President Obama addresses the "Media Frenzy" over his Remarks: That's an Understatement ...make that Circus!
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama backed down on Friday from a statement that police had "acted stupidly" in arresting a black scholar in a racially charged case that was rapidly becoming a distraction for Obama. The president made a surprise appearance in the White House press briefing room shortly after he spoke by phone to Cambridge, Massachusetts, police Sgt. James Crowley, who had arrested Henry Louis Gates, a prominent scholar of African-American studies at Harvard, last week.
Crowley suggested Obama invite him and Gates, to the White House for a peace-making beer, and a plan was in the works to do so, Obama said. Obama later called Gates, had a positive discussion, told him about his phone call with Crowley and invited him to join Crowley at the White House in the near future, the White House said. The case quickly became a media frenzy, with Cambridge police in an uproar, Gates accusing Crowley of racist behavior and threatening a lawsuit.
Obama said he hoped the event would end up being a "teachable moment, where all of us instead of pumping up the volume spend a little more time listening to each other" and improve race relations "instead of flinging accusations." "Lord knows we need it right now -- because over the last two days as we've discussed this issue, I don't know if you've noticed, but nobody has been paying much attention to health care," he said.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/090724/...
{And as quickly as it began... It is Over... the boys will sit down with a beer. I wish women could make up as peaceful as this!! (((Lol))) Way to go President Obama & I applaud you for not allowing the American media to continue this "Race Baiting Media Circus". The American Press God help you ALL.}
Crowley suggested Obama invite him and Gates, to the White House for a peace-making beer, and a plan was in the works to do so, Obama said. Obama later called Gates, had a positive discussion, told him about his phone call with Crowley and invited him to join Crowley at the White House in the near future, the White House said. The case quickly became a media frenzy, with Cambridge police in an uproar, Gates accusing Crowley of racist behavior and threatening a lawsuit.
Obama said he hoped the event would end up being a "teachable moment, where all of us instead of pumping up the volume spend a little more time listening to each other" and improve race relations "instead of flinging accusations." "Lord knows we need it right now -- because over the last two days as we've discussed this issue, I don't know if you've noticed, but nobody has been paying much attention to health care," he said.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/090724/...
{And as quickly as it began... It is Over... the boys will sit down with a beer. I wish women could make up as peaceful as this!! (((Lol))) Way to go President Obama & I applaud you for not allowing the American media to continue this "Race Baiting Media Circus". The American Press God help you ALL.}
Isn't this obvious how a situation can be flare with the smallest spark. If only Gates and the officer could of just been a lot more respectful of each other, and if also the neighbor who called the police in the first place would have known " his own neighbor. "