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}); </script> </div> <div align="center" data-freestar-ad="__390x100 __728x100" id="ballotpedia-org_ATF_leaderboard"> <script data-cfasync="false" type="text/javascript"> freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: "ballotpedia-org_ATF_leaderboard", slotId: "ballotpedia-org_ATF_leaderboard" }); </script> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-offset-0 col-md-12" role="main"> <div class="mw-body" id="content"> <div id="mw-js-message" style="display:none;" ></div>  <div id="siteNotice"><div id="localNotice"><div class="sitenotice" lang="en" dir="ltr"><center><big>Everything you need to know about ranked-choice voting in one spot. <a href="/Ranked-choice_voting_(RCV)" title="Ranked-choice voting (RCV)">Click</a> to learn more!</big></center></div></div></div>  <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading page-header" lang="en"><span dir="auto"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Barack Obama</span></span></h1>  <div id="bodyContent"> <div id="siteSub">From Ballotpedia</div> <div id="contentSub" ></div> <div id="jump-to-nav" class="mw-jump"> Jump to: <a href="#mw-navigation">navigation</a>, <a href="#p-search">search</a> </div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content mw-content-ltr" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="mw-parser-output"><div style="display: none;"></div> <div class="infobox person"><div class="widget-row value-only Democratic Party">Barack Obama</div> <div class="widget-row"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/200/300/Official_portrait_of_Barack_Obama.jpg" alt="Image of Barack Obama" onerror="imgError(this);" class="widget-img" /></div> <div class="widget-row value-only white"> <p> <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Democratic_Party">Democratic Party</a> </p> </div> <div class="widget-row value-only Democratic Party">Prior offices</div> <div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">Illinois State Senate</div> <hr /> <div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">U.S. Senate Illinois</div> <div style="font-size: 13px; text-align:center;">Successor: <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Roland_Burris">Roland Burris</a></div> <hr /> <div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">President of the United States</div> <div style="font-size: 13px; text-align:center;">Successor: <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Donald_Trump">Donald Trump</a></div> <div style="font-size: 13px; text-align:center;">Predecessor: <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/George_W._Bush">George W. Bush</a></div> <hr /> <div class="widget-row value-only Democratic Party"> <p> Education </p> </div> <div class="widget-row"> <div class="widget-key">High school</div> <div class="widget-value"> <p> Punahou Academy </p> </div> </div> <div class="widget-row"> <div class="widget-key">Bachelor's</div> <div class="widget-value"> <p> Columbia University </p> </div> </div> <div class="widget-row"> <div class="widget-key">Law</div> <div class="widget-value"> <p> Harvard University Law School </p> </div> </div> <div class="widget-row value-only Democratic Party">Personal</div> <div class="widget-row"> <div class="widget-key">Profession</div> <div class="widget-value">Politician, Lawyer</div> </div> <div class="widget-row value-only Democratic Party">Contact</div> <div class="widget-row value-only white"> <p> <a href="http://www.barackobama.com/" target="_blank">Personal website</a> </p> </div> </div> <p><style> .infobox { width: 250px; font-size: .9em; } .top_disclaimer { </p> <pre>float:right; border:1px solid #FFB81F; background-color: white; width: 250px; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom:0px; </pre> <p>} .infobox p { margin-bottom: 0; } .widget-row { display: inline-block; width: 100%; margin-top: 1px; margin-bottom: 1px; } .widget-row.heading { font-size: 1.2em; } .widget-row.value-only { text-align: center; background-color: grey; color: white; font-weight: bold; } .widget-row.value-only.white { background-color: #f9f9f9; } .widget-row.value-only.black { background-color: #f9f9f9; color: black; } .widget-row.Democratic { background-color: #003388; color: white; font-weight: bold; } .widget-row.Republican { background-color: red; color: white; font-weight: bold; } .widget-row.Independent, .widget-row.Nonpartisan, .widget-row.Constitution { background-color: grey; color: white; font-weight: bold; } .widget-row.Libertarian { background-color: #f9d334; color: black; font-weight: bold; } .widget-row.Green { background-color: green; color: white; font-weight: bold; } .widget-key { width: 43%; display: inline-block; padding-left: 10px; vertical-align: top; font-weight: bold; } .widget-value { width: 57%; float: right; display: inline-block; padding-left: 10px; word-wrap: break-word; } .widget-img { width: 150px; display: block; margin: auto; } .clearfix { clear: both; } </style> </p> <div style="display: none;"></div> <p><b>Barack Hussein Obama II</b> (b. August 4, 1961, in Honolulu, <a href="/Hawaii" title="Hawaii">HI</a>) was the 44th <a href="/President_of_the_United_States" title="President of the United States">President of the United States</a>. He was first elected November 4, 2008, and was sworn in January of 2009. Obama successfully won election to a second term on November 6, 2012.<sup id="cite_ref-reelect_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-reelect-1">[1]</a></sup> </p><p>Previously, he served as the junior <a href="/United_States" class="mw-redirect" title="United States">United States</a> Senator from <a href="/Illinois" title="Illinois">Illinois</a> and was the nominee of the <a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party">Democratic Party</a> in the 2008 presidential election. He is the first Black American to win enough support for the nomination of any major American political party and became the first Black American president in the <a href="/United_States" class="mw-redirect" title="United States">United States</a>. </p> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Biography">Biography</span></h2> <p>Born on August 4, 1961, to a Kenyan father and an American mother, he spent most of his childhood and adolescent years in Honolulu, <a href="/Hawaii" title="Hawaii">Hawaii</a>. His parents separated when he was an infant and divorced before he turned three. At age six, he moved to Jakarta, Indonesia, where he lived with his mother and Indonesian stepfather for four years. At age ten, Obama was sent back to <a href="/Hawaii" title="Hawaii">Hawaii</a> to live with his grandparents. He attended Punahou Academy and graduated with honors in 1979.<sup id="cite_ref-biobio_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-biobio-2">[2]</a></sup> Obama's father, Barack Obama, Sr., died in a car accident in Kenya in 1982. His mother, Ann Dunham, died of ovarian cancer in 1995.<sup id="cite_ref-fastfacts_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-fastfacts-3">[3]</a></sup> </p><p>Obama graduated from Columbia University in 1983 and earned his law degree from Harvard University in 1991.<sup id="cite_ref-fastfacts_3-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-fastfacts-3">[3]</a></sup> While interning with Sidley & Austin in 1989, he met <a href="/Michelle_Obama" title="Michelle Obama">Michelle Robinson</a>, and the two began dating.<sup id="cite_ref-biobio_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-biobio-2">[2]</a></sup> He helped organize voter registration drives during the Clinton campaign, lectured at the University of Chicago law school and practiced law after graduating. As a civil rights lawyer, he tried cases dealing with discrimination, voters' rights and community organizers. In 1995 he published his autobiography titled <i>Dreams from My Father</i>. He and Robinson married on October 3, 1992.<sup id="cite_ref-fastfacts_3-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-fastfacts-3">[3]</a></sup> </p><p>He was elected to the <a href="/Illinois_Legislature" class="mw-redirect" title="Illinois Legislature">Illinois Senate</a> in 1997 and served until 2004.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4">[4]</a></sup> Following an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the <a href="/United_States_House_of_Representatives" title="United States House of Representatives">U.S. House of Representatives</a> in 2000, he announced his campaign for <a href="/United_States_Senate" title="United States Senate">U.S. Senate</a> in January 2003. After winning a landslide primary victory in March 2004 to become the <a href="/Democratic" class="mw-redirect" title="Democratic">Democratic</a> nominee for U.S. Senate, Obama delivered the keynote address at the <a href="/Democratic_National_Committee" title="Democratic National Committee">Democratic National Convention</a> in July 2004. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2004 with 70% of the vote.<sup id="cite_ref-biobio_2-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-biobio-2">[2]</a></sup> </p><p>He announced his candidacy for the United States presidency in February 2007 and defeated <a href="/Hillary_Clinton" title="Hillary Clinton">Hillary Clinton</a> in the Democratic primary before defeating <a href="/John_McCain" title="John McCain">John McCain</a> in the presidential election in 2008. He was sworn in as the first Black American president on January 20, 2009. Obama then ran for re-election in 2012, defeating <a href="/Mitt_Romney" title="Mitt Romney">Mitt Romney</a>. He was sworn in for his second term on January 21, 2013.<sup id="cite_ref-biobio_2-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-biobio-2">[2]</a></sup> </p> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Career">Career</span></h2> <p>Below is an abbreviated outline of Obama's academic, professional, and political career:<sup id="cite_ref-biobio_2-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-biobio-2">[2]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-fastfacts_3-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-fastfacts-3">[3]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-wapobio_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-wapobio-5">[5]</a></sup> </p> <ul><li>2009-2017: <a href="/President_of_the_United_States" title="President of the United States">President of the United States</a> of America</li> <li>2005-2009: <a href="/United_States_Senate" title="United States Senate">United States Senator</a> from <a href="/Illinois" title="Illinois">Illinois</a></li> <li>1997-2005: <a href="/Illinois_State_Senate" title="Illinois State Senate">Illinois state Senator</a></li> <li>1992-2004: Part-time Lecturer and Professor at University of Chicago Law School</li> <li>1992-1996: Attorney for Miner, Barnhill & Galland</li> <li>1992: Organized <a href="/Voter_registration" title="Voter registration">voter registration</a> drives for <a href="/Bill_Clinton" title="Bill Clinton">Clinton</a> campaign</li> <li>1991: Earned law degree magna cum laude from Harvard University</li> <li>1989: Interned at Sidley & Austin law firm</li> <li>1983: Graduated from Columbia University</li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Committee_assignments">Committee assignments</span></h2> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="U.S._Senator">U.S. Senator</span></h3> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="2007-08">2007-08</span></h4> <p>Obama served on the following committees:<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6">[6]</a></sup> </p> <ul><li><a href="/United_States_Senate_Committee_on_Foreign_Relations" title="United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations">United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations</a> <ul><li>Subcommittee on African Affairs</li> <li>Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs</li> <li>Subcommittee on European Affairs</li> <li>Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs and International Environmental Protection</li></ul></li> <li><a href="/United_States_Senate_Committee_on_Health,_Education,_Labor,_and_Pensions" title="United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions">United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions</a> <ul><li>Subcommittee on Children and Families</li> <li>Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety</li></ul></li> <li><a href="/United_States_Senate_Committee_on_Homeland_Security_and_Governmental_Affairs" title="United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs">United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs</a> <ul><li>Ad Hoc Subcommittee on State, Local, and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration</li> <li>Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations</li> <li>Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security</li></ul></li> <li><a href="/United_States_Senate_Committee_on_Veterans%27_Affairs" title="United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs">United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs</a></li></ul> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="2005-06">2005-06</span></h4> <p>Obama served on the following committees:<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7">[7]</a></sup> </p> <ul><li><a href="/United_States_Senate_Committee_on_Environment_and_Public_Works" title="United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works">United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works</a> <ul><li>Subcommittee Clean Air, Climate Change, and Nuclear Safety</li> <li>Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Water</li></ul></li> <li><a href="/United_States_Senate_Committee_on_Foreign_Relations" title="United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations">United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations</a> <ul><li>Subcommittee on African Affairs</li> <li>Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs</li> <li>Subcommittee on International Economic Policy, Export and Trade Promotion</li> <li>Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs</li></ul></li> <li><a href="/United_States_Senate_Committee_on_Veterans%27_Affairs" title="United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs">United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs</a></li></ul> <div id="div-gpt-ad-1610395138232-0"><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("div-gpt-ad-1610395138232-0"); });</script></div><h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Issues">Issues</span></h2> <div class="bp-content-grid" style="margin: 1em 0"><div aria-label="obamaissues" role="tablist" data-nav-id="obamaissues" class="bp-tab-list"><div class="bp-tab-item" role="tab" tabindex="0" data-expanded="true" data-panel="obamaissues-westafricanebolaoutbreak-1"><span class="bp-tab-link">West African Ebola outbreak</span></div><div class="bp-tab-item" role="tab" data-expanded="nil" data-panel="obamaissues-illegalimmigrationsurge-2"><span class="bp-tab-link">Illegal immigration surge</span></div><div class="bp-tab-item" role="tab" data-expanded="nil" data-panel="obamaissues-isisinsurgency-3"><span class="bp-tab-link">ISIS insurgency</span></div><div class="bp-tab-item" role="tab" data-expanded="nil" data-panel="obamaissues-wiretapping-4"><span class="bp-tab-link">Wiretapping</span></div></div><div class="bp-panel-container" data-nav-id="obamaissues"><div class="bp-panel-grid"><div id="obamaissues-westafricanebolaoutbreak-1" class="bp-panel-content visible" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="obamaissues-westafricanebolaoutbreak-1-tab" aria-hidden="false"> <div> <div style="float:right"> <table class="wikitable" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="205"> <tbody><tr> <td><div class="thumb embedvideo autoResize" style="width: 308px;"><div class="embedvideo autoResize" style=""><div class="embedvideowrap youtube" style="width: 300px"><iframe loading="lazy" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" modestbranding="1" width="300" height="169" src="//www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/HQD8TWPSDyA"></iframe></div></div></div><span style="font-size:80%">President <a class="mw-selflink selflink">Barack Obama</a> addressed the nation about the Ebola outbreak in West Africa on September 16, 2014.</span> </td></tr></tbody></table></div> <dl><dd><dl><dd><i>See also: <a href="/Ebola_in_America,_2014" title="Ebola in America, 2014">Ebola in America, 2014</a></i></dd></dl></dd></dl> An outbreak of the Ebola virus began in West Africa in early 2014, after which it spread to multiple countries. Following a briefing by the <a href="/U.S._Centers_for_Disease_Control_and_Prevention" title="U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention">U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> on September 16, 2014, President Obama announced the assignment of 3,000 military medical and logistical personnel to West Africa in order to prevent any further spreading of the virus. In addition to the military aid, he promised an "air bridge," of open transportation between the affected area and the United States through which supplies could be sent to West Africa.<sup id="cite_ref-thehill3000_8-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-thehill3000-8">[8]</a></sup> The administration also planned the building of 17 hospitals of 100 beds each to be used to treat more patients and agreed to train more medical care professionals as well as the local populations on what to do with infected patients.<sup id="cite_ref-guardian3000announcement_9-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-guardian3000announcement-9">[9]</a></sup> The administration also provided $500 million to the containment of the virus.<sup id="cite_ref-whitehouse500million_10-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-whitehouse500million-10">[10]</a></sup></div></div><div id="obamaissues-illegalimmigrationsurge-2" class="bp-panel-content" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="obamaissues-illegalimmigrationsurge-2-tab" aria-hidden="true"> <div> <dl><dd><dl><dd><i>See also: <a href="/2014_illegal_immigration_surge" title="2014 illegal immigration surge">2014 illegal immigration surge</a></i></dd></dl></dd></dl> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:217px;"><a href="/2014_illegal_immigration_surge" title="2014 illegal immigration surge"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Border_USA_Mexico.jpg/250px-Border_USA_Mexico.jpg" decoding="async" width="215" height="148" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Border_USA_Mexico.jpg/330px-Border_USA_Mexico.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Border_USA_Mexico.jpg/500px-Border_USA_Mexico.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3600" data-file-height="2475" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/File:Border_Mexico_USA.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>U.S.-Mexico border</div></div></div>On June 20, 2014, Obama released a plan to increase the amount of detention centers, use more ankle bracelets to track immigrants waiting for hearings, and shift more immigration judges to southern <a href="/Texas" title="Texas">Texas</a> in order to speed up the hearings process.<sup id="cite_ref-whitehousefirstplan_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-whitehousefirstplan-11">[11]</a></sup> The same day, Vice President <a href="/Joe_Biden" title="Joe Biden">Joe Biden</a> met with the leaders of Central American countries to discuss plans to slow the surge. While the White House announced it would provide Guatemala with $40 million to mitigate gang violence and $25 million to El Salvador to start youth programs for those pressured by gang violence, Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina suggested, "I proposed to the Vice-President the possibility of considering temporary work programs, which would allow (Guatemalans) to go for a time and return." An unnamed U.S. official claimed that the administration's message to those seeking entry into the U.S. legally was increasing, "'Don't come.' And if you think you're coming and once you're here you won't be returned, that's not the case. You're not going to be able to stay."<sup id="cite_ref-bidendiplomats_12-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-bidendiplomats-12">[12]</a></sup> <p>Democratic lawmakers showed concern over the administration's response to what Obama called a "humanitarian crisis." A spokesperson for Rep. <a href="/Luis_Gutierrez" title="Luis Gutierrez">Luis Gutierrez</a> (D-IL) insisted Gutierrez, "does not support the idea of putting children and families fleeing violence in detention while they await our courts to catch up to the current crisis."<sup id="cite_ref-whitehousefirstplan_11-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-whitehousefirstplan-11">[11]</a></sup> On the other hand, <a href="/Speaker_of_the_House" class="mw-redirect" title="Speaker of the House">Speaker of the House</a> <a href="/John_Boehner" title="John Boehner">John Boehner</a> (R-OH) argued in a letter to Obama that the National Guard could assume the duty of handling undocumented children crossing the border freeing up Border Patrol to focus on guarding the boundary. He stated in his letter, "While we understand that many of these individuals are coming to this country to escape violence and hardship in their home country, the current climate along the border and our enforcement policies are only encouraging them to risk their lives and those of their children."<sup id="cite_ref-whitehousefirstplan_11-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-whitehousefirstplan-11">[11]</a></sup> </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Executive_order">Executive order</span></h4> <p>Having failed to get legislation through Congress, Obama stated on June 30, 2014, that he would use the power of the executive order to achieve his intended goals on immigration if action were not taken. He insisted, "While I will continue to push House Republicans to drop the excuses and act — and I hope their constituents will, too — America cannot wait forever for them to act."<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13">[13]</a></sup> On July 19, 2014, Rep. Gutierrez announced at a speech in <a href="/Los_Angeles,_California" title="Los Angeles, California">Los Angeles, California</a>, that he believed Obama would sign an executive order in the coming months that would grant legal status to millions of immigrants.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14">[14]</a></sup> </p><p>Due to the House's continued failure to pass a bill, President Obama was expected to issue an executive order in August 2014. Possible order that would be issued included granting working visas to many illegal immigrants, easing the pressure on immigration courts, expanding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or reordering the deportation priority list.<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15">[15]</a></sup> </p><p>On July 31, 2014, <a href="/Speaker_of_the_House" class="mw-redirect" title="Speaker of the House">Speaker of the House</a> <a href="/John_Boehner" title="John Boehner">John Boehner</a> (R-OH) claimed that if President Obama used an executive order to carry out immigration reform, he would set his "legacy of lawlessness" in stone. Boehner stated, "He’ll be sacrificing the integrity of our laws on the altar of political opportunity, and I can guarantee you the American people would hold him to account,” he told reporters. “The actions he’s threatening to take are not about policy. They’re about politics."<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16">[16]</a></sup> </p><p>President Obama announced on September 6, 2014, that he would delay any executive actions on immigration until after the <a href="/U.S._Congress_elections,_2014" class="mw-redirect" title="U.S. Congress elections, 2014">November 4, 2014 elections</a> in order to keep the issue from being politicized as a campaign issue.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17">[17]</a></sup> Obama explained, "The truth of the matter is – is that the politics did shift midsummer because of that problem. I want to spend some time, even as we’re getting all our ducks in a row for the executive action, I also want to make sure that the public understands why we’re doing this, why it’s the right thing for the American people, why it’s the right thing for the American economy." </p><p><br /> </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Funding_increase_request">Funding increase request</span></h4> <p>On July 9, 2014, Obama requested a $3.7 billion budget increase in order to carry out the administration's plan to create new detention centers and speed up the hearings process. A spokesman for Boehner suggested, "The speaker still supports deploying the National Guard to provide humanitarian support in the affected areas — which this proposal does not address."<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18">[18]</a></sup> However, in a closed meeting with House Republicans, Boehner urged action on the bill prior to the August recess.<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19">[19]</a></sup> </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Refugee_status_extension">Refugee status extension</span></h4> The White House announced the consideration of a proposal allowing for citizens of Honduras, where many unaccompanied minors are illegally migrating from due to gang violence, to file for refugee status on July 24, 2014. The ability to file as a refugee would prevent migrants from having to make the dangerous journey from Honduras with an unknown outcome and would allow them to apply for refugee status prior to leaving the country. While supporters of the idea believe offering refugee status would greatly cut down the flow of immigrants crossing the border, a Federation for American Immigration Reform spokesperson warned, "Once you stretch the definition of refugee to include people in countries where there is violence or widespread poverty, you are going to create the expectation that people will be granted asylum, based on the same claim, if they get to the United States." The White House acknowledged the proposal was being considered, but a spokesperson clarified, "It doesn't mean we're going to do it."<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20">[20]</a></sup></div></div><div id="obamaissues-isisinsurgency-3" class="bp-panel-content" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="obamaissues-isisinsurgency-3-tab" aria-hidden="true"> <div> <dl><dd><dl><dd><i>See also: <a href="/ISIS_insurgency_in_Iraq_and_Syria" title="ISIS insurgency in Iraq and Syria">ISIS insurgency in Iraq and Syria</a></i></dd></dl></dd></dl> <div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:127px;"><a href="/ISIS_insurgency_in_Iraq" title="ISIS insurgency in Iraq"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/Iraq-CIA_WFB_Map.png/250px-Iraq-CIA_WFB_Map.png" decoding="async" width="125" height="135" class="thumbimage" data-file-width="326" data-file-height="351" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/File:Iraq_map.png" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Map of Iraq</div></div></div>Iraqi security forces were not well-trained or well-equipped enough following the American withdrawal of troops to stave off the al-Qaeda off-shoot, Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which had grown in power due to their actions in the civil war in neighboring Syria. On June 12, 2014, while reviewing options in dealing with increasing violence in Iraq by ISIS, Obama stated, "What we’ve seen over the last couple of days indicates Iraq’s going to need more help," however, the administration pointed out they would not send ground troops into Iraq. Obama authorized airstrikes in Iraq if necessary, on August 7, 2014.<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21">[21]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-abc_22-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-abc-22">[22]</a></sup> Several airstrikes took place in the following days, as well as humanitarian drops to those battling ISIS troops.<sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23">[23]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-24">[24]</a></sup> <p>Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was ousted by the president of Iraq on August 11, 2014, a move that brought support from Obama and other heads of state around the world. Haider al-Abadi, of the same political party as Maliki, was nominated to replace Maliki in hopes of forming a more inclusive government to the region.<sup id="cite_ref-25" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-25">[25]</a></sup> </p><p>Two American citizens were beheaded by ISIS as a message to the president about America's military involvement in their movement. Obama responded, stating, "It’s not only that we’re going to be bringing to justice those who perpetrated this terrible crime against these two fine young men, but more broadly the United States will continue to lead a regional and international effort against the barbaric and ultimately empty vision that ISIL represents and that’s going to take some time, but we’re going to get it done,” Obama said. “I’m very confident of it."<sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-26">[26]</a></sup> </p> <h4><span id="Obama.27s_strategy"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Obama's_strategy">Obama's strategy</span></h4> <p>During a September 10, 2014 national address President Obama outlined air strikes, including in Syria, an increased number of U.S. military advisers in Iraq, aid for Iraqi ground forces and continued humanitarian support to those displaced by ISIS in an attempt to "degrade, and ultimately destroy" the terrorist group. Obama stated that with the help of a "broad coalition" and assistance from the new Iraqi government, the United States would help eliminate the group. The national address came on the heels of much debate during the congressional recess on the proper way to deal with ISIS, another issue covered in the address, with Obama calling on <a href="/United_States_Congress" title="United States Congress">Congress</a> to grant the administration provisions to help Syrian opposition forces battle ISIS in Syria.<sup id="cite_ref-obamaaddress_27-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-obamaaddress-27">[27]</a></sup> </p> {</div></div><div id="obamaissues-wiretapping-4" class="bp-panel-content" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="obamaissues-wiretapping-4-tab" aria-hidden="true"> <div> <p>In a classified presentation provided to <i>The Guardian</i> by former <a href="/National_Security_Agency" title="National Security Agency">National Security Agency</a> contractor Edward Snowden, it was made public that the NSA had been collecting information from top tech companies about U.S. citizens starting in 2007. Tech companies implicated in the Prism program began with Microsoft in 2007, followed by Yahoo (2008), Google (2009), Facebook (2009), PalTalk (2009), YouTube (2010), Skype (2011), AOL (2011) and Apple (2012). Prism gave the intelligence agency a direct connection to the servers of the companies, allowing the agency to gain information about email, videos, photos, stored data, file transfers, logins and social networking details. Instead of requiring FISA courts' permissions to acquire each piece of information, the agency is permitted to investigate anyone as long as it has reasonable suspicion. When asked about the NSA program, <a href="/American_Civil_Liberties_Union" title="American Civil Liberties Union">American Civil Liberties Union</a> Director Jameel Jaffer stated, "It's shocking enough just that the NSA is asking companies to do this. The NSA is part of the military. The military has been granted unprecedented access to civilian communications."