Jump to content

United States Senate career of Barack Obama: Difference between revisions

United States Senate career of Barack Obama (edit)

Revision as of 02:56, 2 June 2022

57,251 bytes added ,  2 June 2022
m
robot: Update article (please report if you notice any mistake or error in this edit)
(Created page with "{{Short description|Overview of Barack Obama's United States Senate career}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2016}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Barack Obama | image = BarackObamaportrait.jpg | jr/sr = United States Senator | state = Illinois<!-- please leave this alone --> | term_start = January 3, 2005 | term_end = November 16, 2008 | alongside = Dick Durbin | predecessor...")
 
m (robot: Update article (please report if you notice any mistake or error in this edit))
 
Line 8: Line 8:
| term_start          = January 3, 2005
| term_start          = January 3, 2005
| term_end            = November 16, 2008
| term_end            = November 16, 2008
| alongside          = [[Dick Durbin]]
| predecessor        = [[Peter Fitzgerald (politician)|Peter Fitzgerald]]
| predecessor        = [[Peter Fitzgerald (politician)|Peter Fitzgerald]]
| successor          = [[Roland Burris]]
| successor          = [[Roland Burris]]
Line 26: Line 25:


In the first year of the [[110th United States Congress|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.
In the first year of the [[110th United States Congress|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.
==U.S. Senate campaign==
{{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 (political consultant)|David Axelrod]] that Fall and formally announcing his candidacy in January 2003.<ref>{{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 |access-date=April 13, 2008}}</ref> Before deciding to run, Obama met with [[Jesse Jackson, Jr.|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.<ref name=jbcdnyt>Becker, Jo and Drew, Christopher, [https://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</ref>
Decisions by Republican incumbent [[Peter Fitzgerald (senator)|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.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Davey |first=Monica |title=Closely Watched Illinois Senate Race Attracts 7 Candidates in Millionaire Range |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/07/politics/campaign/07ILLI.html |work=The New York Times |date=March 7, 2004 |access-date=April 13, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416015834/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/07/politics/campaign/07ILLI.html |archive-date=April 16, 2009 }}</ref> 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 (politician)|Paul Simon]], former U.S. Senator for Illinois.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Ben |last=Wallace-Wells |title=Obama's Narrator |date=April 1, 2007 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/01/magazine/01axelrod.t.html |work=[[The New York Times Magazine]] |access-date=April 13, 2008}}</ref> He received over 52% of the vote in the March 2004 primary, emerging 29% ahead of his nearest Democratic rival.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Monica |last=Davey |title=From Crowded Field, Democrats Choose State Legislator to Seek Senate Seat |date=May 17, 2004 |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9400E4D61431F934A25750C0A9629C8B63 |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 13, 2008 }} 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 |work=Occasional Paper of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute |publisher=Southern Illinois University |url=http://www.siu.edu/~ppi/PDF/papers/Obama.pdf |access-date=April 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080413172719/http://www.siu.edu/~ppi/PDF/papers/Obama.pdf |archive-date=April 13, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.elections.state.il.us/ElectionInformation/VoteTotalsList.aspx?officeid=2364 |title=Official results from the Illinois State Board of Elections |access-date=June 11, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718213326/http://www.elections.state.il.us/ElectionInformation/VoteTotalsList.aspx?officeid=2364 |archive-date=July 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
Obama's expected opponent in the general election, Republican primary winner [[Jack Ryan (2004 U.S. Senate candidate)|Jack Ryan]], withdrew from the race in June 2004.<ref>{{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/ |publisher=CNN |access-date=April 13, 2008}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=April 13, 2008}}</ref> A long time resident of Maryland, Keyes established legal residency in Illinois with the nomination.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Ford |last=Liam |author2=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 |access-date=April 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516070203/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/specials/elections/chi-0408130201aug13,1,7640082.story |archive-date=May 16, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref>
