Obama's first press conference as president elect - smart, serious, funny and charming

Obama breaks down his family’s puppy dilemma: ‘We have two criteria that have to be reconciled.’

After meeting with his Transition Advisory Board this afternoon, President-elect Barack Obama held a press conference to discuss his plan to move forward on the economy. Obama laid out three principles: “a rescue plan for the middle class,” “address the spreading impact of the financial crisis on other sectors of our economy,” and “review the implementation of this Administration’s financial program.” When Obama opened it for questions, the Chicago Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet turned the page on the economy, asking instead about his family’s puppy dilemma — namely, what kind of puppy will he get for his daughters. Addressing the question with his trademark dead-pan sarcasm, Obama responded, “We have two criteria that have to be reconciled.”

Obama indicated his own personal leanings: “Our preference would be to get a shelter puppy, but obviously a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me.”

Update - TV Newser notes that Obama did not call on Fox News in his first press conference.

(Think Progress)