Does Obama regret saying the police acted stupidly? Nope.
By Jimmy Orr | 07.24.09
Neither President Obama nor his press secretary would back off from the president’s statement Wednesday night that the Cambridge police department acted “stupidly” in arresting Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates.
Both Obama and press secretary Robert Gibbs had ample opportunity to say that the word was perhaps too strong. But neither blinked.
Gibbs was repeatedly asked about it during his press briefing yesterday. He prefaced his remarks by saying that Gates was a friend of Obama, and that the president didn’t have all the facts. The hope is, of course, that these qualifications might give Obama some cover.
It didn’t. The traveling press corps didn’t give up. And the press gave Gibbs plenty of chances to back away from the “stupidly” charge.
“Robert, just to be clear, the President doesn’t regret the language or his statement last night?” one reporter asked.
“Let me be clear,” Gibbs said. “He was not calling the officers stupid, okay? He was ensuring – I think, again, denoting that at a certain point the situation got far out of hand, and I think all sides understand that.”
Obama’s not on a game show
Did the president want to weigh in? Well, he didn’t shy away from it. But Gibbs made it sound like he didn’t have a choice.
“I appreciate the ability at nationally televised news conferences to pass on questions like it was a game show,” he snipped. “But I haven’t been afforded that – I don’t think the President has been afforded those possibilities before. But I will certainly pass along your suggestion.”
But he does have that ability. As does Gibbs. Gibbs shows he’s a master of the dodge-the-question artistry. That’s how you become a White House press secretary. It’s also how you become a successful politician. You answer the questions you want to answer. You dodge the rest.
Any regrets?
The president proved he could do it yesterday afternoon. ABC’s Terry Moran caught up with the president and asked him point blank if he regretted saying the Cambridge police department acted stupidly.
“I have to say I am surprised by the controversy surrounding my statement, because I think it was a pretty straightforward commentary that you probably don’t need to handcuff a guy, a middle-aged man who uses a cane, who’s in his own home,” he answered.
But did he regret saying the Cambridge police acted stupidly?
“Terry, this is a classic example at a time when we are struggling about health care, energy, we’ve got two wars going on, issues like this get elevated in ways probably that don’t make too much sense,” Obama said.
Yes, but did he regret saying the Cambridge police acted stupidly?
“I think that it doesn’t make sense with all the problems out there to arrest a guy in his own home if he’s not making a serious disturbance,” he added.
Rookie mistake
Republican communications strategist Karen Hanretty told The Vote that Obama’s decision to weigh-in on the matter was a “rookie move” and will do nothing but serve as a distraction from his message on health care reform. She says the sooner he addresses the “stupidly” comment, the better – for his own sake.
“Coming on the heels of the Sotomayor confirmation hearings where her controversial ruling against white fire fighters dominated several news cycles, the President would be wise to admit his response to the police officer was too strong and that he doesn’t question the integrity of the officer but was merely noting that minorities often face inequitable treatment,” Hanretty said.
But this being politics, Hanretty just couldn’t resist throwing in a barb.
“Issuing an apology to the police officer shouldn’t be difficult for the President, given he’s been on a world-wide apology tour of America since taking office,” she added.
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Hey, we’ll never call you stupid. And if we do, it will only be on Twitter. So follow us!
<< Does Obama’s global popularity matter ? | MainComments
2. Grayson Starr | 07.24.09
He has absolutely no reason to back down from his statement. The entire situation is riddled with stupidity. The man was having trouble with his front door when an overly suspicious woman called the police, who then arrested a man for trying to enter his own home. I would have been furious with the police were I in the situation as well and I’m sure race was a large factor in his arrest. All of this could have been avoided had the police simply asked for his driver’s license and looked at the address. The President hit the nail on the head with his comment.
3. Debbi Atkinson | 07.24.09
Obama may now brashly claim that he doesn’t regret his remarks, but what he fails to realize is that many white American’s -even ones like my self and my husband who supported him -are now seeing him in a different light. Suddenly the remarks of Reverend Wright nag us. How does he really feel about us? If he was so quick to accuse a white police officer of behaving stupidly, while at the same time admitting that he didn’t know the facts, does that not tell us something about his own gut feelings towards whites and/or towards law enforcement? How will this affect his relationship with the police? And if my family is having nagging doubts and we voted and campaigned for him, what are those that voted for McCain thinking right now?
