... So that You may be kept informed

US: Obama visits White House press room on birthday


Wed Aug 5 05:49:49 EST 2009

WASHINGTON, Aug 4 AP - President Barack Obama is celebrating his own birthday by leading the White House press corps in singing Happy Birthday to veteran US reporter Helen Thomas.

Thomas and Obama share a birthday on Tuesday, with the president turning 48 and the reporter turning 89.

Obama carried cupcakes into the room where reporters were gathered to quiz his chief spokesman, Robert Gibbs, at the daily briefing.

Thomas is a columnist with Hearst Newspapers.

Obama told her: "I will leave it up to you, Helen, how you want to distribute the cupcakes."

Obama sat beside Thomas for a picture after she blew out one candle and said she told him her birthday wishes were "world peace and a real health care reform bill."