ByJACQUI GODDARD A leading U.S. television host has accused Barack Obama of being a racist. Glenn Beck, a commentator on the Fox News Channel, claimed the president had 'a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture'. The outburst was the latest development in the row over the arrest of black university professor Henry Gates earlier this month as he tried to break into his own home after the front door jammed. Accusation: Glenn Beck has accused President Obama of having 'a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture' Not commenting: President Obama initially accused police of acting 'stupidly' in arresting the black university professor Mr Obama initially accused the police of acting 'stupidly' in arresting the Harvard scholar, a personal friend. But he backed down after the white officer involved, Sergeant James Crowley, defended his actions and was backed by his superiors. Professor Gates was arrested for 'loud and tumultuous behaviour' after shouting at the officer and questioning whether he had been singled out 'because I'm a black man in America'. With the 'Gatesgate' affair overshadowing Mr Obama's political agenda during one of the toughest weeks of his presidency, he has invited both the professor and the policeman for a conciliatory beer in the White House garden. Mr Beck, 45, noted for his table-thumping monologues and a sometimes outspoken position on racial affairs, made his comments on the 'Fox and Friends' morning show. He said: 'This president, I think, has exposed himself as a guy who over and over and over again has a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture'. He was challenged by Fox host Brian Kilmeade who pointed out that most of the people who work for Mr Obama are white and added: 'So you can't say he doesn't like white people'. Beck replied: 'I'm not saying that he doesn't like white people, I'm saying he has a problem. This guy is, I believe, a racist.' Barack Obama would not comment on Glenn Beck yesterday... ... but the president did show off his basketball skills while hosting WNBA champs Detroit Shock... ... passing a ball behind his back then over his shoulder, without looking, to aide Reggie Love In another development, the neighbour who called the police has broken her silence at an emotional press conference. Lucie Whalen, 40, spoke out after the tape of the call was released and showed that she never said the suspected burglar was black. This contradicted Mr Obama's earlier claim the Professor Gates had been a victim of racial profiling. A tearful Miss Whalen said she had been publicly vilified as a racist after a police report wrongly noted that she told officers the 'burglar' was black. She said: 'I was a target of scorn and ridicule because of things I never said. Now the tapes are out, I hope people can see that I tried to be careful and honest with my words.' Controversial: Henry Louis Gates Jr is arrested at his home in Cambridge, Massachussetts, last week Arrest: The police booking photo of scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr Her lawyer said the whole saga stemmed from the 'overreaction of three men' - the professor, the police officer and the president - and that Whalen was the one who deserved a beer at the White House. The Gates affair is the first race controversy Mr Obama has faced since he came to power vowing to govern across racial divides. It has provided an unwelcome distraction from his work on trying to reform the U.S. healthcare system. With his ratings plunging in recent days, amid waning confidence in his handling of the country's economic woes, it appears the president's honeymoon period is over.Obama 'hates whites': TV host accuses President after his attack on police for arresting black Harvard professor
Last updated at 12:44 AM on 30th July 2009Scroll to the bottom to see Glenn Beck on Fox News
Thursday, 30 July 2009
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