English subtitles for clip: File:12-7-09- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Gibbs:
Good afternoon, guys.

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Sorry we pushed it back a couple
of times -- the President ran a

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little late this morning in some
meetings and wanted to make sure

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the pool had access to this
without stepping on this.

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So, Phil, take us away.

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The Press:
What can you tell us about
the decision to split up

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the President's trip to
Copenhagen and Oslo?

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I mean, we've known the dates
on both of these for a while,

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so why the need to reschedule?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, the President believed
-- we announced the trip prior

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to Oslo, believing that talks in
Copenhagen would be good for the

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President to go and give some
momentum to those talks at the

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beginning of the period --
I think it's going to last

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upwards of 11 or 12
days -- in Copenhagen.

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Based on developments, primarily
with the Chinese and the

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Indians, I think everybody
agrees that we are in a better

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position -- I mean, "we,"
globally -- to get some sort

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of agreement out of Copenhagen.

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And the President believed,
having helped to work both in

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enunciating our commitments,
as well as ensuring that the

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Indians and the Chinese talked
about their commitments,

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that we could move that to the
end of the conference when some

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agreement is likely to need
some help from world leaders.

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The Press:
How much help is the U.S.
position going to get from

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the EPA decision today to
classify greenhouse gases as a pollutant?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, as you know, Phil, this
was set into motion by a 2007

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Supreme Court decision, Massachusetts v. EPA, 

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which ruled -- which ruling
set in motion the scientific

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process to determine whether the
public health was threatened by

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carbon dioxide as a pollutant.

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The President continues to
strongly believe that the best

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way forward is through the
passage of comprehensive energy

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legislation, the type of which
previously passed the House and

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is being considered
now on the Senate side;

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that the best way to move
forward is through the

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legislative process,
understanding that the Court

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ruled that some action had to
be taken based on the lawsuit.

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The Press:
But the timing looks
politically convenient.

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Mr. Gibbs:
The timing is based on
the fact that the first

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step of this process
is being completed.

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Yes, sir.

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The Press:
Robert, two questions.

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One on the EPA and one on
Oslo; I'll start with Oslo.

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Will the President mention
Afghanistan and the troop

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increase during his speech
accepting the Nobel Peace Price?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Yes.

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The Press:
Can you give us the
flavor what he'll say?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I don't want to get ahead
of him on this, but, look,

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suffice to say, Jeff, it would
be -- the President is under no

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-- will address directly the
notion I think that many have

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wondered, which is the
juxtaposition of the timing for

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the Nobel Peace Price and his
commitment to add more troops

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into Afghanistan.

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That's obviously something
that he will address.

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The Press:
He is accepting the Nobel
Peace Prize as a war President.

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Mr. Gibbs:
Exactly.

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The Press:
Okay. On the EPA issue, will the
negotiators who are there now

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and President Obama when he
arrives next week not mention

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the fact that if legislation to
cut greenhouse gases does not

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come through the
Senate next year,

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that they have this in
their hand as a backup?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, Jeff, again, going
back to what I said to Phil,

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that process was set in
motion by the Supreme Court's

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ruling on a lawsuit in 2007.

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Again, I think what our
administration would say -- and

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I think when the President meets
later in the week with business

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leaders that are supportive
of comprehensive clean energy

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legislation that puts America
at the forefront of creating

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millions of jobs
based on clean energy,

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that we do so -- we do so
through the legislation process,

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that that's what's important.

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And quite frankly, we have
the ability to do that.

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I think what the
President would say,

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and I think what
everyone would say,

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is the power to control the
solution to this is indeed in

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our hands; we just have to act.

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The Press:
But it's nice to have
the EPA in your back pocket.

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Mr. Gibbs:
Again, this was set in
motion, what, more than

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-- almost two years ago.

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I don't know the exact date, it
would have been more than two

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years ago because of the Supreme
Court's rulings would have come

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down before December.

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This was set by a
court two years ago.

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Yes, sir.

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The Press:
The report that the
administration is sending to

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Congress today -- that we made
public on Wednesday -- about the

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TARP money, one of the less --
one of the parts of the report

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that the administration hasn't
been talking about as much is

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the fact that it looks like the
taxpayers will lose about $30

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billion from the AIG
leak, deal, bailout,

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and about $30 billion from
the automakers bailout.

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What's the message that the
President has for the American

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people about that $60
billion likely being lost?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, Jake, we're
-- I think the President

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would say in any dealings with
TARP that collectively some very

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tough decisions were made to
stabilize the financial system

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over the course of now a
couple of different years.

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Nobody liked having to
make those decisions,

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but the President believed, and
the leaders that made those

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decisions before the President
got here believed that steps had

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to be taken in order to
stabilize the financial system.

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What's important are a couple
of things going forward,

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and that is, first and foremost,
that we get financial reform,

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so that when you have
something like an AIG,

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an insurance company with a
hedge fund perched on top of it,

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that using resolution authority
you can break those two entities

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apart in order to stabilize the
financial system and ensure that

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one does not unduly
harm the other.

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But, again, Jake, I think he
would reiterate that we've

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regrettably made -- had to
make some tough decisions.

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We have on some of these
payments gotten repaid by banks

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and gotten repaid with interest.

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But we had to make some tough
decisions to ensure the security

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and stability, ultimately,
of the financial system.

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The Press:
Is that the same thing
with the automakers?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I think so.

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I think, again, the
President -- again,

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not an easy or -- not a decision
that he probably believed he

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would be making, but the
President believed that it was

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important to use a portion of
that money to help stabilize GM

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and Chrysler and put them on a
path towards sustainability by themselves.

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I think we've already seen
that through recent auto sales

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figures that some progress is
indeed being made on that.

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The Press:
On NATO troops, as you know,

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a lot of the international
contributions to the troop

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levels in Afghanistan
come with very --

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Mr. Gibbs:
Some of them do.

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I'm not -- I don't -- some
of them do, some don't, yes.

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The Press:
Come with constraints.

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Mr. Gibbs:
Caveats, right.

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The Press:
Caveats about no
fighting in the south,

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no flying at night, no combat.

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Are you working, is the
administration working to change

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that so it's not just a few
countries that are willing to

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put troops in harm's way?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, first
and foremost, Jake,

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we are pleased by the
international effort that has

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NATO increasingly stepping up to
meet international commitments.

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I think what you will hear and
see from commanders on the

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ground from our perspective is
we can take -- now we can take

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troops in other parts of the
country and focus them on more

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in the south and the east as
others come in to fill more of

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the north and the west.

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I think what you see as a result
of the President's engagement on

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this policy is a hefty
international commitment that

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will help meet an
international problem.

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I think I've said and the
President has said numerous

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times that this is not one
country or one region's problem

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-- this is an
international problem.

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And we're quite pleased with the
steps that the international

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community has taken to
meet those commitments.

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The Press:
Would it not be more fair or more in keeping with NATO's

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charter and more in keeping
with the statement you just

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made about how this is an
international obligation,

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not just a Western obligation,
for other countries to be

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willing to send troops to
engage in combat with the --

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, Jake, quite a few are
and we're pleased that they're

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-- that they will be
adding to those commitments.

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The Press:
Yes, but I'm asking
about the ones who aren't.

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, certain
people have, again,

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certain caveats that are there.

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Suffice to say, though, we can
find ways -- COMISAF can find

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ways to use those troops.

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We can pull -- some of those
troops obviously will be used

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for training, either of the
Afghan national army or

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ultimately the Afghan
national police.

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And without that training,
without meeting the force

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requirements for an Afghan
national security force,

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it gets harder for Afghans
to ultimately assume

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responsibility.

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We've got obviously some very
important goals that commanders

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believe can be met, and these
troops will help us do that.

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The Press:
Robert, on troops, I want
to talk about the U.S. forces.

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Admiral Mullen a short time ago
was making public comments and

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said that July 2011
is not a deadline.

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Do you agree with
that statement?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I think Secretary Gates
said that yesterday and

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then followed that by
saying, what that is,

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is the date by which -- the date
on which a transition will begin

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of our forces handing security
responsibility over to the Afghans.

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Understand, July 2011 comes from
the Pentagon and Admiral Mullen.

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So I think the Pentagon gave
to, as part of the process that

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concludes, gave to the security
team a series of ideas that

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included July 2011 as
the transition date.

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And I'll tell you this -- I
talked to the President as

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recently as this morning on this
-- as the Commander-in-Chief,

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he's clear about
what July 2011 means.

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That is the point in which we
will transition handing the

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security responsibility for
Afghanistan to the Afghans,

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understanding that, as the
President said a little under

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a week ago in West Point,
the trajectory with which that

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withdrawal will happen will
be based on, appropriately,

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conditions on the ground,
as has happened in Iraq.

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The Press:
Then why, if it's clear,

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did General Jones yesterday say
that this is a ramp and the

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troops start coming off --

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Mr. Gibbs:
That's exactly what I just said.

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The Press:
Right, but then General
Petraeus was asked that

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and he said it's not a ramp.

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And he said --

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Mr. Gibbs:
I think it may be a
difference in -- no, no, no,

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I think -- I think, having
been in these meetings,

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I think maybe the word "ramp"
has tripped people up,

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because we talked about the
deployment off- or on-ramps,

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which, again, I -- the ramp I
think that General Jones was

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discussing -- I talked to
General Petraeus about this on

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Air Force One both to and
from the West Point speech.

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I think the ramp that
he's referring to,

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that we're all referring to is,
from that July 2011 date that

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the President has made clear
that there will be a transition,

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there is a ramp at
that point where,

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based on the conditions
on the ground,

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will decide the pacing for the
thinning of American forces.

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But, again, Ed, the President
has been crystal clear on this.

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That date of transition
in July 2011.

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The Press:
And one quick
thing on Copenhagen.

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One of the complaints
Republicans have this morning

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and this afternoon about the
EPA decision is that they want

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better investigation of
this e-mail controversy.

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And several senators wrote a
letter -- others in the House,

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as well -- saying that they
believe that the science is not

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sound and that this -- what
is the President's reaction,

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what's your reaction to
this e-mail controversy?

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Do you think it's legitimate,
raises legitimate concerns --

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Mr. Gibbs:
I think everybody is
clear on the science.

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I think scientists are
clear on the science.

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I think many on Capitol Hill
are clear on the science.

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I think that this notion
that there's some debate,

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minus Lester, on the
science is kind of silly.

230
00:13:35,300 --> 00:13:39,700
The Press:
One last thing -- I'm
sorry -- on Max Baucus.

231
00:13:39,700 --> 00:13:42,300
Melodee Hanes we know was one of
three names Senator Baucus sent

232
00:13:42,300 --> 00:13:45,300
to the White House
to be U.S. Attorney.

233
00:13:45,300 --> 00:13:48,100
Did Jim Messina, who's very
close to Senator Baucus,

234
00:13:48,100 --> 00:13:49,630
did he play any role
for the White House?

235
00:13:49,633 --> 00:13:52,603
Did he recuse himself from
any of those discussions?

