The Obama Family Attends Church and Walk Back to The White House - pics

[Kadie]

US President Barack Obama (L) is greeted as he arrives to attend a Sunday morning church service with his family at St. John's Church in Washington October 11, 2009.
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES POLITICS)


President Barack Obama, left, is greeted as he arrives at St. John's Church in Washington, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009.
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)


US President Barack Obama (R) and his wife Michelle (L) and daughter Sasha (L) are greeted by an unidentified gentleman as they arrive to attend a Sunday morning church service at St. John's Church in Washington October 11, 2009.
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES POLITICS)


President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama talk to Rev. Luis Leon after attending St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009.
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)


President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and their, children Sasha, right, and Malia, second from left, walk back to the White House after attending St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009.
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)


U.S. President Barack Obama (L) and his wife Michelle (2nd R) and daughters Sasha (2nd L) and Malia hold hands as they cross Pennsylvania Avenue to walk to the White House after attending a Sunday morning church service at St. John's Church in Washington October 11, 2009.
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES POLITICS)


U.S. President Barack Obama (R) walks with his wife Michelle and daughters Sasha (2nd R) and Malia (L) after attending a Sunday morning church service at St. John's Church in Washington October 11, 2009.
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES POLITICS)


President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and their, children Sasha, second from left, and Malia, right, walk back to the White House after attending St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009.
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)


US President Barack Obama (L) and his wife Michelle (2nd R) and daughters Sasha (2nd L) and Malia (R) walk to the White House after attending a Sunday morning church service at St. John's Church in Washington, October 11, 2009.
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES POLITICS IMAGES OF THE DAY)

[mnhtnbb]

1. Great pix. SS nightmare, I'm sure.

[Fumesucker]

3. SS nightmare was exactly what I was thinking..

Particularly given the vastly increased number of threats against Obama.

[Sheltiemama]

36. You can see the SS guys in the back ground.

And I'm sure there's a lot of SS protection that we don't see.

[Posteritatis]

49. I read about what happens when the SS gets startled

In the case I'd heard of, a car backfired and a bunch of additional agents in full military kit just kind of Appeared out of buildings, what seemed to be delivery vans, possibly thin air, etc.

There's definitely a lot that people don't see until something like that happens.

[arcadian]

97. Please provide citation for this claim.

[Posteritatis]

98. Sorry, don't keep bookmarks for things I read on paper years ago. (nt)

[arcadian]

100. So then it's prety much bullshit.

[Posteritatis]

101. Ahh, another "I need to be spoonfed everything" type. (nt)

[kestrel91316]

7. Well, the element of surprise provides a great deal of protection.

If no one knew in advance he was gonna do it (outside the family and SS), it wouldn't be too bad.

[Warpy]

9. I'm sure that was the case

and you can see the SS guys in the background in some of the pics. It's also why there are no other people around. During nice fall weather, there are usually plenty of pedestrians in that part of town between tourists and local sightseers.

It's only a problem if they do it every week.

[kestrel91316]

12. Well, they won't. They just cordoned off a few blocks briefly,

didn't tell pedestrians why, and opened it right back up once he had passed. No biggie on a Sunday morning.

[Hippo_Tron]

68. Yup, surprise is by far the Secret Service's most powerful weapon

The odds that a crazy nutjob who wants to kill the President is just going to happen to be at a place that the President spontaneously goes to are very slim. The odds that a crazy nutjob shows up to a place where the President is scheduled to be are much higher.

[ginnyinWI]

59. I was thinking of those guys and gals too.

You can see them behind, looking up at the buildings and stuff. But I'm glad the family got to walk.

[BluDemocratGirl]

74. I Love the Obamas

They are a beautiful family, and did you know that I hadn't notice that there were no SS around them. They probably were there, but not on camera.

[boobooday]

2. Nice photos!

Thanks for sharing. Malia is going to be a tall one!

[disndat]

89. I think you mean

Sasha. She is the elder and showing great style sense. I like Michelle in casual clothes the best as in these photos.

[disndat]

93. OOPS!

My mistake. Malia is the name of the elder daughter.

[jasi2006]

105. That malia is going to be one stunning beauty.

Love watching these darling girls grow and mature.

[annabanana]

4. Thanks for these.

It looks like a nice day for a stroll.

[Call Me Wesley]

5. Great pics!

Thanks for sharing! Makes me always wonder why we never saw something similar from the former inhabitant of the White House and his family.

[ginnyinWI]

60. lol

when you said "former inhabitant" I immediately thought, "former infestation". I know that's mean, but so was he!

