Gibbs: Media 'obsessions' prolonging Gates story

If only the man could think before he speaks, he could have avoided it all together. But alas we have an IDIOT ruining this great country...

It's time we equip our police with wearable video cameras. This whole issue would be a non-issue if we could review exactly what happened.

We have the technology.

Whether or not the police acted stupidly may be seen in the charges being dropped. I don't know I'd blame the media for the attention this teeny tiny part of the evening is getting, my guess is Obama did the job in explaining healthcare insurance. Maybe the fact that republicans talk about anything but that is actually good news.

Obama's arrogance and false promises of CHANGE is been very disappointing already and for him to even comment on a civil manner just because it involved an African-American scholar goes to show how out of line he was. I seriously doubt if Gates was that of another race he wouldn't have said anything. Its sad that we all now have to feel less favored than others if were not "Obamanatics". He's supposed to be supportive of Peace Officers and understand what they go through everyday dealing with loud ass people and unruly behavior. I don't like cops anymore than the average Joe but this cop must feel really bad to have the President talk down on him without knowing the facts. If its true that Gates said something about the cop's mom in anger than that shows how unruly even a scholar can be.

President Obama said what Blacks and Hispanics already know: That law enforcement generally view them as probable lawbreakers, rather than law-abiding citizens. Whereas most Whites are given the "benefit of the doubt", many Blacks and Hispanics are suspects until confirmed otherwise. Because it isn't your reality, doesn't mean it isn't for others. Obama touched the "third rail" and now that's all that matters. This provides an opportunity for Obama detractors to sidetrack the 'Health Care' issue. America, don't fall for the distraction! It's a classic GOP tactic. You're going to have to do better than that!

Mr. President:

It is NOT the media's "obsessions" keeping alive your slanderous comment, it is your stupidity. Now, do the right thing and issue a FULL APOLOGYto Sgt. Crowley and the Cambridge Police Department.

Anything less is UNACCEPTABLE.

BO was the one who seemed obsessed with the situation when he thought the police were bullying a black man and made his comment. Now he says the media is obsessed and he wishes it would go away. Nay Mr. President, this needs to languish for a while. If it leads to that, you need to comment on how stupid your comment was when you apologize to Sgt. Crowley and the Cambridge Police Department for it.

Thank you very much Jay!!!!!!!!!

I was going to make a very similar response as to,how an administration that now wants' to pick and choose what publicity it gets'...

Interesting to see the media is now starting to come out of the warm confines of their unabashed love affair with the Obama administration......interesting indeed

Hey I have a question about CNN, what does it say that it is okay to have a show about Black in America? I am asking seriously.... If some white group did that they are raciest. but a prime show about black. The divide is getting to be a huge problem.

If we are to move forward as a country should we keep up this crap and stand for it?

I vote NO!!!

Hey I have a question about CNN, what does it say that it is okay to have a show about Black in America?

There is nothing keeping you from doing a show about white people, however, 95% of the shows are already about white America.

The chip on your shoulder is showing.

Bingo, Jay!

, what does it say that it is okay to have a show about Black in America?

I had the same thought. It is irresponsible to fan the flame. and they certainly lost no in doing so.

We have Black History Month, Black Entertainment Television and worst of all, The Black Caucus. What? Are there no whites, Asians, Hispanics or any other designation you care to name, in the districts/states those members are sworn (purported) to represent?

If you choose to segregate yourself and perpetuate your grievance mentality to each succeeding generation then the problem will must assuredly continue. It doesn't help to have a President who also fans the flames, but it is to be expected from one who spent 20 years listening to Jeremiah Wright.

As to the besotted media, I think that maybe, just maybe they will realize that they have created a monster and as Dr. Frankenstein would be the first to tell them - monsters cannot be controlled.

CC,

it was a question, and thanks for showing your rude side creep

Right you are, Kate! That's why this July, CNN continues its investigation of the most challenging issues facing Anglo-Americans with "White in America." Soledad O'Brien reports on people who are using ground-breaking solutions to transform the White experience.

Perhaps this long-awaited documentary will help other races begin to understand the complex, multi-dimensional plight of the white.

"My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing..." Come on, you all know the words!

