English subtitles for clip: File:10-29-14- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Earnest: Good
afternoon, everybody.

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Yes?

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The Press: Is there
a game on tonight?

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Mr. Earnest: I'm sorry?

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The Press: Is there
a game on tonight?

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Mr. Earnest: There
is a game on tonight.

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I was hoping somebody
would mention this today

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so I wouldn't have to
awkwardly bring it up myself.

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But I did think I
would direct to your

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attention a document
that was crafted

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by then-Principal Deputy
Press Secretary Josh Earnest

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back at the end of March.

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(laughter)

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There
was, you may recall,

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a petition at "We
the People" urging

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the President to create
a national holiday

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on Opening Day, that this
should be a day that

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people could enjoy
the national pastime.

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The Press: Good idea.

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Mr. Earnest: It
is a good idea.

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I said as much in my
written response,

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so I will read just
part of it here.

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(laughter)

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Stick with me, you're
going to enjoy this.

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This will be
good, I promise.

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The Press: It's
quite a windup.

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Mr. Earnest: It is.

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There's more of
that to come.

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"While we're sympathetic
to your pitch

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to make Opening Day
a national holiday,

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it's a little
outside our strike zone.

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Creating permanent federal
holidays is traditionally the

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purview of Congress, so it's
up to the men and women

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of Capitol Hill to decide
whether to swing at this pitch.

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To celebrate Opening Day
-- earlier this spring --

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we'll be honoring the 2013
World Series Champions,

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the Boston Red Sox, here at
the White House on Tuesday."

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It was a great event; many
of you probably attended.

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"Meanwhile, I, Josh Earnest,
will spend that day visualizing

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what it would be like to welcome
my 2014 World Series Champion,

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Kansas City Royals,
to the White House.

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This is, after all, the
best part of Opening Day.

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Every team is tied for
first place and poised

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to make a run at
the fall classic."

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So while I previously
believed that Opening Day

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was the greatest day of the
baseball season,

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I can now revise my remarks to
say that the day of game seven,

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when your team is
in the World Series,

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is bar none the greatest
day in the baseball season.

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The Press: Did you
just jinx the Royals?

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Mr. Earnest: I don't -- I
think that they are on such

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a roll that there is nothing
I could say from here

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that's going to impact
their performance tonight.

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But I, like many people
across the country,

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will be rooting for
America's team tonight.

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So it should be good.

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(laughter)

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On to more serious
topics, I do have

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a quick announcement
at the top, Darlene,

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and then we'll let you get
us started with questions.

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The President believes that
expanding access to high-quality

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early childhood education is
among the smartest and most

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cost-effective investments
that America can make.

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That is why in his 2014
State of the Union Address,

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the President called for
expanding access to high-quality

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early childhood education
to every child in America.

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Since then, the President
has proposed a series

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of new investments in
early childhood education,

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and more than 30 states and
cities have established

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new programs or expanded
access to preschool.

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As a continued part
of this effort,

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on December 10th the
President will host

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a White House Summit
on Early Education.

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This summit will bring
together a broad coalition

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of philanthropic
business, education,

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advocacy and elected leaders, as
well as other stakeholders

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who are committed to expanding
access to high-quality

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early learning.

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During the summit, the President
will announce the states

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and communities that will
receive the $250 million

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in preschool development
grants, and $500 million

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in Early Head Start
Childcare Partnership awards

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to enhance and expand
preschool programs

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to improve access to
high-quality infant

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and toddler care in
high-need communities.

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In addition to these
grant announcements,

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the President will,
as you would expect,

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highlight new private sector
commitments to expand

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children's early
learning opportunities.

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We'll have more details on the
summit in the weeks to come,

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but certainly it's something
to mark on your calendar.

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December 10th is the day; it
will be here at the White House.

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You've heard the President talk
in the past about what

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the statistics show about
children that do have access

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to a high-quality early
childhood education;

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that going through these
programs correlates strongly

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with higher literacy
and graduation rates

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and, interestingly,
with lower dropout,

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teen pregnancy and
incarceration rates.

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So this is a worthy investment
that many Republicans

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in states across the country
have strongly advocated.

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The President is advocating
them in Washington,

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D.C. And I would anticipate
that you'll hear the President

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talk about this quite a
bit in the year to come,

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but you can look forward to the
President talking about

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it on December 10th of
this year as well.

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So with that long
windup, Darlene,

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I'll let you
get started.

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That's the last
baseball reference

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of the whole
briefing, I promise.

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The Press: There's also
tomorrow's briefing.

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Mr. Earnest:
Well, there is.

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(laughter)

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The Press: Is it
appropriate for

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a senior administration
official to refer

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to the Israeli Prime
Minister as "chicken..." ?

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And does that description
represent the view of the

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administration at-large up to
and including the President?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Darlene, as
a general matter not related to

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that story, I'll tell you that
my job often involves taking

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the product that you just
described and turning

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it into chicken salad.

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So I will do my best to
answer your question

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in a straightforward way.

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The fact is that comments
like that do not reflect

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the administration's
view, and we do believe

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that they are
counterproductive.

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The Prime Minister and the
President have forged

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an effective partnership.

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They consult closely
and frequently,

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and did so as recently
as this month here

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at the White House in
the Oval Office.

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There is a very close
relationship between

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the United States and
Israel, but that close

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relationship does not
mean that we paper

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over our differences.

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The fact is, the United States
has repeatedly made clear our

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view that settlement activity is
illegitimate and only serves

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to complicate efforts to
achieve a two-state solution

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in the region.

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The United States and --
the relationship between

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the United States and Israel
is as strong as ever.

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The security bonds between our
two nations are unbreakable.

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And there are strong links
between our two countries

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that aren't just historic,
but are also persistent.

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And I think the best
illustration of that

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is something that
will occur here

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in Washington, D.C.
starting tomorrow.

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The President's National
Security Advisor, Susan Rice,

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will be hosting her counterpart,
the Israeli National Security

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Advisor, Yossi Cohen, and a
senior delegation of Israeli

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officials for the U.S.-Israel
Consultative Group Meeting.

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This is a biannual meeting in
which senior officials from the

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United States and Israel meet
to engage in consultations

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on a broad range of regional
and bilateral issues.

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It serves -- this meeting -- and
the fact that it occurs every

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six months -- serves as a
testament to the unprecedented

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level of coordination
and cooperation between

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the United States and
Israel, and between

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the President of
the United States

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and the Prime
Minister of Israel.

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The Press: Speaker Boehner just
issued a pretty strong statement

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where he said the President
is the one who sets the tone

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in the administration, and that
an administration official

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who would say something
like this should basically

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be shown the door.

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So does the President
know who said this,

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and will there be any sort of
consequences for that person?

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Mr. Earnest: It's an interesting
observation by the Speaker

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of the House whom you all
know has a penchant for

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using some pretty salty
language himself.

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So it's a little rich
to have a lecture about

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profanity from the
Speaker of the House.

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The Press: Has he
ever said that about

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a prime minister or
a president?

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Mr. Earnest: I don't know,
you'd have to ask him.

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I know that he said
that -- or at least --

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The Press: You're making
a direct comparison.

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Mr. Earnest: He has
reportedly said that about

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the Majority Leader of
the United States Senate.

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And as long as we're
talking about respect,

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I think that's notable.

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But I will say as a general
matter that I am not

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aware of who made those
comments to Mr. Goldberg.

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I do not know if the
President knows who made

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those comments; I would
be surprised if he did.

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But the fact is anonymous
comments like that

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on a range of issues are
not particularly unique.

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A lot of you spend a lot of
time talking to administration

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officials and trying to
discern what those

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individuals have to say -- or
what those individuals have

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to say and how it reflects
on the United States policy.

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And what I can tell you here,
on the record and on camera,

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is that those comments do not
reflect the United States

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position and they do not
reflect the personal views

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of the President of
the United States.

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Again, and I would point to
the recent meeting that the

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President convened with the
Prime Minister of Israel in his

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office earlier this
month as an indication

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of the strong relationship
between the two men.

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It's often been
observed that

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the President of the
United States has spoken

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to no world leader more often than Prime Minister Netanyahu.

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That's a relatively arbitrary
metric -- I would concede that

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on the front end -- but I do
think that it illustrates

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the nature of the relationship
that exists between

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President Obama and Prime
Minister Netanyahu.

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This is a critically
important relationship.

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The United States is as
committed as it has ever been

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to the security of Israel.

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You'll recall that earlier this
summer the President signed

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legislation that had been
requested by the administration

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to spend $225 million on an Iron
Dome system to protect Israeli

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citizens from rockets being
fired by extremists in Gaza.

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That is another illustration of
the strong and enduring security

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relationship that exists between
the United States and Israel,

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and the fact that the Obama
administration specifically

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requested this funding I think
is indicative of the President's

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own personal commitment to
the enduring security bond

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between the United
States and Israel.

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The Press: Is it true that
Russia was behind the attempt

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to get into the White
House computer system?

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And do you know if the hackers
were going after something

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specific or was that intrusion
sort of a phishing expedition?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, what
I can tell you, Darlene,

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is that the White House has
detected some activity

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of concern on the
White House network.

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There is an ongoing effort
to evaluate that activity

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and to mitigate the risk
associated with that activity.

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In the context of those efforts,
the administration is continuing

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to learn all we can about
where those activities

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originated and what sort
of methods are associated

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with those activities.

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It would be unwise, I think
for rather obvious reasons,

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for me to discuss from here
what we have learned so far.

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So what I can tell you as
a general matter, though,

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is something that will not be
particularly surprising to you.

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There are many people around the
world who would love to gain

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greater insight into the
activities of the United States

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government by collecting
information from

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the White House network.

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That is why our network is
subject to daily cyber-attacks,

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or at least efforts
to infiltrate it.

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00:11:38,397 --> 00:11:44,703
And that means the White House
and our -- the government

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00:11:44,703 --> 00:11:47,673
components that are responsible
for cybersecurity are ever

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00:11:47,673 --> 00:11:52,111
vigilant in terms of assessing
and reassessing and updating

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00:11:52,111 --> 00:11:57,183
the security posture around
the White House network.

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And we take these kinds of
activities very seriously.

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00:12:00,953 --> 00:12:08,260
And while we have been aware of
these activities for some time,

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00:12:08,260 --> 00:12:11,630
it has not affected the
ability -- aside from some

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00:12:11,630 --> 00:12:15,067
inconveniences -- it has not
affected the ability of White

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00:12:15,067 --> 00:12:18,871
House staffers and others who
use the White House network

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00:12:18,871 --> 00:12:20,872
to carry out the important
work that's done here

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00:12:20,873 --> 00:12:22,875
on a daily basis.

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00:12:22,875 --> 00:12:24,410
Roberta.

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00:12:24,410 --> 00:12:29,014
The Press: About a year ago,
the White House investigated

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00:12:29,014 --> 00:12:32,318
the source of some other
anonymous comments,

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00:12:32,318 --> 00:12:35,353
a person who was tweeting
anonymously and directing

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00:12:35,354 --> 00:12:38,424
vitriol at White
House officials,

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00:12:38,424 --> 00:12:41,026
and made sure that that
person was punished,

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00:12:41,026 --> 00:12:42,560
was fired, lost
their job.

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00:12:42,561 --> 00:12:45,097
So is the White House
committed to seeking out

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00:12:45,097 --> 00:12:49,300
who made these comments,
the "chickenshit" comment,

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00:12:49,301 --> 00:12:51,237
and punishing that person?

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00:12:51,237 --> 00:12:56,275
Mr. Earnest: Well, Roberta, what
I can tell you is that even your

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00:12:56,275 --> 00:13:01,380
news organization can evaluate
the fact that anonymous

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00:13:01,380 --> 00:13:07,553
comments that are contrary
to administration policy

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00:13:07,553 --> 00:13:09,155
are not particularly unique.

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00:13:09,155 --> 00:13:11,524
I don't know if they're
a daily occurrence.

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00:13:11,524 --> 00:13:14,960
They may not rise to the
level of the comments that

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00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:17,563
you're citing today, perhaps
because the comments

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00:13:17,563 --> 00:13:19,732
that you're citing today
are rather colorful.

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00:13:19,732 --> 00:13:26,238
But what I can tell you is that
in the clearest terms possible,

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00:13:26,238 --> 00:13:29,675
in the most open forum
possible, that those comments,

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00:13:29,675 --> 00:13:34,413
as they were reported, do not
accurately reflect at all

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00:13:34,413 --> 00:13:39,618
this administration's view
about the nation of Israel,

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00:13:39,618 --> 00:13:42,755
the strength of the relationship
between our two countries,

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00:13:42,755 --> 00:13:45,724
or the leadership of
that important ally.

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00:13:45,724 --> 00:13:49,395
The Press: But can you say
whether the White House is going

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00:13:49,395 --> 00:13:52,831
to attempt to find out who said
it and punish that person?

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00:13:52,831 --> 00:13:55,000
Mr. Earnest: I don't know
of any effort like that

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00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:57,102
that's underway right now.

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00:13:57,102 --> 00:14:00,738
Again, there are anonymous
comments like this that are

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00:14:00,739 --> 00:14:03,842
shared with reporters
like yourself

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00:14:03,842 --> 00:14:05,644
on a pretty regular basis.

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00:14:05,644 --> 00:14:09,181
And what we have found to be the
most effective tactic is to help

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00:14:09,181 --> 00:14:12,718
all of you understand the proper
context for those comments.

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00:14:12,718 --> 00:14:14,920
In this case, I'm not sure there
is a proper context for those

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00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:21,492
comments because they are
so directly in opposition

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00:14:21,493 --> 00:14:26,699
to the true view and policy
of this administration.

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00:14:26,699 --> 00:14:28,500
The Press: I want to turn
to Ebola for a second.

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00:14:28,500 --> 00:14:32,137
What does the White House think
of the state of Maine saying

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00:14:32,137 --> 00:14:36,507
that it's going to pursue Kaci
Hickox over her quarantine?

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00:14:36,508 --> 00:14:43,482
And has Ron Klain spoken to
Maine officials about this?

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00:14:43,482 --> 00:14:45,550
Mr. Earnest: I don't know the
nature of any conversations

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00:14:45,551 --> 00:14:48,220
between the White House
and officials in Maine.

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00:14:48,220 --> 00:14:51,257
I'd refer you to the CDC for
any conversations that may have

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00:14:51,257 --> 00:14:56,161
occurred or may have taken place
between health care experts

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00:14:56,161 --> 00:14:58,731
at the CDC and public
health officials in Maine.

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00:15:00,866 --> 00:15:05,237
The policy that this
administration rolled out just

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00:15:05,237 --> 00:15:08,373
in the last week or so, as it
relates to health care workers,

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00:15:08,374 --> 00:15:12,311
was to ensure that state
and local officials had the

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00:15:12,311 --> 00:15:16,115
information that they need
to use their authority

304
00:15:16,115 --> 00:15:20,085
and judgment to protect the
citizens of their state.

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00:15:20,085 --> 00:15:25,157
That involved enhanced screening
measures that took the

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00:15:25,157 --> 00:15:27,259
temperature of those
individuals who were entering

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00:15:27,259 --> 00:15:29,628
the United States who
had recently traveled

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00:15:29,628 --> 00:15:30,796
in West Africa.

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00:15:30,796 --> 00:15:34,199
It also involved collecting the
contact information and travel

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00:15:34,199 --> 00:15:39,103
plans of those individuals who
fell into a certain category.

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00:15:39,104 --> 00:15:42,141
And that information has been
shared and will continue

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00:15:42,141 --> 00:15:44,142
to be shared with state and
local officials so that they

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00:15:44,143 --> 00:15:47,012
can take the steps that
they believe are necessary

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00:15:47,012 --> 00:15:49,747
to protect the citizens
in their state.

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00:15:49,748 --> 00:15:51,750
But as it relates to any
specific conversations that

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00:15:51,750 --> 00:15:55,888
occurred between the White
House and Maine officials,

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00:15:55,888 --> 00:15:57,890
I just don't have any
information for you on that.

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00:15:57,890 --> 00:15:59,124
The Press: And no comments
on what's happening

319
00:15:59,124 --> 00:16:01,660
in Maine with the public
fight that's happening

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00:16:01,660 --> 00:16:05,430
between Kaci Hickox
and the state?

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00:16:05,431 --> 00:16:07,966
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, the
CDC has laid out very clear

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00:16:07,966 --> 00:16:10,669
guidelines that they
believe should be in place.

