Official White House photo of Barack Obama, the 44th president
Coming to a post office near you very soon.
The official presidential photo of Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States, released Wednesday.
After all that on-again, off-again campaign talk about silly symbols, Obama decided to go with the flag pin after all.
-- Andrew Malcolm
Don't miss cool stuff like this. Register here for cellphone alerts on each new Ticket item. RSS feeds are also available here. And we're on Amazon's Kindle as well.
Photo: Pete Souza / White House photographer-designate. His website is here.
Is he the most photogenic president EVER? Seriously -- I've never seen a bad picture of this man.
Posted by: Altar Eggo | January 14, 2009 at 09:33 PM
This might be worth a trip to rural Mississippi or Alabama or Georgia. I want to see those old racists standing in line while this guy stares at them from the wall.
So many risked so much for so long for this to happen.
Posted by: Ellen Zunino | January 14, 2009 at 09:55 PM
Best of luck, Mr. President!!!
Posted by: imladris | January 14, 2009 at 10:14 PM
I would have chosen a better tie...
Posted by: K-Los | January 14, 2009 at 11:50 PM
That's my President. Looking good. Looking real good.
Posted by: Sonny | January 15, 2009 at 01:07 AM
All the best Mr.obama.
Posted by: Tejas | January 15, 2009 at 01:30 AM
I would have chosen the shirtless Hawaiian photo :)
Posted by: Eliza | January 15, 2009 at 02:36 AM
He should have a pair of glasses perched on the end of his nose like Malcolm does. It adds an air of...je ne sais quoi, M. Curry.
Posted by: douglas e neumann | January 15, 2009 at 04:23 AM
What the heck is that flag pin doing on his lapel?
I thought The One said that flag pins were fake patriotism.
Posted by: carl | January 15, 2009 at 05:37 AM
Flag pin?
Must have found his in the last couple of days. Maybe he'll start placing his hand over his heart during the national anthem.
Up next: saluting the military.
Posted by: Greg Toombs | January 15, 2009 at 05:42 AM
...and he shaved his profuse ear hair for the occasion! Bravo!
Posted by: akgr | January 15, 2009 at 05:45 AM
So you really think the flag that I proudly worn in Iraq and saw draped over colleague's coffins is just another silly symbol?
Posted by: Aaron | January 15, 2009 at 05:50 AM
This was the 1st photo taken by digital camera. They could have added the pin and removed wrinkles, etc. Is anything about this guy real?
Posted by: Linda | January 15, 2009 at 06:02 AM
Altar Eggo---this might be the best ever---knocks the real Marlboro man out of the saddle!!
http://wonkette.com/400389/barack-obama-back-to-smoking-his-face-off
Posted by: Moron | January 15, 2009 at 06:09 AM
Gee, what's that you say: Obama (blessed be his name )is a lying hypocrite? Who could have guessed?
Posted by: fred t | January 15, 2009 at 06:20 AM
Not MY president. I will give him the same respect the libtards gave my president over the last 8 years...NONE. A Chicago thug with no qualifications buys the presidency and the MSM fawns all over him. Yeah, something to be real proud about. Good grief.
Posted by: Jerry | January 15, 2009 at 06:29 AM
Hmm... looks like he borrowed a suit from Ralph Nader. Wish the photo looks a little neater. A white shirt would've been better - go classic.
Posted by: jose | January 15, 2009 at 06:35 AM
Love the flag pin, but since he says it's a meaningless symbol displayed by those who feign patriotism but have none, why do you suppose he's wearing it?
You should all be ashamed.
Posted by: Jaibones | January 15, 2009 at 06:41 AM
The most inexperienced POTUS ever. God help us all. I bet Michelle tied the tie. Look at that it, you can see the shirt above the tie. Sloppy.
Posted by: 130 presents | January 15, 2009 at 06:42 AM
Whatever happened to: "The truth is that right after 9/11 I had a pin," Obama said. "Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we're talking about the Iraq war, that became a substitute for I think true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security. I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest," he said in the interview. "Instead, I'm going to try to tell the American people what I believe will make this country great, and hopefully that will be a testament to my patriotism." ?
This guys wears his principles like he wears his flag pin. Whenever it suits his needs.
Posted by: thebronze | January 15, 2009 at 07:17 AM
If you are not a liberal at age twenty, you have no heart. If you are still a liberal at age forty, you have no brain! Winston Churchhill
Posted by: DocinMPLS | January 15, 2009 at 07:28 AM
Wasn't to long ago he wouldn't even wear a Ameircan flag pin. What a hypocrite!! God help America.
Posted by: SueG | January 15, 2009 at 08:19 AM
Does anybody notice how his chosen one's seem to all be corrupt? No problem because the acorn does not fall far from the tree....I'm quoting Obama. Illinois is full of corruption and he is nothing but a corrupt politician. If we are attacked on US soil, I will blame all who voted for this weak Dem of a loser man.
