English subtitles for clip: File:1-9-14- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Carney:
I was at a funeral
in Falls Church.

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I apologize for the delay.

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It was a funeral
for a remarkable woman,

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the mother of a friend,
who lived a great life

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and was a great woman.

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And it was a lovely service.

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Her name was Theresa McKenna.

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And with that, I have
a couple of announcements.

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First, on Wednesday,
January 15th,

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President Obama will travel
to the Raleigh-Durham area

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in North Carolina for
an event on the economy.

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Further details on
the President's trip

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to North Carolina will be made
available in the coming days.

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Second, this
afternoon, as you know,

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President Obama will host an
event here at the White House

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to name officially the
first five Promise Zones

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that our administration
is partnering with

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to invest in and rebuild.

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The President will be joined
at the event by representatives

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and community members
from each of the five zones,

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which are located
in San Antonio, Philadelphia,

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Los Angeles,
Southeastern Kentucky,

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and the Choctaw
Nation of Oklahoma.

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The President first announced
our Promise Zone initiative

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during last year's State of
the Union address as a way to

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partner with local communities
and businesses to create jobs,

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increase economic security,
expand access to educational

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opportunities and quality,
affordable housing,

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and to improve public safety.

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Yesterday, as we reflected
on the 50th anniversary

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of the War on Poverty,

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the President reiterated
this commitment.

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He reminded us of the
frustrations that many American

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families face and the need
to build ladders of opportunity

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for those working to
get into the middle class.

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So today's event will be
a critical step forward

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in delivering on this commitment
and making progress toward our

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greater goal of strengthening
the economic mobility

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of all Americans.

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As I think you know,
there will be a final call

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I'm told at 1:50 p.m.

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For those of you who
need to go over there,

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feel free, don't mind me.

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I apologize again
for being late.

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And if anyone is still around
I'll keep taking questions.

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Julie.

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The Press:
Thanks, Jay.

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The President met this morning
with several lawmakers

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to discuss his NSA review.

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Is there any kind of readout you
can give us from that meeting,

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and can you also tell us
what lawmakers attended?

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Mr. Carney:
I think I have that
here somewhere, hold on.

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Give me one sec.

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I can tell you that he did --

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The Press: I have a question
on another topic if you want --

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Mr. Carney:
I'm sorry,

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I apologize.

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The Press:
It's okay.

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[laughter]

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Mr. Carney:
I was told as I was
coming out here

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and I just can't find it,
but we did have a short readout.

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He did meet with
congressional members

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on the NSA disclosures issue,

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and we'll have --

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if I stumble across it,
I'll come back to you.

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It's in here somewhere.

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Otherwise, we'll get it to
you right after the briefing.

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The Press:
On that other topic,

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the President obviously has
developed a good relationship

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with Chris Christie over
the past couple of years.

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I'm wondering if he has any
reaction to both Christie's

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lengthy news conference
today and also the issue

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with the bridge in general.

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Mr. Carney:
On that, I haven't
spoken to him

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about the situation
in New Jersey.

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I don't know, but I doubt
that he had time to catch

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any of the news conference.

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And beyond that, it sounds very
much like a state matter to me.

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And to the extent that it isn't,
as I understand

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there was a statement
by the U.S. Attorney.

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That's something that
you would have to ask

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the Department of Justice about.

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Let me tell you that today
President Obama met with members

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of Congress to discuss the
administration's ongoing review

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of signals
intelligence programs,

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including our study of the
Review Group on Intelligence

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and Communications
Technologies report.

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In August, the President
committed his administration

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to working with Congress to
pursue reforms of our nation's

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surveillance programs and
the Foreign Intelligence

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Surveillance Court.

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This meeting was an opportunity
for the President to hear from

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the members about the work that
they have been doing on these

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issues since they last met
and to solicit their input

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as we near the end
of our internal review.

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The President thanked the
members for their ongoing work

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on these challenging issues.

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I'll run through quickly those
who attended: Senator Feinstein,

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Senator Chambliss, Senator
Leahy, Senator Grassley,

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Senator Durbin, Senator
Cochran, Senator Blumenthal,

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Senator Udall, Senator
Wyden, Representative Rogers,

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Representative Goodlatte,
Representative Conyers,

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Representative Frelinghuysen,
and Representative Visclosky,

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Representative Schiff, and
Representative Sensenbrenner.

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Anything else?

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The Press:
Has the President set
a date yet for his speech

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on the NSA review?

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Mr. Carney:
We don't have a scheduling
announcement to make.

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It remains the case that he
will be making remarks upon the

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completion of his own
review, the complete review,

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and decisions he'll make
about the path forward,

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and that will happen before the
State of the Union address

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on January 28th.

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April.

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The Press:
Hey, Jay.

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Because of the magnitude of
what's happening in New Jersey,

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would the President be advised
by the Attorney General if

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indeed there were to be
subpoenas issued for personal

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emails and phone records?

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Mr. Carney:
No. And this is not --

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again, you're asking
about something that would,

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if it even were to happen,

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would be an investigation
that would be done

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by the Justice Department.

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It would not involve
the White House.

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The Press:
But this could also involve the
Department of Transportation,

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because the way I'm
hearing, out of New Jersey,

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there could be charges linked to
obstructing interstate highways

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and traffic, acting under the
color of state law to interfere

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with lawful political activity.

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So this is beyond just
state law in New Jersey.

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This has far-reaching
ramifications.

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Mr. Carney:
Well, that may
be the case, April.

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I honestly only know
what I've had the chance

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to read in the paper.

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But there's certainly
nothing that involves

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the White House with this issue.

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And to the extent
that there's any involvement

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of the federal government,
I think you would have to ask

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the Department of Justice.

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The Press:
So to be clear --
so the President,

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if the national
transportation --

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or
the Department of Transportation

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or the Attorney General
wants to look into it,

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the President would not
be advised about that?

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Mr. Carney:
I mean, you're asking
me speculatively,

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but I do not imagine that this
would be something that

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as a rule would involve
a White House or a President.

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Mark, sorry.

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The Press:
Thanks, Jay.

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On the meeting with
lawmakers about NSA,

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can you provide any
additional detail?

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How far is he along in terms
of making his decisions?

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Is he consulting with them
about potential decisions

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in terms of his own review?

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Mr. Carney:
The answer to the first part
is that he's fairly far along.

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This is a review,
broadly speaking,

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that's been underway
for some time.

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He's had a number of meetings
with people conducting close

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examinations of this issue --
the review group, the PCLOB,

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and obviously the members
he met with today,

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as well as members
of his own team.

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But he's not yet
finished with that,

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and he is still soliciting
input, which he did today,

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and sort of reviewing the
scope of the matter and some

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of the ideas that were
presented, for example,

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in the review group report,
which was released publicly.

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So he's obviously close to the
end of this review in the sense

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that he will be giving remarks
about his conclusions and the

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steps forward he wants to take
within the next couple of weeks,

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or before January 28th --

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don't want to
have to do the math.

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But it's also the
case, as we've noted,

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that when it comes to the
review group's recommendations,

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for example --
specific recommendations --

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that the President
wanted every one of those

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and wants every one
of those to be considered,

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and it is the case that,

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with the exception of the one
on which a decision has already

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been made, that there
will be some, I expect,

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that he will want to act
on or want the government

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to act on right away.

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There will be others that he may
decide should not be acted on,

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and there may be some that
would require further review.

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So I don't think -- I expect
that this will be an important

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milestone in the process,
and a conclusion,

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in many respects,
for this review.

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But not all of the
work will be done simply

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because these recommendations
are being acted on.

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The Press:
Separately, Speaker Boehner
in a new conference today

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called on the President
to take a more active role

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with regard to Iraq,
pointing to the events

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in Fallujah
and sort of talking

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about the U.S. experience there.

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Can you comment on that, please?

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Mr. Carney:
Well, I didn't see
those remarks by the

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Speaker, but obviously
as you know, Mark,

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the administration is deeply
engaged in efforts to consult

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with the Iraqi government
and also to step up assistance

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to the Iraqi government in their
effort to combat international

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terrorist groups operating
in Anbar province,

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and that effort continues.

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As you know,
I think yesterday I mentioned

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that Vice President Biden

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had had yet another
conversation with Iraqi leaders,

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including the Prime Minister,
and those kinds of consultations

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are ongoing as we provide
assistance to the sovereign

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government of Iraq in its
important effort to combat

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these al Qaeda groups
and international

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terrorist operations,

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because the overwhelming
majority of Iraqis --

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no matter whether
they're Shiite or Sunni,

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no matter their
political views --

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want to be rid of al Qaeda.

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And President -- rather
Prime Minister Maliki has been

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conducting internal outreach
to Iraqi local, tribal,

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and national leaders,
including Sunnis and Kurds.

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And the Council of Ministers
recently decided to extend state

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benefits to Sunni tribal forces
killed or injured in the fight

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against the Islamic State
of Iraq and the Levant,

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which is the al Qaeda affiliate
that is in Anbar right now.

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So I'm not sure what the
Speaker was calling for,

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but I can assure you that this
administration at the highest

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levels, as well through
our embassy in Kabul --

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I mean, rather, in Baghdad
is very directly involved

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in this in an assistance role.

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The Press:
If I could just ask
about today's event.

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What does it say about the
President's efforts generally

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to combat income disparity,
that having sort of launched

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his own version
of a War on Poverty

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he's beginning with a fairly
narrowly targeted program --

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five Promise Zones --
when national programs

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like raising the minimum wage
would have a much greater effect

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on decreasing poverty?

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Mr. Carney:
Well, the President
is not going to pursue

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Promise Zones and then say
we're done with the effort here.

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As you know, the President
is forcefully committed

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to raising the minimum wage.

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We support the legislation
in the Senate that would raise

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it to $10.10 and then
index it to inflation.

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The President himself
has spoken about it,

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including at the State of
the Union address last year

243
00:12:10,533 --> 00:12:13,433
and including multiple times
during the course of last year,

244
00:12:13,433 --> 00:12:17,800
not least of which was the
speech he gave in Anacostia

245
00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:21,000
towards the end of
the year on economic mobility

246
00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:22,200
and income disparity.

247
00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:26,433
Raising the minimum wage,
you're absolutely right,

248
00:12:26,433 --> 00:12:30,567
would have a profoundly
positive impact.

249
00:12:30,567 --> 00:12:34,200
And that's why he believes
strongly that Congress

250
00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:36,633
ought to act,
and he supports efforts

251
00:12:36,633 --> 00:12:39,500
in states to act
to raise the minimum wage.

252
00:12:39,500 --> 00:12:44,166
So this is not
a one-off proposition.

253
00:12:44,166 --> 00:12:49,133
The Promise Zones represent the
kind of creative and innovative

254
00:12:49,133 --> 00:12:53,400
approach to some of the economic
challenges we face that the

255
00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:57,400
President believes are essential
if we're going to build on the

256
00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:00,867
progress that has been
made over the past 50 years

257
00:13:00,867 --> 00:13:01,934
in combating poverty,

258
00:13:01,934 --> 00:13:07,800
and move in different
directions to tackle

259
00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:09,467
the challenges that remain.

