Obama: Police who arrested professor 'acted stupidly'

[Kirk Freeman]

I don't know that the Professor ought to have been arrested./QUOTE]

Dr., that's what the civil suit will decide. However, I do know that I believe it was premature (to say the least) and politically improper for the President, who is a lawyer and should have known better, to comment on the behavior of the police without hearing all the evidence.

I've been really cheesed at the police a couple times in the last couple of years too, but I always remember that one's tongue, even if you are in the right, can write checks for which you may have insufficient funds.

 

[HICKMAN]

If a black cop would have responded, would this have gone differently? Would he have been thanked for checking up to make sure the residence was safe when a neighbor phone in what looked like a break-in?

Is the lady a racist for reporting what looked like a break-in?

Such a crock of crap this is...

 

[waloidian]

Although the police report is only one side of the story, Cambridge doesnt strike me as a hotbed of racism and I doubt this millionaire prof is living in the ghetto either. The professor certainly played every race card he could to exacerbate a situation that could have been easily resolved with cool heads on both sides. Im not surprised to see that kind of behavior from these so called "leaders" due to their overblown egos. The cop could have certainly handled the situation better at multiple stages of the incident as well. No winners in this situation.

 

[waloidian]

If a black cop would have responded, would this have gone differently? Would he have been thanked for checking up to make sure the residence was safe when a neighbor phone in what looked like a break-in?

Is the lady a racist for reporting what looked like a break-in?

Such a crock of crap this is...

Of course it would have been different, the prof couldnt have played the race card. With that said, there was a black cop at the scene if you look at some pictures of the arrest. Im know that minorities face terrible and unjust profiling at times, but I just dont feel that this cop had it out to get this black man for his skin color.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

If a black cop would have responded, would this have gone differently?

Go look at the photographs of the arrest. An African-American officer was present (do not know when he got there). The photo was in the Indianapolis Recorder yesterday.

Gates photo=>Birth of a flashpoint: Gates’s neighbor captured the moment - The Boston Globe

 

[CarmelHP]

I've been really cheesed at the police a couple times in the last couple of years too, but I always remember that one's tongue, even if you are in the right, can write checks for which you may have insufficient funds.

This is not a comment on the Harvard incident, just Kirk's comment, "contempt of cop" still should not be the basis for an arrest, even if you are being an a**h*le to them. [FN 1]



[FN 1] I've known a lot of professors and they are, white and black or whatever, invariably egotistical a**h*les.

 

[BloodEclipse]

She went on to tell me that she observed what appeared to be two black males with backpacks on the porch of• Ware Street. She told me that her suspicions were aroused when she observed one of the men wedging his shoulder into the door as if he was trying to force entry.

Gates told me that the door was un securable due to a previous break attempt at the residence. Shortly thereafter, a Harvard University maintenance person arrived on scene and appeared familiar with Gates. I asked Gates if he was comfortable with this Harvard University maintenance person securing his residence. He told me that he was.

Does this seem a bit odd to anyone else?

 

[waloidian]

Does this seem a bit odd to anyone else?

Yup. The prof had just return from China, so why would he not have repaired a previous break in attempt? Weird.

 

[Spot Me 2]

I just hope BO forgets his keys!!!!!

 

[lon]

From the police report.

Prominent black Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr:
“ya, I’ll speak with your mama outside”

Kinda strikes me as a strange reply from a highly educated University professor to make

 

[Plague421]

Sgt. Crowely is screwed. In my opinion he arrested the man because he was embarrassed in front of his peers. Really? the acoustics in the house were bad? BS! Was the guy a RICHARD? Sure sounds like it, but that isn't a reason to be arrested. He was in his own house, as soon as Sgt. Crowely ascertained that the call wasn't a burglary he should have left.

The police report says he left because Gates was yelling and he was unable to radio information back to dispatch clearly because of it.

As soon as the police showed up Gates shouldn't have assumed he was a racist bigot. All it would have take was a state issued identification card from Gates to solve the matter and send the officer on his way. No it cannot ever be that simple, you have to drag race into it and refuse cooperation.

I see a huge difference in refusing cooperation and refusing cooperation while making a scene out of it. The officer acted appropriately, and judging by the police report he was leaving as soon as he ascertained it was not a robbery. However Gates HAD to have the last word. At which point he was no longer inside the house but in view of the public.

Sorry I don't feel bad for this overzealous racist. (Gates) Because he is the only one who showed any form of racism judging from that police report.

 

[hornadylnl]

The officer in his police report stated that he told Gates that if he wanted to discuss it further to come outside. That is a trap. I've heard of guys getting PI while riding passenger in a car before. The officer told a guy to step out of the car. The guy said no because as soon as I do, you will arrest me for PI. He finally got out and they arrested him for it.

I totally agree that Gates is a douche bag but he should have been smart enough to never leave his front door.

ETA: Don't forget that the police report is that particular officer's version of the story. What I'd like to know is how the officer got into the house. You'd think Gates would never have let him in if he thought the cop was racist.

 

[Bubba]

I find it a little telling that, by this professor's own web biography, Gates' livelyhood seems to depend on promoting racial differences.

Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Department of African and African American Studies at Harvard University

 

[waloidian]

interesting, he'll be at IU this Sept, Prestigious speakers of Patten Lecture Series for 2009–2010 announced: IU News Room: Indiana University

 

[lon]

I find it a little telling that, by this professor's own web biography, Gates' livelyhood seems to depend on promoting racial differences.

Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Department of African and African American Studies at Harvard University

An astute obsevation

 

[rambone]

I find it a little telling that, by this professor's own web biography, Gates' livelyhood seems to depend on promoting racial differences.

Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Department of African and African American Studies at Harvard University

I find it a little telling that all Obama's friends are racists and radicals.

“Yeah, I’ll speak with your mama outside!”
-Henry Gates, Harvard Professor of African American Studies

​

 

[Phil502]

Gates was/is an a$$hole, next time someone breaks into his house the police should help them carry stuff out.

Obama calls this guy a friend, I guess I am really surprised considering that he is friends with Reverend Wright. Obama says black and Hispanic men are stopped all the time, true, whats the current jail population ratio?

I think the cop had to arrest him because Gates was going to start a whole bunch of crap anyway, at least this way it does not look like the cop is trying to hide anything and I am pretty sure Gates was disorderly.

How come Gates neighbor did not recognize him? He must have made all kinds of friends in town, maybe he says stuff about their mothers too. Great example of a Harvard Professor.

 

[chraland51]

Racism

I only know what I have read about the event and the information is not totally clear, but our president is definitely showing some signs of racism in both this case and his recent speech to the NAACP and even during his campaign when he was out looking for minority votes. Probably just a typical politician who has an axe to grind with our country. He really needs to stay out of local affairs.

 

[spartan933]

I agree, this is BS.

You should flavor coffee with burbon, not tequila

I don't have any bourbon handy right now, and I have a keg of tequila in my kitchen. I will pick some up at the liquor store this weekend. Jim Beam?

I just read the police report:

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Police Report - July 23, 2009

Now, I am irate! There are so many expletives I want to type, but I am afraid of the wrath of Mods.

 

[rambone]

Obama declares this a case of "Racial Profiling" even though the man wasn't singled out on the street - he was questioned as the police arrived to an address to investigate a possible break in.

Get over yourself, Gates.