Strollerderby : White House

100 Days of Obamas: First Photo Album Released

Madeline Holler — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:23:00 GMT

Yesterday, the White House released a bunch of candid photos from the President's first 100 days in office. Not all of them involve him ripping out his hair bit by bit to deal with all the crises this president inherited. In fact none of them do.

I posted a few of the shots after the jump and a link for even more.

Back from their first trip to Camp David.

Looking for the trap door that the other Kennedy found many years ago.

Career high for person in Easter Bunny suit. (Career low, I suppose, if said Bunny was the Secret Service agent to draw the shortest straw.)

Sledding!

Check out the rest over at the Daily News. Is it me or do the inauguration photos feel more than 100 days old. Like, maybe, 100 years old? Just asking.

Sing It, Baby (Babies?): Octomom The Musical

Obamas are Cheapskates?

Photos: via Daily News

First Video of the First Dog at Home

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:55:00 GMT

The day a family brings their first dog home is exciting, stressful, and gloriously chaotic. Imagine having that day in front of tons of paparazzi and on live camera.

This--admittedly cameratically imperfect--video shows both the unique oddity of the Obamas' lifestyle, and their ability to be at ease even when the cameras are rolling. And if you thought Sasha and Malia couldn't get any cuter, you clearly haven't seen them playing with a six-month-old Portuguese water dog.

Photo: Newsday

Obama Girls Meet Easter Water Dog

Obama Reads One of His Favorite Children’s Books

SunnyChanel — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 05:04:00 GMT

It turns out I have something in common with Barack Obama. We share a love for the same classic children’s book. Barack and I, we both site “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak as one of our all time favorites. It's nice to know I'm in some good company.

Obama read the book, complete with throaty monster roars, to the kids at Monday’s annual White House Easter egg roll. He asked his young audience if they’ve ever been in a “wild rumpus” and told the kids, "You guys look like you have a wild rumpus all the time.”

Obama has talked about the love of the book before. The site Literary Obama had a transcript of Obama stating:

“I can’t say as a child what book influenced me most. My favorite book - and it continues to be one of my favorite books - was “Where the Wild Things Are.” I love that book. My wife still thinks that I’m Max, that I’m getting into mischief all the time.”

The artist Dan Lacey, who is known for his paintings of famous figures accessorizes with pancakes, even did a portrait of Obama as Max.

After his reading, Mrs. Obama and her mom took turns reading theLaura Joffe Numeroff book, “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” with Sasha and Malia turning the pages of the oversized printing of the book.

Are you part of our 'club'? Is “Where the Wild Things Are” one of your favorites too?

You can check out the video of Obama reading the story here

Source

Obama Girls Meet the Easter Waterhound

JeanneSager — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:14:00 GMT

Charlie Brown had the Easter Beagle. Sasha and Malia Obama have the Easter Waterhound.

The president's daughters met their new puppy this weekend, just in time to ring in the Easter holiday by hiding their chocolate from him!

The dog will come home to the White House on Tuesday, but he's already got a name - Bo, the same as the girls' cousins' cat, and in honor of Michelle Obama's dad, whose nickname was Diddley.

Michelle had promised the dog would come home in April earlier this year when she released the news that they'd settled on a Portuguese waterdog, a pup that won't stir up Malia's allergies to pet dander.

It's not technically an Easter present - after all, Dad made the announcement that a pet was promised back in November - but the timing means the girls will probably always remember this Easter. It's a holiday that is often associated with getting kids bunnies and chicks (something most animal welfare officials advise against, because the kids soon tire of their new friends and all the work they entail). Have you ever considered Easter a pet-giving holiday?

Image: NY Daily News

Kid to Malia Obama: Save my Dad

Sisters Better than Brothers? We Have Proof

First Video of the First Dog at Home

Roll Your Kids Over to the White House for Easter

JeanneSager — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:39:00 GMT

Get ready, get set, because for the first time ever, White House Easter Egg Roll tickets are available to you and me.

The Obama administration loves them some Internet (in case you hadn't noticed), and they've set up the first-ever online lottery for families of kids under ten to get their mitts on tickets to the world-famous Easter egg roll.

