February 07, 2012

First Lady Michelle Obama tussles with Jimmy Fallon

First Lady Michelle Obama debuts tonight on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon as her Let's Move initiative marks its 2nd anniversary.

The show says Fallon and Obama face-off in several fitness challenges in a skit -- including tug of war and dodgeball.

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January 20, 2012

Obama campaign sends the most popular Obama to campaign in battleground Florida

That would be First Lady Michelle Obama. The WHite House says the First Lady heads to Florida on Thursday for a trio of events, two fundraisers and one of her signature nutrition events.

Obama will be in Tampa with Bob Unanue, the president of Goya Foods, the largest Hispanic-owned U.S. food company, to promote the U.S. Agriculture Department's My Plate or Mi Plato, a national effort to encourage health and wellness.

Obama later will speak at Democratic National Committee fundraisers in Sarasota and Palm Beach.

January 12, 2012

Obama visits his old home/First Lady raises money at rock star's home

In Chicago for a trio of fundraisers, President Obama made time for a swing by his old house in Hyde Park.

He had earlier attended a fundraiser near his house, walking in and exclaiming "It's all my neighbors!" and joking that perhaps he should stop at his house.

"Is somebody mowing the grass in front of my house?" he asked the crowd at the fundraiser. "I don't want people talking about me. 'He's a good president but nobody's mowing the lawn. Bringing down property values.' "

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January 11, 2012

Michelle Obama dismisses claims of tension in the White House

First Lady Michelle Obama says reports in a new book that she had run-ins with White House staff aren't true -- though she told interviewer Gayle King she's not read the book: "I've just gotten into the habit of not reading other people's impressions of people," she said.

In the interview taped yesterday and aired today on CBS's This Morning, Obama said some have sought to cast her as an "angry black woman" since Obama began running for president.

"I guess it's more interesting to imagine this conflicted situation here and a strong woman..." she said. "But that's been an image that people have tried to paint of me since the day Barack announced, that I'm some angry black woman."

The book, The Obamas, by New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor, details tension with former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. But Obama called Emanuel and his wife, "some of our dearest friends" and said she'd never had a "cross word" with him. Gibbs, she said, remains a good friend.

In an interview with NPR's Fresh Air, Kantor herself took issue with what she called some of the "sensationalistic coverage" of her book, saying it's implied that there was "fighting, there were clashes in the hallway. None of that is true. It was a very cool and very distanced relationship."

Obama told King she wants her work as First Lady, including helping military families, to be meaningful.

"I don't want this just to be PR," she said, noting she asks people she meets with, "Do you feel it?"

She ruled out any political ambitions of her own: "I don't have an interest in political life in that way," she said. "Never have, never will."

With GOP heading to S.C., Obama heads home to raise money

As the field of GOP'ers hoping to replace him lands in South Carolina today for the state's Jan. 21 primary, President Barack Obama is off to his hometown of Chicago for three fundraisers.

The events include two events at private homes as well as a large fundraiser at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where tickets began at $44. His campaign and Democrats have already pulled in more than $150 million.

First Lady Michelle Obama held a campaign fundraiser in Richmond -- tickets began at $500.

Vice President Joe Biden took on the Republican field Tuesday night in a video address to New Hampshire Democrats, telling them that Obama is on the side of the middle class. He took aim at front runner Mitt Romney, saying "he thinks it's more important for the stockholders and the shareholders and the investors and the venture capital guys to do well, (than) for those employees to be part of the bargain.

"We inherited a broken bargain," he said. "A deal that our parents didn't have to face. Middle class folks, if you gave them an even chance, they got to share in the benefits they helped to produce for this country. That bargain was broken during the Bush years and we were determined to fix it."

Biden said Republicans don't understand the concept of the broken bargain.

"Listen to Mitt Romney," he said. "He has no idea the bargain even exists, let alone is broken."

November 01, 2011

Jimmy Kimmel to headline WHCA dinner

Jimmy Kimmel will be the entertainer at the White House Correspondents' Association’s 98th annual dinner next spring, association president Caren Bohan announced today.
 "Jimmy's humor is sophisticated and edgy while appealing to a wide audience," said Bohan, White House correspondent for Reuters. "We are thrilled that Jimmy has accepted our invitation to be the featured comedian at our annual dinner."
The dinner, on April 28, 2012, is one of the major social events in Washington,  traditionally attended by the President and First Lady as well as many other senior government officials and members of the press corps. Proceeds from the dinner go toward scholarships and awards aimed at supporting aspiring journalists and recognizing excellence in the profession. 
 

