Beer choice at Obama meeting touches off new debate

CNN ^ | July 29, 2009 | Alexander Mooney

[Wardenclyffe]

The upcoming White House meeting with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and the Cambridge police officer who arrested him earlier this month appears to have touched off a fresh debate all on its own: what kind of beer should be served?

Earlier this week the White House indicated each man would drink the beer of their choice — Bud Light for President Obama, Blue Moon for the police officer, and perhaps Red Stripe or Beck's for Gates.

But one Massachusetts congressman thinks another beer entirely should be served: Boston's own Sam Adams.

In a letter to Obama dated Wednesday, Massachusetts Rep. Richard Neal strongly urges the president not to drink Budweiser, now owned by a Belgian company. Nor should the White House consider serving Miller or Coors, Neal writes, both owned by a United Kingdom conglomerate.

Instead, the White House should serve the three men — all with ties to Massachusetts — the local favorite, not only because of its popularity in the region but also because it remains the largest American-owned and brewed beer, Neal says.

But Sam Adams founder and brewer Jim Koch told NPR if it was up to him he would make a special beer just for the event.

[MARTIAL MONK]

There’s probably more than one of them that think it’s great. They can blame all those charges at Bertha’s House of Ill-repute on Obama.

[This_far]

Just make certain it's beer and not kool-aid.

Which makes me wonder why was Biden there? (peanut/pretzel tester?)

[FreeSmart]

A good IPA is hard to beat. That’s a man’s beer, IMO.

[This_far]

Rep. Richard Neal strongly urges the president not to drink Budweiser,

Well, yeah, but if Rep Neal had any sense of history for Mass, he should have suggested a Carlings Black Label.

A hearty brew which once was brewed in Natick Ma, by the lovely shores of Lake Cochituate and Route 9.

Hey MABEL, Black Label!

(too soon?)

[LucyJo]

I figure Biden’s purpose for being there was so that the white guy wouldn’t be outnumbered in the photo op. I’ve heard that he doesn’t drink alcoholic beverages, so he apparently wasn’t there to drink beer.

[winnotwhine]

Here's another way of looking at. Spin or not it diffuses the situation, takes the pressure off the White House and Obama looks good...and what can we learn from this that can help our cause? Yeah, the response will be the mainstream media, the political elites, did it too us again... Here's a question what lesson is here for us, so the next time, we are not the ones sitting in front our computers gnashing our teeth, but sipping a cold one and enjoying a splendid moment of victory.

[This_far]

I’ve heard that he doesn’t drink alcoholic beverages, so he apparently wasn’t there to drink beer.

Why was Biden at the picinic table?

(could become a drinking game)