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00:16:10,669 --> 00:16:13,972
These are guidelines that were
driven by science and by the

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00:16:13,972 --> 00:16:16,842
scientific knowledge that's been
gained in the four decades

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00:16:16,842 --> 00:16:20,946
that scientists have been
fighting Ebola outbreaks.

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00:16:20,946 --> 00:16:23,849
And we have put in place
policies that reflect that

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00:16:23,849 --> 00:16:27,186
guidance and collected
information that will make

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00:16:27,186 --> 00:16:31,857
it possible for state and local
officials to take the kinds

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00:16:31,857 --> 00:16:33,858
of steps that they
believe are necessary

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00:16:33,859 --> 00:16:37,129
to protect the citizens
in their state.

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00:16:37,129 --> 00:16:38,163
Jim.

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00:16:38,163 --> 00:16:41,200
The Press: Josh, getting back
to that comment that rhymes

333
00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:44,370
with chicken spit,
we're just wondering,

334
00:16:44,370 --> 00:16:46,839
have you been able to
determine whether or not that

335
00:16:46,839 --> 00:16:49,241
comment was even made?

336
00:16:49,241 --> 00:16:50,008
Mr. Earnest: I have not, Jim.

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00:16:50,008 --> 00:16:52,778
I don't say that to question
the reporting of somebody

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00:16:52,778 --> 00:16:54,780
like Mr. Goldberg, who
obviously is a very

339
00:16:54,780 --> 00:16:56,781
well-respected journalist
here in Washington.

340
00:16:56,782 --> 00:16:58,784
He is somebody that has
a lot of sources

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00:16:58,784 --> 00:17:00,252
inside the administration.

342
00:17:00,252 --> 00:17:03,955
So I didn't come here seeking
to undermine his reporting.

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00:17:03,956 --> 00:17:06,592
I came here to make
sure that all of you,

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00:17:06,592 --> 00:17:09,128
that all of your viewers
understand what the policy is --

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00:17:09,127 --> 00:17:13,232
of the United States is as
it relates to Israel

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00:17:13,232 --> 00:17:15,834
and the service of Prime
Minister Netanyahu.

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00:17:15,834 --> 00:17:18,971
The fact is the United States
and Israel have an unshakeable

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00:17:18,971 --> 00:17:23,275
bond, and that the security
cooperation that is underway

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00:17:23,275 --> 00:17:28,347
between officials in
the Israeli government,

350
00:17:28,347 --> 00:17:31,884
up to and including Prime
Minister Netanyahu,

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00:17:31,884 --> 00:17:34,887
and officials in the
United States government,

352
00:17:34,887 --> 00:17:36,822
up to and including
President Obama,

353
00:17:36,822 --> 00:17:40,158
indicate a very close
coordination when

354
00:17:40,159 --> 00:17:42,628
it comes to matters
related to security.

355
00:17:42,628 --> 00:17:45,531
There are also a range of
regional matters where the

356
00:17:45,531 --> 00:17:49,967
United States works closely with
our allies in Israel to ensure

357
00:17:49,968 --> 00:17:55,107
that we're advancing the
kinds of policies that

358
00:17:55,107 --> 00:18:00,412
will benefit our
ally in Israel.

359
00:18:00,412 --> 00:18:03,215
The Press: And Prime Minister
Netanyahu responded to this

360
00:18:03,215 --> 00:18:05,884
by saying, "I'm not willing
to make concessions

361
00:18:05,884 --> 00:18:07,886
that would endanger
our country."

362
00:18:07,886 --> 00:18:12,424
He does have the sense that that
is what the United States wants

363
00:18:12,424 --> 00:18:15,093
him to do -- to make concessions
that he believes would endanger

364
00:18:15,093 --> 00:18:16,895
the people of Israel.

365
00:18:16,895 --> 00:18:18,897
Do you take
issue with that?

366
00:18:18,897 --> 00:18:20,399
Mr. Earnest: I think
what I would say, Jim,

367
00:18:20,399 --> 00:18:22,434
is something that Prime Minister
Netanyahu himself would agree

368
00:18:22,434 --> 00:18:25,537
with, which is it is the view
of the United States of America

369
00:18:25,537 --> 00:18:32,411
that a two-state solution to the
dispute between the Palestinian

370
00:18:32,411 --> 00:18:35,814
people and the nation
of Israel is one that

371
00:18:35,814 --> 00:18:40,118
is best resolved through
a two-state solution.

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00:18:40,118 --> 00:18:45,424
We believe that the
nation of Israel,

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00:18:45,424 --> 00:18:49,228
living -- a secure
Jewish state of Israel,

374
00:18:49,228 --> 00:18:55,334
living side by side in peace
with a secure Palestinian state

375
00:18:55,334 --> 00:18:59,538
is one that is in the best
interest of both sides.

376
00:18:59,538 --> 00:19:03,509
Prime Minister Netanyahu
himself has publicly indicated

377
00:19:03,509 --> 00:19:05,344
that he shares that view.

378
00:19:05,344 --> 00:19:10,282
And that is the resolution that
folks like Secretary of State

379
00:19:10,282 --> 00:19:14,586
John Kerry have worked
assiduously to achieve.

380
00:19:14,586 --> 00:19:16,088
The Press: And should the
President call Prime Minister

381
00:19:16,088 --> 00:19:20,259
Netanyahu and apologize on
behalf of this official

382
00:19:20,259 --> 00:19:21,660
who made this comment?

383
00:19:21,660 --> 00:19:24,229
Mr. Earnest: I don't have
any calls on the President's

384
00:19:24,229 --> 00:19:28,700
schedule to tell you about, but
I think -- I can confidently

385
00:19:28,700 --> 00:19:31,837
say that based on the numerous
conversations that President

386
00:19:31,837 --> 00:19:35,674
Obama and Prime Minister
Netanyahu have held,

387
00:19:35,674 --> 00:19:38,844
that the Prime Minister is
well aware of the value that

388
00:19:38,844 --> 00:19:41,713
President Obama personally
places on the strength

389
00:19:41,713 --> 00:19:43,649
of the relationship between
the United States and Israel.

390
00:19:43,649 --> 00:19:45,316
The Press: And what about
their personal relationship?

391
00:19:45,317 --> 00:19:47,686
Because I mean, it
goes without saying,

392
00:19:47,686 --> 00:19:50,621
and many people have made this
observation so it's not new to

393
00:19:50,622 --> 00:19:53,125
you that the President and the
Prime Minister just have sort

394
00:19:53,125 --> 00:19:54,993
of an icy relationship.

395
00:19:54,993 --> 00:19:59,231
Is that a fair assessment?

396
00:19:59,231 --> 00:20:01,233
Mr. Earnest: That's not the
way that I would describe it.

397
00:20:01,233 --> 00:20:04,669
I think that the -- again,
the President has spoken

398
00:20:04,670 --> 00:20:07,673
to president -- I'm sorry, the
President -- President Obama

399
00:20:07,673 --> 00:20:10,375
has spoken to President
-- I'll get it right.

400
00:20:10,375 --> 00:20:13,178
President Obama has spoken to
Prime Minister Netanyahu

401
00:20:13,178 --> 00:20:16,014
more times than any
other world leader.

402
00:20:16,014 --> 00:20:18,550
That is an indication of the
very close coordination

403
00:20:18,550 --> 00:20:22,687
that is underway and
enduring between

404
00:20:22,688 --> 00:20:26,124
President Obama and Prime
Minister Netanyahu.

405
00:20:26,124 --> 00:20:28,860
This is the kind of
relationship that exists

406
00:20:28,860 --> 00:20:31,096
between the United
States and Israel.

407
00:20:31,096 --> 00:20:35,567
Those deep bonds that I have
referred to are enduring.

408
00:20:35,567 --> 00:20:39,471
They transcend
individual presidencies.

409
00:20:39,471 --> 00:20:41,573
And the fact of the
matter is President Obama

410
00:20:41,573 --> 00:20:45,544
has worked hard to strengthen
that relationship.

411
00:20:45,544 --> 00:20:48,213
And I know that my
predecessor, Mr. Carney,

412
00:20:48,213 --> 00:20:51,683
used to tell the story of Prime
Minister Netanyahu standing

413
00:20:51,683 --> 00:20:55,587
aside -- standing side by side
with Vice President Biden

414
00:20:55,587 --> 00:20:58,790
observing that no American
administration had ever done

415
00:20:58,790 --> 00:21:01,426
as much as the Obama
administration to invest

416
00:21:01,426 --> 00:21:03,928
in the safety and security
of the Israeli people.

417
00:21:03,929 --> 00:21:08,500
And, again, that is a testament
to the long-term relationship

418
00:21:08,500 --> 00:21:10,636
that exists between the
United States and Israel,

419
00:21:10,636 --> 00:21:13,605
and it's a testament to the
priority that this President

420
00:21:13,605 --> 00:21:18,710
places on the security of our
ally, the nation of Israel.

421
00:21:18,710 --> 00:21:22,781
The Press: And on the
computer-network intrusion,

422
00:21:22,781 --> 00:21:26,451
are you saying that the
White House does not know

423
00:21:26,451 --> 00:21:28,987
who is behind it?

424
00:21:28,987 --> 00:21:30,889
Mr. Earnest: I'm saying
that it would be unwise for

425
00:21:30,889 --> 00:21:33,891
me to discuss right now
what exactly that we know.

426
00:21:33,892 --> 00:21:37,763
And the reason for that is
simply that we have taken steps

427
00:21:37,763 --> 00:21:42,333
to evaluate this activity
of concern and to mitigate

428
00:21:42,334 --> 00:21:44,870
the risk associated
with that activity.

429
00:21:44,870 --> 00:21:49,908
Our efforts are ongoing, and by
publicly revealing what

430
00:21:49,908 --> 00:21:53,145
we know it might affect our
ability to learn more.

431
00:21:53,145 --> 00:21:54,312
The Press: It's pretty
widely known, though,

432
00:21:54,312 --> 00:21:58,850
that the Russians have
been pretty prolific

433
00:21:58,850 --> 00:22:02,187
in terms of hacking
in recent months.

434
00:22:02,187 --> 00:22:04,723
It's a major concern up
on Capitol Hill among

435
00:22:04,723 --> 00:22:06,224
members of the
Intelligence Committee.

436
00:22:06,224 --> 00:22:08,193
They've talked about it.

437
00:22:08,193 --> 00:22:13,165
Does the White House share that
view about Russian hackers?

438
00:22:13,165 --> 00:22:14,633
I'm not specifically
talking about this case,

439
00:22:14,633 --> 00:22:19,638
but that they have been wreaking
a lot of havoc in networks --

440
00:22:19,638 --> 00:22:21,473
in government networks
in the United States

441
00:22:21,473 --> 00:22:23,975
and among U.S. allies.

442
00:22:23,975 --> 00:22:25,243
Mr. Earnest: Jim, what I would
say about that is there

443
00:22:25,243 --> 00:22:29,081
are a number of nations and
organizations around the globe

444
00:22:29,081 --> 00:22:34,453
that are engaged in efforts
to collect information about

445
00:22:34,453 --> 00:22:36,620
U.S. government activity.

446
00:22:36,621 --> 00:22:38,990
And it's not a surprise
-- we're certainly aware

447
00:22:38,990 --> 00:22:42,294
of the fact that those
individuals or organizations,

448
00:22:42,294 --> 00:22:45,397
or even countries, might
view the White House

449
00:22:45,397 --> 00:22:48,265
computer network as a valuable
source of information.

450
00:22:48,266 --> 00:22:52,003
And that is why we remain
vigilant about ensuring that

451
00:22:52,003 --> 00:22:53,271
that network is protected.

452
00:22:53,271 --> 00:22:56,341
We're constantly evaluating
the security posture,

453
00:22:56,341 --> 00:23:00,911
updating it and tweaking it
where necessary to ensure the --

454
00:23:00,912 --> 00:23:02,080
The Press: And the system
wasn't shut down here?

455
00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:05,751
People were able to use -- I
know that the White House said

456
00:23:05,751 --> 00:23:07,918
last night that there was no
damage done to the network.

457
00:23:07,919 --> 00:23:10,322
But did it harm the ability of
people in this administration

458
00:23:10,322 --> 00:23:12,991
to do critical, important
work of the U.S. government

459
00:23:12,991 --> 00:23:14,626
for a period of time?

460
00:23:14,626 --> 00:23:20,699
Mr. Earnest: There were some
steps that were taken to -- that

461
00:23:20,699 --> 00:23:24,069
did have an impact on day-to-day
activities at the White House.

462
00:23:24,069 --> 00:23:28,005
But I would describe those
impacts more as an inconvenience

463
00:23:28,006 --> 00:23:29,374
than anything else.

464
00:23:29,374 --> 00:23:36,815
And those steps were taken
specifically to respond to this

465
00:23:36,815 --> 00:23:40,418
activity of concern and to
further our efforts to evaluate

466
00:23:40,418 --> 00:23:42,853
that activity and to
mitigate the risk associated

467
00:23:42,854 --> 00:23:44,389
with that activity.

468
00:23:44,389 --> 00:23:49,660
The inconvenience that I
described was not the result of

469
00:23:49,661 --> 00:23:53,899
this activity of concern, but
rather was a response to it.

470
00:23:53,899 --> 00:23:56,534
Let's move around
just a little bit.

471
00:23:56,535 --> 00:23:57,903
Richard.

472
00:23:57,903 --> 00:23:58,436
The Press: Thank you, Josh.

473
00:23:58,436 --> 00:24:01,673
I would just like to know about
more than what we witnessed

474
00:24:01,673 --> 00:24:03,275
last week in Ottawa.

475
00:24:03,275 --> 00:24:07,245
Information, intelligence
reached the administration

476
00:24:07,245 --> 00:24:11,149
to ask for an
increase of security

477
00:24:11,149 --> 00:24:14,319
around public buildings.

478
00:24:14,319 --> 00:24:16,154
Mr. Earnest: Richard, it won't
surprise you to hear that I'm

479
00:24:16,154 --> 00:24:18,690
not in a position to talk about
intelligence information that

480
00:24:18,690 --> 00:24:21,560
may have been shared by
our partners in Canada.

481
00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:25,597
There is a very close
security and counterterrorism

482
00:24:25,597 --> 00:24:32,270
relationship between U.S.
and Canadian officials.

483
00:24:32,270 --> 00:24:34,973
U.S. officials, particularly
in recent days,

484
00:24:34,973 --> 00:24:37,008
have been in very frequent touch
with their counterparts

485
00:24:37,008 --> 00:24:42,614
in Canada to respond to the
tragic incidents of last week,

486
00:24:42,614 --> 00:24:47,152
and to try to address any
ongoing threats that may exist

487
00:24:47,152 --> 00:24:49,287
either to Canadian people
or to the Canadian people.

488
00:24:49,287 --> 00:24:54,226
So those conversations
continue on a regular basis,

489
00:24:54,226 --> 00:24:56,394
but I'm not in a
position to detail them.

490
00:24:56,394 --> 00:24:59,064
For the decision that the
Secretary of Homeland Security

491
00:24:59,064 --> 00:25:02,400
made to change the security
posture at some government

492
00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:05,370
facilities in the U.S., I'd
refer you to the Department

493
00:25:05,370 --> 00:25:07,171
of Homeland Security who may
be able to provide you some

494
00:25:07,172 --> 00:25:11,109
additional information about why
those prudent steps were taken.

495
00:25:11,109 --> 00:25:12,944
The Press: If I
understand you well,

496
00:25:12,944 --> 00:25:16,147
even not getting into
details, information came

497
00:25:16,147 --> 00:25:20,918
from Canada, like informing
the U.S. to be careful?

498
00:25:20,919 --> 00:25:22,921
General information, even if
you don't get into detail.

499
00:25:22,921 --> 00:25:24,923
Mr. Earnest: I just don't think
that I would be in a position

500
00:25:24,923 --> 00:25:27,492
to characterize the
conversations between

501
00:25:27,492 --> 00:25:29,494
counterterrorism
officials in the U.S.

502
00:25:29,494 --> 00:25:32,697
and counterterrorism officials
in Canada, even at that level.

503
00:25:32,697 --> 00:25:37,735
It's a sensitive communication,
and it speaks to the depth

504
00:25:37,736 --> 00:25:41,206
of trust and coordination
that exists between

505
00:25:41,206 --> 00:25:43,675
U.S. and Canadian
counterterrorism officials.

506
00:25:43,675 --> 00:25:46,043
Those conversations are
going on all the time.

507
00:25:46,044 --> 00:25:48,546
They certainly have
ramped up in recent days

508
00:25:48,546 --> 00:25:50,548
in light of the
events that you cite.

