political perspectives from Joni Hudson-Reynolds, an African-American Mom
Daily Caller Reporter Disrespects the President and his newspaper is proud of him
This is no way to treat a president. That is the case no matter if the president is Democrat or Republican. Remember when shoes were thrown at President Bush? That was disrespet, but that was on foreign soil. This happened in the Rose Garden by Daily Caller reporter Neil Munro, and his publication tweeted they were proud of him. This should not have happened and he should have been reprimanded not congratulated. Share your thoughts.
agreed. if the man can’t respect the office, eliminate him from the rolls. If they want to send someone who knows and respects the rules, great. otherwise, get and stay out.
>>Revoke the newpaper’s credentials to be on the White House grounds!<<
Really? How about tar and feather as well? I mean, after all this IS Barack H. Obama, THE ONE, and HE is NOT to be interrupted!!!!!
Let's calm down a bit. The man made a mistake, and he issued an immediate apology. Despite what MSLSD-I mean MSNBC – tried to imply this was not done because we have a black president. If he and/or his newspaper routinely did this it may be time to revoke credentials. But for this one instance, when the man issued a prompt apology, I think you guys are letting your love of this president cloud your sense of reason. Helen Thomas, who didn't even have business being there as a pundit and NOT a reporter, took great glee in being a thorn in the side of GWB. You guys on the Left adored her as a "hard hitting media maven". She didn't interrupt the president but she sure wasn't very courteous and respectful of the man OR the office.
Bottom line: presidents need the Fourth Estate. They cannot come off as being petty by dismissing some and kissing up to others. It's bad enough Obama and others on the Left duck and dodge media that fail to properly fawn over them, it's worse if they start kicking them out for the slightest infraction.
I couldn’t hear the guy. What was he interrupting him with? What did he say?
If there was a Q&A afterwards, then yes, proper etiquette demanded he wait. And if there was none, then he should have said nothing. Either way, the guy’s a disrespectful uncouth idiot. And his publisher should apologize.
Neil Munro, the White House Correspondent, has posted:
“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.”
I watched it again. That question was posed in the middle of a sentence. It did not look like he was concluding his remark and walking away. Then he talked back at him when he said he was answering his question.
Utterly disrespectful. A personal affront to him as an individual and the Office of the President. But these hyeanas are trying to bait the President into an attack to weaken him. He’s too smart for that.
THIS MANNER-LESS, MOST IRRESPONSIBLE WHITE BRAT COULD CLAIM PRACTICING HIS PROFESSION, JOURNALISM. THE SIMPLETON CALLED NEIL MUNRO HAS NOT BEEN ABLE AND STILL COULD NOT RECONCILE THE FACT OF A MAN IN BLACK SKIN BEING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. IF THIS IS WHAT PASSES OFF AS FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IN THE U.S, THEN, THAT IS FREEDOM OF THOSE IN BEDLAM.
Your reference to Neil Munro’s skin color sounds as if you have some reconciling of your own to do. Munro’s behavior was indeed rude and unprofessional. Could it possibly have been because of any reason other than the president’s skin color.
The question that Munro asked was in the interest of young Americans who cannot find work because of the president’s failed policy and will face even greater competition for jobs as a result of the president’s new dream act policy. Perhaps if he had realized that the unemployment rate among black youths ages 16-19 years old is 40% and it is they who will be most negatively impacted, he would not have risked speaking to their interest.
Each reporter is made of aware of proper protocol at WH functions when issued his/her press credentials. Mr. Munro shouted over the President while he was in the process of delivering his remarks. His interest was not to aggressively question the President, but to draw draw attention to his question and to provoke a confrontation.
No, Bill, much of America still cannot bring themselves to respect an African-American as the Chief Executive and head of State. I watch the omission of his proper honorific while referring to him during civil discussion, the contemptuous tone used to pronounce his name, the intransigence of the minority party when pursuing policies they supported in the past simply to weaken the President’s hand, the baseless innuendo that he is not an American citizen that lingers despite his election to state and national office and the release of his long-form birth certificate and a contemporaneous birth announcement in a local Hawaiian newspaper, the finger waging incident with the AZ governor, a subordinate military officer (David Petraeus) remarking “he doesn’t know who the [bleep] he’s messing with when given his marching orders by the President (not to mention the McChrystal debacle), provide a preponderance of examples to the racial animus that Barack Obama has endured over the past 3.5 years.
Perhaps the RNC talking points you parrot have grown stale in the face of the notion that despite subterfuge from the moment of his oath (I hope you don’t think a lot of us didn’t notice that), this President has carried on with the grace and Spirit that Jackie Robinson displayed when he integrated MLB. Bill, don’t pull that plausible deniability bullsh** about racism on this blog, because you can’t hide it anymore.