4. Stephane Clement | 07.24.09
I disagree totally. The President is doing fine. He should not apologize… not at all… Did someone make it a life’s task to have the president apologize? Please, let’s remain natural and honest a bit. And we all know, he’s very likely very right in making his ’stupid’ remark. There are indeed more important things going on than the need for a misplaced apology… Back off dear reporters. You’re behaving in a shameful way. Move on… or get on the case of the real issue… was there indeed racial prejudice in the treatment of professor Henry Louis Gates? Stick to the real story… Maybe there is an police officer out there that needs to apologize for more than just the use of a word…
5. Jean Forno | 07.24.09
To those acting “stupidly” I would add the media! With all the IMPORTANT things facing us (recession, unemployment, health care, education, etc., etc.,) you idiots have nothing else to write about except a remark by Obama on a stupid case in Cambridge??????
6. Mike | 07.24.09
Obama knew he what he was doing when he made the comment, and he knew that he was going to bring fire upon him for his interfering in matters not of his concern nor within the realm of his authority nor his responsibility. Obama was playing the race card and was sending a message to his black supporters that may be backing away from him that he is still a “brother.”
7. Peter Michael | 07.24.09
I support the Presidents comment.
Officers are trained to diffuse a volatile situation, All the officer had to say was, ” Sir, you are obviously upset, I will call my supervisor,and have him speak with you. In the meantime I am leaving, if we get called back to this residence for any further disturbance we will have to handle it accordingly.”
Then he should have left, instead, he completely forgot the training he supposedly ingrains into the recruits he trains … and let words rile him to the point that he had to prove he was in charge by arresting the man…
Now see where it has got him? … Stupid Stupid Stupid…Mr Crowley, you forgot the number one rule of police work when dealing with people ” words can never hurt you”
8. OG san | 07.24.09
The Commander in Chief of our nation has the requirement to chastise when he sees fit. I would expect the sgt. and the Cambridge PD do to some soul searching rather than demonstrate obstenance. I think that President Obama’s clear and unequivocal statement should serve as a guidepost indicating a much needed thought revision of police culture and protocol. In an atmosphere where historically, local authorities created convict leasing, enforced “jim crow”, allowed mobs to lynch Black people and supported efforts to stifle civil rights efforts, petty outrage at being called out on an insensitive act is moot. It is inappropriate to arrest an individual in his own home when no public interest is challenged other that the police officers emotional response to being challenged. No matter the diatribe or rant, the officer, in the absence of a public threat - should have walked away. Resist the impulse to prove who has the biggest —- in another man’s home.
9. Kathy | 07.24.09
I’m not at all surprised by the comment. What exactly do people expect a Chicago community organizer to believe when it come to racial issues? To those that are disappointed in our president I say this, next time, do your homework before you vote.
10. lisa | 07.24.09
*Sigh*. I guess healthcare is just too boring for the media today? Let’s see, what else is going on… ooh a phony race war! And the president is now not really involved! That’s much more interesting! Meanwhile, 50 million people don’t have any health insurance. But I guess it’s just too hard to resist, what with the president being black and all.
11. rr | 07.24.09
It was Obama who behaved stupidly - first, in commenting on a situation about which he didn’t have all the facts - and, secondly, in refusing to reverse himself even after he had an opportunity to get all the facts. I voted for him and donated to his campaign. But I do feel differently about him now - even a bit queasy. I though I elected a President for all the people. Now I feel I’m stuck with him for another 3 1/2 years.
12. Mary | 07.24.09
The officer was in his rights to arrest Mr. Gates for disorderly conduct. His first duty was to secure the premises and ensure there was no breaking and entering as was reported. Secondly, Mr. Gates was acting in an irrational manner and refused to calm down. The officer is required to maintain the peace and for Mr. Gates protection and everyone around him he was required to take him into custody. Interestingly, if Mr. Gates felt that he had a legitimate complaint against the officer, why did he put political pressure on the DA to have the case dismissed before he had his day in court?
13. rebecac | 07.24.09
I am so disappointed in the President’s comment. He clearly did not have all of the facts. Obama implied that is was ridiculous that a man who proved he lived in that house got arrested for a breaking and entering call…Well, Gates was arrested for his conduct NOT for breaking in. I GUARANTEE you that if there really was a break in and the police did not respond, we would be seeing media reports that the police did not respond fast enough or well enough because it was a home owned by a black man….the police could not come out of this situation in a positive light given the fact that regardless of the outcome the primary response from Gates would be related to race.
