English subtitles for clip: File:11-3-14- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Earnest: Good
afternoon, everybody.

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It's nice to
see you all.

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I don't have any
announcements at the top,

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so we'll go straight
to questions.

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I think we will do a little
departure from the standard

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protocol today and we will
allow the first question today

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to be asked by the most recently
married person in the room.

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(laughter)

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So I don't know
who that might be.

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Oh, it's Julie.

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(laughter)

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Congratulations, Julie.

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The Press: Thank you.

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Great to be back.

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Just in time for
the election.

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Mr. Earnest: Indeed.

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The Press: The President
has nothing on his

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public schedule today.

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It doesn't appear as though
he has anything on his public

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schedule tomorrow for
Election Day at this point.

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Is he going to do
anything more in public?

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Will we see from
him, hear from him?

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Is he going to be doing
robocalls to try to reach out

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to voters between now and when
the polls close tomorrow?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Julie, you've
covered enough campaigns to know

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that we are entering a different
phase of the election cycle,

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which is this is when
successful campaigns, at least,

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turn their attention from
some of the broader arguments

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that are carried over the
television waves and are

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focused on a ground
campaign to make sure

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that their voters are
turning out on Election Day.

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And some of my Democratic
colleagues who are following

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this election a little bit more
closely than I am tell me that

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they have a lot of confidence
heading into Election Day

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in the ground campaigns
that Democratic candidates

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up and down the ballot
in states across

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the country are running.

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That makes a big
difference in close races,

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and there are any number
of close races that

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all of you have been
closely covering.

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As long as we're talking
about the President,

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I think it is relevant to note
that many of those ground

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campaigns are actually
based on a strategy that

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was successfully implemented
by this President

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in the context of his
reelection campaign in 2012.

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So that is one important
way that this President

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and his campaign apparatus
are benefiting campaigns

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even here, up to the very
last day of the campaign.

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The Press: He has
previously been involved

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in get-out-the-vote efforts
through radio call-ins,

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through robocalls, local
television interviews.

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Will he be doing any of those
things today or tomorrow?

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Mr. Earnest: I would anticipate
that you'll see more of --

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that you will see the
President engaged in those

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kinds of activities.

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I'm not trying to
be obtuse here.

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In some cases, there are
situations where the President

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has taped robocalls in the last
couple of weeks that will,

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of course, be timed to run over
the course of the final week

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and in the final days
before Election Day.

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The Press: Is it possible
to get a list of states

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or cities, towns?

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Mr. Earnest: I can get
you some information

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along those lines
for you, yes.

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The Press: Okay.

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The Vice President said in
an interview that aired

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this morning -- he predicted
that Democrats will keep

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control of the Senate.

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Does the President agree
with his prediction?

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Mr. Earnest: He does.

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And again, it is rooted
in this idea that if --

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as voters hone in on the central
question in this campaign,

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which is are you going to be
supportive of a candidate who

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is fighting for policies that
benefit middle-class families,

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that is a very strong
argument for Democrats

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to effectively make in the
context of this campaign.

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They're also backed by a tried
and true ground campaign

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strategy that in the context of
a very close race can provide

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a 2 to 3 point margin that
could eventually make

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up the difference.

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Those strategies are rooted
in strategies that were

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successfully implemented by
the President's team

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in the context of his
reelection campaign.

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So that certainly is a
way that the President

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has made an important,
tangible contribution

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to benefit Democrats on
the ballot tomorrow.

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The Press: I just want to
switch to a different topic.

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On August 14th, the President
said that police in Ferguson,

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Missouri shouldn't be arresting
or bullying journalists,

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and that the police
there needed to be more

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transparent about
their actions.

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But I'm sure you've seen
this report that some of my

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colleagues at AP have from new
FAA tapes that show that

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the administration was
working with local police

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to keep media helicopters
grounded from having

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aerial coverage over the
protest in Missouri.

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Didn't the President's
instructions about

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transparency apply to
his own administration?

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Mr. Earnest: Julie, I've seen
those reports -- I didn't read

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them all the way through.

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What I can tell you are a
couple of things about

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the policies that were put
in place by the FAA.

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And again, this is based
on what the FAA has said,

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and so for follow-up
questions, I'd encourage

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you to contact them.

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I know your colleagues have
already been in touch with them.

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The FAA did make a decision --
consistent with the priority

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they place on the safety and
security of the traveling

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public, the FAA made a decision
to implement a temporary flight

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restriction in the vicinity
of Ferguson after there were

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reports that shots had been
fired at a police helicopter.

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Within 12 to 14 hours of that
initial temporary flight

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restriction, the FAA updated
that flight restriction that

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removed any restrictions for
media who were seeking

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to operate in the area.

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And that is -- again,
that is the consequence

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of the policies that were put
in place here by the FAA.

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I know that there were a number
of conversations via email

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and other places that were
cited in the report.

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I can't account for
those conversations.

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What I can account for are
what the FAA says about

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the policies that
were put in place.

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And in this case, what the FAA
says is that they took the

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prudent step of implementing
this temporary flight

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restriction in the immediate
aftermath of reports of shots

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fired at a police helicopter,
but within 12 to 14 hours,

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that flight restriction was
updated in a way to remove

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restrictions for reporters who
were seeking to operate

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in the area.

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The Press: But what the
conversations show is that a lot

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of the focus was not on police
helicopters and safety of law

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enforcement; it was
specifically on keeping

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media helicopters
out of the area.

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So I'm wondering if the
administration feels like that

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was an appropriate decision
to keep media helicopters

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out of the area for
however amount of time.

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Mr. Earnest: Well, it's
the FAA's responsibility

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to make decisions about
the safety and security

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of the traveling public.

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So, in this case, they took
what they would describe as --

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The Press: But they were having
conversations that did not

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necessarily focus on that.

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They focused on media
access to the area.

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Mr. Earnest: Well, I guess we
can focus on the conversations,

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or we can focus on the
policies that they

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put in place, and --

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The Press: But if the
policies were put in place

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because of specific
conversations about

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the media access --

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Mr. Earnest: Well, I think you're getting to the

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right question, which is this
question about the fact

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that the discussions
were about media access,

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but the flight restrictions
that were put in place

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didn't have any impact
on media access.

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So, again, I can't account
-- the updated flight

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restriction didn't have any
impact on media access.

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So I can't account
for the conversations,

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but I can account for what the
FAA says about the practical

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impact of the policies that they
put in place related to this

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temporary flight restriction.

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And the fact is that the
policies that were put in place

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by the FAA were focused on
safety and only had an impact

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on media coverage for 12 to
14 hours until the temporary

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flight restriction was updated
in a way that allowed media

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to essentially operate
freely in that vicinity.

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Roberta.

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The Press: Why did the
President want to meet with

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Janet Yellen today?

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And what should we take
away from this about

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the timing, anything about
the timing, in terms

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of the election tomorrow or
the Fed just finishing QE?

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Mr. Earnest: The President has,
over the course of his almost

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six years in office now,
met periodically with

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the Chair of the
Federal Reserve.

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He met on a number of occasions
with Chairman Bernanke.

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This is the first opportunity
that the President

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has had to meet one-on-one
with Janet Yellen.

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She did, however, participate
in a meeting of financial

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regulators that the
President convened

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at the White
House last month.

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But in terms of a
one-on-one meeting,

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this was the first opportunity
that they've had to do that

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since she was confirmed
into the position

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as the Chair of the
Federal Reserve.

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Their discussion will focus on
the long-term outlook

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for the American economy.

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As we've discussed on a number
of occasions in this room,

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the resilience of the American
economy has been on full display

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recently as we've looked at
numbers related to job creation

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and numbers even as recently
as last week indicating that

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economic growth continues to be
strong in the United States

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and continues to be, in fact,
the envy of the developed world.

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That is thanks in part to the
policies that this President

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put in place early on in his
administration when he took

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office in the midst of the
worst economic crisis since

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the Great Depression.

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But the bulk of the credit
goes to the hard work and

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determination of America's
workers and the ingenuity

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and innovation of America's
entrepreneurs to really

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kick-start American growth, to
demonstrate its resiliency

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and help us make such a
substantial recovery since

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that economic downturn.

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Now, what the President is
focused on is putting in place

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policies that will benefit
the middle class to ensure

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that they are enjoying
the benefits of the kind

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of resilience the American
economy is showing.

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But obviously the Fed
is an independent body,

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they make their
own policies.

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But there is an opportunity
for the President

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and the Chair of the Fed
to have conversations.

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That doesn't -- but
those conversations,

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at least in the
context of today,

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are focused on the long-term
outlook for the American economy

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and even the longer-term impact
of the global economy as well.

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I will say one other thing,
which is that it's an

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appropriate conversation for the
President to have prior to his

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departure for Asia, which
he'll do this coming weekend.

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Over the course of
his trip to Asia,

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he'll have the opportunity to
talk about the importance

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and the benefits of opening
up markets overseas

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to American products.

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And they'll convene at the --
world leaders will convene

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in Australia at the G20 meeting,
which is sort of the largest

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international economic body
of the world's 20 largest

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economies, to have
some discussions about

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the global economy.

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And so the President having
this conversation with

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the Chair of the Fed makes sense
in advance of that meeting.

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The Press: And does he
plan to raise with her

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the two vacancies
on the Fed board?

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Mr. Earnest: I don't have any
readout of the meeting beyond

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what I've just said.

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But I would anticipate we'll
have a readout of the meeting

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after it concludes, and
so you can ask again then.

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The Press: When should we
expect names to be put

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forward for those
two vacancies?

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Jeff Zients was talking
about that back in June;

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he said it would be soon.

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Do you anticipate that's
something that's going to come

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soon and perhaps in
the lame duck session?

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Mr. Earnest: I don't have any
update on timing at this point.

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Michelle.

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00:10:18,250 --> 00:10:18,520
The Press: Hi.

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00:10:18,517 --> 00:10:21,357
We're seeing so many candidates
be put on the defensive because

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00:10:21,354 --> 00:10:22,784
of the President's policies.

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00:10:22,788 --> 00:10:25,688
How would you describe what the
President has done during

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00:10:25,691 --> 00:10:28,961
this election cycle that
has been most effective,

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00:10:28,961 --> 00:10:31,861
and how, in the White
House's opinion?

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00:10:31,864 --> 00:10:33,734
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think one
thing I would do is I would

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00:10:33,733 --> 00:10:35,973
encourage you to check with
the candidates themselves.

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00:10:35,968 --> 00:10:39,538
And I think those candidates
that appeared with the President

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00:10:39,538 --> 00:10:41,438
on stage over the weekend
were pretty spirited --

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00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:42,810
The Press: In your -- in
the White House's opinion.

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00:10:42,808 --> 00:10:43,978
Mr. Earnest: The reason
I -- I'm not trying

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00:10:43,976 --> 00:10:44,806
to dodge the question.

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00:10:44,810 --> 00:10:47,810
What I'm trying to do is to
indicate to you that the way

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00:10:47,813 --> 00:10:49,983
that we make decisions about
the way the President can most

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00:10:49,982 --> 00:10:53,952
benefit these campaigns is to
ask the campaigns themselves

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00:10:53,953 --> 00:10:59,293
what the President can do to
help out those candidates who

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00:10:59,291 --> 00:11:02,691
share the President's view
that policies that benefit

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00:11:02,695 --> 00:11:04,695
middle-class families
should be at the top

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00:11:04,697 --> 00:11:06,697
of the domestic
policymaking agenda.

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00:11:06,699 --> 00:11:08,699
So that's the reason I suggest
you check with the campaigns.

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00:11:08,701 --> 00:11:11,341
I did happen to notice that
the Executive Director

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00:11:11,337 --> 00:11:14,637
of the Democratic Senatorial
Campaign Committee had

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00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:17,040
the opportunity last
week to note that

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00:11:17,043 --> 00:11:19,043
the President of the
United States had done

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00:11:19,045 --> 00:11:21,115
everything the DSCC
had asked him to do.

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And that is an indication of the
President's commitment, again,

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00:11:23,983 --> 00:11:26,823
to boosting those candidates for
office or those candidates

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00:11:26,819 --> 00:11:31,119
for reelection that are strong
advocates for the middle class.

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00:11:31,123 --> 00:11:34,323
The Press: Anything you think
has been most effective?

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00:11:34,326 --> 00:11:36,626
Whether it's fundraising,
or -- I mean,

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00:11:36,629 --> 00:11:38,599
what do you think the
President has done that

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00:11:38,597 --> 00:11:41,067
has been most effective
during this cycle?

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00:11:41,067 --> 00:11:42,467
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
I think it's going

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00:11:42,468 --> 00:11:43,198
to vary by state.

