'Mutts like me': Obama and race

It popped out casually, a throwaway line as he talked to reporters about finding the right puppy for his young daughters.

But with three words in his first post-election news conference, Barack Obama reminded everyone how different his administration -- and this country -- will be.

''Mutts like me.''

By now, the world knows Obama's mother was white and father was black, making him the first African-American president. But there was something startling, and telling, about his offhand self-description. Here is a president who will be quite at ease discussing race.

Obama was talking about what kind of puppy his family will get. Because Malia, 10, has allergies, the family wants a low-allergy dog. But Obama said they also want to adopt a puppy from an animal shelter.

''Obviously, a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me,'' he said with a smile. ''So whether we're going to be able to balance those two things, I think, is a pressing issue on the Obama household.'' AP