Jump to content

Barack Obama: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Paexo (talk | contribs)
Paexo (talk | contribs)
mNo edit summary
Line 37: Line 37:
{{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=2008-01-14}}
{{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=2008-01-14}}
</ref> As a member of the Democratic minority in the [[109th United States Congress|109th Congress]], he co-sponsored [[bipartisanship|bipartisan]] legislation for controlling [[conventional weapon]]s and for promoting greater public [[accountability]] in the use of federal funds. He also made official trips to [[Eastern Europe]], the [[Middle East]], and [[Africa]]. In the current [[110th United States Congress|110th Congress]], he has sponsored legislation on [[lobbying in the United States|lobbying]] and [[electoral fraud]], [[mitigation of global warming|climate change]], [[nuclear terrorism]], and care for returned [[military of the United States|U.S. military]] personnel.
</ref> As a member of the Democratic minority in the [[109th United States Congress|109th Congress]], he co-sponsored [[bipartisanship|bipartisan]] legislation for controlling [[conventional weapon]]s and for promoting greater public [[accountability]] in the use of federal funds. He also made official trips to [[Eastern Europe]], the [[Middle East]], and [[Africa]]. In the current [[110th United States Congress|110th Congress]], he has sponsored legislation on [[lobbying in the United States|lobbying]] and [[electoral fraud]], [[mitigation of global warming|climate change]], [[nuclear terrorism]], and care for returned [[military of the United States|U.S. military]] personnel.
== Scandal==

Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html
Since announcing his [[Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2008|presidential campaign]] in February 2007, Obama has emphasized ending the [[Iraq War]] while maintaining a strong defense abroad, increasing [[Energy policy of the United States| energy independence]], and providing [[Universal_health_care#United_States| universal health care]] as major priorities.<ref>
Since announcing his [[Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2008|presidential campaign]] in February 2007, Obama has emphasized ending the [[Iraq War]] while maintaining a strong defense abroad, increasing [[Energy policy of the United States| energy independence]], and providing [[Universal_health_care#United_States| universal health care]] as major priorities.<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=2008-01-14}} See also: {{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=New York Times | accessdate=2008-01-14}}
{{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=2008-01-14}} See also: {{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=New York Times | accessdate=2008-01-14}}
Line 58: Line 59:
==State legislature==
==State legislature==


Obama was elected to the [[Illinois Senate|Illinois State Senate]] in 1996 from the state's 13th District spanning the [[South Side (Chicago)|south-side Chicago]] neighborhoods of [[Hyde Park, Chicago|Hyde Park]], [[South Shore, Chicago|South Shore]], and [[Englewood, Chicago|Englewood]].<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/local/chi-070403obama-ballot,1,57567.story | work=Chicago Tribune | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> In 2000, he made an unsuccessful Democratic primary run for the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] seat held by four-term [[incumbent]] candidate [[Bobby Rush]].<ref>{{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=New York Times | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> He was reelected to the Illinois Senate in 1998 and 2002, officially resigning in November 2004 following his election to the U.S. Senate.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html |title=13th District: Barack Obama | format=archive | accessdate=2008-01-14 | date=[[August 24]] [[2000]] | work=Illinois State Senate Democrats | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20000824102110/http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html |archivedate=2000-08-24 }} {{cite news | url=http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html | title=13th District: Barack Obama | format=archive | accessdate=2008-01-14 |date=[[October 9]] [[2004]] |work=Illinois State Senate Democrats | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20041009213335/http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html | archivedate=2004-10-09}} {{cite news | first=Jodi S | last=Cohen | title=Obama's Springfield Seat Goes to Lawyer | date=[[November 7]] [[2004]] | url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/731233451.html?dids=731233451:731233451&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT | format=paid archive | work=Chicago Tribune | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> As a state legislator, Obama gained bipartisan support for legislation reforming [[political corruption|ethics]] and [[health care reform|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=2008-01-14}} See also: {{cite news | title=Obama Record May Be Gold Mine for Critics | date=[[January 17]] [[2007]] | publisher=CBS News | url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/17/politics/main2369157.shtml | work=Associated Press | accessdate=2008-01-14}} {{cite news | title=In-Depth Look at Obama's Political Career | date=[[February 9]], [[2007]] | publisher=Chicago Tribune | url=http://video.chicagotribune.com/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?clipid1=1226539 | work=CLTV | format=video | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> He sponsored a law enhancing [[tax credit]]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=New York Times | accessdate=2008-01-14}} 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 | work=Chicago Tribune | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Obama also led the passage of legislation mandating videotaping of homicide interrogations, and a law to monitor [[racial profiling]] by requiring police to record the race of drivers they stopped.<ref name=Scott20070730 /> During his 2004 general election campaign for U.S. Senate, he won the endorsement of the Illinois [[Fraternal Order of Police]], whose president credited Obama for his active engagement with police organizations in enacting [[capital punishment in the United States|death penalty]] reforms.<ref>{{cite news | first=Sam | last=Youngman | coauthors= and 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=2008-01-14}} See also: {{cite news | title=US Presidential Candidate Obama Cites Work on State Death Penalty Reforms | date=[[November 12]] [[2007]] | publisher=International Herald Tribune | url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/12/america/NA-POL-US-Obama-Death-Penalty.php | work=Associated Press | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> He was criticized by rival [[pro-choice]] candidates in the Democratic primary and by his Republican [[pro-life]] opponent in the general election for a series of "present" or "no" votes on [[late-term abortion]] and [[minors and abortion|parental notification]] issues.<ref>{{cite news | first=Eric | last=Zorn | title=Disparagement of Obama Votes Doesn't Hold Up | archiveurl=http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2007/12/disparagement-o.html | archivedate=2007-12-04 | date=[[March 9]] [[2004]] | url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/573751701.html?dids=573751701:573751701&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT | work=Chicago Tribune | accessdate=2008-01-14}} {{cite news | title=Keyes Assails Obama's Abortion Views | date=[[August 9]] [[2004]] | publisher=MSNBC | url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5654128/ | work=Associated Press | accessdate=2008-01-14}} See also: {{cite news | first=Sam | last=Youngman | title=Abortion Foes Target Obama Because of His Vote Record on Illinois Legislation | date=[[February 15]] [[2007]] | url=http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/abortion-foes-target-obama-because-of-his-vote-record-on-illinois-legislation-2007-02-15.html | work=The Hill | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref>
Obama was elected to the [[Illinois Senate|Illinois State Senate]] in 1996 from the state's 13th District spanning the [[South Side (Chicago)|south-side Chicago]] neighborhoods of [[Hyde Park, Chicago|Hyde Park]], [[South Shore, Chicago|South Shore]], and [[Englewood, Chicago|Englewood]].<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/local/chi-070403obama-ballot,1,57567.story | work=Chicago Tribune | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> In 2000, he made an unsuccessful Democratic primary run for the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] seat held by four-term [[incumbent]] candidate [[Bobby Rush]].<ref>{{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=New York Times | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> He was reelected to the Illinois Senate in 1998 and 2002, officially resigning in November 2004 following his election to the U.S. Senate.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html |title=13th District: Barack Obama | format=archive | accessdate=2008-01-14 | date=[[August 24]] [[2000]] | work=Illinois State Senate Democrats |
== Scandal==
Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.htmlarchiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20000824102110/http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html |archivedate=2000-08-24 }} {{cite news | url=http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html | title=13th District: Barack Obama | format=archive | accessdate=2008-01-14 |date=[[October 9]] [[2004]] |work=Illinois State Senate Democrats | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20041009213335/http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html | archivedate=2004-10-09}} {{cite news | first=Jodi S | last=Cohen | title=Obama's Springfield Seat Goes to Lawyer | date=[[November 7]] [[2004]] | url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/731233451.html?dids=731233451:731233451&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT | format=paid archive | work=Chicago Tribune | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> As a state legislator, Obama gained bipartisan support for legislation reforming [[political corruption|ethics]] and [[health care reform|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=2008-01-14}} See also: {{cite news | title=Obama Record May Be Gold Mine for Critics | date=[[January 17]] [[2007]] | publisher=CBS News | url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/17/politics/main2369157.shtml | work=Associated Press | accessdate=2008-01-14}} {{cite news | title=In-Depth Look at Obama's Political Career | date=[[February 9]], [[2007]] | publisher=Chicago Tribune | url=http://video.chicagotribune.com/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?clipid1=1226539 | work=CLTV | format=video | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> He sponsored a law enhancing [[tax credit]]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=New York Times | accessdate=2008-01-14}} 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 | work=Chicago Tribune | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Obama also led the passage of legislation mandating videotaping of homicide interrogations, and a law to monitor [[racial profiling]] by requiring police to record the race of drivers they stopped.<ref name=Scott20070730 /> During his 2004 general election campaign for U.S. Senate, he won the endorsement of the Illinois [[Fraternal Order of Police]], whose president credited Obama for his active engagement with police organizations in enacting [[capital punishment in the United States|death penalty]] reforms.<ref>{{cite news | first=Sam | last=Youngman | coauthors= and 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=2008-01-14}} See also: {{cite news | title=US Presidential Candidate Obama Cites Work on State Death Penalty Reforms | date=[[November 12]] [[2007]] | publisher=International Herald Tribune | url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/12/america/NA-POL-US-Obama-

==Keynote address at 2004 Democratic National Convention==
{{seealso|2004 Democratic National Convention}}

Obama wrote and delivered the keynote address at the [[2004 Democratic National Convention]] in [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]], [[Massachusetts]], while still serving as a [[State legislature (United States)|state legislator]].<ref>For details about the speech's genesis and delivery, see: {{cite news | first=Shira | last=Boss-Bicak | title=Barack Obama ’83: Is He the New Face of The Democratic Party? | date=January 2005 | url =http://www.college.columbia.edu/cct/jan05/cover.php | work =Columbia College Today| accessdate =2008-01-14}} See also: {{cite news | first=David | last=Bernstein| title=The Speech | date=June 2007| url=http://www.chicagomag.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=8642F5EFCEA14A939100AB7214F31861&nm=Archives&type=PubPagi&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle+Title&mid=61BFC65300D24DB58350C761094153A1&tier=4&id=864D9B81ECE746529042D982A9FED8A3 | work=Chicago Magazine| accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> After describing his maternal grandfather's experiences as a [[World War II]] veteran and a beneficiary of the [[New Deal|New Deal's]] [[Federal Housing Administration|FHA]] and [[G.I. Bill]] programs, Obama said:
Obama wrote and delivered the keynote address at the [[2004 Democratic National Convention]] in [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]], [[Massachusetts]], while still serving as a [[State legislature (United States)|state legislator]].<ref>For details about the speech's genesis and delivery, see: {{cite news | first=Shira | last=Boss-Bicak | title=Barack Obama ’83: Is He the New Face of The Democratic Party? | date=January 2005 | url =http://www.college.columbia.edu/cct/jan05/cover.php | work =Columbia College Today| accessdate =2008-01-14}} See also: {{cite news | first=David | last=Bernstein| title=The Speech | date=June 2007| url=http://www.chicagomag.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=8642F5EFCEA14A939100AB7214F31861&nm=Archives&type=PubPagi&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle+Title&mid=61BFC65300D24DB58350C761094153A1&tier=4&id=864D9B81ECE746529042D982A9FED8A3 | work=Chicago Magazine| accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> After describing his maternal grandfather's experiences as a [[World War II]] veteran and a beneficiary of the [[New Deal|New Deal's]] [[Federal Housing Administration|FHA]] and [[G.I. Bill]] programs, Obama said:


Line 68: Line 67:


Questioning the [[George W. Bush's first term as President of the United States|Bush administration's]] management of the [[Iraq War]], Obama spoke of an enlisted [[United States Marine Corps|Marine]], Corporal Seamus Ahern from [[East Moline, Illinois|East Moline]], [[Illinois]], asking, "Are we serving Seamus as well as he is serving us?" He continued:
Questioning the [[George W. Bush's first term as President of the United States|Bush administration's]] management of the [[Iraq War]], Obama spoke of an enlisted [[United States Marine Corps|Marine]], Corporal Seamus Ahern from [[East Moline, Illinois|East Moline]], [[Illinois]], asking, "Are we serving Seamus as well as he is serving us?" He continued:
== Scandal==
<blockquote>When we send our young men and women into harm's way, we have a solemn obligation not to fudge the numbers or shade the truth about why they're going, to care for their families while they're gone, to tend to the soldiers upon their return, and to never ever go to war without enough troops to win the war, secure the peace, and earn the respect of the world.<ref name=keynote/></blockquote>
Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html

Finally, he spoke for national unity:

<blockquote>The pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into [[Red States and Blue States]]; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them, too. We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the Red States. We coach [[Little League]] in the Blue States and have gay friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and patriots who supported it. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.<ref name=keynote/></blockquote>


