English subtitles for clip: File:12-22-09- White House Press Briefing.webm
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1 00:00:03,131 --> 00:00:04,611 Mr. Gibbs: Hello, guys. Good morning. I thought -- last 2 00:00:04,611 --> 00:00:11,611 week we did a sort of happy hour briefing -- today we'd do sort of a brunch briefing. 3 00:00:14,721 --> 00:00:21,721 Welcome to the last press briefing of the year. I know many of you will be disappointed. 4 00:00:21,891 --> 00:00:22,531 The Press: Awww -- 5 00:00:22,531 --> 00:00:24,261 Mr. Gibbs: I know, the collective Christmas groans. Lester, 6 00:00:24,261 --> 00:00:31,261 you'll have to save all those insightful questions for next year. Today, my friend, is not Christmas. 7 00:00:31,900 --> 00:00:32,450 (laughter) 8 00:00:32,451 --> 00:00:36,341 The Press: I'm hoping for Christmas spirit. 9 00:00:36,340 --> 00:00:39,830 Mr. Gibbs: If you can't feel it from here, Lester, just 10 00:00:39,831 --> 00:00:42,211 come a couple rows closer. Go ahead. 11 00:00:42,210 --> 00:00:46,850 The Press: A few quick things. First on health care. 12 00:00:46,850 --> 00:00:50,350 The President said this morning that his vacation plans are going to be contingent on the Senate 13 00:00:50,350 --> 00:00:51,430 vote. Does that mean he'd stay in Washington through Christmas Eve? 14 00:00:51,430 --> 00:00:54,150 Mr. Gibbs: They are going to make a decision later this 15 00:00:54,151 --> 00:01:00,351 evening about when the President will leave. As soon as we know the outcome of that decision, 16 00:01:00,350 --> 00:01:03,610 we will let you guys know. But I don't -- nothing has been made -- no decisions have 17 00:01:03,610 --> 00:01:04,040 been made at this point. 18 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:04,290 The Press: And then, second, on Iran, Ahmadinejad said 19 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:04,290 this morning that the U.S. can set all the deadlines it wants, it doesn't matter to them. 20 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:10,860 Is that the same message that the U.S. is getting from its negotiators? And if that 21 00:01:10,860 --> 00:01:14,360 is the case -- 22 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,710 Mr. Gibbs: From its negotiators? 23 00:01:17,711 --> 00:01:21,971 The Press: With Iran on the nuclear deal. 24 00:01:21,970 --> 00:01:28,680 Mr. Gibbs: Look, I think that the international community 25 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:35,680 is united in this. This is not something that the President has said. This is not something 26 00:01:36,631 --> 00:01:42,661 -- or just that the President has said. This is something that the members of the P5-plus-1 27 00:01:42,661 --> 00:01:49,661 have said. That's why we are at the point where we are now with the international community, 28 00:01:50,330 --> 00:01:55,900 waiting to see, and have been waiting to see for months, whether Iran will live up to its 29 00:01:55,900 --> 00:02:02,900 responsibilities. Mr. Ahmadinejad may not recognize, for whatever reason, the deadline 30 00:02:03,551 --> 00:02:10,241 that looms, but that is a very real deadline for the international community. And I think 31 00:02:10,241 --> 00:02:17,241 all of those involved in the P5-plus-1 would encourage Iran to take that deadline as seriously 32 00:02:18,331 --> 00:02:25,331 as it's being taken by us to live up to their responsibilities. It is in his control what 33 00:02:28,670 --> 00:02:35,670 Iran decides to do. The offer that was put forward by the P5-plus-1 and by the IAEA that 34 00:02:41,071 --> 00:02:47,281 -- I think clarified for the world what Iran's intentions were. Now they have to live up 35 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:49,460 to those responsibilities, and if they fail to do so, the international community will 36 00:02:49,461 --> 00:02:50,301 act accordingly. Yes, sir. 37 00:02:50,301 --> 00:02:53,441 The Press: OPEC met today and decided to hold their output 38 00:02:53,441 --> 00:03:00,441 targets unchanged. So does the White House have any reaction to that? And also, there 39 00:03:01,161 --> 00:03:08,161 is kind of a strong message coming out of OPEC that they are comfortable with oil prices 40 00:03:15,471 --> 00:03:17,761 in a range between $70 and $80 a barrel. How does the White House feel about that? 41 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:20,980 Mr. Gibbs: I don't have any guidance on OPEC, but we'll 42 00:03:20,980 --> 00:03:21,780 try to get some from Energy and from NSC. Yes, sir. 43 00:03:21,780 --> 00:03:22,510 The Press: Once the Senate passes health care and the 44 00:03:22,510 --> 00:03:23,680 conference starts next month, how does the President see his role? Is he just going to 45 00:03:23,681 --> 00:03:30,681 be a bystander and sort of a cheerleader, or is he going to be up to his elbows in it? 46 00:03:31,150 --> 00:03:32,740 How is that going to work? 47 00:03:32,741 --> 00:03:35,781 Mr. Gibbs: Well, again, I think the role that -- well, 48 00:03:35,780 --> 00:03:42,600 let me say one thing first. I am not going to get into, from here now, getting into what 49 00:03:42,601 --> 00:03:49,601 that conference, what those negotiations may look like. Obviously, we are hopeful that 50 00:03:50,351 --> 00:03:56,461 the bill will pass the Senate prior to the Senate leaving for Christmas, whatever day 51 00:03:56,461 --> 00:04:03,461 that -- whatever day they may decide that to be. I think the bill has, as you heard 52 00:04:03,510 --> 00:04:10,510 the President yesterday say, has a number of overwhelmingly good benefits for the American 53 00:04:12,930 --> 00:04:19,930 people. The President and his team 54 00:04:26,311 --> 00:04:30,281 will continue to play the role that they have throughout this process, John, and that is 55 00:04:30,281 --> 00:04:37,281 working with leaders in the House and the Senate, discussing with them policy options. 56 00:04:39,411 --> 00:04:45,851 I think the role that he and his team have played up to this point has gotten us to the 57 00:04:45,851 --> 00:04:50,191 point where -- in all honesty, health care is not a matter of -- health care reform is 58 00:04:50,191 --> 00:04:55,601 not a matter of if; health care reform now is a matter of when. And I think the President 59 00:04:55,601 --> 00:05:00,031 is enormously encouraged by that. 60 00:05:00,031 --> 00:05:07,031 The Press: Well, as you know, he's been criticized for 61 00:05:07,401 --> 00:05:10,101 not being more active by some people the past year and that he gave Congress too -- it's 62 00:05:10,101 --> 00:05:10,351 had too much -- 63 00:05:10,191 --> 00:05:10,481 Mr. Gibbs: He's been criticized for being too active 64 00:05:10,481 --> 00:05:13,591 and -- the one thing the President has resolved in the New Year is not to let any of the criticism bother him. 65 00:05:13,591 --> 00:05:19,581 The Press: But when this goes to conference, he is going 66 00:05:19,581 --> 00:05:23,671 to be involved about as much as he has been in the past -- is that what you're saying? 