English subtitles for clip: File:12-9-09- White House Press Briefing.webm
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1 00:00:00,860 --> 00:00:02,780 Mr. Gibbs: All right, I'll just get slightly organized. 2 00:00:02,780 --> 00:00:06,180 The Press: Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said not too 3 00:00:06,180 --> 00:00:07,520 long ago that a signing on a START I replacement would happen soon, and I'm wondering if you 4 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:07,770 can flesh that out and if that might be something that's going to be happening in conjunction 5 00:00:07,650 --> 00:00:07,900 with the President's trip to Copenhagen perhaps. 6 00:00:07,700 --> 00:00:31,570 Mr. Gibbs: We do not have an agreement yet. As you know, we continue to take part in negotiations with 7 00:00:32,210 --> 00:00:39,210 the Russians on a replacement START treaty. Obviously our hope is to get one done, but 8 00:00:41,050 --> 00:00:47,740 can't plan for a signing ceremony until something is done and we've certainly made no arrangements for that. 9 00:00:47,739 --> 00:00:49,949 The Press: Are you close to a signing? 10 00:00:49,950 --> 00:00:52,880 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think we're getting closer and making 11 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:58,070 progress on an agreement. I know there are still issues that have to be worked out that 12 00:00:58,070 --> 00:01:04,960 stand in the way of that ultimate agreement. And our principals continue to meet and brief 13 00:01:04,960 --> 00:01:10,000 the President on what's happening, and that will continue until we do get an agreement. 14 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:14,720 We're optimistic that we can get one. Whether or not that happens by Copenhagen at this 15 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:19,820 point is just hard to say. 16 00:01:19,820 --> 00:01:20,620 The Press: I'd like to ask about the jobs. Some congressional 17 00:01:20,619 --> 00:01:27,399 Democrats have said that they'd like a jobs package but could cost up to $200 billion. 18 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:34,400 Now, the White House has been very careful to put no price tag on the President's initiatives, 19 00:01:37,070 --> 00:01:38,570 but is there a cost ceiling that you'd impose on the efforts to boost jobs, given you're 20 00:01:38,570 --> 00:01:38,820 trying to cut deficits in the future? 21 00:01:38,689 --> 00:01:41,059 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think what the President would say 22 00:01:41,060 --> 00:01:48,060 is the ideas in the areas that he outlined yesterday are targeted approaches to creating 23 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:54,230 an environment where businesses can start hiring again. I think the President believed 24 00:01:54,229 --> 00:02:00,799 he had a good meeting today with Democrats and Republicans, and began by outlining a 25 00:02:00,799 --> 00:02:04,209 couple of the things that he talked about yesterday -- first and foremost, how do we 26 00:02:04,210 --> 00:02:11,000 help small businesses, zero capital gains tax for small business, incentives for hiring, 27 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:16,580 incentives for depreciation, and things like that. And the President mentioned, along with 28 00:02:16,580 --> 00:02:21,000 infrastructure, the second thing he talked about, the President discussed with Democrats 29 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:27,280 and Republicans that indeed those were initiatives that in the past have enjoyed strong bipartisan 30 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:34,280 support. So I think the President believes there's a commonality to these ideas that 31 00:02:34,629 --> 00:02:39,399 he's proposed and that he's heard from Capitol Hill that they've proposed that we think we 32 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:44,890 can find agreement on and hopefully get some progress on. I don't know what that ultimate 33 00:02:44,890 --> 00:02:51,430 figure is. Obviously part of what the President wanted to discuss with leaders today was what 34 00:02:51,430 --> 00:02:58,430 might be in that package. This is not a one-way street. I will say when it comes to the deficit, 35 00:03:01,580 --> 00:03:08,230 the President agreed with and reiterated the fact that we have to do -- we have to have 36 00:03:08,230 --> 00:03:15,230 a plan for addressing in the medium- and long-term fiscal responsibility. The President also 37 00:03:15,590 --> 00:03:22,590 reiterated that we are not going, though, to solve that problem of our long-term fiscal 38 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:29,480 health if our growth rate is where it was in the first quarter of this year, which is 39 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:36,480 in excess of -6 percent. Let me just, for your -- some visual stuff that the President 40 00:03:36,690 --> 00:03:43,690 talked about. This just gives you a sense of where we've been, right? I'm going to go 41 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:47,780 to that in a second. Don't worry, the big board is coming. Save the big finale. Again, 42 00:03:47,780 --> 00:03:54,780 this just gives you a sense of the average in quarters of our jobs picture. In the first 43 00:03:55,480 --> 00:04:02,480 quarter the average was nearly negative 700,000 jobs; in the second quarter, minus 428,000; 44 00:04:03,250 --> 00:04:08,340 in the third quarter, minus 199,000. In the