Has President Barack Obama caught Biden-disease? Does he have foot in mouth syndrome?
Wednesday night, during a press conference on health care reform, the president fielded one last question where he was asked about the arrest of his friend, Harvard Professor Henry Gates, Jr. President Obama told reporters that he didn’t know all the facts. But he said, “the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home.”
Those words brought about great public debate, especially after the country focused on what actually had happened during this altercation. According to CNN:
Crowley wrote in the Cambridge police report that Gates refused to step outside to speak with him, and when Crowley told Gates that he was investigating a possible break-in, Gates opened the front door and exclaimed, “Why, because I’m a black man in America?”
The report said Gates initially refused to show the officer identification, but eventually produced a Harvard identification card, prompting Crowley to radio for Harvard University Police.
“While I was led to believe that Gates was lawfully in the residence, I was quite surprised and confused with the behavior he exhibited toward me,” Crowley said, according to the report.
Gates was arrested for “loud and tumultuous behavior in a public space” and was released from police custody after spending four hours at the police station.
Officer Jim Crowley also said references were made about his mother. He has refused to apololgize. He says he followed protocol and that he is not a racist. Crowley enters the fray with some very impressive credentials, especially in the field of racial profiling. He has taught a course on the subject for several years.
Here is President Obama’s response:
Did he go far enough? Did President Obama equivocate? Should he apololgize? Was this incident reflective of more serious problems?
We hold our police officers to a higher standard. After determining that Professor Gates was in his own home, Crowley should have simply “walked away”. Being arrested for “what you say” isn’t really a precedent I would want to validate or support.
I’ve commented on this in several places now. Can’t help it–will have to copy the comments here. Aren’t I compulsive?
Gates probably took it as a racial slur when Crowley asked Gates if he really lived there in the Cambridge home. Cambridge can be rather a snotty city where a black man struggling to get into a front door might be interpreted in ways we don’t like to think about. We would like to believe assumptions like those died long ago.
We have had the same problem in DC whenever an African American goes into Georgetown at night. Remember the DC Chief who said something about seeing a black man in Georgetown at night and assuming there was trouble about? He then apologized.
I’m not sure any of this is intentional racism, but it is learned racism for sure. These are knee-jerk assumptions that many of us have to un-learn, which is tough to do. I think the DC Chief’s apology was sincere, and it seems to me an apology from Crowley would be appropriate (though so far, he refuses to issue one). Gates, who had just come in from a trip, probably also lost his head. He was obviously tired, cranky and unable to work his key correctly. An apology from him is probably also warranted. I suspect both of these men lost their cool.
Clearly, Obama had an outburst over this whole thing. Outbursts aren’t usually packed with facts, so I kind of understand the odd statement he made about racism at the same time admitting he didn’t know all the facts about the Gates case. He also admitted openly that he is biased because Gates is his friend. So at least he was honest about it.
Obama is correct, though, that more African Americans have been arrested and detained than people from other ethnic groups. Here in VA, about 25% of African Americans have been arrested, are in jail and/or can’t vote because VA deters felons from voting through an unnecessarily cumbersome process that is only beat in the ridiculous category by one other state. So the numbers are there to prove Obama did know what he was talking about when he referred to racism still being alive and well.
That said, I think Obama’s outburst makes him sound stupid.
But then, it won’t be the first time we have a had a president sound stupid.
BTW, I highly recommend reading this article with comments on Inside Higher Ed:
http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2009/07/24/weir#Comments
Bravo, Pinko! Well said:) Also, hasn’t President Obama already admitted that he probably shouldn’t have said what he did? You know, it is a regrettable thing, but honestly, I am SOOO glad that here is a man who readily admits a mistake (we all make them). BIG change from before.
If a Police Officer asks me for ID, I give him my drivers license, not give a University ID. If I just broke into my own home, and a Police Officer confronts me, I am humbled, and say, thank you for being prudent, here is my drivers license.
I think Gates over reacted with his because I am black, you must be racial tone with the officer. Not, with ‘I will speak to your Mama outside’.
