English subtitles for clip: File:1-11-10- White House Press Briefing.webm
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1 00:00:00,700 --> 00:00:05,330 Mr. Gibbs: One quick announcement before we get going. 2 00:00:05,333 --> 00:00:08,663 Tomorrow the President and the First Lady will travel to Wilmington, Delaware, to attend 3 00:00:08,667 --> 00:00:15,437 the funeral of Jean Biden. We'll have details on press access for tomorrow's travel a little 4 00:00:15,433 --> 00:00:20,903 bit later in the day, but I just wanted to mention that. Mr. Feller. 5 00:00:20,900 --> 00:00:22,730 The Press: Thanks, Robert. On health care, would the 6 00:00:22,734 --> 00:00:28,634 President sign a bill that did not include the tax on the so-called Cadillac health care 7 00:00:28,633 --> 00:00:32,333 plans, or is that a mandatory revenue-producing for him at this point? 8 00:00:32,333 --> 00:00:38,103 Mr. Gibbs: Well, Ben, the President will meet with some 9 00:00:38,100 --> 00:00:43,470 of the organized labor community this afternoon to discuss health care and presumably to get 10 00:00:43,467 --> 00:00:48,337 into that topic, and we'll have more of a readout when we get done with that. 11 00:00:48,333 --> 00:00:50,363 The Press: Well, how would you say -- how would you characterize 12 00:00:50,367 --> 00:00:52,597 his stance at this point? 13 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:55,200 Mr. Gibbs: Well, he supported the Senate bill and that 14 00:00:55,200 --> 00:01:02,130 provision was in that bill for what it does in terms of changing the direction of health 15 00:01:02,133 --> 00:01:03,133 care costs. 16 00:01:03,133 --> 00:01:06,163 The Press: So what's his message to a constituency represented 17 00:01:06,166 --> 00:01:09,896 by the labor leaders today that clearly are opposed to this? 18 00:01:09,900 --> 00:01:12,170 Mr. Gibbs: Well, that will be happening in the meeting 19 00:01:12,166 --> 00:01:14,766 and when that meeting is over we'll have a chance to talk about it. 20 00:01:14,767 --> 00:01:16,537 The Press: Is he confident about winning them over? 21 00:01:16,533 --> 00:01:20,333 Mr. Gibbs: We'll tell you that after the meeting as well. 22 00:01:20,333 --> 00:01:22,263 The Press: Robert, there were a lot of reports out this 23 00:01:22,266 --> 00:01:26,866 morning that the administration is considering a fee on banks, and I was wondering if you 24 00:01:26,867 --> 00:01:31,767 can talk about that -- what you're thinking of in that regard? 25 00:01:31,767 --> 00:01:34,697 Mr. Gibbs: I don't have specifics to talk about what 26 00:01:34,700 --> 00:01:38,670 will be in the budget. We'll do that certainly later in the month as we get closer to the 27 00:01:38,667 --> 00:01:46,267 budget. I would simply say, Caren, that the President has talked on a number of occasions 28 00:01:46,266 --> 00:01:53,936 about ensuring that the money that taxpayers put up to rescue our financial system is paid 29 00:01:53,934 --> 00:02:00,534 back in full. That's been the President's position. I think that's the least that taxpayers 30 00:02:00,533 --> 00:02:07,733 are owed. And we'll have more details on budgetary stuff as we get closer to the budget being released. 31 00:02:07,734 --> 00:02:09,904 The Press: Will we see something specific in the budget 32 00:02:09,900 --> 00:02:13,570 that ensures that taxpayers are paid back in full? 33 00:02:13,567 --> 00:02:16,667 Mr. Gibbs: That's the President's goal, yes. 34 00:02:16,667 --> 00:02:19,437 The Press: Okay. And just to follow up on that, you got 35 00:02:19,433 --> 00:02:24,803 a lot of questions last week about Secretary Geithner. And one of the main criticisms there 36 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:29,600 is that he's too close to Wall Street and the administration is too close to Wall Street, 37 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:32,430 and I just was wondering what your response to that is. 38 00:02:32,433 --> 00:02:36,333 Mr. Gibbs: Well, the President made a series of decisions 39 00:02:36,333 --> 00:02:42,533 with his economic team on what had to be done to stabilize our economic situation upon taking 40 00:02:42,533 --> 00:02:48,303 office -- an economic situation that veered quite honestly -- not simply the worst recession 41 00:02:48,300 --> 00:02:54,830 since the Great Depression, but an economy that quite frankly teetered on the edge of 42 00:02:54,834 --> 00:03:02,504 larger collapse. The President has made a series of decisions to take steps to get our 43 00:03:02,500 --> 00:03:11,130 economy jumpstarted on a path toward recovery. I think if you look at what people on Wall 44 00:03:11,133 --> 00:03:15,603 Street say about some of our -- either our economic decisions or our economic rhetoric, 45 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:21,670 I think that alone disproves that this is all about Wall Street. Jake. 46 00:03:21,667 --> 00:03:26,067 The Press: In the middle of December, OMB put out a memo 47 00:03:26,066 --> 00:03:32,666 to all federal agencies about how to calculate the stimulus, how to calculate jobs created 48 00:03:32,667 --> 00:03:38,797 and saved, saying that, among other things, that there would be quarterly instead of 49 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:44,770 -- updated more frequently than that, and that also that if somebody were paid even 50 00:03:44,767 --> 00:03:50,937 -- two employees of a library who were already working there are paid with stimulus dollars, 51 00:03:50,934 --> 00:03:58,804 those two individuals should -- that should count as jobs created by or saved by the stimulus, 52 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:05,070 even if those jobs existed already. Do you have any further explanation about why -- 53 00:04:05,066 --> 00:04:07,066 Mr. Gibbs: Jake, I haven't seen the memo but I'm happy 54 00:04:07,066 --> 00:04:11,496 to talk to them and put you in touch with them. I haven't seen the memo and don't know 55 00:04:11,500 --> 00:04:13,370 what the details are. 56 00:04:13,367 --> 00:04:15,137 The Press: Okay. To follow up on a question I asked last 57 00:04:15,133 --> 00:04:19,563 week about the freeing of Qais Khazaali, do you have any more on that? 58 00:04:19,567 --> 00:04:21,337 Mr. Gibbs: No, I don't. 59 00:04:21,333 --> 00:04:25,303 The Press: Okay. And then -- all right, that's it, I'm done. 60 00:04:25,300 --> 00:04:27,670 (laughter) 61 00:04:27,667 --> 00:04:28,597 Get back to me when you can. 62 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:30,130 (laughter) 63 00:04:30,133 --> 00:04:32,333 The Press: On Harry Reid, the President put out the statement 64 00:04:32,333 --> 00:04:37,203 over the weekend accepting his apology, and I'm wondering why the President didn't talk 65 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:41,970 in that apology, or in that conversation I guess that he had with him about unfortunate 66 00:04:41,967 --> 00:04:45,137 language that was used -- no mention of that at all. 67 00:04:45,133 --> 00:04:46,103 Mr. Gibbs: I'm sorry? 68 00:04:46,100 --> 00:04:47,770 The Press: When the President put out the statement or 69 00:04:47,767 --> 00:04:52,197 you put out the statement on behalf the President, this conversation that he had with Senator 70 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:57,930 Reid, there was no mention at all about the unfortunate language that was used. It was more -- 71 00:04:57,934 --> 00:04:59,304 Mr. Gibbs: No, I think that phrase was in the statement 72 00:04:59,300 --> 00:05:04,800 about the fact that -- the unfortunate choice of words by Senator Reid. 73 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:08,300 The Press: Well, it didn't seem like he went into sort 74 00:05:08,300 --> 00:05:14,100 of anything more than just, I accept his apology and we move on from here. Is there anything 75 00:05:14,100 --> 00:05:15,170 more that the President -- 76 00:05:15,166 --> 00:05:16,866 Mr. Gibbs: Well, no -- I mean, I don't have the statement 77 00:05:16,867 --> 00:05:23,267 in front of me, but I think the President's statement said that Senator Reid had called 78 00:05:23,266 --> 00:05:31,296 him about these comments that the President called unfortunate; that he's worked with 79 00:05:31,300 --> 00:05:36,700 Senator Reid, he knows Senator Reid, the type of values that he has, the agenda that he's 80 00:05:36,700 --> 00:05:42,830 pushed in the U.S. Senate; and didn't take offense at them. 81 00:05:42,834 --> 00:05:44,204 The Press: Has the President said anything more about 82 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:48,670 that in light of just that what we've been hearing, it's been dominating the various 83 00:05:48,667 --> 00:05:50,737 shows over the weekend and even this morning? 