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1 00:00:00,467 --> 00:00:03,367 Mr. Carney: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. 2 00:00:03,367 --> 00:00:06,934 Welcome to the James S. Brady White House Briefing Room for 3 00:00:06,934 --> 00:00:08,000 your daily briefing. 4 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:09,567 I know we have some visitors I believe from 5 00:00:09,567 --> 00:00:10,967 the United Arab Emirates. 6 00:00:10,967 --> 00:00:15,400 I want to welcome you here and thank you for being here. 7 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:20,400 I have just a couple of things I want to announce at the top, 8 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:23,066 some of which you know about, others you may not. 9 00:00:23,066 --> 00:00:26,000 Today, as I think you know, the President is meeting with small 10 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:27,700 business owners. 11 00:00:27,700 --> 00:00:30,099 Also today -- let me just back up -- 12 00:00:30,100 --> 00:00:30,633 The Press: Right now? 13 00:00:30,633 --> 00:00:32,266 Mr. Carney: He's meeting with -- it is not happening right now. 14 00:00:32,266 --> 00:00:37,300 I believe it -- at 2:30 p.m., I'm reliably informed. 15 00:00:37,300 --> 00:00:39,467 He'll be meeting with small business owners as part of 16 00:00:39,467 --> 00:00:44,100 discussing with them the importance of extending 17 00:00:44,100 --> 00:00:47,734 tax cuts for the middle class, for 98% of American taxpayers, 18 00:00:47,734 --> 00:00:52,934 because of the impact that raising taxes on 98 percent 19 00:00:52,934 --> 00:00:56,233 would have on businesses around the country. 20 00:00:56,233 --> 00:00:59,300 He will also discuss with them the measures that he has put 21 00:00:59,300 --> 00:01:03,532 forward to assist small businesses, including hiring 22 00:01:03,533 --> 00:01:07,100 tax credits and the like that will help the engine of our 23 00:01:07,100 --> 00:01:13,300 economic growth to continue to produce jobs and increase 24 00:01:13,300 --> 00:01:15,500 our -- grow our economy. 25 00:01:15,500 --> 00:01:20,800 Also this afternoon, senior staff, including Jack Lew, 26 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:24,866 Valerie Jarrett, Gene Sperling, Jeff Zients, Bruce Reed, also 27 00:01:24,867 --> 00:01:29,200 Secretary Geithner, will meet with leaders of Fix the Debt -- 28 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:32,166 that includes Maya MacGuineas and Erskine Bowles. 29 00:01:32,166 --> 00:01:35,265 Tomorrow the President will have an event with middle-class 30 00:01:35,266 --> 00:01:41,300 Americans, again, to talk about and highlight the importance of 31 00:01:41,300 --> 00:01:46,100 extending tax cuts to the middle class, to 98 percent of American 32 00:01:46,100 --> 00:01:50,133 taxpayers and 97 percent of small businesses. 33 00:01:50,133 --> 00:01:51,399 This is vital. 34 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:55,100 It is something that everyone in Washington agrees must be done, 35 00:01:55,100 --> 00:01:57,366 and it is something that the House of Representatives could 36 00:01:57,367 --> 00:02:02,066 do today or tomorrow, if they so chose, because the Senate 37 00:02:02,066 --> 00:02:05,533 has already passed the bill that extends those tax cuts. 38 00:02:05,533 --> 00:02:08,767 If the House were to pass them, the President would sign it 39 00:02:08,767 --> 00:02:13,966 right away, and that would create certainty for 98 percent 40 00:02:13,967 --> 00:02:16,934 of American taxpayers -- middle-class families around the 41 00:02:16,934 --> 00:02:22,000 country, 97 percent of America's small businesses, and would go a 42 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:25,333 long way, or a significant way, towards dealing with 43 00:02:25,333 --> 00:02:28,033 the so-called fiscal cliff. 