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As black women watch Michelle Obama on the national stage, they search — sometimes nervously — for nuances often lost on the larger culture. How she handles criticism, how she raises her children, even her style of dress, has the potential to counter negative stereotypes. “She is mainstreaming to the world what a lot of us already know about ourselves,” says Dacenta Grice, a 37-year-old black woman who works as a physician assistant in Atlanta. “She reinforces the reality that so many of us live. She is a black woman who just seems fantastic in her own right, who just...

U.S. President Barack Obama (L) and his wife Michelle (R) paint quotations attributed to slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr during a day of service in King's honor at the Browne Education Campus school in Washington, January 16, 2012. The quotations read: "The time is always right to do what is right" and "I have a dream". U.S. President Barack Obama (R) talks to reporters as he installs shelves in a library with volunteers during a day of service to honor Martin Luther King, Jr, at the Browne Education Campus school in Washington, January 16, 2012.

President Barack Obama and his family spent a warm and sunny afternoon at one of the most popular snorkelling spots on the island of Oahu, where they released four green sea turtles into the water.

<p>Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you’re having a lovely vacation. Because I’m not actually on vacation. Unless you consider drinking coconut coffee from the Keurig while I work in my office a vacation. Because I don’t. At any rate, I saved the US taxpayers nearly $4 million by not being First Lady and flying off for a 17-day vacation in Hawaii on the taxpayers dime. You can thank me later.</p>

From the official White House Flickr account: "President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama pretend to sing with an a cappella group in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House during a holiday reception, Dec. 10, 2010."

# Median net worth of member of Congress rose from $280,000 to $725,000 between 1984 and 2009 # Over same 25 years the wealth of the average U.S. family slipped from $20,500 from $20,600 The wealth gap between those governing the U.S. and the people they represent has dramatically widened, research shows. Against a backdrop of a vast budget deficit and fears of the fragility of the economy, analysis by the Washington Post shows that the median net worth of a member of Congress has nearly tripled over 25 years while the income of an average U.S. family has actually...

POTUS arrives in Hawaii HONOLULU -- President Obama arrived here late Friday to join his vacationing family in Kailua. Air Force One touched down at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickham just before 6 p.m. local time (that's 11 p.m. on the East Coast) after a nine-hour flight that included an off-the-record stop by the president in the press section of the plane. His motorcade reached the home where the family is staying at 6:45 p.m. Bo the dog was also spotted running around aboard the plane.

A series of emails provided to the House Energy and Commerce Committee from individuals tied to Solyndra offer striking characterizations about running strategy with the White House to secure assistance for the now-bankrupt solar energy firm. Emails among George Kaiser, head of the George Kaiser Family Foundation; Ken Levit, the executive director of the Foundation; and Steve Mitchell, who manages Argonaut Private Equity and was a member of Solyndra's board; show that Vice President Joe Biden's office were very gung-ho. "They about had an orgasm in Biden's office when we mentioned Solyndra," reads a Feb. 27, 2010, email from Levit...

In a chilling appraisal of President Obama’s Republican opposition, First Lady Michelle Obama Thursday suggested a Republican victory in the 2012 presidential election would result in curbs on freedom of speech and religion. Speaking at a fundraiser at a private residence in Tampa, Mrs. Obama noted the power of the president to appoint members of the Supreme Court. She clearly indicated that a Republican would select justices who would attack basic First Amendment rights, saying, “that’s what’s at stake” in the election. From the White House transcript: Let’s not forget about what it meant when my husband appointed those two...

Publishers for US First Lady Michelle Obama’s upcoming cookbook have released an early preview of the book’s cover art and revealed more details about its spring release. American Grown: How the White House Kitchen Garden Inspires Families, Schools, and Communities, published by Crown Publishers, is Obama’s first cookbook and will be issued in both print and digital editions. The print edition will include photos of the White House garden and Obama throughout the seasons, and include more details about how the First Lady was inspired by her daughters Sasha and Malia to change her family’s eating habits and plant an...

First lady Michelle Obama has gold-plated her appeal, in part, by playing it safe, focusing on signature issues and family while staying out of the partisan politics so deeply loathed by many Americans Her value as the most popular member of the Obama administration is inevitably sending her back into the field, raising money and delivering speeches for a 2012 reelection effort that increasingly needs some happier news. ... Humanizing the president is a traditional and nearly inevitable role for the first lady at campaign time, which tends to roll around after the shine has come off a president and...

How much does it cost taxpayers to fly First Lady Michelle Obama, her two daughters and her mother, a niece and a nephew, a hairstylist and makeup artists to South Africa and Botswana to give a few speeches, meet Nelson Mandela, and enjoy a safari on a private game preserve? Nearly half a million dollars, according to documents obtained by Judicial Watch via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) concerning Obama's June 21-27 journey. Judicial Watch said the U.S. Air Force provided a C-32 - a Boeing 757 modified by the military for the purpose of flying big-wigs around the...