Crowley could have walked away but didn’t.
Obama linking that, in his initial statement, to a history of racial discrimination was flat-out wrong and stupid. Stereotyping the situation based on race was a personal failing on Obama’s part. Criticizing law enforcement officers, while President, without detailed investigation was irresponsible and just bad.
That said, though Obama still can’t manage to find the words “I’m sorry”, if he has the two guys over and brings them together as is supposedly going to happen then that will be a saisfying ending to this. We’re not all going to agree on everything, but we’re all Americans adnwe can all have a beer together.
The question many aren’t asking (including Obama) is, “why did Gates go nuts”?
“King of All Blacks”, a moderately funny caller to the Howard Stern Radio show, spoke on this and made me laugh. They spoke of this jokingly on the show and noted that Gates was dressed in a polo shirt and loafers, very preppie-looking in his yellow house in a mostly-white neighborhood, hardly fitting a racial profile as “black”. King said, “Of course! That’s why he was so appalled” (to be stopped and questioned).
I can psychoanalyze people based on race and appearance – because I’m not President.
“Gates probably took it as a racial slur when Crowley asked Gates if he really lived there in the Cambridge home.”
Remember that the context here is that the officer’s partner is black. So I doubt that it could have gone down the way Gates chose to interpret it.
Omaba’s statement wasn’t very ‘presidential’… he commented stupidly about an incident he knew nothing about. Plain and simple he pulled a Biden. Ah, Joe Biden, what a great VP we have huh… Ill still say that picking that dimwit was mistake number 1 for Obama.
His second biggest Biden moment was selecting Herb Allison to head the $700 billion dollar TARP program. Why? Herb Allison was the Fannie Mae Chief Executive which caused this whole problem. How stupid can one person be… yeah, put the guy who was at the controls when everything went to $hit in control of TARP money. He must have been a big campaign donor…
It’s kind of like naming Jeff Immelt to your economic advisory board even though he is the CEO of GE which needed over $140 billion in bailout money (note: GE is not a bank and should have never gotten a dime). What in the hell is going on here? Am I the only one that thinks it’s crazy to put these people in such important positions? Why is nobody questioning this?
This was a fascinating week to observe the Obama presidency. Due to scripting and coaching, it is not often that the public gets to see what really motivates Obama, but this week we had two such cases:
1) Obama’s initial statement regarding the Cambridge arrest showed that he has succumbed to racial politics and that he views the police with suspicion. Without any real evidence, Obama assumed that the white policeman was at fault and that race was a motivating factor for the arrest. “Progressives” often excuse similar assumptions by minorities as natural reactions to the nation’s long history of intolerance and racial profiling, but Obama’s family has not experienced a long history of discrimination. His mother was white and his father was from Kenya. The “progressive” narrative of racial discrimination therefore does not apply to Obama. He has adopted this philosophy on his own. If one is looking for evidence of influence of radicals like Rev. Wright, Bill Ayers, and Henry Gates on Obama, this incident certainly might qualify.
2) The other interesting case this week occurred when a blogger asked Obama about a specific provision in the Health Care initiative, but Obama could not provide a real answer. No one really expects a president to read a 1000-page healthcare bill. Nevertheless, the president has a huge staff that could be tasked to review and brief him on the agreement/disagreement between the House bill and his healthcare promises. Politicians take the time to review polls weekly or even daily, but Obama could not be bothered to keep track of the major provisions of a bill on his “signature” issue. This tells me that he does not really care what is in the bill, so long as whatever is passed can be labeled as major healthcare reform.
Interesting responses. Those who dislike Obama are taking the thread to launch into other issues rather than the topic posted.
Here is some information on Professor Gates.
Put away all the political rhetoric for a moment. It seems to me that a good lesson to be learned here is the reality of any situation when confronted with a law enforcement situation. Who owns the power? (Who has the badge and gun?)
Shooting off your mouth is probably one of the stupidest things a person can do. Comply, unless asked to do something illegal or immoral. File complaints later. Escalating a situation helps no one and proves nothing other than poor judgement.
