Cop who arrested Harvard prof was a racial profiling expert; Obama stands by criticism

Bill White

July 23rd, 2009
6:25 pm

The honorable policeman was just following his rulebook. That hardly makes him a racist. If this far left professor didn’t lose his temper, then this would never be a story. This guy reminds me when I was young and drinking too much whiskey. I mouthed off to everyone including the police. The best thing that happened to me was when the policeman tackled me and beat me with his stick and threw me into the drunk tank. Even though I drank for a few more years, I decided to never mouth off to an officer. OK, now I hear everyone yelling that I’m being racist. Wrong! I prayed with many upstanding African-American men in town. One of my best friends in my bible study is Roosevelt. He’s a handsome man who leads a more Christ-centered life than me. Even though he’s named after that Commie president, I love Roosevelt like a brother. After I picked Roosevelt up from his hotel job in my 150, we talked about this case. Roosevelt agrees that this elitist professor is in the wrong.

Mark

July 23rd, 2009
6:36 pm

We have the right to remain silent, unfortunately some of us simply lack the ability…

All I'm Saying Is...

July 23rd, 2009
6:40 pm

You’re not racist, Bill White, you’re just off base. Public intoxication is against the law and sounds like you were resisting arrest and that’s why you were tackled, beaten, and arrested.

This professor (not sure why it matters whether he was ‘far left’ or not) was in his home and had proven that it was his home (showed the officer his Harvard i.d. and his driver’s license with his address).

The professor who is tired due to arriving home via a long flight from China gets understandably upset when the officer then says to him to step outside. Why does the professor need to step outside? He has already proven he lives at this house. The officer should leave at this point.

And by the way, in my opinion, the officer had nothing to apologize for at that point. He could have easily said we received a call about two men trying to break into a house and I came to check it out. Obviously you live here and this is your house. Thank you and have a good day.

But what did the officer apparently (although neither of us was there so we don’t really know what happened both the professor and the officer agree on this) do: he asked the professor to step outside. Tell me again why this was necessary.

I would have gotten upset too if I have proven myself to be a resident of this house and now the officer wants me to step outside. What for?

And then the professor basically gets arrested for getting upset—-not for breaking and entering, not for trespassing, not for public intoxication, and not for resisting arrest.

And I don’t care if you found another African-American to agree with you—it just means you’re both wrong.

TD

July 23rd, 2009
6:43 pm

The only racists in this whole ordeal is Henry Louis Gates & Mr. Obama!

AUBoggs

July 23rd, 2009
6:52 pm

Acted stupidly? The same could be said of someone commenting without having all the facts or understanding what a police officer is faced with every day.

BravesFan79

July 23rd, 2009
6:53 pm

How can the officer POSSIBLY confirm the person inside IS the owner if they dont talk to them directly? This one is a reach… even for the racist NAACP.

Audrey

July 23rd, 2009
6:59 pm

What if there was another suspect inside. If the officer and left and the professor had gotten hurt or robbed because then the black community would be crying that the WHITE officer didn’t do his job correctly and that he should lose his job and apologize for not protecting the black community as they would the white community. Obama was OUT OF LINE in his comments. He should have just stayed out of it! No wonder I voted, for the first time, republican!

Zimbooli

July 23rd, 2009
7:13 pm

Let’s face facts: Obama is a bigot, with his prejudice towards blacks, that is where his voting blocking is at. Two, the guy in question is black, so immediately scream ‘racism’, while no one (except me) knows the definition. Three: Win. The worthless-ass cops were at fault, the dumb negro professor was a fault, and if you give a few hours I’m sure I can find that obama was at fault.

niki

July 23rd, 2009
7:38 pm

The officer was doing his job and keeping himself safe. Its the same story over and over its always the big bad white people that are just racist and abusing authority. If the professor wouldn’t have imediately pulled the race card like so many often do(considering the conspiracy against them of course) then this wouldn’t be a story would it. The officer was unaware if there were suspects in the house even as they spoke. That was the reason for asking him to exit his home.

jerry

July 23rd, 2009
7:54 pm

Obama should stay out of things he knows absolutely nothing about. That includes his ignorant comment about racial profiling by this officer, and just about everything else he has done to this country.

Read the actual police incident report here. http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0723092gates1.html

Curly Girly-man

July 23rd, 2009
8:02 pm

I’m sure I speak for most GOPers when I say that Gates fella was acting awful uppity. Hey, if there’s a man in uniform in one of our living rooms, we’re groveling on the floor licking his boots – or anything else he wants us to lick.

ghostwriter

July 23rd, 2009
8:18 pm

This reminds me of the arrogant Smyrna female cop who asked me for my ID when I was a PASSENGER in a car that had a burned out license plate light. After walking up to the car and verifying that the tag was valid, then verifying that the driver had a valid license, why did she need to see the ID of a 51 year old well dressed man?

Just Human

July 23rd, 2009
8:25 pm

We don’t live in a police state. We should not be arrested simply because we are angry at police who intrude on our property and violate our civil rights. ID was produced. Residence was established. That should have been IT. Policemen are NOT gods. They are not immune from verbal comments when they are obviously in the wrong.

It sickens me to hear so many people suggest that a man in his own home should be arrested for responding negatively to an abuse of police powers. If this man had been white – and I say this as a white man – the police would have apologized and left. Because he was black, he was arrested. The department has apologized…they have admitted their mistake. Why are people still blaming the victim here?

Oh, let me guess…because they are racist trash.

The REAL GodHatesTrash, Superstar

July 23rd, 2009
8:25 pm

Now, now. Teaching at the “Cambridge Police Academy” doesn’t make one an expert on anything, unless the academy has a donut class.

Imagine Officer Crowley’s excitement – he’s been walking the streets of Cambridge for 20 years, still hasn’t progressed passed beat cop.

Nothing really happens in Cambridge. One murder in the last 2 years. A little over 1 rape per month. Less than 1 assault per day, around 1 burglary per day.

Officer Crowley, is back on the beat, after the gym and some steroids for a chaser. He’s making the best of a boring dead-end life, so he swaggers around in his uniform, telling a drunk to move along, and flashing his badge for the college girls, hoping for an after-nooner – when all of a sudden, BURGLARY IN PROGRESS!

All that gym work gonna pay off now. He runs down the street. Old white lady tells him – they’re in there!

Awww. It’s two old black dudes. With ID. Where’s all the excitement now?

Well let’s make some. “Respect my authority!” Officer Crowley/Cartman says. And he cuffs the oldest black guy, all 120 lbs. of him, and walks him out., hoping the college girls will catch a glimpse, and, since his buddies are there, they know he won’t take no lip from no n-gg-r professor, oh no not him!

sad brotha

July 23rd, 2009
8:35 pm

Obama’s used car salesman tactics are falling apart. The car (change) is not what he promised. He is going to fail and we will all pay. This guy NEVER did a thing and is now the president. failure is around the corner and it is going to get bad. Promises promises…who is going to pay for them? The Stupid Cambridge Police Department? Deep down we all know the professor of color had a chip, and acted the fool. The racial credit card is OVERDRAWN!

herman

July 23rd, 2009
8:44 pm

i wish a policeman would try to arrest me in my own home after showing proof. when proof was shown policeman should have left. period. right to remain silent is only if you get arrested. he was not under arrest at the time. obama spoke truth and white america hates it. racism is alive check the comments

sugarapple

July 23rd, 2009
8:47 pm

Stay out of my house. I showed my picture ID it was time for the cop to leave.

I bleed Pacman logo red

July 23rd, 2009
8:53 pm

first, you should never talk about how other people do their jobs before finding out every last detail. Especially when you’re doing a particularly crappy job yourself. Glass houses, throwing stones, all that jazz.

you white people out there need be ril ril careful, K? everything you do now is under the scrutiny of a long put upon race of people that now thinks ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING is racist.

watch ur backsssssss

reservoirDAWG

July 23rd, 2009
9:01 pm

Obama is an idiot.

Sowega

July 23rd, 2009
9:05 pm

I won’t get in to the racial component of the situation–I don’t know the town or the folks involved. But I do know that a lot of cops are damned Barney Fifes. They can’t stand it unless they’re controlling everything and everyone around them. And God forbid if they ever bow up over their hurt feelings and snatch somebody down and cuff them–not a single other cop will ever tell them they did wrong. Blue sticks to blue and damn the rest of the community. It’s only gotten worse ever since every department in the nation has adopted the paramilitary style uniform. The best law enforcement remembers that they are members of the community, not its little boss men.

And if I’m being challenged in my own house after I’ve proved who I am, and I get pissed about that, then by all means, please take your hurt feelings and get the hell out. At least the professor had the decency not to threaten them. All he did was call it like he saw it. Apparently the first amendment doesn’t apply when hurting the feelings of the police.

One more question–since when does someone’s house become a public place as stipulated in the charge?

Mike

July 23rd, 2009
9:06 pm

Interesting that all you pale faces are entitled to your opinion. For a cop who supposedly teaches racial profiling, he knew exactly what he was doing. Fact is just about everything in this country is based on race. Problem is people who have always been the majority have always enjoyed its privileges. Now when those privileges infringe on the minority who BTW are not accepting that treatment anymore, you pale faces call it the race card. Most dont care if the cop apologizes or not. Fact is people see the town of Cambrigde, its people and its cops for what they are. They are no different than the klu kluxers of yesteryear. They just dont wear the dunce hats and those white dresses anymore.

Dawgfan

July 23rd, 2009
9:10 pm

Boo hoo Mike. Why don’t you take advantage of opportunities?

reservoirDAWG

July 23rd, 2009
9:13 pm

Wow! Pale faces? Jacka$$.

Sowega

July 23rd, 2009
9:18 pm

My face ain’t pale–it’s red like my neck!

I still got to side with the professor on this one.

Boots

July 23rd, 2009
9:19 pm

Whether you like it or not, the elitist professor was in his own house and showed the officer ID and proof that it was his house, so the officer had no warrant and should not have even been in the man’s house.

Now, the unfortunate thing is the professor played the officer like a banjo. The officer was suckered into making a fool of himself. That’s on him. He should have known better.

kody3517

July 23rd, 2009
9:23 pm

racist??? The president is racist for making that comment! If it were two black officers that did the same would the president made the same comment! I have lost all respect for the president! The president should not get involved until he has all the facts! Than comments should be made. The professor never identified himself. All he would have had to do is cooperate and ID himself. The officer is right the professor made the choice to be arrested, he acted wrong! whether he was white, black or any other race!

Joel

July 23rd, 2009
9:25 pm

This cop just had to show his authority. He should apologize or leave police work.

I don’t blame the professor for showing anger. I guess we are still trying to recover from a Cheney/Bush fueled police state.

BG

July 23rd, 2009
9:25 pm

Why do blacks always play the race card when they get into trouble?

reservoirDAWG

July 23rd, 2009
9:28 pm

Some of the most idiotic statementsI’ve read. Your boy Obozo can do no wrong.

