Harvard Professor Arrested--Gates Black in America

[Morag]

Morag, do you see Professor Gates name in that statement? We were discussing "asserting one's rights" in general.

However, if Gates is capable of traveling overseas, getting on/off a motorcycle, I am more than sure he has the strength to lift his leg and kick.

Please share the name of the witness who has stated Mr. Gates tone was hoarse and subdued.

Gosh, I assumed that the reference to the racist rogue cop (quote magnolia...I don't understand the logic behind yelling, screaming, kicking, and calling a member of law enforcement "a racist rogue" cop in order to "assert one's rights" ) meant that you were talking about Gates in particular! My bad.

Here's a description of Dr. Gates' cycle- it's not a motorcycle:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/ma...3/friends_say_skip_gates_rides_no_high_horse/

Because Gates’s legs are of unequal length and he has had hip replacement surgery, the professor rides a big red-white-and-black tricycle dubbed the “Soul Mobile.’’ He greets passersby by ringing a little bell, also a handy warning that he’s approaching.

And here's a witness statement about the bronchitis:

The police report says I was engaged in loud and tumultuous behavior. That’s a joke. Because I have a severe bronchial infection which I contracted in China and for which I was treated and have a doctor’s report from the Peninsula hotel in Beijing. So I couldn’t have yelled. I can’t yell even today, I’m not fully cured.

Whatever may have happened on that Cambridge front porch, it is a fact that Dr. Gates is a smallish, handicapped man. And it is a fact that there has been/is racial profiling, whether it occurred in this case or not (probably not). And it is a fact that the reporting witness has said that her description of the SPs did not include the word black, and therefore Crowley was inaccurate in what he included in his police report.

I doubt that Crowley is a racist. I don't doubt that Gates was hoarsely berating him, even after having showed his ID. And I don't doubt that a policeman hates being dissed- so do I.

But I strongly doubt that anyone present when Dr. Gates was arrested was afraid or overly alarmed by what they were observing. Gates was arrested because he annoyed Crowley. The charges were dropped because they would not have stood up in court.

 

[Morag]

Aw Look who helped Gates down the stairs and look who did not.......

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/07/obamas_revealing_body_language.html


Crowley is a class act from what I can see.

It would have been simple for Obama to have helped the prof, and from what I've seen of him, he would have- but I think that the President deliberately made it possible for Crowley to help Gates. Regardless of what some may think of our Pres, he is a kind and thoughtful man. This made Crowley look better.

 

[Theonly1]

The news reported today that Gates sent some flowers to the witness who called into 911 to report a possible break-in. That was a good move, imo.

 

[Brwnigirl]

Would anyone be at all surprised to have Obama parlay this into the need for a national dialog program on Racism.

Not something that most of need, or want. We have enough on our minds at this juncture without having racism lectures foisted on us.

Religion, Race, do not belong in politics

I sure hope he parlays this into a worldwide discussion on Racism. He is the one person that I believe could do it and have something positive come out of it.

 

[mysterygirl]

It would have been simple for Obama to have helped the prof, and from what I've seen of him, he would have- but I think that the President deliberately made it possible for Crowley to help Gates. Regardless of what some may think of our Pres, he is a kind and thoughtful man. This made Crowley look better.

What makes you think it was deliberate? That is a sweet way to think of it but I think Crowley just helped him, no plan involved.

Crowley did not need to look better, he already looked good. Gates picked the worse cop on the force to accuse of racial profiling. I do like that Gates sent flowers though...it makes him seem a little nicer....

 

[angeleleven]

What makes you think it was deliberate? That is a sweet way to think of it but I think Crowley just helped him, no plan involved.

Crowley did not need to look better, he already looked good. Gates picked the worse cop on the force to accuse of racial profiling. I do like that Gates sent flowers though...it makes him seem a little nicer....

Well put, mysterygirl. First thing I read this morning and it put a big smile on my face.

 

[Morag]

What makes you think it was deliberate? That is a sweet way to think of it but I think Crowley just helped him, no plan involved.

Crowley did not need to look better, he already looked good. Gates picked the worse cop on the force to accuse of racial profiling. I do like that Gates sent flowers though...it makes him seem a little nicer....

Of course, it didn't have to be deliberate. But I can imagine Obama allowing it to happen, also. It was good for both men, image-wise and "hurt feelings"-wise, too. The beer summitt was a good idea.