previous two months we've gone from minus 45 00:04:08,340 --> 00:04:13,000 111,000 to minus 11,000. So obviously what happened in the beginning of the year -- 46 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:17,740 we're seeing progress. What I talked about a second ago, in terms of economic growth, 47 00:04:17,739 --> 00:04:23,689 the first quarter we saw our economic growth contract in excess of 6 percent; second quarter, 48 00:04:23,689 --> 00:04:30,689 negative 0.7; and then for the first time in a year, positive job growth -- negative 49 00:04:31,479 --> 00:04:37,649 11,000 jobs lost was, sadly, the most positive jobs report that the country has enjoyed in 50 00:04:37,650 --> 00:04:43,650 almost two years. Now that Keith has spoiled my big surprise. This I think gives you a 51 00:04:43,650 --> 00:04:48,730 sense -- and some of you have seen this when we did briefings on the Recovery Act -- this 52 00:04:48,729 --> 00:04:55,729 gives you a sense of the genuine depth that we're in in terms of employment. This number 53 00:04:59,809 --> 00:05:06,809 is employment, full employment, at the time that each recession began. So we have 1990, 54 00:05:09,819 --> 00:05:16,819 2001, and 1981. This continuum shows the number of months since that recession began, and 55 00:05:19,580 --> 00:05:26,580 these percentages show you where we are in terms of employment. This gives you a sense 56 00:05:26,729 --> 00:05:31,329 of the sheer depth that we're trying to pull ourselves out of. And it also gives you a 57 00:05:31,330 --> 00:05:37,760 sense of why the President believes we have to take strong, targeted, but continued action 58 00:05:37,759 --> 00:05:38,249 to address joblessness. 59 00:05:38,249 --> 00:05:39,389 The Press: So the jobs hole is very large, but is there 60 00:05:39,389 --> 00:05:40,519 a ceiling, is there a price tag that's too high? 61 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:46,390 Mr. Gibbs: That's something that we'll work through Congress 62 00:05:46,389 --> 00:05:53,389 -- work with Congress on. I will say I do think that -- I mean, even Leader Boehner 63 00:05:56,710 --> 00:06:03,710 said that he would like to be there to support a plan for jobs. So I think that's certainly 64 00:06:05,649 --> 00:06:12,649 a positive development. We hope that there will be bipartisan help and support for dealing 65 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:14,730 with something that we know affects everybody. 66 00:06:14,729 --> 00:06:19,199 The Press: Which of these charts was the one that the President showed John Boehner? 67 00:06:19,199 --> 00:06:25,899 Mr. Gibbs: This one. But I mean, this is what everybody 68 00:06:25,899 --> 00:06:32,899 in the meeting saw. This again is just -- this is a chart we've used before. As you 69 00:06:33,229 --> 00:06:39,389 guys know, where these lines go from solid to dotted is where it's marked that -- by 70 00:06:39,389 --> 00:06:43,609 the dating committee that the recession ended. So you see that the point at which the recession 71 00:06:43,610 --> 00:06:50,610 ends is -- and this is not updated, but shows you that in the most two previous examples, 72 00:06:52,499 --> 00:06:59,499 1990 and 2001, when the "recession ended" wasn't the bottom of the jobs picture. Again, 73 00:07:00,610 --> 00:07:07,610 it just gives you a sense of the type of problem in employment that we have facing our country 74 00:07:07,930 --> 00:07:12,980 -- why the President believes we need to take strong action. Plus I just wanted to 75 00:07:12,979 --> 00:07:13,969 use the board. 76 00:07:13,969 --> 00:07:14,749 The Press: It looked really good. 77 00:07:14,749 --> 00:07:14,999 The Press: Robert, two questions, the first one on the 78 00:07:14,849 --> 00:07:15,099 bipartisanship issue. I mean, you have the President coming out saying that he wants 79 00:07:14,999 --> 00:07:19,159 to work together, but just moments later you have Republican leaders coming out saying 80 00:07:19,159 --> 00:07:23,839 that the White House just wants to blame Republicans, saying that this administration just doesn't 81 00:07:23,839 --> 00:07:29,769 get it. I mean, how do you move forward together if that's the climate coming out of this meeting? 82 00:07:29,770 --> 00:07:33,430 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think you come together understanding 83 00:07:33,429 --> 00:07:40,429 this. I mean, look, the American people have watched for decades the blame game. If the 84 00:07:40,550 --> 00:07:46,450 blame game put people to work, we'd all be rolling in money. The blame game -- I'm glad 85 00:07:46,449 --> 00:07:50,699 some people want to continue playing the blame game; that doesn't work. That doesn't 86 00:07:50,699 --> 00:07:57,699 get anybody a job. It doesn't cut people's taxes. It is time -- I will say the President 87 00:07:59,110 --> 00:08:04,950 -- has the President been frustrated about this? Absolutely. We took some extraordinary 88 00:08:04,949 --> 00:08:09,409 actions. We wish there would have been more Republican support for taking those actions 89 00:08:09,409 --> 00:08:16,409 and pulling our economy back from an economic cliff, falling into another Great Depression. 