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.

Thursday, January 31, 2008

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Showdown Nears on Stimulus Bill
With bipartisan support, the Senate Finance Committee yesterday approved a $157 billion economic stimulus plan that rivals the measure fashioned by President Bush and House leaders, setting up a Senate showdown today that could determine who will receive rebates from the federal government and how...
(By Jonathan Weisman, The Washington Post)

Soldier Suicides at Record Level
Increase Linked to Long Wars, Lack of Army Resources
(By Dana Priest, The Washington Post)

U.S. Commanders in Iraq Favor Pause in Troop Cuts
(By Thomas E. Ricks, The Washington Post)

A Scramble for Fundraisers
As Candidates Pull Out, the Survivors Swoop In
(By Matthew Mosk, The Washington Post)

McCain vs. Romney on Iraq
Republicans' Four-Man Debate Dominated by Two
(By Michael D. Shear and Juliet Eilperin, The Washington Post)

More Today's Highlights

POLITICS
McCain vs. Romney on Iraq
SIMI VALLEY, Calif., Jan. 30 -- The Iraq war again emerged as a flash point between Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney in a debate Wednesday, after McCain accused Romney of supporting timetables for withdrawing U.S. troops from the battlefield.
(By Michael D. Shear and Juliet Eilperin, The Washington Post)

Agency Chief Alleges Interference In Probe of U.S. Attorney Firings
(By Glenn Kessler, The Washington Post)

Romney, New Primary Date Put Utah on the Political Map
For Once There Are TV Ads, Even a Candidate's Office
(By Joel Achenbach, The Washington Post)

A Scramble for Fundraisers
As Candidates Pull Out, the Survivors Swoop In
(By Matthew Mosk, The Washington Post)

Showdown Nears on Stimulus Bill
Senate Panel's Version More Generous Than Bush-House Plan
(By Jonathan Weisman, The Washington Post)

More Politics

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NATION
Showdown Nears on Stimulus Bill
With bipartisan support, the Senate Finance Committee yesterday approved a $157 billion economic stimulus plan that rivals the measure fashioned by President Bush and House leaders, setting up a Senate showdown today that could determine who will receive rebates from the federal government and how...
(By Jonathan Weisman, The Washington Post)

Plan for Carbon Storage Dropped
Energy Dept. Scraps FutureGen Alliance
(By Steven Mufson, The Washington Post)

Soldier Suicides at Record Level
Increase Linked to Long Wars, Lack of Army Resources
(By Dana Priest, The Washington Post)

Mukasey Hints at Wider CIA Probe
(By Dan Eggen, The Washington Post)

Edwards Exacts Pledge as He Leaves
(By Peter Whoriskey, The Washington Post)

More Nation

WORLD
U.S. Commanders in Iraq Favor Pause in Troop Cuts
BAGHDAD, Jan. 30 -- Senior U.S. military commanders here say they want to freeze troop reductions starting this summer for at least a month, making it more likely that the next administration will inherit as many troops in Iraq as there were before President Bush announced a "surge" of forces a year...
(By Thomas E. Ricks, The Washington Post)

High Court Affirms Plan To Reduce Power to Gaza
(By Ellen Knickmeyer, The Washington Post)

For Peru's Indians, Lawsuit Against Big Oil Reflects a New Era
Outsiders and High-Tech Tools Help Document Firms' Impact
(By Kelly Hearn, The Washington Post)

Soldier Suicides at Record Level
Increase Linked to Long Wars, Lack of Army Resources
(By Dana Priest, The Washington Post)

2006 War Called a 'Failure' for Israel
But Panel Refrains From Direct Rebuke of Premier
(By Ellen Knickmeyer, The Washington Post)

More World

METRO
Job Fair or County Fair?
It was early morning when Wayne Latimore boarded the shuttle bus yesterday that would take him to National Harbor and, he hoped, a new start for his stagnant career.
(By Ovetta Wiggins, The Washington Post)

Carjackings Have Dropped 29 Percent Since 2006
Homicides Are Up Slightly From '06
(By Avis Thomas-Lester, The Washington Post)

Energy Act Backers, Foes Square Off
Questions Raised About Effect on Utility Costs
(By Nikita Stewart, The Washington Post)

Students, Parents Speak Out on Plan to Shift School Boundaries
(By Michael Alison Chandler, The Washington Post)