Through three televised debates, Obama and Keyes expressed opposing views on stem cell research, abortion, gun control, school vouchers, and tax cuts.<ref>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 |access-date=April 13, 2008 |date=October 26, 2004}}</ref> 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 [[minors and abortion|parental notification]] issues.<ref name="trib_present">{{Cite news| first=Eric | last=Zorn | title=Disparagement of Obama Votes Doesn't Hold Up | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524191802/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/573751701.html?dids=573751701:573751701&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT | archive-date=May 24, 2011 | date=March 9, 2004 | url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/573751701.html?dids=573751701:573751701&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT | work=Chicago Tribune | access-date=January 14, 2008}} [http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2007/12/disparagement-o.html Alt URL] {{Cite news| title=Keyes Assails Obama's Abortion Views | date=August 9, 2004 | publisher=NBC News | url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/5654128 | agency=Associated Press | access-date=January 14, 2008}} See also: {{Cite news| first=Sam | last=Youngman | title=Abortion Foes Target Obama Because of His Vote Record on Illinois Legislation | date=February 15, 2007 |url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/feingold-obama-go-after-corporate-jet-travel-2007-11-15.html | work=The Hill | access-date=January 14, 2008}}</ref> 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]]).<ref name="trib_present" />
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.<ref>{{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 |access-date=April 13, 2008}} {{Cite news|first=Peter |last=Slevin |title=For Obama, a Handsome Payoff in Political Gambles |date=November 13, 2007 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/12/AR2007111201945.html |work=The Washington Post |access-date=April 13, 2008}}</ref> He won 92 of the state's 102 counties, including several where Democrats have not historically done well.
===Keynote address===
{{Main|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.<ref>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 |access-date=April 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104022834/http://www.college.columbia.edu/cct/jan05/cover.php |archive-date=January 4, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} 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|access-date=April 13, 2008}}</ref> After describing his maternal grandfather's experiences as a World War II veteran and a beneficiary of the [[New Deal]]'s [[Federal Housing Administration|FHA]] and [[Servicemen's Readjustment Act (USA)|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."<ref>{{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 |access-date=April 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080403144623/http://www.barackobama.com/2004/07/27/keynote_address_at_the_2004_de.php |archive-date=April 3, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Randal C |last=Archibold |title=The Illinois Candidate; Day After, Keynote Speaker Finds Admirers Everywhere |date=July 29, 2004 |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A03E7DB103DF93AA15754C0A9629C8B63 |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 13, 2008 }} {{Cite news |first=Ronald |last=Roach |title=Obama Rising |date=October 7, 2004 |work=Black Issues in Higher Education |publisher=DiverseEducation.com |url=http://www.diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_4041.shtml |access-date=April 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616045409/http://www.diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_4041.shtml |archive-date=June 16, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
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==
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.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Charles |last=Babington |author2=Shailagh Murray  |title=For Now, an Unofficial Rivalry |date=December 8, 2006 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/07/AR2006120701755.html |work=The Washington Post |access-date=January 21, 2008}}<br />{{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 |access-date=January 21, 2008}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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 |access-date=January 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203105143/http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?articleId=10828 |archive-date=February 3, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}<br />{{Cite news |first=Perry |last=Bacon Jr. |title=The Outsider's Insider |date=August 27, 2007 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/26/AR2007082601446.html |work=The Washington Post |access-date=January 14, 2008 }}</ref>
His key foreign policy advisers have included former [[Presidency of Bill Clinton|Clinton administration]] officials [[Anthony Lake]] and [[Susan Rice]], as well as [[Samantha Power]], author on human rights and genocide (who resigned March 7, 2008).<ref>{{Cite news |first=James |last=Traub |title=Is (His) Biography (Our) Destiny? |date=November 4, 2007 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/magazine/04obama-t.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=January 14, 2008 }}<br />{{Cite news |first=Neil |last=King |title=Obama Tones Foreign-Policy Muscle |date=September 5, 2007 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB118895877299317784 |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=January 14, 2008 }}<br />{{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 |access-date=January 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204104954/http://www.suntimes.com/news/sweet/379187,CST-EDT-sweet10.article |archive-date=February 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Obama held assignments on the Senate Committees for [[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Foreign Relations]];<ref>[http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2007/12/29/obama_europe/  Barack Obama's chairmanship of the Senate Subcommittee on European Affairs], ''[[Salon (journal)|Salon]]''</ref> [[United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions|Health, Education, Labor