Dixie

July 23rd, 2009
9:37 pm

Gates pull that $h_t in Gwinnett Co; Ga–He get his A$$ MOWED DOWN!

conservative

July 23rd, 2009
9:44 pm

This just in; Anyone that doesn’t vote for goverment take over of everyones healthcare is a racist. Anyone that doesn’t like the Obamanation must be a racist. If you don’t bend over and take it then you are a racist.
Here is a guy that has as his number 1 priority the release of guys we have held in Cuba. Next, he goes around apoligizing to the World for being American.
Now he is calling Police stupid.
How many idiots that voted for that guy have now open their eyes?

falconfan

July 23rd, 2009
9:46 pm

a neighbor saw what appeared to be a break in and called the police, the police actually showed up in a timey manner, investigated the situation and asked for proper id and the respose was to call the guy a racist. is it possbile to get some of those racists transfered to atlanta?

reservoirDAWG

July 23rd, 2009
9:46 pm

conservative, then I’m a racist. What are people thinking?

Curly Girly-man

July 23rd, 2009
9:56 pm

I don’t understand Gates’ reaction. I’m like most GOP guys – a guy in a uniform shows up in my living room, I’m ready for hot sex.

earl simpson

July 23rd, 2009
9:58 pm

i hate to say this but it must be alot of police officers and whites responding to this what if it happen to u oh i forgot it wouldnt you guys are white

CORE VALUES

July 23rd, 2009
10:02 pm

I can’t even believe OBAMA commented on this. He (OBAMA) is wrong!

conservative

July 23rd, 2009
10:02 pm

Obama will do for Black people what Jimmy Carter did for Georgia. Everyone was excited in the beginning to see someone from a small town in Ga. make it to the big time. It gave us a little hope for our own lives. Then the reality set in and we were embarrassed nationally and across the globe.
Black people will be the last to come off the wagon, but they will be sitting at home shaking their head in disgust even if they don’t admit it outside of the home.
We must try to hang on for another year and half.

niki

July 23rd, 2009
10:06 pm

Enter your comments here

reservoirDAWG

July 23rd, 2009
10:06 pm

Earl, rank and file. Just another dumba$$.

Dave

July 23rd, 2009
10:07 pm

Obama should not comment on local issues!

itiswhat it is

July 23rd, 2009
10:08 pm

Obama’s statement had nothing to do with race..everyone speaking against him is just trying to stir up mess because he’s a black president. It was a stupid mistake of the officer. If the professor was white it probably wouldn’t have gone this far. For those that say it was procedure for the cop to ask the man to step outside for his protection then you are wrong. If the officer thought the situation was unsafe he would have asked the man first and called for the necessary back-up. He obviously felt offended by the race card and acted stupidly. He should have apologized and left once the ID was shown. Anyone of us would have been offended by the officer if we were the ones questioned in the middle of the night for no wrong doing. Police makes mistakes just as well as others.

Dave

July 23rd, 2009
10:09 pm

itiswhat it is — What planet are you from!!! You must be kidding me.

conservative

July 23rd, 2009
10:13 pm

Have anyone else heard that the residence had a burgalary reported earlier this year? I can’t confirm, but I heard that and this would make an officer’s suspesions that more realistic.
Nothing can excuse Obamanations comments. Guess the telaprompter was off again.

Mike T.

July 23rd, 2009
10:14 pm

When’s Obama going to resign?

RGB

July 23rd, 2009
10:15 pm

A black liberal professor with a chip on his shoulder and a black president who sat in a bigoted “church” married to woman who for the first time in her life is proud of her country. They’re all victims–all of them.

Black victimhood is very, very tiring and most decent people are annoyed and unmoved by it. Obama impugned the character of, by every account, a role model police officer. He should be ashamed of himself, but with black victimhood there is never any shame.

itiswhat it is

July 23rd, 2009
10:18 pm

Dave you probably believe the officer that shot the two elderly white women in Gwinnett was justified as well right…..Just try not being Bias for a moment and you might understand where I’m from.

opus

July 23rd, 2009
10:20 pm

I get a Cynthia McKinney vibe from Professor Gates. Just like white folks who “get a little too big for their britches,” there are plenty of accomplished black people who think they are above it when they are asked to comply with the rules. If law enforcement asks you to step outside, you comply (like any grown-up would). The attitude that Gates pulled with the officer sounds just like the crap Cynthia McKinney pulled on the capitol police officer when she was asked for her ID. It’s a shame that the “race card” was even played here. It is a tool for fools!

conservative

July 23rd, 2009
10:27 pm

Hot off the wire; Obama calls dead pit bulls stupid racist. Some of them caused Mike Vick to loose his job. Those darn dead racist white pit bulls.

Dash Riptide

July 23rd, 2009
10:33 pm

“If law enforcement asks you to step outside, you comply”

Outside of my own castle? With no warrant involved? Oh, hell no.

Carolyn

July 23rd, 2009
10:39 pm

Why would anybody smart enough to be a Harvard professor be dumb enough to break his front door after he had gotten in the rear door, especially when he’s “just stopped by before joining his family on vacation”? Break the front door, then leave town on vacation?? I doubt this was stupidity. I think it was a plan to stir up publicity for his cause. Why does everything have to be about race? Can’t we all just be polite and get along?

Zeke

July 23rd, 2009
10:40 pm

It reminds me of how the APD were jacking people up left and right at the airport after high security was implemented post 9/11. BUT one day they jacked up a white soccer mom and all hell broke loose! Rules were changed and the jack ups ceased! That is profiling in reverse!

conservative

July 23rd, 2009
10:45 pm

Obama nominates a racist for the supreme court then he calls police stupid. Brilliant!

Ray

July 23rd, 2009
10:54 pm

Being from Mississippi, I thought I knew what racism was until I lived a year in Boston. However, not knowing what went on between the two leaves me unable to say who was wrong. I guess the rest of you must know something I don’t. Let me just say, as a white man, that it has been an awful decade for us. Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld make us look like idiots, and the constant supply of AM radio gas does nothing to help. I believe we’d have to go back to slavery days to find a time period where the white man in USA was more poorly represented.

oldtimer

July 23rd, 2009
11:03 pm

It is not racism to follow good procedure. If it was me, I would appreciate the cops double checking on someone or me breaking into my house. Everyone has ID..get over all this racial stuff….there are real problems too deal with.

death to haters

July 23rd, 2009
11:04 pm

Well I am black and think the professor was out of lines. I have seen Mr.Gates on tv and have heard him speak and this guy do not care for white people. Now, a lot of black folks is screaming racism, but am calling it how I see it. Racism do still exist but this wasn’t racism.

OedipusTax

July 23rd, 2009
11:09 pm

There are 100-120 arrests in Gwinnett County where I live every day, making a rate of 45,000 a year. Take the 18 metro county area, and very likely the equivalent of the entire population of downtown Atlanta will be arrested before this year is over. In the midst of this avalanche of crime, one event, an arrest for disturbing the peace, has been elevated to Presidential level because the fellow arrested is a buddy of Obama, and in his own right, considers himself to be a celebrity. The real story is the media feeding frenzy, and the opportunity for Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton to once more have TV time. Our chief executive should presume the innocence of the accused, which is the presumption of innocence required by law, and in this case, the accused is the policeman. The big loser: Obama, for allowing his own prejudices to cloud common decency,

Anissa

July 23rd, 2009
11:19 pm

You can say this is not racist if you want, but if a police officer walked into your home and accused you of breaking and entering, you would be pissed too. And to be arrest for being beligerant….. Please, I have seen white folks curse out cops on wildest videos and drive away without the threat of being arrested. What do you think those folks would have done if an officer was in their house uninvited!!!!!!! The bottom line is he arrested him because he was on a power trip, and a black man dared to challenge his authority. Plain and simple. If the charges were valid, why did were they dropped. President or no President, if you made a valid arrest, stick to it, don’t back down.

Dan Deacon

July 23rd, 2009
11:19 pm

Obama should be embarrassed he made such a racist remark about an outstanding police officer. The law applies to everyone, no matter if the person is your friend or another black. That makes Obama racist at that point, to side with a black that should be thankful a loyal policeman like Sgt Crowley is on the street helping to protect him from the thugs that apparently were trying to break into his home. How was the SGT to know who was who when he got there. To be a Harvard prof, Gates must be one of the most stupid or just plain racist ignorant fools around. Hopefully the SGT will sue Obama for slander and will eventually have the honor of locking up Gates for some misdemeanor in the future. No one and I mean no one, including Obama is above the law. If you’re black and you commit a crime, you will be going to jail just like any other person.

Honest Abe

July 23rd, 2009
11:23 pm

I think Obama should resign immediately. He is a reverse racist and is single handidly trying to destroy this country. Look at the people he has aligned himself with. Anyone that voted for Obama should have raw cabbage thrown at them in public and then have their voting priviledges revoked. One big ass mistake America = Obama

Acer706

July 23rd, 2009
11:24 pm

Hey People!!!!!!!

Don’t fall for the off-the-wall curve ball to deter our attention away from the important issues (i.e. the MLB steroid question during the bailout address)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our broken, not fail, healthcare freedoms are about to be the decision of government! Left or right, who cares, when was the last time OUR government was applauded for the way OUR tax-dollars were allocated back to us? Healthcare payers and private education are the only two industries that are currently “in the black” without any government supervision. I understand that some rough edges need rounding off in the paying of healthcare. However, by no means should government be playing “doctor.” These are POLITICIANS!

I can go on and on, but to conclude: The one main, most important, dividing difference between the “reform” and our current system was NEVER mentioned last night (dodged a few times). Do your own research people and let govt know you are capable of making your own decisions!

just the way it is...

July 23rd, 2009
11:26 pm

do do do do do do doodoo do…

Lowell

July 23rd, 2009
11:33 pm

I am a white male pushing 60. If I came home from a long trip, had difficulty getting into my own home, a police officer came to my house demanding that I am who I am, saw my driver’s license showing my photo and my residence in the house, and then demanded that I step outside, I would be upset too. Whether the officer’s actions were motivated by race or by boneheadedness, it was stupid. But for Professor Gates to blow up and make a national controversy about it was also stupid. And for the President to refer to it as stupid on national TV, rather than as “an unfortunate misjudgment” was….. an unfortunate misjudgment.

Sandy

July 23rd, 2009
11:37 pm

The race card again? To make this even more of a joke is what Obama had to say. I left Atlanta due to the rap & hip hop wanabee’s, gross! Are you kidding, many years ago I went to IHOP on North Avenue & was ignored by the waitresses who chose to wait on every black customer that walked in the door after my friend and me. After about 30+ minutes of this we simply got up and left. If this were reversed look out IHOP the prez would be talking about you today instead of doing his job. Ironically I am sitting here listening to Black in America on CNN, when will it ever stop? Obama degraded & disrespected all police officers with his comments last night. CHEERS to the officer for doing his job and his department for standing by him.