67 00:05:23,671 --> 00:05:26,151 Mr. Gibbs: John, we would not be at the point where we 68 00:05:26,151 --> 00:05:33,151 are today if it weren't for the President's everyday involvement in this. I know there 69 00:05:37,941 --> 00:05:44,631 have been reports to the contrary. I think the President believes that we've gotten health 70 00:05:44,631 --> 00:05:49,871 care reform right up to the point where, as I said a minute ago, it's not a matter of 71 00:05:49,871 --> 00:05:52,411 if; it's a matter of when. Yes, sir. 72 00:05:52,411 --> 00:05:59,411 The Press: On Iran again, I'm wondering if now that Iran 73 00:05:59,731 --> 00:06:03,101 has sort of made its intentions clear that it doesn't plan to apparently abide by this 74 00:06:03,101 --> 00:06:06,561 December 31st deadline, has the White House then started making plans for the next phase, 75 00:06:06,561 --> 00:06:07,291 realizing that -- 76 00:06:07,291 --> 00:06:09,771 Mr. Gibbs: We began making those plans weeks ago, Dan, 77 00:06:09,771 --> 00:06:13,151 as you heard the President talk about on his trip to Asia. 78 00:06:13,151 --> 00:06:15,931 The Press: And so it's clear to the White House now that 79 00:06:15,931 --> 00:06:17,491 Iran is not going to back down? 80 00:06:17,491 --> 00:06:21,581 Mr. Gibbs: Well, that's an Iranian decision. That's not 81 00:06:21,581 --> 00:06:26,151 a decision that we and the P5-plus-1 will make. The decision for them to live up to 82 00:06:26,151 --> 00:06:33,151 their responsibilities is their decision. We have offered them a different path. If 83 00:06:33,301 --> 00:06:40,301 they decide not to take it, then the American -- our delegation with the P5-plus-1 will 84 00:06:41,841 --> 00:06:47,971 move accordingly. Those preparations have begun. Discussions have been had with leaders 85 00:06:47,971 --> 00:06:54,971 about those next steps at the U.N., as you know, in September in meetings with the President 86 00:06:57,541 --> 00:07:04,541 and the Chinese on his recent trip. So we've begun to take those steps if China is unwilling 87 00:07:05,391 --> 00:07:09,771 to take -- I'm sorry -- if Iran is unwilling to pursue its responsibilities. 88 00:07:09,771 --> 00:07:12,961 The Press: As the President is winding down this first 89 00:07:12,961 --> 00:07:18,251 year in office, as he looks back over this year, is he at the point now where he can 90 00:07:18,251 --> 00:07:24,281 say, this is kind of what I expected, in terms of the fight for health care, for economic 91 00:07:24,281 --> 00:07:29,551 recovery? Is it about what he expected, or much more difficult than he expected? 92 00:07:29,551 --> 00:07:32,141 Mr. Gibbs: Expected how? In terms of getting legislation through Congress? 93 00:07:32,141 --> 00:07:34,471 The Press: Getting what he wanted, the fight to get what 94 00:07:34,471 --> 00:07:36,881 he wanted -- is it about what he expected, or much more difficult? 95 00:07:36,881 --> 00:07:40,461 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I think that the President was 96 00:07:40,461 --> 00:07:46,851 never under any illusion that anything was going to be easy. We're talking about fundamental 97 00:07:46,851 --> 00:07:53,851 health care reform. We're talking about fundamental change that will help, in terms of health 98 00:07:55,451 --> 00:08:02,451 care reform, millions have access to affordable health care; millions that have that access 99 00:08:02,671 --> 00:08:09,671 see their costs reduced. We know that this is a good thing for our fiscal picture. We 100 00:08:12,771 --> 00:08:17,531 know that whether you have insurance or you don't have insurance, important reforms about 101 00:08:17,531 --> 00:08:24,531 the way insurance companies treat patients are in this bill. The Senate bill has some 102 00:08:25,401 --> 00:08:30,141 very strong provisions about -- that prevent insurance companies from padding their own 103 00:08:30,141 --> 00:08:37,021 pockets and medical loss ratio. I don't think the President was under any illusion that 104 00:08:37,021 --> 00:08:44,021 anything was going to be easy. When he came into office on the 20th of January, we were 105 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:52,800 looking at an economic picture that I think is fair to say had not been seen by a President 106 00:08:55,290 --> 00:09:02,080 likely since President Roosevelt. And if you go back to that month -- we had 741,000 jobs 107 00:09:02,081 --> 00:09:09,081 lost. The first quarter of 2009 saw a GDP reduction of more than 6 percent, an economic 108 00:09:10,100 --> 00:09:15,570 loss that had not been seen in almost three decades. The President was not under any illusions, 109 00:09:15,571 --> 00:09:22,571 again, that any of this stuff would be easy. But I think he has focused domestically and 110 00:09:23,461 --> 00:09:30,461 in foreign policy on the ideas that he thinks will make this country safer, more secure, 111 00:09:31,081 --> 00:09:37,661 and get our economy back on a road to recovery. 112 00:09:37,660 --> 00:09:41,850 The Press: Just one quick thing. Any reaction to the 113 00:09:41,850 --> 00:09:42,550 death of Ann Nixon Cooper, the 107-year-old woman who the President mentioned in his -- 114 00:09:42,550 --> 00:09:48,430 Mr. Gibbs: Let me talk to the President and I'll get something. 115 00:09:48,431 --> 00:09:51,431 The Press: On health care, on the contentious issue of 116 00:09:51,431 --> 00:09:55,051 abortion language, has the White House been talking with Congressman Bart Stupak of Michigan? 117 00:09:55,050 --> 00:10:00,010 And secondly, how confident is the President that some sort of compromise in the conference 118 00:10:00,011 --> 00:10:02,931 can be worked out that will satisfy all parties? 119 00:10:02,931 --> 00:10:05,821 Mr. Gibbs: I will check with Legislative Affairs as to 120 00:10:05,821 --> 00:10:10,471 whether we've had any conversations -- I don't believe the President has talked to Congressman 121 00:10:10,470 --> 00:10:16,750 Stupak in the last few days. I don't know if staff have had conversations with him or 122 00:10:16,751 --> 00:10:22,431 not. I don't want to get into, again, where some of these issues may -- how some of these 123 00:10:22,431 --> 00:10:28,461 issues may be hammered out in a conference. I think it's better to let the Senate work 124 00:10:28,460 --> 00:10:33,480 their will and get us to a point where we would have those negotiations. But again, 125 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:39,050 I think the President is quite confident that we are going to be able to figure out how 126 00:10:39,050 --> 00:10:43,990 to make health care reform a reality. Again, I don't think this is a matter of if, I think 127 00:10:43,990 --> 00:10:45,480 this is now a matter of when. And the President looks forward to that. 128 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:50,720 The Press: Robert, on the -- I want to get the President's 129 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:57,720 take on some of the language that's been used in the last several days regarding the health 130 00:10:58,831 --> 00:11:05,831 care reform bill. I don't know if you've heard that the chairman of the Republican National 131 00:11:07,490 --> 00:11:13,830 Committee twice yesterday said that the Democrats are "flipping the bird" at the American people. 132 00:11:13,831 --> 00:11:15,321 Mr. Gibbs: How much did that interview cost -- (laughter) 133 00:11:15,321 --> 00:11:15,631 The Press: Oooh -- 134 00:11:15,631 --> 00:11:16,731 Mr. Gibbs: That wasn't directed at Norah. That was 135 00:11:16,730 --> 00:11:18,660 just simply directed at the RNC. Go ahead, I'm sorry. 136 00:11:18,660 --> 00:11:20,290 The Press: Is the language inappropriate? 137 00:11:20,290 --> 00:11:23,890 Mr. Gibbs: I think if you look back -- just to give everybody 138 00:11:23,891 --> 00:11:30,891 some context as to why he came up with whatever verbiage he came up with -- this was I think 139 00:11:31,941 --> 00:11:38,941 predicated on the fact that he had in his mind deduced that the White House had pressured 140 00:11:39,470 --> 00:11:45,100 the Congressional Budget Office into coming up with statistics that were good for the 141 00:11:45,100 --> 00:11:52,100 bill. I don't know how many questions I've been asked about CBO numbers in the past nine 142 00:11:52,681 --> 00:11:57,531 months. I think it's -- the notion that somehow this White House is in cahoots with the Congressional 143 00:11:57,530 --> 00:12:04,530 Budget Office is delusional, to put it mildly. I would suggest this for the RNC and for anybody 144 00:12:08,660 --> 00:12:13,290 that's in the Republican Party: There are millions of people that don't have health 145 00:12:13,290 --> 00:12:17,620 care this Christmas. There are millions of people that are watching their health care 146 00:12:17,621 --> 00:12:23,671 rates skyrocket. And instead of giving chippy interviews, it might be good to actually be 147 00:12:23,670 --> 00:12:29,740 part of negotiations and a solution to get health care reform -- to make health care 148 00:12:29,740 --> 00:12:33,310 reform a reality for the American people. I think that's what they want to see from 149 00:12:33,311 --> 00:12:35,151 their two political parties in Washington. 