Yep, JUST what President Obama needed at this juncture of the health reform battle: A national debate over a supposedly racist cop. Remember when just such a thing was so beneficial to the O.J. Simpson prosecution team? And now our latest story is new and improved with an oven-fresh sports angle, which I’ll get to in a second.
On the left here we have Cambridge, Mass., police Sgt. James Crowley, who this past Thursday arrested noted Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates at Gates’ own home following a report of a break-in. Gates was arrested despite showing Crowley his ID, prompting President Obama to opine in his news conference on Wednesday that Crowley had “acted stupidly.” Is Crowley a racist? No, he says — he can’t be. Because he once gave mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to Celtics star Reggie Lewis.
OK, this is getting odd and uncomfortable.
Turns out Crowley was the campus police officer who tried to unsuccessfully resuscitate Lewis in 1993, when the 27-year-old Celtics forward suffered a fatal heart attack during an practice at Brandeis University.
“I wasn’t working on Reggie Lewis the basketball star. I wasn’t working on a black man. I was working on another human being,” Sgt. James Crowley, in an exclusive interview with the Herald, said of the forward’s fatal heart attack.
“Some people were saying ‘There’s the guy who killed Reggie Lewis’ afterward. I was broken-hearted. I cried for many nights,” he said.
Crowley, 42, said he’s not a racist, despite how some have cast his actions in the Gates case. “Those who know me know I’m not,” he said.
But Crowley has been on the receiving end of some pointed criticism, many categorizing the incident as an ugly example of racial profiling. Most vociferous has been Gates himself, who has demanded an apology. But Crowley says that he has nothing to apologize for. Enter the Prez.
“I don’t know, not having been there and not seeing all the facts, what role race played in that,” Obama said. “But I think it’s fair to say, No. 1, any of us would be pretty angry.
“No. 2, that the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home.” …
That Crowley would try to use the Lewis incident as a get-out-of-trouble card is a little disturbing (the New York Daily News account of the story indicates that he did; the Boston Herald story is a little less clear on that). But it’s not necessary to prove racist intent to flag Crowley for loutish, unprofessional behavior. Hell, if I were arrested for breaking into my own house (let’s just forget the notorious “nude tequila memory loss” incident), I’d want an apology.
Bonus: Obama gets off a funny line about breaking into the White House (see video below). Oh, and the Herald story already has about 700 comments. And the Mass. Police Officers’ Union is now mad at Obama for chiming in. But unless another sports angle crops up, I’ll leave it here. Seacrest out.
1:19 pm on July 23rd, 2009
From what I understand, Crowley has not brought up the Lewis incident. Those are quotes from 16 years ago. The whole things sounds to me like a professor tried throwing his weight around and got treated like anyone else. But I’m sure there will be more to the story. Wait and see.
1:39 pm on July 23rd, 2009
Granted the man was breaking into his own home… But I guaran-damn-tee you that if he was white they would have been very apologetic once they saw his drivers license bearing his address!
Racial profiling is real!!
2:03 pm on July 23rd, 2009
Read the police report on smoking gun, this professor would not stop running his mouth about race. “Race this, race that, your mama this” If this professor had any integrity, he would issue an apology today, saying the police were just doing their job. I’m pretty sure nothing will happen until Jesse and Al appear on the scene. Then the course of action will be charted. There will be new conferences and calls for this officers’ job. As for Barry’s comments on this incident, he should stick to thinking about more important stuff like how he can distribute the American working people’s wealth.
2:03 pm on July 23rd, 2009
Being overly-sensitive to the possiblity of racial profiling is real as well!! According to at least one witness, Mr. Gates was extremely uncooperative…and was demanding the officers badge number. While none of us were there, I think it is highly unlikely that Mr. Gates calmly explained his situation and the officer said “well, I’m going to arrest you anyhow.” In fact, are we positive that he was even arrested for breaking into his own house…and not for his behavior toward a cop who was trying to do his job. This officer was actually trying to protect Mr. Gates’ home and property (albeit from Mr. Gates himself, as it turns out). I want to state that I am an Obama supporter. But Mr. Gates and President Obama have possibly taken our country’s race relations “two steps back.” My opinion is that both owe an apology to the officer and the police department. And Mr. Gates needs to hide a spare key somewhere around his house.
2:59 pm on July 23rd, 2009
the depth of stupidity on this blog is astounding. He was in no way/shape/form arrested for “breaking into his won house”. he was arrested for disorderly conduct, for being disorderly and verbally abusive a police officer after repeated warnings to stop.
I don’t know where you guys grew up, or where the Professor grew up, but you don’t talk to cops like that unless you want trouble. They are not pinatas; they are there to protect us and our property. Do you think the Prof. would be laying into a “brother” with a badge doing just his job? Who is the real bigot?
3:10 pm on July 23rd, 2009
earl, why would you direct readers to read the police report on smoking gun, as if that contained the sacred story? if, in fact, the arresting officer is racist, what do you think his report would look like? duh, obviously that the guy was provoking him…anyway, im sure both guys were having a pissing contest, and who knows how this story will unfold, but racial profiling DOES exist….
3:16 pm on July 23rd, 2009
earl, you are one dumb sob (ha-ha-ha!).
You want us to read the police report that was created by the police to exonerate the police from any racists charges.
Thanks for the LOL moment.
3:20 pm on July 23rd, 2009
Cripe! Did any of you read the incident report (the cop’s own words)? Prof. was clearly being an ass, but didn’t do anything more than run his big mouth. Cop should’ve just walked away after confirming Prof’s identity as the homeowner.
Prof.: “Racism! Racism! Yo momma this-and-that! Do you know who I am?!?!”