84 00:05:50,734 --> 00:05:53,764 Mr. Gibbs: No, it wasn't something I've heard the President 85 00:05:53,767 --> 00:05:55,337 talk more about today. 86 00:05:55,333 --> 00:06:00,663 The Press: And on the -- in light of what has happened 87 00:06:00,667 --> 00:06:05,267 with terrorism, the terrorism threat, is there anything at all that the administration had 88 00:06:05,266 --> 00:06:11,736 planned to do, maybe a second-tier priority, that has been put on the backburner now because 89 00:06:11,734 --> 00:06:17,434 there's been sort of the ramped-up efforts with terrorism, the attention, and so much 90 00:06:17,433 --> 00:06:21,203 of the air sucked out with terrorism at the end of the year? 91 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:24,630 Mr. Gibbs: No. You mean an agenda item that the President 92 00:06:24,633 --> 00:06:27,663 would be focused on -- focusing on that he's not because of the -- 93 00:06:27,667 --> 00:06:29,767 The Press: Is there anything -- right, exactly. Is there 94 00:06:29,767 --> 00:06:31,197 anything else that the President was planning -- 95 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:34,770 Mr. Gibbs: Dan, this question has sort of come in different 96 00:06:34,767 --> 00:06:37,667 forms throughout different times. 97 00:06:37,667 --> 00:06:39,497 The Press: It's not the juggling or the are you handling 98 00:06:39,500 --> 00:06:42,500 too much question. But it's just that is there anything that you said, listen, we weren't 99 00:06:42,500 --> 00:06:46,270 planning on spending so much time focused on terrorism at the beginning of the year. 100 00:06:46,266 --> 00:06:50,466 Now we have to; there are some other things, some other priorities that have to be put 101 00:06:50,467 --> 00:06:51,367 on the backburner. 102 00:06:51,367 --> 00:06:53,167 Mr. Gibbs: I don't understand. That's not the juggling question? 103 00:06:53,166 --> 00:06:54,536 The Press: I'm not saying are you -- I'm not -- 104 00:06:54,533 --> 00:06:56,203 Mr. Gibbs: I'm not trying to be sarcastic. I'm just trying 105 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:59,130 to get -- I'm lost with the premise of the question. 106 00:06:59,133 --> 00:07:00,563 The Press: I'm not saying, are you juggling too much 107 00:07:00,567 --> 00:07:03,597 -- is it just realize, hey, you know, we have to focus so much on terrorism; let's 108 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:07,200 put something else back a bit, let's move something off the front burner. 109 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:08,670 Mr. Gibbs: I think that is the juggling question, but -- 110 00:07:08,667 --> 00:07:10,337 The Press: It's a balancing question. 111 00:07:10,333 --> 00:07:12,633 (laughter) 112 00:07:12,633 --> 00:07:14,803 Mr. Gibbs: Ahh, thanks for the crystal clear clarity of that. 113 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:17,300 The Press: It's not the typical question that says, are 114 00:07:17,300 --> 00:07:18,230 you guys -- 115 00:07:18,233 --> 00:07:19,433 Mr. Gibbs: I don't know how I didn't get that. 116 00:07:19,433 --> 00:07:20,403 (laughter) 117 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:21,830 The Press: I'm not saying are you guys juggling too much? 118 00:07:21,834 --> 00:07:24,634 That's not the question. The question is just have you decided to -- 119 00:07:24,633 --> 00:07:26,003 Mr. Gibbs: You're saying are we not doing something because 120 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,870 we're doing something in lieu of that? 121 00:07:28,867 --> 00:07:30,567 The Press: But my question wasn't, are you juggling too 122 00:07:30,567 --> 00:07:35,737 much. I'm just asking you, is there anything you've decided to put off for now because 123 00:07:35,734 --> 00:07:38,734 there are these other issues you weren't planning on spending so much time on? 124 00:07:38,734 --> 00:07:39,804 Mr. Gibbs: Maybe I should have just said no and gotten 125 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:42,030 out. The answer is no. 126 00:07:42,033 --> 00:07:44,463 (laughter) 127 00:07:44,467 --> 00:07:45,567 The Press: Why didn't you say that in the first place? 128 00:07:45,567 --> 00:07:47,897 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I did, and then I sought to understand 129 00:07:47,900 --> 00:07:57,500 the premise of the -- never mind. I would say this, Dan, that the notion that -- well, 130 00:07:57,500 --> 00:08:01,100 let me say this, I think inherent in your question is somehow now the President is having 131 00:08:01,100 --> 00:08:07,530 to spend so much more time on something like terrorism that he wasn't -- that there wasn't 132 00:08:07,533 --> 00:08:09,533 spending time on that prior to -- 133 00:08:09,533 --> 00:08:10,563 The Press: No, you -- I understand you -- 134 00:08:10,567 --> 00:08:14,437 Mr. Gibbs: Right, right. And I would just say that, you 135 00:08:14,433 --> 00:08:19,833 know, again, the President's PDB goes over the security situation and threats. The President 136 00:08:19,834 --> 00:08:28,764 has spent quite a great deal of time dealing with this. So there's no issue that has not 137 00:08:28,767 --> 00:08:31,367 been discussed or worked on because of that. 138 00:08:31,367 --> 00:08:33,267 The Press: Anything going on behind the scenes on immigration 139 00:08:33,266 --> 00:08:35,566 reform at all? 140 00:08:35,567 --> 00:08:37,837 Mr. Gibbs: I can't remember if the President has had 141 00:08:37,834 --> 00:08:45,034 any meetings on this recently, but I can certainly go back and look through the schedule. Yes, ma'am. 142 00:08:45,033 --> 00:08:46,663 The Press: When is the President going to hold a news 143 00:08:46,667 --> 00:08:49,967 conference? Not that you're inadequate. 144 00:08:49,967 --> 00:08:51,037 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I appreciate that. 145 00:08:51,033 --> 00:08:52,363 (laughter) 146 00:08:52,367 --> 00:08:56,637 Chip asked this question on Friday -- 147 00:08:56,633 --> 00:08:58,033 The Press: Yes, but she'll get an answer. 148 00:08:58,033 --> 00:08:59,633 (laughter) 149 00:08:59,633 --> 00:09:01,403 Mr. Gibbs: Well, she is nicer than you, Chip. 150 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:03,600 (laughter) 151 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:05,400 The Press: I mean, he's gone an obscenely long time, 152 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:06,500 not holding one. 153 00:09:06,500 --> 00:09:08,070 Mr. Gibbs: But again, not the word "adequate." 154 00:09:08,066 --> 00:09:09,936 (laughter) 155 00:09:09,934 --> 00:09:16,564 I don't see one on the schedule at least in the short term, which is precisely what I 156 00:09:16,567 --> 00:09:17,467 said -- 157 00:09:17,467 --> 00:09:18,467 The Press: Is he avoiding us? 158 00:09:18,467 --> 00:09:20,497 Mr. Gibbs: No. Again, the last time we had this conversation 159 00:09:20,500 --> 00:09:25,170 here about the President's media strategy I was informed by many of you that the President 160 00:09:25,166 --> 00:09:26,336 was overexposed. 161 00:09:26,333 --> 00:09:29,833 The Press: But you don't have a good reason for not holding one. 162 00:09:29,834 --> 00:09:31,134 The Press: Who in this room said that the President was 163 00:09:31,133 --> 00:09:32,833 overexposed? One person in this room that said he was overexposed. 164 00:09:32,834 --> 00:09:35,064 Mr. Gibbs: No, we had a whole round of questioning on 165 00:09:35,066 --> 00:09:35,796 that. 166 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:36,800 The Press: Let's take a vote. 167 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:37,770 The Press: Seriously. 168 00:09:37,767 --> 00:09:38,997 (laughter) 169 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:40,300 Mr. Gibbs: Okay. Who at some point -- 170 00:09:40,300 --> 00:09:41,470 The Press: Raise your hand if you do not believe he's 171 00:09:41,467 --> 00:09:42,467 overexposed. 