[InfiniteThoughts]

78. i don't like the comparisons ...

for one, Mr. Bush figures in the bottom quarter of US presidents as ranked by their performance. The benchmark for Obama is & should be much higher (Top 5/10) and hence my slight irritation at any comparisons to Bush. Let the old gaffer sink into oblivion!

[thunder rising]

6. Thank you Mr President.

[PopSixSquish]

8. Ok, What are They Feeding Malia at the White House?

Pix from the inaguration as comparison



She looks like Dad and Sasha looks like Mom. Both of them are stunning...

[Warpy]

10. Teenage growth spurt

I shot up four inches when I was 16, which was my growth spurt year. I turned from a pudgy little kid to a lithe teenager nearly overnight.

She's going to be a real heartbreaker, cute kid.

[blondeatlast]

22. My 12 year old son grew three inches this summer.

The proof is on my doorframe! :rofl:

[kestrel91316]

13. They are feeding her STRING BEANS.

:rofl:

We are what we eat, you know.

[PopSixSquish]

14. Funny! - I Will Say That I Feel Sorry for the First Boy Who Asks Malia Out on a Date

and has to meet Dad.

I can imagine that it will go something like the scene in West Wing when Charlie recieves permission from President Bartlett to date Zoey.

"Just remember these two things: she's nineteen years old, and the 82nd Airborne works for me."

Poor kid...


:rofl:

[Cha]

47. "He'll be surrounded by

guns" as PO likes to say.:)

[Brigid]

41. They are beautiful girls.

Their dad is going to have his hands full in a few years when boys start coming around. :)

[MindandSoul]

52. Obama girls

Yes, our President is a lucky man. . .surrounded by three beautiful women!
The oldest girl is growing really fast, though! And she is so tall and beautiful! She could be a model in a couple of years. . .but hopefully she has much greater ambitions, and I believe that both her mother and her father will keep her focus on her scholastic potential. . .rather than on her "show business" potential!

What a beautiful family! I am so glad they are in the White House! I hope they stay there for 8 years. . .then . . .maybe in another few years, we might see them back, with Michelle as President, or. . . we can be a little more patient, and in 20 or 30 years, we might have one of the Obama daughters back in the White House!

[Obamanaut]

11. It's this kind of post that makes me wish we had something better

than dial-up. It took a while for everything to appear, but the wait was worth it. This is a happy looking family.

[nini]

15. I remember during the campaign he said he missed the freedom to go on walks

He said he used to love to go on walks through the neighborhood - I'm sure being able to do this pleases him to no end.

I'm sure the secret service isn't so thrilled though :-)

[rug]

16. Why Episcopal?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

18. Why not?

[rug]

20. Considerably different beliefs from UCC.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

21. Not really.

I grew up in the UCC, attended an Episcopal church for a long time (until I gave up on religion altogether). Although the Episcopal church is more formal in its ceremonies and follows a prescribed liturgy (and their music is generally better), it is, for the most part, quite liberal -- at least in my experience.

[blondeatlast]

24. Not really +1. I grew up Presby, but feel comfortable at Episcopal services

and have just started attending UCC and really enjoy it.

[rug]

26. It may be politically similar but the theology is quite different.

Eucharistic presence, sacraments, apostolic succession, ecclessiology, etc.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

27. But hardly anybody cares about the angels dancing on the head of the pin.

Yes, the Episcopal church believes in transsignification as opposed to transsubstantiation. BFD. I care more about whether they accept gay/female clergy and help the poor. The fine points of theology don't matter to most people, if they understand them at all.

[rug]

28. The difference between a church and a charity is its theology.

If it means nothing, why bother going?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

29. That's not the reason.

People go to church because they think they 'have' to (or God will get them or others will think badly of them), and to a particular church because it's the one their family went to, or because they like the pastor/priest, or because they like the music, or because there are a lot of social activities, or because all their friends go there. I'll bet that if you asked just about any churchgoer what the Council of Nicaea actually did, the response would be "Huh?"

[rug]

31. Those are reasons to choose the Elks over the Rotary.

That's a main reason I don't seriously consider most criticisms of religion and religious people.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

32. Bingo. But that's what they do.

And it's one reason why I don't take church seriously.

[rtassi]

84. "Huh?" Followed by who cares! An unprovable doctrine created by a special interest to perpetuate

a lie, in an effort to make religion easier to sell ... based on fear ... Also perhaps, people attend church because of a need to feel connected to something greater then themselves, even if intellectually they (we) can't comprehend the nature of our creation ... IMO
Great pictures though!

[katkat]

33. It doesn't mean nothing

It's just that a lot of people don;t get worked up about various points of theology, and figure God doesn't either.