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In some cases, making sure that
the DSCC and the DNC and the

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00:11:48,741 --> 00:11:54,281
DCCC have access to financial
resources to promote, or,

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00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:57,680
in some cases, defend Democratic
candidates is a way that the

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00:11:57,683 --> 00:12:00,753
President can contribute to the
success of Democrats that is

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00:12:00,753 --> 00:12:02,753
more significant than anybody
else can do, frankly.

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00:12:02,755 --> 00:12:06,655
The President retains
a significant capacity

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00:12:06,659 --> 00:12:11,029
to enlist his supporters to
offer their financial

285
00:12:11,030 --> 00:12:14,030
support to Democratic
campaign committees.

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00:12:14,033 --> 00:12:16,873
The President, as I mentioned in
response to Julie's question,

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has also lent his campaign
apparatus to these Democratic

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00:12:21,140 --> 00:12:23,680
campaign committees and to
individual Democratic candidates

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00:12:23,676 --> 00:12:27,716
to help them identify
volunteers and supporters,

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00:12:27,713 --> 00:12:30,383
and to turn out Democratic
voters on Election Day.

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00:12:30,382 --> 00:12:33,352
The President had tremendous
success in 2012 -- which all

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00:12:33,352 --> 00:12:36,792
of you wrote about -- in
engaging young people

293
00:12:36,789 --> 00:12:39,829
and African Americans
and Hispanics and Asians

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00:12:39,825 --> 00:12:41,995
in the electoral process
in the last campaign,

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00:12:41,994 --> 00:12:45,134
and presumably, those
efforts can be replicated

296
00:12:45,131 --> 00:12:47,131
to some degree by
Democratic candidates

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00:12:47,133 --> 00:12:49,133
who are on the ballot
this time.

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00:12:49,135 --> 00:12:51,135
The Press: And we also heard the
Vice President today say

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that even if the Republicans
do take the Senate,

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00:12:54,306 --> 00:12:56,306
that it won't make that
much of a difference,

301
00:12:56,308 --> 00:12:58,348
it won't be that
big of a deal.

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00:12:58,344 --> 00:12:59,444
Do you agree with that?

303
00:12:59,445 --> 00:13:02,115
Mr. Earnest: I think that every
time that you have a midterm

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00:13:02,114 --> 00:13:07,084
or presidential election, the
consequences are significant.

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00:13:07,086 --> 00:13:13,456
And that is why, even outside of
the context of express advocacy

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00:13:13,459 --> 00:13:17,629
for individual candidates,
you've heard the President

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00:13:17,630 --> 00:13:19,900
talk about the importance of
voting and the importance

308
00:13:19,899 --> 00:13:23,369
of people being engaged
in their democracy;

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00:13:23,369 --> 00:13:25,369
that it's an important part of
citizenship for people to follow

310
00:13:25,371 --> 00:13:27,371
the issues and to make their
voices heard on Election Day.

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00:13:27,373 --> 00:13:29,443
And that's true regardless
of which candidate you're

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00:13:29,441 --> 00:13:32,911
supporting and regardless of
which party you have joined.

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00:13:36,248 --> 00:13:39,318
And I think that's the kind
of sentiment that even

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00:13:39,318 --> 00:13:41,618
the Vice President
would agree with.

315
00:13:41,620 --> 00:13:43,420
Major.

316
00:13:43,422 --> 00:13:45,592
The Press: You think
that Republicans will

317
00:13:45,591 --> 00:13:47,991
gain seats in the Senate
but just fall short?

318
00:13:47,993 --> 00:13:49,563
Is that a sense of
your prediction?

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00:13:49,562 --> 00:13:50,792
Mr. Earnest: You guys
are following this more

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00:13:50,796 --> 00:13:51,696
closely than I am,
so I wouldn't --

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00:13:51,697 --> 00:13:53,437
The Press: But, I mean, you
say that you think they're

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00:13:53,432 --> 00:13:54,502
going to -- Democrats
are going to hold

323
00:13:54,500 --> 00:13:55,630
on -- you wouldn't
dispute that Republicans

324
00:13:55,634 --> 00:13:57,004
are likely to pick
up a few seats?

325
00:13:57,002 --> 00:13:59,842
Mr. Earnest: I would refrain
from hazarding a guess.

326
00:13:59,838 --> 00:14:00,708
The Press: But you
have hazarded a guess.

327
00:14:00,706 --> 00:14:02,106
You said Democrats
are going to hold.

328
00:14:02,107 --> 00:14:03,707
Mr. Earnest: I do think
that Democrats will

329
00:14:03,709 --> 00:14:04,509
retain the majority.

330
00:14:04,510 --> 00:14:06,250
But in terms of the
counting of seats,

331
00:14:06,245 --> 00:14:07,985
you guys are following this
more closely than I am.

332
00:14:07,980 --> 00:14:10,050
I'm not going to get -- I'm
not going to do that two days

333
00:14:10,049 --> 00:14:11,849
before the election -- or
one day before the election.

334
00:14:11,850 --> 00:14:12,720
The Press: Okay.

335
00:14:12,718 --> 00:14:13,218
One before.

336
00:14:13,219 --> 00:14:14,019
(laughter)

337
00:14:14,019 --> 00:14:14,649
Mr. Earnest:
Whatever it is.

338
00:14:14,653 --> 00:14:15,283
The Press: One day.

339
00:14:15,287 --> 00:14:16,257
One day.

340
00:14:16,255 --> 00:14:18,025
Mr. Earnest: Those who are
listening to my impassioned plea

341
00:14:18,023 --> 00:14:20,563
to participate in the elections,
please note that the elections

342
00:14:20,559 --> 00:14:22,699
are actually tomorrow
and not on Wednesday.

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00:14:24,296 --> 00:14:25,466
The Press: The Vice
President also said,

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00:14:25,464 --> 00:14:28,634
if -- and I know you don't
concede this -- but if

345
00:14:28,634 --> 00:14:30,334
Republicans were to take
control of the Senate,

346
00:14:30,336 --> 00:14:33,276
the White House would not have
to change its method of dealing

347
00:14:33,272 --> 00:14:36,112
with the Senate Republican
majority or change

348
00:14:36,108 --> 00:14:38,778
any of its
legislative tactics.

349
00:14:38,777 --> 00:14:40,477
Why not?

350
00:14:40,479 --> 00:14:41,949
Mr. Earnest: Well, I --

351
00:14:41,947 --> 00:14:42,987
The Press: First of all,
do you agree with that?

352
00:14:42,982 --> 00:14:45,782
And if you do, why wouldn't
there need to be a change

353
00:14:45,784 --> 00:14:48,754
or a shift in how to try to get
things accomplished when

354
00:14:48,754 --> 00:14:51,124
you have Republicans in
the Senate and Republicans

355
00:14:51,123 --> 00:14:52,993
in the House
running things?

356
00:14:52,992 --> 00:14:56,332
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'm not going
to -- the other thing that

357
00:14:56,328 --> 00:14:59,728
I have refrained from doing
is sort of speculating about

358
00:14:59,732 --> 00:15:02,172
what sort of posture the
White House is going

359
00:15:02,167 --> 00:15:04,207
to take in light of
different outcomes.

360
00:15:04,203 --> 00:15:12,483
What I can tell you without any
wariness is that regardless

361
00:15:12,478 --> 00:15:15,518
of who is in the majority in the
Senate -- I continue to think

362
00:15:15,514 --> 00:15:18,314
it's going to be Democrats, but
we'll see -- regardless of who's

363
00:15:18,317 --> 00:15:20,817
in the control of the Senate,
this administration is going

364
00:15:20,819 --> 00:15:24,019
to continue to strongly advocate
for policies that benefit

365
00:15:24,023 --> 00:15:26,263
middle-class families
all across the country,

366
00:15:26,258 --> 00:15:30,158
and the administration is going
to retain a willingness to work

367
00:15:30,162 --> 00:15:33,262
with anybody in either party
who shares that commitment,

368
00:15:33,265 --> 00:15:35,135
even if it is on
one specific issue;

369
00:15:35,134 --> 00:15:38,434
that we should be able to put
aside our partisan affiliation

370
00:15:38,437 --> 00:15:40,707
to, for example, focus on
policies that would allow

371
00:15:40,706 --> 00:15:42,106
us to invest in
infrastructure.

372
00:15:42,107 --> 00:15:46,247
This is an issue that
has not traditionally

373
00:15:46,245 --> 00:15:49,015
been subject to intense
partisan wrangling.

374
00:15:49,014 --> 00:15:50,984
There's no such thing
as a Democratic bridge

375
00:15:50,983 --> 00:15:52,983
or a Republican bridge,
but rather, Democrats

376
00:15:52,985 --> 00:15:55,085
and Republicans should be
able to work together

377
00:15:55,087 --> 00:15:57,087
to modernize bridges
in communities all

378
00:15:57,089 --> 00:15:58,089
across the country.

379
00:15:58,090 --> 00:16:00,090
That would create jobs
in the short term,

380
00:16:00,092 --> 00:16:02,092
but also lay a longer-term
foundation for

381
00:16:02,094 --> 00:16:03,094
our economic strength.

382
00:16:03,095 --> 00:16:04,665
And that will continue to be
the priority that this

383
00:16:04,663 --> 00:16:08,103
President places as it relates
to his domestic agenda,

384
00:16:08,100 --> 00:16:10,570
regardless of whether
Democrats or Republicans

385
00:16:10,569 --> 00:16:11,439
are in the majority.

386
00:16:11,437 --> 00:16:15,577
Now, I guess the one thing I
will say is that we're also

387
00:16:15,574 --> 00:16:21,014
always going to be willing to --
signaling an open -- let me say

388
00:16:21,013 --> 00:16:23,083
it this way -- signaling an
openness to working with

389
00:16:23,082 --> 00:16:25,082
anybody, either a
Democrat or Republican,

390
00:16:25,084 --> 00:16:27,084
to advance your agenda
means an openness

391
00:16:27,086 --> 00:16:28,656
to changing your tactics.

392
00:16:28,654 --> 00:16:32,354
If we can succeed in moving
a piece of legislation that

393
00:16:32,358 --> 00:16:36,458
ultimately benefits middle-class
families without compromising

394
00:16:36,462 --> 00:16:41,202
a principle but that may
envision a change in some

395
00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:43,140
kind of tactic, of course
the President is going

396
00:16:43,135 --> 00:16:45,905
to be open to doing
exactly that.

397
00:16:45,904 --> 00:16:49,304
Ultimately, the President
believes that there is more

398
00:16:49,308 --> 00:16:51,308
that can and should be
done by Washington,

399
00:16:51,310 --> 00:16:56,320
D.C. to support our economy as
it continues to recover from

400
00:16:56,315 --> 00:16:58,755
the worst economic downturn
since the Great Depression.

401
00:16:58,751 --> 00:17:00,751
And we've seen
tremendous resilience

402
00:17:00,753 --> 00:17:01,753
in the American economy.

403
00:17:01,754 --> 00:17:04,594
What we need to see is greater
evidence that the benefits

404
00:17:04,590 --> 00:17:07,790
of that recovery are accruing
to middle-class families

405
00:17:07,793 --> 00:17:08,793
across the country.

406
00:17:08,794 --> 00:17:10,834
The Press: Did you just
say that you haven't done

407
00:17:10,829 --> 00:17:13,669
any planning here at
the White House or --

408
00:17:13,665 --> 00:17:14,265
Mr. Earnest: No, I
didn't say that.

409
00:17:14,266 --> 00:17:16,066
The Press: -- had conversations
about how to adapt

410
00:17:16,068 --> 00:17:18,868
to legislative strategy if
Republicans take control

411
00:17:18,871 --> 00:17:20,271
of the Senate?

412
00:17:20,272 --> 00:17:21,872
Because that's not
the impression I get.

413
00:17:21,874 --> 00:17:23,944
Mr. Earnest: I don't think
I said anything related

414
00:17:23,942 --> 00:17:25,342
to our internal planning,
and that's not something

415
00:17:25,344 --> 00:17:27,044
I'm prepared to talk
about from here.

416
00:17:27,045 --> 00:17:28,015
The Press: Okay.

417
00:17:28,013 --> 00:17:29,113
You mentioned
infrastructure.

418
00:17:29,114 --> 00:17:30,754
I'd like you to talk
to us about trade,

419
00:17:30,749 --> 00:17:33,919
because you have trade
negotiations that are nearing,

420
00:17:33,919 --> 00:17:34,949
possibly at completion.

421
00:17:34,953 --> 00:17:36,993
The last time we were in Asia,
the President was vexed that

422
00:17:36,989 --> 00:17:39,329
people said the deal didn't
get done and he thought

423
00:17:39,324 --> 00:17:41,294
that was premature.

424
00:17:41,293 --> 00:17:42,863
Clearly, there's a great
expectation that these

425
00:17:42,861 --> 00:17:45,361
negotiations are going to come
to fruition sometime soon.

426
00:17:45,364 --> 00:17:47,964
When you're in Asia, you talk
about the export markets a lot.

