BARACK OBAMA- BIOGRAPHY- WIKIPEDIA.pdf

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arack Obama

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mp to:navigation, searchBarack Obama

Junior Senator from Illinois

Incumbent

Assumed officeJanuary 3, 2005

Serving withRichard DurbinPreceded by Peter Fitzgerald

Succeeded by Incumbent

Born August 4, 1961 (age 45)Honolulu, Hawaii

Nationality AmericanPolitical party Democratic

Spouse Michelle Obama

Alma materColumbia University,Harvard Law School

Religion Christian (United Church of Christ)

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Signature

rack Hussein Obama (born August 4, 1961) is the junior United States Senator fromIllinois and aember of theDemocratic Party. TheU.S. Senate Historical Office lists him as the fifth African American enator inU.S. history and the only African American currently serving in the U.S. Senate.[1]

orn to aKenyan father and an American mother, Obama grew up in culturally diverse surroundingsost of his childhood in themajority-minority U.S. state ofHawaii and lived for four years inIndonesia. Aaduating fromColumbia University and Harvard Law School, Obama worked as acommunity organize,

niversitylecturer, and civil rights lawyer before entering politics. He served in theIllinois Senate from 19004, launching his campaign for U.S. Senate in 2003.

bama delivered the keynote address at the2004 Democratic National Convention while still an Illinoisstagislator. Boosted by increased national standing, he went on to win election to the U.S. Senate in

004 with alandslide 70% of the vote in anelection year marked byRepublican gains.[2][3]

As a membere Democratic minority in the109th Congress, Obama co-sponsored the enactment ofconventional weantrol andtransparency legislation, and made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and

e is among the Democratic Party's leading candidates for nomination in the2008 U.S. presidential elecnce announcing hiscandidacy in February 2007, Obama has emphasized ending theIraq War and

mplementinguniversal health care as campaign themes.[5][6] He married in 1992 and has two daughteas authored two bestselling books: a memoir of his youth entitledDreams

m My Father , and The AudacityHope , a personal commentary on U.S. politics.[7]

ontents

hide]

● 1 Early life and career● 2 State legislature● 3 Keynote address at 2004 Democratic National Convention● 4 Senate campaign● 5 Senate career

5.1 Legislation 5.2 Official travel

● 6 Presidential campaign● 7 Political advocacy● 8 Personal life● 9 Books authored

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● 10 Cultural and political image● 11 References● 12 Cited works● 13 Further reading● 14 External links

edit ] Early life and career

See also: Dreams from MyFather

bama was born inHonolulu, Hawaii to Barack Obama, Sr. (born inNyanza Province, Kenya) and Annunham (born inWichita, Kansas).[8] His parents met while both were attending theUniversity of Hawaanoa, where his father was enrolled as aforeign student.[9] Obama's parents separated when he was

ars old and later divorced.[10][11] His father went toHarvard University to pursuePh.D. studies, thenturned to Kenya, where he died in an auto accident when the younger Obama was twenty-one yis mother married Lolo Soetoro, anIndonesian foreign student, with whom she had one daughter, Mhe family moved toJakarta in 1967, where Obama attended local schools from ages 6 to 10.[14] He thenturned to Honolulu to live with his maternal grandparents while attendingPunahou School from 5th gra

ntil his graduation in 1979.[15] Obama's mother died ofovarian cancer a few months after the publicats 1995memoir, Dreams from My Father .[16]

the memoir, Obama describes his experiences growing up in his mother's American middle class familynowledge about his absentLuo father came mainly through family stories and photographs.[17] Of his eahildhood, Obama writes: "That my father looked nothing like the people around me —that he was black tch, my mother white as milk —barely registered in my mind."[18] The book describes his struggles as

oung adult to reconcile social perceptions of hismultiracial heritage.[19] He usedalcohol, marijuana, andcaine during his teenage years, Obama writes, to "push questions of who I was out of my mind.[20]

fter graduating from Punahou, Obama studied atOccidental College for two years, then transferred to

olumbia University, where he majored inpolitical science with a specialization ininternational relations.[22] He received hisB.A. degree in 1983, then worked for one year atBusiness International Corporatio.[21985, Obama moved toChicago to direct anon-profit project assisting local churches to organize jo

aining programs.[24] He enteredHarvard Law School in 1988.[25] In 1990,The Newrk Times reported his election as theHarvardw Review 's "first black president in its 104-year history."[26] He completsJ.D. degree magna cum laude in 1991.[27] On returning to Chibama directed avoter registration drive.[27] As an associateattorney with Miner, Barnhill & Galland

