Obama has learned well:
Take this bit of race baiting for example. He spoke out about the arrest of Henry Louis Gates, after admitting he didn’t know all the facts, and said that if it had happened to us “any of us would be pretty angry.”
Those racist cops don’t know when to quit eh? Responding to a 911 call about a couple men breaking into a house, described as two black men, and then having the gall to question the men…who coincidentally had jimmied their way into the house AND fit the description given in the 911 call…for ID.
Patterico hits the nail on the head:
According to the police report, which I find more credible than Gates’s account, Gates started screaming about racism right from the get-go. (If he didn’t, then why did he get arrested?) And why? Because a police officer was reasonably following up on a reasonable concern?
No, it’s because Gates assumed he was being profiled. And so does Obama, who gives us a long lecture about the history of racial profiling in this country — as if that had anything to do with this incident.
It didn’t. As Jack Dunphy said at the Corner:
The claim that Gates had been “profiled” is ludicrous. Police responded to a 911 call from a witness who described two black men she believed to be breaking into a home. If contacting a black man then found inside that very home is deemed to be “profiling” then the term itself has been stripped of its meaning.
Welcome to post-racial America — where race hustlers hold sway, and all their paranoid fantasies receive official stamps of approval.
But who can blame Obama….he learned from the best in Wright, Meeks and Pfleger.
Problem is, he is no longer Candidate Obama…he is President…and if you don’t know all the facts, as he so readily admitted, you don’t proclaim to the world that one side acted stupidly.
But hey, in the same press conference he inferred our nations doctors are just after a quick buck ready to do unnecessary surgery in their quest for riches.
Cops and Doc’s…..those eeeeeviiiillllll bastards!
More here.
UPDATE
Dan Friedman has some great advice in an email:
If you think, as I do, that the sergeant deserves our encouragement and support, here’s the non-emergency phone number of the Cambridge Police Dept.: 617-349-3300.
I called this a.m. and they were very friendly, and in a neutral way (wink, wink) thanked me for my comment. Try it yourself. Couldn’t hurt.
And this article is pretty good about the officer:
The Cambridge cop prominent Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. claims is a racist gave a dying Reggie Lewis mouth-to-mouth resuscitation in a desperate bid to save the Celtics [team stats] superstar’s life 16 years ago Monday.
“I wasn’t working on Reggie Lewis the basketball star. I wasn’t working on a black man. I was working on another human being,” Sgt. James Crowley, in an exclusive interview with the Herald, said of the forward’s fatal heart attack July 27, 1993, at age 27 during an off-season practice at Brandeis University, where Crowley was a campus police officer.
It’s a date Crowley still can recite by rote – and he still recalls the pain he suffered when people back then questioned whether he had done enough to save the black athlete.
“Some people were saying ‘There’s the guy who killed Reggie Lewis’ afterward. I was broken-hearted. I cried for many nights,” he said.
Crowley, 42, said he’s not a racist, despite how some have cast his actions in the Gates case. “Those who know me know I’m not,” he said.
Yesterday, Lewis’ widow, Donna Lewis, was floored to learn the embattled father of three on the thin blue line of a national debate on racism in America was the same man so determined to rescue her husband.
“That’s incredible,” Lewis, 44, exclaimed. “It’s an unfortunate situation. Hopefully, it can resolve itself. The most important thing is peace.”
Gates, 58, an acclaimed scholar on black history and a PBS documentarian, went on the attack against Crowley on Tuesday, demanding he apologize for arresting him for disorderly conduct last Thursday while investigating a reported break-in at his home. Gates, returning from a trip, was seen by a Malden woman trying to force his front door open. Police alleged he initially refused to identify himself.
Though he harbors no “ill feelings toward the professor,” a calm, resolute Crowley said no mea culpa will be forthcoming.
“I just have nothing to apologize for,” he said. “It will never happen.”
I’m not the least bit surprised about an uninformed Obama automatically taking the side of Gates. I’ve long believed he thinks of himself as black first, American second. He has done nothing to change that opinion.
I disagree, James Manning. The POTUS should not be weighing in on local issues when he is not in possession of the facts.
Interesting you have no respect for “the police”. Have you met them all? I can understand if you have no respect for an individual police officer with whom you may have had a bad experience. But to condemn them all? How about if I condemn all blacks for having a bad experience? Is that okay? Sorry… you’re a nice man, but you resemble a bigot.
The racial profiling is obviously absurd. The 911 call said a robbery in progress by two black men. Gates refused to produce ID to prove he was who he was. Perhaps the cop should have hauled a couple of white men aside so it was okay to ask Gates? duh…. PC police work will be the death of us all if they have to start checking little old ladies when they are looking for a Latino youth to satisfy this idiotic ‘tude.
As for the arrest, if the charges are insufficient, they will be dropped. (UPDATE already dropped…) Gates will not be the first man to be arrested on flimsy charges, if they are deemed “flimsy” at all. Holding tanks are littered with those of all races who feel their rights were infringed. Get over it. This whining about crap 50 years ago is getting old. If you want to heal race relations, stop screaming “race” everytime something happens, and laying it off on “because of our history”. Horse manure.
