English subtitles for clip: File:11-27-12- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Carney:
Good afternoon,
ladies and gentlemen.

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Welcome to the James S. Brady
White House Briefing Room for

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your daily briefing.

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I know we have some
visitors I believe from

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the United Arab Emirates.

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I want to welcome you here
and thank you for being here.

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I have just a couple of things
I want to announce at the top,

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some of which you know
about, others you may not.

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Today, as I think you know, the
President is meeting with small

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business owners.

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Also today -- let
me just back up --

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The Press:
Right now?

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Mr. Carney:
He's meeting with -- it is
not happening right now.

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I believe it -- at 2:30
p.m., I'm reliably informed.

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He'll be meeting with small
business owners as part of

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discussing with them the
importance of extending

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tax cuts for the middle class,
for 98% of American taxpayers,

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because of the impact that
raising taxes on 98 percent

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would have on businesses
around the country.

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He will also discuss with them
the measures that he has put

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forward to assist small
businesses, including hiring

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tax credits and the like that
will help the engine of our

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economic growth to continue
to produce jobs and increase

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our -- grow our economy.

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Also this afternoon, senior
staff, including Jack Lew,

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Valerie Jarrett, Gene Sperling,
Jeff Zients, Bruce Reed, also

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Secretary Geithner, will meet
with leaders of Fix the Debt --

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that includes Maya MacGuineas
and Erskine Bowles.

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Tomorrow the President will
have an event with middle-class

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Americans, again, to talk about
and highlight the importance of

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extending tax cuts to the middle
class, to 98 percent of American

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taxpayers and 97 percent
of small businesses.

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This is vital.

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It is something that everyone in
Washington agrees must be done,

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and it is something that the
House of Representatives could

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do today or tomorrow, if they
so chose, because the Senate

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has already passed the bill
that extends those tax cuts.

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If the House were to pass them,
the President would sign it

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right away, and that would
create certainty for 98 percent

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of American taxpayers --
middle-class families around the

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country, 97 percent of America's
small businesses, and would go a

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long way, or a significant
way, towards dealing with

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the so-called fiscal cliff.

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Also tomorrow, the President has
another meeting with business

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leaders, following on
the one he has prior to

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the Thanksgiving holiday.

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And Friday, as I think you know,
he'll be traveling to Montgomery

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County, Pennsylvania, to visit
a business, again, to talk about

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the need to extend these
middle-class tax cuts because

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businesses around the country
depend on America's middle class

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to buy their products.

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And as I think Alan Krueger
effectively outlined yesterday,

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and that I think you read
about in the report that he

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co-produced, the impact of
raising taxes on the middle

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class would be significant
to our economy.

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With that, I'll
take your questions.

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Ben.

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The Press:
Thank you.

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Mr. Carney:
Each encounter will be
bitter-sweet from now

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to the end, Ben.

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The Press:
I appreciate that.

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Bill Plante outlasts
another one of us.

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(laughter)

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The Press:
Is that a compliment?

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(laughter)

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Mr. Carney:
Does everyone know
that Ben is leaving?

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Very sad.

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The Press:
Thanks, Jay.

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Two questions on
fiscal cliff first.

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Senator Durbin said today in a
speech that progressives ought

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to talk about viability of
Medicare and Medicaid, but that

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"those conversations should not
be part of a plan to avert the

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fiscal cliff."

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Doesn't that complicate the
President's position here?

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He himself has
talked about balance.

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He's talked about the
willingness to put

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entitlements on the table
as part of a broad package.

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And now he's got a leader from
his own flank saying that that

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shouldn't be part
of the discussion.

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Mr. Carney:
Well, I haven't seen those
comments from Senator Durbin.

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I think it is certainly the
case that there are two distinct

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issues here that are related,
which is the fiscal cliff, the

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deadlines essentially that we
have in place that if action

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isn't taken will result in
significant tax hikes on the

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one hand and across-the-board
spending cuts on the other.

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That's the fiscal cliff.

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The other challenge is one that
we've been dealing with for a

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long time now, which is the
need to come to an agreement

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on a broad, balanced, and
comprehensive plan to reduce our

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deficits and debt, and put us on
a sustainable path economically,

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in a way that protects the
middle class, protects seniors

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and other vulnerable Americans,
and continues to invest in our

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economy so that it can
grow and create jobs.

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The President's belief is that
we can address both of these

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in a broad deficit
reduction package.

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But there's no question that
they are in many ways distinct.

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That's why when we talk about
an immediate action, a distinct,

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discreet action that Congress
could take if the House of

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Representatives -- if
Republicans in the House of

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Representatives would agree
to it, is to pass the tax cut,

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extending the so-called Bush-era
tax cuts for 98 percent of the

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American people --
let's do that right now.

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That's obviously not as
comprehensive solution, but it

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is a significant step towards
a solution to the fiscal cliff.

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Let's get that done.

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Everyone in Washington, I
daresay the vast majority of

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the American people, agree with
the proposition that we should

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extend tax cuts to 98 percent
of taxpayers, and we should not

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hold those tax cuts hostage to
an insistence that millionaires

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and billionaires, the top 2
percent of America's taxpayers,

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have to have a tax cut, too.

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Because, as you know, over the
past dozen years or so, that

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segment of the American populace
has done very well at a time

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when the middle class
has been squeezed.

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So I don't see a
contradiction here.

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I see distinct challenges
that are related.

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And the President is very
committed to the proposition

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that we can deal with these
challenges if we come together

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and adopt a balanced approach.

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The Press:
A quick follow on that, and
then I have a last question.

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Every signal we've gotten from
the Hill, including out there on

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the driveway after the last
meeting with the President,

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and also from what you just
said, is that essentially the

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fiscal cliff and a longer-term
package on debt and tax reform

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are combined.

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They all have to -- they're
all going to happen at once.

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So when someone like Durbin
says, yes, deal with the fiscal

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cliff but not entitlements,
doesn't the President at some

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point have to win over members
of his party to say, call it

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what you want, but we're doing
this and they are on the table?

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Mr. Carney:
Well, again, it's hard for
me to specifically respond

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to questions about the
comments that Senator Durbin

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made according to you.

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I can simply say that it is the
President's position that when

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we're talking about a broad,
balanced approach to dealing

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with our fiscal challenges,
that that includes dealing

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with entitlements.

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And the President's budget, as
you know, includes $340 billion

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in savings from our entitlement
health care program.

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So he has demonstrated yet again
his commitment to the principle

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that we need to include as part
of our balance approach savings

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from entitlements.

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But in order to be balanced --
because there's never been a

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debate about that -- Republicans
on Capitol Hill have been very

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focused on trying to extract
savings from entitlement

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programs while insisting that
millionaires and billionaires

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need not just the tax cuts that
they already have but extended

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tax cuts -- the President has
long insisted that as part of

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the three legs of the stool
that we talked about yesterday,

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revenue has to be part of that.

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And one of the positive
developments in the

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post-election period has been
signs of acknowledgment among

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Republicans that revenue has
to be part of this discussion.

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And the President welcomes that.

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The Press:
Thanks.

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On the question of Susan Rice,
she's been meeting, as you know,

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with Senators on the Hill to
come to some better meeting of

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the minds about Benghazi and
her public comments on that.

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Leading critics have come
out, including Senator Graham,

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and said afterwards that
they're even more disturbed.

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They have more questions
now than they did before.

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I'm wondering what your reaction
is to that and whether this

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outreach effort to the Hill
is amounting to anything.

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Mr. Carney:
Well, I'd say two things.

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First of all, Ambassador
Rice has put out a statement;

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I would refer you to that.

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Secondly, I would simply
say there are no unanswered

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questions about Ambassador
Rice's appearance on Sunday

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shows and the talking points
that she used for those

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appearances that were provided
by the intelligence community.

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Those questions
have been answered.

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The questions that remain to be
answered and that the President

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insists are answered have to do
with what happened in Benghazi,

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who was responsible for the
deaths of four Americans

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including our Ambassador, and
what steps we need to take to

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ensure that something like
that does not happen again.

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These are distinct issues.

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As the President made clear,
Ambassador Rice has no

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responsibility for
collecting, analyzing

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and providing intelligence.

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Nor does she have
responsibility, as the United

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States Ambassador to the United
Nations, for diplomatic security

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around the globe.

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The focus on -- some might say
obsession on -- comments made

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on Sunday shows seems to me,
and to many, to be misplaced.

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I think, again, I would refer
you to Ambassador Rice's

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statement where she discusses
the meeting she had today with

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Senators McCain, Graham, and
Ayotte from New Hampshire with

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Acting CIA Director Michael
Morell to go over exactly

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the very questions that those
senators had and the very clear

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facts about what information she
was using -- where it came from,

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the fact that all of us who had
to answer questions about the

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events in Benghazi were
provided the same information.

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And that information was based
on the best assessments of our

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intelligence
community at the time.

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It also included caveats that
those assessments would evolve

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as more information
was collected.

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We need to focus on -- as the
President has said -- bringing

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to justice those who killed
four Americans, taking steps

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to ensure that our embassies and
diplomatic facilities are secure

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and that nothing like
what happened in Benghazi

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happens again.

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I'd like to move it
around a little bit.

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I know yesterday I spent a great
deal of time on the front row.

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But I will come back
to the front row.

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Yes, Sheryl.

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The Press:
Can you confirm that Secretary
Geithner is really leading these

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negotiations on
the fiscal cliff?

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And how much leeway does he
have to come up with a solution?

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Mr. Carney:
I can confirm that Secretary
Geithner is -- as he has always

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been -- a leading participant
in negotiations like these.

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He will play a leading role
in discussions with Congress

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on this matter.

