was going to be his new press secretary, replacing Scott McClellan.

Bush joked about it, saying he asked Snow about some of those negative comments. “He said, ‘You should have heard what I said about the other guy,”‘ Bush said.

Rich Bond, a former Republican National Committee chairman, said of Snow, “Having to eat some of his past words will cause him some heartburn, but none of it is fatal to Snow or the president.”

And of course, Snow has supported Bush strongly, praising his “brilliant” foreign policy and “visionary” Social Security plan.

Snow, who served as a speechwriter in Bush’s father’s administration, had colon cancer surgery 14 months ago but said he got a clean bill of health from doctors Tuesday night.

Ron Nessen, who served as press secretary to President Ford, said he believes Snow’s criticism of Bush could ultimately prove to be a positive. “In a way, it gives him more credibility. Here’s a guy who’s not just a blind mouthpiece of the president. He’s criticized the president before,” he said.