English subtitles for clip: File:1-30-15- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Earnest: Good
afternoon, everybody.

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TGIF.

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It's nice to
see all of you.

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I don't actually have
any announcements at the

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beginning, so we can go ahead
and go straight to questions.

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The Press: Okay, I'd
like to start by asking

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a couple questions about the
Islamic State hostage situation.

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First of all, do you have
any update on the fate

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of the Japanese journalist
or the Jordanian pilot?

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Mr. Earnest: I don't
have any updates, Nedra,

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but I would encourage you
to check with either the

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Jordanian government or
the Japanese government

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who could give you an
update on their efforts

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to secure the release
of their citizens.

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The Press: Because some
people in Jordan have been

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expressing the opinion
that this pilot is paying

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the price for a war that they
shouldn't be involved in.

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Is the President at all
concerned that this could

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reduce public opinion
within the Arab world or

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the U.S.-Arab
coalition?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Nedra,
I think the reason that

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we have had tremendous
success in building

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a coalition of more than 60
nations to take the fight

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to ISIL and execute the
President's strategy

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of degrading and ultimately
destroying ISIL, is that

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nations around the world
reflect the risk that

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ISIL poses to nations
in the region.

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And particularly, a nation
like Jordan understands

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the risk that they
face from extremists.

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And there are ambitions
that have been articulated

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by ISIL to expand
their footprint.

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And that is why it was so
important for countries

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from around the world to
come together to face down

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this threat.

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And as the President was
building this coalition,

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there was some doubt
expressed about how much

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success he would have in
enlisting the support

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of other Arab nations
in this fight.

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And we are pleased that
nations like Jordan,

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like Saudi Arabia, like the
UAE aren't just ready to stand

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with the United States
in this endeavor

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to counteract, degrade, and
ultimately destroy ISIL,

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they're actually
joining the fight.

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And we do see members
of the military --

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from Jordan, the UAE, and
Saudi Arabia and others --

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who are flying alongside
American pilots,

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carrying out strikes
against ISIL.

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And that, I do think,
sends a clear signal

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to our enemies and to
the world that the world

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is united to face
down this threat.

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The Press: On another
topic -- did the President

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have any reaction to
his former opponent

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Mitt Romney's decision not to
seek the presidency again?

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Mr. Earnest: I did not
have an opportunity

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to speak to the President
since Governor Romney

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made his
announcement.

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But certainly Governor
Romney is a man of great

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faith and a man who has
tremendous loyalty and

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commitment to his country,
and that is something that

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is worthy of
our respect.

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I confident that the
announcement that he made

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today was a
difficult one;

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I think he
acknowledged as much.

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But it's also an intensely
personal decision that

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candidates and their
families make.

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The other thing that
I'll say is he did say

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in recent days that he hoped
that we could have more

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robust debate in this
country about what

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we could do to put in place
policies that benefit

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middle-class families;
that he was articulating

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a concern that he had that
we've seen those at the

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top benefit quite a
bit from our economic

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recovery, but not as much
benefit being directed

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to middle-class
families.

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And that obviously is
a sentiment that the

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President himself
has shared.

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So I'm confident that
Governor Romney will

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be someone whose endorsement
will be sought by other

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Republican
candidates.

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And I'm hopeful that
Governor Romney will use

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that influence to try to
elevate the debate and

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have more attention and
focus on policies that

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actually benefit
middle-class families.

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And surely we're going to
have disagreements about

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the best way
to do that.

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But if that can be at
least be our starting

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point, I think we would feel
like we've made some progress.

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The Press: In his
remarks last night,

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the President seemed to
relish a debate over poverty

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in the United
States with Romney.

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Is that the case?

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Or do you think maybe
he'd be disappointed not

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to be able to have
that debate now?

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Mr. Earnest: No, I don't
think the President

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is disappointed.

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Thank you,
Nedra.

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Jeff.

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The Press: Following
up on that, he seemed,

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the President, last night
to be tweaking the Governor

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a little bit without
naming him by name.

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Was that his
intention?

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Mr. Earnest: No.

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Again, I think that his
intent was to note that

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we are seeing more
rhetoric from Republicans

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indicating what was a
previously unstated

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concern for people who
aren't at the top.

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And the President
certainly welcomes

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their interest in
these issues.

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And as I mentioned, I
think Governor Romney

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is genuine when he's
articulating that concern.

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The problem is -- and this
is something that we've

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seen too often from
the Republican side --

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that they've essentially
used the middle class

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as a talking point and
not actually put forward

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policies that benefit
the middle class.

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So again, to the extent
that Governor Romney can

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use his influence to try
to change the fundamentals

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of this debate in a way
that will actually focus

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on what we can do to
benefit the middle class,

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and those who aren't in
the top 1 percent --

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which is where so many of
the Republican policies seem

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to be aimed -- then that
would be a really good thing.

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And it certainly would be
a way for Governor Romney

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-- although he has
indicated that he's not

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going to be a candidate
-- a way that he could

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substantially contribute
to this debate.

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The Press: And on a
couple of other topics.

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Russia's Central Bank cut
its interest rate today

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in reaction to the
possibility of a recession

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in the country.

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You've talked a lot about the
effectiveness of sanctions.

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Do you have any
reaction to that?

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And can you give us any
update on potentially more

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sanctions coming
down the road?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Jeff, I
won't comment extensively

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on the actions that were taken
by another central bank.

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But I can say as a general
matter that I also noticed

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that, within the last week
or so, the Central Bank

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had actually raised
interest rates

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dramatically to try to protect
the value of their own currency.

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I think what this
illustrates is,

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it illustrates that there is
an element of chaos in the

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Russian economy, and some
of that is a result of the

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international sanctions
regime that this

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President has led the
implementation of.

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And that is an indication
that there are specific

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and clear economic
costs associated with

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President Putin's expedition
into eastern Ukraine;

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that continuing to violate
the territorial integrity

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of one of their neighbors is
having an economic impact

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-- a negative
one -- on Russia.

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And as the days go by,
and as Russia continues

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to refuse to live up to
previous commitments that

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they have made to
deescalate this conflict,

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those costs are only
going to intensify.

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And we're hopeful that
as these costs mount,

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that it will prompt the
President, President Putin,

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to reevaluate
his strategy.

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The Press: Peace talks
over Ukraine have also

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stopped before they began
because of additional

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deaths of
civilians there.

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Is the White House
watching that?

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Do you have any specific
reaction to those deaths?

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Mr. Earnest: We are
continuing to monitor

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the situation in Ukraine,
and we have seen repeatedly

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that the Russians have
been unwilling to live

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up to their agreements, and
that a lot of these deaths

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of civilians are the
result of military actions

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that are taken by
separatists that are

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supported and armed by
the Russian military.

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And that is an indication that
we need to change the cycle.

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And we are hopeful that
as the international

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community continues to
show their resolve, and

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as the costs continue to pile
up on the Russian economy,

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that President Putin will
ultimately change course.

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The Press: And finally,
the Greek government

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is having meetings
this week.

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The White House released a
readout the other day

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of the President's discussion
with the Prime Minister.

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What's the White House's
reaction to the new

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government's statement
today that it will not

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cooperate with the IMF and
European lenders about

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extending its
aid package?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Jeff,
I don't have a specific

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reaction to that
announcement.

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I call tell you that, in
general, the President

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telephoned Prime Minister
Tsipras earlier this week,

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because the United States
for a number of years now

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has been working closely
with the EU and the Greeks

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to try to resolve so much
of the financial and

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fiscal instability that
we see over in Europe.

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And that does have implications
and an impact on the

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U.S. economy and on the
global economy, of course.

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So we're going to continue
to work closely with the

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EU, and that means
engaging with the new

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political leaders in
Greece to try to resolve

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these differences and get
Greece and Europe and the

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global economy back on a
path toward growth and

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prosperity, because that,
ultimately, is going

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to be in the best interest
of the U.S. economy.

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Justin.

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The Press: First I
wanted to ask about GDP.

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It came in a little lower
than expectations today.

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I know the President has
spoken a lot recently

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about how kind of
promising economic signs

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are the reason that with
this budget we can invest

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more in sort of
all his priorities.

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Is there any concern that
some of the international

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factors that are
dragging on now the U.S.

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economy are going to
undermine the President's

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efforts to sort of
make that argument?

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Mr. Earnest: Justin, I'll
tell you that that may end

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up being true, but I don't
think the GDP numbers that

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were released today are
much evidence of that.

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The fact is, this
is one snapshot.

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And as you've heard me say
for years up here now,

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we don't get too excited
about one great economic

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report, or too
disappointed by one that

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doesn't meet
expectations.

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The fact is, what we're looking
at are the longer trends.

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And even if you look at
the more recent trends,

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just in the last
six months of 2014,

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the economy grew at a
rate of 4 percent.

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And that is certainly
a pretty robust rate

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of growth, and that's
momentum that we want

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to build on.

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And that's why so many
of the policies that the

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President laid out in the
State of the Union would

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try to capitalize
on that momentum.

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At the same time, we have
said -- and this is what

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I tried to acknowledge at
the beginning of my answer

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to your question --
is that there are

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consequences for
a slowdown in the

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international
economy on the

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U.S. economy.

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And we do continue to
be concerned about some

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of those things.

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Jason Furman appeared in
the briefing with me about

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a little over a month ago
now, and talked about some

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of the potential impacts from
the slowing global economy.

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And certainly, our work
with the Europeans that

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Jeff asked about, is
evidence of our ongoing

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efforts to work with the
international community

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00:10:25,458 --> 00:10:27,458
to strengthen the economy
around the globe because

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00:10:27,460 --> 00:10:29,460
that's going to have
important benefits for the

246
00:10:29,462 --> 00:10:30,462
U.S. economy
here at home.

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00:10:30,463 --> 00:10:32,463
The Press: And last
night in Philadelphia,

248
00:10:32,465 --> 00:10:35,665
it sounded like there was
a lively exchange on trade

249
00:10:35,668 --> 00:10:38,108
between the President
and House Democrats.

250
00:10:38,104 --> 00:10:41,974
And I know that the
President promised to loop

251
00:10:41,974 --> 00:10:43,874
them in more as these
trade deals are being

252
00:10:43,876 --> 00:10:47,216
developed, and kind of
made his argument for why

253
00:10:47,213 --> 00:10:48,713
they were important.

254
00:10:48,714 --> 00:10:50,114
So I'm wondering after
that discussion if you

255
00:10:50,116 --> 00:10:52,686
guys feel as if you've
got the 50 or so

256
00:10:52,685 --> 00:10:55,525
House Democrats that you need
for Trade Promotion Authority.

257
00:10:55,521 --> 00:10:57,521
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
President wasn't there

258
00:10:57,523 --> 00:10:58,523
to count votes
last night.

259
00:10:58,524 --> 00:11:00,494
The President was there to
have a conversation about

260
00:11:00,493 --> 00:11:03,293
his strategy when it comes
to these conversations

261
00:11:03,295 --> 00:11:07,435
about opening up markets
for American exports.

262
00:11:07,433 --> 00:11:09,903
And the President did lay
out a pretty compelling

263
00:11:09,902 --> 00:11:11,902
case; it's not that
different than the case

264
00:11:11,904 --> 00:11:13,904
you heard him make in
the State of the Union.

265
00:11:13,906 --> 00:11:14,906
So this is a process.

266
00:11:14,907 --> 00:11:16,907
We're going to continue to
have a conversation with

267
00:11:16,909 --> 00:11:19,449
Democrats and Republicans,
both supporters of these

268
00:11:19,445 --> 00:11:21,445
kinds of trade agreements
and some people who have

269
00:11:21,447 --> 00:11:23,447
indicated an
opposition to them.

270
00:11:23,449 --> 00:11:25,449
The President does have a
strong case to make about

271
00:11:25,451 --> 00:11:29,491
how an agreement that
he will sign will only

272
00:11:29,488 --> 00:11:31,558
be an agreement that is
in the best interest of

273
00:11:31,557 --> 00:11:33,557
American middle-class families
and in the best interest

274
00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:34,559
of American
businesses.

275
00:11:34,560 --> 00:11:39,400
And that will sort of be
the guidepost as we pursue

276
00:11:39,398 --> 00:11:41,698
this agreement with a
range of other countries

277
00:11:41,700 --> 00:11:43,140
in the Asia Pacific.

278
00:11:43,135 --> 00:11:46,905
And we'll make our case to
Democrats and Republicans

279
00:11:46,906 --> 00:11:48,776
alike along
those lines.

280
00:11:48,774 --> 00:11:50,744
I will say that the
President over the course

281
00:11:50,743 --> 00:11:52,743
of the last six years,
based on the success that

282
00:11:52,745 --> 00:11:54,815
his policies have had in
strengthening our economy

283
00:11:54,814 --> 00:11:56,814
after the worst economic
downturn since the

284
00:11:56,816 --> 00:11:58,986
Great Depression, should
give those who are concerned

285
00:11:58,984 --> 00:12:00,984
about the middle class
some confidence that the

286
00:12:00,986 --> 00:12:02,986
President knows what he's
talking about when he says

287
00:12:02,988 --> 00:12:05,488
he's going to go out and stand
up for middle-class families.

288
00:12:05,491 --> 00:12:06,991
The Press: Even if he
wasn't counting votes,

289
00:12:06,992 --> 00:12:08,992
did the President come
away from that feeling

290
00:12:08,994 --> 00:12:11,294
as if there was enough
Democratic support?

291
00:12:11,297 --> 00:12:13,297
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'll
say that the President

292
00:12:13,299 --> 00:12:15,299
came away with the
impression that people

293
00:12:15,301 --> 00:12:17,301
were focused on this
issue, and I do think that

294
00:12:17,303 --> 00:12:19,303
he came away with the
impression that he got

295
00:12:19,305 --> 00:12:21,475
a fair hearing from
the Democrats who were

296
00:12:21,474 --> 00:12:22,474
in attendance.

297
00:12:22,475 --> 00:12:25,515
I do not anticipate that
every single Democrat

298
00:12:25,511 --> 00:12:28,081
is going to end up voting for
this thing, but I do think

299
00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:31,480
that as long as people
give the President

300
00:12:31,484 --> 00:12:35,624
an opportunity to present
the facts and to ask

301
00:12:35,621 --> 00:12:37,621
legitimate questions
about the details of the

302
00:12:37,623 --> 00:12:39,623
agreement, then we're
going to -- then I think

303
00:12:39,625 --> 00:12:42,195
we're going to have an
opportunity to continue

304
00:12:42,194 --> 00:12:44,194
to make our case and I think
we're going to win some

305
00:12:44,196 --> 00:12:45,266
support as a result.

306
00:12:45,264 --> 00:12:46,264
Mr. Viqueira.

307
00:12:46,265 --> 00:12:47,235
The Press: Thank you.

308
00:12:47,233 --> 00:12:48,333
I'll take you to
the Middle East.

309
00:12:48,334 --> 00:12:49,164
Israel has
announced --

310
00:12:49,168 --> 00:12:50,168
Mr. Earnest: I was there
earlier this week,

311
00:12:50,169 --> 00:12:51,039
but we can go back
if you'd like.

312
00:12:51,036 --> 00:12:54,306
(laughter)

313
00:12:54,306 --> 00:12:56,276
The Press: Israel has
announced plans to build

314
00:12:56,275 --> 00:12:58,915
450 units on
the West Bank.

315
00:12:58,911 --> 00:13:02,451
The chief Palestinian
negotiator has said that

316
00:13:02,448 --> 00:13:04,548
this is a result of
impunity granted

317
00:13:04,550 --> 00:13:08,020
by Israel, a reference
to the speech that the

318
00:13:08,020 --> 00:13:11,390
Speaker has invited the
Prime Minister to make here.

319
00:13:11,390 --> 00:13:14,460
What is your reaction to
the announcement by Israel?

320
00:13:14,460 --> 00:13:15,860
Mr. Earnest: Well, Mike,
we've, on a number

321
00:13:15,861 --> 00:13:17,631
of occasions, had the
opportunity to make clear

322
00:13:17,630 --> 00:13:20,130
our position on
settlement activity.

323
00:13:20,132 --> 00:13:22,372
Our position is that we
believe that settlements

324
00:13:22,368 --> 00:13:23,938
are illegitimate and
counterproductive

325
00:13:23,936 --> 00:13:27,076
to achieving a
two-state outcome.

326
00:13:27,072 --> 00:13:29,542
We have deep concerns
about these highly

327
00:13:29,542 --> 00:13:31,542
contentious settlement
construction

328
00:13:31,544 --> 00:13:32,544
announcements.

