Verbatim from my Philly-based beer-'n'-whisky writing friend Lew Bryson, at his Seen Through a Glass blog.
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Obama to Congress: Drinks, my place, tonight; we'll talk (1/28/09)
President Obama continues to bring an adult attitude about drinking to the public eye. According to the New York Post, he invited 24 Senators and Representatives -- from both parties -- to the White House for cocktails tonight. They're going to have a few drinks and talk about the stimulus package.
That's great, I love a chief executive who isn't afraid to openly say "come over for a few drinks," but the very best part is that all the pictures accompanying the story at the Post and in the blog post about it at The Huffington Post show Obama drinking... BEER! Ha ha! Suck it, wine people.
Oh, my. Fun to relax at the end of the day.
haha, I was absolutely rolling at the, "Suck it, wine people" comment!
ReplyDeleteThe theory I once heard about this goes back to the Norman Invasion.
ReplyDeleteIn the English language today, where there are two words for the same thing, one being of Latin/French/Norman origin and the other being of Anglo-Saxon origin, the one of Norman origin connotes the higher status (i.e. dinner vs. supper).
Similarly, wine took on the association with status since the ruling Normans drank wine while the native, commoners drank beer.
Not sure if any truth to this. One would think that if this were true, most non-English speaking cultures would not place wine on a higher level than beer.
Does anyone know if there is any truth to this theory?
Don't know the answer to your question, satirist, but having spent 10 years in the "drinks" biz (as the Brits call it), with a global company that owns major spirits, wine and beer brands, can attest to the fact the the wine folks have done a superb job at positioning wine almost as a food. They've expended much effort--rather successfully, I think--at overcoming the "snobby" perception, which is why you see plastic corks, screw tops & box wines gaining such acceptance & even popularity. (Even I keep a box in my fridge these days; as a former "insider," once I would have been in the "oh, the horror" camp!)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I think the original point is how refreshing it is that the new White House doesn't view alcohol as inherently damnable, to which I can only say cheers!
"Anyway, I think the original point is how refreshing it is that the new White House doesn't view alcohol as inherently damnable, to which I can only say cheers!"
ReplyDeleteUh, does anyone remember that President Bush is a recovering alcoholic? Wouldn't that have been like serving a Porter House to a vegan?
My wife's a lactose-intolerant vegetarian, and I eat meat and cheese. We co-exist in a house.
ReplyDeleteSorry, but I'll take my chances with a president who enjoys a tipple now and then, as opposed to one whose attitude toward his recovering alcoholism seemed to spill over into a similarly doctrinaire approach to the planet.
But actually I do sometimes trust non-drinkers.
Roger, you know my thoughts on this...I have been in for a tipple a time or two. I just don't think we need to make a bid deal out of this one when there is an avalanche of work coming down the hill.
ReplyDeleteNo argument from me, Daniel. My reasons for posting Lew's piece have more to do with his dig at wine than the previous occupant.
ReplyDeleteFar as that goes, Daniel, I tried to make it clear that I didn't think it was a big deal either. The economy, the two wars, and that nagging terrorism thing are more than enough to worry about.
ReplyDeleteJust having some fun, nodding to a man who's adult enough to call having a drink "having a drink," and poking a bit of fun at the wine folks who are wetting their panties with the expectations that Obama will bring wine to some new level of acceptable wonderfulness. I think it's already pretty wonderful; what the hell more do they want?
Thanks Lew.
ReplyDeleteYou'll be happy to know that yesterday I signed a contract with DME for the new brewing system to be installed at our Bank Street Brewhouse.
What was great about it is that I don't even have the money to pay for it in my hands ... yet, but the financial closing should occur as soon as we dig out from the ice and snow.
Next time you're nearby, it's time for breakfast again!
You're on for breakfast, Roger, and thanks for the intro to Lynn's: been back three times since then. Great news about the brewery, too.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Thanks for clearing it up Lew. I enjoy a glass of Pinot Noir now and then myself. Is wine people versus beer people the new American gang war? Just joking, have a great one.
ReplyDelete