A neighbor reported a potential break-in in progress. In that neighborhood, there have been nine daytime front-door break-ins just in the first quarter of this year.

Should the police officer have left without verifying Gates identity and address?

Nine daytime, front-door break-ins reported in the neighborhood in the first quarter of 2009; Gates' own door damaged by a previous, possible break-in attempt, according to the police report.

Boston Herald (link)

Seriously mate, give it up.

Mark,

Gates wasn't arrested for no reason. He was screaming racist remarks to the police officer. Gates like Obama feel that as black men they can push a white cop around. I think he guessed wrong. He was detained for Disorderly Conduct as well he should have. You don't challenge a cop whether you are white black or green

My 3.2 post was to Mark.

he wasn't screaming racist remarks..he was screaming the cop was a racist. Everyone is entitled to their opinion....except Obama and gates.

Regardless I think this whole situation is stupid...stupid on the professors part and stupid on the cops part. They both acted 'stupidly'. END OF STORY!

AM, you forgot STUPID on the Prez for sticking his head into something he should not have...

True AMphoto, but who's life do you think is going to be absolutely destroyed by this ? I can bet ya it isn't going to be Gates. Now the reputation of the entire police force has been compromised within their community and we can thank Obama for that.

I really don't think his life is going to be destroyed by this. It is one claim against him. He has the support of his community and department, this will be a small bump in the road. Obama did not create this mess, Crowley and Gates did. Obama was asked a question and gave his opinion..was that poor judgement? I'd agree with that, but I don't think he is to blame for what happens to Crowley.

EJCanavan--

It won't just be that community.

I think the reputation nation wide of the Police forces have probably been compromised by this. If it was just Gates running his mouth off fine we could chalk it up to a ego, as I am doing that more than race.

But since Obama had to say something, sans knowing the facts, HE opened the racial issue even wider. That doesn't sit well since he is the first half black president and white people did vote for him. Now our President opens the race issue. Not good.

Sgt. Crowley is fine. He has the support of his superiors and a good number of fraternal police organizations throughout the country. He has already said he will not apologize, and I doubt Prof. Gates will sue, despite the noisy threats being made.

Now the Cambridge P.D. is trying to elicit an apology from the President. They, like Gates, will not get one. Mr. Obama was goaded at his press conference, stepped into a trap, and is being castigated for being frank and supporting his friend. It's time for this distraction to go away.

No lawsuit, and NO apologies. Prof. Gates will have to take this one on the arm.

I think the reputation nation wide of the Police forces have probably been compromised by this.

No they do just fine on their own. Remember the trooper and the Ambulance driver in Oklahoma? There are many stories of blacks being targeted by cops for many many years. If your white you cannot possibly know.

The Cop has to be in the wrong, Gates is black

George Spring, TX--

Damn silly me I forgot about that little factoid.

Tsk tsk on me. LOL

Crowley has been all over the media saying he did nothing wrong. He has had his say too.

Kim-298921--

I never said he wasn't or hasn't, but this message came from the esteemed all might White House press mouthpiece. Pandora's Box has been opened enough here, it won't go away for a wee bit.

Fred,

Obama first represents people of color, then his political hacks from Chicago, then the Unions, then the democrats, THEN the rest of America

OMG!! well said George

Wonder why Obama didn't just come out and say what's on his mind? "Whitey screwed up."

...poor kim, you've clearly missed the point....(laughing)

Sh!ts deep in here!!! jezzzz can't we all get along?!?!?!

if they want it to go away then stop talking about it, They have a great staff up in the white house;-}

That's it Kimmy attak where it hurts, call out white guy work on the guilt. We libs know that guilt is a gift that keeps on giving. Heck in our world even when they mean no harm we can still twist it into something that is harmful. Go for guilt jugular wow! That is some crazy lib stuff there. You are a true lib warrior sqwak-sqwak-sqwak!

TurkNugget:

I'm a bigot?

What do you base that on? Who am I bigoted against?

I look forward to your answers.

Abutt:

Sounds like you have nothing to contribute to this discussion.

I think I don't need to 'insinuate', 'infer' or anything if someone says that a black man looks 'arrogant' to them.

Also, no comment on the insulting remarks thrown my way, Tyler? The ones that call me a bigot and a troll?