 

[Marthatex]

Crowley didn't look necessarily better than anyone else involved:

"In his police report, Sgt. James Crowley portrayed Whalen as a racial profiler by saying she had told him that the two men at Gates's door were black. She denied it, and the audio tape of her original call backs her up: she had told the dispatcher (only when asked)that one of the men "looked kind of Hispanic" and that she couldn't see the other.

Yet Whalen, who was pilloried as a racist because of Crowley's report, received no apology and no White House invitation from Obama.

That's stupid behavior by both men" - SMALL BEER, BIG HANGOVER by Frank Rich, New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/opinion/02rich.html

 

[angelmom]

Crowley didn't look necessarily better than anyone else involved:

"In his police report, Sgt. James Crowley portrayed Whalen as a racial profiler by saying she had told him that the two men at Gates's door were black. She denied it, and the audio tape of her original call backs her up: she had told the dispatcher (only when asked)that one of the men "looked kind of Hispanic" and that she couldn't see the other.

Yet Whalen, who was pilloried as a racist because of Crowley's report, received no apology and no White House invitation from Obama.

That's stupid behavior by both men" - SMALL BEER, BIG HANGOVER by Frank Rich, New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/opinion/02rich.html

BBM. Why does this portray her as a racial profiler? Doesn't it just portray her as a witness giving a description? Both men were/are indeed black. Why does describing someone/something accurately make one a racist? (I can see how it might be unnecessary when describing an author or a job applicant, but for a police report? Critical information.)

This is the most ridiculous argument ever. I think we have established clearly that Crowley must have spoken with the original witness and believed he was talking to the 911 caller (who called on behalf of the witness). Whalen didn't even claim to have seen both men, while the original witness did.

This simple mistake has led many to assign all kinds of motives to Crowley, and prompted some to call both him and Whalen racist. But in my mind it shows me that they are willing to assign motives to them that don't hold up under the most basic logic, merely because it supports their own cause.

 

[Marthatex]

I was referring to the comment: "Crowley didn't need to look better, he already looked good".

They all made mistakes; and most have apologized or at least back-tracked and tried to make some amends.

If Whalen was very careful to say "looked kind of Hispanic" and didn't see the other very well, and then she became nationally known for the "mistake" - "two black men"; which wasn't what was said on the tape, as Crowley originally stated it -

it seems there could have been an apology from someone about the misunderstanding.

It was a big mess; but I don't think anyone looked particular "stellar", and not anyone more than the other.

 

[mysterygirl]

Let's see we have Crowley responding to a call doing his job.

We have an incorrect assumption of racial profiling by Gates who then acted like an irrational jerk.

Then we have Obama ....probably planting a question to be asked and responding in an uninformed sophmoric way at a national press conference.....very presidential. Followed by a non apology and photo op. beer summit for damage control.

Yep...Crowley does look stellar.

 

[Liz]

What makes you think it was deliberate? That is a sweet way to think of it but I think Crowley just helped him, no plan involved.

Crowley did not need to look better, he already looked good. Gates picked the worse cop on the force to accuse of racial profiling. I do like that Gates sent flowers though...it makes him seem a little nicer....

I agree that there was no plan. I also agree that Crowley already appeared to be a stellar individual and police officer.

My personal opinion on the flowers that Gates ordered to be delivered to Lucia Whalen (a full ten days after her 9-1-1 call) - totally self-serving.

IMO, he did it to make himself look better. He should probably send her flowers monthly, for the national publicity he received (for his new documentary and another one he plans to make in the future) from her placing that call.

JMO.

 

[mysterygirl]

I agree that there was no plan. I also agree that Crowley already appeared to be a stellar individual and police officer.

My personal opinion on the flowers that Gates ordered to be delivered to Lucia Whalen (a full ten days after her 9-1-1 call) - totally self-serving.

IMO, he did it to make himself look better. He should probably send her flowers monthly, for the national publicity he received (for his new documentary and another one he plans to make in the future) from her placing that call.

JMO.

I thought of that also, but at least he did it. If Obama was so thoughtful as to let Crowley look good crazy he sure did not worry about that at the national press conference!

 

[Marthatex]

Let's see we have Crowley responding to a call doing his job.

We have an incorrect assumption of racial profiling by Gates who then acted like an irrational jerk.

Then we have Obama ....probably planting a question to be asked and responding in an uninformed sophmoric way at a national press conference.....very presidential. Followed by a non apology and photo op. beer summit for damage control.

