English subtitles for clip: File:11-3-09- White House Press Briefing.webm

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The Press:
Do you know who the
President is rooting

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for in the World Series yet?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I emailed this to Basinet,

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who asked at the conclusion
of last Friday's briefing --

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The Press:
I was the one who asked this
question -- for the record.

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Mr. Gibbs:
I'm sorry. He emailed
me, because I guess --

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The Press:
Because you evaded the question.

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I didn't know the answer.

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It drew some apparent
attention in New York.

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I asked the President.

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He said he hoped
for a good series,

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but didn't have a strong
pull for either team.

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The Press:
There goes Pennsylvania.

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(laughter)

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Mr. Gibbs:
We'll see. What's that?

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The Press:
Does that means seven games?

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A good series?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I think he would
probably hope to see seven.

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I know Jake would hope
to be around for seven.

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There's no doubt that he was
rooting for Plouffe last year,

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but apparently he thinks
Plouffe is just fine this year.

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So, Mr. Feller.

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The Press:
Thanks, Robert.

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A few questions on Afghanistan.

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When the President announced
earlier this year he was sending

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more troops -- this was back
in March -- he said that the

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Afghanistan government was undermined by corruption and

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he said "We will seek a
new compact with the Afghan

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government that cracks down on corrupt behavior and set clear benchmarks."

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So, to start, I'm wondering
has this government delivered

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on any of that yet?

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Are you all measuring whether
the Karzai government is trying

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to stop corruption and
whether that's working?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I think what the
President was alluding to

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in March is precisely the
conversations that are being

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had by the embassy,
by the ambassador,

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by the State Department, and
by others here with the newly

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elected Karzai government.

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The Press:
So that's a process
that's still starting?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, these are conversations,

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as I mentioned yesterday, that
were had before and during the

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election process that
took quite some time.

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But the President and his team
are actively engaged in seeking

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that new compact.

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The Press:
He said just yesterday
that -- he reiterated

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that he wants a more serious
effort to eradicate corruption,

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better governance, and so forth.

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I'm wondering, are those
-- he talked about he wants

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deeds not just words.

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So I'm wondering when he lays
out those points that he's

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looking for, what is he
-- are they just wishes,

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or is there going to be any
connection between wanting to

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see results and his decision
to send more troops?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, understand the end
of the quote that you read

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set clear benchmarks for
international assistance that is

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used to provide for the
needs of the Afghan people.

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Obviously, as the
President reiterates,

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this is not just rhetoric; there
have to be deliverables to this.

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And I don't want to get ahead
of where the process is at this

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point in commenting on
some of the specifics.

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I'd also mention what the
President said yesterday,

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that includes an
infrastructure for

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training Afghan
national security forces.

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Both the Afghan National Army
and the Afghan National Police

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ultimately are going to have
to take charge of the security

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situation in the country.

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I've said this; the President
has said this that we're not

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going to be there forever.

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What is accomplished on the
security side will eventually

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have to be transferred to those
two entities that comprise the

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Afghan national security forces,
and that's certainly part of

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improved governance.

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The Press:
Just to sum up here, I
guess I'm just trying to

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figure out the connection
between those important points

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that this government is looking
for from Afghanistan and the

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President's upcoming decision.

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Is there a direct connection?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, as I
said yesterday, Ben,

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there isn't anybody involved
in these discussions,

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whether you're on the civilian
side from the State Department,

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whether you're on the civilian
side of the National Security

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Council -- I have no idea what
that noise was -- or whether or

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not -- or whether you're in
the military at the Pentagon,

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that without improvement and
without a sustained effort by

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the government of Afghanistan,
our efforts there are not and

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won't be successful.

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So obviously ensuring improved
governance is part of that equation.

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Yes, sir.

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The Press:
On the corruption
issue in particular,

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are there any deadlines or
actual measuring sticks that are

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being contemplated now
to impose upon Karzai --

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, as I said,

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I don't want to get ahead of the
process that's ongoing with the

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embassy right now.

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The Press:
It has been years in which
Karzai has been under this

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kind of pressure, and are we
to see something new here that

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hasn't been tried before?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I think the President was
clear yesterday that it was

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time for a new
chapter, absolutely.

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I think -- I don't want to delve
too far back into the history of

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this, but I don't think there's
anybody that would tell you that

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we can continue doing what has
been done in years past and hope

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to see different results.

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The Press:
European Commission President Barroso is here and he'll be

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meeting with the
President later.

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He already said today that the
European countries have no

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interest in sending more
troops to Afghanistan.

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Does that in any way affect or
figure into the President's

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review process on
a possible U.S. --

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, there's a security conference I think scheduled

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-- I don't have the
calendar in front of me

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-- I think for the
23rd of November

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involving NATO countries, and
I'll wait for them to meet and

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have more definitive
news on this. Yes, Jake.

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The Press:
Working on good governance
and anticorruption -- those

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are general goals.

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What are some specific things
that you guys will be looking for?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Again, I'm not going to
get into discussing publicly

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the compact that's -- that the
embassy is working through with

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the Afghan government.

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The Press:
The CIT bankruptcy, do you
guys have any response to that?

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It's $2.3 billion of taxpayer
money that I guess is just going

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to vanish into thin air.

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Mr. Gibbs:
Obviously CIT received,
as you mentioned,

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several billion dollars of
assistance in December of 2008.

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They have come back a couple of
times looking for additional assistance.

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They've had a year
to restructure,

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which they are now in a
process that is now ongoing.

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We are heartened by the fact
that they will continue to lend

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to important small business
customers and we will continue

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to seek ways to stabilize
the financial system.

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The Press:
Are the taxpayers
just out that money?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, there's obviously
a process that's now

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-- that will now be ongoing
in terms of their planned bankruptcy.

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And obviously we have a stake in
how that comes out as to the --

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taxpayers have
invested that money.

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The Press:
Thanks, Robert.

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I wanted to talk
about H1N1 virus.

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A year ago in the campaign one
of the themes from the President

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was about Republicans had not
governed very effectively --

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citing Katrina, war in Iraq,
incompetence in government.

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But when it comes to H1N1 you
made some big promises about

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tens of millions of vaccines
that would be available to the

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American people.

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They are obviously
not available.

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And so far the message has been
that the manufacturing companies

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had really rosy scenarios.

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But don't people here in the
Obama administration bear some

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responsibility for not
asking the right questions,

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getting the right answers from
these manufacturers before you

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told the American people you
could deliver 120 million vaccinations?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, again, did
we fell -- fall to the

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scenarios that the manufacturers
said that they could manufacture

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a vaccine in? Of course.

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Ed, I'll take you back to last
spring at the beginning of this

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process, in which H1N1 is a
virus that we see popping up

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around the world,
around the globe.

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The President took very strong
action in setting up a team to

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deal with this.

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I'm reminded of -- I think there
was some snickering about the

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President talking about how to
cough and how to sneeze and that

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you should wash your hands, all
of which for anybody that has --

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knows somebody with that, it's
not a laughing matter now.

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I think the President and his
team have taken extraordinary

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action to deal with
this situation.

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And as I said last week, Ed, I
don't know if you asked this or

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somebody else did, obviously the
President is frustrated that

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there's anybody that is
in one of these groups,

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at a high-risk group, that
is having trouble getting

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the vaccine now.

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And we're making progress on
getting more and more of that

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vaccine each day.

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The Press:
So what's your promise to
the American people now?

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Because they are wondering --
they're waiting in long lines,

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sometimes they wait two hours
and they get to the front of the

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line, there's no more vaccine.

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What's your message then?

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What's the promise now about --

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Mr. Gibbs:
The promise is that we're
working each and every day

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to fix this.

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I don't know what the
updated numbers are.

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I know there's a daily briefing
now with -- that I'm sure many

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of your technical questions
will be addressed.

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I don't know the available
number of doses now,

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but when we went through this
last week there were 3 million

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additional doses over a
two-day period of time.

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And again, the President is
working every day -- ensure that

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people that want and need
this vaccine have it.

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The Press:
And last thing -- while you're
still trying to ensure that,

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and there are a lot of
Americans who haven't been

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able to get it, why did the
Obama administration decide to

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make the vaccine available to
prisoners at Guantanamo Bay?

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Mr. Gibbs:
There is no vaccine in
Guantanamo and there's

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no vaccine on the
way to Guantanamo.

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The Press:
So the Pentagon was wrong when
it confirmed that on Friday?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know what
the Pentagon said.

