Obama: The Gates clusterfark is a “teachable moment” or something
posted at 3:25 pm on July 24, 2009 by Allahpundit
So it is — and like CJ says, there’s one very special guy in particular who should be learning from it. Six minutes here of what I can only describe as a tour de force of ObamaSpeak: Long-winded, excruciatingly politic and platitudinous, amounting to nothing more, really, than “there are two sides to every story” and “race relations are sensitive and complex.” No apology, either. In fact, this reminds me of the two-step he pulled when the Wright story broke big last year. His first statement was a pander to his base to score cheap political points (“I can’t disown Wright,” the Cambridge cops behaved “stupidly”); then it blew up in his face and he shifted into damage-control mode as Barack the Centrist (“This is not the Jeremiah Wright I thought I knew,” Crowley’s a great cop). Here’s an idea: The next time you’re pressed on a matter of racial controversy, how about eschewing the knee-jerk defense of demagoguery right off the bat, champ?
Credit where it’s due, though: He couldn’t have come up with a better distraction from the developing ObamaCare debacle if he tried.
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I agree with ur comment, except for the “it doesn’t matter” part. I was curious only because I was wondering if he was losing support in the AA comm. as well as elsewhere, and if so, why? But all I ever hear is what Sharpie type people say on tv and i don’t trust it. I totally get the desire and pride in seeing a black man in the WH. I just wish it didn’t have to be this one. It’s not going well for most people imo, and the blowback looks like it will be bad.
JiangxiDad on July 24, 2009 at 4:13 PM
we should all follow barry’s example now and complain 24/7 about how we inherited this pathetic administration
gatorboy on July 24, 2009 at 4:13 PM
are there InTrade odds on a pardon for Gates yet?
gatorboy on July 24, 2009 at 4:14 PM
And don’t call me Shirley!
The Race Card on July 24, 2009 at 4:14 PM
Tazer
farright on July 24, 2009 at 4:14 PM
Obama tried to play the Wright/Sharpton race card and got his wilson clipped.
The police, shrewd as they can be with payback–rightfully owed–listened to the tapes and stepped forward and demanded an apology. If they are not satisfied I’m sure the transcripts/audio will be made available.
On a side note, Crowley’s partner at the scene backs up his story 100%. Lost in the shuffle is the fact that he is black!
Obama did the same thing with Honduras. Who knows what that price in bloodshed will be. Ready, fire, aim seems to be Obama’s M.O.
patrick neid on July 24, 2009 at 4:14 PM
And since he did the Global Warming commercials with Granny Botox. And also since he became a fatty.
Rational Thought on July 24, 2009 at 4:15 PM
That’s it. Obama is finished. His racial demagoguery has gone too far. His radical anti-american and racist church didn’t affect his polling, but this is just too much.
Notice in his drawn out rambling speech here (the brilliant orator is not so brilliant)- he never apologizes, he simply says IF what he said had somehow caused the media to go bonkers, that was highly unfortunate. Then, notice he goes on about how african americans are fragile beings that are so scarred by the past that they inherently lash out at police officers responding to calls of burglary. Don’t ya know, Gates isn’t at fault, Obama isn’t at fault. It’s America, dammit. America and her evil past and her horrible ways are at fault.
TheBlueSite on July 24, 2009 at 4:15 PM
farright on July 24, 2009 at 4:14 PM
.
Niiiiice
dont taze me bro on July 24, 2009 at 4:15 PM
When the Middlesex county DA’s office graciously dropped the charges against Prof Hates, Prof Hates was ready to cash in for the big payday. He had no idea Officer Crowley was such an exemplary civil servant. If Officer Crowley was a run of the mill cop, Hates would be on Oprah talking about his mistreatment, and Crowley would be under investigation. Obama and his pals are evil.
tessa on July 24, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Please refrain from using offensive slurs.
