There was some serious star power in the East Room of the White House Tuesday and it had nothing to do with politics. The Major League Soccer champion Los Angeles Galaxy including star players David Beckham, forward Robbie Keane, midfielder Landon Donovan and their team mates were honored by President Obama and dozens of young soccer fans invited to the White House.

Calling them the "Miami Heat of soccer" the president commended the team for their success.

"[T]ogether you pulled off one of the toughest feats in team sports: You lived up to the hype. You combined star power, hard work; it paid off."

The president poked a little fun at David Beckham telling the 36 year old, "I said half his teammates could be his kids."

"We're getting old, David. Although you're holding up better than me," the president laughingly told Beckham.

But he thanked the team for agreeing to stay and talk with children invited to the White House to meet the players.

"As a soccer dad, I know you've inspired a lot of kids. And today you're giving them an experience that they will never forget," the president told them.

After the East Room event, the players joined Michelle Obama and about 60 children invited for the event in the State Dining Room as part of a Let's Move program, the first lady's initiative to instill healthy eating habits in children.

Mrs. Obama said she hoped to hold a soccer clinic outside on the White House lawn but rain forced them inside. She told the kids about the importance of sports and remaining active.

"[W]e want to show kids just like you that there are all kinds of ways to be active, and that being active is also a whole lot of fun. So a lot of what we do while there are soccer drills and things like that going on, we're doing a lot of playing around and laughing, and realizing that that's what being healthy is about. It's not always work; most of the time it's a lot of fun."

She left admonishing the children to "eat your vegetables."

A sentiment that was echoed by star soccer player Beckham who when asked by one child was his favorite food is he hesitated only briefly and answered, carrots!

It's always a heady combination, the intersection of politics and Hollywood and now the Obama campaign is reportedly cashing in big-time.
The contest called "Obama, Clooney, and You" offered supporters a chance to win two tickets for dinner with the president, George Clooney and a host of other high dollar donors at the movie star's Los Angeles home next week. The contest has now ended.
A Democratic official declined to tell CNN exactly how much money the contest raised but did say tickets for the 150 paying guests are $40,000 each. That’s a cool $6 million dollars.
The on-line contest, similar to other raffles run by the Obama campaign offering "Dinner with Barack" and at times also including First Lady Michelle Obama was designed to encourage "grassroots supporters" to donate as little as $3.
The Wall Street Journal reported this week that actor Clooney is deeming the fundraiser a huge success.
"All I know is it's the biggest fundraiser so far to date-ever," Clooney told the Wall Street Journal. "Right now we've raised about $10 million for the fundraiser, which is about double anything that's ever been done before," said the actor. FULL POST

A senior administration official confirms the first woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The Medal of Freedom is the nation’s highest civilian honor.

A White House release described the Presidential Medal of freedom as an honor presented to individuals "who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."

The White House had previously announced former University of Tennesee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt and former Polish Underground officer Jan Karski, who was one of the first people to provide accounts of the Holocaust to the outside world, will also receive honor.

A ceremony honoring them will take place sometime later this year at the White House.

Calling her an "inspiration" President Barack Obama Thursday announced former University of Tennesee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. The honor comes just a day after Summitt announced she would step down as coach to Tennesee's Lady Vols and eight months after revealing her diagnosis with early-onset Alzheimer's.

"Coach Summitt is an inspiration – both as the all-time winningest NCAA coach, and as someone who is willing to speak so openly and courageously about her battle with Alzheimer's. Pat's gift has always been her ability to push those around her to new heights, and over the last 38 years, her unique approach has resulted in both unparalleled success on the court and unrivaled loyalty from those who know her and those whose lives she has touched. Pat's coaching career may be over, but I'm confident that her work is far from finished. I look forward to awarding her this honor," the president said in a statement announcing Coach Summitt's recognition.

Coach Summitt took her Lady Vols to eight national championships and 1,098 wins–the most in major-college basketball history.

The Presidential Medal of freedom is presented to individuals "who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors," according to a White House statement.

Coach Summitt's work off the basketball court, on behalf of Alzheimer's patients through the Pat Summitt Foundation, was also recognized in Thursday's White House announcement.

Other recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom will be announced in the coming weeks according to the White House. A ceremony honoring them will take place sometime later this year at the White House.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) - President Obama and the first family saw their income drop by almost $1 million in 2011 as sales from his best-selling books slowed.

The Obama family, in tax returns released Friday by the White House, reported an adjusted gross income of $789,674 for 2011, down from $1,728,096 in the previous year. The family income topped $5.5 million in 2009.

The president earns a salary of $400,000 for his day job. His total earnings are much higher because his books - "Dreams From My Father," and "The Audacity of Hope" continue to attract buyers.

The Obamas reported paying $162,074 in federal taxes. They donated $172,130, or 22% of their income, to 39 different charities.

Obama is donating the proceeds from his latest book, "Of Thee I Sing," to a Fisher House scholarship fund for children of fallen and disabled soldiers. This year, the contribution was $117,130.

Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill reported income of $379,035, but gave only $5,540 - or 1.4% - to charity.