260
00:13:09,467 --> 00:13:11,000
Partnering with
local communities,

261
00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:16,767
local governments and businesses
in a way that the Promise Zone

262
00:13:16,767 --> 00:13:23,600
program does is an absolutely
vital and I think creative way

263
00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:26,867
to further economic development
in different parts

264
00:13:26,867 --> 00:13:27,867
of the country.

265
00:13:27,867 --> 00:13:29,567
And I think we've seen
bipartisan support

266
00:13:29,567 --> 00:13:32,433
for that effort, which
is always a welcome thing.

267
00:13:32,433 --> 00:13:34,667
Brianna.

268
00:13:34,667 --> 00:13:35,834
The Press:
Thanks, Jay.

269
00:13:35,834 --> 00:13:39,733
On unemployment, Senator
Majority Leader Harry Reid,

270
00:13:39,734 --> 00:13:43,000
now saying that he is
open to an extension of --

271
00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:46,300
a long-term extension of
long-term unemployment benefits

272
00:13:46,300 --> 00:13:47,934
if the cost is offset.

273
00:13:47,934 --> 00:13:52,533
Are you on the same page as
the Senate Majority Leader?

274
00:13:52,533 --> 00:13:54,567
Mr. Carney:
What we have said
remains the case,

275
00:13:54,567 --> 00:14:00,834
which when it comes to the bill
that exists that would deal

276
00:14:00,834 --> 00:14:04,867
with the emergency that exists
for 1.3 million families --

277
00:14:04,867 --> 00:14:09,400
Americans and their families --
across the country extends

278
00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:12,500
that unemployment
insurance without offsets,

279
00:14:12,500 --> 00:14:14,900
we believe that Congress
ought to act on it right away.

280
00:14:14,900 --> 00:14:18,533
We have always been open to, as
we've said and I've said daily

281
00:14:18,533 --> 00:14:22,500
from here, conversations
about how to move forward

282
00:14:22,500 --> 00:14:23,867
for a longer extension;

283
00:14:23,867 --> 00:14:28,433
a full-year extension is
what is normally talked about.

284
00:14:28,433 --> 00:14:29,734
So, yes, we're obviously
in sync with Senator Reid

285
00:14:29,734 --> 00:14:35,734
in that respect and I think
in the general approach to this,

286
00:14:38,900 --> 00:14:42,533
which is -- the only measure
that exists is the one

287
00:14:42,533 --> 00:14:47,433
that has cleared the first
hurdle in the Senate.

288
00:14:47,433 --> 00:14:52,500
And unlike some of the policy
debates that we have in

289
00:14:52,500 --> 00:14:56,800
Washington and the legislation
that moves forward in Congress,

290
00:14:56,800 --> 00:15:01,867
this is one that is desperately
needed now by some very real

291
00:15:01,867 --> 00:15:03,467
people in the country
who are suffering.

292
00:15:03,467 --> 00:15:06,734
So our view has been that in
keeping with past practice

293
00:15:06,734 --> 00:15:08,066
14 out of 17 times,

294
00:15:08,066 --> 00:15:10,233
including all five
of the times that

295
00:15:10,233 --> 00:15:11,300
President George W. Bush

296
00:15:11,300 --> 00:15:13,065
signed an
extension into law,

297
00:15:13,066 --> 00:15:15,834
we can and should move
forward with the short-term

298
00:15:15,834 --> 00:15:19,000
extension without offsets.

299
00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:21,967
But we are absolutely open
to discussions about how

300
00:15:21,967 --> 00:15:23,333
to move forward beyond that.

301
00:15:23,333 --> 00:15:26,632
The Press:
It seemed like before
you wanted the three-month

302
00:15:26,633 --> 00:15:28,867
clean extension
and then to talk

303
00:15:28,867 --> 00:15:31,199
about offsets after that.

304
00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:34,300
So now you're willing
to talk about offsets before

305
00:15:34,300 --> 00:15:36,934
the first three
months is extended

306
00:15:36,934 --> 00:15:38,367
for the long-term benefits?

307
00:15:38,367 --> 00:15:42,699
Mr. Carney:
Well, I guess the way
I would explain it, Brianna,

308
00:15:42,700 --> 00:15:46,200
is that we certainly oppose
any suggestion that movement

309
00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:48,800
on getting these benefits right
away to the family should be

310
00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:51,733
halted or stalled while
conversations are being

311
00:15:51,734 --> 00:15:54,100
had about longer-term solutions.

312
00:15:54,100 --> 00:15:57,400
So we believe that Congress
ought to act right away

313
00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:01,400
to extend these benefits
for three months, short term;

314
00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:04,699
to ensure that these 1.3
million Americans don't suffer;

315
00:16:04,700 --> 00:16:08,066
and that their efforts to find
jobs aren't hampered by the fact

316
00:16:08,066 --> 00:16:10,400
that they have no assistance
and no assistance to put food

317
00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:11,967
on the table for
their families or to pay

318
00:16:11,967 --> 00:16:14,066
their heating
bills, for example.

319
00:16:14,066 --> 00:16:18,500
But we are open to conversations
about how to move forward

320
00:16:18,500 --> 00:16:20,367
for a longer period.

321
00:16:20,367 --> 00:16:23,300
That's what I think I've
been saying all week.

322
00:16:23,300 --> 00:16:25,266
The Press:
Well, it seems sort
of like something has changed

323
00:16:25,266 --> 00:16:28,567
a little bit; that there seems
to be more of a realization

324
00:16:28,567 --> 00:16:30,300
that talking about the
long term and offsets

325
00:16:30,300 --> 00:16:33,433
for the long term may
be the way to get the benefits

326
00:16:33,433 --> 00:16:35,766
in the near term for
the long-term unemployed --

327
00:16:35,767 --> 00:16:38,367
kind of confusing
-- put in place.

328
00:16:38,367 --> 00:16:41,500
Mr. Carney:
Well, our interest is in
the result in the sense that --

329
00:16:41,500 --> 00:16:43,333
obviously there are
conversations all the time

330
00:16:43,333 --> 00:16:45,600
between members of
both parties in both houses

331
00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:48,300
about how to move forward
on issues, including this one.

332
00:16:48,300 --> 00:16:52,165
And the Republicans who
voted in favor of cloture

333
00:16:52,166 --> 00:16:58,266
earlier this week I
think demonstrated how important

334
00:16:58,266 --> 00:17:00,666
and bipartisan this issue is,

335
00:17:00,667 --> 00:17:03,200
and we want to see that
kind of cooperation

336
00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:06,333
and cooperative bipartisan
conversation move forward on

337
00:17:06,333 --> 00:17:08,100
this issue and so many others.

338
00:17:08,099 --> 00:17:14,399
I think, again, our view is --
putting aside the conversations

339
00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:17,967
about what moving forward
looks like on Capitol Hill --

340
00:17:17,967 --> 00:17:19,633
we want these benefits passed.

341
00:17:19,633 --> 00:17:22,133
And right now there's
a bill that would do that,

342
00:17:22,133 --> 00:17:26,100
get that assistance to
those families right away.

343
00:17:26,099 --> 00:17:29,632
And we just don't want any
conversations about subjects

344
00:17:29,633 --> 00:17:33,133
related to this,
including long-term extension,

345
00:17:33,133 --> 00:17:34,467
to stall efforts.

346
00:17:34,467 --> 00:17:37,066
We want that effort
to move fast.

347
00:17:37,066 --> 00:17:39,300
The Press:
I guess my bottom-line
question is,

348
00:17:39,300 --> 00:17:42,000
when you're talking to Americans
who are directly affected

349
00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:43,500
by this,
the long-term unemployed,

350
00:17:43,500 --> 00:17:45,600
should they be --
in your estimation

351
00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:48,632
and the estimation of the
President and the White House,

352
00:17:48,633 --> 00:17:50,734
should they be feeling
more encouraged today

353
00:17:50,734 --> 00:17:53,166
than perhaps -- yesterday
it seemed pretty discouraging.

354
00:17:53,166 --> 00:17:55,265
Should they be feeling
more encouraged today

355
00:17:55,266 --> 00:17:58,467
that this is
going to be resolved?

356
00:17:58,467 --> 00:18:00,934
Mr. Carney:
I can't really answer that.

357
00:18:00,934 --> 00:18:05,600
We've been, I think, optimistic
in a way that not everyone has

358
00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:08,132
this week and last week about
the prospects for this moving

359
00:18:08,133 --> 00:18:11,433
forward and assistance
getting to these families.

360
00:18:11,433 --> 00:18:14,600
And so we remain hopeful and
optimistic that it will happen.

361
00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:17,500
I don't know that developments
in the last 24 hours make

362
00:18:17,500 --> 00:18:20,066
that more or less likely,
but we certainly hope

363
00:18:20,066 --> 00:18:21,066
the answer is more likely.

364
00:18:21,066 --> 00:18:22,734
Michael.

365
00:18:22,734 --> 00:18:24,466
The Press:
Just a real quick thing
on the Promise Zones --

366
00:18:24,467 --> 00:18:26,500
and I apologize
if I've missed this --

367
00:18:26,500 --> 00:18:32,367
but is there specific
money attached to the kind of --

368
00:18:32,367 --> 00:18:34,332
the efforts for
these five places?

369
00:18:34,333 --> 00:18:36,967
And if so, where does it
come from, and how much?

370
00:18:36,967 --> 00:18:38,600
Is that something he's
going to be announcing --

371
00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:40,132
specific dollar amounts?

372
00:18:40,133 --> 00:18:41,533
Mr. Carney:
We'll have more information,

373
00:18:41,533 --> 00:18:44,199
specific information after
the President's event,

374
00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:47,033
or concurrent with
the President's event.

375
00:18:47,033 --> 00:18:50,966
This is about partnership, and
I know that there is existing

376
00:18:50,967 --> 00:18:56,633
monies that helps the agencies
involved at the federal level

377
00:18:56,633 --> 00:18:58,734
focus their attention
on and efforts on,

378
00:18:58,734 --> 00:19:02,734
and cut a lot of bureaucratic
red tape for and on behalf

379
00:19:02,734 --> 00:19:04,600
of the area selected here.

380
00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:06,833
So I think that is the
principal objective.

381
00:19:06,834 --> 00:19:08,233
But for more details --

382
00:19:08,233 --> 00:19:09,899
The Press:
The fact sheet
said investments --

383
00:19:09,900 --> 00:19:11,100
sort of used terms like --

384
00:19:11,100 --> 00:19:12,833
vague terms like "investment,"
but it didn't say --

385
00:19:12,834 --> 00:19:14,433
Mr. Carney:
I don't have anything
more specific

386
00:19:14,433 --> 00:19:16,233
than if we've already
put out a factsheet,

387
00:19:16,233 --> 00:19:18,233
because that's what
I was referring to.

