Barack Obama News
Read news, analysis, and commentary on Barack Obama, his administration’s legacy, and his continuing impact on national debates.
-
- Opinion
Obama’s Africa Summit: A Few Positive Notes, More Questions
The first U.S.–Africa Leaders Summit concluded this week. President Obama has, quite expectedly, characterized it as “an extraordinary event, an extraordinary summit.” The three-day summit yielded some positive notes and outcomes. Yet on balance, the summit was the Administration in a nutshell—compelling theatrics, nice sounding rhetoric, ambitious promises, and lingering doubts about implementation and follow-through….Brett Schaefer -
- Opinion
Carafano: Obama Has ‘Real Opportunities’ in Middle East
“[Obama] has some real opportunities here. Hamas has just been crushed. Egypt’s been a power broker here. He has a unique opportunity in this situation to reestablish a strong strategic relationship with both Egypt and Israel, and he’s going to need both those countries to really … guide the Middle East forward.”James Carafano -
- News
12 States Sue Obama Administration for Regulatory ‘Overreach’
Coal country is striking back at the federal government in the latest “war on coal” battle. Twelve states are suing the Environmental Protection Agency to deter impending restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants. The states filed the lawsuit in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday, accusing the EPA of “overstepping…Natalie Johnson -
- News
Approval of Obama Reaches All-Time Low
President Obama’s approval ratings continue to plummet. Americans’ approval of the president sunk to a new low at 40 percent according to an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released Tuesday. Nearly half view the president negatively. NBC cites a drop among the support of Democrats and blacks as a key reason for the decline. Obama’s weakest rating…Natalie Johnson -
- News
Marine Veteran Slams Obama’s War on Coal
Marine veteran Shawn Adkins says he’s ready to fight back against Obama’s so-called “war on coal” as it tears through West Virginia. Federal regulations are forcing a coal company to lay off an expected 1,100 workers in the coal-heavy state, stripping away what Adkins calls the “blood and oxygen” of families in the region.Natalie Johnson -
- Opinion
The Obama Administration Needs to Stop Ignoring Africa: Seven Ways the U.S. Could Help
African leaders and citizens had great expectations in 2008 that the election of President Barack Obama would elevate the prominence of Africa and its concerns in U.S. government deliberations. These expectations have not been met. Shortly before the 2008 election, a senior Obama campaign Africa policy adviser outlined an agenda of (1) accelerating Africa’s integration…Brett Schaefer -
- News
House Conservatives Curb Obama’s Deportation Delays as Price of Border Deal
House Republicans worked overtime last night to pass two bills addressing the border crisis — measures all but certain to die in the Senate  — hours after President Obama threatened to act on his own. “I’m gonna have to act alone,” Obama told reporters during an afternoon briefing, dismissing the House’s emergency spending bill in…Josh Siegel -
- Opinion
Obama Totally Flip-Flopped on This Issue
President Obama today on his support for reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank: “We will lose business. And we will lose jobs if we don’t pass it.” Obama in 2008: “There are some programs that have been duplicated by other programs that we need to just cut back, like waste in the Economic Development Agency and the…Daily Signal Staff -
- Opinion
Obama’s Self-Made Border Crisis
“You didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.” In the case of the ongoing crisis along America’s southwest border, that someone is President Obama. When the president used his pen to sign the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, memorandum on June 15, 2012, he effectively rolled out the welcome mat to those…Mike Needham -
- Opinion
Ignore the New Obama Administration Report on Climate Change Action
The Obama administration released Tuesday a new report warning that with accelerating climate change comes accelerating costs: Costs will increase by 40 percent each decade of inaction on climate change. The report fails to mention, however, that the administration’s climate policies come with much steeper price tags. Nor is there any action that will actually…Nicolas Loris -
- Opinion
If Conservatives Try to Impeach Obama, He’ll Have the Last Laugh
Does President Obama want to be impeached? Well, no. But he and his political chieftains apparently want voters to think that Republicans are scheming on how to impeach him. Every failed political leader and movement need a straw man and as November approaches, liberal politicos want to paint various Republican statements and efforts to curtail…Genevieve Wood -
- News
‘No Way’ Obama’s Climate Change Plan Will Reduce Temperatures, Says Rep. Mike Kelly
Following a speech about extremism at the Environmental Protection Agency, Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., called the Obama administration’s climate change proposal a “public relations piece.” He told The Daily Signal there’s “no way” the administration’s current plan will reduce global temperatures and warned of the “unintended consequences” for the American people.Kelsey Bolar -
- News
Panel: Obama’s Emissions Regulations Mark ‘Unprecedented’ Executive Expansion
The Environmental Protection Agency kicks off public hearings today on its new carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions regulations for power plants. But before the public has its chance to weigh in, the EPA’s plan evoked harsh reactions from a Heritage Foundation panel. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., joined the Competitive Enterprise Institute’s William Yeatman and…Natalie Johnson -
- Opinion
Can the House of Representatives Sue Obama for Not Executing the Law?
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, believes he has the key to reining in the executive branch: suing President Barack Obama for not faithfully executing the law. But while Obama has repeatedly waived requirements of laws or chosen not to enforce them against whole categories of offenders, there’s a legal requirement known as “standing” that may…Elizabeth Slattery -
- News
Debate: Are Obama’s Climate Change Actions Helping or Hurting?
President Obama promised he wouldn’t wait for Congress to combat climate change, vowing to use executive action wherever possible. One year later, are Obama’s actions helping or hurting? That was among the topics debated by David Kreutzer, research fellow in energy economics and climate change at The Heritage Foundation, and Daniel Weiss, senior vice president…Katherine Telford -
- Opinion
Cartoon: Obama’s Summer of Denial
President Obama appears more committed to keeping his golf and fundraising schedule than tackling the very serious issues that remain unresolved at home and abroad.Glenn Foden -
- Opinion
Less Than 1% of Obama’s ‘Emergency’ Border Funds Would Be Spent This Year
The Congressional Budget Office has released its score on how President Barack Obama’s $4.3 billion emergency request on immigration will be spent. The big news? The CBO score confirms that the president’s $4.3 billion emergency request is not warranted. CBO reports that only $25 million of the president’s request would be spent in fiscal year…David Inserra -
- Opinion
That One Time the Obama Administration Used Diplomacy Well
File it under “things you don’t see very often.” A press release from Republican Ed Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, declaring, “I appreciate the efforts of Secretary Kerry….” Accolades from across the aisle have been few and far between for an administration that has suffered an almost endless string of foreign-policy reversals…James Carafano -
- Opinion
Obama Must Enforce Current Laws to Solve Border Crisis
It became her mantra. The U.S. border with Mexico, Janet Napolitano would say, “has never been more secure.” First uttered in 2010 during Congressional testimony, she repeated it often for the remainder of her tenure as Homeland Security Secretary. Even four years ago, not everyone agreed. True, illegal border crossings had dried up in some…James Carafano -
- Opinion
Obama Administration Launches Newest ‘Teacher Equity’ Plan
In July, the Obama administration announced a renewed effort to ensure high-quality teachers are equitably distributed among schools. The administration asked states to create and publish plans that detail how they will ensure disadvantaged children have access to effective teachers. Specifically, the administration is encouraging states to revisit No Child Left Behind’s Title I requirement…Brittany Corona