Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is the junior United States Senator from Illinois and presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2008 general election.
Obama is the first African American to be nominated by a major political party for president. A graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, where he served as president of the Harvard Law Review, Obama worked as a community organizer and practiced as a civil rights attorney before serving in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004. He taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004. Following an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000, he announced his campaign for the U.S. Senate in January 2003. After a primary victory in March 2004, Obama delivered the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in July 2004. He was elected to the Senate in November 2004 with 70% of the vote.
As a member of the Democratic minority in the 109th Congress, he helped create legislation to control conventional weapons and to promote greater public accountability in the use of federal funds. He also made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. During the 110th Congress, he helped create legislation regarding lobbying and electoral fraud, climate change, nuclear terrorism, and care for returned U.S. military personnel. After announcing his presidential campaign in February 2007, Obama emphasized withdrawing American troops from Iraq, energy independence, decreasing the influence of lobbyists, and promoting universal health care as top national priorities.
Invest $75 billion using tax credits and direct spending, targeting working families, seniors, homeowners and the unemployed. Put $45 billion in reserve for the future, should the economy continue to deteriorate. Provide both a $250 tax cut for working families and a temporary $250 Social Security bonus to seniors. Boost unemployment insurance.
Cut taxes for the middle-class and increase taxes for the rich. Restore the top two income tax rates to 36% and 39.6%. Eliminate income taxes for seniors making less than $50,000 per year and capital gains taxes on small businesses. Introduce a tax credit of up to $500 per person, or $1,000 per working family. Make the child and dependent care tax credit refundable, and allow low-income families to receive up to a 50% credit for child care expenses. Limit estate tax exemptions to $3.5 million.
Create a $10 billion fund to help prevent foreclosures, and eliminate some taxes and fees for families facing foreclosure on their homes. Create a 10% mortgage credit for homeowners who do not itemize tax relief. Guarantee loan refinancing for troubled homeowners who are insured by the Federal Housing Administration. Provide tax credits to 10 million middle class homeowners struggling with mortgage payments.
Amend NAFTA to provide greater protection for U.S. labor. Opposed to the Central American Free Trade Agreement. Pressure the WTO to enforce trade agreements and punish unfair government subsidies to foreign exporters and nontariff barriers on U.S. exports. Eliminate tax breaks for companies that are operating offshore. Reward Companies that Support American Workers.
Provide universal health insurance for children and an income-based subsidy for people who are not eligible for employer or government insurance. Require employers - exempting small businesses - that do not provide insurance to employees to contribute a margin of payroll towards the national plan. Invest $10 billion a year for five years into electronic health information systems. Repeal the ban preventing government from negotiating with drug companies.
Implement the 9/11 Commission recommendations. Provide greater assistance to local and state first responders and increase funding for interoperable communications systems. Establish grant program to support more state and local intelligence analysts. Increase capacity to share intelligence across all levels of government. Close Guantanamo Bay prison at in Cuba. Rescind the Military Commissions Act of 2006, which authorized trial by military commissions for detainees at the prison.
Opposes U.S. military operations in Iraq, and advocates the removal of U.S. troops within 16 months. Maintain a residual force to target al Qaeda, protect U.S. military and diplomatic personnel and support Iraqi security forces. Commit $2 billion toward supporting displaced Iraqis. Negotiate a compact to secure Iraq's borders, obstruct meddling from neighboring countries, isolate al Qaeda, support reconciliation among Iraqi sectarian groups and finance reconstruction and development.
Opposes Senate Resolution declaring Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization. Will use diplomacy as the primary option to address difference with Iran, and plans to meet with leaders of Iran during first year of presidency. Does not rule out military action if diplomacy fails.
Send at least two additional combat brigades to Afghanistan and seek greater contributions from NATO allies. Provide training for Afghan security forces and the Afghan judiciary. Spend an additional $1 billion in non-military assistance every year, with safeguards to prevent corruption. Support Pakistan's policy to secure the countries' shared border and crack down on terrorist camps. Combat narcotics trafficking by offering alternative livelihoods to poppy farmers.
Defends Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state, and an undivided Jerusalem. Supports a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. Supports U.S. efforts to provide aid directly to Palestinians, bypassing the Hamas-led government. Opposes the Iranian nuclear program, and any military strategies or expeditions that threaten Israel.
