The Friends Of Barack: Obama's Real Inner Circle

At a tense point in Barack Obama's campaign, his closest friends got together and decided that, whatever it took, they would make him laugh.

It was early May, and Obama was trying to stave off a comeback by Hillary Rodham Clinton. Chatting privately with the candidate before a late-night stop in Indiana, Marty Nesbitt, Valerie Jarrett and Eric Whitaker started riffing about how utterly draining the campaign had been. They began laughing and couldn't stop -- until strategist David Axelrod walked up with a set of distressing poll numbers.

"We were telling stories and teasing him and trying to lighten the mood," Jarrett recalled. "Then Axelrod came in and threw cold water on it. It was like, man, all that hard work!"

At the upper reaches of the Democratic Party, "FOB" used to mean "Friend of Bill," as in Clinton. With Obama's victory on Tuesday, "FOB" is the new acronym for the close-knit corps of Chicago neighbors, graduate school classmates, pickup basketball teammates and family friends of the incoming president.

A few Friends of Barack are likely to follow him to the White House, Jarrett being the most probable candidate. Others expect to stay close to Obama through the thicket of personal and business ties that have evolved over decades.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Philament]

Barack exhibits a number of Vulcan traits - his emotional self-control (no drama Obama) and a very logical, reasoned approach to his work. Trekkies for Obama want more Vulcans in the White House. And so we insist that, whatever role Valerie Jarrett plays, she must keep the hairstyle:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/us/politics/06jarrett.html

[CUL8R]

I know how the Obama's feel. It is so important to have friends who you trust, who are honest and who can keep you grounded.

[canucklivinginUSA]

Valerie Jarett did a great job on MTP. Love her dedication

[jdmba]

I loved how she and Obama said no words after he won. The fact that they just had a look, says so much... Sometimes, words can't say enough, and you know the strength of your relationship when one word says it all.

[jdmba]

The image of him taking a nap with all of his friends chatting around him makes me tear up. We all need to laugh and smile, and I'm so glad that he is the type of man with real, strong friendships and not just a "network." Black people have always emphasized extended family, and this reminds me of mine.

[VAVet4Obama]

Gallup: 68% 'favorable rating' for Obama

President-elect Barack Obama comes away from Election Day with a 68% "favorable rating," the latest USA TODAY/Gallup Poll shows. That's up from 62% who said they think favorably of him just before the election. The poll numbers were released just moments ago.

Obama's pre-election 62% favorable rating was the highest of any major presidential candidate since Gallup began measuring it in 1992.

Meanwhile, President Bush starts his last 10 weeks in office with 68% of those polled saying they don't approve of the job he's doing -- a slight improvement from just before Election Day, when 70% of those polled said they disapproved.

[marymansour]

As a southern white liberal who voted for Obama, I see the rays of a dawning era - Camelot with a rainbow of races and creeds. How beautiful that will be.

[liseworks]

It's always been the dream, the possibility ...Obama's fabulous character has made it a reality !

[FedUp60]

I have been following Obama and his plans very closely and feel positive that this is the type of President we have needed for many, many years. He said that he wants both Republicans and Democrats at his meetings because it will give him challenges to work with. No ones ideas will be taken lightly. It was always GWB and his cronies' way or no way!

[Softnsweet]

The republicans will do everything they can to stop any kind of working together. They are the worst bunch of people that I have ever seen.

[Totto]

As a volunteer on the campaign, I feel that he is my friend, even though we will never meet.

[thatonetoo]

Totto and Mary,I'm both a southern white and on the road volunteer and,as you both say,it feels like aprt of me is there too. It feels good when you know you really are part of a change..FOR the good.

[roshni]

I'm glad he has such a close and loyal support system. He's going to need it. I hope they are all happy in Washington after living in Chicago and have a smooth transition.

[JonG345]

Obama 2012

[Ksisay]

And Michelle in 2016 -- hey the Clintons couldn't do it, but maybe the Obamas could...

[lynettema]

We are all his friends. He may not know all of us personally, but we provide the Karma he needs.

[liseworks]

That's very true ; )

[goldnchyl]

ya know? ;)

[jdmba]

Isn't it weird? We all think of him as a friend/ father figure for the nation! There will always be haters, but there is so much love for this man and his family, we will see him through it!

[redkittyred]

It makes me think of the FDR days when many households had framed photos of the president in their homes. They felt close to their president and he brought them hope in the depression era. I'd like to see Obama bring back the fireside chats in some form.

[liseworks]

If only I had known him through the tense times - I could have helped keep him calm & laughing !

Sigh ....he'll never know what he missed : ))

[Furby]

liseworks, I'm certain you're well intended but you're sounding a bit scary, as in stalkerish. Don't take this obsession any further, it's not healthy.

[liseworks]

Whew ! Thanks for warning me - golllly, what I almost became - thanks !!

[FaceYourFears]

Compared to some of the other comments I've read.....liseworks is no stalker!

[AlaskanWannaB]

LOL.

[jdmba]

Hey, he's hot. That's a fair thing to say. Better Pres Elect worship than celebrity worship. I mean... US Weekly had the First Family (elect) on the cover! I'd much rather hear about them than Paris Hilton!

[jdmba]

I mean Pres Elect Worship is BETTER THAN celeb worship.

[joshuahmcdonald]

When the announcement was made that Obama had won the Presidency there were about 6 phone calls that my wife and I HAD to make. If Obama's friends are a support to him as the people I called that night to share his victory with are to me then I am happy for him beyond measure.

[marlainWA]

Sounds like he has a great group. I was the same way. At a dem party in a restaurant bar (we had the whole restaurant) my phone kept ringing...who I ended up talking to the most was my best friend in Sydney, Aus. I met her on a blog to lose weight and we became friends 3 yrs ago. I just love the modern age...

[shirleen01]

Well now his enemies will want to be his friend.

[jacklambert]

My question now is since the election is now over is there any accountability of the MSM cheerleaders of the Bush Administration? And the follow up question is is the ONLY accountability of the Bush Administration to be voted out of office.

I think I will run for office. I can lie to voters/punters with impunity to get into office and when I've ripped them off retire with ( by then ) my very wealthy friends.

Voters are suckers or they don't paying attention. I can see why Rethugs don't believe in education

[Invox]

"For a man to have friends, he must show himself friendly."

[munki]

Down to earth

[MargaretO]

The more I learn about the Obama family, the more I like about them.