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US Senate career of Barack Obama

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The United States Senate career of Barack Obama began on January 3, 2005, and ended on November 16, 2008.[1] A member of the Democratic Party from the state of Illinois, Obama previously served three terms in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2005. He resigned his seat in the U.S. Senate upon being elected President of the United States.

Barack Obama
United States Senator
from Illinois
In office
January 3, 2005 – November 16, 2008
Preceded byPeter Fitzgerald
Succeeded byRoland Burris
Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs
In office
January 3, 2007 – November 16, 2008
Preceded byGeorge Allen
Succeeded byJeanne Shaheen
Not to be confused with Illinois Senate career of Barack Obama.

Obama won the seat in an election against Alan Keyes who replaced Republican Primary election winner Jack Ryan. Prior to his election but after Ryan withdrew from the race, he rose to national prominence by delivering the 2004 Democratic National Convention keynote address. Upon his election, he became the fifth African-American Senator in U.S. history, the third to have been popularly elected.

As a Senator, Obama served on a variety of committees and chaired the United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs. His bill sponsorship and voting records indicates that he was a loyalist to the Democratic Party. He was considered to be among the most liberal by various analyses. In his first session (109th Congress), he was involved in immigration reform. Legislation bearing his name was passed for armament reduction and federal transparency as well as relief aid.

In the first year of the 110th Congress, he worked on lobbying and campaign finance reform, election reform, climate control and troop reduction. In the second year, he legislated for oversight of certain military discharges, Iran divestment and nuclear terrorism reduction, but President George W. Bush vetoed his legislation for State Children's Health Insurance Program-related military family job protections. Obama resigned his seat in the U.S. Senate upon being elected President of the United States, after winning the 2008 presidential election.

2004 U.S. Senate campaign in Illinois

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See also: 2004 United States Senate election in Illinois

In May 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] 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.[3]

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.[4] 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.[5] He received over 52% of the vote in the March 2004 primary, emerging 29% ahead of his nearest Democratic rival.[6][7]

Obama's expected opponent in the general election, Republican primary winner Jack Ryan, withdrew from the race in June 2004.[8] 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.[9] A long time resident of Maryland, Keyes established legal residency in Illinois with the nomination.[10]

Through three televised debates, Obama and Keyes expressed opposing views on stem cell research, abortion, gun control, school vouchers, and tax cuts.[11] Obama was criticized by Keyes, as he had also been by rival pro-choice candidates in the Democratic primary, for a series of "present" votes on late-term abortion and parental notification issues.[12] The charge that Obama's "present" votes suggested he was not firmly pro choice was refuted by two lobbyists for pro-choice groups (including Planned Parenthood).[12]

In the general election of November 2004, Obama received 70% of the vote to Keyes's 27%, the largest victory margin for a statewide race in Illinois history.[13] He won 92 of the state's 102 counties, including several where Democrats have not historically done well.

 
Final results of the 2004 U.S. Senate election in Illinois by county:
  Obama
  •      40-50%
  •      50–60%
  •      60–70%
  •      70–80%
  •      80–90%
  Keyes
  •      50–60%
  •      60–70%

Keynote address

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Main article: 2004 Democratic National Convention keynote address

In July 2004, he wrote and delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, Massachusetts.[14] 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."[15] 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.[16]

With Obama facing nearly certain victory in his U.S. Senate race against Alan Keyes at the time combined with an overwhelmingly positive reaction to his address, speculation grew about the possibility of a potential Obama candidacy for President of the United States in 2008 or later. Following the speech, Chris Mathews even went as far as predicting that Obama would become the first African-American president.

If he decided to run for President, he would join other African-Americans like Alan Keyes and Shirley Chisholm who had previous presidential runs. But as of 2004, no African-American had received a major party's presidential nomination and no African-American had won a presidential primary since Jesse Jackson in 1988.

In addition, Hillary Clinton was favored by many to become the Democratic nominee and first ever female presidential nominee in 2008 while in contrast to Clinton, Obama's background and issue positions were still unknown to the majority of the public. For the next two years, Obama would downplay speculation of a future presidential run and focus instead on his duties as a U.S. Senator.