44 00:02:28,033 --> 00:02:32,100 Also tomorrow, the President has another meeting with business 45 00:02:32,100 --> 00:02:35,367 leaders, following on the one he has prior to 46 00:02:35,367 --> 00:02:36,533 the Thanksgiving holiday. 47 00:02:36,533 --> 00:02:40,132 And Friday, as I think you know, he'll be traveling to Montgomery 48 00:02:40,133 --> 00:02:43,734 County, Pennsylvania, to visit a business, again, to talk about 49 00:02:43,734 --> 00:02:48,200 the need to extend these middle-class tax cuts because 50 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:52,966 businesses around the country depend on America's middle class 51 00:02:52,967 --> 00:02:55,333 to buy their products. 52 00:02:55,333 --> 00:03:01,500 And as I think Alan Krueger effectively outlined yesterday, 53 00:03:01,500 --> 00:03:03,367 and that I think you read about in the report that he 54 00:03:03,367 --> 00:03:08,367 co-produced, the impact of raising taxes on the middle 55 00:03:08,367 --> 00:03:11,132 class would be significant to our economy. 56 00:03:11,133 --> 00:03:14,200 With that, I'll take your questions. 57 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:14,700 Ben. 58 00:03:15,767 --> 00:03:16,466 The Press: Thank you. 59 00:03:16,467 --> 00:03:19,233 Mr. Carney: Each encounter will be bitter-sweet from now 60 00:03:19,233 --> 00:03:20,633 to the end, Ben. 61 00:03:20,633 --> 00:03:21,600 The Press: I appreciate that. 62 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:23,233 Bill Plante outlasts another one of us. 63 00:03:23,233 --> 00:03:26,367 (laughter) 64 00:03:26,367 --> 00:03:27,233 The Press: Is that a compliment? 65 00:03:27,233 --> 00:03:30,834 (laughter) 66 00:03:30,834 --> 00:03:33,200 Mr. Carney: Does everyone know that Ben is leaving? 67 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:34,399 Very sad. 68 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:36,300 The Press: Thanks, Jay. 69 00:03:36,300 --> 00:03:39,233 Two questions on fiscal cliff first. 70 00:03:39,233 --> 00:03:42,734 Senator Durbin said today in a speech that progressives ought 71 00:03:42,734 --> 00:03:45,767 to talk about viability of Medicare and Medicaid, but that 72 00:03:45,767 --> 00:03:49,333 "those conversations should not be part of a plan to avert the 73 00:03:49,333 --> 00:03:51,100 fiscal cliff." 74 00:03:51,100 --> 00:03:53,233 Doesn't that complicate the President's position here? 75 00:03:53,233 --> 00:03:55,300 He himself has talked about balance. 76 00:03:55,300 --> 00:03:57,200 He's talked about the willingness to put 77 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,899 entitlements on the table as part of a broad package. 78 00:03:59,900 --> 00:04:04,100 And now he's got a leader from his own flank saying that that 79 00:04:04,100 --> 00:04:06,100 shouldn't be part of the discussion. 80 00:04:06,100 --> 00:04:08,767 Mr. Carney: Well, I haven't seen those comments from Senator Durbin. 81 00:04:08,767 --> 00:04:12,734 I think it is certainly the case that there are two distinct 82 00:04:12,734 --> 00:04:16,767 issues here that are related, which is the fiscal cliff, the 83 00:04:16,767 --> 00:04:21,300 deadlines essentially that we have in place that if action 84 00:04:21,300 --> 00:04:25,166 isn't taken will result in significant tax hikes on the 85 00:04:25,166 --> 00:04:28,033 one hand and across-the-board spending cuts on the other. 86 00:04:28,033 --> 00:04:29,133 That's the fiscal cliff. 87 00:04:29,133 --> 00:04:33,366 The other challenge is one that we've been dealing with for a 88 00:04:33,367 --> 00:04:37,934 long time now, which is the need to come to an agreement 89 00:04:37,934 --> 00:04:45,266 on a broad, balanced, and comprehensive plan to reduce our 90 00:04:45,266 --> 00:04:49,633 deficits and debt, and put us on a sustainable path economically, 91 00:04:49,633 --> 00:04:52,265 in a way that protects the middle class, protects seniors 92 00:04:52,266 --> 00:04:55,800 and other vulnerable Americans, and continues to invest in our 93 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:58,867 economy so that it can grow and create jobs. 94 00:04:58,867 --> 00:05:04,800 The President's belief is that we can address both of these 95 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:08,700 in a broad deficit reduction package. 