427
00:17:47,966 --> 00:17:51,106
Democratic leaders in the Senate
had no interest in bringing that

428
00:17:51,103 --> 00:17:53,673
issue to the floor, even if it
had been negotiated or not.

429
00:17:53,672 --> 00:17:54,842
Republicans do.

430
00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:58,310
Is that an area where, A, you
think you can get a deal soon,

431
00:17:58,310 --> 00:18:02,010
and, B, you might find a more
hospitable legislative climate

432
00:18:02,014 --> 00:18:04,014
if Republicans take
control of the Senate?

433
00:18:04,016 --> 00:18:06,756
Mr. Earnest: Major, I do
not anticipate that there

434
00:18:06,752 --> 00:18:09,692
will be a significant
breakthrough in trade talks

435
00:18:09,688 --> 00:18:11,688
while the President
is traveling in Asia.

436
00:18:11,690 --> 00:18:15,390
This is an opinion that has been
shared by Ambassador Froman over

437
00:18:15,394 --> 00:18:18,864
at the United States Office
of the Trade Representative.

438
00:18:18,864 --> 00:18:20,864
He can give you a better
update about where

439
00:18:20,866 --> 00:18:21,966
those conversations stand.

440
00:18:21,967 --> 00:18:24,267
But I would not anticipate
any sort of breakthrough

441
00:18:24,269 --> 00:18:26,039
in those broader negotiations
while the President

442
00:18:26,038 --> 00:18:27,508
is traveling next week.

443
00:18:27,506 --> 00:18:33,646
That being said, we do -- I
would anticipate that any sort

444
00:18:33,645 --> 00:18:39,655
of agreement that the President
reaches with other countries

445
00:18:41,653 --> 00:18:45,093
as it goes through the process
of moving through Congress,

446
00:18:45,090 --> 00:18:48,060
we're going to rely on
a bipartisan majority

447
00:18:48,060 --> 00:18:49,060
to get that done.

448
00:18:49,061 --> 00:18:52,731
We're going to need to work with
Democrats and Republicans

449
00:18:52,731 --> 00:18:56,801
to strike -- to validate
any agreement like that.

450
00:18:56,802 --> 00:18:58,442
But I don't want to get
ahead of the process.

451
00:18:58,437 --> 00:19:01,577
What we're counting on is
continued negotiations led by --

452
00:19:01,573 --> 00:19:03,773
very ably, I might add
-- by Ambassador Froman.

453
00:19:03,775 --> 00:19:09,115
And from there, we're
going to be looking for --

454
00:19:09,114 --> 00:19:10,554
well, let me back up and
say one other thing,

455
00:19:10,549 --> 00:19:12,989
which is that I'm confident
that Ambassador Froman

456
00:19:12,985 --> 00:19:14,985
is carefully following the
President's direction,

457
00:19:14,987 --> 00:19:16,987
that any sort of agreement
that's reached is going

458
00:19:16,989 --> 00:19:20,329
to be clearly in the best
interests of American workers

459
00:19:20,325 --> 00:19:22,325
and American businesses,
American farmers,

460
00:19:22,327 --> 00:19:24,327
in some instances.

461
00:19:25,964 --> 00:19:28,764
And that will be the criteria
by which these kinds

462
00:19:28,767 --> 00:19:30,237
of agreements are reached.

463
00:19:30,235 --> 00:19:34,005
And that is the -- I assume
that will be the criteria

464
00:19:34,006 --> 00:19:35,576
by which Democrats and
Republicans on the Hill

465
00:19:35,574 --> 00:19:38,244
will evaluate
this agreement.

466
00:19:38,243 --> 00:19:41,213
And so when we get to
that stage in this,

467
00:19:41,213 --> 00:19:42,443
we're going to be ready
to work with Democrats

468
00:19:42,447 --> 00:19:45,317
and Republicans
to make progress.

469
00:19:45,317 --> 00:19:46,887
The Press: One last question
on the politics tomorrow.

470
00:19:46,885 --> 00:19:48,725
What is the White
House listening for?

471
00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:51,460
What message do you
think you hope to hear?

472
00:19:51,456 --> 00:19:55,626
Are you prepared, if that is a
message rendered through

473
00:19:55,627 --> 00:19:57,927
the elections themselves tell
you something different about

474
00:19:57,930 --> 00:20:00,130
what you think the country
wants to hear and in fact

475
00:20:00,132 --> 00:20:03,302
what it actually wants to
send as far as a signal

476
00:20:03,302 --> 00:20:04,672
to the White House?

477
00:20:04,670 --> 00:20:06,410
Mr. Earnest: I'll say
two things about that.

478
00:20:06,405 --> 00:20:08,405
The first is, it is
important to understand,

479
00:20:08,407 --> 00:20:10,907
as important as this election
is, as I described to Michelle,

480
00:20:10,909 --> 00:20:14,709
a midterm election is different
than a presidential election,

481
00:20:14,713 --> 00:20:17,113
particularly this year.

482
00:20:17,115 --> 00:20:19,455
The Senate contests that
are, understandably,

483
00:20:19,451 --> 00:20:22,921
so closely followed, the vast
majority of them are actually

484
00:20:22,921 --> 00:20:24,391
taking place in states
that the President did

485
00:20:24,389 --> 00:20:26,789
not win in the last
presidential election.

486
00:20:26,792 --> 00:20:31,292
So the electorate is
different this time than

487
00:20:31,296 --> 00:20:33,436
it is in a traditional
presidential election.

488
00:20:33,432 --> 00:20:40,102
And that is what is -- that
will be part of the calculation

489
00:20:40,105 --> 00:20:44,845
that's made as we consider what
sort of conclusion should

490
00:20:44,843 --> 00:20:48,683
be appropriately drawn
from the election.

491
00:20:48,680 --> 00:20:59,660
I guess, in other words, it
would not be wise to draw

492
00:20:59,658 --> 00:21:03,358
as broad a conclusion about
the outcome of this election

493
00:21:03,362 --> 00:21:05,762
as you would from a national
presidential election simply

494
00:21:05,764 --> 00:21:10,704
by virtue of the map and
the fact of the states

495
00:21:10,702 --> 00:21:13,142
where this contest
is taking place.

496
00:21:13,138 --> 00:21:15,208
That said, this election is
extraordinarily important.

497
00:21:15,207 --> 00:21:17,707
And that's why you've seen the
President make a concerted

498
00:21:17,709 --> 00:21:20,009
effort to benefit Democrats
up and down the ballot.

499
00:21:20,012 --> 00:21:23,112
The second thing I'll say
is I think this is true

500
00:21:23,115 --> 00:21:26,085
even in nonelection years, particularly the last couple

501
00:21:26,084 --> 00:21:30,124
of years that there is intense
frustration on the part

502
00:21:30,122 --> 00:21:35,662
of the electorate with the failure of Washington, D.C.

503
00:21:35,661 --> 00:21:40,771
to put in place policies
that are helpful

504
00:21:40,766 --> 00:21:44,436
to middle-class families,
and that, time and again,

505
00:21:44,436 --> 00:21:49,876
we have seen Republicans
repeatedly block

506
00:21:49,875 --> 00:21:51,875
common-sense proposals
that would benefit

507
00:21:51,877 --> 00:21:52,877
middle-class families.

508
00:21:52,878 --> 00:21:54,878
And that's everything from some
of the infrastructure proposals

509
00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:56,880
that we were talking about
before to even something

510
00:21:56,882 --> 00:21:58,882
as simple and common sense
as immigration reform that's

511
00:21:58,884 --> 00:22:00,884
already passed through the
Senate in bipartisan fashion.

512
00:22:00,886 --> 00:22:05,956
So I am confident that in the
day or two after the election,

513
00:22:05,957 --> 00:22:10,627
we'll be talking about how
voters continue to want

514
00:22:10,629 --> 00:22:13,169
to see their elected
representatives in Washington,

515
00:22:13,165 --> 00:22:16,535
D.C. putting aside their
partisan labels and focusing

516
00:22:16,535 --> 00:22:18,635
on what those elected
representatives

517
00:22:18,637 --> 00:22:21,307
can do for middle-class
families back home.

518
00:22:21,306 --> 00:22:22,776
The Press: Since you
opened the door to this,

519
00:22:22,774 --> 00:22:27,214
would you say that the map is
less meaningful in states

520
00:22:27,212 --> 00:22:30,752
like North Carolina,
Iowa, New Hampshire,

521
00:22:30,749 --> 00:22:33,149
where the President was
successful and there

522
00:22:33,151 --> 00:22:37,291
are very close races
involving Democrats?

523
00:22:37,289 --> 00:22:40,689
I know the point you're making
about Montana, Arkansas, Alaska.

524
00:22:40,692 --> 00:22:43,162
But there are other
states up for grabs where

525
00:22:43,161 --> 00:22:48,431
the President did well,
and we remember well Iowa.

526
00:22:48,433 --> 00:22:52,433
Are those results resonant in a
way that you can't discount

527
00:22:52,437 --> 00:22:54,937
as a way of sending a
signal to the President

528
00:22:54,940 --> 00:22:56,340
and this White House
about what it's done

529
00:22:56,341 --> 00:22:57,841
or what it's failed
to accomplish?

530
00:22:57,843 --> 00:22:58,843
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think the
other thing that we've seen --

531
00:22:58,844 --> 00:23:00,584
and this has been true in a lot
of the polling data that's been

532
00:23:00,579 --> 00:23:03,419
conducted recently, as well,
about what's motivating the

533
00:23:03,415 --> 00:23:07,015
votes of individuals who are
considering casting a ballot

534
00:23:07,018 --> 00:23:08,588
on Election Day.

535
00:23:08,587 --> 00:23:11,057
And the vast majority of
people say that their vote

536
00:23:11,056 --> 00:23:12,926
is determined by something
other than sending a message

537
00:23:12,924 --> 00:23:14,024
to the President of
the United States.

538
00:23:14,025 --> 00:23:15,765
So I would take those
voters at their word.

539
00:23:15,761 --> 00:23:20,701
And the last thing I'll say is,
I hope I didn't overstate --

540
00:23:20,699 --> 00:23:24,039
and we can -- I'm not suggesting
that we're in a position

541
00:23:24,035 --> 00:23:26,505
where there should be
no conclusion that's

542
00:23:26,505 --> 00:23:28,475
drawn from the outcome
of this election.

543
00:23:28,473 --> 00:23:29,473
Of course, there
should be.

544
00:23:29,474 --> 00:23:31,474
But that conclusion and
any analysis that you

545
00:23:31,476 --> 00:23:34,816
do is different than the
analysis that you would

546
00:23:34,813 --> 00:23:38,013
do on a true
national election.

547
00:23:38,016 --> 00:23:39,216
April.

548
00:23:39,217 --> 00:23:41,087
The Press: Josh, I want
to talk about an election,

549
00:23:41,086 --> 00:23:45,026
not tomorrow's, but 2016
and Joe Biden's comment

550
00:23:45,023 --> 00:23:47,723
to Gloria Borger.

551
00:23:47,726 --> 00:23:51,466
Is there any talk around
the White House about

552
00:23:51,463 --> 00:23:54,333
is Biden the best
person to fill the job?

553
00:23:54,332 --> 00:23:57,732
Because he told Gloria Borger,
part of his answer to her,

554
00:23:57,736 --> 00:24:01,076
he said, "Am I convinced I'm
in best positioned of anyone

555
00:24:01,072 --> 00:24:04,642
else to lead the country
next four years?"

556
00:24:04,643 --> 00:24:06,783
Is there any conversation around
this White House about that?

557
00:24:06,778 --> 00:24:10,678
And has he posed that
question to the President?

558
00:24:10,682 --> 00:24:12,722
Mr. Earnest: I think the point
that the Vice President was

559
00:24:12,717 --> 00:24:15,587
making, April, is that this is a
question that the Vice President

560
00:24:15,587 --> 00:24:18,857
needs to resolve for himself,
and that will determine whether

561
00:24:18,857 --> 00:24:24,227
or not he chooses to pursue
his candidacy in 2016.

562
00:24:24,229 --> 00:24:26,329
So that's a decision that
he'll make for himself,

563
00:24:26,331 --> 00:24:30,331
and he's the one who's in
the best position to explain

564
00:24:30,335 --> 00:24:32,335
to you how he's going to
make that decision.

565
00:24:32,337 --> 00:24:35,707
But the only conversations
that I'm aware of about

566
00:24:35,707 --> 00:24:37,907
the Vice President here
in the White House center

567
00:24:37,909 --> 00:24:40,249
on the important role that
he's playing right now

568
00:24:40,245 --> 00:24:42,215
as the Vice President
of the United States

569
00:24:42,214 --> 00:24:44,214
to advance a whole range
of administration priorities.

