Obama Girls Name Their New Puppy "Bo"

First Canine A Black-And-White Portuguese Water Dog, Gift Of Sen. Kennedy

(AP)  The first family has settled on a first pet - a 6-month-old Portuguese water dog that the Obama girls are naming Bo.

The selection was one of the White House's most tightly-kept secrets.

President Barack Obama's daughters, 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha, picked a black and white pup, a White House official speaking on the condition of anonymity told The Associated Press Saturday night.

The dog is a gift from Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who owns several Portuguese water dogs himself.

"We couldn't be happier to see the joy that Bo is bringing to Malia and Sasha," Kennedy said in a statement. "We love our Portuguese water dogs and know that the girls - and their parents - will love theirs, too."

The Washington Post reported in its online editions Saturday night that Mr. Obama's daughters chose the name Bo for the pup because first lady Michelle Obama's father was nicknamed Diddley. The name for the dog was an apparent reference to the singer "Bo" Diddley.

White House aides told the AP that the office of the first lady arranged an exclusive deal on the dog story with the Post. The officials, who demanded anonymity because of the deal with the Post on exclusive details, said the dog was not in the White House as of Saturday evening.

Throughout the day Saturday, celebrity Web sites and bloggers were abuzz with rumors of the first family's selection of a Portuguese water dog; one site even claimed it had pictures of the future first pet.

The president had embraced the frenzy: "Oh, man, now, that's top secret," President Obama joked Friday to reporters.

Mr. Obama promised his daughters a puppy during the presidential campaign.

"This is Washington. That was a campaign promise," Mr. Obama said when he appeared on Jay Leno's television talk show last month, as the audience roared with laughter. "No, I'm teasing. The dog will be there shortly."

The president and first lady had said their choice was down to either a Portuguese water dog or a Labradoodle because they were considered good pets for children who have allergies, as Malia does.

[andie52]

Bo was retuned by his first owner for trying to nurse on their female dog. I just read that Bo is with a trainer before coming to the White House, I still feel that President Obama should have adopted a dog. There are plenty of that breed and other purebreds in shelters.

[Dgunner]

Cute little fellow. Not big enough for stir fry.

[bumpedoff1]

Thats not a shelter dog just another lie

[erasmus111]

Posted by credibility2 at 7:35 AM : Apr 13, 2009

... and you're an ass.

Posted by nancy_naive at 9:12 AM : Apr 13, 2009

You mean I'm not the only one that thinks so? : )

[erasmus111]

"The first family has settled on a first pet - a 6-month-old Portuguese water dog that the Obama girls are naming Bo."

That dog looks like a poodle.

[bobnjersey]

[He absolutely promised to adopt a kennel dog, but instead gets a snotty pure-bred, just like any other rich family. ]
[Posted by richardj3901 at 10:38 AM : Apr 13, 2009 ]

they did get a kennel dog as well ... they're just planning on keeping him in the kennel ... 'cause he didn't get along with bo. his name is sqat.

does that satisfy you richard?

[andie52]

Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO Humane Society of the United States, issued a statement congratulating the Obamas for "taking in a second-chance dog. Bo is a Portuguese water dog who was apparently returned by the family that originally purchased him."

But Pacelle was clearly disappointed, noting that families "like the Obamas, who are interested in a particular breed of animal or have special circumstances such as allergies in their household, can turn to their local animal shelter or breed rescue group. About one-quarter of all dogs in shelters are purebreds, many surrendered by their owners like the new First Dog."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/04/did-obama-break.html

[mjvwsr]

and this is news because?

[TheMasses01]

I an ass.
Posted by nancy_naive
-----------------------------------
Why yes, yes you are .........

[jadejaguar61]

