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Just say “Bo” - Obama White House unveils first dog

Doina Chiacu — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:05:04 +0000

The Obama White House on Sunday unveiled the first family's new pet, a 6-month-old male Portuguese Water Dog named Bo.

The black-and-white, curly-haired Bo was a gift to Obama daughters Sasha, 7, and Malia, 10, from Senator Ted Kennedy and will take up residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave on Tuesday.

President Barack Obama had promised his daughters a new puppy during his campaign for the White House. In January, he told reporters the front-runner breeds were a Portuguese Water Dog and a Labradoodle.

The Web site of Dog Breed Info Center describes the Portuguese Water Dog as a hardy, muscular, medium-sized dog that grows to about 20-22 inches (51-56 cm) tall and is "lively but sensible, and loyal."

"Bear in mind that this extremely intelligent dog will take liberties if it feels it is stronger-minded than its owners," the center said. "This breed may out-think its owner!"

Online advertisements by U.S. and Canadian breeders quote prices for Portuguese Water Dogs at between $2000 and $2900.

The water-loving breed gets its name from its long history of helping Portuguese fisherman herd and catch fish, retrieve tackle, and carry messages between ships.

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Photo credit: Reuters/Pete Souza-The White House/Handout - Bo, a 6-month-old male Portuguese Water Dog, is seen in this White House photograph released April 12, 2009.

Clinton: Not just any woman will do for the White House

Doina Chiacu — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:47:18 +0000

Cracked. Shattered. Whatever. Forget the glass ceiling, policy trumps gender in the race for the White House as far as Hillary Clinton is concerned.

"Of course it's exciting to have a woman on the ticket," Clinton said in a CNN interview when asked about the vice presidential candidacy of Republican Sarah Palin.

"But that in and of itself is not enough reason ... and really no one will shatter that ceiling until we have a woman serving as president or vice president," she said in the interview broadcast on Tuesday.

Clinton, a New York senator, saw an opportunity to be the first U.S. woman president slip away with her Democratic presidential primary loss to Barack Obama.

When Palin joined the Republican ticket as John McCain's running mate, she credited Clinton with leaving 18 million cracks in the so-called glass ceiling -- a reference to the number of votes she won in primaries before dropping out of the race.

But the two women have little else in common, especially on the divisive issue of abortion rights, which Palin opposes.

"I am going to be supporting women and men with whom I agree, who I believe have the right policies and the right ideas about what's best for America," said Clinton, who is campaigning for Obama in several states before the Nov. 4 election.

Pressed on Palin's candidacy and wanting to see a woman in the White House, Clinton was firm.

"I would like to see the very first woman in the White House who I agree with and who I think has policies that would really fulfill the goals that I have for our country," she told CNN.

It was clear the governor from Alaska was not that woman.

Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.

Paris Hilton strikes back at McCain ad

Doina Chiacu — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:27:48 +0000

WASHINGTON - You knew she wouldn't take this lying down.

Paris Hilton struck back Tuesday at Republican presidential candidate John McCain for running a campaign ad that likened Democratic rival Barack Obama's celebrity to that of the blond socialite and to singer Britney Spears.

The video, posted on the Web site www.FunnyorDie.com, began with images of the 71-year-old Arizona senator: "He's the oldest celebrity in the world, like super-old. Old enough to remember when dancing was a sin and beer was served in a bucket. But, is he ready to lead?"

Then the camera turned on the blond socialite, sitting on a poolside lounge chair in a skimpy leopard-print bathing suit.

"Hey America, I am Paris Hilton and I'm a celebrity too," she said. "Only I'm not from the olden days and I am not promising change like that other guy. I'm just hot."

"But then that wrinkly white-haired guy used me in his campaign ad, which I guess means I'm running for president. And I want America to know that I'm like, totally ready to lead."

See more Paris Hilton videos at Funny or Die

She goes on to outline her energy policy, taking a little bit from both candidates running in the November presidential election: "limited offshore drilling with strict environmental oversight while creating tax incentives to get Detroit to make hybrid electric cars. ... Energy crisis solved. "I'll see you at the debates, bitches."

    On Sunday, Hilton's mother, Kathy Hilton, complained that the McCain ad was a waste of time and money. Hilton and her husband, a scion of the Hilton hotel chain, donated $4,600 to McCain's White House bid.

Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.

Photo credit: Reuters/Fred Prouser (Paris Hilton poses at the 2008 MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles)

This “endorsement” probably won’t be welcome

Doina Chiacu — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 21:40:41 +0000

WASHINGTON - How much does Republican Sen. John McCain, who promises to "reach across the aisle" should he become U.S. president, raise hackles among ultra conservatives?

If you are Ann Coulter, who is prone to controversy-stoking tirades against those she perceives as liberal, the answer is: a lot.

Railing against the Arizona senator late on Thursday for lacking sufficiently conservative Republican credentials, Coulter said she could even be driven to back McCain's Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

"If he's our candidate then Hillary's going to be our girl ... because she's more conservative than he is," Coulter said of the New York senator and wife of former President Bill Clinton.

"I think she'd be stronger on the war on terrorism. I absolutely believe that," Coulter said. "I will campaign for her if it's McCain."

It seemed the Clinton campaign was not tripping over itself to embrace Coulter's "endorsement." Clinton spokesman Phil Singer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.

- Photo credit: Reuters/Kevin Lamarque (Clinton and McCain at the 2007 prayer breakfast.)

Hair-raising experience for Edwards on talk show

Doina Chiacu — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:06:04 +0000

It's something that Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards is almost as well-known for as his rousing appeals on behalf of working Americans: picture-perfect hair.

But the former U.S. senator from North Carolina, who has weathered two presidential nominating contests with not a hair out of place, lost the look briefly on David Letterman's show on Tuesday.

"Can I just -- mess your hair up a little bit?" the late-night talk show host asked as the audience erupted.

"You want to?" Edwards laughed. "Go ahead."

"Do you mind?" Letterman inquired again.

"I don't mind," tossed back Edwards, once lambasted for spending $400 on a haircut.

"Has it ever been messed up?" Letterman asked. Edwards responded by ruffling his own hair -- on the side that didn't face the camera.

"No, no," said Letterman, reaching out and tousling the smooth light-brown hairdo front and center. Letterman disturbed a small tuft but the candidate's coif proved fairly resilient.

Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage

Photo credit: The Late Show with David Letterman