Barack Obama
Barack Obama
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 Panic at the House Posted Thursday, May 15, 2008, at 6:11 AM ET The New York Times leads with a look at the panic that set in among Republicans yesterday after their candidate lost a special Congressional election in Mississippi. It marked the third-straight loss for a Republican-held seat this year and GOP leaders are scrambling to figure out how they can prevent getting trounced in November. "The political atmosphere facing House Republicans this November is the worst since Watergate," Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia wrote in a memorandum. The Los Angeles Times and the Wall Street Journal's world-wide newsbox lead with the continuing rescue efforts in China, where the death toll increased to nearly 15,000 with thousands of people still missing. Survivors at the earthquake's epicenter began to receive some aid, but "tens of thousands" continue to struggle to survive without food, water, or shelter. USA Today leads with word that sensitive U.S. military equipment, in particular night-vision gear, are being stolen and illegally exported in larger numbers and some of it appears to be reaching fighters in Afghanistan and Iraq. In the last 18 months, "more than two dozen businesses and individuals" have been prosecuted for stealing military gear or illegally selling it abroad. The night-vision gear is seen as particularly sensitive because troops often launch their riskier missions when it's dark because that's when the U.S. military has a distinct advantage. The Washington Post leads with John Edwards endorsing Sen. Barack Obama. Both Democratic contenders had been seeking Edwards' endorsement and yesterday he finally agreed to break his silence. The move helped Obama gain the media spotlight on a day when Sen. Hillary Clinton was busy touting her overwhelming victory in West Virginia. 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 News & Politics Military Lawyers Have Heroically Sabotaged the Gitmo Trials News & Politics Will That Dead Woman's Vote for Hillary Actually Count? Business & Tech How Prada and Chanel Will Survive the Recession | Advertisement  |
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