Beer Branding At The White House
Only in America: A white Cambridge police officer arrests of a defiant black Harvard professor on egregious charges that are later dropped. Claims of racial profiling and verbal abuse follow, as does an uncouth presidential intervention, and a requisite presidential near-apology, yielding coast-to-coast water cooler debate. All the most explosive issues are at play: A racially-charged hiccup for the first black man in the White House. A class conflict between town and gown. The evergreen question of police respect and abuse.
So what do we make of it--us in to the national media, the White House communications office, and other participants in this made for TV drama? We turn it into a question of beer brands. Seriously.
On Thursday, the three principal players in this drama will sit at a picnic table outside the Oval Office. It is not entirely clear what they will talk about. Will they seek to hash out the factual disputes about what happened? Exchange apologies? Speak broadly about race, law and the media? Talk about the weather? Nevermind--because we do know something even more important. Each man will be drinking a beer.
Just what kind of beer is a matter of some speculation. The president, who is not much of a drinker, recently drank a Budweiser at the All Star Game, allows White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs, who has nonetheless declined to identify the Thursday choice of brew. The Cambridge officer, Sgt. James Crowley, has told the president he likes Blue Moon, a wheat beer often served with fruit. The professor, Henry Louis Gates Jr., has told the Boston press he likes the European lager Beck's or the Bohemian-bottled Red Stripe, from Jamaica. What shall they do? If they can't even agree on the beer, what can they agree on?
[UPDATE at 4:20 p.m.: This afternoon on Air Force One, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs revealed the beer selection for the picnic table gathering: "The President will drink Bud Light. As I understand it -- I have not heard this, I've read this, so I'll just repeat what I've read, that Professor Gates said he liked Red Stripe, and I believe Sergeant Crowley mentioned to the President that he liked Blue Moon. So we'll have the gamut covered tomorrow afternoon. I think we're still thinking, weather permitting, the picnic table out back."]
The next step is obvious: Everyone jumps on board. The microbrewers declare their preference for beer with taste. The nativists point out the foreign ownership of Bud. The class scholars wonder what it means that the cop wants a beer that goes with fruit.
For days now, the White House has gamely, and with some bashful pleasure, put up with this game. It has led to moments of absurdity, like this exchange between Fox News's Wendell Goler, Gibbs and another reporter at the daily briefing Monday.
GIBBS: What's wrong with Budweiser? Why do you hate Budweiser?
(CROSSTALK)
GIBBS: Why do you hate Budweiser, Wendell? This is...
(CROSSTALK)
GIBBS: I don't -- I don't...
(CROSSTALK)
GIBBS: Wendell, how about this? How about you and I, we'll go pick out the beer, we'll do the beer run? Uh-oh. Oh, please.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)
GIBBS: The mortgage servicers meeting is tomorrow. Apparently this has nothing to do...
(LAUGHTER)
Unclear whether beer will be served at that meeting and what it will be. So...
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)
GIBBS: So we'll go on the beer run together and pick it up in anticipation of the meeting.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)
GIBBS: Say again?
QUESTION: Pretzels or chips?
GIBBS: No, we're just going to go straight beer, so no sense in diluting it. Yes?
If you find all this tough to follow, don't worry about it. None of it matters. What matters is that the pictures will be good, perfect for summertime, and everyone will know that the various factions "shared a beer." The beer is the "MacGuffin"--like the statue in the Maltese Falcon, the briefcase in Pulp Fiction, the AllSpark in Tranformers--a meaningless object to move along the plot. The key thing to remember is that one day before the Picnic-table summit we still don't know where the plot is heading. Will Gates and Crowley find common ground? Will Obama reestablish his role as primarily a mediator between racial and class tribes, not participant in the conflict?
Buy a six pack, sit back and wait to find out.
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1
"...as does an uncouth presidential intervention..."
Uncouth? The only thing around here that is "uncouth" is a tire-swinger named Scherer.
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2
Last week we were discussing whether it is the media or the audience that is more to blame for the horrendous priorities that are apparent in our political coverage. I blamed the audience. I've just officially changed my mind.
It's you guys!
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2.1
Brad Delong: "This is an excellent and reflexive example of exactly what Massing earlier in the article had called "reflexive attempts at 'balance'" the absence of which "makes the blogosphere a lively and bracing place"--and the presence of which sucks the lifeblood out of the mainstream print media and will soon consign it to a sodden death."
Also: "uncouth"?
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3
I say that because in spite of your self-referential disclaimers, you yourself just devoted 7 paragraphs to the non-subjectedness of the subject.....
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4
I say let it go and stop treating it as a top news story. You can hold your head up and say that you at least have higher standards the the Glenn Beck's of the world.
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4.1
So, queen, is questioning whether Obama is racist verboten? I don't think he's racist like David Duke is racist--but I'd put him and Trent Lott in the same category.
