Susan Crabtree

White House asks GOP for compromise on budget deal

The Obama administration said Sunday that it is searching for rank-and-file Republicans willing to work with the president on a budget deal who "don't think compromise is a dirty word." Published April 7, 2013

Obama apologizes to Calif. AG for flirty comments

President Obama called California Attorney General Kamala Harris Thursday night to apologize for praising her looks at a fundraiser Thursday. Published April 5, 2013

Jarrett: ‘Insulting’ to call White House a boys’ club

White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett on Wednesday disputed the notion that the President Obama operates a tight-knit boys' club of top advisers and aides and bemoaned the hardball politics of Washington, D.C., saying Chicago politics are "child's play" in comparison. Published April 3, 2013

White House hails signs of progress on immigration

The White House on Monday hailed signs of progress from the so-called Gang of Eight senators working on the bipartisan immigration reform bill, but declined to weigh in on any specifics of the deal until it's officially announced. Published April 1, 2013

Obama sends ‘thoughts and prayers’ to ailing Mandela

President Obama is offering "thoughts and prayers" to former South African President Nelson Mandela, who is in the hospital with a recurring lung infection. Published March 28, 2013

Obama steps up pressure to pass gun measures

With polls showing waning support for new gun control measures, President Obama delivered an emotional and forceful plea aimed at ratcheting up pressure on Congress to pass a broad bill more than 100 days after the mass shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn. Published March 28, 2013

White House ‘closely monitoring’ Gitmo hunger strikes

President Obama's spokesman said the White House is closely watching a hunger strike by terrorist detainees at the facility at Guantanamo Bay and remains committed to closing the prison. Published March 27, 2013

White House: First woman named to head Secret Service was ‘most qualified’

The White House Wednesday dodged questions about whether President Obama was trying to send a pointed message by appointing the first woman ever to head the Secret Service, an agency still struggling to recover from a high-profile sex scandal. Published March 27, 2013

GOP questions Obama’s expansion of national parks

Republicans are raising questions about the timing and costs of President Obama's decision to bypass Congress and designate five additional national monuments, coming as it does amid dire warnings of the most recent round of budget cuts, including the National Park Service. Published March 25, 2013

Obama pledges $200M to Jordan for Syrian refugees

President Obama met with King Abdullah II and his son, Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah, in Jordan Friday and afterward immediately announced he would seek $200 million in additional U.S. aid to help care for Syrian refugees flooding into the country. Published March 22, 2013

Despite sequester, Obama to designate five national monuments

Even as President Obama highlights impending cuts to national parks because of the sequester, he plans to use his power as president to designate five new national monuments Monday, according to an administration official. Published March 22, 2013

Obama vows ‘never again’ at Israeli Holocaust memorial

As President Obama wrapped up his three-day visit to Israel Friday, he spent some solemn moments at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, relighting the eternal flame there, laying a wreath and vowing to fight anti-Semitism and racism of all kinds. Published March 22, 2013

Obama heckler demands Pollard release

President Obama was heckled Thursday during a speech to an audience that included scores of university students in Jerusalem. Published March 21, 2013

Obama, Netanyahu tensions thawing? President does say settlements hurt prospects for peace

On the second day of President Obama's historic trip to Israel, the tension that had marked his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to thaw, even as Mr. Obama called on Israel's people and leaders to compromise in order to attain peace and security. Published March 21, 2013

Human rights groups: Getting CIA out of drone business is only first step

Human rights groups are applauding reports that the White House is poised to shift the CIA's drone program to the Defense Department as a positive sign but say more clarity is still needed about the targeted killings. Published March 20, 2013

Israel’s Peres says he trusts Obama on Iran policy

With President Obama standing at his side, Israeli President Peres played down any differences between the two countries on the U.S. approach to preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, saying he trusts his policy, as well as his vision for the Middle East. Published March 20, 2013

McCain to Obama: Follow through on threats to Syria’s Assad

Two key Republican senators called on President Obama on Tuesday to follow through on his threats to Syrian President Bashar Assad if reports that the embattled Syrian leader may have used chemical weapons against rebel forces are substantiated. Published March 19, 2013