English subtitles for clip: File:10-16-14- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Earnest: Good
afternoon, everybody.

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Nice to see you all.

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Apologize for the
delayed start today.

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Jim, do you want to get us
started with questions?

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The Press: Sure.

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Thank you.

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Congrats on the Royals.

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Mr. Earnest: Thank you.

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We're pretty
excited about them.

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I think Sam Mellinger, who
is the sports columnist

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at the Kansas City Star,
I think said it best

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that for a long time we spent most of the year talking

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about how the Royals haven't
been in the playoffs

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in 29 years; it's now
true that the Royals

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haven't lost a playoff
game in 29 years.

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(laughter)

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So, well said.

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So, anyway.

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The Press: So can you fill us
in on what the President has

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been doing today or will be
doing today regarding Ebola?

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It seems like -- he cancelled
-- he's been talking about not

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wanting to create a panic,
yet for the second day

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in a row he cancelled
his other activities.

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And I wondered if that
doesn't by itself kind

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of contribute to that sense
that something is really amiss.

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Mr. Earnest: Well, I think what
it contributes to is the sense

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of urgency that the
President and members of his

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administration feel about
dealing with the situation.

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You'll recall, Jim, that
yesterday the President did

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convene a meeting with members
of his Cabinet and other members

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of his senior staff who are
responsible for the response

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to this particular Ebola
diagnosis, and to the broader

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Ebola outbreak that has
occurred in West Africa.

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Today the President will meet
with some members of that team

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here at the White House to
continue these discussions

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and to follow up on some
of the actions that

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the President directed
out of that meeting.

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To be clear, what the President
directed out of that meeting

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is a commitment on the part
of the federal government

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to ensure that we're doing everything necessary to detect,

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isolate and treat Ebola patients
when they materialize at health

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care facilities in this
country, and that we do that

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in a way that protects
health care workers and

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the broader American public.

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That is a core priority.

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At the same time, the President
wants to ensure that those

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efforts do not distract
from the very important

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work that's being
done in West Africa.

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Our experts tell us that the
only way to completely eliminate

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risk from the Ebola virus
to the American public

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is to stop this
outbreak at its source.

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And that's why CDC officials
have been on the ground

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in West Africa for seven
months now dealing

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with this specific
Ebola outbreak.

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And it's why last month
the President announced

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a significant commitment
of resources from

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the Department of Defense to
lend their logistical

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expertise to improve the flow
of personnel and supplies that

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are being used to mitigate
the outbreak in the region.

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So that was the topic of
extensive discussion

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in yesterday's meeting.

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I'm confident it will the topic
of discussion in the follow-up

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meeting that the President
will convene later today.

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In addition to that, the
President will also convene

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a series of phone calls.

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He'll call a number of members
of Congress to talk about

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the ongoing response efforts
and discuss a role

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for Congress to play in
that ongoing effort.

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He'll also convene a call
with health care workers

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from the CDC to talk about
that agency's response

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to the situation.

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The President will
also make a couple

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of additional calls to
foreign leaders.

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You'll recall that over the
last 24 hours the President

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has placed a telephone call to
Prime Minister Abe of Japan

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and convened a secure
video teleconference with

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the Prime Minister of
the U.K., David Cameron,

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the President of France, the
Prime Minister of Italy,

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and I believe the German
Chancellor, Angela Merkel,

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participated as well.

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In those conversations, the
President reiterated the need

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for leaders in the international
community to step forward

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with contributions to the
effort to stem the outbreak

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in West Africa.

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And the President will be
placing a couple more

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calls along those lines to
different world leaders

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to discuss the
same issue.

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I do anticipate that we'll
have readouts of those

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phone calls later today.

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The Press: But reports on that
response to provide logistical

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support in West Africa --
reports today that the President

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might sign an executive order
directing the National Guard

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to be deployed in Liberia --
can you elaborate on that?

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Mr. Earnest: I'm not in a
position to elaborate on that.

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I will point out the Department
of Defense has indicated that

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to carry out the mission that
the President has ordered

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in West Africa will
require about 4,000 --

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or up to 4,000 Department
of Defense personnel

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in West Africa.

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So in terms of the
composition of that force,

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I'd refer you to the
Department of Defense.

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I would anticipate that they'll
be able to share some more

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details with you about the
composition of that force

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in the next day or two.

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The Press: But would that
require a presidential executive

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order that would extend
to the National Guard?

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Mr. Earnest: For the mechanics
of deploying that force

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I'd refer you to the
Department of Defense.

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I, frankly, am not sure if a
specific presidential executive

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order is required to do that.

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It may be, but the Department
of Defense will know for sure.

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The Press: Also,
you pointed out,

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the President has been drawing
attention to the outbreak

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in West Africa and how
serious it is there.

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I'm wondering whether, because
of that and in response

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to some comments from
members of Congress,

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is the administration
reconsidering the idea

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of a temporary travel ban
from the afflicted region?

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Mr. Earnest: At this point,
Jim, that's not something

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that we're considering.

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And this is something that's
been raised a couple of times,

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and so let me give you a little
bit more insight into the

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thinking about that.

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Currently, when individuals
do travel from West Africa

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to the United States they
are screened prior

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to departure in
West Africa.

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They are screened again once
they enter this country,

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and they are subjected to
heightened screening if they

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have traveled in these three
West African countries

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in the last three
weeks or so.

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That is an indication
that we are taking

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the necessary steps to
protect the American public.

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That is our core priority.

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And that is why the President
has directed that these

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heightened screening measures
be put in place at the airports

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where 94 percent of travelers
from western Africa

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arrive in this country.

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Now, if we were to put in place
a travel ban or a visa ban,

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it would provide a direct
incentive for individuals

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seeking to travel to the United
States to go underground and to

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seek to evade this screening and
to not be candid about their

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travel history in order
to enter the country.

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And that means it would be much
harder for us to keep tabs

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on these individuals and
make sure that they get

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the screening that's needed to
protect them and to protect,

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more importantly,
the American public.

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So we want to keep those lines
of transportation open so that

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those individuals who seek
to enter this country --

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and again, it's a relatively
small number, about 150 a day,

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that enter this country -- we
want to make sure that those

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individuals are subjected to the
heightened screening measures

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that the President put in
place a week or two ago.

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Now, separately -- and I've
mentioned this before -- it's

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also important for us to keep
this line of transportation

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open because commercial
transportation is critical

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to ensuring that supplies and
equipment can get to the region.

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And what that means -- if we
acknowledge what the experts

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tell us, that the only way we
can completely eliminate risk

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of the Ebola virus to the
American public is stopping

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the outbreak at its source, we
need to make sure that we're

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surging supplies and equipment
and personnel to the region,

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not putting in place a travel
ban that would only restrict

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the movement of those
materials that are critical

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to the effort to stem the
outbreak at the source.

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The Press: Nobody is talking
about banning going into;

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it's coming out of the
region that's the issue.

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Mr. Earnest: But essentially, if
you're a commercial air carrier

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-- I know nothing about the
commercial airline industry --

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but ostensibly, you're not going
to fly a bunch of planes

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to West Africa and then
fly them out of there

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while they're empty.

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So as a practical matter,
putting in place that travel ban

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would make it harder for the
international community to

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respond to this incident and
to mobilize the personnel

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and equipment that's necessary
to stop this outbreak

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at the source.

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And again, the reason that
we're focused on stopping this

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outbreak at the source is
not just because it is the

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humanitarian thing to do,
it's also the right thing

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to do to protect the
American people.

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Jeff.

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The Press: Josh, with schools
being closed in some states

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because of this, is there a
concern at the White House

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that people are overreacting
to the threat of Ebola?

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And would you concede that the
White House's efforts

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to sort of avoid a
panic are not working?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Jeff, what I
would say in terms of the steps

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that individuals are taking to
protect themselves and their

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communities, I would encourage
them to be cognizant of the

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medical advice of experts.

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What the experts tell us
is that the likelihood

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of an Ebola outbreak in
the United States

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is exceedingly low.

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The reason -- there are a
couple of reasons for that.

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The first is, we know
very clearly how

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the Ebola virus
is transmitted.

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It's not transmitted through
the air; it's not like the flu.

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It's not transmitted through
water that you might drink in

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the United States or
food that you might eat

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in the United States.

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It's only transmitted when
individuals come into close

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contact with the bodily fluids
of an individual that is already

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exhibiting symptoms of Ebola.

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That is why, tragically, we have
seen a couple of health care

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workers, who were trying to meet
the medical needs of an Ebola

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patient in Dallas, who obviously
did have to come in close

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contact with that individual,
and tragically they did

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contract the Ebola virus.

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But the risk that they faced was
obviously very different than

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the risk that the
average American faces.

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So that's the first thing.

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The second thing is,
people should be confident

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in the ability of our
medical infrastructure

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to deal with Ebola cases
as they arise.

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As I mentioned at the
beginning of this briefing,

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the President did direct his
team to ensure that we're doing

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all that's necessary to detect,
isolate and treat Ebola patients

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in the United States,
and that we do that

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in a way that protects
both health care workers

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and the broader
American public.

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I'd point out that there are
already a number of cases of

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Ebola patients that have been
treated in the United States.

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There were a couple of -- I
guess a total of four or five

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humanitarian aid workers who did
contract the Ebola virus while

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they were treating Ebola
patients in West Africa who were

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transported to medical
facilities in the United States

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at Emory University Hospital
in Atlanta and at a medical

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facility at the
Nebraska Medical Center.

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These facilities demonstrated an
ability to treat those patients.

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Some of the patients who
received treatment there

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have already recovered
and been released.

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The President has had
the opportunity to meet

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a couple of them.

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And those patients were treated
in a way that protected the

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public in those communities
and protected the health care

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workers who rendered
them lifesaving aid.

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So we do have a track record of
being able to handle cases

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like this, and that should
inspire some confidence

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across the American public
as well.

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The Press: Do you think people
are overreacting when they're

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closing schools?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
I would encourage those

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00:11:56,115 --> 00:11:58,684
individuals who are responsible
for making decisions about

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00:11:58,684 --> 00:12:01,454
protecting their communities to
rely on the medical advice

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00:12:01,454 --> 00:12:04,223
from experts about the
prudent steps that they can

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00:12:04,223 --> 00:12:06,224
and should take to protect
their communities.

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00:12:06,225 --> 00:12:08,127
The Press: Has the White House
been monitoring the stock market

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00:12:08,127 --> 00:12:10,295
drop, and do you think
Ebola is related

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00:12:10,296 --> 00:12:12,932
to that or is helping
to spur that?

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00:12:12,932 --> 00:12:14,900
Mr. Earnest: Jeff, I can tell
you that there are a lot

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00:12:14,900 --> 00:12:16,334
of things that are monitored
at the White House,

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00:12:16,335 --> 00:12:17,770
including the financial
markets not just

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00:12:17,770 --> 00:12:21,574
in this country but
also around the world.

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00:12:21,574 --> 00:12:24,877
I'm not in a position to
play market analyst today.

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00:12:24,877 --> 00:12:27,179
I recognize that there other
people that have appointed

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00:12:27,179 --> 00:12:32,985
themselves as individuals
who have keen insight into

257
00:12:32,985 --> 00:12:34,987
the kinds of things that
are driving the market.

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00:12:34,987 --> 00:12:38,057
But that's not something I'm
going to speculate on from here.

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00:12:38,057 --> 00:12:39,425
The Press: Is there any
concern about the market

260
00:12:39,425 --> 00:12:40,559
drops elsewhere in
the world?

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00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:41,961
Mr. Earnest: Well,
we've talked -- again,

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00:12:41,961 --> 00:12:43,963
I'm not in a position to
talk about specific markets,

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00:12:43,963 --> 00:12:48,067
but I do think that there
are indications that broader

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00:12:48,067 --> 00:12:50,636
economies in countries
around the world,

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00:12:50,636 --> 00:12:53,005
including economies
that are closely linked

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00:12:53,005 --> 00:12:55,841
to the United States, have
seen some weakening

267
00:12:55,841 --> 00:12:56,842
in recent months.

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That's something that
we are concerned about.

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At the same time, it underscores
the strength of the American

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00:13:03,015 --> 00:13:08,154
economy, that even in the
face of some declines that

271
00:13:08,154 --> 00:13:12,758
we're seeing in other markets,
or in other economies,

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00:13:12,758 --> 00:13:14,627
the U.S. economy continues
to gain strength.

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And that is true based
on almost any measure.

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00:13:22,034 --> 00:13:24,503
Whether it's the job market,
whether it's an evaluation

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00:13:24,503 --> 00:13:27,239
of economic growth, even
consumer confidence

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indicates that the U.S. economy is demonstrating the kind

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00:13:29,675 --> 00:13:33,045
of resilience that right now
is the envy of the world.

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00:13:33,045 --> 00:13:37,016
The vast majority of the credit
for that resilience goes to

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00:13:37,016 --> 00:13:40,352
American workers [who] through
their grit and determination

280
00:13:40,352 --> 00:13:42,588
have helped this economy
recover from the worst

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00:13:42,588 --> 00:13:44,957
economic downturn since
the Great Depression.

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00:13:44,957 --> 00:13:47,526
Certainly our entrepreneurs,
our small business owners,

283
00:13:47,526 --> 00:13:49,762
and our innovators deserve
a lot of credit for what

284
00:13:49,762 --> 00:13:52,864
they've done to drive
our economy forward.

285
00:13:52,865 --> 00:13:53,265
But --

286
00:13:53,265 --> 00:13:54,333
The Press: But are you
reaching out to those other

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00:13:54,333 --> 00:13:54,967
economies, Josh?

288
00:13:54,967 --> 00:13:56,367
Mr. Earnest: But what's
important is that people

289
00:13:56,368 --> 00:13:59,505
understand that the difficult
decisions and the policies that

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00:13:59,505 --> 00:14:02,775
this administration put in place
in the depths of that economic

291
00:14:02,775 --> 00:14:05,611
crisis have also supported
this broader recovery.

292
00:14:05,611 --> 00:14:10,149
And a lot of those policies were
the subject of quite a bit of

293
00:14:10,149 --> 00:14:12,952
controversy and criticism
from the President's

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00:14:12,952 --> 00:14:13,953
political opponents.

295
00:14:13,953 --> 00:14:18,757
But the fact of the matter is
the approach that this President

296
00:14:18,757 --> 00:14:22,861
implemented for this country
has served the country and our

297
00:14:22,861 --> 00:14:27,266
citizens extremely well,
particularly when you consider

298
00:14:27,266 --> 00:14:29,901
how that stands in contrast to
the policies that were put

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00:14:29,902 --> 00:14:32,271
in place in other countries
and the results that

300
00:14:32,271 --> 00:14:34,305
were experienced by
other countries.

301
00:14:34,306 --> 00:14:36,408
In terms of our outreach, the
President, as I pointed out,

302
00:14:36,408 --> 00:14:39,845
has been in touch with leaders
of other countries quite

303
00:14:39,845 --> 00:14:42,915
a bit in the last few weeks,
and he'll continue to be.

304
00:14:42,915 --> 00:14:45,918
I also would anticipate that
these kinds of conversations

305
00:14:45,918 --> 00:14:48,654
will be taking place in the
context of the G20 meeting

306
00:14:48,654 --> 00:14:53,225
in which the President will
participate next month.

307
00:14:53,225 --> 00:14:55,894
Jennifer.

308
00:14:55,894 --> 00:14:57,997
The Press: You mentioned
that the President will

309
00:14:57,997 --> 00:15:00,799
be reaching out to members
of Congress today.

310
00:15:00,799 --> 00:15:03,035
Who is he going to be
calling, and what is he going

311
00:15:03,035 --> 00:15:03,868
to ask them to do?

312
00:15:03,869 --> 00:15:05,204
You said that members
of Congress have a role

313
00:15:05,204 --> 00:15:05,971
that they can play.

314
00:15:05,971 --> 00:15:07,973
What is that role?

315
00:15:07,973 --> 00:15:10,141
Mr. Earnest: Jennifer,
at this point I don't

316
00:15:10,142 --> 00:15:11,944
believe the President
has placed those calls,

317
00:15:11,944 --> 00:15:14,613
but he is planning to do
so later this afternoon.

318
00:15:14,613 --> 00:15:16,282
If we have more information
about those calls that

319
00:15:16,282 --> 00:15:19,351
we can release at that
point, we'll let you know.

