Why is this such a huge story? As I see it, both the police and Gates overreacted in this situation, but still, there was no reason this should have become a national story.

It was the implication that the Cambridge police arrested Gates because of his race that really set off the firestorm, and this is what caused Obama to make those remarks. That was something he really should have stayed out of.

But either way, this was a huge misunderstanding that was blown completely out of proportion, especially by the media and the White House.

UPDATE: Unbelievable. This small act is rapidly degenerating into racial mudslinging. Give it up to the media for fanning the flames. Obama didn't help matters by interjecting himself into it. Granted, if Gates weren't a high profile author and professor, probably it wouldn't have gotten the attention that it did, but now we seem to focusing the discussion back towards divisive subjects like race.

Politically speaking for Obama this is the worst possible time to have such a debate, as he's trying to pass his landmark health care legislation through Congress. This is what they call a major distraction, one that will only hurt his political standing.

UPDATE 2 (7/31/2009): When is this story going to finally die? Obama yesterday invites the police officer and the professor in for a round of beer, supposedly to break the ice over the impasse that exists between them. Not only that, but he invites the media in for the festivities, thus ensuring a circus atmosphere.

I guess that makes Obama the ringleader? With all the pressing concerns he has--the economy, foreign affairs, his health care plan, he wastes his time getting involved in some petty non-controversy? Actually, Obama is the one who is perpetuating this by keeping it in the news. And the media goes along with it because it is controversial and produces ratings.

Obama's efforts to help the parties break the bread didn't work, as both still disagree about their impressions of the arrest. Lets face it, both of them are bringing preconceived notions into the matter and they won't back down no matter. Better to let this dead dog lie where it may.

As for Obama? His actions in all of this has been nothing short of demagogic. Matters about race are better left in the past. Dredging up this crap constantly only fuels discontent and sets back the cause of civil rights significantly.

I believe that Officer Crowley's actions in this weren't racially motivated, but Gates saw it differently, and the whole thing took a life of its own afterwards. Dr. Gates was probably angry that his door wouldn't open and got even angrier when the cops questioned him about it.

The correct course of action for Gates would have been to show his identification that would have demonstrated that he indeed was the legal occupant of the house. That would have been the end of the story. Now Professor Obama is giving us a "teaching moment" for an act that wasn't really racially motivated, but is being spun as such, just to teach the American people.