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I know in asking yesterday
whether or not there was any

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vaccine there or whether there
was any vaccine that was on its

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way, the answer to both
those questions was no.

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The Press:
Did the White House stop --

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Mr. Gibbs:
No, that was because there
wasn't any there and there

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wasn't any on the way.

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The Press:
Getting back to the
topic of money possibly

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vanishing into thin
air, it's not just CIT.

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GAO reported yesterday that the
taxpayers will probably never

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recoup all or even close to
all of the tens of billions of

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dollars that have been poured
into General Motors and Chrysler.

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Should the American people
assume that that money is just gone?

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Mr. Gibbs:
No, I don't think so.

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I don't think that's
what the GAO reported.

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The President made some tough
and extraordinary decisions to

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seek some financial assistance
for GM and Chrysler.

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Again, not easy decisions, but
the President also believed that

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we had a chance to remake a
more competitive American auto

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industry that employs tens
of thousands of Americans.

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The Press:
But GA found that they would
have to have a market cap --

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Mr. Gibbs:
GAO.

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The Press:
GAO, excuse me, would
have to have a market

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capitalization of $67 billion.

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They've never
exceeded $57 billion.

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Isn't it just wishful thinking
to think that they would ever

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get to that level again?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I think what we need
to do is get our economy

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moving again so that we have
car sales that begin to see an uptick.

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I think you saw reports
yesterday of the first time that

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Ford Motor Company had turned
a profit in its North American

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operation since 2005 --

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The Press:
But Ford and GM are
very different creatures.

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I mean, you're talking
about -- I mean,

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everybody has been talking
about a sized-down GM.

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How are they going to exceed
their market capitalization --

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Mr. Gibbs:
The basis for any market
capitalization is what?

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Auto sales, right?

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00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:46,200
So obviously we have seen a
-- as the economy has slowed,

235
00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:49,400
a decline from traditional auto
sales figures that you saw in

236
00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:53,670
2006, or even 2007
and parts of 2008.

237
00:11:53,667 --> 00:11:56,567
The President is working each
and every day to get the economy

238
00:11:56,567 --> 00:12:01,697
moving again, to create
conditions where people

239
00:12:01,700 --> 00:12:06,200
have the type of income they
need to purchase new cars.

240
00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:08,800
We've instituted new fuel
mileage standards so that the

241
00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:12,170
new cars that people buy go
farther on a tank of gas and

242
00:12:12,166 --> 00:12:18,536
spit out less pollutants
as they do so.

243
00:12:18,533 --> 00:12:25,733
And I think we see that GM and
Chrysler have begun to make

244
00:12:25,734 --> 00:12:30,004
strides in putting
themselves on firmer footing.

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00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:33,400
The Press:
-- that $67 billion, or
depending on how you count

246
00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:35,670
it, $67 billion that went
in to those two companies,

247
00:12:35,667 --> 00:12:36,837
what can the --

248
00:12:36,834 --> 00:12:38,764
Mr. Gibbs:
That or that market
capitalization?

249
00:12:38,767 --> 00:12:40,667
The Press:
That's the money
that went to them.

250
00:12:40,667 --> 00:12:43,297
How much of that can the
American people expect to get back?

251
00:12:43,300 --> 00:12:44,930
Mr. Gibbs:
I haven't read the full report.

252
00:12:44,934 --> 00:12:47,404
The Press:
No, but are you saying
that the American people

253
00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:49,270
will get a substantial
amount of it back?

254
00:12:49,266 --> 00:12:51,396
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't have any of that
-- I think the American

255
00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:54,330
people will see some of
that money returned, yes.

256
00:12:54,333 --> 00:12:55,863
The Press:
A lot of it, a little of it?

257
00:12:55,867 --> 00:12:59,837
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm not the car czar.

258
00:12:59,834 --> 00:13:01,764
The Press:
The President's decision
on Afghanistan is still

259
00:13:01,767 --> 00:13:03,567
weeks, plural, away?

260
00:13:03,567 --> 00:13:04,367
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes.

261
00:13:04,367 --> 00:13:05,667
The Press:
Weeks?

262
00:13:05,667 --> 00:13:08,497
Mr. Gibbs:
It was weeks yesterday,
and it's weeks today.

263
00:13:08,500 --> 00:13:10,170
The Press:
Okay. What additional
information is the

264
00:13:10,166 --> 00:13:12,666
President waiting for
to make a decision?

265
00:13:12,667 --> 00:13:14,197
Are there outstanding issues?

266
00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:17,030
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, the President continues
to meet with advisors.

267
00:13:17,033 --> 00:13:20,933
He met last Friday with the
Joint Chiefs and they'll be back

268
00:13:20,934 --> 00:13:23,564
again for an additional
meeting either late this

269
00:13:23,567 --> 00:13:24,997
week or early next week.

270
00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:27,170
The Press:
But doesn't he feel a
sense of urgency at all?

271
00:13:27,166 --> 00:13:30,296
Mr. Gibbs:
He's said that since
the beginning, yes.

272
00:13:30,300 --> 00:13:32,070
The Press:
It just seems that there's
a lot of meetings -- we

273
00:13:32,066 --> 00:13:32,936
now have the election.

274
00:13:32,934 --> 00:13:35,604
I just wonder if you could let
us in on the process here,

275
00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:37,600
particularly in the
context, let's face it,

276
00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:40,870
of some accusations of
delaying or dithering.

277
00:13:40,867 --> 00:13:43,297
I'm just wondering if you could
let us into the process --

278
00:13:43,300 --> 00:13:47,470
Mr. Gibbs:
I addressed those -- I
addressed those so-called

279
00:13:47,467 --> 00:13:48,997
allegations before.

280
00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:50,900
The Press:
I guess -- but you understand
what I'm getting at.

281
00:13:50,900 --> 00:13:52,270
What is the President trying --

282
00:13:52,266 --> 00:13:53,136
Mr. Gibbs:
Vaguely.

283
00:13:53,133 --> 00:13:54,433
(laughter)

284
00:13:54,433 --> 00:13:58,703
The Press:
Okay. What is the
President hoping to learn?

285
00:13:58,700 --> 00:14:01,600
What is he -- what more
information is he hoping to obtain?

286
00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:02,970
Mr. Gibbs:
Let me explain this
the way I explained

287
00:14:02,967 --> 00:14:04,137
this yesterday, Savannah.

288
00:14:04,133 --> 00:14:07,503
The President -- as you saw
administration officials

289
00:14:07,500 --> 00:14:11,170
explaining over the weekend, the
President and his team have a

290
00:14:11,166 --> 00:14:14,566
goal that remains
unchanged: to dismantle,

291
00:14:14,567 --> 00:14:18,597
disrupt and ultimately
destroy al Qaeda.

292
00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:24,070
That is -- what the team is
working on putting together is a

293
00:14:24,066 --> 00:14:31,096
military and a civilian strategy
that best accomplishes that goal.

294
00:14:31,100 --> 00:14:34,830
That's what the team has been
evaluating in Afghanistan,

295
00:14:34,834 --> 00:14:37,704
how that relates to our
relationship with Pakistan,

296
00:14:37,700 --> 00:14:43,130
and the region as a whole in
crafting a policy that addresses

297
00:14:43,133 --> 00:14:44,803
all of these things.

298
00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:45,500
The Press:
Last thing.

299
00:14:45,500 --> 00:14:48,230
Will the President seek to meet
with General McChrystal in

300
00:14:48,233 --> 00:14:50,263
person here at the White House
before making his decision?

301
00:14:50,266 --> 00:14:52,336
Mr. Gibbs:
I have said in the past that
that will likely be the case.

302
00:14:52,333 --> 00:14:53,133
The Press:
Can I just follow up?

303
00:14:53,133 --> 00:14:55,303
Why would the decision not
come sooner now that the

304
00:14:55,300 --> 00:14:56,430
election has been settled?

305
00:14:56,433 --> 00:14:58,433
Wasn't that one of the reasons
it was taking so long?

306
00:14:58,433 --> 00:15:00,363
Mr. Gibbs:
The election certainly
was part of the equation,

307
00:15:00,367 --> 00:15:01,737
but not the whole equation.

308
00:15:01,734 --> 00:15:03,734
The Press:
But that's -- it should
be sooner now that the

309
00:15:03,734 --> 00:15:04,734
election is settled.

310
00:15:04,734 --> 00:15:05,504
Mr. Gibbs:
Why?