and Pensions]]; [[United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs|Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs]]; and [[United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs|Veterans' Affairs]], and he was a member of the [[Congressional Black Caucus]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://obama.senate.gov/committees/ |title=Committee Assignments |access-date=January 14, 2008 |work=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209190827/http://obama.senate.gov/committees/ |archive-date=December 9, 2006 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}<br />{{Cite news |title=Member Info |url=http://www.house.gov/kilpatrick/cbc/member_info.html |work=Congressional Black Caucus |access-date=January 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071228111351/http://www.house.gov/kilpatrick/cbc/member_info.html |archive-date=December 28, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}<br />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 |access-date=January 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216014942/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-050626obama-race%2C1%2C7205709.story |archive-date=February 16, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
He was a chairman of the Subcommittee on [[United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs|European Affairs]].<ref>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</ref> Nonpartisan analyses of bill sponsorship and voting records placed him as a "rank-and-file Democrat" and "Democratic Party loyalist."<ref>{{Cite news|title=Members of Congress: Barack Obama |url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=400629 |work=GovTrack |access-date=March 31, 2008}}<br />{{Cite news|first=Tom |last=Curry |title=What Obama's Senate Votes Reveal |date=February 21, 2008 |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/23276453 |publisher=NBC News |access-date=March 31, 2008}}</ref> <!--
The following sentence is a compromise that was reached at the talk page (see the archives). Please do not modify it without discussion.
-->The [[Historian of the United States Senate|U.S. Senate Historical Office]] lists him as the fifth [[African-American]] Senator in [[History of the United States|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]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://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 |access-date=February 11, 2008}}</ref>
===Committees===
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions|Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions]]''' (110th Congress)
** [[United States Senate Health Subcommittee on Children and Families|Subcommittee on Children and Families]]
** [[United States Senate Health Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety|Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety]]
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs|Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs]]''' (110th Congress)
** [[United States Senate Homeland Security Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations|Subcommittee on Investigations]]
** [[United States Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information and International Security|Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information and International Security]]
** Ad Hoc Subcommittee on State, Local, and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs]]'''
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works|Committee on Environment and Public Works]]''' (109th Congress)
** [[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety|Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety]]
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Committee on Foreign Relations]]'''
** [[United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs|Subcommittee on European Affairs]] (Chairman – 110th Congress)
** [[United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs|Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs]]
** [[United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs|Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs]]
** [[United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs|Subcommittee on African Affairs]]
** [[United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs, and International Environmental Protection|Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs, and International Environmental Protection]]
Source: [[United States Senate]] 109th Congress<ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GPO-CPUB-109spub20/html/GPO-CPUB-109spub20.htmb |title=Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Ninth Congress |editor=Erickson, Nancy |editor-link=Nancy Erickson |publisher=[[United States Government Printing Office]] |year=2011}}</ref> Source: [[United States Senate]] 110th Congress<ref>{{cite book |url=https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:-Nk9GhAQWPsJ:www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GPO-CPUB-110spub16/pdf/GPO-CPUB-110spub16.pdf+Committee+and+Subcommittee+Assignments+for+the+One+Hundred+tenth+Congress&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjG7mDHoUpZbwUDgP5nodywATclEmgzj8Q24A08VQQiK3j6rc_tdbF7DZDr-egmWVdcqkJHwM2xdr0o1UgqQRpLV957hLtpOQCDQ8lknJ5WNwI2c9DWMkmpdSQBLiDX_MjDiY60&sig=AHIEtbT0dedSlEJUNfPhOhL_ouHOG2GArw |title=Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Tenth Congress |editor=Erickson, Nancy |editor-link=Nancy Erickson |publisher=[[United States Government Printing Office]] |year=2011}}</ref>
==109th Congress==
[[Image:Barakobama.jpg|thumb|Senator Obama addresses the First Year Student Convocation at [[Boston College]], September 2005.]]
