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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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What a great portrait of the 1st family! They look so natural and NORMAL – not posed. It is very apparent of their closeness, which is wonderful. That closeness will carry them through the President's term, the trials, tribulations and responsibilities of the Presidency, which indeed have a great impact on family life. Kudos to the Obamas for who they are – just normal Americans. I, for one, am very proud they are in the Whitehouse!
I am proud to be an American again too, but it has nothing to do with this portrait which I think is not among Liebovitz' best work. Ah but then, like many other Americans, she too is in the midst of her own financial meltdown.
I am proud to be an American again but it has little to do with the skin color of the people in the portrait. It has more to do with the fact that they do seem to embody in a humble and honest way the family values that so many have used as a club over the past eight years.
I am proud to be an American again because we have elected someone with intelligence, someone who will give thoughtful and not merely shock and awe consideration to the problems at hand, and someone who understands that we live in a global world and must have allies and real relationships around that globe.
I am proud to live in America again because we have a president who understands and fully embraces the complexity of the job of being president and isn’t afraid to tackle the full complexity of the job or the many issues facing us. I’m glad he has the energy to take on all he is doing. It’s very much needed.
I am proud to be an American because for the first time since the 60s, people seem to be engaged in making things work for our citizens. Some of the bickering is petty and untruthful, but I’m trying to believe that our country is in fact on the path to regaining our true democracy – and for that I am proud.
Okay portrait of a very sweet looking and intelligent family. Lots to hope for from this president – way beyond the color of his skin.
It doesn't surprise us that he is wearing a "Red Tie" to symbolize Socialism.
He is smirking at us and thinking: "I have your Money and you are in Debt. You & your family will have to work hard though the next three generations to pay off the $12 Trillion Dollars I have created."
Oh yea. Michelle you look Wonderful. Eevn though you are not proud of this country.
These folks just make me feel good everytime I see them. What a great example of a loving wholesome family.What a great American family.
A fondness for power is implanted, in most men, and it is natural to abuse it, when acquired.
Alexander Hamilton, The Farmer Refuted, February 23, 1775
I'm proud to have such a capable President with such a beautiful family.
Let's put it this way, I've never been more proud to be an American. President Obama has my full support. As a white child, growing up in Alabama in the 1960's, I never thought I would see this.
Again!! I've always been proud to be American everday of my life, as it should be for everyone during the good and the bad! Nice portrait.
A feeble executive implies a feeble execution of the government. A feeble execution is but another phrase for a bad execution; and a government ill executed, whatever may be its theory, must be, in practice, a bad government.
Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 70, 1788
Wow. This made me tear up. Beautiful. Love it!
Lovely!!
Beautiful photo. I am so proud of the wonderful comments my fellow Americans have posted about this photo. I, too, am proud of our President and his beautiful family.
Lovely photograph! Beautiful family; good job Annie!
This beautiful family may be the best thing that has ever happened to our country. We can all be proud.
And by the way i have nothing against muslims. Any muslim that doesnt hate, and loves having the oppurtunity to live in america they are a friend. But lets not forget how many muslims were dancing in the street when people were being burned alive and jumping out of building on 9/11.
Glenn Beck will be getting out his chalkboard tonight saying that tax money was spent on this sitting. he will destroy the beautiful family's portrait with sarcastic grins.
Lovely portrait of a loving family. I am very proud of our First Family, and thrilled that the Obamas are representing us on the world stage. I am holding my head high again, proud to be an American! (Yes... I was horrified and embarrassed by Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld!)
I love it!
Love it!! What a beautiful family!!
People!!!!!! Stop drinking the koolaid. Ted Bundy has a nice picture one too.
Simply Beautiful!...Brings tears to my eyes.
We're waiting for one O supporter to list one...single accomplishment.
You can't and won't because you all were sold a bill of goods.
Only the insane would support a man that had less than two years in the Senate, voted "present" more than any other Senator, was voted the most liberal Senator, sought out Bill Ayers and Rev. Wright, and voted to de-fund the war in Iraq....then claims he's responsible for OUR victory in Iraq!!
