Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R.-MI) To Offer Resolution Demanding Formal President Obama Apology To Cambridge Police

It is absolutely unbelievable that the Republican Party continues its petty attacks on President Obama as the country is going through the worst economic distress in decades, two wars, a stalled health care reform effort, rising foreclosure rates and a collapsed auto industry, Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) could have the nerve to introduce a bill calling on the president to formally apologize to the Cambridge Police department. To go out on a limb here -- was President George W. Bush ever pressed by Rep. McCotter to formally apologize for the eavesdropping activities that extended to civilians and not alleged terrorists? Or did they press President G. W. Bush for the inadequacies of the government in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina? I don't think so and this is a waste of everyone's time. This move by Rep. McCotter is nothing more than a political ploy to take attention away from health care reform, among other issues. President's Obama's apology to Sgt. Crowley and the CPD is the least of McCotter's worries, considering that his state is literally imploding around him -- highest unemployment rate in the country. He is clearly an obstructionist and he is one misguided politician.

Though falling short of a formal apology, as far as I am concerned, President Obama's comments on Friday were widely seen as conciliatory and accepted by the CPD and Sgt. Crowley. "I want to make clear that in my choice of words I think I unfortunately gave an impression that I was maligning the Cambridge Police Department or Sergeant Crowley specifically," Obama said, "and I could have calibrated those words differently."

Here is the full text of his resolution:

Whereas on July 16, 2009, Cambridge, Massachusetts Police Sergeant James M. Crowley responded to a 911 call from a neighbor of Harvard University Professor Henry Louis ("Skip") Gates, Jr. about a suspected break-in in progress at his residence, which had been broken into on a prior occasion;

Whereas on July 22, 2009, in responding to a question during a White House press conference President Barack Obama stated: "Skip Gates is a friend, so I may be a little biased here. I don't know all of the facts involved in this local police response incident;"

Whereas President Obama proceeded to state Sergeant Crowley "acted stupidly" for arresting Professor Gates on charges of disorderly conduct;

Whereas, as a former Constitutional Law Professor, President Obama well understands that all Americans are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and their actions should not be prejudged prior to being fully and fairly judged by an appropriate and objective authority after due process;

Whereas, President Obama's nationally televised remarks may likely detrimentally influence the full and fair judgment by an appropriate and objective authority after due process regarding this local police response incident and, thereby, impair Sergeant Crowley's legal and professional standing in relation to said incident; and

Whereas, President Obama appeared at a daily White House Press briefing on July 24, 2009 to address his denouncement of Sergeant Crowley and stated: "I could have calibrated those words differently" but "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."

Whereas, President Obama's refusal to retract his initial public remarks and apologize to Sergeant Crowley and, instead, reiterate his accusation impugning Sergeant Crowley's professional conduct in the performance of his duties;

Now therefore be it, Resolved, That the House of Representatives -- Calls upon President Obama to retract his initial public remarks and apologize to Cambridge, Massachusetts Police Sergeant James M. Crowley for having unfairly impugned and prejudged his professional conduct in this local police response incident. Source: Huffington Post

Here's my parting question, does this incident rise to the level of a congressional resolution? Didn't right wing nutjob Michelle Malkin and others criticize Sheila Jackson Lee for introducing a legislation to honor the late Michael Jackson for his humanitarian service? This seems like a complete waste of time and the voters in Rep. Thaddeus McCotter's district need to remind him to whom his is accountable and that he can be voted out of office for not meeting their expectations.