If the president’s solution to sorting out disputes between cops and people who get angry with them is to sit everyone down for a beer, then he’s either looking for excuses to drink and stumbled on a doozy, or he’s going to have to learn to handle his Bud Lights. Why? Our next couple is waiting in the wings :
District resident Pepin Tuma, 33, an attorney in private practice, said the arrest took place at 17th and U streets, N.W., shortly after midnight July 26, seconds after a police officer overheard him telling two friends “jokingly” and in a loud voice, “I hate the police.”
Tuma said he made the comment in jest as he and two friends, who also are lawyers, were walking to Dupont Circle gay bar Cobalt while talking among themselves about the controversial arrest of Harvard University Professor Henry Louis Gates in Cambridge, Mass., for disorderly conduct.
In an e-mail to Lanier, Tuma said that after repeating twice to his friends in a “sing-song” voice, “I hate the police,” an officer “charged 40-50 feet towards us while yelling at me phrases like ‘who do you think you are’ and ‘who do you think you’re talking to.’”
“As Officer Culp moved me toward a police cruiser, he told me to ‘just shut up, faggot,’” Tuma told Lanier in his e-mail.
Will that be two Bud Lights, gentlemen?
I tend to doubt that a personal meeting with the warring factions will produce sufficient change. While Henry Gates’ problem may have been a little closer to the President’s heart, them being friends and all, he can’t now ignore the gay bashing cop. That would be offensive.
But the problem isn’t black. Or gay. It’s cop. And the more we try to wiggle between the hard facts, the cold law and appeasing that large segment of society that is very fond of police officers, no matter what (and coincidentally, isn’t always so fond or tolerant of blacks or gays). We just don’t seem to be making much headway with the notion that being disrespectful, even mean, to a police officer is not a crime. Maybe some of the TV talking head guys will borrow this quote from a commenter at Turley’s blog:
Or maybe you think Obama can hold his alcohol?
I tend to doubt that a personal meeting with the warring factions will produce sufficient change. While Henry Gates’ problem may have been a little closer to the President’s heart, them being friends and all, he can’t now ignore the gay bashing cop. That would be offensive.
But the problem isn’t black. Or gay. It’s cop. And the more we try to wiggle between the hard facts, the cold law and appeasing that large segment of society that is very fond of police officers, no matter what (and coincidentally, isn’t always so fond or tolerant of blacks or gays). We just don’t seem to be making much headway with the notion that being disrespectful, even mean, to a police officer is not a crime. Maybe some of the TV talking head guys will borrow this quote from a commenter at Turley’s blog:
“The freedom of individuals verbally to oppose or challenge police action without thereby risking arrest is one of the principal characteristics by which we distinguish a free nation from a police state.” Houston v. Hill, 482 U.S. 451, 462-463 (1987)Seriously, it’s the perfect length for a sound bite and will make you seem remarkably learned. We won’t tell where you got it from. Promise.
Or maybe you think Obama can hold his alcohol?
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I’m thinking $$$. Couldn’t Obama come up with his own label? Think of the marketing possibilities!
I just can’t get over how incredibly wussy it was of Obama to back down from his first comments. I don’t know what political calculations went on—Police unions? Didn’t want to seem soft on crime? Didn’t want to seem too pro-black?—but he’s clearly decided not to make a stand on civil rights. I mean, this was the perfect opening…
There is precedent of a sort. Remember Billy Beer?
I do in fact remember Billy Beer.
I think Obama could come up with something like “Attitude Brew.”
He could advertise it as “Cop an ‘Attitude’ and drink one too.”
I’m sorry. I can’t help it. I’ll try to stop.
Thank you for the sound bite!