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Login to post Forums » Off-topic discussion » Obama and Race- Will a beer fix the problem?

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July 31, 2009 10:34 a.m. SVreX UberDork

I find this story bizarre indeed.

But the strangest part of the story is the media's response.

Why are they spending so much time talking about what kind of beer each of them consumed, instead of asking any real questions, such as:

"Does our President have a race problem?"

"Why did our President get into a local law enforcement issue in the first place?"

"Once in it, why did he go straight to the media with foolish and incorrect statements, without first checking his facts?"

"Why is he highlighting the efforts of law enforcement, instead of the errors of the person arrested?"

"Why is he emphasizing historical shortcomings in law enforcement in an apparent effort to justify both Professor Gates' actions and his own, instead of observing that there is absolutely no reason to expect that the officer involved should have responded in any other way, and that his actions were both logical and reasonable?"

Yesterday Mr. Obama said the media was overplaying it, that it was not a summit but just a couple of guys getting together for a beer after work. Does he believe that? Does he not understand that one of those "guys" happens to be the most powerful man in the world? Did he not notice that this event (staged in front of the television cameras for all the world to see) has never happened before? What was he trying to prove?

I find this stuff disturbing.

Discuss...
July 31, 2009 10:38 a.m. maroon92 UltraDork

eh, beer solves all problems.
July 31, 2009 10:47 a.m. carguy123 Dork

PR gone wrong.

Every aspect of the new administration is a vast PR project. Not since Kennedy have we seen such an attempt at media manipulation. Remember the TV show Spin City, this is the same thing just on a larger scale.

They want to use the media to form opinions rather than use the media to inform. But that's not a problem cause the media's "down with that".

Not to say that the big Obam is the only one ever to do this, it's just what's happening right this very minute.

You can eat off of Obama dishes, drink from Obama glasses and even sleep with Obama's smilin' face on your privates. Oh yes, a big thing is Obama's face on underwear. I don't get it.
July 31, 2009 10:54 a.m. DustoffDave Reader

I have some very close ties to the law enforcement community and they are still upset at the President and they all tell me that a beer isn't going to fix it.

(I'd by presidential underwear just so I could sit on his face everyday -- my anti-authoritarian streak)
July 31, 2009 11:00 a.m. 16vCorey SuperDork

DustoffDave wrote:

(I'd by presidential underwear just so I could sit on his face everyday -- my anti-authoritarian streak)

I think that's called a skid mark.
July 31, 2009 11:05 a.m. DustoffDave Reader

LOL
July 31, 2009 11:17 a.m. S2Fella New Reader

"Beer, the cause of all life's problems...and the solution"

H. Simpson
July 31, 2009 11:27 a.m. RedS13Coupe Reader

Yeah, the whole thing seemed like an utterly stupid PR campaign to me too. I hate news so much. I have seen at least three news casts on the meeting, and in all honesty I don't really know what it was about... I just know that the Obama drank bud light.

I can't help but wonder if he really drinks bud light, or if he just went for "the common mans beer!" because it makes him more relateable.

Man I hate politics.
July 31, 2009 11:33 a.m. carguy123 Dork

He's working awfully hard to be just one of the boys.

Not too long ago the Pres or any high ranking official couldn't be seen drinking as that would corrupt the morals of the small. I'm not sure but what I prefer it without the beer.
July 31, 2009 11:33 a.m. SVreX UberDork

DustoffDave wrote:

I have some very close ties to the law enforcement community and they are still upset at the President and they all tell me that a beer isn't going to fix it.

If I was in law enforcement, I'd be pretty pissed at one of my own being put on display on international television as an example of someone acting "stupidly", when he was just doing his job, perhaps better than I would.
July 31, 2009 11:34 a.m. SVreX UberDork

You guys are offering the responses I expected you would.

Anyone have different opinions? I'm really trying to be enlightened here.
July 31, 2009 11:39 a.m. JmfnB MegaDork

My issue is that we are seeing a trend in discrimination that is now accepted as norm. Discrimination can happen to anyone from anyone.

If I am an officer of the law and a man is acting erratically in a house that I was just called to for a burglary claim I can assure you that my FIRST priority is to secure the area and THEN figure out who belongs where.

1: The homeowner should not have acted in the manner that he did. That started a catalytic effect that put more than one officer on the offensive.