329
00:13:32,545 --> 00:13:34,545
They will have detrimental
impacts on the ground,

330
00:13:34,547 --> 00:13:36,547
inflame already-heightened
tensions with the

331
00:13:36,549 --> 00:13:38,549
Palestinians, and further
isolate the Israelis

332
00:13:38,551 --> 00:13:39,551
internationally.

333
00:13:39,552 --> 00:13:42,392
The United States, as a
close ally of Israel,

334
00:13:42,388 --> 00:13:45,828
works -- uses our
diplomatic influence

335
00:13:45,824 --> 00:13:47,994
around the globe to try to
build support for Israel,

336
00:13:47,993 --> 00:13:50,733
and an announcement
like this only serves

337
00:13:50,729 --> 00:13:52,369
to further isolate them.

338
00:13:52,364 --> 00:13:54,734
I can tell you that
issuing tenders like this

339
00:13:54,733 --> 00:13:57,133
does nothing to bolster
Israel's security.

340
00:13:57,136 --> 00:13:59,576
It does not increase its
prosperity and it does not

341
00:13:59,572 --> 00:14:01,772
further the cause for
peace; in fact, it does

342
00:14:01,774 --> 00:14:02,774
precisely the opposite.

343
00:14:02,775 --> 00:14:04,775
The Press: Do you suspect
a political motive on the

344
00:14:04,777 --> 00:14:06,777
part of the Prime
Minister, coming so soon

345
00:14:06,779 --> 00:14:08,779
before the elections,
which you've alluded to?

346
00:14:08,781 --> 00:14:10,781
Mr. Earnest: It's unclear
to me exactly what their

347
00:14:10,783 --> 00:14:11,783
motive is.

348
00:14:11,784 --> 00:14:16,084
But what is clear is that
this, in our view, would

349
00:14:16,088 --> 00:14:18,358
only undermine the ability
of the Israelis to build

350
00:14:18,357 --> 00:14:21,257
support internationally
and to ultimately secure

351
00:14:21,260 --> 00:14:23,430
the kind of peace
agreement with a two-state

352
00:14:23,429 --> 00:14:25,799
outcome that we believe
is clearly in the best

353
00:14:25,798 --> 00:14:28,168
interest of Israel's
national security.

354
00:14:28,167 --> 00:14:29,167
Kristen.

355
00:14:29,168 --> 00:14:30,198
The Press: Josh,
thank you.

356
00:14:30,202 --> 00:14:31,872
Can you comment on the
reports that one of the

357
00:14:31,870 --> 00:14:35,440
five Taliban fighters who
was traded last year for

358
00:14:35,441 --> 00:14:38,811
Bowe Bergdahl has reached
out to try to make contact

359
00:14:38,811 --> 00:14:39,811
with the Taliban?

360
00:14:39,812 --> 00:14:41,212
What can you tell
us about that?

361
00:14:41,213 --> 00:14:42,683
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
can tell you there are

362
00:14:42,681 --> 00:14:46,521
a couple of facts that
are important that should

363
00:14:46,518 --> 00:14:47,818
be reflected in
the reporting.

364
00:14:47,820 --> 00:14:52,560
The first is, is that none
of these individuals has

365
00:14:52,558 --> 00:14:54,658
returned to the
battlefield.

366
00:14:54,660 --> 00:14:58,400
None of them is allowed to
travel outside of Qatar,

367
00:14:58,397 --> 00:15:01,637
and none has engaged
in physical violence.

368
00:15:01,634 --> 00:15:04,134
In fact, each of them
at this moment is still

369
00:15:04,136 --> 00:15:07,606
in Qatar, and each of them
is subject to monitoring and

370
00:15:07,606 --> 00:15:11,006
other mitigation measures
that limit their activities.

371
00:15:11,010 --> 00:15:13,850
I can also tell you that
we are regularly in touch

372
00:15:13,846 --> 00:15:17,216
with the Qataris about
those mitigation efforts.

373
00:15:17,216 --> 00:15:19,456
And in light of the
concerns that you have

374
00:15:19,451 --> 00:15:22,021
raised, I can tell you
that those mitigation

375
00:15:22,021 --> 00:15:24,021
efforts and those
monitoring efforts have

376
00:15:24,023 --> 00:15:26,163
been updated to reflect
those concerns.

377
00:15:26,158 --> 00:15:28,158
But I can tell you,
because of the cooperation

378
00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:30,160
we've gotten from the
Qataris and because of the

379
00:15:30,162 --> 00:15:31,902
conversations that they've
had with our national

380
00:15:31,897 --> 00:15:36,437
security team here in
the administration, that

381
00:15:36,435 --> 00:15:38,975
we continue to have
confidence that there are

382
00:15:38,971 --> 00:15:41,441
measures in place to
substantially mitigate

383
00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:43,840
the threat that they pose to
American national security.

384
00:15:43,842 --> 00:15:44,542
The Press: Can
you be specific?

385
00:15:44,543 --> 00:15:46,243
What do you mean
by "updated"?

386
00:15:46,245 --> 00:15:47,475
Mitigation efforts
have been updated?

387
00:15:47,479 --> 00:15:49,079
Mr. Earnest: Unfortunately,
I'm not in a position

388
00:15:49,081 --> 00:15:51,251
I think for some -- for
a variety of reasons,

389
00:15:51,250 --> 00:15:53,420
some of which are obvious,
I'm not in a position

390
00:15:53,419 --> 00:15:55,159
to detail the mitigation
efforts that are in place.

391
00:15:55,154 --> 00:15:56,554
The Press: And I know that
you're making the point

392
00:15:56,555 --> 00:15:57,895
that this individual
hasn't returned to the

393
00:15:57,890 --> 00:16:02,490
battlefield, but doesn't
it suggest that releasing

394
00:16:02,494 --> 00:16:04,694
these prisoners could
potentially pose a threat

395
00:16:04,697 --> 00:16:06,127
to the United States?

396
00:16:06,131 --> 00:16:07,801
Mr. Earnest: Well,
Kristen, you'll recall

397
00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:11,270
that when this transfer
from Guantanamo Bay --

398
00:16:11,270 --> 00:16:13,710
from the prison at
Guantanamo Bay to Qatar,

399
00:16:13,706 --> 00:16:16,146
that the Secretary of
Defense had independently

400
00:16:16,141 --> 00:16:19,041
certified that there were
sufficient mitigation

401
00:16:19,044 --> 00:16:21,444
measures in place to
substantially mitigate the

402
00:16:21,447 --> 00:16:24,247
threat that they posed to
American national security.

403
00:16:24,249 --> 00:16:28,089
And Secretary Hagel certified
as such last summer.

404
00:16:28,087 --> 00:16:33,857
Now, the success of those
mitigation measures

405
00:16:33,859 --> 00:16:39,369
depends on the cooperation
of the Qatari government,

406
00:16:39,365 --> 00:16:42,165
and I'm pleased to report
to you that we've gotten

407
00:16:42,167 --> 00:16:45,467
good cooperation and there
is good coordination

408
00:16:45,471 --> 00:16:47,471
between the United States
and the Qatari government

409
00:16:47,473 --> 00:16:49,473
about these measures that
need to be implemented.

410
00:16:49,475 --> 00:16:51,445
And the fact that we are
updating them to reflect

411
00:16:51,443 --> 00:16:54,013
some of these concerns I
think is evidence that

412
00:16:54,012 --> 00:16:59,682
we have a system in
place that is protecting

413
00:16:59,685 --> 00:17:01,685
American national
security right now.

414
00:17:01,687 --> 00:17:03,687
The Press: And the fact
that this contact happened

415
00:17:03,689 --> 00:17:05,689
in the first place
-- will it make the

416
00:17:05,691 --> 00:17:07,161
administration, has it
made the administration

417
00:17:07,159 --> 00:17:10,699
re-think the effort
to essentially close

418
00:17:10,696 --> 00:17:13,196
Guantanamo, to step up its
release of some of these

419
00:17:13,198 --> 00:17:14,338
prisoners?

420
00:17:14,333 --> 00:17:16,403
Mr. Earnest: No, it does
not, and simply because

421
00:17:16,402 --> 00:17:18,302
keeping the prison
open undermines our

422
00:17:18,303 --> 00:17:19,573
national security.

423
00:17:19,571 --> 00:17:21,111
That is the view of the
President of the United States.

424
00:17:21,106 --> 00:17:23,206
It's been his view since
he campaigned for this

425
00:17:23,208 --> 00:17:24,748
office in the first place.

426
00:17:24,743 --> 00:17:25,983
It actually was the
view of the previous

427
00:17:25,978 --> 00:17:28,518
administration, who also
advocated for the closing

428
00:17:28,514 --> 00:17:30,514
of the prison at
Guantanamo Bay.

429
00:17:30,516 --> 00:17:32,516
The fact is, the prison at
Guantanamo Bay only serves

430
00:17:32,518 --> 00:17:34,888
as a recruitment
tool for terrorists.

431
00:17:34,887 --> 00:17:36,787
It drains our
resources.

432
00:17:36,789 --> 00:17:38,119
As the President mentioned
in the State of the Union

433
00:17:38,123 --> 00:17:41,893
address, we spend $3
million a year per

434
00:17:41,894 --> 00:17:43,894
prisoner to keep them
locked up at the prison

435
00:17:43,896 --> 00:17:44,896
at Guantanamo Bay.

436
00:17:44,897 --> 00:17:46,897
That certainly is not a
good use of our resources.

437
00:17:46,899 --> 00:17:48,899
And the opening of that
prison -- or the prison's

438
00:17:48,901 --> 00:17:51,271
continued operation has
only served to damage our

439
00:17:51,270 --> 00:17:53,270
relationships with
countries around the world,

440
00:17:53,272 --> 00:17:55,912
countries we rely on to
protect our national security.

441
00:17:55,908 --> 00:17:58,248
So the President believes
that it is an easy call

442
00:17:58,243 --> 00:18:00,243
that we need to close the
prison at Guantanamo Bay.

443
00:18:00,245 --> 00:18:02,845
And as we transfer
prisoners from the prison,

444
00:18:02,848 --> 00:18:05,118
we need to make sure that
we have measures in place

445
00:18:05,117 --> 00:18:07,457
to mitigate the risk that
those individuals pose

446
00:18:07,453 --> 00:18:08,553
to the United States.

447
00:18:08,554 --> 00:18:10,824
And in the case of
these five individuals,

448
00:18:10,823 --> 00:18:11,823
that's exactly
what we have.

449
00:18:11,824 --> 00:18:13,824
The Press: And just to
put a fine point on it,

450
00:18:13,826 --> 00:18:16,696
you can say with confidence
that this individual right

451
00:18:16,695 --> 00:18:19,095
now does not continue
to pose a threat

452
00:18:19,097 --> 00:18:20,537
to the United
States?

453
00:18:20,532 --> 00:18:21,902
Mr. Earnest: Well, what I
can say with confidence

454
00:18:21,900 --> 00:18:23,240
is this individual
has not returned

455
00:18:23,235 --> 00:18:24,335
to the battlefield.

456
00:18:24,336 --> 00:18:26,576
This individual is not allowed
to travel outside Qatar.

457
00:18:26,572 --> 00:18:28,572
And this individual
has not engaged

458
00:18:28,574 --> 00:18:29,574
in any physical
violence.

459
00:18:29,575 --> 00:18:31,815
In fact, this individual
is still in Qatar right

460
00:18:31,810 --> 00:18:35,550
now, and is subject to
monitoring measures that

461
00:18:35,547 --> 00:18:37,547
mitigate the threat that
this individual poses

462
00:18:37,549 --> 00:18:39,549
to the United
States of America.

463
00:18:39,551 --> 00:18:41,551
The Press: And I want to
ask you about something

464
00:18:41,553 --> 00:18:42,553
here at home.

465
00:18:42,554 --> 00:18:44,594
There's a lot of concern,
particularly among the

466
00:18:44,590 --> 00:18:50,560
CDC officials, about this
recent spread of measles.

467
00:18:50,562 --> 00:18:52,662
It's now impacting people
in 14 different states.

468
00:18:52,664 --> 00:18:54,634
There's been concern, as
we get closer to the

469
00:18:54,633 --> 00:18:56,303
Super Bowl.

470
00:18:56,301 --> 00:18:57,901
How concerned is
the White House?

471
00:18:57,903 --> 00:18:59,603
How closely is the
President being informed

472
00:18:59,605 --> 00:19:01,805
by the CDC?

473
00:19:01,807 --> 00:19:03,877
Mr. Earnest: Well, the CDC
is obviously monitoring

474
00:19:03,876 --> 00:19:05,846
this very closely, and we
have our public health

475
00:19:05,844 --> 00:19:09,144
experts across the country
who are taking a careful

476
00:19:09,147 --> 00:19:11,087
look at this.

477
00:19:11,083 --> 00:19:13,083
I mean, I think what those
experts would tell you

478
00:19:13,085 --> 00:19:15,155
is that their recommendation
is that if you're sick,

479
00:19:15,153 --> 00:19:17,153
we recommend that you don't
get on an airplane and you

480
00:19:17,155 --> 00:19:20,095
don't go to
crowded locations.

481
00:19:20,092 --> 00:19:24,492
And that's true of the flu
and other illnesses as well.

482
00:19:24,496 --> 00:19:28,936
But this obviously is an
illness that's a little

483
00:19:28,934 --> 00:19:31,404
bit more potent than the
flu, and it's certainly

484
00:19:31,403 --> 00:19:33,403
attracted the attention
of our public health

485
00:19:33,405 --> 00:19:35,405
professionals both here in
the federal government but

486
00:19:35,407 --> 00:19:37,407
also in states and communities
all across the country.

487
00:19:37,409 --> 00:19:39,409
And it's something
we're going to continue

488
00:19:39,411 --> 00:19:40,411
to closely monitor.

489
00:19:40,412 --> 00:19:42,082
The Press: And obviously
it has revived the debate

490
00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:43,550
over vaccines.

491
00:19:43,549 --> 00:19:45,419
Does the President, does
the White House have

492
00:19:45,417 --> 00:19:47,457
a message about that and
who will be getting

493
00:19:47,452 --> 00:19:48,522
vaccinated?

494
00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:50,390
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
President certainly

495
00:19:50,389 --> 00:19:52,389
believes that these kinds
of decisions are decisions

496
00:19:52,391 --> 00:19:54,891
that should be made by
parents, because ultimately

497
00:19:54,893 --> 00:19:56,893
when we're talking about
vaccinations, we're typically

498
00:19:56,895 --> 00:19:59,635
talking about vaccinations
that are given to children.

499
00:19:59,631 --> 00:20:01,631
But the science on this,
as our public health

500
00:20:01,633 --> 00:20:03,033
professionals I'm sure
would be happy to tell

501
00:20:03,035 --> 00:20:04,975
you, the science on
this is really clear.

502
00:20:04,970 --> 00:20:06,670
The Press: That people
should get vaccinated?

503
00:20:06,672 --> 00:20:07,902
Mr. Earnest: That's
certainly what the science

504
00:20:07,906 --> 00:20:09,906
indicates, and that's
obviously what our public

505
00:20:09,908 --> 00:20:11,978
health professionals
recommend.

506
00:20:11,977 --> 00:20:14,547
And being guided by
the science in matters

507
00:20:14,546 --> 00:20:17,316
like this is typically
the right approach.

508
00:20:17,316 --> 00:20:18,416
Kevin.

509
00:20:18,417 --> 00:20:19,517
The Press:
Josh, thanks.

510
00:20:19,518 --> 00:20:22,458
An interesting question
posed by Politico today

511
00:20:22,454 --> 00:20:25,154
about lurching leftward
from a policy perspective,

512
00:20:25,157 --> 00:20:27,097
perhaps budgetary
perspective.

513
00:20:27,092 --> 00:20:28,562
Is that a fair
characterization

514
00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:30,630
of how the President
is now leading?

515
00:20:30,629 --> 00:20:32,629
Is there still an
opportunity for a grand

516
00:20:32,631 --> 00:20:35,331
bargaining or centrist
policies moving forward?

517
00:20:35,334 --> 00:20:37,334
Mr. Earnest: Well, Kevin,
I think what I would say

518
00:20:37,336 --> 00:20:39,306
is that the President
is driving towards the

519
00:20:39,304 --> 00:20:41,304
middle, not on the
ideological spectrum,

520
00:20:41,306 --> 00:20:43,306
but driving toward
the middle class.

521
00:20:43,308 --> 00:20:45,748
And that has exactly been
the focal point of his

522
00:20:45,744 --> 00:20:48,584
domestic policymaking agenda
since he took office.

523
00:20:48,580 --> 00:20:50,580
But I think it's fair to
say that he's doubling

524
00:20:50,582 --> 00:20:52,982
down on that effort, and
that was what was included

525
00:20:52,985 --> 00:20:54,955
in his State of
the Union address.

