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 Shape of Things to Come By Daniel Politi Posted Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008, at 6:23 AM ET The Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal all lead with President-elect Barack Obama moving full-speed ahead in putting together his White House team. After Tuesday's sweeping victory--349 electoral votes to John McCain's 162, with two states still too close to call--Obama woke up at home in Chicago, had breakfast with his family, and spent most of the day behind closed doors having discussions with Vice President-elect Joe Biden, campaign advisers, and the leaders of his transition team. To no one's surprise, he offered the key job of White House chief of staff to Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois. Yesterday was a day of jubilation for many, not just inside the country but also around the world. There was perhaps no other country outside the United States that celebrated as much as Kenya, where the prime minister declared Thursday a national holiday. Even Republican leaders rushed to recognize the historic moment. "As an African-American, I am especially proud ... yesterday was obviously an extraordinary step forward," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a surprise appearance at her department's daily briefing. President Bush called Obama's election "uplifting" and vowed that he would do everything possible to make it a smooth transition. "It will be a stirring sight to watch President Obama, his wife, Michelle, and their beautiful girls step through the doors of the White House," Bush said. "I know millions of Americans will be overcome with pride at this inspiring moment that so many have awaited so long." 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 Can the GOP Be Saved? Top Conservatives Debate. How Obama's Race Won Him the Election You Had a Gay Marriage in California. Are You Still Married?	Advertisement
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Obama's own self-narrative reinforces what a May 2004 New Yorker magazine article described as his "everyman" image.

" In January 2007, Obama spoke at an event organized by Families USA, a health care advocacy group. The Chicago Tribune credits the large crowds that gathered at book signings with influencing Obama's decision to run for president. presidential candidate has attracted conflicting analyses among commentators challenged to align him with traditional social categories. " He describes his mother, raised by non-religious parents, as detached from religion, yet "in many ways the most spiritually awakened person that I have ever known. Obama was sworn in as a Senator on January 4, 2005. 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. 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.

He spent most of his childhood in the majority-minority U.S. state of Hawaii and lived for four years in Indonesia. 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. In 2000, he made an unsuccessful Democratic primary run for the U.S. House of Representatives seat held by four-term incumbent candidate Bobby Rush. He was also criticized by a rival pro-choice candidate in the Democratic primary and by his Republican pro-life opponent in the general election for having voted either "present" or "no" on anti-abortion legislation. " Three months into his Senate career, and again in 2007, Time magazine named Obama one of "the world's most influential people. We coach Little League in the Blue States and yes, we got some gay friends in the Red States. Obama's fundraising prowess was affirmed again in the second quarter of 2007, when his campaign raised an additional $32.5 million, the most ever raised by a Democratic Presidential candidate in a single quarter. " The book describes his struggles as a young adult to reconcile social perceptions of his multiracial heritage. On returning to Chicago, Obama directed a voter registration drive.

Asked to name a "hidden talent," Obama answered: "I'm a pretty good poker player.