Video: Police union demands an apology from Obama, Patrick
posted at 1:36 pm on July 24, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Does the union for the Cambridge police department read Hot Air? That was the first reaction from College Politico, who thought that their response to Barack Obama’s nationally-televised criticism of them as stupid amply demonstrated the ignorance of the issue that Obama professed. The union demanded an apology from both President Obama and Governor Deval Patrick for jumping to a very public conclusion, and they argue, the wrong one:
I’ve remarked at least twice on the blog that if you have to start off a sentence with “I wasn’t there and I don’t have all the facts,” the only correct conclusion to it is “so I have nothing to say about it at the moment.” Did they read that here? Actually, I rather doubt it. It’s pretty much a common-sense rule, which makes Obama’s failure to understand it quite indicting.
Update: That point applies equally to all sides, actually. I don’t know that Sergeant Crowley handled this properly; I don’t know whether Henry Gates was so disruptive that he had to be arrested; and even if Crowley didn’t handle this properly (which I also don’t know), I have even less knowledge of whether that came from some racial animus or just bad judgment in reaction to verbal abuse. In that situation, it’s better to let the city complete its own investigation to determine what happened — which is exactly what Barack Obama and Deval Patrick should have done before leaping to conclusions on all of these counts.
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Not that I’m a fan of unions (particularly public service unions), but…
Count to 10 on July 24, 2009 at 1:39 PM
If Obama’s lost Cambridge, believe me, he’s lost America!
INC on July 24, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Delicious. More, please.
OmahaConservative on July 24, 2009 at 1:40 PM
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…Dennis O’Conservative
GOP Games again!!!
WashJeff on July 24, 2009 at 1:40 PM
scorecard of victimology:
woman beats white man
gay beats woman
black beats gay
COP BEATS BLACK!
(but only if you give him some lip)
WWS on July 24, 2009 at 1:40 PM
If Obama’s lost Cambridge, believe me, he’s lost America!
INC on July 24, 2009 at 1:39 PM
They’ll still vote for Bozo.
txag92 on July 24, 2009 at 1:41 PM
Maybe they should stop cuffing people on their front porches. Just a thought.
crr6 on July 24, 2009 at 1:41 PM
Let me be clear.
I believe the
police officerthe President of the United States, Barack H. Obama, acted stupidly.Good Lt on July 24, 2009 at 1:41 PM
Ogabe- An unindicted co-conspirator.
Fletch54 on July 24, 2009 at 1:41 PM
I wonder what Romney would say about Obama’s turmoil in Massachusetts.
myrenovations on July 24, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Don’t hold your breath Cambridge PD, Obama doesn’t apologize to Americans, only to foreign dictators.
Scrappy on July 24, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Note found on Professor Gates classroom door this morning ….
“NO CLASS TODAY. FOR TOMORROW’S CLASS WRITE A 1000 WORD ESSAY ON THE PROS AND CONS OF VICTIMHOOD.”
fogw on July 24, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Obama will do what democrats always do. Either threaten them into silence or shower them with taxpayer dollars.
darwin on July 24, 2009 at 1:43 PM
He’s not losing Cambridge, but Obama’s inclinations to double down on his statements as long as he has the hard core Democratic base behind him probably isn’t going to help his cause among swing voters or in swing states.
jon1979 on July 24, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Slow down?
darwin on July 24, 2009 at 1:44 PM
Maybe if the person getting cuffed isn’t acting like a complete douche, they wouldn’t.
Torch on July 24, 2009 at 1:44 PM
The police union just doesn’t get it. Obama only apologizes for our mistakes (as Americans). He never apologies for his own mistakes. Haven’t they been paying attention?
JohnInCA on July 24, 2009 at 1:44 PM
More importantly, he never seems to apologize for himself, only for his associates.
Count to 10 on July 24, 2009 at 1:44 PM
You are probably correct.
myrenovations on July 24, 2009 at 1:44 PM
Where’s the post on Waxman threatening to bypass his committee and let Pelosi go straight to a floor vote?
Seems like kind of an important development…
BadgerHawk on July 24, 2009 at 1:45 PM
crr6 on July 24, 2009 at 1:41 PM
You and Gates should feel free to watch Chris Rock’s informative video “How NOT To Get Your A$$ Beat By The Police”.
One of the steps denoted in there? “BE POLITE”.
teke184 on July 24, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Not really a problem. They only do it to black people.
JiangxiDad on July 24, 2009 at 1:45 PM
The racist cops will never get no apology from the President. If white people don’t like being called racists then they should stop being racists
equality on July 24, 2009 at 1:45 PM
and why is no body pointing out that Obama likes hanging out with RACISTS….
