Obama, racial politics and taking sides

Yes,...the police probably did act stupidly in the Gates incident, but the President was probably a bit too glib in using that word in reply to the question posed to him last night. I winced at Obama's use of the word "stupidly," but police, across this nation, have become too quick to body slam to the ground and handcuff any potential crime suspect before applying common sense to the situation. A longtime friend of mine in the law-enforcement profession reminds me that cops do this as a matter of routine to protect themselves from potentially weapon-wielding suspects. Again, common sense, and not knee-jerk physical abuse of authority must rule in such a situation. Unfortunately, the rarest and most UNcommon of commodities in today's world is that personal trait we call "Common Sense."

The ugly truth is that Blacks are very often treated differently than Whites. It is often with a slightly accusative tone and attitude. I am white and I have witnessed this time and time again. The professor was irritated about being locked out; the cop was exaggerating his duty to show who was has the authority. The cop's report said the professor "was slow to present id". That is a value judgement based on power. A little empathy on the cop's part would have gone a long way. Not empathy that the guy was black; empathy because he was frustrated about breaking into his own house. President Obama has again done us justice by letting the cat out of the bag.

Obama was WAY out of line.

Thanks to his carelessness, President Obama gets to see headlines today about a trivial arrest in Boston, and not about how wonderful his health care plan is.

Wasn't the Obama press conference about health care? Maybe a subject too complicated for Peter Wallsten to report on? Or maybe Peter just prefers fabricated race issues over major national policy issues.

Every day he demonstrates increasingly poor judgment. The only reason he is president is because he sold himself as a well spoken intellectual. In fact he is a self-serving Chicago politician who cares nothing about the country. He only cares about increasing entitlements so he solidifies his support by the poor, the illegal immigrants, and black people. He never was qualified to be president and he is proving that every day.

Another time, if someone sees what he feels may be a home being bulgarized may ignore the situation. Potus was wrong to come to a conclusion when this is an ongoing case. How did Gates conduct himself?

Obama should have stayed out of it, all he did was stir up more trouble for the country.. of course it good headlines for him.

Why did Gates have to force his way into his house? The door was damaged from a previous break-in attempt. Why doesn't the Chicago Tribune report that important fact?

Also, who acted more stupidly, the police officer or Harvard professor? Why does the President expect the police officer to act with more racial understanding and intelligence than a Harvard professor whose expertise is supposedly in racial relations?

The Obama Buffoon strikes again. Empty. Arrogant, Narcissistic. And way out of line in spouting off about this incident he admittedly knows little about. The Obama con continues.

Once again the news media has jumped in with both feet without looking. The press conference was about health care issues, why did someone have to ask about his friend other than to get him to make a statement that could then be turned into an issue. I have lost faith in the news media to report on anything other than garbage.

The truth is the police received a call from a concerned citizen that a black man was trying to break into a home. They saw a black man trying to pry open a home. They came to the door and asked for identification. The man who was trying to pry open the door (at this time they had no clue who or where this individual was or lived) screamed and yelled at the police and refused to identify himself. I believe the police were fully justified.

If there was a report of a white man prying open a door and the white man pitched a fit like this "gentleman" there wouldn't be a newsworthy story there. The fact is that there was a description and a suspect until proven otherwise. This professor acted like a child as opposed to clearly and calmly worth with the police.

MR. OBama needs to learn to keep his two cents out of issues he has no personal knowledge of. He himself said he had not all the facts. Yet, me makes a very stupid comment. Putting him on the same level as his VP Biden. The officer did not know Mr Gates, and asked for an ID. By the book. You dont just take someones word for who they are. Mr. Obama owes the officer an apology, as does Mr Gates. And then there is the Media, White woman called. Black man, White cop. Come on, stir it up. Make it a racial comment. Mr. Gates. Prof. of African American Studies. Has a huge Racial chip on his shoulder and appears to be a bit of a radical. Causing his own dilemma.

So a neighbor sees someone prying open the door of a house and reports a possible robbery to the police - she gives a description as a black man with a backpack. The cops show up and find a black man with a backpack in the house and ask to see his ID because of the reported suspected robbery. The professor refuses to show his ID, begins fighting with the cops, demanding their names, badge nos, etc and becomes increasingly hostile and combative - still refusing to show his ID - then he throws the "race card". The cops arrest him for obstruction.

And Obama calls the cops "Stupid"???

This is just insane. I am so tired of the same old rhetoric that we've been hearing for years. Blacks are treated differently. Our society demonstrates blatant discrimination. White cops are all racist. When will our society learn that we have to move past this petty BS? The kind that Professor Gates (and now even Pres. Obama) slings? Ask yourself why would the Cambridge cops arrest Gates? Racism? Really? Maybe this is a case or a loudmouthed ass who was upset at being locked out of his apartment and then is smart enough to see an opportunity to kick-up a bunch of guff because it could be a win-win: If the cops go away, well … he showed them! If they arrest him; it's racism. It’s the same played out double-standard that apply to almost every example of "racial politics" today. If the black man is abused, it's because he's black! Jobless? Black! Victimized? Black! Pulled over? Black! Under-educated? Black! Give me a break! If I were black, I’d be ticked that I’d be a skin color before any other identity! By their own doing!!! My opinion is that in 100 years, they'll be laughing at the stupid way we handled racial politics in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. We are so dumb as to allow this completely defined double-standard to exist and thrive! We need to move past skin color already.

Admitting he did not know the details of the case, Obama was completely wrong to make any comment about the Gate affair, a local matter far outside of his jurisdiction. In playing the race card, he behaves in a most unpresidential manner.
By the way: STOP THE OBAMA HEALTH CARE PLAN NOW!

"As a candidate, Obama defused the Jeremiah Wright controversy...."

Is the author kidding? He didn't difuse anything. The fawning MSM chose to ignore it, like they have igored so much about this man.

As for the incident, there are two racists here - Gates and Obama. It's all about skin color for both of them.

What is disappointing is that someone who admitted he didn't know all the facts, and someone trained as a lawyer at that, would make a public statement denouncing a police officer and automatically equate this with a racial incident. Yes, this country has a long way to go on race relations. President Obama proved that last night.