<sup id="cite_ref-prism_28-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-prism-28">[28]</a></sup> </p><p>The data collected by the NSA not only included the information from tech companies but communications companies such as Verizon, AT&T and Sprint. The information collected from cellular companies not only include the metadata collected but also the content of phone calls under the Prism program. The information collection was first allowed by the <a href="/George_W._Bush" title="George W. Bush">Bush</a> administration and then renewed under the Obama administration in 2012 under the Patriot Act.<sup id="cite_ref-29" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-29">[29]</a></sup> According to a September 17, 2013 release by the FISA court, no telecommunications companies have challenged the demand of the NSA to disclose records.<sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-30">[30]</a></sup> </p> Snowden was indicted on two charges under the Espionage Act of 1917 on June 21, 2013, but he sought asylum in Russia. His asylum was granted on August 1, 2013, for one year.<sup id="cite_ref-snowdencharges_31-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-snowdencharges-31">[31]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-snowdenindicted_32-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-snowdenindicted-32">[32]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-snowdenasylum_33-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-snowdenasylum-33">[33]</a></sup></div></div></div></div></div><style> :root { --padding-inline: 16px; --content-max-width: 1200px; /* Global color variables for tabbed menu */ --tabbed-border-color: #ddd; --tabbed-hover-background-color: #f3f3f3; --tabbed-hover-text-color: #1D44A7; --tabbed-active-text-color: #333; --tabbed-active-border-color: #f0a236; --tabbed-default-text-color: #767676; } /* Basic Reset */ .mw-content-ltr .bp-content-grid ul { margin: 0; } /* Global Content Grid */ .bp-content-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: [grid-edge-start] minmax(var(--padding-inline), 1fr) [grid-content-start] min(100% - (var(--padding-inline) * 2), var(--content-max-width)) [grid-content-end] minmax(var(--padding-inline), 1fr) [grid-edge-end]; 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}); // Check if there's an initial hash in the URL var initialHash = window.location.hash.substring(1); if (initialHash) { openTabAndScroll(initialHash, true); } // Update URL hash when a new tab is clicked tabList.forEach(function (item) { item.addEventListener('click', function () { var panelID = item.getAttribute('data-panel'); manualNavigation = true; history.pushState(null, '', '#' + panelID); // Add new history entry for tabs }); }); // Handle hashchange event for navigation to tabs window.addEventListener('hashchange', function () { if (manualNavigation) { manualNavigation = false; return; } var newHash = window.location.hash.substring(1); openTabAndScroll(newHash, true); }); // Handle popstate event for back/forward button navigation window.addEventListener('popstate', function () { var currentHash = window.location.hash.substring(1); openTabAndScroll(currentHash, false); // Don't scroll on popstate }); }); }); </script> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Key_legislation">Key legislation</span></h2> <div class="bp-content-grid" style="margin: 1em 0"><div aria-label="obamakeylegislation" role="tablist" data-nav-id="obamakeylegislation" class="bp-tab-list"><div class="bp-tab-item" role="tab" tabindex="0" data-expanded="true" data-panel="obamakeylegislation-education-1"><span class="bp-tab-link">Education</span></div><div class="bp-tab-item" role="tab" data-expanded="nil" data-panel="obamakeylegislation-healthcare-2"><span class="bp-tab-link">Healthcare</span></div><div class="bp-tab-item" role="tab" data-expanded="nil" data-panel="obamakeylegislation-energy-3"><span class="bp-tab-link">Energy</span></div><div class="bp-tab-item" role="tab" data-expanded="nil" data-panel="obamakeylegislation-executiveorders-4"><span class="bp-tab-link">Executive orders</span></div></div><div class="bp-panel-container" data-nav-id="obamakeylegislation"><div class="bp-panel-grid"><div id="obamakeylegislation-education-1" class="bp-panel-content visible" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="obamakeylegislation-education-1-tab" aria-hidden="false"> <div> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Race_to_the_Top">Race to the Top</span></h3> <table style="width:200px; background:#F8F8F8; border:1px solid #ccc; float:right; padding:5px; margin:5px; text-align: center; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px #A0A0A0;"> <tbody><tr> <td><hr style="height:3px; background-color:#70ae43; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px #A0A0A0;" /><div class="center"><div class="floatnone"><a href="/Education_Policy" title="Education Policy"><img alt="Education Policy Logo on Ballotpedia.png" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/c/c6/Education_Policy_Logo_on_Ballotpedia.png/200px-Education_Policy_Logo_on_Ballotpedia.png" decoding="async" width="200" height="87" srcset="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/c/c6/Education_Policy_Logo_on_Ballotpedia.png/300px-Education_Policy_Logo_on_Ballotpedia.png 1.5x, https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/c/c6/Education_Policy_Logo_on_Ballotpedia.png/400px-Education_Policy_Logo_on_Ballotpedia.png 2x" data-file-width="693" data-file-height="300" /></a></div></div><hr style="height:3px; background-color:#70ae43; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px #A0A0A0; margin-bottom:5px;" /> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #F8F8F8; line-height:135%; font-size:90%;"><a href="/Education_policy_in_the_United_States" title="Education policy in the United States">Education policy in the U.S.</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #F8F8F8; line-height:135%; font-size:90%;"><a href="/Public_education_in_the_United_States" title="Public education in the United States">Public education in the U.S.</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #F8F8F8; line-height:135%; font-size:90%;"><a href="/School_choice_information_by_state" title="School choice information by state">School choice in the U.S.</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #F8F8F8;line-height:135%; font-size:90%;"><a href="/Charter_schools_in_the_United_States" title="Charter schools in the United States">Charter schools in the U.S.</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #F8F8F8;line-height:135%; font-size:90%;"><a href="/Higher_education_in_the_United_States" title="Higher education in the United States">Higher education in the U.S.</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #F8F8F8; line-height:135%; font-size:90%;"><a href="/Glossary_of_education_terms" title="Glossary of education terms">Glossary of education terms</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #F8F8F8; line-height:135%; font-size:90%;"><a href="/List_of_education_statistics_tables" title="List of education statistics tables">Education statistics</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Public_Policy" title="Public Policy"><img alt="Public Policy Logo-one line.png" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/4/41/Public_Policy_Logo-one_line.png/200px-Public_Policy_Logo-one_line.png" decoding="async" width="200" height="34" srcset="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/4/41/Public_Policy_Logo-one_line.png/300px-Public_Policy_Logo-one_line.png 1.5x, https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/4/41/Public_Policy_Logo-one_line.png/400px-Public_Policy_Logo-one_line.png 2x" data-file-width="945" data-file-height="162" /></a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <p><a href="/Race_to_the_Top" title="Race to the Top">Race to the Top</a> was the seminal policy of Secretary <a href="/Arne_Duncan" title="Arne Duncan">Arne Duncan</a>'s Department of Education term. It was a reform designed to induce competition among states and school districts for federally allocated grants. Duncan argued that the incentive to attain Federal grant money and the resulting competition would spur innovation and improve student achievement. The program was funded by the <a href="/American_Recovery_and_Reinvestment_Act" title="American Recovery and Reinvestment Act">American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009</a> and had an initial budget of $4.35 billion. To become eligible, states needed to satisfy a "Common Core" of achievement standards. States proposed sweeping reform objectives and then submit grant proposals for programs they believe would achieve the objectives outlined. Proposals were measured against a scoring criteria, and grants were awarded. The Department of Education then measured states' progress towards their target objectives as the grant renewal process proceeded. Several states were unable to meet proposed targets in Race to the Top funded programs. As a result, grant allocation slowed significantly after three initial rounds. In 2012, the Department of Education began a new grant allocation round -- Race to the Top-District -- in which school districts, rather than state school systems, may apply for Race to the Top program grants.<sup id="cite_ref-Chicago_34-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Chicago-34">[34]</a></sup> </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Common_Core">Common Core</span></h3> <p>The Race to the Top <a href="/Common_Core" class="mw-redirect" title="Common Core">Common Core</a> Standards were developed by the National Association of Governors and the Council of Chief State School Officers. They were "informed by the highest, most effective models from states across the country and countries around the world and provide teachers and parents with a common understanding of what students are expected to learn" in order to "provide a clear and consistent framework to prepare our children for college and the workforce." Forty-five states and the District of Columbia, along with four territories, adopted Common Core Standards. Developed specifically for English Language Arts and Mathematics instruction, "the Standards are (1) research and evidence based, (2) aligned with college and work expectations, (3) rigorous, and (4) internationally benchmarked."<sup id="cite_ref-35" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-35">[35]</a></sup> </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Grant_criteria">Grant criteria</span></h4> <p>Grants are rewarded based on these scores and subsequent rankings:<sup id="cite_ref-goals_36-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-goals-36">[36]</a></sup> </p> <ul><li>A. State Success Factors (125 points) <ul><li>(A)(1) Articulating State’s education reform agenda and LEAs’ participation in it (65 points)</li> <li>(A)(2) Building strong statewide capacity to implement, scale up, and sustain proposed plans (30 points)</li> <li>(A)(3) Demonstrating significant progress in raising achievement and closing gaps (30 points)</li></ul></li> <li>B. Standards and Assessments (70 points) <ul><li>(B)(1) Developing and adopting common standards (40 points)</li> <li>(B)(2) Developing and implementing common, high-quality assessments (10 points)</li> <li>(B)(3) Supporting the transition to enhanced standards and high-quality assessments (20 points)</li></ul></li> <li>C. Data Systems to Support Instruction (47 points) <ul><li>(C)(1) Fully implementing a statewide longitudinal data system (24 points)</li> <li>(C)(2) Accessing and using State data (5 points)</li> <li>(C)(3) Using data to improve instruction (18 points)</li></ul></li> <li>D. Great Teachers and Leaders (138 points) <ul><li>(D)(1) Providing high-quality pathways for aspiring teachers and principals (21 points)</li> <li>(D)(2) Improving teacher and principal effectiveness based on performance (58 points)</li> <li>(D)(3) Ensuring equitable distribution of effective teachers and principals (25 points)</li> <li>(D)(4) Improving the effectiveness of teacher and principal preparation programs (14 points)</li> <li>(D)(5) Providing effective support to teachers and principals (20 points)</li></ul></li> <li>E. Turning Around the Lowest-Achieving Schools (50 points) <ul><li>(E)(1) Intervening in the lowest-achieving schools and LEAs (10 points)</li> <li>(E)(2) Turning around the lowest-achieving schools (40 points)</li></ul></li> <li>F. General Selection Criteria (55 points) <ul><li>(F)(1) Making education funding a priority (10 points)</li> <li>(F)(2) Ensuring successful conditions for high-performing charters and other innovative schools (40 points)</li> <li>(F)(3) Demonstrating other significant reform conditions (5 points)</li></ul></li></ul> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Goals">Goals</span></h4> <p>The goals of the Race to the Top reforms were:<sup id="cite_ref-goals_36-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-goals-36">[36]</a></sup> </p> <ul><li>to use data to inform instruction</li> <li>to raise achievement standards and graduation rates</li> <li>to turn around historically low-performing schools</li> <li>to improve teacher and principal quality.</li></ul> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Opposing_viewpoints">Opposing viewpoints</span></h4> <ul><li>Critics argued that the Race to the Top funding model would take resources from already struggling school systems and create vast disparities in achievement. Supporters maintained that only a "small but significant" portion of Race to the Top funds would go to states with the "best, homegrown plans for education reform," and that absent these incentives, the status-quo Federal funding model would continue to fail students by ignoring innovation.<sup id="cite_ref-37" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-37">[37]</a></sup></li></ul> <ul><li>Other opponents questioned whether these reforms could adequately induce innovation. They saw Race to the Top as evidence of "cartel federalism" in line with the Bush administration's No Child Left Behind policy. They did not believe reform would be achieved by further centralization of standards because “the ends of the educational system are still set by the same small group of officials, who are protected from competition.”<sup id="cite_ref-38" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-38">[38]</a></sup></li></ul> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Supporting_viewpoints">Supporting viewpoints</span></h4> <ul><li>American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten supported Race to the Top, but in May of 2013, she called for a moratorium on full implementation:</li></ul> <table data-nosnippet="" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;background-color: transparent; auto; ;"> <tbody><tr> <td width="20" valign="top" style="border:none; color:#B2B7F2;font-size:35px;font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; padding: 10px 3px;">“ </td> <td valign="top" style="border: none; padding: 4px 10px;">Done right, Common Core standards will 'lead to a revolution in teaching and learning' that puts critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork ahead of rote memorization and endless test-taking, Weingarten said. Done wrong, 'they will end up in the overflowing dustbin of abandoned reforms, with people throwing up their hands, believing that public schools are too broken to save.<sup id="cite_ref-quotedisclaimer_39-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-quotedisclaimer-39">[39]</a></sup> </td> <td width="20" valign="bottom" style="border: none; color: #B2B7F2; font-size: 35px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: right; padding: 10px 1px;">” </td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" class="cquotecite" style="border: none; padding-right: 4%"><cite style="font-style: normal;font-size: smaller; float: right;">—American Federation of Teachers<sup id="cite_ref-40" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-40">[40]</a></sup></cite> </td></tr></tbody></table> <ul><li>Supporters also pointed out that Race to the Top incentivized states to design and pursue serious reforms before any money was handed out. The competition for potential grants induced reforms to improve instruction in both quality and kind across the board, not just among states who ultimately receive grants.<sup id="cite_ref-41" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-41">[41]</a></sup></li></ul> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Results">Results</span></h4> <p>Race to the Top grants recipients were announced in three initial rounds.<sup id="cite_ref-42" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-42">[42]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-43" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-43">[43]</a></sup> <sup id="cite_ref-44" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-44">[44]</a></sup> </p> <ul><li><b>Round 1</b> (March 29, 2010): <a href="/Delaware" title="Delaware">Delaware</a>, <a href="/Tennessee" title="Tennessee">Tennessee</a></li> <li><b>Round 2</b> (August 24, 2010): <a href="/Florida" title="Florida">Florida</a>, <a href="/Georgia" title="Georgia">Georgia</a>, <a href="/Hawaii" title="Hawaii">Hawaii</a>, <a href="/Maryland" title="Maryland">Maryland</a>, <a href="/Massachusetts" title="Massachusetts">Massachusetts</a>, <a href="/New_York" title="New York">New York</a>, <a href="/North_Carolina" title="North Carolina">North Carolina</a>, <a href="/Ohio" title="Ohio">Ohio</a>, <a href="/Rhode_Island" title="Rhode Island">Rhode Island</a>, <a href="/District_of_Columbia" class="mw-redirect" title="District of Columbia">District of Columbia</a></li> <li><b>Round 3</b> (December 23, 2011): <a href="/Arizona" title="Arizona">Arizona</a>, <a href="/Colorado" title="Colorado">Colorado</a>, <a href="/Illinois" title="Illinois">Illinois</a>, <a href="/Kentucky" title="Kentucky">Kentucky</a>, <a href="/Louisiana" title="Louisiana">Louisiana</a>, <a href="/New_Jersey" title="New Jersey">New Jersey</a>, <a href="/Pennsylvania" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a></li></ul> <p>Race to the Top grant allocations slowed significantly after the first three rounds as many states faced delayed implementation of promised reforms.<sup id="cite_ref-45" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-45">[45]</a></sup> </p><p>In 2012, the Department of Education announced a new round of grant allocation -- Race to the Top-District -- in which individual school districts and charter school programs would be eligible for grants. Sixteen grant winners were selected in 2012. A second round of Race to the Top-District grants will be allocated, and in October 2013, 16 finalists for were announced.<sup id="cite_ref-46" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-46">[46]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-47" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-47">[47]</a></sup> </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Noteworthy_events">Noteworthy events</span></h3> <p>Despite 45 states and four territories formally adopting Race to the Top's Common Core, public backlash against the new standards became a frequent occurance. On September 19, 2013, a group of parents in California protested the state's adoption of Common Core when Secretary of Education <a href="/Arne_Duncan" title="Arne Duncan">Arne Duncan</a> (D) visited their city.<sup id="cite_ref-48" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-48">[48]</a></sup> Duncan later drew criticism in November 2013 when he described the opposition to Common Core as "white suburban moms who — all of a sudden — their child isn’t as brilliant as they thought they were, and their school isn’t quite as good as they thought they were," to a group of state school superintendents.<sup id="cite_ref-49" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-49">[49]</a></sup> On November 18, 2013, a number of parents in at least 17 states, including South Carolina and New York, chose to keep their children home from school as part of a "National Common Core Protest Day" to demonstrate opposition to Common Core's "one-size-fits all curriculum" and standardized testing methods.<sup id="cite_ref-50" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-50">[50]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-51" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-51">[51]</a></sup> On December 8, 2013, the Buffalo Teachers Federation in <a href="/New_York" title="New York">New York</a> protested outside the residence of a state education regent in response to Common Core implementation and its emphasis on continually testing students.<sup id="cite_ref-52" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-52">[52]</a></sup> </p><p>In response to the public outcry, several states delayed implementation or rescinded adoption of the standards entirely. The Alabama state school board voted to revoke their agreement to adhere to the Common Core standards on November 14, 2013. However, their existing state standards were still in line with Common Core.<sup id="cite_ref-53" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-53">[53]</a></sup> Alabama was the only state to pull away entirely from its commitment to the Common Core standards. However, others such as Pennsylvania and Indiana chose to halt implementation.<sup id="cite_ref-54" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-54">[54]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-55" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-55">[55]</a></sup> Louisiana chose to delay Common Core's accountability measures for two years; additionally, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Georgia and Michigan chose to delay or abandon Common Core testing.<sup id="cite_ref-56" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-56">[56]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-57" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-57">[57]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-58" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-58">[58]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-59" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-59">[59]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-60" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-60">[60]</a></sup> </p> Both Utah and Florida withdrew from the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers and Smarter Balanced Assessment consortium, although both states planned to continue Common Core implementation.<sup id="cite_ref-61" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-61">[61]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-62" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-62">[62]</a></sup> In Ohio, Representative <a href="/Andrew_Thompson" title="Andrew Thompson">Andrew Thompson</a> introduced House Bill 237 to the <a href="/Ohio_House_of_Representatives" title="Ohio House of Representatives">Ohio House of Representatives</a> in order to prevent the state from implementing Common Core.<sup id="cite_ref-63" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-63">[63]</a></sup></div></div><div id="obamakeylegislation-healthcare-2" class="bp-panel-content" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="obamakeylegislation-healthcare-2-tab" aria-hidden="true"> <div> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Affordable_Care_Act">Affordable Care Act</span></h3> <dl><dd><dl><dd><i>See also: <a href="/Obamacare_overview" class="mw-redirect" title="Obamacare overview">Obamacare overview</a></i></dd></dl></dd></dl> <p>The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, was passed in its finality on March 21, 2010, and signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010.<sup id="cite_ref-nytbecomeslaw_64-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-nytbecomeslaw-64">[64]</a></sup> </p><p>The aim of the law was to provide an expansion of health insurance coverage to more Americans through both individual health insurance marketplaces as well as through employer-provided plans. Minimum requirements of coverage were established and both individual and employer mandates were established over a period of years in order to achieve the goal of expanded coverage. Subsidies and tax credits are provided to individual consumers based on income level and dependents, and existing programs such as medicaid and CHIP were expanded to increase reach. Small businesses receive tax credits based on the level of insurance offered to employees, as well.<sup id="cite_ref-65" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-65">[65]</a></sup> </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Ten_essential_benefits_for_coverage">Ten essential benefits for coverage</span></h4> <p>The law included ten essential benefits that plans created after the law's passage needed to include. Existing plans were grandfathered in, but few of the grandfathered plans remain due to frequent changes to health insurance policies.<sup id="cite_ref-wapowhycanceled_66-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-wapowhycanceled-66">[66]</a></sup> The ten essential benefits outlined by the ACA are:<sup id="cite_ref-67" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-67">[67]</a></sup> </p> <ul><li>Ambulatory patient services</li> <li>Emergency services</li> <li>Hospitalization</li> <li>Maternity and newborn care</li> <li>Mental health and substance abuse disorder services, including behavioral health treatment</li> <li>Prescription drugs</li> <li>Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices</li> <li>Laboratory services</li> <li>Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management</li> <li>Pediatric services, including oral and vision care</li></ul> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Contraception_mandate_in_the_Supreme_Court">Contraception mandate in the Supreme Court</span></h4> <dl><dd><dl><dd><i>See also: <a href="/Obamacare_lawsuits" title="Obamacare lawsuits">Obamacare lawsuits</a></i></dd></dl></dd></dl> <p>On March 25, 2014, the Supreme Court heard the case put forward by Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialties. The case argued that mandated coverage of birth control violated religious freedoms. Both companies' appeals were heard together during a one-hour public session.<sup id="cite_ref-68" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-68">[68]</a></sup> </p><p>The Supreme Court <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/13pdf/13-354_olp1.pdf">ruled in favor of Hobby Lobby</a> in <i>Burwell v. Hobby Lobby</i> on June 30, 2014. The 5-4 decision allowed companies to opt out of offering contraceptives on the basis of religious beliefs. Justice Samuel Alito wrote the court's opinion, stating, "We doubt that the Congress that enacted RFRA — or, for that matter, ACA–would have believed it a tolerable result to put family-run businesses to the choice of violating their sincerely held religious beliefs or making all of their employees lose their existing healthcare plans."<sup id="cite_ref-hobbylobbyruling_69-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-hobbylobbyruling-69">[69]</a></sup> </p><p>The dissenting justices claimed the ruling would allow companies to "opt out of any law (saving only tax laws) they judge incompatible with their sincerely held religious beliefs." Likewise, the Obama administration argued that companies that did not wish to provide the contraceptive coverage or other areas of coverage due to religious beliefs could decide not to provide any company-wide options.<sup id="cite_ref-hobbylobbyruling_69-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-hobbylobbyruling-69">[69]</a></sup> </p><p>Although the decision expanded the notion of corporate personhood to include religious rights "to provide protection for human beings," members of the public found it highly divisive in nature as it reaffirmed the Court's "pro-business" stance.<sup id="cite_ref-70" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-70">[70]</a></sup> Senate Majority Leader <a href="/Harry_Reid" title="Harry Reid">Harry Reid</a> (D-NV) pledged to restore the Affordable Care Act's contraception coverage, stating, "If the Supreme Court will not protect women’s access to health care, then Democrats will. We will continue to fight to preserve women’s access to contraceptive coverage and keep bosses out of the examination room."<sup id="cite_ref-71" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-71">[71]</a></sup> </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Healthcare.gov_rollout">Healthcare.gov rollout</span></h4> <dl><dd><dl><dd><i>See also: <a href="/Healthcare.gov_website_rollout" title="Healthcare.gov website rollout">Healthcare.gov website rollout</a></i></dd></dl></dd></dl> <div style="float:right"> <table class="wikitable" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="205"> <tbody><tr> <td><div class="thumb embedvideo autoResize" style="width: 208px;"><div class="embedvideo autoResize" style=""><div class="embedvideowrap youtube" style="width: 200px"><iframe loading="lazy" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" modestbranding="1" width="200" height="113" src="//www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/mQf_c7SNv-U"></iframe></div></div></div><span style="font-size:80%"><a href="/Pat_Roberts" title="Pat Roberts">Pat Roberts</a> calls for <a href="/Kathleen_Sebelius" title="Kathleen Sebelius">Sebelius</a>' resignation.</span> </td></tr></tbody></table></div> <p>The launch of the Healthcare.gov website featuring the federal healthcare exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act was met with error messages, faulty information being sent to insurers and problems with direct enrollment through insurance companies.<sup id="cite_ref-72" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-72">[72]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-bloombergdata_73-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-bloombergdata-73">[73]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-politicoenrollment_74-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-politicoenrollment-74">[74]</a></sup> At an October 10, 2013, promotional event for the website, <a href="/U.S._Department_of_Health_and_Human_Services" title="U.S. Department of Health and Human Services">Health and Human Services Secretary</a> <a href="/Kathleen_Sebelius" title="Kathleen Sebelius">Kathleen Sebelius</a> stated, "Believe me, we had some early glitches, but it's getting better every day."