Axelrod: Obama Tried to "Cool" Gates Flap

Adviser Says President "Calibrated His Words Poorly" as Discussion of Cambridge Arrest Incident Grew More Heated

(CBS)  White House adviser David Axelrod said that President Obama tried to "cool" the conversation over racial profiling started over Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates' arrest earlier this week on "Face the Nation" Sunday.

"I think he understood that the debate was veering off in the wrong direction and as he said, that his words may have contributed to that, so he felt a responsibility to step forward and kind of cool the situation," Axelrod told CBS' Bob Schieffer.

Axelrod noted that when President Obama said the Cambridge Police Department acted "stupidly" during a press conference Wednesday night, "he calibrated his words poorly."

He applauded his boss for addressing the issue during a surprise visit to the daily press briefing Friday.

"I think it has had the desired effect. I think people are talking more constructively now and I think the steam has gone out of this," he told Schieffer.

Asked about the president's invitation for the arresting police officer and Professor Gates to have a beer with him at the White House, Axelrod said, "They expressed an interest in coming and coming to the White House and, you know, I think that will likely happen."

On the health care bills, which are stalled in the House of Representatives and the Senate partly due to conservative Democrats' concerns, Axelrod said there is agreement on "eighty percent" of the issues, and that the White House and Congressional leaders are working through details of the remaining "twenty percent."

Asked if President Obama will at some point have to lay down some specifics which he wants to see in health care reform, Axelrod said the president has "almost daily, perhaps dialogue hourly in the last few months" dialogue with members of Congress on the issue.

"The president did lay out a very specific array of cuts and savings that will help finance most of this health reform, and those have been largely embraced by everybody on top, so he is involved in the process and will continue to be in steering the right direction - that it lowers costs and improves quality of care and get us out from under the yoke of this inexorable climb in healthcare costs."

Schieffer asked whether President Obama is prepared to tax, "gold-plated Cadillac insurance policies."

Axelrod said the objective is to keep the "burden off the middle class who are struggling in this economy," and that options for the bill will be weighed on that basis. "If it meets that test, then he will certainly give it consideration, and I think that is certainly a possibility.

"The fact is everyone is focused on the fact that we have some issues left to resolve. We made enormous progress on this and I think we will continue to do that, and it will be a target to get something done in the fall on this, which has always been, you know, our goal," he said opitimistically.

[jokr8790]

You people don't know that African-Americans and Hispanics are routinely treated differently in this country? You've never heard of DWB (Driving While Black) or DWH (Driving While Hispanic)? Of course I should expect this when less than 1/2 of Republicans believe that President Obama isn't a United States Citizen and is therefore not legally eligible to be President.

[jokr8790]

Actually I was wrong. Apparently more than 1/2 of Rethuglicans don't think President Obama is a citizen. And as others have said, probably believe the earth is flat and the sun revolves around the earth. I understand that an Arizona state legislator recently made a statement on the floor of the state house that the earth was 6,000 years old. If the American people do not get good foreign and domestic policy it really is our fault because we keep allowing idiots like this woman and Michelle Bachman to get into office.

[jokr8790]

whosaid 1-racism is out there, but its been less socially acceptable as in prior years. So racists have to cover it up without appearing to be openly racist. But this forum is good, because I haven't seen so many open avowals of racism in one place at one time. I am certainly not aware of any interviews with either Rev. Wright or Bill Ayers asking (in an unbiased, straightforward manner) them to explain their views. I strongly suspect when Rev. Wright said "God Damn America" he was talking about American government foreign and domestic policies and its impact on minority communities.

[jokr8790]

Personally, I don't think the President is progressive enough. I think he kotows way too much to the Rethugliucans and rabid dog democrats. If it was up to me we'd have single payer government run healthcare, like the majority of the civilzed industrialized nations of the world as well as a ban on assault weapons.But that's me. As to the guy whoi tried to make gates part of the elite against the union member police officer, either don't make me laugh or you are woefully ignorant of American history, particularly American labor history. The police always took the side of the company and the wealthy against the workers. The police are there to protect the wealthy, always.

[endurorob]

If I were Crowley I would expect a public apology from Obama prior to accepting any invitation.

[brianp55]

A black scholar with a BIG CHIP on his shoulder. You can bet that if his house was really being broken into, he would want the Cambridge Police on his porch in force.

