Press Secretary Robert Gibbs donned a Team Canada Olympic hockey jersey as he briefed reporters in Washington today. (Photo by Olivier Douliery / Abaca Press / MCT)
by Mark Silva
This is a White House that knows a little -- Okay, maybe very little -- about beer diplomacy. But it knows this: Why send one case of brews, when two will do?
President Barack Obama owed the Canadian prime minister a case of Yuengling, America's oldest beer, after the Canadian victory over the United States in men's hockey at the Olympic Games in Vancouver. Canadian PM Stephen Harper had bet a case of Molson, Canada's proudest beer (MillerCoors-owned).
The Obama White House is sending Harper two cases, one of Yuengling, one of Molson. And today, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, a goalkeeper in soccer in his own time, was wearing the red and white jersey of the Canadian hockey team and the No. 39 of the American goalie.
"I am making good on my aspect of my wager with Dimitri, my Canadian counterpart, who is somewhere several hundred miles north laughing,'' Gibbs said at the White House press briefing room today. "The No. 39 is for Ryan Miller, who of course was the United States goalie and the tournament MVP.''
Down to brew business:
"I have one official government announcement,'' Gibbs said today. "We've instructed the embassy, our embassy and our ambassador to make arrangements to deliver one case of Molson Canadian and one case of Yuengling lager from Pottsville, Pa., America's oldest brewery, to the prime minister's office today.''
Gibbs also suggested that, "I'm sure Dimitri will take most of that home and consume it.''
The last time the White House was serving up beers, the president ordered a Bud Light at the "beer summit'' staged on the South Lawn for the Harvard law professor, Henry Louis Gates Jr., and the Cambridge police sergeant, James Crowley, who had arrested Gates at his own home -- an act in which Obama had publicly accused the cops of acting "stupidly.'' (Gates ordered Red Stripe, Crowley Blue Moon (MillerCoors)).
Gibbs wasn't in uniform too long today, though the press begged for another 15 minutes. "Fifteen minutes -- I thought we were doing this on the metric scale,'' Gibbs said.
"That's 30 minutes,'' someone said.
"Exactly right,'' Gibbs replied.
Comments
Won't be so funny in a few years when the US will be forced to use CAD to pay off the debt to China.
Posted by: Xcellentform | March 12, 2010 5:28 PM
Canada is one of the best places to live in the world - just ask Sarah Palin.
Sarah Palin, Healthcare Hypocrite, Went to Canada for their Health Care
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http://blog.buzzflash.com/alerts/802
.
Posted by: HHH | March 12, 2010 6:02 PM
Where's one of the Hanson brothers when you need them?
Posted by: Terry | March 12, 2010 6:37 PM
Hockey players wear sweaters, not jerseys.
So gibbsy puts a US player's number on a CDN sweater. Could these people be more clueless?
As for sending Canadian beer, to the Canadian PM, from the US, that is just plain stupid.
I hope he sent an apology to the Canadians for kicking their butts in the first game, we want to be loved by everyone and winning sets such a poor example.
Posted by: Hans | March 12, 2010 7:07 PM
GOOD ONE, TERRY. SPEAKING OF OUR FRIEND MR. GIBBS, OHHHH THOSE SLIPPING DEADLINES.
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OK, I DARE YOU TO CROSS ***THIS*** LINE!
VIDEO: White House Backs Off March 18 Deadline for Health Bill
http://www.americanparchment.com/video/2010/mar/wh_march_deadline.html
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UMMMM OK THIS LINE!!!
After WH postpones trip, Gibbs won't commit to new deadline
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http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/86503-after-wh-postpones-trip-gibbs-wont-commit-to-further-health-deadlines
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ONE REASON AND ONE REASON ONLY . . . THEY . . . DON'T ; . . . HAVE . . . THE . . . VOTES (BRIBES). NOW A SLAUGHTER BILL (HOW APT) MAY FIND THE SQUARE PEG FORCED IN THE ROUND HOLE. AMAZINGLY, I BEGINNING TO WISH I WAS OLDER.
