English subtitles for clip: File:1-14-14- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Carney:
Good afternoon, everyone.

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Thank you for being here.

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I appreciate your patience.

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A lot of meetings today,
including the President's

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Cabinet meeting,
which was substantive

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and ran a little long.

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I just want to
mention at the top,

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for those of you Miami Heat fans
who are planning on being

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at the event, I think
the call time is 2:25 p.m.

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No problem here
if you get up and leave

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and
we're still taking questions.

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That is okay with me.

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In the interest of
keeping it tight,

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I'll go straight to questions.

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Jim.

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The Press:
Thanks, Jay.

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On Iran, today President Rouhani
said that the Geneva agreement

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means "the surrender
of the big powers

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before the great
Iranian nation."

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I'm wondering if you have any
reaction to that statement,

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and do you find it helpful?

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Mr. Carney:
Jim, it's not surprising to us,

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nor should it be to you, that
the Iranians are describing

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the agreement in a certain way
for their domestic audience.

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They did the same thing
following the agreement

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of the Joint Plan of
Action in November,

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and we certainly
expected they would

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do the same thing this time.

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The fact is the agreement marks
the first time in a decade

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that Iran has agreed to specific
actions that halt progress

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on its nuclear program and roll
back key aspects of the program,

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stopping the advance of
the program and introducing

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unprecedented transparency into
Iran's nuclear activities

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while we negotiate a long-term
comprehensive solution.

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So, again, as I said yesterday,
it doesn't matter what they say;

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it matters what they do.

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And the Joint Plan of Action and
the implementation agreement are

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concrete documents that commit
Iran to take specific steps

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in a verifiable,
transparent way.

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And the coinciding moderate
relief comes in tranches,

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specifically as the adherence
to its commitments --

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Iran's adherence
to its commitments is verified

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along the way over the
course of the six months.

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So, again, I think the issue
here is the agreements

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that Iran has made,

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the fact that it has
committed itself to halting

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progress on its nuclear program,
rolling back key aspects of it,

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and engaging in further
negotiations in pursuit

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of a comprehensive solution
to this problem.

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The Press:
So you reject his statement
that this agreement

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is an admission by the world of
Iran's peaceful nuclear program?

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Mr. Carney:
Well, again, I
would just point you

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to what I said before,

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which is that we fully
expected Iranian leaders

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to describe the
agreement in ways --

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in a certain
way for their domestic audience.

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They did that in November.

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What matters to us,
to the P5-plus-1,

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to the international community,
is what Iranian leaders do,

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what Iran does in keeping its
commitments in this agreement.

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The Press:
On another subject, on
unemployment insurance.

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As of last night, some
Republicans were talking about

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a three-month extension
that was paid for,

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but also included -- eliminated
a cut on benefits to veterans.

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Is that an argument
or a position

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that the
President would support?

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Mr. Carney:
Our position on this has
been clear from the beginning.

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Senator Reid has taken steps to
try to address the concerns of

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Republicans who have said they
want to extend unemployment

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insurance benefits to the
1.3 million Americans and their

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families who need them now
and we support rapid action.

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I'm not going to assess
each floated proposal

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on how to do that.

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What the Senate should do
and then the House should do

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is pass an extension
of benefits right away.

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There is an existing bill, has
made some progress in the Senate

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that would do that
immediately without offsets

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for just a short duration,

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three months, in the
manner that was done

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under President
George W. Bush five times.

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And we certainly support that.

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We also have said that we would
entertain discussions

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with Congress about
how to move forward

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for a longer-term extension.

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But I don't have a view on
or a characterization of other

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proposals that are popping up.

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We simply want the Senate
and then the House to act.

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The Press:
And as a general matter,

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would the White House prefer
that the full COLA increases

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for veterans be instated?

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Mr. Carney:
What I would simply
say on that again,

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when it comes to the UI
extension, we want it done.

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I'm not going to -- associating
specific ideas with this and

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asking for our view
on it kind of takes away

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from the urgent need
for the Senate to act

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and the House to act.

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Senate leaders are working
on this as we speak.

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We hope to see progress.

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We hope to see resolution.

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And if we have more specifics
on individual proposals

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that are actually serious and
are going to get to the floor,

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we'll let you know.

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The Press:
Are there any changes
to plans for the

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upcoming state visit
of French President Hollande

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and his partner?

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Mr. Carney:
There are no changes.

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The President looks forward
to seeing President Hollande

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for the state visit in February.

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On issues of the delegation
that the French come with,

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I would refer you to
the French government.

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The Press:
And Secretary
of State Kerry said

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that the President is going
to visit the Vatican.

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Can you tell us anything
about this trip --

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when it would happen,
and moreover, what the purpose

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of such a visit would be?

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Mr. Carney:
The President looks
forward to a meeting

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with the Pope
in the near future.

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I do not have any more details
for you on that timing

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or location except to
say that the President

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very much looks
forward to a meeting.

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The Press:
And lastly, on Secretary
of State Kerry,

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Israel's Defense
Minister said that his quest

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for Middle East
peace is obsessive.

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How does the White
House respond to that?

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Mr. Carney:
I think you're referring
to comments that were reported

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out of a private meeting
as I understand it.

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So what I can tell you is that
the remarks of the Israeli

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Defense Minister, if accurate,
are offensive and inappropriate,

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especially in
light of everything

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that the United States is doing

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to support Israel's
security needs.

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Secretary Kerry and his team
have been working nonstop

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in their efforts to promote
a secure peace for Israel

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because of the deep concern the
United States has and the deep

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commitment the United States
has for and to Israel's future

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and the Israeli people.

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To question Secretary Kerry's
motives and distort his

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proposals is not
something we would expect

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from the defense
minister of a close ally.

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Again, that's if those remarks
are accurate as reported.

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The Press:
Do you know if this
was discussed in last

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night's dinner with the Vice
President and Netanyahu?

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Mr. Carney:
I don't have a readout
beyond what's been reported on,

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on that dinner.

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I can tell you that we are --

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as we always make clear --

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committed to Israel's security.

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We are committed to the
Middle East peace process

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in a way that secures Israel.

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And as you know, Secretary Kerry
met in Paris on Sunday with the

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Arab Peace Initiative follow-up
committee as part of a regular

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process of the negotiation
consultations on the final

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negotiation process between the
Israelis and the Palestinians.

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The API follow-up committee
has been enormously helpful

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and constructive in this effort.

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The Arab Foreign Ministers made
clear to Secretary Kerry that

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they support Israeli and
Palestinian leaders' efforts

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to take the next bold,
courageous steps of agreeing

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to a framework for permanent
status negotiations.

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I would also note that President
Abbas and Prime Minister

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Netanyahu have both demonstrated
courageous and determined

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leadership over the
last five months.

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They've made tough choices
and they are contemplating

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even tougher choices
in the weeks ahead.

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We have made progress with both
parties and narrowed some

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of the gaps,
and we will continue

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to seek to narrow the gaps.

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So we're pressing forward
with both the Israelis

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and the Palestinians
on this process

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and hope that it bears fruit.

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Brianna.

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The Press:
Thanks, Jay.

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White House officials including
yourself have likened a vote

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in Congress to adopt
new sanctions against Iran

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to "a march to war."

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And you now have Democrats
pushing back against that.

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You've seen that from the Senate
Foreign Relations Chairman,

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and just a short time ago,
Steny Hoyer said that it's

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"an irresponsible assertion
and ought to be clarified

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and retracted."

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What is your response to that?

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Mr. Carney:
Brianna, I think I
took questions on this

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for the last couple of days.

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Our view is that Congress has --

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The Press:
He just said this
today so I'm asking you

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specifically to refer
to Hoyer's comment.

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Mr. Carney:
Well, as I will now,

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as I have referred to others
and I'm happy to do so again,

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the President believes that
Congress has been an excellent

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partner in the effort
to construct the most

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comprehensive, effective
sanctions regime in history,

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a sanctions regime that was
designed specifically to try

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to change Iranian behavior,
to try to compel Iran

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to the negotiating table.

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And what we have seen in
the last several months

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is that that effort
has produced progress.

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It helped lead Iran to
the negotiating table.

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It helped the P5-plus-1 reach
the Joint Plan of Action

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agreement and the
implementation agreement.

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And now we will see whether
or not Iran is serious about

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reaching a comprehensive
resolution so that we can,

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in a verifiable,
transparent way,

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be confident that Iran is not
pursuing and will not obtain

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a nuclear weapon,
and to do that peacefully.

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That is certainly
the President's

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preferred course of action.

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Our view is simply that Congress
ought not pass new sanctions now

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because doing so could
inadvertently, no doubt,

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actually compromise
the potential

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to reach the shared
goal that we have by,

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instead of strengthening the
sanctions regime, weakening it;

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instead of bolstering
the P5-plus-1's position

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in negotiations with Iran,

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fraying the unity that has been
established and the consensus

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that has been established around
the world as regards Iran's need

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to uphold its
international obligations

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and to come into compliance
with international obligations.

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So our view is not one that
says sanctions are bad.

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Quite the contrary.

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This President has led the
way in constructing

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the most comprehensive
and effective and punitive

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sanctions regime in history.

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And he has done so because he
has rallied the international

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community behind a consensus
view on the need to prohibit

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Iran from acquiring
a nuclear weapon.

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So our view is simply that
Congress ought to hold in

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abeyance any action on further
sanctions pending action

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by Iran, progress or the
lack of progress by Iran

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in the negotiations.

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And I think to the point
you made in the beginning,

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the issue here isn't
motive or intent.

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It's that the consequence
potentially of sanctions

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legislation, which
would have the negative,

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unintended effect of
destabilizing the sanctions

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regime or fraying the consensus,
would be that it might limit the

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options available to the
President in achieving his

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commitment to prevent Iran from
acquiring a nuclear weapon.

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So I know that
was a long answer,

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but I think it gives the full
view of how we are looking at

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this and how we are having these
conversations with lawmakers

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about our shared view that
we need to take the necessary

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steps, at the right time,
to achieve our objective.

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The Press:
Is that the clarification,
then, on "a march to war"?

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00:13:19,667 --> 00:13:21,297
Mr. Carney:
Well, it's the answer I've
been giving for several days,

245
00:13:21,300 --> 00:13:23,100
and it is consistent with
what we said in the past.

246
00:13:23,100 --> 00:13:24,830
The Press:
But do you stand by that or --

247
00:13:24,834 --> 00:13:27,364
Mr. Carney:
I'm not sure to what you
are specifically referring.

248
00:13:27,367 --> 00:13:29,767
I know others have characterized
what we said in that regard,

249
00:13:29,767 --> 00:13:30,997
and I would simply say that --

250
00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:32,700
The Press:
You said in I believe November,

251
00:13:32,700 --> 00:13:34,470
"Americans don't
want a march to war."

252
00:13:34,467 --> 00:13:36,997
Mr. Carney:
I don't think Americans
want a march to war.

253
00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:39,170
What I'm saying about
actions in Congress

254
00:13:39,166 --> 00:13:40,666
or potential actions in Congress

255
00:13:40,667 --> 00:13:43,737
is that we share the
objectives that leaders

256
00:13:43,734 --> 00:13:46,264
on this issue have in Congress.

257
00:13:46,266 --> 00:13:48,396
We certainly share a
commitment to the efficacy

258
00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:52,370
and effectiveness of sanctions.

259
00:13:52,367 --> 00:13:56,937
Our position has simply been
that now is not the time

260
00:13:56,934 --> 00:14:03,764
to potentially and inadvertently
fray the coalition

261
00:14:03,767 --> 00:14:07,137
that has assembled behind a
position that has forced Iran

262
00:14:07,133 --> 00:14:08,733
to the negotiating
table or undermine

263
00:14:08,734 --> 00:14:14,734
the actual sanctions regime that
has been so effective thus far.

