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 The New Work Out Plan By Daniel Politi Posted Friday, Nov. 14, 2008, at 6:13 AM ET The Washington Post leads with word that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. will announce a new plan today to help stem the tide of foreclosures across the country. The new plan, which would carry a $24.4 billion price tag, could help prevent 1.5 million foreclosures in the next year by offering to share losses with companies that agree to decrease monthly mortgage payments. The New York Times leads with the diminishing chances that Democratic lawmakers will be able to pass a bailout for Detroit's automakers before January. While Democrats tried to put on a happy face and say that they'll get what they want once President-elect Barack Obama takes office, some fear one of the Big Three will go under before then. USA Today leads with this weekend's economic summit in Washington that will bring together leaders from 20 of the world's top economies. Among other issues, leaders will discuss how to increase transparency and regulation as well as the best ways to stimulate economies that are on a seemingly endless downward spiral. No one really expects any immediate, dramatic action to come out of the meeting as the leaders will focus on long-term solutions. The Wall Street Journal leads its worldwide newsbox with the Food and Drug Administration's decision to block all products from China that contain milk. The FDA discovered traces of melamine contamination, which has sickened more than 50,000 babies in China, in several products it now says importers must prove their goods are safe before they can be sold in the United States. The Los Angeles Times leads with the fire that broke out last night in the upscale community of Montecito in Santa Barbara County, which has burned at least 800 acres and destroyed up to 80 homes. 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 The Media Freakout Over Rising Gun Sales Three Big Mistakes the Obamas Could Make With Their New Dog Why So Few Blacks Believe Homosexuality Is Genetic	Advertisement
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