18.65%	Yes
80.59%	No

Comment: I think it's a waste of taxpayer dollars (I doubt Sgt. Crowley and Professor Henry Louis are paying their way to the White House), and there are more important things the President needs to focus on than having a beer to supposedly fix race relations in America. from Portland by Brian

Comment: He wants to make this a "teaching moment"; to teach Sgt. Crowley that anyone can throw out ridiculous accusations, like Prof. Gates, and receive kudos from the media and commander-in-chief for it. from Hollis, Me. by Eric

Comment: I think President Obama should also invite John and Kate for a beer....I can't believe I voted for the headliner of The Enquirer. from Portland, ME by Cole

Comment: I am not sure what to think of this maybe this is something that would be good for the usa. People would stop drinking beer and not get drunk. from Maine by sophie

Comment: The president made the situation worse by commenting on the subject in a prime time press conference. The damage is done. Now we know that he has trouble acting "presidential". If he wants to get involved in local problems, he should have remained a community organizer. from Old Orchard Beach, ME by Lisa

Comment: It will send the message to settle problems by drinking.Isn't alcoholism a big enough problem in this country.... from Auburn,Me by Ron

Comment: no obama already said their will be no apology from lisbon by mark

Comment: The only thing I see coming out of the beer summit is another misleading message to kids that drinking beer is a good and natural thing to do. from Topsham, ME by Tania

Comment: IT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN A COUPLE OF BEERS TO CALM THIS MATTER. YOU(KIM BLOCK) AS A REPORTER SHOULD HOLD YOUR CONVICTION OF THE POLICE OFFICIER UNTIL ALL THE FACTS ARE KNOWN. YOU STATED THE OFFICIER WRONGLY ARRESTED THE PROFESSOR AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT THE CHARGES WERE DROPPED, BUT IT WAS NEVER SAID THE ARREST WAS WRONG. UNTIL THE MEDIA STOPS GLORIFING THIS INCIDENT AND WAIT UNTIL ALL THE FACTS ARE IN BEFORE STATING WHOS RIGHT OR WRONG, THERE WILL NEVER BE ANY CHANCE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. from MAINE by DAVID

Comment: Just another excuse to party like they've been doing every wednesday! by Brian

Comment: The President should not have stuck his nose where it don't belong. Is he becoming a racist? from Lewiston by Jackie

Comment: Not only will it NOT bring about anything worthwhile, it also sends a bad message that you have to have beer to make a decision. from Sabattus, ME by Wanda

Comment: I think its going to do wonders for bud light beer sales. from portland me by tom

Comment: The lady you guys featured on the 5:30pm news, screaming at the camera with grungy hair and bombed out teeth was really not a good choice for an opinion on the beer summit. Know wonder outsiders have a preconceived notion about Maine and all that live here.....as far as the beer summit...Who cares, there are many other issues much more important than this. obama should be locked in the oval ofc. reading about his new health care reform bill. And forget about date nite to, I sure as heck have to. from Turner by Linda

Comment: Obama drinking our beloved bud light??!! that's almost alcohol abuse! from lewiston me by me

Comment: I am disgusted that The President of the United States Of America would promete Beer drinking, while trying to solve problems. Drinking does NOT solve problems. Thinking clearly does. Talking does. And publicly promoting beer!!Shame on you. What are the children and young people going to think? Are you not suppossed to be an example to people and children? Poor role model. Dorothy Farmington, Maine from Farmington, Maine by Dorothy

Comment: This is a waste of time. If I were the police officer I would not attend. Had a white president made a stupid statement like that he would be called racist and impeachment would be in order. but a white guy is supposed to accept it and have a beer with him. Big joke. from Wiscasset by Richard

Comment: This is just another distraction from obama,over something he had no right to make an issue out of. He shot his mouth off without knowing all the facts. Sargeant Crowely Should have turned down this meeting,and gates should go to see some one to learn how to keep his racist mouth shut. from sanford by jay

Comment: Obama acted stupidly. from Westbrook, Me by Richard

Comment: Two racist black men drinking beer with a white cop at the Whitehouse, are they serious? They all must have something better to do! from Portland Maine by Roger

