English subtitles for clip: File:12-19-11- White House Press Briefing.webm
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1 00:00:00,333 --> 00:00:01,400 Mr. Carney: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. 2 00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:02,400 Thank you for your patience. 3 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:04,433 Thanks for being here for your daily briefing. 4 00:00:04,433 --> 00:00:08,065 I don't have any announcements, so let's go straight 5 00:00:08,066 --> 00:00:09,500 to questions. 6 00:00:09,500 --> 00:00:10,700 Mr. Feller. 7 00:00:10,700 --> 00:00:11,433 The Press: Thanks, Jay. 8 00:00:11,433 --> 00:00:14,934 I wanted to ask you about North Korea and then move to the 9 00:00:14,934 --> 00:00:16,032 payroll tax. 10 00:00:16,033 --> 00:00:18,834 Is the President concerned at all about the security of the 11 00:00:18,834 --> 00:00:21,734 nuclear arsenal in North Korea? 12 00:00:21,734 --> 00:00:26,367 And more broadly, does he see this as a time of optimism or a 13 00:00:26,367 --> 00:00:29,767 time of concern? 14 00:00:29,767 --> 00:00:33,233 Mr. Carney: Ben, the United States is closely monitoring events in the 15 00:00:33,233 --> 00:00:36,500 aftermath of Kim Jong-il's death. 16 00:00:36,500 --> 00:00:39,066 Our focus is on coordinating closely with our allies 17 00:00:39,066 --> 00:00:41,033 and partners. 18 00:00:41,033 --> 00:00:43,467 We have reaffirmed our unwavering commitment to the 19 00:00:43,467 --> 00:00:45,766 stability of the Korean Peninsula and the security of 20 00:00:45,767 --> 00:00:49,734 our allies, South Korea and Japan. 21 00:00:49,734 --> 00:00:52,367 The President, as you know, has had a very close working 22 00:00:52,367 --> 00:00:54,400 relationship with President Lee and spoke to him 23 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:55,699 late last night. 24 00:00:55,700 --> 00:00:57,133 In addition to that communication, 25 00:00:57,133 --> 00:00:59,367 Secretary Clinton, Secretary Panetta, 26 00:00:59,367 --> 00:01:02,266 National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, 27 00:01:02,266 --> 00:01:04,700 they have all spoken to their counterparts in the Korean 28 00:01:04,700 --> 00:01:06,367 government, as have our team on the ground, 29 00:01:06,367 --> 00:01:09,500 including our ambassador and the head of U.S. Forces Korea. 30 00:01:09,500 --> 00:01:12,000 Secretary Clinton is meeting today with the Japanese foreign 31 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,033 minister, and we have also consulted closely with a wide 32 00:01:15,033 --> 00:01:17,266 range of our Japanese colleagues. 33 00:01:17,266 --> 00:01:20,834 In addition, we are in touch with Russia and China, 34 00:01:20,834 --> 00:01:23,800 the two other members of the six-party talks beyond 35 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:24,800 North Korea. 36 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:26,533 And President Obama has been regularly briefed on 37 00:01:26,533 --> 00:01:27,600 the situation. 38 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:34,500 As for the situation, we're monitoring it. 39 00:01:34,500 --> 00:01:39,133 The succession that is in place has been in place for a 40 00:01:39,133 --> 00:01:42,600 considerable period of time now, and we're just closely 41 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:43,866 monitoring the situation. 42 00:01:43,867 --> 00:01:48,734 The Press: So as to concerns about their nuclear stability right now? 43 00:01:48,734 --> 00:01:51,899 Mr. Carney: I don't think we have any additional concerns beyond the 44 00:01:51,900 --> 00:02:00,233 ones that we have long had with North Korea's approach to 45 00:02:00,233 --> 00:02:01,233 nuclear issues. 46 00:02:01,233 --> 00:02:06,200 And we will continue to press them to meet their 47 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:07,800 international obligations. 48 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:14,834 But I -- we have no new concerns as a result of this event. 49 00:02:14,834 --> 00:02:17,300 The Press: And based on what you're hearing so far, I mean, 50 00:02:17,300 --> 00:02:21,867 clearly there is a transition now -- is this a time -- 51 00:02:21,867 --> 00:02:24,166 is this an opening from the White House perspective for 52 00:02:24,166 --> 00:02:24,734 better days? 53 00:02:24,734 --> 00:02:27,066 Mr. Carney: I think it's much too early to make any kind of 54 00:02:27,066 --> 00:02:28,066 judgment like that. 55 00:02:28,066 --> 00:02:31,800 This is a period where North Korea is in a period of 56 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:36,567 national mourning. 57 00:02:36,567 --> 00:02:39,266 And we hope that the new North Korean leadership will take the 58 00:02:39,266 --> 00:02:40,867 steps necessary to support peace, 59 00:02:40,867 --> 00:02:44,299 prosperity and a better future for the North Korean people, 60 00:02:44,300 --> 00:02:46,867 including, as I say, acting on its commitment 61 00:02:46,867 --> 00:02:49,466 to denuclearization. 62 00:02:49,467 --> 00:02:50,467 The Press: Okay, thank you. 63 00:02:50,467 --> 00:02:54,433 On the payroll tax, was the White House ever given any 64 00:02:54,433 --> 00:03:00,466 assurance from the House that this is something that it 65 00:03:00,467 --> 00:03:01,233 would support? 66 00:03:01,233 --> 00:03:02,900 When the President came out and spoke on Saturday, 67 00:03:02,900 --> 00:03:07,533 did he think this was, in essence, a done deal? 68 00:03:07,533 --> 00:03:12,466 Mr. Carney: As you know, Ben, the President worked closely with Senate 69 00:03:12,467 --> 00:03:16,834 leadership as it negotiated -- Senate Democratic leadership, 70 00:03:16,834 --> 00:03:19,567 with Senator Reid and others -- negotiated with Republican 71 00:03:19,567 --> 00:03:24,433 leadership on a compromise that won an overwhelming 72 00:03:24,433 --> 00:03:30,867 bipartisan support -- won overwhelming bipartisan support 73 00:03:30,867 --> 00:03:34,767 in the Senate -- 89 to 10, 90%. 74 00:03:34,767 --> 00:03:42,100 More than 80% of Senate Republicans voted for it. 75 00:03:42,100 --> 00:03:44,367 I do this sometimes, but I've been here long enough to say 76 00:03:44,367 --> 00:03:47,899 that it has never been the case that the Senate votes at 90%, 77 00:03:47,900 --> 00:03:51,533 with overwhelming majorities from both parties, 78 00:03:51,533 --> 00:03:54,799 without communication with their counterparts in the House. 79 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:58,300 And it is certainly not for the President to be the intermediary 80 00:03:58,300 --> 00:04:00,767 between Republican leaders in the House and the Senate. 81 00:04:00,767 --> 00:04:03,333 It was certainly our expectation, 82 00:04:03,333 --> 00:04:06,567 and we certainly had reason to believe that there was support 83 00:04:06,567 --> 00:04:10,400 in the House for a measure that would ensure that Americans 84 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:14,800 didn't have their taxes go up in 12 days. 85 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:19,133 Not only did we have reason to believe that because of the 86 00:04:19,132 --> 00:04:24,767 nature of the negotiations that were taking place on Capitol 87 00:04:24,767 --> 00:04:28,332 Hill, but, as many of you have reported, 88 00:04:28,333 --> 00:04:33,767 the Speaker of the House, in his conference call with House 89 00:04:33,767 --> 00:04:37,467 Republicans, urged them to support this measure, 90 00:04:37,467 --> 00:04:40,900 said it was a victory and the right thing to do. 91 00:04:40,900 --> 00:04:43,200 So he was for it before he was against it. 92 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:44,767 The Press: Well, he disputes that. 93 00:04:44,767 --> 00:04:48,567 Mr. Carney: Well, again, I would cite the numerous reports from your 94 00:04:48,567 --> 00:04:57,567 colleagues, citing Republicans who were on the call making the 95 00:04:57,567 --> 00:04:59,500 opposite point. 96 00:04:59,500 --> 00:05:04,600 And again, I think the broader issue here is, 97 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:07,800 the President from the beginning has been for a full-year payroll 98 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:09,934 tax cut extension and expansion. 99 00:05:09,934 --> 00:05:15,400 It was in the American Jobs Act, and that was put on the table 100 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:16,400 back in September. 101 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:21,734 So this is not -- here we are, the very end of December, 102 00:05:21,734 --> 00:05:24,799 facing the possibility that 160 million Americans will have 103 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:29,333 their taxes go up on January 1st, 104 00:05:29,333 --> 00:05:33,800 and the House refusing to pass a measure that has overwhelming 105 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:36,233 bipartisan support from Republicans as well 106 00:05:36,233 --> 00:05:37,700 as Democrats. 107 00:05:37,700 --> 00:05:40,099 The President was for the -- very supportive of the measure 108 00:05:40,100 --> 00:05:43,867 -- of the approach that was taken in the Senate that also 109 00:05:43,867 --> 00:05:47,233 would have extended the payroll tax cut for a year. 110 00:05:47,233 --> 00:05:49,900 He continues to support a full extension, 111 00:05:49,900 --> 00:05:53,933 as he made clear on Saturday, of the payroll tax cut. 112 00:05:53,934 --> 00:05:57,600 But Congress needs to act, the House needs to act -- or else, 113 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:00,467 Americans are going to have their taxes go up. 114 00:06:00,467 --> 00:06:08,400 And it is very hard to understand why a measure passed 115 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:13,099 the Senate with nearly 90% support -- 116 00:06:13,100 --> 00:06:18,066 all it would take in the House, if all Democrats or virtually 117 00:06:18,066 --> 00:06:22,933 all Democrats vote for it, is about 25 or 30 Republicans -- 118 00:06:22,934 --> 00:06:27,600 12% of Republican support in the House for this thing to become 119 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:32,333 law -- for the House to ensure that Americans don't have their 120 00:06:32,333 --> 00:06:34,066 taxes go up. 121 00:06:34,066 --> 00:06:36,799 So we call on Republicans to do that. 122 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:38,300 The Press: Last one on this. 123 00:06:38,300 --> 00:06:41,500 You say it's time for Congress to act. 124 00:06:41,500 --> 00:06:44,567 Speaker Boehner says that's not going to happen, 125 00:06:44,567 --> 00:06:47,033 the House vote is going to go down. 126 00:06:47,033 --> 00:06:49,133 Senator Reid says he's not bringing the Senate back 127 00:06:49,133 --> 00:06:50,700 to renegotiate. 128 00:06:50,700 --> 00:06:52,166 So is this it? 129 00:06:52,166 --> 00:06:53,166 Is this the vote tonight? 130 00:06:53,166 --> 00:06:55,867 Or is there any path to get this done should this vote go 131 00:06:55,867 --> 00:06:56,500 down tonight? 