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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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This picture reminds me of why I miss George Bush.
Awwww. So sweet.
...bringing the economy from the edge of abyss...building our nation's moral authority in the world...focussing our national defense on those who truly threaten our security...facing up to the environmental realities of our species...outclassing the frenzied ideologues attacking, twisting, spinning everything and anything done or not done...I'm glad you have a beautiful wife and family to support and sustain you Mr. President!
This picture is perfect!!! I am proud to have it as a respresentation of "us" (the American people). Distinguished, Happy, Loving, Genuine........simply Amazing.
What a beautiful family – God bless you and we're proud to have you as a President.
What a beautiful portrait of the first family!!!!!!
It's a lovely photo, they look like a nice family. Still hate his politics, though. But, frankly, I hated everyone's politics who was actually running....in my mind, if they want the job, they're probably suspect. We should write in my mom. She'd have the budget balanced and everyone working in no time. Whether they wanted to or not, lol! "Rise and shine, daylight's wastin'!"
Happy Holidays to the President and his family. You always make me proud when representing the US here and abroad.
Mrs. Obama is a sharp dresser, and the First Daughters show how close their are to their parents in their behavior and their maturity.
This is a First Family to be Proud of in 2009!
How can you not love this president and the first family?
To all those "proud" Americans who believe those of us who weren't proud during the previous administration should have left........just because a person strongly disagrees with, and feels some shame and embarrassment for, the policies of a President who can only serve 8 years, doesn't mean we don't have the right to fight for our beliefs here in our own country and work toward an America with 3 branches of government again.
Wonderful portrait!
where is your dog???
this is a good picture... that's all thats good about it
I love it!! Great Picture, beautiful family but definitely would have liked to see Bo in it.
A great looking family! 🙂
That is my President!!! I am so very proud of what this wonderful man has done for our country, in such a short time.
Finally we have a GREAT President who truly cares for the American people.
Mr President you give all people hope !!!
Thanks for sharing your family with us.
We love you.
In a word? YUCK!
What a beautiful family photograph. The Obama family emulates what's great about the American family and what all families should aspire to loyal, loving,and caring people.
Well done Mr and Mrs Obama
What a beautiful family. Every time I see this family I get teary eyed. I am so proud of this family not for their beauty, but for their character. President and First Lady Obama are truly amazing people. I am so very happy that the people of the United States of America elected a man with great character and wisdom. The girls are too adorable. Now I have to give my praises to our one and only Savior, "Can't nobody do this but the Lord."
Gorgeous Portrait! They make me proud of being an American & MINORITY! 🙂 God bless the Obamas.
I am soooo proud of our First Family. They are all beautiful inside and out! God bless AMERICA.
Wow...Great picture, I love the laid back nature of it...Colorado loves the Obama family!
WHO CARES...it's a picture!
very nice pic 🙂
Very nice photo, but how much is that costing the taxpayers?
Such a Blessing to see this Happy, Blessed family. Beautiful family. This picture is such a delight.
I adore the picture, perfect of each of them
God love and bless them each and every day.
I guess next year they will have to have Bo in the picture by the bloggers.
Annie did her usual spectacular work.
I can't see pictures of Malia and Sasha enough, what beautiful girls they are.
Friendly looking, but not what I'd expect from Annie Leibovitz. nice smiles though.
Still not crazy about his socialist views, and where he's taking America. I don't get why people want less freedom, instead of keeping the freedom they have?
Uninteresting.
I'm sure there was a deal that Annie Leibovitz made to sell copies of the portrait to bail her rear-end out of bankruptcy.
You may all go back to fawning now.
Lovely photo 🙂
To Betty, her attackers and her defenders: I find it disconcerting that many of you are attacking one another for exercising their right to free speech on the basis of free speech!
The beauty of free speech is that you cannot be prevented from saying whatever you want, or censored. Just as Betty is within her rights to voice her opinion, so are all of us entitled to respond to that opinion, positively or negatively. Free speech does not, however, release you from the responsibility of facing up to the consequences your words might have. Anything we say in a public forum can, and often does, produce both praise and criticism, and such a result justifies careful thinking before we proceed.
Our country has given us this amazing power, but we must discard the belief that we are entitled to the all privilege but none of the consequences. Like Uncle Ben said in Spiderman: "With great power comes great responsibility."