This POTUS is racist, and dedicated to affirmative action. But that’s the least of our worries… because he’s going to tank everyone… regardless of race.
Mata, the charges were dropped. Here is the biggest difference in having bad experiences with regular folk and the police. I’ve had bad experiences with every type of person imaginable. I have far more black people on my “I’m not cool with you” list than white people. I’ve had bad experiences with Asians, Mexicans, black and white.
But with a cop there is a cerntain amount of helplessness there and a level of fear that you will never get from another person on the street. Now certainly this is just a product of me growing up in Chicago. This is a rough city and the cops are no joke. And I have cousins that I wouldn’t run into in a dark alley
Mata and who’s talking about something that happened 50 years ago. Just a few months ago a cop shot a teen in the back. We had another 300 pound cop get off for beating a 110 pound woman – and the entire incident was caught on camera. You have another cop that shot a kid in the back while he was faced down on the concrete in handcuffs. This is the last 12 months. Maybe you live in Utopia but the rest of us live in the real world. Oh.. and try these pics on for size:
http://www.life.com/search/?q0=kkk
james, you are not the only big city urbanite with a past. As a Harley rider in LA, I assure you I’ve had more than my fair share of run ins with cops with attitudes, pulled over and run thru the mill with questionable PC. Battled in court more than I care to remember as well. However I do not extend my disdain for those officers to all officers, and automatically assume they are making power plays.
You seem to be up on police activity for blacks, and not for other races. You think you have a monopoly on this as a race? What about the Baltimore copy and the skateboarder? Dont have much to say about the media lynching of the Duke lacrosse team, eh? My point is, media picks and chooses what they decide to cover because it makes for good propaganda fodder to promote the racial divide. I think Curt can attest that there are many of all races that feel their rights are infringed. They just don’t all make the news.
@james manning said: “So yeah, I have no respect for the police – “
Then he has the nerve to suggest that ” But at the same time, this incident strike me as one where BOTH parties can take some of the blame. “
Shame on you James.
I expect more from you just as I would if you were White.
You are simply propagating the sterotype that Blacks can never be held to account for their actions as we would with white folk.
That’s as deplorable as it is RACIST!
In what Obama declared was a “post racial” era I thought I could expect better of you.
Was I wrong?
Check this out. If a jerk is tased and no one is around does he still make a thud when he hits the ground?
http://www.whas11.com/video/whas11video-index.html?nvid=382974
I have taught my children from the time that they are small that they are to respect law enforcement officers and soldiers. Whether it be Police, Sheriff, State Patrol, Fish & Game, or whatever.
They deserve it. Period. End of story.
My children have seen me repeatedly pay for meals of people in uniform or police officers, usually anonymously, sometimes not.
Last Saturday we stood by the side of the road and watched the funeral procession of a local soldier who was killed in Afghanistan. Showing respect and gratitude to him and his family was the least we could do.
Our family has attended the funeral of two local police officers and one fireman. These were people we didn’t know personally but they deserved our respect.
Anytime we go to Savannah or Augusta, which are both big military towns, my children know that I will shake the hands of soldiers in uniform, look them in the eye, and say “Thank You”.
My 17 year old used to be so embarrassed by that until I showed all three of my children these pictures (and others like them):
I explained to the three of them that if these soldiers are willing to sleep on the ground or in the mud or take a bullet or knife blade to protect and preserve our freedom, and the freedom of others, the least we can do is show some gratitude.
I am proud to say that the 17 year old is now the leader of our group. He watches for members of our military and law enforcement community so that he can say “Thank You.”
All three of them want to do it now.
Both of the boys thanked the Secret Service officers the day we met the president. They took the initiative.
We owe that to the people who protect us, and our country, out of nothing more than common decency and gratitude. I was taught the same by my parents.
These people, quite literally, put their lives on the line each and every time they put on their uniforms or their badge.
Until a specific officer/soldier does something to make us lose respect for him/her specifically, they also deserve our respect.
Side bar, Your Honor:
I think that is one reason why I feel so comfortable and at home here at FA. There are a large number of active/former military people here as well as folks who have been or are still involved in law enforcement. In addition, the community here is staunchly pro-military, pro-America.
End side bar.
To say that all police officers or soldiers are “bad” and should be prejudged because of “X” event is foolish at best and prejudice/bigotry at worst.
How would it go over if I painted an entire race of people with that broad, smelly brush because of the actions of one or two individuals?
I, like others here, have had a couple of encounters with members of law enforcement in my lifetime. At 2am one morning I was pulled over on my way home because the officer had seen my car parked behind the jewelry store where I worked.
He was clearly trying to determine if I was a person who was supposed to be inside the premises at that hour, or someone else. Turns out I was there very late because it was the holiday season and I was doing all of the ring sizing, stone setting, and other repair jobs that needed to be done for the Christmas gift rush.
Were my rights infringed? Maybe. But instead of kicking up a fuss I answered the officer’s questions, showed him my ID, thanked him, and I went on my way.