509
00:25:50,548 --> 00:25:53,351
But even when -- for lack of a
better description -- no one

510
00:25:53,351 --> 00:25:57,689
else is paying attention, our
officials here in the U.S.

511
00:25:57,689 --> 00:26:00,892
work closely with Canadian
officials to protect

512
00:26:00,892 --> 00:26:02,861
the populations of both
of our countries.

513
00:26:02,861 --> 00:26:05,063
The Press: Just to conclude --
so you would consider this,

514
00:26:05,063 --> 00:26:10,936
this strong mutual trust in the
fight against terrorist threats?

515
00:26:10,936 --> 00:26:15,005
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, it
is our view that the close

516
00:26:15,006 --> 00:26:17,542
coordination that exists between
Canadian counterterrorism

517
00:26:17,542 --> 00:26:19,644
officials and American
counterterrorism officials

518
00:26:19,644 --> 00:26:23,949
strongly benefits the safety
and security of the people

519
00:26:23,949 --> 00:26:26,451
of Canada and the people of
the United States of America.

520
00:26:26,451 --> 00:26:27,485
Ron.

521
00:26:27,485 --> 00:26:28,820
The Press: Ebola.

522
00:26:28,820 --> 00:26:31,489
The President is going to
highlight the role of people

523
00:26:31,489 --> 00:26:33,458
who he describes as heroes
-- the eight workers

524
00:26:33,458 --> 00:26:35,226
on the front lines there.

525
00:26:35,226 --> 00:26:36,728
And you and others have
said repeatedly that

526
00:26:36,728 --> 00:26:40,966
the key to stopping this
epidemic is to at the source

527
00:26:40,966 --> 00:26:44,034
put soldiers on the
ground, if you will.

528
00:26:44,035 --> 00:26:46,671
Is there anything specific that
the administration is doing to

529
00:26:46,671 --> 00:26:51,142
encourage or to facilitate
more medical personnel going

530
00:26:51,142 --> 00:26:55,380
to the hot zone to deal with
the Ebola crisis besides

531
00:26:55,380 --> 00:26:56,681
highlighting their role?

532
00:26:56,681 --> 00:27:00,118
Because clearly this is, as
you would no doubt agree,

533
00:27:00,118 --> 00:27:02,253
the key to stopping
this epidemic.

534
00:27:02,253 --> 00:27:05,122
Mr. Earnest: Well, let me
say two things about that.

535
00:27:05,123 --> 00:27:07,192
First, let me agree
with what you've said,

536
00:27:07,192 --> 00:27:11,162
which is that what the
scientists tell us is that

537
00:27:11,162 --> 00:27:13,631
the only way that we
can entirely eliminate

538
00:27:13,631 --> 00:27:16,034
the risk posed by the Ebola
virus to the American people

539
00:27:16,034 --> 00:27:18,770
is to stop this
outbreak at the source.

540
00:27:18,770 --> 00:27:21,840
There are previous Ebola
outbreaks in West Africa that

541
00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:23,742
have been stopped.

542
00:27:23,742 --> 00:27:26,378
Those previous efforts
required significant

543
00:27:26,378 --> 00:27:31,015
international commitments,
and this one will too.

544
00:27:31,016 --> 00:27:34,686
So let me first say that the
United States has made

545
00:27:34,686 --> 00:27:36,687
the greatest commitment to
stopping this outbreak.

546
00:27:36,688 --> 00:27:41,659
The most important investment
that anyone has made to stopping

547
00:27:41,659 --> 00:27:44,029
this outbreak is the investment
that was made by the President

548
00:27:44,029 --> 00:27:47,532
of the United States of
Department of Defense resources

549
00:27:47,532 --> 00:27:51,136
to add some logistical expertise
to West Africa to speed

550
00:27:51,136 --> 00:27:55,473
the flow of supplies, equipment
and personnel to the region.

551
00:27:55,473 --> 00:28:00,145
So much of what we see in West
Africa is a logistical challenge

552
00:28:00,145 --> 00:28:02,180
-- that we know how to
stop an Ebola outbreak,

553
00:28:02,180 --> 00:28:05,817
but it requires the significant
mobilization of health care

554
00:28:05,817 --> 00:28:09,354
workers and the
equipment that they need

555
00:28:09,354 --> 00:28:11,256
to do their job safely.

556
00:28:11,256 --> 00:28:14,793
So the Department of
Defense, while not being

557
00:28:14,793 --> 00:28:17,995
responsible for treating
Ebola patients directly,

558
00:28:17,996 --> 00:28:21,232
can be of significant assistance
to those health care workers

559
00:28:21,232 --> 00:28:24,702
who are already on the ground
moving around the region,

560
00:28:24,702 --> 00:28:26,704
having facilities
where they can work,

561
00:28:26,704 --> 00:28:28,706
and having access to the
equipment that they need

562
00:28:28,706 --> 00:28:30,707
to do their job safely
and successfully.

563
00:28:30,708 --> 00:28:32,710
At the same time, let me say --
the other thing that I think is

564
00:28:32,710 --> 00:28:36,381
also important here is, it is
important for us to understand

565
00:28:36,381 --> 00:28:40,385
the valuable contribution,
sacrifice even,

566
00:28:40,385 --> 00:28:43,455
that is made by health care
workers who volunteer their

567
00:28:43,455 --> 00:28:46,758
time to travel to West Africa
to work in very difficult

568
00:28:46,758 --> 00:28:49,094
conditions to try to
stop the Ebola outbreak.

569
00:28:49,094 --> 00:28:54,966
And that is a reflection
of the kind of generosity

570
00:28:54,966 --> 00:28:59,003
that is worthy of our
praise and respect.

571
00:28:59,003 --> 00:29:02,307
And that is part of what is
motivating the President's

572
00:29:02,307 --> 00:29:04,075
activities today.

573
00:29:04,075 --> 00:29:06,478
One point of interest: The
President will be introduced

574
00:29:06,478 --> 00:29:09,848
today by Dr. Kent Brantly,
who, as you probably remember,

575
00:29:09,848 --> 00:29:12,117
contracted Ebola while
working on the front lines

576
00:29:12,117 --> 00:29:14,284
against the disease
in West Africa.

577
00:29:14,285 --> 00:29:16,754
Dr. Brantly was the first person
with Ebola to be treated

578
00:29:16,754 --> 00:29:19,157
in the United States, when
he was evacuated from

579
00:29:19,157 --> 00:29:21,759
Liberia to Emory
University Hospital.

580
00:29:21,759 --> 00:29:24,295
Since beating the disease, Dr.
Brantly has also generously

581
00:29:24,295 --> 00:29:27,198
donated blood plasma to
other Ebola patients,

582
00:29:27,198 --> 00:29:28,333
all of whom have recovered.

583
00:29:28,333 --> 00:29:30,335
The Press: I recently
spoke with Dr. Rick Sacra,

584
00:29:30,335 --> 00:29:32,704
who is another survivor, and he
and others have said that

585
00:29:32,704 --> 00:29:35,673
all this logistical support
is certainly important but of

586
00:29:35,673 --> 00:29:38,676
little value if there are not
enough medical professionals

587
00:29:38,676 --> 00:29:42,514
to utilize it, to deal directly
with patients and to treat them.

588
00:29:42,514 --> 00:29:46,351
Is there any reconsideration of
this line that keeps American

589
00:29:46,351 --> 00:29:50,321
doctors, DOD doctors or
others, from dealing

590
00:29:50,321 --> 00:29:51,822
with patients directly?

591
00:29:51,823 --> 00:29:54,292
We know the science,
this 40 years of science.

592
00:29:54,292 --> 00:29:56,528
We know there's obviously
some risk of doing this.

593
00:29:56,528 --> 00:29:58,596
We know that all of the
Americans who have contracted

594
00:29:58,596 --> 00:30:01,132
the disease and been
treated here have survived.

595
00:30:01,132 --> 00:30:03,101
Is there any reconsideration
of that line?

596
00:30:03,101 --> 00:30:04,102
And why is it there?

597
00:30:04,102 --> 00:30:07,772
Mr. Earnest: At this point,
that is not a policy that

598
00:30:07,772 --> 00:30:10,641
is under consideration, and
let me explain to you why.

599
00:30:13,244 --> 00:30:15,513
We have seen that the
significant commitment

600
00:30:15,513 --> 00:30:18,616
of the Department of Defense's
logistical expertise

601
00:30:18,616 --> 00:30:22,420
has galvanized the
international community.

602
00:30:22,420 --> 00:30:24,589
By committing Department
of Defense resources

603
00:30:24,589 --> 00:30:28,592
and giving the international
community a clear indication

604
00:30:28,593 --> 00:30:30,595
that the Department of
Defense will be there

605
00:30:30,595 --> 00:30:33,364
to support ongoing
response efforts, it has

606
00:30:33,364 --> 00:30:35,333
bolstered confidence
in the overall

607
00:30:35,333 --> 00:30:37,769
response effort -- that
previously we had seen

608
00:30:37,769 --> 00:30:40,238
organizations and
countries sitting back,

609
00:30:40,238 --> 00:30:44,108
being unwilling to invest in the
broader Ebola response because

610
00:30:44,108 --> 00:30:46,578
they were uncertain of how
successful that response

611
00:30:46,578 --> 00:30:47,745
effort would be.

612
00:30:47,745 --> 00:30:49,746
But after the President made
this significant commitment

613
00:30:49,747 --> 00:30:54,586
of logistical resources to make
sure that supplies and equipment

614
00:30:54,586 --> 00:30:58,389
and personnel could get to
the region and that that

615
00:30:58,389 --> 00:31:01,793
transportation could be
executed efficiently,

616
00:31:01,793 --> 00:31:03,794
it inspired confidence
in the response.

617
00:31:03,795 --> 00:31:06,231
And it made other countries
and other organizations

618
00:31:06,231 --> 00:31:08,833
more willing to commit
resources and personnel

619
00:31:08,833 --> 00:31:09,834
to this broader effort.

620
00:31:09,834 --> 00:31:12,437
It is going to require, as I
mentioned at the beginning,

621
00:31:12,437 --> 00:31:15,005
an international commitment
to get this done

622
00:31:15,006 --> 00:31:17,609
and to achieve this
significant challenge.

623
00:31:17,609 --> 00:31:20,078
It will be done because
of the leadership

624
00:31:20,078 --> 00:31:22,080
of the President of
the United States.

625
00:31:22,080 --> 00:31:24,983
It will be successful
because of the expertise

626
00:31:24,983 --> 00:31:28,653
and service and sacrifice of
our men and women in uniform.

627
00:31:28,653 --> 00:31:32,690
But we know that after fighting
this disease for 40 years,

628
00:31:32,690 --> 00:31:34,692
that we can stop this
outbreak in its tracks.

629
00:31:34,692 --> 00:31:36,761
The Press: Isn't it fair to
argue that more doctors that

630
00:31:36,761 --> 00:31:40,865
go, the quicker this epidemic
would be eliminated?

631
00:31:40,865 --> 00:31:43,368
Mr. Earnest: I'm certainly
not an expert in the field,

632
00:31:43,368 --> 00:31:45,703
but I think you're making
a logical inference here.

633
00:31:45,703 --> 00:31:49,206
The Press: So still there's no
reconsideration of this idea,

634
00:31:49,207 --> 00:31:53,011
or of this -- of having
doctors, American doctors

635
00:31:53,011 --> 00:31:54,212
go to deal with this?

636
00:31:54,212 --> 00:31:56,381
They're mostly volunteers.

637
00:31:56,381 --> 00:31:57,715
You know all the considerations
they have to deal with.

638
00:31:57,715 --> 00:31:58,283
Mr. Earnest: Right.

639
00:31:58,283 --> 00:31:59,117
Well, we've
been very --

640
00:31:59,117 --> 00:32:02,153
The Press: Why? Again, why is that line there?

641
00:32:02,153 --> 00:32:03,788
Mr. Earnest: Well, we believe
and we've made very clear that

642
00:32:03,788 --> 00:32:06,691
the kinds of policies that
are put in place to protect

643
00:32:06,691 --> 00:32:08,760
the American people when health
care workers return from

644
00:32:08,760 --> 00:32:13,564
West Africa should place
protecting the American people

645
00:32:13,564 --> 00:32:15,566
at the top of the
list of priorities.

646
00:32:15,566 --> 00:32:21,272
That is the fundamental reason
that active monitoring policies

647
00:32:21,272 --> 00:32:24,309
are in place for those who
return from West Africa.

648
00:32:24,309 --> 00:32:26,543
At the same time, we want to
make sure that we're not placing

649
00:32:26,544 --> 00:32:29,113
an undue burden on health care
workers who are returning from

650
00:32:29,113 --> 00:32:36,487
West Africa because, again,
it's going to require their

651
00:32:36,487 --> 00:32:40,825
expertise and service to stop
this outbreak at the source.

652
00:32:40,825 --> 00:32:46,130
And that's why it is -- we have
worked hard to make sure that

653
00:32:46,130 --> 00:32:49,734
the policies that are put in
place by this government reflect

654
00:32:49,734 --> 00:32:51,769
the kind of scientific advice
that we're getting from experts

655
00:32:51,769 --> 00:32:53,905
who have been fighting this
disease for 40 years now.

656
00:32:53,905 --> 00:32:55,206
The Press: One quick
question on another topic.

657
00:32:55,206 --> 00:32:57,140
Ferguson, Missouri -- there's
a lot of anticipation

658
00:32:57,141 --> 00:32:59,143
about a grand jury
decision whether to indict

659
00:32:59,143 --> 00:33:01,346
Officer Darren Wilson
in that case.

660
00:33:01,346 --> 00:33:02,680
The President has
spoken out about this

661
00:33:02,680 --> 00:33:04,882
on a number of occasions.

662
00:33:04,882 --> 00:33:05,983
He's obviously concerned.

663
00:33:05,983 --> 00:33:09,220
Today the Attorney General said
that he was exasperated and mad

664
00:33:09,220 --> 00:33:12,824
about leaks compromising the
judicial process there --

665
00:33:12,824 --> 00:33:14,826
one of the issues that the
President was concerned about,

666
00:33:14,826 --> 00:33:16,928
the process generally.

667
00:33:16,928 --> 00:33:18,963
As we get closer to
this imminent decision,

668
00:33:18,963 --> 00:33:21,733
is the President still
monitoring the situation?

669
00:33:21,733 --> 00:33:22,734
Is he mindful of it?

670
00:33:22,734 --> 00:33:24,735
Is he concerned about what
he's seen over the past months

671
00:33:24,736 --> 00:33:27,004
as it has played out?

672
00:33:27,004 --> 00:33:30,041
Mr. Earnest: Well, Ron, let me
start by saying that I don't

673
00:33:30,041 --> 00:33:32,110
want to make the mistake that
the Attorney General warned

674
00:33:32,110 --> 00:33:34,678
against, which is I don't want
to say anything that might

675
00:33:34,679 --> 00:33:38,082
be construed as compromising
an ongoing investigation,

676
00:33:38,082 --> 00:33:40,084
particularly the
ongoing deliberations

677
00:33:40,084 --> 00:33:44,188
of a grand jury that's
reportedly been convened.

678
00:33:44,188 --> 00:33:46,491
That said, the President
is aware of what's

679
00:33:46,491 --> 00:33:48,158
happening in Ferguson.

680
00:33:48,159 --> 00:33:52,263
He obviously is not involved
directly in the legal process,

681
00:33:52,263 --> 00:33:56,300
but you've heard him speak about
his interest in this matter.

682
00:33:56,300 --> 00:33:58,836
And it's one that he'll
continue to follow.

683
00:33:58,836 --> 00:33:59,303
Ed.

684
00:33:59,303 --> 00:34:00,805
The Press: Josh,
on that question,

685
00:34:00,805 --> 00:34:03,040
Ron raised a good point about
the leaks in the grand jury.

686
00:34:03,040 --> 00:34:04,575
The administration has
spoken out on them.

687
00:34:04,575 --> 00:34:08,146
The administration also has
a long track record over

688
00:34:08,146 --> 00:34:11,215
the many months about
complaining about leaks

689
00:34:11,215 --> 00:34:12,917
involving national
security.

690
00:34:12,917 --> 00:34:15,286
We've seen threats to
reporters like James Risen,

691
00:34:15,286 --> 00:34:18,089
to potentially be thrown
in jail over leaks to him.

692
00:34:18,089 --> 00:34:21,125
James Rosen's phone records gone
through because of leaks to him.

