Another Wacky Andrew Breitbart Far-Right Column

Whining from the far-right birther nuts about President Obama’s birth certificate is serving only to make conservatives look like radicals cloaking their racism in the so-called birther movement. Now, from Washington Times columnist Andrew Breitbart, comes another tired attack on President Obama, using his college transcript as their weapon of choice . Like many conservatives, he has been bashing the president’s attempt to bring together Sgt. James Crowley and Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. after their unfortunate incident that ended in the unnecessary arrest of Gates and started a national conversation on race.

From Breitbart:

My long-held fear is that Mr. Obama is hiding something about his education. During the endless 2008 campaign, Mr. Obama would not release his college grades. Given that President George W. Bush and Sens. Al Gore and John Kerry all had proved mediocre grades were no impediment to a presidential bid, Mr. Obama likely had other concerns.

While I have no desire to see Mr. Obama’s birth certificate, I do want to see his college transcripts. My suspicion, one could even call it a conspiracy theory, is that Mr. Obama committed himself to a radical curriculum, aligned himself with the far-left professoriate, and sought to keep this biographical information from his political enemies, especially then-rival Hillary Rodham Clinton, for fear that they would paint the former community organizer and follower of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright as something other than an advocate of racial reconciliation.

Here we go back to the right-wing efforts to paint President Obama as a black radical interested in taking revenge on the white man. Considering what we know about President Obama, such a notion would be laughable if it weren’t all too real. Breitbart, as most of the far-right nuts do, got in his gratuitous mention of Rev. Jeremiah Wright (as another way of portraying the president as an angry black radical).

Racial reconciliation is code for reparations (designed to frighten whites even though it these far-right nuts forget Barack Obama is half white).

More from Breitbart:

The Democratic Party – which is now Mr. Obama’s party – now depends on the ability to keep blacks in fear: of cops, of Republicans, of conservatives, of “Uncle Toms,” and even of Tiger Woods, who proves that America, while still imperfect, is clearly heading in the right direction.

This is a disturbing excerpt. I find it interesting how conservative whites, in love with the GOP, are now experts on race relations. It’s not really much of a secret that many Republicans feel this way about the relationship between blacks and the Democratic Party. But, to say that the Democratic Party depends on fear to keep blacks in line is not only stupid, but offensive, insulting and degrading to the intelligence of black people. Breitbart paints a dark (pun intended) picture of black people (those who are not highly conservative) as being something akin to to uneducated slaves.

Really, there is painfully little Republicans have next to nothing to offer minorities (while refusing to denounce hostile attitudes toward race relations in the GOP).

This is the reason that blacks tend to vote Democratic in elections.

The comment about Tigers Woods is just plain dumb. Black people, many of whom would not have been welcomed at a lot of golf or country clubs, embraced Tiger Woods strongly when the golfer first burst onto the scene and grabbed the nation’s attention. People who didn’t know the difference between a driver and a putter suddenly wanted to play.

One more comment from Breitbart:

It took black and white blue-collar civil servants to expose that the race game is rigged at the highest levels. The majority in the United States wants to enter a better, more egalitarian and diverse, and even racially mixed future.

I am not sure this is the case with Republicans, who lack true diversity, and that is a shame.

This last note from Breitbart: His latest endeavor, Big Hollywood (http://bighollywood.breitbart .com), is a group blog on Hollywood and politics from the center-right perspective.

Come on, now.

There is nothing center about that group blog … it is heavy on the far right and light (almost invisible) in the center.

Self-Centered Cambridge Officer Leon Lashley Still Doesn’t Get It

Cambridge Police Sgt. Leon Lashley really just needs to be quiet … seriously, Leon.

The following is an excerpt from a CNN story about the White House meeting that included Sgt. James Crowley, Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and President Obama.

Meanwhile, a black Cambridge police sergeant on the scene the day of Gates’ arrest wrote a letter to Crowley, asking him to mention to Gates and Obama that he is now known as the “black sergeant” and to some others as an “uncle Tom.”