Initial work

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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.[17] 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.[18]

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).[19] Obama held assignments on the Senate Committees for Foreign Relations;[20] Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and Veterans' Affairs, and he was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.[21]

He was a chairman of the Subcommittee on European Affairs.[22] Nonpartisan analyses of bill sponsorship and voting records placed him as a "rank-and-file Democrat" and "Democratic Party loyalist."[23] 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 serving in the Senate until he resigned his seat in November 2008 in preparation for his new job as the 44th President of the United States[24]

Committees

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Source: United States Senate 109th Congress[25] Source: United States Senate 110th Congress[26]

109th Congress

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Obama addresses the First Year Student Convocation at Boston College, September 2005.

Obama took an active role in the Senate's drive for improved border security and immigration reform. In May 2005, he cosponsored the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act introduced by Sen. John McCain (R–AZ).[27]

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.[28]

In September 2006, Obama voted for a related bill, the Secure Fence Act, authorizing construction of fencing and other security improvements along the United States–Mexico border.[29] President Bush signed the Secure Fence Act into law in October 2006, calling it "an important step toward immigration reform."[30]

 
Senate bill sponsors Tom Coburn (R–OK) and Obama discuss the Coburn-Obama Transparency Act.[31]

Partnering first with Sen. Richard 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.[32][33][34] The Lugar-Obama initiative subsequently received $48 million in funding.[35]

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.[36]

Obama and Coburn also collaborated on repeated efforts to end the abuse of no-bid contracting in the aftermath of natural disasters.[37] 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.[38]

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 with Richard Lugar 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.[39]

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."[40]

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.[41] The speech touched off a public debate among rival leaders, some formally challenging Obama's remarks as unfair and improper, others defending his positions.[42]

On June 2, 2006, Obama delivered the commencement speech at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Among other topics, he discussed his keynote address to the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston.[43]

110th Congress

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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.[44]

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.[45]

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.[46] 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.[47]

 
Drawer of chamber desk XXIV that was once occupied in the U.S. Senate by Obama. Note signature inside lower right half of the drawer. This chamber desk was also formerly occupied in the U.S. Senate by Howard Baker, Paul Simon, Robert F. Kennedy, and Henry Cabot Lodge.[48]

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.[49]

He sponsored the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act supporting divestment of state pension funds from Iran's oil and gas industry,[50] and joined Chuck Hagel (R–NE) in introducing legislation to reduce risks of nuclear terrorism.[51]

A provision from the Obama-Hagel bill was passed by Congress in December 2007 as an amendment to the State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill.[51] 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.[52] 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".[53]

Legislation and voting record

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See also: List of bills sponsored by Barack Obama in the United States Senate

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".[54] The National Journal, in its 27th annual vote ratings, identified Obama as "the most liberal senator" in 2007,[55] though this conclusion was rated "Barely True" by PolitiFact.[56]

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.[57]

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.[58][59] A study of the voting records of all one hundred senators, using an average of the ratings of seven liberal interest groups, described Obama as "among the least liberal", of the Democrats, scoring an 80%.[60]

Resignation and replacement in the U.S. Senate

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After his election to President of the United States, Obama announced on November 13, 2008 his plan to resign his Senate seat, effective on November 16, 2008.[61] On January 12, 2009, the Senate accepted former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris as Obama's replacement after he was controversially appointed by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.[62]

Recognition and honors

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While in the U.S. Senate, Obama had a number of awards and honors 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,[63] 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.[64]

During his first three years in the U.S. Senate, Obama received Honorary Doctorates of Law from Knox College (2005),[65] University of Massachusetts Boston (2006),[66] Northwestern University (2006),[67] Xavier University of Louisiana (2006),[68] Southern New Hampshire University (2007),[69] Howard University (2007),[70] and Wesleyan University (2008).[71]