You people are under-educated jokes, and I'd bet a dollor to a donut, most lemmings here are not employed....by their own choices.
I still get so excited every time I hear the words "President Obama". Now I see this photo and know– change is here! Some people aren't being patient with the rate of change– they want it to come overnight. But I have faith in our president and know that the majority of the change lies in ourselves. Let's be the change we want to see!
Beautiful photo of a beautiful family. Annie has done it again. I am so proud of our First Family and our President and the work he and Michelle are doing for our country.
Beautiful.just Beautiful
The picture looks great no matter some of the negative comments of some people. People in this country are never happy, and take things for granted. They are never happy with any president. I can't inmagine a president pleasing all the wishes of all US citizens. Please let him do his job and move on.
If they call this an official white house potraite taken by a pro, then shame on the photograher.
We didn't they noticed that Obama's shirt look wringle adn the background has toom uch going on.
It's a beautiful family picture, let's just leave it at that.
I love the Obamas, but hate the picture.
I just love those folks, they are so beautiful !
God bless you all!
Great family snapshot. I am admiring the tenacity, but I agree with most others that this country is very quickly sinking. Seniors will soon be loathing this photo when Medicare Advantage is gone. It is great to see him muster a smile though.
Fantastic. Makes me proud to be an American again.
Great photograph!
Beautiful family ofcourse. But I wouldn't say beautiful picture since i don't see what speciality about this picture.
If you have travelled outside US then you know what difference Obama has made.
Now, regarding ficing domestics issues like unemployment etc it will take time for a such a big mess got created in the last 8 years.
I always wondered if there was no Sep 11th then how people will rate Bush adminstration.
Lovely picture, they look happy on the outside. However what I see is a Mom holding her daughters and Dad being distant and almost pulling away. He is arrogant and smug. God help our country.
Beautiful Photo–I love that it looks like any other family photo–not stuffy like most presidential photos. They are a beautiful family and a great example of a loving, connected famly. The only thing missing is Bo!
They are a lovely family.
This family makes me so proud to be an American! Let's put down our biases, stereotypes, and prejudices, and rally behind a man who can actually lead us forward.
The baseless accusations against him (some of which are listed in this blogpost) are more or less proven historical fact of the Bush White House, yet the same individuals levying the accusations were curiously silent during those eight years.
Let's all grow up, be proud Americans regardless of who the president is, and show the world that we are unified as a nation, and that the United States is the model for the world. If we don't, another nation will be...
Oh what a great picture. But I knew that some folks out there would start on "what have you done for me lately" thing.
I just love the First Family and am so glad that my vote, and donations put THE COOLEST guy in the White House, as I plan to do again in three years.
Great picture...where's the dog?
Thank you God for blessing the United States with such a loving and caring family. We have to continue to lift up the first family and get out and motivate all communities across this Nation. "Fired Up and Ready to Work. (Beautiful family Photo)
Annie Leibowitz took this? I could do better with my kodak easy share.
And why, for the love, people...why can't we just say "nice looking family" and call it good? Do we want people to see our family picture and immediately launch into why we suck? I don't agree with most of Obama's policies , but I can see he loves his family.
Beautiful picture. They represent the heart of America and the honest and loyal American family.
I'm a Republican, not a fan, but they are a beautiful family and & great picture!
In respect to my personal opinion on the official First Family Portrait, this is such a lovely portrait of the Obama family. To me, in this portrait, they radiate the love and strength of a solid family unit.
What a beautiful family!
What a beautiful American family. What a beautiful Presidential family. Makes me more at peace with my country than I have been in many years. The Obamas do us proud.
such a beautiful family!
I love this family and our President. Please God keep them safe.
Family Portrait – says it all. You can tell they are a real family.
Good for them! Too many people overthink a family portrait and do not really capture the "family" in the family portrait. This pictures truly captures the Obama's as a real family.
Beautiful family. I truly believe that our country is safe with President Obama. His family shows beauty and Michelle is so good for all she has done. I am so proud.
Yes nice Christmas Card picture.