Obama took an active role in the Senate's drive for improved [[Illegal immigration to the United States|border security and immigration reform]]. In May 2005, he cosponsored the [[Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act]] introduced by Sen. [[John McCain]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]–[[Arizona|AZ]]).<ref>{{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 |access-date=January 14, 2008 |archive-date=July 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160704184523/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SN01033: |url-status=dead }}</ref>
He later added three amendments to the [[Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006|Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act]], which passed the Senate in May 2006, but failed to gain majority support in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Immigration Bill Divides House, Senate |date=September 22, 2006 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-09-22-immigration_x.htm |work=USA Today |access-date=January 14, 2008 }} 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 |access-date=January 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118105919/http://obama.senate.gov/press/060525-obama_statement_on_senate_passage_of_immigration_reform_bill/index.html |archive-date=January 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
In September 2006, Obama voted for a related bill, the [[Secure Fence Act of 2006|Secure Fence Act]], authorizing construction of fencing and other security improvements along the [[United States–Mexico border]].<ref>{{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) |access-date=January 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927231949/http://cbs2chicago.com/local/local_story_324192245.html |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref> President Bush signed the Secure Fence Act into law in October 2006, calling it "an important step toward immigration reform."<ref>{{Cite news|title=President Bush Signs Secure Fence Act |date=October 26, 2006 |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/10/20061026.html |work=White House |access-date=January 14, 2008}}</ref>
[[Image:Coburn and Obama discuss S. 2590.jpg|thumb|Senate bill sponsors [[Tom Coburn]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]–[[Oklahoma|OK]]) and Obama discuss the [[Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006|Coburn-Obama Transparency Act]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=President Bush Signs Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act |date=September 26, 2006 |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/09/20060926.html |work=White House |access-date=January 14, 2008}}</ref>]]
Partnering first with Sen. [[Richard Lugar]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]–[[Indiana|IN]]), and then with Sen. [[Tom Coburn]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]–[[Oklahoma|OK]]), Obama successfully introduced two initiatives bearing his name. Lugar-Obama expands the [[Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction]] concept to [[conventional weapon]]s, including [[Man-portable air-defense systems|shoulder-fired missiles]] and [[anti-personnel mine]]s.<ref>{{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 |access-date=January 14, 2008 |archive-date=July 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728212446/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SN02566: |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|first=Richard G |last=Lugar |author2=Barack Obama  |title=Junkyard Dogs of War |date=December 3, 2005 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/02/AR2005120201509.html |work=The Washington Post |access-date=January 14, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{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 |access-date=January 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218154746/http://obama.senate.gov/press/070111-lugar-obama_non/ |archive-date=December 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The Lugar-Obama initiative subsequently received $48 million in funding.<ref>{{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 |access-date=January 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227024616/http://lugar.senate.gov/press/record.cfm?id=278019 |archive-date=December 27, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref>
The [[Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006|Coburn-Obama Transparency Act]] provides for the web site [https://web.archive.org/web/20080409141102/http://www.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.<ref>{{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 |access-date=January 14, 2008 |archive-date=July 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728212438/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SN02590: |url-status=dead }} {{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 |access-date=January 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080110033800/http://coburn.senate.gov/ffm/index.cfm?FuseAction=LegislativeFloorAction.Home&ContentRecord_id=eb582f19-802a-23ad-41db-7a7cb464cfdb |archive-date=January 10, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref>