570
00:24:44,216 --> 00:24:47,016
The Press: Well, since he is in
the position -- he's the only

571
00:24:47,018 --> 00:24:49,758
one in the position to make the
determination if he is that

572
00:24:49,754 --> 00:24:53,154
person -- he happens to be right
now the person if this

573
00:24:53,158 --> 00:24:55,498
President of the United
States if unable to fulfill

574
00:24:55,493 --> 00:24:57,833
his duties, he would
step into that role.

575
00:24:57,829 --> 00:25:01,099
So does this President feel
that he is the person for

576
00:25:01,099 --> 00:25:02,869
the next four years?

577
00:25:02,868 --> 00:25:04,198
Mr. Earnest: The
President is not focused

578
00:25:04,202 --> 00:25:05,902
on the 2016 elections.

579
00:25:05,904 --> 00:25:09,674
The President has on a number
of occasions talked about

580
00:25:09,674 --> 00:25:13,114
the variety of reasons that he
chose Vice President Biden

581
00:25:13,111 --> 00:25:16,151
to be his running mate all
the way back in 2008.

582
00:25:16,147 --> 00:25:23,217
And part of that criteria was
the ability of Vice President

583
00:25:23,221 --> 00:25:27,891
Biden to play such an important
leading role in the country.

584
00:25:27,893 --> 00:25:31,863
But again, I wouldn't read
anything into any sort of

585
00:25:31,863 --> 00:25:34,233
decisions that are a long
way out from being made.

586
00:25:34,232 --> 00:25:35,832
The Press: Are you gently
side-stepping the answer

587
00:25:35,834 --> 00:25:38,204
to that because you have
Hillary Clinton,

588
00:25:38,203 --> 00:25:40,403
your former strong
Secretary of State,

589
00:25:40,405 --> 00:25:44,875
and you have your Vice
President who could possibly

590
00:25:44,876 --> 00:25:48,146
be in this President's shoes
if anything were to happen?

591
00:25:48,146 --> 00:25:50,516
Is that the reason why
you're navigating so well

592
00:25:50,515 --> 00:25:51,885
through that question?

593
00:25:51,883 --> 00:25:52,683
Mr. Earnest: I have to say
that there are a variety

594
00:25:52,684 --> 00:25:54,054
of reasons why I'm
side-stepping that question.

595
00:25:54,052 --> 00:25:55,992
(laughter)

596
00:25:55,987 --> 00:25:56,757
Christi.

597
00:25:56,755 --> 00:25:57,285
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

598
00:25:57,289 --> 00:25:59,259
The Free Syrian Army this
weekend suffered some serious

599
00:25:59,257 --> 00:26:03,327
setbacks in northern Syria,
if not a total collapse.

600
00:26:03,328 --> 00:26:05,128
How does the White
House read that?

601
00:26:05,130 --> 00:26:10,240
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'm not
in a position to confirm.

602
00:26:10,235 --> 00:26:12,235
I've seen a couple
of those reports.

603
00:26:12,237 --> 00:26:17,007
I'm not in a position to
confirm those specific reports;

604
00:26:17,008 --> 00:26:19,008
we're still assessing them.

605
00:26:20,278 --> 00:26:24,618
And we certainly are aware
that moderate forces

606
00:26:24,616 --> 00:26:28,956
in Syria are engaged in
a multi-front conflict,

607
00:26:28,954 --> 00:26:31,924
and that multi-front conflict
is taking a toll on them,

608
00:26:31,923 --> 00:26:33,423
there's no doubt about that.

609
00:26:33,425 --> 00:26:37,665
That is in part why you've seen
the administration discuss

610
00:26:37,662 --> 00:26:40,462
the need to ramp up the
training and assistance

611
00:26:40,465 --> 00:26:42,465
that the United
States is offering

612
00:26:42,467 --> 00:26:45,237
to Syrian opposition
fighters -- moderate

613
00:26:45,236 --> 00:26:47,236
Syrian opposition
fighters.

614
00:26:48,807 --> 00:26:51,977
Again, even though that
assessment is still ongoing,

615
00:26:51,977 --> 00:26:53,977
I would also remind you of
something that the President

616
00:26:53,979 --> 00:26:59,919
said just a few weeks ago back
out at Joint Base Andrews when

617
00:26:59,918 --> 00:27:02,358
he was meeting with the chiefs
of defense from countries

618
00:27:02,354 --> 00:27:04,354
who are participating in
our international coalition

619
00:27:04,356 --> 00:27:05,956
against ISIL.

620
00:27:05,957 --> 00:27:07,957
The President indicated
that, "This is going

621
00:27:07,959 --> 00:27:08,959
to be a long-term
campaign.

622
00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:10,960
There are not quick
fixes involved.

623
00:27:14,366 --> 00:27:16,366
We're still at the
early stages.

624
00:27:16,368 --> 00:27:18,668
And as with any military
effort, there will be days

625
00:27:18,670 --> 00:27:21,470
of progress and there are going
to be periods of setback."

626
00:27:21,473 --> 00:27:24,543
So this is not a
short-term proposition.

627
00:27:24,542 --> 00:27:27,582
And the United States and
members of our coalition

628
00:27:27,579 --> 00:27:30,749
understand that this is going to
be -- this is going to require

629
00:27:30,749 --> 00:27:33,449
a sustained effort and a
sustained commitment.

630
00:27:33,451 --> 00:27:34,321
The Press: Where
do you go --

631
00:27:34,319 --> 00:27:37,019
(inaudible)

632
00:27:37,022 --> 00:27:39,722
-- for these moderate
partners in Syria?

633
00:27:39,724 --> 00:27:41,794
I mean, they seem to just
be up against so very much,

634
00:27:41,793 --> 00:27:43,763
and there was defections,
people running for the border.

635
00:27:43,762 --> 00:27:46,832
I mean, are your hopes barely
dashed at this point that

636
00:27:46,831 --> 00:27:49,901
you'll at the near term have
any chance of building

637
00:27:49,901 --> 00:27:52,101
up a strong replacement?

638
00:27:52,103 --> 00:27:54,673
Mr. Earnest: Well, Christi,
we have indicated that the

639
00:27:54,672 --> 00:27:57,812
train-and-equipping efforts
that will be run out of the

640
00:27:57,809 --> 00:28:02,549
Department of Defense in close
coordination with nations like

641
00:28:02,547 --> 00:28:05,747
Turkey and Saudi Arabia that
have agreed to host these

642
00:28:05,750 --> 00:28:08,450
training operations are
longer-term propositions,

643
00:28:08,453 --> 00:28:10,793
that these are not the kinds
of things that you stand

644
00:28:10,789 --> 00:28:14,289
up and that individuals
complete overnight.

645
00:28:14,292 --> 00:28:17,692
Rather, this will require
a sustained commitment.

646
00:28:17,695 --> 00:28:21,535
And the United States and
our coalition partners

647
00:28:21,533 --> 00:28:23,473
are mindful of two things.

648
00:28:23,468 --> 00:28:26,868
We're mindful, A, of the
important role that local ground

649
00:28:26,871 --> 00:28:29,811
forces will have to play in
taking the fight to ISIL

650
00:28:29,808 --> 00:28:31,408
on the ground in Syria.

651
00:28:31,409 --> 00:28:35,049
We're also mindful of the fact
that those kinds of forces,

652
00:28:35,046 --> 00:28:37,746
with that significant
capacity to take on hardened

653
00:28:37,749 --> 00:28:41,049
fighters like those in ISIL,
take some time to train

654
00:28:41,052 --> 00:28:43,592
and equip and stand
up and organize.

655
00:28:43,588 --> 00:28:45,388
So those efforts are underway.

656
00:28:45,390 --> 00:28:47,390
I'd refer you to the Department
of Defense who may be able

657
00:28:47,392 --> 00:28:51,392
to offer you an up-to-date
assessment about where those

658
00:28:51,396 --> 00:28:54,796
training-and-equipping
missions currently stand.

659
00:28:54,799 --> 00:28:58,299
But we understand that at
the very front end here,

660
00:28:58,303 --> 00:29:00,643
that this is not a
short-term proposition.

661
00:29:00,638 --> 00:29:02,078
Bob.

662
00:29:02,073 --> 00:29:03,643
The Press: Josh, the Vice
President may be right

663
00:29:03,641 --> 00:29:07,741
in one way, in that without
60 votes any major piece

664
00:29:07,745 --> 00:29:10,045
of legislation is not likely
to pass in the Senate.

665
00:29:10,048 --> 00:29:15,588
But the Democrats did change the
rules regarding nominations,

666
00:29:15,587 --> 00:29:18,657
federal nominations,
judicial nominations,

667
00:29:18,656 --> 00:29:20,696
and they could very well
gum up the works in terms

668
00:29:20,692 --> 00:29:25,502
of bureaucratic positions,
as well as the judiciary.

669
00:29:25,497 --> 00:29:27,027
Is the White House
prepared for that?

670
00:29:27,031 --> 00:29:30,171
And do you have a significant
number of appointments that

671
00:29:30,168 --> 00:29:32,208
still need to be made?

672
00:29:32,203 --> 00:29:33,443
Mr. Earnest: There are still
some appointments that are

673
00:29:33,438 --> 00:29:35,408
languishing on the floor.

674
00:29:35,406 --> 00:29:39,046
I would say that even when
they've served in the minority,

675
00:29:39,043 --> 00:29:41,043
that Republicans have been very
pretty effective in gumming

676
00:29:41,045 --> 00:29:43,045
up the works on a whole
variety of things,

677
00:29:43,047 --> 00:29:45,847
including relatively
non-controversial appointments

678
00:29:45,850 --> 00:29:48,320
to positions in the
administration.

679
00:29:48,319 --> 00:29:53,389
So while there is a substantial
import associated with

680
00:29:53,391 --> 00:29:55,531
this election, with
significant consequences,

681
00:29:55,527 --> 00:29:58,627
I'm not sure you've identified
one of them in this

682
00:29:58,630 --> 00:30:00,130
question at least.

683
00:30:00,131 --> 00:30:01,201
Cheryl.

684
00:30:01,199 --> 00:30:01,769
The Press: Thanks.

685
00:30:01,766 --> 00:30:04,136
So Congress is coming
back November 12th,

686
00:30:04,135 --> 00:30:06,105
for a few weeks at least,
for a lame-duck session.

687
00:30:06,104 --> 00:30:09,704
What are your priorities
in this small window,

688
00:30:09,707 --> 00:30:11,547
your legislative
priorities?

689
00:30:11,543 --> 00:30:12,843
Mr. Earnest: Well, Cheryl,
we'll have more to say

690
00:30:12,844 --> 00:30:17,284
about that in the
days and weeks ahead.

691
00:30:17,282 --> 00:30:19,252
I don't have a pronouncement
to make from here.

692
00:30:19,250 --> 00:30:21,450
I think that there are a
couple of things we know

693
00:30:21,452 --> 00:30:23,122
are going to happen before
the end of the year,

694
00:30:23,121 --> 00:30:25,221
or at least likely to happen
before the end of the year.

695
00:30:25,223 --> 00:30:27,223
The one thing we know that's
going to happen before the end

696
00:30:27,225 --> 00:30:29,395
of the year is the President is
going to take action to use his

697
00:30:29,394 --> 00:30:32,734
executive authority to fix
those aspects of our broken

698
00:30:32,730 --> 00:30:36,870
immigration system that can be
fixed using executive authority.

699
00:30:36,868 --> 00:30:38,868
The President, as we've
said on many occasions,

700
00:30:38,870 --> 00:30:41,670
has been disappointed that
House Republicans have blocked

701
00:30:41,673 --> 00:30:43,773
common-sense bipartisan
legislation that passed through

702
00:30:43,775 --> 00:30:47,575
the Senate to come up for a vote
in the House of Representatives.

703
00:30:47,579 --> 00:30:49,579
That's certainly something they
could consider in the lame duck,

704
00:30:49,581 --> 00:30:53,481
and we'd welcome in doing so,
but that will have to be

705
00:30:53,484 --> 00:30:56,654
a decision that's made by House
Republicans in that instance.

706
00:30:56,654 --> 00:30:58,794
So as it relates to our
legislative priorities,

707
00:30:58,790 --> 00:31:01,530
I anticipate we'll have more
to say about this in the days

708
00:31:01,526 --> 00:31:03,266
and weeks ahead.

709
00:31:03,261 --> 00:31:04,831
Chris.

710
00:31:04,829 --> 00:31:06,769
The Press: When the President --
and we talked about this in this

711
00:31:06,764 --> 00:31:09,064
room before -- when he said
he's not on the ballot but

712
00:31:09,067 --> 00:31:12,667
his policies are, did he
nationalize this election

713
00:31:12,670 --> 00:31:16,440
to the detriment of
Democratic candidates?

714
00:31:16,441 --> 00:31:20,041
Mr. Earnest: Chris, the
point that the President

715
00:31:20,044 --> 00:31:22,944
was making, and has made on
a number of occasions,

716
00:31:22,947 --> 00:31:25,547
is that his name, in fact,
is not on the ballot.