90 00:08:17,189 --> 00:08:22,899 Setting all that aside, we're now at a certain point where we have got to begin to fill in 91 00:08:22,899 --> 00:08:27,629 the enormity of the hole that this economic downturn created. The President is willing 92 00:08:27,629 --> 00:08:32,339 to work with Democrats and Republicans -- and again, I think it was important that 93 00:08:32,339 --> 00:08:37,859 the President started out the meeting by mentioning that two of the ideas that the President had 94 00:08:37,860 --> 00:08:44,860 talked about in his speech -- two of the three ideas were ideas that have traditionally enjoyed 95 00:08:45,629 --> 00:08:51,229 bipartisan support. We heard throughout the recovery debate that there needed to be more 96 00:08:51,230 --> 00:08:58,230 money put into infrastructure. That's what the President outlined. We heard in -- even 97 00:08:58,420 --> 00:09:03,480 up to as recently as the past few days, we have to help small business get access to 98 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:10,480 capital, cut their taxes, ensure that we're doing all that they can to create an environment 99 00:09:11,190 --> 00:09:15,720 for them to hire more. The President agrees. I think it's time that everybody took "yes" 100 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:16,770 for an answer. 101 00:09:16,769 --> 00:09:18,999 The Press: But if the attitude is that this administration 102 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:23,060 doesn't get it, is this administration then willing to navigate this alone? 103 00:09:23,060 --> 00:09:25,530 Mr. Gibbs: The President will do what has to be done 104 00:09:25,529 --> 00:09:30,549 to help the American people. The President is hopeful, through this meeting today that 105 00:09:30,550 --> 00:09:37,240 Republicans agree. But again, if the President outlines ideas that the Republicans have previously 106 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:44,240 supported, and then Republicans seem unwilling to support the ideas they supported then now, 107 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:48,890 you can leave it up to others to judge why it is they don't want to participate in a 108 00:09:48,889 --> 00:09:54,149 solution that we all agree and we've said in the past would put people back to work. 109 00:09:54,149 --> 00:09:56,759 The Press: They say they can't sign on to spending more 110 00:09:56,759 --> 00:09:59,649 money. That's all -- they say he's fiscally irresponsible. 111 00:09:59,649 --> 00:10:05,589 Mr. Gibbs: Well, rich, given the fact that the largest 112 00:10:05,589 --> 00:10:12,099 driver in our fiscal irresponsibility were a series of programs that weren't paid for 113 00:10:12,100 --> 00:10:18,390 -- tax cuts in 2001 and 2003 that weren't paid for; Medicare prescription drug benefit 114 00:10:18,389 --> 00:10:23,589 that wasn't paid for; wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that weren't paid for. Again, the debate 115 00:10:23,589 --> 00:10:30,589 that we're having on health care now is partly about how to pay for it. The second leading 116 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:37,810 driver in our fiscal irresponsibility has been the downturn in the economy. As I said 117 00:10:37,810 --> 00:10:44,810 earlier, we are not going to find ourselves lifted out of our fiscal situation if our 118 00:10:45,189 --> 00:10:52,189 economy contracts at 6 or 6.5 percent a quarter. There isn't an economist on the planet that 119 00:10:52,839 --> 00:10:59,479 you could find that would say, yes, your economy can contract at 6.5 a quarter, 6.4 percent 120 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:06,480 a quarter, and you'll be able to lift your way out of a budget deficit or increasing 121 00:11:07,709 --> 00:11:13,519 debt. That's what the President believes -- that's why the President believes we have 122 00:11:13,519 --> 00:11:20,519 to take some further steps to ensure that we get back to economic growth, but also that 123 00:11:22,579 --> 00:11:28,489 we get back to a medium- and long-term recipe for fiscal responsibility. Yes, ma'am. 124 00:11:28,490 --> 00:11:31,800 The Press: I have an unrelated question, on the military. 125 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:36,840 At West Point last week, the President talked about signing a letter of condolence to the 126 00:11:36,839 --> 00:11:41,269 family of each American who gives their life in Iraq or Afghanistan. What about the families 127 00:11:41,269 --> 00:11:46,609 of military personnel who take their own lives -- does the President believe that those 128 00:11:46,610 --> 00:11:48,100 families deserve a letter of condolence as well? 129 00:11:48,100 --> 00:11:55,100 Mr. Gibbs: The President believes that the previous policy 130 00:11:57,540 --> 00:12:03,600 that didn't write those letters can and should be reviewed, and that review is ongoing. 131 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:07,720 The Press: How much longer -- I know it's been under review here for some time. 132 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:10,620 Mr. Gibbs: I think the review was announced sometime 133 00:12:10,620 --> 00:12:15,650 in the past couple of weeks. I don't have an update on it, but I can certainly get it. 134 00:12:15,649 --> 00:12:22,259 Obviously the President reviewed earlier in the administration the rules surrounding photography 135 00:12:22,259 --> 00:12:29,249 at Dover, leaving -- based on the recommendation from the Secretary of Defense -- leaving that 136 00:12:29,249 --> 00:12:36,249 decision up to the individual families of the deceased. Some have decided and some have 137 00:12:36,490 --> 00:12:47,090 not decided to make those transfers public. And hopefully we can conclude this review shortly. 138 00:12:47,089 --> 00:12:49,869 The Press: After his speech, one military family told 139 00:12:49,870 --> 00:12:54,830 CNN that the President's comments were painful to them because their son took his own life, 140 00:12:54,829 --> 00:12:58,859 and they have yet to receive a letter of condolence from the President. 