Obama interrupted by heckling at immigration announcement

[Smiley-one 13]

By NBC's Ali Weinberg

President Barack Obama introduced his administration's new policy granting qualified legal status to illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children in a Rose Garden statement interrupted by the heckling of a conservative reporter.

As the president, standing at a podium outside the White House, explained why he was implementing the policy, Daily Caller writer Neil Munro began to shout questions, asking why Obama would want foreigners in the country instead of giving jobs to Americans.

“It is not the time for questions. Not while I'm speaking,” the president, visibly irritated, said just five minutes into his speech.

After a pause, he continued to tout the new policy of suspending deportation actions against qualified students for two years and allowing them to instead apply for job permits. According to White House officials, those individuals would have to reapply after two years in the event Congress does not pass permanent legislation in the meantime.

Obama noted that his new policy could quickly be made permanent if Congress passed the stalled DREAM act, which would provide U.S. residency to immigrants who have a college education or served in the military.

“This is a temporary stop-gap measure that lets us focus our resources wisely while giving a degree of relief and hope to talented, driven, patriotic young people," Obama said. “Precisely because this is temporary, Congress needs to act."

A few minutes later, the heckler started up again, allowing Obama to even more forcefully make his point as he countered the shouting.

And the answer to your question, sir,” he began, pointing his finger from the podium directly at Munro, “-- and the next time I'd prefer you let me finish my statements before you ask that question -- is this is the right thing to do for the American people.”

“If there's a young person here who has grown up here and wants to contribute to this society, wants to maybe start a business that will create jobs for other folks who are looking for work, that's the right thing to do,” he continued, at that point seeming to speak with the dual purpose of heralding the new policy and drowning the heckler out.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

It's a shame when adults can't act like adults. I know 4 year olds with better self control who know not to interrupt.

(In before everyone starts appluading the reporter.. )

[Obama 2012 1,714]

A brave soul to heckle the president. Especially this one who acts like a King in response. "Not While I'm speaking!"

[Hypnos 6,578]

I wasn't surprised to see that it was someone from Tucker Carlson's right-wing blog The Daily Caller who did this.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

A brave soul to heckle the president. Especially this one who acts like a King in response. "Not While I'm speaking!"

And there we go!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

post containing inappropriate message has been removed. You can disagree and debate the posted comments but don't make personal attacks against the person making the comment.

[alizon 77]

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Edited June 16, 2012 by alizon

[PMartin37 161]

A brave soul to heckle the president. Especially this one who acts like a King in response. "Not While I'm speaking!"

That response is typical of any adult reprimanding an unruly child that doesn't know any better.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

That response is typical of any adult reprimanding an unruly child that doesn't know any better.

No it's not. It's extremely superior sounding. A proper "adult" response would have been not to play into the heckler and to have said "Please save your questions until the end". It's polite and says the same thing without sounding like a complete jacka*s.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

That response is typical of any adult reprimanding an unruly child that doesn't know any better.

[PMartin37 161]

No it's not. It's extremely superior sounding. A proper "adult" response would have been not to play into the heckler and to have said "Please save your questions until the end". It's polite and says the same thing without sounding like a complete jacka*s.

Here's the video btw in case you haven't SEEN the actual footage.

I don't think he sounds anywhere close "superior sounding". I think he responds in like to person that is addressing him (out of turn ). He clearly DOES tell him it's not time for questions- and the guy KEEPS speaking. If anyone is acting superior, it would be the reporter that thinks he's got the authority to speak over the president. Maybe his mum and dad never taught him how to take turns.

Perhaps that was a bad analogy after all, because even most children have better manners.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Here's the video btw in case you haven't SEEN the actual footage.

I don't think he sounds anywhere close "superior sounding". I think he responds in like to person that is addressing him (out of turn ). He clearly DOES tell him it's not time for questions- and the guy KEEPS speaking. If anyone is acting superior, it would be the reporter that thinks he's got the authority to speak over the president. Maybe his mum and dad never taught him how to take turns.

Perhaps that was a bad analogy after all, because even most children have better manners.

Whats funnier is that the guy "claims" he thought it was time to ask questions.

[PMartin37 161]

Whats funnier is that the guy "claims" he thought it was time to ask questions.

Somehow, I'm not surprised at all. So now we know he's not only rude, he's brain damaged as well.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

No it's not. It's extremely superior sounding. A proper "adult" response would have been not to play into the heckler and to have said "Please save your questions until the end". It's polite and says the same thing without sounding like a complete jacka*s.

He really can't win with some people.

The video doesn't make him sound superior at all. He sounds irritated, rightfully so. Heckle the President and the President is still the "jack*ss" ... cute.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Here's the video btw in case you haven't SEEN the actual footage.

I don't think he sounds anywhere close "superior sounding". I think he responds in like to person that is addressing him (out of turn ). He clearly DOES tell him it's not time for questions- and the guy KEEPS speaking. If anyone is acting superior, it would be the reporter that thinks he's got the authority to speak over the president. Maybe his mum and dad never taught him how to take turns.

Perhaps that was a bad analogy after all, because even most children have better manners.

There. you said it. EXACTLY my point. I don't care if he's a janitor but speaking over someone is rude. You decided to make it about him being "special" because he's the President.

You're right though. Seeing what he said in print, and hearing it I have a different opinion. Firstly that Obama is a shocking public speaker all the "uh uh uh's" was really bad :S but also that yeah, he didn't sound superior because in the written version they didn't show you that his "uh not while I'm speaking" was actually in response to a second question. I completely accept that I stand corrected.