Obama Beer Summit: President "Fascinated With The Fascination" (VIDEO)

At Thursday's press briefing, the evening's "beer summit" was once again discussed in detail.

Harvard professor Henry Gates, Cambridge Police Sgt. James Crowley, and President Barack Obama plan to sit down for a drink at the White House on Thursday night. The when, where and how of the event has been a subject of great interest for the press.

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs spoke of the intense speculation about the event.

"I don't think the president has outsized expectations that one cold beer at one table here is going to change massively the course of human history," he said. But, he added, Obama was hoping the get-together would inspire better discussion than his past words on the arrest of Professor Gates.

"I think that that kind of dialogue has to happen in every level of society ... if we're going to make progress on issues that we've been dealing with for quite some time," he said.

More technically, Gibbs discussed the logistics of the meeting.

Obama himself has rejected the "summit" label.

"It's a clever term, but this is not a summit, guys," he told the press Thursday afternoon.

Instead, it's three folks "having a drink at the end of the day," and giving themselves a chance to "listen to each other." The goal is to lower the temperature on an event that has become "so hyped and so symbolic," try to reduce the "anger and hyperbole," and promote "self-reflection."

He said he is "fascinated with the fascination about this evening."

Intense scrutiny of the event is likely to continue, but the media won't be able to report every detail: press won't be invited.

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Comments

[readyfornewleadership]

Our president is great! Four people sitting down together to talk. That is what will move us down the road we need to travel.

[Anonani]

A true effort to bridge a divide that can either break us or make us a better Nation. I prefer the latter.

[t iessa]

I'm always fascinated watching Washington spend my money.

[Feminine Dominance]

Yeah I'm sure the cost of that beer rivals the defense budget! :P

[t iessa]

I really wouldn't think so.

[Bitsko]

I got a kick out of using part of my withholding to pay for their five or six wars.

[somefool]

Yeah, I'd rather have my tax dollars go somewhere else, just about anywhere else actually.

[Betrayed]

Are you still getting a kick out of it?

Because they're still spending!

[Pammy1151]

Don't you know that the president pays for ALL of his own food and drinks!!! Get a grip.

[Bitsko]

Don't expect that to happen any time soon.

[Havingfun100]

He does pay for all of his own food and drinks????

[readyfornewleadership]

On 4 beers??

[t iessa]

On anything

[Feminine Dominance]

Matthews says racial "division" is "good radio" for conservatives, cites "the harshness" of Limbaugh, Beck statements

http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200907300044

:P That's the only on-topic thing I care to contribute.

[StellaRay]

FD----I was just watching Mathews too and sometimes he is so aggravating. "Harshness?" I've heard Beck's statements and I've heard Limbaugh's. These men are racial war mongers. And I'm so darn sick of the MSM playing both sides in the interest of being "fair and balanced." Sigh. All one can do is wait for Jon Stewart to come on and speak the truth.

[Feminine Dominance]

You're right. They are "racial w a r mongers." It's c r a z y what they do. It's like the Turner Diaries goes radio personality. It's shameful!

[StellaRay]

If Gates and Crowely were countries instead of men, it becomes quite clear how well Obama dealt with this. It's called diplomacy. You get everyone to come to the table and try to understand what the other guy is about, as well as getting a chance to explain yourself.

Most on this site want our president to exhaust all diplomatic channels before he leads us into war. Nothing wrong with taking the same path in dealing with racial issues in this country.

Just saw Crowley's presser. He said in essence, no apologies from either man, but a greater respect and understanding on both their parts.

The object of diplomacy is not agreement. It is to achieve enough understanding to avoid a war.

[Haitiana4Obama]

Thanks for explaining this so well to those who've been misled by the last 8 years and unfortunately think that the President should have done either of the following:

a) Raid the Cambridge police for WMD's

or

b) Called the Prof. an evil man

No matter which you support, President Obama has proven himself to be a great Statesman, I didn't think I'd ever live to see the day one of them governed in my lifetime.

[Bitsko]

Sorry guys, couldn't wait and started drinking already.

[Feminine Dominance]

cheers

[Bitsko]

Clink!

[Feminine Dominance]

Health Care Reform > Male Bonding

[poco767c]

Crowley/Gates 2016
No?

[Feminine Dominance]

who they running against?

[poco767c]

Lets say Loudobbs/Z­ombieReaga­n.

[Bitsko]

They'll never make it past the Boston machine.

[livingfree]

This is a good start to get this behind us. Both gentlemen will come out to becoming best of friends because faith place them into this situations for a reason. I don't drink but it would be nice to have an opportunity to sit down with the President and Vice President. These guys are having all the fun but they are working hard for us too. We need to build the trust in living and working among each others. Thanks to all four gentlemen.

[C IH8U2]

I've seen some of you come in here talking about how the President needs to do more important things (health care, w@r$, economy, ect), yet when I go to your profiles and read your other opinions, you say you don't want health care reform, want the war to continue, talk b@d about him all the time.
Do you not know we can find you out or are you really that dum??? Your fooling noone but yourselves.
Granted that their are some more important issues needing attention, but you seem to care not about them anyway. Just another chance to d!$$ the President.

[Antifascist-08]

There are a lot of uneducated, birther types who spend time here collecting a couple of pennies for every time they get a rise out of someone. They live in their mother's basement and need the money for refreshments for their friends, who also work the blogs.

You'll get used to it.

[Havingfun100]

Who are you talking about

[poco767c]

Well I was bored of discussing the facts and nuances of healthcare reform. I was just thinking 'I wish there was a completely stup!d story which we could parse and dissect to the point of satire'

[Feminine Dominance]

lol

[Bitsko]

LOL

[plaidsportcoat]

27% of people polled in an msnbc poll believe it was all gates fault. That's those same Palin people and unChristian right wingers, same percentage anyhow.

[starfish62]

You are right! Interesting.

[chitown8]

HA!

Why does people forget the evidence?

The woman never mentioned any black males. So why does his report mention 2 blacks with nap-sacks?

[chitown8]

This is a joke on many levels. He brought a union rep and Lawyer. Stay classy crocked cops.

By next week he'll be telling Fox how he call the President boy and made him shine his shoes.

[Tanyars5]

yep

[Havingfun100]

You too like to stir up racial animosity

[libsRus]

Have you not read the million comments that Gates brought his posse as well?

Talk about selective information. "You people"

[chitown8]

I did not see that.

But thanks for info I let me people know.

[eden4barack08]

Millions? Hallucinate much?

[eden4barack08]

Yeah, and how he asked the Pres to show him his "original" birth certificate, then Fox will give him his own show.

[Havingfun100]

You are hateful and stirring up racial animosity.­....

[wadda]

I like this Gibbs guy.

[eden4barack08]

He's quite lovable, and of unique intelligence for a southern white man.

[underoath]

This story better be gone by tommorow, please dear god i hope this doesn't turn into the next michael jackson story.

[enoughalready13]

Sweet baby Jesus, I hear you! Enough about 1. Palin, 2. Michael Jackson, 3. Beergate