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'''Barack Hussein Obama''' (b. 4 August 1961) is the junior Senator from [[Illinois]], elected to the United States Senate as a [[Democrat]] in 2004.  He is currently a high profile candidate for the Democratic Nomination for [[President of the United States]] in the [[2008 Presidential Election|2008 election]].  He is, at present, the only African American serving in the [[United States Senate]].

'''Barack Hussein Obama''' (b. 4 August 1961) is the junior Senator from [[Illinois]], elected to the United States Senate as a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] in 2004.  He is currently a high profile candidate for the Democratic Nomination for [[President of the United States]] in the [[2008 Presidential Election|2008 election]].  He is, at present, the only [[African American]] serving in the [[United States Senate]].

[[Image:obama.jpg|thumb|right|Senator Barack Obama]]

[[Image:obama.jpg|thumb|right|Senator Barack Obama]]

==Early Life and Education==

==Early Life and Education==

Senator Obama was born in Honolulu, [[Hawaii]] to Barack Obama, Sr. and Ann Dunham in 1961.  In 1967 he moved to Jakarta, [[Indonesia]] with his mother and new stepfather.  He attended an Indonesian Public School followed by a [[Catholic]] school until he returned with his mother to Hawaii.  There he attended the Punahou School, a private preparatory school until 1979, the year of his graduation.<br /><br />

Senator Obama was born in Honolulu, [[Hawaii]] to Barack Obama, Sr. and Ann Dunham in 1961.  In 1967 he moved to Jakarta, [[Indonesia]] with his mother and new stepfather.  He attended an Indonesian Public School followed by a [[Catholic]] school until he returned with his mother to Hawaii.  There he attended the Punahou School, a private preparatory school until 1979, the year of his graduation.<br /><br />

Obama continued his education at Occidental College in Los Angeles, [[California]] before graduating with his Bachelor of Arts from [[Columbia University]] in New York, [[New York]].  After as a community organizer in New York City and Chicago, Illinois, Obama enrolled at [[Harvard]] Law School.  He was the first African American editor of the Harvard Law Review and graduated ''magna cum laude'' with his J.D. in 1992.  

Obama continued his education at Occidental College in Los Angeles, [[California]] before graduating with his Bachelor of Arts from [[Columbia University]] in New York, [[New York]].  After working as a community organizer in New York City and Chicago, Illinois, Obama enrolled at [[Harvard]] Law School.  He was the first African American editor of the Harvard Law Review and graduated ''magna cum laude'' with his J.D. in 1992.  

==Legal Career==

==Legal Career==

Obama was elected to the Illinois State Senate for the first time in 1996 and served there for the next eight years.  Following a failed campaign for the House of Representatives, Obama ran for the open Senate seat from Illinois in 2004.  Obama rose to national prominence following his keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.  He defeated his opponent, Alan Keyes, and was elected to the 109th Congress.

Obama was elected to the Illinois State Senate for the first time in 1996 and served there for the next eight years.  Following a failed campaign for the House of Representatives, Obama ran for the open Senate seat from Illinois in 2004.  Obama rose to national prominence following his keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.  He defeated his opponent, Alan Keyes, and was elected to the 109th Congress.

His voting record places him as the tenth-most Liberal member of the U. S. Senate. His composite liberal rating was 86 percent, just seven points behind [[Ted Kennedy]]. Among fellow Senate Democrats, he was further left than liberals like [[John Kerry]], [[Dianne Feinstein]], [[Charles Schumer]], [[Russ Feingold]], [[Carl Levin]], [[Joseph Biden]] and [[Harry Reid]].[http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/opinion_columnists/article/0,2777,DRMN_23972_5436474,00.html]  Senator Obama is a Democratic front-runner for the 2008 United States presidential election.  

His voting record places him as the tenth-most [[Liberal]] member of the U. S. Senate. His composite liberal rating was 86 percent, just seven points behind [[Ted Kennedy]]. Among fellow Senate Democrats, he was further left than liberals like [[John Kerry]], [[Dianne Feinstein]], [[Charles Schumer]], [[Russ Feingold]], [[Carl Levin]], [[Joseph Biden]] and [[Harry Reid]].[http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/opinion_columnists/article/0,2777,DRMN_23972_5436474,00.html]  Senator Obama is a Democratic front-runner for the 2008 United States presidential election.  

In late 2006, Obama's second book authored, ''The Audacity of Hope'', was published.  The book contains more of Senator Obama's personal story including the roles of both family and politics.  ''Audacity'' has spent 23 weeks on the New York Times Nonfiction Best Sellers List. <ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/08/books/bestseller/0408besthardnonfiction.html?_r=1&oref=slogin New York Times Best Sellers Non Fiction]</ref>

In late 2006, Obama's second book authored, ''The Audacity of Hope'', was published.  The book contains more of Senator Obama's personal story including the roles of both family and politics.  ''Audacity'' has spent 23 weeks on the New York Times Nonfiction Best Sellers List. <ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/08/books/bestseller/0408besthardnonfiction.html?_r=1&oref=slogin New York Times Best Sellers Non Fiction]</ref>

==Faith and Values==

==Faith and Values==

As he describes in "The Audacity of Hope" Obama grew up in a non-religious environment. When a child in Indonesia, he attended a Muslim mosque school. That was enough for a group of detractors to circulate the rumor that he is a crypto-Muslim trying to gain control of the White House. What it is true is Obama together with his wife (reared a Baptist) have been active member for year at the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. Obama describes his conversion in "The Audacity of Hope". The title of this book is borrowed from one of his pastor's sermons.  He is at ease quoting Scriptures and speaking to church audiences.   

As he describes in "The Audacity of Hope" Obama grew up in a non-religious environment. When he was a child in Indonesia, he attended a Muslim mosque school. That was enough for a group of detractors to circulate the rumor that he is a crypto-Muslim trying to gain control of the White House. What is true is Obama together with his wife (reared a Baptist) have been active members for a year at the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. Obama describes his conversion in "The Audacity of Hope". The title of this book is borrowed from one of his pastor's sermons.  He is at ease quoting Scriptures and speaking to church audiences.   

Rather than taking a religion-based approach to male-female relationships, Obama says schools should provide [[science]]-based [[sex education]] in schools. <ref>"But it's the right thing to do," Obama continued, "to provide age-appropriate sex education, science-based sex education in schools." [http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=3395856 (ABC News)] July 20, 2007 </ref>

Rather than taking a religion-based approach to male-female relationships, Obama says schools should provide [[science]]-based [[sex education]] in schools. <ref>"But it's the right thing to do," Obama continued, "to provide age-appropriate sex education, science-based sex education in schools." [http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=3395856 (ABC News)] July 20, 2007 </ref>