Posted on 07/31/2009 9:18:48 AM PDT by Schnucki
EVEN Barack Obama had trouble clearly articulating what was achieved by a much-hyped "beer summit" in the Rose Garden of the White House yesterday.
As host, he played the role of peacemaker: Obama invited a black Harvard professor and the white cop who arrested him to bury the hatchet over a drink.
It was an extraordinary intervention by a US President with a pressing agenda that includes combating the world recession and climate change.
But the event, which attracted so much interest that cable TV networks ran countdown clocks, had the taint of political theatre from the start.
Obama was the main intended beneficiary, sitting in full public view at a picnic table under a magnolia tree with professor Henry Louis Gates, police sergeant James Crowley and Vice-President Joe Biden as a surprise late addition.
It was Obama who injected himself into the incident last week by accusing police of "stupidity" for arresting Gates after the academic broke into his own home because he had lost his keys.
It was Obama who escalated public debate to national proportions by linking the incident to a pattern of racial profiling by police.
And it was Obama, in an unusual lapse of judgment, who allowed public attention across the US to be distracted from his preferred topic of promoting a new healthcare system, to which he had devoted the previous fortnight in an attempt to force a deal on the US congress.
The US President inflamed tensions over race and reignited the culture wars at the very time he least wanted it. Now he needed a circuit-breaker to stem the damage and make the issue disappear.
An opinion poll released yesterday by Pew Research found 41per cent of Americans disapproved of Obama's action in coming out strongly in favour of the Harvard academic
(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.news.com.au ...
Under advice of his handlers I assume, he deigned to drink a Sam Adams, a Boston craft beer. Someone like that would never, ever drink a Bud, Coors or MGD.
HUH?!! When has he shown *good* judgment?
he’s still in the gheto, pure scum!
“It was Billy Beer from Plains, Ga.”
I was thinking they should have had a Carter in there as a negotiator, LOL. At least Billy would have brought some PEANUTS.
A jackass is always a jackass.
the aussie press has it all wrong! “extraordinary intervention”? hahaha that bimbo in the WH started all this crap!
This event just shows what a rookie Zero is. It served to prolong a story that has hurt him badly among the independents he had to fool to get elected.
Doesn’t this just show Americans just how far Obama wants to stick his nose in YOUR personal business.
Can anyone remember a president interjecting himself in a situation like this instead of dealing with our NATION’S business?
Like the car dealer said, if they can’t manage “clunkers for cash” IMAGINE what they would do with our health insurance!
What was achieved was a photo op. Biden was added so it wouldn't look like two black guys ganging up on a white guy.
Yesterday’s meeting of the President, the Cop and the Professor along with Botox Biden was the most bizarre form of Kabuki Theater I have ever seen on American soil. Are we now just holographs and cliches of principle?
This was sick. But the one bright shining hope was the Cop. His body language said, “This is BS but I’m willing to do it if I can help benefit cops everywhere.” There was no apology because the two people who needed to apologize (Gates and Obama), knew that they couldn’t and come out looking even remotely credible.
There will be another meeting between Gates and Crowley and then the whole thing will fade away. Gates has nothing to gain from mutual understanding. He has made so much hay from ranting and raving for so long, why learn a new trade? As for Crowley, he has the self assured confidence of a man who stands squarely on the platform of Truth, Justice and the American Way...try fighting that over the long run.
“Just words, just speeches.”
And he ain’t worth a DAMN at nuthin’ else.
Arrogant bastard. “I can fix anything, just watch me.” Jerk.
.....beer summit falls flat - did it come to a head? (lame attempt at humor)
What was the carbon footprint spent in creating this photo op? Plane fare from Boston to Washington and back? Limos to take them to and from the White House, etc.
You mean there was no place in Boston where this handshake could have taken place? I don’t think this group is environmentally sensitive.
I think it would have been awesome of a loud agrument had taken place, leading to fisticuffs. I know who I’d tak in that fight!
He brought the beer, we bought it.
He's essentially saying we're all stupid too.
The HUBRIS of the man!
Beer Summit
FIRST it was a picnic table, then it was moved to the rose garden and a ROUND table.
THEN it is with the addition of the VP so it was two white guys and two black guys. (remember there was a controversy as to who Obama would sit next to at the picnic table)
AND FINALLY! The professor has a “red stripe” brand beer which is known for racist commericals...
flat is not the word for it.
Obama might as well have been giving a “clinging to religion and guns” speech.
It’s a real word.
Not used by a real president though.
*************
LOL!
What did Biden drink?
The fact remains the officer was responding to a felony in progress official radio broadcast. In Cali, I would have arrested him for PC 148 - Delaying-disrupting an investigation.
And hopefully, I'd have a tape running the entire time.
There is something else going on here.
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