<sup id="cite_ref-75" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-75">[75]</a></sup> Sebelius testified before the <a href="/United_States_House_of_Representatives_Committee_on_Energy_and_Commerce" title="United States House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce">House Energy and Commerce committee</a> on October 30, 2013. During testimony, Sebelius stated: "In these early weeks, access to HealthCare.gov has been a miserably frustrating experience for way too many Americans, including many who have waited years, in some cases their entire lives, for the security of health insurance."<sup id="cite_ref-CNNSebelius_76-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-CNNSebelius-76">[76]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-sebeliushearing_77-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-sebeliushearing-77">[77]</a></sup> On April 10, 2014, Sebelius resigned from her position following the troubled rollout of Obamacare. She and President Obama determined that the end of the open enrollment period provided a chance for change. She was replaced by <a href="/Sylvia_Mathews_Burwell" title="Sylvia Mathews Burwell">Sylvia Mathews Burwell</a>. </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Health_insurance_policy_cancellations">Health insurance policy cancellations</span></h4> <dl><dd><dl><dd><i>See also: <a href="/Health_insurance_policy_cancellations_since_Obamacare" title="Health insurance policy cancellations since Obamacare">Health insurance policy cancellations since Obamacare</a></i></dd></dl></dd></dl> <p>Leading up to the passage of Obamacare into law, one statement made repeatedly by the President, administration and Congressional supporters, was some form of the line Obama gave in an August 22, 2009, internet address, claiming, "If you like your private health insurance plan, you can keep your plan. Period."<sup id="cite_ref-78" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-78">[78]</a></sup> </p><p>However, when the law was enacted on October 1, 2013, many individually insured people began receiving letters from their insurance carriers notifying them that their current plans would be canceled at the end of the policy term. The plans were canceled because they did not meet new minimum coverage requirements set by the law.<sup id="cite_ref-NYTcancellationsnotsite_79-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NYTcancellationsnotsite-79">[79]</a></sup> </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Cost_overruns">Cost overruns</span></h4> The Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigated the costs of the <i>Healthcare.gov</i> federal exchange website, estimating that the total cost, as of March 2014, was $840 million.<sup id="cite_ref-80" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-80">[80]</a></sup> GAO Director of Acquisition and Sourcing Management William Woods claimed that the overrun was due to inconsistent oversight and constantly changing requirements, which were noted by contractors when asked to testify during the <a href="/Healthcare.gov_website_rollout" title="Healthcare.gov website rollout">website rollout</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-CBSoverrun_81-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-CBSoverrun-81">[81]</a></sup> According to <a href="/Kathleen_Sebelius" title="Kathleen Sebelius">Kathleen Sebelius</a>' House testimony on October 30, 2013, the website had a cost of $118 million plus another $56 million for IT support.<sup id="cite_ref-USATSebelius_82-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-USATSebelius-82">[82]</a></sup></div></div><div id="obamakeylegislation-energy-3" class="bp-panel-content" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="obamakeylegislation-energy-3-tab" aria-hidden="true"> <div> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Carbon_cap_executive_order">Carbon cap executive order</span></h3> <table class="infobox" style="width:250px; background:#F8F8F8; border:1px solid #ccc; float:right; padding:5px; margin:5px; text-align: center; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px #A0A0A0;"> <tbody><tr> <th style="background:#F8F8F8;"><hr style="height:5px; background-color:#E56D31; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px #A0A0A0;" /><div class="center"><div class="floatnone"><a href="/Energy_Policy" title="Energy Policy"><img alt="Energy Policy Logo on Ballotpedia.png" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/4/4d/Energy_Policy_Logo_on_Ballotpedia.png/200px-Energy_Policy_Logo_on_Ballotpedia.png" decoding="async" width="200" height="87" srcset="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/4/4d/Energy_Policy_Logo_on_Ballotpedia.png/300px-Energy_Policy_Logo_on_Ballotpedia.png 1.5x, https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/4/4d/Energy_Policy_Logo_on_Ballotpedia.png/400px-Energy_Policy_Logo_on_Ballotpedia.png 2x" data-file-width="693" data-file-height="300" /></a></div></div><hr style="height:5px; background-color:#E56D31; box-shadow: 0px 2px 5px #A0A0A0;" /> </th></tr> <tr> <th style="background-color: #F8F8F8; line-height:130%; font-weight:normal;"><center><a href="/Fracking_in_the_United_States" title="Fracking in the United States">Fracking in the U.S.</a></center><hr style="background-color:##A0A0A0;" /> </th></tr> <tr> <th style="background-color: #F8F8F8; line-height:130%; font-weight:normal;"><center><a href="/Energy_use_in_the_United_States" title="Energy use in the United States">Energy use in the U.S.</a> </center><hr style="background-color:##A0A0A0;" /> </th></tr> <tr> <th style="background-color: #F8F8F8; line-height:130%; font-weight:normal;"><center><a href="/Energy_policy_in_the_United_States" title="Energy policy in the United States">Energy policy in the U.S.</a> </center><hr style="background-color:##A0A0A0;" /> </th></tr> <tr> <th style="background-color: #F8F8F8; line-height:130%; font-weight:normal;"><center><a href="/Environmental_Policy" title="Environmental Policy">Environmental policy</a></center><hr style="background-color:##A0A0A0;" /> </th></tr> <tr> <th style="background-color: #F8F8F8; line-height:130%; font-weight:normal;"><center><a href="/State_fracking_information_pages" class="mw-redirect" title="State fracking information pages">State fracking policy</a></center><hr style="background-color:##A0A0A0;" /> </th></tr> <tr> <th style="background-color: #F8F8F8; line-height:130%; font-weight:normal;"><center><a href="/State_environmental_policy_pages" title="State environmental policy pages">State environmental policy</a></center><hr style="background-color:##A0A0A0;" /> </th></tr> <tr> <th style="background-color: #F8F8F8; line-height:130%; font-weight:normal;"><center><a href="/Glossary_of_energy_terms" title="Glossary of energy terms">Glossary of energy terms</a></center><hr style="background-color:##A0A0A0;" /> </th></tr> <tr> <th style="background-color: #F8F8F8; line-height:130%; font-weight:normal;"><center><a href="/The_Policy_Tracker" title="The Policy Tracker">Public policy news</a></center> </th></tr> <tr> <th style="background-color: #F8F8F8; line-height:130%; font-weight:normal;"><hr style="background-color:##A0A0A0;" /><a href="/Public_Policy" title="Public Policy"><img alt="Public Policy Logo-one line.png" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/4/41/Public_Policy_Logo-one_line.png/200px-Public_Policy_Logo-one_line.png" decoding="async" width="200" height="34" srcset="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/4/41/Public_Policy_Logo-one_line.png/300px-Public_Policy_Logo-one_line.png 1.5x, https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/4/41/Public_Policy_Logo-one_line.png/400px-Public_Policy_Logo-one_line.png 2x" data-file-width="945" data-file-height="162" /></a><hr style="background-color:##A0A0A0;" /> </th></tr> <tr> <td><div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; font-weight:normal;"><small><a href="/Energy_on_the_ballot" title="Energy on the ballot">Energy on the ballot</a><br /><a href="/Local_fracking_on_the_ballot" title="Local fracking on the ballot">Local fracking on the ballot</a><br /><a href="/Fracking_on_the_ballot" class="mw-redirect" title="Fracking on the ballot">Statewide fracking on the ballot</a></small></div> </td></tr></tbody></table> <p>On June 2, 2014, President Obama signed an executive order intended to cut carbon pollution in the United States by 30% of 2005 levels by 2030. The order allowed states to individually determine which policies would be more effective for them to reach their goals. A similar bill was debated by <a href="/United_States_Congress" title="United States Congress">Congress</a> during Obama's first term in office, but it failed to pass. Obama used powers established by the 1970 Clean Air Act to sign the executive order.<sup id="cite_ref-nyteo_83-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-nyteo-83">[83]</a></sup> Legal challenges were expected to arise over the 645-page order. <a href="/U.S._Environmental_Protection_Agency" title="U.S. Environmental Protection Agency">EPA Administrator</a> <a href="/Gina_McCarthy" title="Gina McCarthy">Gina McCarthy</a> said of the rule, "This is not just about disappearing polar bears or melting ice caps. This is about protecting our health and our homes. This is about protecting local economies and jobs."<sup id="cite_ref-usacap_84-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-usacap-84">[84]</a></sup> </p><p>President Obama gave the EPA until June 2015 to finalize the rule, and states had until June 2016 to submit their plans, but the EPA pushed the deadline for states back to 2017 for those working individually and 2018 for those working together on plans.<sup id="cite_ref-usacap_84-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-usacap-84">[84]</a></sup> </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Possible_ramifications">Possible ramifications</span></h4> <p>Coal plants were most likely to be hit the hardest, with estimates that hundreds of the nation's 6,000 plants would be shut down by 2030. The Chamber of Commerce estimated that the new rule could result in a lowering of the gross domestic product (GDP) by as much as $50 billion annually.<sup id="cite_ref-nyteo_83-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-nyteo-83">[83]</a></sup> </p> The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) president spoke out against the action, suggesting 75,000 jobs could be lost by 2020. He stated, "The proposed rule … will lead to long-term and irreversible job losses for thousands of coal miners, electrical workers, utility workers, boilermakers, railroad workers and others without achieving any significant reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions."<sup id="cite_ref-85" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-85">[85]</a></sup> Additionally, Democratic lawmakers and candidates in coal-driven states came out in opposition to the president's plan. Those lawmakers included <a href="/Alison_Lundergan_Grimes" title="Alison Lundergan Grimes">Alison Lundergan Grimes</a>, <a href="/Natalie_Tennant" title="Natalie Tennant">Natalie Tennant</a> and Rep. <a href="/Nick_Rahall" title="Nick Rahall">Nick Rahall</a> (D-WV).<sup id="cite_ref-86" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-86">[86]</a></sup></div></div><div id="obamakeylegislation-executiveorders-4" class="bp-panel-content" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="obamakeylegislation-executiveorders-4-tab" aria-hidden="true"> <div> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Response_to_VA_problems">Response to VA problems</span></h3> <p>On August 26, 2014, President Obama announced <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/08/26/fact-sheet-president-obama-announces-new-executive-actions-fulfill-our-p">19 new executive orders</a> aimed at improving the functionality of Veterans Affairs hospitals across the country in addition to providing other benefits for veterans. The executive orders enacted programs in the following areas.<sup id="cite_ref-87" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-87">[87]</a></sup> </p> <ul><li>Access to quality healthcare - improved efficiency, accountability and transparency</li> <li>Mental health initiatives for veterans</li> <li>Mortgage interest rate reductions</li> <li>Student debt relief</li> <li>Improvements on the GI Bill</li> <li>Job placement programs</li> <li>Combating veteran homelessness</li> <li>Increased funding to the <a href="/U.S._Department_of_Veterans_Affairs" title="U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs">U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs</a></li> <li>Working through the disability claims backlog</li></ul></div></div></div></div></div><style> :root { --padding-inline: 16px; --content-max-width: 1200px; /* Global color variables for tabbed menu */ --tabbed-border-color: #ddd; --tabbed-hover-background-color: #f3f3f3; --tabbed-hover-text-color: #1D44A7; --tabbed-active-text-color: #333; --tabbed-active-border-color: #f0a236; 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openTabAndScroll(currentHash, false); // Don't scroll on popstate }); }); }); </script> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="State_of_the_Union_addresses">State of the Union addresses</span></h2> <p>Every year in office, the <a href="/President_of_the_United_States" title="President of the United States">president of the United States</a> addresses <a href="/United_States_Congress" title="United States Congress">Congress</a> on the present state of affairs as well as the administration's goals for the coming year.<sup id="cite_ref-88" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-88">[88]</a></sup> Addresses made by presidents in their inauguration years are not technically "State of the Union" addresses and are typically held in February.<sup id="cite_ref-89" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-89">[89]</a></sup> Following are pages with information on Obama's State of the addresses. </p> <div style="-moz-column-count:4; -webkit-column-count:4; column-count:4;" class="mobile-columns"> <ul><li><a href="/Barack_Obama%27s_State_of_the_Union_Address,_2016" title="Barack Obama's State of the Union Address, 2016"> Jan. 12, 2016</a></li> <li><a href="/Barack_Obama%27s_State_of_the_Union_Address,_2015" title="Barack Obama's State of the Union Address, 2015"> Jan. 20, 2015</a></li> <li><a href="/Barack_Obama%27s_State_of_the_Union_Address,_2014" title="Barack Obama's State of the Union Address, 2014"> Jan. 28, 2014</a></li> <li><a href="/Barack_Obama%27s_State_of_the_Union_Address,_2013" title="Barack Obama's State of the Union Address, 2013"> Feb. 12, 2013</a></li> <li><a href="/Barack_Obama%27s_State_of_the_Union_Address,_2012" title="Barack Obama's State of the Union Address, 2012"> Jan. 24, 2012</a></li> <li><a href="/Barack_Obama%27s_State_of_the_Union_Address,_2011" title="Barack Obama's State of the Union Address, 2011"> Jan. 26, 2011</a></li> <li><a href="/Barack_Obama%27s_State_of_the_Union_Address,_2010" title="Barack Obama's State of the Union Address, 2010"> Jan. 27, 2010</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-of-President-Barack-Obama-Address-to-Joint-Session-of-Congress">February 24, 2009</a></li></ul> </div> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Elections">Elections</span></h2> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="U.S._President">U.S. President</span></h3> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="2012">2012</span></h4> <dl><dd><dl><dd><i>See also: <a href="/Endorsements_by_state_officials_of_presidential_candidates_in_the_2012_election" class="mw-redirect" title="Endorsements by state officials of presidential candidates in the 2012 election">Endorsements by state officials of presidential candidates in the 2012 election</a></i></dd></dl></dd></dl> <p>Obama sought and won re-election as <a href="/President_of_the_United_States" title="President of the United States">President of the United States</a> in 2012.<sup id="cite_ref-reelect_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-reelect-1">[1]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-reelect_1-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-reelect-1">[1]</a></sup> </p><p><a href="/Mitt_Romney" title="Mitt Romney">Mitt Romney</a> ran for the Republican Party, while <a href="/Gary_Johnson_(New_Mexico)" title="Gary Johnson (New Mexico)">Gary Johnson</a> ran as a <a href="/Libertarian" class="mw-redirect" title="Libertarian">Libertarian</a> and <a href="/Jill_Stein" title="Jill Stein">Jill Stein</a> ran for the <a href="/Green_Party" title="Green Party">Green Party</a>. </p> <table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="600px" class="collapsible"> <tbody><tr> <th style="color:white;background-color:#444;text-align:center" colspan="6"><b>U.S. presidential election, 2012</b></th> </tr> <tr> <td style="color:white;background-color:grey;text-align:center" colspan="2" width="100px">Party</td> <td width="275px" style="color:white;background-color:grey;text-align:center">Candidate</td> <td width="75px" style="color:white;background-color:grey;text-align:center">Vote %</td> <td width="100px" style="color:white;background-color:grey;text-align:center">Votes</td> <td width="100px" style="color:white;background-color:grey;text-align:center">Electoral votes</td> </tr><tr> <td width="25px"> <span style="background-color:#00b;">    </span></td> <td width="75px">Democratic </td> <td width="275px" style="text-align:center"><a href="/Won" title="Won"><img alt="Green check mark transparent.png" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/thumb/0/0a/Green_check_mark_transparent.png/14px-Green_check_mark_transparent.png" width="14" height="14" srcset="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/thumb/0/0a/Green_check_mark_transparent.png/21px-Green_check_mark_transparent.png 1.5x, https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/thumb/0/0a/Green_check_mark_transparent.png/28px-Green_check_mark_transparent.png 2x" data-file-width="100" data-file-height="100" /></a><b><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Barack Obama</a>/<a href="/Joe_Biden" title="Joe Biden">Joe Biden</a></b> <small><i><b>Incumbent</b></i></small></td> <td width="75" style="text-align:center">51.3%</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">65,899,660</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">332</td> </tr><tr> <td width="25px"> <span style="background-color:#b00;">    </span></td> <td width="75px">Republican </td> <td width="275px" style="text-align:center"> <a href="/Mitt_Romney" title="Mitt Romney">Mitt Romney</a>/<a href="/Paul_Ryan" title="Paul Ryan">Paul Ryan</a> </td> <td width="75" style="text-align:center">47.4%</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">60,932,152</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">206</td> </tr><tr> <td width="25px"> <span style="background-color:#fd0;">    </span></td> <td width="75px">Libertarian </td> <td width="275px" style="text-align:center"> <a href="/Gary_Johnson" title="Gary Johnson">Gary Johnson</a>/Jim Gray </td> <td width="75" style="text-align:center">1%</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">1,275,804</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">0</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25px"> <span style="background-color:#0b0;">    </span></td> <td width="75px">Green </td> <td width="275px" style="text-align:center"> <a href="/Jill_Stein" title="Jill Stein">Jill Stein</a>/Cheri Honkala </td> <td width="75" style="text-align:center">0.4%</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">469,501</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">0</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="4" width="450" style="color:white;background-color:#444;text-align:center"><b>Total Votes</b></td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center"><b>128,577,117</b></td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center"><b>538</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left" colspan="6"><i>Election results via: <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2012/2012presgeresults.pdf">FEC official election results</a></i></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><br /> <b>Other candidates</b> that appeared on the ballot received less than 0.1% of the vote. Those candidates included: Roseanne Barr, Rocky Anderson, Thomas Hoefling, Jerry Litzel, Jeff Boss, Merlin Miller, Randall Terry, Jill Reed, Richard Duncan, Andre Barnett, Chuck Baldwin, Barbara Washer, Tom Stevens, Virgil Goode, Will Christensen, Stewart Alexander, James Harris, Jim Carlson, Sheila Tittle, Peta Lindsay, Gloria La Riva, Jerry White, Dean Morstad and Jack Fellure.<sup id="cite_ref-90" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-90">[90]</a></sup> </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="2008">2008</span></h4> <p>In 2008, Obama defeated <a href="/John_McCain" title="John McCain">John McCain</a> (R), <a href="/Ralph_Nader" title="Ralph Nader">Ralph Nader</a> (Peace and Freedom), <a href="/Bob_Barr" title="Bob Barr">Bob Barr</a> (L), Chuck Baldwin (Constitution) and Cynthia McKinney (Green) in the Presidential election on November 4, 2008. </p> <table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="600px" class="collapsible"> <tbody><tr> <th style="color:white;background-color:#444;text-align:center" colspan="6"><b>U.S. presidential election, 2008</b></th> </tr> <tr> <td style="color:white;background-color:grey;text-align:center" colspan="2" width="100px">Party</td> <td width="275px" style="color:white;background-color:grey;text-align:center">Candidate</td> <td width="75px" style="color:white;background-color:grey;text-align:center">Vote %</td> <td width="100px" style="color:white;background-color:grey;text-align:center">Votes</td> <td width="100px" style="color:white;background-color:grey;text-align:center">Electoral votes</td> </tr><tr> <td width="25px"> <span style="background-color:#00b;">    </span></td> <td width="75px">Democratic </td> <td width="275px" style="text-align:center"><a href="/Won" title="Won"><img alt="Green check mark transparent.png" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/thumb/0/0a/Green_check_mark_transparent.png/14px-Green_check_mark_transparent.png" width="14" height="14" srcset="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/thumb/0/0a/Green_check_mark_transparent.png/21px-Green_check_mark_transparent.png 1.5x, https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/thumb/0/0a/Green_check_mark_transparent.png/28px-Green_check_mark_transparent.png 2x" data-file-width="100" data-file-height="100" /></a><b><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Barack Obama</a>/<a href="/Joe_Biden" title="Joe Biden">Joe Biden</a></b> </td> <td width="75" style="text-align:center">53%</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">69,498,516</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">365</td> </tr><tr> <td width="25px"> <span style="background-color:#b00;">    </span></td> <td width="75px">Republican </td> <td width="275px" style="text-align:center"> <a href="/John_McCain" title="John McCain">John McCain</a>/<a href="/Sarah_Palin" title="Sarah Palin">Sarah Palin</a> </td> <td width="75" style="text-align:center">45.7%</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">59,948,323</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">173</td> </tr><tr> <td width="25px"> <span style="background-color:#000;">    </span></td> <td width="75px">Peace and Freedom </td> <td width="275px" style="text-align:center"> <a href="/Ralph_Nader" title="Ralph Nader">Ralph Nader</a>/Matt Gonzalez </td> <td width="75" style="text-align:center">0.6%</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">739,034</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">0</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25px"> <span style="background-color:#fd0;">    </span></td> <td width="75px">Libertarian </td> <td width="275px" style="text-align:center"> <a href="/Bob_Barr" title="Bob Barr">Bob Barr</a>/Wayne Allyn Root </td> <td width="75" style="text-align:center">0.4%</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">523,715</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">0</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25px"> <span style="background-color:#fff;">    </span></td> <td width="75px">Constitution </td> <td width="275px" style="text-align:center"> Chuck Baldwin/Darrell Castle </td> <td width="75" style="text-align:center">0.2%</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">199,750</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">0</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25px"> <span style="background-color:#0b0;">    </span></td> <td width="75px">Green </td> <td width="275px" style="text-align:center"> Cynthia McKinney/Rosa Clemente </td> <td width="75" style="text-align:center">0.1%</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">161,797</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">0</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="4" width="450" style="color:white;background-color:#444;text-align:center"><b>Total Votes</b></td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center"><b>131,071,135</b></td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center"><b>538</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left" colspan="6"><i>Election results via: <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/2008/">Archives.gov official election results</a></i></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><br /> <b>Other candidates</b> that appeared on the ballot received less than 0.1% of the vote. Those candidates included: Alan Keyes, Ron Paul, Gloria La Riva, Brian Moore, Roger Calero, Richard Duncan, James Harris, Charles Jay, John Joseph Polachek, Frank Edward McEnulty, Jeffrey J. Wamboldt, Thomas Robert Stevens, Gene C. Amondson, Jeffrey Jeff Boss, George Phillies, Ted Weill, Jonathan E. Allen and Bradford Lyttle.<sup id="cite_ref-91" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-91">[91]</a></sup> </p> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Campaign_donors">Campaign donors</span></h2> <hr /> <p><a href="/File:BP-Initials-UPDATED.png" class="image"><img alt="BP-Initials-UPDATED.png" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/0/0c/BP-Initials-UPDATED.png/35px-BP-Initials-UPDATED.png" decoding="async" width="35" height="24" srcset="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/0/0c/BP-Initials-UPDATED.png/53px-BP-Initials-UPDATED.png 1.5x, https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/0/0c/BP-Initials-UPDATED.png/70px-BP-Initials-UPDATED.png 2x" data-file-width="975" data-file-height="675" /></a> <i>The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may not represent all the funds spent on their behalf. <a href="/Satellite_spending" title="Satellite spending">Satellite spending groups</a> may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer, and campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.fec.gov/finance/disclosure/candcmte_info.shtml">FEC website</a>. Click <a href="/Federal_campaign_finance_laws_and_regulations" title="Federal campaign finance laws and regulations">here</a> for more on federal campaign finance law and <a href="/State_campaign_finance_information" title="State campaign finance information">here</a> for more on state campaign finance law.</i> </p> <hr /><p><br /> </p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="600px" class="collapsible"> <tbody><tr> <th style="color:white;background-color:blue;text-align:center" colspan="5"><b>Barack Obama campaign contribution history</b></th></tr><tr> <td width="100" style="text-align:center"><b>Year</b></td> <td width="275" style="text-align:center"><b>Office</b></td> <td width="75" style="text-align:center"><b>Result</b></td> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><b>Contributions</b></td> </tr><tr class="mw-empty-elt"></tr><tr> <td style="text-align:center">2012</td> <td style="text-align:center">U.S. Presidency (Incumbent)</td> <td style="text-align:center"><a href="/Won" title="Won"><img alt="Won" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/7/77/Yes.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a></td> <td style="text-align:center">$715,677,692</td></tr><tr class="mw-empty-elt"></tr><tr> <td style="text-align:center">2008</td> <td style="text-align:center">U.S. Presidency</td> <td style="text-align:center"><a href="/Won" title="Won"><img alt="Won" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/7/77/Yes.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a></td> <td style="text-align:center">$744,985,624</td></tr><tr class="mw-empty-elt"></tr><tr> <td style="text-align:center">2004</td> <td style="text-align:center">U.S. Senate (Illinois)</td> <td style="text-align:center"><a href="/Won" title="Won"><img alt="Won" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/7/77/Yes.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a></td> <td style="text-align:center">$14,964,184</td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="text-align:center"><b>Grand total raised</b></td> <td style="text-align:center"><b>$1,475,627,500</b></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align:right" colspan="5"><small><i>Source: [<sup id="cite_ref-92" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-92">[92]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-93" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-93">[93]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-94" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-94">[94]</a></sup> Follow the Money]</i></small></td> </tr></tbody></table> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="2012_2">2012</span></h3> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:377px;"><a href="/File:Obama_2012_funding.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/0/0c/Obama_2012_funding.jpg/375px-Obama_2012_funding.jpg" decoding="async" width="375" height="116" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/0/0c/Obama_2012_funding.jpg 1.5x" data-file-width="451" data-file-height="140" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/File:Obama_2012_funding.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Breakdown of the source of Obama's campaign funds before the 2012 election.</div></div></div> <p>Obama won re-election to the U.S. Presidency in 2012. During that election cycle, Obama's campaign committee raised a total of $715,677,692 and spent $683,546,548.