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Barack Obama is a poopy face.
{{Redirect4|Barack|Obama|other uses|] and ]}}
{{Pp-semi-blp|small=yes}}{{Pp-move-indef}}{{Active editnotice}} <!-- See ] -->
{{Infobox President
| image = Official portrait of Barack Obama.jpg
| alt = Portrait of Barack Obama
| order = ]
| office = President of the United States
| term_start = January 20, 2009 <!-- Term officially started 12pm January 20, prior to the administration of the presidential oath. -->
| term_end =
| vicepresident = ]
| predecessor = ]
| jr/sr2 = United States Senator
| state2 = ]
| term_start2 = January 3, 2005
| term_end2 = November 16, 2008
| predecessor2 = ]
| successor2 = ]
| state_senate3 = Illinois
| state3 = ]
| district3 = 13th
| term_start3 = January 8, 1997
| term_end3 = November 4, 2004
| predecessor3 = ]
| successor3 = ]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1961|08|04}}<ref name="biography">{{cite web|url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president_obama/|title=President Barack Obama|publisher = ]|accessdate=December 12, 2008}}</ref>
| birth_place = ], ]<ref name="birth-certificate"/>
| birthname = Barack Hussein Obama II<ref name="birth-certificate"/>
| nationality = ]
| party = ]
| spouse = ] <small>(m. 1992)</small>
| children = ]
| residence = ] (official) ] (private)
| alma_mater = ]<br/>] <small>(])</small><br/>] <small>(])</small>
| occupation = ]<br/>]<br/> ] ]<br/>]
| religion = ]<ref name="Christian"/>
| signature = Barack Obama signature.svg
| signature_alt = Barack Obama
| website = <br/>
| footnotes = <div style="background:#ccf;" class="center">'''This article is part of a series about'''</div><div style="font-size:120%; background:#ccf;" class="center">'''Barack Obama'''</div><div style="font-size:120%;" class="center">] {{·}} ] {{·}} ]{{·}} ]{{·}} ]{{·}} ]{{·}} ]{{·}} ]{{·}} ]{{·}}]{{·}}]{{·}} ] (], ]) {{·}} ] <div style="float:right;">]</div></div>
}}
<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE OBAMA'S NAME -->'''Barack Hussein Obama II''' ({{IPA-en|bəˈrɑːk huːˈseɪn oʊˈbɑːmə||Barack-Hussein-Obama-en-US-pronunciation.ogg}}; born August 4, 1961) is the ] and ] ]. He is the ] ]<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE OBAMA'S RACE FROM "AFRICAN AMERICAN", per existing consensus. See discussions and FAQ on the talk page --> to hold the office, as well as the first president born in ]. Obama previously served as the ] ] from ] from January 2005 until he resigned after ] to the presidency in November 2008.
Obama is a graduate of ] and ], where he was the president of the '']''. He was a ] in ] before earning his law degree. He worked as a ] attorney in Chicago and taught ] at the ] from 1992 to 2004.

Obama served three terms in the ] from 1997 to 2004. Following an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the ] in 2000, he ran for United States Senate in 2004. During the campaign, several events brought him to national attention, such as his victory in the March 2004 ] election for the ] as well as his prime-time televised ] at the ] in July 2004. He won ] in November 2004.

Obama began his run for the presidency in February 2007. After ] in the ] against ], he won his party's nomination. In the 2008 general election, he defeated ] nominee ] and was ] on January 20, 2009. On October 9, 2009, he was awarded the ].

==Early life and career==
{{main|Early life and career of Barack Obama}}

Barack Obama was born at ] in ], ], United States,<ref name="maraniss">{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/23/AR2008082301620.html|title=Though Obama Had to Leave to Find Himself, It Is Hawaii That Made His Rise Possible|last=Maraniss|first=David|work=Politics|work=Washington Post|date=August 24, 2008|accessdate=October 27, 2008}}</ref> to ],<ref>For Stanley Ann's first name, see Obama (1995, 2004), p. 19</ref> an American of predominantly English descent from ],<ref name="Kansas"/> and ], a ] from ], ], ]. Obama's parents met in 1960 in a ] class at the ], where his father was a foreign student on scholarship.<ref>Obama (1995, 2004), pp. 9–10. For book excerpts, see {{cite news|title=Barack Obama: Creation of Tales|date=November 1, 2004|url=http://www.nationmedia.com/EastAfrican/01112004/Features/PA2-2212.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070927225314/http://www.nationmedia.com/EastAfrican/01112004/Features/PA2-2212.html|archivedate=September 27, 2007|work=East African|accessdate=April 13, 2008}}</ref><ref name="baltimoresun2007">{{cite news|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/politics/chi-0703270151mar27-archive,0,91024,full.story|title=Obama's mom: Not just a girl from Kansas: Strong personalities shaped a future senator|first=Tim|last=Jones|work=], reprinted in ]|date=March 27, 2007|accessdate=October 27, 2008}}</ref> The couple married on February 2, 1961,<ref>{{cite news|author=Ripley, Amanda|title=The Story of Barack Obama's Mother|url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1729524,00.html|date=April 9, 2008|work=]|accessdate=April 9, 2007}}</ref> and Barack was born later that year. His parents separated when he was two years old and they divorced in 1964.<ref name="baltimoresun2007"/> Obama's father remarried and returned to Kenya, where he had two more sons, David and Mark Ndesandjo.<ref>{{cite news|first=Tini|last=Tran|title=Obama says he met with half brother while in China|date=November 18, 2009|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091118/ap_on_re_as/as_obama_brother|work=Associated Press|accessdate=November 18, 2009}}</ref> The senior Obama saw his first son only once more before dying in an automobile accident in 1982.<ref>{{cite news|first=Kevin|last=Merida|title=The Ghost of a Father|date=December 14, 2007|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2007/12/13/ST2007121301893.html|work=Washington Post|accessdate=June 24, 2008}} See also: {{cite news|first=Philip|last=Ochieng|title=From Home Squared to the US Senate: How Barack Obama Was Lost and Found|date=November 1, 2004|url=http://www.nationmedia.com/EastAfrican/01112004/Features/PA2-11.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070927223905/http://www.nationmedia.com/EastAfrican/01112004/Features/PA2-11.html|archivedate=September 27, 2007|work=East African|accessdate=June 24, 2008}}</ref>

After her divorce, Dunham married ]n student ], who was attending college in Hawaii. When ], a military leader in Soetoro's home country, ] in 1967, all Indonesian students studying abroad were recalled and the family moved to the island nation.<ref>Obama (1995, 2004), pp. 44–45.</ref> From ages six to ten, Obama attended local schools in ], including ] and St. Francis of Assisi School.

In 1971, Obama returned to Honolulu to live with his maternal grandparents, ] and ], and attended ], a private ], from the fifth grade until his graduation from high school in 1979.<ref>{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Serafin|title=Punahou Grad Stirs Up Illinois Politics|date=March 21, 2004|url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2004/03/21/news/story4.html|work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin|accessdate=April 13, 2008}} See also: Obama (1995, 2004), Chapters 3 and 4.</ref>

Obama's mother returned to Hawaii in 1972, remaining there until 1977 when she relocated to Indonesia to work as an ] field worker. She finally returned to Hawaii in 1994 and lived there for one year before dying of ].<ref>{{cite news|first=Amanda|last=Ripley|title=The Story of Barack Obama's Mother|date=April 9, 2008|url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1729524,00.html|work=Time|accessdate=June 24, 2008}} See also: {{cite news|first=Julia|last=Suryakusuma|title=Obama for President... of Indonesia|date=November 29, 2006|work=Jakarta Post|url=http://old.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20061129.F03|accessdate=June 24, 2008}}</ref>

], with their mother ] and grandfather ], in Hawaii (early 1970s)]]

Of his early childhood, Obama recalled, "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> He described his struggles as a young adult to reconcile social perceptions of his ] heritage.<ref>Obama (1995), Chapters 4 and 5. See also: {{cite news|first=Richard A|last=Serrano|title=Obama's Peers Didn't See His Angst|format=paid archive|date=March 11, 2007|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/1230439131.html?dids=1230439131:1230439131&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+11%2C+2007&author=Richard+A.+Serrano&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&edition=&startpage=A.20&desc=THE+NATION|work=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=January 4, 2008}}</ref> Reflecting later on his formative years in Honolulu, Obama wrote: "The opportunity that Hawaii offered—to experience a variety of cultures in a climate of mutual respect—became an integral part of my world view, and a basis for the values that I hold most dear."<ref>{{cite news|first=B. J|last=Reyes|title=Punahou Left Lasting Impression on Obama|date=February 8, 2007|url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2007/02/08/news/story02.html|work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin|accessdate=January 4, 2008}} "As a teenager, Obama went to parties and sometimes sought out gatherings on military bases or at the University of Hawaii that were mostly attended by blacks."</ref> Obama has also written and talked about using alcohol, ] and ] during his teenage years to "push questions of who I was out of my mind."<ref>{{cite news|title=Obama Gets Blunt with N.H. Students| date=November 21, 2007|work=Boston Globe|url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/11/21/obama_gets_blunt_with_nh_students/|agency=Associated Press|accessdate=January 4, 2008}} In ''Dreams from My Father'', Obama writes: "Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it." Obama (1995), pp. 93–94. For analysis of the political impact of the quote and Obama's more recent admission that he smoked marijuana as a teenager ("When I was a kid, I inhaled."), see: {{cite news|first=Lois|last=Romano|title=Effect of Obama's Candor Remains to Be Seen|date=January 3, 2007|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/02/AR2007010201359.html|work=Washington Post|accessdate=January 4, 2008}} {{cite news|first=Katharine Q|last=Seelye|title=Obama Offers More Variations From the Norm|date=October 24, 2006|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/24/us/politics/24obama.html|work=New York Times|accessdate=January 4, 2008}}</ref> At the ], Obama identified his high-school drug use as his "greatest moral failure."<ref>{{cite news|first=Ed|last=Hornick|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/16/warren.forum/|title=Obama, McCain talk issues at pastor's forum|work=CNN.com|location=LAKE FOREST, California|date=August 17, 2008|accessdate=January 4, 2009}}</ref>

Following high school, Obama moved to Los Angeles in 1979 to attend ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Oxy Remembers "Barry" Obama '83|date=January 29, 2007|url=http://www.oxy.edu/x8270.xml|publisher=Occidental College|accessdate=April 13, 2008}}</ref> After two years he transferred in 1981 to ] in New York City, where he majored in ] with a specialization in ]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.college.columbia.edu/cct_archive/jan05/cover.php|title=Barack Obama '83|work=Columbia College Today|author=Boss-Bicak, Shira|date=January 2005|accessdate=June 9, 2008}}</ref> and graduated with a ] in 1983. He worked for a year at the ],<ref name="BOCV">{{cite web|url=http://www.law.uchicago.edu/faculty/obama/cv.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20010509024017/http://www.law.uchicago.edu/faculty/obama/cv.html|archivedate=May 9, 2001|title=Curriculum Vitae|publisher=The University of Chicago Law School|accessdate=November 3, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Sasha|last=Issenberg|title=Obama shows hints of his year in global finance: Tied markets to social aid|date=August 6, 2008 |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/08/06/obama_shows_hints_of_his_year_in_global_finance/?page=1|work=Boston Globe|accessdate=April 13, 2008}}</ref> then at the ].<ref name="Who's Who 2008">{{cite book|author=Chassie, Karen (ed.)|year=2007|title=Who's Who in America, 2008|url=http://www.marquiswhoswho.com/products/WAprodinfo.asp|location=New Providence, NJ|work=Marquis Who's Who|isbn=9780837970110|accessdate=June 6, 2008|page=3468|publisher=Marquis Who's Who}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Janny|last=Scott|title=Obama's Account of New York Years Often Differs from What Others Say|date=October 30, 2007|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/us/politics/30obama.html|work=The New York Times|accessdate=April 13, 2008}} Obama (1995, 2004), pp. 133–140; Mendell (2007), pp. 62–63.</ref>

===Chicago community activism and Harvard Law===

After four years in New York City, Obama moved to Chicago, where he was hired as director of the Developing Communities Project (DCP), a church-based community organization originally comprising eight Catholic parishes in Greater Roseland (], ] and ]) on Chicago's far ]. He worked there as a community organizer from June 1985 to May 1988.<ref name="Who's Who 2008"/><ref>{{cite news|author=Secter, Bob; McCormick, John|date=March 30, 2007|title=Portrait of a pragmatist|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0703300121mar30,1,6651421,full.story|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080209030448/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0703300121mar30,1,6651421,full.story|archivedate=February 9, 2008|work=Chicago Tribune|page=1|accessdate=June 6, 2008}} {{cite news|first=Ryan|last=Lizza|title=The Agitator: Barack Obama's Unlikely Political Education|format=alternate link|date=March 19, 2007|url=http://www.pickensdemocrats.org/info/TheAgitator_070319.htm|work=New Republic|accessdate=April 13, 2008}} Obama (1995, 2004), pp. 140–295; Mendell (2007), pp. 63–83.</ref> During his three years as the DCP's director, its staff grew from one to thirteen and its annual budget grew from $70,000 to $400,000. He helped set up a job training program, a college preparatory tutoring program, and a tenants' rights organization in ].<ref>{{cite news|author=Matchan, Linda|date=February 15, 1990|title=A Law Review breakthrough|url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/articles/1990/02/15/a_law_review_breakthrough/|format=paid archive|work=The Boston Globe|page=29|accessdate=June 15, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Corr, John|date=February 27, 1990|title=From mean streets to hallowed halls|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&p_theme=pi&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_trackval=PI&s_search_type=customized&s_dispstring=Author(John%20Corr)%20AND%20date(02/27/1990%20to%2002/27/1990)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=02/27/1990%20to%2002/27/1990)&p_field_advanced-0=Author&p_text_advanced-0=(John%20Corr)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=_rank_:D&xcal_ranksort=4&xcal_useweights=yes|format=paid archive|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|page=C01|accessdate=June 6, 2008}}</ref> Obama also worked as a consultant and instructor for the ], a community organizing institute.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Obama, Barack |month=August–September|year=1988|title=Why organize? Problems and promise in the inner city|journal=Illinois Issues|volume=14|issue=8–9|pages=40–42|accessdate=June 6, 2008}} reprinted in: {{cite book|year=1990|pages=35–40|author=Knoepfle, Peg (ed.)|title=After Alinsky: community organizing in Illinois|location=Springfield, IL|publisher=Sangamon State University|isbn=0962087335|accessdate=June 6, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Tayler, Letta; Herbert, Keith |date=March 2, 2008|title=Obama forged path as Chicago community organizer|url=http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/obama-forged-path-as-chicago-community-organizer-1.881130|work=Newsday|page=A06|accessdate=June 6, 2008}}</ref> In mid-1988, he traveled for the first time in Europe for three weeks and then for five weeks in Kenya, where he met many of his ] for the first time.<ref>Obama (1995, 2004), pp. 299–437.</ref> He returned in August 2006 in a visit to his father's birthplace, a village near ] in rural western Kenya.<ref>{{cite news|first=Nico|last=Gnecchi|title=Obama Receives Hero's Welcome at His Family's Ancestral Village in Kenya|date=February 27, 2006|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2006-08/2006-08-27-voa17.cfm|work=Voice of America|accessdate=June 24, 2008}}</ref>

