Obamas on the Line

[bigtree]

(Reuters/Jason Reed)

AFTER very publicly pardoning a pampered turkey earlier in the day, President Obama took part in a decidedly lower-profile turkey and food give-away to some of the District of Columbia's less fortunate residents late Wednesday afternoon.

Obama's family -- Michelle, Sasha and Malia; his mother-in-law, Marian Robinson; and his half-sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, her husband, Konrad Ng and their two daughters, Suhaila and Savita -- joined him in motorcading up to the U Street neighborhood, where their appearance thrilled workers at Martha's Table, a charity that hosts educational programs and provides food and clothing for low-income youth and families.

The group runs a food pantry, thrift store and teen mentoring program on 14th Street between V and W. It has long been popular with Capitol Hill workers as a place to donate goods and other forms of support. But the Obamas' surprise appearance at the pantry made it "the best Thanksgiving I've ever had," said Jessica Carson, 23, who works with the group's teen program.

The Obama family stood behind long tables handing out foodstuffs and wishing those picking up the groceries a "Happy Thanksgiving," according to a pool report. Some of the bags were hand-decorated with paint and glitter by students at the River School in the city; others came from the nearby Whole Foods supermarket.

read: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/11/after-the-pardon-obamas-give-o.html?wprss=44




(Reuters/Jason Reed)

The First Family assumed their places in a line of volunteers on the ground floor at approximately 4:30 p.m. The president handed out pumpkin pies, while Mrs. Obama handed out fresh vegetables, and their daughters gave out stuffing and canned goods. Robinson was in charge of the frozen turkeys, which were already packed into grocery bags from Whole Foods.

Obama chatted briefly with recipients and wished them a happy Thanksgiving before they moved through the line and on to other volunteers distributing various supplies.

On the second floor, Soetoro-Ng and her husband, Konrad Ng and their two daughters, Suhaila and Savita also helped with distributions; the Ngs are visiting the Obamas for the Thanksgiving holiday.

read: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/69547-obama-hands-out-pumpkin-pies-at-marthas-table




(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

First lady Michelle warmly greeted people and handed them bags of fresh vegetables - she’s big on eating right - while leaning over to gently pinch the face of her youngest daughter, Sasha.

The eight-year-old was busy in the turkey stuffing department next to dad, President Barack Obama. Clad in a black zip-up jacket and open necked white shirt, Obama greeting people with a hearty “Happy Thanksgiving, How Are You,” as he flashed wide smiles and industriously slipped pumpkin pies into food bags while simultaneously shaking hands. Eldest daughter Malia, 11, standing next to her mother, also seemed to be having a good time as she distributed packets of food.

The Obamas were joined by a dozen or so family and friends, in town to share Thanksgiving with them at the White House

read: http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/2009/11/25/on-thanksgiving-eve-obama-family-hit-the-turkey-line/






First Lady Michelle Obama’s Thanksgiving Day greeting was also released Wednesday: http://www.examiner.com/x-13571-First-Lady-Style-Examiner~y2009m11d26-An-Obama-Thanksgiving

TOMORROW, many of us will gather around the table with family and friends to give thanks over a feast of turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy -- and let’s not forget pumpkin pie!

But for some in this country, the feast will not be as bountiful. In fact, it won’t be much of a feast at all. Hunger is on the rise in America -- hitting its highest levels in nearly 15 years. A recent report released by the USDA reveals that in 2008 an estimated 1.1 million children were living in households that experienced hunger multiple times over the past year.

To combat hunger this winter, we’re launching, in coordination with the Corporation for National and Community Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the United We Serve: Feed a Neighbor

Barack and I are committed to doing all we can to end hunger by making food programs more accessible to eligible families. But government can only do so much -- it will take all of us working together to put an end to hunger in America. Initiative -- a program that empowers you with all the resources you need to mobilize against the hunger crisis in your community. Learn how you can get started today:

That’s why we’ve made it easy for you to get involved at Serve.gov. Find local volunteer opportunities like delivering meals to homebound seniors, offering your professional skills at a food pantry, or planting a community garden and sharing produce with your neighbors. You can also create your own volunteer opportunity using our anti-hunger toolkit.

This holiday season let’s recommit to serving our communities and working together to feed American families. Get started giving back today.

Thank you,
Michelle





"Courage"

and, the President yesterday at the 'pardoning' of the Turkey named 'Courage: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-pardoning-national-turkey


"When my family and I sit around the table tomorrow, just like millions of other families across America, we'll take time to give our thanks for many blessings. But we'll also remember this is a time when so many members of our American family are hurting. There's no question this has been a tough year for America. We're at war. Our economy is emerging from an extraordinary recession into recovery. But there's a long way to go and a lot of work to do.

In more tranquil times, it's easy to notice our many blessings. It's even easier to take them for granted. But in times like these, they resonate a bit more powerfully. When President Lincoln set aside the National Day of Thanksgiving for the first time -- to celebrate America's "fruitful fields," "healthful skies," and the "strength and vigor" of the American people -- it was in the midst of the Civil War, just when the future of our very union was most in doubt. So think about that. When times were darkest, President Lincoln understood that our American blessings shined brighter than ever.

This is an era of new perils and new hardships. But we are, as ever, a people of endless compassion, boundless ingenuity, limitless strength. We're the heirs to a hard-earned history and stewards of a land of God-given beauty. We are Americans. And for all this, we give our humble thanks -- to our predecessors, to one another, and to God.

So on this quintessentially American holiday, as we give thanks for what we've got, let's also give back to those who are less fortunate. As we give thanks for our loved ones, let us remember those who can't be with us. And as we give thanks for our security, let's in turn thank those who've sacrificed to make it possible, wherever they may be."





Videos: Obamas Distribute Thanksgiving Treats
The Associated Press: http://news.google.com/news/story?cf=all&ned=us&hl=en&ncl=d9pjipy7mS4Jx2MVLgN9S1MOftNeM&rfilter=4

[grantcart]

1. Thank you for this lovely post

[bigtree]

2. my pleasure, grantcart

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

[berni_mccoy]

3. "Buh, buh, Obama's not feeding the poor the way I WOULD!!11!1" -- wait for it...

those responses will come.

[JoeyT]

4. Feh.

I'll say it if it'll make you happy so you can bask in the warm glow of your persecution complex.

[berni_mccoy]

5. To be honest

I'm surprised you didn't call this a stunt or a photo-op.

[JoeyT]

7. Why would I?

It isn't as if there'd be any shame in it being a photo op. It's not as if it could only be a humanitarian gesture OR a photo op. It's both. That's not a bad thing. At least his photo ops aren't going to be remembered as "The Idiot in the Flight Suit" and "The Idiot in Front of the Mission Accomplished Banner". ;)

I disagree with the man on some policy, not on good policy. Food distribution counts among "good policy" as far as I'm concerned.
I won't gripe about fluff either. Griping about dresses, choice of shoes, names of the pets, etc is just a pointless waste of effort.

[Political Heretic]

11. It is a photo-op, hence the photos. But that does not make it "bad" or "wrong."

The pictures are beautiful and warming, the sentiment is good, and I think it reflects positively on the office of the President to the world....

What I pointed out to you in a very different context (a thread about policy) is that it doesn't have anything to do with the public policy and administration action of this president, or congressional democrats, or the current power holders in Washington.

One has nothing to do with the other.

[Swede]

6. His hair is turning grey.

nt

[bigtree]

8. at the same time

. . . as mine.

[bigtree]

9. kick

[Political Heretic]

10. Very lovely pictures.