Obama: Cambridge Police Acted “Stupidly”

Photo credit: UPI/Bill Greenbelt

See Video On Home Page- Obama: Cambridge Police Acted “Stupidly”

President Barack Obama spoke directly to the American people on Wednesday night on his new health care reform and the importance of moving with dispatch in getting the legislation passed.  In fact, in response to a question as to why the rush, the President said the deadline he had imposed — before the August 7th recess of Congress— was really a motivator, as without deadlines in Washington, “things don’t happen”.

But perhaps what is being most talked about the morning after the president’s news conference is his response to the swirling controversy between Professor Henry Louis “Skip” Gates and the Cambridge Police, and race in America.

President Obama openly acknowledged that Professor Gates is his friend, recounting the facts, briefly, as he knew them to be.

Gates was arrested last Thursday at his home by Cambridge police for “disorderly conduct’, although those charges were subsequently dropped.

Obama noted that he did not know what role race played in the incident, while at the same time acknowledging that the Cambridge police acted “stupidly” in arresting someone already in their home.

He also acknowledged the long history of tensions between blacks/Latinos and police in America and noted that these groups were stopped  disproportionately by law enforcement.

Recognizing that progress had been made on matters of race, and as President he was a testament to this, he also acknowledged that much work remains to be done, including improving policing techniques aimed at eliminating potential biases.

Meanwhile, even before President Obama spoke to Professor Gates’ controversy Wednesday evening, the Cambridge police officer embroiled in the incident said that he would be making no apology.  He has said that he has the support of the police union.

Professor Gates has said that he would be happy to sit down and speak with the police Officer.

In a telephone interview, Professor Gates said, “I believe the police officer should apologize to me for what he knows he did that was wrong.  If he apologizes sincerely, I am willing to forgive him. And if he admits his error, I am willing to educate him about the history of racism in America and the issue of racial profiling … That’s what I do for a living.”