The speech was Obama's introduction to most of America. Its enthusiastic reception at the convention and widespread coverage by national media gave him instant celebrity status.<ref>{{cite news | first=Richard | last=Wolf | title=Illinois' Obama Revisits Idea of 2008 Run for White House | date=[[October 22]] [[2006]] | url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-10-22-obama-president_x.htm | work=USA Today | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref>
The speech was Obama's introduction to most of America. Its enthusiastic reception at the convention and widespread coverage by national media gave him instant celebrity status.<ref>{{cite news | first=Richard | last=Wolf | title=Illinois' Obama Revisits Idea of 2008 Run for White House | date=[[October 22]] [[2006]] | url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-10-22-obama-president_x.htm | work=USA Today | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref>
Line 79: Line 75:
{{Main|United States Senate election in Illinois, 2004}}
{{Main|United States Senate election in Illinois, 2004}}


== Scandal==
In 2003, Obama began his run for the U.S. Senate [[incumbent|open seat]] vacated by [[Peter Fitzgerald]]. In early opinion polls leading up to the Democratic [[Primary election|primary]], Obama trailed [[millionaire|multimillionaire]] businessman [[Blair Hull]] and Illinois [[Comptroller]] [[Daniel Hynes]].<ref name=Mendell20040317>{{cite news | first=David | last=Mendell | title=Obama Routs Democratic Foes; Ryan Tops Crowded GOP Field|date=[[March 17]], [[2004]] | url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/specials/elections/chi-0403170332mar17,1,1737252.story?coll=chi-news-hed | work=Chicago Tribune | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> However, Hull's popularity declined following allegations of [[domestic violence|domestic abuse]].<ref name=Mendell20040317 /> Obama's candidacy was boosted by an advertising campaign featuring images of the late Chicago Mayor [[Harold Washington]] and the late U.S. Senator [[Paul Simon (politician)|Paul Simon]]; the support of Simon's daughter; and political endorsements by the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' and ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''.<ref>{{cite news | first=Scott | last=Fornek | title=Obama's Appeal Spans Racial Lines | date=[[March 18]], [[2004]] | format=paid archive | url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=(Obama's%20Appeal%20Spans%20Racial%20Lines)%20AND%20date(3/18/2004%20to%203/18/2004) | work=Chicago Sun-Times | accessdate=2008-01-14}} See also: {{cite news | first=Christopher | last=Hayes | title=Check Bounce | date=[[March 17]] [[2004]] | url=http://www.chrishayes.org/articles/check-bounce/ | format=alternate link | work=TNR Online | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Obama received over 52% of the vote in the March 2004 primary, emerging 29% ahead of his nearest Democratic rival.<ref>{{cite news | first=Monica | last=Davey | title=From Crowded Field, Democrats Choose State Legislator to Seek Senate Seat | date=[[May 17]] [[2004]] | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9400E4D61431F934A25750C0A9629C8B63 | work =New York Times | accessdate=2008-01-14}} See also: {{cite news | first=John S | last=Jackson | title=The Making of a Senator: Barack Obama and the 2004 Illinois Senate Race | date=August 2006 | publisher= Southern Illinois University | url =http://www.siu.edu/~ppi/PDF/papers/Obama.pdf | work =Occasional Paper of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> His opponent in the general election was expected to be [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] primary winner [[Jack Ryan (Senate candidate)|Jack Ryan]]. However, Ryan withdrew from the race in June 2004, following public disclosure of [[child custody]] divorce records containing sexual allegations by Ryan's ex-wife, actress [[Jeri Ryan]].<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=2008-01-14}}</ref> In August 2004, with less than three months to go before election day, [[Alan Keyes]] 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]] | publisher=Union-Tribune (San Diego) | url =http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20040809-0849-illinoissenate.html | work =Associated Press | accessdate = 2008-01-14}}</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/specials/elections/chi-0408130201aug13,1,7640082.story | work =Chicago Tribune | accessdate = 2008-01-14}}</ref> Through three televised debates, Obama and Keyes expressed opposing views on [[Stem cell controversy|stem cell research]], [[Abortion in the United States|abortion]], [[Gun politics in the United States|gun control]], [[school voucher]]s, and [[tax cut]]s.<ref>For debate transcripts and video, see ''Alan Keyes Archives'': {{cite web|url=http://www.keyesarchives.com/transcript.php?id=367 |title=Alan Keyes and Barack Obama debate, hosted by Illinois Radio Network |date=[[October 12]] [[2004]]}} {{cite web|url=http://www.keyesarchives.com/transcript.php?id=370 |title=U.S. Senate debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters in Illinois |date=[[October 21]] [[2004]]}} {{cite web|url=http://www.keyesarchives.com/transcript.php?id=373 |title=Debate sponsored by WTTW and the City Club of Chicago |accessdate=2008-01-14 |date=[[October 26]] [[2004]]}}</ref> In the November 2004 general election, Obama received 70% of the vote to Keyes's 27%, the largest electoral victory in Illinois history.<ref>{{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 = 2008-01-14}} {{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=Washington Post | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref>
Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html===110th Congress===

==Senate career==
Obama was sworn in as a senator on [[January 4]] [[2005]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://obama.senate.gov/about/ | title=About Barack Obama | accessdate=2008-01-14 | work=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office}}</ref> Although a newcomer to Washington, he recruited a team of established, high-level advisers devoted to broad themes that exceeded the usual requirements of an incoming first-term senator.<ref>{{cite news | first=Charles | last=Babington | coauthors=Shailagh Murray | title=For Now, an Unofficial Rivalry | date=[[December 8]] [[2006]] | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/07/AR2006120701755.html | work=Washington Post | accessdate=2008-01-21}} {{cite news | first=Mike | last=Dorning | title=Obama's Policy Team Loaded with All-Stars | date=[[September 17]] [[2007]] | url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-obama_mon_nusep17,1,4819101,full.story | work=Chicago Tribune | accessdate=2008-01-21}}</ref> Obama hired [[Pete Rouse]], a 30-year veteran of national politics and former chief of staff to Senate Democratic Leader [[Tom Daschle]], as his chief of staff, and economist [[Karen Kornbluh]], former deputy chief of staff to Secretary of the Treasury [[Robert Rubin]], as his policy director.<ref>{{cite news | first=Jodi | last=Enda | title=Great Expectations | date=[[February 5]] [[2006]] | url=http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?articleId=10828 | work=The American Prospect | accessdate=2008-01-14}} {{cite news | first=Perry | last=Bacon Jr. | title=The Outsider's Insider | date=[[August 27]] [[2007]] | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/26/AR2007082601446.html | work=Washington Post | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> His key foreign policy advisers include [[Samantha Power]], author on human rights and genocide, and former [[Presidency of Bill Clinton| Clinton administration]] officials [[Anthony Lake]] and [[Susan E. Rice| Susan Rice]].<ref>{{cite news | first=James | last=Traub | title=Is (His) Biography (Our) Destiny? | date=[[November 4]] [[2007]] | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/magazine/04obama-t.html | work=New York Times | accessdate=2008-01-14}} {{cite news | first=Neil | last=King | title=Obama Tones Foreign-Policy Muscle | date=[[September 5]] [[2007]] | url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118895877299317784.html | work=Wall Street Journal | accessdate=2008-01-14}} {{cite news | first=Lynn | last=Sweet | title=Obama Taps Influential Foreign Policy Experts | date=[[May 10]] [[2007]] | url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/sweet/379187,CST-EDT-sweet10.article | work=Chicago Sun-Times | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Obama holds assignments on the Senate Committees for [[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Foreign Relations]]; [[United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions|Health, Education, Labor and Pensions]]; [[United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs|Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs]]; and [[United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs|Veterans' Affairs]], and he is a member of the [[Congressional Black Caucus]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://obama.senate.gov/committees/ | title=Committee Assignments | accessdate=2008-01-14 | work=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office}} {{cite news | title=Member Info | url=http://www.house.gov/kilpatrick/cbc/member_info.html | work=Congressional Black Caucus | accessdate=2008-01-14}} 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 | work=Chicago Tribune | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> <!--

The following sentence is a compromise that was reached at the talk page (see the archives). Please do not modify it without discussion.

-->The [[Historian of the United States Senate|U.S. Senate Historical Office]] lists him as the fifth [[African American]] Senator in [[History of the United States|U.S. history]], the third to have been popularly elected, and the only African American currently serving in the Senate.<ref>{{cite news | 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 |work=U.S. Senate Historical Office | accessdate=2008-02-11}}</ref>

===109th Congress===
[[Image:Coburn and Obama discuss S. 2590.jpg|thumb|right|Senate bill sponsors [[Tom Coburn]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]-[[Oklahoma|OK]]) and Obama discuss the [[Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 | Coburn-Obama Transparency Act]].<ref>{{cite news | title=President Bush Signs Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act | date=[[September 26]] [[2006]] | url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/09/20060926.html | work=White House | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref>]]

Obama took an active role in the Senate's drive for improved [[Illegal immigration to the United States|border security]] and [[United States immigration debate|immigration reform]]. In 2005, he co-sponsored the "[[Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act]]" introduced by Sen. [[John McCain]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]-[[Arizona|AZ]]).<ref>{{cite news | 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: | work=Thomas | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> He later added three amendments to the "[[Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006|Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act]]", which passed the Senate in May 2006, but failed to gain majority support in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Immigration Bill Divides House, Senate | date=[[September 22]] [[2006]] | url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-09-22-immigration_x.htm | work=USA Today | accessdate=2008-01-14}} See also: {{cite news | url=http://obama.senate.gov/press/060525-obama_statement_on_senate_passage_of_immigration_reform_bill/index.html | title=Obama Statement on Senate Passage of Immigration Reform Bill | date=[[May 25]] [[2006]] | work=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> In September 2006, Obama supported a related bill, the [[Secure Fence Act of 2006|Secure Fence Act]], authorizing construction of fencing and other security improvements along the [[Mexico–United States border]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Latinos Upset Obama Voted for Border Fence | date=[[November 20]] [[2006]] | url=http://cbs2chicago.com/local/local_story_324192245.html | work=CBS 2 (Chicago) | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> President Bush signed the Secure Fence Act into law in October 2006, calling it "an important step toward immigration reform."<ref>{{cite news | title=President Bush Signs Secure Fence Act | date=[[October 26]] [[2006]] | url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/10/20061026.html | work=White House | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref>

Partnering first with Sen. [[Dick Lugar]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]-[[Indiana|IN]]), and then with Sen. [[Tom Coburn]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]-[[Oklahoma|OK]]), Obama successfully introduced two initiatives bearing his name. "Lugar-Obama" expands the [[Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction|Nunn-Lugar cooperative threat reduction]] concept to [[conventional weapon]]s, including [[Man-portable air-defense system|shoulder-fired missiles]] and [[anti-personnel mine]]s.<ref>{{cite news | first=109th Congress, 2nd Session | last=U.S. Senate | title=S. 2566, Cooperative Proliferation Detection, Interdiction Assistance, and Conventional Threat Reduction Act of 2006 | date=[[May 25]] [[2006]] | url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SN02566: | work=Thomas | accessdate=2008-01-14}} 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=2008-01-14}} {{cite news | 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]] | work=Richard Lugar U.S. Senate Office | accessdate=2008-01-14}} The Lugar-Obama initiative subsequently received $48 million in funding. {{cite news | url=http://lugar.senate.gov/press/record.cfm?id=278019 | title=Obama, Lugar Secure Funding for Implementation of Nonproliferation Law | work=Richard Lugar U.S. Senate Office | date=[[June 28]] [[2007]] | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> The "[[Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006|Coburn-Obama Transparency Act]]" provides for the web site [http://USAspending.gov USAspending.gov], managed by the [[Office of Management and Budget]], listing all organizations receiving Federal funds from 2007 onward, and providing breakdowns by the agency allocating the funds, the dollar amount given, and the purpose of the grant or contract.<ref>{{cite news | first=109th Congress, 2nd Session | last=U.S. Senate | title=S. 2590, Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 | date=[[April 6]] [[2006]] | url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SN02590: | work=Thomas | accessdate=2008-01-14}} {{cite news | 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 | work=Tom Coburn U.S. Senate Office | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> In December 2006, President Bush signed into law the "[[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act," marking the first federal legislation to be enacted with Obama as its primary sponsor.<ref>{{cite news | first=109th Congress, 2nd Session | last=U.S. Senate | title=S. 2125, Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act | date=[[January 3]] [[2006]] | url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SN02125: | work=Thomas | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref>

As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Obama made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In August 2005, he traveled to [[Russia]], [[Ukraine]], and [[Azerbaijan]]. The trip focused on strategies to control the world's supply of [[conventional weapons]], [[biological weapons]], and [[weapons of mass destruction]] as a first defense against potential [[terrorism|terrorist]] attacks.<ref>{{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=2008-01-14}}</ref> Following meetings with [[Military of the United States|U.S. military]] in [[Kuwait]] and [[Iraq]] in January 2006, Obama visited [[Jordan]], [[Israel]], and the [[Palestinian territories]]. At a meeting with [[Palestinian people|Palestinian]] students two weeks before [[Hamas]] won the [[Palestinian legislative election, 2006|legislative election]], Obama warned that "the U.S. will never recognize winning Hamas candidates unless the group renounces its fundamental mission to eliminate Israel."<ref>{{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=local&id=3806933 | work=ABC 7 News (Chicago) | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> He left for his third official trip in August 2006, traveling to [[South Africa]], [[Kenya]], [[Djibouti]], [[Ethiopia]] and [[Chad]]. In a nationally televised speech at the [[University of Nairobi]], he spoke forcefully on the influence of ethnic rivalries and [[corruption in Kenya]].<ref>{{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=2008-01-14}}</ref> The speech touched off a public debate among rival leaders, some formally challenging Obama's remarks as unfair and improper, others defending his positions.<ref>{{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 | work=The Standard (Nairobi) | accessdate=2008-01-14}} {{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 | work =The Standard (Nairobi) | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref>

