Obama: My Kids Won't Be Doing Any More Interviews

WASHINGTON — Don't expect to see more of Barack Obama's young daughters on television any time soon.

The Democratic presidential candidate and his wife, Michelle, allowed the syndicated program "Access Hollywood" to interview their daughters, Malia and Sasha, as Malia celebrated her 10th birthday. The four-part interview began airing Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Obama said he had second thoughts after seeing how much attention the interview had received. The Obamas had been keeping Malia and 7-year-old Sasha out of the media spotlight.

"It was an exception, it was Malia's birthday, we were in Montana, everybody was having a good time," he told "Good Morning America" on ABC. "I think we got carried away a little bit. Generally what makes them so charming is the fact that they're not spending a lot of time worrying about TV cameras or politics and we want to keep it that way."

Asked if he regretted the interview, Obama said: "A little bit of pause, Michelle and I, particularly given the way it sort of went around the cable stations. I don't think it's healthy and it's something that we'll be avoiding in the future."

In the "Access Hollywood" interview, Malia said she sometimes finds her father embarrassing, such as when he shook a friend's hand instead of waving to her or saying hi. Asked what makes their parents angry, Sasha said whining and Malia cited arguing with each other.

(This version CORRECTS to show that "Access Hollywood" is a syndicated program, not a cable show.)

Comments

[SC341]

02:41 AM on 07/10/2008

Obama looked extremely uncomfortable during this interview. He made a bad choice in having his family interview on a sleazy show such as "Access Hollywood." (I never watch it). Isn't this the venue for Paris Hilton et al?? He should have done something like Larry King Live or anything other than a sleazy show such as Access Hollywood.

[HatingTheGame]

01:36 AM on 07/10/2008

That's ok, every time my current president speaks, I get highly embarrassed, so what's a 10 year old going to do that's worse?

[in4success]

06:44 AM on 07/10/2008

the sad shame here is that she was more educated, articulate, charming, coherent, eloquent, interesting, credible, integral and presidential than our friggin' president who reminds me of a kid in second grade who forced us to ditch him during recess so we wouldn't be provoked to stuff him head first in the dumpster.

i'm not terribly certain the majority of americans are deserving of such an ethereal leader and first family --- we'll just f*ck it up somehow . . . ya know, by swallowing the neo-con rumors and lies force fed us through the corporate controlled fascist MSM. we're like propaganda crackheads lured by the gateway dumb-down of jerry springer, OJ trials and 24/7 cable news wars.

in all truth the best thing that could happen to the (miserably failed) human race is another global extinction meteor impact event --- then, hopefully in a few billion years a species will rise from the ashes that isn't so... nasty.

"greatest country in the world" my a**! ---the majority of americans don't even inderstand the actual concept our forefathers framed for us, nor can they name more than two or three of them and they have to be on friggin' currency or have a bridge named after them.

[FOXYLADY]

09:31 AM on 07/10/2008

NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING CAN BE MORE EMBARRASSING THAN GEORGE W. BUSH. EACH TIME HE OPENS HIS MOUTH OR IS SEEN VISITING OTHER HEADS OF STATE HE IS A TOTAL EMBARRASSMENT. ESPECIALLY WHEN HE "DANCES" AND TRIES TO ACT "HOMEY"!!

[lvgal]

10:48 PM on 07/09/2008

Does anyone remember the reason Bush was elected? HE was the guy everyone wanted to "have a beer with".
This time, we got a guy who knows how to give a speech and draws crowds like a rock star, a family that everyone would "like to be neighbor's with", a wife everyone wants as their "best friend" who wears dresses everyone wants to buy, and "such adorable kids" that are going to look so cute in the white house.............when are we going to start using our brains to pick a president?
Hollywood Access is exactly where this interview belonged, because in reading most of the remarks, it's exactly where the voter's mentality is...............unfortunately,

[LynnElizabeth]

12:17 AM on 07/10/2008

Yes, perhaps the Obama family is one that people identify with and would like to be close to. However, that is not the reason people are going to vote for Barack Obama. This man proposes to bring an end to the war, bring discussion to the world table and not go to war in the first place in order to bring more wealth to his friends, tax the very rich, help the middle class, pay attention to the environmental crisis; the list goes on and on. Your comment that the votors' mentality is set at a superficial level and, therefore, the reason we are voting for Barack Obama is that he's a cool guy, his wife is a great gal, and the kids are adorable is way off base.