388
00:19:18,233 --> 00:19:20,433
But I'm sure that those who
are working on a policy level

389
00:19:20,433 --> 00:19:22,800
on this can get you
more information.

390
00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:26,466
But the focus here really is on
creative and innovative efforts

391
00:19:26,467 --> 00:19:29,533
to cut through red tape on
behalf of these Promise Zones,

392
00:19:29,533 --> 00:19:32,132
who have put plans together
to work with local communities,

393
00:19:32,133 --> 00:19:34,934
work with local businesses
to help create jobs

394
00:19:34,934 --> 00:19:37,000
and assist the middle class.

395
00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:42,400
And that's sort of the idea
behind the Promise Zones.

396
00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:46,333
And these five areas --
three cities and two areas --

397
00:19:46,333 --> 00:19:49,900
put together plans that would
achieve that with the assistance

398
00:19:49,900 --> 00:19:51,767
and the bureaucratic
red tape-cutting assistance

399
00:19:51,767 --> 00:19:54,934
that we can provide
at this level.

400
00:19:54,934 --> 00:19:57,100
Jon.

401
00:19:57,100 --> 00:20:01,734
The Press:
Jay, I just want to come
back to Speaker Boehner's call

402
00:20:01,734 --> 00:20:04,367
for the President to be
more engaged in Iraq.

403
00:20:04,367 --> 00:20:08,166
He also basically suggested
the President was outsourcing

404
00:20:08,166 --> 00:20:10,233
Middle East policy to
the Vice President, saying,

405
00:20:10,233 --> 00:20:12,734
"Starting with the President
delegating his responsibilities

406
00:20:12,734 --> 00:20:15,567
to the Vice President,
the administration has chosen

407
00:20:15,567 --> 00:20:19,767
to spend much of its time and
energy explaining why having

408
00:20:19,767 --> 00:20:21,233
terrorists holding key
terrain in the Middle East

409
00:20:21,233 --> 00:20:22,734
is not the President's problem."

410
00:20:22,734 --> 00:20:25,567
What do you say to this?

411
00:20:25,567 --> 00:20:26,767
Mr. Carney:
Again, I haven't seen it,

412
00:20:26,767 --> 00:20:31,100
but I take your word for it
that that's what he said.

413
00:20:31,100 --> 00:20:34,332
That's just an inaccurate
representation.

414
00:20:34,333 --> 00:20:37,834
I know that Speaker Boehner
opposed candidate Obama's

415
00:20:37,834 --> 00:20:40,834
promise to end the war in Iraq.

416
00:20:40,834 --> 00:20:41,867
I know that.

417
00:20:41,867 --> 00:20:43,066
Maybe he still does.

418
00:20:43,066 --> 00:20:45,800
Maybe he thinks that American
men and women in uniform

419
00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:48,767
ought to be fighting today
in Anbar Province.

420
00:20:48,767 --> 00:20:53,300
That's a disagreement
that may continue to exist.

421
00:20:53,300 --> 00:20:54,533
I don't know.

422
00:20:54,533 --> 00:20:56,166
I don't know Speaker Boehner's
specific views on this.

423
00:20:56,166 --> 00:20:59,100
The President made a commitment
to end the war in Iraq.

424
00:20:59,100 --> 00:21:01,300
He fulfilled that commitment.

425
00:21:01,300 --> 00:21:05,767
We, as a nation, continue to
have an important relationship

426
00:21:05,767 --> 00:21:07,934
with Iraq and
the Iraqi government,

427
00:21:07,934 --> 00:21:12,066
and commitment to assist
the sovereign nation of Iraq

428
00:21:12,066 --> 00:21:15,100
in the ways that we are
assisting the government now,

429
00:21:15,100 --> 00:21:18,867
both through materiel assistance
and through the good offices

430
00:21:18,867 --> 00:21:22,367
that we bring to bear in urging
the various political leaders

431
00:21:22,367 --> 00:21:27,567
in that country to work together
to resolve what has always been,

432
00:21:27,567 --> 00:21:33,867
or what has always demanded
a political solution here.

433
00:21:33,867 --> 00:21:38,934
The alternative to sectarian
violence is nonviolent,

434
00:21:38,934 --> 00:21:41,600
peaceful, political
negotiation and resolution,

435
00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:43,433
and there have
been obviously periods

436
00:21:43,433 --> 00:21:46,667
in Iraq's recent history
where they have embraced that.

437
00:21:46,667 --> 00:21:49,867
And what we are
hopefully seeing now --

438
00:21:49,867 --> 00:21:50,966
and it is still a
very fluid situation --

439
00:21:50,967 --> 00:21:54,300
is an effort to
reinvigorate that process,

440
00:21:54,300 --> 00:22:00,934
where Sunni tribes and others
are being encouraged

441
00:22:00,934 --> 00:22:05,000
by and assisted by the
Iraqi government to deal

442
00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:06,767
with a common problem here,

443
00:22:06,767 --> 00:22:11,600
which is the presence of,
and destructive presence

444
00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:18,833
of the al Qaeda affiliate
that is doing so much --

445
00:22:18,834 --> 00:22:20,066
wreaking so much havoc in Anbar.

446
00:22:20,066 --> 00:22:25,166
So I'm not sure what the
Speaker means by that,

447
00:22:25,166 --> 00:22:26,433
and maybe he ought
to be more clear

448
00:22:26,433 --> 00:22:28,400
about what he envisions
ought to happen.

449
00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:29,967
And if he means that we
should have troops there,

450
00:22:29,967 --> 00:22:30,967
he ought to say so.

451
00:22:30,967 --> 00:22:34,367
The President would
disagree with that.

452
00:22:34,367 --> 00:22:37,200
The Press:
A year ago, the administration
was talking about

453
00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:39,000
how good things were in Iraq,

454
00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:41,567
and the violence
was down quite a bit.

455
00:22:41,567 --> 00:22:44,233
Is there any sense that
the ball was dropped here?

456
00:22:44,233 --> 00:22:51,700
Or is this all kind of events
completely out of control --

457
00:22:51,700 --> 00:22:53,600
outside the control of the
United States' influence?

458
00:22:53,600 --> 00:22:56,000
I mean, you have the
flag of al Qaeda flying

459
00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:57,934
in two cities in Iraq.

460
00:22:57,934 --> 00:22:59,200
Mr. Carney:
Again, Jon, I think,

461
00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:06,266
as I said earlier this week,
there was terrible sectarian

462
00:23:06,266 --> 00:23:08,633
violence in Iraq when there
were tens of thousands

463
00:23:08,633 --> 00:23:10,367
of U.S. troops there,

464
00:23:10,367 --> 00:23:13,800
when there were men and women
fighting and dying in Iraq --

465
00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:15,233
American men
and women in uniform.

466
00:23:15,233 --> 00:23:20,332
And through the enormous
courage and sacrifice

467
00:23:20,333 --> 00:23:21,500
of our armed forces,

468
00:23:21,500 --> 00:23:25,367
as well as the efforts
of our diplomatic personnel,

469
00:23:25,367 --> 00:23:30,500
we have provided enormous
opportunity to Iraq

470
00:23:30,500 --> 00:23:34,800
to move forward and find a
peaceful resolution to sectarian

471
00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:41,265
conflicts and to unify
behind democratic goals

472
00:23:41,266 --> 00:23:42,633
and shared prosperity.

473
00:23:42,633 --> 00:23:46,200
And we continue to assist
Iraq in that effort in

474
00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:48,533
the way that the United States

475
00:23:48,533 --> 00:23:51,367
can and does assist sovereign
governments that are dealing

476
00:23:51,367 --> 00:23:53,166
with these
kinds of conflicts.

477
00:23:53,166 --> 00:23:56,600
When it comes to -- I was asked
earlier this week about

478
00:23:56,600 --> 00:24:02,833
looking out at the world,
and different extremist groups

479
00:24:02,834 --> 00:24:04,133
and the threats they represent,

480
00:24:04,133 --> 00:24:08,333
and some of them represent
threats that are local

481
00:24:08,333 --> 00:24:11,400
or regional, and some of them
potentially or in fact represent

482
00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:13,400
threats to the United States,
to the American people

483
00:24:13,400 --> 00:24:15,367
and to our allies.

484
00:24:15,367 --> 00:24:19,399
And we obviously make policy
decisions and judgments

485
00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:23,133
and take actions based
on the assessments of the kinds

486
00:24:23,133 --> 00:24:25,200
of threats that
these groups represent.

487
00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:31,533
And we are very
mindful of the fact

488
00:24:31,533 --> 00:24:38,065
that this al Qaeda affiliate
has created a lot of chaos

489
00:24:38,066 --> 00:24:40,834
and carnage in Anbar Province,

490
00:24:40,834 --> 00:24:43,367
and that's why we are
engaged in the effort we are to

491
00:24:43,367 --> 00:24:46,966
assist the Iraqi government to
help them expel that presence.

492
00:24:46,967 --> 00:24:49,400
The Press:
Can I just take a quick
crack at New Jersey?

493
00:24:51,500 --> 00:24:54,600
Governor Christie I think
is without question the one

494
00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:56,567
Republican elected official
the President probably

495
00:24:56,567 --> 00:24:58,633
has the best relationship
with, or had.

496
00:24:58,633 --> 00:25:03,100
I'm just wondering,
any surprise in the White House

497
00:25:03,100 --> 00:25:06,065
that his political operation
could have been involved

498
00:25:06,066 --> 00:25:08,100
in something like this?

499
00:25:08,100 --> 00:25:10,367
Mr. Carney:
I just don't have
a comment on that.

500
00:25:10,367 --> 00:25:16,033
We've seen the news and
obviously have read it,

501
00:25:16,033 --> 00:25:18,966
so I can't claim that I don't
know what you're talking about.

502
00:25:18,967 --> 00:25:24,133
But I will simply point
you to the fact that it's

503
00:25:24,133 --> 00:25:27,133
a state matter in New Jersey,
and to the extent

504
00:25:27,133 --> 00:25:29,333
that there's any
federal involvement

505
00:25:29,333 --> 00:25:31,266
I would refer you to
the Department of Justice.

506
00:25:31,266 --> 00:25:32,734
Major.

507
00:25:32,734 --> 00:25:35,632
The
Press: If you could, what's the
promise behind the Promise Zone?

508
00:25:35,633 --> 00:25:39,500
What will these cities have
a year from now or two years

509
00:25:39,500 --> 00:25:42,767
if everything works just right?