In the past, tickets were only distributed to people in Washington on the Saturday before the roll (maybe to make up for the fact that the poor residents have to live with politicians all day?), but the lottery which will open Thursday at a White House sponsored site is national.

Tens of thousands will be available for people to show up on the White House lawn and get their roll on with the First Family on April 13. Click here to get your chance.

If you won, would you take the kids on the road?

Image: WTOP News

Ty Company Discontinues Sasha and Malia Dolls

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:01:00 GMT

Even Ty Warner has to answer to someone. The Ty Warner Company has decided to retire the Mahvelous Malia and Sweet Sasha beanie babies, due to objections from the White House. The First Lady had a hunch that those dolls’ names were no coincidence, despite the Ty Company’s assurance to the contrary.

One could argue that there’s nothing wrong with little girls seeing Sasha and Malia as role models—and if that means having doll versions of the First Daughters, why not? But Michelle Obama is making an important point about the crassness of using children to turn a profit. (Anyone see the latest Toddlers and Tiaras?)

Fear not, beanie baby-loving parents: Precious Paris and Bubbly Britney are still available, and they are more than happy to stand in as your children’s very expensive role models.

Photo: New York Times

Michelle Obama Objects to Sasha and Malia Dolls

Sasha and Malia Beanie Baby Dolls

Caylee Anthony Doll, the Worst Toy Idea Ever

Obamas Read to Everybody's Kids But Yours

Madeline Holler — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:30:00 GMT

Raise your hand if you're crazy jealous of these Washington, D.C., charter school second-graders. Me too!

President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle read a book to the class in the school library, took questions, shook hands, posed for pictures and everything.

When the kids asked him why he came to their school, he said he and Michelle wanted to get out of the White House for a bit. Hey, sounds reasonable.

Today's top priority on the to-do list: figure out a way to get the Obamas to my second-graders charter school to read a book ... and shake hands ... and pose for a picture (with me!).

Any of you readers have a kid at that school? How are the rest of you scheming to meet the first couple -- uh, I mean, get your children the opportunity to see the first couple in person?

Here's the video:

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Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Girls More Confident Since Presidential Election

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 20:35:00 GMT

50 percent of girls ages 12 to 17 have more confidence since the presidential election, according to a study by the Girl Scout Research Foundation. The study of 3,284 adolescent girls also found that half of young women now believe they will be able to achieve their goals, and 55 percent feel more comfortable speaking their minds.

The Girl Scout Research Foundation speculates (unsurprisingly) that the inclusion of two female candidates—Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin—drastically affected young girls for the better.

I would guess that the election of the nation’s first black president has also increased girls’ confidence in their chances for success. Seeing an African-American family in the White House is a wonderfully concrete demonstration that glass ceilings can be shattered to smithereens.

Photo: Jezebel

Rumor Mill: Is Michelle Obama Pregnant?

SunnyChanel — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 06:22:00 GMT

Are you in your child bearing years? Are you in the public eye? Did you have a big dinner? If you answered yes to any or all of those, then odds are someone, somewhere on a blog, or tabloid, or on the street will make the claim that you are knocked up.

New rumors are swirling around and growing not unlike a thriving embryo, courtesy of a post on PerezHilton.com. The rumor? That our first lady could be preggers. According to Perez the reports are “completely unconfirmed and at this point just a "rumor"”.

These rumors have been circulating for months that 45-year-old Michelle Obama is pregnant. Is it her choice of the stomach enhancing “black widow” dress she wore on election night? Is it that our culture has become so baby obsessed that we just want to imagine a new celebrity baby to coo over? Or is it that we just haven’t had a good old fashioned ‘Baby Bump Watch’ in a while?

If by some odd chance it’s true, the timing wouldn’t be the best. Those Obamas, they have a whole lot going on; new jobs, new home, new schools…running a country. Me thinks a new baby would be a wee bit stressful right about now. Plus a new puppy is on the way! You never want to get a puppy and a baby at the same time. But if it is true, this baby would be the first in over 100 years to be born in the White House, the last being Grover Cleaveland's daughter in 1893.

