United States Senate career of Barack Obama

Infobox Senator
name = Barack Obama

!Barack Obama
jr/sr = Junior Senator
state = Illinois
term_start = January 4 2005
alongside = Richard Durbin
preceded = Peter Fitzgerald
order2 = Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs
term_start2 = January 4, 2007
term_end2 =
preceded2 = George F. Allen
succeeded2 =
birth_date = birth date and age|1961|08|4
birth_place = Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
nationality = American
party = Democratic
spouse = Michelle Obama
residence=(Kenwood), Chicago, Illinois
alma_mater = Columbia University,
Harvard Law School

The United States Senate career of Barack Obama began on January 4 2005. [cite news |url=http://obama.senate.gov/about/ |title=About Barack Obama |accessdate=2008-01-14 |work=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office]

U.S. Senate campaign

In mid-2002, Obama began considering a run for the U.S. Senate, enlisting political strategist David Axelrod that fall and formally announcing his candidacy in January 2003. [cite news |first=Scott |last=Helman |title=Early Defeat Launched a Rapid Political Climb |date=October 12 2007 |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/10/12/early_defeat_launched_a_rapid_political_climb/ |work=Boston Globe |accessdate=2008-04-13] Before deciding to run, Obama met with Jesse Jackson Jr., who was known to be considering a bid for the seat. "He said, 'Jesse, if you’re running for the U.S. Senate I’m not going to run,'" Jackson said in recounting the conversation to "The New York Times" in 2008. Jackson told Obama he had already decided not to run.Becker, Jo and Drew, Christopher, [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/11/us/politics/11chicago.html?_r=1&sq=&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin "Pragmatic Politics, Forged on the South Side"] , "The New York Times", May 11, 2008, retrieved July 28, 2008]

Decisions by Republican incumbent Peter Fitzgerald and his Democratic predecessor Carol Moseley Braun not to contest the race launched wide-open Democratic and Republican primary contests involving fifteen candidates. [cite news |last=Davey |first=Monica |title=Closely Watched Illinois Senate Race Attracts 7 Candidates in Millionaire Range |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/07/politics/campaign/07ILLI.html |work=The New York Times |date=March 7 2004 |accessdate=2008-04-13] Obama's candidacy was boosted by Axelrod's advertising campaign featuring images of the late Chicago Mayor Harold Washington and an endorsement by the daughter of the late Paul Simon, former U.S. Senator for Illinois. [cite news |first=Ben |last=Wallace-Wells |title=Obama's Narrator |date=April 1 2007 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/01/magazine/01axelrod.t.html |work=The New York Times Magazine |accessdate=2008-04-13] He received over 52% of the vote in the March 2004 primary, emerging 29% ahead of his nearest Democratic rival. [cite news |first=Monica |last=Davey |title=From Crowded Field, Democrats Choose State Legislator to Seek Senate Seat |date=May 17 2004 |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9400E4D61431F934A25750C0A9629C8B63 |work=New York Times |accessdate=2008-04-13 See also: cite news |first=John S |last=Jackson |title=The Making of a Senator: Barack Obama and the 2004 Illinois Senate Race |date=August 2006 |publisher=Southern Illinois University |url=http://www.siu.edu/~ppi/PDF/papers/Obama.pdf |work=Occasional Paper of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute |accessdate=2008-04-13]

