Barack Obama Biography

Barack Obama Biography - Table of Contents
1. Barack Obama Biography
2. The Obama Economic Plan
3. Top Eight Lies About Obama
4. Michelle Obama-The Woman Beside The Man
5. A Look At Barack Obamas Extended Family
6. Barack Obamas Presidential Campaign - An Overview
7. Barack Obama-The Truth About His Religion
8. Barack Obama Keynote Address
9. Dreams From My Father - Baracks First Book
10. The Audacity Of Hope - Baracks Second Book
11. Barack Obama-Five Of His Most Memorable Speeches
12. Barack Obama's Powerful Ally-Hillary Clinton
13. Frequently Asked Questions
Barack Obama Biography
Barack Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961, to Barack Obama, Sr. and Ann Dunham. His parents met while attending the University of Hawaii, where his father was enrolled as a foreign student. His mother was from heartland-of-the-U.S. Kansas, and his father from Kenya. Barack's parents eventually divorced, and after his mother remarried, he lived in Indonesia for a time before returning to Hawaii to live with his grandparents. He later moved to New York, where he graduated from Columbia University in 1983.
True to the values of empathy and service that his mother instilled in him, Barack put law school on hold after college and moved to Chicago, where he became a community organizer with a church-based group that was dedicated to improving living conditions in poor neighborhoods. For example, helping poor people work with service agencies to get their plumbing and heating fixed and to find jobs for unemployed. It was here that he realized it would take changes in our laws and politics to truly improve the lives of the people in these impoverished neighborhoods. A little known but impressive fact is that when Barack applied to Harvard Law School, he did not even indicate his race on his Harvard application.
Barack earned his law degree from Harvard in 1991, where he became the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review. He then returned to Chicago to practice as a civil rights lawyer and teach constitutional law. His advocacy work led him to run for the Illinois State Senate, where he served for eight years beginning in 1996. While in the Illinois State Senate, Barack served as chairman of the Public Health and Welfare Committee. In 2004, well into his U.S. Senate campaign, Barack wrote and delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, and became a rising star in U.S. politics. A few months later, he was elected to the U.S. Senate with a landslide 70% of the vote. Four months into his senate career, Time magazine named him "one of the world's most influential people," calling him "one of the most admired politicians in America." Barack formally announced his candidacy for the 2008 presidential election in Springfield, Illinois on February 10, 2007.
Barack is also an accomplished author. His 1995 book, Dreams from My Father, is a memoir of his youth and early career. The book was reprinted in 2004 with a new preface and an annex containing the text of his 2004 Democratic Convention keynote speech. The audio book edition earned Barack the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album.
In December 2004, Barack signed a contract to write three more books. The first, The Audacity of Hope, was published in October 2006. The book has remained at or near the top of the New York Times Best Seller list since its publication. It was also the theme of his 2004 keynote address. The second book will be a children's book to be co-written with his wife Michelle and their two daughters, with profits going to charity. The content of the third book has yet to be announced.
In August 2008, Barack was nominated by the Democratic party as their candidate to be President of the United States. Barack selected long-time and well-respected U.S. Senator Joe Biden as his running mate.
$1,000 Tax Cut for Middle Class American FamiliesObama and Biden will cut income taxes by $1,000 for working families, because the economy needs to be revitalized from the bottom up, not top down.
Energy RebatesObama and Biden will enact a windfall profits tax on excessive oil company profits to give American families an immediate $1,000 emergency energy rebate to help families pay rising bills.
Create Jobs through Fair TradeObama and Biden believe that trade with foreign nations should create American jobs, not send them overseas. They will stand firm against agreements that undermine our economic security.
Create 5 Million Green JobsObama and Biden believe that we should invest in innovation and manufacturing jobs in the growing clean energy market, freeing us from our dependence on foreign oil within a decade and creating 5 million green jobs.
New Jobs Through National Infrastructure InvestmentObama and Biden believe that rebuilding our highways, bridges, roads, ports, air, and train systems will create jobs, ensure safety, and bolster our long-term competitiveness.
Technology, Innovation and Creating JobsObama and Biden will increase federal support for research, technology and innovation for companies and universities so that American workers can lead the world in cutting edge jobs and products.