Obama and Coburn also collaborated on repeated efforts to end the abuse of no-bid contracting in the aftermath of natural disasters.<ref>{{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 |access-date=September 9, 2008}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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 |access-date=January 14, 2008 |archive-date=January 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123152943/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SN02125: |url-status=dead }}</ref>
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 weapon]]s, [[biological warfare|biological weapons]], and [[weapon of mass destruction|weapons of mass destruction]] as a first defense against potential [[terrorism|terrorist]] attacks.<ref>{{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 |access-date=January 14, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430232404/http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2006/0609.larson.html |archive-date=April 30, 2008 |df=mdy }}</ref>
Following meetings with [[Military of the United States|U.S. military]] in [[Kuwait]] and [[Iraq]] in January 2006, Obama visited [[Jordan]], [[Israel]], and the [[Palestinian territories]]. At a meeting with [[Palestinian people|Palestinian]] students two weeks before [[Hamas]] won the [[2006 Palestinian legislative election|legislative election]], Obama warned that "the U.S. will never recognize winning Hamas candidates unless the group renounces its fundamental mission to eliminate Israel."<ref>{{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) |access-date=January 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211134944/http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=3806933 |archive-date=February 11, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
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]].<ref>{{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 |publisher=News24.com |access-date=January 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605213213/http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0%2C%2C2-11-1447_1989646%2C00.html |archive-date=June 5, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The speech touched off a public debate among rival leaders, some formally challenging Obama's remarks as unfair and improper, others defending his positions.<ref>{{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) |access-date=October 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010050740/http://www.eastandard.net/archives/cl/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143957666 |archive-date=October 10, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }} {{Cite news|first=Vincent |last=Moracha |author2=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) |access-date=October 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007115436/http://www.eastandard.net/archives/cl/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143957752 |archive-date=October 7, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref>
==110th Congress==
In the first month of the newly Democratic controlled [[110th United States Congress|110th Congress]], Obama worked with [[Russ Feingold]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]–[[Wisconsin|WI]]) to eliminate gifts of travel on corporate jets by [[Lobbying in the United States|lobbyists]] to members of Congress and require disclosure of [[Campaign finance in the United States#Bundling|bundled campaign contributions]] under the [[Honest Leadership and Open Government Act]], which was signed into law in September 2007.<ref>{{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 |access-date=January 14, 2008}} {{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 |access-date=January 14, 2008}} 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 |access-date=January 14, 2008}}</ref>
He joined [[Chuck Schumer]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]–[[New York (state)|NY]]) in sponsoring [[Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act|S. 453]], a bill to criminalize deceptive practices in federal elections, including fraudulent flyers and automated phone calls, as witnessed in the [[2006 United States general elections|2006 midterm elections]].<ref>{{Cite news |first=Seth |last=Stern |title=Obama-Schumer Bill Proposal Would Criminalize Voter Intimidation |date=January 31, 2007 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/cq/2007/01/31/cq_2213.html |access-date=January 14, 2008 }} {{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 |access-date=January 14, 2008 |archive-date=September 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918054841/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SN00453: |url-status=dead }} See also: {{Cite news |title=Honesty in Elections |date=January 31, 2007 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/31/opinion/31wed1.html |work=The New York Times |format=editorial |access-date=January 14, 2008 }}</ref>
