TW: I hate things like the Gates kerfuffle. No one benefits, no one's opinion about race, individuals or life in general changes. All that happens is that previous biases become more validated. And folks get mighty upset.
I do not judge Prof. Gates or the police involved in the situation. I will never know what really happened (partially because I will move on and not study the issue just like the vast majority of others) and my view like everyone else's will be driven by my own personal biases.
What makes one cringe more? Cops arresting someone outside their own house or an African-American man shouting racism at the drop of a hat? Is one's kneejerk to believe a respected policeman or a distinguished African-American professor? To me they should both be respected and both subject to criticism if appropriate.
What is clear, however, is that our POTUS made a tactical error. Injecting himself into the equation is a no win move. Even if the ultimate facts were to support his blurted out perspective he would still alienate many. In the meantime what has happened was blatantly predictable. His statement was juicy chum for Fox, Limbaugh etc. to have a field day. Those who opposed Obama last week will get very excited, those of us who support Obama will get aggravated.
Obama committed a gaffe he is in fact human.
In the mean time, the economy sputters, the deficit grows and the wars go on.
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