# 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:** 23
**Author:** ![Alan\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Alan\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Bird)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/441 "2009-07-31T17:09:40Z")
Anyone catch Ann Coulter on Larry King last night? Firmly grasping at straws, she accused Obama of ethnic stereotyping by offering to sit down over a beer with Crowley, who’s Irish. “Why not a glass of chablis?” Right, Ann. Irish people are the only ones who like beer. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/442 "2009-07-31T17:29:34Z")
> [@Alan\_Bird](#): > > Anyone catch Ann Coulter on Larry King last night? Firmly grasping at straws, she accused Obama of ethnic stereotyping by offering to sit down over a beer with Crowley, who’s Irish. “Why not a glass of chablis?” > > Right, Ann. Irish people are the only ones who like beer. :rolleyes: Chablis? Sure, let’s raise the old arugula-loving east-coast elitist meme again. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/443 "2009-07-31T18:07:03Z")
I thought “arugula” is that noise they make in submarine movies when the captain yells “Dive! Dive!” _Arrrruuugula! Arrruuuugula!_ ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/444 "2009-07-31T18:24:56Z")
For the purposes of my original post the behaviour of the cops and of Gates himself, who was wrong, who was right, is entirely irrelevant. The point is that the President should not have characterized the actions of the police as stupidity. For all he know civil actions could have arisen from the incident, criminal actions even. The President had no business commenting in public on this at least until he was sure that the incident was a closed book. I do believe Obama has learned from this (he certainly won’t want a repeat of the shitstorm of bad publicity, especially as his ratings are going south anyway). The words of Presidents have far more weight than those of others; those words should be chosen judiciously. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/445 "2009-07-31T18:48:56Z")
He is an honest and intelligent man and if you ask him a question he will give you his opinion. I suppose many would prefer he talk political speak. Just talk in circles and say nothing like the Sunday morning pols do. I like him this way. ---
**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 31, 2009, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/446 "2009-07-31T19:41:33Z")
His only mistake was backing down. He was correct in what he said. The known facts support the characterization that the cops acted “stupidly.” If anything, he was too kind. He could have mentioned that Crowley falsified the police report, but chose not to. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/447 "2009-07-31T20:11:35Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > He is an honest and intelligent man and if you ask him a question he will give you his opinion. But that is precisely what a _President_ cannot (and should not) always do in public. And not just Presidents but politicians in general. It’s a lesson most of them imbibe with their mother’s milk - weigh your words well, they can have unforeseen consequences. ---
**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 31, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/448 "2009-07-31T20:19:00Z")
This one had no consequences. Obama was not hurt by this whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/449 "2009-07-31T20:19:27Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > But that is precisely what a _President_ cannot (and should not) always do in public. And not just Presidents but politicians in general. It’s a lesson most of them imbibe with their mother’s milk - weigh your words well, they can have unforeseen consequences. Especially when one of the people involved in the controversy is a friend. Especially when you know you don’t have all the facts. This would be mind-numbingly dumb for any pol. For Obama, given his smarts and savvy, it was beyond that. It also seems that his knee jerked in the same direction as that of Gates. So much for a post-racial President. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/450 "2009-07-31T20:20:35Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > This one had no consequences. Obama was not hurt by this whatsoever. Among the groupies, no. The rest of us, yes. ---
**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 31, 2009, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/451 "2009-07-31T20:23:16Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Especially when one of the people involved in the controversy is a friend. He gets props for stepping up for a friend. > [@](#): > > Especially when you know you don’t have all the facts. He had all the relevant facts. It’s a canard that he did not. > [@](#): > > This would be mind-numbingly dumb for any pol. For Obama, given his smarts and savvy, it was beyond that. It also seems that his knee jerked in the same direction as that of Gates. So much for a post-racial President. Cite for Obama saying there was anything rcaist about it? Methinks the President is not the one who’s knee is jerking. ---
**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 31, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/452 "2009-07-31T20:27:38Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Among the groupies, no. The rest of us, yes. I don’t know who the “groupies” are, but the only people who made noise about this are those who hate him anyway. It’s just one more completely manufactured outrage. my only criticism is that he ever makes any effort at all to placate those who cannot be placated. ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/453 "2009-07-31T20:45:50Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > This one had no consequences. Obama was not hurt by this whatsoever. I think he was hurt by it, otherwise he wouldn’t have softened up his stance. I think that whites are uncomforable with a president that appears to be pro-black which in their minds translates into being anti-white. Stay tuned for the next incident. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/454 "2009-07-31T21:14:19Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I’m just OUTRAGED that Obama chose a beer owned by a foreign company. A company based in Belgium, which might as well be France. This clearly proves he’s a Communist Muslim. This is an OUTRAGE! THIS! IS! MADNESS! No good fine upstanding American would drink a foreign unAmerican beer. This is almost reason! Made In America. Made By Americans. Anything else is Communism. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/455 "2009-07-31T22:00:03Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Especially when one of the people involved in the controversy is a friend. > > Especially when you know you don’t have all the facts. > > This would be mind-numbingly dumb for any pol. For Obama, given his smarts and savvy, it was beyond that. It also seems that his knee jerked in the same direction as that of Gates. So much for a post-racial President. Did you just acknowledge that President Obama and Dr. Gates are friends, and then ascribe a racist reason for President Obama’s actions? Because that’s what I’m reading… as if you think they are only friends because they are both black. :rolleyes: to you. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/456 "2009-07-31T22:04:16Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > He gets props for stepping up for a friend. Just wonderful. A President that will take a friend’s side even when he is wrong. > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > He had all the relevant facts. It’s a canard that he did not. Well, your demigod’s subsequent actions and Clintonesque apology lamenting the poor “calibration” of his words indicates that you are at odds with the object of your affection. And didn’t he, when he first commented, indicate that he did NOT have all the facts? > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Cite for Obama saying there was anything rcaist about it? Methinks the President is not the one who’s knee is jerking. The fact that he heard about the flap and immediately jumped to conclusions and took his friend’s side that racism was at play. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/457 "2009-07-31T22:05:18Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I don’t know who the “groupies” are, but the only people who made noise about this are those who hate him anyway. It’s just one more completely manufactured outrage. my only criticism is that he ever makes any effort at all to placate those who cannot be placated. No. That’s untrue. There are Obama fans on this very board that have opined that Obama did a stupid thing and were disappointed. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/458 "2009-07-31T22:06:46Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Did you just acknowledge that President Obama and Dr. Gates are friends, and then ascribe a racist reason for President Obama’s actions? Because that’s what I’m reading… as if you think they are only friends because they are both black. > > :rolleyes: to you. :rolleyes: x a googleplex to you. Go take reading lessons. Maybe more important, a logic class. ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/459 "2009-07-31T22:09:13Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > The known facts support the characterization that the cops acted “stupidly.”. Now they _might_. Then, they didn’t. Even as an Obama voter, I think his lips should have stayed still on this subject at the time, or, perhaps just a 'Y’know, I don’t know all the facts, but I’ll check it out and make a comment at a later time". He pulled the trigger on this firestorm and if you think for a second it hasn’t damaged him, just a little, you’re off. That said, I like the approach to address it, now hopefully he can move on, lesson learned. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/460 "2009-07-31T22:10:57Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > :rolleyes: x a googleplex to you. Go take reading lessons. Maybe more important, a logic class. Since I’m not the only person who read what you wrote and interpreted it this way (and there really is no other way it can be interpreted), I would say that it is you who is full of fail. Full of something, at any rate. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995.md?page=24)