Editor's Note: The following story appeared on the CNN Political Ticker on July 22, 2009.
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Police in Cambridge, Massachusetts, "acted stupidly" by arresting Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates after they were called to his home on a report of a burglary last week, President Barack Obama said Wednesday.Disorderly conduct charges against Gates - one of the most prominent African-American academics - were dropped Tuesday after the incident drew national attention, with all involved calling it a "regrettable and unfortunate" incident. Asked about the matter in a White House news conference Wednesday, Obama said it shows "how race remains a factor in this society.
"That doesn't lessen the incredible progress that has been made," said Obama, the first African-American U.S. president. "I am standing here as testimony to the progress that's been made. And yet, the fact of the matter is that, you know, this still haunts us."
[Video after the jump]
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It's great when a President speaks the truth, we need more of it.
Obama has two strike's against him now with Mrs. Serrrod why is our administration jumping the gun to judgment can we afford a government that does not use due proses what decisions have they made with other country's that may not be fair .
That was a banner day for the incompetent, inept, corrupt union toady. Today is another, did you catch the increasing number of first time jobless claims filed during the "summer of recovery." Guess it must be time for another golf game, or to hobnob with some other aging irrelevant "star" that can bash Bush. Come on 2012.
CNN: what are you really doing, you are just like your brother FOX news
We see what you are doing. 90 % of us........not working. STOP THE BULL....GET SOME REAL NEWS, CNN ALWAYS KNOCKING THE PRESIDENT DOWN
This day in Ticker history, Cambridge Police DID ACT STUPIDLY!!!
America acted stupidly, in 2008.
"Change. It's those coins left in your bank account"
Obama was right. It was a stupid arrest.
Agreed. It was wrong and a stupid move. Come on police, use your brains, not just brawn. You have a brain...use it. We all have to use our brains on the job. Think before you act.
Kep fanning CNN, keep fanning!
Are you trying to tell me that you have NOTHING better to do than to resurrect issues that have been resolved JUST BECAUSE they will feed new life to current negative issues? For quite someitme now,CNN, you've been acting like the Rethugs. Putting negative spins on anything and everything all in a piss poor, and shameful effort to get ratings and grab the mighty dollar.
What the hell, in God's earth has happenned to you CNN? You were THE source of news, and a beacon of GOOD journalism. Now your story writers have more typos and grammatical errors than Doug from N.J and gt combined.
Get a grip on yourselves! Fight to uplift our country! Don't sink to the lowest common denominator.
Please.
So, why do we care about this now. There were much more important things going on then and now...seems to just stir up trouble. A strange thing to post now.
Thanks for the reminder... Another not so great moment for Obama and the liberals. Slamming an officer for doing his job and playing the race card. This has become an all too predictable pattern for liberals and this administration.
They DID act stupidly, racism is alive and well in America. It's plain to see that America wasn't ready for a black President, and it's also plain to see that Americans are too stupid that they don't deserve a President like Obama. This country deserves more GOP regressive policies that will further cripple and divide the country into Civil War before it will wake up and shake off the ignorance that makes them think voting for the GOP is a good thing.
Are you KIDDING me?
This ticker goes further and further to the right, it's sad. Where does it end?
This wasn't even a scandal a year ago, and here it is, getting replay on CNN.
Ticker History? Lets rehash old news CNN. Maybe next you'll be putting up a new category. "What happened in Politics On" The media is becoming the instigator for alot of the civil turmoil right now in this country. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are one thing, but we are getting closer and closer to the Press yelling "Fire" in a crowded theater.
CNN, why is this worthy of mention again? It wasn't big news a year ago either.
What many people failed to note in the Gates saga is that if the police officer had done what Obama failed to do in the Sherrod controversy- investigate the facts first- what followed- the arrest of the professor in his own home, the president commenting on the incident, and the beer summit- would not have happened. All the officer had to do was to verify the professor's claim that he was in his own home, which was true, then the whole controversy would have been avoided.
The details said that both parties were partly to blame. My personal opinion, is that the ARROGANCE of an individual caused the problem.
Why would you dredge up this story from a year ago unless you are following the Fox news race agenda?
they did act stupidly, put a white male in the same scene
That was one of the dumb things Obama said and his Harvard buddies will take him down...He isn;t relating to real people, workers, seniors etc at all.Trouble is the Repigs have noone either.
Well, they did. If a police officer arrested me of "breaking in" to my own house...I would say the same thing!
Why are you bringing this up again? Is it because of the Sherrod case? Are you now stooping to helping Fixed News frighten white people into thinking the African-American community is out to get them? I used to think you were a news agency, but I can now see that you are becoming your own version of Fixed News. Come on, CNN, grow some, and start just delivering the news, not making it! The police DID handle it stupidly!
CNN, keep up this meaningless gossip while the country tanks!
No different than the Sherrod 'inciden"t.
Congrats America, you THOUGHT you could do no worse than Bush....
Why are you playing this up now? To add fodder to those who don't like this President? To change course - for those who accuse CNN of being biased in favor of the President? He apologized and will continue to make such gaffs because he truly is human. This is a "poor" filler or "evergreen" article for CNN to reproduce. Slow Thursday?