“Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof he was in own home.” — Barack Obama
Seems pretty straightforward no? The Whitehouse says no.
At the end of yesterday’s presser, President Obama made the remark about the arrest by the Cambridge police of Harvard scholar Louis Gates Jr. I would think that in the prep work before the conference that they might have anticipated that this question would come up. I also assume that even the most junior level advisor would know how to properly answer such a question. The proper answer would have been something like “Well I am a friend of Dr. Gates but I am obviously not going to prejudge the situation without all the facts. I assume that the Cambridge police will thoroughly look into the matter to insure that everything was handled properly and if it wasn’t to take the proper steps.” and then to make some general remarks about race in America.
Instead the president, without all the facts and either out of arrogance or naivete, condemned the actions of local law enforcement going so far as to call their action “stupid.”
Due to this blunder, this is now the story of the day with his health care proposals remaining on life support. So now it is tap dance time. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs is now cast in the role of Baghdad Bob with the mandate to convey the message – in as straight faced manner as possible – that the obvious meaning of the Presidents remarks is not the obvious meaning of the president’ remarks.
“Let me be clear, he was not calling the officer stupid,” Gibbs told reporters as Obama landed in Cleveland for two health care events Thursday. He said Obama felt that “at a certain point the situation got far out of hand” at Gates’ home last week.
Yeah, except he did. Reading this ridiculous spin it occurred to me that Obama does not only think that the Cambridge police officers involved are stupid, if he expects you to buy this nonsensical spin he thinks you are stupid too.
Nice work Mr. President. What were we talking about again? I think it had something to do with Doctors…
July 23, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Now that the facts are out, it appears the Cambridge police did act stupidly. Which is why they dropped the charges. Gates did not assault anyone, least of all the officer. If you feel it is warranted that an unarmed man be arrested in his own yard for yelling in public, then maybe you might want to rethink your place in the universe.
July 23, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Anonymous wrote:
Now that the facts are out, it appears the Cambridge police did act stupidly.
So… why do you think Obama and co. are in full fledged "cover-their-caboose" mode, if it's so obvious and non-controversial that "Cambridge police acted stupidly"?
July 23, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Gates was arrested because he was uncooperative in a police investigation. If he were outside and yelling he could be arrested for being a nuisance. If he was (as some have indicated) under the influence of alcohol he could have been arrested for public intox.
Why did he not say sorry officer, "this is what happened… the front door was stuck, and I had to break into my own home. Thank you for responding so quickly." Instead he became beligerant and uncooperative. Thus, he was arrested. NOT because he was black, but because he was not cooperating with the police officer. The officer was well within his rights to act the way he did.
What happened here is this: A well known African American with an ax to grind decided to play the race card to the fullest extent.
July 23, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Anonymous said: "If you feel it is warranted that an unarmed man be arrested in his own yard for yelling in public, then maybe you might want to rethink your place in the universe."
It is perfectly warrented for a police officer to arrest a man in his own yard for yelling! That is disorderly conduct. He attracted a crowd with his behavior and was inciting hatred for the policeman who was there to help HIM! Let me tell you that if the situation were reversed, and a black officer were on the receiving end of that kind of angry racial slurs, that white professor would still be in jail now!
Kate
July 23, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Also, the fact that Obama is BLINDLY – and without full knowledge – throwing his support behind the "victim" Gates is maddening. Even Bill Cosby is calling him out on it. I really feel bad for the officer involved. To be labelled a racist by the media and called "stupid" by the President is completely outrageous. This mans integrity is on the line here. Both Gates and Obama owe him a sincere public apology.
July 23, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Anonymous #1;
"Now that the facts are out…" = "Now that i finally heard something that I can loosely apply to heal my image of by beloved Zero…"
Anony, hover over the press reports and assimilate information from both sides before you shoot off at the mouth. K? Thanks!
July 23, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Let me be clear: I think the president thinks that you, and I, and all the American people are stupid. And that fact that so many voted for him and were drawn into his cult of personality shows that, as a group, we are either stupid or we are incredibly gullible.
July 23, 2009 at 9:55 pm
What I absolutely love is the phrase… "Let me be clear"
It seems to be the epitome of the Obama campaign. I can't count the # of times I've heard that phrase used by him or his staff.
And the best part? You know that once that phrase rears it's head, the water is about to get reaaallly muddy.
