Barack Obama Political Party Democratic Party Current Position Senator from Illinois Age 46   (August 4th, 1961) Hometown Jakarta, Indonesia; Honolulu, Hawaii Religion United Church of Christ Elections Democratic Party Presidential Primary Elections, 2008 with 28.2% of the vote. Straw Poll April Straw Poll with 0% of the vote.   Compare Barack Obama to:      Joe Biden Hillary Clinton Chris Dodd John Edwards Mike Gravel Dennis Kucinich Barack Obama Bill Richardson Sam Brownback Jim Gilmore Rudy Giuliani Mike Huckabee Duncan Hunter John McCain Ron Paul Mitt Romney Tom Tancredo Tommy Thompson Fred Thompson    Vote for Barack Obama

PERSONAL

Spouse: Michelle (1992-present)
Children: Malia, Natasha

EDUCATION

• Harvard Law School, J.D., 1991
• Occidential College/Columbia University, B.A. in Political Science (specialization in International Relations), 1983
• Punahou School

PROFESSIONAL

• Business International Corporation
• Community Organizer, Chicago, IL
• Director, Voter Registration Drive
• Associate, Miner Barnhill & Galland (1983-1996)
• Lecturer, Constitutional Law, University of Chicago Law School (1993-2004)

POLITICAL

• Senator, United States Senate, 2005-present
• Keynote Speaker, 2004 Democratic National Convention
• Senator, Illinois State Senate, 1996-2004.

• Trusts women to make their own decisions regarding abortion—even partial-birth abortion.
  
  
• Believes abortions should be legally available in accordance with Roe v. Wade.
  
  
• Supported funding to reduce teen pregnancy through education and contraceptives.
  
  
• Voted NO on notifying parents of minors who get out of state abortions.
  
  

• Opposes same-sex marriage but supports civil unions.
  
  
• Opposes a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
  
  
• Opposed a constitutional ban on flag desecration.
  
  
• Believes being homosexual is not a choice.
  
  
• Supports teaching children about human differences (homosexual couples) so they are not afraid of people who are different.
  
  
• Supports enforcing rights for same sex couples at a federal level.
  
  
• Believes individual denominations have the right to make their own decisions regarding recognition of same sex couples, but that the government should treat all citizens equally.
  
  
• Feels that “gay marriage” is less important than equal rights for homosexuals.
  
  
• Thinks human rights and national security are complementary.
  
  
• Wants to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.
  
  

• Believes there are some crimes that justify capital punishment, but has fought against it in the legislature where it is an erroneous system.
  
  
• Pushes for videotaping of all capital punishment interrogations.
  
  
• Supports alternative sentencing and rehabilitation.
  
  
• Wants to ban semiautomatic weapons and enforce more restrictions on gun possession.
  
  

• Does not support lowering the drinking age from 21.
  
  
• Admitted marijuana use in high school & college.
  
  

• Supported an increase in Illinois’ minimum wage to $6.50.
  
  
• Has said that the burden of globalization is “placed on the backs of workers.”
  
  
• Contends that the Bush tax cuts do little to ease the burden of middle-class families, while increasing the national debt and helping corporations who outsource jobs.
  
  
• Voted against extending tax cuts on capital gains and dividends.
  
  
• Voted against permanently repealing the estate tax.
  
  
• Voted in favor of repealing the capital gains tax cut in order to fund military appropriations.
  
  
• Wants to end tax breaks for all companies that send jobs overseas.
  
  
• Supports tax incentives for corporate responsibility.
  
  
• Obama and Sen. Tom Coburn (R OK) teamed up to pass a law that will lift the veil of secrecy in Washington by creating a Google like search engine that will allow regular people to track government spending.
  
  
• Supports public campaign financing with free television and radio time.
  
  
• Says that all the Presidential candidates can afford minimum wage, while most people cannot – believes minimum wage should be enough to support a family for those working full time.
  
  
• Believes cutting social security benefits and raising the retirement age are the wrong answers.
  
  
• Does not support privatization, citing that it would put retirement at the whim of the stock market.
  
  
• Thinks the wealthy should pay more on the payroll tax.
  
  
• Wants to reduce the Bush tax cuts to pay for health care and other programs.
  
  

• Wants a nationwide program to reconstruct crumbling school buildings.
  
  
• Disagrees with the Supreme Court’s ruling on anti integration.
  
  
• Says that we left the money behind for No Child Left Behind.
  
  
• Supports increasing teacher pay and treating them like professionals with more accountability.
  
  
• Wants to guarantee affordable, life long, top notch education.
  
  
• Will add 25,000 teachers in high need areas.
  
  
• Supports a free public college education for any student with a B average.
  
  

• Wants to explore nuclear power as part of alternative energy, saying it is okay if we safeguard against waste and terrorism.
  
  
• Cites that Cheney met with environmentalists once, but with Big Oil 40 times.
  
  
• Wants to stop sending money to Mideast dictators in exchange for oil.
  
  
• Says that we cannot drill our way out of our oil addiction.
  
  
• Supports conservation, developing alternative fuels, and increasing efficiencies.
  