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And he will be working with
Jack Lew, the Chief of Staff;

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Gene Sperling, the Director
of the NEC; Ron Nabors,

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our congressional liaison,
and others in that effort.

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Ultimately, the leader is the
President of the United States,

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and this is his team.

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And I know that other members
will be working -- other members

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of his team will be
working on this issue.

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But Secretary Geithner obviously
has a very important role to

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play here and will be working
with others to help bring about

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that broad agreement
that the President seeks.

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The Press:
You didn't answer her question.

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Is he the lead of it?

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Mr. Carney:
Well, he is the lead
in the sense that --

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The Press:
-- in discussions
with negotiators.

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Mr. Carney:
-- in terms of
discussions with Congress.

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But he is not alone.

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We would not send him
out alone to the Hill.

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So I think we have a very strong
team of people who have a great

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deal of knowledge and experience
on this issue, and that includes

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Secretary Geithner,
but also many others.

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Reuters.

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The Press:
Back on the Susan Rice issue,
her critics -- Senator McCain

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among them -- are
not backing off.

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And they are threatening to
block her nomination if the

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President were to choose her for
Secretary of State or any other

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Cabinet position that would
require a confirmation.

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And although I'm sure you're not
going to be giving us a short

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list on who's being considered,
can you give us a sense of the

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timeline of what the President
is looking at for choosing a new

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secretary -- successor
to Secretary Clinton?

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When is she expected --
will she stay on through

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the Inauguration?

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00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:56,533
And at what point would
the President be hoping

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to make a nomination?

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00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:02,400
Mr. Carney:
I don't have any information
for you on timelines or short

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00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:06,165
lists or nominees --
potential or otherwise.

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00:14:06,166 --> 00:14:14,367
Secretary Clinton, I think has
addressed her plans in terms of

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how long she'll stay.

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00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:17,667
So I would refer
you to her comments.

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As I said yesterday, the fact
of the matter is that Ambassador

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00:14:25,166 --> 00:14:28,533
Rice is enormously qualified for
the position she holds and for

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00:14:28,533 --> 00:14:32,967
the position -- for a variety of
positions in the foreign policy

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00:14:32,967 --> 00:14:37,233
field if the President were
to decide to nominate her

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for another position.

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And I'm simply quoting
the President from his

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press conference.

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The Press:
A while ago, you gave a
comprehensive list of everything

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00:14:48,834 --> 00:14:51,532
the President is doing this
week, who he's meeting with,

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00:14:51,533 --> 00:14:53,834
but nowhere there does it
mention the President will be

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00:14:53,834 --> 00:14:56,967
meeting with anyone from any of
the congressional leadership.

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00:14:56,967 --> 00:15:00,133
Can we expect that there will
be a meeting sometime this week?

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00:15:00,133 --> 00:15:03,834
And is the President holding
these phone conversations behind

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00:15:03,834 --> 00:15:06,032
the scenes with any
of the leadership?

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00:15:06,033 --> 00:15:08,900
Mr. Carney:
Well, I can't remember if you
were yesterday, but I did

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00:15:08,900 --> 00:15:11,867
confirm that the President spoke
with the Speaker of the House as

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00:15:11,867 --> 00:15:14,699
well as the Senate Majority
Leader over the weekend.

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00:15:14,700 --> 00:15:17,734
He will continue to have
discussions with those two

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00:15:17,734 --> 00:15:23,400
leaders as well as Leader Pelosi
and Senator McConnell in the

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days and weeks coming forward.

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00:15:24,633 --> 00:15:28,100
I don't have a schedule for
those conversations to provide

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00:15:28,100 --> 00:15:32,000
to you, but he will speak
with them and meet with them

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as appropriate.

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00:15:33,100 --> 00:15:39,800
He has -- as we just discussed
-- designated a team to engage

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with conference in
these negotiations.

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And those conversations
are taking place.

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But he will continue to both
engage with congressional

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leaders as well as business
leaders, labor leaders, civic

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leaders, middle-class Americans
as this process continues.

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One thing we talked about
yesterday that I think is very

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important and it reflects some
of his schedule this week is

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that it is vitally important
that ordinary Americans actively

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engage in this debate,
because the outcome of these

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00:16:18,967 --> 00:16:23,400
negotiations and the hopeful
product of these negotiations or

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the product that we hope emerges
from these negotiations will

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profoundly affect their lives.

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00:16:28,433 --> 00:16:32,165
That includes making sure that
middle-class Americans don't see

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00:16:32,166 --> 00:16:38,033
their taxes go up on average by
$2,200 next year, which would be

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the result if Republicans
insist on holding those tax cuts

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hostage to their insistence that
those making more than $250,000

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00:16:50,033 --> 00:16:53,967
-- the top 2 percent of American
earners -- get a tax cut that we

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cannot afford and which is not
economically -- as economically

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00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:01,967
useful as tax cuts
for the middle class.

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00:17:01,967 --> 00:17:09,233
So the President will engage
across the board, not just with

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congressional leaders but with
a broad array of people from

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00:17:15,733 --> 00:17:19,867
different communities who have
a great stake in the outcome of

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these negotiations.

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00:17:21,099 --> 00:17:23,867
The Press:
And so will the team led by
Secretary Geithner will be

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00:17:23,867 --> 00:17:26,666
doing the heavy lifting, and
then the President steps in if

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00:17:26,666 --> 00:17:27,766
things aren't going well?

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00:17:27,767 --> 00:17:28,767
Or will --

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00:17:28,767 --> 00:17:31,533
Mr. Carney:
Again, I think that the
President is actively engaged

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00:17:31,533 --> 00:17:33,867
in the numerous ways that
I've already described in

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00:17:33,867 --> 00:17:36,567
the meetings that he's already
had and obviously in meetings

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00:17:36,567 --> 00:17:37,567
with his team.

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00:17:37,567 --> 00:17:41,900
So he is doing some heavy
lifting himself and will

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00:17:41,900 --> 00:17:43,467
continue to do that.

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00:17:43,467 --> 00:17:48,667
This is a team effort, however,
and when it comes to discussions

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00:17:48,667 --> 00:17:53,199
happening with both members of
staff and members of Congress up

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00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:59,700
on Capitol Hill, the President
has asked Secretary Geithner and

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00:17:59,700 --> 00:18:02,667
others to engage
in that process.

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00:18:02,667 --> 00:18:05,466
The Press:
You probably heard Senator Mitch
McConnell yesterday criticizing

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00:18:05,467 --> 00:18:09,266
the President, calling for
leadership on this issue.

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00:18:09,266 --> 00:18:12,500
And specifically today, he went
after the President on the trip

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00:18:12,500 --> 00:18:14,633
that he's taking to
Pennsylvania on Friday.

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00:18:14,633 --> 00:18:17,066
And he said, rather than sitting
down with lawmakers of both

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00:18:17,066 --> 00:18:19,433
parties and working out an
agreement, he's back on the

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00:18:19,433 --> 00:18:22,834
campaign trail presumably with
the same old talking points that

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00:18:22,834 --> 00:18:24,734
we are all quite familiar with.

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00:18:24,734 --> 00:18:26,332
I just wanted to get
your reaction to this

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00:18:26,333 --> 00:18:27,834
criticism from --

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00:18:27,834 --> 00:18:31,000
Mr. Carney:
Well, the President believes
very strongly that the American

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00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:34,066
people matter in this
debate, because this debate

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00:18:34,066 --> 00:18:36,133
is about them.

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00:18:36,133 --> 00:18:38,867
The question of whether or not
taxes go up on 98 percent of

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00:18:38,867 --> 00:18:44,767
American taxpayers is very
important to ordinary Americans.

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00:18:44,767 --> 00:18:48,934
It is not just a matter for
discussion between the President

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00:18:48,934 --> 00:18:55,500
and the Senate Minority Leader
or other congressional leaders.

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00:18:55,500 --> 00:19:02,867
It is simply a fact that in the
recently concluded campaign this

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00:19:02,867 --> 00:19:06,800
topic was perhaps the most
debated, the most discussed,

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00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:12,433
the most analyzed for a year.

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00:19:12,433 --> 00:19:18,633
And I think the election was
pretty conclusive in terms of

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00:19:18,633 --> 00:19:22,066
which path a majority of the
American people want to take,

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00:19:22,066 --> 00:19:24,300
which is -- when it comes
to dealing with our fiscal

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00:19:24,300 --> 00:19:26,800
challenges and dealing
with the fiscal cliff.

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00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:30,966
And that is a balanced approach,
one that includes not just

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00:19:30,967 --> 00:19:36,000
spending cuts, not just
entitlement reforms and savings,

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00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:36,967
but revenue.

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00:19:36,967 --> 00:19:40,800
I think the data that
we've all seen could

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00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:41,834
not be more conclusive.

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00:19:41,834 --> 00:19:46,100
So the President will continue
to engage with the American

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00:19:46,100 --> 00:19:50,265
people on this subject because
we are all here -- those of us

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00:19:50,266 --> 00:19:52,100
in the administration and
those who have been elected

346
00:19:52,100 --> 00:19:54,934
to Congress -- to serve
the American people.

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00:19:54,934 --> 00:19:59,233
So to suggest that we should --
now that the election is over --

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00:19:59,233 --> 00:20:02,600
stop talking to them about
these vital issues I think

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00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:05,233
is bad advice.

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00:20:05,233 --> 00:20:08,166
The Press:
One final question
on Ambassador Rice.

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00:20:08,166 --> 00:20:11,399
Beyond the President's feelings
for her and how she conducted

352
00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:14,100
herself after the Benghazi
attacks, what does he think

353
00:20:14,100 --> 00:20:17,632
about this whole back-and-forth
about something that's a

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00:20:17,633 --> 00:20:19,567
hypothetical nomination
at this point?