Another question ... Why does the national media make a huge incident about slights by Whites against Blacks, but completely ignore hate crimes by Blacks against Whites? If the races were reversed in these stories, we would be hearing about them 24/7 for months:

http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/51253207.html

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/crime/cops-man-beaten-in-valley-stream-possible-hate-crime-1.1274593

I would say that Gates acted stupidly.

All he had to do is identify himself. Perhaps he was drunk?

...this POTUS is just plain stupid....

mr. prez - ever hear the story of the tar-baby? If you haven't you're gonna find out real soon - you should have kept your mouth shut.

Ever hear of Reggie Lewis? He used to play for the Celtics in the 90s. He had a heart attack while playing basketball and guess who gave him mouth to mouth respiration in a vain attempt to save his life? That's right - the same cop that our prez is accusing of acting "stupidly". Who also happens to be the same cop that has REFUSED to apologize because he has "nothing to apologize for."

The last hole on the white liberal guilt/race card was punched on November 4 2008 - if there is a racist in this silly little story it's Gates.

Us white folks lost the monopoly on racism long ago but somebody must have forgotten to give him the memo.

p.s. - this happened in Cambridge Mass.

Leaving race out of it, it sounds like the police did act like idiots in this case, as they tend to do on occasion. I'd be pissed too if I was the professor, and he and Obama have every right to bring this to the media. I'm sure we will learn much more about this case in the next week.

Obama admits he doesn't know all the facts. He admits he is "biased." Then he goes on to insult and smear people he does not know and has never met. For him to disparage them, it is enough, apaprently, that they be white and police. Surely a new low in presidential dignity and decorum. Clearly at sea in the health care debate, Obama welcomed the diversion to the more familiar territory of race baiting and victimology. As the bodies pile up on his own South Side, Obama suggests the principal public order problem facing American Blacks is "profiling." A reminder that this is a man who for 20 years sat shouting "amen" to the paranoid racist ramblings of the racist Wright. How sad.

Obama acted stupidly to name-call law enforcement officers. He wasn't there.
He let his personal feelings get the better of him.

BTW: Did anyone notice that one of the officers at the scene was black?

Irresponsible and not very presidential. The "Chosen One" admits he does not have all the facts, yet says the police acted stupidly. I am outraged that our (your) president sounds more like a street-corner ambulance chasing 'reverend' (jackson, sharpton) than the most powerful leader in the free world. Can't wait till the next election, that is, unless you idiots anoint him king....

People fail to realize that cops have an agenda: their use of power and intimidation. How many black men are pulled over just because they are driving a nice, new car? How many black men are deemed "suspicious".....but are guilty of nothing? Too many people are praising the cops....but refusing to note the fact that the cops' agenda is to subjugate and dominate those whom they can! When Dr. Gates showed his ID verifying his residence, that's all that was necessary! A man can't defend himself in his own home from external forces?? C'MON NOW! Don't forget.....a black man in this nation is presumed GUILTY and must prove his innocence...not vice-versa!!

I read the police report and eye witness accounts of the situation and it's safe to say that Mr. Gates was clearly in the wrong for his disorderly conduct. Mr. Obama should not have weighed in on the subject because it was quite clear he was not aware of all of the facts and he is clearly biased seeing that this is a long time friend. Here is what I think the real "crime" is in this situation, crying wolf so to speak. If an African American cries racism at the drop of the hat, as a knee jerk reaction to such incidents, then we as Americans, in the white community, begin to ignore the legitimate incidents of racism by chalking it up as someone "playing the race card". Racism still exists and hopefully we are making real progress in this area because it is long over due. With that being said, just because someone cries racism, doesn't make it so. To be wrongly labeled a racist by someone should be a crime - slander. Look, Mr. Gates is a respectable man I am sure, but that doesn't mean respectable men don't cross the line in their behavior sometimes.

It is what it is. It's the truth. He said what most people in this courty already knows, an in fact I applaud him for it. He spoke out against the war, an how america is percieved. He spoke out about the heathcare system and now this. Thank god we have president willing to face the truth, an attempt to do something about it, instead of pretending that something isn't wrong.
this will only make america better.

Obama's ease commenting on the Combridge PD compared to his silence on the troubles in the Chicago PD (public access to misconduct compliant statistics?) is the remarkable thing about last night. Foolish remarkes from a Prez who's demonstrated he is perfectly capable of keeping out of Police affairs when it suits him.

Obama said on national tv regarding breaking and entering and robberies a disproportionate number of mexicans and blacks were being harrased.
The fact is from national crime statistics a more than disproporionate amount of them are committing the crimes.......no suprise there.
If the police get a call about a B &E and find a guy trying to jimmy a door who do you think will get investigated.Start getting lippy to oficers and go figure ......you go for a ride

I think the best thing for Obama to do is call his friend and have him drop the case and then apologize to the police officer. Obama should also call a meeting with the police officer to be televised and apologize in person. I don't care what race you are there is a certain amount of respect you must show to Police Officers. With what Obama said he has undermind every Police Officer in the country and has made it alot more difficult to do their jobs.

As any cop can tell you, it's all too common for any person, particularly a man, who is already mad about something (like being locked out of his own house after a long trip) to snap and get abusive, and even a little physical when he finds him self facing the police. On top of everyting else, now the cops are hasseling him, when he sees himself as the victim of the situation. I've seen it over and over in white men, particularly those with a good sized ego.

Unfortunately, this cop seems to have had enough and slapped on the cuffs. The cop was probably was irked about something, too. Might have had nothing to do with the incident. These are human beings after all and they react.

But cops are supposed to be better than that. They aren't supposed to let emotions drive their actions. And most are pretty good about keeping control. Maybe this cop usually is, too.

Did the cop overreact? Well, no one says Gates pulled a weapon, hit the cop etc. Yeah, he overreacted by arresting him. Was it because the cop was annoyed at a black man who wouldn't give him the re spect he thought he deserved, or just a man who didn't give that respect? I can't say, but the fact is it's probably the former.
so yeah Gates may have been a jerk, but last time I looked that wasn't an arrestable offence. The cop overreacted.