Regardless, a little harmless gossip is a fun little distraction these days. Now you won’t be able to look at Michelle Obama without checking out her belly. Sorry about that.

A Prom? At the White House? Awesome!

Jen Chaney — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:28:00 GMT

As our new President, Barack Obama certainly has some challenging tasks ahead. Then again, so do his daughters. Sasha and Malia have to tread the tricky waters of adolescence with the whole world watching. Remember when you were 13 and had a pimple and wanted to burrow underneath your pastel pink comforter until it went away? Well, imagine seeing that zit on CNN. Or, worse yet, YouTube.

So far, the Obama girls seem to be handling all the attention with great grace. But odds are that at some point over the next four years -- or eight, if Obama serves a second term -- they will do something that turns the media spotlight directly on them. We know this from White House offspring history, a few moments of which are highlighted in this Listicles rundown of Awesome First Kid Moments.

It's an amusing look at mostly harmless incidents involving the children of Presidents past. Well, except for maybe Alice Roosevelt. (Making voodoo dolls and convincing members of Congress to jump off of cruise ships? That's some borderline brat-tastic behavior.)

My two favorites involve Susan Ford, daughter of Gerald, who was 17 when her father began serving as Commander in Chief following Richard Nixon's resignation. One awesome thing she did? Trying to ditch the Secret Service for a few precious hours, a plan that was thwarted when she realized she had tickets to a Hall & Oates concert, tickets that happened to be in the possession of ... the Secret Service. (So what Hall & Oates say is true. It really is a bitch, girl.)

On the even more awesome side, Susan -- who attended Holton Arms, a private school not far from my home in Bethesda -- got to throw her senior prom at the White House. How freakin' sweet would that be? I'm guessing at least 80 times cooler than any of the proms depicted on "Beverly Hills, 90210." Speaking of TV, Susan Ford also did something else that I find impressive, in a '70s kind of way. She dated Anson Williams. Yup -- Potsie, Potsie, Potsie.

So clearly being a presidential kid has its positives as well as its pitfalls. Here's hoping that Sasha and Malia Obama find that life falls more on the former side than the latter.

Image: Listicles

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Sasha & Malia Had Their Own Ball on Inauguration Night

Barack Obama’s Letter to Sasha and Malia

Sasha & Malia Had Their Own Ball on Inauguration Night

SunnyChanel — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:30:00 GMT

What did Malia and Sasha do last night while mom and dad hit not one, not two but ten balls in their honor? They had a ball of their own in the form their own party with their new, very lucky, friends from school.

According to ABC News, for their first night in their new ridiculously historic home, the girls watched High School Musical 3 and the animated hit Bolt in the White House’s bright red plush 40 seater movie theater. After their double feature the White House staff organized a special treat for the girls and their friends, an educational scavenger hunt about the history of the White House. The staff did a similar scavenger hunt for Chelsea Clinton when she moved in.

The last clue in the scavenger hunt led them to a very special surprise behind a closed door. The Jonas Brothers, the girls favorite band. The boys joined the party and I’m sure delighted all the tweens in attendance.

Guess there are some perks with having Dad be president. With all that action last night it’s no wonder the girls played hooky from school today.

Source

Photo via Huffington Post

New Family Green Mag Tracks Greening of Obama, Country

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:55:00 GMT

Sure, he talks a good game, but how's he going to live up to all those "green" promises? A new online environmental magazine pledges to keep an eye on how the Obama Administration makes good on its vows to help turn this country green-- starting with a stellar article on the "greening" of the White House by our very own Madeline Holler.

I was pretty excited to see this magazine, Super Eco, take shape, because frankly, a lot of environmental, greeny stories make me feel slightly shamed for not jumping off the grid and growing baby new potatoes on my roof. SuperEco mixes humor perfectly with environmental conciousness but still gives a load of wonderful information about every day things you can do to make life a little better for us all.

Look at me -- I'm gushing.

Still, want to know what to do with pesky batteries? Bottled water? The list of essays and tips is endless.

Check out Super Eco here.