BILL, WILL IT SURPRISE YOU TO KNOW THAT THAT MISERABLE CLOWN AND COLOUR SUPREMACIST CALLED NEIL MUNRO IS IRISH BORN ? IF HATE POLICIES DISGUISED IN THE WEST AS IMMIGRATION POLICY WERE IN PLACE BEFORE HIS BIRTH, WOULD HE HAVE BECOME THE AMERICAN CITIZEN HE IS TODAY ? ON BLACKS AND UNEMPLOYMENT, I KNOW VERY WELL THAT THE POLICY OF COVERT DISCRIMINATION IN AMERICA WILL CONTINUE TO HAUNT THE BLACKS FOR A LONG TIME TO COME. AS AN AFRICAN, I HATE TO SEE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS STOLEN FROM OUR SHORES IN THAT SORRY PASS. THE CONDITION OF THE BLACKS IN AMERICA NOTWITHSTANDING, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO BASIS TO EXTENUATE THE IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVOUR OF THAT DESOLATE WRETCH THAT GOES BY THE NAME NEIL MUNRO. HE IS FIT ONLY TO WRAP THE FINGERS ROUND HIS NECK AND SNAP IT INTO HELL.
Okey, tell me something. Is it POSSIBLE that the man made a mistake, an embarrassing breach of protocol, and that he is not as you seem to think, just inches away from being a card carrying member of the David Duke Fan Club? This notion the Left has that any and all affronts actual and perceived towards this president are racially based is laughable. President Obama was put into office by tons of white voters. Many of them are unhappy with him right now and are critical of him; are they too racist?
Another thing: Do not swallow the Kool-Aid being served by the likes of Jackson, Sharpton, Ben Jealous and their lot that says blacks are an oppressed minority here in America. The “CONDITION OF THE BLACKS IN AMERICA” gets better each and every day. Comparatively speaking, times have NEVER been better for blacks here in America. President Obama is exhibit 1A that the sky is the limit. We’ve had black CEOs of major companies, we’ve had black Secretaries of State, Attorneys General, black governors, black legislators, doctors, lawyers, black military officers of VERY high rank, you name it. The fat bellied redneck sheriffs that used to sick the dogs on civil rights marchers have been replaced by the sons and daughters of those who were bitten by those dogs. I have no illusions that racism still exists, but it is NOT as prevalent as it once was, not by a long shot. The main thing holding blacks back today is self-inflicted wounds by members of the race itself.
Glad you stopped by but i ‘m going to borrow a phrase from ESPN “C’mon Man”. You can not seriously believe this was a mistake. He interuppted twice. One time maybe two times is not just impolite it is disrespectful.
He also asked the question with his hands in his pockets, unlike any legitimate journalist who usually has a pen and pad in hand, poised to take down the reply to his question. He was cat-calling, interrupting, and trying to be a jerk. He got called on it. It’s over, hopefully bystanders will have learned a lesson. He probably won’t.
Thomas the very first thing that I stated was that the reporter was rude and unprofessional; so I believe we agree on that. I also agree that the are many who cannot bring themselve to respect an African American Chief Executive. I also know that there are millions of whites who enthusiastically campaigned for and voted for the African American Chief Executive and are now thoroughly disappointed with his feckless, inept performance. That is why I raised the question. Or have they automatically morphed into rascist?
I’m going to need your help in recognizing the Republican talking points that you say I parrot. Please do reply to me and point them out. And as for your delusion about plausible deniability, I would suggest that you revisit the definition of the term.
The notion that a journalist would have the temerity to heckle the President while he delivers his remarks in the Rose Garden prompts me to ask several questions. Would a journalist risk his press credential by breaking protocol? Would he he feel confident that his editor would support him after his boorish outburst? What does the journalist gain from such an encounter? Do the benefits outweigh the costs?
The journalist was issued a temporary press credential for the event. The Daily Caller firmly supported Mr. Munro, in fact, they praised him. This story has been prominently positioned in the news cycle for several days. This incident has effectively trumped the announcement and public reception of Mr. Obama’s Executive order on immigration. This is political obfuscation at its finest.
My judgement is that Mr. Munro does not have the interest of young African Americans (and others) at heart. If he did, he might have reconsidered the way he conducted himself when he spoke to an African American who holds the office of President. He might consider that most AAs hold the President in high esteem despite divergent political beliefs; and a little more decorum is advisable.
Aggressive questioning, holding public figures accountable, diffusing spin and doublespeak, uncovering official deceptions, I am all for a formidable 4th estate. I will call a spade a spade when discussing the methods journalists use to gather information.
So Bill, when you suggest that legitimate inquiry is the motivation for this journalist’s outburst and discount the elephant in the room, I will call you out.
