I’m torn in my feelings for Barack Obama. On the one hand, I think he’s amazing. On the other, I find it distracting to see someone so attractive running for president. Do you all remember that photo of him on the beach a few years ago? Yeah, distracting. Can you imagine trying to focus on his State of the Union speech? Although I will admit with much embarrassment that I occasionally had the hots for Clinton, so I guess I can get over it. Obama gave a celebrity-friendly interview to Us Weekly in which he said his daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, are aware of Britney Spears and her ilk, but think she’s “yuck.” Anyone with kids that smart is good by me.

Do your daughters Sasha and Malia ever ask about Britney Spears?
Actually, yeah. But they’re very sensible. They’re pretty down on Britney and Paris and all of that. They think that’s very “yuck.” They’re way more into Hannah Montana and Beyonce. They got to go backstage and meet Beyonce and they just love her to death.

Your supporters include Oprah Winfrey. Ever been starstruck?
I don’t really get starstruck. Everyone I’ve met has been very nice and friendly, like Kal Penn. During the writers’ strike, he was like a staffer! And Scarlett Johansson has been traveling a lot. George Clooney is a good friend. He and I worked on Darfur issues together. I’m always impressed by people who do their homework… and use their celebrity to advocate for issues. George does that just about as well as anyone I know.

[From Us Weekly]

But leave it to Us Weekly to make sure an interview doesn’t accidentally sink into something with a little bit of elegance and class. They had to launch into the trite and lame “boxers or briefs” question. But Obama put them into their place pretty quickly – but still gave a good answer.

So, boxers or briefs? Bill Clinton said he wore boxers in a 1992 interview with MTV.
I don’t answer those humiliating questions. But whichever one it is, I look good in ‘em!

[From Us Weekly]

I would be that’s a very true answer. I’m just waiting for some reporter to ask Hillary Clinton what size bra she wears. Or maybe “underwire or soft cup?” “Maxi pads or tampons?” What ridiculousness. I curse Bill for ever answering the question. Actually it’s fine that he rolled with it; I curse whoever asked in the first place. You’ll notice that no ever asked Bush what was going on underneath his trousers. Shudder at the thought. No one would dream of asking Huckabee what he’s sporting down there. Though I think McCain is still fair game.

Here’s Barack Obama campaigning at Del Sol High School in Las Vegas on January 11th. Images thanks to PR Photos.

Since celebrities are so notoriously publicity shy, you really can’t blame them for hiding out and refusing to talk about their personal lives. What? They need publicity to have good careers? Holy crap you must be joking. Okay I’m kidding, I get that there’s a delicate balance between privacy and publicity, and Scarlett Johansson seems to know just how to balance the two. Rumors were floating all over the internet this past week that Johansson and boyfriend Ryan Reynolds were engaged. The two have been pretty private about their relationship – it’s nearly impossible to find a photo of them together. So we’re really not expecting any kind of confirmation until someone at the Enquirer gets a hold of their marriage license or something. In a sense it keeps things private for the couple, and in another way it increases the buzz. Crafty. Yesterday Johansson confirmed that she was in fact engaged. To Barack Obama.

Scarlett Johansson returned from the Persian Gulf with a whole lot of soldiers’ trinkets and a delusion of her own engagement — to Barack Obama.

“I am engaged … to Barack Obama,” Johansson joked in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday. “My heart belongs to Barack, and that is who I am currently, finally, engaged to. Yes.”

Johansson, who showed her support for the Democratic presidential candidate at the Iowa caucus earlier this month, was really just deflecting a question about rumors she might be engaged (to actor-beau Ryan Reynolds).

[From the Associated Press]

Johansson was giving interviews after returning from visiting troops in the Persian Gulf last week. Apparently she had a blast. It always makes me a little curious when celebrities visit the troops and talk about how much fun they had. It’s nice that they go, I just find it a little … unusual to talk about how you brightened their day.

“Everybody that I met there was so incredibly friendly and polite and genuine and generous,” she said. “They were so, so sweet. I mean, I was just amazed.”

Johansson said some people ripped patches off their jackets as gifts and handed her challenge coins from their military units. One Marine offered up his St. Christopher medal. Another starstruck guy gushed: “You made my whole deployment!”

[From the Associated Press]

It’s good that she took some time to do that. In other Scarlett Johansson news, she’s releasing her first CD on May 20th. Titled “Anywhere I Lay My Head,” she’s been working on it for the last year. Actors traditionally have a hard time being accepted as singers, though the reverse isn’t true. I can’t think of any that have made the transition successfully. Hmm… Eddie Murphy… Scott Baio… Danny Bonaduce… Tony Danza… Peter Gallagher… Jared Leto… Lindsay Lohan… Alyssa Milano… hmm, this isn’t looking good for Scarlett. And I’m not under the impression that any of these actors got a lot of credit for at least trying. The only success I can think of would be Jamie Foxx – he was an actor first and then put out an album. Though to be fair, his first attempt, 1994’s “Peep This” wasn’t exactly a commercial success. Hopefully Scarlett Johansson stays away from hip hop tune about TV shows.

Hollywood stars have long been known for throwing their support behind politicians. It can be helpful or hurtful, depending on the celebrity in question. Brad Pitt, who has become much more politically and socially active in the last few years, has followed many of his celebrity peers and thrown his support behind Barack Obama – even offering to campaign for him. Unfortunately it seems the Obama campaign doesn’t really have any use – or any need – for Pitt, and has politely declined his offer.

Would Brad Pitt be a liability for Barack Obama? When the socially conscious star offered to help the Democratic contender’s presidential campaign, he was turned down, our sources report. The overture was made through intermediaries, and it’s not known whether the Illinois senator was even aware of Pitt’s offer to make appearances on his behalf.