132 00:06:56,500 --> 00:06:59,033 Mr. Carney: Well, I don't want to speculate about what happens after this 133 00:06:59,033 --> 00:07:03,567 because, again, I don't think this is too much of a long shot 134 00:07:03,567 --> 00:07:11,800 to say that 25 Republicans in the House might break ranks and 135 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:14,934 say, you know what, I don't want to go home and explain to my 136 00:07:14,934 --> 00:07:19,934 constituents why I voted to raise taxes on them, 137 00:07:19,934 --> 00:07:22,567 on middle-class, working Americans. 138 00:07:22,567 --> 00:07:28,233 So I think that we remain hopeful that the House will act, 139 00:07:28,233 --> 00:07:30,934 that House Republicans will do the right thing, 140 00:07:30,934 --> 00:07:36,734 and support a proposal to extend this payroll tax cut for two 141 00:07:36,734 --> 00:07:41,099 months and allowing the time necessary to negotiate a 142 00:07:41,100 --> 00:07:42,900 full-year extension. 143 00:07:42,900 --> 00:07:47,433 Everyone says now that they're for it, a full-year extension -- 144 00:07:47,433 --> 00:07:50,400 this is Republicans having traveled some distance from 145 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:53,467 opposing it to now being for it. 146 00:07:53,467 --> 00:07:56,834 So hopefully the House will do the right thing and 147 00:07:56,834 --> 00:07:59,734 pass this bill. 148 00:07:59,734 --> 00:08:04,599 The Press: Jay, on North Korea, I know you said it's early days and you're 149 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:07,867 formulating an assessment, but people who follow this closely 150 00:08:07,867 --> 00:08:09,834 say that it's one of two things -- 151 00:08:09,834 --> 00:08:12,767 that either this development will lead to greater instability 152 00:08:12,767 --> 00:08:14,933 or perhaps it's an opening. 153 00:08:14,934 --> 00:08:17,900 Does the administration lean toward one view or another 154 00:08:17,900 --> 00:08:19,366 at this stage? 155 00:08:19,367 --> 00:08:25,600 Mr. Carney: I just think it's much too early to make that judgment. 156 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:29,934 North Korea is in a period of national mourning; 157 00:08:29,934 --> 00:08:32,834 this transition is just now beginning to take place. 158 00:08:32,833 --> 00:08:40,532 The issue here isn't about personalities; 159 00:08:40,533 --> 00:08:46,767 it's about the actions of the government. 160 00:08:46,767 --> 00:08:50,200 You know, we will monitor the situation closely. 161 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:57,166 But I think it would be premature to make assessments 162 00:08:57,166 --> 00:09:01,066 about what this development would mean in terms of its 163 00:09:01,066 --> 00:09:04,667 effect on six-party talks or anything else. 164 00:09:04,667 --> 00:09:08,400 The Press: On another subject, Reuters has an exclusive out that was put on 165 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:12,165 the wire last night, detailing 10 months of talks between the 166 00:09:12,166 --> 00:09:14,033 United States and the Taliban. 167 00:09:14,033 --> 00:09:16,533 And I was wondering if you could bring us up to speed on those 168 00:09:16,533 --> 00:09:20,166 talks -- what is the aim of them, 169 00:09:20,166 --> 00:09:23,400 what do you expect out of them. 170 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:24,766 Mr. Carney: Well, I'd say a couple of things. 171 00:09:24,767 --> 00:09:26,900 One, we would leave it up to the Afghan government to 172 00:09:26,900 --> 00:09:30,766 characterize the state of the talks that they are leading. 173 00:09:30,767 --> 00:09:33,900 As you know, our policy has been for a long time now and it 174 00:09:33,900 --> 00:09:38,367 remains the case that we support reconciliation, 175 00:09:38,367 --> 00:09:41,467 Afghan-led reconciliation process, 176 00:09:41,467 --> 00:09:44,500 that would bring Afghans together and allow insurgents to 177 00:09:44,500 --> 00:09:46,533 come off the battlefield. 178 00:09:46,533 --> 00:09:49,100 We and the Afghan government have been clear about the 179 00:09:49,100 --> 00:09:51,333 conditions that would need to be met: 180 00:09:51,333 --> 00:09:54,600 Insurgents would need to break from al Qaeda, abandon violence, 181 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:57,200 and abide by the Afghan constitution, 182 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:00,100 including its provisions on the respect for the rights of all 183 00:10:00,100 --> 00:10:02,900 Afghans, and that includes obviously women and 184 00:10:02,900 --> 00:10:05,400 ethnic minorities. 185 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:08,266 So we will continue to support these Afghan-led efforts. 186 00:10:08,266 --> 00:10:10,333 But I would refer you to the Afghan government about 187 00:10:10,333 --> 00:10:13,567 specifics about expectations, if that was the nature of 188 00:10:13,567 --> 00:10:18,400 your question. 189 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:20,533 Let's see -- Victoria. 190 00:10:20,533 --> 00:10:24,633 The Press: Why did you come out today with the executive order on the 191 00:10:24,633 --> 00:10:29,600 initiative on women and girls and conflict resolution? 192 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:31,100 Mr. Carney: Well, I would refer you to the State Department. 193 00:10:31,100 --> 00:10:33,734 I mean, they're having -- the Secretary of State is I think 194 00:10:33,734 --> 00:10:36,800 speaking about this issue today. 195 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:40,400 This has been -- these kinds of things have a fairly long 196 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:41,500 planning time. 197 00:10:41,500 --> 00:10:45,033 So I'm not sure I get the nature of your question. 198 00:10:45,033 --> 00:10:46,967 Why not today, I suppose. 199 00:10:46,967 --> 00:10:50,367 The Press: Could you talk a little bit more about why it's so important to 200 00:10:50,367 --> 00:10:54,733 the administration? 201 00:10:54,734 --> 00:11:00,934 Mr. Carney: I can tell you that -- let me see what I have here. 202 00:11:00,934 --> 00:11:04,967 The documents that are part of the executive order released 203 00:11:04,967 --> 00:11:07,699 today for the first-ever National Action Plan on Women, 204 00:11:07,700 --> 00:11:10,633 Peace, and Security; lay out the concrete steps the 205 00:11:10,633 --> 00:11:13,066 administration will take to increase our commitment to 206 00:11:13,066 --> 00:11:15,400 support women as critical participants in preventing and 207 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:17,300 resolving conflict. 208 00:11:17,300 --> 00:11:19,934 The documents released today represent a change in how the 209 00:11:19,934 --> 00:11:21,800 United States will approach its diplomatic, 210 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:24,766 military and development-based support to women in areas of 211 00:11:24,767 --> 00:11:27,467 conflict by ensuring that women's perspectives and 212 00:11:27,467 --> 00:11:31,033 considerations of gender are woven into the DNA of how the 213 00:11:31,033 --> 00:11:33,934 United States approaches peace processes, conflict prevention, 214 00:11:33,934 --> 00:11:37,333 and the protection of civilians, as well as 215 00:11:37,333 --> 00:11:38,433 humanitarian assistance. 216 00:11:38,433 --> 00:11:44,133 But I think you'll hear more, if you haven't already, 217 00:11:44,133 --> 00:11:47,033 from the Secretary of State on this. 218 00:11:47,033 --> 00:11:49,967 Jake. 219 00:11:49,967 --> 00:11:53,266 The Press: Vice President Biden gave an interview in which he said the 220 00:11:53,266 --> 00:11:57,467 Taliban, per se, is not our enemy. 221 00:11:57,467 --> 00:11:58,800 We are fighting the Taliban right now, 222 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:00,367 as I know I don't need to tell you. 223 00:12:00,367 --> 00:12:01,766 Can you explain a little bit more? 224 00:12:01,767 --> 00:12:02,433 Mr. Carney: Sure. 225 00:12:02,433 --> 00:12:04,233 The Press: Does he regret using that language? 226 00:12:04,233 --> 00:12:05,099 Mr. Carney: Not at all. 227 00:12:05,100 --> 00:12:07,300 I think it's important -- I know you've written about this -- 228 00:12:07,300 --> 00:12:11,467 to understand what most Americans I think know, 229 00:12:11,467 --> 00:12:14,066 which is that we didn't invade Afghanistan, 230 00:12:14,066 --> 00:12:17,567 we did not send U.S. military personnel into Afghanistan 231 00:12:17,567 --> 00:12:19,000 because the Taliban were in power. 232 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:20,800 They had been in power. 233 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:24,165 We went into Afghanistan because al Qaeda had launched an attack 234 00:12:24,166 --> 00:12:26,467 against the United States from Afghanistan. 235 00:12:26,467 --> 00:12:30,766 And what the Vice President was reflecting is that -- 236 00:12:30,767 --> 00:12:33,000 and this is related to the reconciliation process that I 237 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:36,500 was just discussing -- is that the Taliban, per se -- 238 00:12:36,500 --> 00:12:39,533 while we are fighting them, it is not the elimination -- 239 00:12:39,533 --> 00:12:41,633 the elimination of the Taliban is not the issue here. 240 00:12:41,633 --> 00:12:45,233 The objective that the President laid out when he laid out his 241 00:12:45,233 --> 00:12:49,599 Afghanistan strategy made clear that the number-one principle 242 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:51,967 here is to defeat, dismantle -- or disrupt, 243 00:12:51,967 --> 00:12:54,667 dismantle and ultimately defeat al Qaeda, 244 00:12:54,667 --> 00:12:57,800 as well as help stabilize Afghanistan. 245 00:12:57,800 --> 00:12:59,199 And that's what we're doing. 246 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:02,133 Part of that process is our support for the Afghan-led 247 00:13:02,133 --> 00:13:05,433 reconciliation talks. 248 00:13:05,433 --> 00:13:07,834 The conditions for reconciliation for the Taliban 249 00:13:07,834 --> 00:13:10,065 are very clear. 250 00:13:10,066 --> 00:13:17,400 But reconciliation has to be a part of the long-term process in 251 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:20,934 Afghanistan if Afghanistan is going to evolve into a 252 00:13:20,934 --> 00:13:22,733 peaceful country. 253 00:13:22,734 --> 00:13:23,567 The Press: I understand that. 254 00:13:23,567 --> 00:13:27,433 I just -- obviously there isn't much of an al Qaeda presence 255 00:13:27,433 --> 00:13:28,934 in Afghanistan. 256 00:13:28,934 --> 00:13:31,132 Leon Panetta, when he was CIA director, 257 00:13:31,133 --> 00:13:33,533 told me a year or two ago that there were less -- 258 00:13:33,533 --> 00:13:36,934 fewer than 100 al Qaeda operatives in Afghanistan. 259 00:13:36,934 --> 00:13:44,132 We've been devoting a great deal of blood and treasure, 260 00:13:44,133 --> 00:13:49,433 focused almost entirely on defeating Taliban insurgents, 261 00:13:49,433 --> 00:13:50,734 Taliban fighters. 262 00:13:50,734 --> 00:13:53,233 And I understand that ultimately there's going to have to be some 263 00:13:53,233 --> 00:13:54,699 sort of reconciliation. 