Support Small BusinessObama and Biden will level the playing field for small business by eliminating all capital gains taxes on start-up and small businesses.
LaborObama and Biden will strengthen the ability of workers to organize for good wages, healthcare, and secure pensions. Obama and Biden will fight for passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. Obama and Biden will ensure that labor appointees support workers' rights and will work to ban the permanent replacement of striking workers. Obama and Biden will also increase the minimum wage and make sure it remains a real wage year over year.
Protect Homeownership and Crack Down on Mortgage FraudObama and Biden will crack down on fraudulent brokers and lenders. They will make sure homebuyers have honest and complete information about their mortgage options, and they will give a tax credit to all middle-class homeowners.
Address Predatory Credit Card PracticesObama and Biden will establish a five-star rating system so that every consumer knows the risk involved in credit card borrowing. They will establish a Credit Card Bill of Rights to stop credit card companies from exploiting consumers with unfair practices.
Reform Bankruptcy LawsObama and Biden will reform our bankruptcy laws to protect working people, to ban executive bonuses for bankrupt companies, and to require disclosure of all pension investments.
Work/Family BalanceObama and Biden will help working families by doubling funding for after-school programs, expanding the Family Medical Leave Act. They will provide low-income families with a refundable tax credit to help with their child-care expenses, and encourage flexible work schedules.
1) Barack Obama is "palling around" with terrorists.
ALLEGATION: Obama is sympathetic to domestic terrorists, since his home in Chicago is in the same neighborhood as 60's radical William Ayers and his wife Bernadine Dohrn, and the two have also worked together. Ayers and Dohrn, former members of the radical Weather Underground, a group that carried out a string of bombings of federal buildings, spent 10 years as fugitives before all charges were eventually dropped. Ayers and Dohrn both eventually became professors in Chicago.
FACTS: Starting in 1995, Ayers and Obama worked with the non-profit Chicago Annenberg Challenge on a vast school improvement project, which invited cities to compete for $50 million grants to improve public education. Whle Ayers was working to bring the grant to Chicago, and Obama was recruited onto the board. Additionally, from 1999 through 2001, both Ayers and Obama were board members on the Woods Fund, a charitable foundation that gave money to various causes, including the Trinity United Church that Obama attended and Northwestern University Law Schools' Children and Family Justice Center, where Dohrn worked.
2) Barack Obama takes campaign advice from Fannie Mae executives.
ALLEGATION: John McCain started smearing Barack Obama about ties to Fannie Mae in some of his attack ads. Anonymous smear emails have found a life of their own, following McCain’s lead by fabricating even more connections.
FACTS: The non-partisan fact-check website Snopes.com looked into these allegations and concluded about Fannie Mae executives that "none of them has (or apparently ever had) ongoing roles with the campaign as chief economic advisors."
3) Barack Obama is really a Muslim.
ALLEGATION: This rumor became widespread around the time Obama announced his run for president. The argument was that he attended a Muslim school in his youth and that his father was a radical Muslim. Various photos featuing Obama wearing Muslim-influenced clothing helped fuel this rumor.
FACTS: For more than 20 years Barack Obama has been a Christian, regularly attending Sunday service at the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. His father was a Muslim at one time, but he eventually became an Atheist. The photos that added fuel to this rumor were of a trip Obama took to Africa in which he posed for a photo wearing the traditional Muslim garb as a sign of respect, not because he is a Muslim.
4) Barack Obama was sworn into office with a Qu'ran, and will do the same if elected president.
ALLEGATION: Barack Obama was sworn into the Senate with his hand on a Qu'ran instead of the Bible.
FACTS: Barack Obama was sworn into office with his hand on his own family Bible. The first Muslim member of congress, Keith Ellison, was elected in November, 2006, and sworn in with his hand on a Qu'ran. Apparently when the media got wind of this story, they began associating it with Barack Obama.
5) Obama attended a Madrassa for four years.
ALLEGATION: While living in Indonesia as a child, Barack Obama attended a Madrassa (Muslim school) for 4 years.
FACTS: Barack Obama has stated that heattended 2 years of Catholic school and two years at a public school in Indonesia. In addition, the school he attended in Jakarta is a public school that has never been a Madrassa.
