Presidential Pooch Gets a Portrait
Email ABC News' Yunji de Nies reports: The newest White House resident now has his own official portrait. In the photograph, First Dog Bo, the Obama family’s Portuguese Water Dog, sits on the South Lawn with his new home shining in the background. Along with the picture, the White House has also created a Bo baseball card, which features fun facts about the presidential pooch.
His favorite hobbies? Playing on the White House Lawn and walking with the Obamas. After his favorite exercise of running, Bo is said to enjoy napping near First Tweens Malia and Sasha. And Bo’s got goals: “make friends with foreign dognitaries.”
The White House plans to give the cards to guests and include in correspondence for the many letters they say they receive about the popular pup.
Bo is not the first presidential pet to take center stage. President George W. Bush’s Scottish Terrier Barney released several holiday season videos, shot from the perspective of “Barney Cam”, the Clintons mailed out photos of First Cat Socks on request, and George H. W. Bush’s Springer Spaniel Millie authored “Millie’s Book: As Dictated to Barbara Bush.” — Yunji de Nies
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How very cute! Now, before some of you start complaining please read the last paragraph!
Posted by: Try the truth | June 19, 2009, 8:20 am 8:20 am
What a waste of taxpayers money. Wether is Obama’s dog or Bush’s dog.
Posted by: CW | June 19, 2009, 8:33 am 8:33 am
CW:”What a waste of taxpayers money.”
He is the Chief Executive, not a convict. He’s allowed to have a dog, and PR is actually part of his job description.
Posted by: jhw539 | June 19, 2009, 8:52 am 8:52 am
Ah, some nice light news to start the day. Thanks, Ms. de Nies. And I’m glad Bo is not wearing his bandana in the photo. He looks more pup-idential this way.
Posted by: moderate | June 19, 2009, 8:52 am 8:52 am
jhw539……Of course he is allowed to have a dog. My complain is why do they need to spend money on an “official portrait” As far as PR being part of the job. It is obvious with Obama. He spends a lot of time on PR and not enough working on the issues.
Posted by: CW | June 19, 2009, 9:40 am 9:40 am
CW, you may want to do a quick internet search before you start ranting about how Obama spends money. Getting official portraits of presidential pets is not something unique he is doing. There is a tradition of getting official portraits of the presidential pets. It is just something that is done with all members of the first family, pets included.
Posted by: Mack | June 19, 2009, 9:56 am 9:56 am
For those of you pointing out that “everyone does it” I thought that this was the President that was going to be different – things were going to CHANGE in Washington. Now everytime someone criticizes his actions, the response is always “well Bush did it too!” Maybe so but you need to address the fact that Obama is just a politician like all the rest and nothing has really changed.
Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | June 19, 2009, 10:30 am 10:30 am
“My complain is why do they need to spend money on an “official portrait”
When do you not have a complaint?
Posted by: Padma | June 19, 2009, 10:35 am 10:35 am
Traffic Cop Timmy- so let me get this straight, change in your mind is the puppy can’t have a portrait, I”m sure you didn’t like date night, most likely took issue that the girls go to private school. The family stuff! Change dealt with how the countries business was conducted. The way we dealt with other counties. When you hear the “Bush did it” usually it has to do with something the Repubs are bashing Pres. Obama on! It’s pointing out the hypocrisy! This fuming about the dog is just petty!
Posted by: Try the truth | June 19, 2009, 10:41 am 10:41 am
That is the cutest dog.
Posted by: Axey | June 19, 2009, 10:56 am 10:56 am
===! It’s pointing out the hypocrisy! ===
The hypocrisy if running on change and then doing exactly what Bush did and your supporters saying it is hypocrisy because Bush did it too. Myself, I wasn’t complaining when Bush did it, usually.
Would that makes me hypocrite because I point out those that voted for change are the first to say Bush did it too?
Posted by: Axey | June 19, 2009, 10:59 am 10:59 am
I like the dog the best – he is my favorite amongst them all. No offence but dogs rule.
Posted by: Brown Skin Girl | June 19, 2009, 11:29 am 11:29 am
Everyone needs a smile and this picture gives me one. For anyone who can criticize this…..get a life. We need this little bit of levity and warm feelings in this world as only a dog can give. Stop…take a minute and enjoy this pup.
Posted by: talmag | June 19, 2009, 11:53 am 11:53 am
From the website National Priorities Project: To date, $830.2 billion dollars have been allocated to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, $77.1 billion dollars have been requested in the recent supplemental that further fund these wars, for a total of $907.3 billion dollars. The national, state, and local numbers we provide are based on the total of the approved and pending amounts through the end of Fiscal Year 2009.
From me: But you’re all right. Some day world historians will look back and realize the cost of Bo Obama’s photo was the tipping point that sent the United States spiraling into 2nd world status. Thank you for being ahead of the curve.
Posted by: Bo'sBuddy | June 19, 2009, 11:57 am 11:57 am
CW – he can spend his money on what he wants gee whillickers it’s just a portrait!
Posted by: malsings07 | June 19, 2009, 12:01 pm 12:01 pm
That’s a very cute photo, and a good PR idea too. I want to hug that dog, he’s just adorable.
Posted by: Annie | June 19, 2009, 12:27 pm 12:27 pm
CUTE!!!
Posted by: Lily Belll | June 19, 2009, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm
They must have a trainer for Bo, or Obama is everything he says he is. Because for that dog to sit still and even possess a memory bank of greater than a nanosecond is indeed miraculous. Maybe it is the Prozac they have it on. Anyway you want, great looking dog. Go Bo!
Posted by: John Merritt | June 19, 2009, 1:31 pm 1:31 pm
Nice deflection. How can you say:
“When you hear the “Bush did it” usually it has to do with something the Repubs are bashing Pres. Obama on!”
Try the truth | Jun 19, 2009 10:41:23 AM
When your very first comment was saying “Bush did it too” on the puppy post:
“Now, before some of you start complaining please read the last paragraph!”
Try the truth | Jun 19, 2009 8:20:05 AM
You make my point…
Ans still waiting for Try the Truth to respond to this:
“The hypocrisy if running on change and then doing exactly what Bush did and your supporters saying it is hypocrisy because Bush did it too.”
Axey | Jun 19, 2009 10:59:30 AM
Maybe so but you need to address the fact that Obama is just a politician like all the rest and nothing has really changed.
Traffic Cop Timmy | Jun 19, 2009 10:30:09 AM
Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | June 19, 2009, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm
Will ABC give Bo his own 2 hour special as well- asking him the tough questions?
Posted by: drjohn | June 20, 2009, 8:21 am 8:21 am