Democrat Party News
The Daily Signal provides Democrat Party news with reporting, analysis, and commentary on elections, legislation, and progressive agendas.
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- Opinion
Since Obama Took Office, the Federal Debt Has Increased by Almost 70 Percent
The federal government hit a new milestone Friday: The total federal debt now tallies more than $18 trillion. Just six years ago when President Obama took office, total debt stood at $10.6 trillion, which means it now has increased by almost $8 trillion—roughly 70 percent—during his tenure as president. The surge in total debt, which…Michael Sargent -
- Opinion
Obama Shouldn’t End Military Equipment Going to Police Departments
In the aftermath of Ferguson, President Obama will issue an executive order designed to improve a federal program that allows local police departments to obtain military surplus equipment, according to reports. Currently, through Section 1033 of the National Defense Authorization Act, Congress has authorized the transfer of excess military equipment to local law enforcement officials…John G. Malcolm -
- Opinion
Memo to Elizabeth Warren: Here’s the Right Way to Make Financial Markets Safer
Recently I had the pleasure of testifying at a Senate hearing. The topic was “Improving Financial Institution Supervision: Examining and Addressing Regulatory Capture.” “Regulatory capture” refers to a common phenomenon: individuals serving as regulators come to identify with the firms they regulate at least as much as with the agencies that employ them. Thus, the regulator…Norbert Michel -
- Opinion
Why Did Obama Ever Think Hagel Was Qualified to Be Defense Secretary?
Breaking news from the White House: Chuck Hagel lacks the skills to be defense secretary. Talk about understatement. That’s like the last soldier on the roof of the Saigon embassy saying the Vietnam War might not be going our way. It’s not as if anyone ever really thought Hagel was all that qualified to begin…James Carafano -
- Opinion
Obama Reverses Presidential Trend of Decreasing Abuse of Executive Power
Presidents in recent decades carefully tried not to overstep their executive authority in domestic policy. They may have pushed the envelope on national security and war-making powers, but they were reluctant to take any executive action perceived to be a blatant rewriting of a law or a unilateral political move. Part of the reason is…Kim Holmes -
- Opinion
How Much Obamanomics Has Cost Us
What has been the price tag for the audacious Obamanomics experiment? How much has it all cost — the bailouts, the debt, the stimulus plans, the printing of cheap money, Obamacare and all the rest? The answer to that question is just north of $10 trillion. That’s the sum of the $8.3 trillion added to…Stephen Moore -
- News
Obama: ‘No Sympathy’ for Those Resorting to Violence Over Ferguson
President Obama last evening appeared to toughen his stance against rioting and looting in the wake of Monday’s grand jury decision in Ferguson, Mo., saying he has “no sympathy” for such violence. “I’ve never seen a civil rights law or a health care bill or an immigration bill result because a car got burned,” Obama…Melissa Quinn -
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Obama Urges Calm as Grand Jury Decides Not to Charge Ferguson Police Officer in Fatal Shooting
Protesters flooded the streets of Ferguson, Mo., turning violent tonight after a grand jury in St. Louis County announced Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson would not be charged in the shooting death of Michael Brown, 18. >>> VIDEO: Raw Footage of Violence in Ferguson After No Indictment The decision came after months of consideration by…Melissa Quinn -
- News
Amid Crises, Obama Pushes Out Hagel as Defense Secretary
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel resigned today after less than two years in the post amid the struggles of President Obama’s national security team to respond to a slew of global crises. Hagel, the only Republican in Obama’s Cabinet, is widely believed to have been pushed out by the president as he seeks a different approach…Josh Siegel -
- News
Obama Downplays His Role in 2016: Voters Want ‘That New Car Smell’
President Obama doesn’t expect to be heavily involved in the 2016 presidential election because voters will be looking for “that new car smell,” he told George Stephanopoulos on ABC News’ “This Week.” “You know, they want to drive something off the lot that doesn’t have as much mileage as me,” said Obama. The president said…Kate Scanlon -
- Opinion
Obama’s Next Step: Government Task Force for ‘New Americans’