[jokr8790]

Frankly as to those idiots who keep bringing up Jeremiah Wright and Bill Ayers, did anyone of you ever think to ask yourselves why they might feel the way they do? That was the one thing I noticed while The Jeremiah Wright flap was occurring in the campaign, not one person, not one media person ever thought to maybe ask him why he would say such things. The reason for that is because the answers might scare you, the answers might bring to light some ugly truths that the majority of people would prefer to keep hidden,. Just as the person who said "if Obama had kept his mouth closed, this wouldn't have blown up." Maybe it needs to blow up so we can have a real discussion of race and history and its legacy in America today. As for nonews day..."when 12% of the population commits 70% of the crimes..." Gee 12% is about the population of African-Americans in this country. So according to you all African-Americans, the entire population is out there committing crimes. I'm certainly glad to know you don't have any preconceptions that might be defined as racist.

[whosaid1]

My...my...you really love the "extreme" statements don?t you..."not ONE person, not ONE media person"...."ugly truths that the MAJORITY of people would prefer to keep hidden". You seem to "see" a racist behind every tree....

[winstrv]

If Obama would have kept his mouth closed this wouldn't have blown up.

[EnglishSpeaking]

I don't know about you - but the two stuttering idiots - Axelrod AND Schieffer are about the most difficult public speakers I have EVER tried to listen to.
Learn how to speak in Public folks !!
Uhhh should not be a major part of your vocabulary !!
PLEASE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TryTakingMyMoney]

Gates said: "it's time to move on". Yeah...because he knows he lied and the pressure is building. Along with the racist discordantly conduct that will be pointed out on the tapes, he's also worried about his messiah friend that came out and showed his true racist colors and his true hatred for white America. I bet Rev. Wright is soooooo proud!

[TryTakingMyMoney]

Gates said: "it's time to move on". Yeah...because he knows he lied and the pressure is building. Along with the racist disorderly conduct that will be pointed out on the tapes, he's also worried about his messiah friend that came out and showed his true racist colors and his true hatred for white America. I bet Rev. Wright is soooooo proud!

[onthehumanside]

Many Americans voted for President Obama, and they made the right choice, and should feel proud of their choice, therefore should also be standing behind their President and supporting him. Why any one would turn their back so fast on a President, who for the first time in American history is meaningfully, and truthfully, working hard to get EVERYONE a health care system that is affordable, and he speaks from the heart, is in my opinion a trator, to their own values, and their own believes, putting the future of not only of themselves, but their own families in jeopardy, but also, of the whole nation. Do Americans not realize what the rest of the world thinks of their healthcare system, we all know it is flawed, and corrupt. Is it really easier for the public to turn their feelings on and off so fast, for this President, instead of working with him. Ask yourself, when was the last time you used the word stupid? There are more important issues to feel insulted about on this planet.We should also be aware of the language used by all people at times, during work.Stand proud, be a real human being, support your President, and get on with making America proud to the rest of the world.
Renate Jackson.

[tautomer]

We can easily evaluate Obama's statements by asking ourselves if Jeremiah Wright would have agreed with them. Does anyone doubt that he would have? Obama is speaking for Rev Wright, spewing the same hateful venom!

[veritas_1212]

There was nothing whatsoever "hateful" in what Obama said!

[tautomer]

The proper thing to do was for both sides to back away and allow the whole thing to die. Instead, Gates and Obama insisted on escalating it to national scale. There have been far more egregious case of inappropriate police behavior of late, on which Obama was mute. (Remember the cop in Seattle bouncing the 15 yr old girl's head of the walls and floor of a holding cell? Obama didn't say Boo!)

Obama shot his mouth off because the guy was his friend, now he realizes that he blundered he wants to retract his statements. Of course, the funny thing about Obama is that he always wants to be able to retract what HE says....but he'll hound his opponents about anything they say, forever.

[sassyhorse]

why is it when it's a AfricanAmerican we have to walk and talk on eggshells, but the Aftricanamericans can call us anything they want to and nothing will be done about it. The President should never have stuck his nose in it. And because he did, it's obvious he's a racist.

[veritas_1212]

No, it's not at all "obvious" he's a racist. Why do you assume he backed Gates because Gates is black ? That's a racist assumption on your part. He said quite clearly that maybe he was biased because Gates is a friend of his. There is nothing racist about that.

[jokr8790]

Yeah really, its terrible. What's happened to this country when you can't call a ni**er a ni**er anymore? The one thing about this incident is that the President is right. It is a teachable moment in America and with racists coming out of the woodwork like cockroaches the seamy underbelly of Amercian racism might just get fully exposed.

