Obama Family on The Huffington Post

Obama Aunt Zeituni Onyango Sobs Over Split From Barack, Attacks 'Birthers'

2009-12-01T07:12:43Z

BOSTON — President Barack Obama's aunt buried her face in her hands and sobbed as she described her anguish over no longer having contact with him and his family after the revelation she had been living illegally for years in the United States in public housing.

Zeituni Onyango (zay-TUH'-nee awn-YAHN'-goh) told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview that she is troubled that her immigration woes have made her a political liability to her nephew.

The First Family's Cutest Holiday Moments (PHOTOS,POLL)

2009-11-30T15:50:52Z

It was the Obamas' first major holiday at the White House, which meant great picture opportunities for America's most photogenic family. See some of their sweeter Thanksgiving weekend moments below, and vote for your favorite.

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Barack Obama Basketball PHOTOS: Obama Family Attends Oregon State-George Washington Game

2009-11-28T17:22:05Z

President Obama attended today's Oregon State-George Washington University basketball game to cheer on his brother-in-law, Beavers coach Craig Robinson. The first lady, Malia and Sasha Obama, and President Obama's mother-in-law Marian Robinson were in attendance as well. According to the AP, the family was "intensely interested in the outcome." All of the cheering paid off, as Oregon State won, 64-57. Below, see photos of the Obamas rooting for the Beavers.

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White House Christmas Tree Arrives

2009-11-27T15:40:04Z

WASHINGTON -- The White House is now open for Christmas.

First lady Michelle Obama, along with daughters Malia and Sasha, received the official White House Christmas tree on Friday: an 18 1/2-foot Douglas fir delivered from a farm in Shepherdstown, W.Va., by traditional horse-drawn carriage. Growers Eric and Gloria Sundback officially presented it to the family.

It's the fourth time one of the Sundback's trees has been selected for the White House.

The tree is destined for the Blue Room, where scores of volunteers will decorate it. The tree will be the star attraction of Christmas at the White House, seen by thousands of people at holiday parties and on public tours of the executive mansion.

Next Thursday, the Obamas will flip a switch to light the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse.

How The Obama Family Spent Thanksgiving

2009-11-27T12:59:13Z

What does the leader of the free world tuck into on Bird Day?

Anything -- and everything -- he wants.

White House Thanksgiving Dinner: MENU

2009-11-26T15:23:15Z

The White House has released details about the First Family's Thanksgiving dinner:

They are hosting about 50 guests including family, friends and staff. Obama's favorite Thanksgiving dishes are turkey and pumpkin pie.

Menu:
Turkey
Honey-Baked Ham
Cornbread Stuffing
Oyster Stuffing
Greens
Macaroni and Cheese
Sweet Potatoes
Mashed Potatoes
Green Bean Casserole

Banana Cream Pie
Pumpkin Pie
Apple Pie
Sweet Potato Pie
Huckleberry Pie
Cherry Pie

Obamas Spend Weekend At Camp David (PHOTOS)

2009-11-09T08:28:31Z

On Saturday, the first family made their first trip to Camp David since Labor Day weekend. They spent the night at the weekend retreat--where they have been known to hold talent shows--before returning to the White House on Sunday afternoon. See photos below.

Or read more about and see more photos of Camp David HERE.

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Mona Gable: A Lesson From Barack (and Malia) Obama

2009-11-06T18:43:59Z

I know this isn't nice, but I was secretly pleased when the President outed Malia for getting a C on her science test. As a parent I found the news immensely reassuring. Why, the elder First Daughter has as much trouble juggling homework, sports and her social life as my kids do! I marveled.

Granted, Malia lives in a much grander house and vacations in places like Russia as opposed to spending the day at the local grubby beach. If she needs one mom and dad also won't have to pony up $50 an hour for an algebra tutor.

But she also has the Secret Service accompanying her to sleepovers and nosing around her Facebook page (Like she probably even has one. Remember Dad's fight to keep his BlackBerry?). And she's under enormous pressure to succeed in school, all while living under a
microscope every second.

It can't always be fun having a dad who's President, a best-selling author and a Nobel Laureate. Not to mention one who occasionally spills your secrets to the entire world. (Thanks, Dad!) Then there's mom, a crack organic gardener, international style icon, Harvard Law grad, who's as popular as Taylor Swift. How's an 11-year-old to top that?

