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Chuck Schumer Tried His Hand At Bartending For St. Patrick's Day

Chuck Schumer Tried His Hand At Bartending For St. Patrick's Day
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Associate Politics Video Editor, The Huffington Post

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It’s the third week of March and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is over the moon to be celebrating what he calls “St. Patrick’s month."

The senator proudly attempted to bartend at McSorley’s Old Ale House in New York City for St. Patrick’s Day. While at the oldest Irish tavern in the city, the Jewish American congressman proclaimed, "I love the Irish!"

"They are a people-loving people," Schumer told CNN.

Schumer (unsuccessfully) tried to pour eight glasses of beer with one hand just like the pub's employees do. It was a struggle: Only four glasses filled up (with lots of foam, but you've got to give the man an "A" for effort).

In between taking Snapchats and selfies with the bar's customers, Schumer spoke to CNN about the fate of immigration reform, saying his message to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) is "that if you love America, you will pass this bill."

Schumer isn't the first politician to participate in the American-born tradition of drinking on St. Patrick's Day. In 2012, President Barack Obama stopped by Irish pub The Dubliner in Washington, D.C., where he drank a pint of Guinness while the customers around him chanted, "USA! USA! USA!"

Watch the video above.

H/T CNN

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Before You Go

World's Biggest St. Patrick's Day Celebrations
NEW YORK CITY(01 of10)
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Photo Credit: Stuart Monk / ShutterstockNew York hosts the country’s and the world’s largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration, with more than two million people gathering for the city’s grand parade on March 17. The march up Fifth Avenue starts at 11 am on 44th Street and lasts about six hours, ending at 79th, with a stop at the St. Patrick’s Cathedral along the way. There are no floats or cars allowed in the parade, which features bands, bagpipes, and dancers, and typically between 150,000 to 250,000 participants. The tradition itself dates back to 1762, making the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade older than the U.S. itself.Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s New York City Travel Guide
DUBLIN(02 of10)
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Photo Credit: Aitormmfoto / ShutterstockOf course, Dublin hosts one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, with a four-day festival filled with boat races, the Irish Beer & Whiskey Festival, music and street performances, and a spectacular parade. This year the festival runs from March 14 through March 17. The parade, which takes place on St. Patrick’s Day, attracts about half a million spectators to watch the procession from Parnell Square to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. And as part of “greening the city,” major landmarks throughout Dublin, such as the Natural History Museum and St. Patrick’s Cathedral, are given a green glow for the holiday.Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Dublin Travel Guide
SYDNEY(03 of10)
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Photo Credit: Qhominh | Dreamstime.comThe Sydney Opera House turns green for St. Patrick’s Day and so does the rest of the city. With a huge themed parade (dating back more than 200 years) on the Sunday before St. Patrick’s Day, there’s also pre- and post- parade entertainment along the streets of Sydney. The parade itself is one of the largest in the world, and the only one organized and sponsored by the Irish Community and Government.Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Sydney Travel Guide
CHICAGO(04 of10)
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Photo Credit: Thomas Barrat / ShutterstockThe city of Chicago truly commits to St. Patrick’s Day by dyeing the Chicago River green every season. The tradition dates back to 1961, when the chairman of the annual parade saw green dye in the river (which at the time was used to identify a sewage problem) and got the idea to use it for the upcoming holiday. On the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day, this year falling on March 14, more than 400,000 people gather along the Chicago River to watch 45 pounds of environmentally-safe vegetable dye turn the murky river a bright shade of green. After the morning's dyeing ceremony, even more spectators gather for the city’s parade at noon. The parade lasts about three hours, with dancers and bands making their way up Columbus Drive through Grant Park.Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Chicago Travel Guide
MONTREAL(05 of10)
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Photo Credit: Photorebelle | Dreamstime.comSince its inauguration in 1824, the Montreal St. Patrick’s Day Parade has never been cancelled, regardless of poor weather in past years. The festivities take place on the Sunday before St. Patrick’s Day and includes floats, bands, and plenty of costumes. The three-hour parade features a massive replica of St. Patrick, which announces the beginning of the celebration.Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Montréal Travel Guide
LONDON(06 of10)
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Photo Credit: Patrick Wang / ShutterstockOn the Sunday before St. Patrick’s Day, many gather for the city’s annual parade, where floats and marching bands travel the 1.5-mile route from Green Park to Trafalgar Square. An all-day festival at Trafalgar Square includes music performances, a food market, fashion show, and film festivals. If you get sick of the outdoor celebration, you can stop by any of the nearby Irish pubs, many of which are hosting themed events with music and prizes.Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s London Travel Guide
MONTSERRAT(07 of10)
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Photo Credit: Wayne FentonOften referred to as “the Emerald Isle,” this island in the British West Indies is the only place outside of Ireland where St. Patrick’s Day is considered a public holiday. To celebrate, the country has a 10-day festival, which has included a St. Patrick’s Day dinner, a Kite Festival, performances by the emerald Community Singers Irish Cabaret, and more in past years. March 17 also marks the country’s first slave rebellion, leading to additional African and Caribbean festivities in order to commemorate the anniversary.Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Montserrat Travel Guide
SAVANNAH(08 of10)
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Photo Credit: Andrea Six with Savannah.comWith one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the world, Savannah’s festivities draw more than 300,000 people each year. The 190th annual parade will feature horses and a variety of floats on March 17. The city’s festivities also include a celebration on River Street, with vendors and live musical performances, and the Tara Feis Irish Celebration, with crafts, storytellers, and musical performances. Even before St. Patrick’s Day itself hits, Savannah hosts a number of smaller parades and celebrations starting in mid-February. One special event is the William Jasper Green ceremony, which honors the Irish men who lost their lives in the Siege of Savannah.Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Savannah Travel Guide
MUNICH(09 of10)
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Photo Credit: St. Patrick's Day by David Pursehouse CC BY 2.0With one of the more recently establish St. Patrick’s Day traditions (the parade dates back to 1995), Munich’s festivities are gaining more traction each year. With about 15,000 participants, the city shuts down Leopold Strasse in order to successfully celebrate the Irish holiday. Their 20th annual parade will take place on March 15, followed by an after parade party and “Journey to Ireland” dance and music performance.Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Munich Travel Guide
BUENOS AIRES(10 of10)
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Photo Credit: Fiesta de San Patricio by Gustavo Facci CC BY-SA 2.0Not only is Buenos Aires home to the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in South America, but the city is home to the fifth-largest Irish community in the world. The result is a St. Patrick's Day street festival taking up 10 blocks along Reconquista Street, with music and dancing. And their annual parade, which ends at the Plaza San Martín, features Celtic musical selections and a leprechaun costume contest.Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Buenos Aires Travel Guide
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