starstruck?

Sgt. James Crowley, of the Cambridge Police Dept., has been invited to drink a beer with Obama and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., at the White House.

The media keeps talking about this like it's going to happen, though I haven't seen where Crowley actually accepted it.  It would be nice if he declined.

Of course, it would also be nice if Crowley could accept this gesture of Obama's without having it turned into a media event -- but why else was he invited?  I can understand the honor of the invitation -- obviously it happens a lot less than once in a lifetime.  But Crowley's been getting credit for acting so exemplary; so professionally.  Will he now allow himself to be used as Obama's PR pawn?

I would feel better if this meeting happened and then we simply heard of it with no details given.  Like Bush might have done it.  Something the Sgt. Crowley I've read about might belong at. 

But I suspect that as it stands we're going to be seeing a few pictures from the meeting -- probably even some footage.  A stunt.  Something Obama and Gates belong at.  And something Sgt. Crowley might not want to attend.