Cop: “Have a good day, sir.” (return to squad car)
Better yet, deflect this pseudo-intellectual’s rage onto the busy-body who phoned in the suspected B&E to 911. Let them duke it out, and return to your beat.
Public servants (especially cops) should grow a thick skin and expect to take a reasonable amount of verbal abuse, especially from the more uppity, self-agrandizing, race-baiting citizenry. If Prof. laid a finger on Cop, then it’s a different ballgame.
Obama’s an idiot for chiming in (rather, for listening to the advisor who told him to chime in). He’s as ill-informed as anybody.
3:24 pm on July 23rd, 2009
Howie: You’re an idiot.
“…exonerate the police from racists [sic] charges.”
Exactly where in this situation is there a law against racist behavior? Cop was investigation a B&E tip, not hiring him for a public sector job. If there actually was a law against racist speech and actions, then the cop would’ve had grounds to arrest the prof, with all the racist, chest-thumping tripe he was spewing.
3:26 pm on July 23rd, 2009
I actually wrote “Sgt. James Crowley, who this past Thursday arrested noted Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates at Gates’ own home following a report of a break-in.” But that’s OK Tim, I still love you. You cherry-picked the second reference, where I was generalizing.
Bloggers are not pinatas!
3:28 pm on July 23rd, 2009
Well, doc, if you scroll up, you would see the post from earl.
But, perhaps that’s too difficult for you…being a doctor and all.
3:34 pm on July 23rd, 2009
Oooohhh this is going to get entertaining/ugly. Just read the report myself. If nothing else, it appears as if there were several witnesses. So the police report will be backed up or refuted by them being interviewed. (You know they will be.) I’m inclined to believe the police report since there were so many witnesses. If they get caught in a lie it’s game over. I think when the Prof. saw a white cop he saw dollar signs. “Yippe! I know what my next documentary is going to be! Now to get myself arrested!” And yes, if I had to break into my house and the cops came, I’d be glad they were looking out for my property. And if I decided to start screaming at him, I would expect to be arrested. And yes, I’m white. So sorry about that.
3:37 pm on July 23rd, 2009
So Howie and Dr. Mike, you’re saying something in that report didn’t happen the way it’s written? The report is an official document as to what took place about the incident. Yes, you idiots, it was written from the police officer view point! Whose view do you think it would be? Now, it’s up to the professor (or you twits) to call BS on whatever facts in this report are in dispute. So go ahead, start picking it apart, tell me what was left out. Time to make your case or grab a big serving of stfu.
3:37 pm on July 23rd, 2009
Yes, I read earl’s post. And…?
Prof’s a loud-mouth. Cop didn’t need to arrest him.
Racism is offensive, but it isn’t a crime.
3:40 pm on July 23rd, 2009
Tideoneon hit the nail squarely on the head, except for being a BHO supporter.
3:42 pm on July 23rd, 2009
Jesus, earl, come off the WHARGARBL, U DARE ATTACK A COP?!?!?! tip and read what I posted (slowly).
(Also, Howey needs to come off the OMFG! WHITE-COP-ON-BLACK-MAN RACISM!!!1!!one)
Why did Sgt. Crowley arrest the Prof.? Disturbing the peace? He was hooting and hollering. What do you expect from someone who makes their living off perpetuating racial tension. It’s not like he was throwing a block party and obstructing traffic.
I’m guessing the Disturbing the Peace charge was specious, and not necessary.
3:44 pm on July 23rd, 2009
Agree w/ sapdiesel.
Essentially, I’m agreeing with TideOneOn (save the support for the Kenyan-in-Chief).
3:50 pm on July 23rd, 2009
My comments were directed at Howie and Tim (at 3:10) and not you Dr. Mike. My bad.
3:53 pm on July 23rd, 2009
Well put, doc, and FYI - the term “charge” does not necessarily or literally mean an arrestable offense…it can be used like an accusation. But, hey, you’re a doctor so I don’t need to explain that to you, right?
And, earl, it’s not for me or anyone else who wasn’t there to pick apart the police report…but, it was really funny to me that you immediately looked at the police report as evidence of no racism by the police…good stuff.
3:57 pm on July 23rd, 2009
Okay, “charge” has multiple definitions (accusation, imparting responsibility, electrical fundamental quantity–I know all these because I’m a doctor).
“Charge” paired with “exonerate”… Tell me 9 out of 10 won’t place that within a legal connotation.
4:09 pm on July 23rd, 2009
hw @3:53. That’s right, my point of view is he’s not a racist until proven otherwise. Nothing that has come out about this officers demeanor and behavior in the past that has suggested otherwise. I’m sorry that you have a problem with that.
7:14 pm on July 23rd, 2009
“I don’t know, not having been there and not seeing all the facts, what role race played in that” and then he says they acted “stupidly”. Well if you don’t know the facts, please shut up Mr. President.
7:30 pm on July 23rd, 2009
Nate, I agree. If it ain’t on the teleprompter, Sir HopeNChange should just move on…
7:39 pm on July 23rd, 2009
i love how many of you are totally cool with a guy being arrested for talking meanly to a cop in his own house AFTER showing id that proves he lives there.
so to be clear: to be bothered by this story is to be a racist against white people for some reason?
also, what did obama say that was so horrible? one, if this happened to you you’d be upset. two, the police ACTED stupidly. three, racial profiling is a fact of life in this country. Yeah, that guy is a radical.
10:19 pm on July 23rd, 2009
I don’t know if the cop was racist but he certainly was “acting stupidly”. Part of the job is showing some restraint. I’m white and I would be just pissed off in general if some cop bulled his way into my house and then after I showed my ID, he refused to give his badge number. The cop should have apologized and then left. The man was in his own house for god sakes. Just leave cop. Even as a white man I’ve had trouble with cops. Not because they are racist but because they are a-holes.