I'm a DAWG too

July 23rd, 2009
11:50 pm

This is just another example of the lack of progress WE as a people have made in terms of race relations. Your comments (almost all of you)sicken me to my stomach. I am the mother of three and I am trying to raise them to accept people for who they are and not the color of their skin. I am not one to always holler racism, but if this is not racism then what is? White people view the world through the eyes of the priviledged. Anything that goes against your beliefs and anyone who “steps out of line” must be dealt with. I can’t expect you to understand not being proud of this country. I totally understand it and most African Americans do as well. If you ask my grandmother, she will tell you that she has had nothing to be proud of. Maybe it was not being allowed to ride the bus, to buy food from the back window of a restaurant, only being able to drink from certain fountains, having to say yes ma’am and no sir to white KIDS, and so many other indignities. I am only 40 and these are the things my parents and grandparents had to deal with. Just like I was raised hearing those stories and being told to be careful because you couldn’t trust white folks, you people were raised with the same messages about blacks. The thing white people can’t handle is…all the illegal and cruel acts of the past are just that…the past. It is time for us to move forward as a people. We are all here to stay. So let’s try to coexist peacefully.

we're all barking up the wrong tree, and obama joined

July 24th, 2009
12:00 am

the focus should be on the next door lady that had no clue who her neighbor was. SHE called the police. the police acted accordingly to protocol, the old professor acted on his emotion and flipped out.

EVIL REPUBLICANS TIME IS UP

July 24th, 2009
2:01 am

NOW I SEE WHY IRAN NORTH KOREA CHINA AND RUSSIA WANTS TO BOMB THE HELL OUT OF AMERICA,BECAUSE OF ITS EVIL ARROGANCE,YOU CRACKERS ARE GOING TO GET WHAT GOD HAS COMING TO YOU ALL REAL SOON,SO JUST GET YOUR REDNECK LAUGHS IN NOW,CAUSE GOD PAYBACK IS COMING!

CJ

July 24th, 2009
2:08 am

“you have no idea who your messing with.”

Unfortunately, we are beginning to learn exactly who we are “messing with.”

TinaB

July 24th, 2009
2:18 am

I think we would all agree if this happened to you; you would be some what angry too? The whole thing was blown out of porportion and as the President said cooler heads should have prevailed. You have to say that at the end of the day it was a stupid move since the charges were droped. I think both Mr. Gates and the police officer should own up to their actions and both apologize but both are too stuborn to do so. This is not to say racial profiling does not exsist because those of us that are subjected to it each day know that it does. Just that in this case IMHO was not a racist act- it was a reaction to the officer’s fustration because Mr. Gates was expressing his displeasure of the situation and he and his fellow officers were tired of hearing it. Lets be real people!

CJ

July 24th, 2009
2:24 am

All you un-”informed” experts on the situation, here is the only official document regarding what occurred. A quick read of the facts shows what we have is a disorderly gentleman. And don’t use ‘he is tired’ excuse, a ‘well known Harvard professor’ should conduct himself in a more reasonable and distinguished manner.

http://sweetness-light.com/archive/incident-report-for-professor-gates

Although it appears the great majority of posters here seem to jump at the opportunity to insert racism into this incident, it simply doesn’t exist. Sure there is racism in the world, any idiot knows that. But here, none at all. Any idiot should know that also.

CJ

July 24th, 2009
2:33 am

Maybe the professor should get some advice from Chris Rock.

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/07/dear_professor_gates_updated.html

Sternberg

July 24th, 2009
3:10 am

Mr. Obama has since modified his statement, but the AJC will never let on to that fact, because it wouldn’t help them fan the flames, now would it?

EducatedBlackMan

July 24th, 2009
3:16 am

Many of you who are making comments are just illustrating how divided our country still is about the race issue. I’m not fully aware of what happened during the whole ordeal, but arresting someone in his or her own home isn’t what I call good police work, especially when no crime had been committed. If they wanted to search the house to be sure there were no intruders, then maybe they should have made it clear that was their intent. I don’t blame the professor for getting upset. Black or white, I feel he had a right to be upset. As far as President Obama goes, “stupidly” may have been a little harsh. I would probably have said that the officer was a little over zealous. And for all you Obama haters, you gave George W. Bush 8 years, why can’t Obama get at least half his term in before you condemn him. It hasn’t even been a full year. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Adolph Maddox

July 24th, 2009
5:17 am

Am I an equal opportunity racist since I hate cops AND blacks?

PappyHappy

July 24th, 2009
5:20 am

Well, let’s just say that there is very little change we can believe in in Washington, and it is a big disappointment. The President deflected many questions regarding health care on Wednesday evening, and think that his mistake was NOT DEFLECTING the issue on Dr. Gates.

No one is perfect, but we do hold the President to a much higher standard!

Kevin

July 24th, 2009
5:51 am

For the President of the United States to comment on a small incident in a small town is just so wrong; polarizing. I don’t know if the Cop acted “Stupidly” or not and none of us basically do as we read second and third hand reports (always believe what you read and see where that gets you), but it is interesting to note the first thing people jump to is the racial divide. I’m not saying that there is a degree of profiling out there, but to jump to those assumptions right away does not speak well for all of us.

Mtn, Man

July 24th, 2009
5:52 am

Thank you, Dr. Gates and Michael J……..For distracting this country from the business of intelligent governing! The dept.of Cultural Affairs will soon be investigating such an obviously right-wing conspiracy…..outrageous! Mtn. Man

sad brotha

July 24th, 2009
6:27 am

Years ago… Andy Young’s son Bo was beaten by a couple of Washington DC Policemen (Bo was “acting the fool” and was arrested-again). Daddy Young immediately called the police racists. Later it was determined that the two police officers were black. The racial credit card is overdrawn and I am going to play ostrich everytime I hear a brother (or sista) cry!

RW

July 24th, 2009
6:31 am

Obama is a racist idiot.

Will Jones - Atlanta

July 24th, 2009
6:40 am

This incident took place less than three miles from where Crowley grew up in Cambridge.

Gates’ residence is a Harvard University Housing rental and Gates’ face, as one of Harvard’s celebrity luminaries, is on television virtually all the time.

Harvard is Cambridge. Cambridge is Harvard. Read “How Harvard Rules” to amplify the sociology lesson this “peek” has afforded to “the rest of us.”

Crowley now lives fifteen miles from Cambridge and knew perfectly well what a rare opportunity he had knocking on the door of 17 Ware St. at noon on a clear day.

Crowley was “gas-lighting” Gates after he produced his Harvard I.D., in his knit sport shirt and slacks, and he’s “gas-lighting” America now with his other-worldly confidence for his rank and job based on his membership in a police union.

Why do you think the good and decent of that “neck-of-the-woods” are moved to Atlanta and a better part of the world?

The Mafia and the Roman Catholic Church run Boston/Cambridge, in collusion with Harvard’s false-elite, now having been, in the person of Henry Louis Gates, bitten in the “behind” by the police state monster their condoned evil requires. Hob-nailed fellow-travelers who “think” Bush didn’t do 9/11 and isn’t a draft-dodging closet-queen, fall in line in support of Crowley.

In America the People is sovereign, under only G-d.

Cambridge is fascism serving the bank account and status of Henry Louis Gates.

Atlanta is America.

Cindy Sue Causey

July 24th, 2009
6:44 am

Will say as I’ve said elsewhere :: “Stupid” is an eternal favorite of elementary schoolyard bullies who use it abusively against others.. It is very often spewed in the company of similar words such as m*r*n and r*t**d..

The word “stupid” *DOES NOT* belong *ANYWHERE* in the vocabulary of someone holding the position that Obama does.. To that end, if someone has an extra thesaurus laying around, could you please drop it off at the White House as one viable tool for guaranteeing this does not occur again..?

joe biden

July 24th, 2009
6:50 am

leave my boss alone. maybe he made a mistake saying the cops were stupid and that they pick on blacks & hispanics more than whites. hey, we need the black and hispanic vote…so what’s a guy got to say?
remember, the messiah brings hope and change to the country.

socialismsux

July 24th, 2009
7:04 am

Let me be perfectly clear about this: Gates and Obama are the racists.

Norma Rae

July 24th, 2009
7:08 am

Obama has now shown his “true colors.” That said, here is what happened to me years ago. I looked out the window and saw my car had been stolen during the overnight period. When the police arrived, they asked for my ID, and then asked if I was sure I was up to date on my car loan payments. I guess I should have made a media event out of it saying they were profiling me because I am blonde.

Will Jones - Atlanta

July 24th, 2009
7:13 am

Yeah, right. A fifty-eight year-old cripple in Harvard Housing isn’t recognized by a Cambridge native in broad daylight at the edge of Harvard’s campus, with a Harvard U. photo ID, and needs to be cuffed.

Right, Gates is the “racist.”

P.S. Atlanta and Georgia – You think the “vaunted” Harvard “intelligentsia” doesn’t know Bush did 9/11, that his father popped Kennedy and King, and that his grandfather was Hitler’s banker for Vatican banker Rockefeller and Rome?

Harvard is gaslighting America. Read “How Harvard Rules.”

Let’s wake up together as the sovereign People and make 9/11 Commission-quitter Max Cleland Our Governor, for Atlanta and Georgia’s sake…and for America’s sake.

V

July 24th, 2009
7:17 am

Race relations in this country will never get better if some of these idiotic comments on this blog are any indication.

Willis

July 24th, 2009
7:27 am

The President himself is experiencing racial profiling. Those who claim he wasn’t born in this country, who believe his birth certificate is fake would not be concerned if Obama were white. It’s disgusting.

Oh yeah

July 24th, 2009
7:30 am

Obama is looking and sounding more and more like another Al Sparpton than he is the President of the United States of America. Mr. Obama, is this all you have on your plate? To meddle in a private police matter all because another black male cries racism because he doesn’t comply with an officers demand to show ID with an address and not your work ID. I don’t think any Atlanta police officer would allow me to use my work ID if he asks me for identifcation. I suppose black friends of Obama are expected to be affored special treatment. Gates demanded to be taken to jail. I imagine Gates smelled a lawsuit. Then Obama had the nerve to mention this incident in his speech when all the while we have a housing crisis, double digit unemployment and his over the top socialistic health care package his own people aren’t buying into. Obama saw his ratings just before he stepped up for his daily 30 minute reading of a teleprompter and he saw that his ratings were at 55% and at the same time in first his term, Bush II was at 56 % and Obama freaked. He knows the honeymoon is over and he has to face the real test. He also knows that no matter how horrific of a job he does and will do, he’ll have the total support of his fellow blacks. Birds of a feather stick together.

Willis

July 24th, 2009
7:32 am

“I was really looking forward to that burger,” Bush said. “And I could have had it too, if it wasn’t for that soldier getting his stupid ass blown off.” George W. Bush, President commenting on Cindy Sheehan’s sons death.

