Obama calls cop: Bad 'choice of words'

awesome

This may sound lame-- but I think it would be an awesome idea to have both parties take him up on the offer. They could have real dialogue about the incident. Maybe they could tell us what they think of healthcare...bringing this whole SAGA, that dear leader mindlessly decided to inject himself into, around. If you think about it the cop and Obama have a lot in common; beside the no regrets. Both are victims of circumstance, on the job-- that split moment where you take one extra small step--that on a normal day wouldn't even register-- but before an audience of millions-- with their own sensitivities-- blowing you out of the water-- leaving you out of character. (You can inject Gates here, too.)

He manned up and admitted he spoke rashly. Good, now get Gates to shut up and lets get on with the business of the country.

This is the difference between Bush and Obama - Obama at least has the class and the common sense to quickly admit a mistake.

Obama said "I actually just had a conversation with Sgt. Jim Crowley, the officer involved,'' Obama said. "And I have to tell you that, as I said yesterday, my impression of him was that he was a outstanding police officer and a good man, and that was confirmed in the phone conversation -- and I told him that."

Since when did Crowley quit or get fired. Why is Obama using the past tense as Obama.

Why is also joking. This was not funny. The only apology to be made here is Obama and Gates for saying this a racial issue.

This is what happens when he speaks without a teleprompter.

Heh, I guess The One is fallible, after all.

The GOP will be bummed they can't keep using this "issue" to delay healthcare reform.

Obama is a mess. His severe narcissism is destroying this nation. Does anyone actually believe a word this buffoon says any more?

"Obama calls cop: Bad 'choice of words'"

It just shows the flawed and racist thinking behind the teleprompter.

Gates should be thanking the neighbor who took the time to call police in addition to the police for quickly following up on a potential burglary! Instead he claims racial profiling.

I am no Harvard professor but by anyone's definition racial profiling involves systematically stopping, restricting someone for no other reason than the color of their skin. This was hardly the case here!

Professor Primrose Prima Donna Gates, PhD BAP

Bad joice of word? Why couldn't the president just man up, and say " I was out of line and should have kept my mouth shut " If you are are to be a leader, admit you are wrong without sugar coating it.

Obama is a mess. His severe narcissism is destroying this nation. Does anyone actually believe a word this buffoon says any more?

Posted by: Derrick | July 24, 2009 4:27 PM

No.....we believe buffoons like you.

As usual Derrick you have nothing sensible to say.

Obama was right, it was a stupid arrest. And he's also right to try to put an end to this feeding frenzy; and he's smart enough to know that there's no benefit to having cops mad at you.

Obama is a mess. His severe narcissism is destroying this nation. Does anyone actually believe a word this buffoon says any more?

Posted by: Derrick | July 24, 2009 4:27 PM

Yeah - let's get Bush back!! He'll get our country back on track. And let's get Palin in there too!! They'll fix it all!!

Oh gee......wrong choice of words?

I have a better idea........Mr. President......APOLOGIZE to the office, and admit you had no idea what you were saying.

Invite Crowley and Gates to the White House? BS !

Crowley should insist that you go to Cambridge Police HQ and apologize to you to your face...like a MAN !

This "acting stupid" man is our President ?????

1. Obama said "acted stupidly. " He did not call the police 'stupid.' Big Difference.
2. If you arrived home from a 14 hour flight, could not get into your house, had a well-meaning passer-by call the cops on you, and ultimately end up in hand cuffs in your own home, you'd be pissed off, too. Both Gates and the cop over-reacted.
3. Substitute "Rush Limbaugh" for "Henry Gates" in this incident and no arrest takes place.
4. Derrick - "buffoon?" Really?? Were you asleep during W's Presidency, because if ever there was a buffoon in the White House, it was him.

Hmm... Let's see, we can read the transcript word-for-word when he spoke to the "white" cop, but the conversation between Gates ( a friend) and Obama remains confidential? Gee, I wonder what he said... "Hey man, I need to cool down this heat, so I apologized to whitey... I hope we're still cool". Or something like that. Well you voting fools, here is your "change you ca believe in". Don't blame me, I voted for McCain (war hero, POW and esteemed Senator).

It was nice he called the officer, it would seem that unless he has a teleprompter telling him what to say he's really not such an elegant speaker.. It does worry me that since Obama took office how many times I have heard the race card played.. I do realize that there are pure racists in the world (not just AMERICA), but all of a sudden if you don't agree with someone or just don't like someone who is black your a racist.. If you apply procedural law or don't recognize someone who just happens to be black and thinks you should know who they are again it's stereotyping. I have a feeling in this case this Gates is just arrogant and doesn't give out the respect he demands.. and the poor policeman was just making sure the owners house wasn't be broken into.. the President however has to learn to STAY OUT of things he is NOT cued by his teleprompter to say.. and to those who like to use the race card like it's a charge card.. put it away.. your over charged..

Although I lean more Republican, I voted for Obama and he is showing both class and the ability to admit he makes poor decisions like all of us once in a while. Remember when a reporter asked Bush if he ever made a mistake he regretted? Bush could not and did not answer.

I don't agree with the Prez on all issues, but I am impressed by his manner and his humanity.

