Dr. Henry Louis Gates Arrested

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

Someone may have already brought it up but, in the police report he WAS originally handcuffed in the back. He let them know that he needed a cane and could not manage that way and the officer asked for another officer to rearrange the cuffs so he would be more comfortable.

Makes sense.

ETA: Why is Obama speaking on this?

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Makes sense.

ETA: Why is Obama speaking on this?

Because he couldn't find a Czar to do it for him.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Makes sense.

ETA: Why is Obama speaking on this?

Because Prof. Ogletree is one of his mentors, and Prof. Ogletree is Gates' attorney?

I agree that the President probably doesn't need to address the issue.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

Because Prof. Ogletree is one of his mentors, and Prof. Ogletree is Gates' attorney?

I agree that the President probably doesn't need to address the issue.

As if the media and public opinion hadn't already made this bigger than it needs to be.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

As if the media and public opinion hadn't already made this bigger than it needs to be.

I know - one of my favorite blogs (Above the Law) has had a few postings on it, and we even talked about it in my criminal procedure class last night, in a general manner.

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

ETA: Why is Obama speaking on this?

Because he wants to and because he can. I don't see what's wrong with it. Presidents don't have to refrain from saying anything when it comes to stuff like this. They just have to be careful. I'm glad he did because I think I would have felt it was in poor taste for him NOT to say anything. He just needs to watch his words, and he doesn't need to say anything more.

[SydneyK]

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

I'm glad he did because I think I would have felt it was in poor taste for him NOT to say anything.

Why do you think would it be in poor taste for him to refrain from commenting on a story that has no relevance to his overall message? He didn't comment on any other arrest last night (at least, if he did, I missed it), so why should he comment on this one?

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by SydneyK

Why do you think would it be in poor taste for him to refrain from commenting on a story that has no relevance to his overall message? He didn't comment on any other arrest last night (at least, if he did, I missed it), so why should he comment on this one?

Obama's overall message from the beginning has been about change. One area that needs change is the way minorities, particularly blacks, are treated in this country. A President, particularly one that is popular, has the ability to affect change. If incidents like this don't receive attention from the right people, it will be swept under the rug and will continue to take place. I don't know why anyone would see anything wrong with a President speaking out on an issue that represents a problem in this country. What I don't want to see happen is for people to expect Obama to keep his mouth shut about anything involving race. Yes, he is a President for ALL the people, but you can't expect or demand him to turn off his feelings about race relations and never address them.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

Obama's overall message from the beginning has been about change. One area that needs change is the way minorities, particularly blacks, are treated in this country. A President, particularly one that is popular, has the ability to affect change. If incidents like this don't receive attention from the right people, it will be swept under the rug and will continue to take place. I don't know why anyone would see anything wrong with a President speaking out on an issue that represents a problem in this country. What I don't want to see happen is for people to expect Obama to keep his mouth shut about anything involving race. Yes, he is a President for ALL the people, but you can't expect or demand him to turn off his feelings about race relations and never address them.

Making a public statement about this incident has little to do with change. We don't care what Obama's feelings are. We're talking about the fact that he publicly spoke on this situation.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Making a public statement about this incident has little to do with change. We don't care what Obama's feelings are. We're talking about the fact that he publicly spoke on this situation.

A couple of issues I had with it:

1) Stuff like this legitimately happens around the country on a number of occasions. Beyond the Professor Gates' fame, what makes this a "special" case, so to speak, to the level that it bears mentioning by the President?

2) I don't know why, but something strikes me wrong about the President criticizing a local police department (except for some rare instances). That's especially so in this case, where I'm guessing that he hasn't had the time or inclination to look too deeply into the situation.

He's entitled to his opinion, but I don't understand why he would make a public statement on it.

[deepimpact2]

Interestingly enough, the arresting officer has the full support of his union. Right now he is upset at Obama's remarks and claims that Obama doesn't know the full story. Officer Crowley is reportedly well-liked and known for giving CPR in the attempt to save the life of Reggie Lewis when he collapsed during his workout.

That's all wonderful. I'm just still puzzled with respect to why Gates was arrested for disorderly conduct when all he did was repeatedly ask the officer for his name and badge number. That's not exactly disorderly conduct, and to date the officer has not given any information that would indicate that Gates was doing anything beyond that.

I'm glad they dropped the charges though.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

Interestingly enough, the arresting officer has the full support of his union. Right now he is upset at Obama's remarks and claims that Obama doesn't know the full story. Officer Crowley is reportedly well-liked and known for giving CPR in the attempt to save the life of Reggie Lewis when he collapsed during his workout.

That's all wonderful. I'm just still puzzled with respect to why Gates was arrested for disorderly conduct when all he did was repeatedly ask the officer for his name and badge number. That's not exactly disorderly conduct, and to date the officer has not given any information that would indicate that Gates was doing anything beyond that.

I'm glad they dropped the charges though.

You don't think it's possible that the actual truth might vary from your description here?

I don't think Gates should have been arrested, but I suspect you're ignoring aspects of the police report, aren't you?

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

Right now he is upset at Obama's remarks and claims that Obama doesn't know the full story.

Obama doesn't know the full story. We're all going by what we have read and have been told.

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Obama doesn't know the full story. We're all going by what we have read and have been told.

And we won't know the fully story as long as Crowley continues refusing to comment. If he was able to comment on the fact that he was disappointed in what Obama said, then he should just go ahead and "set the record straight" so to speak. Until then, we only have what we have read to go on, and based on that, he was being a jerk.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

And we won't know the fully story as long as Crowley continues refusing to comment. If he was able to comment on the fact that he was disappointed in what Obama said, then he should just go ahead and "set the record straight" so to speak. Until then, we only have what we have read to go on, and based on that, he was being a jerk.

Have you read the police report?