The audiobook edition of Dreams from My Father earned Obama the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album in 2006.[72] He won the award a second time in 2008 for the spoken word edition of The Audacity of Hope.[73] 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.[74]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "About Barack Obama". Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office. Archived from the original on April 25, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  2. ^ Helman, Scott (October 12, 2007). "Early Defeat Launched a Rapid Political Climb". Boston Globe. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  3. ^ Becker, Jo and Drew, Christopher, "Pragmatic Politics, Forged on the South Side", The New York Times, May 11, 2008. Retrieved July 28, 2008
  4. ^ Davey, Monica (March 7, 2004). "Closely Watched Illinois Senate Race Attracts 7 Candidates in Millionaire Range". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 16, 2009. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  5. ^ Wallace-Wells, Ben (April 1, 2007). "Obama's Narrator". The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  6. ^ Davey, Monica (May 17, 2004). "From Crowded Field, Democrats Choose State Legislator to Seek Senate Seat". The New York Times. Retrieved April 13, 2008. See also: Jackson, John S (August 2006). "The Making of a Senator: Barack Obama and the 2004 Illinois Senate Race" (PDF). Occasional Paper of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. Southern Illinois University. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 13, 2008. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  7. ^ "Official results from the Illinois State Board of Elections". Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved June 11, 2009.
  8. ^ "Ryan Drops Out of Senate Race in Illinois". CNN. June 25, 2004. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  9. ^ Lannan, Maura Kelly (August 9, 2004). "Alan Keyes Enters U.S. Senate Race in Illinois Against Rising Democratic Star". Union-Tribune (San Diego). Associated Press. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  10. ^ Liam, Ford; David Mendell (August 13, 2004). "Keyes Sets Up House in Cal City". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  11. ^ 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 April 13, 2008.
  12. ^ a b Zorn, Eric (March 9, 2004). "Disparagement of Obama Votes Doesn't Hold Up". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2008. Alt URL "Keyes Assails Obama's Abortion Views". NBC News. Associated Press. August 9, 2004. Retrieved January 14, 2008. See also: Youngman, Sam (February 15, 2007). "Abortion Foes Target Obama Because of His Vote Record on Illinois Legislation". The Hill. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  13. ^ "America Votes 2004: U.S. Senate / Illinois". CNN. Retrieved April 13, 2008. Slevin, Peter (November 13, 2007). "For Obama, a Handsome Payoff in Political Gambles". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  14. ^ For details about the speech's genesis and delivery, see: Boss-Bicak, Shira (January 2005). "Barack Obama '83: Is He the New Face of The Democratic Party?". Columbia College Today. Archived from the original on January 4, 2007. Retrieved April 13, 2008. See also: Bernstein, David (June 2007). "The Speech". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  15. ^ Obama, Barack (July 27, 2004). "Keynote Address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention". BarackObama.com. Archived from the original (text or video) on April 3, 2008. Retrieved April 13, 2008. {{cite web}}: External link in |format= (help)
  16. ^ Archibold, Randal C (July 29, 2004). "The Illinois Candidate; Day After, Keynote Speaker Finds Admirers Everywhere". The New York Times. Retrieved April 13, 2008. Roach, Ronald (October 7, 2004). "Obama Rising". Black Issues in Higher Education. DiverseEducation.com. Archived from the original on June 16, 2008. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  17. ^ Babington, Charles; Shailagh Murray (December 8, 2006). "For Now, an Unofficial Rivalry". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 21, 2008.
    Dorning, Mike (September 17, 2007). "Obama's Policy Team Loaded with All-Stars". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 21, 2008.
  18. ^ Enda, Jodi (February 5, 2006). "Great Expectations". The American Prospect. Archived from the original on February 3, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
    Bacon Jr., Perry (August 27, 2007). "The Outsider's Insider". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  19. ^ Traub, James (November 4, 2007). "Is (His) Biography (Our) Destiny?". The New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
    King, Neil (September 5, 2007). "Obama Tones Foreign-Policy Muscle". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
    Sweet, Lynn (May 10, 2007). "Obama Taps Influential Foreign Policy Experts". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on February 4, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  20. ^ Barack Obama's chairmanship of the Senate Subcommittee on European Affairs, Salon
  21. ^ "Committee Assignments". Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office. Archived from the original on December 9, 2006. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
    "Member Info". Congressional Black Caucus. Archived from the original on December 28, 2007. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