Posted by: Nancy | January 15, 2009 at 08:21 AM
Love the snarky comment about the flag pin.
With Bush/Cheney out of office, the flag pin will no longer be an implicit symbol of support for right-wing, neoconservative chest-thumping, but will return to being a simple symbol of love for this country. How many Fox News reporters will now stop wearing their pins?
Posted by: Marko | January 15, 2009 at 08:40 AM
Largest.
Ears.
Ever.
Posted by: GEAH | January 15, 2009 at 09:00 AM
He went with the flag pin bcs he's trying to play the centrist role & not piss everyone off at the get go. It is a more respectful tone to those who have died & fought for liberty.
But should you trust a man who would choose not to identify with the outward trappings of liberty on the outset, and then later identify with them for a photo op?
Methinks not.
Posted by: joecool | January 15, 2009 at 09:06 AM
"I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest" - Barack Obama
Posted by: OxyCon | January 15, 2009 at 09:21 AM
THE THIN MAN. Good to see someone that looks so fit in office. Sets an example for us all.
I finally (after 40 years of waiting, I'm 60 now) have someone representing me to the World that I feel great about. THIS is the new face of America and he really represents us all. WE the people! Thanks Thin Man! Thank-you America! You have done yourself proud!
Posted by: Brett Breitwieser | January 15, 2009 at 09:23 AM
America the beautiful!
Posted by: Great to see! | January 15, 2009 at 10:03 AM
This is the most proud I've ever been of my country. Possibly the first time, ever. It's just that the bad has so outweighed the good until this point. Now things are looking up.
Posted by: mattchelle obai'mnot | January 15, 2009 at 02:56 PM
Am I the only person who thinks he has a massive head in this photo?
Posted by: Iain | January 15, 2009 at 05:22 PM
Beats the heck out of any photo of GWB. Thank God we have an intelligent man in the White House, not to mention his amazing partner, Michelle Obama. Nothing but optimism here.
Posted by: Lucy Bonnington | January 17, 2009 at 05:08 AM
Karsh is missed!
Posted by: Jack Garvey | January 17, 2009 at 07:08 AM
Nothing will "change" under Obama!
It is my belief things will probably get worst,
because of Obama's inexperience and socialist leanings!
Don't be fooled by the media's or Hollywood's nieve outlook.
Tough times are ahead for America!
Posted by: steve rodriguez | January 17, 2009 at 05:42 PM
Mr. Cool Hand Bary. He was confused about how many states are in the union. His birth certificate was safely hidden away in a state vault. And he has less experience than the governor of Alaska. He brings to the White House nothing of his own but a bluff. But sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand. It did, afterall, get him into the Oval Office.
Posted by: James Bailey | January 18, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Wow! I have read the comments here and it seems to me people are condeming him before he has a chance to lead. Most politician have their own agenda they all want to help themselves. You hope that you voted for the one least corrupted. I believe Obama will do his best to turn this country around, it is not going to be easy and it will take time but what was our alternative? I expect great things from this president. Only time will tell. But we need to give him the opportunity.
Posted by: Diane | January 19, 2009 at 07:46 AM
Well we got rid of one bunch of crooks and put in another bunch only worse this time...Good Luck America!!! We are gonna need all of Gods Blessings we can mustard.....
Posted by: snappie brown | January 20, 2009 at 07:57 AM
Is that a 57 star flag on his lapel??
Posted by: Ken | January 20, 2009 at 06:29 PM
God, some of you are just so stuck in your own ways! Can't you see how he is a great man and no matter what it is an HONOR to have him as our President. Someone who is so passionate about the good of the United States? Which it doesn't seem like has been going on for the past 8 years? He will make this country believe in itself and will make us to be proud to be Americans again. I haven't felt that in 8 years either.
Posted by: Eeh_Lay_Nah | January 20, 2009 at 08:25 PM
For all the people who have negative things to say of how President Obama looks or what he wears or what his politics or experience is, please take a good look in the mirror and ask yourself, 'what am I doing to move forward to make this country a great place to live'; or, 'am I am just being stuck on stupid, inspiring no one, learning nothing'???
Grow up and move forward!
Posted by: MzP | January 22, 2009 at 10:07 AM
The "mess" is getting cleaned up fast..gone are the days of secret government....America returning to world leadership through example...
EXECUTIVE ORDERS
January 22, 2009
1. Review and Disposition of Individuals Detained at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base and Closure of Detention Facilities
2. Review of Detention Policy Options
3. Ensuring Lawful Interrogations
January 21, 2009
1. Presidential Records
2. Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel
Posted by: Wendell | January 22, 2009 at 05:26 PM
now thats what i call the face of AMERICA
(BARACK YOU ROCK!!
Posted by: NGOZI IKEAKANAM | March 04, 2009 at 11:41 AM
this is scary.
Posted by: kaleigh hooks | April 16, 2009 at 04:34 PM