Happy Brithday Barack Obama

Obama's birthday treat

Barack Obama sings 'Happy Birthday' to reporter on own birthday

On his own 48th birthday, US President Barack Obama turned the spotlight on a reporter also celebrating her special day.

Mr Obama sang "Happy Birthday" and presented Helen Thomas, the doyenne of the White House press corps, with cupcakes and a single candle to celebrate her 89th birthday, before planting a kiss on her cheek.

The outspoken Thomas, who has covered every president since John F Kennedy, spoke quietly to Mr Obama, who ignored reporters' shouted questions about his own birthday and ex-president Bill Clinton's mercy mission to North Korea.

"Helen wished for world peace, (and) no prejudice, but she and I also had a common birthday wish," Mr Obama said.

"She said she wishes for a health care reform bill," Mr Obama said, referring to his signature domestic reform legislation, working its tortuous way through Congress.

Thomas, a former UPI wire service reporter who now works for Hearst Newspapers, has a place of honour in the front row of the White House briefing room, and first worked the White House beat in 1961.

Mr Obama celebrated his own birthday by largely avoiding reporters, and holding a lunchtime meeting with a 57 of the 60 Democratic senators and independents who largely control the fact of his domestic agenda in Congress.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said that Mr Obama celebrated his birthday at the weekend with a trip to the Camp David presidential retreat surrounded by family and friends.

The president indulged his passion for basketball, and even had a game of tenpin bowling – scoring a 144 – a much better showing than his widely ridiculed attempt to bowl during an embarrassing 2008 campaign photo-op.

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Is Obama Hiding His Grey ?

He was one of the youngest men ever to be sworn in as president of the United States.

Yet Barack Obama apparently believes he did not look youthful enough.

While his wife Michelle rises at 5.30am every day to hit the gym and maintain her toned arms, Obama seems to have adopted a new grooming routine of his own.

Before and after: Obama on the campaign trail in September last year, left, looks noticeably more grey than today, right

Recent photographs of the new president reveal almost jet black hair, while in pictures taken during the campaign trail Obama sports many grey hairs on the top and sides of his head.

Unless the president has discovered the fountain of youth in the Oval Office - or installed extremely flattering lighting - the change could only be down to the skills of a hairdresser or a home dye kit.While grey hair during the election campaign may have helped Obama refute Republican claims of inexperience, he could now be keen to a appeal to a younger audience.

Where's the grey gone? :) Obama smiles alongside British Prime Minister Gordon Brown during their meeting in the Oval Office.

The youth vote was instrumental in Barack's selection as Democratic candidate and eventual victory, so perhaps the 47-year-old feels the need to update his look to maintain his hold with the younger generation.

Obama, the 44th president, is the fifth youngest person to assume the office of president, behind Theodore Roosevelt , at 42, John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton, Ulysses S. Grant and Grover Cleveland.

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