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.

Friday, December 07, 2007

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
CIA Destroyed Videos Showing Interrogations
The CIA made videotapes in 2002 of its officers administering harsh interrogation techniques to two al-Qaeda suspects but destroyed the tapes three years later, CIA Director Michael V. Hayden said yesterday.
(By Dan Eggen and Joby Warrick, The Washington Post)

The Army's $200 Billion Makeover
March to Modernize Proves Ambitious and Controversial
(By Alec Klein, The Washington Post)

In Twilight of His Career, Warner Now an Environmental Maverick
(By David A. Fahrenthold, The Washington Post)

Those Who Avoided Risk Call Plan A Raw Deal
(By Renae Merle, The Washington Post)

Born in India, Transforming Rural Md.
Extended Family of Medical Specialists Helps St. Mary's Thrive
(By Jenna Johnson, The Washington Post)

More Today's Highlights

POLITICS
Senate Waives Pledge, Approves Tax Bill
Eleven months after adopting stringent new rules aimed at reining in the federal deficit, the Senate last night shrugged off its pledge of fiscal rectitude and overwhelmingly approved a measure to spare millions of families from the growing reach of the alternative minimum tax without providing an...
(By Jonathan Weisman and Jeffrey H. Birnbaum, The Washington Post)

Broad Energy Bill Passed by House
Car Mileage, Renewable Power Addressed
(By Jonathan Weisman and Steven Mufson, The Washington Post)

CIA Destroyed Videos Showing Interrogations
Harsh Techniques Seen in 2002 Tapes
(By Dan Eggen and Joby Warrick, The Washington Post)

Hill Negotiators Drop Hate-Crime Provision
Measure Sought to Extend Protections Based on Gender, Sexual Orientation, Disability
(By Paul Kane, The Washington Post)

Review of Iran Intelligence to Be Sought
As Conservatives Reject New NIE, Republican Senators to Urge Congressional Panel
(By Robin Wright and Glenn Kessler, The Washington Post)

More Politics

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NATION
The Army's $200 Billion Makeover
EL PASO -- A $200 billion plan to remake the largest war machine in history unfolds in one small way on a quiet country road in the Chihuahuan Desert.
(By Alec Klein, The Washington Post)

CIA Destroyed Videos Showing Interrogations
Harsh Techniques Seen in 2002 Tapes
(By Dan Eggen and Joby Warrick, The Washington Post)

Mall Killer Had History of Mental Woes
19-Year-Old Threatened Stepmother and Was Made a Ward of the State
(By Kari Lydersen and William Branigin, The Washington Post)

Hill Negotiators Drop Hate-Crime Provision
Measure Sought to Extend Protections Based on Gender, Sexual Orientation, Disability
(By Paul Kane, The Washington Post)

Ex-D.C. Counsel Payton to Lead Rights Legal Fund
(By Darryl Fears, The Washington Post)

More Nation

WORLD
Scores of Miners Feared Dead in Chinese Explosion
BEIJING, Dec. 6 -- Ninety-six miners were feared dead after a gas explosion tore through an illegal underground area of a publicly-owned coal mine in northern China's Shanxi province early Thursday, a government Web site and the New China News Agency said.
(By Maureen Fan, The Washington Post)

South Africa Reports Drop in Violent Crime
(By Craig Timberg, The Washington Post)

NATO Envoys Back Rice In Urging Iran Sanctions
(By Matthew Lee, The Washington Post)

U.S. Plans to Form Job Corps For Iraqi Security Volunteers
Shiite-Led Government's Slow Hiring of Sunnis Prompted Change
(By Karen DeYoung and Amit R. Paley, The Washington Post)

Wife Recants in Case of British Canoeist
(By Mary Jordan, The Washington Post)

More World

METRO
Officials Say Hands Were Tied By Storm
The Washington region's leading advocate for motorists blasted transportation officials yesterday for failing to clear roadways during the season's first snowstorm Wednesday, while Maryland and Virginia officials said efforts to treat roads were impeded because the storm hit during the morning rush.
(By Lena H. Sun, The Washington Post)

In Twilight of His Career, Warner Now an Environmental Maverick
(By David A. Fahrenthold, The Washington Post)

Ode to a Diode
National Christmas Tree Joins Other Outdoor Light Displays In Using Energy-Efficient LEDs That Save Electricity -- and Money
(By Daniel LeDuc, The Washington Post)