141 00:12:58,860 --> 00:13:01,140 Mr. Gibbs: Well, that's why we're reviewing it. I mean, that's -- 142 00:13:01,139 --> 00:13:04,179 The Press: Well, what would you say to that family? 143 00:13:04,180 --> 00:13:06,590 Mr. Gibbs: The first thing that I would say and I'm sure 144 00:13:06,589 --> 00:13:13,589 the President would say is to thank that family for the courageous service that they exhibited on behalf of all of us 145 00:13:19,180 --> 00:13:24,650 in this country so that we might enjoy the freedoms that we have. I don't -- regardless 146 00:13:24,649 --> 00:13:31,209 of what happens, nothing lessens the amazing contribution and sacrifice that's made. I 147 00:13:31,209 --> 00:13:36,419 think that's what the President would tell that family and would tell other families. 148 00:13:36,420 --> 00:13:41,680 The Press: But they feel that the sacrifice has sort of been diminished or minimized. 149 00:13:41,680 --> 00:13:43,850 Mr. Gibbs: Well, that's -- again, that's precisely why 150 00:13:43,850 --> 00:13:49,120 the President wanted to review this policy. If the President didn't care, the policy would 151 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:56,120 remain unchanged and unexamined. The President cares deeply and has asked for that review 152 00:13:59,079 --> 00:14:02,989 to take place. 153 00:14:02,990 --> 00:14:05,090 The Press: But you don't have a time frame on when he might -- 154 00:14:05,089 --> 00:14:05,889 Mr. Gibbs: I will keep you updated on where they are. Helen. 155 00:14:05,889 --> 00:14:06,499 The Press: Two questions, Robert. How does the President 156 00:14:06,499 --> 00:14:09,689 feel about the dropping of the public option in health care? 157 00:14:09,689 --> 00:14:13,569 Mr. Gibbs: I think you all should have heard the President's 158 00:14:13,569 --> 00:14:20,569 comments at the announcement on community health care centers where he supports the 159 00:14:25,170 --> 00:14:32,100 ideas that we've read about from the Senate in the past few hours as good policy and a 160 00:14:32,100 --> 00:14:39,100 way to increase the choice that people have through greater competition and in helping 161 00:14:39,809 --> 00:14:44,859 to move legislation to reform our health care system forward. 162 00:14:44,860 --> 00:14:48,890 The Press: The other question is does the President feel 163 00:14:48,889 --> 00:14:54,939 any embarrassment upon accepting a peace prize when he's escalating a war, a big war? 164 00:14:54,939 --> 00:15:02,839 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, Helen, the President will obviously address the notion -- 165 00:15:02,839 --> 00:15:03,089 The Press: How? 166 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:07,180 Mr. Gibbs: Well, in his speech, audibly -- the President 167 00:15:07,180 --> 00:15:14,180 will address the notion that last week he authorized a 30,000- person increase in our 168 00:15:19,059 --> 00:15:26,059 commitment to Afghanistan, and this week accepts a prize for peace. I will say, Helen, that 169 00:15:26,949 --> 00:15:33,949 the President understands and again will also recognize that he doesn't belong in the same 170 00:15:34,850 --> 00:15:41,790 discussion as Mandela and Mother Theresa. But I think what the President is proud of 171 00:15:41,790 --> 00:15:48,040 is the steps that this administration has taken to reengage the world; that through 172 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:55,040 that reengagement we see some of that reengagement is to bring increased peace and stability 173 00:15:58,180 --> 00:16:05,180 to this big planet, and is -- he is proud that the committee recognized that this nation 174 00:16:07,309 --> 00:16:12,079 has once again reemerged and engaging the world in greater pursuits. 175 00:16:12,079 --> 00:16:16,299 The Press: But we're going to war and he's accepting the peace prize. 176 00:16:16,300 --> 00:16:18,720 Mr. Gibbs: And something he will -- something he will, 177 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:22,600 again, address directly in the speech tomorrow. Yes, sir. 178 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:25,140 The Press: And a follow-up? Obviously it's a historic 179 00:16:25,139 --> 00:16:29,949 trip for the President. Has the President shared any of the thoughts that he shared 180 00:16:29,949 --> 00:16:33,259 sentiments with the former Vice President who also was a recipient of the same prize? 181 00:16:33,259 --> 00:16:36,569 Mr. Gibbs: I think most of the discussion that was had 182 00:16:36,569 --> 00:16:41,309 with Vice President Gore was -- dealt with upcoming meetings on climate change in Copenhagen. 183 00:16:41,309 --> 00:16:46,519 The Press: Can you also give us a bit of a preview of 184 00:16:46,519 --> 00:16:50,319 the trip itself, who's traveling, what's happening over there, when they came back -- 185 00:16:50,319 --> 00:16:52,469 Mr. Gibbs: Well, let me get those guys to send stuff 186 00:16:52,470 --> 00:16:59,470 around. Obviously the President and the First Lady, as I talked to you guys earlier -- 187 00:16:59,610 --> 00:17:06,610 or yesterday, Maya and Konrad will also travel aboard Air Force One. And we'll get any additional 188 00:17:09,069 --> 00:17:11,059 friends or family. 