Beer Summit: The final summary

By Doug Powers  •  July 31, 2009 11:40 AM

The “Beer Summit” is over, and here’s a brief summary of what was said and written after the history-making meeting:

Sgt. Crowley said nobody apologized and they “agreed to disagree.” But Officer, how is anybody supposed to have a fair and balanced discussion of race issues if you refuse to apologize?

Professor Gates wrote after the meeting that he doesn’t necessarily think that Crowley profiled him and is semi-confident he won’t do it again.

President Obama said the discussion was constructive, in spite of the noticeable absence of his teleprompter, and also said that nobody should be calling it a “beer summit.” Okay, “Opportunistic photo op for reasons of gratuitous blame-deflection with beer backdrop” it is.

Joe Biden just showed up out of nowhere apparently uninvited like the unemployed brother-in-law living in your basement who you hope doesn’t wake up when you’re having friends over for cocktails who stumbles up the stairs in his underwear, sneezes on the hor d’oeuvres, scratches his butt and pees in the sink. Okay, maybe not, but that’s how it appeared to me.

Biden reportedly drank non-alcoholic beer. Heaven forbid he have any alcohol and say something stupid.

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Comments


  1. #1
    On July 31st, 2009 at 11:44 am, Paul Revere said:

    I would have told Gates and Obama to kiss my rear-end, and when they agreed to apologize they could come to MY house to do it.

  2. #2
    On July 31st, 2009 at 11:44 am, Pasadena Phil said:

    This boils down to “Don’t you know who I am?” Gates just won’t drop it. He was wrong in the worst way but it too proud and narcissistic to admit it. We’ll get the real damage once his “documentary” is aired by PBS. Keep your powder dry Crowley. This ain’t over.

  3. #3
    On July 31st, 2009 at 11:45 am, Flyoverman said:

    Hmmmm, how many beer nuts are in the picture above?

  4. #4
    On July 31st, 2009 at 11:47 am, hawkeye54 said:

    Joe Biden just showed up out of nowhere

    Wasn’t the BeerSummit in the White House Rose Garden? Perhaps Biden used the secret underground pathway to the WH from Cheney’s “secret” bunker when he heard they were serving free drinks.

  5. #5
    On July 31st, 2009 at 11:47 am, RobM1981 said:

    Not to point out another “intellectual” who is actually an elitist imbecile, but:

    How can Officer Crowley “not do it again” if you’ve just acknowledged that he didn’t “do it” in the first place?

    Gates just said he doesn’t believe Crowley profiled. If that’s the case, the chaser that he “won’t do it again” is a sign that Gates is either:

    a. An imbecile
    b. Lying, and actually believes that he *was* profiled, or
    c. Both

    And, btw, Crowley should do EXACTLY the same thing, if this ever happens again. He followed procedure by the letter.

  6. #6
    On July 31st, 2009 at 11:48 am, tarpon said:

    Two racists sitting under a tree ..

  7. #7
    On July 31st, 2009 at 11:48 am, Flyoverman said:

    …..how is anybody supposed to have a fair and balanced discussion of race issues if you refuse to apologize?

    Entitled means never having to say you’re sorry.”

  8. #8
    On July 31st, 2009 at 11:48 am, long_haired_conservative said:

    My wife made an interesting point last night after seeing the same beer-summit scenes being played and replayed and replayed…

    She wondered if the reason Biden was invited (seemingly at the last minute) would be becuase they didn’t want it to appear that two black guys were ganging up on one white guy.

    Maybe this has been discussed before, I don’t know, but it sure seemed like a good point

  9. #9
    On July 31st, 2009 at 11:50 am, oldcollegeguy1980 said:

    Look at least they didn’t have Willie Nelson smoking pot at the white house like Jimmy “Someone keep an eye on my brother Billy” Carter

    That will probably be saved for the gansta rap summit

  10. #10
    On July 31st, 2009 at 11:50 am, RobM1981 said:

    Re: Biden “just showing up…”

    Am I the only one who thinks that Joe spends most of his time wandering around the lawn in a Homer Simpson-like fog? It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Biden said “Mmmmm… Beeeeer…” and just stumbled over to the empty chair.