693
00:34:21,125 --> 00:34:24,362
My question going back to the
Israel story is why then are you

694
00:34:24,362 --> 00:34:27,498
kind of sloughing off this idea,
but you kind of don't care who

695
00:34:27,498 --> 00:34:30,368
leaked that story that might
have -- that not might have,

696
00:34:30,368 --> 00:34:32,570
that insulted the Prime
Minister of Israel?

697
00:34:32,570 --> 00:34:35,373
You've gone after reporters
again and again in this

698
00:34:35,373 --> 00:34:38,275
administration to find out who
leaked information to them.

699
00:34:38,275 --> 00:34:40,243
And then when it comes to
insulting the Prime Minister,

700
00:34:40,244 --> 00:34:42,246
you don't seem to
care who leaked it.

701
00:34:42,246 --> 00:34:44,248
Mr. Earnest: Well, Ed,
again, I don't think that

702
00:34:44,248 --> 00:34:46,784
is an accurate reflection of
the administration's policy,

703
00:34:46,784 --> 00:34:48,786
and it certainly isn't
an accurate reflection

704
00:34:48,786 --> 00:34:50,721
of our views of the Prime
Minister of Israel.

705
00:34:50,721 --> 00:34:51,589
The Press: Hasn't the
Justice Department gone

706
00:34:51,589 --> 00:34:52,989
after a whole series
of reporters?

707
00:34:52,989 --> 00:34:53,924
Mr. Earnest: No, they haven't.

708
00:34:53,925 --> 00:34:56,160
And, in fact, they've actually
put in place measures under

709
00:34:56,159 --> 00:34:58,796
the leadership of the Attorney
General to ensure that

710
00:34:58,796 --> 00:35:01,265
journalists in this country
are able to do their jobs,

711
00:35:01,265 --> 00:35:04,535
and that -- the Attorney
General has made a pretty clear

712
00:35:04,535 --> 00:35:06,471
statement about what I think
we would all agree is a pretty

713
00:35:06,471 --> 00:35:07,638
common-sense principle,
which is that --

714
00:35:07,638 --> 00:35:09,073
The Press: So James Risen
is now in the clear?

715
00:35:09,073 --> 00:35:10,107
He is not going to go to jail?

716
00:35:10,107 --> 00:35:11,175
Mr. Earnest: Well, let me just
finish stating the principle,

717
00:35:11,175 --> 00:35:12,610
which is that we've
made really clear --

718
00:35:12,610 --> 00:35:14,512
and the Attorney General
has made clear --

719
00:35:14,512 --> 00:35:16,147
what I think is a
pretty common-sense

720
00:35:16,147 --> 00:35:18,516
principle, which is
that journalists should

721
00:35:18,516 --> 00:35:20,985
not face jail time for
just doing their jobs.

722
00:35:20,985 --> 00:35:28,993
And so I guess the point is,
my view -- maybe I'm just even

723
00:35:28,993 --> 00:35:31,195
speaking about my own personal
view here -- my view about

724
00:35:31,195 --> 00:35:33,798
the most effective way for us to
deal with a situation like

725
00:35:33,798 --> 00:35:37,535
the one Darlene first raised is
to make sure that all of you,

726
00:35:37,535 --> 00:35:41,305
and that your readers and
viewers understand precisely

727
00:35:41,305 --> 00:35:44,174
what this administration's
policy is when it comes to

728
00:35:44,175 --> 00:35:46,644
Israel and the leadership of
Prime Minister Netanyahu.

729
00:35:46,644 --> 00:35:49,513
And the fact of the matter is
the United States continues

730
00:35:49,514 --> 00:35:52,683
to have to this day an
unbreakable commitment

731
00:35:52,683 --> 00:35:54,685
to the security of
the nation of Israel.

732
00:35:54,685 --> 00:35:57,488
That's why you see the ongoing,
close coordination when

733
00:35:57,488 --> 00:35:59,823
it comes to matters related
to Israel's security.

734
00:35:59,824 --> 00:36:01,893
And that's why --
that's one reason that

735
00:36:01,893 --> 00:36:03,895
the President's National
Security Advisor, Susan Rice,

736
00:36:03,895 --> 00:36:08,065
is hosting a high-level
Israeli delegation to talk

737
00:36:08,065 --> 00:36:09,433
about these matters.

738
00:36:09,433 --> 00:36:11,435
These are discussions that are
convened every six months,

739
00:36:11,435 --> 00:36:14,005
and they just happen to
be starting up tomorrow.

740
00:36:14,005 --> 00:36:15,406
The Press: Last one on
this, not to belabor it,

741
00:36:15,406 --> 00:36:17,408
but I'm trying to make the
point that as a reporter

742
00:36:17,408 --> 00:36:19,577
I certainly don't believe
in leak investigations.

743
00:36:19,577 --> 00:36:22,313
But for you to suggest that this
administration has not launched

744
00:36:22,313 --> 00:36:25,750
more leak investigations to
get at information who leaked

745
00:36:25,750 --> 00:36:30,121
what, gone after reporters --
and now in this case,

746
00:36:30,121 --> 00:36:30,955
it doesn't seem to matter.

747
00:36:30,955 --> 00:36:32,223
Mr. Earnest: Well, it seems
like you're in a position where

748
00:36:32,223 --> 00:36:34,725
you're advocating a leak
investigation be conducted here.

749
00:36:34,725 --> 00:36:36,127
The Press: I'm curious as
to why you don't want

750
00:36:36,127 --> 00:36:37,061
to know who leaked this.

751
00:36:37,061 --> 00:36:38,663
Mr. Earnest: I think the
fact of the matter is, Ed,

752
00:36:38,663 --> 00:36:40,264
what I'm mostly concerned
about is two things.

753
00:36:40,264 --> 00:36:42,433
One is making sure that
everybody understands the

754
00:36:42,433 --> 00:36:45,703
administration's commitment to
a principle about legitimate

755
00:36:45,703 --> 00:36:49,807
journalism and this
administration's commitment

756
00:36:49,807 --> 00:36:52,142
to the ongoing security
relationship that exists between

757
00:36:52,143 --> 00:36:54,045
the United States and Israel.

758
00:36:54,045 --> 00:36:56,981
From this vantage point that
is the most that I can do,

759
00:36:56,981 --> 00:36:58,282
but I think that's a
really important thing.

760
00:36:58,282 --> 00:36:59,884
It's important for
the people of Israel.

761
00:36:59,884 --> 00:37:01,686
It certainly is important for
Prime Minister Netanyahu,

762
00:37:01,686 --> 00:37:07,224
although I don't think
he has any ambiguity

763
00:37:07,224 --> 00:37:08,059
about this situation.

764
00:37:08,059 --> 00:37:10,328
He's somebody who speaks to the
President on a regular basis --

765
00:37:10,328 --> 00:37:12,530
as recently as earlier this
month in the Oval Office.

766
00:37:12,530 --> 00:37:14,532
The Press: A couple others
on a different topic.

767
00:37:14,532 --> 00:37:17,902
I think Richard asked about the
terror alert that Secretary

768
00:37:17,902 --> 00:37:18,836
Johnson put out yesterday.

769
00:37:18,836 --> 00:37:21,671
First of all, just can
you clarify exactly

770
00:37:21,672 --> 00:37:23,140
what happened yesterday?

771
00:37:23,140 --> 00:37:25,209
I understand he raised the
threat level at federal

772
00:37:25,209 --> 00:37:26,711
buildings, personnel?

773
00:37:26,711 --> 00:37:29,279
Is that actually the
administration raising

774
00:37:29,280 --> 00:37:31,082
the terror threat level
in this country?

775
00:37:31,082 --> 00:37:33,284
Can you explain to
the American people?

776
00:37:33,284 --> 00:37:35,286
And I know DHS is handling
the details of it,

777
00:37:35,286 --> 00:37:37,755
but from the White House, are
you telling the American people

778
00:37:37,755 --> 00:37:41,258
that the terror threat level in
this country has been raised?

779
00:37:41,258 --> 00:37:42,692
Mr. Earnest: That's not
what we're saying, Ed.

780
00:37:42,693 --> 00:37:44,695
Again, that's the
responsibility

781
00:37:44,695 --> 00:37:46,697
of the Secretary of
Homeland Security

782
00:37:46,697 --> 00:37:48,699
to make decisions about
the terror threat level.

783
00:37:48,699 --> 00:37:50,868
My understanding is that in this
case what the Secretary was

784
00:37:50,868 --> 00:37:53,571
doing was he was doing
something that we do relatively

785
00:37:53,571 --> 00:37:56,707
frequently, which is evaluate
and, where necessary,

786
00:37:56,707 --> 00:38:01,578
upgrade the security posture
around government facilities

787
00:38:01,579 --> 00:38:02,580
around the country.

788
00:38:02,580 --> 00:38:05,082
And the announcement that he
made was specifically related

789
00:38:05,082 --> 00:38:08,386
to the need to change
the security posture

790
00:38:08,386 --> 00:38:10,287
at some government
facilities.

791
00:38:10,287 --> 00:38:12,522
But for details about that,
I'd refer you to his office.

792
00:38:12,523 --> 00:38:14,525
The Press: But when I
asked you last week,

793
00:38:14,525 --> 00:38:16,694
in the immediate aftermath of
the Canadian terror attacks,

794
00:38:16,694 --> 00:38:20,464
about the FBI saying people
need to be more vigilant,

795
00:38:20,464 --> 00:38:24,634
in terms of ISIS, you said, "For
quite some time there's been

796
00:38:24,635 --> 00:38:28,172
this threat from ISIS" and that
there was no active terror plot.

797
00:38:28,172 --> 00:38:30,574
And you said just a week
ago that there was

798
00:38:30,574 --> 00:38:33,310
no raised concern.

799
00:38:33,310 --> 00:38:35,379
You were watching what was
happening in Canada but you

800
00:38:35,379 --> 00:38:38,182
didn't want people to think
that there was anything new,

801
00:38:38,182 --> 00:38:40,116
because for some time
we had dealt with ISIS

802
00:38:40,117 --> 00:38:42,586
as a threat to
potentially the homeland.

803
00:38:42,586 --> 00:38:44,587
So what changed since
you said that last week?

804
00:38:44,588 --> 00:38:47,491
Mr. Earnest: I think, Ed, what
I said last week is entirely

805
00:38:47,491 --> 00:38:49,560
consistent with the way
that we have responded

806
00:38:49,560 --> 00:38:51,262
to this situation, and
that's a couple of things.

807
00:38:51,262 --> 00:38:54,932
The first is, the ties between
this individual and Canada

808
00:38:54,932 --> 00:38:57,435
and other extremists are
still under investigation.

809
00:38:57,435 --> 00:39:01,672
So I would caution the
assumption that this individual,

810
00:39:01,672 --> 00:39:06,377
despite his claims,
had close ties to ISIL.

811
00:39:06,377 --> 00:39:09,080
At the same time, we have
frequently talked about our

812
00:39:09,080 --> 00:39:12,183
concern related to foreign
fighters -- these are

813
00:39:12,183 --> 00:39:15,553
individuals that do
have close ties to ISIL.

814
00:39:15,553 --> 00:39:18,089
In some cases, there are
individuals who have traveled

815
00:39:18,089 --> 00:39:23,394
to the region in Syria or Iraq
to take up arms alongside ISIL.

816
00:39:23,394 --> 00:39:25,395
They've gotten
equipment and training,

817
00:39:25,396 --> 00:39:26,363
they're battle-hardened.

818
00:39:26,363 --> 00:39:28,365
These individuals have
demonstrated a willingness

819
00:39:28,365 --> 00:39:30,366
to die for their cause and
there is concern that those

820
00:39:30,367 --> 00:39:32,369
individuals could return to
the West, return to their

821
00:39:32,369 --> 00:39:34,505
home countries and carry
out acts of violence.

822
00:39:34,505 --> 00:39:38,709
We also harbor a concern about a
related but separate category

823
00:39:38,709 --> 00:39:41,611
of individuals, and these are
individuals who are vulnerable

824
00:39:41,612 --> 00:39:43,380
to self-radicalization.

825
00:39:43,380 --> 00:39:49,587
And there has been a lot of
focus on the part of this

826
00:39:49,587 --> 00:39:52,923
administration to countering
violent extremism and making

827
00:39:52,923 --> 00:39:58,928
sure that we're working closely
with leaders who are widely

828
00:39:58,929 --> 00:40:05,102
known as prominent voices in the
mainstream Muslim community

829
00:40:05,102 --> 00:40:08,939
to counter the efforts by
radicals and extremists like

830
00:40:08,939 --> 00:40:11,975
ISIL to radicalize individuals
using social media.

831
00:40:11,976 --> 00:40:12,843
The Press: Last
one on this.

832
00:40:12,843 --> 00:40:16,212
But in August, way
back in August,

833
00:40:16,213 --> 00:40:18,215
Defense Secretary Hagel said,
this is like nothing we've

834
00:40:18,215 --> 00:40:20,217
ever seen, we have to
prepare for anything.

835
00:40:20,217 --> 00:40:21,218
That was in August.

836
00:40:21,218 --> 00:40:24,321
So why was there not any
sort of raised level

837
00:40:24,321 --> 00:40:27,758
at federal buildings or
anywhere in this country

838
00:40:27,758 --> 00:40:29,759
back in August
when he said that?

839
00:40:29,760 --> 00:40:30,761
What changed?

840
00:40:30,761 --> 00:40:32,763
Mr. Earnest: Well, what we are
always doing -- I think what

841
00:40:32,763 --> 00:40:34,765
changed is that we're always
reviewing the security posture.

842
00:40:34,765 --> 00:40:36,167
This is true of our
transportation system.

843
00:40:36,167 --> 00:40:37,101
The Press: So there's
no intelligence?

844
00:40:37,101 --> 00:40:37,868
There's something.

845
00:40:37,868 --> 00:40:39,170
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'm not
going to discuss intelligence

846
00:40:39,170 --> 00:40:42,039
from here, but there's
always an effort underway

847
00:40:42,039 --> 00:40:44,775
by the administration -- whether
it is our transportation system

848
00:40:44,775 --> 00:40:47,745
or government facilities or
even here at the White House --

849
00:40:47,745 --> 00:40:50,647
about whether there is
the need to adjust our

850
00:40:50,648 --> 00:40:54,952
security posture to meet
evident or existing threats.

851
00:40:54,952 --> 00:40:56,587
And that means the
security posture

852
00:40:56,587 --> 00:40:58,122
is constantly under review.

853
00:40:58,122 --> 00:41:00,257
There are changes that are
made to that posture

854
00:41:00,257 --> 00:41:01,258
on a pretty frequent
basis.

855
00:41:01,258 --> 00:41:03,694
Sometimes those changes
are readily apparent

856
00:41:03,694 --> 00:41:07,064
to the general public,
sometimes they're announced.

857
00:41:07,064 --> 00:41:09,633
Sometimes they're not apparent
to the general public

858
00:41:09,633 --> 00:41:10,634
and not announced.

859
00:41:10,634 --> 00:41:14,772
But this is something that we
are well aware requires

860
00:41:14,772 --> 00:41:17,708
the vigilance of the United
States of America.

861
00:41:17,708 --> 00:41:19,143
April.

862
00:41:19,143 --> 00:41:20,911
The Press: Josh, I want to go
back to Ron's question about

863
00:41:20,911 --> 00:41:24,481
Ferguson and somewhat of
what happens around here

864
00:41:24,481 --> 00:41:26,884
at the White House, as
it relates to Ferguson.

865
00:41:26,884 --> 00:41:29,653
When there is conversation
about possibilities

866
00:41:29,653 --> 00:41:31,888
or what's going on in
Ferguson, has there ever

867
00:41:31,889 --> 00:41:34,825
been any thought of
President Obama actually

868
00:41:34,825 --> 00:41:37,828
going down there to kind
of settle the situation?

869
00:41:37,828 --> 00:41:41,198
Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't
know of any specific

870
00:41:41,198 --> 00:41:45,435
conversations around that.

871
00:41:45,436 --> 00:41:49,773
There may have been at the
time that this issue first

872
00:41:49,773 --> 00:41:51,775
flared up, but I
wasn't a part of them.

873
00:41:54,345 --> 00:41:57,113
So the President has spoken
I think a couple of times

874
00:41:57,114 --> 00:42:00,317
on this matter and made his
views known pretty clearly.

