Should Elected Officials Imbibe?
I once had an economics professor who had a plan for how to get Congress to stop passing all of those awful laws. When they took their oath of office, they'd be supplied with cash, drugs and prostitutes. This, he figured, would keep them too busy to muck up our country.
I thought of that when reading this New York Times column by Timothy Egan that worries about Mitt Romney's religious opposition to drinking. Now, it's probably true that what we have here is just the latest mainstream media attempt to remind voters that Romney is Mormon. What do you think of this argument?
Jimmy Carter was a teetotaler, and he earned his one-term status. Were the two connected? Can’t say. But his temperance (though he now drinks wine) was much harder on White House visitors than the White House occupant.
“You’d arrive at 6 or 6:30 p.m., and the first thing you would be reminded of, in case you needed reminding, was that he and Rosalynn had removed all the liquor from the White House,” Teddy Kennedy lamented in his memoir, “True Compass.”
Carter’s arid receptions give Romney something to consider. Would guests be more inclined to listen while he droned on about the European debt crisis, knowing that the presidential liquor cabinet held hope of a promising end to the evening?
Doctrinally, I disagree with Mormonism's ban on alcohol. But of all the things in the world to worry about with a given candidate, I can't get worked up much about whether their religion permits a glass of wine or a beer at the ballpark. But this does sort of damage Romney's chances on the whole presidential litmus test question of "Who would you rather have a beer with?"
How should that question be rebranded for the coming months?
- Comment (80)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (2)
Comments:
Nov '11
Re: Should Elected Officials Imbibe?
You can use the same phrase. When Obama shot his mouth off early in his presidency and they ended up having that beer summit, Biden's beer was non-alcoholic.
With regards to public officials, I'd be 100% in favor of a voluntary contribution based fund (I wouldn't want to force others to pay for it) to supply elected officials with enormous amounts of booze and Valium and free tropical vacations to keep them from doing their jobs.
May '10
Re: Should Elected Officials Imbibe?
I've been out with Mormons, I had a beer, they had a caffeine -free soft drink. The real issue is what kind of wine goes with dog?
Mar '11
Re: Should Elected Officials Imbibe?
Finally the secret to Carter's disastrous Presidency revealed, he failed to keep Kennedy liquored up.
Kennedy is gone but will a similar spectre of a sober Reid doom Romney as well? Beware, Romney! Beware!
Re: Should Elected Officials Imbibe?
How about this: Who would you rather go bowling with? But ask at your peril because many might say Obama just for the chance to look good by comparison.
Aug '11
Re: Should Elected Officials Imbibe?
John Marshall considered alcohol very important for socializing after hours. The White House should reflect moderation, not prudery.
Jul '11
Re: Should Elected Officials Imbibe?
Hmmm, Marlboro's, joints, booze, cocaine, Islam and Marx vs sprite n polite. I sure know who I want bowling with my kids.
May '10
Re: Should Elected Officials Imbibe?
And then Jesus took the politician's cup and blessed it and for the next 2000 years it flowed with the most perfect whine. (The Gospel of EJ)
Jun '10
Re: Should Elected Officials Imbibe?
What the heck, as well as tee-total lets push celibacy as well.
As far as giving things to congress to keep 'em from doing their jobs, why bother? They haven't done their jobs in years.
Apr '11
Re: Should Elected Officials Imbibe?
You know not drinking doesn't mean you can't offer others a chance to imbibe the water of life. Romney can be the designated driver...
Aug '10
Re: Should Elected Officials Imbibe?
Obama's White House long ago quit publishing the wine selection as part of the reportage about what was being served at dinners. This can only mean one thing: they are drinking really great wines there and we are paying for it. Imagine that Screaming Eagle is probably on the sideboard.
Bush had the good manners to treat his guests according to their desires, while passing on drinking himself. That is called good manners, Carter was not acquainted with good manners and was reputedly, as was his wife, a very severe taskmaster with the domesctic staff in the White House.
Reagan, on the other hand, was known to return to the kitchen after state dinners to help clean up and do the dishes with the staff. Probably why stories persist about how much he was loved by the staff.
Romney will take the diet coke, but hopefully showcase our worldclass American wines when he entertains in the next admin.
Re: Should Elected Officials Imbibe?
Here's what Egan has to say about the so-called presidential beer test:
But Egan fails his own history test. In 2004, voters said overwhelmingly that they would rather have a beer with George W. Bush than John Kerry (wonder why) even though the former did not drink. The obvious answer? You can have a drink with someone who doesn't drink.
Mar '11
Re: Should Elected Officials Imbibe?
I couldn't have a beer with Romney. He doesn't drink beer.
I couldn't have cup of coffee with Romney. He doesn't drink coffee.
I couldn't have a glass of Kool-Aid with Romney. I don't drink Kool-Aid (metaphorical or otherwise).
We would work something out, but as I'm a social klutz, I'd leave early.
May '10
Re: Should Elected Officials Imbibe?
I'm with flownover. Just because Romney himself doesn't drink, doesn't mean he's going to go the Carter route and force that on everyone else. I see the Romneys as being gracious hosts and offering their guests the kind of wine selection they would expect and enjoy.
Sep '10
Re: Should Elected Officials Imbibe?
I agree. Romney has never struck me as a scold. A little square and a little dorky perhaps (words that he himself may have used on occasion but that have a certain charm to them), but even while at Harvard he got along well with those who he socialized with and I have trouble believing he'd go fundamentalist puritania on us.
Jun '10
Re: Should Elected Officials Imbibe?
I think you can rest assured that fine wines will be served at state dinners. Mitt and Ann just won't drink any. They'll probably drink some non-alcoholic fruit juice that looks enough like wine so that everyone feels comfortable.
And, by the way, what's wrong with you having a beer and him drinking a Diet Coke. I've done it with lot's of my non-Mormon friends--it's worked out just fine on both sides.
Feb '12
Re: Should Elected Officials Imbibe?
There's an obvious test to this question isn't there? Romney probably had receptions and formal dinners when he was Governor of Massachusetts. What was served at those?
Jun '10
Re: Should Elected Officials Imbibe?
Who would you like a cold one with?
Re: Should Elected Officials Imbibe?
Are we sure a Mormon President would offer wine? I actually think that's a good question to ask. It's not like an alcoholic who simply doesn't personally drink. Mormon doctrine prohibits alcohol on principle. If you're the host, you should not be encouraged to violate your religious precepts. My Mormon in-laws and friends most definitely don't serve alcohol when they host events. And, my mother-in-law would be the first to tell you, they don't miss it. (My own theory is that they make up for it in unbelievable quantity of desserts -- seriously, it's crazy! I could go into a diabetic coma just thinking about it!)
Re: Should Elected Officials Imbibe?
flownover:
Bush had the good manners to treat his guests according to their desires, while passing on drinking himself. That is called good manners, Carter was not acquainted with good manners and was reputedly, as was his wife, a very severe taskmaster with the domesctic staff in the White House. · 23 minutes ago
Well said! I confess that I find it hard to warm up to tee-totalers, but if Mitt behaves as Tabula suggests (and not like Jimmy Crack Corn), then he's a gentleman in my books.
Dec '10
Re: Should Elected Officials Imbibe?
This is a little off-topic, but I think relevant. In old movies, old being those made before say 1960, there would often be a scene where a man reached into his jacket and pulled out a flask. My question is: Was it once common for men to walk around with a flask of liquor handy or was that just Hollywood?