150 00:12:35,150 --> 00:12:38,320 The Press: And then can I just follow up on John's questions 151 00:12:38,321 --> 00:12:41,021 about the President's involvement? Because Senator Feingold said that the lack of support 152 00:12:41,020 --> 00:12:41,400 from the administration made keeping the public option in the bill an uphill struggle. And 153 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:47,150 I asked Chairman Dean about this yesterday, whether it was the administration's fault 154 00:12:47,150 --> 00:12:54,150 that the public option was not in there, and he said simply, "yes." There are some Democrats 155 00:12:54,340 --> 00:12:57,540 who believe that the President did not push hard enough. 156 00:12:57,540 --> 00:13:01,940 Mr. Gibbs: I think all those are certainly entitled to 157 00:13:01,941 --> 00:13:07,461 their opinions. Again, we would not be at this point in health care reform were it not 158 00:13:07,460 --> 00:13:14,460 for the President's leadership. We would not be at a point where we were a couple of votes 159 00:13:15,740 --> 00:13:22,740 away, not in people but in sequencing, to getting health care reform through the Senate. 160 00:13:23,011 --> 00:13:25,991 At that point we will have -- (cell phone rings) Is somebody ordering a pizza? 161 00:13:25,990 --> 00:13:27,420 The Press: Steele. 162 00:13:27,420 --> 00:13:28,090 (laughter) 163 00:13:28,090 --> 00:13:30,780 Mr. Gibbs: Good, good. 164 00:13:30,780 --> 00:13:31,450 (laughter) 165 00:13:31,451 --> 00:13:38,451 Let me tell you, it's $30,000 if you answer that call. 166 00:13:38,850 --> 00:13:39,530 (laughter) 167 00:13:39,530 --> 00:13:43,220 We will have health care reform through the House and through the Senate. That's never 168 00:13:43,220 --> 00:13:50,220 happened before. I think, again, we're at a place that we've never been. We're closer 169 00:13:50,660 --> 00:13:57,660 to reform than we ever have been. You saw David Axelrod and others over the weekend 170 00:13:58,410 --> 00:14:04,110 I think disagree with -- and I think, quite frankly, if you look at -- disagree with Dr. 171 00:14:04,110 --> 00:14:08,080 Dean, and I think if you go through what's in this bill and what's good for the American 172 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:15,080 people, I think far and away this is a bill that will provide people with important protections 173 00:14:16,631 --> 00:14:21,051 and make health -- true health care reform a reality for the first time in 70 years. 174 00:14:21,050 --> 00:14:21,460 Jonathan. 175 00:14:21,460 --> 00:14:27,270 The Press: Can you talk a little bit about the President's 176 00:14:27,270 --> 00:14:31,180 meeting today with community and small bankers? What is the message to them, and how is that 177 00:14:31,181 --> 00:14:35,341 message different than the meeting that he had with the big banks the week before? 178 00:14:35,340 --> 00:14:40,030 Mr. Gibbs: Well, obviously, there are -- this group probably 179 00:14:40,030 --> 00:14:45,430 represents several thousand small and community banks throughout the country. The President 180 00:14:45,431 --> 00:14:52,431 wants to have a discussion with the bankers here about ways in which we can all work together, 181 00:14:53,850 --> 00:14:59,290 as he did with the bigger banks, to spur lending to small and medium-sized businesses. The 182 00:14:59,290 --> 00:15:05,850 President will again reiterate his support for comprehensive financial reform. I think 183 00:15:05,850 --> 00:15:11,180 those are the two main things that will be on the President's list. Obviously, some issues 184 00:15:11,181 --> 00:15:18,181 like compensation are less of an issue for these banks. We'll have a more fulsome readout 185 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:20,390 of the meeting. I think it's taking place right now. 186 00:15:20,391 --> 00:15:25,921 The Press: And does he believe that the small and community 187 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:35,020 banks are as reluctant to lend as the big banks? Does he fault them for that? And does he -- 188 00:15:35,020 --> 00:15:40,900 Mr. Gibbs: These meetings aren't about -- finding fault 189 00:15:40,900 --> 00:15:45,210 with somebody doesn't help somebody get a loan. We want to figure out how to work with 190 00:15:45,210 --> 00:15:52,210 small and community banks. We want to figure out ways in which the environment for lending 191 00:15:54,640 --> 00:16:00,800 to these small and medium-sized businesses, where that can be conducive for these banks. 192 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:04,670 And if there are things that we can continue to do to help that process, the President 193 00:16:04,670 --> 00:16:04,920 wants to hear it directly from them. Mark. 194 00:16:04,670 --> 00:16:10,320 The Press: Robert, do you have any examples of ways in 195 00:16:10,321 --> 00:16:12,741 which lending could be increased by these banks? 196 00:16:12,740 --> 00:16:16,520 Mr. Gibbs: Well, let me get a full readout of the meeting 197 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:22,740 once they conclude the meeting. I don't think there's a lot that's done without hearing 198 00:16:22,740 --> 00:16:24,120 directly from what they talked about. 199 00:16:24,121 --> 00:16:26,951 The Press: So far this morning, you have said three times 200 00:16:26,951 --> 00:16:33,511 it's not a question of when, but -- not a question of if, but when the health care bill 201 00:16:33,511 --> 00:16:38,021 will be enacted. Do you see no possible deal-breakers in conference? 202 00:16:38,020 --> 00:16:41,810 Mr. Gibbs: I think -- I'm not saying that there aren't 203 00:16:41,811 --> 00:16:48,311 issues that have to be worked out. I think, though, that there is significant and important 204 00:16:48,311 --> 00:16:55,311 momentum for health care reform. I think evaluating this legislation in the many ways that it 205 00:16:57,621 --> 00:17:01,171 will help the American people -- whether you're lucky enough to have health insurance in this 206 00:17:01,170 --> 00:17:08,170 country; whether you want accessible, affordable insurance; whether you think it's time that 207 00:17:08,501 --> 00:17:13,791 the insurance companies have to change their actions as it relates to things like preexisting 208 00:17:13,791 --> 00:17:18,501 conditions; whether you're a small business that wants help; or whether you're concerned 209 00:17:18,501 --> 00:17:24,761 about the fiscal picture of the federal government -- this bill will help all of those groups. 210 00:17:24,761 --> 00:17:29,981 And I think the President believes -- continues to believe that we're going to get health 211 00:17:29,981 --> 00:17:30,811 care reform passed, to his desk, and signed. 212 00:17:30,811 --> 00:17:37,811 The Press: Just a follow-up? On the hacking at Citigroup, 213 00:17:39,371 --> 00:17:40,871 the cyber security breach, has the White House been briefed on this? Is the President aware? 214 00:17:40,871 --> 00:17:44,461 Mr. Gibbs: I'm sure he saw the articles today. I do not 215 00:17:44,461 --> 00:17:49,601 know whether he's been briefed by others on this or not. 216 00:17:49,601 --> 00:17:52,271 The Press: Is Schmidt on the job yet, or would this be something that -- 217 00:17:52,271 --> 00:17:53,071 Mr. Gibbs: Obviously he would have equities in that, 218 00:17:53,071 --> 00:17:54,821 as well as NEC and others. 