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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Everybody look! Obama has abs!

President-elect Barack Obama (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

What with all the major issues facing the country, you’d think that the media following President-elect Barack Obama would be concerned mostly with such problems as, say, the ongoing recession, unemployment, world-wide terrorism and frigid temperatures – just to name a few.

Nope. If you read the New York Post, you’re gonna find all about the Obamas’ Hawaiian holiday and the president-elect’s six pack.

“Buff-bodied President-elect Barack Obama put his chiseled frame on full display … during a stroll in Hawaii while on vacation with his family,” Post reporter Maggie Haberman reported.

“It’s a sight that Americans are increasingly getting used to – an extremely hard-bodied 44th president of the United States, whose toned pecs and abs have become as well documented during the transition process as have his policy positions.”

Reports are, Haberman continued, that Obama begins every day by heading to the gym.

One pol who was impressed was California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the former bodybuilder who, Haberman said, “famously mocked Obama as a girly-man right before Election Day.”

“Look, I’ve seen him playing basketball,” Schwarzenegger said earlier this week. “He’s a better basketball player than I am.”

Spade’s flush with charity

Comedian David Spade is tops with Phoenix cops. The former Phoenix resident donated $100,000 so that the department can quip itself with AR-15 rifles. Spade made the donation after seeing a TV news report about Phoenix officers having to buy their own rifles.

“These guys need to be able to do their jobs and I am just happy I could help,” Spade said.

Maybe Spade should help Dunst

A court has given “Spider-Man” actress Kirsten Dunst a measure of protection from a stalker. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Richard E. Rico granted Dunst’s request to order 25-year-old Christopher R. Smith to stay away from the actress, her personal assistant and any place they work.

Dunst has said that she was “quite frightened” of Smith, who was arrested by Dunst’s assistant last month at her house.

Now jail officials are anxious

By dying, singer Sean Levert has helped change policy at Cleveland’s county jail. Levert died March 30. He’d become ill at the jail after beginning a sentence for failure to pay child support. A lawsuit filed by Levert’s widow Angela Lowe charged that Levert was not given his prescribed dosage of Xanax.

More troubles in J-Lo land

More indicators are showing that the Jennifer Lopez-Marc Anthony marriage is in trouble. A source the New York Post that Lopez, who chose to stay home with the couple’s children, used to send her assistant on tour with Anthony. “She wanted reports back so he didn’t cheat on her,” the source said.

The birthday bunch

Author Mary Higgins Clark is 81. Actor Clarence Gilyard is 53. Actress Stephanie Hodge is 52. Rock musician Ian Burden of The Human League is 51. Rock singer Mary Ramsey of 10,000 Maniacs) is 45. Actor Diedrich Bader is 42. Singer Ricky Martin is 37. Presenter Ryan Seacrest of “American Idol” is 34.