2: AFTER it was verified that the homeowner belonged in the property he should have been strongly informed that the officers were there to PROTECT HIS INTERESTS and if the officers did not inspect the premises that his security could not be insured.

The only race relations I need to hear about is someone getting funky behind the wheel of a vehicle in a timed performance event. Drifting or other forms of automotive ballet are acceptable as well.
July 31, 2009 11:50 a.m. aeronca65t HalfDork

Wow, the sky is falling!

I think there's a lot of folks have a field-day over minutiae.

Plenty of cops in my family. Most of us see it as a screw up that's been resolved. Gee wizz, move on...

But I guess when you got nothing.......
July 31, 2009 12:33 p.m. Joe Gearin Associate Publisher

Although I think the Pres. should've waited to learn about the entire story before he spoke out, I do like the fact that he isn't afraid to get a discussion going.

His comments seem to indicate that he (like a lot of African Americans) has an inherent distrust for law enforcement. Bringing this discussion into the open for rational discussion is worthwhile. Of course the media goes crazy with it.....on both sides. (have you heard what that baffoon Hannity has been doing with this?)

Obama screwed up by talking out of turn, which he really needs not to do, as his words carry a lot of weight. I do like the fact that his presidency has opened the door for honest-rational race relations discourse though.

I heard that he gave a great speech at the NAACP convention recently, and didn't exactly tell them what they wanted to hear. No other pres. has had the ability to chastise black leaders without being labeled racist. There may be some good that comes out of that.

I really do like having an articulate President though, regardless of policy, or massive socialist power grabs.
July 31, 2009 12:34 p.m. walterj Dork

All I know is that as soon as it is established the suspect is the homeowner, even if they are a little put-off and loud, you suck up your ego, apologize and leave. It really shouldn't be about respecting the badge. The officer was in the right until he actually arrested someone for being disrespectful to him in their own home.

I would like to think that if I ever get crossed up with the law that president of the united states would intervene. I am having a little trouble with the DMV and a copy of a title... I should give the White House a call.
July 31, 2009 12:39 p.m. poopshovel SuperDork

What a mess. This would've remained back-page news had the President not stuck his nose where it didn't belong...and yes, I'd say the same thing if he was an old white Republican. Unfortunately for us all, it's all about Thee Obama and his need to show us all how much more intelligent and morally sound he is than the rest uf us plebians.

IMO, the cop should've declined the president's offer.

"Sorry bud, I'm busy doing my berkeleying job that day...you know, the one the taxpayers pay me to do? How about you two Harvard boys sit around and cry about how rough "your people" have it nowadays. Throw in a couple jokes about my mother while your at it. Sling around some anti-anglo epithets for good measure, and talk about what a horrible, wicked country the U.S. is. I'll be issuing tickets in the rain for 20 bucks an hour, praying I don't have to pull over any black folks as to avoid a berkeleying lawsuit, and I have to get up at 6 A.M. for another barrage of "racial sensitivity training." Thanks anyway.

Sincerely,

White Devil"

...would've been an appropriate response, IMO.
July 31, 2009 12:45 p.m. JmfnB MegaDork

Overheard in the shop:

"Can I sue for being labeled as White instead of Caucasian? If not can I get unconditionally irate for being referred to as a "white man" as opposed to being Caucasian? If I can I will stop marking "Hispanic" on all my government forms"
July 31, 2009 12:46 p.m. foxtrapper SuperDork

SVreX wrote:

"Why did our President get into a local law enforcement issue in the first place?"

"Once in it, why did he go straight to the media with foolish and incorrect statements, without first checking his facts?"

Because he was asked about it, by the media, during a press conference. And he very clearly articulated that he didn't know the whole story and that it was a friend of his and his view was biased as a result.

"Why is he highlighting the efforts of law enforcement, instead of the errors of the person arrested?"

Because the violation of the Constitutional rights or a citizen by a cop is more important than this disturbing Orwelian belief many have that you should submit to whatever a cop demands.

Once the cop knew this was the owner of the house and that no break in had occured, he should have left.

Yesterday Mr. Obama said the media was overplaying it, that it was not a summit but just a couple of guys getting together for a beer after work. Does he believe that? Does he not understand that one of those "guys" happens to be the most powerful man in the world? Did he not notice that this event (staged in front of the television cameras for all the world to see) has never happened before? What was he trying to prove?

