GOP To Mass. Voters: Is GatesGate Worse Than Iran Crackdown?

Published Jul 23 2009, 01:23 PM by David S. Bernstein

The NRCC (National Republican Congressional Committee) has just sent out a press release to media in each Massachusetts district, demanding the local Democratic Congressman's position on Barack Obama taking a position on the Skip Gates arrest.

The release is headlined (with the local congressman replacing Capuano as appropriate): "Does Michael Capuano Think Cambridge Cops 'Acted Stupidly?' -- Obama Passed Judgment Without 'All the Facts;' Will Capuano Follow Suit?"

From the release: "Does Michael Capuano believe President Obama’s comments were becoming of someone who holds the highest office in the land?... Is it really presidential for [Obama] to cast harsh judgment of a law enforcement official without all the facts? These questions warrant an answer from Michael Capuano.”

I'm not sure what I, as a reporter, am meant to do with this. It seems that the NRCC is suggesting that it is inappropriate for a public figure to comment on GatesGate (as some are now calling it), but that it is imperative for public figures to comment on whether it is appropriate to comment on GatesGate. So, should I be taking their lack of comment as praiseworthy or damning, or both? Should I call them up to ask for comment on whether it is appropriate to comment on GatesGate -- and if they say "no comment," what do I take that to mean?

The NRCC spokesperson, Ken Spain, is also quoted in the release drawing a curious analogy: "The president was slow to point out any wrongdoing in the wake of the Iranian election... This is certainly a questionable rush to judgment coming from a president who hasn’t exactly been quick to call out unconscionable behavior by a merciless foreign dictator."

I guess Spain is insinuating that Obama is tougher on Cambridge cops than on Iranian dictators, perhaps because the President thinks arresting a black law professor is worse than suppressing democracy. (Or perhaps because the CPD doesn't have long-range missiles. Or do they?)

Meanwhile, Obama's spokesperson clarified today that the President does not think that the CPD officer is stupid. But can he say the same about president Ahmadinejad?

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6 Comments

Boston Bertie said:

As a former Cambridge resident, my experience with Cambridge cops is that they are rude and unprofessional. Once they rushed into our garden where we were having a party and told us (all respectable adults) to "keep the fucking noise down" or words to that effect. The other encounter I had was when I was waiting for my dog to relieve himself and a cop stopped, got out of his cruiser, and told me in an aggressive manner "to pick up after you fucking dog". This despite the fact that I had a bag in hand and was waiting for the dog to finish his business. They are the rudest police I have ever come across in Massachusetts. Maybe it's because there is no mayor elected in Cambridge and they have not got a real boss who faces the voters - someone who would not put up with their profanity and rudeness to residents. When I called to complain about both incidents, I was treated just as badly by the person answering the phone. But, I moved so thankfully I don't have to put up with their nonsense anymore. I am sure that the police officer in question probably isn't a racist - but I would be pretty sure that he was as rude and ignorant as his colleagues.

July 23, 2009 3:04 PM
Rob said:

Man, the Republicans just suck at everything....can't even put out a decent snarky press release anymore.

July 23, 2009 3:17 PM
Whitey Bulger said:

I'm a huge Obama supporter, I want to make that very clear. Having said that Mr. Obama was frankly wrong. He admitted to not having all the facts and the person being arrested was a friend.... Think about that for a second. If one of your friends got a arrested of course you are going to defend them blindly, but that doesn't make you right and more importantly that is beneath an intellectual like Obama. The president of the U.S. should not be shooting from the hip. This is why I voted against W twice. I thought we had a man in the office who believed in reason and facts, not faith. Sad.

July 24, 2009 1:17 AM
Dorson Orba said:

Obama was frankly right. The cop is stupid. He arrested Gates for yelling at him and demanding his name and badge number. It's not a crime to yell at or ask for the badge number of a stupid cop. No charges filed means the D.A. agreed that the arrest was unjustified.

July 25, 2009 9:13 AM
Karly said:

This whole thing was a charade. Gates knew that if he acted abusive and crazy he would be arrested and the national media would pick it up, he also knew he could count on his friend the President to comment and bring even more attention to it. Then his good friend the president could please certain factions of his supporters by seemting to "attack racist white cops".. and present more "platforms for RACIAL DIALOGUE" by then appearing to bring the Injured Black Man and Insensitive WHITE COP together "for a beer".. what a crocl and Obama and Gates know people are stupid enough to fall for it. Disgusting.

July 25, 2009 10:48 PM
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August 10, 2009 11:00 PM