264
00:14:14,734 --> 00:14:18,764
Surely nobody in Congress
wants that as an objective,

265
00:14:18,767 --> 00:14:22,597
and we share the
desire to make sure

266
00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:25,400
that Iran is held to account.

267
00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:29,230
But we need to do so in a way
that allows maximum flexibility

268
00:14:29,233 --> 00:14:31,933
to achieve a resolution
here peacefully.

269
00:14:31,934 --> 00:14:33,534
The Press:
On the President's
speech tomorrow in North

270
00:14:33,533 --> 00:14:36,763
Carolina, Senator Kay Hagan
will not be attending.

271
00:14:36,767 --> 00:14:38,937
It's obviously her home state.

272
00:14:38,934 --> 00:14:42,634
Is the President worried that
he is a drag on some vulnerable

273
00:14:42,633 --> 00:14:45,563
Democrats in this
key election year?

274
00:14:45,567 --> 00:14:48,537
Mr. Carney:
Brianna, I think Senator
Hagan's offices addressed that.

275
00:14:48,533 --> 00:14:50,663
I think she's here working
on important business.

276
00:14:50,667 --> 00:14:52,067
The President looks
forward to his visit

277
00:14:52,066 --> 00:14:53,636
to North Carolina -- A.

278
00:14:53,633 --> 00:14:58,703
B, we're certainly not looking
at a visit designed to highlight

279
00:14:58,700 --> 00:15:00,530
the need to continue the
progress we've made with

280
00:15:00,533 --> 00:15:05,303
advanced manufacturing as an
issue of electoral politics.

281
00:15:05,300 --> 00:15:09,670
The fact is, thanks to the
grit and determination of the

282
00:15:09,667 --> 00:15:11,997
American people, thanks to
the quality of the American

283
00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:15,030
workforce, and thanks to
the policies pursued by this

284
00:15:15,033 --> 00:15:18,303
administration, we have seen
a rebound in manufacturing

285
00:15:18,300 --> 00:15:20,270
in the United States.

286
00:15:20,266 --> 00:15:23,996
Many people and experts viewed
the decline in manufacturing

287
00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:26,500
in this country that we had
experienced over a number

288
00:15:26,500 --> 00:15:30,470
of years to be something
that was irreversible,

289
00:15:30,467 --> 00:15:33,237
but this nation has proved
and the American people

290
00:15:33,233 --> 00:15:35,663
have proved otherwise.

291
00:15:35,667 --> 00:15:38,197
And the fact is we've
created more than 500,000

292
00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:39,900
new manufacturing jobs.

293
00:15:39,900 --> 00:15:41,700
And the more of them that
are created in the advanced

294
00:15:41,700 --> 00:15:45,970
manufacturing space, the more
high-paying those jobs are,

295
00:15:45,967 --> 00:15:50,437
the more those jobs bring
economic security and stability

296
00:15:50,433 --> 00:15:52,633
to middle-class families
across the country.

297
00:15:52,633 --> 00:15:54,633
So that's what the President
wants to highlight tomorrow.

298
00:15:54,633 --> 00:15:56,063
The Press:
And my point -- and
I know you're saying

299
00:15:56,066 --> 00:15:58,296
that her office has addressed
this, that she's here,

300
00:15:58,300 --> 00:15:59,530
the Senate is in session.

301
00:15:59,533 --> 00:16:01,933
But I mean, it's kind of the --
I think people take that

302
00:16:01,934 --> 00:16:03,564
as the congressional
equivalent of,

303
00:16:03,567 --> 00:16:05,767
"I can't go,
I'm washing my hair."

304
00:16:05,767 --> 00:16:06,867
So do you --

305
00:16:06,867 --> 00:16:08,337
Mr. Carney:
You think voting
on potentially --

306
00:16:08,333 --> 00:16:09,803
The Press:
No, I don't, I don't --

307
00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:11,970
Mr. Carney:
-- budget resolutions,
or omnibus resolutions, or --

308
00:16:11,967 --> 00:16:13,267
The Press:
-- but I think
there's a way to --

309
00:16:13,266 --> 00:16:15,136
I think there's a way
to thread the needle.

310
00:16:15,133 --> 00:16:16,733
Mr. Carney: -- extending
unemployment insurance --

311
00:16:16,734 --> 00:16:18,234
The Press:
No, but I think --

312
00:16:18,233 --> 00:16:19,503
Mr. Carney:
-- I think that most senators
would disagree with that.

313
00:16:19,500 --> 00:16:20,830
The Press:
I think there's a way
to thread the needle

314
00:16:20,834 --> 00:16:25,004
and some -- try to maybe
fit both things in.

315
00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:28,200
And she said that she welcomes
campaigning with the President,

316
00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:30,330
but it doesn't seem that she
jumped at this opportunity.

317
00:16:30,333 --> 00:16:31,533
Mr. Carney:
This isn't a campaign
event, Brianna.

318
00:16:31,533 --> 00:16:33,933
I understand, having been
there, the urgent desire --

319
00:16:33,934 --> 00:16:36,004
The Press:
But it's a campaign
year for her.

320
00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:38,900
Mr. Carney:
-- to turn every story 10 months
out into an election story.

321
00:16:38,900 --> 00:16:40,170
The Press:
Does the President --

322
00:16:40,166 --> 00:16:41,466
Mr. Carney:
I promise you this is not one.

323
00:16:41,467 --> 00:16:42,767
The Press:
My question is just
does the President worry

324
00:16:42,767 --> 00:16:47,697
that he is a drag at this point
in a time where he needs to

325
00:16:47,700 --> 00:16:49,400
maintain the Senate
so that he can push his --

326
00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:51,000
Mr. Carney:
All I can tell you is that
the President is traveling

327
00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:53,630
to North Carolina tomorrow.

328
00:16:53,633 --> 00:16:54,933
Jon.

329
00:16:54,934 --> 00:16:56,334
The Press:
Coming back to Iran,

330
00:16:56,333 --> 00:16:58,963
the President has been very
clear, you've been very clear,

331
00:16:58,967 --> 00:17:01,837
there have been
multiple veto threats,

332
00:17:01,834 --> 00:17:04,934
you've said over and over again
that this sanctions bill

333
00:17:04,934 --> 00:17:08,204
would derail these talks.

334
00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:10,930
Why, then, are
so many Democrats willing

335
00:17:10,934 --> 00:17:15,004
to defy the President on this?

336
00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:18,800
Mr. Carney:
I would say that the
President shares with every

337
00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:23,530
member of Congress who has
made this issue one of special

338
00:17:23,533 --> 00:17:27,463
attention and focus the same
commitment to depriving Iran

339
00:17:27,467 --> 00:17:30,867
from acquiring a nuclear weapon,
the same commitment to building

340
00:17:30,867 --> 00:17:34,397
a comprehensive and
effective sanctions regime,

341
00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:36,970
which includes
sanctions levied --

342
00:17:36,967 --> 00:17:39,437
leveled by the United
States through legislation

343
00:17:39,433 --> 00:17:41,633
passed by Congress.

344
00:17:41,633 --> 00:17:43,863
We have worked very closely
with Congress and Congress

345
00:17:43,867 --> 00:17:46,297
has been an excellent
partner in that effort,

346
00:17:46,300 --> 00:17:51,570
and the senators who
have been discussing action

347
00:17:51,567 --> 00:17:57,067
in the current time period
have been leaders on this issue.

348
00:17:57,066 --> 00:17:58,896
So we have shared
their objectives.

349
00:17:58,900 --> 00:18:00,970
We have shared their commitment.

350
00:18:00,967 --> 00:18:04,797
Our view -- very strong view is
that passing new sanctions now

351
00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:06,470
would be counterproductive.

352
00:18:06,467 --> 00:18:10,637
It would actually undermine the
goals that we share potentially.

353
00:18:10,633 --> 00:18:12,863
The Press:
And I feel like you've been
crystal-clear on that point.

354
00:18:12,867 --> 00:18:16,697
But ever since the White House
issued that first veto threat

355
00:18:16,700 --> 00:18:20,730
and said it in exactly those
terms we've had more Democratic

356
00:18:20,734 --> 00:18:22,334
co-sponsors of this bill.

357
00:18:22,333 --> 00:18:24,733
So I'm just wondering,
this is a top --

358
00:18:24,734 --> 00:18:25,964
correct me if I'm wrong --

359
00:18:25,967 --> 00:18:29,067
this is a top foreign policy
priority for the President

360
00:18:29,066 --> 00:18:35,336
if not the first this year,
and yet you have had several top

361
00:18:35,333 --> 00:18:39,933
Democrats simply say, no way,
we're going ahead anyway.

362
00:18:39,934 --> 00:18:41,264
Mr. Carney:
Look, I think that
you also have --

363
00:18:41,266 --> 00:18:42,436
The Press:
I mean, why aren't they
giving the White House

364
00:18:42,433 --> 00:18:43,903
the benefit of the doubt?

365
00:18:43,900 --> 00:18:45,030
Mr. Carney:
-- and there have been a
number of Democratic senators

366
00:18:45,033 --> 00:18:48,163
who have come out strongly
today urging this bill

367
00:18:48,166 --> 00:18:51,696
not to be voted on,
urging this bill not to --

368
00:18:51,700 --> 00:18:56,300
senators, their colleagues,
not to support this legislation

369
00:18:56,300 --> 00:18:59,000
now precisely for the reasons
that the President has said.

370
00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:03,700
So you'll have to interview and
talk with each individual member

371
00:19:03,700 --> 00:19:08,430
to learn from them their
reasoning behind their actions

372
00:19:08,433 --> 00:19:10,103
here and what they support.

373
00:19:10,100 --> 00:19:16,470
Our point is that we actually
share the same views on these

374
00:19:16,467 --> 00:19:22,397
matters with those who have
been pushing further sanctions.

375
00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:27,100
We simply think, as a matter
of maximizing the potential

376
00:19:27,100 --> 00:19:32,270
for resolving this conflict
with Iran peacefully,

377
00:19:32,266 --> 00:19:34,236
Congress should not pass
legislation that introduces

378
00:19:34,233 --> 00:19:36,663
new sanctions at this time.

379
00:19:36,667 --> 00:19:38,597
Now is not the time to do that.

380
00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:42,170
There may be the time, and
if and when that time arises,

381
00:19:42,166 --> 00:19:45,336
Congress can be most effective
by holding in abeyance

382
00:19:45,333 --> 00:19:48,203
new sanctions until then.

383
00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:50,000
And so we will
work with Congress

384
00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:54,300
if that time does arrive.

385
00:19:54,300 --> 00:19:59,670
I don't think anyone doubts,
given the shared views on this,

386
00:19:59,667 --> 00:20:01,997
the commitment that
Congress has demonstrated,

387
00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:07,300
the support for depriving Iran
of obtaining a nuclear weapon,

388
00:20:07,300 --> 00:20:10,670
the support for the security
of our allies in the region,

389
00:20:10,667 --> 00:20:14,437
that if Iran were to fail
to meet its commitments,

390
00:20:14,433 --> 00:20:18,463
if it were to violate the
terms of the agreement,

391
00:20:18,467 --> 00:20:21,897
the Joint Plan of Action, or if
it were to scuttle or walk away

392
00:20:21,900 --> 00:20:25,900
from the negotiations over
a comprehensive resolution,

393
00:20:25,900 --> 00:20:28,770
Congress could
and would act very quickly

394
00:20:28,767 --> 00:20:30,137
to impose new sanctions.

