Romney apologizes for hurtful high school pranks

[Valkahuna]

No one killed themselves over any of these pranks.    ???            

http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/bullying-and-suicide.html  

http://suicidesduetobullying.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archive.html 

 Took little time to find the truth, you only need to try. 

Bullying and Suicide

There is a strong link between bullying and suicide, as suggested by recent bullying-related suicides in the US and other countries. Parents, teachers, and students learn the dangers of bullying and help students who may be at risk of committing suicide.


Thespian, not to argue the point, but what I said was that "No one killed themselves over any of these pranks." You are automatically considering childish pranks as the type of behavior that causes someone to take their own life. I should have said that no one at my school killed themselves. That was indeed true at the school that I went to, for nobody died, or tried to kill themselves during the 3.5 years I was there. The article that you referenced, which I have copied above, kind of makes my point when it says "recent bullying-related suicides..."

If you read what I wrote, I am bemoaning the fact that nowadays, we have started to look at everything as the cause to some problem. The point being that pranks have been played on others since recorded history. The kind of pranks that I mentioned, and also giving someone a buzz haircut, are not the prolonged, systematic and ongoing types of bullying that has been blamed of late for the deaths by suicide of some young people. Remember the context of this discussion - its NOT a discussion on the effects of bullying and the death rate of those that were bullied. Remember that the boy that received the hair cut did not commit suicide, so don't make it seem like Mitt is a guy that was an attempted killer. That is all that I was trying to point out. And that is all I will say about that!

[Thespian]

 Because some one is unaware of something happening, doesn't mean it didn't.
 The effects of pranks ( IMO called that by the perpetrators ) or bullying, (called that by the victim ) can be long lasting and life changing. As a victim I can tell you that's a fact. Only god know the true damage.

[Oss]

wow

I remember hearing at camp if you put a sleeping kids hand in warm water he would piss himself

Then everyone would raz the kid, calling him a homo when we really did not even know what that was
or what the implications were

Have you ever put a garter snake in someones bag or bed or a daddy long legs on someones arm

Or who as a kid ever teased a girl before you kissed her

or fought with your brother

or took candy when nobody was looking

or stole 2nd base in baseball little league

or if you are a woman now, as a high school or college girl, ever told a boy you couldnt go out with him because you were washing your hair or doing homework and he found out you lied cause you were seen banging his best friend


Or either sex stood up a date

Or didnt come to the aid of a friend in a schoolyard fight  (that one still bothers me it was over quick but I COULD have maybe done something to alter the results, and I dont let that happen again)

or fought someone just because they pissed you off


This was stuff done before the fellow was an adult.  If convicted of a crime, the record would have been sealed and I for one would be mighty angry to know who managed to get their greasy slimy hand into a sealed record

Grow the hell up already and look at the MAN the candidate is NOW !   BOTH MEN

FLAME ON still 5 more months of this garbage to go

[Valkahuna]

Oss, I am finding more and more reasons to like you! You have what has become a much too rare quality - namely, COMMON SENSE. 

[BIG--T]

Oss you really nailed it! I can relate to everything you said and did most of the pranks you mentioned and then some including a bucket of water over the door and just too many to list.

And I had a similar experience about a school yard fight. Me and my best friend started standing up for the ones getting bullied and started beating up the bullies. Guess what? The bullies started avoiding us and the bullying stopped!! The ones we protected that are still here have never forgot it til this day! IMO there is a big difference between pranksters and bullies. The bullies I'm talking about would try to intimidate, push, shovel, punch, beat up and a lot of verbal abuse and scare tactics.

This is a diiferent time we're living in where bullying is running rampant like I've never seen and even girls are just as bad as the guys which was unheard of in my day. I firmly believe most is because of how they were raised. The parents no longer discipline them and the schools can't all because of politically correct crap!  When I got in trouble in school I didn't mind the paddling but I dreaded and was scared to go home bc my dad would tear my a$$ up- yes with his belt!  But he always told me "now son this is going to hurt me more than you" and I'm thinking yeah right! But after having my own then I knew how he felt!  

[Thespian]

 So you don't think there is a correlation between this kind of behavior being accepted as normal by our generation, even condoned, and promoted. And the fact that it has progressed to where it is today.

If not discouraged, anything and everything will increase in frequecy and severity.