Steve

July 24th, 2009
7:38 am

Now we see the true Obama. Was not there but chooses sides based on color. Is this like when the young girl was raped in New York years ago. All the black leaders in the community showed up to support the girl until they found out she was white. They left. This isn’t about racism. This is about a cop verifying. There is a cop in my town that I know casually through sports and business. My car broke down and he pulled up in his cop car. He knew me and still I had to show my license, registration, insurance, etc. He looked in the car. He looked under the hood to verify the car was broke. Then I got his assistance. A couple weeks later I talked to him about why when he knew who I was. His response – trust but verify. You never know for sure what is going on. He is right and he was also black. Makes me wonder if Obama will automatically support a terrorist over our military wothout knowing the facts. In this town I live in there is public housing. Almost every night there are shots fired, stabbings, etc. Someone calls 911, cops show up and then nobody wants to talk to the po-po. Here is a clue – if you think your loud attitude will get my respect then you are in lala land. I don’t give a crrap about your culture if you are not doing anything to improve it. Respect does not come from the barrel of a gun or big wheels on a car. It comes from you as a person. Obama just lost my support. This whole thing reminds me that the “soul patrol” attitude is alive and well in the black community. If you automatically judge based on color then do not call a white person racist. Final comment – the hispanics I know hate blacks because of racism towards hispanics. Funny how all the sudden the blacks are trying to bring hispanics to their side. Pretty hypocritical.

Steve

July 24th, 2009
7:41 am

I think we’ve moved way past the “race card” thing. It should be called the “race gun”. Anytime a white person is accused of racism it is devastating to them personally and professionally. It brings a stigma akin to being accused of child molestation, except, I can’t remember the president singling out one child molestor as being stupid.

HRPufnstuf

July 24th, 2009
7:43 am

READ THE REPORT! He wasn’t arrested in his home, he was arrested outside, where he was creating a disturbance and frightening the people gathered in front of the home. The officer had identified himself TWICE, despite Gates continued insistence for him to give him his name over and over. The officer is SUPPOSED to control the scene, after seeing the broken door (which Gates admitted was from a previous burglary) and the officer has every right to ask him to step outside, and should, for his own safety, not knowing what other persons or threats are in the home.
A rational person would think that even a homeowner in his own home WHO HAS HAD A PREVIOUS BURGLARY would be grateful for police investigating another reported burglary, as the officer had already informed him that he was doing.

Gates is the Poster Child for Racist Bigotry, and his buddy NoBama is the same, for jumping in and throwing down his own race card.

OF COURSE the black female mayor called the professor and “apologized.” It would be political suicide for her not to. But the Police Chief supports the Sergeant, as does the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Maybe they’re all racists, huh?

Break into a home in Cambridge. Not to worry, because now you will get:
1. An apology from the Mayor
2. All charges dropped by a girly-man DA’s office.
3. A Presidential Pardon, and pat on the back.
4. All of the above.

But only, of course, if you are a minority. Whites need not apply.

Will Jones - Atlanta

July 24th, 2009
7:51 am

Officer Crowley told WBZ radio: “he controlled the outcome of that event.” Yeah, right.

Cop comes to Harvard Univ. Housing rental and internationally known 58-year-old cripple acts uppity wanting to know cop’s name and badge number. Cop handcuffs cripple.

Yeah, Gates sure controlled the “outcome of that event.”

Crowley is a “little dog” in a cop uniform with a badge and gun, seething about a black guy living next to Harvard Square when Crowley’s had to move fifteen miles from his hometown, where “the elite meet,” to raise his family.

A “big dog” would have thanked the citizen and gone on his way.

Righteous cops, nobly serving the People, are “Big Dogs.”

Will Jones - Atlanta

July 24th, 2009
7:54 am

Owwww…did the Harvard “elite” passersby get “frightened” by the three Cambridge cops cuffing their internationally known “celebrity scholar?” Yeah, just exactly what was it been protected? Crowley’s “face.”

Oh yeah

July 24th, 2009
7:58 am

I sure hope the FBI has a thick file and a watchful eye on Will Jones. I hope his neighbors pack heat. The man is insane.

vdawg

July 24th, 2009
8:03 am

it sure does seem like people need to get some facts and read the incident report. He refused to give them his ID and only later gave him his harvard id and would not give him his drivers license. The officer called the Harvard police department. In the picture released, one of the cops involved is black. While cops often times go to far, this has nothing to do with race. When the popo comes to your door, you speak to them and give them ID or you’ll find yourself on the floor real quick and then in the back seat of the car regardless of race. What this incident does illustrate is the race issue in the country. Some things are about race, many are not. Real the police report and get some facts before you comment on this, advice the President should take.

Tray

July 24th, 2009
8:08 am

Wow, our president acted STUPIDLY in commenting on this case. Black people, I hope this guy is what you wanted because he just set race relations back years for butting in to something he ADMITTEDLY KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT! On top of that, he can’t even fix our country! Everyone knows that blacks have a tendency to mouth off, it’s not a streotype, it’s a damn fact! If he would have kept his mouth shut and not insulted the cop, he would have been fine. Was he arrested for B&E?? No, he was arrested for ‘acting stupidly’.

HEY PREZBO- signing a trillion dollar spending bill without reading it is ‘ACTING STUPIDLY’!! Trying to bankrupt this country by passing this insane healthcare bill is ACTING STUPIDLY!

Tomhere

July 24th, 2009
8:09 am

To ANYONE and EVERYONE (including cops) who comes to my house:
If I don’t know you, and you don’t have a VALID WARRANT, then assume that you have a “bead” drawn on you from the moment that you get out of your car until you fully identify yourself, because YOU DO. You are “in my sights”. Come in the door and………… you get the idea.
That’s called “Exercising my Second Amendment rights”.

steven

July 24th, 2009
8:14 am

Obama stupidly passed judgment without all the facts. Obama is biased & biggoted for perpetuating sterotypes. Obama is unjust for not bothering to hear both sides of the story before arriving at a conclusion. Obama has cheapened the office he holds by doing these things.
Facts; Witnesses testify of the officer as having left the scene (porch)and heading for his car when the ‘professor’ left his home screaming insults about the officer’s mother behind him. The sidewalk is in the public domain- it’s not a private residence! The officer repeatedly warned the irrate professor that he was behaving in a disorderly way.(By the way, the professor’s own DNA research has proven him to be more white than black). After being personally insulted, falsly accused/slandered & shouted at (assulted)… the officer arrested the stupid black professor of perpetually-perturbed-Afro-American-studies.

jt

July 24th, 2009
8:15 am

Just Human

July 23rd, 2009
8:25 pm
We don’t live in a police state.

Yes…Yes we do!
Wake up and smell the pepper-spray.
Cops routinely beat white, black, brown, and yellow.
Sometimes killing them.

Tomhere

July 24th, 2009
8:16 am

HRPufnstuf – The name says it all: Puffing “stuff”.
Hey man, get out of that (smoke) cloud you’re living in.
You MIGHT find that you actually enjoy reality.

ghostwriter

July 24th, 2009
8:17 am

So now you can be arrested for hurting a policeman’s feelings?

the truth...

July 24th, 2009
8:17 am

Obama shows his stripes for all to see….he is the Chief Rascist in Charge….add that to the Chief Traitor in Charge as he so willingly embraces our enemies abroad from Chavez to Castro to the Mullahs of Iran and you can clearly see that he is a disgrace to America….

Stand by lemmings and watch all your favorite TV shows and feed your small minds with the dribble dispensed daily by Hollywood while your country is stolen before your eyes….

Was it Kruschef that said they would defeat us “without firing a shot”?

Certainly that prediction has become fact….just look around…oh you can’t you’re watching American Idol?….or the Simpsons?….

Nancy

July 24th, 2009
8:19 am

President Obama was way out of line in responding with his remark of “stupidity.” President Obama is beginning to show more and more of his radical thinking as he enters into his second half of his first year in office. It is clearly evident that he spoke out of anger and frustration during the news conference and his “true colors” became very evident. He is a very frightening President for the United States of America.

The Insightful Blogger

July 24th, 2009
8:19 am

The only real story of note here is the stunning lack of judgment on Obama’s part, to needlessly weigh in on a racial topic without even knowing all the facts. But then, we are seeing this lack of judgment more and more every day. Truly, the president has no clothes . . . .

Tomhere

July 24th, 2009
8:20 am

There was NO racism here. That’s why it was reported as “two BLACK men”, when they could have said “two men”.

J.D.

July 24th, 2009
8:24 am

So much about something so insignificant. There are a helluva lot more important things to be concerned about.

Bad Idea

July 24th, 2009
8:32 am

The President DID NOT call the cop racist! Also, the Prez stated that the police BEHAVED stupidly. He DID NOT say they are stupid. As demonstrated in this case, many otherwise smart people can sometimes do really stupid things. The cop did a studpid thing.

Even if Gates was acting like a mad man, it was incumbent upon the officer to defuse and de-escalate the situation by leaving without further engagement once he established that no crime had occurred. Perhaps the cop’s racial profiling expertise needs to supplemented with conflict resolution training!

Who cares if an elderly man is talking way too much. The policeman should have responded with silence and left the scene. Let him file a complaint with the department, but don’t respond to bad behavior with more bad behavior. Way too much testosterone was flowing here. Most likely, the policeman is not a racist, but he certainly exercised really bad judgement here.

Reign

July 24th, 2009
8:35 am

Most of White America don’t understand the affects of racism and how it’s perpetuated on every level in Black American’s lives. I don’t necessarily think the cop was racist, but he certainly didn’t handle the situation well. Yes, Mr. Gates probably could have handled it better too, but the racism comes in when Officers treat a Black citizen differently based on skin color, so I guess the officer may have been prejudice. Racism is so natural and ingrained in White America that they don’t realize they’re doing it and they don’t realize we know they’re doing it. It’s a part of White America’s psyche to deny racism. It’s a machine put in place by public policy, the constitution and fed into by every industry in this country. Things are better, yes, but there are those among us who make judgments on all people of color based on their prejudiced thoughts and constant barrage of negative media images and stereotypes. Once the Officer realized there was no issue and that Mr Gates was entering his own home and he provided ID, there was absolutely no cause for him to arrest. He simply should have said something like “we received a call and came out to investigate, we’re happy everything’s OK, good day sir.” This should have been an extremely quick and simple investigation and both parties made it ugly, but the Officer started it through disrespect. Black people, especially, men, can’t say anything to an Officer. White America don’t get it and don’t want to get it because it’s easier. Racism not only affects Black people, it affects Whites…it distorts their thinking. And this isn’t the case for every White person, there are many many well developed thinking, human White people…many. Those that aren’t well developed in their thinking make the entire country look backwards and ignorant. And basically, that’s what the President is saying. The Officer acted stupidly, and he did. The man was in his own home people!!! He provided ID people!!! That should have been the end, why wasn’t it????? THINK ABOUT IT, get pass the other “stuff,” just think for once.

Really?