Fears that President Obama would attempt to assimilate immigrant communities into a new America that entrenches multiculturalism and acceptance of large government—in other words, an America that differs in important ways from the country we once knew—are being sadly confirmed. The White House on Friday quickly followed the president’s controversial executive order by announcing the formation…Mike Gonzalez -
- Opinion
If You Want to Pay More for Internet Access, Obama’s Got Your Back
Ready to pay more for Internet access? Me neither. Unfortunately, that's exactly what we can expect under the "net neutrality" rules being pushed by President Obama. "Net neutrality" may sound harmless, but there would be nothing neutral about this change. Currently, broadband providers such as Verizon, AT&T and Comcast are treated differently than traditional telephone…Ed Feulner -
- News
These Gross School Lunch Pictures Are Going Viral With the Hashtag #ThanksMichelleObama
First lady Michelle Obama's quest for healthy school lunches sparked a backlash today from the very people who are served the grub in cafeterias across America. The campaign went viral when students took photos of their lunches and shared them on Twitter using the hashtag #ThanksMichelleObama. Yum school lunches #thanksmichelleobama pic.twitter.com/eS27j75Oae — Jess Sency (@Jess_Sency)…Robert B. Bluey -
- Opinion
Obama’s Unilateral Amnesty Really Will Be Unprecedented – and Unconstitutional
According to the Associated Press, as well as House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Reps. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., and Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., President Barack Obama’s plan to provide executive amnesty to more than 5 million illegal immigrants is no different than unilateral actions that were taken by Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. However, this claim…Hans von Spakovsky -
- News
Obama in 2006: ‘I Have Stolen Ideas From’ Jonathan Gruber
President Obama was casual on Sunday about the role Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Jonathan Gruber had played in the creation of Obamacare, saying Gruber was “some adviser who never worked on our staff.” Gruber has been under fire in recent days after several videos emerged of him discussing the Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare. In…Daily Signal Staff -
- Opinion
Democrats Lost the Election. But Obama Still Controls the Regulatory Agencies.
The election results were a crushing political blow for the Obama administration, giving Republicans firm control of both houses of Congress for the final two years of his term. But this in no way signals the end of the president’s policy agenda. It simply shifts the action to regulatory agencies. In the days since the…James Gattuso -
- Opinion
Obama’s Struggling to Handle Foreign Policy Crises. Here Are 6 Changes We Can Make.
Foreign affairs may not have played a big part in the midterm elections, but that doesn’t mean all is well with current foreign policy. A CBS poll the week before the election found only 34 percent of Americans approved of the president’s handling of foreign policy. Within our foreign policy establishment, there is widespread bipartisan…Kim Holmes -
- Opinion
Obama’s Plan for a Backdoor Internet Tax
Will the Federal Communications Commission tax the Internet? It’s very possible, said FCC commissioner Mike O’Reilly at a conference sponsored by the Free State Foundation in Washington on Friday. The tax, which could total over $7 per month on the typical American’s broadband bill, would be imposed as a consequence of regulating the internet via…James Gattuso -
- News
‘How to Split the Baby’: FCC Chief Diverges from Obama on Internet Plan
The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission has signaled mixed feelings over President Obama’s support for tougher regulations on Internet providers. Obama said Monday that a free and open Internet is a necessity like electricity and telephone service, and should be regulated like those utilities to protect consumers. Hours after Obama made his comments, The…Josh Siegel -
- Opinion
Here’s the Skinny on Obama’s 10-Point Administrative Amnesty Plan
The White House is preparing to announce a 10-point immigration plan that President Obama would implement with an executive order. Details of the proposal were shared with Fox News today and could be announced as early as next week. The plan could spare 4.5 million illegal immigrant adults from deportation. >>> Heritage’s Alternative: 10-Step Checklist…Daily Signal Staff