Having a Beer with Obama

Conor Friedersdorf rightfully notes that Henry Louis Gates and James Crowley should be having their beer at a local Cambridge pub rather than at the White House.   Bowing to the inevitable, however, ABC News moves on to the weighty issue of what beer will be served.

Crowley told the president he was more partial to Blue Moon. […] Blue Moon, however, could be a problematic pick for the Democratic president, because while it is marketed as a small craft beer, it was actually created by Coors and today owned by MillerCoors. The Coors family has been a long-time supporter of the Republican party. Additionally, the AFL-CIO ran a decade-long boycott of the company’s beer in the late 1970s and early ’80s.

Gates told The Boston Globe over the weekend that he was partial to Red Stripe and Beck’s. But both of those are foreign beers. The White House only stocks American beers, under a tradition dating to the Johnson administration.

Budweiser isn’t a slam dunk either. Some could argue that the beer is no longer an American beer after being bought out by Belgian-Brazilian beer giant InBev, maker of Hoegaarden, Leffe and Stella Artois.

Truly vexing.  Might I suggest they have refreshing mojitos instead?

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. The obvious answer is Sam Admas. He was a brewer and a patriot, dontcha know.

  2. Drew says:

    I dono, Steven. I’m thinking the beer ought to reflect the quality of the principals’ behavior.

    Hence, my nominations are: Blatz, Schlitz or Hamms (the beer refreshing….dontcha know?)

  3. Gustopher says:

    Whatever beer is chosen will be used to demonstrate how elitist and out of touch the Obama administration is.

  4. Derrick says:

    Whatever beer is chosen will be used to demonstrate how elitist and out of touch the Obama administration is.

    Also, I wouldn’t suggest Obama put an orange in that Blue Moon, as this will show Republicans how weak and spineless he is and portend future problems dealing with Iran.

  5. DL says:

    It’s a fake issue to deflect from Obamacare’s failing. Therefore, I recommend fake beer: O’Douls…dark, of course.

  6. rodney dill says:

    I’d have to recommend Arrogant Bastard Ale, a good commentary all around, as well as a pretty good ale.

  7. PD Shaw says:

    James, your rum drink recalls the Triangular Trade of rum for slaves for molassas. This is a learning teaching moment, damn it.

  8. Ugh says:

    I would suggest Moose Drool

  9. PD Shaw says:

    For those who have forgotten already, when the Democratic Presidential primaries entered into the drinking competition phase of the contest, Obama selected a Pabst Blue Ribbon. A very astute choice as it is an inexpensive working man’s beer, also favored by yuppie hipsters, plus it exudes the patriotism of having won “America’s Best beer” at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893.

    Need we mention what Hillary chose and what happened to her?

  10. I’d recommend something from the Kona Brewing Company, but there’s some doubt whether or not they were made in Hawaii.

  11. Stone IPA. No reason, it’s just a good grown-up, manly beer. Huge hops. It dares you not to like it, in fact it would prefer you not like it because you’re probably not man enough for all that bitterness joined to such a floral nose.

    GATES: Actually, I’d prefer a nice Sancerre.
    CROWLEY: I don’t drink nothin’ but MIckey’s.
    OBAMA: Yeah, well f-ck you both, you’ll drink it or you’ll be talking to the IRS. Jesus, like I don’t have enough to deal with?

    Then, after he pulls that off, Obama can go deal with the Blue Dogs.

  12. Drew says:

    I want to revise my suggestion. I’m with ugh.

  13. Ryan says:

    I’m with Ugh. Moose drool or trout slayer would be about right! As for the notion that the president should go to a cambridge pub, does anyone really think its a good idea to take the entire presidential detail along, closing off roads, subjecting bystanders to increased security and generally causing a hassle? Anyone remember how pissed the right pretended to be when the president had the audacity to take his wife on a date??

    On second thought I’d go with a Cold Smoke from the Kettlehouse brewery. Mmmm….Montana beer!