Dave Boyer
Articles by Dave Boyer
Obama, Abe push for completion of free-trade deal among Pacific rim nations
President Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed Tuesday to join forces to push for completion of a major free-trade deal among Pacific rim nations, starting with Mr. Abe's speech on Wednesday to a divided Congress. Published April 28, 2015
Obama blames social ills for Baltimore crisis: ‘It’s been going on for decades’
Responding to riots in Baltimore, President Obama said Tuesday that there's "no excuse" for looting and arson, but also said the unrest stems from decades-long neglect of urban communities in the U.S. Published April 28, 2015
Obama welcomes Japanese prime minister to White House
Facing unresolved issues on free trade, President Obama welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the White House Tuesday for an official state visit, saying the two leaders are working to "broaden our alliance for our time." Published April 28, 2015
Obama, Shinzo Abe to talk trade, defense during visit to U.S.
President Obama will host Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for an official state visit this week, with Washington and Tokyo announcing an expanded security cooperation Monday but still facing hurdles in Mr. Obama's long-sought goal of a major free-trade agreement. Published April 26, 2015
U.S., Japan to announce expanded security pact
U.S. officials plan a "major announcement" Monday on expanding defense cooperation with Japan, White Houses aides said Friday. Published April 24, 2015
Hillary Clinton under fire for foreign donations, link to Russia uranium deal
The White House struggled Thursday to fend off a barrage of questions about foreign donations to the Clinton Foundation during the tenure of former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, including reports of donations linked to a deal that helped Russia nearly corner the world uranium market with State Department approval. Published April 23, 2015
Obama pokes fun at ‘deflate-gate’ with Patriots at White House
With the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots at the White House, President Obama couldn't resist poking fun at their notorious "deflate-gate" controversy. Published April 23, 2015
Failed U.S. counterterror strike on al Qaeda kills two hostages, including one American
President Obama was forced to concede Thursday that the U.S. killed two innocent hostages, including an American, in a drone strike targeting an al Qaeda compound in Pakistan in January, raising fresh questions about the administration's drone policy and its efforts to rescue captives held by terrorists. Published April 23, 2015
House panel hears of lost benefits, fortune-telling in VA
In a voice choked with emotion, Rustyann Brown told lawmakers Wednesday how the Department of Veterans Affairs routinely turned its back on veterans and their families, even in death. Published April 22, 2015
Liberal coalition airs ads to stop Obama trade measure
A liberal coalition began a seven-figure ad campaign on national TV Wednesday in opposition to President Obama gaining "fast-track" authority for a major free-trade deal. Published April 22, 2015
Obama says U.S. could ‘penetrate’ Iranian missile defense
President Obama said the U.S. could "penetrate" a missile defense system that Iran is purchasing from Russia if the U.S. decided it needed to destroy Tehran's suspected nuclear-weapons program. Published April 21, 2015
Obama says Elizabeth Warren, other liberals ‘wrong’ on free trade
President Obama said Tuesday that liberal critics, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, are wrong about the negative impact of his massive proposed free trade deal with Pacific Rim nations, and he called on Congress to give him the power to negotiate the agreement swiftly. Published April 21, 2015
House panel to hear of whistleblower retaliation within VA
Employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs will tell lawmakers Wednesday that the agency's Philadelphia office is rife with mismanagement and retaliation against whistleblowers. Published April 21, 2015
Jeff Miller, House chairman, blasts VA relocation payments as ‘scheme’
The chairman of a House committee called Tuesday for the Department of Veterans Affairs to end its "outrageous scheme" for relocating highly paid executives after learning of the agency's itemized breakdown of its $288,000 "relocation" payment for the new director of the VA's beleaguered Philadelphia office. Published April 21, 2015
White House won’t link Iranian nuclear talks to U.S. prisoners
Under growing pressure to use the nuclear talks with Iran to demand the release of Americans imprisoned there, the White House refused again Tuesday to link the two issues. Published April 21, 2015
White House doesn’t deny Hillary Clinton claim small-business creation has ‘stalled’ under Obama
The White House didn't put up an argument Tuesday with Hillary Rodham Clinton's claim that small-business creation has "stalled out" in the past two years under President Obama's leadership. Published April 21, 2015
White House: U.S. aircraft carrier sent to Yemen to protect commerce
The White House said Tuesday that a U.S. aircraft carrier was dispatched to the waters off Yemen to ensure the "free flow of commerce," but didn't rule out it also could block Iranian weapons shipments to Shiite rebels fighting in Yemen. Published April 21, 2015
VA book-cooking employees going unpunished
The Department of Veterans Affairs said Monday it has not decided whether to discipline any employees after a government watchdog's investigation found managers in the agency's Philadelphia office cooked the books to make it appear veterans' benefits claims were being handled promptly. Published April 20, 2015
VA official defends ‘flawed’ orders on falsifying dates on claims
A top Veterans Affairs official said Monday that the Philadelphia VA office was the only one in the nation to "misinterpret" a memo from headquarters in 2013 that resulted in employees falsifying the dates on veterans' benefit claims to make it appear the VA was handling claims in a timely fashion. Published April 20, 2015
Obama undermined by Democrats on fast-track trade authority, Asia deal
Democrats are "overwhelmingly" opposed to both fast-track trade authority and to the Asian trade deal the administration is negotiating, exposing doubts about President Obama from within his own ranks — and an ever-shrinking number of lawmakers even willing to be persuaded by him. Published April 19, 2015