===110th Congress===
In the first month of the newly Democratic-controlled [[110th United States Congress|110th Congress]], Obama worked with [[Russ Feingold]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]–[[Wisconsin|WI]]) to eliminate gifts of travel on corporate jets by [[Lobbying in the United States|lobbyists]] to members of Congress and require disclosure of [[Campaign finance in the United States#Bundling|bundled campaign contributions]] under the "[[Honest Leadership and Open Government Act]]", 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=2008-01-14}} {{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=2008-01-14}} 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=2008-01-14}}</ref> He joined [[Chuck Schumer]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]-[[New York|NY]]) in sponsoring [[Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act|S. 453]], a bill to criminalize deceptive practices in federal elections, including fraudulent flyers and automated phone calls, as witnessed in the [[United States general elections, 2006|2006 midterm elections]].<ref>{{cite news | first=Seth | last=Stern | title=Obama-Schumer Bill Proposal Would Criminalize Voter Intimidation | date=[[January 31]] [[2007]] | publisher=New York Times | url=http://www.nytimes.com/cq/2007/01/31/cq_2213.html | work=CQPolitics.com | accessdate=2008-01-14}} {{cite news | 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: | work=Thomas | accessdate=2008-01-14}} See also: {{cite news | title=Honesty in Elections | date=[[January 31]] [[2007]] | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/31/opinion/31wed1.html | work=New York Times | format=editorial | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Obama's [[Energy use in the United States|energy]] initiatives scored pluses and minuses with [[Environmentalism|environmentalists]], who welcomed his sponsorship with [[John McCain]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]-[[Arizona|AZ]]) of a [[Global warming|climate change]] bill to reduce [[greenhouse gas]] emissions by two-thirds by 2050, but were skeptical of his support for a bill promoting [[Coal#Liquefaction_-_Coal-To-Liquids_.28CTL.29|liquefied coal]] production.<ref>{{cite news | first=Hebert | last=H. Josef | title=Congress Begins Tackling Climate Issues | date=[[January 29]] [[2007]] | publisher=CBS News | url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/29/ap/politics/mainD8MV8LBG0.shtml | work=Associated Press | accessdate=2008-01-14}} {{cite news | first=Elizabeth | last=Williamson | title=The Green Gripe With Obama: Liquefied Coal Is Still... Coal | date=[[January 10]] [[2007]] | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/09/AR2007010901503.html | work=Washington Post | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Obama also introduced the "[[Iraq War De-Escalation Act]]", a bill to cap troop levels in Iraq, begin phased redeployment, and remove all combat brigades from Iraq before April 2008.<ref>{{cite news | first=E. Kasak | last=Krystin | title=Obama Introduces Measure to Bring Troops Home |date=[[February 7]] [[2007]] | publisher=nwi.com | url =http://nwitimes.com/articles/2007/02/07/news/illiana/doc65cc98d8dc6506b28625727b0011edb5.txt | work=Medill News Service | accessdate=2008-01-14}} "Latest Major Action: 1/30/2007 Referred to Senate committee." {{cite news | 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: | work=Thomas | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref>
In the first month of the newly Democratic-controlled [[110th United States Congress|110th Congress]], Obama worked with [[Russ Feingold]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]–[[Wisconsin|WI]]) to eliminate gifts of travel on corporate jets by [[Lobbying in the United States|lobbyists]] to members of Congress and require disclosure of [[Campaign finance in the United States#Bundling|bundled campaign contributions]] under the "[[Honest Leadership and Open Government Act]]", 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=2008-01-14}} {{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=2008-01-14}} 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=2008-01-14}}</ref> He joined [[Chuck Schumer]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]-[[New York|NY]]) in sponsoring [[Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act|S. 453]], a bill to criminalize deceptive practices in federal elections, including fraudulent flyers and automated phone calls, as witnessed in the [[United States general elections, 2006|2006 midterm elections]].<ref>{{cite news | first=Seth | last=Stern | title=Obama-Schumer Bill Proposal Would Criminalize Voter Intimidation | date=[[January 31]] [[2007]] | publisher=New York Times | url=http://www.nytimes.com/cq/2007/01/31/cq_2213.html | work=CQPolitics.com | accessdate=2008-01-14}} {{cite news | 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: | work=Thomas | accessdate=2008-01-14}} See also: {{cite news | title=Honesty in Elections | date=[[January 31]] [[2007]] | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/31/opinion/31wed1.html | work=New York Times | format=editorial | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Obama's [[Energy use in the United States|energy]] initiatives scored pluses and minuses with [[Environmentalism|environmentalists]], who welcomed his sponsorship with [[John McCain]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]-[[Arizona|AZ]]) of a [[Global warming|climate change]] bill to reduce [[greenhouse gas]] emissions by two-thirds by 2050, but were skeptical of his support for a bill promoting [[Coal#Liquefaction_-_Coal-To-Liquids_.28CTL.29|liquefied coal]] production.<ref>{{cite news | first=Hebert | last=H. Josef | title=Congress Begins Tackling Climate Issues | date=[[January 29]] [[2007]] | publisher=CBS News | url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/29/ap/politics/mainD8MV8LBG0.shtml | work=Associated Press | accessdate=2008-01-14}} {{cite news | first=Elizabeth | last=Williamson | title=The Green Gripe With Obama: Liquefied Coal Is Still... Coal | date=[[January 10]] [[2007]] | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/09/AR2007010901503.html | work=Washington Post | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Obama also introduced the "[[Iraq War De-Escalation Act]]", a bill to cap troop levels in Iraq, begin phased redeployment, and remove all combat brigades from Iraq before April 2008.<ref>{{cite news | first=E. Kasak | last=Krystin | title=Obama Introduces Measure to Bring Troops Home |date=[[February 7]] [[2007]] | publisher=nwi.com | url =http://nwitimes.com/articles/2007/02/07/news/illiana/doc65cc98d8dc6506b28625727b0011edb5.txt | work=Medill News Service | accessdate=2008-01-14}} "Latest Major Action: 1/30/2007 Referred to Senate committee." {{cite news | 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: | work=Thomas | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref>


Later in 2007, Obama sponsored with [[Kit Bond]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]-[[Missouri|MO]]) an amendment to the 2008 [[National Defense Authorization Act| Defense Authorization Act]] adding safeguards for personality disorder [[military discharge]]s, and calling for a review by the [[Government Accountability Office]] following reports that the procedure had been used inappropriately to reduce government costs.<ref>{{cite news | 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 | work =Kit Bond U.S. Senate Office | accessdate=2008-01-14}} 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=2008-02-11}}</ref> He sponsored the "Iran Sanctions Enabling Act" supporting divestment of state pension funds from Iran's oil and gas industry,<ref>{{cite news | first=110th Congress, 1st Session | last=U.S. Senate | title=S. 1430, Iran Sanctions Enabling Act | date=[[May 17]] [[2007]] | url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SN01430: | work=Thomas | accessdate=2008-01-14}} See also: {{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=2008-01-14}}</ref> and joined [[Chuck Hagel]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]-[[Nebraska|NE]]) in introducing legislation to reduce risks of [[nuclear terrorism]].<ref name=ObamaSchiff>{{cite news | 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/ | work=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> A provision from the Obama-Hagel bill was passed by Congress in December 2007 as an amendment to the State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill.<ref name=ObamaSchiff /> Obama also sponsored a Senate amendment to the [[State Children's Health Insurance Program]] (SCHIP) to provide one year of job protection for family members caring for soldiers with combat-related injuries.<ref>{{cite news | 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/ | work=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office |accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> After passing both houses of Congress with bipartisan majorities, SCHIP was [[Veto#United States| vetoed]] by President Bush in early October 2007, a move Obama said "shows a callousness of priorities that is offensive to the ideals we hold as Americans."<ref>{{cite news | first=Tony | last=Pugh | coauthors=Margaret Talev | title=Battles Set After Health Bill Veto | date=[[October 4]] [[2007]] | url=http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/20071004_Battles_set_after_health_bill_veto.html | work=Philadelphia Inquirer | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref>
Later in 2007, Obama sponsored with [[Kit Bond]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]-[[Missouri|MO]]) an amendment to the 2008 [[National Defense Authorization Act| Defense Authorization Act]] adding safeguards for personality disorder [[military discharge]]s, and calling for a review by the [[Government Accountability Office]] following reports that the procedure had been used inappropriately to reduce government costs.<ref>{{cite news | 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 | work =Kit Bond U.S. Senate Office | accessdate=2008-01-14}} 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-== Scandal==
Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html=2008-01-14}}</ref> A provision from the Obama-Hagel bill was passed by Congress in December 2007 as an amendment to the State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill.<ref name=ObamaSchiff /> Obama also sponsored a Senate amendment to the [[State Children's Health Insurance Program]] (SCHIP) to provide one year of job protection for family members caring for soldiers with combat-related injuries.<ref>{{cite news | 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/ | work=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office |accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> After passing both houses of Congress with bipartisan majorities, SCHIP was [[Veto#United States| vetoed]] by President Bush in early October 2007, a move Obama said "shows a callousness of priorities that is offensive to the ideals we hold as Americans."<ref>{{cite news | first=Tony | last=Pugh | coauthors=Margaret Talev | title=Battles Set After Health Bill Veto | date=[[October 4]] [[2007]] | url=http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/20071004_Battles_set_after_health_bill_veto.html | work=Philadelphia Inquirer | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref>


==Presidential campaign==
==Presidential campaign==
Line 107: Line 87:
[[Image:Flickr Obama Springfield 01.jpg|thumb|240px|left|Obama on stage with his wife and two daughters just before announcing his presidential campaign on [[February 10]], [[2007]].<ref>For other photos of this event, see: {{cite news | url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/barackobamadotcom/sets/72157594528136270/show/ | title=Presidential Campaign Announcement | accessdate=2008-01-14 |date=[[February 10]] [[2007]] | format=photo gallery | work=Barack Obama, Flickr}}</ref>]]
[[Image:Flickr Obama Springfield 01.jpg|thumb|240px|left|Obama on stage with his wife and two daughters just before announcing his presidential campaign on [[February 10]], [[2007]].<ref>For other photos of this event, see: {{cite news | url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/barackobamadotcom/sets/72157594528136270/show/ | title=Presidential Campaign Announcement | accessdate=2008-01-14 |date=[[February 10]] [[2007]] | format=photo gallery | work=Barack Obama, Flickr}}</ref>]]


com/english/2007-07-02-voa52.cfm | work=Voice of America | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Small donors, those contributing in increments of less than $200, accounted for $16.4 million of Obama's record-breaking total, more than for any other Democratic candidate.<ref>{{cite news | first=Jeanne | last=Cummings | title=Small Donors Rewrite Fundraising Handbook | date=[[September == Scandal==
In February 2007, standing before the [[Old State Capitol State Historic Site|Old State Capitol]] building in [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]], [[Illinois]], Obama announced his candidacy for the [[United States presidential election, 2008|2008 U.S. presidential election]].<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=2008-01-14}} [http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=494649996&channel=353512430 Video] at Brightcove.TV.</ref> Describing his working life in Illinois, and symbolically linking his presidential campaign to [[Abraham Lincoln|Abraham Lincoln's]] 1858 [[Lincoln's House Divided Speech|House Divided]] speech, Obama said: "That is why, in the shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called on a house divided to stand together, where common hopes and common dreams still live, I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for President of the United States of America."<ref>{{cite news | title=Presidential Campaign Announcement | format=video | date=[[February 10]] [[2007]] | publisher=Brightcove.TV | url=http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=494649996&channel=353512430 | work=Obama for America | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Speaking at a [[Democratic National Committee]] (DNC) meeting one week before the February announcement, Obama called for putting an end to [[negative campaigning]]. "This can't be about who digs up more skeletons on who, who makes the fewest slip-ups on the campaign trail," he said. "We owe it to the American people to do more than that."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.democrats.org/a/2007/02/barack_obama.php |title=Barack Obama at the DNC Winter 2007 Meeting | format=video | date=[[February 2]] [[2007]] | work=Democratic National Committee | accessdate=2008-01-14}} Full text from [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/05/AR2007020500753_pf.html CQ Transcripts Wire]. Retrieved on [[2008-01-14]]. See also: {{cite news | first=Paul | last=Harris | title=The Obama Revolution | date=[[February 4]] [[2007]] | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2005508,00.html | work=Guardian Unlimited | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref>
Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html
Obama's campaign raised [[United States dollar|US$]]58 million during the first half of 2007, topping all other candidates and exceeding previous records for the first six months of any year before an election year.<ref>{{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/2007-07-02-voa52.cfm | work=Voice of America | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Small donors, those contributing in increments of less than $200, accounted for $16.4 million of Obama's record-breaking total, more than for any other Democratic candidate.<ref>{{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=2008-01-14}}</ref> In the first month of 2008, his campaign gained 170,000 new contributors and raised $32 million.<ref>{{cite news | first=Lesley | last=Wayne | coauthors=Jeff Zeleny | title=Enlisting New Donors, Obama Reaped $32 Million in January | date=[[January 4]] [[2008]] | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/us/politics/01donate.html | work=New York Times | accessdate=2008-02-11}}</ref> Amid concerns for his safety as the first black candidate seen as having a viable chance of being elected president, the U.S. government assigned [[United States Secret Service|Secret Service]] protection to Obama 18&nbsp;months before the general election.<ref>{{cite news | first=Helen | last=Kennedy | title=Obama Gets Earliest-Ever Secret Service Detail | date=[[May 4]] [[2007]] | url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wn_report/2007/05/04/2007-05-04_raising_his_guard.html | work=New York Daily News | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref>
== Scandal==

Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html
With two months remaining before the first electoral contests in [[Iowa]] and [[New Hampshire]], and national [[opinion poll]]s showing him trailing Sen. [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]], Obama began directly charging his top rival with failing to clearly state her political positions.<ref>{{cite news | first=Jay | last=Newton-Small | title=Obama (Sort of) Takes the Gloves Off | date=[[October 28]] [[2007]] | url=http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1677121,00.html | work=Time | accessdate=2008-01-14}} {{cite news | first=Adam | last=Nagourney | coauthors=Jeff Zeleny | title=Obama Rolls Out Aggressive Approach to Clinton's Campaign | date=[[October 28]] [[2007]] | url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/28/america/obama.php | work =International Herald Tribune | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Campaigning in [[Iowa]], he told the ''Washington Post'' that as the Democratic nominee he would draw more support than Clinton from [[Independent (voter)| independent]] and Republican voters in the general election.<ref>{{cite news | first=Dan | last=Balz | coauthors=Shailagh Murray | title=On Campaign Bus, Obama Opens Up About Challengers | date=[[November 9]] [[2007]] | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/08/AR2007110802459.html | work=Washington Post | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Obama and Clinton split the first four [[Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008#January|DNC-sanctioned]] state contests, with Obama leading the popular vote in Iowa and [[South Carolina]],<ref>{{cite news | url=http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#IA | title=Election Center 2008: Primary Results for Iowa | work=CNN | date=[[January 5]] [[2008]] | accessdate=2008-02-11}} {{cite news | url=http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#SC | title=Election Center 2008: Primary Results for South Carolina | work=CNN | date=[[January 22]] [[2008]] | accessdate=2008-02-11}}</ref> and Clinton finishing first in New Hampshire and [[Nevada]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#NH | title=Election Center 2008: Primary Results for New Hampshire | work=CNN | date=[[January 10]] [[2008]] | accessdate=2008-01-14}} {{cite news | url=http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#NV | title=Election Center 2008: Primary Results for Nevada | work=CNN | date=[[January 22]] [[2008]] | accessdate=2008-02-11}}</ref> His win in Iowa was boosted by majority support from a record turnout of voters under 30 years old, most of them first-time caucus goers.<ref>{{cite news | first=James | last=Montgomery | coauthors=Kim Stolz | title=Barack Obama, Mike Huckabee's Iowa Caucus Wins Are Largely Thanks To Young Voters | date=[[January 4]] [[2008]] | url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1579042/20080104/index.jhtml | work=MTV | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Heading into the [[February 12]], [[2008]], primaries in [[Maryland]], [[Virginia]], and [[Washington, D.C.]], ''CBS News'' estimated Obama leading the competition for convention delegates by a "razor-thin margin" of 1,134 to 1,131 for Clinton. Obama won all three of those contests, giving him a 42 delegate lead according to [[CNN]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Maine Puts Topper On Obama Sweep | date=[[February 11]] [[2008]] | url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/10/politics/main3813759.shtml | work=CBS News | accessdate=2008-02-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first=Nedra | last=Pickler | title=Obama Celebrates Trio of Primary Wins | date=[[February 12]] [[2008]] | url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5isOFwdbq0tsqatW6vJpkDRTI1gMgD8UP6APO0 | work=[[Associated Press]] | accessdate=2008-02-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first=Alexander | last=Mooney | title=Obama faces fire from Clinton, McCain | date=[[February 13]] [[2008]] | url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/13/2008.hopefuls/index.html | work=[[CNN]] | accessdate=2008-02-13}}</ref>
With two months remaining before the first electoral contests in [[Iowa]] and [[New Hampshire]], and national [[opinion poll]]s showing him trailing Sen. [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]], Obama began directly charging his top rival with failing to clearly state her political positions.<ref>{{cite news | first=Jay | last=Newton-Small | title=Obama (Sort of) Takes the Gloves Off | date=[[October 28]] [[2007]] | url=http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1677121,00.html | work=Time | accessdate=2008-01-14}} {{cite news | first=Adam | last=Nagourney | coauthors=Jeff Zeleny | title=Obama Rolls Out Aggressive Approach to Clinton's Campaign | date=[[October 28]] [[2007]] | url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/28/america/obama.php | work =International Herald Tribune | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Campaigning in [[Iowa]], he told the ''Washington Post'' that as the Democratic nominee he would draw more support than Clinton from [[Independent (voter)| independent]] and Republican voters in the general election.<ref>{{cite news | first=Dan | last=Balz | coauthors=Shailagh Murray | title=On Campaign Bus, Obama Opens Up About Challengers | date=[[November 9]] [[2007]] | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/08/AR2007110802459.html | work=Washington Post | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Obama and Clinton split the first four [[Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008#January|DNC-sanctioned]] state contests, with Obama leading the popular vote in Iowa and [[South Carolina]],<ref>{{cite news | url=http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#IA | title=Election Center 2008: Primary Results for Iowa | work=CNN | date=[[January 5]] [[2008]] | accessdate=2008-02-11}} {{cite news | url=http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#SC | title=Election Center 2008: Primary Results for South Carolina | work=CNN | date=[[January 22]] [[2008]] | accessdate=2008-02-11}}</ref> and Clinton finishing first in New Hampshire and [[Nevada]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#NH | title=Election Center 2008: Primary Results for New Hampshire | work=CNN | date=[[January 10]] [[2008]] | accessdate=2008-01-14}} {{cite news | url=http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#NV | title=Election Center 2008: Primary Results for Nevada | work=CNN | date=[[January 22]] [[2008]] | accessdate=2008-02-11}}</ref> His win in Iowa was boosted by majority support from a record turnout of voters under 30 years old, most of them first-time caucus goers.<ref>{{cite news | first=James | last=Montgomery | coauthors=Kim Stolz | title=Barack Obama, Mike Huckabee's Iowa Caucus Wins Are Largely Thanks To Young Voters | date=[[January 4]] [[2008]] | url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1579042/20080104/index.jhtml | work=MTV | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Heading into the [[February 12]], [[2008]], primaries in [[Maryland]], [[Virginia]], and [[Washington, D.C.]], ''CBS News'' estimated Obama leading the competition for convention delegates by a "razor-thin margin" of 1,134 to 1,131 for Clinton. Obama won all three of those contests, giving him a 42 delegate lead according to [[CNN]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Maine Puts Topper On Obama Sweep | date=[[February 11]] [[2008]] | url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/10/politics/main3813759.shtml | work=CBS News | accessdate=2008-02-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first=Nedra | last=Pickler | title=Obama Celebrates Trio of Primary Wins | date=[[February 12]] [[2008]] | url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5isOFwdbq0tsqatW6vJpkDRTI1gMgD8UP6APO0 | work=[[Associated Press]] | accessdate=2008-02-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first=Alexander | last=Mooney | title=Obama faces fire from Clinton, McCain | date=[[February 13]] [[2008]] | url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/13/2008.hopefuls/index.html | work=[[CNN]] | accessdate=2008-02-13}}</ref>


Line 197: Line 178:
* Obama, Barack. ''[[The Audacity of Hope|The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream]]'', Crown, 2006. ISBN 0-307-23769-9.
* Obama, Barack. ''[[The Audacity of Hope|The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream]]'', Crown, 2006. ISBN 0-307-23769-9.


==Further reading==
== Scandal==
Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html== Scandal==
*Curry, Jessica. "[http://www.chicagolife.net/content/politics/Barack_Obama Barack Obama: Under the Lights]", ''Chicago Life'', Fall 2004. Retrieved on [[2008-01-14]].
Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html== Scandal==
*Graff, Garrett. "[http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/mediapolitics/1836.html The Legend of Barack Obama]", ''Washingtonian'', [[November 1]] [[2006]]. Retrieved on [[2008-01-14]].
Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html== Scandal==
*Lizza, Ryan. "[http://men.style.com/gq/features/landing?id=content_5841 Above the Fray]", ''GQ'', September 2007. Retrieved on [[2008-01-14]].
Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html== Scandal==
*MacFarquhar, Larissa. "[http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/05/07/070507fa_fact_macfarquhar The Conciliator: Where is Barack Obama Coming From?]", ''New Yorker'', [[May 7]] [[2007]]. Retrieved on [[2008-01-14]].
Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html== Scandal==
*Mundy, Liza. "[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/08/AR2007080802038.html A Series of Fortunate Events]", ''Washington Post Magazine'', [[August 12]] [[2007]]. Retrieved on [[2008-01-14]].
Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html== Scandal==
*Wallace-Wells, Ben. "[http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/13390609/campaign_08_the_radical_roots_of_barack_obama Destiny's Child]", ''Rolling Stone'', [[February 7]] [[2007]]. Retrieved on [[2008-01-14]].
Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html== Scandal==
*Zutter, Hank De. "[http://www.chicagoreader.com/obama/951208/ What Makes Obama Run?]", ''Chicago Reader'', [[December 8]] [[1995]]. Retrieved on
Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html== Scandal==
*Sarah Pulliam and Ted Olsen."[http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/januaryweb-only/104-32.0.html Q&A: Barack Obama. "I believe in the redemptive death and resurrection of Jesus Christ."]", ''Christianity Today Magazine'', January 2008. Retrieved on [[2008-02-08]].
Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html
*[http://60minutes.yahoo.com/segment/138/clinton_and_obama 60 minutes and Yahoo joint site with Interviews and news on the Obama and Clinton campaigns]. Retrived on February 12, 2008.

== External links ==
<!--

Please keep this section brief and simple to navigate. Specific pages already fully referenced within the article do not need repeating here.

-->

{{Spoken Wikipedia|Barack_Obama_1-31-2007.ogg|2007-01-31}}
{{wikinews|category:Barack Obama|Barack Obama}}
{{commons|category:Barack Obama|Barack Obama}}
{{wikiquote|Barack Obama}}
{{wikisource|Author:Barack Obama|Barack Obama}}

;Official sites
* [http://www.barackobama.com/ Obama '08 — BarackObama.com] (includes links to other official Obama campaign sites)
* [http://obama.senate.gov/ U.S. Senate office]
* [http://www.myspace.com/barackobama Official MySpace]

;Site directory
*{{dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Society_and_Culture/Politics/Candidates_and_Campaigns/Presidential/2008/Candidates/Obama,_Barack}}

;Presidential campaign
*[http://herndon1.sdrdc.com/cgi-bin/can_detail/P80003338 Presidential campaign finance reports and data] at the Federal Election Commission
*[http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/summary.asp?id=N00009638 Presidential campaign contributions] at OpenSecrets.org

;Taxes
* [http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/files/obama_2006_tax_return.pdf 2006 Federal Tax Return] (released 4/16/2007)

;Senate
{{CongLinks | congbio = o000167 | fec = S4IL00180 | govtrack = 400629 | opensecrets = N00009638 | votesmart = 9490 | ontheissuespath = Barack_Obama.htm}}


{{start box}}
{{s-par|us-sen}}
{{U.S. Senator box
| state=Illinois
| class=3
| before=[[Peter Fitzgerald]]
| years=[[January 3]], [[2005]]–
| after=Incumbent
| alongside=[[Richard Durbin]]}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{succession box
| before= [[Carol Moseley Braun]]
| title= [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] nominee for [[List of United States Senators from Illinois|Senator from Illinois]]<br />(Class 3)
| years=[[United States Senate elections, 2004|2004]] (won)
| after=Most Recent}}
{{end box}}

{{United States presidential election, 2008}}
{{Barack Obama}}
{{IL-FedRep}}
{{Current U.S. Senators}}
{{USSenIL}}

