Barack Obama
Barack Obama
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 Europe Changes Tune on Guantanamo Detainees Posted Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008, at 6:26 AM ET The Washington Post leads with word that at least half a dozen European countries are currently discussing whether they should accept detainees from Guantamo who cannot be returned to their home countries due to fears that they could be tortured. These discussions mark quite a change in attitude for European governments that had previously rejected several requests from the Bush administration to accept the detainees. The Los Angeles Times leads with word that President-elect Barack Obama's team is receiving lots of new information about Afghanistan from Pentagon and national security officials as part of an effort to get the new administration to act quickly once it gets into office. The New York Times leads with, and the Wall Street Journal and LAT front, news that Toyota will post its first operating loss in seven decades, illustrating how the slump in auto sales is being felt around the world and is hitting even the strongest companies. This downturn comes after years of steady growth and will lead auto companies to cut vehicle production next year. USA Today leads with new Census Bureau estimates that illustrate how the recession and housing crisis are changing the nation's migration patterns. The Sun Belt boom is now a thing of the past. For the first time since the early 1970s, more people left Florida than moved in during the 12 months ending in July. Under the new estimates, eight states would lose a seat in the House of Representatives. The WSJ leads its world-wide newsbox with news that a federal jury convicted five men of plotting to kill soldiers at the Fort Dix military base in New Jersey. The five men could face life in prison for a plot that prosecutors described as serious and imminent. 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 New York Times Says Church Attendance Is Up. It's Wrong. Can You Really Get Mercury Poisoning From Eating Too Much Sushi? It's Time To Abolish the "Wind-Chill Factor" | Advertisement  |
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