ASSOCIATED PRESS: Analysis: White House beers a way to change topic.

UPDATE: Poll: Obama mishandled comments on race. “The president’s approval ratings fell, especially among working-class whites, as the focus of the Gates story shifted from details about the incident to Obama’s remarks, the poll said. Among whites in general, more disapprove than approve of his comments by a two-to-one margin.”

ANOTHER UPDATE: If only it had worked out this way. Instead, from the video, the get-together looked rather strained.