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| The Anti Christ. Do not vote for him!!! | |||
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| {{redirect|Obama}} | |||
| {{Infobox Senator<!-- please do not edit infobox; it is now correct --> | |||
| | name = Barack Obama <!-- PLEASE DO NOT EDIT THIS NAME --> | |||
| | nationality = American | |||
| | image name = SenatorBarackObama.jpg | |||
| | jr/sr and state = ], ]<!-- please leave this alone --> | |||
| | party = ] | |||
| | term_start = ], ]– | |||
| | alongside = Richard Durbin | |||
| | preceded = ] | |||
| | succeeded = ] (]) | |||
| | date of birth = ], ] | |||
| | place of birth = {{flagicon|Hawaii}} ], ] | |||
| | dead = alive | |||
| | date of death = | |||
| | place of death = | |||
| | law school = ], 1992 | |||
| | spouse = ] | |||
| | religion = ] | |||
| | signature = | |||
| }} | |||
| '''Barack <!-- | |||
| "Hussein" is Barack Obama's middle name, please do not modify or delete it in this first sentence-->Hussein<!-- see talk page archives | |||
| --> Obama''' (born ], ] in ]) is the ] ] ] from ]. <!-- | |||
| The following sentence is a compromise that was reached at the talk page (see the archives). Please do not modify it without discussion. | |||
| -->According to the U.S. Senate Historical Office, he is the fifth ] Senator in ] and the only African American currently serving in the U.S. Senate.<ref>U.S. Senate Historical Office, Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| After graduating from law school, Obama moved to ], where he was elected to the ] in 1996 as a ]. Four years later, he made an unsuccessful run for the ]. After rededicating his efforts to the state senate and winning reelection in 2002, Obama ran for an ] in the U.S. Senate two years later. Midway through the campaign, Obama delivered the ] address at the ], raising his national stature. | |||
| Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2004 with 70% of the votes.<ref></ref> He has been identified in ] as the second most popular choice among Democratic voters for their party's nomination in the ], behind ] Senator ]<ref>Polling Report, Retrieved on ], ]</ref> and on ], ] took the first step toward launching a Presidential campaign, by forming an ].<ref name="ObamaJan16">{{cite journal | first =|last=| |title =http://www.barackobama.com/video/from_barack_transcript/index.php Barack Obama Exploratory Committee. ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]|year = }}</ref> | |||
| ==Early life and career== | |||
| {{see also|Dreams from My Father}}<!-- please do not edit the way his name is rendered in this first sentence; see Talk --> | |||
| Barack Obama was born in ], ] to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr. (born in Alego, a village in ], ],) and Ann Dunham (born in ]).<ref>Obama (1995), Chapter 1. For excerpts, see ''The East African'', ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> His parents met while both were attending the ] of the ], where his father was enrolled as a ]. When Obama was two years old, his parents separated and later divorced; his father went to ] to pursue PhD studies, eventually returning to Kenya.<ref>Obama (1995), pp. 3-5, 9-10 and 125-126. See also: Scott Turow, ''Salon'', ], ]. Retrieved on ], ].</ref> His mother married Lolo Soetoro, an ] foreign student, and they had one daughter. The family moved to ] when Obama was six years old.<ref>Obama (1995), pp. 30-31 and p. 154.</ref> Four years later, Obama returned to Hawaii to live with his maternal grandparents.<ref name=Finnegan240504>Finnegan, William. ''New Yorker'', ], ].</ref> He was enrolled in the fifth grade at ], a large, private ] in Honolulu,<ref>Joe Klein, ''TIME'', ], ]. Retrieved on ], ].</ref> which he attended through 12th grade, graduating in 1979.<ref>Serafin, Peter. ''Honolulu Star-Bulletin'', ], ]</ref> His father died in a car accident in Kenya when Obama was 21 years old.<ref>Obama (1995), pp. 3-5. See also: Philip Ochieng, ''The East African'', ], ]. Retrieved on ], ].</ref> Obama's mother died of cancer a few months after the publication of his 1995 memoir, ''Dreams from My Father''.<ref>Obama (1995), Preface to the 2004 Edition, p. xi.</ref> | |||
| In ''Dreams from My Father'', Obama describes his experiences growing up in his mother's ] ] family. His knowledge about his absent ] Kenyan father came mainly through family stories and photographs. Of his early childhood, Obama wrote: "That my father looked nothing like the people around me—that he was black as pitch, my mother white as milk—barely registered in my mind."<ref>Obama (1995), pp. 9-10.</ref> As a young adult, he struggled to reconcile social perceptions of his ] heritage. Obama writes about smoking ] and using ] during his teenage years to "push questions of who I was out of my mind."<ref>Obama (1995), pp. 93-94. See also: Romano, Lois. ''Washington Post'', ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| After high school, Obama studied for two years at ] in California and then transferred to ] in New York City, where he majored in ] with a specialization in ]. After receiving his ] degree in 1983, Obama worked for one year at ]. In 1985, he moved to ] to direct a ] project assisting local churches to organize job training programs for residents of ] neighborhoods.<ref>Boss-Bicak, Shira. , ''Columbia College Today'', January 2005. Retrieved on ], ]</ref><ref name=CV>University of Chicago Law School. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| Obama entered ] in 1988. In February 1990, he gained national recognition for becoming the first African American to be elected president of the '']''.<ref>Butterworth, Fox, "First Black Elected to Head Harvard's Law Review," ''New York Times'', ], ]. .</ref><ref>Wilkins, David B. ''Harvard Law Bulletin'', Summer 1998. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> He obtained his ] degree '']'' from Harvard in 1991.<ref name=CV>University of Chicago Law School. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> On returning to Chicago, Obama directed a ], then worked for the ] law firm Miner, Barnhill & Galland, and taught ] at the ] from 1993 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004.<ref name=CV>University of Chicago Law School. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| ==State legislature== | |||
| In 1996, Obama was elected to the ] from Chicago's 13th District in the south-side neighborhood of ]. In ], when Democrats regained control of the chamber, he was named chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.<ref>White, Jesse, ed. (PDF), p. 81. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> Among his legislative initiatives, Obama helped to author an Illinois ] that provided benefits to lower income families, worked for legislation that would support residents who could not afford health insurance, and helped pass bills to increase funding for ] prevention and care programs.<ref>State of Illinois, , 91st General Assembly. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| In 2000, Obama made an unsuccessful Democratic primary run for the ] seat held by four-term incumbent candidate ]. Rush, a former ] and community activist, charged that Obama had not "been around the first congressional district long enough to really see what's going on."<ref>Scheiber, Noam. ''The New Republic'', ], ]</ref> Rush received 61% of the vote to Obama's 30%.<ref name="2000 election result">Federal Election Commission, Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| After the loss, Obama focused his efforts on the state Senate, authoring a law requiring police to videotape interrogations for crimes punishable by the ]<ref name=Finnegan240504 /> | |||
| and supporting legislation that required insurance companies to cover routine ].<ref> National Conference of State Legislatures, July 2002. Retrieved on ], ]</ref><ref>State of Illinois, , 92nd General Assembly. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> He ran unopposed in 2002. | |||
| Reviewing Obama's career in the Illinois Senate, commentators noted his ability to work effectively with both Democrats and Republicans, and to build coalitions.<ref>Dunham, Richard S. '']'', ], ]</ref><ref>Herbert, Bob. ''New York Times'', ], ]</ref> In his subsequent campaign for the U.S. Senate, Obama won the endorsement of the Illinois ], whose officials cited his "longtime support of ] measures and his willingness to negotiate compromises," despite his support for some bills that the police union had opposed.<ref>Mastony, Colleen. ''Chicago Tribune'', ], ]</ref> | |||
| ==Keynote address== | |||
| {{see also|2004 Democratic National Convention}} | |||
| Midway through his campaign for U.S. Senator, Obama wrote and delivered the ] in ].<ref>Obama, Barack. , Obama 2010, ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| After describing his maternal grandfather's experiences as a ] veteran and a beneficiary of the ] ] and ] programs, Obama said: | |||
| <blockquote>No, people don't expect government to solve all their problems. 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. They know we can do better. And they want that choice.</blockquote> | |||
| Questioning the ] handling of the ], Obama spoke of an enlisted ], Corporal Seamus Ahern from ], asking, "Are we serving Seamus as well as he is serving us?" He continued: | |||
| <blockquote>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.</blockquote> | |||
| Finally he spoke for national unity: | |||
| <blockquote>The ]s like to slice-and-dice our country into ]; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them too. We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don't like ] ] in the Red States. We coach ] in the Blue States and yes, we got some ] friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and patriots who supported the war in Iraq. We are ], all of us ] to the ], all of us defending the United States of America.</blockquote> | |||
| This speech was Obama's introduction to most of America, and it was said that it gave him "instant celebrity"<ref>Wolf, Richard. , usatoday.com, ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> status. | |||
| ==Senate campaign== | |||
| {{main|Illinois United States Senate election, 2004}} | |||
| ] | |||
| In 2004, Obama ran for the U.S. Senate ] vacated by ]. In early opinion polls leading up to the Democratic ], Obama trailed multimillionaire businessman ] and Illinois Comptroller ]. However, Hull's popularity declined following allegations of ].<ref>Mendell, David. '']'', ], ]</ref> | |||