Posted by: Bobby Mobbie | March 12, 2010 7:26 PM
Doesn't Gibbs usually wear more padding and a facemask when he takes questions from the press?
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | March 12, 2010 8:08 PM
Trickled On,
As if a child is responsible for her parent's actions. You lose again.
Posted by: Terry | March 12, 2010 8:15 PM
It was a dark night, and then a scream in the night! One knock! Two knocks! Three knocks! Another Scream, "shut that girl up!" The coach said! As the bus driver opens the door, yet, not one but three! "Hello we had a flat tire and we play for the U.S. Hockey Team and we need to get to Frankfurt, Germany to catch our flight or....! Well the rest is history!
Posted by: Roger Morris | March 12, 2010 8:22 PM
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NOW A SLAUGHTER BILL (HOW APT) MAY FIND THE SQUARE PEG FORCED IN THE ROUND HOLE. AMAZINGLY, I BEGINNING TO WISH I WAS OLDER.
Posted by: Bobby Mobbie | March 12, 2010 7:26 PM
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Blah Blah Blah...more screaming all caps right wing propaganda from the Swamps resident Talking Bumper Sticker....
The fact that Gibbs doesn't want to set more deadlines means......nothing.
Health care reform is going to pass whether right wing bufoons like you like it or not, Tokyo Rose Bobby Mobbie.
Thanks for playing....
Posted by: HHH | March 12, 2010 9:44 PM
Poser Terri,
It is when said child (Palin) goes out and brags about how great it was.
This case is closed, you've been punk'd again, Poser.
Posted by: HHH | March 12, 2010 9:55 PM
Funny
Posted by: Crooks_In_DC | March 12, 2010 10:34 PM
THIS IS A GOOD ONE, TERRY. SPEAKING OF OUR WINGNUTS FRIENDS, OHHHH THOSE THREATS!, I'M SO SCARED....NOT!
OK, I SWEAR ***THIS*** CARTOON IS SO HILARIOUS! AND TRUE!
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http://www.uclick.com/client/wpc/sc/
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Posted by: HHH | March 13, 2010 1:11 AM
Trickled On,
As a child, she was probably unaware of the Canadian waiting list. As a child, she was probably just happy she got a big lollypop - sort of how you are today.
Tell mumsy and daddy hi when you come up from the basement this morning.
Use of the terms "punk'd" and "poser" tells me all I need to know about you Beavis
Posted by: Terry | March 13, 2010 9:50 AM
Poser Terry,
Palin bragged about how great the Canadian health care that they recieved was and how inexpensive it was for her parents.
I know that doesn't fit your preconceived "Republicans are teh awesome!" narrative, which is why, as usual, you're on here twisting yourself up in knots trying to make it fit.
Posted by: HHH | March 13, 2010 4:27 PM
Trickled On HoHoHo,
I'm sure it was cheap to her parents, since it was provided by the Canadian taxpayers. Think it thru Beavis.
Posted by: Terry | March 13, 2010 7:04 PM
The Gibbs daily Yuk-It-Up session in the WH briefing room must be very entertaining to the media. But it's sure hard for many persons and families in this country to laugh when they are losing jobs and the Administration and Congress are paying scant attention to the economy. My neighbor lost her job and her home and has to move in with her children. Not a whole lot of laughter there.
Posted by: Mansfield | March 14, 2010 1:34 PM
Hockey players wear sweaters, not jerseys.
Posted by: Hans |
Hmmm. Gibbs is not a hockey player. But it's sort of like George Bush pretending to be a gruffy cowboy type, eh.
Posted by: Doug R. | March 15, 2010 9:59 AM
Yes the Palins went to Canada for health care because of distance. Palin's dad said they paid for it, since they weren't Canadian citizens. Additionally the current system wasn't even in place yet.
Stop making it sound like they were sponging off Canada - that rumor is false, and you know it.
Those who have lived on the US/Canada border know how easy and common it used to be to cross the border.
Posted by: independent thinker | March 15, 2010 10:04 AM