236
00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:54,800
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know what Jim's
involvement was on those

237
00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:58,500
discussions, but I think as the
senator told the media over the

238
00:13:58,500 --> 00:14:04,670
weekend and as we told
you and others that asked,

239
00:14:04,667 --> 00:14:07,597
Senator Baucus did not
give us any information

240
00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:09,730
about those three names.

241
00:14:09,734 --> 00:14:11,604
Nobody here was
involved in that.

242
00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:13,000
The Press:
But Jim is very
close to Max Baucus.

243
00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:15,730
Mr. Gibbs:
But, Ed, when I say
nobody was involved in it,

244
00:14:15,734 --> 00:14:18,164
I don't mean "everybody but
people that know Senator Baucus"

245
00:14:18,166 --> 00:14:19,896
-- I mean nobody.

246
00:14:19,900 --> 00:14:21,900
The Press:
And he didn't play any
role in getting a Justice

247
00:14:21,900 --> 00:14:23,500
Department job for her either?

248
00:14:23,500 --> 00:14:26,100
Mr. Gibbs:
Those are obviously jobs
that are based on who's

249
00:14:26,100 --> 00:14:27,500
best for the job.

250
00:14:27,500 --> 00:14:28,570
Yes, ma'am.

251
00:14:28,567 --> 00:14:30,037
The Press:
I have two questions.

252
00:14:30,033 --> 00:14:32,103
On the anniversary
of Pearl Harbor,

253
00:14:32,100 --> 00:14:35,970
what is the President's attitude
toward the Japanese wanting to

254
00:14:35,967 --> 00:14:38,267
relocate their bases?

255
00:14:38,266 --> 00:14:47,636
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, we discussed a process
whereby -- we discussed in Japan

256
00:14:47,633 --> 00:14:55,003
with the Japanese a process
of going through those

257
00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:56,500
discussions with them.

258
00:14:56,500 --> 00:14:58,800
I don't have anything more to
add than what the President and

259
00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:01,670
the Prime Minister talked about
in Japan a few weeks ago.

260
00:15:01,667 --> 00:15:03,837
The Press:
Then you don't have
a position yet?

261
00:15:03,834 --> 00:15:08,134
Mr. Gibbs:
No, there is a position
because there's an agreement.

262
00:15:08,133 --> 00:15:12,703
I think that's what both
the sides reiterated.

263
00:15:12,700 --> 00:15:15,130
The Press:
My other question is, why
didn't the President bring

264
00:15:15,133 --> 00:15:18,503
up the public option and
abortion when he met with

265
00:15:18,500 --> 00:15:20,230
Congress yesterday?

266
00:15:20,233 --> 00:15:24,333
Mr. Gibbs:
Look, the President has
throughout this process

267
00:15:24,333 --> 00:15:27,003
talked about the importance
of getting it done;

268
00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:33,470
talked about ensuring that those
that have insurance will see

269
00:15:33,467 --> 00:15:36,567
their costs go down; that we're
serious about addressing the

270
00:15:36,567 --> 00:15:40,337
budgetary implications -- not
just in paying for health care

271
00:15:40,333 --> 00:15:43,103
reform, but understanding that
we're changing the direction of

272
00:15:43,100 --> 00:15:46,130
the cost curve and providing
accessible and affordable

273
00:15:46,133 --> 00:15:48,303
insurance to those
that don't have it.

274
00:15:48,300 --> 00:15:50,800
The President
reiterated that message,

275
00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:55,770
the idea of continuing to work
toward that goal in the Senate

276
00:15:55,767 --> 00:15:59,037
and get something out of
the Senate and passed.

277
00:15:59,033 --> 00:16:02,703
The President didn't get into
individual amendments -- like he

278
00:16:02,700 --> 00:16:04,970
hasn't throughout this process.

279
00:16:04,967 --> 00:16:06,597
The Press:
Well, doesn't he
care about these?

280
00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:11,630
Are these too -- too
difficult to overcome?

281
00:16:11,633 --> 00:16:12,803
Mr. Gibbs:
No, I don't believe so.

282
00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:16,400
I think Leader
Reid has appointed,

283
00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:20,300
in terms of the public option,
Democrats on both sides of this

284
00:16:20,300 --> 00:16:25,070
issue to come get together
and discuss the issue.

285
00:16:25,066 --> 00:16:28,566
And by all accounts those
discussions are going well and

286
00:16:28,567 --> 00:16:30,637
they are making progress.

287
00:16:30,633 --> 00:16:31,363
Yes, sir.

288
00:16:31,367 --> 00:16:32,367
The Press:
Thank you.

289
00:16:32,367 --> 00:16:36,037
On July 2011 -- first of all, I
understand it was a date picked

290
00:16:36,033 --> 00:16:42,433
by the Pentagon, but, still,
doesn't -- I think the reason

291
00:16:42,433 --> 00:16:44,933
people seem to be struggling
with it and why so many people

292
00:16:44,934 --> 00:16:47,404
were talking about it on the
shows yesterday is it just

293
00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:49,200
feels so arbitrary.

294
00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:53,030
I mean, what if June 2011
turns out to be a better time,

295
00:16:53,033 --> 00:16:54,733
or August turns out
to be a better time?

296
00:16:54,734 --> 00:16:56,334
Will the President
say, doggone it,

297
00:16:56,333 --> 00:17:00,103
I said July 2011 and that's it,
we're not changing that date.

298
00:17:00,100 --> 00:17:05,600
The Press:
Without getting into your arbitrary hypothetical, again,

299
00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:12,300
I'd point you to -- this
wasn't arbitrarily picked by the Pentagon.

300
00:17:12,300 --> 00:17:17,930
This was a decision based on
what the strategy that the

301
00:17:17,934 --> 00:17:23,464
President had settled on and
what had to happen between now

302
00:17:23,467 --> 00:17:28,967
and whatever date in order to
ramp up the training of the army

303
00:17:28,967 --> 00:17:31,867
and the police that comprised
the national security force of

304
00:17:31,867 --> 00:17:35,937
Afghanistan, at a point in which
they're capable of taking over

305
00:17:35,934 --> 00:17:37,904
that responsibility.

306
00:17:37,900 --> 00:17:41,430
The Pentagon determined that
that date was July 2011.

307
00:17:41,433 --> 00:17:43,463
The Press:
Which could change if they
do better than we think.

308
00:17:43,467 --> 00:17:46,897
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, that would be a
nice problem to have.

309
00:17:46,900 --> 00:17:48,730
Understand that what happened --

310
00:17:48,734 --> 00:17:50,434
The Press:
But it could change.

311
00:17:50,433 --> 00:17:53,633
Mr. Gibbs:
No, it could happen
earlier, sure --

312
00:17:53,633 --> 00:17:54,963
The Press:
But it won't happen later.

313
00:17:54,967 --> 00:17:56,337
Mr. Gibbs:
It won't happen later.

314
00:17:56,333 --> 00:17:59,503
The President is
quite clear on this.

315
00:17:59,500 --> 00:18:07,800
Understand what happened between
the meeting by which this date

316
00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:12,870
was originally discussed, what
happened in the process moving

317
00:18:12,867 --> 00:18:18,437
forward was the ramp up of
troops actually happened faster

318
00:18:18,433 --> 00:18:22,663
than the original chart
that the Pentagon had.

319
00:18:22,667 --> 00:18:25,937
So what that means
is our forces,

320
00:18:25,934 --> 00:18:30,504
under the President's mission,
will in fact get there faster,

321
00:18:30,500 --> 00:18:35,300
therefore be there longer in
order to help accomplish the

322
00:18:35,300 --> 00:18:39,170
goals necessary for that
thinning to take place.

323
00:18:39,166 --> 00:18:41,366
That date starts
in July of 2011.

324
00:18:41,367 --> 00:18:43,067
The Press:
What if the Pentagon
comes to him and says,

325
00:18:43,066 --> 00:18:45,736
we're not going to be ready
July 2011, is he going to say,

326
00:18:45,734 --> 00:18:47,534
too bad, that's the date I set.

327
00:18:47,533 --> 00:18:50,233
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, we are going to have
assessments throughout this

328
00:18:50,233 --> 00:18:54,103
process that will measure us
attaining the goals leading up

329
00:18:54,100 --> 00:18:55,600
to that point.

330
00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:59,270
The President, though, Chip, has
been clear: The transition point

331
00:18:59,266 --> 00:19:03,696
begins on July 2011 because the
Pentagon says that's the point

332
00:19:03,700 --> 00:19:08,270
in which the mission
will be able to do that.

333
00:19:08,266 --> 00:19:09,466
The Press:
That's what they say now.

334
00:19:09,467 --> 00:19:11,537
But if they change what
they say is the point,

335
00:19:11,533 --> 00:19:13,133
then the President
would change with them?

336
00:19:13,133 --> 00:19:16,503
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, you're discussing what
is being discussed now and

337
00:19:16,500 --> 00:19:20,770
I'm telling you the
President is clear on July 2011.

338
00:19:20,767 --> 00:19:24,767
The Press:
On TARP, any change from Friday?

339
00:19:24,767 --> 00:19:27,397
And I was a little unclear
on what the President was

340
00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:30,630
suggesting in his comments
just now on using TARP money

341
00:19:30,633 --> 00:19:32,833
for a jobs bill.

342
00:19:32,834 --> 00:19:34,234
Where does that stand right now?

343
00:19:34,233 --> 00:19:38,333
Mr. Gibbs:
That's something that this
White House is looking at.

344
00:19:38,333 --> 00:19:40,563
I think the -- I will repeat
what the President said.

345
00:19:40,567 --> 00:19:42,797
I'm not getting ahead of what
he's going to talk about

346
00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:47,930
tomorrow, but one of the things
that the report that Jake made

347
00:19:47,934 --> 00:19:53,264
mention of is that if you
compare the amount of money that

348
00:19:53,266 --> 00:19:56,866
the administration believed
would be necessary as part of

349
00:19:56,867 --> 00:19:59,967
the Midsession Review and what
we believe is necessary now,

350
00:19:59,967 --> 00:20:03,137
that difference is
$341 to $141 billion,

351
00:20:03,133 --> 00:20:07,963
which is approximately --
obviously $200 billion;

352
00:20:07,967 --> 00:20:11,337
and that the White House is
looking at whether or not using

353
00:20:11,333 --> 00:20:17,263
that for legislation to create
an environment for increased

354
00:20:17,266 --> 00:20:20,436
hiring for jobs, whether
that would be available.

355
00:20:20,433 --> 00:20:23,203
The Press:
But that money wasn't
really appropriated for --

356
00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:24,370
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, that money
was appropriated to

357
00:20:24,367 --> 00:20:26,267
stabilize the economy.

358
00:20:26,266 --> 00:20:30,366
The Press:
It wasn't appropriated for
things like weatherization

359
00:20:30,367 --> 00:20:34,067
and the kind of thing that
you had in the first stimulus.

360
00:20:34,066 --> 00:20:37,236
I mean, these are the kinds of
-- money to states to keep them

361
00:20:37,233 --> 00:20:39,933
from laying off workers, tax
breaks for small business,

362
00:20:39,934 --> 00:20:41,304
weatherization infrastructure.

363
00:20:41,300 --> 00:20:44,130
It sounds like exactly the
kind of stuff that was in the stimulus.

