(shaking head...rubbing forehead...sardonic twist of lips)
I watched it. There is no real reason, other than the sick pleasure of viewing a train wreck, to subject yourself to an Obama press conference. Another one.
That makes four prime-time Obama press specials in six months, compared to Bush's four prime-time press specials in eight years. But Obama can't get enough of Obama.
In typical fashion, the man opened his mouth and insults came out. A reporter from Chicago asked a question about race relations in America, citing the recent arrest of Obama's friend Harvard Professor Henry Gates, a black man, arrested by a white officer, Sgt. James Crowley. Before knowing the facts of the case, which he admitted, Obama judged a situation based on skin color and preconceived notions. I think they call that racism. And believing all white cops are racist, how is that not racial profiling?
Since the presser on Wednesday night, Obama's response to the ignorant "race relations" question has sparked a rumbling that isn't helping his amazing, unsurpassed, unheard of positive public approval (ignore the factless propaganda insert, couldn't help myself). His ignorant, wet behind the ears, snobby answers are what forced Obama's handlers to surgically attach a teleprompter to his svelte self.
Here's a rundown of the basic news stories with a brief synopsis and link. I'll include the actual police report narrative - so you can read it for yourself and be more informed than the President - in a separate post.
Let the games begin!
Obama: Cambridge Police Acted StupidlyYeah, not so much for me. The trick is to eat a healthy fat right before bed. Makes you sleep like a baby, wake up rested. In fact, I usually feel pretty dang groovy all the time, no haunting here.
/My Fox, Boston
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama said Wednesday that police acted "stupidly" in the arrest of prominent black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. and that despite racial progress blacks and Hispanics are still singled out unfairly for arrest.
"This still haunts us," Obama said.
Obama Stirs Racial Passions in Harvard CaseUt oh. Even ticked off the liberals. Not good. But still...back to my sleeping...just solid as a rock.
/Reuters
........
But many in Massachusetts said he crossed a line by passing judgment on police while acknowledging he did not have all the facts. Online polls in Massachusetts show strong support for the white arresting officer.
Officer at Eye of Storm Won't ApologizeCrowley, very heroic sounding guy. Sounds like Gates, a scholar on race in America, isn't qualified for the job.
/The Boston Globe
When Sergeant James M. Crowley climbed the front steps of Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s house last week and unexpectedly placed himself in international headlines, it was not the first time he had a memorable encounter in the line of duty with a prominent black man. Nearly 16 years ago, as a Brandeis University police officer, Crowley desperately tried to save the life of Reggie Lewis after the Boston Celtics star collapsed while practicing in the school gym.
......Now, 16 years later, he stands accused of racism by Gates, one of the foremost scholars on race in America....Crowley was a certified emergency medical technician when he performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Lewis, to no avail, after the player’s heart stopped on July 27, 1993. In a Globe interview later that day, Crowley said he rushed to the university’s Shapiro Gymnasium, confirmed that Lewis had no pulse, and frantically tried to revive him.
“I just kept on going,’’ he said. “I just kept thinking, ‘Don’t let him die-just don’t die.’’’
Video: Cop who Arrested Gates Not Sorry
/My Fox, Boston
He's straightforward, confident and considerate. He appears calm, reasonable, and pragmatic. Crowley is a man with nothing to hide, nothing to be ashamed of, and no fear of punishment because his actions can withstand the scrutiny of national attention. That's my take.
EXCLUSIVE: Obama Defends Criticism of Cambridge Police in Arrest of Gates
/ABC (Video also)
........"I think that I have extraordinary respect for the difficulties of the job that police officers do," the president told Moran. "And my suspicion is that words were exchanged between the police officer and Mr. Gates and that everybody should have just settled down and cooler heads should have prevailed. That's my suspicion."
The president said he understands the sergeant who arrested Gates is an "outstanding police officer." But he added that with all that's going on in the country with health care and the economy and the wars abroad, "it doesn't make sense to arrest a guy in his own home if he's not causing a serious disturbance."
Okay, couple of thoughts on this O sound bite:
1. The officer has been described with the word "stellar", too.
2. "I think that I have extraordinary respect..."? He doesn't know?
3. "My suspicion". Stop suspecting and read the report. Better yet, Crowley activated his recorder when Gates began acting hysterical. Request to hear it.
4. With wars and economy and health care "it doesn't make sense to arrest a guy" unless he's causing a "serious disturbance"? Not sure I understand this statement. So when the economy's stable and wars are won, police officers can and do arrest people without cause? Just not now? Also, who said Gates wasn't causing a serious disturbance? Not the police report.
Police Union Condemns Obama's Comments
/The Hill
...
Jim Pasco, executive director of the FOP's legislative office, noted that before Obama made the remarks, the president acknowledged that he was only vaguely familiar with what happened.
"That being the case, it's unfortunate that he chose to say anything," Pasco said. "He wasn't there, and he doesn't know what happened."
Pasco said it appears that Gates was the "provocateur" because he called Officer James Crowley a racist instead of producing identification as requested.
But...but...but...Obama is the Enlightened One. He doesn't have to know what happened. He can feel it.
Video: Police Union Demands Apology
It's all been said. Good statement. Quick and to the point. And right.
Now...let's turn to the long-winded, rambling of our President as he doesn't apologize but tries to make you believe he did.
Video: Obama Responds
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
No apology. No real taking of responsibility. He spends six minutes, making you think he's saying "I'm sorry", while going back to his whole I'm-always-right-but-could-have-said-it-better excuse: "I could have calibrated those words differently." Heard that before.
Lots of hot air. No substance.
2 comments:
Solomon said even a fool is thought wise if he keeps his mouth shut.
It's when people start talking that trouble starts.
We have three observations about the Harvard professor incident:
1. We find it interesting that the fact that this was the professor's home was evidently not established early on way before the dispute escalated;
2. We find it fascinating that the versions of two members of society, who most would ordinarily view as responsible and honest citizens (this obviously does not include politicians), would vary so dramatically from a factual point of view.
3. Finally, considering that the reading and viewing public were not present at the scene (and thus have no first hand knowledge), and that there is no video tape to our knowledge of the sequence of events and what was said, how so many have formed conclusions, and made assumptions, about who did what and who was wrong.
There are some things which Professor Gates might have considered upon the arrival of the police, no matter how incensed he may have been.
Post a Comment