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.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Energy Traders Avoid Scrutiny
One year ago, a 32-year-old trader at a giant hedge fund named Amaranth held huge sway over the price the country paid for natural gas. Trading on unregulated commodity exchanges, he made risky bets that led to the fund's collapse -- and, according to a congressional investigation, higher gas bills...
(By David Cho, The Washington Post)

State Department Struggles To Oversee Private Army
The State Department Turned to Contractors Such as Blackwater Amid a Fight With the Pentagon Over Personal Security in Iraq
(By Karen DeYoung, The Washington Post)

Some Say Clinton Model Is Flawed
Strategy for Appeal in Upstate N.Y. May Not Translate for '08 Bid
(By Alec MacGillis, The Washington Post)

Fairfax Races Seen As Crucial To Senate
Results Could Alter Northern Va.'s Clout
(By Amy Gardner, The Washington Post)

Symbols of Hatred in the Shadows
(By Robin Givhan, The Washington Post)

More Today's Highlights

POLITICS
Some Say Clinton Model Is Flawed
JAVA, N.Y. -- Doug Merlau always leaned Republican, but that was before Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton came to talk about the mystery of the tainted milk.
(By Alec MacGillis, The Washington Post)

Cash, Advice on Tap at Romney's Old Firm
Investment Company Has Been a Source of Donations and Personnel for Candidate
(By Matthew Mosk and John Solomon, The Washington Post)

Giuliani Works to Win Over Religious and Social Conservatives
But Huckabee and Romney Are Winners in Straw Poll
(By Dan Balz, The Washington Post)

Jindal Wins Louisiana Race, Becomes First Indian American Governor
(By Peter Whoriskey, The Washington Post)

Pressure Alleged in Detainees' Hearings
Ex-Prosecutor Says Pentagon Pushing 'Sexy' Cases in '08
(By Josh White, The Washington Post)

More Politics

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NATION
Energy Traders Avoid Scrutiny
One year ago, a 32-year-old trader at a giant hedge fund named Amaranth held huge sway over the price the country paid for natural gas. Trading on unregulated commodity exchanges, he made risky bets that led to the fund's collapse -- and, according to a congressional investigation, higher gas bills...
(By David Cho, The Washington Post)

The Wrong Way to Save Right Whales?
Plan to Slow Ship Speeds in East Coast Waters Stalls as Agencies Fight Over One of World's Most Endangered Mammals
(By Juliet Eilperin, The Washington Post)

State Department Struggles To Oversee Private Army
The State Department Turned to Contractors Such as Blackwater Amid a Fight With the Pentagon Over Personal Security in Iraq
(By Karen DeYoung, The Washington Post)

Cash, Advice on Tap at Romney's Old Firm
Investment Company Has Been a Source of Donations and Personnel for Candidate
(By Matthew Mosk and John Solomon, The Washington Post)

Giuliani Works to Win Over Religious and Social Conservatives
But Huckabee and Romney Are Winners in Straw Poll
(By Dan Balz, The Washington Post)

More Nation

WORLD
On the Road to Nowhere, Merchants Pay the Toll
MAS-HA, West Bank -- From the Zeituna Restaurant to the Basel Furniture store, business once thrived along the road that runs through this Palestinian village, conducted in a language no longer spoken here.
(By Scott Wilson, The Washington Post)

Iran's Nuclear Negotiator Resigns
Ahmadinejad Seen Asserting Control
(By Robin Wright, The Washington Post)

Israeli Surgeons Helping Swaziland in Drive to Curb HIV
(By Craig Timberg, The Washington Post)

State Department Struggles To Oversee Private Army
The State Department Turned to Contractors Such as Blackwater Amid a Fight With the Pentagon Over Personal Security in Iraq
(By Karen DeYoung, The Washington Post)

Chasing the Chinese Dream
A Growing Number of the World's Emigrants Are Heading East, Rather Than West, in Search of Safety, Tolerance and Opportunity
(By Ariana Eunjung Cha, The Washington Post)

More World

METRO
Fairfax Races Seen As Crucial To Senate
There is no fiercer battleground this election season than Northern Virginia, where control of the state Senate could be largely determined by the outcome Nov. 6 of three hard-fought, high-dollar and closely watched contests in Fairfax County.
(By Amy Gardner, The Washington Post)

