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 Text Message Not Sent By Ryan Grim Posted Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008, at 6:01 AM ET The Washington Post and New York Times lead with dual Taliban assaults, one that killed ten French soldiers and another on a NATO base, as the death toll continues to climb in Afghanistan; the Times New York City-edition headline highlights the base assault while the Post singles out the attack on the French. USA Today leads with a piece on how record government spending on construction is helping prop up the economy. The Wall Street Journal gives its lead space to fears of Freddie Mac's stability and tops its world-wide news-box with a NATO call for Russia to withdraw from Georgia, though it seems only to be showing signs of staying. The L.A. Times leads with a poll showing Barack Obama and John McCain in a statistical tie. Nine percent of voters said they would be "uncomfortable" voting for a black candidate. Obama still led McCain 45-43, within the margin of error. The NYT generally makes a pdf image of its national edition available by 4:00 a.m. eastern time, but by 6:00 a.m., TP's deadline, the only version available was the New York City one, fueling TP's speculation, entirely unfounded, that the Times was holding out as long as possible for a potential morning text message from Barack Obama ? the method he has said he will use -- announcing his running mate. By TP's deadline, Obama had yet to hit send. To continue reading, click here. . Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum What did you think of this article? POST A MESSAGE \| READ MESSAGES Also In Slate News & Politics Do Caucasians Really Come From the Caucasus? Business & Tech Go Ahead, Violate My Privacy. But at Least Pay Me for It. Sports My Ticket- Scalping Adventures in Beijing	Advertisement
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