Shame on Prof.Gates: Uppity Blacks vs Blue Collar Whites

[Tx4obama]

Run time: 04:16 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYKYbB5Z5Aw   Posted on YouTube: July 24, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: July 24, 2009 By DU Member: Tx4obama Views on DU: 2839

 
In my opinion, DesireG hit the nail on the head!
Btw, there is a link on the FRONT PAGE of CNN for this video as an iReport.

[bsd13]

1. Exactly

Couldn't have said it better myself. She's dead on about this.

[SkyDaddy7]

4. Forget race...

If a cop comes in anyone's house uninvited that person has a right to be very upset...And regardless of what Gates may have said to the cop, once the cop knew it was his house he should have been professional, apologized for the mistake and left, PERIOD! A professional "Police Officer" not a "cop", would have understood the anger and not allowed words to bother him, period! "Sorry for the mistake , sir...I will go explain the situation to your neighbors, have good night" PERIOD END OF DISCUSSION!

...Then the cop should have explained the situation to the neighbor(s). This would have been the professional way to resolve the issue. Instead the cops pride was hurt so he took Gates to jail. Cops can take anyone they want to jail simply because they want to, period. Try politely asserting your rights to any cop and chances are you will go to jail and maybe get tazzed in the process. I have cops as friends and they are egomaniacs! They know there is virtually no one policing them and they take full advantage of this!


Most states disorderly conduct statutes start with these words "Without provication..." Police uninvited in ones house is provication for one to be extremely upset! I would imagine this is why the charges were dropped, Gates ahd every right to be pissed! I would have this is America!

[florida08]

10. totally agree

They went there without full knowledge of the situation and could have diffused the situation very quickly. We don't know what the exchange in the house was completely. We have the police officers report but that doesn't reveal attitude which the officer probably had one. Gates responded and showed his I.D. End of situation. Apologies and leave. The fact that the officer stated publicly that he would not apologize reveals an attitude to me. I would be ticked too having an officer follow me into my home uninvited and looking around when I have just informed him "it's MY house."

[wisteria]

19. You a police officer? Do you know prcedure codes and violation codes.

You seem to have rewritten both with your subjective opinion.

[bsd13]

26. Not quite...

This wasn't a case of rogue cop beating down a "poor" black man's door and harassing him. He was investigating a criminal complaint by a citizen of the neighborhood. He was WELL within his authority (notice I used the word authority, and not "rights") to require that professor Gates present him with ID. He was also within his authority to make an entry into the residence as part of the investigation. He had probable cause based on a report of a break-in attempt. Once it was established who Gates was and that he belong in that house it could have ended.

Gate's, if he were truly a professional and a gentleman would have said "Thank you officer for coming by and checking on my welfare and the security of my home, sir. Have a great day!" And that's the only exchange that was necessary, but instead he began to scream at and berate Crowley for doing what he is paid to do. He began to demand badge numbers and ID as if he had somehow been violated. And to top it all off he kept yelling over officer Crowley when he tried to give him the information he requested.

From the beginning it is CLEAR that Gates was completely out of line. No doubt a product of intellectual elitism run amok. One only needs to read the arrest report to see this fact. If he (Crowley) had made anything in the report up it would be all over the news that he was lying, but not even Gates has accused him of that. None of the other officers, none of the neighbors, none of the bystanders. No one is saying it didn't happen exactly how he said in the report. Now how can you, having read the arrest report I'm sure, say that Gates was right and somehow violated? Seriously?

[SkyDaddy7]

29. VERY EASY!

This is America and anytime the government enters your house uninvited regardless for what reason they MUST Identify themselves, PERIOD! They must identify themselves with or without a warrant, PERIOD! There is TONS of case law that supports this.

Do you think the police dropped the charges just because they are nice? HELL NO! They knew they were wrong and would never be able to prosecute Gates. HE WAS IN HIS OWN HOME! Once the cop knew this fact it was HIS DUTY to apologize and then leave Gates home. What other reason or "authority" according to the law does that cop have to remain in Gates home once he knows it is Gates home? NONE! Your idea or fantasy is soooo off base!

Oh yeah, as if it matters...I like how you defer all arrogance and ego run amok to Gates...Of course the man was pissed I would be as well! You speak as if cops do not have a very huge and growing problem in this country with egos run amok with everyone regardless of race.

"Now how can you, having read the arrest report I'm sure, say that Gates was right and somehow violated? Seriously?"

