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October 23rd, 2009
07:10 AM ET
White House releases portrait of first family
The White House unveiled this portrait of the first family this morning. It's the first official White House portrait of the Obamas. The picture was taken by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz.
President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and their daughters, Sasha and Malia, sit for a family portrait in the Green Room of the White House, Sept. 1, 2009. (Official White House Photo)
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Lovely picture! I hope this picture inspires troubled families to stay happily married just like God intended it to be! God bless America!
Interesting how some of you Kool-Aid drinking liberals criticize the Republicans even with a simple picture of the President and his family. This is a nice family photo, and has nothing to do with politics. Do you have a little hatred that you need to come to terms with?
Enjoy the nice family photo and shed the hate.
Nice picture. I wonder how much that cost the tax payers to take. Good ole government!
If I die now it is OK! What a beauty to behold. This is one of Jah royal families. Jah bless.
That is a great picture of our First Family. They show us in that picture what a typical American Family should look like. I truly liked it very much.
Xcellent Family Picture
I am proud to be an American! Great photo
What a wonderful picture! Also, I find it amazing to see so many comments from people trying to decide who loves America the most.Geez people,give it a rest!
I love the the photo of our first family. Although, he could worn a jacket. Sasha is such a darling. President Obama please come and visit us in Alabama.
This is a beautiful photo mainly for it's relaxed nature. They are a beautiful family and don't look staged. However, I do agree with a previous post about the photographer, Annie Liebowitz. She is a world-renowed photographer. Upon seeing her credits at the beginning of the picture, I was expecting a better quality picture. The darkness behind Mrs. Obama washes out half of her hair. At any rate, it is still beautiful!
It doesn't matter what the backdrop is, it doesn't matter what the background is, it is simply a beautiful and unpretentious portrait of the first family.
What more can one want ?
a True family picture would have included the dog...
from Canada..great picture!
To all of you NOW proud Americans.
What a sad state that you have EVER been ashamed to be an American.
I am proud to be an American now and before and before that and that.
National defense is one of the cardinal duties of a statesman.
John Adams, letter to James Lloyd, January, 1815
How can i get copy of this photo
I just want you all to know that I am a Reagan Conservative and I did not vote for President Obama. So to all you liberals who have commented in such a mean spirited manner I would like you to hear this:
I think this portrait is stunning, it shows how much love there is in this family, and I think it does America proud to have such a nice looking, loving American family in the White House.
Do I agree with this administrations policies? – absolutely not. However, conservatives are big enough and smart enough to know the difference between personal attacks and policy attacks.
I just wish everybody would grow up. This garbage about "being proud to be an American again" should make you so ashamed. Being an American has precious little to do with who sits in the Oval Office. It has everything to do with who YOU are and how YOU behave. And from what I have read here – there's not a whole bunch to be proud of.
JUST GROW UP.
This warms my heart. What a beautiful, loving family. We all should be so lucky.
Absolutely gorgeous!
This is a great picture of the first FAMILY. You can tell they have strong bond.
The only thing that would have made thjis picture perfect is if they were all wearning Phillies jerseys. 🙂
Nice pic. Nice family – now, How long will it take to clean the "last idiot's" mess? 8 messy years will take some time ... and then there are "other" issues. Hey you all – u voted the last clown (dubya) in so STOP whinning.
Awesome photo! It depicts the American Family. For those of you making negative comments about Barack and or others who are proud again: Get over yourselves. In eight years Bush made this country a place that many of us were NOT proud to be a part of. Doesn't mean we were still not proud to be an American. I am the wife of a service member and very proud to be. I always support the military and all that they do to make our country a safe place. But remember they answer to the President, that is their Chief Commanding Officer and whether they agree with his tactics or not they still have to do what they are ordered to do. If Barack makes it 8 years in office the I can GUARANTEE all of you our country will be in a much better financial position.
First of all, BEAUTIFUL photo. Just puts a smile on my face.
Second of all, would everyone please lay off "Betty from Ohio". Talk about reading more into what someone says, my goodness.
It's a nice photo, but to be honest, I would think it could have been framed against a better backdrop – one that didn't end up in some hallway. I'm a little underwhelmed by the overall look of it. I would think that the white house photography could have come up with something a little more sophisticated and interesting.
Great photo! I am so glad these girls are growing up in the Whitehouse!!!