Don't get me wrong, he has a beautiful family, but really, I don't care to see or hear about his Wife or Children. He is our President and therefore I want to see and hear from and about him not that his wife hula hoops on the front lawn, or that the Children are getting good grades etc.
Leave the family in the back ground, safe and not in the public eye
Now serving your favorite purple Kool-Aid in the Whitehouse cafeteria.
Beautiful family!!
What a lovely family portrait! I'm so pleased to have the Obama's in the White House!
This is a very Beautiful photo of the 1st family.
As a retired military officer I've always been proud to be an American. However, I was deeply ashamed of Mr. Bush and the Americans who voted for him. Thank God we can be proud of our President once again.
God Bless this beautiful family. Makes me very proud to be and American.
The president restored our faith worl wide. ARE U KIDDING? Our enemies laugh at us! There licking there chops at how to get ahead while there is a weak and naive administration in the white house! Iran is building bombs and we think talks and negotiations will stop them. How naive?? U think iran cares less about talks. After all the stalling and talks thell have the bomb and our naive whitehouse will still be offering incentives. QUESTION. If everyone on this blog loves the way our socialist president is taking this country and how our country will look down the line, Why not move to the UK or Canada?? Why stay in America?? We have a president with the middle name houssein, (how many housseins can u name that wants to kill every american) ,who sat in the churches of pastors for 20 years who cursed America on a daily basis and thats who is sitting at the helm leading our country. If i thought there wasnt a god in the world the irony would kill me.
Beautiful family. President Obama is a TRUE leader of the world. Shame on those who can't stand the facts and are disrespectful to our President. You all need to get over your defeat of Nov. 2008 and stand behind your leader. God bless America, our first family, our troops and all true Americans.
Very beautiful phote.
A little less depth of field is in order. I do like it, though.
Nice pic.. but doesnt make up for him being an idiot and the worst president ever
For all people who have negitive remarks...Let God lead you!!! Obama is the president, regardless if you like it or not!! You can scream to your highest point but at the end of the day he is still the the MAN!! I love how God works...He says I have all power, heaven and earth in the palms of my hands...And with that he has appointed the Obamas as the first family!
GREAT FAMILY PICTURE!
I love it!
Photograph–SO IT'S STAGED TO BE PERFECT–come on people! Every single family can look like that if we have the same resources. Obama does NOT have my respect and a photograph won't change anything.
To all of those critics of the Proud statements, stop and think for a moment. When you graduated from High School or scored the winning touch-down, more than likely you heard from a Parent or such about how proud they are of you. According you, that person was never proud of you before that moment. Declaring you are proud of something at THAT VERY MOMENT does not mean you never proud (or REALLY proud) before. I love this country but I’m not a blind follower. There have been times when I was REALLY PROUD (Electing Obama, GW Bush giving aid to Africa) and when I was not PROUD (invading Iraq, those idiots that protest at our Fallen Soldier’s funerals). Think for yourself!
Betty from Ohio.
Have you not always been proud of being an American? I think that is part of the problem with America today. People use politics to choose Pride. Instead of always being proud, and always showing pride of living in the greatest country in the World.
Sad Very Sad.
By the way nice picture President Obama. You have a beautiful family.
Chris-TX
Nice looking family in an average professional photograph. He could have done better.
Amazes me that all it takes is a photo to inspire people to be proud to be American.
It's been almost a year....can we drop the black/white issue....on both sides. It is so unimportant what color someone's skin is. Let's worry about getting this country to a point where we can really be proud and not have it based on if our president is black or white.
Beutiful picture. So? I suggest he does these kind of photo shoot and viedeos more often, this will keep him away from all the Socialist agenda he is into (which is good for USA)
The picture is a GREAT representation of a very close family. The Obama's look very committed to one another and one can see the love and care overflowing in the picture. It's a good first photograph of the First Family.
to Johnson, whose fault is it that 80 percent of Black families in America are run by single mothers? what point exactly are you trying to make? where did this statement come from? what does it mean?
Beautiful family Mr. President. You make the American people proud.
BDDS, we can only assume your addressing what's left of the Republican Party.