    Biden is more than gaffe-tastic; he’s “low functioning.”

  11. #11
    On July 31st, 2009 at 11:50 am, hawkeye54 said:

    On July 31st, 2009 at 11:44 am, Pasadena Phil said:

    I was listening to the John and Ken Show here in LA. They were covering and commenting on BeerSummit I and were contemplating mailing Gates a six-pack of brew named “Arrogant Bastard” ale. They thought the name appropriate.

  12. #12
    On July 31st, 2009 at 11:51 am, walterc said:

    Still waiting to hear how much the Whitehouse staff charged Sgt Crowley’s visa card for the beer.

  13. #13
    On July 31st, 2009 at 11:53 am, Socky said:
  14. #14
    On July 31st, 2009 at 11:53 am, jsmiddleton4 said:

    “they didn’t want it to appear that two black guys were ganging up on one white guy.”

    Yes. It was after all a photo op and nothing more.

    “How can Officer Crowley “not do it again” if you’ve just acknowledged that he didn’t “do it” in the first place?”

    Was going to make that same point. Its like the Roman guards at Christ’s tomb reporting they were asleep but the disciples stole the body. One precludes being able to do the other.

    I hope the police office files a defamation law suit. That is the only way reality will be forced into the midst of this pretend drama.

  15. #15
    On July 31st, 2009 at 11:54 am, et said:

    Biden was there for Color Balance and no other reason.

  16. #16
    On July 31st, 2009 at 11:56 am, Teddy Kennedy said:

    Errah,

    Socky said:
    Bud Light’s “Real Men of Genius” salutes, You, Mr. Racial Opportunist.

    LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!CHEERS

  17. #17
    On July 31st, 2009 at 11:57 am, jsmiddleton4 said:

    “that he doesn’t necessarily think that Crowley profiled him”

    However Gates did just through a bunch of folks under the bus including his daughter who were all “this was racial profiling” every chance they got to speak.

  18. #18
    On July 31st, 2009 at 11:59 am, corkie said:

    Crowley didn’t profile Gates.

    Gates profiled Crowley.

  19. #19
    On July 31st, 2009 at 11:59 am, Teddy Kennedy said:

    Errah,

    Joe Biden just showed up out of nowhere

    He was there cutting the grass. He found a couple of old Easter eggs that the President charged him for.

  20. #20
    On July 31st, 2009 at 12:01 pm, oldcollegeguy1980 said:

    It is extremely telling that he is there with his protege and close personal friend the president and yet he chooses to not make a statement to the press.

    Why not?

    This is his moment, his time to shine

    He could have impressed us all with a masterful handling of the assembled press corps, ala Rev Wright as the national press club

    So sad we were denied his wit and thoughtful responses

  21. #21
    On July 31st, 2009 at 12:03 pm, zyzzyg said:

    I guess we will never know about the questionable police report.

  22. #22
    On July 31st, 2009 at 12:03 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

    Errah, the only one not to make a statement so far is Biden. Did he know he was there??!!!

  23. #23
    On July 31st, 2009 at 12:06 pm, jsmiddleton4 said:

    “I guess we will never know about the questionable police report.”

    Huh? Nothing “questionable” about it and it was posted in its entirety. The only way you don’t know about it is that you didn’t bother to read its pdf file via the many links to it.

  24. #24
    On July 31st, 2009 at 12:07 pm, spaceycakes said:

    Doug–love your take on it, but are you saying there’s something wrong with peeing in the sink?

  25. #25
    On July 31st, 2009 at 12:07 pm, Flyoverman said:

    On July 31st, 2009 at 12:03 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

    Errah, the only one not to make a statement so far is Biden. Did he know he was there??!!!

    Oh please… Who do you think got stuck with the tip?

  26. #26
    On July 31st, 2009 at 12:09 pm, Misscheryl said:

    Very telling…Obama said “it’s just 3 guys having a beer..” So ah, what was Biden – the peanuts?