Obama's expected opponent in the general election, Republican primary winner Jack Ryan, withdrew from the race in June 2004. [cite news |title=Ryan Drops Out of Senate Race in Illinois |date=June 25 2004 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/06/25/il.ryan/ |work=CNN |accessdate=2008-04-13] In August 2004, with less than three months to go before Election Day, Alan Keyes accepted the Illinois Republican Party's nomination to replace Ryan. [cite news |first=Maura Kelly |last=Lannan |title=Alan Keyes Enters U.S. Senate Race in Illinois Against Rising Democratic Star |date=August 9, 2004 |publisher=Union-Tribune (San Diego) |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20040809-0849-illinoissenate.html |work=Associated Press |accessdate=2008-04-13] A long-time resident of Maryland, Keyes established legal residency in Illinois with the nomination. [cite news |first=Ford |last=Liam |coauthors=David Mendell |title=Keyes Sets Up House in Cal City |date=August 13, 2004 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/specials/elections/chi-0408130201aug13,1,7640082.story |work=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=2008-04-13] Through three televised debates, Obama and Keyes expressed opposing views on stem cell research, abortion, gun control, school vouchers, and tax cuts. [For debate transcripts and video, see "Alan Keyes Archives": cite web |url=http://www.keyesarchives.com/transcript.php?id=367 |title=Alan Keyes and Barack Obama Debate, Hosted by Illinois Radio Network |date=October 12 2004 cite web |url=http://www.keyesarchives.com/transcript.php?id=370 |title=U.S. Senate Debate Sponsored by the League of Women Voters in Illinois |date=October 21 2004 cite web |url=http://www.keyesarchives.com/transcript.php?id=373 |title=Debate Sponsored by WTTW and the City Club of Chicago |accessdate=2008-04-13 |date=October 26 2004] In the November 2004 general election, Obama received 70% of the vote to Keyes's 27%, the largest victory margin for a statewide race in Illinois history. [cite news |title=America Votes 2004: U.S. Senate / Illinois |url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/IL/S/01/index.html |publisher=CNN |accessdate=2008-04-13 cite news |first=Peter |last=Slevin |title=For Obama, a Handsome Payoff in Political Gambles |date=November 13 2007 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/12/AR2007111201945.html |work=The Washington Post |accessdate=2008-04-13]

In July 2004, he wrote and delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, Massachusetts. [For details about the speech's genesis and delivery, see: cite news |first=Shira |last=Boss-Bicak |title=Barack Obama ’83: Is He the New Face of The Democratic Party? |date=January 2005 |url=http://www.college.columbia.edu/cct/jan05/cover.php |work=Columbia College Today|accessdate=2008-04-13 See also: cite news |first=David |last=Bernstein|title=The Speech |date=June 2007|url=http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/June-2007/The-Speech/ |work=Chicago Magazine|accessdate=2008-04-13] After describing his maternal grandfather's experiences as a World War II veteran and a beneficiary of the New Deal's FHA and G.I. Bill programs, Obama spoke about changing the U.S. government's economic and social priorities. He questioned the Bush administration's management of the Iraq War and highlighted America's obligations to its soldiers. Drawing examples from U.S. history, he criticized heavily partisan views of the electorate and asked Americans to find unity in diversity, saying, "There is not a liberal America and a conservative America; there's the United States of America." [cite web |first=Barack |last=Obama |title=Keynote Address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention |format=text or [http://www.barackobama.com/tv/speeches.php?bcpid=900718856&bclid=900554575&bctid=791793079 video] |date=July 27 2004 |url=http://www.barackobama.com/2004/07/27/keynote_address_at_the_2004_de.php |publisher=BarackObama.com |accessdate=2008-04-13] Broadcasts of the speech by major news organizations launched Obama's status as a national political figure and boosted his campaign for U.S. Senate. [cite news |first=Randal C |last=Archibold |title=The Illinois Candidate; Day After, Keynote Speaker Finds Admirers Everywhere |date=July 29 2004 |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A03E7DB103DF93AA15754C0A9629C8B63 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=2008-04-13 cite news |first=Ronald |last=Roach |title=Obama Rising |date=October 7 2004 |publisher=DiverseEducation.com |url=http://www.diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_4041.shtml |work=Black Issues In Higher Education |accessdate=2008-04-13]