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama stands with Karen Dudley, right, at her restaurant “The Kitchen” as she makes an unscheduled stop for lunch in Cape Town, South Africa, Thursday, June 23, 2011. Also pictured, left to right, daughters Malia and Sasha Obama, niece Leslie Robinson, nephew Avery Robinson. (AP/Charles Dharapak, Pool) Washington Whispers reported on the African trip. First lady Michelle Obama’s family trip to South Africa and Botswana in June cost taxpayers well over $424,000, according to new accounting based on Air Force manifests obtained by Judicial Watch, a taxpayer watchdog group.

First lady Michelle Obama may want to go on another Target shopping trip in February: That’s when a limited-edition collection by Jason Wu, one of her favorite designers, will hit stores across the country. Women’s Wear Daily reported Monday that after Target’s Missoni collaboration was a huge success, the store has tapped Wu to be the next to design an affordable collection for the design-conscious retailer. The 60’s inspired line will reach stores Feb. 5, and items will be priced at $60 or less - a considerable discount from his eponymous fashion line.

The emails from the Barack Obama reelect about winning a dinner with the president as a randomized reward for contributing to the campaign have gotten a bit more intense as time goes on, and the latest one, from the first lady, emphasizes that the winner of such a prize shouldn't freak out about it. Continue Reading "Just relax," she advises. The email is below. From: Michelle Obama [mailto:info@barackobama.com] Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 2:34 PM To: Subject: These dinners XXXX — Not everyone knows how to prepare for a dinner like this. As someone who's eaten countless meals with my...

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This picture was on Drudge Report today talking about the $42,000.00 diamond bling on Mooche's wrists. I noticed TOTUS, and thought, LOVE TRIANGLE!

Michelle Obama, the most glamorous of all U.S. First Ladies, dazzled the crowd at a DNC fundraiser Tuesday night wearing over $42,000 worth of diamond bracelets ($42,150 to be precise). Designed by Katie Decker, a 23-year-old Texas-based jeweller, the First Lady dropped a few dimes on some serious bling: (Daily Mail) - The First Lady, 47, chose to wear Miss Decker's Lotus cuff, with 2.9 carats of diamonds, costing $15,000, the Gothic cuff with 2.17 carats of diamonds, costing $15,350, and the $11,800 Quatrefoil bracelet with 1.73 carats of diamonds to the Gotham Hall event.Damn, for that kind of money...

President Obama is panicking over a secret police file loaded with evidence proving that his birth certificate - is a PHONY! Read all about what's in the file, now in the hands of two police departments, and why it's driving the fearful President to drink - only in the new GLOBE.

President Obama and the first lady gave a glimpse of their lighter sides Tuesday night, exchanging in playful – and at times downright flirtatious – banter at a glamorous million-dollar campaign fundraiser at the Gotham Theater in New York City. Taking the stage to introduce her husband before a crowd of 400 donors, the Michelle Obama hailed the event as “sort of like our date night.” “I would like to thank all of you for planning such a lovely, intimate evening for the two of us,” she said, with a tinge of sarcasm that drew laughter from the crowd. ”A...

NEW YORK: US President Barack Obama arrived here Monday ahead of the UN General Assembly, this year overshadowed by a Palestinan bid for UN membership of a Palestinian state.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYJ3SKwaKg8&feature=player_profilepage

Upscale Magazine has scored an interview with the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama for its October, 2011 issue. She is also featured on the cover. “First Lady Michelle Obama represents the spirit of today’s African-American mother, wife and champion of change." In the October Upscale cover story, entitled “National Treasure,” Michelle Obama opens up to Spelman College graduates about her life as a young black girl in the Southside of Chicago “Some of you may have grown up like me, in neighborhoods where few had the chance to go to college,” explained Mrs. Obama, who prefers to...

NEW YORK - The commemoration ceremony for the tenth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks is intended to promote unity and bring people together, however, anger is now growing among some in New York over the exclusion of first responders from the World Trade Centre

German fashion powerhouse Karl Lagerfeld likes Michelle Obama, but, he says, her style just isn’t up to par. In a recent interview with USA Today, the Chanel designer echoed “Sex and the City” stylist Patricia Field in saying that Ms. Obama’s fashion picks could use some help. “I love Madame Obama, but not in terms of clothes,” Lagerfeld told the publication. Luckily for Ms. Obama, Lagerfeld complimented the first lady’s “strong” face. “I like her face, the cleverness of her face. Her face is stronger than the clothes,” Lagerfeld said. Lagerfeld is certainly not the first fashion big name to...