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993 to 1996, he representedcommunity organizers, discrimination claims, andvoting rights cases.[28] Heas a lecturer ofconstitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1993 until his electionS. Senate in 2004.[29]

edit ] State legislature

bama was elected to theIllinois State Senate in 1996 from the state's 13th District in the south-sideighborhood ofHyde Park .[30] In 2000, he made an unsuccessful Democratic primary run for theU.S. HRepresentatives seat held by four-term incumbent candidateBobby Rush.[31] He was overwhelmingly

elected to the Illinois Senate in 1998 and 2002, officially resigning in November 2004, followithe U.S. Senate.[32][33] Among his major accomplishments as a state legislator, Obama's U.S. Se

te lists: "creating programs like the stateEarned Income Tax Credit"; "an expansion ofearly childhood ducation"; and "legislation requiring the videotaping of interrogations and confessions in allcapital caseseviewing Obama's career in the Illinois Senate, a February 2007 article in theashington Post noted his work with both Democrats and Repdrafting bipartisan legislation onethics and health care reform.[35][36] During his 2004 U.S. Senatempaign, Obama won the endorsement of the IllinoisFraternal Order of Police, whose officials cited hiongtime support ofgun control measures and his willingness to negotiate compromises," despite hr some bills the police union had opposed.[37] He was also criticized by a rivalpro-choice candidate in themocratic primary and by his Republicanpro-life opponent in the general election for having voted eresent" or "no" on anti-abortion legislation.[35][38]

edit ] Keynote address at 2004 Democratic National Convention

See also: 2004 DemocraticNational Convention

bama wrote and delivered the keynote address at the2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, assachusetts, while still serving as astate legislator.[39][40] After describing his maternal grandfather

xperiences as aWorld War II veteran and a beneficiary of theNew Deal's FHA and G.I. Bill programs, Oid:

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

uestioning theBush administration's management of theIraq War, Obama spoke of an enlistedMarine,orporal Seamus Ahern fromEast Moline, Illinois, asking, "Are we serving Seamus as well as he is sere continued:

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When we send our young men and women into harm's way, we have a solemn obligation nto fudge the numbers or shade the truth about why they're going, to care for their familieswhile they're gone, to tend to the soldiers upon their return, and to never, ever go to warwithout enough troops to win the war, secure the peace, and earn the respect of the world.

nally, he spoke for national unity:

The pundits like to slice-and-dice our country intoRed States and Blue States; Red States forRepublicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them too. We worship anawesome God in the Blue States, and we don't like federal agents poking around in our libin the Red States. We coachLittle League in the Blue States and yes, we got some gay friendsin the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and patriots who supportthe war in Iraq. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, allus defending the United States of America.[41]

he speech was Obama's introduction to most of America. Its enthusiastic reception at the convenidespread coverage by national media gave him instant celebrity status.[42][43]

edit ] Senate campaign

ain article: Illinoisnited States Senatection, 2004

2003, Obama began his run for the U.S. Senateopen seat vacated byPeter Fitzgerald. In early opinioolls leading up to the Democraticprimary, Obama trailedmultimillionaire businessmanBlair Hull and Illinomptroller Dan Hynes.[44] However, Hull's popularity declined following allegations ofdomestic abuse.[44bama's candidacy was boosted by an advertising campaign featuring images of the late Chicagoarold Washington and the late U.S. SenatorPaul Simon; the support of Simon's daughter; and politic

ndorsements by theChicago Tribune and Chicagon-Times .[45][46] Obama received over 52% of the vote in the March 2004 pr

merging 29% ahead of his nearest Democratic rival.[47] His opponent in the general election was expRepublican primary winnerJack Ryan. However, Ryan withdrew from the race in June 2004, follo

ublic disclosure ofchild custody divorce records containing sexual allegations by Ryan's ex-wife, acJ

yan.[48]

