Changes

==Senate Career==

==Senate 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 delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.  He defeated his opponent, Alan Keyes, and was elected to the 109th Congress.

During the first two weeks of the 110th Congress, Sen. Obama co-sponsored and helped lead the Senate in passing the Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act that provided for comprehensive ethics and lobbying reform. The bill was signed by Pres. Bush in September 2007.<ref> http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:s.1.es: </ref>

His voting record in the U.S. [[Senate]] places him as its tenth-most [[liberal]] member. 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]].<ref>[http://nationaljournal.com/voteratings/sen/lib_cons.htm?o1=lib_composite&o2=desc]</ref>

<ref> http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/09/20060926.html </ref>

The Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 was signed into law by Pres Bush on Sept 09, 2006.  This law created a website that will list the federal government's grants and contracts.  <ref> http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/09/20060926.html </ref>

In late 2006, Obama's second book, ''The Audacity of Hope'', was published.  Its title was supplied by the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., a minister who has stated that "racism is how this country was founded and how this country was run ....  We believe in white supremacy and black inferiority and believe it more than we believe in god."<ref>http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/03/14/obama_condemns_pastors_remarks.html</ref>  The book contains more of Senator Obama's personal story including the roles of both family and politics.  ''Audacity'' spent 30 weeks on the ''New York Times'' Nonfiction Best Sellers list.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/27/books/bestseller/0527besthardnonfiction.html?_r=1&oref=slogin New York Times Best Sellers Non Fiction]</ref>

S.117 : A bill to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to improve benefits and services for members of the Armed Forces, veterans of the Global War on Terrorism, and other veterans, to require reports on the effects of the Global War on Terrorism, and for other purposes.

During the first two weeks of the 110th Congress, Sen. Obama supported and co-sponsored a bill called the Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act that provided for comprehensive ethics and lobbying reform. The bill was signed by President Bush in September 2007.<ref> http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:s.1.es: </ref>

<ref> http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/09/20060926.html </ref>

S.133 : A bill to promote the national security and stability of the economy of the United States by reducing the dependence of the United States on oil through the use of alternative fuels and new technology, and for other purposes.

The Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 was signed into law by Pres Bush on Sept 09, 2006.  This law created a website that will list the federal government's grants and contracts.  <ref> http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/09/20060926.html </ref>

S.453 : A bill to prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections.

Between Jan 13, 2007 and March 13, 2008, Sen. Obama has sponsored 120 mostly [[liberal]] resolutions and bills in the Senate.<ref>http://thomas.loc.gov/</ref>  Less liberal examples of these bills include:

S.713 : A bill to ensure dignity in care for members of the Armed Forces recovering from injuries.

*S.117 : A bill to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to improve benefits and services for members of the Armed Forces, veterans of the Global War on Terrorism, and other veterans, to require reports on the effects of the Global War on Terrorism, and for other purposes.

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]].<ref>[http://nationaljournal.com/voteratings/sen/lib_cons.htm?o1=lib_composite&o2=desc]</ref>

*S.453 : A bill to prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections.

In late 2006, Obama's second book, ''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'' spent 30 weeks on the ''New York Times'' Nonfiction Best Sellers list.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/27/books/bestseller/0527besthardnonfiction.html?_r=1&oref=slogin New York Times Best Sellers Non Fiction]</ref>

*S.713 : A bill to ensure dignity in care for members of the Armed Forces recovering from injuries.

==Presidential Campaign==

==Presidential Campaign==