BOSTON — Many police officers across the country have a message for President Barack Obama Get all the facts before criticizing one of our own. Obama’s public criticism that Cambridge officers “acted stupidly” when they arrested black Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. could make it harder for police to work with people of color, some officers said Thursday.
It could even set back the progress in race relations that helped Obama become the nation’s first African-American president, they said.
“What we don’t need is public safety officials across the country second-guessing themselves,” said David Holway, president of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, which represents 15,000 public safety officials around the country. “The president’s alienated public safety officers across the country with his comments.”
[More]
Related:
President Obama steps on third rail of race
Post-racial America looks pretty racial to me
Obama Tilts Harvard’s Gates Bust Away From Reality
Obama is the One Who ‘Acted Stupidly’
Gates gaffe an uncharacteristic stumble for sure-footed Obama
Updates:
8:59 am EDT, July 24th, 2009 — Obama wades into racial-profiling debate
9:03 am EDT, July 24th, 2009 — Why you never, ever get righteous on a street cop
12:48 pm EDT, July 24th, 2009 — Cop Who Arrested Gates Not Ruling Out Defamation Lawsuit
5: 41 pm EDT, July 24 th, 2009 — Obama backs off
5:51 pm EDT, July 24th, 2009 — 911, police tapes key in Gates case
Is GatesGate just a distraction from the meltdown of ObamaCare?
Or is the community organizer defaulting to his core competency. Don’t be surprised if next the leader of the free world will be getting himself involved in funding gay parades, our Conservatives can show him how well that works.
Obama has time to fiddle with this local stuff but no time to read the 1000’s of pages of legislation he’s raming.
Until we get a movement solidly underway to shrink government instead of growing it, we deserve what we get.
Caveat to US law enforcement – preamble to reading Miranda Rights – ask the following question “Are you a personal friend of President Obama?” If so, apologize profusely and exit stage left.
The neighbours were ‘racial profiling’ the professor, the cop just showed up at a break-in.
Witnesses often give a ‘racial profile’ when they give descriptions to the police, only idiots would demand that witnesses not give as much information as possible.
Actually it wasn’t a neighbour that called in. It was driver passing by who did not know the neighbourhood and simply reported something he saw he deemed suspicous if I have it right.
“Shit happens.”
Who knew that a US President would get involved?
Yep, a real brainiac they have there in the Whitehouse now.
First he says he doesnt know the facts
(Doing good so far)
Then he says the police actions were stupid.
(WHAAAT??)
I’m a retired cop so I am biased. I’ll keep my mouth shut (as Obama should have done).
If Henry Louis Gates is too scary, then perhaps America hasn’t advanced that much. Funny, that wasn’t the impression I got in Georgia.
Y’all must have forgotten Obama was black. Being criminalized when you’re trying to make it legitimate quickly sours one’s patriotism. Trust me. Ex-cop or not, the lot of you need to understand that profiling punishing law-abiding citizens out of fear of what you saw criminals do on TV is about as far from the much-touted “individualism” as one can get. It also tells us “who cares if you follow the rules?”.
This was a simple mistake, Cynapse. The cop followed the man into the house because he didn’t know what was going on. I would have done the same.
What was the man doing…grabbing a weapon? Cops have been killed that way and this officer did not know. So he followed as the man found his ID and then he tried to leave.
But that didn’t happen did it?
As he tried to walk away this jerk screamed “color” and all the news networks picked up.
I went to bed last night thinking about this and I am sorry to tell you that the “prof” was very wrong because he is well educated and knows exactly what he was doing.
I don’t know what truly happened but I suspect a phone call was made that resulted in Obama saying what he did later on.
Never mind…I don’t like this situation at all because Obama is black and it dredges up all the old scenarios. I thought we were past all that. Apparently not.
My view: Obama made a huge mistake yesterday because he has polarized blacks and whites. Exactly what he never intended. But it’s done and now he must live with the consequences as the opposition paints him as biased.
I wish him well as he tries to bail out but this situation is going to come back to haunt him if I have it right. No matter what blacks or whites think this is an argument that need not have happened but did because a neophyte US President opened his big mouth when he should not have.
Now he can wear it as US citizens get behind their cops which they will do as time moves on. I would suspect (but I do not know) that blacks feel the same way. The “prof” made an asshole out of himself and it goes to show that everytime an officer stops a car people are going to scream “color” if they are not white.
Frankly I’m color blind but I would have busted that “prof” as quickly as the sergeant did. Call me an asshole and you’re going to jail. It’s as simple as that. The only mistake made was withdrawing the charge.
I have no idea who did that but it should be relaid just to make the point.
Cynapse, would you admit that Obama’s comments as i described above are not befitting a head of state.
I have no brief at all as to the race issue.
I am saying that a head of state could have done better. (a lot better)
I have no idea why Obama chose to comment on that issue. Presidents have been known to express moral outrage at national events, however. After watching Fox and HLN for the better part of the week, I’d say it’s safe to declare he has bigger fish to fry. On the other hand, HLG is a personal friend so …
One has to wonder how the encounter would have played out if the professor hadn’t freaked out and had calmly cooperated with the police officer, provided proof of identity without scream, remained passive throughout the encounter? Interesting to read that a black police officer who was at the scene supports the white officer’s account of what happened.
I hope they do release the audio tapes. It might prove educational.
The One jumped to conclusions but it sounds like he’s trying to fix it with beer. Good for Him.