320
00:15:19,351 --> 00:15:20,486
The Press: But more broadly,
what does the White House see

321
00:15:20,486 --> 00:15:22,354
Congress's role as?

322
00:15:22,354 --> 00:15:24,390
Mr. Earnest: Well, certainly,
Congress obviously controls

323
00:15:24,390 --> 00:15:28,160
the purse strings, and so it's
important for us to make sure

324
00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:30,795
that members of Congress who
have an interest in this issue

325
00:15:30,796 --> 00:15:32,798
and have an interest in the
kinds of policies that will

326
00:15:32,798 --> 00:15:38,704
contribute to this response
are aware of the strategy

327
00:15:38,704 --> 00:15:42,741
that we're pursuing and
are onboard with it.

328
00:15:42,741 --> 00:15:45,811
We certainly want to give
those members of Congress

329
00:15:45,811 --> 00:15:47,546
an opportunity to offer
up their advice.

330
00:15:47,546 --> 00:15:49,815
If they have some suggestions
for some policies that we can

331
00:15:49,815 --> 00:15:52,584
put in place that might
benefit this response,

332
00:15:52,584 --> 00:15:55,420
then we're certainly going
to consider those as well.

333
00:15:55,421 --> 00:15:57,423
But again, I don't want to
get too far ahead out

334
00:15:57,423 --> 00:15:59,425
of these conversations
that haven't occurred yet.

335
00:15:59,425 --> 00:16:01,392
But if there's more information
that we can share about

336
00:16:01,393 --> 00:16:02,394
them I'll let you know.

337
00:16:02,394 --> 00:16:03,395
Christi.

338
00:16:03,395 --> 00:16:04,396
The Press: Thank you, Josh.

339
00:16:04,396 --> 00:16:05,964
Have there been conversations
about designating particular

340
00:16:05,964 --> 00:16:09,601
hospitals that are the place for
Ebola patients or people

341
00:16:09,601 --> 00:16:13,372
who are experiencing Ebola
symptoms to go to?

342
00:16:13,372 --> 00:16:16,809
And does the White House
think that might make sense?

343
00:16:16,809 --> 00:16:19,745
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'll say a
couple of things about that.

344
00:16:19,745 --> 00:16:22,314
A designation like that would be
the responsibility of the CDC.

345
00:16:22,314 --> 00:16:25,483
They obviously are the point
of contact for hospitals

346
00:16:25,484 --> 00:16:27,953
all across the country.

347
00:16:27,953 --> 00:16:32,324
Right now -- well, what you
have obviously seen in the last

348
00:16:32,324 --> 00:16:34,526
couple of days is that
the patients in Dallas

349
00:16:34,526 --> 00:16:37,596
have been transferred
to those facilities.

350
00:16:37,596 --> 00:16:41,066
One in Emory that has
a track record

351
00:16:41,066 --> 00:16:43,869
of treating
Ebola patients.

352
00:16:43,869 --> 00:16:48,340
Another patient was
transferred just today to NIH.

353
00:16:48,340 --> 00:16:50,442
That is a facility that's
obviously run by the federal

354
00:16:50,442 --> 00:16:54,613
government and a facility that
had previously treated a patient

355
00:16:54,613 --> 00:17:02,020
that was suspected of being
exposed to the Ebola virus.

356
00:17:02,020 --> 00:17:08,560
So this is a question that
CDC is examining right now.

357
00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:16,100
And in terms of a broader
policy decision like that,

358
00:17:16,101 --> 00:17:17,669
I'd refer you to CDC.

359
00:17:17,669 --> 00:17:19,972
The Press: Does the White
House have a view on it,

360
00:17:19,972 --> 00:17:22,340
on the preparedness of
American hospitals for

361
00:17:22,340 --> 00:17:24,075
a possible outbreak?

362
00:17:24,076 --> 00:17:27,279
Mr. Earnest: Well, we continue
to believe that the risk

363
00:17:27,279 --> 00:17:29,882
of a widespread outbreak
in the United States

364
00:17:29,882 --> 00:17:31,383
is exceedingly low.

365
00:17:31,383 --> 00:17:33,819
That said, the CDC has
taken very seriously their

366
00:17:33,819 --> 00:17:36,622
responsibility, at the direction
of the President of the United

367
00:17:36,622 --> 00:17:40,325
States, to communicated in a
detailed fashion with hospitals

368
00:17:40,325 --> 00:17:43,429
all across the country about
what precautions and what

369
00:17:43,429 --> 00:17:48,400
measures they should put in
place in advance in the unlikely

370
00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:53,038
event, just based on the
odds, that they have to care

371
00:17:53,038 --> 00:17:54,873
for an Ebola patient.

372
00:17:54,873 --> 00:17:57,242
Again, what we want to make sure
that we're doing -- and this,

373
00:17:57,242 --> 00:18:00,111
again, at the direction of the
President of the United States

374
00:18:00,112 --> 00:18:02,214
-- that all of the elements of
his government are focused on

375
00:18:02,214 --> 00:18:06,652
detecting, isolating and
treating Ebola patients in a way

376
00:18:06,652 --> 00:18:10,422
that protects both health care
workers and the American public.

377
00:18:10,422 --> 00:18:12,925
And there are a variety of
ways that that can be done.

378
00:18:12,925 --> 00:18:15,994
But what the CDC is focusing on
right now is making sure that

379
00:18:15,994 --> 00:18:21,600
the best possible advice about
protocols are being communicated

380
00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:24,403
to medical professionals
all across the country.

381
00:18:24,403 --> 00:18:26,371
Mr. Zeleny, welcome to
the Briefing Room, sir.

382
00:18:26,371 --> 00:18:27,539
The Press: Mr. Earnest,
thank you very much.

383
00:18:27,539 --> 00:18:30,676
At the House hearing
that's underway right now,

384
00:18:30,676 --> 00:18:33,212
the subcommittee chairman,
Mr. Murphy, from Pennsylvania,

385
00:18:33,212 --> 00:18:36,581
he said the reason that the
travel ban has not been put

386
00:18:36,582 --> 00:18:38,717
in place, it's because
the administration wants

387
00:18:38,717 --> 00:18:42,454
to protect fledgling --
the fledgling democracies.

388
00:18:42,454 --> 00:18:44,121
Is that the reason for this?

389
00:18:44,122 --> 00:18:44,857
Mr. Earnest: It's not.

390
00:18:44,857 --> 00:18:47,426
The reason that the travel
ban, in the view of this

391
00:18:47,426 --> 00:18:49,828
administration, is not
appropriate right now is because

392
00:18:49,828 --> 00:18:51,830
it's not in the best
interest of the safety

393
00:18:51,830 --> 00:18:52,831
of the American public.

394
00:18:52,831 --> 00:18:54,832
Again, people who are traveling
from those three countries

395
00:18:54,833 --> 00:18:57,436
to the United States right now
are subjected to intensive

396
00:18:57,436 --> 00:18:59,504
screening both on the ground
in those three countries,

397
00:18:59,505 --> 00:19:03,041
but also upon arrival here in
the United States of America.

398
00:19:03,041 --> 00:19:05,043
If we were to put in
place a travel ban,

399
00:19:05,043 --> 00:19:08,045
it essentially would drive
those individuals underground,

400
00:19:08,046 --> 00:19:10,449
and it would make it easier
for them to evade detection.

401
00:19:10,449 --> 00:19:13,585
They wouldn't be screened at
the airport before they left,

402
00:19:13,585 --> 00:19:16,255
and it would be harder to
ensure that they were being

403
00:19:16,255 --> 00:19:18,123
screened when they
arrived in this country.

404
00:19:18,123 --> 00:19:18,924
The Press: How would it
drive them underground,

405
00:19:18,924 --> 00:19:20,591
though, if they're
flying across the ocean?

406
00:19:20,592 --> 00:19:21,693
How would it drive
them underground?

407
00:19:21,693 --> 00:19:22,594
(laughter)

408
00:19:22,594 --> 00:19:23,328
Mr. Earnest: Well,
I don't mean

409
00:19:23,328 --> 00:19:23,795
literally underground.

410
00:19:23,795 --> 00:19:24,396
(laughter)

411
00:19:24,396 --> 00:19:26,264
I mean, that they would
be below the radar

412
00:19:26,265 --> 00:19:32,271
of the transportation
system, that they would now

413
00:19:32,271 --> 00:19:34,273
have an incentive to be
less than candid about

414
00:19:34,273 --> 00:19:35,274
their travel history.

415
00:19:35,274 --> 00:19:37,275
If knowing that they could not
travel to the United States

416
00:19:37,276 --> 00:19:39,244
by saying that they'd
been in Liberia,

417
00:19:39,244 --> 00:19:41,245
individuals are much less
likely -- if they're

418
00:19:41,246 --> 00:19:43,248
planning to travel to the
United States -- to disclose

419
00:19:43,248 --> 00:19:45,250
the fact that they've
been in Liberia.

420
00:19:45,250 --> 00:19:47,252
Right now -- again, they're
subjected to screening measures

421
00:19:47,252 --> 00:19:49,521
on the ground in Liberia and
are subjected to screening

422
00:19:49,521 --> 00:19:51,523
measures when they
arrive in airports here

423
00:19:51,523 --> 00:19:53,524
in the United States
of America.

424
00:19:53,525 --> 00:19:55,594
Those screening measures are
critical to the safety of the

425
00:19:55,594 --> 00:19:58,030
American public, and we want to
make sure that individuals

426
00:19:58,030 --> 00:20:02,234
who are traveling to the
United States are monitored

427
00:20:02,234 --> 00:20:04,235
as they make their way
through the system

428
00:20:04,236 --> 00:20:05,237
and screened appropriately.

429
00:20:05,237 --> 00:20:07,406
The Press: But can't you
understand the question about

430
00:20:07,406 --> 00:20:08,907
this that Americans may have?

431
00:20:08,907 --> 00:20:12,977
This summer a brief travel ban
was put into place flying

432
00:20:12,978 --> 00:20:16,081
into some airports in the Middle
East on the hypothetical

433
00:20:16,081 --> 00:20:17,349
fear of an airstrike.

434
00:20:17,349 --> 00:20:20,252
And this is an
actual case of Ebola.

435
00:20:20,252 --> 00:20:22,654
Can't you at least understand
the questions that Americans

436
00:20:22,654 --> 00:20:23,655
have about this?

437
00:20:23,655 --> 00:20:25,624
Mr. Earnest: I can
understand the questions.

438
00:20:25,624 --> 00:20:27,626
That's why it's important for
people to have the facts.

439
00:20:27,626 --> 00:20:29,628
It's important for people
to understand how Ebola is

440
00:20:29,628 --> 00:20:30,896
transmitted and how it's not.

441
00:20:30,896 --> 00:20:32,898
It's not transmitted
through the air.

442
00:20:32,898 --> 00:20:34,366
It's not transmitted through
the food and water here

443
00:20:34,366 --> 00:20:35,367
in the United States.

444
00:20:35,367 --> 00:20:38,337
It's only transmitted when an
individual comes into close

445
00:20:38,337 --> 00:20:39,905
contact with the bodily
fluids of an individual

446
00:20:39,905 --> 00:20:40,906
that already has Ebola.

447
00:20:40,906 --> 00:20:44,775
And what people need to have the
facts about is the facts that

448
00:20:44,776 --> 00:20:48,614
there are screening measures
that are in place to ensure that

449
00:20:48,614 --> 00:20:51,917
individuals who are traveling
from West Africa don't currently

450
00:20:51,917 --> 00:20:54,252
exhibit symptoms of Ebola when
they try to enter the country.

451
00:20:54,252 --> 00:20:57,456
That's much harder for us to do
if we put in place a travel ban,

452
00:20:57,456 --> 00:20:59,925
because people will attempt
to circumvent that ban

453
00:20:59,925 --> 00:21:01,927
and it will make it harder
for us to ensure they

454
00:21:01,927 --> 00:21:03,928
get the screening we
believe is necessary.

455
00:21:03,929 --> 00:21:04,930
The Press: Final thing here.

456
00:21:04,930 --> 00:21:06,932
From the very beginning
of this administration,

457
00:21:06,932 --> 00:21:09,368
the President has always said he
can be President from any place.

458
00:21:09,368 --> 00:21:12,204
He has the equipment to
do this job any place.

459
00:21:12,204 --> 00:21:15,440
Why cancel for a
second day in a row?

460
00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:17,909
It seems like optics if he
can do it from any place.

461
00:21:17,909 --> 00:21:20,045
Mr. Earnest: Jeff, what we are
focused on is evaluating

462
00:21:20,045 --> 00:21:22,247
the situations on a
case-by-case basis.

463
00:21:22,247 --> 00:21:25,017
And there have been
circumstances where there has

464
00:21:25,017 --> 00:21:27,019
been pressing governmental
business where the President has

465
00:21:27,019 --> 00:21:32,624
decided to move forward with
his travel because he felt

466
00:21:32,624 --> 00:21:36,361
like he could perform his
responsibilities to deal with

467
00:21:36,361 --> 00:21:39,865
that emerging situation, while
at the same time dealing

468
00:21:39,865 --> 00:21:42,868
with the things that were
already on his schedule.

469
00:21:42,868 --> 00:21:46,204
Today, the President and his
team made the judgment that

470
00:21:46,204 --> 00:21:49,441
it was necessary for him to not
travel so that he could remain

471
00:21:49,441 --> 00:21:53,545
here at the White House and be
focused on ensuring that we have

472
00:21:53,545 --> 00:21:56,114
the kind of government response
to this situation that's

473
00:21:56,114 --> 00:21:58,917
up to the standards that he
has set for his administration

474
00:21:58,917 --> 00:22:01,520
that he believes the
American people deserve.

475
00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:03,855
Jim.

476
00:22:03,855 --> 00:22:06,358
The Press: It seems what you're
concerned about is an outbreak

477
00:22:06,358 --> 00:22:08,260
of fear in this country.

478
00:22:08,260 --> 00:22:11,963
And would it not go a long way
to have the President address

479
00:22:11,963 --> 00:22:16,334
the nation in some sort of
primetime address to go through

480
00:22:16,334 --> 00:22:20,072
some of these common-sense
misconceptions that people

481
00:22:20,072 --> 00:22:23,542
have about Ebola to put some
of these fears to rest?

482
00:22:23,542 --> 00:22:24,609
Mr. Earnest: That's not
something that we're

483
00:22:24,609 --> 00:22:26,178
considering right now.

484
00:22:26,178 --> 00:22:29,047
But, Jim, I think this is a
place where the American public

485
00:22:29,047 --> 00:22:31,817
are depending on faithful
public servants like yourself

486
00:22:31,817 --> 00:22:34,052
who communicate with them
on a daily basis,

487
00:22:34,052 --> 00:22:38,523
that when they see your face on
CNN with that CNN logo there,

488
00:22:38,523 --> 00:22:40,625
they can count on the fact
that they are getting accurate

489
00:22:40,625 --> 00:22:43,795
information about the world, and
accurate information about

490
00:22:43,795 --> 00:22:45,797
the threats that's facing
them and their families

491
00:22:45,797 --> 00:22:46,798
and their communities.

492
00:22:46,798 --> 00:22:49,868
And that's why I spend a lot of
time trying to make sure

493
00:22:49,868 --> 00:22:52,504
that you understand because
you're a trusted messenger

494
00:22:52,504 --> 00:22:53,504
to those individuals.

495
00:22:53,505 --> 00:22:55,507
And so if they can turn
on their television,

496
00:22:55,507 --> 00:22:57,809
and they can hear from you that
they're not going to catch Ebola

497
00:22:57,809 --> 00:22:59,811
through the air, that they're
not going to catch Ebola

498
00:22:59,811 --> 00:23:02,114
by drinking the water in the
United States or eating food

499
00:23:02,114 --> 00:23:05,183
in the United States, that is
going to help reassure people.

500
00:23:05,183 --> 00:23:07,619
But again, the anxiety
that people feel about

501
00:23:07,619 --> 00:23:08,620
this is understandable.

502
00:23:08,620 --> 00:23:12,491
We're talking about a deadly
disease that is wreaking

503
00:23:12,491 --> 00:23:14,860
havoc in three countries
in West Africa.

504
00:23:14,860 --> 00:23:17,094
That is a very tragic situation.