395
00:20:30,133 --> 00:20:37,963
And even better, given that that
would have been triggered by

396
00:20:37,967 --> 00:20:41,437
Iranian behavior, our partners
around the world would be

397
00:20:41,433 --> 00:20:43,433
much more likely to follow suit.

398
00:20:43,433 --> 00:20:46,503
And building that international
consensus has been what allowed

399
00:20:46,500 --> 00:20:51,030
us -- has to this point been
what has allowed us to make this

400
00:20:51,033 --> 00:20:54,733
sanctions regime so effective,
because unilateral sanctions

401
00:20:54,734 --> 00:20:58,504
imposed by the United States
can achieve only so much,

402
00:20:58,500 --> 00:20:59,700
as you know.

403
00:20:59,700 --> 00:21:02,500
And it has been the broad
international consensus that has

404
00:21:02,500 --> 00:21:06,670
been constructed here with the
leadership of the United States

405
00:21:06,667 --> 00:21:09,597
that has made this sanctions
regime so effective,

406
00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:12,630
having the impact it has
had on the Iranian economy,

407
00:21:12,633 --> 00:21:14,963
on the views of
the Iranian people,

408
00:21:14,967 --> 00:21:19,097
which in turn have led to the
moment where Iran decided that

409
00:21:19,100 --> 00:21:21,500
they ought to get serious
apparently about negotiating

410
00:21:21,500 --> 00:21:24,400
with the P5-plus-1
over the disposition

411
00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:27,000
of its nuclear program.

412
00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:28,530
Yes, Nadia.

413
00:21:28,533 --> 00:21:29,963
The Press:
Two questions
on Syria and Egypt.

414
00:21:29,967 --> 00:21:31,437
On Syria first.

415
00:21:31,433 --> 00:21:33,503
This administration
seems to be threatening

416
00:21:33,500 --> 00:21:36,130
the Syrian opposition
of cutting aid to them

417
00:21:36,133 --> 00:21:38,403
if they don't
show up at Geneva II.

418
00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:39,700
Can you verify this?

419
00:21:39,700 --> 00:21:42,630
And also, what's the chances
of giving them incentives

420
00:21:42,633 --> 00:21:45,733
like releasing political
prisoners or a ceasefire --

421
00:21:45,734 --> 00:21:48,104
limited ceasefire,
an accord that could be achieved

422
00:21:48,100 --> 00:21:49,730
before Geneva II?

423
00:21:49,734 --> 00:21:51,904
Mr. Carney:
Well, I would simply say that
we expect the Syrian opposition

424
00:21:51,900 --> 00:21:56,000
to come to Geneva
and we expect they will.

425
00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:58,030
We recognize that there are
current divisions

426
00:21:58,033 --> 00:21:59,533
among the opposition,

427
00:21:59,533 --> 00:22:03,103
and that the path to
Geneva is a difficult one.

428
00:22:03,100 --> 00:22:06,230
But we expect that members
of the opposition will attend.

429
00:22:06,233 --> 00:22:07,763
We are focused
on moving the parties

430
00:22:07,767 --> 00:22:09,537
to the Geneva II conference

431
00:22:09,533 --> 00:22:11,733
because there
is no military solution

432
00:22:11,734 --> 00:22:14,634
to the crisis
in Syria, as we've said.

433
00:22:14,633 --> 00:22:17,203
A negotiated,
political transition

434
00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:18,600
is the best opportunity

435
00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:21,130
to end the violence
and the suffering of the Syrian

436
00:22:21,133 --> 00:22:24,603
people, and to begin a process
of ending the conflict through

437
00:22:24,600 --> 00:22:28,200
the full implementation
of the Geneva Communique.

438
00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:30,570
In Paris this weekend,
Secretary Kerry engaged

439
00:22:30,567 --> 00:22:34,367
in an intensive round
of diplomacy regarding Syria,

440
00:22:34,367 --> 00:22:37,367
including meeting with
the ministers of the London 11,

441
00:22:37,367 --> 00:22:40,437
Syrian Opposition
Coalition President Jarba,

442
00:22:40,433 --> 00:22:42,063
and Russian
Foreign Minister Lavrov

443
00:22:42,066 --> 00:22:44,736
and Joint Special
Representative Brahimi.

444
00:22:44,734 --> 00:22:46,464
So we continue
to move forward

445
00:22:46,467 --> 00:22:50,097
towards the
Geneva II conference.

446
00:22:50,100 --> 00:22:53,530
We expect the
opposition to attend.

447
00:22:53,533 --> 00:22:57,363
And we expect that because
we are absolutely confident

448
00:22:57,367 --> 00:22:59,937
that there is no way
to resolve this crisis except

449
00:22:59,934 --> 00:23:04,004
through a political
negotiated resolution.

450
00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:05,570
The Press:
So will you resume the aid

451
00:23:05,567 --> 00:23:07,267
even if they don't
show up in Geneva?

452
00:23:07,266 --> 00:23:09,536
Mr. Carney:
I think you're mistaking --

453
00:23:09,533 --> 00:23:12,133
or you're misstating
our position.

454
00:23:12,133 --> 00:23:13,863
We didn't cut off all aid.

455
00:23:13,867 --> 00:23:17,237
We cut off --
we halted some aid

456
00:23:17,233 --> 00:23:20,003
because of the need
to verify the security

457
00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:22,130
of the aid that was delivered.

458
00:23:22,133 --> 00:23:24,833
I think I announced earlier
this week that we were resuming

459
00:23:24,834 --> 00:23:29,834
some of the aid that we've been
providing and that we remain

460
00:23:29,834 --> 00:23:33,664
committed to the SMC as well as
to the broad Syrian opposition,

461
00:23:33,667 --> 00:23:36,567
as well as through our
humanitarian aid which has

462
00:23:36,567 --> 00:23:41,197
continued to flow to the Syrian
people who have suffered so much

463
00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:44,670
because of President Assad.

464
00:23:44,667 --> 00:23:46,367
The Press:
I was stating a
specific incident.

465
00:23:46,367 --> 00:23:47,797
I'm talking about
something else.

466
00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:49,200
But regardless.

467
00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:51,630
Mr. Carney:
You said we cut off
aid, and we haven't.

468
00:23:51,633 --> 00:23:53,733
The Press:
No, I said, are you
threatening to cut off

469
00:23:53,734 --> 00:23:55,534
more aid if they don't
show up in Geneva --

470
00:23:55,533 --> 00:23:56,803
that was my question.

471
00:23:56,800 --> 00:23:59,570
Mr. Carney:
That is not my
understanding, no.

472
00:23:59,567 --> 00:24:01,537
The Press:
On Egypt, do you feel --

473
00:24:01,533 --> 00:24:03,863
does the administration
feel victory that actually

474
00:24:03,867 --> 00:24:08,597
the spending bill now
is passing without any --

475
00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:10,130
giving you basically --

476
00:24:10,133 --> 00:24:17,503
without researching, giving you
a waiver regarding the aid --

477
00:24:17,500 --> 00:24:24,670
Mr. Carney:
What I can tell you is that
on the omnibus legislation

478
00:24:24,667 --> 00:24:27,437
is that Congress
has laid down parameters

479
00:24:27,433 --> 00:24:30,963
and conditions for continuation
of assistance to Egypt,

480
00:24:30,967 --> 00:24:33,067
and pending passage
of the bill --

481
00:24:33,066 --> 00:24:34,636
it has not yet passed --

482
00:24:34,633 --> 00:24:39,233
we will determine whether
those conditions are being met.

483
00:24:39,233 --> 00:24:42,533
Our view is that this does
not imply any immediate changes

484
00:24:42,533 --> 00:24:45,903
with regard to our October
9 assistance decision,

485
00:24:45,900 --> 00:24:47,770
which I know you recall.

486
00:24:47,767 --> 00:24:51,467
So we will evaluate
it upon passage,

487
00:24:51,467 --> 00:24:55,767
but our view is that it doesn't
imply any immediate changes.

488
00:24:55,767 --> 00:24:57,237
April.

489
00:24:57,233 --> 00:24:59,263
The Press:
Jay, I have a couple of
questions and I want to start

490
00:24:59,266 --> 00:25:02,366
with a papal visit --
a future papal visit.

491
00:25:02,367 --> 00:25:04,397
Has the President been
influenced -- and if so,

492
00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:09,730
how and why -- by the Pope
and some of his initiatives,

493
00:25:09,734 --> 00:25:11,434
particularly when
it comes to poverty,

494
00:25:11,433 --> 00:25:14,963
those who are not in the middle
class -- things of that nature?

495
00:25:14,967 --> 00:25:17,637
Mr. Carney:
The President, I believe
in his remarks in Anacostia

496
00:25:17,633 --> 00:25:24,963
late last year, referred to
the Pope and what he has said

497
00:25:24,967 --> 00:25:29,597
and what he is doing about
the problem of inequality,

498
00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:34,570
about the problem of economic
mobility around the world.

499
00:25:34,567 --> 00:25:37,237
So I think that you can take
from that that the President

500
00:25:37,233 --> 00:25:43,333
is certainly aware of and paying
attention to the work being done

501
00:25:43,333 --> 00:25:46,503
by the Pope and the Vatican.

502
00:25:46,500 --> 00:25:51,400
Beyond that, with regards
to a meeting the President

503
00:25:51,400 --> 00:25:52,730
is looking forward to,

504
00:25:52,734 --> 00:25:54,004
I just don't have any
more details about

505
00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:57,200
when that will happen or where.

506
00:25:57,200 --> 00:25:59,030
The Press:
And as you talk about --
you talk about inequality

507
00:25:59,033 --> 00:26:01,233
and poverty and
things of that nature.

508
00:26:01,233 --> 00:26:05,603
Could you give us the mindset as
we're going into January 28th,

509
00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:07,430
the mindset around
this White House?

510
00:26:07,433 --> 00:26:09,103
What is the state of this union?

511
00:26:09,100 --> 00:26:14,030
As you're talking about
unemployment insurance,

512
00:26:14,033 --> 00:26:17,163
bringing more people into the
middle class, fixing inequality,

513
00:26:17,166 --> 00:26:20,666
what is the mindset of what the
state of the union should be

514
00:26:20,667 --> 00:26:22,397
when the President says --

515
00:26:22,400 --> 00:26:23,670
Mr. Carney:
That the American people

516
00:26:23,667 --> 00:26:25,997
and our economy have come
a long way from the depths

517
00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:28,900
of the worst recession
since the Great Depression.

518
00:26:28,900 --> 00:26:30,900
We've come a long way from the
time when we were hemorrhaging

519
00:26:30,900 --> 00:26:35,730
jobs at 800,000 jobs per month,
when the economy was shrinking

520
00:26:35,734 --> 00:26:40,734
at something like 7 percent
annualized in a given quarter to

521
00:26:40,734 --> 00:26:43,964
a situation where we have been
steadily creating jobs --

522
00:26:43,967 --> 00:26:45,837
8.2 million,
if I'm not mistaken,

523
00:26:45,834 --> 00:26:47,404
private-sector jobs --

524
00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:49,430
where we have
been growing steadily.

525
00:26:49,433 --> 00:26:52,533
But we have much
more work to do.

526
00:26:52,533 --> 00:26:54,433
We are not where we need to be.