Obama’s advisers felt Pitt was “a great guy,” said a knowledgeable source, but they didn’t want their candidate - who already has the endorsements of Pitt pals George Clooney and Matt Damon - to appear to be “too Hollywood.” What’s more, as politically correct as Pitt’s partner, Angelina Jolie, is now, the source ruminated that it might be hard for some Americans to forget that she used to wear a vial of blood around her neck. Pitt’s spokeswoman told us, “I double-checked with Brad, and he has no affiliation with a candidate at this time.”

[From the New York Daily News]

It makes sense that Obama wouldn’t want too many celebrities tooting his horn – and he has plenty of them on board already (besides Clooney and Damon). Politics are all about strategy, and it’s imperative that Obama come off as just as intelligent and serious as Clinton. Too much Hollywood and he might appear comparatively “fluffy.” Plus as great as Angelina is, she could be a major political liability, opening up anyone associated with her to unsavory digs.

George Clooney says that while he was a bit surprised that Obama’s campaign wasn’t interested in Pitt, it did make sense.

When we ran it by Clooney, he said: “That would surprise me” - and yet, he understood. “I saw it with my father’s campaign for Congress in 2004,” Clooney said of his dad, Nick. “Being a celebrity can actually be a liability.”

Damon echoed Clooney’s sentiments when he told us: “I’m supporting Obama, and I thought George [Clooney] said it really well when he spoke to the senator. He said, ‘I’ll support you in any way I can, including staying at home and shutting my mouth.’ “I’d like to help him - I think he’s a wonderful man and would be a great leader, and I’d reiterate what George says: I’ll help him in any way I can, including getting out of the way.”

[From the New York Daily News]

I like that idea that the most helpful thing sometimes is just to get out of the way. It shows there’s no ego involved. Something tells me that as the primaries get closer, Obama may become a bit more interested in Pitt – at least if his poll numbers keep sliding.

Picture note by Jaybird: Here’s Barak Obama campaigning in Miami recently. Image thanks to PR Photos.

Barack Obama, US Senator from Illinois and the man many celebrities are backing for US President, has read all six books in the Harry Potter series, according to his wife, Michelle. America’s hope read all of the books out loud with his nine-year old daughter Malia, and just saw Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix with her last weekend.

Michelle Obama says she’s not sure how her husband will have time to read the final book in the Harry Potter series in between his busy campaign schedule, but she’s sure he’ll find a way:

In an interview with The Associated Press, Michelle Obama said her husband has read the books aloud with 9-year-old Malia and saw the latest movie, “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” with her last Sunday.

Both are awaiting the release of J.K. Rowling’s seventh and final book in the series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” this weekend, but finding time to read won’t be easy, she said.

“The challenge will be scheduling Harry Potter reading time in between Iowa and New Hampshire and fundraising, but I guarantee you they will figure out a way to do it,” Michelle Obama told the AP. “Harry Potter is huge in our house.”

She wasn’t sure how the family would get their copy of the book.

“He handles all of that. That’s one of those things, I’m like ‘You are the Harry Potter parent,’” she said.

[AP article from EWoss News]

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is out at 12:01 am Saturday, and fans have been lining up outside some bookstores for a days. Spoilers have been leaked online, and I saw a video over at Oh No They Didn’t of two guys who worked at Barnes and Noble revealing spoilers after they broke into the storeroom and read the book. I was afraid to post it here for fear of backlash. I’m one of those people who is too curious not to find out what happens first, but I’ll still read the book as all the fun is in getting there. Most people would rather not have the end ruined for them though.

In other Obama news, Oprah is going to hold a fundraiser for the candidate on September 8th at her estate in California. She is quoted as saying he’s her “favorite guy” and “choice” for the US Presidency.

The 45 year-old Obama has been married to his wife Michelle for 15 years. She is also a lawyer and they met when they both worked together at a firm in Chicago in 1988. They have two daughters, Malia, 9, and Sasha, 6.

Header image is from the Obama family’s 2006 Holiday card and was found at Abovethelaw.com

Will Smith’s … not running for President yet

Will Smith - recently rumored to have replaced crazy couch bouncer Cruise as Mr. Number One Box Office – may be headed for the ultimate Number One in the Free World– at least according to the slightly confused American Association of Retired People demographic.

Will Smith spoke today at the Motion Picture Association of America in Washington D.C. Mr. Smith told the crowd a hilarious story.

It happened this morning on his way to the event. An older couple approached Smith and said, “We love what you’re doing. You’re so great for the country!” In true Hollywood fashion, Smith said, “Thank you!”

As the star walked away, the old man said, “And we’ll be sure to vote for you.”

(via TMZ)

And he’s not even Barack Obama! What a punch line. That is a hilarious story … old people are a hoot - what with their bad eyesight and race confusion. It’s a knee slapper. Ouch my knee … what with all the slapping.

Come to think of it, Will did express a desire to run for president not that long ago. It was when he was on his ’I am the Greatest’ high - right after shooting Ali. Jada supported the idea. The crazy couch apparently has room for any number of Box Office Stars. Here’s the old quote from USA Weekend:

“I feel like I could be the president of the United States. I really do. … Education has to be the priority. Every other problem we have is based on a lack of education in whatever field. It is not as instant a solution as pouring more money into it, but I feel the greatness of any society is based upon the depth of the scholars. …

“That’s the ultimate rule: The smartest guy wins.”

I can’t see any proof for this thesis of presidential fitness … do we have the smartest guy now … will we have the smartest guy when Will Smith runs or is the smartest guy Barack Obama for hitching his presidential wagon to such a winner as the Fresh Prince of Happyness? Is it smartest to spell happyness with a Y? I’m still a few years away from retirement, but I’m starting to get confused myself.

Pictures via xhollywood and Senator Obama’s Office