Obama entered ] in late 1988. He was selected as an editor of the ''Harvard Law Review'' at the end of his first year,<ref name="Harvard Law 2007">{{cite news|author=Levenson, Michael; Saltzman, Jonathan|date=January 28, 2007|title=At Harvard Law, a unifying voice|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/01/28/at_harvard_law_a_unifying_voice/?page=full|work=The Boston Globe|accessdate=June 15, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Kantor, Jodi|date=January 28, 2007|title=In law school, Obama found political voice|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/us/politics/28obama.html?pagewanted=all|work=The New York Times|page=1|accessdate=June 15, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Kodama, Marie C|date=January 19, 2007|title=Obama left mark on HLS|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=516664|work=The Harvard Crimson|accessdate=June 15, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Mundy, Liza|title=A series of fortunate events|date=August 12, 2007|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/08/AR2007080802038_pf.html|work=The Washington Post|page=W10|accessdate=June 15, 2008}} {{cite journal|author=Heilemann, John|title=When they were young|date=October 22, 2007|url=http://www.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=When+They+Were+Young&expire=&urlID=24417790&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnymag.com%2Fnews%2Ffeatures%2F39321%2F&partnerID=73272|journal=New York|volume=40|issue=37|pages=32–7, 132–3|accessdate=June 15, 2008}} Mendell (2007), pp. 80–92.</ref> and president of the journal in his second year.<ref name="Harvard Law 1990">{{cite news|author=Butterfield, Fox|date=February 6, 1990|title=First black elected to head Harvard's Law Review|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE2DC1631F935A35751C0A966958260|work=The New York Times|page=A20|accessdate=June 15, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Ybarra, Michael J|date=February 7, 1990|title=Activist in Chicago now heads Harvard Law Review|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/28797353.html?dids=28797353:28797353&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT|format=paid archive|work=Chicago Tribune|page=3|accessdate=June 15, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Matchan, Linda|date=February 15, 1990|title=A Law Review breakthrough|url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/articles/1990/02/15/a_law_review_breakthrough/|format=paid archive|work=The Boston Globe|page=29|accessdate=June 15, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Corr, John|date=February 27, 1990|title=From mean streets to hallowed halls|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&p_theme=pi&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_trackval=PI&s_search_type=customized&s_dispstring=Author(John%20Corr)%20AND%20date(02/27/1990%20to%2002/27/1990)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=02/27/1990%20to%2002/27/1990)&p_field_advanced-0=Author&p_text_advanced-0=(John%20Corr)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=_rank_:D&xcal_ranksort=4&xcal_useweights=yes|format=paid archive|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|page=C01|accessdate=June 15, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Drummond, Tammerlin|date=March 12, 1990|title=Barack Obama's Law; Harvard Law Review's first black president plans a life of public service|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/60017156.html?dids=60017156:60017156&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT|format=paid archive|work=Los Angeles Times|page=E1|accessdate=June 15, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Evans, Gaynelle|date=March 15, 1990|title=Opening another door: The saga of Harvard's Barack H. Obama|work=Black Issues in Higher Education|page=5|url=http://www.diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_11791.shtml|accessdate=November 15, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Pugh, Allison J. (Associated Press)|date=April 18, 1990|title=Law Review's first black president aims to help poor|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&p_theme=realcities2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_site=miami&s_trackval=MH&s_dispstring=Title(Law%20Review's%20first%20black%20president%20aims%20to%20help%20poor)%20AND%20date(04/18/1990%20to%2004/18/1990)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=04/18/1990%20to%2004/18/1990)&p_field_advanced-0=title&p_text_advanced-0=(Law%20Review's%20first%20black%20president%20aims%20to%20help%20poor)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=_rank_:D&xcal_ranksort=4&xcal_useweights=yes|format=paid archive|work=The Miami Herald|page=C01|accessdate=June 15, 2008}}</ref> During his summers, he returned to Chicago, where he worked as a ] at the law firms of ] in 1989 and ] in 1990.<ref>{{cite news|author=Aguilar, Louis|date=July 11, 1990|title=Survey: Law firms slow to add minority partners|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/28774085.html?dids=28774085:28774085&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT|format=paid archive|work=Chicago Tribune|page=1 (Business)|quote=Barack Obama, a summer associate at Hopkins & Sutter in Chicago|accessdate=June 15, 2008}}</ref> After graduating with a ] ]<ref name="Juris Doctor"/> from Harvard in 1991, he returned to Chicago.<ref name="Harvard Law 2007"/> Obama's election as the ] gained national media attention<ref name="Harvard Law 1990"/> and led to a publishing contract and advance for a book about race relations,<ref name="Scott 2008a">{{cite news|author=Scott, Janny|date=May 18, 2008|title=The story of Obama, written by Obama|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/18/us/politics/18memoirs.html?pagewanted=all|work=The New York Times|page=1|accessdate=June 15, 2008}} Obama (1995, 2004), pp. xiii–xvii.</ref> though it evolved into a personal memoir. The manuscript was published in mid-1995 as '']''.<ref name="Scott 2008a"/>

===Return to Chicago===

From April to October 1992, Obama directed Illinois's ], a voter registration drive with a staff of ten and 700 volunteers; it achieved its goal of registering 150,000 of 400,000 unregistered African Americans in the state, and led to ''Crain's Chicago Business'' naming Obama to its 1993 list of "40 under Forty" powers to be.<ref name="Forty"/>

For 12 years, Obama was a ] professor at the ]; as a lecturer from 1992 to 1996, and as a senior lecturer from 1996 to 2004.<ref>{{cite web|author=University of Chicago Law School|date=March 27, 2008|title=Statement regarding Barack Obama|publisher=University of Chicago Law School|url=http://www.law.uchicago.edu/media/index.html|accessdate=June 10, 2008}} {{cite web|author=Miller, Joe|date=March 28, 2008|title=Was Barack Obama really a constitutional law professor?|publisher=FactCheck.org|url=http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/was_barack_obama_really_a_constitutional_law.html|accessdate=June 10, 2008}} {{cite web|author=Holan, Angie Drobnic|date=March 7, 2008|title=Obama's 20 years of experience|url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2008/mar/07/obamas-20-years-experience/|publisher=PolitiFact.com|accessdate=June 10, 2008}}</ref> In 1993 he joined Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland, a law firm of 12 attorneys that specialized in civil rights litigation and neighborhood economic development, where he was an ] for three years from 1993 to 1996, then ] from 1996 to 2004, with his law license becoming inactive in 2002.<ref>{{cite news|author=Robinson, Mike (Associated Press)|date=February 20, 2007|title=Obama got start in civil rights practice|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/20/AR2007022000045.html|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=March 10, 2009}} {{cite news|author=Pallasch, Abdon M|date=December 17, 2007|title=As lawyer, Obama was strong, silent type; He was 'smart, innovative, relentless,' and he mostly let other lawyers do the talking|url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/700499,CST-NWS-Obama-law17.article|work=Chicago Sun-Times|page=4|accessdate=June 15, 2008}} {{cite news|date=June 27, 1993|title=People|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24302659.html?dids=24302659:24302659&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT|format=paid archive|work=Chicago Tribune|page=9 (Business)|accessdate=June 15, 2008}} {{cite news|date=July 5, 1993|title=Business appointments|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=(Business%20appointments)%20AND%20date(7/5/1993%20to%207/5/1993)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=7/5/1993%20to%207/5/1993)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(Business%20appointments)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no|format=paid archive|work=Chicago-Sun-Times|page=40|accessdate=June 15, 2008}} {{cite web|author=Miner, Barnhill & Galland|year=2008|title=About Us|url=http://www.lawmbg.com/index.cfm/PageID/2711|publisher=Miner, Barnhill & Galland – Chicago, Illinois|accessdate=June 15, 2008}} Obama (1995, 2004), pp. 438–439, Mendell (2007), pp. 104–106.</ref>

Obama was a founding member of the board of directors of ] in 1992, resigning before his wife, Michelle, became the founding executive director of Public Allies Chicago in early 1993.<ref name="Who's Who 2008"/><ref>{{cite web|author=Public Allies|year=2008|title=Fact Sheet on Public Allies' History with Senator Barack and Michelle Obama|url=http://www.publicallies.org/site/c.liKUL3PNLvF/b.3960231/|publisher=]|accessdate=June 6, 2008}}</ref> He served from 1994 to 2002 on the board of directors of the ], which in 1985 had been the first foundation to fund the Developing Communities Project, and also from 1994 to 2002 on the board of directors of the ].<ref name="Who's Who 2008"/> Obama served on the board of directors of the ] from 1995 to 2002, as founding president and chairman of the board of directors from 1995 to 1999.<ref name="Who's Who 2008"/> He also served on the board of directors of the ], the ], and the Lugenia Burns Hope Center.<ref name="Who's Who 2008"/>

==Political career: 1996–2008==
===State legislator: 1997–2004===
{{main|Illinois Senate career of Barack Obama}}

Obama was elected to the ] in 1996, succeeding State Senator ] as Senator from Illinois's 13th District, which at that time spanned Chicago South Side neighborhoods from ]-] south to ] and west to ].<ref>{{cite news |first=David |last=Jackson |coauthors=Ray Long |title=Obama Knows His Way Around a Ballot |date=April 3, 2007 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-070403obama-ballot-archive,0,5693903.story|work=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=January 14, 2008}}
{{cite book |author=] |year=2001 |chapter=Legislative Districts of Cook County, 1991 Reapportionment |chapterurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080226221919/http://www.sos.state.il.us/publications/02bluebook/legislative_branch/legdistrictmaps.pdf |title=Illinois Blue Book 2001–2002 |location=Springfield |publisher=] |page=65}} State Sen. District 13 = State Rep. Districts 25 & 26.</ref> Once elected, Obama gained bipartisan support for legislation reforming ethics and health care laws.<ref>{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Slevin |title=Obama Forged Political Mettle in Illinois Capitol |date=February 9, 2007 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/08/AR2007020802262.html |work=Washington Post |accessdate=April 20, 2008}} {{cite news |first=Scott |last=Helman |title=In Illinois, Obama dealt with Lobbyists |date=September 23, 2007 |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/09/23/in_illinois_obama_dealt_with_lobbyists/ |work=Boston Globe |accessdate=April 20, 2008}} See also: {{cite news |title=Obama Record May Be Gold Mine for Critics |date=January 17, 2007 |work=CBS News |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/17/politics/main2369157.shtml |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=April 20, 2008}} {{cite news |title=In-Depth Look at Obama's Political Career |date=February 9, 2007 |work=Chicago Tribune |url=http://video.chicagotribune.com/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?clipid1=1226539 |work=CLTV |format=video |accessdate=April 20, 2008}}</ref> He sponsored a law increasing ]s for low-income workers, negotiated welfare reform, and promoted increased subsidies for childcare.<ref name=Scott20070730>{{cite news |first=Janny |last=Scott |title=In Illinois, Obama Proved Pragmatic and Shrewd |date=July 30, 2007 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/us/politics/30obama.html |work=The New York Times |accessdate=April 20, 2008}} See also: {{cite news |first=Rick |last=Pearson |coauthors=Ray Long |title=Careful Steps, Looking Ahead |date=May 3, 2007 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-0705030101may03,1,7439904.story |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080216014957/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-0705030101may03,1,7439904.story |archivedate=February 16, 2008 |work=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=April 20, 2008}}</ref> In 2001, as co-chairman of the bipartisan Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, Obama supported Republican Governor Ryan's payday loan regulations and predatory mortgage lending regulations aimed at averting home foreclosures.<ref>{{cite news |author=Allison, Melissa |date=December 15, 2000 |title=State takes on predatory lending; Rules would halt single-premium life insurance financing |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/65214450.html?dids=65214450:65214450&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |type=paid archive |work=Chicago Tribune |page=1 (Business) |accessdate=June 1, 2008}} {{cite news |author=Long, Ray; Allison, Melissa |date=April 18, 2001 |title=Illinois OKs predatory loan curbs; State aims to avert home foreclosures. |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/71459393.html?dids=71459393:71459393&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |type=paid archive |work=Chicago Tribune |page=1 |accessdate=June 1, 2008}}</ref>

Obama was reelected to the Illinois Senate in 1998, defeating Republican Yesse Yehudah in the general election, and was reelected again in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html |title=13th District: Barack Obama |format=archive |accessdate=April 20, 2008 |date=August 24, 2000 |publisher=Illinois State Senate Democrats |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20000824102110/http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html |archivedate=April 12, 2000}} {{cite web |url=http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html |title=13th District: Barack Obama |format=archive |accessdate=April 20, 2008 |date=October 9, 2004 |publisher=Illinois State Senate Democrats |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20040802233730/http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html |archivedate=August 2, 2004}}</ref> In 2000, he lost a Democratic primary run for ] to four-term incumbent ] by a margin of two to one.<ref name="Democratic primary"/>

In January 2003, Obama became chairman of the Illinois Senate's Health and Human Services Committee when Democrats, after a decade in the minority, regained a majority.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jackie |last=Calmes |title=Statehouse Yields Clues to Obama |date=February 23, 2007 |url=http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB117219748197216894-Sn6oV_4KLQHp_xz7CjYLuyjv3Jg_20070324.html |work=Wall Street Journal |accessdate=April 20, 2008}}</ref> He sponsored and led unanimous, bipartisan passage of legislation to monitor ] by requiring police to record the race of drivers they detained, and legislation making Illinois the first state to mandate videotaping of homicide interrogations.<ref name=Scott20070730 /><ref>{{cite news |author=Tavella, Anne Marie |date=April 14, 2003 |title=Profiling, taping plans pass Senate |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ADHB&p_theme=adhb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=Profiling,%20AND%20taping%20AND%20plans%20AND%20pass%20AND%20Senate&s_dispstring=Profiling,%20taping%20plans%20pass%20Senate%20AND%20date(4/4/2003%20to%204/4/2003)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=4/4/2003%20to%204/4/2003)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no |type=paid archive |work=Daily Herald |page=17 |accessdate=June 1, 2008}} {{cite news |author=Haynes, V. Dion |date=June 29, 2003 |title=Fight racial profiling at local level, lawmaker says; U.S. guidelines get mixed review |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/352884461.html?dids=352884461:352884461&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |type=paid archive |work=Chicago Tribune |page=8 |accessdate=June 1, 2008}} {{cite news |author=Pearson, Rick |date=July 17, 2003 |title=Taped confessions to be law; State will be 1st to pass legislation |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/370136121.html?dids=370136121:370136121&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |type=paid archive |work=Chicago Tribune |page=1 (Metro) |accessdate=June 1, 2008}}</ref> During his 2004 general election campaign for U.S. Senate, police representatives credited Obama for his active engagement with police organizations in enacting ] reforms.<ref>{{cite news |first=Sam |last=Youngman |coauthors=Aaron Blake |title=Obama's Crime Votes Are Fodder for Rivals |date=March 14, 2007 |url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/obamas-crime-votes-are-fodder-for-rivals-2007-03-13.html |work=The Hill |accessdate=April 20, 2008}} See also: {{cite news |title=US Presidential Candidate Obama Cites Work on State Death Penalty Reforms |date=November 12, 2007 |work=International Herald Tribune |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/12/america/NA-POL-US-Obama-Death-Penalty.php |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=April 20, 2008}}</ref> Obama resigned from the Illinois Senate in November 2004 following his election to the U.S. Senate.<ref>{{cite news |first=Melanie |last=Coffee |title=Attorney Chosen to Fill Obama's State Senate Seat |date=November 6, 2004 |publisher=HPKCC |url=http://www.hydepark.org/hpkccnews/raoul.htm#ap |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=April 20, 2008}}</ref>

