In a post entitled Obama beer-averse? ‘Come on, man’, on the Swamp, Tribune’s Washington Bureau, where the author reports that “Barack Obama, defending his beer-drinking credentials, says his party’s ticket won’t be out-blue-collared by the Republican ticket with the union and hunting family on it.”
In a recent 60 Minutes interview by Steve Kroft:
“But you tried really hard to reach these people,” Kroft pressed. “You went and sipped beer, which I know you don’t particularly like — I mean you even…
“Steve, I had a beer last night,” Obama interjected. “I mean, where do these stories come from, man?”
“I’m the one… [that] doesn’t drink,” Biden added.
“Where does the story come from that…I don’t like beer? ” Obama asked. “C’mon, man,”
“Umm, beer ….” Tell me he’s not looking at the beer and thinking, “damn, that’s really good.”
Given Cindy McCain’s ties to Anheuser-Busch, it’s a safe bet Obama’s not drinking Budweiser. The beer in the photo below looks to be a pale ale or amber ale at the very least. It’s certainly not a light beer. Does that make this election big beer vs. small?
McCain’s has ties to Anheuser-Busch? Tell me more!
Jay I am going with no…
#1 – What someone drinks has any part of how to vote is irresponsible, to promote it is even worse. (Note though a Teetotaler vs a Beer drinker MIGHT be an issue, depending on how the campaign is run, but it’s not in anyones platforms)
#2 – Being a partial owner of a Bud distribution isn’t the same as being a member of the Busch family and of all the issues they will be talking about the politics of beer will be towards the bottom of any candidate’s platform list.
#3 – It’s more celebrity journalism and not real journalism that doesn’t look at important election issues regardless of the party.
I don’t really care if a blogger decides to cover this stuff, a blog’s content is it’s writers choice. That Mainstream media wants to think they are better than bloggers and then cover it is a joke.
If it reads at all hostile, it’s not intended to you Jay just MSM.
Whew, I’m glad you posted that second comment. I was starting to think you were after me, when all I was trying to do was have a bit of fun. I will say, though, that Cindy McCain can’t really be characterized as just “a partial owner of a Bud distribution.” Her father founded the company, and all of her wealth originates from the distributorship, which by extension means almost all of John McCain’s personal fortune comes from the A-B distributor, which is the largest in Arizona, the 3rd largest in the country. She became the “controlling stockholder” when her father passed away in 2000. A-B executives have made significant contributions to McCain campaigns over the years. Hensley was the 4th largest campaign contributor to McCain from 2001-06. And while, as you say, “the politics of beer will be towards the bottom of any candidate’s platform list” when, and if, it does come up, it’s hard for me to swallow that A-B InBev won’t have a seat at the table because of those connections while other voices will likely not be heard. That may not be a reason to vote for or against any of the candidates, but it does seem that it’s what would happen should McCain prevail.
And I don’t belittle the point about her wealth it’s a fair one. I just don’t think it’s a front burner issue, or a back burner issue, it’s lower than that.
But also, President, and I believe wife holdings, go into escrow account upon election and they don’t have direct control. Granted there is a potential issue with InBev, but that is true of any candidate who has involvement in business before getting into office.
I agree that it’s not a prime issue, I just like keeping it in my mind when beer on the campaign comes up. She’s already “retired” from Hensley, and gets an undisclosed monthly retirement payment. Influence, on the other hand, doesn’t really ever retire, at least in my opinion. Bush and Cheney were also “retired” from the oil business, but that didn’t mean they didn’t help out their old pals at Halliburton and the like with no-bid contracts and such. It just bears watching, that’s all I’m saying.
Thanks for providing my new screensaver shot, Jay. (Barack toasting the camera)