 So you found it humorous to harass your classmates, so be it. perhaps if it were looked down on more then, kids wouldn't be killing each other at school today.

 BTW this has nothing to do with politics for me. It's about personal experiences and the way this kind of thing is dismissed as, "oh its just kid stuff".   

[Serk]

BTW this has nothing to do with politics for me. It's about personal experiences and the way this kind of thing is dismissed as, "oh its just kid stuff".   

IMHO, it's not so much that it IS just kid's stuff, it's that at the time that it occurred, it WAS just kid's stuff...

What was acceptable at that time is no longer acceptable, but it's not fair to judge the past through the lens of what is currently acceptable or not...

[Oss]

Serk thats it exactly

And I was 5 2 when I was in most of high school and was on the downhill side of the crap being dished  out as the new kid on the block/ I grew almost a whole foot at the end of junior year and all of a sudden my world changed and for the better but I remember what it was like and to this day I despise a bully

In JHS I was being robbed at gun and knife point for my 4 cents lunch milk money or my train or bus pass  We are not talking armed robbery here it was a freakin stupid stunt by teenagers

I dont think anyone is suggesting bullying is ok

I didnt read that there was guns or knives in the prank just stupid kids doing stupid stuff and yeah so someones feelings were hurt. He grew up we all grew up

except for a couple of folks on this board maybe 

I would say but I like being on the email lists   

[BIG--T]

Serk and Oss I am in total agreement. It was just childish pranks and no one got hurt, as a matter of fact some of the "receivers" thought it was funny and vowed to get us back!

Thespian I don't know who you were directing your comments to and haven't read many of your posts, but I bet you were a lot of fun in school! 

[Skinhead]

When my son Eric was in JHS he was a small half Asian kid, who by rights, should have been a prime target for bullies.  But this kid always had a knack for getting along, he played football and wrestled as well, so maybe the fact that he never backed down kept the bullies at bay, but, the faculty approached Eric and his buddies and asked them to join Circle of Friends.  This was a group of kids that were popular or could handle themselves, that would befriend the kids that were targeted by bullies.  I didn't know anything about it until I was invited to an award ceremony at the end of the school year.  I was very proud of him, (would have been nice if he got some scholastic honors as well, but hell, I'll take what I can get).

My point is, I told my kids from day one, that if I caught them picking on a kid, they would get what they gave from me only triple.  I think they figured how wrong it was and how helpless some of these kids are, and they decided to help them fit in.  I remember getting called to the principles office for Eric fighting at school (zero tolerance, no matter who started it) it was always the other kid(s).  Eric never got suspended though, when asked why he got into a fight he would say, "He called me a chink!"  I don't think that was always accurate, but it kept him from getting suspended.  But the other kid ALWAYS started it, Eric finished it for him.  He's no angel, but he had a fairly good sense of right and wrong.

Bullying is cowardly.  Pranks are part of growing up, ok in my book as long as it is not a prolonged thing focused on one kid simply because they are different. 

[BIG--T]

When my son Eric was in JHS he was a small half Asian kid, who by rights, should have been a prime target for bullies.  But this kid always had a knack for getting along, he played football and wrestled as well, so maybe the fact that he never backed down kept the bullies at bay, but, the faculty approached Eric and his buddies and asked them to join Circle of Friends.  This was a group of kids that were popular or could handle themselves, that would befriend the kids that were targeted by bullies.  I didn't know anything about it until I was invited to an award ceremony at the end of the school year.  I was very proud of him, (would have been nice if he got some scholastic honors as well, but hell, I'll take what I can get).

My point is, I told my kids from day one, that if I caught them picking on a kid, they would get what they gave from me only triple.  I think they figured how wrong it was and how helpless some of these kids are, and they decided to help them fit in.  I remember getting called to the principles office for Eric fighting at school (zero tolerance, no matter who started it) it was always the other kid(s).  Eric never got suspended though, when asked why he got into a fight he would say, "He called me a chink!"  I don't think that was always accurate, but it kept him from getting suspended.  But the other kid ALWAYS started it, Eric finished it for him.  He's no angel, but he had a fairly good sense of right and wrong.

Bullying is cowardly.  Pranks are part of growing up, ok in my book as long as it is not a prolonged thing focused on one kid simply because they are different. 

Exactly and I agree. I hated bullys then and have never changed. 