527
00:26:54,433 --> 00:26:59,103
And that is why the President
is so committed to working with

528
00:26:59,100 --> 00:27:02,630
everyone in Congress and
outside of Congress who shares

529
00:27:02,633 --> 00:27:05,103
his interest in advancing
the country economically

530
00:27:05,100 --> 00:27:08,800
in addressing
the need for creating

531
00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:10,630
more advanced
manufacturing jobs,

532
00:27:10,633 --> 00:27:14,233
the need for providing
greater educational

533
00:27:14,233 --> 00:27:20,033
opportunities to our children,
the need to make work pay,

534
00:27:20,033 --> 00:27:22,163
which is what raising
the minimum wage would do,

535
00:27:22,166 --> 00:27:26,366
the need to increase
our investments

536
00:27:26,367 --> 00:27:28,137
in our infrastructure,

537
00:27:28,133 --> 00:27:31,363
creating jobs now and
creating the potential

538
00:27:31,367 --> 00:27:33,197
for economic growth later.

539
00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:34,830
And I think you heard the
President mention at the top of

540
00:27:34,834 --> 00:27:38,664
the Cabinet meeting today
that he wants action this year,

541
00:27:38,667 --> 00:27:44,397
and he believes that he has two
unique powers as President --

542
00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:47,770
the power of the pen and
the power of the telephone --

543
00:27:47,767 --> 00:27:50,197
to try to instigate action.

544
00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:51,530
He can sign bills.

545
00:27:51,533 --> 00:27:52,863
He can sign executive orders.

546
00:27:52,867 --> 00:27:56,397
And he can get on the phone as
President of the United States

547
00:27:56,400 --> 00:28:01,400
with unique abilities
to rally support behind ideas

548
00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:06,200
that can promote growth,
promote education reform,

549
00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:08,470
promote job creation.

550
00:28:08,467 --> 00:28:10,267
So that's what he's going to do.

551
00:28:10,266 --> 00:28:13,866
And we're going to do it every
day of the year with the aim

552
00:28:13,867 --> 00:28:17,567
of continually improving
the state of the union,

553
00:28:17,567 --> 00:28:20,967
and improving it for the middle
class and for those Americans

554
00:28:20,967 --> 00:28:25,367
who were working hard every day,
playing by the rules and trying

555
00:28:25,367 --> 00:28:26,767
to save for their retirement,

556
00:28:26,767 --> 00:28:30,497
trying to pay for college
and trying to get by.

557
00:28:30,500 --> 00:28:33,130
And we're trying to make
it a little easier for them.

558
00:28:33,133 --> 00:28:34,603
The Press:
And anything new
on Southern Sudan,

559
00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:36,630
any movement from the
White House on that?

560
00:28:36,633 --> 00:28:45,963
Mr. Carney:
I don't have any updates
on South Sudan at this time.

561
00:28:45,967 --> 00:28:47,267
The Press:
Jay, what --

562
00:28:47,266 --> 00:28:48,996
Mr. Carney:
Wait. Should we sing
"Happy Birthday" or not?

563
00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:50,270
[laughter]

564
00:28:50,266 --> 00:28:51,336
Mr. Plante:
Spare me.

565
00:28:51,333 --> 00:28:52,763
[laughter]

566
00:28:52,767 --> 00:28:55,237
Mr. Carney:
Just from all of us,
Bill, it's happy birthday.

567
00:28:55,233 --> 00:28:59,863
And also just having somebody
with the amount of experience

568
00:28:59,867 --> 00:29:02,697
you've had around
here I think is a help

569
00:29:02,700 --> 00:29:04,070
to all your colleagues.

570
00:29:04,066 --> 00:29:06,636
It's a help to us and
we're glad you're here.

571
00:29:06,633 --> 00:29:12,433
(Applause.)

572
00:29:12,433 --> 00:29:13,463
Mr. Plante:
Thank you.

573
00:29:13,467 --> 00:29:14,767
You're very gracious.

574
00:29:14,767 --> 00:29:18,097
And now, I have a question.

575
00:29:18,100 --> 00:29:19,900
[laughter]

576
00:29:19,900 --> 00:29:21,830
Does the President's expressed
willingness today to use

577
00:29:21,834 --> 00:29:26,734
his powers to create action
by executive action and order

578
00:29:26,734 --> 00:29:29,534
indicate that he doesn't
believe that he'll be able

579
00:29:29,533 --> 00:29:31,533
to work with this Congress?

580
00:29:31,533 --> 00:29:35,403
Mr. Carney:
No, it indicates
that he will use every

581
00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:38,800
opportunity available to
him to move the ball down

582
00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:41,100
the field with Congress.

583
00:29:41,100 --> 00:29:43,770
And wherever there's
an opportunity to do that

584
00:29:43,767 --> 00:29:46,337
he will seize it.

585
00:29:46,333 --> 00:29:50,063
But he will not limit himself
because he certainly doesn't

586
00:29:50,066 --> 00:29:53,296
think the American people would
want him to limit himself

587
00:29:53,300 --> 00:29:56,470
just to what he can do
legislatively with Congress,

588
00:29:56,467 --> 00:30:01,467
because as President,
there is a lot more he can do.

589
00:30:01,467 --> 00:30:04,867
And he's demonstrated that
throughout his term in office,

590
00:30:04,867 --> 00:30:07,267
and he will continue to do that
with renewed vigor this year

591
00:30:07,266 --> 00:30:10,466
because there is much to be done
and there is great opportunity

592
00:30:10,467 --> 00:30:14,837
to get it done using every
means available to him.

593
00:30:14,834 --> 00:30:17,634
The Press:
What kinds of executive actions
and order would he take?

594
00:30:17,633 --> 00:30:21,263
What could he do
that he can't accomplish

595
00:30:21,266 --> 00:30:23,296
with the help of Congress?

596
00:30:23,300 --> 00:30:25,430
Mr. Carney:
Well, I think you've
seen over the course of

597
00:30:25,433 --> 00:30:27,863
his presidency actions that
he's taken through his executive

598
00:30:27,867 --> 00:30:30,437
authority to accomplish
remarkable things,

599
00:30:30,433 --> 00:30:32,863
including the fuel efficiency
standards that, alone,

600
00:30:32,867 --> 00:30:36,237
will achieve more to reduce
carbon pollution in this country

601
00:30:36,233 --> 00:30:40,233
than almost any legislative
initiative you could imagine

602
00:30:40,233 --> 00:30:41,803
passing through Congress.

603
00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:44,330
It's not an
either/or proposition.

604
00:30:44,333 --> 00:30:47,063
It's a both/and proposition.

605
00:30:47,066 --> 00:30:51,536
So I won't get ahead of him in
talking about what other actions

606
00:30:51,533 --> 00:30:54,633
he might be able to take
using his executive authority,

607
00:30:54,633 --> 00:30:57,403
and I wouldn't see it even
narrowly through that prism

608
00:30:57,400 --> 00:31:01,070
alone in terms of executive
orders and pieces of paper

609
00:31:01,066 --> 00:31:04,266
the President can sign
to create action.

610
00:31:04,266 --> 00:31:07,336
Part of the authority the
President referred to today

611
00:31:07,333 --> 00:31:11,463
is an authority related to
the influence of the office,

612
00:31:11,467 --> 00:31:16,497
to the capacity of a President
to rally people around a cause,

613
00:31:16,500 --> 00:31:19,700
create public-private
partnerships when it comes

614
00:31:19,700 --> 00:31:29,070
to hiring veterans or investing
in education and communities so

615
00:31:29,066 --> 00:31:34,436
that you have public sector and
private sector partnerships to

616
00:31:34,433 --> 00:31:38,433
make sure that folks -- young
people in those cities and towns

617
00:31:38,433 --> 00:31:41,433
and communities are getting the
skills they need for the jobs

618
00:31:41,433 --> 00:31:43,633
available in their
communities, jobs available

619
00:31:43,633 --> 00:31:45,533
at private sector businesses.

620
00:31:45,533 --> 00:31:47,703
So those are just a couple of
examples of the kinds of things

621
00:31:47,700 --> 00:31:51,800
that we can do that
are beyond legislation

622
00:31:51,800 --> 00:31:54,230
and beyond even
executive orders.

623
00:31:54,233 --> 00:31:55,863
Ed.

624
00:31:55,867 --> 00:31:57,437
The Press:
Just a couple of topics.

625
00:31:57,433 --> 00:31:59,603
First, Iran.

626
00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:01,270
Is it still the administration's
position that Iran should not

627
00:32:01,266 --> 00:32:03,466
enjoy a right
to enrich uranium --

628
00:32:03,467 --> 00:32:04,897
Mr. Carney:
-- that has never
been what we've said.

629
00:32:04,900 --> 00:32:08,300
It's not enshrined
in the agreement.

630
00:32:08,300 --> 00:32:11,100
In fact, it's explicitly
stated otherwise.

631
00:32:11,100 --> 00:32:14,670
So I think that's
important to note.

632
00:32:14,667 --> 00:32:19,667
The Press:
So during these negotiations,
they can enrich?

633
00:32:19,667 --> 00:32:22,467
Mr. Carney:
I would point you to
the agreement and what

634
00:32:22,467 --> 00:32:26,467
commitments Iran makes in terms
of the level of enrichment

635
00:32:26,467 --> 00:32:28,567
they're allowed to meet.

636
00:32:28,567 --> 00:32:32,867
But the assertion, often
misstated in various quarters,

637
00:32:32,867 --> 00:32:37,367
that the agreement recognizes
a "right to enrich" is false.

638
00:32:37,367 --> 00:32:40,697
The Press:
On the deal in general,

639
00:32:40,700 --> 00:32:43,030
you've said several times
earlier that the importance

640
00:32:43,033 --> 00:32:45,833
of this deal is that it's
verifiable and it's transparent.

641
00:32:45,834 --> 00:32:48,434
In the interest of transparency,
why didn't the State Department

642
00:32:48,433 --> 00:32:51,233
this weekend, why didn't
you yesterday and today as you

643
00:32:51,233 --> 00:32:54,003
discussed this talk
about what's now reported

644
00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:56,430
to be a secret side agreement,

645
00:32:56,433 --> 00:32:59,433
a 30-page secret annex
dealing with this agreement

646
00:32:59,433 --> 00:33:01,503
that the Iranian
side has revealed.

647
00:33:01,500 --> 00:33:03,500
Is that true?

648
00:33:03,500 --> 00:33:06,900
Mr. Carney:
No, and it's another
indication of reporting

649
00:33:06,900 --> 00:33:08,500
that's not accurate.

650
00:33:08,500 --> 00:33:10,000
There is no secret agreement.

651
00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:12,100
The documentation associated
with the implementation

652
00:33:12,100 --> 00:33:15,900
arrangements tracks completely
with what we have described,

653
00:33:15,900 --> 00:33:18,700
which are technical plans
submitted to the IAEA.

654
00:33:18,700 --> 00:33:21,830
The technical understandings
clarify how the provisions of

655
00:33:21,834 --> 00:33:24,164
the Joint Plan of Action --

656
00:33:24,166 --> 00:33:26,266
the publicly-released
Joint Plan of Action --

657
00:33:26,266 --> 00:33:27,966
will be implemented
and verified in the timing

658
00:33:27,967 --> 00:33:30,197
of implementation
of its provisions.

659
00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:34,870
Now, I remind you, this
is not solely a U.S. process.

660
00:33:34,867 --> 00:33:37,367
This is not an agreement
negotiated solely

661
00:33:37,367 --> 00:33:39,867
between the United
States and Iran.

662
00:33:39,867 --> 00:33:42,467
These are understandings
that were reached

663
00:33:42,467 --> 00:33:44,667
with our P5-plus-1 partners,

664
00:33:44,667 --> 00:33:47,897
the European Union,
the IAEA and Iran.