Appropriately enough the occasion for this betrayal was an education speech at a charter middle school in Madison, Wisconsin. The President was spelling out what schools need to do to win grants from the Department of Education's $4.35-billion "Race to the Top" fund. He wasn't in a particularly forgiving mood. Referring to public schools, he said there should be "no excuse for mediocrity."

Given Dad's high expectations, maybe the C wasn't entirely surprising. It certainly wasn't terrible. (Although I would have hated to be Malia when she told her parents. You know how the President gets that stern look.) As it turns out, Malia quickly bounced back, earning 95 on her very next test.

Here's how Dad explained her turnaround in the Los Angeles Times: "What was happening was she had started wanting it more than us."

And that's the real lesson I think parents should absorb from this. That no matter what your ambitions are as a parent, you can't control how motivated your children are or what they achieve. It has to come from them.

I learned this the hard way. Despite making sure my kids did their homework in elementary school, going online to check their assignments in middle school, emailing their teachers when there was a problem in high school, all the while trying not to be the noxious helicopter parent, they occasionally did not meet my standards of excellence.

In middle school I remember lining up in the cafeteria to talk with my son's teachers about his "progress report." Talk about the line of shame. It was a dreadful ritual. Invariably I'd be right behind the parent whose 13-year-old had perfect citizenship and straight A's. All of which I'd have to hear about while my son looked around anxiously and fidgeted. Knowing that he did not have such grades. Knowing that I'd be angry with his Bs and Cs and missing assignments.

I did not see then that my son, with his ADHD, his charming personality, his prowess at skateboarding and music, had other gifts. Gifts that his overcrowded public school and overtaxed teachers did not necessarily appreciate, much less have the resources to cultivate. I had to accept that he was probably not bound for Oxford.

My daughter has hit similar bumps in her academic career. Last year it was the dreaded English poet Milton that did her in. "I hate poetry," she would fume every night, as she sat poring over phrases in Middle English. "I don't understand it. I don't get why we have to learn this." Her teacher, who could not get enough of Milton, alas, was not particularly sympathetic. Thank goodness she's taking women's studies this semester!

This month she's sending out her college applications. Like a good parent, I'm trying not to ask, "So, how's that essay coming?" every five minutes. A few months ago she broke the news that she would not be applying to Berkeley, her mother's beloved alma mater. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, mom, but I don't want to go to a school where I'm too stressed out." (Not incidentally, we've had similar conversations about the fact she will not be entering journalism, like her parents. Which only goes to show how smart she is.)

My daughter is not me. What a shock. And I suppose this goes without saying, but neither is my son. If I can get out of their way and let them make mistakes, learn from them, grow up, they'll both forge their own distinctive paths.

Just as Malia Obama will, Dad.

Michelle Obama's First Lady-Like Hair: Love It Or Lose It? (PHOTOS, POLL)

2009-11-05T08:40:43Z

Update 11/5:
Last night the first family--the president, first lady, Malia, Sasha, and First Granny Marian Robinson--hosted an evening of classical music in the East Room of the White House. Judging from the pictures, actor Ed Norton, senior adviser David Axelrod and Secretary of Veteran Affairs Eric Shinseki were also there. Scroll down for photos.

The first lady wore a form-fitting white dress from Talbots, which costs $226, and gold bangles. Her hair remained in an updo.

11/4:
First Lady Michelle Obama kept a busy schedule on Wednesday afternoon, emceeing the Coming Up Taller Awards, which recognize outstanding out-of-school and after-school programs in the arts and humanities, and hosting an afternoon classical music concert. More info on both events below.

Naturally, she looked good doing it. She wore a grey tweed suit (designer info to come) and her hair in an updo. Washington's best-dressed woman, Social Secretary Desiree Rogers, was also in the (White) House. Take a closer look below.

On the classical music concert, as reported by Nancy Benac, Associated Press:

WASHINGTON - With two concerts and a series of workshops for young musicians, the White House put a big spotlight on classical music Wednesday and sent a strong message that it's not just for stuffed shirts.

"Nothing mixes old and new like classical music," first lady Michelle Obama told students who spent the morning in music workshops and then attended an afternoon concert in which child prodigies shared the stage with some of classical music's biggest superstars.

"You can mix and blend your instruments in ways that Beethoven and Mozart never could have imagined," the first lady told the youngsters, pronouncing them "the classical music superstars of tomorrow."

