Closing Arguments: Punch-Drunk by Beer Diplomacy?
EmailIt's just about time for a beer. That's right — black Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates and the white police officer who arrested him, Sgt. James Crowley, will meet tomorrow evening with President Obama at the White House over some suds. "The Audacity of Hops," is what our colleague Jake Tapper called it — an informal way to ease the tension stemming from the incident. Today, a new controversy — who's drinking what? Red Stripe for the professor; Blue Moon for the cop; and Bud Light for the president — all beers brewed by foreign-owned companies. So tonight, we ask: Should the beer summit be American brewed? Or has this whole thing left us all a little punch-drunk? Tell us what you think. You can follow "Nightline" anytime on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Nightline.
RSS
Twitter
Facebook
Obama picks Bud Light. Yuck. Life is too short to drink a bad bear. Red Stripe and Blue Moon are better choices.
Posted by: Huh | July 29, 2009, 11:53 pm 11:53 pm
What a question…I think it is a waste of a question. Maybe we should ask if drinking a beer or two will really bring “change” and “reconciliation” to the three involved.
Posted by: CAlvarez | July 30, 2009, 12:10 am 12:10 am
News Media hypers have been calling this meeting? the B-3 Summit..? As usual they got it wrong! It was the
‘BS-3 Summit’. What a waste of time and our money.
Posted by: FireAntMan | July 30, 2009, 12:12 am 12:12 am
“So tonight, we ask: Should the beer summit be American brewed?” there are no major breweries left in the US that are US owned, so they would have to spend more tax dollars on ordering a micro brewery beer-glad to hear that the prez is saving us some $ going with a bud light, however his guests could have chosen cheaper choices! If I would have been invited, I personally would have been enjoying some Boulevard, made by the Boulevard Brewing Company made in Kansas City, since it wasn’t coming out of my pocket (directly)!
Posted by: Tiffany | July 30, 2009, 12:15 am 12:15 am
I got a chuckle out of the way Moran reported the story.
Posted by: S.A.M. | July 30, 2009, 12:15 am 12:15 am
Life is too short to drink domestic. Good choices if you ask me…except for the bud light.
Posted by: Carlos Rodriguez | July 30, 2009, 12:17 am 12:17 am
Yuengling would have been my choice. I don’t care who makes it. Most places sell it as a domestic, and I like it. I like the fact that each person picked different beers…
Posted by: riragirl | July 30, 2009, 12:25 am 12:25 am
Life is too short to drink BAD beer – this country is overflowing with amazing microbrews! Why – WHY drink Bud Light???
Posted by: Nicole | July 30, 2009, 12:30 am 12:30 am
” IN ORDER TO ENJOY THE INESTIMABLE BENEFITS THAT THE LIBERTY OF THE PRESS ENSURES, IT IS NECESSARY TO SUBMIT TO THE INEVITABLE EVILS IT CREATES…”
ALEXIS DE TOQUEVILLE 1823
Come on Moran…this horse is dead…quit beating it!!! It will STINK long before Nightline does any real investigative reporting…that goes for you too Bashir !!!
As for the beer…WHO GIVES A RIP !!!
Posted by: Nachthexe | July 30, 2009, 12:30 am 12:30 am
Micro-Brewed, and American are only choices they have in this peculiar time. A lager, pale ale, wheat … perhaps Ft Collins, CO, New Belgium Brewery’s, “FAT TIRE” is the most appropriate beverage to enjoy in such their situation. I don’t believe they’re ready for New Belgium’s “ABBEY” or “1554,” -a triple-brewed Belgium, dark and beautiful with hops, most adequately described as -to lust after. But please serve each to their appropriate vessel’s, and most important, -the correct temperature. Good Night.
Posted by: Rick Kollbaum | July 30, 2009, 12:33 am 12:33 am
This scenario reminds me of the the sinking of the “TITANIC”. Everyone is standing at the lobster bar discussing what kind of beer these fools are drinking, meanwhile the Ship of State goes down by the bow …. What incredible ARROGANCE on the part of the media. What an embarrassment!!!
Posted by: pro from dover | July 30, 2009, 12:43 am 12:43 am
I just want to know how many they drink? Who is driving? And while they are drinking beers to make peace..if the President could think about how poorly our Immigration System is in this country. The President is encouraging drinking to solve problems. But did you know the US Government says that if your from another country and trying to move to the US legally to be with your US Citizen Wife, and have drank beer , had a DUI (even 9 years ago) by only a 1/2 pint over the limit you are declared a person with a mental or physical disorder, and not allowed in to America unless you complete rehab for 2 years and abstain from drinking at all during that time? Meanwhile they will cheers to imported beer. Fantastic!
Posted by: Concerned | July 30, 2009, 12:48 am 12:48 am
U.S. immigration will accept all the castoffs, Lunatics, illegals and the dregs flushed from foreign jails… but they don’t want, god forbid, foreign ALCOHOLICS !!! Hey…Iv’e got a great idea … Let’s have a beer and discuss it!!!
Posted by: pro from dover | July 30, 2009, 1:02 am 1:02 am
Only problem is 1 DUI in your history does not make you an alcoholic. Unless of course your a US Embassy, then you can say otherwise. I like your idea.. cheers
Posted by: Concerned | July 30, 2009, 1:10 am 1:10 am
What a waste of ink, space, and time and beer!