| Obama's candidacy was boosted by an advertising campaign featuring images of the late Chicago Mayor ] and the late U.S. Senator ]; the support of Simon's daughter; and political endorsements by the '']'' and '']''.<ref>Fornek, Scott. "Obama's appeal spans racial lines," '']'', ], ]. Available at ] Retrieved on ], ]</ref><ref>Hayes, Christopher. ''TNR Online'', ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> From a crowded field of seven candidates, Obama received over 52% of the vote in the ], ] primary, emerging well ahead of his Democratic rivals.<ref name="2004 primary result"> '']''. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| Obama was then matched in the general election against ] primary winner ]. However, Ryan withdrew from the race on ], ], following public disclosure of ] divorce records containing embarrassing sexual allegations by Ryan's ex-wife.<ref> ]. ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> On ], ], with less than three months to go before election day, ] accepted the Illinois Republican Party's nomination to replace Ryan.<ref>Lannan, Maura Kelly. ''Union-Tribune'' (AP), ], ]</ref> A long-time resident of ], Keyes established legal residency in Illinois with the nomination.<ref>Ford, Liam and David Mendell. ''Chicago Tribune'', ], ]</ref> Through three televised debates, Obama and Keyes expressed opposing views on ], ], ], ], and ].<ref>, (video, audio, and text) at keyesobama.com. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> In the general election held ], ], Obama received 70% of the popular vote to Keyes's 27%.<ref name="2004 election result">CNN. Retrieved on ], ].</ref> | |||
| ==Senate career== | |||
| Obama was sworn in as a Senator on ], ]. He assembled an unusually seasoned staff for a freshman senator. Obama hired former Senate Democratic Leader ]'s ex-chief of staff for the same position, and ], an economist who was deputy chief of staff to former Secretary of the Treasury ], as his policy adviser.<ref name=Enda2006>Enda, Jodi. '']'', ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| In July 2005, ], Pulitzer-winning author on human rights and genocide, joined Obama's team.<ref>Linn, Brendan R. , '']'', ], ]. Retrieved on ], ].</ref> During his first year in office Obama drew praise for his perceived attempts to avoid the limelight.<ref>Leibovich, Mark. ''Washington Post'', ], ]</ref> Nonetheless, Obama's public profile continued to climb through 2005 and 2006. '']'' magazine named him one of "]," listing him among twenty "Leaders and Revolutionaries" for his high-profile entrance to federal politics and his popularity within the Democratic Party.<ref> ''TIME magazine'', ], ]. Retrieved on ], ] </ref> An October 2005 article in the British journal '']'' listed Obama as one of "10 people who could change the world."<ref>Skidelsky, William. ''New Statesman'', ], ]</ref> During his first two years in the Senate, Obama received ] Doctorates of Law from ],<ref>Knox College. , ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> ],<ref>University of Massachusetts Boston. , Press release, ], ]. Retrieved on ], ] </ref> ],<ref>Northwestern University. , Press release, ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> and ].<ref> '']'' (AP), ], ]</ref> He is a member of the following Senate committees: ]; ]; ]; and ].<ref>Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office. . Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| ===Legislation=== | |||
| ====109th Congress==== | |||
| ] as bill sponsors ] (]-]) and Obama look on.<ref>]. , Press Release, ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref>]] | |||
| Obama sponsored 152 bills and resolutions brought before the ] in 2005 and 2006, and cosponsored another 427.<ref>U.S. Senate. 109th Congress. , Thomas. Retrieved on ], ]</ref><ref>U.S. Senate. 109th Congress. , Thomas. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> His first bill was the "Higher Education Opportunity through Pell Grant Expansion Act."<ref>U.S. Senate. 109th Congress, 1st Session. , Thomas, ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> Entered in fulfillment of a campaign promise, the bill proposed increasing the maximum amount of ] awards to help needy students pay their college tuitions.<ref>Sweet, Lynn. "Obama's 1st bill: raising Pell Grants," ''Chicago Sun-Times'', ], ]. Available at Retrieved on ], ] </ref> The bill did not progress beyond committee and was never voted on by the Senate. | |||
| Obama took an active role in the Senate's drive for improved ] and ]. Beginning in 2005, he co-sponsored the "Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act" introduced by Sen. ] (]-]).<ref>U.S. Senate. 109th Congress, 1st Session. , Thomas, ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> Obama later added three amendments to ], the "Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act," sponsored by Sen. ] (]-]).<ref>U.S. Senate. 109th Congress, 2nd Session. , Thomas, ], ]. See also: . Retrieved on ], ].</ref><ref>Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office. , Press Release, ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> S. 2611 passed the Senate in May 2006, but failed to gain majority support in the ].<ref>, ''USA Today'', ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> In September 2006, Obama supported a related bill, the ], authorizing construction of fencing and other security improvements along the ].<ref>, ''CBS (Chicago)'', ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> President Bush signed the Secure Fence Act into law in October 2006, calling it "an important step toward immigration reform."