219 00:17:54,821 --> 00:17:59,501 The Press: And on the debt limit, the House -- the Blue 220 00:17:59,501 --> 00:18:02,181 Dogs voted for it and a lot of them think they're negotiating with the White House for 221 00:18:02,181 --> 00:18:06,531 statutory PAYGO, which of course the President was for in June and for all throughout the 222 00:18:06,531 --> 00:18:11,211 campaign. Is the White House negotiating in good faith with these White House Democrats? 223 00:18:11,211 --> 00:18:15,981 Are they serious about enacting statutory PAYGO, attaching it to raising the debt limit? 224 00:18:15,981 --> 00:18:20,281 Mr. Gibbs: Well, obviously we've got -- the House passed 225 00:18:20,281 --> 00:18:26,601 a temporary raise in that limit through I think sometime in mid-February. I'm not going 226 00:18:26,601 --> 00:18:32,871 to get out ahead of negotiations going forward. Obviously the President and the White House 227 00:18:32,871 --> 00:18:38,771 are of course negotiating in good faith. We share the concerns of many in the Blue Dog 228 00:18:38,771 --> 00:18:43,571 caucus and many in the Democratic caucus and the Republican caucus that are concerned about 229 00:18:43,571 --> 00:18:48,621 the fiscal health of our country. I think -- 230 00:18:48,621 --> 00:18:50,481 The Press: Is it on the table, though, in terms -- 231 00:18:50,481 --> 00:18:54,791 Mr. Gibbs: Lots of things are on the table. I don't -- 232 00:18:54,791 --> 00:18:56,351 The Press: You don't want to use this opportunity to negotiate -- 233 00:18:56,351 --> 00:18:58,251 Mr. Gibbs: When you get elected and join the Blue Dog 234 00:18:58,251 --> 00:18:59,581 caucus, Hans, we can do this right here. 235 00:18:59,581 --> 00:19:01,101 The Press: I don't have outfits for that. 236 00:19:01,101 --> 00:19:01,351 (laughter) 237 00:19:01,291 --> 00:19:02,721 Mr. Gibbs: I'm not sure entirely sure the pants are going 238 00:19:02,721 --> 00:19:06,471 to work in caucus, but I don't want to dissuade you from trying. 239 00:19:06,471 --> 00:19:06,721 (laughter) 240 00:19:06,721 --> 00:19:09,211 The Press: A pink polka-dot shirt and a checkered tie. 241 00:19:09,211 --> 00:19:09,461 (laughter) 242 00:19:09,461 --> 00:19:12,211 Mr. Gibbs: Yes. What color are your socks? What color 243 00:19:12,211 --> 00:19:12,941 are your socks today? 244 00:19:12,941 --> 00:19:13,791 The Press: All right. 245 00:19:13,791 --> 00:19:17,541 Mr. Gibbs: What color? Come on, we're going to be transparent; 246 00:19:17,541 --> 00:19:18,701 we're going to be open. 247 00:19:18,701 --> 00:19:18,951 (laughter) 248 00:19:18,931 --> 00:19:22,361 What are we wearing today, Hans? Show them to the world. 249 00:19:22,361 --> 00:19:22,921 The Press: Robert, my socks -- 250 00:19:22,921 --> 00:19:23,171 Mr. Gibbs: With your purple-striped tie. 251 00:19:22,981 --> 00:19:25,761 The Press: -- my socks are -- they're the color of your tie 252 00:19:25,761 --> 00:19:27,101 Mr. Gibbs: Excellent. 253 00:19:27,101 --> 00:19:27,551 (laughter) 254 00:19:27,551 --> 00:19:34,201 I rest my case. Major, with the snappy blue tie and hopefully darker socks. Go ahead. 255 00:19:34,201 --> 00:19:34,451 The Press: Much darker. 256 00:19:34,381 --> 00:19:34,791 Mr. Gibbs: Good, good. 257 00:19:34,791 --> 00:19:35,121 (laughter) 258 00:19:35,121 --> 00:19:38,861 The Press: Which bill does the White House think is better 259 00:19:38,861 --> 00:19:43,801 for the American people, on health care, the House bill or the Senate bill? 260 00:19:43,801 --> 00:19:47,121 Mr. Gibbs: I have not asked whether they've come to a 261 00:19:47,121 --> 00:19:53,761 conclusion as to what exact legislation is better. I will tell you this, Major, I think 262 00:19:53,761 --> 00:19:58,751 in both bills you have many of the things that I've talked about in this briefing and 263 00:19:58,751 --> 00:20:02,881 many of the things that you've heard the administration talk about for months. Each of these bills 264 00:20:02,881 --> 00:20:07,951 meets the principles that the President laid down in front of Congress and the American 265 00:20:07,951 --> 00:20:14,951 people back in a speech in September. Comprehensive health care reform is in each one of these 266 00:20:17,221 --> 00:20:24,221 bills -- help with the skyrocketing cost of premiums; help with the cost of health care; 267 00:20:24,231 --> 00:20:30,681 help with affordable insurance; help with insurance reforms. All of those things are 268 00:20:30,681 --> 00:20:37,681 in both of these bills, and the President looks forward to signing a bill making health 269 00:20:38,081 --> 00:20:40,321 care reform a reality. 270 00:20:40,321 --> 00:20:40,571 The Press: Two principal differences -- there are many, 271 00:20:40,481 --> 00:20:44,851 but two principal I'd like to ask you about. The House bill of course has a public option; 272 00:20:44,851 --> 00:20:48,411 the Senate bill does not. The Senate bill has a taxation system on so-called "Cadillac" 273 00:20:48,411 --> 00:20:51,191 health care benefit plans; the House has a surtax on the wealthy. Which does the White 274 00:20:51,191 --> 00:20:52,631 House prefer? 275 00:20:52,631 --> 00:20:59,601 Mr. Gibbs: Again, Major, I'm not going to get into the 276 00:20:59,601 --> 00:21:04,601 negotiations that will take place once the Senate passes a piece of legislation. Those 277 00:21:04,601 --> 00:21:05,991 will happen when we -- 278 00:21:05,991 --> 00:21:07,671 The Press: The White House at some point will offer an opinion? 279 00:21:07,671 --> 00:21:10,031 Mr. Gibbs: As I said earlier, the President and his team 280 00:21:10,031 --> 00:21:14,951 will be involved in -- as they have been to get bills to this point -- in the negotiations 281 00:21:14,951 --> 00:21:16,461 to get a bill from that point to his desk. 282 00:21:16,461 --> 00:21:18,661 The Press: Does the White House prefer that these conference 283 00:21:18,661 --> 00:21:20,781 negotiations be carried out in public? 284 00:21:20,781 --> 00:21:24,041 Mr. Gibbs: We're hopeful to get things done quickly and 285 00:21:24,041 --> 00:21:29,341 have something that the President can sign. 286 00:21:29,341 --> 00:21:31,321 The Press: Does it have -- I mean, you've mentioned throughout 287 00:21:31,321 --> 00:21:32,761 this debate a commitment to transparency. Is now a time for transparency, or is speed 288 00:21:32,761 --> 00:21:34,801 a more important factor for the White House? 289 00:21:34,801 --> 00:21:38,111 Mr. Gibbs: Getting something done for the American people 290 00:21:38,111 --> 00:21:44,161 is the most important thing that we can do for millions of Americans that struggle with 291 00:21:44,161 --> 00:21:45,691 the high cost of health care. 292 00:21:45,691 --> 00:21:49,471 The Press: GDP at 2.2, revised downward. What's the economic 293 00:21:49,471 --> 00:21:52,481 team believe about this? What did they tell the President about it, if they did offer 294 00:21:52,481 --> 00:21:55,001 an opinion today at the economic briefing? 295 00:21:55,001 --> 00:21:58,521 Mr. Gibbs: We did not have an economic daily briefing 296 00:21:58,521 --> 00:22:02,151 this morning. The President usually gets this information -- 297 00:22:02,151 --> 00:22:04,481 The Press: -- which started at 10:20 a.m. so I apologize. 298 00:22:04,481 --> 00:22:11,481 Mr. Gibbs: You and me both. Look, I think obviously you've 299 00:22:12,881 --> 00:22:19,881 seen the number revised down, I think largely based on inventory. Again, I'd take you back to what we saw in 300 00:22:25,651 --> 00:22:32,651 the first quarter of the year, a GDP downturn that we hadn't seen in nearly three decades. 301 00:22:33,371 --> 00:22:40,371 We saw an increase in that -- just a slight lessening in the GDP in the second quarter. 