Posted by: Linda | July 30, 2009, 1:39 am 1:39 am
Should be US beer, but first of all the police sargent should not go at all and if he dose he should have someone with him!
Posted by: lee | July 30, 2009, 2:23 am 2:23 am
I think this question was a waste of time and you are just looking for controversy when there is none. But it is another example of America’s loss of manufacturing jobs.
Posted by: NonDrinker | July 30, 2009, 4:15 am 4:15 am
I hate beer. But to each his own.
Posted by: NonDrinker | July 30, 2009, 4:17 am 4:17 am
Who cares what beer these people drink. This entire meeting is merely a PR job by Obama. Obama lacks the integrity to admit that he was WRONG to open his mouth when he didn’t have all the facts. This president went on national TV and created a nationwide issue because his friend has a big mouth and to go along with the chip on his shoulder.
Posted by: Judy | July 30, 2009, 8:19 am 8:19 am
Yes, i am pleased that the three parties (The President, the professor & the policeman)will meet to discuss & have the “teachable moment” session. However, why not a friendly discussion over a nice cup of coffee, a great herbal tea or even (if its dinner) a brilliant glass of chardonnay. Plus, no cameras allowed! A “for-real” private summit.
Posted by: ms dft | July 30, 2009, 10:40 am 10:40 am
If they are really drinking beer at this stupid event, there should be no restriction on what kind they drink. American beers are well-known to be by far the most God-awful tasting beers in the world. The beers in Europe are smooth and rich and taste good. Asian, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand beers also taste much better than American beers. If those countries can do it, why can’t we?
Budweiser, the so-called king of beers, tastes like canned puke. For Budweiser to declare itself as the king of beers is as silly as Michael Jackson declaring himself as the king of pop.
Posted by: Proud Native American and Independent Voter | July 30, 2009, 3:14 pm 3:14 pm
Depends on your priorities: if you’re hosting a “make nice” meeting, ask your guests their favorite and provide it. If you want to emphasize buying American, serve microbrews at your next get-together. Easy!
(Personal choice of the three: Blue Moon, followed by Red Stripe)
Posted by: ArizonaJane | July 30, 2009, 4:58 pm 4:58 pm
Break out some Sam Adams
Posted by: David | July 30, 2009, 7:35 pm 7:35 pm
I think all of you need to grow up and get a life! Who cares what kind of beer these guys drink (although, I did think that the Boulevard Brew of KC was a great suggestion). This whole incident has been over-blown. I knew the moment the words came out of the President’s mouth that he would pay dearly for them. And of course, instead of focusing on health care, every reporter there (including you, Jake!)pounced on them. I certainly hope this incident is now over and we can all get back to the real business at hand.
Posted by: Julie | July 30, 2009, 8:46 pm 8:46 pm
What a waste of time and tax payers money…………. for this silly show !
Posted by: Lola | July 30, 2009, 9:12 pm 9:12 pm
Not really,a type of beer a person drinks is a personal taste. And if they want to drink some foreign beer more power to you.
Posted by: Charles Alexander | July 31, 2009, 3:02 am 3:02 am
I find it amazing that in “the land of
the free” as America was created to be
that any person (any color, etc.) can
be arrested for “unruly conduct” in his
own home.
Additionally, I was embarassed that the
policeman’s association created a “slur
on ALL POLICEMEN” – over the event; it
was a particular situation involving 1
officer – like all internal investigations usually are… but,
since the President spoke freely of
his thoughts, they made it an attack
on all officers – how ego-centric!
Enjoy the beer!
Posted by: Ken | July 31, 2009, 3:25 am 3:25 am
It really takes the press to turn a unique initiative by the US president into a media free-for-all. Where else in the world could an event/non-event like this take place? Just accept this as one of those American moments that will likely not be repeated, and could not be duplicated.
Yeah – Bud Light was a poor, but patriotic choice.
Posted by: Spud Lite | July 31, 2009, 9:11 am 9:11 am
Christian DeBenetti said that Benjamin Franklin said
“Beer is God’s proof that He loves us and wants us to be happy.”
What God’s Word Says About Beer:
“Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;
whoever is led astray by them is not wise.”
(Proverbs 20:1)
“It is not for kings, O Lemuel—
not for kings to drink wine,
not for rulers to crave beer,
lest they drink and forget what the law decrees,
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
Give beer to those who are perishing,
wine to those who are in anguish;
let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
(Proverbs 31:4-7)
And these also stagger from wine
and reel from beer:
Priests and prophets stagger from beer
and are befuddled with wine;
they reel from beer,
they stagger when seeing visions,
they stumble when rendering decisions.
All the tables are covered with vomit
and there is not a spot without filth.
(Isaiah 28:7-8)
Come, all you beasts of the field,
come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!
Israel’s watchmen are blind,
they all lack knowledge;
they are all mute dogs,
they cannot bark;
they lie around and dream,
they love to sleep.
They are dogs with mighty appetites;
they never have enough.
They are shepherds who lack understanding;
they all turn to their own way,
each seeks his own gain.
“Come,” each one cries, “let me get wine!
Let us drink our fill of beer!
And tomorrow will be like today,
or even far better.”
(Isaiah 56:9-12)
Have a \\\|/// Blessed Day
(o o)
—oOO-(_)-OOo— Bob Gotti
But as for me, I watch in hope
for the LORD, I wait for God my
Savior; My God will hear me.
(Micah 7:7)
Posted by: Bob Gotti | July 31, 2009, 2:03 pm 2:03 pm