English subtitles for clip: File:12-2-11- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Carney:
Let me begin, if I may,
with a quick statement --

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announcement, rather.

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The President looks forward to
welcoming Prime Minister Stephen

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Harper of Canada to the
White House on Wednesday,

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December 7th.

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Canada, as you know, is a close
ally and partner of the United

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States and the President looks
forward to discussing our

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important bilateral
relationship,

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including economic
competitiveness and security,

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and key global issues.

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The Press:
Did you say Keystone?

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Mr. Carney:
I said "key global issues."

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The Press:
Thank you.

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Mr. Carney:
Julie.

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The Press:
Thank you.

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Mr. Carney:
I want to -- it's Friday,
it's a glorious day.

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Let's -- I promise to
be brief in my answers,

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and let's get on with
the questions. Yes.

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The Press:
Sounds good.

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President Obama was pretty
measured in his response today

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to the jobs report, and I know
that the White House doesn't

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like to make too much
out of any one report.

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But is part of his measured
response part of trying to

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lower expectations or not raise
expectations for the public in

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case this trend doesn't hold?

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Mr. Carney:
That's an excellent question.

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Let's look at the numbers.

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The key number here is another
month, 21st month in a row,

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of private sector job growth
-- 140,000 I think this month.

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That is significant because
it demonstrates now nearly

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3 million jobs have been created
in the private sector since we

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began to turn this
economy around.

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But you're right in that we
don't make much out of one

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month's numbers.

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We look for trends.

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And we know we have an enormous
amount of work to do -- 8.6

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percent unemployment
is way too high.

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And that's why this President is
focused on getting the payroll

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tax cut extension and expansion
passed through Congress,

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because he believes that it is
essential for next year that we

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have that extra $1,550 in the
average American family's wallet

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next year, and that we have the
incentives for small businesses

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to hire and expand so that
the economy can keep growing,

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maybe grow even faster, and
further bring down a much too

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high unemployment rate.

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Signs of progress are good,
but we have a long way to go.

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And it in many ways just
reiterates or reinforces why we

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have to get this payroll tax cut
passed and why Congress really

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should pass every element
of the American Jobs Act,

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because unemployment remains a
significant problem that we need

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to tackle together.

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The Press:
You said yesterday that the
President quite possibly could

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take a more personal role
in the negotiations over

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the payroll tax cut.

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Mr. Carney:
I said "maybe."

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The Press:
You said "quite possible."

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Mr. Carney:
Yes.

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The Press:
Could you give us any
more insight into that,

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especially given the fact that
today the President basically

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threatened to keep Congress in
Washington through Christmas if

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they can't reach an agreement?

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Mr. Carney:
The President and his entire
team will be working with

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Congress to try to get this
payroll tax cut passed.

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It is shocking, I think, to
many Americans who are paying

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attention that not only did
Republicans vote against a

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payroll tax cut expansion --
extension and expansion that

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was paid for in a way that
is entirely reasonable,

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but an overwhelming majority of
Republicans voted against their

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own bill, which means, clearly,
that the issue here isn't payfor

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-- the payfors, I mean, for
those of you not in Washington

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-- the issue isn't here
how you pay for this,

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it's whether or not Republicans
even want to extend a tax cut to

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160 million Americans, to
working, middle-class Americans.

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I really -- you tend to think
that you know what's going to

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happen in Washington; I thought
that vote last night was very

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surprising, given the
unbelievable lack of support

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in one party for giving tax
cuts to middle-class Americans.

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And what's shocking about it
even more so is the fact that

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so many Republicans
have, in the past,

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said they supported
payroll tax cuts.

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So we're going to work night and
day to make sure that Americans

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get the tax relief that
they need and deserve,

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and that this economy
needs and deserves.

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The Press:
Can you give us any details on
how the President and his team

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will work --

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Mr. Carney:
No, I don't have anything
for you on that now.

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But it will, I'm sure, involve
conversations at different

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levels, and an effort to
find a way to get this done,

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because it's the right thing to
do for the economy and the right

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thing to do for the
American people.

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I'm going to get a little
crazy here -- Vick.

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The Press:
All right.

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(laughter)

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You just told Julie that the
issue is not how you pay for it.

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Is it essential, in the
administration's view,

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that the payroll
tax cut be paid for?

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Mr. Carney:
Well, as you know, Vick,
the President put forward a

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proposal, comprehensive
jobs proposal,

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of which the payroll tax cut
extension and expansion was a

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significant component that was
entirely paid for in a way that

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is economically sensible
and asks only that --

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The Press:
It was part of the
jobs act, though --

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Mr. Carney:
It was part of the jobs
act, and in the Senate --

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The Press:
So taken alone,
is it essential --

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Mr. Carney:
You know what, the bill that
performed much better yesterday

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included a single Republican
senator in support,

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had as its payfor a simple
request that the 300,000 or

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so wealthiest taxpayers in
America pay a little extra on

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their income over a million
dollars so that 160 million

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Americans get a
tax cut next year.

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Now, that didn't succeed.

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The President obviously believes
that the preferable way to do

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this is to have it paid for,
and he will work with Congress

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to try to get this done
in a way that meets his

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very high priorities.

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Because what he will not believe
is the right path to go here is

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to cut education or
energy or Head Start,

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or programs that are essential
to the very people you're trying

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to help through the
payroll tax cut.

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The Press:
Preferable, but essential?

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Is it essential
that it be paid for?

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Mr. Carney:
Again, I'm not going to
negotiate the endgame of

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this process.

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What I will say is that it will
stun me if members of Congress,

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of the Republican Party, truly
want to head into next year

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having voted to raise taxes
on middle-class Americans.

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The Press:
Many of those Republicans are
concerned that you're weakening

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Social Security by diminishing
contributions through the

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payroll tax, by
extending this tax.

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Mr. Carney:
Well, the President put forward
a plan to pay for this payroll

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tax cut extension and expansion.

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Senate Democrats put forward a
way to pay for this payroll tax

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cut extension and expansion.

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The Social Security actuary
had said that -- has said,

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and has said this to reassure
those senators who might be

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concerned about the trust
fund, that it has no impact

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on the trust fund.

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The trust fund is made
whole through U.S. treasuries,

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which are the safest
investment in the world,

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as you know.

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So the issue here is, as I said,
it's not even any more about how

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you pay for it, as we saw
last night in these votes,

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it's whether or not one party
actually supports giving tax

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cuts to middle-class Americans.

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Paula.

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The Press:
On December 16th, Congress
has to act on appropriations

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being extended.

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And there is some talk of
possibly rolling it into one

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little holiday package
-- the extenders,

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the UI benefits extension, as
well as payroll tax cuts -- just

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do it all at once,
Christmas tree it.

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Is that something that
you think is feasible --

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Mr. Carney:
Again, I think that's getting
ahead of the process in terms

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of what the sausage-making
might look like in these next

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several weeks.

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I think we're focused
on a number of things,

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principally the payroll tax
cut extension and expansion,

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but also these appropriations
bills and getting all of the

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work that needs to be done by
the end of the year done in a

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way that ensures that
we're doing right by

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the American economy.

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The Press:
And the President hasn't had a
bipartisan congressional group

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come down here for
quite some time.

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Is that possibly one
thing you could --

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Mr. Carney:
I would not dare to predict
the future from here today. Yes.

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The Press:
Jay, the House Republicans said
today that they will attach a

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bill designed to speed approval
of the Keystone pipeline to

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Boehner's bill about
the tax cut extension.