D.C. Sees Sharp Drop In Federal Prosecution
(By Carol D. Leonnig, The Washington Post)

O'Malley To Push For Truce On Slots
Debate May Sway Special Session
(By John Wagner, The Washington Post)

Showers Do Little to Reverse Drought Conditions
(By Martin Weil, The Washington Post)

Priced to Move
If You Can Transport It to a New Site, You Can Have a Historic Palisades House That Has Seen, Well, a Catalogue of Woes
(By Sylvia Moreno, The Washington Post)

More Metro

BUSINESS
Energy Traders Avoid Scrutiny
One year ago, a 32-year-old trader at a giant hedge fund named Amaranth held huge sway over the price the country paid for natural gas. Trading on unregulated commodity exchanges, he made risky bets that led to the fund's collapse -- and, according to a congressional investigation, higher gas bills...
(By David Cho, The Washington Post)

Greening Up Baby
For the Eco-Conscious Parent, How to Be Gentle on the Earth and the Wallet
(By Mary Ellen Slayter, The Washington Post)

State Department Struggles To Oversee Private Army
The State Department Turned to Contractors Such as Blackwater Amid a Fight With the Pentagon Over Personal Security in Iraq
(By Karen DeYoung, The Washington Post)

Watch for the New and Improved 401(k)s
(By Martha M. Hamilton, The Washington Post)

On the Road to Nowhere, Merchants Pay the Toll
Fence Cuts Lifeline of West Bank Town
(By Scott Wilson, The Washington Post)

More Business

TECHNOLOGY
In Walks This Avatar, With a Thick Papery Thing . . .
Que Publishing held an online party in Second Life recently to fete the release of "Second Life: A Guide to Your Virtual World" -- 416 pages on navigating that user-generated community in which residents buy virtual property, go to virtual work, deal with virtual family members and do all of the ...
(By Monica Hesse, The Washington Post)

Msg to Rude Playgoers: Trn Tht Drnd Thng Off!
(By Peter Marks, The Washington Post)

More Technology

SPORTS
Redemption: Red Sox Roll to Game 7
Boston's J.D. Drew hits a first-inning grand slam, Curt Schilling allows only two runs in seven innings and Boston routs Cleveland 12-2, forcing the ALCS to a deciding Game 7.
(By Dave Sheinin, The Washington Post)

For Redskins' Offense, Trouble Down the Line
Numerous Injuries Are Hindering Team's Offensive Capabilities
(By Jason Reid, The Washington Post)

Caps Can't Convert Shots In Fourth Consecutive Loss
Penguins 2, Capitals 1
(By Tarik El-Bashir, The Washington Post)

Terps Lead, Then Fall Low
Once Again, Maryland Jumps Ahead, Only to Let Virginia Squeeze Past for Seventh Straight Win: Virginia 18, Maryland 17
(By Marc Carig, The Washington Post)

Southwestern Heat Doesn't Cool Down, Holds On for Victory in the Sonny Hine
(By John Scheinman, The Washington Post)

More Sports

STYLE
The Great Rap Hope
Allow me to introduce me My name Wah-lay Don't say Wal-ly Yes, he wants to be a star. Needs to be a star. Loves the way they're calling his name right now, right here in a high school gymnasium, deep in the heart of Prince George's County, screaming it, shrieking it: "WA-LE!" "WA-LE!" Right befor...
(By Teresa Wiltz, The Washington Post)

Msg to Rude Playgoers: Trn Tht Drnd Thng Off!
(By Peter Marks, The Washington Post)

Symbols of Hatred in the Shadows
(By Robin Givhan, The Washington Post)

"I didn't write the book because I want people to go away."
'World Without Us' Author Alan Weisman Explains His Character-Driven-Off Plot
(The Washington Post)

CAROLYN HAX
(By Carolyn Hax, The Washington Post)

More Style

EDITORIALS
'Frustratingly Slow'
ALL IT took was an article on The Post's front page for the family of a damaged veteran of the Iraqi war to get some desperately needed help. Federal officials, embarrassed by yet another story detailing the nation's callous treatment of its wounded, cut through the red tape. Troy and Michelle...
(The Washington Post)

A Difference on Iran?
Barack Obama's unconvincing attack on Hillary Clinton's 'saber-rattling.'
(The Washington Post)

Empty Seats on the Bench
Realistic nominations might get them filled.
(The Washington Post)

More Editorials

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