Comments on: Why Maureen Dowd Isn’t In Jail (And A Question For Dennis)

By: EEllis

EEllis — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:46:53 +0000

Here's a clue when dealing with cops. Threatening them by mentioning friends, positions, or lawyers will get you treated worse not better.

By: adesnik

adesnik — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:22:18 +0000

Chris,

I did not say that anyone needs to be "fearful" of the police. And even if one has committed no crime, one should certainly be respectful. I don't know the legal nuances of what counts as disturbing the peace or disorderly behavior, but there seems to be a consensus that Sgt. Gates persistently berated Sgt. Crowley.

Spriasol,

I have mixed emotions about your suggestions that Sgt. Crowley should've assumed a deferential tone and possibly apologized to Prof. Gates. In hindsight, given the mess this has become, it might have been wise for Sgt. Crowley to listen carefully when Prof. Gates claimed (quite accurately) to have friends in high places.

On the other hand, as a matter of principle, I can't sign off on special treatment for those with friends in high places. Even if you're friends with the President, you have an obligation to give your full cooperation to police officers investigating a 911 call.

By: kathykattenburg

kathykattenburg — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:06:34 +0000

Well said, spirasol — your common sense is needed here.

By: kathykattenburg

kathykattenburg — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:05:16 +0000

Chris,

404 error on that link you provided.

By: ChrisWWW

ChrisWWW — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:09:47 +0000

David,
What you consider "completely unacceptable behavior" on the part of Gates – as Dowd notes – isn't a crime. The idea that we should be fearful and respectful of police even when we've committed no crime, seems dangerous and authoritarian to me.

By: jwest

jwest — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:10:43 +0000

Here’s a video of Gates that displays the attitude Crowley was up against. Once again, I concur with Billy Ray Valentine in the movie “Trading Places” when he said:

“May I suggest using your night stick officer?.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRlIdFcWd5k&eurl...

By: spirasol

spirasol — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 06:46:06 +0000

As a member of the working class, my father taught me by example the necessary posture when dealing with figures of authority. He taught me to "assume the position" or a position of passivity, one of answering questions and certainly not asking questions or otherwise attempting to assert your so-called rights. As a teenager I learned time and again, if you challenged the cop in any way, it gave him the right to come at you more aggressively. And their are a host of things you can be charged with once they begin to aggress themselves on you: Disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, disturbing the peace, etc, etc.

I think people who have power and are comfortable with their position in society know they will have their day in court, can hire an expensive lawyer, and a host of other remedies that help them to dissect the situation they are in a very different way.

As well the enforcement of law in the wealthy part of town was delivered with deference, sometime kindly, while on the other side of town raw authority. If you challenge, if you are unhappy about what is transpiring, if you express any disdain or disrespect you were likely in for a bumpy ride.

If you have never had the experience of being bullied by a cop, than you don't really know or understand what is going on.

The mano to mano stuff really does exist...........more so than with man to women exchanges.

I don't buy your read on the event. I believe that once the cop saw the man's ID he should have changed his attitude and turned it around so Gates would feel he was being serviced by the cop. It might have included an apology and an explanation as they had had calls of a burgulary here earlier in the week....and so on............that would have diffused it........