717
00:31:25,550 --> 00:31:29,850
And again, I think, as I
mentioned to Major, I believe,

718
00:31:29,854 --> 00:31:34,054
the polls indicate that most
voters are making up their minds

719
00:31:34,058 --> 00:31:36,828
about which candidates to
support for reasons that

720
00:31:36,828 --> 00:31:38,828
don't involve the President
of the United States.

721
00:31:38,830 --> 00:31:40,830
That's not particularly
surprising, because, again,

722
00:31:40,832 --> 00:31:42,902
is not on the ballot.

723
00:31:42,900 --> 00:31:45,900
The reason that the President
said that he was aggressively

724
00:31:45,903 --> 00:31:48,643
advocating in support of
candidates up and down the

725
00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:53,080
ballot all across the country
is that those candidates are

726
00:31:53,077 --> 00:31:55,347
committed to fighting for
policies that benefit

727
00:31:55,346 --> 00:31:57,046
middle-class families.

728
00:31:57,048 --> 00:31:59,588
The President also is committed
to policies that benefit

729
00:31:59,584 --> 00:32:00,714
middle-class families.

730
00:32:00,718 --> 00:32:02,688
And the President is eager to
have partners in Congress

731
00:32:02,687 --> 00:32:04,157
who share that priority.

732
00:32:04,155 --> 00:32:07,795
And that has animated
the President's support

733
00:32:07,792 --> 00:32:10,292
for House candidates,
for Senate candidates,

734
00:32:10,295 --> 00:32:12,265
and even candidates
for governor.

735
00:32:12,263 --> 00:32:13,503
The President spent a lot
of time talking about

736
00:32:13,498 --> 00:32:16,398
that on the road over
the last few days.

737
00:32:16,401 --> 00:32:20,341
And we're hopeful that the
voters will make a decision

738
00:32:20,338 --> 00:32:25,048
to send representatives from
their home state or their home

739
00:32:25,043 --> 00:32:29,013
district with marching orders
to back the kinds of policies

740
00:32:29,013 --> 00:32:31,313
that we know will benefit
middle-class families.

741
00:32:31,316 --> 00:32:34,786
The Press: Anticipating that you
will say that decisions are not

742
00:32:34,786 --> 00:32:38,356
made based on polling, our
recent poll shows 44 percent say

743
00:32:38,356 --> 00:32:43,066
they like the President; that's
down from 60 percent in 2012.

744
00:32:43,061 --> 00:32:46,361
Two-thirds say they want to see
him change either a "great deal"

745
00:32:46,364 --> 00:32:47,934
or "quite a bit."

746
00:32:47,932 --> 00:32:49,572
What do those kinds
of numbers mean for

747
00:32:49,567 --> 00:32:51,507
a post-election strategy?

748
00:32:51,502 --> 00:32:54,602
Mr. Earnest: Well, before we
spend a lot of time talking

749
00:32:54,605 --> 00:32:55,645
about the post-election
strategy,

750
00:32:55,640 --> 00:32:58,080
we should convene
the election.

751
00:32:58,076 --> 00:32:59,346
What I can tell
you is that --

752
00:32:59,344 --> 00:33:01,644
The Press: But doesn't that
impact whether the Democrats

753
00:33:01,646 --> 00:33:03,616
or the Republicans --
doesn't the President's

754
00:33:03,614 --> 00:33:05,984
own standing with
the American public affect,

755
00:33:05,983 --> 00:33:07,453
no matter who
controls the Senate?

756
00:33:07,452 --> 00:33:10,252
Mr. Earnest: Of course the
President's standing will

757
00:33:10,254 --> 00:33:11,554
have some impact.

758
00:33:11,556 --> 00:33:14,156
But what I would encourage you
to do is to consult polling that

759
00:33:14,158 --> 00:33:17,998
even NBC has done, that
concludes that the vast majority

760
00:33:17,995 --> 00:33:20,595
of voters are not making their
decision in this election

761
00:33:20,598 --> 00:33:22,868
based on their appraisal
of the President.

762
00:33:22,867 --> 00:33:25,437
They're basing that on a variety
of other things, including,

763
00:33:25,436 --> 00:33:28,376
I think understandably, their
appraisal of the two candidates

764
00:33:28,373 --> 00:33:30,613
who are standing for office.

765
00:33:30,608 --> 00:33:35,778
So we'll have the option
to evaluate the results

766
00:33:35,780 --> 00:33:36,780
of the election.

767
00:33:36,781 --> 00:33:39,721
And I can tell you that
regardless of the outcome,

768
00:33:39,717 --> 00:33:45,457
one thing the President will
continue to do is to use --

769
00:33:45,456 --> 00:33:48,096
is to fight for the policies
that he believes should

770
00:33:48,092 --> 00:33:50,092
be at the top of the agenda,
which is policies that

771
00:33:50,094 --> 00:33:52,094
will expand the
economic opportunity

772
00:33:52,096 --> 00:33:53,096
for middle-class
families.

773
00:33:53,097 --> 00:33:55,167
And the things that won't change
about his tactic is he's going

774
00:33:55,166 --> 00:33:58,736
to continue to be open to
working with anybody --

775
00:33:58,736 --> 00:34:01,136
a Democrat, Republican
or even independent --

776
00:34:01,139 --> 00:34:02,139
who shares that priority.

777
00:34:02,140 --> 00:34:04,640
The Press: And anything
on where exactly he'll

778
00:34:04,642 --> 00:34:06,642
be watching the
returns and with whom?

779
00:34:06,644 --> 00:34:08,644
Mr. Earnest: He'll be here at
the White House tomorrow night.

780
00:34:08,646 --> 00:34:10,646
I don't know who will
be watching with him.

781
00:34:10,648 --> 00:34:12,648
The Press: Will we
get that read before?

782
00:34:12,650 --> 00:34:14,650
Mr. Earnest: Probably
not in advance,

783
00:34:14,652 --> 00:34:16,652
but we'll see what we can
do to keep you updated

784
00:34:16,654 --> 00:34:17,684
on his activities
tomorrow night.

785
00:34:17,688 --> 00:34:20,788
The Press: Is there
an election party?

786
00:34:20,792 --> 00:34:22,432
Mr. Earnest: Not
that I know of.

787
00:34:22,427 --> 00:34:23,097
The Press: Is
there a menu --

788
00:34:23,094 --> 00:34:23,794
The Press: Is
there a wine list?

789
00:34:23,795 --> 00:34:24,295
(laughter)

790
00:34:24,295 --> 00:34:24,825
Mr. Earnest:
Yeah, exactly.

791
00:34:24,829 --> 00:34:25,659
Exactly.

792
00:34:25,663 --> 00:34:26,493
Ed.

793
00:34:26,497 --> 00:34:29,937
The Press: Josh, I want to go
back to Chris's -- the substance

794
00:34:29,934 --> 00:34:32,104
of her question, though,
about the poll number,

795
00:34:32,103 --> 00:34:34,643
because there were a bunch of
things you were talking about.

796
00:34:34,639 --> 00:34:36,639
But the specific
thing she asked,

797
00:34:36,641 --> 00:34:39,011
which is 67 percent
of the public,

798
00:34:39,010 --> 00:34:41,010
regardless of how
they vote or whatever,

799
00:34:41,012 --> 00:34:43,952
but 67 percent of the public
says in this NBC/Wall Street

800
00:34:43,948 --> 00:34:46,748
Journal poll that they want
to see the President make

801
00:34:46,751 --> 00:34:50,751
substantial change in the
direction of his leadership.

802
00:34:50,755 --> 00:34:51,255
Agree?

803
00:34:51,255 --> 00:34:52,525
Disagree?

804
00:34:55,493 --> 00:34:55,993
Mr. Earnest: I guess --

805
00:34:55,993 --> 00:34:57,263
The Press: Sixty-percent
of registered voters

806
00:34:57,261 --> 00:34:59,031
would like to see either
a "great deal" of change

807
00:34:59,030 --> 00:35:02,700
or "quite a bit" of change
to Mr. Obama's direction.

808
00:35:02,700 --> 00:35:06,440
So your point is valid, that we
don't know what the results are

809
00:35:06,437 --> 00:35:10,137
yet, it's a smaller number of
states in the entire country

810
00:35:10,141 --> 00:35:12,141
in terms of the key Senate
battles, for example.

811
00:35:12,143 --> 00:35:15,043
But this is just
a snapshot.

812
00:35:15,046 --> 00:35:17,516
But when 67 percent of the
public is saying we want to see

813
00:35:17,515 --> 00:35:21,485
a substantial change to how the
President is approaching this --

814
00:35:21,486 --> 00:35:23,586
his job, his
leadership -- how does

815
00:35:23,588 --> 00:35:24,588
the White House
address that?

816
00:35:24,589 --> 00:35:26,889
Will he make
substantial changes,

817
00:35:26,891 --> 00:35:28,391
regardless if he
wins or loses?

818
00:35:28,392 --> 00:35:31,762
Mr. Earnest: Ed, my sense is --
and again, I'm not a pollster,

819
00:35:31,762 --> 00:35:33,762
so there are probably
others who have conducted

820
00:35:33,764 --> 00:35:36,964
a more thorough
analysis of this data.

821
00:35:36,968 --> 00:35:40,368
But my initial reaction
is to say that voters are

822
00:35:40,371 --> 00:35:42,371
understandably frustrated
with Washington,

823
00:35:42,373 --> 00:35:44,373
D.C., and they
hold the President,

824
00:35:44,375 --> 00:35:45,775
the most powerful
person in Washington,

825
00:35:45,776 --> 00:35:47,946
accountable for that.

826
00:35:47,945 --> 00:35:49,185
The Press: So what's he
going to do about it?

827
00:35:49,180 --> 00:35:50,450
Mr. Earnest: Well, what they
should also do is they

828
00:35:50,448 --> 00:35:53,618
should also examine the
priorities that the President

829
00:35:53,618 --> 00:35:55,018
has been fighting for.

830
00:35:55,019 --> 00:35:57,619
My guess is -- again, there
are others who have done more

831
00:35:57,622 --> 00:35:59,222
analysis on this than I have.

832
00:35:59,223 --> 00:36:01,923
My guess is that there are some
people who say the President

833
00:36:01,926 --> 00:36:05,596
should do more to work
with Republicans on some

834
00:36:05,596 --> 00:36:06,766
of these issues.

835
00:36:06,764 --> 00:36:09,264
There are just as many people
in that poll who will probably

836
00:36:09,267 --> 00:36:12,037
say the President spent too
much time working with a bunch

837
00:36:12,036 --> 00:36:14,236
of Republicans that aren't
interested in middle-class

838
00:36:14,238 --> 00:36:16,238
families or policies that
benefit middle-class families,

839
00:36:16,240 --> 00:36:19,010
and the President needs to
fight harder on his own.

840
00:36:19,010 --> 00:36:22,680
So I don't think that that
one particular poll number

841
00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:28,320
is indicative of a unified point
of view by the electorate,

842
00:36:28,319 --> 00:36:31,389
other than their general
frustration with Washington,

843
00:36:31,389 --> 00:36:33,459
D.C.; the President on
a number of occasions

844
00:36:33,457 --> 00:36:35,597
has said that he shares
that frustration.

845
00:36:35,593 --> 00:36:39,363
The President has indicated on
a number of occasions that he

846
00:36:39,363 --> 00:36:43,803
understands why he is part of
the target of that frustration.

847
00:36:43,801 --> 00:36:46,201
And it's why you're going to
see the President continue

848
00:36:46,203 --> 00:36:50,473
to demonstrate a willingness
to work with anybody --

849
00:36:50,474 --> 00:36:54,314
Democrat or Republican --
who's willing to fight

850
00:36:54,312 --> 00:36:56,412
for the kinds of priorities that the President has identified.

851
00:36:56,414 --> 00:36:59,014
The Press: Again, so this
is not -- it's a snapshot;

852
00:36:59,016 --> 00:37:00,516
it's not what everybody
in the country thinks.

853
00:37:00,518 --> 00:37:02,958
But let me drill down
on one other part.

854
00:37:02,954 --> 00:37:06,024
Among Mr. Obama's own party,
it says 47 percent --

855
00:37:06,023 --> 00:37:08,493
47 percent of Democrats
said they want

856
00:37:08,492 --> 00:37:12,532
substantial change in the
way he leads the country.

857
00:37:12,530 --> 00:37:14,370
So talk to those
Democrats then.

858
00:37:14,365 --> 00:37:15,635
Forget about the
Republicans.

859
00:37:15,633 --> 00:37:18,633
Is the President going to change
the way he leads the country?

860
00:37:18,636 --> 00:37:21,506
Mr. Earnest: Well, Ed, again,
in light of the elections,

861
00:37:21,505 --> 00:37:23,605
I'm confident that at some point
you'll have the opportunity

862
00:37:23,608 --> 00:37:27,008
to hear from the President when
he'll discuss the outcome here.