355
00:20:20,900 --> 00:20:22,834
Mr. Carney:
The President addressed this
in his press conference I

356
00:20:22,834 --> 00:20:28,567
think quite well, and I
can't improve upon that.

357
00:20:28,567 --> 00:20:31,567
The Press:
I think he spoke about her and
the good work that she has done.

358
00:20:31,567 --> 00:20:36,367
Mr. Carney:
And I think he spoke very
clearly that -- about the

359
00:20:36,367 --> 00:20:41,265
prospect of proposing her
for a different position if

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00:20:41,266 --> 00:20:42,467
he so desires.

361
00:20:42,467 --> 00:20:44,266
So I would refer you to
his comments on that.

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00:20:44,266 --> 00:20:45,033
The Press:
Right, but it's not about that.

363
00:20:45,033 --> 00:20:47,433
Just the whole theater
surrounding the back-and-forth

364
00:20:47,433 --> 00:20:49,100
about someone who hasn't even --

365
00:20:49,100 --> 00:20:54,734
Mr. Carney:
I think he believes, as he said,
that the focus on Ambassador

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00:20:54,734 --> 00:20:57,500
Rice's comments on some Sunday
shows -- now, I know that Sunday

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00:20:57,500 --> 00:21:01,467
shows have vaunted status in
Washington -- but they have

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00:21:01,467 --> 00:21:04,767
almost nothing to do, in fact,
zero to do with what happened

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00:21:04,767 --> 00:21:06,567
in Benghazi.

370
00:21:06,567 --> 00:21:12,533
And certainly Ambassador Rice,
as I made clear moments ago, has

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00:21:12,533 --> 00:21:17,734
no responsibility for providing
intelligence -- that is the

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00:21:17,734 --> 00:21:20,199
intelligence community's
responsibility.

373
00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:23,700
And she, the United States
Ambassador to the United

374
00:21:23,700 --> 00:21:27,333
Nations, does not, as part
of her portfolio, have

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00:21:27,333 --> 00:21:31,734
responsibility for diplomatic
security around the world.

376
00:21:31,734 --> 00:21:33,300
So, thank you for that.

377
00:21:33,300 --> 00:21:37,500
She is a principal on the
President's foreign policy team.

378
00:21:37,500 --> 00:21:43,734
And it is convenient I think for
a lot of people, especially from

379
00:21:43,734 --> 00:21:48,199
-- well, I won't say that --
but it is convenient for some

380
00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:53,867
to forget the context in which
Ambassador Rice appeared on

381
00:21:53,867 --> 00:21:57,667
those Sunday shows, which was
a period in which there were

382
00:21:57,667 --> 00:22:00,367
threats to embassy facilities
around the region and the

383
00:22:00,367 --> 00:22:02,000
country and the globe.

384
00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:09,767
And it was entirely appropriate
for Ambassador Rice to appear on

385
00:22:09,767 --> 00:22:17,667
the air, to take questions about
the President's approach to and

386
00:22:17,667 --> 00:22:22,600
policy towards the unrest that
was occurring as a result of --

387
00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:24,533
largely as a result
of the video that --

388
00:22:24,533 --> 00:22:25,632
The Press:
Wouldn't it have been more
appropriate for Secretary

389
00:22:25,633 --> 00:22:27,633
Clinton or for Tom Donilon or --

390
00:22:27,633 --> 00:22:28,900
Mr. Carney:
There are many able members --

391
00:22:28,900 --> 00:22:31,767
The Press:
I mean, this is somebody
from the United Nations.

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00:22:31,767 --> 00:22:33,066
Mr. Carney:
Right, and she is one
of the President's --

393
00:22:33,066 --> 00:22:34,967
The Press:
-- a little bit of a
one-off at the time.

394
00:22:34,967 --> 00:22:37,734
Mr. Carney:
Can I just say, Chuck, that
this is -- what is the point

395
00:22:37,734 --> 00:22:39,000
of the focus on this?

396
00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:40,200
It could have been me.

397
00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:42,734
It could have been
Ambassador Rice.

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00:22:42,734 --> 00:22:45,966
I mean, I took questions on
this, too, and we all relied

399
00:22:45,967 --> 00:22:50,266
on information from the
intelligence community, which

400
00:22:50,266 --> 00:22:53,967
the IC has made clear was based
on initial assessments and made

401
00:22:53,967 --> 00:22:57,066
clear at the time with caveats
that those assessments would

402
00:22:57,066 --> 00:22:58,934
change as more
information was collected.

403
00:22:58,934 --> 00:23:03,133
So, again, the focus on a Sunday
show appearance is entirely

404
00:23:03,133 --> 00:23:06,967
misplaced, and it represents
less interest I think in what

405
00:23:06,967 --> 00:23:10,333
happened in Benghazi
than in political

406
00:23:10,333 --> 00:23:12,633
dynamics in Washington.

407
00:23:12,633 --> 00:23:13,300
James.

408
00:23:16,166 --> 00:23:18,734
The Press:
I wanted to follow up on
both of the areas we've

409
00:23:18,734 --> 00:23:20,367
been talking about.

410
00:23:20,367 --> 00:23:23,934
First, since we're on it,
Ambassador Rice in the statement

411
00:23:23,934 --> 00:23:27,567
that she released today and
to which you have referred us,

412
00:23:27,567 --> 00:23:31,000
she says something which marks
the first time that she has said

413
00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:33,734
this, which is, and I quote,
"In the course of the meeting,

414
00:23:33,734 --> 00:23:35,800
we explained that the
talking points provided

415
00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:38,633
by the intelligence community
and the initial assessment upon

416
00:23:38,633 --> 00:23:40,900
which they were based were
incorrect in a key respect.

417
00:23:40,900 --> 00:23:46,433
There was no protest or
demonstration in Benghazi."

418
00:23:46,433 --> 00:23:52,066
And yet, references to this
protest that never occurred

419
00:23:52,066 --> 00:23:54,533
and these demonstrations that
never occurred in Benghazi were

420
00:23:54,533 --> 00:23:59,000
a staple of President Obama's
pronouncements about Benghazi

421
00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:02,066
for all the way on
through September 25

422
00:24:02,066 --> 00:24:03,467
at the United Nations.

423
00:24:03,467 --> 00:24:05,300
Why?

424
00:24:05,300 --> 00:24:10,200
Mr. Carney:
James, I appreciate the question
and there have been some very

425
00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:13,900
interesting answers to these
questions of late, but I would

426
00:24:13,900 --> 00:24:19,233
make the point that, as
Ambassador Rice makes clear

427
00:24:19,233 --> 00:24:23,066
in this statement, that those
initial assessments were wrong

428
00:24:23,066 --> 00:24:24,066
in one key respect.

429
00:24:24,066 --> 00:24:28,900
There was no protest outside
the Benghazi facility.

430
00:24:28,900 --> 00:24:34,100
To this day, it is
the assessment of this

431
00:24:34,100 --> 00:24:36,332
administration and of our
intelligence community and

432
00:24:36,333 --> 00:24:39,200
certainly the assessment of your
colleagues and the press who

433
00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:44,333
have interviewed participants on
the ground in the assault on our

434
00:24:44,333 --> 00:24:51,967
facilities in Benghazi that
they acted at least in part

435
00:24:51,967 --> 00:24:57,333
in response to what they saw
happening in Cairo and took

436
00:24:57,333 --> 00:24:58,533
advantage of that situation.

437
00:24:58,533 --> 00:25:02,734
They saw what was the breach of
our embassy in Cairo and decided

438
00:25:02,734 --> 00:25:05,000
to act in Benghazi.

439
00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:08,066
And as you know, the breach
of our embassy in Cairo was

440
00:25:08,066 --> 00:25:10,867
directly in response to the
video and was started as a

441
00:25:10,867 --> 00:25:15,834
protest outside of
our embassy in Cairo.

442
00:25:15,834 --> 00:25:23,200
Again, what your question seems
to suggest is that it is more

443
00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:30,400
important that I or others
used talking points provided

444
00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:32,433
by the intelligence
community than actually

445
00:25:32,433 --> 00:25:33,834
what happened in Benghazi.

446
00:25:33,834 --> 00:25:36,467
The Press:
No, that's not a supposition
of my question, and --

447
00:25:36,467 --> 00:25:39,300
Mr. Carney:
No, but it is a supposition of
many folks out there who have

448
00:25:39,300 --> 00:25:45,233
focused on this for what appear
to be political reasons when the

449
00:25:45,233 --> 00:25:50,867
issue that matters is what
happened to those four Americans

450
00:25:50,867 --> 00:25:53,100
and who was responsible and
what can we do to make sure

451
00:25:53,100 --> 00:25:54,332
it doesn't happen again.

452
00:25:54,333 --> 00:26:01,467
And nothing that occurred on
a Sunday show, nothing that

453
00:26:01,467 --> 00:26:04,867
I said or others said based on
assessments by the intelligence

454
00:26:04,867 --> 00:26:08,133
community relates to our need to
find out who was responsible, as

455
00:26:08,133 --> 00:26:10,967
the President has made clear he
wants to do and insists we do,

456
00:26:10,967 --> 00:26:14,100
and making sure that we take
action to ensure that it doesn't

457
00:26:14,100 --> 00:26:14,966
happen again.

458
00:26:14,967 --> 00:26:17,033
The Press:
I'm sure you would agree it's
reasonable for members of the

459
00:26:17,033 --> 00:26:22,300
news media and members of the
public to ask questions about

460
00:26:22,300 --> 00:26:25,567
the public statements of their
top elected officials and his

461
00:26:25,567 --> 00:26:28,767
aides in the aftermath
of an event like this.

462
00:26:28,767 --> 00:26:29,533
Mr. Carney:
No question.