6) Obama tried to hide his smoking habit.
ALLEGATION: Obama is trying to hide his smoking habit.
FACTS: In December 2005, Obama told the Chicago Tribune that his smoking habit "is an uphill battle". He has never denied that he smokes, but he also doesn't bring it up unless directly asked about it.
7) Barack Obama was involved in a shady land deal.
ALLEGATION: Obama was involved in a questionable real estate transaction
with Tony Rezko.
FACTS: Many articles were written about this real estate transaction. One indicated Obama had "ethics" issues while another ran the caption "BarackWater". These articles never really provided any evidence of wrongdoing on Obama's part. There has yet to be any evidence brought forward to suggest that anything illegal was done.
8) Obama has never introduced a Bill in Congress
ALLEGATION: Former Clinton Advisor and current Fox political Advisor Dick Morris claimed on FOX that Obama has never introduced a Bill in Congress.
FACTS: Prior toDick Morris' statement on December 18, 2006, Obama had been the primary sponsor on 152 Bills. Additionally, more than 14 bills that Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored have become law.

Michelle Obama: The Woman Beside the Man
Michelle Obama is playing a vital role in her husband Barack's campaign for president - but she wasn't always so convinced he should run for president. She had questions and wanted them answered. She wanted to know how the campaign would raise money and what the campaign strategy would be. Once those plans were more concrete, she began to see the possibilities, and set about using her talents to aid her husband's campaign - but not before she negotiated an agreement with him that he would quit smoking in exchange for her support in his presidential bid.
Michelle Obama was born Michelle LaVaughn Robinson on January 17, 1964, to Frasier and Marian Robinson. She was born and raised in Chicago's South Side and went on to attend Princeton University and Harvard Law School. She met Barack Obama when they were the only two African Americans at their law firm (Sidley Austin), where she was assigned to mentor him while he was a summer associate. The couple married in 1992.
Michelle's professional resume includes her time at Sidley Austin, where she worked on marketing and intellectual property, as well as a career in the public sector. In the Chicago city government, she served as an Assistant to the Mayor and Assistant Commissioner of Planning and Development. In 1993, she became Executive Director for the Chicago office of Public Allies, a non-profit organization that encourages young people to work on social issues in nonprofit groups and government agencies. In 1996, Michelle served as the Associate Dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago, where she developed the University's Community Service Center. In 2002, she began working for the University of Chicago Hospitals, first as Executive Director for Community Affairs, and beginning in May 2005, as Vice President for Community and External Affairs. Until recently, Michelle served on the board of TreeHouse Foods, Inc., which is a major Wal-Mart supplier. Following her husband's critical remarks of Wal-Mart, she immediately cut ties with TreeHouse Foods. She also serves on the board of directors of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. She currently does not have a full time job, focusing instead on her husband's presidential bid.
A formidable opponent in her own right, Michelle's determination, wit and strong will make her a force to be reckoned with. Completely at ease talking with crowds, she tirelessly campaigns for her husband and speaks of him and the election issues with passion and courage - and she's not afraid to tell it like she sees it. Asked in February 2008 whether she would support Hillary Clinton if she got the nomination, Michelle responded, "I'd have to think about that. I'd have to think about policies, her approach, her tone." She also added, "You know, everyone in this party is going to work hard for whoever the nominee is." And in a statement she made on February 18, 2008, Michelle remarked, "People in this country are ready for a change, and hungry for a different kind of politics and let me tell you something, for the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback." Several political commentators criticized this statement, and the campaign soon issued a statement that "anyone who heard her remarks...would understand that she was commenting on our politics," not on America itself.
Michelle's determination, wit and strong will have also made her a part of pop culture. In May, 2006, Essence magazine named her among "25 of the World's Most Inspiring Women," and in July 2007, Vanity Fair magazine listed her among "10 of the World's Best Dressed People." In September 2007, 02138 magazine listed her 58th of "The Harvard 100," a list of the prior year's most influential Harvard alumni. Not surprisingly, her husband was ranked 4th.
But Michelle's life is not completely consumed by the presidential campaign - she and Barack also try to make sure her children have some stability during this chaotic time. No matter where Michelle is, she tries to fly home each night in order to see her and Barack's two daughters, Malia and Natasha (who are currently being cared for by Michelle's mother) before they go to bed.