July 24th, 2009
8:38 am

It is funny how many are acting like this is an isolated case…like America doesn’t have a history of being killers and haters of it’s own people and still are. Unfortuntaley, many black youths picked up what the law told the KKK that can not (not that’s foolish to the uppermost) but not the subject right now…was the cop stupid? without a doubt, and looking at the interviews given by him, he is still holding claim to his fame of being stupid…now do I group this cop with every white police officer or every officer? no…people are people, they are good people, good people who make stupid mistakes, evil people, evil people who have a rare moments of doing something good…all cops are not racist, all black people are not yelling racism in situations involving a person of different color, all white people are not out to do harm or evil against a person of a differnt color…take each individual as they are…this officer was stupid, and Obama was right to call it has it is…some might not like it, because we suppose to act like certain occupations make you a wonderful person…we have child molestor, who are cops, preachers, teachers, lawyers, doctors, soliders… we like to play games with ourselves, we like to invent good people by what they do or represent..you can be a jerk cop who made a bad choice but learn from it, apologize and move on…

JDB

July 24th, 2009
8:39 am

Most of the folks on this blog have obviously not had a run in with the police recently. Next time you get pulled over, start acting beligerent and screaming at the cop, demaning he show you his ID and see what happens as a result. If Mr. Gates would have simply removed the chip from his shoulder, laughed off the misunderstanding for what it was and cooperated with the cop doing his job, none of this would have happened.

Like it or not folks, if you get into a headbutting contest with a cop, you are going to lose. Unless, you are a highly educated black Harvard professor, in which case you create a media storm, get the President involved, and have all charges dropped against you.

American Justice — 2009.

tc

July 24th, 2009
8:40 am

gates should not have mouthed off to the officer, the officer, obviously aware of the history of discrimination, could have been more understanding, and obama should not have used the word “stupidly”. all acted less than optimally, but each of these individuals has either been under great pressure, or now work under great pressure ….so can we let each of them reflect without all this outside agitation ….if that were the case each probably would admit to the other they overreacted

Susie

July 24th, 2009
8:41 am

There he goes again….trying to control EVERYTHING again.
What a man!!

SuperB

July 24th, 2009
8:43 am

Who wouldn’t be “agitated” if they were arrested in their own home? After the professor produced his Harvard ID and driver’s license– no matter how agitated or accusatory he was– the police should have apologized and left. There is no excuse for arresting a person and tossing them in jail for four hours when they did not threaten or attack the police. I dare anyone– to get arrested in your own home– and not be irate!

Victim of Racism/Supremacy

July 24th, 2009
8:50 am

Crowley is an Expert Racist who should be terminated.

oscar

July 24th, 2009
8:50 am

IT SEEMS TO ME CERTAIN PEOPLE THINK THAT THEY HAVE TO OBEY THE LAW.
IF THE BLACK COMMUNITY WOULD QUIT ACTING LIKE A BUNCH OF IDIOTS WE WOULD BE BETTER OFF.

Rob

July 24th, 2009
8:50 am

Obama is broadcasting his opinion without knowing the facts, how unprofessional for a president. This is a local issue and Obama has no business commenting on it. The officer was doing his job, it was the loud mouthed professor who was trying to make a scene. I guess Al Sharpton will be there soon, getting his ugly mug on camera, give us all a break.

Erykh

July 24th, 2009
8:51 am

Just the fact that this reporter felt the need to ask the POTUS this question invokes race. This question would not have been asked of GWB or Bill Clinton. Period

harry8

July 24th, 2009
8:53 am

It was the policeman’s obligation to withdraw from the situation as soon as the homeowner was identified. He was the professional in this situation. Mistaken identity is no big deal; it happens everyday in the police officer’s life. The police investigation was over at that point. The homeowner had every right to demand the police leave. The police officer should have apologized to the homeowner for accosting him at his own home; that would have been the professional thing to do. But the officer continued to engage the homeowner until the situation resulted in a “stupid” arrest.

Former Police Officer

Leo

July 24th, 2009
9:00 am

I’d hate to be his daughters teachers…if there’s a question about the kids’ grades, BO may explain how “stupid” the teachers are while he’s supposed to be discussing health care in front of the world.

Tray

July 24th, 2009
9:03 am

You can tell there are idiots like harry8 that don’t have all their facts and want to make a comment just like Obama. THE OFFICER DID ATTEMPT TO LEAVE (you moron), it was the racial slurs, the comments about his mother, and the general disordely conduct that got him arrested. YES, it is against the law to VERBALLY ASSAULT a cop! Harry, if you are truly a former cop, which i doubt you are (after all this is a blog), you would have read the report, you have read witness testimony, and you probably would have acted the same way…that is, unless you’re a black cop. By the way, the black cop that was there is defending the white cops actions…

lovelyliz

July 24th, 2009
9:07 am

Where are the property rights advocates?

And since when has it been a crime to be in the home that you legally own?

lovelyliz

July 24th, 2009
9:11 am

Thanks harry8.

This was supposed to be a burglary investigation and once it became apparent that no burglary was taking place, the police officers should have continued on to the next complaint leaving Mr. Gates alone on his own property.

Concerned Brother

July 24th, 2009
9:13 am

Listen, everyone just take a chill pill here and for those of you who said he shouldn’t have commented on the issue, maybe you should have said, the white reporter should never have asked the question. He has to answer all questions. He can’t say no comment, he’s the president morons!!

JDB

July 24th, 2009
9:16 am

I would be irate if I got arrested in my own home. Thing is, I am smart enough to know that I better just be as polite as I can be, cooperate fully saying “yes sir” and “no sir” until the situation is resolved and the cop goes away. Guess what? That is how you stay out of jail!!! White, black, yellow, brown — I would suggest the same advice to anyone if your ultimate goal is to avoid troule with the law.

It saddens me that this event will do nothing but further the divide between the white and black races. The same thing will happen 1000 times today across this country to people of all races, but none of those stories will make the news because there isn’t really a story. It’s just cops doing their jobs, enforcing the law and acting within their legal bounds to do so.

Does anyone really believe that once the cop saw a tucked-in polo shirt and khakis wearing bespectecled black man, that this event had anything to do with racial profiling? That is a lie. It was a contest of egos. The influence Mr Gates has enabled his exoneration, but if this had happened to any other person of any color, they would have ended up in jail, period.

Neal Kelley

July 24th, 2009
9:21 am

Ok.. Everyone.. Was anyone there when the question was framed and delivered to Obama.. I know if a police office knocked on your door and asked for ID in your own home.. you will feel a bit frustrated. Gates did show the man ID.. and they arrested him any way.. Everyone get your facts straight.. What happened is that both Gates and Police office lost there tempers.. They are both wrong. As far as racisim.. I was not there and do not know what happened.. I have been a victim of racism because I am African American by police officers that are suppose to protect and serve.. So I understand that.. As far the Obama critics… Well if BUSH is the gleaming example of Capitalism at its best.. Then give me OBAMA any day.. Stop calling our commander and chief a COMMIE.. Have some respect for your country!!!!

Shroedder

July 24th, 2009
9:22 am

OMG, another African American not taking responsiblity for their own stupidity. What is it with this race where any time there is a brush with the law it’s because of the color of their skin and not their actions leading up to the incident? Watch the news in Atlanta some random evening. Wanna know why the jails are filled with blacks? Because that is where most of the crime originates. I challenge the black community to clean up their act and stop screaming racism when they are held accountable for the same laws the rest of us white folk all follow.

clyde

July 24th, 2009
9:23 am

Me thnks we have a President who is more than a wee bit racist himself.He’s been waiting patiently for an incident to express his held back opinion and he unfortunately thought this issue was the one to jump in on.Wrong decision,Mr. Obama,wrong decision.

Toussaint Lynn

July 24th, 2009
9:29 am

I agree totally with Obama. The police were dumb. Everyone should be able to see that because the charges were dropped the next day. If the police were correct why drop the charges?

CWILLI

July 24th, 2009
9:33 am

I think Mr. Gates is an opportunist who took advantage of a situation or for that matter. Regardless to the fact if it had not been Mr. Gates, robbers for example he would be complaining as well I think. Also it appears he was arrested for being unruly not for being at his own residense and being accused as a robber. Come on if you going to pick a battle Mr. Gates pick the right one.
The presidents comments I believe is personal and we tend to come to the defense of our friends without thinking, Mr. President sometimes the friends we think we know we don’t know. Stay focused on the problems at hand I do think it was very inappropriate for you to comment on that situation, your answer to the journalist that asked you that question should have been “this not the place nor the time for that question, Mr. Gates is a friend and I will have to discuss in detail and research and see what really happened”. Wow see how simple that was, as for the policeman if Mr. Gates did say something about his mother he was out of line and I know if someone said something about my mother I would be confrontational. But I would like to say lets not take this situation and become pot stirrers but resolutionist. To the journalist that asked that question you are a PS.

JDB

July 24th, 2009
9:34 am

Toussaint,

Surely you aren’t that naive. What would have happened if the charges weren’t dropped? I’ll let you figure that one out for yourself. Do you think the city of Boston or Cambridge wanted that kind of media storm/ bad publicity? I think not.

mini mi-mi

July 24th, 2009
9:41 am

Is ther so little crime going on in Cambridge that cops have the time to arrest an elderly man, with a cane and perhaps a chip on his shoulder, who’s in his own hoome, minding his own business?

Steve

July 24th, 2009
9:42 am

I believe Mr Gates overreacted to the situation, and Obama should have just indicated he would not publically comment on the issue at that time.
Obama, I’m sure, was acting like most friends would and wants to stand with his friend (Prof Gates). I don’t believe he let racism be a deciding factor in his comments as much as not knowing all the facts (read the police report Jerry provided @ 7:54 7/23/09 http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0723092gates1.html ). Regardless of his personnel feelings, he is POUS and as such has to be wary of making snap comments concerning certain things. Racism and confrontations involving police are among that catagory of things. Nothing about this situation required a response from him prior to his ‘checking out’ the whole situation.
Prof Gates seems to over react to the situation. He may be tired from his long trip, but when the officer explains his reason for being there and requests identification, Prof Gates needs to comply with the request. How does Prof Gates know there is indeed not a burgalar in process in his home. Think of the number of reports where innocent people are injured or killed when they walk into a burglary in their home.
Instead, Prof Gates becomes beligerent with the officer, by refusing to offer his ID and then making the statement about being a black man in america. Look at the booking picture of Prof Gates. He is fairly casually dressed, as I would be while traveling. However, to a police officer entering a possible crime scene, this very well could be the attire of a B&E suspect.
Once Prof Gates did identified himself (his Harvard ID badge), the police officer did attempt to leave (read the police report). Prof Gates continued to yell at Off Crowley. By this time there are numerous individuals outside the house, so if the police report is incorrect, I’m sure some of these witnesses stories will be reported countering it(the press can’t let a story involving racism end quickly).
From my perspective, all that needed to happen for this story to have never happened was for Prof Gates to realize he MAY have walked into a B&E situation (the reason the officer gave when arriving), show the officer his ID, and allow the officer to make a quick search of the house (for Prof Gates own protection). Once that was completed the officer would have left and none of this would have happened.

lovelyliz

July 24th, 2009
9:42 am

SInce when did becoming president mean you couldn’t support for friends? It’s not like Obama pardoned Gates for a crime he was convicted of!!!!!!!!!!!