No complaints here, not reading anything into the photo that is or isn't there. Not worried that OMG did they pay for this with taxpayer money, horror! Not going to attack others for the emotions they feel when they look at this picture. And thanks CNN it was a nice way to start the day.
What a great photo! It's informal and "real" Beautiful family!
"You weren't proud before? Be sure to tell that to our servicemen and women fighting for your freedom to be able to speak such unpatriotic drivel. You sound much like Michelle Obama herself."
1st of all they are not fighting for our freedom, they are fighting for Bush's buddies in the oil industry...
2nd.... If you were not ashamed to be an American during the Bush years you weren't paying attention.
Great picture of the new hope for America!
Yes, this is a beautiful photo, but it does not make me proud to be an American. Congress is too worthless to make me proud.
To all you hilarious people that have said "I'VE ALWAYS BEEN PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN": well I'm very happy for you. Is there any particular reason why you've always been proud to be an American? Is there something special we've managed to do that made you wake up and say "Boy, I sure am happy to be an American today. I live in a nation full of idiots! What a life I live!" I haven't been proud to be an American since we won World War 2. Is there something truly great that we've done since then?
it may be a beautiful family portrait but i disagree with how the President is running the country. Has anyone realized us Vets and Seniors will not be getting a cola raise. Also what has he done since being in office ???????
Thanks for finally adding some color to the White House.
For all of you racist, this "country" was originally occupied by people of color. Get over it...we all are the same homo sapiens underneath. Celebrate our diveristy...it is the strength of our nation.
The Obama family is what America needs now.
...from a southern cracker.
God bless our president
Mr, President. No Grandma since she is the part of the family.
Wow...beautiful, it's nice to see a family in the white house who actually love each other, a very nice change. Wow...no words. This is so great.
Wow! Such important national news! Well at least all the sheep will be kept content, as can be seen by the comments below. Continue to drink the kool-aid... I'm still curious what he's done that can be considered a "good job"?
Love the photo but where is Bo?
Mr. President, You have a lovely family. I am truly sorry that some people in this country were never taught respect. God Bless America and the Obamas.
The Obama family is an awesome subject, but Annie took a snapshot image that any non-professional photographer can take. Is that the best she has to offer as a professional photographer?
The faces of socialism...
Despite our differences, challenges and even dissagreements, these comments really show that deep down we (Americans) are all genuine, good-hearted and awesome people....
Where are the Corn Rows?? They are SOOOO proud to be black, let it shine!!!!!
CNN=Communist News Network!!
Barrack Hussein Obama!
The Republicans will say he doesn't uphold the dignity of his office because he isn't wearing a jacket. Remember how they carried on when Jimmy Carter wore a cardigan?
the probably got rid of that troublesome dog! what a mess!! nice pic though!!
What a beautiful family! Such a great representation to the world.
Yes it is a fine photo for all of you to drool over. Too bad the man is a complete disaster.
Sure, it is a great picture. Very nice looking family. But, we as Americans should not exalt our leaders. He is just a politician that wants to raise taxes to give people a reason not to do for themselves. I do thank God that our founding Fathers had the wisdom and foresight to limit the power of such people, as in this photograph, to only 4 years. God Bless America – not God bless the Obamas....
It is indeed a beautiful family. Why can't we just say that and forget saying what a beautiful black family. It is amazing how some people pick and choose when they want to inject black into the conversation. I wish their family the best. I do not agree with his presidency.
Just beautiful! An awesome and classy pic!
Priscilla – – – – yep...
And – where were you for the previous administration when your demigogue ruled over the beginnings of this fiasco that we are trying to clean up?
Great photo,…..A picture is worth a thousand socialist words.
If men through fear, fraud or mistake, should in terms renounce and give up any essential natural right, the eternal law of reason and the great end of society, would absolutely vacate such renunciation; the right to freedom being the gift of God Almighty, it is not in the power of Man to alienate this gift, and voluntarily become a slave.
John Adams, Rights of the Colonists, 1772
Great! Now get something done about healthcare and bringing back the troops from Iraq.
He should be wearing a jacket for the official portrait. He's stretching the casual look.
@ TC, you take your @$$ to Canad, my people were her first. "Proud to be an American again!!"
Gorgeous photo of the family–the girls are so precious, but the background is distracting. I am a photographer and I did expect more from Annie, having been a long-time fan of her work. I am so delighted that an African-American family is in the white house, I just wish so much that he was not leading this country to socialism. I wish with all my heart he would call the victimization of unborn black children by abortion what it is...genocide.