<!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] -->
{{Persondata
|NAME=Obama, Barack, Jr.
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Obama, Barack Hussein
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=US Jr. Senator from Illinois
|DATE OF BIRTH=[[August 4]], [[1961]]
|PLACE OF BIRTH=[[Honolulu, Hawaii|Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]]
|DATE OF DEATH=
|PLACE OF DEATH=
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Obama, Barack}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:African American academics]]
[[Category:African American United States Senators]]
[[Category:American anti-Iraq War activists]]
[[Category:American Christians]]
[[Category:American civil rights lawyers]]
[[Category:American Congregationalists]]
[[Category:American democracy activists]]
[[Category:American expatriates in Indonesia]]
[[Category:American legal academics]]
[[Category:American memoirists]]
[[Category:American political writers]]
[[Category:American polyglots]]
[[Category:American spoken word artists]]
[[Category:Americans of English descent]] <!-- from RootsWeb.com-->
[[Category:Americans of French descent]]
[[Category:Americans of German descent]]
[[Category:Americans of Irish descent]]
[[Category:Barack Obama|Barack Obama]]
[[Category:Chicago politicians]]
[[Category:Columbia University alumni]]
[[Category:Community organizers]]
[[Category:Congressional opponents of the Iraq War]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Harvard Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Illinois Democrats]]
[[Category:Illinois lawyers]]
[[Category:Illinois State Senators]]
[[Category:Kenyan-Americans]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Luo people]]
[[Category:People from Honolulu]]
[[Category:Punahou School alumni]]
[[Category:United States presidential candidates, 2008]]
[[Category:United States Senators from Illinois]]
[[Category:University of Chicago faculty]]

{{Link FA|fi}}

[[ar:باراك أوباما]]
[[az:Barak Obama]]
[[bn:বারাক ওবামা]]
[[br:Barack Obama]]
[[bg:Барак Обама]]
[[ca:Barack Obama]]
[[cs:Barack Obama]]
[[cy:Barack Obama]]
[[da:Barack Obama]]
[[pdc:Barack Obama]]
[[de:Barack Obama]]
[[et:Barack Obama]]
[[es:Barack Obama]]
[[eo:Barack Obama]]
[[eu:Barack Obama]]
[[fa:باراک اوباما]]
[[fr:Barack Obama]]
[[ga:Barack Obama]]
[[gv:Barack Obama]]
[[gl:Barack Obama]]
[[ko:버락 오바마]]
[[hi:बराक ओबामा]]
[[hr:Barack Obama]]
[[id:Barack Obama]]
[[is:Barack Obama]]
[[it:Barack Obama]]
[[he:ברק אובאמה]]
[[ka:ბარაკ ობამა]]
[[sw:Barack Obama]]
[[ku:Barack Obama]]
[[la:Barack Obama]]
[[lt:Barack Obama]]
[[hu:Barack Obama]]
[[ml:ബറാക്ക് ഒബാമ]]
[[mr:बराक ओबामा]]
[[nl:Barack Obama]]
[[ja:バラック・オバマ]]
[[no:Barack Obama]]
[[nn:Barack Obama]]
[[pl:Barack Obama]]
[[pt:Barack Obama]]
[[ro:Barack Obama]]
[[ru:Обама, Барак Хусейн]]
[[simple:Barack Obama]]
[[sr:Барак Обама]]
[[fi:Barack Obama]]
[[sv:Barack Obama]]
[[th:บาราก โอบามา]]
[[vi:Barack Obama]]
[[tr:Barack Obama]]
[[uk:Обама Барак]]
[[war:Barack Obama]]
[[yi:באראק אובאמא]]
[[zh-yue:奧巴馬]]
[[zh:巴拉克·欧巴马]]

Revision as of 17:53, 14 February 2008

Barack Obama
United States Senator
from Illinois
Assumed office
January 2 2005
Serving with Richard Durbin
Preceded byPeter Fitzgerald
Member of the Illinois Senate
from the 13 district
In office
1997–2004
Succeeded byKwame Raoul
Personal details
Born (1961-08-04) August 4, 1961 (age 63)
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMichelle Obama (1992–present)
Alma mater Columbia University,
Harvard Law School
Signature

Barack Hussein Obama (Template:PronEng;[1] born August 4 1961) is the junior United States Senator from Illinois and a leading candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2008 U.S. presidential election.[2][3]

Born to a black Kenyan father and a white American mother, he spent most of his childhood in Honolulu, Hawaii. From ages six to ten, he lived in Jakarta with his mother and Indonesian stepfather. A graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, Obama worked as a community organizer, university lecturer, and civil rights lawyer before running for public office and serving in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004. After an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000, he announced his campaign for U.S. Senate in 2003.

The following year, while still an Illinois state legislator, Obama delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.[4] He was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2004 with 70% of the vote.[5] As a member of the Democratic minority in the 109th Congress, he co-sponsored bipartisan legislation for controlling conventional weapons and for promoting greater public accountability in the use of federal funds. He also made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In the current 110th Congress, he has sponsored legislation on lobbying and electoral fraud, climate change, nuclear terrorism, and care for returned U.S. military personnel.

Scandal

Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html Since announcing his presidential campaign in February 2007, Obama has emphasized ending the Iraq War while maintaining a strong defense abroad, increasing energy independence, and providing universal health care as major priorities.[6] He married in 1992 and has two daughters. He has written two bestselling books: a memoir of his youth titled Dreams from My Father, and The Audacity of Hope, a personal commentary on U.S. politics.[7]

Early life and career

Obama was born on August 4 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii to Barack Obama, Sr. (born in Nyanza Province, Kenya, of Luo ethnicity) and Ann Dunham (born in Wichita, Kansas).[8] Throughout his early years, he was commonly known at home and school as "Barry".[9] Obama's parents met while both were attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where his father was enrolled as a foreign student.[10] They separated when he was two years old and later divorced.[11] His father went to Harvard University to pursue Ph.D. studies, then returned to Kenya, where he died in an auto accident in 1982.[12] His mother married another foreign student, Lolo Soetoro, and the family moved to Soetoro's home country of Indonesia in 1967.[13] Obama attended local schools in Jakarta from ages 6 to 10, where classes were taught in Indonesian.[14][15] When he was in third grade he wrote an essay saying that he wanted to become president. His teacher later told the Chicago Tribune that she was not sure what country he wanted to become president of but that he said that his reason was that he wanted to make everybody happy. [16] He then returned to Honolulu to live with his maternal grandparents while attending Punahou School from the fifth grade until his graduation in 1979.[17] Obama's mother died of ovarian cancer a few months after the publication of his 1995 memoir, Dreams from My Father.[18]

In the memoir, Obama describes his experiences growing up in his mother's American middle class family. His knowledge about his African father, who returned once for a brief visit in 1971, came mainly through family stories and photographs.[12] Of his early childhood, Obama writes: "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."[19] The book describes his struggles as a young adult to reconcile social perceptions of his multiracial heritage.[20] He wrote that he used alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine during his teenage years to "push questions of who I was out of my mind".[21]

After high school, Obama moved to Los Angeles, where he studied at Occidental College for two years.[22] He then transferred to Columbia University in New York City, where he majored in political science with a specialization in international relations.[23] Obama received his B.A. degree in 1983, then worked at Business International Corporation and NYPIRG before moving to Chicago to take a job as a community organizer.[24] As Director of the Developing Communities Project, he worked with low-income residents in Chicago's Roseland community and the Altgeld Gardens public housing development.[25] He entered Harvard Law School in 1988.[26] In 1990, The New York Times reported his election as the Harvard Law Review's "first black president in its 104-year history".[27] He completed his J.D. degree magna cum laude in 1991.[28] On returning to Chicago, Obama directed a voter registration drive.[28] As an associate attorney with Miner, Barnhill & Galland from 1993 to 1996, he represented community organizers, discrimination claims, and voting rights cases.[29] He was a lecturer of constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1993 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004.[30]

Scandal

Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html

State legislature

Obama was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1996 from the state's 13th District spanning the south-side Chicago neighborhoods of Hyde Park, South Shore, and Englewood.[31] In 2000, he made an unsuccessful Democratic primary run for the U.S. House of Representatives seat held by four-term incumbent candidate Bobby Rush.[32] He was reelected to the Illinois Senate in 1998 and 2002, officially resigning in November 2004 following his election to the U.S. Senate.[33] As a state legislator, Obama gained bipartisan support for legislation reforming ethics and health care laws.[34] He sponsored a law enhancing tax credits for low-income workers, negotiated welfare reform, and promoted increased subsidies for childcare.[35] Obama also led the passage of legislation mandating videotaping of homicide interrogations, and a law to monitor racial profiling by requiring police to record the race of drivers they stopped.[35] During his 2004 general election campaign for U.S. Senate, he won the endorsement of the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police, whose president credited Obama for his active engagement with police organizations in enacting death penalty reforms.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). After describing his maternal grandfather's experiences as a World War II veteran and a beneficiary of the New Deal's FHA and G.I. Bill programs, Obama said:

No, people don't expect government to solve all their problems. But they sense, deep in their bones, that with just a change in priorities, we can make sure that every child in America has a decent shot at life, and that the doors of opportunity remain open to all. They know we can do better. And they want that choice.[36]

Questioning the Bush administration's management of the Iraq War, Obama spoke of an enlisted Marine, Corporal Seamus Ahern from East Moline, Illinois, asking, "Are we serving Seamus as well as he is serving us?" He continued:

Scandal

Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html

The speech was Obama's introduction to most of America. Its enthusiastic reception at the convention and widespread coverage by national media gave him instant celebrity status.[37]

Senate campaign

Scandal

Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html===110th Congress=== In the first month of the newly Democratic-controlled 110th Congress, Obama worked with Russ Feingold (DWI) to eliminate gifts of travel on corporate jets by lobbyists to members of Congress and require disclosure of bundled campaign contributions under the "Honest Leadership and Open Government Act", which was signed into law in September 2007.[38] He joined Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in sponsoring S. 453, a bill to criminalize deceptive practices in federal elections, including fraudulent flyers and automated phone calls, as witnessed in the 2006 midterm elections.[39] Obama's energy initiatives scored pluses and minuses with environmentalists, who welcomed his sponsorship with John McCain (R-AZ) of a climate change bill to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by two-thirds by 2050, but were skeptical of his support for a bill promoting liquefied coal production.[40] Obama also introduced the "Iraq War De-Escalation Act", a bill to cap troop levels in Iraq, begin phased redeployment, and remove all combat brigades from Iraq before April 2008.[41]

Later in 2007, Obama sponsored with Kit Bond (R-MO) an amendment to the 2008 Defense Authorization Act adding safeguards for personality disorder military discharges, and calling for a review by the Government Accountability Office following reports that the procedure had been used inappropriately to reduce government costs.[42] A provision from the Obama-Hagel bill was passed by Congress in December 2007 as an amendment to the State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill.[43] Obama also sponsored a Senate amendment to the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to provide one year of job protection for family members caring for soldiers with combat-related injuries.[44] After passing both houses of Congress with bipartisan majorities, SCHIP was vetoed by President Bush in early October 2007, a move Obama said "shows a callousness of priorities that is offensive to the ideals we hold as Americans."[45]

Presidential campaign

Template:Future election candidate

Obama on stage with his wife and two daughters just before announcing his presidential campaign on February 10, 2007.[46]

com/english/2007-07-02-voa52.cfm | work=Voice of America | accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Small donors, those contributing in increments of less than $200, accounted for $16.4 million of Obama's record-breaking total, more than for any other Democratic candidate.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). Campaigning in Iowa, he told the Washington Post that as the Democratic nominee he would draw more support than Clinton from independent and Republican voters in the general election.[47] Obama and Clinton split the first four DNC-sanctioned state contests, with Obama leading the popular vote in Iowa and South Carolina,[48] and Clinton finishing first in New Hampshire and Nevada.[49] His win in Iowa was boosted by majority support from a record turnout of voters under 30 years old, most of them first-time caucus goers.[50] Heading into the February 12, 2008, primaries in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., CBS News estimated Obama leading the competition for convention delegates by a "razor-thin margin" of 1,134 to 1,131 for Clinton. Obama won all three of those contests, giving him a 42 delegate lead according to CNN.[51][52][53]

Political advocacy

On the role of government in economic affairs, Obama has written: "We should be asking ourselves what mix of policies will lead to a dynamic free market and widespread economic security, entrepreneurial innovation and upward mobility [...] we should be guided by what works."[54] Speaking before the National Press Club in April 2005, he defended the New Deal social welfare policies of Franklin D. Roosevelt, associating Republican proposals to establish private accounts for Social Security with social Darwinism.[55] In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Obama spoke out against government indifference to growing economic class divisions, calling on both political parties to take action to restore the social safety net for the poor.[56] Shortly before announcing his presidential campaign, Obama told the health care advocacy group Families USA: "I am absolutely determined that by the end of the first term of the next president, we should have universal health care in this country."[57]

Meeting with Google employees in November 2007, Obama pledged to appoint a Chief Technology Officer to oversee the U.S. government's management of IT resources and promote wider access to government information and decision making.[58] Reaffirming his commitment to net neutrality legislation, Obama said "once providers start to privilege some applications or web sites over others, then the smaller voices get squeezed out, and we all lose."[59] Campaigning in New Hampshire, he announced an $18 billion plan for investments in early childhood education, math and science education, and expanded summer learning opportunities.[60] Obama's campaign distinguished his proposals to reward teachers for performance from traditional merit pay systems, assuring unions that changes would be pursued through the collective bargaining process.[61]

