will beer influence the election?

[_Sethbag]

Have you all noticed that beer has made an appearance in the US Presidential campaign?

On multiple occasions I've seen Obama on camera, ordering a beer at a state fair, drinking a beer with his BBQ, buying beers for some of the people around him, etc.

Moreover, we have learned recently that the White House chefs dabble in beer brewing, and have their own private-label White House beer. We have been promised that the White House beer recipe will be released soon.

And when it is, we're sure to see various copy-cats of it making sure everyone knows it's a clone of the White House beer.

It seems to me that Obama's handlers are using beer in a very subtle way to remind Americans that "Obama is normal, like the rest of us Americans. Mitt Romney doesn't drink beer. He's not like us."

Do you guys think that beer is going to be used to remind Americans that there's something odd, something, I don't know, "un-American" about Mitt Romney, and emphasize or reinforce Obama's standing as a real, authentic American?

[_Sethbag]

Another question I wanted to pose, but forgot to in my OP, is that if you agree that this is happening, do you think it's OK? That is, Romney's religiously-motivated aversion to beer may be used against him politically. Is that kosher with you?

[_moksha]

Maybe Obama likes beer. At least he is not pandering to the Ivy League stereotype that such graduates drink single malt scotch neat and have half a bottle every night, before going after Muffy in her tight pink sweater. In truth, they also like bourbon, so forget that stereotype!!!

Besides, everyone knows Mitt would drink only the finest of French champagnes if he wasn't one of those Moormans.

[_son of Ishmael]

I think I remember seeing him drinking beer in public before Romney came on scene though I think it is a good way to show "Joe six pack" that he is more like them than Romney is even though that is as about as far away from the truth as you can get.

[_Bond James Bond]

Obama drinks like a college professor from a glass. I want to see him drink a 20 oz Bud Light out of a can like a man!

I think Obama is doing it to appear more average (not that hard with RomneyBot 3.1) and get the football and beer crowd, especially white men. Obama should win minorities and women but cutting into men would be important to solidify a victory.

I think it's fine to drink a beer for political gain if the Koch (Coke? ) brothers are going to throw 100 million at the election via a SuperPAC.

[_Drifting]

Romney got in so it already has...

[_Cicero]

Do you guys think that beer is going to be used to remind Americans that there's something odd, something, I don't know, "un-American" about Mitt Romney, and emphasize or reinforce Obama's standing as a real, authentic American?

I think blue collar whites (and I have several of them in my family) look at Romney and see a Ivy League uber rich CEO type that doesn't drink beer, and they can't relate to that. But they look at Obama and see an Ivy League academic that drinks like one as Bond mentioned . . . and did I mention that he's black? They can't relate to Obama either.

In the end, I don't think either candidate is going to win the proverbial "guy you could have a beer with" contest this year. They should just declare a truce on that issue and then go wind surfing together.

[_madeleine]

Have you all noticed that beer has made an appearance in the US Presidential campaign?

On multiple occasions I've seen Obama on camera, ordering a beer at a state fair, drinking a beer with his BBQ, buying beers for some of the people around him, etc.

Moreover, we have learned recently that the White House chefs dabble in beer brewing, and have their own private-label White House beer. We have been promised that the White House beer recipe will be released soon.

And when it is, we're sure to see various copy-cats of it making sure everyone knows it's a clone of the White House beer.

It seems to me that Obama's handlers are using beer in a very subtle way to remind Americans that "Obama is normal, like the rest of us Americans. Mitt Romney doesn't drink beer. He's not like us."

Do you guys think that beer is going to be used to remind Americans that there's something odd, something, I don't know, "un-American" about Mitt Romney, and emphasize or reinforce Obama's standing as a real, authentic American?

I'm sure it must be a Witbier. I'm also sure that Obama is making a point with all the beer references.

Nixon was a teetotaler. Romney being the same wouldn't seem to matter.

[_Sethbag]

Nixon was a teetotaler. Romney being the same wouldn't seem to matter.

As an issue, sure, but as a contrast between the two, I don't know. I'm not saying the issue has been made central, just that Obama's occasional beer-drinking on the campaign trail has been pointed out in the news media. It's just one more thing to differentiate the two.

I think blue collar whites (and I have several of them in my family) look at Romney and see a Ivy League uber rich CEO type that doesn't drink beer, and they can't relate to that. But they look at Obama and see an Ivy League academic that drinks like one as Bond mentioned . . . and did I mention that he's black? They can't relate to Obama either.

Yeah, you're probably right. Still, it's one small factor in a whole host of things that may nudge people in one direction or another.

Personally, I'd love to drink a beer with President Obama.

[_madeleine]

I plan to drink a 6 pack before voting, and another 6 afterward.