189 00:17:11,059 --> 00:17:12,679 The Press: Robert, just to follow, the President was 190 00:17:12,679 --> 00:17:19,679 saying, when he was addressing a school in Virginia, that if he had a choice, he would 191 00:17:20,189 --> 00:17:21,639 have a dinner with Mahatma Gandhi. That means, as far as this award is concerned, peace award, 192 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:30,400 he is also a believer in Mahatma Gandhi's ideas of peace and nonviolence. Is that something fit -- 193 00:17:30,399 --> 00:17:32,389 Mr. Gibbs: Is that something -- 194 00:17:32,390 --> 00:17:34,860 The Press: Something fit with Mahatma Gandhi and his 195 00:17:34,860 --> 00:17:36,030 -- the President's thoughts and ideas? 196 00:17:36,029 --> 00:17:38,639 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I think what he's -- certainly 197 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:45,060 he's been asked if he could gather thoughts from those that walked on this Earth before 198 00:17:45,059 --> 00:17:49,699 him, there are a number of people, including Gandhi, that obviously he'd be interested 199 00:17:49,700 --> 00:17:56,700 in getting their thoughts on. I don't think that's addressed specifically tomorrow. 200 00:17:56,980 --> 00:18:01,480 The Press: Well, he has a great respect in India. 201 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:04,610 The Press: AIDS advocates are taking a shot at the five-year 202 00:18:04,610 --> 00:18:06,830 plan for the President's emergency program for AIDS because it decreases the number of 203 00:18:06,830 --> 00:18:13,210 people who will receive anti-retrovirals over the next five years -- as opposed to the number 204 00:18:13,210 --> 00:18:20,100 who received them in the last five years -- in favor of cheaper alternatives for health 205 00:18:20,100 --> 00:18:25,990 care at a lower level, something that apparently was proposed by Dr. Emanuel. 206 00:18:25,990 --> 00:18:27,370 Mr. Gibbs: Let me get some -- I don't have any guidance 207 00:18:27,370 --> 00:18:34,160 from OMB on that, on what their involvement has been. Obviously the President cares deeply 208 00:18:34,159 --> 00:18:41,159 about this issue and has talked not just about medicine but steps that have to be taken in 209 00:18:41,649 --> 00:18:46,559 terms of prevention to ensure anti-retrovirals are not necessary. Yes, sir -- yes, ma'am. 210 00:18:46,559 --> 00:18:50,129 The Press: Did the President -- sir, gosh -- (laughter) -- 211 00:18:50,130 --> 00:18:54,560 Mr. Gibbs: I was looking at Steve before you, so -- 212 00:18:54,559 --> 00:18:55,509 The Press: Okay, thanks. 213 00:18:55,510 --> 00:18:55,760 (laughter) 214 00:18:55,750 --> 00:18:59,300 Did the President in the meeting with Congress tell the Republicans and Minority Leader Boehner 215 00:18:59,299 --> 00:19:00,379 that they almost seem to be rooting against recovery? 216 00:19:00,380 --> 00:19:03,800 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think the President did mention, and 217 00:19:03,799 --> 00:19:10,799 I think Republicans agreed, that the room was not without politics, and that politics 218 00:19:10,919 --> 00:19:17,919 obviously has -- I think politics has clearly played a role in many of their statements 219 00:19:18,549 --> 00:19:25,549 and votes on the Recovery Act. I don't think that's any big secret. 220 00:19:26,450 --> 00:19:28,900 The Press: He thinks Republicans basically want the jobless 221 00:19:28,899 --> 00:19:29,149 rate to stay above 10 percent -- 222 00:19:29,110 --> 00:19:32,510 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think the President would like Democrats 223 00:19:32,510 --> 00:19:37,780 and Republicans alike to prove to the American people that we can set aside whatever narrow 224 00:19:37,779 --> 00:19:43,849 political agendas anybody has in order to address the severity of the economic downturn 225 00:19:43,850 --> 00:19:48,000 and the joblessness that's resulted from it. And I can think of nothing better than taking 226 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:53,200 the President up on, again, two of the ideas that have normally enjoyed very bipartisan 227 00:19:53,200 --> 00:20:00,200 support: increasing our investment in infrastructure, which will create jobs; and help to hundreds 228 00:20:04,210 --> 00:20:09,850 of thousands of small businesses across the country in terms of getting access to credit; 229 00:20:09,850 --> 00:20:16,390 tax incentives for hiring. Look, again, the most important thing is those things in a 230 00:20:16,390 --> 00:20:22,950 nonpartisan environment would get the support of Republicans and Democrats alike. I don't 231 00:20:22,950 --> 00:20:28,410 think that should be any different with this President, nor would it or should it be with 232 00:20:28,409 --> 00:20:33,869 any other President. I think we have a challenge that the American people have laid before 233 00:20:33,870 --> 00:20:39,300 us, and that is to solve the problems that they have without getting involved in that 234 00:20:39,299 --> 00:20:40,389 blame game. And I think -- 235 00:20:40,390 --> 00:20:47,390 The Press: Isn't the President part of that blame game, 236 00:20:48,100 --> 00:20:52,510 too? I mean, he took the partisan swipe yesterday in that speech. I mean, even here you talked 237 00:20:52,510 --> 00:20:53,830 about their failed stewardship on the deficit. I mean, this administration doesn't miss an 238 00:20:53,830 --> 00:20:55,220 opportunity to blame the past administration. 