(And by the way, am I the only one who finds it utterly ridiculous that a Massachusetts cop arrests a black professor in his home...but somehow the "big story" is how our African American president has to assuage the hurt feelings of the white arresting officer because our president dared to say that the actions of the cop were stupid, or something like that, even though they were? Hey, give Sgt. Crowley a free pass or two to the Valley Swim Club!).
Anyway, here is What Digby Said...
Henry Louis Gates may have acted like a jackass in his house that day. But Sergeant Crowley arresting him for being "tumultuous" was an abuse of his discretion, a fact which is backed up by the fact that the District Attorney used his discretion to decline to prosecute. Racially motivated or not he behaved "stupidly" and the president was right to say so.A fresh round of wingnut umbrage will begin momentarily.
* And by the way, if anyone wants to see some real incoherence on this subject, consult the right wingers who are defending the policeman today, but who also believe that anyone has the right to shoot first and ask questions later if they "feel" threatened in their own home. By their lights, Gates should have been arrested for behaving "tumultuously" but would have been within his rights to shoot Sgt Crowley. This is why conservatives have no standing to discuss anything more complicated than Sarah Palin's wardrobe.
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