The Law Dictionary
Featuring Black's Law Dictionary Free Online Legal Dictionary 2nd Ed.
What is RENEGADE?
One who has changed his profession of faith or opinion ; one who has deserted his church or party.
President Barack Obama opted for this moniker after being presented with a list of names beginning with the letter "R."
http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1860482_1860481_1860422,00.html
Renegade's earliest meanings had to do with deserting one's religion, coming from the Spanish word renegado originally meaning "Christian turned Muslim."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/3452281/Renegade-and-Renaissance-Obama-to-replace-Trailblazer-and-Tempo-Bush-in-the-White-House.html