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July 24, 2009

Is the Gates/Crowley affair a 'teachable moment?'

On Friday, President Obama called the Cambridge, Mass., police sergeant who recently arrested Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and told the officer that he regretted saying that the police had “acted stupidly” in the incident.

The words and the sentiment seemed so out of character for Obama who in the past has spoken brilliantly about the nuances of race in America. Obama said he wanted to address the subject because he only had added to the racially charged discussion, which  has mushroomed since the story broke on Monday.

Speaking in the West Wing of the White House, the president said: “I wanted to address you guys directly because over the last day and a half obviously there's been all sorts of controversy around the incident that happened in Cambridge with Professor Gates and the police department there.

"I actually just had a conversation with Sgt. Jim Crowley, the officer involved,'' Obama said. "And I have to tell you that, as I said yesterday, my impression of him was that he was a outstanding police officer and a good man, and that was confirmed in the phone conversation -- and I told him that.

"And because this has been ratcheting up -- and I obviously helped to contribute ratcheting it up... I want to make clear that, in my choice of words, I think I unfortunately gave an impression that I was maligning the Cambridge Police Department or Sgt. Crowley specifically -- and I could have calibrated those words differently. And I told this to Sgt. Crowley.

But, Obama maintained, "I continue to believe there was an overreaction." He added, "Professor Gates probably overreacted as well."

Obama said he hopes this can be a “teachable moment,”  where “instead of pumping up the volume” Americans can look at how to improve relations between police officers and minority communities.

“Whether I were black or white, I think that me commenting on this and hopefully contributing to constructive, as opposed to negative, understandings about the issue is part of my portfolio.”

Obama said that at the end of the conversation with Crowley there was a discussion about Crowley and Professor Gates coming to the White House to have a beer together.

A beer is fine, but is this indeed a teachable moment? If so, what can we learn?



"Teachable Moment?" absolutely. Gates taught us how not to act when being questioned by the police.

This issue isn't a racial problem although I'm sure Professor Gates felt it was. I'm a middle aged white male and I can "guarantee you" the same thing would happen to me.

Unfortunately Officer Crowley isn't "smart enough" to walk away from Professor Gates home once his residency was established. END OF STORY, PERIOD (unless of course he was threatened).

Cops "always harass", & throw their weight around everytime they can! This happens to be everyday moron cop behavior. This isn't a racial issue this is "typical rogue" cop "out of control" like ALWAYS!!!!

They only way this is going to stop is IF Professor Gates sues this cop and my sincere hope is that he does.

So the telephone tape has the police questioning the race of the men supposedly breaking in and ignoring the possiblity raised by the woman calling that it might indeed be the owners...Does anyone believe the professor's denial that he referred to "yomama"? Does anyone find Crowley's account in conflict with the tape?

Does that change anyone's mind? Probably not.

The hatred against Obama is just incredible.

Hates, I mean Gates shouldn't be mad at the cop. He should be mad at the neighbor who called the police on him and reported a break in.

I bought a pair of flip-flops and wrote "Barak" on one and "Obama" on the other. He flip-flops more than a fish out of water. Aren't US Presidents supposed to have some back bone?


Excuse me? Are you saying that Obama only speaks brilliantly when defending blacks? I don't know who's the bigger racist - Obama or Trice!

The whole thing turns on a single word: "stupidly."

Ill advisedly, or preciptiously and there is no conflict.

Obama is human.

Obama has invited Professor Gates and Officer Crowley over for a beer at the Whitehouse. If the theme of this meeting is to be framed as a 'teaching moment' on 'racial profiling' this accedes to Gates version of the incidence as his being the innocent victim of police
racial discrimination. As our president, Obama has the obligation to make crystal clear that all citizens have a responsibility to respect the authority of police responding to a 911 call and primary attention should be directed to that issue. The issue of racial discrimination should be addressed only as incidental to the meeting's theme - starting with the unwarranted perception of discrimination by Gates- a charge disproved by all the evidence at the scene. Any discussion of racial profiling should proceed from the grievance by racial minorities in general, rather than any implication that it was a component of the police action in this particular episode. If Obama is unapologetic to Officer Crowley and in any way vindicates Professor Gates behavior or suggests that both parties 'overreacted' and should simply shake hands and move on, it will guarantee the need for ongoing 'recalibrations' of his position throughout his term.

cops were there investigating a crime. if some guy keeps shouting behind my back preventing me from doing my duty, i would arrest him too no matter what race he is. If gates stayed inside his home, there would be no story. He deserved to be arrested. And shame on the President for saying that the local police force acted stupidly!