863
00:37:27,011 --> 00:37:32,181
So I don't want to get into sort
of the post-election analysis

864
00:37:32,183 --> 00:37:34,183
before the election
has been held.

865
00:37:34,185 --> 00:37:36,185
But -- The Press: And
I'm not asking for that.

866
00:37:36,187 --> 00:37:38,187
I'm asking for the
President's approach.

867
00:37:38,189 --> 00:37:39,829
There's been a whole series of
stories in the last few days,

868
00:37:39,824 --> 00:37:41,764
administration officials
speculating to bring

869
00:37:41,759 --> 00:37:44,299
in new people; is he going
to have a different agenda.

870
00:37:44,295 --> 00:37:45,895
I get you can't give us
all the details now --

871
00:37:45,896 --> 00:37:47,736
you're still weighing that.

872
00:37:47,732 --> 00:37:51,702
But I'm not hearing you say
the President is prepared

873
00:37:51,702 --> 00:37:53,302
to change at all.

874
00:37:53,304 --> 00:37:55,704
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I
haven't looked at the poll,

875
00:37:55,706 --> 00:37:59,276
but my guess is those who have
done the analytics here aren't

876
00:37:59,276 --> 00:38:02,076
going to suggest that the way
that the President can sort

877
00:38:02,079 --> 00:38:05,349
of change his leadership
is by hiring and firing

878
00:38:05,349 --> 00:38:07,249
a couple of staff members
at the White House.

879
00:38:07,251 --> 00:38:11,421
I think what the people in that
poll are saying is consistent

880
00:38:11,422 --> 00:38:13,162
with our broader understanding
about where the electorate

881
00:38:13,157 --> 00:38:15,657
is right now -- are saying
they want to see more from

882
00:38:15,660 --> 00:38:19,060
Washington, D.C. in the way
of policies that will benefit

883
00:38:19,063 --> 00:38:20,193
middle-class families.

884
00:38:20,197 --> 00:38:22,197
That's something that the
President has been fighting

885
00:38:22,199 --> 00:38:23,199
for for quite some time.

886
00:38:23,200 --> 00:38:25,600
We have not gotten much, if any,
cooperation from Republicans

887
00:38:25,603 --> 00:38:27,343
in Congress on this.

888
00:38:27,338 --> 00:38:30,478
So we'll have to see what the
outcome of the election is.

889
00:38:30,474 --> 00:38:33,814
Just as importantly, we'll have
to see what lessons individual

890
00:38:33,811 --> 00:38:37,011
members of Congress derive from
the outcome of those elections.

891
00:38:37,014 --> 00:38:42,684
And we'll see if it causes some
Republicans to look for more

892
00:38:42,687 --> 00:38:45,427
opportunities to work with the
President to advance the kind

893
00:38:45,423 --> 00:38:47,123
of middle-class agenda
that traditionally hasn't

894
00:38:47,124 --> 00:38:49,024
gotten bogged down in
partisan wrangling.

895
00:38:49,026 --> 00:38:53,566
So again, that would be an
optimistic, hopeful outcome,

896
00:38:53,564 --> 00:38:55,664
but we'll see what
the outcome is.

897
00:38:55,666 --> 00:38:56,966
The Press: Two
other quick things.

898
00:38:56,967 --> 00:38:58,337
One on Iran and an
opportunity for the President

899
00:38:58,335 --> 00:38:59,935
to work with Congress.

900
00:38:59,937 --> 00:39:01,907
Republicans and Democrats,
like Bob Menendez,

901
00:39:01,906 --> 00:39:04,206
have been saying they want him
to come to Congress with

902
00:39:04,208 --> 00:39:06,908
any sort of deal, if there's
a nuclear deal with Iran.

903
00:39:06,911 --> 00:39:10,281
And since we last
had a briefing here,

904
00:39:10,281 --> 00:39:13,651
there was an audio tape that
emerged in which Ben Rhodes was

905
00:39:13,651 --> 00:39:16,821
privately saying that you're
looking at ways to get around

906
00:39:16,821 --> 00:39:20,621
Congress, basically, to
push this deal through.

907
00:39:20,624 --> 00:39:21,894
What can you say
about that?

908
00:39:21,892 --> 00:39:25,062
And on the tape there's sort
of laughter about the idea

909
00:39:25,062 --> 00:39:26,502
of going around Congress.

910
00:39:26,497 --> 00:39:28,667
So for all this talk about
working with Congress,

911
00:39:28,666 --> 00:39:31,666
can you tell us how that
applies in this field?

912
00:39:31,669 --> 00:39:33,669
Mr. Earnest: I haven't
heard the tape,

913
00:39:33,671 --> 00:39:35,941
but what I have heard are the
readouts of any number

914
00:39:35,940 --> 00:39:38,340
of conversations that have
taken place between senior

915
00:39:38,342 --> 00:39:40,982
administration officials and
Democrats and Republicans

916
00:39:40,978 --> 00:39:44,218
in Congress who are regularly
being updated by this

917
00:39:44,215 --> 00:39:47,115
administration on the status of
our conversations with Iran.

918
00:39:47,118 --> 00:39:49,588
The fact is -- and I've said
this many times -- we wouldn't

919
00:39:49,587 --> 00:39:53,357
have succeeded in bringing Iran
to the negotiating table

920
00:39:53,357 --> 00:39:57,557
had the administration
and Congress been unable

921
00:39:57,561 --> 00:39:59,661
to work so closely on
this matter.

922
00:39:59,663 --> 00:40:03,403
I think this is actually one of
the instances where we can

923
00:40:03,400 --> 00:40:06,540
point to successful
cooperation between Democrats

924
00:40:06,537 --> 00:40:08,777
and Republicans in Congress
and the administration

925
00:40:08,773 --> 00:40:11,543
in putting in place a sanctions
regime that has exacted

926
00:40:11,542 --> 00:40:13,882
a significant toll on
the Iranian economy.

927
00:40:13,878 --> 00:40:16,948
That sanctions regime would not
have been successful without

928
00:40:16,947 --> 00:40:19,387
the skilled implementation
of that regime by this

929
00:40:19,383 --> 00:40:22,053
administration, by working so closely with our partners

930
00:40:22,052 --> 00:40:24,722
to do the diplomacy that's
necessary to really

931
00:40:24,722 --> 00:40:27,292
tighten the crank on
the Iranians.

932
00:40:27,291 --> 00:40:29,661
And that's why the
administration has continued

933
00:40:29,660 --> 00:40:33,300
to work closely with
Congress to update them

934
00:40:33,297 --> 00:40:35,497
on the status of our
ongoing negotiations.

935
00:40:35,499 --> 00:40:37,899
The other thing that I'll
say about this is that

936
00:40:37,902 --> 00:40:39,902
listening to the public
comments of members

937
00:40:39,904 --> 00:40:42,544
of Congress it's pretty
clear that views on this

938
00:40:42,540 --> 00:40:44,540
particular situation and
the best way to resolve

939
00:40:44,542 --> 00:40:46,542
it don't really break
down along partisan lines;

940
00:40:46,544 --> 00:40:48,544
that there are people with
different views and different

941
00:40:48,546 --> 00:40:52,946
philosophies in terms of how the
executive branch should protect

942
00:40:52,950 --> 00:40:55,790
and defend the interests of
the United States of America

943
00:40:55,786 --> 00:40:58,086
in dealing with
nations like Iran.

944
00:40:58,088 --> 00:41:00,728
Let me just say one last
thing, which is that there

945
00:41:00,724 --> 00:41:02,694
continues to be ongoing
discussions between

946
00:41:02,693 --> 00:41:05,963
technical experts -- or among
technical experts, both

947
00:41:05,963 --> 00:41:08,563
in Iran and members of
the P5-plus-1, and it's

948
00:41:08,566 --> 00:41:11,036
all geared toward
resolving not just

949
00:41:11,035 --> 00:41:14,975
the United States' concern
about the Iran nuclear program,

950
00:41:14,972 --> 00:41:17,312
but about the international
community's concerns about

951
00:41:17,308 --> 00:41:18,308
the Iran nuclear program.

952
00:41:18,309 --> 00:41:20,979
The best way to resolve that is
not through military action,

953
00:41:20,978 --> 00:41:23,748
but we can get an enduring
diplomatic solution where the

954
00:41:23,747 --> 00:41:26,587
Iranians themselves in the
context of that agreement

955
00:41:26,584 --> 00:41:30,654
would agree in a verifiable,
transparent way to confirm

956
00:41:30,654 --> 00:41:34,154
for the international community
that their nuclear program

957
00:41:34,158 --> 00:41:37,028
is only geared toward
peaceful civilian purposes.

958
00:41:37,027 --> 00:41:38,297
The Press: Last one.

959
00:41:38,295 --> 00:41:41,035
You referenced this in a
previous answer about hiring

960
00:41:41,031 --> 00:41:42,101
and firing around here.

961
00:41:42,099 --> 00:41:44,499
There's been a whole series of
leaks in the last few days,

962
00:41:44,501 --> 00:41:46,501
administration officials
speculating about who's coming

963
00:41:46,503 --> 00:41:50,273
and going, officials mocking
the Secretary of State

964
00:41:50,274 --> 00:41:51,974
that he's off message.

965
00:41:51,976 --> 00:41:52,976
Is this White
House fracturing?

966
00:41:52,977 --> 00:41:54,547
Mr. Earnest: No, Ed.

967
00:41:54,545 --> 00:41:57,745
There is a complete unity of
opinion that the President's

968
00:41:57,748 --> 00:42:00,418
view and that the President's
commitment to both expanding

969
00:42:00,417 --> 00:42:02,687
economic opportunity for
the middle class and doing

970
00:42:02,686 --> 00:42:04,686
everything we can to protect
the American people around

971
00:42:04,688 --> 00:42:08,058
the globe continues to be at
the top of our agenda here.

972
00:42:08,058 --> 00:42:10,898
And I can tell you that the
President's team is wholly

973
00:42:10,895 --> 00:42:13,965
unified in pursuit
of those goals.

974
00:42:13,964 --> 00:42:14,964
Peter.

975
00:42:14,965 --> 00:42:16,935
The Press: Josh, when you said
a few minutes ago that

976
00:42:16,934 --> 00:42:20,504
the public should examine
the President's priorities,

977
00:42:20,504 --> 00:42:22,644
are you saying that after
six years the public

978
00:42:22,640 --> 00:42:25,080
is unaware of
his priorities?

979
00:42:25,075 --> 00:42:28,075
Mr. Earnest: I don't
mean to suggest that.

980
00:42:28,078 --> 00:42:30,478
I think the President has tried
to be very clear about what he

981
00:42:30,481 --> 00:42:34,951
believes in, what he stands for
and what he's fighting for,

982
00:42:34,952 --> 00:42:37,022
and what he's fighting for are
policies on the domestic

983
00:42:37,021 --> 00:42:39,021
side that benefit
middle-class families;

984
00:42:39,023 --> 00:42:41,693
that expand economic opportunity
for middle-class families.

985
00:42:41,692 --> 00:42:43,692
And when it comes to
our foreign policy,

986
00:42:43,694 --> 00:42:45,794
the President is committed to
ensuring that American influence

987
00:42:45,796 --> 00:42:48,596
around the globe is a force
for good and used in a way

988
00:42:48,599 --> 00:42:50,599
that strengthens the
security and stability

989
00:42:50,601 --> 00:42:52,601
of the United
States of America.

990
00:42:52,603 --> 00:42:55,443
The Press: When you look at the
election landscape and you make

991
00:42:55,439 --> 00:42:57,909
a comment like you did about
the -- that the public

992
00:42:57,908 --> 00:42:59,708
should examine the
President's priorities,

993
00:42:59,710 --> 00:43:03,880
do you anywhere in your
gut feel that there was

994
00:43:03,881 --> 00:43:07,681
a failure to communicate those
priorities the right way?

995
00:43:07,685 --> 00:43:08,385
Mr. Earnest: Not at all.

996
00:43:08,385 --> 00:43:10,925
The President
continues to believe,

997
00:43:10,921 --> 00:43:15,221
and I continue to believe,
that the argument shapes

998
00:43:15,225 --> 00:43:17,365
up well for Democrats
in this election.

999
00:43:17,361 --> 00:43:19,401
And some of that is because
the President has played

1000
00:43:19,396 --> 00:43:22,596
an important role in
making that argument.

1001
00:43:22,599 --> 00:43:24,599
But ultimately, it's up to
these individual candidates

1002
00:43:24,601 --> 00:43:27,701
to make the case
for themselves.

1003
00:43:27,705 --> 00:43:31,105
And if they -- many of those
candidates I think will

1004
00:43:31,108 --> 00:43:34,508
make a case about their
commitment to fighting

1005
00:43:34,511 --> 00:43:37,011
for policies that benefit
middle-class families.