Obama's [[Energy use in the United States|energy]] initiatives scored pluses and minuses with [[Environmentalism|environmentalists]], who welcomed his sponsorship with [[John McCain]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]–[[Arizona|AZ]]) of a [[Global warming|climate change]] bill to reduce [[greenhouse gas emissions]] by two-thirds by 2050, but were skeptical of his support for a bill promoting [[Coal#Liquefaction - Coal-To-Liquids (CTL)|liquefied coal]] production.<ref>{{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 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=January 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080519182405/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/29/ap/politics/mainD8MV8LBG0.shtml |archive-date=May 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }} {{Cite news|first=Elizabeth |last=Williamson |title=The Green Gripe With Obama: Liquefied Coal Is Still... Coal |date=January 10, 2007 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/09/AR2007010901503.html |work=The Washington Post |access-date=January 14, 2008 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |first=E. Kasak |last=Krystin |title=Obama Introduces Measure to Bring Troops Home |date=February 7, 2007 |work=Medill News Service |publisher=nwi.com |url=http://nwitimes.com/articles/2007/02/07/news/illiana/doc65cc98d8dc6506b28625727b0011edb5.txt |access-date=January 14, 2008 }} "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 |access-date=January 14, 2008 |archive-date=April 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414011940/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SN00433: |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[Image:Obama Senate Chamber Desk.jpg|thumb|Drawer of chamber desk XXIV that was once occupied in the U.S. Senate by [[Barack 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 (politician)|Paul Simon]], [[Robert F. Kennedy]], and [[Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.|Henry Cabot Lodge]].<ref>[https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/art/special/Desks/deskDetails.cfm?id=24 Senate chamber desks: Desk XXIV.] United States Senate. Retrieved January 8, 2009.</ref>]]
Later in 2007, Obama sponsored with [[Kit Bond]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]–[[Missouri|MO]]) an amendment to the 2008 [[National Defense Authorization Act|Defense Authorization Act]] adding safeguards for personality disorder [[military discharge]]s, and calling for a review by the [[Government Accountability Office]] following reports that the procedure had been used inappropriately to reduce government costs.<ref>{{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 |access-date=January 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205075008/http://bond.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.NewsReleases&ContentRecord_id=5C1EBFEB-1321-0E36-BA7D-04630AEFAD31 |archive-date=December 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} 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 |access-date=February 11, 2008 }}</ref>
He sponsored the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act supporting divestment of state pension funds from Iran's oil and gas industry,<ref>{{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 |access-date=January 14, 2008 |archive-date=November 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081128063917/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SN01430: |url-status=dead }} 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 |access-date=January 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030085402/http://public.cq.com/docs/cqt/news110-000002583189.html |archive-date=October 30, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> and joined [[Chuck Hagel]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]–[[Nebraska|NE]]) in introducing legislation to reduce risks of [[nuclear terrorism]].<ref name=ObamaSchiff>{{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 |access-date=January 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218154751/http://obama.senate.gov/press/071220-obama_schiff_pr/ |archive-date=December 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
A provision from the Obama-Hagel bill was passed by Congress in December 2007 as an amendment to the State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill.<ref name=ObamaSchiff /> 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.<ref>{{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 |access-date=January 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218154819/http://obama.senate.gov/press/070802-senate_passes_o_1/ |archive-date=December 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> After passing both houses of Congress with bipartisan majorities, SCHIP was [[Veto#United States|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."<ref>{{Cite news|first=Tony |last=Pugh |author2=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 |access-date=January 14, 2008}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
==Legislation and voting record==
{{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."<ref>{{Cite news |title=Members of Congress: Barack Obama |url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=400629 |work=GovTrack |access-date=March 31, 2008 }}<br />{{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 |access-date=April 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724001128/http://public.cq.com/docs/cqw/weeklyreport110-000002654703.html |archive-date=July 24, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}<br />See also: {{Cite news |first=Tom |last=Curry |title=What Obama's Senate Votes Reveal |date=February 21, 2008 |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/23276453 |publisher=NBC News |access-date=April 8, 2008 }}</ref> The ''[[National Journal]]'', in its 27th annual vote ratings, identified Obama as "the most liberal senator" in 2007,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://nj.nationaljournal.com/voteratings|title=Obama: Most Liberal Senator In 2007|work=National Journal|date=January 31, 2008|access-date=April 27, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080428055419/http://nj.