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, July 02, 2008

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
U.S. Deaths Rise in Afghanistan
June was the deadliest month for U.S. troops in Afghanistan since the war there began in late 2001, as resilient and emboldened insurgents have stepped up attacks in an effort to gain control of the embattled country.
(By Josh White, The Washington Post)

Pr. George's Jail Guards Are Mum in Death Probe
(By Aaron C. Davis and Rosalind S. Helderman, The Washington Post)

A Backlog Of Cases Alleging Fraud
Whistle-Blower Suits Languish at Justice
(By Carrie Johnson, The Washington Post)

Obama Got Discount on Home Loan
Campaign Defends Lower Rate as Lender Competition for Business
(By Joe Stephens, The Washington Post)

SUV Drivers Burned Twice: At the Pump, on the Car Lot
Some Unload Vehicles for Less Than They Owe
(By Annys Shin, The Washington Post)

More Today's Highlights

POLITICS
D.C. Council Hears Gun Law Proposal
With the unanimous support of his 12 D.C. Council colleagues, Phil Mendelson introduced a bill that would end the city's handgun ban and make it legal for residents to keep firearms in their homes without requirements that trigger locks be used or that they be disassembled.
(By Nikita Stewart, The Washington Post)

State Gets Leeway to Design Own Plan for Fixing Schools
(By Nelson Hernandez, The Washington Post)

A Backlog Of Cases Alleging Fraud
Whistle-Blower Suits Languish at Justice
(By Carrie Johnson, The Washington Post)

Obama Got Discount on Home Loan
Campaign Defends Lower Rate as Lender Competition for Business
(By Joe Stephens, The Washington Post)

Obama Proposes Expanding Faith-Based Program
(By Jonathan Weisman, The Washington Post)

More Politics

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NATION
A Backlog Of Cases Alleging Fraud
More than 900 cases alleging that government contractors and drugmakers have defrauded taxpayers out of billions of dollars are languishing in a backlog that has built up over the past decade because the Justice Department cannot keep pace with the surge in charges brought by whistle-blowers,...
(By Carrie Johnson, The Washington Post)

Air Force Finds Lax Nuclear Security
(By Walter Pincus, The Washington Post)

U.S. Deaths Rise in Afghanistan
June Is Deadliest Month for Troops as Country Sees Taliban Resurgence
(By Josh White, The Washington Post)

Immigrant Killed in Afghanistan Granted Posthumous Citizenship
(By Mark Berman, The Washington Post)

Authorities Capture Illinois Man Suspected in as Many as 8 Deaths
(By Kari Lydersen, The Washington Post)

More Nation

WORLD
Africa's Hungry Horn
EL BARDE, Somalia -- Not too long ago, Irad Hussein Ali considered himself a lucky man.
(By Stephanie McCrummen, The Washington Post)

Videos of Violent Police Training Appear as Mexico Awaits U.S. Aid
(By Manuel Roig-Franzia, The Washington Post)

For Hosts, Games Lose Some Luster
Many Beijing Residents Find Tribulations of Olympics Outweigh Benefits
(By Maureen Fan, The Washington Post)

Mugabe Tells African Peers To Examine Own Records
Zimbabwe Leader Escapes Public Censure at Summit
(By Ellen Knickmeyer, The Washington Post)

U.S. Deaths Rise in Afghanistan
June Is Deadliest Month for Troops as Country Sees Taliban Resurgence
(By Josh White, The Washington Post)

More World

METRO
D.C. Council Hears Gun Law Proposal
With the unanimous support of his 12 D.C. Council colleagues, Phil Mendelson introduced a bill that would end the city's handgun ban and make it legal for residents to keep firearms in their homes without requirements that trigger locks be used or that they be disassembled.
(By Nikita Stewart, The Washington Post)

Loudoun Board Bars Use Of Builder Campaign Funds
(By Sandhya Somashekhar, The Washington Post)

Pr. George's Jail Guards Are Mum in Death Probe
(By Aaron C. Davis and Rosalind S. Helderman, The Washington Post)

State Gets Leeway to Design Own Plan for Fixing Schools
(By Nelson Hernandez, The Washington Post)

