Recently in Barack Obama Category

WASHINGTON--Before flying to Moscow on Sunday, President Obama sat down Thursday with Jennifer Loven, the Associated Press White House bureau chief for a wide ranging interview; view the 24-minute exchange here.

WASHINGTON--President Obama returns to Chicago on July 23--his third trip home since becoming president--to host two fund-raisers for the Democratic National Committee.

WASHINGTON--Another Chicago area resident, Fay Hartog-Levin, a longtime Democratic activist and fund-raiser and an early career supporter of Barack Obama, was tapped Thursday to be ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Her husband, Daniel Levin, is the chairman of The Habitat Company and the founder of the East Bank Club. Valerie Jarrett, before joining the Obama White House as a senior advisor, was the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Habitat Company. Levin's cousins are Michigan Democrats, Sen. Carl Levin and his brother, Rep. Sandy Levin.

A Winnetka resident, Hartog-Levin is a senior consultant at the Res Publica Group, a Chicago-based public affairs and media relations firm.

Other Chicagoans nominated for ambassadorships: Big Obama fund-raisers Lou Sussman for England and David Jacobson for Canada

WASHINGTON--The Obama White House on Wednesday released a list of the salaries of 487 White House staffers. You can read the list here or check out the searchable database at www.whitehouse.gov.

The top Chicagoans in the Obama White House also earn the top White House salaries--capped at $172,200, according to a list released Wednesday.

President Obama headlined a dinner Monday night for his best donors and bundlers at an event where top Democratic National Committee contributors also attended. Obama gave a shout out to his campaign national finance chair, Penny Pritzker.

WASHINGTON--President Obama and First Lady Michelle welcomed gay activists to the White House on Monday, with a contingent from Chicago flying in to mark LGBT pride month.

Invited guests from Chicago (not spouses or partners who came with) from Chicago included Debra Shore, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago; Michael Bauer; Fred Eychaner; Vernita Gray; Mary Morten: Miriam Redleaf; Catherine Renna; Laura Ricketts and Jane Saks.

The Obama administration's lack of progress on key gay issues has been a source of disappointment within the gay community.

"Many in our community feel he is not doing enough," Shore told me after the event. "I feel it's just not up to him. It has to be up to all of us. The slogan was not "Yes, he can." It was "Yes we can." So we have work to do."

With the first lady seated by his side, Obama in his remarks tacitly acknowledged the critics.

"I suspect that by the time this administration is over, I think you guys will have pretty good feelings about the Obama administration," the president said.

Obama announce at the reception that he was lifting a ban that kept some who tested positive for HIV from entering the U.S.

One one of the most sensitive issues, getting Congress to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, Obama said he was trying. "Now, I want to add we have a duty to uphold existing law, but I believe we must do so in a way that does not exacerbate old divides."

As for the controversial military "don't ask, don't tell" policy--which can only be repealed by Congress--Obama pleaded for patience.

"I believe "don't ask, don't tell" doesn't contribute to our national security.

"..Someday, I'm confident, we'll look back at this transition and ask why it generated such angst, but as Commander-in-Chief, in a time of war, I do have a responsibility to see that this change is administered in a practical way and a way that takes over the long term," he said.

WASHINGTON--Contrary to the impression that may have been left from a Time Magazine report, the White House said Monday that President Obama has not stopped his search for a new church. The Obama family quit Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ during the presidential campaign because of the controversies surrounding the former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Gibbs was asked at the briefing, "Is the Time magazine report correct, that the president has told his staff that he intends to not search for a church in Washington but he will worship at Camp David instead?

Gibbs' answer used the word formal many times--a wiggle word, perhaps.

He replied, "No. He's -- there have been no formal decisions about joining a church. I think I've mentioned in here, in the past couple of weeks, that when he goes to Camp David, he has attended services at the chapel there. He enjoys the pastor there.

"They're not formally joining that church. And there have been no formal decisions on joining a church in this area. I will say, I think, one aspect of the article that is true, as I mentioned here in that same discussion, was the concern that the president continues to have, about the disruptive nature of his presence on any particular Sunday, in some churches around the area.

WASHINGTON--President Obama, with First Lady Michelle Obama at his side, is hosting right now a reception at the White House for gay leaders, pegged to the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots.

