English subtitles for clip: File:10-22-14- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Earnest: Good
afternoon, everybody.

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Before I go to your questions,
there is some sad news out

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of Canada today I just wanted
to talk about briefly.

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Let me begin by saying that
the thoughts and prayers of

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everybody here at the White
House go out to the families

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of those who were affected by
today's shooting in Canada,

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as well as to the
family of the soldier

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who was killed
earlier this week.

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The President was briefed
earlier today in the Oval Office

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by his top Homeland Security
Advisor, Lisa Monaco.

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The details about the nature of
this event are still sketchy,

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which is not unusual
in a chaotic situation

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like the one --
like this one.

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Canada is one of the closest
friends and allies of the United

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States, and from issues ranging
from the strength of our NATO

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alliance to the Ebola response
to dealing with ISIL,

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there's a strong
partnership and friendship

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and alliance between the
United States and Canada.

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The United States strongly
values that relationship,

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and that relationship makes the
citizens of this country safer.

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Officials inside the U.S. government have been

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in close touch with
their Canadian

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counterparts today
to offer assistance.

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That includes officials
here in the White House.

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We have been in touch with the
Canadians about arranging a

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phone call between the President
and Prime Minister Harper

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at the Prime Minister's
earliest convenience.

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He obviously is dealing
with a lot today,

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but as soon as we can arrange
that call, we'll let you know.

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With that, Nedra, do you want to
get us started with questions?

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The Press: Yes.

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Thanks for that, Josh.

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And can we talk about the
announcement that's coming out

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of the CDC that there will be
21-day monitoring of people

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coming in from West
African countries?

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Is that a way to try to avoid a
travel ban that some have

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been calling for?

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Mr. Earnest: Well,
I think what it is,

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it's to try to put in place
the kinds of policies that we

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believe will do the most to
protect the American people

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and to protect the health
of the American people.

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The President has been clear
in his explanation about

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why he believes a travel
ban is not the best

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policy at this point.

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He's not philosophically
opposed to a travel ban,

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but it is his view, based
on the guidance that

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he's received from medical
experts and other scientists,

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that putting in place a
travel ban only exposes

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the American people to more
vulnerability at this point.

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Right now, because the
travel lanes are open,

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we can have some confidence in
our ability to detect those

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individuals who are traveling
from West Africa or who

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have traveled recently
in West Africa as they

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attempt to enter
the United States.

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And because of our knowledge
about their travel history,

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we can ensure that the screening
measures that are in place

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in West Africa can ensure that
those individuals are not

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exhibiting symptoms of Ebola --
there are dozens of individuals

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who, based on those screening
protocols that are already

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in place, have been denied
boarding -- and those

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individuals, when they
arrive in this country are

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also subjected to additional screening measures, again,

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to determine and to
confirm that they

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are not currently exhibiting
symptoms of Ebola.

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This is important because Ebola
can only be transmitted through

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the close contact with
the bodily fluids

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of an individual who's
exhibiting symptoms of Ebola.

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So that is the focus
of our efforts.

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The announcement from the CDC
today is an additional layer

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that will be based upon an
effort to share information

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with state and local health
authorities so that they can

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put in place measures that
they believe would be most

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effective in protecting the
populations of their states.

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And that includes giving them
the contact information from

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people who are traveling to
their states so that if these

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state and local public health
officials decide to put

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in place some additional
monitoring provisions,

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that they have the
wherewithal to do so,

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or at least they have the
information that they

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need to do so.

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The Press: And what happens
if people don't self-report

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their temperatures?

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Would there be possibly
law enforcement coming

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to look for them?

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Would it go that far?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, again, this
would be the responsibility

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of state and local officials in
their -- in the states where

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these travelers are located.

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And ultimately, it would be the
responsibility of public health

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officials and, in some
cases, maybe even

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elected officials to
determine what steps are

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needed to protect the
citizens of their state.

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The Press: But as far as this
White House is concerned,

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having police show up to try to
find these people wouldn't

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be going too far, getting law
enforcement involved wouldn't

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be going too far?

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Mr. Earnest: Again, it will be
the responsibility of individual

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states and localities to make
those kinds of decisions.

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The Press: And why
just these six states?

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Why wasn't this
expanded nationwide?

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Is it a matter of resources?

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Mr. Earnest: At this point, what
we're talking about are the six

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states where about 70 percent of
the travelers' destination --

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that essentially these are the
states where the vast majority

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of people who have spent
some time in West Africa

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are headed to in
the United States.

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And I would anticipate that we
will continue to coordinate with

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state and local officials to try
to expand the ability to do more

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of this, but for details on
that I'd refer you to the CDC.

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The Press: And on Mr. Klain,
today being his first day,

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can you give us a
little bit more detail

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about what his
job will entail?

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Like does he have
a staff?

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Is he going to be
hiring and firing?

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And are there any
details about his salary?

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Is he being paid like
a senior advisor?

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Mr. Earnest: We'll get
you some more details

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in terms of his
salary arrangements.

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He ultimately does have this
responsibility to coordinate

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the Ebola response of
the U.S. government both

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in West Africa but also
here in the United States.

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This is a coordinating
function that is typical

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of other senior officials at
the National Security Council

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where they are responsible for ensuring that the actions

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of a variety of government agencies that are focused

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on addressing a specific problem are properly synchronized

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and integrated to maximize
the impact of their efforts.

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And that's essentially what
Mr. Klain is focused on.

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The Press: And the staff
part, hiring and firing?

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Mr. Earnest: I don't know of
any individual staffers who

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are reporting directly to
Mr. Klain at this point,

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but I would anticipate
that he'll get the kind

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of support that he needs to
do his very important job.

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Jeff.

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The Press: Josh, realizing --
back to Canada -- realizing this

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is still a very fluid situation,
are you able to say whether

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the United States or
Canada considers this

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a terrorist attack?

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Mr. Earnest: I'm not in a
position to render judgment

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on that at this point.

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Obviously, Canadian authorities
are still responding

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to this situation, and I'm
confident they will conduct

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an investigation in which
they will consider a range

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of questions not unlike the
question you just asked.

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The Press: Is there any
indication whether there

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is a connection to terror
groups or any groups

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at all that you are
able to say now?

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Mr. Earnest: There is no
conclusion like that that

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I'm able to share with
you at this point.

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But we're obviously in
the very early stages

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of determining what
exactly happened here.

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And as I mentioned,
a number of U.S.

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officials in this government
have been in touch with their

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Canadian counterparts to
offer some assistance as they

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respond to and deal with
this tragic situation.

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The Press: Is there
any reason for U.S.

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government facilities or other
areas in the United States

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to be on high alert because of
what's happening in Canada?

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Mr. Earnest: I'm not aware of
any decisions that have been

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made by individual components
to change their threat status,

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but I know there are a
number of agencies that

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are responsible for maintaining
that threat status.

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Here in the United
States it's

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the Department of
Homeland Security

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that's responsible
for maintaining

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the terror threat
level.

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There are other agencies, like
the Department of Defense,

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that set the
threat conditions.

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I'm not aware of any
changes, but I'd refer

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you to those agencies
to confirm that.

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The Press: And you said
there had -- that officials

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are in touch with
Canadian officials.

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Are the FBI, the CIA
offering their assistance

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in an investigation?

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Mr. Earnest: I'd check with
those individual agencies.

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I don't have a rundown in terms
of who has actually made

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phone calls to their
Canadian counterparts,

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but I know that a number of
officials have done that.

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The Press: And on
one other topic,

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can you give us any more
details about how the release

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of Jeffrey Fowle yesterday
from North Korea was arranged?

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Mr. Earnest: I'm not in a
position to do so from here.

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You can check with
the State Department

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and they may have
more details on that.

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Jim.

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The Press: Any change to the
security measures that are

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being taken here at the
White House as a result --

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Mr. Earnest: None
that I'm aware of,

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but you can check with
the Secret Service.

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They're responsible for
maintaining the appropriate

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security levels here
at the White House,

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and so if they have something
to announce they'll

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be the ones to do that.

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The Press: And we know that U.S.
law enforcement officials

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have been concerned about
there being some kind

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of a raise in the
threat level because of what's

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happening in the anti-ISIS
campaign in Iraq and Syria.

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Has that concern been shared
with Canadian authorities?

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Have U.S. and Canadian
authorities been

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talking about this
in recent weeks?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, the
United States -- again,

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I just want to state
that we're talking

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as a general
matter here.

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I'm not ready to draw
any conclusions

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about today's incident.

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But that said, the United States
has been in touch with Canadian

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counterparts over the last
several months to talk about

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this issue of countering violent
extremism and trying to deter

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foreign fighters who could
be radicalized by ISIL.

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ISIL has demonstrated a capacity
to use social media and other

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aspects of modern technology to
try to radicalize citizens

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in other countries.

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I know that the Canadians were
active participants in the

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United Nations Security Council
meeting that the President

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convened last month in New
York that was focused on this

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specific issue of countering
foreign fighters.

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I believe -- I don't remember,
frankly -- we discussed this and

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I didn't check before I came
out here -- I don't recall

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if Prime Minister Harper
himself attended that meeting,

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but I know that the Canadians
were supportive of that process

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and have been engaged in working
with the United States

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on these broader efforts to
counter foreign fighters.

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Foreign fighters, again,
just to remind folks,

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are individuals in countries
around the world that have been

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recruited by ISIL to travel to
the region to take up arms,

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to get training, and to fight
alongside ISIL in their cause.

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The concern that the United
States and other countries

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around the world harbors is that
these individuals could return

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to their home countries and
carry out acts of violence.

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Again, it's very -- the
circumstances around today's

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tragic events in Canada
are still unknown.

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But that is a concern that the
United States has been focused

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on for quite some time.

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We've been talking to other
countries about steps that

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we can take in coordination
to mitigate that threat,

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and Canada is one of the
countries that has been robustly

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engaged in those efforts.

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The Press: And any response from
the administration on -- to

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those girls, those teenage girls
from Denver who apparently tried

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00:11:05,865 --> 00:11:11,135
to travel to Syria to join
ISIS or an Islamist group

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00:11:11,137 --> 00:11:12,977
there in that region?

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00:11:12,972 --> 00:11:15,012
Apparently the girls were
picked up in Germany

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00:11:15,007 --> 00:11:17,647
and sent back to the U.S.
I suppose it underlines

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00:11:17,643 --> 00:11:19,383
that concern that you
just talked about.

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00:11:19,378 --> 00:11:21,418
Any response from
the administration

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00:11:21,414 --> 00:11:23,714
to that specific --

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Mr. Earnest: I've seen
the reports about

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00:11:24,850 --> 00:11:27,090
this particular matter.

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00:11:27,086 --> 00:11:30,126
I know that the FBI put
out a statement on it,

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00:11:30,122 --> 00:11:32,122
and I wouldn't haven't anything
to add to their statement.

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00:11:32,124 --> 00:11:37,494
The Press: And on Ebola, the
fact that Ron Klain starts

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00:11:37,496 --> 00:11:42,366
today, it does seem as though --
that the administration

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00:11:42,368 --> 00:11:46,908
had made some strides in
countering this problem.

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Do you feel like -- does
the White House feel

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00:11:49,108 --> 00:11:51,108
like you've turned a
corner here with Ebola?

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00:11:51,110 --> 00:11:53,380
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
those of you -- and, Jim,

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00:11:53,379 --> 00:11:58,419
you're among those who have been
closely watching our response

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00:11:58,417 --> 00:12:02,987
here -- have noticed that there
has been a stepped-up level

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00:12:02,988 --> 00:12:08,198
of activity here at the federal
level to deal with this issue.

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00:12:08,194 --> 00:12:10,564
That includes everything from
the announcement from DHS

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00:12:10,563 --> 00:12:14,703
yesterday about funneling
travelers from West Africa

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00:12:14,700 --> 00:12:18,700
to five airports where there
already are protocols for

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00:12:18,704 --> 00:12:20,974
secondary screening to occur.

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00:12:20,973 --> 00:12:23,143
You've seen an announcement from
the Department of Defense

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00:12:23,142 --> 00:12:28,852
about the military medical
professionals that have been

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00:12:28,848 --> 00:12:35,788
mobilized to be at the ready to
help assist in treating Ebola

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00:12:35,788 --> 00:12:39,128
patients, if necessary,
here in the United States.

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00:12:39,125 --> 00:12:43,595
You've seen these additional
stronger protocols from the CDC

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00:12:43,596 --> 00:12:45,966
about steps that health care
workers can take to protect

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00:12:45,965 --> 00:12:47,965
themselves when they're
treating Ebola patients.

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00:12:47,967 --> 00:12:51,067
So there have been a number
of announcements from

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00:12:51,070 --> 00:12:55,710
the Obama administration
and from other aspects

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00:12:55,708 --> 00:12:59,248
of the federal This is
something that we continue

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00:12:59,245 --> 00:13:00,245
to be vigilant about.

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00:13:00,246 --> 00:13:04,046
But the guidance that we have
received from scientific experts

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00:13:04,049 --> 00:13:06,519
about the extraordinarily
low likelihood

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00:13:06,519 --> 00:13:09,619
of an Ebola outbreak in the
United States continues

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00:13:09,622 --> 00:13:12,892
to be the operating
principle here.

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And it should be -- while
Americans who are watching this

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00:13:17,763 --> 00:13:24,933
situation recognize that their
government is taking the

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00:13:24,937 --> 00:13:29,847
necessary steps to do what's
necessary to protect them,

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00:13:29,842 --> 00:13:34,042
at the same time, the scientific
assessment is that the risk

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00:13:34,046 --> 00:13:36,686
of a widespread Ebola outbreak
in the United States remains

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extraordinarily low,
and therefore the risk

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00:13:39,318 --> 00:13:41,718
to the average American
from the Ebola virus

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00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:44,060
remains
extraordinarily low.