526
00:20:54,953 --> 00:20:56,953
And when the President
rolls out his budget

527
00:20:56,955 --> 00:20:58,955
on Monday, you'll see
that we're going to have

528
00:20:58,957 --> 00:21:02,327
an orientation in that budget
where we make clear that

529
00:21:02,327 --> 00:21:04,727
our priority is
middle-class families.

530
00:21:04,730 --> 00:21:06,730
And the reason for that
is simply that when our

531
00:21:06,732 --> 00:21:09,202
economy is growing from
the middle out, we know

532
00:21:09,201 --> 00:21:11,841
that our economy is on
its strongest footing.

533
00:21:11,837 --> 00:21:13,937
And the President believes
that there's a lot more

534
00:21:13,939 --> 00:21:16,809
that we can do to support
middle-class families.

535
00:21:16,808 --> 00:21:19,208
And I don't know if -- if
supporting middle-class

536
00:21:19,211 --> 00:21:21,511
families means that you're
more oriented to the

537
00:21:21,513 --> 00:21:24,783
progressive end of the
ideological spectrum, so be it.

538
00:21:24,783 --> 00:21:28,483
But that's certainly -- what
the President is focused

539
00:21:28,487 --> 00:21:30,527
on is the middle class.

540
00:21:30,522 --> 00:21:31,692
The Press: I want to
switch gears for just

541
00:21:31,690 --> 00:21:33,130
a second and ask you
about immigration.

542
00:21:33,125 --> 00:21:35,065
I know a great deal has
been talked about with

543
00:21:35,060 --> 00:21:37,300
respect to the people
that are already here.

544
00:21:37,295 --> 00:21:39,935
I'm curious about policy
moving forward for those

545
00:21:39,931 --> 00:21:41,931
who would like to work
here and be here for

546
00:21:41,933 --> 00:21:42,933
longer periods.

547
00:21:42,934 --> 00:21:45,474
There are thousands, if
not more, Canadians,

548
00:21:45,470 --> 00:21:47,740
for example, that come
here, they do good jobs,

549
00:21:47,739 --> 00:21:50,479
and then they have to go
back because it's a time

550
00:21:50,475 --> 00:21:51,475
limitation.

551
00:21:51,476 --> 00:21:53,676
Is there any thought to
sort of expanding that

552
00:21:53,679 --> 00:21:56,619
opportunity as you continue to
unpack immigration reform?

553
00:21:56,615 --> 00:21:58,715
Mr. Earnest: Well, Kevin,
this is one of the tragedies

554
00:21:58,717 --> 00:22:02,157
of the House Republicans'
decision not to even

555
00:22:02,154 --> 00:22:04,254
consider a vote on the
bipartisan legislation

556
00:22:04,256 --> 00:22:07,696
that passed through the
Senate early in 2013.

557
00:22:07,693 --> 00:22:10,663
That legislation included
a wide variety of things,

558
00:22:10,662 --> 00:22:12,862
but one of the important
things it included were

559
00:22:12,864 --> 00:22:17,234
reform of our legal
immigration system,

560
00:22:17,235 --> 00:22:19,235
that there should be
some things that we can

561
00:22:19,237 --> 00:22:22,037
do to better attract talent
from all across the world and

562
00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:24,180
entrepreneurs from all
across the world to make

563
00:22:24,176 --> 00:22:26,146
it easier for them to come
to the United States.

564
00:22:26,144 --> 00:22:28,144
And if they want to open a
business and create jobs

565
00:22:28,146 --> 00:22:30,146
here in America, they
should be able to have

566
00:22:30,148 --> 00:22:32,218
a clear path
to do so.

567
00:22:32,217 --> 00:22:37,057
And right now, our
system doesn't operate

568
00:22:37,055 --> 00:22:39,255
as efficiently as we would
like, and it certainly

569
00:22:39,257 --> 00:22:42,057
doesn't optimize our
ability to retain talent

570
00:22:42,060 --> 00:22:43,260
that has come to
the United States.

571
00:22:43,261 --> 00:22:45,131
In some cases, we're
talking about individuals

572
00:22:45,130 --> 00:22:46,470
who left their home
country to come

573
00:22:46,465 --> 00:22:48,835
to the United States to
go to school and avail

574
00:22:48,834 --> 00:22:51,674
themselves of the most
effective higher education

575
00:22:51,670 --> 00:22:53,240
system in
the world.

576
00:22:53,238 --> 00:22:55,278
But yet, when their
education system is up

577
00:22:55,273 --> 00:22:59,913
and they're ready to invent
a new product or innovate

578
00:22:59,911 --> 00:23:02,481
in an exciting way, or
open a new business,

579
00:23:02,481 --> 00:23:04,481
we tell them, sorry, you're
going to have to go back

580
00:23:04,483 --> 00:23:05,483
to your home
country.

581
00:23:05,484 --> 00:23:08,454
The President doesn't think
that makes a lot of sense.

582
00:23:08,453 --> 00:23:10,453
Certainly the Chamber of
Commerce and a number

583
00:23:10,455 --> 00:23:12,455
of other business-friendly
organizations that don't

584
00:23:12,457 --> 00:23:14,457
typically align themselves
with the President agree with

585
00:23:14,459 --> 00:23:16,459
him, however, in this
case, that it doesn't make

586
00:23:16,461 --> 00:23:17,461
a lot of sense.

587
00:23:17,462 --> 00:23:19,562
So that's why the
President has said that

588
00:23:19,564 --> 00:23:23,064
he was going to use all of
the power at his disposal,

589
00:23:23,068 --> 00:23:25,068
using his executive
authority, to try to fix

590
00:23:25,070 --> 00:23:27,070
as much of our broken
immigration system

591
00:23:27,072 --> 00:23:28,072
as possible.

592
00:23:28,073 --> 00:23:30,073
But there is more work
that needs to be done.

593
00:23:30,075 --> 00:23:32,215
And we stand ready to work
closely with Democrats and

594
00:23:32,210 --> 00:23:35,180
Republicans on Capitol Hill who
are eager to join that fight.

595
00:23:35,180 --> 00:23:38,420
And that fight should
include reforms of our legal

596
00:23:38,416 --> 00:23:39,416
immigration system.

597
00:23:39,417 --> 00:23:41,417
The Press: One more thing
I wanted to ask you about.

598
00:23:41,419 --> 00:23:43,459
There's a game coming on
Sunday; perhaps you'll

599
00:23:43,455 --> 00:23:44,585
be watching it.

600
00:23:44,589 --> 00:23:47,059
A lot of fans in Seattle
and in the New England

601
00:23:47,058 --> 00:23:49,458
area want to know: Does
the President have a team

602
00:23:49,461 --> 00:23:50,461
that he's picking
this year?

603
00:23:50,462 --> 00:23:52,332
Are you picking
a team this year?

604
00:23:52,330 --> 00:23:54,030
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
President is always rooting

605
00:23:54,032 --> 00:23:56,132
for the
Chicago Bears.

606
00:23:56,134 --> 00:23:58,034
And unfortunately, they're
not in the game yet again.

607
00:23:58,036 --> 00:23:58,736
The Press: Again.

608
00:23:58,737 --> 00:23:59,707
(laughter)

609
00:23:59,704 --> 00:24:01,474
Mr. Earnest: The President
told House Democrats

610
00:24:01,473 --> 00:24:03,473
last night that he
wasn't going to choose

611
00:24:03,475 --> 00:24:05,615
sides in this particular
contest, but he's just

612
00:24:05,610 --> 00:24:06,610
hoping for a good game.

613
00:24:06,611 --> 00:24:09,551
I think I can say the
same thing for myself.

614
00:24:09,548 --> 00:24:10,548
Major.

615
00:24:10,549 --> 00:24:12,549
The Press: Josh, the House
Republicans have put

616
00:24:12,551 --> 00:24:15,051
together a working group
to draft an alternative,

617
00:24:15,053 --> 00:24:17,153
they say, to the
President's Affordable

618
00:24:17,155 --> 00:24:19,955
Care Act, and doing so
in anticipation of

619
00:24:19,958 --> 00:24:22,628
King v. Burwell before
the Supreme Court.

620
00:24:22,627 --> 00:24:24,027
Two questions.

621
00:24:24,029 --> 00:24:28,229
Do you think there is
anything premature about

622
00:24:28,233 --> 00:24:30,433
putting together a working
group in anticipation

623
00:24:30,435 --> 00:24:32,905
of a Supreme Court decision
that may strike down a key

624
00:24:32,904 --> 00:24:35,374
component of the
Affordable Care Act?

625
00:24:35,373 --> 00:24:41,313
And in general, White
House reaction to what has

626
00:24:41,313 --> 00:24:43,453
long been missing from the
Republican argument about

627
00:24:43,448 --> 00:24:45,618
Obamacare, that is to say
a full-blown legislative

628
00:24:45,617 --> 00:24:46,617
replacement?

629
00:24:46,618 --> 00:24:48,288
Mr. Earnest: Well, I guess
what I'd say, Major,

630
00:24:48,286 --> 00:24:49,556
is that they're not
premature, they're about

631
00:24:49,554 --> 00:24:51,254
five years
too late.

632
00:24:51,256 --> 00:24:53,456
We've been waiting for
years for Republicans

633
00:24:53,458 --> 00:24:56,158
to actually engage
constructively in putting

634
00:24:56,161 --> 00:24:59,561
forward a plan to reform
our health care system.

635
00:24:59,564 --> 00:25:02,304
And that's why the
President had to drive

636
00:25:02,300 --> 00:25:04,570
so hard to get this across
the finish line, because,

637
00:25:04,569 --> 00:25:07,309
again, he was obstructed at
every turn by Republicans.

638
00:25:07,305 --> 00:25:10,705
So the President has also
said, since that success

639
00:25:10,709 --> 00:25:13,849
of passing health care
reform that has expanded

640
00:25:13,845 --> 00:25:15,845
health insurance to
millions more Americans,

641
00:25:15,847 --> 00:25:18,987
and actually limited the
growth in health care cost

642
00:25:18,984 --> 00:25:23,424
to the lowest level in
recorded history, that

643
00:25:23,421 --> 00:25:25,691
we welcome ideas from
Republicans for actually

644
00:25:25,690 --> 00:25:26,860
improving the law.

645
00:25:26,858 --> 00:25:28,558
The fact of the matter
is, they voted more than

646
00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:30,560
50 times to actually try
and eliminate the law.

647
00:25:30,562 --> 00:25:32,562
So it's not really
clear that either,

648
00:25:32,564 --> 00:25:34,564
A, Republicans are serious
about putting forward

649
00:25:34,566 --> 00:25:36,906
their own plan, or, B,
actually even serious

650
00:25:36,902 --> 00:25:39,402
about trying to reform
our health care system

651
00:25:39,404 --> 00:25:41,404
in a way that's actually good
for small business owners

652
00:25:41,406 --> 00:25:42,806
and middle-class
families.

653
00:25:42,807 --> 00:25:44,747
The Press: Do you think
there is anything to the

654
00:25:44,743 --> 00:25:45,713
idea that if
King v. Burwell

655
00:25:45,710 --> 00:25:48,610
goes against the
Affordable Care Act,

656
00:25:48,613 --> 00:25:54,353
the act itself becomes largely
toothless in dealing with

657
00:25:54,352 --> 00:25:55,752
national health care?

658
00:25:55,754 --> 00:25:57,454
Mr. Earnest: Well, Major,
at this point we remain

659
00:25:57,455 --> 00:26:01,965
confident that the Supreme
Court will take a close

660
00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:04,530
look at the arguments and
conclude what so many

661
00:26:04,529 --> 00:26:06,669
other people have, which
is that the common-sense

662
00:26:06,665 --> 00:26:09,265
reading of the legislation
is that Congress always

663
00:26:09,267 --> 00:26:11,267
intended for individuals
that are eligible

664
00:26:11,269 --> 00:26:13,269
to collect tax credits that
make their health care

665
00:26:13,271 --> 00:26:15,271
more affordable, that they
should be able to collect

666
00:26:15,273 --> 00:26:17,273
those tax credits
regardless of who was

667
00:26:17,275 --> 00:26:18,675
operating their
marketplace.

668
00:26:18,677 --> 00:26:21,847
So we remain
confident in that.

669
00:26:21,846 --> 00:26:26,086
And, frankly, what we
found from Republicans who

670
00:26:26,084 --> 00:26:28,324
are raising those
concerns, those are the

671
00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:30,320
same Republicans who
voted against the

672
00:26:30,322 --> 00:26:32,322
Affordable Care Act in
the first place.

673
00:26:32,324 --> 00:26:33,694
So it's hard to take their
concerns very seriously.

674
00:26:33,692 --> 00:26:35,222
The Press: On Monday,
Strobe Talbot,

675
00:26:35,226 --> 00:26:38,866
Michele Flournoy, and several
others will put forward

676
00:26:38,863 --> 00:26:40,733
a recommendation on
administration policy

677
00:26:40,732 --> 00:26:41,702
in Ukraine.

678
00:26:41,700 --> 00:26:44,500
Among the things they're
going to suggest is that

679
00:26:44,502 --> 00:26:47,602
this administration
provide military equipment

680
00:26:47,605 --> 00:26:50,605
to Ukraine because after
many, many months of using

681
00:26:50,608 --> 00:26:53,178
economic sanctions, they
will argue the Ukrainian

682
00:26:53,178 --> 00:26:55,548
government needs financial
resources of a greater

683
00:26:55,547 --> 00:26:58,747
degree than so far
provided, and the military

684
00:26:58,750 --> 00:27:03,820
means by which to make the
continued use of Russian

685
00:27:03,822 --> 00:27:06,862
separatists too
painful for Russia.

686
00:27:06,858 --> 00:27:09,298
Is this administration
willing to give any

687
00:27:09,294 --> 00:27:11,164
consideration more
seriously than it has

688
00:27:11,162 --> 00:27:14,862
to date to the concept of
arming -- or providing

689
00:27:14,866 --> 00:27:16,666
arms to the Ukrainian
government?

690
00:27:16,668 --> 00:27:18,668
Mr. Earnest: Major, I
don't know that anybody

691
00:27:18,670 --> 00:27:20,670
here has had a chance
to take a look at that

692
00:27:20,672 --> 00:27:22,672
report, so when it's
issued on Monday I'm sure

693
00:27:22,674 --> 00:27:23,674
we'll take a
close look at it.

694
00:27:23,675 --> 00:27:25,675
I know that there are a
couple of things that

695
00:27:25,677 --> 00:27:28,017
it sounds like we may have
some agreement with their

696
00:27:28,013 --> 00:27:30,183
proposals, based on the way
that you've described them.

697
00:27:30,181 --> 00:27:33,221
The first is that there
is substantially more

698
00:27:33,218 --> 00:27:35,218
financial support
that we can offer the

699
00:27:35,220 --> 00:27:39,460
Ukrainian government; that as
a result of this instability

700
00:27:39,457 --> 00:27:41,757
in their country that's
been fomented and aided

701
00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:44,400
and abetted by the
Russians, that they've

702
00:27:44,396 --> 00:27:47,666
sustained some pretty
significant economic costs

703
00:27:47,665 --> 00:27:49,035
themselves.

704
00:27:49,034 --> 00:27:51,334
That's why the President
earlier this year called

705
00:27:51,336 --> 00:27:53,336
for Congress to act on
a $1 billion loan

706
00:27:53,338 --> 00:27:55,978
guarantee to
Ukraine.

707
00:27:55,974 --> 00:27:58,274
And consistent with some
reforms that they put

708
00:27:58,276 --> 00:28:00,976
in place, we'd be in favor
of even additional support

709
00:28:00,979 --> 00:28:02,979
beyond that, in the
second half of this year.

710
00:28:02,981 --> 00:28:04,981
So we'll see how
that moves forward.

711
00:28:04,983 --> 00:28:06,983
The second thing is, the
President has been urging

712
00:28:06,985 --> 00:28:11,355
Congress to approve of
some long overdue reforms

713
00:28:11,356 --> 00:28:14,256
at the IMF that would
bolster the IMF's ability

714
00:28:14,259 --> 00:28:16,259
to offer some financial
assistance to the Ukrainians.

715
00:28:16,261 --> 00:28:18,861
So at least that element
of the report, the way

716
00:28:18,863 --> 00:28:20,863
that you've described it,
is consistent with our

717
00:28:20,865 --> 00:28:23,535
view that there is more
that we can and should

718
00:28:23,535 --> 00:28:26,575
do to support the
Ukrainians financially.

719
00:28:26,571 --> 00:28:30,771
As it relates to military
support, the President has

720
00:28:30,775 --> 00:28:33,545
been reluctant to do
that, principally because

721
00:28:33,545 --> 00:28:34,575
in his mind --

722
00:28:34,579 --> 00:28:35,819
The Press: Is he becoming
more open to it?