In August 2004, with less than three months to go before election day, Alan Keyes accepted theinois Republican Party's nomination to replace Ryan.[49] A long-time resident ofMaryland, Keyes establgal residency in Illinois with the nomination.[50] Through three televised debates, Obama and Keyes

xpressed opposing views onstem cell research, abortion, gun control, school vouchers, and tax cuts.[51] Ie November 2004 general election, Obama received 70% of the vote to Keyes's 27%.[52]

edit ] Senate career

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bama was sworn in as a Senator onJanuary 4, 2005.[53] He hired former Senate Democratic LeaderTomaschle's ex-chief of staff for the same position, andKaren Kornbluh, an economist who was deputy chaff to former Secretary of the TreasuryRobert Rubin, as his policy adviser.[54] In July 2005,Samantha ower, Pulitzer-winning author on human rights and genocide, joined Obama's team.[55] An October 200ticle in the British journalNew Statesman listed Obama as one of "1ople who could change the world."[56] Three months into his Senate career, and again in 2007,

me magazine named Obama one of "the world's most influential people."[57]

During his first tnd a half years in the Senate, Obama receivedHonorary Doctorates of Law fromKnox College,[58] Unive

Massachusetts Boston,[59] Northwestern University,[60] Xavier University of Louisiana,[61] and Southernampshire University.[62] He is a member of the Senate committees onForeign Relations; Health, Educaabor and Pensions; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and Veterans' Affairs;[63] and theongressional Black Caucus.[64]

dit ] Legislation

bama sponsored 152 bills and resolutions brought before the109th Congress in 2005 and 2006, andsponsored another 427.[65][66] His first bill was the "Higher Education Opportunity through Pell G

xpansion Act."[67] Entered in fulfillment of a campaign promise, the bill proposed increasing the mmount ofPell Grant awards to help students from lower income families pay their college tuitions[68] Thed not progress beyond committee and was never voted on by the Senate.

bama took an active role in the Senate's drive for improvedborder security and immigration reform.eginning in 2005, he co-sponsored the "Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act" introduchn McCain (R - AZ).[69] Obama later added three amendments toS. 2611, the "Comprehensive Immigreform Act," sponsored by Sen. Arlen Specter (R -PA).[70][71] S. 2611 passed the Senate in May 2006, biled to gain majority support in theU.S. House of Representatives.[72] In September 2006, Obama suprelated bill, theSecure Fence Act, authorizing construction of fencing and other security improveme United States –Mexico border.[73] President Bush signed the Secure Fence Act into law in Octobelling it "an important step toward immigration reform."[74]

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esident Bush signs the "Coburn-Obama"

ederal Funding Accountability and ansparency Act of 2006.[75]

artnering first with Sen.Richard Lugar (R -IN), and then with Sen.Tom Coburn (R -OK ), Obama successftroduced two initiatives bearing his name. "Lugar-Obama" expands theNunn-Lugar cooperative threa duction concept toconventional weapons, includingshoulder-fired missiles and anti-personnel mines.[76he "Coburn-Obama Transparency Act" provides for a web site, managed by theOffice of Managementudget, listing all organizations receiving Federal funds from 2007 onward, and providing breakdency allocating the funds, the dollar amount given, and the purpose of the grant or contract.[78][79] Onecember 22, 2006, President Bush signed into law the "Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Securi

nd Democracy Promotion Act," marking the first federal legislation to be enacted with Obama aonsor.[80]

n the first day of the Democratic-controlled110th Congress, in a column published in theashington Post , Obama called for an end to "any and all pracat would lead a reasonable person to believe that a public servant has become indebted to a lobb[8e joined with Sen.Russ Feingold (D-WI) in strengthening restrictions on travel in corporate jets to Segislative Transparency and Accountability Act of 2007, which passed the Senate with a 96-2 m[82bama joined Charles Schumer (D-NY ) in sponsoring S. 453, a bill to criminalize deceptive practicesections, including fraudulent flyers and automated phone calls, as witnessed in the2006 midterm elect4][85] Obama'senergy initiatives scored pluses and minuses withenvironmentalists, who welcomed his

onsorship with Sen.John McCain (R - AZ) of aclimate change bill to reducegreenhouse gas emissions birds by2050, but were skeptical of Obama's support for a bill promotingliquefied coal production.[86][87so during the first month of the 110th Congress, Obama introduced the "Iraq War De-Escalation Act," a at caps troop levels in Iraq at January 10, 2007 levels, begins phased redeployment on May 1, 2moves all combat brigades from Iraq byMarch 31, 2008.[88][89]

dit ] Official travel

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bama joinsNobel Peace ize winnerWangari Maathai fortree planting in Nairobi'sUhuru ark .[90]