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00:13:44,056 --> 00:13:46,056
Let's move around
a little bit.

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00:13:46,058 --> 00:13:47,228
The Press: Thank you, Josh.

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00:13:47,226 --> 00:13:49,926
A couple of weeks ago, the
Pentagon press secretary

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00:13:49,929 --> 00:13:52,769
talked about the possibility
of a U.S. military

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00:13:52,765 --> 00:13:56,905
base in Kurdish region
in the near future.

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00:13:56,902 --> 00:13:59,002
Is the U.S. government
planning to set up

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00:13:59,004 --> 00:14:01,344
any military base,
or maybe more

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00:14:01,340 --> 00:14:04,780
than one, in the
Kurdish region?

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00:14:04,777 --> 00:14:09,277
Because there are some
reports saying that the U.S.

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00:14:09,281 --> 00:14:13,791
government wants to develop a
greater military presence

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00:14:13,786 --> 00:14:17,456
in the region in the wake
of recent ISIL attacks

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00:14:17,456 --> 00:14:19,196
in northern Iraq.

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00:14:19,191 --> 00:14:22,191
A source inside the
Iraqi-Kurdish regional

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00:14:22,194 --> 00:14:25,434
government says that U.S.
government is planning

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00:14:25,431 --> 00:14:28,001
to build up three
military bases

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00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:29,270
in the region.

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00:14:29,268 --> 00:14:32,308
One of the bases
will be in Erbil,

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00:14:32,304 --> 00:14:35,444
another is in Herir
military base,

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00:14:35,441 --> 00:14:38,141
and the third one
would be in Atrush,

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00:14:38,143 --> 00:14:41,983
a town close to Dohuk
near the Kurdish border,

307
00:14:41,981 --> 00:14:43,781
according to sources.

308
00:14:43,782 --> 00:14:46,822
Apparently a delegation
of Peshmerga and U.S.

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00:14:46,819 --> 00:14:51,089
commanders visited this
territory last month.

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00:14:51,090 --> 00:14:54,630
I assume that this is very
strategically important because

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00:14:54,627 --> 00:14:59,167
of its neighboring countries
-- Iraq, Turkey, Syria.

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00:14:59,164 --> 00:15:00,764
Could you just confirm?

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00:15:00,766 --> 00:15:03,606
Is this claim true?

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00:15:03,602 --> 00:15:07,102
Or could you give us some
details about the project?

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00:15:07,106 --> 00:15:08,376
Mr. Earnest: I can't
confirm those reports.

316
00:15:08,374 --> 00:15:11,014
I'm actually hearing them
for the first time from you.

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00:15:11,010 --> 00:15:12,610
I'd refer you to the
Department of Defense

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00:15:12,611 --> 00:15:15,281
who can speak to our
military planning efforts.

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00:15:15,281 --> 00:15:18,381
I will say a couple things,
though, about those reports.

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00:15:18,384 --> 00:15:23,294
The focal point of our efforts
to counter ISIL has been

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00:15:23,289 --> 00:15:27,859
to build up a capacity
of local fighters,

322
00:15:27,860 --> 00:15:31,300
both in Iraq and in
Syria, to take the fight

323
00:15:31,297 --> 00:15:33,697
on the ground to ISIL.

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00:15:33,699 --> 00:15:35,739
We are prepared -- the United
States and our coalition

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00:15:35,734 --> 00:15:39,574
partners stand prepared to back
up those efforts with military

326
00:15:39,571 --> 00:15:43,011
airstrikes that could make a
difference on the battlefield

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00:15:43,008 --> 00:15:47,248
as those local fighters
confront ISIL on the ground.

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00:15:47,246 --> 00:15:50,316
That is the core
component of our strategy.

329
00:15:50,316 --> 00:15:53,656
That is consistent with the kind
of counterterrorism strategy

330
00:15:53,652 --> 00:15:57,152
that we've used successfully
in other countries.

331
00:15:57,156 --> 00:16:03,166
But as it relates to more
detailed American military

332
00:16:03,162 --> 00:16:05,162
planning, I'd refer you to
the Department of Defense.

333
00:16:05,164 --> 00:16:09,104
I'm just not aware of
those specific reports.

334
00:16:09,101 --> 00:16:10,101
Angela.

335
00:16:10,102 --> 00:16:12,942
The Press: The Turkish Prime
Minister spoke this morning

336
00:16:12,938 --> 00:16:16,608
and the Defense
Department confirmed that

337
00:16:16,608 --> 00:16:18,478
at least one of the
packages of weapons

338
00:16:18,477 --> 00:16:21,817
that was dropped to
assist in Kobani appears

339
00:16:21,814 --> 00:16:24,484
to have ended up in
Islamic State hands.

340
00:16:24,483 --> 00:16:27,123
Does the White House have a
response to that happening?

341
00:16:27,119 --> 00:16:28,889
And are there any plans to
make sure it doesn't happen

342
00:16:28,887 --> 00:16:31,457
if there's another drop?

343
00:16:31,457 --> 00:16:32,687
Mr. Earnest: I'd refer you to
the Department of Defense

344
00:16:32,691 --> 00:16:37,931
for the details about
the specific airdrop

345
00:16:37,930 --> 00:16:41,030
that was carried out
over the weekend.

346
00:16:41,033 --> 00:16:44,633
What I have heard from them so
far is that they continue

347
00:16:44,636 --> 00:16:49,546
to be confident that the vast
majority of bundles that were

348
00:16:49,108 --> 00:16:51,108
by the anti-ISIL forces that
we were seeking to assist.

349
00:16:49,541 --> 00:16:53,371
airdropped did reach their
target and were recovered

350
00:16:58,283 --> 00:17:02,283
But in terms of accounting
for each of those bundles,

351
00:17:02,287 --> 00:17:04,287
I'd refer you to the Department
of Defense for more

352
00:17:04,289 --> 00:17:05,889
details about that.

353
00:17:05,891 --> 00:17:07,061
April.

354
00:17:07,059 --> 00:17:09,399
The Press: Josh, I want to go
to the Department of Education.

355
00:17:09,395 --> 00:17:16,305
We have now relaxed a bit some
of the strict rules when

356
00:17:16,301 --> 00:17:19,371
it comes to the Parent
PLUS loan program.

357
00:17:19,371 --> 00:17:22,271
Last year, that loan program
came under fire by the

358
00:17:22,274 --> 00:17:26,214
Congressional Black Caucus,
as well as HBC presidents

359
00:17:26,211 --> 00:17:30,951
throughout this nation because
it prohibited a lot of students

360
00:17:30,949 --> 00:17:32,249
from being able to go to
school because their parents

361
00:17:32,251 --> 00:17:35,991
had blemishes on their
credit reports.

362
00:17:35,988 --> 00:17:42,898
So what -- does this new
guideline kind of satisfy the

363
00:17:42,895 --> 00:17:47,065
request for the CBC as well
as HBCUs in trying to bring

364
00:17:47,065 --> 00:17:49,535
students back to school and keep
them in school so they can

365
00:17:49,535 --> 00:17:52,905
get an education to become
middle-class Americans?

366
00:17:52,905 --> 00:17:53,935
Mr. Earnest: Well,
I guess you'd have

367
00:17:53,939 --> 00:17:55,439
to ask them if they're
satisfied or not.

368
00:17:55,441 --> 00:17:58,411
We certainly feel good about the
final rule that was issued

369
00:17:58,410 --> 00:18:02,710
today related to the federal
Direct PLUS loan program.

370
00:18:02,714 --> 00:18:04,954
These are new rules that
will allow more parents

371
00:18:04,950 --> 00:18:09,890
the opportunity to borrow and
send their kids to college,

372
00:18:09,888 --> 00:18:13,158
at the same time ensuring that
parents are able to repay those

373
00:18:13,158 --> 00:18:15,298
loans and ensuring that they
have the tools and resources

374
00:18:15,294 --> 00:18:18,864
to make informed decisions
about financing the education

375
00:18:18,864 --> 00:18:20,164
of their children.

376
00:18:20,165 --> 00:18:23,665
This is consistent with other
steps that the administration

377
00:18:23,669 --> 00:18:26,709
has taken to try to open up the
door to a college education

378
00:18:26,705 --> 00:18:29,875
to even more students
in this country.

379
00:18:29,875 --> 00:18:33,115
Never before has a college
education been so critical

380
00:18:33,111 --> 00:18:38,881
to a good middle-class job,
particularly in a modern 21st

381
00:18:38,884 --> 00:18:40,984
century global economy.

382
00:18:40,986 --> 00:18:43,286
But there are other things --
other steps the administration

383
00:18:43,288 --> 00:18:45,928
has taken, again, consistent
with today's announcement,

384
00:18:45,924 --> 00:18:50,764
like increasing the maximum
Pell grant award to $1,000;

385
00:18:50,762 --> 00:18:52,762
creating the American
Opportunity Tax Credit that

386
00:18:52,764 --> 00:18:55,664
makes it easier to afford
a college education.

387
00:18:55,667 --> 00:18:59,137
There are a number of steps that
have been taken to reform

388
00:18:59,137 --> 00:19:02,837
the student loan program
to lower costs and make

389
00:19:02,841 --> 00:19:06,211
more resources available
to more students.

390
00:19:06,211 --> 00:19:09,811
We've even talked quite a bit
about creating a rating system

391
00:19:09,815 --> 00:19:12,755
for college so that students
who are considering a college

392
00:19:12,751 --> 00:19:17,221
education can be better informed
about the offerings that are

393
00:19:17,222 --> 00:19:19,792
made available to them to
colleges so that we can ensure

394
00:19:19,791 --> 00:19:24,601
that they're choosing a college
that matches their own goals and

395
00:19:24,596 --> 00:19:28,036
matches their financial ability
to afford that tuition and not

396
00:19:28,033 --> 00:19:33,243
be weighed down by too much
debt when the graduate.

397
00:19:33,238 --> 00:19:37,308
The Press: Do you believe these
changes are ensuring that people

398
00:19:37,309 --> 00:19:40,309
are able to stay in
school and get in school?

399
00:19:40,312 --> 00:19:42,012
Mr. Earnest: Well, certainly
these -- the changes that are

400
00:19:42,014 --> 00:19:44,184
announced today, consistent with
many of the other things that

401
00:19:44,182 --> 00:19:47,422
the administration has done,
will do even more to open

402
00:19:47,419 --> 00:19:50,089
up the doors to a college
education to more

403
00:19:50,088 --> 00:19:53,158
families and students
across the country.

404
00:19:53,158 --> 00:19:57,298
Again, our goal here is in
recognition of the fact

405
00:19:57,296 --> 00:20:00,066
that a college education has
never been more important

406
00:20:00,065 --> 00:20:04,735
to being able to get and
hold a good middle-class

407
00:20:04,736 --> 00:20:05,736
job in this country.

408
00:20:05,737 --> 00:20:08,077
The Press: And lastly, what's
happening in Canada -- does this

409
00:20:08,073 --> 00:20:10,613
speak to gun control or
does it speak to terrorism,

410
00:20:10,609 --> 00:20:12,079
or does it speak to both?

411
00:20:12,077 --> 00:20:14,447
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think at
this point the details about

412
00:20:14,446 --> 00:20:19,056
what exactly has transpired
there today is still under

413
00:20:19,051 --> 00:20:22,191
investigation, and, in fact,
in some cases authorities

414
00:20:22,187 --> 00:20:24,187
are still responding
to the incident.

415
00:20:24,189 --> 00:20:26,759
So I would reserve judgment
about what exactly happened

416
00:20:26,758 --> 00:20:28,958
or the causes of what
happened until we have

417
00:20:28,961 --> 00:20:31,761
greater insight into
what exactly happened.

418
00:20:31,763 --> 00:20:33,033
Jared.

419
00:20:39,938 --> 00:20:41,538
The Press: I wanted to follow
up on the Inspector General's

420
00:20:41,540 --> 00:20:45,310
report today about the Secret
Service incident in 2011.

421
00:20:45,310 --> 00:20:47,410
What was the President's
reaction to that when he first

422
00:20:47,412 --> 00:20:51,252
learned of it either today
or earlier this week?

423
00:20:51,249 --> 00:20:52,689
Mr. Earnest: Well, I can
tell you -- what I would

424
00:20:52,684 --> 00:20:54,284
do is I would actually refer
you to the statement from

425
00:20:54,286 --> 00:20:57,326
Secretary Johnson that he
put out earlier today.

426
00:20:57,322 --> 00:20:59,322
He's asked the Acting Director
of the Secret Service,

427
00:20:59,324 --> 00:21:04,834
Mr. Clancy, to review the
IG investigation into these

428
00:21:04,830 --> 00:21:07,300
specific allegations and to take
the appropriate disciplinary

429
00:21:07,299 --> 00:21:10,739
action that he believes is
necessary in this case.

430
00:21:10,736 --> 00:21:14,876
So this is something that
obviously has attracted

431
00:21:14,873 --> 00:21:17,143
the attention of senior
officials at DHS,

432
00:21:17,142 --> 00:21:19,182
and they're going
to deal with it.

433
00:21:19,177 --> 00:21:20,277
The Press: So the
President doesn't have

434
00:21:20,278 --> 00:21:22,378
a direct role in trying
to figure out exactly

435
00:21:22,381 --> 00:21:24,351
who should be held
accountable or what

436
00:21:24,349 --> 00:21:25,949
that accountability
should look like?