Kaptain Amerika on July 24, 2009 at 1:45 PM
So, people should have free rein to break the law on the front porch?
Pablo on July 24, 2009 at 1:45 PM
How’s it feel to keep arguing the same point when a steady stream of facts run counter to it?
BadgerHawk on July 24, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Ann Coulter was on Red Eye last night and claimed that she knows that Axelrod planted the question. Has this been reported anywhere else?
Mark1971 on July 24, 2009 at 1:46 PM
Yep – not really the place I would have expected him to get jammed up like this.
forest on July 24, 2009 at 1:46 PM
Go hang out at dkos, racist.
BadgerHawk on July 24, 2009 at 1:47 PM
Middle name is “Knee”, I’m sure.
Those rascally Rethuglicans. ;-)
Abby Adams on July 24, 2009 at 1:47 PM
uh oh…somebody call the waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaambulance!!!
I know full well that in this country, regardless of freedom of speech, its an unspoken understanding that you are not to be a douchebag to the police. If so, you get whats coming to you.
That said, if you know your cops didnt need to necessarily arrest the guy…why come out so forcefully? Why not just admit your guy could’ve shown a bit more restraint, been the bigger man and walked away?
ernesto on July 24, 2009 at 1:47 PM
Don’t these people understand?
All the world’s a stage and we are merely players in the “I love Barack Obama” show.
Appear for a scene and quietly depart the scene, once the start of the show makes a point.
Know your place you uppity second stringer.
NoDonkey on July 24, 2009 at 1:47 PM
Maybe you should read the police report, but then again lefy loon trolls like yourself don’t read.
Maybe you’ll understand better once they release the audio tapes. You can hear, can’t you?
Knucklehead on July 24, 2009 at 1:47 PM
Poor, poor Globama.
/Couldn’t happen to a nicer black supremecist.
Key West Reader on July 24, 2009 at 1:47 PM
The most apologetic president ever must have one left for the Cambridge police department.
fourdeucer on July 24, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Weird. I wasn’t aware it’s against the law to jimmy open your own front door if it’s stuck.
crr6 on July 24, 2009 at 1:48 PM
+1
More, please.
Terrie on July 24, 2009 at 1:48 PM
O’Connor/Alford 2012!
mankai on July 24, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Forget the apology, we’d all be safer if the Precedent would resign before we are forced to throw the moron out.
progressoverpeace on July 24, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Whaaaaaaaaatt doooooooes a yelloooooow liiiiight mean?
Name the sitcom and character for that quote.
WashJeff on July 24, 2009 at 1:48 PM
after yesterday’s news conference by the chief of Cambridge police, who here thinks the Chief voted for Obama?
Kaptain Amerika on July 24, 2009 at 1:48 PM
And your only evidence of racism is that they were white. And who’s the racist???
Scrappy on July 24, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Reported as fact? No. Speculated? You bet. The body-language showing that the questioner knew she was getting called on before she actually got called on, combined with the softball nature of the question, made people ask “WTF?” right away.
teke184 on July 24, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Thank you. This thing is going to pass the House right under our noses.
Missy on July 24, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Axelrod denies having any responsibility and says Ann is a poopyhead.
fogw on July 24, 2009 at 1:49 PM
The people of Massachusetts don’t care. They’ll still vote for a liberal. Let’s see if they’ll be dumb enough to vote for Patrick and Obama again.
I’m telling you, Oprah’s friends are causing havoc all over America: Gates, Obama, Patrick, Wright, etc.
jencab on July 24, 2009 at 1:49 PM
It is a well known fact that the police like to abuse people of color
equality on July 24, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Maybe citizens should be more cooperative with police and not start calling them names, and insult their mothers, while the police are assisting them.
No one signs up to be publicly abused by a narcissistic professor.
A learned PHD does not project himself or express himself in such a vile way. I and others would assume he is either on drugs, or he is not whom he says he is…not unusual in a potential break in situation.
Next time you are stopped by police you have my permission to get out of the car, begin yelling at the police, tell them what you think of their mother…let’s see what happens to you, you little wimp.
right2bright on July 24, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Der Fuhrer knows everything about everything.
GarandFan on July 24, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Finally, someone speaks common sense in this bizarro world we’ve been living in for the last 6 months.
I’ve been listening to Rush and Dennis Prager’s take on this all morning, both spot on!
It will be interesting to see what move the The One has up his sleeve on this one.
silenced majority on July 24, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Everything that’s come out so far has backed up the officer’s actions. I’m hoping the tapes help make things even clearer.