463
00:26:29,533 --> 00:26:31,699
The Press:
So that's why people
are asking about it.

464
00:26:31,700 --> 00:26:33,700
I'm sure some have political
motives, but you don't have

465
00:26:33,700 --> 00:26:35,400
to impugn the motives
of the questioner when

466
00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:36,667
we ask those questions.

467
00:26:36,667 --> 00:26:41,300
My other point I wanted to raise
with you on Ambassador Rice, and

468
00:26:41,300 --> 00:26:43,300
then I want to move to fiscal
cliff, is the presence of the

469
00:26:43,300 --> 00:26:45,233
acting CIA Director
in this meeting.

470
00:26:45,233 --> 00:26:46,367
Whose idea was that?

471
00:26:46,367 --> 00:26:50,133
Mr. Carney:
I'm not sure whose idea it was.

472
00:26:50,133 --> 00:26:52,533
The fundamental issue here,
unless this is all about

473
00:26:52,533 --> 00:26:56,600
politics, is what information
was Ambassador Rice provided,

474
00:26:56,600 --> 00:26:59,766
and by whom, and what was it
based on when she went out on

475
00:26:59,767 --> 00:27:02,867
television to take questions
about what happened in Benghazi,

476
00:27:02,867 --> 00:27:07,233
and what was happening around
the region and the world.

477
00:27:07,233 --> 00:27:11,533
Because the talking points that
she relied on and others relied

478
00:27:11,533 --> 00:27:13,500
on were provided by the
intelligence community, I think

479
00:27:13,500 --> 00:27:16,166
it's entirely appropriate that
the Acting Director of the CIA

480
00:27:16,166 --> 00:27:19,367
participate in these meetings.

481
00:27:19,367 --> 00:27:23,800
It has been repeatedly said
by some of the critics on this

482
00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:26,300
issue on the Hill that the White
House provided talking points.

483
00:27:26,300 --> 00:27:30,166
That has been categorically
refuted not just by us, but by

484
00:27:30,166 --> 00:27:34,567
the intelligence community and
yet it's still periodically said

485
00:27:34,567 --> 00:27:36,934
on the air.

486
00:27:36,934 --> 00:27:38,000
And it's just wrong.

487
00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:40,100
And I think it is more -- again,
more evidence to the fact that

488
00:27:40,100 --> 00:27:43,466
people are more interested in
talking points for a Sunday show

489
00:27:43,467 --> 00:27:46,367
of several months ago than they
are in finding out what happened

490
00:27:46,367 --> 00:27:49,033
in Benghazi, bringing to
justice who was responsible,

491
00:27:49,033 --> 00:27:51,734
and ensuring that we take
action that prevents something

492
00:27:51,734 --> 00:27:52,800
like that happening again.

493
00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:56,300
The Press:
Last question, this
is on the fiscal cliff.

494
00:27:56,300 --> 00:28:00,100
You have the President hopping
on Air Force One this week and

495
00:28:00,100 --> 00:28:03,533
going outside the Philadelphia
area to rally public support for

496
00:28:03,533 --> 00:28:06,033
his position on
the fiscal cliff.

497
00:28:06,033 --> 00:28:09,567
We have Speaker Boehner
announcing today that in the

498
00:28:09,567 --> 00:28:12,033
coming days and weeks Republican
members will hold events and

499
00:28:12,033 --> 00:28:14,065
visit local small businesses.

500
00:28:14,066 --> 00:28:17,166
You were in a position just
now when Dan asked about this

501
00:28:17,166 --> 00:28:19,466
to provide no details about
any upcoming meetings with

502
00:28:19,467 --> 00:28:20,400
the leadership.

503
00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:24,266
If we look back to November
16 when the leaders were here,

504
00:28:24,266 --> 00:28:27,633
Minority Leader Pelosi spoke
about projecting confidence to

505
00:28:27,633 --> 00:28:30,300
consumers and the markets in
the short term by having on

506
00:28:30,300 --> 00:28:32,367
the President's desk a
blueprint for action by

507
00:28:32,367 --> 00:28:34,567
the week after Thanksgiving and
potentially something for him to

508
00:28:34,567 --> 00:28:36,400
sign by Christmas.

509
00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:38,700
None of that appears to be
in the cards, and as we see

510
00:28:38,700 --> 00:28:41,200
the President now getting on
his airplane and the members

511
00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:43,700
drumming up going over the --
it seems like they've abandoned

512
00:28:43,700 --> 00:28:46,200
each other, and what I'm saying
is it seems like these talks

513
00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:47,467
have effectively broken down.

514
00:28:47,467 --> 00:28:48,500
Am I wrong about that?

515
00:28:48,500 --> 00:28:50,133
Mr. Carney:
I think you're wrong.

516
00:28:50,133 --> 00:28:53,433
Again, the President spoke with
Speaker of the House Boehner and

517
00:28:53,433 --> 00:28:55,433
Senate Majority Leader
Reid over the weekend.

518
00:28:57,433 --> 00:29:03,367
Our team is continuing
discussions with their

519
00:29:03,367 --> 00:29:07,567
congressional counterparts on
this matter and it is entirely

520
00:29:07,567 --> 00:29:09,533
appropriate, I would say,
both for the President and

521
00:29:09,533 --> 00:29:16,000
for leaders in Congress, to have
this discussion not just among

522
00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:18,834
themselves, but with
the American people.

523
00:29:18,834 --> 00:29:21,133
And that's what the
President is doing.

524
00:29:21,133 --> 00:29:25,100
That's why he's meeting with
business leaders -- I assume you

525
00:29:25,100 --> 00:29:28,466
wouldn't -- or critics would not
suggest that as a mistake -- or

526
00:29:28,467 --> 00:29:32,633
meeting with civic leaders or
labor leaders, because everyone

527
00:29:32,633 --> 00:29:37,467
the President is meeting with
has both I think useful ideas

528
00:29:37,467 --> 00:29:41,033
and a substantial stake in the
outcome of these negotiations

529
00:29:41,033 --> 00:29:45,533
because it is vitally important
that we take action to ensure

530
00:29:45,533 --> 00:29:48,600
that, for example, middle-class
Americans don't see their taxes

531
00:29:48,600 --> 00:29:52,667
go up by an average
of $2,200 next year.

532
00:29:52,667 --> 00:29:56,867
There's no reason for that
to happen because as you know

533
00:29:56,867 --> 00:30:00,466
Democrats and Republicans alike
believe those tax rates should

534
00:30:00,467 --> 00:30:01,467
not go up.

535
00:30:01,467 --> 00:30:03,934
So let's act on
what we agree on.

536
00:30:03,934 --> 00:30:06,133
Let's demonstrate to the
American people that Washington

537
00:30:06,133 --> 00:30:09,266
can function; that when everyone
agrees on something, we can

538
00:30:09,266 --> 00:30:11,734
actually act on it; and then
continue to debate whether or

539
00:30:11,734 --> 00:30:18,466
not it is the right policy to
extend low tax rates for those

540
00:30:18,467 --> 00:30:21,734
making more than $250,000 and
millionaires and billionaires

541
00:30:21,734 --> 00:30:23,265
who make substantially
more than that.

542
00:30:23,266 --> 00:30:25,467
The Press:
So why not stay in town
and just hammer it out

543
00:30:25,467 --> 00:30:26,467
and get a deal done?

544
00:30:26,467 --> 00:30:28,667
Why is everyone jumping on their
airplane for photo ops outside

545
00:30:28,667 --> 00:30:29,667
the Beltway?

546
00:30:29,667 --> 00:30:33,199
Mr. Carney:
Well, again, that I find
disparaging when you suggest

547
00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:35,834
that talking to the American
people about their --

548
00:30:35,834 --> 00:30:36,967
The Press:
Didn't they speak
in this election?

549
00:30:36,967 --> 00:30:37,834
Didn't we hear from them?

550
00:30:37,834 --> 00:30:38,433
Didn't they --

551
00:30:38,433 --> 00:30:39,900
Mr. Carney:
The conversation
continues, James.

552
00:30:39,900 --> 00:30:42,166
I mean I think it's very
important to continue that

553
00:30:42,166 --> 00:30:45,433
conversation with the American
people both for the President

554
00:30:45,433 --> 00:30:48,400
and for members of Congress, and
it's important to continue that

555
00:30:48,400 --> 00:30:51,000
conversation with business
leaders and with small business

556
00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:54,934
leaders and with civic leaders
and labor leaders because

557
00:30:54,934 --> 00:30:58,066
everybody has a stake in this;
and with ordinary middle-class

558
00:30:58,066 --> 00:30:59,467
Americans, with whom
the President will be

559
00:30:59,467 --> 00:31:01,800
meeting tomorrow.

560
00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:06,834
So it certainly doesn't
prevent and won't prevent work

561
00:31:06,834 --> 00:31:11,166
continuing to be done on the
various ideas that people have

562
00:31:11,166 --> 00:31:16,033
about how to bring about the
policy that we need to ensure

563
00:31:16,033 --> 00:31:18,833
that we don't go off the fiscal
cliff, and more broadly that we

564
00:31:18,834 --> 00:31:19,934
deal with our fiscal challenges.

565
00:31:19,934 --> 00:31:21,166
The Press:
But, Jay, isn't everybody
just killing time --

566
00:31:21,166 --> 00:31:21,700
Mr. Carney:
No.

567
00:31:21,700 --> 00:31:22,600
The Press:
-- until the deadline comes?

568
00:31:22,600 --> 00:31:24,000
I mean it just seems
like everybody is just --

569
00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:26,867
Mr. Carney:
It doesn't feel like
killing time to me, Chuck.