Initial work

Although a newcomer to Washington, he recruited a team of established, high-level advisers devoted to broad themes that exceeded the usual requirements of an incoming first-term senator. [cite news |first=Charles |last=Babington |coauthors=Shailagh Murray |title=For Now, an Unofficial Rivalry |date=December 8 2006 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/07/AR2006120701755.html |work=Washington Post |accessdate=2008-01-21 cite news |first=Mike |last=Dorning |title=Obama's Policy Team Loaded with All-Stars |date=September 17 2007 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-obama_mon_nusep17,1,4819101,full.story |work=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=2008-01-21] Obama hired Pete Rouse, a 30-year veteran of national politics and former chief of staff to Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle, as his chief of staff, and economist Karen Kornbluh, former deputy chief of staff to Secretary of the Treasury Robert Rubin, as his policy director. [cite news |first=Jodi |last=Enda |title=Great Expectations |date=February 5 2006 |url=http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?articleId=10828 |work=The American Prospect |accessdate=2008-01-14
cite news |first=Perry |last=Bacon Jr. |title=The Outsider's Insider |date=August 27 2007 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/26/AR2007082601446.html |work=Washington Post |accessdate=2008-01-14] His key foreign policy advisers have included former Clinton administration officials Anthony Lake and Susan Rice, as well as Samantha Power, author on human rights and genocide (who resigned March 7, 2008). [cite news |first=James |last=Traub |title=Is (His) Biography (Our) Destiny? |date=November 4 2007 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/magazine/04obama-t.html |work=New York Times |accessdate=2008-01-14
cite news |first=Neil |last=King |title=Obama Tones Foreign-Policy Muscle |date=September 5 2007 |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118895877299317784.html |work=Wall Street Journal |accessdate=2008-01-14
cite news |first=Lynn |last=Sweet |title=Obama Taps Influential Foreign Policy Experts |date=May 10 2007 |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/sweet/379187,CST-EDT-sweet10.article |work=Chicago Sun-Times |accessdate=2008-01-14] Obama holds assignments on the Senate Committees for Foreign Relations; [ [http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2007/12/29/obama_europe/ Barack Obama's chairmanship of the Senate Subcommittee on European Affairs] , Salon.com] Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and Veterans' Affairs, and he is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. [cite news |url=http://obama.senate.gov/committees/ |title=Committee Assignments |accessdate=2008-01-14 |work=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office
cite news |title=Member Info |url=http://www.house.gov/kilpatrick/cbc/member_info.html |work=Congressional Black Caucus |accessdate=2008-01-14
See also: cite news |first=Jeff |last=Zeleny |title=When It Comes to Race, Obama Makes His Point—With Subtlety |date=June 26 2005 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-050626obama-race,1,7205709.story |work=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=2008-01-14] He is a chairman of the Subcommittee on European Affairs. [Tom Baldwin, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article3080794.ece 'Stay-at-home' Barack Obama comes under fire for a lack of foreign experience] , The Times] Nonpartisan analyses of bill sponsorship and voting records have placed him as a "rank-and-file Democrat" and "Democratic Party loyalist." [cite news |title=Members of Congress: Barack Obama |url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=400629 |work=GovTrack |accessdate=2008-03-31 cite news |first=Tom |last=Curry |title=What Obama's Senate Votes Reveal |date=February 21 2008 |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23276453/ |work=MSNBC |accessdate=2008-03-31] The U.S. Senate Historical Office lists him as the fifth African American Senator in U.S. history, the third to have been popularly elected, and the only African American currently serving in the Senate. [cite news |url=http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/h_multi_sections_and_teasers/Photo_Exhibit_African_American_Senators.htm |title=Breaking New Ground: African American Senators |work=U.S. Senate Historical Office |accessdate=2008-02-11]