Comment: I feel that the "beersummit!' is a slap in the face to our PD. If the roles were reversed,Would President Obama offer a "Chicken fry". I am far from a racist, however I feel the offer of beer to a police officer says about the same thing as a white president offering a fried chichen to an Afro-american to talk things overt. Stereo-typing is a very dangerous and harmful way of thinking. from Dresden, Me by James

Comment: No! The only thing that will come out of this get together, is the other beer companies that didn't get picked will be furious. from Sabattus Me by George

Comment: FROM NOW ON , IT BE THING TO DO. SO WHEN THE YOUNG, AND NOT SO YOUNG HAVE SET TOO . LETS HAVE A BEER SUMMIT. VERY BAD CHOICE OF WORDS from WOOLWCH ME by JACK

Comment: I think that if people can learn to live together and remember that we all bleed the same. We as a nation will be better off. I can understand how he thinks this will be a great teaching experience. We need to show our childern that race is nothing more then the color of skin. from Sidney, Me by Susan

Comment: The only thing that will come out of this is that two individuals from Cambridge will get a trip to D.C., a tour of the White House, and a free beer that they wouldn't have gotten otherwise. from Yarmouth by Ralph

Comment: I hope the summit will bring about better talks about improving relations between the police department and all people not matter of color, race, or station in life. The police have one of the hardest jobs to do and always see the peoples at their worst times in life, sometimes more than just protocol is needed. I would hope all of us could come up with some good suggestions, and put our heads together to give all police departments some better tools to use. by Joy

Comment: I believe there is too much negativety ahead of the meeting from one side of the table, I believe the Pres made up his mind or he wouldn't have made a comment. by A Midcoast Resident

Comment: FIRST OF ALL I HOPE THEY ALL WAKE UP TOMMOROW MORNING WITH A HANGOVER.NOW FOR MY COMMENT.I DONT THINK THE PRESIDENT SHOULD HAVE SAID WHAT HE SAID WITHOUT ALL THE FACTS IN THE CASE THAT HE ADMITTED HIMSELF.. from PORTLAND,ME by JIM

Comment: I'm not sure if anything with come of the President's “Beer Summit.” What concerns me, however, is how the issue has been turned into a racial one. Prof. Gates was obviously upset and felt as though he was being targeted as an African-American when Officer Crowley initially responded to the call. This is obviously not the case. The real issue is that Prof. Gates was arrested for “Disorderly Conduct.” It is generally true that a person is guilty of disorderly conduct if they “cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof.” The problem was that Prof. Gates was IN HIS OWN HOME and provided ID to prove his identity. Was Prof. Gates rude and uncooperative with Officer Crowley? Probably, but that is NOT a crime. Once Officer Crowley had confirmed Prof. Gates' identity- if he felt “unwelcome”- he should have left. Instead he chose to escalate the situation by staying and ultimately arresting Gates. The real issue is not whether or not Prof. Gates is African-American, nor if Officer Crowley targeted him because of that. The real issue is whether or not it was appropriate for Officer Crowley to arrest Prof. Gates in his own home for being rude. from Greene, ME by Evan

Comment: Who is paying for this little summit--the american taxpayers?? Race wasn't an issue till the good professor made it one--he should be the one apologizing. from Poland, ME by Marcia

Comment: There ought to be more beer parties in professional circles. People love swigging beer and should not have to feel it's a bad thing. from Leeds, Me by ely

Comment: Speaking of Stupid, this is it!!!! When does a President get involved in a police matter? I think he has much more to do than this. from Auburn by Donna

Comment: It has to! Just don't forget as a country united we stand divided we fall. A lot of progress has been made over the years but it's that bad history which is like the "one flat tire" that keeps us from moving forward. Let's fix it and move on to the 21'st century from Monmouth Maine by Kelvin

Comment: Lets use this as a model. What if everybody in this world that had a disagreement with somebody else sat down with that person and had a beer with them and talked it out. Now wouldn't that be better than fighting them or shooting them??? There might be a message here. What do you think ??? from W. Bath ME. by Jack

