I wrote elsewhere here this morning on a Gates thread that a mature individual could and should have given any of the following four answers to that question:
"1. This is a question and answer session about health care; next question, please."
"2. I do not have all the facts of the case and therefore cannot nor should not comment on it; next question, please."
"3. I understand that a witness had reported a break-in in the evening, and the police at the time acted in a manner what they thought was appropriate. Since I do not have all the facts of the case and I cannot nor should not comment on it; next question, please."
"4. I can only say it is unfortunate that this has happened. Although Professor Gates is a friend of mine, Gates claimed that the police were racist. I hope that this may be a premature reaction on his part due to the confusion. There was apparently a mix-up on the part of the witness and the resultant actions of the police were guided by the witness. This is understandable. It was dark. As a nation, we should move past claiming every perceived grievance to be racist. Next question, please. "