At the end of his scripted news conference on healthcare reform the other night, President Obama took one last question. He must have thought that it would be another softball question on healthcare. He breezed through the first ten questions without breaking a sweat, but when he answered a question about the arrest of African American Harvard Professor Henry Gates he made a tremendous error. Obama declared that the police acted “stupidly” by arresting Gates at his own home and then went on to claim that African Americans and Hispanics are the victims of racial profiling by police.
By targeting the white police officer and siding with his friend, Professor Gates, Obama displayed his racial prejudice. Evidently, the President waded into the controversy without reading the police report or understanding what really happened.
The whole incident began when a neighbor called police after seeing Professor Gates and another man trying to break-in to the home. Gates was returning to his house after an overseas trip to China. He and his driver were not able to enter the residence and were observed trying to force the door open. The responding police officer was Sgt. James Crowley, a veteran cop who teaches a racial profiling class.
In the police report, he described Gates as “very uncooperative.” He noted that Gates was “accusing me of being a racist police officer and leveling threats that he wasn’t someone to mess with.” While Crowley was just trying to investigate the situation, Gates was busy calling the department, trying to “get the chief.” He threatened Crowley and told the officer that he had no idea who he was “messing” with and that “I had not heard the last of it.”
From the beginning, it seems that the police officer acted appropriately and not “stupidly.” He was trying to gather facts and followed procedure by responding to the call from the neighbor who reported a potential break-in.The situation could have been resolved easily if Professor Gates would have responded to the officer in a calm manner.
Unfortunately, Gates continued to yell and scream despite a warning from the officer that he was “becoming disorderly.” After the yelling continued unabated, the officer finally arrested Professor Gates. This incident is nothing close to racial profiling and Crowley is clearly not a racist cop. Back in 1993, Crowley gave mouth to mouth resuscitation to dying Boston Celtics basketball star Reggie Lewis. A racist would not have tried to save the life of an African American basketball player. Crowley said that he supported President Obama “110%,” but noted that in this case, the President is mistaken.
The Cambridge Police Department is standing behind Officer Crowley; the union is supporting the police officer. In addition, Crowley is standing firm. In a recent interview, he said that he would not apologize for an incident in which he did nothing wrong.
At this point, Professor Gates is threatening further action against Sgt. Crowley and the police department and the police officer is considering a defamation of character or libel lawsuit. This whole matter has now been turned into a race based controversy.
Instead of handling the situation with class and clarity, Obama fanned the flames of racial division. When he was elected President, Obama was supposed to be a racial healer and a force for unity, but he has turned out to be nothing but a racial divider.
If anyone acted stupidly in this whole matter, it was not Sgt. Crowley, it was President Obama who contributed to the controversy and spoke without learning the facts of the case.
Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7 till 11 a.m.weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. For more information, visit his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com.
It was special - now they tell me I moght get in tomorrow - still undecided. Hope to be dancing Thursday night. I'm still ticked off about the "we'd have to bump two people off the flight if we put you on it" comment - I'm not that damn big - sheesh. Written by kpf
on 7/27/2009
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"Walked along the river and sat and listened to Sunpie singing some Calipso music while the clouds passed overhead and shipping was passing behind the stage.".... Awww, kp-- that is so romantic ... but, I need Sunpie as a "bodyguard"..... <w> Written by KjunLady
on 7/27/2009
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Bummer ... not only do I get bumped from the flight tomorrow ... but then I'm told that if they put me (with zero baggage) on the flight they would have to bump TWO people. May as well just call me "Jabba the Hut" fer Gawd's sake. Written by wah
on 7/27/2009
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Who is the dumazz that tried to drag POTUS into the conversation... Sounds like a blubbering whiney ass.............. President Obama would have sufficed.... Written by
on 7/27/2009
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I like Bruce's music. One of the happiest moments in my life was late one afternoon downtown. We had exhausted ourselves dancing at some festival. Walked along the river and sat and listened to Sunpie singing some Calipso music while the clouds passed overhead and shipping was passing behind the stage. Don't know why, but that was a moment I'll never forget. You "may"" get a cents symbol by holding down the "alt" key then pressing the numeric keys 0-1-6-2 - for some reason this (and alt-0176 the "degree" symbol) is not working for me???? Written by your Mama
on 7/27/2009
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kpf... Thursday... <check>.... (Computer keyboards need a "check-mark" and a "cents-symbol."... donchya think?) Written by KJ
on 7/27/2009