96 00:05:08,700 --> 00:05:12,200 But there's no question that they are in many ways distinct. 97 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:17,099 That's why when we talk about an immediate action, a distinct, 98 00:05:17,100 --> 00:05:19,400 discreet action that Congress could take if the House of 99 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:21,133 Representatives -- if Republicans in the House of 100 00:05:21,133 --> 00:05:24,567 Representatives would agree to it, is to pass the tax cut, 101 00:05:24,567 --> 00:05:27,767 extending the so-called Bush-era tax cuts for 98 percent of the 102 00:05:27,767 --> 00:05:31,300 American people -- let's do that right now. 103 00:05:31,300 --> 00:05:33,500 That's obviously not as comprehensive solution, but it 104 00:05:33,500 --> 00:05:37,066 is a significant step towards a solution to the fiscal cliff. 105 00:05:37,066 --> 00:05:38,066 Let's get that done. 106 00:05:38,066 --> 00:05:43,133 Everyone in Washington, I daresay the vast majority of 107 00:05:43,133 --> 00:05:45,200 the American people, agree with the proposition that we should 108 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:49,300 extend tax cuts to 98 percent of taxpayers, and we should not 109 00:05:49,300 --> 00:05:54,834 hold those tax cuts hostage to an insistence that millionaires 110 00:05:54,834 --> 00:05:58,900 and billionaires, the top 2 percent of America's taxpayers, 111 00:05:58,900 --> 00:06:00,200 have to have a tax cut, too. 112 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:04,166 Because, as you know, over the past dozen years or so, that 113 00:06:04,166 --> 00:06:10,400 segment of the American populace has done very well at a time 114 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:11,667 when the middle class has been squeezed. 115 00:06:11,667 --> 00:06:15,099 So I don't see a contradiction here. 116 00:06:15,100 --> 00:06:20,700 I see distinct challenges that are related. 117 00:06:20,700 --> 00:06:22,700 And the President is very committed to the proposition 118 00:06:22,700 --> 00:06:26,500 that we can deal with these challenges if we come together 119 00:06:26,500 --> 00:06:30,367 and adopt a balanced approach. 120 00:06:30,367 --> 00:06:32,834 The Press: A quick follow on that, and then I have a last question. 121 00:06:32,834 --> 00:06:35,633 Every signal we've gotten from the Hill, including out there on 122 00:06:35,633 --> 00:06:38,567 the driveway after the last meeting with the President, 123 00:06:38,567 --> 00:06:40,967 and also from what you just said, is that essentially the 124 00:06:40,967 --> 00:06:44,633 fiscal cliff and a longer-term package on debt and tax reform 125 00:06:44,633 --> 00:06:46,200 are combined. 126 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:48,233 They all have to -- they're all going to happen at once. 127 00:06:48,233 --> 00:06:51,767 So when someone like Durbin says, yes, deal with the fiscal 128 00:06:51,767 --> 00:06:56,467 cliff but not entitlements, doesn't the President at some 129 00:06:56,467 --> 00:06:59,332 point have to win over members of his party to say, call it 130 00:06:59,333 --> 00:07:01,834 what you want, but we're doing this and they are on the table? 131 00:07:01,834 --> 00:07:05,333 Mr. Carney: Well, again, it's hard for me to specifically respond 132 00:07:05,333 --> 00:07:10,667 to questions about the comments that Senator Durbin 133 00:07:10,667 --> 00:07:11,734 made according to you. 134 00:07:11,734 --> 00:07:16,834 I can simply say that it is the President's position that when 135 00:07:16,834 --> 00:07:20,867 we're talking about a broad, balanced approach to dealing 136 00:07:20,867 --> 00:07:24,867 with our fiscal challenges, that that includes dealing 137 00:07:24,867 --> 00:07:26,133 with entitlements. 