Thursday, June 30, 2011

Spotlight: Two New Chief White House Correspondents coming to the Briefing Room

Norah O'Donnell
Looks like the White House will be getting not one, but two new White House correspondents. Anddd they both happen to be women. It was announced earlier this month that Norah O' Donnell would be heading to the CBS News to be their Chief White House Correspondent and also their principal substiute anchor for CBS New's Sunday show, "Face the Nation," currently anchored by Bob Schieffer. 
Jessica Yellin


Earlier this week, it was also announced that Jessica Yellin, who  covers Congress and other national politics for CNN, will be their new chief White House correspondent. Ed Henry, who currently holds that position is heading to FOX News next week. 


Its gonna be pretty amazing to have two women now sitting in the front row of the White House Briefing Room. Congrats to them both!!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Jill Biden visits troops in Greece

Photo Credit: European Pressphoto Agency
Photo Credit: Kevin O'Brien
Jill Biden was over in Greece this past weekend to serve on a special delegation for the Special Olympics.  She also made time to visit some of our soldiers who are serving abroad. As you know, Dr. Biden, along with First Lady Michelle Obama are co-heading Joining Forces, an initiative to support our troops and their families. She knows just want these families are going through because her own son, Beau Biden, a captain in the Army, was deployed to Iraq in 2008. 

Spotlight: Nancy Pelosi featured in the Washington Post

Fly as she wants to be! Nancy Pelosi was featured over the weekend in a profile over at the Washington Post. The article focused on her goal of winning back the House in 2012 for the democrats which she calls the " faith based initiative." She also mentions that there is no tension between her and the White House (the media says there is) and how she has yet to hang any pictures in her new smaller office.

To check out more pictures and read the profile in its entirety, head over to the Washington Post.

Photo Credit: Melina Mara/The Washington Post

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Photo of the Day: First Lady Michelle Obama greets crowd in Botswana

Botswana Embassy
The First Lady is ending her week long trip in Africa with a stop in Botswana. Above she greets a crowd of onlookers who had gathered at the US Embassy at Botswana to get a glimpse of her.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Photos: Congressional Women beat Press Corps in Annual Softball Game

Twitter
Looks like the congresswomen served it up to the members of the press last night. In the third annual softball game where female congressmen take on members of the press corps, the female legislators came out on top with a win of 5-4. DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Shultz (pictured above with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand) was even named MVP after making the winning run. It was not all fun and games last night as both team went on to raise more than $70,000 to support Young Women's Survival Coalition that works to fight breast cancer in younger women.

Good times!
The Full Roster

Congressional Member Team
Captain - Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL)Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA)Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD)Captain - Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO)Captain -Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC)Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI)Rep. Kathy Hochul (D-NY)Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA)Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA)Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA)Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH)Captain - Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)Rep. Betty Sutton (D-OH) Congressional Member Coaches:  Rep.  Joe Baca (D-CA)Rep.  Kevin Brady (R-TX)Rep.  Joe Donnelly (D-IN)Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO)Rep. Dan Webster (R-FL)

Press Team
Captain Dana Bash, CNNChristina Capatides, ABC NewsJennifer Bendery, Huffington PostJessica Brady, Roll CallCaptain Carrie Budoff Brown, PoliticoLeigh Ann Caldwell, C-SPANJulie Davis, BloombergErika Dimmler, CNNElise Foley, Huffington PostKasie Hunt, PoliticoJill Jackson, CBSBrianna Keilar, CNNStephanie Kotuby, CNNJackie Kucinich, USA TodayLisa Lerer, BloombergAbby Livingston, CNNGregory Simmons, ABC NewsLynn Sweet, Chicago Sun-TimesShawna Thomas, NBCCaptain:Trish Turner, FoxAmy Walter, ABC News, Press Coaches: Dave Espo, APCarl Hulse, New York Times 

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, Susan Collins, and Amy Klobuchar sport blue and white for "Senate Seersucker Thursday"

AP
So today is "Seersucker Thursday" at the Senate. The tradition, started by former Sen. Trent Lott, was a way for Senators to take break away from their suits and ties and enjoy some more comfortable clothes in the summer heat. Spotted taking part were Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AL). What do you think of the tradition? Yea or Nay?

