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.



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today's papers Mitt Lives By Arthur Delaney Posted Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008, at 6:04 AM ET The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal's world-wide newsbox lead with, and USA Today fronts, Mitt Romney's victory over John McCain in the Michigan Republican primary. Romney's victory means the Republican nomination is once again up for grabs. USAT leads with, and the LAT fronts, the Food and Drug Administration's announcement that meat and milk from cloned animals is safe to eat. Consumer groups disagree. Romney called his victory a triumph of optimism over "Washington-style pessimism," the papers all report. They agree that Romney's Michigan roots and his promises to use his presidency to help the state's struggling economy helped him beat McCain, who had said repeatedly that some auto-industry jobs would never return. The WP reports that Romney adopted the bring-change-to-Washington message immediately after Barack Obama used it to win the Democratic Iowa caucuses. The NYT notes in the top of its story that Romney campaigned in Michigan as a native son "though he left the state nearly 40 years ago." The LAT mentions "an air of forced cheer" at McCain's post-primary gathering last night. Probably the Michigan GOP's incorrectly congratulating McCain on his victory did not help the mood in the room. To continue reading, click here. Arthur Delaney is a freelance writer based in Washington, D.C. Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum What did you think of this article? POST A MESSAGE \| READ MESSAGES Also In Slate Health & Science How To Live 14 Years Longer Arts & Life The Mysterious Allure of the New American Gladiators Health & Science Is High- Octane Gas Worse for the Environment?	Advertisement
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