<ref>White House, , Press release, ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| Partnering first with Sen. ] (]-]), and then with Sen. ] (]-]), Obama successfully introduced two initiatives bearing his name. "Lugar–Obama" expands the ] cooperative threat reduction concept to ]s, including ] and ]s.<ref>Lugar, Richard G. and Barack Obama. ''Washington Post,'' ], ]</ref><ref>U.S. Senate. 109th Congress, 2nd Session. , Thomas, ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref><ref>Richard Lugar U.S. Senate Office. , Press Release, ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> The "]" provides for a website, managed by the ], listing all organizations receiving Federal funds from 2007 onward, and providing breakdowns by the agency allocating the funds, the dollar amount given, and the purpose of the grant or contract.<ref>U.S. Senate. 109th Congress, 2nd Session. , Thomas, ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref><ref>Tom Coburn U.S. Senate Office. , Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security, Press Release, ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> On ], ], President Bush signed into law the "] Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act," marking the first federal legislation to be enacted with Obama as its primary sponsor.<ref>U.S. Senate. 109th Congress, 2nd Session. , Thomas, ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| ====110th Congress==== | |||
| {{section-stub}} | |||
| During the first two weeks of the Democratic-controlled ], Obama sponsored eight bills and resolutions and cosponsored another 28.<ref>U.S. Senate. 110th Congress. , Thomas. Retrieved on ], ]</ref><ref>U.S. Senate. 110th Congress. , Thomas. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> His legislative activities during the current session's first days focused primarily on ethics and energy-related bills.<ref>Obama, Barack. , ''Washington Post'', ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref><ref>]. '']'', ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref><ref>Baltimore, Chris. '']'', ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref><ref>Williamson, Elizabeth. ''Washington Post'', January 10, 2007. Retrieved on ], ]</ref><ref>Baltimore, Chris. ''Washington Post'' (Reuters), ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| ===Official travel=== | |||
| ] (]-]) and Committee member Barack Obama at a Russian base where mobile launch missiles are being destroyed by the ] program.]] | |||
| During the ], Obama traveled with Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN), Chairman of the ], to ], ] and ]. The trip focused on strategies to control the world's supply of ], ], and ] as a strategic first defense against the threat of future ] attacks.<ref>Larson, Christina. '']'', September 2006. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> Lugar and Obama inspected a ]-supported nuclear warhead destruction facility at ], in southern European Russia.<ref>Richard G. Lugar U.S. Senate Office. , ''The Lugar Letter'', September 2005. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> In Ukraine, they toured a disease control and prevention facility and witnessed the signing of a ] pact to secure biological ] and combat risks of ] outbreaks from natural causes or ].<ref>Zeleny, Jeff. ''Chicago Tribune'', ], ] Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| In January 2006, Obama joined a Congressional delegation for meetings with ] in ] and ]. After the visits, Obama traveled to ], ], and the ]. While in Israel, Obama met with Israeli Foreign Minister ].<ref>Associated Press. ''Israel Insider'', ], ]</ref> Obama also met with a group of ] students two weeks before ] won the ]. ''ABC News 7 (Chicago)'' reported Obama telling the students that "the US will never recognize winning Hamas candidates unless the group renounces its fundamental mission to eliminate Israel," and that he had conveyed the same message in his meeting with ] President ].<ref>Goudie, Chuck. , ''ABC 7 News'' (Chicago), ], ]</ref> | |||
| Obama left for his third official trip in August 2006, traveling to ] and ], and making stops in ], ] and ]. Obama flew his wife and two daughters from Chicago to join him in a visit to his father's birthplace, a village near ] in Kenya's rural west.<ref>Cose, Ellis. ''Newsweek International Edition'', ], ]</ref> Newspapers reported enthusiastic crowds at Obama's public appearances.<ref>Wrong, Michela. ''New Statesman'', ], ]</ref> In a public gesture aimed to capitalize on his celebrity and encourage more Kenyans to undergo voluntary ], Obama and his wife took HIV tests at a Kenyan clinic.<ref>CNN. ], ]. Retrieved on ], ] </ref> In a nationally televised speech at the ], Obama spoke forcefully on the ].<ref> , News24.com, ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> The speech touched off a public debate among rival leaders, some formally challenging Obama's remarks as unfair and improper, others defending his positions.<ref>Wamalwa, Chris. ''The Standard'' (Nairobi), ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref><ref>Moracha, Vincent and Mangoa Mosota. ''The Standard'' (Nairobi), ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| ===Political advocacy=== | |||