665
00:33:47,900 --> 00:33:49,670
And we will
make the text available

666
00:33:49,667 --> 00:33:52,097
to the Congress and the public,

667
00:33:52,100 --> 00:33:54,270
but we must work with
the parties on when

668
00:33:54,266 --> 00:33:57,436
and in what format the
information will be released.

669
00:33:57,433 --> 00:33:59,633
And we hope to do that soon.

670
00:33:59,633 --> 00:34:01,603
The Press:
So why would the Iranian
side be out there

671
00:34:01,600 --> 00:34:03,100
suggesting there's
a side agreement?

672
00:34:03,100 --> 00:34:04,500
Is it just --

673
00:34:04,500 --> 00:34:07,130
Mr. Carney:
I think -- well, again,
what Iranian leaders say

674
00:34:07,133 --> 00:34:10,663
for their domestic audience
purposes is far less meaningful

675
00:34:10,667 --> 00:34:13,697
than what they do and what
the agreements commit them to.

676
00:34:13,700 --> 00:34:16,100
So I would point you to that,
and point you to the fact

677
00:34:16,100 --> 00:34:18,700
that we will be making
the text available both

678
00:34:18,700 --> 00:34:20,700
to Congress and the public.

679
00:34:20,700 --> 00:34:22,930
The Press:
Okay. Two other quick
things on Benghazi.

680
00:34:22,934 --> 00:34:24,504
There were newly declassified
documents released

681
00:34:24,500 --> 00:34:27,300
by Republicans on
the Hill yesterday.

682
00:34:27,300 --> 00:34:29,500
They show that in private
testimony to a House panel,

683
00:34:29,500 --> 00:34:31,670
some of the President's top
military advisors at the time --

684
00:34:31,667 --> 00:34:34,067
General Ham, General
Dempsey and others --

685
00:34:34,066 --> 00:34:36,466
believed within minutes
of the attack in Benghazi

686
00:34:36,467 --> 00:34:38,367
that it was an attack,

687
00:34:38,367 --> 00:34:39,767
probably a terror attack.

688
00:34:39,767 --> 00:34:42,067
And yet you know -- we've
talked about this before --

689
00:34:42,066 --> 00:34:43,996
for many days
after, the President,

690
00:34:44,000 --> 00:34:45,670
but you specifically
at that podium,

691
00:34:45,667 --> 00:34:47,567
said we did not know whether
it was a terror attack.

692
00:34:47,567 --> 00:34:49,267
Why -- if these military leaders
testified to Capitol Hill

693
00:34:49,266 --> 00:34:53,466
that they knew it was
an attack almost immediately,

694
00:34:53,467 --> 00:34:55,067
why did you continue to --

695
00:34:55,066 --> 00:34:56,836
Mr. Carney:
Well, I'd say one
thing -- two things.

696
00:34:56,834 --> 00:35:00,204
First of all, of course
it was an attack.

697
00:35:00,200 --> 00:35:02,400
The facility was attacked.

698
00:35:02,400 --> 00:35:04,600
The Press:
Right, but you said
it was a demonstration.

699
00:35:04,600 --> 00:35:06,900
Mr. Carney:
There was never any doubt
about -- come on, Ed.

700
00:35:06,900 --> 00:35:08,900
I mean, I know there's
a desire here to --

701
00:35:08,900 --> 00:35:10,400
The Press:
But that's what you said.

702
00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:11,970
It's in the transcript.

703
00:35:11,967 --> 00:35:13,497
Mr. Carney:
-- color outside the lines,
but this is just not factual.

704
00:35:13,500 --> 00:35:15,300
Of course it was an attack.

705
00:35:15,300 --> 00:35:17,530
It was an attack that led to
the deaths of four Americans.

706
00:35:17,533 --> 00:35:20,503
And there has been a significant
amount of investigation to find

707
00:35:20,500 --> 00:35:23,600
out what went wrong when it came
to security and to recommend

708
00:35:23,600 --> 00:35:26,330
steps that should be taken,
and which we are taking,

709
00:35:26,333 --> 00:35:30,963
to do everything we can to
ensure it doesn't happen again.

710
00:35:30,967 --> 00:35:34,937
So I think there has been
a lot of reporting on this,

711
00:35:34,934 --> 00:35:39,264
and there has been a lot of
inaccurate reporting on it --

712
00:35:39,266 --> 00:35:43,396
generally speaking, not just
this particular case of House

713
00:35:43,400 --> 00:35:45,870
Republicans selectively
releasing more testimony to

714
00:35:45,867 --> 00:35:50,637
outlets so that they can use
it for political purposes --

715
00:35:50,633 --> 00:35:52,663
The Press:
They were releasing
it to the public --

716
00:35:52,667 --> 00:35:54,467
Mr. Carney:
-- but the idea
that we were somehow

717
00:35:54,467 --> 00:35:56,267
saying it wasn't an attack?

718
00:35:56,266 --> 00:35:58,666
I mean, the sky is blue.

719
00:35:58,667 --> 00:36:01,237
Up is not down, down is not up.

720
00:36:01,233 --> 00:36:03,133
Of course it was an attack.

721
00:36:03,133 --> 00:36:05,133
The Press:
Okay. And they also explored,

722
00:36:05,133 --> 00:36:07,033
this House panel,
a September 10th,

723
00:36:07,033 --> 00:36:09,503
2012 conference call the
President had with military

724
00:36:09,500 --> 00:36:12,330
and security officials about the
9/11 anniversary of 2012.

725
00:36:12,333 --> 00:36:14,633
You remember --
you've talked about it before,

726
00:36:14,633 --> 00:36:17,103
you put out a press
release at the time --

727
00:36:17,100 --> 00:36:19,530
about the force posture
and how this administration

728
00:36:19,533 --> 00:36:21,503
was making sure that you
were prepared around the world

729
00:36:21,500 --> 00:36:23,300
for the anniversary.

730
00:36:23,300 --> 00:36:25,370
In this testimony, General
Dempsey privately told this

731
00:36:25,367 --> 00:36:28,837
House panel that, A, Libya did
not come up on that conference

732
00:36:28,834 --> 00:36:31,304
call with the President,
and B, that after the call,

733
00:36:31,300 --> 00:36:34,100
there was not a single directive
issued by any military leaders

734
00:36:34,100 --> 00:36:36,700
to change our force posture,

735
00:36:36,700 --> 00:36:38,500
Libya or anywhere
around the world.

736
00:36:38,500 --> 00:36:41,070
So my question is, in that
press release where you said

737
00:36:41,066 --> 00:36:43,496
that the President had
had this call, this meeting,

738
00:36:43,500 --> 00:36:46,130
and was preparing the posture,
was that an exaggeration

739
00:36:46,133 --> 00:36:48,303
when there were no military
directives after changing

740
00:36:48,300 --> 00:36:50,330
our posture in any way?

741
00:36:50,333 --> 00:36:52,263
Mr. Carney:
Ed, a couple of things.

742
00:36:52,266 --> 00:36:54,466
One, our military and our other
services devoted to our national

743
00:36:54,467 --> 00:36:57,367
security don't wait till
September 10th to prepare for

744
00:36:57,367 --> 00:37:04,167
contingencies on an anniversary
like September 11th of any year.

745
00:37:04,166 --> 00:37:09,096
Secondly, I don't know
specifically whether Libya

746
00:37:09,100 --> 00:37:12,330
or other areas of the
world were discussed.

747
00:37:12,333 --> 00:37:15,933
What was the case,
as I think you remember,

748
00:37:15,934 --> 00:37:19,064
is that there was a lot
of unrest in the region

749
00:37:19,066 --> 00:37:24,536
and that was certainly
an issue of concern

750
00:37:24,533 --> 00:37:27,403
in terms of the security of
our embassies and our American

751
00:37:27,400 --> 00:37:29,900
personnel around the world.

752
00:37:29,900 --> 00:37:32,900
But any -- I mean, again,
I'm not really sure what --

753
00:37:32,900 --> 00:37:35,300
you can address questions
about force posture

754
00:37:35,300 --> 00:37:37,500
to the Department of Defense.

755
00:37:37,500 --> 00:37:40,470
If the suggestion is there
was not adequate security

756
00:37:40,467 --> 00:37:43,737
to protect the lives of four
Americans in Benghazi, Libya,

757
00:37:43,734 --> 00:37:46,864
I think that's obvious,
as we have made clear,

758
00:37:46,867 --> 00:37:51,067
and that should not
have been the case.

759
00:37:51,066 --> 00:37:54,466
And that's why we have had
the investigations we've had.

760
00:37:54,467 --> 00:37:57,197
That's why the State Department
and others have acted on the

761
00:37:57,200 --> 00:38:02,270
many positive recommendations of
the Accountability Review Board,

762
00:38:02,266 --> 00:38:06,766
and why we have taken the steps
that we've taken to make sure

763
00:38:06,767 --> 00:38:10,937
that we're doing everything
we can to protect Americans,

764
00:38:10,934 --> 00:38:13,334
our civilian Americans
serving abroad,

765
00:38:13,333 --> 00:38:17,003
often in very difficult
and dangerous circumstances.

766
00:38:17,000 --> 00:38:19,370
The Press:
Jay, first, I just want to
get a sense if the President

767
00:38:19,367 --> 00:38:21,467
was updated at any point
today about the shooting

768
00:38:21,467 --> 00:38:23,737
that took place
in Roswell, New Mexico --

769
00:38:23,734 --> 00:38:25,534
a 14-year-old boy
and a 13-year-old girl

770
00:38:25,533 --> 00:38:27,063
in critical condition --

771
00:38:27,066 --> 00:38:30,536
or the shooting that took
place late yesterday, I think,

772
00:38:30,533 --> 00:38:32,663
in Florida at a movie theater

773
00:38:32,667 --> 00:38:36,497
where a man was apparently
shot for texting.

774
00:38:36,500 --> 00:38:39,000
Mr. Carney:
I will have to take
the question about

775
00:38:39,000 --> 00:38:41,870
the shooting from yesterday.

776
00:38:41,867 --> 00:38:43,937
I can tell you that the
White House is in close touch

777
00:38:43,934 --> 00:38:46,864
with our federal partners,
including the FBI,

778
00:38:46,867 --> 00:38:48,867
with regards to the
shooting in Roswell.

779
00:38:48,867 --> 00:38:50,667
The New Mexico State
Police is on scene,

780
00:38:50,667 --> 00:38:54,937
so I'd refer you to them for any
specifics about the shooting.

781
00:38:54,934 --> 00:38:59,664
Our understanding is this is
not an active shooter situation.

782
00:38:59,667 --> 00:39:01,937
The President's team is
monitoring the situation

783
00:39:01,934 --> 00:39:04,134
and is in close touch with
our federal partners.

784
00:39:04,133 --> 00:39:07,633
For more information about some
of the details you mentioned

785
00:39:07,633 --> 00:39:09,733
with regards to this shooting,

786
00:39:09,734 --> 00:39:12,564
I'd refer you to
the New Mexico State Police.

787
00:39:12,567 --> 00:39:14,537
The Press:
The President
punctuated his last

788
00:39:14,533 --> 00:39:16,733
State of the Union address
with that emotional refrain --

789
00:39:16,734 --> 00:39:18,534
he said, "They deserve a vote,"

790
00:39:18,533 --> 00:39:20,733
naming off the cities
that have now become synonymous

791
00:39:20,734 --> 00:39:23,934
with mass violence,
mass gun violence.

792
00:39:23,934 --> 00:39:25,864
The President got that vote.

793
00:39:25,867 --> 00:39:27,337
It failed.

794
00:39:27,333 --> 00:39:28,703
Now what?

