Obama says police acted 'stupidly' in arrest of a prominent Harvard professor

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: Mani

When I see a 58-year old, unless the person looks like Dick Clark or Michelle Pfeiffer, I think elderly. The point is that the officer should not have seen a threat or a burglar when they saw this guy. I swear, semantics are all you guys know how to argue.

What are you 13? Who the hell looks at a 58 year old man and thinks Elderly? I dont think you understand the word semantics. So far you have flung that out on two different points. And both points had clearly defined definitions. There was no semantics being argued.

 

[waggy]

there is a press confress about it on now.

edit: and yes Genx87 i agree. i was thinking mani was a young kid or does not get out.

i know a few 50+ people that are in great shape and by no means elderly.

 

[Mani]

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy

Originally posted by: Mani

...

When I see a 58-year old, unless the person looks like Dick Clark or Michelle Pfeiffer, I think elderly. The point is that the officer should not have seen a threat or a burglar when they saw this guy. I swear, semantics are all you guys know how to argue.

A 58 yr old can weild a weapon that is hidden just as easy as a 18 or 38 yr old.
The officer(s) need to exercise safety and ensure that there is no danger to themselves and the public first.

A person making threats of any type within their residence could be a threat - no one knows at the time what type of weapons might be at hand.

Outside the residence, the potential of a threat is removed.

You're technically correct, but officers can and do make judgment calls all the time. A relative of mine was in an identical situation several years ago and the officer never asked her for ID. He did a quick check of the premises and told her to watch out for suspicious activity. It seems to me that there were several ways in which it could have been handled better but I'm looking forward to hearing the tape.

 

[Mani]

Originally posted by: Genx87

Originally posted by: Mani

When I see a 58-year old, unless the person looks like Dick Clark or Michelle Pfeiffer, I think elderly. The point is that the officer should not have seen a threat or a burglar when they saw this guy. I swear, semantics are all you guys know how to argue.

What are you 13? Who the hell looks at a 58 year old man and thinks Elderly? I dont think you understand the word semantics. So far you have flung that out on two different points. And both points had clearly defined definitions. There was no semantics being argued.

My dad is 58. And seriously dude, get over it.

 

[waggy]

ok that was a slightly useless confress. but then that was the police department and not the union wich is the one everyone is waiting for.

 

[Drako]

The fact that neither Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson has piped in so makes it clear to me that the officer did nothing wrong.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Mani

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy

Originally posted by: Mani

...

When I see a 58-year old, unless the person looks like Dick Clark or Michelle Pfeiffer, I think elderly. The point is that the officer should not have seen a threat or a burglar when they saw this guy. I swear, semantics are all you guys know how to argue.

A 58 yr old can weild a weapon that is hidden just as easy as a 18 or 38 yr old.
The officer(s) need to exercise safety and ensure that there is no danger to themselves and the public first.

A person making threats of any type within their residence could be a threat - no one knows at the time what type of weapons might be at hand.

Outside the residence, the potential of a threat is removed.

You're technically correct, but officers can and do make judgment calls all the time. A relative of mine was in an identical situation several years ago and the officer never asked her for ID. He did a quick check of the premises and told her to watch out for suspicious activity. It seems to me that there were several ways in which it could have been handled better but I'm looking forward to hearing the tape.

and i doublt your sister started off refusing to exit the house did she?

if your dad is 58 and you think he is elderly then your father must not be very healthy or in decent shape.

 

[Mani]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: Mani

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy

Originally posted by: Mani

...

When I see a 58-year old, unless the person looks like Dick Clark or Michelle Pfeiffer, I think elderly. The point is that the officer should not have seen a threat or a burglar when they saw this guy. I swear, semantics are all you guys know how to argue.

A 58 yr old can weild a weapon that is hidden just as easy as a 18 or 38 yr old.
The officer(s) need to exercise safety and ensure that there is no danger to themselves and the public first.

A person making threats of any type within their residence could be a threat - no one knows at the time what type of weapons might be at hand.

Outside the residence, the potential of a threat is removed.

You're technically correct, but officers can and do make judgment calls all the time. A relative of mine was in an identical situation several years ago and the officer never asked her for ID. He did a quick check of the premises and told her to watch out for suspicious activity. It seems to me that there were several ways in which it could have been handled better but I'm looking forward to hearing the tape.

and i doublt your sister started off refusing to exit the house did she?

if your dad is 58 and you think he is elderly then your father must not be very healthy or in decent shape.

