MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) - An unexpected visitor wandered into the bedroom of President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in the wee hours of Tuesday morning - but the Secret Service wasn't worried about a security breach.
The visitor was 8-year-old Sasha Obama, who's touring Russia along with her older sister Malia. The younger girl could not contain her excitement about Dad's fifth foreign trip in office, so she decided to wake her parents to tell them about it, the president cheerfully recounted in a CNN interview.
"Sasha this morning around 4 am just wandered into our bed and plopped down and started chatting," Obama said in the interview a few hours later. "That was sort of a highlight, although I'm a little groggy now as a consequence."
Both Obama daughters are along for the ride this time around because school is out of session back in the Washington, D.C., area, allowing them to travel overseas on weekdays without missing classes. On an earlier presidential visit to France, Sasha and Malia showed up in Paris on a weekend after school was done for the week.
Asked if having his daughters joining his wife on a high-profile trip helps take the edge off the tough diplomatic negotiations, Obama told CNN it's fantastic to have his girls "being able to see the world and then report back to us on what they are seeing" on the trip, which included the daughters getting to check out the Kremlin.
"You know it makes a huge difference," said the president. "The girls are just a joy. And then Michelle just, she's always - she's a star at home and abroad."
From CNN Politics
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So, Preident Obama is parading his daughters in front of the camera both nationally and internationally. Since Governor Palin's detractors used her showing up in public with her children as an excuse to libel and trash them (think Davbid Letterman's comment on 14 year old Willow), does this mean it is now open season on Obama's daughters? Or is the double standard still in place?
The Marxist Obama talkes about saveing money but yet he takes his family all over the world if Pres. Bush did that the Dems would be having a FIT !!!!!!!!!!!
The Obama family display REAL family values... and the Republicans just can't stand it! For all the self-righteous preaching conservatives subject us to, Bush's daughters were always showing up drunk, Palin's daughter ends up pregnant, and I won't even get into the Republican governors and congresspeople who have affairs and men's room liasons.
The main thing Republicans really hate about Obama is they don't have anybody who walks the walk like he does. And they're seething about it. You can see it on these boards every day.
Good girls, good dad and good mom. Keep it up
This is awesome! He's able to do work and spend quality time with his family. This is something his wonderful kids will always remember. It's hard to knock it but I'm sure people will. Misery loves company.
If CNN hadn't reported about this, SOME people would be screaming "cover up"...when they do report about, the SAME people cry about the taxes. Mr. Obama has a family....all President's have had a wife and children with the exception of Mr. Buchanan. Heck, Mrs. Lincoln (a republican, by the way) had her entire family living at the White House for a while. Crack open a history book once in a while instead of doing that knee-jerk whine and dance. If you don't want to pay the price of a family in the White House, elect a Priest next time!
The Marxist Obama talks about saving money but yet he takes his family all over the world if Pres. Bush did that the Dem's would be having a FIT !!!!!!!!!!!
It's so great to have the First Family representing our Country with such dignity, and to have our President making amends for all the out of touch power mongers we've had in office on and off over the last 40 years. I AM THRILLED!
@@@@ Adam July 7th, 2009 3:45 pm ET
"I'm glad to see our tax dollars being used wisely to cart the Obamas around on so many sight seeing tours."
You did see the bit about Mr.Obama negotiating a reduction in nuclear weapons between Russia and the United States, right?
Hell of a sight-seeing tour.
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Barak Obama and Michelle Obama are both Attorneys.
They both can earn enough money as Attorneys to afford their Daughters for sight-seeing.
However, Obama has a Privilege to take his family on Foreign Tours. See the Protocol Manual and Rules. Obama has not made those rules.
When presidents travel around the world, they do two things. There are whatever serious negotiations that have to occur, usually out of the limelight, and the PR of representing our country. There hasn't been a ruler in history who did not appreciate the power of making a good impression. So the president gets to bring along whomever he/she wants and needs for the occasion. It comes with the job, and we pay for it. Period.