Nice Family both inside and outside. May God continue to bless, protect and use our President even when those who call themselves the conservatives and Xtians are not practicing whatthey preach. It's a shame to see how Xtians behave.
I will continue to pray for our President daily and for as long as I live.
God bless the USA and our President and his family.
The picture of the Frist Family bonds all america families. The White House and its changes have deeply reflected america. We all should be grateful for this family who stands in the holes for america and there is not one of us who would not want to be in their place. This family will have trouble nights and days...the decisions of this country rest heavy on their shoulders. We need to keep the children in our prayers and they have to also watch their parents cry, laugh and be just parents to them....while many of us continue to degrade, slam and make our President less than what he is. He is not perfect nor is his family; but what they are to all of is America Symbol because he is the President of these United States of America. If we all want to bring back our economy, then we all have help one and other and do what is right by showing our appreciation to them.
The first family looks absolutely beautiful!!
Michelle, you are one terrific First Lady and mother! I am ten years your senior, yet I look to you as my role model. You do a wonderful job ignoring the negative, derogatory day-to-day comments. As for this photo, it is the perfect photo – the Republicans and some others who are so used to previous First Family photos, all dressed up, with hats and gloves and suits and ties - they are the brainless. You two were created for each other. You were both sent by God and when God puts his plans in motion, not even the Republicans can touch you! I am grateful to God for bringing you two together as a couple to form a perfect family and reform this world. The perfect woman to a perfect gentleman and together created the perfect family. The White House never had it so good!
This makes me sick!
George – Agree w u on expecting from the photographer...she could have made the shot much softer. That said...fantastic family – genuine smiles – warm moment
God bless the First Family and God bless the United States of America.
Oh my...lots of comments of course on policy. This is a FAMILY portrait. Our family, our First Family. I don't always agree with policy, either, with anyone for that matter. But this is a beautiful picture of a relaxed family. A mom, a dad, WITH their children. Very lovely and happy to know we will have this forever. I am happy to see a real family, with toys, a dog, children playing, and a mother than can juggle real life (plus international, now) beautifully. Today's familys are busy, but we have to come together as a unit, I think the Obama's illustrate this point very nicely. However, my favorite picture of his administration is of one of his daughter's hiding behind a couch in the Oval Office (shown on Letterman Show). I truly hope the presidency itself will show Americans coming together more.
Definitely a very nice picture of a lovely family. But I must say that this is far from Annie Leibovitz quality.
NICE!!!!
Beautiful? Bo? Are you chewing your bone? Are you in the doghouse?
Great President, great First Family, great photograph! Thank you, Ms. Leibovitz.
Where is the American flag?
A truly elegant and iconic photo for these tough but hopeful days in America.
Beautiful picture .... but where's the puppy?
Love the Obama's. We are blessed to have this family in the whitehouse.
Long live my president! Long live the United States of America!!
President Obama has that look of being purely engaged in his family. What a lovely portrait. It's so nice to feel such pride in our first family. Where can I get a copy to frame at home?
Beautiful picture of the Obama family.
So what.. Doesn't mean he knows how to run a country.
Simply lovely. How lucky we ll are to have them.
Great picture! The love between all of them is evident. The little one sure seems to be a Daddy's girl. This is nice...even though I disagree with most of Barrack's policies. I pray God would bless and protect this family.
awesome picture Mr President!!!
I am a college student in alabama and I am behind you 100%.
keep up the good work.
What a beautifu family.....GOD bless them and keep them.....
"Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it."
John Adams, Thoughts on Government, 1776
If we don't take it back, we will never have it again! Americans that are over this have to come together or we will lose all we have. We must reform our congress and alter our government, our protection and properity DEMAND it. I am sick of our big government!!
This family is stunning. I love our first family!
Wasn't this the same photographer who took the Cyrus "family pic" ? Thank god she went more conservative with the Obamas.
i think cnn's moderators are doing a fabulous job at filtering these comments. the sheep have come to feed this a.m.! lmao. govt. propaganda at it's very finest!!! someone check the date and location, did i wake up in 1932 germany? no... it's just 2009 cnn.com. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!