There are "unjust laws to overturn," Obama said, "unjust practices" to stop.

WASHINGTON--Another Chicagoan, Ertharin Cousin, a veteran of local and national politics, non-profit and corporate work, is joining the Obama administration. Cousin has been tapped to be the next U.S. ambassador to the Rome-based U.N. Agencies for Food and Agriculture.

Barack and Michelle Obama taking HIV tests in Kenya, 2006
(photo by Lynn Sweet)

WASHINGTON--President Obama marking HIV Testing Day, urges people to take the test. While visiting Kenya on Aug. 6, 2006, while an Illinois senator, Obama and wife Michelle made a public display of taking HIV tests in order to encourage more men to do the same.

Watch the video from the Kenya event

Sweet pitching at Dunk Booth with Robert Gibbs on the South Lawn of the White House on luau night, June 25, 2009 (Photos by David Corn)

Gibbs dunked, not by Sweet

WASHINGTON--As reporters were escorted to the South Lawn to take some shots at White House press secretary Robert Gibbs in a dunk tank (it's luau night), President Obama suddenly opened a door near his Oval Office.

David Corn, author and Mother Jones Washington Bureau Chief hollered out to Obama, come out for a pitch. Obama looked ready, but he said, "they won't let me take a shot."

The South Lawn was decorated with thatched huts serving food and drink and lots of palms; tonight is the congressional picnic and the luau theme is inspired by Obama's native Hawaii.

When I was being escorted to the South Lawn, the smell of whatever was cooking was overwhelming and delicious, perhaps barbeque.

The Gibbs in the dunk tank idea came from FOX News Wendell Goler, who suggested reporters take shots at Gibbs for charity.

Gibbs, in a mock long sleeve turtle neck and shorts--was sitting in the dunking booth when the reporters arrived. There would be four pitchers, each getting three tries. Gibbs said the White House counsel advised that no money could change hands. Gibbs suggested a voluntary donation to a local food bank.

Mike Emanuel from FOX News took three shots and missed.

The AP's Ben Feller hit the dunking paddle on his third ball and Gibbs went down. High fives.

I tried next, not having used my southpaw overhand pitch for years. I threw hard. I came close on my first two tries. I think some folks were surprised that I had a pitching arm. I always wanted to throw like the boys.

WASHINGTON--The idea came up during the White House briefing on Thursday, conducted by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs in advance of a luau for members of Congress hosted by President Obama and First Lady Michelle.

Gibbs, Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and leg affairs chief Phil Schiliro had agreed to be in the dunk tank, Gibbs briefed.

That line of conversation morphed to Gibbs agreeing to go in the dunk tank early if reporters kicked in a charitable donation.

"I'm happy to -- you guys collect a pot of money. You guys pick your best arm. And we can -- you can have a shot at it. You can throw it at me and I'll get you the video," Gibbs said.

WASHINGTON--Another Chicagoan, Bryan Samuels, joins the Obama White House, tapped Wednesday to be Commissioner of the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Health and Human Services.

Samuels, who grew up in a "residential school for disadvantaged children," is Chief of Staff for the Chicago Public Schools. The former CPS chief, Arne Duncan, is Obama's Secretary of Education.

Before that, from 2003 to 2007, Samuels was the Director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Samuels holds a Master's Degree from the University of Chicago, Harris School of Public Policy Studies and a Bachelor's of Arts Degree from the University of Notre Dame.

He also taught at the University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration.

WASHINGTON--First Lady Michelle Obama and President Obama host a luau Thursday night for members of Congress on the South Lawn of the White House. In order to add more substance to the event, the First Couple as part of their push to get more people involved in volunteering traveled to nearby Ft. McNair with daughters Sasha and Malia to help assemble backpacks for the kids of military personnel.

During the event, Mrs. Obama gave a preview of the Hawaii-themed picnic tonight while introducing her husband, she said "We've got a great picnic planned -- a luau -- some great hula dancers" -- and then demonstrated the dance.

"Try that again," said the president, born in Hawaii, laughing

WASHINGTON--President Obama and First Lady Michelle will meet Pope Benedict XVI on July 10 at the Vatican, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Wednesday. The purpose of the visit is "to discuss a range of issues, including their shared belief in the dignity of all people. That's on the upcoming trip."