172 00:09:42,467 --> 00:09:43,497 (laughter) 173 00:09:43,500 --> 00:09:44,700 Mr. Gibbs: Okay, so that's one. 174 00:09:44,700 --> 00:09:46,030 The Press: That was very confusingly phrased. 175 00:09:46,033 --> 00:09:48,403 Mr. Gibbs: No, that was actually quite well-phrased and 176 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:49,430 one person -- 177 00:09:49,433 --> 00:09:50,963 The Press: And that is not the answer. The answer is 178 00:09:50,967 --> 00:09:52,297 accountability. 179 00:09:52,300 --> 00:09:53,570 The Press: Who wants a news conference? 180 00:09:53,567 --> 00:09:55,637 (laughter) 181 00:09:55,633 --> 00:09:58,563 Mr. Gibbs: Right, who wants to win the lottery? 182 00:09:58,567 --> 00:10:01,737 The Press: Are you saying our chances are just the same? 183 00:10:01,734 --> 00:10:04,404 Mr. Gibbs: Scratch and win, Major. Scratch and win. 184 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:05,930 The Press: Seriously, one person in this room that said 185 00:10:05,934 --> 00:10:07,364 he was overexposed, just one. 186 00:10:07,367 --> 00:10:08,337 Mr. Gibbs: That's not true. 187 00:10:08,333 --> 00:10:10,033 The Press: Just name one person who said he was overexposed. 188 00:10:10,033 --> 00:10:11,263 Mr. Gibbs: I will go back and look at the transcript 189 00:10:11,266 --> 00:10:12,336 and we can -- 190 00:10:12,333 --> 00:10:14,133 The Press: Well, we have questions about pundits. But 191 00:10:14,133 --> 00:10:16,533 we're not pundits; we're reporters. There are pundits out there who were saying -- 192 00:10:16,533 --> 00:10:17,863 (laughter) -- 193 00:10:17,867 --> 00:10:21,497 Mr. Gibbs: Do you have a question or an opinion, Mr. Pundit? 194 00:10:21,500 --> 00:10:24,770 The Press: I actually do. Going back to Wall Street firms, 195 00:10:24,767 --> 00:10:29,237 three firms: Goldman, Morgan and Chase have set aside $47 billion, I believe the number 196 00:10:29,233 --> 00:10:33,863 is, on bonuses. Does the President think that's appropriate and is there anything he has talked 197 00:10:33,867 --> 00:10:36,797 about or hopes to do, to do something about that? 198 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:39,130 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, Chip, I think you heard Dr. Romer 199 00:10:39,133 --> 00:10:45,463 this weekend and I think you've heard the President throughout the past year talk about 200 00:10:45,467 --> 00:10:51,667 the continued divergence from, in all ways, reality of what's going on, on Main Street 201 00:10:51,667 --> 00:11:00,197 and what's going on in some of these firms on Wall Street. There are folks that just 202 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:02,030 continue not to get it. 203 00:11:02,033 --> 00:11:03,603 The Press: Is he doing anything about it? 204 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:08,230 Mr. Gibbs: Well, the President has discussed ways of 205 00:11:08,233 --> 00:11:14,203 -- well, we can -- we have done stuff relating to banks that have received extraordinary 206 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:19,600 assistance from the federal government. There is a lot less, as you know, that we can do 207 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:28,830 with somebody that's not tied in terms of a direct correlation between money that's 208 00:11:28,834 --> 00:11:35,164 given through TARP. The President has repeatedly pushed, and the House passed as part of their 209 00:11:35,166 --> 00:11:45,736 financial reform, a say on pay. We have greatly encouraged anybody that's giving out bonuses 210 00:11:45,734 --> 00:11:52,104 and executive compensation to tie it not to short-term risk-taking but to the long-term 211 00:11:52,100 --> 00:11:59,200 health of the company, as most stockholders and taxpayers would prefer; and that is, give 212 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:05,770 that compensation in stock, have it vest over a series of years so that the health of the 213 00:12:05,767 --> 00:12:12,997 firm is first and foremost, not short-term risks that might have people making different 214 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:14,030 actions. 215 00:12:14,033 --> 00:12:16,033 The Press: But despite everything the President said 216 00:12:16,033 --> 00:12:19,533 and everything that he's proposed and everything that's been done, this may be the biggest 217 00:12:19,533 --> 00:12:22,503 year yet for money falling from the sky for these guys. 218 00:12:22,500 --> 00:12:25,870 Mr. Gibbs: Chip, there's just -- like I said, there's 219 00:12:25,867 --> 00:12:29,937 a limit to what the President can do for firms that don't receive assistance from the American 220 00:12:29,934 --> 00:12:31,104 government. 221 00:12:31,100 --> 00:12:33,030 The Press: Use the bully pulpit more effectively, just 222 00:12:33,033 --> 00:12:36,033 get out there? I mean, he could pick up the phone and call these guys. 223 00:12:36,033 --> 00:12:39,063 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I can assure you the meeting that we 224 00:12:39,066 --> 00:12:47,096 had not recently -- not too recently with the bankers in the Roosevelt Room included 225 00:12:47,100 --> 00:12:52,730 a discussion about executive compensation. I think they know where we are on this issue. 226 00:12:52,734 --> 00:12:53,834 The Press: Is it fair to say they're just not listening 227 00:12:53,834 --> 00:12:54,764 to him? 228 00:12:54,767 --> 00:12:56,467 Mr. Gibbs: I think they're not listening to the American 229 00:12:56,467 --> 00:13:00,267 people, Chip. I think -- like I said, I think there's a divergence in reality as to what's 230 00:13:00,266 --> 00:13:07,966 going on in this economy if you talk to somebody that is in line for a huge cash bonus at a 231 00:13:07,967 --> 00:13:13,837 Wall Street firm and a small business on Main Street that's trying to get a loan, that's 232 00:13:13,834 --> 00:13:20,504 trying to get some help, and trying to get their business and this economy back on track, 233 00:13:20,500 --> 00:13:21,400 absolutely. 234 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:23,070 The Press: When the President talks about this, does 235 00:13:23,066 --> 00:13:26,196 he still get visibly angry about it? 236 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:28,800 Mr. Gibbs: Absolutely. I mean, I don't -- the truth is 237 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:34,330 -- I think the story that you were referring to was the one in Sunday's paper. I don't 238 00:13:34,333 --> 00:13:41,633 know anybody, save for a few that work for those banks, that don't get visibly angry 239 00:13:41,633 --> 00:13:46,763 and in reading those stories, absolutely. 240 00:13:46,767 --> 00:13:48,437 The Press: Do you think these banks have been forthcoming 241 00:13:48,433 --> 00:13:54,863 in their assets? Why did they need these big bailouts, and they paid them back almost immediately? 242 00:13:54,867 --> 00:13:56,267 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I don't have any reason to question 243 00:13:56,266 --> 00:14:02,996 the financial straits that they were in at the time in which they received TARP recovery 244 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:07,630 money. I will say this, Helen, and the President strongly believes this -- is that was in many 245 00:14:07,633 --> 00:14:13,163 ways of their own doing, which I think is what gets people that much more exercised 246 00:14:13,166 --> 00:14:17,596 about this. And I think what the President has discussed and the reason why the President 247 00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:24,000 has pushed financial reform is to ensure that we have rules of the road that doesn't let 248 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:29,900 the type of activity that caused this to happen to ever happen again, forcing the American 249 00:14:29,900 --> 00:14:35,570 taxpayers to have to make decisions about the financial system collapsing or providing 250 00:14:35,567 --> 00:14:37,667 TARP money for these guys. 251 00:14:37,667 --> 00:14:40,237 The Press: But on the $47 billion, is he basically throwing 252 00:14:40,233 --> 00:14:42,403 in the towel and saying there's nothing I can do? 253 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:45,770 Mr. Gibbs: Well, no, no. I mean, again, there's little 254 00:14:45,767 --> 00:14:48,767 we can do legislatively. I think you'll -- the President will continue to talk about 255 00:14:48,767 --> 00:14:52,997 this both in public and in private with these bankers. Yes, ma'am. 256 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:55,470 The Press: Real quick on Mrs. Biden's funeral. Will the 257 00:14:55,467 --> 00:14:56,937 President speak at that funeral? 