As far as “plausible deniability” when you propose that the journalist’s reason for acting in such a manner is speaking in the interest of AA youth; and you discount the racial undertones that surround his actions, I am going to call you out. You may or may not know it, but many AAs reject using the “race-card” as a defense against legitimate criticism. But do not propose a weak argument (such as his Munro’s concern about AA youth) as a plausible cover for what is truly an outrageous action by a journalist.
President Obama does not get a pass, but he is deserving of respect.
Thomas you expressed your outrage in your previous post and I took no exception to any of it. It sounds as if you may find reading comprehension a bit challenging. I did not suggest or intimate that Mr. Munro had concern of young African Americans at heart. What I said is that the question that he asked speaks to the interest of young African Americans. You obviously missed my suggestion that he probably was unaware of that. If you go back and slowly reread my post, you will see that I said “Perhaps if he had realized that the unemployment rate among black youths ages 16-19 years old is 40% and it is they who will be most negatively impacted, he would not have risked speaking to their interest.”
Should you decide to reply to my request on my previous post to cite the Republican talking points that I parroted, could you also point out to me where I suggest that “legitimate inquiry is the motivation for this journalist’s outburst”?
Thomas let me try this one more time, THE REPORTER WAS RUDE AND UNPROFESSIONAL AND THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR IT. But being racist is not a prerequisite for being RUDE AND UNPROFESSIONAL.
Listen up and let me help you out. I wish you and your kind stop minimizing what we all clearly see as racism. NO IT IS NOT “POSSIBLE” HE MADE A MISTAKE!!!! You are in the presence of thee leader of the free world, HELLO. Lets stop intellectaulizing Racism and call it what it really is. Please do everyone a favor and only speak for yourself. You are not Black so you are in NO position to speak for a black person or a group of black people in Amierica. Furthermore nobody totally agrees with any president however he is doing a superior job when it comes to improving AMERICA for ALL AMERICANS including African Americans. Finally the white people you speak of who are not happy with him should probably look more closely at their Senators and Congress men/women rather than drinking the KOOLAID!! Now take that with you.
damiean I too don’t believe the reporter made a mistake. But if you’re attributing that assertion to me, then you’re mistaking. I hope you appreciate the favor that I am speaking for myself. You are correct in pointing out that I am in no position to speak for a group of black people in America. But I do speak for myself as a black American. Your concluding that I am not black speaks volumes.
@Bill – You made the statement: “Munro’s behavior was indeed rude and unprofessional. Could it possibly have been because of any reason other than the president’s skin color[?]”
As I reviewed the video, I concluded -based on many factors I mentioned before – that Munro’s actions were a clear expression of racial animus. I did not arrive at that conclusion lightly or without eliminating other plausible conclusions.
Evidently, you hold open the possibility that Munro’s behavior may have been motivated by something other than racial animus. You indicate this sentiment by posing the question I re-posted in this response.
Let us agree to disagree on that point.
Here is the larger context of my argument. When one floats the notion that there are plausible reasons for the reporter’s behavior other than racial animus; one should be prepared to float them as well.
As I am sure you know, during the height of the civil rights movement, racially discriminatory acts were justified by appealing to tradition, religious texts, personal property rights, pseudo-scientific studies, anything other than what it was – racial animus.
What will it take for you to recognize what is happening, Bill?
Please reply. I would ask you to share with me your thoughts on the motivation for Mr. Munro’s outburst. I would truly be interested in your perspective.
Look Bill! Get with the program! You are not thinking in the proscribed manner in which a person of color is SUPPOSED to think! EVERY white person who crosses the president does so BECAUSE THEY ARE RACISTS! That is a given! If you start thinking and drawing conclusions for yourself then EVERYONE will and we cannot have that here in America. At least not for black people….
All kidding aside, like you Bill I cannot speak to the actions and manner of this man. He was rude, and will have to pay the price for it. I can however hold a high standard for what I feel is racist, and I do not believe this man did what he did because he is a racist; I need more evidence than one outburst incident. After all, Howard Byrd was a Kleagle in the Klan and black Democrats didn’t seem to think that met the standard of racism. Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton exhibit far MORE telling evidence of their racial animus than Munro; and they’ve NEVER apologized for their racist utterances. Oh and S.I., there is such a thing as a ‘digital recorder’ that can be operated hands free and is used by reporters all the time. Also, If the president speaks into the microphone on the podium, several reporters use that feed. Your “hands-in-the-pocket” theory isn’t very compelling support for your argument that he was catcalling.
Thomas I applaud you for your ability to recognize Munro’s actions as a clear expression of racial animus. I don’t possess such discernment. His skin color is the only visible evidence to me but I know many people with white skin who are not racist.
