As a member of the White House Correspondents Association, I am embarrassed, shocked, and appalled by the heckling of President Obama in the Rose Garden this afternoon – and I believe reporter Neil Munro should be reprimanded by the WHCA and banned from covering press events at the White House.
Those of us privileged to cover the White House, as representatives of the media and of the American people, have a responsibility to conduct ourselves with dignity and to respect the office of President of the United States. No matter who the president is, no matter what party he belongs to, it is totally unacceptable for members of the media to interrupt him, question him, or badger him when he’s in the middle of making a statement.
What does it say about us in the media – and what kind of message does it send to the rest of the world – when the President of the United States cannot even make a public statement in his own home without being shouted down?
Make no mistake about it. Neil Munro does not represent the White House press corps. I know everyone who covers the White House, many of them who have served under several presidents. No one else would think of such boorish behavior – and none of us should tolerate it.
And for anyone to compare Munro’s outburst to those of Sam Donaldson is to insult one of the finest reporters who ever covered the White House. Sure, Sam asked tough questions. That’s his job, that’s our job. Sure, Sam shouted questions out with his leather lungs. That’s his job, that’s our job. But Sam had too much respect for the office of the president to demean the man who held the office. Neil Munro showed no such respect.
A few years ago, every American was outraged when an Iraqi journalist threw shoes at President Bush. Today, every American should be outraged when an American journalist throws insults at President Obama.
naah, not every american was outraged about bush.
I actually agree with you. In fact, Neil Munro reminds me of Helen Thomas.
Bill, you say “every American” was outraged when an Iraqi reporter threw a shoe at Pres. Bush, yet you and your fellow ‘journalists’ were cheering the action.
Either a bit of a double standard (and you are lying), or you are not American?? What is it Bill?
Ok, I agree that the insults are not class, but the one who hurls them is getting attention that his personality must feed on. Also, his dislike of the President is his opinion and everyone has one, like noses and I am uninterested in his opinion.
The case being made against this conduct belongs to the recipient to take to task the guy who does not conduct himself polite enough to be in the gaggle in the Rose Garden.
I am not an Obama fan, he is playing exactly as I saw him doing and I voted for Ms. Cynthia McKinney who I am an admirer of and am glad I did. I cannot support a lil geo bush wanna be, Obama falls in worship anyone who has a few more dollars than he does. He also patterned his presidency after that of the loser W aka Lil Geo…. I can hardly tell the difference in how he runs his administration and Lil geo ran his.
Obama is a big boy, he can fight his own battles. We dont need to do that. And the crass man Munro he will be a failure for sure, he has set that in place. Also you are right, as gleeful I was to have Sam get on ronnies tail for misleading us, I respected his respect for the Office of The Presidency, even tho the occupant of the White House was not concerned of full and complete honesty with us.
It is so plain that the chickens have come home to roost, all the Trickle Down toasted as the only solution to the rise in debt and increase in homeless numbers during the reign of “Nancy Round Heels” is finally being shown as the causes of the last 10 years decline in our country’s solvency.
I need to clarify something. My previous statement – “I actually agree with you” – was directed at Bill Press. It was NOT directed at Milosia. Sorry if I didn’t make that clear.
I accept your apology.