1006
00:43:37,014 --> 00:43:39,314
And the President is eager
to boost that argument,

1007
00:43:39,316 --> 00:43:42,556
to boost those candidates, and
to do what he can to help them.

1008
00:43:42,553 --> 00:43:45,993
And whether that's doing
interviews with radio hosts

1009
00:43:45,990 --> 00:43:53,160
or taping robocall messages, or
lending his campaign apparatus

1010
00:43:53,163 --> 00:43:56,203
expertise to
individual candidates,

1011
00:43:56,200 --> 00:43:58,200
the President is all in
and doing everything

1012
00:43:58,202 --> 00:44:00,942
that he can to support
Democratic candidates.

1013
00:44:00,938 --> 00:44:02,108
Roger.

1014
00:44:02,106 --> 00:44:02,876
The Press: Thanks.

1015
00:44:02,873 --> 00:44:05,213
Back to the Fed.

1016
00:44:05,209 --> 00:44:07,479
Does the President think
the Fed could be doing

1017
00:44:07,478 --> 00:44:11,548
more things to help
the middle class?

1018
00:44:11,548 --> 00:44:13,648
Mr. Earnest: Roger, as you
know, the Federal Reserve

1019
00:44:13,650 --> 00:44:16,850
has maintained a long
tradition of independence

1020
00:44:16,854 --> 00:44:19,054
in terms of their
policymaking.

1021
00:44:19,056 --> 00:44:21,856
And it's perceived by some
as an infringement on that

1022
00:44:21,859 --> 00:44:24,899
independence for me to make
comments about the substantive

1023
00:44:24,895 --> 00:44:26,635
policy decisions that
are made by the Fed.

1024
00:44:26,630 --> 00:44:28,600
So, in deference to
that point of view,

1025
00:44:28,599 --> 00:44:30,399
I'm not going to be in
a position to answer

1026
00:44:30,401 --> 00:44:31,331
your question.

1027
00:44:31,335 --> 00:44:32,365
The Press: Okay,
understood.

1028
00:44:32,369 --> 00:44:35,909
Is the President happy
with the Fed's performance

1029
00:44:35,906 --> 00:44:37,146
since Yellen took over?

1030
00:44:37,141 --> 00:44:38,571
(laughter)

1031
00:44:38,575 --> 00:44:41,745
Mr. Earnest: Again, only
out of an abundance of caution,

1032
00:44:41,745 --> 00:44:43,315
I'm going to refrain from
answering that question

1033
00:44:43,313 --> 00:44:44,483
just for the
same reason.

1034
00:44:44,481 --> 00:44:45,381
The Press: Okay,
one more stab.

1035
00:44:45,382 --> 00:44:47,622
He's going to
Asia next week.

1036
00:44:47,618 --> 00:44:48,118
Mr. Earnest: Yes.

1037
00:44:48,118 --> 00:44:51,018
The Press: Chinese
currency has been

1038
00:44:51,021 --> 00:44:53,361
a major trade
issue for years.

1039
00:44:53,357 --> 00:44:53,987
Mr. Earnest: It has.

1040
00:44:53,991 --> 00:44:56,361
The Press: Is he going
to raise that issue with

1041
00:44:56,360 --> 00:44:58,000
the Chinese President?

1042
00:44:57,995 --> 00:44:59,835
Mr. Earnest: As you know, Roger,
there are a number of issues

1043
00:44:59,830 --> 00:45:01,570
that are regularly
raised by the President

1044
00:45:01,565 --> 00:45:03,365
in the context of his
conversations with --

1045
00:45:03,367 --> 00:45:05,067
The Press: This has
usually been one of them.

1046
00:45:05,069 --> 00:45:07,639
I just want an affirmation
that it's going to come again.

1047
00:45:07,638 --> 00:45:09,578
Mr. Earnest: Well, this is
typically the domain not

1048
00:45:09,573 --> 00:45:11,573
of the Chairman of the
Federal Reserve, usually,

1049
00:45:11,575 --> 00:45:14,445
but in this case, the
Secretary of the Treasury.

1050
00:45:14,445 --> 00:45:16,915
And so I'd refer you to the
Treasury Department for any

1051
00:45:16,914 --> 00:45:19,114
possible conversations
that could be taking place

1052
00:45:19,116 --> 00:45:20,816
between the United
States and China.

1053
00:45:20,818 --> 00:45:21,688
The Press: Would
you rule that out?

1054
00:45:21,685 --> 00:45:22,985
Mr. Earnest:
I would not.

1055
00:45:22,986 --> 00:45:23,956
Dave.

1056
00:45:23,954 --> 00:45:26,294
The Press: Josh, there was a
mechanical problem on Air Force

1057
00:45:26,290 --> 00:45:29,260
One last night during the
President's campaign trip.

1058
00:45:29,259 --> 00:45:31,659
Do you have any information
about whether --

1059
00:45:31,662 --> 00:45:34,002
how that problem
was detected?

1060
00:45:33,997 --> 00:45:36,637
Mr. Earnest: I'm not aware of
the details of that problem

1061
00:45:36,633 --> 00:45:39,103
that was reported and that
necessitated a change

1062
00:45:39,103 --> 00:45:40,843
in aircraft last night.

1063
00:45:40,838 --> 00:45:42,978
I'd refer you to the
United States Air Force,

1064
00:45:42,973 --> 00:45:45,943
who flies and
maintains those planes,

1065
00:45:45,943 --> 00:45:48,013
for a more detailed
assessment.

1066
00:45:48,011 --> 00:45:51,011
Again, I think a lot of the
details about the President's

1067
00:45:51,014 --> 00:45:53,254
aircraft are not
something that they spend

1068
00:45:53,250 --> 00:45:55,250
a lot of time talking
about publicly.

1069
00:45:55,252 --> 00:45:57,252
I don't know if they'll be
in a position to answer

1070
00:45:57,254 --> 00:46:00,154
your question, but if
anybody can it will be them.

1071
00:46:00,157 --> 00:46:01,427
Justin.

1072
00:46:01,425 --> 00:46:03,895
The Press: You're suggesting in
your answer to Ed's question

1073
00:46:03,894 --> 00:46:06,134
that the American people
probably wouldn't

1074
00:46:06,130 --> 00:46:08,330
be interested in hiring
or firing of staff.

1075
00:46:08,332 --> 00:46:11,132
And so I'm wondering if
that's an indication that

1076
00:46:11,135 --> 00:46:13,335
we shouldn't expect what we've
seen from other Presidents,

1077
00:46:13,337 --> 00:46:16,937
which is kind of a significant
turnover or the departure

1078
00:46:16,940 --> 00:46:20,340
of a key figure of the
administration kind

1079
00:46:20,344 --> 00:46:22,944
of in the aftermath of
tomorrow's election.

1080
00:46:22,946 --> 00:46:26,616
Mr. Earnest: Well, Justin,
as was the case in previous

1081
00:46:26,617 --> 00:46:31,687
presidencies, traditionally,
after a midterm election it's

1082
00:46:31,688 --> 00:46:34,428
not uncommon for members of the
President's staff to use

1083
00:46:34,424 --> 00:46:39,434
the opportunity of that election
or its aftermath to leave

1084
00:46:39,429 --> 00:46:41,769
the White House and sort of
engage in a transition.

1085
00:46:41,765 --> 00:46:45,005
So I would anticipate that there
will be members -- colleagues

1086
00:46:45,002 --> 00:46:48,602
of mine here at the White House
who will do exactly that.

1087
00:46:48,605 --> 00:46:50,605
I don't know who
those people are.

1088
00:46:50,607 --> 00:46:52,607
I don't know of
anybody who's leaving.

1089
00:46:52,609 --> 00:46:56,919
I just suspect that that's
likely to be the case.

1090
00:46:56,914 --> 00:46:59,484
I think what will be different
is that there have been some

1091
00:46:59,483 --> 00:47:02,323
Presidents who have felt
compelled in the aftermath

1092
00:47:02,319 --> 00:47:06,719
of midterm elections to publicly
fire high-profile members

1093
00:47:06,723 --> 00:47:07,923
of the administration.

1094
00:47:07,925 --> 00:47:09,895
At this point, I don't
anticipate that that will

1095
00:47:09,893 --> 00:47:11,093
happen later this week.

1096
00:47:11,094 --> 00:47:13,634
The Press: And I just wanted
to ask about -- yesterday

1097
00:47:13,630 --> 00:47:15,400
in Connecticut, the President
got interrupted I think

1098
00:47:15,399 --> 00:47:18,069
five different times
during his speech

1099
00:47:18,068 --> 00:47:19,338
by immigration protestors.

1100
00:47:19,336 --> 00:47:21,536
This is something that's
happened on nearly every one

1101
00:47:21,538 --> 00:47:22,738
of his campaign stops.

1102
00:47:22,739 --> 00:47:26,039
And so when we're talking
about communications and how

1103
00:47:26,043 --> 00:47:27,883
effective you guys have
been in communicating,

1104
00:47:27,878 --> 00:47:31,318
why do you think the President
hasn't been effective

1105
00:47:31,315 --> 00:47:35,115
in communicating to obviously
passionate advocates

1106
00:47:35,118 --> 00:47:37,958
of immigration reform
that he continues

1107
00:47:37,955 --> 00:47:39,695
to be an ally to them?

1108
00:47:39,690 --> 00:47:41,020
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
first thing, Justin,

1109
00:47:41,024 --> 00:47:42,424
I'd say about that is I
think it is an exaggeration

1110
00:47:42,426 --> 00:47:44,126
to say that it's happened
at nearly every one

1111
00:47:44,127 --> 00:47:45,497
of the President's
campaign stops.

1112
00:47:45,495 --> 00:47:48,935
I mean, the President
did three events over

1113
00:47:48,932 --> 00:47:50,932
the weekend and it
happened in one of them.

1114
00:47:50,934 --> 00:47:52,934
I attended an event with the
President on Thursday night

1115
00:47:52,936 --> 00:47:56,476
in Maine and it didn't
occur there either.

1116
00:47:56,473 --> 00:47:58,543
So, that being said, I
will stipulate, however,

1117
00:47:58,542 --> 00:48:01,982
that there are advocates at
some of the campaign events

1118
00:48:01,979 --> 00:48:03,979
that the President has
hosted who have expressed

1119
00:48:03,981 --> 00:48:07,051
some frustration with
the stalled progress

1120
00:48:07,050 --> 00:48:09,120
of comprehensive
immigration reform.

1121
00:48:09,119 --> 00:48:11,119
The President, as he's
said on many occasions,

1122
00:48:11,121 --> 00:48:12,861
shares that frustration.

1123
00:48:12,856 --> 00:48:18,226
And I do think that those
sorts of protests are evidence

1124
00:48:18,228 --> 00:48:21,068
of the growing frustration by people who care most about

1125
00:48:21,064 --> 00:48:26,004
this issue that Congress -- in this case, House Republicans --

1126
00:48:26,003 --> 00:48:28,803
have been unable to do
something that seems

1127
00:48:28,805 --> 00:48:32,975
so simple, so nonpartisan,
and so common sense,

1128
00:48:32,976 --> 00:48:36,316
which is to pass
common-sense immigration

1129
00:48:36,313 --> 00:48:38,813
reform legislation that's
already passed in bipartisan

1130
00:48:38,815 --> 00:48:40,255
fashion by the Senate.

1131
00:48:40,250 --> 00:48:42,790
And the fact is we know that if
it were put up for a vote

1132
00:48:42,786 --> 00:48:44,786
on the floor of the House of
Representatives that this

1133
00:48:44,788 --> 00:48:47,528
bill would pass; that there is
bipartisan support, in fact,

1134
00:48:47,524 --> 00:48:50,524
majority support, for
common-sense immigration reform

1135
00:48:50,527 --> 00:48:52,527
legislation in the House
of Representatives.

1136
00:48:52,529 --> 00:48:54,529
The only reason that vote hasn't
occurred is because there

1137
00:48:54,531 --> 00:48:56,571
are members of the House
Republican leadership that

1138
00:48:56,566 --> 00:48:58,566
are preventing that bill
from coming up for a vote.

1139
00:48:58,568 --> 00:49:02,808
What the President has said is
that I strongly disagree with

1140
00:49:02,806 --> 00:49:07,716
your opposition to this bill,
but at least allow it to come up

1141
00:49:07,711 --> 00:49:10,211
for a vote, at least allow the
elected representatives of the

1142
00:49:10,213 --> 00:49:13,753
American people to consider this
piece of legislation that's

1143
00:49:13,750 --> 00:49:16,250
already passed with strong
bipartisan support in the Senate

1144
00:49:16,253 --> 00:49:21,423
-- if for no other reason
that it would have strong

1145
00:49:21,425 --> 00:49:25,265
and significant consequences
for our broader economy,

1146
00:49:25,262 --> 00:49:29,662
for our budget deficit, and
certainly for people who

1147
00:49:29,666 --> 00:49:31,666
are seeking to immigrate
to this country.