Was Obama right to say so. Well, I daresay he has had his fair share of unjustified cop problems in his life. Every black man, and woman, has. And that's a fact. So he knows of which he speaks.

Sounds like several people used poor judgment in this story, but Obama's poor judgment is most troubling. As a lawyer and, oh yeah, the President, he should know better than to refer to the police as stupid in this time and place. He can't even know for certain what happened no matter how carefully he studies it.
It was a stressful situation for the cops. Remember, a caller reported TWO men breaking into the house. So the cops arrive and see one guy. They would have been uncertain whether somebody would suddenly fly around a corner firing a gun at them. A man insists he lives there, but is slow to respond as the cops warily look around them. Sure, in hindsight they over-reacted, but perhaps the tenseness of the unfolding situation is more relevant than is now seen. Prof Gates may have been very cordial or he may have come across as antagonistic and verbally abusive to cops who were there to potentially face violence directed at them.
Cops are getting sick of people not showing them respect. Sometimes they show their frustration. Maybe Prof Gates was nice and maybe he was a jerk. OBAMA DOESN"T KNOW.

Racism will only exist so long that african americans make it exist.

I voted for Obama and admire him, but he showed a surprising lack of judgment in saying that the police acted stupidly. He had already stated that he didn't know the facts of the case, so to say something like that was very inappropriate. Now, to switch gears, Jesse Jackson criticized Obama for "acting like he's white"? Here's a news flash, Jesse: Obama's mother was Caucasian. So he IS white, 50 percent anyway. People seem to forget that.

You want prejudice? How about someone tries to have a Miss White America Contest?

The tragedy here is that today's headlines don't reflect the fact that Obama finally took the bully pulpit on behalf of Americans who are staggering under the cost of health care. This was the man I voted for, the man who would take on the monied interests that control the country.

When you consider that nearly all lawmakers' hands are dirty from Big Health and Pharma lobbyist money, the voice of the President is our only hope for reform.

Lynn Sweet, from the Chicago SunTimes, found what she was looking for - a headline for her column today, and a cheap sound bite.

Shame on her for creating a complete distraction from an issue that is bankrupting all of us.

This was clearly a case of the police throwing their weight around. He was already in his house, even if he was irritated, he did show ID. The police kept asking him to step outside. Why? As they had no right to arrest him without a search warrant inside the home. They wanted him to step out so they could prove "who was boss" and arrest him. The arrest, and now the subsequent controversy are a waste of public resources. All could have been avoided if the cops had thought a minute, said, its not worth it to arrest someone in their own home even if they've been a little surly, and let it go. I'm sure privately the officers superior officers are saying "You f**** up on this one.

This is nothing more then Obama trying to garner support as he slides into the abyss. Such a Jessie Jackson move, lame.

Wow just wow!!

The president really stepped in on this one. As the facts become to come in, which he did not have, it appears it is the officer who should be getting a lawyer and suing Prof Gates for everything he is saying about him all over the tv.

Gates' own neighbors who witnessed the event are now speaking out as well and he is looking more and more the fool.

Gates should have thanked the officer for checking on his property and left it alone. Instead he basically decided to verbally assault the cop.

Gates should have thanked the lady who called 911 because she thought that the house was being broken into. She saw two guys with backpacks forcing their way into a house. All he had to do was simply show the cop his ID and wave thank you to the lady for being a concerned citizen. That’s what I would have done. Instead, he breaks into the usual racial diatribe screaming at the white cop who was trying to verify that he belonged there. Why are liberals so racist? Obama is showing that he is quite a tool.

Obama orchestrated the news conference as he did all his other ones.He picks the reporters and their questions.
So why was this one picked since it had nothing to do with the healthcare bill...because Obama is a sly lying manipulator who always gets his way.

I have little sympathy for the police here, because I think that cops in general are bullies with a badge, and who useThe Law to push people around who are doing nothing more than trying to live their lives.

But a Prez cannot interject into a legal matter without prejudicing the case. Even if Barama is right, here, and my personal feelings are: he probably is; he was stupid, dumb and foolish to say anything. He is no longer a private citizen and he no longer has the luxury of opening his mouth when he wants.

Nixon declared "Manson Guilty As Hell" and it made headlines during the manson Family trial; it nearly got the case thrown out. The Prez has to actually shut up at certain times. This was one of them.

Are you kidding me? Yes, Obama's comments were completely unnecessary and inappropriate. He wasn't there and has no idea what transpired. None of us were, and therefore we should not make judgments about the people involved without sufficient understanding.

Anyway, I can say that all too often we make judgments about police officers actions in hindsight and without putting ourselves in their shoes. They are walking into a potentially dangerous situation. They don't know whether someone is a threat, a bystander, a victim, etc. They need to treat everyone like they are a threat because if they don't then they are putting themselves and others at risk. Once they are able to identify people and get the facts of the situation, only then they can begin to make knowledgeable judgments and decisions. And I am sure all too often people are excited, agitated, and frustrated or simply don't respect the officers or their authority. All of which makes it that much more difficult for the officers to identify who a person is and be able to access whether they are a threat. That is common sense, but instead people want to turn it into a racial or stereotype thing.

Typical.

98% of people who go to Harvard or are Harvard professors are arrogant, elitists, who think that the world should bow down to them and recognize their moral superiority. When you add in the chip on the should, African American victimology that both Gates and Obama have made their stepping stone to wealth and fame, well it's a toxic brew.

Gates was just caught mouthing off and being hostile, disrespectful to a cop - always a bad movie for anyone.

The police officer was doing his job, responding to an accurate report of someone breaking in to a home.

Gates should have remained calm, polite, respectful, explain that the truth that he was locked out of his own home, thank the officer for coming by to check things out.

Instead Gates goes off, starts yelling at the policeman that "you can't go do this and that, do you know who I am? I am a big shot Harvard professor celebrity - what's your name and badge number, I'll get you fired"

In other words, Gates was acting like the spoiled, privileged Harvard elitist he is, mouthed off to a cop, and got taken in. Good.