EASY! Gates was in his home, Gates had every right to be in his home! Gates had every right to demand ID! Gates had every right to be MAD AS HELL! The cops were correct in everything they did until they refused to leave after knowing it was Gates home...Regardless of what Gates was saying the "Police Officers" should have left but the the "Cops" chose to stay and fight, PERIOD! This is America and you have the right to be mad when you are in the right. As I said before, most "disorderly conduct" statutes start with these two words "Without provocation..." Gates committed no crime and Gates was in his castle and his castle was full of agents of the government who would not leave after knowing Gates lived there! At the time they saw Gates ID the cops HAD NO AUTHORITY TO REMAIN! This is why the charges were dropped and why you do not have a leg to stand on in this debate.

I will say that Gates did flex his ego while at the same time the cops did as well. And since it was the cop's duty to be an "Professional Officer", NOT GATES, and recognize why Gates was angry, especially since this "cop" should have understood very well why a black man of Gates age would have tender feelings being in such a situation, the cop should have left. If you can't see that then I honestly do feel a bit of sorrow for you.

[Tx4obama]

30. bsd13, perfect comment. n/t

[SkyDaddy7]

32. Oh yeah...

Gates reached out privately to "Officer" Crowley for them two to get together and resolve the issue in private and "cop" Crowley refused...The Mayor tried to do the same and Gates said yes and "cop" Crowely refused. The ego that has run amok is obvious!

Lets see if "cop" Crowley will accept The President of the United States offer for Gates & Crowley to get together and resolve this issue.

[Raineyb]

33. She's dead wrong

But of course those who apologize for the police always look for someone with the right skin tone to try to prop up their repugnant views.

No surprise here.

[CJP]

2. Peace.

That was pretty good.

[BeliQueen]

3. She's right about somethings

Like the fact that it was Gates' neighbors who racial profiled him.

But she's wrong that getting upset and verbally challenging police authority--in your own home--is cause for arrest. That's just not the case.

[Tx4obama]

5. But the fact has come out that ...

It was NOT a neighbor that called the police.
The woman that called the police was a woman just walking down the street on her way to work.
She was not a neighbor.

[rjwin]

6. racial pimpin'

That is exactly what I called obama's rush to judgment in defense of a so-called "safe" negro!

[burning rain]

27. Salve atque vale!

That's "Hail and fairwell!" pard.

[Tx4obama]

7. Friends...

I will preface my comment with: I support President Obama and have since 2004.
BUT he should have learned by the Rev. Wright situation that he doesn't 'know' his friends as well as he thinks he does and that they 'can and will' at times say things and 'do things' that can be embarrassing to him. In this situation with Gates he should not have said anything at all until he knew ALL of the facts. It seems like some of his friends that are of the 'older generation' have hot tempers and 'do' say things that shouldn't be said - and hopefully President Obama will learn from this incident so that he doesn't find himself in this position in the future.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. So blacks are not allowed to "say" things?

Or must only "say things" a certain way?

Wow. Just wow.

[wisteria]

21. No one should show disrespect for uniformed police officers. n/t

[Raineyb]

34. No uniformed police officer should arrest someone just because they are pissed off n/t

[Moonwalk]

25. No. Presidents, their relatives or friend are not allowed to "say" things or must--

--say things a certain way. Because unlike most of us--of whatever race--their words are going to get picked up by the news services and commented on by pundits and used by enemies to undermine said President's power and influence. And as we want said President to have enough power and influence to get important things done, this is a bad thing that must be avoided. Yes?

[JDPriestly]

17. Police officers can be very, very arrogant without good reason.

We live in an area in which there are gangs. Our oldest daughter (blond hair light green eyes just to show color is not always the issue), looked 15 but was actually attending a nearby university. She was and always had been an honor student.

So, we got burglarized. Someone crept in the bathroom window (no joke). Nothing much was stolen but for some odd reason the intruders put graffiti on our walls.

We called the police and after an incredibly long wait, they sent a rookie officer to investigate. He was extremely rude and immediately began to accuse my daughter of gang affiliations. I thought investigators were supposed to ask questions, but this guy just saw the graffiti on the wall, jumped to the conclusion that the graffiti was in her room (it wasn't). Never mind that our house is tumble-full of books include her biochemistry and anthropology texts and my law books. Never mind that the whole family is sitting around the table with the officer.

I was so offended. It was all I could do to keep from mouthing off. And this officer was some young kid who had no idea from nothing, carrying a gun, entering our house (at our invitation admittedly) and treating US like the crooks that had broken into our own house. We were treated like low-lifes just because we live in a low-income neighborhood.

So, I can understand why the good professor got angry. He had just gotten home, couldn't find his key, couldn't get into his house. He was tired. He did not ask the officer to come and help him and then the officer was wasting his time and insulting him on top of it.

One thing that puzzles me about the officer's story: If he believed there might be a burglary in process, why did he approach the imagined burglars without cover? These days, an ever growing number of crazies are walking around with loaded guns in their pockets, why would the police officer have approached Prof. Grant alone, without a partner, without cover if he really thought that the professor might be a burglar? I don't believe the officer's story at all.