FLAWoodLayer

July 24th, 2009
9:44 am

It is so funny how some white Americans are so angry that they are being so discriminated against. You run this country. You control the Fortune 500 companies, you control the government (most legislators are white btw). You have always had an advantage and still do. What is your gripe or is it when a black American calls it like it is and someone actually listens this upsets the apple cart? I am glad the President did not go pc and not answer a question asked of him at a press conference. BTW, he is friends with Gates and mentioned that as a disclaimer before his comments. I did not know it was a crime if you raised your voice at a cop. The officer arrested Gates because he mouthed off, something that if Gates had not been in elite circles for so long, would have known that blacks cannot do. Whites can blacks can’t.

For those who also say look at the police report, sorry to bust your bubble but police LIE on police reports. I’ve seen it personally.

Fifteen years ago as a college student in Florida, myself and three other black college students were pulled over by a police officer. He was black. He said and I quote “Just wanted to say they’re pulling brothas tonight so be cool”. We thanked him for the heads up. Racial profiling exists folks. I don’t think the Gates incident was I think it was just a hot head cop going overboard. However, these things tend to happen to black people.

Reign

July 24th, 2009
9:52 am

Buy a book on African American history!!!! Educate yourselves and understand the racial history in this country. All these comments are coming from a place of ignorance, anger and denial.

Kris

July 24th, 2009
10:01 am

I’m soooo tired of hearing about all this victim crap, because they are black.
You never hear the indians complain, they were treated much much worse!!!
Black America get a job, stay off welfare, stay out of jail, pay your bills, and stop having fatherless babies.

PS

July 24th, 2009
10:01 am

I’m familiar with the dealings of the Cambridge Police and I have heard of more corrupt things happening then I can even list here. I find it hard to believe that the officer was just “following the rule book.” I usually try to stay out of these racial debates but the Cambridge PD seems to have alot of screw ups under their belts…whether the victim was white or black.

Barbara Revell

July 24th, 2009
10:08 am

What did you think when you elected an empty suit to that position? That he might actually uttter a sentence on his own without sounding like an idiot? You elected him…..get him out if you don’t like it!

JDB

July 24th, 2009
10:12 am

What is being expressed is frustration with the CONSTANT complaining and making something out of nothing that exists within the black culture. This never had anything to do with race at its inception. The neighbor saw what looked like two people breaking into a house so she called the cops. Cops show up and Mr Gates screams racism. Then it became about race.

What happened in the past is beyond reprehensible, but I cannot do a g.d. thing about the past. All I can do is try to out my best foot forward every day and hope that everyone else does the same. Events like this are not doing anything in helping bury the hatchet.

I had nothing to do with slavery. I had nothing to do with the Jim Crow era. I had nothing to do with the attrocities committed against those in the civil rights movement. But frankly, I am getting tried of being held accountable for events that occurred before I was born. From my perspective, the playing field has been more than leveled and now all Americans have the opportunity to make the right choices and succeed in life. PLEASE STOP COMPLAINING AND START DOING SOMETHING TO MAKE OUR COUNTRY BETTER!! Obama was a step in the right direction — millions of white Americans proved that color doesn’t make a difference if you are a person of character. We have a long way to go obviously but I fully believe that events like Mr. Gates participated in are absolutely counter productive to what we would all love to have — equality and PEACE!!!!

lulu

July 24th, 2009
10:19 am

racial profiling is bad all over North America – Here in Atlanta if you are not white you have no rights

EVIL REPUBLICANS TIME IS UP

July 24th, 2009
10:20 am

REMEMBER BLACKPEOPLE ALL THIS RACIST THE COP DESERVE TO DO WHAT EVER HE WANTS TO,THESE ARE THE SAME REDNECKS THAT WANTED TO BOMB THE WRONG COUNTRY IN IRAQ,INSTEAD OF SAUDIA ARABIA,GOD PAYBACK IS COMING CRACKERS,THE INDIAN ARAB ASIAN HISPANIC AND THE BLACKS ARE GOING TO FINALLY GET REVENGE THRU GOD ON YOU RACIST CRACKERS,REMEMBER YOUR TIME IS UP!

JDB

July 24th, 2009
10:24 am

Really intelligent there, “EVIL REPUBLICANS” You are the problem with our country. Please do not ever ever ever ever ever reproduce. Please, the entire world begs you.

Scuba Steve

July 24th, 2009
10:25 am

Man…would I love to meet you outside…EVIL REPUBLICANS TIME IS UP…

Alan

July 24th, 2009
10:26 am

The cop is checking on a possible breakin, asks the professor to step outside (and he refuses), asks to see ID (and he refuses), and the professor starts yelling the cop is a racist? Would the cop have asked a white guy for ID?…Of course! Would a black cop have asked the professor for ID? So where is a ‘racial profiling’? The only person who acted racist was the professor…. who should have simply shown his ID, and THANKED the cop for risking his LIFE to protect the professor’s property!

Instead, the professor kept yelling (acting racist HIMSELF), until he was arrested for disorderly conduct… just like a white guy would have been. Again, the only person being racist here is the professor… who is apparently VERY racist.

oh yeah

July 24th, 2009
10:27 am

How dare you be a white man in today’s Amercia and not bow down to the feet of the black man. Do you not know that several hundred years ago, along side the Irish, the Chinese the Native American Indians and just about any other group of people, we were slaves. It is not enough that we are afforded afformative action and race quota’s and special loans predicated ONLY on our race. It is not enough that we have weeks of Black History and Being Black in America along with a separate Black Chamber of Commerce. We deserve more special treatment. Yes, we have a right to hate Arabs and Asians who come to this country and risk opening businesses in our neighborhoods; risk being killed by our fatherless young male youths. What gives you the right to be here only a few years and open businesses with your own blood, sweat and tears when all along I have lived on gevernment assistance and have not bothered to get my state paid for GED, yet you come here and succeed. Why shouldn’t I hate you. Now, one of our own had to obey the law and this is taking things too far. What’s next, that all people of America will be expected to live by the same rules and obey social order. Oh my!

The REAL GodHatesTrash, Superstar

July 24th, 2009
10:27 am

Bottom-line, filthy stupid trash think it’s perfectly fine for some knuckle-dragger cop to put cuffs on a skinny old crippled black man in the black man’s own effing livingroom because the ignoranus cop doesn’t think the black man is respecting his authority.

I am the authority in my own gawddamn house, you filthy trash, and the professor is the authority in his.

Scuba Steve

July 24th, 2009
10:29 am

As far as I am concerned, I think black americans should be thankful for what their forefathers went through…was slavery an awful thing…yes it was…but their great, great grand children get to live in the greatest country on earth instead of on a continent where genocide and starvation are daily worries. Instead of being victims, appreciate what your ancestors went through and be thankful for god sakes.

JDB

July 24th, 2009
10:35 am

Superstar,

It happens to people everyday, of any color. If you think you are the “authority” over the law, you are a complete moron. You will get put in handcuffs too, regardless if you’re skinny, crippled, or just plain dumb.

steven

July 24th, 2009
10:37 am

Two guys with backpacks & a crowbar break in to a house. Cop shows up and asks the guy in the house for ID to verify residence. Resident refuses cop’s logical request!!!! Resident later shows ID after accusing cop of racism. Cop LEAVES premise- STUPID Professor FOLLOWS cop from his home- shouting personal insults all the way outside in full pubic view. What so hard to get? Nutty Professor is NOT in his house…and has committed verbal ASSAULT/disorderly behavior (misdeamenor) in full view of his neighbors- (even after repeated warnings by Cop to calm down)! Now, all of America gets another lecture about racism by Obama, Professor & blacks. Whites “just don’t understand”. What a bunch of condescending, eliteist, superior Black racist B.S. ! It’s not that whites don’t get it ! We’ve been hypocritally lectured for decades and understand racism quite well now. We’re not slow learners like so many stupid people who think it’s smart to disrespect Cops! What an imbecilic professor, President & any other person who ‘reasons’ this is a racist incident…they are the one’s who “don’t get it” and so disqualify themselves from knowing anything about racism or recognizing it…especially in their own black selves.

bob

July 24th, 2009
10:44 am

I read so many stupid statements about Prof. Gates and the police officer and I have to admit that the officer was wrong. I have witness for may years of how some police officers treat black people and just early this year my 17 yrs old son was walking home from a friend how playing video games as most kids do now days. As he was walking home listening to his ipod, two cobb officers approached him with flashing blue lights around 7:15 in the evening and needed to know where he was going. Mind you many patrons walking to their cars after a brief shopping experience and my son was just walking accross a parking lot of a shopping center here in Cobb County, Ga. They asked that he be searched and they wanted to know if he was in a gang. They asked him did he have a deadly weapon. They then put his arms behind his back and search him and after continue checking his ID and not finding no criminal record attached. finally they now want to be his friend and now want to talked about his education and his future. I asked for a internal investigation and unlike most police dept, I have not to this very day understood why they stopped him. He was not trying do anything wrong and yes we forwarding this info for review. I do understand and support Prof. Gates position to defend him self and his rights. As great as this country really is, we should not be having as my problems when it comes to race. This is not Iraq, Iran, Cuba, or and many other country that we here and see on TV each day of constant problems and unrest. How could we as a nation tell another country how to act and controll civil unrest and policing when we have problems here in the US and being going on for many years. Many lives have been lost and risked for this country to move forward and embrace civil rights and human rights protected under the law. Racial profiling is illegal and should be illegal. I have a story for Prof. Gates about our experience here in Cobb County, Ga. after moving here within 3 years. I see his point and the President point.

oh yeah

July 24th, 2009
10:44 am

must be hitting nerve for God Hates Filty…to get it’s panties in such a wad…LOL The truth hurts.

brenda

July 24th, 2009
10:47 am

1) President Obama and the rest of us were not there so we don’t know what happened. 2)I am a black female from Chicago and if the cops were not called we would have complained or said they were too slow to respond. Did anyone take notice that there was another black cop shown in the arrest picture? Do you think he would have allowed the Professor to be manhandled in his presence? The President should have not commented since he does not know the facts like the rest of us. Professor, Doctors or any other professionals are capable of getting angry and saying the wrong things.

johnatl

July 24th, 2009
10:50 am

Everybody needs to read the police report before commenting any further. There were multiple witnesses, including Harvard PD and additional Cambridge PD out on the street when the Prof was arrested on his porch, NOT in his living room. Read the police report, or STFU.

Tishana

July 24th, 2009
11:00 am

Yall a bunch of honkeys, Obama going to get me paid.

Hotlanta

July 24th, 2009
11:01 am

Is if funny how people think that race relations are okay when prior to the Gates incident the black kids got kicked outta a pool in Philly. Please where was the commentators/blowhards when Zell Miller said that Obama needs to use “Gorilla Glue” to stay at home knowing full well that black folks are compared to monkeys and he was in Ghana now everyone panties is in a wad because Obama used a word they don’t understand. Why did he ask for backup when no crime was commented. You can yell at a cop and ask for his badge. So Gates can’t yell at the cops and Obama can’t comment but this America where we have freedom of speech. I am glad Gates white wife didn’t come downstairs he would have gotten shot because the cop would have really thought he was robbing the home or raping her. But Brother Gates that is what you get for wanting to be a white neighborhood thinking that it can’t happen to you. I could see if the cops approached them while he was banging on the door or at the back window but was in his home. There was no crime committed.