  27. #27
    On July 31st, 2009 at 12:11 pm, DownDiver said:

    Arrogant Bastard?

    He’s not worthy…..

  28. #28
    On July 31st, 2009 at 12:13 pm, Stubby said:

    Obama forgot he’s the President and slipped back into the comfortable role of Orgaanizer for a brew with a friend and someone to coerce. I wonder what kind of veiled or direct threat Obama laid on Crowley? I’d watch my backside from now on. The Organizer is not happy.

  29. #29
    On July 31st, 2009 at 12:15 pm, One_American said:

    Jozo the Clown was out back finishing washing his TransAm, when he heard the sound of beer bottles being opened – dropped his chami cloth, and hustled right over.

  30. #30
    On July 31st, 2009 at 12:18 pm, Hangfire said:

    New Obama book:

    The Audacity of Hops

  31. #31
    On July 31st, 2009 at 12:20 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

    Despite having lived in Cambridge for many years, it seems that Prof. Gates still hasn’t mastered the provincial attitude prevalent among his contemporaries. His error was in being pretentiously pretentious. The game in that town is to be pretentiously unpretentious. “Don’t you know who I am?” is unacceptable among the patina’d (dirty) Volvo set.

  32. #32
    On July 31st, 2009 at 12:28 pm, Thomas said:

    Beer summit: The final cartoon.

  33. #33
    On July 31st, 2009 at 12:44 pm, GladzKravtz said:

    She wondered if the reason Biden was invited (seemingly at the last minute) would be becuase they didn’t want it to appear that two black guys were ganging up on one white guy.

    long_haired_conservative, that’s exactly what I believe and was going to comment here but you beat me to it. I said that to Mr. K. last night. This president is ‘all appearance’.

  34. #34
    On July 31st, 2009 at 12:54 pm, Henry said:

    Professor Gates wrote after the meeting that he doesn’t necessarily think that Crowley profiled him and is semi-confident he won’t do it again.

    I didn’t see that anywhere in the link provided. Was it scrubbed?

  35. #35
    On July 31st, 2009 at 12:57 pm, lgm said:

    Your coverage of the Obama beer evening is like your coverage of all things Obama — bitter.

  36. #36
    On July 31st, 2009 at 12:59 pm, Henry said:

    Your coverage of the Obama beer evening is like your coverage of all things Obama — bitter.

    FIFY

  37. #37
    On July 31st, 2009 at 1:02 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    Your coverage of the Obama beer evening is like your coverage of all things Obama — bitter.

    Wait?! Did they have bitters? Yorkshire Bitters?! Marston, maybe? If so, I take back some of those things I was thinking.

  38. #38
    On July 31st, 2009 at 1:04 pm, love2rumba said:

    Your coverage of the Obama beer evening is like your coverage of all things Obama — bitter.

    Oh, I forgot, We are all supposed to genuflect on one knee for Obama, right?
    /sarcasm

  39. #39
    On July 31st, 2009 at 1:08 pm, Ed Mahmoud abu al-Kahoul said:

    Do Obama ask for credit card numbers so they could be charged for their beer?

  40. #40
    On July 31st, 2009 at 1:12 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    Obama ask for credit card numbers so they could be charged for their beer?

    Is ours the only seat of government with a cover charge? Did they get a hand stamped when they came through the door?

  41. #41
    On July 31st, 2009 at 1:16 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    Your coverage of the Obama beer evening is like your coverage of all things Obama — bitter.

    Did you notice Doug wrote this and not Michelle?

  42. #42
    On July 31st, 2009 at 1:21 pm, Major O said:

    On July 31st, 2009 at 12:15 pm, One_American said:
    Jozo the Clown was out back finishing washing his TransAm, when he heard the sound of beer bottles being opened – dropped his chami cloth, and hustled right over.

    That’s awesome right there! That’s worthy of IowaHawk, my friend! LOL!!

