Cambridge sergeant declines to criticize Obama

[TacticalPeek]

Source: Boston Globe


July 23, 2009 11:34 AM

By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

Cambridge police Sergeant James Crowley declined today to criticize President Obama for saying Wednesday night that police "acted stupidly" in the arrest last week of Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr., but he did say it was "regrettable" that anyone would speak without knowing the "whole story" of the confrontation a week ago at Gates's home near Harvard Square

Speaking at length this morning on the Dennis & Callahan show on WEEI radio in Boston, Crowley maintained that "I know what I did was right." When the hosts asserted, however, that "professor Gates and the President of the United States owe you an apology," Crowley refused to bite.

"The president has a lot of other daunting tasks ahead of him," Crowley said. "I wish for the good of the whole country that he is successful in efforts to do the many things that he has to."

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/07/cambridge_sgt_d.html

[tk2kewl]

1. Good for him.

nt

[BlooInBloo]

2. On advice of counsel?

[Tesha]

16. Without a doubt! (NT)

[ananda]

3. Smarmy, huh?

ick

[Schema Thing]

7. I've heard much worse.

[MercutioATC]

4. Interesting.

If the sequence of events was as Crowley states, I certainly don't see any basis for a racism claim...and the arrest might have been justified (though it may still have been better to simply walk away).

Crowley's statement IS consistent with police procedure...and by Gates' own statement, he felt that he was "in danger" as soon as Crowley asked him to step outside the house.

I'd like to see Gates' response to Crowley's version of events.

[countingbluecars]

5. Doesn't sound like he declined

to criticize to me.

[Bumblebee]

6. Somewhere else he stated he supports the Pres 110%

He is not acting like he wants to give gratification and ammunition to Obama's critics, as they hoped he would. Probably even voted for Obama. I think Obama should give him a call :-)

[No Elephants]

22. The article says the Sarge said he did not vote for Obama.

[TheCowsCameHome]

8. That's good.

[tomm2thumbs]

9. bottom line- when the President says 'I don't know the facts' but then says 'police acted stupidly'

he set himself up for the fallout, right or wrong. I'm sure his statement will be re-worked by Gibbs at today's Press Briefing but he would probably have chosen his words differently had he been given the chance ahead of time... which we never are unfortunately. 'Stupid' or 'Stupidly' are strong words to throw out when someone says they don't know what happened in the first place. That is my only beef with his statement. I'm sure as a lawyer, he would have rather started that out with: 'if this played out like I imagine it might have...' then he'd have been clear.

[bertman]

10. thank you tomm2thumbs. I agree 100%.

[timeforpeace]

11. Me too. There's no upside to this.

[TheCowsCameHome]

14. This isn't doing anyone any good.

Frankly, I'm disappointed that Obama commented at all.

[tomm2thumbs]

17. especially when the focus is off health care again - not what he wants

it'll pass but timing was terrible

[TheCowsCameHome]

18. Exactly. The whole presser boiled down to nothing.

[Dappleganger]

23. Me too.

There are bigger fish to fry and plenty of other well-qualified people who could have stood behind Gates (and Gates is MORE than qualified in his own right).

Personally, I don't think it's the President's role to make comments on issues like that because it will distract from this health care business and federal issues.

[MUAD_DIB]

13. To be honest, Obama even said he may be biased.

This is a PRObama endorsement. Give the man a break.

[itsrobert]

12. Maybe Obama should invite both parties to the White House and have a civil discussion

As long a both parties agree to keep it civil. Later, after some healing has occurred, Obama could lead a townhall discussion in Cambridge.

[polmaven]

19. The Mayor of Cambridge

is going to have that discussion. The President should NOT get involved in this. I needs to be worked out locally!

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/20155163/detail.html

[itsrobert]

20. Maybe, but it is a National issue

like it or not.

[polmaven]

21. It is an issue

on interset nationally....yes....but that is different from being an issue in which the president should be involved.

[itsrobert]

24. itsrobert, you are a smart person

Don't listen to these other naysayers. You have perfect political intuition.

[Mr. Sparkle]

15. The show he was on has a history of right wing Controversies

Most of their wiki page is full of them ..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_and_Callahan