258 00:14:56,934 --> 00:15:00,104 Mr. Gibbs: I don't believe that's the case, but I think 259 00:15:00,100 --> 00:15:05,170 he and the First Lady are just going, but I think they're working on logistics. 260 00:15:05,166 --> 00:15:07,166 The Press: Okay. On the meeting of Labor leaders today, 261 00:15:07,166 --> 00:15:11,866 is the President's message to them essentially, tough luck, we're going to tax the Cadillac 262 00:15:11,867 --> 00:15:14,537 plans? Or can he be persuaded? 263 00:15:14,533 --> 00:15:16,503 Mr. Gibbs: I mean, I think the point of the meeting is 264 00:15:16,500 --> 00:15:19,470 to have this discussion. We'll have more to say about that discussion at the conclusion 265 00:15:19,467 --> 00:15:20,337 of the meeting. 266 00:15:20,333 --> 00:15:21,733 The Press: So his position could move. 267 00:15:21,734 --> 00:15:27,234 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think the President -- obviously the 268 00:15:27,233 --> 00:15:33,233 President has a position, and I think we'll talk to them about why he sees this as something 269 00:15:33,233 --> 00:15:34,603 that's important in the bill. 270 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:36,970 The Press: Okay. I think last week some senior aide said 271 00:15:36,967 --> 00:15:41,837 we should expect more of a focus on the economy this week, and I wondered how we might expect 272 00:15:41,834 --> 00:15:43,234 that to manifest itself. 273 00:15:43,233 --> 00:15:45,763 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think on Wednesday we'll have an event 274 00:15:45,767 --> 00:15:52,897 in the local area to talk about some jobs ideas and some economic numbers. I don't have 275 00:15:52,900 --> 00:15:56,630 the rest of the week's schedule in front of me, but I think over the course of the next 276 00:15:56,633 --> 00:16:02,303 several weeks you'll see a number of economic events on our plate. 277 00:16:02,300 --> 00:16:04,200 The Press: How involved are you guys, then, in shaping 278 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:06,700 the jobs bill that's happening in the Senate? 279 00:16:06,700 --> 00:16:11,200 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think the -- we've certainly been 280 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:17,630 in communications with the House and the Senate about different jobs packages as the President 281 00:16:17,633 --> 00:16:21,833 outlined in December here in Washington. 282 00:16:21,834 --> 00:16:24,334 The Press: Robert, just to follow on the bank fee issue, 283 00:16:24,333 --> 00:16:29,103 isn't the bank fee being considered as part of the budget? Isn't this something -- a way 284 00:16:29,100 --> 00:16:34,600 to sort of address this question of bonuses? And I had a question on calibration, given 285 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:38,770 that there are 8,500 banks in the country and a large majority of them would come in 286 00:16:38,767 --> 00:16:42,467 for a fee that would be levied on banks. How would you square this -- 287 00:16:42,467 --> 00:16:45,367 Mr. Gibbs: I'm not going to get into details and specifics 288 00:16:45,367 --> 00:16:50,167 on a budget that will be released at a later day. 289 00:16:50,166 --> 00:16:53,836 The Press: It's at the printers? 290 00:16:53,834 --> 00:16:57,334 Mr. Gibbs: And when it comes back from Kinko's, we'll 291 00:16:57,333 --> 00:17:02,003 be able to talk about it. It's not really at Kinko's, though, I was just -- go ahead. 292 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:03,830 The Press: What is your assessment of the situation in 293 00:17:03,834 --> 00:17:09,934 Yemen now as a terror hotbed, if you will, a source of the kind of plots that we saw 294 00:17:09,934 --> 00:17:15,664 on Christmas, especially considering the comments that have come out of there in the past couple 295 00:17:15,667 --> 00:17:20,937 of days from the President of Yemen and from a leading cleric there talking about foreign 296 00:17:20,934 --> 00:17:23,564 intervention and what it would be bring? 297 00:17:23,567 --> 00:17:29,297 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, as you well know, this has been 298 00:17:29,300 --> 00:17:35,970 on the President and the national security team's radar for quite some time. The security 299 00:17:35,967 --> 00:17:47,167 situation there obviously remains quite perilous. There are vast areas of largely ungoverned 300 00:17:47,166 --> 00:17:54,566 space that have attracted al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and other extremist allies 301 00:17:54,567 --> 00:18:00,367 in Yemen and throughout the region. I think the President and his team have been and still 302 00:18:00,367 --> 00:18:06,467 are acutely aware of the threats that could be emanating and are emanating from that region. 303 00:18:06,467 --> 00:18:08,497 The Press: Do you think this is for domestic consumption, 304 00:18:08,500 --> 00:18:12,270 these comments about -- whipping up comments about foreign intervention, and why did the 305 00:18:12,266 --> 00:18:17,836 President find it necessary to say what he did in the magazine interview about the prospects 306 00:18:17,834 --> 00:18:19,434 for U.S. -- 307 00:18:19,433 --> 00:18:22,063 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think that, you know, whether it was 308 00:18:22,066 --> 00:18:31,166 General Petraeus or President Obama, I think discussing whether or not boots, American 309 00:18:31,166 --> 00:18:35,936 boots on the ground was something that was -- something the administration was planning 310 00:18:35,934 --> 00:18:44,604 I think is something the President simply put to rest is not happening. 311 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:46,870 The Press: Can I follow up on this one, on Yemen, please? 312 00:18:46,867 --> 00:18:47,797 Mr. Gibbs: Yes. 313 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:49,200 The Press: The President also said that he's willing 314 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:53,570 to talk to al Qaeda member, if they repent -- the President of Yemen. And his national 315 00:18:53,567 --> 00:18:58,437 security advisor said that Yemen is not a haven for extremists. Does this undermine 316 00:18:58,433 --> 00:19:02,563 the administration and the President's effort to combat terrorism, especially in Yemen? 317 00:19:02,567 --> 00:19:07,267 Mr. Gibbs: No. I mean, our position on disrupting, dismantling, 318 00:19:07,266 --> 00:19:14,496 and defeating al Qaeda is not any different today than it was several days ago. We have 319 00:19:14,500 --> 00:19:24,170 worked closely with the Yemeni government to address threats that have come out of Yemen, 320 00:19:24,166 --> 00:19:27,236 the security situation there, and we'll continue to do so. 321 00:19:27,233 --> 00:19:28,633 The Press: But he wants to talk to them. 322 00:19:28,633 --> 00:19:35,703 Mr. Gibbs: Well, our posture as it relates to al Qaeda 323 00:19:35,700 --> 00:19:37,730 has not changed. 324 00:19:37,734 --> 00:19:39,504 The Press: Let me make another pass at the banking one, 325 00:19:39,500 --> 00:19:42,770 but in the context of the deficit we've heard a lot from the President on the course of 326 00:19:42,767 --> 00:19:47,897 reducing the deficit. Are you guys ruling out any sort of transaction, tax, or bank 327 00:19:47,900 --> 00:19:52,630 fee as a way to lower the deficit? 328 00:19:52,633 --> 00:19:55,863 Mr. Gibbs: I'm not going to add more in specificity to 329 00:19:55,867 --> 00:19:58,897 what I have yet to add to the previous four people that have asked. 330 00:19:58,900 --> 00:19:59,670 The Press: Two people. 