239 00:20:55,220 --> 00:20:58,950 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look -- well, Savannah, I appreciate 240 00:20:58,950 --> 00:21:02,950 the ability to forget what happened every -- to forget every -- 241 00:21:02,950 --> 00:21:03,630 The Press: But my point -- 242 00:21:03,630 --> 00:21:05,020 Mr. Gibbs: No, no, but understand we've -- I appreciate 243 00:21:05,019 --> 00:21:09,179 the ability to forget anything that happened before we got here. The President didn't 244 00:21:09,180 --> 00:21:16,180 -- the President inherited an economic downturn, he inherited a massive budget deficit. He 245 00:21:17,990 --> 00:21:23,820 understands one thing: The American people put him here to solve the problems that were 246 00:21:23,820 --> 00:21:29,870 created however and by whoever they were created. That's what the President is going to do. 247 00:21:29,870 --> 00:21:35,810 He's going to make decisions that won't be altogether wildly popular with the American 248 00:21:35,809 --> 00:21:39,849 people. But I think he believes that the American people will understand that we're making those 249 00:21:39,850 --> 00:21:45,530 tough decisions to pull ourselves back from falling into another Great Depression. It 250 00:21:45,529 --> 00:21:52,099 is hard to argue, Savannah, it is hard to argue that the steps taken in the Recovery 251 00:21:52,100 --> 00:21:59,100 Act didn't directly lead to the first economic growth in a year. Don't believe me; ask John 252 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:07,190 McCain's economist who said we created jobs, that we put ourselves on a path towards economic 253 00:22:07,190 --> 00:22:14,040 growth. That's not me. That's -- that was our rival's chief economist in the campaign. 254 00:22:14,039 --> 00:22:18,859 I think what the President believes is we have a unique opportunity -- setting aside 255 00:22:18,860 --> 00:22:25,860 all of that -- to move forward on behalf of the American people; to do it in a way that 256 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:31,670 truly addresses their problems without falling into the convenient political back-and-forth 257 00:22:31,669 --> 00:22:36,369 and games that have always governed Washington. We can show the American people this -- at 258 00:22:36,370 --> 00:22:39,080 this time and this year that it's possible to do that. 259 00:22:39,080 --> 00:22:41,490 The Press: You said the President does recognize that 260 00:22:41,490 --> 00:22:45,960 he's got the job now, so now it falls to him to fix it. Is there any statute of limitations, 261 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:51,400 though, on how often he may mention what he inherited or the mess he inherited or how 262 00:22:51,399 --> 00:22:52,919 the past administration failed? 263 00:22:52,919 --> 00:22:57,179 Mr. Gibbs: Again, it would be easy to put it all in a 264 00:22:57,179 --> 00:23:02,819 box and just forget about it, but we didn't get here overnight. We're not going to get 265 00:23:02,820 --> 00:23:08,480 out of our problems overnight. It's not part of the blame game. It's just -- it's a fact 266 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:09,310 of life. Jonathan. 267 00:23:09,309 --> 00:23:11,479 The Press: It's part of the blame game. 268 00:23:11,480 --> 00:23:15,810 Mr. Gibbs: No, I don't think it is. Again, people made 269 00:23:15,809 --> 00:23:22,499 conscious decisions to support tax cuts in 2001 and 2003. People made conscious decisions 270 00:23:22,500 --> 00:23:29,380 to support an increase in -- to add a benefit to Medicare without paying for it, right? 271 00:23:29,380 --> 00:23:35,880 We know that. People made conscious decisions to authorize wars in Afghanistan and Iraq 272 00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:41,460 and not pay for them. The President recognizes that the era of continued free lunches is over. Jonathan. 273 00:23:41,460 --> 00:23:48,310 The Press: Back on health care; I'm going to see if I 274 00:23:48,309 --> 00:23:55,309 can get you to be a little more specific on this Senate tentative deal. It involves two 275 00:24:03,309 --> 00:24:07,139 pieces -- a new health care plan put together by the Office of Personnel Management and 276 00:24:07,139 --> 00:24:08,929 an expansion of Medicare to the near-retired, 55 to 65. Does the President want to see 277 00:24:08,929 --> 00:24:15,289 -- would the President need to see both of those pieces as the deal moves forward, are 278 00:24:15,289 --> 00:24:17,539 they dependent on each other? 279 00:24:17,539 --> 00:24:20,439 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I think a lot of the details of 280 00:24:20,440 --> 00:24:27,440 this obviously are being examined currently by CBO. I hesitate -- not having been in the 281 00:24:27,710 --> 00:24:33,460 room and the administration wasn't in the room right before they walked out and announced 282 00:24:33,460 --> 00:24:40,200 this, my sense is -- I don't want to prejudge this, but my sense is that these two pieces 283 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:43,010 fit together in a way that might be hard to break apart. 284 00:24:43,010 --> 00:24:46,480 The Press: Okay. And my other question was what role 285 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:49,140 did the White House play in brokering this? 286 00:24:49,139 --> 00:24:50,809 Mr. Gibbs: No different than the role we've played throughout 287 00:24:50,809 --> 00:24:57,809 this process in providing technical support and advice. Again, this was -- throughout 288 00:24:58,090 --> 00:25:05,090 this process the -- obviously we were aware of the negotiations that were ongoing, but 289 00:25:06,159 --> 00:25:13,159 not in the room as this was tentatively agreed to, as you said, and announced last evening. 