Clay S. Felker, 82; Influential Editor of New York Magazine
(By Matt Schudel, The Washington Post)

More Metro

BUSINESS
SUV Drivers Burned Twice: At the Pump, on the Car Lot
Americans' love affair with 22-inch rims, eight cylinders and four-wheel drive wrapped in an 8,000-pound package is over. And the breakup is going to cost.
(By Annys Shin, The Washington Post)

Tomatoes Still Lead List of Suspects in Salmonella Probe
(By Annys Shin, The Washington Post)

In Venti Retreat, 600 Starbucks to Close
(By Michael S. Rosenwald, The Washington Post)

For Hosts, Games Lose Some Luster
Many Beijing Residents Find Tribulations of Olympics Outweigh Benefits
(By Maureen Fan, The Washington Post)

A Backlog Of Cases Alleging Fraud
Whistle-Blower Suits Languish at Justice
(By Carrie Johnson, The Washington Post)

More Business

TECHNOLOGY
Google Ad Deal Is Under Scrutiny
The Justice Department has opened a formal antitrust investigation into a deal struck last month that would allow Internet titan Google to provide some search advertising for Yahoo, according to sources familiar with the inquiry.
(By Peter Whoriskey, The Washington Post)

Groups Sue U.S. for Data On Tracking By Cellphone
(By Ellen Nakashima, The Washington Post)

New iPhone Can Decouple From AT&T, for a Price
(By Mike Musgrove, The Washington Post)

More Technology

SPORTS
Wizards Offer Arenas Top Dollar
The Wizards have offered Gilbert Arenas a six-year contract worth between $125 million and $127 million, now the team must wait for Arenas to make a decision.
(By Ivan Carter, The Washington Post)

All Eyes on Him, Mediate Is Sight for Adoring Public
(By Leonard Shapiro, The Washington Post)

In His Debut, Balester Works Like a Charm for Nationals
Nationals 9, Marlins 6
(By Chico Harlan, The Washington Post)

There's Something In the Water
Facing 'Ridiculous' Field at U.S. Trials, Peirsol Is Latest to Set World Record
(By Barry Svrluga, The Washington Post)

Avoiding 4th Place Is 1st on Lukezic's Mind
(By Amy Shipley, The Washington Post)

More Sports

STYLE
Man of Bent Steel
"Hancock" sounds like a signature big Will Smith summer movie, something written large for popular tastes, in the same category as the star's many previous hits. He plays a superhero assisted in the miraculous by cutting-edge special effects and by the specialest effect of them all, Charlize Theron,...
(By Stephen Hunter, The Washington Post)

The Reliable Source
(By Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts, The Washington Post)

Clay Felker, New York's Editor of Cool
The Magazine Founder Turned A New Page in Journalism
(By Hank Stuever, The Washington Post)

'Kit': Doll With Moxie Puts a Happy Face on the Depression
(By Stephen Hunter, The Washington Post)

From Posh to Pokey: The Downward Spiral Of Raffaello Follieri
(By David Segal, The Washington Post)

More Style

LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Washington Nationals
Washington Post writer Chico Harlan takes your questions and comments about the Washington Nationals.
(Chico Harlan, washingtonpost.com)

Dirda on Books
(Michael Dirda, washingtonpost.com)

White House Watch
(Dan Froomkin, washingtonpost.com)

Free Range on Food
Dish With the Experts
(The Food Section, washingtonpost.com)

Tennis: Wimbledon
(Liz Clarke, washingtonpost.com)

More Live Discussions

Surrogate Silliness
ENOUGH ALREADY! The country's at war, the economy is struggling, oil prices are surging. The Republican and Democratic presidential candidates have dramatically different approaches to all this and more. And we've just concluded Day Three of the latest surrogate pseudo-drama: "Gen. Wesley K. Clar...
(The Washington Post)

An African Failure
The continent's leaders respond weakly to Robert Mugabe's murderous repression.
(The Washington Post)

'Why Not Take Advantage?'
It turns out that Prince George's teachers like the idea of linking their pay to performance.
(The Washington Post)

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