Author Topic: Obama: Cambridge police acted stupidly (Read 20999 times)

Uncle Bubba · « **Reply #25 on:** July 23, 2009, 03:24:14 PM »

Quote from: mellestad on July 23, 2009, 03:01:55 PM

This is the point though, there is zero collaborative evidence that he was a "ranting screaming idiot". To me this issue is not about race, it is about a guy with badge sending a guy to jail because he had hurt his feelings. Boo-hoo. (edit: As an officer who has been given authority over other citizens, having a thick skin needs to be a #1 priority. Rude is not illegal, it is too easy to abuse the authority that goes with a badge.)

Unless there is some sort of evidence that Gates was actually fomenting some sort of riot, I can see why the officer could be called, "stupid".

Yes there is. The other officers on the scene (grain of salt there) and neighbors said Gates was rude, abusive, and loud.

One of the few comments the arresting officer has made about it was that he "was surprised that a man of Gates' age and education would make the comments he did about [the officer's] mother." I've only read one article that included that quote from him. I'd like to know if anyone else there heard it and would be willing to relate what Gates said.

K Frame · « **Reply #26 on:** July 23, 2009, 03:25:32 PM »

Come on, Bubba.

You know those "eye witnesses" are just conspiring to keep the black man down... :rolleyes:

cassandra and sara's daddy · « **Reply #27 on:** July 23, 2009, 03:33:18 PM »

i nread that gates own house had been broken into a couple weeks ago. door hadn't been fixed yet. that could/would color my response if i was a cop who showed up and there was a damaged door.

Ron · « **Reply #28 on:** July 23, 2009, 04:10:32 PM »

Is performing mouth-to mouth resuscitation on a black man the behavior of a racist?

"BOSTON -- The officer who arrested Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. stirring a national debate about race relations in America was the same officer who tired to resuscitate Boston Celtics star Reggie Lewis when he collapsed 16 years ago.

Sgt. James Crowley told the Boston Herald that he gave mouth-to mouth resuscitation when Lewis, an African-American, died 16 years ago...." The officer then worked at Brandeis University.

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/education/20151798/detail.html

Ben · « **Reply #29 on:** July 23, 2009, 04:12:32 PM »

It also just hit on Yahoo News that the officer is a department expert on racial profiling and taught the class at the academy. This should get interesting.

mellestad · « **Reply #30 on:** July 23, 2009, 04:15:23 PM »

Quote from: Uncle Bubba on July 23, 2009, 03:24:14 PM

Yes there is. The other officers on the scene (grain of salt there) and neighbors said Gates was rude, abusive, and loud.

One of the few comments the arresting officer has made about it was that he "was surprised that a man of Gates' age and education would make the comments he did about [the officer's] mother." I've only read one article that included that quote from him. I'd like to know if anyone else there heard it and would be willing to relate what Gates said.

Haha. If they have eye witnesses that can prove he really was a raving screaming madman shaking his fist under the cops nose, then at least I can understand why he would be mad. I had not heard that up to this point.

Since I imagine someone will be sued about this, we can bring it up again when all the evidence is made public.

Mike Irwin: Although your comments have been snide and rude, I do agree with you. I specifically said that this was my opinion, not fact. The officer also had an opinion. The difference is he threw someone in a squad car and took them to jail because of it.

mellestad · « **Reply #31 on:** July 23, 2009, 04:20:53 PM »

Quote from: Ben on July 23, 2009, 04:12:32 PM

It also just hit on Yahoo News that the officer is a department expert on racial profiling and taught the class at the academy. This should get interesting.

Wouldn't it be amazing if one of them just came out and apologized for being a angry idiot?

Not that I think that will happen...but I can dream. Instead there will be a giant lawsuit, the professor will look like a jerk with a persecution complex and the cop will look like a member of the KKK Gestapo. And no-one will ever know what really took place.

K Frame · « **Reply #32 on:** July 23, 2009, 04:29:27 PM »

In my view, it's becoming clearer and clearer who should apologize, but that's not going to happen because he's convinced that this is just another case of rampant racism.

makattak · « **Reply #33 on:** July 23, 2009, 04:33:16 PM »

Quote from: Mike Irwin on July 23, 2009, 04:29:27 PM

In my view, it's becoming clearer and clearer who should apologize, but that's not going to happen because he's convinced that this is just another case of rampant racism.

What's funny is he's right, but the cuplrit of that racism is not who he believes it to be...

K Frame · « **Reply #34 on:** July 23, 2009, 04:34:44 PM »

Silly little forum toad! You know it's not possible for a minority to be a racist!

I'm ashamed at you!

makattak · « **Reply #35 on:** July 23, 2009, 04:37:51 PM »

Quote from: Mike Irwin on July 23, 2009, 04:34:44 PM

Silly little forum toad! You know it's not possible for a minority to be a racist!

I'm ashamed at you!

<hangs head in shame>

You're right, I forgot that.

BlueStarLizzard · « **Reply #36 on:** July 23, 2009, 04:42:23 PM »

from the last little chunks of info involving the officers training and past record, i have a difficult time believing that he was doing anything other then his job. and i agree with uncle bubba, screaming and ranting in veiw of the public is a pretty good indication that you may get in a little trouble with the law.

this sounds like reverse racism to me, and unfortunalty, given the current atmospher in our country i think we may be seeing a lot more of it.

and on a side note: wow

some of the attitude from our newest memeber is a bit disconserting.