795
00:39:28,700 --> 00:39:30,900
What does the White House do
now as we visit, in some ways,

796
00:39:30,900 --> 00:39:34,100
the one-year anniversary
of that emotional refrain?

797
00:39:34,100 --> 00:39:38,030
Mr. Carney:
I think this goes a little
bit to the point I was making

798
00:39:38,033 --> 00:39:43,903
earlier about using every
resource available to him

799
00:39:43,900 --> 00:39:48,900
to advance an agenda that he
believes is in the interest

800
00:39:48,900 --> 00:39:50,730
of the American people.

801
00:39:50,734 --> 00:39:53,904
And you've seen action
that he has taken,

802
00:39:53,900 --> 00:39:57,900
executive action that he's taken
that was part of the commitment

803
00:39:57,900 --> 00:40:01,300
he made after the task force
delivered its recommendations.

804
00:40:01,300 --> 00:40:05,300
And we have acted on every one
of those executive actions,

805
00:40:05,300 --> 00:40:07,030
and he will continue
to take steps.

806
00:40:07,033 --> 00:40:08,503
The Press:
So what will he do?

807
00:40:08,500 --> 00:40:10,500
Mr. Carney:
Well, I don't want to
preview everything

808
00:40:10,500 --> 00:40:12,270
that we will do or can do.

809
00:40:12,266 --> 00:40:16,166
We will continue to
urge action by Congress.

810
00:40:16,166 --> 00:40:18,966
But there is no
question that Congress,

811
00:40:18,967 --> 00:40:22,067
the Senate made a decision
against the will of the

812
00:40:22,066 --> 00:40:25,066
overwhelming majority of the
American people when it failed

813
00:40:25,066 --> 00:40:29,636
to pass legislation that
would have simply expanded

814
00:40:29,633 --> 00:40:34,063
our background check system,
legislation that would have

815
00:40:34,066 --> 00:40:36,866
in no way impinged upon
the Second Amendment rights

816
00:40:36,867 --> 00:40:38,437
of the American people.

817
00:40:38,433 --> 00:40:41,003
But that doesn't
mean we stand still.

818
00:40:41,000 --> 00:40:42,370
We move forward.

819
00:40:42,367 --> 00:40:43,867
We look where we can take steps.

820
00:40:43,867 --> 00:40:45,337
And I think there
was not long ago --

821
00:40:45,333 --> 00:40:46,833
I know there was --

822
00:40:46,834 --> 00:40:48,904
action taken with
regards to mental health,

823
00:40:48,900 --> 00:40:50,670
which is an important
aspect of this problem --

824
00:40:50,667 --> 00:40:52,097
executive action.

825
00:40:52,100 --> 00:40:54,430
And we'll continue to look
for ways to advance an agenda

826
00:40:54,433 --> 00:40:57,433
that will help the safety
of the United States,

827
00:40:57,433 --> 00:41:01,303
help our children
in particular in their safety

828
00:41:01,300 --> 00:41:03,900
without in any way infringing
upon the Second Amendment rights

829
00:41:03,900 --> 00:41:05,730
of the American people.

830
00:41:05,734 --> 00:41:06,964
The Press:
I guess, very simply,

831
00:41:06,967 --> 00:41:08,537
acknowledging -- following
up on some of the questions

832
00:41:08,533 --> 00:41:10,063
from the row before me,

833
00:41:10,066 --> 00:41:12,136
the gist is you've already
completed all those

834
00:41:12,133 --> 00:41:14,703
executive actions that you
committed to successfully,

835
00:41:14,700 --> 00:41:17,930
so the question is, is this
an example where after those

836
00:41:17,934 --> 00:41:20,864
executive actions are completed,
if Congress doesn't act,

837
00:41:20,867 --> 00:41:22,797
at some point
your hands are tied

838
00:41:22,800 --> 00:41:24,470
and there's no
further you can go?

839
00:41:24,467 --> 00:41:26,067
Mr. Carney:
Well, no. I think that
we're always looking

840
00:41:26,066 --> 00:41:27,896
for ways and will
continue to look for ways

841
00:41:27,900 --> 00:41:32,870
that we can move forward
on this issue and many others.

842
00:41:32,867 --> 00:41:35,867
The fact that we've already
taken actions certainly doesn't

843
00:41:35,867 --> 00:41:37,937
mean that there aren't
more actions we can take,

844
00:41:37,934 --> 00:41:42,834
or that we can't use the pen
or the phone to try to rally

845
00:41:42,834 --> 00:41:46,234
support behind actions in
communities or states

846
00:41:46,233 --> 00:41:49,003
when it comes to this issue,
but again, so many other issues.

847
00:41:49,000 --> 00:41:51,830
So, no, I don't think that
the fact that we've actually

848
00:41:51,834 --> 00:41:54,464
taken action suggests
we can't take more.

849
00:41:54,467 --> 00:41:56,237
The Press:
Tomorrow there's another
deadline -- not as

850
00:41:56,233 --> 00:41:58,233
significant as passed deadlines
we've covered when it comes to

851
00:41:58,233 --> 00:42:00,433
the Affordable Care Act --
it's the last day to sign up for

852
00:42:00,433 --> 00:42:02,503
coverage beginning February 1st.

853
00:42:02,500 --> 00:42:04,100
Yesterday we got our
first real look at the numbers

854
00:42:04,100 --> 00:42:06,970
through the end of 2013
in terms of enrollments.

855
00:42:06,967 --> 00:42:10,567
The mix remains to be seen, what
it will look like by the end

856
00:42:10,567 --> 00:42:13,497
of March, as you'll surely
communicate to me in a moment.

857
00:42:13,500 --> 00:42:15,700
But I want to get a sense from
you about what the real concerns

858
00:42:15,700 --> 00:42:18,330
are right now -- given the
President's recent visit with

859
00:42:18,333 --> 00:42:20,703
young people for lunch not
far from here -- what the real

860
00:42:20,700 --> 00:42:23,500
concerns are about getting
to the numbers that you need

861
00:42:23,500 --> 00:42:27,300
to achieve in time
for that deadline.

862
00:42:27,300 --> 00:42:31,270
Mr. Carney:
I think, as you saw
yesterday in the data that

863
00:42:31,266 --> 00:42:36,066
was released by CMS, an enormous
amount of progress made,

864
00:42:36,066 --> 00:42:40,466
especially in December, in terms
of a sharp surge in enrollments

865
00:42:40,467 --> 00:42:43,267
overall, and an even sharper
surge in the enrollment

866
00:42:43,266 --> 00:42:46,066
of young Americans under 35.

867
00:42:46,066 --> 00:42:50,536
And we are working very
aggressively with all

868
00:42:50,533 --> 00:42:52,863
stakeholders to ensure that
that progress continues.

869
00:42:52,867 --> 00:42:57,797
We got off to a very shaky
start, and that was on us.

870
00:42:57,800 --> 00:43:02,100
And it's on us to
make up for the deficit

871
00:43:02,100 --> 00:43:04,330
that we created for ourselves.

872
00:43:04,333 --> 00:43:09,163
But nobody contests anymore
whether or not there is a huge

873
00:43:09,166 --> 00:43:11,736
appetite for this product.

874
00:43:11,734 --> 00:43:15,904
Nobody contests anymore whether
or not Americans are enrolling

875
00:43:15,900 --> 00:43:19,500
and signing up for health
care through the exchanges

876
00:43:19,500 --> 00:43:22,300
at a very healthy clip.

877
00:43:22,300 --> 00:43:29,000
And what I think we saw in the
data yesterday is something

878
00:43:29,000 --> 00:43:32,330
that reflects very much the
experience that Massachusetts

879
00:43:32,333 --> 00:43:35,463
had, specifically
with regards to young adults

880
00:43:35,467 --> 00:43:37,867
and young people overall.

881
00:43:37,867 --> 00:43:41,267
In Massachusetts, over the first
three months of enrollment,

882
00:43:41,266 --> 00:43:44,596
when they had the closest
thing to the antecedent to the

883
00:43:44,600 --> 00:43:49,670
Affordable Care Act, you saw
percentages that were 15,

884
00:43:49,667 --> 00:43:53,837
23 and 23 percent in
the first three months.

885
00:43:53,834 --> 00:43:58,564
Yesterday, CMS announced that
we were in the 24 percent range,

886
00:43:58,567 --> 00:44:02,267
and 30 percent if you take
all young Americans under 35.

887
00:44:02,266 --> 00:44:04,736
And when you talk about
actuarial tables that counts --

888
00:44:04,734 --> 00:44:07,504
going from zero to 34.

889
00:44:07,500 --> 00:44:13,630
It's also, I think for anybody
who has been young --

890
00:44:13,633 --> 00:44:16,133
and I assume that
includes everybody --

891
00:44:16,133 --> 00:44:20,703
a statement of the obvious that
young people are going to be,

892
00:44:20,700 --> 00:44:26,700
by and large, late to the party
when it comes to signing up.

893
00:44:26,700 --> 00:44:29,730
When you're talking about young
people who are not insured,

894
00:44:29,734 --> 00:44:32,104
as opposed to the population
of people who have purchased

895
00:44:32,100 --> 00:44:34,270
insurance on the individual
market in the past who

896
00:44:34,266 --> 00:44:39,496
are middle-aged, who may have
health conditions and they need

897
00:44:39,500 --> 00:44:42,100
insurance, they've had insurance
or they need insurance

898
00:44:42,100 --> 00:44:44,070
and haven't had insurance,
they are much more likely

899
00:44:44,066 --> 00:44:45,866
to sign up early.

900
00:44:45,867 --> 00:44:47,897
And that's reflected
in the data.

901
00:44:47,900 --> 00:44:50,570
What we saw in Massachusetts,
what we've seen in every other

902
00:44:50,567 --> 00:44:54,737
comparable past experience, is
that young people will sign up

903
00:44:54,734 --> 00:44:57,064
late and in large numbers.

904
00:44:57,066 --> 00:44:58,566
And that's what we expect.

905
00:44:58,567 --> 00:45:00,467
It's what we saw for
the January 1st deadline,

906
00:45:00,467 --> 00:45:01,797
which for a lot
of young people

907
00:45:01,800 --> 00:45:03,170
wasn't even the
motivating deadline.

908
00:45:03,166 --> 00:45:04,736
The motivating deadline
will be March 31st.

909
00:45:04,734 --> 00:45:08,234
So we're confident that come
March 31st, we will have,

910
00:45:08,233 --> 00:45:13,903
as you stated, a different
demographic picture.

911
00:45:13,900 --> 00:45:16,900
But the demographic picture
we have today is certainly

912
00:45:16,900 --> 00:45:20,200
solid evidence that we're
making a lot of progress.

913
00:45:20,200 --> 00:45:21,900
The Press:
Thank you, Stuart Smalley.

914
00:45:21,900 --> 00:45:23,930
[laughter]

915
00:45:23,934 --> 00:45:26,234
Mr. Carney: Roger.

916
00:45:26,233 --> 00:45:28,163
The Press: Thanks.

917
00:45:28,166 --> 00:45:30,136
I want to talk to you
about the omnibus bill,

918
00:45:30,133 --> 00:45:31,903
the agreement reached yesterday.

919
00:45:31,900 --> 00:45:33,630
It's got some new requirements

920
00:45:33,633 --> 00:45:35,503
for the National
Security Agency.

921
00:45:35,500 --> 00:45:37,700
They would be required to turn
over data about the collection

922
00:45:37,700 --> 00:45:43,100
of bulk phone records, including
how many Americans have had

923
00:45:43,100 --> 00:45:45,500
calls intercepted by the agency.