Slowly but surely, Obama is disarming a whole culture weened on "gotcha" moments instead of serious dialog. After Obamas 8 years in office, we might actually function as an informed electorate again, rather than moronic participants of a Jerry Springer episode.

-"Obama at least has the class and the common sense"
.
I doubt Bush would have made this kind of mistake. I never heard him say a bad word about anyone.
Now what's that about class?

One of the most enduring myths of the Obama administration is that the man is some sort of genius. In reality, he's a stumbling, bumbling, confused fool when he doesn't have the words written for him on a teleprompter. rom "Cominsky Field" to "57 states" to "stupidly," Obama doesn't have a clue. Unfortunately, we're all going to suffer for his ignorance and arrogance.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0723092gates1.html

For all the people blindly supporting Gates, please go to the above link and read the ENTIRE police report.The report provides great detail on what occurred and shows the Officer's actions were, for the most part, reasonable.

I also want to point out that Sgt. Crowley was chosen by the Cambridge Police Chief (a black man and friend of Gates. In fact, this was the "Chief" that Gates was trying to call during the incident) to provide training to other officers on how to AVOID "racial profiling."

Oh, and by the way, 15 years ago Sgt. Crowley, while working security at Brandeis Univ., provided mouth-to-mouth to NBA star Reggie Lewis (also a black man) in an effort to save his life. As a person that voted for Obama last November, I look forward to a full apology to Sgt. Crowley. Not the half-.ssed one he offered.

Resuscitation

A cop, a Harvard profeesor, and the president walk into a bar . . .

Chris said:

"This is the difference between Bush and Obama - Obama at least had the class and the common sense to quickly admit a mistake."

After Press Secretary Gibbs' typically-pathetic attempt to try and spin the President's statement, Mr. Obama had to finally fess up.

Bush never would have made a "stupidly" gut reaction like this in the first place. He was presidential.

President Obama's approval rating by the usually reliable Rassmussen Report is already below that of Jimmy Carter. It will be interesting to see if this latest problem sends him plummeting downward toward uncharted waters.

Hey Wally -- it's the Dems that are blocking the God-awful Obamacare, not the GOP. In the end, it doesn't matter who kills it, just that it's killed. Obama is grabbing as much of the private economy as he can to create his nanny utopia and install himself as boy king. Dems and Repubs are teaming up to ensure that never happens.

It was a setup anyway, to make up for Obama's speech at the NAACP convention. Gates is a good friend of Obama's. Pres had to do something to get back into good graces with America's black population. It's a shame the public - and the media - are manipulated like this, but welcome to Chicago politics at its finest.

Obama has taken race relations down a notch. Obama took Gates side without knowing the exact facts what stupidity. If anybody was crazy in this situation it was Obama who took sides without facts. At least now we know what to except from this so called leader.

I'm a little disappointed that Obama capitulated, but this was obviously a political move to take the wind out of the news media's sails and from carrying it over more news cycles, becoming a major distraction.

I believe Obama's initial reaction to the Gates incident and I agree with him in his assessment then. I think he had the right to feel disgusted by what he heard and he spoke candidly, which is a first for a sitting president. Had this been McCain or Palin, nothing would have been said about it. Those two wouldn't have had the empathy to be able to even discuss the matter intelligently.

I do not think Officer Crowley did himself any favors by declaring, publicly, that he would refuse to apologize to Dr. Gates. For one thing, he's brought embarrassment on the Cambridge Police. And for the police officers' union to thumb their noses at the White House by demanding an apology from Obama is the height of disrespect. I'm still waiting for an apology from George W. Bush for the condition he left this country in at the end of his term.

Think we'll ever get that?

The only regret I have that this matter became a public one is that it's given thousands, if not millions, of virulent, anti-black racists an opportunity to spew their vicious rhetoric into the air and on the Internet.

I'm curious, Mr. Silva, as to why you think Obama was "joking" about having a beer with the guys?

I read another account where House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the beer get-together was likely to happen.

I LOVE how the Obama cheerleaders here continue to bring up Bush over and over. They are stuck and clearly not very smart. Hey kids -- Bush is not the president any longer. It's Obama who is running the country into the ground.

The Obamessiah jumping on the racial thing....It was just a matter of time....Is anyone really surprised?????

ADDENDUM:
Why-Oh, Why-Oh, Why-Oh Did Blacks Attack in Ohio?

(Please see “Sergeant Crowley Does His Job and Is Vilified for It!” http://www.genelalor.com/blog1/, a companion piece to the current article.

The former article relates to the virtual crucifixion of Sgt. James Crowley, a Cambridge, MA cop who acted altogether properly in investigating a suspected break-in and was roundly castigated as a racist for doing his job. The present piece relates to a racist incident in Akron, Ohio and the failure of the Akron P.D. to do its job.)

It had been a fun evening for Marty Marshall, his family, and two friends and they were now hanging out, just shooting the breeze in South Akron. That’s in Ohio, for the geographically-challenged.

Marty, his wife, two kids and their buddies had just enjoyed the fireworks at Firestone Stadium and were extending the great evening. Then, ”Out of nowhere, the six were attacked by dozens of teenage boys, who shouted ‘This is our world’ and ‘This is a black world’ as they confronted Marshall and his family.”