She wasn't asked to. My dad's in terrific shape, but he's not in denial about being old.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Drako
The fact that neither Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson has piped in so makes it clear to me that the officer did nothing wrong.

since when has that mattered? i am suprised they have not spoke up.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Mani

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: Mani

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy

Originally posted by: Mani

...

When I see a 58-year old, unless the person looks like Dick Clark or Michelle Pfeiffer, I think elderly. The point is that the officer should not have seen a threat or a burglar when they saw this guy. I swear, semantics are all you guys know how to argue.

A 58 yr old can weild a weapon that is hidden just as easy as a 18 or 38 yr old.
The officer(s) need to exercise safety and ensure that there is no danger to themselves and the public first.

A person making threats of any type within their residence could be a threat - no one knows at the time what type of weapons might be at hand.

Outside the residence, the potential of a threat is removed.

You're technically correct, but officers can and do make judgment calls all the time. A relative of mine was in an identical situation several years ago and the officer never asked her for ID. He did a quick check of the premises and told her to watch out for suspicious activity. It seems to me that there were several ways in which it could have been handled better but I'm looking forward to hearing the tape.

and i doublt your sister started off refusing to exit the house did she?

if your dad is 58 and you think he is elderly then your father must not be very healthy or in decent shape.

She wasn't asked to. My dad's in terrific shape, but he's not in denial about being old.

then the officer knew your sister or he sucked at his job. thank goodness he does not work around here.

 

[Mani]

Originally posted by: waggy

then the officer knew your sister or he sucked at his job.

As opposed to the one in this case?

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Originally posted by: waggy
ok that was a slightly useless confress. but then that was the police department and not the union wich is the one everyone is waiting for.

Was there even one black person standing up there? It was just a bunch of white people posturing about being right and saying cops are never racist.

 

[Drako]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: Drako
The fact that neither Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson has piped in so makes it clear to me that the officer did nothing wrong.

since when has that mattered? i am suprised they have not spoke up.

It doen't matter. I'm just saying that if there was any case at all against the white officer, then you would be seeing these guys all over cable news.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: Mani

...

When I see a 58-year old, unless the person looks like Dick Clark or Michelle Pfeiffer, I think elderly. The point is that the officer should not have seen a threat or a burglar when they saw this guy. I swear, semantics are all you guys know how to argue.

You seem to be completely forgetting an important element - the 911 caller said there were two men breaking in. So, the officier seeing just one man, whether old or not, needed to investigate further and definately should not have left.

Moreover, and I heard the officer explain this, even upon learning that Gates was the owner he needed to be sure that there weren't two burglers elsewhere in house unbeknowst to Gates.

All Gates had to do was co-operate for about 2 minutes and the whole would have been resoved quickly.

Fern

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Originally posted by: Drako

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: Drako
The fact that neither Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson has piped in so makes it clear to me that the officer did nothing wrong.

since when has that mattered? i am suprised they have not spoke up.

It doen't matter. I'm just saying that if there was any case at all against the white officer, then you would be seeing these guys all over cable news.

I suspect Gates and Jackson or Sharpton aren't all that tight.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Gonad the Barbarian

Originally posted by: waggy
ok that was a slightly useless confress. but then that was the police department and not the union wich is the one everyone is waiting for.

Was there even one black person standing up there? It was just a bunch of white people posturing about being right and saying cops are never racist.

yes there was.

Originally posted by: Mani

Originally posted by: waggy

then the officer knew your sister or he sucked at his job.

As opposed to the one in this case?

according to the police report yes the officer was correct. he went to the house, found someone in it, asked them to step outside (wich is done for his safety and the persons) the guy refused. The officer enters the house and ask for id. he gets it.

Gates ask for his badge # and name. Cowley gives it twice but Gates was screaming racist bs and did not get it. Gates ask a 3rd time and finally cowley tells him got it twice.

cowley has to report to dispatch but can't over hte screaming and walks out. gates fallowes him out continueing his tirade. he gets arrested for it.

yeah the officer did his job. sure he could have (and as i said he should have) just left him at this point.


yes i know some cops lie in police reports. but considering teh history of both the cop and gates i will side with the police officer.