437
00:21:25,951 --> 00:21:27,251
Mr. Earnest: Well, he's got a
Director of the Secret Service

438
00:21:27,252 --> 00:21:28,952
who's going to be responsible
for leading that department

439
00:21:28,954 --> 00:21:31,454
and making sure that
appropriate accountability

440
00:21:31,456 --> 00:21:33,496
steps are taken.

441
00:21:33,492 --> 00:21:34,992
Laura.

442
00:21:34,993 --> 00:21:36,433
The Press: Thanks.

443
00:21:36,428 --> 00:21:39,528
In Washington, a jury convicts
the Blackwater guards

444
00:21:39,531 --> 00:21:42,171
in 2007 Iraq deaths.

445
00:21:42,167 --> 00:21:44,037
What's the White
House reaction?

446
00:21:44,036 --> 00:21:46,106
Mr. Earnest: I've seen
those news reports, Laura,

447
00:21:46,104 --> 00:21:48,074
but I'm not prepared to
discuss them from here.

448
00:21:48,073 --> 00:21:51,213
But we can have somebody
follow up with you on that.

449
00:21:51,209 --> 00:21:52,779
Jim.

450
00:21:52,778 --> 00:21:54,418
The Press: I noticed in the
Wall Street Journal today

451
00:21:54,413 --> 00:21:58,953
they reported that the Russian
economy has become stagnant

452
00:21:58,950 --> 00:22:04,360
and that, in fact, it could be
the lowest output since 2009.

453
00:22:04,356 --> 00:22:06,456
Apparently the sanctions
from the United States have

454
00:22:06,458 --> 00:22:07,828
worked in that way.

455
00:22:07,826 --> 00:22:11,466
Does that make Vladimir
Putin more dangerous

456
00:22:11,463 --> 00:22:13,933
or less dangerous?

457
00:22:13,932 --> 00:22:16,132
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
think it does make clear

458
00:22:16,134 --> 00:22:16,904
a couple of things.

459
00:22:16,902 --> 00:22:18,302
It does make clear,
as you point out,

460
00:22:18,303 --> 00:22:20,673
that the sanctions regime
that was put in place

461
00:22:20,672 --> 00:22:23,172
by the United States, in
close coordination with our

462
00:22:23,175 --> 00:22:27,315
European partners, has imposed
a significant economic cost

463
00:22:27,312 --> 00:22:31,212
on the Russians for their
inappropriate interference

464
00:22:31,216 --> 00:22:33,886
in the affairs of the
sovereign nation of Ukraine.

465
00:22:37,289 --> 00:22:40,159
That is an indication
of a successful

466
00:22:40,158 --> 00:22:41,758
policy implementation.

467
00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:46,600
The question then goes to has
it had the desired effect

468
00:22:46,598 --> 00:22:51,908
in terms of getting the Russians
to change their behavior.

469
00:22:51,903 --> 00:22:54,543
That is a calculation
that only the leader

470
00:22:54,539 --> 00:22:56,639
of that country
can make.

471
00:22:56,641 --> 00:23:00,641
And we have not seen as much
as we would like in terms

472
00:23:00,645 --> 00:23:07,155
of abiding by the terms of the
ceasefire and an indication that

473
00:23:07,152 --> 00:23:10,792
the Russians are prepared to
respect basic international

474
00:23:10,789 --> 00:23:14,129
norms and particularly the
borders of sovereign countries.

475
00:23:14,126 --> 00:23:17,526
So we continue to have concerns,
but it's also clear that

476
00:23:17,529 --> 00:23:20,129
the sanctions regime that the
United States has put in place

477
00:23:20,132 --> 00:23:22,602
has taken a toll on the Russian
economy and the Russians

478
00:23:22,601 --> 00:23:25,741
are paying a price for
their actions in Ukraine.

479
00:23:25,737 --> 00:23:29,907
The Press: But is the strategy
to weaken Russia in this way?

480
00:23:29,908 --> 00:23:32,548
Is there a possibility or
is there a danger that

481
00:23:32,544 --> 00:23:39,184
it could actually backfire and
make Putin more dangerous?

482
00:23:39,184 --> 00:23:42,324
Mr. Earnest: Well, I guess
I don't entirely follow

483
00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:43,360
your thinking on this.

484
00:23:43,355 --> 00:23:45,325
I think the strategy that we've
put in place was one that we've

485
00:23:45,323 --> 00:23:50,063
been pretty candid about, which
is ensuring that the Russians

486
00:23:50,061 --> 00:23:53,131
clearly understand that the
international community expects

487
00:23:53,131 --> 00:23:56,201
that basic international norms
will be respected and that the

488
00:23:56,201 --> 00:24:02,841
failure to do so will result in
significant cost to countries

489
00:24:02,841 --> 00:24:07,881
like Russia that sort
of flagrantly ignore

490
00:24:07,879 --> 00:24:09,879
those basic
international norms.

491
00:24:09,881 --> 00:24:13,481
In this case, we've seen the
Russians actively support

492
00:24:13,485 --> 00:24:15,255
separatists in Ukraine.

493
00:24:15,253 --> 00:24:17,353
We've seen -- there's been
ample evidence to indicate

494
00:24:17,355 --> 00:24:21,495
that Russian supplies and even
personnel have moved across

495
00:24:21,493 --> 00:24:23,833
the border into Ukraine.

496
00:24:23,829 --> 00:24:31,169
That is an inappropriate
interference with

497
00:24:31,169 --> 00:24:33,339
the affairs of a
sovereign nation.

498
00:24:33,338 --> 00:24:35,508
And the Russian government
and the Russian people

499
00:24:35,507 --> 00:24:38,147
and the Russian economy have
sustained costs as a result.

500
00:24:38,143 --> 00:24:40,143
The Press: So you believe
it's been a success,

501
00:24:40,145 --> 00:24:42,145
the sanctions have
been a success?

502
00:24:42,147 --> 00:24:44,147
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think,
looking at the numbers that you

503
00:24:44,149 --> 00:24:47,689
cited, that is an indication
that the sanctions regime has

504
00:24:47,686 --> 00:24:50,626
had the intended effect in
terms of imposing costs

505
00:24:50,622 --> 00:24:51,922
on the Russian economy.

506
00:24:51,923 --> 00:24:55,023
We're still waiting to see
whether or not those costs on

507
00:24:55,026 --> 00:24:59,836
the Russian economy will have an
influence over the actions

508
00:24:59,831 --> 00:25:02,471
of Russia in that
region of the world.

509
00:25:02,467 --> 00:25:04,467
I think the jury is still
out on that part of it.

510
00:25:04,469 --> 00:25:05,609
The Press: And just one
question on immigration.

511
00:25:05,604 --> 00:25:07,244
I know this was tried
yesterday, but I'll give

512
00:25:07,239 --> 00:25:07,969
you another chance.

513
00:25:07,973 --> 00:25:09,143
Mr. Earnest: Okay.

514
00:25:09,140 --> 00:25:12,880
The Press: AP reported that
there actually have been

515
00:25:12,878 --> 00:25:15,618
green cards printed or
ordered for printing,

516
00:25:15,614 --> 00:25:17,754
as many as 9 million --
5 million to 9 million.

517
00:25:17,749 --> 00:25:20,319
Does that tell us anything
about the President's intent

518
00:25:20,318 --> 00:25:24,728
on the number of people that
he intends to make legal

519
00:25:24,723 --> 00:25:28,193
in this country once the election is over?

520
00:25:28,193 --> 00:25:32,863
Mr. Earnest: I did have a chance
to read those reports since

521
00:25:32,864 --> 00:25:35,004
yesterday's briefing
and before today's.

522
00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:38,970
It is, I think, a relatively
clever way to ask about the

523
00:25:38,970 --> 00:25:41,570
policy that the President has
not yet announced as it relates

524
00:25:41,573 --> 00:25:44,673
to executive actions that he's
prepared to take to address

525
00:25:44,676 --> 00:25:46,846
the problems in our broken
immigration system.

526
00:25:46,845 --> 00:25:47,575
The Press: Do you have
a clever answer for it?

527
00:25:47,579 --> 00:25:48,509
(laughter)

528
00:25:48,513 --> 00:25:50,583
Mr. Earnest: Beyond
that one, no, I don't.

529
00:25:50,582 --> 00:25:52,052
The Press: So it is
tied to his policy then?

530
00:25:52,050 --> 00:25:55,020
It suggests that he is -- but
so you are suggesting then that

531
00:25:55,020 --> 00:25:59,790
ordering these green cards shows
that the government is at least

532
00:25:59,791 --> 00:26:02,231
preparing for the President
to announce this soon.

533
00:26:02,227 --> 00:26:04,267
Mr. Earnest: No, I would
not suggest that that

534
00:26:04,262 --> 00:26:06,162
is an indication that that's
what we're preparing to do.

535
00:26:06,164 --> 00:26:06,994
The Press: But you're not
denying the cards are being

536
00:26:06,998 --> 00:26:08,738
printed up, I guess
is my question.

537
00:26:08,733 --> 00:26:10,533
Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't think
that's what the report is.

538
00:26:10,535 --> 00:26:12,835
I think the report is that
they ordered some paper.

539
00:26:12,837 --> 00:26:14,937
The Press: A contract
to put it together.

540
00:26:14,940 --> 00:26:17,410
So you'd cancel that contract
if you're not planning

541
00:26:17,409 --> 00:26:19,349
to print a lot of green
cards, I would think.

542
00:26:19,344 --> 00:26:22,844
Mr. Earnest: Well, no -- Ed,
what we're talking about here

543
00:26:22,847 --> 00:26:26,987
is an order from the Department
of Homeland Security

544
00:26:26,985 --> 00:26:29,555
to a contractor related
to ongoing operations

545
00:26:29,554 --> 00:26:31,554
at the Department of
Homeland Security.

546
00:26:31,556 --> 00:26:33,556
They're responsible for
issuing green cards.

547
00:26:33,558 --> 00:26:37,558
I think those who are trying to
read into those specific orders

548
00:26:37,562 --> 00:26:43,032
about what the President may
decide are a little too

549
00:26:43,034 --> 00:26:45,404
cleverly trying to divine
what the President's

550
00:26:45,403 --> 00:26:47,043
ultimate conclusion
might be.

551
00:26:47,038 --> 00:26:47,668
The Press: Okay.

552
00:26:47,672 --> 00:26:49,872
On Canada, I know you said,
understanding you can't render

553
00:26:49,874 --> 00:26:51,774
a judgment, it only
happened a few hours ago.

554
00:26:51,776 --> 00:26:53,876
However, the FBI
obviously has to react,

555
00:26:53,878 --> 00:26:56,678
and we're told -- maybe
you have more information.

556
00:26:56,681 --> 00:26:58,281
(laughter)

557
00:26:58,283 --> 00:26:59,883
I'll give you
a moment.

558
00:26:59,884 --> 00:27:01,284
Is it related to Canada
or do you want to --

559
00:27:01,286 --> 00:27:01,756
Mr. Earnest: It is.

560
00:27:01,753 --> 00:27:03,693
The President did connect
with Prime Minister Harper

561
00:27:03,688 --> 00:27:04,958
just a few minutes ago.

562
00:27:04,956 --> 00:27:06,826
They did have the
opportunity to speak.

563
00:27:06,825 --> 00:27:08,665
And we'll have more
details in terms

564
00:27:08,660 --> 00:27:10,930
of a readout of that
call later today.

565
00:27:10,929 --> 00:27:11,999
The Press: Thank you.

566
00:27:11,997 --> 00:27:14,397
The FBI obviously has to deal
with the fallout of this

567
00:27:14,399 --> 00:27:16,699
potentially and has put
out a bulletin, we're told,

568
00:27:16,701 --> 00:27:20,071
to various field offices
around the United States sort

569
00:27:20,071 --> 00:27:22,941
of suggesting "raise
your threat posture,"

570
00:27:22,941 --> 00:27:26,081
and that there's been a spike
in ISIS-related chatter

571
00:27:26,077 --> 00:27:28,177
in recent days, and
intelligence officials have

572
00:27:28,179 --> 00:27:30,249
been picking up -- I know that does not prove that ISIS

573
00:27:30,248 --> 00:27:32,588
was involved in this situation
in Canada, but given

574
00:27:32,584 --> 00:27:34,624
the fact the FBI has to
prepare for that possibility,

575
00:27:34,619 --> 00:27:37,189
can you talk about
how concerned the President

576
00:27:37,188 --> 00:27:41,058
may be about how the
campaign against ISIS may be

577
00:27:41,059 --> 00:27:43,829
turned around, where ISIS
may be trying to wage war

578
00:27:43,828 --> 00:27:45,868
not just against us but
against our allies?

579
00:27:45,864 --> 00:27:49,704
Mr. Earnest: Well, Ed, I have
not seen those FBI bulletins,

580
00:27:49,701 --> 00:27:51,701
nor the reports about them,
so I can't comment

581
00:27:51,703 --> 00:27:52,703
specifically on them.

582
00:27:52,704 --> 00:27:54,744
The FBI may be able to give
you a better idea about what's

583
00:27:54,739 --> 00:27:56,539
motivating those bulletins.

584
00:27:56,541 --> 00:27:58,541
I can say as a general
matter a couple of things.

585
00:27:58,543 --> 00:28:02,243
The first is, the United States
for quite some time now has been

586
00:28:02,247 --> 00:28:06,087
cognizant of the threat that is
posed by foreign fighters or by

587
00:28:06,084 --> 00:28:09,524
individuals who could be
radicalized in this country.