364
00:20:44,133 --> 00:20:47,963
I mean, isn't it a little silly
not to say this is a second stimulus?

365
00:20:47,967 --> 00:20:51,167
And how can you use money
from TARP to pay for a second

366
00:20:51,166 --> 00:20:54,066
stimulus without it turning
into basically a slush fund,

367
00:20:54,066 --> 00:20:55,566
as Republicans say?

368
00:20:55,567 --> 00:20:59,897
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I think Republicans
are just simply dead wrong.

369
00:20:59,900 --> 00:21:04,470
I think you can look at any
number of figures to denote that

370
00:21:04,467 --> 00:21:08,337
while they have continued to
criticize the Recovery Act,

371
00:21:08,333 --> 00:21:13,263
we've seen the first positive
job growth in four economic quarters.

372
00:21:13,266 --> 00:21:21,166
And we saw the best jobs report
that we've seen in 22 months,

373
00:21:21,166 --> 00:21:23,896
dating back to the
dated beginning of

374
00:21:23,900 --> 00:21:29,670
the recession in December 2007.

375
00:21:29,667 --> 00:21:30,967
The President
again, and the team,

376
00:21:30,967 --> 00:21:33,637
as well as members of Capitol
Hill are looking at these

377
00:21:33,633 --> 00:21:37,363
questions to see what are the
important and necessary next

378
00:21:37,367 --> 00:21:39,997
steps, some of which,
but not all of which,

379
00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:42,770
the President will
discuss tomorrow.

380
00:21:42,767 --> 00:21:45,037
The Press:
Are you still saying this
is not a second stimulus,

381
00:21:45,033 --> 00:21:46,033
but it's going to be?

382
00:21:46,033 --> 00:21:46,863
Mr. Gibbs:
It's not.

383
00:21:46,867 --> 00:21:47,837
The Press:
It's not.

384
00:21:47,834 --> 00:21:49,434
Even though many of the
components are the same thing

385
00:21:49,433 --> 00:21:51,003
that was in the first stimulus?

386
00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:52,030
Mr. Gibbs:
No.

387
00:21:52,033 --> 00:21:54,063
The Press:
One last question, just a
straight, factual question.

388
00:21:54,066 --> 00:21:57,136
The Chicago guy indicted
on the Mumbai situation,

389
00:21:57,133 --> 00:21:58,433
do you know anything about that?

390
00:21:58,433 --> 00:22:00,463
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes.

391
00:22:00,467 --> 00:22:01,567
(laughter)

392
00:22:01,567 --> 00:22:02,637
That's my job.

393
00:22:02,633 --> 00:22:04,933
(laughter)

394
00:22:04,934 --> 00:22:05,834
The Press:
Is that --

395
00:22:05,834 --> 00:22:07,234
Mr. Gibbs:
I can factually say
that indeed I do.

396
00:22:07,233 --> 00:22:08,403
The Press:
Can you tell us
what the latest is?

397
00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:14,670
Mr. Gibbs:
Look, I would, for
information relating

398
00:22:14,667 --> 00:22:17,637
to his indictment; obviously
I would point you to the

399
00:22:17,633 --> 00:22:20,863
Department of Justice and the
U.S. Attorney for the Northern

400
00:22:20,867 --> 00:22:25,467
District of Illinois, which
handed down the indictment.

401
00:22:25,467 --> 00:22:30,597
Obviously, I continue to say,
and the President does, too,

402
00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:33,970
that we have taken and will
continue to take every step

403
00:22:33,967 --> 00:22:38,797
necessary to protect
the American people.

404
00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:41,500
Today was an important
day in doing that.

405
00:22:41,500 --> 00:22:44,930
The Press:
I want to follow up
on something, Robert.

406
00:22:44,934 --> 00:22:47,764
The President just now actually,
when he was asked about the use

407
00:22:47,767 --> 00:22:51,737
of TARP funds, he seemed to
indicate that he believes there

408
00:22:51,734 --> 00:22:53,304
are parameters around
what can be used.

409
00:22:53,300 --> 00:22:58,570
He said that, you know, the
initial reason to use the TARP

410
00:22:58,567 --> 00:23:01,737
funds was to unfreeze credit
markets and that's one of the

411
00:23:01,734 --> 00:23:04,164
things that he'd be looking to
use that money for when it comes

412
00:23:04,166 --> 00:23:07,466
to trying to move credit
for small businesses.

413
00:23:07,467 --> 00:23:10,537
So I guess my question is does
that mean he believes there are

414
00:23:10,533 --> 00:23:12,933
some parameters on what this
money can be used for and what

415
00:23:12,934 --> 00:23:14,104
it can't be used for?

416
00:23:14,100 --> 00:23:16,970
Do you guys believe the --

417
00:23:16,967 --> 00:23:19,897
Mr. Gibbs:
Again, no final
determinations have been made.

418
00:23:19,900 --> 00:23:24,000
And when final determinations
are and have been made then

419
00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:26,700
we'll discuss what
those decisions are.

420
00:23:26,700 --> 00:23:28,870
The Press:
Is this an interpretation
of the law as it was passed?

421
00:23:28,867 --> 00:23:30,837
Is that what you
guys are looking at?

422
00:23:30,834 --> 00:23:31,704
I mean, what's the --

423
00:23:31,700 --> 00:23:33,300
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know the exact
criteria of which they're

424
00:23:33,300 --> 00:23:36,070
going through each
and every thing,

425
00:23:36,066 --> 00:23:39,166
except the top line of -- that
they're looking through this.

426
00:23:39,166 --> 00:23:43,336
And as we move forward we'll
make that determination.

427
00:23:43,333 --> 00:23:44,533
The Press:
And that will be clear tomorrow?

428
00:23:44,533 --> 00:23:45,563
Or could that be --

429
00:23:45,567 --> 00:23:46,797
Mr. Gibbs:
If it's clear tomorrow
it will be. If it's --

430
00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:47,930
The Press:
No, but I mean,
is it possible --

431
00:23:47,934 --> 00:23:49,264
Mr. Gibbs:
-- if a determination
isn't made then it won't.

432
00:23:49,266 --> 00:23:50,866
The Press:
And so he may roll
out some things,

433
00:23:50,867 --> 00:23:55,667
but leave it up to Congress to
decide whether TARP money can be used?

434
00:23:55,667 --> 00:23:57,837
Mr. Gibbs:
I would describe tomorrow
as not the totality of all

435
00:23:57,834 --> 00:23:59,564
the President's ideas.

436
00:23:59,567 --> 00:24:04,937
The President will discuss a few
ideas that he has heard in his

437
00:24:04,934 --> 00:24:09,434
discussions with CEOs
and small businesses.

438
00:24:09,433 --> 00:24:11,203
I think obviously one of the
things the President talked

439
00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:18,230
about today was that even as
things are getting better for

440
00:24:18,233 --> 00:24:20,233
larger banks that
there are many,

441
00:24:20,233 --> 00:24:22,803
many small businesses throughout
the country that still have a

442
00:24:22,800 --> 00:24:25,870
lot of problems in getting
access to the type of credit

443
00:24:25,867 --> 00:24:31,767
that they were normally getting
before the economic -- the great

444
00:24:31,767 --> 00:24:33,397
economic downturn.

445
00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:39,100
We are looking at ways that
would help small businesses get

446
00:24:39,100 --> 00:24:43,100
that credit, find
access to that capital,

447
00:24:43,100 --> 00:24:47,930
and the President will discuss
other ways that he believes the

448
00:24:47,934 --> 00:24:51,634
government can assist the
private sector in an atmosphere

449
00:24:51,633 --> 00:24:55,363
that leads to additional
hiring of jobs.

450
00:24:55,367 --> 00:24:57,097
The Press:
Is there going to be a
Cash for Clunkers-style

451
00:24:57,100 --> 00:24:59,930
program that has to do with
weatherization that was sort of one --

452
00:24:59,934 --> 00:25:04,204
Mr. Gibbs:
I won't get ahead of where the
President is on that tomorrow.

453
00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:06,030
The Press:
Two quick December
deadline questions on

454
00:25:06,033 --> 00:25:07,263
the international front.

455
00:25:07,266 --> 00:25:08,736
START -- anything new this week?

456
00:25:08,734 --> 00:25:10,004
Can we expect
anything this week?

457
00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:12,670
Mr. Gibbs:
You know, the two sides
continue to take part in

458
00:25:12,667 --> 00:25:16,737
negotiations, and we believe
that we can get something done soon.

459
00:25:16,734 --> 00:25:20,234
The Press:
Soon this week, or soon,
you're not ready to commit --

460
00:25:20,233 --> 00:25:21,263
Mr. Gibbs:
No --

461
00:25:21,266 --> 00:25:22,836
The Press:
Would you rule this week
out as a week that --

462
00:25:22,834 --> 00:25:24,434
Mr. Gibbs:
Not if they get it.

463
00:25:24,433 --> 00:25:26,433
(laughter)

464
00:25:26,433 --> 00:25:28,563
Look, I mean -- you know
what I mean. I mean --

465
00:25:28,567 --> 00:25:30,467
The Press:
Look, we're going
to be in Europe,

466
00:25:30,467 --> 00:25:32,567
that's why we have
-- that's why I ask.

467
00:25:32,567 --> 00:25:35,067
Mr. Gibbs:
No, I don't -- I don't
expect any European vacations,

468
00:25:35,066 --> 00:25:36,296
how about that.

469
00:25:36,300 --> 00:25:38,100
The Press:
And on the Iran front.

470
00:25:38,100 --> 00:25:45,030
Where do things stand with
pushing on the sanctions?

471
00:25:45,033 --> 00:25:48,263
And then the second question
is, there's been some confusion

472
00:25:48,266 --> 00:25:53,296
about whether -- is Iran a
supportive actor of what we're

473
00:25:53,300 --> 00:25:56,630
doing in Afghanistan or are
they part of the problem?

474
00:25:56,633 --> 00:25:59,033
I mean, how much do you believe
they're playing a role in the

475
00:25:59,033 --> 00:26:00,933
insurgency in Afghanistan?

476
00:26:00,934 --> 00:26:03,534
Mr. Gibbs:
Let me get some guidance from
the NSC on the second part.

477
00:26:03,533 --> 00:26:09,663
On the first part, Chuck, the
President will -- continues to

478
00:26:09,667 --> 00:26:14,767
actively work with our partners
in the P5-plus-1 in order to --

479
00:26:14,767 --> 00:26:24,037
in order to continue to ask the
Iranians to live up to their obligations.

480
00:26:24,033 --> 00:26:25,603
The Press:
Are those negotiations
still active?

481
00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:28,570
That hasn't been shut down, sort
of -- has it moved to the U.N.?

482
00:26:28,567 --> 00:26:31,867
Mr. Gibbs:
But again, that's -- it's
not up to the P5-plus-1.

483
00:26:31,867 --> 00:26:33,097
It's not up to us.

484
00:26:33,100 --> 00:26:34,300
It's up to the Iranians, right.

485
00:26:34,300 --> 00:26:37,930
They've got a certain set of
obligations that they've always had.

486
00:26:37,934 --> 00:26:42,334
Those obligations can be met
at any time by the Iranians.