138 00:07:26,133 --> 00:07:30,633 And the President's budget, as you know, includes $340 billion 139 00:07:30,633 --> 00:07:34,866 in savings from our entitlement health care program. 140 00:07:34,867 --> 00:07:40,166 So he has demonstrated yet again his commitment to the principle 141 00:07:40,166 --> 00:07:47,266 that we need to include as part of our balance approach savings 142 00:07:47,266 --> 00:07:48,734 from entitlements. 143 00:07:48,734 --> 00:07:50,933 But in order to be balanced -- because there's never been a 144 00:07:50,934 --> 00:07:53,233 debate about that -- Republicans on Capitol Hill have been very 145 00:07:53,233 --> 00:07:56,033 focused on trying to extract savings from entitlement 146 00:07:56,033 --> 00:07:59,567 programs while insisting that millionaires and billionaires 147 00:07:59,567 --> 00:08:03,100 need not just the tax cuts that they already have but extended 148 00:08:03,100 --> 00:08:06,200 tax cuts -- the President has long insisted that as part of 149 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:09,099 the three legs of the stool that we talked about yesterday, 150 00:08:09,100 --> 00:08:10,300 revenue has to be part of that. 151 00:08:10,300 --> 00:08:14,166 And one of the positive developments in the 152 00:08:14,166 --> 00:08:21,133 post-election period has been signs of acknowledgment among 153 00:08:21,133 --> 00:08:25,767 Republicans that revenue has to be part of this discussion. 154 00:08:25,767 --> 00:08:27,567 And the President welcomes that. 155 00:08:27,567 --> 00:08:28,233 The Press: Thanks. 156 00:08:28,233 --> 00:08:31,700 On the question of Susan Rice, she's been meeting, as you know, 157 00:08:31,700 --> 00:08:36,633 with Senators on the Hill to come to some better meeting of 158 00:08:36,633 --> 00:08:40,266 the minds about Benghazi and her public comments on that. 159 00:08:42,866 --> 00:08:46,065 Leading critics have come out, including Senator Graham, 160 00:08:46,066 --> 00:08:48,867 and said afterwards that they're even more disturbed. 161 00:08:48,867 --> 00:08:51,400 They have more questions now than they did before. 162 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:55,900 I'm wondering what your reaction is to that and whether this 163 00:08:55,900 --> 00:09:01,300 outreach effort to the Hill is amounting to anything. 164 00:09:01,300 --> 00:09:02,733 Mr. Carney: Well, I'd say two things. 165 00:09:02,734 --> 00:09:05,200 First of all, Ambassador Rice has put out a statement; 166 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:07,734 I would refer you to that. 167 00:09:07,734 --> 00:09:11,200 Secondly, I would simply say there are no unanswered 168 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:16,967 questions about Ambassador Rice's appearance on Sunday 169 00:09:16,967 --> 00:09:23,266 shows and the talking points that she used for those 170 00:09:23,266 --> 00:09:27,934 appearances that were provided by the intelligence community. 171 00:09:27,934 --> 00:09:30,967 Those questions have been answered. 172 00:09:30,967 --> 00:09:34,199 The questions that remain to be answered and that the President 173 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:38,767 insists are answered have to do with what happened in Benghazi, 174 00:09:41,333 --> 00:09:44,632 who was responsible for the deaths of four Americans 175 00:09:44,633 --> 00:09:49,934 including our Ambassador, and what steps we need to take to 176 00:09:49,934 --> 00:09:53,165 ensure that something like that does not happen again. 177 00:09:53,166 --> 00:09:54,500 These are distinct issues. 178 00:09:54,500 --> 00:09:58,500 As the President made clear, Ambassador Rice has no 179 00:09:58,500 --> 00:10:02,300 responsibility for collecting, analyzing 180 00:10:02,300 --> 00:10:04,733 and providing intelligence. 181 00:10:04,734 --> 00:10:07,066 Nor does she have responsibility, as the United 182 00:10:07,066 --> 00:10:11,133 States Ambassador to the United Nations, for diplomatic security 183 00:10:11,133 --> 00:10:12,567 around the globe. 