510
00:25:42,767 --> 00:25:45,800
Mr. Carney:
With the action on and
implementation of the plans

511
00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:48,899
that they presented,
there should be --

512
00:25:48,900 --> 00:25:50,834
and we hope there will be --

513
00:25:50,834 --> 00:25:53,734
a partnership with local
businesses and communities

514
00:25:53,734 --> 00:25:57,265
that creates more jobs,
increases economic security,

515
00:25:57,266 --> 00:25:59,934
expands access to educational
opportunities and

516
00:25:59,934 --> 00:26:04,966
to quality, affordable housing,
and also improves public safety.

517
00:26:04,967 --> 00:26:09,066
So that is the hope,
that through this program,

518
00:26:09,066 --> 00:26:12,700
this partnering with the private
sector and local communities,

519
00:26:12,700 --> 00:26:16,200
we can help
bring economic progress

520
00:26:16,200 --> 00:26:19,700
to regions of the country --

521
00:26:19,700 --> 00:26:24,100
cities and regions that
have a plan for doing that.

522
00:26:24,100 --> 00:26:27,265
The Press:
Do you have a means
to measure that?

523
00:26:27,266 --> 00:26:32,500
Mr. Carney:
Major, I would urge you to
come back to us with questions.

524
00:26:32,500 --> 00:26:33,500
Maybe we can connect
you with some

525
00:26:33,500 --> 00:26:35,633
of the policy people on this.

526
00:26:35,633 --> 00:26:40,100
But the Promise Zones are
something that the President

527
00:26:40,100 --> 00:26:41,766
talked about in the State
of the Union and has talked

528
00:26:41,767 --> 00:26:45,867
about periodically through
the year last year.

529
00:26:45,867 --> 00:26:49,533
And now we have five regions
-- three cities and two regions

530
00:26:49,533 --> 00:26:52,766
that have been
selected for action,

531
00:26:52,767 --> 00:26:55,400
and the President
believes deeply

532
00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:56,867
that this is the
kind of creative,

533
00:26:56,867 --> 00:26:59,600
innovative approach
to economic growth

534
00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:00,899
that can help us make progress.

535
00:27:00,900 --> 00:27:08,100
And it can be coupled with
other efforts that we take,

536
00:27:08,100 --> 00:27:10,433
whether it's extending
unemployment insurance --

537
00:27:10,433 --> 00:27:14,100
emergency unemployment
insurance to Americans

538
00:27:14,100 --> 00:27:15,667
who need it while
they're looking for work;

539
00:27:15,667 --> 00:27:17,600
or raising the minimum wage,

540
00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:21,500
which study after
study demonstrates

541
00:27:21,500 --> 00:27:23,033
has a very positive impact,

542
00:27:23,033 --> 00:27:25,667
both for those who
benefit directly from it

543
00:27:25,667 --> 00:27:31,000
by having a raise in income,
and because of the economic bang

544
00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:32,867
for the buck you get out of it.

545
00:27:32,867 --> 00:27:38,300
So we're moving on all fronts
on a broader economic agenda

546
00:27:38,300 --> 00:27:40,533
that's focused
on economic mobility.

547
00:27:40,533 --> 00:27:43,632
And the problem the President
talked about that has been

548
00:27:43,633 --> 00:27:45,600
developing over the
course of many decades

549
00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:50,300
here in this country,
where the promise,

550
00:27:50,300 --> 00:27:52,265
or one of the
promises of America --

551
00:27:52,266 --> 00:27:56,367
which was that no
matter your circumstances,

552
00:27:56,367 --> 00:28:01,567
if you worked hard you could get
ahead and become anyone or do

553
00:28:01,567 --> 00:28:06,233
anything that you dreamed --
that that has been diminished;

554
00:28:06,233 --> 00:28:10,899
that the economic mobility
that we prided ourselves on

555
00:28:10,900 --> 00:28:16,900
is now outranked by some of the
countries in Western Europe that

556
00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:25,233
a lot of folks left
100, 200 years ago to pursue

557
00:28:25,233 --> 00:28:28,166
the dreams that
America afforded them.

558
00:28:28,166 --> 00:28:29,966
The Press:
On Iraq, how would you
describe the President's

559
00:28:29,967 --> 00:28:31,066
sense of urgency?

560
00:28:31,066 --> 00:28:37,834
Even with promised and
agreed-upon weapons sales

561
00:28:37,834 --> 00:28:39,734
to the Iraqis, many
of them haven't arrived;

562
00:28:39,734 --> 00:28:41,399
they're two or three
or four months late,

563
00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:42,834
even those that
have been approved.

564
00:28:42,834 --> 00:28:45,600
There are new requests that
are having trouble in Congress

565
00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:47,899
getting approved; Senator
Menendez is still somewhat

566
00:28:47,900 --> 00:28:51,166
unresolved as to whether
or not he's going to approve

567
00:28:51,166 --> 00:28:52,533
the most recent one.

568
00:28:52,533 --> 00:28:55,567
And the implication of Speaker
Boehner's criticism is that

569
00:28:55,567 --> 00:28:57,567
by having the Vice President
so routinely involved,

570
00:28:57,567 --> 00:29:00,266
it conveys to the Iraqis
and everyone else the President

571
00:29:00,266 --> 00:29:02,600
himself does not consider
this an urgent priority.

572
00:29:02,600 --> 00:29:03,867
How would you evaluate that?

573
00:29:03,867 --> 00:29:06,433
And how would you describe where
things currently are and

574
00:29:06,433 --> 00:29:09,233
what you're doing to try to get
those things already approved

575
00:29:09,233 --> 00:29:11,800
to the Iraqis and remove the
blockades that you're currently

576
00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:14,867
encountering on the most
recent request for all those?

577
00:29:14,867 --> 00:29:16,899
Mr. Carney:
Well, we're going
to continue to work with

578
00:29:16,900 --> 00:29:20,100
Congress to provide the
assistance that we believe

579
00:29:20,100 --> 00:29:23,466
is important in this
effort with Iraq.

580
00:29:23,467 --> 00:29:25,834
On the first point,
when the President

581
00:29:25,834 --> 00:29:30,800
asked the Vice President
to oversee Iraq policy

582
00:29:30,800 --> 00:29:32,767
when they came into
office in early 2009,

583
00:29:32,767 --> 00:29:35,934
that was widely viewed
as a demonstration of the fact

584
00:29:35,934 --> 00:29:38,966
that the President took
the need to move forward

585
00:29:38,967 --> 00:29:41,367
in Iraq and to wind down
that war so seriously.

586
00:29:41,367 --> 00:29:44,300
He brought it right
into the West Wing,

587
00:29:44,300 --> 00:29:46,667
and that is where
it resides today.

588
00:29:46,667 --> 00:29:51,800
So the President is very
engaged in this effort.

589
00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:54,433
And he spends,
as we discussed yesterday,

590
00:29:54,433 --> 00:29:56,767
quite a bit of time with the
Vice President talking about

591
00:29:56,767 --> 00:30:01,333
national security matters,
including, a lot lately, Iraq.

592
00:30:01,333 --> 00:30:05,000
So I think that that reflects
the commitment he has

593
00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:09,000
and the Vice President
has to working with Iraq

594
00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:11,333
on a very complex problem.

595
00:30:11,333 --> 00:30:17,133
And as was the case and has
been the case for a long time --

596
00:30:17,133 --> 00:30:18,934
and we believe Iraq's
leaders agree on this --

597
00:30:18,934 --> 00:30:22,433
the only way to fight ISIL
is through strong coordination

598
00:30:22,433 --> 00:30:25,500
between the government of
Iraq and local Sunni officials

599
00:30:25,500 --> 00:30:29,300
and tribes against
a common enemy.

600
00:30:29,300 --> 00:30:35,433
That was true late in
the previous administration,

601
00:30:35,433 --> 00:30:37,266
and it's true today.

602
00:30:37,266 --> 00:30:39,834
And it's not just
about military assistance --

603
00:30:39,834 --> 00:30:42,266
although that's important --

604
00:30:42,266 --> 00:30:45,400
and it's not just
about the much-improved

605
00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:50,367
capacities of the Iraqi forces,
it's also about a will --

606
00:30:50,367 --> 00:30:56,500
a political willingness to unify
against this common enemy.

607
00:30:56,500 --> 00:31:00,500
And that means Shiites,
Sunnis and Kurds.

608
00:31:00,500 --> 00:31:02,667
It means the various
political blocks.

609
00:31:02,667 --> 00:31:06,867
And that is the conversation
that we are having

610
00:31:06,867 --> 00:31:09,133
at very high levels
with Iraqi leaders.

611
00:31:09,133 --> 00:31:10,333
The Press:
On the weapons part,

612
00:31:10,333 --> 00:31:11,900
is he satisfied that approved
weapons still haven't

613
00:31:11,900 --> 00:31:12,900
been delivered?

614
00:31:12,900 --> 00:31:14,133
And has he done anything
or said anything

615
00:31:14,133 --> 00:31:17,166
to try to speed that process up?

616
00:31:17,166 --> 00:31:21,066
Mr. Carney:
We are, again, working
with Congress to

617
00:31:21,066 --> 00:31:24,166
accelerate our foreign military
sales and looking to provide

618
00:31:24,166 --> 00:31:26,700
an additional shipment
of Hellfire missiles --

619
00:31:26,700 --> 00:31:29,400
The Press:
I'm talking about
things that have

620
00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:31,900
already been approved
and still haven't gotten --

621
00:31:31,900 --> 00:31:33,266
Mr. Carney:
Well, I don't have any --

622
00:31:33,266 --> 00:31:34,633
the Department
of Defense has --

623
00:31:34,633 --> 00:31:36,900
if you have a specific question
about a specific shipment,

624
00:31:36,900 --> 00:31:38,967
I have to ask you
to bring your question

625
00:31:38,967 --> 00:31:40,867
to the Department of Defense.

626
00:31:40,867 --> 00:31:42,367
The Press:
I'm just asking if the
President is satisfied.

627
00:31:42,367 --> 00:31:44,066
Mr. Carney:
The President -- I haven't
had a specific conversation

628
00:31:44,066 --> 00:31:45,433
about the timing of shipments.

629
00:31:45,433 --> 00:31:47,767
I know the President
wants assistance provided

630
00:31:47,767 --> 00:31:50,934
to the Iraqi government
as quickly as possible.

631
00:31:50,934 --> 00:31:52,800
The Press:
Jay, has the President
had a chance to talk

632
00:31:52,800 --> 00:31:53,966
to Secretary Gates?

633
00:31:53,967 --> 00:31:58,533
Or does he want to --
does he feel like they need

634
00:31:58,533 --> 00:31:59,667
to talk any of this out?

635
00:31:59,667 --> 00:32:03,500
Or is it kind of turn the page?

636
00:32:03,500 --> 00:32:05,667
Mr. Carney:
Well, two things, Ed.

637
00:32:05,667 --> 00:32:10,100
I think I spoke at length and
repeatedly yesterday in answers

638
00:32:10,100 --> 00:32:11,966
to questions about that, about
the fact that the President

639
00:32:11,967 --> 00:32:15,800
appreciates Secretary Gates's
service as Secretary of Defense

640
00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:19,934
and his lifetime of
service to our country.