COME ON NOW.. YOU are not actually going to beleive ANYTHING A LIBERAL DEM says are you? they all talk a good game.... but then they do the oppisite and then they do their favoirite dance of denial... the rep. made me do it... blame the republicans... I am not surprised that the liberal and stupid press... have NOTHING BETTER TO REPORT ON IN THIS ECONOMY... but to lavish all of its attention to the media hungry; attention seeking OBORAH..... PUPPET HEAD and his family.... this man lives for the camera and in between interviews about himself and his even lamer family (his very ugly man in drag wife Michelle or is it Michael?) he is tutored by his libral and lame cabinet on policies and what they feel is going to show this imbecile in a good light... is he trying to get his porfolio ready for Hollywood when he is run of of office or what??/ this LAME BRAIN as the figure-head (president) of our country cant seem to get enough camera time......but as with all idiots.... he is starting to sound like a broken and repetitive record that has been scratched beyound recognition.... To bad Oprah when choosing our next president for us...decided to front and back a man who is the definition of the badest joke out there......OBOPERA...having her lips surgically stiched to his azz hole.... must rue the day that she did not look more closely at what he has NEVER accoumplished... even to the fact that after running and being elected to the senate he no sooner got this postion before a well placed BJ.from Opera gave him ideas of being president..(intentionally not capping the P...as he will NEVER BE MY PRESIDENT!! WHAT an embarrasment this idiot is....) he is like most liberals...dems..... idiots that have read the party lines standards and rules on how to be a good liberal.... and keep repeating them to themselves and to the world...so they can cast their fishing net for other idiots who like to hear feel good speeches....and feel good about themselves while all the while blaming everyone but themselves for the liberal policies that have been put into place long ago.. to demolish America, so a one world goverment looks good..... I am just going to sit back and watch Oboperah...and the liberal democratic left wing; nit wits shoot themselves in the foot.(to bad they dont all take a gun and shoot themselves in the mouth so we no longer have to watch them brainwash the poor children these idiots in training that they are raising.. at least this way we could begin to have a real President voted on by their public record and not because Oprah picked him and the country decided to vote on color so we can feel good about it.... wow... I never thought the day would come when our president is voted in NOT because of record but due to color... ohh... and the fact that Oprah...picked him and the her idiot public voted because she slanted her viewing audience to one side.( I GUESS IT DOESNT HURT TO GIVE OUT AT CHRISTMAS AS LONG AS YOU HAVE AN AUDIENCE THAT WILL FALL FOR EVERYTHING COMING OUT OF YOUR MOUTH..) including who you should vote for ... may she and her azz lover rot in hell.. poor (America hating) Michelle who has hated america.... until that is...... it was time to vote for her husband (now turns to loving America)...wonder how she loves Oprah giving her husband a metephorical BJ...everytime she swoons and says his name on her show... but then her and her pathectic husband love the lime light and no one can give it as good as Oprah.......she should rename her show the Obama worshipping service hour.. and just admit she is doing this man front and back... poor deluded viewing audience...

[credibility2]

That anyone is shocked that the Obamas selected an elitist bred dog like this shows how blinded they are to reality. The Obamas are social climbers and elitist snobs. They are definitely not like the average person they've tried to hood-wink people into believing they are. They're two-bit phonies.

[CobbT]

I have nothing against the Obama's accepting a dog from Ted Kennedy; however, I am disappointed that he did not follow through with his promise to pick a dog from the shelter, does he have any idea what effect that would have had on the people?? there would have been more dogs/cats adopted from the shelters than you could keep up with. Oh well, i\I guess that is one of the things you can do when you are the boss, just like Bush, it will be my way or no way and i thought we got rid of that on 20Jan09 but who are we to ask questions just because the people put him there. Thanks

Tye Cobb

[andie52]

There are thousands of pedigrees animals in shelters and foster homes His doing so would have focused the spotlight on the need to support shelters and saved animals lives. Instead it?s the same old same old.
Posted by andie52 at 5:57 AM : Apr 13, 2009
WOW - talk about time to get a life!!!! Take your little personal crusade and just go away - evven the President of The United States has the right to select the dag he wants - he doesn't need to make a statement for you and the causes you support.
Posted by craigh41 at 6:28 AM : Apr 13, 2009
--------------------------------------------------------------

Causes that I support? Believe me I?m not alone this and yes as the President of United States it would have been a wonderful idea to adopt a dog, and not one who is problematic for his children?s allergy issues

?According to the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America the dogs "do not shed very much but they do shed" and are considered hypoallergenic because they are single coated and have a "decreased tendency to cause allergies?

[craigh41]

There are thousands of pedigrees animals in shelters and foster homes His doing so would have focused the spotlight on the need to support shelters and saved animals lives. Instead it?s the same old same old.
Posted by andie52 at 5:57 AM : Apr 13, 2009
WOW - talk about time to get a life!!!! Take your little personal crusade and just go away - evven the President of The United States has the right to select the dag he wants - he doesn't need to make a statement for you and the causes you support.

[on_alert247]

And the 1st dog is a Texas native too.

[andie52]

A Portuguese Water Dog is not a good choice for anyone with allergies. It would have been wise to do some research on this breed first.

Many of us are very disappointed that President Obama didn?t rescue a dog instead of taking one from breeder.

There are thousands of pedigrees animals in shelters and foster homes His doing so would have focused the spotlight on the need to support shelters and saved animals lives. Instead it?s the same old same old.

[endurorob]

It is dissapointing that our "leaders" are unable top lead by example and in this case get a dog from the pound rather than get a pure bread to promote puppy mills. I can see it now. People will start getting rid of their pit bulls and start buying Portuguese water dogs.

[barbaram99]

I have a brother who is called Bo. His name is Robert but Mum has always called him Bo. It is his nickname. I like the name the Obama girls named their dog. Presidents do have pets.The girls are at an age where they can help care for the puppy and a learning thing for them.The dog is a living thing. The love they will get from the dog is priceless Bo is cute and a lovely gift.

[tomadams99]

Nice story about the first family's girls getting a dog. I cannot help but wonder if the PETA pukes, and the other extremist lefties will harrass the old liberal lion Kennedy for giving the Obama's a pure bred dog, the way they did Mrs. Brown in Pennsylvania for selling a pure bred German Shepherd to "Uncle Joe" Biden?

[brianbwb-2009]

I remember a rather luxurious dog house given to Mrs Obama by Ellen Degeneres, I wonder if the new dog will get to use it?