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.

If you have any difficulty viewing this newsletter click here

Print This E-Mail

Feedback

Sights & Sounds Thursday, May 8, 2008

This newsletter features the best of our multimedia offerings. To see more of our cool stuff, go to the Photos & Video front.

INTERACTIVE FEATURE

In the Path of the Storm

» The 12-foot-high storm surge that roared across Burma's coastal regions left up to 100,000 people dead and one million homeless in the Irawaddy Delta region alone. At least 22,000 people are confirmed dead.

View Photos »

MORE FEATURES

Big Brown Wins 134th Kentucky Derby

» PHOTOS | The favorite, Big Brown, uses an explosive finishing kick to lead he and jockey Kent Desormeaux to a 4 3/4-length victory at the 134th Kentucky Derby, becoming the first horse since 1929 to win from the 20 post.

Democrats Campaign in Ind. and N.C.

» PHOTOS | After Hillary Rodham Clinton's win in Pennsylvania's April 22 primary, the Democratic presidential candidates moved on to Indiana and North Carolina. Front-runner Barack Obama took North Carolina shortly after returns were reported, while Indiana remained uncalled with Hillary Clinton in the lead late Tuesday night.