| On the role of government in economic affairs, Obama has written: "we should be asking ourselves what mix of policies will lead to a dynamic ] and widespread economic security, entrepreneurial innovation and ] we should be guided by what works."<ref>Obama (2006), p. 159.</ref> Speaking before the ] in ], Obama defended the ] social welfare policies of ], associating ] proposals to establish private accounts for ] with ].<ref>Franklin, Ben A. ''Washington Spectator'', ], ]</ref> In a May 2006 letter to President Bush, he joined four other ] farming state Senators in calling for the preservation of a $0.54 per gallon ] on imported ].<ref>Tom Harkin U.S. Senate Office. , ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]. See also: Silverstein, Ken. '']'', November 2006</ref> Obama spoke out in ] against making recent, temporary ] cuts permanent, calling the cuts a "]" tax break for "billionaire heirs and heiresses."<ref>Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office. , ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> Speaking in November 2006 to members of ], a union-backed ], Obama said: "You gotta pay your workers enough that they can actually not only shop at ], but ultimately send their kids to college and save for retirement."<ref>Gogoi, Pallavi. ''BusinessWeek.Com'', ], ]</ref><ref>, WLTX-TV 19 (Columbia, SC), ], ]. Retrieved on ], ].</ref> | |||
| Obama is among the first national politicians to engage the public through new Internet communication tools. He began ] from his U.S. Senate web site in late 2005. He has responded to and personally participated in online discussions hosted on politically-oriented ] sites.<ref>Terdiman, Daniel. ''CNET News.com'', ], ]</ref> Obama has expressed support for ] to protect ] on the internet: "It is because the Internet is a neutral platform that I can put out this podcast and transmit it over the Internet without having to go through any corporate media middleman. I can say what I want without censorship or without having to pay a special charge. But the big telephone and cable companies want to change the Internet as we know it."<ref>Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office. , ], ] (podcast). Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| He was an early opponent of Bush administration policies on Iraq. In the fall of 2002, Obama stated: "I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars. You want a fight, President Bush? Let's finish the fight with ] and ], through effective, coordinated intelligence, and a shutting down of the financial networks that support terrorism, and a ] program that involves more than ]."<ref>Obama, Barack. | |||
| Obama 2010, ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> Speaking before the ] in November 2006, he said: "The days of using the ] as a ] are over. It is time to give Iraqis their country back, and it is time to refocus America's efforts on the wider struggle yet to be won." He is calling for a phased withdrawal of American troops to begin in 2007.<ref>Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office. | |||
| ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| During his 2004 Senate campaign, Obama stated that he had not ruled out military action against ]. In a meeting with the ] editorial board, Obama stated: "The big question is going to be, if Iran is resistant to these pressures, including economic sanctions, which I hope will be imposed if they do not cooperate, at what point are we going to, if any, are we going to take military action?" To separate this stance from the Bush Administration's, Obama stressed that he would only resort to force as a last resort.<ref> Chicago Daily Tribune, 25 September 2004.</ref> Obama has not declared a change in this stance since the 2004 campaign. | |||
| During his first year as a U.S. senator, in a move more typically taken after several years of holding high political office, Obama established a ], Hopefund, for channeling financial support to Democratic candidates. Obama participated in 38 fundraising events in 2005, helping to pull in $6.55 million for candidates he supports and his own 2010 re-election fund.<ref>Sweet, Lynn. "After Cautious, Bipartisan year, Obama Opens New Chapter," ''Chicago Sun-Times'', ], ]. Available at Retrieved on ], ]</ref> The '']'' described Obama as "the prize catch of the midterm campaign" because of his campaigning for fellow Democratic Party members running for election in the ].<ref name="NYToct">Kornblut, Anne E. ''New York Times'', ], ]</ref> Hopefund gave $374,000 to federal candidates, evenly split between House and Senate candidates, in the 2006 election cycle, making it one of the top donors to federal candidates for the year.<ref name="NYToct">Kornblut, Anne E. ''New York Times'', ], ]</ref> | |||
