July 31, 2009
Exchange between Chris Matthews and Roger Simon of Politico in reference to the beer summit photo op.
SIMON: It’s fascinating, because I’m fascinated by presidential stagecraft. But it’s not an accident this is happening.
MATTHEWS: Sergeant Crowley said, let’s do it. He was the stage man. SIMON: We now learned that Sergeant Crowley said, I hope we can all have a beer some day. First of all, it was the president of the United States who revealed that conversation. And then like the next day, 48 hours later, the White House suddenly says, yes, they’re all coming over here and we’re all having a beer.
This doesn’t happen by accident.
Like all pieces of stagecraft, it’s designed to sell an image and sell a message.
The image is strong president solves problems.
The message is racial harmony in America. He can bring people together.
Both of those are important.
That’s why, even though it’s three guys sitting around a picnic table, it’s a very important moment for the White House.
BS. He opened his damn mouth without knowing the facts – called the cops stupid and simply sided with the black man because he was caught off guard. Nothing more, nothing less.
A beer summit is an important moment for the WH.
Sets the bar, doesn’t it?
And who helped Prof Gates down the stairs and who rushed ahead to get in camera range first? (photo)
Has he said anything about race since his politically expedient race speech…other than calling his opponents racists?
And where was his beer summit with Tim Shriver and the Special Olympics?
Something barry never apologized for and something the barrymedia again gave him a pass on.
And Matthews gets to the heart of the issue – copying another president.
MATTHEWS: You know, it looks like he’s going to try to have one of these Middle East pictures with the guy on either side, the Arab on one side, the Israeli on the other. You’re right, he’s setting himself up as the summiteer.
Beer photo op to peace in the Middle East??
