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.

Monday, August 20, 2007

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
As Democracy Push Falters, Bush Feels Like a 'Dissident'
By the time he arrived in Prague in June for a democracy conference, President Bush was frustrated. He had committed his presidency to working toward the goal of "ending tyranny in our world," yet the march of freedom seemed stalled. Just as aggravating was the sense that his own government was not...
(By Peter Baker, The Washington Post)

A Rush To Frame Views on Congress
Ads Start Before Presidential Race Consumes Voters
(By Jonathan Weisman, The Washington Post)

India's Lower Castes Seek Social Progress In Global Job Market
(By Emily Wax, The Washington Post)

23 Near Va. Tech Hospitalized With Monoxide Symptoms
(By Theresa Vargas and Martin Weil, The Washington Post)

A House Made of What?
Straw Finds Niche as Eco-Friendly Building Material
(By David A. Fahrenthold, The Washington Post)

More Today's Highlights

POLITICS
As Democracy Push Falters, Bush Feels Like a 'Dissident'
By the time he arrived in Prague in June for a democracy conference, President Bush was frustrated. He had committed his presidency to working toward the goal of "ending tyranny in our world," yet the march of freedom seemed stalled. Just as aggravating was the sense that his own government was not...
(By Peter Baker, The Washington Post)

A Rush To Frame Views on Congress
Ads Start Before Presidential Race Consumes Voters
(By Jonathan Weisman, The Washington Post)

Democratic Rivals Caution Against Swift Iraq Pullout
Little Rancor Seen in Iowa Debate
(By Anne E. Kornblut, The Washington Post)

Karl Rove, Insider With an Outsize Reputation
(By Howard Kurtz, The Washington Post)

A weekly roundup of the buzz from the Sunday talk shows
(The Washington Post)

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NATION
Warming Will Exacerbate Global Water Conflicts
FRESNO, Calif. -- Steve Johnson scans the hot, translucent sky. He wants to make rain -- needs to make rain for the parched farms and desperate hydro companies in this California valley. But first, he must have clouds. The listless sky offers no hint of clouds.
(By Doug Struck, The Washington Post)

APA Rules on Interrogation Abuse
Psychologists' Group Bars Member Participation in Certain Techniques
(By Shankar Vedantam, The Washington Post)

Many Pressures Led to Cave-In
Critics Cite Economics, Lax Safety Rules in Utah Mine Disaster
(By Karl Vick and Sonya Geis, The Washington Post)

NATION IN BRIEF
(The Washington Post)

Contractors in Iraq Have Become U.S. Crutch
(By Walter Pincus, The Washington Post)

More Nation

WORLD
India's Lower Castes Seek Social Progress In Global Job Market
PUNE, India -- As a Dalit, Pratibha Valmik Kamble is part of the poorest and most ostracized community in this subcontinent's ancient caste system, a group of people so shunned that they are still known as untouchables. Her mother is a maid, her father a day laborer.
(By Emily Wax, The Washington Post)

Israel to Block New Refugees From Darfur
(By Ellen Knickmeyer, The Washington Post)

Dean Punishes Jamaica, Takes Aim at Yucatan
(By Taneisha Lewis and Manuel Roig-Franzia, The Washington Post)

As Democracy Push Falters, Bush Feels Like a 'Dissident'
(By Peter Baker, The Washington Post)

Democratic Rivals Caution Against Swift Iraq Pullout
Little Rancor Seen in Iowa Debate
(By Anne E. Kornblut, The Washington Post)

More World

METRO
In Blacksburg, a Solid Reminder of Lives Lost
An estimated 10,000 people attended the dedication, and by the time the national anthem started playing, a sea of maroon and orange flooded the field. Many were students, but others had driven hours to attend.
(By Theresa Vargas, The Washington Post)

Kilt Shop Reveals A Loyal Clientele Itching to Be Free
(By Nick Miroff, The Washington Post)

A House Made of What?
Straw Finds Niche as Eco-Friendly Building Material
(By David A. Fahrenthold, The Washington Post)

Pr. George's Hopes Mass Vaccinations Will Pay Off
As Classes Begin, Schools Aim To Avoid Repeat of Fiasco
(By Mariana Minaya and Daniel de Vise, The Washington Post)

