Apr 16, 2009 5:44 pm US/Eastern
Bloomberg Stares Down, Chastises Disabled Reporter
Examiner.com Blogger's Tape Recorder Accidentally Went On And That's When Hizzoner Started Scolding
Harris Expects Apology, But Bloomberg Giving Silent Treatment
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Mayor Michael Bloomberg had a run-in with a reporter during a press conference on same-sex marriage on Thursday. The incident shocked many and now the disabled blogger wants an apology. Here, Speaker Christine Quinn tries to explain situation to the mayor.
CBS
Needless to say, Mayor Michael Bloomberg doesn't like to be interrupted – regardless of the reason.
But that's precisely what happened during his same-sex marriage press conference on Thursday.
"This is a too important to be disrupted," Bloomberg said. "Maybe we just take everything outside."
It was a moment of silence anything but respectful. Bloomberg stopped mid-sentence when he heard a tape recorder playing in the audience.
Wheelchair-bound reporter Michael Harris, a blogger for Examiner.com, had no idea, but it was him.
"We ultimately found that I had an audio recorder in the pocket of my overcoat which was hanging on the chair next to me that had fallen on the floor," Harris told CBS 2 HD.
Someone had accidentally pressed play, and Harris couldn't reach it. That didn't stop the mayor from staring him down.
"Having the mayor do this to me, with TV channels carrying this live, not only locally but nationally was incredibly embarrassing, was incredibly degrading and I quite frankly felt humiliated by the whole ordeal," Harris said.
"The mayor glared at me and said 'stop it,' and I couldn't figure out what he was talking about."
New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn leaned over to tell Bloomberg that Harris was in a wheelchair, but when asked later, Bloomberg was unrepentant.
"If you bring in a tape recorder and start playing I don't know what it was we're gonna stop," Bloomberg said, adding Gov. David Paterson's legislation on same-sex marriage should take precedent over everything. "This issue is, from a social point of view, I think the most important issue facing the state at the moment."
Harris said no matter how important the speech, the mayor should have remembered his manners.
"I do think it would be appropriate for the mayor to offer an apology although I'm not optimistic about that one," Harris said.
You can't fight City Hall, but Harris shows us you can ask the mayor for an apology. As of right now, though, Bloomberg is giving Harris the silent treatment.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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