Oprah's Christmas with the Obamas

It's a Christmas of firsts as Oprah Winfrey shares a sneak peek at her first interview with the First Couple as they prepare for their family's first Christmas in the White House.

Winfrey's chat with President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama marks the first time she has interviewed the president since he took office. Her one-hour special will also showcase the behind-the-scenes efforts it takes to get the famous home ready for the holiday season.

Christmas at the White House: An Oprah Primetime Special is set to air this Sunday, December 13th at 10:00 pm (ET) on ABC.

Obamas Recycle Ornaments from Christmas Past

It used to be that Christmas at the White House dazzled visitors with the glitter of thousands of fairy lights. But not this year. Not in this economy and not with this practical-minded First Lady.

On Wednesday, Michelle Obama debuted a White House whose decked halls were decidedly understated. Where the Bushes and Clintons previously put up a dozen Christmas trees in the mansion's Foyer and Cross Hall alone, there are just seven on the entire State floor this year. The biggest of them – the 18½ foot Douglas fir in the Blue Room – is decorated with recycled ornaments that Mrs. Obama's team dug out of the warehouse where old White House decorations are stored.

"We took about 800 ornaments left over from previous administrations, we sent them to 60 local community groups throughout the country, and asked them to decorate them to pay tribute to a favorite local landmark and then send them back to us for display here at the White House," said Mrs. Obama.

Decorating in woodland colors of brown, gold, claret and cinnamon, Mrs. Obama chose as her theme, "Reflect. Rejoice. Renew." Aides said the toned-down décor was both a nod to the tough economic times and Mrs. Obama's interest in environmentalism. (The traditional White House gingerbread house features a miniature kitchen garden like the one Mrs. Obama had dug on the South Lawn.)

"For the Obama family, Christmas and the New Year has always been a time to reflect on our many blessings, to rejoice in the pleasure of spending time with our family and our friends, and to renew our commitment to one another and to the causes that we believe in," the First Lady said.

The first of 17 White House holiday parties was held Tuesday night, for the 92 volunteers who strung lights and hung ornaments. Mrs. Obama herself, who teased the volunteers about making a lot of partying noise, only popped down for a minute.

"She said the girls were upstairs doing homework and she couldn’t stay," said volunteer Kim Fawley, a schoolteacher from Broadway, Virginia.

Oprah to Interview Obama in Christmas Special

Oprah will interview President Barack Obama in a special on ABC called Christmas at the White House: An Oprah Primetime Special.

The special, which will be taped next week in D.C., will include a tour of the White House, decked out for the holidays, as well as an interview with President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

The special will mark the first interview between Oprah and Obama since he took office.

The special will air on Sunday, December 13th.

First Family's Official Portrait Released

The White House released a new portrait of the Obama family on its official Flickr account on Friday. The photo was taken by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz, who has followed President Obama and his family closely this year.

In January, she shot a portfolio for Vanity Fair. Earlier this year, her photo of Michelle Obama graced the cover of Vogue's March issue, making it only the second time a president's wife appeared on the cover of the fashion magazine.

Barack Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize

Barack Obama has won this year's Nobel Peace Prize "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples," the annual award's committee announced Friday morning in Oslo. "He has created a new international climate," said their statement.

The selection of the President, 48, is considered a stunning surprise, as his name had not been heard in speculation surrounding the choice of this year's honoree. But, said the committee, "We are awarding Obama for what he has done. Many other people and leaders and nations have to respond in a positive way" to President Obama's diplomacy.

In his nearly nine months in office, President Obama has appealed for reductions in nuclear arsenals and is seeking to restart peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians. He has also faced challenges in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as from Iran, amid fears Tehran is seeking to build a nuclear weapon.

Thorbjorn Jagland, the chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee and a former prime minister of Norway, told reporters, "We are not awarding the prize for what may happen in the future but for what he has done in the previous year. We would hope this will enhance what he is trying to do."

In the 108-year-history of the awards, the only other sitting U.S. Presidents to win the honor were Theodore Roosevelt (in 1906) and Woodrow Wilson (1919). Jimmy Carter's came more than 20 years after he left office, in 2002.

