WASHINGTON (CNN) – They’ve been in the White House less than a week, but the first daughters have already been co-opted by marketers — and Michelle Obama isn’t happy about it.
Ty, the toy company responsible for the popular Beanie Babies dolls, is now marketing “Sweet Sasha” and “Marvelous Malia” dolls.
The first lady’s office said Friday Ty was out of line. “We feel it is inappropriate to use young private citizens for marketing purposes,” said a spokeswoman for Michelle Obama in a statement.
A Ty representative told CNN the company generally avoids naming dolls for “any particular living individual,” because doing so might interfere with how kids use their imaginations to play with them. But they wouldn’t reveal the source of their inspiration for the new figures, telling CNN that information relating to the development of the company’s merchandise - including how it comes up with products, product names, and trademarks – is proprietary.
Related video: First lady miffed by 'Malia,' 'Sasha' dolls
–CNN White House Producer Becky Brittain contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON (CNN) – The Obamas are settling into the new home just fine, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Thursday.
The new president “enjoys – to use a phrase - living above the company store,” said Gibbs. Yesterday, between two events, Obama went upstairs to have dinner with the first lady and the couple’s two daughters. “That obviously means a lot to him as a father,” said Gibbs.
The Obamas’ ability to adjust to all of the changes in their lives, including three moves in the past few weeks, “is a monumental testament to Michelle,” Gibbs told reporters.
(CNN) - Jenna and Barbara Bush know a lot about growing up in the White House.
The twin daughters of former President Bush were 7 when their grandfather, former President George H.W. Bush, was inaugurated, and 20 when their father became president.
Like their dad, who left a note for President Barack Obama, Jenna and Barbara Bush wrote Tuesday to Obama's daughters about what to expect in the weeks and months ahead.
"We also first saw the White House through the innocent, optimistic eyes of children," the twins wrote in an open letter published in Tuesday's Wall Street Journal.
The twins reminisce in the letter about important events and historic moments they were able to be part of in a presidential family.
But the Bushes also tried to prepare Sasha and Malia for some sobering truths.
(CNN) - Three generations of the new First family will move into the White House on Inauguration Day.
The Obama transition confirmed to CNN Friday that Marian Robinson, Michelle Obama's mother, will live in the White House for several months while she decides if she wants to make a permanent move to Washington.
Robinson retired from her job as a bank secretary to help with the care of her granddaughters during the presidential campaign.
She wouldn't be the first Robinson presidential mother-in-law to live on the White House grounds
for at least some length of time. Other mother-in-laws - most notably, Harry Truman's - have lived for a time on White House grounds.
From CNN Politics
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