184 00:10:12,567 --> 00:10:20,600 The focus on -- some might say obsession on -- comments made 185 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:28,367 on Sunday shows seems to me, and to many, to be misplaced. 186 00:10:28,367 --> 00:10:32,300 I think, again, I would refer you to Ambassador Rice's 187 00:10:32,300 --> 00:10:36,233 statement where she discusses the meeting she had today with 188 00:10:36,233 --> 00:10:40,666 Senators McCain, Graham, and Ayotte from New Hampshire with 189 00:10:40,667 --> 00:10:45,233 Acting CIA Director Michael Morell to go over exactly 190 00:10:47,967 --> 00:10:52,133 the very questions that those senators had and the very clear 191 00:10:52,133 --> 00:10:58,400 facts about what information she was using -- where it came from, 192 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:02,934 the fact that all of us who had to answer questions about the 193 00:11:02,934 --> 00:11:06,800 events in Benghazi were provided the same information. 194 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:10,333 And that information was based on the best assessments of our 195 00:11:10,333 --> 00:11:12,500 intelligence community at the time. 196 00:11:12,500 --> 00:11:15,700 It also included caveats that those assessments would evolve 197 00:11:15,700 --> 00:11:18,767 as more information was collected. 198 00:11:18,767 --> 00:11:24,266 We need to focus on -- as the President has said -- bringing 199 00:11:24,266 --> 00:11:27,599 to justice those who killed four Americans, taking steps 200 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:34,266 to ensure that our embassies and diplomatic facilities are secure 201 00:11:34,266 --> 00:11:37,065 and that nothing like what happened in Benghazi 202 00:11:37,066 --> 00:11:39,233 happens again. 203 00:11:39,233 --> 00:11:40,733 I'd like to move it around a little bit. 204 00:11:40,734 --> 00:11:44,333 I know yesterday I spent a great deal of time on the front row. 205 00:11:44,333 --> 00:11:46,733 But I will come back to the front row. 206 00:11:46,734 --> 00:11:47,633 Yes, Sheryl. 207 00:11:47,633 --> 00:11:49,900 The Press: Can you confirm that Secretary Geithner is really leading these 208 00:11:49,900 --> 00:11:52,066 negotiations on the fiscal cliff? 209 00:11:52,066 --> 00:11:55,600 And how much leeway does he have to come up with a solution? 210 00:11:55,600 --> 00:12:01,567 Mr. Carney: I can confirm that Secretary Geithner is -- as he has always 211 00:12:01,567 --> 00:12:03,133 been -- a leading participant in negotiations like these. 212 00:12:03,133 --> 00:12:07,000 He will play a leading role in discussions with Congress 213 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:08,000 on this matter. 214 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:13,967 And he will be working with Jack Lew, the Chief of Staff; 215 00:12:17,100 --> 00:12:20,600 Gene Sperling, the Director of the NEC; Ron Nabors, 216 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:24,433 our congressional liaison, and others in that effort. 217 00:12:24,433 --> 00:12:28,533 Ultimately, the leader is the President of the United States, 218 00:12:28,533 --> 00:12:30,266 and this is his team. 219 00:12:30,266 --> 00:12:35,099 And I know that other members will be working -- other members 220 00:12:35,100 --> 00:12:38,100 of his team will be working on this issue. 221 00:12:38,100 --> 00:12:40,633 But Secretary Geithner obviously has a very important role to 222 00:12:40,633 --> 00:12:47,367 play here and will be working with others to help bring about 223 00:12:47,367 --> 00:12:50,233 that broad agreement that the President seeks. 224 00:12:50,233 --> 00:12:52,233 The Press: You didn't answer her question. 225 00:12:52,233 --> 00:12:53,800 Is he the lead of it? 226 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:55,433 Mr. Carney: Well, he is the lead in the sense that -- 227 00:12:55,433 --> 00:12:56,300 The Press: -- in discussions with negotiators. 