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5
I hope they do century club together, that's a bond that will last a lifetime.
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6
Uncouth? Better watch it. That's dangerously close to pearl clutching territory.
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7
All of this controversy about which brand of beer to drink is just one more reason to legalize marijuana. This bud's for you Mr. President.
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8
Guys, why is it so hard to admit that some bit of racial bias played a bit in Obama's initial response? After all, isn;t this the guy that referred to his own grandmother as a "typical white person" and who was apparently comfortable with exposing his kids to the racism of Rev. Wright?
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8.1
spob,
No, I would not chalk of Obama's initial response to the Gates matter as "racial bias", I would chalk it up to personal experience.
As General Colin Powell so eloquently explained, it is doubtful that any African-American male over the age of 40 has not experienced some racial profiling.
As far as your comment comparing Obama to Trent Lott, that was trully trollish. Most Republicans are not has bad as Trent Lott. Lott was glorifying the days when African-Americans "knew their place" and put up with the crap in the old South. This was exemplied by the great hypocrite, Strom Thurmond who was impregnating black women while warning of the necessity of keeping black men away from white women. Well, African-Americans are not lighter skinned because of black men prowling on white women. Maybe you desire those "good" ole' days.
As far as Lott, he typified what happened to the Republican party in the South. They became the party of former Dixiecrats, who were racist, but decided to join the Republican party who used race as an issue to rise in the South. When you look at Lott's record of government largesse and bringing home the pork, eh, bacon home to Mississippi, he acted no different then the Liberals you so depise.
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8.2
good God, FHM, Obama didn't live the life of inner city guy getting rousted by cops--he's got no personal experience with this.
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8.3
spob,
Colin Powell talked about being profiled, why would you think that Obama would be spared he experience? African-American lawyers, doctors, athletes and celebrities haves stories of being profiled.
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9
"Will Obama reestablish his role as primarily a mediator between racial and class tribes, not participant in the conflict?"
.
Michael, how in the world has Barack Obama acted as a mediator? When you're a mediator, you have to be even-handed. I don't see how his response to Jena was even-handed. -
10
I didn't know males drank Blue Moon. Weird.
That's the sum and total of what I learned from this post.
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11
Buzz or Duff Beer. Buy American already - isn't Bud now foreign owned (InBev)? Or just buy some Sam Adams.
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12
Uncouth, nepotistic. Take you pick.
Blue Moon is actually quite good.
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12.1
Mine sits in the back of the fridge with the fruit beers that get included in sampler packs. When my SO's sister comes over i serve them to her.
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13
I'm really annoyed by the judgment that Obama, who represents the American people, did anything wrong by wading into a police conduct issue. Far as I'm concerned he made only one mistake -- he apologized.
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13.1
Do you think it's fair destor, that without knowing all the facts, he associated this case with racial profiling.
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I wonder what Obama would have to say about the recent racial assaults in Akron. -
13.2
There are several issues that arise from Obama's decision to wade into this matter. None are very serious, but all indicate an imprudent bias on his part.
First, he, as President of the United States, chose to criticize the law enforcement handling of this matter before he was fully aware of the facts.
Second, he chose to nationalize a minor, local issue, seizing the opportunity to create another 'teaching moment.' It's becoming quite silly that he insists upon teaching the nation about sensitive issues.
Finally, nepotism comes into play as he blindly sides with his friend, attempting to victimize Gates despite his provocative, contemptible behavior.
This entire event is minor. Gates acted like a self-righteous prick. However, at the same time, the arrest is certainly questionable. I do not feel that one should be arrested for disorderly conduct on one's own property. Neither side is justified in this matter. Yet, Obama chose to come down decidedly on behalf of one party, nationalizing and publicizing an irrelevant incident that should have been all but ignored in the press. Now, we have another lecture from the federal government on race relations and sensitivity. The whole mess needs to disappear.
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14
exiled--should Obama get a free pass, as he has not exactly been neutral when it comes to race here
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14.1
His supporters will never see any problem with his actions. He is a beacon of justice and righteousness, defending the oppressed and disenfranchised (Harvard professors included) from the bigotry of the racist law-enforcement community of America. Pointing out his lack of clarity on these issues will never resonate with those who harbor the same views of racial inequalities and abuse of power by white authorities that pervades American society. Subsequently there is little to gain from perpetuating the coverage of this issue. Everyone will just shout about the racist attitudes of the other side. There is no ground to be won in this issue.
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15
OK, Scherer, not a bad premise, but why not show 'em how it should be done? Write substantive stories about the Administration's activities on serious policy issues. Drop the cutesie YouTube links and extended analyses of your colleagues' work. Lead by example.
