Obama applauds reporter's question, then ignores it

President Obama acknowledged, but ultimately ignored, a question shouted at him by Bloomberg reporter Hans Nichols at the conclusion of his press conference Wednesday.

The question came after the president finished answering a question on Syria. He seemed to wrap up the press conference, telling reporters "thank you very much."

But Nichols, off mic, yelled a question about the fiscal cliff. On Twitter, Nichols posted he had asked the president if he is open to a short-term extension on the spending side of the fiscal cliff.

"That was a great question, but it would be a horrible precedent for me to answer your question just because you yelled it out," Obama said. "So, thank you very much, guys."

The president customarily calls on reporters to ask questions at press conferences. 

At an appearance before reporters in June to announce his new rules on immigration proceedings, Obama was interrupted mid-sentence by Neil Munro, a reporter for the conservative website The Daily Caller.

The president chided Munro, saying, "It's not time for questions, sir. Not while I am speaking."

Later in his remarks, a notably testy Obama addressed Munro, who had asked if his new rules — which would halt the deportation of certain illegal immigrants brought to the United States as children — was the "right thing to do for American workers."

"The answer to your question, sir — the next time I prefer you let me finish my statements before you ask that question — is that this is the right thing to do for the American people."

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