🙂
July 23, 2009 at 10:08 pm
I just love the play of the race card when it had absolutely nothing to do with the situation…
Unfortunately, the American people put this guy into office.
July 23, 2009 at 11:18 pm
We are a people gathered unto ourselves and as such, whether we're celebrating eucharist, a birthday or any celebration, we must show love and compassion. I always remind my CCD students that we need to love one another as God has loved us. We celebrate! We believe!
July 23, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Well, technically the Press Secretary is right, Pres Obama didn't say the police officer was stupid, just that he did a stupid action. The person with the highest IQ in the world can act stupidly on occasion.
Did the police officer do something stupid? Based on the facts I've seen I'd have to say NO.
Did Obama say something stupid? Oh yea…definitely.
July 24, 2009 at 12:08 am
When did we become a country that honestly believes arresting someone just to defuse a situation is the "worst thing evar?" Do people even remember what drunk tanks are, or what a college campus can be like?
And can I just say that I love that because we're a Catholic blog we get anony trolls as well as anony angels? Keep on rocking it, Anony 6:18!
July 24, 2009 at 3:05 am
Has anyone noticed that when Obama or his people say something outrageous which is followed by common sense people being upset by these things, the comments mysteriously come to pass. For example, Napalitano says pro-lifers and returning military are potential domestic terrorists (paraphrased) a couple of weeks later an abortionist is killed. Obama goes to the NAACP and rails about racism, those who elected him (a lot of white folks) get upset and their is a seemingly racist event almost immediately. These two incidences come to mind but there have been more I have noticed. Since Obama is no prophet the veracity of the events are suspect in my mind.
July 24, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Did realize how much national attention this is getting, being from Massachusetts.
Most recent local AP Story….
2nd Cambridge cop says Gates arrest went by the book
Updated: 07/24/2009 11:26:25 AM EDT
"BOSTON (AP) — The second Cambridge, Mass., police officer who was inside the home of renowned black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. during his arrest says he and the arresting officer "followed protocols."
Patrolman Carlos Figueroa says he and Sgt. James Crowley were investigating a report of a burglary at Gates' home near Harvard University, and they needed to be sure everyone was in the house legally. He said that's why Crowley asked Gates for his identification.
Figueroa said Gates shouted "No, I will not!" He also says Gates was shouting at Crowley, calling him a racist and saying, "This is what happens to black men in America!"
Figueroa told The Associated Press on Friday that he and Crowley did what they were supposed to do.
Gates' supporters say he's a victim of racial profiling."
July 24, 2009 at 7:11 pm
I'm glad the police officer was called on his game. I'm tired of these police officers who walk around like they own the world and harass law-abiding citizens. This it the only country where police officers go under cover to catch people. Where are the rights of law-abiding citizens. Police are racists and anybody who says the oppposite is racist too.
July 24, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Love the logic and the courage of your comment Anonymous (2:11pm). It's not harassment to investigate a complaint and ask for ID. It's standard operating procedure.
By your logic bar bouncers are ageist and harass young customers by asking them for ID before entry…
But maybe I'm just a racist-agist person.
By the way, have you ever bothered to have a conversation with any of your local law enforcers? You'll often find that they're good honest people who care about their community and love their job.
People like you sicken me.
July 25, 2009 at 3:39 am
Wow!! I never thought that this will be such a big news. It went from Gates arrest to Obama apalogy. This has become more interesting than what I thought. So, I collected all the sites or articles (more than 250 sites or articles) related to this hot topic "Cambridge Police Unit Demands Apology from Obama". If you are interested take a look at news, video coverage, people views and reviews on this topic at the below link.
http://markthispage.blogspot.com/2009/07/all-about-cambridge-police-unit-demands.html
July 25, 2009 at 3:55 am
I don’t know the facts, but Obama acted stupidly and is a racist! I denounce him, the ACLU, MSNBC, and the Democrat party for the their Racism.
runescape money
July 25, 2009 at 7:38 pm
I hate the Democratic Party. That's why I'm a gun-totin', Sarah Palin lovin' Republican. All those democrats want to do is kill our babies and make us get married to the same sex. I don't need no government. As long as I got my gun and my six pack, I'm just fine.
July 27, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Yeah. And he wasn't even born in the U.S. He was born in Hawaii. I thought you had to be a natural born citizen to be president. I want a U.S. born president, that's why I voted for McCain.