14. SM Kuder | 07.24.09
I also support the President’s comment and I think OG san has hit the nail on the head about our Commander in Chief’s responsibilities. Our constitution gives the Supreme Court the responsibility to interpret laws, the Congress to create the laws and the Executive branch (the President) to enforce the laws. It is definitely appropriate for the President to make the kind of comments he did. Once again I am disappointed in the approach taken by many media sources on the coverage of this, but I am thankful for the opportunity to make my own comments here and to read comments from others.
15. Non white police officer, Ohio | 07.24.09
As a minority police officer, I am disappointed that the race card came into play in this incident. Disordely conduct arrests that are executed under procedure can happen to white, black, asian, hispanic or prominent Harvard professors. Disorderly conduct towards a police officer in the presence of more than the subject and officer, in this case, the subject’s driver, can turn into a potentially a dangerous situation for a police officer. Police are trained to arrest under these circumstances and gain control of an escalating situation. As to the president making his “stupidity” comment, he is ignorant of police training and protective of his Harvard friends. I am not a white police officer but still surprised when I encounter subjects who pull out the race card. In my professional experience, subjects use the race card to displace what is really at hand. Words cannot hurt a police officer but can induce others nearby to react negatively towards an officer and create a dangerous confrontation.
16. Shocked | 07.24.09
It makes you wonder if cops in MA will back off
entering another house with a possible robbery in progress
or a domestic dispute. After all, its another man’s home.
I think I’ll post this sign on my door for the police.
“Please enter if you see this door
has been pushed in.
I will thank you afterwards”
17. Patrick Henry | 07.24.09
The president had no business criticizing an arrest by a Cambridge PD officer from a position of ignorance about the facts. His comment was simply an effort to shore up support with his ultra-liberal political base and to make a general ideological statement about race in America. Fortunately this controversy has helped to stall the efforts of Obama, Pelosi et al. to rush through hundreds of pages of “health care reform” legislation loaded with special interest provisions. Can we now pause, take a deep breath and forge a bipartisan consensus about how to improve our health care system?
18. Kar Greig | 07.24.09
The Cambridge Police made a mountain out of a mole hill by arresting a man entering his own home after a long trip. I would be furious if the same was done to me (and I’m a white woman); I feel for Mr. Gates. And now the press is making a mountain out of a mole hill out of Pres. Obama expressing a reasonable assessment that the Cambridge Police did not properly assess the situation and overreacted to words, and that was stupid. Badly done, Cambridge Police. And get over it, Media. There are bigger issues out there.
19. Paula | 07.24.09
What has happened to “thank you”? “Thank you, Officer, for coming over and making sure my house and my neighborhood are safe.” Yes, Officer Crowley probably should have walked away from the situation when he saw where it was headed. But Mr. Gates shouldn’t be assuming that everything involving the police is about racism. His own neighbors didn’t even recognize him and did the right thing in calling police. Gates should be thanking them, too, for watching over his house. There was perhaps some stupidity shown by Mr. Gates in jumping to a false conclusion and exacerbating the situation. The president should recognize that Mr. Gates’s actions were inappropriate, rather than simply condemning Officer Crowley. Thank you, Officer Crowley, for putting your life on the line every day to keep your community safe.
20. Jeremy | 07.24.09
What is truly disturbing regarding this situation is the fact that the
President of the US is wasting time commenting on local civil matters.
I really think it wouldnt be to far fetched to say that this was a simple tactic deployed to restore some of the faith lost in his presidency regarding minorities. I can almost guarantee had the races been reversed
in this situation he would not said a word. I myself am really sick and tired of watching minorities act belligerently and then playing the race card to avoid consequence. That statement is meant for the few that cause trouble,not the masses. A man should be judged based on his character and not color. I think Obama owes not only Sergeant an apology but the whole Police force in Cambridge, he spoke way to soon and without thought which he rarely does. I really hope this country wakes up to the fact that the Sergeant was totally justified in his actions, and that being minority doesnt justify acting like an animal. The laws are laws, black, white, blue whatever. There for all to follow.
21. Steve | 07.24.09
Am I missing something? Are some of the writers above basically saying that policemen answering a call are fair game for verbal abuse by Harvard professors (whatever their race) If I mouth off to a police officer (doing his very difficult job) I expect to be treated badly. Everyone else should have the same expectation and feel grateful if the officer demonstrates the forebearance and self control that some of the writer’s above believe should be a baseline expectation.
And the President of the United States feels the need to bash the officer without knowledge of the facts? Perhaps he will grow on the job… and I voted for him.
22. Will, Philadelphia PA | 07.24.09
The cop’s reasoning was, and I’m pulling this directly from another article on CSM, that the good professor wouldn’t have had any trouble if he just was “quiet and stayed in his house”.
