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.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
On Economy, Obama Blends His Messages
READING, Pa. -- James P. Hoffa stood outside the brick Hershey candy factory here one day last week and tried to sell Sen. Barack Obama to a cluster of Teamsters who are losing their jobs because the company is going to start making the York peppermint pattie in Mexico.
(By Alec MacGillis, The Washington Post)

Backstage Role of China's Army in Tibet Unrest Is a Contrast to 1989
Use of Police Reflects Heed for Reaction Abroad, Analysts Say
(By Edward Cody, The Washington Post)

Traffic Tie-Ups, Disruptions Expected During Visit
D.C. Officials Recommending Patience, Planning
(By Lena H. Sun, The Washington Post)

Gaza's Unemployed Have Handouts or Hamas
Factory Closings Under Israeli Siege Have Strengthened Islamist Group, Critics Say
(By Griff Witte, The Washington Post)

More Today's Highlights

POLITICS
HUD Chief Inattentive To Crisis, Critics Say
In late 2006, as economists warned of an imminent housing market collapse, housing Secretary Alphonso Jackson repeatedly insisted that the mounting wave of mortgage failures was a short-term "correction."
(By Carol D. Leonnig, The Washington Post)

On Economy, Obama Blends His Messages
Campaign Tries to Mix Hope, Concrete Plans
(By Alec MacGillis, The Washington Post)

Former Ala. Governor Turns Tables on Justice Department
Siegelman Connects His Case to Accusations of Interference
(By Carrie Johnson, The Washington Post)

Superdelegate Is Playing Hard to Get
(The Washington Post)

'Bitter' Is a Hard Pill For Obama to Swallow
He Stands by Sentiment as Clinton Pounces
(By Perry Bacon Jr. and Shailagh Murray, The Washington Post)

More Politics

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NATION
Warriors for U.S. Become Its Citizens, Too
BAGHDAD, April 12 -- Evan Eskharia fled Iraq in 1990 when he was 9 years old, crossing into Turkey on foot one night with his parents and siblings.
(By Ernesto Londoño, The Washington Post)

Team-Building or Torture? Court Will Decide.
(By Karl Vick, The Washington Post)

HUD Chief Inattentive To Crisis, Critics Say
Jackson's Tenure Ending
(By Carol D. Leonnig, The Washington Post)

Afghan Detainees Sent Home to Face Closed-Door Trials
(By Candace Rondeaux, Josh White and Julie Tate, The Washington Post)

Rise in Price Was a Sign of Trouble
Supply Problems Caused Spike That Some Say Should Have Prompted Scrutiny
(By Marc Kaufman, The Washington Post)

More Nation

WORLD
Gaza's Unemployed Have Handouts or Hamas
GAZA CITY -- Less than a year ago, Abu Hammed worked in a garment factory, sewing pants.
(By Griff Witte, The Washington Post)

A Maker of Books Destroys 100,000
Inquiry Has Been Launched, UNESCO Director Says
(By Molly Moore and John Ward Anderson, The Washington Post)

Afghan Detainees Sent Home to Face Closed-Door Trials
(By Candace Rondeaux, Josh White and Julie Tate, The Washington Post)

Warriors for U.S. Become Its Citizens, Too
In Baghdad, 159 Troops Take the Oath in Largest Overseas Naturalization Ceremony
(By Ernesto Londoño, The Washington Post)

Iraqis, U.S. Intensify Actions in Sadr City
(By Sholnn Freeman, The Washington Post)

More World

METRO
Traffic Tie-Ups, Disruptions Expected During Visit
The visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Washington this week could cause major traffic backups and disrupt subway and bus commutes on a scale not seen since the state funeral for former president Ronald Reagan four years ago, transportation officials said.
(By Lena H. Sun, The Washington Post)

Wind Turbines Barred On State-Owned Land
(By Rosalind S. Helderman, The Washington Post)

Election Could Tilt The Balance on Council
Death Has Left Members Divided
(By Ann E. Marimow, The Washington Post)

Filling a Growing Need
At a Farm in Va., Volunteers Raise Produce to Donate to Food Banks
(By Jackie Spinner, The Washington Post)

Showers Bring First Rain Delay at New Stadium
(By Martin Weil, The Washington Post)

More Metro

BUSINESS
Majoring in Plastic
Lavina Ramchandani, 20, got an American Express card two months ago so she could pay this semester's tuition at the University of Maryland.
(By Nancy Trejos, The Washington Post)

Pay Your Dues When Your Parents Age
(By Michelle Singletary, The Washington Post)

HUD Chief Inattentive To Crisis, Critics Say
Jackson's Tenure Ending
(By Carol D. Leonnig, The Washington Post)

On Economy, Obama Blends His Messages
Campaign Tries to Mix Hope, Concrete Plans
(By Alec MacGillis, The Washington Post)

Illinois Governor Is In Courtroom in Spirit
Stories of Influence, Prosperity Abound
(By Peter Slevin, The Washington Post)

More Business

TECHNOLOGY
Mapping Transportation Costs for Home Buyers
When you're stuck in Beltway traffic burning $3-a-gallon gasoline to creep along at walking speed, it offers time to think. Would it be easier if I left home earlier? Would I be better off riding a train? How bad will my commute be in five years? Would life be easier and cheaper if I found a job ...
(By Elizabeth Razzi, The Washington Post)

Help File
(The Washington Post)

Breakthrough of the Podcast Authors
(By Mike Musgrove, The Washington Post)

More Technology

SPORTS
There's No Mastering Sunday Predictions
To win this Masters, Tiger Woods, who sits six shots behind in fifth place, will have to extend himself to his absolute limits in Sunday's final round.
(By Thomas Boswell, The Washington Post)

Green's Storm Before Calm
Capital Rides Out Emotion of Game 1
(By Tarik El-Bashir, The Washington Post)

Stellar Ball Movement Sparks Wizards' Win
Wizards 109, 76ers 93
(By Ivan Carter, The Washington Post)

Immelman Hangs In There
South African Narrowly Avoids Disaster at No. 15, Keeps Lead
(By Leonard Shapiro, The Washington Post)

Rose Comes Up Big at Laurel
Meet's Top Jockey Rides Lady Digby to Victory in the Dahlia
(By John Scheinman, The Washington Post)

More Sports

STYLE
Double Vision
LOS ANGELES "Collaboration" is possibly the most fashionable word in art right now. Heroic single authorship is out; a bunch of artists working toward a common goal is in. John and Joe Dumbacher have been in fashion since 5:05 p.m. on Oct. 14, 1960. That's when John was born. Joe had hit the sce...
(By Blake Gopnik, The Washington Post)

In the Cellphone Zone, Cabbies and Passengers Drive Each Other Crazy
(By Monica Hesse, The Washington Post)

Sheena, the Punk Rocker, Now Has a Place to Shop
(The Washington Post)

"He's a survivor, and he just tries to do his best"
As Desmond, Henry Ian Cusick Finds His Way on 'Lost'
(The Washington Post)

Strike This Pose. Please.
(The Washington Post)

More Style

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