302 00:22:40,951 --> 00:22:47,951 And now we've seen positive growth for the first time in over a year in each of the numbers 303 00:22:48,281 --> 00:22:54,521 that were put out for the third quarter. And we're certainly hopeful to continue a trajectory 304 00:22:54,521 --> 00:23:00,631 for the economy that we've seen over the past few quarters. This is -- as I've said countless 305 00:23:00,631 --> 00:23:06,811 times, this was not a problem that was going to be solved overnight. We didn't get here overnight -- 306 00:23:06,811 --> 00:23:09,011 The Press: Satisfied with -- 307 00:23:09,011 --> 00:23:12,741 Mr. Gibbs: We are -- I don't think the President will 308 00:23:12,741 --> 00:23:18,531 be satisfied until we see not just positive economic growth, but positive economic growth 309 00:23:18,531 --> 00:23:23,961 that leads to positive jobs growth; and that the millions of people that want to find work 310 00:23:23,961 --> 00:23:29,221 and can't right now in this country will be able to do so. 311 00:23:29,221 --> 00:23:36,221 The Press: One last quick one on health care. McConnell 312 00:23:36,431 --> 00:23:37,081 said yesterday the deals tied in the last few days to procure the necessary 60 votes 313 00:23:37,081 --> 00:23:39,701 were "smelly," among other adjectives. Does the White House consider anything that they 314 00:23:39,701 --> 00:23:43,241 saw play out within the Senate caucus in any way objectionable? 315 00:23:43,241 --> 00:23:46,091 Mr. Gibbs: I'd refer you to what David said over the 316 00:23:46,091 --> 00:23:52,801 weekend, which is the legislative is what the legislative process is and has been for 317 00:23:52,801 --> 00:23:59,161 several hundred years. I think -- 318 00:23:59,161 --> 00:23:59,641 The Press: Changing that part of legislation is not something 319 00:23:59,641 --> 00:24:05,841 the White House considered crucial in this debate? I mean, the President often talked 320 00:24:05,841 --> 00:24:06,561 on the campaign about things that could be done differently. 321 00:24:06,561 --> 00:24:08,461 Mr. Gibbs: Sure, right. Well, I think one of the things 322 00:24:08,461 --> 00:24:10,891 that's going to be done differently is we're going to have health care reform in this country. 323 00:24:10,891 --> 00:24:17,631 The President thinks that's an enormously good thing for the American people. 324 00:24:17,631 --> 00:24:19,501 The Press: Robert, over the weekend the White House issued 325 00:24:19,501 --> 00:24:24,521 a statement noting the death of Ayatollah Montazeri, and I don't recall any White House 326 00:24:24,521 --> 00:24:30,071 noting the death of previous leaders of the '79 revolution in Iran. He's obviously a critic 327 00:24:30,071 --> 00:24:35,271 of Ahmadinejad and a prominent figure in the opposition. Why did the White House choose 328 00:24:35,271 --> 00:24:36,661 to note his death? 329 00:24:36,661 --> 00:24:39,211 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I would point you to what the President 330 00:24:39,211 --> 00:24:46,211 said in his speech in Oslo, and I would simply say that I think if you look at his actions 331 00:24:53,601 --> 00:25:00,601 post the revolution that you're talking about in order to seek greater human rights is something 332 00:25:01,481 --> 00:25:08,481 that we all support. And I'd refer you back again to what we talked about earlier with 333 00:25:09,801 --> 00:25:16,381 Iran. They have an opportunity to take steps to fulfill their international responsibilities. 334 00:25:16,381 --> 00:25:21,761 We haven't -- we not only haven't seen that from the Iranians, we've actually seen 335 00:25:21,761 --> 00:25:28,761 throughout the course of this year and the past several years attempts to very much hide 336 00:25:31,021 --> 00:25:38,021 what their activities were. This administration, working through the IAEA and its allies, have 337 00:25:39,441 --> 00:25:45,621 taken steps to bring the international community along. And if Iran fails to live up to its 338 00:25:45,621 --> 00:25:48,861 obligations by the end of the year, we'll take our next steps. 339 00:25:48,861 --> 00:25:53,311 The Press: A quick follow. Does the White House believe 340 00:25:53,311 --> 00:25:58,061 that this statement had an energizing effect on demonstrators who showed up in Qom around his funeral? 341 00:25:58,061 --> 00:26:09,091 Mr. Gibbs: I don't know. I haven't heard directly from NSC on that. 342 00:26:09,091 --> 00:26:10,801 The Press: Robert, can I ask about the budget that's 343 00:26:10,801 --> 00:26:13,051 coming up that I guess we're about a month and a half away from? In his contracting remarks 344 00:26:13,051 --> 00:26:16,331 earlier this week, the President briefly spoke about it and said it requires some tough choices. 345 00:26:16,331 --> 00:26:23,331 Has he actually said to the Cabinet chiefs, okay, you guys got to come back to me with 346 00:26:23,381 --> 00:26:27,741 savings? Has he said, this is going to be an austerity budget and talked about things 347 00:26:27,741 --> 00:26:30,181 like spending freezes or anything like that? Are there marching orders yet for that? 348 00:26:30,181 --> 00:26:31,911 Mr. Gibbs: The President has been involved over the course 349 00:26:31,911 --> 00:26:38,911 of the last three or four weeks, probably four or five different budget meetings. Obviously, 350 00:26:38,971 --> 00:26:43,991 Peter has worked with agencies about their budget requests for the next fiscal year. 351 00:26:43,991 --> 00:26:50,991 And I think, though not all those decisions have been made, I think the President has 352 00:26:53,461 --> 00:27:00,461 expressed a concern -- twofold -- about continuing our economic recovery, doing what we have 353 00:27:02,261 --> 00:27:09,261 to do to create an environment where the private sector is creating jobs; and secondly, in 354 00:27:09,801 --> 00:27:16,501 the medium and the long term, take steps to greatly reduce our deficit and take the necessary 355 00:27:16,501 --> 00:27:21,541 steps to get ourselves back on a path toward fiscal responsibility. I mentioned fiscal 356 00:27:21,541 --> 00:27:28,541 responsibility in health care not simply based on the fact that CBO reports that our budget 357 00:27:30,191 --> 00:27:36,301 situation will be -- this bill is not just deficit-neutral, it will actually improve 358 00:27:36,301 --> 00:27:41,211 our fiscal situation. And, again, remember that we are having -- one of the reasons that 359 00:27:41,211 --> 00:27:46,681 this debate has taken so long is, unlike other things that have come down the pike in Washington 360 00:27:46,681 --> 00:27:52,051 over the past several years, the President made a commitment to pay for it. The two biggest 361 00:27:52,051 --> 00:27:59,051 drivers in the budget deficit that we have right now -- I should say two of the three 362 00:27:59,411 --> 00:28:05,001 biggest drivers -- one is economic, just simple economic activity, which the President as 363 00:28:05,001 --> 00:28:12,001 I mentioned earlier is working hard to restore. But the two biggest spending programs are 364 00:28:12,581 --> 00:28:18,051 2001 and 2003 tax cuts that weren't paid for and a prescription drug benefit that wasn't 365 00:28:18,051 --> 00:28:25,051 paid for. Major talks about changing the way Washington works. The President proposed comprehensive 366 00:28:27,021 --> 00:28:31,871 health care reform in this country, and then changed the way Washington works by actually 367 00:28:31,871 --> 00:28:38,871 talking about and paying for it, understanding that we have to take steps to get our country 368 00:28:39,131 --> 00:28:40,121 back on a path toward fiscal responsibility. 369 00:28:40,121 --> 00:28:44,191 The Press: My question is about agency budgets that the 370 00:28:44,191 --> 00:28:48,491 President is going to have to submit shortly. 