Posted on 07/25/2009 5:38:23 AM PDT by mylife
Obama Calls Cambridge Police Officer, Invites him for a Beer with Gates at the White House
July 24, 2009 3:29 PM
ABC News' Yunji de Nies, Sunlen Miller and Sarah Tobianski report:
President Obama made his second surprise appearance before press in the briefing room to address what he called the “media frenzy” over his comments on the Skip Gates case.
“The fact that it has garnered so much attention, I think, is a testimony to the fact that these are issues that are still very sensitive here in America,” The President said, “And, you know, so to the extent that my choice of words didn't illuminate, but rather contributed to more media frenzy, I think that was unfortunate.”
At about 2:15 pm today the President spoke on the phone with Sergeant Jim Crowley.
“I have to tell you that, as I said yesterday, my impression of him was that he was a outstanding police officer and a good man, and that was confirmed in the phone conversation. And I told him that.”
Obama took partial blame for the media frenzy over the story, saying that he “helped to continue ratcheting it up” by saying that the Cambridge police “acted stupidly” comments at Wednesday night’s primetime press conference.
“I want to make clear that in my choice of words, I think, I unfortunately, I think, gave an impression that I was maligning the Cambridge police department or Sergeant Crowley specifically. And I could have calibrated those words differently. And I told this to Sergeant Crowley.”
Mr. Obama did not say if he offered Crowley a direct apology and held fast to the notion that there was an overreaction in Professor Gate’s arrest – but admitted that Gates had to take some of the responsibility for the overreaction.
“I continue to believe, based on what I have heard, that there was an overreaction in pulling Professor Gates out of his home to the station. I also continue to believe, based on what I heard, that Professor Gates probably overreacted as well.”
The President asked that everyone step back and recognize that these are “two decent” and “good people” in a circumstance in which both would have wanted to be resolved differently, but echoed sentiments in his press conference of the sensitivities that still exist over these issues.
“Be mindful of the fact that because of our history, because of the difficulties of the past, you know, African-Americans are sensitive to these issues,” Obama said, “And even when you've got a police officer who has a fine track record on racial sensitivity, interactions between police officers and the African-American community can sometimes be fraught with misunderstanding.”
President Obama said he hopes this can be a “teachable moment” – where “instead of pumping up the volume” American can focus on how to improve relations between police officers and minority communities.
“Whether I were black or white, I think that me commenting on this and hopefully contributing to constructive, as opposed to negative, understandings about the issue is part of my portfolio.”
Obama said at the end of his conversation with Crowley there was a discussion about Crowley and Professor Gates coming to the White House to have a beer together.
President Obama has not spoken to Gates yet and there is no time yet scheduled for their beer get together, although White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs indicated that the meeting would likely happen.
-- Yunji de Nies, Sunlen Miller and Sarah Tobianski
UPDATE: At 3:15 pm the president called and connected with Professor Gates. “They had a positive discussion during which the President told Gates about his call with Sgt. Crowley and statement to the media,” The White House says in a written statement.
The President invited Gates to join him with Sgt. Crowley at the White House “in the near future."
Wow, I have not heard a man since Clinton “”sound”” like he’s apologizing without actually apologizing.
Did BHO say “have a beer” or “have a forty”?
“The fact that it has garnered so much attention, I think,
The fact that it has garnered so much attention is because you said something incredibly stupid!
It was so bad that a liberal friend said that O had stepped in it...but then, his son is in law-enforcement. And they seem to be taking this kinda personal.
Or, better yet: he should publicly decline the invitation (on camera) while scratching his nose with his middle finger. In short, he should pull an Obama.
An apology from Obama is not the issue. The issue is that it demonstrates the mindset that Obama operates from. There was a confrontation between a black man and a white man. The white man was at fault. QED. This is very similar to the mindset demonstrated by Sotomayor in her ruling that a test that no black candidates passed was an invalid test, with no consideration of why such a thing might have happened.
They are racists and bigots, and that bigotry forms their world view. No problem if they are just people, but they are President and a potential SCJ.
How many people here remember President Reagan’s joke about “the bombing starts in 5 minutes” and what a tempest in a teapot the press made of it? The DH-in-Chief obviously hasn’t learn or doesn’t care, everything as leader of the free world (my head shaking in disgust on the verge of vomiting) has consequences.
:-)
It's like when you tell your kid to apologize to his brother for beating the sh** out of him....The apology happens and the apologeer laughs all the way to his room.
It's called a pattern....Wright, Sotomayer, Gates...
Crowley should stay home.
Why let Obama and Gates use his to further their lies, since they are both wrong and know it.
This whole thing makes me sick.
“Obama makes me sick.”
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Obama has worked at least one real miracle, he has made me think that maybe Bill Clinton wasn’t so bad after all.
Don’t trust him. The odds are 50-50 he could just as easily invite the white officer over for a new century racist tar and feathering of the officer based on his race on the White House lawn.
The American people expect and demand discrimination. That’s the job of Congress, to discriminate rigorously between what is criminal from legitimate behavior and pass laws to DISCRIMINATE. Discerning people discriminate.
Gates is still mouthing off about how he was not respected.
The race card is still in play.
I’m not sure if he stepped in it or if he is putting out a diversion from healthcare.
Obama is a quandry. I dont think the man is stupid. I think he is a playah, but also think he is playing incredibly risky games
In the words of Sir Winston:
“Regret cannot attend. Contrived excuse to follow.”
I wouldn't be surprised if Nobama makes Officer Crowley pay for the beers after the meeting.
I hope Mr. Crowley has enough integrity to NOT attend this meeting.
It would be like being sucker punched and having your teeth knocked out and then having they guy who did it invite you to a steak dinner the same day.
If I were the officer I would not have anything else to say to the Pres. Other than that Obamas origianl comments speak for themselves.
JUST
SAY
NO!
Bingo
Don’t go!Call the best law firm in Boston and sue___________________________!
Well, if he wanted a diversion, he got it. And the interesting thing is that it doen’t seem to be going away.
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