<sup id="cite_ref-95" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-95">[95]</a></sup> </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Cost_per_vote">Cost per vote</span></h4> <p>Obama spent $10.37 per vote received in 2012. </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Campaign_donors_2">Campaign donors</span></h4> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="600px" class="collapsible collapsed"> <tbody><tr> <th style="color:white;background-color:blue;text-align:center" colspan="2"><b>U.S. Presidency, 2012 - Barack Obama Campaign Contributions</b></th></tr> <tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><b>Total Raised</b></td> <td width="250" style="text-align:center">$715,677,692</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><b>Total Spent</b></td> <td width="250" style="text-align:center">$683,546,548</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><b>Total Raised by Election Runner-up</b></td> <td width="250" style="text-align:center">$446,135,997</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><b>Total Spent by Election Runner-up</b></td> <td width="250" style="text-align:center">$433,281,516</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center; background-color:grey;" colspan="2"><b>Top contributors to Barack Obama's campaign committee</b></td></tr> <tr><td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>University of California</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$1,212,245</td> </tr><tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>Microsoft Corp.</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$814,645</td></tr><tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>Google Inc.</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$801,770</td></tr><tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>U.S. Government</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$728,647</td></tr><tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>Harvard University</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$668,368</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center; background-color:grey;" colspan="2"><b>Top 5 industries that contributed to campaign committee</b></td></tr> <tr><td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>Retired</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$54,522,578</td> </tr><tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>Lawyers/Law Firms</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$27,533,147</td></tr><tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>Education</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$21,615,820</td></tr><tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>Health Professionals</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$10,456,340</td></tr><tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>Business Services</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$8,646,106</td> </tr></tbody></table> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="2008_2">2008</span></h3> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:319px;"><a href="/File:Obama_2008_funding.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/2/25/Obama_2008_funding.jpg" decoding="async" width="317" height="97" class="thumbimage" data-file-width="317" data-file-height="97" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/File:Obama_2008_funding.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Breakdown of the source of Obama's campaign funds before the 2008 election.</div></div></div> <p>Obama won election to the U.S. Presidency in 2008. During that election cycle, Obama's campaign committee raised a total of $744,985,624 and spent $729,519,581.<sup id="cite_ref-96" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-96">[96]</a></sup> </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Cost_per_vote_2">Cost per vote</span></h4> <p>Obama spent $10.50 per vote received in 2008. </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Campaign_donors_3">Campaign donors</span></h4> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="600px" class="collapsible collapsed"> <tbody><tr> <th style="color:white;background-color:blue;text-align:center" colspan="2"><b>U.S. Presidency, 2008 - Barack Obama Campaign Contributions</b></th></tr> <tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><b>Total Raised</b></td> <td width="250" style="text-align:center">$744,985,624</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><b>Total Spent</b></td> <td width="250" style="text-align:center">$729,519,581</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><b>Total Raised by General Election Opponent</b></td> <td width="250" style="text-align:center">$368,039,764</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><b>Total Spent by General Election Opponent</b></td> <td width="250" style="text-align:center">$333,375,676</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center; background-color:grey;" colspan="2"><b>Top contributors to Barack Obama's campaign committee</b></td></tr> <tr><td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>University of California</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$1,799,460</td> </tr><tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>Goldman Sachs</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$1,034,615</td></tr><tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>Harvard University</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$900,909</td></tr><tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>Microsoft Corp.</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$854,717</td></tr><tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>JPMorgan Chase and Co.</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$847,895</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center; background-color:grey;" colspan="2"><b>Top 5 industries that contributed to campaign committee</b></td></tr> <tr><td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>Lawyers/Law Firms</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$46,988,063</td> </tr><tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>Retired</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$43,213,842</td></tr><tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>Education</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$25,418,843</td></tr><tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>Securities and Investment</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$16,580,277</td></tr><tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>Health Professionals</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$13,864,142</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="2004">2004</span></h3> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:306px;"><a href="/File:Obama_2004_funding.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/a/a9/Obama_2004_funding.jpg" decoding="async" width="304" height="103" class="thumbimage" data-file-width="304" data-file-height="103" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/File:Obama_2004_funding.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Breakdown of the source of Obama's campaign funds before the 2004 election.</div></div></div> <p>Obama won election to the <a href="/United_States_Senate" title="United States Senate">U.S. Senate</a> in 2004. During that election cycle, Obama's campaign committee raised a total of $14,964,184 and spent $14,371,464.<sup id="cite_ref-97" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-97">[97]</a></sup> </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Cost_per_vote_3">Cost per vote</span></h4> <p>Obama spent $3.99 per vote received in 2004. </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Campaign_donors_4">Campaign donors</span></h4> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="600px" class="collapsible collapsed"> <tbody><tr> <th style="color:white;background-color:blue;text-align:center" colspan="2"><b>U.S. Senate, 2004 - Barack Obama Campaign Contributions</b></th></tr> <tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><b>Total Raised</b></td> <td width="250" style="text-align:center">$14,964,184</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><b>Total Spent</b></td> <td width="250" style="text-align:center">$14,371,464</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><b>Total Raised by General Election Opponent</b></td> <td width="250" style="text-align:center">$2,803,878</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><b>Total Spent by General Election Opponent</b></td> <td width="250" style="text-align:center">$2,664,471</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center; background-color:grey;" colspan="2"><b>Top contributors to Barack Obama's campaign committee</b></td></tr> <tr><td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>University of Chicago</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$153,054</td> </tr><tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>Kirkland & Ellis</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$96,138</td></tr><tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>Henry Crown & Co.</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$76,000</td></tr><tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>Sidley, Austin et al</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$75,682</td></tr><tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>Exelon Corp.</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$73,450</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center; background-color:grey;" colspan="2"><b>Top 5 industries that contributed to campaign committee</b></td></tr> <tr><td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>Lawyers/Law Firms</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$2,325,317</td> </tr><tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>Securities and Investment</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$1,184,036</td></tr><tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>Retired</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$798,870</td></tr><tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>Real Estate</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$623,460</td></tr><tr> <td width="250" style="text-align:center"><i>Education</i></td><td width="250" style="text-align:center">$532,946</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><br /> </p> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Candidate_endorsements">Candidate endorsements</span></h2> <ul><li>Obama endorsed Sen. <a href="/Brian_Schatz" title="Brian Schatz">Brian Schatz</a> in the <a href="/United_States_Senate_special_election_in_Hawaii,_2014" title="United States Senate special election in Hawaii, 2014">2014 Hawaii special election</a> to replace the late Sen. <a href="/Daniel_Inouye" title="Daniel Inouye">Daniel Inouye</a>. Rep. <a href="/Colleen_Hanabusa" title="Colleen Hanabusa">Colleen Hanabusa</a> ran against Schatz in the <a href="/Democratic" class="mw-redirect" title="Democratic">Democratic</a> primary as the desired choice of Inouye to replace him. <a href="/Governor_of_Hawaii" title="Governor of Hawaii">Governor of Hawaii</a> <a href="/Neil_Abercrombie" title="Neil Abercrombie">Neil Abercrombie</a> appointed Schatz, who was <a href="/Lieutenant_Governor_of_Hawaii" title="Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii">Lt. Governor</a>. Schatz won the general election on November 4, 2014.<sup id="cite_ref-98" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-98">[98]</a></sup></li></ul> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Presidential_preference">Presidential preference</span></h3> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="2016_presidential_endorsement">2016 presidential endorsement</span></h3> <p>✓ Obama endorsed <a href="/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016">Hillary Clinton</a> for the Democratic primary in the 2016 U.S. <a href="/Presidential_election,_2016" title="Presidential election, 2016">presidential election</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-99" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-99">[99]</a></sup><br /> </p> <dl><dd><dl><dd><i>See also: <a href="/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016#Endorsements" title="Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016">Endorsements for Hillary Clinton</a></i></dd></dl></dd></dl> <table class="wikitable collapsible collapsed sortable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" style="width:65%;"> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="4" align="center" style="background-color:#008000; color: white;">2016 Presidential Endorsements by Influencer Individuals </th></tr> <tr> <th style="background-color:#444; color: white;">Name </th> <th style="background-color:#444; color: white; width: 25%;">Candidate </th> <th style="background-color:#444; color: white;">Date </th> <th style="background-color:#444; color: white;">Source </th></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> Colin Powell</td> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016">Hillary Clinton</a></td> <td>October 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.newsday.com/long-island/colin-powell-endorses-hillary-clinton-for-president-1.12504956"><i>Newsday</i></a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/DeRay_McKesson" title="DeRay McKesson">DeRay McKesson</a></td> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016">Hillary Clinton</a></td> <td>October 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/10/26/deray-mckesson-why-im-voting-for-hillary-clinton/?utm_term=.19143654c4d5"><i>The Washington Post</i></a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Michael_Chertoff" title="Michael Chertoff">Michael Chertoff</a></td> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016">Hillary Clinton</a></td> <td>October 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-10-03/clinton-s-former-prosecutor-michael-chertoff-endorses-her"><i>Bloomberg.com</i></a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Independent" title="Independent"><img alt="Independent" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/a/a7/Grey.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Larry_Pressler" title="Larry Pressler">Larry Pressler</a></td> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016">Hillary Clinton</a></td> <td>August 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/283330-former-gop-senator-endorses-clinton-after-orlando-shooting"><i>The Hill</i></a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/George_P._Bush" title="George P. Bush">George P. Bush</a></td> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Donald_Trump_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016">Donald Trump</a></td> <td>August 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/07/politics/george-p-bush-donald-trump-jeb-bush/index.html"><i>CNN</i></a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Independent" title="Independent"><img alt="Independent" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/a/a7/Grey.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Michael_Bloomberg" title="Michael Bloomberg">Michael Bloomberg</a></td> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016">Hillary Clinton</a></td> <td>July 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/289546-bloomberg-offers-scathing-indictment-of-trump"><i>The Hill</i></a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Independent" title="Independent"><img alt="Independent" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/a/a7/Grey.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Jesse_Ventura" title="Jesse Ventura">Jesse Ventura</a></td> <td><a href="/Libertarian_Party" title="Libertarian Party"><img alt="Libertarian Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/f2/Specialsession.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Gary_Johnson_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Gary Johnson presidential campaign, 2016">Gary Johnson</a></td> <td>July 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/13/jesse-ventura-why-im-voting-for-libertarian-candidate-gary-johnson-for-president-commentary.html"><i>CNBC</i></a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/William_G._Milliken" title="William G. Milliken">William G. Milliken</a></td> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016">Hillary Clinton</a></td> <td>August 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2016/08/08/former-gov-milliken-endorses-clinton-over-trump/88340600/">Detroit Free Press</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Meg_Whitman" title="Meg Whitman">Meg Whitman</a></td> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016">Hillary Clinton</a></td> <td>August 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-clinton-whitman-idUSKCN10E08K">Reuters</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Al_Gore" title="Al Gore">Al Gore</a></td> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016">Hillary Clinton</a></td> <td>July 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/25/politics/al-gore-hillary-clinton-endorsement/"><i>CNN</i></a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Jeff_DeWit" title="Jeff DeWit">Jeff DeWit</a></td> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Donald_Trump_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016">Donald Trump</a></td> <td>January 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/politicalinsider/2016/01/20/treasurer-jeff-dewit-donald-trump-arizona-campaign-chair/78887388/">The Arizona Republic</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Joe_Biden" title="Joe Biden">Joe Biden</a></td> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016">Hillary Clinton</a></td> <td>June 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/joe-biden-endorses-hillary-clinton-224162">Politico</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a class="mw-selflink selflink">Barack Obama</a></td> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016">Hillary Clinton</a></td> <td>June 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/09/politics/president-barack-obama-endorses-hillary-clinton-in-video/index.html">CNN</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Newt_Gingrich" title="Newt Gingrich">Newt Gingrich</a></td> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Donald_Trump_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016">Donald Trump</a></td> <td>May 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/newt-gingrich-endorses-donald-trump-doesnt-rule-out-being-running-mate/">CBS News</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Roger_F._Villere_Jr." title="Roger F. Villere Jr.">Roger F. Villere Jr.</a></td> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Donald_Trump_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016">Donald Trump</a></td> <td>May 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://la.gop/blog/2016/5/5/lagop-chairman-villere-and-la-republican-congressional-leaders-congratulate-donald-trump-and-urge-louisiana-republicans-to-unite-to-defeat-hillary-clinton">Republican Party of Louisiana</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Steve_Beshear" title="Steve Beshear">Steve Beshear</a></td> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016">Hillary Clinton</a></td> <td>May 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/05/09/former-gov-beshear-endorses-hillary-clinton/84167238/">The Courier-Journal</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> Sheldon Adelson</td> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Donald_Trump_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016">Donald Trump</a></td> <td>May 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/sheldon-adelson-endroses-trump-223153">Politico</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Kathleen_Sebelius" title="Kathleen Sebelius">Kathleen Sebelius</a></td> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016">Hillary Clinton</a></td> <td>February 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ex-hhs-sec-kathleen-sebelius-endorses-hillary-clinton/">CBS News</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Scott_Brown" title="Scott Brown">Scott Brown</a></td> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Donald_Trump_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016">Donald Trump</a></td> <td>February 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/herald_bulldog/2016/02/scott_brown_backs_donald_trump">Boston Herald</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Lincoln_Almond" title="Lincoln Almond">Lincoln Almond</a></td> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Jeb_Bush_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Jeb Bush presidential campaign, 2016">Jeb Bush</a></td> <td>January 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-01-30/bush-embraces-the-family-brand-collects-governors-endorsements">Bloomberg</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Ann_Marie_Buerkle" title="Ann Marie Buerkle">Ann Marie Buerkle</a></td> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Carly_Fiorina_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Carly Fiorina presidential campaign, 2016">Carly Fiorina</a></td> <td>November 2015</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.syracuse.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/11/former_rep_ann_marie_buerkle_endorses_carly_fiorina_for_president.html">Syracuse.com</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Eric_Holder" title="Eric Holder">Eric Holder</a></td> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016">Hillary Clinton</a></td> <td>January 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/eric-holder-endorses-hillary-clinton-217701">Politico</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Tony_Perkins" title="Tony Perkins">Tony Perkins</a></td> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Ted_Cruz_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Ted Cruz presidential campaign, 2016">Ted Cruz</a></td> <td>January 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ted-cruz-tony-perkins-endorsement_us_56a82c79e4b0f6b7d5443a06">The Huffington Post</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Jon_Kyl" title="Jon Kyl">Jon Kyl</a></td> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Marco_Rubio_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Marco Rubio presidential campaign, 2016">Marco Rubio</a></td> <td>January 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/azdc/2016/01/26/former-sen-jon-kyl-endorses-marco-rubio-president/79322026/">The Arizona Republic</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Norm_Coleman" title="Norm Coleman">Norm Coleman</a></td> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Jeb_Bush_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Jeb Bush presidential campaign, 2016">Jeb Bush</a></td> <td>January 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://blogs.mprnews.org/capitol-view/2016/01/former-sen-coleman-throws-support-to-jeb-bush/">Minnesota Public Radio</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Lucy_Flores" title="Lucy Flores">Lucy Flores</a></td> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Bernie_Sanders_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, 2016">Bernie Sanders</a></td> <td>November 2015</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2015/11/nina_turner_changes_her_mind_o.html">Cleveland.com</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Sarah_Palin" title="Sarah Palin">Sarah Palin</a></td> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Donald_Trump_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016">Donald Trump</a></td> <td>January 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/20/us/politics/donald-trump-sarah-palin.html?_r=0">The New York Times</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Eric_Cantor" title="Eric Cantor">Eric Cantor</a></td> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Jeb_Bush_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Jeb Bush presidential campaign, 2016">Jeb Bush</a></td> <td>November 2015</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/27/politics/jeb-bush-eric-cantor-endorsement/index.html">CNN</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Brian_Schweitzer" title="Brian Schweitzer">Brian Schweitzer</a></td> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Martin_O%27Malley_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Martin O'Malley presidential campaign, 2016">Martin O'Malley</a></td> <td>October 2015</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/23/politics/brian-schweitzer-martin-omalley-endorsement/index.html">CNN Politics</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Nina_Turner" title="Nina Turner">Nina Turner</a></td> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Bernie_Sanders_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, 2016">Bernie Sanders</a></td> <td>November 2015</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2015/11/nina_turner_changes_her_mind_o.html">Cleveland.com</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Gabrielle_Giffords" title="Gabrielle Giffords">Gabrielle Giffords</a></td> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016">Hillary Clinton</a></td> <td>January 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/10/politics/hillary-clinton-gabby-giffords-mark-kelly-endorsement?sr=nl_pol_011016_giffordsclinton">CNN</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Peter_Bragdon" title="Peter Bragdon">Peter Bragdon</a></td> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Chris_Christie_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Chris Christie presidential campaign, 2016">Chris Christie</a></td> <td>January 2016</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.unionleader.com/Chris_Christie_endorsed_by_former_NH_Senate_President">New Hampshire Union Leader</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Bob_Vander_Plaats" title="Bob Vander Plaats">Bob Vander Plaats</a></td> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Ted_Cruz_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Ted Cruz presidential campaign, 2016">Ted Cruz</a></td> <td>December 2015</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ted-cruz-secures-trifecta-key-iowa-endorsements/story?id=35696186">ABC News</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Paul_Singer" title="Paul Singer">Paul Singer</a></td> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Marco_Rubio_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Marco Rubio presidential campaign, 2016">Marco Rubio</a></td> <td>October 2015</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/31/us/politics/paul-singer-influential-billionaire-throws-support-to-marco-rubio-for-president.html?_r=0">The New York Times</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Frank_VanderSloot" title="Frank VanderSloot">Frank VanderSloot</a></td> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Marco_Rubio_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Marco Rubio presidential campaign, 2016">Marco Rubio</a></td> <td>November 2015</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000151-1f86-ddb1-ad71-bfdf486b0000">Politico</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Kenneth_Griffin" title="Kenneth Griffin">Kenneth Griffin</a></td> <td><a href="/Republican_Party" title="Republican Party"><img alt="Republican Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/f/fd/Ends.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Marco_Rubio_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Marco Rubio presidential campaign, 2016">Marco Rubio</a></td> <td>December 2015</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/12/09/kenneth-griffin-richest-man-in-illinois-endorses-marco-rubio/?_r=0">The New York Times</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Julian_Castro" class="mw-redirect" title="Julian Castro">Julian Castro</a></td> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016">Hillary Clinton</a></td> <td>October 2015</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.msnbc.com/andrea-mitchell-reports/watch/secretary-castro-endorses-hillary-clinton-545074755956">MSNBC</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Tom_Vilsack" title="Tom Vilsack">Tom Vilsack</a></td> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016">Hillary Clinton</a></td> <td>August 2015</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/tom-vilsack-endorses-hillary-clinton">MSNBC</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Tom_Perez" title="Tom Perez">Tom Perez</a></td> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016">Hillary Clinton</a></td> <td>December 2015</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2015/12/tom-perez-endorses-hillary-clinton-216381">Politico</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Peter_Franchot" title="Peter Franchot">Peter Franchot</a></td> <td><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/d/d4/Electiondot.png" width="18" height="18" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a> <a href="/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016">Hillary Clinton</a></td> <td>October 2015</td> <td><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/blog/bal-peter-franchot-backs-hillary-rodham-clinton-for-president-not-martin-omalley-20151026-story.html">Baltimore Sun</a> </td></tr></tbody></table> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Analysis">Analysis</span></h2> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Net_Worth">Net Worth</span></h3> <dl><dd><dl><dd><i>See also: <a href="/Changes_in_Net_Worth_of_U.S._Senators_and_Representatives_(Personal_Gain_Index)" title="Changes in Net Worth of U.S. Senators and Representatives (Personal Gain Index)">Changes in Net Worth of U.S. Senators and Representatives (Personal Gain Index)</a> and <a href="/Net_worth_of_United_States_Senators_and_Representatives" title="Net worth of United States Senators and Representatives">Net worth of United States Senators and Representatives</a></i></dd></dl></dd></dl> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="2011">2011</span></h4> <p>Based on <a href="/Household_net_worth_(Member_of_Congress)" title="Household net worth (Member of Congress)">congressional financial disclosure forms</a> and calculations made available by <i>OpenSecrets.org</i>, Obama's net worth as of 2011 was estimated between $2,566,014.00 and $8,265,000.00. That averages to $5,415,507.00, which ranked 8th among executive branch members. His average calculated net worth<sup id="cite_ref-100" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-100">[100]</a></sup> decreased by %2.6 from 2010.<sup id="cite_ref-101" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-101">[101]</a></sup> </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="2010">2010</span></h4> <p>Based on <a href="/Household_net_worth_(Member_of_Congress)" title="Household net worth (Member of Congress)">congressional financial disclosure forms</a> and calculations made available by <i>OpenSecrets.org</i>, Obama's net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $2,802,012.00 and $11,830,000.00. That averages to $7,316,006.00, which ranked 9th among executive branch members.<sup id="cite_ref-102" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-102">[102]</a></sup> </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Elected_office_turnover">Elected office turnover</span></h3> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="2012_elections">2012 elections</span></h4> <p>According to <i><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball">Sabato's Crystal Ball</a></i>, the Democratic Party gained 8 <a href="/United_States_House_of_Representatives" title="United States House of Representatives">U.S. House</a> seats and 2 <a href="/United_States_Senate" title="United States Senate">Senate</a> seats in 2012. </p><p>In state government elections, the Democratic Party lost one governor's office and gained control of two state legislatures.