Great family. Great leader. Our country is finally back on track.
Love the family and their values, you can see a great family a mile away.
Still waiting O supporters.
As we expected, no response...just "they're so beautiful"....I think I just threw up in my mouth.
Ratings falling like a turd, Pelosi on her last varicose-veined leg, Dingy Harry on his way to Shady Oaks, all the while, jobless claims continue to soar, the housing market in the tank, Robert Gibbs reportedly to go back to 9th grade english classes, and Rahm accidentally sends himself the dead fish.
Last I looked, O's down under 50% and plummeting.
A great day is coming soon, I feel it in the air.
Will I be called a racist...next???
Jennifer from Virginia- "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."
I respectfully disagree. They swore an oath to protect the United States from all enemies, foreign and domestic. If it comes to the point where it is deemed that he is an enemy of the state, they must hold to that oath, against him. Oh and he already has acted against his constitutional power.
Absolutely a beautiful family! This country can be so very proud to have such a beautiful First Family!
Great First Family Picture!
What ever happened to "if you don't have something nice to say, keep it to yourself"
Nice snapshot....but not a great portrait. Republicans are not all mean spirited...just as Dems are not all mean spirited. Just because we don't agree with each other does not make us mean.....just makes us different.
Stimulas money has NOT created jobs. Everyday we hear of job losses all over the country. WE NEED JOBS....not money thrown at us for frivilous things like road improvement, building bridges, etc.
When the unemployment runs out....we will have a country of homless desperate people. When people get desperate they do desperate things. Crime rates rise, suicide rates rise and so on.
Again...This country needs jobs brought back into the country!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Very proud of this nice looking group!
Absolutely beautiful picture. I'm so proud of our first family and so proud to be an American! They exhibit such love for each other that it's touching. Only one problem, where's BO?
I love this picture. We've never had a better looking first family. They're first in integrity too!
Very very nice picture of the first family. But is it me or does anyone else think it would hav been nice to wear something other than black? She is always well dressed and I'm sure the outfit she has on in the potrait is very nice but I just really can't tell much about what she is wearing. I know I'm being picky but it was the only thing I noticed that I would change to make it better.
A beautiful family portraying relaxed sophistication. We as Americans are proud of our First Family.
sounds like your staff has been busy typing the "publics" comments. you stay classy cnn. stay classy. how bout you greenlight some of the other sides comments for a change? you know, be UNBIASED like REAL REPORTERS AND NEWS STATIONS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE. i dont like obama, and i hated the **** out of bush, so i am middle of the road here, but this is disgusting, you're all a bunch of sheep, who will do or say what someone pays you to think or say, and not what you know to be true or untrue, and its because of you, and our pathetic government BOTH democrat AND republican, that the country is in shambles.
What a great picture Obama and family, you are smiling and we are smiling too to have this family in the white house. You already got my vote Obama in the next presidential election for the second term.
God bless you and your family, god Bless America.
It's just a picture everyone!!
Your political views and commentary would be better placed elsewhere!!
Beautiful! I gasped!
Simply BEAUTIFUL!
Such a disgrace to read the horrilbe comments from people. Why do some people ALWAYS find something negative to say about our president. HATERS.........I feel so sorry for the lost souls out there w/so much hatred in their hearts, I pray for all of you. 🙁
God Bless our President....God Bless America.
I LOVE them!! President Obama and his beautiful family do us proud. His wife is a beutiful, intelligent woman and a fabulous mom. They are the perfect family to represent America and bring international good will back to this wonderful country.
It is not pride in being an American that people are talking about. It is pride in our President. It is nice, after eight years, to have a leader we can be proud of. We now know that Bush lied to drag us into Iraq and away from the real war against Osama. We now know that Bush and Cheney used the war to give billions of dollars to their supporters who built shabby bases for our troops. Obama is fighting the real fight: to give American's health care, to fight wars that we can win, to bring stability to the world and to make America part of the world community. That is a leader we can be proud of.
MMM..MM...MMM Barak Hussein Obama! MMM..MM...MMM Barak Hussein Obama! MMM..MM...MMM Barak Hussein Obama!
You Lie!
