HALLOWEEN AT THE WHITE HOUSE

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Comment by James Everitt on November 2, 2009 at 3:07am

Obama's Halloween at the White House

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama on Saturday doled out presidential M&Ms and dried fruit mixes to more than 2,000 trick-or-treaters, marking their Halloween at a White House event partly aimed at honoring military families.

Dressed as superheroes, pirates, fairies and skeletons, the kids came in with their parents from Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C., lining up at the orange lit White House.

The Obamas smiled, chatted and passed out cellophane goody bags that were also filled with a sweet dough butter cookie made by White House pastry chef Bill Yosses and a National Park Foundation Ranger activity book. Mrs. Obama wore furry cat ears and a leopard-patterned top.

A big, stuffed, black spider dangled in a web of string from the top of the portico, and pumpkins had sprouted up around the columns.

The loot handed out was just part of the treat for the kids, ages 6 to 14.

"He touched my hand," said a beaming Tiera Thomas, 11, of Washington, D.C., after she picked up her candy from President Obama.

The Obamas spent about a half hour passing out candy to trick-or-treaters.

Then they headed inside to a reception in the East Room, where the first couple attended a reception for military families and for the moms and dads who work at the White House, along with their kids.

The visiting children were chosen with help from the Education Department.

Obama thanked the military members and their families. "We are so grateful to you," he said. "Especially now, a lot of the times, you guys are separated. It's tough. The spouses who are at home are serving just as much as folks who are deployed. So we are just so thrilled that you guys could be here and we could say personally 'thank you' to all of you."

Michelle Obama said the kids were "just so cute."

Obama added: "They're adorable, as is, by the way, my wife, a very nice looking catwoman."

It was also the first White House Halloween for the Obamas' daughters, 8-year-old Sasha and 11-year-old Malia.

But the White House refused to say where Sasha and Malia Obama were celebrating Halloween and what the two girls were wearing, even though hundreds of other children their ages were in costume in full view of the media. The White House referred back to first lady Michelle Obama's comment to Jay Leno, that finding out what Sasha and Malia were wearing would require "security clearance."

Over the years, the winter holidays have been the ones to get the full treatment at the White House, with Christmas trees and tinsel all around.

The Obamas are not the first, though, to show Halloween spirit.

President George H.W. Bush and first lady Barbara Bush hosted 500 children on Halloween in 1989, loading them up with fun loot but also teaching them about the dangers of drugs. The kids came decked out in costumes; some Secret Service agents came dressed as clowns.

In the Clintons' first year in the White House, the Great Pumpkin returned. A huge orange jack-o'-lantern was formed around the front entrance to the White House, with the front door to the mansion serving as the middle tooth. The first couple's daughter, Chelsea, was 13 at the time and the house was stuffed with pumpkins.

During the Nixon administration, first daughter Tricia hosted parties for underprivileged children, according to the White House Historical Association. And plenty of other first families got festive for Halloween.

No telling what kind of goblins might pop up this year, although stories of ghosts -- especially Abraham Lincoln's -- are woven into White House history. CONTINUE ARTICLE: White House Celebrates Halloween with 2,000 Kids

Obama's Halloween at the White House

Comment by James Everitt on October 30, 2009 at 2:26pm

Halloween at the White House 2009!

Obama is outside in the backyard sneaking a cigarette. He's hoping his healthcare reform ideas get passed before he has a heart attack due to all the smoking. He is worried he may have to deal with sky high medical bills that will not be fully covered by the insurance.

Bo the dog is eagerly awaiting Halloween and all the hoopla with visitors inside and out in front of the White House. This special day will give him lots of reasons to bark like a mad dog!

The Obama girls are out trick or treating with their friends and a few dozen secret service men. It is so tedious to try to have fun with friends with all these geezer old men around!

Michelle Obama will be passing out five-pound weights to any women who comes trick or treating to the White House. Tone those arms ladies! A note will be attached to each weight w/ grosgrain ribbon. It will say: Use daily and by next summer maybe your arms will be as toned and sexy as mine!

Protestors will be marching out front with signs to protest the Afghanistan war. It has been many years since our nation was not at war. The protestors have been marching out there for too many years.

The ghosts of all the soldiers killed in the Iraq war, the Vietnam war and any other war where our nation's presence in the conflict zone was highly contested, are marching out front too. They also want to protest any war. They are holding peace signs that float mysteriously through the air.

The little kids will be coming in hordes to the White House trying to get a piece of candy from the president. Do they dare TP the White House if they don't like the treat they are given?

Some special friends and enemies will be visiting the White House on Halloween too!

Kanye West will be dropping by to bump Obama off the front porch because he wants to be the one handing out the White House treats.

George W. Bush will be dropping by to give Obama a lecture about investigating the antics of the CIA. Bush will be dressed in a devil costume.

Jane Fonda will visit because she wants to compare her arms to Michelle's and see who is the most fit and firm.

Martha Stewart will drop by to bring some homemade treats. She hopes Barack and Michelle will enjoy the sugar cookies with sprinkles that spell out "Beck = Idiot."

Michelle's Mom will be enjoying her status as grand dame of the White House. She will carry a fairy princess wand to grant all visitors one special wish!

Tea party protestors will be out front protesting too. They will be sipping hot tea and prancing about in Sarah Palin costumes, red spike heels and all.

The ghosts of presidents past will be dropping by. Thomas Jefferson and Lincoln will give Obama quite the fright when they show up together and grab him by either arm and drag him into the rose garden to offer some advice about how to handle the stress of the being a president.

Barbara Walters will drop by to interview the family about the fun they have planned for Halloween. CONTINUE: Halloween at the White House 2009!

Halloween at the Obama White House