Munro is No Donaldson...

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Liberty -vs- Tyranny


Tucker Carlson comparing reporter Neil Munro's rude and disrespectful interruption of President Obama during the President's prepared remarks to Sam Donaldson's reporting during the Reagan years is ludicrous. I am certainly old enough to remember Donaldson, who I don't particularity like, from the perspective of an adult during the 1980's. Donaldson always asked tough questions, was often relentless, but he was never disrespectful nor broke from proper decorum as a White House press correspondent.

Donaldson had the following to say in response to Carlson's likening Monro's behavior to his own.

Never once did I interrupt a president in any way while he was making a formal statement, a speech, honoring awardees or in any other way holding the floor. Yes, almost always when he was finished in the Rose Garden or in the Briefing Room or at a photo opportunity with other world leaders I tried to question him (only rarely was it a shout on the rope line, more often a more normal tone of voice) and other reporters of course did the same thing along with me.

What this man did yesterday is something new, to me wrong and unusual. I think it is probably the result of the growing incivility of the times, the competition among reporters and news organizations to be noticed not only for the work product but for the theatrics of the gathering…and there is one more factor, let’s face it: Many on the political right believe this president ought not to be there – they oppose him not for his polices and political view but for who he is, an African American! These people and perhaps even certain news organizations (certainly the right wing talkers like Limbaugh) encourage disrespect for this president. That is both regrettable and adds, in this case, to the general dislike of the press on the part of the general public.

For Tucker Carlson to say that he would if he can give this man a raise for this rude attempt to interrupt the president is reflective of what I’ve said above and, to me, lowers my opinion of Tucker.

This site is in complete agreement with Sam Donaldson's statement.

Further:

... Fox News host Chris Wallace said the interruption was "outrageous" and different than the way Donaldson did his job in the 1980s.

"I covered Ronald Reagan for six years with Sam Donaldson," Wallace said. "We used to scream our lungs out asking questions, but we always waited until the president, any president, had finished speaking. The idea that you would interrupt the president in the middle of prepared remarks and shout a question, I don’t think the guy should be allowed back in the White House on a press pass, and my guess is he won't be."

Chris Wallace is spot on as well.

Asking tough questions of the President, and expecting straight answers is absolutely necessary if we are to remain a free and independent society. It is equally as necessary that journalists, as well as the general public maintain a proper degree of respect and decorum if we are to remain a civil society.

Via: Memeorandum