It's All Relative: A Look at Barack Obama's Extended Family
Barack Obama's relatives reach far beyond his wife and two daughters who are based in Illinois. In fact, his diverse relatives are scattered all around the globe.
Obama, the Democratic senator from Illinois, is the son of Barack Obama, Sr., a senior economist in the Kenyan government who died in a car accident in 1982. His father grew up in the rural village of Nyangoma Kogalo, which is in Western Kenya near the shores of Lake Victoria. He herded goats before winning a scholarship to study in the US. He is now buried in that same quiet village.
Obama's grandmother, uncle and a handful of cousins still live in and around Nyangoma Kogalo, living the same simple life they have for generations. They do not have a television, but still manage to closely monitor election progress and pray for his victory. His grandmother, affectionately referred to as "Mama Sarah," recently told a CNN reporter, "He's a good listener and if he's given a chance, he will work hard for America." When asked what she thought of Hillary Clinton, Mama Sarah replied with a diplomacy her grandson would be proud of, that the election is a contest and the best man or woman should win.
Another enthusiastic supporter of Barack Obama's presidential campaign is his half-sister Maya Soetoro-Ng. After Obama's mother divorced Barack Obama Sr., she married Lolo Soetoro and had Maya in Indonesia. They moved to Honolulu where Obama was born
Although they are 9 years apart, the siblings remain close. Maya credits Obama with helping her make good decisions and focusing on her strengths after her father died in 1987 - but she also credits their mother, Ann Dunham, with instilling in Obama a love of public service and community organization. "She was an immense woman, " Maya said of their mother. "She embraced everybody. There was so much good in her that there wasn't any room for smallness or meanness or violence."
Today, Maya is a teacher and professor in Honolulu. She and her husband, Konrad Ng, have a 2-year-old daughter, Suhaila.

Obama On the Issues
Abortion - Obama supports abortion rights. In the Illinois State Senate, he voted against a bill to ban late-term abortions because it did not contain a clause to protect the life of the mother.
Church and State - Obama says he believes in the separation of church and state, but believes it should be guided by a "sense of proportion," saying the Pledge of Allegiance and student prayer groups should enjoy some leeway.
Death Penalty - Obama does not believe the death penalty deters crime, but he supports it for cases in which "the community is justified in expressing the full measure of its outrage."
Education - Obama opposes government vouchers and tax credits for private schooling, believing it would undermine efforts to improve public schools.
Environment - In the U.S. Senate, Obama co-sponsored the Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act, which was designed to cap emissions from industrial plants and oil refineries.
Faith-Based Initiatives - Obama says there is room for faith-based approaches to social problems, believing they may offer unique ways of solving problems.
Gay Marriage - Obama believes that marriage is between a man and a woman. He supports granting civil unions for gay couples and opposed a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. After dodging questions about the morality of homosexuality, he later went on national television to say that he does not believe homosexuals are immoral.
Health Care - When he announced his candidacy, Obama said his goal is to implement universal health care by 2012. He calls universal health care one of the "core values" of the Democratic party.
Immigration - Obama supports immigration reform that strengthens border security while creating a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the country.
Iraq War - Since Obama was not a member of the U.S. Senate in 2002, he did not vote on the authorization of the use of force in Iraq. He has since called the Iraq war a "tragic mistake" and has outlined a plan to bring combat troops home by March of 2008.
Poverty - In the Illinois Senate, Obama helped author the state earned income tax credit, and has supported bills to increase the minimum wage.
Stem Cell Research - Obama supports easing restrictions on embryonic stem cell research. He voted for the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005, which was vetoed by President Bush.
Barack Announces His Candidacy
"It was here, in Springfield, where North, South, East and West come together that I was reminded of the essential decency of the American people - where I came to believe that through this decency, we can build a more hopeful America. And that is why, in the shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called on a divided house 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."
Democratic Senator Barack Obama made this announcement before a cheering crowd in Springfield, Illinois, on February 10, 2007. He told the crowd he would tackle problems like poor schools, economic hardships and oil dependence, and urged the crowd to demand universal health care in America by the end of the president's first term.