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I clearly heard her say "he's a whack job" - (or WAS that you?). Very early on, I told her we should not discuss politics - we don't. She knows how much I care about her - I pamper her endlessly - without smothering her mind you. NOTHING has more meaning to me than that little lady; she knows this. But politics? Best not discussed as she is quite the little pinko, bless her heart. As far as finances go however, she calls me a "spendthrift" (me, "Mr. Fiscally Conservative" .. a "spendthrift"?) - that's okay as we both agree that a high level of savings and low debt is the only sensible way to live (now, "if only" those in D.C. felt that way). One could say she's more "fiscally conservative" than I. (Actually she's a friggin' TIGHTA$$ - and YES - I do say that to her face - at a safe distance of course - and uh ... not when I want "anything" from her - after all, one must have one's priorities straight). Written by kpf
on 7/26/2009
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"whose wife described his political beliefs to KJ as 'whack job.' " Haa--- KP, you sure that wasn't ME you overheard?.. Actually, 'Mrs. kpf' said you were "very opinionated.".... (nothing derogatory)...Shoot, KP- you two are still newlyweds....she'll change... <w> Written by KJ
on 7/26/2009
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Wouldn't it be nice if we could all get together - no political discussion please! - and sip a mint julip at the Butlers with RW & her hubby? Sounds heavenly. I will be coming in for a 2 day school Wed & Thurs, actually coming in Tues and back out here Friday. Yumpin' yimminy! - I get to go the the R&B instead of being stuck offshore. Alahu-akbar Baby! Every dog has his day, even fat boys whose wife described his political beliefs to KL as "whack job." (I'm not sure what she meant by that, I assume it's a compliment). Written by kpf
on 7/26/2009
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Gin and Tonic, dears, but only Bombay Blue Sapphire. Your verandah or mine? Written by RhettsWife
on 7/25/2009
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Stirred or shaken? Written by Bond ....... James Bond
on 7/25/2009
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"Why don't we all sit down and have a beer?"...LOL...make mine a martini. Written by KJ
on 7/25/2009
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Why don't we all sit down and have a beer? Written by David Quidd
on 7/25/2009
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I feel so safe and secure knowing that my President doesn't make rash decisions or comments based on feelings and empathy, I am so greatful that he gets all the facts before making comments and decisions. Knowing that when that phone rings at 3:00 am, he'll push Rahm out of the way and answer that call the way we would expect a President to answer! Written by CN
on 7/25/2009
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Gates is rich and famous only because he perpetuates racism. It's his life's mission. He lives and breathes and teaches and draws a big check based on maintaining it as a social issue. Cops go to work every day hoping to protect citizens, solve and prevent crimes, protect their fellow officers and themselves and come home to their families a the end of the day. -- Henry Gates goes to work to promote racism, to further racism, to draw a big check based on racism every day. That's why he started the problem in Cambridge. Who does Obama have more in common with - the public servant or the institutionalized, glorified racist??? Written by
on 7/24/2009
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Randall, dear, your points are well taken and proven by facts. Even the remarks made by President Obama today still leave much to be desired in this unfortunately racist issue. It is time to realize that this issue must be sublimated to the best interest of ALL citizens regardless of ancestry. The President owes an apology to the police directly involved and to those others on the police force. The same is true of the Cambridge mayor, the governor of the state, and the professor himself. Written by RhettsWife
on 7/24/2009
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When someone is arrested, they should be "cuffed"! Give Owhampy enough rope and let the subject hang himself! Owhampy's whole life has been "unfortunate"! He can not even prove that he is a born U. S. citizen? Written by Driver
on 7/24/2009
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The president's remarks were insulting, offensive and demeaning to: a)Sgt. Crowley; b)the Cambridge Police Dept. c)police in general. As the family member of a police officer who leaves his home every morning, his family not knowing whether he will return in the evening in order to protect every citizen, the president cast aspersions on both Sgt. Crowley and the Cambridge Police Dept. out of ignorance and lack of information. Officer Crowley had an exemplary record of 28 years of service, had taught classes on racial profiling--a fact Mr. Obama was ignorant of when he made his inappropriate and offensive statement. Also, eyewitnesses corraborate the officer's account of the incident--that the professor was belligerent, obviously looking for confrontation rather than resolution.
President Obama obviously took sides with the professor because of his personal friendship, not knowing any specifics of the case. He judged the officer in question to be automatically guilty before proven innocent, a basic American right afforded to murderers, rapists, etc.---those who risk their safety to protect the community are entitled to the same from their president, who trumpteted the idea that he wanted to president "of all the people".
Next time Mr. President, don't insult police because of your frindship personally with the Harvard prof or because of your ideology! Written by Randall
on 7/24/2009
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At the very least, i would say Obama is an idiot.