723
00:28:35,814 --> 00:28:37,984
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
at this point what I would

724
00:28:37,982 --> 00:28:42,192
say is, he continues to
be reluctant -- because

725
00:28:42,187 --> 00:28:44,187
ultimately there's not
going to be a military

726
00:28:44,189 --> 00:28:45,259
solution to
this problem.

727
00:28:45,256 --> 00:28:47,696
This is the kind of
dispute that has

728
00:28:47,692 --> 00:28:49,532
to be resolved
diplomatically.

729
00:28:49,527 --> 00:28:51,597
And what we need to do
is we need to see the

730
00:28:51,596 --> 00:28:54,336
Russians actually abide
by the commitments that

731
00:28:54,332 --> 00:28:56,332
they've already made at
the negotiating table.

732
00:28:56,334 --> 00:28:58,334
The Press: The arguments
from Strobe Talbot

733
00:28:58,336 --> 00:28:59,876
and Michele Flournoy, as
someone -- obviously the

734
00:28:59,871 --> 00:29:02,671
President is very familiar
with both, is that that's

735
00:29:02,674 --> 00:29:05,674
been tested; that there
has to be a military

736
00:29:05,677 --> 00:29:07,947
price, and the Russians
need to begin to feel it,

737
00:29:07,946 --> 00:29:09,786
and the Ukrainians need
to have a sense they can

738
00:29:09,781 --> 00:29:13,421
defend themselves and not
see civilian casualties

739
00:29:13,418 --> 00:29:16,588
and other destruction
continue for there

740
00:29:16,588 --> 00:29:20,028
to be a different conclusion
on the Russian side about the

741
00:29:20,024 --> 00:29:22,264
necessity of reaching the
political accommodation

742
00:29:22,260 --> 00:29:23,660
you've just described.

743
00:29:23,661 --> 00:29:25,731
Does the President disagree
with that fundamentally?

744
00:29:25,730 --> 00:29:27,670
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
I'd look at their report

745
00:29:27,665 --> 00:29:30,705
before I pronounced a
judgment on it one way

746
00:29:30,702 --> 00:29:31,702
or the other.

747
00:29:31,703 --> 00:29:35,373
I think it's certainly a
reasonable point of view.

748
00:29:35,373 --> 00:29:37,373
But the other part of this
that we have to remember

749
00:29:37,375 --> 00:29:39,375
is that the longer that
the sanctions remain

750
00:29:39,377 --> 00:29:41,377
in place, the worst the
economic costs that

751
00:29:41,379 --> 00:29:42,379
Russia has to
bear get.

752
00:29:42,380 --> 00:29:44,380
And I think that's
evidenced even

753
00:29:44,382 --> 00:29:47,022
by the Russian Central Bank
today that they're having to --

754
00:29:47,018 --> 00:29:50,688
that they're going to
attempt to lower their

755
00:29:50,688 --> 00:29:54,058
interest rates just a few
days after increasing them

756
00:29:54,058 --> 00:29:55,058
significantly.

757
00:29:55,059 --> 00:29:57,059
So there is an element
of chaos in the

758
00:29:57,061 --> 00:29:59,261
Russian economy that's only
getting worse by the day.

759
00:29:59,264 --> 00:30:06,774
So I think it is too early
to say that the economic

760
00:30:06,771 --> 00:30:09,371
costs that Russia has to
bear as a result of their

761
00:30:09,374 --> 00:30:11,944
incursions into Ukraine
are not sufficient to get

762
00:30:11,943 --> 00:30:13,943
them to change their
mind, and will not.

763
00:30:13,945 --> 00:30:16,445
They haven't been
so far, obviously.

764
00:30:16,447 --> 00:30:19,317
But as those costs mount,
there still is the

765
00:30:19,317 --> 00:30:22,017
possibility that it could
prompt them to reevaluate

766
00:30:22,020 --> 00:30:23,390
their strategy
in Ukraine.

767
00:30:23,388 --> 00:30:24,618
The Press: Two quick
questions on trade.

768
00:30:24,622 --> 00:30:27,122
Is 50 votes in the House,
on the Democrat side,

769
00:30:27,125 --> 00:30:28,455
the White House
benchmark?

770
00:30:28,459 --> 00:30:31,429
And what is it about
this argument you think

771
00:30:31,429 --> 00:30:35,099
House Democrats who oppose
this already, sight unseen,

772
00:30:35,099 --> 00:30:37,969
don't get about the new
global economy and what

773
00:30:37,969 --> 00:30:41,509
this trade deal might
mean for the U.S.?

774
00:30:41,506 --> 00:30:42,976
Mr. Earnest: I'm not ready
to establish a benchmark

775
00:30:42,974 --> 00:30:44,544
in terms of the number
of Democratic votes that

776
00:30:44,542 --> 00:30:46,812
we'd expect for
this legislation.

777
00:30:46,811 --> 00:30:48,211
The Press: Or
that you'd seek.

778
00:30:48,213 --> 00:30:49,483
Mr. Earnest: What we'd
seek is a majority

779
00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:52,750
in the House of
Representatives for the bill.

780
00:30:52,750 --> 00:30:55,490
And whether that's all
Republicans or a bunch

781
00:30:55,486 --> 00:30:59,226
of Republicans and a small
number of Democrats is,

782
00:30:59,224 --> 00:31:00,554
frankly, not something
that we're particularly

783
00:31:00,558 --> 00:31:01,558
concerned about.

784
00:31:01,559 --> 00:31:03,029
We actually just want
to see this piece

785
00:31:03,027 --> 00:31:05,627
of legislation pass.

786
00:31:05,630 --> 00:31:08,400
On your second question
about what it is that

787
00:31:08,399 --> 00:31:12,439
we will try to persuade
reluctant Democrats,

788
00:31:12,437 --> 00:31:14,907
at least, about this
matter is I think we'd try

789
00:31:14,906 --> 00:31:17,246
to persuade them
about two facts.

790
00:31:17,242 --> 00:31:19,312
The first is, there
is significant risk

791
00:31:19,310 --> 00:31:22,650
associated with not
engaging in this region

792
00:31:22,647 --> 00:31:24,647
of the world; that if
the United States were

793
00:31:24,649 --> 00:31:26,649
to stand back and say, we're
not going to enter into

794
00:31:26,651 --> 00:31:28,651
any sort of economic
agreements with countries

795
00:31:28,653 --> 00:31:34,123
in the Asia Pacific, it
only serves to create

796
00:31:34,125 --> 00:31:37,195
an opening for China to step
in and start writing the

797
00:31:37,195 --> 00:31:39,965
rules of the road in a
way that is certainly not

798
00:31:39,964 --> 00:31:41,964
advantageous to American
businesses and certainly

799
00:31:41,966 --> 00:31:43,966
not advantageous to
American workers.

800
00:31:43,968 --> 00:31:46,068
In fact, it would put
Americans businesses

801
00:31:46,070 --> 00:31:48,410
and American workers at a
significant disadvantage

802
00:31:48,406 --> 00:31:50,576
if China were to go in and
start writing the rules of

803
00:31:50,575 --> 00:31:53,845
engagement with a bunch
of other countries in the

804
00:31:53,845 --> 00:31:55,115
Asia Pacific.

805
00:31:55,113 --> 00:31:57,053
That's why the President
believes it's important

806
00:31:57,048 --> 00:31:59,648
for us to go into that
situation and attempt

807
00:31:59,651 --> 00:32:02,151
to set a higher standard
and to raise standards

808
00:32:02,153 --> 00:32:04,853
in a way that will level the
playing field and create

809
00:32:04,856 --> 00:32:07,996
opportunities for American
businesses to grow and

810
00:32:07,992 --> 00:32:11,662
thrive and open up access to
markets in other countries.

811
00:32:11,663 --> 00:32:13,863
We're talking about
countries that have,

812
00:32:13,865 --> 00:32:17,265
combined, a large
population and a lot

813
00:32:17,268 --> 00:32:19,608
of customers, a lot of
potential customers.

814
00:32:19,604 --> 00:32:22,574
So there is an opportunity
to be seized here,

815
00:32:22,573 --> 00:32:25,513
but there also is a cost
associated with failing

816
00:32:25,510 --> 00:32:28,110
to seize it, and that is what
is on the mind of the President.

817
00:32:28,112 --> 00:32:30,112
And I think the second
thing is -- and again,

818
00:32:30,114 --> 00:32:32,084
this is what I would
expect to be an argument

819
00:32:32,083 --> 00:32:34,083
that's pretty persuasive
for a lot of Democrats

820
00:32:34,085 --> 00:32:36,655
in Congress -- when the
President says he's not

821
00:32:36,654 --> 00:32:38,724
going to sign an agreement
that he doesn't believe

822
00:32:38,723 --> 00:32:41,493
is clearly in the best
interest of American

823
00:32:41,492 --> 00:32:45,132
middle-class
families, he means it.

824
00:32:45,129 --> 00:32:46,929
And there is an interest
that other countries

825
00:32:46,931 --> 00:32:49,171
obviously have in trying
to strike an agreement

826
00:32:49,167 --> 00:32:50,167
with the United States.

827
00:32:50,168 --> 00:32:55,238
This is the most dynamic
economy in the world, and

828
00:32:55,239 --> 00:32:58,379
it's understandable that
other countries would want

829
00:32:58,376 --> 00:33:01,646
to have more access to
sell their goods here or

830
00:33:01,646 --> 00:33:04,646
to locate some of
their businesses here.

831
00:33:04,649 --> 00:33:07,219
So we've sort of got --
the carrot on the other

832
00:33:07,218 --> 00:33:09,418
end of the stick is making
sure that this is an

833
00:33:09,420 --> 00:33:11,420
agreement that's clearly
in the best interest

834
00:33:11,422 --> 00:33:13,722
of American businesses and
American middle-class families.

835
00:33:13,725 --> 00:33:16,495
And that is the criteria
that the President will

836
00:33:16,494 --> 00:33:18,634
use to evaluate
this agreement.

837
00:33:18,629 --> 00:33:21,069
And the President, as I
mentioned, over the last

838
00:33:21,065 --> 00:33:23,065
six years or so, has put
in place a whole host of

839
00:33:23,067 --> 00:33:25,067
policies that are clearly
in the interest of

840
00:33:25,069 --> 00:33:26,069
middle-class
families.

841
00:33:26,070 --> 00:33:28,070
So he's got some
credibility built

842
00:33:28,072 --> 00:33:29,072
up around
these issues.

843
00:33:29,073 --> 00:33:31,073
And again, I wouldn't
expect that argument

844
00:33:31,075 --> 00:33:33,075
to carry the day with every
single Democrat in the

845
00:33:33,077 --> 00:33:35,077
House of Representatives,
but I do think that the

846
00:33:35,079 --> 00:33:38,519
President deserves,
and so far has gotten,

847
00:33:38,516 --> 00:33:40,116
a fair hearing.

848
00:33:40,118 --> 00:33:42,258
But this is a case that
we'll be making in the

849
00:33:42,253 --> 00:33:43,423
weeks ahead.

850
00:33:43,421 --> 00:33:44,721
Jim.

851
00:33:44,722 --> 00:33:46,692
The Press: Just to put a
finer point on the measles

852
00:33:46,691 --> 00:33:47,921
vaccine issue.

853
00:33:47,925 --> 00:33:51,565
When you say that it's the
parents -- you prefaced

854
00:33:51,562 --> 00:33:52,962
your comments by saying
that parents would have

855
00:33:52,964 --> 00:33:54,504
that decision.

856
00:33:54,499 --> 00:33:57,339
Are you supporting those
who not for religious

857
00:33:57,335 --> 00:34:00,935
reasons, but because they
have a special reason for

858
00:34:00,938 --> 00:34:06,008
it which may be based
upon faulty science,

859
00:34:06,010 --> 00:34:09,280
are holding their kids back
from getting vaccines?

860
00:34:09,280 --> 00:34:10,780
Does the President
support that?

861
00:34:10,782 --> 00:34:11,952
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
President believes that

862
00:34:11,949 --> 00:34:13,249
everybody should be
listening to our public

863
00:34:13,251 --> 00:34:14,751
health professionals.

864
00:34:14,752 --> 00:34:15,922
Our public health
professionals are guided

865
00:34:15,920 --> 00:34:16,890
by the science.

866
00:34:16,888 --> 00:34:18,928
They're the ones who are
steeped in this knowledge,

867
00:34:18,923 --> 00:34:21,063
they've reviewed the
studies, and they can

868
00:34:21,058 --> 00:34:24,058
offer the best advice to
Americans about how they

869
00:34:24,061 --> 00:34:26,001
can best protect
themselves and their kids

870
00:34:25,997 --> 00:34:27,737
from diseases
like measles.

871
00:34:27,732 --> 00:34:31,502
So I guess my point is,
I'm not going to stand

872
00:34:31,502 --> 00:34:33,842
up here and dispense medical
advice, but I am going

873
00:34:33,838 --> 00:34:36,938
to suggest that the
President's view is that

874
00:34:36,941 --> 00:34:39,241
people should evaluate
this for themselves with

875
00:34:39,243 --> 00:34:42,043
a bias toward good science
and toward the advice

876
00:34:42,046 --> 00:34:44,246
of our public health
professionals who are

877
00:34:44,248 --> 00:34:46,818
trained to offer us
exactly this kind

878
00:34:46,818 --> 00:34:47,818
of advice.

879
00:34:47,819 --> 00:34:49,819
The Press: And as I
understand the regulations

880
00:34:49,821 --> 00:34:51,961
now are, is that the
federal rules are you have

881
00:34:51,956 --> 00:34:54,726
to get a vaccine to go to
school, but if you have --

882
00:34:54,725 --> 00:34:57,625
but there are exemptions,
and the exemptions are for

883
00:34:57,628 --> 00:35:01,498
religious reasons and also if
you have a special concern.

884
00:35:01,499 --> 00:35:02,869
Does that law need
to be addressed?

885
00:35:02,867 --> 00:35:05,737
Does that mean we have to
eliminate these special

886
00:35:05,736 --> 00:35:07,306
concerns, which are
not based on science?

887
00:35:07,305 --> 00:35:09,905
Mr. Earnest: I haven't
heard any discussion about

888
00:35:09,907 --> 00:35:14,147
revising those rules, but
this administration and

889
00:35:14,145 --> 00:35:16,145
our public health
professionals rely on the

890
00:35:16,147 --> 00:35:18,717
best science available
to give Americans the

891
00:35:18,716 --> 00:35:20,716
information that they need
so that they can take the

892
00:35:20,718 --> 00:35:22,718
steps that are necessary
to protect themselves and

893
00:35:22,720 --> 00:35:23,720
their families.

894
00:35:23,721 --> 00:35:26,921
And that's what we believe
is the most important rule

895
00:35:26,924 --> 00:35:28,924
for the government
in this case.

896
00:35:28,926 --> 00:35:30,926
The Press: And then just,
in the State of the Union,

897
00:35:30,928 --> 00:35:33,168
the President said that
it was time for Congress

898
00:35:33,164 --> 00:35:35,764
to begin to lift the
embargo in Cuba.

899
00:35:35,766 --> 00:35:39,036
Do you believe that the
legislation, which has

900
00:35:39,036 --> 00:35:41,636
been proposed by Senators
Leahy -- in the Senate,

901
00:35:41,639 --> 00:35:44,879
Senators Leahy and Flake
and Durbin, is what the

902
00:35:44,876 --> 00:35:45,906
President is
talking about?

903
00:35:45,910 --> 00:35:47,880
It's not talking
asking for the embargo

904
00:35:47,879 --> 00:35:50,179
to be lifted, but for the travel
restrictions to be lifted?

905
00:35:50,181 --> 00:35:51,281
Mr. Earnest: I think it's
certainly a step in the

906
00:35:51,282 --> 00:35:52,852
right direction, and I
think it reflects the kind

907
00:35:52,850 --> 00:35:55,490
of bipartisan support
there is for the policy

908
00:35:55,486 --> 00:35:58,956
proposal -- or the policy
change that the President

909
00:35:58,956 --> 00:36:01,056
has started to implement
on his own and has called

910
00:36:01,058 --> 00:36:03,098
for Congress to
follow up on.

911
00:36:03,094 --> 00:36:05,534
So we certainly welcome
that piece of legislation,

912
00:36:05,530 --> 00:36:08,200
and hope it will get due
consideration in both the

913
00:36:08,199 --> 00:36:09,229
House and the Senate.

914
00:36:09,233 --> 00:36:10,403
The Press: And do you
think in this Congress,

915
00:36:10,401 --> 00:36:12,101
that the second step, the
lifting of the embargo,

916
00:36:12,103 --> 00:36:13,673
will come up?