487
00:26:42,333 --> 00:26:44,933
Failure to meet
those obligations,

488
00:26:44,934 --> 00:26:49,734
as the President and others have
said, will result in next steps.

489
00:26:49,734 --> 00:26:52,134
The Press:
Have they failed -- I guess
-- I've heard this failure

490
00:26:52,133 --> 00:26:53,563
-- have they failed
to meet these?

491
00:26:53,567 --> 00:26:54,867
Have you guys determined --

492
00:26:54,867 --> 00:26:55,737
Mr. Gibbs:
As of right now, yes.

493
00:26:55,734 --> 00:26:56,664
The Press:
Right now they have failed
and therefore you're moving

494
00:26:56,667 --> 00:26:58,167
on to step -- plan B?

495
00:26:58,166 --> 00:27:00,766
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, I think we've
talked largely about the

496
00:27:00,767 --> 00:27:05,637
fact that time is running
out, that that -- hold on,

497
00:27:05,633 --> 00:27:06,933
hold on -- that
the sand in the --

498
00:27:06,934 --> 00:27:08,104
The Press:
-- is going to run out.

499
00:27:08,100 --> 00:27:09,370
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, running.

500
00:27:09,367 --> 00:27:10,567
The Press:
Okay.

501
00:27:10,567 --> 00:27:12,537
Mr. Gibbs:
The sand in the
hourglass is running out.

502
00:27:12,533 --> 00:27:16,533
As of this moment -- minus
anything that these guys tell me

503
00:27:16,533 --> 00:27:19,833
has happened since I've been up
here -- have they failed to meet

504
00:27:19,834 --> 00:27:21,564
their obligations? Absolutely.

505
00:27:21,567 --> 00:27:24,597
They've failed to meet
their obligations --

506
00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:25,530
The Press:
And therefore you go to plan B?

507
00:27:25,533 --> 00:27:27,003
Mr. Gibbs:
That's why we would
move to next steps.

508
00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:28,270
The Press:
But you haven't yet.

509
00:27:28,266 --> 00:27:30,136
Mr. Gibbs:
Not yet. Jonathan.

510
00:27:30,133 --> 00:27:32,503
The Press:
Last week the President
obviously held a

511
00:27:32,500 --> 00:27:33,900
jobs summit here.

512
00:27:33,900 --> 00:27:37,170
He invited business leaders,
union leaders to come and talk

513
00:27:37,166 --> 00:27:39,166
about jobs ideas.

514
00:27:39,166 --> 00:27:46,336
Today the EPA promulgated its --
had its finding on greenhouse

515
00:27:46,333 --> 00:27:48,533
gases, and the Department
of Labor also unveiled --

516
00:27:48,533 --> 00:27:53,333
promulgated a bunch of new
workplace regulations.

517
00:27:53,333 --> 00:27:58,303
Do you see -- does the White
House see a potential short-term

518
00:27:58,300 --> 00:28:03,800
jobs cost to energy,
environmental and --

519
00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:05,830
Mr. Gibbs:
No, there's a short
-- there's a short-,

520
00:28:05,834 --> 00:28:09,604
medium- and long-term benefit to
establishing our nation as the

521
00:28:09,600 --> 00:28:11,970
clean energy leader
of the world.

522
00:28:11,967 --> 00:28:15,697
Somebody is going to build
millions of solar panels.

523
00:28:15,700 --> 00:28:19,330
Somebody is going to build wind
towers and wind turbines and

524
00:28:19,333 --> 00:28:22,863
create the power that's going
to light our homes and heat our

525
00:28:22,867 --> 00:28:26,397
homes and cool our homes
for decades to come.

526
00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:29,870
The question is, which
country is that going to be?

527
00:28:29,867 --> 00:28:32,267
The President, through
the Recovery Act,

528
00:28:32,266 --> 00:28:39,866
incentivized the building of
those implements that I just

529
00:28:39,867 --> 00:28:45,837
discussed in a way that had not
previously been incentivized.

530
00:28:45,834 --> 00:28:50,534
I think the President wants to
see us create that type of clean

531
00:28:50,533 --> 00:28:53,933
energy economy through
comprehensive legislation that

532
00:28:53,934 --> 00:28:56,234
would establish us as
the leader in the world.

533
00:28:56,233 --> 00:28:59,333
That will create -- it's created
jobs all over this country and

534
00:28:59,333 --> 00:29:02,303
it has the ability to
create far, far more.

535
00:29:02,300 --> 00:29:06,500
The Press:
But does he believe that
a cap-and-trade system,

536
00:29:06,500 --> 00:29:08,200
like the one that
passed the House,

537
00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:10,400
like the one that he would
like to see pass the Senate,

538
00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:15,900
is a better instrument to do
what you're talking about than a

539
00:29:15,900 --> 00:29:18,130
regulatory approach like EPA --

540
00:29:18,133 --> 00:29:22,333
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, the President's
belief is that the preferred

541
00:29:22,333 --> 00:29:24,903
method is through legislation.

542
00:29:24,900 --> 00:29:27,900
That's what the President
would tell you if he were

543
00:29:27,900 --> 00:29:28,830
standing here today.

544
00:29:28,834 --> 00:29:34,034
That's what the President and I
have said going back probably

545
00:29:34,033 --> 00:29:36,503
since the beginning of
this administration.

546
00:29:36,500 --> 00:29:39,570
Again, Massachusetts v. EPA was
not something that was decided

547
00:29:39,567 --> 00:29:42,767
sometime last week and
the process was started.

548
00:29:42,767 --> 00:29:49,537
This was decided back in 2007
and the clock, in a sense,

549
00:29:49,533 --> 00:29:53,303
has been ticking since
that time period.

550
00:29:53,300 --> 00:29:57,800
But, again, if we incentivize,
through comprehensive clean

551
00:29:57,800 --> 00:30:03,330
energy legislation, an economy
that puts a premium on

552
00:30:03,333 --> 00:30:06,233
alternative energy
like wind and solar,

553
00:30:06,233 --> 00:30:09,333
we're going to create a lot
of jobs -- in the short term,

554
00:30:09,333 --> 00:30:11,933
in the medium term, and
ultimately in the long term.

555
00:30:11,934 --> 00:30:16,964
The Press:
Real quickly on TARP, does
the President believe that

556
00:30:16,967 --> 00:30:24,197
a jobs bill funded in part out
of savings from unexpectedly

557
00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:27,100
smaller TARP payments -- does
he believe that that's revenue

558
00:30:27,100 --> 00:30:30,170
neutral, that it does not
cost the taxpayer money?

559
00:30:30,166 --> 00:30:33,096
Mr. Gibbs:
I think it goes to the
same pot of money that

560
00:30:33,100 --> 00:30:34,930
ultimately would have been
used for something else.

561
00:30:34,934 --> 00:30:36,334
Did you have a follow on energy?

562
00:30:36,333 --> 00:30:39,203
The Press:
How do you know that the
-- regulations like that

563
00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:42,470
will create more jobs
than they might cost?

564
00:30:42,467 --> 00:30:45,437
You're regulating industries
across the country,

565
00:30:45,433 --> 00:30:47,863
but you're talking about one
sector that you want to grow --

566
00:30:47,867 --> 00:30:48,897
the green sector.

567
00:30:48,900 --> 00:30:50,770
How do you know it will create
more jobs than lose them?

568
00:30:50,767 --> 00:30:55,597
Mr. Gibbs:
Because how are you --
if you can't -- if you're

569
00:30:55,600 --> 00:31:01,030
finding incentives in other ways
to produce power, for instance,

570
00:31:01,033 --> 00:31:04,463
that's less polluting, then
you're going to do that through

571
00:31:04,467 --> 00:31:06,737
solar and wind.

572
00:31:06,734 --> 00:31:11,704
I forget the number now -- the
number of electric car factories

573
00:31:11,700 --> 00:31:14,670
in this country at the beginning
of the year I think was none and

574
00:31:14,667 --> 00:31:17,737
I think we're somewhere
either between three or four.

575
00:31:17,734 --> 00:31:23,804
The largest pollutant emitter of
greenhouse gases -- the largest

576
00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:26,900
sector of that is used
in transportation.

577
00:31:26,900 --> 00:31:35,100
We can create jobs by meeting
the requirements of clean energy.

578
00:31:35,100 --> 00:31:36,500
The Press:
I understand that
you will create jobs,

579
00:31:36,500 --> 00:31:38,670
but what I'm asking is how do
you know you will create more

580
00:31:38,667 --> 00:31:41,567
jobs than you will lose by
putting these restrictions on

581
00:31:41,567 --> 00:31:43,537
all industries
across the country?

582
00:31:43,533 --> 00:31:44,363
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again --

583
00:31:44,367 --> 00:31:47,467
The Press:
Or is there a study or have you
studied that at the White House?

584
00:31:47,467 --> 00:31:48,097
I mean --

585
00:31:48,100 --> 00:31:50,300
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm sure there are tons
of studies that do indeed

586
00:31:50,300 --> 00:31:51,230
say that, yes.

587
00:31:51,233 --> 00:31:52,363
The Press:
Do you know of any?

588
00:31:52,367 --> 00:31:54,197
Mr. Gibbs:
We can get you some, yes.

589
00:31:54,200 --> 00:31:56,730
The Press:
Getting back to the
Copenhagen meeting and

590
00:31:56,734 --> 00:32:00,964
the timing of these announcement
by the EPA today, first of all,

591
00:32:00,967 --> 00:32:03,137
did the President have to sign
off on this himself or was it

592
00:32:03,133 --> 00:32:05,203
approved at some
other level here?

593
00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:06,500
Mr. Gibbs:
I can check. Not
that I'm aware of.

594
00:32:06,500 --> 00:32:09,670
I mean, again, we've stated
throughout the campaign and

595
00:32:09,667 --> 00:32:12,997
through our time here that
science isn't going to get --

596
00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:15,070
science won't be vetoed
in the Oval Office.

597
00:32:15,066 --> 00:32:17,236
Science is up to the scientists.

598
00:32:17,233 --> 00:32:17,833
The Press:
All right.

599
00:32:17,834 --> 00:32:21,334
And you said that the timing is
based on the first step being

600
00:32:21,333 --> 00:32:25,003
completed, and you pointed to
the Supreme Court action on this

601
00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:26,900
that required this
endangerment finding.

602
00:32:26,900 --> 00:32:29,730
So you're telling us that it was
just a coincidence then that it

603
00:32:29,734 --> 00:32:30,564
happened today, a week --

604
00:32:30,567 --> 00:32:31,737
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm telling you this is
part of a process that

605
00:32:31,734 --> 00:32:34,304
started more than two years ago
with the Supreme Court finding

606
00:32:34,300 --> 00:32:40,270
that the EPA should regulate
greenhouse gases that threaten

607
00:32:40,266 --> 00:32:42,536
the public health
because it's a pollutant.

608
00:32:42,533 --> 00:32:43,903
The Press:
And it all came down,
just coincidentally,

609
00:32:43,900 --> 00:32:45,600
a week before he's
going to Copenhagen.

610
00:32:45,600 --> 00:32:46,800
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes.