  43. #43
    On July 31st, 2009 at 1:37 pm, Elm Creek Smith said:

    On July 31st, 2009 at 12:03 pm, zyzzyg said:
    I guess we will never know about the questionable police report.

    There was nothing questionable about the police report, sparky.

    On July 31st, 2009 at 12:57 pm, lgm said:
    Your coverage of the Obama beer evening is like your coverage of all things Obama — bitter.

    Just busy clinging to our Bibles and our guns, l(aughing boy)gm.

    ECS

  44. #44
    On July 31st, 2009 at 1:37 pm, jsmiddleton4 said:

    “Your coverage of”

    Yes, blame the messenger lgm. That is at least consistent with your point of view. Avoid the substance of the matter, label the coverage as bitter, hence it can be dismissed.

    Seems to be the left’s strategy across the board on this issue.

  45. #45
    On July 31st, 2009 at 1:47 pm, rambler said:

    What a complete waste of time. Two people too arrogant to apologize for acting like jerks and covering it all up as a teachable moment. Anytime the racial grievance industry wants to give up victimization, then I’ll participate in the teachable moment. Until then, I’ll focus on making my own life a success and let the bigots have their pity parties.

  46. #46
    On July 31st, 2009 at 1:47 pm, pubscout said:

    and were contemplating mailing Gates a six-pack of brew named “Arrogant Bastard” ale. They thought the name appropriate.

    The only one man enough to handle that big beer is Crowley. If Gates was originally going for Red Stripe, then backed off and went for SA Light, there’s no way he’s ready for Arrogant Bastard. Nor do I think he’d order a Belgian Wit, because that means “white.”

  47. #47
    On July 31st, 2009 at 1:53 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

    THIS is the final word. The “Common Sense Party”.

  48. #48
    On July 31st, 2009 at 1:56 pm, hawkeye54 said:

    Nor do I think he’d order a Belgian Wit, because that means “white.”

    I’m sure John & Ken just thought the name of the brew fit and don’t know anything else about it.

    They were also sure Sam Adams White Ale wouldn’t be served, although Sam Adams owner mentioned in an interview he would have gladly whipped up a special ale just for BeerSummit I had he just been asked :)

  49. #49
    On July 31st, 2009 at 2:09 pm, cabrerski said:

    On July 31st, 2009 at 12:09 pm, Misscheryl said:
    Very telling…Obama said “it’s just 3 guys having a beer..” So ah, what was Biden – the peanuts?

    Maybe not peanuts, but Biden is definitely nuts.

  50. #50
    On July 31st, 2009 at 2:51 pm, Bogtrotter said:

    If you go to any of the left wing sites since day 1 of this story, Huff, Kos, DU, you will see that Sgt. Crowley is getting the full “Joe the Plumber” treatment.

  51. #51
    On July 31st, 2009 at 2:54 pm, lgm said:

    jsmiddleton4 said (#44):

    Avoid the substance of the matter, label the coverage as bitter

    This post had no “substance”. It just described the beer evening in bitter terms: Our disgusting President and his racist professor crony drinking beer they do not deserve with a fine upstanding white person.

  52. #52
    On July 31st, 2009 at 2:56 pm, Bogtrotter said:

    Spaceycakes said: “Doug–love your take on it, but are you saying there’s something wrong with peeing in the sink?”

    Well spaceycakes, we “lace curtain Irish” know to always take the dishes out of the sink first. Joe might not.

  53. #53
    On July 31st, 2009 at 3:06 pm, FirstSkirt said:

    LGM – you are beyond belief. YOUR president is the one who blew this whole incident out of proportion, insulted cops everywhere, never apologized for instigating this crap, and then played the “victim” to white racism in the Rose Garden by creating a photo op to make himself look like a peace negotiator. Gag me with your crap, you putz!

  54. #54
    On July 31st, 2009 at 3:35 pm, spaceycakes said:

    It just described the beer evening in bitter terms: Our disgusting President and his racist professor crony drinking beer they do not deserve with a fine upstanding white person.