Although he hasn't been in Washington long, Obama assured the crowd that he is familiar enough with the city's political machine to understand that change is in order.
If elected, he will become the first African-American president in U.S. history.

Barack Obama: The Truth About His Religion
Barack Obama is a Christian.
Since declaring his candidacy for president, misconceptions about his religion are one point he and his campaign have continually fought to correct. From assertions that he's a Muslim to rumors that he received training in Islam while he lived in Indonesia as a child, these rumors have been used to spark fear about him. And despite Obama's denials, rumors and e-mails about his Muslim and Islamic ties continue to circulate on the Internet. Here are the facts:
Obama's grandfather was a Muslim, but his father was an atheist who did occasionally attend services at a mosque in Indonesia and his mother was agnostic, not practicing any particular religion. Where does that leave Obama? He is a Christian, having attended the same Christian church (Trinity United Church of Christ) for nearly 20 years. And about that rumor that he attended a madrassa as a child in Indonesia? He attended only Catholic and public schools.
While campaigning in the Bible Belt states, Obama stressed that when he was sworn into office, he placed his hand on the family bible, and when he's in the United States Senate, he pledges allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
But Obama does not turn his back on the places he lived in his youth. In campaign appearances, he regularly mentions his time living and attending school in Indonesia and the fact that his paternal grandfather, a Kenyan farmer, was a Muslim. He uses these facts as part of his position that he is prepared to handle foreign policy and that he would bring a new face to parts of the world where the United States is not popular. In fact, in Clarion, Iowa, Obama stated, "A lot of my knowledge about foreign affairs is not what I just studied in school. It's actually having the knowledge of how ordinary people in these countries live."
Obama has said that he will fight harder against other mischaracterizations about his positions that are being perpetrated by other candidates. But how are the rumors about his religion affecting him? According to David Axelrod, a top Obama strategist, "He genuinely believes...that people want to have a president that the world looks at and says, 'I believe this guy has an understanding of us and how we fit together on the planet.'"

The Audacity of Hope: Obama's 2004 Democratic National Convention Keynote Address
In 2004, Illinois State Senator Barack Obama was running for an open seat on the U.S. Senate. Midway through his campaign, he gave the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in Boston in support of John Kerry. The 20-minute speech quickly elevated him to a nationally known political figure, leaving political analysts to speculate on a future presidential bid. Later that year, he was elected to the U.S. Senate with a landslide 70% of the vote. The text of his address, titled "The Audacity of Hope," follows here.
On behalf of the great state of Illinois, crossroads of a nation, land of Lincoln, let me express my deep gratitude for the privilege of addressing this convention. Tonight is a particular honor for me because, let's face it, my presence on this stage is pretty unlikely. My father was a foreign student, born and raised in a small village in Kenya. He grew up herding goats, went to school in a tin-roof shack. His father, my grandfather, was a cook, a domestic servant.
But my grandfather had larger dreams for his son. Through hard work and perseverance my father got a scholarship to study in a magical place: America, which stood as a beacon of freedom and opportunity to so many who had come before. While studying here, my father met my mother. She was born in a town on the other side of the world, in Kansas. Her father worked on oil rigs and farms through most of the Depression. The day after Pearl Harbor he signed up for duty, joined Patton's army and marched across Europe. Back home, my grandmother raised their baby and went to work on a bomber assembly line. After the war, they studied on the GI Bill, bought a house through FHA, and moved west in search of opportunity.
And they, too, had big dreams for their daughter, a common dream, born of two continents. My parents shared not only an improbable love; they shared an abiding faith in the possibilities of this nation. They would give me an African name, Barack, or "blessed," believing that in a tolerant America your name is no barrier to success. They imagined me going to the best schools in the land, even though they weren't rich, because in a generous America you don't have to be rich to achieve your potential. They are both passed away now. Yet, I know that, on this night, they look down on me with pride.
