Barack Obama

PERSONAL DATA

• Party: Democrat
  
• Age: 46
  
• Marital Status: Married to Michelle Obama, Lawyer
  
• Children: two daughters -- Malia (9) and Sasha (6)
• Education: Occidental College; Columbia University B.A, 1983; Harvard Law School J.D, 1991
  
• Occupation:Senator (IL)
  
• Ethnicity/ Religious Beliefs:
  
• Born in Hawaii (Kenyan father, White mother)
• Despite atheist parents, Obama turned to Christianity in his young adulthood
• For political reasons,Obama has attempted to separate himself from his religious mentor Jeremiah Wright, who has been accused of making racist and anti-Israel comments
  

PLATFORM 2008

• Iraq War Policy: Voted against the Iraq War in 2002 and supports a troop-withdrawl plan similar to that of the non-partisan Baker-Hamilton Report
  
• Health Care Policy: Proposes a universal health care system WITHOUT a mandate. He will make coverage available to all Americans but will not penalize Americans for not purchasing health care. He does, however, favor a mandate on children because they "do not have a choice" the way that adults do. Obama seems to trust that the American adult, when offered coverage, will accept it.
• Immigration Policy: Looks to secure American borders with more sophisticated technology and remove the incentives for illegal immigration by creating a more efficient path to citizenship while cracking down on the employment of illegal aliens. Obama voted in favor of both the 2006 "Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act" -- which sought to create a guest-worker program -- and the "Secure Fence Act of 2006" -- which proposed 700 miles of new fence along the US/Mexico border.
• Cultural Policies: Pro-choice
• Website(s):Barack Obama For President
  Sen. Obama's Voting Record

GOSSIP AND SPIN

• Critics have scoffed at Obama's inexperience -- at 46, he is the youngest candidate -- and many also consider him too attractive and stylish for politics. A recent video circulated throughout YouTube by "Obama Girl" -- a young fan who gyrates, while professing her love for the candidate. Somehow it doesn't scream with presidential dignity
  

• Obama has also received criticism for his religiously ambiguous past. As America fights Islamic fundamentalists in the Middle East, Obama's controversial middlename (Hussein) and four years at an Indonesian Madrasa don't win him any votes. A smug pundit from Fox and Friends put it thusly:
  

• Obama has been surprisingly candid about his past drug use, yet it has received very little media coverage. He unabashedly admitted to using cocaine and inhaling marajuana "frequently." Some wonder what makes him immune to scrutiny for his illicit-substance use: his race? his age? his inherent coolness?