Was that an apology President Obama?
By happyness3
@happyness3 (394)
United States
July 24, 2009 3:10pm CST
So, in watching a recent video of President Obama, he says that he called the officer who arrested his friend, and clarified that he was an upstanding police officer, and had made that clear in his phone conversation. He then went on to say that he still felt that the sergeant was overreacting. Of course, he also says that his friend [/i]may[i]have overreacted as well. And then he comments on how some people are saying that he shouldn't have gotten involved because it was a local issue, and this is where I thought he was going to agree with this. But I was wrong. Instead, he said that it is just another racial indicator of where our country is. Or, maybe he should have just agreed that he should have stayed out of it. I don't here him commenting on white people getting arrested.
2 people like this
4 responses
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
24 Jul 09
If I'm understanding you right he basically said I'm sorry but it's your fault. That's not an apology.
1 person likes this
@AngryKittyMSV (4317)
• United States
24 Jul 09
If my understanding is correct, that's what they call a backhanded apology.
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@coolcoder (2018)
• United States
24 Jul 09
It was an apology, but it wasn't an apology. Personally, if it weren't for the fact that he's very concerned about his approval ratings (which are dropping more and more each day), he would not have even said what he did today. He's not at all apologetic about what he said when you get down to it.
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@Improbability (140)
• United States
24 Jul 09
Well race was brought up, by a prominent figure that was not Obama, and made national headlines. To ignore it would have been to say that he doesn't care about racial problems. I am just impressed that he took the initiative to call the police officer and get at the truth. I am impressed that he admitted he made a mistake, and even admitted that his friend overreacted, too. He took the initiative to get to the truth. He COULD have continued to look at it from one side. He could have turned it in to a crusade. He's shown that he is rational, that he continues to have a very wise look on racism, and that he can admit when he's wrong. I think he gave it the right amount of attention- just because something happens locally doesn't mean it doesn't affect the whole nation.
1 person likes this
@happyness3 (394)
• United States
24 Jul 09
Thank you for your comment. A lot of people have commented on how they didn't even know who this man that was arrested was. Do you think that this would have become such a national event if the President hadn't commented on it?
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@Improbability (140)
• United States
24 Jul 09
Well that's a good question. I saw it in the headlines early in the morning, so I assumed Gates must have been one of those people who was well known, just not nationally known yet, if that makes any sense. As I found a lot of articles and people commenting on it in the morning, it was definitely in the headlines before the President spoke. I'm also sure the President did massively increase interest in it. That did upset me because he didn't seem to know everything that he was commenting on. Which is why I'm so impressed he took the time to find it all out. The problem is that his new statements won't get the attention his initial statement did. So yeah, I completely agree on that being a mistake.
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@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
25 Jul 09
I don't believe the professor was well known before this. I think he WANTED to be well known and used this police officer like a tool to achieve fame. My opinion is that he behaved in such a ridiculous manner so he could get arrested, and get national attention. He probably hired a lawyer or publicist to get the story to every news agency possible.
1 person likes this
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
25 Jul 09
Maybe he doesn't have white friends. I am white, and he is not my friend. I didn't vote for him.
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@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
25 Jul 09
I personally am amazed at the way the president can go to France, Turkey, and every other nation on the globe saying how terrible the US is and apologizing for any and all perceived wrongs by past administrations, yet when he insults an entire police force, and offends many others, he won't give a clear and simple apology. He admits he made a mistake, but won't apologize for it.
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