Harvard Professors of PC subjects like African studies - they are like Hollywood actors like Alec Baldwin - think they are the best of the best and the public including police officers should bow down to them instead of treating them like the rest of us regular citizens.

And Barack should just shut up in instances like this.

Sorry, but Obama was wrong to side with Gates. He admitted he did not know all of the facts, and jumped to the conclusion that the cops were wrong. So much for post-racial politics.

No Brian,

Racism will exist as long as you and your ilk are around, but I'll give you a pass because you probably don't realize you are one.

Many people do not know the facts of this arrest but are posting here complaining Obama didn't know the facts. Prof Gates was inside his house when he was approached by the police officer, having enter thru the back and disarming the alarm. He was on the phone with property manager when the cop showed up. Prof. Gates provided two forms of ID proving he was in his house. Ironically, the police officer seems to have violated Mass law, which requires a police office to display an official ID when requested, and police office arrested because of it. In his report, he said he only told Prof. Gates his name when Gates requested ID.

The police arrested him under law in which no way Gate violated. The Mass. law for disorderly conduct requires the person to be fighting (Gates: no), threatening violence (Gates: no) or creating a hazardous or physically offensive condition for no legitimate purpose other than to cause public annoyance or alarm to incite a wider unrest(Gates: no). Since the answer is no for each way to violate the law, Gates did not do anything to warrant his arrest. Thus, the Cop acted stupidly.

What happened was Gates challenge the police officer. Gates may have become heated, after coming home from China to a busted door and then police showing up on your doorstep because some neighbor did not know her neighbor. Still in the report and Gates statement show, no law was violated. Race may have or may not have played a part in this, but the stupid actions of the cop put that question front and center.

Mr. President you are off base on this one. A police officer walks into a "home invasion" and asks the first person he sees for ID. ODes not sound racist.

I expect the man that I know that if he had a problem would call the cop and explain his displeasure. Mr President you acted like Rev. Jesse Jackson instead.

Lets keep the office and the man above the frey.

Thank you

Mr "Community Organizer" President needs to keep his priorities on national issues and leave his opinions out of situations that don't involve him.
Funny how he cites racism (and admits not knowing much about the case), yet didn't he write book calling his grandmother "A typical white woman"?

So the police responded to a neighbor's call of a break-in. This was in a university town with a liberal city administration trained to show deference to the various universities and their employees who are the largest employers in town. The policeman in question has been cited for heroism in saving an African American in the past. He was confronted by a beligerent man who began disturbing the peace. Stop me if I am misreading any part of this.

Hope none of Obama's buddies get parking tickets; that'll be racial too.

I am white and while it obviously does not happen as often, have been on the receiving end of grief from cops.

The president needs to know when to keep his opinions to himself, especially after admitting that he wasn't at the scene and doesn't know all the facts. To me, that defines acting stupidly.

The Fraternal Order of Police condemned Obama's words. Based on the arrest report, which is published, the police did the right thing. Gates was clearly combative and uncooperative. By the way, one of the responding cops was black.

I'm confused...so Gates was forcing his way into his own house after being locked out. Someone who obviously doesn't know he lives there calls the police. Nothing racist there. I would call 911 if I saw forced entry on a home by anyone.

Police ask for ID. Again, nothing racist there. They were just doing their jobs.

But here's what I don't get...Gates supposedly gets disorderly when asked for ID. Who the hell does that? I would calmly show it to them. I got locked out of my place once and had to call a locksmith. Once they let me in, they made me show photo ID to prove it was my address and copied my driver's license #. It just makes sense.

Our country has a horrible history of racism, and racist behavior by police or anyone else for that matter should never be tolerated. But this really doesn't seem to be a racial incident. Yes, Gates is a respected scholar, but I'm really doubting the arresting officers were familar with him or his work. If he had just shown his ID this never would have happened.

I cannot believe the president of the united states just threw the race card!

Ryan - you say that if a white guy pitched a fit there wouldn't be any news. You are right; because the white guy wouldn't of been arrested for pitching a fit. The black guy was.

I love the report that the arresting sergeant performed CPR on Reggie Lewis. That is a new form of, "I have friends that are black." Before you comment here I have two questions for you all:

1) Have you ever been arrested?

2) Are you a racial minority?

-If you answer both Yes, then you have experiences that are valid for this "controversy"

-If you answer 1) yes and 2) no then you do not get it. Your argument would probably be fairness, "no one cut me breaks"

-If you answered 1) no and 2) yes you're sitting back and probably leery of our social structure and have undoubtedly faced greater scrutiny based on people's assumptions.

As for President Obama making "outrageous" comments. Why don't you go to youtube and watch the scenes from Paris, Texas this week.

Start to listen and do something positive to contribute toward us becoming a nation with one heartbeat.

Since the top law enforcement officer in the United States has rendered his opinion (without knowing all the facts) I guess a trial of the officers is irrelevant. Only ting to do now is for the local authorities to settle false arrest and police brutality case before the law suit is filed. Having a wise and all knowing leader and former lawyer as the head of our country makes everything so much easier.

Mr Glib has shown once again that without a teleprompter and staged wording he can act just as stupidly as anyone.

And this is the leader of the free world. Who's the stupid ones, looks to me that Obama & gates fit the mold

I cannot believe how many of you spout off on this like YOU know what happened.

No one knows how the interaction went down. A police report is not an eye witness account, it's one side's story. So for all of you pointing to the police report as fact, wake up!!!! What cop isn't going to type up the report to make him look like he did nothing wrong?? Think people!

And for all those who keep referring to the black cop, how come he hasn't come out and defended his partner??? hhhmmmmm....

And again.. for everyone who's blasting Obama for offering his opinion without knowing all the facts, every single one of you are on this blog doing the same exact thing. So look in the mirror please before you decide to be a hypocrit and criticize someone for doing something that you're doing as well.

This argument shows just how big a problem race still is in this country.... I'm white and I never thought we were still this ignorant.

The sad fact is that the only people acting STUPIDLY in this issue were the President and the professor.

The cops, did everything by the book and letter of the law when reporting to the scene of a felony burglary and the person described in the 911 call is in the house, door pried open, and that person REFUSES TO IDENTIFY HIMSELF.....

