Obama Reveals Anniversary Plans For Today

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Barack Obama would like one simple thing for his 16th wedding anniversary _ a quiet date with his wife.

It's unlikely, given that the Democratic presidential candidate doesn't go anywhere without drawing attention these days. He's putting his campaign on hold Friday night to fly back to Chicago and take his wife, Michelle, out to an Italian restaurant.

"I've got this whole romantic dinner planned," Obama told a rally in Grand Rapids. "I think it should go pretty well. That's my hope any ways. I've got a gift all picked out."

The campaign has kept the couple apart for much of the last two years. Even on Thursday when both were campaigning in Michigan, they were in different parts of the state and didn't plan to see each other.

Obama told reporters aboard his campaign plane that he never forgets their anniversary, after it slipped his wife's mind their first year. Asked for his thoughts on how to maintain a marriage for 16 years, he suggested a sense of humor, listening and "never get so mad that you forget why you love them."

"You know what you guys could give us for our anniversary?" he said, turning to the television reporters. "Not have a camera pool outside of the restaurant, so that everybody knows that we're there."

Related: The Obamas' Greatest PDA Moments (SLIDESHOW)

Comments

[SEQUOIABISON]

Can John McCain recall the anniversary of his marriage to his first wife, or his second wife for that matter?

Just imagine if Barack had dumped his wife to marry a younger richer woman, what the McCain camp would be doing with that info? Trashing him mercilessly, the way they did with the Rev Wright.

But since they have not been able to find too many slanderous things to throw against Obama, they will fabricate something, they are now in Kamikaze mode where they have nothing to lose by going extremely negative. It did not help Hillary but they could manage to change the subject and get off defense??

Obama/Biden

[LouisN]

Yeah -- particularly if Obama dumped his first wife to marry a younger, richer AND WHITE woman!! Oh, God help us!! Then he'd be an Uncle Tom who's trying to "get in" with THE MAN!!

[IllinoisTexan43]

John and Cindy McCain are so obviously in a loveless marriage. The man shows no sign of consideration for his wife, much less, love. But I don't pity them. That's what they get. He only saw a young, clueless female who was able to finance his political career. The two of them together sickens me. Classic 'Republican Family Values'. Sen. Obama and Mrs. Obama ARE the real thing and it shows. Happy Anniversary and many, many more to come!

[CeciliaBertrand]

The press won't comply - In 9 years, maybe....Happy Anniversary Mr President and First Lady.

[marcelisa]

here, here!

[shirleen01]

To heck with the press.

[notthistime]

excellent request. I hope the media allows them some quiet time tomorrow.

[imjustawitchywoman]

Could the Press PLEASE respect this? I think that it woul;d be a nice gesture to allow Barack and Michelle a little privacy on this special day.

After all....come January....they will have little to no privacy at all....while being the First Family.

Happy Anniversary to the Obama's!!!!

Yes we can!!!

[PHM]

Hey, Barack...take her to Bravissimo on Clark...killer Italian...small...cozy...perfect!

[Candyx]

Finally a chance to have a couple in the White House that actually loves each other.

[Ivygreen]

Amen

[AmericasMostGangsta]

I know...we've had bush and the joker together the last 8 years!

[psychmaj323]

LOL, "the joker?" LOL, that's wrong, LOL.

[nevadagirl]

Jimmy Carter sent me his last book. He and Rosalynn have been very happily married Forever. They went mountain climbing and flyfishing together in their sixties and seventies.

[FACINGREALIT]

So true - Happy 16th Anniversay Senator and Mrs. Obama and heres to many, many more. God Bless you and your family and one of my prayers on this day is that the press afford the both of you the opportunity to spend some quiet time together. And at the very least, may the Lord provide you a way to sneak out without them! Send cars in every direction or pull the old duck and dash manuver!

[PHM]

Now, really...how sweet is that? I love that he loves her so much.

[quasar]

They do love each other don't they. It shows.

[CostaMesaJoe]

Obama has class and is a real man.
Meanwhile, McCain offers his wife to a group of bikers at Miss Buffalo Chip.......

[notthistime]

RAOTFL

[TuffCookie]

LMFAO!!!!!!

[Kadaniel]

Cindy would have probably been grateful

[lynnn]

AHHH that's cute.

[atila]

they deserve a little time together,hopefully the media understand this...

[CVale]

Great couple. I hope the press complies. Maybe, if they did, it would usher in a whole new era of respect between the press and public official's private lives.