588
00:28:09,521 --> 00:28:12,021
The effort to counter violent
extremism is something that

589
00:28:12,023 --> 00:28:15,163
the administration has been
focused on for years now.

590
00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:18,260
And that continues to be an
important priority because it's

591
00:28:18,263 --> 00:28:21,963
a critical part of our effort
to protect the American people.

592
00:28:21,966 --> 00:28:24,936
The second thing is that the
reason that the President

593
00:28:24,936 --> 00:28:28,806
has galvanized the
international community,

594
00:28:28,807 --> 00:28:31,707
built this coalition of more
than 60 countries to take the

595
00:28:31,709 --> 00:28:35,279
fight to ISIL, is because he
is concerned about the risks

596
00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:38,750
associated with ISIL
establishing a safe haven inside

597
00:28:38,750 --> 00:28:42,250
Syria; that if ISIL were to
establish a safe haven inside

598
00:28:42,253 --> 00:28:47,263
Syria, it would -- or at least
it could give them greater space

599
00:28:47,258 --> 00:28:54,228
where they could turn more of
their attention to planning,

600
00:28:54,232 --> 00:28:57,132
plotting and organizing attacks
against the United States

601
00:28:57,135 --> 00:29:00,335
or our allies, including
even the homeland here.

602
00:29:00,338 --> 00:29:04,738
So the fact that ISIL poses a
general threat to the United

603
00:29:04,742 --> 00:29:07,912
States is something that we have
been aware of for some time and

604
00:29:07,912 --> 00:29:10,752
is, in fact, the reason that the
President has worked so hard to

605
00:29:10,748 --> 00:29:13,788
build this broader international
coalition to take the fight

606
00:29:13,785 --> 00:29:16,885
to ISIL and deny them the
opportunity to establish a safe

607
00:29:16,888 --> 00:29:19,158
haven in this rather chaotic
region of the world.

608
00:29:19,157 --> 00:29:21,157
The Press: Two short
ones on the midterms.

609
00:29:21,159 --> 00:29:23,159
First, there's a release out
today saying the Vice President

610
00:29:23,161 --> 00:29:27,201
is going -- both related
to the Iowa Senate race.

611
00:29:27,198 --> 00:29:29,198
Monday, I think the Vice
President is going to Iowa.

612
00:29:29,200 --> 00:29:31,900
The President hasn't been
there, but the First Lady has.

613
00:29:31,903 --> 00:29:33,743
I'm going to give you a chance
to talk a little bit about

614
00:29:33,738 --> 00:29:35,308
the Vice President's
role in the midterms.

615
00:29:35,306 --> 00:29:37,306
He's taken some shots
recently about some

616
00:29:37,308 --> 00:29:38,878
of his comments
and whatnot.

617
00:29:38,877 --> 00:29:40,917
Does the White House still
view him as an important

618
00:29:40,912 --> 00:29:43,912
asset here in some of
these key Senate races?

619
00:29:43,915 --> 00:29:45,955
Mr. Earnest: I guess the
important part here is,

620
00:29:45,950 --> 00:29:50,020
based on the way that these
sorts of travel arrangements are

621
00:29:50,021 --> 00:29:53,561
made with the campaigns, it's
the campaigns themselves that

622
00:29:53,558 --> 00:29:55,898
believe that the Vice President
is an important and effective

623
00:29:55,894 --> 00:29:59,034
advocate for Democratic
candidates across the country.

624
00:29:59,030 --> 00:30:01,770
He certainly is somebody who
has established throughout his

625
00:30:01,766 --> 00:30:08,836
career over decades a profile of
someone who has woken up every

626
00:30:08,840 --> 00:30:12,380
morning, gone to work ready to
fight for middle-class families.

627
00:30:12,377 --> 00:30:14,617
He did that in the Senate,
he has done that in the Vice

628
00:30:14,612 --> 00:30:16,052
President's office, as well.

629
00:30:16,047 --> 00:30:18,417
I do think that gives him the
kinds of credentials that are

630
00:30:18,416 --> 00:30:21,356
helpful to Democratic candidates
across the country who are

631
00:30:21,352 --> 00:30:24,752
trying to make a case about the
importance of an agenda

632
00:30:24,756 --> 00:30:26,756
that's focused on
middle-class families.

633
00:30:26,758 --> 00:30:28,758
The Press: And finally,
a small mistake,

634
00:30:28,760 --> 00:30:30,760
but one that has angered
Senate Democrats.

635
00:30:30,762 --> 00:30:32,762
The White House put out a
transcript last night about the

636
00:30:32,764 --> 00:30:35,634
First Lady being with Bruce
Braley in the Senate race and

637
00:30:35,633 --> 00:30:38,873
referred to it -- referred to
him as a candidate for governor.

638
00:30:38,870 --> 00:30:41,540
And National Journal has a
story out today quoting

639
00:30:41,539 --> 00:30:44,579
Senate Democratic aides
saying, among other things,

640
00:30:44,576 --> 00:30:47,416
that -- at one point, they say
that the White House political

641
00:30:47,412 --> 00:30:51,112
operation has gone from
"annoying to embarrassing."

642
00:30:51,115 --> 00:30:54,015
This came a couple weeks after
the First Lady mispronounced

643
00:30:54,018 --> 00:30:55,888
Braley's name several times.

644
00:30:55,887 --> 00:30:58,227
What does this say about
Senate Democrats feeling like

645
00:30:58,223 --> 00:31:02,093
the White House just keeps
messing up on these races?

646
00:31:02,093 --> 00:31:04,833
Mr. Earnest: I think the
fact that the First Lady was

647
00:31:04,829 --> 00:31:08,229
campaigning in Iowa yesterday in
support of Congressman Braley's

648
00:31:08,233 --> 00:31:10,873
campaign and that the Vice
President is headed there next

649
00:31:10,868 --> 00:31:14,068
week says all you need to
know about the White House's

650
00:31:14,072 --> 00:31:19,912
commitment to the success of
Democrats like Mr. Braley.

651
00:31:19,911 --> 00:31:20,911
Chris.

652
00:31:20,912 --> 00:31:23,482
The Press: Let me just
follow up, if I can,

653
00:31:23,481 --> 00:31:25,251
on the situation in Canada.

654
00:31:25,250 --> 00:31:28,790
And again, understanding that we
don't really know what happened

655
00:31:28,786 --> 00:31:32,726
there, we do know, though,
that the issue of security at

656
00:31:32,724 --> 00:31:36,264
Parliament had been raised in
particular since a vote less

657
00:31:36,261 --> 00:31:39,831
than two weeks ago to officially
contribute to the U.S.-led

658
00:31:39,831 --> 00:31:42,301
fight against ISIS, and
contribute fighter jets

659
00:31:42,300 --> 00:31:44,340
and other forms of help.

660
00:31:44,335 --> 00:31:46,805
And I'm wondering, in the
context of the conversations

661
00:31:46,804 --> 00:31:49,574
that have been held
about foreign fighters,

662
00:31:49,574 --> 00:31:52,174
what can you tell us about the
concerns or the conversations

663
00:31:52,176 --> 00:31:55,246
about the possibility of
retaliatory strikes against

664
00:31:55,246 --> 00:31:57,246
people who have joined
the U.S.-led coalition?

665
00:31:57,248 --> 00:31:59,718
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I
think that similar to Ed's

666
00:31:59,717 --> 00:32:02,617
question, and I think I would
handle it in similar fashion,

667
00:32:02,620 --> 00:32:06,020
which is to say that the United
States and our allies have been

668
00:32:06,024 --> 00:32:09,194
very mindful of the risk that
is posed by foreign fighters --

669
00:32:09,193 --> 00:32:11,193
again, individuals who
have Western passports,

670
00:32:11,195 --> 00:32:14,665
who have traveled to the region
to take up arms alongside ISIL.

671
00:32:14,666 --> 00:32:16,636
These individuals
have gotten training;

672
00:32:16,634 --> 00:32:18,634
they're battle-hardened;
they've demonstrated

673
00:32:18,636 --> 00:32:20,636
a willingness to die for
their cause.

674
00:32:20,638 --> 00:32:22,638
And the risk associated with
them traveling back to their

675
00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:24,640
home country is one
that we're mindful

676
00:32:24,642 --> 00:32:26,582
of and seeking to
mitigate.

677
00:32:26,577 --> 00:32:32,687
Canada has been robustly engaged
in broader international

678
00:32:32,684 --> 00:32:36,824
efforts to coordinate the
response to that risk,

679
00:32:36,821 --> 00:32:39,921
and we certainly welcome
their continued cooperation

680
00:32:39,924 --> 00:32:42,524
on that front.

681
00:32:42,527 --> 00:32:44,527
The second thing I would say
about that is the whole reason

682
00:32:44,529 --> 00:32:47,499
that the U.S., under the
leadership of this President,

683
00:32:47,498 --> 00:32:49,938
has worked so hard to build an
international coalition against

684
00:32:49,934 --> 00:32:55,704
ISIL is because they did pose
a broader risk to the United

685
00:32:55,707 --> 00:32:58,777
States and our interests and
our allies in the region,

686
00:32:58,776 --> 00:33:06,486
and there has been a concern
about the risk expanding

687
00:33:06,484 --> 00:33:10,254
if they were able to establish
a safe haven in Syria,

688
00:33:10,254 --> 00:33:14,124
and our efforts are motivated
to denying them that

689
00:33:14,125 --> 00:33:15,825
specific safe haven.

690
00:33:15,827 --> 00:33:17,827
So this is something that we
continue to be focused on.

691
00:33:17,829 --> 00:33:21,229
We certainly are appreciative of
the commitment that Canada

692
00:33:21,232 --> 00:33:24,832
has made to this broader
international effort alongside

693
00:33:24,836 --> 00:33:25,966
some 60 other countries.

694
00:33:25,970 --> 00:33:28,770
The Press: Can you give us any
more specifics -- when you say

695
00:33:28,773 --> 00:33:32,973
that officials including White
House officials are in close

696
00:33:32,977 --> 00:33:35,017
contact with Canadian
counterparts -- any more

697
00:33:35,012 --> 00:33:36,612
details on who that
would be?

698
00:33:36,614 --> 00:33:38,614
Mr. Earnest: I
can't at this point.

699
00:33:38,616 --> 00:33:40,616
I just know that a number
of calls have been placed,

700
00:33:40,618 --> 00:33:42,618
including calls here
at the White House

701
00:33:42,620 --> 00:33:44,860
to our counterparts
in Canada.

702
00:33:44,856 --> 00:33:47,356
But in terms of who
was on the phone,

703
00:33:47,358 --> 00:33:50,028
we'll see if we can get you
some more details before

704
00:33:50,027 --> 00:33:51,127
the end of the day.

705
00:33:51,129 --> 00:33:53,529
The Press: And finally, just
one thing on the midterms --

706
00:33:53,531 --> 00:33:55,931
a comment by Chris Christie
that got a lot of attention

707
00:33:55,933 --> 00:33:58,133
when he said, "I got
to tell you the truth,

708
00:33:58,136 --> 00:34:00,136
I'm tired of hearing
about the minimum wage.

709
00:34:00,138 --> 00:34:01,138
I really am."

710
00:34:01,139 --> 00:34:03,139
He's talked in the past,
though, that this really

711
00:34:03,141 --> 00:34:05,781
is about a bigger issue, as
he and I think a lot

712
00:34:05,777 --> 00:34:08,247
of Republicans see it,
of an opportunity gap.

713
00:34:08,246 --> 00:34:11,686
Is this really reflective of the
problem that the President has

714
00:34:11,682 --> 00:34:15,422
and is going to continue to
have as he tries to fight

715
00:34:15,420 --> 00:34:17,890
for a minimum wage, a
higher minimum wage?

716
00:34:17,889 --> 00:34:19,889
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'll tell you
there is a group of people

717
00:34:19,891 --> 00:34:22,161
that I do think across the
country are pretty tired,

718
00:34:22,160 --> 00:34:25,530
and those are probably the 28
million American workers who

719
00:34:25,530 --> 00:34:28,030
would benefit from
increasing the minimum wage

720
00:34:28,032 --> 00:34:29,132
to more than $10 an hour.

721
00:34:29,133 --> 00:34:34,003
These are, in many cases,
individuals who are raising

722
00:34:34,005 --> 00:34:38,105
a family of four below
the poverty line.

723
00:34:38,109 --> 00:34:40,549
And I would anticipate that
would make you pretty tired.

724
00:34:40,545 --> 00:34:45,185
That's why the President has
worked so hard to encourage

725
00:34:45,183 --> 00:34:47,483
Congress to give
those workers a raise.

726
00:34:47,485 --> 00:34:48,955
They certainly have earned it.

727
00:34:48,953 --> 00:34:54,063
It would have a substantial
and beneficial impact

728
00:34:54,058 --> 00:34:56,858
on the U.S. economy.

729
00:34:56,861 --> 00:34:58,861
It certainly would
make a difference

730
00:34:58,863 --> 00:35:00,863
in the lives of those
hardworking Americans.

731
00:35:00,865 --> 00:35:04,905
And the President has been
pleased that there are 13 states

732
00:35:04,902 --> 00:35:07,402
and the District of Columbia
that have acted on their own

733
00:35:07,405 --> 00:35:11,305
to raise the minimum wage
in their jurisdictions.

734
00:35:11,309 --> 00:35:14,509
We certainly have been pleased
to see so many private companies

735
00:35:14,512 --> 00:35:18,052
make similar decisions to raise
the wages of their workers.

736
00:35:18,049 --> 00:35:20,149
Those businesses aren't
doing it out of charity;

737
00:35:20,151 --> 00:35:23,991
they recognize it's
good for their business.

