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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Politics News & Analysis Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008

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Election 2008

Obama Asks Bush to Back Rescue of Automakers (By Lori Montgomery and Michael D. Shear)

Obama to Explore New Approach in Afghanistan War (By Karen DeYoung)

Finding Her Home in History (By Richard Leiby and Valerie Strauss)

Hope of Seeing President-Elect Draws Crowds (By Pamela Constable)

Less Room for Breakthrough Ideas (By Paul C. Light)

The Trail

• Obama to Lay Wreath; Podesta Briefing Reporters
• Human Rights Groups Call on Obama to Shutter Guantanamo Bay on Day One
• President Bush Greets Obama at White House

The Fix by Chris Cillizza

• The Best House Ads
• A Thousand Words
• Dean To Step Down as DNC Chair

Capitol Briefing by Ben Pershing

• Byrd Surrenders Senate Approps Gavel
• Blunt Steps Down After Mixed Decade in Leadership
• Maneuvering Begins for House GOP Leaders

The Sleuth by Mary Ann Akers

• Hillary Denied Bid to Take Charge of Health Care?
• 'Big John' Dingell Deploys Forces To Crush Waxman
• The Al Franken Show Continues in Minnesota, Doggone It

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Aloha State Moves to the A-List (By Nikita Stewart)

Trying to Keep Inaugural Tickets Priceless (By Nikita Stewart)

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Today's top political news and commentary:

Barack to Reality (Christopher Hitchens, Slate)

Is 2008 a Realignment? (Jay Cost, RealClearPolitics)

The New Liberalism (George Packer, The New Yorker)

Battle Lines Are Drawn for Future of GOP (David Brooks, New York Times)

Most Affluent Voters Key to Obama Sweep (Mark Penn, Politico)

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Sketch: Breaking News: President-Elect Drops Daughters Off at School, Heads for Gym (By Dana Milbank)

A GOP Bridge to Nowhere (By Eugene Robinson)

A Path Beyond Grievance (By William Raspberry)

More Than a Rock Star (By Anne Applebaum)

Obama's Cabinet: Start With Al Gore (By Richard Cohen)

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In the same week, Zogby International reported that Obama leads all prospective Republican opponents in polling for the 2008 general election. Obama was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1996 from the state's 13th District in the south-side Chicago neighborhood of Hyde Park.

However, Ryan withdrew from the race in June 2004, following public disclosure of child custody divorce records containing sexual allegations by Ryan's ex-wife, actress Jeri Ryan. In February 2007, standing before the Old State Capitol building in Springfield, Illinois, Obama announced his candidacy for the 2008 U.S. presidential election. However, Ryan withdrew from the race in June 2004, following public disclosure of child custody divorce records containing sexual allegations by Ryan's ex-wife, actress Jeri Ryan.

In it he recalls his childhood in Honolulu and Jakarta, college years in Los Angeles and New York City, and his employment as a community organizer in Chicago in the 1980s. But they sense, deep in their bones, that with just a slight change in priorities, we can make sure that every child in America has a decent shot at life, and that the doors of opportunity remain open to all. Questioning the Bush administration's management of the Iraq War, Obama spoke of an enlisted Marine, Corporal Seamus Ahern from East Moline, Illinois, asking, "Are we serving Seamus as well as he is serving us?" He continued: When we send our young men and women into harm's way, we have a solemn obligation not to fudge the numbers or shade the truth about why they're going, to care for their families while they're gone, to tend to the soldiers upon their return, and to never, ever go to war without enough troops to win the war, secure the peace, and earn the respect of the world. Asked to name a "hidden talent," Obama answered: "I'm a pretty good poker player. Questioning the Bush administration's management of the Iraq War, Obama spoke of an enlisted Marine, Corporal Seamus Ahern from East Moline, Illinois, asking, "Are we serving Seamus as well as he is serving us?" He continued: When we send our young men and women into harm's way, we have a solemn obligation not to fudge the numbers or shade the truth about why they're going, to care for their families while they're gone, to tend to the soldiers upon their return, and to never, ever go to war without enough troops to win the war, secure the peace, and earn the respect of the world. He has authored two bestselling books: a memoir of his youth entitled Dreams from My Father, and The Audacity of Hope, a personal commentary on U.S. politics.

In the memoir, Obama describes his experiences growing up in his mother's American middle class family. Before announcing his presidential candidacy, he began a well-publicized effort to quit smoking. " In December 2006, Obama joined Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) at the "Global Summit on AIDS and the Church" organized by church leaders Kay and Rick Warren. President Bush signed the Secure Fence Act into law in October 2006, calling it "an important step toward immigration reform.