At the Tax Policy Center in September 2007, he blamed special interests for distorting the U.S. tax code. "We are taxing income from work at nearly twice the level that we're taxing gains for investors," Obama said. "We've lost the balance between work and wealth."[62] His plan would eliminate taxes for senior citizens with incomes of less than $50,000 a year, repeal tax cuts said to favor the wealthy, close corporate tax loopholes and restrict offshore tax havens, and simplify filing of income tax returns by pre-filling wage and bank information already collected by the IRS.[63] Announcing his presidential campaign's energy plan in October 2007, Obama said: "Businesses don’t own the sky, the public does, and if we want them to stop polluting it, we have to put a price on all pollution." He proposed a cap and trade auction system to restrict carbon emissions and a 10 year program of investments in new energy sources to reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil.[64]

Obama was an early critic of Bush administration policies on Iraq.[65] On October 2, 2002, the day Bush and Congress agreed on the joint resolution authorizing the Iraq War,[66] Obama addressed the first high-profile Chicago anti-Iraq War rally in Federal Plaza,[67] saying:

I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East, and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of Al Qaeda. I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars.[68]

On March 17, 2003, the day Bush issued his 48-hour ultimatum to Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq before the U.S. invasion of Iraq,[69] Obama addressed the largest Chicago anti-Iraq War rally to date in Daley Plaza and told the crowd "It's not too late" to stop the war, though many demonstrators conceded that war appeared inevitable.[70]

Obama sought to make his early public opposition to the Iraq War before it started a major issue in his 2004 U.S. Senate campaign to distinguish himself from his Democratic primary rivals who supported the resolution authorizing the Iraq War,[71] and in his 2008 U.S. Presidential campaign to distinguish himself from four Democratic primary rivals who voted for the resolution authorizing the Iraq War (Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Joe Biden, Sen. Chris Dodd, and former Sen. John Edwards).[72]

Obama addressed the Save Darfur rally at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on April 30 2006.[73]

Speaking to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs in November 2006, Obama called for a "phased redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq" and an opening of diplomatic dialogue with Syria and Iran.[74] In a March 2007 speech to AIPAC, a pro-Israel lobby, he said that while the U.S. "should take no option, including military action, off the table, sustained and aggressive diplomacy combined with tough sanctions should be our primary means to prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons."[75] Detailing his strategy for fighting global terrorism in August 2007, Obama said "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 Federally Administered Tribal Areas. He said that as president he would not miss a similar opportunity, even without the support of the Pakistani government.[76]

In a December 2005 Washington Post opinion column, and at the Save Darfur rally in April 2006, Obama called for more assertive action to oppose genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan.[77] He has divested $180,000 in personal holdings of Sudan-related stock, and has urged divestment from companies doing business in Iran.[78] In the July-August 2007 issue of Foreign Affairs, Obama called for an outward looking post-Iraq War foreign policy and the renewal of American military, diplomatic, and moral leadership in the world. Saying "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."[79]

Obama has encouraged Democrats to reach out to evangelicals and other religious people, saying, "if we truly hope to speak to people where they’re at—to communicate our hopes and values in a way that’s relevant to their own—we cannot abandon the field of religious discourse."[80] In December 2006, he joined Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) at the "Global Summit on AIDS and the Church" organized by church leaders Kay and Rick Warren.[81] Together with Warren and Brownback, Obama took an HIV test, as he had done in Kenya less than four months earlier.[82] He encouraged "others in public life to do the same" to show "there is no shame in going for an HIV test."[83] Before the conference, 18 pro-life groups published an open letter stating, in reference to Obama's support for legal abortion: "In the strongest possible terms, we oppose Rick Warren's decision to ignore Senator Obama's clear pro-death stance and invite him to Saddleback Church anyway."[84] Addressing over 8,000 United Church of Christ members in June 2007, Obama challenged "so-called leaders of the Christian Right" for being "all too eager to exploit what divides us."[85]

Personal life

Obama (middle) playing basketball with U.S. military service members from Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa during his visit at Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, on August 31 2006

Obama met his future wife, Michelle Robinson, in 1988 when he was employed as a summer associate at the Chicago law firm of Sidley & Austin.[86] Assigned for three months as Obama's advisor at the firm, Robinson joined him at group social functions, but declined his initial offers to date.[87] They began dating later that summer, became engaged in 1991, and were married in October 1992.[88] The couple's first daughter, Malia Ann, was born in 1998, followed by a second daughter, Natasha ("Sasha"), in 2001.[89] Applying the proceeds of a $2 million book deal, the family paid off debts in 2005 and moved from a Hyde Park, Chicago condominium to their current $1.6-million house in neighboring Kenwood.[90] The house purchase and subsequent acquisition of an adjoining strip of land drew media scrutiny in November 2006 because of financial links with controversial Illinois businessman Tony Rezko.[91] In December 2007, Money magazine estimated the Obama family's net worth at $1.3 million.[92]

Obama plays basketball, a sport he participated in as a member of his high school's varsity team.[93] Before announcing his presidential candidacy, he began a well-publicized effort to quit smoking. "I've never been a heavy smoker," Obama told the Chicago Tribune. "I've quit periodically over the last several years. I've got an ironclad demand from my wife that in the stresses of the campaign I do not succumb. I've been chewing Nicorette strenuously."[94] Replying to an Associated Press survey of 2008 presidential candidates' personal tastes, he specified "architect" as his alternate career choice and "chili" as his favorite meal to cook.[95] Asked to name a "hidden talent," Obama answered: "I'm a pretty good poker player."[96]

A theme of Obama's 2004 Democratic National Convention keynote address, and the title of his 2006 book, The Audacity of Hope, was inspired by his pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright.[97] In Chapter 6 of the book, titled "Faith," Obama writes that he "was not raised in a religious household." He describes his mother, raised by non-religious parents, as detached from religion, yet "in many ways the most spiritually awakened person that I have ever known." He describes his Kenyan father as "raised a Muslim," but a "confirmed atheist" by the time his parents met, and his Indonesian stepfather as "a man who saw religion as not particularly useful." The chapter details how Obama, in his twenties, while working with local churches as a community organizer, came to understand "the power of the African American religious tradition to spur social change":

It was because of these newfound understandings—that religious commitment did not require me to suspend critical thinking, disengage from the battle for economic and social justice, or otherwise retreat from the world that I knew and loved—that I was finally able to walk down the aisle of Trinity United Church of Christ one day and be baptized.[98]

He joined Trinity in 1988.[99] A megachurch with 10,000 members, Trinity United Church of Christ is the largest congregation in the United Church of Christ.[99]

Books

The Audacity of Hope

Obama has written two bestselling books. The first, Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance, was published after his graduation from law school and before running for public office. In it he recalls his childhood in Honolulu and Jakarta, college years in Los Angeles and New York City, and his employment as a community organizer in Chicago in the 1980s. The book's last chapters describe his first visit to Kenya, a journey to connect with his Luo family and heritage. In his preface to the 2004 revised edition, Obama explains that he had hoped the story of his family "might speak in some way to the fissures of race that have characterized the American experience, as well as the fluid state of identity—the leaps through time, the collision of cultures—that mark our modern life."[100] Time magazine's Joe Klein wrote that the book "may be the best-written memoir ever produced by an American politician."[101] The audiobook edition earned Obama the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album.[102]

His second book, The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream, was published in October 2006, three weeks before the 2006 midterm election. It was an immediate bestseller and rose to the top of the New York Times Best Seller list by early November 2006.[103] The Chicago Tribune credits the large crowds that gathered at book signings with influencing Obama's decision to run for president.[104] Former presidential candidate Gary Hart describes the book as Obama's "thesis submission" for the U.S. presidency: "It presents a man of relative youth yet maturity, a wise observer of the human condition, a figure who possesses perseverance and writing skills that have flashes of grandeur."[105] Reviewer Michael Tomasky writes that it does not contain "boldly innovative policy prescriptions that will lead the Democrats out of their wilderness," but does show Obama's potential to "construct a new politics that is progressive but grounded in civic traditions that speak to a wider range of Americans."[106] An Italian translation was published in April 2007 with a preface by Walter Veltroni, Mayor of Rome and leader of Italy's Democratic Party.[107] Spanish and German editions were published in June 2007.[108] The audiobook also won the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album.[109]

Cultural and political image

Obama supporters at a campaign rally in Austin, Texas, on February 23 2007.[110]

Supporters and critics have likened Obama's popular image to a cultural Rorschach test, a neutral persona on whom people can project their personal histories and aspirations.[111][112] Obama's own stories about his family origins reinforce what a May 2004 New Yorker magazine article described as his "everyman" image.[113] In Dreams from My Father, he ties his maternal family history to possible Native American ancestors and distant relatives of Jefferson Davis, president of the southern Confederacy during the American Civil War.[114] Speaking to an elderly Jewish audience during his 2004 campaign for U.S. Senate, Obama linked the linguistic root of his East African first name Barack to the Hebrew word baruch, meaning "blessed."[115] In an October 2006 interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Obama highlighted the diversity of his extended family: "Michelle will tell you that when we get together for Christmas or Thanksgiving, it's like a little mini-United Nations," he said. "I've got relatives who look like Bernie Mac, and I've got relatives who look like Margaret Thatcher. We've got it all."[116]

With his Kenyan father and American mother, his upbringing in Honolulu and Jakarta, and Ivy League education, Obama's early life experiences differ markedly from those of African American politicians who launched their careers in the 1960s through participation in the civil rights movement.[117] During his Democratic primary campaign for U.S. Congress in 2000, two rival candidates charged that Obama was not sufficiently rooted in Chicago's black neighborhoods to represent constituents' concerns.[118] In January 2007, The End of Blackness author Debra Dickerson warned against drawing favorable cultural implications from Obama's political rise. "Lumping us all together," Dickerson wrote in Salon, "erases the significance of slavery and continuing racism while giving the appearance of progress."[119] Film critic David Ehrenstein, writing in a March 2007 Los Angeles Times article, compared the cultural sources of Obama's favorable polling among whites to those of "magical negro" roles played by black actors in Hollywood movies.[120] Expressing puzzlement over questions about whether he is "black enough," Obama told an August 2007 meeting of the National Association of Black Journalists that the debate is not about his physical appearance or his record on issues of concern to black voters. "What it really lays bare," Obama offered, is that "we're still locked in this notion that if you appeal to white folks then there must be something wrong."[121]

Writing about Obama's political image in a March 2007 Washington Post opinion column, Eugene Robinson characterized him as "the personification of both-and," a messenger who rejects "either-or" political choices, and could "move the nation beyond the culture wars" of the 1960s.[122] Obama, who defines himself in The Audacity of Hope as "a Democrat, after all," has been criticized by progressive commentator David Sirota for demonstrating too much "Senate clubbiness", and was encouraged to run for the U.S. presidency by conservative columnist George Will.[123] Obama has also been praised by other conservative commentators for his character and his moral values. [124] [125] But in a December 2006 Wall Street Journal editorial headlined "The Man from Nowhere," former Ronald Reagan speech writer Peggy Noonan advised Will and other "establishment" commentators to avoid becoming too quickly excited about Obama's still early political career.[126] Echoing the inaugural address of John F. Kennedy, Obama acknowledged his youthful image, saying in an October 2007 campaign speech, "I wouldn't be here if, time and again, the torch had not been passed to a new generation."[127]

Recognition and honors

An October 2005 article in the British journal New Statesman listed Obama as one of "10 people who could change the world,"[128] the only politician included on the list. In 2005 and again in 2007, Time magazine named him one of "the world's most influential people."[129] During his first three years in the U.S. Senate, Obama received Honorary Doctorates of Law from Knox College (2005),[130] University of Massachusetts Boston (2006),[131] Northwestern University (2006),[132] Xavier University of Louisiana (2006),[133] Southern New Hampshire University (2007),[134] and Howard University (2007).[135]