| Obama has encouraged Democrats to reach out to ] and other church-going people, saying, "if we truly hope to speak to people where they’re at—to communicate our hopes and values in a way that’s relevant to their own—we cannot abandon the field of religious discourse."<ref>]. '']'', ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref><ref>, ], ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> In December 2006, Obama joined Sen. ] (]-]) at the "Global Summit on ] and the Church" organized by church leaders Kay and ].<ref>Gibson, Manda. , PurposeDriven.com (web site). Retrieved on ], ]</ref> Together with Warren and Brownback, Obama took an HIV test, as he had done in Kenya less than four months earlier. Obama encouraged "others in public life to do the same" to show "there is no shame in going for an HIV test."<ref>Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office. , ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> Before the conference, ] groups called on Warren to rescind the invitation saying, in regards to Obama's Pro-Choice position, "If Senator Obama cannot defend the most helpless citizens in our country, he has nothing to say to the AIDS crisis."<ref> Christian Newswire Press Release, ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]. See also: Van Biema, David. ], ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| ==2008 presidential election== | |||
| {{current|section}} | |||
| ]'' magazine cover story, "Is America Ready?," December 25, 2006 - January 1, 2007<ref name=Alter1206>Jonathan Alter, , ''Newsweek'', ], ] - ], ]. Retrieved on ], ].</ref>]] | |||
| Obama's keynote speech to the 2004 Democratic National Convention sparked expectations that he would eventually run for ].<ref>Sullivan, Amy. ''Washington Monthly'' (guest article), ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> Speculation on a ] intensified after Obama's decisive U.S. Senate election win in November 2004, prompting him to tell reporters: "I can unequivocally say I will not be running for national office in four years."<ref>Fornek, Scott. "Obama for president? That's 'silly'," ''Chicago Sun-Times'', ], ]. Available at Retrieved on ], ]</ref> But in an October 2006 interview on the television program '']'', Obama appeared to open the possibility of a 2008 presidential bid.<ref>MSNBC. , ''Meet the Press'', ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> Following Obama's statement, ]ing organizations added his name to ]. The first such poll ranked Obama in second place with 17% support among Democrats after Sen. ] (]-]) who placed first with 28% of the responses.<ref>CNN. ''CNN Politics'', ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> The most recent ] poll places Clinton and Obama in a "virtual tie" for support among likely Democratic primary voters.<ref>, ''Rasmussen Reports'', ], ]. Retrieved on ], ].</ref> In a December 2006 cover story headlined "The Race is On", '']'' magazine columnist ] asked: "Is America Ready for Hillary or Obama?"<ref name=Alter1206>Jonathan Alter, , ''Newsweek'', ], ] - ], ]. Retrieved on ], ].</ref> | |||
| Sen. Richard Durbin (]-]) and Illinois State Comptroller ] were early advocates for a 2008 Obama presidential run.<ref>Babington, Charles. ''Washington Post'', ], ], Page A01</ref><ref>McQueary, Kristen. , ''Daily Southtown'', ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> Celebrity television show host ] and film actor ] have also expressed readiness to campaign for an Obama presidency.<ref>Fornek, Scott. ''Chicago Sun-Times'', ], ]</ref><ref>O'Keefe, Ed. , ABC News, ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> Commentators have suggested that Obama's chances to be elected president would be better in 2008 than in 2012 or later. In an October 2006 editorial published in the ''Chicago Tribune'', ] compared prospects for a 2008 Obama presidential bid to ] successful ].<ref>Minow, Newton N. ''Chicago Tribune'' ], ]</ref> A December 2006 ] by ] columnist ] detailed four reasons why he thinks now is a good time for Obama to run for president.<ref>Will, George F. ''Washington Post'', ], ]</ref> | |||
| In September 2006, Obama was the featured speaker at ] Senator ]'s annual steak fry, a political event traditionally attended by presidential hopefuls in the lead-up to the ].<ref>Kornblut, Anne E. ''New York Times'', ], ]</ref> In December 2006, Obama spoke at a ] event celebrating Democratic Party midterm election victories in the ] U.S. presidential primary state, drawing 1,500 people.<ref>Brooks, Scott. ''New Hampshire Union Leader'', ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref><ref>PBS. , '']'', ], ] (transcript). Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| On ], ], the ''Chicago Tribune'' reported that Obama has begun assembling his team for a 2008 presidential campaign to be headquartered in Chicago.<ref>Dorning, Mike and Christi Parsons. , ''Chicago Tribune'', ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| On ], ], Obama announced that he would be filing paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission to establish a presidential exploratory committee and that he expected to make a decision on whether or not to run by ]<ref name="ObamaJan16">{{cite journal | first =|last=| |title =http://www.barackobama.com/video/from_barack_transcript/index.php Barack Obama Exploratory Committee. ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]|year = }}</ref>. | |||
| ==Controversy== | |||