 

October 03, 2011

Did White House stage Michelle Obama trek toTarget?

It was a great photo for the White House, a candid shot of First Lady Michelle Obama seemingly incognito shopping among the regular people at Target. Just the sort of thing to counter the image of her as a wealthy jet setter.

Now there's rampant speculation that the White House staged the photo, giving advance word to an Associated Press photographer about the unannounced trip to the Target store in the Virginia suburbs of DC. The Washington Post reports that the speculation, started among conservatives, is being fed by the refusal of the White House to answer any questions about the photo.

 

June 21, 2011

Michelle Obama meets with Mandela

First Lady Michelle Obama met Tuesday with Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg during her visit to South Africa.

From the White House pool report filed by Kathy Skiba of the Chicago Tribune:

First lady Michelle Obama met Tuesday afternoon with Nelson Mandela, this nation's first black president, a revered figure who has largely disappeared from public view for many months.

It was a historic meeting for Mandela, 92, an iconic symbol of the country's fight against apartheid, and Obama, 47, the first black wife of a U.S. president.

The first lady arrived Monday for a weeklong official visit to Africa. She and Mandela had not before met.
 
In 2005, Mandela met then-Sen. Obama in Washington, D.C. and a photo from that visit is kept in Mandela's office, aides to the first lady said.

Tuesday's face-to-face with the U.S. first lady took place at Mandela's home, near his foundation, in Johannesburg's well-manicured Houghton neighborhood.
 
Mrs. Obama was accompanied in the meeting by her mother, Marian Robinson, and daughters Malia, 12 and Sasha, 10.

Mandela, who was joined by his wife at Tuesday's gathering, was hospitalized in January with an acute lung infection.

Mandela, for 27 years held prisoner here for his fight against apartheid, was president of South Africa from 1994-99. He will be 93 on July 18. The Nelson Mandela Foundation, visited last July by former President Bill Clinton in honor of Mandela's birthday, aims to use the "history, values, vision and the respect harnessed by Mr. Mandela to provide a platform for public discourse on important social issues," according to a backgrounder from the White House.

June 20, 2011

MIchelle Obama and daughters start Africa trip

First Lady Michelle Obama, her mother and her daughters arrived in South Africa Monday, the start of a two-country trip to sub-Saharan Africa.

From the pool report filed  by Krissah Thompson of the Washington Post:

First Lady Michelle Obama who is traveling with her mother, daughters, niece and nephew arrived at Waterkloof Air force base in Pretoria, South Africa following an uneventful flight at approximately 9:20 pm local time.
 
The plane was refueled in Cape Verde. In Pretoria, she was greeted by U.S. Ambassador Donald Gips, Mrs. Elizabeth Berry Gips, Benjamin Gips - age 14, Samuel Gips - age 18. South African officials Grace Mason, acting Chief of Protocol, Department of International Relations and Cooperation Minister and Nosiviwe Mapisa - Nqakula, Minister of Correctional Services also greeted FLOTUS and her family. 
FLOTUS wore a bright orange and black Duro Olowu sweater. The designer is of African descent, WH officials said.  
The Obama daughters were given South African blankets with colors of the nation's flag by young children of the protocol officer as a welcome. They wrapped themselves in the blankets. It is winter here and a chilly 51 degrees. After the brief open press arrival attended by your pool, four traveling colleagues, and a few broadcast cameras, Mrs. Obama's motorcade headed to Johannesburg where she will stay for the night.  
 
 
This is the first lady's fourth trip to the continent of Africa and her first to South Africa. This is her second solo official visit. 
 

 

May 24, 2011

Obamas staying in "newlywed suite" at palace

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama arrived at Buckingham Palace in London Tuesday for a state visit and found they’re staying in what might be called the honeymoon suite.

Shortly after arriving at the 775-room palace, the Obamas were shown to their six room suite by Queen Elizabeth II. It was last used by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their wedding night.

"It may not be the same bed,” said one palace aide. “It is the same suite."

After the tour, the Obamas were to meet briefly with the newlywed couple – also known as Prince William and Kate -- before walking outside for a formal arrival ceremony.

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