Obama: "Crowley is a fine police officer and a good man"

[Political Heretic]

I'm assuming everyone agrees with that, since Obama said it, and now wants to take back all of their comments?

:shrug:

[eShirl]

1. Obama is a fine president and a good man. n/t

[CakeGrrl]

82. +1. Countdown to

an "Obama circle jerk" outburst in...

:rofl:

[Arkana]

2. I saw Crowley on my local CBS affiliate the other night.

He looked and sounded like a prick. I don't think he's a racist, I think he's just an egotistical cop.

[Divine Discontent]

6. ding ding ding...

[HardWorkingDem]

10. Let me ask you this.....

for a second, let's say Crowley is truly a die hard liberal who has never exhibited any signs of racism or discrimination in his life. All of sudden, he gets tossed in a huge controversy and is now being accused of being the biggest turd since Hitler.

If this were you, would you apologize? You would not be angry for being accused of something you are not? Would you not defend yourself?

Or would you just put the tail between your legs and shut up?

[Arkana]

13. I'd at least acknowledge what it looked like

and concede that perhaps I shouldn't have arrested Gates in his own home even AFTER he proved he was the occupant of the home.

[falcon97]

38. EXACTLY.

:yourock:

[HardWorkingDem]

40. So far, according to the only records...

he did not arrest Gates "in" his home. It was on his porch after being followed out of the house under further verbal accusations. But that is beside the point...

I should have made my point clearer I was asking about all of this after the fact - that in the days following, Crowley has refused to apologize and this is the time frame I'm talking about.

[MADem]

48. Your covered, sheltered wrap around porch is not part of your "home?" Who knew? nt

[RaleighNCDUer]

44. Sorry -

If he truly WAS "a die hard liberal who has never exhibited any signs of racism or discrimination in his life" this incident would have never happened.

[HardWorkingDem]

51. And if Gates...

had not acted like a petulant person, this incident never would have happened...

[Cha]

84. Exactly..it's a stupid

hypothesis.

[MADem]

46. Here--have a look at this guy, who said that Gates was "irrational"

http://wbztv.com/video/?id=[e-mail]

What he says about Obama: "I didn't vote for him....he's way off base."

I don't think he's a die-hard liberal. I don't think he's been proven to be a racist, either. He's certainly a cocky sort, though, who has judgment challenges. I think that's been proven by his conduct dealing with the professor, and by this interview.

[xultar]

22. That is what I was trying to say yesterday and I got ripped to shreds with all the rabid BS.

The cop got angry because he was called a racist and wasn't. Shit from there got out of hand.

I know how he felt because I've been called on the carpet for doing something @ DU that people thought wasn't sensitve to the GLBT community. It hurt and I got angry as hell.

It seems that DU isn't immune to the rabid ground swell effect...where people just lose their dang minds. Which in my opinon is just like how the cop acted in the moment...he lost his dang mind. I think Gates lost his mind too. Bruvas need to survive the encounter where cops are concerned.

What if there had been people upstairs in his house that he didn't know about and after to cops and the driver left Gates was attacked and have gotten his ass kicked or killed? Then he'd have been bitchin that the police wouldn't protect a black man.

[RaleighNCDUer]

45. And what if Kim Jong Il had targetted his house with a nuclear weapon?

That would have REALLY sucked.

wtf?

[cabbage65]

70. Just who are the racists?

Oh yeah that would've been a lot more likely than a robber actually being there...?? It's not like the neighborhood hadn't been recently burglarized, including Gates' house, which was why he had to break in in the first place... The point is those who look at the world with racial overtones (yeah, racists) would not let the cop win either way. These people, both black and white, don't want resolution, they thrive on discord. Or more sadly, they refuse to have hope. Martin Luther King had a lot of hope, which is why he was inspiring. Believe it or not, it's possible to NOT hate either of these people. It's possible to just say (and perhaps pray) 'I hope it works out between them for everyone's sake.'

[cabbage65]

Exactly!

Some people immediately look at the racial aspect of any situation and pounce on any iota to attempt to prove they have a right to be angry. It's embarrassing to all races.

[goclark]

76. I see your point xultar

Everyone involved needed to settle down but they didn't.

Stuff happens.

