Beer summit, Cash for Clunkers: Good week for Obama?

Beer Summit: This week Obama made good on his promise to bring two deeply divided people over a nationally sensitive racial conflict both together for a beer at the White House. Good comments came from the participants and the media. Is this a new tool of the Presidency as a mediator?

Cash for Clunkers: During the same week, the government had to suspend the so-called Cash for Clunkers program because too many people were using it which was depleting the reserve funds. Car dealers were pushing the program, advertising and inventory on it.

So can both these two issues be considered a good week for Obama? Please comment.