875
00:42:00,317 --> 00:42:04,421
He also has been
cautious, as we all have,

876
00:42:04,421 --> 00:42:08,725
about what Ron said about the
Attorney General's comments

877
00:42:08,726 --> 00:42:10,694
today, which is that we don't
want to be in a position

878
00:42:10,694 --> 00:42:13,596
where we are inappropriately
compromising or even having

879
00:42:13,597 --> 00:42:17,468
an impact on ongoing legal
activities there in Ferguson.

880
00:42:17,468 --> 00:42:20,971
The Press: So we should not
expect him to come out and say

881
00:42:20,971 --> 00:42:25,542
anything about Ferguson as there
is still conversation about --

882
00:42:25,542 --> 00:42:27,478
or there are reports
about the police chief

883
00:42:27,478 --> 00:42:29,046
possibly stepping down?

884
00:42:29,046 --> 00:42:31,147
We shouldn't hear anything
from him at least until

885
00:42:31,148 --> 00:42:35,152
after there is some
news on the police --

886
00:42:35,152 --> 00:42:36,020
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
guess I'll just say

887
00:42:36,020 --> 00:42:37,521
as a general
matter that there

888
00:42:37,521 --> 00:42:39,356
is nothing like that
currently planned,

889
00:42:39,356 --> 00:42:41,892
but if the plans change and you
do hear from the President,

890
00:42:41,892 --> 00:42:44,928
he will be speaking very mindful
of the admonition of the

891
00:42:44,929 --> 00:42:47,564
Attorney General, that we don't
want to say anything that might

892
00:42:47,564 --> 00:42:50,834
compromise the ongoing grand
jury investigation there.

893
00:42:50,834 --> 00:42:52,336
The Press: And on the
computer-hacking issue,

894
00:42:52,336 --> 00:42:55,906
how did it impact
on the day to day?

895
00:42:55,906 --> 00:42:57,408
You talked about the
day to day.

896
00:42:57,408 --> 00:42:59,710
How did it impact on the
day-to-day activities here

897
00:42:59,710 --> 00:43:01,412
at the White
House, the hacking?

898
00:43:01,412 --> 00:43:04,114
Mr. Earnest: Well, this
is something that has been

899
00:43:04,114 --> 00:43:07,117
going on for some time.

900
00:43:07,117 --> 00:43:10,788
There were some inconveniences
associated with the efforts

901
00:43:10,788 --> 00:43:15,159
that we undertook to evaluate
the activity of concern

902
00:43:15,159 --> 00:43:17,594
and to mitigate the risk
that that activity posed

903
00:43:17,594 --> 00:43:20,164
to the broader network.

904
00:43:20,164 --> 00:43:23,934
But I would characterize
those changes merely

905
00:43:23,934 --> 00:43:25,836
as inconveniences.

906
00:43:25,836 --> 00:43:26,971
The Press: What kind
of inconveniences?

907
00:43:26,971 --> 00:43:28,505
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I'm
not going to get into

908
00:43:28,505 --> 00:43:31,442
the details about the -- I
think for obvious reasons,

909
00:43:31,442 --> 00:43:33,577
it's hard for me to stand
here and detail exactly

910
00:43:33,577 --> 00:43:39,049
what steps we took to
mitigate some activity that

911
00:43:39,049 --> 00:43:41,051
we're still evaluating.

912
00:43:42,086 --> 00:43:44,254
So I don't mean
to be obtuse here,

913
00:43:44,254 --> 00:43:47,790
but I also want to protect
the ability of our experts

914
00:43:47,791 --> 00:43:50,394
to take the steps that
they believe are necessary

915
00:43:50,394 --> 00:43:53,296
to evaluate and
mitigate this activity.

916
00:43:53,297 --> 00:43:55,332
The Press: And, lastly, as we
talk about the possibilities

917
00:43:55,332 --> 00:43:58,535
of Russia, the reports
are that Russia could

918
00:43:58,535 --> 00:44:01,739
be behind this hacking.

919
00:44:01,739 --> 00:44:05,275
It brings to mind
Snowden, Edward Snowden.

920
00:44:05,275 --> 00:44:08,479
And what's going on
with that situation?

921
00:44:08,479 --> 00:44:10,714
And is there still efforts --
what are the efforts to bring

922
00:44:10,714 --> 00:44:15,886
him back here to have him
tried or whatever for treason?

923
00:44:15,886 --> 00:44:17,187
Mr. Earnest: I have
to admit, April,

924
00:44:17,187 --> 00:44:19,757
that I think that's a
legitimate question,

925
00:44:19,757 --> 00:44:23,560
but Edward Snowden did not occur
to me at any point earlier today

926
00:44:23,560 --> 00:44:26,563
so I can't give you an update
on his -- I can understand why

927
00:44:26,563 --> 00:44:28,866
somebody might think that way,
I just didn't this morning.

928
00:44:28,866 --> 00:44:32,436
That might show a lack of
intellectual curiosity that

929
00:44:32,436 --> 00:44:33,837
maybe I should do a
better job of maintaining,

930
00:44:33,837 --> 00:44:36,240
but I'd refer you
to my colleagues

931
00:44:36,240 --> 00:44:38,341
at the State Department
for more information about

932
00:44:38,342 --> 00:44:39,977
his current status.

933
00:44:39,977 --> 00:44:40,611
Jon.

934
00:44:40,611 --> 00:44:42,112
The Press: Josh, on
the cyber-attack,

935
00:44:42,112 --> 00:44:45,883
the statement last night
said that there are daily

936
00:44:45,883 --> 00:44:48,852
threats against the White
House computer system.

937
00:44:48,852 --> 00:44:51,855
Can you just speak generally
about what kind of threats and

938
00:44:51,855 --> 00:44:56,326
how you get tipped off to these
attempts to attack the system?

939
00:44:56,326 --> 00:44:59,096
Mr. Earnest: I can't get into
measures that are related to

940
00:44:59,096 --> 00:45:02,933
protecting the system, but I
think as a general matter the

941
00:45:02,933 --> 00:45:11,175
kinds of tactics that are used
by groups and organizations

942
00:45:11,175 --> 00:45:14,178
seeking to collect
information about the U.S.

943
00:45:14,178 --> 00:45:17,247
government are focused on
the White House network.

944
00:45:17,247 --> 00:45:19,015
I think they make a
common-sense assumption

945
00:45:19,016 --> 00:45:20,117
that there's information --

946
00:45:20,117 --> 00:45:21,118
The Press: And
these are daily --

947
00:45:21,118 --> 00:45:22,619
Mr. Earnest: That's what
I'm told by the experts --

948
00:45:22,619 --> 00:45:25,956
that essentially on
a daily basis that

949
00:45:25,956 --> 00:45:27,925
there are outside
organizations who are

950
00:45:27,925 --> 00:45:29,993
seeking to collect
information about the U.S.

951
00:45:29,993 --> 00:45:33,564
government by infiltrating
the White House network.

952
00:45:33,564 --> 00:45:34,998
That happens on a daily basis.

953
00:45:34,998 --> 00:45:39,136
That's why we take our security
posture -- or I guess that's

954
00:45:39,136 --> 00:45:41,904
why we take these threats
very seriously and why we're

955
00:45:41,905 --> 00:45:46,043
constantly reviewing and
updating and, where necessary,

956
00:45:46,043 --> 00:45:48,112
adjusting our security
posture to ensure

957
00:45:48,112 --> 00:45:49,213
that we can meet
those threats.

958
00:45:49,213 --> 00:45:51,215
The Press: And on
this latest attack,

959
00:45:51,215 --> 00:45:55,119
the Washington Post reported
that you were tipped off

960
00:45:55,119 --> 00:45:59,456
to identified activity
of concern by an ally;

961
00:45:59,456 --> 00:46:01,792
that an ally tipped the
White House off that

962
00:46:01,792 --> 00:46:02,558
this was going on.

963
00:46:02,559 --> 00:46:03,627
Is that correct?

964
00:46:03,627 --> 00:46:07,331
Mr. Earnest: I'm not in a
position to talk in any detail

965
00:46:07,331 --> 00:46:12,870
about how the nature of
this threat was detected.

966
00:46:12,870 --> 00:46:15,172
I'm not in a position to talk
about sort of the methods that

967
00:46:15,172 --> 00:46:19,243
were -- or what we know
about the methods that were

968
00:46:19,243 --> 00:46:22,446
used by the individual
who was conducting this

969
00:46:22,446 --> 00:46:23,714
activity of concern.

970
00:46:23,714 --> 00:46:25,982
The Press: And a few
weeks ago, there was some

971
00:46:25,983 --> 00:46:30,053
reporting that the NSC was
having regular briefings

972
00:46:30,053 --> 00:46:32,823
on the cyber-attack on
J.P. Morgan, and that

973
00:46:32,823 --> 00:46:37,294
the President at that point
had expressed a desire

974
00:46:37,294 --> 00:46:42,165
to find out what was
going on, if this was

975
00:46:42,166 --> 00:46:45,736
Putin retaliating against
the sanctions that had

976
00:46:45,736 --> 00:46:48,638
been imposed because of
the situation in Ukraine.

977
00:46:48,639 --> 00:46:49,139
Is that right?

978
00:46:49,139 --> 00:46:53,143
Did the President, seeing this
earlier attack on JP Morgan,

979
00:46:53,143 --> 00:46:55,612
express a desire to
find out whether or not

980
00:46:55,612 --> 00:46:57,981
Vladimir Putin and the
Russians were behind it?

981
00:46:57,981 --> 00:46:58,882
Mr. Earnest: I
have to admit, Jon,

982
00:46:58,882 --> 00:47:00,484
I have not seen that
report, but I can look

983
00:47:00,484 --> 00:47:02,019
into that for you and get
back to you on it.

984
00:47:02,019 --> 00:47:02,386
The Press: Okay.

985
00:47:02,386 --> 00:47:04,254
And then one
other subject.

986
00:47:04,254 --> 00:47:08,325
The ISIS video that I'm
sure you saw was put

987
00:47:08,325 --> 00:47:12,930
out yesterday featuring
the British hostage.

988
00:47:12,930 --> 00:47:17,734
This video was apparently
shot right in Kobani,

989
00:47:17,734 --> 00:47:20,136
quite an elaborate
production, apparently

990
00:47:20,137 --> 00:47:21,605
done just in recent days.

991
00:47:21,605 --> 00:47:24,975
It even included
drone video footage.

992
00:47:24,975 --> 00:47:29,379
What does this say about how
much we've done to disrupt ISIS

993
00:47:29,379 --> 00:47:32,683
if they're able to put out a
communications product like

994
00:47:32,683 --> 00:47:36,453
this, as elaborate as it was,
and apparently done right

995
00:47:36,453 --> 00:47:42,960
in the middle of Kobani,
the city that we've spent

996
00:47:42,960 --> 00:47:45,762
so much time trying to
drive them back from?

997
00:47:45,762 --> 00:47:48,532
Mr. Earnest: Jon, there's not a
whole lot that I can say about

998
00:47:48,532 --> 00:47:51,969
that video other than to say
that it's being evaluated

999
00:47:51,969 --> 00:47:55,472
by our intelligence agencies
here in this country.

1000
00:47:55,472 --> 00:47:58,875
It did, as you point out,
feature a British citizen who

1001
00:47:58,875 --> 00:48:02,246
is currently being held
against his will by ISIL.

1002
00:48:02,246 --> 00:48:06,883
We would renew our
call for his release.

1003
00:48:06,883 --> 00:48:11,087
And I guess the other thing I
would do is refer you to my

1004
00:48:11,088 --> 00:48:13,557
colleagues at the Department
of Defense who can better

1005
00:48:13,557 --> 00:48:17,694
characterize the impact that the
military airstrike campaign has

1006
00:48:17,694 --> 00:48:21,865
had on ISIL and their ability
to operate in this area.

1007
00:48:21,865 --> 00:48:26,636
I could concede at the front
end that there are limitations

1008
00:48:26,637 --> 00:48:32,409
associated with relying at
this point only on military

1009
00:48:32,409 --> 00:48:35,178
airstrikes; that a core
component of our strategy

1010
00:48:35,178 --> 00:48:38,015
is ensuring that we have
local ground forces that

1011
00:48:38,015 --> 00:48:40,917
can take the fight to
ISIL on the ground.

1012
00:48:40,917 --> 00:48:44,388
And there is an active effort
underway by the United States

1013
00:48:44,388 --> 00:48:47,524
military to ramp up the
assistance that we provide

1014
00:48:47,524 --> 00:48:52,395
to elements of the Syrian
opposition that our

1015
00:48:52,396 --> 00:48:54,731
partners and allies in
the region, including

1016
00:48:54,731 --> 00:48:58,702
Saudi Arabia and Turkey, have
committed to hosting

1017
00:48:58,702 --> 00:49:01,705
for these training-and-equipping
operations.

1018
00:49:01,705 --> 00:49:05,375
And we do anticipate that as
these local forces are trained

1019
00:49:05,375 --> 00:49:08,211
and equipped, that their
capacity on the battlefield will

1020
00:49:08,211 --> 00:49:10,747
be significantly enhanced
when they're backed

1021
00:49:10,747 --> 00:49:14,984
up by the airstrikes launched
by the United States

1022
00:49:14,985 --> 00:49:17,487
and the members
of our coalition.

1023
00:49:17,487 --> 00:49:18,755
Julie.

1024
00:49:18,755 --> 00:49:19,656
The Press: Back on
Ebola for a moment.

1025
00:49:19,656 --> 00:49:22,025
You've talked at length about
the White House's view that

1026
00:49:22,025 --> 00:49:25,028
these health care workers who
go to treat Ebola patients

1027
00:49:25,028 --> 00:49:27,196
in West Africa should
feed appreciated and they

1028
00:49:27,197 --> 00:49:29,232
shouldn't have undue
burdens placed on them.

1029
00:49:29,232 --> 00:49:31,067
But it's clear from what
Ms. Hickox is saying,

1030
00:49:31,068 --> 00:49:32,469
that she doesn't feel
that way, and in fact,

1031
00:49:32,469 --> 00:49:35,505
is alleging that her
rights may be violated.

1032
00:49:35,505 --> 00:49:37,174
So I'm just wondering,
is the White House

1033
00:49:37,174 --> 00:49:39,309
doing anything to
intervene in Maine?

1034
00:49:39,309 --> 00:49:42,412
And given that this obviously
arose in New Jersey

1035
00:49:42,412 --> 00:49:44,680
and New York, are you
going to be in a situation

1036
00:49:44,681 --> 00:49:47,017
where the White House
is kind of state

1037
00:49:47,017 --> 00:49:50,020
by state having to lean
on governors and local

1038
00:49:50,020 --> 00:49:52,823
officials and state officials
not to go too far in

1039
00:49:52,823 --> 00:49:56,158
quarantining folks who have
been over there and treating --

1040
00:49:56,159 --> 00:49:57,094
Mr. Earnest: Julie, we talked
about this a little bit

1041
00:49:57,094 --> 00:50:02,165
on Monday, that state and local
officials do have significant

1042
00:50:02,165 --> 00:50:04,433
authority when it comes to
putting in place procedures

1043
00:50:04,434 --> 00:50:07,404
that they believe are
necessary to protect

1044
00:50:07,404 --> 00:50:09,840
the populations in
their jurisdiction.

1045
00:50:09,840 --> 00:50:13,343
I'm not aware of the specifics
of the policies that

1046
00:50:13,343 --> 00:50:16,178
have been put in place
by the state of Maine,

1047
00:50:16,179 --> 00:50:18,715
and I'm not in a position to
characterize the conversations

1048
00:50:18,715 --> 00:50:21,885
that have taken place by
officials in Maine and officials

1049
00:50:21,885 --> 00:50:24,755
at the CDC or HHS or even
here at the White House.

1050
00:50:24,755 --> 00:50:26,723
I can look to see if we
can collect some more

1051
00:50:26,723 --> 00:50:28,725
information on that that
can be shared with you.

1052
00:50:28,725 --> 00:50:34,331
But as a general matter, we have
made very clear what we believe

1053
00:50:34,331 --> 00:50:39,903
science indicates should be the
policy governing the active

1054
00:50:39,903 --> 00:50:43,406
monitoring of individuals who
have returned -- or I should

1055
00:50:43,407 --> 00:50:47,043
say, related to monitoring the
health of individuals who have

1056
00:50:47,043 --> 00:50:49,246
returned to the United
States after having recently

1057
00:50:49,246 --> 00:50:50,747
traveled in West Africa.

1058
00:50:50,747 --> 00:50:54,017
And there's a very specific
protocol that CDC has

1059
00:50:54,017 --> 00:50:59,022
laid out that are dependent on
an individualized assessment

1060
00:50:59,022 --> 00:51:01,825
of risk associated with
individuals who are

1061
00:51:01,825 --> 00:51:03,827
returning to this country
from West Africa.

