Alternative Dispute Resolution
Obama, VP, Harvard Prof & Policeman Quaff 4 Brands at ‘Beer Summit’
Posted Jul 30, 2009 6:26 PM CST
By Martha Neil
The "beer summit" called by President Barack Obama to help resolve racism concerns sparked by the disorderly conduct arrest of a Harvard University professor at his own home by Cambridge, Mass., police has now been conducted.
Although covered live by three New York Times reporters in the newspaper's Caucus blog, the event apparently did not include any public comments on the substance of their discussion by the four participants—Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and police Sgt. James Crowley.
However, the blog did provide readers with a photograph of the four sitting around a table outside the White House, as well as news about the four brands of beer they opted to drink out of frosty mugs: Bud Light (Obama), Blue Moon (Crowley), Sam Adams Light (Gates) and Buckler (Biden). The latter is a a nonalcoholic beer, the newspaper notes.
In brief press conferences, the President thanked Gates and Crowley for attending and participating in what he described as a "friendly, thoughtful conversation" and Crowley described a “cordial and productive discussion” with the three other men. Crowley also said that he and Gates plan to talk again by phone in the future, and said there is "no tension" between himself and Gates, the Caucus reports.
Earlier coverage:
ABAJournal.com: "Harvard’s Gates, Officer Accept Obama Invite to Discuss Arrest Flap Over a Beer"
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Comments
That Lawyer Dude
Jul 30, 2009 9:08 PM CST
Great, I have this landlord/ tenent dispute going. Can I sign up here to get the President and VP to mediate that? BTW I am a big Bass Ale or Sam’s ale guy… Just in case they take orders in advance.
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B. McLeod
Jul 31, 2009 12:57 AM CST
All good choices, although (being as it is quite into the summer) the President should have tried the Bud Light Lime.
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Jim | 2009-07-31-Fr 0659 -0400
Jul 31, 2009 5:04 AM CST
At the risk of someone calling me racist [fn1], I suggest that #1 That Lawyer Dude, Officer Crowley and I all could give President Obama and Professor Gates, a Beer Selection 101 lesson
#2 McLeod is old enough to know how real beer tastes—I’m surprised he included ‘‘light’’ in the group of ‘‘good choices.’‘
I wonder if the recently distributed ‘‘old formula’’ Schlitz is available in D.C.?
...........................
Bud Lite (Obama),
Blue Moon (Crowley),
Sam Adams Light (Gates)
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tim
Jul 31, 2009 7:02 AM CST
Bug Light for the Leader of the World. Does he need to come out of the closet. If this was putin we would be having vodka shots.
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justsayin/
Jul 31, 2009 7:22 AM CST
Not at least a weizen or IPA in the group? They might as well been drinking diet cokes.
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Bankruptcy Babe
Jul 31, 2009 8:43 AM CST
What a surprise-even their choice of beer is critized.
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J.D.
Jul 31, 2009 8:55 AM CST
No surprise, the only rational choice of beverage was made by the cop… even though it is Canadian…
Props to the prof for choosing an American beer… even though it was ‘light.’
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T.R.
Jul 31, 2009 9:47 AM CST
Fairly poor choices IMO. If the President is picking up the tab, I would go straight for the Paulaner Salvator or the Spaten Optimator. Perhaps a Warsteiner Premium Verum if I happen to be in a pilsener mood :)
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J.D.
Jul 31, 2009 10:20 AM CST
The prez probably didn’t pick up the tab, TR:
“Obama Charges White House Visitors for Meals”
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/25627.html
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associate
Jul 31, 2009 10:23 AM CST
I would have had Keystone Light straight out of the can just to show how out of touch the others are with reality.
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zekethewonderdog
Jul 31, 2009 11:07 PM CST
I wish officer Crowley had not attended. He lowered himself in the gutter with O and Gates. He was used as yet another photo-op by Barry.
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John Chalus
Aug 1, 2009 5:40 PM CST
I think Obama is on to something here. Beer Meister Diplomacy. I sure that if got Putin to come over for a few cold ones they could get things running smoothely again. Perhpas if Netanyahu and Amindinejahd sat down over some brewskis that mid east thing might just go away.
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B. McLeod
Aug 1, 2009 6:51 PM CST
Now, that’s just unfair. I mean, when has the United States of American ever pushed a treaty through by plying the opposing representatives with drink?
Oh, wait. . .
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Alice
Aug 4, 2009 11:02 AM CST
Why didn’t they drink some Summit Beer?!?
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