United States Senate career of Barack Obama

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Barack Obama
United States Senate career of Barack Obama
Incumbent
Assumed office 
January 4, 2005
Serving with Richard Durbin
Preceded by Peter Fitzgerald
Born August 4, 1961 (1961-08-04) (age 46)
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Nationality American
Political party Democratic
Spouse Michelle Obama
Residence (Kenwood), Chicago, Illinois
Alma mater Columbia University,
Harvard Law School
The Barack Obama series
v • d • e
Early life and career · (Memoir)
Illinois Senate career
U.S. Senate career
2008 presidential campaign
Political positions

The United States Senate career of Barack Obama began on January 4, 2005.[1]

Contents

[edit] U.S. Senate campaign

See also: United States Senate election in Illinois, 2004

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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] He received over 52% of the vote in the March 2004 primary, emerging 29% ahead of his nearest Democratic rival.[5]

Obama's expected opponent in the general election, Republican primary winner Jack Ryan, withdrew from the race in June 2004.[6] 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.[7] A long-time resident of Maryland, Keyes established legal residency in Illinois with the nomination.[8] Through three televised debates, Obama and Keyes expressed opposing views on stem cell research, abortion, gun control, school vouchers, and tax cuts.[9] 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.[10]

In July 2004, he wrote and delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, Massachusetts.[11] 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."[12] 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.[13]

[edit] 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.[14] 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.[15] 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).[16] Obama holds assignments on the Senate Committees for Foreign Relations;[17] Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and Veterans' Affairs, and he is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.[18] He is a chairman of the Subcommittee on European Affairs.[19]Nonpartisan analyses of bill sponsorship and voting records have placed him as a "rank-and-file Democrat" and "Democratic Party loyalist."[20] 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.[21]

[edit] 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).[22] 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.[23] 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.[24] President Bush signed the Secure Fence Act into law in October 2006, calling it "an important step toward immigration reform."[25]

Senate bill sponsors Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Obama discuss the Coburn-Obama Transparency Act.
Senate bill sponsors Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Obama discuss the Coburn-Obama Transparency Act.[26]

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.[27][28][29] The Lugar-Obama initiative subsequently received $48 million in funding.[30] The "Coburn-Obama Transparency Act" provides for the web site 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.[31] 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.[32]

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.[33] 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."[34] 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.[35] The speech touched off a public debate among rival leaders, some formally challenging Obama's remarks as unfair and improper, others defending his positions.[36]

[edit] 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.[37] 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.[38] 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.[39] 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.[40]

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.[41] He sponsored the "Iran Sanctions Enabling Act" supporting divestment of state pension funds from Iran's oil and gas industry,[42] and joined Chuck Hagel (R-NE) in introducing legislation to reduce risks of nuclear terrorism.[43] A provision from the Obama-Hagel bill was passed by Congress in December 2007 as an amendment to the State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill.[43] 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.[44] 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."[45]

[edit] 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."[46] 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.[47] 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.[48]

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.[49][50]

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.[51]

[edit] 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,"[52] 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."[53] During his first three years in the U.S. Senate, Obama received Honorary Doctorates of Law from Knox College (2005),[54] University of Massachusetts Boston (2006),[55] Northwestern University (2006),[56] Xavier University of Louisiana (2006),[57] Southern New Hampshire University (2007),[58] and Howard University (2007).[59] The audiobook edition of Dreams from My Father earned Obama the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album in 2006.[60] He won the award a second time in 2008 for the spoken word edition of The Audacity of Hope. [61] 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."[62]