That people can settle down and chill out. That after the fanned flames and theatrics, kicking back over a beer can indeed settle many problems.

Personally, I think it's pretty cool to see a man being president, owning up to his mistakes, and settling things down.
July 31, 2009 1:29 p.m. aircooled SuperDork

SVreX wrote:

"Does our President have a race problem?"

Of course he has a race problem. He is not only considered a black man, he is also half white. Which means he almost certainly caught hell from both "sides". I am not sure if it is "his" problem, but I am sure he has seen the problem.

People can try to be impartial, but it is sometimes hard to suppress the effect of things that had a powerful impact. I don't know his story, but I am certain there has been some impact.

As a note: I am not a "person of color" nor am I mixed race (unless you count a bunch of different northern European countries as races), but I think it is important to try an understand the impact of not being a "whitey".
July 31, 2009 1:56 p.m. SVreX UberDork

aircooled wrote:

SVreX wrote:

"Does our President have a race problem?"

Of course he has a race problem. He is not only considered a black man, he is also half white. Which means he almost certainly caught hell from both "sides". I am not sure if it is "his" problem, but I am sure he has seen the problem.

People can try to be impartial, but it is sometimes hard to suppress the effect of things that had a powerful impact. I don't know his story, but I am certain there has been some impact.

As a note: I am not a "person of color" nor am I mixed race (unless you count a bunch of different northern European countries as races), but I think it is important to try an understand the impact of not being a "whitey".

OK.

I am white. I have a black step family (as well as a Jewish one). I was raised in a black neighborhood, mugged at gunpoint several times, just for being a "whitey". Beat up more times than I can count for the same thing. Still love my (step) father, and have LOTS of black friends. Married a hispanic woman. My kids are mixed race, and I've spent most of my life doing charity work in minority neighborhoods.

So what. None of that should give me any special rights, beyond what are due every other slob who is a citizen of this country.

In spite of nearly 5000 posts on this forum, I've never said any of that before. I've never tried to sway a decision just because of my race, or my upbringing. It is inappropriate for the President to respond to a local law enforcement issue just because it happens to be a friend of his, and it would be equally inappropriate if it was George Bush. But the race problem I was referring to has nothing to do with our president's skin color. It has to do with him making decisions BASED on skin color. That's a problem.

This is not about a random chance of birth being a particular color. This is about the most powerful man in the world making a bad decision that everyone seems to be giving him a pass on.

Honestly, would it have been OK with the media if George Bush had reversed the tables? If he had offered a beer to a black officer who had arrested a white friend of his for disorderly conduct, would anyone have thought it to be a grand gesture? Of course not. The NAACP would have screamed bloody murder, the media would have shredded him, and Congress would have called for his impeachment.

THAT is racial bias, and unfortunately it originated in the highest office in the land.
July 31, 2009 8:12 p.m. Twin_Cam Dork

Is anyone else more pissed that they were drinking yellow fizzy beer more than the fact that they were drinking beer to begin with?

Just me?
July 31, 2009 8:23 p.m. MrJoshua SuperDork

People are, and have always been, racist, sexist, classist, socialist , etc... I don't agree with Obama's politics and that bothers me more than the fact that he has prejudices.
Aug. 1, 2009 12:51 a.m. oldsaw Reader

MrJoshua wrote:

People are, and have always been, racist, sexist, classist, socialist , etc... I don't agree with Obama's politics and that bothers me more than the fact that he has prejudices.

+56,712,551

Unfortunately, 64,385,746 popular votes trumps the lower number (along with the electoral college tally).

As it turns out , the candidate who offered more digestible "lies" (and wasn't a Republican) was elected. A "do-over" isn't scheduled for another 3 1/2 years, so we'll see if Obamamania prevails.

BTW, I don't have problem with a "beer summit" as long as something is accomplished. With no apologies forthcoming from any "side", I'll call the meeting a:

Massive Fail
Aug. 1, 2009 1:27 a.m. thatsnowinnebago HalfDork

Twin_Cam wrote:

Is anyone else more pissed that they were drinking yellow fizzy beer more than the fact that they were drinking beer to begin with?

Just me?

Very much so. I was expecting some kind of fancy beer.
Aug. 1, 2009 3:11 a.m. Racer1ab New Reader

http://xkcd.com/617/

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