bama traveled toRussia, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan in August 2005 with Sen.Richard Lugar (R -IN), thenhairman of theSenate Foreign Relations Committee. The trip focused on strategies to control the wopply ofconventional weapons, biological weapons, and weapons of mass destruction, as a strategic firsfense against the threat of futureterrorist attacks.[91] Lugar and Obama inspected aNunn-Lugar prog

pported nuclear warhead destruction facility atSaratov, in southern European Russia.[92] In Ukraine, thured a disease control and prevention facility and witnessed the signing of abilateral pact to secureologicalpathogens and combat risks ofinfectious disease outbreaks from natural causes orbioterrorism.

January 2006, Obama joined a Congressional delegation for meetings withU.S. military in Kuwait and Ifter the visits, Obama traveled toJordan, Israel, and the Palestinian territories. While in Israel, Obamaith Israeli Foreign MinisterSilvan Shalom.[94] Obama also met with a group ofPalestinian students twoeeks beforeHamas won theJanuary 2006 Palestinian legislative election. ABC News

Chicago) reported Obama telling the students that "the U.S. will necognize winning Hamas candidates unless the group renounces its fundamental mission to elimnd that he had conveyed the same message in his meeting withPalestinian authority PresidentMahmoubbas.[95]

bama left for his third official trip in August 2006, traveling toSouth Africa and Kenya, and making stopibouti, Ethiopia and Chad. He flew his wife and two daughters from Chicago to join him in a visitther's birthplace, a village nearKisumu in rural western Kenya.[96] Enthusiastic crowds greeted Obam

ublic appearances.[97] In a public gesture aimed to encourage more Kenyans to undergo voluntaryHIV

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sting, Obama and his wife took HIV tests at a Kenyan clinic.[98] In a nationally televised speech at theniversity of Nairobi, he spoke forcefully on the influence of ethnic rivalries andcorruption in Kenya.[99] Theech touched off a public debate among rival leaders, some formally challenging Obama's rem

nd improper, others defending his positions.[100][101]

edit ] Presidential campaign

ain article: Barack Obamaesidential campaign, 2008

0,000 people attended this February 2007bama rally in Austin, Texas. Obamampaign events continue to draw largeowds.[102]

February 2007, standing before theOld State Capitol building inSpringfield, Illinois, Obama announcendidacy for the2008 U.S. presidential election.[5] Describing his working life in Illinois, and symbo

nking his presidential campaign to Abraham Lincoln's 1858House Divided speech, Obama said: "That ithe shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called on a house divided to stand togmmon hopes and common dreams still live, I stand before you today to announce my candidacesident of the United States of America."[103]

he announcement followed months of speculation on whether Obama would run in 2008.

hrough the fall of 2006, Obama had spoken at political events across the country in support of Dndidates for the midterm elections. In September 2006, he was the featured speaker atIowa SenatorToarkin's annual steak fry, an event traditionally attended by presidential hopefuls in the lead-up toIowucus.[104] Speculation intensified in October 2006 when Obama first said he had "thought about

ossibility" of running for president, departing from earlier statements that he intended to serve oar Senate term through 2010.[105] Following Obama's statement,opinion polling organizations added h

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ame tosurveyed lists of Democratic candidates. The first such poll, taken in November 2006, rankedsecond place with 17% support among Democrats after Sen.Hillary Clinton (D-NY ) who placed first w

8% of the responses.[106] In December 2006, Obama spoke at aNew Hampshire event celebratingemocratic Party midterm election victories in thefirst-in-the-nation U.S. presidential primary state.[107][1

bama's campaign reported raisingUS$25.8 million betweenJanuary 1 and March 31 of 2007. The doname from 104,000 individual donors, with US$6.9 million raised through the Internet from 50,0

onors.[109] US$24.8 million of Obama's first quarter funds can be used in theprimaries, the highest of an008 presidential candidate.[110] Obama's fundraising prowess was affirmed again in the second qua007, when his campaign raised an additional $32.5 million, the most ever raised by a Democratndidate in a single quarter. Through the first two quarters of fundraising, Obama's campaign ha

onations from a grand total of about 258,000 contributors, the most of any 2008 candidate.[111]