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What's your reaction
to that bill,

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and how would the
President react to

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it if they were connected?

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Mr. Carney:
Look, Jeff, as you know, that
this is a process that is being

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run out of the State Department.

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The President has made clear
what the criteria need to be

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in considering this project.

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But it is a process
being run out of State,

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and the timeline is being
decided by -- on the merits

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and on the issues by those
who are reviewing it at

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the State Department.

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So I'll refer you to them.

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The Press:
The House bill would try to
go around that entire process.

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Mr. Carney:
Well, we think that the
establishment of the State

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Department as the place where
this review is housed has

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existed for years.

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It exists in a national
security directive,

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and it even predates
that by many decades.

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So I think the precedent here is
proper and that's why it's being

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reviewed at the
State Department.

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The Press:
So if that were connected to a
bill to extend the payroll tax

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cut, would the
President reject it?

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Mr. Carney:
That was an "if" -- an "if"
that I'm not going to get into.

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But I think the proper place for
this to be done is where it's

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been done in the past, so that
it's done well and reviewed

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responsibly, and that the
necessary criteria that need

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to go into a decision like
this are all considered. April.

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The Press:
Jay, going back to Julie's
question about jobs,

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you said let's look
at the numbers,

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and you said 8.6 percent
unemployment rate is

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way too high.

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And in understanding that the
black unemployment numbers have

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gone up again from 15.1
to 15.5, what do you --

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Mr. Carney:
Way too high. Way too high.

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We have to do everything we can,
including extending unemployment

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insurance, including making
sure that this tax cut for

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160 million working
Americans gets into place.

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And if we were being truly
sensible -- "we" I say

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generously -- if Congress
were being truly sensible,

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they would pass all the elements
of the American Jobs Act, which,

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as you know, is paid for
entirely so it doesn't add

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a dime to our deficit.

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But if you did it all, it would
have the kind of impact that

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outside economists
said it would have,

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which is adding up to 2 percent
growth to our GDP, adding many,

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many hundreds of
thousands of jobs.

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This is what our economy needs.

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This is the medicine
that our economy needs.

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And apparently, only in one
section of Capitol Hill is there

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disagreement about this, because
the support for this kind of

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approach is widespread in
communities across America,

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in every region of the country,
and from people who call

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themselves Democrats,
independents and Republicans.

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That's why the President
designed the American Jobs Act

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in a way that it was filled with
the kinds of provisions that

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both parties have supported in
the past because he thought it

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was important to do that so that
it has a real chance of getting

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the kind of support necessary
to pass out of Congress and be

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signed into law by him.

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The Press:
You keep saying on these
numbers they're way too high.

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What is the comfortable number
that this administration has

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set for a normal,
healthy unemployment

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rate in this country?

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Mr. Carney:
Well, I would let economists
evaluate that and give you

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a number.

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00:11:55,027 --> 00:11:59,394
I know that this President has
said and is committed to not

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00:11:59,394 --> 00:12:02,528
resting until he knows that
every American who's looking

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00:12:02,528 --> 00:12:04,394
for a job can get a job.

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00:12:04,394 --> 00:12:06,494
The Press:
But the reason why I say that --
because you said "way too high."

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00:12:06,494 --> 00:12:08,761
So that's why I'm trying to
quantify what would be --

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00:12:08,761 --> 00:12:16,560
Mr. Carney:
Again, I don't have a -- I think
that we're not in any danger of

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00:12:16,561 --> 00:12:19,895
reaching a point where
the unemployment rate is

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00:12:19,895 --> 00:12:24,161
satisfactorily low, which is why
we need to do everything we can

242
00:12:24,161 --> 00:12:26,694
through Congress, through the
use of the President's executive

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00:12:26,695 --> 00:12:31,027
authority, and working with our
partners in the private sector,

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00:12:31,027 --> 00:12:33,494
as the President highlighted
today with former President

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00:12:33,494 --> 00:12:37,895
Clinton, to put people back to
work and to build the foundation

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00:12:37,895 --> 00:12:41,428
of an economy that can
grow into the future,

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00:12:41,428 --> 00:12:44,227
which is what the Better
Buildings Initiative does.

248
00:12:44,227 --> 00:12:49,627
So this is a multifaceted attack
on the number-one problem facing

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00:12:49,628 --> 00:12:51,461
this country, which is the
need to grow the economy and

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00:12:51,461 --> 00:12:53,227
create jobs.

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00:12:53,227 --> 00:12:54,560
Julianna, and then Bill.

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00:12:54,561 --> 00:12:57,528
The Press:
There are some reports out of
the Canadian press that next

253
00:12:57,528 --> 00:12:59,861
week when Prime Minister Harper
is here he and the President

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00:12:59,861 --> 00:13:03,227
will announce a new
cross-border security agreement.

255
00:13:03,227 --> 00:13:05,060
Is that anything
that you can confirm?

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00:13:05,061 --> 00:13:08,261
Mr. Carney:
I don't have anything beyond
what I mentioned that they will

257
00:13:08,261 --> 00:13:10,161
discuss, security issues.

258
00:13:10,161 --> 00:13:12,261
I haven't read the
Canadian press yet today,

259
00:13:12,261 --> 00:13:14,394
so I wasn't aware
of those reports.

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00:13:14,394 --> 00:13:17,728
The Press:
Also, the Treasury Secretary
is going to Europe next week to

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00:13:17,728 --> 00:13:20,661
meet with European
finance officials.

262
00:13:20,661 --> 00:13:24,694
Can you talk about what he hopes
to get out of that trip and what

263
00:13:24,695 --> 00:13:29,928
influence he has --
he'll have there?

264
00:13:29,928 --> 00:13:34,928
Mr. Carney:
Well, this is part of an ongoing
engagement that Secretary

265
00:13:34,928 --> 00:13:37,861
Geithner has had -- well,
really since he took office,

266
00:13:37,861 --> 00:13:44,628
but this year as we have offered
our advice and counsel to the

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00:13:44,628 --> 00:13:49,561
Europeans as they deal
with their debt crisis.

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00:13:49,561 --> 00:13:53,561
Secretary Geithner, as you know,
as Treasury Secretary and in his

269
00:13:53,561 --> 00:13:57,628
previous life, has a great deal
of experience dealing with this

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00:13:57,628 --> 00:13:59,294
kind of situation.

271
00:13:59,294 --> 00:14:03,161
So I'm sure he will consult with
his counterparts as they try to

272
00:14:03,161 --> 00:14:06,694
grapple with this very serious
matter and take continued steps,

273
00:14:06,695 --> 00:14:11,227
as they've taken some already,
to try to get it under control

274
00:14:11,227 --> 00:14:13,294
in a conclusive
and decisive way.

275
00:14:13,294 --> 00:14:15,593
So that's what the
trip will be about.

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00:14:15,594 --> 00:14:18,428
And it's part of an ongoing
effort that he's made.

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00:14:18,428 --> 00:14:23,227
The Press:
Is he going over there with any
additional technical advice?

278
00:14:23,227 --> 00:14:29,528
Mr. Carney:
None that I'm aware of, but our
position on what we think Europe

279
00:14:29,528 --> 00:14:33,994
needs to do is very clear, and
it's not -- it's shared by I

280
00:14:33,994 --> 00:14:36,261
think a lot of our
European counterparts,

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00:14:36,261 --> 00:14:40,493
which is that they need to
establish a firewall that is

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00:14:40,494 --> 00:14:42,428
sufficient to the task at hand.