505
00:23:17,095 --> 00:23:19,531
But because of the medical
infrastructure that's in place

506
00:23:19,531 --> 00:23:23,201
in this country, because of the
way that we know the Ebola virus

507
00:23:23,201 --> 00:23:27,239
is transmitted, people can take
some solace in understanding

508
00:23:27,239 --> 00:23:29,107
that the risk of a
widespread Ebola outbreak

509
00:23:29,107 --> 00:23:31,877
in the United States
is exceedingly low.

510
00:23:31,877 --> 00:23:35,379
The Press: Let me ask you
about the second patient

511
00:23:35,380 --> 00:23:37,582
who was able to
get on the plane.

512
00:23:37,582 --> 00:23:41,686
Apparently she contacted
the CDC and was not told

513
00:23:41,686 --> 00:23:45,590
by the CDC not to
get on that plane.

514
00:23:45,590 --> 00:23:47,492
I assume you're aware of that.

515
00:23:47,492 --> 00:23:50,061
What's the administration's
reaction to that?

516
00:23:50,061 --> 00:23:51,596
Is that another misstep?

517
00:23:51,596 --> 00:23:53,498
Mr. Earnest: I think the
reaction is something that

518
00:23:53,498 --> 00:23:56,101
Dr. Frieden, the Director
of the CDC, himself said,

519
00:23:56,101 --> 00:23:58,170
which is that that
should not have occurred.

520
00:23:58,170 --> 00:24:01,907
And Dr. Frieden rightfully
accepted the CDC's

521
00:24:01,907 --> 00:24:05,143
responsibility for
that error.

522
00:24:05,143 --> 00:24:06,645
The Press: And --

523
00:24:06,645 --> 00:24:09,214
Mr. Earnest: Well, this I
guess would be an opportunity

524
00:24:09,214 --> 00:24:11,416
for me to also
reiterate that while

525
00:24:11,416 --> 00:24:12,984
that should not
have occurred,

526
00:24:12,984 --> 00:24:18,857
the risk to other passengers
we also believe is quite low.

527
00:24:18,857 --> 00:24:21,560
According to those
who were on the plane,

528
00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:25,797
this particular health
care worker is someone

529
00:24:25,797 --> 00:24:28,333
who was not exhibiting
symptoms of Ebola.

530
00:24:28,333 --> 00:24:31,503
So again, the only way that
Ebola is transmitted is through

531
00:24:31,503 --> 00:24:34,606
the close contact with the
bodily fluids of an individual

532
00:24:34,606 --> 00:24:36,608
that already does have
the symptoms of Ebola.

533
00:24:36,608 --> 00:24:40,678
So we are -- we have been
in touch or are attempting

534
00:24:40,679 --> 00:24:43,348
to be in touch with all the
passengers who were on that

535
00:24:43,348 --> 00:24:46,318
plane to help them understand
the risk that they face.

536
00:24:46,318 --> 00:24:48,320
But it's important for
everybody to understand

537
00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:50,322
that the risk that they
face is quite low.

538
00:24:50,322 --> 00:24:52,323
The Press: And you mentioned
the importance of getting the

539
00:24:52,324 --> 00:24:55,460
message correct and getting
the information correct,

540
00:24:55,460 --> 00:24:59,030
it's also important to
get the response correct.

541
00:24:59,030 --> 00:24:59,664
Mr. Earnest: Absolutely.

542
00:24:59,664 --> 00:25:01,433
The Press: And Bruce Braley,
who is a congressman --

543
00:25:01,433 --> 00:25:04,369
a Democratic congressman
running for the Senate in Iowa,

544
00:25:04,369 --> 00:25:07,138
said at that hearing that my
colleague Mr. Zeleny mentioned,

545
00:25:07,138 --> 00:25:09,741
that he's greatly concerned
that the administration

546
00:25:09,741 --> 00:25:13,311
did not act fast enough in
responding in Texas.

547
00:25:13,311 --> 00:25:17,782
That's a Senate candidate who is
in a very tight race with

548
00:25:17,782 --> 00:25:20,185
the balance of power in the
Senate on the line saying

549
00:25:20,185 --> 00:25:23,221
that your administration
did not act fast enough.

550
00:25:23,221 --> 00:25:24,222
Fair criticism?

551
00:25:24,222 --> 00:25:26,224
Mr. Earnest: Well, Mr. Braley
is somebody that has

552
00:25:26,224 --> 00:25:28,326
a reputation for being willing
to speak truth to power,

553
00:25:28,326 --> 00:25:30,395
whether they're in the
same party as him or not.

554
00:25:30,395 --> 00:25:32,030
I think this is another
indication that he's

555
00:25:32,030 --> 00:25:32,631
willing to do that.

556
00:25:32,631 --> 00:25:33,298
The Press: So he's
right in that sense?

557
00:25:33,298 --> 00:25:34,900
Mr. Earnest: I think Dr. Frieden
himself has acknowledged

558
00:25:34,900 --> 00:25:37,602
that there have been some
shortcomings in the federal

559
00:25:37,602 --> 00:25:39,371
government's response
to this situation.

560
00:25:39,371 --> 00:25:42,707
I acknowledged as much yesterday
in the briefing, as well.

561
00:25:42,707 --> 00:25:43,441
I think --

562
00:25:43,441 --> 00:25:44,342
The Press: You keep
going back and saying

563
00:25:44,342 --> 00:25:45,243
Dr. Frieden has
acknowledged.

564
00:25:45,243 --> 00:25:46,077
Does the White House --

565
00:25:46,077 --> 00:25:47,312
Mr. Earnest: I guess I say
that because he said that.

566
00:25:47,312 --> 00:25:50,148
The Press: Okay, but does the
White House acknowledge

567
00:25:50,148 --> 00:25:51,249
that this response --

568
00:25:51,249 --> 00:25:52,617
Mr. Earnest: I did
that yesterday, Jim,

569
00:25:52,617 --> 00:25:54,519
and it continues
to be true today.

570
00:25:54,519 --> 00:25:57,789
And what I would encourage
people to do is to continue to

571
00:25:57,789 --> 00:26:00,425
evaluate the response by looking
at what the administration

572
00:26:00,425 --> 00:26:05,730
has done to respond to
those shortcomings;

573
00:26:05,730 --> 00:26:09,067
that the President talked
yesterday about how the Centers

574
00:26:09,067 --> 00:26:12,504
for Disease Control standing up
a SWAT team of experts that

575
00:26:12,504 --> 00:26:18,677
can more quickly respond to
hospitals that have diagnosed

576
00:26:18,677 --> 00:26:21,545
an Ebola patient, that these
experts can be on the ground

577
00:26:21,546 --> 00:26:25,083
within 24 hours to be there with
the health care workers at the

578
00:26:25,083 --> 00:26:28,320
hospital to make sure that this
patient is getting the kind

579
00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:30,922
of medical assistance they need,
while at the same time the

580
00:26:30,922 --> 00:26:34,125
health and safety of the workers
in the hospital and the general

581
00:26:34,125 --> 00:26:37,228
population of the
community is protected.

582
00:26:37,228 --> 00:26:41,900
That is a reaction to
the shortcoming that

583
00:26:41,900 --> 00:26:45,003
Dr. Frieden has acknowledged
in this response.

584
00:26:45,003 --> 00:26:48,773
What you've also seen from
the CDC is improved guidance

585
00:26:48,773 --> 00:26:51,943
to the health care workers at
the facility in Dallas about

586
00:26:51,943 --> 00:26:53,945
the protocols they should
put in place to protect

587
00:26:53,945 --> 00:26:56,814
themselves when they're
treating Ebola patients.

588
00:26:56,815 --> 00:26:58,817
There are lessons learned
that are being gleaned

589
00:26:58,817 --> 00:26:59,918
from that event.

590
00:26:59,918 --> 00:27:03,822
And as there is strengthened
guidance for the CDC to

591
00:27:03,822 --> 00:27:05,823
communicate to health care
professionals across the

592
00:27:05,824 --> 00:27:07,158
country, they will do that.

593
00:27:07,158 --> 00:27:10,195
And I would anticipate
they would do that soon.

594
00:27:10,195 --> 00:27:14,666
The other thing that you have
seen the CDC do is more actively

595
00:27:14,666 --> 00:27:18,370
monitor the health status
of health care workers from

596
00:27:18,370 --> 00:27:21,606
the Dallas facility that we
know treated the index patient.

597
00:27:21,606 --> 00:27:23,608
They are doing this in
response to the fact that

598
00:27:23,608 --> 00:27:26,378
one and now two health care
workers has contracted

599
00:27:26,378 --> 00:27:29,714
the Ebola virus while
treating that patient.

600
00:27:29,714 --> 00:27:32,216
The CDC has appropriately
responded by ramping up their

601
00:27:32,217 --> 00:27:35,120
monitoring of other health
care workers who are, frankly,

602
00:27:35,120 --> 00:27:37,988
now at more risk than
was previously thought.

603
00:27:37,989 --> 00:27:41,059
And again, that does -- as some
critics have already pointed

604
00:27:41,059 --> 00:27:43,061
out, including Mr. Braley
-- that there have

605
00:27:43,061 --> 00:27:45,295
been some shortcomings
in our response.

606
00:27:45,296 --> 00:27:47,932
I think this also indicates
a commitment on the part

607
00:27:47,932 --> 00:27:50,101
of this government at the
direction of the President

608
00:27:50,101 --> 00:27:52,971
of the United States to the
kind of tenacious response

609
00:27:52,971 --> 00:27:54,973
that will ensure the
safety and welfare

610
00:27:54,973 --> 00:27:56,541
of the American public.

611
00:27:56,541 --> 00:27:57,542
Chris.

612
00:27:57,542 --> 00:27:59,177
The Press: There have been
a number of statements by

613
00:27:59,177 --> 00:28:04,014
Dr. Frieden that suggest that
they wish they had done things

614
00:28:04,015 --> 00:28:05,950
differently; that he wished
there had been a rapid response

615
00:28:05,950 --> 00:28:09,054
team in place or a SWAT team,
as you call it, earlier.

616
00:28:09,054 --> 00:28:11,056
He said that the nurse, indeed,
should not have traveled;

617
00:28:11,056 --> 00:28:13,792
that there is a need to enhance
the training and protocols;

618
00:28:13,792 --> 00:28:16,394
that they have not yet
been able to specify what

619
00:28:16,394 --> 00:28:19,197
the breach was that
caused these infections.

620
00:28:19,197 --> 00:28:22,066
And now we understand that the
CDC guidelines that have been

621
00:28:22,067 --> 00:28:25,603
criticized as too lax are
being beefed up to be more

622
00:28:25,603 --> 00:28:28,306
in line with Doctors
Without Borders.

623
00:28:28,306 --> 00:28:30,408
So I just want to go back to
your statement, which

624
00:28:30,408 --> 00:28:32,910
is, "People should be
confident in the ability

625
00:28:32,911 --> 00:28:34,412
of our [medical]
infrastructure."

626
00:28:34,412 --> 00:28:36,981
Given those statements, has
the administration response

627
00:28:36,981 --> 00:28:40,285
been more reactive
than proactive?

628
00:28:40,285 --> 00:28:42,921
Mr. Earnest: Well, Chris, I
think I can evaluate that

629
00:28:42,921 --> 00:28:44,122
statement in a number of ways.

630
00:28:44,122 --> 00:28:46,558
The first is, the
federal government,

631
00:28:46,558 --> 00:28:48,893
principally through the CDC,
but also working with USAID,

632
00:28:48,893 --> 00:28:52,030
has been focused on responding
to the Ebola outbreak

633
00:28:52,030 --> 00:28:54,065
in West Africa
since March.

634
00:28:54,065 --> 00:28:58,336
That is when this outbreak
was first reported,

635
00:28:58,336 --> 00:28:59,737
and that's --

636
00:28:59,737 --> 00:29:00,772
The Press: Doesn't that
make it all the more

637
00:29:00,772 --> 00:29:02,573
concerning that these
things have happened?

638
00:29:02,574 --> 00:29:05,143
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
what it indicates is that

639
00:29:05,143 --> 00:29:07,979
the administration has been very
forward-leaning in confronting

640
00:29:07,979 --> 00:29:10,281
this significant challenge.

641
00:29:10,281 --> 00:29:13,985
At the same time, we've also
seen medical facilities in both

642
00:29:13,985 --> 00:29:19,189
Georgia and Nebraska respond
mobilizing expertise and

643
00:29:19,190 --> 00:29:22,360
equipment and resources
to treat patients.

644
00:29:22,360 --> 00:29:24,361
There are a number of
patients who, again,

645
00:29:24,362 --> 00:29:28,199
contracted Ebola in West Africa
while they were rendering

646
00:29:28,199 --> 00:29:31,536
or trying to render medical
assistance to individuals

647
00:29:31,536 --> 00:29:33,605
that were afflicted with
this disease in West Africa.

648
00:29:33,605 --> 00:29:36,941
Those individuals were evacuated
to the United States because

649
00:29:36,941 --> 00:29:39,144
of the confidence that we have
in the medical infrastructure

650
00:29:39,144 --> 00:29:43,314
in the United States to both
treat these individuals,

651
00:29:43,314 --> 00:29:46,918
but also to ensure that while
they were receiving treatment

652
00:29:46,918 --> 00:29:49,286
these individuals would
not spread the disease

653
00:29:49,287 --> 00:29:49,921
to others in America.

654
00:29:49,921 --> 00:29:55,426
That was successfully completed
on a number of occasions

655
00:29:55,426 --> 00:29:56,461
at Emory Hospital.

656
00:29:56,461 --> 00:30:01,900
The hospital in Nebraska
has done the same.

657
00:30:01,900 --> 00:30:03,902
That is an indication that
the medical infrastructure

658
00:30:03,902 --> 00:30:08,139
is in place in this country
to handle Ebola patients,

659
00:30:08,139 --> 00:30:10,241
both to treat them
and help them recover,

660
00:30:10,241 --> 00:30:12,677
but to do that in a way that
it doesn't pose a significant

661
00:30:12,677 --> 00:30:15,812
threat to health care workers
or members of the community.

662
00:30:15,813 --> 00:30:18,183
But what you're pointing out
are some shortcomings

663
00:30:18,183 --> 00:30:19,284
in that response.

664
00:30:19,284 --> 00:30:22,453
And again, I think the way that
people should evaluate that

665
00:30:22,453 --> 00:30:26,724
is to determine what the
reaction to that has been.

666
00:30:26,724 --> 00:30:30,828
And from standing up SWAT teams
to offering additional guidance,

667
00:30:30,828 --> 00:30:34,666
the CDC and other members of
this administration have been

668
00:30:34,666 --> 00:30:37,601
tenacious about updating our
response to meet the evolving

669
00:30:37,602 --> 00:30:38,703
circumstances on the ground.

670
00:30:38,703 --> 00:30:40,838
And that should give confidence
to the American public,

671
00:30:40,838 --> 00:30:43,274
because it continues to be
true that the likelihood

672
00:30:43,274 --> 00:30:46,177
of a widespread outbreak of
Ebola in the United States

673
00:30:46,177 --> 00:30:47,178
is exceedingly low.

674
00:30:47,178 --> 00:30:49,180
The Press: Well, can you
get more specific on that?

675
00:30:49,180 --> 00:30:51,182
Because part of preparedness is
knowing what you're going

676
00:30:51,182 --> 00:30:53,785
to face, which is why the World
Health Organization has put

677
00:30:53,785 --> 00:30:56,721
out projections for West Africa
to which America and other

678
00:30:56,721 --> 00:30:58,523
countries have responded.

679
00:30:58,523 --> 00:31:02,260
But has the President been given
or asked for specifics about

680
00:31:02,260 --> 00:31:06,129
the projections for infections
in the United States?

681
00:31:06,130 --> 00:31:07,232
Mr. Earnest: I don't know
the answer to that, Chris.

682
00:31:07,232 --> 00:31:10,068
I know that this is something
that the CDC has looked at.

683
00:31:10,068 --> 00:31:12,904
Again, I don't know what
the specifics are of those

684
00:31:12,904 --> 00:31:14,872
projections, if they exist.

685
00:31:14,872 --> 00:31:15,440
But --

686
00:31:15,440 --> 00:31:17,242
The Press: But would they be
important to understanding

687
00:31:17,242 --> 00:31:19,510
what we have to have in
place to deal with it?

688
00:31:19,510 --> 00:31:21,913
Mr. Earnest: Well, let
me answer that question

689
00:31:21,913 --> 00:31:22,914
a couple different ways.

