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• Richard Shelby is the senior Republican Senator from Alabama.

  In February 2009, a Cullman, Alabama, newspaper reported that Shelby had raised questions about the citizenship of President Barack Obama. The Cullman Times quoted Shelby as saying "Well his father was Kenyan and they said he was born in Hawaii, but I haven't seen any birth certificate. You have to be born in America to be president." A spokesman for Senator Shelby later called the report a "distortion," adding that Shelby "doesn't have any doubt" about Obama's citizenship.CullmanTimes.com: Shelby discusses stimulus bill, other issues (February 21, 2009) Ben Smith's Blog (Politico): Alabama paper stands by Shelby story (February 23, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Name: Richard Craig Shelby
  2. Born: May 6, 1934
  3. Birthplace: Birmingham, Alabama
  4. Assumed office: January 6, 1987
  5. Party: Republican
  6. Spouse: Annette Nevin Shelby
  7. Alma mater: University of Alabama
  8. Previous occupation: Lawyer
  9. Has two sons: Richard Shelby Jr. and Claude Nevin Shelby
  10. Senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee

• Early Life

  Shelby earned both his Bachelor's degree and law degree from the University of Alabama before becoming an attorney in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and joining the American Bar Association.

• Political Career

  Shelby spent 15 years in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat before switching to the Republican in 1994.

  • 1971-1979: Member of Alabama Senate
  • 1979-1987: Alabama Representative, 7th district
  • 1987-present: Senator from Alabama

• Shelby on Mortgage Bailout

  On September 23, 2008, Senator Richard Shelby voiced dissent over an unprecedented government bailout plan to purchase $700 billion in mortgage debt. According to the Senator "we've been given no credible assurances this plan will work."Wall Street Journal: Dodd, Shelby Voice Skepticism of Bailout Plan (September 23, 2008) Despite Shelby's misgivings and those of other Republicans, the plan was approved by both the House and the Senate in early-October 2008.

• Positions

  • Anti-gun control
  • Pro-life
  • Supports flat tax
  • Opposes NAFTA
  • Opposed $700 billion mortgage bailout plan
  • Opposed President Barack Obama's 2009 stimulus packageWRBL.com (Columbus, GA): Senator Richard Shelby Upset About New Stimulus Law

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  U.S. Senate | U.S. House of Representatives | Alabama | Jeff Sessions | Mortgage Bailout Plan | 2009 Stimulus Package | Republican Party | Obama Birth Certificate | Barack Obama | John Falconetti

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