Kid to Obamas: Take My Puppy

JeanneSager — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:15:00 GMT

Now that the Obamas have narrowed their dog search to two breeds, there's a fourth grader in Pennsylvania who's crossing his fingers that he's got the answer to all their four-legged questions.

Zack Shiley's dogs produced a litter born on November 26, but only one survived. That's the puppy - a labradoodle - that Shiley wants President Barack Obama to bring home to the White House for daughters Sasha and Malia.

The fourth grader at the Wharton Elementary School in Farmington, Pa., sent word to D.C. this week via his County Commissioners, Vincent Vicites and Vincent Zapotsky. The Vincents attended the inauguration without the six-week-old Vegas, the love pup of eleven-year-old Hillary, a chocolate Labrador and her much younger stud (sire?) one-year-old Bullet, a black labradoodle.

Instead they took with them a letter directly to Malia - who Shiley figures has the final say on the matter (she's the member of the Obama family with an allergy - prompting consideration of a labradoodle).

"We want her to have a good home, and what could be better than the White House... A dream come true," Shiley wrote. "I almost forgot, the puppy is free."

According to his hometown newspaper, The Herald Standard, everyone admits it's a long shot, but Shiley's mom put her stamp of approval on her son's letter and offer to the new president. Considering the pup earned the name Vegas because Mom was on a trip to Las Vegas when the family dogs mated, perhaps there's a little more than selflessness at work there? Don't worry Ms. Shiley - we get you! Whatever your motivation (getting the puppy out of the house so you can go back to two dogs instead of three!), you raised a son with a big heart - and one adorable ball of fur for a friend.

Image: The Herald Standard

Parents Criticize Schools for Celebrating Inauguration

Obama Says His Kids Are Cooler Than He Is

Mystery Solved: Dog Swallowed Fifteen Pacifiers

Morning News: What's Wrong with These Headlines?

Shannon LC Cate — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:00:00 GMT

The New York Times juxtaposes these gems:

Banks are in Need of Even More Bailout Money

and

Bank Lends Little of Its Bailout Funds

Is there anyone at the wheel here? I want my $700 billion back. With interest.

Last night at George Will's house, President-Elect Obama dined with the crowned heads of conservatism. The guest list, according to The Daily Beast, included William Kristol (Weekly Standard), David Brooks (New York Times), Paul Gigot (Wall Street Journal), Larry Kudlow (CNBC's Kudlow and Company), Rich Lowry (National Review), Michael Barone (FOX and US News & World Report) and Charles Krauthammer of The Washington Post.

It's beginning to look like Obama isn't just a "liberal snob" (Michael Barone) and a "platitude salesman" (Charles Krauthammer) afterall, but rather, a man who genuinely wants to solve the deep divisions and problems in his country by embracing his enemies.

Weird, huh?

In shallower news, you can now get longer, thicker eyelashes for a mere $4 a day and a willingness to suffer various side-effects from a drug originally developed to treat glaucoma. But don't worry your pretty little head about that. Everyone knows that for women, looks matter more than health. And what could be more important than eyelashes? Well, as one Latisse marketer put it:

“I am sure that within a week of Latisse becoming available, someone will call to say ‘I am Dr. Jones in wherever, and I would like to conduct a study on eyebrows.' For a lot of women, the eyebrow is every bit as important as the eyelash.”

Four dollars a day is a bit rich for my blood. Instead of Latisse, I plan to look to Michelle Obama for my fashion cues. She has, apparently, just chosen interior designer, Michael Smith, for the White House. Smith plans to put the Obamas' penchant for "utilizing affordable brands and products" into his plans for their new home.

Why spend any money at all redecorating the First Home? It seemed a bit wasteful to me too, until I considered the problem of third-hand cooties. If I was Michelle, I'd wanna paint over every surface likely to have been touched by Dubya, too.

image: sciam.com

White House Sends Chanukah Card With Christmas Tree On It

Brett Singer — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:00:00 GMT

The Bush family really can't win these days.

Not only is the sitting President receiving blame for Republican losses on Election Day, but first lady Laura is getting flak for a farkakteh (pronounced "fuh-kahk-tuh") Chanukah card that had a picture of a Christmas tree on it.