Jay Carney, the White House press secretary, noted in a statement that Obama's 2011 effective federal income tax rate is 20.5%, and that the president's own policies would result in higher taxes for the Obama family. FULL POST

President Barack Obama weighed in on the controversy lighting up the blogosphere between a Democratic strategist and Ann Romney, wife of GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney. The president told Columbus, OH television station WCMH that candidates’ wives should be off limits. Obama defended Ann Romney.

“First of all there is no tougher job than being a mom. I've watched Michelle, who for most of her career had to juggle work and family, but there were times when she was on maternity leave and I promise you that's work. So I think this was an ill-advised statement by somebody on television. It's not something that I subscribe to, and moreover my general rule is you don't talk about the spouses of elected officials because they've got a really tough job. They're out there supporting their husband or wife who have chosen to serve in public eye. Sometimes that spouse isn't volunteering for that job, but they're doing the best they can supporting somebody they love and they care about. And i think they're off limits, so on both counts it was the wrong thing to say and I haven't met Ms. Romney but she seems like a wonderful woman and I know that she's devoted her life to her family.”

Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen questioned stay at home mom Ann Romney’s qualifications to advise on women’s economic issues. (full story on CNN.com)

The White House has announced the line-up of talent for Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll and it includes several tween stars. Actress and singer Rachel Crow is scheduled to sing the national anthem to kick the festivities off. And teen stars Janelle Monae, Cody Simpson, Rachel Crow, Zendaya, China Ann McClain and the McClain Sisters will also be performing on stage on the South Lawn.

Among the other activities planned are a tennis clinic with former teenage tennis stars Michael Chang and Chris Evert and the "Eggtivity Zone" which will feature professional athletes such as Dedreck Etan Thom and Nick Young of the NBA and the NFL's Brian Orakpo, Lorenzo Alexander, and Antwaan Randle El.

The star of NBC's "Biggest Loser", trainer Bob Harper, will also be part of the activities which are a part of First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" initiative.

Several stars like ABC's Robin Roberts, actress Julianne Moore, and actor Forest Whitaker will be reading stories to children. And White House chefs will be joined by Top Chefs Richard Blais and Paul Qui and others where they will do healthy food demonstrations.

The White House has distributed 35,000 tickets for the event that will last from 7:30a to 6:20p.

Here at the White House we're seeing something this week that we haven't seen in a very long time: public bill signings attended by Republican and Democrats.

In recent months, as President Obama has positioned himself opposite an unpopular congress, he has shied away from the fanfare of signing ceremonies, once routine in the early months of his term. But today he signed the STOCK Act, aimed at preventing elected officials from using their professional knowledge for financial benefit, in a public ceremony at the White House. Tomorrow he will do the same with the JOBS Act, a bill that is supposed to make it easier for small businesses and start-ups raise investment dollars (though some critics say it won't create jobs and could increase risk for investors).

The last signing ceremony at the White House was in early February (a bill spearheaded by Democratic former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona) and, before that, November. In February, congress passed a substantial bill to fund the FAA and an extension of the payroll tax cut, a measure that received overwhelming bipartisan support and that Obama had pressed congress to pass. He signed both in private.

Republicans charged that he was playing politics, denying them a visual of bipartisanship in an election year. House Republican leaders have adopted a more conciliatory tone toward the president in recent months following a bruising battle on a temporary extension of the payroll tax cut in December. But not all Republicans want a picture standing next to the president. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) did not make the trip. Noticeable among the handful of GOP lawmakers at todays signing ceremonies were those who are trying not to appear hyper-partisan as they face strong Democratic challengers in tough re-election races, including Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) and Rep. Robert Dold (R-IL).

The anticipation is building for some 30,000 kids and their parents for this year's 134th annual rite of spring at the White House: The Easter Egg Roll.

Now just one week out and the White House is teasing us with snippets of information.

Monday they released the much anticipated list of costumed characters who will be prancing around the White House lawn.

There are all the usual suspects like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Clifford the Big Red Dog and the Cat in the Hat.

But they'll be joined by movie characters, Alex the Lion from Madagascar 3 and those Penguins of Madagascar who are described on their website as an "elite strike force with unmatched commando skills." Hmm, the Secret Service might take exception to that!

The First Lady is putting her imprint on the festivities tailoring the activities to promote health and wellness keeping with this year's theme “Let’s Go, Let’s Play, Let’s Move!” Michelle Obama's signature "Let's Move" initiative tackles the problem of childhood obesity. FULL POST

President Obama addressed the Trayvon Martin shooting today in the Rose Garden.

“Obviously this is a tragedy. I can only imagine what these parents are going through. When I think about this boy I think about my own kids and I think every parent in America should be able to understand why it is absolutely imperative that we investigate every aspect of this and that everybody pulls together, federal, state and local to figure out exactly how this tragedy happened.

I’m glad that not only the Justice Department is looking into it, I understand now that the governor of the state of Florida has formed a task force to investigate what is taking place.

I think all of us have to do some soul searching to figure out how something like this happened. That means that we examine the laws and the context for what happened as well as the specifics of the incident.

But my main message is to the parents of Trayvon. If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon. I think they are right to expect that all of us as Americans are going to take this with the seriousness it deserves and we will get to the bottom of exactly what happened.”