264 00:13:54,700 --> 00:13:57,266 I just wonder if the language was regrettable at all. 265 00:13:57,266 --> 00:14:00,333 Mr. Carney: Well, it's only regrettable when taken out of context that I just 266 00:14:00,333 --> 00:14:03,467 explained -- that it's regrettable to present it out of 267 00:14:03,467 --> 00:14:10,633 context, because it is a simple fact that we went into 268 00:14:10,633 --> 00:14:13,000 Afghanistan because of the attack on the United States on 269 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:15,867 September 11, 2001. 270 00:14:15,867 --> 00:14:19,065 We are there now to ultimately defeat al Qaeda, 271 00:14:19,066 --> 00:14:22,400 to stabilize Afghanistan -- and stabilize it in part so that al 272 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:27,600 Qaeda or other terrorists who have as their aim attacks on the 273 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:35,734 United States cannot establish a foothold in that country. 274 00:14:35,734 --> 00:14:42,900 So what is also completely clear is that Afghanistan's future has 275 00:14:42,900 --> 00:14:46,967 to include within it reconciliation. 276 00:14:46,967 --> 00:14:48,967 And that's why we support the Afghan government-led 277 00:14:48,967 --> 00:14:50,199 effort there. 278 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:52,800 The Press: To follow up on North Korea, if you could. 279 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:56,900 President Lee has experienced some criticism in his country 280 00:14:56,900 --> 00:15:01,066 for what is perceived to be a belligerent attitude towards 281 00:15:01,066 --> 00:15:05,400 North Korea, which some say has exacerbated tensions. 282 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:07,834 I'm wondering if you're -- if the White House has a 283 00:15:07,834 --> 00:15:08,834 take on that. 284 00:15:08,834 --> 00:15:12,233 And also, there are intelligence analysts within the 285 00:15:12,233 --> 00:15:15,467 administration who speculate that one of the reasons for all 286 00:15:15,467 --> 00:15:20,400 those attacks -- the torpedo on the South Korean naval vessel 287 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:22,000 and the shelling of the island -- 288 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:26,467 are because of the new president of South -- of North Korea, 289 00:15:26,467 --> 00:15:29,867 rather, joining the military and trying to earn his stripes. 290 00:15:29,867 --> 00:15:32,165 Is that proven? 291 00:15:32,166 --> 00:15:34,600 Do we have intelligence about that? 292 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:36,433 Or is that just speculation? 293 00:15:36,433 --> 00:15:39,500 Mr. Carney: Well, as you can expect, I'm not going to discuss 294 00:15:39,500 --> 00:15:43,633 intelligence from here. 295 00:15:43,633 --> 00:15:47,266 And then I would add to that that it really is premature to 296 00:15:47,266 --> 00:15:51,199 make assessments of the new leader, 297 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:53,500 or at least the one who's been designated by a succession that 298 00:15:53,500 --> 00:15:55,533 was already in the works. 299 00:15:55,533 --> 00:16:01,400 And we will judge North Korea -- the North Korean government as 300 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:08,033 we always have: by its actions, and by its actions with regard, 301 00:16:08,033 --> 00:16:11,200 in particular, to upholding its commitments 302 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:12,533 regarding denuclearization. 303 00:16:12,533 --> 00:16:14,066 So we'll continue to do that. 304 00:16:14,066 --> 00:16:21,033 I think, stepping back, it does make sense to give this process 305 00:16:21,033 --> 00:16:26,000 a little bit of time before we make judgments about the new 306 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:30,133 leadership or the disposition of North Korea going forward. 307 00:16:30,133 --> 00:16:31,367 The Press: What about President Lee? 308 00:16:31,367 --> 00:16:32,400 Do you think that -- 309 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:34,066 Mr. Carney: Well, President Lee is a very close ally -- 310 00:16:34,066 --> 00:16:35,667 South Korea is a very close ally, 311 00:16:35,667 --> 00:16:38,066 and this President works very closely with them; 312 00:16:38,066 --> 00:16:39,467 the rest of the government does. 313 00:16:39,467 --> 00:16:40,867 The Press: Is there a take that maybe his attitude, 314 00:16:40,867 --> 00:16:43,533 the way he's treated North Korea has exacerbated tensions at all? 315 00:16:43,533 --> 00:16:46,467 Mr. Carney: Not that I've heard here. 316 00:16:46,467 --> 00:16:47,667 Jessica. 317 00:16:47,667 --> 00:16:50,700 The Press: To try a little bit on Ben's question -- 318 00:16:50,700 --> 00:16:54,300 because House Republicans have been able to show some 319 00:16:54,300 --> 00:16:56,867 persistent unity on some of these issues this year, 320 00:16:56,867 --> 00:17:00,632 and they've maintained that they simply will not pass the Senate 321 00:17:00,633 --> 00:17:02,333 version of this bill. 322 00:17:02,333 --> 00:17:05,165 Last week the President said Congress should not and cannot 323 00:17:05,165 --> 00:17:08,367 go on vacation before they have made sure that working families 324 00:17:08,367 --> 00:17:10,966 are not seeing their taxes go up by $1,000. 325 00:17:10,967 --> 00:17:15,367 So will he urge the Senate to come back and get this over the 326 00:17:15,367 --> 00:17:19,367 finish line before year's end? 327 00:17:19,367 --> 00:17:26,800 Mr. Carney: We are urging the House to follow the Senate's lead and 328 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:29,233 pass a bill, or an amendment to a bill, 329 00:17:29,233 --> 00:17:33,300 that has received overwhelming bipartisan support on this 330 00:17:33,300 --> 00:17:38,533 issue, that will make sure that Americans' taxes don't go up in 331 00:17:38,533 --> 00:17:43,800 12 days, 8 hours. 332 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:48,200 It is time for us to step back and look at what has 333 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:49,100 transpired here. 334 00:17:49,100 --> 00:17:58,399 We have been in this situation where the public is, 335 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:04,633 where the vast majority of folks in Washington are, 336 00:18:04,633 --> 00:18:10,567 is at variance with a slim subsection of one party 337 00:18:10,567 --> 00:18:11,867 in one House. 338 00:18:11,867 --> 00:18:13,200 And I think it's pretty clear, again, 339 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:16,266 based on the reporting that you and your colleagues have done, 340 00:18:16,266 --> 00:18:18,800 what transpired here. 341 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:24,767 And this is, in one way, a very unique situation compared to 342 00:18:24,767 --> 00:18:27,533 what we've seen transpire this whole year because the Senate 343 00:18:27,533 --> 00:18:32,934 did pass -- did do what in the past the House leadership has 344 00:18:32,934 --> 00:18:37,800 asked it to do, which is pass a bill out with broad bipartisan 345 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:39,734 support, including broad Republican support. 346 00:18:39,734 --> 00:18:40,667 Well it is there. 347 00:18:40,667 --> 00:18:43,332 It is ready to be voted on and passed by the House 348 00:18:43,333 --> 00:18:44,367 of Representatives. 349 00:18:44,367 --> 00:18:50,000 And it is simply perplexing, I think for all of us, 350 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:55,066 and I think for a lot of you, to understand why House Republicans 351 00:18:55,066 --> 00:18:58,600 would not support a measure that garnered -- 352 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:01,132 I did the calculations on my iPhone -- 353 00:19:01,133 --> 00:19:04,133 83% Republican support in the Senate. 354 00:19:04,133 --> 00:19:07,734 We have some Senate Republicans now coming out today saying, 355 00:19:07,734 --> 00:19:11,433 please -- to their colleagues -- please -- 356 00:19:11,433 --> 00:19:13,166 to the House Republicans -- pass this. 357 00:19:13,166 --> 00:19:15,100 This is crazy not to do this. 358 00:19:15,100 --> 00:19:21,300 It is the obvious thing to do so that we ensure that Americans 359 00:19:21,300 --> 00:19:23,767 don't have their taxes go up and we give ourselves the time, 360 00:19:23,767 --> 00:19:28,133 give negotiators the time to work on a full-year extension, 361 00:19:28,133 --> 00:19:30,433 which is, as the President said here from this podium on 362 00:19:30,433 --> 00:19:36,100 Saturday, should not cause a great deal of drama in January 363 00:19:36,100 --> 00:19:37,632 or February when they work it out. 364 00:19:37,633 --> 00:19:39,300 The Press: So if a bill to extend the payroll tax, 365 00:19:39,300 --> 00:19:42,300 either temporary or for a year, is not passed, 366 00:19:42,300 --> 00:19:45,767 will the President skip his vacation and stay in town? 367 00:19:45,767 --> 00:19:51,133 Mr. Carney: The President has made clear that he wants Congress to get 368 00:19:51,133 --> 00:19:57,533 this done, that he is here now and will be here as Congress 369 00:19:57,533 --> 00:19:59,867 tries to sort this out, because it's essential to him; 370 00:19:59,867 --> 00:20:02,734 it is his number-one priority right now that Americans don't 371 00:20:02,734 --> 00:20:05,000 have -- middle-class Americans don't have their taxes go up on 372 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:08,300 January 1st. 373 00:20:08,300 --> 00:20:12,867 We remain hopeful that tonight enough House Republicans will 374 00:20:12,867 --> 00:20:18,000 not vote in lockstep for a position that is supported by 375 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:23,500 almost no one out there, and will instead pass a payroll tax 376 00:20:23,500 --> 00:20:27,500 cut extension, make clear that they are committed, as we are, 377 00:20:27,500 --> 00:20:31,934 to a full-year tax cut for the American people -- 378 00:20:31,934 --> 00:20:33,867 a position, which, by the way, this President has had 379 00:20:33,867 --> 00:20:37,899 consistently, but which Republicans who are now saying, 380 00:20:37,900 --> 00:20:40,500 oh, we can't possibly kick the can down the road, 381 00:20:40,500 --> 00:20:46,033 they didn't even support a full-year extension until a few 382 00:20:46,033 --> 00:20:47,033 weeks ago. 383 00:20:47,033 --> 00:20:51,600 We had numerous senior Republicans on the Hill who were 384 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:55,667 dismissing the economic value of the payroll tax cut, 385 00:20:55,667 --> 00:20:58,533 dismissing the need to do it at all and making clear that their 386 00:20:58,533 --> 00:20:59,934 support was tepid at best. 387 00:20:59,934 --> 00:21:05,332 So now, fortunately, we've seen some movement in that direction. 