This is an awesome picture, and I love the family. There is depth here.
what a gorgeous family. it's so nice to have a family in the white house that is affectionate and so obviously loving.
to those of you criticizing betty for saying she's proud to be american again, and proclaiming you've always been proud, well, good for you. betty (and i) wasn't proud of a government that tortured people, started unnecessary wars, widened the gap between rich and poor, collapsed the economy, and the list could go on. if you have the unique ability to ignore all the terrible things this country has done around the world and proclaim 'my country– right or wrong' congratulations. ignorance truly is bliss. however, some of us are 'cursed' with the ability to think critically, possess intellectual curiosity and choose to think for ourselves.
Awesome! A first family we can be proud of!
beautiful
Their smiles are genuine...you cannot fake this in a photograph.
The Obama's are a wonderful family and a role model of all that is right in America.
Thank you for sharing with us all.
What a beautiful portrait. God Bless you all....
It is a really "cute" picture...they are a very attractive family (Michelle is sooo photogenic!). But I have to agree with the folks who said that it isn't a "beautiful portrait" It actually looks like something anyone could take on a decent digital camera (and yes, the dress is a bit short for the pose...especially for this to be released as an "official portrait").
By the way I am a HUGE Obama supporter – and don't worry Betty – whatever make you proud to be an American, is your business. We all have things we are proud of, and those we wish were different. Folks need to stop with the "brainwash" mentality...
I too am proud to be an American – Among the things I am most proud of is that we are free to express ourselves as long as no one else is hurt in the process. I am NOT so proud that so many people have to go without decent healthcare...
...oh, btw, time to change the photographer!! I could have done a much better job with my regular digital camera. Learn to play with lights (as in remove shadows and highlight the subjects NOT the background...).
Beautiful family portrait!
What God hath made! Let no man put asunder.....
God continue to bless this beautiful family...they represent
what is right in this country! Makes me smile!!!
If you don't like this picture you are a racist.
very classic photo
Beautiful Family. I have always been proud to be an American but iam MORE proud now.
Nice photos don't mean they are accomplishing anything.
To those that say that they have always been proud to be American but berate the sentiments of other fellow citizen:
"You better understand what it really means to be an American and to be proud of it."
I am also proud to be an American, and I was also ashamed that torture, war mongering and disdain of the Constitution have dominated our Country for eight long years, but I was absolutely not ready to leave it in your hands forever. We stayed for the love of our country and for the respect on love of our fellow citizens in the armed forces and their family to make sure that we could change and have an administration and a president that could restore the true moral values of our Country.
And this picture makes be believe that we have succeeded!
How poroud I feel to be part of this country and to have a beautifull familya s well
I pray for you Mr. President Obama and First Lady, and your daughters every morning that God will protect you and your family. How beautiful the first family looks. Now I have to upgrade my newspaper photos on my desk. This photo is so wonderful. To God be the Glory!
All of you people gushing on here make me want to throw up. You're proud to be an American because of this picture...Come on. Really? This network is a joke.
What a beautiful family. And how refreshing to have a President that you can actually be proud of and who has the respect and admiration of the world. After the beating America's image took over the last eight years its good to know the American spirit is agailn shining bright.
While Obama has done nothing to impress me as president. I like him and his family, I think they really like each other and enjoy being together, there is nothing phony about them and it's refreshing to see. What they have is something every family should aspire to have. Love the picture...........except the dog should be in it as well.
nice....
Its a family picture for God sake, just like many many many other family has taken, no matter what country or culture they are from.
We take one of our family every Christmas day to count of blesssing for celebrating another Christ birthday, we don't live in the white House, but it looks just like thiers.
What is the big deal about this family portrait from the other millions and millions of pictures taken all over the world every day.
Wishing them God blessing as i do to any other family
Great picture! Great family! They make me proud to be an American!
They are beautiful people, inside and out. I don't think the photo is well posed but that is on the photographer, not them.
Atlas Shrugged – I had exactly the same thought as you upon first studying the photo! The entire family is simply gorgeous but I also felt the girls and mother looked more connected. I would imagine that dozens of photos were taken; I wonder why this was "the one"? Maybe they thought he looked more Presidential, whatever that means.
Personally I'm just looking toward the next election...............
I agree with v :
Where is the dog?
Beautiful, but not complete without the family dog.
DJ,
Quit listening to Limbaugh and introduce yourself to the real world.
