Williams Gets Cute Over 'Beer Summit' at the White House

Extending the auspices of NBC News to provide some damage control help to President Obama's damage control-inspired meeting at the White House with Henry Louis Gates and the police sergeant who arrested him - so Obama can repair the mess he made in taking sides and insulting the police - Brian Williams on Tuesday night didn't mention any gaffe by Obama and instead innocuously described how the arrest led to "a national discussion on race." Noting the get-together for a beer will occur on Thursday, Williams relayed:

Professor Gates reported to be a Red Stripe man, Crowley is said to be partial to Blue Moon and the White House isn't talking about the President's brand of choice. That might constitute, you see, a White House endorsement.

Or maybe the President prefers wine over beer and is just agreeing to beer in a political effort to re-connect with blue-collar voters he offended, an effort NBC is advancing with such a cutesy take.

The item from Williams on the Tuesday, July 28 NBC Nightly News:

That meeting at the White House between President Obama, Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, and Cambridge, Mass. police sergeant James Crowley set for this Thursday - two weeks after their confrontation between Crowley and Gates that led to an arrest and such a national discussion on race. Well the three men are meeting, as you may know, for a beer. And regarding preferences, Professor Gates reported to be a Red Stripe man, Crowley is said to be partial to Blue Moon and the White House isn't talking about the President's brand of choice. That might constitute, you see, a White House endorsement.

- Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center