I am black and the burglar who broke into MY house was BLACK.
The white cops who responded to the alarm, found MY back door kicked in and arrested him didn't mistreat him. They arrested him as they should have. I guess if he had refused to identify himself and said "You just think I broke in here cause I'M BLACK!", they should have ran away and hid....

Then I would have come home and thought maybe the reason they didn't arrest the guy who boosted all the things I work hard to pay for, was because I was black.

And OUR PRESIDENT has the total absence of rational thought to call these officers actions STUPID?

This is EMBARRASSING.

I agree that Obama should not have called the cop's action "stupid". Instead he should have called it "absolutely idiotic" and recommended the sacking of this racist profiling pig.

The President said the arrest was stupid, which it was; he didn't call the officer a racist. We pay police to arrest the burglars, not us in our homes.

Sounds like, from the reports I've heard, that the officer acted appropriately. My son once locked himself out (college age) and somehow tripped our alarm while gaining entrance to our home. Small town - and one of our police officers showed up. My son was carrying musical equipment from the house and putting it into his car. The policeman asked for ID, and was shown it promptly. No problem - isn't that what you want them to do if someone would be possibly a thief? Then the officer and my son chatted for awhile, and the officer was on his way. To get belligerant because you are asked for ID under these circumstances is inappropriate. There is nothing racial about it - we are a white family. Obama's getting his nose into this local issue is also inappropriate for a president of the U.S. He brought up the "race" issue - when there was no evidence it was racial. So, he stirred up more bad feelings needlessly, going off half-baked.

Cambridge Sgt. James Crowley has taught a class on racial profiling for five years at the Lowell Police Academy after being hand-picked for the job by former police Commissioner Ronny Watson, who is black, said Academy Director Thomas Fleming.

"I have nothing but the highest respect for him as a police officer. He is very professional and he is a good role model for the young recruits in the police academy," Fleming told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The course, called "Racial Profiling," teaches about different cultures that officers could encounter in their community "and how you don't want to single people out because of their ethnic background or the culture they come from," Fleming said.

Somewhere in a small village in Kenya, the village idiot is missing.

How did we elect this clown anyway?

Obama's healthcare plan is floundering. Now discussion and vote are being postponed a month.

So what better way to distract reporters than by making comments on Gates issue. this way reporters are not asking tough questions about a real important issue that effects most Americans.

Obama is such a narcissist. He must like hearing his own voice and seeing his image. Presidents invited to throw out first pitch as baseball games usually do not wear "branded" jackets/shirts. As President, you lead all people, not just fans of the team you like.

So by wearing a White Sox jacket and baggy jeans, Obama becomes the focus of the All-Star game -- he diverts attention to himself. Some of you might say "well who cares -- it's just the All-Star game." But the game is important to the fans and the players.

I wonder what other things Obama will do or say in the future to get attention?

I have no problem with the police responding to the report of a break-in, whether the supposed burglars were white or black, though I have to wonder whether the woman who called the Cambridge police in this case would have done so if she'd seen two white people fiddling with the door.

However once the officer saw Gates' ID he should have said thanks, sorry for the intrusion, have a nice day, and left, no matter how irate Gates was. Demanding that Gates go out on the front porch and yelling back just escalated the situation. From my perspective, it's d*mned hard to demonstrate "disorderly conduct" in one's own house. Arresting Gates and cuffing him and hauling him down to jail was way over the top.

And I don't mind Obama offering his opinion on the episode, including his comment about the police acting stupidly, because that's exactly what they did. Obama didn't make some kind of grand presidential statement, he just said what he thought about what had happened to his friend.

Gates played the race card out of the gate and lost. Let us all bow down now to Mr.Gates because he is better that us, and can insult and disobey any cop he feels like. Never apologize for doing your job. He was right to arrest him. I hope it taught him a lesson, to treat people with repect, even the white ones.

There was a black cop there. If there was no reason to arrest him, don't you think the black cop would have come to his defense? He sounds like he got his nose out of joint and decided to throw a tantrum. I heard he had just started renting the house, so maybe the person who called didn't know him yet. Either way the President should have saved comment until he heard all the facts, just like we should with health care bill. That is why we need time to hear all the facts, which we didn't hear from him last night!

If you’re interested in the controversy and issues raised surrounding the arrest of Dr. Gates, you should tune in to Basic Black for a live discussion on this and other topics on Thursday (7/23) night at 7:30 p.m. at www.wgbh.org/basicblacklive. Basic Black is produced by PBS station WGBH and is Boston’s longest running series on the African American experience.

Let me see... two guys with bags are breaking into a house... a neighbor concerned with Gates calls the police to investigate... and this race pimp "scholar" goes ballistic screaming racism. And Obozo, who shows thinking Americans each time he opens his mouth that he knows "stupid" insults the police officers doing their jobs. Welcome to ObamaNation. Can we PLEASE move up the 2010 elections up a year? I have never given money to a political party before but last week cut a check to the Republican National Committee. I want my country back.

Barry Obama acted stupidly in commenting on this case when he was supposed to be talking about his failed healthcare policy.

1,208 days, November 6, 2012, hopefully a one termer, just like and just as competent as the peanut farmer from Georgia!

Well, we're still waiting to here the president say the obvious-- that Henry ("Do You Know Who I Am?" Louis Gates Jr., acted very, very stupidly.

Because, after you kick in a door and even if it's your own residence, it is not at all unreasonable for a police officer to demand to see identification.

Even if you think the whole wolrd should Know Who You Are.

There was a report of a break in. If the officer had not asked for an ID and he really was the criminal, the Professor would have claimed discrimination by the law failing to protect minorities. Instead of responding rationally to an officer trying to protect his property he immediately begins verbally assulting the officer and is arrested as a result. Let the charges stand. The professor should be ashamed.

And now, according to AP, it turns out the arresting officer was hand-picked by the police commissioner (who is an African American) to train recruits to avoid racial profiling at the police academy. The sergeant has been providing this training for 5 years.
Maybe Harvard should train their profs to be respectful to police.
Will Obama apologize to the officer now?