[rug]

40. Considering the beliefs are the entire reason for a church, it looks like a pointless exercise.

[havocmom]

42. Going to listen to someone or a group is educational. You don't have to agree with them to benefit

If one only went where one has always gone, one may as well be buried. We grow through exposure and perspective.

Since Obama is the President of the United States of America, it seems wise he listens to many voices to understand how the people vary in their basic beliefs and how they are similar. How can you find the common ground upon which to build a future for ALL people without a basic understanding of the insitutions which are important to different peoples?

I had THE GREATEST Sunday School Teacher. Obama would probably have liked him a lot. The Greatest Sunday School teacher made arrangements with other pastors, rabbis, Buddhist monks, and a couple of shaman for us to visit and learn. He was hoping for a Mosque visit about the time my grandfather found out about the comparative religion enrichment and stopped taking me to church.

My mom, on the other hand, ALWAYS encouraged us to go to as many places of worship and cultural centers as possible. She advised us to listen to what people said and watch what they actually did very carefully, look for common threads in different disciplines, as it was there we were more likely to find truths. She also advised to give hard consideration to those who insist their's was the only true way. Seems she thought they might be full of crap, but she let us arrive at our own conclusions as we grew and experienced.

[jbnow]

58. Religious beliefs can be a minor reason to attend. It can

be a desire to gather with others and worship, sing hymns, listen to gospel and sermons, pray.
God is God

[katkat]

106. I disagree

I doubt that in any church the majority of members hew 100% to the established doctrine. That was my point.

[Hippo_Tron]

69. Tradition and because it makes people feel good

I'm with you that if the theology means nothing then there are more constructive ways to enjoy yourself and find meaning in life. But for some people that is not the case and I respect their decision.

[Critters2]

61. The UCC has a wide range of beliefs on these matters.

Between the four traditions which formed the UCC, you can find everything from very high church Oxford movement types, to believer baptism types low church people. I've served church in three of the four traditions, and the differences are larger than one would think.

No apostolic succession, but varying beliefs about other doctrines.

[DWilliamsamh]

62. Ummm... Who cares? Why is "which church" important?

One set of fantasies is as good as another.

[rug]

95. Thank you for the effort in formulating this post.

[connecticut yankee]

48. I was under the impression

that the Episcopalian Church was very similar to Catholicism, without the Pope, and that the Congregationalist Church was very liberal.

That would make them polar opposites.

But I'm a Unitarian, so what do I know?

[Critters2]

96. Obama wasn't a "Congregationalist". He was a member of the United Church of Christ.

I'm UCC and not a Congregationalist. But yes, the United Church of Christ is very liberal. So is the Episcopal Church.

[connecticut yankee]

102. Sorry

The Congregational Churches in Connecticut belong to the United Church of Christ (UCC). The members I know call themselves "Congregationalists."

How does that differ from your case?

[Critters2]

104. The UCC is a merger of 4 traditions. Congregationalism is one of them.

The church Obama belonged to was founded after the merger, so was never Congregationalist, but was always UCC. My home churches were German Evangelical, another of the 4 traditions, so also not Congregationalist.

I wish churches would stop calling themselves Congregational. It's been 50 years since the merger. It's time.

By the way, my ex was UU and belonged to a congregation that had been Universalist, and not Unitarian. They would've corrected people who called themselves Unitarian and not UU.

[connecticut yankee]

108. Thanks for the correction

I was unaware of that.

I call myself a "Unitarian" because I always was one. Our Church is called "Unitarian." Some call themselves "Universalist." Some are Churches; some are Societies; some are Congregations; and some are Fellowships.

Unitarians can't agree on anything.

[Critters2]

109. Not even on welcoming Universalists into the Association? nt

[connecticut yankee]

111. Of course we do.

They're part of us, but I don't know what they call themselves.

And some of the Churches are still called Universalist.

[dotymed]

77. Our bible just includes

the Apocryphal. Which are the "lost" (purposely not
included) books of the Bible. I love the Episcopal Church and
I raised my children according to the faith. I have to admit,
it has been a while since I have been... When my oldest
daughter was born, we decided we wanted her to have a specific
faith. We attended dozens, before settling on the Episcopal
Church. It was inclusive and never "hell and
brimstone." I am glad we gave her that dimension to her
life, without being fanatics about it. She is too...

[Sheltiemama]

46. Episcopalians are cool.

Some of the finest Christians I know, who really put their beliefs into practice, are Episcopalian. They're Democrats, too!

[TheCML]

35. Its close to the Whitehouse.

They claim every president since James Madison has visited. Both Bushs attended frequently I believe.

