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, January 29, 2008

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Final Year's Realities Push Big Ideas Into Background
Gone were the grand dreams of remaking Social Security, immigration law or the tax code. In their place were modest initiatives, such as hiring preferences for military spouses. The economic package targeted tax breaks to low- and middle-class workers. And the foreign policy stressed Middle East ...
(By Peter Baker, The Washington Post)

Senate to Offer Own Stimulus Package
Almost All Would Get $500 Rebate
(By Jonathan Weisman, The Washington Post)

Va. Gains Time to Save U.S. Funding for Dulles Rail
Decision Encourages State Political Leaders
(By Amy Gardner, The Washington Post)

McCain, Romney Go Another Round in Fla.
(By Michael D. Shear and Perry Bacon Jr., The Washington Post)

Obama Ready on 'Day One,' Kennedy Says
(By Anne E. Kornblut and Shailagh Murray, The Washington Post)

More Today's Highlights

POLITICS
McCain, Romney Go Another Round in Fla.
ORLANDO, Jan. 28 -- The front-runners in the Florida Republican primary exchanged some of their sharpest criticisms of the campaign on Monday, with each seeking a win on Tuesday that would provide a big haul of delegates and a burst of momentum heading into a Feb. 5 mega-primary.
(By Michael D. Shear and Perry Bacon Jr., The Washington Post)

Senate to Offer Own Stimulus Package
Almost All Would Get $500 Rebate
(By Jonathan Weisman, The Washington Post)

Bush Touts Iraq Progress, Economic Plan
State of the Union Reflects New Focus on Money Matters
(By Michael Abramowitz and Dan Eggen, The Washington Post)

ANALYSIS: Final Year's Realities Push Big Ideas Into Background
(By Peter Baker, The Washington Post)

Big Crowd For Obama In District
Candidate Gets Coveted Kennedy Endorsement
(By Nikita Stewart and David Nakamura, The Washington Post)

More Politics

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NATION
Lawmakers Fault FEMA on Trailers
Democratic leaders of a House science subcommittee alleged yesterday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency manipulated scientific research into the potential danger posed by a toxic gas emitted in trailers still housing tens of thousands of survivors of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
(The Washington Post)

Senate to Offer Own Stimulus Package
Almost All Would Get $500 Rebate
(By Jonathan Weisman, The Washington Post)

Bush Touts Iraq Progress, Economic Plan
State of the Union Reflects New Focus on Money Matters
(By Michael Abramowitz and Dan Eggen, The Washington Post)

The Money's Coming, But Where's It Going?
(By Jeffrey H. Birnbaum, The Washington Post)

Calif. Health Initiative on Deathbed
(By Christopher Lee, The Washington Post)

More Nation

WORLD
Revenge Killings Stoke a Violent Cycle in Kenya
NAIROBI, Jan. 28 -- The toll from five days of fighting between rival tribal gangs across western Kenya rose to at least 85 Monday, as the post-election violence that has swept this East African nation began to take on a new character: revenge.
(By Stephanie McCrummen, The Washington Post)

Futures Trader's Motivation Was His Reputation, French Prosecutor Says
(By John Ward Anderson, The Washington Post)

Exiled Leader's Proxy Chosen as Thai Premier
(By Denis D. Gray, The Washington Post)

Bush Touts Iraq Progress, Economic Plan
State of the Union Reflects New Focus on Money Matters
(By Michael Abramowitz and Dan Eggen, The Washington Post)

Side Order of School
Training at Burger Chain in Britain Can Help Workers Earn a Diploma
(By Mary Jordan, The Washington Post)

More World

METRO
Va. Repeal of Bad-Driver Fees Hits a Hidden Legal Bump
RICHMOND, Jan. 28 -- Efforts to repeal Virginia's controversial abusive-driving fees hit a snag Monday after lawmakers discovered a 130-year-old state Supreme Court ruling that prohibits lawmakers from ordering local courts to stop collection of fees or fines that have already been assessed.
(By Tim Craig and Anita Kumar, The Washington Post)

Geographic Loyalty May Play Role In GOP Race
Gilchrest, State Senators Square Off in 1st District
(By William Wan, The Washington Post)

Big Crowd For Obama In District
Candidate Gets Coveted Kennedy Endorsement
(By Nikita Stewart and David Nakamura, The Washington Post)