===2004 U.S. Senate campaign===
{{see also|United States Senate election in Illinois, 2004}}

In May 2002, Obama commissioned a poll to assess his prospects in a 2004 U.S. Senate race; he created a campaign committee, began raising funds and lined up political media consultant ] by August 2002, and formally announced his candidacy in January 2003.<ref>{{cite news |first=Scott |last=Helman |title=Early Defeat Launched a Rapid Political Climb |date=October 12, 2007 |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/10/12/early_defeat_launched_a_rapid_political_climb/ |work=Boston Globe |accessdate=April 13, 2008}}</ref> Decisions by Republican incumbent ] and his Democratic predecessor ] not to contest the race launched wide-open Democratic and Republican primary contests involving fifteen candidates.<ref>{{cite news |last=Davey |first=Monica |title=Closely Watched Illinois Senate Race Attracts 7 Candidates in Millionaire Range |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/07/politics/campaign/07ILLI.html |work=The New York Times |date=March 7, 2004 |accessdate=April 13, 2008}}</ref> Obama's candidacy was boosted by Axelrod's advertising campaign featuring images of the late Chicago Mayor ] and an endorsement by the daughter of the late ], former U.S. Senator for Illinois.<ref>{{cite news |first=Ben |last=Wallace-Wells |title=Obama's Narrator |date=April 1, 2007 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/01/magazine/01axelrod.t.html |work=] |accessdate=April 13, 2008}}</ref> In the March 2004 primary election, Obama won in an unexpected landslide—finishing with 53% of the vote in a seven candidate field, 29 percentage points ahead of the runner-up—which overnight made him a rising star within the ] and started speculation about a presidential future.<ref name="future"/>

In July 2004, Obama wrote and delivered the keynote address at the ] in Boston, Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite news |first=David |last=Bernstein|title=The Speech |date=June 2007|url=http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/June-2007/The-Speech/ |work=Chicago Magazine|accessdate=April 13, 2008}}</ref> Though it was not televised by ], a combined 9.1 million viewers saw Obama's speech, which was a highlight of the convention and elevated his status within the Democratic Party.<ref name="status"/>

Obama's expected opponent in the general election, Republican primary winner ], withdrew from the race in June 2004.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ryan Drops Out of Senate Race in Illinois |date=June 25, 2004 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/06/25/il.ryan/ |work=CNN |accessdate=April 13, 2008}} Mendell (2007), pp. 260–271.</ref> Two months later, ] accepted the Illinois Republican Party's nomination to replace Ryan.<ref>{{cite news |first=Maura Kelly |last=Lannan |title=Alan Keyes Enters U.S. Senate Race in Illinois Against Rising Democratic Star |date=August 9, 2004 |work=Union-Tribune (San Diego) |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20040809-0849-illinoissenate.html |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=April 13, 2008}}</ref> A long-time resident of Maryland, Keyes established legal residency in Illinois with the nomination.<ref>{{cite news |first=Ford |last=Liam |coauthors=David Mendell |title=Keyes Sets Up House in Cal City |date=August 13, 2004 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0408130201aug13,0,1664738.story |work=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=April 13, 2008}}</ref> In the November 2004 general election, Obama received 70% of the vote to Keyes' 27%, the largest victory margin for a statewide race in Illinois history.<ref name="margin"/>

===U.S. Senator: 2005–2008===
{{main|United States Senate career of Barack Obama}}

Obama was sworn in as a senator on January 4, 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://obama.senate.gov/about/|title=About Barack Obama|accessdate=April 27, 2008|publisher=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office}}</ref> Obama was the fifth African American Senator in U.S. history and the third to have been ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/h_multi_sections_and_teasers/Photo_Exhibit_African_American_Senators.htm|title=Breaking New Ground: African American Senators|publisher=U.S. Senate Historical Office|accessdate=June 25, 2008}}</ref> He was the only Senate member of the ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Member Info|url=http://www.house.gov/kilpatrick/cbc/member_info.html|publisher=Congressional Black Caucus|accessdate=June 25, 2008}} See also: {{cite news|first=Jeff|last=Zeleny|title=When It Comes to Race, Obama Makes His Point—With Subtlety|date=June 26, 2005|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-050626obama-race,1,7205709.story|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080216014942/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-050626obama-race,1,7205709.story|archivedate=February 16, 2008|work=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=June 25, 2008}}</ref> ''],'' a nonpartisan publication, characterized him as a "loyal Democrat" based on analysis of all Senate votes in 2005–2007. The '']'' ranked him as the "most liberal" senator based on an assessment of selected votes during 2007; in 2005 he was ranked sixteenth most liberal, and in 2006 he was ranked tenth.<ref name="ranked tenth"/> In 2008, Congress.org ranked him as the eleventh most powerful Senator,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.congress.org/congressorg/power_rankings/overall.tt|title=Power Rankings: Senate|author=KnowLegis|accessdate=September 7, 2008}}</ref> and the politician who was the most popular in the ], enjoying 72% approval in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-133418139.html|title=Update; Obama leads Senate with 72% approval.|work=Star Tribune|author=Melissa Lee|accessdate=February 26, 2009}}</ref> Obama announced on November 13, 2008 that he would resign his senate seat on November 16, 2008, before the start of the ] session, to focus on his transition period for the presidency.<ref name="transition period"/> This enabled him to avoid the conflict of dual roles as President-elect and Senator in the lame duck session of Congress, which no sitting member of Congress had faced since ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990DE4DD1E30F937A25752C1A96E9C8B63|title=ON THE WHITE HOUSE; If the Senate Reconvenes, Two Seats May Be Empty|accessdate=November 21, 2008|date=November 14, 2008|work=]|author=Baker, Peter}}</ref>

====Legislation====
{{see also|List of bills sponsored by Barack Obama in the United States Senate}}

]

Obama voted in favor of the ] and cosponsored the ].<ref>{{cite web |first=109th Congress, 1st Session |last=U.S. Senate |title=S. 1033, Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act |date=May 12, 2005 |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SN01033: |publisher=Thomas |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</ref> In September 2006, Obama supported a related bill, the ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Latinos Upset Obama Voted for Border Fence |date=November 20, 2006 |url=http://cbs2chicago.com/local/local_story_324192245.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070927231949/http://cbs2chicago.com/local/local_story_324192245.html |archivedate=September 27, 2007 |work=CBS 2 (Chicago) |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</ref> Obama introduced two initiatives bearing his name: Lugar–Obama, which expanded the ] concept to conventional weapons,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://obama.senate.gov/press/070111-lugar-obama_non/ |title=Lugar–Obama Nonproliferation Legislation Signed into Law by the President |date=January 11, 2007 |publisher=Richard Lugar U.S. Senate Office |accessdate=April 27, 2008}} See also: {{cite news |first=Richard G |last=Lugar |coauthors=Barack Obama |title=Junkyard Dogs of War |date=December 3, 2005 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/02/AR2005120201509.html |work=Washington Post |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</ref> and the ], which authorized the establishment of USAspending.gov, a web search engine on federal spending.<ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=McCormack |title=Google Government Gone Viral |date=December 21, 2007 |url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/014/502njiqx.asp |work=Weekly Standard |accessdate=April 27, 2008}} See also: {{cite web |title=President Bush Signs Coburn–Obama Transparency Act |date=September 26, 2006 |url=http://coburn.senate.gov/ffm/index.cfm?FuseAction=LegislativeFloorAction.Home&ContentRecord_id=eb582f19-802a-23ad-41db-7a7cb464cfdb |publisher=Tom Coburn U.S. Senate Office |accessdate=April 27, 2008}} and </ref> On June 3, 2008, Senator Obama, along with Senators ], ], and ], introduced follow-up legislation: Strengthening Transparency and Accountability in Federal Spending Act of 2008.<ref> ''Govtrack.us,'' 2007-2008 (110th Congress)</ref>

] (R-IN) visit a Russian mobile launch missile dismantling facility in August 2005.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nunn–Lugar Report |month=August |year=2005 |publisher=Richard Lugar U.S. Senate Office|url=http://lugar.senate.gov/nunnlugar/pdf/trip_report_2005.pdf|accessdate=April 30, 2008|format=PDF}}</ref>]]

Obama sponsored legislation that would have required nuclear plant owners to notify state and local authorities of radioactive leaks, but the bill failed to pass in the full Senate after being heavily modified in committee.<ref>{{cite news |last=McIntire |first=Mike |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/us/politics/03exelon.html |title=Nuclear Leaks and Response Tested Obama in Senate |date=February 3, 2008
|work=The New York Times |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</ref> Obama is not hostile to ] and voted for the ] and the ], which grants immunity from civil liability to telecommunications companies complicit with ] operations.<ref name="Fisher">{{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/2008/08/08/obama-mccain-torts-biz-beltway-cz_df_0811torts.html|title=November Election A Lawyer's Delight|author=Daniel Fisher|work=Forbes Magazine|date=August 11, 2008|accessdate=January 11, 2009}}</ref>

In December 2006, 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>{{cite web |title=Democratic Republic of the Congo |month=April |year=2006 |url=http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/drc0406.shtml |publisher=United States Conference of Catholic Bishops |accessdate=April 27, 2008}} {{cite web |title=The IRC Welcomes New U.S. Law on Congo |date=January 5, 2007 |url=http://www.theirc.org/news/the-irc-welcomes-new-us-law.html |publisher=International Rescue Committee |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</ref> In January 2007, Obama and Senator Feingold introduced a corporate jet provision to the ], which was signed into law in September 2007.<ref>{{cite news |first=Nathaniel |last=Weixel |title=Feingold, Obama Go After Corporate Jet Travel |date=November 15, 2007 |url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/feingold-obama-go-after-corporate-jet-travel-2007-11-15.html |work=The Hill |accessdate=April 27, 2008}} {{cite news |first=Nathaniel |last=Weixel |title=Lawmakers Press FEC on Bundling Regulation |date=December 5, 2007 |url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/lawmakers-press-fec-on-bundling-regulation-2007-12-05.html |work=The Hill |accessdate=April 27, 2008}} See also: {{cite news |title=Federal Election Commission Announces Plans to Issue New Regulations to Implement the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 |date=September 24, 2007 |publisher=Federal Election Commission |url=http://www.fec.gov/press/press2007/20070924travel.shtml |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</ref> Obama also introduced ], a bill to criminalize deceptive practices in federal elections<ref>{{cite news |first=Seth |last=Stern |title=Obama–Schumer Bill Proposal Would Criminalize Voter Intimidation |date=January 31, 2007 |work=The New York Times |url=http://www.nytimes.com/cq/2007/01/31/cq_2213.html |work=CQPolitics.com |accessdate=April 27, 2008}} {{cite web |first=110th Congress, 1st Session |last=U.S. Senate |title=S. 453, Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007 |date=January 31, 2007 |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SN00453: |publisher=Thomas |accessdate=April 27, 2008}} See also: {{cite news |title=Honesty in Elections |date=January 31, 2007 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/31/opinion/31wed1.html |work=The New York Times |format=editorial |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</ref> and the ],<ref>{{cite news |first=E. Kasak |last=Krystin |title=Obama Introduces Measure to Bring Troops Home |date=February 7, 2007 |work=The Times (Munster, Indiana) |url=http://nwitimes.com/articles/2007/02/07/news/illiana/doc65cc98d8dc6506b28625727b0011edb5.txt |work=Medill News Service |accessdate=April 27, 2008}} "Latest Major Action: 1/30/2007 Referred to Senate committee". {{cite web |first=110th Congress, 1st Session |last=U.S. Senate |title=S. 433, Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007 |date=January 30, 2007 |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SN00433: |publisher=Thomas |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</ref> neither of which has been signed into law.

Later in 2007, Obama sponsored an amendment to the Defense Authorization Act adding safeguards for personality disorder military discharges.<ref>{{cite web |title=Obama, Bond Hail New Safeguards on Military Personality Disorder Discharges, Urge Further Action |date=October 1, 2007 |url=http://bond.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.NewsReleases&ContentRecord_id=5C1EBFEB-1321-0E36-BA7D-04630AEFAD31 |publisher=Kit Bond U.S. Senate Office |accessdate=April 27, 2008}} See also: {{cite news |first=Philip |last=Dine |title=Bond Calls for Review of Military Discharges |date=December 23, 2007 |url=http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/special/srlinks.nsf/story/2E7CC823AD55667B862573A7007D12A2?OpenDocument |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</ref> This amendment passed the full Senate in the spring of 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=Obama, Bond Applaud Senate Passage of Amendment to Expedite the Review of Personality Disorder Discharge Cases |url=http://obama.senate.gov/press/080314-obama_bond_appl/}}</ref> He sponsored the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act supporting divestment of state pension funds from Iran's oil and gas industry, which has not passed committee, and co-sponsored legislation to reduce risks of nuclear terrorism.<ref name="nuclear terrorism"/> Obama also sponsored a Senate amendment to the ] providing one year of job protection for family members caring for soldiers with combat-related injuries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Senate Passes Obama, McCaskill Legislation to Provide Safety Net for Families of Wounded Service Members |date=August 2, 2007 |url=http://obama.senate.gov/press/070802-senate_passes_o_1/ |publisher=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office |accessdate=April 27, 2008}} {{wayback|url=http://obama.senate.gov/press/070802-senate_passes_o_1/}}</ref>

====Committees====
Obama held assignments on the Senate Committees for ], ] and ] through December 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20061209190827/obama.senate.gov/committees/ |format=archive |date=December 9, 2006 |title=Committee Assignments |accessdate=April 27, 2008 |publisher=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office}}</ref> In January 2007, he left the Environment and Public Works committee and took additional assignments with ] and ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Obama Gets New Committee Assignments |date=November 15, 2006 |publisher=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office |url=http://obama.senate.gov/news/061115-obama_gets_new/ |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</ref> He also became Chairman of the Senate's subcommittee on ].<ref>{{cite news |first=Tom |last=Baldwin |title=Stay-At-Home Barack Obama Comes Under Fire for a Lack of Foreign Experience |date=December 21, 2007 |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article3080794.ece |work=Sunday Times (UK) |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</ref> As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Obama made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. He met with ] before he became ] of the ], and gave a speech at the ] condemning corruption in the Kenyan government.<ref name="Kenyan"/>{{clear}}

==2008 presidential campaign==
{{main|United States presidential election, 2008|Barack Obama presidential primary campaign, 2008|Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2008}}
], Feb. 10, 2007.]]
On February 10, 2007, Obama announced his candidacy for president of the United States in front of the ] building in ], Illinois.<ref name=ChicagoTribune_Pearson_20070210>{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-070210obama-pearson1-story,0,3768114.story|title=Obama: I'm running for president|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Pearson, Rick|coauthors=Long, Ray|date=February 10, 2007|accessdate=September 20, 2008}}</ref><ref name=BBC20070210>{{cite news|title=Obama Launches Presidential Bid|date=February 10, 2007|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6349081.stm|work=BBC News|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</ref><ref name=YouTube20070210/> The choice of the announcement site was viewed as symbolic<ref name="ChicagoTribune_Pearson_20070210" /><ref name="ChicagoTribune_Parsons20070210">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-159132539.html|title=Obama's launch site: Symbolic Springfield: Announcement venue evokes Lincoln legacy|last=Parsons|first=Christi|date=February 10, 2007|work=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=June 12, 2009}}</ref> because it was also where ] delivered his historic ] speech in 1858.<ref name=YouTube20070210>{{cite news|title=Presidential Campaign Announcement|format=video|date=February 10, 2007|publisher=YouTube.com|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdJ7Ad15WCA&feature=channel_page|work=BarackObamadotcom|accessdate=January 29, 2009}}</ref> Throughout the campaign, Obama emphasized the issues of rapidly ending the ], increasing ] and providing ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Barack Obama on the Issues: What Would Be Your Top Three Overall Priorities If Elected?|url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/issues/candidates/barack-obama/#top-priorities|work=Washington Post|accessdate=April 14, 2008}} See also:
* {{cite book|last=Thomas|first=Evan|authorlink=Evan Thomas|title=A Long Time Coming|publisher=]|year=2009|location=New York|page=74|isbn=9781586486075}}
* {{cite news|first=Michael|last=Falcone|title=Obama's 'One Thing'|date=December 21, 2007|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/21/obamas-one-thing/|work=The New York Times|accessdate=April 14, 2008}}</ref>

] in ].]]

