GatesGate

When 58-year-old Henry Louis Gates returned to his Cambridge, Massachusetts home on July 16, he had a hard time opening his door. He called for his driver to help him gain entrance to his home. While struggling with the door, a neighbor called police to report a possible break-in in progress.

When Sgt. James Crowley of the Cambridge Police Department arrived, he demanded to see Gates' identification. Not knowing why the police were at his home, Gates yelled at the officer. After showing ID, the Harvard Professor was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct.

Racial profiling? Perhaps. A big misunderstanding? Most likely. The Gates/Crowley incident is no longer the hot topic. It's what happened after the arrest, after charges were dropped, and after the story gained national attention, that has prime time news anchors all a-tizzy.

Speaking at a press conference a few days later, President Obama was asked to comment on the story...

"I think it's fair to say, number one, any of us would be pretty angry. Number two, that the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home. And number three – what I think we know separate and apart from this incident – is that there is a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately."

Yes. Obama said the police department acted stupidly. All it took was that one word to fuel the firestorm that is... Thaddeus McCotter.


Now, keep in mind, the President has already personally called both Sgt. Crowley and Professor Gates. Both men are invited to, and will be attending a White House "beer party" with The Big O this Thursday. Both men have, reportedly, agreed to bury the hatchet.

But Thaddeus McCotter, a Republican congressman from Michigan, is not satisfied. He's written and introduced a house resolution asking Obama to formally apologize to the Cambridge Police Department. One more time: Thaddeus wants Congress to vote on, and pass, a non-binding resolution asking the President to publicly apologize for his choice of words.

Thad, I get where you're going with this. I really do. And you're entitled to your opinion just like everyone else. But I just have a little issue with dragging the whole freaking Congress out to perform this little piece of theater for you. I just have this nagging feeling that Congress may have slightly more important things to do. No?

You know what? I take it back. Let's make Obama apologize. While we're at it, I have a few things I'd like Bush Jr. to apologize for too. You know, like, starting a war for profit and killing lots of innocent people while simultaneously ruining our economy and turning our country into the laughing stock of the world.

Congress, here I come.