109th Congress

Obama took an active role in the Senate's drive for improved border security and immigration reform. In 2005, he cosponsored the "Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act" introduced by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). [cite news |first=109th Congress, 1st Session |last=U.S. Senate |title=S. 1033, Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act |date=May 12 2005 |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SN01033: |work=Thomas |accessdate=2008-01-14] He later added three amendments to the "Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act", which passed the Senate in May 2006, but failed to gain majority support in the U.S. House of Representatives. [cite news |title=Immigration Bill Divides House, Senate |date=September 22 2006 |url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-09-22-immigration_x.htm |work=USA Today |accessdate=2008-01-14 See also: cite news |url=http://obama.senate.gov/press/060525-obama_statement_on_senate_passage_of_immigration_reform_bill/index.html |title=Obama Statement on Senate Passage of Immigration Reform Bill |date=May 25 2006 |work=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office |accessdate=2008-01-14] In September 2006, Obama supported a related bill, the Secure Fence Act, authorizing construction of fencing and other security improvements along the United States–Mexico border. [cite news |title=Latinos Upset Obama Voted for Border Fence |date=November 20 2006 |url=http://cbs2chicago.com/local/local_story_324192245.html |work=CBS 2 (Chicago) |accessdate=2008-01-14] President Bush signed the Secure Fence Act into law in October 2006, calling it "an important step toward immigration reform." [cite news |title=President Bush Signs Secure Fence Act |date=October 26 2006 |url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/10/20061026.html |work=White House |accessdate=2008-01-14] Partnering first with Sen. Dick Lugar (R-IN), and then with Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), Obama successfully introduced two initiatives bearing his name. "Lugar-Obama" expands the Nunn-Lugar cooperative threat reduction concept to conventional weapons, including shoulder-fired missiles and anti-personnel mines. [cite news |first=109th Congress, 2nd Session |last=U.S. Senate |title=S. 2566, Cooperative Proliferation Detection, Interdiction Assistance, and Conventional Threat Reduction Act of 2006 |date=May 25 2006 |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SN02566: |work=Thomas |accessdate=2008-01-14] [cite news |first=Richard G |last=Lugar |coauthors=Barack Obama |title=Junkyard Dogs of War |date=December 3 2005 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/02/AR2005120201509.html |work=Washington Post |accessdate=2008-01-14] [cite news |url=http://obama.senate.gov/press/070111-lugar-obama_non/ |title=Lugar-Obama Nonproliferation Legislation Signed into Law by the President |date=January 11 2007 |work=Richard Lugar U.S. Senate Office |accessdate=2008-01-14] The Lugar-Obama initiative subsequently received $48 million in funding. [cite news |url=http://lugar.senate.gov/press/record.cfm?id=278019 |title=Obama, Lugar Secure Funding for Implementation of Nonproliferation Law |work=Richard Lugar U.S. Senate Office |date=June 28 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-14] The "Coburn-Obama Transparency Act" provides for the web site [http://USAspending.gov USAspending.gov] , managed by the Office of Management and Budget. The site lists all organizations receiving Federal funds from 2007 onward and provides breakdowns by the agency allocating the funds, the dollar amount given, and the purpose of the grant or contract. [cite news |first=109th Congress, 2nd Session |last=U.S. Senate |title=S. 2590, Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 |date=April 6 2006 |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SN02590: |work=Thomas |accessdate=2008-01-14 cite news |title=President Bush Signs Coburn-Obama Transparency Act |date=September 26 2006 |url=http://coburn.senate.gov/ffm/index.cfm?FuseAction=LegislativeFloorAction.Home&ContentRecord_id=eb582f19-802a-23ad-41db-7a7cb464cfdb |work=Tom Coburn U.S. Senate Office |accessdate=2008-01-14] Obama and Coburn also collaborated on repeated efforts to end the abuse of no-bid contracting in the aftermath of natural disasters. [cite news |first=Elana |last=Schor |title=Obama and Coburn revive effort to stop no-bid FEMA contracts |date=September 14, 2006 |url=http://thehill.com/the-executive/obama-and-coburn-revive-effort-to-stop-no-bid-fema-contracts-2006-09-14.html |work=The Hill |accessdate=2008-09-09] In December 2006, President Bush signed into law the "Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act," marking the first federal legislation to be enacted with Obama as its primary sponsor. [cite news |first=109th Congress, 2nd Session |last=U.S. Senate |title=S. 2125, Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act |date=January 3 2006 |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SN02125: |work=Thomas |accessdate=2008-01-14]

As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Obama made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In August 2005, he traveled to Russia, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan. The trip focused on strategies to control the world's supply of conventional weapons, biological weapons, and weapons of mass destruction as a first defense against potential terrorist attacks. [cite news |first=Christina |last=Larson |title=Hoosier Daddy: What Rising Democratic Star Barack Obama Can Learn from an Old Lion of the GOP |date=September 2006 |url=http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2006/0609.larson.html |work=Washington Monthly |accessdate=2008-01-14] Following meetings with U.S. military in Kuwait and Iraq in January 2006, Obama visited Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian territories. At a meeting with Palestinian students two weeks before Hamas won the legislative election, Obama warned that "the U.S. will never recognize winning Hamas candidates unless the group renounces its fundamental mission to eliminate Israel." [cite news |first=Chuck |last=Goudie |title=Obama Meets with Arafat's Successor |date=January 12, 2006 |url=http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=3806933 |work=ABC 7 News (Chicago) |accessdate=2008-01-14]