Obama spoke out against draconian police measures, and with good results.
23. Black like the President | 07.24.09
I agree that the president should be more mindful of the words he uses and comments he makes, simply because he is the president. I also agree that, like everyone knows there is still an issue of police profile. Although I don’t believe that this police officer was motivate by race but more by his irritation and misplaced “authourity” to do something about that irritation.
24. Red Bowers | 07.24.09
No one in their right mind should get belligerent with police. If Gates had any since at all he would have follow the officers orders to the letter and then thanked the man for looking out for him. From reading the police report it is pretty easy to see what happened. Im sure that Gates started loosing his temper right away and pulled out the race card. If not a trained police officer would have never arrested the man. If you refuse to comply with a lawful order from a police officer and get belligerent with them you will go to jail and rightfully so.
25. dc | 07.24.09
I support the Presidents comments, this kind of behavior has been around for years, and now that we have an African American President the white people have been calling the race card. So what does that say about white america? We have been dealing with this since I can remember. The police department’s in the country are all going to support there officers, if they were right or wrong.
26. Patrick | 07.24.09
The cop was being embarrassed in front of his friends and subordinates by Gates. He could have walked away, but instead he arrested on the charge of yelling. That’s pretty stupid, and asking for trouble.
27. Simplicio T. Soriao | 07.24.09
If I were President, I will not recant.
Leadership demands being outspoken at times and saying it as well with righteous indignation.
To recant is to be an apologist for the wrong reasons.
28. PatinPembrokeMA | 07.24.09
There were 3 Cambridge polices officers (1 white, 1 black, 1 latino), several civilians including the woman who had called 911 because she believed there was a break-in/robbery in process (reports show there had already been 9 break-ins in the area) and in a matter of minutes Harvard security officers.
Question: Has any one of you bothered to read the full police report??
Do any one of you understand that disturbing the peace, impeding an investigation, disorderly conduct are all legitimate grounds for arrest.
What should be upsetting is that Governor Deval Patrick and the major of Cambridge (both black) used their power to have the charges dismissed.
The United States Attorney General should be looking into this matter as a real crime has been committed.
30. Ward Kelly | 07.24.09
Let’s just have the President apologize for America’s “arrogance” in France and not for himself. Remember, he wanted this ridiculous press conference in order to sell err… to shove socialized medicine down our throats (you know- raise our taxes ie…take money from those that have it and give it to others in the form of healthcare).
I voted for King George and walked away stunned after he lost the Senate, the House and gave this baffoon the Presidency. I will forgive the worshippers of Obama because it was King George that created this mess.
Tom Wolfe or Mel Brooks is behind this. This Presidency is over. He’s a one termer.
31. Zac in CA | 07.24.09
The President was asked a question. Why should he not weigh in on it? A black President is asked for his opinion on a situation in which a black man may have been treated inappropriately - Sotomayor was right to say that race matters, you know.
I think a lot of white people in this country are hoping/expecting that Obama will keep mum on all racial issues, and be a good little Negro… I’m happy to say he’s got more integrity than that!
32. Duane McDonald | 07.24.09
I think that commenting on events such as this one is far outside what a President should be doing. I view his comments as eveidence of his lack of experience for the office.
33. Anthony C Truth | 07.24.09
White people,white people,white people. Please don’t pretend that racism have not existed, and still do exist in america today. If the arrest of a black man by a white police officer in his own home, after proving that it was his home, is going to cause you to stop your support of Obama,than maybe you voted for him for the wrong reason anyway.Perhaps to get in on history?Please, I wonder want McCain supporter are thinking now?
34. cmoore | 07.24.09
All these people who want to jump on the police officer without reading the report. Frankly I dont know what Professor Gates did or said but the your momma stuff was what was STUPID and that has not been refuted The President was wrong to use his platform for the purpose of condeming an action his hot headed friend incited.
35. Hunter MacLeod | 07.25.09
All Gates had to do was show a valid ID, which is the law when asked by an officer…if he has done that without getting belligerent, we would have heard nothing else about this. Instead of being happy that his neighborhood was looking out for him, he took the low road and starting calling names - names that if he was White and the officer was black, would have him in jail for a week. Obama said what he felt, but (As usual) backtracked because his numbers are plummeting. Obama is wrong, yet again.
36. EC | 07.25.09
Obama clearly acted “stupidly” by even getting into this issue. I believe that Gates provoked the officer to take action. Would Obama have made the same comment if Gates were a white man??????
