Organization talks politics by ’sharing a pitcher’

COURTNEY SMITH

The five co-hosts of political discussion group, "Drinking Liberally"" invite people of all political affiliations to join their bi-monthly club."

If politicians were drinks, Sarah Palin would be a Shirley Temple and Joe Biden would be a single glass of red table wine. This is one of many silly yet substantial conversations of the five co-hosts of the Athens progressive political discussion group “Drinking Liberally.”

“I think Barack would be a Rolling Rock because he really needs to win Pennsylvania,” said Tom Bavis, a University employee and one of the organization’s co-hosts. “McCain would probably be a rusty nail because that just sounds like an old person drink.”

This friendly openness with the normally taboo topics of politics is precisely the kind of inviting atmosphere that the group, which meets at Little Kings the first and third Friday of every month, is trying to create in the Athens area.

“What better way to share your ideas than by sharing a pitcher?” said Justin Krebs, one of the organization’s national founders and directors. “Politics shouldn’t be reserved for rooms with florescent lighting – we need it in our everyday lives.”

Drinking Liberally considers bars to be one of the most democratic and open spaces which allow strangers to speak freely, according to the Web site.

“This isn’t a book club and you don’t have to be a political genius or news junkie to get involved,” Bavis said. “We don’t endorse a certain candidate or take organizational stances on whether or not someone should get the death penalty or anything. It is just an open forum to get discussion going.”

Despite the organization’s obvious liberal and progressive basis, this open invitation to discussion is also extended to people who wish to be involved but may hold more conservative and right-wing beliefs.

“As long as the discussion remains respectful, everyone is welcome,” said Patrick Moore, a University alum and founder of the Athens Liberally Drinking branch.

However, the “everyone” to which Moore refers can be better interpreted as everyone who is of legal drinking age due to the organization’s strict adherence to laws and emphasis on personal responsibility.

“It is definitely not a drinking club, but drinking does happen,” said Holly Moore, a University alum and employee. “In fact, most of the time I don’t even drink at the meeting.”

The national organization of Drinking Liberally makes it clear that the purpose of the organization’s meetings is political discussion, not inebriation.

It advises that, while drinking liberally, people should also make “liberal use of designated drivers” and everyone involved should drink and act responsibly.

“Drinking and driving is reckless and irresponsible, like a neocon war or corporatist tax cut,” the organization’s founders say. “Liberals don’t do it.”