# 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:** 5
**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, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/81 "2009-07-23T17:25:00Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > I offer the police report as a cite for Gates’ behavior. I offer Gates’ account as a cite for the cops’ behavior. ---
**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, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/82 "2009-07-23T17:27:29Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > According to the Cambridge Police Superior Officers Association per this [article](http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?&articleid=1186567&format=&page=1&listingType=Loc#articleFull) > > Oh, and that racist bastard tried to save Reggie Lewis. Oh, well a police advocacy group advocates for the police. I’m convinced. Obama did not accuse the cops of being racist, by the way, so Reggie Lewis is neither here nor there. ---
**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, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/83 "2009-07-23T17:28:49Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I don’t think he could have phrased it in any possible way which would have precluded distorted Drudge headlines, Freeper outrage orgies and creative remixes of the video on Fox. Sure. OTOH, it may not be the flap it has been in the mainstream media. I’m in a conservative market certainly but I didn’t expect it to be the lead in story for the hour on NPR this morning. > [@John Mace](#): > > Not really. I don’t think he should be commenting on the behavior of the cops in this particular incident. The dust has not settled, and it’s not a presidential matter to begin with. If this ever goes to trial (Gates levels charges), it’ll be a mess seating a jury since Obama has already pronounced the verdict. Had he said “wrongly” instead, it still would’ve been a mistake. So he should have ignored the question completely or redirected even after she asked on national television? You don’t think that would have caused as big a commotion? Regardless of his comment or lack thereof it was going to be talked about. And IIRC, Gates had already been released and the charges dropped prior to the President making that remark. Had he still been in custody I would agree with you entirely. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/84 "2009-07-23T17:34:00Z")
CNN just had a telephone interview with the arresting officer. I imagine it will be on youtube shortly. (I’m at work, couldn’t catch much of the interview.) ---
**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, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/85 "2009-07-23T17:34:10Z")
> [@Syntropy](#): > > So he should have ignored the question completely or redirected even after she asked on national television? You don’t think that would have caused as big a commotion? Regardless of his comment or lack thereof it was going to be talked about. And IIRC, Gates had already been released and the charges dropped prior to the President making that remark. Had he still been in custody I would agree with you entirely. He could have said what Malthus posted, above. I don’t see why it would create a stir at all if he said it was inappropriate to comment on this specific incident since, as he himself said, he didn’t know all the facts. Sure, Gates has been released, but do you honestly think that is the end of things? I doubt it will be. I would not be surprised to see his press secretary backpedal on this today. In fact, I expect he will. ---
**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, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/86 "2009-07-23T17:38:46Z")
Why should he? The cops themselves admit the arrest was a mistake. If they’re going to deny the arrest was stupid then how can they justify dropping the charges? ---
**Author:** ![holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e95f7d/32.png) [@holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/holmes)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/87 "2009-07-23T17:39:56Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > I offer the police report as a cite for Gates’ behavior. Sharpton’s you already know about. They’re both black men who cry racism when it doesn’t exist. And you, too, are now assuming he was treated poorly due to his race. Nope. Don’t see it. Please show me in my post above where I assumed he was treated poorly due to his race. Comparing Prof. Gates to Al Sharpton based on a report, which as far as I can tell only two people know what happened in the house; Prof. Gates and the Officer, gives way too much power to Officer, who IMO did not use the best judgement in arresting Prof. Gates. You do not know, nor to do of any us knows what occurred. Yet you seem confident that it did not occur, based on the police report, which you give great weight to. I submit just to give you something to think about. [This Case](http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/news/local_news/072009_Police_Confrontation_Caught_On_Tape). I am sure there was a police report and it didn’t tell the story as it occured. Sometimes police lie and they cover each other and you’re right there are people that use race as weapon. However placing a man who has spent a lifetime being a model citizen on the same level of Al Sharpton based on the color of his skin, a claim of racism and the report from a person whose interest is to place himself in the best light, seems a strange direction to go. IMO. I just want to understand you. Any black man who ‘cries’ racism that doesn’t pass your smell taste, regardless of the circumstances is the equal of Al Sharpton? Does the very act of making the charge of racism, make a black person the equal of Al Sharpton, especially if he can’t prove it; but believes it occured? If he can’t prove it, he should be quiet? Sometimes there are no video cameras. ---
**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, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/88 "2009-07-23T17:40:57Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > He could have said what Malthus posted, above. I don’t see why it would create a stir at all if he said it was inappropriate to comment on this specific incident since, as he himself said, he didn’t know all the facts. Sure, Gates has been released, but do you honestly think that is the end of things? I doubt it will be. > > I would not be surprised to see his press secretary backpedal on this today. In fact, I expect he will. I’m not sure; _should_ citizens meekly accept something as flimsy as an apology for wrongful arrest? If “I’m sorry” is enough of a punishment what is the deterrence for repeating the same behavior? I may be overstating in this particular case. Certainly here in Dallas we have had more than our share of embarrassing ‘honest mistakes’ on behalf of the police in the past year. It seems that unchecked power with nothing more than token rebukes does not make for a healthy respect from the citizenry so much as a healthy resentment toward those purportedly protecting and serving. As I said in my original post, there is no way the President is going to get away from this issue without addressing it so yes, I agree that the press secretary will be making a statement, if not Axelrod. ---
**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, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/89 "2009-07-23T17:45:23Z")
I spoke too soon. [White House Qualifies Obama Remark](http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D99K9Q001&show_article=1). Pussies. I wish they wouldn’t do this. It never appeases anybody anyway. All these kinds of qualifications ever accomplish is to get the speaker accused of “backpedalling,” and “weaselling.” ---