371 00:28:48,491 --> 00:28:49,011 Mr. Gibbs: Sure. 372 00:28:49,011 --> 00:28:51,101 The Press: Has he told them it's time for an austerity budget? 373 00:28:51,101 --> 00:28:53,041 Mr. Gibbs: I'm not going to get ahead of what the budget 374 00:28:53,041 --> 00:29:03,861 is going to look like in February. But suffice to say, that it will not look as it has in the past. 375 00:29:03,861 --> 00:29:05,171 The Press: Robert, just two questions. 376 00:29:05,171 --> 00:29:06,261 Mr. Gibbs: Just two, Lester. 377 00:29:06,261 --> 00:29:09,051 The Press: Only two. First, does the President support 378 00:29:09,051 --> 00:29:16,051 Senator Akaka's native Hawaiian government reorganization act, creating a native Hawaiian 379 00:29:17,381 --> 00:29:23,381 government within the state of Hawaii? And, if so, why not support statehood for American 380 00:29:23,381 --> 00:29:24,241 Indian reservations? 381 00:29:24,241 --> 00:29:26,891 Mr. Gibbs: Are those -- is that both questions? 382 00:29:26,891 --> 00:29:28,471 The Press: No, no, that's one. 383 00:29:28,471 --> 00:29:29,141 Mr. Gibbs: That's two questions. 384 00:29:29,141 --> 00:29:31,801 The Press: No, I said -- it's a one question. I really 385 00:29:31,801 --> 00:29:32,931 have just one more, that's all. 386 00:29:32,931 --> 00:29:34,061 Mr. Gibbs: That seems like three. 387 00:29:34,061 --> 00:29:36,331 The Press: No, no, no. 388 00:29:36,331 --> 00:29:39,051 Mr. Gibbs: Are you sure? 389 00:29:39,051 --> 00:29:40,861 The Press: I'm positive it's only one, and it had two parts. 390 00:29:40,861 --> 00:29:41,021 (laughter) 391 00:29:41,021 --> 00:29:42,911 Go ahead. It was on the same thing. 392 00:29:42,911 --> 00:29:46,611 Mr. Gibbs: Can I just contemplate that for a second, 393 00:29:46,611 --> 00:29:52,721 your two-part one question, Lester? 394 00:29:52,721 --> 00:29:54,731 The Press: You're a very funny man. 395 00:29:54,731 --> 00:29:56,451 Mr. Gibbs: You know, I practice. 396 00:29:56,451 --> 00:29:56,701 (laughter) 397 00:29:56,451 --> 00:30:00,681 I will give you a one-part answer, which is, this was asked last week and I neglected to 398 00:30:00,681 --> 00:30:03,081 check on it. 399 00:30:03,081 --> 00:30:05,741 The Press: Okay, does the President believe that a flight 400 00:30:05,741 --> 00:30:11,431 attendant who directed passengers to adhere to the rules by turning off cell phones should 401 00:30:11,431 --> 00:30:18,071 be called a "bitch" by any U.S. senator? 402 00:30:18,071 --> 00:30:22,171 Mr. Gibbs: We may need a couple of those flight attendants 403 00:30:22,171 --> 00:30:29,171 in this room to tell people to turn off their cell phones. I think Senator Schumer has apologized. 404 00:30:29,531 --> 00:30:31,231 The Press: He didn't apologize until it was reported. 405 00:30:31,231 --> 00:30:35,291 Mr. Gibbs: Well, if it wasn't reported, Lester, you wouldn't 406 00:30:35,291 --> 00:30:36,831 be asking your three-part question. 407 00:30:36,831 --> 00:30:39,121 The Press: That's right. Thank you very much, and Merry 408 00:30:39,121 --> 00:30:39,801 Christmas to you. 409 00:30:39,801 --> 00:30:44,171 Mr. Gibbs: Merry Christmas to you. Yes, sir. 410 00:30:44,171 --> 00:30:50,211 The Press: Robert, there's a couple meetings with the 411 00:30:50,211 --> 00:30:51,061 NEC this week. Is this with an eye towards some new proposals for the new year? 412 00:30:51,061 --> 00:30:51,311 Mr. Gibbs: I'm sorry? 413 00:30:51,271 --> 00:30:51,801 The Press: A couple meetings with the NEC this week. 414 00:30:51,801 --> 00:30:52,281 Are they cooking up something for the new year? 415 00:30:52,281 --> 00:30:56,261 Mr. Gibbs: Well, they continue to talk about details 416 00:30:56,261 --> 00:31:01,621 for what the President talked about in his Brookings speech, to create -- to help that 417 00:31:01,621 --> 00:31:08,581 atmosphere to create jobs. Some of those meetings have also been budget meetings that Mark talked 418 00:31:08,581 --> 00:31:14,741 about as well. So those certainly continue. I don't know if there are any on the books 419 00:31:14,741 --> 00:31:14,991 for tomorrow. But they'll certainly continue throughout this week. Yes, ma'am. 420 00:31:14,801 --> 00:31:15,051 The Press: Thanks, Robert. Now that we've finished the 421 00:31:14,841 --> 00:31:15,471 2010 spending bill, I'm just wondering how you all viewed the process. The final two 422 00:31:15,471 --> 00:31:17,781 bills had about $8 billion in earmarks and obviously they had to do another omnibus. 423 00:31:17,781 --> 00:31:24,781 So how would you guys evaluate the way things worked this year and what, heading into next 424 00:31:25,601 --> 00:31:32,601 year's budget, if anything, is the White House going to call on Congress to do differently? 425 00:31:35,781 --> 00:31:38,501 Mr. Gibbs: Well, again, I don't want to get ahead of 426 00:31:38,501 --> 00:31:42,511 budgetary announcements that will be made when a budget comes up toward the beginning 427 00:31:42,511 --> 00:31:49,511 of February. I said this I think last week whenever we were asked about this, that far 428 00:31:52,801 --> 00:31:58,891 from perfect, the legislation did have a reduction in earmarks, which the President believes 429 00:31:58,891 --> 00:32:05,171 is a good thing. Obviously the President said at the beginning of the year that we'd like 430 00:32:05,171 --> 00:32:11,871 to see bills go through in regular order and done so in a more orderly way. I think that 431 00:32:11,871 --> 00:32:18,871 was made much more difficult this year based on, in all honesty, we've watched the floor 432 00:32:19,651 --> 00:32:26,651 of the Senate be taken up by a series of delaying tactics which I think many would find curious, 433 00:32:28,721 --> 00:32:34,491 given the fact that delaying tactics normally follow bills that I think have passed, in 434 00:32:34,491 --> 00:32:40,041 one case 88-10; in another case I think it was something like 95-5 -- sort of unclear 435 00:32:40,041 --> 00:32:47,041 why people would delay a piece of legislation that ultimately passes 88-10. Look, we'll 436 00:32:49,271 --> 00:32:56,181 certainly look for more congeniality and cooperation next year in making the process flow more 437 00:32:56,181 --> 00:32:57,501 easily. Yes, sir. 438 00:32:57,501 --> 00:32:59,141 The Press: Thanks, Robert. I have a question on the Navy 439 00:32:59,141 --> 00:33:04,801 SEALs case. One of the SEALs were arraigned today, and I want to ask, does the President 440 00:33:04,801 --> 00:33:10,911 believe that court martial was the appropriate -- 441 00:33:10,911 --> 00:33:16,871 Mr. Gibbs: I don't think the President should get involved 442 00:33:16,871 --> 00:33:21,421 in legal cases like this. And if you have -- if you're looking for comment, I think 443 00:33:21,421 --> 00:33:23,971 either the Pentagon or the Department of Justice is a good place to be. 444 00:33:23,971 --> 00:33:25,541 The Press: And one second question. 445 00:33:25,541 --> 00:33:27,711 Mr. Gibbs: Just one, right? 446 00:33:27,711 --> 00:33:28,151 (laughter) 447 00:33:28,151 --> 00:33:32,471 The Press: It's -- well, yes. It's holiday related, actually. 448 00:33:32,471 --> 00:33:38,391 This is -- will the President be attending church on Christmas, and how is the search 449 00:33:38,391 --> 00:33:41,391 for a church going? 