641
00:32:19,934 --> 00:32:22,500
The President did speak
with Secretary Gates I think

642
00:32:22,500 --> 00:32:23,500
over the weekend,

643
00:32:23,500 --> 00:32:26,066
if I'm not mistaken,
when he learned

644
00:32:26,066 --> 00:32:30,000
about the injury to his neck
that Secretary Gates suffered.

645
00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:32,567
The Press:
Not about the book, per se.

646
00:32:32,567 --> 00:32:33,700
Mr. Carney: Yes.

647
00:32:33,700 --> 00:32:36,600
The Press:
Did it come up in
that conversation?

648
00:32:36,600 --> 00:32:38,600
Mr. Carney:
I don't think the
book had come out.

649
00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:40,199
The Press:
And he hadn't
heard about it yet,

650
00:32:40,200 --> 00:32:41,767
the details on this?

651
00:32:41,767 --> 00:32:42,900
Mr. Carney:
I just don't know, Ed.

652
00:32:42,900 --> 00:32:44,266
I mean, certainly
not the details.

653
00:32:44,266 --> 00:32:46,533
We had not --
nobody -- as I said yesterday,

654
00:32:46,533 --> 00:32:49,033
we got the -- I got
the book the night before.

655
00:32:49,033 --> 00:32:52,132
But we had seen some reports,
the early reports about it.

656
00:32:52,133 --> 00:32:57,900
But again, his view is the
one I repeated several times

657
00:32:57,900 --> 00:33:00,834
yesterday and
just repeated again.

658
00:33:00,834 --> 00:33:04,934
But I don't know
that they have --

659
00:33:04,934 --> 00:33:06,734
I don't believe they have
talked in the last few days

660
00:33:06,734 --> 00:33:07,734
since they talked last,

661
00:33:07,734 --> 00:33:09,265
and I'm not sure when
they'll talk again.

662
00:33:09,266 --> 00:33:10,367
The Press:
Two other quick ones.

663
00:33:10,367 --> 00:33:12,533
On the Promise Zones,
fair to say the President

664
00:33:12,533 --> 00:33:14,667
has put a serious plan
on the table on this.

665
00:33:14,667 --> 00:33:17,833
Do you believe that the
Republicans who are talking

666
00:33:17,834 --> 00:33:19,333
about this are serious as well?

667
00:33:19,333 --> 00:33:23,066
Rand Paul, Marco Rubio put
a plan on the table yesterday.

668
00:33:23,066 --> 00:33:24,266
Mr. Carney:
A Promise Zones plan?

669
00:33:24,266 --> 00:33:25,266
Or you mean --

670
00:33:25,266 --> 00:33:26,266
The Press:
Oh, I'm sorry -- economic zone.

671
00:33:26,266 --> 00:33:27,967
They have their
own versions of this.

672
00:33:27,967 --> 00:33:32,266
Paul Ryan is talking about how
Republicans need to help people

673
00:33:32,266 --> 00:33:34,967
who are in poverty -- they got
to do a better job on that.

674
00:33:34,967 --> 00:33:36,834
My question is more --
Rand Paul is here today,

675
00:33:36,834 --> 00:33:39,500
Mitch McConnell is here
for the President's event.

676
00:33:39,500 --> 00:33:40,700
We've talked about this before.

677
00:33:40,700 --> 00:33:42,700
He reaches out,
they say they want to work,

678
00:33:42,700 --> 00:33:44,400
then things fall apart.

679
00:33:44,400 --> 00:33:47,166
Is there any hope on this issue
that when there are so many

680
00:33:47,166 --> 00:33:48,466
people in America --

681
00:33:48,467 --> 00:33:49,567
Mr. Carney:
There's always hope, Ed.

682
00:33:49,567 --> 00:33:52,133
And I think you saw
the President in Anacostia

683
00:33:52,133 --> 00:33:55,367
late last year made clear
on this specific issue

684
00:33:55,367 --> 00:33:59,633
that he wants to hear
from any member of Congress,

685
00:33:59,633 --> 00:34:03,533
from anybody of any
affiliation who has a good idea

686
00:34:03,533 --> 00:34:09,100
about how to deal with this
challenge that he described

687
00:34:09,100 --> 00:34:10,165
as the challenge
of our time

688
00:34:10,166 --> 00:34:11,934
that we need to address,

689
00:34:11,934 --> 00:34:16,867
because it goes to the heart
of who we are as a country

690
00:34:16,867 --> 00:34:21,300
economically and how we see
ourselves and define ourselves.

691
00:34:21,300 --> 00:34:27,300
And he is eager to listen
to and talk to and negotiate

692
00:34:29,934 --> 00:34:32,033
with anyone who has a good idea.

693
00:34:32,033 --> 00:34:36,400
So I know that the men you
mentioned gave speeches

694
00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:39,734
the other day about their ideas,
so I haven't evaluated them.

695
00:34:39,734 --> 00:34:42,232
I don't know that
anybody here has yet.

696
00:34:42,233 --> 00:34:45,133
But I think that I would
point you to what the President

697
00:34:45,132 --> 00:34:46,366
said before,
and the answer is, yes.

698
00:34:46,367 --> 00:34:48,967
And the fact that the senators
you mentioned are here,

699
00:34:48,967 --> 00:34:50,800
presumably because
one of the Promise Zones

700
00:34:50,800 --> 00:34:53,934
is Southeastern Kentucky,
I think that's a good thing.

701
00:34:53,934 --> 00:34:57,667
And we should always --
as I said, I don't know,

702
00:34:57,667 --> 00:35:00,299
some time this week, that
when it comes to working

703
00:35:00,300 --> 00:35:05,467
with Congress or using the
other powers the President has,

704
00:35:05,467 --> 00:35:07,500
he is not doing one or
the other, he'll do both.

705
00:35:07,500 --> 00:35:09,000
And where there are
opportunities to move

706
00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:10,767
forward with Congress
in a bipartisan way,

707
00:35:10,767 --> 00:35:13,466
he will embrace them because
he knows that's the right thing

708
00:35:13,467 --> 00:35:14,467
to do for the country.

709
00:35:14,467 --> 00:35:15,567
Kristen.

710
00:35:15,567 --> 00:35:16,633
The Press:
Jay, thanks.

711
00:35:16,633 --> 00:35:19,066
I want to go back to
unemployment insurance.

712
00:35:19,066 --> 00:35:22,232
Senator Ayotte has floated an
amendment that would essentially

713
00:35:22,233 --> 00:35:25,000
pay for an extension of
unemployment insurance benefits

714
00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:28,500
by closing a tax loophole of
people who fraudulently claim

715
00:35:28,500 --> 00:35:31,300
to have kids who don't
actually have children.

716
00:35:31,300 --> 00:35:35,367
Is that something that the
President would support?

717
00:35:35,367 --> 00:35:36,633
Mr. Carney:
I just don't know
that much about it.

718
00:35:36,633 --> 00:35:40,299
But I'm certainly not going
to negotiate proposals that

719
00:35:40,300 --> 00:35:42,033
are floating on Capitol Hill.

720
00:35:42,033 --> 00:35:45,667
What I know is that there is
a bill that got 60 votes on a

721
00:35:45,667 --> 00:35:49,400
cloture vote that would extend
these benefits right away

722
00:35:49,400 --> 00:35:52,166
to 1.3 million Americans
and their families,

723
00:35:52,166 --> 00:35:57,200
and that that vote included six
Republicans who supported it.

724
00:35:57,200 --> 00:35:59,500
The Press:
That doesn't have enough
votes to pass this bill.

725
00:35:59,500 --> 00:36:02,600
Mr. Carney:
Well, that's what they
said about the cloture vote.

726
00:36:02,600 --> 00:36:04,200
That's what you guys
reported about the --

727
00:36:04,200 --> 00:36:05,332
and when I say "you guys,"

728
00:36:05,333 --> 00:36:07,333
I want to make clear
I'm talking collectively --

729
00:36:07,333 --> 00:36:09,200
because that was
what people thought,

730
00:36:09,200 --> 00:36:11,133
and that was the
conventional wisdom.

731
00:36:11,133 --> 00:36:12,700
And maybe you're right,
maybe you're not,

732
00:36:12,700 --> 00:36:14,567
but we're not going to
concede that that's --

733
00:36:14,567 --> 00:36:17,734
I don't think the
1.3 million Americans out there

734
00:36:17,734 --> 00:36:21,933
and their families want to hear
anybody give up on that effort.

735
00:36:21,934 --> 00:36:23,433
We're not going to,
because it has to happen,

736
00:36:23,433 --> 00:36:25,700
and we hope that Congress
will make it happen.

737
00:36:25,700 --> 00:36:29,466
As I said to Brianna,
we're absolutely willing

738
00:36:29,467 --> 00:36:31,300
to have conversations
about how to move forward

739
00:36:31,300 --> 00:36:34,266
on the longer-term extension.

740
00:36:34,266 --> 00:36:38,533
We are concerned with getting
that short-term extension done

741
00:36:38,533 --> 00:36:43,333
because the clock keeps ticking
for those families who were

742
00:36:43,333 --> 00:36:45,967
depending on assistance and
no longer are receiving it.

743
00:36:45,967 --> 00:36:48,200
The Press:
And on that point, does
the President regret

744
00:36:48,200 --> 00:36:50,133
not having fought
harder for this

745
00:36:50,133 --> 00:36:52,667
before everyone
left for vacation?

746
00:36:52,667 --> 00:36:55,799
Mr. Carney:
I can't remember if
you were here the day that

747
00:36:55,800 --> 00:36:58,633
Gene Sperling came and
listed the number of times

748
00:36:58,633 --> 00:37:00,633
the President explicitly,
publicly, passionately

749
00:37:00,633 --> 00:37:04,366
called on Congress
to act on this.

750
00:37:04,367 --> 00:37:07,066
So we did it then,
we're doing it now.

751
00:37:07,066 --> 00:37:08,066
They ought to --

752
00:37:08,066 --> 00:37:09,165
The Press:
This is still a long -- I mean,

753
00:37:09,166 --> 00:37:10,567
the White House Democrats
still voted on something

754
00:37:10,567 --> 00:37:13,367
that didn't contain unemployment
insurance benefits.

755
00:37:13,367 --> 00:37:16,500
Mr. Carney:
Well, they vote a lot
on a lot of things

756
00:37:16,500 --> 00:37:18,433
that don't include unemployment
insurance benefits.

757
00:37:18,433 --> 00:37:21,367
That doesn't excuse them
from the absolute necessity

758
00:37:21,367 --> 00:37:23,867
of extending unemployment
insurance benefits now.

759
00:37:23,867 --> 00:37:26,633
The budget deal was a good deal
and it was an important deal.

