The Cambridge and area police unions voiced their support Friday for Sgt. James Crowley and called for an apology from President Obama for saying officers "acted stupidly" for arresting black Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. at his home.How has Obama responded? With a classic non-apology apology.
"His remarks were obviously misdirected but made it worse yet by suggesting somehow this case should remind us of a history of racial abuse by law enforcement," Dennis O'Connor, president of the Cambridge Police Superior Officers Association, said at a news conference.
O'Connor also referred to statements made by Governor Deval Patrick -- the state's first black governor -- who called the arrest "every black man's nightmare."
"Whatever may be the history, we deeply resent the implications and reject any suggestion that in this case or any other case that they've allowed a person's race to direct their activities. However we hope they will reflect upon their past comments and apologize to the men and women of the Cambridge Police Department," O'Connor said.
Obama has said he was surprised by the controversy sparked by his comments. White House spokesman Roberts Gibbs said Friday that the President regrets that the media have gotten all worked up over the controversy and been distracted from other more substantive issues such as health care.Obama is surprised at the reaction because in his world it's taken for granted that cops are racist and that black men are routinely harassed. He would be shocked to hear it any other way.
The cops are considering releasing the 911 tapes. I hope they do. It seems that every time there's any kind of incident in Los Angeles the tapes are in the media the next day. Let's get the out there so we can hear the radio calls as they went down, and possibly hear the ranting Gates at the same time.
Posts
5 comments:
The President did not slander the stupid Cambridge Police dept. He did however slander their stupid lack of judgment. Cops often get into pointless pissing contests, which this obviously was, only to make an arrest that does more harm than good. they could have easily told him to keep it down and left the Man alone. Why they didn't I'm not going to say it was profiling but more likely egos unchecked. No apology needed
Regretted that the "media" were making such a big case out of it? I would argue that it's the people who are supremely annoyed about this, citizens and police departments. It's Joe the Plumber all over again.
As to Massachusett's governor, we can revisit his statement by wondering aloud, "is this every Harvard professor's nightmare?"
What a bunch of hypocrites.
If I was Gates's neighbor and saw his house being burglarized, I'd just turn the page of whatever book I was reading and mind my business. The robbers could take Gates's whole household and leisurely put it inside a moving van without any interference from me. Guess the good professor never considered that possibility.
Another thought comes to me -- Obama's word choice: "stupidly."
Doesn't that sound so Dailykos? The lefties adore calling their opponents "stupid," it's their favorite pastime. I'd even be willing to suggest that Obama hoped, momentarily, to recharge his base by using this term.
Imagine how Obama's remarks were greeted in the Ayers' household, for instance.
I think Obama's ship of state is beginning to sprout some serious leaks. I look for a capsize on the horizon.
He's out-doing Carter and at a breakneck speed. Really quite an achievement when you consider....
The POTUS is HOPING for a distraction from the health care issue.
If there was any "stupid" comments or actions here, it was on the part of Obama. Here is a guy which admitted he didnt have all the facts, yet he has the brainless attitude to take it upon himself to slander law enforcement for doing their job!
"Bryant's" comments are totally off base, just like the "Red Herring" which is often thrown out by the defense in a court case
Post a Comment