Mr. Obama's wife and daughters leave a very positive impression wherever they go. Mrs. Obama is intelligent, warm and dignified. The girls are all-American girls–charming, well-behaved but energetic, smart. That's to our benefit. And then of course, his daughters are a visible represention of the generation that would most benefit from any negotiations about nuclear weapons, etc.
In other words, it is all in a day's work for the president. Let the man do his job.
Yes the same people that complained about Palin using tax dollars to bring her family when she traveled are ok with Obama doing the same thing. The hypocrisy is limitless.
Keith – enjoy the next 3-1/2 years of this...becuase we endured 8 LOOOOOOOOONG year of bush
I am so tired of this family and all their media covrage.
Some of the hate filled comments are either jealously or ignorance.
School is out and why not take the girls , how much more could it be cost wise ? Air Force One is going anyway , what is wrong with the family being together when they can! And if it is the cost of their meals , I am sure the Obamas can pay for that! But from what I understand the Russian Gov pays for being the host country.
I am just so proud of the way this family protrays America to the world.Shows real Christian values.
I am so ashamed at the haters who regardless what he does is critical.
Just right wingers who are not showing their Christian values!
The country is slowly getting tired of the horse and pony show. There is no end to the spending. The entire philosophy that he thinks he can positively affect the economy is fundamentally wrong. The only thing that will stop a recovery is governmental tampering. He lied to us about the war. He is taking credit for a troop withdrawal Bush ordered in Iraq, and sending them to Afghanistan. Why is he not getting beat up on this issue? It doesnt make sense.
The family is the head of state. We pay for his travel, and his kids and wife are on the same plane...no extra cost.
Also, as President, and under US Code, Title 3, we assume all security and travel for the President and his family.
The Obama girls can't travel along with their mother to the mall, or on a trip...so yes, we pay for it.
We also paid for the 2 Bush girls going to college, living there with secret service. We also paid for them when they travelled South America, Africa, and Europe.
It is a responsibility we take to protect our head of state.
I am not concerned about that, but the millions of dollars lobbiest pay to swindle money out of the way.
I'm a taxpayer as well and they (his wife and children) can travel on my tax money. At least he's taking his wife.
Good to see family integrity being restored in the White House. Hope those DEMS and especially the GOP do the same. The man loves his wife and children. He's our president but his family means much to him.
As a former government employee who has worked on many foreign visits by the President and First Lady, I can tell you that the President and First Lady travel as representatives of the United States so their travel is publicly funded. The girls and their grandmother, and anyone else who goes along with them pay their own way, or are funded privately.
July 7th, 2009 3:17 pm ET
I'm glad to see our tax dollars being used wisely to cart the Obamas around on so many sight seeing tours.
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Grade school comments are best left at the playground.
There are some really mean, spiteful sore losers out there. Let the REAL family values president alone!
People are so nutty. Just look at the picture of the family. We need good families a lot more good strong families in the US. Travel the world and see how other countries families are strong. We have a lot of stuff in America but our families are in decline. If you do not like this President than like him for having a strong young family. Some of You people are sick.
Seems to me what Obama and his family are doing has more substance than when Bush went, looked Putin in the eyes and got a "sense of his soul." I mean, seriously, who says that? That was embarrassing.
Do the nay sayers truly believe President Obama is the only President, U.S or otherwise, that has taken, or takes his family on Presidential trips abroad?
Please people, get a life or read a book, or do bloody something that doesn't expose your ignorance!!!!
There is one famous saying ... if a king/leader is not good and affectionate to his own children...then how can you expect him to be with the rest of his nation. Its good that he shows the sign of a good leader.
Just read in Russian Newspaper: During the meeting with the members of opposition parties in Russia, Pr. Obama received a note from his girls: "Father we want to eat". He said to the crowd of people who were waiting for this meeting with big hopes to explain to President who in fact Medvedev and Putin are, that he has to leave. Hmmm... Does family traveling with a politician make his job easier or harder?