Without any provocation, the group of about 50 black teens then viciously and mindlessly assaulted Marshall and his buddy.

This whole story is reminiscent of another recent incident in the unlikely-named, tiny and forlorn town of Alligator, Mississippi. There, it was much less violent, if equally disquieting.

After the town’s blacks, emboldened and energized by the election of America’s first black president, elected Alligator’s first black mayor, a group of black teens descended on the former mayor, Robert Fava’s, general store.

The new black mayor, Tommie Brown, had set the new tone for Alligator with his T-shirt which read, “Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid!” Some black teens picked up on that ominous warning and charged into the store.

According to a black witness, “They was pulling down their pants, shouting, ‘Kiss my black ass, because we got a black mayor:’ “ http://www.genelalor.com/blog1/?p=1118.

I think it’s great that America’s black minority feels that the election of the semi-black Barack Hussein Obama as president of the United States has somehow empowered them and has somehow validated their citizenship and existence. However, as pendula are wont to do, America’s pendulum seems to have swung wildly to the black extreme.

Take Akron Marty’s experience. After his friend was attacked for no reason by the black mob of teens, he jumped in to defend his friends and family. He suffered a concussion and other serious injuries which landed him in the ICU unit of Akron General Medical Center for 5 days.

In classic Mid West understatement, the uninsured Marty Marshall, who believes he can identify some of the attackers, later said, “To me, it seems to be racist:” http://bit.ly/Us9Qf.

Gee, ya think, Marty? That assault was either racially inspired or else the black teens merely craved exercise by pummeling white people.

What’s most disconcerting . . .

(Read the rest at http://www.genelalor.com/blog1/?p=1126)

WHO CARES!!!!

THIS IS STUPID!!!!

ALL THIS DOES IS PROVIDE ANOTHER EXCUSE FOR THE RAPID RIGHT-WING LUNATIC FRINGER'S TO FOAM AT THE MOUTH AND SHOW HOW RACIST AND HATEFUL THEY ARE!!!!

Did Barry ever pay up on his 11 parking tickets he got when he was in Cambridge ?..... Oh yeah he did pay it, ...4 days before he ran for Prez.

Obama is acting stupidly by trying to ram socialized medicine down our throats. Fortunately, support for his Marxist agenda is at an all-time low today according to the latest Rasmussen poll. The majority of Americans are now opposed to him. He's sinking and the quicker we get the country out of his hands, the better off America and the world will be.

"Bush is not the president any longer." THANK GOD! The man who brought us the Iraq War and the Great Recession....who wanted gynecologists to practice their "love" on women....who considers throwing the first pitch at an All-Star game as the most memorable moment of his Presidency....yeah, there's an intelligent, clear-thinking, straight-talking guy for you! At least Obama is man enough to pick up the phone and talk to the cop in question. W never attended a single Iraq War funeral or visited a hospital. Class act.

11 Parking Tickets?!?!? Alert the media!!! And as long as you're at it, get them to unearth W's DUI's, as well as his SEC records...oh, wait...locked up in Bush 1's Presidential Library. Seriously, Don, you can do better than that.

Typical Obama. Everytime he speaks his truth he ends up with his foot in his mouth and then wiggles. Someone should tell him that once the toothpaste is out of the tube it won't go back in. He just proves again that if you are black and wrong...play the race card.

For all the Bush haters...GET OVER IT! HE's GONE! AND He did not make ALL of America's problems. Maybe you should "step up" like your man Obama and lend an open hand. Talk about about hypocrites. --- And race was an issue here...but NOT on the officer.

FYI -> Not all police officers are saints and some do misbehave and even engage in racial profiling and other forms of mis-behavior.

I was picked up for a "median strip violation" in Cook County. The "arresting officer" called for a back-up cruiser.

I was "escorted" by TWO cruisers to the Cook County court house to finalize my $110 ticket.

While banks were being robbed and there were gang-related shootings in the streets, two uniformed officers in their cruisers had me sandwiched between them.

This was my second traffic violation in ten years.

Oh, both officers were roughly twice my size, so I was hardly a physical threat.

WOW! So if *I* disrespect a police officer, do *I* get a call from the President? I'll go out and do it right now if I could say a few words to Teleprompter!

To Margaret | July 24, 2009 5:27 PM:

Get your facts right before you write. Sounds like your taking after your buddy Obama and talking before you know all the facts. And its clear you were never in the military. Bush has been to hospitals - he has healing troops to his ranch and white house - he just doesnt take photo ops and grand stands like 'others'. He did it for the right reasons...for the wounded troop(s). Try reading some first hand account books for a change...

Once again, the wingnuts show their stripes. At least this wasn't Bush, avoiding the press when possible, or showing thathe only cared about his big-business friends and white Christians. At least we saw part of the real Obama. For the teleprompter idiots, he still sounds like a genius compared to Bush, who screwed up even with a teleprompter.

I am very disappointed President Obama backed away from the truth.

