The Obama girls' first TV interview may well be their last

On Tuesday night, "Access Hollywood" broadcast the first two segments of its four-part interview with Barack Obama and his family, taped on July 4 during a campaign stop in Butte, Mont. Parts 3 and 4 will air today and Thursday.

As we noted here and here, the Illinois senator and his wife, Michelle, have -- for the most part -- kept daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, away from photographers' lenses and reporters' tape recorders, but they agreed to the girls' on-camera appearance on the syndicated gossip show.

Now, on CBS' "Early Show" this morning, Dad looks like he's having second thoughts.

Russ Mitchell, "Early Show" co-host: Senator, on another note, we're seeing your kids out on the campaign trail more, we've seen them on television as well. Will we see them more as the campaign moves forward?

Obama: No, I don't think so. You know, we had a unique situation in Montana where it was Malia's birthday, and all of us, I think, got caught up in the festivities, and so they had a chance to be their adorable selves on TV, but generally, we've been very protective of them. You know, in retrospect, I think, you know, if you'd asked me, we probably wouldn't have done it then, we wouldn't do it again.

Why not? Maybe it was Sasha's revelation, when told they'd be getting ice cream after the interview, that "my dad doesn't like sweets." (To which the Democratic presidential candidate -- mindful, perhaps, of not alienating a vast majority of the American public -- quickly responded: "I like pie.")

Update: The topic came up on all three network morning shows. Asked by Diane Sawyer of ABC's "Good Morning America" if he was sorry he and his wife agreed to the interview, Obama replied: "A little bit of a pause, Michelle and I, particularly given the way that it sort of went around the cable stations. I don't think it's healthy, and it's something that we'll be avoiding in the future." And on NBC's "Today" show, which has the same corporate parent (NBC Universal) as "Access Hollywood," Obama told Matt Lauer: "We wouldn't do it again, and we won't be doing it again."

-- Leslie Hoffecker

Comments

[jim crawford]

So when do we get to see the puppy?

[Fred Sanford]

What a fluff interview...Whats with the uplifting music and the giggles and smiles? I know they are interviewing them as a 'family' but still, if that was McCain the music in the background would have been switched to something out of a German marching band to give it an ominous undertone. Speaking of which, WHERE IS the McCain interview? I know Hollyweird wants their boy to win, but they should be nice and at least interview McCain as well.

Barack is stiff and you can tell his kids dont see him much. He doesnt seem to be loving at all. Bad parent cannot lead his kids and family, how can he lead a country? We will all feel like his kids do...Sad because we cant eat ice cream just because daddy dont like it.

Feh on Obama!

[Tate Tot]

Mr. Sanford,
1. your comment about the music and laughing is absurd. you must not be a very happy person
2. bad parenting has no connection whatsoever to national leadership. the fact is most of our greatest leaders have not had great relationships with their kids. see Ronald Reagan as one of the latest examples.
3. according to the above new piece, the kids did get ice cream. you are a moron.