283
00:14:42,428 --> 00:14:44,695
And there are a variety
of ways you can do that,

284
00:14:44,695 --> 00:14:49,594
and we encourage the Europeans
to work towards getting that

285
00:14:49,594 --> 00:14:52,928
done in a conclusive
and decisive way. Bill.

286
00:14:52,928 --> 00:14:53,728
The Press:
Jay --

287
00:14:53,728 --> 00:14:56,960
The Press:
Going back to what the
President said earlier today --

288
00:14:56,961 --> 00:14:57,928
Mr. Carney:
Sorry, there are two Bills.

289
00:14:57,928 --> 00:14:58,828
This one.

290
00:14:58,828 --> 00:15:01,861
There might be a third
out there, but we'll see.

291
00:15:01,861 --> 00:15:05,593
The Press:
-- that he expects Congress
will get the payroll tax done,

292
00:15:05,594 --> 00:15:08,027
otherwise we'll all
be here at Christmas.

293
00:15:08,027 --> 00:15:11,994
Was that an offhand remark,
or was that the first mention

294
00:15:11,994 --> 00:15:16,795
of a hammer, if you will,
something that he would do?

295
00:15:16,795 --> 00:15:22,861
Mr. Carney:
It's a measure of the
seriousness of the issue at hand

296
00:15:22,861 --> 00:15:27,494
-- the impact that raising the
average American family's taxes

297
00:15:27,494 --> 00:15:33,594
by $1,000 next year would have
-- the negative impact -- and

298
00:15:33,594 --> 00:15:37,161
the President's commitment to
ensuring that the payroll tax

299
00:15:37,161 --> 00:15:40,328
cut is passed and that it's
handled in a responsible and

300
00:15:40,328 --> 00:15:41,194
reasonable way.

301
00:15:41,194 --> 00:15:42,527
The Press:
Has he suggested to
the leadership that

302
00:15:42,528 --> 00:15:43,428
he would do that?

303
00:15:43,428 --> 00:15:47,728
Mr. Carney:
Well, I suppose they've heard
about what he said today.

304
00:15:47,728 --> 00:15:49,127
I don't know that it's been --

305
00:15:49,127 --> 00:15:50,795
The Press:
So that was meant as a warning?

306
00:15:50,795 --> 00:15:55,861
Mr. Carney:
Well, I'll just leave -- I won't
add any more context to what the

307
00:15:55,861 --> 00:15:57,294
President said; you
heard what he said.

308
00:15:57,294 --> 00:16:02,795
And I think that what it
represents is his determination

309
00:16:02,795 --> 00:16:07,261
to continue to put pressure on
Congress to do the right thing

310
00:16:07,261 --> 00:16:09,328
here, which is to support
the kind of tax cuts that

311
00:16:09,328 --> 00:16:12,428
Republicans used to support,
and Democrats support.

312
00:16:12,428 --> 00:16:16,994
So we hope that they
will hear the call,

313
00:16:16,994 --> 00:16:19,661
if not from him then
from their constituents,

314
00:16:19,661 --> 00:16:23,127
because I can't imagine they
want to go back home and explain

315
00:16:23,127 --> 00:16:28,728
why they voted to raise taxes
on working Americans in order

316
00:16:28,728 --> 00:16:32,795
to protect the tax
breaks of 300,000

317
00:16:32,795 --> 00:16:34,560
of the wealthiest
Americans in the country.

318
00:16:34,561 --> 00:16:36,861
I mean, I'm trying to see
how that might break down per

319
00:16:36,861 --> 00:16:39,328
district, but it can't
be favorable, right?

320
00:16:39,328 --> 00:16:41,828
Unless you maybe represent
Beverly Hills or something.

321
00:16:41,828 --> 00:16:45,394
The vast majority of the
constituents and every member

322
00:16:45,394 --> 00:16:49,594
of the House's and the Senate's
constituency or state are going

323
00:16:49,594 --> 00:16:51,928
to be represented by the
160 million people who

324
00:16:51,928 --> 00:16:54,928
would get a tax cut if
they passed this bill. Yes.

325
00:16:54,928 --> 00:16:58,628
The Press:
So when you highlight 21 months
of private sector job growth and

326
00:16:58,628 --> 00:17:01,227
adding 120,000 jobs
in the last month,

327
00:17:01,227 --> 00:17:04,594
the unemployment rate actually
went down largely because over

328
00:17:04,594 --> 00:17:07,661
300,000 people just
left the workforce.

329
00:17:07,661 --> 00:17:10,494
So doesn't that suggest maybe
the President's policies have

330
00:17:10,493 --> 00:17:13,127
not worked for three years, so
why would Congress pass more of

331
00:17:13,127 --> 00:17:14,594
his policies?

332
00:17:14,594 --> 00:17:15,594
Mr. Carney:
Well, let's review.

333
00:17:15,594 --> 00:17:17,227
First of all, the point
-- let me -- at the top,

334
00:17:17,227 --> 00:17:22,828
let me make the point that one
of the reasons why we do not get

335
00:17:22,828 --> 00:17:27,360
too up over one month
of positive news,

336
00:17:27,361 --> 00:17:30,828
or too down over one month
of less-than-positive news is

337
00:17:30,828 --> 00:17:32,528
because we're looking
for trends here.

338
00:17:32,528 --> 00:17:34,561
And one of the underlying
factors that you just mentioned

339
00:17:34,561 --> 00:17:38,695
about the sizeable drop in the
unemployment rate is that there

340
00:17:38,695 --> 00:17:41,127
is a long long-term unemployment
issue here that's a serious

341
00:17:41,127 --> 00:17:43,695
problem, which is why the
President is insisting that

342
00:17:43,695 --> 00:17:45,860
Congress extend
unemployment benefits;

343
00:17:45,861 --> 00:17:49,094
that helps those people who are
looking for work and need the

344
00:17:49,094 --> 00:17:52,094
assistance, and it helps
the economy as, again,

345
00:17:52,094 --> 00:17:53,861
outside economists
will tell you.

346
00:17:53,861 --> 00:17:59,061
Outside economists will tell you
-- not adjuncts of one party or

347
00:17:59,061 --> 00:18:03,628
the other, or people from
partisan think tanks -- but

348
00:18:03,628 --> 00:18:06,660
economists on Wall Street,
economists out in the country,

349
00:18:06,661 --> 00:18:09,094
and academic econmists who
are not affiliated with a party

350
00:18:09,094 --> 00:18:12,394
or a position, will tell you
that a payroll tax cut has a

351
00:18:12,394 --> 00:18:16,127
measurable, direct, positive
impact on the economy.

352
00:18:16,127 --> 00:18:18,661
And unemployment insurance
extension has a measurable,

353
00:18:18,661 --> 00:18:20,361
direct, positive
impact on the economy.

354
00:18:20,361 --> 00:18:23,361
That is just not really disputed
by responsible economists.

355
00:18:23,361 --> 00:18:24,061
The Press:
In the short term, right?

356
00:18:24,061 --> 00:18:24,695
Mr. Carney:
Sure.

357
00:18:24,695 --> 00:18:26,428
The Press:
You just said that the problem
is long-term unemployment --

358
00:18:26,428 --> 00:18:27,695
people leaving the workforce.

359
00:18:27,695 --> 00:18:28,860
And you're talking about
short-term measures.

360
00:18:28,861 --> 00:18:31,928
Mr. Carney:
And by long term -- long term,
I think the term is defined by

361
00:18:31,928 --> 00:18:33,895
those who have been unemployed
for more than six months.