Every burglar in Cambridge is now rubbing his hands together knowing full well that ain't nobody gonna do nothing if somebody is seen cracking the glass at the Gates residence. What a gaggle of buffoons.

I dont care what color you are. If a cop is called for someone breaking into a home, they need to be sure it's not a criminal. Why didn't the prof. just calmly show some ID, or tell the cops when the door was open, where to find it!!! Why is it that white people are always racist??? Seems to me some black people are pretty racist, themselves.

Substitute "Rush Limbaugh" for "Henry Gates" in this story. Would the police have arrested Limbaugh on his own front porch??

No.

Considering that Obama admitted that he didn't know all the facts, I find it appalling that he would say the police in Cambridge acted stupidly!
Seeing that he didn't know all the facts, he shouldn't have commented at all!
I hope the cop doesn't apologize, but in this environment of kowtowing to every minority, the poor guy will likely lose his job.
So much for fairness in this country!

Wow...sounds like the professor pulled the race card on the Sgt. Obama acted "stupidly" in not staying objective on this issue. Who are the racist ones here? As a white police officer who voted for you Mr. Obama, I'm going to find it hard to vote for you again.

I guess I should have pitched a fit when police stopped me as I walked from my car to my home and asked for I.D. because of a report of a prowler. You know what I did? I gave em my driver's license and they ran a check.. and gasp.. nothing happened.
you can see this behavior more and more these days - people think they are wronged and throw a hissy fit.

Obama needs to chill out, smoke another cigarette, and talk about the national healthcare as he puffs another cancer stick.

The President has done more damage with his inappropriate remarks about the policeman and his procedures than any I can recall. Surely the President of the United States should not be spouting off when he did not know the facts. The mayor should not have caved in to political pressure and someone should be big enough and tall enough to stand up with the officer trying to assess the situation and make the right judgement call.

I believe our President should be objective. Further, I believe he should personally apologize to the officer and set a good example for the nation.

why all the conflicting reports on wether he showed his I.D. when asked? is there a link where i can see the police report? just reading this article makes me rascist because if rascism did'nt exist there'd be no article. thanks media, it's your fault. by the way I'm white and truley believe even mother theresa had a rascist thought at sometime, I try not to be rascist as I try not to sin. Rationally, I know there's people of every race who ae better or more moral than me but that passing in the right turn lane "you people" do at every intersection rally pissess me off. Understandably(by me anyway) older black men are some of the most rascist in the country and my generation has made strides but irrational thoughts will last till judgment day.

> Substitute "Rush Limbaugh" for "Henry Gates" in this story. Would the police have arrested Limbaugh on his own front porch??

No.

of course not. The called said, she saw two BLACK MEN.

The last time I checked Rush was not Black.

So, Gates is Innocent??? Why is it that the black folks crying racism didn't do squat when OJ was found NOT GUILTY???

My reaction would be the same as Gates, Officer did cross the line no matter who the person's race was.

Officer should have handled it better even though the reaction was overdone and extremely verbally aggressive. The badge give the officer no authority to enter another person's home or walk over the thtrsdhold unless invited.

Also I see Sgt Crowley as being misundestood but he should eat his pride and apologize and does not have say anything about race.
It is just being courteous and respectful of another person. The badge does not deserve the respect forced upon a person. Because of Sgt. Crowley refusal earns the disrespect of the other officers in the community and can be a target of the ongoing anger against police. The folly of the sheriff deputies' and policemen's behavior and overraction are beyond reproach.

To teach hte officer an lesson he is to fire them. We cannot have officers continue on the holier than thou behavior and disrespect of other human being. I know policing is very stress but a little human consideration would go a lot further.

Sgt, Crowley, please apologize and sit down with Mr. Gates and talk to him face to face and all things will be cool.

After admitting he did not know the details/facts of the case he took sides. It is you who acted "stupidly" Mr. President!!

So good to see Obama take an unambiguous position on this. Profiling needs to be stopped and the best way to do that is by recognizing that the practice is stupid and so are those who buy into it.

Upon my return from a business trip, I inadvertently triggered my house alarm by breaking in my back door because I was locked out. The police stopped by, knocked on the door, asked for and listened to my explanation, and looked at my ID. They didn't demand to enter my home or seem to assume anything except that I was a homeowner who had locked herself out.

Now maybe because I am a middle-aged white woman, the police in my case registered that I was innocuous.

But I rather think they were influenced more by the fact that I was puttering around my house when they arrived, my suitcases still inside the door, my housecat rubbing against my legs.

C'mon. Trained officers read a scene. These Cambridge officers were an affront to all those others who exercise intelligence, and not profiling, in the daily performance of their jobs.

The leader of the free world passing judgement on a police officer after admitting not knowing the facts of the case.....how did this guy become president....

There were definitely racial issues involved here...but NOT on the part of the police.

Who is to say that the police would not have arrested Rush Limbaugh. Given the report, if they don't recognize the person, the proper thing to do is ask for an I.D. Let's look at this from the opposite side. The cops show up and the man inside is actually the burglar, not Gates. The cops don't ask for his I.D. when the burglar says he lives there. The cops leave and the burglar cleans out the place. What's the headline? Police negligently racing in failing to protect the home of an African American. Racism still exists. Right?

I certainly cant blame any African American for being suspect of anything the whites do. Just look at the Tuskogee Airmen. Funny to read the posts of indignant whites, who never, ever experienced that horror. President Obama did the right thing last night. Thank you, Mr. President.

I am very disappointed but not totally surprised at the comments that are being posted. alot of the people who are commenting on this article are proving as to why there is so much division in america. I have took my time and read each and everyone of these comments and dont think alot of people understand the seriousness of this situation. Do I believe that the officer is racist? No but i do believe that even though you are not racist you can still be racial profiling. I also will not say that Gates didnt say anything to get the officer to react either but honestly police sometimes have a bad rep in regards to not wanting to listen. And the reality is if you are that concern about the person breaking into a home, you never go in without backup! Or for that matter overall awareness.- Im not here to judge anyone- its all about how we grow as people! The truth is all these people can talk about what Pres. Obama said and how he spoke out of turn, Please people realize that america has come along way from even 4o years ago but still has a long way to go with changing mindsets. This is not a blog or comment spot to bash people- Why dont you come up with solutions instead of judging the president and gates or even for that matter, the officer! People in america need to grow up out of the mindset of republican and democrat and really become the people who truely have a common goal of unity no matter what the color, sex, or beliefs.