450 00:33:41,391 --> 00:33:44,421 Mr. Gibbs: I don't know what the President's schedule 451 00:33:44,421 --> 00:33:50,531 is. As I mentioned at the very beginning, some of that is up in flux. The President 452 00:33:50,531 --> 00:33:57,531 has, as you all know and as we've discussed, attended fairly regularly up at Camp David 453 00:33:58,541 --> 00:34:05,541 a church that he's comfortable in and has enjoyed attending. The President also understands 454 00:34:05,951 --> 00:34:12,951 that whenever he does go to church it's, in many ways -- there are a number of inconveniences 455 00:34:14,010 --> 00:34:17,210 that other parishioners have to go through, and the President has tried in many ways to minimize that. 456 00:34:17,210 --> 00:34:23,070 The Press: Thanks, Robert. I wanted to get just a little 457 00:34:23,070 --> 00:34:26,800 more detail about how the President will structure his vacation schedule -- because Presidents 458 00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:33,800 are never really on vacation. Can you tell us, is the plan to set aside a certain window 459 00:34:34,451 --> 00:34:38,941 for briefings? And specifically on two issues, health care and Afghanistan, do you expect 460 00:34:38,941 --> 00:34:43,331 that he would get at least once a day an update on that? 461 00:34:43,330 --> 00:34:49,150 Mr. Gibbs: I don't have the schedule -- like I said, 462 00:34:49,151 --> 00:34:51,711 I don't have the schedule in front of me. I would hit on the point that you did in the 463 00:34:51,710 --> 00:34:58,480 premise of your question, which is rarely are Presidents on vacation. I went to Hawaii 464 00:34:58,480 --> 00:35:05,480 with then-candidate Obama and I would mention that national party nominees are not also 465 00:35:05,570 --> 00:35:12,570 on vacation much either. I think the President has, in discussions with his team here, if 466 00:35:12,941 --> 00:35:19,941 there are updates regarding and surrounding health care, that he's obviously always available. 467 00:35:20,820 --> 00:35:27,820 The President will continue to get daily intelligence updates and security updates, as he does here 468 00:35:29,091 --> 00:35:36,091 and when he travels abroad, and will have obviously an extensive network of whatever 469 00:35:39,270 --> 00:35:44,060 is needed to stay on top of whatever situations happen. 470 00:35:44,060 --> 00:35:47,270 The Press: And a quick follow. Can you tell us, does 471 00:35:47,270 --> 00:35:54,270 he plan to actually begin working on the State of the Union address on this vacation? And 472 00:35:55,320 --> 00:35:56,330 can you tell us which aides -- like, is the speechwriter going for all or part of the 473 00:35:56,330 --> 00:36:00,200 trip; anyone at the chief of staff or deputy chief of staff level going for some or all 474 00:36:00,201 --> 00:36:01,061 of the trip? 475 00:36:01,060 --> 00:36:03,880 Mr. Gibbs: Let me try to get a list of who is going. 476 00:36:03,881 --> 00:36:08,971 I do not believe that a speechwriter is going. I think the President -- the President has 477 00:36:08,970 --> 00:36:14,680 had meetings on the State of the Union -- there's a meeting later today, unless it's 478 00:36:14,681 --> 00:36:20,341 been rejiggered that is on the State of the Union and preparations that are being made 479 00:36:20,341 --> 00:36:26,091 for that. Obviously lots of those meetings have happened at the staff level. Let me get 480 00:36:26,091 --> 00:36:33,091 a fuller list. I know from the press shop obviously Bill and Nick are going. But let 481 00:36:33,330 --> 00:36:39,400 me get a -- I have in mind but I just want to confirm which people are going on behalf 482 00:36:39,401 --> 00:36:40,051 of the staff. 483 00:36:40,050 --> 00:36:42,880 The Press: Do you expect any public events at all during the vacation? 484 00:36:42,881 --> 00:36:45,681 Mr. Gibbs: No. Again, I think as he's wont to do, he 485 00:36:45,681 --> 00:36:52,681 will probably take the girls out for shaved ice; they may go do various and sundry things 486 00:36:54,570 --> 00:37:01,570 in and around Hawaii. But there are no public events that -- 487 00:37:01,710 --> 00:37:09,920 The Press: Is there a date for the State of the Union yet? 488 00:37:09,921 --> 00:37:10,691 Mr. Gibbs: No. 489 00:37:10,691 --> 00:37:11,711 The Press: Do you have an idea? 490 00:37:11,710 --> 00:37:12,360 Mr. Gibbs: I do. 491 00:37:12,361 --> 00:37:12,611 (laughter) 492 00:37:12,520 --> 00:37:13,820 The Press: -- for planning purposes only. 493 00:37:13,820 --> 00:37:15,440 The Press: Right, we won't tell anyone. 494 00:37:15,441 --> 00:37:16,601 Mr. Gibbs: Sometime in 2010. 495 00:37:16,601 --> 00:37:18,461 The Press: Do you know if the President called up Tim 496 00:37:18,460 --> 00:37:23,510 Kaine's radio show this morning, identifying himself as "Barry from D.C."? 497 00:37:23,510 --> 00:37:23,990 (laughter) 498 00:37:23,990 --> 00:37:27,450 Mr. Gibbs: I don't know if he did, but that would not 499 00:37:27,451 --> 00:37:28,351 be inaccurate -- yes. 500 00:37:28,351 --> 00:37:31,511 The Press: It sounded like him. I just wasn't sure. 501 00:37:31,510 --> 00:37:33,870 Mr. Gibbs: I think this is Governor Kaine's last radio 502 00:37:33,871 --> 00:37:40,871 show and I know there was a call sheet that went in. Likely it went in -- if he identified 503 00:37:41,810 --> 00:37:45,710 himself as Barry from D.C., is to surprise the Governor of Virginia. 504 00:37:45,710 --> 00:37:50,560 The Press: Just to follow up on an earlier question -- 505 00:37:50,560 --> 00:37:52,720 Mr. Gibbs: Which one? 506 00:37:52,720 --> 00:37:56,510 The Press: Norah's. Why did the President and his team 507 00:37:56,510 --> 00:38:01,520 never bring up the public option in discussions with Senator Joseph Lieberman, as he said 508 00:38:01,520 --> 00:38:01,870 yesterday? 509 00:38:01,871 --> 00:38:04,611 Mr. Gibbs: Look, I'm not going to rehash -- 510 00:38:04,611 --> 00:38:06,641 The Press: It's not really rehashing. 511 00:38:06,641 --> 00:38:10,191 Mr. Gibbs: Well, if you're looking back, it's generally 512 00:38:10,191 --> 00:38:16,181 rehashing. Look, I think the President has been clear on what he supported. I think members 513 00:38:16,181 --> 00:38:22,621 of the Senate have been clear on what they didn't support. The President believes that, 514 00:38:22,621 --> 00:38:27,211 and I think you -- refer you to an interview that he did yesterday -- health care reform 515 00:38:27,210 --> 00:38:32,580 that passed in the Senate contains about 95 percent of what he wanted in health care reform. 516 00:38:32,580 --> 00:38:37,770 And the President is quite pleased with the product and looks forward to signing comprehensive 517 00:38:37,770 --> 00:38:39,820 health care reform. 518 00:38:39,820 --> 00:38:41,590 The Press: About two weeks ago you said that he had done 519 00:38:41,591 --> 00:38:42,691 everything he could to get the public option passed. 520 00:38:42,691 --> 00:38:43,231 Mr. Gibbs: Yes, that's true. 521 00:38:43,230 --> 00:38:45,060 The Press: Do you still stand by that, having not talked 522 00:38:45,060 --> 00:38:49,150 to Joseph Lieberman about his objections to the public option? 523 00:38:49,151 --> 00:38:50,831 Mr. Gibbs: Absolutely, absolutely. Bill. 524 00:38:50,830 --> 00:38:55,550 The Press: Thanks, Robert. The commander in northern 525 00:38:55,550 --> 00:38:57,840 Iraq has issued a new ruling saying that women soldiers who get pregnant will be subject 526 00:38:57,841 --> 00:39:02,701 to court martial. Is that -- does***4532 that rule pass the chain through Defense Department 527 00:39:02,701 --> 00:39:05,101 and the White House before it was issued? And does the -- 528 00:39:05,101 --> 00:39:07,461 Mr. Gibbs: I have no knowledge of this, so let me -- 529 00:39:07,460 --> 00:39:08,940 The Press: -- Commander-in-Chief approve of it? 530 00:39:08,941 --> 00:39:11,801 Mr. Gibbs: Let me go find some background information. 531 00:39:11,800 --> 00:39:14,130 I don't have anything. 532 00:39:14,131 --> 00:39:17,081 The Press: You might have already addressed this with 533 00:39:17,080 --> 00:39:21,290 some of the Jack Johnson stuff, but with the holidays here, is the President actively considering 534 00:39:21,290 --> 00:39:21,550 any pardons? 