The Race Card on July 24, 2009 at 3:49 PM
They were not slurs, but accurate and precise descriptions.
progressoverpeace on July 24, 2009
As the brother of a severe Down’s Syndrome person I could be offended by your use of “retard”. I am not. I understand the use of the term when used to describe people who should act intelligently but act without intelligence (Obama). This term is perhaps coarse, but descriptive. I don’t know you but I suspect you would not use that term to describe truly mentally challenged people. Even if you did, so what. Other people’s name-calling of my brother never diminished my love for him. Fire away, friend. My absolute moral authority absolves you.
SKYFOX on July 24, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Your language may be slightly over-calibrated. I’d say that’s a “10″ when only six months into Obumble’s presidency, it shouldn’t be higher than “9″.
Cicero43 on July 24, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Thank you for your service!!! Keep up the great work.
Key West Reader on July 24, 2009 at 4:17 PM
i’d say trying to get this sh-tfest known as obamacare passed without anyone being able to read what’s in it, let alone himself, is an impeachable himself. throwing michelle obama’s face at us all this time is a severe impeachable offense in itself right there. i have been labeled a racist by scum like yourself for merely NOT voting for him, and NOT drinking the kool aid. so add that to all the sh-t he’s been doing these past 6 months and NO, you will not find snae and sober here. i’m as mad as a rabid dog. you and your liberal race baiting bastards on the left have created this monster.
you have made your bed. now simply pull back the covers, jump the f-ck in, and stew in it!
Ghoul aid on July 24, 2009 at 4:18 PM
The answer to whether or not this was intentional is troubling.
No would mean that he is arrogantly, foolishly clueless enough to make an inappropriate comment without any regard for American citizens.
Yes would mean that he is arrogantly, maliciously deceitful enough to make an inappropriate comment without any regard for American citizens.
redwhiteblue on July 24, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Well-stated.
I totally got the gist of your question and I think it’s acutely observant of you to notice the paucity of actual people’s voices in the mix — not just talking heads.
When in doubt I try to imagine what my grandmother would say or do in some situations. By that standard, Gates would have to pick his own switch with which she could roast his backside.
The Race Card on July 24, 2009 at 4:20 PM
The President disagrees with those who say he should not have commented on what is essentially a local issue. So I guess he really things the increased attention to this is a good thing, and not unfortunate after all?
hawksruleva on July 24, 2009 at 4:20 PM
Two clicks left, one click up…..
Fighton03 on July 24, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Too much sensitivity will have us all sewing our mouths shut. I say describe as you see fit and let the offended be offended.
Bishop on July 24, 2009 at 4:22 PM
No. It’s more like:
Uh…ready? Fire!…Um….Fire! Uh-oh. Fire!……
Sapwolf on July 24, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Any body language experts: why does Obama spin his hand when he talks?
DarkCurrent on July 24, 2009 at 4:24 PM
Gates was trying to be as difficult as possible. He never did give the cop his government ID. He only provided a Harvard campus ID.
Gormm on July 24, 2009 at 4:24 PM
There must be some way Obama can blame this FUBAR on Bush.
xkaydet65 on July 24, 2009 at 4:24 PM
I made a point to shake the hand of a sheriff’s deputy today and let him know how disappointed I was with the president’s remark about the Cambridge police. I mentioned that I was very pleased and proud of the job that the sheriff’s department does on a daily basis and much of the good that they do goes unnoticed and thankless.
This police officer said that over the last 24 hours, that he had been stopped and had similar things said to him, and others through his department and that the leadership was hearing about it. He was very appreciative of the words of support from average citizens, particularly, since the national leadership can’t provide any.
ted c on July 24, 2009 at 4:25 PM
RELEASE THE TAPES
Shocking that Obama was “so surprised” how upset people were about his words. Is he this dense? I don’t get his mentality.
tessa on July 24, 2009 at 4:25 PM
But, but didn’t Holder say that we are all “cowards” on the race issue?
farright on July 24, 2009 at 4:25 PM
Beer and arugula pizza for all the parties at the White House.
d1carter on July 24, 2009 at 4:26 PM
-B Obama
-I. Montoya
liquidflorian on July 24, 2009 at 4:27 PM
Obama has, once again, proven adept at pulling the pin on a hand grenade and then throwing it like he did at the ballpark last week. That is, not well enough to get it anywhere–and absorbing most of the blast. Well, good for him. He deserves all the pain this is giving him.