37. Anwat | 07.26.09
I am just so surprised that America is weighing in on the rights/wrongs of this situation. None of us really knows what happened…not even the President. Does it ever get tiring, people? Some people playing the race card and saying whites are bad and some people acting like blacks are bad. When the heck does it end? Shouldn’t we be focusing on more important issues like health care and education? I know I am just perpetuating everything too because I am writing on this idiotic message board!
38. webearlane@roadruunner.com | 07.26.09
Both Gates and Obama owe the police officer an apology. But the more important issue to me is the lack of judgement shown by our president. That is the genie that can’t be put back in the bottle.
At a time when the president is urging the nation to trust him on healthcare, stimulus spending, Cap and Trade, not to mention the escalated war in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the president cannot afford to be seen as so incompetent.
39. G Wright | 07.26.09
Why did the President comment when he admitted he did not know all the facts? Why didn’t Mr. Gates a distinguished Harvard professor rise to the stature he is held at? Why did the mayor of Cambridge apologize to Mr. Gates - when the Cambridge police commissioner supported Mr. Crowley? And what is a policeman responding to a call supposed to do? You cannot yell at a police officer - whether he is acting correctly or otherwise. If Mr. Gates had responded in a calm manner -the whole situation would not have elevated to his being arrested and turning into a media circus.
40. William Clarke | 07.26.09
“When constabulary duty’s to be done. A policeman’s lot is not a happy one” If you think of all the unpleasantness and danger a policeman must endure day after day, is it unreasonable to show him a little respect rather than make him a target for abuse? I’m sure he gets a belly full of, “Do you know who you’re messin’ with”; “Why aren’t you out arresting criminals instead of harrassing honest citizens” or “What’s your badge number?”. The actions of both the president and Mr. Gates were shameful.
41. Rick Cain | 07.27.09
The police have a perennial problem of “How dare you question my absolute authority”. Truth is they do not have absolute authority over the citizen, but they abuse the badge and hide behind the blue wall of silence, composed of their fellow officers to get out of trouble.
Would this have happened to a white man? Who knows, it could have. Too bad there isn’t a video of the incident on YouTube. Remember the Oklahoma cop that got an EMT in a choke hold because he was angry? Video doesn’t lie, but police often do.
42. RHarrisonScott | 07.27.09
Why is it no one is talking about the good professor’s obvious racism? Profiling is a two-way street and everyone with any sense at all understands that. Obama owes the officer an apology because he “assumed” in his immediate public statement that the officer’s enforcement actions were racially motivated. Heal thyself!
43. Dominic tan | 07.28.09
The professor and police incident is a micro matter. It is time President Obama ignores micro issues not worthy of the President’s time.
The President should just focus on macro issues such finding solutions to the problems of unemployement, financial crisis, housing chaos and other national matters.
A supportor and admirer of President Obama.
dominic
45. Tina | 07.30.09
Maybe our president needs to not have a “teachable moment” but maybe he needs to have a “Learnable moment”.
The cop followed the book. If there is a problem don’t beat up the cop but change the “book”.
The only way to remove racisism is to quite making everything about RACE.
46. Clay | 07.30.09
Gates & Crowley both acted stupidly. Gates for being beligerant when a cop was there just trying to look out for his property, and Crowley for not being the bigger man and arresting him for asking for ID & playing the race card.
In this instance, Crowley had all the power as an officer, so I put most of the blame on him. He should have just said “sure, you can have my badge number, have a nice day”. If he was really in the right like the Cambridge PD dept says, he had nothing to worry about. So what if Gates WAS playing the race card? If Crowley can’t be the bigger man, he doesnt’ deserve to keep his badge.
Having said that, Obama should have just kept out of it. I think he is 100% correct; the police did act stupidly, but it was beneath his office. He could have just said “I find this troubling, I will be looking into it” and looked like the bigger man out of all three of them.
47. Sharon | 07.30.09
President Obama was right. It is stupid to have been arrested in ones own home for being upset at the police. I don’t believe President Obama’s approval is declining - I believe ALL news media are wanting it his approval to decline.
50. Lynette | 07.30.09
by the way I am not a police officer. I am white lady married to a black man who voted for Obama and now is so disappointed.
We don’t see race, we see each for the PERSON WE ARE.
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. jolen | 07.24.09
they acted accordingly to his attitude and composure. anyone acting as erratic as he was reported to would have been treated the same…no matter what neighborhood they reside in. Shame on Obama, and if our president is carrying a grudge against all white men who do theyre jobs right, what more can we expect from him