Daily Caller reporter interrupts President Obama’s speech on immigration reform

By Megan Carpentier/Raw Story

In shades of Rep. Joe Wilson’s (R-SC) “You lie!” moment during President Obama’s 2009 health care speech before a joint session of Congress, Daily Caller reporter Neil Munro interrupted the President’s Rose Garden address on immigration this afternoon.

Munro (who — despite a Twitter bio that says he spent 10 years working at theNational Journal — was previously best known for trying to start a controversy about the rapper Common’s performance at a White House event at the invitation of First Lady Michelle Obama that even forced his own colleagues to publicly question his judgment) apparently didn’t think is appropriate to wait until after the President’s prepared remarks to begin shouting questions at him.

“Excuse me, sir,” the President said. “It’s not time for questions, sir,” he added as Munro continued to interrupt. “Not while I’m speaking.

Munro attempted to ask the President “What about American workers who are unemployed while you employ foreigners?” at the end of the President’s remarks, but the President did not remain to answer them. Munro told Talking Points Memo’s Brian Beutler that he himself was an immigrant before leaving the event.

Brian Stelter of the New York Times Tweetedthat Daily Caller founder Tucker Carlson “defended” Munro, stating, “As a general matter, reporters are there to ask questions.” Hetold the Huffington Post’s Michael Calderone, “This is what reporters are supposed to do. They’re supposed to get their questions answered.” Washington Post reporter David Nakamura Tweeted that Carlson has already gotten a call from White House Press Secretary Jay Carney, presumably to discuss Munro’s behavior.

UPDATE: Munro claims in a statement at The Daily Caller that he was just attempting to be the first reporter to ask a question after the President finished speaking. “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,” he wrote.

LATER UPDATE: Munro spoke exclusively to Village Voice reporter Steven Thrasher, who was attending his first White House press conference, after the event. He told Thrasher, “Please, put me down for asking the questions we, you should be asking!” and proceeded to be rather more belligerent than his above statement would indicate.

Watch the video, uploaded by Talking Points Memo, below: