MR

Cops were within rights but Gates baited and they took it.

He (eventually) showed his Harvard ID as a professor. That's where the officer should've left, period, instead of telling the smart mouth prof that if he had anything else to discuss he'd talk to him "outside" (where they could arrest him for disorderly).

Racism is a shame, and I hate it. I understand that different people see law enforcement officers in many different lights, but if Professor Gates had just been cooperative at the onset, nothing would have happened. It seems that some want to oppose law enforcement officers as a first reaction, and there is probably a good reason for that. Those mindsets need to be overcome, just as much as the racist mindsets need to be. The officer(s) in this case were just responding to a complaint, and had to follow up on it. When you offer resistance to that, you only make yourself look guilty, or at least suspect.

Were we supposed to read the article?!?!

I am LMAO!!!


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Rick wrote:Racism is a shame, and I hate it. I understand that different people see law enforcement officers in many different lights, but if Professor Gates had just been cooperative at the onset, nothing would have happened. It seems that some want to oppose law enforcement officers as a first reaction, and there is probably a good reason for that. Those mindsets need to be overcome, just as much as the racist mindsets need to be. The officer(s) in this case were just responding to a complaint, and had to follow up on it. When you offer resistance to that, you only make yourself look guilty, or at least suspect.

The cop isn't racist. He gave mouth to mouth to a black man trying to save his life. Gates' baited him for a publicity stunt.

Black 58 year old who walks with a cane gets arrested at his own house after showing ID as a Harvard Professor.

The cop, Crowley(?) got his ego bruised and drew Gates out of the house where he could arrest him.

LOL, according to the report, before Gates' came out he told the cop "ya, I'll talk to yo mama outside".

As a U.S. citizen, our home is the one domain we have that we can call our own. Since we are not in a communist country, the government has no right to invade our homes and arrest us without cause. I don't care if this black man told the cop to suck his daddy's dick, it was his fucking home and he had not committed a crime. I think the cop should have left after the guy showed him that he was in fact the home owner.

I'm sure my opinion on this is not the popular one, but oh well. I do think Obama should have refrained from commenting on it. Why stick your nose in where it doesn't belong? I'm sure he regrets it.

That Chris Rock video was hilarious! Thanks for posting it.

I'm sorta surprised the police officer didn't snap to who Gates is sooner (or at least figure out that he was not a home invader). He's hosted all kinds of TV specials, is a regular on Oprah ... and he SOUNDS like a Harvard professor.

Voyager wrote:As a U.S. citizen, our home is the one domain we have that we can call our own. Since we are not in a communist country, the government has no right to invade our homes and arrest us without cause. I don't care if this black man told the cop to suck his daddy's dick, it was his fucking home and he had not committed a crime. I think the cop should have left after the guy showed him that he was in fact the home owner.

I'm sure my opinion on this is not the popular one, but oh well. I do think Obama should have refrained from commenting on it. Why stick your nose in where it doesn't belong? I'm sure he regrets it.

That Chris Rock video was hilarious! Thanks for posting it.

I agree with everything you said, except that Gates did not fully cooperate. If he had, then everything would have been done and over with. The situation was unusual. You can not act in a usual fashion to an unusual event.

Rick wrote:

Voyager wrote:As a U.S. citizen, our home is the one domain we have that we can call our own. Since we are not in a communist country, the government has no right to invade our homes and arrest us without cause. I don't care if this black man told the cop to suck his daddy's dick, it was his fucking home and he had not committed a crime. I think the cop should have left after the guy showed him that he was in fact the home owner.

I'm sure my opinion on this is not the popular one, but oh well. I do think Obama should have refrained from commenting on it. Why stick your nose in where it doesn't belong? I'm sure he regrets it.

That Chris Rock video was hilarious! Thanks for posting it.

I agree with everything you said, except that Gates did not fully cooperate. If he had, then everything would have been done and over with. The situation was unusual. You can not act in a usual fashion to an unusual event.

Yeah, but the only "crime" was that the guy got belligerent over someone invading his home and treating him like a criminal. Maybe I'm biased because once I got arrested at my home because the cops thought I was my dad (we have the same name). He left my family when I was a baby and spent 15 years in prison. When he got out he was in and out of jail. I swore to myself that I would not follow his path, so I went the other way and started a business and raised a family. Getting arrested at my own home for something I didn't do was very humiliating ... but I didn't cuss them out (although I did get irate with them when they wouldn't believe me). I actually spent about an hour in a holding cell before they found out I wasn't my dad. So I can definitely relate with the guy's anger and feeling like he was humiliated in his own home. If I would have been black I probably would have blamed it on the cop being racist.

Voyager wrote:

Rick wrote:

Voyager wrote:As a U.S. citizen, our home is the one domain we have that we can call our own. Since we are not in a communist country, the government has no right to invade our homes and arrest us without cause. I don't care if this black man told the cop to suck his daddy's dick, it was his fucking home and he had not committed a crime. I think the cop should have left after the guy showed him that he was in fact the home owner.

I'm sure my opinion on this is not the popular one, but oh well. I do think Obama should have refrained from commenting on it. Why stick your nose in where it doesn't belong? I'm sure he regrets it.

That Chris Rock video was hilarious! Thanks for posting it.

I agree with everything you said, except that Gates did not fully cooperate. If he had, then everything would have been done and over with. The situation was unusual. You can not act in a usual fashion to an unusual event.

Yeah, but the only "crime" was that the guy got belligerent over someone invading his home and treating him like a criminal. Maybe I'm biased because once I got arrested at my home because the cops thought I was my dad (we have the same name). He left my family when I was a baby and spent 15 years in prison. When he got out he was in and out of jail. I swore to myself that I would not follow his path, so I went the other way and started a business and raised a family. To be humiliated like that in my own home didn't make me very happy... but I didn't cuss them out. I actually spent about an hour in a holding cell before they found out I wasn't my dad. So I can definitely relate with the guy's anger and feeling like he was humiliated in his own home. If I would have been black I probably would have blamed it on the cop being racist.

That would be easy to do, as there is a lot of it still going on. That sucks about your dad man. Sorry to hear that.

The professor should have been compliant and more rational . He went Don't you know who I am? He is the same as all of us citizens . He is only important in his mind. I can't wait to see the lawsuit . HE can probably do anything because of tenure.

squirt1 wrote:The professor should have been compliant and more rational . He went Don't you know who I am? He is the same as all of us citizens . He is only important in his mind. I can't wait to see the lawsuit . HE can probably do anything because of tenure.

Prof played them. Simple as that.

Hauled off to jail, sat four hours, then poof, all charges dropped.

National headlines, POTUS commenting off the cuff and you can bet your bottom dollar there's gonna be an Oprah special from all this. Probably already announced for all I know.

Only thing missing are the reverunts, Al and Jessie. Guess Obama stole their thunder.

Anyone defending Gates needs to have their head examined. Nobody invaded his home...he was asked for his ID because a neighbor reported a break-in at his residence.

Have a little respect for the Blue for Christ Sakes!

Obama should have kept his mouth shut on commenting on this case. He didn't have all the facts and now that they are coming out, it looks more like the cops showed up at the house of a character from a Samuel L. Jackson film instead of a Harvard professor's house.

Hey dipshit, the cops didn't show up to arrest and harass you. They are there to HELP you. They got a call that there was a break-in. When asked to identify yourself and if there is anyone else in the house, you oblige instead of telling them "none of your damn business." They are not the White Devil out to get you. If you would have just cooperated in the first place, none of this would have happened and that is why you have now dropped any and all charges. It terrifies me to think about what would have happened had you not run into the wrong cop. He probably would have lost his job and you would have a huge case against the police department. Ah, but this is not that guy is it. An articulate police officer that actually teaches a course on racial profiling and has a spotless record. Oooops. Now do what is right for everyone and apologize for your boorish behavior and racism allegations.

And dear President Obama, keep your mouth shut until you have all the facts. Would your have said a word had it been a black cop arresting a white man? NO, you would not have. In the future, do what any President should do and keep your mouth shut and reserve judgement until you have all the facts.

Also, shame on you Massuchessetts Governor. No, it was not "every blackman's nightmare." It was every "white police officer's nightmare." In a just world, the cops are so put off by Gate's behavior that they just leave and then he returns to his residence only to find that there really has been a breakin and the intruders are still there and they aren't friendly. Now that would be a fucking nightmare for him.

Anyway, that is my rant for the day from a mixed Frenchman.

Here is a cut & paste my post from another thread from yesterday. Thought I'd admit it since TNC seems to think most with a conservative thought is only capable of cutting and pasting from some other source. I hope it is not poor internet etiquette.

Obama once again showed his inexperience (and immaturity) with his comments on the Gates ordeal. It reminded me of talk radio (all sides) that go off on things with few of the facts in hand. Wait til the shit hits the fan from the union (police). Probably already did since there was yet another "clarification" of what he meant. Surprised we haven't heard from Jackson or Sharpton yet. The president beat them to it.

He needs to remember every comment he makes has an enormous impact on the people of the United States.

I wasn't there and don't know the "facts", so I can't judge on the ordeal itself. All I do know is...if a cop came to my house to check on a possible burglary, I would be thrilled my neighbors and them are looking out for me. I would not start yelling them...IF that is what happened.