1148
00:49:31,668 --> 00:49:34,538
The Press: The reason that I ask
is one of the polls that's been

1149
00:49:34,538 --> 00:49:37,138
cited already -- the ABC poll
today -- showed that since

1150
00:49:37,140 --> 00:49:39,680
the beginning of the year, the
President's favorability

1151
00:49:39,676 --> 00:49:41,416
has fallen nearly 20 percent
with Hispanic voters.

1152
00:49:41,411 --> 00:49:43,411
Obviously that's, as
the head of the party,

1153
00:49:43,413 --> 00:49:46,883
an issue for Democrats headed
into tomorrow's election.

1154
00:49:46,883 --> 00:49:50,583
I mean, I know that you guys
said when you decided to delay

1155
00:49:50,587 --> 00:49:53,827
the action you were willing to
take the political hit for it.

1156
00:49:53,824 --> 00:49:56,664
Do you think that this political
hit is hurting Democrats

1157
00:49:56,660 --> 00:49:59,730
headed into tomorrow?

1158
00:49:59,730 --> 00:50:02,430
Mr. Earnest: Well,
again, we'll have to see

1159
00:50:02,432 --> 00:50:04,072
what the polls
say about that.

1160
00:50:04,067 --> 00:50:11,437
And my guess, though, is no,
that what you are seeing is that

1161
00:50:11,441 --> 00:50:14,141
you're going to see voters make
up their minds for a whole

1162
00:50:14,144 --> 00:50:16,144
variety of reasons, most
of them having to do with

1163
00:50:16,146 --> 00:50:19,886
the candidates who are
actually on the ballot.

1164
00:50:19,883 --> 00:50:23,683
The other thing I think that
this highlights -- and this

1165
00:50:23,687 --> 00:50:25,787
is something that we have talked
about previously -- that

1166
00:50:25,789 --> 00:50:32,029
the decision by the President to
delay the announcement about

1167
00:50:32,028 --> 00:50:35,268
executive actions to solve or
at least address some of the

1168
00:50:35,265 --> 00:50:39,005
problems associated with our
broken immigration system had

1169
00:50:39,002 --> 00:50:41,472
less to do with trying to
dictate the outcome of specific

1170
00:50:41,471 --> 00:50:45,641
elections and more with trying
to deflect the political heat

1171
00:50:45,642 --> 00:50:48,482
that would be focused
on this specific issue.

1172
00:50:48,478 --> 00:50:51,278
Kerry.

1173
00:50:51,281 --> 00:50:53,351
The Press: Last week,
on the Secret Service,

1174
00:50:53,350 --> 00:50:57,050
it became known that the CDC
worker did not have a criminal

1175
00:50:57,053 --> 00:50:59,353
-- felony criminal record.

1176
00:50:59,356 --> 00:51:03,156
I am wondering if
the White House,

1177
00:51:03,160 --> 00:51:08,270
if the President knew that
information before last week

1178
00:51:08,265 --> 00:51:10,835
and if that changes -- or if
there is any second-guessing

1179
00:51:10,834 --> 00:51:12,534
in the White House
about the decision

1180
00:51:12,536 --> 00:51:14,876
to dismiss the Secret
Service Director.

1181
00:51:14,871 --> 00:51:17,111
Because that incident was
sort of was widely believed

1182
00:51:17,107 --> 00:51:22,077
to sort of be the last
straw for Julia Pierson,

1183
00:51:22,078 --> 00:51:24,778
so I'm just looking for some
reaction to the news that

1184
00:51:24,781 --> 00:51:28,681
that incident was seemingly
not as severe as it seemed

1185
00:51:28,685 --> 00:51:30,785
at the time and whether
there is any second-guessing

1186
00:51:30,787 --> 00:51:32,987
on dismissing Julia Pierson.

1187
00:51:32,989 --> 00:51:34,559
Mr. Earnest: I'll say a
couple things about that.

1188
00:51:34,558 --> 00:51:36,558
The President was
briefed on this incident

1189
00:51:36,560 --> 00:51:38,560
shortly before it was
reported publicly.

1190
00:51:38,562 --> 00:51:39,732
I don't know of any
subsequent briefings

1191
00:51:39,729 --> 00:51:41,869
that the President
has received.

1192
00:51:41,865 --> 00:51:45,635
The President does continue
to believe that new

1193
00:51:45,635 --> 00:51:48,735
leadership has been needed
at the Secret Service,

1194
00:51:48,738 --> 00:51:54,608
and that's related to the number
of incidents that had cropped

1195
00:51:54,611 --> 00:51:57,211
up around the United
States Secret Service

1196
00:51:57,214 --> 00:51:58,714
in the last several weeks.

1197
00:51:58,715 --> 00:52:03,085
So I can tell you that,
consistent with the views

1198
00:52:03,086 --> 00:52:05,486
of the President, the Department
of Homeland Security,

1199
00:52:05,489 --> 00:52:09,489
under the direction of
the Deputy Secretary,

1200
00:52:09,493 --> 00:52:13,593
has completed their review of
the fence-jumping incident

1201
00:52:13,597 --> 00:52:16,937
that occurred six
or so weeks ago.

1202
00:52:16,933 --> 00:52:20,473
That review, you'll recall, was
a careful examination of what

1203
00:52:20,470 --> 00:52:24,810
exactly transpired that evening
and considered carefully

1204
00:52:24,808 --> 00:52:30,578
whether sort of any updated
or any updates were needed

1205
00:52:30,580 --> 00:52:33,280
to the security posture
here at the White House.

1206
00:52:33,283 --> 00:52:36,653
That report has been conveyed
to the Secretary of Homeland

1207
00:52:36,653 --> 00:52:39,493
Security, who will forward it
to this independent panel

1208
00:52:39,489 --> 00:52:43,029
of experts that he's appointed
to consider that review

1209
00:52:43,026 --> 00:52:46,326
and also to consider the
criteria for who the next

1210
00:52:46,329 --> 00:52:49,469
director of the United States
Secret Service should be.

1211
00:52:49,466 --> 00:52:53,436
And I would anticipate that
at an appropriate time,

1212
00:52:53,436 --> 00:52:56,506
that there will be more that the
Department of Homeland Security

1213
00:52:56,506 --> 00:52:59,106
will be able to say about
this review and about

1214
00:52:59,109 --> 00:53:01,109
the recommendations from
this independent panel.

1215
00:53:01,111 --> 00:53:03,111
J.C., I'll give
you the last one.

1216
00:53:03,113 --> 00:53:05,483
The Press: Josh, in light
of the two recent crashes

1217
00:53:05,482 --> 00:53:09,282
of private-sector spacecraft,
including Sir Richard Branson's

1218
00:53:09,286 --> 00:53:12,256
failed attempted --
tragic failed attempt,

1219
00:53:12,255 --> 00:53:14,995
and the U.S. strained
relationship with Russia,

1220
00:53:14,991 --> 00:53:17,191
is this administration
reconsidering

1221
00:53:17,193 --> 00:53:19,133
its funding of NASA?

1222
00:53:19,129 --> 00:53:20,459
Mr. Earnest: Well, J.C., I
can tell you that we've

1223
00:53:20,463 --> 00:53:23,303
often talked about the
complicated relationship

1224
00:53:23,300 --> 00:53:26,500
that the United States has
with Russia; that for all

1225
00:53:26,503 --> 00:53:29,773
of our strenuous disagreements
about Russia's conduct

1226
00:53:29,773 --> 00:53:32,713
in Ukraine and along their
border with Ukraine,

1227
00:53:32,709 --> 00:53:35,049
we've also demonstrated an
ability to cooperate with

1228
00:53:35,045 --> 00:53:38,945
them on other issues in
our clear mutual interest.

1229
00:53:38,949 --> 00:53:43,349
The first of those was the
successful eradication of

1230
00:53:43,353 --> 00:53:47,123
Syria's declared chemical
weapons stockpile.

1231
00:53:47,123 --> 00:53:50,223
We have continued to see
cooperation with the Russians

1232
00:53:50,226 --> 00:53:53,696
in the context of the
P5-plus-1 talks with Iran.

1233
00:53:53,697 --> 00:53:56,937
And we have continued to
see cooperation between

1234
00:53:56,933 --> 00:53:58,933
the United States and
Russia as it relates

1235
00:53:58,935 --> 00:54:00,935
to the International Space
Station; that there --

1236
00:54:00,937 --> 00:54:03,907
as recently as a few
weeks ago, I believe,

1237
00:54:03,907 --> 00:54:05,907
an American astronaut
was transported to the

1238
00:54:05,909 --> 00:54:11,319
International Space Station
aboard a Russia-launched rocket.

1239
00:54:11,314 --> 00:54:13,484
That is indicative of the
kind of ongoing cooperation

1240
00:54:13,483 --> 00:54:15,923
that exists between the
United States and Russia,

1241
00:54:15,919 --> 00:54:19,059
as it relates to
our space program.

1242
00:54:19,055 --> 00:54:24,825
So in terms of the more recent
news related to the space

1243
00:54:24,828 --> 00:54:29,068
program, I would say that we
continue to believe and are

1244
00:54:29,065 --> 00:54:32,305
proud of the fact that the
United States is on an ambitious

1245
00:54:32,302 --> 00:54:35,742
and sustainable path
of space exploration,

1246
00:54:35,739 --> 00:54:39,379
and that the development of a
commercial space industry

1247
00:54:39,376 --> 00:54:43,216
in this country has had
significant economic benefits

1248
00:54:43,213 --> 00:54:45,983
for communities all
across the country.

1249
00:54:45,982 --> 00:54:51,922
It also is something that has
led to important innovation --

1250
00:54:51,921 --> 00:54:55,761
that this kind of competition
has yielded innovative

1251
00:54:55,759 --> 00:55:00,029
results and advancements
for the space industry.

1252
00:55:00,030 --> 00:55:04,030
It also builds in
redundancies into the system.

1253
00:55:04,034 --> 00:55:07,574
So the President continues to
believe overall in the value

1254
00:55:07,570 --> 00:55:09,570
of investments in
our space program

1255
00:55:09,572 --> 00:55:11,912
and in space
exploration.

1256
00:55:11,908 --> 00:55:16,778
And despite some of the more
setbacks -- in some cases,

1257
00:55:16,780 --> 00:55:20,550
tragic setbacks -- the President
continues to be optimistic

1258
00:55:20,550 --> 00:55:22,820
about the future of the
U.S. space program.

1259
00:55:22,819 --> 00:55:27,089
Even as we sit here today,
there is a rover -- or there

1260
00:55:27,090 --> 00:55:29,630
are multiple rovers on
the surface of Mars.

1261
00:55:29,626 --> 00:55:32,266
There are Americans who are
living and working every day

1262
00:55:32,262 --> 00:55:35,562
aboard the International Space
Station that is in orbit

1263
00:55:35,565 --> 00:55:37,335
around the globe.

1264
00:55:37,333 --> 00:55:40,573
There is spacecraft right now
that have extended beyond --

1265
00:55:40,570 --> 00:55:43,970
they've traveled beyond our
solar system and are conducting

1266
00:55:43,973 --> 00:55:48,643
important research that's being
beamed back to Planet Earth.

1267
00:55:48,645 --> 00:55:53,415
And we continue to see NASA
technology and instruments

1268
00:55:53,416 --> 00:55:57,016
in space that are used to
collect data and offer

1269
00:55:57,020 --> 00:55:59,020
advice to scientists who
are looking to mitigate

1270
00:55:59,022 --> 00:56:01,722
the impact of climate
change on Planet Earth.

1271
00:56:01,725 --> 00:56:03,865
So this is an indication
that NASA continues

1272
00:56:03,860 --> 00:56:06,100
to make a substantial
contribution to science,

1273
00:56:06,096 --> 00:56:11,206
to the welfare not just of this
country but of our planet.

1274
00:56:11,201 --> 00:56:13,771
The Press: There's no regret
from this administration

1275
00:56:13,770 --> 00:56:16,370
that they couldn't be more
robust in funding

1276
00:56:16,372 --> 00:56:18,712
or working with
Congress to fund NASA?

1277
00:56:18,708 --> 00:56:20,848
Mr. Earnest: Well, we've been
clear about what our priorities

1278
00:56:20,844 --> 00:56:24,714
are and we are clear about the
fact that we are pleased

1279
00:56:24,714 --> 00:56:27,584
that the United States, under
the leadership of NASA,

1280
00:56:27,584 --> 00:56:30,454
continues to be on an
ambitious, sustainable path

1281
00:56:30,453 --> 00:56:32,053
of space exploration.

1282
00:56:32,055 --> 00:56:32,885
Thanks, everybody.

1283
00:56:32,889 --> 00:56:33,259
We'll see you tomorrow.