924
00:45:45,500 --> 00:45:47,230
How would you respond?

925
00:45:47,233 --> 00:45:48,903
Mr. Carney:
I'm not aware of that
item in the omnibus,

926
00:45:48,900 --> 00:45:50,100
so I'll have to
take the question.

927
00:45:50,100 --> 00:45:54,230
George, and then Mark.

928
00:45:54,233 --> 00:45:56,903
The Press:
Congressman Bill Owens
has said he's not going to run

929
00:45:56,900 --> 00:45:59,100
for reelection,
in just the latest of --

930
00:45:59,100 --> 00:46:01,170
Mr. Carney: Is
this an election year question?

931
00:46:01,166 --> 00:46:03,536
Come on, there's
10 months, 11 months.

932
00:46:03,533 --> 00:46:05,333
The Press:
Yes, but he just announced

933
00:46:05,333 --> 00:46:07,133
that he's not
running for reelection.

934
00:46:07,133 --> 00:46:08,963
He's the latest of many
moderates running for the exits.

935
00:46:08,967 --> 00:46:11,997
So what does it say about
the state of Washington

936
00:46:12,000 --> 00:46:14,330
that so many moderates
feel unwelcome?

937
00:46:14,333 --> 00:46:20,563
Mr. Carney:
Well, I don't write
political analysis anymore,

938
00:46:20,567 --> 00:46:24,967
so I won't deliver the
piece I might have written

939
00:46:24,967 --> 00:46:27,337
verbally from the podium.

940
00:46:27,333 --> 00:46:35,303
I'll simply say that the
American people who send elected

941
00:46:35,300 --> 00:46:38,900
representatives to
Washington expect them

942
00:46:38,900 --> 00:46:42,370
not to follow the party line,

943
00:46:42,367 --> 00:46:45,197
not to respond
to interest groups,

944
00:46:45,200 --> 00:46:49,300
but to deliver for them
in each of these districts.

945
00:46:49,300 --> 00:46:53,300
And no matter how red or
how blue a district is,

946
00:46:53,300 --> 00:46:59,900
by and large, the values and the
desires and goals of the people

947
00:46:59,900 --> 00:47:04,500
in those districts are
similar across the country.

948
00:47:04,500 --> 00:47:08,670
And what they expect out of
Washington when it comes to

949
00:47:08,667 --> 00:47:12,767
common-sense progress
on behalf of the middle class

950
00:47:12,767 --> 00:47:15,337
is pretty similar,
which suggests to me

951
00:47:15,333 --> 00:47:19,963
that there is room
to move forward here,

952
00:47:19,967 --> 00:47:21,967
there is room for compromise.

953
00:47:21,967 --> 00:47:25,337
And we saw it in the budget
agreement reached

954
00:47:25,333 --> 00:47:29,733
by a Republican
chairman in the House

955
00:47:29,734 --> 00:47:32,934
and a Democratic
chairman in the Senate.

956
00:47:32,934 --> 00:47:36,264
We saw it in the omnibus
legislation that was filed.

957
00:47:36,266 --> 00:47:39,896
It was nobody's idea
of a perfect document --

958
00:47:39,900 --> 00:47:42,300
not the President's,
not Democratic leaders,

959
00:47:42,300 --> 00:47:45,570
not Republican leaders --
but it represents compromise

960
00:47:45,567 --> 00:47:49,737
that we think each side can
live with so that we can make

961
00:47:49,734 --> 00:47:52,204
the right investments
in our economy and in our people

962
00:47:52,200 --> 00:47:56,900
and we can do what's necessary
to protect the United States,

963
00:47:56,900 --> 00:48:00,770
our armed forces,
our civilians and our allies.

964
00:48:00,767 --> 00:48:04,367
So I think -- I know that
doesn't answer your question

965
00:48:04,367 --> 00:48:06,437
with regards to
specific retirements.

966
00:48:06,433 --> 00:48:08,363
I think there are
retirements every cycle.

967
00:48:08,367 --> 00:48:11,097
But that's what I think --

968
00:48:11,100 --> 00:48:16,170
I believe that about
most people who send --

969
00:48:16,166 --> 00:48:18,896
go to the ballot box and
send folks to Washington,

970
00:48:18,900 --> 00:48:21,170
and it's certainly I think
what motivates us here.

971
00:48:21,166 --> 00:48:22,966
Marc.

972
00:48:22,967 --> 00:48:25,367
The Press:
Jay, there's been some
reports in the last few days

973
00:48:25,367 --> 00:48:27,997
that the Russians are
negotiating an oil-for-goods

974
00:48:28,000 --> 00:48:29,730
swap with the Iranians.

975
00:48:29,734 --> 00:48:32,734
Your colleague said yesterday
that Secretary Kerry

976
00:48:32,734 --> 00:48:35,334
had raised this issue with
the Russian Foreign Minister.

977
00:48:35,333 --> 00:48:38,703
I'm wondering whether you've
gotten an explanation

978
00:48:38,700 --> 00:48:41,670
from the Iranians and the
Russians about what this is,

979
00:48:41,667 --> 00:48:44,397
and whether you're
satisfied with it,

980
00:48:44,400 --> 00:48:47,530
or whether you're
worried that it, in fact,

981
00:48:47,533 --> 00:48:49,733
raises questions
about whether it's at odds

982
00:48:49,734 --> 00:48:52,504
with the terms of
the interim nuclear deal.

983
00:48:52,500 --> 00:48:55,070
Mr. Carney:
We remain very concerned
about these reports,

984
00:48:55,066 --> 00:48:57,896
as Secretary Kerry
expressed directly

985
00:48:57,900 --> 00:49:00,770
to his Russian counterpart.

986
00:49:00,767 --> 00:49:03,967
And if the reports are true,
such a deal would raise serious

987
00:49:03,967 --> 00:49:08,067
concerns as it would be
inconsistent with the terms

988
00:49:08,066 --> 00:49:10,766
of the P5-plus-1
agreement with Iran

989
00:49:10,767 --> 00:49:13,767
and could potentially
trigger U.S. sanctions.

990
00:49:13,767 --> 00:49:17,367
Again, this is about
action, not about words;

991
00:49:17,367 --> 00:49:19,267
not about how things
are characterized,

992
00:49:19,266 --> 00:49:22,366
but how things are done.

993
00:49:22,367 --> 00:49:26,367
And that last statement
I think reflects our views.

994
00:49:26,367 --> 00:49:29,937
It could potentially, if true
as reported, trigger U.S.

995
00:49:29,934 --> 00:49:33,164
sanctions because it would not
be consistent with the agreement

996
00:49:33,166 --> 00:49:35,736
negotiated between
the P5-plus-1 and Iran.

997
00:49:35,734 --> 00:49:37,564
So we're concerned.

998
00:49:37,567 --> 00:49:39,567
We're continuing
to look into this

999
00:49:39,567 --> 00:49:42,537
and we're expressing
those concerns.

1000
00:49:42,533 --> 00:49:44,333
The Press:
And the format we're
expressing those concerns?

1001
00:49:44,333 --> 00:49:45,963
Mr. Carney:
I don't have a specific

1002
00:49:45,967 --> 00:49:47,567
additional readout
on that meeting

1003
00:49:47,567 --> 00:49:50,437
except to confirm that our
serious concerns were raised.

1004
00:49:50,433 --> 00:49:51,933
The Press:
Just one thing.

1005
00:49:51,934 --> 00:49:54,334
You've talked a lot about
the unity of the partners

1006
00:49:54,333 --> 00:49:56,203
in dealing with Iran.

1007
00:49:56,200 --> 00:49:59,400
Wouldn't one of the
key partners negotiating a deal

1008
00:49:59,400 --> 00:50:03,330
with the Iranians that
would be serious enough

1009
00:50:03,333 --> 00:50:05,933
to warrant sanctioning represent

1010
00:50:05,934 --> 00:50:08,164
a splintering of the
coalition you described?

1011
00:50:08,166 --> 00:50:10,296
Mr. Carney:
Again, I think that
if the reports are true

1012
00:50:10,300 --> 00:50:14,500
that it would be a serious
concern because of the fact that

1013
00:50:14,500 --> 00:50:17,300
it would be inconsistent with
the very agreement negotiated

1014
00:50:17,300 --> 00:50:20,100
by the P5-plus-1 with Iran,

1015
00:50:20,100 --> 00:50:22,300
so one of the
P5-plus-1 plus Iran,

1016
00:50:22,300 --> 00:50:26,700
if this is true,
would be working on a deal

1017
00:50:26,700 --> 00:50:32,030
that would be inconsistent
with that agreement.

1018
00:50:32,033 --> 00:50:33,533
Jared.

1019
00:50:33,533 --> 00:50:35,533
The Press:
I want to follow
up on Peter's question

1020
00:50:35,533 --> 00:50:37,303
about gun violence and some
anniversaries last week.

1021
00:50:37,300 --> 00:50:39,300
It was three years since
the shooting that killed six

1022
00:50:39,300 --> 00:50:41,970
and injured
Congresswoman Giffords.

1023
00:50:41,967 --> 00:50:44,897
When was the last time
the President spoke

1024
00:50:44,900 --> 00:50:47,300
with the former congresswoman?

1025
00:50:47,300 --> 00:50:48,670
Mr. Carney:
We can get that for you.

1026
00:50:48,667 --> 00:50:50,697
The President has spoken with
her on a number of occasions,

1027
00:50:50,700 --> 00:50:52,130
and I believe on
that anniversary,

1028
00:50:52,133 --> 00:50:54,103
the Vice President
spoke with her.

1029
00:50:54,100 --> 00:50:55,870
The Press:
And you mentioned
at the top, Jay,

1030
00:50:55,867 --> 00:50:58,937
that the Cabinet meeting
went a little long.

1031
00:50:58,934 --> 00:51:00,934
Did the President have any
guidance or suggestions

1032
00:51:00,934 --> 00:51:03,334
for people who might be in the
future wanting to write a memoir

1033
00:51:03,333 --> 00:51:05,133
or any other
comments about --

1034
00:51:05,133 --> 00:51:08,533
Mr. Carney:
Well, I won't read out
with any more specificity

1035
00:51:08,533 --> 00:51:10,133
the Cabinet meeting,

1036
00:51:10,133 --> 00:51:11,933
except to say that that
issue did not come up.

1037
00:51:11,934 --> 00:51:14,134
Laura.

1038
00:51:14,133 --> 00:51:17,363
The Press:
A French question --
what do you expect from --

1039
00:51:17,367 --> 00:51:19,337
Mr. Carney:
Oh, I thought I was going
to have to answer in French,

1040
00:51:19,333 --> 00:51:21,103
which would have been
pretty entertaining.

1041
00:51:21,100 --> 00:51:22,530
[laughter]

1042
00:51:22,533 --> 00:51:25,203
The Press:
What do you expect from
the state visit in February?

1043
00:51:25,200 --> 00:51:27,530
Because President Hollande just
finished his press conference.

1044
00:51:27,533 --> 00:51:31,763
He was talking a lot about
his arrival on February 11.

1045
00:51:31,767 --> 00:51:36,697
And do you expect the French
First Lady to come with him?

1046
00:51:36,700 --> 00:51:39,100
Mr. Carney:
The President looks forward
to seeing President Hollande

1047
00:51:39,100 --> 00:51:40,500
for the State
visit in February.

1048
00:51:40,500 --> 00:51:44,400
In terms of that
question that you asked,

1049
00:51:44,400 --> 00:51:46,100
I'd refer you to the
French government.