(press release) Nickelodeon's Eighth Annual Worldwide Day of Play to Combine With First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" Campaign and The President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition in Its Biggest Celebration of Play Ever, Live From Washington, D.C.'s Ellipse Saturday, September 24 First Lady Featured in Exclusive Event PSA Debuting on Sept. 3 NEW YORK, Sept. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Nickelodeon is joining with the First Lady's "Let's Move" campaign and the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition to bring for the first time its flagship Worldwide Day of Play (WWDOP) event to the Ellipse in...

Michelle Obama must think most people are easily duped. To quell the disapproval of Americans who struggle to come up with the extra money to fill their gas tanks, Michelle has to spend lots of time -- between booking vacations and deciding how big a wardrobe chest to load into the cargo plane -- coming up with justifications to subdue the public's disapproval of her obvious addiction to pricey vacations. Last year, prior to heading off to Martha's Vineyard, Michelle took Sasha on an exotic summer visit to Spain. The I-dare-you-to-say-something excuse for that excursion was that it was a...

President Barack Obama holds conference call on Hurricane Irene with FEMA Director Craig Fugate, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Chief of Staff Bill Daley, and John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security, in Chilmark, Mass., Aug. 26, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Reporting from Martha's Vineyard, Mass.— On vacation in Martha’s Vineyard, President Obama managed to squeeze in some family time Thursday afternoon after spending the morning taking briefings on the economy, the situation in Libya and Hurricane Irene. Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and their two daughters spent the afternoon at a private beach, which they have already visited twice since arriving in Martha’s Vineyard last Thursday.

The Obamas' summer break in Martha's Vineyard has already been branded a PR disaster after the couple arrived four hours apart on separate government jets. But according to new reports, this is the least of their extravagances. White House sources today claimed that the First Lady has spent $10million of U.S. taxpayers' money on vacations alone in the past year. Branding her 'disgusting' and 'a vacation junkie', they say the 47-year-old mother-of-two has been indulging in five-star hotels, where she splashes out on expensive massages and alcohol. The 'top source' told the National Enquirer: 'It's disgusting. Michelle is taking advantage...

President Barack Obama receives an economic briefing from Brian Deese, Deputy Director of the National Economic Council, at the Fisher House at Blue Heron Farm in Chilmark, Massachusetts, August 24, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

There's a shocking secret behind the First Family's recent vacation on Martha's Vineyard - First Lady Michelle Obama is using it to rehab the President off booze! Find out why Barack has been hitting the bottle more and more -- and how Michelle hopes to save him from a drunken disaster - ONLY in the new GLOBE.

President Obama is no doubt enjoying lots of delicious sea food in Martha's Vineyard -- lobster, scallops, that sort of thing. But when he's back in Washington, he'll be chowing down a favorite new meal prepared by the White House chef: gourmet-style Iowa pork chops! Specifically: "cinnamon brined grilled Iowa pork chops." (Snip) He loved the meaty chops so much that his staff requested the recipe from the hotel's chief, so that the chops could be added to the official West Wing menu.

Michelle Obama showed off her enviably toned thighs as she powered past the President in tiny purple cycling shorts on the first family's bike ride on Martha's Vineyard today. Wearing a fashionable printed T-shirt and Converse trainers, the First Lady showed that she still has style, even when on vacation. But her husband looked goofy and tired as he lagged behind wearing a baggy black polo shirt, and perhaps more surprisingly jeans

President Obama’s ten days on Martha’s Vineyard aren’t really a vacation, Press Secretary Jay Carney said last week, because “the presidency follows him” wherever he goes. If you need proof, just look at the accompanying photo. It shows the president being briefed on matters of great import. One might describe him as looking “intense.” OK, only the most gullible sap is going to be taken in by staged images of Obama looking presidential. Perhaps mindful of that grim reality, his entourage is keeping a lower profile this summer than in previous years. Jake Tapper of ABC News wrote the day...

President Barack Obama ditched the Beltway grind yesterday to seek the pleasures of summer on the beaches of Martha's Vineyard - by way of two helicopter flights and a trip aboard Air Force One. And a further government jet was used by Michelle Obama as she arrived separately to her husband, with daughters Sasha and Malia, just a few hours before he landed. The President left the White House aboard Marine One on his way to Andrews Air Force base to hitch a lift aboard Air Force One. The President arrived on this wealthy Massachusetts island retreat as the stock...

“We’re going to do something to strengthen the banking system," Mr. Obama said, “You are not going to be able to give out these big bonuses until you pay taxpayers back. You can't get corporate jets. You can't go take a trip to Martha's Vineyard or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayers' dime. There's got to be some accountability and some responsibility.”

