I can understand the President’s disappointment that a national conversation on race has displaced his national conversation on Obamacare. After all, this latest “teaching moment” is likely to accelerate his growing unfavorables in red districts held by Democrats, making it even harder for him to close the deal on health care reform.
That said, a few questions remain about this episode.
First, while the President’s comment that the Cambridge police acted “stupidly” fueled this controversy, before sitting down for some brewskis with the Professor and the Cop, his comment that “any of us would be pretty angry,” is worthy of some follow-up.
What exactly about this situation would make the President angry? If a police officer was on his front step and asked for some identification, is anger a reasonable response? It is understandable that following the arrest for disorderly conduct, the homeowner might be angry, but why does the President assume that the mere presence of a police officer responding to a 911 call would make most of his fellow citizens angry? Wouldn’t a sane response be to ask the officer, what seems to be the problem, rather than flying off the handle?
Second, Skip Gates’ record of scholarship is certainly heavy on claims of systemic racism. But as a friend of mine pointed out, Gates was arrested after big-timing a working class cop. In other words, at the same time Gates was throwing a classroom-honed fit about racism in America – and is now preparing to lecture this poor cop and the rest of America on race relations – his do you know who I am riff suggests that he knew quite well that his position as a distinguished Harvard University professor and all around big shot would in fact prove a get out of jail free card, regardless of his race. So given President Obama’s familiarity with Professor Gates and his scholarship, does this episode put into question whether Skip Gates even buys the racial grievance he is selling, or is it all just a well-compensated shtick?
This question should also be posed to Professor Gates, who seems to be recovering quite well in Los Angeles, prior to continuing his summer on Martha’s Vineyard.
Finally, in retrospect has the President considered the possibility that this episode demonstrates the remarkably progressive nature of the Cambridge PD? After all, they appear willing to arrest anybody, no matter his race, if he is stupid enough to cause a scene and scream at a police officer, just trying to do his job.
5 responses so far
1 barker13 // Jul 28, 2009 at 7:30 am
Folks, let me ask you…
Does it sometimes seem as if Frum and his “contributors” deliberately act in such a fashion as to “take our eyes off the ball” of the fiscal train wreak that is federal and most state economic policy?
BILL
2 midcon // Jul 28, 2009 at 8:55 am
Yes it does sometimes seem that way. But it also could be that the social aspects of conservatism and liberalism generate far more coverage and comment than the mundane reality of the nation’s fiscal situation. It tends to be a ratings game. After all who watches all those documentaries or CSPAN instead of the reality shows? An uninformed and emotional electorate is far more malleable than voters who understand the issues and seek legitimate solutions. It’s the world we live in and the dead old parties (DOPs) have learned the hard way that the way to win is to recognize the short attention span of the public.
3 barker13 // Jul 28, 2009 at 11:23 am
Re: Midcon // Jul 28, 2009 at 8:55 am –
“…it also could be that the social aspects of conservatism and liberalism generate far more coverage and comment than the mundane reality of the nation’s fiscal situation.”
(*SIGH*) Unfortunately… TRUE.
But does Frum have to buy into it…??? Does he have to ally himself with “them” against “us?”
(*SIGH*)
BILL
4 Bulldoglover100 // Jul 28, 2009 at 12:59 pm
….Am I living in China now? Is this a police state??? if not? then regardless of liking Gates/Obama people better pay attention when an officer of the law can come in your house and you can be thrown in jail for saying things he might not like. The police are paid to ignore comments they may not like and if they lack self control? Then someone PLEASE take that gun out of their hand!
Ipersonally thing Gates was being an a** but I expect the police to be able to handle taunts.
Besides ignoring the FACT that the charge was dropped because it would not hold up in court is being discounted….it tells you who was in the wrong.
5 txanne // Jul 28, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Why not a few questions for officer Crowley while were at it? I think most reasonable people might conclude that both of these gentlemen could have behaved better.
However, I see few if any questions from the conservative arena, that would defend their natural default position; the 1st amendment right to free speech.
Officer Crowley wrote in his report that the 911 caller mentioned two black men with backpacks. Yet we learn now that the caller never said that nor did she even speak with him before he entered the house as he claims. Surely this deserves some flushing out if you are going to take Officer Crowleys version as gospel. Where did the idea that it was two black men come from?
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