Does anyone know, is it a crime to insult a police officer? If so, I think that law should be repealed. I’m sure that Officer Crowley was offended by Professor Gates assuming he was racist. But is that really a reason to arrest someone? If so, why can’t police officers go an arrest radio talk show hosts if they here something on the radio that offends them? Where do you draw the line?
I think that a the man holding the gun, the man sworn to serve and protect, the man standing in SOMEONE ELSE’s home, the man holding an I.D. card proving that no wrong-doing has taken place, should be expected to show some self control here and not abuse his power.
Race is not a factor here, other than it was a factor in Professor Gates being disrespectful to the Officer. But again, why does that give him the right to book’um Dano?
IMHO, Obama should apologize for stating his opinion after he said he didn’t know all the facts. I prefer politicians who make public statements after they know the facts.
I was glad Obama apologized and appreciated his view that it was not inappropriate for him to step into a local issue.
Here in PWC, our state and federal elected officials are incredibly reluctant to engage in what they call local decisions.
I can only think of a couple exceptions: Bob Marshall, for some issues that are of special interest him, and Congressman Tom Davis, specifically for the Metro West development in Fairfax.
Lately I’ve been thinking that this hands-off attitude – combined with the stunning lack of in-depth (or any) reporting on local issues – could explain why our local elected officials seem to think they aren’t accountable for their actions.
And maybe they are right – if only a few people know what’s happening and they choose to be silent, you’re home free.
Shelly, Professor Gates wasn’t arrested for insulting Officer Crowley. Now that is ludicrous.
Move the issue to Prince William County. Would it be unreasonable for a police officer to ask someone to come outside to conduct business? Why would an officer risk death by entering a house with a break in progress? (and that is what was reported) Gates knew he had to break in to his own house. Why wouldn’t he be smart enough to know that a break in of any sort, regardless of who is doing it, attracts attention–especially in a middle class neighborhood in a univerity town. (not just one university but 2) . Why didn’t he just cooperate instead of feeling he had to prove some point?
You know, I don’t care if Officer Crowley is the biggest bubba in the world (and I don’t feel he is) , just comply, step outside, show the officer your id, explain what’s going on, and invite the officer into your home for a beer. This situation did not have to be adversarial.
Maybe if someone had reported seeing a break in over in Dale City, jean Smith and her son might still be alive. Just a thought.
Slowpoke, nice to see you are at your wittiest and are well rested. Actually, I can’t disagree with you. He could have done better.
In response to Shelly’s comment, here is a CNN article that I found rather interesting…
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1912777,00.html
Definitely something to consider.
Also, I have read a lot about Obama “shooting his mouth off.” Look, I’m not at all saying the man should have stated his personal opinion on the matter aloud, but I hardly think that responding to a reporter’s question constitutes shooting your mouth off. Not a great move on Obama’s part, but he is making an attempt to rectify the situation and build understanding, no?
Why is it people are so excited by the opportunity to draw battle lines based on race? It’s like we have a hair trigger to fight about race all of the sudden. I just never thought that the average person could so easily confuse politics and racial division. They are not the same thing.
@Moon-howler
@hello
>>>Omaba’s statement wasn’t very ‘presidential’… he commented stupidly about an incident he knew nothing about. Plain and simple he pulled a Biden.
He has a list of reporters to call on and I’m sure he knows the questions beforehand. That leads me to believe that his statement was scripted to get the effect it did (although he didn’t expect the backlash).
No. The questions are not provided before hand. Obama should not have commented. The last thing he wants is to give Republicans another avenue to exploit racial resentment toward Obama.
Everyone should read DiversityGal’s link. This cop was like an umpire who goes ballistic when he hears someone yell, “you missed a call, get some glasses.” This guy went into the home team’s dugout and tossed a player out of the game when his job is to call balls and strikes. Read the article.
“Disorderly conduct” is supposed to involve a public place. The man was in his home.
@JustinT
>>>No. The questions are not provided before hand.
Bull. Prove your statement.
>>> Obama should not have commented.
I agree. But I’m glad he did. He played the race card and is now facing the effects of it.