<sup id="cite_ref-crystal_ball_103-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-crystal_ball-103">[103]</a></sup> </p> <h4><span class="mw-headline" id="2010_elections">2010 elections</span></h4> <p>According to <i><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball">Sabato's Crystal Ball</a></i>, the Democratic Party lost 63 <a href="/United_States_House_of_Representatives" title="United States House of Representatives">U.S. House</a> seats and 6 <a href="/United_States_Senate" title="United States Senate">Senate</a> seats in 2010. The House turnover was the largest differential since the 1948 general election. </p><p>In state government elections, the Democratic Party lost 8 <a href="/State_Executive_Officials" class="mw-redirect" title="State Executive Officials">governors</a>' offices and lost control of 10 <a href="/Portal:State_Legislatures" class="mw-redirect" title="Portal:State Legislatures">state legislatures</a>. The turnover in state legislature control was the largest differential since the 1974 general election.<sup id="cite_ref-crystal_ball_103-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-crystal_ball-103">[103]</a></sup> </p> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="2016_Democratic_National_Convention">2016 Democratic National Convention</span></h2> <p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><ul class="nav nav-stacked panel-group" id="headertabs-ul"><li class="panel"><a data-toggle="collapse" data-parent="#headertabs-ul" href="#tab1" style="background:#eee;">Delegate to the 2016 DNC (click to expand)</a><div id="tab1" class="panel-collapse collapse"> <p class="mw-empty-elt"></p> <dl><dd><dl><dd><i>See also: <a href="/Democratic_National_Convention,_2016" title="Democratic National Convention, 2016">Democratic National Convention, 2016</a></i></dd></dl></dd></dl> <table class="infobox" style="width:250px; border:1px sold black;font-size:90%; float:right; padding:4px;"><tbody><tr><td width="60%;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td align="center" colspan="2" style="background-color:grey;color:white;font-weight:bold;"><big>Barack Obama</big></td></tr><tr><td align="center" colspan="2" style="background-color:blue;color:white;font-weight:bold;"><a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Democratic_National_Convention,_2016" style="color:white;text-decoration:underline;">Democratic National Convention, 2016</a></td></tr><tr><td><b>Status:</b></td><td><a href="/Types_of_delegates" title="Types of delegates">Superdelegate</a></td></tr><tr><td><b>State:</b></td><td><a href="/Presidential_election_in_Illinois,_2016" title="Presidential election in Illinois, 2016">Illinois</a></td></tr><tr><td><b>Supporting:</b></td><td><a href="/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016">Hillary Clinton</a></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align:center;background-color:blue;color:white;font-weight:bold;">Delegates to the DNC 2016</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"><a href="/2016_presidential_nominations:_calendar_and_delegate_rules#Republican_Party" title="2016 presidential nominations: calendar and delegate rules">Calendar and delegate rules overview</a> • <a href="/Types_of_delegates" title="Types of delegates">Types of delegates</a> • <a href="/State_election_law_and_delegates_to_national_conventions" title="State election law and delegates to national conventions">State election law and delegates</a> • <a href="/Superdelegates_and_the_2016_Democratic_National_Convention" title="Superdelegates and the 2016 Democratic National Convention">Superdelegates by state</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="float:right; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0.4em; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.8em; ;" class="toclimit-3"> <div id="toc" class="toc" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="mw-toc-heading"><input type="checkbox" role="button" id="toctogglecheckbox" class="toctogglecheckbox" style="display:none" /><div class="toctitle" lang="en" dir="ltr"><h2 id="mw-toc-heading">Contents</h2><span class="toctogglespan"><label class="toctogglelabel" for="toctogglecheckbox"></label></span></div> <ul> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="#Biography"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">Biography</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2"><a href="#Career"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Career</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-3"><a href="#Committee_assignments"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Committee assignments</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-4"><a href="#U.S._Senator"><span class="tocnumber">3.1</span> <span class="toctext">U.S. Senator</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-5"><a href="#2007-08"><span class="tocnumber">3.1.1</span> <span class="toctext">2007-08</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-6"><a href="#2005-06"><span class="tocnumber">3.1.2</span> <span class="toctext">2005-06</span></a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-7"><a href="#Issues"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Issues</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#Executive_order"><span class="tocnumber">4.1</span> <span class="toctext">Executive order</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#Funding_increase_request"><span class="tocnumber">4.2</span> <span class="toctext">Funding increase request</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#Refugee_status_extension"><span class="tocnumber">4.3</span> <span class="toctext">Refugee status extension</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#Obama's_strategy"><span class="tocnumber">4.4</span> <span class="toctext">Obama's strategy</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-12"><a href="#Key_legislation"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">Key legislation</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#Race_to_the_Top"><span class="tocnumber">5.1</span> <span class="toctext">Race to the Top</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#Common_Core"><span class="tocnumber">5.2</span> <span class="toctext">Common Core</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-3"><a href="#Grant_criteria"><span class="tocnumber">5.2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Grant criteria</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3"><a href="#Goals"><span class="tocnumber">5.2.2</span> <span class="toctext">Goals</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3"><a href="#Opposing_viewpoints"><span class="tocnumber">5.2.3</span> <span class="toctext">Opposing viewpoints</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3"><a href="#Supporting_viewpoints"><span class="tocnumber">5.2.4</span> <span class="toctext">Supporting viewpoints</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3"><a href="#Results"><span class="tocnumber">5.2.5</span> <span class="toctext">Results</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#Noteworthy_events"><span class="tocnumber">5.3</span> <span class="toctext">Noteworthy events</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#Affordable_Care_Act"><span class="tocnumber">5.4</span> <span class="toctext">Affordable Care Act</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-3"><a href="#Ten_essential_benefits_for_coverage"><span class="tocnumber">5.4.1</span> <span class="toctext">Ten essential benefits for coverage</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3"><a href="#Contraception_mandate_in_the_Supreme_Court"><span class="tocnumber">5.4.2</span> <span class="toctext">Contraception mandate in the Supreme Court</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3"><a href="#Healthcare.gov_rollout"><span class="tocnumber">5.4.3</span> <span class="toctext">Healthcare.gov rollout</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3"><a href="#Health_insurance_policy_cancellations"><span class="tocnumber">5.4.4</span> <span class="toctext">Health insurance policy cancellations</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3"><a href="#Cost_overruns"><span class="tocnumber">5.4.5</span> <span class="toctext">Cost overruns</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#Carbon_cap_executive_order"><span class="tocnumber">5.5</span> <span class="toctext">Carbon cap executive order</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-3"><a href="#Possible_ramifications"><span class="tocnumber">5.5.1</span> <span class="toctext">Possible ramifications</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#Response_to_VA_problems"><span class="tocnumber">5.6</span> <span class="toctext">Response to VA problems</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-30"><a href="#State_of_the_Union_addresses"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">State of the Union addresses</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-31"><a href="#Elections"><span class="tocnumber">7</span> <span class="toctext">Elections</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-32"><a href="#U.S._President"><span class="tocnumber">7.1</span> <span class="toctext">U.S. President</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-33"><a href="#2012"><span class="tocnumber">7.1.1</span> <span class="toctext">2012</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-34"><a href="#2008"><span class="tocnumber">7.1.2</span> <span class="toctext">2008</span></a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-35"><a href="#Campaign_donors"><span class="tocnumber">8</span> <span class="toctext">Campaign donors</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-36"><a href="#2012_2"><span class="tocnumber">8.1</span> <span class="toctext">2012</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-37"><a href="#Cost_per_vote"><span class="tocnumber">8.1.1</span> <span class="toctext">Cost per vote</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-38"><a href="#Campaign_donors_2"><span class="tocnumber">8.1.2</span> <span class="toctext">Campaign donors</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-39"><a href="#2008_2"><span class="tocnumber">8.2</span> <span class="toctext">2008</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-40"><a href="#Cost_per_vote_2"><span class="tocnumber">8.2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Cost per vote</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-41"><a href="#Campaign_donors_3"><span class="tocnumber">8.2.2</span> <span class="toctext">Campaign donors</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-42"><a href="#2004"><span class="tocnumber">8.3</span> <span class="toctext">2004</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-43"><a href="#Cost_per_vote_3"><span class="tocnumber">8.3.1</span> <span class="toctext">Cost per vote</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-44"><a href="#Campaign_donors_4"><span class="tocnumber">8.3.2</span> <span class="toctext">Campaign donors</span></a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-45"><a href="#Candidate_endorsements"><span class="tocnumber">9</span> <span class="toctext">Candidate endorsements</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-46"><a href="#Presidential_preference"><span class="tocnumber">9.1</span> <span class="toctext">Presidential preference</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#2016_presidential_endorsement"><span class="tocnumber">9.2</span> <span class="toctext">2016 presidential endorsement</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-47"><a href="#Analysis"><span class="tocnumber">10</span> <span class="toctext">Analysis</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-48"><a href="#Net_Worth"><span class="tocnumber">10.1</span> <span class="toctext">Net Worth</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-49"><a href="#2011"><span class="tocnumber">10.1.1</span> <span class="toctext">2011</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-50"><a href="#2010"><span class="tocnumber">10.1.2</span> <span class="toctext">2010</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-51"><a href="#Elected_office_turnover"><span class="tocnumber">10.2</span> <span class="toctext">Elected office turnover</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-52"><a href="#2012_elections"><span class="tocnumber">10.2.1</span> <span class="toctext">2012 elections</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-53"><a href="#2010_elections"><span class="tocnumber">10.2.2</span> <span class="toctext">2010 elections</span></a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-54"><a href="#2016_Democratic_National_Convention"><span class="tocnumber">11</span> <span class="toctext">2016 Democratic National Convention</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-55"><a href="#What_is_a_superdelegate?"><span class="tocnumber">11.1</span> <span class="toctext">What is a superdelegate?</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-56"><a href="#Illinois_primary_results"><span class="tocnumber">11.2</span> <span class="toctext">Illinois primary results</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-57"><a href="#Delegate_allocation"><span class="tocnumber">11.3</span> <span class="toctext">Delegate allocation</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-58"><a href="#Ballot_measure_activity"><span class="tocnumber">12</span> <span class="toctext">Ballot measure activity</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-59"><a href="#Noteworthy_events_during_Obama's_presidency"><span class="tocnumber">13</span> <span class="toctext">Noteworthy events during Obama's presidency</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-60"><a href="#Secret_Service_security_breaches_(2011,_2014)"><span class="tocnumber">13.1</span> <span class="toctext">Secret Service security breaches (2011, 2014)</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-61"><a href="#CIA_interrogation_tactics_report_(2014)"><span class="tocnumber">13.2</span> <span class="toctext">CIA interrogation tactics report (2014)</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-62"><a href="#Shooting_in_Ferguson,_Missouri_(2014)"><span class="tocnumber">13.3</span> <span class="toctext">Shooting in Ferguson, Missouri (2014)</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-63"><a href="#Boehner_lawsuit_(2014)"><span class="tocnumber">13.4</span> <span class="toctext">Boehner lawsuit (2014)</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-64"><a href="#Bergdahl_exchange_(2014)"><span class="tocnumber">13.5</span> <span class="toctext">Bergdahl exchange (2014)</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-65"><a href="#Crisis_in_Gaza_(2014)"><span class="tocnumber">13.6</span> <span class="toctext">Crisis in Gaza (2014)</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-66"><a href="#VA_hospital_waiting_lines_(2014)"><span class="tocnumber">13.7</span> <span class="toctext">VA hospital waiting lines (2014)</span></a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-67"><a href="#Alleged_wiretapping_of_journalists_(2012,_2013)"><span class="tocnumber">13.7.1</span> <span class="toctext">Alleged wiretapping of journalists (2012, 2013)</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-68"><a href="#IRS_targeting_(2013)"><span class="tocnumber">13.8</span> <span class="toctext">IRS targeting (2013)</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-69"><a href="#Benghazi_(2012)"><span class="tocnumber">13.9</span> <span class="toctext">Benghazi (2012)</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-70"><a href="#Operation_Fast_and_Furious_(2009-2011)"><span class="tocnumber">13.10</span> <span class="toctext">Operation Fast and Furious (2009-2011)</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-71"><a href="#Personal"><span class="tocnumber">14</span> <span class="toctext">Personal</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-72"><a href="#Recent_news"><span class="tocnumber">15</span> <span class="toctext">Recent news</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-73"><a href="#See_also"><span class="tocnumber">16</span> <span class="toctext">See also</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-74"><a href="#External_links"><span class="tocnumber">17</span> <span class="toctext">External links</span></a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-75"><a href="#Footnotes"><span class="tocnumber">18</span> <span class="toctext">Footnotes</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <p>Obama was <a href="/Types_of_delegates" title="Types of delegates">a superdelegate</a> to the <a href="/Democratic_National_Convention,_2016" title="Democratic National Convention, 2016">2016 Democratic National Convention</a> from <a href="/Presidential_election_in_Illinois,_2016" title="Presidential election in Illinois, 2016">Illinois</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-104" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-104">[104]</a></sup> Obama was one of 27 superdelegates from Illinois. Superdelegates to the 2016 Democratic National Convention were not bound by the results of their state’s primary or caucus to support a specific presidential candidate. Obama supported <a href="/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016">Hillary Clinton</a> for the Democratic nomination.<sup id="cite_ref-105" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-105">[105]</a></sup> Clinton formally won the Democratic nomination for president on <a href="/Hillary_Clinton_wins_the_Democratic_presidential_nomination_and_makes_history" title="Hillary Clinton wins the Democratic presidential nomination and makes history">July 26, 2016</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-106" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-106">[106]</a></sup> </p> <h3><span id="What_is_a_superdelegate.3F"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="What_is_a_superdelegate?">What is a superdelegate?</span></h3> <dl><dd><dl><dd><i>See also: <a href="/Superdelegates_and_the_2016_Democratic_National_Convention" title="Superdelegates and the 2016 Democratic National Convention">Superdelegates and the 2016 Democratic National Convention</a></i></dd></dl></dd></dl> <p>Superdelegates in 2016 were automatic delegates to the Democratic National Convention, meaning that, unlike regular delegates, they were not elected to this position. Also unlike regular delegates, they were not required to pledge their support to any presidential candidate, and they were not bound by the results of their state's presidential primary election or caucus. In 2016, superdelegates included members of the Democratic National Committee, Democratic members of Congress, Democratic governors, and distinguished party leaders, including former presidents and vice presidents. All superdelegates were free to support any presidential candidate of their choosing at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.<sup id="cite_ref-107" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-107">[107]</a></sup> </p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Illinois_primary_results">Illinois primary results</span></h3> <dl><dd><dl><dd><i>See also: <a href="/Presidential_election_in_Illinois,_2016" title="Presidential election in Illinois, 2016">Presidential election in Illinois, 2016</a></i></dd></dl></dd></dl> <a href="/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016">Hillary Clinton</a> won the Illinois Democratic primary election, beating <a href="/Bernie_Sanders_presidential_campaign,_2016" title="Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, 2016">Bernie Sanders</a> by less than two percentage points. Clinton carried Cook County, where the city of <a href="/Chicago,_Illinois" title="Chicago, Illinois">Chicago</a> is located, 54 to 46 percent. African American voters made up 28 percent of the Democratic electorate in Illinois, according to exit poll data. Clinton won African Americans 70 to 30 percent over Sanders.<sup id="cite_ref-exit_108-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-exit-108">[108]</a></sup><table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="500px" class="collapsible"> <tbody><tr> <th style="color:white;background-color:blue;text-align:center" colspan="4"><b>Illinois Democratic Primary, 2016</b></th> </tr> <tr> <td width="275px" style="color:white;background-color:grey;text-align:center">Candidate</td> <td width="75px" style="color:white;background-color:grey;text-align:center">Vote %</td> <td width="100px" style="color:white;background-color:grey;text-align:center">Votes</td> <td width="100px" style="color:white;background-color:grey;text-align:center">Delegates</td> </tr><tr> <td width="275px" style="text-align:center"> <a href="/Won" title="Won"><img alt="Green check mark transparent.png" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/thumb/0/0a/Green_check_mark_transparent.png/14px-Green_check_mark_transparent.png" width="14" height="14" srcset="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/thumb/0/0a/Green_check_mark_transparent.png/21px-Green_check_mark_transparent.png 1.5x, https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/thumb/0/0a/Green_check_mark_transparent.png/28px-Green_check_mark_transparent.png 2x" data-file-width="100" data-file-height="100" /></a><b>Hillary Clinton</b> </td> <td width="75" style="text-align:center">50.6%</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">1,039,555</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">79</td> </tr><tr> <td width="275px" style="text-align:center"> Bernie Sanders </td> <td width="75" style="text-align:center">48.6%</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">999,494</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">77</td> </tr><tr> <td width="275px" style="text-align:center"> Willie Wilson </td> <td width="75" style="text-align:center">0.3%</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">6,565</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">0</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="275px" style="text-align:center"> Martin O'Malley </td> <td width="75" style="text-align:center">0.3%</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">6,197</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">0</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="275px" style="text-align:center"> Larry Cohen </td> <td width="75" style="text-align:center">0.1%</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">2,407</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">0</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="275px" style="text-align:center"> Roque De La Fuente </td> <td width="75" style="text-align:center">0.1%</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">1,802</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">0</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="275px" style="text-align:center"> David Formhals </td> <td width="75" style="text-align:center">0%</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">25</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">0</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="275px" style="text-align:center"> Brian O'Neill </td> <td width="75" style="text-align:center">0%</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">2</td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center">0</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" width="450" style="color:white;background-color:#444;text-align:center"><b>Totals</b></td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center"><b>2,056,047</b></td> <td width="100" style="text-align:center"><b>156</b></td> </tr><tr> <td style="text-align:left" colspan="5"><i>Source:</i> <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/illinois"><i>The New York Times</i></a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.elections.state.il.us/ElectionResults.aspx?ID=50"><i>Illinois State Board of Elections</i></a> <i></i></td> </tr></tbody></table> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Delegate_allocation">Delegate allocation</span></h3> <dl><dd><dl><dd><i>See also: <a href="/2016_presidential_nominations:_calendar_and_delegate_rules" title="2016 presidential nominations: calendar and delegate rules">2016 presidential nominations: calendar and delegate rules</a></i></dd></dl></dd></dl> <div class="floatright"><a href="/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party"><img alt="Democratic Party Logo.png" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Democratic_Party_Logo.png/120px-Democratic_Party_Logo.png" decoding="async" width="100" height="100" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Democratic_Party_Logo.png/250px-Democratic_Party_Logo.png 1.5x" data-file-width="768" data-file-height="768" /></a></div> <p>Illinois had 183 delegates at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Of this total, 156 were <a href="/Pledged_delegates" title="Pledged delegates">pledged delegates</a>. National party rules stipulated how Democratic delegates in all states were allocated. Pledged delegates were allocated to a candidate in proportion to the votes he or she received in a state's primary or caucus. A candidate was eligible to receive a share of the state's <a href="/Pledged_delegates" title="Pledged delegates">pledged delegates</a> if he or she won at least 15 percent of the votes cast in the primary or caucus. There were three types of pledged Democratic delegates: congressional district delegates, at-large delegates, and party leaders and elected officials (PLEOs). Congressional district delegates were allocated proportionally based on the primary or caucus results in a given district. At-large and PLEO delegates were allocated proportionally based on statewide primary results.<sup id="cite_ref-apdem_109-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-apdem-109">[109]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-110" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-110">[110]</a></sup> </p><p>Twenty-seven party leaders and elected officials served as <a href="/Unpledged_delegates" title="Unpledged delegates">unpledged delegates</a>. These delegates were not required to adhere to the results of a state's primary or caucus.<sup id="cite_ref-apdem_109-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-apdem-109">[109]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-111" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-111">[111]</a></sup> </p> <table align="center" style="margin-top:.2em; text-align:left;width: 100%;"> <tbody><tr><td align="center" colspan="2"><iframe width="770" height="476" seamless frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14fZBFS57H9cjrzUCfhqF84pnP7IMQt2Gjun3vwPVSUY/pubchart?oid=528886970&format=interactive"></iframe></td></tr></tbody></table></div></li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Ballot_measure_activity">Ballot measure activity</span></h2> <p>The following table details Obama's ballot measure stances available on Ballotpedia: </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="4" align="center" style="background-color:#00008B; color: white;">Ballot measure support and opposition for Barack Obama </th></tr> <tr> <th valign="bottom" style="background-color:#00008B; color: white;">Ballot measure </th> <th valign="bottom" style="background-color:#00008B; color: white;">Year </th> <th valign="bottom" style="background-color:#00008B; color: white;">Position </th> <th valign="bottom" style="background-color:#00008B; color: white;">Status </th></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/Ohio_Issue_1,_Right_to_Make_Reproductive_Decisions_Including_Abortion_Initiative_(2023)" title="Ohio Issue 1, Right to Make Reproductive Decisions Including Abortion Initiative (2023)">Ohio Issue 1, Right to Make Reproductive Decisions Including Abortion Initiative (2023)</a></td> <td>2023</td> <td>Supported<sup id="cite_ref-112" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-112">[112]</a></sup></td> <td align="center"><a href="/Approved" title="Approved"><img alt="Approved" src="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/7/77/Yes.png" width="16" height="16" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" /></a><span style="display:none;">a</span> Approved </td></tr> </tbody></table> <h2><span id="Noteworthy_events_during_Obama.27s_presidency"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Noteworthy_events_during_Obama's_presidency">Noteworthy events during Obama's presidency</span></h2> <h3><span id="Secret_Service_security_breaches_.282011.2C_2014.29"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Secret_Service_security_breaches_(2011,_2014)">Secret Service security breaches (2011, 2014)</span></h3> <dl><dd><dl><dd><i>See also: <a href="/Secret_Service_security_breaches,_September_2014" title="Secret Service security breaches, September 2014">Secret Service security breaches, September 2014</a></i></dd></dl></dd></dl> <p><sup id="cite_ref-piersonresignationtime_113-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-piersonresignationtime-113">[113]</a></sup> Omar Gonzalez, an Iraq veteran, scaled the White House fence armed with a pocket knife on September 19, 2014, and proceeded to get past five levels of security, including crossing the lawn, entering the unlocked front door, and reaching the East Room before being arrested by Secret Service.<sup id="cite_ref-114" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-114">[114]</a></sup> At hearings, Director of the U.S. Secret Service Julia Pierson acknowledged the failure in service but denied any further security breaches in 2014. However, the <i>Washington Examiner</i> reported shortly after the hearing that days prior to the incident a <a href="/U.S._Centers_for_Disease_Control_and_Prevention" title="U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> contract security officer was allowed on an elevator with President Obama while carrying a firearm which is against Secret Service protocol.<sup id="cite_ref-115" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-115">[115]</a></sup> Pierson resigned from office on October 1, 2014, following the congressional hearings about Secret Service security breaches.<sup id="cite_ref-116" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-116">[116]</a></sup> </p><p>In a previous 2011 incident, Oscar R. Ortega-Hernandez, fired shots on the White House residence from his nearby vehicle, drawing attention of the Secret Service, but a Secret Service supervisor advised the agents to stand down and called the gunfire the back-firing of a car. The incident wasn't investigated until four days later, after which the gunman was apprehended.