Barack Obama

Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to Barack Obama, Sr. (born in Nyanza Province, Kenya) and Ann Dunham (born in Wichita, Kansas). Barack Hussein Obama (born August 4, 1961) is the junior United States Senator from Illinois and a member of the Democratic Party.

Obama grew up in culturally diverse surroundings. He spent most of his childhood in the majority-minority U.S. state of Hawaii and lived for four years in Indonesia. Obama delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention while still an Illinois state legislator. Since announcing his candidacy in February 2007, Obama has emphasized ending the Iraq War and implementing universal health care as campaign themes.

As a member of the Democratic minority in the 109th Congress, Obama co-sponsored the enactment of conventional weapons control and transparency legislation, and made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Obama's parents separated when he was two years old and later divorced. His father went to Harvard University to pursue Ph.D. studies, then returned to Kenya, where he died in an auto accident when the younger Obama was twenty-one years old.

Stevens' Raid May Boost Ethics Reform

Supporters of an ethics and lobbying reform package hitting the House floor today received one more symbolic shot in the arm yesterday when federal agents raided the Alaska home of Sen. Ted Stevens, the longest serving Republican in chamber history, as part of a broadening corruption investigation in the Frontier State. Authorities and the media are seen at the home of U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska (AP Photo/Al Grillo) While the full allegations of impropriety aren't entirely clear, Stevens is under investigation for ties to an energy services company whose former CEO pleaded guilty in early May to spreading around more than $400,000 in bribes to state lawmakers and other unnamed elected officials. "It reminds people one more time, it underscores the need for lobbying reform," Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), one of the lead sponsors of the legislation, told Capitol Briefing Monday evening. The bill, which has been blocked

washingtonpost.com Tue, 31 Jul 2007 13:11:01 EDT

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2007/07/31/BL2007073100874.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns
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