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

Opinions Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008

Quote of the Day

In a world that is finally embracing women in the workforce and politics, she is an embarrassment to women who decided to stay home with their children.

» Who Said This?

Featured Opinions

Matthew Yglesias
A Partisan in Maverick's Clothing
The public's in the mood for change, and McCain long ago got off the path where he could credibly offer it.

David Ignatius
Hot or Cool on Russia?
Their reactions to Russia's invasion of Georgia offered some clear signs of how the two candidates would react to crises.

PostPartisan
Quick takes from The Post's columnists and editorial writers on the GOP convention and the White House race.

Asif Ali Zardari
Democracy Within Our Reach
Saturday's elections are a chance for Pakistan to seal a victory for democracy over dictatorship.

David McGrath
In the Words of My Speechwriter . . .
When was the last time you saw or heard a writer credited at the end of a speech by John McCain or Barack Obama?

Anne Applebaum
Class of '64
It is time to sing the praises of 44-year-old women, from Michelle Obama to Sarah Palin.

Dan Froomkin's White House Watch
Bush Gets the Bum's Rush
Far from getting a hero's welcome, President Bush didn't even get through the doors of the Republican National Convention hall last night. In an abbreviated address beamed in from 1,000 miles away, Bush offered a stilted endorsement of his former rival -- then faded away, his ghostly image on a g...

Tom TOLES