<sup id="cite_ref-117" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-117">[117]</a></sup> </p> <h3><span id="CIA_interrogation_tactics_report_.282014.29"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="CIA_interrogation_tactics_report_(2014)">CIA interrogation tactics report (2014)</span></h3> <dl><dd><dl><dd><i>See also: <a href="/CIA_interrogation_tactics_investigation" title="CIA interrogation tactics investigation">CIA interrogation tactics investigation</a></i></dd></dl></dd></dl> <p>Portions of an investigation of the interrogation methods of the CIA after September 11, 2001, were made public on July 30, 2014, while the full report was released on December 9, 2014.<sup id="cite_ref-118" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-118">[118]</a></sup> The 6,300 page report found that former Secretary of State Colin Powell and many U.S. ambassadors abroad were not initially told of harsh interrogation tactics being used on potential terrorists at "black sites" in foreign countries. Powell was eventually informed of the tactics and sat in on meetings during which they were discussed. President Bush, who defended the CIA's tactics, was not originally informed of the interrogation methods until 2006.<sup id="cite_ref-119" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-119">[119]</a></sup> During a weekly press conference on August 1, 2014, prior to the release of the official report, President Barack Obama acknowledged that the U.S. had "tortured some folks."<sup id="cite_ref-120" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-120">[120]</a></sup> The release of the report detailed numerous incidents where the CIA used interrogation techniques that fell outside the scope of the <a href="/U.S._Department_of_Justice" title="U.S. Department of Justice">U.S. Department of Justice</a>. The techniques used included: slapping, humiliation, confinement, stress positions, sleep deprivation and waterboarding.<sup id="cite_ref-121" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-121">[121]</a></sup> </p><p>The White House accidentally released a list of talking points to the <i>Associated Press</i> while preparing for the public release of the report. Among the statements, was one proposed by the <a href="/U.S._Department_of_State" title="U.S. Department of State">State Department</a>, claiming, "This report tells a story of which no American is proud. But it is also part of another story of which we can be proud. America’s democratic system worked just as it was designed to work in bringing an end to actions inconsistent with our democratic values." The talking points also posed questions that the administration might face following the report's release, including, "Will the Justice Department revisit its decision not to prosecute anyone?"<sup id="cite_ref-122" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-122">[122]</a></sup> After the official release of the document, President Obama emphasized that the techniques previously used must not be condoned. He however remained ambiguous as to whether the CIA should be held accountable for having potentially mislead outsiders.“Rather than another reason to refight old arguments, I hope that today’s report can help us leave these techniques where they belong — in the past,” Obama said in the White House statement.<sup id="cite_ref-123" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-123">[123]</a></sup> </p><p>Sen. <a href="/Dianne_Feinstein" title="Dianne Feinstein">Dianne Feinstein</a> (D-CA) wrote a letter to President Barack Obama arguing that too much of the document was redacted by the administration, including key points to the committee's findings. In her letter, she claimed, "I have concluded the redactions eliminate or obscure key facts that support the report’s findings and conclusions. Until these redactions are addressed to the committee’s satisfaction, the report will not be made public." According to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the administration redacted about 15 percent of the 6,000 page document.<sup id="cite_ref-124" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-124">[124]</a></sup> Feinstein however pushed for the report to be released after the general election on November 4, 2014. The <i>International Business Times</i> reported that Feinstein was pressured to release the report since her position as chair of the <a href="/United_States_Senate_Committee_on_Intelligence_(Select)" title="United States Senate Committee on Intelligence (Select)"> U.S. Senate Committee on Intelligence</a> was likely to diminish when <a href="/Republicans" class="mw-redirect" title="Republicans">Republicans</a> would gain senate majority.<sup id="cite_ref-125" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-125">[125]</a></sup> </p> <h3><span id="Shooting_in_Ferguson.2C_Missouri_.282014.29"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Shooting_in_Ferguson,_Missouri_(2014)">Shooting in Ferguson, Missouri (2014)</span></h3> <dl><dd><i>See also: <a href="/Shooting_in_Ferguson,_Missouri" title="Shooting in Ferguson, Missouri">Shooting in Ferguson, Missouri</a></i></dd></dl> <p>Michael Brown, an 18-year-old resident of the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson, <a href="/Missouri" title="Missouri">Missouri</a>, was shot and killed by a police officer on August 9, 2014. Brown and a friend reportedly got into an altercation with a police officer, Darren Wilson, who fired his weapon on Brown. <a href="/U.S._Department_of_Justice" title="U.S. Department of Justice">Attorney General</a> <a href="/Eric_Holder" title="Eric Holder">Eric Holder</a> announced a federal investigation into the matter on August 11, 2014. Riots and violence from Ferguson citizens began the night of August 10, 2014, and persisted for over a week.<sup id="cite_ref-126" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-126">[126]</a></sup> President Obama called for peace in Ferguson following the fourth day of rioting and protests in the streets.<sup id="cite_ref-127" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-127">[127]</a></sup> On August 18, 2014, he met with Holder and decided to send Holder to Ferguson to look into the incident and ongoing problems.<sup id="cite_ref-holdervisit_128-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-holdervisit-128">[128]</a></sup> He did not rule out a personal visit after the violence subsided.<sup id="cite_ref-129" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-129">[129]</a></sup> </p> <h3><span id="Boehner_lawsuit_.282014.29"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Boehner_lawsuit_(2014)">Boehner lawsuit (2014)</span></h3> <dl><dd><dl><dd><i>See also: <a href="/Boehner%27s_lawsuit_against_the_Obama_administration" title="Boehner's lawsuit against the Obama administration">Boehner's lawsuit against the Obama administration</a></i></dd></dl></dd></dl> <div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:177px;"><a href="/Boehner%27s_lawsuit_against_the_Obama_administration" title="Boehner's lawsuit against the Obama administration"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/Barack_Obama_and_John_Boehner_enjoying_Saint_Patrick%27s_Day_2014.jpg/250px-Barack_Obama_and_John_Boehner_enjoying_Saint_Patrick%27s_Day_2014.jpg" decoding="async" width="175" height="117" class="thumbimage" srcset="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/Barack_Obama_and_John_Boehner_enjoying_Saint_Patrick%27s_Day_2014.jpg/330px-Barack_Obama_and_John_Boehner_enjoying_Saint_Patrick%27s_Day_2014.jpg 1.5x, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/Barack_Obama_and_John_Boehner_enjoying_Saint_Patrick%27s_Day_2014.jpg/500px-Barack_Obama_and_John_Boehner_enjoying_Saint_Patrick%27s_Day_2014.jpg 2x" data-file-width="654" data-file-height="436" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/File:Barack_Obama_and_John_Boehner_enjoying_Saint_Patrick%27s_Day_2014.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div><a href="/Speaker_of_the_House" class="mw-redirect" title="Speaker of the House">House Speaker</a> <a href="/John_Boehner" title="John Boehner">John Boehner</a></div></div></div> <p><a href="/Speaker_of_the_House" class="mw-redirect" title="Speaker of the House">Speaker of the House</a> <a href="/John_Boehner" title="John Boehner">John Boehner</a> (R-OH) announced in June 2014 that he was filing a lawsuit against Obama focusing on Obama's failure to enforce the <a href="/Obamacare_overview" class="mw-redirect" title="Obamacare overview">Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act</a>'s employer mandate. House <a href="/United_States_House_Committee_on_Rules" class="mw-redirect" title="United States House Committee on Rules">Rules Committee</a> Chairman <a href="/Pete_Sessions" title="Pete Sessions">Pete Sessions</a> (R-TX) released a draft resolution July 10 that could be considered by the committee as early as next week and the House floor the following week. Boehner argued that Obama "changed the healthcare law without a vote of Congress, effectively creating his own law by literally waiving the employer mandate and the penalties for failing to comply with it."<sup id="cite_ref-latimesdelay_130-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-latimesdelay-130">[130]</a></sup> </p><p>Obama was asked in 2013 about the legality of the delay, to which he responded, "If Congress thinks that what I’ve done is inappropriate or wrong in some fashion, they’re free to make that case. But there’s not an action that I take that you don't have some folks in Congress who say that I'm usurping my authority."<sup id="cite_ref-hilldelay_131-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-hilldelay-131">[131]</a></sup> The administration called the move a political stunt and a waste of time.<sup id="cite_ref-politicodelay_132-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-politicodelay-132">[132]</a></sup> </p> <h3><span id="Bergdahl_exchange_.282014.29"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Bergdahl_exchange_(2014)">Bergdahl exchange (2014)</span></h3> <dl><dd><i>See also: <a href="/Bowe_Bergdahl_exchange" title="Bowe Bergdahl exchange">Bowe Bergdahl exchange</a></i></dd></dl> <p>The Obama administration exchanged five Guantanamo Bay prisoners for U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl on May 31, 2014. Bergdahl was captured by Taliban forces in Afghanistan in 2009 and held captive just across the border in Pakistan.<sup id="cite_ref-133" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-133">[133]</a></sup> Bergdahl has been accused of deserting his unit before being captured, leading to more controversy over whether or not the administration should have made a deal with the Taliban. Critics claimed the action showed American weakness by setting the precedent that the United States would make deals with terrorists. The <a href="/United_States_House_Committee_on_Armed_Services" class="mw-redirect" title="United States House Committee on Armed Services">House Armed Services committee</a> chair Rep. <a href="/Buck_McKeon" title="Buck McKeon">Buck McKeon</a> (R-CA) went further and insisted President Obama violated the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act by not giving <a href="/United_States_Congress" title="United States Congress">Congress</a> at least 30 days notice before engaging in talks to get Bergdahl back.<sup id="cite_ref-bergdahlbasics_134-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-bergdahlbasics-134">[134]</a></sup> </p> <div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:127px;"><a href="/Bowe_Bergdahl_exchange" title="Bowe Bergdahl exchange"><img alt="" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/USA_PFC_BoweBergdahl_ACU_Cropped.png/250px-USA_PFC_BoweBergdahl_ACU_Cropped.png" decoding="async" width="125" height="113" class="thumbimage" data-file-width="674" data-file-height="608" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/File:USA_PFC_BoweBergdahl_ACU_Cropped.png" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl</div></div></div><p><a href="/White_House_Press_Secretary" title="White House Press Secretary">White House Press Secretary</a> <a href="/Jay_Carney" title="Jay Carney">Jay Carney</a> claimed the exchange was rushed due to Bergdahl's "deteriorating" health. Secretary of Defense <a href="/Chuck_Hagel" title="Chuck Hagel">Chuck Hagel</a> also defended the exchange and hoped it would create "a new opening" in future talks with the Taliban.<sup id="cite_ref-bergdahlbasics_134-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-bergdahlbasics-134">[134]</a></sup> When asked the reasoning behind the negotiations on June 3, 2014, President Obama explained, "Regardless of the circumstances, whatever those circumstances may turn out to be, we still get an American soldier back if he’s held in captivity. Period. Full stop. We don’t condition that." He also stated that the administration had been consulting with Congress prior to the swap, a statement <a href="/United_States_House_Committee_on_Intelligence_(Permanent_Select)" class="mw-redirect" title="United States House Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select)">House Intelligence committee</a> chair <a href="/Mike_Rogers" title="Mike Rogers">Mike Rogers</a> (R-MI) disputed, stating, "In 2011, they did come up and present a plan that included a prisoner transfer that was, in a bipartisan way, pushed back. We hadn't heard anything since on any details of any prisoner exchange." Senate Majority Leader <a href="/Harry_Reid" title="Harry Reid">Harry Reid</a> (D-NV) reported that he was told of the exchange but only "the day before or the day of."<sup id="cite_ref-135" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-135">[135]</a></sup> </p><h3><span id="Crisis_in_Gaza_.282014.29"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Crisis_in_Gaza_(2014)">Crisis in Gaza (2014)</span></h3> <dl><dd><i>See also: <a href="/Crisis_in_Gaza,_2014" title="Crisis in Gaza, 2014">Crisis in Gaza, 2014</a></i></dd></dl> <p>Beginning July 8, 2014, Israeli forces began Operation Protective edge, which involved missile attacks by sea and air on over 50 sites in Gaza as well as mobilizing ground troops for a possible assault.<sup id="cite_ref-136" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-136">[136]</a></sup> One of the main objectives of Israel's ground assaults was to eliminate Hamas' elaborate tunnel system. Hamas expanded their system of tunnels extensively beginning in 2007. It was built to facilitate attacks and kidnappings, provide logistics between weapons plants, rocket launch points and military command. Egypt destroyed a similar set of tunnels on their border which were used to get key supplies into Palestine that Hamas could place taxes on.<sup id="cite_ref-137" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-137">[137]</a></sup> </p> <h3><span id="VA_hospital_waiting_lines_.282014.29"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="VA_hospital_waiting_lines_(2014)">VA hospital waiting lines (2014)</span></h3> <dl><dd><dl><dd><i>See also: <a href="/Veterans_Affairs%27_secret_waiting_lists" title="Veterans Affairs' secret waiting lists">Veterans Affairs' secret waiting lists</a></i></dd></dl></dd></dl> <p>According to reports by <i>CNN</i>, veterans hospitals across the country were delaying care of veteran patients, at times to the point that some veterans conditions deteriorated vastly or died due to the wait times. To cover for the long delays, some hospitals resorted to "secret lists" for patients awaiting care in order to keep their official wait times down.<sup id="cite_ref-secretlist_138-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-secretlist-138">[138]</a></sup> A VA internal report showed that staff at nearly two-thirds of the nation's 216 facilities were instructed to falsify wait time information on reports. In an editorial in <i>Time</i>, Rep. Jeff Miller, chair of the House Veterans Affairs committee, stated, "Any VA administrator who ordered subordinates to purposely manipulate appointment data should be fired immediately."<sup id="cite_ref-139" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-139">[139]</a></sup> </p><p>On May 5, 2014, the American Legion, the largest veteran organization in the U.S., and Concerned Veterans for America called for the resignation of Secretary <a href="/Eric_Shinseki" title="Eric Shinseki">Shinseki</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-140" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-140">[140]</a></sup> American Legion's director stated, "At least let us know that the problems exist and they have a plan to take care of it," when asked about the lack of communication from the VA. Shinseki responded to the calls for resignation, saying, "I serve at the pleasure of the president. I signed on to make some changes, I have work to do."<sup id="cite_ref-141" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-141">[141]</a></sup> </p><p>President Obama accepted Veterans Affairs Secretary <a href="/Eric_Shinseki" title="Eric Shinseki">Eric Shinseki</a>'s resignation on May 30, 2014.<sup id="cite_ref-resignation_142-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-resignation-142">[142]</a></sup> He was replaced by <a href="/Robert_McDonald" title="Robert McDonald">Robert McDonald</a>. Obama announced that Deputy <a href="/White_House_Chief_of_Staff" title="White House Chief of Staff">White House Chief of Staff</a> Rob Nabors would lead a review of the VA's scheduling process and patient safety rules.<sup id="cite_ref-politicohearing_143-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-politicohearing-143">[143]</a></sup> </p> <h4><span id="Alleged_wiretapping_of_journalists_.282012.2C_2013.29"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Alleged_wiretapping_of_journalists_(2012,_2013)">Alleged wiretapping of journalists (2012, 2013)</span></h4> <p>Over a two month period, federal prosecutors with the Department of Justice allegedly obtained phone records of over 20 phone lines associated with Associated Press journalists during an investigation into an information leak about a terrorist plot in Yemen. The wiretaps on the journalists were speculated to be in response to a story released by the AP in May 2012 connecting a CIA counterterrorism operation in Yemen to the killing of Osama bin Laden in May 2011.<sup id="cite_ref-144" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-144">[144]</a></sup> </p><p>On May 19, 2013, another case of federal investigators wiretapping journalists was uncovered when a Fox News employee, James Rosen, had his personal email correspondence seized in relation to a story published on June 11, 2009. The investigation into leaked documents from the <a href="/U.S._Department_of_State" title="U.S. Department of State">State Department</a>'s Stephen Jin-Woo Kim, led them to Rosen through phone and email communication leading up to the publishing of Rosen's story.<sup id="cite_ref-145" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-145">[145]</a></sup> In the affidavit, an <a href="/Federal_Bureau_of_Investigation" title="Federal Bureau of Investigation">FBI</a> agent named Rosen a "co-conspirator" under the Espionage Act in order to obtain the warrant. All correspondence with Kim was seized along with two additional days of personal correspondence. Fox News also claimed the <a href="/U.S._Department_of_Justice" title="U.S. Department of Justice">Justice Department</a> seized several phone records, including one listed as Rosen's parents.<sup id="cite_ref-146" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-146">[146]</a></sup> </p><p>The <a href="/United_States_Attorney" title="United States Attorney">U.S. Attorney</a>'s Office for the District of Columbia released a statement on May 22, 2013 denying the use of wiretaps on phones and the seizure of any computer records of any news organization.<sup id="cite_ref-147" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-147">[147]</a></sup> </p> <h3><span id="IRS_targeting_.282013.29"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="IRS_targeting_(2013)">IRS targeting (2013)</span></h3> <dl><dd><dl><dd><i>See also: <a href="/IRS_targeting_allegations" class="mw-redirect" title="IRS targeting allegations">IRS targeting allegations</a></i></dd></dl></dd></dl> <p>On May 10, 2013, news broke that various branches of the <a href="/Internal_Revenue_Service" title="Internal Revenue Service">Internal Revenue Service</a> had specifically targeted conservative groups' applications for tax-exempt status. It began during the tea party surge in 2010. The agency was separating tax-exempt applications by searching for political terms such as "tea party" and "patriot." In June 2011, an IRS official was briefed on these transgressions and asked that this practice end. The flagging continued, however, when the criteria was changed in January 2012 to look out for groups educating on the <a href="/United_States_Constitution" title="United States Constitution">Constitution</a> and the <a href="/Bill_of_Rights,_United_States_Constitution" title="Bill of Rights, United States Constitution">Bill of Rights</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-148" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-148">[148]</a></sup> President Obama said he learned about the targeting through news reports and stated, "If in fact IRS personnel engaged in the kind of practices that have been reported on and were intentionally targeting conservative groups, then that's outrageous. And there's no place for it."<sup id="cite_ref-149" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-149">[149]</a></sup> </p><p>On May 16, 2013, IRS Commissioner Steven Miller announced his resignation.<sup id="cite_ref-150" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-150">[150]</a></sup> Lois Lerner, the head of the tax-exempt organizations division throughout the targeting scandal retired on September 23, 2013, when an IRS review board informed her she would be removed from her position due to "neglect of duties."<sup id="cite_ref-151" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-151">[151]</a></sup> </p><p>The House Ways and Means Committee announced on June 13, 2014, that emails from Lerner between January 2009 and April 2011 to those outside of the IRS were lost due to a computer crash. Koskinen promised all documentation from Lerner would be handed over for investigation, but it was revealed in a letter that emails from that period could not be found. Chairman <a href="/Dave_Camp" title="Dave Camp">Dave Camp</a> (R-MI) released a response, stating, "The Administration has repeatedly referred us back to the IRS for production of materials. It is clear that is wholly insufficient when it comes to determining the full scope of the violation of taxpayer rights." Chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee <a href="/Charles_Boustany_Jr." title="Charles Boustany Jr.">Charles Boustany Jr.</a>, (D-LA) questioned the administration's transparency claiming, "This is not the transparency promised to the American people. If there is no smidgeon of corruption what is the Administration hiding?"<sup id="cite_ref-152" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-152">[152]</a></sup> </p> <h3><span id="Benghazi_.282012.29"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Benghazi_(2012)">Benghazi (2012)</span></h3> <dl><dd><dl><dd><i>See also: <a href="/2012_Benghazi_attack_overview" class="mw-redirect" title="2012 Benghazi attack overview">2012 Benghazi attack overview</a></i></dd></dl></dd></dl> <p>On October 15, 2012, <a href="/U.S._Department_of_State" title="U.S. Department of State">Secretary of State</a> <a href="/Hillary_Clinton" title="Hillary Clinton">Hillary Clinton</a> claimed responsibility for the security of the diplomatic mission to Libya that was attacked on September 11, 2012. The attack left four Americans dead, including Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens.<sup id="cite_ref-CNNoct_153-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-CNNoct-153">[153]</a></sup> A <a href="/U.S._Department_of_State" title="U.S. Department of State">State Department</a> employee, Eric Nordstrom, claimed at a congressional hearing on October 11, that his request for more security to be present in Libya was denied by his superiors prior to the attack.<sup id="cite_ref-154" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-154">[154]</a></sup> Clinton was also under fire because of the initial classification of the attack by then-<a href="/U.S._Mission_to_the_United_Nations" title="U.S. Mission to the United Nations">United States Ambassador to the United Nations</a> <a href="/Susan_Rice" title="Susan Rice">Susan Rice</a> as a spontaneous response to an anti-Muslim video instead of a planned terrorist attack.<sup id="cite_ref-CNNoct_153-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-CNNoct-153">[153]</a></sup> On December 19, the State Department announced the forced leave of four officials after an independent report was produced suggesting the officials "showed a lack of ownership of Benghazi's security issues."<sup id="cite_ref-155" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-155">[155]</a></sup> Clinton was summoned before congressional committees on January 23 to testify on her knowledge of the attack. During the heated testimony, Clinton said of the requests for more security, "I didn't see those requests. They didn't come to me."<sup id="cite_ref-156" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-156">[156]</a></sup> On August 20, 2013, the State Department announced the reassignment of the four officials placed on leave.<sup id="cite_ref-157" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-157">[157]</a></sup> </p><p>On May 2, 2014, newly released documents from the White House led Issa to accuse the president of withholding the documents about the talking points used by Rice.<sup id="cite_ref-benghazispotlight_158-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-benghazispotlight-158">[158]</a></sup> The document, an email from deputy national security advisor Ben Rhodes, went to, among others in the administration, <a href="/White_House_Press_Secretary" title="White House Press Secretary">White House Press Secretary</a> <a href="/Jay_Carney" title="Jay Carney">Jay Carney</a>. The email was meant to prep Rice for a media appearance, urging her "to underscore that these protests are rooted in an Internet video, and not a broader failure of policy," as well as instructing her "to reinforce the President and Administration’s strength and steadiness in dealing with difficult challenges."<sup id="cite_ref-159" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-159">[159]</a></sup> Carney disputed that the statements originated with the administration, claiming, "The only thing that refers to Benghazi is a cut-and-paste which, much to your disappointment and your boss’ disappointment, turned out to be produced by the CIA."<sup id="cite_ref-benghazispotlight_158-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-benghazispotlight-158">[158]</a></sup> </p><p>On May 8, 2014, Rep. <a href="/Trey_Gowdy" title="Trey Gowdy">Trey Gowdy</a> (R-SC) was chosen to lead a special committee investigating the attack in Benghazi and the administration's actions regarding the attack. The committee was made up of seven Republicans and five democrats.<sup id="cite_ref-160" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-160">[160]</a></sup> When asked if the State Department would comply with the committee's requests, Kerry stated, "We’ll respond because we have absolutely nothing to hide whatsoever and I look forward to complying with whatever responsibilities we have."<sup id="cite_ref-161" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-161">[161]</a></sup> </p> <h3><span id="Operation_Fast_and_Furious_.282009-2011.29"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Operation_Fast_and_Furious_(2009-2011)">Operation Fast and Furious (2009-2011)</span></h3> <p>From 2009-2011, the <a href="/U.S._Bureau_of_Alcohol,_Tobacco,_Firearms_and_Explosives" title="U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives">Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives</a> (ATF) ran Operation Fast and Furious, intended to get guns into the black market and sold to Mexican drug cartels. The guns were to be tracked, allowing the ATF to halt drug trafficking and catch the traffickers along the U.S.-Mexico border. The operation was part of an overarching border patrol initiative, Project Gunrunner, run by the <a href="/U.S._Department_of_Justice" title="U.S. Department of Justice">U.S. Department of Justice</a> "to combat Mexico-based trafficking groups." However, an estimated 1,400 guns were lost in the operation. A total of 34 trafficking suspects were indicted.On December 14, 2010, about a month before the end of Operation Fast and Furious, Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was killed in Arizona and two guns from the operation were found near his body.<sup id="cite_ref-fastandfurious_162-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-fastandfurious-162">[162]</a></sup> </p><p>Attorney General <a href="/Eric_Holder" title="Eric Holder">Eric Holder</a> testified before <a href="/United_States_Congress" title="United States Congress">Congress</a> on May 3, 2011, stating he, "probably heard about Fast and Furious for the first time over the last few weeks." Sens. <a href="/Chuck_Grassley" title="Chuck Grassley">Chuck Grassley</a> and <a href="/Darrell_Issa" title="Darrell Issa">Darrell Issa</a> led the investigations into the scandal, and subpoenas were issued to the <a href="/U.S._Department_of_Justice" title="U.S. Department of Justice">Justice Department</a> on October 12, 2011, in order to secure documents between the White House and the Department regarding Operation Fast and Furious.<sup id="cite_ref-163" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-163">[163]</a></sup> </p><p>On June 20, 2012, President Obama used his executive privilege over documents sought by the congressional investigative committee, saving Holder from possible charges in the investigation. On June 28, 2012, the <a href="/United_States_House_of_Representatives" title="United States House of Representatives">House</a> voted to hold Holder in contempt for failure to disclose the documents.<sup id="cite_ref-fastandfurious_162-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-fastandfurious-162">[162]</a></sup> It was the first time in U.S. history a sitting cabinet member was held in contempt by Congress.<sup id="cite_ref-164" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-164">[164]</a></sup> </p><p>The <a href="/United_States_House_of_Representatives_Committee_on_Oversight_and_Government_Reform" class="mw-redirect" title="United States House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform">House Oversight Committee</a> filed a civil lawsuit over the documents on August 13, 2012.<sup id="cite_ref-fastandfurious_162-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-fastandfurious-162">[162]</a></sup> Holder asked <a href="/United_States_District_Court_for_the_District_of_Columbia" title="United States District Court for the District of Columbia">U.S. District Court</a> Judge <a href="/Amy_B._Jackson" title="Amy B. Jackson">Amy Berman Jackson</a> for the case to be dismissed on September 30, 2013, which she denied. Holder requested an immediate appeal, which was turned down November 18, 2013.