Actually I think Gates turned this encounter into a self fulfilling prophecy. After years of teaching that many white cops are inherently racist, profiling bigots, his angry, shouting tirade was almost predictable. How could he react in any other way?

I find the extent to which people will go to justify the actions of a police officer who obviously overreacted disturbing--especially for a nation where, supposedly, "the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated."

Sergeant Crowley's report indicated that, shortly after entering the residence, he "was led to believe that Gates was lawfully in the residence." He then asked Gates for identification to prove it was his house. Gates countered by asking Crowley for identification. Crowley said he was "Sergeant Crowley," but he did not present any ID to that effect. Gates produced what Crowley described as a Harvard ID (Gates said he also provided a driver's license). The incident should have ended right there.

It didn't.

Crowley's report indicated that he then "radioed and requested the presence of Harvard University Police." For what? He had established that Gates was "lawfully in the residence."

Gates asked him again for ID. By not producing his identification card (although he said later that he was "ready" to produce it), Crowley violated MA General Laws (MGL), Chapter 41, Section 98D, which states, "Each city or town shall issue to every full time police officer employed by it an identification card bearing his photograph and the municipal seal. Such card shall be carried on the officer’s person, and shall be exhibited upon lawful request for purposes of identification."

Section 98D was enacted to enable citizens to file complaints in situations where they believe police actions to be inappropriate/excessive without being encumbered by officers providing false names or refusing to identify themselves at all.

Crowley told Gates that he'd have to come outside to continue the conversation--that the "accoustics" inside the house were making it difficult for him to communicate via radio. Gates followed him outside, still demanding to see his ID. Crowley still refused to provide ID, which upset Gates even further.

In Massachusetts (and most other states), you cannot arrest anyone for disorderly conduct in his own home, but you can as soon as he steps outside of that home. It is fairly clear that Crowley had already decided to arrest Gates, and enticed him out onto the porch to further that end. That is, effectively, entrapment. Crowley claimed that Gates' outburst constituted "disorderly conduct," and having warned him, arrested him for violation of MGL, Chapter 272, Section 53.

"Common night walkers, common street walkers, both male and female, common railers and brawlers, persons who with offensive and disorderly acts or language accost or annoy persons of the opposite sex, lewd, wanton and lascivious persons in speech or behavior, idle and disorderly persons, disturbers of the peace, keepers of noisy and disorderly houses, and persons guilty of indecent exposure may be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than six months, or by a fine of not more than two hundred dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment."

Crowley didn't arrest Gates inside the house, but arrested him on the front porch at approximately 1:00 in the afternoon. His report claimed that Gates' "tumultuous behavior" caused the police officers (Cambridge and Harvard) assembled outside to be "surprised and alarmed"; he thus made his case for "disorderly conduct." At best, this is a reach.

The City of Cambridge recognized the absurdity of the charge immediately, dropping it "in the interests of justice."

I agree with President Obama; Crowley acted "stupidly." That is not to say that the man is not (otherwise) a good police officer, but, in this case, he lost control of the situation, and appears to have intentionally provoked Gates. He also violated MA law, not furnishing proper identification to establish his identity as a police officer when lawfully asked by a citizen to do so. I believe that he should face disciplinary action for violation of Section 98D.

If I were accosted in my own home by a police officer who refused to identify himself properly, I wouldn't be overly agreeable, either. And, as a white person, I don't have the historical legacy of racism to contend with. It's wishful thinking to assume that all officers treat citzens of color with the same deference generally shown to white citizens. Just ask Rodney King...

As to what we can learn? I would challenge those who contend that Crowley was justified in arresting Gates to try to look at it from Gates' point of view.

My friend and I had a very teachable moment during a frienship that whenever our black or white sensibilities were a tad shaken she would say "that was very white of you" or I would say that was "black of you" and after a while we just naturally stopped pointing out anything because we liked each other and it all seemed pretty irrevelant.

I would just like to say to Obama that his take on the Gates situation was "very black of him" and it may be time for him to find new friends who share his desire for race not to be an issue.



