White House spokespeople ask journalists to leave first daughters alone on Hawaii vacation
By APSaturday, December 26, 2009
White House asks for privacy for first daughters
HONOLULU — The White House is asking journalists covering President Barack Obama’s vacation in Hawaii to respect the privacy of his 8- and 11-year-old daughters.
White House deputy press secretary Bill Burton and Michelle Obama’s press secretary Katie McCormick Lelyveld issued a joint statement on Saturday urging journalists not to photograph or film Sasha or Malia Obama when they are on excursions without their parents.
The White House made a similar request when journalists traveled with the Obamas for a summer vacation on Martha’s Vineyard. Then, the White House invited journalists to cover the first daughters only when they went for snacks, souvenirs and bike rides with their parents.
The daughters regularly join their parents at public events.
