Obama: Both Gates & Crowley probably overreacted, invites them to the White House for a beer!

[Better Believe It]

Good! I think President Obama said exactly the right thing today and I believe that Gates and Crowley more than likely got in each others faces. They sure were not throwing flowers at each other during their encounter.

I think it probably was an unnecessary confrontation that they share responsibility for. DU'ers really can't and shouldn't "take sides" without knowing all of the facts, what is true and what is an exaggeration. Without a transcript it's just "he said, he said".

Now I hope they both show up to the White House for a beer, shake hands, kiss and make up. :)
------------------------------------------

NBC, msnbc.com and news services

In a brief foray into the White House briefing room, Obama told reporters he continues to believe that there was an "overreaction" by police in arresting his friend, Henry Louis Gates Jr., and added that Gates "probably overreacted as well."

"I want to make clear that in my choice of words I think I unfortunately gave an impression that I was maligning the Cambridge Police Department or Sergeant Crowley specifically," the president said. "I could have calibrated those words differently. And I told this to Sergeant Crowley."

Obama said later he had spoken with Gates as well and has invited both him and Crowley for "a beer here in the White House."


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32122967/ns/us_news-race_and_ethnicity

[Deep13]

1. I think the President told the truth to a lot of people, including cops,...

...who were not used to hearing the truth.

[TheDebbieDee]

2. Brilliant idea! This President is a PROBLEM-SOLVER!

Not a muckraker.

[FrenchieCat]

3. Shared responsibility with one having a gun and being on the job

where keeping the peace is part of the job description, and one in his home, who happens to be one who helps pay for the salary of the other. Yep, they both had a responsibility.....however, the scope of each was different; one had a professional responsibility, the other, not so much.

But I agree that this whole incident was getting out of hand in becoming very polarizing which isn't good for this country, especially when the media is running with it.

[Better Believe It]

6. You mean we actually agree on something???!!!!

See!

You're not as bad as I thought!

:)

[MannyGoldstein]

4. I Can't Wait For The Tapes...

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20090724911_police_tapes_key_in_gates_case_officials_mull_release_of_recorded_evidence/">911, police tapes key in Gates case

Most everyone else on DU knows *exactly* what happened - but I don't, yet.

[timeforpeace]

10. I agree, will be great to know what happened.

[Better Believe It]

11. No one on DU knows what actually happened during this incident ....

unless they were hiding in a room and could hear everything that was said.

[MannyGoldstein]

12. Well... Some Do

And apparently, those of us who don't http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6135552&mesg_id=6136674">are racist.

[Better Believe It]

13. Well I don't know what happened and I've never been called a racist by anyone

Because I'm not and I'm sure you're not a racist.

Some people just have a knee jerk reaction without knowing or even caring to know the facts on events or issues.

[Darth_Ole]

5. I'd love to see an event like this.

Obama said that this incident could become a teachable moment (for ALL parties).

Such a high profile meeting at the White House in one of the most volatile race-related stories this year could help begin a real discussion of race that Obama hoped to start with his Philly speech last year.

Having Gates and Crowley appear at the White House would show that Obama is serious about discussing race, even if the media aren't.

Whether it's for a beer or a serious meeting, I can't think of a better opportunity in 2009 to have the sons of former slaves and sons of former slaveowners sitting at the table of brotherhood.

It was the right thing for Obama to say.

[Better Believe It]

8. They can have a serious discussion over a beer! I've done so many times.

[countingbluecars]

7. I liked what the president had to say today

especially this part

"My hope is that as a consequence of this event this ends up being what’s called ‘a teachable moment,' where all of us instead of pumping up the volume spend a little more time listening to each other and try to focus on how we can generally improve relations between police officers and minority communities.”

I believe the president also continues to say that Gates should not have been arrested. I agree.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

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

[joeybee12]

9. Very good idea...I have a feeling the truth is somewhere in the middle...

...and the longer this goes on, the more the actual truth gets muddled...they need a calm third party.