I regret that this race-bating man is our President. I wish the country could go back and "calibrate" our votes differently. Hahaha

I do not agree with everything Obama does, for example, the way he is going forward with the healthcare reform, but I give him credit that he tries very hard and his best to do his job the best he knows. He is making such an effort! I would not say he does everything for the benefit of the country and people, he has his own political agenda and goal to reach, but at least he works very hard in to do his job. Comparing to Bush, who was on vocations all the time and did not come back to work even after harricane Katrina destroyed the New Orlean. Please, people, give our president some credit for his efforts. He cares so much to do his job and does not want to disappoint people, he even called the police officer in person and invited him to white house. I really appreciate his effort to satisfy every single person the way he knows possible and how.

W never attended a single Iraq War funeral or visited a hospital. Class act.
Posted by: Margaret | July 24, 2009 5:27 PM

Margaret : You might be a little more believable if you knew what the hell you were talking about. I think it's about time you move to the MTV blog...maybe the "teeny boppers" would believe you.

Mr. Bush had visited Walter Reed 11 times before yesterday, most recently just days before Christmas, in largely unpublicized appearances. But he had never been inside Building 18. Aides described him as personally upset by the stories.

from the Pitt. Post Gazette

This is what happens when the yapper is engaged before the brain. It is certainly not the first time for this 'President'. He made a point that the entire matter was proving, once again (yack) that racial profiling is alive and well...blah, blah, blah. Not only did he make inappropriate comments, he made those inappropriate comments in a way that proves to me the entire matter was politically engineered to use race in order to bolster the useless and catastrophic health 'reform' plan. More like health 'deformed' plan.

What's happening in health care? Or isn't The Swamp covering that?

Once again Mr. Obama opens mouth, sticks foot in, then tries to add spices to cover the stench. Gotta love a "leader" who can't make up his mouth - mind - or whatever!

Republican cretins are only pushing this in an effort to gain political advantage at the expense of exacerbating racial tensions.

Worse yet, on a policy level, Republicans are going to the mat for the right of police officers to arrest you in your own home if you act like a jerk. Especially if they don't like the way you look i.e. Hispanic, Black etc etc.

Just 1 more name to the list of Obamas radical friends

To Margaret Bush did visit the vets.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=24870

How do you know he did not attend a funeral.
Those are private moments and he may have do so without press reporting it.

DId Obama visit a vet go to a funeral?
Maybe BHO is afraid to go to the hospital because he may end up and get the lobotomy that he needs.

Many of the foregoing comments apparently think that bringing up extraneous issues, such as attacking Bush or claiming that any criticism of the president is somehow entwined with health care reform issues, somehow excupates the him from his most recent severe attack of foot-in-mouth disease. The bottom line is simply that he stepped into a tense, volatile situation and made it far worse by jumping to pompous moral judgment without bothering to ascertain the facts . Now he's trying desperately to back pedal after the fact and seeking to exercise some damage control without actually coming out and apologizing. What everyone needs is to step back, cool down, and dial down the emotions. The president prides himself on his communication skills, and all would concede is one very smart guy. Let's hope that he also has learned something from this modern American vignette, i.e., that the presidency can be, as TR referred to it, a "bully pulpit," but weighing one's words judiciously is all the more important given the office he occupies. The president's supporters have to accept that he is human and makes mistakes; this was one of them. The key issue is whether or not he can demonstrate that he can learn from this what are the realities of what it means to exercise power with humility.

"For all the people blindly supporting Gates, please go to the above link and read the ENTIRE police report.The report provides great detail on what occurred and shows the Officer's actions were, for the most part, reasonable."

Uhhh...and police reports have NEVER been falsified before. A cop writes it down, and it's the gospel truth. Yeah.

The more I see this today. THIS IS OBVOIUS ABUSE OF POWER BY POLICE. The police support in Massachusetts is stupid. Glad I don't live there! To make this a big issue is really stupid. Fire this police officer and let’s get back to business of this country.

Too little -- too late. I want a court case.

You cannot un-ring the bell. Obama stood up for his black buddy without knowing the facts. All he knew of for sure was that a black guy had been arrested, so he spoke out in a natinal forum to condemn the po-leece.

Jesse, Al and the Rev. Wrong would have played it the same way. When the real dialogue came out in court, they would see how much provocation Gates gave that caused his arrest.

He is hiding out of town now so this blows over -- Urkel wants it to go away too but I want a court date.

Gates needs to apologise for being such a racist too.

There is no doubt in this situation that the President was completely & entirely wrong in his choice of words. Yes, race is a very sensitive issue in this country & from his remarks we can certainly tell which side the President is on.

Hey, at least he can relax after all the hoopla he caused.

President Barack Obama and his family plan to spend their summer holidays at Blue Heron Farm on Martha’s Vineyard. The family is finalizing negotiations for the rental of the property, which goes for $35,000 to $50,000 per week. Located on more than 28 acres, the property includes a swimming pool, a small basketball court and a golf tee. Blue Heron Farm belongs to Whitey and Mollie Van Devender, who bought it in 2005 for $20.35 million.

I thought when I voted for Obama he was a master of the ways of politics. I am very disappointed at his "poor choice of words". Didn't he realize how this would be spun. As for Professor Gates, his inability to control his rage did more to derail the health care bill than the Republicans could ever have done. Way to go Brother! I could have used some health insurance. But you probably have insurance at Harvard so what do you care.