Thank you,
A logical American
Great picture! I certainly respect everything about who BO and M are as it relates to being solid parents. Unfortuately, I do not have the same level of admiration for what he represents and the job he is doing. Truly a shame, he was just not ready or right for the job.
what a nice photo!
I do not see any beauty..Just a common family...
Class Act!
Great picture. What a beautiful family!
Awesome Family portrait. They look and are agenuinley happy simple loving family.
Cheers
It is a beautiful family. What is remarkable is the shallow emotionalism of so many who somehow believe a nice picture of an attractive family is a sign of meaning to the man's purpose and presidency. Or those who stake their pride in their country on such things as this. Like the president or not, it is a picture. And support any adminstration or not, I will never lose my love and pride for the United States.
But it is sad to see such glaring lack of depth in too many of her citizens.
This is a very lovely picture of the president and his family. This photo and photo's of the presidents in the past, has always re-confirmed my appreciation for being in American citizen. Although, I believe President Bush terms in office caused alot of tension and problems for Obama or whomever was next in line to clean up, my faith and pride for America or as an American never florished!
I love President Obama and Im glad that he is extending himself out side of the US to bring about WORLD peace.
Very nice portrait, and got to tell you anybody who brings out negativity over this should reevaluate thier life, and your patriotism. Lets face it, there are a lot of single moms and dead beat dads out there. Famlies who have lost a loved one and going into the holiday season. God has favored our first family, and it shows.
I'm sick that so many stupid people are turning this guy into some type of hero, he has done nothing and just wait till he taxes you all, How's that hopw & change working for YOU? Is the war over? NO! more troups have been sent, YOU ARE ALL MORONS, did you notice the AMERICAN Flag is not in the picture !!
Thank you for sharing the grace and affection of your Family with our Nation
Great photo. A family to look up to.
Thank God! A first family we can be proud of!
It's almost surreal. After 220 years of white male presidents, we finally have the honor of seeing an African-American family sitting there as the leaders and icons of the free world, and more importantly, as beacons of optimism, hope, and belief that the American dream is still alive.
For all you who say that you've ALWAYS been proud to be Americans, let me ask you: Were you proud when 4 cute little black girls like Sasha and Malia were blown up in a church in birmingham? how about when freedom riders were shot and hung in Mississippi? Or dogs were sicked on people for using the wrong water fountain? Or maybe when people in 2009 said they would'nt vote for her husband just because he's black. America is a great nation, but as a black man from Alabama I completely get how someone could not be proud of every moment.
I think the issue is not that some were not PROUD to be Americans. I think some found it hard to be an American in a time when we were presenting such an aggressive and uncaring face. ANd some individuals, myself included, were slandered as un-patriotic for disagreeing with ANY move made by the ruling government.
I think, based on the past, we can forgive slightly misworded sentiments about Pride.
Can we move on now?
A great photo of a great president and his loving family! You can tell by their genuine smiles that their sincerity is coming straight from the heart!
How can a person be a true American, and not see the loving goodness which comes from this family.
Let's all band together to bring this goodness back to our country, which has been so abused over the past few years!
It is hard to believe there is not one negative comment that has been written. So much for free speech. May God have mercy on us all.
Pray for our leaders?? We need to FIRE our "leaders"! Obama is destroying the Dollar, I dont care how nice his family looks.
I agree with Betty. I feel the same way.. first time proud to be American. Beautiful family inside out!!!
Priscilla get a grip. America is in the best position it's been in in eight years. If you want to blame someone you might want to start with Bush who not only squandered the surplus that Pres. Clinton left us but put us in a big hole of debt fighting a war that had no merit. Don't blame Obama for having to make tough decisions to clean up the mess. When he took over the White house the stock market was at 6,000+ now it is in the 10,000s. And as far as jobs go, it is up to companies to expand and create new jobs but I suspect because they don't like Obama, because democrats are not known for supporting big business the way the republicans are, they will sit on their profits. You know when it comes to my support I'd rather give it to the democrats who support government (which is for the betterment of its people) than to support the republicans who favor big business and their fat cat CEOs who just continue to rip off the American public.
Gorgeous Picture. Proud to call you President and First Family!
A SIMPLE HUMBLE FAMILY.PRAISE GOD.