1050
00:51:46,100 --> 00:51:48,700
We look forward to hosting
the President of France

1051
00:51:48,700 --> 00:51:50,730
here in February.

1052
00:51:50,734 --> 00:51:52,704
This is our longest, most
enduring alliance

1053
00:51:52,700 --> 00:52:02,230
and an important and valued
relationship at every level.

1054
00:52:02,233 --> 00:52:05,933
So the President is very much
looking forward to the event

1055
00:52:05,934 --> 00:52:09,964
and to his discussions
with President Hollande.

1056
00:52:09,967 --> 00:52:12,137
The Press:
Has there been a state visit
where there was just one person?

1057
00:52:12,133 --> 00:52:15,933
Mr. Carney:
I think Mark Knoller
is the right person

1058
00:52:15,934 --> 00:52:17,564
to ask historical questions.

1059
00:52:17,567 --> 00:52:19,367
I have no idea.

1060
00:52:19,367 --> 00:52:20,697
Yes, Alexis.

1061
00:52:20,700 --> 00:52:22,230
The Press:
Two questions.

1062
00:52:22,233 --> 00:52:24,103
Following up on Marc's
question, can you just explain,

1063
00:52:24,100 --> 00:52:25,930
was this question about
the oil for goods,

1064
00:52:25,934 --> 00:52:28,534
this was not ironed out
before the interim agreement

1065
00:52:28,533 --> 00:52:31,303
was announced and described?

1066
00:52:31,300 --> 00:52:35,130
In other words, it didn't come
up as a potential wrinkle?

1067
00:52:35,133 --> 00:52:37,663
Mr. Carney:
The implementation
agreement is a very --

1068
00:52:37,667 --> 00:52:42,897
were specific negotiations
about the technical aspects

1069
00:52:42,900 --> 00:52:45,700
and instructions provided
to the IAEA

1070
00:52:45,700 --> 00:52:48,370
for the implementation of
a Joint Plan for Action.

1071
00:52:48,367 --> 00:52:52,097
So I'm not -- I don't know
the specific contents of every

1072
00:52:52,100 --> 00:52:58,230
conversation that took place
around those negotiations.

1073
00:52:58,233 --> 00:53:03,333
But the United States Secretary
of State raised this issue

1074
00:53:03,333 --> 00:53:07,233
directly with the Foreign
Minister of Russia and expressed

1075
00:53:07,233 --> 00:53:10,403
our concern, and I think you
just heard me say what our view

1076
00:53:10,400 --> 00:53:13,730
is on this matter
if the reports are true.

1077
00:53:13,734 --> 00:53:15,534
The Press:
Second question.

1078
00:53:15,533 --> 00:53:18,333
The President, all Presidents
have the pen and the podium

1079
00:53:18,333 --> 00:53:21,133
and the telephone,
and the President has used that,

1080
00:53:21,133 --> 00:53:23,333
as we've already
discussed, and he had

1081
00:53:23,333 --> 00:53:25,333
a whole initiative
called We Can't Wait.

1082
00:53:25,333 --> 00:53:27,233
Looking ahead at his
agenda this year,

1083
00:53:27,233 --> 00:53:30,763
is there something different
about the agenda items the

1084
00:53:30,767 --> 00:53:33,737
President wants to
tackle this year that makes

1085
00:53:33,734 --> 00:53:39,964
this executive initiative new
or distinct or different

1086
00:53:39,967 --> 00:53:44,537
than what we've seen
him do in the past?

1087
00:53:44,533 --> 00:53:46,333
Mr. Carney:
At one level, Alexis,

1088
00:53:46,333 --> 00:53:49,063
I'd have to say wait to see
what initiatives the President

1089
00:53:49,066 --> 00:53:51,296
discusses in his State
of the Union address

1090
00:53:51,300 --> 00:53:53,500
and moving forward.

1091
00:53:53,500 --> 00:53:54,900
To your point,
there's no question

1092
00:53:54,900 --> 00:53:56,500
that throughout his presidency,

1093
00:53:56,500 --> 00:54:00,570
President Obama has
worked with Congress

1094
00:54:00,567 --> 00:54:02,367
to pass legislation --

1095
00:54:02,367 --> 00:54:05,567
major legislation
and smaller legislation --

1096
00:54:05,567 --> 00:54:07,367
all of it meaningful.

1097
00:54:07,367 --> 00:54:12,867
He has also used his executive
authority to advance important

1098
00:54:12,867 --> 00:54:18,967
aspects of his agenda, including
on matters of reducing

1099
00:54:18,967 --> 00:54:22,737
carbon pollution, for example,
and a host of others.

1100
00:54:22,734 --> 00:54:27,534
So what I think we're talking
about here is a renewed effort,

1101
00:54:27,533 --> 00:54:29,933
a renewed focus on using all
of the tools available

1102
00:54:29,934 --> 00:54:34,134
to the President, acknowledging
that we're not likely

1103
00:54:34,133 --> 00:54:37,303
to get everything we would want
legislatively done through

1104
00:54:37,300 --> 00:54:42,600
Congress, but not acknowledging
that there aren't significant

1105
00:54:42,600 --> 00:54:45,930
things that we
can do legislatively

1106
00:54:45,934 --> 00:54:47,704
through a Congress.

1107
00:54:47,700 --> 00:54:52,200
We believe we can, but we're
not putting all our eggs in any

1108
00:54:52,200 --> 00:54:55,300
single basket when it comes to
advancing an agenda that grows

1109
00:54:55,300 --> 00:54:58,330
the economy, creates more
security for the middle class,

1110
00:54:58,333 --> 00:55:00,963
opens up opportunity
for all Americans,

1111
00:55:00,967 --> 00:55:03,797
improving economic mobility.

1112
00:55:03,800 --> 00:55:07,370
We're going to do everything
we can across the board.

1113
00:55:07,367 --> 00:55:13,597
And whether it's year
five or year six,

1114
00:55:13,600 --> 00:55:17,370
or whether you're looking at the
entire eight years of a two-term

1115
00:55:17,367 --> 00:55:25,167
presidency, there's a lot of
time to advance an important

1116
00:55:25,166 --> 00:55:29,536
agenda for the American people,
and there are always new ideas

1117
00:55:29,533 --> 00:55:34,533
that creative thinkers produce
for moving forward on an agenda,

1118
00:55:34,533 --> 00:55:37,933
and there is always the
potential for new energy behind

1119
00:55:37,934 --> 00:55:41,334
older ideas so that
they can move forward.

1120
00:55:41,333 --> 00:55:46,333
And that's the kind of energy
and enthusiasm that I think is

1121
00:55:46,333 --> 00:55:52,003
imbuing this place right now, as
we look forward towards 2014 and

1122
00:55:52,000 --> 00:55:54,130
look forward across not
just the next three years

1123
00:55:54,133 --> 00:55:56,003
but into the future beyond that.

1124
00:55:56,000 --> 00:55:58,530
Because the kinds of steps
the President has always been

1125
00:55:58,533 --> 00:56:01,963
focused on have been, when
it comes to the economy,

1126
00:56:01,967 --> 00:56:05,567
ones that would produce
dividends for the middle class

1127
00:56:05,567 --> 00:56:08,167
and dividends for the American
economy well into the future

1128
00:56:08,166 --> 00:56:10,366
beyond his time in office.

1129
00:56:10,367 --> 00:56:11,967
The Press:
On immigration, last year,

1130
00:56:11,967 --> 00:56:16,037
the White House was pretty
clear that the President did not

1131
00:56:16,033 --> 00:56:18,663
believe he had additional room
to use his executive authority,

1132
00:56:18,667 --> 00:56:22,967
as some advocates on immigration
reform had urged him to do.

1133
00:56:22,967 --> 00:56:25,567
Going into this year, does
that continue to be the case,

1134
00:56:25,567 --> 00:56:27,367
the President's view?

1135
00:56:27,367 --> 00:56:29,197
Mr. Carney:
Our position hasn't changed.

1136
00:56:29,200 --> 00:56:31,770
The way to address all of these
issues is through comprehensive

1137
00:56:31,767 --> 00:56:33,937
immigration reform.

1138
00:56:33,934 --> 00:56:36,534
The Senate did extraordinary
work in passing a bipartisan

1139
00:56:36,533 --> 00:56:41,533
comprehensive immigration
reform bill that enhanced border

1140
00:56:41,533 --> 00:56:45,103
security beyond even what we've
done in the first five years;

1141
00:56:45,100 --> 00:56:48,730
that levels the playing field
when it comes to our businesses,

1142
00:56:48,734 --> 00:56:50,934
making sure everybody is
playing by the same rules;

1143
00:56:50,934 --> 00:56:54,534
that enhances our legal
immigration system so that

1144
00:56:54,533 --> 00:57:01,003
engineers and software designers
and super-smart people from

1145
00:57:01,000 --> 00:57:03,800
around the world who study in
our universities stay here to

1146
00:57:03,800 --> 00:57:08,400
create jobs and businesses; and
that creates a system where the

1147
00:57:08,400 --> 00:57:12,200
11 million undocumented
people in this country can go

1148
00:57:12,200 --> 00:57:15,030
to the back of the line and
engage in a process that,

1149
00:57:15,033 --> 00:57:21,563
if all the steps are taken,
results in citizenship.

1150
00:57:21,567 --> 00:57:24,967
And that was a bipartisan
effort supported by a remarkable

1151
00:57:24,967 --> 00:57:29,367
coalition of conservatives and
liberals and business and labor

1152
00:57:29,367 --> 00:57:33,367
and law enforcement and
church groups, faith groups.

1153
00:57:33,367 --> 00:57:38,967
So we're optimistic that further
progress can be made in 2014

1154
00:57:38,967 --> 00:57:43,637
on this major piece
of action that

1155
00:57:43,633 --> 00:57:47,763
has so many economic
benefits associated with it.

1156
00:57:47,767 --> 00:57:51,037
So our views have not changed.

1157
00:57:51,033 --> 00:57:53,133
And we look forward
to working with Congress,

1158
00:57:53,133 --> 00:57:55,333
working with the House to
advance that very important item

1159
00:57:55,333 --> 00:57:57,403
on the agenda.

1160
00:57:57,400 --> 00:57:59,430
The Press:
Can I ask just ask a quick one?

1161
00:57:59,433 --> 00:58:01,203
Mr. Carney: Sure.

1162
00:58:01,200 --> 00:58:04,000
The Press:
About the Iran-Russia
potential oil deal.

1163
00:58:04,000 --> 00:58:06,500
You said that there's
basically a threat of sanctions

1164
00:58:06,500 --> 00:58:08,630
if it turns out
this report is true.

1165
00:58:08,633 --> 00:58:12,603
Is that sanctions against
Russia, or Iran, or both?

1166
00:58:12,600 --> 00:58:17,900
Mr. Carney:
I think we're talking about
U.S. sanctions in the context

1167
00:58:17,900 --> 00:58:22,700
of the sanctions
regime with Iran.

1168
00:58:22,700 --> 00:58:25,730
And again, that's
if reports are true.

1169
00:58:25,734 --> 00:58:27,704
So there's conditions here.

1170
00:58:27,700 --> 00:58:29,970
Such a deal would
raise serious concerns,

1171
00:58:29,967 --> 00:58:32,237
as it would be
inconsistent with the terms

1172
00:58:32,233 --> 00:58:34,563
of the P5-plus-1
agreement with Iran.

1173
00:58:34,567 --> 00:58:37,597
So this is --
but I think that is meant

1174
00:58:37,600 --> 00:58:41,370
to convey the seriousness of
the matter and how we view it.

1175
00:58:41,367 --> 00:58:43,267
Thank you very much.