He left for his third official trip in August 2006, traveling to South Africa, Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Chad. In a nationally televised speech at the University of Nairobi, he spoke forcefully on the influence of ethnic rivalries and corruption in Kenya. [cite news |title=Obama Slates Kenya for Fraud |date=August 28, 2006 |url=http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1989646,00.html |work=News24.com |accessdate=2008-01-14] The speech touched off a public debate among rival leaders, some formally challenging Obama's remarks as unfair and improper, others defending his positions. [cite news |first=Chris |last=Wamalwa |title=Envoy Hits at Obama Over Graft Remark |date=September 2, 2006 |url=http://www.eastandard.net/archives/cl/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143957666 |work=The Standard (Nairobi) |accessdate=2008-01-14 cite news |first=Vincent |last=Moracha |coauthors=Mangoa Mosota |title=Leaders Support Obama on Graft Claims |date=September 4, 2006 |url=http://www.eastandard.net/archives/cl/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143957752 |work=The Standard (Nairobi) |accessdate=2008-01-14]

110th Congress

In the first month of the newly Democratic-controlled 110th Congress, Obama worked with Russ Feingold (D–WI) to eliminate gifts of travel on corporate jets by lobbyists to members of Congress and require disclosure of bundled campaign contributions under the "Honest Leadership and Open Government Act," which was signed into law in September 2007. [cite news |first=Nathaniel |last=Weixel |title=Feingold, Obama Go After Corporate Jet Travel |date=November 15 2007 |url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/feingold-obama-go-after-corporate-jet-travel-2007-11-15.html |work=The Hill |accessdate=2008-01-14 cite news |first=Nathaniel |last=Weixel |title=Lawmakers Press FEC on Bundling Regulation |date=December 5 2007 |url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/lawmakers-press-fec-on-bundling-regulation-2007-12-05.html |work=The Hill |accessdate=2008-01-14 See also: cite news |title=Federal Election Commission Announces Plans to Issue New Regulations to Implement the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 |date=September 24 2007 |publisher=Federal Election Commission |url=http://www.fec.gov/press/press2007/20070924travel.shtml |accessdate=2008-01-14] He joined Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in sponsoring S. 453, a bill to criminalize deceptive practices in federal elections, including fraudulent flyers and automated phone calls, as witnessed in the 2006 midterm elections. [cite news |first=Seth |last=Stern |title=Obama-Schumer Bill Proposal Would Criminalize Voter Intimidation |date=January 31 2007 |publisher=New York Times |url=http://www.nytimes.com/cq/2007/01/31/cq_2213.html |work=CQPolitics.com |accessdate=2008-01-14 cite news |first=110th Congress, 1st Session |last=U.S. Senate |title=S. 453, Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007 |date=January 31 2007 |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SN00453: |work=Thomas |accessdate=2008-01-14 See also: cite news |title=Honesty in Elections |date=January 31 2007 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/31/opinion/31wed1.html |work=New York Times |format=editorial |accessdate=2008-01-14] Obama's energy initiatives scored pluses and minuses with environmentalists, who welcomed his sponsorship with John McCain (R-AZ) of a climate change bill to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by two-thirds by 2050, but were skeptical of his support for a bill promoting liquefied coal production. [cite news |first=Hebert |last=H. Josef |title=Congress Begins Tackling Climate Issues |date=January 29 2007 |publisher=CBS News |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/29/ap/politics/mainD8MV8LBG0.shtml |work=Associated Press |accessdate=2008-01-14 cite news |first=Elizabeth |last=Williamson |title=The Green Gripe With Obama: Liquefied Coal Is Still... Coal |date=January 10 2007 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/09/AR2007010901503.html |work=Washington Post |accessdate=2008-01-14] Obama also introduced the "Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007," a bill to cap troop levels in Iraq, begin phased redeployment, and remove all combat brigades from Iraq before April 2008. [cite news |first=E. Kasak |last=Krystin |title=Obama Introduces Measure to Bring Troops Home |date=February 7 2007 |publisher=nwi.com |url=http://nwitimes.com/articles/2007/02/07/news/illiana/doc65cc98d8dc6506b28625727b0011edb5.txt |work=Medill News Service |accessdate=2008-01-14 "Latest Major Action: 1/30/2007 Referred to Senate committee." cite news |first=110th Congress, 1st Session |last=U.S. Senate |title=S. 433, Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007 |date=January 30 2007 |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SN00433: |work=Thomas |accessdate=2008-01-14]