Why in hell would he have ever commented on this? And comments prior to ascertaining facts makes him look like a knee jerk racist.
sooooo stupid to:
...........1. comment on it before he got the facts
...........2. encourage a racist like Gates and give him press time
...........3. call the cops, stupid
............4. implicitly OBAMA was also supporting Gates contention that when a black man is reported to be breaking into a house, the questioning of a black man that meets that description is racial profiling?
THIS COMPLETE IDOCY FROM A HARVARD PROFESSOR? So if a black man is reported breaking into a house, we should not question a black man who is in the house?? or we should get some white women to question to balance it or what?
THERE IS NO LOGIC, THIS IS PURE RACISM. GATES IS A RACIST, HE PROBABALY SCREAMS RACISM WHEN HIS STEAK IS OVER-COOKED AT A RESTAURANT.
NOW, all the attention is on Obama who appears, in this case, to be a knee jerk racist himself that makes stupid comments like "blacks and hispanics get questioned more than whites"........without the ending, BECAUSE THEY COMMIT MORE CRIME.
OBAMA LOOKS LIKE A STUPID RACIST WITH A BIG MOUTH ON THIS ONE.
THE BLACK OFFICER ON THE SCENE SAID GATES WAS A NUT CASE, THE BLACK AND MIXED ETHNIC COP GROUPS ARE BASICALLY CALLING OBAMA A RACIST LIBERAL COP HATER AND BACKING THE ARRESTING OFFICER.
.........AND ALL OBAMA HAD TO DO WAS KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT AND CONCENTRATE ON SOCIALIZING AMERICA TO BE MEDIOCRE AND GOVERNMENT CONTROLLED........ Written by IS OBAMA AN IDIOT, RACIST, OR BOTH?
on 7/24/2009
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Quid bro, YOU DO REALIZE THAT THE BLACK OFFICER ON THE SCENE STATED GATES WAS A NUT CASE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN ARRESTED? Written by David Quid is right
on 7/24/2009
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The POTUS should NEVER comment on an ongoing investigation. NEVER. Anytime a police officer asks for your ID you give it to him. DUH Written by
on 7/24/2009
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The charge against Professor Gates was dropped. Actions speak louder than words Jeff. Written by David Quidd
on 7/24/2009
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Obama should have stopped at I don't know the facts. His remarks have put every police officer in danger and hurt their effectiveness to work in the black community. From the report I read and the statements by the other officer on the scene, it appears that the officer played this by the book. Why was Gates yelling at the officer? Why didn't he just explain why he was breaking into his house? I would like to here the 911 tape and other tape. Gibbs remarks that the police organizations backed McCain were not helpful. What does that have to do with this? Obama's refusal to say that he was wrong to comment is troubling. Written by Sharon
on 7/24/2009
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A bit of freindly advice. If confronted by a police officer.. remain calm - do not say or do anything threatening - be polite - be deferrential - be respectful. They are so used to getting crap from people, your calm demeanor will serve you far better than a confrontational attitude ever will. Written by kpf
on 7/24/2009
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Sir, your whole piece was contingent on the police report and the officer's word. Did you ever stop to entertain the possibility that those were less than 100% accurate. The idea that you "know black people" or saved a citizen as is your duty makes it impossible for you to have a prejudice is pretty remarkable. The idea that the President, to make you comfortable and allow you to move on from racism, should remove his point of reference as a black man and not give an INFORMED opinion is "stupid." There are millions who have an informed opinion of what happened between Dr. Gates and the officer, they never had to set foot in that room to get one. It's called being black in America Written by Jeffrey is No Fan of Yours
on 7/24/2009
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Professor Gates sounds like David Vitter when he tripped the airport alarms-- "Do you know who I am?"... Sgt. Crowley's partner, an Afro-American Officer, was also present for the entire incident—and, he reiterated that Sgt.Crowley was a sincere officer, and concerned in doing what was right….... and agrees with the action taken.... President Obama said he disagreed with "bringing the professor away from his home and down to the police station"... Maybe… they could’ve stopped with the handcuffs—that would’ve been humiliating enough and would’ve served as due punishment … Has David Vitter ever been clamped in handcuffs? (Now, now.) Written by KJ
on 7/24/2009
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At the end of his scripted news conference on healthcare reform the other night, President Obama took one last question. He must have thought that it would be another softball question on healthcare. He breezed through the first ten questions without breaking a sweat, but when he answered a question about the arrest of African American Harvard Professor Henry Gates he made a tremendous error. Obama declared that the police acted “stupidly” by arresting Gates at his own home and then went on to claim that African Americans and Hispanics are the victims of racial profiling by police. 