>>>The last thing he wants is to give Republicans another avenue to exploit racial resentment toward Obama.
Now I know where you’re coming from. Interesting.
This thread is actually a lot more civil than some others I have seen out there on The Internets. It just goes to show that we still have a long way to go before we can deal with race issues without flying off the handle. With the achievement of our first African American President, I’m afraid that race and politics are becoming even more fused than before.
People on this thread clearly see race as a good line of attack on Obama. It’s like saying “See what happens when we let a Black man into the White House? He takes sides with them against us!”
C’mon now. There are plenty of other ways to attack a President. This just makes people look small.
I had hoped Obama had risen above it. That was naive on my behalf. There is plenty of racism in the world. That is why I am very resentful of people calling it out when it doesn’t need to be trotted out. It makes the real stuff that much easier to ignore and explain away. Prof. Gates to me will now always seem like the little boy crying wolf.
@ShellyB
>>>With the achievement of our first African American President, I’m afraid that race and politics are becoming even more fused than before.
It’s an “achievement” because he’s the first “African American President”? That’s racism – in reverse. I smell a guilt-ridden white liberal rant here.
The fact that he’s an abject Marxist doesn’t bother you? At all?
>>>People on this thread clearly see race as a good line of attack on Obama.
Bull. My guess is you couldn’t defend him at all if he wasn’t black (i.e. African-American in your parlance). You know he’s half white – right? Are you defending his black half or his white half?
RingDang,
It was a big achievement to overcome a history of racial prejudice enough that more Americans would vote for the county’s best interest. Even when the better candidate is African American and has a funny name. It made me proud to be an American. Many Republicans have said so also, including John McCain.
If you want to attack the President’s policies, do so. But I’m sorry. The fact that he commented on something that happened to a friend who is also Black is not a line of political attack that would ever have occurred to me.
Granted, I didn’t see the “Marxist,” “terrorist,” “socialist,” “he’s an Arab,” “he’s a Muslim,” “he’s not a real American,” attacks as good choices either.
If you disagree here, then you and I are just on two different wavelengths and we can agree to disagree.
M-H, Obama was bringing up the history of racial profiling because that is probably what caused Professor Gates to react so negatively to being investigated as a criminal in his own home. He was not saying that this was a case of racial profiling. He said at the beginning I don’t have the facts. Whether the officer and the man he arrests are the same race or different races, it sounds very, very unfair to me that a man should be arrested in his own home when it’s very clear it’s his own home. Just because he is upset about being accused of being a criminal.
Take the race out of it and it seems fine to me to say it was a “stupid” thing to do to arrest the man. Put the race into it and I guess it’s a controversy. But why does it have to be that way?
“I don’t have the facts” should have led to “Therefore I will not comment.”
Shelly, you have taken that leap. He wasn’t accused of commiting a crime. He was questioned to determine that a crime wasn’t being committed. I would feel the same way about the “stupid” thing regardless of the professor’s race.
The fact that Gates is described as an ‘outspoken critic'(see posting above) leads me to believe that he is one of those people who looks for racial inequity. Shelly, this is just one of those things I do not like.
I have had things happen in my life that I didn’t like. I didn’t think they were right or fair. However, I didn’t escalate the situation to the point of being charged with disorderly conduct. (no it doesn’t have to be public) I acted civilly and went home and bitched about it. I could have then filed a complaint. I didn’t.
Prof. Gates could have easily just complied and then filed a complaint if he felt he was treated unfairly.
.I don’t like Obama being called a marxist. I am disappointed in how he handled something. I don’t expect my president to be perfect. I just wish he had not commented on this issue.
Moonhowler, you should look into some other descriptions of Gates. Here are some of his quotes from a National Endowment for the Humanities interview ( http://www.neh.gov/whoweare/gates/interview.html ):
“My great inspirations were people who happened not to be black, that is, happened not to look like me but people with whom I shared a certain sensibility. So it has never ever occurred to me that to be a mentor one must look like one’s subject or share the same religion. One must just share a similar sensibility and, fortunately, that’s not defined by ethnicity or gender or sexual preference or religion or any of those other things.”