228 00:12:56,300 --> 00:12:58,266 Mr. Carney: -- in terms of discussions with Congress. 229 00:12:58,266 --> 00:12:59,967 But he is not alone. 230 00:12:59,967 --> 00:13:03,500 We would not send him out alone to the Hill. 231 00:13:03,500 --> 00:13:10,600 So I think we have a very strong team of people who have a great 232 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:14,500 deal of knowledge and experience on this issue, and that includes 233 00:13:14,500 --> 00:13:17,266 Secretary Geithner, but also many others. 234 00:13:17,266 --> 00:13:18,500 Reuters. 235 00:13:18,500 --> 00:13:24,266 The Press: Back on the Susan Rice issue, her critics -- Senator McCain 236 00:13:24,266 --> 00:13:27,165 among them -- are not backing off. 237 00:13:27,166 --> 00:13:29,467 And they are threatening to block her nomination if the 238 00:13:29,467 --> 00:13:32,900 President were to choose her for Secretary of State or any other 239 00:13:32,900 --> 00:13:35,667 Cabinet position that would require a confirmation. 240 00:13:35,667 --> 00:13:38,333 And although I'm sure you're not going to be giving us a short 241 00:13:38,333 --> 00:13:42,300 list on who's being considered, can you give us a sense of the 242 00:13:42,300 --> 00:13:45,400 timeline of what the President is looking at for choosing a new 243 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:50,600 secretary -- successor to Secretary Clinton? 244 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:53,200 When is she expected -- will she stay on through 245 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:54,600 the Inauguration? 246 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:56,533 And at what point would the President be hoping 247 00:13:56,533 --> 00:13:57,800 to make a nomination? 248 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:02,400 Mr. Carney: I don't have any information for you on timelines or short 249 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:06,165 lists or nominees -- potential or otherwise. 250 00:14:06,166 --> 00:14:14,367 Secretary Clinton, I think has addressed her plans in terms of 251 00:14:14,367 --> 00:14:16,000 how long she'll stay. 252 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:17,667 So I would refer you to her comments. 253 00:14:21,433 --> 00:14:25,165 As I said yesterday, the fact of the matter is that Ambassador 254 00:14:25,166 --> 00:14:28,533 Rice is enormously qualified for the position she holds and for 255 00:14:28,533 --> 00:14:32,967 the position -- for a variety of positions in the foreign policy 256 00:14:32,967 --> 00:14:37,233 field if the President were to decide to nominate her 257 00:14:37,233 --> 00:14:38,233 for another position. 258 00:14:38,233 --> 00:14:41,433 And I'm simply quoting the President from his 259 00:14:41,433 --> 00:14:43,433 press conference. 260 00:14:45,667 --> 00:14:48,834 The Press: A while ago, you gave a comprehensive list of everything 261 00:14:48,834 --> 00:14:51,532 the President is doing this week, who he's meeting with, 262 00:14:51,533 --> 00:14:53,834 but nowhere there does it mention the President will be 263 00:14:53,834 --> 00:14:56,967 meeting with anyone from any of the congressional leadership. 264 00:14:56,967 --> 00:15:00,133 Can we expect that there will be a meeting sometime this week? 265 00:15:00,133 --> 00:15:03,834 And is the President holding these phone conversations behind 266 00:15:03,834 --> 00:15:06,032 the scenes with any of the leadership? 267 00:15:06,033 --> 00:15:08,900 Mr. Carney: Well, I can't remember if you were yesterday, but I did 268 00:15:08,900 --> 00:15:11,867 confirm that the President spoke with the Speaker of the House as 269 00:15:11,867 --> 00:15:14,699 well as the Senate Majority Leader over the weekend. 270 00:15:14,700 --> 00:15:17,734 He will continue to have discussions with those two 271 00:15:17,734 --> 00:15:23,400 leaders as well as Leader Pelosi and Senator McConnell in the 272 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:24,632 days and weeks coming forward. 