The Best Beer Commercial - Ever

2009-07-31
By Eric Easter

Bud Light. Sam Adams. Blue Moon.

When even the beer you drink is scrutinized for its patriotism, you know the moment is too fraught with agendas and symbolism to really achieve what you want it to achieve. But it garnered great sound bites and press statement.

From Obama:

“I am thankful to Professor Gates and Sergeant Crowley for joining me at the White House this evening for a friendly, thoughtful conversation.  Even before we sat down for the beer, I learned that the two gentlemen spent some time together listening to one another, which is a testament to them.   I have always believed that what brings us together is stronger than what pulls us apart. I am confident that has happened here tonight, and I am hopeful that all of us are able to draw this positive lesson from this episode.”

From Sgt. Crowley:

“A private and frank discussion.”

“Cordial and productive.”

“We all agreed to look forward rather than backward. We brought different perspectives to the situation, and both perspectives should be addressed.”

And apparently speaking for all of us watching, this:

“I’m not sure this is really happening.”

Crowley, who went against the spirit of  being a good guest by bringing a posse of attorneys and union leaders, nonetheless acquitted himself as polished and articulate. Damn, did I just say articulate?

The policeman let slip that next time he and Gates get together it might not be over a beer, but for “Kool Aid or an iced tea.”  Kool-Aid?! Why you gotta make the ghetto references, Jim?

Sorry, I need to get post-racial real quick.

So what have we learned from this?

We have learned that after a decade of being pummeled by premium vodkas and small batch bourbons, beer is having comeback and is now the official drink of negotiation – even when served on silver trays, which kind of throws the whole regular guy/grab some beers thing way off, but we got the point. Beat that, Grey Goose.

We have learned that Bud Light, though now owned by a Brazilian company by way of Belgium, is still the quintessential American beer, endorsed by the President no less. You can’t pay for that kind of branding.

We learned that Skip Gates, after talking up the Jamaican brew, went for the okee-doke instead. Isn’t that the kind of cultural compromising that got him into this mess in the first place?

As pointed out by her lawyer, the neighbor who called in the report that precipitated this madness, Lucia Whalen, was conspicuously absent from the proceedings. If anyone deserves a beer, she does. Not because she’s been vilified and called a racist, but because her 911 call marks her as the best symbol of post-racial fairness in this drama.

The more I listen to the tape from that call, the more I like this woman. She never mentioned race as a factor in her call. She called about a possible break-in but was observant enough to notice that the men at Gates’ door had suitcases and allowed for their possible innocence. She was being a great neighbor, and people were too quick to peg her as a profiler. Maybe she shouldn’t have been at the Crowley/Gates/Biden/Obama table for that sideshow, but she’s entitled to a toast for being a role model we can celebrate.

Lucia Whalen, this Bud’s for you.