I hope that this, like the incident in PA, will be a "Teachable Moment" for America.

We can all take one side or the other but that doesn't help anything.

How do we bring light to the problem that still exists in America ~ RACISM?

I have been the only AA in so many "sensitivity sessions" on Racism I can't even count them. The problem is that when you try to explain what it feels like to YOU, either some are silent or some really try to understand and still can't do it because they have not LIVED it.

So ~ I finally learned that until someone has really lived in the AA Community and felt the pain of Racism -- most don't "get it."

Example: I was in a high end store in Michigan and when the clerk was writing my address to send my purchase to my home, she looked at me and said,very nicely," that's Detroit and what is your zip code?"

When I told her I lived about a mile from the classy store, she stared at me as if that could not be possible.

I really couldn't imagine that in 2000 someone working at Nordstrom's would not understand that all Black people in Michigan didn't live in Detroit.

I wasn't angry, just amazed and she was not trying to be a Racist IMO. However, even in this Century it can be like White and Black are two separate planets.

I hope that "Black/White Police and Black President and Black Professor can sit down together at the table of Brotherhood."

I have a Dream today.

[xultar]

85. I have that same dream. Love and peace to you and all our aa bruvas and sistahs...

Oh. And i went to Albion. I was a member of the black student alliance.
We gotta talk.

[goclark]

86. Great!

[krawhitham]

49. not a racist but a prick

It is not that he feels black people are second class citizens, just all people not named James Crowley are second class citizens


A lot of cops have that issue

[cabbage65]

71. Crowley teaches against racial profiling!

You don't even know him. Did you know he has been teaching for 5 years on how to erase racial profiling? What sort of egoist would bother doing that? Very ignorant comment on your part.

[Raineyb]

87. I suspect that he's not a very good teacher.

Clearly he hasn't learned the lessons himself.

[Blue_Roses]

58. bingo!

[cabbage65]

64. You sound like one, by using that word. nt

[Arkana]

80. What word? Prick?

Prick. Prick prick prick. Pricky prick prickety prick prick.

[berniebern]

88. I think trying to save Reggie Lewis' life wasn't egotistical

I would need more evidence to call someone egotistical.

[Rebubula]

3. NO!

He is a racist....most people here said so.

:sarcasm:

[LaurenG]

4. Whatever!

[Divine Discontent]

5. but he didn't say that Crowley didn't overreact by letting his feelings get hurt so much by

Gates irate response to being questioned in his own home, that he arrested him? Didn't think so.

His actions don't mean he's necessarily a racist, in fact, supported facts say he's not (attempt to save Reggie Lewis 15 years ago with mouth-to-mouth), but what they do show me is that he's a standard cop who arrests anyone for yelling at him...


I don't think those kind of cops are very humble. They are too proud and they should understand the situation they're in - for example - an aged cane-wielding black man taking great offense to being accused in his own home of being a burglar.

[Political Heretic]

14. Neither have I. But he didn't call him a "racist shitbag" as has been said here.

[Divine Discontent]

30. I think P.O. was making peace, or trying. 2nd, he said the arrest was stupid, and about the DUers

those comments were around I suppose, I didn't see them, but I know he was referenced as racist, but in such a large group, you're going to have a few people, especially ones that are the same color/sexuality/age etc. as the person being wronged say some very heated comments because they feel they are being attacked (sorta how the cops said that Obama was a disgrace as "commander in chief").

[5thGenDemocrat]

89. I heard on, I think, Countdown tonight

That, as things started to heat up, Crowley suggested they step outside to discuss it further.
Now, when you think about it, that could be interpreted one of two ways: (a) that a calm, rational discourse might best be done in some fresh air, outside of a confined space or (b) exactly what it usually means between two guys having a argument when one says "step outside."
This wasn't handled well on either side. But I'd blame poor communications over racism. As the old saying goes "Never attribute to malice that which can be explained through simple stupidity."
John
I don't know if Crowley is a racist. And I don't know that Gates isn't. I would say, though, that this wasn't either one's finest moment.

[MADem]

7. He acted stupidly when he arrested the professor.

Eliiot Spitzer was likely a fine governor and a good man, too....except for his priceless fuckups.

I'm assuming you must think people are one dimensional?