<sup id="cite_ref-165" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-165">[165]</a></sup> </p><p><br /> </p> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Personal">Personal</span></h2> <p><i>Note: Please <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="mailto:editor@ballotpedia.org">contact us</a> if the personal information below requires an update.</i><br /> </p> <div style="float:right"> <table class="wikitable" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="205"> <tbody><tr> <td><div class="thumb embedvideo autoResize" style="width: 208px;"><div class="embedvideo autoResize" style=""><div class="embedvideowrap youtube" style="width: 200px"><iframe loading="lazy" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" modestbranding="1" width="200" height="113" src="//www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/iGZ2nlkTuEE"></iframe></div></div></div><span style="font-size:80%">Introducing Bo and Sunny, the first family's dogs.</span> </td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>Obama and his wife Michelle have two girls, Malia and Sasha. They also shared the White House with their two Portuguese Water Dogs, Bo and Sunny. Obama won a Grammy Award in 2006 for the reading of his memoir <i>The Dreams From My Father</i>, and is an avid reader and sports fan.<sup id="cite_ref-funfacts_166-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-funfacts-166">[166]</a></sup> Obama was nominated, along with actor Zack Galifianakis for an Emmy award on July 10, 2014, in the Outstanding Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Program category for his interview on Galifianakis' <i>Between Two Ferns</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-167" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-167">[167]</a></sup> He had the White House tennis court adapted to create a full sized basketball court shortly after taking office.<sup id="cite_ref-168" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-168">[168]</a></sup> </p><div id="div-gpt-ad-1548351761485-0"><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("div-gpt-ad-1548351761485-0"); });</script></div><h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Recent_news">Recent news</span></h2> <p>The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms <b>Joe Biden.</b> These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles. </p> <div class="rss-feed"> <p><b><span style="font-size:135%"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://google.com/search?hl=en&gl=us&tbm=nws&q=Joe+Biden&um=1&ie=UTF-8">Barack Obama - Google News</a></span></b> </p> </div> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="See_also">See also</span></h2> <ul><li><a href="/Portal:Legislative_Branch" class="mw-redirect" title="Portal:Legislative Branch">United States Congress</a></li> <li><a href="/Endorsements_by_state_officials_of_presidential_candidates_in_the_2012_election" class="mw-redirect" title="Endorsements by state officials of presidential candidates in the 2012 election">Endorsements by state officials of presidential candidates in the 2012 election</a></li> <li><a href="/Presidential_candidates,_2016" title="Presidential candidates, 2016">Presidential candidates, 2016</a></li></ul> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="External_links">External links</span></h2> <ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.whitehouse.gov">Official White House website</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.barackobama.com/">Official campaign website</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.myspace.com/barackobama">Barack Obama on MySpace</a></li></ul> <div style="-moz-column-count:2; -webkit-column-count:2; column-count:2;" class="mobile-columns"> <ul><li>Social media: <ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.facebook.com/barackobama">Facebook</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://twitter.com/BARACKOBAMA">Twitter</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.youtube.com/user/BarackObamadotcom">YouTube</a></li></ul></li> <li>Biographies: <ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=O000167">U.S. Congress</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama">Wikipedia</a></li></ul></li> <li>Political profiles: <ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.votesmart.org/candidate/9490">Project Vote Smart</a></li></ul></li> <li>Interest group ratings: <ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/9490">Project Vote Smart</a></li></ul></li> <li>Issue positions: <ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.ontheissues.org/Barack_Obama.htm">On The Issues</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.votesmart.org/candidate/political-courage-test/9490">Project Vote Smart</a></li></ul></li> <li>Public statements: <ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.votesmart.org/candidate/public-statements/9490">Project Vote Smart</a></li></ul></li> <li>Voting record: <ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/9490">Project Vote Smart</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/O000167"><i>Washington Post</i></a></li></ul></li> <li>Media coverage: <ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/o/barack_obama/index.html"><i> New York Times</i></a></li> <li><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/Barack_Obama_topic.html"><i> Washington Post</i></a></li></ul></li></ul></div> <p><br /> </p> <h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Footnotes">Footnotes</span></h2> <p> <script type="text/javascript"> if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; </script> </p> <div class="references-small"><div class="mobile-columns" style="-moz-column-count:2; -webkit-column-count:2; column-count:2;"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-reelect-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-reelect_1-0">1.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-reelect_1-1">1.1</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-reelect_1-2">1.2</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/2/http://www.thecincinnatiherald.com/news/2012-11-10/Front_Page/Obama_reelected_to_historic_second_term.html"><i>The Cincinnati Herald,</i> "Obama re-elected to historic second term," November 10, 2012</a> <span class="error mw-ext-cite-error" lang="en" dir="ltr">Cite error: Invalid <code><ref></code> tag; name "reelect" defined multiple times with different content</span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-biobio-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-biobio_2-0">2.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-biobio_2-1">2.1</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-biobio_2-2">2.2</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-biobio_2-3">2.3</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-biobio_2-4">2.4</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.biography.com/people/barack-obama-12782369?page=1"><i>Biography.com</i>, "Barack Obama biography," accessed November 14, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-fastfacts-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-fastfacts_3-0">3.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-fastfacts_3-1">3.1</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-fastfacts_3-2">3.2</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-fastfacts_3-3">3.3</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/26/us/barack-obama---fast-facts/"><i>CNN</i>, "Barack Obama Fast Facts," January 20, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-4">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/08/AR2007020802262.html"><i>Washington Post</i>, "Obama Forged Political Mettle In Illinois Capitol," February 9, 2007</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-wapobio-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-wapobio_5-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/barack-obama/gIQAp4524O_topic.html#at-a-glance"><i>Washington Post</i>, "Who Runs Gov: Barack Obama," accessed November 14, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-6">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CDIR-2008-08-01/pdf/CDIR-2008-08-01-SENATECOMMITTEES.pdf"><i>Government Printing Office,</i> "Standing Committees of the Senate, 110th Congress" (accessed June 25, 2013)</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-7">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CDIR-2006-09-01/pdf/CDIR-2006-09-01-SENATECOMMITTEES.pdf"><i>Government Printing Office,</i> "Standing Committees of the Senate, 109th Congress" (accessed June 25, 2013)</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-thehill3000-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-thehill3000_8-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/217920-obama-ebola-outbreak-spiraling-out-of-control"><i>The Hill</i>, "Obama at CDC warns Ebola outbreak ‘spiraling out of control’," September 16, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-guardian3000announcement-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-guardian3000announcement_9-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/sep/16/obama-to-announce-ebola-force-of-3000-us-military-personnel"><i>The Guardian</i>, "Obama to announce Ebola force of 3,000 US military personnel," September 16, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-whitehouse500million-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-whitehouse500million_10-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/217980-white-house-to-request-500m-to-fight-ebola"><i>The Hill</i>, "White House to request $500M to fight Ebola," September 16, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-whitehousefirstplan-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-whitehousefirstplan_11-0">11.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-whitehousefirstplan_11-1">11.1</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-whitehousefirstplan_11-2">11.2</a></sup></span> <span class="error mw-ext-cite-error" lang="en" dir="ltr">Cite error: Invalid <code><ref></code> tag; no text was provided for refs named <code>whitehousefirstplan</code></span></li> <li id="cite_note-bidendiplomats-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-bidendiplomats_12-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/20/us-usa-immigration-children-guatemala-idUSKBN0EV0C920140620"><i>Reuters</i>, "Central America presses Biden on migrant rights as U.S. vows aid," June 20, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-13">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/01/us/obama-to-use-executive-action-to-bolster-border-enforcement.html?_r=0"><i>New York Times</i>, "Obama Says He’ll Order Action to Aid Immigrants," June 30, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-14">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.latimes.com/local/politics/la-me-0720-la-raza-convention-20140720-story.html"><i>L.A. Times</i>, "Congressman optimistic Obama will grant immigrants legal status," July 19, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-15">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/barack-obama-immigration-legal-questions-109467.html?hp=l12"><i>Politico</i>, "Barack Obama's immigration moves could be unstoppable," July 30, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-16">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://thehill.com/homenews/house/213931-boehner-obama-will-cement-legacy-of-lawlessness#ixzz396uuMEwM"><i>The Hill</i>, "Boehner: Obama will cement ‘legacy of lawlessness’ with immigration order," July 31, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-17">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2014/09/06/obama-delays-any-immigration-action-until-after-november-elections/?intcmp=related"><i>Fox News</i>, "Obama Delays Any Immigration Action Until After November Elections," September 6, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-18">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/07/08/obama-border-immigration-congress-funding-request/12352771/"><i>USA Today</i>, "Obama seeks $3.7B to stem tide of kids crossing border," July 9, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-19">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/john-boehner-urges-house-border-bill-108705.html"><i>Politico</i>, "John Boehner urges action on border bill," July 9, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-20">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://online.wsj.com/articles/proposal-would-alter-process-for-migrating-1406253821"><i>Wall Street Journal</i>, "Proposal Would Alter Process for Migrating," July 24, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-21">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/07/40000-iraqis-stranded-mountain-isis-death-threat"><i>The Guardian</i>, "40,000 Iraqis stranded on mountain as Isis jihadists threaten death," August 6, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-abc-22"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-abc_22-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://abcnews.go.com/International/us-carries-airstrike-isis-iraq/story?id=24897334"><i>ABC News</i>, "Airstrikes in Iraq," August 8, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-23"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-23">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/10/world/meast/iraq-crisis/"><i>CNN</i>, "Iraq crisis: Troops swell in Baghdad amid ISIS threat, humanitarian nightmare," August 11, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-24"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-24">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/09/world/meast/iraq-crisis/"><i>CNN</i>, "Officials: U.S. airstrikes pound ISIS militants firing at Iraq's Yazidis," August 10, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-25"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-25">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/11027087/Tanks-on-Baghdads-streets-but-Iraqi-prime-minister-Nouri-al-Maliki-finally-ousted.html"><i>The Telegraph</i>, "Tanks on Baghdad's streets, but Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki finally ousted," August 11, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-26"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-26">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/09/obama-steven-sotloff-reaction-110540.html#ixzz3CG9Qpsi4"><i>Politico</i>, "Barack Obama vows 'justice' for Steven Sotloff," September 3, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-obamaaddress-27"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-obamaaddress_27-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/11/politics/isis-obama-speech/index.html?hpt=hp_c2"><i>CNN</i>, "Obama escalates ISIS campaign in Iraq, broadens it to war-ravaged Syria," September 10, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-prism-28"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-prism_28-0">↑</a></span> <span class="error mw-ext-cite-error" lang="en" dir="ltr">Cite error: Invalid <code><ref></code> tag; no text was provided for refs named <code>prism</code></span></li> <li id="cite_note-29"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-29">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/10/nsa-spying-scandal-what-we-have-learned"><i>The Guardian</i>, "NSA spying scandal: what we have learned," June 10, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-30"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-30">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.theguardian.com/law/2013/sep/17/fisa-court-bulk-phone-records-collection"><i>The Guardian</i>, "Fisa court:no telecoms company has ever challenged phone records orders," September 17, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-snowdencharges-31"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-snowdencharges_31-0">↑</a></span> <span class="error mw-ext-cite-error" lang="en" dir="ltr">Cite error: Invalid <code><ref></code> tag; no text was provided for refs named <code>snowdencharges</code></span></li> <li id="cite_note-snowdenindicted-32"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-snowdenindicted_32-0">↑</a></span> <span class="error mw-ext-cite-error" lang="en" dir="ltr">Cite error: Invalid <code><ref></code> tag; no text was provided for refs named <code>snowdenindicted</code></span></li> <li id="cite_note-snowdenasylum-33"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-snowdenasylum_33-0">↑</a></span> <span class="error mw-ext-cite-error" lang="en" dir="ltr">Cite error: Invalid <code><ref></code> tag; no text was provided for refs named <code>snowdenasylum</code></span></li> <li id="cite_note-Chicago-34"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-Chicago_34-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/02/emanuel-villaraigosa-race-to-the-top-chicago-los-angeles_n_1316832.html"><i>Huffington Post</i>, "Race To The Top For Districts Piques Interest Of Chicago And Los Angeles Mayors," March 3, 2012</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-35"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-35">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.corestandards.org/about-the-standards"><i>Common Core State Standards Initiative</i>, "About the Standards," accessed December 10, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-goals-36"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-goals_36-0">36.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-goals_36-1">36.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/executive-summary.pdf"><i>ED.gov</i>, "Race to the Top Executive Summary," accessed December 10, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-37"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-37">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128843021"><i>NPR</i>, "The New Republic: Defending Obama's Education Plan," July 29, 2010</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-38"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-38">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.fee.org/the_freeman/detail/common-core-a-tocquevillean-education-or-cartel-federalism#axzz2n5ihNt8D"><i>FEE</i>, "Common Core: A Tocquevillean Education or Cartel Federalism?" May 14, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-quotedisclaimer-39"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-quotedisclaimer_39-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-40"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-40">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.aft.org/newspubs/news/2013/043013commoncore.cfm"><i>AFT</i>, "AFT calls for moratorium on Common Core consequences," May 1, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-41"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-41">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2010/0727/As-Race-to-the-Top-competition-intensifies-so-do-education-reforms"><i>Christian Science Monitor</i>, "As Race to the Top competition intensifies, so do education reforms," July 27, 2010</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-42"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-42">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www2.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2010/03/03292010.html"><i>ED.gov</i>, "Delaware and Tennessee Win First Race to The Top Grants," accessed December 10, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-43"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-43">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/nine-states-and-district-columbia-win-second-round-race-top-grants"><i>ED.gov</i>, "Nine States and the District of Columbia Win Second Round Race to the Top Grants," August 24, 2010</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-44"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-44">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/department-education-awards-200-million-seven-states-advance-k-12-reform"><i>ED.gov</i>, "Department of Education Awards $200 Million to Seven States to Advance K-12 Reform," December 23, 2011</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-45"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-45">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/10/states-face-delays-in-imp_0_n_1196528.html"><i>Huffington Post</i>, "Race To The Top State Reports: New York, Florida, Hawaii Backtracked On Reform Commitments," Jauary 10, 2012</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-46"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-46">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop-district/awards.html"><i>ED.gov</i>, "2012 Race to the Top—District Awards, Grantee Applications, Peer Reviewer Scores and Comments," accessed December 10, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-47"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-47">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop-district/index.html"><i>ED.gov</i>, "Race to the Top- District," December 23, 2011</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-48"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-48">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2013/sep/19/stringers-chula-vista-parents-protest-switch-/">Susan Luzarro, <i>San Diego Reader</i>, "Chula Vista parents protest switch to Common Core State Standards," September 19, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-49"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-49">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/11/16/arne-duncan-white-surburban-moms-upset-that-common-core-shows-their-kids-arent-brilliant/">Valerie Strauss, <i>Washington Post</i>, "Arne Duncan: ‘White suburban moms’ upset that Common Core shows their kids aren’t ‘brilliant’," November 16, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-50"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-50">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/11/18/south-carolina-parents-remove-children-from-school-to-protest-common-core">Allie Bidwell, <i>U.S. News,</i> "South Carolina Parents Remove Children From School to Protest Common Core," November 18, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-51"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-51">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/11/post_617.html">Diane C. Lore, <i>Staten Island Advance</i>, "Some Staten Island parents planning to keep their children home from school Monday for National Common Core Protest Day," November 15, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-52"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-52">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/schools/btf-parents-picket-regents-home-in-protest-over-state-standards-tests-20131209">Denise Jewell Gee, <i>The Buffalo News</i>, "BTF, parents picket Regent’s home in protest over state standards, tests," December 8, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-53"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-53">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/11/common_core.html"><i>AL.com</i>, "Common Core: Alabama votes to distance itself from controversial standards (week in review)," November 16, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-54"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-54">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/05/corbett_orders_delay_in_common.html"><i>The Patriot-News</i>, "Corbett orders delay in Common Core academic standards' implementation," May 21, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-55"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-55">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/2/http://indianapublicmedia.org/stateimpact/tag/hb-1427/"><i>Indiana Public Media</i>, "House Bill 1427: What 'Pausing' The Common Core Means For Indiana Schools," accessed December 10, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-56"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-56">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/11/louisiana_common_core_parcc_de.html"><i>The Times Picayune</i>, "Louisiana announces major changes to how students, schools held accountable under Common Core," November 21, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-57"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-57">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/state_edwatch/2013/11/two-year_transition_to_common-core_tests_approved_in_massachusetts.html"><i>Education Week</i>, "Two-Year Transition to Common-Core Tests Approved in Massachusetts," November 19, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-58"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-58">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/DigitalEducation/2013/07/tech_challenges_lead_oklahoma_.html"><i>Education Week</i>, "Tech Challenges Lead Oklahoma to Opt Out of PARCC Exams," July 3, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-59"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-59">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://news.heartland.org/newspaper-article/2013/07/22/common-core-testing-costs-increase-georgia-withdraws"><i>Heartland</i>, "Common Core Testing Costs Increase; Georgia Withdraws," July 22, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-60"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-60">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/11/02/michigan-gives-final-ok-to-common-core-standards/"><i>CBS Detroit</i>, "Michigan Gives Final OK To Common Core Standards," November 2, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-61"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-61">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54627081-78/utah-state-standards-common.html.csp?page=1"><i>The Salt Lake Tribune</i>, "Utah drops out of consortium developing Common Core tests," August 4, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-62"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-62">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://members.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2013-10-17/story/common-core-still-moving-ahead-florida#ixzz2mL66PT5a">Khristopher J. Brooks, <i>The Florida-Times Union</i>, "Common Core still moving ahead in Florida," October 16, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-63"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-63">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/article/20131128/NEWS01/311280018/Ohio-Republicans-target-Common-Core?nclick_check=1"><i>Lancaster Eagle Gazette</i>, "Ohio Republicans target Common Core," November 29, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-nytbecomeslaw-64"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-nytbecomeslaw_64-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/health/policy/24health.html?_r=0"><i>New York Times</i>, "Obama Signs Health Care Overhaul Bill, With a Flourish," March 23, 2010</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-65"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-65">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://kaiserfamilyfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/8061-021.pdf"><i>Kaiser Family Foundation</i>, "Summary of the Affordable Care Act," March 12, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-wapowhycanceled-66"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-wapowhycanceled_66-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/10/29/this-is-why-obamacare-is-cancelling-some-peoples-insurance-plans/"><i>Washington Post</i>, "This is why Obamacare is canceling some people's insurance plans," October 29, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-67"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-67">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.naic.org/documents/committees_b_Exchanges.pdf"><i>National Association of Insurance Commissioners</i>, "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009: Health Insurance Exchanges," April 20, 2010</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-68"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-68">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/21/politics/scotus-obamacare-contraception-mandate/"><i>CNN</i>, "Justices to hear 'Hobby Lobby' case on Obamacare birth control rule," March 23, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-hobbylobbyruling-69"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-hobbylobbyruling_69-0">69.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-hobbylobbyruling_69-1">69.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/supreme-court-hobby-lobby-decision-contraception-mandate-108429.html#ixzz3691yuF2B"><i>Politico</i>, "Supreme Court sides with Hobby Lobby on contraception mandate," June 30, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-70"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-70">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/01/us-usa-court-business-analysis-idUSKBN0F640220140701"><i>Reuters</i>, "U.S. birth control ruling fuels battle over corporate rights," July 1, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-71"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-71">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/supreme-court-hobby-lobby-decision-contraception-mandate-108429.html"><i>Politico</i>, "SCOTUS sides with Hobby Lobby on birth control," June 30, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-72"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-72">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-10-01/business/chi-obamacare-affordable-care-act-20131001_1_state-exchange-tuesday-morning-call-center"><i>Chicago Tribune</i>, "Computer glitches, overloads hit health care exchanges," October 1, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-bloombergdata-73"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-bloombergdata_73-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-08/insurers-getting-faulty-data-from-u-s-health-exchanges.html"><i>Bloomberg</i>, "Insurers Getting Faulty Data From U.S. Health Exchanges," October 8, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-politicoenrollment-74"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-politicoenrollment_74-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/another-obstacle-to-signing-up-for-aca-crops-up-98573.html"><i>Politico</i>, "Another obstacle to signing up for ACA crops up," October 21, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-75"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-75">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://triblive.com/business/headlines/4855077-74/website-sebelius-health#axzz2hPkERiqj"><i>Pittsburgh Tribune-Review</i>, "Sebelius visit fails to reassure as health care website glitches persist," October 10, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-CNNSebelius-76"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-CNNSebelius_76-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/30/politics/obamacare-sebelius/"><i>CNN</i>, "Sebelius: 'I apologize, I'm accountable' for Obamacare website flaws," October 30, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-sebeliushearing-77"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-sebeliushearing_77-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/kathleen-sebelius-testify-obamacare-98612.html"><i>Politico</i>, "Kathleen Sebelius offers to testify on Obamacare," October 22, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-78"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-78">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/2/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/08/obama_slams_out.html"><i>Boston Globe</i>, "Obama slams 'outrageous myths' on health care; Republicans say president 'plays fast and loose' with facts," August 22, 2009</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-NYTcancellationsnotsite-79"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-NYTcancellationsnotsite_79-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/30/us/politics/cancellation-of-health-care-plans-replaces-website-problems-as-prime-target.html?