So, Massachusetts: What's up with Cambridge cops and professors?

[beachmom]

I have been busy this past week, and haven't followed the story much. I HAVE been checking in with Ta-Nehisi Coates for some insight:

http://ta-nehisicoates.theatlantic.com/

And, frankly, I was surprised that the President would insert himself into the controversy, even if I understand why he would be upset.

I see here in the Herald, that the Republicans have even gone after Kerry on it:

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1186768

National Republicans pounced on the president’s comments and even put pressure on Massachusetts lawmakers to address the remarks.

“Does (U..S. Rep) Michael Capuano believe President Obama’s comments were becoming of someone who holds the highest office in the land?” said National Republican Congressional Committee Communications Director Ken Spain. “This is certainly a questionable rush to judgment.”

National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman Brian Walsh posed a similar question to Bay State Sen. John F. Kerry. Both Kerry and Capuano declined to comment.

Smart move on their part, I think.

Anyway, I have not formed a strong opinion on this situation, because there seems to be much that we don't know. And the fact that Coates is not terribly outraged is interesting, especially when he points to the class aspect of it:

http://ta-nehisicoates.theatlantic.com/archives/2009/07/the_rage_of_a_privileged_class.php

The Rage Of A Privileged Class
24 Jul 2009 11:09 am

I don't think I've ever seen Harold Ford this animated, and I think I know why. I want to go back to something I said yesterday--There are a class of black people who understand that this sort of thing happens, and believe race is an aggravating factor. They get pissed off about this sort of thing, but at the same time, position it within their expectations of cops.

And then there are a class of black people, who like other highly accomplished people, have higher expectations, for how the police treat all people, but specifically for how cops treat them. I think it's important to remember, when you hear Barack Obama doubling down on this, exactly what world of black people he's rolling with. It's worth understanding, specifically, the world of Valarie Jarrett. It's worth understanding that Harold Ford isn't just a black guy, he's the scion of a southern political dynasty. This isn't Good Times. Or the Coates family. (Though we are on our way up, Negroes. Hide your debutantes, and guard your grill.)

There's a way of doing this analysis as a criticism--i.e. they only care because it's Gates. Surely class plays a role, but I think seeing it that way is as reductive as a strict race analysis.

Meanwhile, there is a parallel discussion of the cops who are "Irish" and "racist" (who knows?). Um, I am an Irish American, and I did not realize that all Americans of Irish descent are supposed to be racist.

That is just a sprinkling of the discussions going on. Kind of an ugly stew going on in Cambridge, no? Any insights some of the natives would like to share?

Ugh, here is the pathetic full statement from the RSCC guy:

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/AP/story/1154982.html

Gibbs' clarification Thursday wasn't enough to satisfy congressional Republicans. The National Republican Senatorial Committee announced that it would run Web ads using Obama's remarks to attack the president and the junior Democratic senator from Massachusetts, John Kerry.

"Does John Kerry think it's appropriate for our nation's commander-in-chief to stand before a national audience and criticize the men and women in law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day, when, by his own admission, he doesn't even know all the facts?" NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh asked in a statement.

Kerry isn't up for re-election until 2014.

[beachmom]

1. Oh, the President just spoke:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehvSP9zca1Y

Wow, he's good. I almost felt weepy watching it. That was a genuine moment.

[Inuca]

2. No time to watch now, but

I am sure I will see it (over and over) on the "real" tube once I get home. The whole thing is (was, hopefully) a mess, triggered by some not very carefully thought out words, and exploded out of all reasonable proportion by the media. Other reactions did not help either. Based on what I read, it seems he did the right thing in coming out tospeak about it and did it the right way. I trust your reaction to what you saw more than what I read in the media, really, so now I am looking forward to seeing it myself.

[wisteria]

3. Poor Kerry, he had nothing to do with any of this, but the Repubs interject him into it.

I am not going to say much about this incident because there are two sides-perhaps three to every story. I was surprised the President said anything at all on this, but it certainly is his right to do so. I would not question his opinion, but his choice of words regarding the police officer. I'm sure they were not meant in the way they came out, now, unfortunately, he gave the RW something to talk about and use against him.

[JI7]

4. Obama only commented on it because he was asked about it at the news conference

the media just went with it. they are bored with health care debate.

as for the RNC using this to attack Kerry. let them waste their money on that as they did with trying to fight Franken from getting into the Senate.