BadgerHawk on July 24, 2009 at 1:49 PM
and don’t jimmy the doe, or you won’t have tonsils no mo.
marklmail on July 24, 2009 at 1:49 PM
It is a well known fact that people who make those kind of comments are child molesters…
right2bright on July 24, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Insipid little douche-bag.
OmahaConservative on July 24, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Maybe people should COOPERATE with a police investigation instead of playing the race card ALONG WITH the “Don’t you know who I am?” card.
I have no sympathy for people who mouth off to police and make a scene…
…especially when the whole thing could have been averted simply by cooperating with the police officer.
Religious_Zealot on July 24, 2009 at 1:50 PM
He’s free to do that, just like you’re free to toss out straw men.
BadgerHawk on July 24, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Weird, I wasn’t aware that was why he was cuffed…. oh yeah, it wasn’t.
Scrappy on July 24, 2009 at 1:50 PM
White House Response: Deity does not apologize.
mankai on July 24, 2009 at 1:50 PM
You mean jigger?
MobileVideoEngineer on July 24, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Obama and his fug wife are racists. Their fall will be my joy.
SouthernGent on July 24, 2009 at 1:50 PM
“The People’s Republic of Cambridge.” Heh.
Pablo on July 24, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Obama didn’t call the cops “racist”, he called them “stupid”. Sheesh, for a troll, you’re not a particularly good one. You make me miss the days of DeathToMediaHacks, sigh.
LastRick on July 24, 2009 at 1:51 PM
Police
uniondemands an apology from Obama, PatrickD_ _ M Straight!
CynicalOptimist on July 24, 2009 at 1:51 PM
How ’bout our president, who can’t seem to get the hang of the on-the-job training thing, keep his trap shut when it comes to telling other people how to do their jobs?
At least until he demonstrates a mastery of his. Which will come about the 10th of “Never-ber”.
NoDonkey on July 24, 2009 at 1:51 PM
As i said, belligerent behavior towards the police gets you punished, regardless of your rights. Im ok with that. Either way, the police officer didnt HAVE to do what he did. He didn’t HAVE to cuff the guy and take him in. He CHOSE to do that because he felt he was being disrespected. That’s not exercising restraint, that’s being a hothead. Why should that behavior be so rabidly defended by the police union?
ernesto on July 24, 2009 at 1:51 PM
With August 7th, 2009, being Obama’s deadline for damage control…..one can only muse: “So many Waterloos and so little time….”
It’s heartbreaking to see the One… bumble his best opportunities….
*weeps*
Mcguyver on July 24, 2009 at 1:51 PM
When you arrest someone, standard procedure is to cuff them. Even if they are standing on their front porch.
Maybe you should give it more than just a thought.
MarkTheGreat on July 24, 2009 at 1:51 PM
Oh, so you’re referring to those charges that were immediately dropped? Gotcha.
crr6 on July 24, 2009 at 1:52 PM
FIFY
Daggett on July 24, 2009 at 1:52 PM
You have a rather loose standard for calling something a fact, you racist.
BadgerHawk on July 24, 2009 at 1:52 PM
A black person cannot be racist. Black people don’t have the power to implement racist policies and rape a whole generation of people for hundreds of years like white people
equality on July 24, 2009 at 1:52 PM
And he hurried through the previous question so he could get this reporters question in, he even stated that fact.
He knew that question was going to wrap up his conference.
right2bright on July 24, 2009 at 1:52 PM
you should really read the police report before you open your mouth and remove all doubt that you are a fool. he was not arrested for breaking and entering.
Kaptain Amerika on July 24, 2009 at 1:52 PM
But there is a law against disorderly conduct, a$$.
Let me know where you live and when you won’t be home… surely you’ve told your neighbors not to call the police if they see someone jimmying open your front door.
mankai on July 24, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Idiot. Thats not why he was arrested. He was arrested because the officer is white, and therefore racist. Don’t you listen to your President?
JiangxiDad on July 24, 2009 at 1:52 PM
ummmmm:) please more of the same,it’s been a long time comin’!The only part that makes me happier is the fact o was the one who stepped in it,so as much as he will blame others,he’s the one who gave the STUPID answer!
ohiobabe on July 24, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Whaaaaaaaaatt doooooooes a yelloooooow liiiiight mean?
Name the sitcom and character for that quote.
WashJeff on July 24, 2009 at 1:48 PM
“Taxi” and it was Christopher Lloyd as Rev. Jim.
He would be more qualified than Obama, btw..