760
00:37:26,633 --> 00:37:30,332
It was a modest deal,
but it was a significant --

761
00:37:30,333 --> 00:37:34,633
far more than
the size of the deal

762
00:37:34,633 --> 00:37:38,232
was the symbolism
after what we'd been through

763
00:37:38,233 --> 00:37:40,667
of Congress actually coming
together in a bipartisan way

764
00:37:40,667 --> 00:37:43,700
to pass a budget.

765
00:37:43,700 --> 00:37:45,466
And that made it important.

766
00:37:45,467 --> 00:37:49,367
But that doesn't excuse
Congress from the need to act,

767
00:37:49,367 --> 00:37:52,033
as it has in the past,
under Republican Presidents

768
00:37:52,033 --> 00:37:54,834
and Republican Congresses,
as well as Democratic Presidents

769
00:37:54,834 --> 00:37:57,567
and Congresses, to extend
unemployment insurance.

770
00:37:57,567 --> 00:38:00,600
The Press:
Is the President concerned
that there's a loss of momentum

771
00:38:00,600 --> 00:38:03,033
in terms of getting
this passed?

772
00:38:03,033 --> 00:38:05,967
Mr. Carney:
The President is concerned
each day that this isn't passed

773
00:38:05,967 --> 00:38:10,667
for the families who
rely on this assistance.

774
00:38:10,667 --> 00:38:14,000
The Press:
One, Jay, quickly,
on Afghanistan.

775
00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:16,400
Has anyone from the White
House reached out to Karzai,

776
00:38:16,400 --> 00:38:18,500
or will anyone,
in the wake of the Gates book?

777
00:38:18,500 --> 00:38:19,600
Do you feel like --

778
00:38:19,600 --> 00:38:21,633
I know you got some
questions on this yesterday,

779
00:38:21,633 --> 00:38:24,332
but is that something
that you think is --

780
00:38:24,333 --> 00:38:25,700
Mr. Carney:
Not that I'm aware of, Kristen.

781
00:38:25,700 --> 00:38:27,500
We are in contact
with President Karzai --

782
00:38:27,500 --> 00:38:29,200
we, as a government
and an administration,

783
00:38:29,200 --> 00:38:31,866
our embassy in Kabul, others,

784
00:38:31,867 --> 00:38:33,600
the State Department
and elsewhere --

785
00:38:33,600 --> 00:38:37,333
with the Afghan government
on a regular basis

786
00:38:37,333 --> 00:38:40,800
on a variety of issues,
because we work collaboratively

787
00:38:40,800 --> 00:38:46,834
on so much in Afghanistan,
and specifically on the need

788
00:38:46,834 --> 00:38:53,700
for the bilateral security
agreement to be signed promptly

789
00:38:53,700 --> 00:38:58,533
so that we can begin
to plan for 2014.

790
00:38:58,533 --> 00:39:00,834
There is not
a lot of time left

791
00:39:00,834 --> 00:39:03,399
before that planning
has to begin.

792
00:39:03,400 --> 00:39:06,600
And the bilateral
security agreement

793
00:39:06,600 --> 00:39:08,967
was negotiated in good faith.

794
00:39:08,967 --> 00:39:11,800
It was endorsed
by the loya jirga,

795
00:39:11,800 --> 00:39:15,033
and we certainly agree
with that endorsement.

796
00:39:15,033 --> 00:39:16,033
It ought to be signed.

797
00:39:16,033 --> 00:39:17,066
Peter.

798
00:39:17,066 --> 00:39:18,466
The Press:
Thank you very much.

799
00:39:18,467 --> 00:39:21,300
Presumably, there's going
to be more memoirs written.

800
00:39:21,300 --> 00:39:24,300
Does the President have a view
on whether his appointees should

801
00:39:24,300 --> 00:39:26,600
disclose private conversations
he's had with them

802
00:39:26,600 --> 00:39:30,600
in the Situation Room
or in the Oval Office?

803
00:39:30,600 --> 00:39:33,366
Mr. Carney:
I would simply say
what I said yesterday,

804
00:39:33,367 --> 00:39:37,800
which was a broad statement
not a presidential statement,

805
00:39:37,800 --> 00:39:41,333
that that anybody who has the
privilege and honor of serving

806
00:39:41,333 --> 00:39:45,633
at a high level in a White
House or an administration,

807
00:39:45,633 --> 00:39:52,265
and participates in debates and
conversations with a President

808
00:39:52,266 --> 00:39:58,300
and other principals, leaves
office and decides for himself

809
00:39:58,300 --> 00:40:02,300
and herself how to speak about
it and write about it and when.

810
00:40:02,300 --> 00:40:05,367
And that's each
individual's decision.

811
00:40:05,367 --> 00:40:08,300
So you're right, I know
some people write memoirs,

812
00:40:08,300 --> 00:40:09,400
some don't.

813
00:40:09,400 --> 00:40:15,100
We're too busy focused on what
we're doing today

814
00:40:15,100 --> 00:40:19,133
and what we can do this year for
the American people to spend

815
00:40:19,133 --> 00:40:22,200
a lot of time
worrying about that.

816
00:40:22,200 --> 00:40:23,633
The Press:
There's no standing
directive, though,

817
00:40:23,633 --> 00:40:26,232
to high-level appointees that
they should refrain from making

818
00:40:26,233 --> 00:40:28,533
public the conversations they're
having with the President

819
00:40:28,533 --> 00:40:31,834
in the Situation Room
or the Oval Office?

820
00:40:31,834 --> 00:40:34,466
Mr. Carney:
Well, when you say
the Situation Room --

821
00:40:34,467 --> 00:40:37,834
if you're saying, is there a
standing directive not to leak

822
00:40:37,834 --> 00:40:39,366
classified information,
yes, I think there's

823
00:40:39,367 --> 00:40:42,333
a federal statute
-- at least one.

824
00:40:42,333 --> 00:40:45,567
So when you talk
about conversation,

825
00:40:45,567 --> 00:40:47,500
I think it's
understood that --

826
00:40:47,500 --> 00:40:53,500
at least I'm confident
it's understood that when you

827
00:40:55,533 --> 00:41:00,232
work here or elsewhere in
the administration that you --

828
00:41:00,233 --> 00:41:01,500
it's an honor and a privilege,

829
00:41:01,500 --> 00:41:07,400
and that those you are assisting
and advising can best rely

830
00:41:10,166 --> 00:41:14,266
on your assistance and
advice when it's discreet.

831
00:41:14,266 --> 00:41:17,033
Mark.

832
00:41:17,033 --> 00:41:20,500
The Press:
On that point, do you know
whether President Obama feels

833
00:41:20,500 --> 00:41:24,767
that some presidential
confidences were betrayed

834
00:41:24,767 --> 00:41:29,133
by Robert Gates, things that
he said and never expected

835
00:41:29,133 --> 00:41:31,133
would show up in print?

836
00:41:32,700 --> 00:41:36,366
Mr. Carney:
Mark, he is focused
on other things --

837
00:41:36,367 --> 00:41:37,734
I promise you.

838
00:41:37,734 --> 00:41:42,967
I have talked to him about this
in the course of conversations

839
00:41:42,967 --> 00:41:44,967
about a lot of other issues,

840
00:41:44,967 --> 00:41:47,400
and we didn't spend
a lot of time on it,

841
00:41:47,400 --> 00:41:52,300
because he is much
focused on other matters,

842
00:41:52,300 --> 00:41:55,333
including getting those
Promise Zones done,

843
00:41:55,333 --> 00:42:00,166
and getting minimum wage raised,
and getting that unemployment

844
00:42:00,166 --> 00:42:03,900
insurance extended,
and the situation in Iraq,

845
00:42:03,900 --> 00:42:09,533
and the negotiations with
the P5-plus-1, and, and,

846
00:42:09,533 --> 00:42:11,100
and -- this is way
down on his list.

847
00:42:11,100 --> 00:42:13,165
It's not even on his list.

848
00:42:13,166 --> 00:42:17,834
The Press:
But if you had told me
something off the record

849
00:42:17,834 --> 00:42:21,000
and I reported it,
you'd be mad at me, right?

850
00:42:21,000 --> 00:42:22,000
Mr. Carney:
We'll see.

851
00:42:22,000 --> 00:42:23,233
[laughter]

852
00:42:23,233 --> 00:42:25,066
The Press:
But is the President
mad or disappointed

853
00:42:25,066 --> 00:42:27,066
in Robert Gates?

854
00:42:27,066 --> 00:42:30,299
Mr. Carney:
He did not demonstrate those
emotions in my presence.

855
00:42:30,300 --> 00:42:31,433
The Press:
One last thing.

856
00:42:31,433 --> 00:42:35,967
Is it coincidence that
eight counties in Kentucky,

857
00:42:35,967 --> 00:42:38,600
the state of the
Senate Minority Leader,

858
00:42:38,600 --> 00:42:40,333
were chosen to be
a Promise Zone?

859
00:42:40,333 --> 00:42:42,066
Mr. Carney:
Are you suggesting that
we're trying to assist the --

860
00:42:42,066 --> 00:42:43,500
The Press:
I'm not suggesting,
merely asking.

861
00:42:43,500 --> 00:42:48,200
Mr. Carney:
I think that the Promise
Zones were carefully selected,

862
00:42:48,200 --> 00:42:50,100
and I would ask you
to check in to find

863
00:42:50,100 --> 00:42:51,433
out by whom in the process.

864
00:42:51,433 --> 00:42:52,433
But I think this was --

865
00:42:52,433 --> 00:42:54,200
I know this was
based on the merits

866
00:42:54,200 --> 00:42:55,966
and the programs
that were put forward.

867
00:42:55,967 --> 00:43:01,400
And I think that if you look
at the diversity of the list,

868
00:43:01,400 --> 00:43:03,133
that reflects what the --

869
00:43:03,133 --> 00:43:07,767
at least at one level
what the criteria were.

870
00:43:07,767 --> 00:43:12,866
The Press:
Does the President have
any position on the current

871
00:43:12,867 --> 00:43:18,066
status of India
in its relationship?

872
00:43:18,066 --> 00:43:19,466
Mr. Carney:
Does he have any --

873
00:43:19,467 --> 00:43:22,367
The Press:
Any thoughts on what's
happening on the India-U.S.

874
00:43:22,367 --> 00:43:23,633
relationship front?

875
00:43:23,633 --> 00:43:25,232
Mr. Carney:
I don't have any new
information to provide

876
00:43:25,233 --> 00:43:27,767
since we talked about that last.

877
00:43:27,767 --> 00:43:33,567
It's an extremely
important relationship,

878
00:43:33,567 --> 00:43:41,100
and I just haven't had that
conversation with him yet.

879
00:43:41,100 --> 00:43:44,100
I know he's updated
on developments

880
00:43:44,100 --> 00:43:46,299
on the issues surrounding
the relationship,

881
00:43:46,300 --> 00:43:50,533
but I haven't spoken
to him about it.