[cadmium]

5. One good thing about this whole dust up

It shows how good it is to have a union to back you up right or wrong.

[karynnj]

6. Good point

I agree with Beachmom - Kerry was smart to simply decline to comment.

I do think Obama was in the wrong here - not to the degree the RW said, but he did follow up saying that he didn't know the facts and said the cops did something unwarranted. Just as it would have been wrong to assume Gates did something wrong - here, before an audience of millions the President's remarks could be taken to say the cop engaged in racial profiling. (i know that is conflating two sentences, but they were said together. ) Obama's power and status relative to a cop, means that as soon as Obama had an inkling that the story was more complex, he should have called the guy. It's great he did it now - but it looks like he did it because of the outrage of the media and cops.

Kerry and Patrick were in really tough positions. I would actually imagine it was hard for him to see this cop - who didn't vote for Obama, but seemed to not be out to attack Obama (though he did go to talk radio.) It was far worse for Patrick, who is a state official. He likely shouldn't have backed Obama. In both cases, they would have been attacked if they even suggested that Obama was wrong.

As to the ads attacking Kerry as well as Obama - that is just silly, he did absolutely nothing in public.

[wisteria]

8. Good point! n/t

[TayTay]

7. I am sorry it turned into another "discussion" that doesn't go anywhere

I think it was a Cambridge story, a Mass story and a national story and it's different on each level. And that each level shares elements.

I think it's a Cambridge story in that Cambridge has tried incredibly hard to do diversity outreach. They have had community meetings with different interest groups within the city to try and be sensitive on a range of issues. They have LGBT outreach and officers, they have African-American and Latino outreach and so forth. I think they have made genuine good-faith efforts to be sensitive to a range of Cambridge residents and their concerns.

I think most Cambridge police officers don't live in Cambridge because they can't afford it. (Cops, btw, make nice paychecks in MA. My brother is a cop and he makes over $100K. Still can't afford Cambrdige.) I think Cambridge, particularly near Rindge Ave is having a lot of trouble with gang activity and there have been shootings and other violence there. The residents in that area are scared. I think the cops are trying to help out and it's not easy in bad economic times when money and resources that could be applied to help, aren't there.

I think Mass has a history of bad faith and racism that goes back a long ways. We also have the nation's only African-American governor. I think an African-American male has a higher chance of interacting with the cops than white males. I think there is a long history of racial profiling. (There have been several law suits brought which is why Sgt. Crowley taught how to avoid racial profiling in the first place. If there wasn't a need, he wouldn't have offered to teach that class for free.) I remember standing outside with a friend during the Patrick campaign in 06 and talking about race and if MA was "ready" to elect a black Governor. I was asked if white people would say they would vote for him and then not do it? I remember talking with my friend about our kids and our worries about our kids driving and how they would act if pulled over. My worries were enough, hers were overlaid with that fact that her son was black and had to be taught "the script" of how to act when interacting with the police. (Geebus, isn't it enough to have to worry about your kids being out without that hanging over your head too?)

I remember nationally having to answer, over and over, why the media was making such a big deal about Barack Obama's race just before the inauguration and how that irritated some people. "He didn't run as a black man, why is the media making this the overriding thing about the inauguration. He's the President of all the people and they are dividing people by overemphasizing this one thing." I remember asking if it was okay that Irish Americans had felt pride when JFK was elected.

I think I cried when Deval Patrick took the oath of office as Gov in Jan of '07. (I wrote about it here.) I think it brought up both good and bad emotions and reminded me of things that are painful. I felt was had made progress but had a ways to go yet.

I think we still do.

I think there is no "teachable moment" if both sides dig in and won't talk to the other. I think that the hateful words and caricatures have to stop. They are blocks that make it hard to see human beings on the other side. I think the President made a mistake and then was gracious and elegant in admitting that and finding a way to try and get the nation beyond the stubborn war of words. (What a good man.) I think we have a ways to go, both here in Mass and in the nation. We need to keep talking to each other and try and keep the name-calling and preconceived notions to a bare minimum. I think we could try thinking of each other as people of good faith who make mistakes. That would be a start.

So, I think a lot of things. And I worry. I have kids. Are they going to have this discussion in the same way 20 years from now? Are we doomed to an endless loop where the same soundtrack plays over and over or can we overcome that and really talk to each other. I worry about that.

And I have no answers for you. I think this was a sad incident. I hope something good comes out of it.