331 00:19:59,667 --> 00:20:00,537 Mr. Gibbs: Two. 332 00:20:00,533 --> 00:20:03,763 The Press: So you're not ruling it out? 333 00:20:03,767 --> 00:20:04,597 Mr. Gibbs: I'm not ruling it in or ruling it out, how 334 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:06,230 about that? 335 00:20:06,233 --> 00:20:07,603 The Press: This is like a new jobs bill. 336 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:08,900 (laughter) 337 00:20:08,900 --> 00:20:12,730 On START, where are you guys on that? Are you guys getting closer? I mean, are we -- 338 00:20:12,734 --> 00:20:16,634 Mr. Gibbs: We continue to work with our Russian counterparts 339 00:20:16,633 --> 00:20:24,203 on trying to find an agreement that, quite frankly, that works for both sides. I need 340 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:27,700 to go back and look at some notes about whether it was this Friday or the previous Friday 341 00:20:27,700 --> 00:20:35,200 that we had a negotiating team that headed to -- headed over to make some headway on 342 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:39,530 that. But nothing as of yet to report. Major. 343 00:20:39,533 --> 00:20:42,463 The Press: You said in answer to Ben's question about 344 00:20:42,467 --> 00:20:45,597 the Cadillac plans that the President supports the Senate bill. Well, the President also 345 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:49,830 supported the House bill. He put out statements on both, and they have divergent points of 346 00:20:49,834 --> 00:20:55,534 view on this question. Is the White House open to in any way reshaping the level at 347 00:20:55,533 --> 00:21:00,333 which the surtax in the Senate bill would apply to the Cadillac so-called health benefits? 348 00:21:00,333 --> 00:21:02,863 I mean, is that something that is negotiable -- 349 00:21:02,867 --> 00:21:04,737 Mr. Gibbs: I think -- 350 00:21:04,734 --> 00:21:06,034 The Press: -- within the contexts of these conversations -- 351 00:21:06,033 --> 00:21:07,663 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I think the President looks forward 352 00:21:07,667 --> 00:21:15,837 to speaking with leaders today about their ideas and about their concerns, and I certainly 353 00:21:15,834 --> 00:21:20,134 think the level is one of the topics that will come up. We'll have more to say about 354 00:21:20,133 --> 00:21:21,703 the meeting after the meeting. 355 00:21:21,700 --> 00:21:22,930 The Press: I know that the level would come up. I'm just 356 00:21:22,934 --> 00:21:24,964 trying to find out if the White House is open to having that level adjusted. 357 00:21:24,967 --> 00:21:26,237 Mr. Gibbs: We're certainly open to having that discussion, 358 00:21:26,233 --> 00:21:27,233 which will happen today. 359 00:21:27,233 --> 00:21:28,603 The Press: But not adjusting it, necessarily? 360 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:30,330 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I don't think we'd be having the discussion 361 00:21:30,333 --> 00:21:32,633 if we weren't interested in hearing their viewpoint. 362 00:21:32,633 --> 00:21:35,563 The Press: Very good. On Senator Reid's comments, the 363 00:21:35,567 --> 00:21:39,367 President and other advisors have said it was a poor choice of words. I'm just wondering, 364 00:21:39,367 --> 00:21:42,697 if you could tell us, what would have been a better way to express what Harry Reid was 365 00:21:42,700 --> 00:21:43,930 actually saying? 366 00:21:43,934 --> 00:21:46,034 (laughter) 367 00:21:46,033 --> 00:21:49,933 Mr. Gibbs: I appreciate the opportunity to not just speak 368 00:21:49,934 --> 00:21:56,604 for an elected official but speak as the Senator from Nevada. I just think that would be a 369 00:21:56,600 --> 00:22:02,300 weird place for me to go given -- I'd be up here doing impersonations all day, Major. 370 00:22:02,300 --> 00:22:04,500 The Press: Well, I guess what I'm getting at is, there 371 00:22:04,500 --> 00:22:09,670 was nothing that the President found objectionable or untoward about what he was saying, just 372 00:22:09,667 --> 00:22:10,597 the way he said it? 373 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:15,130 Mr. Gibbs: The President didn't take offense personally, 374 00:22:15,133 --> 00:22:21,763 but believes that, as the statement said, this was an unfortunate choice of words. I 375 00:22:21,767 --> 00:22:24,397 think that's what the statement said. He knows -- 376 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:27,800 The Press: Not an unfortunate observation about his particular 377 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:31,300 political strengths going into the campaign -- that's what Harry Reid was talking about. 378 00:22:31,300 --> 00:22:32,530 Mr. Gibbs: Again, I think Senator Reid -- I have not 379 00:22:32,533 --> 00:22:41,163 read the book -- later in the book makes the point that -- not only does he not think race 380 00:22:41,166 --> 00:22:46,796 is going to detract from, but that it will be a positive for the campaign. So obviously 381 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:53,970 it's a very poor choice, a very unfortunate choice of words. The President got that apology 382 00:22:53,967 --> 00:23:00,767 from Senator Reid, didn't take offense to it, and has moved on. 383 00:23:00,767 --> 00:23:02,367 The Press: Did you want to react to any Republicans calls 384 00:23:02,367 --> 00:23:08,437 for him to step down or asserting that there's a double-standard here vis-Ă -vis the Trent Lott situation? 385 00:23:08,433 --> 00:23:11,463 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I mean, I think you need to go back 386 00:23:11,467 --> 00:23:16,967 and -- I think it's helpful to go back and see what was said in the previous instance. 387 00:23:16,967 --> 00:23:22,697 I don't -- I appreciate that some are drawing a direct analogy. I don't understand exactly 388 00:23:22,700 --> 00:23:30,630 how one draws the analogy to a former Majority Leader expressing his support for the defeat 389 00:23:30,633 --> 00:23:37,733 of Harry Truman in 1948 so that Strom Thurmond would be President running on a state's rights 390 00:23:37,734 --> 00:23:42,264 ticket. I don't see how that's analogous to what Senator Reid was saying. I don't -- 391 00:23:42,266 --> 00:23:48,666 I mean, I understand what people have to say on TV or to get themselves on TV. I would 392 00:23:48,667 --> 00:23:53,997 suggest they spend about 20 seconds reading a little history and figuring out that to 393 00:23:54,000 --> 00:24:06,230 draw that analogy strains any intellectual enterprise or any real reality, in all sense 394 00:24:06,233 --> 00:24:07,403 of the word. 395 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:09,470 The Press: On politics, there are indications the Massachusetts 396 00:24:09,467 --> 00:24:13,637 Senate race is tightening up. The DNC sent -- top staff were there today. Does the President 397 00:24:13,633 --> 00:24:17,133 have any intention of going up to Massachusetts to campaign on behalf of Martha Coakley? 398 00:24:17,133 --> 00:24:18,333 Mr. Gibbs: The President doesn't have any travel plans 399 00:24:18,333 --> 00:24:20,403 to campaign in Massachusetts. 400 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:21,270 The Press: Thanks. 401 00:24:21,266 --> 00:24:23,596 The Press: Robert, given the meeting with the Labor leaders 402 00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:29,830 later today, do you think the President has done right by a movement that was so much 403 00:24:29,834 --> 00:24:37,764 a part of his victory in November, the Labor movement? Is he -- has he done right by them? 404 00:24:37,767 --> 00:24:41,097 Has he advanced their agenda in the way that he should? 405 00:24:41,100 --> 00:24:45,900 Mr. Gibbs: I think the President has represented working 406 00:24:45,900 --> 00:24:55,700 men and women in this country in everything that he's worked on, whether it was making 407 00:24:55,700 --> 00:25:03,970 a decision to save two companies from going bankrupt, whether it was pushing a Recovery 408 00:25:03,967 --> 00:25:10,097 plan, I think a whole host obviously of legislative initiatives that have benefited working men 409 00:25:10,100 --> 00:25:15,470 and women in this country, absolutely. 410 00:25:15,467 --> 00:25:17,967 The Press: Robert, just one quick question on a timetable 411 00:25:17,967 --> 00:25:22,667 on Iran sanctions. You said last year that we're looking, once the end of the year came, 412 00:25:22,667 --> 00:25:28,067 we'd be looking at a decision. Do you have -- when do you hope to have a coalition together 413 00:25:28,066 --> 00:25:30,336 to move forward on Security Council -- 414 00:25:30,333 --> 00:25:32,803 Mr. Gibbs: Well, we continue to work with our partners 415 00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:38,530 in the P5-plus-1, as you heard the President say last year, in putting together the next 416 00:25:38,533 --> 00:25:44,603 steps moving forward. I don't think there's some magic day in which that all happens at 417 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:52,100 the U.N. -- at least I don't have that day. But we continue to -- we will continue to 418 00:25:52,100 --> 00:25:55,400 hold Iran responsible for living up to its international obligations. 