Barack Obama


Talking the Town: John Pilger receives the Sydney Peace Prize

John Pilger, winner of the Sydney Peace Prize, has always positioned himself as outside the mainstream media. But his age and location – he hasn’t lived in Australia since the early 1960s – mean that his criticisms of the local media are outdated.

The untold story behind the words that rocked the Obama campaign

Barack Obama’s notorious campaign remark in that “bitter” Pennsylvania blue-collar voters “cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them” was almost his undoing. Mayhill Fowler provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes insight into why he said what he did.

Video of the Day: One year in: Obama’s own words

It was one year ago today that Barack Obama was elected to the presidency. Now, he rallies the troops, encouraging more community action and engagement with issues. It’s like the campaign never ended!

Dowd: Rush Limbaugh is immature and narcissistic

Shock jock Rush Limbaugh is one of the key media mouths of the Republican Party and he loves to insult at Obama. Too bad he forgets the actions of his good mate Dubya, because it wasn’t Obama who stuffed the economy or brought about the war in Iraq, notes Maureen Dowd.

Time for Obama to start taking some risks

The four major issues that dominated the Obama campaign were the economy, healthcare, climate change and foreign policy and Obama has struggled with them all throughout his presidency. Is the US too divided to agree on anything?

Fox News: Obama has proved himself to be a politician, nothing more, nothing less

Barack Obama isn’t a socialist, a racist, or un-American. To be any of those things he’d need a set of political beliefs, which he doesn’t have. Rather, he’s just a politician who created a campaign persona for voters, writes S.E Cupp of Fox News.

What would Candidate Obama think of President Obama?

It’s been a year since Barack Obama won the US election, and the man who once shouted “Yes we can!” has had to grapple with the reality that, quite often, no we can’t. How would the Obama of a year ago view himself today? muses Arianna Huffington.

Guy Rundle: Obama’s long retreat to Jersey

A smattering of gubernatorial and legislative races in the US this November are being seen as a big test for Barack Obama — even though they’re not a predictor of anything much at all.

Halloween at the White House

The Obamas greeted about 2600 trick-or-treaters at the door of the White House on Halloween, doling out some highly prized White House M&Ms and… dried fruit?! Oh no, the White House is That House!

What will Obama do with the leftover Gitmo prisoners?

Barack Obama is honouring his pledge to close down the notorious Guantanamo prison, but how and where will the detainees be trialled in a fair manner? NPR explores the options, examining what justice means for Gitmo prisoners.

The private life of the Obamas

Barack and Michelle Obama are known for having one of strongest and most sickly sweet marriages in US political history. Just think of their date nights! NY Times Magazine is running a 10 page indepth feature on the Obamas’ marriage. Go on, you know you want to.

US pulls itself out of recession, but hold the champagne

US government figures show a growth rate of 3.5% in the third quarter, indicating that the debilitating US recession is no more. Too bad consumer confidence is down and so is faith in Obama’s ability to handle the economy.

Inside Campaign Obama

Get a peak inside Barack Obama’s 2008 Presidential campaign from the man pulling all the strings, campaign manager David Plouffe, with this extract from his new memoir, The Audacity to Win

Democratic donors recieving White House perks

The Washington Times has scored internal documents it claims show Barack Obama has been rewarding major donors to the Democratic Party with exclusive access to the White House, administration advisers and important meetings.

Is Barack Obama sexist?

Following on from the mini furor this week over Obama finally playing golf with a lady, Hadley Freeman explores the PC nonsense and the ridiculous sexist claims bombarding Obama. Sarah Palin may have been the conservatives favourite female, but being a woman is not the same as being good for women.

No more Mr Nice Guy: Obama needs to toughen up

This whole soft and sweet Barack Obama act isn’t working on a global scale, if even Hamid Karzai is ignoring Obama’s “smart diplomacy” writes Mark Steyn. Obama could learn some tough guy lessons from George Dubya.

Arianna Huffington: Barack Obama is doing my job

For a President, Barack Obama makes a great pundit, says Arianna Huffington. He’s very good at uring, advocating, recommending and suggesting, but not so good at actually doing.

Stop the press: Barack Obama played golf with a woman!

US news outlets are covering all the big issues in American politics and gender equality, providing blanket coverage of President Barack Obama’s historic golf game — with a woman!

Fox News vs. The White House: it’s on

A bloody fight is brewing in the US media. In the blue corner, the White House. In the red corner, Fox News. Will Obama’s message of hope beat the the right wing shock jocks in submission? asks Aaron Flanagan.

Guy Rundle: Dope reform a sign of Obama’s worth and intent

Barack Obama has transformed the US overnight, from a country with one of the harshest anti-dope regimes, to one with some of the most liberal in the world.

Noel Pearson is ‘our’ Obama? Albrechtsen’s swatch politics

Janet Albrechtsen dubbed Indigenous leader Noel Pearson as Australia’s answer to Barack Obama. Is that because they’re both, um, black? asks Guy Rundle.

No hope for Obama artist fraud

Artist Shepard Fairey — creator of the iconic Barack Obama ‘Hope’ poster — has admitted that he knowingly submitted fake evidence in his legal case with Associated Press in an attempt to conceal his use of a copyrighted Obama photo.

White House vs. Fox News: why Obama can’t win

Fox News may have baited them, but Barack Obama — who has always tried to depict himself as above petty partisan squabbling — should never have allowed the White House to bite, writes David Carr.

Why the US can’t beat the Taliban: their secret finances revealed

It’s no longer just opium poppies funding the Taliban. Fundraising from foreign donations, kidnappings and extortion have created a financial monopoly so strong that the US military have publicly admitted they are struggling to fight it.

Obama’s secret deal with Iran

Iranian nuclear experts and world powers met today to negotiate the future of the country’s uranium stockpiles. But Barack Obama has been personally wheeling and dealing secretly with Iran for four months now, TIME reveals.