Now, Iet me state up front, that in general I support Obama and think he is trying to do the best under difficult circumstances. But I disagree on his take of the Gates situation.

Blacks in general (especially in the past) have suffered from unfair persecution. But I don't think that every case is clear-cut racism.

The police generally try to do a good job under difficult circumstances as well. Gates may have a point, but he went about proving it in the wrong way. I think he was trying to be a "cause celeb" amongst blacks. Did he really present his ID before screaming racism?

The US has become a strange country - liberals and cons both say they are for law and order - except libs support left-wing "civil disobedience" and cons support right-wing "civil disobediance".

When I was a teen, I was taught to treat authority figures with respect. Whenever I had confrontations with the police, I did and was always treated fairly.

I had a friend who was always beligerant with police, he was arrested several times.

If two black males had broken into Gate's house, he would have thanked the neighbor who reported it and the police for their quick response.

Mr. Obama should not have called the officer stupid.

Strangely, I find myself agreeing with you on this.

See, there is hope for libs and cons to come together - sometimes :)

My question is, after Gates had produced ID and demonstrated that he was in his own home, why was there a need to continue questioning? Once it was established that there was no break in, why didn't the police officer just move on? How can someone be guilty of "disorderly conduct" in their own home?

There was no report of any violence. Just an exchange of words.

From what I've read, it seems to me that Gates probably got testy and the cop decided a night in handcuffs would teach him a lesson. I think "stupid" is a good word to describe the behavior of boht parties.