Obama acted stupidly. He needs to apologize to officer Crowley

Where do you see abuse of police power. Even Obama is backpedaling because he realized he was wrong. Read up on the issue before you make a comment.

Some of these comments are just plain comedy. Please don't stop. Tom 6:37, love you're comment. I could totally understand the helplessness an average citizen feels defending themselves against a local or state agency, as much as I can appreciate the oddity of being an average citizen an having to contend with the President of the United States.

The problem is that it's hard for one person or group to put themselves in another's shoes. Just as whites probably feel that blacks are being overly sensitive to issues of race & the Gates incident, blacks probably feel that whites are being just as overly sensitive to Obama's remarks last night.

What a joke. He shoots his mouth off without having the facts and then invites everyone to the white house? Seems he has bigger fish to fry. Imagine if Bush had said the same about a minority police officer! The liberal double standard is pathetic.

When the president of the USA talks about race issues that is a sensitive issue and he needs to tread cautiously and not shoot from the hip.

If GWB started to apologize today he would still be apologizing come Christmas.

Obama and the press can no longer call Joe Biden the loose cannon.

I want the Republican base to lap it all up with their hatred of minorities here.

The Republican leadership playing to what's left of their Wingnut base will only alienate swing voters and pound a few more nails into the GOP's Electoral coffin.

This nonsence will only rebound to the Republican's detriment for some time to come.

Since when does a commander (especially the commander in chief) apologize to one of his soldiers or officers? Obama's statements in his apology make clear how this was a misunderstanding, but that should have been dealt with privately. He should have called the officer and Gates to the white house, talked it over with them and then given a speech after talking about a new road to race relations after the meeting instead. Now we have our commander in chief looking like he can't reprimand his own officers.

If someone called the cops on you for "breaking in" to your own house wouldn't you be fairly angry? Gates obviously overreacted, but the situation is not without racism on the part of society (what kind of neighbor calls the cops on you for entering your own home?).

Also, I'm sick and tired of conservatives who said that it was unpatriotic to question the President now bashing on Obama. I believe that since we live in a democracy, we should criticize our elected officials so that we can have constructive government. Look, I'm not saying you shouldn't criticize, but if you're one of those people who said that it was unpatriotic to question Bush then you should shut up or rethink your politics.

Frozen Health Care Reform Tart

Ingredients:

Large tub of Health Care Reform

1 black Harvard University professor, with attitude

1 police officer, from Cambridge, MA

Pair of handcuffs

1 taxi driver, also black

A nice Cambridge neighborhood

Jammed door

1 concerned neighbor

1 curious neighbor, with a camera and ulterior motives

A handful of gullible friends

Bag of extra-dark chocolate-covered race nuggets

1 controversial remark from the current President

Media attention

Congressional Black Caucus

Comedian Bill Cosby

Defiant Cambridge Police Union

Cop-supporting Public

Method:

Freeze Health Care Reform debate overnight. Set aside Black Caucus, Cosby and Police Union. Let black cabbie drive professor to Cambridge neighborhood. Slowly stir in jammed door. Add neighbors, police officer, and handcuffs. (Take photo of mixture to post online –optional.) Freeze for a week. Remove mixture from freezer and set oven to broil. Mix in professor’s gullible friends, race nuggets, and media. Throw in presidential remark. Add more media. Stir. Very carefully mix in Congressional Black Caucus, police union and public. Bake until edges are slightly charred.

Garnish with Cosby comment. Serve piping hot atop a very thin slice of frozen Health Care Reform. NIbble while reading my blog: conlibe.wordpress.com/

Servings: About 300 million. Calories per serving: 0

Quick Defrost
1 contrite remark from the current president. Microwave on high for 5-minutes. Pour over frozen pie

This might not be as much as race issue as it is a class issue. Do you think BO would have come to this guys defense if it was a middle class black guy that he knew? It was a Harvard Professor and a Cop. Same with the Harvard Porfessor - he just thought his crap doesn't stink.

There is a pattern here with the limo libs - the rules that don't apply to them. Look at the health care debate - the democrats do not want this gov't health care package that they are passing for the prolitariate to apply to them because they know it is an inferior product and that would be beneath their position as Congressman.

Mark,

"The president, while stopping short of a direct apology, did make it clear that he regrets his "choice of words'' - It wasn't an apology.

Thta is amazing, for a guy who can apologize so easily for any misstep this country has taken over the past two centuries - he can't apologize for not getting the facts before he weighed in on an issue.

To expand on Paul's statement

A cop, a Harvard profeesor, and the president walk into a bar . . .and only one has the capability of telling the truth.

ONr thing learned from this issue Obama is a racist, seems to be his first impression, wonder how he is going to get though this with out a clear apology.

President Obama is a deep down racist . His apology came too late . He really meant that cops are stupid when they arrest a black citizen . It just shows that our president has no class which one is born with .

We have good friends - black - he is the CFO of a Fortune 500 company - he and his wife were driving to a company dinner - in their neighborhood, obeying the speed limit, in their Cadillac - pulled over by the police. Why?? Because they were black driving in a mostly white neighborhood. Happens all the time, folks. Did Professor Gates over-react? Yes. Did the Officer over-react?? Yes. Would YOU over-react if the police handcuffed you in your own home after you produced evidence that it was your home?? Well, we'll (hopefully) never know....but I'm betting, YES.