[musclehead]

So you don't think there is a correlation between this kind of behavior being accepted as normal by our generation, even condoned, and promoted. And the fact that it has progressed to where it is today.

If not discouraged, anything and everything will increase in frequecy and severity.

 So you found it humorous to harass your classmates, so be it. perhaps if it were looked down on more then, kids wouldn't be killing each other at school today.

 BTW this has nothing to do with politics for me. It's about personal experiences and the way this kind of thing is dismissed as, "oh its just kid stuff".   

it's being dismissed because it was so long in the distant past as not to matter. Romney himself said he can't remember it, just let it go.
most Americans are worried about jobs and the economy, PERIOD, I know that's distasteful for the left but tough. everthing else is just an attempt to distract us.

[PAVALKER]

[BIG--T]

 

[G-Man]

If not discouraged, anything and everything will increase in frequecy and severity.

 So you found it humorous to harass your classmates, so be it. perhaps if it were looked down on more then, kids wouldn't be killing each other at school today.

Such blatant Liberal crap.  Will increase in frequency...  .  This was one incident in a 60 something year old life span that didn't progress anywhere and there is no history of Romney continuing any such practises later on during his life.  And if you're referring to bullying in general increasing in frequency.....show me the stats proving this.  Not saying bullying is good or even defending it.  It's just no worse today than before.  Just different mediums are used because kids today are more cowardly.

KIDS AREN'T KILLING EACH OTHER TODAY.  Has it happened, yes, but there is no epidemic of kids killing each other due to bullying.  Unfortunately, they are killing THEMSELVES over bullying, or a form of bullying that leads to embarrassment.  Kids are killing themselves because they are embarrased.  Now, the real question is, why do today's kids feel that suicide is the answer to being embarrassed?

[Bob E.]

I won't condemn Romney for his actions some 50 odd years ago.  Times were different then and he was a highschool kid...almost all of us have done things back then that we aren't proud of now.  And as was stated, we shouldn't judge someone's long ago actions against what is deemed acceptable now. 

However, that being said, I do believe it is fair to judge someones current statements regarding past incidents against current standards.  And I found Romney's response to this story pretty poor.  First, he denied remembering the incidents (even though several of his friends did), but he did remember the individual and specifically saying he didn't at the time believe him to be gay.  I find that pretty non-believable.  But second, and to me even more appalling, was that all during his response, he was laughing it off as if he still thought it was funny...and then offered one of those typical non-apology apologies..."if I offended anyone, then I'm sorry."

What would have been a more appropriate response would have been to be truly remorseful and say, "You know, when I was a kid, I did some stupid things and was a bit of a bully back then.  And that was wrong.  Bullying is wrong and I shouldn't have done it. It was hurtful to some people and for that, I'm sorry."  Had he just acknowledged it, accepted it, apologized for it, and moved on, he would have looked alot more respectable.

[Skinhead]

However, that being said, I do believe it is fair to judge someones current statements regarding past incidents against current standards.  And I found Romney's response to this story pretty poor.  First, he denied remembering the incidents (even though several of his friends did), but he did remember the individual and specifically saying he didn't at the time believe him to be gay.  I find that pretty non-believable.  But second, and to me even more appalling, was that all during his response, he was laughing it off as if he still thought it was funny...and then offered one of those typical non-apology apologies..."if I offended anyone, then I'm sorry."

Do you find the crap Obummer spewed during his campaign and continues to spew now to be believeable?

[Bob E.]

However, that being said, I do believe it is fair to judge someones current statements regarding past incidents against current standards.  And I found Romney's response to this story pretty poor.  First, he denied remembering the incidents (even though several of his friends did), but he did remember the individual and specifically saying he didn't at the time believe him to be gay.  I find that pretty non-believable.  But second, and to me even more appalling, was that all during his response, he was laughing it off as if he still thought it was funny...and then offered one of those typical non-apology apologies..."if I offended anyone, then I'm sorry."

Do you find the crap Obummer spewed during his campaign and continues to spew now to be believeable?

Such as??

[Skinhead]

Pretty much every word out of his mouth.  Take you pick.  The open administration for instance.

[..]

I won't condemn Romney for his actions some 50 odd years ago.  Times were different then and he was a highschool kid...almost all of us have done things back then that we aren't proud of now.  And as was stated, we shouldn't judge someone's long ago actions against what is deemed acceptable now. 