Yep...Crowley does look stellar.

If the statements highlighted were accurate, maybe.

Many legal experts do not agree that Gates should have been arrested for trying to get in his OWN HOME once that fact was realized. The police could have handled it differently.

I certainly am not an apologist for Gates either, who could have acted better for sure.

As for Obama, he was asked a question - "what role race played" in the incident. He said that "separate and apart from this incident" there is a "long history" of "African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcing disproportionately". If anything, Obama is too honest (I guess that's why most Presidents are evasive or disengenuous) I'm sure Obama will learn, especially when it comes to the heightened "frenzy" and strawman issues regarding race these days.

Then he made the mistake of saying the police " ACTED stupidly" in arresting him, not to mention shackling "somebody when they were in their own home." Obama is a constitutional attorney and teacher, so I would imagine this was his legal opinion at the time. He admitted later that he might should have reserved judgment, or some such. I saw the press conference that night, and that was the tiredest I've ever seen him. He was extremely tired from traveling and very irritated about the health care quagmire. The press conf. was supposed to be about healthcare, but he answered someone's OFF SUBJECT QUESTION.

"If Obama had really wanted to go for the jugular, he might have added that the police may have overstepped the law as well." - Frank Rich article, NYT

But he didn't, so, as usual, everyone against Obama jumped on his statements.

I agree with JBean and others who have pointed out that ALL were at fault in some way - the only "stellar" one is Ms Whalen who called 911; being a good citizen. IMO

 

[angeleleven]

That was not the reason Gates was arrested....for trying to get in his house. He did not arrest him for going into his house. That's ridiculous.

 

[Marthatex]

Who said that? You must have misread.

 

[lightwaveryder]

i was under the impression that he was arrested for behaving loudly and rudely to the police, which here in phx, if you are white, black, red, blue, green or plaid, will get you arrested every time.

this issue was WAAAAY blown out of proportion. how many black people in prison wish that obama would invite the arresting officer over to the white house for a beer to talk about racial profiling. in my opinion, obama just got knocked down a peg or two for even commenting on a local police matter.

im sure there will be a reality tv series about this, maybe a tv movie. sheesh.

i had a friend who was black, and he in his past had criminal activity, and he said point blank, the white cops were always nicer to him than black or hispanic cops. it's part of our culture now, i seriously doubt the officer arrested him for his color.


on with the show

~lightwaveryder~

 

[Nova]

Crowley didn't look necessarily better than anyone else involved:

"In his police report, Sgt. James Crowley portrayed Whalen as a racial profiler by saying she had told him that the two men at Gates's door were black. She denied it, and the audio tape of her original call backs her up: she had told the dispatcher (only when asked)that one of the men "looked kind of Hispanic" and that she couldn't see the other.

Yet Whalen, who was pilloried as a racist because of Crowley's report, received no apology and no White House invitation from Obama.

That's stupid behavior by both men" - SMALL BEER, BIG HANGOVER by Frank Rich, New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/opinion/02rich.html

That Rich column is simply fantastic, Martha! The "thank you" button didn't seem adequate.

 

[gaia227]

You know - at least when Obama doesn't have all the facts when he asked about something at a press conference he admits it and then goes into an articulate, intelligent response based on what he does know. I know we are not use to this kind of behavior by a president in this country but don't worry I am sure we will all get used to it.

 

[Morag]

You know - at least when Obama doesn't have all the facts when he asked about something at a press conference he admits it and then goes into an articulate, intelligent response based on what he does know. I know we are not use to this kind of behavior by a president in this country but don't worry I am sure we will all get used to it.

Obama is always said to be 'cool' in style and manner. I was glad to see him respond to this one with a little heat. Any black adult male has either been profiled, or knows someone who has been, or fears that he or his sons will be. And even though this doesn't actually seem to have been a case of profiling, the look on Gates' face says it all: I can't believe it! I've always feared it! And now it has happened to me!

As a whole, I find this episode to have been good for our national conversation. Most people took a measured view of what had happened, many agreed that there was fault on both sides, and except for a few nutjobs on both sides, racially-charged talk was avoided. Most people are able to understand Gates' fears and anger (and later, his genial acceptance), as well as Crowley's frustration with being challenged. It's unlikely Gates will sue, although I would expect that he will write about it in a measured manner. But the real question is- will they attend a ball game together?