By the way, I believe that many people who voted for Bush did so because he's a guy they'd like to down a few beers with; many of those people are now McCain supporters, as are the rich who will be adversely affected by the higher taxes proposed by Obama.

[lvgal]

02:47 AM on 07/10/2008

Gee, Lynn.........he also "proposed" to take public funding or at least discuss it ........oh, yes, and he "proposed" to filibuster the FISA bill............how's that working out?

[mypov123]

12:19 AM on 07/10/2008

Lemme guess, you wanted Hillary??

[lvgal]

03:01 AM on 07/10/2008

Actually, I just "want" someone who really wants to "change things". Someone who has a record of helping people and who would really like to do that for all of us, not someone who just wants to be President at any cost or has a "label" I like.
I've been around a long time and one thing I've learned is that if you can't depend on them to keep their word BEFORE they're elected, you can forget about expecting them to do what they said AFTER they're elected. (kind of like marriage :-)
At this point, I haven't seen or heard what I "want".
Although, I'm not denying the Obama's package has been wrapped the best.

[SignedSealedDelivered]

08:58 PM on 07/09/2008

see, that just makes him more "normal" all 10 yr. old girls are embarrassed by their fathers

[terraprieto]

07:38 PM on 07/09/2008

I've been uncomfortable with seeing Obama's minor children for a while now. I wish they were not in photos, and did not join Obama on stage before his speeches.

I don't think it is appropriate for minor children to be part of political campaigns. Their privacy should be respected, and they should be sheltered from becoming targets of the loonies out there, as much as possible.

I hope we really do see the Obama children disappear from campaign coverage.

[pupbayer]

11:42 PM on 07/09/2008

I whole heartedly agree!

[LettuceB1]

01:48 AM on 07/10/2008

Umm, your heroes, the Clintons, paraded Chelsea , all three times they tried to get in the W.H.

Double standards, pup, double standards....LOL

[mypov123]

09:33 PM on 07/12/2008

You have a heart??

[MossyOak]

07:13 PM on 07/09/2008

It always amazes me how two people can see the same thing and come away with totally opposite opinions about what they saw. The American Public has a right to see a candidate's family, to listen and look, and see what they're about because they will be living in the White House. One glimpse is enough, we don't need to wallow like voyeurs. Obama is smart enough to know the impact his candidacy will have on his family, both the good and the bad, and probably lots of both.

Bush trotted out his girls during both elections, then kept the press away from them the rest of the time, especially Jenna's bout with alcohol, athough it was apparently A-OK for the media to help her sell her silly book.

Give the Obama family a break and let's get on with fixing the mess left by Jenna's daddy-O.

[LynnElizabeth]

06:31 PM on 07/09/2008

What a beautiful family. Barack Obama has had my support from the moment I first heard him speak; Michelle is lovely, and someone I wish were my friend in addition to the next First Lady; and their children are adorable, spunky, and on their way to becoming as impressive as their parents. Please, Barack and Michelle, do not beat yourselves up over this interview. If this will be the final family interview, fine, but this piece gives us a glimpse of the Obama family dynamics and is exceedingly heartwarming. It is also very refreshing to have a presidential candidate allow his family to speak to the press without being posed and scripted.

[soundfury]

06:19 PM on 07/09/2008

Okay, I'm getting very upset with idiots who are saying that O threw it under the bus. It? What is "it"? What he did is give access to a family interview once, and then made clear that his kids would not be part of any other interviews. I agree 110% with him. Just because they were included in one interview, does not mean that now his kids should be subjected to a free for all of interviews. He's just making this clear. It was a one time interview that included the kids, period. What is wrong with that? Nothing. So stop making much ado about nothing.