570
00:31:26,867 --> 00:31:28,500
The Press:
Everybody is just killing time
until the final week -- and the

571
00:31:28,500 --> 00:31:29,967
jet fumes from National Airport.

572
00:31:29,967 --> 00:31:31,533
(laughter)

573
00:31:31,533 --> 00:31:33,000
People get out of school, and
the holidays come, and then

574
00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:35,100
everybody will actually sit
down and hammer this out.

575
00:31:35,100 --> 00:31:41,233
Mr. Carney:
Well, look, here's a fact,
the President has on the table

576
00:31:41,233 --> 00:31:45,466
a proposal that reduces the
deficit by $4 trillion; that

577
00:31:45,467 --> 00:31:50,600
does it -- does so in balanced
way; that includes substantial

578
00:31:50,600 --> 00:31:53,867
cuts to discretionary nondefense
spending -- over $1 trillion;

579
00:31:53,867 --> 00:31:58,600
that includes revenue and
includes $340 billion in

580
00:31:58,600 --> 00:32:01,065
savings from our health
care entitlement programs.

581
00:32:01,066 --> 00:32:03,033
That is substance.

582
00:32:03,033 --> 00:32:07,867
So he has not waited for people
to start smelling the jet fumes

583
00:32:07,867 --> 00:32:09,233
at National Airport.

584
00:32:09,233 --> 00:32:12,265
He has actively put
forward a plan that --

585
00:32:12,266 --> 00:32:14,100
The Press:
Is Geithner at
Boehner's office today?

586
00:32:14,100 --> 00:32:17,699
Mr. Carney:
I don't know of Secretary
Geithner's precise whereabouts,

587
00:32:17,700 --> 00:32:19,300
but I can -- at this moment.

588
00:32:19,300 --> 00:32:20,934
He was here earlier
this morning.

589
00:32:20,934 --> 00:32:24,834
I can tell you that members
of the President's team are

590
00:32:24,834 --> 00:32:31,967
continuing to work on this issue
as are members of Congress's

591
00:32:31,967 --> 00:32:33,333
team and the congressional
leaders' team.

592
00:32:33,333 --> 00:32:42,233
So it does not I think make
a lot of sense to simply say,

593
00:32:42,233 --> 00:32:45,100
never mind, the American people
and business leaders and small

594
00:32:45,100 --> 00:32:49,166
business leaders and civic
leaders and labor -- cut them

595
00:32:49,166 --> 00:32:51,399
out of the process and stop
the conversation with them.

596
00:32:51,400 --> 00:32:52,867
The President thinks
that's a big mistake.

597
00:32:52,867 --> 00:32:53,600
Julianna.

598
00:32:53,600 --> 00:32:55,632
The Press:
Wouldn't it send a signal
to the American people and

599
00:32:55,633 --> 00:32:58,767
to markets that -- to see
the President meeting here

600
00:32:58,767 --> 00:32:59,967
with congressional leadership?

601
00:32:59,967 --> 00:33:03,100
That would be a signal that
Washington can function.

602
00:33:03,100 --> 00:33:05,833
Mr. Carney:
The signal that Washington
can function is the result.

603
00:33:05,834 --> 00:33:08,600
Only inside the Beltway do
people think that sitting in

604
00:33:08,600 --> 00:33:14,600
a room for a photo spray will
solve, necessarily, problems.

605
00:33:17,233 --> 00:33:20,600
The work has to be done,
and that work is being done.

606
00:33:20,600 --> 00:33:23,934
And everybody needs, as the
President said, to agree to

607
00:33:23,934 --> 00:33:27,100
the principle that compromise
will require tough choices

608
00:33:27,100 --> 00:33:28,466
by each side.

609
00:33:28,467 --> 00:33:31,934
And the President is willing to
do that and has demonstrated his

610
00:33:31,934 --> 00:33:33,133
willingness to do that.

611
00:33:33,133 --> 00:33:36,000
I would remind you that when
it comes to entitlement reform

612
00:33:36,000 --> 00:33:39,467
savings that Republicans spent
two election cycles, hundreds of

613
00:33:39,467 --> 00:33:43,467
millions of dollars beating the
stuffing out of Democrats and

614
00:33:43,467 --> 00:33:47,567
the President for the $716
billion in savings that was

615
00:33:47,567 --> 00:33:51,700
achieved out of health care
entitlements through the

616
00:33:51,700 --> 00:33:55,400
Affordable Care Act; savings
which contribute to the fact, as

617
00:33:55,400 --> 00:33:57,567
the Congressional Budget Office,
has made clear and independent

618
00:33:57,567 --> 00:34:00,667
economists have made clear that
the Affordable Care Act reduces

619
00:34:00,667 --> 00:34:03,567
the deficit in the first decade
and reduces it by more than $1

620
00:34:03,567 --> 00:34:05,300
trillion in the second decade.

621
00:34:05,300 --> 00:34:08,199
So beyond the President
has put forward in his

622
00:34:08,199 --> 00:34:10,866
budget an additional
$340 billion in savings

623
00:34:10,867 --> 00:34:12,633
from health care programs.

624
00:34:12,632 --> 00:34:15,734
So let's then back up
and say who is serious?

625
00:34:15,734 --> 00:34:18,165
Who has been -- who has
demonstrated his willingness

626
00:34:18,166 --> 00:34:22,033
to make tough choices and
suffer the consequences

627
00:34:22,033 --> 00:34:24,632
politically of doing so because
they're the right things to do

628
00:34:24,632 --> 00:34:25,667
for the economy?

629
00:34:25,667 --> 00:34:27,799
The Press:
So you think if there had been
progress since that November

630
00:34:27,800 --> 00:34:30,734
16th meeting, there wouldn't
be a meeting -- another meeting

631
00:34:30,734 --> 00:34:32,600
this week, the following --

632
00:34:32,600 --> 00:34:34,165
Mr. Carney:
I haven't said there won't
be a meeting this week.

633
00:34:34,166 --> 00:34:36,800
I said I don't have a
scheduling update for you.

634
00:34:36,800 --> 00:34:39,033
The Press:
So there is still the
possibility of a meeting

635
00:34:39,033 --> 00:34:40,132
this week with the President
and the congressional --

636
00:34:40,132 --> 00:34:44,132
Mr. Carney:
I think -- I just don't have
a scheduling update for you.

637
00:34:44,132 --> 00:34:49,232
The Press:
Just to change subject to the
drought in the Midwest, the

638
00:34:49,233 --> 00:34:53,266
governors of Missouri, Illinois,
Iowa and 15 senators and 62

639
00:34:53,266 --> 00:34:55,834
members of the House have sent
a letter to the administration

640
00:34:55,833 --> 00:34:59,734
calling attention to low water
levels in the Mississippi River,

641
00:34:59,734 --> 00:35:02,200
and that's threatening
$7 billion worth of

642
00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:03,299
commercial traffic.

643
00:35:03,300 --> 00:35:07,066
And they're requesting a
presidential declaration of

644
00:35:07,066 --> 00:35:09,933
emergency to allow the Army
Corps of Engineers to begin

645
00:35:09,934 --> 00:35:13,667
work on a project that would
immediately help raise the water

646
00:35:13,667 --> 00:35:14,866
levels of the Mississippi.

647
00:35:14,867 --> 00:35:16,934
What kind of consideration
is the White House giving

648
00:35:16,934 --> 00:35:18,800
to that request?

649
00:35:18,800 --> 00:35:21,834
Mr. Carney:
Well, first of all, I'd tell you
that President Obama has been

650
00:35:21,834 --> 00:35:24,533
committed to ensuring that his
administration takes every step

651
00:35:24,533 --> 00:35:28,133
possible to help farmers and
ranchers affected by this

652
00:35:28,133 --> 00:35:30,667
disaster, the drought
that you referred to.

653
00:35:30,667 --> 00:35:32,266
And as you know, the
administration has taken

654
00:35:32,266 --> 00:35:34,900
a variety of
actions to that end.

655
00:35:34,900 --> 00:35:37,100
The President has also been
clear that Congress must pass

656
00:35:37,100 --> 00:35:40,066
a comprehensive, multi-year farm
bill that no longer -- or rather

657
00:35:40,066 --> 00:35:42,633
that not only provides much
needed disaster assistance, but

658
00:35:42,633 --> 00:35:46,133
gives farmers and ranchers the
certainty they deserve while

659
00:35:46,133 --> 00:35:48,600
enacting critical reforms.

660
00:35:48,600 --> 00:35:51,100
With regards to the specific
request, I would refer you to

661
00:35:51,100 --> 00:35:52,467
the Army Corps.

662
00:35:52,467 --> 00:35:55,400
The Press:
But it's a request for a
presidential declaration.

663
00:35:55,400 --> 00:35:56,934
Mr. Carney:
I don't have anything
for you on that.

664
00:35:56,934 --> 00:35:59,300
I think the Army Corps
is the place to go.

665
00:35:59,300 --> 00:36:01,266
The Press:
Don't you think that if anything
were being done that you'd want

666
00:36:01,266 --> 00:36:04,533
to let us know given the fact
that we're all sitting here

667
00:36:04,533 --> 00:36:07,000
saying, doesn't look like
anything is being done?

668
00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:10,266
You say work is being done, but
there are no meetings scheduled.

669
00:36:10,266 --> 00:36:13,533
There's nothing to signal
to the public, never mind us,

670
00:36:13,533 --> 00:36:15,799
that there's actual
progress being made.

671
00:36:15,800 --> 00:36:17,900
And you still have Democrats
suggesting that it wouldn't be

672
00:36:17,900 --> 00:36:23,500
a bad idea if we went over
for a day or a week or so.

