Obama's mistake on Trayvon Martin case

nochain wrote:Hmmmmm.....

"(CNN) -- Every American can make their own judgment about whether justice was served by the verdict in the George Zimmerman murder trial but one thing we should all recognize: President Obama's interference in a local law enforcement matter was unprecedented and inappropriate, and he comes away from the case looking badly tarnished by his poor judgment.
"If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon," the president said when asked about the case in the Rose Garden on March 23, 2012, after many had called for Zimmerman's arrest but several weeks before he was charged. "When I think about this boy, I think about my own kids."
In fact, if the president had a son, he would have been born to extraordinary privilege and raised with all the advantages of two very affluent and highly educated parents. He would have gone to tony private schools. His path in life would have been almost as dissimilar from Trayvon's as one could imagine.
Yes, Obama's hypothetical son and Trayvon would have shared the same brown skin color. Would that have made them interchangeable? Not unless all brown-skinned boys are the same. Does the president really believe that?
The president's remarks created a clear impression that he was motivated by one of two factors, and we can only guess as to which, or what combination of the two, was at work here. One possibility is that this is merely another manifestation of the president's well-known narcissism: No matter what the situation may be, it's all about him.
The other, more troubling possibility is that the president surrendered to his political instincts. He wants disadvantaged Americans to believe that he and his family are one of them -- despite their life of unparalleled privilege -- and he wanted the prosecutors, judge and jury to believe that this was a case about race where justice demanded a guilty verdict."

Rest:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/15/opinion/thernstrom-trayvon-martin-obama/index.html?hpt=hp_t4

knothead wrote:When President Obama made that public statement I considered whether the lines of presidential decorum had been crossed or whether our President displayed courage in the face of an obvious problem that persists in our country.  It was a measured and carefully worded statement but it speaks volumes.

I agree with seaoat that if any good came from this tragic event it would be an opportunity to have a meaningful dialogue about the perils of being a young black teenager in this country.  Also, the concept that seaoat suggested to require a liability policy to pay civil penalties when these things occur in the future.

2seaoat wrote:Mr Chain,

I will ask you one simple question.   If you were a black father, what would you tell your teenager children they should do when encountered by the police or a stranger?  I have thought about this and I do not have a good answer.

In America today, I think it is fair to say that black male teenagers get profiled.  

2seaoat wrote:[b] By you suggesting that the President in his executive capacity has any authority over the SA faithfully following and executing the laws.......well you need a primer on our constitution.    The Presidents comments and all those who came before him who have commented on a pending criminal matter in a State court are not violating decorum, the constitution, or the law, they are using the bully pulpit.  

Sal wrote:Silliness.

The president reassured the public that there would be a thorough investigation, and expressed his personal reaction to the loss of life.

Totally appropriate.

nochain wrote:

2seaoat wrote:[b] By you suggesting that the President in his executive capacity has any authority over the SA faithfully following and executing the laws.......well you need a primer on our constitution.    The Presidents comments and all those who came before him who have commented on a pending criminal matter in a State court are not violating decorum, the constitution, or the law, they are using the bully pulpit.  

I posted this elsewhere but it seems appropriate to post it here too - however "innocent" or well-intentioned it would appear, words from the Pres throw weight:

"Obama Military Sexual Assault Comments Were 'Unlawful Command Influence,' Judge Says"

Navy Judge Cmdr. Marcus Fulton ruled that President Barack Obama's comments on military sexual assault could affect the sentencing in two cases, according to Stars and Stripes.

During pretrial hearings in the cases, Fulton said “unlawful command influence” derived from Obama's remarks could influence a potential sentencing in the two cases, according to according to court documents obtained by Stars and Stripes. The judge's ruling could have an impact on other sexual assault cases in the military.

On May 7, Obama said he has “no tolerance” for sexual assault in the military.

"I expect consequences,” Obama said. “So I don’t just want more speeches or awareness programs or training, but ultimately folks look the other way. If we find out somebody’s engaging in this, they’ve got to be held accountable – prosecuted, stripped of their positions, court martialed, fired, dishonorably discharged. Period.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/15/obama-military-sexual-assault_n_3447523.html

Joanimaroni wrote:

Sal wrote:Silliness.

The president reassured the public that there would be a thorough investigation, and expressed his personal reaction to the loss of life.

Totally appropriate.

Did he express personal reaction to other incidents of one individual losing their life?

nochain wrote:

2seaoat wrote:[b] B

Thanks, I posted a thread about this yesterday, but no one commented. You would think that Obama, being a lawyer AND commander in chief....would know better.

Joanimaroni wrote:

Sal wrote:Silliness.

The president reassured the public that there would be a thorough investigation, and expressed his personal reaction to the loss of life.

Totally appropriate.

Did he express personal reaction to other incidents of one individual losing their life?

2seaoat wrote:"Obama Military Sexual Assault Comments Were 'Unlawful Command Influence,' Judge Says"

Here we go again.   The president is the commander and chief of the military.   His statement that a sexual assault should be punished is not in contradiction of the law.  He most certainly in his position as commander and chief can make that statement.   Using the flawed judges argument, no President could make a political statement that sexual assault should be punished during their term of office because somewhere a pending military trial disallows a president from talking about military justice.......sorry on a constitutional level what the judge has suggested is absurd, on a strict military line of command logic the judge would have to prove that the policy statement of Obama concerning sexual assault in the military was in the nature of a command.......it was not.   Now if the judge through his subpoena power can show a direct link of Obama the military leader giving a command to influence the specific trial in question, then most certainly that command to those officers could POSSIBLY meet the command criteria.........A president has the bully pulpit.....and as much as his critics do not like the man, we are not going to have the executive branch neutered by folks who do not understand our laws or constitution.........silly because even common sense does not raise his comments fo a level of concern, yet these stretches continue.