JDB

July 24th, 2009
11:02 am

Hotlanta,

Please test your point right now. Go outside, find a cop and yell at him and ask for his badge. Please let me know where you do it so I can come watch.

Odupia

July 24th, 2009
11:04 am

Yes we can!!! We still work at Wal-Mart and smash and grab lenox mall.

kclubmember

July 24th, 2009
11:30 am

I think racial profiling is clearly the issue here because Dr.Gates and the driver were two Black men in a mostly white neighborhood entering a home.According to the facts,Dr.Gates submitted two pieces of picture ID to the Cambridge Police,and asked Sgt.Crowley for his name and badge number.Crowley refused,asked Gates to step outside,and then the situation became a “police” matter.Dr.Gates was arrested,booked,fingerprinted,and photographed because Sgt.Crowley’s ego and pride wouldn’t allow to admit that the police made a mistake.

Sabby the Runner Girl

July 24th, 2009
11:31 am

I. What kind of sad neighbor/neighborhood does someone have to have that they don’t recognize you when you’re trying to break into your own house?

Man, last year I locked myself out of my house and I went around looking to see if I had left any windows unlocked. I found one, it was kind of high off the ground but it was unlocked. There was a small oak next to it. So I shimmied up the oak, worked the window open, started to crawl in…but and legs hanging out, shoulders and head in…when I heard…”Hey, Sabby, did you lock yourself out of your house?”

Twisted my head and it was neighbor across the street. He’d seen the commotion, thought it looked like me, took a second to walk outside and look closer, could tell it was me, and walked over to give me a hard time about it.

2. Do you people not know that two of the other cops who where there, responding to the 911 call were not white? One was black. The other Hispanic.

3. Since when did screaming and yelling on your own front porch fall under the legal definition of disorderly conduct in a public area?

4. Yeah, Obama should have not commented…other than to say he supports his friend and hopes to see this resolved soon.

5. Though, now we have some interesting dialogue up to talk about race and authority, both in combination and by them selves.

ABS

July 24th, 2009
12:08 pm

…starting to think that black folks don’t want to be treated equal afterall. They want to be treated special.

Will Jones = Stupid Idiot Socialist

July 24th, 2009
12:49 pm

Blacks are to america as poop is to a diaper. It is time for a change, Impeach Obama.

lovelyliz

July 24th, 2009
2:07 pm

Since when did it become criminal to question why someone who was uninvited was in your homme with no warrant and when no crime had been comiitted?

Just wondering

lovelyliz

July 24th, 2009
2:28 pm

JDB

The point is that thsi man was in his home, on his property and no crime was bein cimmitted. Once that had been established, proper procedure would have bee for the police officers to leave and to go on to the next report.

There must not be much crime up there if cops have the time to arrest people in their own home when there is no criminal activity.

Cornelius1

July 24th, 2009
2:34 pm

I listened to President OBAMA say what he said and I initially thought he could have avoided that. But with all the hate talk going on in the comments here, I now believe the President was right to say the truth. Many of us are still living in hatred of other people’s race and color. We must forgo our prejudices. Officer Cowley should have left once the poor prof showed his ID. To then put handcuffs on him I think was STUPID. Officer Cowley was more interested in his EGO than the overall implication of his actions. As a profiling expert I’m sure he knew something would burst open and it has. He must take the stupid comment and retire with it.

ATLNative

July 24th, 2009
2:48 pm

If you read the police report… Gates was yelling at the officer, calling him a racist, saying “YOU DON”T KNOW WHO YOU’RE MESSING WITH!”, and blatantly refusing to produce ID (which is illegal) before it was discovered he actually lived there. A sensible, educated person (which it should be assumed that Gates is – since he teaches at “Hah-vahd”) would have said “officer, there’s been a mistake and I can clarify it.”

You can pretty much say anything you want to a cop, as long as you don’t raise your voice, make threats, refuse to produce ID or resist arrest. Gates was 2.5/4 – I’m sure had it continued, he would have threatened the officer’s job because he’s tight with PresBO.

Also, dropping the charges is not an admission of making a mistake… often people arrested for public intoxication are taken in, put in a holding cell where they aren’t a threat to themselves or others, and released the following morning. Gates was drunk on power and hubris – he needed time to cool off and it’s a shame he hasn’t.

ATLNative

July 24th, 2009
2:50 pm

…and he wasn’t on “his property”. It was LEASED to him from Harvard – which is why Ofc. Crowley called Harvard PD to assist and verify. The ID was a Harvard ID – and most school ID’s don’t have an address.

lacihian

July 24th, 2009
3:03 pm

After reading the posts I am more convinced than ever, that a much needed discussion on race has to take place. But, like that one last thing in relationships that keep people from being able to be true about what they think or feel, we avoid the issue until moments such as this.

Perhaps, just perhaps, mind you, there was not a racist intent in the cops actions that may have had racists overtones. Many times we are not as aware as we think we are of what we putting out to others that can make a bad situation worse. And perhaps, just perhaps mind you, Dr. Gates read more into what was being asked by the police officer. Nonetheless, I think the whole situation could have been handled differently, and in a manner that left both men with a great degree of respect.

The biggest thing that this all illustrates is that we have more to learn to understanding each other than we care to admit. If we cannot talk sensibly about race, which is the last barrier that we have to address to make us a great nation, then like all relationships that once had promise and failed, ours, American society, will fail too.

By the way, I am a Black Male, ex cop, who teaches sociology, political science, and criminal justice at a community college.

Amicus

July 24th, 2009
3:05 pm

my mama said that stupid is as stupid does. It’s a shoe that fits tightly on the cops feet. But we have a military state mentality that says it’s better to be tried by 12 than carried by6. Collateral loss is expected.

Eric in Atlanta

July 24th, 2009
3:26 pm

Playing the Race Card is the only Racism, in this story, the first person to speak race was Professor Gates (in this conflict), he screamed obsene remarks at the police officer and racial remarks, besides insulting the officers Mother. I guess with Obama President every non black police officer has to now be verbally abused by anyone using the race card as an excuse.

Louis TEXAS

July 24th, 2009
3:45 pm

That’s what you got when voitng for a niggro, WHITE POWER!! kukux Urra!! kukux urrAAA!! Kukux URRAAA!!!

J-rock

July 24th, 2009
4:25 pm

This is reverse racisism plain and simple. Have you even seen a picture of Henry Gates jr. he looks like a smug old man that would pull out the racial discrimination card as soon as he got the chance. Read the Quotes he made to officer Crowley when he kindly asked for Gates identification. All of what officer Crowley said happened was corroborted By the other officer (An african american officer I might add). Black or white, Gates was out of line and at the least deserved a citation for being a jerk!!!!

The REAL GodHatesTrash, Superstar

July 24th, 2009
5:42 pm

Please. This clown is a beat cop.

Saying that makes him an expert on racial profiling is like saying Joe the effing Plumber is an expert on civil engineering.

Now, if they said he was an expert on scrounging donuts, finding hiding places to sleep off his shift, or shaking down small businesses in the neighborhood, that I could believe.

The REAL GodHatesTrash, Superstar

July 24th, 2009
5:44 pm

Too damn dumb for Harvard, or any other 4 year school, Crowley goes to the Police Academy.

Now he’s a big man.

Not.

Mr. Wizard

July 24th, 2009
6:03 pm

It is science, white people are just superior to black people. Research has been done and it is a scientific fact. Black people ruin everything they get their hands on – hell, look at what they have done to the english language. I’m just glad that they don’t have the brain capacity to really do much damage in the scientific community. Thank goodness for that. It is also a scientific fact, that blacks are the most racist people on earth or erff as they would call it. God bless.

twistedhick

July 24th, 2009
6:29 pm

the only bigotry is that the blacks use the race card when ever it suits them. it’s not a black or white thing its a cop or not thing

bixby

July 24th, 2009
6:43 pm

I find it extremely interesting that this is news in the first place. Yet again, all the evidence I need that nothing about our current climate is post-race, post-racist, post-racial or post-anything. If the roles were reversed, no one would have called the police in the first place. And if Prof. Gates wasn’t a member of the Black “Intelligentsia”–or someone with a little more visibility–he’d likely be dead on top of arrested. But here is a man with more means than most in the Black community, being profiled–not so much by the police–but by someone who’s supposed to be his neighbor. Why? Because in all truth and honesty, that neighbor isn’t quite psychologically prepared to handle a Black man with more means than most in their neighborhood. It speaks to the power of class privilege, and it DEFINITELY speaks to the power of white-skin privilege. The police response was a stupid response (hopefully that adjective is understood to be modifying “response” not “police”), but I do believe that response is to be expected when agents of the state are trained to respond with heightened sensitivity to skin that isn’t white.

Rachel

July 24th, 2009
6:58 pm

I am glad to see so many people talking about this issue. It is important. I am with the majority the “President” should not have stuck his nose in this one. Doesn’t he had more important things to do like keep his word on all of the inflated promises he made? I thought he was for small business and education?! That’s funny, I just got laid off today from a large not for profit daycare because most of our funding in Ohio for the program was re-allocated! Why isn’t he working on protecting children like he promised? That’s where my focus would be

wow

July 24th, 2009
7:14 pm

Wow what I Have read thru many of these comments Is ,even if you disagree with the president ,professor or even the officer that when we disagree with each other you see the worst of people .So many sacrafices from blacks,hispanics,and whites to bring unity and love in are country we resort back to are hateful ways ,That hurts me to see the worst in the brotherhood we call the human race!!!

lacaillouet

July 24th, 2009
8:10 pm

the times piayune new orleans newspaper is a good paper but don’t call a black with a black attitude an idiot at that site. you can call george bush anything you want and if you are black…all the better but just don’t call that wonderful racist of a president a racist or they’ll show you the door

Alistair Skeffington

July 24th, 2009
8:42 pm

Well, if Gates had any Cynthia McKinney in him, he would have spoken when it was her turn. How do you work somewhere for 12 years and the guys who’s job is to recognize you can’t. Like Gates, they could not prosecute. With cameras everywhere on the Hill, that tape would have made the six oclock news. Gates and others will pay the price of remainig silent and inept when injustice is done. White law enforcement officers and their non white colleagues behave like this because they know that at the end they can get away with it.
If Gates did something wrong, broke the law, why did they dropped the charges? Crowley did what most cops do when they pull over non whites, when they don’t find anything wrong, they harass you until you do or say something wrong. Perhaps Crowley is an expert in Racial Profiling because that what he does best. I dont care what credentials he wants to produce, we do not know what is in Crowley’s heart. For security sake, I always assume that there is that sleeping racist cell somewhere waiting to emerge in all white cops. I was pulled over on I-20 near Madison, the officer checked everything and everything was in order, he made me stand by the highway for 45 minutes before he finally gave me my license back. Like Gov. Deval said, what happened to Gates is every black man’s nightmare. Crowley could have shot him in his own home and said that he thought the cane was a weapon. All of you would say exactly what you are saying now, he followed procedures. Did we all forget what happened to the elderly black lady in Atlanta? Eric Holder need to investigate all police departments where the statistics said it all. For example, Gwinnett County Georgia is almost 88% white, yet the prison population is almost 86% non white. Are we to believe that 86% of the 12% non white are criminals? What is seen by a cop as youthful indiscredtion for a young white male will written up as a felony for others. If you are white and enjoying your “color priviledges” these numbers wont mean a thing to you.

