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"Stupid Is As Stupid Says"

In developing this site, I wanted to make sure that I kept focus on positive issues.  I didn’t want to write about politics too often because of the divisiveness it can cause.  This site was meant to be a positive place.

But as I watched President Obama’s press conference last night, something he said really threw me for a loop.  By now it’s all over the news – the President accusing a Cambridge Police Officer’s of “acting stupidly” in a case of disorderly conduct against a Harvard Professor, Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

For the record, here is a report on the original story and here is a clip of President Obama’s response. I sent this letter through snail mail and submitted it through the White House website.

Also for the record, I did not vote in this past election and though I personally slant Republican, this letter is not political in nature.  It is strictly in reference to President Obama’s comments on the Gates' case.

-----------------------

President Barack Obama
c/o The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Mr. President:

I am writing to you in regards to your recent response in the matter involving Henry Louis Gates Jr and the Cambridge Police.  I feel that the remarks you made were incredibly irresponsible and potentially dangerous.

You began by claiming not to know all the facts.  As a politician you should know that if you don't know all the facts, you should probably withhold comment - especially when it involves such a touchy issue as race relations and the police.  But that didn't stop you from drawing improper conclusions and sending a horrible message to the young people of this country.

The issue at hand is a matter of one person's story against another - it is impossible to draw a rational conclusion as to who is right without hard facts.  I understand that Professor Gates is a friend and you wish to support him as such, but as President you also have a duty to support the men and women of the Police Department if their names are wrongly smeared in public.

You claim that in this situation it is "fair to say, number one, any of us would be pretty angry."

I do not believe that is fair to say. 

You would be frustrated that you didn't have your keys and had to break into your own home, but you shouldn't be angry that an officer showed up and asked you to prove that you live there.  If it were my house, it would comfort me to know that the local Police were responsive to a potential burglary.  I would invite the man in and assist him in any way possible so that he could complete his job.

You state that after presenting identification to the officer, Professor Gates was then arrested for disorderly conduct.  It seems Mr. President, that your omission of any facts at this point is pretty important.

You are entirely speculating on the events that happened in the time Mr. Gates offered his identification and the actual arrest.  Mr. Gates wasn't being arrested for breaking and entering and his crime wasn't "being black" as you seem to insinuate by lack of any other explanation of why he might be arrested.  He was arrested for disorderly conduct and you have not offered any proof that Mr. Gates wasn’t disorderly. 

In Massachusetts, a disorderly person is defined as "one who, with purpose to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creates a risk thereof engages in fighting or threatening, violent or tumultuous behavior, or creates a hazard or physically offensive condition by any act which serves no legitimate purpose."

You conveniently offer Mr. Gates an excuse for being belligerent, saying "any of us would be pretty angry."  This suggests your approval to Mr. Gates' possible disorderly behavior.  After classifying Mr. Gates as "angry", are you so willing to relinquish all possibility that he may have indeed also been disorderly?

You later continue, "It was fair to say... number two, that the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home."

I am completely taken aback by the inappropriateness of this comment.  How does the President blindly take sides AGAINST the Police Department in such a humiliating fashion?  I cannot understate my feeling of shock at the lack of responsibility you displayed!

This moment offered you so much opportunity to promote proper behavior when one is confronted by a police officer.  Our men in uniform deserve to be treated with respect.  Even if a civilian is reasonably angry, it does not give that person the right to be belligerent to a police officer conducting an investigation.  These are the people that protect us and keep us safe and often put their life on the line to do so.

How would you feel if you were a police officer and your country's leader was so quick to look down upon you and your profession and refer to one of your brethren as "stupid" with so little evidence to back it up?

You have also given impetus to younger people to defy the instructions of a police officer.  Just because you may not have committed a crime, doesn't allow you the right to impede the investigation in a belligerent fashion.  How many young people are going to instigate confrontations with police officers now because they feel President Obama is on their side?  You have set a dangerous precedent and a bad example.

You should have given the benefit of the doubt to the officer.  I wouldn't expect you to make a stand against your friend's behavior and in support of the police officer, but I would expect you to withhold an accusation of stupidity.

Mr. President, I am comfortable in stating that your comments displayed incredible stupidity.   After the incessant criticism of the previous administrations' inability to admit their mistakes, I expect you to realize that you were wrong in this instance.  Do not offer us any excuses, just admit your mistake and apologize to the many people you have offended.  They certainly deserve it and people will think better of you if you simply say, "I'm sorry".

Sincerely,

Scott Riecke

If you would like to comment on this letter, Scott can be reached at info@aletteraweek.com (please include your name and town).

To see Responses, Results and Reactions to this letter, click here.

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