Speaking from the White House Rose Garden late Friday morning, President Obama said he was awakened to the news by his daughters, who also pointed out that it is their family dog's birthday and the start of a three-day weekend ("So it’s good to have kids to keep things in perspective," he said.) He also added he is "both surprised and deeply humbled" by the award, which he views as reflecting the type of world "all Americans want to build."

New Book Claims Michelle Obama Miffed by Barack's Female Fans

When your husband is the most sought-after figure in the Free World, how do you handle female admirers grab-happy for his behind?

First Lady Michelle Obama allegedly says, "Get a life" – at least according to author Christopher Andersen in his new book, Barack and Michelle: Portrait of an American Marriage.

Writing about first couple's very public relationship and the flood of the Mr. Obama's very over-eager female fans on the campaign trail, Andersen states – as was first reported by the New York Post – that on a number of occasions, Barack Obama would hide his shock and surprise when women would reach for him, allegedly professing, "Jesus, I wish they'd stop grabbing my ass."

Understandably upset, Mrs. Obama had words of her own for her husband's admirers. "I want to tell these women, 'Back off,' " Andersen quotes her as saying. "It's just embarrassing, that's all."

When it came to all the attention her husband received from the ladies, Michelle reportedly said, "He's loving it. He's a man, isn't he?"

And while the book claims that at the time these situations would push the First Lady to give the President the silent treatment, Andersen quotes a source as also suggesting that Michelle personally managed to help remove a particular campaign worker from Barack's orbit once the working relationship had grown closer than she liked.

A White House spokeswoman declined comment.

President Obama Calls Kanye West a 'Jackass'

When, oh when, will the politicians learn to treat every microphone like a live microphone?

President Obama has found himself unwittingly in the middle of the awards show controversy between Kanye West and Taylor Swift after audio of chit-chat with a TV reporter leaked out on Tuesday.

Before a CNBC interview got underway Monday, the network's reporter John Harwood asked Obama if his daughters were upset that West had interrupted Swift's acceptance speech during Sunday night's MTV Video Music Awards show, reports Politico.com.

"I thought that was really inappropriate," Obama answered, in what the White House believed to be off-the-record comments.

According to audio of the conversation, which hit the Web Tuesday afternoon, Obama went on to say, "You know, it was like, she's getting an award and what are you butting in? … The young lady seems like a perfectly nice person, she's getting her award and what's he doing up there? He's a jackass."

When White House aides and camera crew members gasped and laughed at the president's candor, Obama continued, "C'mon guys. Cut the president some slack. I've got a lot of other stuff on my plate."

Asked about the comments, White House spokesman Bill Burton said Tuesday: "Look, I'm not going to get into what the President had to say in an off-the-record conversation. But you should see what [White House chief of staff] Rahm [Emanuel] said about it."

Star Sighting: Obama's Sweet Moment

Even though it's his own 48th birthday, President Barack Obama surprises veteran reporter Helen Thomas with cupcakes for her birthday – her 89th! – during a daily White House press briefing on Tuesday.

The Obamas Meet the Pope

Barack Obama met Pope Benedict XVI for the first time as President of the United States. First Lady Michelle Obama accompanied him to the sitting, which took place in the pope's Vatican library on Friday.

According to the Associated Press, Pope Benedict XVI underscored the church's opposition to abortion and stem cell research during the 30-minute meeting. The president and the pope also reportedly discussed immigration, foreign aid, and the road to peace in the Middle East.

President Obama Declares June LGBT Pride Month

President Barack Obama has now officially declared June 2009 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month.

The words he has written below, however, ring very hollow to the thousands of people out there marching for equal rights and fighting through the legal and political systems for change.

But, he is our president and there is much in this statement to like. Still, we need more than words:

A PROCLAMATION BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Forty years ago, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn in New York City resisted police harassment that had become all too common for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Out of this resistance, the LGBT rights movement in America was born. During LGBT Pride Month, we commemorate the events of June 1969 and commit to achieving equal justice under law for LGBT Americans.

LGBT Americans have made, and continue to make, great and lasting contributions that continue to strengthen the fabric of American society. There are many well-respected LGBT leaders in all professional fields, including the arts and business communities. LGBT Americans also mobilized the Nation to respond to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic and have played a vital role in broadening this country’s response to the HIV pandemic.