882
00:43:50,533 --> 00:43:54,200
The Press:
Yesterday, Secretary Kerry
met him at the White House.

883
00:43:54,200 --> 00:43:55,767
Among other foreign
policy issues,

884
00:43:55,767 --> 00:43:57,899
was India a topic
of discussion when --

885
00:43:57,900 --> 00:43:58,900
Mr. Carney:
When who met with him?

886
00:43:58,900 --> 00:44:00,100
Sorry.

887
00:44:00,100 --> 00:44:01,033
The Press:
Secretary Kerry
met the President.

888
00:44:01,033 --> 00:44:02,033
Mr. Carney:
I just don't know.

889
00:44:02,033 --> 00:44:03,433
I don't know if we
gave a readout of that.

890
00:44:03,433 --> 00:44:05,533
It's a regular meeting
the President has,

891
00:44:05,533 --> 00:44:08,500
so I just don't know
the answer to that.

892
00:44:08,500 --> 00:44:10,734
The Press:
A quick clarification?

893
00:44:10,734 --> 00:44:12,232
Mr. Carney: Yes.

894
00:44:12,233 --> 00:44:15,934
The Press:
Is the President aware of this
withdrawal of diplomatic --

895
00:44:15,934 --> 00:44:18,133
of the privileges
to the diplomats

896
00:44:18,133 --> 00:44:20,734
and to our diplomatic
missions in India?

897
00:44:20,734 --> 00:44:24,266
Every day, we have something
or other being withdrawn.

898
00:44:24,266 --> 00:44:26,934
So is the White House
going to get into it

899
00:44:26,934 --> 00:44:29,200
so that this is resolved?

900
00:44:29,200 --> 00:44:30,933
Mr. Carney:
Well, I think the State
Department is engaged,

901
00:44:30,934 --> 00:44:35,867
and I know that they have
addressed this in briefings

902
00:44:35,867 --> 00:44:37,934
by my colleague,
Jen Psaki, and others --

903
00:44:37,934 --> 00:44:39,133
Marie Harf and others.

904
00:44:39,133 --> 00:44:41,366
So I would point you to
what they've said about it.

905
00:44:41,367 --> 00:44:43,266
The President is obviously
a consumer of the news as well

906
00:44:43,266 --> 00:44:50,967
as a recipient of
many briefings, so I can say

907
00:44:50,967 --> 00:44:54,533
with great confidence that he
is following these developments.

908
00:44:54,533 --> 00:44:57,700
But I don't have a position
or view to express from the

909
00:44:57,700 --> 00:45:00,399
presidential level
on those developments.

910
00:45:00,400 --> 00:45:02,433
The Press:
Jay, two economic things.

911
00:45:02,433 --> 00:45:06,433
Number one, the Senate Finance
and House Ways and Means

912
00:45:06,433 --> 00:45:09,900
Committee have reached a deal
on fast-track trade authority,

913
00:45:09,900 --> 00:45:12,834
something which the
President has called for

914
00:45:12,834 --> 00:45:14,500
at least in principle.

915
00:45:14,500 --> 00:45:17,033
This actual legislation
that they've negotiated,

916
00:45:17,033 --> 00:45:19,834
is this something, A,
that you guys support?

917
00:45:19,834 --> 00:45:24,232
How confident are you that
you can get this fast-track

918
00:45:24,233 --> 00:45:25,667
authority passed
through Congress?

919
00:45:25,667 --> 00:45:28,799
And what is the President going
to do to persuade particularly

920
00:45:28,800 --> 00:45:31,967
members of his own
party to back this?

921
00:45:31,967 --> 00:45:34,266
Mr. Carney:
Well, I can tell you
that trade promotion

922
00:45:34,266 --> 00:45:36,867
authority is a priority,
not in theory but in fact,

923
00:45:36,867 --> 00:45:40,300
for the administration because
it is a key part of our overall

924
00:45:40,300 --> 00:45:42,667
economic strategy and
our foreign policy,

925
00:45:42,667 --> 00:45:45,433
particularly in Asia, and
because it's time for Congress

926
00:45:45,433 --> 00:45:49,333
to update and to assert its
own role in trade negotiations.

927
00:45:49,333 --> 00:45:52,533
We are pursuing transatlantic
and transpacific trade deals,

928
00:45:52,533 --> 00:45:55,232
as you know, with countries
that together represent

929
00:45:55,233 --> 00:45:58,800
half of the world's
gross domestic product,

930
00:45:58,800 --> 00:46:00,700
separating out
the United States.

931
00:46:00,700 --> 00:46:03,799
And we will be working with
Congress to secure legislation

932
00:46:03,800 --> 00:46:05,233
that will assure
their role in bringing

933
00:46:05,233 --> 00:46:06,233
those trade agreements home.

934
00:46:06,233 --> 00:46:08,667
So when there
is progress on that front,

935
00:46:08,667 --> 00:46:10,066
we view it as a good thing.

936
00:46:10,066 --> 00:46:13,834
I don't have details on -- with
any specificity on the movement

937
00:46:13,834 --> 00:46:17,332
in Congress today, but we do
believe that this is a priority.

938
00:46:17,333 --> 00:46:19,300
The President has made
clear it's a priority.

939
00:46:19,300 --> 00:46:22,567
He has pushed --
and this is for these folks here

940
00:46:22,567 --> 00:46:24,567
who cover this stuff --

941
00:46:24,567 --> 00:46:29,967
TPP and T-TIP,
and as well as the TPA.

942
00:46:29,967 --> 00:46:33,567
So, any "T" you can
think of in fact.

943
00:46:33,567 --> 00:46:34,567
[laughter]

944
00:46:34,567 --> 00:46:36,000
No, seriously,
Trans-Pacific Partnership,

945
00:46:36,000 --> 00:46:39,500
the Transatlantic Trade
and Investment Partnership,

946
00:46:39,500 --> 00:46:43,166
these are important proposals
that we want to see acted on,

947
00:46:43,166 --> 00:46:45,867
and trade promotion authority
is an important part of that.

948
00:46:45,867 --> 00:46:48,433
The Press:
The other thing, on this
White House meeting tomorrow

949
00:46:48,433 --> 00:46:51,533
on the NSA stuff, which
I guess will be with staff,

950
00:46:51,533 --> 00:46:53,900
as I understand it, and not
with the President himself --

951
00:46:53,900 --> 00:46:55,300
but maybe I'm wrong on that --

952
00:46:55,300 --> 00:46:58,000
will tech companies be
represented at that meeting?

953
00:46:58,000 --> 00:47:00,367
And if so, which tech companies?

954
00:47:00,367 --> 00:47:04,934
Mr. Carney:
I don't have greater
information on that.

955
00:47:04,934 --> 00:47:08,367
I'm sure we'll be able to
provide more to you tomorrow.

956
00:47:08,367 --> 00:47:11,633
What I have is that as part of
our outgoing -- ongoing, rather,

957
00:47:11,633 --> 00:47:14,667
outreach and following up on
the President's recent meeting

958
00:47:14,667 --> 00:47:17,299
with tech executives, White
House staff will be meeting

959
00:47:17,300 --> 00:47:20,033
with representatives from
tech companies on Friday.

960
00:47:20,033 --> 00:47:21,967
This is another
opportunity to share views,

961
00:47:21,967 --> 00:47:25,300
as the administration nears
completion of our internal

962
00:47:25,300 --> 00:47:27,700
review of signals intelligence.

963
00:47:27,700 --> 00:47:31,165
And contradicting me directly,
it says here we would not expect

964
00:47:31,166 --> 00:47:33,967
a readout of that meeting,
but I'll see if we can get

965
00:47:33,967 --> 00:47:35,300
participants depending --

966
00:47:35,300 --> 00:47:37,867
The Press:
Did you say tech companies
will be at that meeting?

967
00:47:37,867 --> 00:47:39,967
Mr. Carney:
Yes. Representatives
from tech companies.

968
00:47:39,967 --> 00:47:41,800
The Press:
But you don't --

969
00:47:41,800 --> 00:47:43,967
Mr. Carney:
But I don't have
specific -- Ann.

970
00:47:43,967 --> 00:47:45,266
The Press:
Thank you.

971
00:47:45,266 --> 00:47:49,133
On that, is the President really
looking at executive actions

972
00:47:49,133 --> 00:47:50,366
he can take in terms --

973
00:47:50,367 --> 00:47:51,433
Mr. Carney:
On which?

974
00:47:51,433 --> 00:47:54,400
The Press:
On the intelligence reforms.

975
00:47:54,400 --> 00:47:55,967
You have said that --

976
00:47:55,967 --> 00:47:57,433
Mr. Carney:
I think if you look at the
review group's recommendations,

977
00:47:57,433 --> 00:47:59,600
and obviously he's
looking at actions that --

978
00:47:59,600 --> 00:48:01,000
The Press:
But he's gone beyond that.

979
00:48:01,000 --> 00:48:02,934
Mr. Carney:
Well, again, I don't
want to characterize --

980
00:48:02,934 --> 00:48:06,066
he's obviously --
the review is greater

981
00:48:06,066 --> 00:48:10,500
than that group's efforts.

982
00:48:10,500 --> 00:48:13,333
I think the recommendations
put forward were widely viewed

983
00:48:13,333 --> 00:48:15,200
as pretty extensive,

984
00:48:15,200 --> 00:48:20,734
and the work that that
group did as quite credible

985
00:48:20,734 --> 00:48:23,633
by not just here,
but by the outside community

986
00:48:23,633 --> 00:48:25,734
that is following this
and cares about it.

987
00:48:25,734 --> 00:48:30,366
So I would point you
to those recommendations

988
00:48:30,367 --> 00:48:33,066
for a delineation between
which, if acted upon,

989
00:48:33,066 --> 00:48:36,834
would require legislation,
which could be acted upon

990
00:48:36,834 --> 00:48:37,966
through executive authority.

991
00:48:37,967 --> 00:48:40,000
I'm sure there's a balance.

992
00:48:40,000 --> 00:48:41,734
So the answer is, yes, both.

993
00:48:41,734 --> 00:48:42,734
The Press: Okay.

994
00:48:42,734 --> 00:48:43,734
And where is he on
State of the Union?

995
00:48:43,734 --> 00:48:45,633
Has he begun to do a process?

996
00:48:45,633 --> 00:48:47,667
Has he mapped out a basic --

997
00:48:47,667 --> 00:48:50,299
Mr. Carney: I saw some notes on
a napkin when I was in the Oval.

998
00:48:50,300 --> 00:48:53,533
Maybe that was -- no, he's --
we're where you would expect

999
00:48:53,533 --> 00:48:57,299
this far out, working on it.

1000
00:48:57,300 --> 00:48:58,300
Working on it.

1001
00:48:58,300 --> 00:48:59,667
Yes, Leslie.

1002
00:48:59,667 --> 00:49:02,165
The Press:
Jay, there's been some
reports that the President

1003
00:49:02,166 --> 00:49:04,633
believes that as
part of the NSA review

1004
00:49:04,633 --> 00:49:07,667
that there should be curbs
on spying on foreign leaders.

