Obama regrets choice of words in scholar's arrest

you read the cops report and you read the way gates said it happened. Its funny they both clear themselves. I figured what really happened was somewhere in the middle.

He didn't threaten him sorry. He was supposedly calling the chief of police saying that. that's not a physical threat.

cops like 2 abuse their power their here to serve us he pays their checks he wasnt dangerous he could have jump in his car and drove off. good thing is karma it will come around.

=====> peter peter bunghole eater

Your an idiot

oh thank you for bringing the conversation to a third grade level. lol

Race is the only issue involved here. Look at Gates background then look at Sgt. Crowley's. Gates went off before Sgt. Crowley even explained why he was there. When Sgt. Crowley asked for ID, the situation was taken to ridiculiousness by gates.

now you have some 60 year old Harvard prick with the spotlight and he gets to reign once again about "the man"

Fuck gates, he was in the wrong and instead of admiting that he will do the typical and use this to show that in his eyes in 2009 racism still exists.

And Sgt. Crowley is gonna be his stepping stone, and thats just fucking bullshit. Sgt. Crowley did nothing wrong. I'm like FletchXXX, I fucking hate the police. Period. But this is a good cop here, and he did all the right things.

Obama should worry about running the country. Not commenting on this case at all, cause he wasn't there. Even saying anything about it just makes the media run to Gates, someone whom i'm sure most will agree has always been propelled by race and is by all definition, racist himself.

good cops

What's so funny about good cops?

both were wrong. Obama shouldnt be commenting.
Although he did say he would try to arrange for a cold beer
in the whitehouse for all apparently.

Once again, Gates became disorderly before he had shown any type of ID. Why couldn't Gates have been professional and scholarly and kept his head? What makes him immune?

Next time you get pulled over and the cop asks for your ID, raise your voice and start yelling at him and see what happens.

anyway u put it he went to jail when he was in his own damn house

Being in your own house doesn't make you immune to arrest.

For Immediate Release July 24, 2009

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

2:33 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Hey, it's a cameo appearance. Sit down, sit down. I need to help Gibbs out a little bit here.

Q Are you the new press secretary?

THE PRESIDENT: If you got to do a job, do it yourself. (Laughter.)

I wanted to address you guys directly because over the last day and a half obviously there's been all sorts of controversy around the incident that happened in Cambridge with Professor Gates and the police department there.

I actually just had a conversation with Sergeant Jim Crowley, the officer involved. 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.

And because this has been ratcheting up -- and I obviously helped to contribute ratcheting it up -- I want to make clear that in my choice of words I think I unfortunately gave an impression that I was maligning the Cambridge Police Department or Sergeant Crowley specifically -- and I could have calibrated those words differently. And I told this to Sergeant Crowley.

I continue to believe, based on what I have heard, that there was an overreaction in pulling Professor Gates out of his home to the station. I also continue to believe, based on what I heard, that Professor Gates probably overreacted as well. My sense is you've got two good people in a circumstance in which neither of them were able to resolve the incident in the way that it should have been resolved and the way they would have liked it to be resolved.

The fact that it has garnered so much attention I think is a testimony to the fact that these are issues that are still very sensitive here in America. So to the extent that my choice of words didn't illuminate, but rather contributed to more media frenzy, I think that was unfortunate.

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 -- but as I said at the press conference, be mindful of the fact that because of our history, because of the difficulties of the past, you know, African Americans are sensitive to these issues. And even when you've got a police officer who has a fine track record on racial sensitivity, interactions between police officers and the African American community can sometimes be fraught with misunderstanding.

My hope is, is that as a consequence of this event this ends up being what's called a "teachable moment," where all of us instead of pumping up the volume spend a little more time listening to each other and try to focus on how we can generally improve relations between police officers and minority communities, and that instead of flinging accusations we can all be a little more reflective in terms of what we can do to contribute to more unity. Lord knows we need it right now -- because over the last two days as we've discussed this issue, I don't know if you've noticed, but nobody has been paying much attention to health care. (Laughter.)

