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 Warning: Hard Times Ahead By Daniel Politi Posted Friday, March 21, 2008, at 6:11 AM ET The New York Times leads with a look at how economic hard times are slowly reaching parts of the country that some previously thought would be able to survive the credit crisis without much more than a scratch. As the crisis spreads and now affects confidence in practically all levels of the economy, many are worried this recession will last longer and be more painful than the last two. The Washington Post leads with a look at the depressing prospect that twenty years after scientists first started searching for an AIDS vaccine they may be no closer now than when they first started. Some are worried that future efforts could be doomed after it became clear that "the most promising contender" for a vaccine was not only useless but potentially increased the risk of infection. The Wall Street Journal leads its world-wide newsbox with the failure of Michigan lawmakers to agree on holding a new Democratic primary. It marked another blow to Sen. Hillary Clinton, who was counting on do-over votes in Michigan and Florida to narrow Sen. Barack Obama's lead. USA Today leads with the National Weather Service's warning that the floods in the Midwest that led to the deaths of at least 15 people this week could just be the beginning. Record rainfalls coupled with melting snow could lead to floods in many areas of the country this spring. The Los Angeles Times leads locally with news that officials in Southern California are beginning to reassess the values of homes after the recent downturn in the housing market. This could save homeowners hundreds of dollars in taxes, but it also means less money for counties that are already low on funds. To continue reading, click here. Daniel Politi writes "Today's Papers" for Slate. He can be reached at todayspapers@slate.com. Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum What did you think of this article? POST A MESSAGE \| READ MESSAGES Also In Slate Arts & Life It's Got Judd Apatow, Seth Rogen, Owen Wilson ... and It's Still Terrible Arts & Life Why Don't I Get Any Gifts for Easter? News & Politics Shafer: Gladwell's Tall Tale About His Days at the Post	Advertisement
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