[VenusRising]

8. She may have had good points, but I missed them through the condescending tone.

Maybe next time.....

she can say.....

what she has to say.....

without.....

the tone.....

and I MIGHT.......

actually hear her.

[tomm2thumbs]

9. if there is an audio tape as i am hearing, perhaps it will assist in defining what happened

in the meantime, health care dribbles into a bucket under the sink like a leaky drain

[southernyankeebelle]

11. Wow what insite this young woman has - I don't think anyone white, black, red or brown

can really disagree with her comment. What a wise young lady.

[JDPriestly]

18. If you live in a middle class neighborhood and have never had to

deal with police officers in a low-income neighborhood and the kind of contempt with which they view everyone who lives there, you would not understand what happened. I was much more positive toward the police before I lived in my neighborhood. I am extremely law-abiding and white, but I have had several unpleasant experiences with officers.

Fortunately, not all my experiences have been bad ones, but the officer should not have arrested this professor. The professor was tired and frustrated after coming home and not being able to get into his house. Have you ever been locked out of your house? It's exasperating. The professor has, as I understand it, had two knee replacement surgeries. He was not a threat or menace to anyone. The officer was absolutely wrong in arresting him no matter what the professor said. The officer could have brought charges or cited the professor without actually handcuffing him. The officer overreacted.

[wisteria]

22. You can not profile police officers. There are certainly professional officers

and unprofessional officers. And, sometimes perhaps to long on a beat can make an officer jaded. But, you can not lump all officers into one neat little package and suggest that they behave differently in one area of a city than in another.

[JDPriestly]

28. I'm talking about my experiences. Some of my experiences have

been good especially those that did not occur in my neighborhood. But when police respond to problems in the neighborhood other than just moving a car parked in the driveway, they tend to stereotype us simply because we live in a lower income area. Our area is not the lowest income, but it is low compared to other areas, especially those on the west side of L.A. and in a number of other areas. The police respond accordingly. It must be far worse for people of color.

[Raineyb]

35. Funny how black people are so rarely actually listened to unless we are saying something you

agree with. Then it's all isn't this person wise. Otherwise it's you're being emotional, you're taking things personally, you misunderstood. The amount of condescension that goes on around here is revolting.

[Karenina]

37. BWHAHAHAHAHAHA!

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

[GivePeaceAchance]

13. I'm not sure about her perspective the guy proved his ID the conversation was over once he did that.

If the professor is being confrontational he should at least get a warning that it is illegal. Everything varies incident to incident but thing secalated more than they should have it seems to me. No-one was stupid here but there could of been better judgment on either side. Misjudgment may well of been a more diplomatic word to use by the President and she does have a point the cops job is very hard. There probably needs to be more communty events and meetings with local people and cops to help misunderstandings across the nation as dialog works.

[Tx4obama]

14. No address...

They said this morning on TV that Gates showed Crowley his Harvard ID card and it did NOT have an address on it - just a photo and a name. When Crowley wanted to see another ID Gates became more upset and irate.

WE DO NOT KNOW ALL THE FACTS yet, so we really should wait until the full story comes out ;)

[GivePeaceAchance]

15. Maybe a phone call to one of his friends could of confirmed it too. Sometimes...

there is always a way. He was at his own property I imagine he probably could of been identified by neighbors so there was a way, if there was a will. Even with the jumpy neighbor that called out the police. At the end of the day it was his own property and lots of ways to identify but also misjudgment on both sides.

[Raineyb]

36. Drivers licenses have addresses on it.

Clearly you don't know shit but you're still mouthing off.

[freedom fighter jh]

16. It's not against the law to mouth off to a cop.

Someone -- can't remember who -- made this point on DU yesterday.

It all happened after Gates had shown his ID to the cop, so protecting the house from intrusion was not the issue.

The cop more or less implicated himself when he complained in a video that Gates had made comments about his (the cop's, I think) mother, implying that that's why he arrested Gates. Maybe that cop is so used to throwing his weight around that he thinks a personal insult is a valid reason for arrest.

[wisteria]

23. Says who? I thought showing disrespect, being belligerent and demonstrating erratic behavior

can be viewed as suspicious behavior and can get you arrested. Being a police officer is a dangerous job. They never know what they are going to encounter when they approach a home, car or even a person on the street.

[wisteria]

20. I disregard anything that points out and profiles someone based on the color of their skin.

Any color. There is something disingenuous about the entire video.

[BlooInBloo]

24. Always nice to re-verify that white folks don't have a monopoly on Teh Stupid.

[Cha]

31. I'm not going to watch it 'cause

I can tell by the title that whomever doesn't know shit about shit.