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Globally, this is getting a lot more attention than it probably deserves and I'm surprised by how divisive it has been. There are two sides to this:

I still think it is [b:3f1bilk9]good[/b:3f1bilk9] that (i) beer is being drunk as a social drink and (ii) the brand of beer is even being reported (i.e. each man has his own favourite). This is the purpose of the meeting and as such it is [i:3f1bilk9]a success[/i:3f1bilk9].

I think it is [b:3f1bilk9]bad[/b:3f1bilk9] that the president happens to have chosen Bud Lite and that beer writers are now saying 'job well done, as long as it's beer'.

Lew, welcome on board. I usually agree with you that one should judge a beer by the beer and not by the brewery, but in this case, it is the beer itself that is the issue. It's hard to stay silent when you see "It doesn't matter what beer it is: it's beer.[/url:3f1bilk9]" written in a serious article. It's only 'beer' in the same sense that sliced pan is 'bread', or processed cheese is 'cheese'.

Taken in the context that this is also a bit of a kick in the teeth for the neo-prohibitionists in the US, then is [i:11kl84yh]really [/i:11kl84yh]doesn't matter what the brand is <!-- s;) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s;) -->

It's really only the beer geeks (and I include myself in that broad category) who worry about sending higher beer messages. After all, it's only beer, and it's peace and unity between people at stake.

And what's wrong with processed cheese? <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->

"[i:11kl84yh]Did you get me my Cheez Whiz, boy?[/i:11kl84yh]"

[quote:1rpmuwtz]It's really only the beer geeks [...] who worry about sending higher beer messages.[/quote:1rpmuwtz]

I agree with you there. It's silly to expect the wider media to report on this in any other way, so this discussion is an indulgence the beer geek community can afford. (I'm sure Obama's PR team would have had something to say if he chose to sip on a Westvleteren 12, poured into his presidential chalice for the occasion). <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: -->

I wonder how similar the discussion would be amongst the whiskey connoisseurs if Obama followed with a glass of Jim Beam and two ice cubes.

As for processed cheese, after a childhood on Easi-Singles (TM), even the step up to plain red cheddar was opened up a new world for me. I'll never forgive my mother for some things... <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->

You gotta give it to Obama though, he knows how to work the media.

After I'd heard about his faux pas and the subsequent proposed "lads get together at the Whitehouse to have a beer and sort this thing out" I naively thought it'd be behind closed doors.

But it was funny to see the four "lads" sitting out back on the Whitehouse chugging some beer only to see the camera pan out to reveal about billion reporters and camera men.

It was a PR stunt of the highest order. Four guys. Old black guy, young black guy, old white guy, young white guy. They even had the sense to make sure different types of beer were represented!

in an exciting twist, it seems the academic succumbed (succame?) to local pressure, although wikipedia doesn't give any reference for this (in the red stripe article). I'd say he needs to watch his back or diageo might have him arrested again.

[quote:2vdd16zw]In 2009, Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., was invited to the White House to have beers with U.S. President Obama and Camridge, Mass., police officer Jim Crowley and to discuss their disagreement over Crowley's arrest of Gates two weeks earlier. Gates initially said he would have a Red Stripe, but facing criticism from Boston beer fans, he changed his choice to Sam Adams Light.[/quote:2vdd16zw]

*edit* in hindsight this is most likely some sam adams fanboy wiki-terrorism

&amp;quot;Atticus&amp;quot;:2symsf7c wrote: You gotta give it to Obama though, he knows how to work the media. [/quote:2symsf7c]

These guys seem to agree:

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="adage.com/moy2008/article?article_id=131810">adage.com/moy2008/article?article_id=131810

I can't help but be unimpressed though