President Barack Obama’s 50th birthday: A time for reflection . . . and fundraising
Friend --
Every day, I see Barack make choices he knows will affect every American family. That's no small task for anyone -- and more proof that he's earning every last one of those gray hairs.
This has been a busy week in Washington, but today happens to be Barack's 50th birthday. I'm writing to you because this year, the girls and I would like to do something a little different.
I'm asking friends and supporters of this campaign to wish him a happy birthday by signing his card, and sharing why you're on this journey with us.
Your names and notes will become part of a book that tells the story of this campaign -- who's building it, why we're in this thing, and what he means to us. We'll deliver a copy to Barack and send one to our campaign offices across the country.
Sign the card for Barack.
I've known Barack for more than 20 of his 50 years, and we've been through quite a lot together.
It still amazes me that no matter how many decisions and distractions he's faced with every day, he's always able to focus on the bigger picture. One way he does that is by making time for stories and letters from people like you -- because he knows that this job isn't about him, but about the millions of folks around the country he's fighting for.
This next year will challenge us all to work harder than ever before, but the crucial thing is that you're here now, early on, helping to build this campaign.
I know that, like Barack and me, you have your own reasons why, so I hope you'll take a moment to sign the card and share your story with him and other supporters of this campaign.
http://my.barackobama.com/
Thanks for being a part of this,
Michelle
Obama celebrates 50th birthday at White House
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is expecting at least one birthday greeting when he turns 50 on Thursday.Every day, I see Barack make choices he knows will affect every American family. That's no small task for anyone -- and more proof that he's earning every last one of those gray hairs.
This has been a busy week in Washington, but today happens to be Barack's 50th birthday. I'm writing to you because this year, the girls and I would like to do something a little different.
I'm asking friends and supporters of this campaign to wish him a happy birthday by signing his card, and sharing why you're on this journey with us.
Your names and notes will become part of a book that tells the story of this campaign -- who's building it, why we're in this thing, and what he means to us. We'll deliver a copy to Barack and send one to our campaign offices across the country.
Sign the card for Barack.
I've known Barack for more than 20 of his 50 years, and we've been through quite a lot together.
It still amazes me that no matter how many decisions and distractions he's faced with every day, he's always able to focus on the bigger picture. One way he does that is by making time for stories and letters from people like you -- because he knows that this job isn't about him, but about the millions of folks around the country he's fighting for.
This next year will challenge us all to work harder than ever before, but the crucial thing is that you're here now, early on, helping to build this campaign.
I know that, like Barack and me, you have your own reasons why, so I hope you'll take a moment to sign the card and share your story with him and other supporters of this campaign.
http://my.barackobama.com/
Thanks for being a part of this,
Michelle
Obama celebrates 50th birthday at White House
"By the time I wake up, I'll have an email from AARP asking me to call President Obama and tell him to protect Medicare," Obama joked during a fundraiser in Chicago on the eve of his birthday.
Obama's big birthday comes just days after he reached a deal with Republicans to raise the nation's debt ceiling and avert a calamitous government default. While the mood around the White House hasn't exactly been festive since the deal was reached — Obama didn't get much of what he wanted — there will be plenty of celebration there Thursday for the president's 50th.
Senior members of Obama's staff will toast the president in the Blue Room of the White House Thursday afternoon. At night, he'll celebrate with family and friends, including some coming in from his hometown of Chicago, then cap the festivities with a weekend trip to Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland.
An administration official said the Obamas will pay for the president's birthday party at the White House.
For the sake of his re-election campaign, the celebrations started a bit early for the president. He headlined birthday-themed fundraisers in Chicago Wednesday night to rake in money for his campaign and spoke via video conference to supporters holding their own presidential birthday events around the country.
A group from North Carolina sang "Happy Birthday," while another in Ohio held up signs wishing the president a happy 50th.
With the cloud of uncertainty that surrounded the debt debate now lifted, Obama had a wide smile on his face for much of the night. He got another birthday serenade from musicians Jennifer Hudson, Herbie Hancock and the band OK Go, along with the crowd of about 2,400 gathered at Chicago's historic Aragon Ballroom.
At a small dinner for high-dollar donors later in the night, Obama said there would be one very important present waiting for him in back in Washington on Thursday. His oldest daughter, Malia, was coming home from camp to celebrate his father's birthday.
Obama was born Aug. 4, 1961, near the end of the baby boom years of 1946-64. He's the third U.S. president who belongs to the baby boom generation, a population of more than 76 million. Bill Clinton was the first, followed by George W. Bush.
Julie Pace can be reached at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC
Make a wish
Join the conversation by participating in a caption contest illustrated by the Post’s Tom Toles. You have until 5 p.m. on Aug. 3 to weigh in on Obama’s birthday wish.Help us cover Obama's party
President Obama is gearing up to ring in his 50th birthday Wednesday night with a fundraiser featuring Jennifer Hudson and the band OK Go. Washington Post White House reporter David Nakamura is already tweeting from the scene at the Aragon Entertainment Center in Chicago.We’ve partnered with The Chicago Tribune and The Chicago Tribune’s RedEye to encourage those on the scene to tweet using #Obama50.
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