611
00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:48,930
The Press:
Can I just follow?

612
00:32:48,934 --> 00:32:50,604
Mr. Gibbs:
Go ahead.

613
00:32:50,600 --> 00:32:54,930
The Press:
If the stimulus plan is
to save or create 3.5

614
00:32:54,934 --> 00:32:58,534
million jobs by the end
of next year in this new

615
00:32:58,533 --> 00:33:03,503
environment to foster job growth
that the President will discuss

616
00:33:03,500 --> 00:33:06,870
tomorrow, how many additional
jobs does he want to see saved

617
00:33:06,867 --> 00:33:07,697
or created?

618
00:33:07,700 --> 00:33:08,870
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm not going to get ahead
of what the President will

619
00:33:08,867 --> 00:33:10,197
talk about tomorrow.

620
00:33:10,200 --> 00:33:12,170
The Press:
But whether he
talks about it or not,

621
00:33:12,166 --> 00:33:15,336
how many jobs would the
President like to see added on

622
00:33:15,333 --> 00:33:17,103
top of the stimulus
spending next year?

623
00:33:17,100 --> 00:33:20,500
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, understand
that we're seven and a half,

624
00:33:20,500 --> 00:33:24,070
I think, seven and a half
million jobs below what the

625
00:33:24,066 --> 00:33:27,236
employment level was
in December 2007,

626
00:33:27,233 --> 00:33:30,433
which was the last unemployment
report released by the

627
00:33:30,433 --> 00:33:33,663
Department of Labor that
showed positive job growth.

628
00:33:33,667 --> 00:33:36,737
We've got quite some way to
go, but understand, Julianna,

629
00:33:36,734 --> 00:33:40,634
the President is not going to
unveil the silver bullet idea,

630
00:33:40,633 --> 00:33:45,333
which adds all the jobs that are
-- all the jobs that will be

631
00:33:45,333 --> 00:33:49,433
made up by the loss in the
economic downturn and then some.

632
00:33:49,433 --> 00:33:52,233
This is -- if there was
one idea to do this,

633
00:33:52,233 --> 00:33:56,963
I assume it would have been done
sometime in the intervening 22

634
00:33:56,967 --> 00:34:01,137
months, that, by which we
haven't seen a jobs report that

635
00:34:01,133 --> 00:34:03,163
showed positive job growth.

636
00:34:03,166 --> 00:34:05,166
The Press:
Would he like to see
new measures add to

637
00:34:05,166 --> 00:34:06,836
that 3.5 million number?

638
00:34:06,834 --> 00:34:07,864
Mr. Gibbs:
Absolutely.

639
00:34:07,867 --> 00:34:09,837
The Press:
Okay, and also, back
to the TARP funds,

640
00:34:09,834 --> 00:34:14,234
some Democrats are talking about
using as much as $70 billion

641
00:34:14,233 --> 00:34:17,903
from the unspent TARP funds
to go toward new jobs for

642
00:34:17,900 --> 00:34:19,700
infrastructure and whatnot.

643
00:34:19,700 --> 00:34:21,830
Is that a figure that the
President is comfortable with?

644
00:34:21,834 --> 00:34:26,004
Mr. Gibbs:
Again, when there's a
decision on that made here,

645
00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:28,170
we'll let you guys know.

646
00:34:28,166 --> 00:34:29,636
The Press:
Okay, so
hypothetically speaking --

647
00:34:29,633 --> 00:34:32,133
Mr. Gibbs:
I'll refer you to my Chip
Reid hypothetical answer.

648
00:34:32,133 --> 00:34:37,133
The Press:
But if TARP funds were
used to go towards measures

649
00:34:37,133 --> 00:34:40,733
to create jobs, what message
does that send to Main Street?

650
00:34:40,734 --> 00:34:42,264
Mr. Gibbs:
What message does that
send to Main Street?

651
00:34:42,266 --> 00:34:44,196
Help is on the way.

652
00:34:44,200 --> 00:34:50,500
It sends the message that your
economic vitality is just as

653
00:34:50,500 --> 00:34:55,100
important as anybody that lives
or works or breathes on Wall Street.

654
00:34:55,100 --> 00:35:00,200
That's the message the President
has hoped and wanted to send for

655
00:35:00,200 --> 00:35:04,400
his entire administration, and
that's what he's done in the

656
00:35:04,400 --> 00:35:08,600
recovery plan; that's what he'll
continue to do tomorrow in his speech.

657
00:35:08,600 --> 00:35:10,100
The Press:
Did you just answer
a hypothetical?

658
00:35:10,100 --> 00:35:13,370
Mr. Gibbs:
No, she said, "what
would that mean,"

659
00:35:13,367 --> 00:35:17,797
and that's easy -- that's
both knowable and announceable.

660
00:35:17,800 --> 00:35:20,130
The Press:
So if it's knowable it
can't be a hypothetical.

661
00:35:20,133 --> 00:35:22,403
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, if it's knowable,
then it's not hypothetical.

662
00:35:22,400 --> 00:35:24,230
(laughter)

663
00:35:24,233 --> 00:35:25,303
The Press:
She actually started
the question with

664
00:35:25,300 --> 00:35:26,630
the word, "hypothetically."

665
00:35:26,633 --> 00:35:31,333
Mr. Gibbs:
I think I largely dispensed
with that clause. Yes.

666
00:35:31,333 --> 00:35:32,033
The Press:
A couple of quick ones.

667
00:35:32,033 --> 00:35:34,603
Robert, when the announcement
was made on the Nobel Peace

668
00:35:34,600 --> 00:35:37,500
Prize, the White House said the
President would devote that

669
00:35:37,500 --> 00:35:38,900
money to charity.

670
00:35:38,900 --> 00:35:40,070
Has a charity been
determined yet?

671
00:35:40,066 --> 00:35:41,566
Mr. Gibbs:
A series of charities
are being looked at,

672
00:35:41,567 --> 00:35:43,437
but we haven't made any
final decisions yet.

673
00:35:43,433 --> 00:35:45,703
The Press:
Okay. Has the administration
decided whether or not it is

674
00:35:45,700 --> 00:35:48,100
permissible under the existing
TARP law to use these funds?

675
00:35:48,100 --> 00:35:50,030
Republicans argue that it's
not; that the funds that are

676
00:35:50,033 --> 00:35:52,903
unobligated should go
to debt reduction only.

677
00:35:52,900 --> 00:35:54,230
Has a determination
been made there?

678
00:35:54,233 --> 00:35:55,133
Mr. Gibbs:
No --

679
00:35:55,133 --> 00:35:56,633
The Press:
Not whether you will or
not, but whether you can.

680
00:35:56,633 --> 00:36:01,163
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, no
decisions have been made,

681
00:36:01,166 --> 00:36:04,696
and once those decisions are
made we'll enunciate those

682
00:36:04,700 --> 00:36:06,470
unhypothetical decisions.

683
00:36:06,467 --> 00:36:08,537
The Press:
Right. Well, I guess what I'm
trying to get at is not whether

684
00:36:08,533 --> 00:36:10,733
a decision has been made but
whether you've determined

685
00:36:10,734 --> 00:36:13,034
whether or not you can
even make that decision.

686
00:36:13,033 --> 00:36:15,103
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't have any guidance
other than the fact that

687
00:36:15,100 --> 00:36:16,370
the decision hasn't been made.

688
00:36:16,367 --> 00:36:20,367
The Press:
Okay. Picking up on what
Admiral Mullen said today,

689
00:36:20,367 --> 00:36:22,897
he referenced when he was
talking to the Marines at Camp

690
00:36:22,900 --> 00:36:26,300
Lejeune about July 2011, he
said "There is no exit strategy

691
00:36:26,300 --> 00:36:28,200
associated with that."

692
00:36:28,200 --> 00:36:29,270
That's a direct quote.

693
00:36:29,266 --> 00:36:30,936
Is that accurate,
and does that --

694
00:36:30,934 --> 00:36:32,304
Mr. Gibbs:
I'd have to look through --

695
00:36:32,300 --> 00:36:33,570
The Press:
That's exactly what he said.

696
00:36:33,567 --> 00:36:38,067
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know what the
context of the surrounding --

697
00:36:38,066 --> 00:36:39,466
The Press:
He said --

698
00:36:39,467 --> 00:36:40,567
Mr. Gibbs:
I understand, I'm sure
that's -- I'm sure he said

699
00:36:40,567 --> 00:36:41,597
more than that at Camp Lejeune.

700
00:36:41,600 --> 00:36:43,330
It's a nice flight to get there.

701
00:36:43,333 --> 00:36:44,603
I'm sure he had more
than six words to --

702
00:36:44,600 --> 00:36:45,530
The Press:
No, I know.

703
00:36:45,533 --> 00:36:46,863
He said, I know you Marines
are interested in the 2011 July

704
00:36:46,867 --> 00:36:48,437
deadline, and I want to tell
you, there is no deadline,

705
00:36:48,433 --> 00:36:49,963
which is what Ed asked about.

706
00:36:49,967 --> 00:36:52,797
Right after that, the very
next phrase: "There is no exit

707
00:36:52,800 --> 00:36:54,470
strategy associated with that."

708
00:36:54,467 --> 00:36:55,337
That's a direct quote.

709
00:36:55,333 --> 00:36:56,363
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know what he meant.

710
00:36:56,367 --> 00:36:58,667
I can simply -- I
can simply, again,

711
00:36:58,667 --> 00:37:02,737
reiterate what I did at many
points last week and in

712
00:37:02,734 --> 00:37:07,134
discussions with the President
this week: July 2011 is the

713
00:37:07,133 --> 00:37:09,703
transition date, the date --

714
00:37:09,700 --> 00:37:11,070
The Press:
The date when forces
begin to come out.

715
00:37:11,066 --> 00:37:14,136
Mr. Gibbs:
-- the date by which our
forces will be thinned and

716
00:37:14,133 --> 00:37:20,103
responsibility for Afghan
security will be the

717
00:37:20,100 --> 00:37:22,130
responsibility of the Afghans.

718
00:37:22,133 --> 00:37:22,903
Now, again --

719
00:37:22,900 --> 00:37:24,200
The Press:
Can you define "thinned"?

720
00:37:24,200 --> 00:37:25,230
What does that mean?

721
00:37:25,233 --> 00:37:27,333
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, what I've said and
what the President has said --

722
00:37:27,333 --> 00:37:28,063
The Press:
(inaudible)

723
00:37:28,066 --> 00:37:31,396
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes, that we will begin
based on conditions on the

724
00:37:31,400 --> 00:37:34,870
ground, to make decisions
about the pacing for that.

725
00:37:34,867 --> 00:37:36,167
The Press:
Not whether it begins.

726
00:37:36,166 --> 00:37:37,996
Mr. Gibbs:
I think there have --
not whether it begins.

727
00:37:38,000 --> 00:37:41,700
That has been determined.

728
00:37:41,700 --> 00:37:43,870
Look, there were erroneous
reports the day of the speech

729
00:37:43,867 --> 00:37:47,467
that somehow the President was
going to say everybody involved

730
00:37:47,467 --> 00:37:50,137
would be out of
Afghanistan in three years.

