Softer Side of the First Family

Next time you find yourself swooning over Sasha and Malia, or smiling at Bo the first dog, understand that it is all part of a coordinated tug on the heartstrings of America. Since taking office, the Obama administration has subtly managed their image by releasing candid photos and giving gossip outlets such as Us Weekly and Access Hollywood exclusive stories. The photos serve as a means to neutralize the paparazzi, as well as a method of controlling how the family is presented. Since taking office, Obama's PR team, (until recently led by a communications guru from the LA Dodgers) has molded Obama's image from a distant intellectual with questionable religious affiliation to a warm, caring family man who just so happens to live at The White House.