Gates, a prominent black Harvard scholar, was arrested at his own home by Sgt. James Crowley for disorderly conduct on July 16th after a 911 call was made reporting a possible burglary. 58-year-old Gates claims he was racially profiled.
Crowley, who left his home with his family Thursday morning, will meet with the President and Professor Gates at this picnic table behind the White House to talk about what happened.
"The president will drink Bud Light. Professor Gates said he likes Red Stripe, and I believe Sgt. Crowley mentioned to the president that he likes Blue Moon," said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.
A poll conducted by the non-partisan Pew Research Center found that 41 percent of Americans disapproved of Obama's handling of the Gates arrest, compared with 29 percent who approved.
"It's a good thing for the president to deal with it. It is a good thing for each of us to come out and sit down and talk," said poet Maya Angelou.
"If I were the officer, I'd tell President Obama in the most respectful way possible, you can take your can of beer and shove it. You're rewarding Gates for his behavior and treating us both as if we're equally at fault," said conservative commentator Larry Elder.
White House aides insist there's no scripted dialogue for Thursday night's meeting No promise of an apology.
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