I'm going to ask an unpopular question: would Obama have gone ahead with this "summit"...

[Bicoastal]

...if his polls were 20 points higher than they are currently?

I mean, I figured this meeting would be inside the White House, not on the lawn, in full view of the press and the cameras. The meeting over suds was a classy move, but because it's serving a dual purpose as a photo op, the summit still strikes me as political stagecraft.

Effective political stagecraft, but stagecraft nonetheless. I don't doubt Obama's sincerity, but I also think he's been looking for some positive White House PR recently, especially in light of the healthcare kerfuffle.

:hide:

[BlooInBloo]

1. I assume so, since Obama reminding white folks how non-white he is would never help him.

[Christa]

2. Yes, I think so. NT

[Pirate Smile]

3. Yes, he would.

[MadMaddie]

4. Absolutely! He has always maintained that the race issue

would have to be resolved in order for the country to move on.

[pipi_k]

5. Yeah, I think he would, just because he appears to be a decent man

No harm in wondering, though, if that's what you're worried about...

:)

[nevergiveup]

6. The presidency

is one big crafty stage. If Obama were 20 points higher in the polls he would still have had the "summit" but it probably would have lasted longer because the high poll numbers would likely indicate that health care reform had already passed and Obama wouldn't be so damn busy trying to corral Democrats. I am sure he needed to get back in the White House and make his 100th call to Max Ball-less.

[Buzz Clik]

7. If his poll numbers were 20 points higher, you wouldn't be asking the question.

The answer to your question is yes.

Would he be having this summit if he punted on the question asked of him about the controversy? No.

[Bicoastal]

8. Good point.

[AspenRose]

9. He also said to the media today that it wasn't a summit

....and asked them to stop calling it that. So I'm not sure why you're calling it that.

[Bicoastal]

10. I couldn't think of a better word for it.

Honest.

[AspenRose]

11. .

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/07/president-obama-says-hes-fascinated-with-the-fascination-about-suds-summit-but-this-is-not-a-summit.html

[democracy1st]

12. Yes because he cares about all Americans feel