President Obama Oversteps His Bounds.

President Obama's background, like most U.S. politicians, is law. Prior to his political career he was a lawyer. A Constitutional lawyer if you read his own bios.

So why would a highly-regarded lawyer inject himself into a situation that has not yet even resolved itself yet?

The situation is between Professor Gates of Harvard university, an African-American (how I hate hyphenation) who was arrested just outside his own home for disorderly conduct. The arresting officer was James Crowley. Officer Crowley was responding to a report of a crime in progress. Apparently, Prof. Gates may have locked himself out of his own house (whom among us haven't done that once or three times in our lives?) and was trying to force his way in. This gave the appearance of a break-in, which some concerned neighbor responded to by reporting the activity.

When Officer Crowley showed up, Prof. Gates had managed to get into his home. According to Officer Crowley Prof. Gates initially refused to show his identification and immediately started yelling imprecations at the officers.

We don't really know the facts of the case. But what I do know, as a WHITE man, is that when a police officer asks for your ID, you hand it to them. And you do so in a non-threatening manner. Prof. Gates' behavior, if it is as documented in the police report, would only heighten suspicion amongst the officers on the scene.

Nonetheless, President Obama has now stated from the bully pulpit of the White House that this officer "acted stupidly". I seriously doubt that our Fearless Leader has all the facts of this case. And considering his long law experience, I find it fascinating that he would make such a perjorative statement prior to the initiation, much less conclusion of any investigation that the authorities might conduct.

Is there racism in America? You bet. There is much intolerance on both sides of this debate and it may never be fully solved. But I still say that we can't be doing too badly when we have persons of color currently sitting in the White House, the Attorney General's office and other high positions of government.

And as for Prof. Gates. A lesson in how to respond when stopped by a police officer might be in order.