In the Right

In his original Wednesday night stupid declaration -- "the Cambridge police acted stupidly" -- and in his Friday afternoon briefing room attempt to get back out in front of a story that he had steered off the tracks, Obama shred whatever doubts remain about his ability for public self-effacement.

That is to say, he has no ability to be self-effacing.

From beginning to end, what the nation witnessed instead was the arrogance of an elite.

When faced with the recognition that he had put his foot in his mouth and fanned the very flames he says he intended to douse, he couldn't bring himself to utter the kind of words every school child is taught are necessary in such a situation: "I made a mistake. I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

Instead, we got weasel words.

The "teachable moment" Obama suggests the episode be used for, though, can be found not in his monologue on race relations, but in a parsing of his non-apology apology:

Upon entering the briefing room, for instance, Obama said: "I wanted to address you guys directly, because over the last day and a half, obviously, there's been all sorts of controversy around the incident that happened in Cambridge with Professor Gates and the police department there."

Actually, the controversy over the last two days had less to do with the incident that happened last week than it had to do with your stupid comments on the incident.

"And I could have calibrated those words differently."

Of course you could have. But you chose not to. Are you now saying you wish you had? If so, why not just come right out and say you wish you had something different?

"I continue to believe, based on what I have heard, that there was an overreaction in pulling Professor Gates out of his home to the station. I also continue to believe, based on what I heard, that Professor Gates probably overreacted as well."

Hmm. This is the first I've heard that you think Professor Gates "probably overreacted as well." Yet you use the formulation, "I continue to believe," indicating that this is the belief you held Wednesday night, when your commentary was decidedly one-sided, placing all the blame on Sgt. Crowley and the Cambridge police department.

"And, you know, so to the extent that my choice of words didn't illuminate, but rather contributed to more media frenzy, I think that was unfortunate."

Thank you, Captain Obvious. Of course it was "unfortunate." But was it "wrong" of you to say what you did? Was it a "mistake?" Are you "sorry" for it? Do you have any "remorse" or "regret" for maligning Sgt. Crowley and the Cambridge police department?

"My hope is is that as a consequence of this event, this ends up being what's called a teachable moment, where all of us, instead of pumping up the volume, spend a little more time listening to each other and try to focus on how we can generally improve relations between police officers and minority communities, and that instead of flinging accusations, we can all be a little more reflective in terms of what we can do to contribute to more unity."

What you mean "we," Kemosabe?

"Lord knows we need it right now. Because over the last two days, as we've discussed this issue, I don't know if you've noticed, but nobody's been paying much attention to health care."

In fact, we have noticed. And now we're wondering, would you be standing before us in the briefing room, trying desperately to get this monkey off your back, if people had been paying much attention to health care these last two days? Would you have felt the need for this obviously painful non-apology apology if your words had not diverted attention from your desired subject of conversation?

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