Moreover, Obamacare is now a rotting corpse in his front yard and all his buddies are going to take a little piece of it home with them–just watch it stink up the place. It is undergoing a post mortem as we speak and it shall continue.
ted c on July 24, 2009 at 4:27 PM
Obama bowls stupidly.
faraway on July 24, 2009 at 4:28 PM
Well, he should becoming rather familiar with teachable moments!
jimbodeano67 on July 24, 2009 at 4:28 PM
Well, Holder wanted a discussion on race……he just probably won’t like the way this one is turning out.
Fighton03 on July 24, 2009 at 4:28 PM
Now here comes Newt on Fox to say the president’s remarks today were “classy.” F U, Newt. If a Republican president had had to issue an apology like this to stop a political firestorm, the media would have used it to stick the knife right through his chest. But from our own pundits, we get “Gosh, he’s so classy.” Being a race-baiting a-hole as a wag the dog strategy because your poll numbers are falling isn’t “classy,” Newt, and it isn’t classy when that blows up in your face and you have to walk it back! Sheesh.
Rational Thought on July 24, 2009 at 4:29 PM
this too…
Fighton03 on July 24, 2009 at 4:29 PM
You had me laughing until this statement. I’m not sorry or surprised that you called me “scum.” I’m a little unimpressed at the lack of originality. But hey, it’s Friday.
Now if you can show me where I have ever accused someone of being a racist because of whom they choose to vote I’ll fly you out to Cali and buy you lunch.
In chess it is advisable to play the board not the player. I recommend a similar approach to blog commenting and political discourse. My ideas are not defined by my standards, they are bolstered by them.
You make a huge mistake in presuming my politics by my penchant for harping on imprecise language. I’m not a Kool-Aid drinker for anybody. I vote Republican though the label is losing much of its luster. I just don’t attack based on blind-partisan bilge. If that works for you and your enraged lifestyle, great. You are, however, far afield in your assessment of my politics.
Thanks again for the ad hominem attack. The tactic suits you well. Good day kind sir.
The Race Card on July 24, 2009 at 4:30 PM
You should be caned in Thailand for tragic sentence structure.
The Race Card on July 24, 2009 at 4:32 PM
Maybe I am paranoid. I have started thinking that Obama will say stupid things or send Dummy Biden out to do the same, to take the heat off of him when he gets himself in a pickle.
TXMomof3 on July 24, 2009 at 4:33 PM
Well that did not take long .There old sellout Newt on Fox telling Neal that he thought the Pres acted classy by calling the policeman and inviting him to the W.H..Newt as gone off the deep end.Leave it to Newt to come in and try to save Obama and turn around and trash Rush or Gov.Palin.I guess he thinks this will make the news media love and say nice things about him what a jerk.
thmcbb on July 24, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Ever heard about problem children who will do bad things to get attention vs. behaving well and being ignored? Obama is such an egomaniac that he’ll do ANYTHING to get attention.
marklmail on July 24, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Rational Thought on July 24, 2009 at 4:29 PM
I thought the same thing when Newt spewed that. Classy would have been not to say that at all.
TXMomof3 on July 24, 2009 at 4:35 PM
I couldn’t sit through the whole thing – had to stab my eardrums with pencils.
Ass. If any teenager in America tried to deliver that kind of non-apology to a parent, he would have gotten smacked into next week.