[xultar]

24. 100% correct.

[Political Heretic]

29. Here at DU? Yes, I think a majority of DUers post (thus "act") one-dimensionally.

:shrug:

[katsy]

8. The President is a fine man.

I'm not a nice person. Crowley is a maggot.

[Name removed]

72. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jefferson_dem]

9. Is this really necessary?

Let it go.

[Political Heretic]

15. I believe it is, yes.

[bluestateguy]

11. Good men who are good at their jobs can make stupid mistakes too

It's not inconsistent at all.

FDR did some stupid things in office too.

[Political Heretic]

16. You're saying that Obama made a stupid mistake?

[bluestateguy]

26. No, I said the cop made a stupid mistake

Geez

[Political Heretic]

33. I wasn't sure with the FDR reference. Gotcha.

[Divine Discontent]

34. never mind

[Arkana]

20. *cough* court packing plan *cough*

[BlooInBloo]

12. Breaking: Presidents have more need to be diplomatic than private citizens....

In other news, water is wet.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

17. And as diplomatic as he was, he STILL said it was an overreaction.

[Political Heretic]

19. It's not about diplomatic. "good man" and "racist shitbag" are incompatiable with each other.

So... if you're saying one, you can't be saying any form of the other - whether diplomatic or not.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

23. Well, if the president called the guy a racist shitbag, then I could see the contradiction.

But Obama didn't call him that.

Otherwise I'd assume that DUers disagree with Obama.

[Political Heretic]

25. Really? DUers disagree with Obama? I'd like to get those saying "racist shitbag" on the record

on that one.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

28. Meh, I didn't call him that. I called his friend who was mischaracterizing Obama's comments

(implying Obama called Crowley stupid, rather than his actions stupid)an asshole. And I stand by those comments, although Obama would surely disagree with me. I also think the fuckwad that said Obama is a disgrace is an asshole. And I stand by that comment. Again, Obama would no doubt disagree with me.

[Raschel]

62. Yep. And I'm sure it's all being politically finessed by advisors, etc.

[jberryhill]

18. It's Impossible For Most DUers To Understand Someone Having "A Bad Day"

DUers are always on their absolute best behavior and never do rash things out of irritation or anger, hence they know that anyone's entire life is always reducible to their worst moment.

[Aramchek]

21. being a good man doesn't preclude anyone from acting stupidly

you, of all people, should know that.

[Political Heretic]

27. I didn't say it did, now did I?

[Aramchek]

42. you imply that by saying Crowley is a good man that Obama takes back his previous comment

He didn't.
He specifically did not apologize.
He just said he regretted contributing to a media firestorm.

You're as bad a Chuck Todd and the other douchebags who were chomping at the bit to hear that Obama had apologized.

[Political Heretic]

50. I'm not "implying" anything other than DUer's are out of step with Obama in their characterizations

You are inferring whatever else you want to infer.

I'd suggest however, that you read his statement from the press conference today. It matches, almost completely, with what I've been saying across multiple threads.

[Moochy]

91. Are you Obama?

Its c r e e p y how you two think alike! :D

[SemiCharmedQuark]

31. Obama has said that McCain and Bush were good men. I bet DUers disagree with him there.

[Divine Discontent]

39. exactly... I REAAAAALLY disagree with him. When he said nice things about B*sh I looked like I just

tasted something disgustingly rancid.

[Arkana]

41. He didn't have a choice.

What's he going to say? "Those guys? Fuckin' assholes. Both of 'em. Seriously, don't vote for them. They're colossal fucking pricks."

[SemiCharmedQuark]

54. My point is only that DUers don't take Obama's claims of "good men" for face value.

[uponit7771]

32. ****OBAMA DID NOT SAY THE ARREST WAS NECESSARY!!***

[Political Heretic]

52. **** NO SHIT SHERLOCK!! ****

:shrug:

[Teaser]

35. nope. crappy cop.

hata.

[BlooInBloo]

36. Cop is piece of shit.

[Name removed]

73. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

37. So suddenly you agree with Obama and think everybody else should too?

[Raineyb]

43. I disagree with that statement and I don't give a damn who said it.

Crowley is a piece of shit who should be sent to pound the pavement.