“Our notion of affirmative action is you hire the best person possible, without regard to race or gender, and that’s what we do in the [African American Studies] department. Most of our students are white, most of the students in our Ph.D. program are white, and many of our faculty members are white. It can’t be real as a subject if you have to look like the subject to be an expert in the subject.”
I don’t get the impression from Gates’ comments here that the recent portrayal of him in the news is all there is to him.
I am not aware of how he is portrayed in the news other than the immediate news story.
Interesting that you would assume I had not researched his academic credentials past the one I posted. I checked several sources.
What appears to be the unknown here is whether Professor Gates acted from internal feelings or from external events. I would expect a man of his academic stature to handle himself in a more productive manner, regardless of personal feelings. He isn’t a kid.
I still maintain that an old fashioned view of race is the only reason to make an issue of this. A civilian was arrested in his own home for no reason other than the police officer felt disrespected by him. The President is friends with the man who was disrespectful and said he should not have been arrested.
The President was asked a question. He was honest in his answer. If race were not involved, who would make a big deal about this? If politics were not involved, who would bother? Does anyone really feel like the President is against White people or against law enforcement based on this comment? Or, did they already feel uncomfortable with having a Black President and this was just an opportunity to air it all out?
Either way, I guess it’s good to let people express themselves.
Sorry, honestly didn’t mean to assume that Moon-howler. Just thought you would be interested in another perspective and some of his own words.
Did anyone post this yet? Fish tells a little of Gates’ history, and I found it a great read:
http://fish.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/24/henry-louis-gates-deja-vu-all-over-again/
You are right M-H that Gates behaved inappropriately. I would hope that I would always be respectful to a police officer no matter what. I also agree that the Officer is not guilty of racial profiling. But the President did not say he was guilty of that. He is all good with the officer now anyway.
But the who’s right and who’s wrong is really not a race question to me. It’s not a legitimate excuse to attack the President either. I just don’t think playing the race card against the first Black President is the only way to score political points. And I also think there is no cause to be upset by these events unless you are one of the two parties involved. Or you are closely related to one of them. I just can’t see why this would be considered news, except that it has become another line of attack that seeks to divide the nation using race.
The entire situation is regretable. Obama didn’t need this and hopefully his learning curve won’t be as steep as Joe Biden’s about comments. I actually like Joe Biden but do not deny he has trouble with ‘hoof and mouth disease.’ Obama should have declined to comment. I am glad he came out and attempted to undo his mistake. At least he tried to recalibrate his remarks.
DG, that is an interesting perspective. I have tried to understand why Gates behaved as he did. Anyone with his academic credentials should do better than he did. Perhaps he was exhausted from his trip to China. I am going to assume he had massive jet lag. he really is too talented of an individual to fall into the yo mama types of confrontations.
I have nothing to say about Officer Crowley. His record seems unblemished. Perhaps we will learn more about protocol in Cambridge.
I seems to me that both men overreacted. I sympathize with Officer Crowley because it is hurtful to be accused of racial profiling when in fact you take pride in not doing so and teaching others not to do so. Officer Crowley is not guilty of racial profiling simply for responding to a 911 call, but he did let his emotions get the best of him in deciding to arrest Professor Gates even after his identity was established.
Of what significance is the fact that a police officer overreacted? Very little. It happens sometimes.
Of what significance is the fact that a Harvard professor overreacted? Even less. The situation was very unusual, very insulting, and had an underlying racial component that may have had more to do with past as prologue, but was present all the same.
I wonder if those people who want to jump up and down about this may have an agenda to deny the existence of racism and racial profiling. It seems to me that many Caucasians are sensitive to the issue, and feel blamed or guilty when an incident of racism is reported, even if they had nothing personally to do with it. Sometimes their reaction, then, is to internalize this sense of being blamed or accused, and push back. One way to push back is to take the position that those who “play the race card” are liars. If no one is guilty of racism, then everyone is exonerated and we can resume blaming the victim.
