Racial Politics, Hot and Cool
In saying a policeman acted “stupidly” in arresting Henry Louis Gates Jr., President Obama has uncharacteristically inflamed a minor incident and revived last year’s idiotic debate about whether or not he is “black enough” to suit African-Americans or, on the other hand, too black for those who see the world primarily in racial terms.
Until Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. became a campaign issue, Obama seemed intent on minimizing race and inviting voters to judge him as a “post-racial” candidate, but his cool approach was temporarily derailed by his pastor’s inflammatory rhetoric and now again by his friend’s histrionic temperament.
On Bill Maher’s show and in other TV venues, Gates presents himself as a brilliant scholar who, like Wright and unlike Obama, tends to dramatize racial discussions–and himself– in ways that can make even those who agree with him uncomfortable.
The escalation of his encounter with a Cambridge policeman has all the earmarks of an incident that could easily been avoided. If race were not involved, Gates’ neighbor might have been less zealous in calling police at the sight of two men forcing open a door in broad daylight, and the responding officer more circumspect in confronting unarmed suspects, but Gates’ affront at being questioned and his confrontational attitude seem likely to have been part of the “stupidity” the President was quick to condemn without knowing all the facts.
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23 Responses to “Racial Politics, Hot and Cool”
Here is a question…why didn't Gates' neighbors recognize him? I am not on a first name basis with everyone in my neighborhood, but I at least know what they look like.
Yes, what Obama said was stupid. So was the more heated opportunistic “racial profiling” nonsense that followed both his stupid statement and the news of the arrest. CNN was totally ridiculous about it.
i like that he said that. maybe now that it's the president calling bullshit on arresting a guy that you already know lives there and shouldn't have bothered in the first place, people will slowly stop putting up with it.
it was stupid. he called it stupid. QED.
because she was white and he was black. and they all look alike to her…
If the guy who literally taught the class on how to handle race baiters can't handle these type of situations to Obama's satisfaction, what hope is there for the rest of us?
>>>Gates’ neighbor might have been less zealous in calling police at the sight of two men forcing open a door in broad daylight<<<
Most home invasions occur in the daytime instead of night as most people at work during the daytime.
It wasn't Gate's neighbor who called the police, it was a woman who worked in the area who happened to be walking or driving by. In the interest of not acting 'stupidly', we should all attempt to get all the facts before we shoot our mouths off.
From what I've read, it is not clear whether he produced his Driver's License or if he produced his Harvard ID. His Harvard ID would not have his home address on it while his Driver's License would. However, the fact that the information on the License matched the address of the home does not guarantee that he is the rightful occupant: he could have been a tenant who had lived their previously or he could be an estranged spouse kept away by court order who decided to come back.
The fact that we don't see Mr. Gates continuing his rounds on the talk shows, indicates to me that it is likely that the police acted properly and that he acted like an ass, made some idiotic comments and was arrested for them. It happens all the time. If he had kept his mouth shut, he could have slept at home that night.
GATESGATE!!
Gates went into his house to get his I.D. followed by the cop, (in case there were two criminals inside and Gates was ranting and raving so much he didn't seem rational). When the cop saw the I.D. he left and Gates followed him ranting and raving all the way out onto the porch. The cop warned Gates to calm down or he would have to arrest him for disturbing the peace. Gates then went ballistic bragging about how important he is trying to intimidate the cop with his BS.
result—The cop arrested Gates for creating a disturbance.
Aftermath–The president of the United States, no less, sides with Gates because he knows Gates personaly.
ITS GATESGATE!
The improper use of Presidential power? A high crime and misdemeanor in the making?
lol…. this is fun.
I wouldn't call it improper use of Presidential power (although I know you're joking) but Obama was uncharacteristically tone deaf over the issue. He detracted from his own messages on health care and assigned blame before he had all the facts.
He also exacerbated the racial aspect. By bringing up that blacks and Hispanics are stopped more often than whites he gave the implication that was pertinent to what happened to Gates.
Da Goat–
Sad thing is, that I'm honestly only half joking. The other half is sincere worry. First, not because of a possible crime, but because of judgment considerations in light of world geo-political threats to the United States and crisis stage domestic stability. Second, of what a severe perception of failure could do to those many black Americans that need President Obama to be successful.
I’m hoping the President remains above the “Gates the big mouth issue”, or, “Gates the social justice crusader issue”, and simply ignores it from here on out.
In Obama's defense, when he said “stupid” he wasn't referring to Special Olympics retarded stupid but rather typical white person clinging to their guns and Bibles stupid.
I hope that cleared up some of the confusion. Now we can move on to the more important issues, like greedy surgeons trying to steal your tonsils for money…
qwert321–
Thats a racist statement because it is NOT typical. No, he meant as you said, “retarded stupid”.