And you are able to eliminate other plausable conclusions. That’s really impressive as I’m still stuck at the stage of wondering if there could possibly any other reasons for Munro’s bad behavior. I am struggling with the notion that the reason that a white reporter would be rude and disrespectful toward a black president can be only be racism.
As to your question of what it will take for me to recognize what is happening, simply something more substantive than the fact that the reporter is white. Maybe Munro just believes as I do that with so many natural born Americans being jobless, for the president to create competition for the few existing jobs to pander for the Hispanic vote is off putting. Is that looking out for the interest of the brothers who were born here in your opinion?
I trust that you are not attributing to me the belief that Munro acted with racial animus toward Barack Obama because he is white, because that would be a poor use of one’s critical thinking faculty. I would invite you to re-read my previous post, then investigate the historical record to discover how discrimination is “packaged” in more palatable forms. Maybe in another 50 years or so, you will acknowledge that southern racists
I trust that you are not attributing to me the belief that Munro acted with racial animus toward Barack Obama because he is white, because that would be a poor use of one’s critical thinking faculty. I would invite you to re-read my previous post, then investigate the historical record to discover how discrimination is “packaged” in more palatable forms. Maybe with another 50 years of reflection, you will acknowledge that a southern racist once “frowned” in MLK’s general direction with a hint of meanness in his heart.
With respect to your Republican talking point and the question of where you presented the idea the reporter acted with legitimate inquiry:
You stated in clear terms that Barack Obama’s failed policies are to blame for the inability of many Americans to find suitable employment. You also stated that Mr. Obama’s recently issued Executive order would introduce even more competition into the job market.
Bill, do a search with the phrase ‘Barack Obama’s failed policies’ and you will notice an interesting pattern. The GOP has used this phrase since January 2009 to frame the public debate of the economy. GOP candidates, commentators, press releases all use this phrase to focus attention away from their own ineptitude. Last time I checked the Congress had the power of the purse. While in the minority, the GOP filibustered and stonewalled and gutted bold legislative proposals to get our economy back on track. Even ideas they supported in the past. While holding the majority in the House they’ve been MIA on common sense proposals to assist underwater homeowners, to place a firewall between the commercial and speculative wings of banks (Glass-Steagall), they even held up trade agreement legislation that aided American industry. They’ve held the full faith and credit if the United States hostage and will be doing it again as the election approaches. For some strange reason, they are concerned about the national debt, and deficeit spending. Funny this wasn’t an issue the preceding eight years or when the patron saint of conservatives (RR) was in office. (I know Dems were in the majority, the point is they rode the gravy train and tolerated fraud, waste, and abuse in the Pentagon and protected their friends in the banking industry – the same ones at the center of our current economic crisis).
I realize that the average American won’t consider these things, but I would expect a journalist to have more depth.
With respect to the introduction of competition to American workers by the legalization of undocumented people. They are already here. They’ve already been competing in the race. Surely you don’t believe that all economic activity is tracked and regulated by the government. Surely you don’t believe that your fruits and vegetables are so affordable because American workers are accepting poverty wages as a public service to you? Surely you don’t believe that our manufacturing equipped, service based, first-world society can compete with second and third world nations that whose governments regularly devalue currency, pollute the environment, and have little if any safety net?
I’ve got a homework assignment for you. Look up epistemology. You’ll find that there are two main schools of thought. The rationalists and empiricists. See which school of thought you are more inclined to embrace. You might consider delving deeper into the causes and motivations for the events that surround us all.
Oh and S.I., there is such a thing as a ‘digital recorder’ that can be operated hands free and is used by reporters all the time. Also, If the president speaks into the microphone on the podium, several reporters use that feed. Your “hands-in-the-pocket” theory isn’t very compelling support for your argument that he was catcalling.
I won’t disagree with you, other than to say that I offered that little bit as a piece of cumulative evidence that he had no intention of asking a legitimate question, because he didn’t really seem to be concerned about any possible answer. He simply wanted to be contradictory, and perhaps provoke the President into saying something, off script, that might embarrass him, that could be used against him.
Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if Munro didn’t do it to create this flap as publicity for the Daily Caller, which is a small web-based, somewhat conservative news organization originally founded by Tucker Carlson. There are a lot more people that know what the Daily Caller is now, that didn’t prior to this flap.
But I agree that there is no way you can say this one incident proves Munro is racist, though, again cumulatively, the atmosphere of disrespect that seems to follow Obama can lead one to conclude that there is a pervasive, yet subtle form of racism at work here. It’s not just The Daily Caller, it’s all the News Organizations, the way he’s treated by Congress (especially the Republicans) and the Tea Party, and even a significant percentage of the populace as evidenced by the polls, the birther crap, etc. etc. etc. . I can’t put my finger on why there seems to be such an otherwise irrational response to the man in this country. It’s a simple explanation, albeit with no smoking gun.