Comment: Pure publicity stunt. from Richmond by Nicole

Comment: Nothing will come out of it because the two people who were responsible for it becoming the ugly racial thing it did are not apologizing for anything. They are just trying to save face and weasel their way out of the mess they made. I feel bad for the cop. Maybe he should run for president. by Eric

Comment: Obama should not have been involved in this at all. I know Gates is his friend, but this is not a national incident. Would he have done the same if it was just some poor guy, not a Harvard professor? It's sickening to hear about it anymore. from S. Berwick by Cathy

Comment: Is it such a novel idea that a group of businessmen would get together to discuss an issue, and have a drink while doing so? I believe this has been happening for decades, or longer! The novel part of the meeting wasn't the beverage served, but that the President had the maturity to get everyone together to talk it out. He was too quick to make a personal comment (in my opinion) but since he did, he chose a good way to get the principals together to face the issue. from Sabattus, Maine by Deborah

Comment: Good publicity for the 3 beer companies is the only good thing that will come from this! Obahma should simply apologize for his "Stupid" comment. He was wrong for ever opening his mouth about this situation publicly! This type of comment coming from our President is a racial act in itself! Also.. why is a man that is 1/2 white and 1/2 black, automatically a black man? by Steve

Comment: NO. This was a waste of our President's time that should have been spent on more important issues in this country. All this could have been avoided if Mr. Gates had identified himself as asked to do by the police officer instead of clearly stating, "No, I will not" and then himself start using racial profanities against the police officer. If my house was the scene of a suspected break in, I would expect the police to ask whoever was trying to get in to identify themselves. Mr. Gates played the 'race card' right off and made a mountain out of a mole hill when the police were only doing what they are paid to do and that is to protect. I don't care what color you are, if you are asked to identify yourself by police, you do so. from Dayton Maine by Pat

Comment: bunch of b.s. so we foot the bill to fly these guys to the white house while our presidents tries to fix his mistakes. Will they be smoking cigarettes too ? from so po by al

Comment: Too much involvement. The President should not speak on 'local" matters without "all" the facts. from Norway, ME by S.

Comment: Absolutely not. This was a photo op set up to help Obama save face after delving into matters that DO NOT concern the president of the United States. He needs to curb his arrogance and tend to the critical issues that are facing this country. from Topsham, Me by Jim

Comment: This is all a front for President Carter, I mean Obama, who should of kept his mouth shut in the first place, I mean what place does a President have getting involved with affairs of this nature? 2012 cannot get here fast enough by ken

Comment: It is absurd that the president is getting involved with a simple police issue. It seems obvious he is letting personal issues get in his way. The police were responding to a 911 call and that is all the information they had at the time. They acted according to law and in a responsible fashion. I must ask, who is the racist in this situation. The accused policeman or our president and his professor friend? from Wiscasset/ME by David

Comment: I think it was used simply as a cool off tool so that the professor wouldn't try to sue, which would only escalate and prolong the situation even further. from North Yarmouth, Me by Dale

Comment: Obama has shown over and over he is a racist (rev wright). I wanted to drive down to the beer summit,now I cant trade in my clunker.I hope I dont need a organ transplant under the commies ploan. from windham by chuck

Comment: Yes, advertising for Red Stripe, Bud Light & Blue Moon beer. from Falmouth, ME by Eric

Comment: A complete and utter waste of time. Obama should have had all the facts before he ran his mouth about the police from Winslow, ME by Dave

Comment: No I think Obama should stop trying to run the presidency like a somekind of rockstar and start acting like a president. from Richmond by Cliff

Comment: I don't think the President should have gotten involved, his involvement blew the situation out of proportion. With that said, the men may have shaken hands and smiled politely, having beer together doesn't resolve their thoughts or feelings about what occured and what evolved in the aftermath. from Windham, ME by Erica

Comment: Big waste of time. Another chance for the "white guilt" to be spread. Obama is an amateur trying to play with the professionals. from Portland by Patrick

Comment: he is just trying to cover up his own goof. from new gloucester, me by wallace

