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That is not true. He didn't call anyone "stupid." He said the officers "acted stupidly" by arresting the man after he had proven that it was his home. (Words matter, Atilla.) He never gave any indication that he "assume" the police "were being racist." Also, that the man was arrested after police knew he was the homeowner was a known fact, admitted publicly by all involved, so he didn't state that "before he had the facts." He never said the police "were being racist"; indeed, he clearly indicated that he did not believe race played a role in this incident. So, again, please indicate what about his words were "prejudice[d]." Perhaps it is you who speaks "before [you have] the facts." Or are you simply being dishonest and twisting the truth?
Location: A wonderful, socioeconomically, ethnically, and culturally diverse little town
70 posts, read 74,948 times
Reputation: 32
Quote:
Originally Posted by YAZ
Mistakes were made by all parties involved.
This thing was way overblown.
I agree completely. The officers, Gates, the media, and the President, all made mistakes. However, I wish that when discussing this issue, people would not twist the truth into falsehood in order to make the President's share of blame seem worse than it actually is, or to make him seem like a racist. It's clear that some here are looking to demonize him in any way they can, and they're practicing dishonesty in order to do so. The truth is, the media gave it way too much attention and distracted from far more important issues. The officer was being too prideful and wouldn't just drop it and leave once he saw that everything was okay. Gates was extremely unreasonable in his response to a perfectly legitimate inquiry by the police, and helped provoke the officer's own inappropriate behavior. For the President's part, he chose his own words "stupidly." He should not have used the word "stupidly," but rather "inappropriately." He didn't attempt to make it into a race issue, as many have wrongly alleged, and he was not wrong in answering the question. If one listens objectively and reasonably to his comments, it is clear that he was indeed attempting to diffuse the notion that race played a role in the incident. I feel I have done a good job of explaining how the President's own comments show this truth - word for word. However, some here continuously ignore those portions of his statements, and insist on removing selected comments from their surrounding context and misquoting them in a fashion that seems to prove their false allegations. Whether they are simply being reckless, or are intentionally dishonest, I cannot say.
Obama should have said "no comment." The teachable moment should be Obama's. Shut your mouth and refrain from calling people or their actions names until you have all the facts.
Location: A wonderful, socioeconomically, ethnically, and culturally diverse little town
70 posts, read 74,948 times
Reputation: 32
Quote:
Originally Posted by cobolt
Obama should have said "no comment." The teachable moment should be Obama's. Shut your mouth and refrain from calling people or their actions names until you have all the facts.
That is not true. He didn't call anyone "stupid." He said the officers "acted stupidly" by arresting the man after he had proven that it was his home. (Words matter, Atilla.) He never gave any indication that he "assume" the police "were being racist." Also, that the man was arrested after police knew he was the homeowner was a known fact, admitted publicly by all involved, so he didn't state that "before he had the facts." He never said the police "were being racist"; indeed, he clearly indicated that he did not believe race played a role in this incident. So, again, please indicate what about his words were "prejudice[d]." Perhaps it is you who speaks "before [you have] the facts." Or are you simply being dishonest and twisting the truth?
I disagree. If he didn't believe that race had anything to do with the Gates arrest, then why did he continue to speak about racial profiling in America? If a man was accused of a sex crime and the President said "I don't know this man" and continued to speak about sexual predators and how we need to stop them etc., he would still be condemning the suspect, even before his trial.
Oh, speaking of racial profling, the 911 tapes were released today. The caller never mentioned race or color and said
"I don't know if they live there and they just had a hard time with their key. But I did notice they used their shoulder to try to barge in and they got in. I don't know if they had a key or not cause I couldn't see from my angle."
In fact, at one point she said that one of the men might be Hispanic!
Funny that it was the final question after an unproductive press conference about health care reform. Although I've been a strong supporter of Obama and voted for him, it seems odd that he ended the conference with a speech about race relations in America. Coincidence?
Obama should have said "no comment." The teachable moment should be Obama's. Shut your mouth and refrain from calling people or their actions names until you have all the facts.
Location: A wonderful, socioeconomically, ethnically, and culturally diverse little town
70 posts, read 74,948 times
Reputation: 32
Quote:
Originally Posted by justNancy
I disagree. If he didn't believe that race had anything to do with the Gates arrest, then why did he continue to speak about racial profiling in America? If a man was accused of a sex crime and the President said "I don't know this man" and continued to speak about sexual predators and how we need to stop them etc., he would still be condemning the suspect, even before his trial.
He spoke further about racial profiling for two reasons: First, it was a two-part question, which concerned both the individual incident, and what it says about America. Second, the President pointed out that because America has a history of racial profiling there are times that people mistakenly believe that racial profiling is occurring when it is not, alluding to the Gates incident. He was clearly trying to diffuse the idea that racial profiling occurred in this case. His exact words were:
“What we know *separate and apart from this incident* is that there is a long history in this country of African Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately…That is a sign – an example – of how race remains a factor in this society. That doesn’t lessen the incredible progress that has been made; I am standing here as testimony to the progress that’s been made. And yet, the fact of the matter is that this still haunts us. And *even when there are honest misunderstandings,* the fact that blacks and Hispanics are picked up more frequently – and often times for no cause – can add suspicion, *even when there is good cause.*â€
Please note the phrases "honest misunderstandings," and "add suspicion, even when there is good cause [for being stopped]." To what do you think the President was referring? Did you not read this explanation in my previous comments? No one will address this. People simply keep presenting the same allegations, as though they do not know of this.
Quote:
Originally Posted by justNancy
Oh, speaking of racial profling, the 911 tapes were released today. The caller never mentioned race or color and said
"I don't know if they live there and they just had a hard time with their key. But I did notice they used their shoulder to try to barge in and they got in. I don't know if they had a key or not cause I couldn't see from my angle."
In fact, at one point she said that one of the men might be Hispanic!
I'm not sure why you're telling me this. I never alleged that this incident involved racial profiling, or that the caller was wrong in making the call. Indeed, I have expressed that she was right to do so, and that I do not believe this was a case of racism. In fact, I have stated that I believe the professor overreacted and wrongly made it race issue.
Quote:
Originally Posted by justNancy
Funny that it was the final question after an unproductive press conference about health care reform. Although I've been a strong supporter of Obama and voted for him, it seems odd that he ended the conference with a speech about race relations in America. Coincidence?
I will not speculate concerning the President's motives, which I could not possibly know.
I'm so proud that they all got together, to wash up this BS!
Hopefully this will be a learning Tool!
1. If a Person shows you proof leave his property immediately!
2. If a cop comes to your house and ask you for proof that you live there, Show him the proof and be careful what you say! ( I know it will be very hard !)
3. Be careful to not disrespect the entire Police Dept.
Obama should have said "no comment." The teachable moment should be Obama's. Shut your mouth and refrain from calling people or their actions names until you have all the facts.
Well said.
He started with "I don't have all the facts" and I thought it was a good start. He did not know when to stop.
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