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "About Barack Obama", Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  2. ^ Helman, Scott. "Early Defeat Launched a Rapid Political Climb", Boston Globe, October 12, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-04-13. 
  3. ^ Davey, Monica. "Closely Watched Illinois Senate Race Attracts 7 Candidates in Millionaire Range", The New York Times, March 7, 2004. Retrieved on 2008-04-13. 
  4. ^ Wallace-Wells, Ben. "Obama's Narrator", The New York Times Magazine, April 1, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-04-13. 
  5. ^ Davey, Monica. "From Crowded Field, Democrats Choose State Legislator to Seek Senate Seat", New York Times, May 17, 2004. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.  See also: Jackson, John S. "The Making of a Senator: Barack Obama and the 2004 Illinois Senate Race", Occasional Paper of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, Southern Illinois University, August 2006. Retrieved on 2008-04-13. 
  6. ^ "Ryan Drops Out of Senate Race in Illinois", CNN, June 25, 2004. Retrieved on 2008-04-13. 
  7. ^ Lannan, Maura Kelly. "Alan Keyes Enters U.S. Senate Race in Illinois Against Rising Democratic Star", Associated Press, Union-Tribune (San Diego), August 9, 2004. Retrieved on 2008-04-13. 
  8. ^ Liam, Ford; David Mendell. "Keyes Sets Up House in Cal City", Chicago Tribune, August 13, 2004. Retrieved on 2008-04-13. 
  9. ^ For debate transcripts and video, see Alan Keyes Archives: Alan Keyes and Barack Obama Debate, Hosted by Illinois Radio Network (October 12, 2004). U.S. Senate Debate Sponsored by the League of Women Voters in Illinois (October 21, 2004). Debate Sponsored by WTTW and the City Club of Chicago (October 26, 2004). Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  10. ^ "America Votes 2004: U.S. Senate / Illinois", CNN. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.  Slevin, Peter. "For Obama, a Handsome Payoff in Political Gambles", The Washington Post, November 13, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-04-13. 
  11. ^ For details about the speech's genesis and delivery, see: Boss-Bicak, Shira. "Barack Obama ’83: Is He the New Face of The Democratic Party?", Columbia College Today, January 2005. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.  See also: Bernstein, David. "The Speech", Chicago Magazine, June 2007. Retrieved on 2008-04-13. 
  12. ^ Obama, Barack (July 27, 2004). Keynote Address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention (text or video). BarackObama.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  13. ^ Archibold, Randal C. "The Illinois Candidate; Day After, Keynote Speaker Finds Admirers Everywhere", The New York Times, July 29, 2004. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.  Roach, Ronald. "Obama Rising", Black Issues In Higher Education, DiverseEducation.com, October 7, 2004. Retrieved on 2008-04-13. 
  14. ^ Babington, Charles; Shailagh Murray. "For Now, an Unofficial Rivalry", Washington Post, December 8, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-21. 
    Dorning, Mike. "Obama's Policy Team Loaded with All-Stars", Chicago Tribune, September 17, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-21. 
  15. ^ Enda, Jodi. "Great Expectations", The American Prospect, February 5, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
    Bacon Jr., Perry. "The Outsider's Insider", Washington Post, August 27, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  16. ^ Traub, James. "Is (His) Biography (Our) Destiny?", New York Times, November 4, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
    King, Neil. "Obama Tones Foreign-Policy Muscle", Wall Street Journal, September 5, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
    Sweet, Lynn. "Obama Taps Influential Foreign Policy Experts", Chicago Sun-Times, May 10, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  17. ^ Barack Obama's chairmanship of the Senate Subcommittee on European Affairs, Salon.com
  18. ^ "Committee Assignments", Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
    "Member Info", Congressional Black Caucus. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
    See also: Zeleny, Jeff. "When It Comes to Race, Obama Makes His Point—With Subtlety", Chicago Tribune, June 26, 2005. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  19. ^ Tom Baldwin, 'Stay-at-home' Barack Obama comes under fire for a lack of foreign experience, The Times
  20. ^ "Members of Congress: Barack Obama", GovTrack. Retrieved on 2008-03-31. 
    Curry, Tom. "What Obama's Senate Votes Reveal", MSNBC, February 21, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-03-31. 
  21. ^ "Breaking New Ground: African American Senators", U.S. Senate Historical Office. Retrieved on 2008-02-11. 
  22. ^ U.S. Senate, 109th Congress, 1st Session. "S. 1033, Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act", Thomas, May 12, 2005. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  23. ^ "Immigration Bill Divides House, Senate", USA Today, September 22, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.  See also: "Obama Statement on Senate Passage of Immigration Reform Bill", Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office, May 25, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  24. ^ "Latinos Upset Obama Voted for Border Fence", CBS 2 (Chicago), November 20, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  25. ^ "President Bush Signs Secure Fence Act", White House, October 26, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  26. ^ "President Bush Signs Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act", White House, September 26, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  27. ^ U.S. Senate, 109th Congress, 2nd Session. "S. 2566, Cooperative Proliferation Detection, Interdiction Assistance, and Conventional Threat Reduction Act of 2006", Thomas, May 25, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  28. ^ Lugar, Richard G; Barack Obama. "Junkyard Dogs of War", Washington Post, December 3, 2005. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  29. ^ "Lugar-Obama Nonproliferation Legislation Signed into Law by the President", Richard Lugar U.S. Senate Office, January 11, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  30. ^ "Obama, Lugar Secure Funding for Implementation of Nonproliferation Law", Richard Lugar U.S. Senate Office, June 28, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  31. ^ U.S. Senate, 109th Congress, 2nd Session. "S. 2590, Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006", Thomas, April 6, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.  "President Bush Signs Coburn-Obama Transparency Act", Tom Coburn U.S. Senate Office, September 26, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  32. ^ U.S. Senate, 109th Congress, 2nd Session. "S. 2125, Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act", Thomas, January 3, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  33. ^ Larson, Christina. "Hoosier Daddy: What Rising Democratic Star Barack Obama Can Learn from an Old Lion of the GOP", Washington Monthly, September 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  34. ^ Goudie, Chuck. "Obama Meets with Arafat's Successor", ABC 7 News (Chicago), January 12, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  35. ^ "Obama Slates Kenya for Fraud", News24.com, August 28, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  36. ^ Wamalwa, Chris. "Envoy Hits at Obama Over Graft Remark", The Standard (Nairobi), September 2, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.  Moracha, Vincent; Mangoa Mosota. "Leaders Support Obama on Graft Claims", The Standard (Nairobi), September 4, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  37. ^ Weixel, Nathaniel. "Feingold, Obama Go After Corporate Jet Travel", The Hill, November 15, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.  Weixel, Nathaniel. "Lawmakers Press FEC on Bundling Regulation", The Hill, December 5, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.  See also: "Federal Election Commission Announces Plans to Issue New Regulations to Implement the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007", Federal Election Commission, September 24, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  38. ^ Stern, Seth. "Obama-Schumer Bill Proposal Would Criminalize Voter Intimidation", CQPolitics.com, New York Times, January 31, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.  U.S. Senate, 110th Congress, 1st Session. "S. 453, Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007", Thomas, January 31, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.  See also: "Honesty in Elections" (editorial), New York Times, January 31, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  39. ^ H. Josef, Hebert. "Congress Begins Tackling Climate Issues", Associated Press, CBS News, January 29, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.  Williamson, Elizabeth. "The Green Gripe With Obama: Liquefied Coal Is Still... Coal", Washington Post, January 10, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  40. ^ Krystin, E. Kasak. "Obama Introduces Measure to Bring Troops Home", Medill News Service, nwi.com, February 7, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.  "Latest Major Action: 1/30/2007 Referred to Senate committee." U.S. Senate, 110th Congress, 1st Session. "S. 433, Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007", Thomas, January 30, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  41. ^ "Obama, Bond Hail New Safeguards on Military Personality Disorder Discharges, Urge Further Action", Kit Bond U.S. Senate Office, October 1, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.  See also: Dine, Philip. "Bond Calls for Review of Military Discharges", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 23, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-02-11. 
  42. ^ U.S. Senate, 110th Congress, 1st Session. "S. 1430, Iran Sanctions Enabling Act", Thomas, May 17, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.  See also: Graham-Silverman, Adam. "Despite Flurry of Action in House, Congress Unlikely to Act Against Iran", CQ Today, September 12, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  43. ^ a b "Obama, Schiff Provision to Create Nuclear Threat Reduction Plan Approved", Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office, December 20, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  44. ^ "Senate Passes Obama, McCaskill Legislation to Provide Safety Net for Families of Wounded Service Members", Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office, August 2, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  45. ^ Pugh, Tony; Margaret Talev. "Battles Set After Health Bill Veto", Philadelphia Inquirer, October 4, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  46. ^ "Members of Congress: Barack Obama", GovTrack. Retrieved on 2008-03-31. 
    Nather, David. "The Space Between Clinton and Obama", CQ Weekly, January 14, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-04-08. 
    See also: Curry, Tom. "What Obama's Senate Votes Reveal", MSNBC, February 21, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-04-08. 
  47. ^ "Obama: Most Liberal Senator In 2007", National Journal, January 31, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.  See also: From The Editor. and Key Votes Used To Calculate The Ratings.
  48. ^ "Obama Interview" (transcript), WJLA-TV, Politico, February 12, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.  See also: Politico's Harris and VandeHei Misrepresented Harris' Own Interview with Obama. Media Matters for America (March 19, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
  49. ^ Senator Barack H. Obama Jr. (IL). Project Vote Smart. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
  50. ^ 2007 Congressional Voting Record Inside. ADA Today. Americans for Democratic Action (February 2008). Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
  51. ^ Election 2008: Presidential, Senate and House Races. electoral-vote.com (April 9, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
  52. ^ Skidelsky, William. "Revolutionising the Future: From Tennis to Teleportation", New Statesman, October 17, 2005. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  53. ^ Bacon Jr., Perry. "Barack Obama: The Future of the Democratic Party?", Time, April 18, 2005. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.  Klein, Joe. "The TIME 100: Barack Obama", Time, May 14, 2007. Retrieved on 2009-01-14. 
  54. ^ "Commencement 2005: Knox honors U.S. Senator Barack Obama", Knox College, May 10, 2005. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  55. ^ "U.S. Sen. Barack Obama to Receive Honorary Degree, Address 2,500 UMass Boston Graduates", University of Massachusetts Boston, May 26, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  56. ^ "Commencement 2006: Sen. Obama to Address Grads", Northwestern University, June 6, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  57. ^ "Sen. Obama Addresses Xavier Graduates", Associated Press, USA Today, August 13, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  58. ^ "SNHU Commencement with Sen. Barack Obama", Southern New Hampshire University, May 19, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. Archived from the original on 2007-07-04. 
  59. ^ "Obama Calls the 'Joshua Generation'", Boston Globe, September 28, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  60. ^ Boliek, Brooks. "Sen. Obama Finally Gets His Grammy", Reuters/Hollywood Reporter, September 6, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. 
  61. ^ "Obama Wins a Grammy for 'Hope' Book", Associated Press, KVOA.com, February 10, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-02-17. 
  62. ^ Gnecchi, Nico. "Obama Receives Hero's Welcome at His Family's Ancestral Village in Kenya", Voice of America, Broadcasting Board of Governors (independent agency of the United States government), 2006-08-27. Retrieved on 2008-02-25. 

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