388 00:21:05,333 --> 00:21:06,467 There is support for it. 389 00:21:06,467 --> 00:21:13,967 We expect the Congress to pass it, the House to pass it. 390 00:21:13,967 --> 00:21:19,500 The alternative is Americans waking on the 1st of January and 391 00:21:19,500 --> 00:21:22,633 trying to figure out, okay, how am I going to budget -- 392 00:21:22,633 --> 00:21:28,700 how am I going to make ends meet with $1,000 less this year, 393 00:21:28,700 --> 00:21:32,800 because the House Republicans refused to vote for something 394 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:38,567 that 83% of Senate Republicans supported. 395 00:21:38,567 --> 00:21:39,433 Hope it doesn't come to pass. 396 00:21:39,433 --> 00:21:40,467 Norah. 397 00:21:40,467 --> 00:21:44,000 The Press: On North Korea, how confident are you that the transition of 398 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:49,800 power will go smoothly? 399 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:57,633 Mr. Carney: We see no indication that the succession as -- 400 00:21:57,633 --> 00:22:01,867 prior to this event -- the succession that had been 401 00:22:01,867 --> 00:22:03,399 contemplated, won't take place. 402 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:04,900 We expect that it will. 403 00:22:04,900 --> 00:22:08,166 We see no indication that it won't. 404 00:22:08,166 --> 00:22:11,667 But beyond that I don't really have a comment. 405 00:22:11,667 --> 00:22:15,199 The Press: Kim Jong-un is 27 years old. 406 00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:20,233 He's been described as untested, inexperienced, 407 00:22:20,233 --> 00:22:22,533 and with a volatile personality -- 408 00:22:22,533 --> 00:22:25,934 someone who has recently encouraged the attacks 409 00:22:25,934 --> 00:22:26,734 against the South. 410 00:22:26,734 --> 00:22:30,332 Is that someone that the U.S. thinks is someone that they feel 411 00:22:30,333 --> 00:22:32,333 confident should be leading North Korea? 412 00:22:32,333 --> 00:22:35,333 Any concerns? 413 00:22:35,333 --> 00:22:37,333 Mr. Carney: I appreciate the question, Norah. 414 00:22:37,333 --> 00:22:42,467 I think that we will make judgments on the new 415 00:22:42,467 --> 00:22:46,934 leadership's disposition, if you will, 416 00:22:46,934 --> 00:22:52,100 based on how he and the government handles itself 417 00:22:52,100 --> 00:22:53,100 going forward. 418 00:22:53,100 --> 00:22:55,399 We have consistently demonstrated that we are open to 419 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:58,867 engagement with North Korea, but we've also made clear that the 420 00:22:58,867 --> 00:23:02,399 North Koreans need to take steps towards denuclearization that 421 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:05,333 would demonstrate seriousness of purpose and a willingness 422 00:23:05,333 --> 00:23:06,333 to negotiate. 423 00:23:06,333 --> 00:23:09,700 And that was our position last week and it remains our position 424 00:23:09,700 --> 00:23:13,166 this week and going forward. 425 00:23:13,166 --> 00:23:17,233 Demonstrating that willingness would then open the door to 426 00:23:17,233 --> 00:23:21,300 renewed six-party talks, and to improved relations with the 427 00:23:21,300 --> 00:23:23,332 United States and with North Korea's neighbors. 428 00:23:23,333 --> 00:23:26,567 So nothing has changed in our position. 429 00:23:26,567 --> 00:23:33,200 And we will judge, obviously, North Korea and its government 430 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:39,033 based on how they engage on this issue going forward. 431 00:23:39,033 --> 00:23:41,065 The Press: Can I just clarify -- "nothing has changed" -- 432 00:23:41,066 --> 00:23:44,233 does that mean the U.S. will go forward with an announcement 433 00:23:44,233 --> 00:23:49,399 about food aid to North Korea? 434 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:52,667 Mr. Carney: Well, we have longstanding concerns about the at-risk 435 00:23:52,667 --> 00:23:55,300 population in North Korea, and have repeatedly discussed with 436 00:23:55,300 --> 00:23:56,867 the North Koreans the terms for potential 437 00:23:56,867 --> 00:23:58,800 humanitarian assistance. 438 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:01,166 As the State Department has repeatedly made clear, 439 00:24:01,166 --> 00:24:04,332 we require adequate monitoring provisions to ensure that 440 00:24:04,333 --> 00:24:06,900 assistance that might be provided is not diverted from 441 00:24:06,900 --> 00:24:09,266 those in genuine need. 442 00:24:09,266 --> 00:24:13,066 No decision will be taken by the U.S. government with respect to 443 00:24:13,066 --> 00:24:14,967 assistance without such arrangements. 444 00:24:14,967 --> 00:24:18,400 And again, that was true last week and it's true 445 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:19,400 going forward. 446 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:23,000 So there's no decisions at this point to provide food aid. 447 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:28,967 This is about the precursor to that, 448 00:24:28,967 --> 00:24:32,200 which would be making sure that such arrangements are in place 449 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:34,467 that would allow for adequate monitoring. 450 00:24:34,467 --> 00:24:37,467 The Press: So it's fair to say that such a decision might be delayed with 451 00:24:37,467 --> 00:24:39,233 Kim Jong-il's death? 452 00:24:39,233 --> 00:24:40,700 Mr. Carney: Again, I don't think that this -- 453 00:24:40,700 --> 00:24:50,700 as with all the questions that I've gotten, we will act -- 454 00:24:50,700 --> 00:24:58,400 we will monitor the situation, we will evaluate behavior and 455 00:24:58,400 --> 00:24:59,300 act accordingly. 456 00:24:59,300 --> 00:25:00,734 But that was always the case. 457 00:25:00,734 --> 00:25:05,934 It's too soon to know what the next period will look like, 458 00:25:05,934 --> 00:25:10,633 as they are now in a period of national mourning 459 00:25:10,633 --> 00:25:11,800 and transition. 460 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:13,332 And we'll just have to see. 461 00:25:13,333 --> 00:25:14,600 The Press: I just have one more final question. 462 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:18,065 Can you confirm that the United States was on the cusp of a deal 463 00:25:18,066 --> 00:25:19,066 where they would announce -- 464 00:25:19,066 --> 00:25:20,066 Mr. Carney: No. 465 00:25:20,066 --> 00:25:22,567 No, not on the cusp of a deal. 466 00:25:22,567 --> 00:25:26,100 I think that we were having these discussions, 467 00:25:26,100 --> 00:25:29,000 as we've had in the past, and there was not an imminent deal 468 00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:30,700 to be announced. 469 00:25:30,700 --> 00:25:33,000 The Press: There were reports that there was an imminent deal within 470 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:36,300 days, to be followed by an announcement from Pyongyang. 471 00:25:36,300 --> 00:25:39,100 Mr. Carney: I don't have anything to announce on that. 472 00:25:39,100 --> 00:25:44,632 I mean, again, this is -- a decision like that was not going 473 00:25:44,633 --> 00:25:46,633 to be taken and will not be taken by the United States 474 00:25:46,633 --> 00:25:50,000 government with respect to that kind of assistance without the 475 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:52,867 arrangements that I mentioned being in place. 476 00:25:52,867 --> 00:25:55,433 The Press: Has our North Korea -- State Department's North Korea 477 00:25:55,433 --> 00:25:58,900 specialists had any contact with Pyongyang since the death of 478 00:25:58,900 --> 00:26:00,600 Kim Jong-il was announced? 479 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:03,033 Mr. Carney: I don't have any information with regard to that. 480 00:26:03,033 --> 00:26:04,433 You might check with the State Department. 481 00:26:04,433 --> 00:26:07,433 The Press: What do we know about Kim Jong-un? 482 00:26:07,433 --> 00:26:13,066 Mr. Carney: I'm not going to get into assessments right now. 483 00:26:13,066 --> 00:26:19,400 We're focused on actions, and we are -- 484 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:21,367 certainly appreciate the fact that they're in a period of 485 00:26:21,367 --> 00:26:23,700 national mourning. 486 00:26:23,700 --> 00:26:26,433 The Press: You talked about a time period -- 487 00:26:26,433 --> 00:26:28,266 waiting for a time period. 488 00:26:28,266 --> 00:26:33,133 When Kim Il-sung died, it was several years before Kim Jong-il 489 00:26:33,133 --> 00:26:36,100 really made his presence felt on the international stage. 490 00:26:36,100 --> 00:26:39,966 Is that the time period you're talking about for Kim Jong-un? 491 00:26:39,967 --> 00:26:44,367 Mr. Carney: I don't think we're in a position to publicly assess 492 00:26:44,367 --> 00:26:45,367 that right now. 493 00:26:45,367 --> 00:26:48,166 I think we just have to see. 494 00:26:48,166 --> 00:26:49,166 The Press: Thanks, Jay. 495 00:26:49,166 --> 00:26:53,633 Can you at least explain why it's so imprudent for the 496 00:26:53,633 --> 00:26:55,100 administration to take a position on whether the death of 497 00:26:55,100 --> 00:26:59,567 Kim Jong-il could lead to more nuclear proliferation out of 498 00:26:59,567 --> 00:27:00,900 North Korea, or less? 499 00:27:00,900 --> 00:27:03,033 I mean, why -- what's the risk? 500 00:27:03,033 --> 00:27:04,800 Are you afraid of escalation? 501 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:07,100 Mr. Carney: What's the risk of pure speculation? 502 00:27:07,100 --> 00:27:08,766 The Press: I mean, you have an opinion. 503 00:27:08,767 --> 00:27:10,300 Why not share it at all? 504 00:27:10,300 --> 00:27:12,066 Mr. Carney: Well, there are opinions we might have that we don't 505 00:27:12,066 --> 00:27:17,533 necessarily share on matters of national security or 506 00:27:17,533 --> 00:27:19,466 foreign governments. 507 00:27:19,467 --> 00:27:23,000 I think what I'm trying to make clear here is that this is a 508 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:25,967 period of transition, a period of national mourning, 509 00:27:25,967 --> 00:27:28,900 and our position is as it has always been, 510 00:27:28,900 --> 00:27:32,834 which is that we will judge governments -- 511 00:27:32,834 --> 00:27:34,133 and this government is the same -- 512 00:27:34,133 --> 00:27:37,300 by their actions going forward. 513 00:27:37,300 --> 00:27:40,200 The Press: The South Koreans have increased their level of alert 514 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:42,233 and readiness. 515 00:27:42,233 --> 00:27:43,867 Is the U.S. looking to do that with any of their 516 00:27:43,867 --> 00:27:44,867 military bases? 517 00:27:44,867 --> 00:27:46,667 Or is there any chance that this would have an effect on 518 00:27:46,667 --> 00:27:47,600 the Futenma -- 519 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:48,800 Mr. Carney: As I understand it, no. 520 00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:54,332 Obviously you can ask for more detailed information from the 521 00:27:54,333 --> 00:27:55,333 Defense Department. 522 00:27:55,333 --> 00:28:00,100 But I understand that that is not the case for us. 523 00:28:00,100 --> 00:28:00,766 Julianna. 