[Ocracoker16]

37. Yes, the Obamas visited close to the inauguration

The proximity to the White House makes it convenient for the SS.

[rug]

39. Thanks. That's the most likely reason.

[Pirate Smile]

86. Right. It is across the street. That is why they went there.

[PSzymeczek]

54. Proximity

probably played a large part.

[elleng]

82. Its across the street, within walking distance of WH.

[Inuca]

17. Malia

Great outfit + she is going to be even taller than Michelle. As somebody only an inch or maybe even less shorter myself, I know it's not always a blessing. How old is Malia? 13?

Dare I say I am not that fond of Michelle's front bows? The one with the yellow dress she wore in Copenhagen was particularly unofrtunate IMHO.

[malaise]

19. Malia turned 11 this summer n/t

[starroute]

23. Malia is only 11 -- but getting her growth early

She's also clearly "developing," as my grandmother would have said. One can only hope she goes into an awkward stage for the next few years, because otherwise she's going to get way too much attention from the boys before she's old enough to handle it.

[havocmom]

43. Girls often get 'pre-pubescent growth spurt'. For boys, it comes after.

My sister reached her adult height before she was 11. I waited until nearly 13. But the girls start to slow down height when the body gets busy with other energy expenditures.

Boys usually get height after puberty kicks in.

Works nicely Girls have a bit of time to become forces to be reckoned with before the boys get big enough to try and intimidate them with size and strength ;)

edited for typo

[PSzymeczek]

55. I attained my adult height at age 11 or 12

4'11'. And now shrinkage has started.

[havocmom]

57. Everyone thought my daughter would be tall like the women in my family

She shot up early. And hit puberty/stopped growing at not quite five foot four. Short for my side, tall for the paternal gene side.

Know what you mean about shrinkage. Used to be almost five-nine. Now, under five-seven and still shrinking. x(

[Alameda]

56. At the age of eleven some little girls are having menses

and have boobs. Clearly, Malia is in the early development group. I clearly remember many girls at 13 who were very adult looking. Boys develop much more slowly.

[DWilliamsamh]

64. Nice generalization.... I wonder what the reaction would be if

you reversed the genders in your dopey generalization? Why does it seem so "ok" to generalize and stereotype boys as lagging behind girls in every way imaginable nowadays?

[Maru Kitteh]

67. Oh FFS. Pick up a biology text.

Females, on average, reach sexual maturity earlier than males, on average.

Nobody's making that shit up ok? Study after study after study after study after study has confirmed it.

Males also mature in other ways differently than females. Also well studied and documented.

You are entitled to decry opinion as to why this is so - you are not entitled to make up, or ignore, factual data.

[DWilliamsamh]

72. I don't mean to ignore facts or even to deny them

And I was very good in biology actually. A's all the way through. So I will just say this... may be more sensitive about this than I needed to be. But I AM sick of the general trend over the last seems like twenty years marginalizing boys, and pathologizing all things "male."

[Skittles]

73. poor baby

you'll get over it

[FlaGranny]

75. That was a strange reaction

to an actual fact. It would not be marginalizing females to say that they were smaller and had less muscle power on average than males. Any person who ever went to high school knows the differences in development between males and females. All you have to do as look at the freshmen - - - or is that "freshpeople." ;-)

[DWilliamsamh]

94. Yeah... that would be strange but I have been called asexist for observinge those things

And generally been accused of misogyny because of them. Happens all the time: "girl power. Girls rule boys drool," and all that. Encouraged and cheered by folks who think themselves the height of the liberal and liberated vanguard. And when I point out how awful such things would sound to them were the genders reversed, they tell me to "chill out, it's just a joke. Just in fun." So oh well. There is nothing to be done about it I suppose.

[FlaGranny]

76. That was a strange reaction

to an actual fact. It would not be marginalizing females to say that they were smaller and had less muscle power on average than males. Any person who ever went to high school knows the differences in development between males and females. All you have to do as look at the freshmen - - - or is that "freshpeople." ;-)

[Princess Turandot]

80. Somehow I suspect that dad told her secret service detail..

'none of that phasers on stun' baloney. One wrong move and the boys in question can sign up for the castrati roles in Italian operas!

[katkat]

34. boys

Not to worry, at least not for the next 7 years.

[Arugula Latte]

53. You know what bows remind me of? Diane Freakin' Feinstein.

Ugh! I grew up in the Bay Area, and I liked the woman after she took over for Mayor Moscone, who was shot by Dan White, along w/ Harvey Milk. (She always wore some big ass bow around her front.) DiFi has proven to be way too Republi-lite for California.

