I smell unicorns!!
I think the kind of love he has for his daughters, and his belief that other parents feel the same way about their children, will have an impact on what he does.

Thats a really nice piture of them!

"I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ran for president: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation.

I want all our children to go to schools worthy of their potential — schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill in them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them to have the chance to go to college — even if their parents aren't rich. And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids and retire with dignity."

This is absolutely beautiful.

"Do you think Obama's love for his daughters will make him a better president?"

I'm not going to say that he loves his daughters more or has a stronger sense of family than other, previous presidents, but so far I do think he demonstrates a wonderful perspective on many domestic issues, such as education, because of his strong family feelings and the youth of his daughters. I think that wanting to better this nation and this world for the sake of its youngest generation is the best motivation any leader can have.

Thanks for posting this! It's a beautiful family portrait. Malia is growing up beautifully, and Natasha is just too cute. I'm glad to have a young family in the White House again .

That's the photo from the Essence shoot I believe. The girls look very pretty.

Aww cute

They are cute. I find it interesting that we find cute pictures of the Pres-to-be, but take whatever comes up first for photos of the ex pres. Just an observation.

As to the letter. It is nice, but I don't think it will have any bearing on what type of president he is, unless my children are able to go get the same kind of education his were, and are, based on his status....

I think Obama has a lot of class and I believe everything he has done so far is with a genuine heart. Natasha looks so sweet, and, not that it matters, but I can't help saying I think Malia looks smug in every picture I have seen of her. I am sure she is just very proud and hope she is kind to those less fortunate.

A better President because of his daughters? Who knows. I don't think it's fair to say his sense of family is any stronger or better than anyone else's though. I do think it is wonderful that he wants people to realize their potential and have the chance at a higher education if that's what they want.

Malia is really looking like Michelle.

This is a pretty brilliant PR move.

YES there never president as good as him 4 more than 100 years

Based on what? He isn't even president yet!

I have to agree with Lilkimbo! LOL!

Eh, to be fair, my parents are immigrants and came to this country when my mom was 8 months pregnant with my sister with barely any money, my dad was working 3 jobs at one point to send my sister and I to good schools, even though I grew up in a relatively "rough" neighborhood, and I ended up going to a great (or as some people call it, "brand-name") college and am paying off my loans for it while also working and, again, going to school again. A good education isn't only for those with "status".

Jazz i think that's just how she smiles. I think it's the eyebrows.

I see him as having kids as a great thing. It will be one of those things that will help keep him real and grounded with all of the challenges facing him in the white house. He seems like one of the most down to earth presidents that we have had in a while.

Oh wait, we can't say certain people are real. I mean, are people without kids, say.... not real?
I don't think for a second that having kids will make him a better president.
And I agree about the pictures UnDave.

Sasha is the cute one. Malia reminds me of her mom, looks and personality. Smug is a suitable word. Entitled... maybe.

?

You're really going to make personal, attacking assumptions like "smug" and "entitled" about a child?

Apparently?

Nice to know that you've spent some quality, one-on-one face-time with the Obamas, Hain! Lucky you!

Really Hain, that's a surprise from you.

I don't think that having kids will make him a better president, but the fact that he draws inspiration from his daughters and expresses it to the people of America will make him a better leader. The fact that he wants to be a good father and provide for his children, as well as all American children, all the opportunities the country can provide them, inspires people to do the same-- that is, work hard to become the best person you can be and provide future generations with what is necessary for them.

What a wonderful letter! I'm so excited the Obamas will be in the White House. I'm a fan of the whole family.

I really agree with what he said about schools. It's nice to have someone really address how unbelievably sucky the education system is.

Oh wait... I thought that since he brought them out and put them on a publication then they are fair game. Oh wait that only applies to republicans. I get it!

I just posted that to see what you would all say about it, and my expectations were met!

Is there something in the water today?

It has always seemed to me that most of us make it abundantly clear that children are never fair game.

It's interesting that no one is scolding Jazz Z for her assessment of Malia's looks.

There IS something in the water!!

I did.

You disagreed, you didn't criticize her personally like you did Hain.

after that no, please insert a comma.

Who said it was about her looks? I said she looks like her mom... her personality SEEMS like her mom. And her mom is smug and entitled.

I didn't notice Jazz's comment, or would have included it. That being said, however, there's difference between "I can't help saying I think Malia looks smug in every picture I have seen of her. I am sure she is just very proud and hope she is kind to those less fortunate" and "Malia reminds me of her mom, looks and personality. Smug is a suitable word. Entitled... maybe." Hain is simply calling Malia smug and entitled. Jazz admits that that's just how Malia looks and says that she probably isn't that way.

You commented on it both time; you only personally attacked Hain.

I think she is a cute kid who looks like her mom, but sasha is CUTE. I mean she is cute, isn't she. Personality and looks. She is the cute one.

To me, it's obvious that Hain is referring to Malia's looks, as she has never met her and as she refers to the way Sasha looks, then contrasts it with her observations about Malia. She also directly references Jazz's comment, which refers to Malia's looks.

ALl i know is that the wording was f*cked up. It sounded like she was attacking a 10 year-old and so I came out with claws.

Smug is a suitable word. (for her look in the picture
Entitled... maybe. (personality)
I don't really give if you guys care what I think at this moment. In other posts, you have all made it perfectly clear that if they want to put their children out there, people are going to comment on them.
And I NEVER said that Malia is not cute.

To me it seemed obvious that Hain was calling a child she's never met and doesn't know "smug and entitled" because she doesn't like her mother. But apparently she was only doing that to get a reaction, so

Come out with claws... calm down people. I don't know the child. She comes off very much like her mother.
Jazz said she looked smug in the pic. I agreed.
In the pic Michelle comes off as entitled. RELAX.

Like I said before I think it's the shape of her eyebrows. Sasha's eyebrows are flat and Malia's are arched giving her more of an mischievious look.

Oh, I'm relaxed now. The claws have retreated.

Anyone remember everything that was said about Chelsea Clinton in the press when her father was first elected president? Smug and entitled are quite tame in comparison...

As for the topic, having children has obviously changed his world view. That might make him a better president on certain issues or certain aspects, but of course you could never tell. That doesn't mean that someone without kids would be a bad President.

Good grief!

Sasha is the cute one. Malia reminds me of her mom, looks and personality. Smug is a suitable word. Entitled... maybe.

Hain, of course you are entitled to your opinion, but could you please explain to me how exactly Michelle Obama looks "smug" or "entitled"? I think that is one of the more humorous comments I've read all day!

Because she's democratic, that's how. She's an elist!!!

See, amy got it right...
Yeah it was my opinion. About Michelle. I really did say it to prove that some on here think it is ok to have profound opinions of children of republicans, but it is obviously not ok for me to make a comparison of how malias look and personality remind me of her mother who is smug/entitled.
How does she look smug or act smug? Because he actions are what got me to comment. I've read a lot about Mrs Obama. And her opinion of things, is that of entitlement.