738
00:35:23,988 --> 00:35:28,088
And the President believes, and
this is backed up with some

739
00:35:28,092 --> 00:35:31,562
academic research, that raising
the minimum wage would be good

740
00:35:31,562 --> 00:35:34,762
for the economy -- the broader
economy in this country, too.

741
00:35:37,401 --> 00:35:38,401
Jared.

742
00:35:38,402 --> 00:35:40,442
The other Jared.

743
00:35:40,438 --> 00:35:41,668
We don't want Jared Halpern
to think I was calling

744
00:35:41,672 --> 00:35:43,612
on him twice.

745
00:35:43,608 --> 00:35:45,548
The Press: Just following
up on Ed's question.

746
00:35:45,543 --> 00:35:47,343
When we're talking
about this Braley event,

747
00:35:47,345 --> 00:35:50,915
is it worth doing well if
it's worth doing at all?

748
00:35:50,915 --> 00:35:53,215
You said it should
speak for itself that

749
00:35:53,217 --> 00:35:54,657
the First Lady was there.

750
00:35:54,652 --> 00:35:57,522
Was this mistake and the
previous mistake something that

751
00:35:57,522 --> 00:36:01,462
the White House regrets, the
First Lady's office regrets?

752
00:36:01,459 --> 00:36:04,059
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jared, I
think anybody who heard the

753
00:36:04,061 --> 00:36:09,071
First Lady's comments yesterday
indicated -- I think anybody who

754
00:36:09,066 --> 00:36:11,636
heard the First Lady's comments
yesterday would come away with

755
00:36:11,636 --> 00:36:14,006
the impression that she did
a good job advocating for

756
00:36:14,005 --> 00:36:17,445
him and motivating voters
to support his campaign.

757
00:36:17,441 --> 00:36:20,641
So I think it was worth doing
and I think she did it well.

758
00:36:20,645 --> 00:36:25,655
I think the number of people
who heard her remarks

759
00:36:25,650 --> 00:36:28,690
is significantly higher than
those of you who are closely

760
00:36:28,686 --> 00:36:30,456
reading the transcript.

761
00:36:30,454 --> 00:36:32,324
The Press: So should Senate
Democrats who were upset

762
00:36:32,323 --> 00:36:35,593
about this get over
it, or is it something

763
00:36:35,593 --> 00:36:37,263
that's not important
from the White House?

764
00:36:37,261 --> 00:36:39,361
Mr. Earnest: I mean, based on
the comments that I've seen

765
00:36:39,363 --> 00:36:41,803
from Senate Democrats, they're
pleased to have the support

766
00:36:41,799 --> 00:36:43,999
of people like the First
Lady and pleased that

767
00:36:44,001 --> 00:36:46,171
she is out on the
campaign trail doing such

768
00:36:46,170 --> 00:36:49,270
a good job advocating
for their candidates.

769
00:36:49,273 --> 00:36:50,073
Steven.

770
00:36:50,074 --> 00:36:53,174
The Press: Josh, the Attorney
General has told CNN

771
00:36:53,177 --> 00:36:56,647
that he's cautiously optimistic
about the legalization

772
00:36:56,647 --> 00:37:01,017
of marijuana in Washington,
Colorado, how it's going.

773
00:37:01,018 --> 00:37:06,588
The new head of the Civil
Rights Division, Vanita Gupta,

774
00:37:06,591 --> 00:37:12,231
recently (inaudible) advocating
for legal marijuana.

775
00:37:12,229 --> 00:37:14,629
Should we take these as
signals that the President

776
00:37:14,632 --> 00:37:20,702
is himself continuing to
evolve on this issue?

777
00:37:20,705 --> 00:37:22,005
Mr. Earnest: No, I don't
have any update in terms

778
00:37:22,006 --> 00:37:23,846
of the President's
position on this issue.

779
00:37:23,841 --> 00:37:26,241
It sounds like the Attorney
General might be expressing

780
00:37:26,243 --> 00:37:29,883
his own point of view based on
his own observation of the

781
00:37:29,880 --> 00:37:33,050
implementation of those
laws in those states

782
00:37:33,050 --> 00:37:34,320
that you identified.

783
00:37:34,318 --> 00:37:37,718
But I don't have a position --
a change in position from

784
00:37:37,722 --> 00:37:39,722
the President's perspective
to share with you.

785
00:37:39,724 --> 00:37:42,594
The Press: And on the
situation in Ottawa,

786
00:37:42,593 --> 00:37:48,233
does that increase the urgency
of completing the Secret Service

787
00:37:48,232 --> 00:37:51,232
review of White House
security at all?

788
00:37:51,235 --> 00:37:56,375
And also, the Capitol
building, the Capitol complex

789
00:37:56,374 --> 00:37:58,674
here is exposed.

790
00:37:58,676 --> 00:38:04,416
A former Top Cop, Terry Gainer,
today saying that there

791
00:38:04,415 --> 00:38:09,355
should be a fence around
the Capitol and much more

792
00:38:09,353 --> 00:38:11,093
security at the Capitol.

793
00:38:11,088 --> 00:38:15,758
Do you have any sense of
whether the urgency here

794
00:38:15,760 --> 00:38:19,630
and the security situation
here should be reevaluated

795
00:38:19,630 --> 00:38:22,100
in light of what's
happening in Ottawa?

796
00:38:22,099 --> 00:38:24,269
Mr. Earnest: Steven, I know that
there is already a pretty strong

797
00:38:24,268 --> 00:38:28,038
sense of urgency associated
with completing the review

798
00:38:28,039 --> 00:38:30,739
about the security posture
around the White House.

799
00:38:30,741 --> 00:38:32,411
I don't know if that
was further enhanced

800
00:38:32,410 --> 00:38:33,640
by the situation
in Canada.

801
00:38:33,644 --> 00:38:35,644
I just know that it
was already operating

802
00:38:35,646 --> 00:38:36,986
at a pretty high level.

803
00:38:36,981 --> 00:38:39,521
As it relates to security
precautions that are

804
00:38:39,517 --> 00:38:42,157
in place at the Capitol,
I would, of course, defer

805
00:38:42,153 --> 00:38:45,353
to the Capitol Police, who's
responsible for protecting

806
00:38:45,356 --> 00:38:47,596
the Capitol for those
kinds of assessments.

807
00:38:47,591 --> 00:38:50,261
Here at the White House, I know
that there is an effort taken

808
00:38:50,261 --> 00:38:55,801
to try to balance the need
to preserve the White House

809
00:38:55,800 --> 00:38:58,540
as the people's house, that
there are thousands of tourists

810
00:38:58,536 --> 00:39:00,536
that come through the
White House and walk out

811
00:39:00,538 --> 00:39:02,638
the front door of the White
House on a daily basis.

812
00:39:02,640 --> 00:39:05,980
There are hundreds of us who
work here, including all of you,

813
00:39:05,976 --> 00:39:09,276
on a regular basis, and
facilitating the efficient

814
00:39:09,280 --> 00:39:13,680
entering and exit of those of us
who work here is a key priority.

815
00:39:13,684 --> 00:39:15,684
But at the same time,
the top priority needs

816
00:39:15,686 --> 00:39:18,256
to be safeguarding
the First Family.

817
00:39:18,255 --> 00:39:21,455
And balancing those
priorities is difficult.

818
00:39:21,459 --> 00:39:24,129
And there is a similar dynamic
in play at the United States

819
00:39:24,128 --> 00:39:26,128
Capitol, and I'm
confident that the U.S.

820
00:39:26,130 --> 00:39:32,970
Capitol Police is aware of that
need and is doing everything

821
00:39:32,970 --> 00:39:35,610
that's necessary to grapple
with that challenge.

822
00:39:35,606 --> 00:39:38,276
But in terms of
recommended changes,

823
00:39:38,275 --> 00:39:40,645
we'd obviously
defer to them.

824
00:39:40,644 --> 00:39:41,644
Justin.

825
00:39:41,645 --> 00:39:46,455
The Press: I was wondering, is
Ron Klain going to at all look

826
00:39:46,450 --> 00:39:48,750
at this kind of question that's
been out there about whether

827
00:39:48,753 --> 00:39:53,023
you guys want more Ebola funding
to come through Congress?

828
00:39:53,023 --> 00:39:55,593
Is that something that's
part of his portfolio,

829
00:39:55,593 --> 00:39:57,993
or does that kind of
still reside with OMB?

830
00:39:57,995 --> 00:39:59,235
Mr. Earnest: Well, this is
something that will continue

831
00:39:59,230 --> 00:40:02,030
to reside at OMB, but
certainly, as the person that's

832
00:40:02,032 --> 00:40:04,902
responsible for coordinating the
government's response to this

833
00:40:04,902 --> 00:40:08,802
situation, he'll be included
in the discussion about what,

834
00:40:08,806 --> 00:40:11,376
if any, additional
resources are needed.

835
00:40:11,375 --> 00:40:14,815
The Press: And then I'd kind of
-- you said last week that you

836
00:40:14,812 --> 00:40:17,312
guys still haven't made a
determination about if more

837
00:40:17,314 --> 00:40:17,914
resources are needed.

838
00:40:17,915 --> 00:40:19,515
I'm assuming from your answer
that that remains true.

839
00:40:19,517 --> 00:40:20,687
Mr. Earnest:
That's correct.

840
00:40:20,684 --> 00:40:22,624
The Press: But I'm wondering
-- the Senate Appropriations

841
00:40:22,620 --> 00:40:23,920
Committee has said
that they're going

842
00:40:23,921 --> 00:40:26,091
to hold a hearing
on November 6th.

843
00:40:26,090 --> 00:40:28,130
Do you guys expect to have
a recommendation for

844
00:40:28,125 --> 00:40:30,425
them by that point?

845
00:40:30,427 --> 00:40:33,527
Mr. Earnest: I wouldn't set a
timeline on a decision that

846
00:40:33,531 --> 00:40:36,831
we would make on our end
about additional resources.

847
00:40:36,834 --> 00:40:39,804
But we certainly are -- this
is something that we're

848
00:40:39,804 --> 00:40:42,874
looking at, but again, it's
still not clear exactly

849
00:40:42,873 --> 00:40:45,613
how that question
will be resolved.

850
00:40:45,609 --> 00:40:46,609
Mark.

851
00:40:46,610 --> 00:40:49,450
The Press: Josh, I wanted to
follow up on something you said

852
00:40:49,446 --> 00:40:52,916
yesterday when you spoke
of an unprecedented level

853
00:40:52,917 --> 00:40:54,917
of transparency in --

854
00:40:54,919 --> 00:40:55,889
Mr. Earnest: Yes.

855
00:40:58,355 --> 00:41:00,325
Well, would you grant that it
actually is an unprecedented

856
00:41:00,324 --> 00:41:02,924
level of transparency to ensure
that reporters like yourself are

857
00:41:02,927 --> 00:41:07,297
admitted to fundraisers that
the President convenes

858
00:41:07,298 --> 00:41:08,368
in private homes, right?

859
00:41:08,365 --> 00:41:10,605
The Press: Why doesn't
that transparency extend

860
00:41:10,601 --> 00:41:12,141
to the Q&A sessions?

861
00:41:12,136 --> 00:41:13,106
Mr. Earnest: I couldn't
even get a yes out of that,

862
00:41:13,103 --> 00:41:16,273
not even an acknowledgement
before you asked the question.

863
00:41:16,273 --> 00:41:18,113
For somebody who's so
interested in transparency,

864
00:41:18,108 --> 00:41:20,378
I would anticipate that you
would acknowledge where --

865
00:41:20,377 --> 00:41:21,077
The Press: I acknowledge --

866
00:41:21,078 --> 00:41:22,578
Mr. Earnest: Okay, good.

867
00:41:22,580 --> 00:41:24,720
The Press: I stipulate
your statement.

868
00:41:24,715 --> 00:41:25,615
Mr. Earnest: Thank
you for humoring me.

869
00:41:25,616 --> 00:41:26,386
(laughter)

870
00:41:26,383 --> 00:41:29,123
The Press: Why doesn't
that transparency extend

871
00:41:29,119 --> 00:41:31,789
to the Q&A sessions with
the donors, which would

872
00:41:31,789 --> 00:41:34,159
be of great
interest to all of us?

873
00:41:34,158 --> 00:41:37,398
Mr. Earnest: Right, right.

874
00:41:37,394 --> 00:41:39,994
What we strive to do in those
kinds of settings, Mark,

875
00:41:39,997 --> 00:41:45,067
is to balance the desire -- and
it's a legitimate one --

876
00:41:45,069 --> 00:41:48,839
of the press corps to hear the
President's pitch to donors

877
00:41:48,839 --> 00:41:52,679
about why they should
support Democratic

878
00:41:52,676 --> 00:41:55,516
political committees,
by and large.

879
00:41:55,512 --> 00:41:59,052
There is, of course, a
legitimate interest there.

880
00:41:59,049 --> 00:42:02,049
And I think those who have been
close observers of that process

881
00:42:02,052 --> 00:42:06,052
have found that the pitch that
the President delivers in those

882
00:42:03,287 --> 00:42:10,927
the President delivers in
bigger settings like campaign

883
00:42:06,056 --> 00:42:12,496
more intimate settings is
consistent with the pitch that

884
00:42:10,928 --> 00:42:16,598
rallies or in fundraisers
that have a much larger --

885
00:42:16,600 --> 00:42:19,400
that take place at much
larger gatherings.

