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.

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Democrats Capture Control of Virginia Senate
Democrats wrested control of the Senate from the Republicans in yesterday's legislative elections, picking up the four seats they needed to give them a majority of at least 21 to 19 and end a decade of GOP dominance in the chamber.
(By Tim Craig, The Washington Post)

Democrats Split Over Bill Affecting Backers
Tax Measure Targets Hedge Funds
(By Jonathan Weisman, The Washington Post)

Being Overweight Isn't All Bad, Study Says
Carrying Excess Pounds Does Not Increase Risk of Dying from Cancer or Heart Disease, Researchers Say
(By Rob Stein, The Washington Post)

Nationals' Events in Maryland Anger D.C.
Locations Offend District Officials
(By Nikita Stewart, The Washington Post)

More Today's Highlights

POLITICS
Democrats Split Over Bill Affecting Backers
In early June, as the Senate Finance Committee began examining how a new breed of Wall Street titan could be paying a special low tax rate on executives' salaries, one of the richest of them, hedge fund manager Steven A. Cohen of SAC Capital Advisors, cut the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee...
(By Jonathan Weisman, The Washington Post)

Mukasey Bid Survives Division on Senate Panel
(By Dan Eggen and Paul Kane, The Washington Post)

On Water Bill, House Votes to Override Bush Veto for First Time
(By Jonathan Weisman, The Washington Post)

Conferees Set Pentagon Budget
(By Walter Pincus, The Washington Post)

Mississippi Gives Barbour 2nd Term; Kentucky Unseats Its GOP Governor
(By Chris Sundheim, The Washington Post)

More Politics

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NATION
2007 Toll A Record For U.S. In Iraq
BAGHDAD, Nov. 6 -- The U.S. military announced Tuesday that five soldiers and a sailor had been killed a day earlier, making 2007 the deadliest year for American troops since the start of the war in Iraq.
(By Amit R. Paley, The Washington Post)

Democrats Split Over Bill Affecting Backers
Tax Measure Targets Hedge Funds
(By Jonathan Weisman, The Washington Post)

Mukasey Bid Survives Division on Senate Panel
(By Dan Eggen and Paul Kane, The Washington Post)

A Story of Surveillance
Former Technician 'Turning In' AT&T Over NSA Program
(By Ellen Nakashima, The Washington Post)

White House Hails Renewed Ties With Europe
French and German Leaders Are Visiting
(By Michael Abramowitz, The Washington Post)

More Nation

WORLD
White House Hails Renewed Ties With Europe
Shortly after Angela Merkel became chancellor of Germany two years ago, President Bush told her about the frequent videoconferences he held with then-Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain. Bush wanted to know: Would Merkel be interested in doing the same?
(By Michael Abramowitz, The Washington Post)

Rains Bring Mexico's Poverty to Surface
Residents Cling To Flooded Homes
(By Manuel Roig-Franzia, The Washington Post)

In the Heart of Pakistan, a Deep Sense of Anxiety
(By Emily Wax, The Washington Post)

Judge Allows Abu Ghraib Lawsuit Against Contractor
(By Josh White, The Washington Post)

U.S. Says It Will Release Nine Of 20 Iranians Captured in Iraq
(By Robin Wright, The Washington Post)

More World

METRO
Nationals' Events in Maryland Anger D.C.
District officials are outraged that the Washington Nationals plan to go to Maryland for major events celebrating the team's first season in the city-funded $611 million stadium complex.
(By Nikita Stewart, The Washington Post)

Quiet Last Call for D.C. Saloon
Bar That Gave Early Stage to Musical Greats Loses Lease
(By Paul Schwartzman, The Washington Post)

At the Polls, a Mostly Smooth Day
Database Glitch in Rockville Raises Fears of Double Voting
(By Rosalind S. Helderman and Ann E. Marimow, The Washington Post)

Violence Rises Despite Police Presence
Lanier's Initiative, a Weekend Street Blitz by Officers, Nets 481 Arrests
(By Allison Klein, The Washington Post)

Sluggish Reporting of Some Vote Tallies Blamed on New Wireless Equipment Ban
(By Jerry Markon, The Washington Post)