362
00:18:33,895 --> 00:18:35,795
So I'm not talking years
here, I'm talking more

363
00:18:35,795 --> 00:18:37,795
than six months.

364
00:18:37,795 --> 00:18:40,661
I mean, again, now, let's step
back and review the facts.

365
00:18:40,661 --> 00:18:45,061
Twenty-one months now straight
of private sector job growth.

366
00:18:45,061 --> 00:18:51,226
This comes after 8 million jobs
lost in a recession that was in

367
00:18:51,227 --> 00:18:53,994
full bloom when this President
was sworn into office,

368
00:18:53,994 --> 00:18:57,660
a recession that we now know
was contracting the economy,

369
00:18:57,661 --> 00:19:02,361
shrinking the economy by almost
9 percent when he was taking

370
00:19:02,361 --> 00:19:03,895
office, when he was
getting sworn in.

371
00:19:06,027 --> 00:19:10,661
The record since then has been
one of stopping the bleeding,

372
00:19:10,661 --> 00:19:14,561
arresting the freefall
of our economy,

373
00:19:14,561 --> 00:19:18,360
preventing the second Great
Depression in American history,

374
00:19:18,361 --> 00:19:20,994
and putting us back on a
course towards economic

375
00:19:20,994 --> 00:19:22,828
growth and job creation.

376
00:19:22,828 --> 00:19:25,994
The problem, as you know, is
that the hole is so deep that

377
00:19:25,994 --> 00:19:30,026
this recession caused, and the
job loss so significant that

378
00:19:30,027 --> 00:19:32,428
even though we're now at nearly
3 million jobs created --

379
00:19:32,428 --> 00:19:37,561
private sector jobs created --
since positive job growth began,

380
00:19:37,561 --> 00:19:40,994
that's not nearly enough when
you lost 8 million jobs in a

381
00:19:40,994 --> 00:19:41,994
terrible recession.

382
00:19:41,994 --> 00:19:43,360
So that's why the President
believes we have to pass the

383
00:19:43,361 --> 00:19:45,695
payroll tax cut
extension and expansion.

384
00:19:45,695 --> 00:19:47,394
That's why the President
believes we need to do

385
00:19:47,394 --> 00:19:49,928
things through his executive
authority, like the Better

386
00:19:49,928 --> 00:19:51,227
Buildings Initiative.

387
00:19:51,227 --> 00:19:53,695
That's why he believes we should
have -- that Congress should

388
00:19:53,695 --> 00:19:58,860
have voted to put 400,000
teachers back to work,

389
00:19:58,861 --> 00:20:00,294
put construction
workers back to work.

390
00:20:00,294 --> 00:20:02,661
And he's not going to let up in
pressuring Congress to do that.

391
00:20:02,661 --> 00:20:04,361
The Press:
The President was sitting with
Tom Donohue, a business leader,

392
00:20:04,361 --> 00:20:06,594
who has said repeatedly that
what you need are long-term

393
00:20:06,594 --> 00:20:09,094
policies to reduce
government regulations;

394
00:20:09,094 --> 00:20:11,761
long-term exchanges so that
people -- that businesses know.

395
00:20:11,761 --> 00:20:14,161
Mr. Carney:
Well, I didn't bring it out, but
you saw that the President put

396
00:20:14,161 --> 00:20:16,594
forward a substantial, long-term
deficit and debt reduction deal.

397
00:20:16,594 --> 00:20:19,994
The President does believe that
we need tax reform, as he said.

398
00:20:19,994 --> 00:20:22,660
And as I think I said the
other day, and as, again,

399
00:20:22,661 --> 00:20:27,294
outside analysts, not partisans,
but outside analysts have said

400
00:20:27,294 --> 00:20:31,161
as they've reviewed the facts,
this President's commitment to

401
00:20:31,161 --> 00:20:34,561
regulatory reform, through
his look-back provision,

402
00:20:34,561 --> 00:20:40,194
has meant that the number and
cost of regulations instituted

403
00:20:40,194 --> 00:20:42,528
by this administration in its
first several years is actually

404
00:20:42,528 --> 00:20:45,628
fewer and less costly than in
the previous administration.

405
00:20:45,628 --> 00:20:48,561
And the very people who are
complaining about regulation in

406
00:20:48,561 --> 00:20:50,928
Congress, I don't remember them
complaining about it in the

407
00:20:50,928 --> 00:20:53,928
previous administration when the
costs were higher and the number

408
00:20:53,928 --> 00:20:54,494
was higher.

409
00:20:54,494 --> 00:20:56,026
The Press:
Just on the defense bill,
the Senate acted last night;

410
00:20:56,027 --> 00:21:00,227
you've had a veto threat over
the detainee language before.

411
00:21:00,227 --> 00:21:05,161
ACLU and others still want the
President to veto that bill.

412
00:21:05,161 --> 00:21:06,494
Is that veto threat
still out there?

413
00:21:06,494 --> 00:21:09,061
Where are you on
the defense bill?

414
00:21:09,061 --> 00:21:11,695
Mr. Carney:
Well, there is a number
of issues in that bill,

415
00:21:11,695 --> 00:21:20,461
as you know -- which is why my
book is so big today -- on the

416
00:21:20,461 --> 00:21:23,461
detainee issue, counterterrorism
professionals from Republican

417
00:21:23,461 --> 00:21:26,261
and Democratic administrations,
as you know, Ed, we have said

418
00:21:26,261 --> 00:21:28,394
that the language in this bill
would jeopardize our national

419
00:21:28,394 --> 00:21:31,461
security by restricting
flexibility in our fight

420
00:21:31,461 --> 00:21:33,061
against al Qaeda.

421
00:21:33,061 --> 00:21:35,328
By ignoring these
nonpartisan recommendations,

422
00:21:35,328 --> 00:21:37,528
including the recommendations
of the Secretary of Defense,

423
00:21:37,528 --> 00:21:40,294
the Director of the FBI,
the Director of National

424
00:21:40,294 --> 00:21:42,261
Intelligence and the
Attorney General,

425
00:21:42,261 --> 00:21:46,161
the Senate has unfortunately
engaged in a little political

426
00:21:46,161 --> 00:21:47,928
micromanagement at the
expense of sensible

427
00:21:47,928 --> 00:21:49,594
national security policy.

428
00:21:49,594 --> 00:21:51,861
So our position has not changed.

429
00:21:51,861 --> 00:21:54,361
Any bill that challenges or
constrains the President's

430
00:21:54,361 --> 00:21:56,628
critical authorities to
collect intelligence,

431
00:21:56,628 --> 00:21:59,428
incapacitate dangerous
terrorists and protect the

432
00:21:59,428 --> 00:22:03,628
nation would prompt his senior
advisors to recommend a veto.

433
00:22:03,628 --> 00:22:06,093
So we'll see how
this progresses,

434
00:22:06,094 --> 00:22:07,461
but that's my answer on that.

435
00:22:07,461 --> 00:22:08,428
Christi.

436
00:22:08,428 --> 00:22:10,361
The Press:
Thank you, Jay. Two things.

437
00:22:10,361 --> 00:22:12,961
One, I heard what you just said
to Ed about the relationship

438
00:22:12,961 --> 00:22:15,461
between the payroll tax
cut and the economy,

439
00:22:15,461 --> 00:22:19,728
but I just wonder if you guys
think that the initiatives that

440
00:22:19,728 --> 00:22:22,161
the American people see the
President involved in are

441
00:22:22,161 --> 00:22:27,761
reassuring to them that he's
working on creating jobs.