917
00:36:13,671 --> 00:36:14,671
Mr. Earnest: Well, it's
certainly possible.

918
00:36:14,672 --> 00:36:17,542
I know the President is
not the only person

919
00:36:17,542 --> 00:36:19,542
to support the lifting
of the embargo.

920
00:36:19,544 --> 00:36:21,044
There are Democrats and
Republicans on both sides

921
00:36:21,045 --> 00:36:22,685
of the aisle who do
support it, and the

922
00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:24,480
President will continue
to advocate for it.

923
00:36:24,482 --> 00:36:25,712
Annie.

924
00:36:25,716 --> 00:36:29,116
The Press: You just
mentioned earlier that

925
00:36:29,120 --> 00:36:31,960
you welcome Republican
ideas to change Obamacare.

926
00:36:31,956 --> 00:36:34,656
And one of those that may
have come up today with

927
00:36:34,659 --> 00:36:39,459
Obama's push for medical
research is supporting

928
00:36:39,463 --> 00:36:42,363
rescinding the
medical device tax.

929
00:36:42,366 --> 00:36:44,306
And I'm curious if there's
been any movement on that

930
00:36:44,302 --> 00:36:46,402
at all, and particularly
with this push that you

931
00:36:46,404 --> 00:36:47,774
guys are making.

932
00:36:47,772 --> 00:36:49,342
Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't
think that there's much

933
00:36:49,340 --> 00:36:51,340
of a connection between the
medical device tax and the

934
00:36:51,342 --> 00:36:52,642
precision medicine
announcement that the

935
00:36:52,643 --> 00:36:54,643
President made today.

936
00:36:54,645 --> 00:36:56,615
The announcement that
the President made today

937
00:36:56,614 --> 00:37:00,354
related to precision
medicine is part

938
00:37:00,351 --> 00:37:01,691
of a substantial investment
that he believes

939
00:37:01,686 --> 00:37:05,856
is necessary in the kind of
medical innovations that

940
00:37:05,856 --> 00:37:09,396
could serve to
dramatically overhaul

941
00:37:09,393 --> 00:37:11,033
health care in this
country in a way that

942
00:37:11,040 --> 00:37:13,040
would have tremendous
benefits for the health

943
00:37:13,042 --> 00:37:14,562
and wellbeing of people
all across the country.

944
00:37:14,562 --> 00:37:16,562
The President is also
supportive of those kinds

945
00:37:16,562 --> 00:37:17,822
of investments because
they have important

946
00:37:17,822 --> 00:37:18,822
economic benefits
as well.

947
00:37:18,821 --> 00:37:22,401
Right now it's difficult
to predict exactly what

948
00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:24,400
kind of businesses could
sprout up around some

949
00:37:24,408 --> 00:37:26,408
of these innovations,
but there is tremendous

950
00:37:26,410 --> 00:37:28,410
economic potential
associated with a lot

951
00:37:28,412 --> 00:37:29,412
of this research.

952
00:37:29,413 --> 00:37:31,483
And so, for both of those
reasons, the President

953
00:37:31,482 --> 00:37:33,482
strongly believes that
this is a worthwhile

954
00:37:33,484 --> 00:37:35,484
investment, and he'll have
more details about what

955
00:37:35,486 --> 00:37:37,326
that investment actually
is in his budget.

956
00:37:37,321 --> 00:37:38,661
The Press: Well, many of
those companies, though --

957
00:37:38,656 --> 00:37:42,996
many of the companies
that come up with these

958
00:37:42,994 --> 00:37:46,134
innovations are pushing
for the medical device tax

959
00:37:46,130 --> 00:37:47,830
to be rescinded for
that very reason.

960
00:37:47,832 --> 00:37:50,532
And it will give them more
time and more resources

961
00:37:50,534 --> 00:37:51,734
to put into research.

962
00:37:51,736 --> 00:37:53,806
Mr. Earnest: Well, we
certainly have indicated

963
00:37:53,804 --> 00:37:55,174
a willingness to have
a conversation with

964
00:37:55,172 --> 00:37:58,442
Republicans about the
medical device tax.

965
00:37:58,442 --> 00:37:59,712
I know some of them have
expressed some concerns

966
00:37:59,710 --> 00:38:00,910
about it.

967
00:38:00,911 --> 00:38:02,681
And we're certainly
willing to have that

968
00:38:02,680 --> 00:38:04,080
conversation.

969
00:38:04,081 --> 00:38:06,351
But I don't think there's
any reason why that

970
00:38:06,350 --> 00:38:09,190
medical device tax would
in any way limit the kind

971
00:38:09,186 --> 00:38:11,186
of innovation that the
President believes could

972
00:38:11,188 --> 00:38:14,088
revolutionize health care
and has great economic

973
00:38:14,091 --> 00:38:18,401
potential for both those
well-established health

974
00:38:18,396 --> 00:38:20,736
care companies, but also
new companies that could

975
00:38:20,731 --> 00:38:22,931
emerge as a result of some
of this new technology.

976
00:38:22,933 --> 00:38:24,933
The Press: And then,
just on the Super Bowl,

977
00:38:24,935 --> 00:38:27,235
I'm wondering if the President
has any thoughts about

978
00:38:27,238 --> 00:38:31,538
either what the NFL has
done on domestic violence

979
00:38:31,542 --> 00:38:33,182
or on the issue
of concussions.

980
00:38:33,177 --> 00:38:36,317
Mr. Earnest: Well, as I
think has been covered

981
00:38:36,313 --> 00:38:38,313
in a lot of the
reporting, this has been

982
00:38:38,315 --> 00:38:41,215
a challenging year for the
NFL, and there are a range

983
00:38:41,218 --> 00:38:43,388
of important issues that
I think even they've

984
00:38:43,387 --> 00:38:45,587
acknowledged that
they need to address.

985
00:38:45,589 --> 00:38:48,929
And I haven't heard the
President sort of evaluate

986
00:38:48,926 --> 00:38:50,896
the specific response of
the NFL to some of these

987
00:38:50,895 --> 00:38:55,465
challenges, but certainly
acknowledging that these

988
00:38:55,466 --> 00:38:57,406
challenges exist is an
important first step,

989
00:38:57,401 --> 00:38:59,541
and there's no question
that the NFL has done that.

990
00:38:59,537 --> 00:39:00,867
Jim.

991
00:39:00,871 --> 00:39:02,811
The Press: Getting back to
the President's remarks

992
00:39:02,807 --> 00:39:06,247
last night, specifically
when he referenced

993
00:39:06,243 --> 00:39:09,613
Governor Romney, the
President did say that

994
00:39:09,613 --> 00:39:11,083
Governor Romney is a
former presidential

995
00:39:11,082 --> 00:39:13,582
candidate on the other
side, who suddenly is just

996
00:39:13,584 --> 00:39:15,024
deeply concerned
about poverty.

997
00:39:15,019 --> 00:39:19,419
He was zinging
Romney, was he not?

998
00:39:19,420 --> 00:39:20,920
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jim, I
think the President was

999
00:39:20,925 --> 00:39:24,625
observing a phenomenon
that we've seen emerge

1000
00:39:24,628 --> 00:39:27,068
from the mouths of many
members of the Republican

1001
00:39:27,064 --> 00:39:29,534
Party in the last
few months; that all

1002
00:39:29,533 --> 00:39:33,473
of a sudden, a party that
has for years advocated

1003
00:39:33,471 --> 00:39:35,471
policies that benefit
those at the top, with the

1004
00:39:35,473 --> 00:39:37,773
expectation that those
benefits may trickle down

1005
00:39:37,775 --> 00:39:40,215
to those in the middle,
that all of a sudden,

1006
00:39:40,211 --> 00:39:42,681
at least some Republicans
seem to be changing their

1007
00:39:42,680 --> 00:39:45,080
tune and indicating that
they're now actually all

1008
00:39:45,082 --> 00:39:47,522
of a sudden interested
in helping middle-class

1009
00:39:47,518 --> 00:39:48,518
families.

1010
00:39:48,519 --> 00:39:50,519
The President welcomes
their interest,

1011
00:39:50,521 --> 00:39:52,521
but is hopeful that their
interest is a signal

1012
00:39:52,523 --> 00:39:55,063
of actual policy proposals
and not just a new set

1013
00:39:55,059 --> 00:39:56,059
of talking points.

1014
00:39:56,060 --> 00:40:00,330
The Press: And how much
does the President expect

1015
00:40:00,331 --> 00:40:02,671
his message, the one that
he delivered last night,

1016
00:40:02,666 --> 00:40:04,706
the message that he's
trying to convey in this

1017
00:40:04,702 --> 00:40:08,372
upcoming budget proposal, is
picked up by Hillary Clinton

1018
00:40:08,372 --> 00:40:11,612
or the Democratic Party
heading into 2016?

1019
00:40:11,609 --> 00:40:15,709
Is he trying to set the
table for whoever may be

1020
00:40:15,713 --> 00:40:17,213
running for that
nomination in 2016?

1021
00:40:17,214 --> 00:40:19,184
Mr. Earnest: I mean,
the short answer

1022
00:40:19,183 --> 00:40:20,183
to the question
is no.

1023
00:40:20,184 --> 00:40:22,184
What the President is
trying to do is he wants

1024
00:40:22,186 --> 00:40:24,586
to set the table for some
progress for the country

1025
00:40:24,588 --> 00:40:26,588
over the course of the
two remaining years

1026
00:40:26,590 --> 00:40:27,590
of his presidency.

1027
00:40:27,591 --> 00:40:29,591
And the President is
hopeful that he can work

1028
00:40:29,593 --> 00:40:31,593
with Congress to make
some of that progress.

1029
00:40:31,595 --> 00:40:34,235
The President is also the
first to acknowledge that

1030
00:40:34,231 --> 00:40:36,231
he may have to take
some steps on his own

1031
00:40:36,233 --> 00:40:38,233
to realize some of that
progress, and he's willing

1032
00:40:38,235 --> 00:40:41,375
to do both.

1033
00:40:41,372 --> 00:40:42,672
That's what the President
is going to be focused

1034
00:40:42,673 --> 00:40:46,143
on for the last two years,
and there will be this

1035
00:40:46,143 --> 00:40:48,143
other presidential
campaign that's going on.

1036
00:40:48,145 --> 00:40:50,145
And I'm confident that
there will be some people

1037
00:40:50,147 --> 00:40:52,147
who are running for
President who are going

1038
00:40:52,149 --> 00:40:54,149
to be critical of some of
the President's proposals,

1039
00:40:54,151 --> 00:40:56,151
and there will be some
people who are running

1040
00:40:56,153 --> 00:40:58,153
for President who will
compliment the President

1041
00:40:58,155 --> 00:41:00,125
for some of the proposals
that he's put forward.

1042
00:41:00,124 --> 00:41:02,124
And the President is happy
to be a part of that debate.

1043
00:41:02,126 --> 00:41:04,126
But ultimately, the debate
that he's going to have

1044
00:41:04,128 --> 00:41:07,068
will be one that's focused
on the middle class and

1045
00:41:07,064 --> 00:41:10,264
focused on how we can make
progress for the middle class.

1046
00:41:10,267 --> 00:41:12,267
The people who are part
of that campaign will

1047
00:41:12,269 --> 00:41:14,269
be making the case for the
country about how they

1048
00:41:14,271 --> 00:41:16,371
can make that progress, if
they're given the same

1049
00:41:16,373 --> 00:41:18,473
kind of opportunity that
this President has been

1050
00:41:18,475 --> 00:41:20,475
given, to serve here
in the White House.

1051
00:41:20,477 --> 00:41:22,477
The Press: And with
Governor Romney making

1052
00:41:22,479 --> 00:41:24,479
his decision today, they
aren't any thoughts here

1053
00:41:24,481 --> 00:41:26,481
at the White House as
to how soon perhaps

1054
00:41:26,483 --> 00:41:28,583
Hillary Clinton or Joe
Biden should be making some

1055
00:41:28,586 --> 00:41:29,916
decisions on the future?

1056
00:41:29,920 --> 00:41:31,760
Mr. Earnest: They'll make
those decisions on their

1057
00:41:31,755 --> 00:41:32,695
own timeframe.

1058
00:41:32,690 --> 00:41:33,820
The Press: Okay.

1059
00:41:33,824 --> 00:41:37,424
And I want to get back to
the Bowe Bergdahl swap.

1060
00:41:37,428 --> 00:41:40,728
No regrets at this White
House for that swap?

1061
00:41:40,731 --> 00:41:42,731
Mr. Earnest: Of
course not, Jim.

1062
00:41:42,733 --> 00:41:46,533
We're talking about a
principle that has a lot

1063
00:41:46,537 --> 00:41:49,007
of precedent that this
President is firmly

1064
00:41:49,006 --> 00:41:50,076
committed to.

1065
00:41:50,074 --> 00:41:52,074
As the Commander-in-Chief,
it's his responsibility

1066
00:41:52,076 --> 00:41:54,346
that no man or woman who
wears the uniform of the

1067
00:41:54,345 --> 00:41:56,585
United States military
is left behind.

1068
00:41:56,580 --> 00:41:58,580
And that is a principle
that the President

1069
00:41:58,582 --> 00:42:00,882
is committed to upholding,
in the same way that

1070
00:42:00,885 --> 00:42:06,155
commanders-in-chief before
him upheld that principle.

1071
00:42:06,156 --> 00:42:08,856
And that, ultimately, is
where this debate starts

1072
00:42:08,859 --> 00:42:09,859
and stops for him.

1073
00:42:09,860 --> 00:42:11,860
The Press: And you said
that none of these

1074
00:42:11,862 --> 00:42:14,132
individuals have returned
to the battlefield.

1075
00:42:14,131 --> 00:42:15,231
Has the administration
confirmed that?

1076
00:42:15,232 --> 00:42:16,162
Mr. Earnest:
That's correct.

1077
00:42:16,166 --> 00:42:17,336
The Press: And when was
that confirmation made?

1078
00:42:17,334 --> 00:42:19,404
Was that just made in
recent days -- contacts

1079
00:42:19,403 --> 00:42:23,573
made in recent days
to confirm that?

1080
00:42:23,574 --> 00:42:26,374
Mr. Earnest: Jim, we are
-- the national security

1081
00:42:26,377 --> 00:42:28,847
team here is in
regular touch with our

1082
00:42:28,846 --> 00:42:30,786
counterparts in Qatar.

1083
00:42:30,781 --> 00:42:33,581
And right now, these
individuals are in Qatar

1084
00:42:33,584 --> 00:42:36,624
and they are subjected to
monitoring and mitigation

1085
00:42:36,620 --> 00:42:39,820
measures that ensures
that we're limiting their

1086
00:42:39,823 --> 00:42:41,863
activities and doing so in
a way that protects the

1087
00:42:41,859 --> 00:42:43,629
national security interest
of the United States.

1088
00:42:43,627 --> 00:42:44,867
The Press: And the United
States is doing that

1089
00:42:44,862 --> 00:42:46,362
monitoring, is
that correct?

1090
00:42:46,363 --> 00:42:48,863
In conjunction with the
allies there in the region?

1091
00:42:48,866 --> 00:42:50,866
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jim,
we're in close touch with

1092
00:42:50,868 --> 00:42:53,868
the Qataris about these
monitoring and mitigation

1093
00:42:53,871 --> 00:42:55,201
procedures.

1094
00:42:55,205 --> 00:42:57,205
But I'm just not going to
be in a position to detail

1095
00:42:57,207 --> 00:42:58,207
exactly what those are.

1096
00:42:58,208 --> 00:43:00,208
The Press: And I'm sorry,
just to button it up,

1097
00:43:00,210 --> 00:43:06,650
the fact that this individual
was perhaps in contact

1098
00:43:06,650 --> 00:43:09,090
with people on the
battlefield, or in that

1099
00:43:09,086 --> 00:43:14,226
theater of concern, does that
concern the White House?

1100
00:43:14,224 --> 00:43:15,924
It appears that
was the case.

1101
00:43:15,926 --> 00:43:17,326
You're saying not
on the battlefield,

1102
00:43:17,328 --> 00:43:18,198
making that
distinction.

1103
00:43:18,195 --> 00:43:20,835
But perhaps making
attempts to contact

1104
00:43:20,831 --> 00:43:23,871
people on the battlefield,
that should be a concern,

1105
00:43:23,867 --> 00:43:25,007
I would think.

1106
00:43:25,002 --> 00:43:27,202
Mr. Earnest: Well, I can't
talk about the individual

1107
00:43:27,204 --> 00:43:29,244
concern that we have.