(the following statement makes absolutely no judgment on police protocol)
People don’t seem to understand the “freak out”. It’s about believing that, after establishing one’s self as a productive citizen, you no longer have to submit to regular pull-overs, searches and id’s like a doo-rag thug. Gates’ neighbours probably don’t have to go through this, so why should he?
Being a cynic, I never agreed with this notion, of course, but many people like Gates do earnestly believe that because they’ve played by the rules they are entitled to the same golden social status as their historically dominant peers. That’s why he freaked out … he was reduced to a ni-
If Gates’ neighbour forced open a door (resulting in the police being called) and started freaking out, I expect that person would be arrested as well. It’s got nothing to do with colour of skin and everything to do with acting like the police have no right to do their job… which was to investigate why the door was being forced and if the person doing the forcing is within their rights to do so.
Cooperate, explain, no problem. Act like a knob, refuse to cooperate, get arrested.
My guess is Gates freaked out because he was offended by being questioned and he felt (as a prominent professor) entitled to abuse the police. He played the race card, loud and proud, in an attempt to intimidate the officer but it didn’t work… it got him arrested…
Now Gates is in a no-win situation. If he admits he was out-of-line, then his credibility takes a hit. If he insists he did nothing wrong and persists in making false accusations against the officer, his credibility takes a hit (and maybe his bank account if the police officer sues Gates). His best bet is to take up Obama’s offer of beer and informally resolve the issue quickly.
Stirring up conflict, black against white, not the empty suits intention? I think that was exactly his intent and that this is precisely where he’s coming from. Read the available info. on funding to Acorn, the categorically stated racial preferences and black slanted policies.
The Dems and Obama absolutely thrive on racial polarity, that why they always play the race card so quickly. If there is no identity politics to play the Dems lose votes, simpe as that.
I doubt that GWB would have called the cops stupid and demonstrate his willingness to take sides in racial tension.
Nobody knows about racism better than a racist.
If blacks hadn’t discarded their social values to vote overwhelmingly for Obama. Obama would not have won the election. Obama owes his presidency to black racism. His statement is his first installment of payback.
Rob:
What % of blacks voted for Obama vs the % that always vote Democrat?
This isn’t hard – just provide two numbers 0-100, please.
Does anyone here actually believe blacks would have or should have voted for McCain/Palin and their MLK-non-cheering, monkey-doll carrying crowd? Time for some of you to take your meds.
Cynapse Says:
“It’s about believing that, after establishing one’s self as a productive citizen, you no longer have to submit to regular pull-overs, searches and id’s like a doo-rag thug. Gates’ neighbours probably don’t have to go through this, so why should he?”
————————————————————————————
Cynapse,when the Black race of people in the U.S.A stop committing criminal acts at a catagory rate of 2 to 9 times that of the White race of people then and only then will they not have to “go through this”.
Oh and by the way:
What posters 14,15 and especially 16 said!
True dat!
on funding to Acorn, the categorically stated racial preferences and black slanted policies.
You mean giving a leg up to people who were specifically targeted by the GOP for a divide & conquer strategy for 20 years following their enfranchisement after 400 years of indentured servitude? Don’t think he’s exactly going to hell for that one. There is very little Obama has proposed that isn’t backed by some study showing a previous disparity. Your willingness to let the imbalance continue is more worthy of scrutiny than Obama’s humanitarian inclination to fix it.
Cynapse,when the Black race of people in the U.S.A stop committing criminal acts at a catagory rate of 2 to 9 times that of the White race of people then and only then will they not have to “go through this”.
Again, this is an affront to the so-called individualism you Cons like to talk about.
Since white males commit > 95% of white collar fraud crimes, maybe we should restrict their access to upper management? There’s a profile you probably wouldn’t support.
On top of that, America has been designed from the start to keep black people out of well-paying, legal work. When blacks set up self-sufficient cities like Rosewood, white mobs burned them down. When black kids tried to go to proper schools, they had to be escorted by police. Tried to hold church, it got bombed. Americans are very strange in that they complain when they get what they campaigned for. Changing a couple of laws isn’t going fix broken wills.
@Jack: “As he tried to walk away this jerk screamed “color” and all the news networks picked up. ”
So the guy, probably quite correctly, decided he was being profiled and didn’t like it – I can sympathize. I was – after almost being run over by some grey haired guy in an equally old Chrysler right in front of two officers – stopped, questioned, and searched.
Long hair, tattoos, jeans, leather, dark glasses, and a fast looking bike — I guess another vehicle crossing into my lane and forcing me into oncoming traffic is suspicious enough behaviour that I deserved a 1/2 hasle.
In case you’re curious about the old guy in a Chrysler…. he ultimately weaved back into the turning lane, went through the intersection anyway, and then went on his merry way while the cops, finished with me, turned around and went in the other direction.
Yeah, I know, I don’t understand, they’re professionals, it wasn’t profiling, they know what their doing and probably had a good reason to stop and search me, didn’t they….. do you suppose it would have helped if I’d just apologized for my appearance or possible even being on the road at all?
My personal respect levels for the force have once again found a new low.
Another link to add to your list, Jack…
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/07/obamas_a_racist.html
Here’s a couple of paragraphs from the linked article…
I’m not saying it’s a fact, folks, but it looks like both Professor Gates and President Obama owe Sgt. James Crowley an apology… although I won’t be holding my breath waiting…