early May 2007, theU.S. Secret Service announced that Obama had been placed under their proteche protection was not in response to any specific threat, but the campaign had received "hate maher 'threatening materials'" in the past, and officials felt that the large crowds and increased camtivity warranted the order.[112] TheRasmussen polling organization reported in May 2007 that 49%mericans consider it "somewhat likely" or "very likely" that Obama will be elected.[113] In the same weekogby International reported that Obama leads all prospective Republican opponents in polling forneral election.[114] If elected, Obama would become the first non-white U.S. president.[115]

edit ] Political advocacy

See also: Political

positions of Barack Obama

n the role ofgovernment in economic affairs, Obama has written: "we should be asking ourselves wpolicies will lead to a dynamicfree market and widespread economic security, entrepreneurial inno

nd upward mobility [...] we should be guided by what works."[116] Speaking before theNational Press Cpril 2005, Obama defended theNew Deal social welfare policies ofFranklin D. Roosevelt, associatingepublican proposals to establish private accounts forSocial Security withSocial Darwinism.[117] In a May006 letter to President Bush, he joined four otherMidwest farming state Senators in calling for theeservation of a US$0.54 per gallontariff on importedethanol.[118] Obama spoke out inJune 2006 againaking recent, temporaryestate tax cuts permanent, calling the cuts a "Paris Hilton" tax break for "billioirs and heiresses."[119] Speaking in November 2006 to members ofWake Up Wal-Mart, a union-backedmpaign group, Obama said: "You gotta pay your workers enough that they can actually not only

Wal-Mart, but ultimately send their kids to college and save for retirement."[120] In January 2007, Obamoke at an event organized byFamilies USA, a health care advocacy group. Obama said, "The time hruniversal health care in America [...] I am absolutely determined that by the end of the first termxt president, we should have universal health care in this country."[121]

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e was an early opponent of Bush administration policies on Iraq. In the fall of 2002, during an Chicago's Federal Plaza, Obama said:

I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong internationalsupport will only fan the flames of the Middle East, and encourage the worst, rather than bimpulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of al-Qaeda. I am not oppoto all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars. You want a fight, President Bush? Let's finish the fwith Bin Laden and al-Qaeda, through effective, coordinated intelligence, and a shutting dof the financial networks that support terrorism, and a homeland security program that invmore than color-coded warnings.[122]

bama inDes Moines, Iowa; July 2007

ddressing theChicago Council on Global Affairs in November 2006, Obama called for a phased withdoops and an opening of diplomatic dialogue with Iraq's neighbors,Syria and Iran.[123] In March 2007,eaking before AIPAC, a pro-Israellobby, he said that while the U.S. "should take no option, includiilitary action, off the table, sustained and aggressive diplomacy combined with tough sanctions

ur primary means to prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons."[124] At theSave Darfur rally in April called for more assertive action to opposegenocide in theDarfur region of Sudan.[125] Obama hasdiveS$180,000 in personal holdings of Sudan-related stock, and he has urged divestment from comusiness in Iran.[126][127]

bama beganpodcasting from his U.S. Senate web site in late 2005. He has responded to and persoarticipated in online discussions hosted on politically-orientedblog sites.[128] In a June 2006 podcast, O

xpressed support fortelecommunications legislation to protectnetwork neutrality on the Internet, sayingbecause the Internet is a neutral platform that I can put out this podcast and transmit it over theithout having to go through any corporate media middleman. I can say what I want withoutcensorship oithout having to pay a special charge. But the bigtelephone and cable companies want to change theternet as we know it."[129]

uring his first year as a U.S. senator, in a move more typically taken after several years of holdiolitical office, Obama established aleadership political action committee, Hopefund, for channeling finpport to Democratic candidates. Obama participated in 38 fundraising events in 2005, helping

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6.55 million for candidates he supports and his own 2010 re-election fund.[130] The Newrk Times described Obama as "the prize catch of the midterm campaignhis campaigning for fellow Democratic Party members running for election in the2006 midterm electio