Objectivity? Neutrality? You could PRETEND to have those toward me, maybe?

if someone says that a black man looks 'arrogant' to them.

Arrogance is color blind. Coming to a conclusion based upon someones actions and demeanor is hardly racist.

Kim:

You are right - Tyler - you should have addressed the comments calling Kim a troll and a bigot - if her comments have been deleted then so should those attacking her.

I call em like I see em and Tyler this looks biased and unfair.

So you do this all the time? Yell at cops that is ... And they just turn their back and let you make an a$$ of yourself without asking you to calm down or refrain from the belligerent activity?

Or do you do like a majority of of people and respect them for the job they are doing and work them respectfully to resolve the situation so that both of you can move on about your business?

Gates was being a jerk and a crowd was gathering. Yes, they could have left, and maybe should have, but the action they took was not unwarranted nor extreme.

President Obama is as much to blame for the continuation of this story as anyone. He made a racially divisive comment that he shouldn't have and doesn't have enough humility to admit he made a mistake.

He made a racially divisive comment that he shouldn't have and doesn't have enough humility to admit he made a mistake.

Dave, the Sgt. Crowley acted incredibly stupidly; they arrested someone in their own home for yelling. If a cop started bullying me in my home, I'd start yelling, too.

Or do you do like a majority of of people and respect them for the job they are doing and work them respectfully to resolve the situation so that both of you can move on about your business?

Are you running for office or something? I do not trust the police as a whole, and this situation is yet another example of why. How can we trust the police when they would readily arrest us for nothing?

And you would probably go to jail and your ticket would not be dismissed. If cops are called for a break-in and then ask you to identify yourself that doesn't strike me as unreasonable. The police did not escalate this, Gates did and he was the one spewing racial slurs and yelling about being asked a question. And honestly, his actions didn't warrant a great deal of respect in return. Sorry for you More than Happy that you hate and distrust the police. Perhaps you should work with your local authorities to better the force in you area. Or go live where there are no police to protect you. How many cops do you suppose are shot in the line of duty, just asking someone a question? He was arrested for disorderly conduct, not nothing.

Dave, the Sgt. Crowley acted incredibly stupidly; they arrested someone in their own home for yelling.

From all accounts that I've seen, the officer simply did his job to ascertain that Gates actually did live there. Nothing more. Nothing less. Unless you are willing to have your local police accept the word of a possible burglar, the officer was doing the same that you should expect from a cop if they were investigating a possible break in at your home.

Gates didn't provide him an ID (his college ID wouldn't have an address on it) that would confirm his address. The cop, using the information he had was able to confirm that it was in fact his home and apparently was satisfied and willing to leave the situation. But Mr. Gates continued his unprovoked verbal attack/assault on the officer even after they had proceeded outside and the officer had asked him to quit and had warned him of the potential of arrest.

If a cop started bullying me in my home, I'd start yelling, too.

Good luck with that. Don't call me needing bail money.

How can we trust the police when they would readily arrest us for nothing?

Would agree had it been "nothing". Persistent public disorderly conduct elevated to a degree that a crowd of onlookers begins to congregate typically doesn't get classified as "nothing".

If cops are called for a break-in and then ask you to identify yourself that doesn't strike me as unreasonable.

And he did identify himself, and it proved his residence. He wasn't arrested for breaking and entering!

Sorry for you More than Happy that you hate and distrust the police.

Oh, are you a victim in this too? It's incidents like these that show that police cannot be trusted in general; if they're cornered, they'll just make stuff up.

Good luck with that. Don't call me needing bail money.

It's called the 1st Amendment.

Persistent public disorderly conduct elevated to a degree that a crowd of onlookers begins to congregate typically doesn't get classified as "nothing".

Onlooking and yelling are not crimes! The officer had the ID, he should have just walked away, but he wanted to prove a point.

Happy (Not having seen your ID, you could be Dopey, Grumpy or Sneezey for all we know),

Someone made a very pertinent point on another thread regarding this that you obviously haven't taken into consideration. Due to the wave of foreclosures, just having the address on your ID isn't proof you are authorized to be there. That has implications for all of us which means it would behoove us to cooperate with law enforcement officers if we find ourselves in a similar situation.

