Forget Mitt's taxes... We need to know: What's Obama Hiding?

[Raine1967]

(DUCKS INCOMING BRICKS... WAIT!) I know I don't post often here, but I thought the BOG would enjoy this.


I am a member of the DC Homebrewers, and we need to know what is in the White House' Honey Ale brew.

Please Sign this petition?

WE PETITION THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO:
Release the recipe for the Honey Ale home brewed at the White House.


Following in the footsteps of great men like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin, Barack Obama has reportedly been enjoying the rewards of home brewed beer. Recent reports from news outlets like the Washington Post (August 15th, 2012) have stated that Obama has been drinking a White House home brew Honey Ale while on the campaign trail.

In keeping with the brewing traditions of the founding fathers, homebrewers across America call on the Obama Administration to release the recipe for the White House home brew so that it may be enjoyed by all.

"I think it’s time for beer” -Franklin D. Roosevelt (March 12, 1933)

Oh, and no, I won't forget Mitt's taxes.

WE are actually trying to get the WH homebrewer to attend one of our meetings. We thought a petition might help us out. We are calling it Operation BREWBAMA Can you help get the word out?


Raine

[mopinko]

1. might want to be careful there.

they might be brewing more than they are allowed. too much attention, and they will send the revenuers after them. i can see it now.

[Raine1967]

2. Actually, they can brew 200 gallons per person per year.

It's home brew, so they cannot sell it. Plus we can thank Jimmy Carter for that!

On October 14, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed H.R. 1337, which contained an amendment sponsored by Senator Alan Cranston creating an exemption from taxation for beer brewed at home for personal or family use. This exemption went into effect February 1, 1979.

There is this also:

Oklahoma bill H.B. 2348 is signed by the Governor on May 10, 2010, making homebrewing legal there as of August 26, 2010. Alabama and Mississippi remain as the only states in the Union where homebrewing is not yet legal.

I'm really not too worried about this, it is all in good fun, and being that it is the DC home brewers group, I guarantee you-- with all our lawyers and government workers, if they aren't worried -- no one should be.

Edited this post title to correct my self: Hubby told me there is a limit, 200 gallons per person, per year. That's 40 five gallon batches (2 cases) a person per year.

[mopinko]

3. i'm not really worried either.

DH used to do some homebrew, but it has been a while. too easy to get good beer these days.

[Raine1967]

5. Good to know!

I'm just really excited that we have an amazing president that also appreciates good beer.

[Raine1967]

4. Update: So this is pretty exciting... Our petition made Politco and HuffPo

Huffpo:

The Fedblog points out that this is not the first formal request for the recipe. A petition was recently filed at the White House website, but it needs 25,000 signatures by September 17 before it gets reviewed. As of this writing, it has 295. Only 24,705 to go! The petition pleads, "In keeping with the brewing traditions of the founding fathers, homebrewers across America call on the Obama administration to release the recipe for the White House home brew so that it may be enjoyed by all."

and Politico:

A group of home-brewing enthusiasts and transparency advocates want the government to hand over the recipe for the home brewed beers created at the White House.

As reported by Government Executive, a Reddit user has submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for the recipe, arguing that "disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations of activities of the government."

The FOIA request added: "If you could send me a copy autographed by the president, you'd be the coolest FOIA officer in the whole federal government."

Another group of internet users has created a 'We the People" petition, requesting the recipe. That petition needs more than 24,000 more signatures to generate a response.

This really could be fun. I am urging people to start a twitter hashtag: #OperationBrewBama

I'm floored this made these two publications!

[Raine1967]

6. NPR and the Washingtonian too!

NPR:

The online beer brewer's petition appeals to the president's sense of his place in history, citing "great men like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin," who were known to brew a few at home:

"In keeping with the brewing traditions of the founding fathers, homebrewers across America call on the Obama Administration to release the recipe for the White House home brew so that it may be enjoyed by all," the petition says.

But the kicker is how it ends, with a quote attributed to FDR: "I think it's time for beer." (Upon signing the law repealing Prohibition, Roosevelt allegedly said, "I think this would be a good time for a beer," but the sentiment's the same, so who's to quibble.)

And the Washingtonian:

Obama has been drinking a lot of beer lately, have you noticed? It's one way to distance himself from a certain wealthy teetotaler who keeps saying bad stuff about him. He’s even brought the White House-brewed Honey Ale on the road with him—prompting a minor movement among transparency advocates to get him to share the recipe. A Reddit user recently filed a Freedom of Information Act request, asking for documents containing instructions on how to make the ale “or other beer made by the White House staff.”

This makes me so happy. We are at about 860 signatures. We have until 9/17 to reach the target.

[mopinko]

7. what i am wondering

i know that the first family has to pay their own living expenses, food, etc. it is also marked up with the labor costs of the staff and all. i wonder who is doing the brewing, and what they are charging for a bottle.

[Raine1967]

8. They are not charging anything.

You saw the link I posted above? It's home brew. They don't charge. This is the second time you alluded to something less than scrupulous from the White house.

The brewing is done by the kitchen staff, and it's out there that they paid for the equipment themselves.

This is something fun, you seem very concerned about things that aren't worth being concerned about. I'm not here to cause grief, I thought this was fun -- especially for the BOG.

Our group are pretty much Obama supporters -- many are employed by the federal government.

[mopinko]

9. no really, the first family pay for their meals. i am sure they would be charged.

and you are reading in something that does not exist. there is not bigger bo fan..