While its fun to make fun of this kind of thing, I have to admit that I don't really care. It certainly is a mistake and shows certain cluelessness on the part of the First Lady's staff, or at least a lack of organizing skills (shouldn't someone have looked at the card first?). But this isn't exactly Hunter Gibson (Mel's dad) denying that the Holocaust actually happened. Also, the card didn't have a picture of the Baby Jesus on it. It was just a tree. (For the record, apologies were quickly offered. Faces, already covered with egg, were red. Feet were in mouths.)

So was it a bit dense for the White House to send a Chanukah card that didn't have a Chanukah image on it? Sure. But is it really that offensive? I don't think so. I'm Jewish, and I happen to like Christmas trees. That's a topic for another post, but for now, I'm not ready to add CardGate to the list of Bush Administration screw-ups.

Source: NY Post via HuffPo

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Malia & Sasha Obama Do D.C. Schools and The White House

SunnyChanel — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:00:00 GMT

If I were Malia and Sasha Obama, I wouldn’t spend too much time thinking of what kind of dog to get, but rather where would I would be spending almost all my time. 10- Year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha will be whittling away the majority of the next four years in two places, school and the White House. Today they got a taste of both.

Michelle Obama took her daughters on a field trip to Washington D.C. to check out the family’s top choices of schools, a list that is not being disclosed by the Obama camp. Michelle’s spokesperson said, "She brought the girls to visit choices for their new schools to make sure they find the right fit," she said. "Their move to Washington is her top priority." They didn’t officially release the choices, but the very visible motorcades may have said it all. There was a small motorcade outside of Sidwell Friends (a private Quaker school that is Chelsea Clinton alma mater and where two of Joe Biden’s granddaughters go) and Georgetown Day (a private school that prides themselves on integration), but at both schools there was no actual sightings of the first family to be. Michelle did already do an initial tour of both the schools last week when the Obamas came to meet with the George W. and Laura Bush.

And speaking of the Bush family, Laura Bush invited the Obama’s over, with grandma in tow, so the girls could check out their new home and, more importantly, their new rooms. I’m sure besides the dog and the schools, what they’re really thinking about is wall colors and curtain choices. Regardless, it was a busy day and will be a busy next four years.

Forget Michelle Obama - Sasha and Malia Are the Fashion Icons in the Family

Source: Salon/AP Photo: Men's Vogue

The Kids of the White House

SunnyChanel — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:30:00 GMT

One of the big topics about the soon-to-be new residents of 1600 Pennsylvains isn’t that they’ll soon be a new master of the house and a new dog. No, the big story –to us at Babble at least - is that there will be two kids making the hallowed halls of the White House their home. There haven’t been many sleep overs, study groups or taffy pulls in recent White House memories but with Malia (10) and Sasha (7), that will all change.

Huffington Post recently posted the photo diary “The Kids of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue: A Retrospective”. The photos are of the offspring - from babyhood to adulthood - that includes the families of Abraham Lincoln, Rutherford Hayes, Theodore Roosevelt, Margaret Truman, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush as well as the various grandkids of previous president. The photos include pics of Reagan building a snow man with his grandkids, Caroline and John Jr. Kennedy having a picnic and Susan Ford doing the hustle at her high school prom (which took place at the White House). You can check out all the first family magic here.

Obama Checks Out Kid's Future Cribs

SunnyChanel — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:00:00 GMT

After having a sit down with President Bush this week and discussing what to do about the economy, the American auto industry and the state of the entire world, what did Barack Obama want to see and do? According to Bush, he wanted to check out his daughter’s potential bedrooms first hand.

Bush told CNN “One of things President-elect Obama was interested in -- after we had our policy discussions -- was his little girls. How would they like the White House? It was interesting to watch him go upstairs, and he wanted to see where his little girls were going to sleep."

Bush continued to say "Clearly, this guy is going to bring a great sense of family to the White House," Bush said. "I hope Laura and I did the same thing, but I believe he will and I know his girls are on his mind and he wants to make sure that first and foremost he is a good dad. And I think that's going to be an important part of his presidency."

