Obama doesn't regret 'acted stupidly' remark about Henry Gates Jr. arrest
Thursday, July 23rd 2009, 10:43 PM
Samad/Getty President Obama seemed to shrug off criticism that his 'acted stupidly' comment was too harsh during an ABC News interview Thursday night.
What's everyone so upset about?
That was President Obama's response Thursday night during an ABC News interview when asked if he regretted his "acted stupidly" comment during Wednesday night's press conference.
"I am suprised by the controversy," Obama told ABC's Terry Moran. "I think it was [a] pretty straightforward comment that you probably don't need to handcuff a guy, a middle-aged man who uses a cane, who's in his own home."
And while Obama did not apologize for his strong jab, he attempted to soften its impact by offering compliments to the police officer at the center of the Henry Louis Gates Jr. arrest, Sgt. James Crowley.
"From what I can tell, the sergeant involved is an outstanding police officer," the President offered, adding that he "has extraordinary respect for the difficulties of the job that police officers do."
The President was asked Wednesday during his health care press conference about the controversial arrest of the black Harvard professor in Cambridge, and responded, "The Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home."
Crowley was on the defensive earlier in the day following Obama's sharp remark.
"I just have nothing to apologize for," Crowley said, insisting he wasn't a racist. And the Cambridge Police Superior Officers Association seems to agree.
"Upon review, the Association expresses its full and unqualified support for the actions taken by Sgt. Crowley in response to the report of a possible break-in at a residence on Ware Street in Cambridge," the union said in a statement.
Crowley had harsh words for the President, too.
"I think he was way off base wading into a local issue without knowing all the facts," Crowley told Boston radio station WBZ-AM. "I acted appropriately. I've done nothing wrong."
Obama noted during his ABC News interview that he felt the arrest was one that simply got out of hand.
"Words were exchanged between the police officer and Mr. Gates," he said, "and everybody should have just settled down and cooler heads should have prevailed."
The incident happened last week after Gates, 58, a Harvard professor, returned home from a trip to China. While he had trouble entering his home, a passerby reported it to police as a possible break-in.
Police arrived and demanded Gates prove he lived in the house. The professor became agitated and criticized the police. Cops later arrested him outside his home.
The city of Cambridge later issued a statement calling Gates' arrest on charges of disorderly conduct, which were dropped, "regrettable and unfortunate."
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