Alleged Leader in N.J. Slayings Heads to Court Today
(By Nikita Stewart, The Washington Post)

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BUSINESS
Businesses Pinched as Loan Spigot Shuts Off
U.S. corporations for years operated by the maxim that you have to borrow money to make money. Now, the well of cheap loans is running dry.
(By David Cho and Thomas Heath, The Washington Post)

Home Furnisher Opening in Woodies Building
West Elm's Arrival Heralded as Key Step in Revitalization of Downtown Retailing
(By Ylan Q. Mui, The Washington Post)

Envisioning City Life Along the Rivers
Developers Pour Billions Into Reviving Business and Cultural Attractions by the Potomac and Anacostia
(By Anita Huslin, The Washington Post)

India's Lower Castes Seek Social Progress In Global Job Market
(By Emily Wax, The Washington Post)

3 Area Firms to Compete For HIV/AIDS Relief Work
(By David Hubler, The Washington Post)

More Business

TECHNOLOGY
3 Area Firms to Compete For HIV/AIDS Relief Work
Three local companies are among a half-dozen winners of a multiple-award contract from the U.S. Agency for International Development to support a program designed to combat the spread of AIDS and provide treatment for those affected by the disease.
(By David Hubler, The Washington Post)

More Technology

SPORTS
MRI: No Damage In Campbell's Knee
An MRI on quarterback Jason Campbell's injured left knee Sunday indicates no serious damage and he is questionable for the Redskins next game.
(By Mark Maske, The Washington Post)

Mystics Pull Out a Win, But Lose Playoff Berth
Mystics 76, Sun 74
(By Marc Carig, The Washington Post)

Before a Road Trip, Nats Don't Lock Up
Mets 8, Nationals 2
(By Steve Yanda, The Washington Post)

A Puncher's Chance
Guerrero Overcomes Obstacles to Finally Get His Big Shot
(By Katie Carrera, The Washington Post)

Smoltz Zooms to Top of Braves' Strikeout List
(The Washington Post)

More Sports

STYLE
Five's Company
The laundry closet in the group house on Park Road has five detergents, in a row: Arm & Hammer, Ivory, 365, Trader Joe's Next to Godliness, Seventh Generation, and an economy-size bottle of Giant's generic brand.
(By Monica Hesse, The Washington Post)

NAMES & FACES
(The Washington Post)

Left Out of the Picture
For Petey Greene's Family, 'Talk to Me' Is Anything but a Feel-Good Hit
(By Neely Tucker, The Washington Post)

Karl Rove, Insider With an Outsize Reputation
(By Howard Kurtz, The Washington Post)

'High School Musical 2' Aces the Test
(By Lisa de Moraes, The Washington Post)

More Style

LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Outlook: The Quagmire on Drugs
The price of drugs is falling, the Afghan poppy crop is booming, and traffickers are turning as big a profit as ever. Former BBC reporter Mischa Glenny examines the failures of U.S. War on Drugs -- which many authorities point to as the biggest booster of the narcotics trade.
(Misha Glenny, washingtonpost.com)

Career Track Live
Advice for Young Professionals
(Mary Ellen Slayter, washingtonpost.com)

The Chat House
Sports News
(Michael Wilbon, washingtonpost.com)

Post Politics Hour
washingtonpost.com's Daily Politics Discussion
(Shalaigh Murray, washingtonpost.com)

Science: Climate Change and Water Supplies
(Doug Struck, washingtonpost.com)

More Live Discussions

EDITORIALS
Sentiment vs. Horse Sense
THOMAS E. PEREZ, Maryland's secretary of labor, licensing and regulation, has issued a report that buttresses the stated goal of Gov. Martin O'Malley's administration to grant slot-machine gambling licenses to selected racetracks as a means of saving the state's racing industry and preserving ...
(The Washington Post)

The Hospital Visit, Revisited
The FBI director verifies Mr. Gonzales's arm-twisting.
(The Washington Post)

Prince William's Politburo
No tolerance for human rights watchdogs
(The Washington Post)

More Editorials

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