442
00:22:27,761 --> 00:22:29,928
I mean, do people see the
connection, is what I'm asking.

443
00:22:29,928 --> 00:22:32,261
Mr. Carney:
Well, I would think you
would have to go out and

444
00:22:32,261 --> 00:22:33,928
ask folks that.

445
00:22:33,928 --> 00:22:39,828
The data I've seen suggests that
there is broad support for the

446
00:22:39,828 --> 00:22:43,127
initiatives the President
has put forward, and that,

447
00:22:43,127 --> 00:22:46,860
certainly, most Americans
feel like we should be doing

448
00:22:46,861 --> 00:22:49,695
something to help the
economy grow and create jobs.

449
00:22:49,695 --> 00:22:55,160
And one of the ironies of this
debate about the payroll tax cut

450
00:22:55,161 --> 00:22:58,161
extension, and the broader
debate about the American Jobs

451
00:22:58,161 --> 00:23:01,861
Act, is that it's not clear
at all whether or not we'd be

452
00:23:01,861 --> 00:23:04,061
having a discussion about
measures to grow the economy

453
00:23:04,061 --> 00:23:06,794
and create the jobs -- create
jobs if the President hadn't

454
00:23:06,795 --> 00:23:07,795
put it forward.

455
00:23:07,795 --> 00:23:11,994
I mean, it could be that
Republicans seem so uninterested

456
00:23:11,994 --> 00:23:15,761
in extending this tax cut for
middle-class Americans that,

457
00:23:15,761 --> 00:23:17,961
had this President
not been pushing it,

458
00:23:17,961 --> 00:23:20,161
it might not have
come up at all. So --

459
00:23:20,161 --> 00:23:21,861
The Press:
But that seems to be what
animates this "We Can't Wait"

460
00:23:21,861 --> 00:23:23,027
campaign, which is --

461
00:23:23,027 --> 00:23:23,528
Mr. Carney:
Absolutely.

462
00:23:23,528 --> 00:23:25,428
The Press:
-- the President displaying
things that he can do,

463
00:23:25,428 --> 00:23:28,328
but they do seem sort of
small-bore a lot of times.

464
00:23:28,328 --> 00:23:30,628
And is that reassuring
to people, or does it --

465
00:23:30,628 --> 00:23:35,428
Mr. Carney:
I think what my sense is, is
that the American people expect

466
00:23:35,428 --> 00:23:38,227
their President, as well as
their members of Congress,

467
00:23:38,227 --> 00:23:43,194
to be doing everything they can
-- big things and smaller things

468
00:23:43,194 --> 00:23:46,594
-- to address the biggest
problems that face the

469
00:23:46,594 --> 00:23:49,494
country -- in this
case, unemployment,

470
00:23:49,494 --> 00:23:52,026
growth that's not
substantial enough.

471
00:23:52,027 --> 00:23:55,394
Those are major
challenges that we face,

472
00:23:55,394 --> 00:23:57,294
and that we should be
tackling here in Washington,

473
00:23:57,294 --> 00:24:01,227
working together, the
administration and Congress,

474
00:24:01,227 --> 00:24:04,227
the administration using
its executive authority;

475
00:24:04,227 --> 00:24:07,294
working with the private
sector is vital as well.

476
00:24:07,294 --> 00:24:12,027
So it's not a -- there's no
silver-bullet answer to a

477
00:24:12,027 --> 00:24:13,594
challenge this big, right?

478
00:24:13,594 --> 00:24:15,994
Especially as I was
discussing earlier with Ed,

479
00:24:15,994 --> 00:24:20,428
given the size of the economic
calamity that befell this

480
00:24:20,428 --> 00:24:25,928
country in the last --
prior to him taking office,

481
00:24:25,928 --> 00:24:27,695
in the months before
he took office.

482
00:24:27,695 --> 00:24:31,394
So we're going to try
everything -- small things,

483
00:24:31,394 --> 00:24:34,328
medium things and big things
-- to address this problem.

484
00:24:34,328 --> 00:24:36,828
The Press:
And just one cleanup
from the week.

485
00:24:36,828 --> 00:24:38,860
When European leaders
were here this week,

486
00:24:38,861 --> 00:24:41,728
or in other communications
with leaders from the eurozone,

487
00:24:41,728 --> 00:24:44,795
are they still asking for
money, for bailout money?

488
00:24:44,795 --> 00:24:48,928
Mr. Carney:
I'm not sure I would
characterize conversations

489
00:24:48,928 --> 00:24:53,361
in that way in the past,
let alone in the present.

490
00:24:53,361 --> 00:24:56,394
So I think that the discussions
that the President has had,

491
00:24:56,394 --> 00:24:58,461
at least at his level
with his counterparts,

492
00:24:58,461 --> 00:25:03,428
have been about what the best
approaches are to ensuring that

493
00:25:05,628 --> 00:25:09,761
action is taken that resolves
conclusively the debt crisis

494
00:25:09,761 --> 00:25:10,761
that Europe has.

495
00:25:10,761 --> 00:25:16,628
And that goes to figuring out
a firewall that is substantial

496
00:25:16,628 --> 00:25:18,828
enough to meet the challenge.

497
00:25:18,828 --> 00:25:24,226
We made clear that this is a
problem that -- is a European

498
00:25:24,227 --> 00:25:27,961
problem that the Europeans
have the capacity to deal with.

499
00:25:27,961 --> 00:25:34,394
And our role in this has been
to offer our advice and counsel

500
00:25:34,394 --> 00:25:36,528
because of our experience
in this matter,

501
00:25:36,528 --> 00:25:41,294
and because we live in a global
economy and there are impacts

502
00:25:41,294 --> 00:25:46,127
that the situation in Europe has
already caused for the global

503
00:25:46,127 --> 00:25:49,226
economy and clearly could
cause if it gets worse.

504
00:25:49,227 --> 00:25:53,161
So it's in our interests, not
just as friends and allies of

505
00:25:53,161 --> 00:25:58,261
our European counterparts, but
as regards to the global economy

506
00:25:58,261 --> 00:26:00,061
and its effect on this economy.

507
00:26:00,061 --> 00:26:01,428
The Press:
So I know you say
they have capacity,

508
00:26:01,428 --> 00:26:03,161
because you guys have mentioned
that several times this week.

509
00:26:03,161 --> 00:26:06,795
But did anything happen this
week that reassures you about

510
00:26:06,795 --> 00:26:09,761
their willingness -- or were
there any encouraging signs

511
00:26:09,761 --> 00:26:11,928
in those conversations?

512
00:26:11,928 --> 00:26:15,861
Mr. Carney:
I would suggest that you
might ask Treasury about that.

513
00:26:15,861 --> 00:26:20,661
I'm a little wary of making
comments that can drive markets,

514
00:26:20,661 --> 00:26:21,661
as you might expect.

515
00:26:21,661 --> 00:26:27,728
But what we have seen is I think
an acknowledgment -- and this

516
00:26:27,728 --> 00:26:32,928
goes back to G20 and prior --
that steps need to be taken,

517
00:26:32,928 --> 00:26:35,928
and the Europeans have taken
some steps towards resolving

518
00:26:35,928 --> 00:26:38,461
this issue, and we -- working
with them and consulting with

519
00:26:38,461 --> 00:26:41,361
them and advising them on the
kinds of steps they need to

520
00:26:41,361 --> 00:26:44,194
take to get the job
conclusively finished.

521
00:26:44,194 --> 00:26:45,127
The Press:
Can I follow on that?

