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 Nine for the Show By Daniel Politi Posted Thursday, July 10, 2008, at 6:19 AM ET The Washington Post and Wall Street Journal's world-wide newsbox lead with, and the Los Angeles Times fronts, news that Iran test-fired nine missiles yesterday, including at least one capable of striking Israel. "Our hands are always on the trigger and our missiles are ready for launch," a top Iranian military leader said. U.S. officials tried to downplay the move, saying it demonstrates that Iran's missiles pose a real threat but essentially dismissing the tests as simple saber-rattling. The LAT leads with Defense Secretary Robert Gates announcing that the Pentagon will reopen bidding on the troubled contract to replace the Air Force's aging aerial refueling tankers. The move followed last month's report by the Government Accountability Office that found the process by which the Air Force selected Northrop Grumman for the project over Boeing was flawed. In what was yet another very public rebuke of the Air Force, Gates announced his office would oversee the process and select the winner. He said he wants a new contract to be in place by the end of the year, but many predict the whole process could take much longer. The New York Times leads with the Senate overwhelmingly, and unsurprisingly, approving a bill that expands the government's surveillance powers and effectively grants immunity to telecommunications companies that helped the National Security Agency's post-Sept. 11 spying efforts. By a 69-28 vote, senators approved "the biggest revamping of federal surveillance law in 30 years." As was widely expected, Sen. Barack Obama, who had earlier spoken up against any immunity provision for the phone companies, voted for the measure. Sen. Hillary Clinton voted against the bill. USA Today leads with an analysis of census data that shows some cities in the Midwest saw a modest growth in population last year. The data suggest that problems in the housing market have "disrupted a long-term migration by Americans to the Sun Belt," notes USAT. 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 Psst! Congress Doesn't Want War Powers. Arts & Life Whistler and the "Art of Painting Softly" Health & Science Why Public Toilets Should Pay You	Advertisement
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