I stand here today, grateful for the diversity of my heritage, aware that my parents' dreams live on in my precious daughters. I stand here knowing that my story is part of the larger American story, that I owe a debt to all of those who came before me, and that, in no other country on earth, is my story even possible. Tonight, we gather to affirm the greatness of our nation, not because of the height of our skyscrapers, or the power of our military, or the size of our economy. Our pride is based on a very simple premise, summed up in a declaration made over two hundred years ago, "We hold these truths to he self-evident, that all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. That among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
That is the true genius of America, a faith in the simple dreams of its people, the insistence on small miracles. That we can tuck in our children at night and know they are fed and clothed and safe from harm. That we can say what we think, write what we think, without hearing a sudden knock on the door. That we can have an idea and start our own business without paying a bribe or hiring somebody's son. That we can participate in the political process without fear of retribution, and that our votes will he counted -- or at least, most of the time.
This year, in this election, we are called to reaffirm our values and commitments, to hold them against a hard reality and see how we are measuring up, to the legacy of our forbearers, and the promise of future generations. And fellow Americans -- Democrats, Republicans, Independents -- I say to you tonight: we have more work to do. More to do for the workers I met in Galesburg, Illinois, who are losing their union jobs at the Maytag plant that's moving to Mexico, and now are having to compete with their own children for jobs that pay seven bucks an hour. More to do for the father I met who was losing his job and choking back tears, wondering how he would pay $4,500 a month for the drugs his son needs without the health benefits he counted on. More to do for the young woman in East St. Louis, and thousands more like her, who has the grades, has the drive, has the will, but doesn't have the money to go to college.
Don't get me wrong. The people I meet in small towns and big cities, in diners and office parks, they don't expect government to solve all their problems. They know they have to work hard to get ahead and they want to. Go into the collar counties around Chicago, and people will tell you they don't want their tax money wasted by a welfare agency or the Pentagon. Go into any inner city neighborhood, and folks will tell you that government alone can't teach kids to learn. They know that parents have to parent, that children can't achieve unless we raise their expectations and turn off the television sets and eradicate the slander that says a black youth with a book is acting white. 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.
In this election, we offer that choice. Our party has chosen a man to lead us who embodies the best this country has to offer. That man is John Kerry. John Kerry understands the ideals of community, faith, and sacrifice, because they've defined his life. From his heroic service in Vietnam to his years as prosecutor and lieutenant governor, through two decades in the United States Senate, he has devoted himself to this country. Again and again, we've seen him make tough choices when easier ones were available. His values and his record affirm what is best in us.
John Kerry believes in an America where hard work is rewarded. So instead of offering tax breaks to companies shipping jobs overseas, he'll offer them to companies creating jobs here at home. John Kerry believes in an America where all Americans can afford the same health coverage our politicians in Washington have for themselves. John Kerry believes in energy independence, so we aren't held hostage to the profits of oil companies or the sabotage of foreign oil fields. John Kerry believes in the constitutional freedoms that have made our country the envy of the world, and he will never sacrifice our basic liberties nor use faith as a wedge to divide us. And John Kerry believes that in a dangerous world, war must be an option, but it should never he the first option.
A while back, I met a young man named Shamus at the VFW Hall in East Moline, Illinois. He was a good-looking kid, six-two or six-three, clear-eyed, with an easy smile. He told me he'd joined the Marines and was heading to Iraq the following week. As I listened to him explain why he'd enlisted, his absolute faith in our country and its leaders, his devotion to duty and service, I thought this young man was all any of us might hope for in a child. But then I asked myself: Are we serving Shamus as well as he was serving us? I thought of more than 900 service men and women, sons and daughters, husbands and wives, friends and neighbors, who will not be returning to their hometowns. I thought of families I had met who were struggling to get by without a loved one's full income, or whose loved ones had returned with a limb missing or with nerves shattered, but who still lacked long-term health benefits because they were reservists. 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.
Now let me be clear. We have real enemies in the world. These enemies must be found. They must be pursued and they must be defeated. John Kerry knows this. And just as Lieutenant Kerry did not hesitate to risk his life to protect the men who served with him in Vietnam, President Kerry will not hesitate one moment to use our military might to keep America safe and secure. John Kerry believes in America. And he knows it's not enough for just some of us to prosper. For alongside our famous individualism, there's another ingredient in the American saga.