311
00:15:05,500 --> 00:15:07,300
The Press:
Well, if it's part of the
equation then that's one

312
00:15:07,300 --> 00:15:08,800
factor that now
has been settled.

313
00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:11,070
So you'd think you
could move more quickly.

314
00:15:11,066 --> 00:15:12,436
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, it's been
a couple of days,

315
00:15:12,433 --> 00:15:14,103
but I still think it's
a couple of weeks.

316
00:15:14,100 --> 00:15:15,900
Yes, sir.

317
00:15:15,900 --> 00:15:18,830
The Press:
Two quick questions.
First, on the election --

318
00:15:18,834 --> 00:15:20,904
Mr. Gibbs:
Which one?

319
00:15:20,900 --> 00:15:22,170
You've got to be a
little more specific.

320
00:15:22,166 --> 00:15:23,736
The Press:
The elections of today.

321
00:15:23,734 --> 00:15:29,304
A year ago the President was
appealing to independent voters,

322
00:15:29,300 --> 00:15:32,870
Republican voters as a
post-partisan politician.

323
00:15:32,867 --> 00:15:36,837
And in recent appearances,
especially on Sunday,

324
00:15:36,834 --> 00:15:39,504
he seemed to be trying to
rally the Democratic base.

325
00:15:39,500 --> 00:15:43,630
I wonder if the lesson for
midterm elections next year and

326
00:15:43,633 --> 00:15:48,703
for today's elections is that
post-partisanship is over and

327
00:15:48,700 --> 00:15:51,100
now it's a question of
just getting out the base.

328
00:15:51,100 --> 00:15:54,930
Mr. Gibbs:
No, I don't -- well, that
generally happens two days

329
00:15:54,934 --> 00:15:56,534
before an election, right?

330
00:15:56,533 --> 00:15:59,163
You tend to want to get your
voters -- I know this isn't a

331
00:15:59,166 --> 00:16:02,336
new concept -- you tend to want
to get your voters to the poll

332
00:16:02,333 --> 00:16:04,103
on Election Day.

333
00:16:04,100 --> 00:16:06,300
I think that's
generally the case.

334
00:16:06,300 --> 00:16:11,200
This President believes that
the candidates that he's made

335
00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:17,670
appearances for are -- he
believes will be -- are the best

336
00:16:17,667 --> 00:16:22,137
candidates for the jobs
with which they're running.

337
00:16:22,133 --> 00:16:27,063
In talking about appealing to
both independent voters -- I'd

338
00:16:27,066 --> 00:16:31,536
let the President's approval
rating with independent voters

339
00:16:31,533 --> 00:16:35,303
speak for itself.

340
00:16:35,300 --> 00:16:39,730
And I think if you look at the
efforts that the President has

341
00:16:39,734 --> 00:16:43,204
made and the perception of the
efforts -- the perception that

342
00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:46,030
people have about those efforts,
that they see a President that's

343
00:16:46,033 --> 00:16:51,363
trying to work with the
Republican Party on the issues

344
00:16:51,367 --> 00:16:54,697
that are important to
the American people.

345
00:16:54,700 --> 00:16:57,430
We tried that in
the recovery plan.

346
00:16:57,433 --> 00:17:00,433
We've tried that with
health care only to have,

347
00:17:00,433 --> 00:17:03,933
I think in the last 24 hours,
Republicans finally decide to

348
00:17:03,934 --> 00:17:08,434
come up with their alternative
ideas for health care reform --

349
00:17:08,433 --> 00:17:11,263
health care reform
ideas, I might mention,

350
00:17:11,266 --> 00:17:16,496
that by all reports don't
include banning insurance

351
00:17:16,500 --> 00:17:19,570
companies from discriminating
against sick people.

352
00:17:19,567 --> 00:17:22,467
But the President is going to
continue to try to work with

353
00:17:22,467 --> 00:17:27,767
Republicans that seek to and
want to work -- seek to work

354
00:17:27,767 --> 00:17:33,537
with him and want to work for
reform and to address the issues

355
00:17:33,533 --> 00:17:35,433
that are important
in people's lives.

356
00:17:35,433 --> 00:17:38,733
The Press:
On health care, do you
think -- does the President

357
00:17:38,734 --> 00:17:42,634
feel that the House bill is
sufficiently neutral on the

358
00:17:42,633 --> 00:17:47,703
abortion question, or would
he support some conservative

359
00:17:47,700 --> 00:17:50,470
Democrats who want --
would want language --

360
00:17:50,467 --> 00:17:55,067
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm not going to interject
from here into a process of

361
00:17:55,066 --> 00:17:59,066
discussion on the House
side of how to address that.

362
00:17:59,066 --> 00:18:00,696
The Press:
And although you've
said it before,

363
00:18:00,700 --> 00:18:03,500
you haven't said it today:
On the referendum issue --

364
00:18:03,500 --> 00:18:04,370
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm happy to do it again.

365
00:18:04,367 --> 00:18:07,297
The Press:
If Creigh Deeds or Jon
Corzine or Bill Owens were

366
00:18:07,300 --> 00:18:09,970
to win today, the President
doesn't want any credit,

367
00:18:09,967 --> 00:18:12,667
and if they lose he
doesn't want any blame?

368
00:18:12,667 --> 00:18:15,867
Mr. Gibbs:
No, I don't -- unclear if
I've had an opportunity to

369
00:18:15,867 --> 00:18:17,237
intone either of those.

370
00:18:17,233 --> 00:18:18,303
The Press:
Please take it now.

371
00:18:18,300 --> 00:18:19,170
(laughter)

372
00:18:19,166 --> 00:18:23,366
Mr. Gibbs:
I simply said -- and I find
it -- I'm always amused by the

373
00:18:23,367 --> 00:18:26,537
fact that the motives for
which I say these things are

374
00:18:26,533 --> 00:18:30,303
always imparted -- this
is just what I believe.

375
00:18:30,300 --> 00:18:34,100
I don't think the two
gubernatorial races -- I don't

376
00:18:34,100 --> 00:18:38,170
think looking at the two
gubernatorial races,

377
00:18:38,166 --> 00:18:42,466
you can draw with any great
insight what's going to happen a

378
00:18:42,467 --> 00:18:47,697
year from now any more than if
Jake's team wins tomorrow night

379
00:18:47,700 --> 00:18:52,870
I can tell who's going to win
next year's World Series.

380
00:18:52,867 --> 00:18:54,467
The Press:
Not really what I was asking.

381
00:18:54,467 --> 00:18:56,367
(laughter)

382
00:18:56,367 --> 00:18:59,497
If the three candidates that the
President has campaigned for and

383
00:18:59,500 --> 00:19:07,630
wants to win and are seen as
the three key races this year,

384
00:19:07,633 --> 00:19:11,263
if they win, will the White
House view it as support for the

385
00:19:11,266 --> 00:19:13,436
President's views or --

386
00:19:13,433 --> 00:19:18,703
Mr. Gibbs:
Again, we don't look at
either of these gubernatorial

387
00:19:18,700 --> 00:19:23,100
races or the congressional race
as something that portends a lot

388
00:19:23,100 --> 00:19:31,070
for our legislative efforts
going forward or political

389
00:19:31,066 --> 00:19:37,036
prospects in 2010.

390
00:19:37,033 --> 00:19:41,663
The Press:
You still didn't hit it
on the nail, you know that?

391
00:19:41,667 --> 00:19:43,497
Is it deliberate, or is it --

392
00:19:43,500 --> 00:19:50,100
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't -- maybe we're just
passing in the night, Mark.

393
00:19:50,100 --> 00:19:56,800
I don't know whether that's
-- maybe with less sound,

394
00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:58,830
but it's -- yes, go ahead.

395
00:19:58,834 --> 00:20:00,604
The Press:
Warren Buffett described
his acquisition of Burlington

396
00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:03,930
Northern represents an
all-in wager in the economic

397
00:20:03,934 --> 00:20:05,734
future of the United States.

398
00:20:05,734 --> 00:20:08,464
Does the White House take
this as an endorsement of the

399
00:20:08,467 --> 00:20:10,867
President's economic policies?

400
00:20:10,867 --> 00:20:14,897
Mr. Gibbs:
I am not going to comment
on the investment decisions

401
00:20:14,900 --> 00:20:18,730
of certain investors.

402
00:20:18,734 --> 00:20:19,764
I don't think that would --

403
00:20:19,767 --> 00:20:24,297
The Press:
You've moved markets before.