Born in India, Transforming Rural Md.
Extended Family of Medical Specialists Helps St. Mary's Thrive
(By Jenna Johnson, The Washington Post)

Darkened Part of Park Trail Near Metro to Get Lighting
Decision Comes After Years of Debate, Recent Robberies
(By Jackie Spinner, The Washington Post)

More Metro

BUSINESS
A Buffer? Or a Bailout?
Several hundred thousand homeowners will qualify for a freeze in home loan rates under the Bush administration's mortgage-relief agreement announced yesterday, a figure that intensified debate over whether the government is helping too many or too few people at risk of losing their homes.
(By David Cho and Neil Irwin, The Washington Post)

Broad Energy Bill Passed by House
Car Mileage, Renewable Power Addressed
(By Jonathan Weisman and Steven Mufson, The Washington Post)

Real Estate Live
(Maryann Haggerty and Elizabeth Razzi, washingtonpost.com)

In U.A.E, Weakened Dollar Slows Dubai Tower's Race to the Skies
(By Ellen Knickmeyer, The Washington Post)

The Army's $200 Billion Makeover
March to Modernize Proves Ambitious and Controversial
(By Alec Klein, The Washington Post)

More Business

TECHNOLOGY
Broad Energy Bill Passed by House
The House yesterday brushed aside a new White House veto threat and handily approved a comprehensive energy bill that would raise automobile fuel-efficiency standards for the first time in 32 years and require increased use of renewable energy sources to generate electricity.
(By Jonathan Weisman and Steven Mufson, The Washington Post)

Scientists Cure Mice Of Sickle Cell Using Stem Cell Technique
New Approach Is From Skin, Not Embryos
(By Rick Weiss, The Washington Post)

The Army's $200 Billion Makeover
March to Modernize Proves Ambitious and Controversial
(By Alec Klein, The Washington Post)

Timeline: Army Modernization and Future Combat Systems
(washingtonpost.com)

More Technology

SPORTS
Arizona Coach Olson Taking Year Off
Arizona basketball coach Lute Olson says Thursday night that he will extend his leave of absence through the end of this season.
(AP)

The Swarmin' Hornets Pour It On
(By Josh Barr, The Washington Post)

Gibbons, Guillen Are Suspended
Both to Serve 15-Game Penalty; Oriole 'Deeply Sorry' for HGH Use
(By Dave Sheinin, The Washington Post)

Reports: Schiano Meets With Michigan
(By The Associated Press, AP)

NFL Warns a Vengeful Newman
(The Washington Post)

More Sports

STYLE
A Sugar Plum for Daddy
Lt. Col. Frank Johnston just wanted to see his 7-year-old daughter, Isabelle, dance in the Washington Ballet's "Nutcracker" -- but what started as a simple request has turned into a holiday broadcast for soldiers around the world.
(By Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts, The Washington Post)

Double Duty
Pregnant With Twins and Pushing Her Team Toward a Championship, Terps Basketball Coach Brenda Frese Has Her Hands (and Belly) Full
(By Linton Weeks, The Washington Post)

'Atonement': Word-Perfect Pictures
(By Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post)

With Six Nods, Grammys Tell Winehouse Yes, Yes, Yes
(By J. Freedom du Lac, The Washington Post)

'Golden Compass' Spins Wildly With No Magnetism
(By Stephen Hunter, The Washington Post)

More Style

LIVE DISCUSSIONS
The Washington Capitals
Washington Post staff writer Tarik El-Bashir will be online to take your questions about the Caps and the NHL.
(Tarik El-Bashir, washingtonpost.com)

Real Estate Live
(Maryann Haggerty and Elizabeth Razzi, washingtonpost.com)

On TV
Reality, Non-Reality and Everything In-Between
(Lisa de Moraes, washingtonpost.com)

Behind the Screen
Hollywood and Indie Offerings
(Desson Thomson, washingtonpost.com)

Carolyn Hax Live
(Carolyn Hax, washingtonpost.com)

More Live Discussions

EDITORIALS
No Freedom Without Religion?
There's a gap in Mitt Romney's admirable call for tolerance.
(The Washington Post)

The Missing Referee
A standoff could cripple the Federal Election Commission.
(The Washington Post)

Tax and Run
Maryland's slapdash levy on computer services fails the smell test.
(The Washington Post)

More Editorials

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