731
00:37:50,133 --> 00:37:52,203
That wasn't true then
and it's not true now.

732
00:37:52,200 --> 00:37:55,770
The President doesn't envision,
like is happening -- similar to

733
00:37:55,767 --> 00:38:00,867
what's happening in Iraq, where
there's a drawdown based on what

734
00:38:00,867 --> 00:38:03,137
General Odierno says are
conditions on the ground.

735
00:38:03,133 --> 00:38:06,763
The same will take
place in Afghanistan.

736
00:38:06,767 --> 00:38:09,137
There's not going to be
some drop off of a cliff.

737
00:38:09,133 --> 00:38:11,063
But, again -- and I
think, quite frankly,

738
00:38:11,066 --> 00:38:18,096
look exactly at what was said
yesterday by Secretary Gates.

739
00:38:18,100 --> 00:38:20,330
That's the date in which
the transition will begin.

740
00:38:20,333 --> 00:38:22,633
I can't be any clearer than
that; the President can't;

741
00:38:22,633 --> 00:38:25,633
I doubt Secretary Gates could.

742
00:38:25,633 --> 00:38:27,503
The Press:
Okay. I'd like to run something
that Joe Barton, a Republican,

743
00:38:27,500 --> 00:38:31,630
said today about the EPA
decision and about the climate e-mails.

744
00:38:31,633 --> 00:38:34,563
"When the scientists whose work
is the bedrock for our global

745
00:38:34,567 --> 00:38:37,597
warming policy use words like
'travesty' and 'trick' to

746
00:38:37,600 --> 00:38:40,300
describe their actions, it's
time to slow down and consider

747
00:38:40,300 --> 00:38:42,400
what we're doing,
not sound the charge.

748
00:38:42,400 --> 00:38:45,900
Good sense got run over today
when the EPA hit the gas instead

749
00:38:45,900 --> 00:38:48,670
of tapping the brakes."

750
00:38:48,667 --> 00:38:50,667
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm not entirely sure
what all that meant,

751
00:38:50,667 --> 00:38:53,567
but -- no offense, but
I -- that seemed --

752
00:38:53,567 --> 00:38:56,097
The Press:
Well, they're saying that
the climate e-mails --

753
00:38:56,100 --> 00:38:58,300
Mr. Gibbs:
It seemed to hit the rhetorical
gas rather than sort of tap

754
00:38:58,300 --> 00:38:59,570
on the brake.

755
00:38:59,567 --> 00:39:03,597
I don't -- again, it's hard for
me to discern what all that

756
00:39:03,600 --> 00:39:04,970
meant, except to say --

757
00:39:04,967 --> 00:39:06,837
The Press:
Some of the folks
(inaudible) have set down.

758
00:39:06,834 --> 00:39:09,464
The U.N. has begun its
own investigation into this.

759
00:39:09,467 --> 00:39:10,337
Mr. Gibbs:
Again, I think --

760
00:39:10,333 --> 00:39:12,203
The Press:
But none of those things
should slow the momentum

761
00:39:12,200 --> 00:39:13,600
in any way, shape, or form?

762
00:39:13,600 --> 00:39:16,530
Mr. Gibbs:
It shouldn't because
the science is clear.

763
00:39:16,533 --> 00:39:17,803
The Press:
And settled?

764
00:39:17,800 --> 00:39:20,870
Mr. Gibbs:
And settled. Yes, sir.

765
00:39:20,867 --> 00:39:23,467
The Press:
How is Friday's surprisingly
strong jobs report factoring

766
00:39:23,467 --> 00:39:25,867
into the President's
thoughts about a jobs bill?

767
00:39:25,867 --> 00:39:28,667
Is it making him sort
of limit what he --

768
00:39:28,667 --> 00:39:35,867
Mr. Gibbs:
No. The truth is obviously that
was better news than we have

769
00:39:35,867 --> 00:39:41,137
seen, understanding that the
report still mentioned that we

770
00:39:41,133 --> 00:39:45,903
lost 11,000 jobs in the previous
month, adding on to the already

771
00:39:45,900 --> 00:39:47,930
large jobs losses.

772
00:39:47,934 --> 00:39:51,434
I don't think it changed in any
way the President's viewpoint on

773
00:39:51,433 --> 00:39:55,133
decisions that he will -- in the
speech that he'll make tomorrow,

774
00:39:55,133 --> 00:40:01,033
largely because the depth of our
downturn -- I should just have

775
00:40:01,033 --> 00:40:06,533
the chart loaded up -- but just
the sheer depth of the trough in

776
00:40:06,533 --> 00:40:09,233
terms of job loss from -- dating
back to the beginning of the

777
00:40:09,233 --> 00:40:14,503
recession far exceeds anything
that we've seen in recent recessions.

778
00:40:14,500 --> 00:40:17,870
We have to do, and the President
and his team have talked about

779
00:40:17,867 --> 00:40:23,467
doing everything that is
possible and responsible to fill

780
00:40:23,467 --> 00:40:26,237
that trough in, and that's what
the President will talk about tomorrow.

781
00:40:26,233 --> 00:40:27,663
The Press:
Does he see things on
the -- being on the right

782
00:40:27,667 --> 00:40:29,697
trajectory now,
even absent his --

783
00:40:29,700 --> 00:40:31,970
Mr. Gibbs:
I would say, yes, the President does believe things are on

784
00:40:31,967 --> 00:40:32,897
the right trajectory.

785
00:40:32,900 --> 00:40:36,900
We've seen -- before you can
have positive job growth,

786
00:40:36,900 --> 00:40:38,030
you have to have positive
economic growth,

787
00:40:38,033 --> 00:40:40,403
and we saw that last quarter.

788
00:40:40,400 --> 00:40:46,200
This report continues moving in
the right direction a trend --

789
00:40:46,200 --> 00:40:49,030
again, the first jobs report I
think we got when we were here

790
00:40:49,033 --> 00:40:52,933
was January's jobs
figures, which showed

791
00:40:52,934 --> 00:40:57,264
741,000 jobs had been
lost in that month.

792
00:40:57,266 --> 00:40:59,596
Last month showed 11,000 jobs.

793
00:40:59,600 --> 00:41:04,270
Now, the President would
continue to be cautious in

794
00:41:04,266 --> 00:41:09,636
understanding that there will no
doubt be bumps along the way,

795
00:41:09,633 --> 00:41:16,333
and we just should keep in mind
that that's going to happen and

796
00:41:16,333 --> 00:41:19,503
the President will do all that
he can to continue to force that

797
00:41:19,500 --> 00:41:23,130
trajectory in the direction
of which it's going. Jeff.

798
00:41:23,133 --> 00:41:25,333
The Press:
As health care moves forward,

799
00:41:25,333 --> 00:41:28,733
if the Senate decides to work up
until the 24th and if the Senate

800
00:41:28,734 --> 00:41:31,564
decides to work the
week after Christmas,

801
00:41:31,567 --> 00:41:34,597
will the President adjust
his Hawaii trip schedule?

802
00:41:34,600 --> 00:41:36,200
Mr. Gibbs:
I have not talked to
him about -- I mean,

803
00:41:36,200 --> 00:41:41,500
obviously he can -- they can --
we can all do our jobs wherever

804
00:41:41,500 --> 00:41:43,330
we need to do our jobs.

805
00:41:43,333 --> 00:41:47,333
I would say that
if the President --

806
00:41:47,333 --> 00:41:48,733
The Press:
That sounds like no.

807
00:41:48,734 --> 00:41:50,834
Mr. Gibbs:
-- if the President can
be helpful, the President

808
00:41:50,834 --> 00:41:51,764
will be helpful.

809
00:41:51,767 --> 00:41:54,697
It's getting into that
Hawaii hypothetical.

810
00:41:54,700 --> 00:41:59,600
The Press:
If the Senate is in
session the week after

811
00:41:59,600 --> 00:42:02,730
Christmas, which
is a possibility,

812
00:42:02,734 --> 00:42:06,604
why would he not want
to rethink being here?

813
00:42:06,600 --> 00:42:10,570
And wouldn't it be awkward for
him to be on vacation -- or not,

814
00:42:10,567 --> 00:42:12,537
is he not needed in the process?

815
00:42:12,533 --> 00:42:14,963
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I think he's
needed in the process.

816
00:42:14,967 --> 00:42:17,367
I think he went up and
was part of the process.

817
00:42:17,367 --> 00:42:23,367
I don't -- when the Senate makes
some scheduling decisions,

818
00:42:23,367 --> 00:42:25,667
we'd be happy to look at them.

819
00:42:25,667 --> 00:42:30,237
Jeff, I daresay the President
can do his job wherever he is.

820
00:42:30,233 --> 00:42:32,863
They invented phones
-- they're wonderful.

821
00:42:32,867 --> 00:42:36,067
There's secure video
teleconferencing if anything

822
00:42:36,066 --> 00:42:37,266
needs to happen.

823
00:42:37,266 --> 00:42:40,496
And the President can conduct
his business -- like he will do

824
00:42:40,500 --> 00:42:44,400
in Oslo just this week.

825
00:42:44,400 --> 00:42:47,070
I mean, the President is not
going to cancel his trip to

826
00:42:47,066 --> 00:42:52,396
Norway or Copenhagen because
the Senate is in session.

827
00:42:52,400 --> 00:42:53,600
Yes, sir.

828
00:42:53,600 --> 00:42:54,900
The Press:
Is that the same
as vacation though,

829
00:42:54,900 --> 00:42:56,130
if I can just ask one more?

830
00:42:56,133 --> 00:42:57,963
I mean, is that the same
as being on vacation?

831
00:42:57,967 --> 00:43:00,437
Mr. Gibbs:
Jeff, I think if you ask
the President whether he is

832
00:43:00,433 --> 00:43:02,033
ever really on vacation, and I
think if you asked any President

833
00:43:02,033 --> 00:43:07,533
whether they were ever really on
vacation, one call, one report,

834
00:43:07,533 --> 00:43:11,203
one piece of information I can
assure -- I can assure you,

835
00:43:11,200 --> 00:43:12,770
can change all of
that in a heartbeat.

836
00:43:12,767 --> 00:43:13,937
Yes, sir.

837
00:43:13,934 --> 00:43:16,534
The Press:
Can you explain the purpose
of the meeting with Al Gore?

838
00:43:16,533 --> 00:43:23,733
Mr. Gibbs:
Just to talk through the
upcoming trip to Copenhagen

839
00:43:23,734 --> 00:43:25,334
and his thoughts on that.

840
00:43:25,333 --> 00:43:28,563
This will -- we'll have
more information today,

841
00:43:28,567 --> 00:43:33,537
or later today, on a similar
meeting with business executives

842
00:43:33,533 --> 00:43:37,763
and CEOs that are supportive of
comprehensive climate change --

843
00:43:37,767 --> 00:43:40,967
a comprehensive climate
change agreement as well.

844
00:43:40,967 --> 00:43:45,597
The Press:
What happens to the 2011
July date if President

845
00:43:45,600 --> 00:43:49,030
Karzai's government simply
proves unable to address

846
00:43:49,033 --> 00:43:52,603
corruption and they're just
unable to train a significant

847
00:43:52,600 --> 00:43:54,770
number of soldiers in time?