  
• Sponsored legislations that improve energy efficiency.
  
  
• Wants 20% of the nation’s power supply to be from renewable energy by 2020.
  
  
• Believes giving rebuilding contracts to Halliburton and other big companies, instead of allowing the residents of New Orleans to rebuild and gain valuable training, furthers the tragedy.
  
  

• Says the main problem isn’t mandating coverage, but affording it.
  
  
• Supports universal health care.
  
  
• Believes it’s morally wrong for the terminally ill to have to worry about medical costs.
  
  
• Supports a national smoking ban in public places only after trying local bans.
  
  
• Wants to increase competition in the insurance and drug markets.
  
  
• Believes we need more condom distribution to deal with the AIDS epidemic, and believes homophobia prevents talking about AIDS.
  
  

• Supported Bush-backed immigration reform, increasing funding for improved border security, improved enforcement of existing laws, and providing a path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants.
  
  
• Voted in favor of constructing a 700-mile fence along the southern border.
  
  
• Believes a comprehensive solution will include both employer cooperation and additional border security.
  
  
• Supports granting driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, saying they come here to work, not to drive.
  
  
• Wants to give immigrants who are already here a rigorous path to citizenship.
  
  

• Medical/Science - Supported embryonic stem-cell research in Illinois, as a State Senator.
  
  
• Medical/Science – Supports stem cell research, citing it has the promise to cure 70 major diseases.
  
  
• Personal - Does not believe prayer can prevent disasters, but says that good policy can handle them.
  
  
• Voting Record - http://www.vote smart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=9490
  
  

• Believes that Iraq has been a distraction from fighting the Taliban and making other progress in Afghanistan.
  
  
• Opposed the war in Iraq from the start.
  
  
• Has said there is no military solution to Iraq, but only a political solution; i.e. a phased withdrawal and benchmarks requiring the Iraqis to meet certain goals.
  
  
• Has said that we must end the war, end the escalation and bring the troops home.
  
  
• Has said that war with Iran would be a “profound mistake,” but that Iran will be a major threat if they obtain nuclear weapons.
  
  
• Voted YES on an amendment to support the men and women of the U.S. armed forces, but did not vote on a following similar amendment, that also included support for General Petraeus and condemned MoveOn.org’s criticism of the General.
  
  
• Would be willing to meet with Fidel Castro, Kim Jung Il, and Hugo Chavez.
  
  
• Wants to invest in our relationship with Mexico.
  
  
• Says that China is a competitor, but not an enemy.
  
  
• Believes the Palestinian people suffer, but from not recognizing Israel – they need to get serious about renouncing violence and negotiating.
  
  
• Feels that America cannot sanction torture, with no loopholes or exceptions.
  
  
• Believes we are no safer now than we were after 9/11 because of poor decisions in foreign policy.
  
  
• Thinks the cost of the war in Iraq should not shortchange VA benefits.
  
  
• Says a military resolution with Iran sends the wrong signal.
  
  
• Hopes to remove all troops from Iraq by 2013, but will not pledge to do so.
  
  
• Says there no good options in Iraq – only bad options and worse options.
  
  
• While the war in Iraq is “dumb”, the troops still need equipment.
  
  

Obama pays homage to US workers, as elitism row rages   3:45 pm on Apr 15, 2008

Clinton sketches first 100 days, Obama vows to help workers   3:31 pm on Apr 15, 2008

New Obama Ad Responds to Bitterness   3:10 pm on Apr 15, 2008

Hillary's Praise-Obama TourThe work Clinton is making for herself ...   2:59 pm on Apr 15, 2008

Obama Counters Tough Clinton Spot With Mocking Pa. Ad   2:36 pm on Apr 15, 2008

Obama says Clinton criticism not racially motivated   2:20 pm on Apr 15, 2008

Barack Obama has slated a meeting with Jewish leaders in ...   1:31 pm on Apr 15, 2008

Obama Shows Unexpected Pugnacity   10:27 am on Apr 15, 2008

The Pittsburgh Steelers Owner Backs "Underdog" Obama in the ...   10:15 am on Apr 15, 2008

In Labor Speech, Obama Revisits Bitterness   8:51 am on Apr 15, 2008

Presidential candidate Barack Obama?s themes hit home for Valley ...   8:06 pm on Apr 12, 2008

Obama defends self over remark about 'bitter' voters   7:44 pm on Apr 12, 2008

A Small Town Response To Obama's Talking "Off The Bus"   7:37 pm on Apr 12, 2008

Obama talks with Hoosiers during Town Hall Meeting in Muncie   7:32 pm on Apr 12, 2008

Bill Clinton Glosses Over Obama Statement, Makes Clear His Love ...   7:24 pm on Apr 12, 2008

Obama on You Tube   6:47 pm on Apr 12, 2008

In Blasting Obama Over Pennsylvania Comments Hillary Manages To ...   6:40 pm on Apr 12, 2008

On Economy, Obama Blends His Messages   6:33 pm on Apr 12, 2008

9:22 pm: Obama energizes crowd   6:31 pm on Apr 12, 2008

Clinton and McCain v. Obama   6:18 pm on Apr 12, 2008