We live in a conservative white/asian area and older people call the police to report a suspicious person when they see my son because he has long hair. He has been stopped by police while jogging and asked to empty his pockets many times and he politely complies with their requests. If he was black it would be considered racist but because he is white what is it considered? POLICE DOING THEIR JOB. BTW, if my son acts disrespectful to an officer I would expect the police to arrest him.

the only teachable moment is for the prez; learn to keep your mouth shut once in a while...just can't resist getting in the mix of everything under the sun.

As far as I can see, the only racists are black people. How many times have I been shocked when a black person brought up their race when it wasn't necessary. And it is usually liberal blacks who do it. I personally don't think about race until it is brought up. Obama has done much to ruin race-relations in this country by bringing it up all the time. As for Gates: he played the race card because he must have thought it would cause the police officer, who was doing his job, to whip out some violins and play a sad song, a song of slavery, remember, remember, remember. A wise and intelligent PERSON would have done what the policeman asked, politely, respectfully, quietly and then sorted it all out later.

Tonight on the Jim Lehrer Newshour, syndicated columnist Mark Shields confirmed Obama knew ahead of time about this Gates question and who would ask this question. Obama did not "stumble" into this as being reported.

Obama had plenty of time to think about his response, and Obama made a freewill choice to call on the reporter with this question.

Obama deliberately made an issue of this Gates scandal.

America, you have been punked.

Okpulot Taha
Choctaw Nation
Smart Girl Politics

If Gate a middle age man with a cane and identity of Harvard Faculty can get arrested for entering his own house,guess what happen with rest of the population.Gate had his ID card stating his address, media is against our president,so they will not mention this.if you do injustice to our president American minority will rise against media.I am not African American so without being prejudice I can tell Obama has neutral personality. you cannot say about that to Yahoo,Google,Fox...

Oh yeah, its a teachable moment all right. It teaches us that President Obama shares with George Bush the same difficulty of admitting when he is flat out WRONG.

It should also teach people as I was taught when I was a kid.( and we had a few of Chicago's finest as close family friends.) Your response in any confrontation with the police should be words to the effect of: " Officer, how can I make your afternoon a little more pleasant?"

Anything else, is the wrong answer.

This good advice, no matter what color you are.

Was the Gates incident a 'teachable moment'?

It depends on whether Obama thinks he's the teacher or if he's the student.

If the police officers had not answered the call from the neighbor to investigate, and this had turned out to be a break-in, Mr. Gates would still be screaming "racism." All this proves is that when you are between a rock and a hard place, choose the hard place and do your job. Don't worry about the slings and arrows because if we all did, total strangers would not risk their lives trying to save victims of car crashes or others in need of help.

To Obama, it was a teachable moment for everyone... except him.

Would the President of the United States have been asked the question about Gates in the first place, if the President was white? If McCain or Clinton had won, would either of them have been asked about Gates? I think the answer is no. I do not believe that Gates was a victim of racial profiling but do believe the question to the President was racist in its origin.

Showing his naiveté with regard to the press, the President fell victim to being goaded by the press into commenting on a matter of absolutely no consequence, far worse things happen every day in America, for the express purpose of tearing him down. And he fell for it.

I hope you learned your lesson Mr. President. Use them wisely but know; the press is not your friend. You will sell more papers by failing than by succeeding.

As for Mr. Gates, he does not know what racial profiling is. If he were in San Diego, the police would have shot him dead, then asked to see identification.

Lmao, I just love how everyone is demanding that the officer receive an apology, like he's been the one that was humiliated by being unfairly arrested. No one's asking that Henry Louis Gates Jr. be apologized to. Even Crowley himself said he's not apologizing to Gates. But he's demanding an apology from Obama. Even if it was an "honest mistake", as he claims, shouldn't he still apologize? I make honest mistakes, but when they have adverse effects, I still apologize to those that are affected by my mistake. But I guess when you're a cop, you're immune to accountability. As always. And the fact that everyone is sticking up for the jerk certainly won't help to change things.

Perhaps the only answer to this and every other incident involving blacks and police is to let only black cops deal with black crime. Maybe the KKK had the right answer all along "Seperate but equal" let blacks have their own courts and judges.

I can hear the 911 call now..
Caller: There is a guy laying outside, he was shot.
911 Ops: What color is he?
Caller: Black
911: All of our black officers are tied up, we send one over soon as he is free.
Caller: Thank you, make it as soon as possible just don't send no white pig.

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