But I would kill to be at Crowley’s tonight. I’m sure it’s some story to tell.
gopmom on July 24, 2009 at 4:36 PM
It might be true that this will distract from the health care debacle, but only in the sense that it seems to be yet another debacle. That is like saying the charging tiger was a distraction from the attacking bear.
Terrye on July 24, 2009 at 4:37 PM
From the Boston Herald:
Again with the “I want to make clear” indicator that he’s blatently lying through his teeth.
crazy_legs on July 24, 2009 at 4:37 PM
If I was in Sgt. Crowley’s position I would tell ogabe to pound sand.
farright on July 24, 2009 at 4:37 PM
lol!lol!lol! He’s such an effing comedian. :roll:
It is absolutely pathetic that he continues to spread lies (i.e, Gates was not “pulled out of his house”), refuses to apologize & keeps playing the race card. This is not the Rodney King beating — this is a guy actually like a total a$$hole when the police show up at his house to protect him & his property.
And it is totally pathetic that the POTUS is commenting on this incident whatsoever.
Dark Star on July 24, 2009 at 4:38 PM
my enraged lifestyle huh? i bet you’d rather me sit in the movie theatre shoving popcorn into every orifice on my body watching harry potter ride a broomstick for the 1,000th time like all of the calm, sane people in this world who could give a rats ass what is happening to our country. unlike them and others, i refuse to be polite and calm about all of this anymore. i apologize for attacking you by assuming where your voting was concerned. and speaking of lunch, how great is In N Out burger out there?
Ghoul aid on July 24, 2009 at 4:38 PM
All Drama Obama. Wow. He thrives on Drama. Will ObamaDrama ever end? I am so tired of the POTUS lashing out at individuals; he acts like a bully. Maybe thats the way it’s done in Chicago, but the president of the USA needs to grow up and stop bashing people/groups.
His very 1st press conference, he made snarky remarks about First Lady Nancy Regan . From then on Obama has bullied the GOP, Wall Street, Wealthy people, Rush, Fox, Hanity, Doctors..Yet Obama hasn’t said an unkind word about ACORN or the Black Panthers…
Mr. President: Due to your far-left liberal policies, you will never have my vote; today, you’ve lost my respect.
TN Mom on July 24, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Uh. Are we related? My grandfather made us do that, too. And if you picked one too small, he’d send you back out there again to prolong your agony.
Key West Reader on July 24, 2009 at 4:39 PM
thmcbb on July 24, 2009
Newt is confusing “attention” with “relevance”. He can get the former but never again know the latter.
SKYFOX on July 24, 2009 at 4:40 PM
.
That’s IT Barry…you’ve lost your ipod, your Xbox, your car keys…AND your Blackberry….for a month!!
dont taze me bro on July 24, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Yep, his first try was golden!
misslizzi on July 24, 2009 at 4:41 PM
He stepped in animal droppings barefoot and is now trying to scrape it off, but the cops, bulldogs that they are, refuse to let it go…. I say good for them! Make it sting!
dogsoldier on July 24, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Key West Reader on July 24, 2009 at 4:39 PM
I think it is because we were all raised in the South.
TXMomof3 on July 24, 2009 at 4:43 PM
SMARTEREST President EVAH!!!!!!
jukin on July 24, 2009 at 4:44 PM
WHAT THE F@CK IS THIS A$$HOLE DOING LECTURING US ABOUT TEACHABLE MOMENTS WHEN IT WAS HIS OWN BIG FAT KNOW IT ALL RACE BAITING MOUTH THAT CREATED THE PROBLEM HE IS BEING FORCED TO ADDRESS???
IS HE INSANE OR JUST RETARDED?
WHAT A FLAMING BALL OF ORAL DIAREAH THIS IDIOT IN CHIEF IS.
SERIOUSLY CAN HE EVEN SEE THE SUNSHINE FROM HIS BACK PORCH?
BillaryMcBush on July 24, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Hey Obama,
Don’t you have better things to do than involve yourself in Drama?
Where are the JOBS?