524 00:28:00,767 --> 00:28:01,500 The Press: Thanks. 525 00:28:01,500 --> 00:28:03,800 You keep saying that you're hopeful that enough House 526 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:07,133 Republicans will support the Senate measure. 527 00:28:07,133 --> 00:28:10,166 What are you basing that hope on? 528 00:28:10,166 --> 00:28:14,200 [laughter] 529 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:17,900 Mr. Carney: A month ago, Julianna, there was ample evidence, 530 00:28:17,900 --> 00:28:20,533 publicly stated by Republican leaders, 531 00:28:20,533 --> 00:28:22,833 that they were totally opposed to -- 532 00:28:22,834 --> 00:28:25,200 or a number of them, influential ones were opposed to a payroll 533 00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:27,533 tax cut extension. 534 00:28:27,533 --> 00:28:34,332 We are now in a place where they're so committed to it that, 535 00:28:34,333 --> 00:28:38,433 despite the substantial efforts to get a one-year deal, 536 00:28:38,433 --> 00:28:43,333 they are saying now that they can't possibly accept a 537 00:28:43,333 --> 00:28:46,967 bipartisan compromise to extend it for two months to allow time 538 00:28:46,967 --> 00:28:49,467 for more negotiations for a full-year extension. 539 00:28:49,467 --> 00:28:56,700 I mean, there's a little bit of kabuki theater going on here. 540 00:28:56,700 --> 00:29:01,867 We all know how unusual this situation is that transpired 541 00:29:01,867 --> 00:29:02,867 this weekend. 542 00:29:02,867 --> 00:29:11,367 It is not common practice, I would say, 543 00:29:11,367 --> 00:29:14,332 for a bill of substance that doesn't have to do with naming a 544 00:29:14,333 --> 00:29:20,133 post office or commemorative coins to pass with 90% support 545 00:29:20,133 --> 00:29:25,533 and overwhelming support from both parties without the wheels 546 00:29:25,533 --> 00:29:29,667 being greased, if you will, in the other House by the leaders. 547 00:29:29,667 --> 00:29:35,367 And it makes getting things done on behalf of the American people 548 00:29:35,367 --> 00:29:39,433 pretty difficult when you have that kind of volatility, 549 00:29:39,433 --> 00:29:44,400 and have that situation where the things that have broad 550 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:49,500 bipartisan support, have broad, broad American public support, 551 00:29:49,500 --> 00:29:53,567 cannot get done because a sub-faction of one party in one 552 00:29:53,567 --> 00:30:00,467 house basically dictating the direction of the majority 553 00:30:00,467 --> 00:30:02,000 in that house. 554 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:03,000 It makes it very difficult. 555 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:08,900 But we remain hopeful, again, because they do not represent 556 00:30:08,900 --> 00:30:10,867 even a majority of the Republican Party. 557 00:30:10,867 --> 00:30:13,767 And so we're talking here, I think, 25, 558 00:30:13,767 --> 00:30:18,033 30 members of the House is 12 or 15% of the House 559 00:30:18,033 --> 00:30:19,033 Republican caucus. 560 00:30:19,033 --> 00:30:21,632 That's all we need. 561 00:30:21,633 --> 00:30:24,266 Not the 82% we got in the Senate, 562 00:30:24,266 --> 00:30:27,667 but 12 or 15% of House Republicans can vote yes and 563 00:30:27,667 --> 00:30:32,000 ensure that Americans don't have their taxes go up on January 1. 564 00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:34,867 The Press: Has the President had any calls with leadership? 565 00:30:34,867 --> 00:30:39,033 Mr. Carney: I don't have any calls to read out at this time. 566 00:30:39,033 --> 00:30:40,000 Kristen, did you have anything? 567 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:40,433 The Press: Yes. 568 00:30:40,433 --> 00:30:41,834 Thanks, Jay. 569 00:30:41,834 --> 00:30:44,233 When was the last time the President did speak with 570 00:30:44,233 --> 00:30:46,166 Speaker Boehner? 571 00:30:46,166 --> 00:30:50,000 Mr. Carney: I don't have any calls or conversations to read out to you 572 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:51,100 at this time. 573 00:30:51,100 --> 00:30:54,199 The Press: Given that we only have 12 days left and this is sort of crunch 574 00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:57,533 time, what can we expect to see from the President later today 575 00:30:57,533 --> 00:30:59,199 and in the coming days? 576 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:03,667 Mr. Carney: The President is actively engaged on this issue. 577 00:31:03,667 --> 00:31:06,899 Again, he has -- you saw him here on Saturday. 578 00:31:06,900 --> 00:31:13,667 And he worked closely with Senator Reid and Senate 579 00:31:13,667 --> 00:31:18,600 Democratic leadership on the efforts to get a one-year deal, 580 00:31:18,600 --> 00:31:24,000 and when that was not achievable in the timeframe that was before 581 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:31,100 us, Senators Reid and McConnell worked out a two-month extension 582 00:31:31,100 --> 00:31:35,033 that won the support of 89 United States senators out of 99 583 00:31:35,033 --> 00:31:37,899 who cast votes. 584 00:31:37,900 --> 00:31:40,600 And the President was very much involved in that process. 585 00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:44,600 That measure now awaits consideration by the House 586 00:31:44,600 --> 00:31:45,766 of Representatives. 587 00:31:45,767 --> 00:31:48,734 Tonight, apparently, there will be a vote. 588 00:31:48,734 --> 00:31:52,000 And it should be passed. 589 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:54,667 It has overwhelming support. 590 00:31:54,667 --> 00:31:56,399 And it will ensure that Americans -- 591 00:31:56,400 --> 00:31:58,133 working, middle-class Americans -- 592 00:31:58,133 --> 00:32:01,934 do not have their taxes go up on January 1st. 593 00:32:01,934 --> 00:32:06,300 And it will give negotiators further time to ensure that we 594 00:32:06,300 --> 00:32:09,600 then extend it for the full calendar year of 2012 -- 595 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:13,300 the payroll tax cut extension, as well as the extension of 596 00:32:13,300 --> 00:32:15,834 unemployment insurance, which has, 597 00:32:15,834 --> 00:32:18,133 as every outside economist will tell you, 598 00:32:18,133 --> 00:32:19,834 a very positive impact on the economy. 599 00:32:19,834 --> 00:32:25,667 Because let's not forget here what the substantive consequence 600 00:32:25,667 --> 00:32:33,132 of a failure to act would mean: not just $1,000 tax hike for the 601 00:32:33,133 --> 00:32:38,934 average American family, but a negative impact on the economy. 602 00:32:38,934 --> 00:32:41,200 There are economists out there who say that if we do not extend 603 00:32:41,200 --> 00:32:43,233 the payroll tax cut, if we do not extend unemployment 604 00:32:43,233 --> 00:32:44,600 insurance, it increases the possibility of a recession, 605 00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:51,800 or increases the possibility of very slow economic growth. 606 00:32:51,800 --> 00:32:55,934 The converse of that is passing this tax cut, 607 00:32:55,934 --> 00:32:58,100 passing the extension of unemployment insurance, 608 00:32:58,100 --> 00:33:01,500 will have a positive impact on economic growth. 609 00:33:01,500 --> 00:33:03,600 And there are Republicans out there -- 610 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:07,899 and not surprisingly, they're the ones who have been opposed 611 00:33:07,900 --> 00:33:09,734 or tepid in their support for this -- 612 00:33:09,734 --> 00:33:14,399 who claim, based on no valid or credible economic evidence, 613 00:33:14,400 --> 00:33:16,467 that these things have had positive effects on the 614 00:33:16,467 --> 00:33:17,467 economy this year. 615 00:33:17,467 --> 00:33:21,066 There is no credible economist -- unaffiliated, 616 00:33:21,066 --> 00:33:24,567 nonpartisan economist -- who would argue to you that payroll 617 00:33:24,567 --> 00:33:29,567 tax cut and unemployment insurance have not had a 618 00:33:29,567 --> 00:33:33,300 positive impact on growth and a positive impact on job creation. 619 00:33:33,300 --> 00:33:35,200 And that's why we have to have them for next year. 620 00:33:35,200 --> 00:33:37,133 The Press: And, Jay, if you don't want to read out meetings with the 621 00:33:37,133 --> 00:33:40,100 President, can you say if any of his top advisors, Pete Rouse, 622 00:33:40,100 --> 00:33:43,734 have been in contact with leadership on the Hill? 623 00:33:43,734 --> 00:33:48,500 Mr. Carney: Well, I won't -- setting aside the individuals, 624 00:33:48,500 --> 00:33:55,000 certainly we are in contact with Capitol Hill on this matter, 625 00:33:55,000 --> 00:34:04,000 and have been all weekend and today, and will continue to be. 626 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:13,033 We will hope, as I said, that Republicans figure out the right 627 00:34:13,033 --> 00:34:17,766 thing to do here, support their colleagues in the Senate, 628 00:34:17,766 --> 00:34:19,833 support what the American people want done, 629 00:34:19,833 --> 00:34:23,533 and make sure that their taxes don't go up on January 1. 630 00:34:23,533 --> 00:34:24,699 It's pretty simple. 631 00:34:24,699 --> 00:34:26,632 The Press: And when you say you've had contact, 632 00:34:26,632 --> 00:34:28,165 that includes Republicans? 633 00:34:28,166 --> 00:34:31,066 Because some officials in Speaker Boehner's office said 634 00:34:31,065 --> 00:34:33,033 they've heard radio silence. 635 00:34:33,033 --> 00:34:36,500 Mr. Carney: Well, let me just say, I think the President himself told you 636 00:34:36,500 --> 00:34:40,600 on Saturday that he had spoken with Senator McConnell, 637 00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:43,366 thanked him for his efforts at achieving this bipartisan 638 00:34:43,367 --> 00:34:50,000 compromise on Saturday. 639 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:51,934 With regard to the Speaker of the House, 640 00:34:51,934 --> 00:34:56,166 it is not our job to negotiate between him and 641 00:34:56,166 --> 00:34:59,734 Senate Republicans. 642 00:34:59,734 --> 00:35:04,433 Again, the Senate passed, with something like 82% Senate 643 00:35:04,433 --> 00:35:09,266 Republican approval -- 39 Senate Republicans -- 644 00:35:09,266 --> 00:35:12,300 a provision to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment 645 00:35:12,300 --> 00:35:16,200 insurance, as well a deal with some other important issues, 646 00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:19,100 for two months. 647 00:35:19,100 --> 00:35:21,600 The House should follow suit. 648 00:35:21,600 --> 00:35:22,299 Toshi. 649 00:35:22,300 --> 00:35:22,967 The Press: Thank you, Jay. 650 00:35:22,967 --> 00:35:23,800 Mr. Carney: Oh, I'm sorry, then Laura. 651 00:35:23,800 --> 00:35:24,934 Toshi then Laura. 652 00:35:24,934 --> 00:35:27,567 The Press: I have two questions on North Korea. 653 00:35:27,567 --> 00:35:32,233 So far has the administration noticed any unusual movement by 654 00:35:32,233 --> 00:35:34,200 North Korean military? 