I’m enjoying this conversation though, everyone. keep up the good work! There are a lot of good, incisive comments here.
Comments
Revoke the newpaper’s credentials to be on the White House grounds!
agreed. if the man can’t respect the office, eliminate him from the rolls. If they want to send someone who knows and respects the rules, great. otherwise, get and stay out.
“:Doesn’t play well with others.”
>>Revoke the newpaper’s credentials to be on the White House grounds!<<
Really? How about tar and feather as well? I mean, after all this IS Barack H. Obama, THE ONE, and HE is NOT to be interrupted!!!!!
Let's calm down a bit. The man made a mistake, and he issued an immediate apology. Despite what MSLSD-I mean MSNBC – tried to imply this was not done because we have a black president. If he and/or his newspaper routinely did this it may be time to revoke credentials. But for this one instance, when the man issued a prompt apology, I think you guys are letting your love of this president cloud your sense of reason. Helen Thomas, who didn't even have business being there as a pundit and NOT a reporter, took great glee in being a thorn in the side of GWB. You guys on the Left adored her as a "hard hitting media maven". She didn't interrupt the president but she sure wasn't very courteous and respectful of the man OR the office.
Bottom line: presidents need the Fourth Estate. They cannot come off as being petty by dismissing some and kissing up to others. It's bad enough Obama and others on the Left duck and dodge media that fail to properly fawn over them, it's worse if they start kicking them out for the slightest infraction.
I couldn’t hear the guy. What was he interrupting him with? What did he say?
If there was a Q&A afterwards, then yes, proper etiquette demanded he wait. And if there was none, then he should have said nothing. Either way, the guy’s a disrespectful uncouth idiot. And his publisher should apologize.
Neil Munro, the White House Correspondent, has posted:
“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.”
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/06/15/statements-from-the-daily-caller-regarding-exchange-in-white-house-rose-garden/#ixzz1xtZjhiA9
I watched it again. That question was posed in the middle of a sentence. It did not look like he was concluding his remark and walking away. Then he talked back at him when he said he was answering his question.
Clearly the man, this Neil Munro, is a liar , also, besides disrespecting the office and breaking the rules.
Jerkwad. Throw him out and don’t let him back in.
Utterly disrespectful. A personal affront to him as an individual and the Office of the President. But these hyeanas are trying to bait the President into an attack to weaken him. He’s too smart for that.
Obama’s smart — compared to Biden.
Rude regardless of speaker’s ID. I’m surprised he was not escorted away.
THIS MANNER-LESS, MOST IRRESPONSIBLE WHITE BRAT COULD CLAIM PRACTICING HIS PROFESSION, JOURNALISM. THE SIMPLETON CALLED NEIL MUNRO HAS NOT BEEN ABLE AND STILL COULD NOT RECONCILE THE FACT OF A MAN IN BLACK SKIN BEING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. IF THIS IS WHAT PASSES OFF AS FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IN THE U.S, THEN, THAT IS FREEDOM OF THOSE IN BEDLAM.
Your reference to Neil Munro’s skin color sounds as if you have some reconciling of your own to do. Munro’s behavior was indeed rude and unprofessional. Could it possibly have been because of any reason other than the president’s skin color.
The question that Munro asked was in the interest of young Americans who cannot find work because of the president’s failed policy and will face even greater competition for jobs as a result of the president’s new dream act policy. Perhaps if he had realized that the unemployment rate among black youths ages 16-19 years old is 40% and it is they who will be most negatively impacted, he would not have risked speaking to their interest.
Each reporter is made of aware of proper protocol at WH functions when issued his/her press credentials. Mr. Munro shouted over the President while he was in the process of delivering his remarks. His interest was not to aggressively question the President, but to draw draw attention to his question and to provoke a confrontation.
No, Bill, much of America still cannot bring themselves to respect an African-American as the Chief Executive and head of State. I watch the omission of his proper honorific while referring to him during civil discussion, the contemptuous tone used to pronounce his name, the intransigence of the minority party when pursuing policies they supported in the past simply to weaken the President’s hand, the baseless innuendo that he is not an American citizen that lingers despite his election to state and national office and the release of his long-form birth certificate and a contemporaneous birth announcement in a local Hawaiian newspaper, the finger waging incident with the AZ governor, a subordinate military officer (David Petraeus) remarking “he doesn’t know who the [bleep] he’s messing with when given his marching orders by the President (not to mention the McChrystal debacle), provide a preponderance of examples to the racial animus that Barack Obama has endured over the past 3.5 years.
Perhaps the RNC talking points you parrot have grown stale in the face of the notion that despite subterfuge from the moment of his oath (I hope you don’t think a lot of us didn’t notice that), this President has carried on with the grace and Spirit that Jackie Robinson displayed when he integrated MLB. Bill, don’t pull that plausible deniability bullsh** about racism on this blog, because you can’t hide it anymore.