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Photo of the Day: Kathleen Sebelius smiling before a news conference

Tom Williams
Love love this gem of a photo! Secretary of Health and Human Services Department Kathleen Sebelius was spotted heading into a news conference on Monday to talk about the Affordable Care Act. 

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Former Sen. Blanche Lincoln joins DC Law Firm Alston and Bird

Former U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln recently joined Alston & Bird, one of the nation's leading law firms, as a special policy adviser. 

She was first elected to the Senate in 1998 and was the young woman ever elected to the Senate at the age of 38. During her time in the Senate, she worked on rural and farming issues, and was the first woman to chair the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee. She lost her seat last November in a bitter fight with Rep. John Boozman of Arkansas. 

Many other members of Congress have joined Alston and Bird after leaving Capitol Hill including Bob Dole and Rep. Earl Pomeroy. 

Photos: Michelle Obama visits Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela Foundation
Wow - What great photos! The First Lady visited Nelson Mandela today along with her daughters Sasha and Malia in an announced trip to his home.

Monday, June 20, 2011

First Photos: Michelle Obama and family arrive in South Africa

First Lady Michelle Obama, accompanied by daughters, Malia and Sasha and mother, Marian Robinson have arrived in Pretoria, South Africa.

Batter Up: Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor throws out the first pitch

AP
Get it Justice!  Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor threw out the first pitch at the Chicago Cubs game against the New York Yankees on Saturday at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Happy Fathers Day! A look at Political Dads and their Daughters

Happy Father's Day! We decided to roundup the cutest pictures of some political fathers and their daughters. Let us know which are your favorite!

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Jill Biden visits troops in Naples, Italy

Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy

Guess who snuck away from DC last week?

Spotted: Rep. Donna Edwards greeting supporters

Tom Williams
Look who we spotted looking fabulous in orange! Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD) was seen yesterday heading into a town hall yesterday at the Newsuem. Hosted by CBS News, the meeting was a discussion was on the economy and job creation.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Spotted: A Smiling Huma Abedin in Africa

AP
Huma Abedin is still overseas alongside Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as she visits parts of Africa. Above  you can see her at an airport in Abu Dhabi, going over notes with Secretary Clinton in Zambia, and watching a farmers event in Tanzania. As always she looks great and is dressed very fashionable.

First Photos: Gabrielle Giffords is shown smiling

P.K. Weis, SouthwestPhotoBank.com

Now isn't this awesome! These wonderful new photos of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords were just released today of her looking good and smiling. The congresswoman is shown smiling above with her mom as she prepares to leave the hospital in a month.

From The Associated Press:

The photos were taken May 17 outside the Houston rehabilitation facility where Giffords has been undergoing treatment since she was wounded five months ago at a meet-and-greet event with constituents. Six people died and a dozen others were hurt in the Jan. 8 attack in Tucson, Ariz. Since then, access to the Arizona congresswoman has been tightly controlled. Until Sunday, no clear images had been released. The only recent sign of Giffords came in late April, when grainy television footage showed her slowly ascending a flight of steps to a NASA plane that took her to Florida to watch her astronaut husband rocket into space. The image was so blurry that it was impossible to confirm it was Giffords until doctors did so at a news conference in mid-May.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Michelle Obama speaks at the 40th Anniversary of the National Partnership for Women and Families

AP
First Lady Michelle Obama was the keynote speaker this afternoon at the 40th anniversary gala of the National Partnership for Women and Families. The organization helps to promote fairness in the workplace and policies that help women meet the demands of work and family. 
We need you, because even today, with all the advances that we've made, too many women face barriers and roadblocks for reaching their full potential.  Too many girls are held back by narrow expectations and limited options. So it is our job to just keep working not just for us, but for them.  We’ve got to make sure that we do everything we can so that our daughters and granddaughters can pick up wherever we leave off, which leads to the other part of what I want to talk to you about, and that is the people we need to get this job done. - Michelle Obama 

Spotted: Hillary Clinton and Huma Abedin in Abu Dhabi

AP
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was spotted this morning in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates as part of a four day, four nation trip. Secretary Clinton will also travel to parts of North Africa to take part in an African economic conference. She was seen traveling with her trusted aide and The Political Girl favorite Huma Abedin.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Who's Who at German State Dinner: Nancy Pelosi, Diane Sawyer, and more

Plenty of politicalgirls were out and about at yesterday's state dinner. 