I will not use this time to spend more words on health care, although I can't guarantee that that will be true next week. I just wanted to emphasize that -- one last point I guess I would make. There are some who say that as President I shouldn't have stepped into this at all because it's a local issue. I have to tell you that that part of it I disagree with. The fact that this has become such a big issue I think is indicative of the fact that race is still a troubling aspect of our society. Whether I were black or white, I think that me commenting on this and hopefully contributing to constructive -- as opposed to negative -- understandings about the issue, is part of my portfolio.

So at the end of the conversation there was a discussion about -- my conversation with Sergeant Crowley, there was discussion about he and I and Professor Gates having a beer here in the White House. We don't know if that's scheduled yet -- (laughter) -- but we may put that together.

He also did say he wanted to find out if there was a way of getting the press off his lawn. (Laughter.) I informed him that I can't get the press off my lawn. (Laughter.) He pointed out that my lawn is bigger than his lawn. (Laughter.) But if anybody has any connections to the Boston press, as well as national press, Sergeant Crowley would be happy for you to stop trampling his grass.

All right. Thank you, guys.

END 2:33 P.M. EDT

Gates broke the law when he went verbaly abusive on the cop. That is the bottom line, freedom of speech is not something you should exercise when dealing with a cop. It dosen't matter if you are at your house or in church. A broken law is a broken law.


If you don't believe that walk outside, find a cop and say "Hello officer, Go fuck yourself."

Gates is just lucky he is who he is.

but if you're on your property or inside your home you can say what ever you like. they can force you to stop swearing inside of your own home. cops should have just left. thats like getting arrested for before drunk inside your own home.

Waffle Waffle Waffle..

You can be drunk inside of your home sure, but if you are causing an issue and your neighbors call and you refuse to give the cops your id, or act belligerent to them when they show up you will probably be going to jail. Thats how it works. Once a call has been placed the cops are doing their job to check out the issue. Obama was retarded to even comment on the issue.

Imagine if Bush had commented on a black cop and white professor in the same manner? Sheesh..

getting pulled over and being on your own property are two different things. If you're pulled over its for a reason and mouthing off to an officer won't prevent you getting a ticket or possible arrest for disorderly conduct. NOW, if you're in your own HOME and on your property you can saw what ever you want. An officer coming to your door and then pretty much telling to stop swearing inside your own home or on your porch... does not give the right for them to arrest you. He showed ID so they knew it was his property, the should of left regardless if he was swearing at them from the porch or inside his home.

yeah lets allow all officers to arrest anyone swearing or being rude to them from within there home. yup, make them exit there home and arrest them, thats a perfect way to run things.

cops dont talk shit in the hood their out numbered check the hoods in oak town police are scared

Why are they scared? The police in my neighborhood aren't scared.

You have 10 seconds to comply.

but the thing is he never refused to give his ID. after the ID was shown that should of been it. Regardless of his color, put yourself in his position the officers should have been the ones to walk away after seeing that he was the true owner. Not all cops are polite and nice, I'm pretty sure they knocked with hands on gun (which is normal) and told him to step outside. Which is fine, but I'm sure Gates asked why just like anyone else would ask why if cops came to your door and told you to step outside. Then once outside started asking you question and treating you like you broke into your own home. Depending on that person they react different, some may be like no let me get my id officers others maybe like WTF are you kidding me... and go off. I think more officers need to understand that not everyone is guilty and yes criminals do lie, but if someone is swearing at you just walk away... why waste the time to prove a point and arrest someone. there is a lot of serious matters that could take up there time, rather than arresting someone that has the right to be a little pissed off for being accused of being a robber and was proven not to have been.

take a ride in south oakland better yet walk and when u get jumped call the police

I would get jumped walking in south Oakland? Why do you say that? You can walk in my neighborhood without getting jumped.

Actually bush the first commented on Rodney king when he was president.Also his neighbors didn't call the police because he was being a problem.they thought the house was being robbed.once that old. Man showed it was his house the cop should of just left.that is what the call was for.