    LOL lgm got it right.

    Bogtrotter;
    indeed. We may be ham-fisted, but we ain’t entirely omadhauns.

  55. #55
    On July 31st, 2009 at 4:30 pm, RobM1981 said:

    This might be some of our best work…

    TeddyK is en fuego.

    Biden polishing his TA? Classic.

    And…

    “The Audacity of Hops?”

    Oh, that is over the top funny.

  56. #56
    On July 31st, 2009 at 4:51 pm, prendad said:

    Three airheads and a police officer sitting at a table drinking beer. I think this could be turned into a hilarious joke.

  57. #57
    On July 31st, 2009 at 5:25 pm, jsmiddleton4 said:

    “This post had no “substance”.”

    Now that makes no sense. You are complaining on one had its substance is simply bitter but on the other it has no substance?

    That is quite the revelation of your mindset there lgm. Similar to Gates who didn’t think there was any profiling but he’s sure the office won’t do it any more, John Kerry being for it before he was against it.

    Nice, really nice revelation. Thanks for posting it.

  58. #58
    On July 31st, 2009 at 5:27 pm, Misscheryl said:

    lgm – you’re such a rebel. Grrooowwwllllll!

  59. #59
    On July 31st, 2009 at 5:39 pm, regularguy said:

    This is a total loss for Obama and Gates. They showed their racial pettiness even more last night with their non-apology. They both profiled Crowley, not the other way around. All Crowley had to do was show up and these idiots blew it. And Joe signed up for the charade even then. It’s fascinating to watch how they can shoot themselves in the foot so well. I’d be paying for the beer if I were Crowley, it’d be well worth the money to see these idiots make bigger fools of themselves.

  60. #60
    On July 31st, 2009 at 5:43 pm, CWinNY said:

    lgm,

    I read the post trying to find the signs of “bitterness” you lamented on. I think the post is more making fun of the whole thing than anything else.

    As for it having no substance – why should it have substance, when discussing something that has no substance in the first place. As much as you hate GW Bush, you have to admit he was at least experienced enough not to make a statement about not having all the facts – and then following that with his (admittedly ignorant) opinion.

    Only a rookie or a complete fool would make such a glaring error.

  61. #61
    On July 31st, 2009 at 5:48 pm, Uphill said:

    Did Crowley and Gates have to pay for their own beer? Was it BYOB?

  62. #62
    On July 31st, 2009 at 6:15 pm, vickisoup said:

    So Gates brought his whole famn damily with him. Classy.
    :roll:
    Furthermore, here he is, giving his hardworking GOP father (a redudancy, I admit) credit for him and his brother getting some good higher edumacation, but in the video I saw yesterday from a speech a number of years ago he credited Affirmative Action over and over again, and never once mentioned his hardworking GOP father.
    Can’t get a read on this guy beyond his racial profiling of Crowley; sorry.
    8)

  63. #63
    On July 31st, 2009 at 6:53 pm, zyzzyg said:

    On July 31st, 2009 at 1:37 pm, Elm Creek Smith said: #43

    There was nothing questionable about the police report, sparky.

    Then why the disparity between the police report and what Lucia Whalen says, the 911 tape, and the recording of the dispatcher?

  64. #64
    On July 31st, 2009 at 6:57 pm, prendad said:

    Gates even gave Obama all the credit for the beer bash idea. I heard it was Crowley’s idea.

  65. #65
    On July 31st, 2009 at 8:06 pm, thutmose18 said:

    Staying here in NC, with my friend, i get to meet alot of new people. Most of the people i met regularly use the word “nigger”. Even 2 cops we know. There are still a lot of backwards and sick people in this country and we still have alot of progress to make.

  66. #66
    On July 31st, 2009 at 8:25 pm, Roland said:

    we still have alot of progress to make.

    Are there still some lowlifes who do not understand you should judge people by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin?

    Of course. There always will be. Having freedom means having the freedom to choose to be a jackass like Gates or Obama.

    We just shouldn’t choose to let those kind of low class people teach our children or govern our country.