TexasJew on July 24, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Maybe his answer at the presser was the “Shout Out” to his ACORN thugs to get knockin on the doe for health care, before ACORN gets shut down. Power to the peeps.
Key West Reader on July 24, 2009 at 1:53 PM
How come no reporter has asked Sgt. Crowley if he deliberately drew Prof. Gates outside of his home so he could arrest him?
Sorry, but when it comes to agents of the state and their labor unions, my default position is that they don’t have my best interest at heart. Public employees should not be allowed to organize labor unions. There are plenty of restrictions on government workers, like the Hatch Act that controls political activity on the part of Fed workers, so there’s ample precedent.
Other than dropping the race card Gates acted no differently than most Americans would if challenged on our right to be in our own home. Well Americans who aren’t badge bunnies.
Sure, Crowley went by the book, down to establishing a legal basis for arresting Gates (the boilerplate language from the ordinance – yeah like cops routinely use words like tumultuous) by drawing an enraged man out into a public view. That just demonstrates how cop training and culture puts supreme value on cops’ authority and showing anyone perceived as challenging that authority who’s really in charge.
Crowley was just demonstrating that he was a BSD compared to Gates and I bet he was joking with his buddies back at the shop about he put some smartass Harvard prof in his place.
rokemronnie on July 24, 2009 at 1:53 PM
LOL. Seems like Barry is the great uniter. Way to go Dumbo.
JiangxiDad on July 24, 2009 at 1:53 PM
It just occurred to me that if Gates had felt that he really was going to be treated worse because he was black, he would have acted a lot more respectfully. If he were really AFRAID of what would happen to him, he wouldn’t have dared to scream insults at the cops.
My guess is he knew very well that, because he was a Respected Harvard Professor, he would come out fine in the end. I think he was really just teed off because the cop didn’t know what a close personal friend of the mayor, president, etc, he was. I think the whole thing was really about class, not race.
Lily on July 24, 2009 at 1:53 PM
Got some links or statistics to back up your claims?
Knucklehead on July 24, 2009 at 1:53 PM
But that’s the role of a socialist/fascist dictator and his thugs. He tells everyone how to do their jobs. It’s all about control.
Daggett on July 24, 2009 at 1:53 PM
Definition of racism:
Might want to check the picture from the scene, champ, one of the cops was black.
mankai on July 24, 2009 at 1:53 PM
and all whites are racist
and it is impossible for a black to be a racist
yeah, we’ve heard your racist screed so many times, we probably know it better than you do.
MarkTheGreat on July 24, 2009 at 1:53 PM
Fair point. But it’s the officer’s judgement call, and he made it. None of the facts point to race having anything to do with it.
BadgerHawk on July 24, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Koo Koo, Koo Koo, Koo Koo, time for the little birdie to come out of the cuckoo clock.
right2bright on July 24, 2009 at 1:54 PM
It’s also not against the law to pull out wiring from your starter assembly and stick the right ones together, instead of starting your car with a key.
Why don’t you park in front of your local PD, try that on your own car, and see what happens?
cs89 on July 24, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Rush just said that CNN reported that the newsconf. in Cambridge was “incendiary.”
I wonder if any neighborhoods will burn tonight??
JiangxiDad on July 24, 2009 at 1:54 PM
For him, it feels like home
MarkTheGreat on July 24, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Watch out, racist. I just heard a BanHammer get pulled out of the drawer.
BadgerHawk on July 24, 2009 at 1:54 PM
If Sharpie marches on Cambridge, there won’t be anyone home to see it. :)
JiangxiDad on July 24, 2009 at 1:55 PM
You’re a dumbass.
Fletch54 on July 24, 2009 at 1:55 PM
The left don’t need no stinkin’ facts!
mankai on July 24, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety
-Benjamin Franklin
rokemronnie on July 24, 2009 at 1:55 PM
It is a well known fact that the police like to abuse people of color
equality on July 24, 2009 at 1:49 PM
It’s a well-known fact that you’re a troll.
TexasJew on July 24, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Good for Cambridge police!
Light this fire if you want to, Barry. I am ready.
petefrt on July 24, 2009 at 1:55 PM
I guess some people would classify that as a thought…
ajsleepy on July 24, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Okay, so clearly he’s putting us on. Good one, equality. You had those suckers believing you.
Well played.
Abby Adams on July 24, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Let’s just step back for a moment and enjoy the spectacle of a news conference — that was actually televised — in which some good, hardworking American citizens are telling Barack Obama: “Let us be clear – YOU owe us an apology.”
It’s nice. Affirming, even.
Rational Thought on July 24, 2009 at 1:56 PM
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