[jummpstart]

Our President is tackling some "entrenched" status quos right now in our country. It is SO natural when you start to "change" things, for the better people rebel; thus, creating a lot of unfavorable results. When he straightens out this MESS and gets the job done successfully, whether his ratings are -5% or +75%-- he wins and we win!! As I look, everyday, at the rocks his Administration is turning over (exposing years of abuse and misuse of our system) I am amazed at the "rot" tha has been allowed to accumulate. Our past presidents (both Parties) have let the system beat them by focusing on ratings/polls. consequently, they did not push back hard for the "fixes" our country needed, i.e. health care, it goes back to Truman trying to reform our health care (61 years ago): Obama is doing the fixes because he thrives on challenges BESIDES, he is a good Poker player. What does being a poker player have to do with this? -Strategy- for winning!!! He loves this country and I think he hates what has happened to us, internally. Everything I read about him, and comparing and taking note of the pro and con authors, he wants to make us Great again.-Look at his travels-- Is this wrong? It shouldn't matter the color of his skin or as some of you say he is a racist. I don't think so, but each of us bring with us our biases, no exceptions. Tt is just a part of being humans. It takes an objective not subjective person to look at the whole picture like it or not. Most of the negative comments posted here seem to be coming from subjective people.

[hasents]

I'm not so sure the entire affair wasn't staged by Gates to begin with to further his notoriety. What I would like to hear is the audio caught during the incident that indicates a supposedly highly educated man is talking street talk to the white policeman. Don't suppose that will ever come out. I think Crowley would be making a big mistake by going to the White House and putting himself in a position to have his side of the story twisted and tainted by Obama and Gates not to mention the media. Me, I'm sick of this quote "profiling and race" card being played.

[kamsack50]

We do NOT get to hear the tape.
The tape is right there. In another such case, were it not involving this Harvard professor, we would hear the tape.
So, I repeat, as everyone out there should, WHO'S PREVENTING THE RELEASE OF THE TAPE?

[whosaid1]

"Your sons are white, which means when they are stopped by a cop, they automatically get the benefit of any doubt. If they were African-American teenage boys, not matter how polite they were, they most likely would have been hauled out of the car in handcuffs, spreadeagled on the vehicle at gunpoint and sat on the pavement until whatever it was was straightened out".

So, it's your opinion...that "all over this country" whites are AUTOMATICALLY given the benefit of the doubt and that blacks are "MOST LIKELY" hauled out of the car in handcuffs...even when they are polite ?? And, you really believe that !!???

[jokr8790]

The fact that you don't says it all. I suggest you live for one year with a working class African-American family or a family that has to survive on public assistance. Your eyes might be opened to the reality of this country.

[whosaid1]

No one in their right mind would suggest that there are NO bigots out there..they of course, exist... However, I travel all over this country, and have for years...and I just don't see, or read, of an epidemic of policemen acting in that manner...as your comment seems to suggest. And just for the record, I have bi-racial grandchildren and they were taught very early by their parents, that you should be polite and treat people with "respect" until you are given a "real" reason not to....

[jokr8790]

greggiex:
1. Internal Affairs is a joke. They are made up of cops and they always back the cops.
2. Who is going to to a "through, independent investigation?"
3. Lawsuits are a joke. Judges are pro-cop every time. Even if the cops are wrong they have "qualified immunity." This means you can't collect anything.
I was a criminal defense lawyer for over fifteen years. I know whereof I speak.

[jokr8790]

stevenga777-I'm not going to even bother to respond to 98% of the other people blogging on this site. I'm not going to waste my time or energy answering racist, moron klansman. As to what you wrote, however, you hit the nail on the head. Your sons are white, which means when they are stopped by a cop, they automatically get the benefit of any doubt. If they were African-American teenage boys, not matter how polite they were, they most likely would have been hauled out of the car in handcuffs, spreadeagled on the vehicle at gunpoint and sat on the pavement until whatever it was was straightened out. I remember being in a chain store with my daughter's boyfriend and his brother. She is white he is African-American. We split up in the store and almost from the moment we walked in, store personnel were following her boyfriend and his brother throughout the store to make sure they didn't steal something. This is the reality in America today and while President Obama's election did signal an improvement, it really did not change the day to day reality. It will be many more years before that happens.

[ffoulkes-2009]

Couldn't have anything to do with the way the young man was dressed could it? There are circumstances that make people seem suspect. White kids dressed 'Goth' for instance are watched closely when shopping as they appear suspect. Don't just say because of one instance you saw that racism is the cause. That is a racist opinion.

[grabandgo]

Well we finally met the REAL barry obama.