# Obama says cops acted stupidly in Gates incident **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 23, 2009, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995 "2009-07-23T14:37:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/21 "2009-07-23T15:45:16Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > The proper answer: > > "There is an ongoing police investigation… No there isn’t. The charges have been dropped. Nothing is being investigated. Some of you should actually read his statements again. He did not say the “stupidity” had anything to do with race. He _explicitly_ said that what was “stupid” was arresting the guy after they already knew he was in his own home. He was right. I applaud him for being honest and blunt. I’m glad we have a President who’s willing to say the cops can do something wrong. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/22 "2009-07-23T15:47:45Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > OMG, **John Mace** , you’re right! Obama is a racist! Not sure if you’re kidding or not, but I didn’t say he was a racist, and I don’t think he is. **Diogenes** : I suspect there will be an investigation by the police department into the actions of the policemen. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/23 "2009-07-23T15:49:38Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > I think it’s fair to say that racism was implied, since he singled out the police for ‘stupidity’, when there was plenty of ‘stupidity’ to go around for all people involved. RTFQ: “…the Cambridge police acted stupidly **in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home** …” We don’t have to guess what he meant. He stated it clearly. There was no implication of racism. Can anyone identify a single sentence thje President uttered that is not 100% true? No you can’t. So what’s the problem? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/24 "2009-07-23T15:51:05Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Not sure if you’re kidding or not, but I didn’t say he was a racist, and I don’t think he is. > > **Diogenes** : I suspect there will be an investigation by the police department into the actions of the policemen. I doubt that, but even if that’s the case, they haven’t announced it, so **Sam’s** assertion is still false. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/25 "2009-07-23T15:51:50Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > RTFQ: > > “…the Cambridge police acted stupidly **in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home** …” > > We don’t have to guess what he meant. He stated it clearly. There was no implication of racism. > > Can anyone identify a single sentence thje President uttered that is not 100% true? No you can’t. So what’s the problem? Yes, the quote you quoted. We don’t know what Gates did, and so it’s not clear whether they acted stupidly or not. Since Obama even said he didn’t know all the facts, it’s self-evident that you can’t evaluate the stupidity of the action. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/26 "2009-07-23T15:52:06Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > The proper answer: > > “There is an ongoing police investigation, and it would be inappropriate for the President of the United States to weigh in until the local authorities have done their job. Ask me again when all the facts are in.” And then, once the facts are in: “We’ve gone over and over this; the matter has been addressed and it’s time to move on.” Clearly, Obama hasn’t been in the President business very long. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/27 "2009-07-23T15:52:19Z")
None of which really matters because OMG THE PRESIDENT CALLED SOMEONE STUPID!!!1!1 To pretend this is about anything else is equally…well. He should have used a different word. He didn’t. As a result his valid point about the error of arresting a man, racially driven or not, will be completely lost in the ensuing frenzy. Curse you and your fast posting ways, Vinyl Turnip! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/28 "2009-07-23T15:53:21Z")
> [@Syntropy](#): > > None of which really matters because OMG THE PRESIDENT CALLED SOMEONE STUPID!!!1!1 > > To pretend this is about anything else is equally…well. He should have used a different word. He didn’t. As a result his valid point about the error of arresting a man, racially driven or not, will be completely lost in the ensuing frenzy. Have you not read this thread? I’m not upset about his use of the word “stupid”, I think he should have kept his mouth shut on the subject. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/29 "2009-07-23T15:56:08Z")
Gates was arrested for Contempt of Cop. That’s obvious. And that was stupid. Even if the facts are exactly as the cops allege, they arrested Gates for no reason. Which is proved by the fact that the charges against him are now dropped, that’s what always happens in Contempt of Cop arrests. The arrest itself is the punishment. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/30 "2009-07-23T15:57:34Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Have you not read this thread? I’m not upset about his use of the word “stupid”, I think he should have kept his mouth shut on the subject. Yes, I read your response. My post was not aimed at you or really any of the posters here so much as the media and the Republican leadership, both of which have to be creaming their pants over this. It’s going to be news for the rest of the cycle this week and will likely be fodder for the Sunday morning talking heads when what should be the main focus is the actual reason for his speech: health care coverage for the uninsured. ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/31 "2009-07-23T16:02:31Z")