31] Hopefund gave US$374,000 to federal candidates in the 2006 election cycle, making it one oonors to federal candidates for the year.[131]

bama has encouraged Democrats to reach out toevangelicals and otherreligious people, saying, "if wope to speak to people where they’ re at —to communicate our hopes and values in a way that’ s relevant eir own —we cannot abandon the field of religious discourse."[132][133] In December 2006, Obama joinen.Sam Brownback (R -KS) at the "Global Summit on AIDS and the Church" organized by church leadnd Rick Warren.[134] Together with Warren and Brownback, Obama took an HIV test, as he had doenya less than four months earlier. Obama encouraged "others in public life to do the same" to sno shame in going for an HIV test."[135] Before the conference, 18pro-life groups published anopen let

ating, in reference to Obama's support forlegal abortion: "In the strongest possible terms, we opposeWarren's decision to ignore Senator Obama's clearpro-death stance and invite him toSaddleback Churc nyway."[136]

edit ] Personal life

1988, while employed as a summer associate at the Chicago law firm ofSidley & Austin, Obama metichelle Robinson, who also worked there.[137] They were married in 1992 and have two daughters, M

orn in 1999, and Natasha ("Sasha"), born in 2001.[138] The family moved from theirHyde Park, Chicag ndominium to a nearby US$1.6-million home in 2005.[139] Obama playsbasketball, a sport he participa

a member of his high school's varsity team.[140]

Before announcing his presidential candidacy, he bell-publicized effort toquit smoking. "I've never been a heavy smoker," Obama told thehicago Tribune . "I've quit periodically over the last several yeaot an ironclad demand from my wife that in the stresses of the campaign I don't succumb. I've beicorette strenuously."[141] Replying to an Associated Press sur2008 presidential candidates' personal tastes, he specified "architect" as his alternate career choice an

hili" as his favorite meal to cook. Asked to name a "hidden talent," Obama answered: "I'm a pretoker player."[142]

theme of Obama's keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, and the title oook,The Audacity of Hope , was inspired by his paev.Jeremiah Wright.[143] In Chapter 6 of the book, titled "Faith," Obama writes that he "was not rligious household." He describes his mother, raised by non-religious parents, as detached from n many ways the most spiritually awakened person that I have ever known." He describes his K"raised aMuslim," but a "confirmed atheist" by the time his parents met, and his Indonesian stepman who saw religion as not particularly useful." The chapter details how Obama, in his twent

orking with local churches as acommunity organizer, came to understand "the power of the Africanmerican religious tradition to spur social change." Obama writes: "It was because of these newfnderstandings —that religious commitment did not require me to suspend critical thinking, diseng

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e battle for economic and social justice, or otherwise retreat from the world that I knew and lov —thatas finally able to walk down the aisle ofTrinity United Church of Christ one day and be baptized."[144]

edit ] Books authored

edacityHope , with

1 Newrkmes Bestseller"anner.

bama has authored two bestselling books. The first,Dreams from Myther: A Story of Race andheritance , was published after his graduation from law school and bentering politics. In it he recalls his childhood inHonolulu and Jakarta, college years inLos Angeles and Nork City, and his employment as a community organizer inChicago in the1980s. The book's last chaptescribe his first visit to Kenya, a journey to connect with hisLuo family and heritage. In his preface to

004 revised edition, Obama explains that he had hoped the story of his family "might speak in se fissures of race that have characterized the American experience, as well as the fluid state of i —aps through time, the collision of cultures —that mark our modern life."[145] Time magazine'sJolein wrote that the book "may be the best-written memoir ever produced by an American politici[146]

udio book edition earned Obama the 2006Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album.[147]

is second book,The Audacity of Hope:

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oughts on Reclaiming themerican Dream , was published in October 2006, three weeks befo006 midterm election. It was an immediate bestseller and remains on theNew York Times Best Seller48] The Chicago Tribune credits the large crowds that gathered ook signings with influencing Obama's decision to run for president.[149] Former presidential candidateGart describes the book as Obama's "thesis submission" for the U.S. presidency: "It presents a maouth yet maturity, a wise observer of the human condition, a figure who possesses perseverance ills that have flashes of grandeur."[150] ReviewerMichael Tomasky writes that it does not contain "bolnovative policy prescriptions that will lead the Democrats out of their wilderness," but does sho

otential to "construct a new politics that is progressive but grounded in civic traditions that speange of Americans."[151] An Italian translation was published in April 2007 with a preface byWalter Veltrayor ofRome,[152] and a Spanish paperback edition was published in June 2007.[153]

edit ] Cultural and political image

bama on the July 17, 2007ver ofNewsweek

upporters and critics have likened Obama's popular image to a culturalRorschach test, a neutral personhich people can project their personal histories and aspirations.[154][155] Obama's own self-narrativeinforces what a May 2004New Yorker magazine article described as hisveryman" image.[156] In Dreams from My Father , hes his maternal family history to possibleNative American ancestors and distant relatives ofJefferson Desident of the southernConfederacy during the American Civil War.[157] Speaking to an elderlyJewish

udience during his 2004 campaign for U.S. Senate, Obama linked the linguistic roots of hisEast African fiame Barack to the Hebrew wordbaruch , meaning "blessed."[158] In anctober 2006 interview onThe Oprah Winfrey Show