Acclaimed pianist Awadagin Pratt plunked himself down on a piano bench next to 14-year-old Lucy Hattemer of Cincinnati to perform a Schubert duet on the East Room's Steinway. Renowned cellist Alisa Weilerstein, 27, was upstaged by her 8-year-old partner, Sujari Britt, a student at New York's Manhattan School of Music, when they performed a duet by Italian composer Luigi Boccherini.

The concert also featured performances by Grammy-winners Sharon Isbin on guitar and Joshua Bell on violin.

Bell, performing in shirt sleeves and jeans, introduced a Paganini duet with Isbin by telling the audience that the Italian violinist was "sort of like the Beatles of his time."

Bell also showed that not even the pros are immune to the occasional flub. During his duet with Isbin, Bell inadvertently skipped a couple of lines, and jokingly pronounced it "the abridged version."

President Barack Obama was to speak at an evening concert featuring some of the same musicians.

Mrs. Obama gave the youngsters a big shout-out for practicing even when they don't feel like it, lugging around heavy instruments and laboring to perfect tough pieces.

"It's through that struggle that you find what you truly have to offer to your instrument or to anything in life," she said. "You'll learn that if you believe in yourself and put in your best effort, that there's nothing that you can't achieve. And those aren't just lessons about music. These are really lessons about life."

After the first concert, 16-year-old percussionist Jason Yoder pronounced it "a very good day for classical music." A student at Pittsburgh's Creative and Performing Arts School, he performed a duet of Saint-Saens' "The Swan" with Isbin.

"In my generation, classical music is kind of looked down upon," Yoder said, adding that the White House spotlight could help change that.

The day's events were part of a White House Music Series that also has featured jazz, Latin and country music.

Earlier Wednesday, Mrs. Obama showcased after-school programs in the arts and humanities by hosting an awards ceremony for more than a dozen recipients of the Coming Up Taller awards. The awards recognize programs outside of the schools that encourage young people to express themselves through the art

**

From the pool report:

FLOTUS Pool report #1

11/4/09

Michelle Obama speaks at Coming Up Taller Awards, then hosts Classical Music Student Workshop Concert

The White House had the feel of a music conservatory this afternoon, as 120 high school and middle school students from around the country - classical musicians all - attended master classes with some of the top names in the business.

Your pooler got to dip into each class: First, Grammy-award winning violinist (and heart-throb) Joshua Bell, in jeans and shirt-tails, met with some 30 teenage violinists in the Map Room.

"Hey, everybody. Whaddaya think, being at the White House?"

"Woo-hoo!" the students replied.

Bell lamented that he now seems to be most famous for a Washington Post experiment he took part in almost three years ago, in which he played the violin on the street - to see if anyone would notice that he was a world-class violinist. (A few people did.)

"I guess any publicity is good publicity," he said. "I made $38 in about 40 minutes. The good news is that I didn't have to give my manager 20 percent."

Next, to the Diplomatic Room, for 27-year-old cellist Alisa Weilerstein - called by New York magazine, "arguably, Yo-Yo Ma's heiress apparent -- and a roomful of cellists. The group played the prelude to one of the Bachianas Brasilieras, by Heitor Villa-Lobos.

Then it was off to the Blue Room, for virtuoso classical guitarist Sharon Isbin and a roomful of guitarists. One young player performed a piece, and she then coached him on body position and other techniques. "Do you know the formula for a more sweet, dolce sound?" she asked. It's all about where you strum: "Divide the string in half."

Finally, we went to the East Room, where the lively and accomplished pianist Awadagin Pratt was performing the Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor by Bach (arranged by Awadagin Pratt) for a roomful of piano students.

A moment of disclosure: Your pooler ran into an old friend, Martin Goldsmith, a classical music announcer for Sirius/XM Radio, who was there for the network's recording of the event. He tipped me off to what the performers were playing.

Then it was off to the State Dining Room, where FLOTUS em-ceed the awarding of the annual Coming Up Taller Awards, which recognize outstanding after-school and out-of-school programs in the arts and humanities. The awards, an initiative of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities, were started in 1998. Many of the programs reach at-risk youth, who then often end up doing better in school and going to college.

Michelle Obama looked fabulous in a light gray flecked skirt suit, with a darker gray blouse, large brooch, and silver belt. Hair was in an up-do.