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/|archive-date=April 28, 2008|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} See also: {{Cite web |title=From The Editor |url=http://nj.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/qanda.htm |access-date=April 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415000404/http://nj.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/qanda.htm |archive-date=April 15, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} and {{Cite web |title=Key Votes Used To Calculate The Ratings |url=http://nj.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/votes.htm |access-date=April 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080413115051/http://nj.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/votes.htm |archive-date=April 13, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> though this conclusion was rated "Barely True" by [[PolitiFact]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2008/jun/16/Obama-lefty/ | title=Is Obama a liberal?}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Obama Interview |format=transcript |date=February 12, 2008 |publisher=WJLA-TV |url=http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=0B213312-3048-5C12-000E0262A76D6B18 |access-date=April 27, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625055338/http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=0B213312-3048-5C12-000E0262A76D6B18 |archive-date=June 25, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
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.<ref>{{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 |access-date=April 27, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{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 |date=February 2008 |access-date=April 27, 2008}}</ref> 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%.<ref>{{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 |access-date=April 10, 2008 |date=April 9, 2008}}</ref>
==Resignation and replacement in the U.S. Senate==
After his [[2008 United States presidential election|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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990DE4DD1E30F937A25752C1A96E9C8B63|title=ON THE WHITE HOUSE; If the Senate Reconvenes, Two Seats May Be Empty |access-date=November 21, 2008|date=November 14, 2008 |work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Baker, Peter}}</ref> On January 12, 2009, the Senate accepted former [[Illinois]] [[Attorney General of Illinois|Attorney General]] [[Roland Burris]] as Obama's replacement after he was [[Rod Blagojevich corruption charges#Obama Senate replacement|controversially appointed]] by Illinois Governor [[Rod Blagojevich]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17366.html |title=Dems accept Burris into the Senate |last=Raju |first=Manu; Bresnahan, John |date=January 12, 2009 |work=Politico }}</ref>
==Recognition and honors==
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&nbsp;people who could change the world,<ref>{{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 |access-date=January 14, 2008}}</ref> the only politician included on the list. In 2005 and again in 2007, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine named him one of [[Time 100|the world's most influential people]].<ref>{{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 |access-date=January 14, 2008}} {{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 |access-date=January 14, 2009}}</ref>
During his first three years in the U.S. Senate, Obama received [[Honorary degree|Honorary]] Doctorates of Law from [[Knox College (Illinois)|Knox College]] (2005),<ref>{{Cite news|title=Commencement 2005: Knox honors U.S. Senator Barack Obama |date=May 10, 2005 |url=http://www.knox.edu/x9684.xml |publisher=Knox College |access-date=January 14, 2008}}</ref> [[University of Massachusetts Boston]] (2006),<ref>{{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 |publisher=University of Massachusetts Boston |access-date=January 14, 2008}}</ref> [[Northwestern University]] (2006),<ref>{{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 |publisher=Northwestern University |access-date=January 14, 2008}}</ref> [[Xavier University of Louisiana]] (2006),<ref>{{Cite news|title=Sen. Obama Addresses Xavier Graduates |date=August 13, 2006 |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-08-13-obama-xavier_x.htm |agency=Associated Press |access-date=January 14, 2008}}</ref> [[Southern New Hampshire University]] (2007),<ref>{{Cite news|title=SNHU Commencement with Sen. Barack Obama |date=May 19, 2007 |url=http://www.snhu.edu/6736.asp |publisher=Southern New Hampshire University |access-date=January 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704024303/http://www.snhu.edu/6736.asp |archive-date=July 4, 2007}}</ref> [[Howard University]] (2007),<ref>{{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 |access-date=January 14, 2008 | first=Scott | last=Helman}}</ref> and [[Wesleyan University]] (2008).<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX5WEgqw6pM Barack Obama at Wesleyan Commencement Ceremony – YouTube<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