Ok and what did he say?

true lol... if more cops would listen to reason and not just arrest people just because they can, people wouldn't be as uptight about. ID was shown case close, have a nice day sir sorry for the confusion. No ID shown, sir please turn around we're going to have to arrest you. ... ID shown, we know you're the owner but we don't like the way you're talking to us so we're going to arrest you, come on now. its like a bully proving a point that he/she will always win regardless.

nevermind...

You should watch a few episodes of " COPS " and see how and why so many people get arrested for doing dumb stuff in their own home.

It's a simple question. Why not answer?

Remove officers from situation and the person will go back inside and calm down. Now if the officers decide to stay there and let the person continue... oh look we just arrested someone and wasted time when we "officers" could have just left. Its simple just leave, why is it so hard for an officer to just walk away, a lot of those disorderly conduct arrest are just a waste of time. clearly the person is pissed at you so just leave. if he/she continues and you get called back then make the arrest. but thats sounds to simple for anyone to understand and actually do. everyone wants to be a tough guy and when you're an officer you win regardless if you're the one fueling the fire.

that he found the video to be very disturbing.Also if the same thing happened in reverse the righties would calling for that policemans head.let's not kid ourselves.

and people wonder why people dont trust police cause they can make shit up even if they are wrong yeah watch cops u might see when the camera man turns the camera away when they punch the suspect.

Not sure I see any sort of parallel to that story and this one. lol Bush saw a video of a black man getting beat down in the street by cops and said it was disturbing. Rodney King was black. If it had been black cops and a white guy there would be a parallel lol.

Not going to answer my question? You're the one that claimed I would get jumped walking in Oakland. Care to explain why?

I can see the cops being called to my house one day... because i never carry my front door keys and the only way I enter my home is via the garage. now if I lose my remote or there is a power outage, my only way in would be to scale the side of the house and jump over the almost 6ft talk wooden fence in the backyard. and unlock the door through the doggy door. Personally I can control my temper and would just show ID and point out why I entered that way and used my code to deactivate the alarm.

there are more dumb people then non... one could probably say me scaling the fence would be a dumb move but my thinking would be it my house.

So you admit that he should not of been belligerent and played the race card to the cops,and simply thanked them for coming to check so quickly and shown his id and treated them with respect and there wouldn't of been an issue? Imagine..

im not going there i have work to do have a good one all dont drink and drive and please remember 2 get your keys that is all

yes in a perfect word, that how if should of played out. personally me i would of showed my ID and explained my situation and said thanks. not everyone is calm like that, and its up to the officer being in a position of power to understand that people react differently. I'm black so would never have used the race card but under some people get upset easier than others regardless of race. I've walked away for a lot of situations that could have been worse, if someone wants to continue being mad let them do it alone, walk away.

You already went there. Why not answer the question?

Well there you go. The guy acted in a non responsible manner and then pulled the race card.

Some of us called it early, this is a really simple story in the end. After all this baloney, one common phrase could sum it all up perfectly: Mess with the bull and you'll get the horns.

No big race issue, no nothin'. Just a jetlagged dude and a cop needing to wrap up a report. Words were said, an arrest was made. Maybe they'll have some good makeup sex. Moving along.

this article is what i'm getting at...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32136369...new_york_times

a good article and true.

“We say, ‘Back down,’ ” he said. “If they don’t back down and start making direct threats, that’s an offense. They don’t get a free pass.”

He said that threats could be defined in different ways, and he preferred to talk people down, but that the rules changed if a crowd formed, which was routine in New York and also occurred during the Gates incident."

That thereby nullifies the entire point of quoting that article.

“We don’t get to tell people what they want to hear,” said the Los Angeles officer, who, like others interviewed for this article, spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid being quoted on duty. “Whether we’re giving them a ticket or responding to some conflict between a husband and wife, we’re not dealing with people at their best, and if you don’t have a tough skin, then you shouldn’t be a cop.”