| On ], ] the '']'' reported that on the same day that Obama's home in a South Side neighborhood of Chicago was purchased, an adjoining vacant lot was bought by the wife of ], an Illinois businessman currently facing federal charges of attempted extortion, money laundering, and fraud. Obama later bought a ten-foot-wide strip of lawn from Rezko.<ref>Gibson, Ray and David Jackson. ''Chicago Tribune'', ], ]</ref> Two days after the report, the same newspaper ran an editorial calling on Obama to explain why he would "allow himself any connection" to a developer who "notoriously attaches himself to political figures, often parlaying friendships into business dealings that have attracted official suspicions for several years."<ref>Editorial Staff, ''Chicago Tribune'', ], ]</ref> The following day the '']'' reported Obama's statement that it was a mistake to have engaged "in this or any other personal business dealing that would allow , or anyone else, to believe that he had done me a favor. For that reason, I consider this a mistake on my part and I regret it."<ref>Gibson, Ray and David Jackson. ''Chicago Tribune'', ], ]</ref> On ], Obama's spokesman confirmed that one of Obama's 2005 summer interns also had ties to Rezko, although he denied any favoritism. The Obama office had nearly 100 interns that summer.<ref>Jackson, David and Ray Gibson. ''Chicago Tribune'', ], ]</ref> | |||
| The Tribune's report does not accuse the Senator of any wrongdoing or unethical conduct and no evidence to the contrary has been uncovered. A December 2006 article posted to '']'' online site criticized follow-up reporting in the '']'', '']'', and '']'' for failing to add value to the story: "The role of the press in all this should be to put perceptions in line with the facts as they stand, not inflate the perceptions and raise the distant possibility that the facts might line up behind them."<ref>Clarke, Conor. ''New Republic'', ], ] (web only). Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| ==Personal life== | |||
| While working at the corporate law firm ] in the summer of 1989, Obama met ], then an associate attorney at the firm. They married in 1992, and have two daughters, Malia (born 1999) and Sasha (born 2001). The Obamas are members of Chicago's Trinity ].<ref>Powell, Barb. ''United Church News'', August-September 2006. Retrieved on ], ]</ref><ref>Trinity United Church of Christ. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> Of his religious affiliation, Obama has written: | |||
| <blockquote>I was drawn to the power of the African American religious tradition to spur social change. In the history of these struggles, I was able to see faith as more than just a comfort to the weary or a hedge against death; rather, it was an active, palpable agent in the world. It was because of these newfound understandings–that religious commitment did not require me to suspend critical thinking, disengage from the battle for economic and social justice, or otherwise retreat from the world that I knew and loved–that I was finally able to walk down the aisle of Trinity United Church of Christ one day and be baptized. It came about as a choice and not an epiphany; the questions I had did not magically disappear. But kneeling beneath that cross on the South Side of Chicago, I felt God's spirit beckoning me. I submitted myself to His will, and dedicated myself to discovering His truth.<ref>Obama (2006), pp. 207-208. Excerpted in: Obama, Barack. ''TIME'', ], ]. Retrieved on ], ].</ref></blockquote> | |||
| ==Books by Obama== | |||
| Before entering politics, Obama wrote '']'', a memoir of his youth and early career. The book was published in 1995, then reprinted in 2004 with a new preface and an annex containing the text of his 2004 Democratic Convention keynote speech. The ] edition earned Obama the 2006 ].<ref>Boliek, Brooks. ''Reuters/Hollywood Reporter'', ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| In December 2004, Obama made a $1.9 million deal for three books.<ref name=CTV>Associated Press. CTV ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> The first, '']'' (), was published in October 2006, and discusses Obama's political convictions.<ref>Tomasky, Michael. '']'', Volume 53, Number 19, ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> The book has remained at or near the top of the ] since its publication.<ref>, ''New York Times''. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> The second book covered under the publishing contract is a children's book to be co-written with his wife Michelle and their two young daughters, with profits going to charity. The content of the third book has yet to be announced.<ref name=CTV>Associated Press. CTV ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| ==Popular culture== | |||
| ]'' magazine cover story, "The Fresh Face," October 23, 2006<ref name=Time23Oct>Klein, Joe. ''TIME'', ], ]</ref>]] | |||
| Supporters describe Obama's broad appeal as a cultural ], an ink spot on which his fans can project their personal histories and aspirations.<ref name=Enda2006>Enda, Jodi. ''The American Prospect'', ], ]</ref><ref>Graff, Garrett. '']'', November 2006. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> Obama's self-narrative helps encourage diverse multiethnic affinities. In '']'', he links his maternal family history to possible ] ancestors and distant relatives of ], president of the southern ] during the ].<ref>Obama (1995), p. 13.</ref> Speaking before an elderly ] audience during his 2004 campaign for U.S. Senate, Obama likened the linguistic roots of his ]n first name ''Barack'' to the ] word '']'', meaning blessed.<ref>Tilove, Jonathan. ''Newhouse News Service'', ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| Media sources have mirrored and amplified his ] image. An October 2006 interview on '']'' highlighted the ] diversity of Obama's extended family. Noting that his half-Indonesian half-sister is married to a Chinese-Canadian, the program cited descriptions by Obama's ] wife of family holiday gatherings as a "mini-]."