That was an apology?

I don't think so.

He got caught making a very stupid statement, and rather than say he messed up, he says he could have chosen better words.

THAT is not an apology. It's not even an excuse.

It's a weasel way out of a situation he made worse by playing the race card.

And do you think any of his supporters are going to finally see that this man is nothing more than a glib, narcissistic Chicago pol?

Nah. Stuff like that only happens in fairy tales.

Y'all just keep on floating down that Egyptian river. You know the one.

Denial.

Inky,
I'd probably be offended by your comments if I could understand what the hell you're talking about and decipher all of the misspelled words.

There is a pattern here with the limo libs - the rules that don't apply to them. Look at the health care debate - the democrats do not want this gov't health care package that they are passing for the prolitariate to apply to them because they know it is an inferior product and that would be beneath their position as Congressman
Posted by: Terry | July 24, 2009 8:09 PM
**********************************
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"Limo Libs" - Ha Ha Ha!

I know you're a sociopath and facts rarely if ever penetrate your thick skull BUT, it's you Right-Wing Lunatic Fringers who just got done spending eight straight years of giving tax cuts to the richest 2%, big corporations and big oil all the while profiting (Haliburton, KBR, Blackwater etc) from a war that you started for no reason whatsoever.

Try again, CryBaby

Smart move by the president. He's smart enough to realize that this issue is nothing but a tar-baby and NOTHING good can come from it so the best move is to back off and let the issue die. The White House spin machine now moves in and does what it does and the beat goes on.

BIG mistake by the president to criticize the policeman, STUPID mistake by Gates to start the whole thing, SMART move by Crowley to refuse to apologize.

BTW - 16 years ago Boston Celtics' star Reggie Lewis had a heart attack in a gymnasium in Boston. The police officer who gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation in a vain attempt to save his life was (drumroll)

Jim Crowley

If there is a racist in this silly little incident it is clearly Gates.

"Race is still a troubling aspect of our society." True statement, and IMO one of the reasons that is true is the obvious fact that our president and some of his closest pals are racists - the days when us white folks had a monopoly on racism are long gone.

If I was a rich Harvard Alumni I would think twice before contributing to my alma mater.
Everyone should write to the Harvard Administration asking for Gates resignation. Afterall he is the instigator here and is the one guilty of profiling officer Crowley.

This president completely lacks class, more than any president in history. He has none. He had the perfect opportunity to say I'M SORRY today, but instead tried to erase his foolishness with some garbage about calibrated words. How disgusting and humiliating this is for the USA!

the days when us white folks had a monopoly on racism are long gone.

Posted by: Terry | July 24, 2009 8:41 PM
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.

Poor Wittle Terry :-(

Don't worry, despite your delusions and your vain attempts to blow this incident out of proportion, the angry old rich white guys (you) who make up the GOP are still the # 1 racists in the country.

;-(

The man expressed an opinion. He is allowed to do so by the Constitution of the United States just like all of you who are doing so now. It was not a policy decision, a political move, or an attack on the police. It was an offhand comment in defense of a friend. Lighten up people. And try to focus on issues that are actually important. I think the healthcare situation definitely qualifies.

My Pres. from the Southside can teach all you moron bloggers a thing about race relations.

He is right on with addressing the issue head on.
Have a Budweiser Pres. B
even though your a Sox fan
I doubt you'll convfert both your guests.
Maybe show'em Buehrle's perfect game

To moron blogger. You don't even realize your southside prez just threw fuel on the racial fire. That means he made it worse not better.
Pick your fights, you're on the losing side of common sense.

Well one thing this incident will assure, any black man can break into this guys' house now, because the police dept. won't respond to that address again.

"Obama spoke up for his black buddy without knowing the facts."

Who knows the facts? The police officer? The black homeowner? The President? The media? Har-dee- har. Only Obama was man enough to admit to a mistake. That's the change I voted for.

CRY BABIES!! They pull us minority guys over all the time for BS and now they're crying b/c the Pres offended them!! LOL! Cry babies.

To moron blogger. You don't even realize your southside prez just threw fuel on the racial fire. That means he made it worse not better.
Pick your fights, you're on the losing side of common sense.

Posted by: Robert | July 24, 2009 9:13 PM
----------------------------------------------

Take off your hood and quit listening to Druggy Rush, you cretin.

In the early days of the Clinton administration, when it was clear that Bill was still coming up to speed, Dick Locher of the Tribune drew a cartoon of the White House with a pair of training wheels attached. Maybe it's time to pull those wheels out of the White House storage room and put them to use.

Obama apparently doesn't realize yet that every word he utters will be analyzed to death, and there will be people who will try to put the worst possible construction on whatever he says. Like, for instance, Jeff above who took exception to Obama using the past tense.

He's a smart guy; he'll learn.

There is nothing worse that a black racist president. Who voted this gut into office?

Pick your fights, you're on the losing side of common sense.
Posted by: Robert
I'd say Robert is on the losing side of reality. Chill, boy.

When is the Chicago Tribune going to do a little soul-searching analysis of Mr. Obama's approval rating falling below that of Jimmy Carter, another healthcare reforming/green-is-good /synfuels is the way of the future) president?