The [[audiobook]] edition of ''Dreams from My Father'' earned Obama the [[Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album]] in 2006.<ref>{{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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070118054250/http://www.entertainment-news.org/breaking/54592/sen-obama-finally-gets-his-grammy.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 18, 2007 |agency=Reuters/Hollywood Reporter |access-date=January 14, 2008 }}</ref> He won the award a second time in 2008 for the spoken word edition of ''The Audacity of Hope''.<ref>{{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 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=February 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421103217/http://www.kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=7850708&nav=HMO6HMaY |archive-date=April 21, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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 |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20090825213415/http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2006-08/2006-08-27-voa17.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 25, 2009 |publisher=[[Voice of America]] |date=August 27, 2006 |access-date=February 25, 2008 |df=mdy }}</ref>
==See also==
* [[Illinois Senate career of Barack Obama]]
* [[Political positions of Barack Obama]]
* [[Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign]]
* [[Barack Obama 2012 presidential campaign]]
==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}
==Further reading==
* Curry, Jessica. "[http://www.chicagolife.net/content/politics/Barack_Obama Barack Obama: Under the Lights]", ''Chicago Life'', Fall 2004. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
* Graff, Garrett. "[http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/mediapolitics/1836.html The Legend of Barack Obama]", ''Washingtonian'', November 1, 2006. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
* Lizza, Ryan. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20080411114716/http://men.style.com/gq/features/landing?id=content_5841 Above the Fray]", ''GQ'', September 2007. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
* 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 January 14, 2008.
* Mundy, Liza. "[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/08/AR2007080802038.html A Series of Fortunate Events]", ''Washington Post Magazine'', August 12, 2007. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
* Wallace-Wells, Ben. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20070212112445/http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/13390609/campaign_08_the_radical_roots_of_barack_obama Destiny's Child]", ''Rolling Stone'', February 7, 2007. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
* Zutter, Hank De. "[http://www.chicagoreader.com/obama/951208/ What Makes Obama Run?]", ''Chicago Reader'', December 8, 1995. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
== External links ==
{{Sister project links|author=yes|Barack Obama}}
<!--
Please keep this section brief and simple to navigate. Specific pages already fully referenced within the article do not need repeating here.
-->
* [https://www.congress.gov/member/barack-obama/O000167 United States Senate career of Barack Obama] at the ''[https://www.congress.gov United States Congress]''
* {{CongLinks | congbio=o000167 | votesmart=9490 | fec=S4IL00180 | congress= }}<!--
Links formerly displayed via the CongLinks template:
* [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/400629 Congressional profile] at [[GovTrack]]
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00009638 Financial information (federal office)] at [[Center for Responsive Politics|OpenSecrets.org]]
* [http://www.ontheissues.org/Barack_Obama.htm Issue positions and quotes] at [[On the Issues]]
* -->
{{S-start}}
{{S-off|us}}
{{Succession box
|before= [[Alice J. Palmer]]
|title=[[Illinois Senate|Illinois State Senator from 13th district]]
|years=January 8, 1997 – November 4, 2004
|after=[[Kwame Raoul]]}}
{{S-par|us-sen}}
{{U.S. Senator box
|state=Illinois
|class=3
|before=[[Peter Fitzgerald (politician)|Peter Fitzgerald]]
|years=January 4, 2005 – November 16, 2008
|after=[[Roland Burris]]
|alongside=[[Dick Durbin|Richard Durbin]]}}
{{S-ppo}}
{{Succession box
|before= [[Carol Moseley Braun]]
|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] nominee for [[List of United States senators from Illinois|Senator from Illinois]]<br />(Class 3)
|years=[[2004 United States Senate elections|2004]]
|after=[[Alexi Giannoulias]]}}
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Mel Martinez]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence]]'''<br />''[[List of United States senators in the 109th Congress by seniority|United States senators by seniority (2007)]]''|years=}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ken Salazar]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Barack Obama}}
{{USSenIL}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:United States Senate Career Of Barack Obama}}
[[Category:Barack Obama]]
[[Category:Tenures in U.S. Senate by individual|Obama, Barack]]
[[Category:2000s in the United States]]
Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/323646"