<ref>The Oprah Winfrey Show. ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> A headline in '']'' magazine invited comparisons between Obama's first year as U.S. Senator and the popular 1939 movie '']'', where actor ] stars as an ] ] hero standing up to political corruption in the U.S. Congress.<ref>Sirota, David. ''The Nation'', ], ]</ref> However, another article in ''The Nation'', by columnist ], described Obama as "concerned with the task of reassuring the masters of the Democratic Party, and beyond that the politico-corporate establishment, that he is safe."<ref>, The Nation, 8 May 2006 (Subscription Only)</ref> '']'' syndicated columnist ] wrote that if Obama becomes the Democratic Party presidental nominee, "a much more complex understanding of the difference between color and ethnic identity will be upon us for the very first time." <ref>Crouch, Stanley. , ''New York Daily News'', November 2, 2006. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| A '']'' ] by ], published during Obama's promotion of his bestselling book '']'' and campaigns for Democratic candidates before the ], was noted by an article in the online magazine '']'' as evidence of Obama's potential popularity among ] ] and ].<ref>Weisberg, Jacob. '']'', ], ]</ref> Both ] musician ] and urban ] artist ] have referenced Obama's presidential prospects in popular song lyrics.<ref>Relic, Peter. '']'', ], ]</ref><ref>Jackson, Cheryl V. "Rap by Common plugs a potential presidential bid," ''Chicago Sun-Times'', ], ]. Available at Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| In his ] '']'' magazine cover story, '']'' author ] compared the cultural sources of Obama's rapid rise and crossover appeal to those of U.S. celebrity icons ], ] and ]. Asked to comment, Obama said: "Figures like Oprah, Tiger, Michael Jordan give people a shortcut to express their better instincts I think it's healthy, a good instinct. I just don't want it to stop with Oprah. I'd rather say, If you feel good about me, there's a whole lot of young men out there who could be me if given the chance."<ref name=Time23Oct>Klein, Joe. ''TIME'', ], ]. Retrieved on ], ]</ref> | |||
| In December 2006, Obama taped a television spot for ] '']'' game between his hometown ] and the ]. The faux political announcement played on the frenzy surrounding him and his possible presidential candidacy. "So tonight I'd like to put all the doubts to rest," he said. "I would like to announce to my hometown of Chicago and all of America that I am ready... for the Bears to go all the way, baby."<ref>"Goldfarb, Zachary A. , ''Washington Post'', December 17, 2006. at Obama 2010 campaign web site. Retrieved on ], ].</ref> | |||
| ==Notes== | |||
| {{reflist|2}} | |||
| ==References== | |||
| *Obama, Barack. '']'', Times Books, 1995. Reprint edition, 2004; ISBN 1-4000-8277-3 | |||
| *Obama, Barack.'']'', Crown, 2006. ISBN 0-307-23769-9. | |||
| ==Further reading== | |||
| *{{cite news | last=Finnegan | first=William | title=The Candidate: How the Son of a Kenyan Economist Became an Illinois Everyman | date=24 May 2004 | publisher=New Yorker | url=http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/040531fa_fact1}} | |||
| *{{cite news | last=Gerstein | first=Josh | title=Obama Shapes an Agenda Beyond Iraq War | date=December 26, 2006 | publisher=New York Sun | url=http://www.nysun.com/pf.php?id=45694 | accessdate = 2007-01-19}} | |||
| *{{cite news | last=Klein | first=Joe | title=The Fresh Face | date=October 23, 2006 | publisher=TIME magazine | url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1546362,00.html}} | |||
| *{{cite news | last=Lizza | first=Ryan | title=The Natural: Why is Barack Obama Generating More Excitement Among Democrats Than John Kerry? | |||
| | date=September 2004 | publisher=Atlantic Monthly | url=http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200409/lizza}} | |||
| *{{cite news | last=Senior | first=Jennifer | title=Dreaming of Obama | date=October 2, 2006 | publisher=New York Magazine| url=http://www.newyorkmetro.com/news/politics/21681/index.html}} | |||
| *{{cite news | last=Wallace-Wells | first=Benjamin | title=The Great Black Hope: What's Riding on Barack Obama? | date=November 2004 | publisher=Washington Monthly | url=http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0411.wallace-wells.html}} | |||
| *{{cite news | last=Weisberg | first=Jacob | title=The Path to Power | date=September-October 2006 | publisher=Men's Vogue | url=http://www.mensvogue.com/business/politics/feature/articles/2006/09/11/barack_obama}} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| {{sisterlinks|Barack Obama}} | |||
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| ;Interviews and speeches | |||
| * or the of Obama's keynote address at the ] | |||
| *, '']'', November 20, 2006 | |||
| *, '']'', October 23, 2006 | |||
| *, ''ForaTV'', October 20, 2006 | |||
| *, '']'' | |||
| *, '']'', September 16, 2005 | |||
| *, '']'', November 2004 | |||
| ;Topic pages and databases | |||
| *, '']'' | |||
| *'', ]'' | |||
| *, ''KnowMore.org'' | |||
| *, '']'' | |||
| *, ''OnTheIssues.org'' | |||
| *, '']'' | |||
| *, '']'' | |||
| *, '']'' | |||
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Revision as of 07:30, 21 January 2007
The Anti Christ. Do not vote for him!!!