Fifteen groups from the US and four from abroad (Mexico, China, and Egypt) won awards. The ambassadors of those three countries attended. Each program receives a $10,000 prize.

FLOTUS spoke of "the power of the arts to change young people's lives" and as each award was handed out, she posed with representatives from the groups - dispensing many hugs, especially to the kids. (Transcript to come.)

After it was over, FLOTUS declared. "Well, let's do that again!"

Then, it was back to the East Room for the Classical Music Student Workshop Concert. FLOTUS spoke, and referred to the assembled students as the "classical music stars of tomorrow."

"This is what the White House is all about - it's the people's house," she said. "We like to start new traditions." (Check transcript.)

FLOTUS also noted the hard work and dedication it takes to master a musical instrument. To the students, she said: "Many of you are perfectionists, and it takes a lot of energy and time and it's not always easy."

Each of the world-class musicians performed, as did a few of the students. Perhaps most eye-popping was 8-year-old prodigy Sujari Britt of New York, who performed on the cello alongside Alisa Weilerstein. FLOTUS commented that Sujari is the same age as Sasha - and from a distance, she looked like Sasha Obama.

Later, I asked Sujari how much she practices each day, and she said 3 or 4 hours. Her mother said, "actually, more than that." Because she is home-schooled, she can easily pick up her cello throughout the day and play. Sujari also mentioned the string trio she plays in with sister and brother, which, she says, practices every other day. Sujari studies at the Manhattan School of Music.

WH social secretary Desiree Rogers sat next to FLOTUS during the concert. Also sighted in the East Room (and in the master classes) was actor-turned-administration-official Kal Penn, who helped pull today's music program together.

The program, which culminates in a concert this evening, was the fourth in a series started by Michelle Obama called The White House Music Series. Previous musical forms featured were jazz, country, and Latino.

The students' travel to Washington was funded by outside organizations (not the White House), such as the VH1 Save the Music Foundation.

Linda Feldmann
CS Monitor

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Malia Obama's Science Test: President Tells Story About Daughter's Grades (VIDEO)

2009-11-04T18:36:40Z

During a speech in Madison, Wisconsin today to promote education reform Obama veered from his scripted remarks to give an example of the importance of parents setting high academic standards for their children so that they come to expect such standards from themselves. We're not sure how much his daughter Malia appreciated the story since it involved the nation hearing how she received a 73 on a science test a couple years ago, but it ends with her success so we hope she won't be too upset.

WATCH:

In our own household, with all the privileges and opportunities that we have, look, there are times when kids slack off. There are times when they would rather be watching TV or playing a computer game than hitting the books. And part of our job as parents, Michelle and my job, is not just to tell our kids what to do, but to start instilling in them a sense that they want to do it for themselves.

So Malia came home the other day and she had gotten a 73 on her science test. Now she's a 6th grader. There was a time a couple years ago when she came home with like an 80-something and she said I did pretty well, and I said, no, no, no. I said our goal is 90 percent and up. So, here's the interesting thing. She started internalizing that, so she came and she was depressed - got a 73. And I said well what happened: 'Well the teacher, the study guide didn't match up with what was on the test.' So what's your idea here? 'Well, I'm gonna start, I've got to read the whole chapter. I'm gonna change how I study, how I approach it.'

So she came home yesterday and she got a 95. But here's the point. She said, 'I just like having knowledge.' That's what she said. And what was happening was she had started wanting it more than us. Once you get to that point, our kids are on their way. But the only way they get to that point is if we're helping them get to that point. So it's going to take that kind of effort from parents to set a high bar in the household. Don't just expect teachers to set a high bar; you've got to start setting a high bar in the household.

The Obama Family's Best Nature Moments (PHOTOS)

2009-11-02T07:59:03Z

As part of HuffPost's One Year Later series where we take stock of what's happened since Obama was elected, we've complied this fun slideshow of the Obamas enjoying the great outdoors. From beach vacations to walks in the garden with Bo, the first family loves to get outside! Check out the pics of the Obamas' best nature moments and vote for your favorite and tweet your thoughts on One Year Later here.

Click here to tweet your idea about #oneyearlater

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Obama Family Halloween Costumes: HuffPost Photoshop Contest

2009-10-29T12:28:10Z

Attention HuffPost photoshoppers: this is the one you've been waiting for. For your artistic pleasure, we bring you the Obamas in paper-doll form. And with Halloween only two days away, the First Family needs to get ready! Click on the images below to download our digital paper dolls. And don't forget Bo!

