Obama vs. Cambridge police

[David Floyd]

Doesn't matter. 60 year olds can commit crimes, too, and when you are at the scene of a burglary call - even if it's YOUR HOUSE - only a moron is going to be an ******* to the responding officer. Cops don't need that **** - they are trying to prevent violent crime, and Gates' response was to "verbally **** on them"? Well, **** him then. Hope you enjoy your day in jail

[Caligastia]

Has anyone called this Gatesgate yet? Otherwise, meh.

[edit]Oh Cali did. An impressively non-racist post there Cali - must've required great willpower on your part.[/edit]

I've yet to see you muster the willpower to post after me without blurting the "racist!" insult. Good luck with that.

[Berzerker]

What a surprise. The lolbertarians show their true colours.

I've never seen a libertarian accuse rape victims of intruding upon their attackers by resisting (thats your "logic"). And since David and I dont agree on this issue, try to limit yer BS to one of us

sorry KH, I gotta let that go

[Caligastia]

What's your take on this Berz?

[Berzerker]

these guys deserve each other

[Caligastia]

Fair enough.

[Berzerker]

the cop pulled a dirty trick by telling Gates to step outside while he was shooting his mouth off, thats the basis for the disorderly conduct in public charge. Gates was an ahole because instead of thanking the cop (and neighbor) for watching out for his house he went ballistic on the profiling nonsense.

[notyoueither]

I have to say, I do not have any level of sympathy for Gates.

I've been in a worse situation than he was. I was awoken by a cop coming through my patio door. A friend/coworker had come over to my house at an arranged time, but I was sleeping in. I didn't answer the front door, so he came around the back and entered through the patio door (right beside the couch I was sleeping on).

A neighbour called the police when they saw my friend coming around and in the patio at the back of the house.

The police responded, came through the patio door with hands on guns. I was sleeping right there. I was 'holy ****!' After the initial shock and confrontation (*sits bolt upright* 'Don't move!' 'OK') they wanted ID. I had just moved so my DL had my old address on it. They wanted my name on a document at the address. I had received a phone bill there. *phew* This satisfied them, and they left.

The officers were agitated and confrontational throughout. They barked demands in sharp tones, but eventually settled into sullen resentment that their time was being wasted.

At no time did it occur to me to lip them off even though at no time was the encounter polite in a tip the hat sort of fashion. They made no apology for their agitated/aggressive behaviour and none was expected.

It was a confrontational situation that they responded to. Pouring gas on a fire would have been the worst possible thing to do.

[David Floyd]

the cop pulled a dirty trick by telling Gates to step outside while he was shooting his mouth off, thats the basis for the disorderly conduct in public charge. Gates was an ahole because instead of thanking the cop (and neighbor) for watching out for his house he went ballistic on the profiling nonsense.

That's pretty much my take on it, except that I think the dirty trick was perfectly understandable, and more than likely justified.

[Zkribbler]

So...Gates is a middle-age guy who has to walk with a cane. The police get a call of a possible burglar. They go to his house and demand that he identify himself -- four times. Meanwhile, the cop refused to likewise identify himself. And then he arrests Gates because Gates gets mad?!?

I'd have gotten mad too. The cop acted stupidly. First, in acting in a way that angered Gates; and second, for arresting Gates when Gates got angry.

I demand that Dennis O'Connor, president of the Cambridge Police Superior Officers Association, apologize to President Obama and to all of us who are offended by O'Conner's demand for an apology. And I demand that Cambridge police stop acting to stupidly.

[David Floyd]

Ummmm....police officers aren't required to identify themselves. Also, their distinctive uniform and mode of transportation should serve as plenty of identification. When YOU are the burglary suspect, it does not behoove you to act like a jackass, especially when your neighbor - who I'm sure the cops reasonably expect to know who you are - was the one who called them on you.

[Zkribbler]

They don't have to identify themselves...even after you've shown them ID...and even though they're verbally abusing you? Ah, what a sad world you much live in, David Floyd.

[DinoDoc]

They don't have to identify themselves...even after you've shown them ID...

Typically when a cop asks for an ID in a situation like this, I'd imagine he wants one with an address to actually prove this is your house.

[Grandpa Troll]

Not sure if anyone can answer this:

I wonder if it is known who made the call about a Burglar probability?

The reason is if it were a neighbor, surely they would know who Gates is?

One possible thing to look at, just a possibility, what if this was a setup?


Like someone Gates knows call an anonymous tip in stating that Gates house was being burglarized.

The Police show up, and Gates gets some free airtime, front and center Showtime Primetime to spew potential racially motivated propoganda?

Maybe not, but maybe a small possibility?

Gramps

[Lefty Scaevola]

It was his neighbor across the the street, who knows him, but was unable to recognized him while he, along with another man, a stranger to her, was breaking in his back door.