But we won't know for 100% sure until the police tapes are released. BUT again what most are complaining about is the fact that Obama should NEVER have responded on the situation when he did not have the facts and has a personal bias on it. doing so has hurt him

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: Gonad the Barbarian

Originally posted by: waggy
ok that was a slightly useless confress. but then that was the police department and not the union wich is the one everyone is waiting for.

Was there even one black person standing up there? It was just a bunch of white people posturing about being right and saying cops are never racist.

Really?

I'll give you 5 internet bucks if you can find what you claim.

Get moving Bucky.

 

[Drako]

Originally posted by: Gonad the Barbarian

Originally posted by: Drako

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: Drako
The fact that neither Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson has piped in so makes it clear to me that the officer did nothing wrong.

since when has that mattered? i am suprised they have not spoke up.

It doen't matter. I'm just saying that if there was any case at all against the white officer, then you would be seeing these guys all over cable news.

I suspect Gates and Jackson or Sharpton aren't all that tight.

Since when has being tight with someone stopped Jackson or Sharpton from grabbing media attention when a percieved racism of a black person is in the news?

 

[EKKC]

time for everyone to just chill the f out

cop should apologize
professor should apologize
obama should apologize

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider

Originally posted by: Gonad the Barbarian

Originally posted by: waggy
ok that was a slightly useless confress. but then that was the police department and not the union wich is the one everyone is waiting for.

Was there even one black person standing up there? It was just a bunch of white people posturing about being right and saying cops are never racist.

Really?

I'll give you 5 internet bucks if you can find what you claim.

Get moving Bucky.

I just watched the damn thing on CNN.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Gonad the Barbarian

Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider

Originally posted by: Gonad the Barbarian

Originally posted by: waggy
ok that was a slightly useless confress. but then that was the police department and not the union wich is the one everyone is waiting for.

Was there even one black person standing up there? It was just a bunch of white people posturing about being right and saying cops are never racist.

Really?

I'll give you 5 internet bucks if you can find what you claim.

Get moving Bucky.

I just watched the damn thing on CNN.

considering you don't even know if there was a black person up there i doubt it.

did a black man talk? no. but there was one up there.

 

[Peelback79]

Originally posted by: EKKC
time for everyone to just chill the f out


professor should apologize
obama should apologize

Fixed.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: Gonad the Barbarian

Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider

Originally posted by: Gonad the Barbarian

Originally posted by: waggy
ok that was a slightly useless confress. but then that was the police department and not the union wich is the one everyone is waiting for.

Was there even one black person standing up there? It was just a bunch of white people posturing about being right and saying cops are never racist.

Really?

I'll give you 5 internet bucks if you can find what you claim.

Get moving Bucky.

I just watched the damn thing on CNN.

Heh my bad

 

[Mani]

Originally posted by: waggy

yes i know some cops lie in police reports. but considering teh history of both the cop and gates i will side with the police officer.

This is where I take issue - how can you make this judgment? Does Gates have a history of ethical problems? He's a Harvard law prof with a spotless record as far as I can tell.

But we won't know for 100% sure until the police tapes are released.

Agree on this point.

BUT again what most are complaining about is the fact that Obama should NEVER have responded on the situation when he did not have the facts and has a personal bias on it. doing so has hurt him

And I don't disagree with them - I just don't think the punishment has fit the crime.

 

[zylander]

Originally posted by: Mani
When I see a 58-year old, unless the person looks like Dick Clark or Michelle Pfeiffer, I think elderly. The point is that the officer should not have seen a threat or a burglar when they saw this guy. I swear, semantics are all you guys know how to argue.

You must not know many 58 year old men. My father is 57 and he is FAR from being considered elderly. Most of my friends fathers are in their late fifties or early sixties and are definitely not elderly.

Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider
Besides it doesn't seem to matter to some. Police shouldn't be investing a possible burglary, or if they do they need to turn around and leave once someone says "it's my house". Especially if he claims to be a Harvard prof.

First of all, what does being a Harvard Professor have anything to do with it?

Secondly, if someone in your neighborhood saw me forcing my way into your house and called the cops you would be ok with the cops turning away once I told them it was my house?