References

  1. ^ "How to Pronounce Barack Hussein Obama". Inoglo. Retrieved 2008-01-14. For more about Obama's middle name and its use by political opponents and the media, see: Wallis, David (December 27 2007). "Malice in the Middle: Barack Hussein Obama and the History of Bad Middle Names in Politics". Slate. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "Obama Launches Presidential Bid". BBC News. February 10 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Video at Brightcove.com.
  3. ^ For national polling data, see: "White House 2008: Democratic Nomination". Polling Report. Retrieved 2008-01-14."2008 National Democratic Presidential Primary". Pollster.com. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  4. ^ Archibold, Randal C (July 29 2004). "The Illinois Candidate; Day After, Keynote Speaker Finds Admirers Everywhere". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ "America Votes 2004: U.S. Senate / Illinois". CNN. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  6. ^ "Barack Obama on the Issues: What Would Be Your Top Three Overall Priorities If Elected?". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-01-14. See also: Falcone, Michael (December 21 2007). "Obama's 'One Thing'". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ Memmott, Carol (January 30 2007). "Obama's Books Drive Talk of '08 Presidential Run". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ "Meet Barack". BarackObama.com. Retrieved 2008-01-04. "Saving the World in His Spare Time". The Economist. January 12 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) See also: Obama (1995), Chapter 1.
  9. ^ Scharnberg, Kirsten (March 25 2007). "The Not-So-Simple Story of Barack Obama's Youth". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ Obama (1995), pp. 9–10. For book excerpts, see "Barack Obama: Creation of Tales". East African. November 1 2004. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ Obama (1995), pp. 125–126. See also: Jones, Tim (March 27 2007). "Obama's Mom: Not Just a Girl from Kansas". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ a b Merida, Kevin (December 14 2007). "The Ghost of a Father". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) See also: Ochieng, Philip. "From Home Squared to the US Senate: How Barack Obama Was Lost and Found". East African. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Text "dateNovember 1 2004" ignored (help) Obama (1995), pp. 5–11 and 62–71. In August 2006, Obama flew his wife and two daughters from Chicago to join him in a visit to his father's birthplace, a village near Kisumu in rural western Kenya. Gnecchi, Nico (August 27 2006). "Obama Receives Hero's Welcome at His Family's Ancestral Village in Kenya". Voice of America. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) See also: Cose, Ellis (September 11 2006). "Walking the World Stage". Newsweek. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Wrong, Michela (September 11 2006). "Africa: Kenya Glimpses a New Kind of Hero". New Statesman. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ Obama's stepfather and Ann Dunham divorced in the late 1970s, and he died of a liver ailment in 1987. Fornek, Scott (September 9 2007). "Lolo Soetoro". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) They had one daughter together, Maya Soetoro, Obama's half-sister. On his father's side, Obama has two half-sisters and five surviving half-brothers. Sheridan, Michael (January 28 2007). "Secrets of Obama Family Unlocked". Sunday Times (UK). Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) See also: Obama (1995), Chapter 2 and Chapters 15–19 (Part 3: Kenya).
  14. ^ Scharnberg, Kirsten (March 25 2007). "The Not-So-Simple Story of Barack Obama's Youth". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) See also: Barker, Kim (March 25 2007). "Obama Madrassa Myth Debunked". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Anderton, Trish (June 2007). "Obama's Jakarta Trail". Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2008-01-04. See also: Obama (1995), p. 154, and Obama (2006), p. 274.
  15. ^ Citing comments made by Indonesia's ambassador to the U.S., TIME magazine reported in December 2007 that Obama "still speaks passable Bahasa, the language spoken in Indonesia and Malaysia." Newton-Small, Jay (December 18 2007). "Obama's Foreign-Policy Problem". Time. Retrieved 2008-01-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ [1]
  17. ^ Obama writes: "For my grandparents, my admission into Punahou Academy heralded the start of something grand, an elevation in the family status that they took great pains to let everyone know." Obama (1995), Chapters 3 and 4. See also: Reyes, B. J (February 8 2007). "Punahou Left Lasting Impression on Obama". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Mann, Fred (February 2 2008). "Kansas Roots Show in Obama, Say Relatives". Wichita Eagle. Retrieved 2008-02-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ Obama (1995), Preface to the 2004 Edition, p. xi. See also: Suryakusuma, Julia (November 29 2006). "Obama for President... of Indonesia". Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ Obama (1995), pp. 9–10.
  20. ^ Obama (1995), Chapters 4 and 5. See also: Serrano, Richard A (March 11 2007). "Obama's Peers Didn't See His Angst" (paid archive). Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ "Obama Gets Blunt with N.H. Students". Associated Press. Boston Globe. November 21 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) 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: Romano, Lois (January 3 2007). "Effect of Obama's Candor Remains to Be Seen". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Seelye, Katharine Q (October 24 2006). "Obama Offers More Variations From the Norm". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ "Oxy Remembers "Barry" Obama '83". Occidental College. January 29 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) See also: Gordon, Larry (January 29 2007). "Occidental Recalls 'Barry' Obama" (paid archive). Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ Boss-Bicak, Shira (January 2005). "Barack Obama '83: Is He the New Face of The Democratic Party?". Columbia College Today. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  24. ^ Scott, Janny (October 30 2007). "Obama's Account of New York Years Often Differs from What Others Say". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) See also: Obama (1995), pp. 135–139.
  25. ^ Secter, Bob (March 30 2007). "Portrait of a Pragmatist". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) See also: Lizza, Ryan (March 19 2007). "The Agitator: Barack Obama's Unlikely Political Education" (alternate link). New Republic. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ Levenson, Michael (January 28 2007). "At Harvard Law, a Unifying Voice". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) See also: Heilemann, John (October 22 2007). "When They Were Young". New York Magazine. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ Butterfield, Fox (February 6 1990). "First Black Elected to Head Harvard's Law Review". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) See also: Kantor, Jodi (January 28 2007). "In Law School, Obama Found Political Voice". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ a b "Curriculum Vitae". University of Chicago Law School. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  29. ^ "Law Graduate Obama Got His Start in Civil Rights Practice". Associated Press. International Herald Tribune. February 19 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ Pallasch, Abdon M (February 12 2007). "Professor Obama was a Listener, Students Say". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ Jackson, David (April 3 2007). "Obama Knows His Way Around a Ballot". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  32. ^ Scott, Janny (September 9 2007). "A Streetwise Veteran Schooled Young Obama". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  33. ^ "13th District: Barack Obama" (archive). Illinois State Senate Democrats. August 24 2000. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |== Scandal== Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.htmlarchiveurl= ignored (help) "13th District: Barack Obama". Illinois State Senate Democrats. October 9 2004. Archived from the original (archive) on 2004-10-09. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Cohen, Jodi S (November 7 2004). "Obama's Springfield Seat Goes to Lawyer" (paid archive). Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  34. ^ Slevin, Peter (February 9, 2007). "Obama Forged Political Mettle in Illinois Capitol". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) See also: "Obama Record May Be Gold Mine for Critics". Associated Press. CBS News. January 17 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) "In-Depth Look at Obama's Political Career" (video). CLTV. Chicago Tribune. February 9, 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ a b Scott, Janny (July 30 2007). "In Illinois, Obama Proved Pragmatic and Shrewd". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) See also: Pearson, Rick (May 3 2007). "Careful Steps, Looking Ahead". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  36. ^ Obama, Barack (July 27 2004). "Keynote Address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention". BarackObama.com. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Video at Brightcove.TV.
  37. ^ Wolf, Richard (October 22 2006). "Illinois' Obama Revisits Idea of 2008 Run for White House". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  38. ^ Weixel, Nathaniel (November 15 2007). "Feingold, Obama Go After Corporate Jet Travel". The Hill. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Weixel, Nathaniel (December 5 2007). "Lawmakers Press FEC on Bundling Regulation". The Hill. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) See also: "Federal Election Commission Announces Plans to Issue New Regulations to Implement the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007". Federal Election Commission. September 24 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  39. ^ Stern, Seth (January 31 2007). "Obama-Schumer Bill Proposal Would Criminalize Voter Intimidation". CQPolitics.com. New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) U.S. Senate, 110th Congress, 1st Session (January 31 2007). "S. 453, Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007". Thomas. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) See also: "Honesty in Elections" (editorial). New York Times. January 31 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  40. ^ H. Josef, Hebert (January 29 2007). "Congress Begins Tackling Climate Issues". Associated Press. CBS News. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Williamson, Elizabeth (January 10 2007). "The Green Gripe With Obama: Liquefied Coal Is Still... Coal". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  41. ^ Krystin, E. Kasak (February 7 2007). "Obama Introduces Measure to Bring Troops Home". Medill News Service. nwi.com. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) "Latest Major Action: 1/30/2007 Referred to Senate committee." U.S. Senate, 110th Congress, 1st Session (January 30 2007). "S. 433, Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007". Thomas. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  42. ^ "Obama, Bond Hail New Safeguards on Military Personality Disorder Discharges, Urge Further Action". Kit Bond U.S. Senate Office. October 1 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) See also: Dine, Philip (December 23 2007). "Bond Calls for Review of Military Discharges". St. Louis Post-== Scandal== Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html=2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |work= (help); line feed character in |work= at position 28 (help)
  43. ^ Cite error: The named reference ObamaSchiff was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  44. ^ "Senate Passes Obama, McCaskill Legislation to Provide Safety Net for Families of Wounded Service Members". Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office. August 2 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  45. ^ Pugh, Tony (October 4 2007). "Battles Set After Health Bill Veto". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  46. ^ For other photos of this event, see: "Presidential Campaign Announcement" (photo gallery). Barack Obama, Flickr. February 10 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  47. ^ Balz, Dan (November 9 2007). "On Campaign Bus, Obama Opens Up About Challengers". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  48. ^ "Election Center 2008: Primary Results for Iowa". CNN. January 5 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) "Election Center 2008: Primary Results for South Carolina". CNN. January 22 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  49. ^ "Election Center 2008: Primary Results for New Hampshire". CNN. January 10 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) "Election Center 2008: Primary Results for Nevada". CNN. January 22 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  50. ^ Montgomery, James (January 4 2008). "Barack Obama, Mike Huckabee's Iowa Caucus Wins Are Largely Thanks To Young Voters". MTV. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  51. ^ "Maine Puts Topper On Obama Sweep". CBS News. February 11 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  52. ^ Pickler, Nedra (February 12 2008). "Obama Celebrates Trio of Primary Wins". Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-02-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  53. ^ Mooney, Alexander (February 13 2008). "Obama faces fire from Clinton, McCain". CNN. Retrieved 2008-02-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  54. ^ Obama (2006), p. 159.
  55. ^ Franklin, Ben A (June 1 2005). "The Fifth Black Senator in U.S. History Makes F.D.R. His Icon". Washington Spectator. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  56. ^ Zeleny, Jeff (September 12 2005). "Judicious Obama Turns Up Volume". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  57. ^ Pickler, Nedra (January 25 2007). "Obama Calls for Universal Health Care within Six Years". Associated Press. Union-Tribune (San Diego). Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Obama's campaign published a detailed health care reform plan in May 2007. Tumulty, Karen (May 29 2007). "Obama Channels Hillary on Health Care". Time. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) See also: "Creating a Healthcare System that Works". BarackObama.com. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  58. ^ Kurtzman, Laura (November 14 2007). "Obama Talks to the Tech Crowd at Google Town Hall". Associated Press. SFGate.com. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  59. ^ Mark, Roy (November 15 2007). "Obama Promises Federal Technology Czar". eWeek. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  60. ^ Schoenberg, Shira (November 21 2007). "Obama Shares School Plan". Concord Monitor. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  61. ^ Davis, Teddy (November 20 2007). "Obama Bucks Party Line on Education". ABC News. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  62. ^ "A Speech On the Economy, Opportunity and Tax Policy with Senator Barack Obama". Tax Policy Center. September 18 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  63. ^ "Obama Tax Plan: $80 Billion in Cuts, Five-Minute Filings". CNN. September 18 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  64. ^ Zeleny, Jeff (October 9 2007). "Obama Proposes Capping Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Making Polluters Pay". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  65. ^ Strausberg, Chinta (September 26 2002). "Opposition to war mounts" (paid archive). Chicago Defender. p. 1. Retrieved 2008-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
    Strausberg, Chinta (March 10 2003). "Blacks, whites unite in anti-war efforts" (paid archive). Chicago Defender. p. 3. Retrieved 2008-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  66. ^ Tackett, Michael (October 3 2002). "Bush, House OK Iraq deal; Congress marches with Bush" (paid archive). Chicago Tribune. p. 1. Retrieved 2008-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
    Associated Press (October 3 2002). "Congress lines up behind Bush; Representatives, White House agree on resolution allowing the U.S. to attack Iraq; Senate is expected to get on board within the next few days" (paid archive). Chicago Sun-Times. p. 1. Retrieved 2008-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  67. ^ Glauber, Bill (October 3 2002). "War protesters gentler, but passion still burns" (paid archive). Chicago Tribune. p. 1. Retrieved 2008-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
    Sweeney, Annie (October 3 2002). "Lunch-hour crowd debates war issue; Jackson headlines protest of possible strike against Iraq" (paid archive). Chicago Sun-Times. p. 22. Retrieved 2008-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
    Strausberg, Chinta (October 3 2002). "War with Iraq undermines U.N." Chicago Defender. p. 1. Retrieved 2008-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
    Bryant, Greg; Vaughn, Jane B. (October 3 2002). "300 attend rally against Iraq war" (paid archive). Daily Herald. p. 8. Retrieved 2008-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
    Bryant, Greg (October 2 2002). "300 protesters rally to oppose war with Iraq". Medill News Service. Retrieved 2008-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
