Remeber "The Beer Summit", when President Obama invited Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and police Sergant James Crowley to the Rose Garden to try to defuse a war of words over race that had caused a national uproar?

President Obama called it, "a teachable moment" on improving relations between police and minority communities.

I have been waiting since Tuesday for President Obama to take stand up and address the country.  It seems like one of those teachable moments is upon us. 

Mayor Quan, of Oakland, has acknowledged that not all police acted correctly and has committed to investigating the actions that led to the critical injury of one of the protesters, as well as other less serious injuries and multiple arrests. She said she and police Chief Jordan are  willing to meet with representatives from the Oakland protest immediately. She has noted that ultimately what occured was her responsibility.

I suspect that Mayor Quan is sincere, and I base that on her own history of activism. It is damage control, but I believe it is more than that. It is her city, and she wants to be on the right side.

Better late than never?