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| Rangel: Obama Harlem Comment Was 'Inappropriate' |
| 2009-06-02 |
| U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel said it was "entirely inappropriate" to make a comment about President Barack Obama needing to be careful when visiting Harlem, where a black police officer was fatally shot by a white colleague last week. Officer Omar J. Edwards was shot by a fellow officer late Thursday while in street clothes. In response to a newspaper reporter's query about what President Barack Obama should do during his New York City visit on Saturday, Rangel said the president should "make certain he doesn't run around in East Harlem without identification." In a released statement, the congressman said "It was entirely inappropriate to bring the President and his wife into this discussion during their visit to New York, and I hope my off-the-cuff comment did not cause embarrassment to anyone." "The tragic shooting of Officer Omar Edwards highlights the need for additional training of our police officers, and I am pleased that Commissioner Kelly recognizes a racial factor is involved," Rangel also said. "I am calling on Attorney General Eric Holder to review the problems in the New York City Police Department when black officers are killed by whites, which too often is the case." Edwards' father, Ricardo, said something must be done so what happened to his son never happens again. "If they can do that to their own people, who can they protect?" Ricardo Edwards said. "They are here to protect me, protect you, but if they can't protect their own people, who they gonna protect?" |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #6 Bulletproof Charlie shifts into his time tested dumb mode. Move it along. nuthin to see here. As usual... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2009-06-02 11:38 |
| #5 "The tragic shooting of Officer Omar Edwards highlights the need for additional training of our police officers..." Well, yes. The training should include instruction in how one should not point a gun at armed officers while in civilian clothing after being seen chasing someone down the street while brandishing a firearm. I'm pretty sure that's what they mean by 'additional training' right? |
| Posted by: Zorba 2009-06-02 10:06 |
| #4 It gets better: After he offered his so called apology he then went on to say that Commissioner Kelley had indicated that the shooting was "racially motivated" but according to Kelley he never said anything resembling that. |
| Posted by: Jack is Back! 2009-06-02 09:44 |
| #3 In the competition for the coveted "Snark of the Day" award, Barbara Skolaut has taken a commanding early lead . . . . |
| Posted by: Mike 2009-06-02 09:34 |
| #2 Note to Rangel: It's entirely inappropriate not to pay your taxes. |
| Posted by: Spot 2009-06-02 09:08 |
| #1 Rangel is inappropriate. But that's never stopped him yet.... |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2009-06-02 01:39 |