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."
I like your plan
I frickin loathe this guy.
He is STILL calling Crowley a racist and I PRAY Crowley says NO to going to the WH.
Legally speaking,this is a law firms dream case.
He should also tell the dear Leader that he doesn't appreciate his meddling in a local issue.
Obama is still not being held accountable for HIS ACTIONS, he said it, he owns it, HE needs to apologize. He is saying it’s a teachable moment and made me feel like this was somehow my fault. Well it is not.
He goes all over the world and apologize for America and he can not even step up to the podium and apologize for himself. Typical lefty!
A precedent needs to be set.
There is a fellow I work with that openly mocks me saying if we go to HR “You will lose because you are a whiteboy”
You know, Obama has it right this time. The three of them need to be seen together with Gates apologizing and Obama apologizing and Crowley accepting the apologies and everyone saying it is all okay now. Politics need to be put to one side by everyone and this thing needs to be shut down quickly or we are going to see some very bad problems between blacks and the police which may escalate into something even worse such as a race war.
I’d tell the racist president to KISS MY ASS.
That aint gonna happen
MR. Crowley ,,,,, Don’t drink or eat anything served in the White House .
What a condescending a$$.
Perhaps the American people should take a serious look at how Obama reacted to the Imus gaff. As I recall, he inferred that insensitive racists should not continue in their jobs. He certainly didn’t feel that an apology was sufficient. We should be looking at a similar solution to this racist in the White House.
I think this clown is dividing people on purpose
The Professor is just like all other liberal academic types, he's too smart, and good to play by the same rules you and I do. Add to this his dislike for white folks, you get a mess.
Somebody should send Zero a copy of Chris Rock’s “How not to get your ass kicked by the police” so he can get up to speed.
He is trying to get us all uncomfortable.
Then he will “Fix” it by appointing a Race Czar who will lay all kinds of BS restrictions on whitey.
L0L!
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