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15.1
Yeah, FO, Time Magazine could start by asking why a nasty racist assault in Akron, Ohio got zero ink and what Obama thinks about that. Or Time could write a story about the dismissal of judgments against Black Panthers.
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16
I'm no teetotaler, but I don't understand why there's going to be alcohol at this meeting in the first place. When we sit down to discuss personal disagreements—let alone serious problems of national importance—we should have a buzz on?
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16.1
A beer is the only way a normal human being could stomach meeting an arrogant prof from harvard . . . .
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17
"First, he, as President of the United States, chose to criticize the law enforcement handling of this matter before he was fully aware of the facts."
I've heard this argument used many times and I really want to understand- what facts have come to light that would negate Obama's statement that the police "acted stupidly" in this incidence by arresting a citizen who was legally in his own home?
"Second, he chose to nationalize a minor, local issue, seizing the opportunity to create another 'teaching moment.' It's becoming quite silly that he insists upon teaching the nation about sensitive issues."
First off, you know, that the President is the chief law enforcer in the nation, right? That alone would justify his speaking out on the subject. Second, he was asked a direct question at a news conference and answered it honestly. Had he dodged the question, there is no doubt spongebob and his fellow Obama Derangement Syndromers would have seized upon the dodge as evidence of something nefarious, as they do with every utterance or non-utterance of this president. (I do not accuse you, Neo, of knee-jerk ODS, but we know where spongebob comes from.)
"Finally, nepotism comes into play as he blindly sides with his friend, attempting to victimize Gates despite his provocative, contemptible behavior."
Umm, blindly? Again, what facts are you declaring Obama didn't possess that is available now that would negate his charge that the police acted stupidly? Obama did not contend that Gates wasn't a d1ck about the whole thing, which he most likely was, but it bears reminding the "contempt of cop" is not an actual crime.
Gates shouldn't have been arrested and the cops acted stupidly. Other than giving the chatterers a chance to latch onto one of their favorite topics, racial conflict, I don't see how what Obama said was wrong and I really don't see how what he said would be different now in light of new facts coming to light. What are these new facts that Obama should have known before answering the question honestly?
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17.1
Piper
First, let me say that I do not support the arrest of Mr. Gates. I firmly believe that short of threats or physical contact, a person has every right to behave how they please on their own property; disorderly conduct, in my interpretation, only applies to public property.
However, the imprudence of Mr Gates' arrest does not warrant an executive intervention into the affair. True, Mr. Obama was asked a direct question. He was wholly within his bounds to answer that question. However, to call the arrest stupid is a stretch. The officer certainly shouldn't have arrested Mr. Gates, however the invective diatribe and endless insult no doubt pushed the officer over the edge. He reached a rather crude interpretation of the law, in that Mr Gates' 'disorderly conduct' was in public view witnessed by those gathering on the street. This is a stretch. However, to openly call the arrest 'stupid' is also a stretch. Why did Obama not call the actions of Mr. Gates 'stupid?' They certainly were. Hence, Mr. Obama, who admitted he did not know the facts (which I assume means he was unaware of the extent of what transpired, including the degree to which Mr Gates acted like a pompous ass), reached a conclusion that the arrest was stupid, yet failed to characterize the actions of his dear friend as stupid. Nepotism? Indeed.
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17.2
Obama could have diffused the entire publicity of the situation with this simple statement:
"I find the arrest of Mr. Gates to have been unnecessary. I would hope that the charges are subsequently dropped. However, I also do not consider the conduct of Mr. Gates to have been productive or civil. I would hope that both parties can realize their mistakes and walk away from this unpleasant event. I will have no further comments on the matter."
Case closed. No media frenzy. No publicity stunt at the White House. No ammo for anyone. The incident remains local, as it should, and it blows over.
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17.3
Here is what everyone is overlooking. Sgt. Crowley did not act stupidly, he acted normally. While it is not illegal to be disrespectful to a police officer, anyone who has ever been involved in such a situation is well-aware that the officer will find a reason to arrest you, young, old, white, black, it matters not. I have many college friends who mouthed off to cops, crossed a line, and were slapped with some charge. It's very common. No threats. No physical contact. And yes, on at least one occasion I recall it was on private property. This does not excuse the arrest, but this situation is so common that to accuse the arresting officer of racial profiling is absurd. It is even more absurd that such a routine incident has become nationalized with the President hosting a sit-down on the matter. Mr Gates knew where his behavior was leading. He welcomed such an arrest, no doubt. It only serves to further his profile and agenda.
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17.4
Oh you mean that Obama said he didn't know whether race had anything to do with this before he learned that the police report claimed the caller saw 2 black men with back packs when the tapes proved she didn't know the race and that it was possibly one Hispanic that might live there because there were suitcases? Are those the facts you are talking about?
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17.5
I get it. White cop, racist. End of story...
Way to look past race, Dee...