655 00:35:34,200 --> 00:35:36,200 Can you give us an assessment on that? 656 00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:38,533 Because it's a grave concern in the region. 657 00:35:38,533 --> 00:35:44,266 And secondly, does the President have any plan to communicate 658 00:35:44,266 --> 00:35:48,433 with Japanese Prime Minister Noda as he did with Korean 659 00:35:48,433 --> 00:35:49,967 President Lee? 660 00:35:49,967 --> 00:35:52,667 Mr. Carney: I don't have any announcements to make about upcoming 661 00:35:52,667 --> 00:35:55,033 conversations the President may or may not have. 662 00:35:55,033 --> 00:35:59,033 And with regard to your first question, 663 00:35:59,033 --> 00:36:04,500 my understanding prior to coming out here is that we did not see 664 00:36:04,500 --> 00:36:05,900 any evidence of that. 665 00:36:05,900 --> 00:36:11,166 I would refer you to the Defense Department for more detailed 666 00:36:11,166 --> 00:36:13,300 analysis of that, but my understanding is the 667 00:36:13,300 --> 00:36:15,767 answer is no. 668 00:36:15,767 --> 00:36:17,000 Laura, then Jackie, then Mark. 669 00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:18,433 The Press: Thanks. 670 00:36:18,433 --> 00:36:22,767 On the payroll tax cut, Senate Democrats have indicated that 671 00:36:22,767 --> 00:36:24,466 the House has the bill before it; 672 00:36:24,467 --> 00:36:27,633 but they can pass it or they can be responsible for a tax 673 00:36:27,633 --> 00:36:30,100 increase, and they're not interested in 674 00:36:30,100 --> 00:36:31,232 renegotiating this. 675 00:36:31,233 --> 00:36:32,934 Is that the White House view as well, 676 00:36:32,934 --> 00:36:35,400 that basically they should take it or own it, 677 00:36:35,400 --> 00:36:36,767 and that's the end? 678 00:36:36,767 --> 00:36:40,066 Or if they reject it, will it be time for more negotiations? 679 00:36:40,066 --> 00:36:49,767 Mr. Carney: Well, if they reject it is immediately speculating about 680 00:36:49,767 --> 00:36:50,767 the outcome. 681 00:36:50,767 --> 00:36:57,899 I understand that some statements have been made that 682 00:36:57,900 --> 00:37:02,066 suggest that that is what will happen, and that's unfortunate. 683 00:37:02,066 --> 00:37:04,899 But I don't want to get ahead of that process because we really 684 00:37:04,900 --> 00:37:07,934 do believe -- and we've just heard in the last few hours some 685 00:37:07,934 --> 00:37:10,500 Senate Republicans reinforce this point -- 686 00:37:10,500 --> 00:37:14,200 that it is the right thing to do to vote "yes" tonight, 687 00:37:14,200 --> 00:37:19,133 following the overwhelmingly bipartisan support that this 688 00:37:19,133 --> 00:37:21,899 measure received in the Senate, to ensure that Americans don't 689 00:37:21,900 --> 00:37:23,100 have their taxes go up. 690 00:37:23,100 --> 00:37:25,066 So I don't want to get ahead of that process. 691 00:37:25,066 --> 00:37:31,000 It is certainly the case that Senator Reid worked very closely 692 00:37:31,000 --> 00:37:33,500 with Senate McConnell to work out this compromise. 693 00:37:33,500 --> 00:37:37,533 And before they put forward the two-month measure, 694 00:37:37,533 --> 00:37:41,834 they worked hard on trying to get a year tax cut extension, 695 00:37:41,834 --> 00:37:43,667 payroll tax cut extension, unemployment 696 00:37:43,667 --> 00:37:45,366 insurance extension. 697 00:37:45,367 --> 00:37:47,834 They were not able to accomplish that at this time, 698 00:37:47,834 --> 00:37:51,433 and felt it was of the utmost importance that at the very 699 00:37:51,433 --> 00:37:53,800 least we make sure taxes don't go up on January 1st, 700 00:37:53,800 --> 00:37:55,433 which is the President's absolute priority. 701 00:37:55,433 --> 00:37:58,166 So they negotiated this two-month compromise. 702 00:37:58,166 --> 00:38:06,433 It received 89 out of 99 Senate votes, Senate ayes, 703 00:38:06,433 --> 00:38:08,400 and it moved on to the House. 704 00:38:08,400 --> 00:38:13,767 I think it is not too much to ask, 705 00:38:13,767 --> 00:38:14,966 on behalf of the American people, 706 00:38:14,967 --> 00:38:20,100 that the House follow suit -- vote as the Senate did, 707 00:38:20,100 --> 00:38:22,767 in a bipartisan fashion, to ensure Americans' taxes don't go 708 00:38:22,767 --> 00:38:24,933 up on January 1st. 709 00:38:24,934 --> 00:38:27,367 So I'm not -- again, I'm not going to get into what happens 710 00:38:27,367 --> 00:38:28,900 if the vote goes down or -- 711 00:38:28,900 --> 00:38:29,567 The Press: Right. 712 00:38:29,567 --> 00:38:33,567 I'm just -- the reason I'm asking that is because by doing 713 00:38:33,567 --> 00:38:36,433 -- by saying what the Senate Democrats are saying obviously 714 00:38:36,433 --> 00:38:38,567 puts a certain degree of pressure on the House, 715 00:38:38,567 --> 00:38:41,700 and if you were to say the same, that would add to that pressure 716 00:38:41,700 --> 00:38:44,466 on the House that they better vote for this or they're going 717 00:38:44,467 --> 00:38:45,567 to see taxes go up. 718 00:38:45,567 --> 00:38:47,166 And you're declining to do that, so -- 719 00:38:47,166 --> 00:38:52,900 Mr. Carney: Well, let's be clear, I'm doing everything I can to make clear 720 00:38:52,900 --> 00:38:56,867 our view -- that the American people overwhelmingly support 721 00:38:56,867 --> 00:39:01,166 this; the Senate overwhelmingly supported it; 722 00:39:01,166 --> 00:39:03,967 it is overwhelmingly the right thing to do; 723 00:39:03,967 --> 00:39:08,667 and that the American people would be justifiably angry if 724 00:39:08,667 --> 00:39:11,133 Congress does not -- and in this case, the House does not -- 725 00:39:11,133 --> 00:39:15,033 vote to extend this tax cut. 726 00:39:15,033 --> 00:39:17,900 Because people are going to wake up and -- 727 00:39:17,900 --> 00:39:20,734 will spend the holiday season trying to figure out how they 728 00:39:20,734 --> 00:39:24,834 will manage their budgets with $1,000 less in their paychecks 729 00:39:24,834 --> 00:39:35,834 next year, because of this kind of nonsensical behavior, where 730 00:39:35,834 --> 00:39:38,500 -- it takes compromise to get things done here. 731 00:39:38,500 --> 00:39:41,934 We are a two-party system in a divided government. 732 00:39:41,934 --> 00:39:44,100 And something happened on Saturday in the Senate that has 733 00:39:44,100 --> 00:39:51,600 not happened often in this year: 89 senators voted for something 734 00:39:51,600 --> 00:39:54,967 that was not a post office or a commemorative coin, 735 00:39:54,967 --> 00:39:58,433 39 of them Republicans. 736 00:39:58,433 --> 00:40:02,100 I think Americans who are paying attention to this must be 737 00:40:02,100 --> 00:40:05,266 pulling their hair out when they look at the House now refusing 738 00:40:05,266 --> 00:40:07,600 to do what the Senate did. 739 00:40:07,600 --> 00:40:11,767 The Press: On a -- perhaps it seems like a outdated question, 740 00:40:11,767 --> 00:40:15,899 all the way back to Saturday -- on the issue of the Keystone 741 00:40:15,900 --> 00:40:20,767 provision that's in the Senate bill and the bill in front of 742 00:40:20,767 --> 00:40:25,866 the House, why did the administration accept that 743 00:40:25,867 --> 00:40:28,900 language given that just a few days earlier, 744 00:40:28,900 --> 00:40:32,734 in the SAP on the House bill, the administration indicated 745 00:40:32,734 --> 00:40:37,734 that it would not -- that it was opposed? 746 00:40:37,734 --> 00:40:40,633 Mr. Carney: The administration indicated in its SAP that it would -- 747 00:40:40,633 --> 00:40:45,232 the President would veto a specific bill. 748 00:40:45,233 --> 00:40:50,266 The President spoke in general about an effort to mandate a 749 00:40:50,266 --> 00:40:56,300 decision -- a "yes" decision as being something he would reject. 750 00:40:56,300 --> 00:41:01,400 This provision does not mandate that outcome, 751 00:41:01,400 --> 00:41:03,800 which does not say that it's -- does not mean it's not 752 00:41:03,800 --> 00:41:10,300 extraneous, that it's not wholly irrelevant or unrelated to a 753 00:41:10,300 --> 00:41:13,033 payroll tax cut extension or an unemployment extension or the 754 00:41:13,033 --> 00:41:14,799 SGR doc fix or any of that. 755 00:41:14,800 --> 00:41:19,667 It's a purely political thing that was inserted by Republicans 756 00:41:19,667 --> 00:41:22,967 into the payroll tax cut extension. 757 00:41:22,967 --> 00:41:27,233 We accepted it, Senate Democrats accepted it, 758 00:41:27,233 --> 00:41:30,200 because that is part of what compromise means. 759 00:41:30,200 --> 00:41:33,466 Sometimes you have to take things that you don't want. 760 00:41:33,467 --> 00:41:38,266 But let's be clear about what that provision, 761 00:41:38,266 --> 00:41:42,500 if the House does take the appropriate action tonight and 762 00:41:42,500 --> 00:41:45,934 it becomes law, what that would mean and what it would not mean. 763 00:41:45,934 --> 00:41:48,900 The Press: But that provision that is in the final Senate bill is the 764 00:41:48,900 --> 00:41:52,667 same provision that was in the House bill that the statement of 765 00:41:52,667 --> 00:41:54,866 administration policy suggested -- 766 00:41:54,867 --> 00:41:56,367 Mr. Carney: Right, but the SAP -- the statement of administration 767 00:41:56,367 --> 00:42:00,500 policy said the President would veto a bill which had many 768 00:42:00,500 --> 00:42:01,233 components to it; this was one. 769 00:42:01,233 --> 00:42:01,900 The Press: I understand. 770 00:42:01,900 --> 00:42:02,934 I'm not saying it was a veto -- 771 00:42:02,934 --> 00:42:06,400 Mr. Carney: So there are other things that could end up in a hypothetical 772 00:42:06,400 --> 00:42:09,967 resolution to this and that would have -- 773 00:42:09,967 --> 00:42:12,700 I mean, going back to that period of time, which, 774 00:42:12,700 --> 00:42:14,933 as you say, seems like a long time ago -- 775 00:42:14,934 --> 00:42:20,367 it wasn't that any single element that appeared in another 776 00:42:20,367 --> 00:42:22,900 bill would make that bill veto-worthy. 777 00:42:22,900 --> 00:42:26,633 It was that that bill would result, 778 00:42:26,633 --> 00:42:28,966 if it landed on the President's desk, in a veto. 779 00:42:28,967 --> 00:42:31,500 Well, that bill now is dead and will not land on the 780 00:42:31,500 --> 00:42:32,567 President's desk. 781 00:42:32,567 --> 00:42:36,066 The Press: And the last question is, do you believe that this will lead to a 782 00:42:36,066 --> 00:42:39,265 rejection of the Keystone project? 783 00:42:39,266 --> 00:42:43,333 Mr. Carney: I would only point you to the statement made by the State 784 00:42:43,333 --> 00:42:50,867 Department about what a 60-day review would mean. 785 00:42:50,867 --> 00:42:52,700 The whole reason, as I understand it, 786 00:42:52,700 --> 00:42:56,799 that more time was needed is because to properly do the sort 787 00:42:56,800 --> 00:42:59,734 of assessments that need to be done when you're evaluating 788 00:42:59,734 --> 00:43:02,933 these alternate routes for a pipeline, 789 00:43:02,934 --> 00:43:04,633 it requires more time than 60 days. 790 00:43:04,633 --> 00:43:07,265 So it would be very difficult, as I understand it, 791 00:43:07,266 --> 00:43:11,533 for the State Department to say that that review had been 792 00:43:11,533 --> 00:43:13,734 responsibly achieved in 60 days. 793 00:43:13,734 --> 00:43:18,834 But I would refer you to that statement. 