Henry Wallace’s Progressive Party of the 1940s was nothing but a tool the Communist Party USA – and by extension, the Soviet Union. Today’s Democratic Party is also heavily infiltrated by the now pro Chinese Communist Party USA and their almost as equally extreme comrades from Democratic Socialists of America. Here’s an interesting picture from the 1940s. Henry Wallace chatting with Chicago journalist and Progressive Party supporter Vernon Jarrett. It turns out that around this time Vernon Jarrett was a leader of the Chicago chapter of American Youth for Democracy – the youth wing of the Communist Party. Chicago communist...

With hindsight, a low-key dinner with close family and friends would probably have been more appropriate. But the small matter of a multi-trillion dollar debt crisis was not going to stop President Barack Obama pulling out all the stops for his birthday party. There has been speculation for days as to whether the President was going to make it to his own fundraising 50th birthday party - a lavish affair at a $40,000 a night ballroom in Chicago, with Dreamgirls star Jennifer Hudson booked to sing for the birthday boy. But with the announcement last night that a debt deal...

Stop the presses, Michelle Obama might have eaten a hamburger. The blogosphere erupted with criticism almost immediately after the Washington Post reported Monday that the first lady sat down at a newly opened Shake Shack in Washington D.C., where she ordered a ShackBurger, fries, a chocolate shake and a Diet Coke. According to the popular burger joint's website, that's a 1,556-calorie meal. (sic, actually it was 1700 calories.) Many critiqued the first lady's public display of Shake Shack love as she continues to advocate for her Let's Move! campaign, an initiative to eliminate childhood obesity. But even as the first...

President Obama has canceled a vacation to Montana scheduled this weekend, local police confirm to Fox News. The first family was slated to visit Whitefish, Montana from July 8-10. "He was coming in for a brief vacation, this was all before the budget crisis hit, we were gearing up until last Friday, and then heard from Secret Service it was canceled," Whitefish Police Chief Bill Dial said. Obama announced Thursday that he was asking lawmakers and staff to work through the weekend and that leaders would come back to the White House on Sunday for another meeting to hammer out...

First Lady Michelle Obama has told her husband the President she's "had enough" and is packing up their daughters and moving back to Chicago. Only this week's GLOBE has the exclusive story of what triggered Michelle's shocking decision to leave the White House - and her husband.

Original title: ‘I see the worry creasing his face’: Michelle Obama reveals the toll of presidential office on her husband ------------------------------------ First lady Michelle Obama gave a fascinating insight into just how heavily the weight of office rests on her husband's shoulders and how the job of president has taken it's toll. Speaking at a fund-raiser for the Democratic National Committee in Massachusetts she told of his total dedication to the job and told how she worries about the increasing number of lines on his face She said: 'I see the worry creasing his face. I hear the passion and...

Michelle Obama went to Boston for $600,000. the Boston Globe spoke glowingly of her words of praise for President Obama. But it was the last paragraph of the piece that was most telling. From the Boston Globe: “Yet while [Elaine] Schuster spoke from typed notes, the first lady used a TelePrompTer, despite the relatively small and friendly audience.” These birdbrains cannot get through a simple speech at a social gathering without a teleprompter. Goodness, he needed two just to speak to a sixth-grade class and he needed one for his first press conference. So here are the words Michelle Obama...

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama laughs as she pretends to pull out a large carrot which was previously dug out by Young African Women Leaders Forum participants Heather Sonn (2nd R) and Mandisa Dlamini (R) as she gardens during a community service project at Vhuthilo Community Center in Soweto township, Johannesburg June 22, 2011. U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama (R) and daughters Sasha (C) and Malia take turns reading to children from "The Cat in the Hat" by Dr. Seuss as they visit the Emthonjeni Community Center in Zandspruit Township, Johannesburg, South Africa June 21, 2011. U.S. first lady Michelle...

First Lady Michelle Obama urged young Africans on Wednesday to fight for women's rights and battle the stigma of AIDS, using her husband's "yes, we can" campaign slogan to motivate youth across the continent. Obama is on her second solo trip abroad as first lady to promote issues such as education, health and wellness. But her speech to a group of young women and men at Regina Mundi Church, which played a role in South Africa's anti-apartheid movement, touched on much harder topics: race, discrimination, democracy, and development. Obama, who is traveling with her mother and two daughters, drew on...

EXCERPT Mrs Obama met for about a half-hour on Tuesday morning with Nompumelelo Ntuli-Zuma at President Jacob Zuma's official residence in the capital of Pretoria. Ntuli-Zuma is one of the President's three wives. There were two further wives who are no longer with him. He divorced Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in 1998. Kate Mantsho Zuma killed herself in 2000, after describing her marriage to him as '24 years of hell'. Mr Zuma, who was out of the country, is said to have more than ten children, and possibly as many as 19.