Where is the Budget Report?
How will you pay for HealthCare reform?
P.S. WHERE ARE THE JOBS?
TN Mom on July 24, 2009 at 4:45 PM
You know, I’m starting to feel a little sorry for this guy. He was elected into office with high approval ratings, adoring fans, fawning media, rockstar status, drooling fans.
He has failed his electorate. He had folks believing that somehow, if he were elected he’d get their mortgage paid, their cars paid, the seas would calm, the world would rejoice, unicorns farting skittles would appear in everyone’s yard and there’d be no more bad breath.
The man over promised and under delivered. People are now beginning to pull back that carpet to see what is underneath. They don’t like what they see.
Obama and his media are to blame for his plummeting numbers and lack of performance. I feel sorry for the folks that got swindled by a Chicago politician.
Key West Reader on July 24, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Love that new slogan.
RushBaby on July 24, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Shows you what a piss-poor attorney he would have been…can’t keep his mouth shut.
right2bright on July 24, 2009 at 4:45 PM
BillaryMcBush on July 24, 2009 at 4:44 PM
You know, I am almost to point of all caps in bold myself.
TXMomof3 on July 24, 2009 at 4:46 PM
No but bawney fwank can.
farright on July 24, 2009 at 4:46 PM
A “teachable moment”…you weren’t elected to be taught, the White House isn’t a school house…
right2bright on July 24, 2009 at 4:46 PM
My mom would have smacked me so hard I would have ended up in the stone age.
chemman on July 24, 2009 at 4:47 PM
He needs to apologize…go ahead, ah-pollah-giiiize. :-)
Alden Pyle on July 24, 2009 at 4:47 PM
I’m not sure that he can see sunshine from that back porch…
right2bright on July 24, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Obama has zero experience. It shows!
TN Mom on July 24, 2009 at 4:48 PM
Wow! Hillary was right. The White House is not the place for on the job training.
TXMomof3 on July 24, 2009 at 4:49 PM
You should talk to your shrink (again!) about your MPD.
VibrioCocci on July 24, 2009 at 4:49 PM
He should take the blue pill.
farright on July 24, 2009 at 4:49 PM
I think we can all agree:
The president acted stupidly!
TN Mom on July 24, 2009 at 4:51 PM
Actually it’s very relevant and not the distraction he’d want it to be. People don’t want obamacare, and with His poll numbers slipping badly it becomes easier for “conservative” democrats to take a stand against his policy.
The more idiocy and controversy he ‘stupidly’ stirs up, the weaker he looks to anyone outside of his kook aid base (and maybe even a few of them if they have the shame to be embarrassed). This specific case is cut and dried and the more teh one weasels the worse he looks. The worse he looks the farther the polls fall, and the farther the polls fall, the easier it will be to get obamacare killed.
Fighton03 on July 24, 2009 at 4:51 PM
A great learning tool for harvard educated snobs and elitist. About time for another trip overseas to show people that he does indeed know how to apologize.
bluegrass on July 24, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Fighton03 on July 24, 2009 at 4:53 PM
What…spending a night in the slammer for being an azz?
Fighton03 on July 24, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Time to bring Biden back in town!
bluegrass on July 24, 2009 at 4:54 PM
I’m thinking PUMA’s everywhere are pissed. Now, add all the Peggy Joseph’s and Henrietta Hughes’ to that mix and you’ve got an approval rating of. Uh. Uh. 27% by October.
Key West Reader on July 24, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Nahh, accept it, along the lines of “I think you’ve made it clear that you were imprecise in calibrating your words” – that is, with the same phrase Obama uses, and for the same reason.
Blacksmith on July 24, 2009 at 4:55 PM
Looks like Obama took a page from Joe’s playbook.
Drudge is calling this a “MESS” and I think it makes joe look like a statesman
ted c on July 24, 2009 at 4:56 PM
This subject may yet yeild a whole week’s worth of Obamateurisms!