I agree with ShellyB and WT that the overreactions of Gates and Crowley were relatively trivial matters. But it speaks volumes about Obama’s old-fashioned views on race and police authority that he could not resist commenting. Hope and change indeed.
Funny how everyone seems to be coming away with different perceptions of the same incident. I don’t think arresting someone is letting your emotions get away from you. I think beating the crap out of someone with a billy club is letting your emotions get away with you.
I think Obama misspoke and was too quick to side with a friend. This might be something we all do. I am flabbergasted that Henry Gates whose documentaries I have watched on PBS would act like a kid over something like this. I think he had jet lag. He was not himself. He has too good of a reputation.
Kelly, I don’t think Obama’s hoof in mouth disorder signifies anything more than jumping to the defense of a friend. Which views on race would he chose? white race or black race?
There are plenty of places where police authority can and does overstep. I don’t think Cambridge is one of those places. I could be wrong however.
There is no doubt that Obama was siding with a friend, but there was much more to it than that. I saw Obama’s entire statement, which included a “joke” about being shot by police after hypothetically jiggering his house in Chicago. Obama definitely contributed to the racial undertones and chose to see the incident through the prism of his black friend. This is consistent with his attendance for 20 years at the Trinity United Church of Christ under the Reverend Wright.
You can choose to let Obama off the hook as simply “jumping to the defense of a friend,” but I do not. This incident reminded me of the false rape charges against the Duke Lacrosse team. The Durham prosecutor and the public immediately accepted the accusations of the black “victim” and dismissed the denials of the white athletes. That was exactly the initial reaction of Obama. Had there not been corroboration from a black officer and an hispanic officer, Officer Crowley might have been in deep legal trouble.
P.S. Just because a professor appears reasonable and charming on TV does not necessarily make him that way in private life.
No it doesn’t Kelly. However, I have checked with my sources and that isn’ what I am coming up with. This situation has nothing to do with the Duke Lacross players.
Just where did you see Obama’s entire statement? Is there a white version and a black version? I heard him say if he tried to break into his house now he would be shot. He was referring to the White House and the swat team.
Kelly, I don’t know how to say this, but I came into this thread with one point of view and darn, if you don’t have me leaving with another.
I await the link to Obama’s entire statement. I want to know why you got to see it and I didn’t since both were at press conferences.
I did not mean to imply that you did not see the whole statement. But what I am saying is that this discussion focused almost entirely on Obama’s statement that the police acted stupidly. Obama’s discussion leading up to that statement was much more interesting to me. He “joked” that if he tried to jigger his house in Chicago he might have been shot, with the implication that it was due to his race (i.e. not being white).
This incident reminded ME of the Duke Lacrosse players due to a rush to judgement and the underlying influence of race in both cases. A BIG difference is that Obama corrected himself the next day, whereas the Duke case went on much longer.
Please do share ….
Kelly, where did you get the statement about Obama’s Chicago house? I was under the impression that he was talking about the White House.
I think Gates was crabby after a long flight, malfunctioning keys, and being challenged in his own home. Maybe this whole incident is what it takes to catapult an honest discussion of race in the US out into the open.
Obama referred to the White House and to his old Chicago house. I saw the statement either on CNN or Fox and Friends at 6am the morning after the news conference. The statement is verified by newspaper articles — please see the last line of the article:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/sweet/1680818,w-obama-police-arrest-gates-07.article
He tried to imagine what would happen if he jimmied his way into his house…he would get shot. snipers on the root and all. Presidential statement, not racial statement. He referenced back to his Chicago house and didn’t complete what conclusions he came up with.
Kelly, your dislike of Obama is so obvious and so pointed that I pulled in my horns over something I was very angry over. I feel you misread his statement also about getting shot breaking into his own house.
Kelly I find it amusing that you jump to so many wrong conclusions about Obama’s statement. You obviously didn’t see the entire statement other than Fox and Friends snippits. You may have read a transcript but your reading comprehension score was low.
I hope you are not one of those who will believe any lie or jump to any conclusion as long as there is partisan advantage in your own mind.