794 00:43:18,834 --> 00:43:20,265 Jackie. 795 00:43:20,266 --> 00:43:23,700 The Press: Yes, Jay, does the White House have any response to reports out 796 00:43:23,700 --> 00:43:27,299 of Baghdad that just a day after the last U.S. combat troops 797 00:43:27,300 --> 00:43:32,533 rolled out, the Shiite-dominated government has issued an arrest 798 00:43:32,533 --> 00:43:38,200 warrant for Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi for having personal 799 00:43:38,200 --> 00:43:44,866 death squads that had targeted opponents, 800 00:43:44,867 --> 00:43:48,767 and thus sparked fears of political and sectarian 801 00:43:48,767 --> 00:43:50,399 fighting there? 802 00:43:50,400 --> 00:43:51,433 Mr. Carney: I did have something on that. 803 00:43:51,433 --> 00:44:00,066 Hold on one second. 804 00:44:00,066 --> 00:44:00,734 Do you have it? 805 00:44:00,734 --> 00:44:01,900 Sorry -- thanks. 806 00:44:01,900 --> 00:44:08,266 Yes, this did just, as you know, break -- this just in. 807 00:44:08,266 --> 00:44:11,767 Yes, well, what I can say is we are monitoring this, 808 00:44:11,767 --> 00:44:14,866 monitoring the reports that an arrest warrant has been issued 809 00:44:14,867 --> 00:44:19,500 for Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi in Iraq. 810 00:44:19,500 --> 00:44:22,033 We are talking to all of the parties and expressed -- 811 00:44:22,033 --> 00:44:25,299 have expressed our concern regarding these developments. 812 00:44:25,300 --> 00:44:27,867 We are urging all sides to work to resolve differences 813 00:44:27,867 --> 00:44:30,800 peacefully and through dialogue, in a manner consistent with the 814 00:44:30,800 --> 00:44:34,600 rule of law and the democratic political process. 815 00:44:34,600 --> 00:44:35,799 Mark. 816 00:44:35,800 --> 00:44:40,433 The Press: Jay, are you saying that if the House votes tonight the way 817 00:44:40,433 --> 00:44:43,934 we're told it will, that the White House is going to give up? 818 00:44:43,934 --> 00:44:45,934 I mean, that's the end of it -- you're going to say, all right, 819 00:44:45,934 --> 00:44:46,700 everybody go home? 820 00:44:46,700 --> 00:44:50,299 Mr. Carney: I'm not accepting that outcome -- 821 00:44:50,300 --> 00:44:51,166 The Press: You're going to keep trying, right? 822 00:44:51,166 --> 00:44:52,600 Mr. Carney: -- I'm not expecting that outcome. 823 00:44:52,600 --> 00:44:54,533 The Press: Yes, but you really need to, right? 824 00:44:54,533 --> 00:44:58,232 Mr. Carney: Well, I was told that it was impossible for the Kansas City 825 00:44:58,233 --> 00:45:02,266 Chiefs to beat the Green Bay Packers, and look what happened. 826 00:45:02,266 --> 00:45:03,133 The Press: I think this is more -- 827 00:45:03,133 --> 00:45:04,466 Mr. Carney: You think it's even more unlikely? 828 00:45:04,467 --> 00:45:08,033 The Press: I mean, you're saying that if the House votes tonight that 829 00:45:08,033 --> 00:45:10,400 Americans are going to wake up angry, 830 00:45:10,400 --> 00:45:12,834 tearing their hair out on January 1st. 831 00:45:12,834 --> 00:45:15,734 So it sounds like you're saying, well, we give up. 832 00:45:15,734 --> 00:45:17,033 Mr. Carney: No, I'm not saying that. 833 00:45:17,033 --> 00:45:23,799 What I am saying is that all it would take is for 25 or 30 834 00:45:23,800 --> 00:45:28,066 Republicans to do what their constituents overwhelmingly want 835 00:45:28,066 --> 00:45:32,332 them to do, which is grant this extension of a payroll tax cut, 836 00:45:32,333 --> 00:45:38,834 to follow the overwhelming bipartisan majority that was 837 00:45:38,834 --> 00:45:42,100 established in the Senate in support of this measure, 838 00:45:42,100 --> 00:45:46,500 and allow this bill to reach the President's desk and to have him 839 00:45:46,500 --> 00:45:47,867 sign it into law. 840 00:45:47,867 --> 00:45:52,734 I do not think that it is an impossibility that that 841 00:45:52,734 --> 00:45:54,834 will happen. 842 00:45:54,834 --> 00:45:55,834 It may not. 843 00:45:55,834 --> 00:45:58,500 And if it doesn't we will then address the situation 844 00:45:58,500 --> 00:45:59,567 after that. 845 00:45:59,567 --> 00:46:07,100 But the fact of the matter is -- 846 00:46:07,100 --> 00:46:07,933 The Press: Twelve hours -- 847 00:46:07,934 --> 00:46:09,367 Mr. Carney: -- 12 days, 8 hours -- 848 00:46:09,367 --> 00:46:10,133 The Press: -- 12 days, 8 hours -- 849 00:46:10,133 --> 00:46:11,165 Mr. Carney: -- until taxes go up. 850 00:46:11,166 --> 00:46:12,433 The Press: It's less than before. 851 00:46:12,433 --> 00:46:14,600 [laughter] 852 00:46:14,600 --> 00:46:15,667 Mr. Carney: It is less than before. 853 00:46:15,667 --> 00:46:16,633 [laughter] 854 00:46:16,633 --> 00:46:20,700 The march of time. 855 00:46:20,700 --> 00:46:25,866 I mean, Americans expect Washington to work, 856 00:46:25,867 --> 00:46:28,533 and they expect when political opponents, 857 00:46:28,533 --> 00:46:32,933 Democrats and Republicans to come together and work out a 858 00:46:32,934 --> 00:46:36,133 compromise on a substantive issue, a meaningful issue, 859 00:46:36,133 --> 00:46:39,299 like a payroll tax cut and extension of unemployment 860 00:46:39,300 --> 00:46:41,400 insurance -- paid for in both cases -- 861 00:46:41,400 --> 00:46:45,567 as well as the other measures -- provisions of that measure -- 862 00:46:45,567 --> 00:46:48,467 that when they work it out -- Senator McConnell and Senator 863 00:46:48,467 --> 00:46:53,166 Reid and 89 senators vote with them and support that measure -- 864 00:46:53,166 --> 00:46:57,166 that most Americans would probably expect the House to 865 00:46:57,166 --> 00:47:02,834 follow suit; would probably expect at least 12 or 13% of 866 00:47:02,834 --> 00:47:06,533 House Republicans to follow the 82% of Senate Republicans in 867 00:47:06,533 --> 00:47:08,000 support of this. 868 00:47:08,000 --> 00:47:12,367 They would expect that for all the reasons that I've spelled 869 00:47:12,367 --> 00:47:19,000 out, including the established precedent in the way Washington 870 00:47:19,000 --> 00:47:25,633 works, that it is clear that there was an expectation on the 871 00:47:25,633 --> 00:47:28,600 Hill that there would be support for this in the House. 872 00:47:28,600 --> 00:47:31,366 It is unlikely I think, based on your understanding of the 873 00:47:31,367 --> 00:47:34,033 Congress and how it works, and everybody else here, 874 00:47:34,033 --> 00:47:37,734 that that measure would have sailed over with huge bipartisan 875 00:47:37,734 --> 00:47:39,866 support in the House if there hadn't been an expectation that 876 00:47:39,867 --> 00:47:41,467 it would also garner support in the House. 877 00:47:41,467 --> 00:47:45,400 And then we have the comments made by the Speaker of the House 878 00:47:45,400 --> 00:47:49,834 and his call with his conference members. 879 00:47:49,834 --> 00:47:53,866 So hopefully they'll -- reason will prevail and the vote will 880 00:47:53,867 --> 00:47:58,033 go accordingly. 881 00:47:58,033 --> 00:48:01,734 The Press: What is it you think Speaker Boehner is up to? 882 00:48:01,734 --> 00:48:03,200 You've got a two-month extension. 883 00:48:03,200 --> 00:48:05,866 He wants to give you a year extension, and you say, oh, no. 884 00:48:05,867 --> 00:48:07,867 Mr. Carney: No, no, no, Mark. 885 00:48:07,867 --> 00:48:09,100 No, no, no, no, no. 886 00:48:09,100 --> 00:48:09,967 [laughter] 887 00:48:09,967 --> 00:48:10,834 The Press: That's wrong? 888 00:48:10,834 --> 00:48:12,165 Mr. Carney: We want a one-year extension. 889 00:48:12,166 --> 00:48:13,367 The President has made clear. 890 00:48:13,367 --> 00:48:17,000 We're only having this debate -- the only reason why Americans 891 00:48:17,000 --> 00:48:19,900 might not have their taxes go up on January 1st is because the 892 00:48:19,900 --> 00:48:23,433 President has been pushing this since September, against, 893 00:48:23,433 --> 00:48:28,767 as you've all seen, Republican resistance, 894 00:48:28,767 --> 00:48:35,633 and then tepid support, and then less tepid support -- 895 00:48:35,633 --> 00:48:37,466 The Press: They seem pretty strong about it today. 896 00:48:37,467 --> 00:48:39,867 Mr. Carney: Yes, well, it is remarkable how things change. 897 00:48:39,867 --> 00:48:42,967 But the fact is, this President -- 898 00:48:42,967 --> 00:48:47,633 it was a key element of the American Jobs Act for a reason, 899 00:48:47,633 --> 00:48:49,299 because every element of that jobs act, 900 00:48:49,300 --> 00:48:53,000 as I've said many times, was inserted into it because it 901 00:48:53,000 --> 00:48:57,033 would have positive impact on growth in the economy and growth 902 00:48:57,033 --> 00:48:59,400 in job creation, and because they were the kinds of measures 903 00:48:59,400 --> 00:49:02,033 that had traditionally earned bipartisan support. 904 00:49:02,033 --> 00:49:04,600 I mean, I've got in my book here the number -- 905 00:49:04,600 --> 00:49:08,200 statement after statement after statement by Republicans back in 906 00:49:08,200 --> 00:49:10,966 2009 that their answer to what the economy needed, 907 00:49:10,967 --> 00:49:14,200 their answer to what we needed to grow the economy in that very 908 00:49:14,200 --> 00:49:18,366 difficult economic situation was a payroll tax cut. 909 00:49:18,367 --> 00:49:19,934 Well, let's do it. 910 00:49:19,934 --> 00:49:20,934 Let's do it. 911 00:49:20,934 --> 00:49:21,934 The President supports it. 912 00:49:21,934 --> 00:49:23,400 The President wants a year deal. 913 00:49:23,400 --> 00:49:24,967 He pushed the year deal. 914 00:49:24,967 --> 00:49:29,133 When that was not achievable in the timeframe we had, 915 00:49:29,133 --> 00:49:31,966 a bipartisan compromise was reached; 916 00:49:31,967 --> 00:49:34,867 89 senators voted for it. 917 00:49:34,867 --> 00:49:38,166 We should do that so Americans don't have their taxes go up. 918 00:49:38,166 --> 00:49:42,000 The Press: So what is it you think Speaker Boehner is up to? 919 00:49:42,000 --> 00:49:45,433 Mr. Carney: I would not -- again, I think I've made clear that there is an 920 00:49:45,433 --> 00:49:50,834 issue here about what one subsection of the party 921 00:49:50,834 --> 00:49:52,533 is dictating. 922 00:49:52,533 --> 00:49:56,734 And you've seen from some of the reporting and statements about, 923 00:49:56,734 --> 00:49:58,799 "don't want to give President Obama a victory," 924 00:49:58,800 --> 00:50:02,000 "we don't want to" -- I mean, it's like they're for tax cuts 925 00:50:02,000 --> 00:50:03,166 unless Obama is for them. 926 00:50:03,166 --> 00:50:08,400 I mean, it's the kind of stuff that Americans just get very 927 00:50:08,400 --> 00:50:10,333 rightfully angry about. 928 00:50:10,333 --> 00:50:12,934 We should just do this because it's the right thing to do. 929 00:50:12,934 --> 00:50:13,900 Carrie. 930 00:50:13,900 --> 00:50:17,333 The Press: Does the White House support Harry Reid's position that he 931 00:50:17,333 --> 00:50:20,266 will not reopen negotiations? 