A large number of candidates entered the ]. The field narrowed to a duel between Obama and Senator ] after early contests, with the race remaining close throughout the primary process but with Obama gaining a steady lead in ]s due to better long-range planning, superior fundraising, dominant organizing in caucus states, and better exploitation of delegate allocation rules.<ref name="allocation"/> On June 3, with all states counted, Obama was named the ]<ref name="presumptive"/> and delivered a victory speech in St. Paul, Minnesota. Clinton ended her campaign and endorsed him on June 7.<ref>{{cite news|author=Nagourney, Adam and Jeff Zeleny|title=Obama Clinches Nomination|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/us/politics/04cnd-campaign.html|work=New York Times|date=June 4, 2008|accessdate=June 4, 2008}}</ref>

] on November 10, 2008.]]

Obama proceeded to focus on the general election campaign against Senator ], the presumptive ] nominee, in the lead up to the ]. He announced on August 23, 2008, that he had selected ] Senator ] as his vice presidential running mate.<ref>{{cite news|accessdate=September 20, 2008|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/23/MNMK12H628.DTL&hw=Obama+picks+Biden+for+veep&sn=001&sc=1000|author=Nagourney, Adam and Jeff Zeleny|agency=New York Times|date=August 23, 2008|title=Obama picks Biden for veep|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/08/29/politics/p050941D34.DTL|work=San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref> At the convention, held August 25 to August 28 in Denver, Colorado, Hillary Clinton called for her delegates and supporters to endorse Obama, and she and Bill Clinton gave convention speeches in support of Obama.<ref name="delegates"/> Obama delivered his acceptance speech to over 75,000 supporters and presented his policy goals; the speech was viewed by over 38 million people worldwide.<ref name="acceptance"/>

During both the primary process and the general election, Obama's campaign set numerous fundraising records, particularly in the quantity of small donations.<ref name="small donations"/> On June 19, 2008, Obama became the first major-party presidential candidate to turn down ] in the general election since the system was created in 1976.<ref name=Bloomberg_Salant_20080619>{{cite news|author=Salant, Jonathan D.|title=Obama Won't Accept Public Money in Election Campaign|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aNi.G0PhWnFw&refer=home|work=]|date=June 19, 2008|accessdate=June 19, 2008}}</ref>

After McCain was nominated as the Republican candidate, three ] were held between the contenders spanning September and October 2008.<ref name="presidential debates"/> In November, Obama won the presidency with 52.9% of the ] to McCain's 45.7%,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/general_election_mccain_vs_obama-225.html|title=General Election: McCain vs. Obama|accessdate=February 20, 2009|publisher=Real Clear Politics}}</ref> and 365 ] to 173,<ref name="electoral votes"/> to become the first African American<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7709978.stm|title=BBC NEWS &#124; World &#124; Americas &#124; US Elections 2008 &#124; Obama wins historic US election|work=BBC News|date=November 5, 2008|accessdate=November 5, 2008}}{{cite news|accessdate=November 5, 2008|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/us/politics/05elect.html?pagewanted=all|title=Obama Elected President as Racial Barrier Falls|first=Adam|last=Nagourney|date=November 4, 2008|work=]}}{{cite news|accessdate=November 5, 2008|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/04/election.president/index.html|title=Obama: 'This is your victory'|work=CNN|date=November 5, 2008}}{{cite news|accessdate=|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2008/nov/05/nation/na-assess5|title=White Americans play major role in electing the first black president|first=Peter|last=Wallsten|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 5, 2008}}</ref> to be elected president. Obama delivered ] before hundreds of thousands of supporters in Chicago's ].<ref name="independent1">{{cite news|accessdate=November 5, 2008|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/change-has-come-says-presidentelect-obama-992930.html|title=Change has come, says President-elect Obama|work=The Independent|location=UK|date=November 5, 2008|last=Johnson|first=Wesley}}</ref>

==Presidency==
{{main|Presidency of Barack Obama}}
{{seealso|Confirmations of Barack Obama's Cabinet|List of presidential trips made by Barack Obama}}
] of the president of the United States.]]
===First days===
The ] as the 44th President, and Joe Biden as Vice President, took place on January 20, 2009. In his first few days in office Obama issued executive orders and presidential memoranda directing the U.S. military to develop plans to withdraw troops from ],<ref>{{cite news|first=|last=|coauthors=|title=Obama asks Pentagon for responsible Iraq drawdown|date=January 23, 2009|agency=|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2009-01/23/content_7423535.htm|work=China Daily|pages=|accessdate=September 4, 2009}}</ref> and ordered the closing of the ] "as soon as practicable and no later than" January 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/washington/22gitmo.html?hp|title=Obama Orders Halt to Prosecutions at Guantánamo|last=Glaberson|first=William|date=January 21, 2009|work=The New York Times|accessdate=February 3, 2009}}</ref> Obama also reduced the secrecy given to presidential records<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/ExecutiveOrderPresidentialRecords/|title=Executive Order—Presidential Records|accessdate=January 22, 2009}}</ref> and changed procedures to promote disclosure under the ].<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Doyle|coauthors=|title=Obama restores some of the 'Freedom' to FOIA|date=January 23, 2009|publisher=McClatchy Newspapers|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/60661.html|work=|pages=|accessdate=January 24, 2009}}</ref> The president
also reversed George W. Bush's ban on federal funding to foreign establishments that allow abortions (known as the ] and referred to by critics as the "Global Gag Rule").<ref>{{cite news|first=Josh|last=Gerstein|coauthors=|title=Obama: End Abortion 'Politicization'|date=January 24, 2009|publisher=Politico.com|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17898.html}}</ref>

===Domestic policy===
On January 29, 2009, Obama signed his first bill into law, the ], which overruled the Supreme Court's decision in '']'' and so eased the requirements for filing employment discrimination lawsuits.<ref>{{cite news|title=Obama Signs Equal-Pay Legislation|publisher=New York Times|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/30/us/politics/30ledbetter-web.html|accessdate=June 15, 2009}}</ref> Five days later, he signed the reauthorization of the ] (SCHIP) to cover an additional 4 million children currently uninsured.<ref>{{cite news|title=Obama signs into law expansion of SCHIP health-care program for children|publisher=Chicago Tribune|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-kids-health-care_thufeb05,0,30310.story|accessdate=June 15, 2009}}</ref>

In March 2009, Obama repealed a Bush-era policy that prevented federal tax dollars from being used to fund research on new lines of ]s. Although such research had been a ], Obama stated that he believed "sound science and moral values...are not inconsistent," and that we have "the humanity and conscience" to pursue this research responsibly, pledging to develop "strict guidelines" to ensure that.<ref></ref>

On May 26, 2009, Obama nominated ] to replace retiring ] ]. Sotomayor was confirmed on August 6, 2009 by a vote of 68-31,<ref>{{cite news|title=Senate confirms Sotomayor for Supreme Court|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/06/sonia.sotomayor/|date=6 August 2009|publisher=CNN.com|accessdate=6 August 2009}}</ref> becoming the first ] to be a Supreme Court Justice. She joins ] as one of two women on the Court and is the third woman ever to be a Justice.<ref>, ], accessed May 26, 2009.</ref>

On September 30, 2009, the Obama administration proposed new regulations on power plants, factories and oil refineries in an attempt to limit greenhouse gas emissions and to curb ].<ref></ref><ref></ref><ref></ref>

===Economic management===
On February 17, 2009, Obama signed into law the ], a $787 billion ] aimed at helping the economy recover from the ]. He made a high-profile visit to Capitol Hill to engage with Congressional Republicans, but the bill ultimately passed with the support of only three Republican senators.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/13/stimulus/index.html|title=Stimulus package en route to Obama's desk|accessdate=March 29, 2009|work=CNN|publisher=Turner Broadcasting System, Inc}}</ref> The act includes increased federal spending for health care, infrastructure, education, various tax breaks and ], and direct assistance to individuals,<ref name="direct assistance"/> which is being distributed over the course of several years, with about 25% due by the end of 2009. In June, Obama, unsatisfied with the pace of economic stimulus investment, called on his cabinet to accelerate the spending over the next weeks.<ref name='Christopher Conkey and Louise Radnofsky'>{{cite news|title=Obama Presses Cabinet to Speed Stimulus Spending|date=June 9, 2009|work=Wall Street Journal|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124445867883193821.html}}</ref>

], ]. ] ] stands behind him.]] In March, Obama's Treasury Secretary, ], took further steps to manage the ], including introducing the ], which contains provisions for buying up to $2 trillion in depreciated real estate assets that were deemed to be weighing down stock valuations, freezing the credit market and delaying economic recovery. On March 23, ''The New York Times'' noted that "(i)nvestors reacted ecstatically, with all of the major stock indexes soaring as soon as the markets opened."<ref name="markets opened"/> Along with spending and loan guarantees from the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department, about $11.5 trillion had been authorized by the Bush and Obama administrations, with $2.7 trillion actually spent by the end of June 2009.<ref>{{cite web|title=CNNMoney.com's bailout tracker|year=2009|journal=Bailout tracker|page=20|volume=06|url=http://money.cnn.com/news/storysupplement/economy/bailouttracker/|accessdate=June 20, 2009|author=Goldman, David}}</ref>

Obama intervened in the ]<ref>{{cite news|title=White House questions viability of GM, Chrysler|date=March 30, 2009|work=The Huffington Post|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/30/obama-denies-bailout-fund_n_180563.html}}</ref> in March, renewing loans for ] and ] to continue operations while reorganizing. Over the following months the White House set terms for both firms' bankruptcies, including the ] to Italian automaker ]<ref>{{cite news|title=Chrysler and Union Agree to Deal Before Federal Deadline|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/27/business/27chrysler.html?_r=2&bl&ex=1240977600&en=670e4df8295b2843&ei=5087%0A}}</ref> and a ] giving the U.S. government a temporary 60% equity stake in the company, with the Canadian government shouldering a 12% stake.<ref>{{cite news|title=GM Begins Bankruptcy Process With Filing for Affiliate|author=John Hughes, Caroline Salas, Jeff Green, and Bob Van Voris|url=http://bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aw4F_L7E4xYg|work=Bloomberg.com|date=June 1, 2009}}</ref> He also signed into law the ], known colloquially as "Cash for Clunkers" bill, on August 7, 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/21/business/21clunkers.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=cash%20for%20clunkers&st=cse|title=Government Will End Clunker Program Early |author= Nick Bunkley|publisher='']''|date=2009-08-20|accessdate=2009-08-21}}</ref>

In the third quarter of 2009, the U.S. economy expanded at a 2.8% annual pace.<ref></ref> Obama has claimed that the stimulus package helped stop the economic downturn.<ref>http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/10/19/obama_carefully_takes_credit_f.html</ref> Various economists have credited the stimulus package with helping to create economic growth.<ref></ref><ref></ref> However, unemployment has continued to rise to 10.2% (the highest in 26 years),<ref name=unempl>{{cite news|title=U.S. Unemployment Rate Hits 10.2%, Highest in 26 Years|author=Peter S. Goodman|date=November 6, 2009|work=]|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/business/economy/07jobs.html}}</ref> and the "underemployment" rate rose to 17.5%.<ref> http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/business/economy/07econ.html?_r=1&em</ref> In mid-November, Obama said he was concerned that the excessive ] could cause the economy to slide into a "double dip" recession.<ref>http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2009/11/obama_china_afghanistan_recess.html</ref><ref>http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g8-DEMtAE9q4i4ySQ0eV_qZefmRQD9C21N7G2</ref>

===Foreign policy===
{{Main|Foreign policy of the Barack Obama administration}}
In February and March, Vice President Joe Biden and ] Hillary Rodham Clinton made separate overseas trips to announce a "new era" in U.S. foreign relations with Russia and Europe, using the terms "break" and "reset" to signal major changes from the policies of the preceding administration.<ref name="preceding administration"/> Obama's granting of his first television interview as president to an Arabic cable network, ], was seen as an attempt to reach out to Arab leaders.<ref>{{cite news|first=|last=|coauthors=|authorlink=|title=Obama reaches out to Muslim world on TV|date=|work=]|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28869185/|pages=|accessdate=June 15, 2009|language=}}</ref>

On March 19, Obama continued his outreach to the Muslim world, releasing a New Year's video message to the people and government of Iran.<ref>{{cite news|first=|last=|coauthors=|authorlink=|title=washingtonpost.com> Nation U.S. to Join Talks on Iran's Nuclear Program|date=|work=]|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/08/AR2009040802254.html|pages=|accessdate=June 15, 2009|language=}}</ref> This attempt at outreach was rebuffed by the Iranian leadership.<ref>{{cite news|first=|last=|coauthors=|authorlink=|title=Iranian Leaders Ignore Obama's Outstretched Hand|date=|work=]|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/20/iranian-leaders-ignore-obamas-outstretched-hand/|pages=|accessdate=June 15, 2009|language=}}</ref> In April, Obama gave a speech in Ankara, Turkey, which was well received by many Arab governments.<ref>{{cite news|first=|last=|coauthors=|authorlink=|title=Obama speech draws praise in Mideast|date=|work=]|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/8443248|pages=|accessdate=June 15, 2009|language=}}</ref> On June 4, 2009, Obama delivered a speech at ] in Egypt calling for "]" in relations between the Islamic world and the United States and promoting Middle East peace.<ref name="Middle East peace"/>