Per-Pupil Funding Increase Sought
Fenty to Request About $53 Million
(By Theola Labb¿, The Washington Post)

More Metro

BUSINESS
Color of Money Book Club
Personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary hosts a discussion with Jeanne Fleming and Leonard Schwarz, the authors of "Isn't It Their Turn to Pick Up the Check?"
(Michelle Singletary, washingtonpost.com)

Wall Street Boxed In By Buyout Debt
Idle $220 Billion Puts Chokehold on Credit Markets
(By David Cho, The Washington Post)

Worried Fed Cuts Key Rate Again
U.S. Growth Stalled In Fourth Quarter
(By Neil Irwin, The Washington Post)

A Tax Rebate? Feed Piggy.
(By Michelle Singletary, The Washington Post)

Va.'s Davis To Leave Congress at End of Term
(By Amy Gardner, The Washington Post)

More Business

TECHNOLOGY
For Peru's Indians, Lawsuit Against Big Oil Reflects a New Era
NUEVO JERUSALEM, Peru -- Tomás Maynas Carijano strolled through his tiny jungle farm, pinching leaves, shaking his head. The rain forest spread lushly in all directions -- covering what oil maps call Block 1AB.
(By Kelly Hearn, The Washington Post)

Tech Giant CSC Moving Its Base to Falls Church
Transfer of Employees Part of Image Revision
(By Zachary A. Goldfarb, The Washington Post)

The Race for the Ultra-Lightest
(By Rob Pegoraro, The Washington Post)

A Video Track Attack
(By Kim Hart, The Washington Post)

Public-Safety Airwaves Have Just One Suitor
(By Cecilia Kang, The Washington Post)

More Technology

SPORTS
Redskins, Mariucci Will Talk
According the league sources, the Redskins will formally interview former 49ers and Lions coach Steve Mariucci, 52, for their vacant head coaching position, this week.
(By Jason La Canfora and Jason Reid, The Washington Post)

Memories of Hill Are Not Forgotten By the Patriots
(By Mark Maske, The Washington Post)

Raptors Start Fast, Then Leave Wobbly Wizards in the Dust
Raptors 122, Wizards 83
(By Ivan Carter, The Washington Post)

Terps Break Out, Hold On
Cavaliers' Late Rally in Battle for Postseason Consideration Falls Short: Maryland 85, Virginia 75
(By Marc Carig, The Washington Post)

Walker Leads No. 14 Pittsburgh Past Villanova
No. 14 Pittsburgh 72, Villanova 63
(By Bob Lentz, washingtonpost.com)

More Sports

STYLE
Plunging Back in The 'Lost' Maze
Eight months without an episode and "Lost" returns with an opening shot of a pile of pears? No, wait, maybe those are potatoes. What does breadfruit look like? Perplexity is such a Pavlovian response to ABC's megahit mystery that even a still life stirs anxiety.
(By Tamara Jones, The Washington Post)

Udvar-Hazy Center Lands $15 Million for New Wing
(By Jacqueline Trescott, The Washington Post)

'Eli Stone': No Seer, But No Rerun Either
(By Tom Shales, The Washington Post)

For John Edwards, A Moment of Truth
(By Kevin Merida, The Washington Post)

Entering Sector D
(By Henry Allen, The Washington Post)

More Style

LIVE DISCUSSIONS
NFL Playoffs
Post NFL Editor Cindy Boren takes your questions about the Super Bowl and the latest coaching rumors.
(Cindy Boren, washingtonpost.com)

Celebritology Live
Get the Scoop on the Latest Gossip Making Waves on the Web
(Liz Kelly, washingtonpost.com)

Got Plans?
(The Going Out Gurus, washingtonpost.com)

National Security and Intelligence
(Dana Priest, washingtonpost.com)

Color of Money Book Club
(Michelle Singletary, washingtonpost.com)

More Live Discussions

EDITORIALS
Four in the Forefront
AONCE-MUDDLED presidential campaign has sorted itself out with surprising speed in recent days. Former North Carolina senator John Edwards dropped out of the Democratic race yesterday, while former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani's poor showing in his must-win state of Florida prompted him to ...
(The Washington Post)

Back From the Dead?
Officials should get cracking to revive Dulles rail.
(The Washington Post)

More Editorials

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