Last updated on February 8th, 2013 at 12:47 am
The right continues their hero worship of The Daily Caller reporter who interrupted the president today, but they neglect to mention that he got owned by Obama.
Here is the video from C-SPAN:
To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.
THE PRESIDENT: Effective immediately, the Department of Homeland Security is taking steps to lift the shadow of deportation from these young people. Over the next few months, eligible individuals who do not present a risk to national security or public safety will be able to request temporary relief from deportation proceedings and apply for work authorization.
Now, let’s be clear – this is not amnesty, this is not immunity. This is not a path to citizenship. It’s not a permanent fix. This is a temporary stopgap measure that lets us focus our resources wisely while giving a degree of relief and hope to talented, driven, patriotic young people. It is –
Q (Inaudible.)
THE PRESIDENT: – the right thing to do.
MUNRO: What about American workers who are unemployed while you employ foreigners?
THE PRESIDENT: Excuse me, sir. It’s not time for questions, sir.MUNRO: No, you have to take questions.
THE PRESIDENT: Not while I’m speaking.
Precisely because this is temporary, Congress needs to act. There is still time for Congress to pass the DREAM Act this year, because these kids deserve to plan their lives in more than two-year increments. And we still need to pass comprehensive immigration reform that addresses our 21st century economic and security needs – reform that gives our farmers and ranchers certainty about the workers that they’ll have. Reform that gives our science and technology sectors certainty that the young people who come here to earn their PhDs won’t be forced to leave and start new businesses in other countries. Reform that continues to improve our border security, and lives up to our heritage as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants.
Just six years ago, the unlikely trio of John McCain, Ted Kennedy and President Bush came together to champion this kind of reform. And I was proud to join 23 Republicans in voting for it. So there’s no reason that we can’t come together and get this done.
And as long as I’m President, I will not give up on this issue, not only because it’s the right thing to do for our economy – and CEOs agree with me – not just because it’s the right thing to do for our security, but because it’s the right thing to do, period. And I believe that, eventually, enough Republicans in Congress will come around to that view as well.
And I believe that it’s the right thing to do because I’ve been with groups of young people who work so hard and speak with so much heart about what’s best in America, even though I knew some of them must have lived under the fear of deportation. I know some have come forward, at great risks to themselves and their futures, in hopes it would spur the rest of us to live up to our own most cherished values. And I’ve seen the stories of Americans in schools and churches and communities across the country who stood up for them and rallied behind them, and pushed us to give them a better path and freedom from fear -because we are a better nation than one that expels innocent young kids.
And the answer to your question, sir – 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 –
MUNRO: (Inaudible.)
THE PRESIDENT: I didn’t ask for an argument. I’m answering your question.
MUNRO: I’d like to –
The Daily Caller decided to get themselves a little publicity today by pulling a Joe Wilson and heckling the President of the United States. The heckler gets totally owned, but right still martyrs him, because he, “asked the tough questions, and stood up to Obama.”
Munro claimed that he wasn’t trying to heckle the president, “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.”
His publisher, Neil Patel also stated that there was no disrespect intended, “The President today announced a very controversial policy and does not want to answer tough questions about it. Neil Munro is a veteran Washington reporter who today tried his best to time his question to be first as the President was wrapping up his remarks. He in no way meant to heckle the President of the United States.”
The problem with The Daily Caller’s excuse is that their reporter interrupts the president at 4:38 of his nine minute long remarks. Are we really supposed to believe that Mr. Munro simply guessed wrong when the president gave no indication that he was finished?
It looks like The Daily Caller might pay a heavy price for their latest stunt. After Munro and The Daily Caller were rebuked by the White House Correspondents Association, there is increasing chatter that they may lose their status as a member of the White House press pool.
None of this has stopped the right from martyring Munro, but the truth is that the reporter didn’t best the president during the exchange. His question was partisan and dense. It was easily swatted away by Obama. Even worse, Munro was embarrassed in front of the whole world as the president admonished Munro like an unruly school child who wasn’t paying attention in class.
The way the right is treating Neil Munro highlights one of the great contradictions in right wing attitudes towards the president. They can’t decide whether Obama is an evil and oppressive socialist dictator, or incompetent man who isn’t up to the job of being president. A president can’t be both incompetent and an oppressor, so which is it?
The fact of the matter is The Daily Caller got their publicity, but Munro got owned by Obama. Consider today a double loss for the right. The president has seized the narrative with his immigration announcement, and he showed the world that he will not tolerate the right’s disrespect of the office that he holds.
When the best thing the right can point to is that a reporter from a conservative website got schooled by Obama, it’s been a really bad day.
As all this is going on, Mitt Romney is sitting on a bus somewhere wondering why no one is paying attention to him.
Yes, indeed. It was a very good day to be the President of the United States, Barack Obama.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