Later in 2007, Obama sponsored with Kit Bond (R-MO) an amendment to the 2008 Defense Authorization Act adding safeguards for personality disorder military discharges, and calling for a review by the Government Accountability Office following reports that the procedure had been used inappropriately to reduce government costs. [cite news |title=Obama, Bond Hail New Safeguards on Military Personality Disorder Discharges, Urge Further Action |date=October 1 2007 |url=http://bond.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.NewsReleases&ContentRecord_id=5C1EBFEB-1321-0E36-BA7D-04630AEFAD31 |work=Kit Bond U.S. Senate Office |accessdate=2008-01-14 See also: cite news |first=Philip |last=Dine |title=Bond Calls for Review of Military Discharges |date=December 23 2007 |url=http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/special/srlinks.nsf/story/2E7CC823AD55667B862573A7007D12A2?OpenDocument |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |accessdate=2008-02-11] He sponsored the "Iran Sanctions Enabling Act" supporting divestment of state pension funds from Iran's oil and gas industry, [cite news |first=110th Congress, 1st Session |last=U.S. Senate |title=S. 1430, Iran Sanctions Enabling Act |date=May 17 2007 |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SN01430: |work=Thomas |accessdate=2008-01-14 See also: cite news |first=Adam |last=Graham-Silverman |title=Despite Flurry of Action in House, Congress Unlikely to Act Against Iran |date=September 12 2007 |url=http://public.cq.com/docs/cqt/news110-000002583189.html |work=CQ Today |accessdate=2008-01-14] and joined Chuck Hagel (R-NE) in introducing legislation to reduce risks of nuclear terrorism.cite news |title=Obama, Schiff Provision to Create Nuclear Threat Reduction Plan Approved |date=December 20 2007 |url=http://obama.senate.gov/press/071220-obama_schiff_pr/ |work=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office |accessdate=2008-01-14] A provision from the Obama-Hagel bill was passed by Congress in December 2007 as an amendment to the State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill. Obama also sponsored a Senate amendment to the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to provide one year of job protection for family members caring for soldiers with combat-related injuries. [cite news |title=Senate Passes Obama, McCaskill Legislation to Provide Safety Net for Families of Wounded Service Members |date=August 2 2007 |url=http://obama.senate.gov/press/070802-senate_passes_o_1/ |work=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office |accessdate=2008-01-14] After passing both houses of Congress with bipartisan majorities, SCHIP was vetoed by President Bush in early October 2007, a move Obama said "shows a callousness of priorities that is offensive to the ideals we hold as Americans." [cite news |first=Tony |last=Pugh |coauthors=Margaret Talev |title=Battles Set After Health Bill Veto |date=October 4 2007 |url=http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/20071004_Battles_set_after_health_bill_veto.html |work=Philadelphia Inquirer |accessdate=2008-01-14]

