Hecklers borrowed a technique from Occupy Wall Street to interrupt the president's speech at a New Hampshire high school

Every president is occasionally met with hecklers. Usually it's a single person who shouts out a grievance in the course of a public appearance. We have understandably mixed feelings about these acts. Crowds gather to hear the speaker, interruptions are rude, and although we'd all love for the president to confront our particular concerns in a public forum, a norm whereby everyone just shouts out their thoughts would make public oratory practically impossible. On the other hand, presidents seldom face the citizenry in an uncontrolled setting, and a disruptive audience member is at times the only way a leader is made to address difficult questions.

In the video above, recorded earlier today, President Obama is interrupted while addressing high school students in New Hampshire. He's an adept speaker and has little problem reasserting control: The crowd is on his side, chanting his name to signal that they disapprove of the interruption. Still, I think it is a noteworthy incident, because it's the first time I've seen a president interrupted by the human microphone, which came into widespread use during Occupy Wall Street protests, when protesters were forbidden from using amplifying devices.