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."
Sounds like his foreign policy to me.
What an asshat Obama is. A simple apology would have been the appropriate response. But, he will turn this into another platform from which to crow his credentials as the great healer between the races.
You betcha
The arrogance of this man is breathtaking. Not that I am shocked by it but damn man, just say you are sorry.
That is, unless he is not.
Yeah, I hope the guy doesn’t go and give Obama this photo op. Obama is such an arrogant POS.
No? I thought not.
IMHO, one of the most revealing thing about the issue with Gates is that he is so clearly another person and instance of a pattern that fits Obama's other "close friends".
Racist, hate filled, angry, people who detest traditional America and the free market and whose seething hatred is only just below the surface...and in some cases always out in the open. Frank Davis, Bill Ayers, Bernardine Dohrn, Jeremiah Wright, Henry Louis Gates, even his own wife, Michelle (by her own admission)...and the list goes on and on.
There is a clear pattern here that the MSM not only knows, but refuses to report. And that is because most of them share this hatred.
Obama and all those pushing his radical agenda are abject marxist ideologues. Their "fundamental; change" is nothing more than a destruction of the American free market and fundamental republican principle.
A PETITION FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RESTORATION
THE AUDACITY OF TRUTH ABOUT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA
A 4TH OF JULY TEA PARTY SPEECH
...and on the lighter side, take your mind off the Obamanation for a few minutes and enjoy some beautiful Western US scenery slideshows.
“This guy should NOT go.”
He has to go unfortunately. He can’t turn it down. He has been put in the middle of this. It would make himself and his department look bad if he doesn’t go.
And he seems like a really cool character who would handle himself very well.
BHO is much too arrogant to simply apologize for his uncalled for remarks. He would be forgiven by most Americans (though not me) if he just apologized. Crowley would be a fool to let himself be used in this way by BHO.
Decline.
I hope I’m not the only one who thinks that this was incredibly condescending of Obama.
In addition, it’s another glimpse into his nutty mind: he sees everyone as his inferiors, and Jimmy, the white boy, needs to sit down and shake hands with Henry, the black boy, while the above-it-all Great Teacher looks on in smiling encouragement. The fact that Henry is the teacher’s pet, of course, is unimportant.
Obama makes me sick.
Wanna bet the brew comes from Nigeria or Uganda or wherever this mutt (who happens to be our president) was born. Heck, I wouldn’t be surprised if it comes from Cuba or PPPPaakkkeeeeestan or even N.Korea.
Obama won’t give a PUBLIC Apology. This man’s ego is something else. He cannot admit when he is wrong.
That “have a beer” statement was a jab at Sean Hannity. I’m surprised that he didn’t catch it. Still, I was that cop, I would leave a tall boy in front of the White House and call it a day.
He should decline. He would get his beer and moment with the Pres. But...he would be privately disparaged over how insensitive he is. And, he would be yet another prop for “The One”. Not worth it.
L0L!
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