932 00:50:20,266 --> 00:50:23,100 Mr. Carney: Look, Harry Reid is justifiably, I think, 933 00:50:23,100 --> 00:50:26,567 perplexed and frustrated by the events of the weekend. 934 00:50:26,567 --> 00:50:29,567 He had worked very closely with Senator McConnell to achieve the 935 00:50:29,567 --> 00:50:31,767 bipartisan compromise that was reached and voted on 936 00:50:31,767 --> 00:50:35,299 on Saturday. 937 00:50:35,300 --> 00:50:37,667 And his position that the House ought to pass this is 938 00:50:37,667 --> 00:50:38,834 our position. 939 00:50:38,834 --> 00:50:42,899 The Press: But does the White House support that position that this is it? 940 00:50:42,900 --> 00:50:49,233 Mr. Carney: Look, as I've been saying, I am not going to predict what 941 00:50:49,233 --> 00:50:53,867 happens if Republicans vote to raise taxes tonight on the 942 00:50:53,867 --> 00:50:56,500 American people, because I don't think, in the end -- 943 00:50:56,500 --> 00:50:58,333 or I would remain hopeful that they will not. 944 00:50:58,333 --> 00:51:00,266 So -- 945 00:51:00,266 --> 00:51:03,767 The Press: Is the White House committed to making sure that this 946 00:51:03,767 --> 00:51:06,667 is resolved? 947 00:51:06,667 --> 00:51:07,734 There is clearly a standoff -- 948 00:51:07,734 --> 00:51:09,767 Mr. Carney: I think the President's commitment to ensure that 949 00:51:09,767 --> 00:51:12,899 Americans don't have their taxes go up on January 1st has been 950 00:51:12,900 --> 00:51:14,967 amply demonstrated. 951 00:51:14,967 --> 00:51:19,333 The Press: So he will do what he has to do to make sure -- 952 00:51:19,333 --> 00:51:23,000 Mr. Carney: He has done quite a bit to make sure that Americans don't have 953 00:51:23,000 --> 00:51:25,767 their taxes go up, and he will continue to do that. 954 00:51:25,767 --> 00:51:28,500 We need a partner in this. 955 00:51:28,500 --> 00:51:39,033 We had a partner in this, demonstrated by the overwhelming 956 00:51:39,033 --> 00:51:41,500 bipartisan support for the two-month extension, which, 957 00:51:41,500 --> 00:51:43,734 again, as the President said on Saturday, 958 00:51:43,734 --> 00:51:47,834 that's not a huge victory, but it was the right thing to do to 959 00:51:47,834 --> 00:51:51,399 ensure that we then got to a place where the full extension 960 00:51:51,400 --> 00:51:53,033 could be passed. 961 00:51:53,033 --> 00:51:58,799 Blowing up the process now is playing politics with the 962 00:51:58,800 --> 00:52:04,233 paychecks of 160 million Americans. 963 00:52:04,233 --> 00:52:06,200 Jake, and then -- yes. 964 00:52:06,200 --> 00:52:07,667 The Press: Just in terms of those paychecks, 965 00:52:07,667 --> 00:52:11,633 there is a logistical question going on here. 966 00:52:11,633 --> 00:52:14,466 I got a letter -- I forwarded it to you before this briefing so 967 00:52:14,467 --> 00:52:16,333 that you would be prepared to answer the question -- 968 00:52:16,333 --> 00:52:20,166 the National Payroll Reporting Consortium has expressed. 969 00:52:20,166 --> 00:52:22,200 It wrote a letter to members of Congress, Democrats, 970 00:52:22,200 --> 00:52:24,399 Republicans -- this is a nonpartisan group that does not 971 00:52:24,400 --> 00:52:28,633 advocate one way or the other -- about the legislation. 972 00:52:28,633 --> 00:52:32,633 And they feel that this cannot be implemented properly. 973 00:52:32,633 --> 00:52:37,100 They said that it would be fair to -- they told -- 974 00:52:37,100 --> 00:52:38,967 the president told them it would be fair to characterize this 975 00:52:38,967 --> 00:52:40,834 letter saying the two-month payroll tax holiday cannot be 976 00:52:40,834 --> 00:52:42,734 implemented properly. 977 00:52:42,734 --> 00:52:45,834 He said, "the concern is that it could create substantial 978 00:52:45,834 --> 00:52:48,232 problems, confusion in costs, affecting a significant 979 00:52:48,233 --> 00:52:50,200 percentage of U.S. employers and employees." 980 00:52:50,200 --> 00:52:51,066 It gets tactical. 981 00:52:51,066 --> 00:52:53,734 But the point is, they just don't think there's enough lead 982 00:52:53,734 --> 00:52:56,200 time to do this, and because it's only two months and not a 983 00:52:56,200 --> 00:52:58,433 year, that makes it a lot more difficult. 984 00:52:58,433 --> 00:53:00,700 Mr. Carney: Well, I appreciate that and thank you for sending it to me 985 00:53:00,700 --> 00:53:02,567 ahead of time. 986 00:53:02,567 --> 00:53:03,567 Two points. 987 00:53:03,567 --> 00:53:09,033 One, again, because Congress was so slow to get its work done 988 00:53:09,033 --> 00:53:11,933 last year, this was an issue when the payroll tax cut was 989 00:53:11,934 --> 00:53:14,433 extended that it was so late in the year that it had -- 990 00:53:14,433 --> 00:53:20,333 it created complications, A, but those were worked out. 991 00:53:20,333 --> 00:53:23,734 B, this President is committed to make sure that his 992 00:53:23,734 --> 00:53:26,165 administration -- the Treasury Department, 993 00:53:26,166 --> 00:53:29,367 his administration -- works with American businesses to ensure 994 00:53:29,367 --> 00:53:35,367 that this tax cut is extended for American taxpayers, 995 00:53:35,367 --> 00:53:38,834 wage-earners, people who get a paycheck, 160 million. 996 00:53:38,834 --> 00:53:41,667 He would far rather ask this administration to work overtime 997 00:53:41,667 --> 00:53:45,933 during the holidays to make that happen than ask Americans to 998 00:53:45,934 --> 00:53:49,166 spend the holidays worrying how are they going to make ends meet 999 00:53:49,166 --> 00:53:52,200 with $1,000 less in their pockets. 1000 00:53:52,200 --> 00:53:53,200 Thanks, everybody. 1001 00:53:53,200 --> 00:53:56,667 The Press: Jay, you have a question. 1002 00:53:56,667 --> 00:53:58,033 Mr. Carney: Oh, I'm sorry, I did, you're right. 1003 00:53:58,033 --> 00:53:59,133 I apologize. 1004 00:53:59,133 --> 00:54:01,700 I was so eager to go. 1005 00:54:01,700 --> 00:54:02,700 I wasn't, really. 1006 00:54:02,700 --> 00:54:03,667 Yes, sir. 1007 00:54:03,667 --> 00:54:04,232 The Press: Thank you. 1008 00:54:04,233 --> 00:54:05,200 Two questions. 1009 00:54:05,200 --> 00:54:08,366 [laughter] 1010 00:54:08,367 --> 00:54:10,500 Mr. Carney: Wise guy. 1011 00:54:10,500 --> 00:54:13,667 The Press: On North Korea -- last night the statement that you put out was a 1012 00:54:13,667 --> 00:54:16,400 little vague about -- obviously things have cleared up since 1013 00:54:16,400 --> 00:54:19,700 then, but can you describe how the President learned about the 1014 00:54:19,700 --> 00:54:21,332 death of Kim Jong-il? 1015 00:54:21,333 --> 00:54:24,567 Mr. Carney: The Chief of Staff notified him at about 10:30 p.m. 1016 00:54:24,567 --> 00:54:28,000 The Press: And was that based on reports -- news reports from South Korean 1017 00:54:28,000 --> 00:54:29,433 news, or where was that -- 1018 00:54:29,433 --> 00:54:33,100 Mr. Carney: I believe it was established in news reports that the North 1019 00:54:33,100 --> 00:54:35,467 Koreans had made that announcement. 1020 00:54:35,467 --> 00:54:38,567 The Press: And then you've described a lot about why the President -- 1021 00:54:38,567 --> 00:54:41,300 how this is a priority, the payroll tax cut is a priority. 1022 00:54:41,300 --> 00:54:45,000 Aside from the optics of not leaving for vacation, 1023 00:54:45,000 --> 00:54:49,900 what is the President doing here that he can't do in Hawaii? 1024 00:54:49,900 --> 00:54:53,033 Mr. Carney: Well, it's a fair point that as we've made clear on other 1025 00:54:53,033 --> 00:54:57,767 occasions, the presidency travels with the President. 1026 00:54:57,767 --> 00:55:00,834 But he's been in meetings all day long -- 1027 00:55:00,834 --> 00:55:05,433 I've been in some of them -- and he will continue to work here 1028 00:55:05,433 --> 00:55:09,533 and do -- as well as on other areas unrelated to this, 1029 00:55:09,533 --> 00:55:11,933 fulfill his duties from here in the White House, 1030 00:55:11,934 --> 00:55:15,200 and will continue to do that because he believes this is 1031 00:55:15,200 --> 00:55:17,567 absolutely the number-one priority, 1032 00:55:17,567 --> 00:55:19,266 that Congress needs to take action, 1033 00:55:19,266 --> 00:55:21,400 the House needs to vote accordingly to make sure that 1034 00:55:21,400 --> 00:55:23,667 Americans don't have their taxes go up. 1035 00:55:23,667 --> 00:55:28,667 And he's working toward that end and will continue to do so. 1036 00:55:28,667 --> 00:55:31,433 The Press: And on the meetings, you said at the beginning when answering 1037 00:55:31,433 --> 00:55:36,400 Ben's question, you said that he's having conversations with 1038 00:55:36,400 --> 00:55:38,667 Senate Democrat leaders, who were having conversations with 1039 00:55:38,667 --> 00:55:41,767 Senate Republican leaders, and it's not the White House's job 1040 00:55:41,767 --> 00:55:45,299 to be an intermediary between that group and the 1041 00:55:45,300 --> 00:55:46,300 House Republicans. 1042 00:55:46,300 --> 00:55:49,767 Is the White House engaged with any group beyond the -- 1043 00:55:49,767 --> 00:55:55,200 is there direct contact beyond the Senate Democrats? 1044 00:55:55,200 --> 00:55:57,700 Mr. Carney: Again, I think the President told you that he spoke with 1045 00:55:57,700 --> 00:55:59,767 Senator McConnell on Saturday. 1046 00:55:59,767 --> 00:56:03,866 My broader point was, in that process that led to the vote on 1047 00:56:03,867 --> 00:56:06,967 Saturday in the Senate, the President was engaged with 1048 00:56:06,967 --> 00:56:13,367 Senate Democratic leadership in their efforts to work with 1049 00:56:13,367 --> 00:56:18,867 Senator McConnell and Senate Republicans to find a bipartisan 1050 00:56:18,867 --> 00:56:21,834 compromise and solution. 1051 00:56:21,834 --> 00:56:26,366 His goal remains a full one-year extension. 1052 00:56:26,367 --> 00:56:29,567 His highest priority is that Americans don't see their taxes 1053 00:56:29,567 --> 00:56:31,467 go up on January 1st. 1054 00:56:31,467 --> 00:56:33,633 And what, as he made clear on Saturday, 1055 00:56:33,633 --> 00:56:39,933 what the overwhelming vote in the Senate, 1056 00:56:39,934 --> 00:56:46,033 bipartisan vote in the Senate, on that bill made sure would not 1057 00:56:46,033 --> 00:56:48,799 happen is that Americans would not have their taxes go up if 1058 00:56:48,800 --> 00:56:50,133 the House followed suit. 1059 00:56:50,133 --> 00:56:57,567 And going back to the point about communicating between 1060 00:56:57,567 --> 00:57:09,300 Republicans, it was certainly not our expectation that the 1061 00:57:09,300 --> 00:57:14,100 Senate Republicans would have moved so overwhelmingly in favor 1062 00:57:14,100 --> 00:57:18,600 of a piece of legislation if they didn't have some reason to 1063 00:57:18,600 --> 00:57:20,500 believe that the House would follow suit. 1064 00:57:20,500 --> 00:57:22,800 The Press: But that wasn't independently verified? 1065 00:57:22,800 --> 00:57:26,166 Mr. Carney: Again, we have conversations at multiple levels with folks on 1066 00:57:26,166 --> 00:57:28,500 the Hill, but I'm not going to get into detailed readouts. 1067 00:57:28,500 --> 00:57:29,500 Thank you.