Dave Boyer

Obama says embassy security a ‘priority’ in Egypt

A day after an American student from Maryland was killed during protests in Cairo, President Obama said Saturday his most urgent priority is protecting U.S. diplomatic posts in Egypt. Published June 29, 2013

In South Africa, first lady credits ‘Little Rock Nine’ for White House win

Comparing the U.S. civil rights era to South Africans' struggles against apartheid, first lady Michelle Obama told a Johannesburg audience Saturday that she and President Obama attained the White House because of the bravery of the "Little Rock Nine" students in 1957. Published June 29, 2013

Obama calls on House to pass immigration bill, praises Mandela in South Africa

On a visit to South Africa, President Obama said Saturday he won't meet with critically ill civil-rights icon Nelson Mandela, and he urged the U.S. House to complete its work on immigration reform before the August congressional recess. Published June 29, 2013

Obama: Not seeking ‘photo-op’ with ailing Mandela

En route to South Africa, President Obama said Friday he doesn't need a "photo-op" with gravely ill civil-rights icon Nelson Mandela and isn't sure whether he will visit him. Published June 28, 2013

Obama hasn’t spoken with Chinese or Russian leaders about Snowden

President Obama said Thursday that he had not yet spoken to Chinese President Xi Jinping or Russian President Vladimir Putin about the U.S. request to extradite confessed NSA leaker Edward Snowden, even though he is concerned that the fugitive might reveal more top-secret information about U.S. surveillance programs. Published June 27, 2013

‘Powerful moment’: Obama tours historic slave-trade site off Senegal coast

Visiting a site where African slaves were shipped to the New World, President Obama said Thursday the experience made him more committed to human rights. Published June 27, 2013

Obama on Snowden: ‘I’m not going to be scrambling jets to get a 29-year-old hacker’

President Obama said Thursday he hasn't spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin about extraditing confessed NSA leaker Edward Snowden, even though he's concerned that the fugitive might reveal more top-secret information about U.S. surveillance programs. Published June 27, 2013

Obama’s call for tolerance of gays gets cold shoulder in Africa

A day after the Supreme Court granted victories to same-sex couples in the U.S., President Obama's visit to Africa got off to a rough start when his call for tolerance of gays on the continent was rebuffed publicly by the president of Senegal, where homosexuality is a crime. Published June 27, 2013

Obama renominates top two at Joint Chiefs

Keeping two uniformed military leaders on a national security team in flux, President Obama said Wednesday he will renominate Gen. Martin E. Dempsey as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr. as vice chairman. Published June 26, 2013

Obama praises Supreme Court’s gay marriage rulings

President Obama Wednesday hailed the Supreme Court's ruling that struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act, and immediately ordered Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. to ensure that federal benefits are available to gay couples affected by the decision. Published June 26, 2013

U.S. loses secrets, prestige as China, Russia defy Obama over Snowden

It doesn't look good when the most powerful man in the world can't get his hands on one of the most wanted men in the world. Published June 25, 2013

IRS report: We weren’t politically pressured; new chief halts screening criteria

In another damaging revelation, the new head of the Internal Revenue Service said Monday that an internal probe had uncovered more instances of agents using "inappropriate" political lists to single out tax-exempt applications for extra scrutiny, and he acknowledged that the practice went on far longer than previously reported. Published June 24, 2013

White House slams Hong Kong, China for shielding leaker

The White House blasted China on Monday for allowing confessed National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden to leave Hong Kong for Russia while he is being sought by U.S. authorities. Published June 24, 2013

In Germany, Merkel has blunt words for Obama on right to privacy

President Obama, the former college lecturer on constitutional law, got a lecture on privacy rights Wednesday from German Chancellor Angela Merkel and faced tough questions from the German press about his perceived failure to be less warlike after winning the Nobel Peace Prize. Published June 19, 2013

President Obama gives no clear view on the necessity of national security programs

President Obama has had difficulty finding his footing and has been late to the game in defending federal intelligence surveillance programs as a valuable weapon for thwarting terrorist plots, national security analysts say. Published June 18, 2013

Obama stumbles defending security programs

President Obama has had difficulty finding his footing and has been late to the game in defending federal intelligence surveillance programs as a valuable weapon for thwarting terrorist plots, national security analysts say. Published June 18, 2013

In Obama they trust much less these days; Snowden is among the disillusioned

A string of scandals and fresh concerns about government overreach from the Internal Revenue Service to the National Security Agency have soured voters on President Obama and left many questioning his honesty and trustworthiness. Published June 17, 2013