419 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:56,930 The Press: So you don't have a deadline in mind? The 420 00:25:56,934 --> 00:25:58,164 administration isn't -- 421 00:25:58,166 --> 00:26:01,596 Mr. Gibbs: Well, the administration is working both internally 422 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:12,400 on ideas that it could do, as well as working with the P5-plus-1 in a broader series that 423 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:16,330 would have the support of the international community. 424 00:26:16,333 --> 00:26:19,303 The Press: A couple of quick bookkeeping -- or scheduling 425 00:26:19,300 --> 00:26:23,400 issues. Is the President going to be going to the Democratic issues retreat this week? 426 00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:26,500 Mr. Gibbs: I got that last week here; I will look at 427 00:26:26,500 --> 00:26:30,300 -- that's Thursday and Friday or so? Let me find that out, scheduling-wise. 428 00:26:30,300 --> 00:26:33,470 The Press: And any closer to a State of the Union date? 429 00:26:33,467 --> 00:26:35,967 Mr. Gibbs: Not that I'm aware of, no. 430 00:26:35,967 --> 00:26:38,997 The Press: And one of substance, if I may -- North Korea, 431 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:45,700 they're suggesting -- (laughter) -- well, process and substance -- North Korea's assertion 432 00:26:45,700 --> 00:26:52,430 today that the United States and it should settle on a treaty by the end of this year 433 00:26:52,433 --> 00:26:57,903 to finally -- the peace treaty that would finally end the Korean conflict, and how that 434 00:26:57,900 --> 00:27:01,300 is important in terms of settling the nuclear issue, as well. 435 00:27:01,300 --> 00:27:04,230 Mr. Gibbs: Well, the North Koreans are well aware of 436 00:27:04,233 --> 00:27:11,663 what they need to do to come back to talks with -- to six-party talks in dealing with 437 00:27:11,667 --> 00:27:22,097 this issue, and that is give up the idea of a nuclear state on the peninsula, just as 438 00:27:22,100 --> 00:27:30,170 it agreed to do several years ago. If they're willing to live up to those obligations, then 439 00:27:30,166 --> 00:27:36,266 we will make progress in those talks. But this is -- this isn't a step for us to take, 440 00:27:36,266 --> 00:27:42,136 this is a step for the North Koreans to take in living up to -- living up to those obligations. 441 00:27:42,133 --> 00:27:45,033 The Press: Your position is six-party talks and solving 442 00:27:45,033 --> 00:27:47,903 the nuclear issue first, then we'll talk about a peace treaty? 443 00:27:47,900 --> 00:27:50,570 Mr. Gibbs: I think the way to have the most constructive 444 00:27:50,567 --> 00:27:56,867 talks is for them to come back to the table living up to the obligations that they agreed 445 00:27:56,867 --> 00:27:59,237 to and then walked away from, absolutely. 446 00:27:59,233 --> 00:28:03,803 The Press: Robert, a question on the labor meeting -- 447 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:06,500 are you going to put out a list of the attendees in advance of the meeting? 448 00:28:06,500 --> 00:28:09,600 Mr. Gibbs: I can get that -- we'll send that out to you 449 00:28:09,600 --> 00:28:10,800 as soon as we're done here. 450 00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:12,200 The Press: When you keep on saying you're going to have 451 00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:16,300 a readout or you'll tell us later, in what form are you going to tell us whatever? 452 00:28:16,300 --> 00:28:17,670 Mr. Gibbs: Just a little e-mail. 453 00:28:17,667 --> 00:28:19,467 The Press: Just a little -- okay. And a question about 454 00:28:19,467 --> 00:28:23,367 the meeting itself: A lot of labor leaders have been saying recently that it's going 455 00:28:23,367 --> 00:28:28,897 to be very hard for them to motivate their members and their kind of mid-level leaders 456 00:28:28,900 --> 00:28:32,000 to do the kind of foot-soldiering the Democratic candidates are really going to depend on in 457 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:36,200 the fall if they don't see progress either on the Cadillac plans or the Employee Free 458 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:39,400 Choice Act, other things that are very important to them. There's a lot of kind of disillusionment 459 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:43,330 in their ranks. What can the President say to help change their minds? 460 00:28:43,333 --> 00:28:45,233 Mr. Gibbs: Again, the President looks forward to having 461 00:28:45,233 --> 00:28:51,363 this discussion today. I don't -- I think working men and women in this country will 462 00:28:51,367 --> 00:28:56,637 be plenty motivated in 2010 about the choices that they have in front of them. I don't -- 463 00:28:56,633 --> 00:28:59,033 The Press: Can I have a quick follow up? 464 00:28:59,033 --> 00:29:00,833 Mr. Gibbs: -- let me finish the answer and I will -- 465 00:29:00,834 --> 00:29:05,704 I don't think working men and women -- 466 00:29:05,700 --> 00:29:06,830 The Press: How many working men and women are meeting 467 00:29:06,834 --> 00:29:08,564 with labor leaders? I mean, they're part of the Democratic infrastructure -- 468 00:29:08,567 --> 00:29:13,267 Mr. Gibbs: I understand that. We're talking about the 469 00:29:13,266 --> 00:29:14,336 same group of people, yes. 470 00:29:14,333 --> 00:29:17,533 The Press: You're saying they'll be plenty motivated 471 00:29:17,533 --> 00:29:19,063 because -- if you could finish that last -- 472 00:29:19,066 --> 00:29:21,736 Mr. Gibbs: Because of the -- I think when one looks at 473 00:29:21,734 --> 00:29:27,464 what the President's agenda is, and one looks at the lack of an agenda on the other side 474 00:29:27,467 --> 00:29:34,867 in dealing with any problem that somebody in -- a working person in the middle class 475 00:29:34,867 --> 00:29:44,367 deals with, I don't think it will be a hard decision to make when one looks at the agenda 476 00:29:44,367 --> 00:29:48,397 on the President's side: what we've done to get our economy restarted, to make college 477 00:29:48,400 --> 00:29:54,730 more affordable, to bring health care to those that don't have it and to correct insurance 478 00:29:54,734 --> 00:30:01,764 imbalances for those that do, versus -- I mean, I hesitate to discuss what's on the 479 00:30:01,767 --> 00:30:05,867 other side, because I haven't heard anybody on the other side discuss it, except for a 480 00:30:05,867 --> 00:30:12,767 series of decisions that want to take us back to the same place we were in before the 2008 481 00:30:12,767 --> 00:30:17,767 election. I think working men and women will ask themselves who is on the side of insurance 482 00:30:17,767 --> 00:30:22,397 companies and who is on the side of taking insurance companies on. I think that will 483 00:30:22,400 --> 00:30:26,770 be an argument that will be front and center, and I think working men and women will make 484 00:30:26,767 --> 00:30:30,037 that decision. Who had a follow-up on that? 485 00:30:30,033 --> 00:30:30,763 The Press: I did. 486 00:30:30,767 --> 00:30:31,537 Mr. Gibbs: Yes, sir. 487 00:30:31,533 --> 00:30:32,863 The Press: Robert, I think the question that some labor 488 00:30:32,867 --> 00:30:39,137 leaders are asking is that during the campaign, candidate Obama accused candidate John McCain 489 00:30:39,133 --> 00:30:43,863 of wanting to tax Cadillac health plans. He said, "McCain will and I won't." So, why the 490 00:30:43,867 --> 00:30:44,697 change in position? 