404
00:20:24,300 --> 00:20:26,130
(laughter)

405
00:20:26,133 --> 00:20:31,063
Mr. Gibbs:
And I'm seeking desperately
for a little stability today.

406
00:20:31,066 --> 00:20:37,396
I think that Warren Buffett
is somebody who obviously,

407
00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:41,900
as you know, the President has
sought advice and counsel from,

408
00:20:41,900 --> 00:20:50,530
but I'm not going to get into
his individual investment decisions.

409
00:20:50,533 --> 00:20:51,433
The Press:
There's more than just words.

410
00:20:51,433 --> 00:20:53,903
I mean, he's talking about it's
an instant all-in wager in the

411
00:20:53,900 --> 00:20:55,970
economic future of
the United States.

412
00:20:55,967 --> 00:20:59,067
I mean, you know, if we're
back to baseball metaphors,

413
00:20:59,066 --> 00:21:01,396
this is a big fat one
right up the middle.

414
00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:02,830
(laughter)

415
00:21:02,834 --> 00:21:08,134
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I will simply say this.

416
00:21:08,133 --> 00:21:13,203
I think that the President
values his advice,

417
00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:19,000
as he does many others, and
the President is doing what he

418
00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:22,000
believes is right and best to
get our economy back on track

419
00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:24,530
and moving again -- I think you
saw that in the statistics that

420
00:21:24,533 --> 00:21:31,903
were released just at the end
of last week -- and hope that

421
00:21:31,900 --> 00:21:34,670
people continue to have
confidence in the decisions

422
00:21:34,667 --> 00:21:36,167
that the President makes.

423
00:21:36,166 --> 00:21:39,666
The Press:
Tomorrow, the education
speech in Madison, what can

424
00:21:39,667 --> 00:21:41,437
we expect on that?

425
00:21:41,433 --> 00:21:43,963
Mr. Gibbs:
I think you all -- I'll
leave some of this aside

426
00:21:43,967 --> 00:21:48,197
for you all to talk to Melody
about in a little bit.

427
00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:54,800
Obviously the President has,
through both the recovery plan

428
00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:59,070
and through initiatives at
the Department of Education,

429
00:21:59,066 --> 00:22:06,836
sought to reform our schools so
that they can better compete in

430
00:22:06,834 --> 00:22:12,404
the 21st century and create a
more skilled workforce to assume

431
00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:15,630
the jobs that we're
creating for the future.

432
00:22:15,633 --> 00:22:18,863
I think the President will take
some time to talk about those

433
00:22:18,867 --> 00:22:23,837
efforts tomorrow, and I would
encourage you all to get on the

434
00:22:23,834 --> 00:22:26,364
phone and ask Melody
specifically about that.

435
00:22:26,367 --> 00:22:27,267
Major.

436
00:22:27,266 --> 00:22:29,666
The Press:
Robert, let me follow
up on Mark, if I could.

437
00:22:29,667 --> 00:22:32,137
Sunday when the President
appeared with Governor Corzine,

438
00:22:32,133 --> 00:22:33,933
Governor Corzine said, "I'm
going to be a partner."

439
00:22:33,934 --> 00:22:36,464
The President said Jon Corzine
has been a reliable partner.

440
00:22:36,467 --> 00:22:38,737
Corzine has made it very clear
that he wants to work with the

441
00:22:38,734 --> 00:22:42,004
President, has talked about job
creation and jobs saved in New

442
00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:44,370
Jersey because of the stimulus.

443
00:22:44,367 --> 00:22:48,467
Why then shouldn't what happens
today reflect in some way shape

444
00:22:48,467 --> 00:22:51,697
or form the New Jersey's
attitudes about their governor

445
00:22:51,700 --> 00:22:53,370
partnering with this President?

446
00:22:53,367 --> 00:22:54,797
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look --

447
00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:56,770
The Press:
Because in Virginia that
has not been the message of

448
00:22:56,767 --> 00:23:00,467
the Democratic candidate, to the
consternation here at the White House.

449
00:23:00,467 --> 00:23:02,137
Creigh Deeds did not say,
"I'm an Obama Democrat,"

450
00:23:02,133 --> 00:23:04,203
and the White House did not
take kindly that strategic

451
00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:05,630
approach to his campaign.

452
00:23:05,633 --> 00:23:07,663
So when you have two different
campaigns like that,

453
00:23:07,667 --> 00:23:09,797
why shouldn't what happens in
New Jersey at least reflect in

454
00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:12,100
some way, shape or form what
voters are thinking about

455
00:23:12,100 --> 00:23:16,300
Corzine and the President
now -- not 2010, but now?

456
00:23:16,300 --> 00:23:21,230
Mr. Gibbs:
I'll let people look into
their crystal balls and

457
00:23:21,233 --> 00:23:24,703
figure out what all this
stuff means for the future.

458
00:23:24,700 --> 00:23:27,770
The President believes that
the best candidate to lead New

459
00:23:27,767 --> 00:23:31,667
Jersey today and
tomorrow is Jon Corzine.

460
00:23:31,667 --> 00:23:35,237
That's what the
endorsement is about.

461
00:23:35,233 --> 00:23:39,063
Governor Corzine was somebody
who the President knew and

462
00:23:39,066 --> 00:23:43,066
worked with in the Senate and
somebody he believes is best

463
00:23:43,066 --> 00:23:46,496
suited to lead New Jersey
for the next four years.

464
00:23:46,500 --> 00:23:48,070
I think that's what
the endorsement means,

465
00:23:48,066 --> 00:23:52,996
and I think that's the support
that the President was trying to convey.

466
00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:59,030
The Press:
And if Corzine wins, then
his endorsement means what?

467
00:23:59,033 --> 00:24:02,033
Does his endorsement mean that
there are tangible benefits to

468
00:24:02,033 --> 00:24:04,263
running alongside the
President, correct?

469
00:24:04,266 --> 00:24:09,966
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm going to wait to navel-gaze
when we have some navel gazing

470
00:24:09,967 --> 00:24:11,337
to look at.

471
00:24:11,333 --> 00:24:12,563
The Press:
Okay, why did the White House --

472
00:24:12,567 --> 00:24:13,797
The Press:
Ask Tommy on Wednesday, right?

473
00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:14,930
(laughter)

474
00:24:14,934 --> 00:24:16,064
Mr. Gibbs:
He's in Copenhagen.

475
00:24:16,066 --> 00:24:20,196
The Press:
Why did the White House
find it worth its while to

476
00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:23,870
encourage Dede Scozzafava
to endorse Bill Owens?

477
00:24:23,867 --> 00:24:29,537
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I think that what
the candidate -- the former

478
00:24:29,533 --> 00:24:37,603
Republican nominee decided was
-- and talked to, I'm sure,

479
00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:41,900
both Republicans and Democrats
both in New York and nationally,

480
00:24:41,900 --> 00:24:46,870
about who she thought was best
suited to carry on the things

481
00:24:46,867 --> 00:24:49,237
that she cared about
and believed in,

482
00:24:49,233 --> 00:24:53,463
and she decided that that
candidate was the Democrat.

483
00:24:53,467 --> 00:24:55,397
The Press:
But Patrick Gaspard,
from the White House,

484
00:24:55,400 --> 00:24:56,930
called her and talked to
her, and helped arrange --

485
00:24:56,934 --> 00:24:59,734
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm sure Michael Steele and --

486
00:24:59,734 --> 00:25:01,534
The Press:
-- Andrew Cuomo and others --

487
00:25:01,533 --> 00:25:06,563
Mr. Gibbs:
And I'm sure Newt
Gingrich -- sure, I mean --

488
00:25:06,567 --> 00:25:08,267
The Press:
I'm just curious why the
White House thought it was

489
00:25:08,266 --> 00:25:10,166
worth your while to get so
deeply involved in that race if

490
00:25:10,166 --> 00:25:13,296
none of this really matters as
far as 2010, or anything else.

491
00:25:13,300 --> 00:25:18,070
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I think there are
interesting -- I do think

492
00:25:18,066 --> 00:25:22,296
there are interesting tidbits
that we see coming out of New York 23.

493
00:25:22,300 --> 00:25:26,770
You see, the Republican Party
having picked the candidate,

494
00:25:26,767 --> 00:25:29,567
elements of the Republican Party
deciding they don't like that

495
00:25:29,567 --> 00:25:33,767
candidate and basically doing
what they needed to do to get

496
00:25:33,767 --> 00:25:35,997
that candidate off the ballot.

