Reply #1: Biden joins Obama, Gates, Crowley for beer at the White House. [View All]

[BlueJessamine]

Chicago Sun-Times

by Lynn Sweet


http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/07/biden_joins_obama_gates_crowle.html


President Obama invited Vice President Biden to join Harvard Prof. Henry Louis Gates Jr., and Cambridge Sgt. James Crowley for beer at the White House on Thursday, to discuss Gates arrest by Crowley--and Obama saying the Cambridge police acted "stupidly."



from the pool report ...


Pool report
Beers in the Rose Garden

It was, alas, only a photo op. The pool had no opportunity to ask questions as we were roped off about 50 feet from the group.

The big surprise: Vice President Joe Biden was at the table with the men. POTUS invited him to join the group this afternoon.
Clockwise, they sat around the round, white table in this order: Obama, Crowley, Gates, Biden.

The men were drinking beer from clear glass mugs and munching on peanuts and pretzels served in small silver bowls.

The beers:
POTUS: Bud Light
VPOTUS: Bucklers
Gates: Sam Adams Light
Crowley: Blue Moon

In the 30 seconds your pool was out there, Sgt. Crowley was doing most of the talking. Gates appeared to be leaning in, listening intently. At one point, POTUS laughed heartily.

snip

Both Gates and Crowley brought their families to the White House and they toured the East Wing together before the sit-down. Gates brough his kids, fiance and father. Crowley brought his wife and kids. The men met POTUS in the Oval Office before moving out into the Rose Garden.

During the sit-down, the family members were given a tour of the West Wing.

Mimi Hall/USA TODAY