Wrong — you rekindled a dying fire.
Wrong — you actually maligned both.
Of course you could have, but you were off TOTUS and actually paused thoughtfully, coming up with “acted … stupidly”.
Yeah, “Stupid is as Stupid does.”
He never appologized. He actually seems to justify Gates’ conduct. This only makes matters worse for cops everywhere as the message sent by the President of the United States is that cops should give some lattitude and allow some acting out if a racial minority is the subject of any kind of investigation.
What unmittigated gall.
EconomicNeocon on July 24, 2009 at 4:56 PM
How bout that Hope and Change America.
You probably ain’t seen nothing yet
As Bullwinkle once said, wrong hat Rocky.
bluegrass on July 24, 2009 at 4:56 PM
“Oh no no no, Not G-D Bless America, G-D Damn America!”
Twenty years of listening to Rev Wright. Twenty years of filthy racist remarks. Obama’s chickens are coming home to roost.
TN Mom on July 24, 2009 at 4:56 PM
Note that the other Gates–the rich one–had sense enough to drop out of Harvard.
baldilocks on July 24, 2009 at 4:58 PM
You owe me a clean keyboard! LMAO!
Key West Reader on July 24, 2009 at 4:58 PM
As the whole point of his press conference was to rally the troops behind his faltering health care proposal, it must be judged a failure on its own merits.
Fred 2 on July 24, 2009 at 4:58 PM
I don’t normally post until I’ve read every one else’ but I was dealing with a plumber. Anyway, if someone else mentioned this, my apologies.
Obama chooses his friends poorly. First there is Wright, then Ayers, and now this racist college professor. Does he have any normal, decent friends?
Rose on July 24, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Sargeant Crowley under the bus with Barry’s grandma–typical white people.
Definitely a teachable moment for those who acted stupidly, not including Sargeant Crowley. But is Barry teachable?
Steve Z on July 24, 2009 at 4:59 PM
EconomicNeocon on July 24, 2009 at 4:56 PM
good analysis on that one.
ted c on July 24, 2009 at 5:00 PM
Humpty Dumpdiddy Sat on a Wall
Humpty Dumpdiddy Had a Great Fall!
All of the Media and all their Men
Couldn’t put Humpty Back Together Again.
/The Children’s Story of Barack Hussein Obama and His Failed Policies of the Post Bush Era.
Key West Reader on July 24, 2009 at 5:01 PM
Yes!
Karl Marx.
Key West Reader on July 24, 2009 at 5:02 PM
It’s really funny and fortunate for the USA that this news was unable to get buried in the Friday afternoon 3:00 news dump that is the usual Obama method.
They are going to be eating this turd burger and doing damage control on Sunday with it at least until Michael Jackson dies again or some other catastrophe of national import.
But, the Obamacare autopsy marches on….
ted c on July 24, 2009 at 5:03 PM
Heh. Very true. At least Gates at defense had no Harvard connection – though Georgetown is a little close for comfort. Sheesh, there are Gateses all over the place.
progressoverpeace on July 24, 2009 at 5:04 PM
Turd Burger. Hah. You have just elevated the Obama agenda from Crap Sandwich to… Turd Burger.
Things are escalating, folks. We are in escalation mode. Begin Obama recalibration process STAT. Revive TOTUS. Only TOTUS can save us now. From the O-blivion.
Key West Reader on July 24, 2009 at 5:06 PM
You’re not doing our side any favors.
It goes further back than that and it’s about more than color. Two words: Sandy Burglar.
baldilocks on July 24, 2009 at 5:07 PM
No all of his “friends” find themselves under the bus.
farright on July 24, 2009 at 5:12 PM
Drudge has a new headline about this and it just says…
MESS
MobileVideoEngineer on July 24, 2009 at 5:15 PM
Oh, he changed it, now it says…
HOT MESS
MobileVideoEngineer on July 24, 2009 at 5:16 PM
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