273 00:15:24,633 --> 00:15:28,100 I don't have a schedule for those conversations to provide 274 00:15:28,100 --> 00:15:32,000 to you, but he will speak with them and meet with them 275 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:33,100 as appropriate. 276 00:15:33,100 --> 00:15:39,800 He has -- as we just discussed -- designated a team to engage 277 00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:43,632 with conference in these negotiations. 278 00:15:43,633 --> 00:15:45,500 And those conversations are taking place. 279 00:15:45,500 --> 00:15:50,200 But he will continue to both engage with congressional 280 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:55,133 leaders as well as business leaders, labor leaders, civic 281 00:15:55,133 --> 00:16:01,000 leaders, middle-class Americans as this process continues. 282 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:03,000 One thing we talked about yesterday that I think is very 283 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:08,200 important and it reflects some of his schedule this week is 284 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:14,367 that it is vitally important that ordinary Americans actively 285 00:16:14,367 --> 00:16:18,967 engage in this debate, because the outcome of these 286 00:16:18,967 --> 00:16:23,400 negotiations and the hopeful product of these negotiations or 287 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:26,000 the product that we hope emerges from these negotiations will 288 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:28,433 profoundly affect their lives. 289 00:16:28,433 --> 00:16:32,165 That includes making sure that middle-class Americans don't see 290 00:16:32,166 --> 00:16:38,033 their taxes go up on average by $2,200 next year, which would be 291 00:16:38,033 --> 00:16:43,900 the result if Republicans insist on holding those tax cuts 292 00:16:43,900 --> 00:16:50,033 hostage to their insistence that those making more than $250,000 293 00:16:50,033 --> 00:16:53,967 -- the top 2 percent of American earners -- get a tax cut that we 294 00:16:53,967 --> 00:17:00,400 cannot afford and which is not economically -- as economically 295 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:01,967 useful as tax cuts for the middle class. 296 00:17:01,967 --> 00:17:09,233 So the President will engage across the board, not just with 297 00:17:09,233 --> 00:17:15,733 congressional leaders but with a broad array of people from 298 00:17:15,733 --> 00:17:19,867 different communities who have a great stake in the outcome of 299 00:17:19,867 --> 00:17:21,099 these negotiations. 300 00:17:21,099 --> 00:17:23,867 The Press: And so will the team led by Secretary Geithner will be 301 00:17:23,867 --> 00:17:26,666 doing the heavy lifting, and then the President steps in if 302 00:17:26,666 --> 00:17:27,766 things aren't going well? 303 00:17:27,767 --> 00:17:28,767 Or will -- 304 00:17:28,767 --> 00:17:31,533 Mr. Carney: Again, I think that the President is actively engaged 305 00:17:31,533 --> 00:17:33,867 in the numerous ways that I've already described in 306 00:17:33,867 --> 00:17:36,567 the meetings that he's already had and obviously in meetings 307 00:17:36,567 --> 00:17:37,567 with his team. 308 00:17:37,567 --> 00:17:41,900 So he is doing some heavy lifting himself and will 309 00:17:41,900 --> 00:17:43,467 continue to do that. 310 00:17:43,467 --> 00:17:48,667 This is a team effort, however, and when it comes to discussions 311 00:17:48,667 --> 00:17:53,199 happening with both members of staff and members of Congress up 312 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:59,700 on Capitol Hill, the President has asked Secretary Geithner and 313 00:17:59,700 --> 00:18:02,667 others to engage in that process. 