Posted on 07/25/2009 7:33:08 PM PDT by Chet 99
THEY are calling it bar-stool diplomacy – a novel attempt by President Barack Obama to cool a heated racial controversy by inviting the offended parties to settle their differences over a beer at the White House.
Yet the president’s efforts to limit the fallout from a row over the arrest last week of Henry Louis Gates Jr, a black Harvard professor, may serve to extend a furore that has shaken the White House and raised questions about Obama’s vaunted leadership skills.
The row showed no sign of diminishing yesterday as Massachusetts media pressed for the release of police tapes that could shed new light on the angry exchanges between Gates and Sergeant James Crowley, a white officer who arrived at the professor’s Cambridge home to investigate a report of a break-in.
The incident led to a rare breakdown of Obama’s previously impressive political judgment. Having spent much of the past two years steering clear of racial controversy and nurturing an image of so-called “postracial” conciliation, the president plunged unexpectedly into the Gates affair.
He declared on Wednesday, when it was still far from clear what had happened, that the Massachusetts police had “acted stupidly” by arresting Gates, whom Obama described as a personal friend.
By Friday evening, Obama was back-pedalling furiously and his invitation to Gates and Crowley to join him for a beer was interpreted as an acknowledgment by the president that he had spoken too hastily in “maligning” the police. “I could have calibrated those words differently,” he said.
Yet the move also ensured that a story he desperately wants to go away will continue to overshadow his domestic political agenda. No beer-drinkers are likely to make as many headlines as the president, the professor and the policeman.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
Eh. Call her a Duchess.
LOL... that is so funny, impressive political judgment.
Besides, I think it's terrible for the President of the Untied States to invite anyone to the White House to drink a beer as a way to solve problems. IMHO, it sends the wrong message to kids, that you can solve problems by drinking beer.
i was thinking:
OLD FROSHINGSLOTH
PALE STALE ALE
THE BEER WITH THE FOAM ON THE BOTTOM!
i was thinking:
OLD FROSHINGSLOTH
PALE STALE ALE
THE BEER WITH THE FOAM ON THE BOTTOM!
He multitasks - while he’s partying all over the globe, he’s destroying us at record pace. It’s not rocket science - all one needs is hatred for ‘white’ America which includes it’s founders.
“Mr. Obama, now I am asking you for YOUR ID?”
“Arthur Fisher wrote:
‘We know what he said,
And we know what he meant.
He’s always political,
100%.’”
_________________________________________________________________________________
Works for me.
You wrote, “Can you imagine the seething hatred awaiting Sgt Crowley when he goes to have a beer with President Racist?”
If Sgt. Crowley does go to “have a beer” with the Pres and Gates, he is a much better man than I. Only Obama can come out on top in this setup. If as some have implied that Sgt. Crowley asked that this meeting with the three of them take place, again, he is a man better than I. Is 0bama going to apologize for saying the police acted stupidly?....in direct words, not beat around the brush giving an around about wording that is meaningless? How about the racist professor? Is he going to apologize for making an ass of himself which triggered this whole affair?. Sgt. Crowley has said he will not apologize, as he has nothing to apologize for....and I hope he sticks to that position.
That then begs the question, just what can be gained and by whom of this little “let’s have a beer together and talk”?
I think that the waves will travel much further than cops, like to firemen, construction unions, and other unions. (But never to the hard left teachers.)
I say replace Geraldo with Alberto Ganzales.
If I ever encounter someone with a racial problem, the solution is to buy them a beer and all will be well with the world.
yes, alcohol solves everything, so why hasn't the Resident bought the world a beer? wouldn't it be easier to sing kumbaya while downing a six pack?
From now on instead of guns we should be arming ourselves with beer. If someone calls you a racist, just hand them a beer! LOL
If it is Sgt Crowley who suggested the beer, then I'm sure it was tongue in cheek. I certainly hope he doesn't meet with the Resident unless he brings his lawyer and asks the Resident to show his BC.
I would not have “been available” that day.
“I certainly hope he doesn’t meet with the Resident unless he brings his lawyer and asks the Resident to show his BC.”
* * * *
I also thought he should go only if he was accompanied by his legal counsel.
BTW, asking someone for ID while they appear to be breaking into a house is just as racist as asking the usurping fraud to produce his REAL birth certificate.
I’ve drunk beer bumping elbows with some real SOBs in my 74 years now.
I think it my even be interesting drinking one with even...say Bubba Klinton—but then he’s only an “influenced” marxism, sob, etc.
But! There are some SOBs—maybe even just one—I would never consider such an outrageous thing...
Thanks; thanks; thanks. I appreciate the responses. Noted and considered.
Even the media noticed that Obama didn't apologize when he backed off a bit from his original statement. Perhaps he came closer to apologizing when speaking on the phone to Sgt. Crowley--he just never can say "I'm sorry" in public for anything he has done or said (only for what the US has done or the previous administration did).
Just imagine if GWB had said anything remotely as egregious as Obama saying the police acted stupidly.
I have heard that the NY Post is running an article that claims that Gates is preparing for an upcoming special series on PBS on Blacks in prison and that this whole thing could have just been faked to advertise for his tv series.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.