Legislation and voting record

One analysis of bill co-sponsorship classified Obama as a "rank-and-file Democrat". Another, of party-line votes, tagged him a "Democratic Party loyalist." [cite news |title=Members of Congress: Barack Obama |url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=400629 |work=GovTrack |accessdate=2008-03-31 cite news |first=David |last=Nather |title=The Space Between Clinton and Obama |date=January 14 2008 | url=http://public.cq.com/docs/cqw/weeklyreport110-000002654703.html |work=CQ Weekly | accessdate=2008-04-08
See also: cite news |first=Tom |last=Curry |title=What Obama's Senate Votes Reveal |date=February 21 2008 |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23276453/ |work=MSNBC |accessdate=2008-04-08] The "National Journal", in its 27th annual vote ratings, identified Obama as "the most liberal senator" in 2007. Of the Senate's 442 roll-call votes the publication chose 99 as important and useful in drawing ideological distinctions. Obama voted for the "liberal position" on 65 of 66 occasions. He had ranked as the 16th- and 10th-most-liberal during his first two years in the Senate. Hillary Clinton ranked as the 16th most liberal Senator in 2007, voting differently than Obama on only 10 of the 297 votes considered in calculating the rankings. [cite news |url=http://nj.nationaljournal.com/voteratings|title=Obama: Most Liberal Senator In 2007 |work=National Journal |date=January 31 2008
accessdate=2008-04-27 See also: cite web|title=From The Editor |url=http://nj.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/qanda.htm and cite web|title=Key Votes Used To Calculate The Ratings |url=http://nj.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/votes.htm] A separate ranking system created by political scientists Jeff Lewis and Keith Poole found Obama to be the 21st-most-liberal Senator in the 109th Congress and tied with Joe Biden as the 10th-most-liberal Senator in the 110th Congress. [cite web |url=http://voteview.com/sen109.htm |title=109th Senate Rank Ordering |publisher=Voteview.com |accessdate=2008-09-10] [cite web |url=http://voteview.com/sen110.htm |title=110th Senate Rank Ordering |publisher=Voteview.com |accessdate=2008-09-10] Asked about the "Journal"'s characterization of his voting record, Obama expressed doubts about the survey's methodology and blamed "old politics" categorization of political positions as "conservative" or "liberal" for creating predispositions that prevent problem-solving. [cite news |title=Obama Interview |format=transcript |date=February 12 2008 |publisher=Politico |url=http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=0B213312-3048-5C12-000E0262A76D6B18 |work=WJLA-TV |accessdate=2008-04-27 See also: cite web |title=Politico's Harris and VandeHei Misrepresented Harris' Own Interview with Obama |date=March 19 2008 |publisher=Media Matters for America |url=http://mediamatters.org/items/200803190010 |accessdate=2008-04-27]

Ratings of Obama's liberalism by the Americans for Democratic Action (ADA), based on 20 ADA-selected votes each year, declined from 100% in 2005 to 95% in 2006, with one vote the ADA counted as not-liberal in 2006, and 75%, with five missed votes, in 2007. [cite web |url=http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=9490&type=category&category=45&go.x=12&go.y=8 |title=Senator Barack H. Obama Jr. (IL) |publisher=Project Vote Smart |accessdate=2008-04-27] [cite web |url=http://s242798577.onlinehome.us/media/votingrecords/2007.pdf |title=2007 Congressional Voting Record Inside |work=ADA Today |publisher=Americans for Democratic Action |month=February |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-04-27]

A study of the voting records of all 100 senators, using an average of the ratings of seven liberal interest groups, described Obama as "among the least liberal", scoring an 80%, of the Democrats. [cite web |url=http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2008/Comparison/Maps/Apr09.html |title=Election 2008: Presidential, Senate and House Races |publisher=electoral-vote.com |accessdate=2008-04-10 |date=April 9, 2008]