On June 26, 2009, in response to the Iranian government's actions towards protesters following ], Obama said: "The violence perpetrated against them is outrageous. We see it and we condemn it."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/26/obama-dismisses-ahmadinejad-apology-request/|title=Obama dismisses Ahmadinejad apology request|work=]|date=June 26, 2009}}</ref> On July 7, while in ], he responded to a Vice President Biden comment on a possible Israeli military strike on Iran by saying: "We have said directly to the Israelis that it is important to try and resolve this in an international setting in a way that does not create major conflict in the Middle East."<ref>, ], July 7, 2009</ref>

On September 24, 2009, Obama became the first sitting U.S. President to ] over a meeting of the ].<ref>Chidanand Rajghatta, , '']'', September 24, 2009.</ref>

===Iraq war===
{{Main|Iraq War}}
During his ], ] Obama announced that he would retain the incumbent Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, in his Cabinet.<ref>{{cite web|title=Will Gates Stay or Go?|url=http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/11/10/1667896.aspx|work=]|date=November 10, 2008}}</ref>

Early in his presidency, Obama moved to change the perception of U.S. war strategy by planning to decrease troop levels in Iraq as was planned in the closing days of the Bush administration.<ref name="autogenerated1"></ref> On February 27, Obama declared that combat operations would end in Iraq within 18 months. His remarks were made to a group of Marines preparing for deployment to Afghanistan. Obama said, "Let me say this as plainly as I can: By August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end."<ref>{{cite news|agency=]|first=Ben|last=Feller|url=http://www.detnews.com/article/20090228/POLITICS/902280332/Obama+sets+firm+Iraq+withdrawal|title=Obama sets firm withdrawal timetable for Iraq|work=]|location=CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.|date=February 27, 2009|accessdate=March 3, 2009}}</ref>

===War in Afghanistan===
{{Main|War in Afghanistan (2001–present)}}

Early in his presidency, Obama moved to change U.S. war strategy by increasing troop strength in Afghanistan.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> On February 18, 2009, Obama announced that the U.S. troop strength in ] would be boosted by 17,000, asserting that the increase was necessary to "stabilize a deteriorating situation in Afghanistan", an area he said had not received the "strategic attention, direction and resources it urgently requires".<ref>{{cite news|first=Amanda|last=Hodge|title=Obama launches Afghanistan Surge|date=February 19, 2009|work=]|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25074581-2703,00.html}}</ref>

On May 11, Obama replaced his military commander in Afghanistan, General ], with former ] commander Lt. Gen. ], believing that McChrystal's Special Forces experience would facilitate the use of counterinsurgency tactics in the war.<ref name="counterinsurgency tactics"/>

===Health care reform===
{{main|Health care reform in the United States|Obama administration health care proposal}}
Obama has called for Congress to pass ] reform, a key campaign promise and a top legislative goal. On July 14, 2009, House Democratic leaders introduced a 1,017 page plan for overhauling the US health care system, which Obama wants Congress to approve by the end of the year.<ref>{{dead link|date=September 2009}}</ref> Obama has also stated that a ] is a main component to lowering costs and improving quality in the ] sector.<ref>. Retrieved September 9, 2009.</ref>

After much public debate during the Congressional summer recess of 2009, Obama delivered ] on September 9 where he addressed concerns over his administration's proposals.<ref>. Retrieved September 9, 2009.</ref>

On November 7, 2009, the bill was passed in the House after much debate over whether or not to include abortion under the proposed government health care plan. <ref name="nyt">{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/health/policy/08health.html?partner=rss&emc=rss|title=Sweeping Health Care Plan Passes House |last=Hulse|first=Carl|coauthors=Robert Pear|date=11-7-09|publisher=The New York Times|language=English|accessdate=2009-11-08}}</ref>

==Political positions==
{{Main|Political positions of Barack Obama}}

A method that some political scientists use for gauging ideology is to compare the annual ratings by the ] (ADA) with the ratings by the ] (ACU).<ref>{{cite news|author=Mayer, William|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A28761-2004Mar27?language=printer|title=Kerry's Record Rings a Bell|work=Washington Post|date=March 28, 2004|quote=The question of how to measure a senator's or representative's ideology is one that political scientists regularly need to answer. For more than 30 years, the standard method for gauging ideology has been to use the annual ratings of lawmakers' votes by various interest groups, notably the ] (ADA) and the ] (ACU).|accessdate=June 7, 2008}}</ref> Based on his years in Congress, Obama has a lifetime average conservative rating of 7.67% from the ACU<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acuratings.org/2005senate.htm|title=2005 U.S. Senate Votes|publisher=American Conservative Union|accessdate=September 20, 2008}}; {{cite web|url=http://www.acuratings.org/2006senate.htm|title=2006 U.S. Senate Votes|publisher=American Conservative Union|accessdate=September 20, 2008}}; {{cite web|url=http://www.acuratings.org/2007senate.htm|title=2007 U.S. Senate Votes|publisher=American Conservative Union|accessdate=September 20, 2008}}</ref> and a lifetime average liberal rating of 90% from the ADA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adaction.org/media/votingrecords/2005.pdf|format=PDF|title=ADA's 2005 Congressional Voting Record|publisher=Americans for Democratic Action|accessdate=September 20, 2008}}; {{cite web|url=http://www.adaction.org/media/votingrecords/2006.pdf|format=PDF|title=ADA's 2006 Congressional Voting Record|publisher=Americans for Democratic Action|accessdate=September 20, 2008}}; {{cite web|url=http://www.adaction.org/media/votingrecords/2007.pdf|format=PDF|title=ADA's 2007 Congressional Voting Record|publisher=Americans for Democratic Action|accessdate=September 20, 2008}}</ref>

], October 2008]]

In economic affairs, in April 2005, he defended the ] social welfare policies of ] and opposed Republican proposals to establish private accounts for ].<ref>{{cite news|first=Ben A|last=Franklin|title=The Fifth Black Senator in U.S. History Makes F.D.R. His Icon|date=June 1, 2005|url=http://www.washingtonspectator.com/articles/20050601obama_1.cfm|work=Washington Spectator|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</ref> In the aftermath of ], Obama spoke out against government indifference to growing economic class divisions, calling on both political parties to take action to restore the ] for the poor.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jeff|last=Zeleny|title=Judicious Obama Turns Up Volume|date=September 12, 2005|url=http://www.acesse.com/cache.php?id=412653&q=clinton%20global%20initiative|work=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=March 12, 2009}}</ref> Shortly before announcing his presidential campaign, Obama said he supports ] in the United States.<ref>{{cite news|first=Nedra|last=Pickler|title=Obama Calls for Universal Health Care within Six Years|date=January 25, 2007|agency=Associated Press |work=Union-Tribune (San Diego)|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20070125-1240-democrats-healthcare.html|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</ref> He has proposed rewarding teachers for performance from traditional ] systems, assuring unions that changes would be pursued through the ] process.<ref>{{cite news|first=Teddy|last=Davis|coauthors=Sunlen Miller|title=Obama Bucks Party Line on Education|date=November 20, 2007|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Story?id=3894699|work=ABC News|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</ref>

On taxation, his plan would eliminate taxes for ]s with incomes of less than $50,000 a year, raise income taxes for those making over $250,000, raise the capital gains and dividends taxes,<ref>{{cite news|title=Study:Bush tax cuts favor wealthy|date=August 13, 2004|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/08/16/politics/main636398.shtml|work=CBS|accessdate=April 5, 2008}}</ref> close corporate tax loopholes, lift the income cap on Social Security taxes, restrict offshore ]s, and simplify filing of income tax returns by pre-filling wage and bank information already collected by the ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Obama Tax Plan: $80 Billion in Cuts, Five-Minute Filings|date=September 18, 2007|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/18/obama.taxplan/|work=CNN|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</ref> In September 2007, he blamed ] for distorting the ].<ref>{{cite news|title=A Speech On the Economy, Opportunity and Tax Policy with Senator Barack Obama|date=September 18, 2007|url=http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/events/obama.cfm|publisher=Tax Policy Center|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</ref>

] in support of a ] to fund ] research]]

As an environmental initiative, Obama proposed a ] auction system to restrict carbon emissions and a ten year program of investments in new energy sources to reduce ].<ref>{{cite news|first=Jeff|last=Zeleny|title=Obama Proposes Capping Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Making Polluters Pay|date=October 9, 2007|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/09/us/politics/09obama.html|work=The New York Times|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</ref> Obama proposed that all pollution credits must be auctioned, with no ] of credits for oil and gas companies, and the spending of the revenue obtained on energy development and economic transition costs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/ObamaBlueprintForChange.pdf|title=The Blueprint for Change: Barack Obama's plan for America|author=Barack Obama|publisher=Obama for America|accessdate=April 20, 2008|format=PDF}}</ref>

In foreign affairs, Obama was an early opponent of the ] administration's ].<ref>{{cite news|author=Strausberg, Chinta|date=September 26, 2002|work=]|page=1|title=Opposition to war mounts|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-220062931.html|format=paid archive|accessdate=February 3, 2008}}</ref> On October 2, 2002, the day President Bush and Congress agreed on the ] authorizing the Iraq War,<ref>{{cite web|author=]|date=October 2, 2002|title=President, House Leadership Agree on Iraq Resolution|publisher=]|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/10/20021002-7.html|accessdate=February 17, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Tackett, Michael|date=October 3, 2002|work=Chicago Tribune|page=1|title=Bush, House OK Iraq deal; Congress marches with Bush|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/203569641.html?dids=203569641:203569641&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT|format=paid archive|accessdate=February 3, 2008}}</ref> Obama addressed the first high-profile Chicago ],<ref>{{cite news|author=Glauber, Bill|date=October 3, 2003|work=Chicago Tribune|page=1|title=War protesters gentler, but passion still burns|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/203569621.html?dids=203569621:203569621&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT|format=paid archive|accessdate=February 3, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Strausberg, Chinta|date=October 3, 2002|work=Chicago Defender|page=1|title=War with Iraq undermines U.N.|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-220379051.html|quote=Photo caption: Left Photo: Sen. Barack Obama along with Rev. Jesse Jackson spoke to nearly 3,000 anti-war protestors (below) during a rally at Federal Plaza Wednesday.|accessdate=October 28, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Bryant, Greg|date=October 2, 2002|publisher=]|title=300 protesters rally to oppose war with Iraq|url=http://74.125.95.104/search?q=cache:joI6vZO9y4UJ:mesh.medill.northwestern.edu/mnschicago/archives/2002/10/300_protesters.html|accessdate=February 3, 2008}} {{cite web|author=Katz, Marilyn|date=October 2, 2007|title=Five Years Since Our First Action|publisher=Chicagoans Against War & Injustice|url=http://www.noiraqwar-chicago.org/?p=127|accessdate=February 17, 2008}} {{cite news|title=300 attend rally against Iraq war|author=Bryant, Greg; Vaughn, Jane B.|work=Daily Herald (Arlington Heights)|page=8|format=paid archive|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ADHB&p_theme=adhb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=300%20AND%20attend%20AND%20rally%20AND%20against%20AND%20Iraq%20AND%20war&s_dispstring=300%20attend%20rally%20against%20Iraq%20war%20AND%20date(10/3/2002%20to%2010/3/2002)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=10/3/2002%20to%2010/3/2002)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no|date=October 3, 2002|accessdate=October 28, 2008}} Mendell (2007), pp. 172–177.</ref> and spoke out against the war.<ref name="spoke out"/> He addressed another anti-war rally in March 2003 and told the crowd that "it's not too late" to stop the war.<ref name="stop the war"/>

Although Obama had previously said he wanted all U.S. troops out of Iraq within 16 months of becoming president, after he won the primary, he said he might change or refine plans as further developments unfold.<ref>, telegraph.co.uk, July 4, 2008</ref> In November 2006, he called for a "phased redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq" and an opening of diplomatic dialogue with ] and ].<ref>For audio and text, see: {{cite web|first=Barack|last=Obama|title=A Way Forward in Iraq|date=November 20, 2006|url=http://www.thechicagocouncil.org/hottopics_details.php?hottopics_id=52|publisher=Chicago Council on Global Affairs|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</ref> In a March 2007 speech to ], a ], he said that the primary way to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons is through talks and diplomacy, although he did not rule out military action.<ref>{{cite web|first=Barack|last=Obama|title=AIPAC Policy Forum Remarks|date=March 2, 2007|url=http://obama.senate.gov/speech/070302-aipac_policy_fo/index.php|publisher=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office|accessdate=January 30, 2008}} ({{wayback|url=http://obama.senate.gov/speech/070302-aipac_policy_fo/index.php}}) For Obama's 2004 Senate campaign remarks on possible missile strikes against Iran, see: {{cite news|last=Mendell|first=David|title=Obama Would Consider Missile Strikes on Iran|format=paid archive|date=September 25, 2004|work=Chicago Tribune|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/699578571.html?dids=699578571:699578571&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</ref> Obama has indicated that he would engage in "direct presidential diplomacy" with Iran without preconditions.<ref name="without preconditions"/> In August 2007, Obama remarked that "it was a terrible mistake to fail to act" against a 2005 meeting of al-Qaeda leaders that U.S. intelligence had confirmed to be taking place in Pakistan's ]. He said that as president, he would not miss a similar opportunity, even without the support of the Pakistani government.<ref>{{cite news|title=Obama Warns Pakistan on Al-Qaeda|date=August 1, 2007|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6926663.stm|work=BBC News|accessdate=January 14, 2008}} For video and text of the speech, see: {{cite news|title=Policy Address on Terrorism by The Honorable Barack Obama, United States Senator from Illinois|date=August 1, 2007|url=http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.event&event_id=269510|work=Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars|accessdate=January 30, 2008}} For details of the aborted 2005 military operation, see {{cite news|author=]|title=Rumsfeld Called Off 2005 Plan to Capture Top Qaeda Figures|date=July 8, 2007|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/08/news/qaeda.php|work=International Herald Tribune|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</ref>

Obama stated that if elected he would enact budget cuts in the range of tens of billions of dollars, stop investing in "unproven" ], not weaponize space, "slow development of ]", and work towards eliminating all ]. Obama favors ending development of new nuclear weapons, reducing the current U.S. nuclear stockpile, enacting a global ban on production of fissile material, and seeking negotiations with Russia to reduce the pressure on both sides for ]s to be on high-alert status.<ref>{{cite video|people=Barack Obama|date2=October 22, 2007|title=Obama-Caucus4Priorities|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o84PE871BE|format=flv|publisher=Obama '08|accessdate=May 18, 2008}}</ref>

Obama has called for more assertive action to oppose ] in the ] of ].<ref>{{cite news|first=Barack|last=Obama|coauthors=Sam Brownback|title=Policy Adrift on Darfur|date=December 27, 2005|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/26/AR2005122600547.html|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=January 14, 2008}} {{cite news|first=Jim|last=Doyle|title=Tens of Thousands Rally for Darfur|date=May 1, 2006|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/05/01/MNGFBIIFOA1.DTL|work=San Francisco Chronicle|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</ref> He has ] $180,000 in personal holdings of Sudan-related stock, and has urged divestment from companies doing business in Iran.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jim (Associated Press)|last=Kuhnhenn|title=Giuliani, Edwards Have Sudan Holdings|date=May 17, 2007|work=San Francisco Chronicle|url=http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/05/17/politics/p171906D95.DTL|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}; {{cite news|first=Barack|last=Obama|title=Hit Iran Where It Hurts|date=August 30, 2007|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2007/08/30/2007-08-30_hit_iran_where_it_hurts.html 30, 2007_hit_iran_where_it_hurts.html|work=New York Daily News|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</ref> In the July–August 2007 issue of '']'', Obama called for an outward looking post-Iraq War ] and, in his view, the renewal of American military, diplomatic, and moral leadership in the world. Saying that "we can neither retreat from the world nor try to bully it into submission", he called on Americans to "lead the world, by deed and by example".<ref>{{cite journal|first=Barack|last=Obama|title=Renewing American Leadership|date=July–August 2007|volume=86|issue=4|url=http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20070701faessay86401/barack-obama/renewing-american-leadership.html|journal=Foreign Affairs|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</ref>

In his write-in response to a 1998 survey, Obama stated his abortion position as conforming with the Democratic platform: "Abortions should be legally available in accordance with '']''."<ref>Obama, Barack. , Project Vote Smart. Retrieved on 2007-01-21.</ref>

==Family and personal life==
].]]

