This past Sunday morn, we got our first look at Bo Obama, the new First Dog, and today we get to see Bo running and frolicking with the First Family on the White House lawn … which is now his new home. Yesterday was Bo‘s official coming out party as members of the US and worldwide press corp came out to the White House to get the first official look at the newly expanded First Family:

He may be the leader of the free world, but he still has to walk the dog. “We all have to take turns walking the dog,’’ President Obama declared Tuesday, as Bo Obama, the newest – and only four-legged — occupant of the White House, made his much-anticipated Washington debut. Then again, the president had his two young daughters with him. What else could any self-respecting father and new dog owner say? “We’re trying to be responsible dog owners,’’ he later confessed. In this city of jaded journalists, about 100 members of the Fourth Estate turned out to watch the Obamas — President Barack, First Lady Michelle and First Daughters Malia and Sasha – scamper around the South Lawn with Bo and entertain dog-related questions. This we now know as a result: Bo has not yet had any accidents in the presidential mansion. “We’re trying to keep her from having accidents,’’ Mrs. Obama said, mistakenly using the female pronoun even though Bo is a boy. (No offense intended, Bo, but with your curly black hair, white front paws and carefully-groomed tail, you do kind of look like a girl.) Bo, a gift to the Obamas from Senator Edward M. Kennedy Jr., is a Portuguese Water Dog. The president allowed that Porties, as they are called, like to eat tomatoes. “Michelle’s garden is in danger,’’ Mr. Obama declared. Not to worry, Mrs. Obama said – the garden doesn’t have any tomatoes. Here, Sasha Obama, 7, weighed in, changing the subject. “He doesn’t know how to swim!’’ she exclaimed. (Water dog or not, Bo will apparently require swimming lessons.) Bo joins a long line of presidential pooches, the most recent being Barney, President George W. Bush’s dog, who once bit a reporter. (For the record, some say Barney was provoked.) Barney was allowed in the Oval Office. Will Bo have similar privileges? “Of course,’’ Mr. Obama replied. Will he sleep in a bed? “Not in my bed,’’ the president said.

It is really nice to see that we can focus on something this whimsical and happy during a time of some strife. Of course, the acquisition of a new dog isn’t and shouldn’t be front page news but sometimes I think a story like this is a welcome one. Seeing the First Family in a more “normal” light makes us all feel closer to them. I’m sure having Bo come home to live with them is the best news ever for Sasha and Malia Obama. After the jump, check out video of Bo’s introduction to the press yesterday afternoon …

The Obamas look very happy and I’m sure Bo is tickled pink that he is now the top dog in the country. Sounds like a pretty swank gig … some guys have all the luck.

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