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.

The Slate Dozen - Morning Edition


	Morning Edition

Big Winners in Health Care Vote? Baucus and Snowe
As the Senate finance committee approved the health care package with a 14-to-9 vote, its chairman and the lone Republican supporter now have more clout than ever.
Read original story in Politico | Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009
Wall Street Payments Set To Break Another Record
Workers at top firms are on track to earn even more money than they did in 2007, a peak year.
Read original story in The Wall Street Journal | Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009
Amidst Two Wars, Military Recruitment Thrives
Largely thanks to the Great Recession, the military has managed to meet all of its recruiting goals for the first in more than 35 years.
Read original story in The Washington Post | Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009
Mussolini Briefly Worked for British Intelligence
Before he was a dictator, Mussolini received 100 pounds from British agents to advocate for the first world war and stop peace protests.
Read original story in The Guardian | Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009
Strong Figures From China Raise Recovery Hopes
Surprising good news from China's economy caused stocks to increase and the dollar to fall to its lowest level since August 2008. Intel also forecast sales that beat expectations in what was seen as further evidence that the global economy is bouncing back.
Read original story in Reuters | Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009
Polanski Finishing Film From Prison
The director is putting the finishing touches on his latest movie while sitting in a prison cell in Switzerland, waiting for extradition proceedings to the United States.
Read original story in The Times (of London) | Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009
Congress Finally Begins To Move on Financial Overhaul
After lots of waiting, lawmakers are getting ready to take up the first baby steps toward overhauling the regulation of financial companies.
Read original story in Associated Press | Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009
Brown Will Send More Troops To Afghanistan
The British prime minister will announce today his decision, which comes in spite of increased public opposition to the war effort.
Read original story in The Guardian | Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009
Is Pay Czar Powerless To Stop AIG's Bonuses?
The giant insurer's compensation practices are once again facing scrutiny from government officials eager to avoid another scandal.
Read original story in The Wall Street Journal | Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009
Bloomberg Will Own Business Week
McGraw-Hill Cos. agreed to sell the venerable business publication to the financial-news giant after millions of dollars in losses.
Read original story in Los Angeles Times | Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009
Model Who Looks Emaciated in Ad Was Fired for Being Fat
The model who is depicted in an ad for Ralph Lauren that caused an Internet sensation due to dramatic Photoshopping says she weighed too much to work for the clothing company.
Read original story in The New York Daily News | Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009
Nobel Panel Backs Obama: "We Simply Disagree That He Has Done Nothing"
In a rare move, the Nobel jury has defended the decision to award Barack Obama the Nobel Peace Prize, stating that he "got the prize for what he has done."
Read original story in The Washington Post | Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009

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