Yes, President Obama took a risk by weighing into the Skip Gates incident, but he was right to do so. Had he ducked the question put directly to him by a reporter in primetime, he would not only have snubbed a friend but abdicated his responsibilities. For over half a century, the nation has looked to our presidents for moral clarity on matters relating to civil rights. Mr. Obama had to stand up for Professor Gates, who should never have been arrested.
As a nation, we look to our presidents for moral clarity on matters relating to civil rights.
Skip Gates is 58 years old, slight, refined and often relies upon a cane. One glance should have convinced the cop he was no burglar. Even though Mr. Gates apparently lost his temper, the policeman was trained to be sensitive and understanding, especially in inter-racial face-offs. To have handcuffed him and bundled him off to the police station was on its face inappropriate (that said, the president went too far in calling it stupid).
But let me add one postscript as a colleague of Professor Gates and a citizen of Cambridge. While it is inconceivable to me as a white male that I might have been treated in my own home in the same way, it is also true that I have on repeated occasions seen members of the Cambridge Police Department treat people with professionalism and respect, regardless of their skin color. To me, the behavior of this officer in this incident was aberrational. It should not be read as an indictment of a police force or a community where diversity and civil rights have long been treasured.
- David Gergen