A tip for Republicans and conservatives
If conservatives can’t back Henry Louis Gates against cops, they’re not conservatives at all.
This is a tip and challenge to every local Republican and/or self-described conservative with a platform from which to pontificate.
For months many of you have said you oppose the Obama/Democrat expansion of government power in part because you think growing government diminishes personal freedom.
If you want me to believe your interest in personal freedom is sincere, you’ll loudly declare your alliance with Henry Louis Gates, as well as declaring your outrage at his arrest.
You’ll also shun the Drudge-y temptation to turn the cop who arrested Gates into another fake conservative folk hero a la Joe The Plumber.
If you think it’s okay for a cop to arrest someone for being angry or irritable (justifiably, or otherwise), you are not a conservative, you have no interest in curbing government power, and you don’t give a damn about personal freedom.
If principle doesn’t compel you, do it for your own self-interest. If you want black, brown and beige voters to ever consider voting for you, shun the white, bullying government employee and embrace the innocent black victim. Just once.