[wisteria]

9. Tay, this is a wonderful post and I agree with it all.

I am tired of the mistrust, the anger and the accusations. I am tired of some who take advantage of situations like this one, and I am tired of those who, like you said, dig their heals in and refuse to try and work it out.

[TayTay]

10. That is the worst part, the automatic freeze that happens

And the awful name-calling. There are horrible, divisive names that people just dig out and fling at those who don't agree with them. That is awful. Once those horrible epithets come out, it's damn hard to have a civil discussion.

We have come a long way in this country in trying to make Jefferson's promise of "life, liberty and pursuit of happiness" apply to all our citizens. We have a ways to go on that. There are bumps in the road along the way. Painful bumps. I would hope that we have reached the point where we can talk about it, explain what these these events mean to us, let people talk and explain themselves and not jump to conclusions.

Otherwise, this is just a bunch of rants that might as well be happening on Mars for all the good they do.

And sincere kudos to Prof. Gates and Sgt. Crowley for taking President Obama up on his offer to have a meeting at the White House and hash this out. Bravo gentlemen, bravo! Maybe we can get some honest-to-goodness talk and conversation going in which both sides feel they are being respected and heard by the other when they air their grievances. Thank you, Mr. President for being a grownup. We needed one.

[wisteria]

11. That gesture on Obama's part and the gentlemen accepting

is just wonderful. It brings tears to my eyes. This is how you get past the ugliness and make progress. Yes, kudos are in order- all around.

[YvonneCa]

18. When working with kids, we call these 'words that fuel' or...

...'words that calm.' The words one chooses in the midst of conflict makes a difference in whether the conflict ESCALATES or DE-ESCALATES. The media fans the 'words that fuel'. Obama chose to try 'words that calm', by offering his invitation for a beer.:)

We actually have kids make lists of both types of words...and they KNOW. "Stupidly" falls on the fueling side...even though probably unintended. :7

[MBS]

12. good thoughts, as usual.

Here are mine, for whatever they're worth.

1. The real idiot (and someone who hasn't gotten nearly the flack she deserves) is the Harvard Magazine staff member (the circulation and fund-raising manager, of all things!!!) who made the call in the first place. In her position (in an office just down the street from his house, no less) , she should definitely have known who Henry Louis Gates was, and what he looked like. If she didn't , she is way too clueless to hold a job like that. In an atmosphere where Harvard is laying legions of worthy people off, right and left, why does an idiot like this have a job?
In some article or letter to the editor, a midwesterner mentioned that, in the midwest, people , first of all, would know who their neighbors were, and would flock to help their neighbor solve his problem. It might be bumbling help, but they would try, and their good-will would be obvious. That would have been the more appropriate response, for someone who took the trouble to know their neighbors, and/or at least to ask what was going on.

2. Henry Louis Gates is a good guy. Our local cleaners (we're both customers of the same outfit) calls him "Mr. Happy", for good reason. He's civilized, affable, open to people.
I'm guessing that he came back from his China trip tired and cranky, and was anxious, as we all would be, to just get in his house and rest after a very very long trip . He's also gone through a divorce fairly recently, and perhaps that's also added to his personal pressures.
He has a healthy ego, no doubt: but he's absolutely not an asshole, and, in ordinary circumstances, is not one to put on airs. The way I see it: if he got this mad, he had ample reason to be angry. Sure, the anger didn't help the situation, to say the least. But, boy, I'd also be angry if someone threatened to arrest me when I was just trying to get into my own house.

3. I have no doubt that Crowley is an excellent police officer, but I think he overreacted.
4. So, Gates and Crowley both overreacted.
5. I can totally relate to Obama's first comments. First of all, he was responding as a friend of Gates (who is a strong support of Obama, went to his inauguration, etc), and also as someone who has experienced the same kind of thing (if not an actual arrest, certainly the "profiling" part), and must know plenty of others who have. His comments were real, and I really appreciated them for that. (And, as I said, I can totally see where he's coming from).
But the critical reaction of the press and the Talking Heads and police/people on the street Obama's comments seems to me way over the top.
6. So three sets of people have overreacted: Gates, Crowley, and the press/blogs etc

7. I read in the paper that Obama wants both Gates and Crowley to come visit him in the White House. I think this is a good idea.

[karynnj]

14. Your's and Tay Tay's comments are the best I have seen anywhere on the web

on this situation. Thanks to both of you for really putting everything into perspective.

[TayTay]

15. Thank you for you kind comments

This really could be a moment for some real exchange of ideas.