1062
00:51:03,827 --> 00:51:10,600
So I don't know which category
Ms. Hickox falls into,

1063
00:51:10,600 --> 00:51:15,071
and I'm not aware of which
-- what sort of policies

1064
00:51:15,071 --> 00:51:18,208
and protocols the state of
Maine has adopted for

1065
00:51:18,208 --> 00:51:19,810
monitoring her health.

1066
00:51:19,810 --> 00:51:22,913
So it's hard for me to answer
specifically your question,

1067
00:51:22,913 --> 00:51:26,883
other than to say we've been
very clear as an administration

1068
00:51:26,883 --> 00:51:32,189
what policies we believe are
appropriate for ensuring the

1069
00:51:32,189 --> 00:51:37,861
safety and wellbeing of local
populations in this country.

1070
00:51:37,861 --> 00:51:40,663
And we've been clear about that,
because we also believe it's

1071
00:51:40,664 --> 00:51:44,234
important not to place an undue
burden on health care workers

1072
00:51:44,234 --> 00:51:49,873
who are returning from West
Africa because we don't want

1073
00:51:49,873 --> 00:51:53,410
to hinder our efforts to stop
this outbreak at the source

1074
00:51:53,410 --> 00:51:54,478
in West Africa.

1075
00:51:54,478 --> 00:51:55,912
The Press: Right, but it's
pretty clear that some states

1076
00:51:55,912 --> 00:51:58,582
at least are not being guided
by those principles themselves.

1077
00:51:58,582 --> 00:51:59,182
Mr. Earnest: It is.

1078
00:51:59,182 --> 00:52:00,350
The Press: And the question is
what the White House can

1079
00:52:00,350 --> 00:52:03,185
do to intervene there,
and whether -- I mean,

1080
00:52:03,186 --> 00:52:04,988
has the President reached
out to Kaci Hickox?

1081
00:52:04,988 --> 00:52:07,524
Has the White House reached out
to her in any way to express

1082
00:52:07,524 --> 00:52:09,192
your view that she shouldn't
be subject to these

1083
00:52:09,192 --> 00:52:11,394
kinds of restrictions?

1084
00:52:11,394 --> 00:52:13,129
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'll say
a couple things about that.

1085
00:52:13,129 --> 00:52:18,235
The first is that the -- we have
-- the Obama administration

1086
00:52:18,235 --> 00:52:23,507
has been in touch throughout
Ms. Hickox's stay

1087
00:52:23,507 --> 00:52:26,643
in New Jersey with
New Jersey officials.

1088
00:52:26,643 --> 00:52:28,778
And based on those conversations
-- and this what Governor

1089
00:52:28,778 --> 00:52:31,046
Christie himself said -- based
on those conversations because

1090
00:52:31,047 --> 00:52:33,917
New Jersey officials and
officials at the CDC,

1091
00:52:33,917 --> 00:52:36,520
Ms. Hickox was released from
the quarantine that she'd

1092
00:52:36,520 --> 00:52:39,256
been placed under by local
officials in New Jersey.

1093
00:52:39,256 --> 00:52:42,625
So I think that is evidence of
the ongoing coordination that

1094
00:52:42,626 --> 00:52:45,028
exists between the United States
-- I'm sorry, between the U.S.

1095
00:52:45,028 --> 00:52:48,899
government and that state
officials in New Jersey.

1096
00:52:48,899 --> 00:52:55,372
It resulted in Ms. Hickox being
released from that hospital.

1097
00:52:55,372 --> 00:52:57,741
But again, as it relates
to the situation in Maine,

1098
00:52:57,741 --> 00:53:00,210
I just don't have the details
related to either the policy

1099
00:53:00,210 --> 00:53:06,349
that is guiding state officials
who are monitoring her health,

1100
00:53:06,349 --> 00:53:08,351
and I don't have any
information about conversations

1101
00:53:08,351 --> 00:53:10,420
that may or may not have
taken place between

1102
00:53:10,420 --> 00:53:13,189
U.S. officials and
officials in Maine.

1103
00:53:13,189 --> 00:53:15,191
But we'll try to get you
some more information

1104
00:53:15,191 --> 00:53:16,125
and see if we can help
you with your story.

1105
00:53:16,126 --> 00:53:16,893
Christi.

1106
00:53:16,893 --> 00:53:17,661
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1107
00:53:17,661 --> 00:53:19,563
The President has been
spending a lot of time --

1108
00:53:19,563 --> 00:53:23,700
office time and public time
-- talking about Ebola.

1109
00:53:23,700 --> 00:53:25,702
Not to tie everything
to the coming election,

1110
00:53:25,702 --> 00:53:27,704
but we are just a
few days out here.

1111
00:53:27,704 --> 00:53:30,307
Does the President feel like
it's helpful to Democrats for

1112
00:53:30,307 --> 00:53:34,009
him to be showing on a daily
basis that the administration

1113
00:53:34,010 --> 00:53:35,011
is on top of things?

1114
00:53:35,011 --> 00:53:37,013
Mr. Earnest: Well,
I'm sure, Christie,

1115
00:53:37,013 --> 00:53:39,015
that there are plenty of
people who would say

1116
00:53:39,015 --> 00:53:39,982
that it will
help Democrats.

1117
00:53:39,983 --> 00:53:41,985
I'm sure there are plenty of
people out there who will say

1118
00:53:41,985 --> 00:53:46,723
that it doesn't matter, because
Democrats are the ones with

1119
00:53:46,723 --> 00:53:48,191
their names on the ballot
and not the President.

1120
00:53:48,191 --> 00:53:52,428
So there's a wide variety
of opinions on this.

1121
00:53:52,429 --> 00:53:57,000
What I would say is that the
President is going to allow

1122
00:53:57,000 --> 00:53:59,469
political analysts to draw
their own conclusions,

1123
00:53:59,469 --> 00:54:02,238
and he's just going to
focus on the task at hand,

1124
00:54:02,238 --> 00:54:04,341
which is ensuring the
safety and wellbeing

1125
00:54:04,341 --> 00:54:05,542
of the American public.

1126
00:54:05,542 --> 00:54:08,377
And he's ordered his
government to pursue

1127
00:54:08,378 --> 00:54:11,314
a whole-of-government approach
to doing exactly that.

1128
00:54:11,314 --> 00:54:13,082
The Press: He seemed to be
saying yesterday that folks

1129
00:54:13,083 --> 00:54:16,152
shouldn't overreact, like
pointing out only two

1130
00:54:16,152 --> 00:54:18,488
people have contracted
the disease in the U.S.

1131
00:54:18,488 --> 00:54:21,191
Is he worried at all that
there's a point where he could

1132
00:54:21,191 --> 00:54:24,995
be seen as overdoing it, giving
too much -- spending too much

1133
00:54:24,995 --> 00:54:29,299
presidential time, too much face
time talking about this subject?

1134
00:54:29,299 --> 00:54:30,400
Mr. Earnest: At this point
that's not a concern

1135
00:54:30,400 --> 00:54:30,967
that we have.

1136
00:54:30,967 --> 00:54:33,303
I do think the American people
would anticipate that the

1137
00:54:33,303 --> 00:54:35,305
President of the United States
would be very focused on this

1138
00:54:35,305 --> 00:54:41,344
matter and ensuring that his
administration is implementing

1139
00:54:41,344 --> 00:54:46,282
at a very high standard the kind
of whole-of-government approach

1140
00:54:46,282 --> 00:54:48,284
that's necessary to protect
the American people.

1141
00:54:48,284 --> 00:54:53,757
And I think any evaluation of
this policy would indicate

1142
00:54:53,757 --> 00:54:55,759
that the American people
have been extraordinarily

1143
00:54:55,759 --> 00:54:56,760
well served by it.

1144
00:54:56,760 --> 00:54:58,762
I would point out that we
-- that currently

1145
00:54:58,762 --> 00:55:01,464
in the United States
there is one person

1146
00:55:01,464 --> 00:55:03,799
in the United States that
currently is undergoing

1147
00:55:03,800 --> 00:55:05,402
treatment for Ebola.

1148
00:55:05,402 --> 00:55:07,537
That is the doctor in New
York who recently returned

1149
00:55:07,537 --> 00:55:08,837
from West Africa.

1150
00:55:08,838 --> 00:55:14,544
He is receiving expert medical
care under the supervision

1151
00:55:14,544 --> 00:55:18,647
of highly trained professionals
at Bellevue Hospital,

1152
00:55:18,648 --> 00:55:20,817
but also under the supervision
of experts from the CDC

1153
00:55:20,817 --> 00:55:23,086
that have extensive
experience in dealing with

1154
00:55:23,086 --> 00:55:25,754
infectious disease and
even Ebola outbreaks.

1155
00:55:25,755 --> 00:55:29,392
So our thoughts and prayers
are with him at this hour.

1156
00:55:29,392 --> 00:55:36,066
And we continue to be vigilant
about both making sure that

1157
00:55:36,066 --> 00:55:39,602
we are taking the needed
precautions to protect the

1158
00:55:39,602 --> 00:55:43,373
American public, but at the same
time making sure that Americans

1159
00:55:43,373 --> 00:55:46,543
understand that the risk of
a widespread outbreak

1160
00:55:46,543 --> 00:55:49,512
of Ebola in the United
States remains and continues

1161
00:55:49,512 --> 00:55:51,414
to be extraordinarily low.

1162
00:55:51,414 --> 00:55:52,248
Major.

1163
00:55:52,248 --> 00:55:54,084
The Press: Setting aside the
profanity in Jeff Goldberg's

1164
00:55:54,084 --> 00:55:56,086
piece, let's go
to the substance.

1165
00:55:56,086 --> 00:55:58,488
How far apart is the
administration and the Israeli

1166
00:55:58,488 --> 00:56:01,691
government on the Netanyahu
policy dealing with settlements,

1167
00:56:01,691 --> 00:56:04,327
authorizing the
construction of new ones?

1168
00:56:04,327 --> 00:56:07,564
And how damaging is that to the
administration's approach

1169
00:56:07,564 --> 00:56:09,699
to a two-state solution?

1170
00:56:09,699 --> 00:56:12,902
Mr. Earnest: Major, I think
what we view -- the view

1171
00:56:12,902 --> 00:56:16,272
of the United States is
that the Israeli approach

1172
00:56:16,272 --> 00:56:20,543
to expanding
settlements is damaging

1173
00:56:20,543 --> 00:56:22,912
to efforts to reach a
two-state solution.

1174
00:56:22,912 --> 00:56:25,948
Both the United States, the
leaders of the Palestinian

1175
00:56:25,949 --> 00:56:29,018
people, and Prime Minister
Netanyahu himself,

1176
00:56:29,018 --> 00:56:34,190
have observed that a two-state
solution is in the clear

1177
00:56:34,190 --> 00:56:36,993
security interest of everybody
that's involved here.

1178
00:56:36,993 --> 00:56:39,929
And it has long been the view of
the United States -- and again,

1179
00:56:39,929 --> 00:56:42,799
this is one that we have shared
repeatedly -- that settlement

1180
00:56:42,799 --> 00:56:45,535
activity is illegitimate and
only serves to complicate

1181
00:56:45,535 --> 00:56:47,237
efforts to reach a
two-state solution.

1182
00:56:47,237 --> 00:56:50,240
The Press: Then are you farther
apart on that issue than

1183
00:56:50,240 --> 00:56:52,008
you ever have been before
in your dealings with

1184
00:56:52,008 --> 00:56:53,475
the Prime Minister?

1185
00:56:53,476 --> 00:56:56,646
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
that's hard to evaluate.

1186
00:56:56,646 --> 00:56:59,582
The position that I just
articulated is one that

1187
00:56:59,582 --> 00:57:02,185
we have articulated for
quite some time.

1188
00:57:02,185 --> 00:57:04,687
I don't know -- quite
frankly, I think you'd

1189
00:57:04,687 --> 00:57:07,323
have to ask the Israelis
themselves about what

1190
00:57:07,323 --> 00:57:10,160
their posture is as it
relates to this.

1191
00:57:10,160 --> 00:57:13,163
There has been in recent days
announcements about efforts

1192
00:57:13,163 --> 00:57:15,899
to expand settlements and
-- in other locations.

1193
00:57:15,899 --> 00:57:17,967
The Press: -- those who are
observing from the outside,

1194
00:57:17,967 --> 00:57:20,670
who are not part of
these conversations,

1195
00:57:20,670 --> 00:57:24,007
that this is getting worse,
that the distance between this

1196
00:57:24,007 --> 00:57:26,843
government and the Israeli
government on this question

1197
00:57:26,843 --> 00:57:29,611
is widening, and that's
hurting everything you're

1198
00:57:29,612 --> 00:57:31,414
trying to achieve in
terms of what has been

1199
00:57:31,414 --> 00:57:33,049
described as a "moribund
peace process"?

1200
00:57:33,049 --> 00:57:34,150
Mr. Earnest: Well, let me
just say as a factual matter,

1201
00:57:34,150 --> 00:57:37,020
we have seen announcements from
the Israeli government related

1202
00:57:37,020 --> 00:57:41,357
to expanded settlements and
other construction of housing --

1203
00:57:41,357 --> 00:57:42,125
The Press: Would
you describe those

1204
00:57:42,125 --> 00:57:43,259
as a new irritant
and unhelpful?

1205
00:57:43,259 --> 00:57:48,965
Mr. Earnest: Well, they are,
what we have long described,

1206
00:57:48,965 --> 00:57:50,967
consistent with the kinds
of policies that are

1207
00:57:50,967 --> 00:57:53,736
counterproductive and only
serve to make efforts

1208
00:57:53,736 --> 00:57:59,741
to reach a two-state
solution more complicated.

1209
00:57:59,742 --> 00:58:02,979
So that is a view that has been
long held by the United States.

1210
00:58:02,979 --> 00:58:05,214
It is one that we have
repeated many times.

1211
00:58:05,215 --> 00:58:07,717
So I guess what I would say
is if there is any more

1212
00:58:07,717 --> 00:58:10,053
distance between the
United States and Israel,

1213
00:58:10,053 --> 00:58:15,959
it would be because the Israeli
government is moving away

1214
00:58:15,959 --> 00:58:17,961
from the long-held position
that the United States

1215
00:58:17,961 --> 00:58:19,696
has articulated here.

1216
00:58:19,696 --> 00:58:21,698
But again, you'd have to
ask them about what their

1217
00:58:21,698 --> 00:58:24,200
policy is as it relates
to these specific things.

1218
00:58:24,200 --> 00:58:27,102
The announcements that we
have seen in recent days are

1219
00:58:27,103 --> 00:58:30,406
announcements that we have
labeled counterproductive,

1220
00:58:30,406 --> 00:58:33,776
and policies that will only
make the efforts to reach

1221
00:58:33,776 --> 00:58:35,778
a two-state solution that
everybody acknowledges

1222
00:58:35,778 --> 00:58:38,147
is in the best interest of
Israel more complicated.

1223
00:58:38,147 --> 00:58:40,650
The Press: The piece also
suggested the administration has

1224
00:58:40,650 --> 00:58:43,887
concluded that Israel is no
longer in a position to launch

1225
00:58:43,887 --> 00:58:46,522
a preemptive strike
against Iran, if it fears

1226
00:58:46,522 --> 00:58:48,892
it is close to obtaining
a nuclear weapon.

1227
00:58:48,892 --> 00:58:50,058
Is that something
you agree with?

1228
00:58:50,059 --> 00:58:51,794
Mr. Earnest: I don't have
-- I'm not in a position

1229
00:58:51,794 --> 00:58:53,997
to offer any updated
assessment about Israeli --

1230
00:58:53,997 --> 00:58:57,267
about the Israeli military
capability at this point.

1231
00:58:57,267 --> 00:58:58,634
The Press: How about
its intentions?

1232
00:58:58,635 --> 00:58:59,569
Mr. Earnest: I'm not in
a position to talk

1233
00:58:59,569 --> 00:59:01,237
about that either.

1234
00:59:01,237 --> 00:59:03,439
The Press: You said you
didn't want to undermine

1235
00:59:03,439 --> 00:59:07,143
Jeff Goldberg's
reporting on this.

1236
00:59:07,143 --> 00:59:09,779
He says that -- in this article
-- that administration officials

1237
00:59:09,779 --> 00:59:12,849
have also described the Prime
Minister in these words,

1238
00:59:12,849 --> 00:59:14,617
and I want to see if
you agree with any

1239
00:59:14,617 --> 00:59:15,885
of these
characterizations.