{{main|Early life and career of Barack Obama|Family of Barack Obama}}

In a 2006 interview, Obama highlighted the diversity of his extended family: "It's like a little mini-United Nations", he said. "I've got relatives who look like ], and I've got relatives who look like ]."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahshow/oprahshow1_ss_20061018/10|title=Keeping Hope Alive: Barack Obama Puts Family First|date=October 18, 2006|work=The Oprah Winfrey Show|accessdate=June 24, 2008}}</ref> Obama has seven half-siblings from his Kenyan father's family, six of them living, and a half-sister with whom he was raised, ], the daughter of his mother and her Indonesian second husband.<ref>{{cite news|first=Scott|last=Fornek|title=Half Siblings: 'A Complicated Family'|date=September 9, 2007|url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/familytree/545462,BSX-News-wotrees09.stng|work=Chicago Sun-Times|accessdate=June 24, 2008}} See also: {{cite web|url=http://www.suntimes.com/images/cds/special/family_tree.html|title=Interactive Family Tree|date=September 9, 2007|work=Chicago Sun-Times|accessdate=June 24, 2008}}</ref> Obama's mother was survived by her Kansas-born mother, Madelyn Dunham<ref>{{cite news|first=Scott|last=Fornek|title=Madelyn Payne Dunham: 'A Trailblazer'|date=September 9, 2007|url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/familytree/545449,BSX-News-wotreeee09.stng|work=Chicago Sun-Times|accessdate=June 24, 2008}}</ref> until her death on November 2, 2008<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/03/obama.grandma/index.html|title=Obama's grandmother dies after battle with cancer|work=CNN|accessdate=November 4, 2008|date= November 3, 2008}}</ref> just two days before his election to the Presidency. In '']'', Obama ties his mother's family history to possible ] ancestors and distant relatives of ], ] during the ].<ref>Obama (1995, 2004), p. 13. For reports on Obama's maternal genealogy, including slave owners, Irish connections, and common ancestors with George W. Bush, ], and ], see: {{cite news|first=David|last=Nitkin|coauthors=Harry Merritt|title=A New Twist to an Intriguing Family History|date=March 2, 2007|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/politics/bal-te.obama02mar02,0,3453027.story|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070930033339/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/politics/bal-te.obama02mar02,0,3453027.story|archivedate=September 30, 2007|work=Baltimore Sun|accessdate=June 24, 2008}} {{cite news|first=Mary|last=Jordan|title=Tiny Irish Village Is Latest Place to Claim Obama as Its Own|date=May 13, 2007|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/12/AR2007051201551.html|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=June 24, 2008}} {{cite news|title=Obama's Family Tree Has a Few Surprises|date=September 8, 2007|work=CBS 2 (Chicago)|url=http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/Barack.Obama.family.2.339709.html|agency=Associated Press|accessdate=June 24, 2008}}</ref> Obama's great-uncle served in the ] that overran ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2008-07-24-1654309354_x.htm|work= USATODAY.com|date=July 24, 2008|author=Johnson, Carla K., Associated Press Writer|title=Obama's great-uncle recalls liberating Nazi camp|accessdate=March 12, 2009}}</ref> the first Nazi camp liberated by U.S. troops during ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?lang=en&ModuleId=10006140|title=The 89th Infantry Division|publisher=United States Holocaust Memorial Museum|accessdate=March 12, 2009}}</ref>

Obama was known as "Barry" in his youth, but asked to be addressed with his given name during his college years.<ref>{{cite news|title=When Barry Became Barack|date=March 31, 2008|work=Newsweek|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/128633|accessdate=November 6, 2008}}</ref> Besides his native English, Obama speaks ] at the conversational level, which he learned during his four childhood years in Jakarta.<ref name="in Jakarta"/> He plays basketball, a sport he participated in as a member of his high school's varsity team.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jodi|last=Kantor|title=One Place Where Obama Goes Elbow to Elbow|date=June 1, 2007|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/01/us/politics/01hoops.html|work=The New York Times|accessdate=April 28, 2008}} See also: {{cite news|title=The Love of the Game|format=video|date=April 15, 2008|publisher=YouTube (BarackObama.com)|url=http://www.hbo.com/realsports/stories/2008/episode.133.s1.html|work=HBO: Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel|accessdate=April 28, 2008}}</ref>

], ] in 2006<ref>{{cite news|title=Senator Barack Obama Visit to CJTF-HOA and Camp Lemonier: August 31–September 1, 2006|format=video|date=February 6, 2007|publisher=YouTube|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9GqdzQeCz0|work=Combined Joint Task Force—Horn of Africa|accessdate=April 28, 2008}}</ref>]]

In June 1989, Obama met ] when he was employed as a summer associate at the Chicago law firm of ].<ref>Obama (2006), pp. 327–332. See also: {{cite news|first=Sarah|last=Brown|title=Obama '85 masters balancing act|work=The Daily Princetonian|url=http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2005/12/07/14049|date=December 7, 2005|accessdate=February 9, 2009}}</ref> Assigned for three months as Obama's adviser at the firm, Robinson joined him at group social functions, but declined his initial requests to date.<ref>Obama (2006), p. 329.</ref> They began dating later that summer, became engaged in 1991, and were married on October 3, 1992.<ref>{{cite news|author=Fornek, Scott|title=Michelle Obama: 'He Swept Me Off My Feet'|date=October 3, 2007|url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/585261,CST-NWS-wedding03.stng|work=Chicago Sun-Times|accessdate=April 28, 2008}}</ref> The couple's first daughter, Malia Ann, was born on July 4, 1998,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0708/Born_on_the_4th_of_July.html|title=Born on the 4th of July|date=July 4, 2008|accessdate=July 10, 2008|work=]|author=Martin, Jonathan}}</ref> followed by a second daughter, Natasha ("Sasha"), on June 10, 2001.<ref>Obama (1995, 2004), p. 440, and Obama (2006), pp. 339–340. See also: {{cite web|title=Election 2008 Information Center: Barack Obama|url=http://www.gannettnewsservice.com/?cat=153|work=Gannett News Service|accessdate=April 28, 2008}}</ref> The Obama daughters attended the private ]. When they moved to Washington, D.C., in January 2009, the girls started at the private ].<ref>, ''International Herald Tribune'', November 22, 2008</ref>

Applying the proceeds of a book deal, the family moved in 2005 from a ] condominium to a $1.6 million house in neighboring ].<ref>{{cite news|first=Jeff|last=Zeleny|title=The first time around: Sen. Obama's freshman year|date=December 24, 2005|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-051224obama,0,1779783,full.story|work=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=April 28, 2008}}</ref> The purchase of an adjacent lot and sale of part of it to Obama by the wife of developer, campaign donor and friend ] attracted media attention because of Rezko's subsequent indictment and conviction on political corruption charges that were unrelated to Obama.<ref name="corruption charges"/>

In December 2007, '']'' magazine estimated the Obama family's net worth at $1.3 million.<ref>{{cite news|title=Obama's Money|date=December 7, 2007|url=http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/moneymag/0712/gallery.candidates.moneymag/5.html|work=CNNMoney.com|accessdate=April 28, 2008}}<br />See also:{{cite news|first=Zachary A|last=Goldfarb|title=Measuring Wealth of the '08 Candidates|date=March 24, 2007|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/24/AR2007032400305.html|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=April 28, 2008}}</ref> Their 2007 tax return showed a household income of $4.2 million—up from about $1 million in 2006 and $1.6 million in 2005—mostly from sales of his books.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jeff|last=Zeleny|title=Book Sales Lifted Obamas' Income in 2007 to a Total of $4.2 Million|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/us/politics/17obama.html|date=April 17, 2008|work=The New York Times|accessdate=April 28, 2008}}</ref>

Obama is a Christian whose religious views developed in his adult life. In '']'', Obama writes that he "was not raised in a religious household". He describes his mother, raised by non-religious parents (whom Obama has specified elsewhere as "non-practicing Methodists and Baptists") to be detached from religion, yet "in many ways the most spiritually awakened person that I have ever known". He describes his father as "raised a ]", but a "confirmed ]" by the time his parents met, and his stepfather as "a man who saw religion as not particularly useful". Obama explained how, through working with ]es as a community organizer while in his twenties, he came to understand "the power of the African-American religious tradition to spur social change".<ref name="social change"/> He was baptized at the ] in 1988 and was an active member there for two decades.<ref name="two decades"/> Obama resigned from Trinity during the Presidential campaign after ] made by Rev. ] became public.<ref> {{cite news|title=Obama's church choice likely to be scrutinized|agency=Associated Press|date=November 17, 2008|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27775757/|work=]|accessdate=January 20, 2009}}</ref>

Obama has tried to ] several times,<ref name="reuters-smoking"/> and said he will not smoke in the White House.<ref name="reuters-smoking">{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE4B61GF20081207|title=Obama says he won't be smoking in White House|date=December 7, 2008|accessdate=2009-20-21|work=Reuters|editor=Elsner, Alan}}</ref>

==Cultural and political image==
] invited then-President-elect Barack Obama and former Presidents ], ], and ] to a meeting in the ] on January 7, 2009.]]
{{main|Public image of Barack Obama}}

Obama's family history, early life and upbringing, and ] education differ markedly from those of African-American politicians who launched their careers in the 1960s through participation in the ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Wallace-Wells|first=Benjamin|title=The Great Black Hope: What's Riding on Barack Obama?|date=November 2004|work=Washington Monthly|url=http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0411.wallace-wells.html|accessdate=April 7, 2008}} See also: {{cite news|first=Janny|last=Scott|title=A Member of a New Generation, Obama Walks a Fine Line|date=December 28, 2007|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/12/28/america/obama.php|work=International Herald Tribune|accessdate=April 7, 2008}}</ref> Expressing puzzlement over questions about whether he is "black enough", Obama told an August 2007 meeting of the ] that "we're still locked in this notion that if you appeal to white folks then there must be something wrong."<ref>{{cite news|first=Les|last=Payne|title=In One Country, a Dual Audience|format=paid archive|date=August 19, 2007|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/1322008241.html?dids=1322008241:1322008241&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT|work=Newsday|accessdate=April 7, 2008}}</ref> Obama acknowledged his youthful image in an October 2007 campaign speech, saying: "I wouldn't be here if, time and again, the torch had not been passed to a new generation."<ref>{{cite news|first=Mike|last=Dorning|title=Obama Reaches Across Decades to JFK|format=paid archive|date=October 4, 2007|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/1353513781.html?dids=1353513781:1353513781&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+4%2C+2007&author=Mike+Dorning|work=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=April 7, 2008}} See also: {{cite news|first=Toby|last=Harnden|title=Barack Obama is JFK Heir, Says Kennedy Aide|date=October 15, 2007|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1565992/Barack-Obama-is-JFK-heir%2C-says-Kennedy-aide.html|work=Daily Telegraph|accessdate=April 7, 2008}}</ref>

] as President of the United States, discussing the ].]]

Obama is frequently referred to as an exceptional orator.<ref name="exceptional orator"/> During his pre-inauguration transition period and continuing into his presidency, Obama has delivered a series of weekly Internet video addresses<ref></ref> similar to ]'s famous ] to explain his policies and actions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/news/ni0607517/|title=News from Studio Briefing|accessdate=March 10, 2009|date=November 17, 2008|publisher=Internet Movie Database}}</ref>

According to the ], during his ], Obama received approval ratings ranging from 59% to 69%.<ref></ref> From late August through November 2009, his approval rating was around 53%<ref>http://www.pollster.com/polls/us/jobapproval-obama.php?xml=/flashcharts/content/xml/Obama44JobApproval.xml&choices=Approve,Disapprove&phone=Gallup&ivr=0&internet=0&mail=&smoothing=&from_date=2009-08-20&to_date=2009-11-01&min_pct=&max_pct=&grid=&points=&trends=&lines=</ref>, dropping below 50% for the first time on the Nov. 17-19 Gallup daily results.<ref></ref><ref>.</ref><ref>http://www.gallup.com/poll/122627/Obama-Job-Approval-Down-49.aspx</ref>

Obama's international appeal has been described as a defining factor for his public image.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-06-12-poll_N.htm|work=USA Today|title=World poll: Obama more likely to 'do the right thing'|date=June 12, 2008|accessdate=March 10, 2009|author=Page, Susan}}</ref> Polls show strong support for Obama in other countries,<ref>{{cite news |accessdate=|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/09/2360240.htm?section=world |title=World wants Obama as president: poll|agency=Reuters|date=September 9, 2008|work=ABC News|location=Australia}}</ref> and he has met with prominent foreign figures including then-] ],<ref>{{cite press release|accessdate=|url=http://obama.senate.gov/press/050823-obama_to_visit/|title=Obama to visit nuclear, biological weapons destruction facilities in former Soviet Union|date=August 24, 2005|publisher=Obama.senate.gov}}</ref> Italy's ] leader and then ] of Rome ],<ref> ; ; {{dead link|date=September 2009}}</ref> and ] ].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/blogs/certainideasofeurope/2008/02/sarkozy_obama_and_mccain.cfm|type= |title=Sarkozy, Obama and McCain|work=]|last=Pedder|first=Sophie|date=February 20, 2008 |accessdate=November 20, 2008}}</ref>

According to a May 2009 poll conducted by ] for ] and the ], Obama was rated as the most popular world leader, as well as the one figure most people would pin their hopes on for pulling the world out of this economic downturn.<ref>.</ref>

