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 06, 2007

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Weapons Given to Iraq Are Missing
The Pentagon has lost track of about 190,000 AK-47 assault rifles and pistols given to Iraqi security forces in 2004 and 2005, according to a new government report, raising fears that some of those weapons have fallen into the hands of insurgents fighting U.S. forces in Iraq.
(By Glenn Kessler, The Washington Post)

Democrats Targeted In GOP Debate
(By Michael D. Shear, The Washington Post)

Death Points to Risks in Research
One Woman's Experience in Gene Therapy Trial Highlights Weaknesses in the Patient Safety Net
(By Rick Weiss, The Washington Post)

In China, Farming Advances Lie Fallow
No Clear Path for New Science or Policy Changes to Reach Rural Fields
(By Ariana Eunjung Cha, The Washington Post)

For Tutsis of Eastern Congo, Protector, Exploiter or Both?
(By Stephanie McCrummen, The Washington Post)

More Today's Highlights

POLITICS
Democrats Targeted In GOP Debate
DES MOINES, Aug. 5 -- The Republican candidates for president used a nationally televised morning debate to mock Democrats on foreign policy, taxes and health care while sparring with each other over abortion and the administration's anti-terrorism efforts.
(By Michael D. Shear, The Washington Post)

House Approves Pentagon Budget Minus the President's War Funding
(The Washington Post)

A Diversity of Opinion, if Not Opinionators
At the Yearly Kos Bloggers' Convention, a Sea of Middle-Aged White Males
(By Jose Antonio Vargas, The Washington Post)

Bush Looks to Assure, Yet Prod, Karzai
(By Ben Feller, The Washington Post)

Bush Signs Law to Expand Eavesdropping
(The Washington Post)

More Politics

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NATION
Weapons Given to Iraq Are Missing
The Pentagon has lost track of about 190,000 AK-47 assault rifles and pistols given to Iraqi security forces in 2004 and 2005, according to a new government report, raising fears that some of those weapons have fallen into the hands of insurgents fighting U.S. forces in Iraq.
(By Glenn Kessler, The Washington Post)

Report: Home Searched In Probe of Wiretap Leak
(The Washington Post)

In Anaheim, the Mouse Finally Roars
Disneyland Has Filed First-Ever Suit Against City to Stop Nearby Planned Housing
(By Sonya Geis, The Washington Post)

Death Points to Risks in Research
One Woman's Experience in Gene Therapy Trial Highlights Weaknesses in the Patient Safety Net
(By Rick Weiss, The Washington Post)

Va. Lawyer Was at Fore of Attack on Segregation
(By Adam Bernstein, The Washington Post)

More Nation

WORLD
For Tutsis of Eastern Congo, Protector, Exploiter or Both?
KICHANGA, Congo -- On the way to the mountain headquarters of renegade Congolese Gen. Laurent Nkunda, there are villages patrolled by Laurent Nkunda's police and checkpoints where Nkunda's soldiers demand that truck drivers pay a tax to support their leader's cause.
(By Stephanie McCrummen, The Washington Post)

In China, Farming Advances Lie Fallow
No Clear Path for New Science or Policy Changes to Reach Rural Fields
(By Ariana Eunjung Cha, The Washington Post)

Venezuela Tries To Create Its Own Kind of Socialism
Chávez Taps Oil Wealth in Effort to Build System That Favors 'Human Necessities'
(By Juan Forero, The Washington Post)

Interview With Rwandan Foreign Minister Charles Murigande
(The Washington Post)

Interview With Minister of Planning and Development Jorge Giordani
(The Washington Post)

More World

METRO
Arlington Plans Housing for the Older Disabled
For years, the Doyle sisters have done everything they can so their uncle Daniel, who has a mental disability, can live on his own. They have helped manage his finances, made sure he has taken his medications and rushed to his side when necessary, allowing him to keep his small subsidized apartment...
(By Chris L. Jenkins, The Washington Post)

Actions Taken To Make Path Safer
Va.'s Four Mile Run Area Is Site of 3 Sexual Assaults
(By Daniela Deane, The Washington Post)

Indians Seek Recognition
Tribes Use Shallop Landing to Decry Lack of Official Status in Maryland
(By Matt Zapotosky, The Washington Post)