1240
00:59:15,885 --> 00:59:16,552
Mr. Earnest: Okay.

1241
00:59:16,552 --> 00:59:18,855
The Press: Is Netanyahu
recalcitrant?

1242
00:59:18,855 --> 00:59:19,722
Mr. Earnest: Well,
why don't you just

1243
00:59:19,722 --> 00:59:20,590
do them all, and
then we'll --

1244
00:59:20,590 --> 00:59:23,459
(laughter)

1245
00:59:23,459 --> 00:59:24,627
The Press: Recalcitrant --

1246
00:59:24,627 --> 00:59:25,862
Mr. Earnest: Well,
I had the --

1247
00:59:25,862 --> 00:59:27,964
The Press: -- myopic,
reactionary, obtuse,

1248
00:59:27,964 --> 00:59:29,999
blustering, pompous?

1249
00:59:29,999 --> 00:59:31,834
Mr. Earnest: I did have the
opportunity to read the story

1250
00:59:31,834 --> 00:59:33,736
that you're referring to,
and I did see all of those

1251
00:59:33,736 --> 00:59:35,171
colorful descriptions.

1252
00:59:35,171 --> 00:59:38,408
And I would say that they all
fall into the same category of

1253
00:59:38,408 --> 00:59:41,844
not accurately reflecting this
administration's view about our

1254
00:59:41,844 --> 00:59:44,981
relationship with Israel or the
President's view of his personal

1255
00:59:44,981 --> 00:59:46,883
relationship with Prime
Minister Netanyahu.

1256
00:59:46,883 --> 00:59:49,285
The Press: So these are
just frustrated officials

1257
00:59:49,285 --> 00:59:50,219
blowing off smoke?

1258
00:59:50,219 --> 00:59:51,587
Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't
know who those officials

1259
00:59:51,587 --> 00:59:52,388
are, so it's hard
for me to --

1260
00:59:52,388 --> 00:59:53,256
The Press: Or
steam or whatever.

1261
00:59:53,256 --> 00:59:54,089
Mr. Earnest: I don't know
who those officials are,

1262
00:59:54,090 --> 00:59:56,993
so it's hard for me to ascribe
a motive to those comments.

1263
00:59:56,993 --> 00:59:58,695
The Press: But none of
this comports in any way,

1264
00:59:58,695 --> 01:00:00,463
shape or form with what
the administration thinks

1265
01:00:00,463 --> 01:00:03,466
about either the person
or the policies?

1266
01:00:03,466 --> 01:00:04,801
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
I think what I would

1267
01:00:04,801 --> 01:00:12,342
do is evaluate the concrete
actions that this administration

1268
01:00:12,342 --> 01:00:14,344
has taken at the direction
of the President

1269
01:00:14,344 --> 01:00:18,648
of the United States to
demonstrate our clear,

1270
01:00:18,648 --> 01:00:20,883
unshakeable bond with
the nation of Israel --

1271
01:00:20,883 --> 01:00:24,687
whether it is
standing with Israel

1272
01:00:24,687 --> 01:00:27,156
in political disputes at
the United Nations,

1273
01:00:27,156 --> 01:00:32,595
or increasing funding for the
Iron Dome program that has saved

1274
01:00:32,595 --> 01:00:39,435
many innocent Israeli lives, or
working aggressively side by

1275
01:00:39,435 --> 01:00:42,105
side with both the Palestinian
leadership and the Israeli

1276
01:00:42,105 --> 01:00:44,073
leadership to try to
bring both sides together

1277
01:00:44,073 --> 01:00:45,875
to reach a
two-state solution.

1278
01:00:45,875 --> 01:00:49,779
Again, it is our view, it's the
view of the Netanyahu government

1279
01:00:49,779 --> 01:00:53,082
that a two-state solution is
clearly in the security interest

1280
01:00:53,082 --> 01:00:56,685
of that nation, that
nation that is our ally.

1281
01:00:56,686 --> 01:01:00,423
And that is why you have seen
this administration from the

1282
01:01:00,423 --> 01:01:03,658
President to the Secretary of
State on down expend significant

1283
01:01:03,659 --> 01:01:08,197
time and energy and resources to
trying to broker that agreement.

1284
01:01:08,197 --> 01:01:10,800
We have long said that
brokering that agreement

1285
01:01:10,800 --> 01:01:11,801
is difficult work.

1286
01:01:11,801 --> 01:01:15,238
It requires both sides to
make difficult decisions.

1287
01:01:15,238 --> 01:01:18,374
And that ultimately, those
decisions are not ones that

1288
01:01:18,374 --> 01:01:23,446
can be made by the United States
on behalf of either party.

1289
01:01:23,446 --> 01:01:26,516
Ultimately, we will need to
see leaders on both sides

1290
01:01:26,516 --> 01:01:28,851
come forward to make the
kinds of difficult,

1291
01:01:28,851 --> 01:01:32,188
courageous decisions that will
be necessary but will also be

1292
01:01:32,188 --> 01:01:35,191
clearly in the best interest of
the people that they represent.

1293
01:01:35,191 --> 01:01:39,428
The Press: General Allen today
said -- told Al-Arabiya that

1294
01:01:39,429 --> 01:01:42,765
the Kurdish town of Kobani
will never fall to ISIS.

1295
01:01:42,765 --> 01:01:44,967
Is that now
coalition policy?

1296
01:01:44,967 --> 01:01:48,738
Mr. Earnest: I'm sorry, can
you say that one more time?

1297
01:01:48,738 --> 01:01:52,075
The Press: General Allen, he had
an interview with Al-Arabiya

1298
01:01:52,075 --> 01:01:53,676
and he discussed a wide
range of issues dealing

1299
01:01:53,676 --> 01:01:56,712
with the operation
Inherent Resolve.

1300
01:01:56,712 --> 01:01:59,649
And he said the Kurdish
town of Kobani will never

1301
01:01:59,649 --> 01:02:02,819
fall to ISIS, or ISIL.

1302
01:02:02,819 --> 01:02:05,855
Is that now coalition policy,
that at no -- at all costs,

1303
01:02:05,855 --> 01:02:10,093
Kobani must be defended,
protected and not fall to ISIL?

1304
01:02:10,093 --> 01:02:11,794
Mr. Earnest: I didn't see the
entirety of General Allen's

1305
01:02:11,794 --> 01:02:13,796
remarks so it's hard for
me to comment on them,

1306
01:02:13,796 --> 01:02:16,765
but he certainly is somebody
who is intimately involved

1307
01:02:16,766 --> 01:02:21,204
in the crafting of this
coalition, and he does that

1308
01:02:21,204 --> 01:02:23,506
with the needs of the
coalition in mind;

1309
01:02:23,506 --> 01:02:25,508
that he is somebody
who is working very

1310
01:02:25,508 --> 01:02:28,810
diligently to assess what is
needed to support the military

1311
01:02:28,811 --> 01:02:32,081
campaign that's led by
General Austin at CENTCOM.

1312
01:02:32,081 --> 01:02:34,484
And he is working closely with
our coalition partners to make

1313
01:02:34,484 --> 01:02:36,886
sure that their capabilities are
matched up with those needs.

1314
01:02:36,886 --> 01:02:39,522
So my point is, he would better
-- he would be in a better

1315
01:02:39,522 --> 01:02:41,524
position than I would
at this point to make

1316
01:02:41,524 --> 01:02:42,859
an assessment like that.

1317
01:02:42,859 --> 01:02:45,294
The Press: Does that surprise
you -- what I just read?

1318
01:02:45,294 --> 01:02:47,129
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I
haven't seen the full context

1319
01:02:47,130 --> 01:02:49,799
of his remarks so I wouldn't
pass judgment on them.

1320
01:02:49,799 --> 01:02:52,802
But at the same time, he
is in a very good position

1321
01:02:52,802 --> 01:02:54,270
to understand the
situation on the ground.

1322
01:02:54,270 --> 01:02:55,505
The Press: Do you
disagree with him?

1323
01:02:55,505 --> 01:02:57,507
Mr. Earnest: Well, it would be
hard for me to disagree with him

1324
01:02:57,507 --> 01:02:59,942
based on the fact that he is
in a much better position

1325
01:02:59,942 --> 01:03:01,878
to make an assessment
like that.

1326
01:03:01,878 --> 01:03:02,411
The Press: Thank you.

1327
01:03:02,411 --> 01:03:03,379
Mr. Earnest: Olivier.

1328
01:03:03,379 --> 01:03:04,180
The Press: Josh,
a couple for you.

1329
01:03:04,180 --> 01:03:07,984
First, Attorney General Holder
sketched out a calendar for his

1330
01:03:07,984 --> 01:03:12,121
successor today, talked --
expect the nomination shortly

1331
01:03:12,121 --> 01:03:14,891
after the election; confirmation
process, January, February.

1332
01:03:14,891 --> 01:03:17,460
Does that comport roughly
with your understanding?

1333
01:03:17,460 --> 01:03:18,961
And has the President
settled on a candidate

1334
01:03:18,961 --> 01:03:21,696
or some final candidates?

1335
01:03:21,697 --> 01:03:24,834
Mr. Earnest: Olivier, what we
have said about this is that

1336
01:03:24,834 --> 01:03:26,868
the President does not
anticipate nominating someone

1337
01:03:26,869 --> 01:03:32,575
prior to the election, but that we would expect that whoever

1338
01:03:32,575 --> 01:03:36,379
that nominee is will be
someone who will deserve

1339
01:03:36,379 --> 01:03:39,649
prompt consideration by the United States Senate

1340
01:03:39,649 --> 01:03:42,351
and prompt bipartisan
confirmation

1341
01:03:42,351 --> 01:03:44,253
by the United
States Senate.

1342
01:03:44,253 --> 01:03:47,990
And we have not been any
more clear about

1343
01:03:47,990 --> 01:03:49,558
that process than that.

1344
01:03:49,559 --> 01:03:55,865
I guess, to anticipate
your next question,

1345
01:03:55,865 --> 01:03:59,535
the door does continue to be
open to the possibility

1346
01:03:59,535 --> 01:04:01,870
that this individual could be
nominated shortly after the

1347
01:04:01,871 --> 01:04:08,611
election, and that we would seek
the Senate to -- or we would

1348
01:04:08,611 --> 01:04:14,317
call on the Senate to consider
that nominee promptly,

1349
01:04:14,317 --> 01:04:17,486
and we will do so knowing that
we believe firmly that that

1350
01:04:17,486 --> 01:04:23,025
individual is worthy of the kind
of bipartisan support that's

1351
01:04:23,025 --> 01:04:26,729
necessary to confirm an
Attorney General nominee.

1352
01:04:26,729 --> 01:04:29,165
I'll just point out -- and I
don't have the documentation

1353
01:04:29,165 --> 01:04:32,935
in front of me -- but this would
be consistent with the policy --

1354
01:04:32,935 --> 01:04:35,605
or with the strategy that was
pursued by the previous

1355
01:04:35,605 --> 01:04:40,910
administration who appointed
-- or nominated Mr. Gates

1356
01:04:40,910 --> 01:04:45,513
to succeed the Secretary of
Defense, Mr. Rumsfeld,

1357
01:04:45,514 --> 01:04:49,518
shortly after the midterm
elections in 2006, I believe.

1358
01:04:49,518 --> 01:04:53,856
That individual, Mr. Gates,
was confirmed promptly

1359
01:04:53,856 --> 01:04:57,126
by the United States Senate
during that lame-duck period.

1360
01:04:57,126 --> 01:05:00,029
The Press: And then following up
on Major's commendable dive into

1361
01:05:00,029 --> 01:05:03,432
the policy ramifications of the
story we've all been talking

1362
01:05:03,432 --> 01:05:06,502
about, one of the really
concerning aspects

1363
01:05:06,502 --> 01:05:10,606
of it is it sounds like
the Obama administration

1364
01:05:10,606 --> 01:05:12,675
and the Netanyahu government
aren't just wide apart

1365
01:05:12,675 --> 01:05:15,444
on the settlements, but
there's a real chasm

1366
01:05:15,444 --> 01:05:17,546
on the Iran
nuclear deal.

1367
01:05:17,546 --> 01:05:19,948
Now, that's not
totally surprising;

1368
01:05:19,949 --> 01:05:21,984
we know that the
two countries come

1369
01:05:21,984 --> 01:05:24,186
at this with different
perspectives.

1370
01:05:24,186 --> 01:05:29,158
But can you at least try to
reassure us that the two

1371
01:05:29,158 --> 01:05:32,295
countries are working together
better on the Iran nuclear

1372
01:05:32,295 --> 01:05:35,765
deal than they are on
the settlement issue?

1373
01:05:35,765 --> 01:05:40,569
Mr. Earnest: Well, I see
that's -- that is not the way

1374
01:05:40,569 --> 01:05:42,404
I was expecting you
to ask that question.

1375
01:05:42,405 --> 01:05:43,939
I think it is hard
to compare the two,

1376
01:05:43,939 --> 01:05:45,975
so I think I'd prefer to
just separate them out.

1377
01:05:45,975 --> 01:05:48,911
I think we've been quite
candid about what our

1378
01:05:48,911 --> 01:05:51,480
differences are as it
relates to settlements.

1379
01:05:51,480 --> 01:05:56,252
The backdrop, however, of that
disagreement about settlement

1380
01:05:56,252 --> 01:05:59,121
policy is the view that is
shared by the United States and

1381
01:05:59,121 --> 01:06:01,991
Israel that a two-state solution
is clearly in the best interests

1382
01:06:01,991 --> 01:06:03,993
of the national security
of the nation of Israel.

1383
01:06:03,993 --> 01:06:05,628
So that's the first thing.

1384
01:06:05,628 --> 01:06:12,635
As it relates to Iran, I think
what I would say there -- again,

1385
01:06:12,635 --> 01:06:15,571
allowing the Israelis to
describe their own position

1386
01:06:15,571 --> 01:06:19,709
themselves -- is that it is the
view of the United States that

1387
01:06:19,709 --> 01:06:23,044
the best way to resolve the
international community's

1388
01:06:23,045 --> 01:06:28,317
concerns about Iran's nuclear
program is through the ongoing

1389
01:06:28,317 --> 01:06:30,419
P5-plus-1 talks.

1390
01:06:30,419 --> 01:06:34,557
The reason for that is simple:
A diplomatic solution that

1391
01:06:34,557 --> 01:06:37,827
extracts a commitment from
Iran that can be verified,

1392
01:06:37,827 --> 01:06:40,429
that will be transparent
and can be verified,

1393
01:06:40,429 --> 01:06:44,800
is the best way to
ensure that Iran is --

1394
01:06:44,800 --> 01:06:47,703
won't be in possession
of a nuclear weapon.

1395
01:06:47,703 --> 01:06:50,606
And that ultimately, it is the
view of the United States,

1396
01:06:50,606 --> 01:06:55,678
again, that Iran having a
nuclear weapon would pose

1397
01:06:55,678 --> 01:07:00,116
a significant threat not just
to our allies in Israel,

1398
01:07:00,116 --> 01:07:02,418
but also to countries
throughout the region.

1399
01:07:02,418 --> 01:07:06,922
So it is our view -- and I guess
you'd have to ask the Israelis

1400
01:07:06,922 --> 01:07:10,459
if they disagree with this --
that the best way to resolve

1401
01:07:10,459 --> 01:07:12,461
those broader concerns
that are held not just

1402
01:07:12,461 --> 01:07:14,663
by the United States and not just by our P5-plus-1 partners,

1403
01:07:14,663 --> 01:07:18,234
but by countries around the
world about Iran's nuclear

1404
01:07:18,234 --> 01:07:23,873
program are best resolved in
this current diplomatic context.

1405
01:07:23,873 --> 01:07:25,875
The Press: The President once
famously said that the odds

1406
01:07:25,875 --> 01:07:28,744
of getting an Iran nuclear deal
were no better than 50/50.

1407
01:07:28,744 --> 01:07:29,745
Has that changed?

1408
01:07:29,745 --> 01:07:31,747
Mr. Earnest: I haven't
heard anybody offer

1409
01:07:31,747 --> 01:07:33,281
a different assessment.

1410
01:07:33,282 --> 01:07:34,517
Angela.

1411
01:07:34,517 --> 01:07:36,051
The Press: On the
auto-safety regulator,

1412
01:07:36,051 --> 01:07:38,386
at NHTSA the administrator
position has been vacant

1413
01:07:38,387 --> 01:07:40,322
for about eight months,
and obviously the agency

1414
01:07:40,322 --> 01:07:42,091
is in the
spotlight again.