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Photo of the Day: Hillary Clinton and German Chancellor Angela Merkel share a laugh over their love of pantsuits

Now isn't this hilarious. German Chancellor Angela Merkel presented Secretary Clinton a pretty awesome gift this afternoon! She gave her a picture of them wearing pantsuits that was in a German newspaper last month. 
AP
Don't you love women leaders with a great sense of humor?

Hillary Clinton Launches the Women's World Cup Initiative

State Department
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton launched the Women's World Cup Initiative on yesterday to encourage more young girls to get involved in sports. To coninci with the 40th anniversary of Title IX, Sec. Clinton invited notable women athletes and coaches to the state department to celebrate. 
As we celebrate our sport’s exchanges, we’ll encourage even more people to get behind women and girls in sports and to give young women a chance to compete on the playing field, to discharge that incredible energy that they want to put in to being the best they can be, and that we see more and more women around the world being given the opportunities to live up to their own God-given potential. - Secretary Clinton

Spotted: The Dalai Lama visiting Laura Bush and family

AP

The Dalai Lama was spotted visiting Pres. George Bush, his wife former first lady Laura Bush, and their daughter Barbara Bush. He is providing some documents to the George W. Bush Institute (presidential library) and posed with the family a couple of weeks ago. 

Michelle Obama in Newsweek: The White House Rebel

Kwaku Alston / Corbis Outline
Your favorite first lady was featured in Newsweek this week. The profile previewed her upcoming involvement in the 2012 presidential campaign and her two signatures - Lets Move and Joining Forces. 
From Newsweek:
The most recognizable woman in the world routinely ducks reporters to have what she calls a “normal” life. Hiding beneath a baseball cap, the first lady of the United States has picked through sale racks in the frenetic Tysons Corner, Va., mall with girlfriends, bought supplies for her dog at Petco using her own credit card, and dined at some of D.C.’s hippest eateries largely unrecognized. So secretive are her outings that when Washington Capitals hockey superstar Alex Ovechkin tweeted a photo in April with his arm around her at a busy Washington restaurant, media organizations were convinced it was a fake. Michelle Obama laid down her markers quickly and in a way that has set Washington back on its heels. The White House was not going to imprison her, the media were not going to own her, and she would not be driven by external expectations. She was supposed to be a different kind of first lady—an Ivy League–educated, fashion-trendsetting professional who blew up the conventions of the job. No one could have imagined back in the heady days following the election that she’d declare that she would work only two or three days a week, choose a couple of politically comfortable issues, and stay out of the glare of the political spotlight. The result has been a low-key tenure that some have found to be disappointingly conventional.

I absolutely love that photo. Go Mrs. O.  

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Michelle Obama makes unannounced trip to Walter Reed Medical Center

Arnaldo da Silva

What a poignant photo! The First Lady stopping by Walter Reed Medical Center on Memorial Day to talk with wounded soldiers and their families. During the unannounced trip, Mrs. Obama visited Joao Silva, a New York Times photojournalist who was injured on assignment in Afghanistan.

From the New York Times:
On Memorial Day, Michelle Obama made an unannounced trip to visit the wounded at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Joao Silva of The New York Times was among those on whom she paid a call. “She came across as a kind and attentive person,” Mr. Silva said. She asked about the progress of his recovery and gave yo-yos, Frisbees and White House candies to his children, Isabel, 6, and Gabriel, 5. Perhaps the most telling moment occurred before Mrs. Obama arrived. On learning of her pending visit, Mr. Silva made a point of putting on his prosthetic legs. “I wanted to be able to greet her standing up,” he said.