> [@Syntropy](#): > > I said it last night: after saying ‘stupid,’ it doesn’t matter if the rest of his point was perfectly valid. Everyone is going to focus on ‘stupid’ and he’s going to be forced to address the comment. > > athelas, he was asked for an opinion on the matter. He gave one. To say he ‘interjected himself’ is a little misleading. ÷1 Hannity’s gonna be on this like white on rice. > [@](#): > > _Not only does he not support the troops by withdrawing before we finish the job in Iraq but he also has the temerity to criticize our men and women in blue._ Or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/32 "2009-07-23T16:06:36Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > RTFQ: Maybe you missed the part where he went on for a couple of paragraphs afterwords about racial profiling. I guess that was just a total non sequitur on his part, eh? > [@](#): > > Can anyone identify a single sentence thje President uttered that is not 100% true? No you can’t. So what’s the problem? No. Can you identify anyone in the thread who accused him of lying? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/33 "2009-07-23T16:10:52Z")
I’m surprised he used the word “stupid,” but what blunts my outrage is that _the police acted stupidly_. Gates may or may not have been hostile, but there was no reason to arrest him. His worst potential crime was being rude, and it’s incumbent on the officer in that spot to defuse the situation by walking away. It should not have gotten to this point. As far as the ‘distraction’… please. It’ll be news for a day or two and then it’s back to your regularly scheduled health care debate. That issue isn’t going away. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/34 "2009-07-23T16:15:34Z")
For those who haven’t seen it, here is the police report. As I said in another thread, I’m curious as to how much of the report will be corroborated by the other cops and Harvard security people who showed up prior to the actual arrest. [http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0723092gates1.html](http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0723092gates1.html) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/35 "2009-07-23T16:17:42Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > Maybe you missed the part where he went on for a couple of paragraphs afterwords about racial profiling. I guess that was just a total non sequitur on his part, eh? Yes. Again, RTFQ: > [@](#): > > what I think we know \*\*separate and apart from this incident \*\*is that there is a long history in this country of African Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately. :dubious: > [@](#): > > No. Can you identify anyone in the thread who accused him of lying? No. Jumping to conclusions, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/36 "2009-07-23T16:18:15Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > RTFQ: > > “…the Cambridge police acted stupidly **in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home** …” > > We don’t have to guess what he meant. He stated it clearly. There was no implication of racism. So Obama is asserting that the “long history in this country of African Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately” has nothing to do with racism? And Gates was lying when he accused the officers who arrested him of racism. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/37 "2009-07-23T16:19:08Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Can anyone identify a single sentence thje President uttered that is not 100% true? No you can’t. So what’s the problem? Sure. You even quoted it in your post: (emphasis mine) > [@](#): > > “… **the Cambridge police acted stupidly** in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home…” ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/38 "2009-07-23T16:19:19Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > So what’s the problem? To my mind, the “problem” is that the President is weighing in on an issue involving a personal friend of his - something he admits up front. This doesn’t look good, even though I happen to agree with everything the President said. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/39 "2009-07-23T16:22:55Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > As far as the ‘distraction’… please. It’ll be news for a day or two and then it’s back to your regularly scheduled health care debate. That issue isn’t going away. I didn’t say the health care issue is going away. I said this is distracting from it. As to the rest: you’re expecting the remainder of the country to be as reasonable as you are. Always a bad move. We’re still going on about the birth certificate idiocy. A congressman is [indulging those conspiracy loons](http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/chris-matthews-questions-rep-john-campbell-r-ca-about-birther-bill.php?ref=fpb). This is going to be milked for all it’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/40 "2009-07-23T16:23:21Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Sure. You even quoted it in your post: (emphasis mine) Wait, so you think the cops were in the right to arrest Gates? Just because he was being verbally abusive to them? That they acted appropriately? The fact is, the appropriate response would have been to apologize for the inconvenience and leave, no matter how annoying or insulting Gates was. Gates disrespected the cop’s Momma, but that ain’t grounds for arrest, is it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995.md?page=3)