A belief that we are connected as one people. If there's a child on the south side of Chicago who can't read, that matters to me, even if it's not my child. If there's a senior citizen somewhere who can't pay for her prescription and has to choose between medicine and the rent, that makes my life poorer, even if it's not my grandmother. If there's an Arab American family being rounded up without benefit of an attorney or due process, that threatens my civil liberties. It's that fundamental belief -- I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper -- that makes this country work. It's what allows us to pursue our individual dreams, yet still come together as a single American family. "E pluribus unum." Out of many, one.
Yet even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us, the spin masters and negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of anything goes. Well, I say to them tonight, there's not a liberal America and a conservative America -- there's the United States of America. There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America. 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.
In the end, that's what this election is about. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or a politics of hope? John Kerry calls on us to hope. John Edwards calls on us to hope. I'm not talking about blind optimism here -- the almost willful ignorance that thinks unemployment will go away if we just don't talk about it, or the health care crisis will solve itself if we just ignore it. No, I'm talking about something more substantial. It's the hope of slaves sitting around a fire singing freedom songs; the hope of immigrants setting out for distant shores; the hope of a young naval lieutenant bravely patrolling the Mekong Delta; the hope of a mill worker's son who dares to defy the odds; the hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him, too. The audacity of hope!
In the end, that is God's greatest gift to us, the bedrock of this nation; the belief in things not seen; the belief that there are better days ahead. I believe we can give our middle class relief and provide working families with a road to opportunity. I believe we can provide jobs to the jobless, homes to the homeless, and reclaim young people in cities across America from violence and despair. I believe that as we stand on the crossroads of history, we can make the right choices, and meet the challenges that face us. America!
Tonight, if you feel the same energy I do, the same urgency I do, the same passion I do, the same hopefulness I do -- if we do what we must do, then I have no doubt that all across the country, from Florida to Oregon, from Washington to Maine, the people will rise up in November, and John Kerry will be sworn in as president, and John Edwards will be sworn in as vice president, and this country will reclaim its promise, and out of this long political darkness a brighter day will come. Thank you and God bless you.

Dreams from My Father
Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama
Barack Obama's 1995 book, Dreams from My Father, is a memoir about growing up the son of a black African father and caucasian mother, and explores issues of identity, class and race. It also chronicles his early career, and his journey as a young African-American searching to find his place in the world. The book was reprinted in 2004 with a new preface and an annex containing the text of his 2004 Democratic Convention keynote speech. The audio book edition earned Barack the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album.
Excerpt from Dreams from My Father:
(From the 2004 Preface)
I know, I have seen, the desperation and disorder of the powerless: how it twists the lives of children on the streets of Jakarta or Nairobi in much the same way as it does the lives of children on Chicago's South Side, how narrow the path is for them between humiliation and untrammeled fury, how easily they slip into violence and despair. I know that the response of the powerful to this disorder -- alternating as it does between a dull complacency and, when the disorder spills out of its proscribed confines, a steady, unthinking application of force, of longer prison sentences and more sophisticated military hardware -- is inadequate to the task. I know that the hardening of lines, the embrace of fundamentalism and tribe, dooms us all.And so what was a more interior, intimate effort on my part, to understand this struggle and to find my place in it, has converged with a broader public debate, a debate in which I am professionally engaged, one that will shape our lives and the lives of our children for many years to come.
Reviews on Dreams from My Father:
"Provocative . . . Persuasively describes the phenomenon of belonging to two different worlds, and thus belonging to neither." - New York Times Book Review"Fluidly, calmly, insightfully, Obama guides us straight to the intersection of the most serious questions of identity, class, and race." - Washington Post Book World"Beautifully crafted . . . moving and candid . . . this book belongs on the shelf beside works like James McBride's The Color of Water and Gregory Howard Williams's Life on the Color Line as a tale of living astride America's racial categories." - Scott Turrow

The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream, by Barack Obama
In his 2006 book The Audacity of Hope, Barack Obama explores themes he initially raised in his keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. He also shares his personal views on family, faith and values, and his vision for a future that "repairs a political process that is broken." He also writes, with surprising candor, about adjusting to life as a senator, trying to balance the demands of public service with family life, and his own deepening commitment to religion.
The book's title, taken from the keynote address he delivered at the Democratic National Convention in July 2004, was inspired by the phrase, "audacity of hope," which Obama first heard in a sermon by his pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright of Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ.