1108
00:43:29,239 --> 00:43:32,309
I can just say, as a
general matter, that there

1109
00:43:32,309 --> 00:43:34,309
have been concerns that
have been raised about one

1110
00:43:34,311 --> 00:43:37,811
individual, and that the
monitoring and mitigation

1111
00:43:37,815 --> 00:43:40,855
measures that were in
place have been updated

1112
00:43:40,851 --> 00:43:42,391
to reflect
those concerns.

1113
00:43:42,386 --> 00:43:44,886
But I just can't get into
the details of either what

1114
00:43:44,888 --> 00:43:47,528
prompted those concerns,
what the concerns are,

1115
00:43:47,524 --> 00:43:49,424
or what the mitigation
measures were.

1116
00:43:49,426 --> 00:43:50,366
The Press: And by
"updated," you mean

1117
00:43:50,361 --> 00:43:52,431
intensified, right?

1118
00:43:52,429 --> 00:43:55,699
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
it would be fine for you

1119
00:43:55,699 --> 00:43:57,169
to interpret it that way.

1120
00:43:57,167 --> 00:44:00,137
The Press: And because of
the drone concerns here

1121
00:44:00,137 --> 00:44:02,837
at the White House earlier
this week, and there have

1122
00:44:02,840 --> 00:44:05,610
been some reports about
drone concerns at the

1123
00:44:05,609 --> 00:44:09,149
Super Bowl this weekend
-- that people may try

1124
00:44:09,146 --> 00:44:11,986
to do this sort of thing, and
people have been told not

1125
00:44:11,982 --> 00:44:14,352
to do that -- I
mean, what is the

1126
00:44:14,351 --> 00:44:19,291
Department of Homeland Security,
I guess, activity related

1127
00:44:19,289 --> 00:44:20,459
to that?

1128
00:44:20,457 --> 00:44:21,797
Is this a new concern?

1129
00:44:21,792 --> 00:44:24,032
Is this sort of a new
phenomenon that the

1130
00:44:24,028 --> 00:44:25,628
Department of Homeland
Security is looking at,

1131
00:44:25,629 --> 00:44:27,799
that the national security
apparatus of this

1132
00:44:27,798 --> 00:44:30,538
government is looking at
with respect to keeping

1133
00:44:30,534 --> 00:44:32,334
people safe
this weekend?

1134
00:44:32,336 --> 00:44:34,536
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jim,
this is a concern that

1135
00:44:34,538 --> 00:44:36,778
is new in the headlines,
but is a concern that our

1136
00:44:36,774 --> 00:44:38,774
national security team,
and specifically

1137
00:44:38,776 --> 00:44:40,946
the Department of Homeland
Security has been aware

1138
00:44:40,944 --> 00:44:42,914
of and focused on for
quite some time.

1139
00:44:42,913 --> 00:44:44,913
And I can tell you,
as it relates to the

1140
00:44:44,915 --> 00:44:47,415
White House, this is something
that has been a subject

1141
00:44:47,418 --> 00:44:49,418
of extensive
conversation at the

1142
00:44:49,420 --> 00:44:52,320
United States Secret Service,
the agency that's responsible

1143
00:44:52,322 --> 00:44:54,162
for protecting
the White House.

1144
00:44:54,158 --> 00:44:56,158
I also know that the Department
of Homeland Security

1145
00:44:56,160 --> 00:44:58,160
is involved in
some of the security

1146
00:44:58,162 --> 00:45:00,162
precautions that are
put in place around the

1147
00:45:00,164 --> 00:45:02,164
Super Bowl, as they are with
other large gatherings

1148
00:45:02,166 --> 00:45:03,166
like that.

1149
00:45:03,167 --> 00:45:04,167
So I'd refer
you to the

1150
00:45:04,168 --> 00:45:07,168
Department of Homeland Security
to discuss what they can

1151
00:45:07,171 --> 00:45:09,541
about the security measures that
are in place to keep people

1152
00:45:09,540 --> 00:45:10,940
safe when they're
attending the Super Bowl

1153
00:45:10,941 --> 00:45:12,981
today -- or
this weekend.

1154
00:45:12,976 --> 00:45:14,316
Jared.

1155
00:45:14,311 --> 00:45:16,211
The Press: Josh, I want
to follow up on Major's

1156
00:45:16,213 --> 00:45:17,653
question about
King v. Burwell.

1157
00:45:17,648 --> 00:45:19,188
I know you said that you
remain confident about the

1158
00:45:19,183 --> 00:45:20,453
Supreme Court's decision.

1159
00:45:20,451 --> 00:45:22,091
Is there any legislative
proposal that the

1160
00:45:22,086 --> 00:45:24,086
administration is
considering that could

1161
00:45:24,088 --> 00:45:26,588
potentially get through
two Republican chambers

1162
00:45:26,590 --> 00:45:30,090
of Congress that would fix
the Affordable Care Act

1163
00:45:30,094 --> 00:45:32,164
if the King v. Burwell
decision went the other way?

1164
00:45:32,162 --> 00:45:34,132
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jared,
we're confident that

1165
00:45:34,131 --> 00:45:35,301
it's not going to
go the other way.

1166
00:45:35,299 --> 00:45:37,139
The Press: So there's no
legislative consideration

1167
00:45:37,134 --> 00:45:39,634
happening to hedge
any of those bets?

1168
00:45:39,636 --> 00:45:41,936
Mr. Earnest: Well,
Republicans have indicated

1169
00:45:41,939 --> 00:45:44,139
that they're, again,
determined to try

1170
00:45:44,141 --> 00:45:46,141
to undermine the
Affordable Care Act.

1171
00:45:46,143 --> 00:45:48,143
And for some reason, they
think it's good politics

1172
00:45:48,145 --> 00:45:50,145
to try to take health
care away from people;

1173
00:45:50,147 --> 00:45:52,147
I'm not sure exactly
why that is.

1174
00:45:52,149 --> 00:45:54,149
But that's the conclusion
that they've reached.

1175
00:45:54,151 --> 00:45:56,151
And they have said that
they would block any sort

1176
00:45:56,153 --> 00:45:58,153
of legislative
improvements to the

1177
00:45:58,155 --> 00:46:00,155
Affordable Care Act,
and that's unfortunate

1178
00:46:00,157 --> 00:46:02,157
but that's the
situation as it exists.

1179
00:46:02,159 --> 00:46:04,199
That's why it's a good
thing that we continue

1180
00:46:04,194 --> 00:46:08,234
to be confident that the
Supreme Court is going

1181
00:46:08,232 --> 00:46:11,102
to take a look at the
legislation and consider

1182
00:46:11,101 --> 00:46:13,101
what is a pretty
straightforward reading --

1183
00:46:13,103 --> 00:46:15,773
that the Congress intended
for individuals who are

1184
00:46:15,772 --> 00:46:20,312
qualified to accept tax
credits to make their

1185
00:46:20,310 --> 00:46:23,010
health care more affordable
can actually accept them.

1186
00:46:23,013 --> 00:46:25,013
And that's a pretty simple
principle, and I don't

1187
00:46:25,015 --> 00:46:30,785
think it's one that we --
it is a conclusion that

1188
00:46:30,787 --> 00:46:33,487
has been acknowledged by others
who have looked at this.

1189
00:46:33,490 --> 00:46:35,360
For example, when the
Congressional Budget Office

1190
00:46:35,359 --> 00:46:37,329
did a review of the
Affordable Care Act, they

1191
00:46:37,327 --> 00:46:40,067
did so, and their analysis
indicated that they

1192
00:46:40,063 --> 00:46:42,903
expected people who lived
in states where the

1193
00:46:42,900 --> 00:46:44,900
federal government was
running their marketplace,

1194
00:46:44,902 --> 00:46:46,902
that those people who be
eligible to collect tax

1195
00:46:46,904 --> 00:46:48,904
credits to make their health
insurance more affordable.

1196
00:46:48,906 --> 00:46:50,876
So it's not as if
this is some sort

1197
00:46:50,874 --> 00:46:52,874
of creative interpretation
of the legislation.

1198
00:46:52,876 --> 00:46:55,816
I think it is rather the
clear intent of those

1199
00:46:55,812 --> 00:46:57,382
who wrote the law.

1200
00:46:57,381 --> 00:46:58,581
Ultimately, it's the
Supreme Court that has

1201
00:46:58,582 --> 00:47:02,752
to decide this, but I think
on its face it's a matter

1202
00:47:02,753 --> 00:47:03,753
of common sense.

1203
00:47:03,754 --> 00:47:05,754
The Press: So since the
Republicans control both

1204
00:47:05,756 --> 00:47:07,726
chambers of Congress,
there's no point in the

1205
00:47:07,724 --> 00:47:09,724
White House -- is this
what you're saying

1206
00:47:09,726 --> 00:47:11,726
-- pursuing a backstop
proposal if the Supreme Court

1207
00:47:11,728 --> 00:47:12,728
went the other way?

1208
00:47:12,729 --> 00:47:14,729
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
we don't think the

1209
00:47:14,731 --> 00:47:16,731
Supreme Court is going
to go the other way.

1210
00:47:16,733 --> 00:47:18,733
And even if they did,
Republicans have said

1211
00:47:18,735 --> 00:47:20,735
that they wouldn't consider
a legislative solution.

1212
00:47:20,737 --> 00:47:22,737
So we're pretty busy
here at the White House.

1213
00:47:22,739 --> 00:47:24,739
I don't think that would
be a good use of our time.

1214
00:47:24,741 --> 00:47:26,741
The Press: One
other thing, Josh.

1215
00:47:26,743 --> 00:47:28,743
Does the White House have
any reaction to Texas

1216
00:47:28,745 --> 00:47:30,745
state representative,
Molly White,

1217
00:47:30,747 --> 00:47:32,747
and a decision that she made
to put an Israeli flag on her

1218
00:47:32,749 --> 00:47:35,119
desk and ask people
to sign a pledge

1219
00:47:35,118 --> 00:47:37,288
of allegiance to Muslims
who were visiting

1220
00:47:37,287 --> 00:47:38,687
her office
yesterday?

1221
00:47:38,689 --> 00:47:40,159
Does the White House
happen to have any

1222
00:47:40,157 --> 00:47:41,357
reaction to that?

1223
00:47:41,358 --> 00:47:42,558
Mr. Earnest: I
don't, Jared.

1224
00:47:42,559 --> 00:47:43,759
And that's actually the
first I'm hearing of it,

1225
00:47:43,760 --> 00:47:45,930
but I'll go see if I can
learn more about it.

1226
00:47:45,929 --> 00:47:46,929
April.

1227
00:47:46,930 --> 00:47:47,970
Mr. Earnest:
Or not, maybe.

1228
00:47:47,965 --> 00:47:50,865
(laughter)

1229
00:47:52,669 --> 00:47:53,909
I'm sorry, April, I
didn't mean to interrupt.

1230
00:47:53,904 --> 00:47:54,604
The Press:
No problem.

1231
00:47:54,605 --> 00:47:55,675
No problem.

1232
00:47:55,672 --> 00:47:58,812
Josh, I want to know, is
Ferguson still a very

1233
00:47:58,809 --> 00:48:01,049
special issue item that
the President still looks

1234
00:48:01,044 --> 00:48:04,344
at daily to find out
what's happening?

1235
00:48:04,348 --> 00:48:07,148
Mr. Earnest: This
broader issue, April,

1236
00:48:07,150 --> 00:48:11,120
of strengthening the bonds
of trust between local

1237
00:48:11,121 --> 00:48:13,121
law enforcement officials
and the citizens of the

1238
00:48:13,123 --> 00:48:15,123
communities they serve
is something that the

1239
00:48:15,125 --> 00:48:16,125
President is
very focused on.

1240
00:48:16,126 --> 00:48:18,696
And as you know, there is
this commission that has

1241
00:48:18,695 --> 00:48:21,395
been hard at work, that
was appointed by the

1242
00:48:21,398 --> 00:48:23,498
President, to take a look
at some of these issues.

1243
00:48:23,500 --> 00:48:25,900
This is a commission that
include members of law

1244
00:48:25,902 --> 00:48:27,902
enforcement, some
community and civil rights

1245
00:48:27,904 --> 00:48:30,074
leaders and others, who
could examine what some

1246
00:48:30,073 --> 00:48:32,173
communities across the
country have done to build

1247
00:48:32,175 --> 00:48:34,445
this trust and to try to
find ways to share those

1248
00:48:34,444 --> 00:48:37,144
best practices with other
communities across the country.

1249
00:48:37,147 --> 00:48:39,447
The Press: So since you're
still looking at that

1250
00:48:39,449 --> 00:48:41,789
issue, what did the
President say about the

1251
00:48:41,785 --> 00:48:44,685
dust-up that happened in
Ferguson as tensions are

1252
00:48:44,688 --> 00:48:46,928
still very high between
the black community and

1253
00:48:46,923 --> 00:48:48,793
law enforcement there?

1254
00:48:48,792 --> 00:48:49,692
Mr. Earnest: April, I
haven't talk to the

1255
00:48:49,693 --> 00:48:50,763
President about it.

1256
00:48:50,761 --> 00:48:51,991
I have seen the news
reports that you're

1257
00:48:51,995 --> 00:48:53,095
referring to.

1258
00:48:53,096 --> 00:48:55,696
And I think this is an
indication that there's

1259
00:48:55,699 --> 00:48:57,839
more work that needs to be
done on this, and I don't

1260
00:48:57,834 --> 00:49:00,774
think that's a surprise to
anybody, that some of the

1261
00:49:00,771 --> 00:49:01,871
-- The Press: On
a federal level?

1262
00:49:01,872 --> 00:49:03,312
Mr. Earnest: Well,
no, actually in that

1263
00:49:03,307 --> 00:49:04,507
community.

1264
00:49:04,508 --> 00:49:06,178
And don't think that's
a surprise to anybody.

1265
00:49:06,176 --> 00:49:08,746
I think that so much of
the turmoil that we saw

1266
00:49:08,745 --> 00:49:12,745
in that community over the
summer and fall were not

1267
00:49:12,749 --> 00:49:17,059
the result of issues that
had just cropped up; these

1268
00:49:17,054 --> 00:49:19,754
were issues that were
long-simmering and erupted

1269
00:49:19,756 --> 00:49:24,366
in rather tragic ways
into public view.

1270
00:49:24,361 --> 00:49:27,261
And the Department of
Justice, as you know,

1271
00:49:27,264 --> 00:49:30,164
has been intensively involved
in that local community,

1272
00:49:30,167 --> 00:49:31,867
trying to work through
some of those issues.

1273
00:49:31,868 --> 00:49:35,668
And we're hopeful that the
work of this commission

1274
00:49:35,672 --> 00:49:37,542
that the President has
appointed will have some

1275
00:49:37,541 --> 00:49:40,311
very practical, tangible
recommendations for

1276
00:49:40,310 --> 00:49:42,310
Ferguson and other
communities all across

1277
00:49:42,312 --> 00:49:44,482
the country, large and
small, for some ideas about

1278
00:49:44,481 --> 00:49:46,881
things they can do to try
to head off these issues

1279
00:49:46,883 --> 00:49:49,123
before they erupt so
violently in the way

1280
00:49:49,119 --> 00:49:50,119
that they did
in Ferguson.

1281
00:49:50,120 --> 00:49:51,720
The Press: And on a
second, unrelated

1282
00:49:51,722 --> 00:49:54,392
question, you brought
up Mitt Romney.

1283
00:49:54,391 --> 00:49:56,531
Well, Nedra asked about
Mitt Romney and you spoke

1284
00:49:56,526 --> 00:49:59,796
very glowingly of him,
saying he's a man of great

1285
00:49:59,796 --> 00:50:02,136
faith and it was a
difficult decision,

1286
00:50:02,132 --> 00:50:03,772
things that
you said.

1287
00:50:03,767 --> 00:50:05,637
And Jim asked -- brought
up a really good point

1288
00:50:05,635 --> 00:50:07,275
about inclusion.

1289
00:50:07,270 --> 00:50:08,870
During his run for
President against

1290
00:50:08,872 --> 00:50:11,772
President Obama, he was
not known for inclusion

1291
00:50:11,775 --> 00:50:16,075
efforts, and with that,
what does this White House

1292
00:50:16,079 --> 00:50:19,449
think of the crop of
candidates running --

1293
00:50:19,449 --> 00:50:22,019
be it Democrat or
Republican -- as it relates

1294
00:50:22,018 --> 00:50:24,218
to inclusion and to include
the issues that we're

1295
00:50:24,221 --> 00:50:26,021
seeing with Ferguson,
what's happened in

1296
00:50:26,022 --> 00:50:32,232
New York, in Sanford,
Florida, with Travon Martin,

1297
00:50:32,229 --> 00:50:34,929
and with Tamir Rice
in Cleveland?