Due in no small part to the determination and dedication of the LGBT rights movement, more LGBT Americans are living their lives openly today than ever before. I am proud to be the first President to appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an Administration. These individuals embody the best qualities we seek in public servants, and across my Administration — in both the White House and the Federal agencies — openly LGBT employees are doing their jobs with distinction and professionalism.

The LGBT rights movement has achieved great progress, but there is more work to be done. LGBT youth should feel safe to learn without the fear of harassment, and LGBT families and seniors should be allowed to live their lives with dignity and respect.

My Administration has partnered with the LGBT community to advance a wide range of initiatives. At the international level, I have joined efforts at the United Nations to decriminalize homosexuality around the world. Here at home, I continue to support measures to bring the full spectrum of equal rights to LGBT Americans. These measures include enhancing hate crimes laws, supporting civil unions and Federal rights for LGBT couples, outlawing discrimination in the workplace, ensuring adoption rights, and ending the existing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in a way that strengthens our Armed Forces and our national security. We must also commit ourselves to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic by both reducing the number of HIV infections and providing care and support services to people living with HIV/AIDS across the United States.

These issues affect not only the LGBT community, but also our entire Nation. As long as the promise of equality for all remains unfulfilled, all Americans are affected. If we can work together to advance the principles upon which our Nation was founded, every American will benefit. During LGBT Pride Month, I call upon the LGBT community, the Congress, and the American people to work together to promote equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

BARACK OBAMA

Pic of the Week: Obama vs McCain....Again? Nah!

Obama shakes hands with John Sidney McCain IV, son of Senator John McCain, who graduated during the annual Naval Academy Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony on Friday in Annapolis, Maryland.

Obama Holding Preliminary Talks on Repealing Military Gay Ban

The Obama administration is holding "preliminary discussions" on repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell but change may take months, if at all, an advisor to the President has said.

Speaking yesterday on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos, White House National Security Advisor James Jones said he didn't know whether to the policy would ever be overturned, describing it as a "complicated" and "sensitive" issue.

“It’s a complicated issue. It will be teed up appropriately and it will be discussed in the way the president does things, which is be very deliberative, very thoughtful, seeking out all sides on the issue,” Jones said.

When asked if Don't Ask, Don't Tell would ever be repealed, he said: “I don’t know. We’ll have to - the president has said that he is in favour of that. We’ll just wait - we’ll have to wait and see - as a result of the deliberations and as a result of the - in the months and weeks ahead. We have a lot on our plate right now. It has to be teed up at the right time so - to do this the right way.”

On the possibility of suspending prosecutions and investigations while the review continues, Jones said: “Well, maybe that’s an option that eventually we’ll get to but we’re not there now.”

Last week, Lieutenant Dan Choi, the National Guard soldier who publicly came out live on national television, was dismissed from duty for "homosexual conduct".

Appearing on the Rachel Maddow show after receiving his dismissal, Choi vowed to fight the decision "tooth and nail".

Another servicemember, Lieutenant Sandy Tsao, an Army Officer about to be discharged from the military because she’s a lesbian, received a handwritten letter from President Obama this week.

The letter stated: "Thanks for your wonderful and thoughtful letter. It is because of outstanding Americans like you that I committed to changing our current policy. Although it will take some time to complete, partly because it needs congressional action, I intend to fulfill my commitment, Barack Obama.”

Around 12,500 servicemembers have been ejected since the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy’s introduction in 1994, including 60 Arabic linguists.

Obamas Celebrated Easter with Fergie

The Easter Bunny couldn't hold a candle to Malia Obama at this year's White House Easter Egg Roll. When the microphone at Monday's event malfunctioned, the elder First Daughter remedied the situation.

"I'd like to introduce Malia, my technical advisor,' " joked her father, President Obama. Then came the First Lady's warm welcome and rundown of the day's outdoor events, innocently interrupted by an inquiry from daughter Sasha, 7: "Tennis too?"

While there would be no game, there was Fergie – who delivered a memorable version of the national anthem, prompting a huge hug from the president.