Ron · « **Reply #37 on:** July 23, 2009, 05:01:32 PM »

When the Cops Are Called In, Anger Is a Dangerous Weapon to Brandish

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/21/AR2009072102782.html

BlueStarLizzard · « **Reply #38 on:** July 23, 2009, 05:15:35 PM »

Quote from: Ron on July 23, 2009, 05:01:32 PM

When the Cops Are Called In, Anger Is a Dangerous Weapon to Brandish

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/21/AR2009072102782.html

exsactly.

Gowen · « **Reply #39 on:** July 23, 2009, 05:20:45 PM »

What's sad is a model officer is now labeled a racist and whatever good he has done or is to do is gone. He's the bigot cop/pig.

mellestad · « **Reply #40 on:** July 23, 2009, 05:24:29 PM »

Quote from: bluestarlizzard on July 23, 2009, 04:42:23 PM

from the last little chunks of info involving the officers training and past record, i have a difficult time believing that he was doing anything other then his job. and i agree with uncle bubba, screaming and ranting in veiw of the public is a pretty good indication that you may get in a little trouble with the law.

this sounds like reverse racism to me, and unfortunalty, given the current atmospher in our country i think we may be seeing a lot more of it.

and on a side note: wow
some of the attitude from our newest memeber is a bit disconserting.

I would, of course, love some elaboration. Perhaps in a private message so the discussion is not derailed.

RoadKingLarry · « **Reply #41 on:** July 23, 2009, 05:30:37 PM »

Quote from: mellestad on July 23, 2009, 02:11:51 PM

...
Obama was involved because a reporter asked him a direct question about this incident, since the man is a personal acquaintance of Obama's, obviously. I don't see how that is innapropriate.
...

Yes his comments were totally innaprorpriate.
The approprirate thing to have said is something along the lines of - "Yes I'm aware of it but I do not know all the details and it would be innappropriate for me to coment about an incident that is still being investigated."

The teleprompter in Chief did nothing with the commet he made but casue serious damage to the reputaion of the cambirdge poilce dept. and may well cost the lives of officers and citizens if the ridiculous mess keeps getting stoked and manages to boil over.

LadySmith · « **Reply #42 on:** July 23, 2009, 05:42:28 PM »

Quote from: Mike Irwin on July 23, 2009, 04:34:44 PM

You know it's not possible for a minority to be a racist!

Some people really act like they believe this.

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #43 on:** July 23, 2009, 05:47:37 PM »

Quote from: RoadKingLarry on July 23, 2009, 05:30:37 PM

Yes [Obama's] comments were totally innaprorpriate.
The approprirate thing to have said is something along the lines of - "Yes I'm aware of it but I do not know all the details and it would be innappropriate for me to coment about an incident that is still being investigated."

Exactly. It is thoroughly inappropriate for a President of the U.S. to come out against the police in a local matter, which is still being sorted out. He admitted that he didn't have all the facts, but failed to keep quiet in his ignorance. (And I would know a thing or two about that.

)

Monkeyleg · « **Reply #44 on:** July 23, 2009, 05:55:05 PM »

Quote

He admitted that he didn't have all the facts, but failed to keep quiet in his ignorance.

Are you talking about this incident in particular, or the world in general?

roo_ster · « **Reply #45 on:** July 23, 2009, 06:01:33 PM »

Quote from: Mike Irwin on July 23, 2009, 03:08:27 PM

"To me this issue is not about race, it is about a guy with badge sending a guy to jail because he had hurt his feelings. Boo-hoo."

Great. You have an opinion. For which there is absolutely supporting evidence.

Now if you buy a cookie, you'll have a snack, too.

<Gigglesnort>

When I heard it was HLG Jr, my mind immediately flashed up the scene of the two muck-digging peasants and King Aurthur from Monty Python's Holy Grail. Here we go:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o76WQzVJ434
"HELP HELP I'M BEING REPRESSED!"

Heck, the HLGs of the world LIVE for this sort of situation:
1. No real danger or discrimination involved
2. Able to grandstand & toss ~~feces~~ accusations of racism

If racism & discrimination don't exist in enough quantity, go out and make some of your own. Happens on college campuses with dismaying regularity.

The LEO in question has witnesses to back him up as well as the original citizen who called the potential burglary in. Toss in the buggered front door and I suspect he'll prevail.

Kwelz · « **Reply #46 on:** July 23, 2009, 06:44:21 PM »

I hate to say this, but if you come into my house without permission the least you are going to get is nasty words. Officer or civilian, you have no right to be there. I understand why these officers responded to the place, but at the point they realized it was the guys house they needed to leave. I don't care what he was saying to them.

cassandra and sara's daddy · « **Reply #47 on:** July 23, 2009, 07:06:06 PM »

how much do you hate it that they were outside leaving with the "poor man" following going ape?

Kwelz · « **Reply #48 on:** July 23, 2009, 07:12:11 PM »

As long as he was on his property then I don't care. Now the second he was on public property he is in trouble.

Uncle Bubba · « **Reply #49 on:** July 23, 2009, 07:53:18 PM »

Quote from: Kwelz on July 23, 2009, 06:44:21 PM

I hate to say this, but if you come into my house without permission the least you are going to get is nasty words. Officer or civilian, you have no right to be there. I understand why these officers responded to the place, but at the point they realized it was the guys house they needed to leave. I don't care what he was saying to them.

Not to put too fine a point in it, but you are wrong. At least in a way.

If the police have received a call about a possible break-in at your home they have reason to investigate the matter. That may mean entering, with or without your permission. When they put on the badge they're given the responsibility to use their judgement by society.

That said, if the police did come to your house on a call like this one, would you identify yourself and answer their questions politely or would you immediately begin to scream and shout and make threats just because they were at your door? According to the witnesses that's exactly what Gates did.

News:

Author Topic: Obama: Cambridge police acted stupidly (Read 20999 times)