"The Obama Effect": First Family's Clothing Picks Lead To Big Sales

2009-10-27T08:25:45Z

America's voyeuristic love affair with the rich and famous: what they're wearing, what they're driving and where they play, certainly isn't a new phenomenon. And the obsession is hardly limited to Hollywood -- just look at the First Family.

Obama Family Photo By Annie Leibovitz Released

2009-10-23T08:18:22Z

On Friday, the White House released the official (and wonderful!) Obama family photograph. Celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz photographed the family on September 1st, sitting in the Green Room of the White House. This isn't the first time Leibovitz has taken photos of the president -- she followed him on the campaign trail, took a series of portraits for Vanity Fair, and was most recently spotted on October 1st, trailing Obama around the White House. View the portrait below, and a high res. version of the picture from the White House Flickr stream here. Click to see the official portraits for President Obama, First Lady Michelle, and First Dog Bo.

Presidential Campaign Flashback! Highlights Or Lowlights? (PHOTOS, POLL)

2009-10-22T08:49:08Z

As the one year anniversary of Barack Obama's election approaches, we'll be revisiting some of the most exciting moments of a very exciting presidential campaign.

Here's the first installment...peruse these fun photos and tell us which moments you thought were highlights and which were lowlights. And tell us which photos we forgot in comments below.

Keep an eye out for more flashback fun.

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Obama: As A Woman, Michelle Had To Make Sacrifices I Didn't Have To (VIDEO)

2009-10-21T19:57:22Z

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama says his family is like a lot of others -- in which the men "need to be knocked across the head every once in a while" in order to see imbalances between the time moms and dads put into raising children.

"There's no doubt that our family, like a lot of families out there, were ones in which the men are still a little obtuse about this stuff," Obama said Wednesday in an interview with NBC.

He acknowledged things are different now for his wife, Michelle, and him given that they live in the White House with all its creature comforts and army of residence staff.

"Today's Obama family is obviously not typical," he said. "Five years ago, six years ago, though, we were having a lot of negotiations. Because Michelle was trying to figure out, OK, if the kids get sick why is it that she's the one who has to take time off of her job to go pick them up from school, as opposed to me? If, you know, the girls need to shop for clothes. You know, why is it that it's her burden and not mine."

The president said he tried to learn to be better -- "to be thoughtful enough and introspective enough that I wasn't always having to be told that things were unfair. That once in a while, I'd actually voluntarily say, 'You know what? Let me relieve this burden on you. Let me make some sacrifices, in terms of how I'm using my time.'"

He's the first to acknowledge his efforts weren't entirely successful.

"The truth is that Michelle still had to make sacrifices of the sort that I did not have to make," Obama said.

Obama also played down a recent basketball game with male members of his Cabinet and lawmakers. No women were listed as participants in the game, played on a White House court.

The president said it was a standing game among House members that simply relocated to the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue. He faced criticism for the all-guys game; Obama brushed it off and said it was nothing more than basketball.

"I think this is bunk," he said.

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First Daddy Lift-Offs: Obama's Olympic, Acrobatic Greetings (PHOTOS, POLL)

2009-10-21T15:51:04Z

If picking up Sasha were an Olympic sport, then President Obama would be a gold medalist: his 8-year-old daughter has perfected the acrobatic 'run and leap' greet.

Rate the the lifts on a scale of 1 to 10 (being a perfect score), as though you were an Olympic judge. Maybe the sport should be considered for the Sao Palo 2016 Olympics.

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Pennsylvania Avenue Princesses: Who Came Before Sasha And Malia? (PHOTOS)

2009-10-17T08:23:53Z

Sasha and Malia Obama aren't the first first daughters to pass their time in the public eye.

You remember Chelsea Clinton and Barbara and Jenna Bush. But what about Helen Taft or Lynda Bird Johnson? Peruse our photo album of America's Pennsylvania Avenue princesses, and tell us which family you'd like to be adopted into and whose you could do without.

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Bo Obama's Birthday Party Photo With Brother Cappy (PHOTOS)

2009-10-16T14:17:42Z

Looks like someone was jealous of all the attention that Bo Obama was getting on his birthday! In this adorable photo, Bo's brother Cappy jumps up on the table to steal a birthday treat.

Plus, check out our retrospective slideshow of Bo's first year!

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