At the beginning of the Obama-McCain campaign, I sent an e-mail to Tavis Smiley. He was to host the presidential debate between the candidates. I asked Mr. Smiley if he would ask the candidates a question from me as a retired police detective and expert on the subject of police corruption. I wanted to know what the candidates planned to do about police/community relations. Neither he nor his staff found my question worthy of mention. Nor did I get a response.
When a white policeman recently shot and killed Omar Edwards, a black police officer in civilian clothes, people asked if the shooting was racially motivated. A young, dedicated police officer lost his life. To my knowledge President Obama chose to remain silent on the subject.
When Henry Gates, a prominent black Harvard professor had difficulty getting into his home, a concerned citizen notified the police of a possible burglary in progress. The responding officer, Sgt. James Crowley, followed proper police procedure. The police report indicates that Mr. Gates became indignant, and said the officer was subjecting him to this treatment only because he was a black man in America. When Crowley asked Gates to come outside, he replied, "I'll talk to your mama outside."
Can we really believe that if the police were responding to a similar situation involving a white home owner, police would not follow the same procedure and ask the subject to identify himself?
Phillip Martin, former National Public Radio race relations correspondent and friend of Gates, also lives in Cambridge. Martin has had occasion to deal with the Cambridge police. When his burglar alarm went off accidentally, he was confronted by police. He cooperated fully, providing the police with his ID and the situation was diffused.
Mr. Gates, however, chose to play the race card. He also played the privilege card by showing his Harvard ID card to officer Crowley and telling him, "You don't know who you're messing with" while attempting to reach the Cambridge police chief by phone.
The key phrase in this dispute is Harvard professor. As if a professor is entitled to special privileges under the law.
Police officers who risk their lives every day should not be subject to threats and abuse when they are just doing their job. Any law-abiding citizen, let alone a Harvard professor, should know this.
Mr. Gates, a member of the Harvard Old Boy's Club, reached out to his cronies for support, one being the president of the United States. With the economy in shambles, Mr. Obama found the time to weigh in on a racial issue that was so non-racial that it was ridiculous. The Gates case has become the first significant racial issue created by Mr. Obama since becoming the nation's first African-American president.
The president who had apparently stayed silent on the death of officer Omar Edwards was personally outraged by the arrest of his Harvard crony. Another club member to weigh in was the president of Harvard, who suggested that perhaps Officer Crowley, with his "fine track record on racial sensitivity," could have been more tolerant in the case of Mr. Gates.
The analysis should run the other way. Perhaps Professor Gates, a prominent black scholar, could have been more cooperative. And perhaps the President of the United States should have known better than to have gotten drawn into a local-level issue.
The police were not, as the media --stoking the fire as usual - suggested, breaking into a home in a prominently white neighborhood. Rather, they were simply investigating a report that a possible burglary was in progress. The police would have responded no matter what the color of the suspect.
I was honored to lecture at Harvard Law School on the subject of integrity. But quite frankly, I saw no difference between a Harvard faculty and a City College faculty -- other an elitist attitude.
Yes, I voted for Obama. Yes, African-Americans are sensitive to racial issues as are white Americans. We all have our own moods, emotions and frustrations. But I expected more from the leader of the free world than to get involved in a crony's personal dispute.
What this case really shows is that the problems we face in America go far beyond race to an issue of class and privilege. There are black Americans wrongfully accused languishing on death row. Mr. Obama, I would venture to say, would never have gotten into this self-created national drama if Mr. Gates were the average hard-working class laborer, white or black.
May I suggest that Mr. Obama begin by taking his own advice, "instead of flinging accusations," try to "be a little more reflective in terms of what we can do to contribute to more unity," before crying wolf.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Police Report - July 23, 2009
Henry Louis Gates - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Should Henry Louis Gates Sip or Sue? - The Moral of the Story Blog ...
Maybe, if once the police realized that the man they were talking to was not a robber but the home owner, they had said, "sorry for the inconvenience sir. just doin our duty." and left, none of this would have happened.
As for Obama commenting about it, I agree, it was beneath the president to get involved in a police matter. However, had he been asked the question and shrugged it off, the right wing media would still be talking today about how Obama threw his buddy under the bus. No matter what he does, he cannot win when there are people out there who will look for any pimple to point out on him.
One question, do you still carry the High Power.
Thanks, I enjoyed you book many years ago, been thinking about a re-read.
As liberals and champions of all, you should be ashamed , you do support racism despite all the hyperbole to the contrary.
Diane Feinstein will certainly understand the position.
I find this offensive - "a crony's personal dispute." Would you refer to an officer who is verbally supporting another officer a crony? To call an elderly black Professor a crony belittles the incredible obstacles this man has had to overcome to be where he is. Have some respect...
You also have fallen into the silly rhetorical bs that labels the Obama an elitist. Has anyone ever wondered how messed up our brains must be to actually accept the notion that wealthy, privileged people like Bush are framed as men of the people... and Obama who grew up working class should be labeled elitist???
