Dave Boyer
Articles by Dave Boyer
Rising gas prices hamper Obama
President Obama on Monday trumpeted an administration report that praises him for reducing the country's reliance on foreign oil, but a new poll shows that Americans are holding him responsible for soaring gas prices. Published March 12, 2012
Obama expresses condolences for Afghan shootings
President Obama offered condolences to the people of Afghanistan on Sunday for the killings of 16 civilians by a U.S. soldier in an apparent shooting rampage. Published March 11, 2012
Obama rails at GOP candidates for ‘beating the drums of war’
In the first news conference of his re-election year, President Obama tried Tuesday to appeal to several key groups of voters — assuring the war-weary he's reluctant to launch attacks in Iran and Syria, praising women for supporting contraception, and promising Hispanics he'll achieve immigration reform if they vote out Republicans. Published March 6, 2012
Obama: ‘Too much loose talk of war’ with Iran
Under pressure from Israel and Republicans to take stronger action against Iran's nuclear program, President Obama told an influential pro-Israel lobby Sunday that there is "there is too much loose talk of war." Published March 4, 2012
Obama phones student called a ‘slut’ by Limbaugh
President Obama Friday telephoned the Georgetown University law school student who spoke out about contraceptive policy to express his disappointment at the "crude" and "reprehensible" comments directed at her by Rush Limbaugh, the White House said. Published March 2, 2012
White House: Obama apology won’t end Afghan violence
A White House spokesman said that President Obama wasn't suggesting his apology to Afghanistan for Koran burnings would end the violence there, after two more U.S. service members were killed Thursday. Published March 1, 2012
Obama: Time to end tax breaks for Big Oil
Feeling the political heat from high gas prices, President Obama Thursday demanded that Congress end "inexcusable" tax breaks for oil and gas companies — a step that independent researchers say would lead to even higher gas prices. Published March 1, 2012
Obama: Afghan relations calming after apology
President Obama said Wednesday his apology to Afghan President Hamid Karzai for the burning of Korans by U.S. troops last week has "calmed things down" after the episode spawned waves of violent anti-American protests. Published February 29, 2012
Bipartisan lunch has White House optimistic on jobs
For the first time in seven months, President Obama hosted a White House meeting Wednesday with congressional leaders of both parties, a luncheon that produced positive comments and more election-year sniping over gas prices. Published February 29, 2012
White House: North Korea takes ‘positive step’
President Obama's spokesman said Wednesday that North Korea's decision to suspend its nuclear programs is a "positive first step" toward disarming the country of its nuclear weapons. Published February 29, 2012
Obama loosens rules on military custody for terror detainees
President Obama on Tuesday night issued a sweeping exemption of future terrorism suspects from a congressional requirement that they be held in military custody, part of last year's hotly contested defense authorization law. Published February 28, 2012
White House raps Boehner’s ‘empty’ Keystone effort
As Democrats increasingly worry that rising gas prices could hurt President Obama's re-election effort, the White House on Tuesday lashed out at House Speaker John A. Boehner for renewing his call to build the Keystone oil pipeline. Published February 28, 2012
Obama: Gamble on auto industry ‘paying off for America’
Preaching to a choir of unionized auto workers and taking jabs at Republican challenger Mitt Romney on the day of Michigan's primary, President Obama told a United Auto Workers gathering in Washington Tuesday that the government's $85 billion auto industry bailout succeeded "because I believed in you." Published February 28, 2012
Conservatives still hold ‘anger’ over Santorum backing of Specter
When Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania endorsed moderate Arlen Specter over conservative Pat Toomey in the state's GOP Senate primary in 2004, the head of the conservative Club for Growth predicted "our members won't forget that for a very long time." Published February 26, 2012
Specter: Santorum candidacy not ‘realistic’
Former Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter said Friday that ex-Senate colleague Rick Santorum is "so far to the right" that it's not realistic for him to win the presidency. Published February 24, 2012
Poll shows sharp division on Obama contraception order
Americans are divided on the Obama administration's decision to require private employers to provide free birth control with health-insurance plans, and a majority wants the "Obamacare" law to be repealed, according to a poll released Thursday. Published February 23, 2012
Obama marks groundbreaking of black history museum
President Obama celebrated the groundbreaking of the new National Museum of African American History and Culture on Wednesday, saying it will remind all Americans of the ordeals and triumphs of blacks. Published February 22, 2012
Sale of Philadelphia newspapers raises bias concerns
Philadelphia's two daily newspapers have long been accused of liberal bias, but critics say a group of potential buyers led by former Gov. Ed Rendell would turn the papers into mere mouthpieces of the Democratic Party in a 2012 swing state. Published February 21, 2012
Obama stays on ‘message,’ gets boost in ratings amid GOP strife
President Obama's rising job-approval ratings are the result of a go-it-alone strategy against Congress and a bitter Republican presidential primary, political analysts say. Published February 19, 2012
Obama’s Chinatown stop serves ban-facing shark fin
President Obama purchased lunch at a San Francisco restaurant that serves shark fin soup, after signing a law last month that protects sharks from being harvested for their fins. Published February 17, 2012