Learn how to fly!

This is a defining moment. Our nation is at war. Our planet is in peril. Our American Dream is slipping away. Because of these challenges, Americans are listening to what we say in this election. This is our chance to forge a new majority of Democrats, Independents and Republicans committed to our common purpose as Americans. America has been at its best when we’ve led not by polls, but by principle; not by calculation, but by conviction; when we’ve had leaders who summoned the entire nation to a common purpose. That’s why I’m running for President. I’m running to tell special interests that their days of setting the agenda are over. I will close corporate loopholes and give a tax cut to middle-class Americans. I will take on the insurance industry, forge bi-partisan solutions, and pass universal health care. I will end our addiction to oil, and make world-class education affordable from birth through college. I’m running because I’m tired of Democrats talking, acting, and voting like George Bush Republicans on national security. I will end the war in Iraq, reject torture, finish the fight against al Qaeda, and reinvigorate American diplomacy. Let’s stop settling. I have spent my life bringing people together, solving tough problems and making a difference in peoples’ lives. I don’t want to refight the battles of the 1990s, or pit Blue America against Red America – I want to lead the United States of America. At this moment, let’s reach for what we know is possible.

Personal:

Barack Obama was born on August 4th, 1961, in Hawaii to Barack Obama, Sr. and Ann Dunham. Obama is especially proud of being a husband and father of two daughters, Malia, 7 and Sasha, 4. Obama and his wife, Michelle, married in 1992 and live on Chicago ’s South Side. It has been the rich and varied experiences of Barack Obama's life - growing up in different places with people who had differing ideas - that have animated his political journey.

Education:

Obama graduated from Columbia University with a degree in political science and a specialty in international relations. He went on to Harvard Law School, where he graduated magna cum laude and served as the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review.

Profession:

civil rights lawyer, community organizer

Civic:

Obama has served on the boards of some of Chicago's leading foundations and chaired the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, a $50 million philanthropic effort to reform the public schools.

Political:

During his seven years in the Illinois state Senate, Obama worked with both Democrats and Republicans to help working families get ahead by creating programs like the state Earned Income Tax Credit, which in three years provided over $100 million in tax cuts to families across the state. Obama also pushed through an expansion of early childhood education, and after a number of inmates on death row were found innocent, Senator Obama enlisted the support of law enforcement officials to draft legislation requiring the videotaping of interrogations and confessions in all capital cases.

Religion:

Obama and his wife attend Trinity United Church of Christ.

Accomplishments: In 1991, Obama graduated from Harvard Law School where he was the first African American editor of the Harvard Law

Review.

During his seven years in the Illinois state Senate, Obama worked with both Democrats and Republicans to help working families get ahead by creating programs like the state Earned Income Tax Credit.

Obama serves on the important Environment and Public Works Committee, which oversees legislation and funding for the environment and public works projects throughout the country, including the national transportation bill. He also serves on the Veterans ’ Affairs Committee where he is focused on investigating the disability pay discrepancies that have left thousands of Illinois veterans without the benefits they earned. Senator Obama will also serve on the Foreign Relations Committee.

All information about Barack Obama was provided by Barack Obama, Barack Obama's campaign staff, or extracted verbatim from Barack Obama's website(s).

Barack Obama
Candidate for President

November 4, 2008 Presidential Election

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