Would Barack Obama meet Sean Hannity for a beer? The invitation came at an awkward moment, in the middle of Obama’s town-hall meeting in Elkhart yesterday, and not from Hannity himself. Obama seemed at least open to the idea, which led to this light-hearted exchange on Fox & Friends this morning with Robert Gibbs (via Joe Gandelman):

OBAMA: Now, with respect to Sean Hannity, I didn’t know that he had invited me for a beer.

(LAUGHTER)

You know, but — I will take that under advisement.

(LAUGHTER)

Generally, his opinion of me does not seem to be very high, but — but I’m always good for a beer. So…

Gibbs thinks that a beer might be in the future.  Obama did meet with some center-right and conservative opinionmakers during the transition, but has, in Obama’s own construct, offered a clenched fist to Hannity and Rush Limbaugh.  I wouldn’t expect that to change in the future.  Although it would make a great story if Obama sat down with Hannity and Rush over a cold Sam Adams, or even a cool Guinness, what would Obama really gain from such a meeting?  He’d do better to force to force Nancy Pelosi into allowing Republicans to have a voice in crafting legislation.  At least that would keep Obama from having to use up his political capital to get his agenda through Congress.

But if they do, let’s hope they can find a better beer than Meister Brau.