He later apologized.
Tonight, in a move that is part Henry Kissinger, part King Solomon, the president has invited Prof. Gates and the cop, Sgt. James Crowley, over to the White House for a couple of beers. Face to face. One on one.
There will be cynics aplenty on both sides, but from my vantage point - albeit a bit fuzzed out from a week in newborn baby bliss - I think it's fairly brilliant.
Would that we could solve the rest of the world's problems like this. Israelis and Palestinians. Iran and its reformers. Afghanistan and the Taliban. All it takes is sharing a drink - non-alcoholic of course!?!
We'll have the latest on the brew and the brouhaha, tonight at 11.
Also at 11, the ongoing New Jersey corruption case may take another dramatic turn tonight or tomorrow. The mayor of Hoboken, the brash and confident Peter Cammarano, is expected to resign soon. There's been much pressure for the indicted mayor to step down - pressure from the governor and others. Cammarano won election last month - barely, with a 161-vote margin. The second place finisher, Dawn Zimmer, would become mayor if Cammarano does resign.
Finally, a word of thanks for so many of you who send good wishes to me and my family. Ella Ritter is doing just fantabulously, as you can see by CLICKING HERE. No surprise, she's trying to talk at the ripe old age of one week! Seriously, thank you so much for all your notes and messages. It's been a magical week.
I hope you can join Liz Cho, Lee Goldberg, Scott Clark and me, tonight at 11 for all the night's news.
BILL RITTER