    See also: Zeleny, Jeff (June 26, 2005). "When It Comes to Race, Obama Makes His Point—With Subtlety". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on February 16, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  22. ^ Tom Baldwin, 'Stay-at-home' Barack Obama comes under fire for a lack of foreign experience, The Times
  23. ^ "Members of Congress: Barack Obama". GovTrack. Retrieved March 31, 2008.
    Curry, Tom (February 21, 2008). "What Obama's Senate Votes Reveal". NBC News. Retrieved March 31, 2008.
  24. ^ "Breaking New Ground: African-American Senators". U.S. Senate Historical Office. Retrieved February 11, 2008.
  25. ^ Erickson, Nancy, ed. (2011). Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Ninth Congress. United States Government Printing Office.
  26. ^ Erickson, Nancy, ed. (2011). Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Tenth Congress. United States Government Printing Office.
  27. ^ U.S. Senate, 109th Congress, 1st Session (May 12, 2005). "S. 1033, Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act". Thomas. Archived from the original on July 4, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ "Immigration Bill Divides House, Senate". USA Today. September 22, 2006. Retrieved January 14, 2008. See also: "Obama Statement on Senate Passage of Immigration Reform Bill". Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office. May 25, 2006. Archived from the original on January 18, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  29. ^ "Latinos Upset Obama Voted for Border Fence". CBS 2 (Chicago). November 20, 2006. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  30. ^ "President Bush Signs Secure Fence Act". White House. October 26, 2006. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  31. ^ "President Bush Signs Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act". White House. September 26, 2006. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  32. ^ U.S. Senate, 109th Congress, 2nd Session (May 25, 2006). "S. 2566, Cooperative Proliferation Detection, Interdiction Assistance, and Conventional Threat Reduction Act of 2006". Thomas. Archived from the original on July 28, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  33. ^ Lugar, Richard G; Barack Obama (December 3, 2005). "Junkyard Dogs of War". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  34. ^ "Lugar-Obama Nonproliferation Legislation Signed into Law by the President". Richard Lugar U.S. Senate Office. January 11, 2007. Archived from the original on December 18, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  35. ^ "Obama, Lugar Secure Funding for Implementation of Nonproliferation Law". Richard Lugar U.S. Senate Office. June 28, 2007. Archived from the original on December 27, 2007. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  36. ^ U.S. Senate, 109th Congress, 2nd Session (April 6, 2006). "S. 2590, Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006". Thomas. Archived from the original on July 28, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) "President Bush Signs Coburn-Obama Transparency Act". Tom Coburn U.S. Senate Office. September 26, 2006. Archived from the original on January 10, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  37. ^ Schor, Elana (September 14, 2006). "Obama and Coburn revive effort to stop no-bid FEMA contracts". The Hill. Archived from the original on February 9, 2008. Retrieved September 9, 2008.
  38. ^ U.S. Senate, 109th Congress, 2nd Session (January 3, 2006). "S. 2125, Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act". Thomas. Archived from the original on January 23, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  39. ^ Larson, Christina (September 2006). "Hoosier Daddy: What Rising Democratic Star Barack Obama Can Learn from an Old Lion of the GOP". Washington Monthly. Archived from the original on April 30, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  40. ^ Goudie, Chuck (January 12, 2006). "Obama Meets with Arafat's Successor". ABC 7 News (Chicago). Archived from the original on February 11, 2007. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  41. ^ "Obama Slates Kenya for Fraud". News24.com. August 28, 2006. Archived from the original on June 5, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  42. ^ Wamalwa, Chris (September 2, 2006). "Envoy Hits at Obama Over Graft Remark". The Standard (Nairobi). Archived from the original on October 10, 2007. Retrieved October 19, 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) Moracha, Vincent; Mangoa Mosota (September 4, 2006). "Leaders Support Obama on Graft Claims". The Standard (Nairobi). Archived from the original on October 7, 2007. Retrieved October 19, 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  43. ^ Transcript of Barack Obama commencement remarks at UMASS/Boston – University of Massachusetts Boston, June 2, 2006, Boston, Massachusetts.
  44. ^ Weixel, Nathaniel (November 15, 2007). "Feingold, Obama Go After Corporate Jet Travel". The Hill. Retrieved January 14, 2008. Weixel, Nathaniel (December 5, 2007). "Lawmakers Press FEC on Bundling Regulation". The Hill. Retrieved January 14, 2008. 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 January 14, 2008.