1298
00:50:34,931 --> 00:50:36,931
Does this administration
feel that there's

1299
00:50:36,933 --> 00:50:39,833
a responsibility for these
potential presidential

1300
00:50:39,836 --> 00:50:42,606
candidates to really reach
out for inclusion versus

1301
00:50:42,606 --> 00:50:45,676
being a party for a
single group of people?

1302
00:50:45,675 --> 00:50:48,375
Mr. Earnest: Well, April,
I think the best way for

1303
00:50:48,378 --> 00:50:50,378
me to answer your question
is to talk about the

1304
00:50:50,380 --> 00:50:51,380
President's experience.

1305
00:50:51,381 --> 00:50:53,381
And the President believed
that the strength of his

1306
00:50:53,383 --> 00:50:55,423
campaign was built on the
diversity of the support

1307
00:50:55,419 --> 00:50:58,359
that he enjoyed all across
the country; that the

1308
00:50:58,355 --> 00:51:00,455
President's campaign had
succeeded in energizing

1309
00:51:00,457 --> 00:51:02,457
people who hadn't been
involved in politics

1310
00:51:02,459 --> 00:51:04,599
before; that we got
Democrats and Republicans

1311
00:51:04,594 --> 00:51:06,594
and independents excited
about the prospect of

1312
00:51:06,596 --> 00:51:08,996
being able to change
their country.

1313
00:51:08,999 --> 00:51:12,039
And the President believes
that ultimately, in 2008

1314
00:51:12,035 --> 00:51:16,005
and in 2012, that that was
the key to his success.

1315
00:51:16,006 --> 00:51:19,546
And to the extent that the
campaigns that are run

1316
00:51:19,543 --> 00:51:22,913
in 2016 are going to want to
try to emulate successful

1317
00:51:22,913 --> 00:51:25,313
-- recent, successful
president campaigns, then

1318
00:51:25,315 --> 00:51:27,685
a core element of those
campaigns will need

1319
00:51:27,684 --> 00:51:32,654
to be predicated on building
a diverse, inclusive

1320
00:51:32,656 --> 00:51:33,986
national campaign.

1321
00:51:33,990 --> 00:51:35,930
The Press: So are you
saying that we're

1322
00:51:35,926 --> 00:51:38,526
in a time that there's no
room for just focusing on one

1323
00:51:38,528 --> 00:51:39,968
group of people?

1324
00:51:39,963 --> 00:51:41,833
Mr. Earnest: Well, what
I'm saying is that

1325
00:51:41,832 --> 00:51:43,732
ultimately the people who will
run in the 2016 campaigns

1326
00:51:43,733 --> 00:51:47,273
are going to have to devise
their own strategy.

1327
00:51:47,270 --> 00:51:49,270
But I can tell you that
when the President devised

1328
00:51:49,272 --> 00:51:53,782
his strategy in 2008 and
2012, that one of the most

1329
00:51:53,777 --> 00:51:56,917
important elements of that
strategy was building an

1330
00:51:56,913 --> 00:51:59,013
inclusive campaign that
reflected the kind of

1331
00:51:59,015 --> 00:52:02,485
diverse support that he
wanted to earn from voters

1332
00:52:02,486 --> 00:52:05,226
and supporters all
across the country.

1333
00:52:05,222 --> 00:52:06,222
Francesca.

1334
00:52:06,223 --> 00:52:08,223
The Press: Yes, speaking
of people who might

1335
00:52:08,225 --> 00:52:11,065
potentially be running for
President, Joe Biden --

1336
00:52:11,061 --> 00:52:13,131
when he was at the
Democratic conference,

1337
00:52:13,129 --> 00:52:15,799
he said, to state the
obvious, the past six years

1338
00:52:15,799 --> 00:52:18,569
have been really, really
hard for this country.

1339
00:52:18,568 --> 00:52:21,268
What was Vice President
Biden trying to say there?

1340
00:52:21,271 --> 00:52:23,311
I mean, the past six years
this President has been

1341
00:52:23,306 --> 00:52:25,406
in charge of
the country.

1342
00:52:25,408 --> 00:52:26,448
Mr. Earnest: Francesca,
I think what the

1343
00:52:26,443 --> 00:52:28,843
Vice President was observing
is that it's been very

1344
00:52:28,845 --> 00:52:30,645
difficult to dig out of
the financial crisis that

1345
00:52:30,647 --> 00:52:33,287
this President inherited
when he took office and

1346
00:52:33,283 --> 00:52:35,753
that it has been hard
work to dig out of that

1347
00:52:35,752 --> 00:52:36,752
financial crisis.

1348
00:52:36,753 --> 00:52:38,793
And because of the grit
and determination of the

1349
00:52:38,788 --> 00:52:40,888
American people and
American workers,

1350
00:52:40,891 --> 00:52:42,961
because of the policies that
this administration put

1351
00:52:42,959 --> 00:52:46,259
in place, our economy has
bounced back stronger than ever.

1352
00:52:46,263 --> 00:52:48,763
And we've laid a new
foundation that we need

1353
00:52:48,765 --> 00:52:50,765
to capitalize on, and the
President is hopeful that

1354
00:52:50,767 --> 00:52:52,507
on top of that
new foundation,

1355
00:52:52,502 --> 00:52:54,502
we can actually put in
place policies that are

1356
00:52:54,504 --> 00:52:56,504
going to benefit
middle-class families.

1357
00:52:56,506 --> 00:52:58,506
And whether it's
opening up the doors

1358
00:52:58,508 --> 00:53:00,508
to a college education to
more middle-class families;

1359
00:53:00,510 --> 00:53:02,510
making it easier for
middle-class families

1360
00:53:02,512 --> 00:53:04,512
to save for retirement;
helping middle-class

1361
00:53:04,514 --> 00:53:06,514
families stretch a
paychecks -- stretch

1362
00:53:06,516 --> 00:53:08,516
their paychecks, particularly
if both mom and dad are working.

1363
00:53:08,518 --> 00:53:10,518
There are a number of
policies we can put

1364
00:53:10,520 --> 00:53:12,520
in place that will be
in the best interest

1365
00:53:12,522 --> 00:53:14,522
of middle-class families
and that's an opportunity

1366
00:53:14,524 --> 00:53:16,524
that we have now that
we have recovered

1367
00:53:16,526 --> 00:53:18,496
from a terrible
financial crisis.

1368
00:53:18,495 --> 00:53:20,495
The Press: Well,
you're very clear,

1369
00:53:20,497 --> 00:53:22,497
but on a related note,
the Democrats are having

1370
00:53:22,499 --> 00:53:24,799
a panel today called,
"Where Do We Go From Here?"

1371
00:53:24,801 --> 00:53:26,771
Does that suggest
that the rest of the

1372
00:53:26,770 --> 00:53:29,940
Democratic Party, especially
congressional democrats,

1373
00:53:29,940 --> 00:53:31,940
are adrift and they don't know
where the party is going?

1374
00:53:31,942 --> 00:53:33,942
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
don't speak for all the

1375
00:53:33,944 --> 00:53:35,944
Democrats; I speak for
just the most powerful

1376
00:53:35,946 --> 00:53:37,246
Democrat in the world.

1377
00:53:37,247 --> 00:53:38,117
(laughter)

1378
00:53:38,114 --> 00:53:39,454
And I can tell you
that he's very clear

1379
00:53:39,449 --> 00:53:42,719
about where he wants
to take the country.

1380
00:53:42,719 --> 00:53:43,689
Ching-Yi.

1381
00:53:43,687 --> 00:53:44,717
The Press:
Thank you, Josh.

1382
00:53:44,721 --> 00:53:47,561
I have a question regarding
the Asia Pacific, actually.

1383
00:53:47,557 --> 00:53:51,127
Yesterday, U.S. Seventh
Fleet Commander,

1384
00:53:51,127 --> 00:53:56,337
Admiral Robert Thomas,
told Reuters that the

1385
00:53:56,333 --> 00:54:01,673
U.S. would welcome Japan
patrols in the South China Sea.

1386
00:54:01,671 --> 00:54:04,041
And the Chinese government
has a reaction to that.

1387
00:54:04,040 --> 00:54:07,610
And China's English
newspaper also reacts

1388
00:54:07,611 --> 00:54:11,111
strongly by saying
that Washington has

1389
00:54:11,114 --> 00:54:16,824
no authority to draw Japan
in, and also if Japan did

1390
00:54:16,820 --> 00:54:20,720
send air patrols to
South China Sea, China

1391
00:54:20,724 --> 00:54:27,034
would counter that action and
also announce to establish

1392
00:54:27,030 --> 00:54:31,030
a South China Sea
air defense zone.

1393
00:54:31,034 --> 00:54:36,144
So is this a new strategy
for Obama administration

1394
00:54:36,139 --> 00:54:39,639
to involve Japan's military
into South China Sea?

1395
00:54:39,643 --> 00:54:45,683
And is there any change of
your Asia rebalance policy?

1396
00:54:45,682 --> 00:54:47,082
Mr. Earnest: Ching-Yi,
I'm not aware of the

1397
00:54:47,083 --> 00:54:48,883
specific report that you've
raised, but I can tell you

1398
00:54:48,885 --> 00:54:51,125
that the administration
policy that we have sought

1399
00:54:51,121 --> 00:54:55,321
to pursue is to make sure
that disputes that are

1400
00:54:55,325 --> 00:54:58,025
arising in the South
China Sea are resolved

1401
00:54:58,028 --> 00:55:00,598
peacefully; that the
South China Sea is a zone

1402
00:55:00,597 --> 00:55:04,337
of commerce that's critically
important to the global economy.

1403
00:55:04,334 --> 00:55:06,734
And ensuring that commerce
can be conducted in that

1404
00:55:06,736 --> 00:55:10,376
region of the world is in
the clear interest of the

1405
00:55:10,373 --> 00:55:13,073
largest economies in the
world, including China,

1406
00:55:13,076 --> 00:55:14,206
Japan and the
United States.

1407
00:55:14,210 --> 00:55:16,910
So we all have an interest
in making sure that those

1408
00:55:16,913 --> 00:55:19,413
disputes are resolved
peacefully and in a way

1409
00:55:19,416 --> 00:55:21,986
that will allow commerce
to continue unimpeded

1410
00:55:21,985 --> 00:55:22,985
in that region
of the world.

1411
00:55:22,986 --> 00:55:24,986
The Press: So will the
U.S. support Japan

1412
00:55:24,988 --> 00:55:27,388
to air patrol in
South China Sea?

1413
00:55:27,390 --> 00:55:29,730
Mr. Earnest: Again, I
haven't seen that specific

1414
00:55:29,726 --> 00:55:31,726
prospect being raised but
let me see if I can have

1415
00:55:31,728 --> 00:55:33,728
my colleagues at the
National Security Council

1416
00:55:33,730 --> 00:55:34,730
get back to you
on it.

1417
00:55:34,731 --> 00:55:35,661
Cheryl.

1418
00:55:35,665 --> 00:55:36,835
The Press: Yes,
thanks.

1419
00:55:36,833 --> 00:55:38,603
Last night, one of the
other messages from

1420
00:55:38,601 --> 00:55:40,341
the President was DHS,

1421
00:55:40,336 --> 00:55:42,936
Department of Homeland
Security funding.

1422
00:55:42,939 --> 00:55:45,709
But what can Democrats do
at this point, and have

1423
00:55:45,709 --> 00:55:47,549
you heard anything
new from Republicans

1424
00:55:47,544 --> 00:55:49,514
on where
that's headed?

1425
00:55:49,512 --> 00:55:50,582
Mr. Earnest: Yes,
unfortunately, we have

1426
00:55:50,580 --> 00:55:52,580
not heard anything
new from Republicans.

1427
00:55:52,582 --> 00:55:55,552
As I mentioned earlier,
Republicans -- I guess

1428
00:55:55,552 --> 00:55:58,652
this was yesterday that we
discussed this previously

1429
00:55:58,655 --> 00:56:00,655
-- the Republicans spent
a lot of time trying to

1430
00:56:00,657 --> 00:56:02,657
campaign so that they
could have the majority

1431
00:56:02,659 --> 00:56:04,659
in the House of
Representatives and the

1432
00:56:04,661 --> 00:56:06,661
majority in the United
States Senate, and that

1433
00:56:06,663 --> 00:56:08,663
they promised that they
would show the country the

1434
00:56:08,665 --> 00:56:12,535
kind of leadership that the
Republican Party stands for.

1435
00:56:12,535 --> 00:56:15,975
But less than a month into
this new era of Republican

1436
00:56:15,972 --> 00:56:18,812
majorities in both Houses
of Congress we see that

1437
00:56:18,808 --> 00:56:21,348
Republicans are saying
it's not that big

1438
00:56:21,344 --> 00:56:23,344
of a deal if they
don't fund the

1439
00:56:23,346 --> 00:56:25,346
Department of
Homeland Security.

1440
00:56:25,348 --> 00:56:27,348
I can tell you that
it's a pretty big deal

1441
00:56:27,350 --> 00:56:28,380
to a border
patrol officer.

1442
00:56:28,384 --> 00:56:30,384
If he's going to be
expected to show

1443
00:56:30,386 --> 00:56:32,386
up to work, protect the
country, but not get his

1444
00:56:32,388 --> 00:56:34,128
paycheck for
doing so.

1445
00:56:34,124 --> 00:56:36,124
It certainly is a
pretty big deal for the

1446
00:56:36,126 --> 00:56:38,126
President, that in a time
when we're dealing with

1447
00:56:38,128 --> 00:56:41,068
some pretty significant
national security

1448
00:56:41,064 --> 00:56:43,264
challenges, that
we're not giving the

1449
00:56:43,266 --> 00:56:45,736
Department of Homeland Security
the flexibility and certainty

1450
00:56:45,735 --> 00:56:48,375
that they need to carry
out their mission because

1451
00:56:48,371 --> 00:56:50,041
they don't have
a budget.

1452
00:56:50,039 --> 00:56:53,379
So, again, if Republicans
want to take some

1453
00:56:53,376 --> 00:56:55,516
responsibility, as they
said they did when

1454
00:56:55,512 --> 00:56:58,752
they were running for
the majority, we hope

1455
00:56:58,748 --> 00:57:00,948
that they understand that
a basic responsibility

1456
00:57:00,950 --> 00:57:03,390
that they have is to
protect the country,

1457
00:57:03,386 --> 00:57:05,686
and to protect our homeland
security, and to make sure

1458
00:57:05,688 --> 00:57:07,688
that the agency
that's charged with

1459
00:57:07,690 --> 00:57:10,330
homeland security
is properly funded.

1460
00:57:10,326 --> 00:57:11,466
Olivier.

1461
00:57:11,461 --> 00:57:12,661
The Press: Josh, I've
got a couple for you.

1462
00:57:12,662 --> 00:57:14,662
First, in the spirit of
the President's repeated

1463
00:57:14,664 --> 00:57:17,904
calls for raising taxes
on the most well-off

1464
00:57:17,901 --> 00:57:19,901
in America, will the
President support

1465
00:57:19,903 --> 00:57:21,903
legislation that
would strip the NFL

1466
00:57:21,905 --> 00:57:22,905
of its tax-exempt
status?

1467
00:57:22,906 --> 00:57:25,646
Mr. Earnest: Olivier, I
haven't seen that specific

1468
00:57:25,642 --> 00:57:30,312
proposal but maybe after
the President rolls out

1469
00:57:30,313 --> 00:57:32,313
his budget we'll have
more to say about this.

1470
00:57:32,315 --> 00:57:35,715
The Press: And then
secondly and unrelated,

1471
00:57:35,718 --> 00:57:37,718
over the last six years
if you and I wanted

1472
00:57:37,720 --> 00:57:40,060
to discuss the President's
policy in Afghanistan

1473
00:57:40,056 --> 00:57:42,996
we'd be able to draw on a
wealth of data compiled

1474
00:57:42,992 --> 00:57:44,562
by the Special Inspector
General in charge

1475
00:57:44,561 --> 00:57:46,531
of Afghan
Reconstruction.

1476
00:57:46,529 --> 00:57:48,369
Specifically, if we wanted
to discuss the recruitment

1477
00:57:48,364 --> 00:57:50,364
training equipment
of Afghan forces,

1478
00:57:50,366 --> 00:57:52,406
we'd be able to draw on
data of how many people

1479
00:57:52,402 --> 00:57:55,842
are in the field, what is
their status, we can't anymore

1480
00:57:55,839 --> 00:57:58,309
because -- with apparently
this White House's

1481
00:57:58,308 --> 00:58:00,948
blessing now the NATO
command has classified

1482
00:58:00,944 --> 00:58:02,814
information they
used to make public.

1483
00:58:02,812 --> 00:58:05,482
Will the President
reverse that decision?