535 00:39:21,550 --> 00:39:24,870 Mr. Gibbs: No. I think in terms of -- well, let me -- 536 00:39:24,871 --> 00:39:31,871 I don't know, in terms of broader pardons. In terms of Jack Johnson, I think the Department 537 00:39:32,411 --> 00:39:38,951 of Justice came back recommending -- not recommending a pardon on that. 538 00:39:38,951 --> 00:39:39,201 The Press: Are there others he's considering -- 539 00:39:39,181 --> 00:39:41,651 Mr. Gibbs: Let me check and see whether there are holiday 540 00:39:41,651 --> 00:39:42,391 ones. Paula. 541 00:39:42,391 --> 00:39:46,111 The Press: On health care reform, over the weekend Senator 542 00:39:46,111 --> 00:39:52,431 Snowe said that one of her major concerns about the cost of this bill, Senate bill is 543 00:39:52,431 --> 00:39:58,381 the one on long-term insurance that half of the revenue savings would come from that provision 544 00:39:58,381 --> 00:40:03,211 alone, it's front-loaded. Does the White House share any concerns about that provision? 545 00:40:03,210 --> 00:40:06,370 Mr. Gibbs: I'd have to talk directly to some of the guys 546 00:40:06,371 --> 00:40:11,041 on that, but I think the President is very comfortable with where the Senate bill is 547 00:40:11,040 --> 00:40:14,820 and looks forward to its passage in a couple of days. 548 00:40:14,820 --> 00:40:18,330 The Press: And also, I know the White House doesn't 549 00:40:18,330 --> 00:40:21,600 like to set deadlines for health care reform, but would it be safe to say the President 550 00:40:21,601 --> 00:40:23,831 would like this signed into law before the State of the Union? 551 00:40:23,830 --> 00:40:25,690 Mr. Gibbs: Well, since we don't know when that is -- 552 00:40:25,690 --> 00:40:29,460 (laughter) -- that might be a series of moving deadlines. The President looks forward to 553 00:40:29,460 --> 00:40:36,460 signing this as soon as Congress sends it to him. Ken, did you have a question? 554 00:40:37,191 --> 00:40:42,691 The Press: Yes, sir. Some of the back-and-forth with 555 00:40:42,691 --> 00:40:44,111 the folks who were pro the public option or the Medicare extension seems to have cooled 556 00:40:44,111 --> 00:40:45,221 off a little bit, but there's still a few people who have some complaints. Is the White 557 00:40:45,220 --> 00:40:52,220 House doing anything to reach out to these folks, considering that they are part of the 558 00:40:52,230 --> 00:40:53,250 President's constituency, to try and keep things cool? 559 00:40:53,250 --> 00:40:56,900 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I think, and I think David mentioned 560 00:40:56,901 --> 00:41:02,341 this on the Sunday shows, Nancy Ann spent 45 minutes with Governor Dean on Saturday 561 00:41:02,341 --> 00:41:09,341 on the phone to walk him through what actually was in the Senate bill. I think Governor Dean 562 00:41:09,891 --> 00:41:15,591 mentioned in that show that things like medical loss ratio that prevent insurance companies 563 00:41:15,591 --> 00:41:22,591 from padding their pockets was something that was in the bill, and I think his earlier criticism 564 00:41:24,260 --> 00:41:31,260 that nothing was done about things like that, after hearing from somebody as smart as Nancy 565 00:41:32,540 --> 00:41:38,750 Ann was in terms of that policy, I think he obviously came to the conclusion that some 566 00:41:38,750 --> 00:41:42,900 of the things he didn't believe were in the bill were in the bill. 567 00:41:42,901 --> 00:41:43,551 The Press: Beyond Governor Dean, there are some folks 568 00:41:43,550 --> 00:41:49,110 who think that there could be some lasting damage from this whole episode. What concerns 569 00:41:49,111 --> 00:41:55,291 does the White House have that some folks who obviously supported candidate Obama have 570 00:41:55,290 --> 00:41:56,830 some problems with the way things have gone? 571 00:41:56,830 --> 00:41:59,540 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I would simply say to them I think the 572 00:41:59,540 --> 00:42:05,940 very same thing the President would say to them, which is, look at the entire bill. Look 573 00:42:05,941 --> 00:42:10,731 at what this bill does -- if you're concerned about the skyrocketing costs of health care 574 00:42:10,730 --> 00:42:15,440 for families and small businesses, that's addressed in this comprehensive health care 575 00:42:15,441 --> 00:42:22,441 reform. If you're concerned about 30 million or so Americans that have lacked basic insurance, 576 00:42:24,010 --> 00:42:31,010 look at what this bill does for them. Look at what this bill does to curb insurance abuses 577 00:42:31,540 --> 00:42:37,570 in preexisting conditions. Look at what the legislation does, as I mentioned a minute 578 00:42:37,570 --> 00:42:44,570 ago, on medical loss ratio. Look at what this bill does for our fiscal picture. And understand, 579 00:42:47,070 --> 00:42:51,620 as the President said, about 95 percent of what he wanted out of health care reform is 580 00:42:51,621 --> 00:42:58,621 in this legislation. The President is enormously proud of this legislation and what it -- 581 00:43:00,810 --> 00:43:04,710 and the fact that it's about to get through the Senate. He's enormously proud that it's 582 00:43:04,710 --> 00:43:09,130 gotten through the House. And as I said, it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when 583 00:43:09,131 --> 00:43:15,981 we have comprehensive health care reform in this country -- something that Presidents 584 00:43:15,980 --> 00:43:21,660 have tried to do for 70 years and what many of the people that you talk about have been 585 00:43:21,661 --> 00:43:28,661 working decades on as well. I think when people have a chance to look at all of what is in 586 00:43:29,000 --> 00:43:34,760 the legislation, not just focus on one provision, that people will be as enormously proud of 587 00:43:34,760 --> 00:43:41,400 what we're on the cusp of accomplishing as the President and his entire team are. I'll 588 00:43:41,401 --> 00:43:47,781 take one more from Christina and then we'll disappear for 2009. 589 00:43:47,780 --> 00:43:48,030 The Press: Thanks, Robert. Senator Dorgan has charged 590 00:43:47,810 --> 00:43:51,890 that the White House pressured the FDA to send this letter that helps kill the drug 591 00:43:51,891 --> 00:43:53,891 reimportation amendment. What is the White House response to this? And I know a lot of 592 00:43:53,891 --> 00:44:01,081 people have referred us back to the FDA -- the FDA is not denying it; Senator Dorgan 593 00:44:01,080 --> 00:44:02,880 stands by his charge. 594 00:44:02,881 --> 00:44:07,871 Mr. Gibbs: Well, and I would simply say -- Christina, 595 00:44:07,871 --> 00:44:12,591 concerns by the Food and Drug Administration about re-importation are not something that 596 00:44:12,591 --> 00:44:18,641 came to the fore in the Obama administration, right? Drug re-importation, which the President 597 00:44:18,641 --> 00:44:25,641 supports if one can do it safely, were the concern of the previous administration's Food 598 00:44:28,361 --> 00:44:30,891 and Drug Administration and the concern of the Food and Drug Administration to the administration 599 00:44:30,891 --> 00:44:37,751 previous to that. So this is about a 10-year concern by the Food and Drug Administration 600 00:44:37,750 --> 00:44:42,170 in terms of safety. So I think the notion that somehow this argument cropped up in the 601 00:44:42,171 --> 00:44:49,231 last two weeks by our Food and Drug Administration, I think if you simply look back at the history 602 00:44:49,230 --> 00:44:55,690 of concerns that have been had about safety, they've been there for quite some time. Happy 603 00:44:55,691 --> 00:44:56,371 holidays, guys. 604 00:44:56,371 --> 00:45:00,411 The Press: Any chance for a press conference before he leaves? 605 00:45:00,411 --> 00:45:03,341 Mr. Gibbs: No. Enjoy your holidays. Thank you. 606 00:45:03,341 --> 00:45:05,911 The Press: -- Parker Griffith, Democrat from Alabama 607 00:45:05,911 --> 00:45:08,851 announcing he is switching parties today. Any comment? 608 00:45:08,851 --> 00:45:11,781 Mr. Gibbs: I haven't seen that information, thanks.