What followed was an all-day outdoor concert with the theme, "Let's Go Play." Activities included yoga, soccer, break-dancing, health-conscious cooking and the traditional Easter Egg Roll. The president, alongside Sasha and Malia, kicked off the first round with a whistle and a roar, "Is everybody ready?"

Then, the First Family dispersed, with Mr. Obama going to work as his girls rushed to the front row of the Fergie show. Mrs. Obama danced with her mother, Marian Robinson, and her starstruck daughters, who managed to sing nearly every word to "Big Girls Don't Cry" and "Glamorous. Fergie's new husband, Josh Duhamel, scoped the scene in a dapper suit and sunglasses.

Fergie, 34, told People exclusively afterwards, "The whole Obama family is so down to earth. My family was with me and had the honor of getting to chat with them, as well. It was a special moment in time as I got to see Michelle, Malia, and Sasha dancing and singing with me to my songs!"

Obama's Chia 'Fro Deemed Too Offensive for Walgreens

Walgreens has apparently pull the most patriotic Chia product ever from its shelves.

Robert Elfinger, a spokesman for Walgreens, said in a company statement Tuesday that the Chia Obama was being pulled from stores in the Chicago and Tampa areas because it "didn't fit with our corporate image." Elfinger clarified an earlier mix-up with AOL.com, saying he had not called the product "racist," but "offensive."

Both the "Determined Chia Obama" and the "Happy Chia Obama" are still available at chiaobama.com.

Simon Cowell – No Time For Obama

Too busy for President Barack Obama? That's what Simon Cowell claimed on Monday's Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

"He wanted to have dinner, and our diaries didn't quite match," said the acerbic American Idol judge, 49. "He wanted to do eight [o'clock], I was free at nine. We didn't quite connect."

The remarks came four days after Obama appeared on the NBC late-night talk show and told Leno that since taking on the responsibilities of commander-in-chief he's found Washington, D.C., to be a lot like American Idol – and everyone is a Simon Cowell.

"I think what he was trying to say was Washington's becoming more intelligent," Cowell deadpanned.

Idol host Ryan Seacrest, who was sitting next to Cowell, piped up, "I'm not quite sure it was a compliment." Shot back Cowell: "That's how I interpreted it."

When Cowell had said he was too busy to meet with Obama, Leno had asked, "What were you doing, getting your teeth whitened?"

Pic of the Day: Taking a Break!

U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama walk on the South Lawn of the White House while departing for the presidential retreat in Maryland.

Pic of the Day: We Are Not Quitters

In his not-really-but-actually State of the Union address, President Barack Obama did his best to inspire a nation scared out of its wits.

Click the following link, compliments of Gawker.com, to read the entire script of last nights televised address:

http://gawker.com/5159894/we-are-not-quitters

Pic of the Day: A Long Walk!

President Barack Obama walks through the Cross Hall to the East Room for his first news conference as president at the White House in Washington.

Pic of the Day: Flying President

A uniformed secret service agent holds onto his cap as Marine One, with U.S President Barack Obama and his family aboard, lifts off from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington.

Alan Cumming Says Barack Obama Has a Big Wang

Surrounded by huge projections of scantily clad supermodels from photographer Russell James’s new book, partygoers at Donna Karan’s Urban Zen space couldn’t help but fantasize about who else they’d like to see naked. “I’d like to see Obama naked,” Alan Cumming mused. But get your mind out of the gutter; the actor is curious simply from a scientific standpoint, to prove a theory.

“I think great leaders, charismatic leaders and men who are so confident and who have achieved so much, usually have big penises,” Cumming told us. “I think there’s a correlation between the level of confidence, the level of the way a man can hold a room and the way he conducts himself in life, with his penis size — with his comfort with his penis size.”

Cumming developed this theory, he says, through extensive research. “So much of male psyche is taken up with how big your cock is; it’s a huge deal in our lives, and so when you’re confident about your penis size, it shows.”

And his highly trained eye says Obama is hung. “Well, just look at him,” Professor Cumming explained. “Just the way he’s so kind of elegant and very confident in his body and himself.”

“Also,” Alan added as an afterthought, “someone told me that they worked out with him in a gym in Chicago, and it was big.”