OH, USE THE WORD, USE THE WORD - AT 8:14 P.M. ET:  There is commotion, there is analysis, there is major punditry being committed.  The president of the United States and all its associated territories has now "clarified" his remarks concerning the arrest in Cambridge, Massachusetts, of Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. 

WASHINGTON — President Obama said Friday that he “could have calibrated” his words more carefully in the controversy over the arrest of a black Harvard professor by a white police officer, but added that there had been an “overreaction” by both sides in a case that touched off an intense discussion about race in America.

Notice there is a word missing.  Hint:  It's the A-word.

The president, who on Wednesday said that the police in Cambridge, Mass., “acted stupidly” in the arrest of Prof. Henry Louis Gates Jr., a prominent Harvard scholar of African-American history, sought to clear up the matter. He said he hoped the case could become “a teachable moment” to be used to improve relations between minorities and police officers.

Word still missing.

The president said that he conveyed his sentiment to Sgt. James Crowley in a telephone call on Friday afternoon. The call, which lasted about five minutes, came after police officials in Massachusetts and beyond accused Mr. Obama of maligning the character of Sergeant Crowley and the entire Cambridge police force.

No A-word there. 

Mr. Obama did not specifically use the word “apology,” but aides said that was the sentiment conveyed during his call with the officer.

There's the A-word.  Didn't use it, but the sentiment was there.

Use it, Mr. President.  Show a little humanity amidst the ego.  Sergeant Crowley has behaved with great dignity and strength since the incident.  Professor Gates, by contrast, has talked about keeping the incident alive and making a documentary about it.  The sergeant deserves an apology, then let an investigation take its course.

July 24, 2009