1415
01:07:42,091 --> 01:07:44,560
Is there a sense of urgency on
the part of the President

1416
01:07:44,560 --> 01:07:48,029
to nominate someone
to that position?

1417
01:07:48,030 --> 01:07:50,533
Mr. Earnest: Angela, as
is so often the case,

1418
01:07:50,533 --> 01:07:52,067
I did not come to the
briefing bearing

1419
01:07:52,067 --> 01:07:54,103
any personnel
announcements today.

1420
01:07:54,103 --> 01:07:56,772
But I can tell you that
the administration

1421
01:07:56,772 --> 01:08:02,378
is well aware of how important
it is to have a permanent

1422
01:08:02,378 --> 01:08:07,616
administrator of NHTSA in
place; that this is an agency

1423
01:08:07,616 --> 01:08:10,386
that does a lot of important
work to ensure the safety

1424
01:08:10,386 --> 01:08:12,354
of the American public.

1425
01:08:12,354 --> 01:08:14,656
And I can tell you that the
administration is working

1426
01:08:14,657 --> 01:08:17,760
hard to nominate a
permanent administrator.

1427
01:08:17,760 --> 01:08:20,729
The Press: Can you give us
a sense of timing on that?

1428
01:08:20,729 --> 01:08:23,199
Secretary Foxx had
said very soon,

1429
01:08:23,198 --> 01:08:25,800
implying within a
couple weeks, last week.

1430
01:08:25,801 --> 01:08:27,636
Mr. Earnest: I don't have an
update for you on timing,

1431
01:08:27,636 --> 01:08:30,606
but there is a sense of urgency
that we feel around this,

1432
01:08:30,606 --> 01:08:33,209
and as soon as we have
more information on this

1433
01:08:33,209 --> 01:08:34,175
we'll let you know.

1434
01:08:34,176 --> 01:08:35,211
Tamara.

1435
01:08:35,211 --> 01:08:38,013
The Press: Is Ron Klain going
to be at the event this

1436
01:08:38,013 --> 01:08:41,317
afternoon with the health
workers in the East Room?

1437
01:08:41,317 --> 01:08:42,685
Mr. Earnest: I know that he's
got a number of meetings

1438
01:08:42,685 --> 01:08:44,053
on his schedule today.

1439
01:08:44,053 --> 01:08:47,689
So there will be press access
to the event in the East Room,

1440
01:08:47,689 --> 01:08:49,491
so you can look for his
smiling face when you see

1441
01:08:49,492 --> 01:08:51,494
him there, if he's -- The
Press: If he's there.

1442
01:08:51,493 --> 01:08:54,362
Mr. Earnest: You can look for
his smiling face if it's there.

1443
01:08:54,363 --> 01:08:55,197
The Press: If it's there.

1444
01:08:55,197 --> 01:09:01,337
And the President is doing this
event in part to promote

1445
01:09:01,337 --> 01:09:07,109
the science narrative and the
health-care-workers-need-our

1446
01:09:07,109 --> NaN:NaN:NaN,NaN
suppport narrative.

1447
01:09:06,408 --> 01:09:12,882
The Department of Defense is
doing sort of a non -- a less --

1448
01:09:12,881 --> 01:09:17,419
not in line with the science
that the CDC put out.

1449
01:09:17,419 --> 01:09:20,221
Maine seems to be doing
something that is not in line

1450
01:09:20,221 --> 01:09:23,058
with the science that the CDC
-- or with policies based

1451
01:09:23,058 --> 01:09:24,926
on CDC science.

1452
01:09:24,926 --> 01:09:27,228
Does this point to the
challenge of coordinating that

1453
01:09:27,229 --> 01:09:31,300
whole-of-government response
that Klain is now in charge of?

1454
01:09:31,300 --> 01:09:33,702
Mr. Earnest: Well, let me say
a couple things about that.

1455
01:09:33,702 --> 01:09:37,072
The principal goal of the
President's event today

1456
01:09:37,072 --> 01:09:41,010
is to welcome health care
workers to the White House

1457
01:09:41,010 --> 01:09:44,280
who have selflessly and
heroically served in West Africa

1458
01:09:44,279 --> 01:09:46,482
to try to stop that
outbreak at the source.

1459
01:09:46,482 --> 01:09:49,919
These individuals have done this
very difficult work under

1460
01:09:49,919 --> 01:09:53,721
very austere conditions
in West Africa.

1461
01:09:53,721 --> 01:09:55,724
They did so not because
it was glamorous,

1462
01:09:55,724 --> 01:10:00,496
not because they were expecting
some kind of financial reward,

1463
01:10:00,496 --> 01:10:03,032
but because they were committed
to using their medical skills

1464
01:10:03,032 --> 01:10:05,034
to serve their common
man, particularly those

1465
01:10:05,034 --> 01:10:06,035
who are less fortunate.

1466
01:10:06,035 --> 01:10:09,238
The President believes that that
is worthy of praise and respect,

1467
01:10:09,238 --> 01:10:11,907
and the President is looking
forward to paying them

1468
01:10:11,907 --> 01:10:15,344
that respect and sharing
with them that praise

1469
01:10:15,344 --> 01:10:17,346
in the East Room
later today.

1470
01:10:18,647 --> 01:10:22,885
There is no doubt that the kind
of whole-of-government approach

1471
01:10:22,885 --> 01:10:25,387
that this administration
has pursued

1472
01:10:25,387 --> 01:10:27,656
is challenging
to coordinate.

1473
01:10:27,656 --> 01:10:34,763
But I do think that the results
have been -- indicate that

1474
01:10:34,763 --> 01:10:37,800
the American people have been
well-served by that approach

1475
01:10:37,800 --> 01:10:41,537
and there are a variety of
ways to evaluate that.

1476
01:10:41,537 --> 01:10:44,707
The first is that there is
currently in the United States

1477
01:10:44,707 --> 01:10:47,943
only one patient who is being
treated for Ebola right now.

1478
01:10:47,943 --> 01:10:49,945
As I mentioned earlier,
our thoughts and prayers

1479
01:10:49,945 --> 01:10:52,147
are with Dr. Spencer.

1480
01:10:52,147 --> 01:10:56,552
Second, there have been two
health care workers here

1481
01:10:56,552 --> 01:10:59,888
in the United States who have
contracted the disease

1482
01:10:59,888 --> 01:11:01,790
on American soil.

1483
01:11:01,790 --> 01:11:03,626
You've heard from the
CDC Director that that

1484
01:11:03,626 --> 01:11:07,262
transmission is something
that is unacceptable.

1485
01:11:07,262 --> 01:11:10,499
And in light of
that transmission,

1486
01:11:10,499 --> 01:11:14,403
the CDC put out a variety
of stronger guidelines

1487
01:11:14,403 --> 01:11:16,872
to ensure the safety of
health care workers,

1488
01:11:16,872 --> 01:11:18,874
even as they treat
Ebola patients.

1489
01:11:18,874 --> 01:11:21,143
You've also seen a
regime put in place,

1490
01:11:21,143 --> 01:11:23,212
or at least a strategy
put in place by the CDC,

1491
01:11:23,212 --> 01:11:26,982
to quickly deploy experts to
hospitals when they know that

1492
01:11:26,982 --> 01:11:29,051
they are treating an Ebola
patient or an Ebola --

1493
01:11:29,051 --> 01:11:32,221
or a patient that's in their
care tests positive for Ebola.

1494
01:11:32,221 --> 01:11:34,656
So there have been some steps
that have been taken to

1495
01:11:34,657 --> 01:11:39,561
strengthen those guidelines and
to strengthen that response.

1496
01:11:39,561 --> 01:11:42,898
And the early indications
are that those policies

1497
01:11:42,898 --> 01:11:44,900
have been successfully
implemented.

1498
01:11:44,900 --> 01:11:47,870
At the same time, we continue
to be vigilant about this.

1499
01:11:47,870 --> 01:11:49,872
These policies are difficult,
they're complicated,

1500
01:11:49,872 --> 01:11:52,474
and I assure you that there is
no one here who is resting

1501
01:11:52,474 --> 01:11:54,910
on their laurels.

1502
01:11:54,910 --> 01:11:57,713
All of that said, and again, in
part because of the steps

1503
01:11:57,713 --> 01:11:59,715
that have been taken by
the administration,

1504
01:11:59,715 --> 01:12:01,717
the likelihood of a
widespread Ebola outbreak

1505
01:12:01,717 --> 01:12:05,120
in the United States
remains vanishingly low.

1506
01:12:05,120 --> 01:12:08,424
And that continues
to be true today.

1507
01:12:08,424 --> 01:12:11,460
As it relates to the
question of Maine,

1508
01:12:11,460 --> 01:12:15,364
I frankly am unaware of the
details of the policy that they

1509
01:12:15,364 --> 01:12:20,001
have put in place for monitoring
the health of Ms. Hickox.

1510
01:12:20,002 --> 01:12:22,438
As it relates to the
Department of Defense policy,

1511
01:12:22,438 --> 01:12:24,740
we did have a pretty robust
discussion yesterday about

1512
01:12:24,740 --> 01:12:28,043
the differences between a
policy that's implemented

1513
01:12:28,043 --> 01:12:30,579
in a military context and a
policy that's implemented

1514
01:12:30,579 --> 01:12:32,281
in a civilian context.

1515
01:12:32,281 --> 01:12:35,851
What I would merely say is this
policy that was announced by

1516
01:12:35,851 --> 01:12:42,290
Secretary Hagel this morning
I believe reflects the need

1517
01:12:42,291 --> 01:12:46,628
for or at least -- the
policy that was announced

1518
01:12:46,628 --> 01:12:52,034
by Secretary Hagel today
indicates the kind

1519
01:12:52,034 --> 01:12:54,402
of efficiency gains that
the military is seeking

1520
01:12:58,140 --> 01:13:03,979
by taking troops who have
spent time in West Africa

1521
01:13:03,979 --> 01:13:05,981
and keeping them together and
actively monitoring their

1522
01:13:05,981 --> 01:13:07,782
health in one place.

1523
01:13:07,783 --> 01:13:12,654
And that reflects the kind of
scientific guidance that we've

1524
01:13:12,654 --> 01:13:17,793
gotten from the CDC about the
need to monitor their health,

1525
01:13:17,793 --> 01:13:22,231
but it also reflects the
differences between applying

1526
01:13:22,231 --> 01:13:24,433
this policy in a civilian
context and applying

1527
01:13:24,433 --> 01:13:27,136
this policy in a
military context.

1528
01:13:27,136 --> 01:13:29,571
Let me end by saying that by
having their health monitored

1529
01:13:29,571 --> 01:13:35,577
in this way means that our
servicemen and women,

1530
01:13:37,679 --> 01:13:40,315
who are already making
a sacrifice to travel

1531
01:13:40,315 --> 01:13:45,187
to West Africa in the first
place, are further sacrificing

1532
01:13:45,187 --> 01:13:47,189
their own personal time
by spending three weeks

1533
01:13:47,189 --> 01:13:49,925
having their health monitored
on a regular basis.

1534
01:13:49,925 --> 01:13:52,594
This also places a significant
burden not just on these

1535
01:13:52,594 --> 01:13:54,663
military members themselves
but also on their families

1536
01:13:54,663 --> 01:13:57,532
who are eager for
them to return home.

1537
01:13:57,533 --> 01:14:01,136
And we certainly are
appreciative of and respectful

1538
01:14:01,136 --> 01:14:03,505
of the kinds of
sacrifices like that,

1539
01:14:03,505 --> 01:14:04,973
that our men and women in
uniform and their families

1540
01:14:04,973 --> 01:14:08,877
make on a daily basis,
even on those days

1541
01:14:08,877 --> 01:14:11,079
that it's not publicly
acknowledged.

1542
01:14:11,079 --> 01:14:14,148
The Press: Do you agree that
having policies coming from the

1543
01:14:14,149 --> 01:14:18,387
state level and coming from the
CDC and coming from the DOD that

1544
01:14:18,387 --> 01:14:22,991
are all not exactly the same
sends a mixed message to people?

1545
01:14:22,991 --> 01:14:25,127
Mr. Earnest: No, I don't think
it sends a mixed message

1546
01:14:25,127 --> 01:14:26,128
to people at all.

1547
01:14:26,128 --> 01:14:28,230
It means that the policies are
implemented in different ways

1548
01:14:28,230 --> 01:14:30,531
based on the authority that
in the -- at least in one

1549
01:14:30,532 --> 01:14:34,069
instance is wielded by
an individual governor.

1550
01:14:34,069 --> 01:14:39,074
And the fact of the matter is
those differences in application

1551
01:14:39,074 --> 01:14:41,108
of the policy have not
interfered with the ability

1552
01:14:41,109 --> 01:14:43,111
of the federal government
to coordinate with

1553
01:14:43,111 --> 01:14:45,113
them as those policies
are implemented.

1554
01:14:45,113 --> 01:14:48,517
And, again, the best example I
can point to is the policy that

1555
01:14:48,517 --> 01:14:52,154
was implemented by Governor
Christie did differentiate from

1556
01:14:52,154 --> 01:14:55,057
the recommendations that were
offered by the CDC but based on

1557
01:14:55,057 --> 01:14:59,827
the ongoing coordination between
New Jersey officials and CDC

1558
01:14:59,828 --> 01:15:03,031
officials, Ms. Hickox was
released from that New Jersey

1559
01:15:03,031 --> 01:15:07,135
hospital, consistent with
the advice of the CDC.

1560
01:15:07,135 --> 01:15:08,303
Mark, I'll give
you the last one.

1561
01:15:08,303 --> 01:15:09,238
The Press: Thanks.

1562
01:15:09,238 --> 01:15:12,441
Josh, based on the many
questions you've gotten in this

1563
01:15:12,441 --> 01:15:17,179
room over the last week about
Ron Klain and his profile,

1564
01:15:17,179 --> 01:15:19,181
low-profile,
not-sufficient profile,

1565
01:15:19,181 --> 01:15:21,849
do you get the feeling that
we don't understand

1566
01:15:21,850 --> 01:15:24,620
what his real role is?

1567
01:15:26,421 --> 01:15:29,892
(laughter)

1568
01:15:29,892 --> 01:15:34,162
Mr. Earnest: I will
not try to speculate on which

1569
01:15:34,162 --> 01:15:37,466
aspects of the things that I
try to describe here are

1570
01:15:37,466 --> 01:15:41,436
clearly understood by you
or not understood by you.

1571
01:15:41,436 --> 01:15:44,539
And on those occasions in which
the policy that I'm trying to

1572
01:15:44,539 --> 01:15:50,612
explain is not well understood,
I would be happy to take more --

1573
01:15:50,612 --> 01:15:53,715
a healthy share of the
responsibility for that.

1574
01:15:53,715 --> 01:15:58,854
What I will point out is that
even before Ron started in this

1575
01:15:58,854 --> 01:16:03,992
job, we were clear -- at least
I was clear -- about describing

1576
01:16:03,992 --> 01:16:07,396
his role as one that was
principally behind the scenes,

1577
01:16:07,396 --> 01:16:09,697
one that would be focused on
coordinating the activities

1578
01:16:09,698 --> 01:16:13,468
of the wide variety of federal
government agencies that are

1579
01:16:13,468 --> 01:16:17,039
involved in this response, and
that the need for him to play

1580
01:16:17,039 --> 01:16:21,242
that coordinating role would
limit his ability to make

1581
01:16:21,243 --> 01:16:23,545
a large number of
public appearances.

1582
01:16:23,545 --> 01:16:26,481
That all said, I certainly
wouldn't rule out future

1583
01:16:26,481 --> 01:16:31,553
opportunities for Mr. Klain
to speak with all of you

1584
01:16:31,553 --> 01:16:33,355
or with other journalists.

1585
01:16:33,355 --> 01:16:37,125
Right now, the most important
thing for him to be focused on

1586
01:16:37,125 --> 01:16:41,196
is ensuring that this
whole-of-government approach

1587
01:16:41,196 --> 01:16:44,166
that the President has pursued
to respond to this Ebola

1588
01:16:44,166 --> 01:16:46,935
situation is one that meets the
very high standard that the

1589
01:16:46,935 --> 01:16:50,806
President has set for his team
and for the American people.

1590
01:16:50,806 --> 01:16:51,473
Thanks a lot, everybody.

1591
01:16:51,473 --> 01:16:52,307
Have a good afternoon.