491 00:30:44,700 --> 00:30:46,430 Mr. Gibbs: No, no. But understand, Bill, because I know 492 00:30:46,433 --> 00:30:50,803 you paid attention extensively during the campaign. Understand -- remember what John 493 00:30:50,800 --> 00:30:59,370 McCain wanted to do, right -- any plan was a Cadillac plan, because we were taking the 494 00:30:59,367 --> 00:31:07,297 tax deductibility of health care out, away. And that was going to be met -- that would 495 00:31:07,300 --> 00:31:12,600 be fulfilling your health care needs by handing you a $2,000 voucher if you were an individual 496 00:31:12,600 --> 00:31:17,700 or a $5,000 voucher if you were a family. Now, we've had a long discussion about health 497 00:31:17,700 --> 00:31:22,570 care in this country over the past eight or nine months. We're not talking about $2,000 498 00:31:22,567 --> 00:31:27,237 insurance plans. We're not talking about $5,000 insurance plans for families of four. There 499 00:31:27,233 --> 00:31:36,133 is a difference between what the President has supported, which is at a $23,000 level, 500 00:31:36,133 --> 00:31:44,363 taxing an insurance company that offers a plan in excess of that amount, versus what 501 00:31:44,367 --> 00:31:52,167 John McCain proposed, which was to end the tax deductibility completely for health care 502 00:31:52,166 --> 00:31:57,196 that's provided in this country. I think they're fundamentally different -- well, I don't think 503 00:31:57,200 --> 00:31:59,430 it, they are fundamentally different ideas. 504 00:31:59,433 --> 00:32:02,003 The Press: He said, "What if you're one of the steelworkers 505 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:04,670 who are working" -- this is Obama -- "What if you are one of the steelworkers who are 506 00:32:04,667 --> 00:32:07,597 working right here in Newport News, and you've given up wage increases in exchange for better 507 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:08,970 health care." 508 00:32:08,967 --> 00:32:10,237 Mr. Gibbs: I read that on your blog, too. It's the -- 509 00:32:10,233 --> 00:32:15,803 the point I just made to Bill is the same. There's a difference between -- 510 00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:16,700 The Press: So it's not inconsistent? 511 00:32:16,700 --> 00:32:17,870 Mr. Gibbs: It's not inconsistent because what he was 512 00:32:17,867 --> 00:32:21,597 talking about was two fundamentally different things. Removing the tax deductibility of 513 00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:28,030 any part of your health care and capping for -- taxing insurance companies that offer 514 00:32:28,033 --> 00:32:34,503 a health care plan in excess of a $23,000 limit -- they're not in the same ballpark, 515 00:32:34,500 --> 00:32:36,930 they're not in the same state. 516 00:32:36,934 --> 00:32:39,534 The Press: But you don't dispute what the -- about the 517 00:32:39,533 --> 00:32:41,833 here and now point that the unions make, that one in four of their rank and file workers 518 00:32:41,834 --> 00:32:45,804 could be affected by the tax structure in the Senate bill negatively; you don't dispute 519 00:32:45,800 --> 00:32:46,830 that, do you? 520 00:32:46,834 --> 00:32:48,304 Mr. Gibbs: And that's something I'm sure will come up 521 00:32:48,300 --> 00:32:49,730 in the President's meeting today. 522 00:32:49,734 --> 00:32:50,334 The Press: That's why he's meeting today -- 523 00:32:50,333 --> 00:32:50,963 Mr. Gibbs: Right. 524 00:32:50,967 --> 00:32:51,967 The Press: -- to try to tease that out, right? 525 00:32:51,967 --> 00:32:53,697 Mr. Gibbs: Right. But the notion that somehow -- 526 00:32:53,700 --> 00:32:54,770 The Press: So you don't dispute -- you acknowledge that 527 00:32:54,767 --> 00:32:55,897 that's an implication of the Senate bill. 528 00:32:55,900 --> 00:33:00,670 Mr. Gibbs: If you will acknowledge that what the President 529 00:33:00,667 --> 00:33:05,867 has talked about and supports and making the point that somehow that's analogous to what 530 00:33:05,867 --> 00:33:12,067 he opposed with Senator McCain's proposal isn't also close to being reality, right? 531 00:33:12,066 --> 00:33:13,536 The Press: Sure, I mean -- but I've never -- I've not 532 00:33:13,533 --> 00:33:14,703 gone down that road. I'm just asking -- 533 00:33:14,700 --> 00:33:16,800 Mr. Gibbs: No, no. But in the event that you were to 534 00:33:16,800 --> 00:33:17,800 travel down that road. 535 00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:18,670 (laughter) 536 00:33:18,667 --> 00:33:19,467 The Press: He doesn't answer hypotheticals. 537 00:33:19,467 --> 00:33:20,337 (laughter) 538 00:33:20,333 --> 00:33:22,063 Mr. Gibbs: Right, he doesn't do hypotheticals, right, 539 00:33:22,066 --> 00:33:23,396 yes. (laughter) 540 00:33:23,400 --> 00:33:24,330 The Press: Thank you, thank you. 541 00:33:24,333 --> 00:33:26,533 Mr. Gibbs: Your spokesperson there saved you on that one. 542 00:33:26,533 --> 00:33:28,233 The Press: You're saying the President would abide by 543 00:33:28,233 --> 00:33:33,733 basically what he said in the campaign, which is those workers who did negotiate so that 544 00:33:33,734 --> 00:33:36,734 they have better health care instead of wage increases, they would not be impacted? 545 00:33:36,734 --> 00:33:37,934 Mr. Gibbs: That's something they're going to discuss 546 00:33:37,934 --> 00:33:42,464 today. Christi. I'm sorry, I'll go back -- go to Christi, and then I'll come back. 547 00:33:42,467 --> 00:33:44,737 The Press: On two different topics, if I can. First of 548 00:33:44,734 --> 00:33:49,064 all, has the White House Chief of Staff signaled to the President that he's entertaining the 549 00:33:49,066 --> 00:33:52,796 idea of leaving to run for any office or to do anything else? 550 00:33:52,800 --> 00:33:54,900 Mr. Gibbs: I think he addressed this on -- 551 00:33:54,900 --> 00:33:56,000 The Press: I'm glad you mentioned that. 552 00:33:56,000 --> 00:33:57,100 (laughter) 553 00:33:57,100 --> 00:33:58,530 Mr. Gibbs: -- Savannah's new cable show seen daily at 554 00:33:58,533 --> 00:33:59,603 9:00 a.m. 555 00:33:59,600 --> 00:34:01,900 (laughter) 556 00:34:01,900 --> 00:34:06,600 I think he committed to Savannah to be here through 2010. 557 00:34:06,600 --> 00:34:08,870 The Press: He did, indeed. That's MSNBC. 558 00:34:08,867 --> 00:34:10,937 (laughter) 559 00:34:10,934 --> 00:34:12,404 The Press: Are there any other high-level personnel changes 560 00:34:12,400 --> 00:34:16,200 coming that -- (laughter) 561 00:34:16,200 --> 00:34:17,630 Mr. Gibbs: None that I'm aware of, no. 562 00:34:17,633 --> 00:34:19,933 The Press: And back to the Yemen transfers or the Guantanamo 563 00:34:19,934 --> 00:34:25,234 transfers for just a minute. You halted the ones to Yemen. Are you still going forward 564 00:34:25,233 --> 00:34:28,563 as before with repatriations to other countries? 565 00:34:28,567 --> 00:34:33,867 Mr. Gibbs: We are continuing the process whereby the 566 00:34:33,867 --> 00:34:41,837 task force evaluates all that are there for the status of their case and to understand 567 00:34:41,834 --> 00:34:46,034 how, in closing Guantanamo Bay, they'll be dealt with. 568 00:34:46,033 --> 00:34:47,533 The Press: Okay. So there's no other kind of hold on 569 00:34:47,533 --> 00:34:48,533 any other country? 570 00:34:48,533 --> 00:34:49,503 Mr. Gibbs: No. 571 00:34:49,500 --> 00:34:51,600 The Press: Are people going into rehabilitation programs 572 00:34:51,600 --> 00:34:56,470 in any country at all? Is that being -- 573 00:34:56,467 --> 00:34:58,197 Mr. Gibbs: Because we're not -- you know, we've -- this 574 00:34:58,200 --> 00:35:03,230 is like the third -- we just aren't going to get into the specifics of agreements that 575 00:35:03,233 --> 00:35:05,263 are ultimately made in terms of transfer. 576 00:35:05,266 --> 00:35:06,996 The Press: Okay, but can you say, are you reviewing the 577 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:08,830 Saudi rehab program right now? 578 00:35:08,834 --> 00:35:15,804 Mr. Gibbs: Again, we're making determinations about 579 00:35:15,800 --> 00:35:18,800 -- making determinations about each case at Guantanamo Bay. 580 00:35:18,800 --> 00:35:20,300 The Press: And is any one of those determinations that 581 00:35:20,300 --> 00:35:25,370 you are suspending possible transfer into their rehab program in Saudi Arabia? 582 00:35:25,367 --> 00:35:27,697 Mr. Gibbs: I'm sure they continue to evaluate but there 583 00:35:27,700 --> 00:35:30,200 have not been any pronouncements on that. Yes, ma'am. 584 00:35:30,200 --> 00:35:32,930 The Press: Robert, last week Governor Schwarzenegger 585 00:35:32,934 --> 00:35:36,804 urged his congressional delegation either to make sure California got the same Medicaid 586 00:35:36,800 --> 00:35:41,900 deal as Nebraska or else vote against the health care bill. Does the White House support 587 00:35:41,900 --> 00:35:45,130 extending the Nebraska payment system nationwide? 