690
00:31:22,914 --> 00:31:27,518
Again, projections are less
important because the risk

691
00:31:27,518 --> 00:31:29,954
of a widespread outbreak of
Ebola in the United States

692
00:31:29,954 --> 00:31:30,955
is exceedingly low.

693
00:31:30,955 --> 00:31:32,924
We don't anticipate that
that's going to happen.

694
00:31:32,924 --> 00:31:35,593
What we do anticipate
is certainly possible,

695
00:31:35,593 --> 00:31:39,264
maybe even likely, is that
some additional cases

696
00:31:39,264 --> 00:31:42,433
of Ebola will occur.

697
00:31:42,433 --> 00:31:46,237
It is possible -- again, maybe
even likely -- that there

698
00:31:46,237 --> 00:31:49,007
will be additional health care
workers from this hospital

699
00:31:49,007 --> 00:31:52,744
in Dallas who treated
Mr. Duncan who may

700
00:31:52,744 --> 00:31:56,014
have contracted the virus.

701
00:31:56,014 --> 00:31:59,883
So that's why we are actively
monitoring the health of other

702
00:31:59,884 --> 00:32:02,487
health care workers that
came in contact with him.

703
00:32:02,487 --> 00:32:05,890
It certainly is possible that
other individuals will travel

704
00:32:05,890 --> 00:32:10,328
to this country that don't
exhibit symptoms in transit,

705
00:32:10,328 --> 00:32:14,032
but after they arrive
may have the virus.

706
00:32:14,032 --> 00:32:16,967
And we will make sure that we
have the kind of response that's

707
00:32:16,968 --> 00:32:21,105
needed to, as the President
directed yesterday, to detect,

708
00:32:21,105 --> 00:32:24,075
isolate and treat those
individuals in a way that

709
00:32:24,075 --> 00:32:27,011
protects the American public and
protects health care workers

710
00:32:27,011 --> 00:32:28,579
who are rendering that
medical assistance.

711
00:32:28,579 --> 00:32:30,548
The Press: And yet, Josh, a
nurse at Texas Presbyterian

712
00:32:30,548 --> 00:32:34,619
said this morning that if
she contracted the disease

713
00:32:34,619 --> 00:32:37,054
she wouldn't want to
go to that hospital.

714
00:32:37,055 --> 00:32:38,723
She didn't feel confident.

715
00:32:38,723 --> 00:32:42,126
If she, who loves her job,
doesn't feel confident in going

716
00:32:42,126 --> 00:32:46,931
to her own hospital, should the
average American feel confident

717
00:32:46,931 --> 00:32:49,500
about the treatment they would
get at their local hospital?

718
00:32:49,500 --> 00:32:52,437
This is supposedly one of
the best hospitals in Texas.

719
00:32:52,437 --> 00:32:54,272
Mr. Earnest: Well, Chris, let
me just restate this again.

720
00:32:54,272 --> 00:32:58,476
The risk that faces the average
American from catching Ebola

721
00:32:58,476 --> 00:33:00,712
is exceedingly low.

722
00:33:00,712 --> 00:33:03,214
The fact of the matter is,
the individuals who have been

723
00:33:03,214 --> 00:33:06,250
diagnosed with Ebola at this
facility were health care

724
00:33:06,250 --> 00:33:08,419
workers who were responsible
for trying to meet

725
00:33:08,419 --> 00:33:11,456
the medical needs of this
specific Ebola patient.

726
00:33:11,456 --> 00:33:14,359
These individuals put
themselves in harm's way

727
00:33:14,359 --> 00:33:17,128
to try to render medical
assistance to that individual.

728
00:33:17,128 --> 00:33:18,995
That is a heroic thing.

729
00:33:18,996 --> 00:33:22,233
And the fact that they have
contracted Ebola is tragic,

730
00:33:22,233 --> 00:33:24,235
but we are committed
to ensuring that they

731
00:33:24,235 --> 00:33:27,804
get expert medical attention
and medical treatment.

732
00:33:27,805 --> 00:33:30,174
That's why these patients
have been transferred

733
00:33:30,174 --> 00:33:32,744
to the facilities where they are
currently getting treatment.

734
00:33:32,744 --> 00:33:34,745
And our thoughts and prayers
are with them as they

735
00:33:34,746 --> 00:33:35,713
fight this disease.

736
00:33:35,713 --> 00:33:37,815
The Press: Well, my question
really was to assess the local

737
00:33:37,815 --> 00:33:40,151
preparedness of hospitals
across the country.

738
00:33:40,151 --> 00:33:41,452
Mr. Earnest: Right, and I think
that goes hand in hand with

739
00:33:41,452 --> 00:33:43,354
assessing the level of risk.

740
00:33:43,354 --> 00:33:45,256
And the level of risk of
a widespread outbreak

741
00:33:45,256 --> 00:33:47,692
in the United States
is exceedingly low.

742
00:33:47,692 --> 00:33:50,194
In terms of preparedness, what
we want to do is we want to make

743
00:33:50,194 --> 00:33:53,398
sure that the CDC, at the
direction of the President

744
00:33:53,398 --> 00:33:56,199
of the United States, is
offering the best guidance that

745
00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:59,070
is available to hospitals across
the country as it relates

746
00:33:59,070 --> 00:34:01,906
to protocols and other measures
they should have in place

747
00:34:01,906 --> 00:34:04,542
so that they can treat
an Ebola patient if one

748
00:34:04,542 --> 00:34:05,576
shows up at their facility.

749
00:34:05,576 --> 00:34:07,612
But, again, the likelihood
of that happening is low.

750
00:34:07,612 --> 00:34:13,251
And the efforts by the CDC
to update their guidance and

751
00:34:13,251 --> 00:34:15,820
communicate it clearly to
medical professionals across

752
00:34:15,820 --> 00:34:17,889
the country is ongoing.

753
00:34:17,889 --> 00:34:19,090
Ed.

754
00:34:19,090 --> 00:34:20,291
The Press: Josh, I want to
follow up on the flight ban.

755
00:34:20,291 --> 00:34:22,293
I know before you said,
look, there's already

756
00:34:22,293 --> 00:34:23,294
restrictions in place.

757
00:34:23,293 --> 00:34:25,295
But a very wise person
this morning said,

758
00:34:25,295 --> 00:34:27,330
"I think substantive
actions have to be taken,

759
00:34:27,331 --> 00:34:28,699
it may involve
flight restrictions,

760
00:34:28,699 --> 00:34:30,635
it may involve moving
all patients to specific

761
00:34:30,635 --> 00:34:32,904
hospitals...I think that
would demonstrate a level

762
00:34:32,904 --> 00:34:36,641
of seriousness in response
to this that is merited."

763
00:34:36,641 --> 00:34:39,110
You wouldn't disagree with
Jay Carney, would you?

764
00:34:39,110 --> 00:34:43,114
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
Jay raises some good points.

765
00:34:43,114 --> 00:34:46,016
And I think, again, that
is why you have seen this

766
00:34:46,016 --> 00:34:48,485
administration, in response to
some of the shortcomings that

767
00:34:48,485 --> 00:34:51,656
have been identified, ramp up
our response to make sure that

768
00:34:51,656 --> 00:34:52,657
we are closing those gaps.

769
00:34:52,657 --> 00:34:54,692
The Press: But he said
"a level of seriousness."

770
00:34:54,692 --> 00:34:57,428
Doesn't that suggest maybe that
this administration has

771
00:34:57,428 --> 00:34:59,663
to get more serious about
these restrictions?

772
00:34:59,664 --> 00:35:01,666
Mr. Earnest: Ed, I think
that the President,

773
00:35:01,666 --> 00:35:04,001
based on his response and
the response of his team,

774
00:35:04,001 --> 00:35:07,338
indicates that we're
deadly serious about this.

775
00:35:07,338 --> 00:35:09,340
We're dealing with
a deadly disease,

776
00:35:09,340 --> 00:35:12,109
and what you are seeing is the
kind of tenacious response

777
00:35:12,109 --> 00:35:15,379
that the American people
are counting on.

778
00:35:15,379 --> 00:35:17,381
And there have been
some shortcomings that

779
00:35:17,381 --> 00:35:18,382
have been identified.

780
00:35:18,382 --> 00:35:20,651
There have also been responses
to those shortcomings

781
00:35:20,651 --> 00:35:23,020
to try to close those
gaps, to make sure that

782
00:35:23,020 --> 00:35:24,021
health care workers are

783
00:35:24,021 --> 00:35:26,023
getting the updated guidance,
that we're standing

784
00:35:26,023 --> 00:35:28,025
up SWAT teams that
can respond quickly

785
00:35:28,025 --> 00:35:30,695
if other Ebola cases
are diagnosed.

786
00:35:30,695 --> 00:35:33,364
And we are responding by making
sure that we are doing more

787
00:35:33,364 --> 00:35:36,200
to actively monitor those
health care workers that we now

788
00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:39,403
know are at greater risk
than was previously thought.

789
00:35:39,403 --> 00:35:40,136
The Press: You say
"deadly serious,"

790
00:35:40,137 --> 00:35:41,906
and the President -- we don't
know how long the meeting

791
00:35:41,906 --> 00:35:43,708
was budgeted for yesterday
-- maybe you can tell us --

792
00:35:43,708 --> 00:35:46,210
but it went on it appeared
for well over two hours.

793
00:35:46,210 --> 00:35:48,212
Some people in the meeting
suggest that the President

794
00:35:48,212 --> 00:35:50,348
was quite angry that a
second health care worker,

795
00:35:50,348 --> 00:35:52,750
after he had been told this
was unlikely to happen,

796
00:35:52,750 --> 00:35:54,652
that he was demanding
answers from people.

797
00:35:54,652 --> 00:35:56,687
Do you think that's a
fair characterization?

798
00:35:56,687 --> 00:35:59,022
How could this happen again
is the way it was described.

799
00:35:59,023 --> 00:36:00,057
Mr. Earnest: I think the
President was very focused

800
00:36:00,057 --> 00:36:03,828
on getting answers to some very
basic and direct questions

801
00:36:03,828 --> 00:36:06,931
about what happened in Dallas
and what steps are being taken

802
00:36:06,931 --> 00:36:10,001
to correct those shortcomings
that have cropped up.

803
00:36:10,001 --> 00:36:13,371
Again, the President, as
I described yesterday,

804
00:36:13,371 --> 00:36:15,940
believes that some aspects
of this response have

805
00:36:15,940 --> 00:36:17,942
fallen short of
his expectations.

806
00:36:17,942 --> 00:36:20,811
He's got high expectations
for the performance of his

807
00:36:20,811 --> 00:36:22,813
government when it comes to
ensuring that we're protecting

808
00:36:22,813 --> 00:36:25,416
the safety and wellbeing
of the American public.

809
00:36:25,416 --> 00:36:31,489
That's why you have seen so much
tenacity in making sure that

810
00:36:31,489 --> 00:36:36,060
this response is responding
to evolving circumstances

811
00:36:36,060 --> 00:36:37,061
on the ground.

812
00:36:37,061 --> 00:36:39,063
The Press: Given what you're
saying, the seriousness of it,

813
00:36:39,063 --> 00:36:41,933
then why hasn't a particular
agency been held responsible?

814
00:36:41,933 --> 00:36:44,635
Is there a particular
person who's going

815
00:36:44,635 --> 00:36:45,703
to be held accountable?

816
00:36:45,703 --> 00:36:48,172
We've seen this with other
stories -- we messed up,

817
00:36:48,172 --> 00:36:51,442
somebody dropped the ball, we
fumbled -- and a person

818
00:36:51,442 --> 00:36:52,710
is not held accountable.

819
00:36:52,710 --> 00:36:55,112
Who is responsible for
these shortcomings

820
00:36:55,112 --> 00:36:56,013
you're talking about?

821
00:36:56,013 --> 00:36:57,448
Mr. Earnest: Well, you have
seen at least in a couple

822
00:36:57,448 --> 00:37:00,017
of instances Dr. Frieden
take responsibility

823
00:37:00,017 --> 00:37:02,720
for the CDC not performing
up to expectations.

824
00:37:02,720 --> 00:37:04,721
At the same time, the
CDC has been focused

825
00:37:04,722 --> 00:37:05,990
on this situation
since March.

826
00:37:05,990 --> 00:37:09,327
They've been offering expert
assistance to countries

827
00:37:09,327 --> 00:37:11,796
in West Africa to try to
stem this outbreak.

828
00:37:11,796 --> 00:37:14,932
You have seen the CDC ramp up
the kind of assistance that they

829
00:37:14,932 --> 00:37:19,136
can marshal so that a SWAT team
can be deployed within hours

830
00:37:19,136 --> 00:37:21,138
of an Ebola diagnosis.

831
00:37:21,138 --> 00:37:25,241
You've seen the CDC draw on
their expertise to give clearer

832
00:37:25,242 --> 00:37:27,478
and better guidance about the
protocols that health care

833
00:37:27,478 --> 00:37:29,480
professionals in Dallas
and across the country

834
00:37:29,480 --> 00:37:31,949
should follow when
treating an Ebola patient.

835
00:37:31,949 --> 00:37:35,953
So, again, as we've said in
a lot of these situations,

836
00:37:35,953 --> 00:37:39,156
it's important for people
to evaluate the response.

837
00:37:39,156 --> 00:37:41,192
And I think what you're seeing
is the kind of tenacious

838
00:37:41,192 --> 00:37:43,194
response that the
President expects.

839
00:37:43,194 --> 00:37:45,196
There's a lot more
work to be done.

840
00:37:45,196 --> 00:37:47,163
The Press: A couple quick
follows on other subjects.

841
00:37:47,164 --> 00:37:49,166
Bowe Bergdahl -- we haven't
heard about him in a long time.

842
00:37:49,166 --> 00:37:51,168
This administration promised
months ago there was going

843
00:37:51,168 --> 00:37:54,505
to be a full investigation of
whether the law was broken

844
00:37:54,505 --> 00:37:56,440
in terms of notifying
Congress and whatnot.

845
00:37:56,440 --> 00:37:58,643
I understand the investigation
is still in the hands

846
00:37:58,643 --> 00:38:00,611
of the Army right now, but
is this White House

847
00:38:00,611 --> 00:38:01,746
pressing for answers?

848
00:38:01,746 --> 00:38:04,415
Is this going to be released
before the election

849
00:38:04,415 --> 00:38:06,984
on a timetable soon?

850
00:38:06,984 --> 00:38:10,054
Mr. Earnest: Ed, I believe that
the -- I haven't talked about

851
00:38:10,054 --> 00:38:12,923
Bowe Bergdahl in a while either,
but my recollection is that this

852
00:38:12,923 --> 00:38:15,625
Department of Defense review
that is currently underway

853
00:38:15,626 --> 00:38:19,463
is focused on determining how
exactly Mr. Bergdahl fell --

854
00:38:19,463 --> 00:38:22,500
Sergeant Bergdahl fell into
the hands of the enemy.

855
00:38:22,500 --> 00:38:26,003
And it's my understanding that
that review is still underway.

856
00:38:26,003 --> 00:38:27,471
So I would refer you to
the Department of Defense.

857
00:38:27,471 --> 00:38:31,242
The Press: But also a review of
why -- about the prisoner swap.

858
00:38:31,242 --> 00:38:32,143
Correct?

859
00:38:32,143 --> 00:38:35,312
Isn't it also about the 30-day
notification for Congress?

860
00:38:35,312 --> 00:38:37,314
Mr. Earnest: I
can check on that.

861
00:38:37,314 --> 00:38:39,316
I know that there are a number
of members of Congress who have

862
00:38:39,316 --> 00:38:41,317
been very interested
in that issue.

863
00:38:41,318 --> 00:38:43,320
The fact of the matter is the
President determined that

864
00:38:43,320 --> 00:38:45,322
this was clearly in the
national interest.

865
00:38:45,322 --> 00:38:47,324
The Secretary of Defense
certified that this transaction

866
00:38:47,324 --> 00:38:49,760
could take place in a way
that mitigated the risk

867
00:38:49,760 --> 00:38:50,995
to the American people.

868
00:38:50,995 --> 00:38:54,699
And it secured the release
of an American soldier,

869
00:38:54,699 --> 00:38:56,834
and the President believes
that that was the right move.

870
00:38:56,834 --> 00:39:00,404
I don't know if there is any
ongoing review of that specific

871
00:39:00,404 --> 00:39:03,107
aspect of this situation,
because the President still

872
00:39:03,107 --> 00:39:05,109
believes that was the
right thing to do.