Oh, never?

whoa....... Archie Bunker would love the Swamp; haven't seen this many rednecks in one place in a while!

World Renowned Apologist Struggles with Stupidity!

Illiterate X,

Limo Liberals - Hollywood Types, BO's Chicago money like where he had his fundraiser in Chicgao - Penny Pritzker. Is the concept too hard for you to grasp?

Trickled On You,

The 8:37 and 8:41 Terry is another poster, not the usual one you lose arguements with.

President didn't make a mistake in characterizing cops as "acting stupidly".

If anything , he was too kind.

They were doing what they often do, deliberately trumping up a "disorderly" arrest to punish a citizen who didn't grovel when they came calling, but instead mouthed off (perhaps intemperately).

Really can't arrest people for that.

Cops knew full well who Gates was and that he was in his own house. He was arrested for "disrespecting" them, being uppity, however you want to put it.

A diminutive college professor on a cane.

Very threatening I'm sure.

But Obama takes this occasion to act as Conciliator-in-Chief, which he really does not have to do, but which he is doing to set an example.

I hope it works.

One interesting phenomenon of racism/Republicanism in America is the most virulent racists (Limbaugh, Bill-O, Hannity etc) structure their lives and work to ensure that they encounter or deal with minorities to the least extent possible so they have the fewest experiences upon which to base a sane opinion, which is also why they sound like asses when they open their mouths.

In the minds of what's left of the low IQ Republican base - to be a "patriot" (which these clowns all claim to be), you have to be immovably loyal to the Commander in Chief (Reagan, Bush I and Bush II etc) and cheerlead all of his policies including misguided wars and nineteenth century social policies. Saying "no" outs you as a traitor to the cause.

Unless he's a Democrat (Clinton, Obama), and ESPECIALLY not if he's black (Obama).

In the deluded minds of the Republican base they actually believe that the office of President is the god given right of the Republican party.

The GOP will be bummed they can't keep using this "issue" to delay healthcare reform.

Posted by: wally | July 24, 2009 4:23 PM

You nailed it. Stupid rushbots are nothing more than puppets of big medicine. Detract and attack. They still think it's last October. They still don't understand that an election took place and they lost.

This wasn't an apology. Obama never apologizes. He uses lawyerly language to avoid ever saying he was wrong, because he truly believes that he is never wrong.

He screwed up in his "community organizing" on the Lawndale restoration project, and neither residents nor taxpayers got an apology.

He listened to Jeremiah Wright's message of hate for decades and then claimed never to have heard it. He never apologized for attending a racist church.

He mocked President Bush's Iraq surge ... until it worked. When asked about the efficacy even after the leftist press corps was recognizing its success, he couldn't admit he'd been wrong. Now he's sent thousands into Afghanistan with no strategic plan, and can't admit he has no plan.

He extended the "hand of friendship" to Iran's president, who promptly stole the election, embarked on full-scale repression and murders in the streets of Iran. Has Obama said he's sorry he was such a sucker for Iran. Not a chance.

The "stimulus" had to be passed in record time or unemployment would surge above 8%. Guess what ... it's higher than that, the money has added trillions to the deficit, and nothing has changed.

Health care is next ... everyone will pay more, taxes will skyrocket, small businesses and midsize ones will layoff people ... and will Obama apologize? No way ... he's no more likely to apologize for destroying the country than Stalin, Hitler, Mao, or Pol Pot would have been. Let's hope he doesn't last in his reign of tyranny as long as they did ... new poll numbers suggest Americans are waking up to the horror of what they (and Acorn) did in November. About time. And maybe too late.

The last time a sitting US President had comments on a civil case they had to declare a mistrial in the Charles Manson case. Seems that Nixon publicly said Manson was guilty.
If Obama wants to voice his opinion on civil matters maybe he should step down and run for States Attorney someplace.

Henry Louis Gates may have acted like a jackass in his house that day. But Sergeant Crowley arresting him for being "tumultuous" was an abuse of his discretion, a fact which is backed up by the fact that the District Attorney used his discretion to decline to prosecute. Racially motivated or not he behaved "stupidly" and the president was right to say so.

Obama shouldn't have shot his dumb mouth off. He has no idea what it is like to be a cop and put your life on the line every day.

Obama responded that the police had "acted stupidly.''

Today he says "in my choice of words, I think I unfortunately gave an impression that I was maligning the Cambridge Police Department or Sgt. Crowley specifically -- and I could have calibrated those words differently."

"What I'd like to do then I make sure that everybody steps back for a moment, recognizes that these are two decent people, not extrapolate too much from the facts"

You call that an apology? WE may have misunderstood his words and thought he was maligning the police department. And he wants US to not extrapolate too much from the facts.

The guy is as smooth as they come, but please don't ever say he is humble, honest, or straight forward. This is a typical politician / celebrity non-apology.

Mr. Obama is showing his inmaturity by not using some intelligence by such an answer especially since he is an attorney.

Once again Obama eats his words and everyone understands. Enough!!!!! He spoke out of anger and rash judement and no on gives him crap. Amazing!

