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.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Partisan Fissures Over Voter ID
The Supreme Court will open the new year with its most politically divisive case since Bush v. Gore decided the 2000 presidential election, and its decision could force a major reinterpretation of the rules of the 2008 contest.
(By Robert Barnes, The Washington Post)

Alaskans Weigh the Cost of Gold
Mine Could Imperil Salmon, Way of Life
(By Karl Vick, The Washington Post)

Heirs of China's New Elites Schooled in Ancient Values
(By Maureen Fan, The Washington Post)

A Hidden Premium In School Chief Pay
With Candidates Few and Demands Many, Perks Swell
(By Daniel de Vise, The Washington Post)

Toasting the Season on the Ellipse
The National Yule Log Gets Glowing Reviews From Holiday Crowds
(By David Montgomery, The Washington Post)

More Today's Highlights

POLITICS
Partisan Fissures Over Voter ID
The Supreme Court will open the new year with its most politically divisive case since Bush v. Gore decided the 2000 presidential election, and its decision could force a major reinterpretation of the rules of the 2008 contest.
(By Robert Barnes, The Washington Post)

Immigrant Crackdown Falls Short
Despite Tough Rhetoric, Few Employers of Illegal Workers Face Criminal Charges
(By Spencer S. Hsu, The Washington Post)

Interest Groups Plan Barrage Of Attack Ads, Mailings in Iowa
(By Matthew Mosk, The Washington Post)

More Politics

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NATION
Partisan Fissures Over Voter ID
The Supreme Court will open the new year with its most politically divisive case since Bush v. Gore decided the 2000 presidential election, and its decision could force a major reinterpretation of the rules of the 2008 contest.
(By Robert Barnes, The Washington Post)

Alaskans Weigh the Cost of Gold
Mine Could Imperil Salmon, Way of Life
(By Karl Vick, The Washington Post)

Immigrant Crackdown Falls Short
Despite Tough Rhetoric, Few Employers of Illegal Workers Face Criminal Charges
(By Spencer S. Hsu, The Washington Post)

Toasting the Season on the Ellipse
The National Yule Log Gets Glowing Reviews From Holiday Crowds
(By David Montgomery, The Washington Post)

NATION IN BRIEF
(The Washington Post)

More Nation

WORLD
Heirs of China's New Elites Schooled in Ancient Values
CIXI, China -- In a borrowed classroom of the provincial Communist Party School, a newly busy philosophy professor addressed 15 well-groomed adult students. His message: Try to have a soul.
(By Maureen Fan, The Washington Post)

The U.N. Insignia Emerges as a Global Target for Al-Qaeda Attacks
(By Colum Lynch, The Washington Post)

Tribalism Isn't on the Ballot, But in Kenya It's Key Issue
Presidential Election Is Most Competitive Since Independence
(By Stephanie McCrummen, The Washington Post)

Effort to Defeat Polio Faces Unique Challenges
Unclear When Vaccination Can Be Halted
(By David Brown, The Washington Post)

The Water's a Must, but the Bottle Could Be Trouble
Retailers, Regulators and Researchers Wrestle With Whether Polycarbonate Containers Pose Health Risk
(By Ben Dobbin, The Washington Post)

More World

METRO
A Hidden Premium In School Chief Pay
The annual salary paid to Jerry D. Weast, superintendent of the Montgomery County schools, has increased just $4,892 since he took the job eight years ago.
(By Daniel de Vise, The Washington Post)

An 8th Term? Tom Davis Silent, but Others Aren't
(By Amy Gardner, The Washington Post)

Gaylord To Be A Major Employer
Pr. George's Hotel Expects Thousands At Hiring Event
(By Ovetta Wiggins, The Washington Post)

Murder Suspect Says Gun Fired in Struggle
Woman Pulled Weapon, Man Tells Police
(By Ernesto Londo¿o, The Washington Post)

Walking With a Joyful Spirit
(By Michael E. Ruane, The Washington Post)

More Metro

BUSINESS
Maxjet Halts Flights, Files For Chapter 11
Maxjet Airways, the all-business-class carrier based in Dulles, yesterday ceased operations -- canceling flights on Christmas Eve -- as it filed for bankruptcy protection.
(By Alejandro Lazo, The Washington Post)

The Fed's Thaw
(By Allan Sloan, The Washington Post)

Male Buying Ritual: Late
Among Last-Minute Shoppers, Men Lead the Pack
(By Ylan Q. Mui and Michael S. Rosenwald, The Washington Post)

Heirs of China's New Elites Schooled in Ancient Values
(By Maureen Fan, The Washington Post)

A Hidden Premium In School Chief Pay
With Candidates Few and Demands Many, Perks Swell
(By Daniel de Vise, The Washington Post)

More Business

TECHNOLOGY
The Water's a Must, but the Bottle Could Be Trouble
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Catching his breath at a fitness club, Matt McHugh took a gulp of water from his trusty Nalgene plastic bottle and pondered the idea of switching to an alternative made of glass, stainless steel or another kind of plastic.
(By Ben Dobbin, The Washington Post)

At Year-End, an Agency Finds Harmony
(By Cindy Skrzycki, The Washington Post)

Emergency Care Gets Online Boost at Inova
Hospital Chain Invests Millions in Computers To Track Patients and Improve Treatment
(By Susan Levine, The Washington Post)

Nine Traps to Avoid; Tell Us Your No. 10
For a Smarter, Healthier New Year, Resolve to Sidestep These Consumer Health Snares.
(By Jennifer Huget, The Washington Post)

More Technology

SPORTS
Cowboys' Day of Rest?
The Dallas Cowboys have wrapped up home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs and would gain little by beating the Washington Redskins in the regular season finale Sunday at FedEx Field. It stands to reason that their player-friendly coach, Wade Phillips, probably will rest quarterback Tony...
(By Mark Maske, The Washington Post)

Redskins Forging On With Collins
Campbell Would Be '50-50' for Playoffs
(By Dan Steinberg and Paul Tenorio, The Washington Post)

On His Own, Adu Has Grown
Playing in Portugal Has Helped 18-Year-Old Beyond Field
(By Jason La Canfora, The Washington Post)

Butler, Daniels Near Returns
Injured Wizards Optimistic, but Won't Force Issue
(By Ivan Carter, The Washington Post)

Tomlinson Comes Out on Top in Chargers' Win
(The Washington Post)

More Sports

STYLE
The Touch of a Master
Oscar Peterson at the piano? Oscar Peterson was the piano.
(By Richard Harrington, The Washington Post)

Names & Faces
(The Washington Post)

Tucked Between the Covers, 2007 Snoozes Into History
(By Peter Carlson, The Washington Post)

'Great Debaters': Simply Eloquent
A Smart Take on a Story About the Power of Thought
(By Stephen Hunter, The Washington Post)

Exclamation or Expletive, OMG Is Omnipresent
(By Linton Weeks, The Washington Post)

More Style

EDITORIALS
Christmas 2007
ON AND AROUND Dec. 25, 1914, many of the men fighting in the recently inaugurated war in Europe stopped for a short time to observe what came to be known as the "Christmas Truce." They sang carols back and forth, then came out of the trenches to meet, play a bit of soccer, share some food. "Just...
(The Washington Post)

Thailand in Transition
The generals allow an election. Now they should stay out of the way.
(The Washington Post)

Ready for Takeoff
New flight rules at JFK are a start to bringing order to the crowded skies.
(The Washington Post)

More Editorials

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