White House says media ‘obsessions’ keeping alive Obama comments on Harvard scholar’s arrest

Gibbs: Media ‘obsessions’ prolonging Gates story

WASHINGTON — The White House says the media’s “obsessions” are keeping alive President Barack Obama’s comments about the arrest of a Harvard scholar seen trying to get into his own house.

Asked whether Obama regretted commenting on the matter, spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters that the president probably would regret distracting the media with “obsessions.”

Gibbs says Obama has “great respect” for police officers and understands what a hard job they have.

He also says Obama has said most of what he’s going to say on the matter.

When questioned Wednesday night about the incident, Obama said the Cambridge, Mass., police had “acted stupidly.”

In an interview a day later, he said “cooler heads should have prevailed.”