Prof. Gates, by all accounts, inlcuding those of MBS above, is a lovely man. That is what made this event so shocking in the first place. He is about the last person you would expect to be in a conflict like this.

The police officer has no history of complaints. Indeed he has a history to the opposite that shows he went out of his way to consider the possibility of police misconduct on the job. Otherwise, why teach how to avoid racial profiling?

These folks should talk and report back to us on how they are solving a problem. We might learn something from them.

[YvonneCa]

20. Great comments. Thank you for the local perspective...

...which I am lacking. :7 I also agree about the media where you said, " But the critical reaction of the press and the Talking Heads and police/people on the street Obama's comments seems to me way over the top." They have totally over-reacted, as usual. I posted on that yesterday, here:



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8551780&mesg_id=8551780

[YvonneCa]

17. We are so lucky to have a 'President Obama' after years of......

...no or incompetent leadership for years. Can you imagine Bush's answer to the question?

I agree that there are many perspectives on this (local,national,etc.) and that it is a sad event. I will admit that my response is at a national level.

"Teachable Moments". This country hasn't had a leader who understands their importance...until now. For me, it was refreshing that Obama just answered the question honestly, without equivocation. It may have been a political lapse to say 'stupidly', but he spoke his truth. That's okay by me...BETTER than okay.

Setting up honest communication about issues over which we have conflict is a first step in conflict resolution. Including the people in this communication is not what the country is used to, but it needs to happen. Often. JMHO. It IS how we fix things.


The actions of President Obama reflect the best of conflict resolution skills. (bring people together to communicate, use de-escalating language, listen to each other, etc.) I've worked for years teaching that to students in a program called 'Peace Patrol.' Here's a link...

http://interactionsforpeace.org/PeacePatrol_Home.aspx

Peace Patrol © empowers our youth with the strategies and skills necessary to build a strong foundation for non-violent interactions in our schools and communities:


Self-awareness and worth
Cooperation
Communication
Conflict Resolution
Parent and Community Connections


The Peace Patrol © Program, coupled with the rest of Our integrated set of programs, enables children to gain the knowledge necessary to further develop these skills and incorporate them into principles that will be used all of their life.


For me, I'm excited to see teachable moments being used to TEACH. When I've worked with kids to develop these skills...there has often been a disconnect when they see adults do the opposite. President Obama is giving them a new role model...one that leads to a better world. I applaud President Obama for his leadership. :patriot:

[YvonneCa]

25. OT- Must see YouTube...

...here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ0X1UmPFUE

I know it's off topic (except for the unity thing that JK works so hard for) but it made me smile. :)

[YvonneCa]

26. Kicking so you guys will watch...

... :7

[TayTay]

13. I also posted pretty much what I said here elsewhere on DU

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6147807&mesg_id=6147938

The "discussion" of this topic on a lot of so-called progressive or liberal blogs was awful this past week. People drew up sides and withdrew into the cocoon of their own opinions. Sad.

[beachmom]

16. Wonderful points by everyone.

Although Obama may have made a political "mistake", I appreciated him stating his feelings. He has actually been my guide on issues on race. I live in metro Atlanta, where race issues are always right below the surface. And, to this day, I have found his words very helpful when I have had to decide how to react to things. Especially his speech on race, and now his comments (ALL of them) on the Gates incident. He is kind of a middle ground, common ground barometer. So in addition to being President and all of that, he is a role model for the country in talking about this stuff.

By the way, I still agree with Eric Holder that we are a "nation of cowards" when it comes to discussing race. Probably because we have been burned so many times when we try to do so. Still, we should keep trying.

[YvonneCa]

19. I agree, beachmom. And we HAVE to keep trying. It will be...

...the key to 'perfecting' our union, to quote the President. The country is going to learn a lot in the next 7 1/2 years. ;)

[Inuca]

21. "the country is going to learn a lot"....

very nice way to put it, and yes, I agree (and hope).

[YvonneCa]

23. Thanks. Did you notice my positive, forward looking...

...number? :7

[Inuca]

22. Hi all

came back here after so many great things were said, so nothing to add except THANKS for the great read. Also, talking about "teachable moments", I wonder what actual form that already famous beer is going to take. I doubt that the three of them will just get together and down a couple, relaxing by the playset. We'll see...

[YvonneCa]

24. I hope it's private. Maybe with a joint statement...

...(like after a summit meeting) at the end. Where they all share their common ground. ;)