As President Obama explained a major immigration policy switch Friday in a Rose Garden statement, he got into an unexpected tussle with a reporter.
Obama seemed bewildered, then downright angry, at Neil Munro, a reporter for the conservative website Daily Caller who interrupted him more than once.
The reporter shouted a question President Obama's decision to halt deportations of some illegal immigrants while he was in mid-speech. Check it out:
"Excuse me, sir," Obama told Munro after Munro shouted a question in the middle of his speech on the Dream Act. "It's not time for questions, sir."
"No, you have to take questions," Munro responded, according to an official White House transcript. Obama shot back, "Not while I'm speaking."
Obama went on to complete his speech but not before jousting again with Munro, who he chastised for not letting him finish his statement.
Munro again shouted questions at Obama before he was done. "I didn't ask for an argument," Obama said. "I'm answering your question."
In a statement on the Daily Caller website, Munro defended himself:
"I always go to the White House prepared with questions for our president. 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. When I asked the question as he finished his speech, he turned his back on the many reporters, and walked away while I and at least one other reporter asked questions."
Tucker Carlson, his Editor-in-Chief, added:
"I don't remember Diane Sawyer scolding her colleague Sam Donaldson for heckling President Reagan. And she shouldn't have."
"A reporter's job is to ask questions and get answers. Our job is to find out what the federal government is up to. Politicians often don't want to tell us. A good reporter gets the story. We're proud of Neil Munro."
The exchange came as Obama announced a new policy at his Department of Homeland Security, which will immediately stop deportation procedures for some young illegal immigrants who entered the country as children.
As long as they came in while they were under 16, are under 30 right now, have stayed out of trouble and have gone on to attend school or serve in the military, illegal immigrants will not be pursued and deported any longer.
What do you think? Did the reporter cross the line?
Nichole Robinson Nicky Hilton Nicole Richie Nicole Scherzinger
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