497
00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:42,630
I think there are a host of
primaries that will affect 2010

498
00:25:42,633 --> 00:25:46,463
next year that pit moderate
Republican candidates and

499
00:25:46,467 --> 00:25:49,167
conservative
Republican candidates.

500
00:25:49,166 --> 00:25:55,236
I think a lot of people decided
that in a district that had sent

501
00:25:55,233 --> 00:25:57,733
Republicans to Congress,
parts of that district,

502
00:25:57,734 --> 00:26:02,264
since the 1800s traditionally
had sent moderate Republicans.

503
00:26:02,266 --> 00:26:04,966
I think many in the Republican
Party hung out a sign,

504
00:26:04,967 --> 00:26:07,537
as you heard people at the White
House say this weekend that

505
00:26:07,533 --> 00:26:10,663
moderates need not apply.

506
00:26:10,667 --> 00:26:12,997
I do think that has
ramifications for next year

507
00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:18,670
because you've got primaries
that you all are and will cover

508
00:26:18,667 --> 00:26:22,297
that pit very similar elements
of that argument against each

509
00:26:22,300 --> 00:26:23,630
other next year.

510
00:26:23,633 --> 00:26:25,203
The Press:
A couple of quick
ones on Afghanistan.

511
00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:28,270
Karzai said today he wants to
"Make sure that the taxpayers'

512
00:26:28,266 --> 00:26:31,396
money coming to us from your
countries" -- the United States

513
00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:33,200
and others, but let's
just talk about the U.S. --

514
00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:35,900
"is spent wisely
and rightly by us."

515
00:26:35,900 --> 00:26:42,330
Does the White House believe
that standard is currently being met?

516
00:26:42,333 --> 00:26:45,233
Mr. Gibbs:
We have made, obviously,

517
00:26:45,233 --> 00:26:51,503
important investments in the
troops that we have put in

518
00:26:51,500 --> 00:26:56,370
Afghanistan, as well as through
international assistance.

519
00:26:56,367 --> 00:27:01,867
I think I would simply --
without getting into -- as I

520
00:27:01,867 --> 00:27:04,467
said earlier, not to go
back too far in history,

521
00:27:04,467 --> 00:27:07,267
I think the President
understands that for any of our

522
00:27:07,266 --> 00:27:12,066
efforts to be successful it's
time for a new chapter in Afghan history.

523
00:27:12,066 --> 00:27:14,596
The Press:
But you can't say whether
it's being -- that standard

524
00:27:14,600 --> 00:27:16,170
that he set is being met yet?

525
00:27:16,166 --> 00:27:20,996
Mr. Gibbs:
The President is
anxious to see improvement.

526
00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:23,970
The Press:
Would the President need
to visit Afghanistan before

527
00:27:23,967 --> 00:27:26,467
making his final decision
on troops or strategy?

528
00:27:26,467 --> 00:27:27,997
Mr. Gibbs:
No.

529
00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:29,800
The Press:
He would not? Okay.
That's not necessary?

530
00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:34,170
Mr. Gibbs:
The President was in
Afghanistan -- what,

531
00:27:34,166 --> 00:27:37,696
I guess sometime
last July or June,

532
00:27:37,700 --> 00:27:39,900
I can't remember
when the trip was.

533
00:27:39,900 --> 00:27:43,000
I don't think it's necessary
for the President to do so.

534
00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:44,670
The Press:
Okay. And does he need
any more information

535
00:27:44,667 --> 00:27:45,997
from the Joint Chiefs?

536
00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:47,870
There was reporting Friday that
he asked them for some specific data --

537
00:27:47,867 --> 00:27:49,297
Mr. Gibbs:
As I said to Savannah,

538
00:27:49,300 --> 00:27:51,870
I think there's a -- there
will be -- as we said Friday,

539
00:27:51,867 --> 00:27:56,067
there will be another meeting
to go through additional

540
00:27:56,066 --> 00:27:58,636
recommendations that the
Pentagon is working through.

541
00:27:58,633 --> 00:28:01,063
The Press:
Will that meeting occur
before he leaves for Asia?

542
00:28:01,066 --> 00:28:03,466
Mr. Gibbs:
Either early this
week -- I'm sorry,

543
00:28:03,467 --> 00:28:05,437
either late this week
or early next week,

544
00:28:05,433 --> 00:28:07,303
but I assume before Asia, yes.

545
00:28:07,300 --> 00:28:08,630
The Press:
Thank you, Robert.

546
00:28:08,633 --> 00:28:11,003
The Press:
Thanks, Robert.

547
00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:13,470
In meeting with Chancellor
Merkel this morning and the

548
00:28:13,467 --> 00:28:15,637
European Commission
officials this afternoon,

549
00:28:15,633 --> 00:28:18,703
will President Obama be making
specific requests for additional

550
00:28:18,700 --> 00:28:20,400
help in Afghanistan?

551
00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:23,430
Mr. Gibbs:
Let me get a readout from
the private meeting that

552
00:28:23,433 --> 00:28:25,733
the President -- if there is a
readout on the private meeting

553
00:28:25,734 --> 00:28:29,734
that the President had
with Chancellor Merkel.

554
00:28:29,734 --> 00:28:31,134
The Press:
Quick follow.
Yesterday, you said --

555
00:28:31,133 --> 00:28:34,863
Mr. Gibbs:
I will say this, I think you
all heard the President say --

556
00:28:34,867 --> 00:28:37,397
and I would be remiss
if I didn't repeat what

557
00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:40,570
the President said about the
tremendous and important

558
00:28:40,567 --> 00:28:46,437
contributions that Germany in
particular has made to NATO

559
00:28:46,433 --> 00:28:48,133
efforts in Afghanistan.

560
00:28:48,133 --> 00:28:50,303
The Press:
Yesterday you said that
once he makes his decision

561
00:28:50,300 --> 00:28:53,270
he'll be walking the
American people through it.

562
00:28:53,266 --> 00:28:57,196
Are you planning an
Oval Office address?

563
00:28:57,200 --> 00:29:01,100
Mr. Gibbs:
I said this last week -- I
think a question that Jeff

564
00:29:01,100 --> 00:29:08,700
asked -- we have not spent a
ton of time on the actual -- on

565
00:29:08,700 --> 00:29:12,470
actually what that would look
like except I know the President

566
00:29:12,467 --> 00:29:20,337
has told us -- not necessarily
as it relates to some venue or

567
00:29:20,333 --> 00:29:24,303
some speech, but that it is
important for the American

568
00:29:24,300 --> 00:29:30,930
people to understand why he made
the decision that he's made.

569
00:29:30,934 --> 00:29:36,704
And I anticipate that the
President will spend some time

570
00:29:36,700 --> 00:29:40,400
walking the American people
through the process that we've

571
00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:43,530
undertaken and the decision
points that he's made along the

572
00:29:43,533 --> 00:29:47,363
way to come to the ultimate
conclusion that he's come to.

573
00:29:47,367 --> 00:29:49,297
The Press:
One more very quick
thing, again, on timing

574
00:29:49,300 --> 00:29:51,700
-- and I know we're
slicing this pretty thin,

575
00:29:51,700 --> 00:29:55,070
but if he may not meet with the
Joint Chiefs until early next

576
00:29:55,066 --> 00:29:59,936
week, it sounds like a decision
will wait until after Asia.

577
00:29:59,934 --> 00:30:05,664
Mr. Gibbs:
The only guidance that I have
is to reiterate coming weeks.

578
00:30:05,667 --> 00:30:08,767
I don't have anything more
clear than that, I'm sorry.

579
00:30:08,767 --> 00:30:11,337
The Press:
Robert, climate change
is also a big issue for

580
00:30:11,333 --> 00:30:14,103
the European Union.

581
00:30:14,100 --> 00:30:18,400
To what extent is the President
using his personal powers of

582
00:30:18,400 --> 00:30:22,370
persuasion to talk to folks on
the Hill, members of the Senate,

583
00:30:22,367 --> 00:30:26,597
on climate change in the fashion
that he has been doing on health care?

584
00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:28,670
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I mean, I think he's
obviously had an opportunity

585
00:30:28,667 --> 00:30:35,337
to meet with members of the
Senate over the past few weeks.

586
00:30:35,333 --> 00:30:39,003
I assume those conversations
have included discussions on

587
00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:44,430
energy, and I think those
conversations will continue as

588
00:30:44,433 --> 00:30:47,803
we seek to continue the progress
that the House made in passing

589
00:30:47,800 --> 00:30:51,800
comprehensive energy and
climate change legislation.