522
00:26:45,127 --> 00:26:45,661
Mr. Carney:
Yes.

523
00:26:45,661 --> 00:26:46,461
The Press:
Thanks, Jay.

524
00:26:46,461 --> 00:26:49,895
Beyond the fact that the
economic hole was much deeper,

525
00:26:49,895 --> 00:26:53,394
as you described it, once the
President took office than he

526
00:26:53,394 --> 00:26:56,528
initially expected, who else
or what else does the President

527
00:26:56,528 --> 00:26:59,628
blame for this continued
high unemployment rate?

528
00:26:59,628 --> 00:27:01,360
Mr. Carney:
He's not really into blaming.

529
00:27:01,361 --> 00:27:04,728
I mean, the statement that the
hole was deep is a fact, right?

530
00:27:04,728 --> 00:27:10,161
Eight million jobs lost
is a serious situation,

531
00:27:10,161 --> 00:27:12,728
the kind of job loss we haven't
seen since the Great Depression.

532
00:27:12,728 --> 00:27:13,795
It's just a fact.

533
00:27:13,795 --> 00:27:16,294
The kind of economic contraction
that we haven't seen since the

534
00:27:16,294 --> 00:27:17,695
Great Depression.

535
00:27:17,695 --> 00:27:21,961
Those are the facts that we as
a country have been dealing with

536
00:27:21,961 --> 00:27:24,761
as we've emerged out
of the recession.

537
00:27:24,761 --> 00:27:28,494
And he's not really interested
in blaming people for why we got

538
00:27:28,494 --> 00:27:31,428
into it, the problems
that we got into.

539
00:27:31,428 --> 00:27:34,127
We didn't get into it overnight,
and it won't -- we can't get out

540
00:27:34,127 --> 00:27:40,194
of this hole overnight, but we
can continue to work in doing

541
00:27:40,194 --> 00:27:43,594
smaller measures as
well as big things,

542
00:27:43,594 --> 00:27:47,094
like the American Jobs Act, to
make sure the economy grows and

543
00:27:47,094 --> 00:27:48,094
creates jobs.

544
00:27:48,094 --> 00:27:51,628
And we need to do that also
because -- going to the

545
00:27:51,628 --> 00:27:53,727
questions about Europe -- we
need to take action on the

546
00:27:53,728 --> 00:27:57,328
things we can control to provide
the sort of insurance and buffer

547
00:27:57,328 --> 00:28:02,027
for our economy so that we can
withstand the kinds of shocks to

548
00:28:02,027 --> 00:28:04,561
the global economy
that tend to happen,

549
00:28:04,561 --> 00:28:07,194
whether they come from Europe
or Asia or the Middle East.

550
00:28:07,194 --> 00:28:11,994
So this is the responsible thing
to do in an economy that is

551
00:28:11,994 --> 00:28:15,360
growing, but not fast enough,
and that is creating jobs,

552
00:28:15,361 --> 00:28:18,061
but not at a big enough clip.

553
00:28:18,061 --> 00:28:21,328
So that's what he's focused on.

554
00:28:21,328 --> 00:28:24,293
The Press:
And a question on Syria: How
does the administration view the

555
00:28:24,294 --> 00:28:25,761
situation on the ground there?

556
00:28:25,761 --> 00:28:29,027
Is it a civil war?

557
00:28:29,027 --> 00:28:35,728
Mr. Carney:
I think the -- what we
have seen is the level

558
00:28:35,728 --> 00:28:38,594
of violence increase.

559
00:28:38,594 --> 00:28:43,127
But change there does not
mean, necessarily, civil war.

560
00:28:43,127 --> 00:28:47,360
The crackdown has come because
of violence that the Syrian

561
00:28:47,361 --> 00:28:50,895
government has perpetrated
against its own people.

562
00:28:50,895 --> 00:28:52,895
We've seen when the
government recedes,

563
00:28:52,895 --> 00:28:58,328
when it stops violent
actions, violence recedes.

564
00:28:58,328 --> 00:29:02,895
So we -- rather than
characterize it,

565
00:29:02,895 --> 00:29:06,094
we simply are working with
our international partners

566
00:29:06,094 --> 00:29:15,194
to increase pressure on the
Assad regime to isolate Assad,

567
00:29:15,194 --> 00:29:19,061
and to make it clear that
the behavior is unacceptable.

568
00:29:19,061 --> 00:29:23,895
So, as you know, the Turkish
government has taken action this

569
00:29:23,895 --> 00:29:26,761
week, the European Union has
taken action this week on

570
00:29:26,761 --> 00:29:29,494
economic sanctions and
other measures against

571
00:29:29,494 --> 00:29:30,494
the Syrian regime.

572
00:29:30,494 --> 00:29:35,994
We commend those actions,
especially because they

573
00:29:35,994 --> 00:29:38,093
come after additional
actions announced by

574
00:29:38,094 --> 00:29:40,294
the Treasury Department.

575
00:29:40,294 --> 00:29:45,761
Combined, that sends a strong
message of international unity,

576
00:29:45,761 --> 00:29:48,461
and it will have the effect of
increasing pressure on Assad and

577
00:29:48,461 --> 00:29:51,761
his circle. Steve.

578
00:29:51,761 --> 00:29:54,360
The Press:
Jay, I have two questions, the
first is repeating my partner

579
00:29:54,361 --> 00:29:55,661
Lesley's question yesterday.

580
00:29:55,661 --> 00:29:57,761
Alan Gross in Cuba -- is the
President going to make any

581
00:29:57,761 --> 00:30:01,994
request to Cuba to release him
by tomorrow on the two-year

582
00:30:01,994 --> 00:30:03,660
anniversary of his captivity?

583
00:30:08,027 --> 00:30:09,895
Mr. Carney:
As you know, Steve,
tomorrow will mark

584
00:30:09,895 --> 00:30:14,695
the two-year anniversary of the
unjustified detention of Alan

585
00:30:14,695 --> 00:30:16,695
Gross by Cuban authorities.

586
00:30:16,695 --> 00:30:19,593
Our deepest sympathies are with
Mr. Gross and his family and

587
00:30:19,594 --> 00:30:22,994
friends, who have suffered
tremendously during this ordeal.

588
00:30:22,994 --> 00:30:27,127
It is past time for Mr. Gross to
return home to his family where

589
00:30:27,127 --> 00:30:28,127
he belongs.

590
00:30:28,127 --> 00:30:30,761
Cuban authorities have failed in
their effort to use Mr. Gross as

591
00:30:30,761 --> 00:30:32,961
a pawn for their own ends.

592
00:30:32,961 --> 00:30:36,361
They must heed the call of Mr.
Gross's family and friends,

593
00:30:36,361 --> 00:30:39,294
the international community and
the United States to immediately

594
00:30:39,294 --> 00:30:41,528
release Mr. Gross.

595
00:30:41,528 --> 00:30:43,661
Mr. Gross is a dedicated
international development

596
00:30:43,661 --> 00:30:45,895
worker who has devoted his
life to helping people in

597
00:30:45,895 --> 00:30:47,661
more than 50 countries.

598
00:30:47,661 --> 00:30:51,161
His work in Cuba was to support
the free flow of information to,

599
00:30:51,161 --> 00:30:53,828
from and among the Cuban
people, in support of Cuban

600
00:30:53,828 --> 00:30:54,828
civil society.

601
00:30:54,828 --> 00:30:58,061
And we remain steadfast in our
support for Cuban society and

602
00:30:58,061 --> 00:31:02,660
the desire of the Cuban people
to determine their own future.