Va. Lawyer Was at Fore of Attack on Segregation
(By Adam Bernstein, The Washington Post)

Flight of the Orphaned Bats
Fairfax Wildlife Rehabilitator Zealously Nurses Tiniest Creatures While Educating Squeamish Humans
(By Fredrick Kunkle, The Washington Post)

More Metro

BUSINESS
Bear Stearns Executive Resigns After Funds' Collapse
NEW YORK, Aug. 5 -- Bear Stearns said Sunday that Warren Spector, co-president and co-chief operating officer, has resigned following the meltdown of two hedge funds that invested in risky mortgage-backed securities.
(By Joseph Altman, The Washington Post)

Equipping A New Wave Of Female Athletes
Under Armour's Ads Target Nascent Sector
(By Ylan Q. Mui, The Washington Post)

Beach Real Estate Caught in an Undertow
Along Delmarva Coast, Buyers Are Scarce and Tourism Slows Slightly
(By Anita Huslin, The Washington Post)

Death Points to Risks in Research
One Woman's Experience in Gene Therapy Trial Highlights Weaknesses in the Patient Safety Net
(By Rick Weiss, The Washington Post)

Watergate Hotel Shuts Down to Spruce Up
(By Allan Lengel, The Washington Post)

More Business

TECHNOLOGY
Death Points to Risks in Research
Robb Mohr sat by his wife's hospital bed two weeks ago, trying to take it all in. His wife, Jolee Mohr, was breathing with the help of a ventilator in a Chicago intensive care unit -- her body bloated from internal bleeding, her liver failing -- and no one could figure out what was wrong with her.
(By Rick Weiss, The Washington Post)

A Diversity of Opinion, if Not Opinionators
At the Yearly Kos Bloggers' Convention, a Sea of Middle-Aged White Males
(By Jose Antonio Vargas, The Washington Post)

More Technology

SPORTS
Rarin' to Go, Gibbs Is Not the Tiring Type
Joe Gibbs understands why some people are questioning if the 66-year-old coach will be with the Redskins next seasons but he says he is not going anywhere.
(By Mike Wise, The Washington Post)

Nats Complete Sweeps Week
Washington Finishes Off a Perfect Homestand: Nationals 6, Cardinals 3
(By Barry Svrluga, The Washington Post)

After Blast, Pieces Scatter
Bonds Sits Out, Selig Bolts Town
(By Dave Sheinin, The Washington Post)

Isner's Cinderella Run Is Halted by Roddick
(By Liz Clarke, The Washington Post)

It All Gets Started Today For the Terps
(By Marc Carig, The Washington Post)

More Sports

STYLE
Work, Then Play
Thin and frenetic, banging on his guitar in a Silver Spring union hall, Omar León is like a dream of labor balladeer Joe Hill, singing out in Spanish.
(By David Montgomery, The Washington Post)

NAMES & FACES
(The Washington Post)

A Diversity of Opinion, if Not Opinionators
At the Yearly Kos Bloggers' Convention, a Sea of Middle-Aged White Males
(By Jose Antonio Vargas, The Washington Post)

Virgin Festival, Day 2: Morsels for All Tastes
(By J. Freedom du Lac and David Malitz, The Washington Post)

The Atlantic's Owner Ponies Up
(By Howard Kurtz, The Washington Post)

More Style

LIVE DISCUSSIONS
The Local Delegation: Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.)
U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, who last year was elected to replace retiring Sen. Paul Sarbanes, will take your questions about Congress's recently finished session, and the one that will start after the August break.
(Sen. Ben Cardin, washingtonpost.com)

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

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

Dr. Gridlock
Traffic and Transit in the Washington Region
(Robert Thomson, washingtonpost.com)

Outlook: Minnesota's Tragedy, America's Failure
(John McQuaid, washingtonpost.com)

More Live Discussions

EDITORIALS
Warrantless Surrender
THE DEMOCRATIC-led Congress, more concerned with protecting its political backside than with safeguarding the privacy of American citizens, left town early yesterday after caving in to administration demands that it allow warrantless surveillance of the phone calls and e-mails of American citizen...
(The Washington Post)

Watered Down
Another pork-laden bill for the Army Corps of Engineers contains modest checks on future projects.
(The Washington Post)

Restoring the Bay
An example of what this year's farm bill should really be about
(The Washington Post)

More Editorials

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