590
00:30:51,800 --> 00:30:54,070
The Press:
But have there been any
specific energy or climate

591
00:30:54,066 --> 00:30:56,596
change-related meetings or --

592
00:30:56,600 --> 00:31:05,700
Mr. Gibbs:
Let me get from Ben LaBolt
and others what Carol Browner,

593
00:31:05,700 --> 00:31:09,400
what the EPA, the Department
of Energy have done on this,

594
00:31:09,400 --> 00:31:12,430
and see the degree to which
the President has also had

595
00:31:12,433 --> 00:31:13,903
individual conversations.

596
00:31:13,900 --> 00:31:16,600
The Press:
And then also on
the elections today,

597
00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:20,200
you talked about interesting
tidbits come out of New York.

598
00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:24,730
To what extent is the President
looking at the elections today

599
00:31:24,734 --> 00:31:29,064
in New York, Virginia, and New
Jersey as a reflection of what

600
00:31:29,066 --> 00:31:31,896
Americans think about
the job he is doing,

601
00:31:31,900 --> 00:31:36,100
and sort of to what extent is
he looking at them to forecast

602
00:31:36,100 --> 00:31:40,700
ahead to what he and
Democrats need to do in 2010?

603
00:31:40,700 --> 00:31:47,230
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I doubt the President
disagrees with me in saying

604
00:31:47,233 --> 00:31:52,403
that I don't think these
-- as I have said -- Mark

605
00:31:52,400 --> 00:31:56,870
-- each of the last
three times we've met,

606
00:31:56,867 --> 00:32:00,767
I don't think the President is
looking at these and believes

607
00:32:00,767 --> 00:32:06,197
that they say anything about our
future legislative efforts or

608
00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:09,230
our future political efforts.

609
00:32:09,233 --> 00:32:17,663
Again, in 2001, President Bush
lost Virginia and New Jersey.

610
00:32:17,667 --> 00:32:24,867
I don't believe that it impacted
his legislative initiatives

611
00:32:24,867 --> 00:32:28,167
going forward, and as I recall,
happily sitting at one of the

612
00:32:28,166 --> 00:32:31,736
campaign committees in 2002,
that the elections didn't seem

613
00:32:31,734 --> 00:32:34,564
unambiguous as to their results.

614
00:32:34,567 --> 00:32:36,267
In 2005 --

615
00:32:36,266 --> 00:32:38,436
The Press:
-- in any way on
his performance?

616
00:32:38,433 --> 00:32:44,033
Mr. Gibbs:
I would quote for you the
pollster that -- from The

617
00:32:44,033 --> 00:32:47,303
Washington Post who asked
specifically this question of

618
00:32:47,300 --> 00:32:51,630
the Virginia electorate; 70
percent said that their vote had

619
00:32:51,633 --> 00:32:53,533
nothing to do with
the President.

620
00:32:53,533 --> 00:32:58,863
Those that -- the other 30
percent that said their vote

621
00:32:58,867 --> 00:33:04,637
either had -- was intending
to either show support for or

622
00:33:04,633 --> 00:33:10,933
opposition to the President,
that number was evenly split.

623
00:33:10,934 --> 00:33:14,064
And if anything, the
illuminating number coming out

624
00:33:14,066 --> 00:33:19,296
of that is registered voters
approved of the President's job

625
00:33:19,300 --> 00:33:25,300
among Virginians by a
number of 57 percent,

626
00:33:25,300 --> 00:33:28,800
which exceeds by 5 the amount
the President received in

627
00:33:28,800 --> 00:33:32,870
Virginia a year ago.

628
00:33:32,867 --> 00:33:36,937
The Press:
Well, it shows -- your
answer gets partway there

629
00:33:36,934 --> 00:33:38,564
-- that these political
questions aren't about --

630
00:33:38,567 --> 00:33:40,367
Mr. Gibbs:
I'll be graded.

631
00:33:40,367 --> 00:33:42,337
Mark, I got an
incomplete from you,

632
00:33:42,333 --> 00:33:45,603
but as I work my way this way
I'm getting better, apparently.

633
00:33:45,600 --> 00:33:47,470
The Press:
We'll see.

634
00:33:47,467 --> 00:33:48,737
(laughter)

635
00:33:48,734 --> 00:33:49,904
It's not over yet.

636
00:33:49,900 --> 00:33:52,530
The Press:
Robert, these questions
aren't about next year

637
00:33:52,533 --> 00:33:54,263
and the future and
what it portends;

638
00:33:54,266 --> 00:33:57,936
it's about what the President
has done for the last year since

639
00:33:57,934 --> 00:33:59,434
he won reelection.

640
00:33:59,433 --> 00:34:03,663
Are you saying that if Democrats
win in any of these locations

641
00:34:03,667 --> 00:34:05,897
you won't stand there
tomorrow and say, yes,

642
00:34:05,900 --> 00:34:08,630
the President gets
some credit for that?

643
00:34:08,633 --> 00:34:12,363
Mr. Gibbs:
What I'm saying, again, as I
said Monday and I said Friday,

644
00:34:12,367 --> 00:34:15,437
I know there's a great cottage
industry in this lovely town

645
00:34:15,433 --> 00:34:20,433
that looks at what happens today
and sees what it portends for

646
00:34:20,433 --> 00:34:22,933
next year -- hold on,
hold on, let me -- I know,

647
00:34:22,934 --> 00:34:27,264
you'll find it incomplete,
but it's my answer.

648
00:34:27,266 --> 00:34:31,736
You know, we can do this, we can
look at this and what it means,

649
00:34:31,734 --> 00:34:37,964
and I happen to honestly
believe -- I know that's, gasp,

650
00:34:37,967 --> 00:34:40,597
get your notebook
out, Gibbs honest --

651
00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:41,600
(laughter)

652
00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:46,830
-- I don't believe that local
elections in Virginia and New

653
00:34:46,834 --> 00:34:50,904
Jersey portend a lot about
legislative success or political

654
00:34:50,900 --> 00:34:52,300
success in the future.

655
00:34:52,300 --> 00:34:53,730
I just don't.

656
00:34:53,734 --> 00:34:54,904
The Press:
Forget the future.

657
00:34:54,900 --> 00:34:58,070
What does it mean for the people
to think of what the President

658
00:34:58,066 --> 00:34:59,666
has done for the last year?

659
00:34:59,667 --> 00:35:02,967
Is it a grade for the
President in the last year?

660
00:35:02,967 --> 00:35:05,367
Mr. Gibbs:
Again, the question was
asked specifically amongst a

661
00:35:05,367 --> 00:35:08,137
representative sample of those
that will participate in the

662
00:35:08,133 --> 00:35:11,633
elections taking place today to
elect the next governor of the

663
00:35:11,633 --> 00:35:13,903
Commonwealth of Virginia, right?

664
00:35:13,900 --> 00:35:18,100
That question very specifically
resulted in 70 percent of the

665
00:35:18,100 --> 00:35:22,130
Virginia population -- I know, I
hate to let fact get in the way

666
00:35:22,133 --> 00:35:25,703
of good navel-gazing, but
that's just what the poll said.

667
00:35:25,700 --> 00:35:27,300
Don't quote me.

668
00:35:27,300 --> 00:35:28,870
Quote The Washington Post.

669
00:35:28,867 --> 00:35:29,897
The Press:
I don't want to.

670
00:35:29,900 --> 00:35:31,870
(laughter)

671
00:35:31,867 --> 00:35:34,337
Mr. Gibbs:
That's an entirely
different subject, apparently.

672
00:35:34,333 --> 00:35:36,863
The Press:
Robert, considering
the United States' long

673
00:35:36,867 --> 00:35:40,667
engagement in Berlin, and
President Kennedy's statement

674
00:35:40,667 --> 00:35:44,367
when he went there, why did this
President decide he could not

675
00:35:44,367 --> 00:35:47,937
accept the invitation to go
for the 20th anniversary of

676
00:35:47,934 --> 00:35:51,504
commemoration, like all the
other leaders who helped control

677
00:35:51,500 --> 00:35:53,070
Berlin during the interim?

678
00:35:53,066 --> 00:36:00,566
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, the President obviously
has talked a little bit about,

679
00:36:00,567 --> 00:36:03,567
in his remarks with
Chancellor Merkel today,

680
00:36:03,567 --> 00:36:08,897
talked about the momentous
events of almost 30 years ago --

681
00:36:08,900 --> 00:36:16,370
I'm sorry, almost 20 years ago
-- with the fall of the wall.