So a guy who does CPR on a black basketball player decides to become a racist?

The only people acting stupidly in this fray are the 'usual suspects'. Those not in a self-induced political stupor ought to be able to figure out the 'players'. Those well contained and gleeful in their political stupor might consider therapy or...well, therapy. I would have suggested tolerance for others opinions, but that is obviously not an option for democrats.

Substitute "Rush Limbaugh" for "Henry Gates" in this story. WWRLD?? He'd invite them in for dough nuts and smack 'em on the ass while thanking them for their services! I'm sure he'd end up in hand cuffs. Not. BUT I'm sure it must have been the race........

I applaud President Obama for speaking up. Professor Gates was treated horribly and there was no excuse for his arrest. I am white myself and shame on all those white posters who refuse for even a second to stop and think that their experience has been different from that of an African American. Although anyone is vulnerable to police brutality, we are not automatically suspect when we simply live our lives. Even if the police did have to check out the situation, they certainly could have been polite about it. There was NO reason to arrest him after it was clearly established it was his home. BTW, if any of you myopic posters bothered to watch the PBS series African American Lives, it was Professor Gates who was the narrator of that excellent series!

Is anyone surprised by Obama or Gates?
Not I!!

Substitute "Rush Limbaugh" for "Henry Gates" in this story. Would the police have arrested Limbaugh on his own front porch??

No.

Posted by: Margaret | July 23, 2009 4:39 PM

You are correct Marge, Rush would have called a locksmith or the police for assistance. Rush would then of complied with the police's requests without out being confrontational.

Gates' entire carrier is based on race bating.

This has happened to me (having to break into home b/c keys are gone) and I was told by an officer many years ago that if you must take action such as this, you should call the police non-emergency line and inform them of your intent so that nothing of this sort could ocurr. The professor probably learned that the hard way. As far as the police, if he lives there, let him go. They say he was angry with them, I would be too if I just got home from an overseas trip, he was probably tired. All in all, everyone could have handled this differently. And I do think that Obama overshadowed the Health Reform with this, thanks to one reporter who "Acted Stupidly" at the news conference

Did Obama really need to step into the mud and inflame the rhetoric. These passions could have been relieved and handled in an adult fashion, but now Obama is becoming just another Biden.

I doubt the black community or latino community or white community will ever wake up to what is going on.

The democrates have become the masters of deviding us, accomplished it so well they can even pit black against black, as seen with Sen. Boxer, not the first time just maybe the first time someone called her or any democrate on it.

If they can not devide us on race, they do it on other issues, gay, rich, poor, imagrent, pick your group devide devide devide.

I hope for, but doubt I will see it, the day American's wake up, drop the hyphen to discribe themselves and become Americans. When they do that we will have a new political party come forward that will put ALL AMERICANS FIRST.

Today, SGT Crowley finally responded to the elitist, over-educated, political jerks that claim to be our leaders.

Crowley mentioned his racist background of performing CPR on Reggie Lewis in his time of need, and told the apology seeking wimps to dream on.
There will be some serious back-peddaling because a good, simple, working-stiff is getting publicly bullied by guys with connections. This is the Democratic Party against the people they claim to represent. It's not a simplistic racial issue here near Boston...it's the rich and influencial bullying the common man...and the media is gleefully lending a hand.

Wake up and smell the coffee...this is what you are getting by voting for 'Change'

The policeman responded to a breaking and entering call. His adrenaline is going to be pumping because he is expecting to encounter a thief.

Mr. Gates is the one who has to have the calm demeanor in this situation.

I have had police respond to false alarms at my business when I have worked late. I didn't freak out or start yelling at them when they approached me with there hands on their guns. I didn't get upset when they asked me for my ID, a business card , and then radioed in to verify the license plates on my car.

I responded quickly and courteously to their requests and I thanked them for checking in on me within two minutes of the alarm going off.

If Mr. Gates had responded that way, there probably would have been no "incident".

I can't believe the President of the United States criticized the Cambridge police department at a primetime press conference. These brave officers risk their lives to protect us!

Gates and the sergeant have been interviewed by the TV networks, as has Gates's daughter, who was not even there. But there were 7 civillian witnesses. The fact that the media have spiked their observations speaks volumes. You know if the witnesses thought the cops were at fault, they would be on the TVNEWS 24/7. Obviously they have been interviewed and blame Gates, so the interviews were spiked as inconvenient. Normal behavior for the agenda-driven MSM. It is why no one trusts them anymore.

None of us know what really happened. The cop may have been a first-class jerk (not the first time), or the professor might have been abusive, whitey-baiting and threatening (also not the first time). Were there any witnesses to this?

Now that the media has had its field day attacking cops (also not the first time), maybe they can now examine the epidemic of black crime and misbehavior, what we can do to correct it, and how it leads even decent people (some of whom are black) to take negative views of blacks. hologies, which inspire racial profiling.

SGT Crowley has nothing to apologize for. If Mr. Gates had cooperated calmly, there'd be no incident. I wish I could read the police report as well. I heard on a local talk show that the police report shows Mr. Gates to be very antagonistic. That's why I applaud police officers and could NEVER do their job. I could never be calm with all the jerks cops are expected to treat with respect and civility day in and day out.

The clearest case of racial profiling here was when Obama sided with Perfessur Gates against the white policeman--of course the white man is always guilty in the eyes of the leftist race-baiters.

Hmmmmm.....what happens if next week Gates comes home and confronts a burglar in his home? Who's he gonna call? LOL

Rush Limbaugh would not have been arrested. He would have said, "Oh hey guys, this is my place, the front door was messed up, here's my ID. How's it going?" That would have been the end of it.

That's how 95% of us would have handled it.

But those who make a living playing the race card......