“I’m forced to ponder the notion that as a result of speaking the truth and coming to the defense of a friend and colleague, who just happens to be white, that I have somehow betrayed my heritage,” Sgt. Leon Lashley wrote. “Please convey my concerns to the president that Mr. Gates’ actions may have caused grave and potentially irreparable harm to the struggle for racial harmony in this country and perhaps throughout the world.”

Note to Leon: Quit crying.

You put yourself in this situation by speaking out and stepping into the spotlight.

Simply pointing the finger at one individual in this case while absolving the other is not only wrong, but counterproductive.

If Leon Lashley is feeling any pain, it’s self-inflicted pain.

Here is Lashley’s statement:

“One of the major problems stemming from the events of July 16 is that I, now known as ‘the black sergeant’, have had my image plastered all over the Internet, television and newspapers. Subsequently, I have also become known, at least to some, as an ‘Uncle Tom.”

I am forced to ponder the notion that as a result of speaking the truth and coming to the defense of a friend and collegue, who just happens to be white, that I have somehow betrayed my heritage.

Please convey my concerns to the President that Mr. Gates’ actions may have caused grave and potentially irreparable harm to the struggle for racial harmony in this country and perhaps throughout the world.

In closing, I would simply like to ask that Mr. Gates deeply reflect on the events that have unfolded since July 16 and ask himself the following questions: “What can I do to help heal the rift caused by some of my actions?; What responsibility do I bear for what occurred on July 16, 2009?; Is there anything I can do to mitigate the damage done to the reputations of two respected Police Officers?”

There’s no doubt the “Uncle Tom” label stings. But, you can’t walk into the fire and not expect to be burned.

Again, Leon Lashley interjected himself into the mix and had to know where this was headed. If he didn’t then he needs to have his head examined. President Obama got involved in the discussion and took some heat, but he took it without blaming James Crowley or Henry Louis Gates Jr.

Leon, knock it off and accept the consequences of your actions. Also, Leon, ask yourself about the damage done to the reputation of Prof. Gates and quit being so self-centered.

As I wrote earlier, Leon, “you can’t walk into the fire and not expect to be burned.”

A Vicious Slur Used By Cop Against Henry Louis Gates

A nasty slur was used against Henry Louis Gates Jr., the black Harvard University professor, who was involved in an unfortunate incident that led to his ridiculously being arrested. Now, it appears a Boston Police Department officer named Justin Barrett, in an e-mail, has used a racial slur to describe Prof. Gates as a “jungle monkey.”

Here is a statement reported by the Boston Globe which quoted police spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll:

“Yesterday afternoon, Commissioner Davis was made aware that Officer Barrett was the author of correspondence which included racially charged language,” she said. “At that time, Commissioner Davis immediately stripped Officer Barrett of his gun and badge, and at this time we will be moving forward with the hearing process.”

Rep. Thaddeus McCotter Is A Disgrace To The State Of Michigan

Right-wing nuts, led by Fox News (the far right’s biased media megaphone), have been fighting to keep the issue race issue involving the arrest of Prof. Henry Louis Gates Jr. in the public eye to try and score political points with white voters. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, taking a break from solving some very real problems that plague those of us who live in the great (although economically-troubled) state of Michigan, is drafting a useless resolution to try and make the president of the United States of America apologize to McCotter’s satisfaction. It’s a waste of time and it goes to show how right wingers are attempting to use this as a political tool. These right wingers don’t give a damn about Sgt. James Crowley (he’s just a pawn they’re using to attack President Obama), the very real problem of racial profiling or Prof. Henry Louis Gates Jr.

Here is text of McCotter’s dumb resolution (that is an irresponsible waste of time involving, primarily, three people):

Whereas on July 16, 2009, Cambridge, Massachusetts Police Sergeant James M. Crowley responded to a 911 call from a neighbor of Harvard University Professor Henry Louis (”Skip”) Gates, Jr. about a suspected break-in in progress at his residence, which had been broken into on a prior occasion;

Whereas on July 22, 2009, in responding to a question during a White House press conference President Barack Obama stated: “Skip Gates is a friend, so I may be a little biased here. I don’t know all of the facts involved in this local police response incident”;

Whereas President Obama proceeded to state Sergeant Crowley “acted stupidly” for arresting Professor Gates on charges of disorderly conduct;