Supervisors Approve Kingstowne Towers
Some Residents Oppose Two Buildings, but Homeowners Groups Gave Go-Ahead
(By Bill Turque, The Washington Post)

State Acts to Plug Gaps in Mental Health System
(By Sandhya Somashekhar, The Washington Post)

More Metro

BUSINESS
The Bonuses Keep Coming
NEW YORK The grim toll that the U.S. mortgage crisis has taken on financial markets has been felt worldwide, from traders in Hong Kong to small-town mayors in Europe to pensioners in the American Midwest.
(By Tomoeh Murakami Tse and Renae Merle, The Washington Post)

Sallie Drops Lawsuit Over Disputed Fee For Breakup
(By David S. Hilzenrath, The Washington Post)

Legg Mason Picks a New CEO, Ending Founder's 37-Year Tenure
(By Tomoeh Murakami Tse and Neil Irwin, The Washington Post)

Futures Trader's Motivation Was His Reputation, French Prosecutor Says
(By John Ward Anderson, The Washington Post)

With 'Edition,' Marriott Goes Boutique
(By Michael S. Rosenwald, The Washington Post)

More Business

TECHNOLOGY
Greater Use of Privilege Spurs Concern
The U.S. government has been increasing its use of the state secrets privilege to avoid disclosure of classified information in civil lawsuits, prompting legislation in the Senate that would provide more congressional oversight of the practice.
(By Josh White, The Washington Post)

Harman to Move District Staff to Connecticut
(By Thomas Heath, The Washington Post)

GOP Unable to Force Vote on Bush Surveillance Bill
Senators Can't Stop Democratic Debate; Current Law Set to Expire Thursday
(By Paul Kane, The Washington Post)

More Technology

SPORTS
Washington Interviews Line Coach
Longtime NFL assistant Larry Brooks interviews for the Redskins' vacant defensive line coaching position Monday, and league sources expect him to get the job.
(By Jason La Canfora and Jason Reid, The Washington Post)

Wizards Cash In on Some 'Free' Advice
Shot Guru Hopla Has Helped Team Improve Percentage From Line, Other Areas of Court
(By Ivan Carter, The Washington Post)

United Does Some Remodeling
(By Steven Goff, The Washington Post)

The Cover Boy Is Well Covered
(By Mark Maske, The Washington Post)

George Mason, U-Va. Take to the Hardcourt
(The Washington Post)

More Sports

STYLE
'Romeo and Juliet': Such Sweet Sorrow
If you've never experienced the hyper-theatrical dance moves and dramatics of the astonishing Synetic Theater, may I suggest that now would be a very good time to start?
(By Peter Marks, The Washington Post)

The Reliable Source
(By Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts, The Washington Post)

Barack Obama, Camelot's New Knight
The Shining Armor of JFK's Legacy
(By Neely Tucker, The Washington Post)

'Baghdad Hospital': A People With Grievous Wounds
(By Tom Shales, The Washington Post)

Smithsonian Panel Advises Stronger Link With Business Arm
(By Jacqueline Trescott, The Washington Post)

More Style

LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Freedom Rock
Washington Post music critic J. Freedom du Lac talks about the latest on the music scene: alternative, country, alt-country, pop, hyphy, harp-rock, reggae, reggaeton, R and B and whatever it is that Britney Spears does.
(J. Freedom du Lac, washingtonpost.com)

Opinion Focus
(Eugene Robinson, washingtonpost.com)

Financial Futures
(Martha M. Hamilton, washingtonpost.com)

Election 2008: Previewing the Florida Primary
(Adam Smith, washingtonpost.com)

The War Over the War
(Karen DeYoung, washingtonpost.com)

More Live Discussions

EDITORIALS
Final State
THE FINAL State of the Union address of a presidency always has an unavoidable undertone of wistfulness. No matter how convincingly the president pledges to work until the last hour of the last day, the end is already visible on the horizon; most of his achievements and failures have been etched ...
(The Washington Post)

The Navy and the Whales
A case in which environmental priorities and national security need not be in conflict
(The Washington Post)

Sneak Attack
In Virginia, nervous home builders seek a sudden change.
(The Washington Post)

More Editorials

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