1005
00:49:07,667 --> 00:49:09,799
Can you talk about that at all?

1006
00:49:09,800 --> 00:49:13,467
And can you talk about whether
or not there have been any

1007
00:49:13,467 --> 00:49:16,200
conversations as part of the
review with foreign leaders

1008
00:49:16,200 --> 00:49:18,933
to get their perspective on it?

1009
00:49:18,934 --> 00:49:21,700
Mr. Carney:
I think I can point
you statements we've made

1010
00:49:21,700 --> 00:49:24,700
in the past about
the fact that that issue,

1011
00:49:24,700 --> 00:49:29,000
in terms of signal
intelligence and surveillance,

1012
00:49:29,000 --> 00:49:34,266
is one of the ones that was
identified as an area that

1013
00:49:34,266 --> 00:49:37,033
merited review
and is being reviewed.

1014
00:49:37,033 --> 00:49:43,200
I'm not going to preview
conclusions that the President

1015
00:49:43,200 --> 00:49:46,567
will make or actions that
he will decide to take.

1016
00:49:46,567 --> 00:49:49,867
But it is certainly the case
that that is one of the issue

1017
00:49:49,867 --> 00:49:52,700
areas that has been
part of the various reviews

1018
00:49:52,700 --> 00:49:54,299
that are being undertaken.

1019
00:49:54,300 --> 00:49:55,467
The Press:
I was just wondering,

1020
00:49:55,467 --> 00:49:57,533
since he's had
members of Congress in

1021
00:49:57,533 --> 00:49:58,734
and intelligence officials,

1022
00:49:58,734 --> 00:50:01,333
whether or not there was
any sort of similar reach-out

1023
00:50:01,333 --> 00:50:03,667
with foreign leaders or
State Department folks to

1024
00:50:03,667 --> 00:50:06,866
kind of get -- Brazil has
had a number of questions

1025
00:50:06,867 --> 00:50:09,800
about what they
think should be done.

1026
00:50:09,800 --> 00:50:11,834
Mr. Carney:
Well, we've read out
various conversations

1027
00:50:11,834 --> 00:50:14,866
the President has
had with foreign leaders

1028
00:50:14,867 --> 00:50:17,934
and when those conversations
have touched on this subject.

1029
00:50:17,934 --> 00:50:23,033
I don't have any new
ones to review for you.

1030
00:50:23,033 --> 00:50:25,266
I think, as a broad
matter, as we've said,

1031
00:50:25,266 --> 00:50:30,166
when these issues have arisen
between the United States

1032
00:50:30,166 --> 00:50:34,000
and a specific nation,
we have been directly engaged

1033
00:50:34,000 --> 00:50:35,333
with the nations involved
through normal diplomatic

1034
00:50:35,333 --> 00:50:42,433
channels and at various levels,
including very high levels.

1035
00:50:42,433 --> 00:50:44,834
So I think that continues.

1036
00:50:44,834 --> 00:50:47,799
I just don't have more than
what we've already provided

1037
00:50:47,800 --> 00:50:51,133
in terms
of presidential conversations.

1038
00:50:51,133 --> 00:50:54,466
The Press:
The President before
he left for his break

1039
00:50:54,467 --> 00:50:57,834
indicated at the press
conference that he was

1040
00:50:57,834 --> 00:51:00,834
interested in a recommendation
that private communication

1041
00:51:00,834 --> 00:51:04,600
companies might be the ones
to be the repositories

1042
00:51:04,600 --> 00:51:07,533
of the metadata
as an alternative to

1043
00:51:07,533 --> 00:51:09,633
the NSA stockpiling
that information.

1044
00:51:09,633 --> 00:51:13,834
Is it the President's ambition
that that question be resolved

1045
00:51:13,834 --> 00:51:18,866
before he gives his remarks
to the American people?

1046
00:51:18,867 --> 00:51:20,066
Mr. Carney:
She's good, right?

1047
00:51:20,066 --> 00:51:22,299
She framed it
in a way that actually

1048
00:51:22,300 --> 00:51:24,967
had a chance
of getting an answer.

1049
00:51:24,967 --> 00:51:28,433
The President -- I would
point you to what he said

1050
00:51:28,433 --> 00:51:31,266
in terms of viewing that
as a serious recommendation.

1051
00:51:31,266 --> 00:51:34,533
And it's certainly one that
he's looking at and his team

1052
00:51:34,533 --> 00:51:38,767
is looking at, but I don't
have any more guidance

1053
00:51:38,767 --> 00:51:41,899
to give to you before he
makes those conclusions

1054
00:51:41,900 --> 00:51:43,333
and gives his remarks.

1055
00:51:43,333 --> 00:51:44,333
The Press:
Did it work?

1056
00:51:44,333 --> 00:51:45,467
The Press:
So, yes, I was going to say --

1057
00:51:45,467 --> 00:51:46,967
it was a good try,
but it didn't work in the end.

1058
00:51:46,967 --> 00:51:47,967
[laughter]

1059
00:51:47,967 --> 00:51:48,967
Mr. Carney:
She's a pro and a veteran.

1060
00:51:48,967 --> 00:51:49,967
It works sometimes.

1061
00:51:49,967 --> 00:51:50,967
Yes.

1062
00:51:50,967 --> 00:51:53,400
I know you guys have got to go.

1063
00:51:53,400 --> 00:51:55,066
We'll make this the last one.

1064
00:51:55,066 --> 00:51:56,767
The Press:
Is President Obama going
to have any more meetings

1065
00:51:56,767 --> 00:51:58,265
like the one today?

1066
00:51:58,266 --> 00:51:59,967
Mr. Carney:
I don't have any scheduling
updates to provide to you.

1067
00:51:59,967 --> 00:52:02,300
We're obviously fairly close
to the end of this process,

1068
00:52:02,300 --> 00:52:03,667
but I wouldn't rule it out.

1069
00:52:03,667 --> 00:52:09,000
I just don't have any meetings
to preview beyond what we have.

1070
00:52:09,000 --> 00:52:10,633
Goyal, you get the last one.

1071
00:52:10,633 --> 00:52:11,899
You're very patient.

1072
00:52:11,900 --> 00:52:12,900
The Press:
Thank you.

1073
00:52:12,900 --> 00:52:13,900
First of all, Happy New Year.

1074
00:52:13,900 --> 00:52:14,900
Mr. Carney:
Thank you.

1075
00:52:14,900 --> 00:52:15,900
The Press:
Two quick questions.

1076
00:52:15,900 --> 00:52:17,767
One, going back
to India-U.S. relations.

1077
00:52:17,767 --> 00:52:22,667
My question is a simple one:
How does the President feel

1078
00:52:22,667 --> 00:52:25,066
as we enter in the
New Year as far as the future

1079
00:52:25,066 --> 00:52:28,265
of India-U.S. relations?

1080
00:52:28,266 --> 00:52:30,867
Not going back what had
happened or what's happening,

1081
00:52:30,867 --> 00:52:35,066
because these are maybe small
issues, but beyond this issue,

1082
00:52:35,066 --> 00:52:37,700
really, where do we stand today?

1083
00:52:37,700 --> 00:52:39,265
Mr. Carney:
Well, Goyal, I would
say what I said earlier,

1084
00:52:39,266 --> 00:52:42,533
which is that this is an
extremely important relationship

1085
00:52:42,533 --> 00:52:48,533
that has many aspects to it and
cultural ties, political ties,

1086
00:52:52,000 --> 00:52:53,133
economic ties.

1087
00:52:53,133 --> 00:52:56,600
And the President believes
strongly that we need

1088
00:52:56,600 --> 00:53:00,366
to continue to build on
that relationship.

1089
00:53:00,367 --> 00:53:03,700
And you know he worked very hard
on U.S.-Indian relations in his

1090
00:53:03,700 --> 00:53:06,667
first term and will continue
to do so in his second term.

1091
00:53:06,667 --> 00:53:08,834
But I don't have anything more
specific for you with regards

1092
00:53:08,834 --> 00:53:12,600
to some of the issues that have
come up in the last month.

1093
00:53:12,600 --> 00:53:15,667
The Press:
And second, as far as
Afghanistan is concerned,

1094
00:53:15,667 --> 00:53:19,567
as the troops are going
to be out of Afghanistan,

1095
00:53:19,567 --> 00:53:21,867
but some nations in
the region are worried,

1096
00:53:21,867 --> 00:53:23,033
including India is really
engaged in many ways,

1097
00:53:23,033 --> 00:53:26,333
as far Afghanistan is
concerned -- and security.

1098
00:53:26,333 --> 00:53:29,633
And Pakistan is also important
in this relationship.

1099
00:53:29,633 --> 00:53:34,165
So what role do you think
India should or will play

1100
00:53:34,166 --> 00:53:36,200
in the future in Afghanistan,

1101
00:53:36,200 --> 00:53:39,933
as far as security is concerned?

1102
00:53:39,934 --> 00:53:43,200
Mr. Carney:
I don't think it's
for me to project.

1103
00:53:43,200 --> 00:53:48,066
I think that there are a number
of very important players

1104
00:53:48,066 --> 00:53:49,399
in the region.

1105
00:53:49,400 --> 00:53:52,433
Most importantly, and what we've
been focused on obviously has

1106
00:53:52,433 --> 00:53:59,867
been assisting the buildup of
and professionalism of Afghan

1107
00:53:59,867 --> 00:54:04,867
security forces and assisting
the Afghan government

1108
00:54:04,867 --> 00:54:10,300
in helping give it the space
so that it can be stronger

1109
00:54:10,300 --> 00:54:12,333
as this transition occurs.

1110
00:54:12,333 --> 00:54:15,066
Now, you mentioned
the withdrawal of troops.

1111
00:54:15,066 --> 00:54:19,033
And it is true that the
combat mission ends

1112
00:54:19,033 --> 00:54:21,133
and U.S. troops are withdrawing.

1113
00:54:21,133 --> 00:54:27,332
We believe, and have a plan
for, a small presence

1114
00:54:27,333 --> 00:54:29,867
of U.S. troops beyond 2014.

1115
00:54:29,867 --> 00:54:33,700
But that is dependent
upon the Afghan government

1116
00:54:33,700 --> 00:54:37,165
signing the bilateral security
agreement that was negotiated

1117
00:54:37,166 --> 00:54:39,800
between the two nations.

1118
00:54:39,800 --> 00:54:42,333
So going back to
what I said before,

1119
00:54:42,333 --> 00:54:44,166
that needs to be acted on

1120
00:54:44,166 --> 00:54:46,667
so that we can move
forward with our planning.

1121
00:54:46,667 --> 00:54:50,133
Absent it, we cannot plan for
a troop presence beyond 2014.

1122
00:54:50,133 --> 00:54:52,299
Thank you.