_r=0"><i>New York Times</i>, "Cancellation of Health Care Plans Replaces Website Problems as Prime Target," October 29, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-80"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-80">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://online.wsj.com/articles/poorly-managed-healthcare-gov-construction-cost-840-million-watchdog-finds-1406751529"><i>Wall Street Journal</i>, "Poorly Managed HealthCare.gov Construction Cost $840 Million, Watchdog Finds," July 30, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-CBSoverrun-81"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-CBSoverrun_81-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/healthcare-gov-has-already-cost-840-million-report/"><i>CBS News</i>, "HealthCare.gov has already cost $840 million," July 30, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-USATSebelius-82"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-USATSebelius_82-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/10/30/sebelius-health-care-house-hearing/3308771/"><i>USA Today</i>, "Health chief Sebelius apologizes for botched website," October 30, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-nyteo-83"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-nyteo_83-0">83.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-nyteo_83-1">83.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/02/us/politics/epa-to-seek-30-percent-cut-in-carbon-emissions.html?_r=0"><i>New York Times</i>, "Obama to Take Action to Slash Coal Pollution," June 1, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-usacap-84"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-usacap_84-0">84.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-usacap_84-1">84.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/06/02/epa-proposes-sharp-cuts-power-plant-emissions/9859913/"><i>USA Today</i>, "EPA seeks 30% cut in power plant carbon emissions by 2030," June 2, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-85"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-85">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/06/03/unions-slam-obama-epa-rule/"><i>Fox News</i>, "Unions slam Obama EPA rule," June 3, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-86"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-86">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/03/us/carbon-plan-puts-democrats-in-coal-states-on-the-defensive.html"><i>New York Times</i>, "Democrats in Coal Country Run From E.P.A.," June 2, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-87"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-87">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/08/26/fact-sheet-president-obama-announces-new-executive-actions-fulfill-our-p"><i>The White House</i>, "FACT SHEET: President Obama Announces New Executive Actions to Fulfill our Promises to Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families," August 26, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-88"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-88">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40132.pdf"><i>Congressional Research Service</i>, "The President’s State of the Union Address: Tradition, Function, and Policy Implications," January 24, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-89"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-89">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/sou.php"><i>The American Presidency Project</i>, "State of the Union Addresses and Messages," accessed October 14, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-90"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-90">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2012/2012presgeresults.pdf"><i>FEC</i>, "2012 Presidential Election Results," accessed June 24, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-91"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-91">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2008/tables2008.pdf"><i>FEC</i>, "2008 Presidential Popular Vote Summary," accessed June 24, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-92"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-92">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/index.php"><i>OpenSecrets</i>, "2012 Presidential Race," accessed October 14, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-93"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-93">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/index.php"><i>OpenSecrets</i>, "2008 Presidential Race," accessed October 14, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-94"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-94">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=ILS2&cycle=2004"><i>OpenSecrets</i>, "2004 Race: Illinois Senate," accessed October 14, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-95"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-95">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/candidate.php?id=N00009638"><i>OpenSecrets</i>, "Barack Obama 2012 Election Cycle," accessed October 14, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-96"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-96">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/index.php?cycle=2008"><i>OpenSecrets</i>, "2008 Election Cycle," accessed October 14, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-97"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-97">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=ILS2&cycle=2004"><i>OpenSecrets</i>, "2004 Race: Illinois Senate," accessed October 14, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-98"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-98">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2014/03/31/obama_endorses_schatz_in_hawaii_senate_race_122121.html"><i>Real Clear Politics</i>, "Obama Endorses Schatz in Hawaii Senate Race," March 31, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-99"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-99">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/09/politics/president-barack-obama-endorses-hillary-clinton-in-video/index.html"><i>CNN</i>, "President Barack Obama endorses Hillary Clinton in video," June 9, 2016</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-100"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-100">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text">This figure represents the total percentage growth from either 2004 (if the member entered office in 2004 or earlier) or the member's first year in office (as noted in the chart below).</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-101"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-101">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/CIDsummary.php?CID=N00009638&year=2011"><i>OpenSecrets</i>, "Barack Obama (D), 2011"</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-102"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-102">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/CIDsummary.php?CID=N00009638&year=2010"><i>OpenSecrets</i>, "Barack Obama (D), 2010"</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-crystal_ball-103"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-crystal_ball_103-0">103.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-crystal_ball_103-1">103.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/the-presidencys-political-price/"><i>Sabato's Crystal Ball</i>, "The Presidency's Political Price," August 1, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-104"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-104">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Ballotpedia's list of superdelegates to the 2016 Democratic National Convention is based on our own research and lists provided by the Democratic National Committee to Vox.com in <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2016/2/22/11070364/list-all-superdelegates">February 2016</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6622695/Unpledged_Delegate_List_5.27.16.0.pdf">May 2016</a>. If you think we made an error in identifying superdelegates, please send an email to <b><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="mailto:Federal@ballotpedia.org">editor@ballotpedia.org</a></b>.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-105"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-105">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/10/us/politics/obama-hillary-clinton-endorsement.html?_r=0/">“New York Times<i>, “Obama Endorses Hillary Clinton, and Urges Democrats to Unite,” June 9, 2016</i></a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-106"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-106">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>To find out which candidate a superdelegate supported, Ballotpedia sought out public statements from the superdelegate in other media outlets and on social media. If we were unable to find a public statement that clearly articulated which candidate the superdelegate supported at the national convention, we listed that superdelegate as "unknown." If you believe we made an error in identifying which candidate a superdelegate supported, please email us at <b><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="mailto:Federal@ballotpedia.org">editor@ballotpedia.org</a></b>.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-107"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-107">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R42533"><i>Congressional Research Service</i>, "The Presidential Nominating Process and the National Party Conventions, 2016: Frequently Asked Questions," December 30, 2015</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-exit-108"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-exit_108-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cnn.com/election/primaries/polls/il/Dem"><i>CNN</i>, "Illinois exit polls," March 16, 2016</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-apdem-109"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-apdem_109-0">109.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-apdem_109-1">109.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/c/ce/Appendix_B_-_Allocation_Chart_1.29.16.pdf.pdf"><i>Democratic National Committee</i>, "2016 Democratic National Convention Delegate/Alternate Allocation," updated February 19, 2016</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-110"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-110">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P16/D"><i>The Green Papers</i>, "2016 Democratic Convention," accessed May 7, 2021</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-111"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-111">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6622695/Unpledged_Delegate_List_5.27.16.0.pdf"><i>Democratic National Committee's Office of Party Affairs and Delegate Selection</i>, "Unpledged Delegates -- By State," May 27, 2016</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-112"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-112">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/1715103480300364103"><i>Twitter</i>, "Barack Obama," October 19, 2023</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-piersonresignationtime-113"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-piersonresignationtime_113-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://time.com/3453528/secret-service-julie-pierson-resign/"><i>Time</i>, "Secret Service Director Resigns," October 1, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-114"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-114">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/23/us/white-house-security-incident/"><i>CNN</i>, "Official: Secret Service twice interviewed, released would-be White House intruder," September 23, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-115"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-115">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/exclusive-secret-service-missed-man-with-gun-in-elevator-with-obama/article/2554185"><i>Washington Examiner</i>, "Exclusive: Secret Service missed man with gun in elevator with Obama," September 30, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-116"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-116">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.wjla.com/articles/2014/09/key-highlights-of-secret-service-director-s-testimony-before-congress-107654.html"><i>WJLA</i>, "Key highlights of Secret Service director's testimony before Congress," September 30, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-117"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-117">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/secret-service-stumbled-after-gunman-hit-white-house-residence-in-2011/2014/09/27/d176b6ac-442a-11e4-b437-1a7368204804_story.html"><i>The Washington Post</i>, "Secret Service fumbled response after gunman hit White House residence in 2011," September 27, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-118"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-118">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/12/cia-torture-report-113420.html?hp=t1_r"><i>Politico</i>, "Senate report: CIA misled public, Bush on use of torture," December 9, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-119"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-119">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/12/cia-torture-report-113420.html?hp=t1_r"><i>Politico</i>, "Senate report: CIA misled public, Bush on use of torture," December 9, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-120"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-120">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/08/john-brennan-torture-cia-109654.html"><i>Politico</i>, "Obama: 'We tortured some folks'," August 1, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-121"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-121">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/12/cia-torture-report-113420.html?hp=t1_r"><i>Politico</i>, "Senate report: CIA misled public, Bush on use of torture," December 9, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-122"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-122">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/documents/points.pdf"><i>Associated Press</i>, "Topline Messages (as proposed by State)," accessed August 1, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-123"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-123">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/12/cia-torture-report-113420.html?hp=t1_r"><i>Politico</i>, "Senate report: CIA misled public, Bush on use of torture," December 9, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-124"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-124">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/senate-cia-clash-over-redactions-in-interrogation-report/2014/08/05/2f904f04-1ce0-11e4-ab7b-696c295ddfd1_story.html"><i>The Washington Post</i>, "Senate, CIA clash over redactions in interrogation report," August 5, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-125"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-125">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.ibtimes.com/why-cia-torture-report-release-took-years-wrangling-negotiations-1745247"><i>International Business Times</i>, "Why The CIA Torture Report Release Took Years of Wrangling And Negotiations," December 9, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-126"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-126">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/11/us/missouri-teen-shooting/"><i>CNN</i>, "Gunshots, tear gas in Missouri town where police shot teen," August 12, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-127"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-127">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/215152-obama-calls-for-calm-after-disturbing-events-in-ferguson#ixzz3AU7VUCBp"><i>The Hill</i>, "Obama calls for calm after ‘disturbing’ events in Ferguson," August 14, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-holdervisit-128"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-holdervisit_128-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/215435-holder-going-to-ferguson#ixzz3AmmSpbGv"><i>The Hill</i>, "Obama sends Holder to Ferguson," August 18, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-129"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-129">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/215489-white-house-hasnt-ruled-out-sending-obama-to-ferguson"><i>The Hill</i>, "White House hasn’t ruled out sending Obama to Ferguson," August 19, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-latimesdelay-130"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-latimesdelay_130-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-house-lawsuit-obamacare-20140710-story.html"><i>L.A. Times</i>, "House lawsuit over Obamacare to focus on employer mandate delay," July 10, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-hilldelay-131"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-hilldelay_131-0">↑</a></span> <span class="error mw-ext-cite-error" lang="en" dir="ltr">Cite error: Invalid <code><ref></code> tag; no text was provided for refs named <code>hilldelay</code></span></li> <li id="cite_note-politicodelay-132"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-politicodelay_132-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/gop-obama-lawsuit-employer-mandate-108778.html?hp=f1"><i>Politico</i>, "GOP’s Obama lawsuit to focus on employer mandate," July 10, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-133"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-133">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/bowe-bergdahl-a-taliban-captive-since-2009-has-been-freed/"><i>CBS News</i>, "Bowe Bergdahl, a Taliban captive since 2009, has been freed," May 31, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-bergdahlbasics-134"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-bergdahlbasics_134-0">134.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-bergdahlbasics_134-1">134.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/bowe-bergdahl-deal-criticized-afghanistan-barack-obama-107312.html?hp=l1"><i>Politico</i>, "Criticism of Bergdahl deal mounts," June 6, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-135"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-135">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/barack-obama-defends-bowe-bergdahl-deal-107359.html#ixzz33axOYpVO"><i>Politico</i>, "President Obama defends Bowe Bergdahl deal," June 3, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-136"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-136">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/08/operation-protective-edge-israel-bombs-gaza-in-retaliation-for-rockets"><i>The Guardian</i>, "Operation Protective Edge: Israel bombs Gaza in retaliation for rockets," July 8, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-137"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-137">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/hamas-tunnel-threat-at-center-of-war-with-israel/2014/07/25/d645d55c-13cc-11e4-ac56-773e54a65906_story.html"><i>Washington Post</i>, "Hamas tunnel threat at center of war with Israel," July 25, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-secretlist-138"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-secretlist_138-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/23/health/veterans-dying-health-care-delays/index.html"><i>CNN</i>, "A fatal wait: Veterans languish and die on a VA hospital's secret list," April 24, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-139"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-139">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://time.com/2809158/veterans-affairs-scandal-eric-shinseki/"><i>Time</i>, "Why Veterans Affairs Can’t Root Out Its Corruption," June 2, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-140"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-140">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/05/politics/veterans-groups-seek-shinseki-resignation/"><i>CNN</i>, "Two key veterans groups call for VA chief Eric Shinseki to resign," May 5, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-141"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-141">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://online.wsj.com/news/article_email/SB10001424052702303417104579546390034288748-lMyQjAxMTA0MDAwNjEwNDYyWj"><i>Wall Street Journal</i>, "Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki Says He Won't Resign," May 6, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-resignation-142"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-resignation_142-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/05/barack-obama-to-talk-eric-shinseki-veterans-affairs-va-scandal-live-kelly-ripa-michael-strahan-107245.html?hp=t1"><i>Politico</i>, "President Barack Obama accepts Eric Shinseki’s resignation," May 30, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-politicohearing-143"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-politicohearing_143-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/05/eric-shinseki-senate-scandal-veterans-affairs-treatment-delays-106715.html#ixzz32CY89Lnk"><i>Politico</i>, "Eric Shinseki ‘mad as hell’ over VA scandal," May 15, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-144"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-144">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://www.newsday.com/news/nation/ap-files-complaint-over-federal-wiretaps-s14801"><i>News Day</i>, "AP files complaint over federal wiretaps," May 13, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-145"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-145">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/a-rare-peek-into-a-justice-department-leak-probe/2013/05/19/0bc473de-be5e-11e2-97d4-a479289a31f9_story.html"><i>Washington Post</i>, "A rare peek into a Justice Department leak probe," May 19, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-146"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-146">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/05/21/correspondents-association-concerned-government-too-aggressive-in-tracking/"><i>Fox News</i>, "DOJ seized phone records for Fox News numbers, reporter's parents," May 23, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-147"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-147">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-calderone/doj-wiretap-reporters_b_3322254.html"><i>Huffington Post</i>, "DOJ: We Did Not Wiretap Reporters' Phones," May 22, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-148"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-148">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/05/11/irs-tea-party-investigation-timeline/2153007/"><i>USA Today</i>, "IRS knew of Tea Party profiling in 2011, report shows," accessed May 16, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-149"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-149">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/13/politics/irs-conservative-targeting/"><i>CNN</i>, "Obama: Alleged IRS political targeting 'outrageous'," May 14, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-150"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-150">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/15/politics/irs-conservative-targeting/index.html"><i>CNN</i>, "'Angry' Obama announces IRS leader's ouster after conservatives targeted," accessed May 16, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-151"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-151">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304713704579093461064758006?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702304713704579093461064758006.html"><i>Wall Street Journal</i>, "Lois Lerner, at Center of IRS Investigation, Retires," September 23, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-152"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-152">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://waysandmeans.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=384506"><i>Ways and Means Committee</i>, "IRS Claims to Have Lost Over 2 Years of Lerner Emails," June 13, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-CNNoct-153"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-CNNoct_153-0">153.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-CNNoct_153-1">153.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/15/us/clinton-benghazi/index.html"><i>CNN</i>, "Clinton: I'm responsible for diplomats' security," October 16, 2012</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-154"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-154">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/10/politics/congress-libya-attack/index.html"><i>CNN</i>, "U.S. official says superiors worked against effort to boost Benghazi," October 11, 2012</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-155"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-155">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/20/us/politics/3-state-dept-officials-resign-following-benghazi-report.html"><i>New York Times</i>, "4 Are Out at State Dept. After Scathing Report on Benghazi Attack," December 19, 2012</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-156"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-156">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/23/politics/clinton-benghazi/index.html"><i>CNN</i>, "Clinton takes on Benghazi critics, warns of more security threats," January 24, 2012</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-157"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-157">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/20/state-officials-benghazi_n_3786706.html"><i>Huffington Post</i>, "State Department Officials Reassigned After Leave Related To Benghazi Attacks," August 20, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-benghazispotlight-158"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-benghazispotlight_158-0">158.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-benghazispotlight_158-1">158.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/05/benghazi-is-back-106233.html#ixzz318N0DrfQ"><i>Politico</i>, "Benghazi returns to the spotlight," May 1, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-159"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-159">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/04/charles-krauthammer-on-benghazi-emails-106188.html#ixzz318qLvTfm"><i>Politico</i>, "Charles Krauthammer on Benghazi emails," April 30, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-160"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-160">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://blogs.rollcall.com/218/republicans-benghazi-panel-appointments-likely-friday/?dcz="><i>Roll Call</i>, "Republicans’ Benghazi Panel Appointments Likely Friday," May 8, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-161"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-161">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/05/benghazi-john-kerry-106405.html#ixzz318wqMYmS"><i>Politico</i>, "John Kerry: I’ll comply with House GOP’s Benghazi request," May 6, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-fastandfurious-162"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup><a href="#cite_ref-fastandfurious_162-0">162.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-fastandfurious_162-1">162.1</a></sup> <sup><a href="#cite_ref-fastandfurious_162-2">162.2</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/27/world/americas/operation-fast-and-furious-fast-facts/"><i>CNN</i>, "Operation Fast and Furious Fast Facts," August 27, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-163"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-163">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/10/12/issa-issues-subpoena-to-holder-in-fast-and-furious-investigation/"><i>Fox News</i>, "Issa Issues Subpoena to Holder in Fast and Furious Investigation," October 12, 2011</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-164"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-164">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/29/us/politics/fast-and-furious-holder-contempt-citation-battle.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0"><i>New York Times</i>, "House Finds Holder in Contempt Over Inquiry on Guns," June 28, 2012</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-165"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-165">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2013/11/judge-wont-allow-holder-appeal-now-in-contempt-case-177796.html"><i>Politico</i>, "Judge won't allow Holder appeal now in contempt case," November 18, 2013</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-funfacts-166"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-funfacts_166-0">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/3401168/Barack-Obama-The-50-facts-you-might-not-know.html"><i>The Telegraph</i>, "Barack Obama: The 50 facts you might not know," November 7, 2008</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-167"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-167">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/07/10/obama-galifianakis-interview-nominated-for-emmy/"><i>CNN</i>, "Obama-Galifianakis interview nominated for Emmy," July 10, 2014</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-168"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-168">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/interactive-tour/basketball-court"><i>The White House</i>, "The Basketball Court," accessed May 9, 2014</a></span> </li> </ol></div></div></div> <table class="navbox collapsible autocollapse nowraplinks" style="margin-top:auto; font-size:84%;"> <tbody><tr style="color:inherit;"> <td style="width:75px; background-color:#fff; text-align:center; vertical-align:middle;"><a href="/File:Flag_of_Illinois.png" class="image" title="Flag of Illinois"><img alt="Flag of Illinois" 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