The racist in this whole falderal is Obama, who admittedly did not know all the facts yet sided with his black friend and assumed the police were wrong and stupid. That kind of profiling on his part is equal to any profiling done to blacks and Latinos. The reason blacks and Latinos are stopped disproportionally by the police might have something to do with their committing a disproportionally high number of crimes.

I've lost so much respect for Obama over this issue. He's no different that Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton when it comes to race issues. This is quite shocking to me as I now realize that he's a fraud.

And Gates did NOT act stupidly? Puleeeez!

The only mistake Gates made was being suckered into stepping out of his foyer and onto the front porch.

That gave the cop the cover he needed to claim Gates was "being disorderly" "in public", i.e., on his own front porch instead of on the other side of the storm door.

It still wasn't a valid arrest and the superiors threw it out at once, but the cop knew he needed to do something to bait Gates to step outside that storm door so the cop could claim Gates was acting "in public".

Gates was on crutches or at least on a cane and has been seen on national television many times over the past decades.

Ware St. is right in the heart of the Harvard area (not really a campus because Harvard started there a few blocks away from Ware St., in 1636).

Before taunting Gates to step outside, where there would be some kind of
"cover" for the "disorderly conduct" charge, Gates had already shown valid id.

He can't be arrested for criticising the cop through a storm door from the foyer of his own house.

BTW, a neighbor didn't call the cops. Apparently a passerby in a cab did so.

Yes, those elderly Harvard professors on canes and crutches are mighty dangerous folk.

Those Irish cops doing hero work need hazardous duty pay for dealing with them!

They say that there are 3 sides to every story...yours, mine, and the truth. "Disorderly Conduct" is one of those euphemisms like "national security" that certain groups of people use when they want to maintain power & control.

Whoops...Barack revealed his true prejudices and "stupidity" and the liberal media STILL wants to give him a pass like they did with respect to his relationship with his racist pastor in Chicago.

Not even close.

Cops 100% in the right and would have been accused of racism had they NOT responded the way they did.

An appropriate response to the officiers queries would have resulted in no conflict whatsoever.

Gates's venting and name calling would not go over well with anyone in a uniform and you either button it, no matter who you are, or you'll be wearing handcuffs..( I guess Gates' never learned that or perhaps this doesn't apply in Cambridge)....They subdue agitated folks like Gates to prevent things for escalating into an even worse and more absurd, and potentially dangerous situation. No one got hurt with the exception of Prof. Gates' feelings. The proof is in that fact.

What arrrogance for Obama to call the officiers stupid. Gates and Obama are both spoiled affirmative action babies. Liberal whites have been afraid of them their entire lives which is why, even when clearly wrong, they don't recognize it. The both of them actually trivialize actual racism and injustice.

The President should at least have the intelligence to recognized his misstep and apologize.

He was touted as the "post racial" president and now we see the truth - he's closer to Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.

No doubt Obama seemed to act stupidly on the surface. To make such a statement without a thorough vetting of the facts seems stupid and a wrong conclusion based on what I have read. But because he is a very smart and manipulative person, one has to think twice about this. Perhaps he put this out there to "shore up the base" for his fight to take over another large part of the economy; the finance and auto sectors not yet enough. Or, perhaps, counter to what numerous other posters say, to take the HEAT off the heathcare takeover. Keep em distracted with the one fist while you hit em with a brick in the other.

After reading all the comment and watching the story all day.. I have to say it's a shame a so called EDUCATED men are such simpletons.. ( Gates and Obama) I don't want to hear the excuses if you were black you'd understand.. it's like saying because I am not black I should be rich cause all white people are rich right.. I have come to the conclusion there is no way to please the black sector of our population.. so we should quit trying.. next time someone sees anyone breaking into a house that they know is owned by a black family just ignore it.. it's most likely the owner and he forgot his keys.. if it's not Oh Well sucks to be them..

Normal procedure to ask the people to step outside. The only thing Gates did wrong is overreact to the perceived man handling. Don't you know who he is? Don't you know what he does? Don't you know he's old? Don't you know he's got crutches? There was a big corruption bust in NJ. Five Rabbis. Don't you know they're holy men? Everyone knows you should comply with the police. That was the right thing to do. What was it to him to comply? Nothing. FACT police are trained to deal with hostile incidents. Fact they don't have to take verbal abuse. FACT the officer has nothing in his background that would indicate he wanted to bait the professor. FACT this is the STUPIDEST case for prime time. Keep shoveling that snow. Maybe then something close to glaring racism on the part of the officers will appear out of thin air. That's what this administration and their more deluded and devout personality cultists do.. magic dragons. Obama is always right.

PS OBAMA SHOWED MORE RESTRAINT ADDRESSING THE JENA 6 case (for which Jackson called him out on) a week prior to releasing carefully worded formal statements. The teens involved "appear to have been railroaded into a very difficult situation" without a mention of a remedy he'd like to see in the case.

Obama sure is adept at spreading around the racial healing.

Thanks obamatrons!

I see all the off duty cops a chiming in.

"Cops can order you out of your own house."

"Cops don't have to take any lip."

Etc.

First of all, I'm sure Cambridge cops are familiar with a Harvard U. id., particularly a faculty id.

All they have to do is put the name into their communications gear and confirm Gates' identity and home address and get a photo of him on their screen, including any criminal history, any arrests, any warrants, etc. etc.

The off duty cops on here want you to think the Cambridge cops really had a good faith belief Gates was a burglar or was some sort of physical threat.

I'm sure that will be put to rest when their electronic traffic is monitored (if it hasn't been erased already).

This was all about "putting Gates in his place" "taking Gates down a peg or two" and that sort of thing.

They would have done the same thing probably to a white professor who, in their view , "disrespected" them or "mouthed off" to them.

Gates' race was but an aggravating factor.

Note to Gates: go back on the earlier thread and review Ornery's Rule.

You must learn to grovel and be subservient when the police come on your premises.

You're lucky they didn't taser you.

That neuropathy in your hands might go away with some physical therapy.

Get a good lawyer and sue them.

Then there will be a debate on what they can do to you if , in their view, you mouth off to them through your storm door from your own foyer.

Particularly if you are black and have a nice home in a very desirable area of Cambridge and they resent that.