Now, if I had chosen to be a first class horse’s ass like Mr. Gates then the officer would most likely have responded to me differently.
In my situation I held all of the cards and chose to play them wisely.
Mr. Gates played his hand differently and ended up with a nice pair of bracelets as his parting gift.
While thinking through this entire kerfuffle I keep coming back to the words of Dr. King. I have come to the conclusion that Mr. Gates’ character was more of an issue here than was the color of his skin.
James, I appreciate your service to our country. I think I’ve told you that here before, but I’m not sure now if I knew until today that you had served.
I do have to ask you though, when was the last time you walked up to a police officer or fireman or a member of an ambulance crew and simply said “Thank You”?
When was the last time you said “Thanks” to a member of the US military?
You just might be surprised to find out that the people inside those uniforms are good, decent, honest, hardworking human beings just like you and I.
I can tell you that they most likely aren’t doing that job for the money.
It’s unfortunate that in our country, in 2009, we continue to allow ourselves to immediately drag out the half buried “racist” hatchet and swing it about, even when it is unwarranted.
Not everything that happens between different races is racism.
.
.
James, he wasn’t arrested for yelling at a cop. He was arested for disorderly conduct. His obnoxiuos behavior attracted a crowd and disturbed others minding their own business so please don’t give me that BS claim it was for “contempt of cop.” As for the charges being dropped, it’s hardly proof he was wrongly arrested. In a far left, PC state like MA I’m surprised the PD is even supporting the officer let alone saying he did nothing wrong.
I have to agree with others here about your claims and go a step further. YOU are a racist. Sadly, I doubt you even realize it.
@james manning #29 & #30:
I believe this Chris Rock video covers #1 (at around 1:58- be polite & stop immediately) and #3 (at around 2:40- stfu):
CR got it right. However, his rules apply to EVERYONE.
You mean blacks shouldn’t be held exempt for belligerent contempt and hostile behavior?
Hard Right “James, that is such a racist attitude you’ve taken and there is no excusing it… The fact are these: Gates is a racist/race pimp… Your views are racist whether or not you realize it.”
Oh, Hard Right is now the official arbitrator about what is racist or not… of course while invoking “race pimp” in his comment. The man had no shame what so ever.
Gates stupid for mouthing off
Cop stupid for arresting him
Obama Stupid for calling the cops stupid
HR’s commentary on race… very very stupid.
Stuck in the filter, P&T.
So in blasted’s twisted world racist comments and attitudes aren’t racist if a black man says or has them. NO ONE is allowed to speak the truth if blasted doesn’t approve. Way to show your hypocrisy and dishonesty yet again.
The police did the right thing in arresting gates. They were wrong to think dropping the charges would allow things to blow over. After seeing ex-law enforcement officers and legal experts comment on the law it’s clear the officer acted properly. What do they know tho, blasted has spoken (roll eyes).
Blasted, put down the crack pipe.
Actually I never addressed Gates “racism” or the police, or society. I was only pointing to your own words when you said “race pimp” which is a highly charged line… and you said that in context of speaking about a black man, and to a black man, James, (and others on this thread). I thought James was speaking from his experience and then you toss out the “pimp” line… you are either stupid or just dumb, either way, you are totally clueless.
As to your “Blasted, put down the crack pipe” … In your case I know you are not on crack since you described your brother… so it must be genetic.
So blasted, you condemn me for “judging” James, then judge me. Could you be any more of a hypocrite?
In addition to that, you dishonestly claim he was only “describing his experiences.” Ummmm no he wasn’t. He made multiple claims of racism where there wasn’t any. Just ONE example was where a man who was face down and IN THE PROCESS OF BEING CUFFED was accidently shot by an officer. He claimed the man was cuffed and clearly implied the shooting was an example of racism.
Sorry genius, but it’s clear he has issues with race. I will continue to call it as I see it.
You think Gates isn’t a race pimp? Your parents must have been brother and sister.
Since you want to describe people, how about we describe you?
Not too bright, suffering from BDS and PDS, enabler of racists, a liar and a hypocrite.
I judged your words “race pimp” as being highly charged, and then added the bit about you being mentally deficient (stupid) only due to you opening you mouth and removing all doubt.
As to BDS, PDS, add to that CDS, you gotta love a Veep that wants to deploy troops (as part of a policing action) in the USA when the FBI or other civilian authorities could have been used in Buffalo, so actually Pres Bush showed great leadership by saying no.
@blast:
Yes, Bush did show leadership, something obviously lacking from the Oval Office of today. As far as VP Cheney and his concerns coming on the heels of 911, I’d still rather have him than Biden any day. Contrary to what we were always told, Bush evidently had more control while in office than what the media wanted us to believe, AHA, Cheney wasn’t running the place after all. Funny, the MSM isn’t following the same path in reporting the gaff master Biden and the lack of control Obama has over him when it has to do with his mouth. Now is it time to add a bunch of letters? Here you go… TRF, PDY, ORP, MHT and always, SU, YBUA. Shut up, you bore us already.
Missy, get some new material. You can’t even take a complement to the former President without choking on it.
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