[blondeatlast]

25. It just makes me feel good to see them out--and not among handpicked crowds of donors.

Such a beautiful family, inside and out.

[BlooInBloo]

30. Is it just me, or is the little one getting bigger?

:rofl:

[texanwitch]

38. They are both getting taller.

They seem such little girls in January.

[Raine]

44. BEAUTIFUL family

I just love them, they make me so proud. :loveya: :-)

[alarimer]

45. It is refreshing to have a President that is not actually afraid to be among the people.

As opposed to the paranoid fucks of the last Administration.

[lonestarnot]

50. Yes! Thank youl I love this first family.

:loveya:

[Kingofalldems]

51. Nice. It was a beautiful day fo a walk in DC.

[HipChick]

63. I love that that this gorgeous family get out and about in DC

unlike Bush..

[Joe Bacon]

65. Democratic Presidents always go to church every Sunday.

Carter, Clinton and Obama go to church every Sunday. Yet the TV Preachers and their religious right wing pulpit pimp pals piss on them every chance they can

Nixon, Reagan, Old Fart Bush and his Asshole Son were just to busy to do that, but their "Prea¢her Pal$" made lots of excuses for them!

[Maru Kitteh]

66. They look happy and comfortable. It SNOWED here today! WHY DIDN'T OBAMA STOP THE SNOW?

Sure his family is happy. That's great. My family had to scoop the walk today.



Actually, I think they're lovely pictures. I'm just trying hard to fit in around here.

[Hippo_Tron]

70. Probably after he made a stop at the Mosque

He is a secret Muslin after all...

[impik]

71. Family values, i see. He must be Republican.

[Princess Turandot]

79. Some trivia: St. John's is a very historic church..

which coincidentally was designed by the fellow looking down on Roberts and the President, when they did the second oath thing:



So the First Family going there seems fitting.

The architect, Benjamin Henry Latrobe, is considered by many to be America's first professional architect, albeit, one who was an immigrant. He was substantially responsible for the rebuilding of the Capitol building after the British burned it and the White House down. Although the design of the buildings changed over the next 50+ decades, Latrobe's vision for the buildings strongly influenced their eventual form. He's one of America's largely forgotten genius/ Renaissance men.

PT

[HamdenRice]

81. Harry Truman used to walk around the block every day w/ iirc one body guard

He called it his "constitutional." The Kennedy assassination ended the president being able to have a relatively normal life.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

83. Yes, nothing like a coup d'etat to change things

The presidency starts to look a lot like house arrest. I'd bet he even has a GPS "tether".

:hi:

[phasma ex machina]

85. +1 DC's neo Praetorian Guard supposedly forbids high government officials from driving

themselves around. Instead officials are forced to use chauffeured limos. For "security purposes" of course. Exactly who benefits from said security remains somewhat ambiguous.

Good to see Mama Michelle and Papa Barack going to church.

[HamdenRice]

87. I forgot who told this joke about the president's first day

Someone comes in from the CIA and shows the new president a film of the Kennedy assassination but from point of view of the grassy knoll. He doesn't say anything and just leaves with the film.

:rofl:

:hi:

[GivePeaceAchance]

88. The Nobel laureate family at their best...

When 2012 comes around I will only refer to the Prez as Nobel Laureate President Obgama, in case any unsure voters have forgotten by then. =)

[disndat]

90. Obama had double and triple

security guards even when he was just beginning his presidential campaigning. Nobody has to tell the F.B.I. there are plenty of crazies out there.

[Autonomy]

91. Three things:

No, make that four. First, I love Obama family pics. Second, that reverend must be pretty freakin tall. Third, Malia is going to be really tall. Fourth, I forget what fourth was, so I will repeat I love Obama family pics.

Oh, I remember: how cool would it be to be taking a Sunday morning walk and see the first family out for a stroll too.

[clarence swinney]

92. WONDERFUL

I love it.

Nicest Family in the White House in many years.

Great People. I am so very proud of them.

[e-mail]

[deaniac21]

99. GREAT PHOTO OP!!

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

103. Where are all the usual suspects who criticize anyone who attends church?

[Autonomy]

107. I was wondering the same thing.

Where are the foaming at the mouth atheist brigade we usually see? This thread is so utterly different from most on DU in that regard.

[question everything]

110. Nice photos. I read that this is the church

across the White House which the Secret Service is the most comfortable with.

Well, this is a consideration.

[tigereye]

112. I love the sanity of these people - so non-elitist and real

It's refreshing.

[bridgit]

113. Such wonderful images, thanks for posting

:kick:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

114. I wish they would visit a Unitarian-Universalist Church.

Heads would explode!! :D