He_Tased_Me_Bro

July 24th, 2009
10:20 pm

Perhaps Sgt Crowley should have tased sorry butt Gates to quieten him down from his childish, racist rage of yelling as soon as the door was opened and being told by Sgt Crowley he was there to investigate a break in and Gates screaming, “Why because I’m a black in man in America”? What a lowdown scum of the earth idiot racist thing to do. He should have shown respect for the officer as a human being. If I’d been Sgt Crowley I’d probably done alot more than handcuff this piece of crap.

old bag

July 24th, 2009
10:32 pm

I’m not a cop fan, and have experienced both good and bad, but the bad ones are ones that are best remembered, because it is the type you learn the most from, and acquire the proper attitude to assume when in their presence. You never know which you may find yourself stuck with, and never forget who is in charge, because it most likely won’t be you.
I don’t believe racism was at all involved here, but rather a power play play between two males who both believed themselves to right. The cop was totally correct in going into the house on a 911 call of a break-in in progress, and he had every right- no- make that his responsibility – to establish with certainty who did or did not belong in that house. The so called elderly man- who at 58, most would not consider elderly, had an attitude, though not necessarily that of black being profiled, but a man who considered himself to be superior to the intrusive police officer, whom he considered to be a lower intelligent being than himself. Gates appears to me to be an elitist, as does Obama, who had no business getting into this situation. If the president is unable to act presidential, he is in the wrong position.
Any truly intelligent person would have immediately complied with whatever the officer wanted , instead thinking it was beneath him to comply with the man, who by law was entitled to the information he was requesting.
Obama, having “empathy” with the professor, not necessarily as two black men, but rather , two men of assumed superior intelligence, since they were both of Harvard extraction, called the cop’s actions stupid, and that “anybody would have been angry” at the intrusion in his own home, as did the professor.
I disagree,I think most rational people would have complied without anger, rather, be somewhat amused at being in such a silly misunderstanding, and even feel a bit thankful to have a neighbor who was concerned over the welfare of another neighbor.
Now why didn’t she recognize the professor? – well, perhaps her vision isn’t the greatest, and there is good chance she never saw him up close to recognize his features, and maybe two men with backpacks trying to shove a door open, just didn’t look quite right. When the call was made to the police she was probably asked for a description of whoever, and should she have said they were little green men to avoid sounding racist in her description of supposed intruders? If there had actually been a break -in, and they had got away, she would have been questioned for a full description – then what should she say? Getting upset over the fact it was reported two BLACK men were trying to break in is unrealistic, and definitely not racist but merely factual.
This should be a lesson to all potential good Samaritans – mind your own business. Let your neighbor fend for himself,for your well intentioned may cause him embarrassment or tarnish his good name. Should you see a robbery or break in in progress and feel the necessity of trying to help, check out the race of the intruders, then compare that with the race of whoever lives in the building. If they appear to not be of the same race, butt out or there may be a chance of racial profiling or mistaken identity. Heaven forbid it turn out to be another friend of Obama’s.
I have been pulled over for no apparent reason and detained by the police – I have been arrested and put in jail for something I didn’t do- I have been forced to take sobriety tests when I haven’t been drinking, and all this happened after I turned 50 years old. I am an ex-school teacher, white, blonde, and grandmother of 7 children. So- am I a victim of profiling? Must be because I’m a “privileged” white woman.

Will Jones - Atlanta

July 25th, 2009
4:34 am

Crowley comes from a clan of police officers in Massachusetts. Anyone who thinks he wasn’t having a little “fun” with Gates. without the slightest fear of demotion or losing his job, needs to watch “The Departed” again. If you think Scorcese “made it up,” google “Whitey Bulger FBI.”

Harvard and Rome and the Irish, and other Roman Catholic, Mafia run Cambridge, Boston, and America, the cops there are crooks.

It isn’t racist hicks who are sowing division on this blog. Roman operatives have a job to do: “Divide and Conquer.” Their employer is the identified Anti-Christ and good Americans – White, Black, Jew and Gentile – need to unite as we did in 1776 to rid Our Land of Tory treason once more.

Kimberly Wilder

July 25th, 2009
8:34 am

So, it sounds like a true moment of karma. The policemen was an expert on racial profiling. The professor was someone who studies racism.

But, as soon as there was conflict and disagreement, the policeman should have realized that he was the person holding a gun. So, if the professor expressed anger, confusion, or indignation at being confronted in his home, the policeman should have backed down.

The leaders, the public servants, the people holding a weapon, they are the ones who are supposed to be patient and find peaceful resolution in such charged situations.

Ray

July 25th, 2009
10:13 am

Like Ned in “The Rievers” observed….At some point the law stops and just people starts–William Faulkner.

Robert Irving

July 25th, 2009
10:20 am

What a waste of my vote giving it to Obama. I will not be such a fool the next election. This is if he is nor tossed out of office before then. He butted in where he had no business.Rojo.

theotis

July 25th, 2009
11:18 pm

First off where is the neigbor who call the police to Gate’s home. Did police talk with the caller prior to barging into Gate’s home?
And why are all these police organizations circling the wagons to protect a cop who looks eerily like Furman? Were they there? Do they hav all the facts before profiling the president of the United States? And legally what is disturbing the peace. Just something the cops can charge you with just because they don’t like you?

understanding black and white

July 26th, 2009
1:15 pm

Both men lost there cool and both should have just walk away. nothing gain nothing lost. one had the authority and used it be because he got piss at what gates said to him in his house. what do you think the odd gates would be lock up if he was white doing the same thing? This is a teachable moment for all!!! just because you have the power you don’t have to use it. some time it pays to be cool and just let it go even if it is in your own house! This happen every day in some form all across america UNDERSTING and being COOL !!!

My opinion

July 27th, 2009
10:16 am

Just as each of you have decided to voice your opinions regarding the incident that occurred, President Obama reserves the same right to speak on behalf of his friend. Do I believe the professor was angry and likely cursed the police? Yes, but that is certainly not relevant. Has the cop likely seem more crimes committed by black men than any other group of people? Yes, that is likely, but that is certainly not relevant.

My brother and I (black male and female) both drive Chevy Impalas. My brother is stopped almost weekly leaving work in a suburban, white neighborhood. Each time, his vehicle is searched, he is asked why he is in that neighborhood, and he is given some lame excuse about why he was stopped (e.g., your tag light is dim). I, on the other hand, am only stopped at night. I can specifically recall three occasions when police turned on their lights, as I was going a significant speed over the limit, began to pull out, caught eye contact with me, and settled back into their spaces once they saw me (I assume because I am a female and I don’t fit the profile of whom they’re seeking that day).

Prior to purchasing my Impala, I drove a Chevy Malibu, and I drove at least 20 miles per hour over the speed limit everywhere, and I was only stopped twice – once for going 95 MPH in a 70 MPH zone and once for going 63 in a 35 MPH zone. Three weeks after purchasing my Impala, I was stopped for traveling at 81 MPH in a 70 MPH zone and 45 MPH in a 35 MPH zone.

Anyway, I give those examples to say that even if the officer was not racist and did not arrest the professor for being black, please do not be ignorant to the fact that it DOES still exist.

mediamadeitracial

July 27th, 2009
12:04 pm

Ok. For everyone claiming Obama and Gates are racist,please leave that comment out of it. Gates made a comment based on how he was being treated. Officers only ask you to step out of the house because they are not allowed to enter unless you allow them.That means Gates must have started making volatile comments in his home before and after he provided i.d. They should have left and his comment about race is left up to the men that were involved in all of this,not the media or us. Second Obama’s comment if you listened carefully was concerning the procedure not the men. If they acted on what their procedure called for then the I do agree the procedure is stupid and not the men.Although no officer throughout their career follows procedure to the letter. Last time I checked as well no officer asks you to step out of your house when you have proven you live there.Like I said when they ask you that is to get you pass your threshold of your house because they cannot cross that boundary unless you allow them. The officer must have been upset by the comments but he should have kept his cool and left and not succumb to the profane remarks of the professor who had every right to say what he said even though he was wrong in my opinion for making them. When the media blows up stuff like this it creates more of divide between races when race should not be an issue because we are human beings and should all be brothers and sisters in Christ not divided by race and titles. The only thing that some of you are doing on here is proving that racism still exists and you are apart of it. Pray for the situation to end and don’t stir the pot.

Larry Reardon

July 28th, 2009
3:36 pm

I don’t know if 0bama’s stupid cop incident has blown over, but surely the discussion still rages on. Look: Barack is the President. He is not the mayor of Cambridge, or chief of police; he is the Commander in Chief, and if he decides to publicly chastize an officer who was acting out of order surely he has the authority to do so. He had the homeboy’s back. Surely as Americans that is something we understand. The sophistication we aspire to with regard’s to the so-called race issue has been addressed in any number of movies and TV programs. I’ve seen some of Mr. Gates work on TV and it’s at least deserving of a B+. Fine work. But if he wants to play the role of Samuel Jackson, acting up like, some irate Crack Ho on Cops, I have to scratch my head and wonder. The part with a cop with a background in race relations, I’m pretty sure I saw that in a movie. It’s like this swill of a discussion is: to borrow a line from the “Last Poets”-”a dress rehersal of things to come”, and not a very good one. I like to hear some discussion as to whether love, loyalty, or even friendship is an extremely potent, psychological amulet for advancing an idea that reparations are due, to the descendants of a conquered people. There: I said it. To me love, loyalty and friendship seem like reparation.

some get some don't

August 2nd, 2009
4:44 pm

The police is not GOD. Yes we should respect them, but they should respect the people to. Protect and serve… what does that mean? sometime because of all what happen today do the police and the people should take a step back and use reason.I help pay the Taxes that gives them there jobs. I don,t pay for them to profile me! most of us are out to help them not hurt them, but when some of the police see me does he see a person or thug? what run though there minds oh he look the part or do I have relly something to stop him or her for because I have that power! The police have a hard job and I know that but please don’t profile me I am not the one who is doing wrong when you see the shade on my face. I need your help but profiling me in not that help I need nor do you!!!

Roadwolf

August 8th, 2009
7:40 pm

The only person anyone can determine that was in the wrong for sure was Obama. What may or may not have happened between the professor and the officer we may never truely know. This is a case of nothing more than heresay and speculation. Unless Obama was actually there to witness the events of that night he had no right to speculate on the conduct of that particular officer. While I often find myself impressed with Obama this was nt his best moment. A person in a position of power should know not to cast judgements without absolute facts

Cop who arrested Harvard prof was a racial profiling expert; Obama stands by criticism

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Cop who arrested Harvard prof was a racial profiling expert; Obama stands by criticism

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