873
00:39:05,109 --> 00:39:07,944
And living up -- as the
Commander-in-Chief,

874
00:39:07,945 --> 00:39:11,282
he felt it was important to make
sure that this administration

875
00:39:11,282 --> 00:39:13,417
and this government were
living up to the principle

876
00:39:13,417 --> 00:39:15,419
that we don't leave
anybody behind.

877
00:39:15,419 --> 00:39:16,420
The Press: Last one.

878
00:39:16,420 --> 00:39:18,422
Any update on when we might get
some figures on how much

879
00:39:18,422 --> 00:39:20,424
it cost taxpayers for the
President to fundraise?

880
00:39:20,424 --> 00:39:22,493
Mr. Earnest: I don't have
any specific stats on that,

881
00:39:22,493 --> 00:39:24,495
but we'll work with
you on that.

882
00:39:24,495 --> 00:39:25,496
Carol.

883
00:39:25,496 --> 00:39:27,565
The Press: I wanted to follow
up on Chris's question earlier.

884
00:39:27,565 --> 00:39:31,268
Each of those instances that she
laid out -- the start of her

885
00:39:31,268 --> 00:39:33,437
question about the various
shortcomings that have

886
00:39:33,437 --> 00:39:39,375
come up in the response to Ebola
-- at each of those times,

887
00:39:39,376 --> 00:39:42,913
what the public was hearing from
the White House and from the CDC

888
00:39:42,913 --> 00:39:46,217
was that there were these strict
protocols in place and there

889
00:39:46,217 --> 00:39:48,385
was no cause for concern.

890
00:39:48,385 --> 00:39:49,987
And now you're in a
position of saying, well,

891
00:39:49,987 --> 00:39:53,424
we've now implemented X, Y
and Z in response to those

892
00:39:53,424 --> 00:39:55,526
shortcomings and
everybody should feel

893
00:39:55,526 --> 00:39:59,029
confident in the
process now as it is.

894
00:39:59,029 --> 00:40:03,000
How is that -- why should
people believe you now?

895
00:40:03,000 --> 00:40:06,637
Are you concerned about an
erosion in public trust based

896
00:40:06,637 --> 00:40:09,240
on what you said previously
and what you're

897
00:40:09,240 --> 00:40:11,709
saying now and what's
happened in between?

898
00:40:11,709 --> 00:40:14,678
And how much of that is
a challenge for you

899
00:40:14,678 --> 00:40:15,946
guys going forward?

900
00:40:15,946 --> 00:40:20,049
Is there a way where you can
get on the other side of that?

901
00:40:20,050 --> 00:40:22,353
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think --
let me give you just one example

902
00:40:22,353 --> 00:40:26,857
about how the CDC has
approached this specific issue

903
00:40:26,857 --> 00:40:31,595
as it relates to the
protocols for using

904
00:40:31,595 --> 00:40:34,298
personal protection
equipment.

905
00:40:34,298 --> 00:40:38,002
One thing that the CDC did was
they actually deployed a couple

906
00:40:38,002 --> 00:40:41,639
of nurses from the hospital at
Emory that has successfully

907
00:40:41,639 --> 00:40:44,508
treated a couple of Ebola
patients in their hospital

908
00:40:44,508 --> 00:40:47,477
and sent them to this
facility in Dallas

909
00:40:47,478 --> 00:40:49,580
to do some peer-to-peer
training about the proper

910
00:40:49,580 --> 00:40:52,516
use of personal
protection equipment.

911
00:40:52,516 --> 00:40:54,919
So that is an indication where
we're taking best practices from

912
00:40:54,919 --> 00:40:58,522
one medical facility that had
had success in safely treating

913
00:40:58,522 --> 00:41:01,625
an Ebola patient, and
transferring those best

914
00:41:01,625 --> 00:41:03,694
practices to other hospitals.

915
00:41:03,694 --> 00:41:06,029
I think, again,
what Tom Frieden,

916
00:41:06,030 --> 00:41:09,967
the Director of the CDC,
acknowledged is that the CDC

917
00:41:09,967 --> 00:41:13,671
should have acted sooner to make
sure that those kinds of experts

918
00:41:13,671 --> 00:41:18,375
were on the ground in a more
timely fashion to ensure that

919
00:41:18,375 --> 00:41:21,078
the proper protocols were in
place and that they were

920
00:41:21,078 --> 00:41:25,449
being properly implemented.

921
00:41:25,449 --> 00:41:28,986
I think it is fair for the
American public to take some

922
00:41:28,986 --> 00:41:31,821
confidence in the fact that we
have taken the best practices

923
00:41:31,822 --> 00:41:38,028
from a facility that has
successfully undertaken this

924
00:41:38,028 --> 00:41:42,232
effort and are applying that
best practice to at least one

925
00:41:42,233 --> 00:41:45,870
other hospital and communicating
that best practice to hospitals

926
00:41:45,870 --> 00:41:46,871
all across the country.

927
00:41:46,871 --> 00:41:48,873
The Press: Just to be clear
-- the President is fully

928
00:41:48,873 --> 00:41:51,976
confident in the system
that's in place now,

929
00:41:51,976 --> 00:41:54,478
given those changes
that have been made?

930
00:41:54,478 --> 00:41:57,281
Mr. Earnest: The President
continues to be confident in the

931
00:41:57,281 --> 00:41:59,316
advice that we're getting from
our medical and scientific

932
00:41:59,316 --> 00:42:04,754
experts about what is necessary
to treat Ebola patients in a way

933
00:42:04,755 --> 00:42:06,824
that protects health care
workers and protects

934
00:42:06,824 --> 00:42:07,925
the American public.

935
00:42:07,925 --> 00:42:10,828
In fact, the President has
directed that every member of

936
00:42:10,828 --> 00:42:14,665
his team, including at the CDC,
are doing everything that they

937
00:42:14,665 --> 00:42:18,235
can to ensure that Ebola
patients are properly detected,

938
00:42:18,235 --> 00:42:21,972
isolated and treated, and all
that in a way that's consistent

939
00:42:21,972 --> 00:42:24,975
with protecting the American
public and health care works

940
00:42:24,975 --> 00:42:27,711
who are responsible for
meeting their medical needs.

941
00:42:27,711 --> 00:42:28,712
April.

942
00:42:28,712 --> 00:42:33,117
The Press: Josh, from the podium
you said there is anxiety

943
00:42:33,117 --> 00:42:34,518
in the public; you did
acknowledge that.

944
00:42:34,518 --> 00:42:37,688
And you said to Jim that the
President would not be coming

945
00:42:37,688 --> 00:42:39,757
out and making a statement
at this time when

946
00:42:39,757 --> 00:42:41,058
it comes to Ebola.

947
00:42:41,058 --> 00:42:45,496
And you also said that the press
will be delivering the news

948
00:42:45,496 --> 00:42:49,333
to help disseminate the news
that it's not as bad as what

949
00:42:49,333 --> 00:42:50,701
people are perceiving.

950
00:42:50,701 --> 00:42:54,104
But beyond that, where is the
onus on this administration?

951
00:42:54,104 --> 00:42:59,944
What will this administration
do further to help lessen

952
00:42:59,944 --> 00:43:02,746
a panic as a vast majority
of Americans believe

953
00:43:02,746 --> 00:43:04,748
that there is a
concern about Ebola?

954
00:43:04,748 --> 00:43:06,984
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
we're doing everything

955
00:43:06,984 --> 00:43:08,986
we can to make sure that
people have the facts.

956
00:43:08,986 --> 00:43:11,355
And you did hear from the
President directly yesterday

957
00:43:11,355 --> 00:43:13,624
at the conclusion of his
meeting talk about those facts.

958
00:43:13,624 --> 00:43:16,727
He talked about the fact that he
had met nurses who had treated

959
00:43:16,727 --> 00:43:17,928
an Ebola patient.

960
00:43:17,928 --> 00:43:21,665
He talked about the fact that we
know very specifically about how

961
00:43:21,665 --> 00:43:24,134
Ebola is transmitted, that it's
not transmitted through the air

962
00:43:24,134 --> 00:43:26,704
or through the food and
water in the United States.

963
00:43:26,704 --> 00:43:28,806
So the President himself has
addressed this on a number

964
00:43:28,806 --> 00:43:31,375
of occasions as recently
as just yesterday.

965
00:43:31,375 --> 00:43:33,344
It's something that
I've talked about.

966
00:43:33,344 --> 00:43:36,113
We've had senior officials
like Secretary Burwell,

967
00:43:36,113 --> 00:43:40,517
Director Frieden, and others
talk about these kinds of facts.

968
00:43:40,517 --> 00:43:42,953
And we do think that the
American people should

969
00:43:42,953 --> 00:43:45,255
understand exactly
what the risk is,

970
00:43:45,255 --> 00:43:48,092
and that a full understanding
of the risk will help people

971
00:43:48,092 --> 00:43:51,895
understand why this is
something they don't need

972
00:43:51,895 --> 00:43:53,063
to be concerned about.

973
00:43:53,063 --> 00:43:55,065
But right now it's
understandable that people are

974
00:43:55,065 --> 00:43:57,167
concerned because we're talking
about a deadly disease,

975
00:43:57,167 --> 00:44:00,037
and the proper way to meet that
concern or to address that

976
00:44:00,037 --> 00:44:02,172
concern is to make sure they
have a full accounting

977
00:44:02,172 --> 00:44:03,173
of the facts.

978
00:44:03,173 --> 00:44:05,676
The Press: It's kind of a
tight-wire rope type

979
00:44:05,676 --> 00:44:08,345
of situation I guess trying
to make sure that public

980
00:44:08,345 --> 00:44:12,515
is not in a panic situation
but delivering information.

981
00:44:12,516 --> 00:44:14,418
When do you say
enough is enough,

982
00:44:14,418 --> 00:44:17,421
we have to come out and say give
more facts than what you're

983
00:44:17,421 --> 00:44:19,890
giving, or just for the
President to come out and do

984
00:44:19,890 --> 00:44:24,528
an Oval Office or a Cross Hall
speech to the nation at night

985
00:44:24,528 --> 00:44:27,698
versus the sound bites that come
out before a nighttime event,

986
00:44:27,698 --> 00:44:30,267
so that people will fully
understand that this

987
00:44:30,267 --> 00:44:33,470
is something, as you said,
that's going to be harder

988
00:44:33,470 --> 00:44:35,805
for them to get than
other diseases?

989
00:44:35,806 --> 00:44:38,509
When do you say when?

990
00:44:38,509 --> 00:44:39,243
Mr. Earnest: Well,
you know, April,

991
00:44:39,243 --> 00:44:42,546
there are social media channels
that we're taking full advantage

992
00:44:42,546 --> 00:44:44,515
of right now, that there are
materials that are being

993
00:44:44,515 --> 00:44:47,151
circulated by HHS and even
from here at the White House

994
00:44:47,151 --> 00:44:50,319
to make sure that people
have the necessary facts.

995
00:44:50,320 --> 00:44:53,757
We've got medical experts from
outside the administration.

996
00:44:53,757 --> 00:44:57,194
Obviously, senior administration
officials, as well,

997
00:44:57,194 --> 00:45:01,231
are playing a leading role in
communicating these facts

998
00:45:01,231 --> 00:45:02,232
to the American public.

999
00:45:02,232 --> 00:45:04,234
If we determine that it's
necessary for the President

1000
00:45:04,234 --> 00:45:07,638
to give a more high-profile
address, then we'll do that.

1001
00:45:07,638 --> 00:45:10,973
But right now, given all of the
media scrutiny on this issue,

1002
00:45:10,974 --> 00:45:14,445
and the ample opportunity that
I've had at least to talk

1003
00:45:14,445 --> 00:45:16,947
about this issue and to
answer your questions,

1004
00:45:16,947 --> 00:45:19,783
should help people understand
exactly what the risk is.

1005
00:45:19,783 --> 00:45:23,053
And again, I think it is
perfectly understandable

1006
00:45:23,053 --> 00:45:25,055
that people would
have some concern.

1007
00:45:25,055 --> 00:45:27,057
We're talking about
a deadly disease,

1008
00:45:27,057 --> 00:45:29,058
and we've acknowledged that
there have been at least

1009
00:45:29,059 --> 00:45:31,061
a couple of shortcomings
in the response.

1010
00:45:31,061 --> 00:45:33,063
But more broadly, what
people should take solace

1011
00:45:33,063 --> 00:45:36,467
in is that they're not at
high risk of getting Ebola.

1012
00:45:36,467 --> 00:45:39,169
In fact, the risk of an Ebola
outbreak in the United States

1013
00:45:39,169 --> 00:45:40,337
is exceedingly low.

1014
00:45:40,337 --> 00:45:43,273
And what you're seeing is a
health care system in this

1015
00:45:43,273 --> 00:45:47,244
country and a federal government
in this country that have

1016
00:45:47,244 --> 00:45:50,414
already demonstrated an
ability to take in patients

1017
00:45:50,414 --> 00:45:54,818
from West Africa -- there are American citizens who are

1018
00:45:54,818 --> 00:45:57,287
performing humanitarian
medical work -- to bring them

1019
00:45:57,287 --> 00:46:00,557
to this country, to treat
them, to do it in a way that

1020
00:46:00,557 --> 00:46:03,392
allows them to recover,
but also doesn't expose

1021
00:46:03,393 --> 00:46:05,395
the health care workers
in the hospital

1022
00:46:05,395 --> 00:46:08,065
or people in the
broader community

1023
00:46:08,065 --> 00:46:10,033
to a significant risk.

1024
00:46:10,033 --> 00:46:13,904
So that experience and that
track record should give people

1025
00:46:13,904 --> 00:46:16,840
some confidence that the
administration is mobilizing

1026
00:46:16,840 --> 00:46:19,943
the kind of tenacious
response that they deserve.

1027
00:46:19,943 --> 00:46:22,946
The Press: And lastly, a very
simple question: What is the

1028
00:46:22,946 --> 00:46:26,616
mood of this administration
right now as you're challenged

1029
00:46:26,617 --> 00:46:30,187
with a lot of issues, not only
here, but around the world?

1030
00:46:30,187 --> 00:46:31,855
What is the mood of
this administration,

1031
00:46:31,855 --> 00:46:33,957
particularly
this President?

1032
00:46:33,957 --> 00:46:36,093
Mr. Earnest: I think
the mood is determined.

1033
00:46:36,093 --> 00:46:39,263
You have a President who is
dealing with a lot of pressing

1034
00:46:39,263 --> 00:46:42,332
issues right now, but the
President, as you would expect,

1035
00:46:42,332 --> 00:46:45,769
and I think is pretty obvious
to anybody who's watching,

1036
00:46:45,769 --> 00:46:47,971
that the President takes very
seriously his responsibilities

1037
00:46:47,971 --> 00:46:50,908
as the leader of the country
and as the Commander-in-Chief.

1038
00:46:50,908 --> 00:46:57,714
And the President is working
hard and is pushing his team

1039
00:46:57,714 --> 00:47:00,317
really hard to make sure that,
at least in this specific

1040
00:47:00,317 --> 00:47:03,153
situation, that we're mobilizing
the kind of response that's

1041
00:47:03,153 --> 00:47:05,923
up to the standards that the
President has set for his

1042
00:47:05,923 --> 00:47:08,058
administration, and the kinds
of high standards that

1043
00:47:08,058 --> 00:47:11,261
the President has set for
serving the American people.

1044
00:47:11,261 --> 00:47:12,262
Major.

1045
00:47:12,262 --> 00:47:14,264
The Press: Josh, can you
indicate what the coverage will

1046
00:47:14,264 --> 00:47:17,067
be today, how will we be able
to see any of these things

1047
00:47:17,067 --> 00:47:19,169
the President is working on
-- transcripts or other

1048
00:47:19,169 --> 00:47:19,870
things like that?

1049
00:47:19,870 --> 00:47:21,104
Mr. Earnest: We're still working
through the details on this.

1050
00:47:21,104 --> 00:47:22,573
I don't actually even know
what time the meeting

1051
00:47:22,573 --> 00:47:23,307
is at this point.

1052
00:47:23,307 --> 00:47:25,075
But as we lock down some more of
these details we'll be in touch

1053
00:47:25,075 --> 00:47:26,743
with you about the logistics.

1054
00:47:26,743 --> 00:47:27,945
The Press: Can we
anticipate at least seeing

1055
00:47:27,945 --> 00:47:28,879
the President today?