As for living in the White House, Malia -in an interview the family did with Access Hollywood during the summer- said "I think my most excitement about it is that I get to redecorate my room. I enjoy decorating. So I get to get this whole new room and do whatever I want!" If the photo above of the First Lady’s Bedroom from 1962 is any indication of how the rooms look, well there will be some serious redecorating to do for sure!

Vi AP

A Taste of Sasha and Malia's White House Rules: But Can They Paint it Pink?

JeanneSager — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:26:00 GMT

It could well be the most historic home in America, but the White House will be a lot like any other house for Barack Obama's young daughters. So what are the limits for Sasha and Malia Obama when they move into 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.?

Apparently, the world really is their oyster now. An ABC News report puts the real rules in the hands of Barack and Michelle. I was kind of surprised, but I should have known. How do you tell the leader of the free world what he can and can't let his kids do? A taste of what's in store:

The girls will have their choice of bedrooms - sixteen different bedrooms to be exact.
If they want to paint the walls pink or splatter on a cow print, that's their perogative (or their parents' anyway).
Choosing what to borrow from presidential memorabilia and neighboring museums will be the hardest part of decorating their rooms. Amy Carter borrowed pint-sized furniture donated when Caroline Kennedy was a first kid. Might Sasha and Malia do the same?
Whatever the furnishings, they'll have to make their own beds each morning per Mom and Dad's rules
Kids in the kitchen are de rigeur in the White House. Cookie baking with the White House pastry chefs is a popular First Kid tradition.

Find out more of what's in store for the Obama girls at ABC News.

Image: ABC News

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Slideshow of Malia and Sasha Growing Up

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 22:30:00 GMT

I can't believe I'm saying this, but on Day 4 of my post-election elation, I think I may be started to get fully satiated with hope and change. I'm not sure I can stand weeping one more friggin' tear of joy. Still, I can't help myself from sharing some of the sweetest baby photos I have ever seen. That they happen to be of the Obamas' daughters, Sasha and Malia, is almost beside the point. These girls are just too precious. And seeing photos of a First Family exhibiting such genuine closeness and joy is pretty inspiring.

The Huffington Post has posted slideshows of 10-year-old Malia and seven-year-old Sasha growing up in the political limelight over the last four years. They will be the youngest kids in the White House since JFK's presidency. Here a few highlights:

Photos: Huffington Post

Girl Power in the White House

Kate Tuttle — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:29:00 GMT

In the midst of all the beautiful news greeting us this morning comes a story from the Times of London, reminding us what nice kids Sasha and Malia Obama are, and how much protection they're going to need as they grow up in the White House. Somehow, I don't worry that much about them. I mean, I'm certain some of the more reprehensible right-wing voices will say an ugly thing or two about them, but I trust their parents to shield them as much as possible. More than that, it's become clear from the way the family has presented itself during this long primary and general-election season just what a strong family unit they are -- and how comfortable and committed both parents are to raising strong daughters.

A lot of us who celebrated Obama's victory last night felt a tiny twinge: as thrilling as it is to celebrate the country's first black president, when will we see a woman in there? I take heart in looking at the younger Obamas in action -- smart, composed, powerful, and certain they can do anything at all they set out to do. Yes, they can -- and someday, a girl very much like them will occupy the White House, not as a first daughter or first lady, but as another historic first.

Dudes for Palin: Vote for the Hot Chick!

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:30:00 GMT

It may not surprise you to learn that, according to the New York Times, “dudes” constitute Sarah Palin’s most vocal supporters. But it may disturb you to learn what these men have to say about her.

Although Palin was ostensibly chosen for her anticipated appeal to women, the former beauty contestant has (gasp!) won over far more men than women, with her initial approval ratings at 44 percent among men and 36 percent among women. (Those numbers have since dropped considerably, down to 31 percent among men.)

Even as many conservatives fault Palin for being, to put it nicely, not “serious” enough, Joe Sixpacks can’t get enough of her. One of Palin's female supporters acknowledged that Palin rallies are about “70-30, maybe 65-35, men to women.” Among the shout-outs that Palin routinely receives at her rallies are cries of, “You tell ‘em babe!” and “You rock me out, Sarah!” Some men sport “Proud to vote for a hot chick” buttons, while others carry “Dudes for Palin” signs.