More Metro

BUSINESS
Brendsel, OFHEO Agree to Settle
The government yesterday settled its case against former Freddie Mac chairman and chief executive Leland C. Brendsel for a fraction of the more than $1 billion in damages and penalties it had been seeking for his alleged participation in accounting manipulations.
(By David S. Hilzenrath, The Washington Post)

Citigroup and Prince: Too-Risky Business
(By Steven Pearlstein, The Washington Post)

Dodd on Trail, Committee on Hold
In Senator's Absence, House Panel Takes Lead on Mortgages
(By Carrie Johnson, The Washington Post)

Oil at Record Price? That Depends.
(By Steven Mufson, The Washington Post)

A Story of Surveillance
Former Technician 'Turning In' AT&T Over NSA Program
(By Ellen Nakashima, The Washington Post)

More Business

TECHNOLOGY
Yahoo Lied About China, Legislators Say
Members of Congress yesterday accused Yahoo of lying about its cooperation with the Chinese government in an incident that resulted in the imprisonment of a dissident.
(By Catherine Rampell, The Washington Post)

A Story of Surveillance
Former Technician 'Turning In' AT&T Over NSA Program
(By Ellen Nakashima, The Washington Post)

Alibaba Shares Soar on First Day in Hong Kong
Chinese E-Commerce Company Rivals Yahoo Japan as Asia's Biggest Internet Firm
(By Mark Lee and John Liu, The Washington Post)

A Distant Solar System Has Five Planets
Find Means 'Now We Know Our Sun and Its Family Is Not Unusual'
(By Marc Kaufman, The Washington Post)

More Technology

SPORTS
Guillen Is Linked To Steroids
Baseball officials are seeking to interview former National Jose Guillen after a newspaper reports that he bought more than $19,000 worth of steroids and human growth hormone from 2002 to 2005.
(By Dave Sheinin and Barry Svrluga, The Washington Post)

Capitals Fall in Abbreviated OT
Thrashers 2, Capitals 1
(By Tarik El-Bashir, The Washington Post)

Wizards Rest Arenas As Much As Possible
(By Ivan Carter, The Washington Post)

Landry's Learning Curve
Safety Is Impressive, but Susceptible to Rookie Mistakes
(By Jason Reid, The Washington Post)

Henderson Ponders His Pain
(By Marc Carig, The Washington Post)

More Sports

STYLE
The Rhett Stuff: Virginia Writer Took on Tara
HIGHLAND COUNTY, Va. -- Donald McCaig has to make sure that the fences are mended so his sheep don't stray, that his border collies are tucked away in a kennel, that his Pyrenees guard dogs are being looked after and that the leftover venison from supper has been disposed of before he can take leave...
(By Linton Weeks, The Washington Post)

OK!, Manilow's Jacket Never Reached the Smithsonian
(Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts, The Washington Post)

The Rules for a Fair Fight
(By Libby Copeland, The Washington Post)

Her Place in the Race
(The Washington Post)

Romanian Film's Crystalline Lens
AFI and National Gallery Will Screen Worldbeating Movies
(By Philip Kennicott, The Washington Post)

More Style

LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Virginia Politics
Staff writer Tim Craig discusses the results of the Virginia elections for state Senate and House of Delegates, as well as other local races.
(Tim Craig, washingtonpost.com)

Wizards/NBA
(Ivan Carter and Michael Lee, washingtonpost.com)

Dirda on Books
(Michael Dirda, washingtonpost.com)

Federal Diary Live
(Stephen W. Gammarino, washingtonpost.com)

The Reliable Source
(Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts, washingtonpost.com)

More Live Discussions

EDITORIALS
Left Out
THE TWO WORLDS of the District of Columbia are sketched in sad detail in a recent report on the city's economy. One world has good jobs, growing incomes and prosperous tomorrows. The other is inhabited by people who, if they have jobs, make very little money and face uncertain futures. The first ...
(The Washington Post)

Help for Mexico
A U.S. plan to support counter-narcotics efforts is well timed.
(The Washington Post)

Land of the Freed
For two members of the 'Los Angeles Eight,' America finally acts to right a wrong.
(The Washington Post)

More Editorials

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