886
00:42:19,403 --> 00:42:24,473
The goal of those Q&A sessions
is to foster a more candid

887
00:42:24,475 --> 00:42:29,515
and open dialogue where you
have donors who are expressing

888
00:42:29,513 --> 00:42:34,753
their views, and the
nature of -- in some ways,

889
00:42:34,752 --> 00:42:36,752
we've got the little
-- I think it's

890
00:42:36,754 --> 00:42:39,224
the Heidenberg Principle,
right, where --

891
00:42:39,223 --> 00:42:40,353
The Press: It would
change if we were there --

892
00:42:40,357 --> 00:42:41,557
The Press: Heisenberg
Principle.

893
00:42:41,558 --> 00:42:42,228
Mr. Earnest:
Heisenberg Principle.

894
00:42:42,226 --> 00:42:43,896
Thank you for the
correction, Mr. Viquiera.

895
00:42:43,894 --> 00:42:47,034
The Heisenberg Principle -- that
the fact of someone observing

896
00:42:47,031 --> 00:42:50,771
something necessarily changes
what is actually being observed.

897
00:42:50,768 --> 00:42:55,108
And I think that's at play in a
dynamic like this where you have

898
00:42:55,105 --> 00:42:57,875
a relatively small group of
individuals who are seeking

899
00:42:57,875 --> 00:43:00,745
to have a conversation with the
President of the United States.

900
00:43:00,744 --> 00:43:03,444
So what we have done is we have
structured this in a way that

901
00:43:03,447 --> 00:43:05,947
tries to balance your
understandable interests in the

902
00:43:05,950 --> 00:43:09,350
pitch that the President makes
to donors with the ability

903
00:43:09,353 --> 00:43:12,223
of donors to have a frank and
candid conversation with the

904
00:43:12,222 --> 00:43:14,562
President of the United States
in a relatively private setting.

905
00:43:14,558 --> 00:43:17,298
The Press: So you're offering
the Heisenberg Principle defense

906
00:43:17,294 --> 00:43:20,464
to why we can't cover
that Q&A session, right?

907
00:43:20,464 --> 00:43:21,194
(laughter)

908
00:43:21,198 --> 00:43:22,268
Mr. Earnest: Well, it's
relatively creative,

909
00:43:22,266 --> 00:43:22,996
wouldn't you think?

910
00:43:23,000 --> 00:43:23,830
The Press: Yes, but that
would go to everything

911
00:43:23,834 --> 00:43:25,804
we cover any day.

912
00:43:25,803 --> 00:43:28,473
Mr. Earnest: It does, which is
why we try to balance them.

913
00:43:28,472 --> 00:43:31,442
I think that that's -- if you're
in a setting where the President

914
00:43:31,442 --> 00:43:33,942
is speaking, as he was in
Maryland over the weekend,

915
00:43:33,944 --> 00:43:36,544
to 8,000 people, it would be
hard for me to make the case

916
00:43:36,547 --> 00:43:39,717
that letting 12 additional
people observe that speech

917
00:43:39,717 --> 00:43:42,857
would necessarily
change the interaction.

918
00:43:42,853 --> 00:43:44,553
But I think the dynamic is
different when we're talking

919
00:43:44,555 --> 00:43:47,655
about a smaller group of
individuals, a couple of dozen,

920
00:43:47,658 --> 00:43:50,458
that increasing the number of
people who are participating

921
00:43:50,461 --> 00:43:54,831
in that session does necessarily
change the interaction.

922
00:43:54,832 --> 00:43:56,432
The Press: Well, what if we
weren't there but you released

923
00:43:56,433 --> 00:43:58,703
the transcript of it?

924
00:43:58,702 --> 00:43:59,672
Would that qualify your concerns
about the Heisenberg Principle?

925
00:43:59,670 --> 00:44:02,370
Mr. Earnest: I think that would
be a different way for you to

926
00:44:02,373 --> 00:44:04,913
observe the interaction in a
way that still would have

927
00:44:04,908 --> 00:44:09,818
a material impact on that
kind of conversation.

928
00:44:09,813 --> 00:44:10,813
Major.

929
00:44:10,814 --> 00:44:12,814
The Press: Because
they expect privacy?

930
00:44:12,816 --> 00:44:14,916
Mr. Earnest: Not
necessarily.

931
00:44:14,918 --> 00:44:15,718
Not necessarily.

932
00:44:15,719 --> 00:44:17,919
The Press: That comes
with the process.

933
00:44:17,921 --> 00:44:19,921
Mr. Earnest: Well, look, I don't
think that anybody expects --

934
00:44:19,923 --> 00:44:21,923
there are plenty of occasions in
which individuals have walked

935
00:44:21,925 --> 00:44:24,365
out of a fundraiser and said, I
just asked the President this

936
00:44:24,361 --> 00:44:25,361
and he told me that.

937
00:44:25,362 --> 00:44:26,462
And that's been reported.

938
00:44:26,463 --> 00:44:30,303
And again, I've never been in a
position where I've said that

939
00:44:30,300 --> 00:44:32,500
that person should be
sanctioned in some way,

940
00:44:32,503 --> 00:44:35,243
or that they violated some
sort of privacy agreement.

941
00:44:35,239 --> 00:44:40,709
I don't think that there is an
implied expectation of privacy.

942
00:44:40,711 --> 00:44:46,181
I think what is implied is
a little intimacy and the

943
00:44:46,183 --> 00:44:49,253
opportunity to have a frank
and candid conversation that

944
00:44:49,253 --> 00:44:53,693
is different than one that's
observed by journalists.

945
00:44:53,690 --> 00:44:54,760
The Press: And it would be
carried out differently

946
00:44:54,758 --> 00:44:55,898
if it were to be
transcribed and released?

947
00:44:55,893 --> 00:44:56,823
Mr. Earnest: Yes, I think so.

948
00:44:56,827 --> 00:44:57,297
The Press: Okay.

949
00:44:57,294 --> 00:44:59,264
Since we're in the mood
to acknowledge things,

950
00:44:59,263 --> 00:45:01,263
will you just acknowledge
what we all suspect here,

951
00:45:01,265 --> 00:45:03,735
which you're not going to
tell us -- what Ed has asked,

952
00:45:03,734 --> 00:45:06,434
what my colleague Mark Miller
has asked you about for six

953
00:45:06,437 --> 00:45:10,207
years, which is the separation
of costs for political travel?

954
00:45:10,207 --> 00:45:11,947
You're not going to -- we're not
going to release this number,

955
00:45:11,942 --> 00:45:13,642
you're not going to answer
that question, right?

956
00:45:13,644 --> 00:45:15,044
Mr. Earnest: I don't have an
answer for that, that's correct.

957
00:45:15,045 --> 00:45:16,385
The Press: You're
not going to, right?

958
00:45:16,380 --> 00:45:17,180
Just acknowledge that.

959
00:45:17,181 --> 00:45:18,081
(laughter)

960
00:45:18,082 --> 00:45:19,782
Mr. Earnest: Much like previous
administrations haven't --

961
00:45:19,783 --> 00:45:20,823
The Press: No, no, I'm
going to get to that.

962
00:45:20,818 --> 00:45:21,518
Mr. Earnest: Okay.

963
00:45:21,518 --> 00:45:23,188
The Press: Just acknowledge
that you're not going to do it.

964
00:45:23,187 --> 00:45:24,357
Mr. Earnest: Well,
I will say --

965
00:45:24,354 --> 00:45:25,394
(laughter)

966
00:45:25,389 --> 00:45:25,759
-- before I --

967
00:45:25,756 --> 00:45:27,296
The Press: So we don't have to
go through this charade anymore.

968
00:45:27,291 --> 00:45:28,361
Because I know you're
not going to do it,

969
00:45:28,358 --> 00:45:29,228
so just say you're
not going to do it.

970
00:45:29,226 --> 00:45:33,366
Mr. Earnest: Well, that is --
there are numbers associated

971
00:45:33,363 --> 00:45:37,033
with these costs that are
reported to the FEC, right?

972
00:45:37,034 --> 00:45:37,534
When there are --

973
00:45:37,534 --> 00:45:38,834
The Press: Yes.

974
00:45:38,836 --> 00:45:40,676
Mr. Earnest: So there
is a level of a --

975
00:45:40,671 --> 00:45:42,441
The Press: But there's no way
to know what they're for

976
00:45:42,439 --> 00:45:45,039
and what proportion they
are of the larger whole.

977
00:45:45,042 --> 00:45:46,942
Mr. Earnest: So there is a level
of transparency that's already

978
00:45:46,944 --> 00:45:49,344
included in the system that
the Obama administration

979
00:45:49,346 --> 00:45:52,846
and the Democratic committees
that ultimately are responsible

980
00:45:52,850 --> 00:45:57,690
for paying for some of these
costs is reported publicly.

981
00:45:57,688 --> 00:46:00,928
What I will acknowledge is this,
that's it's not the level of

982
00:46:00,924 --> 00:46:02,964
transparency that
you seek, but there

983
00:46:02,960 --> 00:46:04,960
is transparency that is
built into the system.

984
00:46:04,962 --> 00:46:06,362
The Press: And you're not
going to go beyond it?

985
00:46:06,363 --> 00:46:06,993
You're not going to ask
the direct question --

986
00:46:06,997 --> 00:46:08,027
Mr. Earnest: No, I do
not anticipate that.

987
00:46:08,031 --> 00:46:08,901
I do not anticipate
that we will.

988
00:46:08,899 --> 00:46:11,469
The Press: So what you often
fall back on in conversations

989
00:46:11,468 --> 00:46:14,208
with Mark and others is,
we're going to stick with

990
00:46:14,204 --> 00:46:16,004
the policy that previous
administrations have

991
00:46:16,006 --> 00:46:20,976
had on this, which is not
to disaggregate the numbers

992
00:46:20,978 --> 00:46:23,518
and to do anything more than
is required by the FEC.

993
00:46:23,514 --> 00:46:25,514
That's what you've told
Mark for many years.

994
00:46:25,516 --> 00:46:27,516
Mr. Earnest: Well, what I
would say about that is --

995
00:46:27,518 --> 00:46:29,518
The Press: I want to
ask you, why is that

996
00:46:29,520 --> 00:46:30,520
a defensible position?

997
00:46:30,521 --> 00:46:32,521
Mr. Earnest: Because what
it's related to is it's

998
00:46:32,523 --> 00:46:33,523
related to the law.

999
00:46:33,524 --> 00:46:35,524
It's not just the policy of
the previous administration.

1000
00:46:35,526 --> 00:46:38,666
But there are specific
laws that are in place.

1001
00:46:38,662 --> 00:46:44,902
There are rules and regulations
that govern the cost

1002
00:46:44,902 --> 00:46:48,402
associated with presidential
travel to political events.

1003
00:46:48,405 --> 00:46:53,775
Now, what the law says is that
cost associated with political

1004
00:46:53,777 --> 00:46:56,977
activities may not be paid
for by government funds.

1005
00:46:56,980 --> 00:47:01,050
And the HATCH Act and the FEC
rules set out a very careful

1006
00:47:01,051 --> 00:47:04,291
system to ensure that political
committees pay their fair share

1007
00:47:04,288 --> 00:47:06,588
of any travel that
involves a political event,

1008
00:47:06,590 --> 00:47:09,890
and those payments are
publicly reported to the FEC.

1009
00:47:09,893 --> 00:47:12,663
The Press: And that's as
far as you feel you need

1010
00:47:12,663 --> 00:47:18,003
to go to explain to the public
how these costs are paid

1011
00:47:18,001 --> 00:47:20,401
and they're apportioned
between what the taxpayers

1012
00:47:20,404 --> 00:47:22,844
pay for and what the
political committees pay for?

1013
00:47:22,839 --> 00:47:24,679
Mr. Earnest: This administration
feels the need to diligently

1014
00:47:24,675 --> 00:47:26,675
follow both the letter
and spirit of the law,

1015
00:47:26,677 --> 00:47:27,577
and that's exactly
what we do.

1016
00:47:27,578 --> 00:47:29,578
The Press: Following up on Jim,
I just want to make sure I

1017
00:47:29,580 --> 00:47:31,620
understand what you're
saying about this report

1018
00:47:31,615 --> 00:47:33,985
about the printing of the
additional green cards.

1019
00:47:33,984 --> 00:47:37,354
Are you saying that is
unrelated or coincidental?

1020
00:47:37,354 --> 00:47:38,894
Mr. Earnest: I'm saying that
there are decisions that

1021
00:47:38,889 --> 00:47:41,489
are made by lots of agencies,
including the ordering

1022
00:47:41,491 --> 00:47:44,291
of specific colored
sheets of paper.

1023
00:47:44,294 --> 00:47:46,864
Those sorts of decisions are not
micromanaged by the White House.

1024
00:47:46,863 --> 00:47:47,833
The Press: Don't
be absurd with us.

1025
00:47:47,831 --> 00:47:50,001
That's not just an ordinary
colored piece of paper.

1026
00:47:50,000 --> 00:47:50,870
It is central --

1027
00:47:50,867 --> 00:47:51,767
Mr. Earnest: I'm not
suggesting that it is.

1028
00:47:51,768 --> 00:47:53,938
The Press: -- central to what
the President has promised

1029
00:47:53,937 --> 00:47:54,977
in public to do --

1030
00:47:54,972 --> 00:47:57,412
Mr. Earnest: It's also central
to what they're already doing.

1031
00:47:57,407 --> 00:47:59,247
It's also central to what
they're already doing.

1032
00:47:59,243 --> 00:48:00,273
The Press: That's why I
asked you the question.

1033
00:48:00,277 --> 00:48:02,147
Is it coincidental
or it is unrelated?

1034
00:48:02,145 --> 00:48:04,385
Mr. Earnest: You would have
to ask DHS about orders

1035
00:48:04,381 --> 00:48:05,781
for green-colored paper
that they've ordered.