CNN- please stop posting Sol's comments. They're, their, there- learn the difference.
Sol, Our standing worldwide has been greatly improved- with civilzed nations. Do you think radical muslims are going to ever like our President? However, you do seem to know a lot about them. I guess you must have spent a lot of time over there recently since you know they're laughing at us. Give me a break. Did the blessed Glenn tell you that?
I'd love to see the shots they didn't pick, but this is a fabulous picture.
What a beautiful first family we have!
Awesome picture!
What a bunch of losers !!! Les Obamas
Great picture, beautiful family.
Shame they are Marxists.
I love this picture of the Obama's they are a beautiful family.I wish He was running my country Canada.He is down to earth and personable.not like the up tight person we have running this country.
Quit posing for silly pics and start living up to all your promises you made. I fell bad for the sheep that voted for you.
Beautiful picture. But 1 question
When will we have an addition to the family? Say OHB,II. (smile)
May the LORD Bless you and keep you Obama Family. We all need to pray for our leaders...GOD Bless
Nice family, but I think the background and photo setup are disappointing. Facing into a corner of the room with open doorways and an urn on the mantle. A painting on the wall framing one of the girl's heads. Amateur photography mistakes and the effect is unbalanced and distracting. I'm surprised to read that this is the work of Leibovitz, who is capable of much better.
What a beautiful family!!!
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I didnt see any comments from the republician, maybe there sleeping as usual.
What a wonderful natural looking picture. They are extremely photogenic! They are the image of the American family and represent the progress our country has made...
Not a bit of ugly there! However, I am sure those on the other side will find something wrong with it.
It's not a family portrait without Bo, the dog?!!!!
Beautiful family! Thank goodness the family is so photogenic. The backgroung...open doorways, the white jar on the mantle, little one's head framed by a picture on the wall behind her...could have been better thought out. Informality is fine though.
Great Picture!! Socialism is beautiful on the surface.............
Very beautiful Family. Too bad he does not spend as much time solving the countries problems as he does visiting the schools and going on David Letterman and trying to pass having the senior citizens die from lack of medical care.
Beautiful !!!
What an inspiration – to be, achieve, and succeed !!!
makes you want to be their friends.....
TOO MUCH BEAUTIFUL!!!. God bless this family and all the families in the world.
Gorgeous picture of our first family. We really did need this beautiful change.
I love the picture. I love the setting. More importantly, I love the idea of the Obamas being head of the country. They are not only a lovely family on the outside but are also lovely on the inside. I am Russian and African American and am filled with joy, respect and honor for our first family. I wish that I could meet them.
Beautiful Family.very nice picture
Beautiful family portrait!! enough said.
An absolutely beautiful family portrait.
1.20.13 – Obama's Last Day
Definitely worth 1000 words. I'm sure they sacrificed time to do this after school so the kids could be in the shot and he wasn't reading a telepromter. Then again, it probably said "Now smile for yet another camera".
If Jesus Christ had a family, this is exactly what they would look like.
Warm, down-to-earth family portrait. What an attractive family! I'm soooo proud of the Obamas!!!
I'm discouraged to see that so many people are proud to be americans based on how beautiful the first family looks. It only goes to show how easily our country is brain washed by make up, lights, and naive ideas
But the dog? Where is the dog?! Quick! Get Photoshop!
This is a great picture, it really brings out the humanity of the president & his family.
@Ik it's people like you who are ruining this country!!
@ curious you my friend are the sheep! Keep on thinking the republican rulers are looking out for you.
How lovely, our first family is simply awesome. God knew what he was dong from the very beginning. He decided from the onset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son... We see the original and intended shape of the Obamas lives there in him. May the family love that the obamas exhibit be an inspiration to the entire world.
I'm proud he is my COMMANDER IN CHIEF
What a beautiful picture and family !!
Where is the dog?
Very nice photo!
Sorry, but for me, it takes a lot more than speeches, rhetoric, and a family photo to make me feel like the country is on the right track.
Beautiful family. I'm really proud to have him as our President.
This is a great pic, but "average", I don't think so Jennifer. This family is far from the "average" family, they are the 1st family and with that comes plenty of perks, such as having annie leibovitz take the picture.
nice picture......its makes me remember my family picture
They are so classy!
Who cares who paid for the picture, who paid for Bush's family picture? I bet it wasn't the Bush family. Some people are so shallow.
The one family that will destroy millions of other families. how precious.