  45. ^ Stern, Seth (January 31, 2007). "Obama-Schumer Bill Proposal Would Criminalize Voter Intimidation". The New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2008. U.S. Senate, 110th Congress, 1st Session (January 31, 2007). "S. 453, Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007". Thomas. Archived from the original on September 18, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) See also: "Honesty in Elections" (editorial). The New York Times. January 31, 2007. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  46. ^ H. Josef, Hebert (January 29, 2007). "Congress Begins Tackling Climate Issues". CBS News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 19, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2008. Williamson, Elizabeth (January 10, 2007). "The Green Gripe With Obama: Liquefied Coal Is Still... Coal". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  47. ^ Krystin, E. Kasak (February 7, 2007). "Obama Introduces Measure to Bring Troops Home". Medill News Service. nwi.com. Retrieved January 14, 2008. "Latest Major Action: 1/30/2007 Referred to Senate committee." U.S. Senate, 110th Congress, 1st Session (January 30, 2007). "S. 433, Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007". Thomas. Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  48. ^ Senate chamber desks: Desk XXIV. United States Senate. Retrieved January 8, 2009.
  49. ^ "Obama, Bond Hail New Safeguards on Military Personality Disorder Discharges, Urge Further Action". Kit Bond U.S. Senate Office. October 1, 2007. Archived from the original on December 5, 2010. Retrieved January 14, 2008. See also: Dine, Philip (December 23, 2007). "Bond Calls for Review of Military Discharges". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved February 11, 2008.
  50. ^ U.S. Senate, 110th Congress, 1st Session (May 17, 2007). "S. 1430, Iran Sanctions Enabling Act". Thomas. Archived from the original on November 28, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) See also: Graham-Silverman, Adam (September 12, 2007). "Despite Flurry of Action in House, Congress Unlikely to Act Against Iran". CQ Today. Archived from the original on October 30, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  51. ^ a b "Obama, Schiff Provision to Create Nuclear Threat Reduction Plan Approved". Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office. December 20, 2007. Archived from the original on December 18, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  52. ^ "Senate Passes Obama, McCaskill Legislation to Provide Safety Net for Families of Wounded Service Members". Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office. August 2, 2007. Archived from the original on December 18, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  53. ^ Pugh, Tony; Margaret Talev (October 4, 2007). "Battles Set After Health Bill Veto". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 14, 2008. [dead link]
  54. ^ "Members of Congress: Barack Obama". GovTrack. Retrieved March 31, 2008.
    Nather, David (January 14, 2008). "The Space Between Clinton and Obama". CQ Weekly. Archived from the original on July 24, 2008. Retrieved April 8, 2008.
    See also: Curry, Tom (February 21, 2008). "What Obama's Senate Votes Reveal". NBC News. Retrieved April 8, 2008.
  55. ^ "Obama: Most Liberal Senator In 2007". National Journal. January 31, 2008. Archived from the original on April 28, 2008. Retrieved April 27, 2008. See also: "From The Editor". Archived from the original on April 15, 2008. Retrieved April 28, 2008. and "Key Votes Used To Calculate The Ratings". Archived from the original on April 13, 2008. Retrieved April 28, 2008.
  56. ^ "Is Obama a liberal?".
  57. ^ "Obama Interview". WJLA-TV. February 12, 2008. Archived from the original (transcript) on June 25, 2008. Retrieved April 27, 2008.
  58. ^ "Senator Barack H. Obama Jr. (IL)". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved April 27, 2008.
  59. ^ "2007 Congressional Voting Record Inside" (PDF). ADA Today. Americans for Democratic Action. February 2008. Retrieved April 27, 2008.
  60. ^ "Election 2008: Presidential, Senate and House Races". electoral-vote.com. April 9, 2008. Retrieved April 10, 2008.
  61. ^ Baker, Peter (November 14, 2008). "ON THE WHITE HOUSE; If the Senate Reconvenes, Two Seats May Be Empty". The New York Times. Retrieved November 21, 2008.
  62. ^ Raju, Manu; Bresnahan, John (January 12, 2009). "Dems accept Burris into the Senate". Politico.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  63. ^ Skidelsky, William (October 17, 2005). "Revolutionising the Future: From Tennis to Teleportation". New Statesman. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  64. ^ Bacon Jr., Perry (April 18, 2005). "Barack Obama: The Future of the Democratic Party?". Time. Archived from the original on February 8, 2007. Retrieved January 14, 2008. Klein, Joe (May 14, 2007). "The TIME 100: Barack Obama". Time. Archived from the original on August 24, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
  65. ^ "Commencement 2005: Knox honors U.S. Senator Barack Obama". Knox College. May 10, 2005. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
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Further reading

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Political offices
Preceded by Illinois State Senator from 13th district
January 8, 1997 – November 4, 2004 		Succeeded by
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. senator (Class 3) from Illinois
January 4, 2005 – November 16, 2008
Served alongside: Richard Durbin 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic Party nominee for Senator from Illinois
(Class 3)
2004 		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States order of precedence
United States senators by seniority (2007) 		Succeeded by
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