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.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Siphoning Off Corn to Fuel Our Cars
CHARLES CITY, Iowa Erwin Johnson picks up a clump of the dark, rich soil that he has farmed for 35 years, like his father and grandfather before him. In a few months, this flat expanse of northern Iowa will be crowded with corn ready to be trucked to market.
(By Steven Mufson, The Washington Post)

Dulles Rail Set to Get Federal Approval
In Letter Expected Today, FTA Makes Stark Reversal
(By Amy Gardner and Lena H. Sun, The Washington Post)

Obama Calls Minister's Comments 'Outrageous'
(By Peter Slevin and Darryl Fears, The Washington Post)

U.S. Role Deepens in Sadr City
Fierce Battle Against Shiite Militiamen Echoes First Years of War
(By Amit R. Paley, The Washington Post)

Pr. William Softens Policy on Immigration Status Checks
Police Officers Can Question Crime Suspects About Their Residency Only After They Are Arrested
(By Kristen Mack, The Washington Post)

More Today's Highlights

POLITICS
McCain Offers Market-Based Health Plan
TAMPA, April 29 -- Sen. John McCain on Tuesday rejected calls by his Democratic opponents for universal health coverage, instead offering a market-based solution with an approach similar to a proposal put forth by President Bush last year.
(By Michael D. Shear, The Washington Post)

Siphoning Off Corn to Fuel Our Cars
As farmers feed ethanol plants, a costly link is forged between food and oil.
(By Steven Mufson, The Washington Post)

Obama Calls Minister's Comments 'Outrageous'
(By Peter Slevin and Darryl Fears, The Washington Post)

Administration Has Two Weeks to Make Polar Bear Decision
(By Juliet Eilperin, The Washington Post)

President Repeats First-Term Answers to Rising Gas Prices
(By Dan Eggen and Jonathan Weisman, The Washington Post)

More Politics

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NATION
Report Targets Costs Of Factory Farming
Factory farming takes a big, hidden toll on human health and the environment, is undermining rural America's economic stability and fails to provide the humane treatment of livestock increasingly demanded by American consumers, concludes an independent, 2 1/2 -year analysis that calls for major...
(By Rick Weiss, The Washington Post)

Administration Has Two Weeks to Make Polar Bear Decision
(By Juliet Eilperin, The Washington Post)

Siphoning Off Corn to Fuel Our Cars
As farmers feed ethanol plants, a costly link is forged between food and oil.
(By Steven Mufson, The Washington Post)

President Repeats First-Term Answers to Rising Gas Prices
(By Dan Eggen and Jonathan Weisman, The Washington Post)

Guantanamo Detainee Rejects Court Procedure
(By Josh White, The Washington Post)

More Nation

WORLD
S. Korean Principles Vs. Hunger in North
SEOUL -- This spring on the Korean Peninsula, human rights are on a collision course with hunger.
(By Blaine Harden, The Washington Post)

For Many, Control of State-Run Pemex Is About National Pride
Leftists Fear Privatization of Oil Giant
(By Manuel Roig-Franzia, The Washington Post)

U.S. Role Deepens in Sadr City
Fierce Battle Against Shiite Militiamen Echoes First Years of War
(By Amit R. Paley, The Washington Post)

President Repeats First-Term Answers to Rising Gas Prices
(By Dan Eggen and Jonathan Weisman, The Washington Post)

In India, Even Gods Are Going Hungry
Poor Struggle to Donate to Temples as Food Prices Skyrocket
(By Emily Wax, The Washington Post)

More World

METRO
Citizenship Lesson From the Top
They impressed him with their knowledge of President Bush's Cabinet and ability to give numerous examples illustrating the U.S. system of checks and balances. But it was their tough questions -- "Why can't legal immigrants have the right to vote?" and "If immigrants are so important, why are some...
(By Lori Aratani, The Washington Post)

Tibet Sign Costs Climber Everest Trek
Va. Man Finds Politics Don't Play on World's Highest Peak
(By Michael Laris, The Washington Post)

Forging a Lasting Tie to Victims Of the Attack on the Pentagon
(By Nick Miroff, The Washington Post)

