BOTH parties were reacting emotionally.
Gates had a chip on his shoulder from the start and wrongly pulled the race card.
The Cop got his briefs in a bunch because they don't like to brook no shit from NOBODY...
He had no idea at the time this guy was Obama's personal friend.
And the proof that BOTH acted idiotically is the fact that with Obama a little belatedly acting like an adult and doing the thing neither of these two testosterone poisoned doofi could do... manning up and apologizing for over-reacting... the two of them are suddenly willing swill a beer with the prez and get chummy.
If the cop had real balls, he would admit he overreacted to a guy flouting his authoratay- but state race was not an issue.
And if gates had any balls he would admit to being tired, cranky, and miffed at being unable to get into his own house... and that he reacted badly to the fact that a neighbor had called in a burglary 'cause they saw two 'black men" trying to get into the house.
Gates should understand that Cops have a hard job and that he pushed their hot buttons.
Crowley should understand that Gates apprehension about police treatment of blacks is WELL FOUNDED in decades of real experience...
And, right now- they should BOTH drop it and suggest to media that the nation has far more important concerns on its plate than a minor and inconsequential pissing match.
And Obama...
I swear, I almost think he made the "stupid" comment on purpose... just so he could let the media hype it up and give him the opportunity to demonstrate to these two stubborn jackasses how its done by walking out and graciously apologizing for initially over-reacting.
Its not a weakness to admit error.
Its the only real strength.