However, that being said, I do believe it is fair to judge someones current statements regarding past incidents against current standards.  And I found Romney's response to this story pretty poor.  First, he denied remembering the incidents (even though several of his friends did), but he did remember the individual and specifically saying he didn't at the time believe him to be gay.  I find that pretty non-believable.  But second, and to me even more appalling, was that all during his response, he was laughing it off as if he still thought it was funny...and then offered one of those typical non-apology apologies..."if I offended anyone, then I'm sorry."

What would have been a more appropriate response would have been to be truly remorseful and say, "You know, when I was a kid, I did some stupid things and was a bit of a bully back then.  And that was wrong.  Bullying is wrong and I shouldn't have done it. It was hurtful to some people and for that, I'm sorry."  Had he just acknowledged it, accepted it, apologized for it, and moved on, he would have looked alot more respectable.

Yep, if Romeny had "manned up" he'd look more like a man.

[Bob E.]

Pretty much every word out of his mouth.  Take you pick.  The open administration for instance.

Regarding "open administration", I guess I'd have to ask exactly what you expect from him...a camera man and microphone in on every conversation?  Boy...C-SPAN's ratings would really be through the roof on that one.  I wouldn't say this admin is any less open than previous ones.  I guess some things could be broadcast more, though.  But frankly, this one is pretty old news.  Did you ever think that those folks he might be negotiating with might not necessarily agree to be negotiating out in the open for fear that he might make them look bad politically?  Did you ever think that might have been the reason this idea was abandoned?  Too bad, though...I'd have loved to have seen the negotiation meetings over the debt ceiling last time around.   

[G-Man]

Had he just acknowledged it, accepted it, apologized for it, and moved on, he would have looked alot more respectable.

I doubt that very much!  There would be soundbites of Romney for the next 6 months saying "I was a bully", paired up with a few folks who lost jobs because he only had an 80% success rate with Bain (which comes to 80% more than his oponent).

[Bob E.]

Had he just acknowledged it, accepted it, apologized for it, and moved on, he would have looked alot more respectable.

I doubt that very much!  There would be soundbites of Romney for the next 6 months saying "I was a bully", paired up with a few folks who lost jobs because he only had an 80% success rate with Bain (which comes to 80% more than his oponent).

You may be right regarding the media. But for me, I'd have had more respect for him...and that says alot. And the fact that he didn't only reinforces my negative opinion of him, rather than moderating it.

Also, I'd like to know where you got that 80% success rate from??

[Valkahuna]

Pretty much every word out of his mouth.  Take you pick.  The open administration for instance.

+1  I only wish he had done even a samll percentage of what he says. Ooops, I forgot! It's Bush's fault. 

[Bob E.]

Pretty much every word out of his mouth.  Take you pick.  The open administration for instance.

+1  I only wish he had done even a samll percentage of what he says. Ooops, I forgot! It's Bush's fault. 

Such as?

[Thespian]

Pretty much every word out of his mouth.  Take you pick.  The open administration for instance.

+1   I only wish he had done even a samll percentage of what he says. Ooops, I forgot! It's Bush's fault.  

  That wold have happened, if the republican establishment had what's best for America as a priority, rather than destroying a Democratic presidency.

 @ Oss, Glad your experiences with bullying was short lived. As the shy fat kid moving from school to school when I was young my'n didn't really end, just new people and different places.

 To speak to the politics of this thread. Someone who is cruel and inconsiderate of the feeling of others, rarely changes when they become adults. IMO

 G-man, I must disagree, I know your shocked.   Every week it seems someone is shooting up there classmates.
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0777958.html
although some stats, show violent crime deceasing, the levels are what I call unacceptable. Why the rise in suicides? IMO The every man for himself attitude many in this country now live by.  

 No I wasn't much fun in high school, except to the bully's.  

[Skinhead]

Pretty much every word out of his mouth.  Take you pick.  The open administration for instance.

+1  I only wish he had done even a samll percentage of what he says. Ooops, I forgot! It's Bush's fault. 

Such as?

I didn't reply earlier as I was at work, but here goes:(paraphrasing)

I'll close gitmo in 1 year.

unemployment will not go above 8%.