I really would like to sit here and respond to each and every one of the negative comments about this situation and Obama but from the looks of it that would take days. As a black male I would first like to say that those who cannot speak to or are not sensitive to the issues of racial profiling should not speak to the issue. In the case of race, experience is required. It makes absolutely no sense that some one who calls themselves a neighbor 1) does not recognize what her neighbor looks like and 2) thinks her neighbor's house is being robbed in broad daylight by a man with a cane and the assistance of his taxi cab driver. So I guess all black people should let their white neighbors know when they are leaving their home so when they come back and are locked out of there home the neighbors would have sense enough to maybe assist. It would be something like "Suh, I'm just lettin you know I is going to work. That fine with you suh??" What year is this again?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Something similar like this happened to a dear friend of mine at our Georgetown campus. My friend was coming back from CVS the police stopped him and he showed them his Georgetown University ID and they did not believe him. They continued to ask him questions until a white woman walked up to him and said "Terrance! What's going on????" The police asked if she knew him and it was only then that they left.

WAKE UP PEOPLE RACE IS STILL AN ISSUE!!!!! It exist and it is not the minorities that needs to be continually made conscious of it because they live it everyday! A white president would not know enough to comment about the situation nor would the press ask him what he thinks. Why??? Because race can be ignored by whites when they it's convenient for them not for Blacks or minorities. I have so much more to say but I'm getting to militant right now! Where is Malcolm X when you need him!

See what happens when Obimbo doesn't have the TelePrompter telling him what to say!

To moron blogger. You don't even realize your southside prez just threw fuel on the racial fire. That means he made it worse not better.
Pick your fights, you're on the losing side of common sense.

Posted by: Robert | July 24, 2009 9:13 PM

DITTO... Why isnt he doing something with all the black males that are killing eachother in his old hood?

Who gives a rats !!! about this stupid BS....

I don't know what the radical right (Rush) thinks they're accomplishing by constantly trying to stir up racial hate around Pres Obama.

Do Republicans think they can win elections with the KKK vote or something?

The GOP fake outrage over this non issue is typical and hilarious. Ever since Republican hero Joe McCarthy started hunting for "Commies" (that only existed in his head) during the 50's, the GOP has been pushing to replace democracy with a police state.

The lunacy that passes for conservatism nowadays is astounding. It's unAmerican, anti-democratic, wrapped in a flag and presented to the Wingnut deadenders by Faux News and AM Hate Radio/Boss Limbaugh as "patriotism".

If Professor Gates would have had a gun and had started shooting up things, all the while claiming that he was "defending his house", the Wingnuts would be drooling all over him with praise.

Posted by: No Hitter | July 24, 2009 4:29 PM

If they were white "intruders", the neighbor doesn't call the police.

If I'm Gates, I'm upset with the neighbor jumping to conclussions. Not the police who were trying to do their jobs.

Bush never would have made a "stupidly" gut reaction like this in the first place. He was presidential.

Posted by: Oak Park Lefty | July 24, 2009 5:00 PM

Bush destroyed our economy and got us into an unnecessary war because of his "gut" reactions.

I'll take the occassional off the cuff remark that is not quite correct. Bush had plenty of those moments too, when he wasn't dodgeing the questions, that is.

At least Obama has the courage and class to admit a mistake.

We're still waiting for Bush to apologize to the families of those killed in his fake war in Iraq. They shouldn't hold their breath, though.

"See what happens when Obimbo doesn't have the TelePrompter telling him what to say!"

Comments mimicked by GOP minions who can't think for themselves. It's interesting how all of you sound exactly alike. No surprise your second-rate IQ is the reason why it's been easy for your party to lead you astray. Enlighten us when the GOP has a solution for renewing the country it recklessly destroyed.

No wonder obama's approval poll rating slid below 50%.

People are waking up!

Paulo

Bad joice of word? Why couldn't the president just man up, and say " I was out of line and should have kept my mouth shut " If you are are to be a leader, admit you are wrong without sugar coating it.
Posted by: jim forrester | July 24, 2009 4:40 PM
Simple-Obama them would disturb his
Democrat Core Voters.

Obama is a mess. His severe narcissism is destroying this nation. Does anyone actually believe a word this buffoon says any more?
Posted by: Derrick | July 24, 2009 4:27 PM

No.....we believe buffoon like you.
Posted by: bill r. | July 24, 2009 4:41 PM

Sorry Bill you are the buffooned on this one as you seem to be in favor of Obama calling the Sergeant a Racist.

Dear Mr. President,
You are a wolf in sheep’s clothing. You are without a doubt a racist. Your irrational and “stupid” words will continue to spread racial poison in the US. Your “Stupid” choice of words will continue to spread among citizens “white & Black oh, and other peoples” to compromise the law. And more importantly, you have shown all of us how to use “The Card” to get what we want.

Thank you, Mr. President.

And we all voted for this guy?
Too late now...

In the epic scene from the movie "Glory"; Let's all gather around the fire and clap hands singing " Oh, my lord, lord, lord lord.. Ah, ha... "clap..clap, clap..clap!

"Sorry Bill you are the buffooned on this one as you seem to be in favor of Obama calling the Sergeant a Racist."
Posted by: Inky

Sorry, Inky. He didn't call Sgt. Crowley a racist. Never happened.