Southeast Virginia Tallies the Damage
Kaine Tours Devastated Area After Six Tornadoes Destroy 145 Homes
(By Anita Kumar, The Washington Post)

Pr. William Softens Policy on Immigration Status Checks
Police Officers Can Question Crime Suspects About Their Residency Only After They Are Arrested
(By Kristen Mack, The Washington Post)

More Metro

BUSINESS
Fed Decision on Key Rate Presents Risks Either Way
The Federal Reserve will decide today whether to cut interest rates for the seventh time in seven months. For leaders of the central bank, there is no obvious course of action, with big risks no matter what they do.
(By Neil Irwin, The Washington Post)

United's New Plan Could Cost D.C.
(By Del Quentin Wilber, The Washington Post)

Siphoning Off Corn to Fuel Our Cars
As farmers feed ethanol plants, a costly link is forged between food and oil.
(By Steven Mufson, The Washington Post)

An Outbreak of Caring
Stung by Complaints, Telecoms Stress Customer Service
(By Cecilia Kang, The Washington Post)

McCain Offers Market-Based Health Plan
(By Michael D. Shear, The Washington Post)

More Business

TECHNOLOGY
Sirius and XM Delay Meetings To Wait for Merger Ruling
The nation's two satellite radio operators said yesterday that they would delay their shareholder meetings as they await a prolonged regulatory review of their merger plan, which has drawn new criticism from lawmakers and several states.
(By Cecilia Kang, The Washington Post)

An Outbreak of Caring
Stung by Complaints, Telecoms Stress Customer Service
(By Cecilia Kang, The Washington Post)

More Technology

SPORTS
Win One For the Owner
Wizards owner Abe Pollin, 84 years old and suffering from a debilitating disease, called the team into his office and provided some inspiring words for Game 5.
(By Mike Wise, The Washington Post)

For a Night, Nationals See Vintage Zimmerman
Nationals 6, Braves 3
(By Barry Svrluga, The Washington Post)

Burgundy and Bold
(By Sally Jenkins, The Washington Post)

The Choice of a Lifetime
As Baseball Draft Nears, One Star Pitcher Weighs His Options
(By Josh Barr, The Washington Post)

Plaque at Hall Will Now Reflect Robinson's Greatest Achievement
(The Washington Post)

More Sports

STYLE
Traversing the Towers In a Moment of Joy
NEW YORK In the bad old, nearly bankrupt days of the mid-'70s, a French guy padded across a steel cable strung between the tippity top of the World Trade Center towers, holding a balancing pole and grinning. Police rushed to the roof of the buildings, but he ignored them, choosing instead to...
(By David Segal, The Washington Post)

It's Funny How Funny Just the Facts Can Be
'Daily Show' Staffer Mines News for Laughs
(By Paul Farhi, The Washington Post)

Domingo Goes Baroque
With Washington Opera's 'Tamerlano,' The Famed Tenor Sounds a New Note
(By Anne Midgette, The Washington Post)

'Farmer' Should Be Put Out to Pasture
(By Jennifer Frey, The Washington Post)

This Place Gives Me the Jitters
A Charlottesville Coffee Bar Tour
(By Roger Piantadosi, The Washington Post)

More Style

LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Washington Nationals
Washington Post writer Barry Svrluga takes your questions and comments about how the Nats look this spring, the new stadium and what to expect from the team this season.
(Barry Svrluga, washingtonpost.com)

Wizards/NBA
(Ivan Carter and Michael Lee, washingtonpost.com)

Dirda on Books
(Michael Dirda, washingtonpost.com)

White House Watch
(Dan Froomkin, washingtonpost.com)

Soccer Insider
(Steven Goff, washingtonpost.com)

More Live Discussions

Parting With the Pastor
We hope the pastor doesn't become a continuing excuse for political ads built on racial fears.
(The Washington Post)

Mr. Mugabe's Violence
Zimbabwe's president continues to terrorize his opponents while withholding the results of the election he lost.
(The Washington Post)

Rescuing 911
Jeremy Miller's death after a problematic EMS response shows that the District still has work to do.
(The Washington Post)

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