I'll get rid of lobbyists

Shovel ready jobs

The police acted stupidly

If I had a son, he would look like Trevon (How the F does he know what his non existent son would look like?)

[BIG--T]

Pretty much every word out of his mouth.  Take you pick.  The open administration for instance.

+1  I only wish he had done even a samll percentage of what he says. Ooops, I forgot! It's Bush's fault. 

Such as?

I didn't reply earlier as I was at work, but here goes:(paraphrasing)

I'll close gitmo in 1 year.

unemployment will not go above 8%.

I'll get rid of lobbyists

Shovel ready jobs

The police acted stupidly

If I had a son, he would look like Trevon (How the F does he know what his non existent son would look like?)

    

[Skinhead]

Pretty much every word out of his mouth.  Take you pick.  The open administration for instance.

+1   I only wish he had done even a samll percentage of what he says. Ooops, I forgot! It's Bush's fault.  

 To speak to the politics of this thread. Someone who is cruel and inconsiderate of the feeling of others, rarely changes when they become adults. IMO

 

Really?  You base your statement on what evidence?  You are entitled to your opinion.  

I'm sorry you were bullied in HS, but people change, especially after graduating from HS.

[Paxton]

Actually, he NEVER said that unemployment will be at or below 8%. Instead, some media pundit uttered those words
while offering his analysis on a talk show; and it stuck... it's just the nature of politics... ???

As far as analysis goes, the pundit could have said 6% just the same and some folks would be spinning the 6% on Obama.

Don’t take the truth for granted; lies do sneak up on it!

[Bob E.]

Pretty much every word out of his mouth.  Take you pick.  The open administration for instance.

+1   I only wish he had done even a samll percentage of what he says. Ooops, I forgot! It's Bush's fault.  

Such as?

I didn't reply earlier as I was at work, but here goes:(paraphrasing)

I'll close gitmo in 1 year.  Blocked by Congress...mostly Republicans

unemployment will not go above 8%.  Stated prior to the size of the stimulus being whittled down to about half of what many economists figured was needed...and that was even before it was realized that the rate of recession in the last quarter of 2008 which was estimated at about 3% was actually about 9%...3 times worse than originally reported.

I'll get rid of lobbyists Yeah, that would be nice but it isn't going to happen without an act of Congress...who if you haven't noticed, aren't exactly willing to work with him on it.

Shovel ready jobs  This was really a failure at the state level.  Some states like PA were actually ready and organized for this program and utilized the money quite well.  Others, especially red states opposed to the stimulus program...not so much.

The police acted stupidly They didn't?  They arrested a guy in his own house because he was black in a nice neighborhood all while refusing to listen to him stating it was HIS HOUSE.  Hey I understand that cops need to make some snap decisions...oftentimes their lives depend on it.  Maybe "stupidly" was not the best word.  However, that doesn't make them any less wrong when later, it turns out they were, well, wrong.  The fact that their wrong decision was based on prejudice and perhaps full-on racism, rather than good investigation makes it stupid.

If I had a son, he would look like Trevon (How the F does he know what his non existent son would look like?) It is hard to believe...maybe it shouldn't be...how someone like the president trying to express some understanding and sympathy to the greiving parents and reassuring them that the case would be handled with the seriousness it deserved...how that could be derided as a bad thing is beyond me.

[musclehead]

Actually, he NEVER said that unemployment will be at or below 8%. Instead, some media pundit uttered those words
while offering his analysis on a talk show; and it stuck... it's just the nature of politics... ???

As far as analysis goes, the pundit could have said 6% just the same and some folks would be spinning the 6% on Obama.

Don’t take the truth for granted; lies do sneak up on it!

nope, it was Christina Romer the chair of his economic advisers at the time.

from politifact, George Will. ( I know he's conservative, but it happens to be accurate)

First, we could find no instance of anyone in the administration directly making such a public pledge. Rather, it comes via a Jan. 9, 2009, report called "The Job Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan" from Christina Romer, chairwoman of the president's Council of Economic Advisers, and Jared Bernstein, the vice president's top economic adviser.

so it came from the administration, and someone who had Obama's ear not exactly a flunky nor a media pundit.

[Paxton]

musclehead;
I don't know those specific facts but obviously you've done the research. 
BTW, George Will, David Brooks and others are conservative Republicans who
I hold in high esteem and take their comments seriously.