Comment: There is nothing racist about arresting a man who refused to comply with police. When police arrived, they had no idea whether or not he was a burglar or not and it did not help with the professors attitude. I'm tired of people always bringing up the race card to further their own agenda and to gain publicity. from Jay by Josh

Comment: BEER sales will go up ! from Avon by Randall

Comment: Seriously! Does anyone not see this for the media ploy that it is? More important things to be reporting on don't we think? from New Gloucester by Melanie

Comment: I think it was a complete and utter waste of time. Had that been a white professor, it would have been left as a mistake but, because of the whole black-white interaction, it automatically became a race issue. Please. I wish the President would spend his time on more important things. by Sandy

Comment: Because the entire initial incident was blown out of proportion, I don't think there was a need to have the "beer summit" in the first place. Unfortunately, I think it was President Obama's attempt to take the focus off the fact that he made matters worse by making a statement about an incident in which it was inappropriate for the President to give his personal, biased opinion. Had there not been cameras there to record the "summit", I might have thought it was a bit more sincere. from Portland, ME by Debbie

Comment: This is for show only,we really know obama now,he has issues with black-white from old orchard beach by antonella

Comment: Seriously, this is such a waste of time and money. The only reason that things like this get to the point that they do is because the media, as always, blows everything out of proportion. Don't we have more pressing things to worry about? from Saco, Me by Jim

Comment: i think they both wont jump off the handel so quickly after the meeting from lewiston/maine by pete

Comment: I think all of leaders should sit down and have a beer,instead of starting wars or going to war.get together and throw back a few cold ones.maybe even a bbq from ortland by mike

Comment: I do think that something positive will come out of it,however,I do think that the President and Vice President could have stayed out of it,and so focused on the economy,the war,and other issues of the day. This could have been handled between the two men or if not,by someone else,in helping the two see eye to eye. They did agree that they did have a disagree ment,but that was all that they did have. Even if this was a long standing issue,it was far too simple for the President to take on. from Waterville,Maine by Gary

Comment: isnt there anything better he could do with his time? from kennebunk, me by Joe

Comment: beer summit=BS=obama from Naples by Tammy

Comment: I don't think anything worthwhile is going to come out of Obama at all, Except the day he leaves the white house from Arizona/Lisbon Falls by Kim

Comment: Given the fact that our president couldn't even picked a beer from an american based company, I don't hold out any hope of something worth while coming from this supposed "summit". Actually, all three men picked beers by companies owned by foreign interests. So much for patriotism I suppose. from Auburn/ME. by James

Comment: more wastful spending. from anyware by jerry

Comment: does it lust mean you can have dispute with someone and get a free trip to the White House.Also don't we have more important things to worry about.I know an officer in my town that had a woman sign a traffic ticket saying,Ihate honkeys.I never saw that make any trip to the White House.So I guess it's alright for one race to insult another now that we have a President of a differnt race.I feel I've lost some respect for our new hope,to interact in such a petty problem is rediculous.It happens in every race,just because it's his race he steps in.What about the Mexicans that people target for verble abuse,or the Italains,Asians,ect...Will he bring all them all to the White House.Also,what kind of message are you sending our children,seriously,to sit down for a beer,how about a cup of coffee.Lesson learned for our children,insult another race and get a trip to the White House to sit with the most powerful man in the world and have a beer.In that case,he better buy more beer and ice cause it could end up being a long waiting list of people.'Titcomb' from Bath,Me. by Titcomb

Comment: I don't care who he has beer with as long as I'm not paying for it. from Harrison by Thomas

Comment: No. This is just Obama trying to spin a situation that he created and pull his foot out after he put it too deep it. He was to be a uniter not a divider but he showed his true colors putting "race" into a case that clearly did not have it. I think the whole "beer summit" was stupid and shows his lack of experience. The media gave it more coverage than the much more important news items of the week. Go figure...trying to deflect???? from Pemaquid, Maine by J

Comment: I feel that the brew-Ha-Ha was meaningless. As millions can attest,once the alcohol wears off....the problem remains. from LaVergne,Tn ( from Maine originally) by Dennis

Comment: Obama has not done anything noteworthy since he steped into office. from pownal,Maine by George