603
00:31:02,661 --> 00:31:06,127
The Press:
Will the President make a
personal appeal, or is that it?

604
00:31:06,127 --> 00:31:09,027
Mr. Carney:
I don't want to announce -- make
any announcements about what he

605
00:31:09,027 --> 00:31:11,994
may or may not be saying, or
statements he might issue.

606
00:31:11,994 --> 00:31:12,761
The Press:
Second question.

607
00:31:12,761 --> 00:31:15,761
Did he get involved at all
in the rail strike talks?

608
00:31:17,895 --> 00:31:21,293
Mr. Carney:
I think the administration
was engaged,

609
00:31:21,294 --> 00:31:24,728
obviously because of the
potential impact of that strike,

610
00:31:24,728 --> 00:31:27,194
had it happened, on the economy.

611
00:31:27,194 --> 00:31:31,027
The President is responsible for
everything that happens in his

612
00:31:31,027 --> 00:31:35,628
administration so I think he
was certainly kept apprised

613
00:31:35,628 --> 00:31:37,026
of developments.

614
00:31:37,027 --> 00:31:37,961
The Press:
Jay.

615
00:31:37,961 --> 00:31:39,361
Mr. Carney:
Yes. Then Bill.

616
00:31:39,361 --> 00:31:40,594
The Press:
Thank you.

617
00:31:40,594 --> 00:31:42,227
The President said Wednesday
night -- this is following up

618
00:31:42,227 --> 00:31:43,728
on Christi's question --
at a fundraiser that he

619
00:31:43,728 --> 00:31:47,728
was "cautiously hopeful" that
the eurozone or Europeans would

620
00:31:47,728 --> 00:31:48,728
do what was necessary.

621
00:31:48,728 --> 00:31:52,861
Is that a change at all from the
outlook -- for the confidence

622
00:31:52,861 --> 00:31:56,928
you will have in Europe's,
I guess, political --

623
00:31:56,928 --> 00:31:59,428
Mr. Carney:
I don't know that I would
characterize it as a change.

624
00:31:59,428 --> 00:32:03,261
I would simply say
that -- what he said,

625
00:32:03,261 --> 00:32:06,628
that we're "cautiously hopeful,"
for all the reasons that I've

626
00:32:06,628 --> 00:32:07,628
been saying for a long time.

627
00:32:07,628 --> 00:32:08,628
They have the resources.

628
00:32:08,628 --> 00:32:09,895
They know what needs to be done.

629
00:32:09,895 --> 00:32:14,161
It's obviously a difficult
challenge, which we understand,

630
00:32:14,161 --> 00:32:16,127
having been through
something similar.

631
00:32:16,127 --> 00:32:18,928
And that's why we're working so
closely with them and providing

632
00:32:18,928 --> 00:32:22,094
the kind of counsel and advice
that might be helpful and useful

633
00:32:22,094 --> 00:32:23,094
in this situation.

634
00:32:23,094 --> 00:32:28,261
But I wouldn't note that as
-- necessarily as a change.

635
00:32:28,261 --> 00:32:29,928
Yes. Bill.

636
00:32:29,928 --> 00:32:32,094
The Press:
Jay, back to the payroll tax.

637
00:32:32,094 --> 00:32:34,728
Boehner said
yesterday, the Speaker,

638
00:32:34,728 --> 00:32:37,561
"I don't think there's any
question that the payroll

639
00:32:37,561 --> 00:32:40,528
tax relief in fact
helps the economy."

640
00:32:40,528 --> 00:32:43,027
So you've got a meeting of minds
on the fact that payroll tax

641
00:32:43,027 --> 00:32:44,027
should be increased.

642
00:32:44,027 --> 00:32:45,661
The difference is on the payfor.

643
00:32:45,661 --> 00:32:49,127
Is going forward with no payfor
an option you would consider?

644
00:32:49,127 --> 00:32:50,594
Mr. Carney:
Well, I got that
question earlier,

645
00:32:50,594 --> 00:32:54,895
and what we learned last night
-- at least with regards to the

646
00:32:54,895 --> 00:32:58,895
Senate -- is that the debate
really isn't about the payfor.

647
00:32:58,895 --> 00:33:03,428
Because even with their payfors,
which were unbalanced and filled

648
00:33:03,428 --> 00:33:08,361
with window dressing and
gorilla dust -- (laughter)

649
00:33:08,361 --> 00:33:10,361
-- Republicans voted
overwhelmingly against their

650
00:33:10,361 --> 00:33:13,061
own bill, the bill that Senator
McConnell had put forward

651
00:33:13,061 --> 00:33:14,961
suggesting that there
was majority support from

652
00:33:14,961 --> 00:33:15,961
Republicans for it.

653
00:33:15,961 --> 00:33:21,994
So the question isn't do they --
maybe some think that it -- and

654
00:33:21,994 --> 00:33:24,660
they're right -- that a payroll
tax cut helps the economy.

655
00:33:24,661 --> 00:33:25,661
It certainly does.

656
00:33:25,661 --> 00:33:26,828
Economists believe that.

657
00:33:26,828 --> 00:33:35,461
But what we haven't seen is that
result in support in votes for

658
00:33:35,461 --> 00:33:38,528
absolutely necessary measures
to extend and expand the payroll

659
00:33:38,528 --> 00:33:39,294
tax cut.

660
00:33:39,294 --> 00:33:41,027
The Press:
But given that the numbers
-- you probably could have

661
00:33:41,027 --> 00:33:46,461
gotten to 60 for an extension
of the payroll tax cut without

662
00:33:46,461 --> 00:33:47,161
a payfor.

663
00:33:47,161 --> 00:33:48,227
What I'm asking is --

664
00:33:48,227 --> 00:33:53,161
Mr. Carney:
I'm not going to -- what the
President has put forward is --

665
00:33:53,161 --> 00:33:56,795
through the American Jobs Act
-- is a very responsible and

666
00:33:56,795 --> 00:33:58,361
economically sensible
way to pay for it,

667
00:33:58,361 --> 00:34:00,628
one that is supported by a vast
majority of the American people.

668
00:34:00,628 --> 00:34:02,461
What Senate Democrats
put forward,

669
00:34:02,461 --> 00:34:07,227
in the specific case of
legislation just on the payroll

670
00:34:07,227 --> 00:34:11,928
tax cut extension and expansion,
is another way that is

671
00:34:11,928 --> 00:34:15,694
responsible and supported by a
majority of the American people

672
00:34:15,695 --> 00:34:16,695
to pay for it.

673
00:34:16,695 --> 00:34:19,428
So we obviously think that's
the preferable way to go.

674
00:34:19,428 --> 00:34:20,493
That's the President's position.

675
00:34:20,494 --> 00:34:23,661
What I won't do is say what --
I'm not going to rule in or out

676
00:34:23,661 --> 00:34:30,161
from here what he may or may not
support when this thing gets to

677
00:34:30,161 --> 00:34:31,795
the finish line,
as we hope it does.

678
00:34:31,795 --> 00:34:34,328
What I have said in
terms of payfors,

679
00:34:34,328 --> 00:34:37,061
is that there are payfors
that he might -- that he would

680
00:34:37,061 --> 00:34:39,895
support, and there are clearly
payfors that he would not,

681
00:34:39,895 --> 00:34:42,226
because he wants to make sure
that however we proceed here,

682
00:34:42,226 --> 00:34:45,094
we do it in a way
that is responsible,

683
00:34:45,094 --> 00:34:47,328
that keeps our commitments,
including the commitments we

684
00:34:47,328 --> 00:34:51,094
made in August through
the Budget Control Act,

685
00:34:51,094 --> 00:34:54,127
and that doesn't do any harm to
the economy or harm to sectors

686
00:34:54,127 --> 00:34:56,895
of the American public
who need our help.