1056
00:47:28,879 --> 00:47:30,346
Mr. Earnest: There's a
possibility of that, but again,

1057
00:47:30,347 --> 00:47:35,552
let us lock down the details
and we'll get back to you.

1058
00:47:35,552 --> 00:47:36,987
The Press: In the phone calls
with members of the Congress,

1059
00:47:36,987 --> 00:47:39,122
is the President trying to lay
the groundwork for a request

1060
00:47:39,122 --> 00:47:42,225
for additional funds to be dealt
with during the lame duck?

1061
00:47:42,226 --> 00:47:44,294
Mr. Earnest: It's unclear at
this point whether or not

1062
00:47:44,294 --> 00:47:45,662
that will be needed.

1063
00:47:45,662 --> 00:47:48,165
But certainly these are the
kinds of issues that we want

1064
00:47:48,165 --> 00:47:51,468
to confer with them on the front
end so that if that eventuality

1065
00:47:51,468 --> 00:47:55,504
arises that it's not a
surprise to either them or us.

1066
00:47:55,505 --> 00:47:56,640
The Press: So it's possible.

1067
00:47:56,640 --> 00:47:57,341
Mr. Earnest: It's possible.

1068
00:47:57,341 --> 00:47:58,241
I wouldn't take
it off the table.

1069
00:47:58,242 --> 00:48:01,612
But at this point we're just
having conversations with them

1070
00:48:01,612 --> 00:48:02,746
about what may be needed.

1071
00:48:02,746 --> 00:48:04,715
The Press: And I just
want to double-back

1072
00:48:04,715 --> 00:48:07,684
on the executive order
regarding the National Guard.

1073
00:48:07,684 --> 00:48:11,221
Are you saying that you're not
sure if the President needs it?

1074
00:48:11,221 --> 00:48:15,225
Or are you saying that you
are aware that he has ordered

1075
00:48:15,225 --> 00:48:19,563
it and it's just a matter for
the Pentagon to carry out that

1076
00:48:19,563 --> 00:48:22,866
order without anything required
from him as far as signing

1077
00:48:22,866 --> 00:48:24,368
a piece of paper?

1078
00:48:24,368 --> 00:48:26,803
Mr. Earnest: It's the mechanics
with which I am unfamiliar.

1079
00:48:26,803 --> 00:48:29,538
The President has laid out very
clearly what the mission is.

1080
00:48:29,539 --> 00:48:31,875
The Department of Defense has
told the President that it will

1081
00:48:31,875 --> 00:48:36,146
require about 4,000 Department
of Defense personnel to execute

1082
00:48:36,146 --> 00:48:39,950
the mission the President has
directed them to execute.

1083
00:48:39,950 --> 00:48:42,986
What I don't know is the
composition of that force

1084
00:48:42,986 --> 00:48:45,721
and whether reservists
or National Guardsmen

1085
00:48:45,722 --> 00:48:48,592
will be required to
augment that force.

1086
00:48:48,592 --> 00:48:53,897
And if they are required, I
don't know if the mechanics

1087
00:48:53,897 --> 00:48:56,833
dictate that an executive
order has to be signed by the

1088
00:48:56,833 --> 00:48:58,368
President, or if
that's something that

1089
00:48:58,368 --> 00:49:00,470
the Department of Defense
can go ahead and act on.

1090
00:49:00,470 --> 00:49:02,939
The Press: Related to that, is
the President asking all those

1091
00:49:02,939 --> 00:49:07,477
who are on this team what are
his executive order powers

1092
00:49:07,477 --> 00:49:12,149
to do things to address this
particular Ebola issue?

1093
00:49:12,149 --> 00:49:14,917
Nurses have asked for him to
do things as far as sending --

1094
00:49:14,918 --> 00:49:19,523
using his executive power
to make some very clear

1095
00:49:19,523 --> 00:49:24,828
communications about clothing or
other procedures in hospitals.

1096
00:49:24,828 --> 00:49:28,065
To what degree is the President
asking for that information

1097
00:49:28,065 --> 00:49:30,901
and contemplating using
something you've talked about

1098
00:49:30,901 --> 00:49:34,504
a lot this year, his pen,
to address some of these

1099
00:49:34,504 --> 00:49:37,473
shortcomings and improve
the federal response?

1100
00:49:37,474 --> 00:49:38,975
Mr. Earnest: Well, out
of the meeting yesterday,

1101
00:49:38,975 --> 00:49:41,745
the President was very clear
about directing his team to make

1102
00:49:41,745 --> 00:49:44,614
sure that we are using all the
necessary federal resources

1103
00:49:44,614 --> 00:49:47,484
and authorities to
detect, isolate and treat

1104
00:49:47,484 --> 00:49:49,653
Ebola patients,
and do it in a way that

1105
00:49:49,653 --> 00:49:51,654
we could protect
the American public

1106
00:49:51,655 --> 00:49:54,458
and the health care workers who
are rendering them assistance.

1107
00:49:54,458 --> 00:49:56,860
So that is something
that, if necessary,

1108
00:49:56,860 --> 00:50:01,098
the President I'm confident
will not hesitate to use.

1109
00:50:01,098 --> 00:50:03,933
But at this point, I don't know
if it's necessary for -- or at

1110
00:50:03,934 --> 00:50:06,870
least we haven't come across a
situation where it's necessary

1111
00:50:06,870 --> 00:50:09,373
for the President to invoke
a specific executive order

1112
00:50:09,373 --> 00:50:13,009
or an executive authority in
order to get something done.

1113
00:50:13,009 --> 00:50:15,412
Obviously, a lot of this
response is being driven

1114
00:50:15,412 --> 00:50:17,913
by the executive
branch of government.

1115
00:50:17,914 --> 00:50:20,484
And that's why the kind of
whole-of-government approach

1116
00:50:20,484 --> 00:50:23,252
that you've seen is one that
the President is leading

1117
00:50:23,253 --> 00:50:25,622
and directing, and will
continue to do so,

1118
00:50:25,622 --> 00:50:27,624
to ensure that we're
meeting the high standards

1119
00:50:27,624 --> 00:50:29,392
that he has set for
his administration.

1120
00:50:29,393 --> 00:50:34,464
The Press: On ISIL, since a week
ago, from Thursday to today,

1121
00:50:34,464 --> 00:50:36,299
roughly 150 people
have been killed

1122
00:50:36,299 --> 00:50:39,136
in suicide bombs
in Baghdad.

1123
00:50:39,136 --> 00:50:42,272
Thirty-six died today
in a massive attack.

1124
00:50:42,272 --> 00:50:47,043
Does the administration believe
this is a signature tactic

1125
00:50:47,043 --> 00:50:50,881
of ISIL and this is something
that has been introduced

1126
00:50:50,881 --> 00:50:53,850
new into the
reality of Baghdad?

1127
00:50:53,850 --> 00:50:56,019
And even if it may not be
under immediate threat

1128
00:50:56,019 --> 00:51:00,022
from a full-on assault from
ISIL, from the West,

1129
00:51:00,023 --> 00:51:04,728
it is nevertheless having its
daily rhythms and life vastly

1130
00:51:04,728 --> 00:51:07,564
disrupted by an ISIL tactic
that is somewhat new?

1131
00:51:07,564 --> 00:51:09,566
Mr. Earnest: Let me
answer your question

1132
00:51:09,566 --> 00:51:10,567
in a couple
different ways.

1133
00:51:10,567 --> 00:51:13,136
Let me first start by saying
that Deputy National Security

1134
00:51:13,136 --> 00:51:17,140
Advisor Tony Blinken was in
Baghdad and Erbil over the last

1135
00:51:17,140 --> 00:51:20,644
three days to meet with senior
Iraqi officials and U.S.

1136
00:51:20,644 --> 00:51:23,346
embassy and consulate staff to
discuss the latest political

1137
00:51:23,346 --> 00:51:26,483
and security developments in
IraThe Press:and the region.

1138
00:51:26,483 --> 00:51:29,386
That presumably, Major, includes
the recent spate of bombings

1139
00:51:29,386 --> 00:51:31,388
that we've seen in
and around Baghdad.

1140
00:51:31,388 --> 00:51:33,723
In his meetings, Mr. Blinken
emphasized the United States'

1141
00:51:33,723 --> 00:51:36,393
commitment to continued support
for the Iraqi government

1142
00:51:36,393 --> 00:51:39,496
and security forces in
safeguarding a unified Iraq

1143
00:51:39,496 --> 00:51:43,366
The Press: In combating
our common enemy, ISIL.

1144
00:51:43,366 --> 00:51:46,269
Tony's meetings in Baghdad
included discussions

1145
00:51:46,269 --> 00:51:50,073
with President Masum,
Prime Minister Abadi,

1146
00:51:50,073 --> 00:51:53,343
Council of Representatives
Speaker Jabouri,

1147
00:51:53,343 --> 00:51:56,145
Foreign Minister Jaafari,
National Security Advisor

1148
00:51:56,146 --> 00:52:00,183
Fayyad, and other
senior Iraqi officials.

1149
00:52:00,183 --> 00:52:02,452
In Erbil, Mr.
Blinken met with

1150
00:52:02,452 --> 00:52:07,090
the Iraqi Kurdistan region
President, the Kurdistan

1151
00:52:07,090 --> 00:52:09,092
regional government
Prime Minister.

1152
00:52:09,092 --> 00:52:11,094
And he also received
a briefing from U.N.

1153
00:52:11,094 --> 00:52:13,697
officials on the humanitarian
situation in Iraq,

1154
00:52:13,697 --> 00:52:17,934
including assistance to
displaced people and refugees.

1155
00:52:17,934 --> 00:52:20,103
Mr. Blinken's comprehensive
discussions in IraThe

1156
00:52:20,103 --> 00:52:22,105
Press:covered the full range
of issues at stake in our

1157
00:52:22,105 --> 00:52:24,608
cooperation with the Iraqi
government and people

1158
00:52:24,608 --> 00:52:25,876
in the fight against ISIL.

1159
00:52:25,876 --> 00:52:29,346
He expressed appreciation
for the government of Iraq's

1160
00:52:29,346 --> 00:52:32,549
progress in forming an inclusive
government and in resolving

1161
00:52:32,549 --> 00:52:34,651
political differences
so that the strongest

1162
00:52:34,651 --> 00:52:38,388
possible force is brought
to bear against ISIL.

1163
00:52:38,388 --> 00:52:41,491
Let me also -- as a more direct
answer to your question -- note

1164
00:52:41,491 --> 00:52:44,327
that we strongly condemn the
terror attacks across Iraq.

1165
00:52:44,327 --> 00:52:46,663
The Press:in recent days
that have cost scores

1166
00:52:46,663 --> 00:52:48,265
of innocent lives.

1167
00:52:48,265 --> 00:52:50,267
We're committed to working
with the government of Iraq

1168
00:52:50,267 --> 00:52:52,801
The Press:to end this terrorist
scourge and strengthen

1169
00:52:52,802 --> 00:52:54,971
the capability of its
security forces to take

1170
00:52:54,971 --> 00:52:56,139
the fight to ISIL.

1171
00:52:56,139 --> 00:52:58,642
We extend our condolences to
the families of the victims

1172
00:52:58,642 --> 00:53:01,044
and hope for a rapid recovery
for those who were injured.

1173
00:53:01,044 --> 00:53:04,981
The Press: And what would
you characterize has been

1174
00:53:04,981 --> 00:53:08,552
going on in the last 48
to 72 hours in Kobani?

1175
00:53:08,552 --> 00:53:10,253
You're seeing a lot
more specifically

1176
00:53:10,253 --> 00:53:12,022
targeted airstrikes there.

1177
00:53:12,022 --> 00:53:15,525
And does the administration
now believe what appeared

1178
00:53:15,525 --> 00:53:17,894
to be something that might be
an overrunning of that

1179
00:53:17,894 --> 00:53:23,033
small village might have been
forestalled and possibly ended?

1180
00:53:23,033 --> 00:53:24,500
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'd refer you
to the Department of Defense

1181
00:53:24,501 --> 00:53:26,136
for the latest assessment
about what's happening there.

1182
00:53:26,136 --> 00:53:28,438
And it's a pretty dynamic
environment so I don't want

1183
00:53:28,438 --> 00:53:30,140
to get out in front of that.

1184
00:53:30,140 --> 00:53:31,341
I mean, what you have seen is --

1185
00:53:31,341 --> 00:53:32,241
The Press: CENTCOM
is making it clear

1186
00:53:32,242 --> 00:53:36,112
that there's been a very
good deal of activity

1187
00:53:36,112 --> 00:53:37,814
there in the last
couple three days.

1188
00:53:37,814 --> 00:53:38,682
Mr. Earnest: Yes,
that's evident.

1189
00:53:38,682 --> 00:53:42,384
They are -- CENTCOM has been
pretty consistent about putting

1190
00:53:42,385 --> 00:53:45,088
out information about the
airstrikes that are conducted

1191
00:53:45,088 --> 00:53:48,024
by the United States and our
coalition partners in Syria,

1192
00:53:48,024 --> 00:53:51,728
and they've been pretty specific
about the fact that the number

1193
00:53:51,728 --> 00:53:56,533
of airstrikes around Kobani
have increased in recent days.

1194
00:53:56,533 --> 00:53:58,535
Just last night -- I don't know
if they put this out yet --

1195
00:53:58,535 --> 00:54:00,870
but another 14 strikes
were conducted around

1196
00:54:00,870 --> 00:54:02,606
Kobani just yesterday.

1197
00:54:02,606 --> 00:54:07,110
And the United States and
our coalition partners

1198
00:54:07,110 --> 00:54:09,446
are continuing to
target our air power

1199
00:54:09,446 --> 00:54:11,314
in the vicinity
around Kobani.

1200
00:54:11,314 --> 00:54:13,549
Now, the reason for
that is that we are,

1201
00:54:13,550 --> 00:54:17,120
as we've discussed many times,
striking ISIL in Syria to try

1202
00:54:17,120 --> 00:54:20,022
to diminish the group's
ability to project power,

1203
00:54:20,023 --> 00:54:22,926
to erode their military and
economic infrastructure,

1204
00:54:22,926 --> 00:54:24,227
and to deny them
a safe haven.

1205
00:54:24,227 --> 00:54:29,766
And what we have seen is we've
seen that ISIL fighters and

1206
00:54:29,766 --> 00:54:33,069
materiel and supplies
have been marshaled

1207
00:54:33,069 --> 00:54:36,006
in and around Kobani as
they mount this offensive.

1208
00:54:36,006 --> 00:54:41,745
What that has created is
-- essentially are a set

1209
00:54:41,745 --> 00:54:45,281
of targets for American
airstrikes to occur.

1210
00:54:45,281 --> 00:54:48,985
So as we're seeking to degrade
the ability of ISIL to operate

1211
00:54:48,985 --> 00:54:51,921
in Syria, taking strikes
at clusters of fighters

1212
00:54:51,921 --> 00:54:55,325
or at pieces of equipment,
they're all now operating --

1213
00:54:55,325 --> 00:54:57,292
or at least there are
a large number of them

1214
00:54:57,293 --> 00:54:59,763
in a pretty concentrated
area in Syria, and that's

1215
00:54:59,763 --> 00:55:05,134
enhanced the environment
for military airstrikes.

1216
00:55:05,135 --> 00:55:09,906
And that is what accounts for
the stepped-up operational tempo

1217
00:55:09,906 --> 00:55:11,174
in that region of Syria.

1218
00:55:11,174 --> 00:55:12,509
The Press: This
may sound flippant,

1219
00:55:12,509 --> 00:55:14,210
and I don't mean it to at all.

1220
00:55:14,210 --> 00:55:17,514
The Pentagon has a name for this
operation now: Inherent Resolve.

1221
00:55:17,514 --> 00:55:19,516
What does that mean?

1222
00:55:19,516 --> 00:55:21,484
Mr. Earnest: Well, it's a name
that was given by the Pentagon.

1223
00:55:21,484 --> 00:55:23,486
So in terms of --

1224
00:55:23,486 --> 00:55:24,520
The Press: A you
comfortable with it?

1225
00:55:24,521 --> 00:55:25,655
Is the President
comfortable with it?

1226
00:55:25,655 --> 00:55:26,656
But what does it convey?

1227
00:55:26,656 --> 00:55:27,223
Mr. Earnest: Sure, absolutely.