As for the people you mention, those folks might have been "who they were", but  when they speak their minds,
they are not representing the President.  ???

Unless they are cabinet members confirmed by the Senate or one is the White House
Press Secretary, they are technically not speaking for the administration. 

Moreover, as soon as one becomes a "contributor" for any program such as Hardball, the Maddow Show, Bill O, the ED Show, etc...
and one is there to defend any point of view, (as these two repeatedly do), for me that's punditry. 
No matter what position or political philosophy they might be representing.

[fudgie]

Oss, I am finding more and more reasons to like you! You have what has become a much too rare quality - namely, COMMON SENSE. 

+1 

[G-Man]

"The police acted stupidly They didn't?  They arrested a guy in his own house because he was black in a nice neighborhood all while refusing to listen to him stating it was HIS HOUSE.  Hey I understand that cops need to make some snap decisions...oftentimes their lives depend on it.  Maybe "stupidly" was not the best word.  However, that doesn't make them any less wrong when later, it turns out they were, well, wrong.  The fact that their wrong decision was based on prejudice and perhaps full-on racism, rather than good investigation makes it stupid."

I can't believe the answer to this one!  So, even if you are right in a certain situation, you're saying it's OK to yell at police officers, yell to passerbys that a black man is being treated badly, REFUSE to cooperate in any way so that the police could get to the bottom of why they were called, and then just believe the screaming arrogant, race baiting idiot, because he says he in the right?

I don't want to live in an area where screaming, arrogant, uncooperative, race baiters are given the benefit of the doubt.

All the screaming, arrogant, uncooperative, race baiter had to do was stop screaming, calm down, cooperate with the police, and not yell to the forming crowd that the police are racists,.......and none of this would have even happened.  In fact, he should have thanked them for showing up to his home when someone was actually breaking into it.

"Yes officer, this is my house.  My name is John Smith and I'm returning from a trip and seem to have lost my keys.  If you'll allow me, I can show you my identification.  Officer follows him inside and he produces the ID and the police go home.  Instead, he played to pompous black guy who is above having to cooperate with police because he feels all blacks are unjustly accused.

The police acted perfectly.  It's the public who needs to learn how to behave when confronted by police, not the other way around.  We've seen the results of not cooperating, why perpetuate the insanity of continuing poor behavior yet expecting to be treated nicely.  The badge commands respect, whether you like it or not.   My father gave me the "talk" that every black parent has with their son a long time ago, and I'm not even black.  So, if every black parent has this talk (which I believe is fabrication made up to make the Travon thingie even more racist), how come so many still fight and argue with police?   

[Skinhead]

Pretty much every word out of his mouth.  Take you pick.  The open administration for instance.

+1  I only wish he had done even a samll percentage of what he says. Ooops, I forgot! It's Bush's fault. 

Such as?

I didn't reply earlier as I was at work, but here goes:(paraphrasing)

I'll close gitmo in 1 year.  Blocked by Congress...mostly Republicans

unemployment will not go above 8%.  Stated prior to the size of the stimulus being whittled down to about half of what many economists figured was needed...and that was even before it was realized that the rate of recession in the last quarter of 2008 which was estimated at about 3% was actually about 9%...3 times worse than originally reported.

I'll get rid of lobbyists Yeah, that would be nice but it isn't going to happen without an act of Congress...who if you haven't noticed, aren't exactly willing to work with him on it.

Shovel ready jobs  This was really a failure at the state level.  Some states like PA were actually ready and organized for this program and utilized the money quite well.  Others, especially red states opposed to the stimulus program...not so much.

The police acted stupidly They didn't?  They arrested a guy in his own house because he was black in a nice neighborhood all while refusing to listen to him stating it was HIS HOUSE.  Hey I understand that cops need to make some snap decisions...oftentimes their lives depend on it.  Maybe "stupidly" was not the best word.  However, that doesn't make them any less wrong when later, it turns out they were, well, wrong.  The fact that their wrong decision was based on prejudice and perhaps full-on racism, rather than good investigation makes it stupid.

If I had a son, he would look like Trevon (How the F does he know what his non existent son would look like?) It is hard to believe...maybe it shouldn't be...how someone like the president trying to express some understanding and sympathy to the greiving parents and reassuring them that the case would be handled with the seriousness it deserved...how that could be derided as a bad thing is beyond me.