**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, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/90 "2009-07-23T17:48:26Z")
> [@Syntropy](#): > > I’m not sure; _should_ citizens meekly accept something as flimsy as an apology for wrongful arrest? If “I’m sorry” is enough of a punishment what is the deterrence for repeating the same behavior? I’m getting a bit confused here, because I never said anything like that. > [@](#): > > I may be overstating in this particular case. Certainly here in Dallas we have had more than our share of embarrassing ‘honest mistakes’ on behalf of the police in the past year. It seems that unchecked power with nothing more than token rebukes does not make for a healthy respect from the citizenry so much as a healthy resentment toward those purportedly protecting and serving. I was speaking more generally, since the claim is being made that police acted “stupidly” on the sole basis that the charges were dropped. I don’t think that is _prima facie_ evidence of stupidness. > [@](#): > > As I said in my original post, there is no way the President is going to get away from this issue without addressing it so yes, I agree that the press secretary will be making a statement, if not Axelrod. Addressing it is one thing. Weighing in with an opinion is another. Let the courts work this out. ---
**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, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/91 "2009-07-23T17:50:22Z")
I’m not saying the cops acted stupidly on the basis of the charges being dropped. I’m saying they acted stupidly on the basis of all the known facts. There is no dispute that he had already proved he was the owner of the house, and at no point in the encounter did he commit any crimes. ---
**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, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/92 "2009-07-23T17:50:43Z")
You asked if it was the end of things. I was asking if it’s your opinion that Gates should drop it. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/93 "2009-07-23T17:51:38Z")
A black professor with a bit of political connections ,was arrested in his home by a cop. He showed the cop it was his house. He identified himself thoroughly. But he committed the cardinal sin. he pissed off a cop. He might have been annoyed and rude. If a cop was rousting me in my home ,i might be rude too. But the cop was stupid to arrest him. It is an old ugly story for blacks. The cop should have known better. He made himself vulnerable to a racial attack. He did not do any public good arresting him. He did not make the neighborhood safer or take a criminal to jail. It was dumb. ---
**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, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/94 "2009-07-23T17:51:49Z")
Sorry, that was in response to John Mace. This thread is moving too quickly. ---
**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, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/95 "2009-07-23T17:51:57Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Addressing it is one thing. Weighing in with an opinion is another. Let the courts work this out. Let the courts work WHAT out? There is no pending case. There is nothing before any court. There is nothing being investigated. It’s over. ---
**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, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/96 "2009-07-23T17:53:23Z")
> [@Syntropy](#): > > You asked if it was the end of things. I was asking if it’s your opinion that Gates should drop it. If Gates was as upset as he seems to have been, then I think he’s in the right to take further action. But I’m not sure he even has to, a this point, for there to be steps taken by the CPD. This has become a PR issue for them, and they probably need to take some action regardless. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/97 "2009-07-23T17:56:04Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Only if you assume that police never make honest mistakes. Or that prosecutors never exercise their discretion, and decline to pursue a case for any number of reasons. ---
**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, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/98 "2009-07-23T17:57:24Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > If Gates was as upset as he seems to have been, then I think he’s in the right to take further action. But I’m not sure he even has to, a this point, for there to be steps taken by the CPD. This has become a PR issue for them, and they probably need to take some action regardless. I would agree and regardless of whatever action he takes it is likely to now be a media circus. That said, no I do not agree that Obama avoiding the question would have been a good idea. I think as large as this thing already was he was in a damned if he did, damned if he didn’t situation. I do not agree with Diogenes that stupid was appropriate however applicable. This President is intelligent enough to convey his disapproval of the situation without making that kind of enemy of the DC cops. Rest assured Diogenes they will see it as an attack on the force. Having the balls to call it like he sees it doesn’t come into play here, he needs their support. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/99 "2009-07-23T17:58:25Z")
> [@holmes](#): > > Sometimes there are no video cameras. And I think there always should be. Police should videotape all interactions with the public. It benefits themselves and the public. I think back to the football player who had a cop get all high and mighty on him as his mother-in-law was dying in a hospital. Just imagine how different the public reaction to that incident would have been if there was no videotape. What if it was only the officer’s word against the football player’s? Don’t you think there would be tons of people saying the officer acted appropriately? ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995/100 "2009-07-23T17:58:44Z")
I think Obama might have gotten it wrong. If my neighbors called the cops because they saw me using a crowbar to break into my own house, I would have understood why the police were called, treated them respectfully, answered any questions they asked, and NOT BEEN ARRESTED. It seems like Mr. Gates did the opposite of that, and got upset that the police were even called or were doing an investigation at all. The police might have been out of line arresting him for just pissing them off and being a nuisance, but that doesn’t mean Gates was any less of an asshole. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-cops-acted-stupidly-in-gates-incident/503995.md?page=6)