Obama won ] ]s for abridged ] versions of '']'' in February 2006 and for '']'' in February 2008.<ref>{{cite news|author=Goodman, Dean |date=February 10, 2008|title=Obama or Clinton? Grammys go for Obama |publisher=Reuters |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSN0852813420080210|accessdate=November 24, 2008}}</ref> His "]" speech, which artists independently set to music, was viewed by 10 million people on ] in the first month,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article3491460.ece |title=Celebrities join YouTube revolution|last=Strange|first=Hannah|date=March 5, 2008|work=The Times (UK)|accessdate=December 18, 2008}}</ref> and received a ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/soundboard/2008/06/emmys-give-knuc.html|title=Emmys give knuckle bump to will.i.am; more videos on the way|last=Wappler|first=Margaret|date=June 20, 2008 |work=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=December 18, 2008}}</ref> In December 2008, '']'' magazine named Barack Obama as its ] for his historic candidacy and election, which it described as "the steady march of seemingly impossible accomplishments".<ref>{{cite news|last=Von Drehle|first=David|title=Why History Can't Wait|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/2008/personoftheyear/article/0,31682,1861543_1865068,00.html?cnn=yes|work=Person of the Year 2008 |format=Cover article|work=]|date=December 16, 2008|accessdate=December 17, 2008}}</ref>

===Nobel Peace Prize===
{{main|2009 Nobel Peace Prize}}
<!-- NOTE to editors: Please read the talk page to note the ongoing discussion, and also please use citation templates or expanded footnoting when citing. Raw URLs are less desirable. Thanks -->
On October 9, 2009 the ] announced that Obama had won the 2009 ] "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples".<!--see ] before attempting to hide this link!--><ref name="nobel peace prize">{{cite web |url=http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2009/ |title=The Nobel Peace Prize 2009|publisher=Nobel Foundation|accessdate=2009-10-09}}</ref> As specific examples of the work that led to the award, the Nobel Prize Committee highlighted his efforts to promote ] (particularly ]),<ref name="bbc article on nobel win">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8298580.stm |title=Obama wins 2009 Nobel Peace Prize |date=October 9, 2009|work=BBC News Online|publisher=BBC |accessdate=2009-10-09}}</ref> and the fostering of a "new climate" in ], especially in reaching out to the Muslim world.<ref name="NYTNobel">{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/10/world/10nobel.html |title=Barack Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize |work=] }}</ref>

Obama is the fourth U.S. president to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He is the third to become a Nobel laureate during his term in office, and the first to be recognized in the first year of his presidency.<ref name="CNNNobel">The award came in Obama's first year.{{cite news |author=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/10/09/us.nobel.presidents/index.html |title=Obama's win unique among presidents}} ] won the award in 1906 and ] in 1919, both while still serving as President. ], who left office in 1981, won the award in 2002.{{cite web |url=http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/index.html |title=All Nobel Peace Prize Laureates |publisher=Nobel Foundation |accessdate=2009-10-09}}</ref> Members of the Nobel Committee award stated that it could be seen as an early vote of confidence intended to build global support for the policies of his young administration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_nobel_peace|title=President Barack Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize|date=October 9, 2009|publisher=Yahoo News|accessdate=2009-10-09}}</ref> The award was a surprise to many, including Obama himself.<ref name=surprise>{{cite news|author=Dan Lothian|title= Obama: Nobel Peace Prize is 'call to action' |url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/10/09/nobel.peace.prize/index.html|publisher=CNN |work=]|date=2009-10-09|accessdate=2009-10-09}}</ref> The award drew a mixture of praise and criticism from world leaders and media figures.<ref>{{cite web |last = Philp |first = Catherine |title = Barack Obama's peace prize starts a fight |work = The Times |publisher = TimesOnLine |date = 2009-10-10 |url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6868905.ece |accessdate = 2009-10-10 }}</ref><ref>.</ref> Members of the selection committee defended their choice against criticism that the award was premature.<ref>.</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em|refs=
<ref name="birth-certificate">
{{cite web|url=http://www.politifact.com/media/img/graphics/birthCertObama.jpg|title=Certification of Live Birth for Barack Obama|work=Department of Health, Hawaii|worker=]|date=August 8, 1961|accessdate=December 12, 2008}}
</ref>
<ref name="Christian">
{{cite web
|publisher = Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia
|title = American President: Barack Obama
|url = http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/obama
|accessdate = January 23, 2009}}
*{{cite press release
| title = Barack Obama, long time UCC member, inaugurated forty-fourth U.S. President
| publisher = United Church of Christ
| date = January 20, 2009
| url = http://www.ucc.org/news/obama-inauguration.html
| accessdate = January 21, 2009
| quote = Barack Obama, who spent more than 20 years as a UCC member, is the forty-fourth President of the United States. }}<br />
*An ] wire story on Obama's resignation from ] in the course of the ] stated that he had, in doing so, disaffiliated himself with the UCC. (See {{cite news|title=Obama's church choice likely to be scrutinized|agency=Associated Press|date=November 17, 2008|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27775757/|work=]|accessdate=January 20, 2009}})
</ref>
<ref name="Kansas">
{{cite web|publisher=]|url=http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/born_in_the_usa.html|title=Born in the U.S.A.|date=August 21, 2008|dateformat=mdy|accessdate=October 24, 2008}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/368961,CST-NWS-ireland03.article|title=For sure, Obama's South Side Irish|last=Hutton|first=Brian|work=]|date=May 3, 2007|accessdate=November 23, 2008}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/12/AR2007051201551.html|title=Tiny Irish Village Is Latest Place to Claim Obama as Its Own - washingtonpost.com|work=Washington Post|date=|accessdate=November 8, 2008}}
</ref>
<ref name="Juris Doctor">
{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/may/09/barackobama.uselections20081|title=Barack Obama|last=Adams|first=Richard|date=May 9, 2007|work=The Guardian|accessdate=October 26, 2008}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/973560/Barack-Obama|title=Barack Obama (American politician)|last=Mendell|first=David|accessdate=October 26, 2008}}
</ref>
<ref name="ranked tenth">
{{cite news|first=David|last=Nather|title=The Space Between Clinton and Obama|date=January 14, 2008|url=http://public.cq.com/docs/cqw/weeklyreport110-000002654703.html|work=CQ Weekly|accessdate=June 25, 2008}}
*{{cite news|first=Tom|last=Curry|title=What Obama's Senate Votes Reveal|date=February 21, 2008|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23276453/|work=MSNBC|accessdate=June 25, 2008}}
*{{cite news|url=http://nj.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/|title=Obama: Most Liberal Senator In 2007|work=National Journal|date=January 31, 2008|accessdate=June 25, 2008}}
</ref>
<ref name="transition period">
{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE4AF1MJ20081116|title=Obama resigns Senate seat, thanks Illinois|accessdate=March 10, 2009|date=November 16, 2008|work=]|author=Mason, Jeff}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1859020,00.html|title=Obama to Resign Senate Seat on Sunday|accessdate=November 22, 2008|date=November 13, 2008|publisher=]|work=]|author=Sidoti, Liz}}
</ref>
<ref name="Democratic primary">
{{cite web |url=http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2000/ilh.htm |title=Federal Elections 2000: U.S. House Results - Illinois |publisher=] |accessdate=April 24, 2008}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14502364|title=Obama's Loss May Have Aided White House Bid}}
*{{cite news |first=Janny |last=Scott |title=A Streetwise Veteran Schooled Young Obama |date=September 9, 2007 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/09/us/politics/09obama.html |work=The New York Times |accessdate=April 20, 2008}}
*{{cite news |first=Edward |last=McClelland |title=How Obama Learned to Be a Natural |date=February 12, 2007 |url=http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/02/12/obama_natural/ |work=Salon |accessdate=April 20, 2008}}
*{{cite news |first=Richard |last=Wolffe |coauthors=Daren Briscoe |title=Across the Divide |date=July 16, 2007 |work=MSNBC |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/33156 |work=Newsweek |accessdate=April 20, 2008}}
*{{cite news |first=Scott |last=Helman |title=Early Defeat Launched a Rapid Political Climb |date=October 12, 2007 |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/10/12/early_defeat_launched_a_rapid_political_climb/ |work=Boston Globe |accessdate=April 20, 2008}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2007-10-24-3157940059_x.htm 24, 2007-3157940059_x.htm|title=Obama learned from failed Congress run |work=USA Today |author=Wills, Christopher|date=October 24, 2007 |accessdate=September 20, 2008}}
</ref>
<ref name="nuclear terrorism">
{{cite news |first=Adam |last=Graham-Silverman |title=Despite Flurry of Action in House, Congress Unlikely to Act Against Iran |date=September 12, 2007 |url=http://public.cq.com/docs/cqt/news110-000002583189.html |work=CQ Today |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}
*{{cite web |title=Obama, Schiff Provision to Create Nuclear Threat Reduction Plan Approved |date=December 20, 2007 |url=http://obama.senate.gov/press/071220-obama_schiff_pr/ |publisher=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}
</ref>
<ref name="Forty">
{{cite book|author=White, Jesse (ed.)|year=2000|title=Illinois Blue Book, 2000, Millennium ed.|url=http://www.sos.state.il.us/bb/toc.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20040214180551/http://www.sos.state.il.us/bb/toc.html|archivedate=2004-02-14|location=Springfield, IL|publisher=Illinois Secretary of State|oclc=43923973|accessdate=June 6, 2008|page=83}}
<br/>
*{{cite news|author=Jarrett, Vernon|date=August 11, 1992|title='Project Vote' brings power to the people|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=(Vernon%20Jarrett)%20AND%20date(8/11/1992%20to%208/11/1992)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=8/11/1992%20to%208/11/1992)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(Vernon%20Jarrett)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no|work=Chicago Sun-Times|format=paid archive|page=23|accessdate=June 6, 2008}}
*{{cite journal|author=Reynolds, Gretchen|month=January|year=1993|title=Vote of Confidence|url=http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/January-1993/Vote-of-Confidence/|journal=]|volume=42|issue=1|pages=53–54|accessdate=June 6, 2008}} {{cite journal|author=Anderson, Veronica|month=September 27–October 3|year=1993|title=40 under Forty: Barack Obama, Director, Illinois Project Vote|journal=]|volume=16|issue=39|accessdate=June 6, 2008|page=43}}
</ref>
<ref name="future">
{{cite news |author=Mendell, David |date=March 17, 2004 |title=Obama routs Democratic foes; Ryan tops crowded GOP field; Hynes, Hull fall far short across state |work=Chicago Tribune |page=1 |url= http://www.chicagotribune.com/technology/chi-0403170332mar17,0,6048572.story |accessdate=March 1, 2009}}
*{{cite news |author=Davey, Monica |date=March 18, 2004 |title=As quickly as overnight, a Democratic star is born |work=The New York Times |page=A20 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/18/us/as-quickly-as-overnight-a-democratic-star-is-born.html?pagewanted=all |accessdate=March 1, 2009}}
*{{cite news |author=Howlett, Debbie |date=March 19, 2004 |title=Dems see a rising star in Illinois Senate candidate |work=USA Today |page=A04 |url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2004-03-18-obama-usat_x.htm |accessdate=March 1, 2009}}
*{{cite journal |author=Scheiber, Noam |date=May 31, 2004 |title=Race Against History. Barack Obama's miraculous campaign |journal=The New Republic |volume=230 |issue=20 |pages=21–22, 24–26 (cover story) |url=http://www.tnr.com/article/race-against-history-0 |accessdate=March 24, 2009}}
*{{cite journal |author=Finnegan, William |date=May 31, 2004 |title=The Candidate. How far can Barack Obama go? |journal=The New Yorker |volume=20 |issue=14 |pages=32–38 |url=http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/05/31/040531fa_fact1?currentPage=all |accessdate=March 24, 2009}}
*{{cite news |author=Dionne Jr., E. J. |date=June 25, 2004 |title=In Illinois, a star prepares |work=The Washington Post |page=A29 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4062-2004Jun24.html |accessdate=March 24, 2009}}
*Mendell (2007), pp. 235–259.
</ref>
<ref name="margin">
{{cite news |title=America Votes 2004: U.S. Senate / Illinois |url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/IL/S/01/index.html |work=CNN |accessdate=April 13, 2008}} {{cite news |first=Peter |last=Slevin |title=For Obama, a Handsome Payoff in Political Gambles |date=November 13, 2007 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/12/AR2007111201945.html |work=The Washington Post |accessdate=April 13, 2008}}
*{{cite news|title=Obama scores a record landslide | author=Chase, John and Mendell, David |url=http://www.noticiasdot.com/publicaciones/2004/1104/0311/noticias031104/presidenciales-usa/images/usa/chicago_tribune/chicago_tribune_031104.pdf | work=] | page=1 | date=November 3, 2004 | accessdate=April 3, 2009}}
*{{cite news | url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1113153,cst-nws-obama110304.article | work=] | title=Obama takes Senate seat in a landslide | author=Fornek, Scott | date=November 3, 2004 | accessdate=April 3, 2009}}
</ref>
<ref name="status">
{{cite news |author=. |date=August 2, 2004 |title=Star Power. Showtime: Some are on the rise; others have long been fixtures in the firmament. A galaxy of bright Democratic lights |work=Newsweek |pages=48–51 |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/54728/output/print |accessdate=November 15, 2008}}
*{{cite news |author=Samuel, Terence |date=August 2, 2004 |title=A shining star named Obama. How a most unlikely politician became a darling of the Democrats |work=U.S. News & World Report |page=25 |url=http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/040802/2obama.htm |accessdate=November 15, 2008}}
*{{cite news |author=Lizza, Ryan |month=September |year=2004 |title=The Natural. Why is Barack Obama generating more excitement among Democrats than John Kerry? |work=The Atlantic Monthly |pages=30, 33 |url=http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200409/lizza |accessdate=November 15, 2008}}
*{{cite news |author=Davey, Monica |date=July 26, 2004 |title=A surprise Senate contender reaches his biggest stage yet |work=The New York Times |page=A1 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/26/politics/campaign/26obama.html?pagewanted=all |accessdate=November 15, 2008}}
*{{cite news |author=Leibovich, Mark |date=July 27, 2004 |title=The other man of the hour |work=The Washington Post |page=C1 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16606-2004Jul26.html |accessdate=November 15, 2008}}
*{{cite news |author=Milligan, Susan |date=July 27, 2004 |title=In Obama, Democrats see their future |work=The Boston Globe |page=B8 |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/07/27/in_obama_democrats_see_their_future/ |accessdate=November 15, 2008}}
*{{cite news |author=Seelye, Katharine Q. |date=July 28, 2004 |title=Illinois Senate nominee speaks of encompassing unity |work=The New York Times |page=A1 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/28/politics/campaign/28blacks.html |accessdate=November 15, 2008}}
*{{cite news |author=Broder, David S. |date=July 28, 2004 |title=Democrats focus on healing divisions; Addressing convention, newcomers set themes |work=The Washington Post |page=A1 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17865-2004Jul27.html |accessdate=November 15, 2008}}
*{{cite news |author=Bing, Jonathan; McClintock, Pamela |date=July 29, 2004 |title=Auds resist charms of Dem stars |work=Daily Variety |page=1 |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117908388.html?categoryid=1077&cs=1 |accessdate=November 15, 2008}}
* Mendell (2007), pp. 272–285.
</ref>
<ref name="Kenyan">
{{cite news |first=Christina |last=Larson |title=Hoosier Daddy: What Rising Democratic Star Barack Obama Can Learn from an Old Lion of the GOP |date=September 2006 |url=http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2006/0609.larson.html |work=Washington Monthly |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}
*{{cite news |first=Chuck |last=Goudie |title=Obama Meets with Arafat's Successor |date=January 12, 2006 |url=http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=3806933 |work=WLS-TV |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}
*{{cite news |title=Obama Slates Kenya for Fraud |date=August 28, 2006 |url=http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1989646,00.html |work=News24.com |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}
*{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Wamalwa |title=Envoy Hits at Obama Over Graft Remark |date=September 2, 2006 |url=http://www.eastandard.net/archives/cl/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143957666 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071010050740/http://www.eastandard.net/archives/cl/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143957666 |archivedate=October 10, 2007 |work=The Standard (Nairobi) |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}
*{{cite news |first=Vincent |last=Moracha |coauthors=Mangoa Mosota |title=Leaders Support Obama on Graft Claims |date=September 4, 2006 |url=http://www.eastandard.net/archives/cl/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143957752 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071007115436/http://www.eastandard.net/archives/cl/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143957752 |archivedate=October 7, 2007 |work=The Standard (Nairobi) |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}
</ref>
<ref name="allocation">
{{cite news | url=http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1738331,00.html |title=The Five Mistakes Clinton Made |author=Tumulty, Karen |work=Time |date=May 8, 2008 |accessdate=November 11, 2008}}
*{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/us/politics/08recon.html |title=The Long Road to a Clinton Exit |author=Baker, Peter and Rutenberg, Jim |work=The New York Times |date=June 8, 2008 |accessdate=November 29, 2008}}
</ref>
<ref name="presumptive">
{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/03/election.democrats/index.html|title=Obama: I will be the Democratic nominee|work=CNN.com|date=June 4, 2008|accessdate=June 6, 2008}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23809081-23109,00.html|title=Obama clinches nomination|work=Herald Sun|location=Australia|date=June 4, 2008|accessdate=June 6, 2008|author=John Whitesides in Washington}} <!-- {{dead link|date=September 2009}} -->
<!-- *{{dead link|date=September 2009}} -->
</ref>
<ref name="delegates">
{{cite news|author=Tom Baldwin|title=Hillary Clinton: 'Barack is my candidate'|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article4616719.ece|work=TimesOnline|date=August 27, 2008|accessdate=August 27, 2008}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/28/us/politics/28DEMSDAY.html?pagewanted=all|title=Obama Wins Nomination as Biden and Bill Clinton Rally the Party|work=The New York Times|author=Nagourney, Adam|date=August 27, 2008|accessdate=August 27, 2008}}
</ref>
<ref name="acceptance">
{{cite news|title=Obama accepts Democrat nomination|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7586375.stm|work=]|date=August 29, 2008|accessdate=August 29, 2008}}
*{{cite news|url=http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2008/08/29/soaring-speech-from-obama-plus-some-specifics/|title=Soaring speech from Obama, plus some specifics|work=The Christian Science Monitor|author=Marks, Alexandra|date=August 29, 2008|accessdate=September 20, 2008}}
</ref>
<ref name="small donations">
{{cite news|first=Jim|last=Malone|title=Obama Fundraising Suggests Close Race for Party Nomination|date=July 2, 2007|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2007-07/2007-07-02-voa52.cfm |work=Voice of America|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}
*{{cite news|first=Jeanne|last=Cummings|title=Small Donors Rewrite Fundraising Handbook|date=September 26, 2007|url=http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=3ECB3515-3048-5C12-004D622CB6F4E214|work=Politico|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}
*{{cite news|first=Emily|last=Cadei|title=Obama Outshines Other Candidates in January Fundraising|date=February 21, 2008|url=http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000002674309|work=CQ Politics|accessdate=February 24, 2008}}
</ref>
<ref name="presidential debates">
{{cite web|accessdate=July 6, 2008|url=http://www.debates.org/pages/news_111907.html|title=Commission on Presidential Debates Announces Sites, Dates, Formats and Candidate Selection Criteria for 2008 General Election|publisher=]|date=November 19, 2007}}
*{{cite news|accessdate=July 6, 2008|url=http://www.courant.com/topic/|title=Gun Ruling Reverberates|work=]|date=June 27, 2008}}
</ref>
<ref name="electoral votes">
{{cite news|work=MSNBC|accessdate=February 20, 2009|date=November 4, 2008|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27531033/|title=Barack Obama elected 44th president|author=Johnson, Alex}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/president/|title=CNN Electoral Map Calculator—Election Center 2008|work=CNN.com|date=2008|accessdate=December 14, 2008}}
</ref>
<ref name="direct assistance">
{{cite news|url=http://www.usbudgetwatch.org/stimulus|title=Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Stimulus Watch}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/17/obama.stimulus.remarks/|title=Obama's remarks on signing the stimulus plan|accessdate=February 17, 2009|work=CNN}}
</ref>
<ref name="markets opened">
{{cite news|title=U.S. Expands Plan to Buy Banks’ Troubled Assets|date=March 23, 2009|work=New York Times|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/24/business/economy/24bailout.html}}
*{{cite news|title=Wall Street soars 7 percent on bank plan debut|date=March 23, 2009|work=REUTERS|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSTRE52H2FA20090323?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews}}
</ref>
<ref name="preceding administration">
{{cite news|first=|last=|coauthors=|authorlink=|title=Biden vows break with Bush era foreign policy|date=|publisher=|url=http://www.canada.com/news/unveils+changes+foreign+policy/1265065/story.html|work=|pages=|accessdate=June 15, 2009|language=}}
*{{cite news|first=|last=|coauthors=|authorlink=|title= Clinton's gaffes and gains on tour|date=|publisher=|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7931699.stm|work=|pages=|accessdate=June 15, 2009|language=}}
</ref>
<ref name="Middle East peace">
, ], June 4, 2009
*Jeff Zeleny and Alan Cowell, , ], June 4, 2009.
*{{cite web|url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/The-President-in-the-Middle-East/|title=The President in the Middle East|date=June 3, 2009|author=Jesse Lee|publisher=White House|accessdate=June 4, 2009}}
</ref>
<ref name="counterinsurgency tactics">
{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/11/AR2009051101864.html|title=Top U.S. Commander in Afghanistan Is Fired|date=May 12, 2009|work=]}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/05/12/new-commander-brings-counterinsurgency-experience-afghanistan|title=New U.S. Commander Brings Counterinsurgency Experience to Afghanistan|date=May 13, 2009|work=]}}
</ref>
<ref name="spoke out">
{{cite news|author=Obama, Barack|date=October 2, 2002|title=Remarks of Illinois State Sen. Barack Obama Against Going to War with Iraq|url=http://www.barackobama.com/2002/10/02/remarks_of_illinois_state_sen.php|publisher=BarackObama.com|accessdate=February 3, 2008}}
*{{cite news|author=McCormick, John|date=October 3, 2007|work=Chicago Tribune|page=7|title=Obama marks '02 war speech; Contender highlights his early opposition in effort to distinguish him from his rivals|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/1351610621.html?dids=1351610621:1351610621&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT|format=paid archive|quote=The top strategist for Sen. Barack Obama has just 14 seconds of video of what is one of the most pivotal moments of the presidential candidate's political career. The video, obtained from a Chicago TV station, is of Obama's 2002 speech in opposition to the impending Iraq invasion.|accessdate=October 28, 2008}}
*{{cite news|author=Pallasch, Abdon M.|date=October 3, 2007|work=Chicago Sun-Times|page=26|title=Obama touts anti-war cred; Kicks off tour 5 years after speech critical of going to Iraq|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=headline(Obama%20touts%20anti-war%20cred)%20AND%20date(all)&p_field_advanced-0=title&p_text_advanced-0=(Obama%20touts%20anti-war%20cred)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no|format=paid archive|accessdate=October 28, 2008}}
</ref>
<ref name="stop the war">
{{cite news|author=Ritter, Jim|date=March 17, 2003|work=Chicago Sun-Times|page=3|title=Anti-war rally here draws thousands|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=headline(Anti-war%20rally%20here%20draws%20thousands)%20AND%20date(all)&p_field_advanced-0=title&p_text_advanced-0=(Anti-war%20rally%20here%20draws%20thousands)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no|format=paid archive|accessdate=February 3, 2008}}
*{{cite news|author=Office of the Press Secretary|date=March 16, 2003|title=President Bush: Monday "Moment of Truth" for World on Iraq|publisher=The White House|url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/16/sprj.irq.main/index.html|accessdate=February 17, 2008}}
*{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|date=March 17, 2003|work=Chicago Sun-Times|page=1|title='Moment of truth for the world'; Bush, three allies set today as final day for Iraq to disarm or face massive military attack|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=headline(Moment%20of%20truth%20for%20the%20world)%20AND%20date(all)&p_field_advanced-0=title&p_text_advanced-0=(Moment%20of%20truth%20for%20the%20world)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no|format=paid archive|accessdate=February 3, 2008}}
</ref>
<ref name="without preconditions">
{{cite web|url=http://origin.barackobama.com/issues/foreign_policy/|title=Barack Obama and Joe Biden's Plan to Secure America and Restore Our Standing|publisher=Obama for America|accessdate=September 22, 2008}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/02/us/politics/01cnd-obama.html?pagewanted=all |title=Obama Pledges 'Aggressive' Iran Diplomacy|author=Gordon, Michael R. and Zeleny, Jeff|work=The New York Times|date=November 2, 2007|accessdate=June 17, 2008}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/24/us/politics/24transcript.html?pagewanted=all|title=Transcript of fourth Democratic debate|work=The New York Times|date=July 24, 2007|accessdate=June 17, 2008}}
</ref>
<ref name="in Jakarta">
{{cite web|title=Obama's Indonesian Redux|url=http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=1025|author=Zimmer, Benjamin|year=2009|accessdate=March 12, 2009|publisher=Language Log}}
*{{cite web|title=Obama: Saya Kangen Nasi Goreng, Bakso, dan Rambutan|url=http://cetak.kompas.com/read/xml/2008/11/26/00223862/obama.saya.kangen.nasi.goreng.bakso.dan.rambutan}}
</ref>
<ref name="corruption charges">
{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/16/AR2006121600729.html|title=Obama says he regrets land deal with fundraiser|work=The Washington Post|date=December 17, 2006|accessdate=June 10, 2008|last=Slevin|first=Peter}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24973282/|title=Rezko found guilty in corruption case|accessdate=June 24, 2008|date=June 4, 2008|agency=Associated Press|work=MSNBC.com|last=Robinson|first=Mike}}
</ref>
<ref name="social change">
Obama (2006), pp. 202–208. Portions excerpted in: {{cite news|first=Barack|last=Obama|title=My Spiritual Journey|date=October 23, 2006|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1546579,00.html|work=Time|accessdate=April 28, 2008}}
*{{cite web|url=http://obama.senate.gov/speech/060628-call_to_renewal/|title='Call to Renewal' Keynote Address|accessdate=June 16, 2008|last=Obama|first=Barack|date=June 28, 2006|work=Barack Obama: U.S. Senator for Illinois (website)}}
</ref>
<ref name="two decades">
{{cite news|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/30/america/30obama.php?page=2|title=Barack Obama's search for faith|first=Jodi|last=Kantor|date=April 30, 2007|work=International Herald Tribune}} April 30, 2007
*{{cite journal|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1546579,00.html|title=My Spiritual Journey|first=Barack|last=Obama|date=October 23, 2006|journal=]}}
</ref>
<ref name="exceptional orator">
{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/world/a-classic-orator-obama-learnt-from-the-masters-20081129-6nf1.html|title=Obama: Oratory and originality|last=Holmes|first=Stephanie|date=November 30, 2008|accessdate=December 11, 2008|work=The Age}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/mar2008/sb2008033_156351.htm|title=How to Inspire People Like Obama Does|last=Gallo|first=Carmine|date=March 3, 2008|accessdate=February 21, 2009|work=Business Week}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com/living/article/551538|title=New emotion dubbed 'elevation|date=December 11, 2008|work=]|accessdate=December 11, 2008}}
</ref>
}}

