Regarding the Gates arrest in Cambridge, MA, President Obama opened his remarks on the matter with “Now, I don’t know, not having been there and not having seen all the facts, what role race played in that…”
His next words should have been, “…therefore it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the matter at this time.” This should be a no-brainer for anyone in a position of high leadership. One can not contribute constructively to a conflict when one is ill- or incompletely informed. To add any further comment is thoughtless, if not downright foolish. This incident should become an object lesson for leadership training.
The President’s editorializing here is something you’d expect form a tabloid commentator, not the leader of the nation. His obvious overstepping here is bad for everybody. I sure hope this man gets some wise counsel and smartens up; he has no apparent sense of proportion when it comes to his role in such things.
Commenting Stupidly…
Regarding the Gates arrest in Cambridge, MA, President Obama opened his remarks on the matter with “Now, I don’t know, not having been there and not having seen all the facts, what role race played in that…”
His next words should have been, “…therefore it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the matter at this time.” This should be a no-brainer for anyone in a position of high leadership. One can not contribute constructively to a conflict when one is ill- or incompletely informed. To add any further comment is thoughtless, if not downright foolish. This incident should become an object lesson for leadership training.
The President’s editorializing here is something you’d expect form a tabloid commentator, not the leader of the nation. His obvious overstepping here is bad for everybody. I sure hope this man gets some wise counsel and smartens up; he has no apparent sense of proportion when it comes to his role in such things.