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By Cassandra Effect, July 31, 2009 9:17 am

President Obama may have gotten his own “Lesson” if  Sgt. Crowley delivered the contents of a letter from his colleague Sgt. Leon Lashley, who was a black officer on scene at the arrest of Professor Gates.   Contrast Sgt. Lashleys words below with the lame  statement from Professor Gates.  You always can tell who the troublemaker is any political pickle - it’s the person who is “hopeful that we can all move on.”  Yes, that is a quote from Professor Gates’ statement.

Sgt. Lashley’s letter transcibed from CNN (video at bottom)

“One of the major problems stemming from the events of July 16 is that I, [am] 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’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 happened to be white, that I have somehow betrayed my heritage.

Please convey my concerns to the President that Mr. Gates’ actions may 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?

Thank you in Advance,

Your Friend

Leon K. Lashley”

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By Cassandra Effect,

Obama is actually concerned with the opinion of the American public.  That’s a good thing!  It means we can make the idiots in Washington still pay attention to us!  In some deep dark recess of their souls they are worried – very worries.  Stay strong people!

This was not exactly the “Lesson Learned” that Obama expected to come of of his Beer Detente.  But it’s still a good lesson!

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By Cassandra Effect, July 30, 2009 3:56 pm

The media is reporting Dear Leader is going to down a Bud Light. I’m sure that polled well.  Professor Gates avoids any homebrewed suds as he downs a Red Stripe from Jamaica.  Officer Crowley is reported to like the Microbrew Blue Moon. 

Obama should have gone for the Billy Beer since his poll numbers and leadership style are so similar to that of President Carter.

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By Cassandra Effect, July 26, 2009 3:53 pm

In today’s Rasmussen Presidential Appoval survey, President Obama is showing a -11% approval rating among likely voters.  That is the difference between strongly approve (29%) and strongly disapprove (-40%).  the country remains split of his performance with 49% approving and 50% disapproving.  It is worth noting that of the 50% who disapprove, 80% of them STRONGLY disapprove.  There is no wiggle room here.  Rasmussen also reports that 76% of people view him as “liberal”. with only 48% seeing him as “Very Liberal.”   The question for Mr. Obama is what will happen to his approval when the other half of the respondents recognize him as “Very Liberal.”  This is up 20 points since his election.  Is it possible that people were that blind to his agenda?  Yes, but they ARE WAKING from their slumber. 

Much of his drop is likely attributable to his dismal ad lib comments on the Harvard Professor Gates arrest. 

More info here Obama “apologies” for his stupid comments on Cambridge Professor Kerfuffle and here Obama resorts to race baiting on Harvard Prof’s arrest

Rasmussen also reports an astonishing  split in how whites/blacks viewed this President’s Cambridge remarks.   How can we ever all get along when we cannot all agree on the notion of BLIND JUSTICE and assuming most people are GOOD.  We have a black President – institutional racism is near dead – the generation that lived with and created  Jim Crow laws are dying out – what more evidence do Afircan Americans need to see the path to prosperity is open?

Seventy-one percent (71%) of African-Americans say the president’s response was good or excellent, a view shared by just 22% of white Americans.

At the other extreme, 53% of white voters gave the president’s response a poor grade. Only five percent (5%) of black Americans offered such a negative response.

Seventy-three percent (73%) of African-American voters believe that most blacks receive unfair treatment from the police. Just 21% of white voters share that view

Thirty-two percent (32%) of black voters say that most policemen are racist, but 52% disagree.

Among white voters, just seven percent (7%) believe that most policemen are racist and 71% say they are not.

Liberals, by a two-to-one margin believe that most African-Americans are treated unfairly by the police. A solid plurality of unaffiliateds and a majority of Republicans disagree.

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By Cassandra Effect, July 23, 2009 8:58 am

The Boston Globe has the radio interview with Cambridge police Sergeant James Crowley – the one that Obama called “Stupid” after admitting he KNEW NO DETAILS  of the incident with Harvard Professor Gates.  Sadly, the Prez focused on race and not the really stupid thing the police did…..violate the FIRST AMENDMENT!

This is our President folks……Rising above the racial issues…not….how about saying – gee, I don’t know any of the facts so it is too early to comment.  Simple.  

Its is disturbing that the police would have ANY RIGHT to tell you what you can say in your own HOME.   According to the cop, once they both got outside, there was a significant verbal exchange.  At that point its hard to see how a lively exchange of the professors 1st amendment rights called for his arrest.  THE FIRST AMENDMENT, should be the focus of attention here.  Not Race. 

UPDATE 8/1/2009  – Slate Article A Man’s Home Is His Constitutional Castle

From yesterday’s Press Conference: (AP)

OBAMA: Well, I should say at the outset that Skip Gates is a friend, so I may be a little biased here. I don’t know all the facts. What’s been reported though is that the guy forgot his keys, jimmied his way to get into the house. There was a report called in to the police station that there might be a burglary taking place. So far, so good, right? I mean, if I was trying to jigger into — well, I guess this is my house now, so … it probably wouldn’t happen. But let’s say my old house in Chicago.

Here, I’d get shot.

But so far, so good. They’re — they’re reporting. The police are doing what they should. There’s a call. They go investigate what happens.

My understanding is, at that point, Professor Gates is already in his house. The police officer comes in. I’m sure there’s some exchange of words. But my understanding is, is that Professor Gates then shows his ID to show that this is his house and, at that point, he gets arrested for disorderly conduct, charges which are later dropped.

Now, I don’t know, not having been there and not seeing all the facts, what role race played in that. But I think it’s fair to say, number one, any of us would be pretty angry; number two, that the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home; and, number three, what I think we know separate and apart from this incident is that there’s a long history in this country of African Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately. That’s just a fact.

As you know, Lynn, when I was in the state legislature in Illinois, we worked on a racial profiling bill because there was indisputable evidence that blacks and Hispanics were being stopped disproportionately. And that is a sign, an example of how, you know, race remains a factor in the society.

That doesn’t lessen the incredible progress that has been made. I am standing here as testimony to the progress that’s been made. And yet the fact of the matter is, is that, you know, this still haunts us.

And even when there are honest misunderstandings, the fact that blacks and Hispanics are picked up more frequently and often time for no cause casts suspicion even when there is good cause.

And that’s why I think the more that we’re working with local law enforcement to improve policing techniques so that we’re eliminating potential bias, the safer everybody is going to be.

Crowley’s Radio Interview:

This morning on WEEI, Crowley spoke for 22 minutes and offered his most detailed public explanation of why he handcuffed the renowned professor of African-American studies.

“He was arrested after following me outside the house, continuing the tirade, even after being warned multiple times, probably a few more times than the average person would have gotten,” Crowley said.

The hosts asked: “How many times?

“He was cautioned in the house, meaning calm down, lower your voice,” Crowley said. “Once we got outside in front of the general public and the police officers that were assembled there, two warnings, the second warning with me holding a set of handcuff in my hand. It was something I really didn’t want to do, but the professor at any point in time could have resolved the issue by quieting down and or going back in his house.”

Crowley continued, “There are so many things in this incident that keep me scratching my head wondering. I apologize, I was not aware who professor Gates was. And when I read the name off the card, it wasn’t like I said, ‘Oh, Wow, that’s Professor Gates.’ I’m still just amazed that somebody of his level of intelligence could stoop to such a level and berate me, accuse of being a racist, of racial profiling, and speaking about my mother. It’s just beyond words.”