314 00:18:02,667 --> 00:18:05,466 The Press: You probably heard Senator Mitch McConnell yesterday criticizing 315 00:18:05,467 --> 00:18:09,266 the President, calling for leadership on this issue. 316 00:18:09,266 --> 00:18:12,500 And specifically today, he went after the President on the trip 317 00:18:12,500 --> 00:18:14,633 that he's taking to Pennsylvania on Friday. 318 00:18:14,633 --> 00:18:17,066 And he said, rather than sitting down with lawmakers of both 319 00:18:17,066 --> 00:18:19,433 parties and working out an agreement, he's back on the 320 00:18:19,433 --> 00:18:22,834 campaign trail presumably with the same old talking points that 321 00:18:22,834 --> 00:18:24,734 we are all quite familiar with. 322 00:18:24,734 --> 00:18:26,332 I just wanted to get your reaction to this 323 00:18:26,333 --> 00:18:27,834 criticism from -- 324 00:18:27,834 --> 00:18:31,000 Mr. Carney: Well, the President believes very strongly that the American 325 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:34,066 people matter in this debate, because this debate 326 00:18:34,066 --> 00:18:36,133 is about them. 327 00:18:36,133 --> 00:18:38,867 The question of whether or not taxes go up on 98 percent of 328 00:18:38,867 --> 00:18:44,767 American taxpayers is very important to ordinary Americans. 329 00:18:44,767 --> 00:18:48,934 It is not just a matter for discussion between the President 330 00:18:48,934 --> 00:18:55,500 and the Senate Minority Leader or other congressional leaders. 331 00:18:55,500 --> 00:19:02,867 It is simply a fact that in the recently concluded campaign this 332 00:19:02,867 --> 00:19:06,800 topic was perhaps the most debated, the most discussed, 333 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:12,433 the most analyzed for a year. 334 00:19:12,433 --> 00:19:18,633 And I think the election was pretty conclusive in terms of 335 00:19:18,633 --> 00:19:22,066 which path a majority of the American people want to take, 336 00:19:22,066 --> 00:19:24,300 which is -- when it comes to dealing with our fiscal 337 00:19:24,300 --> 00:19:26,800 challenges and dealing with the fiscal cliff. 338 00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:30,966 And that is a balanced approach, one that includes not just 339 00:19:30,967 --> 00:19:36,000 spending cuts, not just entitlement reforms and savings, 340 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:36,967 but revenue. 341 00:19:36,967 --> 00:19:40,800 I think the data that we've all seen could 342 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:41,834 not be more conclusive. 343 00:19:41,834 --> 00:19:46,100 So the President will continue to engage with the American 344 00:19:46,100 --> 00:19:50,265 people on this subject because we are all here -- those of us 345 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. 347 00:19:54,934 --> 00:19:59,233 So to suggest that we should -- now that the election is over -- 348 00:19:59,233 --> 00:20:02,600 stop talking to them about these vital issues I think 349 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:05,233 is bad advice. 350 00:20:05,233 --> 00:20:08,166 The Press: One final question on Ambassador Rice. 351 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 354 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 360 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. 362 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 366 00:20:54,734 --> 00:20:57,500 Rice's comments on some Sunday shows -- now, I know that Sunday 367 00:20:57,500 --> 00:21:01,467 shows have vaunted status in Washington -- but they have 368 00:21:01,467 --> 00:21:04,767 almost nothing to do, in fact, zero to do with what happened 369 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 371 00:21:12,533 --> 00:21:17,734 no responsibility for providing intelligence -- that is the 372 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 375 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. 392 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. 398 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.