1484
00:58:05,481 --> 00:58:09,251
And how are we supposed to
hold this administration

1485
00:58:09,252 --> 00:58:10,752
and this policy to
account if we can't get

1486
00:58:10,753 --> 00:58:11,923
this information?

1487
00:58:11,921 --> 00:58:13,361
Mr. Earnest: I have to
admit, Olivier, I'm not

1488
00:58:13,356 --> 00:58:14,926
aware of this specific
issue, but we can take

1489
00:58:14,924 --> 00:58:17,064
a look into
it for you.

1490
00:58:17,060 --> 00:58:19,300
And the President has
made it a priority to try

1491
00:58:19,295 --> 00:58:21,795
to be more transparent and
that has included trying

1492
00:58:21,798 --> 00:58:24,168
to limit the
over-classification --

1493
00:58:24,167 --> 00:58:28,167
there is a tendency to
classify data in a way

1494
00:58:28,171 --> 00:58:31,541
that ultimately upon further
review isn't necessary.

1495
00:58:31,541 --> 00:58:33,541
I don't know whether or
not this is one of those

1496
00:58:33,543 --> 00:58:35,713
situations, but we can
take a look into it and

1497
00:58:35,712 --> 00:58:36,512
get back to you.

1498
00:58:36,512 --> 00:58:37,082
The Press: I
appreciate that.

1499
00:58:37,080 --> 00:58:38,280
Mark.

1500
00:58:38,281 --> 00:58:40,621
The Press: One more on the
President's speech last night.

1501
00:58:40,617 --> 00:58:43,757
He said there is no
economic metric by which

1502
00:58:43,753 --> 00:58:45,853
we are not better off.

1503
00:58:45,855 --> 00:58:48,895
Now does he include the
national debt in that?

1504
00:58:48,892 --> 00:58:53,432
Mr. Earnest: Well, what
the President has noted

1505
00:58:53,429 --> 00:58:56,829
is that when you evaluate
the deficit, the deficit has

1506
00:58:56,833 --> 00:58:59,733
actually fallen by two-thirds
since he's taken office.

1507
00:58:59,736 --> 00:59:01,736
And the way that we
measure that is the way

1508
00:59:01,738 --> 00:59:03,508
that economists
evaluate it.

1509
00:59:03,506 --> 00:59:07,446
They don't look at just
the sum total; what they

1510
00:59:07,443 --> 00:59:10,583
do is they evaluate the
deficit as a percentage

1511
00:59:10,580 --> 00:59:13,150
of the economy -- that
that's a more effective

1512
00:59:13,149 --> 00:59:17,049
and precise way to evaluate
the impact of the deficit

1513
00:59:17,053 --> 00:59:18,053
on our economy.

1514
00:59:18,054 --> 00:59:23,124
And by that measure, the
deficit has been brought

1515
00:59:23,126 --> 00:59:25,696
down by two-thirds since
the President took office.

1516
00:59:25,695 --> 00:59:28,095
The Press: What about
the debt, which has gone

1517
00:59:28,097 --> 00:59:29,997
up 70 percent
on his watch?

1518
00:59:29,999 --> 00:59:32,799
Mr. Earnest: Yes, well,
I don't know what the

1519
00:59:32,802 --> 00:59:38,442
measure is of the debt as
it relates to when you

1520
00:59:38,441 --> 00:59:41,841
measure it as a percentage
of the economy.

1521
00:59:41,844 --> 00:59:43,844
But I can tell you that
the President continues

1522
00:59:43,846 --> 00:59:48,616
to be committed to the kinds
of fiscally responsible

1523
00:59:48,618 --> 00:59:50,718
policies that were
important to getting

1524
00:59:50,720 --> 00:59:52,720
our debt and deficit
under control when the

1525
00:59:52,722 --> 00:59:53,922
President first
took office.

1526
00:59:53,923 --> 00:59:56,593
And that includes, as
somebody mentioned

1527
00:59:56,592 --> 00:59:59,162
a little earlier, raising
taxes on those at the top

1528
00:59:59,162 --> 01:00:01,462
so that we can offer some
tax cuts to the middle

1529
01:00:01,464 --> 01:00:04,534
class; that by closing
loopholes and making our

1530
01:00:04,534 --> 01:00:06,634
tax code a little bit more
fair, we can also make

1531
01:00:06,636 --> 01:00:08,636
it a little easier for
middle-class families

1532
01:00:08,638 --> 01:00:10,638
to make their ends meet,
and we can do that in a way

1533
01:00:10,640 --> 01:00:12,640
that does exacerbate
the federal deficit.

1534
01:00:12,642 --> 01:00:16,242
The Press: Might he
concede that the debt

1535
01:00:16,245 --> 01:00:18,785
is not a metric that
shows we're better off?

1536
01:00:18,781 --> 01:00:22,751
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
think he would concede,

1537
01:00:22,752 --> 01:00:25,952
as I would, that the raw math
shows that the debt has

1538
01:00:25,955 --> 01:00:27,325
increased.

1539
01:00:27,323 --> 01:00:29,393
But the steps that the
President has taken have

1540
01:00:29,392 --> 01:00:32,762
been important to improving
our fiscal picture.

1541
01:00:32,762 --> 01:00:33,802
Chris, I'll give
you the last one.

1542
01:00:33,802 --> 01:00:34,642
The Press: Thanks,
Josh.

1543
01:00:34,640 --> 01:00:36,360
On Wednesday, the Senate
Armed Service Committee

1544
01:00:36,360 --> 01:00:38,360
will hold a confirmation
hearing for

1545
01:00:38,362 --> 01:00:40,362
Ashton Carter as
Defense Secretary.

1546
01:00:40,362 --> 01:00:42,362
LGBT advocates have been
calling for two things

1547
01:00:42,362 --> 01:00:43,362
that will be under
his purview:

1548
01:00:43,361 --> 01:00:45,701
Openly transgender service and
a non-discrimination rule

1549
01:00:45,701 --> 01:00:47,201
for LGBT servicemembers.

1550
01:00:47,201 --> 01:00:49,441
Do you anticipate the
President's nominee will

1551
01:00:49,445 --> 01:00:50,885
address those things
during the hearing?

1552
01:00:50,880 --> 01:00:52,720
Mr. Earnest: If asked,
I'm sure that he will.

1553
01:00:52,715 --> 01:00:54,185
The Press: Will he
volunteer this in some

1554
01:00:54,183 --> 01:00:56,353
capacity do you think?

1555
01:00:56,352 --> 01:00:57,452
Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't
know that there's a lot

1556
01:00:57,453 --> 01:00:58,693
of volunteering that
goes on in those kinds

1557
01:00:58,688 --> 01:01:02,758
of settings, I think usually
they're asked questions --

1558
01:01:02,759 --> 01:01:04,759
and I'm sure that he'll
answer them if he's given

1559
01:01:04,761 --> 01:01:05,761
the opportunity
to do so.

1560
01:01:05,762 --> 01:01:07,762
So, one thing you could
do is you could go and

1561
01:01:07,764 --> 01:01:09,904
ask members of Congress if
they're going to ask him.

1562
01:01:09,899 --> 01:01:12,399
The Press: In other
news, federal contractor

1563
01:01:12,402 --> 01:01:14,542
Exxon Mobile today announced
that it has adopted

1564
01:01:14,537 --> 01:01:17,077
an LGBT inclusive
non-discrimination policy

1565
01:01:17,073 --> 01:01:18,843
for its workers.

1566
01:01:18,841 --> 01:01:20,811
This follows the executive
order the President signed

1567
01:01:20,810 --> 01:01:23,980
in July to prohibit LGBT
discrimination among

1568
01:01:23,980 --> 01:01:25,110
federal contractors.

1569
01:01:25,114 --> 01:01:27,284
Does the President deserve
credit for this change?

1570
01:01:27,283 --> 01:01:28,383
Mr. Earnest: Well, I was
not aware of that news

1571
01:01:28,384 --> 01:01:31,024
until you just informed
me -- but I guess that

1572
01:01:31,020 --> 01:01:33,390
is your profession.

1573
01:01:33,389 --> 01:01:35,389
What I will say is
I do think this

1574
01:01:35,391 --> 01:01:37,991
is an indication of something
that we have talked about

1575
01:01:37,994 --> 01:01:44,034
quite a bit, that there is
-- that there are a number

1576
01:01:44,033 --> 01:01:46,033
of ways that the President
can advance the kind

1577
01:01:46,035 --> 01:01:48,035
of agenda that he thinks
is in the best interest

1578
01:01:48,037 --> 01:01:49,037
of the country.

1579
01:01:49,038 --> 01:01:51,038
Sometimes that's by
passing legislation that

1580
01:01:51,040 --> 01:01:53,910
would apply broadly across the
economy and across the country.

1581
01:01:53,910 --> 01:01:56,610
Sometimes it's about the
President taking action

1582
01:01:56,612 --> 01:01:58,612
that applies only to the
federal government and

1583
01:01:58,614 --> 01:02:02,754
using that as a model for
other businesses that are

1584
01:02:02,752 --> 01:02:05,592
considering -- or other
entities that are

1585
01:02:05,588 --> 01:02:07,158
considering
similar action.

1586
01:02:07,156 --> 01:02:09,156
So we've seen this when it
came to the minimum wage,

1587
01:02:09,158 --> 01:02:11,158
that the President was
able to raise the minimum

1588
01:02:11,160 --> 01:02:14,400
wage for federal
contractors, and that

1589
01:02:14,397 --> 01:02:16,797
in conjunction with that, we
saw that other states said

1590
01:02:16,799 --> 01:02:19,439
that's probably a good
idea in our states.

1591
01:02:19,435 --> 01:02:21,435
Or voters in other states
said, we should raise the

1592
01:02:21,437 --> 01:02:22,437
minimum wage
in our states.

1593
01:02:22,438 --> 01:02:25,578
So, there is a way for
the President to use his

1594
01:02:25,575 --> 01:02:28,715
executive authority in
a way that may, at the

1595
01:02:28,711 --> 01:02:31,281
beginning, have only a
limited effect, but does

1596
01:02:31,280 --> 01:02:35,520
serve to motivate and in
some cases even inspire

1597
01:02:35,518 --> 01:02:37,518
other states or other
companies or other

1598
01:02:37,520 --> 01:02:40,090
organizations to
take similar steps.

1599
01:02:40,089 --> 01:02:43,329
And certainly the -- we're
gratified by the success

1600
01:02:43,326 --> 01:02:45,526
that we've had when it
comes to pushing other

1601
01:02:45,528 --> 01:02:47,528
states to raise the
minimum wage or states

1602
01:02:47,530 --> 01:02:52,600
to expand access to quality
early childhood education.

1603
01:02:52,602 --> 01:02:54,202
And it's possible, based
on what you've described

1604
01:02:54,203 --> 01:02:56,073
to me, that this may be an
example of that as well.

1605
01:02:56,072 --> 01:02:57,342
The Press: I just want
to go back to my first

1606
01:02:57,340 --> 01:02:59,180
question because I wasn't really
satisfied with that response.

1607
01:02:59,175 --> 01:03:01,445
Those two issues of openly
transgender service and --

1608
01:03:01,444 --> 01:03:02,344
Mr. Earnest: There's a lot
of that in this building

1609
01:03:02,345 --> 01:03:03,075
it sometimes.

1610
01:03:03,079 --> 01:03:04,079
(laughter)

1611
01:03:04,080 --> 01:03:05,920
It's okay, it's
part of my profession.

1612
01:03:05,915 --> 01:03:06,915
The Press: -- the LGBT
non-discrimination policy.

1613
01:03:06,916 --> 01:03:08,316
Do you think those are two
things that the Pentagon

1614
01:03:08,317 --> 01:03:10,017
can implement either before
or after confirmations?

1615
01:03:10,019 --> 01:03:11,189
Mr. Earnest: I don't know,
you'll have to check with

1616
01:03:11,187 --> 01:03:12,187
the Pentagon
about that.

1617
01:03:12,188 --> 01:03:13,118
Okay?

1618
01:03:13,122 --> 01:03:14,722
Why don't we do a week
ahead before we go?

1619
01:03:14,724 --> 01:03:15,754
The Press: Josh, the
Super Bowl plans?

1620
01:03:15,758 --> 01:03:16,998
The President's guests?

1621
01:03:16,993 --> 01:03:18,393
Mr. Earnest: The President
will be here at the

1622
01:03:18,394 --> 01:03:19,764
White House to watch the Super
Bowl with some friends

1623
01:03:19,762 --> 01:03:21,232
and family.

1624
01:03:21,230 --> 01:03:23,700
As you may know, the
President on Sunday will

1625
01:03:23,699 --> 01:03:26,799
be doing an interview with
NBC's Savannah Guthrie.

1626
01:03:26,802 --> 01:03:29,772
That will be, I think,
around 4:30 on Sunday,

1627
01:03:29,772 --> 01:03:31,842
it'll be aired live so
those of you who are

1628
01:03:31,841 --> 01:03:33,911
watching the Super Bowl
should tune in for that.

1629
01:03:33,910 --> 01:03:35,280
The Press: But is it
going to be a party?

1630
01:03:35,278 --> 01:03:35,938
Mr. Earnest: I'm
sorry.

1631
01:03:35,940 --> 01:03:37,080
The Press: Not just a
gathering, is it going

1632
01:03:37,080 --> 01:03:38,010
to be a party --

1633
01:03:38,020 --> 01:03:38,850
Mr. Earnest: I think
they're hoping to have

1634
01:03:38,860 --> 01:03:39,460
a little fun while
they're watching the

1635
01:03:39,461 --> 01:03:40,501
football game.

1636
01:03:40,501 --> 01:03:41,561
The Press: You know
what I'm talking about.

1637
01:03:41,561 --> 01:03:42,651
Mr. Earnest: I'm not
sure that I totally do.

1638
01:03:42,652 --> 01:03:43,722
(laughter)

1639
01:03:43,719 --> 01:03:44,959
The Press: Large
numbers of people,

1640
01:03:44,954 --> 01:03:48,494
big-screen TVs, popcorn,
pretzels, all that stuff,

1641
01:03:48,491 --> 01:03:49,591
like it's been
in the past.

1642
01:03:49,592 --> 01:03:50,662
Mr. Earnest: I think there
will be some of that, yes.

1643
01:03:50,660 --> 01:03:51,830
The Press: Okay.

1644
01:03:51,827 --> 01:03:53,527
Mr. Earnest: On Monday,
the President will deliver

1645
01:03:53,529 --> 01:03:55,929
remarks on the FY
2016 budget at the

1646
01:03:55,932 --> 01:03:58,802
Department of
Homeland Security.

1647
01:03:58,801 --> 01:04:00,571
That will be an
opportunity for the

1648
01:04:00,570 --> 01:04:02,100
President to make the
case once again that

1649
01:04:02,104 --> 01:04:03,974
it's important for Republicans
to not allow funding

1650
01:04:03,973 --> 01:04:05,573
for the Department of
Homeland Security to lapse

1651
01:04:05,575 --> 01:04:07,645
at the end
of February.

1652
01:04:07,643 --> 01:04:09,013
In the afternoon, the
President will welcome

1653
01:04:09,011 --> 01:04:12,711
the 2014 NHL Champion Los
Angeles Kings and the

1654
01:04:12,715 --> 01:04:18,755
2014 MLS Cup
Champion L.A. Galaxy

1655
01:04:18,754 --> 01:04:20,324
to honor the
teams on winning their

1656
01:04:20,323 --> 01:04:21,693
championship titles.

1657
01:04:21,691 --> 01:04:23,021
Thank goodness
it's Friday.

1658
01:04:23,025 --> 01:04:24,895
This visit will continue
the tradition begun

1659
01:04:24,894 --> 01:04:26,494
by President Obama of
honoring sports teams

1660
01:04:26,495 --> 01:04:29,135
for their efforts to give
back to their communities.

1661
01:04:29,131 --> 01:04:30,731
On Tuesday, the President
here at the White House

1662
01:04:30,733 --> 01:04:32,773
will hold a
cabinet meeting.

1663
01:04:32,768 --> 01:04:34,368
On Wednesday, the
President will attend

1664
01:04:34,370 --> 01:04:35,840
meetings at the
White House.

1665
01:04:35,838 --> 01:04:37,408
On Thursday, the President
is looking forward

1666
01:04:37,406 --> 01:04:40,176
to delivering remarks at the
National Prayer Breakfast.

1667
01:04:40,176 --> 01:04:41,976
The First Lady
will also attend.

1668
01:04:41,978 --> 01:04:43,308
And on Friday, the
President will attend

1669
01:04:43,312 --> 01:04:44,652
meetings at the
White House.

1670
01:04:44,647 --> 01:04:46,247
Have a great
weekend, everybody.