WASHINGTON-- When President Obama strongly condemned the violence in Iran on Tuesday- cranking up his rhetoric, perhaps enough to satisfy critics who said earlier comments were too tentative- he also sent the message to Iran that the U.S. had nothing to do with the Internet-fueled uprisings in Tehran and the fate of the nation was in Iranians¹ hands.

WASHINGTON--President Obama at first tried to deflect some specific questions about his smoking habits on Tuesday, protesting the focus should be more on Obama's signing of anti-smoking legislation.

Then he relented, saying he realized his struggle was a "human interest" story. He's only "95 percent" quit and, comparing himself to alcoholics who attend life long AA meetings, said there was no permanent cure. "Once you've gone down this path, then you know, it's something you continually struggle with," Obama said.

Obama, at his fourth press conference gave his most detailed answer since his election on his struggle to quit smoking. In order to win her support for his presidential bid, Obama agreed to Michelle Obama's demand that he quit smoking if he got in the race.

A smoker since a teen Obama was asked, 'How many cigarettes a day do you now smoke? Do you smoke alone or in the presence of other people? And do you believe the new law would help you to quite? If so, why?"

Replied Obama to McClatchy reporter Margaret Talev, "Well, the -- first of all, the new law that was put in place is not about me. It's about the next generation of kids coming up. So I think it's fair, Margaret, to just say that you just think it's neat to ask me about my smoking, as opposed to it being relevant to my new law. But that's fine. I understand. It's a interesting human -- it's a interesting human-interest story.

"Look, I've said before that as a former smoker, I constantly struggle with it. Have I fallen off the wagon sometimes? Yes. The -- am I a daily smoker, a constant smoker? No. I don't do it in front of my kids. I don't do it in front of my family. And you know, I would say that I am 95 percent cured. But there are times where -- there are times where I mess up. And I mean, I've said this before.

President Obama gestures while answering a question during a press conference. (AP)

WASHINGTON--President Obama talked directly to Iran on Tuesday, calling on an editor from Huffington Post after the web outlet solicited questions online from Iranians. The president also said the iconic picture of the murdered Iranian woman named Neda was "heartbreaking" and that the CIA had nothing to do with the uprising.

Nico Pitney, the national editor for the site, was escorted to a prime spot into the jammed White House briefing room by a White House spokesman, Josh Earnest. Ready to take his second question, Obama looked around for the pre-positioned Pitney.

" I wanted to use this opportunity to ask you a question directly from an Iranian, Pitney said.

"We solicited questions last night from people who are still courageous enough to be communicating online, and one of them wanted to ask you this: Under which
conditions would you accept the election of Ahmadinejad? And if you do accept it without any significant changes in the conditions there, isn't that a betrayal of what the demonstrators there are working towards?

Obama--who made it clear during the press conference the U.S. had nothing to do with the Iranian uprising, replied, "Well, look, we didn't have international observers on the ground.

"We can't say definitively what exactly happened at polling places throughout the country. What we know is that a sizable percentage of the Iranian people themselves, spanning Iranian society, consider this election illegitimate. It's not an
isolated instance, a little grumbling here or there. There is significant questions about the legitimacy of the election.

President Obama talks about how golfing makes him feel normal and out of the bubble in an interview with Harry Smith on CBS' "The Early Show."

WASHINGTON--President Obama throws his first Rose Garden press conference on Tuesday, 12:30 p.m. EDT. The White House is adding something new to its applications menu, saying, "members of the public will be able to react to the conference and connect with one another at an official online chat room: http://apps.facebook.com/whitehouselive/."

(Video courtesy of C-SPAN)

Video courtesy of C-SPAN

Updated with video

President Obama's latest joke about longtime friend and chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, to be told Friday night at the RADIO AND TELEVISION CORRESPONDENTS DINNER

In Egypt, we had the opportunity to tour the pyramids. And by now I'm sure you've all seen the pictures of Rahm on that camel. I admit, I was a little nervous about the whole situation. I said at the time, "This is a wild animal known to bite, kick, and spit. And who knows what the camel could do?"