Due to the wave of foreclosures, just having the address on your ID isn't proof you are authorized to be there.

He wasn't arrested for breaking and entering, he was arrested for yelling. I don't know what magical utopia you live in where you can trust the government, but this isn't it.

It's called the 1st Amendment.

Yes it is. But it still has to be done with respect. Gates was verbally abusive toward the officer. That's not a 1st Amendment right.

yelling are not crimes!

It is a crime when it is not down peacefully and/or with intent to assault or provoke another individual.

he was arrested for yelling.

He was not arrested for "yelling". Yelling is not a crime.

That is why the Prez has a staff, to stop him from becoming an ass and doing STUPID things like this.. but he has a POOR staff to work with, friends and all that, they can't handle the BIG STAGE...

Even some whites think the cop was wrong... what's your point?

takes one to know one, stupid is as stupid does.

hey i meant that not excluding myself...we all have no idea what happened, yet talk about it like we do.

Come on that was funny:-}

haha it was it was

Shirley, someone was arrested in their own home for yelling... what other facts need to be known?

Shirley, surly you are not reading my post...

try again; oh wait, can I get a do-over

Well, the cops were called to investigate a break-in. When they ask the man inside who he is I think it is fair for them to expect a civil answer. That did not happen. I will reiterate, if your local cops are called to your home by a concerned citizen they are rather obligated to find out who indeed is inside. That is what these cops were trying to do. Had nothing to do with race. And truly, if you are a smart person you would be wise to not start screaming at a cop and refusing their requests to step outside and provide proper ID. He didn't flash him an ID. He told him who he was. By all accounts, the cop told Gates his name more than once, at his request. Gates' behavior is what escalated this to disorderly conduct.

Obama himself is keeping this alive. Just SHUT UP! But no, he has to keep making excuses and retelling us in different ways that the officers still acted "stupidly". How bout the Prez is acting stupidly? He needs to just say, I am sorry I made a mistake and it "was a boneheaded thing to do", as he has said so many times, but he can't, he can't do it becasue that'll anger too many people of color so he keeps straddling the fence. Brilliant!

BTW, how did this reporter even get to ask such a question? Aren't they all scripted beforehand?

Just SHUT UP!

Two levels of escalation to this story.

1. Had Gates "Just SHUT UP!" it would have never hit the media in the first place.
2. Had Obama "Just SHUT UP!" when asked the question Tuesday night, we wouldn't be talking about it three days later.

Gates and Obama are the only two people making what should have been a "non story" the biggest racial discussion in decades. And at who's expense? Black Americans in my opinion.

I agree, but it's going to be difficult to do that now that the entire world realizes our President is a racist pig....

hate to break it to you, carolg, but this is on all of the networks. The "professional networks" have been doing the president's bidding (like the day long healthcare infomercial last month) since before the election, and the easy softball questions at every presser,... how this tripped him up, I do not know...wait, yes I do, if you think about it long enough, I think you'll get it too. [Jeremiah Wright: hint, hint]

Well said!!!!!!!

I completely CO-SIGN!! Couldnt have said it better myself =-)

I wish it really were that simple....

Real Talk,

If you are looking for an administration looking to protect the Constitution, you elected the wrong guy. Obama is slowly implementing a Police State with every new program he puts in front of the American people.

The real issue to this issue is the president chose to support and defend a person of color (his words) before he even knew what the facts were. The fact is under the same circumstances Gates would have been charged the same if he were white, red or green. He (Gates) was the one that escalated the situation with the white police officer.

This whole back peddle today at the news briefing was Obama trying to say sorry without actually saying it

kifagi,

I have an honest question and I'm not baiting or anything else, please accept this with an open mind.

What exactly is Racial Profiling?

A robbery is reported. An eye witness says it was a young black guy in a white tee shirt and low hanging pants with his underware showing.

A patrol cop drives past a neighborhood park and sees three black youths in the park. One youth had a red tee shirt and shorts and the other two had a white tee shirt and low pants with his underware showing.

Is it Racial Profiling if the cop stops the two with white tee shirts knowing full well that one or both may be Innocent?

How is Racial Profiling even relevant in this case as the initial report was someone trying to break into a house?