Palin apparently loves the testosterone-charged rock concert atmosphere of her rallies. After entering a rally to the heading-banging tunes of AC/DC, she told the crowd, “That was kinda cool.” She has also introduced her husband as “Alaska’s First Dude.”

At least one Palin supporter interviewed by the Times admitted that he came to a Palin rally “just to look at her.” He wisely chose to remain anonymous. Let’s hope he realizes that, just as it’s embarrassing to admit to supporting a political candidate simply because of her appearance, actually voting an inexperienced, scandal-plagued woman into the White House simply because she’s “beautiful” at a time in which our country is engaged in two wars, is widely hated throughout the world, and is in the early stages of widespread economic collapse, would be an unforgivably inane decision.

Dudes, if you want to stare at hot chicks, watch Desperate Housewives.

Photo: New York Times

Can a Presidential Candidate Be a Family Man?

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 18:30:00 GMT

I can’t help noticing that the announcement of McCain’s vice presidential pick has conveniently upstaged all reports of Barack Obama’s acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention (which you can watch here).

While I, too, am shocked and fascinated by the fact that McCain’s running mate is an inexperienced, staunchly anti-choice woman whom only he’s only met one time, let’s not forget to keep our eyes on Obama and Biden.

Much of the reports on Palin have focused, on the one hand, on her decision not to abort her child with down’s syndrome (if this makes her a hero, our nation has set the bar abysmally low), and on questions about her commitment to her five children, including an infant, on the other hand. So, if we’re going to judge Palin’s parenting record, what do we know about Obama’s? Obama has repeatedly urged parents to be more involved in their children’s lives, and his own interactions with his daughters Sasha and Malia indicate that he is truly a devoted, loving father.

This short video from the DNC shows the Obama family chatting, albeit in a very stilted environment. While the strong love amongst the Obamas is clear, one could argue that the children of any presidential nominee will inevitably suffer as their parents are consumed by the campaign. What do you think—is it possible to compete for the White House while putting your children first?

Photo: BrotherPeaceMaker

Sasha Obama Hams It Up at the DNC

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:54:00 GMT

This morning at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, the Obamas’ younger daughter, Sasha, gave one of the first indications of the potential fun of having children in the White House who are young enough to enliven otherwise somber political proceedings—but not old enough to be caught binge drinking.

Michelle Obama was doing a walk-through of the DNC stage to prepare for her speech tonight. Six-year-old Sasha stood beside her mother while lights and camera crews made the necessary adjustments. Suddenly, Sasha stood on her tip toes, grabbed the gavel from the podium, and lifted it above her head. Bringing it down hard on the podium, she cried, “Order! Order!”

A bored press corps, grateful for the lighthearted interruption, erupted in laughter along with Sasha. As Huffington Post reporter Seth Colter Walls put it, it was the “most recognizably human behavior” in an otherwise dull and stilted morning.

Photo: Huffington Post

Snow’s Exit Strategy: Make More Money

Madeline Holler — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 15:30:00 GMT

Did anybody else wish out-going White House press secretary Tony Snow would have stayed the course and offered less than full disclosure when he told reporters last month that he planned to leave his job today so that he could go out and make more money? The guy pulled in $168,000 a year. Ouch.

Yes, yes, I know. He made tons more as an anchor and analyst at FOXNews. The White House gig was a significant pay cut. No, no, I don’t begrudge the guy his God-given right to rake it in. He plans to binge on the lucrative speech circuit. I get it, I get it. He’s got three kids, a wife and a fancy lifestyle with matching mortgage to support. No government bailouts in his future.

Still, sheesh. The median income in the U.S. is $48,000, not quite double that for the counties surrounding Snow’s home away from home, Washington, D.C. Most American families bring in nowhere near Snow’s woefully inadequate government salary. Who wants to hear $168K isn’t enough?

Feel free to flip-flop, Mr. Snow. Give us a heartfelt, can’t-put-a-price-on-that reason for leaving: you want to spend more time with your family. There. That feels better.