290 00:25:13,659 --> 00:25:18,359 The Press: And one thing on jobs. I understand that the 291 00:25:18,360 --> 00:25:23,700 President is never going to accept this demand that there would be no new spending for jobs. 292 00:25:23,700 --> 00:25:26,210 But the other two pieces -- 293 00:25:26,210 --> 00:25:29,790 Mr. Gibbs: I don't -- 294 00:25:29,789 --> 00:25:30,999 The Press: The Republicans had three suggestions: a freeze 295 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:32,170 in federal spending, no tax increases until unemployment declined to a certain level -- 296 00:25:32,169 --> 00:25:38,169 Mr. Gibbs: I think the President has been pretty -- 297 00:25:38,169 --> 00:25:41,349 let's be clear, the President has been pretty clear on taxes and the President has cut taxes. 298 00:25:41,350 --> 00:25:45,610 The Press: And then the other was no new regulations. 299 00:25:45,610 --> 00:25:52,610 There are tax increases slated for when the Bush tax cuts expire. And I'm wondering if 300 00:25:53,870 --> 00:26:00,250 he would entertain this idea that you would create some kind of moratorium on tax increases 301 00:26:00,250 --> 00:26:00,510 until there's -- 302 00:26:00,510 --> 00:26:02,850 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I don't want to get ahead of the 303 00:26:02,850 --> 00:26:08,380 budget process that's ongoing. I think the President reiterated his support for, in that 304 00:26:08,380 --> 00:26:14,690 room, some certainty on taxes, and reiterating again that he had cut taxes. Mark. 305 00:26:14,690 --> 00:26:17,570 The Press: Any clarity yet on the charity decision? 306 00:26:17,570 --> 00:26:20,600 Mr. Gibbs: No, the President is yet to make final decisions 307 00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:23,880 on that. If we have that -- as soon as we have that we'll pass it along. 308 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:27,590 The Press: Will it be announced before he accepts the prize? 309 00:26:27,590 --> 00:26:31,460 Mr. Gibbs: I hope so, but I don't know the exact answer to that. 310 00:26:31,460 --> 00:26:36,700 The Press: But for sure he's not going to get a check with his medal, right? 311 00:26:36,700 --> 00:26:40,550 Mr. Gibbs: I do not believe that's the case because that 312 00:26:40,549 --> 00:26:45,529 then becomes -- then we fall into Jonathan's problem about taxable income. 313 00:26:45,529 --> 00:26:46,049 (laughter) 314 00:26:46,049 --> 00:26:49,679 The Press: What charities are being considered? 315 00:26:49,679 --> 00:26:52,709 Mr. Gibbs: He's given obviously to a very broad range 316 00:26:52,710 --> 00:26:59,710 of charities in the past. He has helped use money to create micro-financing projects much 317 00:27:04,610 --> 00:27:08,790 like his mother worked on in different parts of the world, and all of those are certainly 318 00:27:08,789 --> 00:27:12,789 actively under consideration. 319 00:27:12,789 --> 00:27:15,769 The Press: Robert, on climate change, the omnibus bill 320 00:27:15,769 --> 00:27:19,609 has been assembled and there's $1.3 billion in there to help developing nations meet the 321 00:27:19,610 --> 00:27:22,360 standards for global warming. Is that the figure that the President takes to Copenhagen next week? 322 00:27:22,360 --> 00:27:28,210 Mr. Gibbs: Let me get some guidance from the climate 323 00:27:28,210 --> 00:27:31,220 guys on this. I don't know whether that's a final number or not. 324 00:27:31,220 --> 00:27:36,460 The Press: How does that sound? Does that sound about right? Is it adequate? 325 00:27:36,460 --> 00:27:39,380 Mr. Gibbs: I'll ask them if that sounds about right. 326 00:27:39,380 --> 00:27:43,610 The Press: Will there be any added values -- will the U.S. be offering something else other than -- 327 00:27:43,610 --> 00:27:44,840 Mr. Gibbs: Let me talk to -- and see what he has on this. 328 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:46,950 The Press: Can I ask one other question, different subject? 329 00:27:46,950 --> 00:27:47,660 Mr. Gibbs: Sure. 330 00:27:47,659 --> 00:27:50,359 The Press: What's the state of play with Japan and the 331 00:27:50,360 --> 00:27:57,360 negotiations over the airbase relocation? 332 00:27:57,679 --> 00:28:01,659 Mr. Gibbs: We're continuing to engage the government 333 00:28:01,659 --> 00:28:08,659 of Japan in negotiations that will maintain our alliance as well as reduce the impact 334 00:28:10,529 --> 00:28:16,779 of our bases on local communities. We have an agreement with the previous administration 335 00:28:16,779 --> 00:28:23,779 in Japan. We set up a working group to discuss the implementation of that agreement and we're 336 00:28:24,070 --> 00:28:25,880 anxious for those conversations to continue. 337 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:30,020 The Press: When you say we have an agreement, is the 338 00:28:30,019 --> 00:28:32,579 U.S. still opposed then to relocation under the new -- 339 00:28:32,580 --> 00:28:35,020 Mr. Gibbs: Well, we have an agreement, but what this 340 00:28:35,019 --> 00:28:39,589 working group is going to discuss is the implementation of what's already been agreed to. 341 00:28:39,590 --> 00:28:41,500 The Press: There have been reports of a breakdown in talks. 342 00:28:41,500 --> 00:28:44,480 Mr. Gibbs: And I think the only way to make progress 343 00:28:44,480 --> 00:28:47,220 is to continue that working -- standing up that working group and having that discussion. 344 00:28:47,220 --> 00:28:47,470 The Press: On that, Robert -- 345 00:28:47,350 --> 00:28:47,600 Mr. Gibbs: Yes. 346 00:28:47,419 --> 00:28:47,669 The Press: -- would the President be open to meeting 347 00:28:47,649 --> 00:28:47,899 with Japanese Prime Minister Hatoyama in Copenhagen? 