1036
00:48:05,782 --> 00:48:07,482
The Press: The order is
coming from the President.

1037
00:48:07,484 --> 00:48:08,724
Mr. Earnest: The
executive order.

1038
00:48:08,719 --> 00:48:11,389
But the order of the copier
paper is coming from

1039
00:48:11,388 --> 00:48:15,328
the Department of
Homeland Security, right?

1040
00:48:15,325 --> 00:48:15,895
The Press: Yes.

1041
00:48:15,892 --> 00:48:16,492
Mr. Earnest: Yes, it is.

1042
00:48:16,493 --> 00:48:16,893
Yes, it is.

1043
00:48:16,893 --> 00:48:19,463
The Press: And all I'm asking
is, coincidental or unrelated?

1044
00:48:19,463 --> 00:48:20,163
Mr. Earnest: You
would have to ask

1045
00:48:20,163 --> 00:48:21,503
the Department of
Homeland Security.

1046
00:48:21,498 --> 00:48:24,698
I will tell you that
anybody who tries to look

1047
00:48:24,701 --> 00:48:27,771
at the order -- I
mean, this is crazy.

1048
00:48:27,771 --> 00:48:29,041
(laughter)

1049
00:48:29,039 --> 00:48:29,509
The Press: No, it's not.

1050
00:48:29,506 --> 00:48:31,206
I mean, you accuse
us of being clever,

1051
00:48:31,208 --> 00:48:35,008
and that would be a rare thing,
but it's not a dot that

1052
00:48:35,012 --> 00:48:38,382
is unconnected to the
underlying policy, okay?

1053
00:48:38,382 --> 00:48:41,822
If the President has said
that I'm going to do this,

1054
00:48:41,818 --> 00:48:43,718
and there's a mechanism by
which it can be achieved

1055
00:48:43,720 --> 00:48:46,160
once the executive order
is put in commission,

1056
00:48:46,156 --> 00:48:49,126
and suddenly there's this
contract to print more of them,

1057
00:48:49,126 --> 00:48:55,136
why isn't it just obvious that
that seems to be related?

1058
00:48:55,132 --> 00:48:56,702
Mr. Earnest: The point --
I guess I'll try

1059
00:48:56,700 --> 00:48:58,370
this one more time.

1060
00:48:58,368 --> 00:49:00,608
DHS currently has a
responsibility for issuing

1061
00:49:00,604 --> 00:49:04,004
green cards to individuals who
are seeking to legally

1062
00:49:04,007 --> 00:49:05,577
enter this country.

1063
00:49:05,575 --> 00:49:10,245
And what they will do is
they will order the --

1064
00:49:10,247 --> 00:49:11,047
The Press: Is it related?

1065
00:49:11,048 --> 00:49:11,948
Mr. Earnest: -- cards
associated with the --

1066
00:49:11,948 --> 00:49:14,518
The Press: -- 5
million more?

1067
00:49:14,518 --> 00:49:16,388
Mr. Earnest: Well, look, you
would have to ask them about

1068
00:49:16,386 --> 00:49:20,326
the policies that govern their
procurement of green paper.

1069
00:49:20,324 --> 00:49:21,894
The Press: Do they go to
Office Depot or Staples?

1070
00:49:21,892 --> 00:49:22,792
Mr. Earnest:
Here's the thing.

1071
00:49:22,793 --> 00:49:24,023
I'm really not
trying to be clever.

1072
00:49:24,027 --> 00:49:24,997
I'm really trying
to just be, like,

1073
00:49:24,995 --> 00:49:26,335
as really
straightforward as I can,

1074
00:49:26,330 --> 00:49:31,340
which is the United States --
the White House does not make

1075
00:49:31,335 --> 00:49:35,105
specific direction to
agencies about which supplies

1076
00:49:35,105 --> 00:49:35,805
they should order.

1077
00:49:35,806 --> 00:49:36,536
The Press: But, Josh, take
the question seriously --

1078
00:49:36,540 --> 00:49:37,010
Mr. Earnest: Which I do.

1079
00:49:37,007 --> 00:49:37,637
The Press: Okay.

1080
00:49:37,641 --> 00:49:39,381
You would not want
to be in a position,

1081
00:49:39,376 --> 00:49:41,146
no President would want
to be in a position,

1082
00:49:41,144 --> 00:49:43,084
and no one who works for the
President would want to be in a

1083
00:49:43,080 --> 00:49:45,920
position to have the legal work
that DHS has gone through

1084
00:49:45,916 --> 00:49:48,456
and the Department of Justice
has gone through to propound

1085
00:49:48,452 --> 00:49:50,552
an executive order that the
President signs and someone

1086
00:49:50,554 --> 00:49:52,254
looks up and says, oh,
Christ, we don't have

1087
00:49:52,255 --> 00:49:53,225
any paper for this.

1088
00:49:53,223 --> 00:49:54,593
(laughter)

1089
00:49:54,591 --> 00:49:55,591
You wouldn't
want to do that.

1090
00:49:55,592 --> 00:49:57,292
That would irresponsible.

1091
00:49:57,294 --> 00:50:00,634
That would be malpractice
at a procedural level,

1092
00:50:00,630 --> 00:50:01,470
wouldn't it be?

1093
00:50:01,465 --> 00:50:02,735
Mr. Earnest: I guess what
I don't -- there are

1094
00:50:02,733 --> 00:50:03,703
a lot of things that
we don't know.

1095
00:50:03,700 --> 00:50:05,100
The Press: -- got to be prepared
for an executive order that

1096
00:50:05,102 --> 00:50:08,472
the President has said to the
public he intends to sign.

1097
00:50:08,472 --> 00:50:11,142
Mr. Earnest: The fact of the
matter is there are still

1098
00:50:11,141 --> 00:50:14,811
decisions to be made about
what that policy will entail.

1099
00:50:14,811 --> 00:50:19,781
And when we're ready to announce
that policy we will announce it.

1100
00:50:19,783 --> 00:50:24,723
What I would caution you against
doing is making assumptions

1101
00:50:24,721 --> 00:50:26,991
about what will be in
those announcements

1102
00:50:26,990 --> 00:50:29,460
based on the
procurement practices

1103
00:50:29,459 --> 00:50:32,829
of the Department of
Homeland Security.

1104
00:50:32,829 --> 00:50:34,329
Alexis.

1105
00:50:34,331 --> 00:50:36,001
I'll come back to you,
Connie, if you promise that

1106
00:50:35,999 --> 00:50:37,369
it's going to be easy.

1107
00:50:37,367 --> 00:50:39,467
You can think about it a
little bit -- just promise

1108
00:50:39,469 --> 00:50:40,609
it's going to be easy.

1109
00:50:40,604 --> 00:50:41,674
Go ahead, Alexis.

1110
00:50:41,671 --> 00:50:44,041
The Press: A couple quick
questions on Ebola.

1111
00:50:44,040 --> 00:50:46,380
The first question -- I
know that you had given

1112
00:50:46,376 --> 00:50:48,776
us an estimate of the
number of travelers coming

1113
00:50:48,779 --> 00:50:50,619
from the three West
African countries.

1114
00:50:50,614 --> 00:50:54,114
Can you just -- in light
of the CDC policy in terms

1115
00:50:54,117 --> 00:50:56,657
of monitoring them for
21 days in six states,

1116
00:50:56,653 --> 00:50:59,793
do you think that the number
of travelers estimated

1117
00:50:59,790 --> 00:51:02,290
is going to go down
or stay the same?

1118
00:51:02,292 --> 00:51:05,892
Is there any government estimate
of how many people will still

1119
00:51:05,896 --> 00:51:08,166
come from those three countries
into the United States?

1120
00:51:08,165 --> 00:51:10,235
Mr. Earnest: I haven't
seen a government estimate.

1121
00:51:10,233 --> 00:51:15,403
The current estimate is that
about 150 a day enter this

1122
00:51:15,405 --> 00:51:18,845
country from those three
West African countries.

1123
00:51:18,842 --> 00:51:21,782
I haven't seen any
projections about whether

1124
00:51:21,778 --> 00:51:23,818
or not the expectation is
that that number will

1125
00:51:23,814 --> 00:51:25,984
increase or decrease
or stay the same.

1126
00:51:25,982 --> 00:51:32,692
You can check with either
CDC or DHS to see if they

1127
00:51:32,689 --> 00:51:34,329
have any updated
projections about that.

1128
00:51:34,324 --> 00:51:36,164
The Press: Would you happen to
know how the travelers

1129
00:51:36,159 --> 00:51:39,529
will be informed before
they come that they will

1130
00:51:39,529 --> 00:51:43,729
be monitored in six
states after they arrive?

1131
00:51:43,733 --> 00:51:45,773
Mr. Earnest: I'd refer you to
the State Department for that,

1132
00:51:45,769 --> 00:51:49,139
because there is obviously a
visa application process for

1133
00:51:49,139 --> 00:51:55,479
many of them and they would
be responsible for notifying

1134
00:51:55,479 --> 00:51:59,719
travelers of those kinds of
requirements, I believe.

1135
00:51:59,716 --> 00:52:02,086
If it's not them
it's probably DHS.

1136
00:52:02,085 --> 00:52:03,155
The Press: The other
thing is, the President

1137
00:52:03,153 --> 00:52:04,593
talked to the Prime
Minister of Australia.

1138
00:52:04,588 --> 00:52:06,988
Ebola was a topic
they talked about.

1139
00:52:06,990 --> 00:52:09,730
Can you update us at midweek
about how the President

1140
00:52:09,726 --> 00:52:14,466
is assessing the level of
contributions to the Ebola

1141
00:52:14,464 --> 00:52:18,904
effort in Africa and whether
it's getting up to a level

1142
00:52:18,902 --> 00:52:20,942
that he's feeling more
confident about,

1143
00:52:20,937 --> 00:52:22,737
or whether there's still
a lot of work to do?

1144
00:52:22,739 --> 00:52:23,409
Mr. Earnest: Well,
the President,

1145
00:52:23,406 --> 00:52:25,006
and those of us here at the
White House have certainly

1146
00:52:25,008 --> 00:52:26,878
been gratified by the
recent increase that

1147
00:52:26,877 --> 00:52:28,577
we have seen in
contributions.

1148
00:52:28,578 --> 00:52:31,248
But there is a whole lot
more work to be done,

1149
00:52:31,248 --> 00:52:34,688
and there are efforts that
continue to encourage the

1150
00:52:34,684 --> 00:52:38,024
international community
to ramp up their response

1151
00:52:38,021 --> 00:52:40,491
to this rather urgent
situation in West Africa.

1152
00:52:40,490 --> 00:52:43,060
The Press: And the last question
is -- over the weekend,

1153
00:52:43,059 --> 00:52:46,899
Dr. Fauci indicated on
television that he thought the

1154
00:52:46,897 --> 00:52:50,767
United States needed more than
four designated high-quality

1155
00:52:50,767 --> 00:52:54,107
health care facilities
that could handle Ebola.

1156
00:52:54,104 --> 00:52:58,044
Do you know anything more about
what the planning is to expand

1157
00:52:58,041 --> 00:53:01,741
beyond the four, as he thought
the United States needed to do?

1158
00:53:01,745 --> 00:53:03,585
Mr. Earnest: You should
check with CDC about that.

1159
00:53:03,580 --> 00:53:07,420
The efforts that they have been
focused on to this point has

1160
00:53:07,417 --> 00:53:10,257
been in offering strengthened
guidance to health care workers

1161
00:53:10,253 --> 00:53:14,193
across the country so that
hospitals could have in place

1162
00:53:14,190 --> 00:53:16,190
the procedures that
were necessary to treat

1163
00:53:16,192 --> 00:53:18,762
Ebola patients onsite.

1164
00:53:18,762 --> 00:53:21,232
Those resources could be
augmented by this

1165
00:53:21,231 --> 00:53:25,871
Department of Defense medical
personnel that will soon

1166
00:53:25,869 --> 00:53:29,269
be ready to deploy to
support treatment efforts.

1167
00:53:29,272 --> 00:53:35,082
There's, of course, this CDC
SWAT team that is at the ready

1168
00:53:35,078 --> 00:53:38,318
right now and ready to
deploy if a patient

1169
00:53:38,315 --> 00:53:41,315
tests positive
for Ebola.

1170
00:53:41,318 --> 00:53:43,988
But each of these patients will
be treated on a case-by-case

1171
00:53:43,987 --> 00:53:47,127
basis, that once they are --
what we want to do is we want

1172
00:53:47,123 --> 00:53:49,563
to make sure that hospitals
across the country have

1173
00:53:49,559 --> 00:53:52,559
the information that they
need to detect, to isolate,

1174
00:53:52,562 --> 00:53:54,702
and ultimately treat
Ebola patients.

1175
00:53:54,698 --> 00:53:59,038
But that treatment regimen and
where that treatment takes place

1176
00:53:59,035 --> 00:54:07,145
will ultimately be sort of
guided by the individual

1177
00:54:07,143 --> 00:54:09,183
circumstances of
that patient.

1178
00:54:09,179 --> 00:54:12,449
So decisions about what sort of
protocols should be in place,

1179
00:54:12,449 --> 00:54:15,149
what sort of experts
need to be there,

1180
00:54:15,151 --> 00:54:17,191
what sort of medicine
they should be given,

1181
00:54:17,187 --> 00:54:19,187
where that treatment should
take place are all the kinds

1182
00:54:19,189 --> 00:54:22,059
of decisions that will be made
on a case-by-case basis,

1183
00:54:22,058 --> 00:54:24,528
depending on decisions that
are made by the doctor

1184
00:54:24,527 --> 00:54:26,797
and the condition
of the patient.