Whereas, as a former Constitutional Law Professor, President Obama well understands that all Americans are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and their actions should not be prejudged prior to being fully and fairly judged by an appropriate and objective authority after due process;

Whereas, President Obama’s nationally televised remarks may likely detrimentally influence the full and fair judgment by an appropriate and objective authority after due process regarding this local police response incident and, thereby, impair Sergeant Crowley’s legal and professional standing in relation to said incident; and

Whereas, President Obama appeared at a daily White House Press briefing on July 24, 2009 to address his denouncement of Sergeant Crowley and stated: “I could have calibrated those words differently” but “I continue to believe, based on what I have heard, that there was an overreaction in pulling Professor Gates out of his home to the station.”

Whereas, President Obama’s refusal to retract his initial public remarks and apologize to Sergeant Crowley and, instead, reiterate his accusation impugning Sergeant Crowley’s professional conduct in the performance of his duties;

Now therefore be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives–

Calls upon President Obama to retract his initial public remarks and apologize to Cambridge, Massachusetts Police Sergeant James M. Crowley for having unfairly impugned and prejudged his professional conduct in this local police response incident.

This guy has disgraced the state of Michigan and sought to exploit the unfortunate incident between Henry Louis Gates and Sgt. James Crowley to take a political shot at President Obama.

This guy is symbolic of opportunistic Republicans eager to keep this issue alive to try and portray President Obama as some black, anti-police radical.

McCotter, and those like him, are enablers of racial profiling. They take everything the police say at face value and virtually ignore anything that comes from the other side of an arrest or conflict with the police.

Now, consider this idiotic statement from Jameson Cunningham, minister of propagandapress secretary for McCotter:

“He has said he will introduce the legislation if the President does not retract and apologize for his comments,”said Jameson Cunningham, press secretary for McCotter, when asked if Obama had already addressed his concerns. “As of now, no apology has been issued.”

That sounds like a threat to me.

This Republican is trying to show President Obama his place, and it has a familiar feel to it.

Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/27/gop-rep-will-offer-resolu_n_245287.html

Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/07/27/mccotter-resolution/

CNN’s One-Sided Commentary In Gates-Police Flap Misses A Few Points

Point out racial profiling is not about bashing police officers. In the wake of the unfortunate incident that left Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates ridiculously arrested, some have used it as a way to bash the police while others have used it as a way to portray police as being unfairly persecuted while minimizing the very painful impact of racial profiling.

This article published by CNN makes some fair points (it appears to be a probably well-intended defense of the police while attempting to be somewhat fair to professor Gates), and certainly is a defense of police and the work that police do, but misses the mark on some key points (perhaps for partisan political reasons):

• President Obama confessed his bias when he admitted that he was a friend of Gates as the question was asked at the press conference;
• President Obama admitted that he had not gotten all of the facts, but did offer his opinion on what he had learned about what happened to his friend;
• As a follow-up, President Obama said that he wished cooler heads had prevailed; and
• Racial profiling is not touched on in the article until the very last paragraph and is there kind of glossed over.

I’m not here to bash policeman, but I do agree with the president that (in this particular case) cooler heads should have prevailed and the officer should have appreciated the situation (and how it was perceived by Gates who was in his own home) and walked away after he established that Gates was rightfully in his house and safe.

Actually, this cop sounds like a decent guy. Gates sounds like a decent guy. Decent guys make mistakes, but it’s unfortunate it has ended up the way it has.

This was an overreaction by the police officer which prompted an overreaction by the professor. In a way, this officer may have made the situation more dangerous and high profile by his conduct.

The title of the article is “Obama’s rush to judgment

Washington Post Gets Comment From Henry Louis Gates Jr. About Arrest

The Washington Post gained what it has labeled an exclusive interview, Tuesday morning, with Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., one of the nation’s elite scholars, after his arrest that smells a lot like racial profiling in Cambridge, Mass.

GATES: There are one million black men in jail in this country and last Thursday I was one of them. This is outrageous and that this is how poor black men across the country are treated everyday in the criminal justice system. It’s one thing to write about it, but altogether another to experience it.

Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/21/AR2009072101771.html?hpid=topnews

Ridiculous Charges Dropped Against Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.

It’s too bad the officers in question did not use better judgment from the beginning to escalate this situation into something that looks and smells an awful lot like racial profiling.

BOSTON — Prosecutors dropped a disorderly conduct charge Tuesday against prominent black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr., who was arrested at his home near Harvard University after a report of a break-in.

The city of Cambridge issued a statement saying the arrest “was regrettable and unfortunate” and police and Gates agreed that dropping the charge was a just resolution.

“This incident should not be viewed as one that demeans the character and reputation of professor Gates or the character of the Cambridge Police Department,” the statement said.

Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/21/henry-louis-gates-jr-arre_n_242010.html

So, Is A Prominent Havard University Being Charged With Living-In-A-Home-In-A-Good-Neighborhood-While-Black

Henry Louis Gates Jr. one of the most respected scholars in the United States of America, may have become the latest victim of racial profiling. Essentially, it appears that Gates was harassed by police officers because he forced his way into his own home a woman reported seeing “two black males with backpacks on the porch” with one “wedging his shoulder into the door as if he was trying to force entry.” Ah, the infamous two black males accusation. Apparently, two black males look a little bit more suspect in an upscale neighborhood, huh?

This is an excerpt from a Yahoo News/AP story:

BOSTON – Supporters of a prominent Harvard University black scholar who was arrested at his own home by police responding to a report of a break-in say he is the victim of racial profiling.

Henry Louis Gates Jr. had forced his way through the front door of his home because it was jammed, his lawyer said Monday.

Cambridge police say they responded to the well-maintained two-story home near campus after a woman reported seeing “two black males with backpacks on the porch,” with one “wedging his shoulder into the door as if he was trying to force entry.”

By the time police arrived, Gates was already inside. Police say he refused to come outside to speak with an officer, who told him he was investigating a report of a break-in.

“Why, because I’m a black man in America?” Gates said, according to a police report written by Sgt. James Crowley. The Cambridge police refused to comment on the arrest Monday.

Gates — the director of Harvard’s W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research — initially refused to show the officer his identification, but then gave him a Harvard University ID card, according to police.

It’s a disturbing tale because it does make (or should make) a person wonder would white guys trying to get into a house have been perceived the same way.

More from the story:

“Gates continued to yell at me, accusing me of racial bias and continued to tell me that I had not heard the last of him,” the officer wrote.

Gates said he turned over his driver’s license and Harvard ID — both with his photos — and repeatedly asked for the name and badge number of the officer, who refused. He said he then followed the officer as he left his house onto his front porch, where he was handcuffed in front of other officers, Gates said in a statement released by his attorney, fellow Harvard scholar Charles Ogletree, on a Web site Gates oversees, TheRoot.com

He was arrested on a disorderly conduct charge after police said he “exhibited loud and tumultuous behavior.” He was released later that day on his own recognizance. An arraignment was scheduled for Aug. 26.

Gates, 58, also refused to speak publicly Monday, referring calls to Ogletree.

“He was shocked to find himself being questioned and shocked that the conversation continued after he showed his identification,” Ogletree said.

Yeah, why would a guy be upset about being harassed by police for trying to get into his own house and having a dime dropped on him by someone worried about the two black guys? The police come and harass a man getting into his own house and then arrest him on his own property for disorderly conduct. How much of an insult/slap in the face is that? I think most people would have “exhibited loud and tumultuous behavior” (how broad a description is that?) if they found themselves in a similar situation.

One more excerpt:

Allen Counter, who has taught neuroscience at Harvard for 25 years, said he was stopped on campus by two Harvard police officers in 2004 after being mistaken for a robbery suspect. They threatened to arrest him when he could not produce identification.

“We do not believe that this arrest would have happened if professor Gates was white,” Counter said. “It really has been very unsettling for African-Americans throughout Harvard and throughout Cambridge that this happened.”

It’s difficult (if not impossible) to get in the heads of the officers and the individual that called in the complaint. But, it is enough to make a lot of us pause and think about one of the many faces of racism – even in the Obama era.