==References==
* {{cite book |last=Mendell |first=David |authorlink=David Mendell |year=2007 |title=] |location=New York |publisher=Amistad/] |isbn=0-06-085820-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Obama |first=Barack |year=1995, 2004 |title=] |location=New York |publisher=] |isbn=1-4000-8277-3}}
* {{cite book |last=Obama |first=Barack |year=2006 |title=] |location=New York |publisher=] |isbn=0-307-23769-9}}

==Further reading==
* Curry, Jessica. "", ''Chicago Life'', Fall 2004. Retrieved on January 14, 2008.
* Graff, Garrett. "", ''Washingtonian'', November 1, 2006. Retrieved on January 14, 2008.
* Koltun, Dave (2005) ''"The 2004 Illinois Senate Race: Obama Wins Open Seat and Becomes National Political “Star”"'' in ''"The Road to Congress 2004"'' Editors: Sunil Ahuja (]) and Robert Dewhirst (]), ], Haupauge, New York, Binding: Hardcover Pub. Date: 2005, ISBN 1-59454-360-7
* Lizza, Ryan. "", ''GQ'', September 2007. Retrieved on January 14, 2008.
* MacFarquhar, Larissa. "", ''New Yorker'', May 7, 2007. Retrieved on January 14, 2008.
* Mundy, Liza. "", ''The Washington Post Magazine'', August 12, 2007. Retrieved on January 14, 2008.
* Wallace-Wells, Ben. "", ''Rolling Stone'', February 7, 2007. Retrieved on January 14, 2008.
* Zutter, Hank De. "", ''Chicago Reader'', December 8, 1995. Retrieved on January 14, 2008.

==External links==
{{Sisterlinks|author=yes|wikt=no|v=no|b=no|n=Category:Barack Obama}}
{{Spoken Misplaced Pages|En-Barack_Obama-article1.ogg|September 3, 2008}}
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;Official sites
* ''official White House website''
*
*
*
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Do not add YouTube, MySpace, Twitter, and other official Obama campaign web sites here. They are MANY and all are subsidiaries of BarackObama.com, linked from http://www.barackobama.com.
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;Site directory
* {{dmoz|Society/History/By_Region/North_America/United_States/Presidents/Obama,_Barack}}
* {{worldcat id|id=lccn-n94-112934}}
;News media
* Ongoing news coverage from the , , , ,
* {{cite news|title=US election results map|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7697829.stm|work=]}}
* {{cite news|title=In pictures: Election result reaction|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7709830.stm|work=]}}
* {{cite news|title=In quotes: US election reaction|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7710020.stm|work=]}}
* ('']'', November 5, 2008)

;Congressional links
{{CongLinks|congbio=o000167|fec=S4IL00180|opensecrets=N00009638|votesmart=9490|ontheissuespath=Barack_Obama.htm|legistorm=76/Sen_Barack_Obama.html|surge=923|govtrack=400629|findagrave=}}

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{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see ] -->
|NAME=Obama, Barack, II
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Obama, Barack Hussein
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=44th President of the United States of America
|DATE OF BIRTH=August 4, 1961
|PLACE OF BIRTH=], Hawaii
|DATE OF DEATH=
|PLACE OF DEATH=
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Obama, Barack}}
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Revision as of 15:54, 2 December 2009

Barack Obama is a poopy face.