673
00:36:23,500 --> 00:36:28,266
Mr. Carney:
Well, Bill, I would point to
comments by members of both

674
00:36:28,266 --> 00:36:36,633
parties that demonstrate I think
significant movement towards

675
00:36:36,633 --> 00:36:41,366
compromise; that, as we've seen
and as you and others I'm sure

676
00:36:41,367 --> 00:36:47,066
have reported on, demonstrated
change in tone at the very least

677
00:36:47,066 --> 00:36:50,100
by some Republicans when it
comes to the issue of revenue

678
00:36:50,100 --> 00:36:53,633
and the need for balance
in a comprehensive package.

679
00:36:53,633 --> 00:36:57,165
And I think that is a sign --
those are signs of progress.

680
00:36:57,166 --> 00:36:59,867
Additionally, there
are discussions.

681
00:36:59,867 --> 00:37:01,800
There is work being done.

682
00:37:01,800 --> 00:37:06,133
And the President is continuing
to meet with stakeholders and

683
00:37:06,133 --> 00:37:09,600
others and will continue to have
conversations with congressional

684
00:37:09,600 --> 00:37:10,900
leaders on this issue.

685
00:37:10,900 --> 00:37:16,300
It is also the case, as I said
yesterday, and I cited Senator

686
00:37:16,300 --> 00:37:19,667
Corker on this, that we have
spent a great deal of time

687
00:37:19,667 --> 00:37:22,633
collectively in Washington
dealing with these issues.

688
00:37:22,633 --> 00:37:25,500
There has been an enormous
amount of brain power applied

689
00:37:25,500 --> 00:37:29,934
to the challenges we face,
numerous proposals from a

690
00:37:29,934 --> 00:37:31,200
variety of corners.

691
00:37:31,200 --> 00:37:34,332
And there is a growing consensus
around the fundamental principle

692
00:37:34,333 --> 00:37:37,166
that a comprehensive
deficit-reduction plan that

693
00:37:37,166 --> 00:37:39,734
continues to help the economy
grow and create jobs, that

694
00:37:39,734 --> 00:37:42,299
protects middle-class Americans
and protects seniors and other

695
00:37:42,300 --> 00:37:49,367
vulnerable populations would
include cuts to discretionary

696
00:37:49,367 --> 00:37:51,400
spending -- non-defense
discretionary spending, would

697
00:37:51,400 --> 00:37:56,500
include savings from entitlement
reforms and include revenue.

698
00:37:56,500 --> 00:37:58,900
That basic principle was
enshrined in Simpson-Bowles.

699
00:37:58,900 --> 00:38:00,767
It was enshrined
in Rivlin-Domenici.

700
00:38:00,767 --> 00:38:05,734
It was in enshrined in basically
every credible bipartisan

701
00:38:05,734 --> 00:38:07,633
attempt at this, so --

702
00:38:07,633 --> 00:38:08,799
The Press:
All of those were ignored.

703
00:38:08,800 --> 00:38:10,967
Mr. Carney:
Well, no, in fact, the
President's proposals have

704
00:38:10,967 --> 00:38:15,000
always been modeled on that
principle, and so have Senate

705
00:38:15,000 --> 00:38:17,800
bipartisan proposals and others.

706
00:38:17,800 --> 00:38:20,400
So we know what
needs to be done.

707
00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:23,400
We're not diving into this
either here or on Capitol

708
00:38:23,400 --> 00:38:25,633
Hill for the first time.

709
00:38:25,633 --> 00:38:28,966
The contours and parameter and
even the specifics of what a

710
00:38:28,967 --> 00:38:31,433
balanced agreement would
look like I think are known

711
00:38:31,433 --> 00:38:32,433
by all sides.

712
00:38:32,433 --> 00:38:36,367
And the President made clear
that he is not wedded to every

713
00:38:36,367 --> 00:38:37,367
detail of his plan.

714
00:38:37,367 --> 00:38:41,900
He understands that compromise
requires making tough choices,

715
00:38:41,900 --> 00:38:47,033
and he welcomes every credible,
mathematically sound idea that

716
00:38:47,033 --> 00:38:48,700
gets us from here to there.

717
00:38:48,700 --> 00:38:50,533
The Press:
Where do you see the progress?

718
00:38:50,533 --> 00:38:55,433
Mr. Carney:
Again, I just cited a number of
public indications of progress.

719
00:38:55,433 --> 00:38:57,633
And clearly there are
discussions that are going

720
00:38:57,633 --> 00:39:03,433
on and work that's being done
that hopefully will lead to a

721
00:39:03,433 --> 00:39:05,400
positive result for
the American people.

722
00:39:05,400 --> 00:39:08,400
The Press:
There was a poll yesterday that
suggests that the Republicans

723
00:39:08,400 --> 00:39:12,600
would be blamed if we actually
went off the cliff by about -- a

724
00:39:12,600 --> 00:39:14,799
good majority of Americans.

725
00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:18,567
So that seems to encourage some
Democrats at least to suggest it

726
00:39:18,567 --> 00:39:20,100
wouldn't be a bad
idea if we did.

727
00:39:20,100 --> 00:39:22,767
Mr. Carney:
Well, but that's not the
President's position.

728
00:39:22,767 --> 00:39:25,232
The President believes that we
need to solve the challenges

729
00:39:25,233 --> 00:39:28,667
that confront us, and we need
to do it in a balanced way.

730
00:39:28,667 --> 00:39:33,967
And the means to get there are
very clear to all of us, the how

731
00:39:33,967 --> 00:39:38,500
we do it, the policy proposals
that are on the table -- have

732
00:39:38,500 --> 00:39:41,200
been on the table for a long
time or have been evident, at

733
00:39:41,200 --> 00:39:43,232
least on the shelf for a long
time -- and we ought to take

734
00:39:43,233 --> 00:39:44,200
action to do it.

735
00:39:44,200 --> 00:39:48,600
Now is the time to act.

736
00:39:48,600 --> 00:39:54,066
The Press:
A number of the Democrats who
are up for reelection in 2014

737
00:39:54,066 --> 00:39:56,332
are from
Republican-leaning states.

738
00:39:56,333 --> 00:39:59,567
How might that fact complicate
the President's efforts to build

739
00:39:59,567 --> 00:40:02,967
support to raise
taxes on the wealthy?

740
00:40:02,967 --> 00:40:06,900
Mr. Carney:
We just had an election --

741
00:40:06,900 --> 00:40:08,533
(laughter)

742
00:40:08,533 --> 00:40:15,467
-- and one thing I can tell you
with constitutional certainty is

743
00:40:15,467 --> 00:40:21,133
that the President doesn't face
another election and that he is

744
00:40:21,133 --> 00:40:29,933
very committed to trying to get
a bipartisan agreement that is

745
00:40:29,934 --> 00:40:33,066
in keeping with his principles.

746
00:40:33,066 --> 00:40:36,734
And that means balance and that
means not asking the middle

747
00:40:36,734 --> 00:40:44,100
class or seniors or families
with disabled children to bear

748
00:40:44,100 --> 00:40:46,333
the brunt of deficit reduction.

749
00:40:49,200 --> 00:40:51,667
That's the antithesis of
balance, and that is the

750
00:40:51,667 --> 00:40:54,066
essence of the debate that
we've had over the past year.

751
00:40:56,233 --> 00:41:02,600
So I think the President made
clear in his statements and at

752
00:41:02,600 --> 00:41:08,533
his press conference after the
election that he is hoping that

753
00:41:08,533 --> 00:41:16,066
a majority, enough members of
Congress of both parties put

754
00:41:16,066 --> 00:41:18,767
politics of the kind that you
just described aside for a

755
00:41:18,767 --> 00:41:22,667
moment and do what's
right for the country.

756
00:41:22,667 --> 00:41:27,467
And he actually believes
that that is good politics

757
00:41:27,467 --> 00:41:29,033
for everyone.

758
00:41:29,033 --> 00:41:32,767
And he pursue this
in that spirit.

759
00:41:32,767 --> 00:41:33,933
Mr. Collinson.

760
00:41:33,934 --> 00:41:39,500
The Press:
President Morsi yesterday
appeared to have stuck by

761
00:41:39,500 --> 00:41:41,700
his emergency declaration
after the meeting with the

762
00:41:41,700 --> 00:41:44,133
Egyptian judiciary.

763
00:41:44,133 --> 00:41:47,567
Does that deepen the concerns
about what's going on in Egypt

764
00:41:47,567 --> 00:41:50,033
that you spoke about yesterday?

765
00:41:50,033 --> 00:41:52,232
Mr. Carney:
Well, we have seen reports
regarding the discussions

766
00:41:52,233 --> 00:41:54,834
between Egypt's leaders, elected
officials, and members of the

767
00:41:54,834 --> 00:41:57,933
judiciary as you mentioned, and
are closely following what is

768
00:41:57,934 --> 00:42:03,066
obviously a still unfolding
political situation.

769
00:42:03,066 --> 00:42:05,232
As we have done since first
learning of the recent

770
00:42:05,233 --> 00:42:08,767
decisions, we urge an inclusive
dialogue between the government

771
00:42:08,767 --> 00:42:12,299
of Egypt and all
Egyptian stakeholders.

772
00:42:12,300 --> 00:42:15,333
As I said yesterday, one of
the aspirations of the Egyptian

773
00:42:15,333 --> 00:42:19,000
revolution was to ensure that
power is not overly concentrated

774
00:42:19,000 --> 00:42:23,166
in the hands of any one
person or any institution.

775
00:42:23,166 --> 00:42:26,133
The current constitutional
impasse is an internal Egyptian

776
00:42:26,133 --> 00:42:29,265
situation that can only be
resolved by the Egyptian people

777
00:42:29,266 --> 00:42:32,400
through peaceful, democratic
dialogue and we call on all

778
00:42:32,400 --> 00:42:36,166
Egyptians exercising their
right to freedom of expression

779
00:42:36,166 --> 00:42:38,467
to do so peacefully.

