The Obama campaign has updated their flickr account with behind-the-scenes photographs of Barack and his family on election night. These are intimate photographs of the senator as he shares the moments before he becomes the president-elect.
As The Guardian reports these pictures show the Obama family as their lives are changed forever.
He and his family can be seen, tensely watching television from a hotel room as the results gradually come in.
For a man known for his deep-seated calmness, the beautiful behind the scenes images, taken by his official campaign photographer, David Katz, show the anxious moments before the results are declared.
For the record, it appears Obama was watching local Chicago NBC affiliate, WMAQ-TV (NBC 5), when he learned with the rest of us that he was elected the 44th president of the United States.
His oldest daughter Malia gave him a congratulatory fist bump in celebration!
Shortly after the television announcement, Vice-President-elect Joe Biden and his wife left his own hotel room to join the Obamas in their room.
Joe and Barack share a word as the weight of the nation begins to descend down on their shoulders.
Barack takes a moment to pose with his impressive winning campaign team. From left to right: Robert Gibbs, David Plouffe, Barack Obama, and David Axelrod.
Barack took many phone calls during the evening while others in the room, including from his Republican rival, John McCain, and the man he will replace in the White House, George W. Bush.
The Obamas closely watched McCain’s concession speech. I think you can see Barack quietly absorbing the words and reflecting on what they mean.
Even the children watched closely… although Sasha, to me, looks a little bored.
Barack and his mother-in-law, Marian Robinson, hold hands in support of one another. Michelle’s mother is close to Malia and Sasha and is the fifth member of the Obama family. On the campaign trail, according to the NY Times she was “the girls’ chief caretaker during their mother’s frequent absences. Aides say they do not yet know whether Mrs. Robinson will formally move into the White House, but it is certain that Malia and Sasha’s grandmother will be near at hand and available when her parents have to travel.”
The future first family behind the scenes in Grant Park, Chicago.
They are a proud, happy, strong American family and I think they are just so good to see.
These are but thirteen of the 82 photographs. What are your favorite ones of our new first family?
Cross-posted from Daily Kos.
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to the Obama campaign for sharing this behind the scene look at history being made.
I notice in the pictures of the family I’ve seen throughout the campaign is that Malia seems to be her “mother’s daughter” and Sasha seems to be “daddy’s girl.” Doesn’t really mean much, but I do get the sense that Sasha will be a handful!!!
Thanks. Just read the latest “The World Can’t Wait” essay on why we should not celebrate his “duplicity” before I came here to your photos. And I smile.
I have both emotions. I am delighted at both the beauty of his family and what he might be able to do while I am worried by the force of corporate neo-liberalism.
May the better side win, and that side is the progressive, human side.