BILL, WILL IT SURPRISE YOU TO KNOW THAT THAT MISERABLE CLOWN AND COLOUR SUPREMACIST CALLED NEIL MUNRO IS IRISH BORN ? IF HATE POLICIES DISGUISED IN THE WEST AS IMMIGRATION POLICY WERE IN PLACE BEFORE HIS BIRTH, WOULD HE HAVE BECOME THE AMERICAN CITIZEN HE IS TODAY ? ON BLACKS AND UNEMPLOYMENT, I KNOW VERY WELL THAT THE POLICY OF COVERT DISCRIMINATION IN AMERICA WILL CONTINUE TO HAUNT THE BLACKS FOR A LONG TIME TO COME. AS AN AFRICAN, I HATE TO SEE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS STOLEN FROM OUR SHORES IN THAT SORRY PASS. THE CONDITION OF THE BLACKS IN AMERICA NOTWITHSTANDING, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO BASIS TO EXTENUATE THE IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVOUR OF THAT DESOLATE WRETCH THAT GOES BY THE NAME NEIL MUNRO. HE IS FIT ONLY TO WRAP THE FINGERS ROUND HIS NECK AND SNAP IT INTO HELL.
Okey, tell me something. Is it POSSIBLE that the man made a mistake, an embarrassing breach of protocol, and that he is not as you seem to think, just inches away from being a card carrying member of the David Duke Fan Club? This notion the Left has that any and all affronts actual and perceived towards this president are racially based is laughable. President Obama was put into office by tons of white voters. Many of them are unhappy with him right now and are critical of him; are they too racist?
Another thing: Do not swallow the Kool-Aid being served by the likes of Jackson, Sharpton, Ben Jealous and their lot that says blacks are an oppressed minority here in America. The “CONDITION OF THE BLACKS IN AMERICA” gets better each and every day. Comparatively speaking, times have NEVER been better for blacks here in America. President Obama is exhibit 1A that the sky is the limit. We’ve had black CEOs of major companies, we’ve had black Secretaries of State, Attorneys General, black governors, black legislators, doctors, lawyers, black military officers of VERY high rank, you name it. The fat bellied redneck sheriffs that used to sick the dogs on civil rights marchers have been replaced by the sons and daughters of those who were bitten by those dogs. I have no illusions that racism still exists, but it is NOT as prevalent as it once was, not by a long shot. The main thing holding blacks back today is self-inflicted wounds by members of the race itself.
Glad you stopped by but i ‘m going to borrow a phrase from ESPN “C’mon Man”. You can not seriously believe this was a mistake. He interuppted twice. One time maybe two times is not just impolite it is disrespectful.
He also asked the question with his hands in his pockets, unlike any legitimate journalist who usually has a pen and pad in hand, poised to take down the reply to his question. He was cat-calling, interrupting, and trying to be a jerk. He got called on it. It’s over, hopefully bystanders will have learned a lesson. He probably won’t.
Thomas the very first thing that I stated was that the reporter was rude and unprofessional; so I believe we agree on that. I also agree that the are many who cannot bring themselve to respect an African American Chief Executive. I also know that there are millions of whites who enthusiastically campaigned for and voted for the African American Chief Executive and are now thoroughly disappointed with his feckless, inept performance. That is why I raised the question. Or have they automatically morphed into rascist?
I’m going to need your help in recognizing the Republican talking points that you say I parrot. Please do reply to me and point them out. And as for your delusion about plausible deniability, I would suggest that you revisit the definition of the term.
The notion that a journalist would have the temerity to heckle the President while he delivers his remarks in the Rose Garden prompts me to ask several questions. Would a journalist risk his press credential by breaking protocol? Would he he feel confident that his editor would support him after his boorish outburst? What does the journalist gain from such an encounter? Do the benefits outweigh the costs?
The journalist was issued a temporary press credential for the event. The Daily Caller firmly supported Mr. Munro, in fact, they praised him. This story has been prominently positioned in the news cycle for several days. This incident has effectively trumped the announcement and public reception of Mr. Obama’s Executive order on immigration. This is political obfuscation at its finest.
My judgement is that Mr. Munro does not have the interest of young African Americans (and others) at heart. If he did, he might have reconsidered the way he conducted himself when he spoke to an African American who holds the office of President. He might consider that most AAs hold the President in high esteem despite divergent political beliefs; and a little more decorum is advisable.
Aggressive questioning, holding public figures accountable, diffusing spin and doublespeak, uncovering official deceptions, I am all for a formidable 4th estate. I will call a spade a spade when discussing the methods journalists use to gather information.