848
00:43:54,767 --> 00:43:57,897
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, suffice to say we won't
figure that out in June of 2011,

849
00:43:57,900 --> 00:44:04,000
that and I think the President addressed a series of steps

850
00:44:04,000 --> 00:44:08,030
that would be taken at both
that level and underneath

851
00:44:08,033 --> 00:44:11,603
the national government level as
to how to address the delivery

852
00:44:11,600 --> 00:44:14,570
of basic services
without corruption.

853
00:44:14,567 --> 00:44:18,797
There will be a month-by-month
assessment on -- on our training.

854
00:44:18,800 --> 00:44:21,000
This isn't going
to be a surprise.

855
00:44:21,000 --> 00:44:28,000
But what's important is we
create an incentive with the

856
00:44:28,000 --> 00:44:32,400
government to take the actions
that are ultimately necessary to

857
00:44:32,400 --> 00:44:35,100
improve their own
security situation.

858
00:44:35,100 --> 00:44:37,130
The President believed
that was important.

859
00:44:37,133 --> 00:44:39,633
Members of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff thought providing those

860
00:44:39,633 --> 00:44:41,703
incentives were important.

861
00:44:41,700 --> 00:44:45,900
The Pentagon came up with
that as a day -- as a date,

862
00:44:45,900 --> 00:44:49,370
and the policy and the
strategy fit all of that.

863
00:44:49,367 --> 00:44:51,267
The Press:
Do you think the
Afghans want to do it?

864
00:44:51,266 --> 00:44:54,096
Mr. Gibbs:
I do. They've said that.

865
00:44:54,100 --> 00:44:56,300
The proof is in the pudding.

866
00:44:56,300 --> 00:45:02,930
And we'll hold them to that,
and take whatever steps are

867
00:45:02,934 --> 00:45:05,234
necessary to meet those
goals if they're unable

868
00:45:05,233 --> 00:45:07,103
or unwilling to do so.

869
00:45:07,100 --> 00:45:08,530
Yes, ma'am.

870
00:45:08,533 --> 00:45:12,263
The Press:
Robert, a bunch of Democratic candidates are running against

871
00:45:12,266 --> 00:45:14,966
the President's surge
in Afghanistan -- the top

872
00:45:14,967 --> 00:45:17,937
four contenders in tomorrow's
Massachusetts Senate primaries,

873
00:45:17,934 --> 00:45:20,904
the top two candidates
in the Ohio Senate race,

874
00:45:20,900 --> 00:45:22,870
several other House candidates.

875
00:45:22,867 --> 00:45:26,767
Will this deep opposition among
Democrats on the campaign trail

876
00:45:26,767 --> 00:45:31,937
harm your hopes for -- your
chances for success on Afghanistan?

877
00:45:31,934 --> 00:45:34,734
Mr. Gibbs:
No, look, I think the
President would be the

878
00:45:34,734 --> 00:45:37,734
first to tell you that people
can look at the situation and

879
00:45:37,734 --> 00:45:40,664
come to different conclusions
on both the Democratic and

880
00:45:40,667 --> 00:45:41,897
Republican side.

881
00:45:41,900 --> 00:45:45,030
I think that was, in some
ways, obviously true for Iraq.

882
00:45:45,033 --> 00:45:50,133
The President put forward a plan
and a strategy and a mission

883
00:45:50,133 --> 00:45:54,463
that he believed was
narrow enough to succeed,

884
00:45:54,467 --> 00:45:58,867
coupled it with the resources
that he believed were necessary

885
00:45:58,867 --> 00:46:00,567
to have it succeed.

886
00:46:00,567 --> 00:46:04,797
And now it is up to the
commanders on the ground and

887
00:46:04,800 --> 00:46:09,570
others to implement the strategy
the President laid out.

888
00:46:09,567 --> 00:46:11,767
I think you all know
from the guidance,

889
00:46:11,767 --> 00:46:14,337
later on this afternoon the
President will see in the Oval

890
00:46:14,333 --> 00:46:18,763
Office Ambassador Eikenberry,
General McChrystal ahead of

891
00:46:18,767 --> 00:46:21,197
their testimony later this week.

892
00:46:21,200 --> 00:46:26,100
And I think the President will
reiterate with them what he's

893
00:46:26,100 --> 00:46:28,070
told the American people,
and quite frankly,

894
00:46:28,066 --> 00:46:31,336
what he told them on the secure
video teleconferencing that all

895
00:46:31,333 --> 00:46:37,903
of what has to go in to, and all
of what is necessary to make

896
00:46:37,900 --> 00:46:39,400
this plan succeed.

897
00:46:39,400 --> 00:46:41,830
I think you've heard from
General McChrystal and

898
00:46:41,834 --> 00:46:45,534
Ambassador Eikenberry that they
believe that this is both the

899
00:46:45,533 --> 00:46:47,703
right strategy and has
the resources to succeed.

900
00:46:47,700 --> 00:46:50,330
Obviously, people can come
to different conclusions,

901
00:46:50,333 --> 00:46:52,763
but the President made his
decision based on that.

902
00:46:52,767 --> 00:46:54,767
The Press:
But what if the Taliban
knows those resources?

903
00:46:54,767 --> 00:46:57,467
Last week, I believe you said
the administration hasn't made a

904
00:46:57,467 --> 00:46:59,567
decision yet regarding
a supplemental.

905
00:46:59,567 --> 00:47:02,937
Can you just talk about what are
some of the issues involved in

906
00:47:02,934 --> 00:47:03,834
making that decision?

907
00:47:03,834 --> 00:47:05,964
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I think what they're
trying to figure out now

908
00:47:05,967 --> 00:47:10,297
is the degree to which
they're -- obviously,

909
00:47:10,300 --> 00:47:14,170
a lot of issues that will go
into account as we create --

910
00:47:14,166 --> 00:47:17,836
put together a budget.

911
00:47:17,834 --> 00:47:21,804
We determined the length and
availability of money that's

912
00:47:21,800 --> 00:47:27,930
there now to fund
operations in the theater.

913
00:47:27,934 --> 00:47:31,534
And I think the most important
point that the President said in

914
00:47:31,533 --> 00:47:36,563
his speech in West Point, that
we cannot -- we cannot -- we're

915
00:47:36,567 --> 00:47:40,367
unable to walk away from the
human cost as well as the cost

916
00:47:40,367 --> 00:47:41,997
to our Treasury.

917
00:47:42,000 --> 00:47:46,800
I think that's -- I think -- the
President said we have to said

918
00:47:46,800 --> 00:47:49,000
we have to take
this into account;

919
00:47:49,000 --> 00:47:50,800
we're going to have to take this
into our budgetary account,

920
00:47:50,800 --> 00:47:53,700
which is something that hadn't
previously been done for a while.

921
00:47:53,700 --> 00:48:00,630
The Press:
Robert, since Fed Chairman Bernanke testified last week

922
00:48:00,633 --> 00:48:02,433
at his confirmation hearing,

923
00:48:02,433 --> 00:48:04,103
there are more and more
Democrats who seem to be

924
00:48:04,100 --> 00:48:07,770
concerned or offended by some of
the comments he made suggesting

925
00:48:07,767 --> 00:48:12,267
that Medicare and Social
Security might need some tinkering.

926
00:48:12,266 --> 00:48:15,666
Does the White House have any
concern that there is this kind

927
00:48:15,667 --> 00:48:17,267
of pressure from
within the party?

928
00:48:17,266 --> 00:48:20,036
Does the President
stand by his nomination?

929
00:48:20,033 --> 00:48:22,333
Mr. Gibbs:
The President obviously
stands by his nomination.

930
00:48:22,333 --> 00:48:26,963
I, truthfully, Ken, have not
seen the comments on those

931
00:48:26,967 --> 00:48:30,737
issues that he made, but the
President has -- the President

932
00:48:30,734 --> 00:48:33,334
nominated him for a reason and
believed he'd be the best person

933
00:48:33,333 --> 00:48:34,803
to serve going forward.

934
00:48:34,800 --> 00:48:36,970
The Press:
What is the administration's policy on privatizing Social

935
00:48:36,967 --> 00:48:42,297
Security or privatizing
a part of Social Security?

936
00:48:42,300 --> 00:48:43,500
Mr. Gibbs:
The President
obviously, I think,

937
00:48:43,500 --> 00:48:48,870
stated his opposition to plans
to do that in 2005 and 2006.

938
00:48:48,867 --> 00:48:49,937
Yes, ma'am.

939
00:48:49,934 --> 00:48:51,804
The Press:
Thanks, Robert.

940
00:48:51,800 --> 00:48:54,230
I know you can't get into
specifics for security reasons,

941
00:48:54,233 --> 00:48:56,503
but does the President
plan to go to Afghanistan

942
00:48:56,500 --> 00:48:58,270
personally anytime soon?

943
00:48:58,266 --> 00:49:00,296
Could you tell us sort of,
by the end of the year,

944
00:49:00,300 --> 00:49:02,000
or in the first
quarter of next year?

945
00:49:02,000 --> 00:49:04,800
And what would be the value --
does he think it's important,

946
00:49:04,800 --> 00:49:07,130
in the process of executing
this new strategy,

947
00:49:07,133 --> 00:49:08,233
to be there in person?

948
00:49:08,233 --> 00:49:10,303
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I mean, look, the
President, as you know,

949
00:49:10,300 --> 00:49:15,630
visited in I don't remember
which month it was,

950
00:49:15,633 --> 00:49:21,303
June or July of 2008 -- I'm
not going to get into future

951
00:49:21,300 --> 00:49:25,870
scheduling decisions
about something like that.

952
00:49:25,867 --> 00:49:30,837
I think the President obviously
would love to honor the

953
00:49:30,834 --> 00:49:35,034
commitment, the sacrifice and
the service of all those that

954
00:49:35,033 --> 00:49:37,063
serve in Afghanistan,
that serve in Iraq,

955
00:49:37,066 --> 00:49:41,296
and serve around the world,
without getting into some

956
00:49:41,300 --> 00:49:43,230
specific scheduling decisions.

957
00:49:43,233 --> 00:49:44,063
Yes, sir.

958
00:49:44,066 --> 00:49:45,236
The Press:
Thank you, Robert.

959
00:49:45,233 --> 00:49:49,663
Has the President called
President-elect Lobo in Honduras

960
00:49:49,667 --> 00:49:53,797
in the same way that he's called
other leaders after they were elected?

961
00:49:53,800 --> 00:49:55,670
Mr. Gibbs:
We can check. I don't
know the answer to that.

962
00:49:55,667 --> 00:49:58,067
The Press:
And does he plan to send
a representative to his

963
00:49:58,066 --> 00:49:59,766
inauguration in January?

964
00:49:59,767 --> 00:50:01,167
Mr. Gibbs:
I can -- I don't
know the answers,

965
00:50:01,166 --> 00:50:02,936
but we can certainly check.

966
00:50:02,934 --> 00:50:04,704
The Press:
Robert, two questions --

967
00:50:04,700 --> 00:50:06,130
Mr. Gibbs:
Hold on, I'm going
to go to April.

