Susan Crabtree
Articles by Susan Crabtree
Obama touts $3B plan for food security
President Obama announced a new public-private partnership to help African farmers and fight hunger and malnutrition in a speech Friday ahead of the the Group of Eight summit at Camp David. Published May 18, 2012
G-8 summit to focus on Europe
Shifting players on the international stage will test President Obama's foreign policy mettle at twin summits of world leaders this weekend even though the most pressing problems are out of his hands. Published May 17, 2012
Obama, Boehner agree on hoagies, not much else
President Obama's meeting with a bipartisan group of congressional leaders Wednesday, during which he planned to lecture them on his five-point to-do list of economic priorities, quickly devolved into a redux of last year's showdown over the federal budget. Published May 16, 2012
White House threatens veto of GOP Violence Against Women Act
The White House threatened to veto the House version of the Violence Against Women Act on Tuesday, arguing that it weakens protections for Native American women and members of the gay and lesbian community, as well as immigrants. Published May 15, 2012
Obama will urge lawmakers to act on his economic to-do list
Wielding a lengthy "to-do list" of economic proposals, President Obama is bringing the bipartisan congressional leadership to the White House on Wednesday to urge them to act on his proposals or risk being portrayed as a do-nothing Congress heading into November. Published May 15, 2012
Obama noncommittal on repeal of DOMA
Although he came out in support of same-sex marriage, President Obama on Monday declined to say whether he would work with congressional Democrats to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. Published May 14, 2012
Obama urges graduates to persevere through bad economy, life’s challenges
President Obama, whose re-election is counting on support from women and young voters, encouraged graduating students from a women's college in New York to aim high and persevere through life's many challenges, imploring them to demand a seat at the table and work hard to attain it. Published May 14, 2012
Stakes are high for Romney speech at Christian college
Even before President Obama announced his support for gay marriage earlier this week, Mitt Romney faced a delicate balancing act for his speech at the graduating class of Liberty University this Saturday. Published May 11, 2012
Obama website adds ‘clean coal’ after GOP complaints
The Obama campaign changed its website Thursday night to include a reference to "clean coal" in the president's "all-of-the-above" energy plan after Republicans lawmakers criticized the omission. Published May 11, 2012
U.S. talking to Taliban on freeing serviceman
The Pentagon's two top leaders said Thursday the Obama administration is working to secure the freedom of a U.S. soldier taken prisoner three years ago in Afghanistan, despite an impasse in talks to trade him for Taliban prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Published May 10, 2012
Health care law’s prevention money called ‘slush fund’
After weeks of debate over whether the Prevention and Public Health Fund, created by President Obama's health care law, affects women's health, Republicans are airing additional complaints about the pool of money and how states and communities have used the fund to support a string of questionable initiatives. Published May 9, 2012
Obama, spokesmen step up the politicking
The Obama re-election effort shifted into a higher gear over the weekend, with the president and the first lady leading rallies at colleges in Ohio and Virginia on Saturday. Published May 6, 2012
Vacant court benches draw strategy session
An aggressive White House drive to move stalled judicial nominees through the Senate is galvanizing activists on the left for an election-year fight to fill the bench with President Obama's picks while Republicans are vowing to block what they view as Democratic overreach. Published May 6, 2012
Obama at kickoff rally hits Romney as blast from past
President Obama shifted his campaign to high gear in rallies in Ohio and Virginia – billed as the official kickoff of his quest for a second term – by asking voters for more patience to allow his policies time to work and casting his Republican rival Mitt Romney as an out-of-touch defender of Wall Street and the rich. Published May 5, 2012
Obama tells Congress: Use war savings to pay down debt, rebuild nation
President Obama used his weekly address to highlight his trip this week to Afghanistan and call on Congress to use half the money the nation is no longer spending on war to pay down our debt, and use the other half on infrastructure projects to help create jobs and spur the still-sputtering economy. Published May 5, 2012
Obama again serves up contested claims on loans, women’s health
President Obama trained his fire on Republicans during in a speech at an Arlington, Va., high school Friday, the day before he officially kicks off his re-election campaign. Published May 4, 2012
Obama ensnared in mystery of Chinese dissident
The Obama administration Thursday found itself on the defensive over its handling of a blind Chinese dissident at the center of a diplomatic firestorm between Washington and Beijing, as confusion over the fate of Chen Guangcheng only deepened in both capitals. Published May 3, 2012
Obama uses bully pulpit for edge on student loans
As part of his continued efforts to woo younger voters, President Obama will squeeze in a talk to students and parents at an Arlington, Va., high school Friday, one day before he officially kicks off his re-election campaign at rallies at universities in Ohio and Virginia. Published May 3, 2012
White House defends handling of Chen’s case
With a diplomatic solution to the case of a blind Chinese legal activist unraveling, the White House on Thursday defended the administration's handling of the the dissident's case, insisting that U.S. officials had not pressured him to stay in the country. Published May 3, 2012
Obama’s deal with Afghans angers war opponents
The long-term partnership that President Obama signed with the Afghan government commits the U.S. to a role in the troubled nation for at least a dozen more years, leaving critics fuming over the uncertain costs of a conflict that already has stretched for a decade. Published May 2, 2012