Obama Sends the Wrong Message to Our Children

Last night, President Obama, seeking to quiet the war of words over his comments about the arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., by Cambridge police Sgt. James Crowley, sat down for a photo op and a beer with the two men. Unfortunately, his choice of an alcoholic beverage for the meeting once again sends the wrong message to a leery public.

The president of the United States should be a role model for our children. At all times, he should demonstrate the very best of what so many of our leaders have had to offer: the almost catatonic calm of a Ronald Reagan, the rigid determination of a Richard Nixon, the you-don't-have-to-be-the-least-bit-smart-to-make-it of a George W. Bush. But, once more, Barack Obama has proven he is nothing like any of these men.

Is the president's message to our youth that, no matter what the problem, it can simply be solved by knocking back a few icy cold brews? With obesity a growing problem for America's youth, is ignoring the potential weight gain from drinking malt liquor a wise thing to do?

Furthermore, a recent report in Academic Pediatrics points out that increases in severe obesity are highest among black and Mexican-American children. Having already insulted a white policeman with his remarks, is Obama now taking a back handed stab at blacks and Latinos? Is Obama so racist that he not only hates white people but also every single minority in America?

Speaking of racial insensitivity, Gates is a black man. Crowley is a white police officer. Though I have no idea of his background, Crowley sounds like an Irish name to me. Should a solemn political gathering raise the specter of both an African-American with his "40" and an Irish policeman getting his drunk on? Talk about racial profiling.

And, where is the wisdom in attempting to quell a dispute by utilizing a refreshment which is well known for having the opposite effect in such a circumstance? You don't have to be an expert to know that a few pints can lead to trouble whether you're in a pub, at a ballgame, at home with the wife or, especially, at your neighbor's home with the neighbor's wife. Note -- I, for one, learn from my mistakes.

By the way, besides the intoxicating effect of the ale, the container itself can be used as a weapon. Though bottles were not made available to the two potential combatants, the lagers were delivered in potentially lethal glass mugs.

Worst of all, Obama and Gates drank purely foreign libations (Bud Light, owned by Belgian-Brazilian giant InBev and Red Stripe, owned by London based Diageo) while Crowley's choice, Blue Moon, is, like Obama, only half American. Is this really the message we need to convey as our economy struggles to climb out of recession? Their beer or ours -- it doesn't matter? It would appear this president, no matter how right he is, can do no right. Now that's a sobering thought.

Finally, there was Joe Biden, who joined the gathering by drinking a non-alcoholic beer. This, too, was a poor choice. For though the purpose of this article was to point out that imbibing sends the wrong message to our children, come to think of it, so does drinking like a pussy.

Comments

[theuncledave]

You never disappoint, my good man......piercing satire and perfect timing! Just signed up for alerts for your future posts, lazy git that I am...

[LizM]

You can't possibly be serious.

[LizM]

One of these ole days, I will learn to read the whole damned blog before commenting...maybe!

It's just that blogs like this one - but, that are dead serious - are just so par for the course for the Joe Biden big news page...well, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it. In other words, it's all the Huffington Post's fault. :)

[ChampLessFuzzy]

Ha, that's okay Liz, you're in good company. Same thought here.

I just read another excellent satire on healthcare, and my whiskers were beginning to twitch, until I read further. Some of the commenters had already commented and backtracked...it's the headlines don't ya know ;-)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/01/jonathan-alter-our-heathc_n_249280.html

Well, there it is. Good weekend to you!

[jhNY]

Yes, but you left out: they were drinking beer OUTSIDE!!! This could have been a teachable moment for the use of sunscreen, but wasn't. Probably Gates and Obama hope that zillions of white kids will see by their abstention from sun screen that sunscreen is neither cool or trendy, and eschew its application on their own persons, thus leaving themselves open to the contraction of skin cancer, which in time will decimate the white race, and leave the door open for the takeover of America, at least Hannity's America, by Blacks and Latinos, as right-thinking Americans in shades ranging from ecru to eggshell have always feared!.

[SweetBabu]

ROFLMAO!

[missouriwatcher]

I ain't gonna worry about it, since geneticists have shown that race is really only skin deep. My kids are a little darker than me; and, anyone who claims to be of a "pure race" is either ignorant of the facts or inbred to the Nth degree.

[surquhart]

Classic. Truly classic. Though I had my doubts, I was taken in right up until the end. Well done.

[Janet A]

BruceTenenbaum... you just made my jaw drop to the ground.

You are a brave, honest and clever man.

Love the links too. I applaud you sir!

[Interested01]

It fell flat. The fact that beer was part of the premise of the meeting leaves the president wide open for satire, but this piece missed that mark by a mile.

[BobLablah]

So did Biden really drink a non-alcoholic beer? I never understood the point of those - seems as stupid as tofurkey.

[Bonzoid]

Yup...good one Bruce...even I was fooled for 10 or 12 words. But apparently you can fool some of the people.....Can't wait to continue reading the comments thru the day. Bravo!

[JimR]

Very good!

[TracyBB]

Lovely satire. That brightened my otherwise cranky mood.

[Pylon]

You know, after the first couple of paragraphs, I was really questioning what the hell was wrong with the author. I was laughing by the end. Especially the fantastic end line.

Well played, Bruce Tenenbaum. Well played indeed.

[sixyfivepercentwater]

I agree. Obama is showing spectacular bad judgment at every turn in regard to what should have been a minor incident. Obama's words and actions have inflated this to a national story, and he doesn't seem to know when to stop. Looks like Obama has a case of Sanforditis, wherein a politician does something which is ill-advised and then won't shut up about it.

I also agree that the consumption of alcohol should not be advocated as a way to solve problems. No one's head is clearer for the ingestion of alcohol in even the smallest amount. Furthermore, I don't want to ever see Obama drinking, because I want to know that if there is a national crisis he will be absolutely clear-headed.

And who decided to let Biden be at the big boys' table?

[NAPinMtPSC]

You're a republican aren't you? Are you one of those who also thinks Stephen Colbert's persona is genuine. Read the article again honey. Bless your stony little republican heart.