So Bill, when you suggest that legitimate inquiry is the motivation for this journalist’s outburst and discount the elephant in the room, I will call you out.
As far as “plausible deniability” when you propose that the journalist’s reason for acting in such a manner is speaking in the interest of AA youth; and you discount the racial undertones that surround his actions, I am going to call you out. You may or may not know it, but many AAs reject using the “race-card” as a defense against legitimate criticism. But do not propose a weak argument (such as his Munro’s concern about AA youth) as a plausible cover for what is truly an outrageous action by a journalist.
President Obama does not get a pass, but he is deserving of respect.
Thomas you expressed your outrage in your previous post and I took no exception to any of it. It sounds as if you may find reading comprehension a bit challenging. I did not suggest or intimate that Mr. Munro had concern of young African Americans at heart. What I said is that the question that he asked speaks to the interest of young African Americans. You obviously missed my suggestion that he probably was unaware of that. If you go back and slowly reread my post, you will see that I said “Perhaps if he had realized that the unemployment rate among black youths ages 16-19 years old is 40% and it is they who will be most negatively impacted, he would not have risked speaking to their interest.”
Should you decide to reply to my request on my previous post to cite the Republican talking points that I parroted, could you also point out to me where I suggest that “legitimate inquiry is the motivation for this journalist’s outburst”?
Thomas let me try this one more time, THE REPORTER WAS RUDE AND UNPROFESSIONAL AND THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR IT. But being racist is not a prerequisite for being RUDE AND UNPROFESSIONAL.
Listen up and let me help you out. I wish you and your kind stop minimizing what we all clearly see as racism. NO IT IS NOT “POSSIBLE” HE MADE A MISTAKE!!!! You are in the presence of thee leader of the free world, HELLO. Lets stop intellectaulizing Racism and call it what it really is. Please do everyone a favor and only speak for yourself. You are not Black so you are in NO position to speak for a black person or a group of black people in Amierica. Furthermore nobody totally agrees with any president however he is doing a superior job when it comes to improving AMERICA for ALL AMERICANS including African Americans. Finally the white people you speak of who are not happy with him should probably look more closely at their Senators and Congress men/women rather than drinking the KOOLAID!! Now take that with you.
damiean I too don’t believe the reporter made a mistake. But if you’re attributing that assertion to me, then you’re mistaking. I hope you appreciate the favor that I am speaking for myself. You are correct in pointing out that I am in no position to speak for a group of black people in America. But I do speak for myself as a black American. Your concluding that I am not black speaks volumes.
@Bill – You made the statement: “Munro’s behavior was indeed rude and unprofessional. Could it possibly have been because of any reason other than the president’s skin color[?]”
As I reviewed the video, I concluded -based on many factors I mentioned before – that Munro’s actions were a clear expression of racial animus. I did not arrive at that conclusion lightly or without eliminating other plausible conclusions.
Evidently, you hold open the possibility that Munro’s behavior may have been motivated by something other than racial animus. You indicate this sentiment by posing the question I re-posted in this response.
Let us agree to disagree on that point.
Here is the larger context of my argument. When one floats the notion that there are plausible reasons for the reporter’s behavior other than racial animus; one should be prepared to float them as well.
As I am sure you know, during the height of the civil rights movement, racially discriminatory acts were justified by appealing to tradition, religious texts, personal property rights, pseudo-scientific studies, anything other than what it was – racial animus.
What will it take for you to recognize what is happening, Bill?
Please reply. I would ask you to share with me your thoughts on the motivation for Mr. Munro’s outburst. I would truly be interested in your perspective.
Look Bill! Get with the program! You are not thinking in the proscribed manner in which a person of color is SUPPOSED to think! EVERY white person who crosses the president does so BECAUSE THEY ARE RACISTS! That is a given! If you start thinking and drawing conclusions for yourself then EVERYONE will and we cannot have that here in America. At least not for black people….
All kidding aside, like you Bill I cannot speak to the actions and manner of this man. He was rude, and will have to pay the price for it. I can however hold a high standard for what I feel is racist, and I do not believe this man did what he did because he is a racist; I need more evidence than one outburst incident. After all, Howard Byrd was a Kleagle in the Klan and black Democrats didn’t seem to think that met the standard of racism. Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton exhibit far MORE telling evidence of their racial animus than Munro; and they’ve NEVER apologized for their racist utterances. Oh and S.I., there is such a thing as a ‘digital recorder’ that can be operated hands free and is used by reporters all the time. Also, If the president speaks into the microphone on the podium, several reporters use that feed. Your “hands-in-the-pocket” theory isn’t very compelling support for your argument that he was catcalling.
Thomas I applaud you for your ability to recognize Munro’s actions as a clear expression of racial animus. I don’t possess such discernment. His skin color is the only visible evidence to me but I know many people with white skin who are not racist.