Excerpts from The Audacity of Hope:
On his vision of government:
A government that truly represents these Americans - that truly serves these Americans - will require a different kind of politics. That politics will need to reflect our lives as they are actually lived. It won't be pre-packaged, ready to pull off the shelf. It will have to be constructed from the best of our traditions and will have to account for the darker aspects of our past. We will need to understand just how we got to this place, this land of warring factions and tribal hatreds. And we'll need to remind ourselves, despite all our differences, just how much we share: common hopes, common dreams, a bond that will not break.
On his guiding principle:
I find myself returning again and again to my mother's simple principle - 'How would that make you feel?' -- as a guidepost for my politics. It's not a question we ask ourselves enough, I think; as a country, we seem to be suffering from an empathy deficit.
Reviews on The Audacity of Hope:
"The self-portrait is appealing. 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." - New York Times Book Review
"Obama writes convincingly about race as well as the lofty place the Constitution holds in American life, not always an easy pairing for African Americans." - Los Angeles Times
"Drawing on his experiences as a senator and lawyer, a professor and father, a Christian and a skeptic, Obama...highlights the boldness of America's original ideas and reminds readers of the importance of keeping them at the forefront of their daily lives." - Ebony magazine
Barack Obama: Five of His Most Memorable Speeches
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has long enjoyed a reputation as a powerful public speaker. From first gaining national attention at the as the keynote speaker at the 2004 Democratic National Convention to his 2008 Democratic National Convention acceptance speech, Obama's words never fail to deliver a powerful message.
Here are links to five of his most powerful speeches:
Barack Obama in Berlin - July 24, 2008Speaking to a crowd of approximately 200,000, Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama emphasizes the theme of freedom, and encourages Europeans and Americans to work together to "defeat terror and dry up the well of extremism that supports it."
Barack Obama 2004 DNC Keynote Address - Boston, MA - July 27, 2004Part 1Part 2Then-Illinois Senate candidate Barack Obama introduces himself to Democrats, giving the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention. He told the story of his working class upbringing and urged the nation to vote for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.
Barack Obama Race in America Speech - Philadelphia, PA - March 18, 2008Barack Obama speaks in Philadelphia, PA, on issues of race and recent remarks by his pastor, and of the path by which Americans can work together to achieve a better future.
Barack Obama DNC Acceptance Speech - Denver, CO - August 28, 2008Barack Obama speaks to an audience of 84,000 at Mile High Stadium, on August 28, 2008 in Denver, CO, as he accepted the Democratic nomination for the 2008 presidential election.
Frequently Asked Questions on Barack Obama
Q: Does Barack Obama have any siblings?
A: Obama has a half-sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng. She is a teacher and professor in Honolulu.
Q: What part does Michelle Obama play in her husband's presidential campaign?
A: Completely at ease talking with crowds, she tirelessly campaigns for her husband and speaks of him and the election issues with passion and courage.
Q: Does Barack Obama have any children?
A: Barack Obama has two daughters, Malia and Natasha. They are currently being cared for by their grandmother, but Michelle Obama tries to fly home every night to tuck them into bed.
Q: Who are Barack Obama's parents?
A: Barack Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961, to Barack Obama, Sr. and Ann Dunham. His parents met while attending the University of Hawaii, where his father was enrolled as a foreign student. Barack's parents eventually divorced, and after his mother remarried, he lived in Indonesia for a time before returning to Hawaii to live with his grandparents. He later moved to New York, where he graduated from Columbia University in 1983.
Q: What is Obama's religion?
A: He is a Christian who has attended Trinity United Church of Christ for nearly 20 years.
Q: Is Barack Obama a Muslim?
A: No, he is not a Muslim, he is a Christian. While his grandfather was a Muslim, and this father an atheist and his mother an agnostic, Barack has been an actively practicing Christian for nearly 20 years, attending Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ.
Q: What nationality is Barack Obama?
A: He is American, born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961, to Barack Obama, Sr. and Ann Dunham. His parents met while attending the University of Hawaii, where his father was enrolled as a foreign student. His mother is from heart land America (Kansas), and his father is from Kenya