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 Stringing Endorsement By Joshua Kucera Posted Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008, at 5:29 AM ET The New York Times leads with many Democratic party leaders, in particular Al Gore, deciding to stay neutral in the presidential primary. The Washington Post leads with the deliberations of many black members of Congress who are trying to decide whether or not to switch sides after initially backing Hilary Clinton's bid. The Wall Street Journal tops its world-wide newsbox with the Service Employees International Union announcing its endorsement of Barack Obama. The Los Angeles Times leads locally, with a critical look at the state government's budget crisis. Gore and other Democrats, such as Nancy Pelosi and former candidates John Edwards, Joe Biden and Chris Dodd, are staying neutral so that they can act as peacemakers in the event of a divided party convention, the Times says. The piece relies heavily on unnamed "associates" of Gore. "The issues party leaders are grappling with, they said, include how to avoid the perception of a back-room deal that thwarts the will of millions of voters who have cast ballots in primaries and caucuses." TP wonders, though, if the Times isn't being too credulous in not looking at other possible motives Gore and the others may have for staying on the fence. Could they just be worried about backing the wrong horse? It's a possibility the piece doesn't entertain. To continue reading, click here. Joshua Kucera 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 Business & Tech Why Hillary's Plan To Freeze Foreclosures Is a Bad Idea Sports The Poetry of Roger Clemens--Now With Bonus Haiku! News & Politics The Suspicious Timing of the Guantanamo Trials	Advertisement
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