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bama highlighted the diversity of his extended family: "Michelle will tell you that when we gethristmas or Thanksgiving, it's like a little mini-United Nations," he said. "I've got relatives who look likernie Mac, and I've got relatives who look likeMargaret Thatcher. We've got it all."[159]

bama's rapid rise from Illinois state legislator to U.S. presidential candidate has attracted conflimong commentators challenged to align him with traditional social categories. In her January 20lon article asserting that Obama "isn't black," columnistDebra Dickerson writes: "lumping

l together [with Obama] erases the significance ofslavery and continuingracism while giving the appeprogress."[160] Expressing a similar view,New York Dailyws columnistStanley Crouch wrote: "Whenblack Americans refer to Obama as 'one of us,' I

ot know what they are talking about."[161] But in an October 2006 article titled "Obama: Black Likeritish columnistGary Younge describes Obama as "a black man who does not scare white people."[162] FiticDavid Ehrenstein, writing in a March 2007Los Angeles Times ticle, compares the cultural sources of candidate Obama's favorable polling among whites to tho

magical negro" roles played by black actors inHollywood movies. Ehrenstein says these films are popcause they offer U.S. audiences a comfort for "white guilt."[163]

Writing about Obama's political image in a March 2007Washingtonst opinion column,Eugene Robinson characterized him as "the personification ofth-and ," a messenger who rejects "either-or" political choices, and could "m

ation beyond theculture wars" of the1960s.[164] Obama, who defines himself inThedacity of Hope as "a Democrat, after all,"[165] has been criticr his political actions by self-describedprogressive commentatorDavid Sirota,[166] and complimented f

Can't we all just get along?" manner byconservative columnistGeorge Will.[167] But in a December 200

all Street Journal editorial headlined "The Man owhere," formerRonald Reagan speech writerPeggy Noonan advised Will and other "establishment"mmentators to get "down from your tippy toes" and avoid becoming too quickly excited about rly political career. Agreeing with Obama's own assessment that "people project their hopes onoonan attributed some of Obama's popularity to "a certain unknowability."[168]

edit ] References

1. ^ "Breaking New Ground: African American Senators", U.S. SenateHistorical Office . Retrieved on2007-05-27.2. ^ Archibold, Randal C. "The Illinois Candidate; Day After, Keynote Speaker Finds Admirers Everywhere", New York Times , July 29, 2004. Retrieved on2005-27.

3. ^ "U.S. Senate and House - Illinois", USA Today , Last updated: 2004-11-1Retrieved on2007-05-27.

4. ^ Malone, Jim. "2008 US Presidential Campaign in Full Swing", Voice of America , May 18, 2007. Retrieved on2007-05-27. See also: "White House 2008 Democratic Nomination", Polling Report . Retrieved on2007-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Machttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Thatcherhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salon.comhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debra_Dickersonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_slavery_in_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_in_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Daily_Newshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Daily_Newshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Crouchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Americanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Youngehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ehrensteinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Timeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_negrohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_guilthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Posthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Posthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Robinson_%28journalist%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960shttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressivism_in_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Sirotahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservatism_in_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_F._Willhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wall_Street_Journalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reaganhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peggy_Noonanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Establishmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Barack_Obama&action=edit&section=13http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/h_multi_sections_and_teasers/Photo_Exhibit_African_American_Senators.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_27http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A03E7DB103DF93AA15754C0A9629C8B63http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A03E7DB103DF93AA15754C0A9629C8B63http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_27http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2004/SenateHouseResultsByState.aspx?sp=IL&rti=G&cn=1&tf=lhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_27http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-05-18-voa37.cfmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_27http://www.pollingreport.com/wh08dem.htmhttp://www.pollingreport.com/wh08dem.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_27http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_27http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007http://www.pollingreport.com/wh08dem.htmhttp://www.pollingreport.com/wh08dem.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_27http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_18http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-05-18-voa37.cfmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_27http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2004/SenateHouseResultsByState.aspx?sp=IL&rti=G&cn=1&tf=lhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_27http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_29http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A03E7DB103DF93AA15754C0A9629C8B63http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A03E7DB103DF93AA15754C0A9629C8B63http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_27http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/h_multi_sections_and_teasers/Photo_Exhibit_African_American_Senators.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Barack_Obama&action=edit&section=13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Establishmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peggy_Noonanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reaganhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wall_Street_Journalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_F._Willhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservatism_in_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Sirotahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressivism_in_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960shttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Robinson_%28journalist%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Posthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Posthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_guilthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_negrohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Timeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ehrensteinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Youngehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Americanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Crouchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Daily_Newshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Daily_Newshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_in_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_slavery_in_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debra_Dickersonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salon.comhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Thatcherhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Machttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations


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27. "Top Democratic Contenders: Support in National Samples of Democratic Voters",Pollster.com . Retrieved on2007-05-27.

5. ^ a b "Obama Launches Presidential Bid", BBC News , February 10, 2007.Retrieved on2007-05-27. Video at Brightcove.com.

6. ^ Toner, Robin. "Obama Calls for Wider and Less Costly Health Care Coverage", NewYork Times , May 30, 2007. Retrieved on2007-06-03. Galloway, Ange"Obama Fires Up Crowd in Seattle", Seattle Post- Intelligencer , June 2, 2007. Retrieved on2007-06-03.

7. ^ Memmott, Carol. "Obama's Books Drive Talk of '08 Presidential Run", USAToday , January 30, 2007. Retrieved on2007-05-27.

8. ^ "Meet Barack ", BarackObama.com . Retrieved on2007-04-See also: Obama (1995), Chapter 1.

9. ^ Obama (1995), pp. 9 –10. For book excerpts, see "Barack Obama: Creation of Tales",East African , November 1, 2004. Retrieved on2007-03-27.

10. ^ Warah, Rasna. " Authenticity More Important Than Ambition in US Election", TheNation (Nairobi) , allAfrica.com,February 26, 2007.

Retrieved on2007-03-27.11. ^ Obama (1995), pp. 125 –126. See also: Jones, Tim. "Obama's Mom: Not Just a Girl from Ka"Chicago Tribune , March 27, 2007. Retrieved on2007-04-29.

12. ^ Obama (1995), pp. 3 –5, 9 –10. See also: Ochieng, Philip. "From Home Squared to the US SenHow Barack Obama Was Lost and Found", East African , Novembe2004. Retrieved on2007-03-27.

13. ^ From his father's side, Obama has two half-sisters and five surviving half-brothers. SheMichael, Sarah Baxter. "Secrets of Obama Family Unlocked", SundayTimes (UK) , January 28, 2007. Retrieved on2007-05-13. See also: Ob(1995), Chapter 2 and Chapters 15 –19 (Part 3: Kenya).

14. ^ For details of Obama's early primary schooling in Indonesia, see Obama (1995), p. 154,(2006), p. 274. See also: Barker, Kim. "Obama Madrassa Myth Debunked",Chicago Tribune , March 25, 2007. Retrieved on2007-03-27.Note: In January 2007, theonline magazine Insight published an article claim"political opponents within the Democratic Party" had discovered Obama "spent at least foso-called Madrassa, or Muslim seminary". The article's anonymously authored and unsourwere subsequently repeated on television programs broadcast by theFox NewsChannel . According to theNew York Times : an interview, John Moody, a senior vice president at Fox News, said its commentators hadciting the Clinton-Obama report. 'The hosts violated one of our general rules, which is knoare talking about,' Moody said. 'They reported information from a publication whose accuknow.'" Kirkpatrick, David D. "Feeding Frenzy for a Big Story, Even If It’ s False", NewYork Times , January 29, 2007. Retrieved on2007-03-27. See also:"Debunked Insight Magazine and Fox News Smear Campaign", BarackObama U.S. Senate Office , Janua23, 2007. Retrieved on2007-03-27. Video: "Obama, School Deny Radical Islam Claim",

Associated Press , WPVI-TV Philadelphia (ABC),January2007. Retrieved on2007-03-27.

15. ^ Obama (1995), Chapters 3 and 4. See also: B.J., Reyes. "Punahou Left Lasting Impression o

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Documents

BARACK OBAMA- BIOGRAPHY- WIKIPEDIA.pdf