This doesn't make sense. Why would a cop make that stuff up? I'm sure he didn't think an old dude with a cane was burglarizing anyone. This "you don't know who I am" shit is rediculous...if that was said. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

However, once again here seems to be an example as to why I can't believe anyone is foolish/crazy enough to be a cop. Sgt. Crowley will forever in some minds be a racist...regardless of the facts. You kidding me? They put their life on the line every day and they are constantly dealing with second guessing and individuals/groups calling foul. I can't imagine having a day full of split second decisions that could have a lifetime impact on them, their family and those they are dealing with. I really feel for them. Hell...it takes me five minutes to decide whether to subject myself to the razor sharp knives on this board by posting a couple of opinions.

Uno_up wrote:In a just world, the cops are so put off by Gate's behavior that they just leave and then he returns to his residence only to find that there really has been a breakin ...

That would be too funny. Nice karma

Instead we have a media circus.

Looks like I was late to the game, Oprah had her girlfriend GKing on the case. Interview completed and broadcast.

Ah, the race baiting never stops. Thanks Bama!

Uno_up wrote: Would your have said a word had it been a black cop arresting a white man? NO, you would not have.

If asked about it a press conference, sure, why wouldn't he?
In fact, if the cop showed up at some gun-toting teabagger's house, the end result could've been a whole lot worse.

The_Noble_Cause wrote:

Uno_up wrote: Would your have said a word had it been a black cop arresting a white man? NO, you would not have.

If asked about it a press conference, sure, why wouldn't he?
In fact, if the cop showed up at some gun-toting teabagger's house, the end result could've been a whole lot worse.

Black cop + white prof scenario = not newsworthy in the present day; therefore, the question never arises.

Uno_up wrote:Black cop + white prof scenario = not newsworthy in the present day; therefore, the question never arises.

Chalk that up to the media, not Obama answering a question.

Well, in my big-boobied nappy-ass opinion…

Race "issues" in America, get outta here, really? Well, very rare indeed. Right, seriously....

Perhaps the educated Harvard professor was doing some kind of test or study without telling anyone including his friend President Obama to gage some sort of reaction. Then again, he is a posturing chowder-head Ivy leaguer and was probably being belligerent. When he should have – as some of you stated – been wiser and not riled the cop. We all know that when it comes to cops, black or white as Rick so eloquently shared, is not always the matter. Compliancy and calm should play a factor. (don't piss off no damn cops, ya'll!)

Obama and “stupid” Cambridge cops: I think what Obama needs to understand is we Americans expect him to not be biased. I believe cops are not trained to be compassionate in a situation, they are trained to be cautious and care what happens to them and perhaps to a civilian, but words like “stupid” to me are childish. "Tactless" or "careless” might have sufficed, or something. Or, perhaps Obama should have been more diplomatic until ALL the information was given and weighed in. A bit of decorum is expected of our leaders, I think anyway.

Prof. “Chowder-head” Gates: I think Americans have a sense of entitlement, even prisoners are known to say, “I’m not getting out of jail and working at McDonald for $7 an hour!” That to me is an American thing, a thing of privilege rich or poor. But the Prof. being a chowder-head and a minority one at that, either was being belligerent and posturing ‘cause he’s an educated man and from my experiences people like him can be rude and condescending. Or, maybe this was a stunt of some kind, a study, I don’t know. My question is, when the cop called in the report wouldn’t dispatch have had the man’s home address and phone number registered? All that dispatch had to do was inform the cop “yeap, it’s the old black guys house,” or whatever. And what about the man's neighbors? If he is so mad at white people why live in their neighborhood? Or, he moves there, puts out big signs stating whom he is with a big pix of him smiling and eating a slice of watermelon and crunchin' on some deep friend chicken...*snort* *snicker*, no sorry, that's not funny. "I lives here nah..." Bwahaha, tee, hee, *snort*. SORRY.

I think he could have let people know whom he is when he moved to a secluded or monitored area. Hell, he could have called the cops first and told them he got locked out, I don't know! I don’t buy into this race thing too much mainly ‘cause it is TOO convenient to distract us all from the big picture, economy; natural disasters and displacement; many of us losing our jobs; our own personal issues; hey, the war…’amember that?

Going to a meeting. Everyone have a great weekend, please. You all rawk, BTW. Lorrie

Obama probably wouldn't have said a word if Gates wasn't black.
Was Obama being racist by jumping into this? Was he just trying to appease his black supporters by showing interest?

Heard a news comment earlier today that said Obama has given more interviews & been on more tv, etc, in his first six months than any other President. I think a lot of people are getting tired of him being full of himself. He's not the smartest man in the world, and he's certainly not our supreme judge of all things.

Obama needs to keep his mouth shut.
We certainly don't need his input on everything.

(Just like you don't need mine. )


later~

MBPL wrote: he is a posturing chowder-head Ivy leaguer

The_Noble_Cause wrote:

Uno_up wrote:Black cop + white prof scenario = not newsworthy in the present day; therefore, the question never arises.

Chalk that up to the media, not Obama answering a question.

Both