1185
00:54:26,796 --> 00:54:27,666
Leslie.

1186
00:54:27,664 --> 00:54:29,634
The Press: Josh, at the risk
of going over stuff you talked

1187
00:54:29,633 --> 00:54:33,203
about last week -- I wasn't here
-- in terms of the Ebola czar

1188
00:54:33,203 --> 00:54:35,573
and sort of going from
outside to get somebody,

1189
00:54:35,572 --> 00:54:36,942
you said that the
President wanted someone

1190
00:54:36,940 --> 00:54:39,410
who could do it 100
percent of the time.

1191
00:54:39,409 --> 00:54:41,609
Why not pick
somebody from within?

1192
00:54:41,611 --> 00:54:45,811
Since Ron Klain has gotten some
criticism for not having public

1193
00:54:45,815 --> 00:54:48,555
health experience, why not
pick somebody from within

1194
00:54:48,551 --> 00:54:53,021
the Cabinet or the executive
branch who could be --

1195
00:54:53,023 --> 00:54:54,323
do it 100 percent
of the time?

1196
00:54:54,324 --> 00:54:59,634
Is there concern that it
sort of reflects some uneasiness

1197
00:54:59,629 --> 00:55:02,769
with the executive branch
able to pull off something

1198
00:55:02,766 --> 00:55:04,036
like a czar position?

1199
00:55:04,034 --> 00:55:05,504
Mr. Earnest: No, I think what
it reflects is it reflects

1200
00:55:05,502 --> 00:55:08,902
that there are a lot of other
executive officials here

1201
00:55:08,905 --> 00:55:11,645
in the executive branch,
including at the Cabinet level,

1202
00:55:11,641 --> 00:55:13,411
that have very important
responsibilities

1203
00:55:13,410 --> 00:55:15,410
that they're already
working on.

1204
00:55:15,412 --> 00:55:18,452
And the President felt like it
was important for someone who

1205
00:55:18,448 --> 00:55:22,218
had the kind of management chops
that Ron Klain does both inside

1206
00:55:22,218 --> 00:55:26,458
the government and in his tenure
in the private sector to focus

1207
00:55:26,456 --> 00:55:29,456
100 percent of his time
on this urgent issue.

1208
00:55:29,459 --> 00:55:32,159
And, frankly, if we were taking
somebody else off of another

1209
00:55:32,162 --> 00:55:34,432
priority to focus on
this, then we'd just have

1210
00:55:34,431 --> 00:55:37,271
to find somebody to replace
them in doing the task

1211
00:55:37,267 --> 00:55:39,267
they were previously
focused on.

1212
00:55:39,269 --> 00:55:41,539
So it made sense in this
case to bring in somebody

1213
00:55:41,538 --> 00:55:44,738
from the outside who had
extensive experience

1214
00:55:44,741 --> 00:55:46,741
in the federal government,
who had strong

1215
00:55:46,743 --> 00:55:48,743
management credentials
from the private sector,

1216
00:55:48,745 --> 00:55:51,945
and deploy them to spend
100 percent of their

1217
00:55:51,948 --> 00:55:53,948
time coordinating the
government's response

1218
00:55:53,950 --> 00:55:55,390
to this situation.

1219
00:55:55,385 --> 00:55:56,155
Zeke.

1220
00:55:56,152 --> 00:55:56,682
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1221
00:55:56,686 --> 00:55:58,626
Just a quick one on Ebola and
then following up on Major.

1222
00:55:58,621 --> 00:56:02,091
On the military team that was
stood up or announced on Sunday

1223
00:56:02,092 --> 00:56:05,962
and is standing up to
augment the request at HHS,

1224
00:56:05,962 --> 00:56:08,062
was the President
involved in that decision?

1225
00:56:08,064 --> 00:56:09,834
And does it reflect sort of
a change in the President's

1226
00:56:09,833 --> 00:56:13,503
confidence level in the civilian
medical teams that are handling

1227
00:56:13,503 --> 00:56:16,503
Ebola, that there needs to
be a military sort of standby

1228
00:56:16,506 --> 00:56:20,146
readiness team to deal with any
sort of domestic outbreaks?

1229
00:56:20,143 --> 00:56:22,583
Mr. Earnest: I think what it
reflects is it reflects the

1230
00:56:22,579 --> 00:56:26,349
President's team following up
on his directive to pursue

1231
00:56:26,349 --> 00:56:28,849
a whole-of-government
approach to this response.

1232
00:56:28,852 --> 00:56:33,192
And in this case, the government
sought out resources that were

1233
00:56:33,189 --> 00:56:36,829
available inside the federal
government that could be used

1234
00:56:36,826 --> 00:56:43,036
to assist hospitals across the
country as they potentially

1235
00:56:43,032 --> 00:56:45,032
are in a position to
treat Ebola patients.

1236
00:56:45,034 --> 00:56:49,474
So I think this is an example of
the President and his team being

1237
00:56:49,472 --> 00:56:53,642
resourceful and seeking out
available expertise that

1238
00:56:53,643 --> 00:56:55,713
already existed inside
the federal government

1239
00:56:55,712 --> 00:56:58,212
and deploying it in a way
-- or at least making

1240
00:56:58,214 --> 00:57:01,054
it available to be deployed
in a way that would benefit

1241
00:57:01,050 --> 00:57:02,720
the American people.

1242
00:57:02,719 --> 00:57:03,249
The Press: All right.

1243
00:57:03,253 --> 00:57:04,623
And following up on Major's
line of questioning regarding

1244
00:57:04,621 --> 00:57:07,061
the President's travel for
political fundraisers,

1245
00:57:07,056 --> 00:57:10,456
would you concede that
this is one area where this

1246
00:57:10,460 --> 00:57:13,430
administration has -- the most
transparent administration in

1247
00:57:13,429 --> 00:57:16,499
history -- has not increased the
level of transparency in what

1248
00:57:16,499 --> 00:57:20,339
the President -- what Democratic
committees pay and what

1249
00:57:20,336 --> 00:57:22,606
taxpayers pay for the
President to go travel

1250
00:57:22,605 --> 00:57:23,705
for political events?

1251
00:57:23,706 --> 00:57:25,846
Mr. Earnest: If you will cite
at the same time one example

1252
00:57:25,842 --> 00:57:29,342
of where this administration has
exceeded the transparency

1253
00:57:29,345 --> 00:57:31,315
standards of previous
administrations --

1254
00:57:31,314 --> 00:57:33,314
The Press: -- fundraisers,
that's already been stipulated.

1255
00:57:33,316 --> 00:57:34,716
Mr. Earnest: Well, at
least the opening remarks.

1256
00:57:34,717 --> 00:57:36,587
(laughter)

1257
00:57:36,586 --> 00:57:39,586
The Press: Previous
administrations have had

1258
00:57:39,589 --> 00:57:42,229
the full pool into
private home fundraisers.

1259
00:57:42,225 --> 00:57:43,925
I've been there,
repeatedly, myself.

1260
00:57:43,927 --> 00:57:45,427
Mr. Earnest: Not consistently,
and that's something that this

1261
00:57:45,428 --> 00:57:46,258
administration has done.

1262
00:57:46,262 --> 00:57:47,162
The Press: (inaudible)

1263
00:57:47,163 --> 00:57:48,463
Mr. Earnest:
That's not true.

1264
00:57:48,464 --> 00:57:51,604
The Press: You're pointing out
these sort of transparency --

1265
00:57:51,601 --> 00:57:55,671
the FEC only reports
a very small window

1266
00:57:55,672 --> 00:57:59,572
into how much is
paid here and --

1267
00:57:59,576 --> 00:58:02,516
Mr. Earnest: What I will concede
is that the policy that we have

1268
00:58:02,512 --> 00:58:06,312
pursued is entirely consistent
with both the spirit and letter

1269
00:58:06,316 --> 00:58:09,716
of the existing law, and is
consistent with the policies

1270
00:58:09,719 --> 00:58:12,189
that were followed by
previous administrations.

1271
00:58:12,188 --> 00:58:14,188
The Press: And it's the
Counsel's Office that makes

1272
00:58:14,190 --> 00:58:16,190
the determination between what
is political, what isn't,

1273
00:58:16,192 --> 00:58:18,192
what the proper ratios
for these trips.

1274
00:58:18,194 --> 00:58:21,464
And if the White House is so
confident in its following

1275
00:58:21,464 --> 00:58:23,404
the letter of those laws,
why not open the books

1276
00:58:23,399 --> 00:58:25,499
and let the American
people see it?

1277
00:58:25,501 --> 00:58:27,171
What's the downside for the
administration if you're

1278
00:58:27,170 --> 00:58:28,500
following the law?

1279
00:58:28,504 --> 00:58:30,644
Mr. Earnest: At this case,
we are following the law.

1280
00:58:30,640 --> 00:58:32,680
That is disclosed
by the FEC.

1281
00:58:32,675 --> 00:58:34,815
I don't know if there's
a downside or not.

1282
00:58:34,811 --> 00:58:36,951
I'm not sure there's
an upside, either.

1283
00:58:36,946 --> 00:58:40,416
But there is
a specific --

1284
00:58:40,416 --> 00:58:42,416
The Press: Accountability
is the upside.

1285
00:58:42,418 --> 00:58:44,418
Mr. Earnest: And I think there
is accountability in terms

1286
00:58:44,420 --> 00:58:46,420
of following both the spirit
and letter of the law,

1287
00:58:46,422 --> 00:58:48,192
and particularly when it
comes to the disclosure

1288
00:58:48,191 --> 00:58:48,991
of those sums of money.

1289
00:58:48,992 --> 00:58:50,992
The Press: Does it follow
the spirit of a promise

1290
00:58:50,994 --> 00:58:55,434
by a President for the most
transparent administration ever?

1291
00:58:55,431 --> 00:58:56,431
Mr. Earnest: Yes.

1292
00:58:56,432 --> 00:58:57,132
Connie.

1293
00:58:57,133 --> 00:58:58,003
The Press: Thank you.

1294
00:58:58,001 --> 00:59:00,201
It's illegal for American
fighters to go over

1295
00:59:00,203 --> 00:59:02,703
and fight for ISIS,
certainly, but fighting

1296
00:59:02,705 --> 00:59:05,745
on the other side -- is
that an act of treason?

1297
00:59:05,742 --> 00:59:08,182
Mr. Earnest: You probably
have to consult a lawyer

1298
00:59:08,177 --> 00:59:10,377
in terms of figuring
all that out.

1299
00:59:10,380 --> 00:59:12,450
It sounds like it would be,
but I'm not an attorney

1300
00:59:12,448 --> 00:59:13,448
so I wouldn't
hazard a guess.

1301
00:59:13,449 --> 00:59:14,989
The Press: Could you check
and let us know, please?

1302
00:59:14,984 --> 00:59:16,054
Mr. Earnest: Why don't
you just check with

1303
00:59:16,052 --> 00:59:17,392
the Department of Justice
and maybe they can

1304
00:59:17,387 --> 00:59:19,187
give you a legal
conclusion there.

1305
00:59:19,188 --> 00:59:20,758
The Press: Is the U.S.
getting adequate intelligence

1306
00:59:20,757 --> 00:59:23,227
assistance from its allies?

1307
00:59:23,226 --> 00:59:25,926
Mr. Earnest: We certainly value
the kind of counterterrorism

1308
00:59:25,929 --> 00:59:28,629
partnership that we have with
members of our coalition

1309
00:59:28,631 --> 00:59:30,231
and with countries
around the world.

1310
00:59:30,233 --> 00:59:32,733
Those sorts of strong working
relationships and partnerships

1311
00:59:32,735 --> 00:59:35,705
are critical to American
national security,

1312
00:59:35,705 --> 00:59:38,005
and we have worked
aggressively

1313
00:59:38,007 --> 00:59:40,007
to try to strengthen
those partnerships.

1314
00:59:40,009 --> 00:59:42,609
And they certainly contribute
to the safety and security

1315
00:59:42,612 --> 00:59:44,612
of the American people and
our allies around the globe.

1316
00:59:44,614 --> 00:59:46,714
The Press: Josh, can you
explain why you said

1317
00:59:46,716 --> 00:59:48,156
Mark's statement
was not true?

1318
00:59:48,151 --> 00:59:50,651
Mr. Earnest: Because we
put in place a policy,

1319
00:59:50,653 --> 00:59:52,223
at the request of
the press corps,

1320
00:59:52,221 --> 00:59:55,461
who came to us and said at the
beginning of the administration

1321
00:59:55,458 --> 00:59:58,198
that reporters in the White
House Press Corps would like

1322
00:59:58,194 --> 01:00:00,634
to have greater access to
events in private homes

1323
01:00:00,630 --> 01:00:02,730
that they previously did
not have access to.

1324
01:00:02,732 --> 01:00:06,102
And so we agreed to put in place
a policy where consistent

1325
01:00:06,102 --> 01:00:08,442
access to those remarks
would be granted,

1326
01:00:08,438 --> 01:00:10,008
and that's something that we've
done since the first day.

1327
01:00:10,006 --> 01:00:10,906
The Press: But Mark
told you he had been

1328
01:00:10,907 --> 01:00:13,147
in previous
administrations --

1329
01:00:13,142 --> 01:00:14,212
Mr. Earnest: That's
not my understanding

1330
01:00:14,210 --> 01:00:15,980
of the previous policy.

1331
01:00:15,979 --> 01:00:17,149
Thank you, guys.

1332
01:00:17,146 --> 01:00:17,846
Have a good day.