I think you miss my point, Bob.  It's not who is responsible for these things not happening, it is the fact that HE stated and campaigned on them, made promises to the American people, and broke them.  And then you say you don't believe Romney's statement about something that happened 50 years ago?  As I said, I don't believe A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G Obama says, you can believe him if you like.

[Hoser]

My dad told me when I started school to fight any bully at school, He said I would be in trouble with him If I didn't.  I kicked a bigger kid in the balls first time it happened, and was never bothered again.  Hoser   

[BIG--T]

My dad told me when I started school to fight any bully at school, He said I would be in trouble with him If I didn't.  I kicked a bigger kid in the balls first time it happened, and was never bothered again.  Hoser   

You must be my long lost brother bc my dad told me the same thing! 

[The Anvil]

The police acted perfectly.  It's the public who needs to learn how to behave when confronted by police, not the other way around.  We've seen the results of not cooperating, why perpetuate the insanity of continuing poor behavior yet expecting to be treated nicely.  The badge commands respect, whether you like it or not.   My father gave me the "talk" that every black parent has with their son a long time ago, and I'm not even black.  So, if every black parent has this talk (which I believe is fabrication made up to make the Travon thingie even more racist), how come so many still fight and argue with police?   

The respect thing works both ways. Just yesterday I had to deal with a mouthy cop and you don't have to take crap from them just because they're having a bad day. Not when you're live-parked in a fire lane and especially not when you are on your own property.

[Bob E.]

"The police acted stupidly They didn't?  They arrested a guy in his own house because he was black in a nice neighborhood all while refusing to listen to him stating it was HIS HOUSE.  Hey I understand that cops need to make some snap decisions...oftentimes their lives depend on it.  Maybe "stupidly" was not the best word.  However, that doesn't make them any less wrong when later, it turns out they were, well, wrong.  The fact that their wrong decision was based on prejudice and perhaps full-on racism, rather than good investigation makes it stupid."

I can't believe the answer to this one!  So, even if you are right in a certain situation, you're saying it's OK to yell at police officers, yell to passerbys that a black man is being treated badly, REFUSE to cooperate in any way so that the police could get to the bottom of why they were called, and then just believe the screaming arrogant, race baiting idiot, because he says he in the right?

I don't want to live in an area where screaming, arrogant, uncooperative, race baiters are given the benefit of the doubt.

All the screaming, arrogant, uncooperative, race baiter had to do was stop screaming, calm down, cooperate with the police, and not yell to the forming crowd that the police are racists,.......and none of this would have even happened.  In fact, he should have thanked them for showing up to his home when someone was actually breaking into it.

"Yes officer, this is my house.  My name is John Smith and I'm returning from a trip and seem to have lost my keys.  If you'll allow me, I can show you my identification.  Officer follows him inside and he produces the ID and the police go home.  Instead, he played to pompous black guy who is above having to cooperate with police because he feels all blacks are unjustly accused.

The police acted perfectly.  It's the public who needs to learn how to behave when confronted by police, not the other way around.  We've seen the results of not cooperating, why perpetuate the insanity of continuing poor behavior yet expecting to be treated nicely.  The badge commands respect, whether you like it or not.   My father gave me the "talk" that every black parent has with their son a long time ago, and I'm not even black.  So, if every black parent has this talk (which I believe is fabrication made up to make the Travon thingie even more racist), how come so many still fight and argue with police?   

You must have read a different account of that story than I did then.  It was my understanding that a neighbor saw a man trying to get into a house and called the police.  Fine.  When the police showed up, they found a man trying to get into the house.  Fine.  So, of course they probably yelled, "Stop, Police!" or something to that effect, aggressively approached him perhaps with guns drawn, then took him to the ground, cuffed him, etc.  Up until this point, I'll give the police the benefit of the doubt and agree with you.  However, at that point (or during the interaction), the man does identify himself as the homeowner, or at least attempted to, but the police refused to listen and allow him to say "Yes officer, this is my house.  My name is John Smith and I'm returning from a trip and seem to have lost my keys.  If you'll allow me, I can show you my identification."  That's where the police went from right to wrong.

I find it pretty hard to believe that there was any opportunity to have some calm conversation with the nice officers as you would suggest.