968
00:50:06,133 --> 00:50:07,803
The Press:
Neither of them are
on global warming --

969
00:50:07,800 --> 00:50:09,700
alleged global warming.

970
00:50:09,700 --> 00:50:11,030
Mr. Gibbs:
You caught yourself.

971
00:50:11,033 --> 00:50:11,963
(laughter)

972
00:50:11,967 --> 00:50:13,067
April.

973
00:50:13,066 --> 00:50:14,296
The Press:
Thanks, Robert.

974
00:50:14,300 --> 00:50:16,730
Mr. Gibbs:
You're going to get kicked
out of the secret club, Lester.

975
00:50:16,734 --> 00:50:18,104
(laughter)

976
00:50:18,100 --> 00:50:19,300
The Press:
Come back to me.

977
00:50:19,300 --> 00:50:23,370
(laughter)

978
00:50:23,367 --> 00:50:24,567
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm going to go April,
then I'll go Lester,

979
00:50:24,567 --> 00:50:26,497
and then I'll seek refuge.

980
00:50:26,500 --> 00:50:28,030
Go ahead.

981
00:50:28,033 --> 00:50:30,803
The Press:
Robert, on jobs
and black America,

982
00:50:30,800 --> 00:50:34,700
President Obama made some
comments to some reporters recently.

983
00:50:34,700 --> 00:50:37,700
He said, "I think it's a mistake
to start thinking in terms of

984
00:50:37,700 --> 00:50:41,100
particular ethnic segments of
the United States rather than to

985
00:50:41,100 --> 00:50:44,230
think we are all in this
together and we're all going

986
00:50:44,233 --> 00:50:46,433
to get out of this together."

987
00:50:46,433 --> 00:50:50,533
The Kirwan Institute says that
when you have certain groups

988
00:50:50,533 --> 00:50:54,103
that are unique, having
unemployment rates maybe double

989
00:50:54,100 --> 00:50:58,500
that or close to double
that of mainstream America,

990
00:50:58,500 --> 00:51:00,630
you have to deal with
unique approaches.

991
00:51:00,633 --> 00:51:02,603
What say you and this
administration about that,

992
00:51:02,600 --> 00:51:04,370
even as the President
is saying that?

993
00:51:04,367 --> 00:51:06,537
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, I don't think
there's any doubt that what

994
00:51:06,533 --> 00:51:11,563
the President will do is
seek -- I think if you go and

995
00:51:11,567 --> 00:51:16,537
look through -- and I did not do
this for the most recent figures

996
00:51:16,533 --> 00:51:20,603
-- but the economic team has,
on certain different months,

997
00:51:20,600 --> 00:51:28,130
provided me -- broken out
by high school and college

998
00:51:28,133 --> 00:51:30,603
education, I think one of the
things you see in this recession

999
00:51:30,600 --> 00:51:34,200
is that unlike
previous recessions,

1000
00:51:34,200 --> 00:51:39,300
this has -- the joblessness
has affected a huge swath of

1001
00:51:39,300 --> 00:51:41,430
the American public.

1002
00:51:41,433 --> 00:51:45,733
I think what the President will
do and what he has done is look

1003
00:51:45,734 --> 00:51:49,664
for ways, understanding,
as I said earlier,

1004
00:51:49,667 --> 00:51:51,637
there's not a silver bullet.

1005
00:51:51,633 --> 00:51:54,633
There's not one solution
that will lift everybody.

1006
00:51:54,633 --> 00:51:59,163
It is, how do we create jobs in
-- and bring manufacturing back

1007
00:51:59,166 --> 00:52:01,466
by that investment
in clean energy?

1008
00:52:01,467 --> 00:52:04,697
How do we lay a foundation for
our future economic growth with

1009
00:52:04,700 --> 00:52:07,930
education so that people can go
to college and get the skills

1010
00:52:07,934 --> 00:52:11,564
that they need for the
jobs of the future?

1011
00:52:11,567 --> 00:52:17,097
I think what the President is
saying is that we have -- we are

1012
00:52:17,100 --> 00:52:21,370
facing such a large problem that
we need to do everything in our

1013
00:52:21,367 --> 00:52:24,337
power to make it better, and I
think that's what he's -- that's

1014
00:52:24,333 --> 00:52:26,263
what he's done as part
of the Recovery Act,

1015
00:52:26,266 --> 00:52:27,966
and ultimately as
part of the jobs --

1016
00:52:27,967 --> 00:52:30,837
The Press:
The Congressional
Black Caucus has come

1017
00:52:30,834 --> 00:52:36,364
out strongly about his comments
about this universal approach.

1018
00:52:36,367 --> 00:52:39,737
Is this White House
talking with the CBC?

1019
00:52:39,734 --> 00:52:42,634
Because they have -- they're
more grassroots in the

1020
00:52:42,633 --> 00:52:44,933
communities to find out
what people are saying.

1021
00:52:44,934 --> 00:52:45,864
Is there a concern?

1022
00:52:45,867 --> 00:52:46,897
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I mean, you know,

1023
00:52:46,900 --> 00:52:49,470
obviously the chief of staff
and others were up talking to

1024
00:52:49,467 --> 00:52:51,297
the CBC last week.

1025
00:52:51,300 --> 00:52:54,800
One message I think everyone
would have is part of getting

1026
00:52:54,800 --> 00:52:58,070
our economy back in order
is getting financial reform

1027
00:52:58,066 --> 00:52:59,696
moved through Congress.

1028
00:52:59,700 --> 00:53:04,470
Whether it's establishing that
resolution authority that I

1029
00:53:04,467 --> 00:53:07,597
talked about earlier that allows
us to take something like an

1030
00:53:07,600 --> 00:53:12,300
AIG, break it apart, and deal
with what threatens our economy

1031
00:53:12,300 --> 00:53:19,370
versus haphazard risk-taking --
that's part of financial reform;

1032
00:53:19,367 --> 00:53:24,937
as is a consumer financial
administration that would

1033
00:53:24,934 --> 00:53:31,134
protect anybody from
skyrocketing credit card rates,

1034
00:53:31,133 --> 00:53:35,063
loans that are -- teaser rates
that are used to attract people

1035
00:53:35,066 --> 00:53:40,066
for loans that ultimately don't
have the wherewithal to pay.

1036
00:53:40,066 --> 00:53:42,896
I think the first step in
that is ensuring that that

1037
00:53:42,900 --> 00:53:46,470
legislation moves forward, and I
think the White House hopes that

1038
00:53:46,467 --> 00:53:50,737
all of Congress will
come together to support

1039
00:53:50,734 --> 00:53:52,604
and move that forward. Lester.

1040
00:53:52,600 --> 00:53:54,000
The Press:
Thank you, Robert.

1041
00:53:54,000 --> 00:53:58,630
Senator Mark Warner is
supporting Virginia's

1042
00:53:58,633 --> 00:54:03,333
90-year-old Colonel Van
Barfoot, who's a Medal of Honor

1043
00:54:03,333 --> 00:54:07,833
recipient, whose homeowner's
association near Richmond has

1044
00:54:07,834 --> 00:54:11,634
threatened to sue him if he
fails to remove the flagpole on

1045
00:54:11,633 --> 00:54:14,603
which each morning
he raises the U.S. flag.

1046
00:54:14,600 --> 00:54:19,130
And my question, the President
joins Senator Warner in support

1047
00:54:19,133 --> 00:54:21,703
Colonel Barfoot, doesn't he?

1048
00:54:21,700 --> 00:54:22,570
Mr. Gibbs:
I haven't talked
to the President

1049
00:54:22,567 --> 00:54:23,467
specifically about this.

1050
00:54:23,467 --> 00:54:25,737
Obviously I've heard about
this through news accounts.

1051
00:54:25,734 --> 00:54:28,064
I think the --

1052
00:54:28,066 --> 00:54:31,196
The Press:
You would presume the President
supports him, wouldn't you?

1053
00:54:31,200 --> 00:54:35,000
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I'd like to presume
to finish my answer.

1054
00:54:35,000 --> 00:54:38,300
The President believes, and
I think all of us believe,

1055
00:54:38,300 --> 00:54:43,070
that the very least we can do is
show our gratitude and thanks to

1056
00:54:43,066 --> 00:54:46,436
somebody that served our
country so admirably.

1057
00:54:46,433 --> 00:54:58,033
I think it's silly to think that
somebody that's done that can't

1058
00:54:58,033 --> 00:55:03,633
have a flagpole and show the
proper respect and appreciation

1059
00:55:03,633 --> 00:55:07,333
that any flag deserves by flying
that in their neighborhood.

1060
00:55:07,333 --> 00:55:11,733
I dare say that we've all had
run-ins with neighborhood

1061
00:55:11,734 --> 00:55:19,204
associations that somehow have
forgotten what it means --

1062
00:55:19,200 --> 00:55:22,530
whether it's to display --
I got into an argument about

1063
00:55:22,533 --> 00:55:25,263
displaying -- in fact, it might
have been for Mark Warner for

1064
00:55:25,266 --> 00:55:30,996
governor -- in my yard a sign
when I lived in a townhouse.

1065
00:55:31,000 --> 00:55:35,630
And I have had the same thing
happen to me in flying a flag

1066
00:55:35,633 --> 00:55:38,403
that I got that flew
over the Capitol.

1067
00:55:38,400 --> 00:55:42,670
I think the notion that you
can't do that is kind of silly.

1068
00:55:42,667 --> 00:55:44,897
The Press:
I think that's an excellent
answer and I have one other.

1069
00:55:44,900 --> 00:55:46,030
Mr. Gibbs:
I should probably
leave then with that,

1070
00:55:46,033 --> 00:55:46,863
shouldn't I, Lester?

1071
00:55:46,867 --> 00:55:48,767
(laughter)

1072
00:55:48,767 --> 00:55:50,237
The Press:
No, no, no.

1073
00:55:50,233 --> 00:55:54,563
To The Point News reported that
President Obama is the first

1074
00:55:54,567 --> 00:56:00,297
President to refuse to address
the Gridiron Club since Grover Cleveland.

1075
00:56:00,300 --> 00:56:03,630
And if that is accurate,
why did he refuse?

1076
00:56:03,633 --> 00:56:05,163
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know the
history of this.

1077
00:56:05,166 --> 00:56:09,366
I know that the President
addressed the Gridiron Club

1078
00:56:09,367 --> 00:56:10,897
before the President
was President,

1079
00:56:10,900 --> 00:56:13,700
and before the
President was a senator.

1080
00:56:13,700 --> 00:56:14,930
The Press:
But he didn't this time.

1081
00:56:14,934 --> 00:56:16,534
(laughter)

1082
00:56:16,533 --> 00:56:18,333
Mr. Gibbs:
See, I knew I should
have left, right, Lester?

1083
00:56:18,333 --> 00:56:21,603
I think the President
has -- look,

1084
00:56:21,600 --> 00:56:26,230
I don't know what you
got against Sarah Palin.

1085
00:56:26,233 --> 00:56:26,933
I thought she was quite funny.

1086
00:56:26,934 --> 00:56:27,934
(laughter)