    Mendell, David (August 14 2007). "Chapter 12. The Consultant". Obama : From Promise to Power. New York: Amistad/HarperCollins. pp. pp. 172–7. ISBN 0-06-085820-6. Retrieved 2008-02-03. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  68. ^ Obama, Barack (October 2 2002). "Remarks of Illinois State Sen. Barack Obama Against Going to War with Iraq". BarackObama.com. Retrieved 2008-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  69. ^ Kemper, Bob (March 17 2003). "`Moment of truth' for UN on Iraq - Bush gives diplomacy 24 hours" (paid archive). Chicago Tribune. p. 1. Retrieved 2008-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
    Associated Press (March 17 2003). "'Moment of truth for the world'; Bush, three allies set today as final day for Iraq to disarm or face massive military attack" (paid archive). Chicago Sun-Times. p. 1. Retrieved 2008-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  70. ^ Meyer, H. Gregory; Aduroja, Grace (March 17 2003). "Demonstrators say no to war - Local events echo vigils worldwide" (paid archive). Chicago Tribune. p. 1 (Metro section). Retrieved 2008-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
    Ritter, Jim (March 17 2003). "Anti-war rally here draws thousands" (paid archive). Chicago Sun-Times. p. 3. Retrieved 2008-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
    Strausberg, Chinta (March 17 2003). "Today is 'D-Day' for Hussein; Tutu calls for worldwide vigil" (paid archive). Chicago Defender. p. 1. Retrieved 2008-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  71. ^ McCormick, John (July 14 2003). "Senate hopefuls abound for '04; Forum attracts 9 for Fitzgerald post" (paid archive). Chicago Tribune. p. 1 (Metro section). Retrieved 2008-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
    Chase, John; Mendell, David (January 23 2004). "Senate candidates divided over Iraq; 5 Democrats hit Bush on policy" (paid archive). Chicago Tribune. p. 1 (Metro section). Retrieved 2008-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  72. ^ McCormick, John; Dorning, Mike (October 3 2007). "Obama marks '02 war speech - Contender highlights his early opposition in effort to distinguish him from his rivals" (paid archive). Chicago Tribune. p. 7. Retrieved 2008-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
    Pallasch, Abdon M. (October 3 2007). "Obama touts anti-war cred - Kicks off tour 5 years after speech critical of going to Iraq" (paid archive). Chicago Sun-Times. p. 26. Retrieved 2008-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  73. ^ Hunt, Kasie (May 1 2006). "Celebrities, Activists Rally Against Darfur Genocide". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) For excerpts from Obama's speech, see: "More Must Be Done in Darfur". The Hill. April 30 2006. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  74. ^ For audio and text, see: Obama, Barack (November 20 2006). "A Way Forward in Iraq". Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  75. ^ Obama, Barack (March 2 2007). "AIPAC Policy Forum Remarks". Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office. Retrieved 2008-01-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) For Obama's 2004 Senate campaign remarks on possible missile strikes against Iran, see: Mendell, David (September 25 2004). "Obama Would Consider Missile Strikes on Iran" (paid archive). Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  76. ^ "Obama Warns Pakistan on Al-Qaeda". BBC News. August 1 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) For video and text of the speech, see: "Policy Address on Terrorism by The Honorable Barack Obama, United States Senator from Illinois". Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. August 1 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) For details of the aborted 2005 military operation, see Mazzetti, Mark (July 8 2007). "Rumsfeld Called Off 2005 Plan to Capture Top Qaeda Figures". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  77. ^ Obama, Barack (December 27 2005). "Policy Adrift on Darfur". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) Doyle, Jim (May 1 2006). "Tens of Thousands Rally for Darfur". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  78. ^ Kuhnhenn, Jim (May 17 2007). "Giuliani, Edwards Have Sudan Holdings". Associated Press. SFGate.com. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Obama, Barack (August 30 2007). "Hit Iran Where It Hurts". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  79. ^ Obama, Barack (July–August 2007). "Renewing American Leadership". Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 2008-01-14.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
  80. ^ Lerner, Michael (July 3 2006). "U.S. Senator Barack Obama Critiques Democrats' Religiophobia". Tikkun Magazine. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) "Sen. Barack Obama: Call to Renewal Keynote Address". Beliefnet. June 28 2006. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  81. ^ Gibson, Manda (June 28 2006). "At Global AIDS Summit, Churches Challenged to Take the Lead". PurposeDriven.com. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  82. ^ "Screaming Crowds Welcome U.S. Senator 'Home'". CNN. August 27, 2006. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  83. ^ Obama, Barack (December 1 2006). "Race Against Time—World AIDS Day Speech". Obama U.S. Senate Office. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  84. ^ "Rick Warren/Barack Obama AIDS Partnership Must End, Say Pro-Life Groups". Christian Newswire Press Release. November 28 2006. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) See also: Van Biema, David (December 1 2006). "The Real Losers in the Obama-Warren Controversy". Time. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  85. ^ "Barack Obama: Faith Has Been 'Hijacked'". Associated Press. CBS News. June 24 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help) See also: Brody, David (July 30 2007). "Obama to CBN News: We're No Longer Just a Christian Nation". Christian Broadcasting Network. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  86. ^ Obama (2006), pp. 327–332. See also: Brown, Sarah (December 7 2005). "Obama '85 Masters Balancing Act". Daily Princetonian. Retrieved 2008-02-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Tucker, Eric (March 1 2007). "Family Ties: Brown Coach, Barack Obama". Associated Press. ABC News. Retrieved 2008-02-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  87. ^ Obama (2006), p. 329.
  88. ^ Fornek, Scott (October 3 2007). "Michelle Obama: 'He Swept Me Off My Feet'". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  89. ^ Obama (1995), p. 440, and Obama (2006), pp. 339–340. See also: Rossi, Rosalind (January 21 2007). "The Woman Behind Obama". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  90. ^ Zeleny, Jeff (December 24 2005). "The First Time Around: Sen. Obama's Freshman Year". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  91. ^ Slevin, Peter (December 17 2006). "Obama Says He Regrets Land Deal With Fundraiser". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  92. ^ "Obama's money". CNNMoney.com. December 7 2007. Retrieved 2008-02-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) See also: Goldfarb, Zachary A (March 24 2007). "Measuring Wealth of the '08 Candidates". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-02-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  93. ^ Kantor, Jodi (June 1 2007). "One Place Where Obama Goes Elbow to Elbow". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Dan Morris, Neal Karlinsky. "The 'Rat-Ballers': Obama's High School Crew". Nightline. ABC News. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  94. ^ Parsons, Christi (February 6 2007). "Obama Launches an '07 Campaign—To Quit Smoking". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  95. ^ "Questions for the Candidates". Associated Press. USA Today. May 15 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  96. ^ "Gambling Buddies: Obama Flush with Poker Prowess". Associated Press. CNN. September 24 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  97. ^ Kantor, Jodi (April 30 2007). "A Candidate, His Minister and the Search for Faith". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) See also: Obama (1995), pp. 292–295.
  98. ^ Obama (2006), pp. 202–208. Portions excerpted in: Obama, Barack (October 23 2006). "My Spiritual Journey". Time. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  99. ^ a b Guess, J. Bennett (February 9 2007). "Barack Obama, Candidate for President, is 'UCC'". United Church News. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  100. ^ Obama (1995), p. vii.
  101. ^ Klein, Joe (October 23 2006). "The Fresh Face". Time. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  102. ^ Boliek, Brooks (September 6, 2006). "Sen. Obama Finally Gets His Grammy". Reuters/Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  103. ^ Bosman, Julie (November 9 2006). "Obama's New Book Is a Surprise Best Seller". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  104. ^ Dorning, Mike (June 12 2007). "Carefully Crafting the Obama 'Brand'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  105. ^ Hart, Gary (December 24 2006). "American Idol". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  106. ^ Tomasky, Michael (November 30 2006). "The Phenomenon". New York Review of Books. Internet Archive. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  107. ^ "L'Audacia Della Speranza. Il Sogno Americano Per Un Mondo Nuovo". Libreria Rizzoli. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  108. ^ Lobb, Annelena (June 19 2007). "Obama, en Español". Wall Street Journal Online. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) "Riemann - Barack Obama - Hoffnung wagen". Riemann. June 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  109. ^ "Obama wins a Grammy for 'Hope' book". Associated Press. 2008-02-10. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
  110. ^ Slater, Wayne (February 24 2007). "Obama Reels in Austin Crowd". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) See also: Elliott, Philip (May 28 2007). "Obama Measuring Campaign Success not Just in Cash, but Crowds Too". Associated Press. Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  111. ^ Enda, Jodi (February 5 2006). "Great Expectations". The American Prospect. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) See also: Graff, Garrett M (November 1 2006). "The Legend of Barack Obama". Washingtonian. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  112. ^ Podhoretz, John (December 12 2006). "Obama: Rorschach Candidate". New York Post. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  113. ^ Finnegan, William (24 May 2004). "The Candidate: How the Son of a Kenyan Economist Became an Illinois Everyman". New Yorker. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) See also: Tilove, Jonathan (February 8 2007). "In Obama Candidacy, America Examines Itself". Times-Picayune (New Orleans). Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  114. ^ Obama (1995), p. 13. For reports on Obama's maternal genealogy, including slave owners, Irish connections, and common ancestors with George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and Harry Truman, see: Nitkin, David (March 2 2007). "A New Twist to an Intriguing Family History". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) Jordan, Mary (May 13 2007). "Tiny Irish Village Is Latest Place to Claim Obama as Its Own". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) "Obama's Family Tree Has a Few Surprises". Associated Press. CBS 2 (Chicago). September 8 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)Template:Wikia genealogy
  115. ^ Kampeas, Ron (August 6 2004). "Obama, Democrats' Rising Star, Known for Harmony with Jews". Jewish News Weekly of Northern California. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  116. ^ "Keeping Hope Alive: Barack Obama Puts Family First". The Oprah Winfrey Show. October 18 2006. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  117. ^ Wallace-Wells, Benjamin (November 2004). "The Great Black Hope: What's Riding on Barack Obama?". Washington Monthly. Retrieved 2008-01-14. See also: Scott, Janny (December 28 2007). "A Member of a New Generation, Obama Walks a Fine Line". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  118. ^ McClelland, Edward (February 12 2007). "How Obama Learned to Be a Natural". Salon. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) See also: Wolffe, Richard (July 16 2007). "Across the Divide". Newsweek. MSNBC. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) Helman, Scott (October 12 2007). "Early Defeat Launched a Rapid Political Climb". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  119. ^ Dickerson, Debra J (January 22 2007). "Colorblind". Salon. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) For a sampling of views by other black commentators see: Younge, Gary (posted October 27 2006 (November 13 2006 issue)). "Obama: Black Like Me". The Nation. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Crouch, Stanley (November 2 2006). "What Obama Isn't: Black Like Me". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on 2007-03-08. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Washington, Laura (January 1 2007). "Whites May Embrace Obama, But Do 'Regular Black Folks'?". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Page, Clarence (February 25 2007). "Is Barack Black Enough? Now That's a Silly Question". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2007-03-08. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  120. ^ Ehrenstein, David. "Obama the 'Magic Negro'", Los Angeles Times, March 19 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
  121. ^ Payne, Les (August 19 2007). "In One Country, a Dual Audience" (paid archive). Newsday. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  122. ^ Robinson, Eugene (March 13 2007). "The Moment for This Messenger?". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) See also: Senior, Jennifer (October 2 2006). "Dreaming of Obama". New York Magazine. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  123. ^ Obama (2006), p. 10. Sirota wrote that Obama's confirmation of Condoleezza Rice as Secretary of State and his reluctant support of a Senate filibuster opposing President Bush's nomination of Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court may disappoint "those who see him as a bold challenger of the system". Sirota, David (June 26 2006). "Mr. Obama Goes to Washington". The Nation. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)Will, George F (December 14 2006). "Run Now, Obama". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  124. ^ Washington Watch: Obama's fund-raising record reveals weakness of Hillary's campaign
  125. ^ [The Daily Dish
  126. ^ Noonan, Peggy (December 15 2006). "The Man From Nowhere". OpinionJournal (Wall Street Journal). Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) See also: Obama (2006), pp. 122–124. For Noonan's comments on Obama winning the January 2008 Iowa Caucus, see: Noonan, Peggy (January 4 2008). "Out With the Old, In With the New". OpinionJournal (Wall Street Journal). Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  127. ^ Dorning, Mike (October 4 2007). "Obama Reaches Across Decades to JFK" (paid archive). Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) See also: Harnden, Toby (October 15 2007). "Barack Obama is JFK Heir, Says Kennedy Aide". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  128. ^ Skidelsky, William (October 17 2005). "Revolutionising the Future: From Tennis to Teleportation". New Statesman. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  129. ^ Bacon Jr., Perry (April 18, 2005). "Barack Obama: The Future of the Democratic Party?". Time. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Klein, Joe (May 14 2007). "The TIME 100: Barack Obama". Time. Retrieved 2009-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  130. ^ "Commencement 2005: Knox honors U.S. Senator Barack Obama". Knox College. May 10 2005. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  131. ^ "U.S. Sen. Barack Obama to Receive Honorary Degree, Address 2,500 UMass Boston Graduates". University of Massachusetts Boston. May 26, 2006. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  132. ^ "Commencement 2006: Sen. Obama to Address Grads". Northwestern University. June 6 2006. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  133. ^ "Sen. Obama Addresses Xavier Graduates". Associated Press. USA Today. August 13 2006. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  134. ^ "SNHU Commencement with Sen. Barack Obama". Southern New Hampshire University. May 19 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-07-04. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  135. ^ "Obama Calls the 'Joshua Generation'". Boston Globe. September 28 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

Cited works

Scandal

Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html== Scandal== Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html== Scandal== Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html== Scandal== Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html== Scandal== Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html== Scandal== Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html== Scandal== Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html== Scandal== Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html== Scandal== Obama has been the topic of scandal very recently. The scandal has included Karl Rove in saying that he got Republicans to change their party in order to vote for Obama. He has also been quoted in saying that he was able to get the right people on CNN and MSNBC news cast to bash his opponent and support Obama, in the hopes of having Democrats vote Republican. Source: http://thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html