You know where this was going before it got there, didn't you? You know we are going to hear conservative activists Sean Hannity cry about how President Obama "attacked" the Cambridge, MA police in arresting Harvard Professor Henry Gates. Glenn Beck already jumped on that one on his radio show, saying Obama called cops "villians". We might see American Renaissance's Jared Taylor write an essay about the "truth" in the Gates arrest. If so, it will be right after that when the conservative activists start up their smear campaign against Gates. And why? Because he was arrested while in his home by police who originally accused him of breaking in and didn't like him getting pissed about it after he proved he lived there. This is the playbook they have been on for years, but the problem is the fact that while they are trying to admonish the President for speaking on the case "without knowing all the facts", they at the same time take the side of the officer saying that he was just doing his job and that Gates should have been hauled in for disrespecting him (that's a little something from Steve Malzberg, a Jewish man who once allowed the National Alliance to give their contact information on his show). Former congressperson Joe Scarborough even has the audacity to completely ignore Gates' side of the story. You know, the part where he said he showed his ID. And this while admitting anyone would be angry and he doesn't know what it's like to be a black man who has to deal with this crap all the time Alas, conservative posturing against black men for police is also an aspect of what black men have to deal with. They have to since they can't get away with lynchings they way they used to. Just recognize it for what it is. In truth, while bad cops are a problem, a bigger one can be found among the scores of conservative loudmouths who feel they need to score some points of some kind.
boston.com
President Obama addressed the arrest of Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. at his Cambridge home during his news conference tonight, saying that "anyone would be angry" and "the Cambridge police acted stupidly."
Obama prefaced his reply by saying that "I might be a little biased here" because "Skip Gates" is a friend, and by acknowledging that "I don't know all the facts."
He then recited what has been reported, and joked that if he tried to jimmy the lock at his current residence -- the White House -- "I'd get shot."
But then he went on to say that there's a long history of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by police disproportionately.
"Now, I don't know, not having been there and not seeing all the facts, what role race played in that. But I think it's fair to say, number one, any of us would be pretty angry; number two, that the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home; and, number three, what I think we know separate and apart from this incident is that there's a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately. That's just a fact," Obama said.
"That doesn't lessen the incredible progress that has been made," he added. "I am standing here as testimony to the progress that's been made. And yet the fact of the matter is, is that, you know, this still haunts us. And even when there are honest misunderstandings, the fact that blacks and Hispanics are picked up more frequently and often time for no cause casts suspicion even when there is good cause. And that's why I think the more that we're working with local law enforcement to improve policing techniques so that we're eliminating potential bias, the safer everybody is going to be."
Authorities dropped a disorderly conduct charge against Gates on Tuesday in connection with the incident last Thursday, but Gates and the police officer involved have different accounts of what happened, and Gates is demanding an apology and is considering legal action.
The president's full answer is below:
OBAMA'S ANSWER ON GATES
Well, I should say at the outset that Skip Gates is a friend, so I may be a little biased here. I don't know all the facts.
What's been reported though is that the guy forgot his keys, jimmied his way to get into the house. There was a report called in to the police station that there might be a burglary taking place. So far, so good, right? I mean, if I was trying to jigger into -- well, I guess this is my house now, so...
(LAUGHTER)
... it probably wouldn't happen. But let's say my old house in Chicago.
(LAUGHTER)
Here, I'd get shot.
(LAUGHTER)
But so far, so good. They're -- they're reporting. The police are doing what they should. There's a call. They go investigate what happens.
My understanding is, at that point, Professor Gates is already in his house. The police officer comes in. I'm sure there's some exchange of words. But my understanding is, is that Professor Gates then shows his I.D. to show that this is his house and, at that point, he gets arrested for disorderly conduct, charges which are later dropped.
Now, I don't know, not having been there and not seeing all the facts, what role race played in that. But I think it's fair to say, number one, any of us would be pretty angry; number two, that the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home; and, number three, what I think we know separate and apart from this incident is that there's a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately. That's just a fact.
As you know, Lynn, when I was in the state legislature in Illinois, we worked on a racial profiling bill because there was indisputable evidence that blacks and Hispanics were being stopped disproportionately. And that is a sign, an example of how, you know, race remains a factor in the society.
That doesn't lessen the incredible progress that has been made. I am standing here as testimony to the progress that's been made. And yet the fact of the matter is, is that, you know, this still haunts us.
And even when there are honest misunderstandings, the fact that blacks and Hispanics are picked up more frequently and often time for no cause casts suspicion even when there is good cause.
And that's why I think the more that we're working with local law enforcement to improve policing techniques so that we're eliminating potential bias, the safer everybody is going to be.