682
00:36:16,367 --> 00:36:21,797
Obviously we have a lot to work
on here and we have commitments

683
00:36:21,800 --> 00:36:25,000
for an upcoming Asia trip.

684
00:36:25,000 --> 00:36:29,130
But soon a very senior
delegation of American officials

685
00:36:29,133 --> 00:36:34,303
will be announced to go to
that ceremony in Germany.

686
00:36:34,300 --> 00:36:35,500
The Press:
Can I do a quick
follow-up on Ann?

687
00:36:35,500 --> 00:36:37,000
Mr. Gibbs:
Sure. Which one?

688
00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:38,470
The Press:
The one about the elections.

689
00:36:38,467 --> 00:36:41,037
Are you asserting that the
voters who go to the polls today

690
00:36:41,033 --> 00:36:42,733
who are feeling
economic anxiety,

691
00:36:42,734 --> 00:36:44,604
who feel the country
is on the wrong track,

692
00:36:44,600 --> 00:36:47,270
the Democrats who are not as
enthusiastic today as they were

693
00:36:47,266 --> 00:36:50,696
a year ago -- none of that has
any bearing on the President's

694
00:36:50,700 --> 00:36:52,470
performance at all?

695
00:36:52,467 --> 00:37:00,867
Mr. Gibbs:
No, I don't -- I'm not sure
exactly what some of that is

696
00:37:00,867 --> 00:37:03,267
-- what some of what
you're premising your question

697
00:37:03,266 --> 00:37:05,566
on is based off of.

698
00:37:05,567 --> 00:37:08,767
I'm not suggesting there's
not economic anxiety.

699
00:37:08,767 --> 00:37:12,037
I'm not suggesting that
there's not frustration with

700
00:37:12,033 --> 00:37:17,063
Washington's inability to deal
with fundamental problems in our society.

701
00:37:17,066 --> 00:37:19,166
That's exactly what the
President is working on each and

702
00:37:19,166 --> 00:37:21,896
every day: to make health
care more affordable;

703
00:37:21,900 --> 00:37:27,670
to create good-paying jobs; to
create a new foundation for

704
00:37:27,667 --> 00:37:31,897
economic recovery through
jobs in the 21st century.

705
00:37:31,900 --> 00:37:34,500
I'm not saying there's not
economic anxiety in this country.

706
00:37:34,500 --> 00:37:42,370
But again, if you look at what
-- if you look at -- I'm just

707
00:37:42,367 --> 00:37:45,767
reading what was written
about the poll by the people

708
00:37:45,767 --> 00:37:49,197
conducting the poll, who talked
to the voters about what they're

709
00:37:49,200 --> 00:37:50,730
saying and what they're feeling.

710
00:37:50,734 --> 00:37:53,734
The Press:
But what about voter enthusiasm
and the fact that it seems,

711
00:37:53,734 --> 00:37:56,564
at least anecdotally, we'll
know it more at the end --

712
00:37:56,567 --> 00:37:59,037
Mr. Gibbs:
Let's discuss when we have
something to base it more

713
00:37:59,033 --> 00:38:01,363
on than anecdote.

714
00:38:01,367 --> 00:38:04,697
The Press:
Robert, the President said
in Massachusetts that Congress

715
00:38:04,700 --> 00:38:08,070
looks at local elections
and they read tea leaves.

716
00:38:08,066 --> 00:38:12,696
That being the case, if the
Democrats go 0 for 3 today,

717
00:38:12,700 --> 00:38:17,270
why wouldn't Congress look at
that and think maybe there's not

718
00:38:17,266 --> 00:38:18,266
that support --

719
00:38:18,266 --> 00:38:20,096
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, let's deal with
hypotheticals tomorrow when

720
00:38:20,100 --> 00:38:23,530
we can decide whether somebody
went 0 for 3 or 1 for 3,

721
00:38:23,533 --> 00:38:26,833
or whether a walk counted as
not counting as an at-bat.

722
00:38:26,834 --> 00:38:28,264
The Press:
Let me just get
the question out.

723
00:38:28,266 --> 00:38:29,096
Mr. Gibbs:
What's that?

724
00:38:29,100 --> 00:38:30,470
The Press:
Let me just get
the question out.

725
00:38:30,467 --> 00:38:32,867
Mr. Gibbs:
Do you want me to wait
for you to tell you what

726
00:38:32,867 --> 00:38:34,637
I'm going to do
with hypotheticals?

727
00:38:34,633 --> 00:38:35,503
The Press:
Let me just try the question.

728
00:38:35,500 --> 00:38:36,970
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes, sure.

729
00:38:36,967 --> 00:38:38,237
The Press:
And then you can tell me
you're not going to answer.

730
00:38:38,233 --> 00:38:39,303
Mr. Gibbs:
Okay.

731
00:38:39,300 --> 00:38:41,900
The Press:
If he goes 3 for 3,
and they do really well,

732
00:38:41,900 --> 00:38:46,430
why isn't that in a sense a
validation of the President's policies?

733
00:38:46,433 --> 00:38:51,563
And why wouldn't Capitol Hill
look at that and decide this is

734
00:38:51,567 --> 00:38:54,367
a strong President, politically
in a good position,

735
00:38:54,367 --> 00:38:56,097
we want to get
behind this agenda?

736
00:38:56,100 --> 00:38:57,100
Mr. Gibbs:
Should I do it now?

737
00:38:57,100 --> 00:38:57,870
The Press:
Sure.

738
00:38:57,867 --> 00:39:02,137
Mr. Gibbs:
Okay. Let's wait and deal
with hypotheticals tomorrow.

739
00:39:02,133 --> 00:39:03,903
The Press:
Incomplete, incomplete.

740
00:39:03,900 --> 00:39:05,730
Mr. Gibbs:
It's the best I can do.

741
00:39:05,734 --> 00:39:06,834
The Press:
I'm going to switch to
the economy -- and you might

742
00:39:06,834 --> 00:39:08,134
have touched on this yesterday.

743
00:39:08,133 --> 00:39:12,233
When the Volcker board comes up
with their recommendations and

744
00:39:12,233 --> 00:39:14,103
when you make decisions on those
recommendations, does that --

745
00:39:14,100 --> 00:39:17,370
Mr. Gibbs:
Are you talking about the PERAB?

746
00:39:17,367 --> 00:39:18,337
The Press:
PERAB, yes.

747
00:39:18,333 --> 00:39:19,363
Mr. Gibbs:
Okay, yes.

748
00:39:19,367 --> 00:39:21,297
The Press:
Is that -- first of all, is that
going to be before the budget,

749
00:39:21,300 --> 00:39:23,170
or I mean, is that going to be
this year that you come up with

750
00:39:23,166 --> 00:39:26,266
this not stimulus two, but
whatever you want to call it?

751
00:39:26,266 --> 00:39:29,866
Mr. Gibbs:
I believe that one of
the reasons, obviously,

752
00:39:29,867 --> 00:39:35,897
that the President wanted to
have this quarterly meeting of

753
00:39:35,900 --> 00:39:45,100
his Economic Recovery Advisory
Board focus on jobs was as we've

754
00:39:45,100 --> 00:39:48,670
seen the beginnings
of economic growth,

755
00:39:48,667 --> 00:39:51,737
we have to make sure that we're
looking at and evaluating all

756
00:39:51,734 --> 00:39:57,064
ideas for creating an
environment -- a better

757
00:39:57,066 --> 00:39:59,436
environment for creating jobs.

758
00:39:59,433 --> 00:40:03,463
I think the suggestions that he
got from individuals yesterday

759
00:40:03,467 --> 00:40:05,497
will be analyzed and
looked at this year by

760
00:40:05,500 --> 00:40:08,230
our economic advisors here.

761
00:40:08,233 --> 00:40:10,163
The Press:
-- this year as part of
coming up with individual

762
00:40:10,166 --> 00:40:12,996
proposals this year, or could
they be part of the budget?

763
00:40:13,000 --> 00:40:15,170
Mr. Gibbs:
Again, they could be either.

764
00:40:15,166 --> 00:40:16,836
They could be --
again, as I've said,

765
00:40:16,834 --> 00:40:22,934
the President is constantly
evaluating ideas for job

766
00:40:22,934 --> 00:40:25,964
creation, as well as for
implementing in the budget.

767
00:40:25,967 --> 00:40:26,837
The Press:
One more.