And you are able to eliminate other plausable conclusions. That’s really impressive as I’m still stuck at the stage of wondering if there could possibly any other reasons for Munro’s bad behavior. I am struggling with the notion that the reason that a white reporter would be rude and disrespectful toward a black president can be only be racism.
As to your question of what it will take for me to recognize what is happening, simply something more substantive than the fact that the reporter is white. Maybe Munro just believes as I do that with so many natural born Americans being jobless, for the president to create competition for the few existing jobs to pander for the Hispanic vote is off putting. Is that looking out for the interest of the brothers who were born here in your opinion?
I trust that you are not attributing to me the belief that Munro acted with racial animus toward Barack Obama because he is white, because that would be a poor use of one’s critical thinking faculty. I would invite you to re-read my previous post, then investigate the historical record to discover how discrimination is “packaged” in more palatable forms. Maybe in another 50 years or so, you will acknowledge that southern racists
I trust that you are not attributing to me the belief that Munro acted with racial animus toward Barack Obama because he is white, because that would be a poor use of one’s critical thinking faculty. I would invite you to re-read my previous post, then investigate the historical record to discover how discrimination is “packaged” in more palatable forms. Maybe with another 50 years of reflection, you will acknowledge that a southern racist once “frowned” in MLK’s general direction with a hint of meanness in his heart.
With respect to your Republican talking point and the question of where you presented the idea the reporter acted with legitimate inquiry:
You stated in clear terms that Barack Obama’s failed policies are to blame for the inability of many Americans to find suitable employment. You also stated that Mr. Obama’s recently issued Executive order would introduce even more competition into the job market.
Bill, do a search with the phrase ‘Barack Obama’s failed policies’ and you will notice an interesting pattern. The GOP has used this phrase since January 2009 to frame the public debate of the economy. GOP candidates, commentators, press releases all use this phrase to focus attention away from their own ineptitude. Last time I checked the Congress had the power of the purse. While in the minority, the GOP filibustered and stonewalled and gutted bold legislative proposals to get our economy back on track. Even ideas they supported in the past. While holding the majority in the House they’ve been MIA on common sense proposals to assist underwater homeowners, to place a firewall between the commercial and speculative wings of banks (Glass-Steagall), they even held up trade agreement legislation that aided American industry. They’ve held the full faith and credit if the United States hostage and will be doing it again as the election approaches. For some strange reason, they are concerned about the national debt, and deficeit spending. Funny this wasn’t an issue the preceding eight years or when the patron saint of conservatives (RR) was in office. (I know Dems were in the majority, the point is they rode the gravy train and tolerated fraud, waste, and abuse in the Pentagon and protected their friends in the banking industry – the same ones at the center of our current economic crisis).
I realize that the average American won’t consider these things, but I would expect a journalist to have more depth.
With respect to the introduction of competition to American workers by the legalization of undocumented people. They are already here. They’ve already been competing in the race. Surely you don’t believe that all economic activity is tracked and regulated by the government. Surely you don’t believe that your fruits and vegetables are so affordable because American workers are accepting poverty wages as a public service to you? Surely you don’t believe that our manufacturing equipped, service based, first-world society can compete with second and third world nations that whose governments regularly devalue currency, pollute the environment, and have little if any safety net?
I’ve got a homework assignment for you. Look up epistemology. You’ll find that there are two main schools of thought. The rationalists and empiricists. See which school of thought you are more inclined to embrace. You might consider delving deeper into the causes and motivations for the events that surround us all.
I won’t disagree with you, other than to say that I offered that little bit as a piece of cumulative evidence that he had no intention of asking a legitimate question, because he didn’t really seem to be concerned about any possible answer. He simply wanted to be contradictory, and perhaps provoke the President into saying something, off script, that might embarrass him, that could be used against him.
Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if Munro didn’t do it to create this flap as publicity for the Daily Caller, which is a small web-based, somewhat conservative news organization originally founded by Tucker Carlson. There are a lot more people that know what the Daily Caller is now, that didn’t prior to this flap.
But I agree that there is no way you can say this one incident proves Munro is racist, though, again cumulatively, the atmosphere of disrespect that seems to follow Obama can lead one to conclude that there is a pervasive, yet subtle form of racism at work here. It’s not just The Daily Caller, it’s all the News Organizations, the way he’s treated by Congress (especially the Republicans) and the Tea Party, and even a significant percentage of the populace as evidenced by the polls, the birther crap, etc. etc. etc. . I can’t put my finger on why there seems to be such an otherwise irrational response to the man in this country. It’s a simple explanation, albeit with no smoking gun.
I’m enjoying this conversation though, everyone. keep up the good work! There are a lot of good, incisive comments here.