[TheKentuckian]

47. The OP seems to be indicating that the "Obots" need to get in line with their master.

Maybe I'm misreading that but I think that's the "logic".

[ecstatic]

53. LOL. Pres. Obama has his opinion and I have mine

Crowley is an asshole, IMO.

[Phx_Dem]

55. Never said he wasn't a "fine man," or any other kind of man, I simply

said he used poor judgement because he allowed his ego to get in the way, which he did. I may have called the police commissioner an asshole, and I stand by that.

[Political Heretic]

56. I agree with you.

[alcibiades_mystery]

57. You assume that people agree with something just because Obama said it?

Are you deranged or something?

:rofl:

[Political Heretic]

59. Uh, here? Yes, I think exactly that. And I'm flagging this thread for future reference.

I think that when a majority of DUers agree with the President, they use "supporting the president" to back them up, and shit on other posters who disagree.

But then when they themselves disagree with the president, suddenly its noble and great to disagree and blah blah blah. It's silly.

[alcibiades_mystery]

60. Harrumph

Whatever.

Truly weird behavior.

[Warren Stupidity]

66. On this DU?

Or is there some other DU. The DU I seem to visit is one where there is a *LOT* of criticism of Obama, of Democrats, of each other. You must be confused about which DU this one is.

[Political Heretic]

68. I know, I know. You make a good reminder that perception is relative.

Point taken.

[Uzybone]

61. continuing a pattern of trolling by this OP

[Political Heretic]

63. Yes, that's what people who disagree often say.

"trolling."

[AuntPatsy]

74. I would bet my life and will right now, may lightening strike me dead if

what happened to Proff, Gates happens to you and you thank the arresting officer later on for doing his job because you did not mean to get upset that he had walked into your house and accused you of attempted theft...

[Political Heretic]

78. Well as best as I can parse that run-on sentence - your point seems to be irrelevant.

Since nothing I've written would imply that I'd thank an officer for "doing his job" by arresting my out of my own home. That's probably why I wrote that the arrest was wrong ... yes, I think that would be it.

[Warren Stupidity]

65. I am not an Obama Fundamentalist

consequently I get to choose which statements of Obama's I accept and which I do not accept. I agree with Obama that Officer Crowley acted stupidly. I have no opinion on Officer Crowley's value as a police officer or as a man aside from this one episode.

[freddie mertz]

67. I am sure. And Gates is a fine scholar and a good man too.

I think Crowley made a mistake in his policing.

No more. No less.

That mistake may have been driven in part by racial dynamics. Or not.

In the heat of things, he made a mistaken arrest.

He should admit it.

And that SHOULD be the end of it.

[AuntPatsy]

69. Not me, as president Obama did what he should have done and said

but the fact remains that in my mind and from what I know to date the man is racist in that he does not mind blacks per say but he does not like them not knowing their place....as far as his teaching the course or even aiding in cpr to a black man it does not prove a thing, my husband is a racist pure and simple and yet he would do the same, he would help anyone regardless of ethnicity if they were in need and he could offer help but the bottom line is he is racist...

and so is crowley whether one chooses to believe it or not, makes no difference to me, but I have full faith that he is just that. When a white man likes black people as long as they know their place they are racist and from what I have heard he has stated that very thing....and I don't feel that i am telling tall tales out of school...

[mkultra]

75. nope, he is still a dick and obama is still a genius.

[fishwax]

77. why would you assume everyone agrees with everything Obama says?

:shrug:

[Political Heretic]

79. I don't. But next time some start whining and saying "how dare" some disagree with the President

I'll be referencing this thread.

[Life Long Dem]

81. I never said he wasn't a fine police officer.

But when he met the media he attacked Obama and that's when everyone jumped in to defend the President.

[Cha]

83. Fuck no...Pres Obama knows how to diffuse a

situation but you don't and neither does crowley.

[berniebern]

90. By that logic, shouldn't we fault him for beginning the situation?

If he had said from the beginning, when answering the question, that both individuals were good people who got a little carried away, then the controversy would not have happened at all. Do you feel me?

[Cha]

92. I don't fault Pres Obama ..I'm

glad he spoke from his heart..it's turning out well.

But, there are some on here who like to make sure Obama gets as much blame as possible for whatever the fuck their agenda is.