1228
00:55:27,223 --> 00:55:29,793
I think it conveys the
commitment of the international

1229
00:55:29,793 --> 00:55:32,796
community to something
that is not going

1230
00:55:32,796 --> 00:55:34,731
to be a short-term
proposition.

1231
00:55:34,731 --> 00:55:37,100
The President has been clear
that this is going to require

1232
00:55:37,100 --> 00:55:39,903
a sustained commitment, and
that it is critically

1233
00:55:39,903 --> 00:55:43,272
important to not just the
United States but to all

1234
00:55:43,273 --> 00:55:45,508
of our coalition
partners that this kind

1235
00:55:45,508 --> 00:55:48,645
of extremist organization
is not allowed

1236
00:55:48,645 --> 00:55:52,082
to establish a safe haven
in Syria; that that

1237
00:55:52,082 --> 00:55:55,417
is inherently threatening
to countries in the region,

1238
00:55:55,418 --> 00:55:58,855
and potentially could be
threatening to the United States

1239
00:55:58,855 --> 00:56:01,624
and our interests around the
world and maybe even eventually

1240
00:56:01,624 --> 00:56:02,725
here in our homeland.

1241
00:56:02,726 --> 00:56:07,430
And that is why the President
has laid out a strategy for

1242
00:56:07,430 --> 00:56:09,632
degrading and ultimately
destroying this organization.

1243
00:56:09,632 --> 00:56:11,634
The Press: So the point
is to convey it's going

1244
00:56:11,634 --> 00:56:12,635
to take a long time.

1245
00:56:12,635 --> 00:56:15,205
Mr. Earnest: I think -- well,
again, in terms of the name,

1246
00:56:15,205 --> 00:56:16,973
you'd have to check with
the Department of Defense.

1247
00:56:16,973 --> 00:56:20,143
They may have a more cogent
explanation than I do.

1248
00:56:20,143 --> 00:56:27,517
Based on my reading of it, I do
think that it is an intent

1249
00:56:27,517 --> 00:56:34,022
to convey that all the members
of our coalition have a --

1250
00:56:34,023 --> 00:56:37,460
are resolved to confront this
threat and to ensure that this

1251
00:56:37,460 --> 00:56:41,164
extremist organization is not
able to establish a safe haven

1252
00:56:41,164 --> 00:56:43,166
inside the power vacuum
that currently exists

1253
00:56:43,166 --> 00:56:44,834
in Syria right now.

1254
00:56:44,834 --> 00:56:46,903
Mr. Earnest: Let's
move around.

1255
00:56:46,903 --> 00:56:48,104
Justin.

1256
00:56:48,104 --> 00:56:50,939
The Press: I just
had a quick one

1257
00:56:50,940 --> 00:56:55,245
on the consultations
with Congress.

1258
00:56:55,245 --> 00:56:57,814
One thing that many lawmakers
-- dozens of lawmakers,

1259
00:56:57,814 --> 00:57:00,783
including some Democrats, have
mentioned is the travel ban.

1260
00:57:00,784 --> 00:57:04,053
And I know you've explained
why you guys oppose it,

1261
00:57:04,053 --> 00:57:05,855
but Republicans have said that
they're going to introduce

1262
00:57:05,855 --> 00:57:07,357
language when they get back.

1263
00:57:07,357 --> 00:57:09,192
Ted Cruz has even said that
Congress should be called

1264
00:57:09,192 --> 00:57:11,795
back immediately to address
that type of legislation.

1265
00:57:11,795 --> 00:57:14,664
If it were to come up and
pass, is it something

1266
00:57:14,664 --> 00:57:16,266
you guys would veto?

1267
00:57:16,266 --> 00:57:17,167
Mr. Earnest: You're talking
about a piece of legislation

1268
00:57:17,167 --> 00:57:18,535
that hasn't even
been introduced yet,

1269
00:57:18,535 --> 00:57:22,638
so I won't at this point convey
our position on it beyond what

1270
00:57:22,639 --> 00:57:25,775
I've already explained about how
putting in place a travel ban

1271
00:57:25,775 --> 00:57:28,645
would actually increase the
risk to the American public.

1272
00:57:28,645 --> 00:57:31,214
And because the President's
focus is on trying to reduce

1273
00:57:31,214 --> 00:57:36,085
the risk, we want to leave those
travel channels open so that

1274
00:57:36,085 --> 00:57:38,087
we can screen those individuals
when they enter this country,

1275
00:57:38,087 --> 00:57:41,758
and we can do more to ensure the
safety of the American public.

1276
00:57:41,758 --> 00:57:42,658
The Press: And then
really quickly,

1277
00:57:42,659 --> 00:57:47,664
I know yesterday you
explained why a kind of czar,

1278
00:57:47,664 --> 00:57:50,667
an Ebola czar might not be
necessary because everybody

1279
00:57:50,667 --> 00:57:52,435
has got their distinct
channels and understands their

1280
00:57:52,435 --> 00:57:54,003
responsibilities, but I'm
wondering if that was something

1281
00:57:54,003 --> 00:57:55,939
that came up in the
meeting with the President.

1282
00:57:55,939 --> 00:57:57,607
Was that idea
floated or discussed?

1283
00:57:57,607 --> 00:58:00,910
And do you guys still feel like
it's not something that

1284
00:58:00,910 --> 00:58:02,045
you're going to go for?

1285
00:58:02,045 --> 00:58:03,847
Mr. Earnest: Well, what
we continue to believe

1286
00:58:03,847 --> 00:58:06,749
is that the clear lines
of responsibility

1287
00:58:06,749 --> 00:58:11,053
have been established, and
they continue to exists;

1288
00:58:11,054 --> 00:58:13,056
that it is the clear
responsibility

1289
00:58:13,056 --> 00:58:15,058
of the Department of
Defense, for example,

1290
00:58:15,058 --> 00:58:18,628
to leverage their logistical
expertise in West Africa

1291
00:58:18,628 --> 00:58:24,534
to improve the response to
the outbreak in that

1292
00:58:24,534 --> 00:58:26,402
region of the world.

1293
00:58:26,402 --> 00:58:29,005
For example, CDC and HHS have
important responsibilities

1294
00:58:29,005 --> 00:58:30,206
here at home.

1295
00:58:30,206 --> 00:58:34,143
DHS and CBP have
responsibilities for

1296
00:58:34,143 --> 00:58:36,613
monitoring ports of entry,
including airports;

1297
00:58:36,613 --> 00:58:39,348
that everybody does have a
clear line of responsibility.

1298
00:58:39,349 --> 00:58:42,619
And the President is holding
those agencies and the

1299
00:58:42,619 --> 00:58:44,754
leadership of those agencies
to a high standard for

1300
00:58:44,754 --> 00:58:48,758
executing on their line
of responsibility.

1301
00:58:48,758 --> 00:58:52,895
Everybody who is responsible for
some aspect of this response

1302
00:58:52,896 --> 00:58:57,533
was -- participated in that
meeting in the Cabinet Room,

1303
00:58:57,533 --> 00:59:00,336
and I think all of them walked
away with clear direction

1304
00:59:00,336 --> 00:59:03,305
they'd received from the
President for ensuring that

1305
00:59:03,306 --> 00:59:07,076
we are at the top of
our game here.

1306
00:59:07,076 --> 00:59:08,077
Jared.

1307
00:59:08,077 --> 00:59:10,813
The Press: I wanted to follow
up back on this notion

1308
00:59:10,813 --> 00:59:13,416
of are there designated
hospitals or anything.

1309
00:59:13,416 --> 00:59:16,252
Because one thing that is true
is -- you keep pointing to these

1310
00:59:16,252 --> 00:59:19,656
examples of success -- Emory
University, certainly NIH.

1311
00:59:19,656 --> 00:59:21,824
But these are hospitals
different than

1312
00:59:21,824 --> 00:59:22,959
Presbyterian in Dallas.

1313
00:59:22,959 --> 00:59:25,395
I mean, these are
state-of-the-art facilities.

1314
00:59:25,395 --> 00:59:27,764
Now the President says, well,
if there's an Ebola case,

1315
00:59:27,764 --> 00:59:31,034
we want to get one of
these SWAT teams in place.

1316
00:59:31,034 --> 00:59:34,671
When the first patients,
Dr. Brantly and Ms. Writebol

1317
00:59:34,671 --> 00:59:36,873
were treated, the
question was asked then,

1318
00:59:36,873 --> 00:59:39,309
can people go to
any hospital?

1319
00:59:39,309 --> 00:59:42,345
And the answer from both Emory
University and the Centers

1320
00:59:42,345 --> 00:59:45,415
for Disease Control was, yes,
any hospital in America

1321
00:59:45,415 --> 00:59:47,417
is able to handle one
of these cases.

1322
00:59:47,417 --> 00:59:49,419
Does the President still
believe that is true?

1323
00:59:49,419 --> 00:59:51,654
Mr. Earnest: The President does
still believe that that's true.

1324
00:59:53,923 --> 00:59:57,759
The goal here -- and this is
indicative of the kind of

1325
00:59:57,760 --> 01:00:01,331
response that we have deployed
to the situation in Texas --

1326
01:00:01,331 --> 01:00:03,766
we want to make sure that
the best practices that

1327
01:00:03,766 --> 01:00:06,202
have been learned and successfully deployed

1328
01:00:06,202 --> 01:00:10,573
in the Nebraska Medical
Center, at NIH,

1329
01:00:10,573 --> 01:00:13,308
and at Emory, that those
best practices are shared

1330
01:00:13,309 --> 01:00:16,079
with health care professionals
across the country.

1331
01:00:16,079 --> 01:00:20,583
And there is more that the CDC
believes can and should be done

1332
01:00:20,583 --> 01:00:24,520
to support hospitals in the
unlikely event that they

1333
01:00:24,520 --> 01:00:26,656
are dealing with an Ebola
patient in their facility.

1334
01:00:26,656 --> 01:00:34,364
So what Dr. Frieden expressed
was the importance of having

1335
01:00:34,364 --> 01:00:37,467
medical experts on standby who
are ready to travel on very

1336
01:00:37,467 --> 01:00:40,370
short notice, that they can be
at a hospital within hours

1337
01:00:40,370 --> 01:00:43,406
of an Ebola diagnosis;
that these experts can

1338
01:00:43,406 --> 01:00:46,976
be on the ground, standing next
to hospital administrators,

1339
01:00:46,976 --> 01:00:49,212
doctors and nurses as
they're trying to meet

1340
01:00:49,212 --> 01:00:51,214
the medical needs
of this patient.

1341
01:00:51,214 --> 01:00:54,683
And we believe that that is
an effective template

1342
01:00:54,684 --> 01:00:55,985
for managing the situation.

1343
01:00:55,985 --> 01:00:58,488
The Press: But that wasn't the
template initially in Dallas.

1344
01:00:58,488 --> 01:01:00,356
The CDC has said
as much that --

1345
01:01:00,356 --> 01:01:00,890
Mr. Earnest:
That's correct.

1346
01:01:00,890 --> 01:01:02,325
The Press: -- maybe they
should have responded quicker.

1347
01:01:02,325 --> 01:01:03,393
Mr. Earnest: That's correct.

1348
01:01:03,393 --> 01:01:06,629
The Press: Was that slowness,
or just the misreading of how

1349
01:01:06,629 --> 01:01:09,132
quickly they should respond
because there was a belief

1350
01:01:09,132 --> 01:01:13,069
that is now maybe in doubt that
any hospital in America had

1351
01:01:13,069 --> 01:01:15,904
the proper procedures and
protocols in place at that time?

1352
01:01:15,905 --> 01:01:19,242
Mr. Earnest: I think the concern
that we have about what happened

1353
01:01:19,242 --> 01:01:22,945
in Dallas is that experts
weren't on the ground right away

1354
01:01:22,945 --> 01:01:26,349
to help those local officials
maximize their capabilities

1355
01:01:26,349 --> 01:01:29,919
to care for these patients in
a way that didn't endanger

1356
01:01:29,919 --> 01:01:31,921
the health care workers
that were trying to render

1357
01:01:31,921 --> 01:01:33,221
this lifesaving aid.

1358
01:01:33,222 --> 01:01:36,859
And so what we're talking about
here is the kinds of best

1359
01:01:36,859 --> 01:01:39,595
practices that now can be
applied to other facilities --

1360
01:01:39,595 --> 01:01:42,564
again, in the unlikely event
that they are responsible

1361
01:01:42,565 --> 01:01:45,668
for treating an Ebola patient
that shows up at their door.

1362
01:01:45,668 --> 01:01:46,769
Alexis.

1363
01:01:46,769 --> 01:01:48,037
The Press: Josh, I want
to follow up on that.

1364
01:01:48,037 --> 01:01:49,971
I have two questions related.

1365
01:01:49,972 --> 01:01:53,409
Jared, to follow up what he was
asking -- 24 hours after the

1366
01:01:53,409 --> 01:01:57,980
President endorsed the SWAT team
approach, as Jared points out,

1367
01:01:57,980 --> 01:02:00,983
the policy has switched
to removing the patients

1368
01:02:00,983 --> 01:02:04,287
to the most sophisticated
health care facilities

1369
01:02:04,287 --> 01:02:07,189
in the nation to handle
infectious disease.

1370
01:02:07,190 --> 01:02:09,992
So if you are a hospital or a
health care worker out there,

1371
01:02:09,992 --> 01:02:13,463
you are now going to expect that
you are going to get removed

1372
01:02:13,463 --> 01:02:15,465
after being stabilized -- not
that you will be treated

1373
01:02:15,465 --> 01:02:18,134
until you recover at a
health care facility.

1374
01:02:18,134 --> 01:02:22,305
Has the President confused the
situation even more 24 hours

1375
01:02:22,305 --> 01:02:24,406
after he endorsed the
SWAT team approach?

1376
01:02:24,407 --> 01:02:25,641
Mr. Earnest: No,
Alexis, he has not.

1377
01:02:25,641 --> 01:02:28,377
The fact is this is does not
reflect a policy change.

1378
01:02:28,377 --> 01:02:30,880
It reflects decisions that
are being made by medical

1379
01:02:30,880 --> 01:02:32,882
professionals about the
proper course of treatment

1380
01:02:32,882 --> 01:02:34,317
for specific patients.

1381
01:02:34,317 --> 01:02:36,319
That's obviously not
something that I'm going

1382
01:02:36,319 --> 01:02:37,320
to comment on from here.

1383
01:02:37,320 --> 01:02:39,322
It's something that I'm not
qualified to comment on.

1384
01:02:39,322 --> 01:02:41,324
But what we're going to do is
we're going to make decisions

1385
01:02:41,324 --> 01:02:43,326
that we believe are in the
best interest of the patients

1386
01:02:43,326 --> 01:02:45,328
and the best interest of
those health care workers

1387
01:02:45,328 --> 01:02:46,329
who are treating them.

1388
01:02:46,329 --> 01:02:48,331
We continue to believe that
with the expert assistance

1389
01:02:48,331 --> 01:02:51,634
of a SWAT team that's
deployed on short notice,

1390
01:02:51,634 --> 01:02:54,604
that hospitals across the
country do have the capability

1391
01:02:54,604 --> 01:02:58,241
for managing the situation
in a way that doesn't pose

1392
01:02:58,241 --> 01:03:02,044
a significant risk to their
employees or to the community.

1393
01:03:02,044 --> 01:03:04,881
But in this case, these
two individual patients

1394
01:03:04,881 --> 01:03:06,883
were transferred in
the last 24 hours.

1395
01:03:06,883 --> 01:03:09,986
But again, that does not
reflect a policy change,

1396
01:03:09,986 --> 01:03:13,723
it reflects a commitment to
putting in place a treatment

1397
01:03:13,723 --> 01:03:17,293
protocol for those that's best
suited for those patients.

1398
01:03:17,293 --> 01:03:18,728
The Press: The
second question is,

1399
01:03:18,728 --> 01:03:22,999
because yesterday and today you
have many times emphasized that

1400
01:03:22,999 --> 01:03:25,935
the CDC is in a position
of offering guidance

1401
01:03:25,935 --> 01:03:30,106
and monitoring and suggestions
and best practices,

1402
01:03:30,106 --> 01:03:34,010
but you have also indicated that
nurse number two has been moved

1403
01:03:34,010 --> 01:03:37,046
to a federal facility, NIH --
she is now in the care

1404
01:03:37,046 --> 01:03:38,714
of the federal government.