780
00:42:38,467 --> 00:42:41,700
We continue to urge the adoption
of a constitution that respects

781
00:42:41,700 --> 00:42:45,033
fundamental freedoms, individual
rights, and the rule of law

782
00:42:45,033 --> 00:42:47,333
consistent with Egypt's
international obligations

783
00:42:47,333 --> 00:42:51,300
and commitments, and that is
written through a consultative,

784
00:42:51,300 --> 00:42:52,767
inclusive process.

785
00:42:52,767 --> 00:42:56,265
Democracy depends on strong
institutions and on the

786
00:42:56,266 --> 00:42:59,400
important checks and balances
that provide accountability.

787
00:43:01,467 --> 00:43:05,533
The Press:
This White House and previous
White Houses used to call on

788
00:43:05,533 --> 00:43:08,165
Mubarak to lift an emergency
law, which was temporary,

789
00:43:08,166 --> 00:43:09,633
on the last decades.

790
00:43:09,633 --> 00:43:11,265
What's the difference here?

791
00:43:11,266 --> 00:43:13,800
You said it was an
involving situation.

792
00:43:13,800 --> 00:43:15,700
Do you think this is --
got more to play out?

793
00:43:15,700 --> 00:43:18,200
Is there not a danger to
this becoming the same thing?

794
00:43:18,200 --> 00:43:21,834
Mr. Carney:
Well, what I would say is that
much has changed since Mubarak

795
00:43:21,834 --> 00:43:26,399
was in power, as you as well as
anyone in this room understands.

796
00:43:26,400 --> 00:43:31,967
And as I tried to express
yesterday, we need to step

797
00:43:31,967 --> 00:43:36,400
back and look at the
transformation that has

798
00:43:36,400 --> 00:43:39,867
been occurring in Egypt since
the revolution began there.

799
00:43:39,867 --> 00:43:43,700
And we have raised our concerns
about the decisions and

800
00:43:43,700 --> 00:43:46,332
declarations that were
made on November 22.

801
00:43:46,333 --> 00:43:49,033
Secretary Clinton has
spoken directly with

802
00:43:49,033 --> 00:43:50,366
Foreign Minister Amr.

803
00:43:50,367 --> 00:43:53,633
She did that yesterday
to convey U.S. concerns.

804
00:43:53,633 --> 00:43:57,466
And Ambassador Patterson has
also been in regular contact

805
00:43:57,467 --> 00:44:00,500
on these issues with
Egyptian officials.

806
00:44:02,767 --> 00:44:09,100
We believe firmly that this
has to -- that this needs to be

807
00:44:09,100 --> 00:44:14,967
resolved internally as part of a
transition to democracy and the

808
00:44:14,967 --> 00:44:21,433
building of institutions that
create checks and balances in an

809
00:44:21,433 --> 00:44:26,567
Egypt that will be -- that will
have, as a government, an entity

810
00:44:26,567 --> 00:44:32,333
that is more responsive to the
will of the people in Egypt and

811
00:44:32,333 --> 00:44:34,500
more democratic.

812
00:44:34,500 --> 00:44:37,633
And where we have concerns
we raise them, but we also

813
00:44:37,633 --> 00:44:41,232
understand that this is an
internal Egyptian process.

814
00:44:41,233 --> 00:44:41,967
April.

815
00:44:41,967 --> 00:44:45,867
The Press:
Jay, procedurally and
qualitatively, can you discuss

816
00:44:45,867 --> 00:44:50,867
how this administration views
intelligence, information as it

817
00:44:50,867 --> 00:44:53,000
first comes to this White House?

818
00:44:53,000 --> 00:44:55,667
Mr. Carney:
I need something more
specific than that.

819
00:44:55,667 --> 00:45:00,734
The Press:
Okay. A four-star retired
general told me in October,

820
00:45:00,734 --> 00:45:03,232
he said, normally, when
you gather information

821
00:45:03,233 --> 00:45:07,033
it's considered information at
the beginning because they know

822
00:45:07,033 --> 00:45:09,734
the beginnings of the
information is wrong.

823
00:45:09,734 --> 00:45:12,900
So then they try to pull
together once it is assessed

824
00:45:12,900 --> 00:45:15,667
and all put together and
sent to the White House,

825
00:45:15,667 --> 00:45:17,165
it is considered intelligence.

826
00:45:17,166 --> 00:45:21,400
So how does this administration
view initial information,

827
00:45:21,400 --> 00:45:24,700
considered intelligence,
presented to them by

828
00:45:24,700 --> 00:45:27,366
the CI or whoever?

829
00:45:27,367 --> 00:45:29,934
Mr. Carney:
Well, I'm obviously not going
to get too far into the weeds

830
00:45:29,934 --> 00:45:34,700
on the process of gathering
and assessing intelligence.

831
00:45:34,700 --> 00:45:35,500
The Press:
Am I correct?

832
00:45:35,500 --> 00:45:38,200
Is that general correct
in his assessment?

833
00:45:38,200 --> 00:45:40,567
Mr. Carney:
I will say -- not that,
necessarily, initial assessments

834
00:45:40,567 --> 00:45:43,433
are wrong, but that initial
assessments are initial.

835
00:45:43,433 --> 00:45:49,834
And as was the case in Benghazi,
I and others made clear that

836
00:45:49,834 --> 00:45:53,533
those initial assessments were
subject to change as we gathered

837
00:45:53,533 --> 00:45:58,933
-- as our intelligence community
gathered more information.

838
00:45:58,934 --> 00:46:05,700
And we provided clarity as it
became available to our picture

839
00:46:05,700 --> 00:46:08,500
of what had happened
in Benghazi.

840
00:46:08,500 --> 00:46:14,300
But it is certainly the case
that initial assessments of an

841
00:46:14,300 --> 00:46:19,400
event like -- as what happened
in Benghazi are just that and

842
00:46:19,400 --> 00:46:23,066
that investigation and further
assessments need to be made.

843
00:46:23,066 --> 00:46:30,299
That's why we made clear that
the answers that we were giving

844
00:46:30,300 --> 00:46:35,300
in the early days after the
events in Benghazi were based

845
00:46:35,300 --> 00:46:39,800
on initial assessments and
incomplete information, and that

846
00:46:39,800 --> 00:46:44,000
investigations were continuing
and are continuing to this day.

847
00:46:44,000 --> 00:46:46,533
The Press:
And it took two weeks?

848
00:46:46,533 --> 00:46:48,000
Mr. Carney:
James, I think I've answered
your questions on this.

849
00:46:48,000 --> 00:46:48,567
The Press:
Wait a minute.

850
00:46:48,567 --> 00:46:56,333
You told Dan that the President
answered some information at the

851
00:46:56,333 --> 00:46:57,900
press conference with reporters.

852
00:46:57,900 --> 00:47:00,400
There's been a lot of movement
since that press conference,

853
00:47:00,400 --> 00:47:04,333
particularly today with
Ambassador Rice on the Hill

854
00:47:04,333 --> 00:47:07,133
and with the CIA talking
about the intelligence issue.

855
00:47:07,133 --> 00:47:10,133
It's countering everything
that's been said.

856
00:47:10,133 --> 00:47:14,066
So what say you about the CIA
information that they're talking

857
00:47:14,066 --> 00:47:17,066
about that's countering what
she said and what you guys --

858
00:47:17,066 --> 00:47:18,533
I mean, what's going on?

859
00:47:18,533 --> 00:47:20,834
Mr. Carney:
I would refer you to the
DNI and to the CIA about the

860
00:47:20,834 --> 00:47:23,433
intelligence assessments that
were provided not just to the

861
00:47:23,433 --> 00:47:25,967
administration, but to members
of Congress in the immediate

862
00:47:25,967 --> 00:47:30,233
aftermath and in the days
after the attack in Benghazi.

863
00:47:30,233 --> 00:47:35,333
I really think these
questions have been answered.

864
00:47:35,333 --> 00:47:46,500
And the focus should be on what
happened in Benghazi, who is

865
00:47:46,500 --> 00:47:49,867
responsible for the deaths of
four Americans including a U.S.

866
00:47:49,867 --> 00:47:53,333
ambassador, bringing those
responsible to justice and

867
00:47:53,333 --> 00:47:59,433
taking action to ensure that we
have the necessary security at

868
00:47:59,433 --> 00:48:02,200
our diplomatic facilities
around the globe especially

869
00:48:02,200 --> 00:48:04,767
in dangerous areas so that
something like this doesn't

870
00:48:04,767 --> 00:48:06,133
happen again.

871
00:48:06,133 --> 00:48:09,667
The focus on talking
points is misplaced.

872
00:48:09,667 --> 00:48:11,700
The Press:
One more question,
one more question.

873
00:48:11,700 --> 00:48:12,500
Mr. Carney:
I want to give others a chance.

874
00:48:12,500 --> 00:48:14,066
The Press:
I understand, but
this is important.

875
00:48:14,066 --> 00:48:19,133
We talked about issues of faulty
intelligence back when we went

876
00:48:19,133 --> 00:48:20,966
to war with Iraq.

877
00:48:20,967 --> 00:48:24,166
Now, are we still dealing with
issues of faulty intelligence?

878
00:48:24,166 --> 00:48:25,633
Mr. Carney:
Again, April, I think I
answered this question.

879
00:48:25,633 --> 00:48:28,033
It was clear in what I
cited from Ambassador

880
00:48:28,033 --> 00:48:29,400
Rice's statement.