In nearly every post of yours, there are hints, if not explicit tones, of ethnocentricity. It's very clear that you will always look to the color of a man's skin, first, before choosing sides.
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18
wow piper1--you really know where I am coming from? Hmmmm.
,
In any event, remember, we have a federal system, and Barack Obama doesn't preside over the entire law enforcement system, just the federal system. Care to revise your comment?
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As for not knowing all the facts, that's what Obama said.
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You must have been dropped on your head as a child. -
19
spob will only be satisfied when black people can no longer use the word 'black' in a sentence lest they be accused of tribalism.
It flows from his own frustration over his inabilty to say what he's really thinks without using taboo language.
It certain qualifies as obsessive.
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20
sorry, PD, amazing how you guys just cannot deal with an argument--Obama's not even-handed when it comes to race. He's shown this many times. You may not care, and that's fine, you don't have to. But the bottom line is that it is newsworthy, and this blog ought to at least raise the question.
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20.1
spob,
Please enlighten us naive souls of the many, many cases where Obama was not even handed on race.
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20.2
fhm, his comments on Jena were appalling in their lack of sensitivity for the victim
,
his "rural America" nonsense
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being inspired by a sermon which contained the racist tripe "white folks greed runs a world in need"
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"that's how white folks will do you"
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Jeremiah Wright
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His weird nonsense on interracial relationships.
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That enough for you? -
20.3
Spob, you are not talking about any one failing to argue properly, because you have yet to admit that you promoted false information on this site, based on a source you offered but didn't bother to read first. You're an azz and you proved it with your own website.
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20.4
well, Dee, Gates revised the tax returns of his "charity" PDQ, didn't he? You're the azz.
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In any event, Dee, if a white politician ever said "typical black person", you'd be trumpeting that as evidence of his racism forever. If a white politician said "urban America" and then proceeded to parrot stereotypes, you'd be yapping about "code words".
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I'm just asking for one standard. That's it. -
20.5
"Please enlighten us naive souls of the many, many cases where Obama was not even handed on race."
For the sake of your own sanity, I implore you to not try to argue with racially aggrieved white males.
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21
Cannot wait until Friday morning when this ridiculous story will (hopefully) finally be put to bed...
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21.1
why is it so ridiculous? Certainly this incident says something about Obama . . . .
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22
The President is Black. I know you really hate that fact but it remains true. You're notion of evenhandedness is clearly born of a resentment that will never be assuaged by anything Obama may say.
I suggest you get over it.
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22.1
out comes the race card--amazing
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I still don't understand what's the big deal here. Obama's has race issues. It's obvious to anyone that looks at this objectively. -
22.2
Actually PD, Obama is half black and half white. Its a fact that seems to be largely overlooked by those like Spob who see dark skin color and assume it comes with a deeply ingrained bias against the melanin-deprived.
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22.3
anon, not sure that matters . . . . how then did Obama proclaim himself inspired by the "white folks greed runs a world in need" racist nonsense?
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In any event, he has issues. Not sure he should be trying to lead us on some national conversation.
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23
Spooge,
What facts are you suggesting Obama didn't possess that would alter the accuracy of his statement that the cops acted stupidly? No sideshows, misdirections or your usual idiocy. What are these facts?
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23.1
first of all, piper, you should address my criticisms of your post, moreover, I think I can take Obama at his word.
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But since you ask, I will tell you. The issue is not Obama's accusation that the Cambridge police "acted stupidly", but rather Obama's association of racial profiling with this incident, and he had zero idea about whether that was true or not. He also probably didn't get just how abusive Gates was either.
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His reaction here seemed a lot like his reaction to Jena. Looking at an incident through a racialist lens. But hey, he talks in terms of "typical white people". I don't expect much better.
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24
If all this pent-up rage is still there before the drinks, then beer is not enough. Those three will need to down shots. Mix up jaegerbombs, premium russian vodka, cherry bombs, wild turkey, flaming dr peppers, etc.
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25
Neo,
Whether Gates acted stupidly or not does not change the fact that the cop acted stupidly. And the cop is an extension of the State and thus has a greater responsibility in this situation, right? Would you agree with that?
I don't really have a problem with you adding attenuating circumstances to the cops behavior, but that really doesn't change the fact that the cop acted stupidly and thus Obama's statement was correct. Thus far neither you nor spoogy have offered up any new facts that have come to light that would negate Obama's statement. Basically, your argument in the last post is that Obama should have chastised Gates. Well, fine I suppose, but that doesn't let the cop off the hook.
Sgt. Crowley acted stupidly in arresting an upset citizen in his own home. Period. Full Stop.
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25.1
Congratulation on being the Featured Commentor on the main page. I was beginning to think rusty's post was the 11th Commandment.
I am just a little disappointed that my MILFbilly comment didn't make it though. ; )
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