1405
01:03:38,714 --> 01:03:41,951
So my question is, has the
President considered using

1406
01:03:41,951 --> 01:03:46,122
the Stafford Act or the National
Emergencies Act or HHS's power

1407
01:03:46,122 --> 01:03:49,959
to declare a national health
emergency to federalize

1408
01:03:49,959 --> 01:03:52,595
all Ebola responses?

1409
01:03:52,595 --> 01:03:54,096
Mr. Earnest: Well, let
me correct one thing.

1410
01:03:54,096 --> 01:03:57,366
I believe that it's actually
health care worker number two,

1411
01:03:57,366 --> 01:04:00,603
the woman who was more
recently diagnosed,

1412
01:04:00,603 --> 01:04:03,239
was yesterday transferred
to the facility in Atlanta.

1413
01:04:03,239 --> 01:04:05,241
It's the first health care
worker that was diagnosed

1414
01:04:05,241 --> 01:04:07,343
with contracting the Ebola
virus that was transferred

1415
01:04:07,343 --> 01:04:10,513
to the NIH facility today.

1416
01:04:10,513 --> 01:04:12,181
As it relates to
the Stafford Act,

1417
01:04:12,181 --> 01:04:17,920
I'm not aware of any
consideration that currently

1418
01:04:17,920 --> 01:04:19,822
is underway at is relates
to the Stafford Act

1419
01:04:19,822 --> 01:04:22,191
or any sort of national
medical emergency.

1420
01:04:22,191 --> 01:04:23,725
I wouldn't rule it
out, but, frankly,

1421
01:04:23,726 --> 01:04:26,729
I don't know what those
sorts of -- the entirety

1422
01:04:26,729 --> 01:04:29,665
of what those
designations entail.

1423
01:04:29,665 --> 01:04:31,667
But that's not something
that we're actively

1424
01:04:31,667 --> 01:04:32,935
considering right now.

1425
01:04:32,935 --> 01:04:34,470
The Press: And just to clarify
-- the Dallas hospital

1426
01:04:34,470 --> 01:04:38,540
had assured the nurse
that you just described,

1427
01:04:38,541 --> 01:04:42,979
that her care would be covered
by the Dallas hospital.

1428
01:04:42,979 --> 01:04:45,247
But just to correct
the record now,

1429
01:04:45,248 --> 01:04:51,087
her care is being covered
by the federal government?

1430
01:04:51,087 --> 01:04:52,788
Mr. Earnest: When you say
"covered by," what do you mean?

1431
01:04:52,788 --> 01:04:55,324
The Press: In other words, the
hospital said that any costs

1432
01:04:55,324 --> 01:05:00,396
incurred by the nurse for her
health care or her family --

1433
01:05:00,396 --> 01:05:02,665
obviously her family
nearby -- that it would

1434
01:05:02,665 --> 01:05:05,134
be covered by the
hospital in Dallas.

1435
01:05:05,134 --> 01:05:06,302
They made that offer.

1436
01:05:06,302 --> 01:05:07,770
But --

1437
01:05:07,770 --> 01:05:08,704
Mr. Earnest: I'll be
honest with you, Alexis,

1438
01:05:08,704 --> 01:05:11,407
I'm not aware of what
arrangements -- what financial

1439
01:05:11,407 --> 01:05:13,075
arrangements have been
made for her care

1440
01:05:13,075 --> 01:05:15,011
or what sort of insurance
she's covered by.

1441
01:05:15,011 --> 01:05:18,281
All I know is that she is
currently being treated

1442
01:05:18,281 --> 01:05:19,815
at a federal facility.

1443
01:05:19,815 --> 01:05:24,253
In terms of what the
consequences are for her

1444
01:05:24,253 --> 01:05:26,889
medical bills or for
insurance coverage --

1445
01:05:26,889 --> 01:05:28,524
The Press: So when nurse
number one goes to NIH

1446
01:05:28,524 --> 01:05:29,558
and the other
goes to Emory,

1447
01:05:29,558 --> 01:05:33,029
the actual cost, how
it's covered may differ?

1448
01:05:33,029 --> 01:05:36,599
Mr. Earnest: I am not aware
of what sort of financial

1449
01:05:36,599 --> 01:05:40,269
arrangements are in place to
cover the costs of the treatment

1450
01:05:40,269 --> 01:05:42,904
of these two individuals.

1451
01:05:42,905 --> 01:05:44,440
Mark.

1452
01:05:44,440 --> 01:05:46,709
The Press: Josh, you spoke
earlier about media coverage

1453
01:05:46,709 --> 01:05:48,877
of the Ebola situation.

1454
01:05:48,878 --> 01:05:52,048
Do you think that some of the
media coverage is over the top

1455
01:05:52,048 --> 01:05:57,352
and might be contributing to
needless alarm or even panic?

1456
01:05:57,353 --> 01:05:59,255
Mr. Earnest: There are plenty
of media critics out there,

1457
01:05:59,255 --> 01:06:02,725
and even people who are amateur
media critics will take their

1458
01:06:02,725 --> 01:06:06,929
own opportunity to evaluate the
quality of media coverage

1459
01:06:06,929 --> 01:06:08,597
of this and other events.

1460
01:06:08,597 --> 01:06:10,099
But I'm smart enough
not to do that.

1461
01:06:10,099 --> 01:06:12,635
(laughter)

1462
01:06:12,635 --> 01:06:15,838
The Press: When did
the number of forces needed

1463
01:06:15,838 --> 01:06:20,543
in Africa, West Africa go
from 3,000 to 4,000?

1464
01:06:20,543 --> 01:06:23,012
Mr. Earnest: I think that all
along the Department of Defense

1465
01:06:23,012 --> 01:06:26,382
has described that as the
range that they needed.

1466
01:06:26,382 --> 01:06:29,618
I think what they said was
between 3,000 and 4,000.

1467
01:06:29,618 --> 01:06:31,487
I recognize that I'm confusing
it by now describing

1468
01:06:31,487 --> 01:06:32,621
as up to 4,000.

1469
01:06:32,621 --> 01:06:35,257
But those two things aren't
necessarily inconsistent.

1470
01:06:35,257 --> 01:06:38,060
For the precise evaluation
or assessment that

1471
01:06:38,060 --> 01:06:43,732
the Department of Defense has
reached, I'd refer you to them.

1472
01:06:43,733 --> 01:06:45,935
Fred, I'll give
you the last one.

1473
01:06:45,935 --> 01:06:47,269
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1474
01:06:47,269 --> 01:06:50,573
Just on the flights, we
have two patients now.

1475
01:06:50,573 --> 01:06:54,877
Would there possibly be any kind
of trigger or threshold that

1476
01:06:54,877 --> 01:06:59,815
would make you reconsider your
views on flight restrictions

1477
01:06:59,815 --> 01:07:02,118
or some variation of
flight restrictions even

1478
01:07:02,118 --> 01:07:07,089
if it's not a
total travel ban?

1479
01:07:07,089 --> 01:07:08,357
Mr. Earnest: Can you tell me --
what was the first part

1480
01:07:08,357 --> 01:07:10,192
of your question again?

1481
01:07:10,192 --> 01:07:14,463
The Press: Well, I said, like,
maybe a trigger or a threshold.

1482
01:07:14,463 --> 01:07:16,832
I mean, if there
are more patients,

1483
01:07:16,832 --> 01:07:20,269
if there are increased
concerns, would there be --

1484
01:07:20,269 --> 01:07:24,140
would that cause the
administration to rethink

1485
01:07:24,140 --> 01:07:26,908
if not a travel ban then
some sort of variation

1486
01:07:26,909 --> 01:07:28,411
of a restriction?

1487
01:07:28,411 --> 01:07:29,645
Mr. Earnest: At this point,
we're not considering

1488
01:07:29,645 --> 01:07:31,413
a travel ban at
this point.

1489
01:07:31,414 --> 01:07:32,648
Does that mean that
it could change?

1490
01:07:32,648 --> 01:07:33,883
I suppose that it does.

1491
01:07:33,883 --> 01:07:36,384
But again, based on the
circumstances as we are aware

1492
01:07:36,385 --> 01:07:39,221
of them now, it's not something
that we're considering.

1493
01:07:39,221 --> 01:07:40,923
You do raise a
good point, though,

1494
01:07:40,923 --> 01:07:43,392
which is that this
Ebola outbreak occurred

1495
01:07:43,392 --> 01:07:44,727
seven months ago.

1496
01:07:44,727 --> 01:07:47,029
And so far there is one
individual over the course

1497
01:07:47,029 --> 01:07:50,933
of that seven months that has
traveled to this country

1498
01:07:50,933 --> 01:07:53,969
from West Africa and
started exhibiting

1499
01:07:53,969 --> 01:07:55,971
symptoms of Ebola
after they arrived.

1500
01:07:55,971 --> 01:07:58,073
That's only
happened once.

1501
01:07:58,073 --> 01:08:02,044
And so I think that is a
relevant statistic as people

1502
01:08:02,044 --> 01:08:05,247
evaluate the wisdom of a
travel ban that in a different

1503
01:08:05,247 --> 01:08:08,183
circumstance and could actually
have the perverse effect

1504
01:08:08,184 --> 01:08:11,720
of giving individuals an
incentive to evade monitoring.

1505
01:08:11,720 --> 01:08:14,089
I guess the other thing I should
mention in the context of your

1506
01:08:14,089 --> 01:08:18,093
question is that the screening
doesn't just occur in this

1507
01:08:18,093 --> 01:08:20,962
country when individuals
from West Africa

1508
01:08:20,962 --> 01:08:23,131
are seeking to
enter the country.

1509
01:08:23,131 --> 01:08:25,134
It does occur if we
know that they've been

1510
01:08:25,134 --> 01:08:26,268
in those countries
recently.

1511
01:08:26,268 --> 01:08:29,270
But it also occurs on the ground
in West Africa in the three

1512
01:08:29,270 --> 01:08:33,241
countries where the Ebola
outbreak currently exists.

1513
01:08:33,242 --> 01:08:35,377
We also know that there are
dozens of individuals that

1514
01:08:35,377 --> 01:08:37,379
were exhibiting symptoms
of Ebola who were

1515
01:08:37,379 --> 01:08:39,615
denied boarding from
those planes.

1516
01:08:39,615 --> 01:08:43,018
And so again, if we put in place
a travel ban from West Africa,

1517
01:08:43,018 --> 01:08:48,189
those individuals could go to
other countries and try to

1518
01:08:48,189 --> 01:08:52,961
travel here and disguise
their original destination.

1519
01:08:52,962 --> 01:08:56,265
Now, the thing that's important
for people to understand is that

1520
01:08:56,265 --> 01:08:58,234
when those individuals who
were denied boarding were

1521
01:08:58,234 --> 01:09:00,903
tested, they were not
found to have Ebola.

1522
01:09:00,903 --> 01:09:04,206
But it indicates how important
it is for us to have those kinds

1523
01:09:04,206 --> 01:09:07,343
of screening measures in place
to protect the American public.

1524
01:09:07,343 --> 01:09:10,179
And again, that is the bottom
line for the President.

1525
01:09:10,179 --> 01:09:12,181
If we're trying to protect
the American public,

1526
01:09:12,180 --> 01:09:14,183
we should not put in
place a travel ban.

1527
01:09:14,183 --> 01:09:16,185
The Press: And just to follow
up on that -- when

1528
01:09:16,185 --> 01:09:18,153
the President spoke to the
world leaders yesterday,

1529
01:09:18,153 --> 01:09:21,757
did this topic ever come up
about what other governments

1530
01:09:21,756 --> 01:09:25,160
would be doing or what
they might be considering?

1531
01:09:25,160 --> 01:09:27,062
Mr. Earnest: I know that the
focal point of the President's

1532
01:09:27,062 --> 01:09:30,165
conversations with them on this
topic are related to the need

1533
01:09:30,165 --> 01:09:32,134
for other members of the
international community

1534
01:09:32,134 --> 01:09:34,136
to ramp up the assistance
that they are

1535
01:09:34,136 --> 01:09:36,138
providing to the
response in West Africa.

1536
01:09:36,138 --> 01:09:38,140
I frankly don't know
whether or not they

1537
01:09:38,140 --> 01:09:39,808
had a discussion
about a travel ban.

1538
01:09:39,808 --> 01:09:40,743
Chris, I'll actually
give you the last one.

1539
01:09:40,743 --> 01:09:42,177
You seemed very disappointed
when I told Fred

1540
01:09:42,176 --> 01:09:43,344
he was getting the
last one.

1541
01:09:43,345 --> 01:09:45,948
The Press: I was, because I have
a set of questions, actually.

1542
01:09:45,948 --> 01:09:47,349
They're a little bit
different, as usual.

1543
01:09:47,349 --> 01:09:47,883
Mr. Earnest: All right.

1544
01:09:47,883 --> 01:09:48,250
Good.

1545
01:09:48,250 --> 01:09:50,152
The Press: On Monday, a
forum is taking place here

1546
01:09:50,152 --> 01:09:55,157
in D.C. featuring transgender
members of the armed forces

1547
01:09:55,157 --> 01:09:57,159
who are unable to serve in the
government openly because

1548
01:09:57,159 --> 01:09:58,160
of government regulation.

1549
01:09:58,160 --> 01:10:00,162
It's been five months since
the White House has said

1550
01:10:00,162 --> 01:10:03,699
it backed Secretary Hagel's
efforts to review the policy,

1551
01:10:03,699 --> 01:10:04,933
but there hasn't
been any movement.

1552
01:10:04,934 --> 01:10:06,835
Has this potential review come
up at all in conversations

1553
01:10:06,835 --> 01:10:08,671
between the President
and the Secretary?

1554
01:10:08,671 --> 01:10:09,872
Mr. Earnest: I know the
President is meeting with

1555
01:10:09,872 --> 01:10:10,439
the Secretary today.

1556
01:10:10,439 --> 01:10:13,375
I don't know if this is on
the agenda for that meeting.

1557
01:10:13,375 --> 01:10:16,178
I guess it occurred
earlier, so I don't know

1558
01:10:16,178 --> 01:10:18,180
if it was on the agenda
for that meeting.

1559
01:10:18,180 --> 01:10:20,182
But I'd refer you to the
Department of Defense who should

1560
01:10:20,182 --> 01:10:22,184
be able to give you an update
in terms of the status

1561
01:10:22,184 --> 01:10:24,186
of that report and when you
can expect it to be finalized.

1562
01:10:24,186 --> 01:10:26,155
The Press: The President has
spoken numerous times though

1563
01:10:26,155 --> 01:10:28,157
about the success of "don't
ask, don't tell" repeal

1564
01:10:28,157 --> 01:10:29,158
under his
administration.

1565
01:10:29,158 --> 01:10:31,160
If the President is going to
take the lead in allowing

1566
01:10:31,160 --> 01:10:33,162
openly gay people to
serve in the military,

1567
01:10:33,162 --> 01:10:35,164
why not do the same --
why isn't he taking

1568
01:10:35,164 --> 01:10:37,166
the lead for openly
transgender people?

1569
01:10:37,166 --> 01:10:40,669
Mr. Earnest: Well, I do think
that the President's commitment

1570
01:10:40,669 --> 01:10:44,673
to equality is one that he
has articulated many times.

1571
01:10:44,673 --> 01:10:47,242
He also believes that commitment
to equality makes our

1572
01:10:47,242 --> 01:10:49,244
country stronger, and he
believes that it makes our

1573
01:10:49,244 --> 01:10:50,245
armed forces stronger.

1574
01:10:50,245 --> 01:10:53,215
So his commitment to that
principle is unwavering.

1575
01:10:53,215 --> 01:10:58,053
But as it relates to how it is
implemented in the armed forces,

1576
01:10:58,053 --> 01:11:01,624
that's the subject of an ongoing
review and I'd refer you

1577
01:11:01,624 --> 01:11:04,059
to the Department of Defense
for a status update on it.

1578
01:11:04,059 --> 01:11:06,528
The Press: Will the President
himself call for openly

1579
01:11:06,528 --> 01:11:08,530
transgender (inaudible) before
the end of his administration?

1580
01:11:08,530 --> 01:11:10,532
Mr. Earnest: I don't know
the answer to that, Chris.

1581
01:11:10,532 --> 01:11:11,900
We'll have to get
back to you on that.

1582
01:11:11,900 --> 01:11:12,401
Okay?

1583
01:11:12,401 --> 01:11:12,901
Thanks, everybody.

1584
01:11:12,901 --> 01:11:13,335
Have a good afternoon.