687
00:34:56,895 --> 00:34:57,895
The Press:
Thanks, Jay.

688
00:34:57,895 --> 00:35:00,161
The Press:
I guess in Washington we often
get to the lesser of two evils.

689
00:35:00,161 --> 00:35:05,094
The lesser of two evils may be
a payroll extension without a

690
00:35:05,094 --> 00:35:06,728
payfor, but then a tax --

691
00:35:06,728 --> 00:35:07,795
Mr. Carney:
Well, two more things on that.

692
00:35:07,795 --> 00:35:10,695
First of all, the President
obviously prefers to pay for

693
00:35:10,695 --> 00:35:14,127
it in the manner that he put
forward in the American Jobs

694
00:35:14,127 --> 00:35:16,728
Act and in the manner that the
Senate Democrats put forward --

695
00:35:16,728 --> 00:35:19,127
and we'll see how this
proceeds from here.

696
00:35:19,127 --> 00:35:21,261
The second part, on just the
general principle of paying

697
00:35:21,261 --> 00:35:26,328
for tax cuts, is while it is
interesting to behold the sudden

698
00:35:26,328 --> 00:35:28,361
focus on this among Republicans.

699
00:35:28,361 --> 00:35:30,528
I think there is a long
multi-decade history of

700
00:35:30,528 --> 00:35:34,328
Republicans not believing and
actually aggressively stating

701
00:35:34,328 --> 00:35:36,428
that tax cuts do not
need to be paid for.

702
00:35:36,428 --> 00:35:37,694
But that's their position.

703
00:35:37,695 --> 00:35:38,461
Mike, last question.

704
00:35:38,461 --> 00:35:41,694
The Press:
Actually, two quick ones, again.

705
00:35:41,695 --> 00:35:45,027
The joint appearance today of
the 42nd and 44th Presidents has

706
00:35:45,027 --> 00:35:49,227
reawakened the speculation of a
possible Obama-Clinton ticket.

707
00:35:49,227 --> 00:35:50,094
I was wondering
if there's any --

708
00:35:50,094 --> 00:35:52,528
Mr. Carney:
Only among people who know
absolutely nothing about

709
00:35:52,528 --> 00:35:53,560
which they speak.

710
00:35:53,561 --> 00:35:57,394
But -- (laughter)
-- not you, not you.

711
00:35:57,394 --> 00:36:03,593
But, no, I mean, we've been very
clear about this for so long.

712
00:36:03,594 --> 00:36:06,928
So -- do you mean Bill
Clinton or Secretary Clinton?

713
00:36:06,928 --> 00:36:09,194
(laughter)

714
00:36:09,194 --> 00:36:10,294
The Press:
Hillary -- Secretary
Clinton, yes.

715
00:36:10,294 --> 00:36:11,361
That would be Secretary Clinton.

716
00:36:11,361 --> 00:36:12,094
So just wild speculation.

717
00:36:12,094 --> 00:36:12,961
Mr. Carney:
I think Secretary Clinton
has spoken to this,

718
00:36:12,961 --> 00:36:14,660
I think the President
has spoken to it,

719
00:36:14,661 --> 00:36:17,661
I think the Vice President has
-- that Barack Obama and Joe

720
00:36:17,661 --> 00:36:21,328
Biden will be on the ticket next
year and will be taking the oath

721
00:36:21,328 --> 00:36:23,394
of office in January of 2013.

722
00:36:23,394 --> 00:36:27,493
The Press:
And the second one, in her news
conference that just ended,

723
00:36:27,494 --> 00:36:30,895
Representative Pelosi apparently
had suggested a possible payfor

724
00:36:30,895 --> 00:36:35,127
in for the payroll tax holiday
coming out of the Overseas

725
00:36:35,127 --> 00:36:37,161
Contingency Operation Fund.

726
00:36:37,161 --> 00:36:38,861
Is that something that's been
discussed with the White House?

727
00:36:38,861 --> 00:36:42,261
Is that something that the White
House would possibly support?

728
00:36:42,261 --> 00:36:43,528
Mr. Carney:
Going back to some
of my other answers,

729
00:36:43,528 --> 00:36:47,928
I don't want to speculate about
what a package might look like,

730
00:36:47,928 --> 00:36:50,394
especially if it hasn't
even been put in

731
00:36:50,394 --> 00:36:51,761
legislative form yet.

732
00:36:51,761 --> 00:36:57,127
And I was here probably when
the Democratic leader gave this

733
00:36:57,127 --> 00:36:59,261
press conference, so I'm
not even aware of that yet.

734
00:36:59,261 --> 00:37:00,461
So thanks very much.

735
00:37:00,461 --> 00:37:02,294
The Press:
Week ahead?

736
00:37:02,294 --> 00:37:04,560
Mr. Carney:
We will be providing a week
ahead a little later today.

737
00:37:04,561 --> 00:37:05,861
We haven't got it
ready for you yet.

738
00:37:05,861 --> 00:37:07,961
The Press:
Hey, Jay, what kind of dust did
you say it was covered with?

739
00:37:07,961 --> 00:37:08,528
You said --

740
00:37:08,528 --> 00:37:09,328
The Press:
Gorilla dust.

741
00:37:09,328 --> 00:37:10,127
The Press:
What is gorilla dust?

742
00:37:10,127 --> 00:37:11,428
The Press:
Gorillas before they fight --

743
00:37:11,428 --> 00:37:14,928
Mr. Carney:
Hey, Nakamura -- first of all,
you've insulted your friend and

744
00:37:14,928 --> 00:37:16,895
colleague from The Washington
Post who wrote at length --

745
00:37:16,895 --> 00:37:18,594
(laughter)

746
00:37:18,594 --> 00:37:21,461
-- in quality prose,
about gorilla dust.

747
00:37:21,461 --> 00:37:23,026
The Press:
The only people who read
me are you and my mom.

748
00:37:23,027 --> 00:37:24,127
(laughter)

749
00:37:24,127 --> 00:37:24,928
Mr. Carney:
Yes, well --

750
00:37:24,928 --> 00:37:25,895
The Press:
What is gorilla dust?

751
00:37:25,895 --> 00:37:27,861
Mr. Carney:
Gorilla dust is,
as I understand it,

752
00:37:27,861 --> 00:37:33,961
a diversionary tactic that
gorillas use when they're doing

753
00:37:33,961 --> 00:37:36,660
combat, and they throw up dust.

754
00:37:36,661 --> 00:37:41,061
It's a defensive measure to get
people to be distracted or to

755
00:37:41,061 --> 00:37:43,094
get their potential
opponent to be distracted --

756
00:37:43,094 --> 00:37:44,161
The Press:
You're well versed on this.

757
00:37:44,161 --> 00:37:45,695
(laughter)

758
00:37:45,695 --> 00:37:48,494
The Press:
Do you feel this is better
than saying "blowing smoke,"

759
00:37:48,494 --> 00:37:49,561
for example?

760
00:37:49,561 --> 00:37:50,695
Mr. Carney:
I just like "gorilla dust."

761
00:37:50,695 --> 00:37:52,494
It rolls off the tongue.

762
00:37:52,494 --> 00:37:53,928
Thanks a lot, everybody.