Obama: Cambridge police acted stupidly
Monti Says: This political hack even states that he doesn’t know all the facts of the case yet, he goes racial. Has he ever explained why over 90% of black voters voted for him? That’s not racial right? They just knew who the better candidate was. I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you too.
Associated Press
July 23, 2009
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama said Wednesday that police acted “stupidly” in the arrest of prominent black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. and that despite racial progress blacks and Hispanics are still singled out unfairly for arrest.
Watch the full comment on the left, and give us your thoughts here
“This still haunts us,” Obama said.
Obama called Gates a friend, and said he doesn’t know all the facts of the case. Nonetheless, Obama said, anyone would have been angry if treated the way Gates claims police in Cambridge, Mass., treated him. Gates claims he was arrested in his own home after showing ID to police who responded to a report of a possible burglary.
Police say Gates yelled at the officers and initially refused to show his ID. Gates allegedly yelled “this is what happens to a black man in America” and “you don’t know who you’re messing with” before he was arrested, and police said he was uncooperative. ( read the arrest report )
“Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof he was in own home,” Obama said during a prime-time news conference that otherwise focused on the health care debate.
“What I think we know separate and apart from this incident is that there’s a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately,” Obama said. “That’s just a fact.”
The nation’s first black president held himself up as testament to what he called the “incredible progress” minorities have achieved.
Gates’ arrest followed a report of a possible burglary. A neighbor apparently saw Gates force the front door and called in a police report. Police came, and demanded that Gates showed identification. Gates was arrested shortly afterward for disorderly conduct, a charge that was dropped Tuesday.
Click here for the actual complaint: http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0723092gates1.html
They did act “stupidly.” Regardless of the facts, the police should have been able to assess the situation, check their cell phones or google Dr.Gates, and then talk to the lady who made the call. A well trained officer would have understood Gate’s reaction and contained the situation and moved on. But it appears Officer Crowley did not possess these skills and instead brought shame and embarassment to the fine Cambridge Police department.
You should change your name to bkwrdthnkndad. Why? It’s not a court of law out in the streets pal. People are NOT presumed innocent until proven guilty. Crime is occurring constantly whether you want to admit it or not no matter where the neighborhood is. If the police observe certain behavior, they must react in seconds WITHIN reason to prevent the situation from getting worse. When he became pompous with the famous, “Do you know who I am?” line, they could care less who or what he is. Whether he is black or white or hispanic or other was not the issue. Whether he’s an electrician or college professor was not the issue either. The bottom line is he got out of hand and he needed to be restrained.
You are nothing but a back-bench, Monday morning quarterback trying to judge a situation you have no experience with. Now do us all a favor and YOU go on Google and look up the words “common sense” and see what it means. I guarantee there will be no mention of your name there.
Paul, first thanks for offering your suggestion about changing my name. For now, I like it. Second, I found your responses confusing. Who has suggested the streets are a court of law?However people in this country are assumed to be innocent until proven guilty. Perhaps you are unfamiliar with how things work in America.
I believe most people, especially police officers are aware that there will be times when they must respond in seconds; hopefully to de-escalate the situation.
Since you felt free to offer me suggestions, I’d like to do the same. I suggest you read a book called “Black and White styles in Conflict,” by Thomas Kochman. It may help you better understand the “Do you know who I am? remark. In fact, it does matter that he was black. I don’t think anyone would have been shocked if Donald Trump posed the same question.
Also if you are correct and Gates got out of hand, and the only solution Officer Crowley could come up with is “to restrain him,” a 58 year old , small man with a cane-then Crowley should needs extra training on how to respond to weak, frail men.
Lastly, may the Lord, Jesus Christ offer you and your loved ones peace in these troubled times.
As you can see, the backlash against the “stupidity” remark is growing. You can close your eyes and drink all of the Kool-Aid you want. The bottom line is that when he was asked about this incident last night in front of the entire country, he should have acted presidential and stated that he would rather reserve judgement once he receives all of the facts directly himself. The fact that he “attacked” the actions of the police department without having all of the facts, shows his bias.