You should watch your racism.
Hmmmmm……..I had thought that he meant backwoods-West-Virginia-five-teeth-and-my-mom-is-also-my-aunt stupid. Or, perhaps he meant Texas-plains-I-just-screwed-a-cow stupid? Maybe it was South-Boston-white-knuckle-drunk-Irish-a**hole stupid?
Obama just did a good thing at the WH briefing.
Ok the president kinda sorta apologized. What he needs to do now, is get on Air Force One, fly to Mass and take the two out on a Cape Cod beach, have the secret service keep the press away except for Don Lemmon and the four of them get snockered on the taxpayers tab…spend the night out there and solve all the worlds problems before sunrise. Then let Lemmon tell the story with a hangover.
PWT–
Are you trying to make a point?
He realized quickly he had said something stupid.
Now if only he'd learn more from the health care zaniness besides just facing a delay on getting a bill passed.
The Boston Herald is now reporting that Gates reportedly made comments about the officers mother. You know you want to go to jail then!
I still think this particular incident is more about cops vs. civilians than racism. I invite commenters to share their experiences of being harrassed by the police, being told to stop asking questions under threat of arrest for “disorderly conduct”, being intimidated or tasered for being disrespectful to a cop.
Gates first amendment rights to say whatever he wanted (short of threats) were infringed because the cop didn't like his tone, plain and simple.
Obama is right, the police officer did act “stupidly” by escalating this situation, especially with wrong guy. As I said, in this instance I am not convicned that it was necessarily a racially charged event, but there is still plenty of it going on. Right now, just down the road, Sheriff Joe Arpaio is in the process of pulling over anyone with brown skin to force an issue of proving citizenship. His deputies are doing this under the pretense of a “crime suppression sweep” where they pull over people for cracked tailights, not signalling sufficiently before making a lane change, that sort of horrific criminal behavior. Of course he targets the neighborhoods with the highest percentage of latinos in hopes of collaring a few illegal immigrants.
If anything comes from this it should be a review of the standards of behavior and the power we grant to police officers, but I fear that is going to get buried under twisted reverse racism claims and misinterpreted parsing of Obama's statement.
How much abuse are police supposed to take? Anything you want to dish out? BS!
I saw AR's comments in another thread, it seems we've shared being on the receiving end of police power.
And its true to anyone who's experienced it, mouthing off or even being disrespectful to a cop is stupid. I think EEllis call of BS has merit, because the reality is you can get beat up, tasered, yanked by your handcuffs, all sorts of things just because a cop doesn't like your tone.
But, that doesn't make it right.
To me thats the issue. Why do we just accept that the police are allowed to intimidate and punish you for your tone of voice, or disrespectful comments and its alright? (I am not talking about threatening a cop, that is not protected speech) If I insult your mother and you beat me up, thats assault. I insult a cop and he beats me up and arrests me, its my disorderly conduct. Somewhere along the way the standard has changed and we've given police more rights than civilians.
Now mix the power tripping mindset of a police officer with the elitist attiude of a harvard faculty and you can anticipate the sparks flying.
I was saddened the Our President did not apologize today for his jumping to a conclusion judgment the other night. He kind of, sort of, well maybe, maybe not, did,did not and that is not good enough. I felt like he was blaming me and every one else when he was the one that said it.. I didn't.
Pres. Obama, you go all around the world and apologize for this country (which I disagree with) but you are not stepping up to the podium and apologizing for your actions!
If I insult your mother and you beat me up, that's assault. I insult a cop and he beats me up and arrests me, its my disorderly conduct. Somewhere along the way the standard has changed and we've given police more rights than civilians.
That's one way to look at it and it could happen but it would be just as likely that the officer would face charges of excessive force. It amazes me that for all the claims of police misconduct how rarely it turns out open and shut. If cops were so abusive why don't we see it more often? Like in this case supposedly open and shut bad cop. Then we find Gates or his lawyer lying, and the claim is the cop should of used better (by you decide) judgment, but basically he was within the law.
Police do have more rights than citizens. How would they do their jobs if not? The right to detain, investigate, carry weapons (depending on State law),arrest for crimes not in their view. Who in their right mind would remove those from cops? Also lets not forget the cop has to deal with everyone. Even the cashier at burger king can refuse service to an ass. A police officer cannot. How much abuse should the take. A endless amount? They are also working for the whole community. If someone is abusing and waisting their(the cops) time then they take from the rest of the community.
And by the way all speech is not protected. “Fighting Words” are not protected by the first amendment and shouldn't be. If Gates did refer to the officers mother that would not be protected speech and you don't have the right to disturb the whole neighborhood by yelling at a cop how you are important and will get him.