Two days later, after criticism from police unions and after speaking with Crowley, Obama attempted to defuse the dustup by inviting the professor and the police officer for a 'beer summit' at the White House.

Fifty-four percent of those questioned say they think the president acted stupidly when he commented on the Gates arrest, with 32 percent disagreeing.

But again, the poll indicates a racial divide, with more than six out of 10 whites feeling Obama acted stupidly but just one in four black respondents agreeing.

Six out of 10 approve of how the president has handled race relations, with nine out of ten African-Americans and 56 percent of whites approving.

The poll indicates that both blacks and whites believe that Friday's beer summit at the White House was a good idea. But was it a 'teachable moment', as mentioned by the president?

'Not according to the public -- blacks and whites agree that the whole controversy did not teach Americans a lesson that will lead to better race relations,' says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.