881
00:48:29,400 --> 00:48:33,066
One key element of what the
intelligence community assessed

882
00:48:33,066 --> 00:48:36,633
at the time turned out to not
be the case, that there were

883
00:48:36,633 --> 00:48:41,366
protests on the site outside
the Benghazi facility prior

884
00:48:41,367 --> 00:48:43,367
to the attack.

885
00:48:46,233 --> 00:48:48,400
As I made clear and others made
clear -- Ambassador Rice made

886
00:48:48,400 --> 00:48:50,200
clear -- those initial
assessments were just that.

887
00:48:50,200 --> 00:48:52,533
They were initial assessments
and they evolved as more

888
00:48:52,533 --> 00:48:54,000
information was gathered.

889
00:48:54,000 --> 00:48:56,567
The Press:
I have a quick question on
a fiscal issue, but I want

890
00:48:56,567 --> 00:48:58,800
to follow up on April
for one quick question.

891
00:48:58,800 --> 00:49:02,033
Can you update us -- you talked
about the questions that the

892
00:49:02,033 --> 00:49:04,900
President continues to have
about the events in Benghazi.

893
00:49:04,900 --> 00:49:08,467
What is the updated status of
when he expects to get answers

894
00:49:08,467 --> 00:49:10,400
to those questions?

895
00:49:10,400 --> 00:49:13,600
Mr. Carney:
He looks forward to the
completion of the investigation

896
00:49:13,600 --> 00:49:18,834
by the FBI, as soon as that
investigation is complete

897
00:49:18,834 --> 00:49:19,834
and conclusive.

898
00:49:19,834 --> 00:49:22,899
He also looks forward to
the assessments of the

899
00:49:22,900 --> 00:49:25,900
Accountability Review Board,
which was put in place by

900
00:49:25,900 --> 00:49:28,567
Secretary Clinton at the
President's direction to look

901
00:49:28,567 --> 00:49:30,767
at the broader issues
of security around our

902
00:49:30,767 --> 00:49:32,366
diplomatic facilities.

903
00:49:32,367 --> 00:49:35,066
I don't have a timetable
for the completion of

904
00:49:35,066 --> 00:49:36,066
those investigations.

905
00:49:36,066 --> 00:49:39,100
I would refer you to the FBI or
the Department of Justice on the

906
00:49:39,100 --> 00:49:40,866
one hand or the State
Department on the other.

907
00:49:40,867 --> 00:49:41,800
The Press:
Okay, just a quick question.

908
00:49:41,800 --> 00:49:46,100
About this time last year, the
President took his campaigning

909
00:49:46,100 --> 00:49:50,000
or his message about the payroll
tax out to the American people.

910
00:49:50,000 --> 00:49:52,934
Can you describe what he learned
from that experience that he may

911
00:49:52,934 --> 00:49:55,400
be applying to this situation?

912
00:49:55,400 --> 00:49:58,033
Because he came back to deal
with House Republicans in a

913
00:49:58,033 --> 00:50:01,366
different way after doing that.

914
00:50:01,367 --> 00:50:08,800
Mr. Carney:
The President believes that it
is extremely important to speak

915
00:50:08,800 --> 00:50:12,734
with the American people about
these incredibly important

916
00:50:12,734 --> 00:50:16,467
policy decisions that are being
made in Washington on behalf of

917
00:50:16,467 --> 00:50:19,166
the American people.

918
00:50:19,166 --> 00:50:23,300
There are a few things that
affect American families more

919
00:50:23,300 --> 00:50:28,100
directly than the prospect of a
$2,200 on average tax hike for

920
00:50:28,100 --> 00:50:34,500
98 percent of us beginning on
January 1st, if the House of

921
00:50:34,500 --> 00:50:37,667
Representatives refuses to
extend the tax cuts from the

922
00:50:37,667 --> 00:50:43,667
Bush era for the 98% and
for 97% of small businesses.

923
00:50:46,200 --> 00:50:49,366
It's very important to engage.

924
00:50:49,367 --> 00:50:52,633
As we've seen in election cycles
and as we've seen in between

925
00:50:52,633 --> 00:50:56,232
election cycles, the American
people care deeply about policy

926
00:50:56,233 --> 00:50:59,000
decisions that are made
in Washington by leaders

927
00:50:59,000 --> 00:51:00,333
of both parties.

928
00:51:00,333 --> 00:51:06,300
And I think you've heard the
President talk about some of

929
00:51:06,300 --> 00:51:10,700
the lessons he learned from the
early part of his presidency

930
00:51:10,700 --> 00:51:13,700
when with the cascading crises
that he was confronted with,

931
00:51:13,700 --> 00:51:17,332
he was making decision after
decision to try to prevent a

932
00:51:17,333 --> 00:51:21,233
Great Depression; making
decision after decision to

933
00:51:21,233 --> 00:51:24,166
deal with our security
challenges and two wars

934
00:51:24,166 --> 00:51:27,667
in Afghanistan and Iraq,
as well as elsewhere;

935
00:51:27,667 --> 00:51:32,533
and his feeling that he needs
to continue to communicate with

936
00:51:32,533 --> 00:51:36,000
the American people
about what his vision is,

937
00:51:36,000 --> 00:51:39,867
what his policy proposals are,
what the nature of the debates

938
00:51:39,867 --> 00:51:42,567
is -- the nature of this
debate is, in particular

939
00:51:42,567 --> 00:51:44,133
-- but all the policy
issues that we have.

940
00:51:44,133 --> 00:51:47,899
So you can expect the President
to continue to do that going

941
00:51:47,900 --> 00:51:52,500
forward, both in the waning
weeks and months of his first

942
00:51:52,500 --> 00:51:54,400
term and throughout
his second term.

943
00:51:54,400 --> 00:51:57,600
The Press:
The President is going to
Pennsylvania, a blue state

944
00:51:57,600 --> 00:51:59,633
that a blue state that he's
carried the last two elections.

945
00:51:59,633 --> 00:52:00,700
Mr. Carney:
This is not about
politics, David.

946
00:52:00,700 --> 00:52:01,600
The Press:
But why not go to a --

947
00:52:01,600 --> 00:52:03,000
Mr. Carney:
It's about a policy debate
that's happening in Washington.

948
00:52:03,000 --> 00:52:06,367
The Press:
You said the conversation --
this conversation about fiscal

949
00:52:06,367 --> 00:52:08,000
issues has been had during
the months and months of

950
00:52:08,000 --> 00:52:08,967
the campaign.

951
00:52:08,967 --> 00:52:12,166
But the President only visited
seven to 10 swing states, states

952
00:52:12,166 --> 00:52:14,033
that he was really interested
in to have this conversation.

953
00:52:14,033 --> 00:52:16,200
Why not go to like a deeply
red state right now and make --

954
00:52:16,200 --> 00:52:18,399
Mr. Carney:
Firstly, that's
entirely inaccurate.

955
00:52:18,400 --> 00:52:20,133
He visited far more
than seven to 10 states.

956
00:52:20,133 --> 00:52:21,366
Secondly --

957
00:52:21,367 --> 00:52:25,800
The Press:
Not for rallies.

958
00:52:25,800 --> 00:52:28,100
The Press:
Why not go and have the
conversation with people who

959
00:52:28,100 --> 00:52:28,799
might be standing --

960
00:52:28,800 --> 00:52:32,100
Mr. Carney:
-- I recall a very long,
detailed and well-received

961
00:52:32,100 --> 00:52:38,500
economic policy speech given
to many, many people in Kansas,

962
00:52:38,500 --> 00:52:41,867
which last I checked
was not a blue state.

963
00:52:41,867 --> 00:52:42,734
The Press:
It wasn't a rally.

964
00:52:42,734 --> 00:52:43,567
Mr. Carney:
Well, how do you define a rally?

965
00:52:43,567 --> 00:52:45,000
There was a huge
audience, people cheered.

966
00:52:45,000 --> 00:52:48,000
(laughter)

967
00:52:48,000 --> 00:52:48,867
I call that a rally.

968
00:52:48,867 --> 00:52:52,200
What you will hear from the
President on Friday is --

969
00:52:52,200 --> 00:52:53,165
The Press:
-- he going to go again?

970
00:52:53,166 --> 00:52:54,734
Does he plan to?

971
00:52:54,734 --> 00:52:57,033
Mr. Carney:
I don't have any
scheduling updates for you.

972
00:52:57,033 --> 00:53:00,533
The President will travel all
around the country in his second

973
00:53:00,533 --> 00:53:03,866
term, and looks forward to it,
talking about the incredibly

974
00:53:03,867 --> 00:53:06,500
important challenges that
we face as a country and the

975
00:53:06,500 --> 00:53:09,367
decisions that the elected
leaders that the American people

976
00:53:09,367 --> 00:53:12,367
sent to Washington are making
on the American people's behalf.

977
00:53:13,667 --> 00:53:17,066
And he thinks that is absolutely
the right thing for him to do.

978
00:53:17,066 --> 00:53:21,700
He believes it's important
for members of Congress to do,

979
00:53:21,700 --> 00:53:27,466
because I think as we see
in people's evaluation in

980
00:53:27,467 --> 00:53:30,800
Washington and in particular
their assessments of Congress,

981
00:53:30,800 --> 00:53:33,834
I don't think there's a lot of
faith that a bunch of people

982
00:53:33,834 --> 00:53:37,567
sitting around a table in a room
are going to solve problems on

983
00:53:37,567 --> 00:53:39,400
behalf of the American
people if those people aren't

984
00:53:39,400 --> 00:53:42,533
communicating; if those sitting
around the table aren't also

985
00:53:42,533 --> 00:53:46,066
communicating and engaging with
the American people to find out

986
00:53:46,066 --> 00:53:48,332
what they believe the
right answers are.

987
00:53:48,333 --> 00:53:49,800
Thanks very much, guys.