768
00:40:26,834 --> 00:40:27,604
Mr. Gibbs:
Sure.

769
00:40:27,600 --> 00:40:29,670
The Press:
Is he less inclined to
make those recommendations

770
00:40:29,667 --> 00:40:31,167
add to the deficit?

771
00:40:31,166 --> 00:40:33,236
We have the budget director
today in New York talking about

772
00:40:33,233 --> 00:40:34,863
the importance of the deficit.

773
00:40:34,867 --> 00:40:38,037
Is it possible that those -- the
decisions that he makes on the

774
00:40:38,033 --> 00:40:41,903
next economic steps
will be deficit-neutral?

775
00:40:41,900 --> 00:40:44,700
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, I think
that part of that is an

776
00:40:44,700 --> 00:40:49,370
evaluation that the economic
team will have to make.

777
00:40:49,367 --> 00:40:54,837
I think what one of the messages
that Peter had in New York was,

778
00:40:54,834 --> 00:41:00,634
one way to -- the most important
way in dealing with our federal

779
00:41:00,633 --> 00:41:04,363
deficit right now is to get
our economy moving again.

780
00:41:04,367 --> 00:41:09,237
That's what the economic
team is focused on,

781
00:41:09,233 --> 00:41:12,603
and that will have the most
impact in the short term on

782
00:41:12,600 --> 00:41:14,100
that budget deficit.

783
00:41:14,100 --> 00:41:14,770
April.

784
00:41:14,767 --> 00:41:16,197
The Press:
Robert, two questions,
one on the economy,

785
00:41:16,200 --> 00:41:17,270
then on the elections.

786
00:41:17,266 --> 00:41:20,736
First, on the economy, a
report saying nearly half

787
00:41:20,734 --> 00:41:23,234
of all U.S. children
will be on food stamps;

788
00:41:23,233 --> 00:41:26,563
90 percent of black children
at some point during their childhood.

789
00:41:26,567 --> 00:41:28,097
What say you about that?

790
00:41:28,100 --> 00:41:34,800
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I have not looked
through the entire report.

791
00:41:34,800 --> 00:41:39,270
I saw some news reports of
what you just mentioned.

792
00:41:39,266 --> 00:41:40,436
A couple things.

793
00:41:40,433 --> 00:41:44,533
Obviously the President
has, in the recovery plan,

794
00:41:44,533 --> 00:41:48,963
worked to ensure that those that
are struggling with our economy

795
00:41:48,967 --> 00:41:54,237
have the appropriate safety net
that they need when they've hit

796
00:41:54,233 --> 00:41:58,333
on hard times.

797
00:41:58,333 --> 00:42:05,603
And an answer not dissimilar to
what I just gave on the budget

798
00:42:05,600 --> 00:42:11,800
deficit and that is the best way
to address that problem is to

799
00:42:11,800 --> 00:42:15,730
get our economy moving and
growing more consistently

800
00:42:15,734 --> 00:42:17,034
in a robust fashion.

801
00:42:17,033 --> 00:42:24,233
We have -- we are more than a
year removed from the events of

802
00:42:24,233 --> 00:42:32,063
last September and are almost
two years into -- or two years

803
00:42:32,066 --> 00:42:38,166
away from, I should say, the
official delineation of an

804
00:42:38,166 --> 00:42:45,566
economic recession that caused
a huge economic slowdown and

805
00:42:45,567 --> 00:42:48,537
obviously has resulted on more
and more people hitting on hard

806
00:42:48,533 --> 00:42:51,233
times and their
ability to find work.

807
00:42:51,233 --> 00:42:53,433
The Press:
And on the election issue
and it's centered around

808
00:42:53,433 --> 00:42:59,103
today, via Michael Steele --
Michael Steele says there are --

809
00:42:59,100 --> 00:43:03,530
these elections are competitive,
but if indeed there are

810
00:43:03,533 --> 00:43:08,003
Democratic losses today, you can
blame it on the fact that this

811
00:43:08,000 --> 00:43:11,370
President is overexposed,
primarily on issues to include

812
00:43:11,367 --> 00:43:13,667
the health care debate.

813
00:43:13,667 --> 00:43:14,737
Now, this is today.

814
00:43:14,734 --> 00:43:16,804
This is not next year,
this is not yesterday.

815
00:43:16,800 --> 00:43:18,630
This is today.

816
00:43:18,633 --> 00:43:21,363
Mr. Gibbs:
It was convoluted reasoning
yesterday and it's convoluted

817
00:43:21,367 --> 00:43:23,237
reasoning today and tomorrow.

818
00:43:23,233 --> 00:43:24,403
Bill.

819
00:43:24,400 --> 00:43:26,630
The Press:
Wait a minute, but if the
President -- I'm sorry, Bill.

820
00:43:26,633 --> 00:43:27,563
The Press:
No, go ahead.

821
00:43:27,567 --> 00:43:32,297
The Press:
But if the President does
lose these gubernatorial

822
00:43:32,300 --> 00:43:42,270
seats, what does that say to
this administration on a year

823
00:43:42,266 --> 00:43:43,896
away from when --

824
00:43:43,900 --> 00:43:46,370
Mr. Gibbs:
You've asked Ann's question, and
I would refer you to Ann's --

825
00:43:46,367 --> 00:43:48,067
The Press:
Ann, by the way, I'm
trying to get an answer.

826
00:43:48,066 --> 00:43:49,596
Mr. Gibbs:
Right. I refer you
to Ann's answer.

827
00:43:49,600 --> 00:43:50,430
The Press:
Okay.

828
00:43:50,433 --> 00:43:51,403
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes, sir.

829
00:43:51,400 --> 00:43:53,430
The Press:
On health care, there is a
public plan option as part

830
00:43:53,433 --> 00:43:56,633
of the House bill, a public plan
option, a very different one,

831
00:43:56,633 --> 00:43:58,363
as part of the Senate bill.

832
00:43:58,367 --> 00:44:00,467
Debate starts very
soon in both houses.

833
00:44:00,467 --> 00:44:03,437
Which version of the public
plan option does the President prefer?

834
00:44:03,433 --> 00:44:04,203
Which one?

835
00:44:04,200 --> 00:44:07,500
Mr. Gibbs:
I have not talked specifically
to the team about that.

836
00:44:07,500 --> 00:44:09,700
The President, as
I've said in the past,

837
00:44:09,700 --> 00:44:15,530
will evaluate what comes to his
desk for choice and competition.

838
00:44:15,533 --> 00:44:18,133
The Press:
But before that, isn't
it time for the President

839
00:44:18,133 --> 00:44:20,633
-- or important for the
President at some point to say,

840
00:44:20,633 --> 00:44:23,333
"I prefer this one
over that one"?

841
00:44:23,333 --> 00:44:25,903
Mr. Gibbs:
The President is very pleased with the progress that we're

842
00:44:25,900 --> 00:44:29,700
making in the approach that
he's taken to get us to a

843
00:44:29,700 --> 00:44:30,570
point where --

844
00:44:30,567 --> 00:44:31,997
The Press:
He'll sign either one?

845
00:44:32,000 --> 00:44:33,670
(laughter)

846
00:44:33,667 --> 00:44:35,967
Mr. Gibbs:
No, I -- now you're back to
my first answer -- getting

847
00:44:35,967 --> 00:44:37,697
back to my first
answer, which, I said,

848
00:44:37,700 --> 00:44:42,270
when that bill gets to our desk,
we'd be happy to evaluate it.

849
00:44:42,266 --> 00:44:43,196
Sam.

850
00:44:43,200 --> 00:44:45,530
The Press:
It's reported that the
President is meeting with

851
00:44:45,533 --> 00:44:48,763
Senator Blanche Lincoln tonight,
and I was wondering if there are

852
00:44:48,767 --> 00:44:51,997
similar scheduled meetings with
Senator Joseph Lieberman or if

853
00:44:52,000 --> 00:44:54,200
the President has reached out
to Senator Lieberman since he's

854
00:44:54,200 --> 00:44:56,730
expressed his concerns
about the bill.

855
00:44:56,734 --> 00:45:01,734
Mr. Gibbs:
I know of either no meetings
-- neither meetings nor phone

856
00:45:01,734 --> 00:45:06,334
calls with the President
and Senator Lieberman.

857
00:45:06,333 --> 00:45:07,103
The Press:
Thank you very much.

858
00:45:07,100 --> 00:45:07,600
Mr. Gibbs:
Thanks, guys.