[MaryanneAZ]

05:44 PM on 07/09/2008

Great family. Great interview. Love those "Obama Girls"! I understand Barack's decision to avoid any future interviews with his children. Too many nut jobs out there. This interview provided a refreshing peek into the real man and his wonderful family. I am more convinced than ever that he will make a great President. Obama '08

[phyllip]

05:45 PM on 07/09/2008

Beautiful family and will be nice to see this family in the white house. The oldest girl sure looks like her father. The youngest one is really cute. Both of them are cute. Just think if Obama is in the white house for eight years the girls will be in there teens. Will be nice to see them each Christmas in the white house.

[kinnycut]

07:17 PM on 07/09/2008

Right On!

[BigSid]

05:43 PM on 07/09/2008

TYPICAL OBAMA

He gets the benefit from something, then throws it under the bus. The kids were great, the interview was good, no need for you to throw it under the bus now.

Seriously, is this guy comfortable with any decision he has ever made? Doesn't seem like he is to me.

[MsLiz]

06:23 PM on 07/09/2008

I can't think of anything nice to say about this comment, so I am not saying anything at all.

[Ethics101]

08:33 PM on 07/09/2008

Just look at every word under the microscope. It was a good interview. He'll stop while he's ahead. How about Jenna saying who she might vote for? More headlines on that please.

[Jahmekyah]

06:46 PM on 07/09/2008

WOW. Somehow you manage to turn a father's concern for his little girls into a political flip-flop argument. Applause to you my friend. You see what politics does to people. You see the result of kids who are in the lime light too early. Do you have kids? Daughters? I doubt you do. But if you do, question your judgment.

[sej100]

05:28 PM on 07/09/2008

Typical Obama , he took advantage of situation to show his kids to win you over , the denounced the concept after he gains from it, to pretend he wont exploit them.
He always manages to play both sides of most issues.

The Clintons always just protected Chelsea when she was young.

[mypov123]

05:52 PM on 07/09/2008

Please, shut the hell up. He probably thought it would only be shown on Access Hollywood, not on every MSM network all day long. And they didn't leave their children alone with the reporter, they were right there with them. There was nothing wrong with the interview, the haters just came out to give their 1 cent opinions to make the Obamas look like they were exploiting their kids when this was the first interview they ever gave in a campaign that lasted over an entire year. So wipe the smile off your face, there's no problem, just the mental problem that you clearly have.

[soundfury]

06:26 PM on 07/09/2008

Thank you for stating basically what I tried to state that never got posted.

[ann1]

06:35 PM on 07/09/2008

mypov--thank you.....thank you!

[nk007]

08:14 PM on 07/09/2008

Wonderful for the Clintons. Please get over it. Sen. Clinton lost. Besides, the Clintons are not necessarily the paragons of virtue. And please don't imply that Obama does not protect his children just because of one interview during his daughter's 10th birthday. You Clinton lovers have become so obsessed with the hatred of Obama and it is blinding you! Anything Obama does is turned into something evil and sinister. These vile attacks on Obama may help elect McCain, I doubt that they will convince Obama delegate supporters to abandon him and nominate Hillary. Vote for McCain if you must but enough of these childish Obama bashing!

[dlbdpb]

05:26 PM on 07/09/2008

This was such a wonderful thing to see. So unpretentious and down to earth. This is exactly
what we need to be in charge of this country and for the rest of the world to see.

[southafrica4obama]

05:20 PM on 07/09/2008

That belt...

[demfriend]

05:11 PM on 07/09/2008

I think although I wouldn't do it againe either, that the interview showed them to be a real family with real issues about kids fighting and whining as well as being bright enough to talk and speak their opinions. it was a great break from the usual crap and photo op versions of families we get stuck with. I think the interactions being real and showing the dynamic of them being a loving family will go a longer way than Barack thinks. His kids will ahave their whole world change when he wins and they are white house kids and the property of the world like all kids of famous are. Cameras and microphones will be their lot in life unless they do a good job of not press contact as has been done before.