588 00:35:45,133 --> 00:35:46,603 Mr. Gibbs: I would say this, that the President obviously 589 00:35:46,600 --> 00:35:58,530 understands greatly the fiscal situation the governors find themselves in. I think a pretty 590 00:35:58,533 --> 00:36:06,733 good understanding of how the President feels is a big chunk of the Recovery Act was for 591 00:36:06,734 --> 00:36:13,734 FMAP Medicaid funding to go to help states out of their fiscal situation. And the President 592 00:36:13,734 --> 00:36:18,504 wants to work with governors in understanding in tough economic times and in tough budget 593 00:36:18,500 --> 00:36:23,200 times taking on new challenges. So we're going to continue to work with governors. 594 00:36:23,200 --> 00:36:24,470 The Press: So he would be open to the idea? 595 00:36:24,467 --> 00:36:27,367 Mr. Gibbs: I think that's certainly part of the discussion. 596 00:36:27,367 --> 00:36:29,267 Yes, sir. 597 00:36:29,266 --> 00:36:31,936 The Press: Back to Yemen, the fact that the President 598 00:36:31,934 --> 00:36:37,604 of Yemen is even talking about talking to al Qaeda seems to sort of have thrown quite 599 00:36:37,600 --> 00:36:41,670 a large conflict with the administration's policy. Is the White House confident that 600 00:36:41,667 --> 00:36:47,197 the President of Yemen is -- can be relied on to help combat extremism there? 601 00:36:47,200 --> 00:36:52,130 Mr. Gibbs: Yes, as evidence of the steps that he's taken 602 00:36:52,133 --> 00:36:58,963 over the last many months to deal with it, absolutely. And we believe -- we believe that 603 00:36:58,967 --> 00:37:03,997 the President is taking the necessary steps, and we continue to support his efforts to 604 00:37:04,000 --> 00:37:05,800 combat extremism. Yes, sir. 605 00:37:05,800 --> 00:37:08,370 The Press: I have two questions, Robert. On Friday you 606 00:37:08,367 --> 00:37:13,937 addressed Rudy Giuliani's comments that there were no domestic attacks under Bush. And since 607 00:37:13,934 --> 00:37:18,934 then he revised his statement to say that he meant to say no domestic attacks on American 608 00:37:18,934 --> 00:37:23,064 soil by Islamic terrorists since 9/11. 609 00:37:23,066 --> 00:37:24,296 Mr. Gibbs: I think that's accurate. 610 00:37:24,300 --> 00:37:26,230 The Press: Okay. And my second question -- 611 00:37:26,233 --> 00:37:27,503 Mr. Gibbs: I mean, you know -- 612 00:37:27,500 --> 00:37:30,370 The Press: Okay. That was fast. 613 00:37:30,367 --> 00:37:32,337 Mr. Gibbs: Well, no, no, I mean, I think what was missing 614 00:37:32,333 --> 00:37:33,433 was -- 615 00:37:33,433 --> 00:37:34,503 The Press: Well, I mean -- right. 616 00:37:34,500 --> 00:37:35,730 Mr. Gibbs: What was missing from -- 617 00:37:35,734 --> 00:37:37,904 The Press: There are several examples, though, that don't 618 00:37:37,900 --> 00:37:39,030 fit that, so I wanted to see -- 619 00:37:39,033 --> 00:37:41,263 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I would say this. I haven't -- I can 620 00:37:41,266 --> 00:37:45,766 go through the -- look at vast numbers of examples. My point was that the mayor of New 621 00:37:45,767 --> 00:37:54,637 York had forgotten about an attack that happened in New York during that administration, and 622 00:37:54,633 --> 00:37:59,233 I was caught off guard by that fact, as I think anybody that might have been watching 623 00:37:59,233 --> 00:38:03,633 was sort of caught off guard by what he was saying and what he meant to say. 624 00:38:03,633 --> 00:38:04,963 The Press: Are you satisfied with the clarification in 625 00:38:04,967 --> 00:38:05,937 that -- 626 00:38:05,934 --> 00:38:09,304 Mr. Gibbs: I'd have to look at what other instances he's 627 00:38:09,300 --> 00:38:17,800 -- again, my point of contention was September 11th, which I thought it was weird that he'd 628 00:38:17,800 --> 00:38:18,870 forgotten. 629 00:38:18,867 --> 00:38:20,197 The Press: And the second question. There's a story on 630 00:38:20,200 --> 00:38:22,900 the front page of the Daily Caller today, says something like -- 631 00:38:22,900 --> 00:38:23,700 Mr. Gibbs: What's that? 632 00:38:23,700 --> 00:38:24,930 (laughter) 633 00:38:24,934 --> 00:38:30,004 Where's Jon? Is he not -- that joke's no good if he's not here. Sorry, go ahead. 634 00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:31,430 The Press: The story -- the headline is something to 635 00:38:31,433 --> 00:38:36,603 the effect of that the Christmas bomber was singing like a canary until the Obama administration 636 00:38:36,600 --> 00:38:40,800 read him his rights. And I remember there was a briefing last weekend, John Brennan 637 00:38:40,800 --> 00:38:45,930 said something like -- I don't know if he put this fine a point on it, but is it true 638 00:38:45,934 --> 00:38:50,464 that the FBI is satisfied that they've gotten all the information that they could out of 639 00:38:50,467 --> 00:38:54,597 the suspect before he lawyered-up? I thought I heard him say something like that. 640 00:38:54,600 --> 00:38:57,500 Mr. Gibbs: I think what I've said and what John has said 641 00:38:57,500 --> 00:39:07,870 is that the FBI questioned the terror suspect after the incident, and were satisfied with 642 00:39:07,867 --> 00:39:11,267 what they -- the usable information that they got, absolutely. 643 00:39:11,266 --> 00:39:12,736 The Press: There's no feeling like they left something 644 00:39:12,734 --> 00:39:14,164 on the field there? 645 00:39:14,166 --> 00:39:15,636 Mr. Gibbs: Or on the table. Keith. 646 00:39:15,633 --> 00:39:18,303 The Press: Robert, why isn't the President going to campaign 647 00:39:18,300 --> 00:39:22,330 for Martha Coakley? It's a tight race, very important to his agenda, potentially. 648 00:39:22,333 --> 00:39:24,863 Mr. Gibbs: It's just not on our schedule to go to next week. 649 00:39:24,867 --> 00:39:26,537 The Press: All right, then why is it not on the schedule? 650 00:39:26,533 --> 00:39:27,533 Mr. Gibbs: It's just not on the schedule. 651 00:39:27,533 --> 00:39:29,763 The Press: Has he been asked by the Coakley campaign to come? 652 00:39:29,767 --> 00:39:30,537 Mr. Gibbs: Not that I'm aware of. 653 00:39:30,533 --> 00:39:31,503 The Press: Has he been asked to stay away? 654 00:39:31,500 --> 00:39:32,430 Mr. Gibbs: Not that I'm aware of. 655 00:39:32,433 --> 00:39:33,603 (laughter) 656 00:39:33,600 --> 00:39:36,470 The Press: Is he concerned -- is there concern that his 657 00:39:36,467 --> 00:39:40,397 -- I mean, it just doesn't make any sense -- is he concerned that his current popularity 658 00:39:40,400 --> 00:39:41,370 ratings -- 659 00:39:41,367 --> 00:39:42,067 Mr. Gibbs: Not that I'm aware of. 660 00:39:42,066 --> 00:39:43,396 The Press: -- if he goes up there that he might hurt 661 00:39:43,400 --> 00:39:44,530 her campaign? 662 00:39:44,533 --> 00:39:45,733 Mr. Gibbs: No, no. 663 00:39:45,734 --> 00:39:47,104 The Press: So just not -- it's just not on the schedule. 664 00:39:47,100 --> 00:39:50,070 It's the scheduler, actually, who has decided not to send him? 665 00:39:50,066 --> 00:39:51,166 (laughter) 666 00:39:51,166 --> 00:39:52,536 Mr. Gibbs: No, I didn't say it was -- you didn't ask 667 00:39:52,533 --> 00:39:56,403 me that. We just -- it's not on the schedule as a trip the President is going to make. 668 00:39:56,400 --> 00:39:57,630 The Press: Thanks, Robert. 669 00:39:57,633 --> 00:39:58,533 Mr. Gibbs: Ken. 670 00:39:58,533 --> 00:40:00,003 The Press: Robert, it looks like Harold Ford is very 671 00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:03,800 serious about jumping into the Senate race in New York. What's the White House's position 672 00:40:03,800 --> 00:40:08,230 on having a candidate like Harold Ford run for that Senate seat? 673 00:40:08,233 --> 00:40:12,863 Mr. Gibbs: Look, I think the White House is quite happy 674 00:40:12,867 --> 00:40:21,937 with the leadership and the representation of Senator Gillibrand in New York, and as 675 00:40:21,934 --> 00:40:25,064 many are in the DSCC, we're supporting her reelection. Thanks, guys. 676 00:40:25,066 --> 00:40:26,966 The Press: And how would you handicap the chances of 677 00:40:26,967 --> 00:40:32,537 Rahm and Senator Schumer to clear the field this time around? 678 00:40:32,533 --> 00:40:33,633 Mr. Gibbs: Stay tuned.