  67. #67
    On July 31st, 2009 at 9:37 pm, cabrerski said:

    On July 31st, 2009 at 8:06 pm, thutmose18 said:

    One thing is for sure:

    Being a curmudgeon transcends racial heritage. Every group has its haters that can’t (or won’t) find common ground with anyone different than they. Truly a shame.

    What p*sses me off are those who use it to gain power, wealth and/or prestige. There is a special hell that awaits them.

  68. #68
    On July 31st, 2009 at 9:42 pm, jangar said:

    corkie said:
    Crowley didn’t profile Gates.

    Gates profiled Crowley.

    Obama profiles America.

    lgm said:
    Your coverage of the Obama beer evening is like your coverage of all things Obama — bitter.

    Somebody needs to cover you with a load of dirt.

    Are there still some lowlifes who do not understand you should judge people by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin?

    Of course. There always will be. Having freedom means having the freedom to choose to be a jackass like Gates or Obama.

    Add to the list – lgm

  69. #69
    On July 31st, 2009 at 10:18 pm, Dimsdale said:

    On July 31st, 2009 at 12:57 pm, lgm said:

    Your coverage of the Obama beer evening is like your coverage of all things Obama — bitter.

    I guess that comes from being one of those Obamaesque “bitter clingers!” LOL!

    On July 31st, 2009 at 2:54 pm, lgm said:

    This post had no “substance”. It just described the beer evening in bitter terms: Our disgusting President and his racist professor crony drinking beer they do not deserve with a fine upstanding white person.

    Hmmm. You must be projecting or hallucinating. There is no allusion to anything you said above in Michelle’s post. Wishful thinking, perhaps?

    Perhaps you should review the comments of the other black officers in the Cambridge PD, particularly the ones that were there and the ones that have known Crowley for many years. Or ask his black superiors. They don’t seem to be too amused with Obama’s shoot from the lip commentary.

  70. #70
    On July 31st, 2009 at 10:33 pm, Wayfaring Stranger said:

    On July 31st, 2009 at 6:53 pm, zyzzyg said:

    Then why the disparity between the police report and what Lucia Whalen says, the 911 tape, and the recording of the dispatcher?

    Still flogging that dead horse, are we?

    Once again, a police report is a summary of events, not an exact reportage of who said what when. It is by nature succinct, ergo the fact that is was two black men who the 911 caller had seen was noted because at the point the report was written Crowley had seen with his own eyes that it was two black men.

    Get a grip already.

  71. #71
    On August 1st, 2009 at 12:00 am, Cal City Conservative said:

    On July 31st, 2009 at 10:33 pm, Wayfaring Stranger said:

    On July 31st, 2009 at 6:53 pm, zyzzyg said:

    Then why the disparity between the police report and what Lucia Whalen says, the 911 tape, and the recording of the dispatcher?

    Still flogging that dead horse, are we?

    Once again, a police report is a summary of events, not an exact reportage of who said what when. It is by nature succinct, ergo the fact that is was two black men who the 911 caller had seen was noted because at the point the report was written Crowley had seen with his own eyes that it was two black men.

    Get a grip already.

    Saw a blurb on the crawler on fox about this earlier.

    Whalen is SUING because SHE wasn’t invited to the WH. Her involvement ended after she made the call and the cops showed up!

    Sounds to me like she is an attention WHORE,who is butt hurt because she isn’t getting the publicity she thinks she should be getting.

    Get over yourself Whalen it’s NO LONGER nor ever was about you.

    Last of all the Z troll strikes with their colossal stupidity AGAIN! To the back of the class dunce.

  72. #72
    On August 1st, 2009 at 12:29 pm, DBNinKY said:

    The “Beer Summit” is Obama’s “Mission Accomplished.” The GOP should use it to the same advantage the Dems did with the latter against President Bush.

  73. #73
    On August 1st, 2009 at 9:29 pm, mytake said:

    Ann Coulter summed it all up July 29. “How About A National Conversation on Race Hoaxes?”

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