Recognition and honors

Since his election to the US Senate, Obama has had a number of awards and honours bestowed on him by various groups. An October 2005 article in the British journal "New Statesman" listed Obama as one of "10 people who could change the world," [cite news |first=William |last=Skidelsky |title=Revolutionising the Future: From Tennis to Teleportation |date=October 17 2005 |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/nssubsfilter.php3?newTemplate=NSArticle_NS&newDisplayURN=200510170012 |work=New Statesman |accessdate=2008-01-14] the only politician included on the list. In 2005 and again in 2007, "Time" magazine named him one of "the world's most influential people." [cite news |first=Perry |last=Bacon Jr. |title=Barack Obama: The Future of the Democratic Party? |date=April 18, 2005 |url=http://www.time.com/time/subscriber/2005/time100/leaders/100obama.html |work=Time |accessdate=2008-01-14 cite news |first=Joe |last=Klein |title=The TIME 100: Barack Obama |date=May 14 2007 |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/time100/article/0,28804,1595326_1615513_1615496,00.html |work=Time |accessdate=2009-01-14] During his first three years in the U.S. Senate, Obama received Honorary Doctorates of Law from Knox College (2005), [cite news |title=Commencement 2005: Knox honors U.S. Senator Barack Obama |date=May 10 2005 |url=http://www.knox.edu/x9684.xml |work=Knox College |accessdate=2008-01-14] University of Massachusetts Boston (2006), [cite news |title=U.S. Sen. Barack Obama to Receive Honorary Degree, Address 2,500 UMass Boston Graduates |date=May 26, 2006 |url=http://www.umb.edu/news/2006news/releases/may/060526_obama_press_release.html |work=University of Massachusetts Boston |accessdate=2008-01-14] Northwestern University (2006), [cite news |title=Commencement 2006: Sen. Obama to Address Grads |date=June 6 2006 |url=http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2006/06/honorary.html |work=Northwestern University |accessdate=2008-01-14] Xavier University of Louisiana (2006), [cite news |title=Sen. Obama Addresses Xavier Graduates |date=August 13 2006 |publisher=USA Today |url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-08-13-obama-xavier_x.htm |work=Associated Press |accessdate=2008-01-14] Southern New Hampshire University (2007), [cite news |title=SNHU Commencement with Sen. Barack Obama |date=May 19 2007 |url=http://www.snhu.edu/6736.asp |work=Southern New Hampshire University |accessdate=2008-01-14 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070704024303/http://www.snhu.edu/6736.asp |archivedate=2007-07-04] and Howard University (2007). [cite news |title=Obama Calls the 'Joshua Generation' |date=September 28 2007 |url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/09/obama_calls_the.html |work=Boston Globe |accessdate=2008-01-14] The audiobook edition of "Dreams from My Father" earned Obama the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album in 2006. [cite news |first=Brooks |last=Boliek |title=Sen. Obama Finally Gets His Grammy |date=September 6, 2006 |url=http://www.entertainment-news.org/breaking/54592/sen-obama-finally-gets-his-grammy.html |work=Reuters/Hollywood Reporter |accessdate=2008-01-14] He won the award a second time in 2008 for the spoken word edition of "The Audacity of Hope". [cite news |title=Obama Wins a Grammy for 'Hope' Book |date=February 10 2008 |publisher=KVOA.com |url=http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=7850708&nav=HMO6HMaY |work=Associated Press |accessdate=2008-02-17] A school in Obama's father's hometown, which the senator visited on his 2006 Kenya trip, was renamed the "Senator Barack Obama Primary School." [cite news |first=Nico |last=Gnecchi |title=Obama Receives Hero's Welcome at His Family's Ancestral Village in Kenya |url=http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2006-08/2006-08-27-voa17.cfm?CFID=201721546&CFTOKEN=78935561 |work=Voice of America |publisher=Broadcasting Board of Governors (independent agency of the United States government) |date=2006-08-27 |accessdate=2008-02-25 ]

ee also

*Illinois Senate career of Barack Obama
*Political positions of Barack Obama
*Presidential campaign of Barack Obama

Notes

Further reading

*Curry, Jessica. " [http://www.chicagolife.net/content/politics/Barack_Obama Barack Obama: Under the Lights] ", "Chicago Life", Fall 2004. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
*Graff, Garrett. " [http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/mediapolitics/1836.html The Legend of Barack Obama] ", "Washingtonian", November 1 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
*Lizza, Ryan. " [http://men.style.com/gq/features/landing?id=content_5841 Above the Fray] ", "GQ", September 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
*MacFarquhar, Larissa. " [http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/05/07/070507fa_fact_macfarquhar The Conciliator: Where is Barack Obama Coming From?] ", "New Yorker", May 7 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
*Mundy, Liza. " [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/08/AR2007080802038.html A Series of Fortunate Events] ", "Washington Post Magazine", August 12 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
*Wallace-Wells, Ben. " [http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/13390609/campaign_08_the_radical_roots_of_barack_obama Destiny's Child] ", "Rolling Stone", February 7 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
*Zutter, Hank De. " [http://www.chicagoreader.com/obama/951208/ What Makes Obama Run?] ", "Chicago Reader", December 8 1995. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.

External links

* [http://www.barackobama.com/ Obama '08—BarackObama.com] (includes links to other official Obama campaign sites)
* [http://obama.senate.gov/ U.S. Senate office]
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/BarackObamadotcom Obama '08] on YouTube
*dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Society_and_Culture/Politics/Candidates_and_Campaigns/Presidential/2008/Candidates/Obama,_Barack
* [http://herndon1.sdrdc.com/cgi-bin/can_detail/P80003338 Presidential campaign finance reports and data] at the Federal Election Commission
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/summary.asp?id=N00009638 Presidential campaign contributions] at OpenSecrets.org
* [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/ Chicago Tribune coverage]