Also, you have already determined,without knowing all sides of the story that under that jurisdiction the officer was following procedure. At the least you are no better than Obama at best your argument is dripping with the kind cultural nuance that is at the heart of this dispute. Gates is not a blue collar worker, but how dare you imply he has not worked equally hard for the public good and that because he is educated and well off he is automatically guilty of offending this officer. Being a Harvard Professor doesn't give anybody extra privileges.
What Prof. Gates was standing for are his unalienable rights.
Now is Crowley above lying because he is a cop? No - he shot his credibility when the 911 caller held a conference and said she never spoke to the cop and said two black guys breaking in as Crowley put his report - so WHY should i believe Gates was indignant as stated in the report and a professor at Harvard speaking jive talk saying - yo mama.
Cops are fallible including Crowley as we are.
It is interesting to see the lenghts people will go to, somehow justifing Obama's racial profiling of the cops.
Ask yourself, what would the response be if a white president had made the same mistake....Bush for example.
He would have been crucified by the left and media...Obama gets a pass.
Think about it!
I agreed with his assessment of the awful situation.
Like it or not, Obama displayed his own deeply ingrained racial prejudice. By his own admission he “Had no details” and immediately jumped to the conclusion that the white police officer was guilty of “Racial Profiling”. The only racial profiling that occurred was on the part of Prof. Gates and the President of the United States.
Obama’s experience as a community organizer has colored his views toward white America; his social policies reflect those view points. The all too ready race card, played by Obama, has damaged his credibility immeasurably.
This event opened the eyes of many Americans, and have them wondering whom they voted for and why.
BHO tried for one of those teachable momments we have been hearing so much about.
Not sure what was learned.
President Obama was honest about his friendship with Professor Gates and the fact that he may have some bias because of that friendship. However, he knew that the charges were dropped.
By the way, if the cops had a case, Professor Gates would still be in custody.
President Obama being a community organizer is besides the point. Everyone has different experiences that shape their thinking about the human condition. President Obama is entitled to his opinion just like you or I. It's sad that some citizens can't respect a difference in opinion without alluding to 'ingrained racial prejudice'. If some Americans can't handle President Obama's blunt comments on racial issues, too bad. GROW UP!!!
"I'm the President of the United States, it's not my job to comment on disputes regarding local law enforcement officials and citizens, so why do you ask?"
But we got what we got. I don't agree that if Cambridge PD had a real case the charges would remain. Remember they got calls from the Gov, and the Mayor. You got people like that inquiring about your case it gets tossed no matter how strong it is. I do agree that they did not have a case though.
As a cop yourself, I suspect you think this abuse of power is acceptable. As your employer, I disagree.
This is not about race, and never was. It is about a cop who can't stand having someone question his authority. Crowley blew it. He is supposed to be a professional. He might be one - he certainly talks like one - but he made a big mistake that night.
Gates’s made this situation not Crowley, good cops have a trained response, Gates’s over reacted. Hell he should be glad they came to investigate the 911 call. I suppose he really would have been PO’ed if there was a break in and the cop’s did not respond.
Oh yea..I'm white and so was the cop that arrested me.
Since when is being arrested "as a cooling off period" become justifiable under the law? Both Crowley and Gates are responsible for the situation they found themselves in. Do you consider asking an officer for his name and badge number over reacting? Enough to be arrested for? Hhhmmmmm.....interesting?
Has this been proven? In light of Crowley's credibility problem I have to give Prof.Gates the benefit of the doubt.
Is it your contention that Crowley is so racially motivated that he decided to arrest Professor Gates on that basis?
I'm curious to know how you see this playing out, if in your opinion, Gates actions do not cause Crowley to react?
In other words, you've removed the cause, and left the effect. How do you replace the cause?
I don't understand what your saying. Clarification please. (meant sincerely)
That, and that when people are frightened they naturally become defiant. Detecting that a suspect is feeling intimidated and that one's actions may be causing that is also a part of police work.
Yes, police deserve respect. But only if they merit it. And respect has to be earned on an individual basis, not just because one wears a uniform. I suggest that Officer Crowley did not earn any respect that day, at least not from anyone who has been unjustly placed on the wrong side of the law becasue they were 'served' by an officer who was in error. You, off all people.
I was not there when Gates and Crowley went at it, but i think one thing holds true if nothing else. Gate's behavior may have been less than exemplary, but the officer is the one trained in these matters, and for an officer to let an old man with a walking impediment get the better of him speaks of poor training, or poor negotiation skills. It is the officer's job to see, that if possible, things go well. That's what he/she is payed for. To serve and protect. Not to command and harrass, which is a common compliant regarding police behavior.
That the officer wrongly, possibly even illegally charged Gates speaks to his lack of discreation in this matter. He screwed the pooch, and should apologize, or quit.
NO.
Peter Loffredo
http://fullpermissionliving.blogspot.com/