Obama interrupted by immigrant reporter in his immigrants speech

16 June, 2012

In curious incident, President Obama was interrupted om June 15 when he was delivering a 'job to immigrants' policy speech. An Immigrant reporter Neil Munro kept on 'heckling' him and questioning him - much to the chagrin of the people present.

THE INTERRUPTION of President Barack Obama by a journalist Neil Munro has started a sort of war between the media people. While the conservative website Daily Caller, where Munro works, supported him with the words “We are very proud of, @NeilMunroDC for doing his job,” on Twitter, other reporters and media people were not so appreciative. Every one felt that the man should have waited for the President to finish, before blurting his questions.

Obama was speaking about his plans to stop deporting immigrants who came to the United States as children, and allowing these 800,000 illegal immigrants to stay in America. While giving his speech, Neil Munro burst out, “Why do you favour foreigners over American workers?” to which Obama replied, “Not while I am speaking.” However, after his speech, Obama did turn to the journalist, and answered that his plan is the right thing to do for the American people. Not satisfied with the answer, Munro went on loudly throwing a volley of questions towards the President, to which Obama replied 'I didn’t ask for an argument. I’m answering your question,” reported dailymail.com. This unusual intrusion naturally overshadowed the big announcement for the day as more and more people talked about how the President was heckled.

The journalist got his two minutes of fame by his outburst, and when asked by other journalists at the event, as to why he did it, he plainly replied that he was a journalist asking a question, something which all journalists should be doing. Curiously, the man himself is from Ireland, and studied in the University of Dublin and London, and married an American. He got his US citizenship right before 9/11. Technically, an immigrant himself, and working in America, it is curious that the man should feel so strongly against foreigners getting work in America.

Munro took to his website and stated what happened at the Rose Garden of White House. According to him, he always prepares a set of questions for the President. Adding further to the statement, he said, “I timed the question believing the president was closing his remarks, because naturally I have no intention of interrupting the President of the United States. I know he rarely takes questions before walking away from the podium.” No one seemed to buy his statement as reporters and media people criticized him thoroughly on Twitter.

Some felt that the entire media clan was insulted by this petty incident. Alex Burns of Politico said, “Idiot from the Daily Caller only undermines actual reporters with actual questions.” Diane Sawyer, a reputed reporter called Munro a 'heckler' and many reporters even said that the Daily Caller should be barred from future press gatherings. Tom Jenson from the Public Policy Polling had an interesting tweet that said, “When I heard someone interrupted the President I immediately wondered if it was Neil Munro. Most unprofessional reporter I've ever talked to.” There were others who felt that had it been a white President making a big announcement, no one would have dared to interrupt. All in all, while Obama had a bad day, his opposition a very good one, it was Neil Munro who was the winner and gained fame worldwide.