348 00:28:47,830 --> 00:28:54,830 Mr. Gibbs: We did that like a couple of weeks ago. I 349 00:28:58,380 --> 00:29:04,270 don't know where -- again, I think this is appropriately being handled right now with 350 00:29:04,269 --> 00:29:11,269 our ambassador there and others in terms of making progress. I think this was discussed 351 00:29:13,450 --> 00:29:18,830 just a couple of weeks ago and I think the working group working, we would believe, is 352 00:29:18,830 --> 00:29:23,260 the best way to continue that progress. 353 00:29:23,259 --> 00:29:26,809 The Press: So not at the top level? 354 00:29:26,809 --> 00:29:27,949 The Press: Robert, one group that didn't like the President's 355 00:29:27,950 --> 00:29:32,350 speech on jobs yesterday was the Congressional Black Caucus. You might say that's just a 356 00:29:32,350 --> 00:29:34,520 group, but since he's the first African American President -- 357 00:29:34,519 --> 00:29:35,899 Mr. Gibbs: I didn't say that. 358 00:29:35,899 --> 00:29:36,959 The Press: All right, correct the record -- 359 00:29:36,960 --> 00:29:38,840 Mr. Gibbs: You may say that -- 360 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:39,470 The Press: No, no, no -- 361 00:29:39,470 --> 00:29:40,490 Mr. Gibbs: Okay, all right, just -- go ahead. 362 00:29:40,490 --> 00:29:43,080 The Press: I'm just saying he's the first African American President -- 363 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:43,330 Mr. Gibbs: Let's be fair and balanced. 364 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:43,330 (laughter) 365 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:50,070 The Press: Does the -- is the President concerned that 366 00:29:50,070 --> 00:29:55,070 they are not satisfied with his jobs plan? Does the President plan to reach out to CBC 367 00:29:55,070 --> 00:29:57,440 members? Where do things stand on that? 368 00:29:57,440 --> 00:30:00,790 Mr. Gibbs: I think the President -- Congressman Clyburn 369 00:30:00,789 --> 00:30:07,789 was a member -- is a member, obviously, of the leadership and was in the meeting today. 370 00:30:07,820 --> 00:30:14,120 I think that -- I will say, the President said yesterday that the three ideas that he 371 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:19,920 outlined with some specificity don't represent the totality of all of what the President 372 00:30:19,919 --> 00:30:25,479 would like to see. Obviously this was discussed in that larger meeting, that we need to extend 373 00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:32,150 safety nets in terms of unemployment insurance and COBRA extensions. Obviously the President 374 00:30:32,149 --> 00:30:39,149 discussed increases in both exports as well as continued aid to states and localities. 375 00:30:39,429 --> 00:30:45,289 And there may be other targeted ideas that the administration works through between now 376 00:30:45,289 --> 00:30:52,289 and even the beginning of the year. I think that dialogue will continue, discussing with 377 00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:56,160 members of Congress from both parties about how we can best address the situation. 378 00:30:56,159 --> 00:30:58,059 The Press: Maxine Waters says he doesn't pick up the 379 00:30:58,059 --> 00:31:01,409 phone to call members. Does that bother the President? 380 00:31:01,409 --> 00:31:06,589 Mr. Gibbs: Does it bother the President why? That she said that? 381 00:31:06,590 --> 00:31:07,210 The Press: Yes. 382 00:31:07,210 --> 00:31:09,390 Mr. Gibbs: I don't think it's true. 383 00:31:09,389 --> 00:31:11,699 The Press: Can I ask -- another subject? 384 00:31:11,700 --> 00:31:12,860 Mr. Gibbs: Yes. 385 00:31:12,860 --> 00:31:15,240 The Press: The EPA carbon dioxide ruling, some businesses 386 00:31:15,240 --> 00:31:18,360 have expressed concerns about what more regulations may mean in terms of jobs. Does the White 387 00:31:18,360 --> 00:31:24,680 House believe in any way that these regulations could have a positive benefit regarding jobs? 388 00:31:24,679 --> 00:31:26,789 Mr. Gibbs: Well, there's no question. First of all, this 389 00:31:26,789 --> 00:31:32,339 was a process started not under this EPA but under a previous EPA, based on a Supreme Court 390 00:31:32,340 --> 00:31:39,340 decision handed down in 2007 that required the EPA to look into this. Secondly, I think 391 00:31:41,259 --> 00:31:48,259 as the President talked about even yesterday, we have an ability through incentivizing a 392 00:31:49,820 --> 00:31:56,170 clean energy economy to create the type of demand that's necessary to create more and 393 00:31:56,169 --> 00:32:00,089 more clean energy jobs. Somebody is going to build, as I've said in here before, somebody 394 00:32:00,090 --> 00:32:05,740 is going to build the wind turbines that power our homes. Somebody is going to build those 395 00:32:05,740 --> 00:32:11,070 solar panels. The only question is who is going to do it. By locating those manufacturing 396 00:32:11,070 --> 00:32:17,170 facilities here it can be Americans that build those, rather than having us import them from 397 00:32:17,169 --> 00:32:17,819 somewhere else. Keith. 398 00:32:17,820 --> 00:32:21,040 The Press: Back on the Senate deal, in the past we've 399 00:32:21,039 --> 00:32:28,039 had some trouble getting you to say that the President supports a specific policy in the 400 00:32:28,669 --> 00:32:29,139 health care debate. Is it correct that he supports that, the policy of that deal -- 401 00:32:29,139 --> 00:32:31,589 Mr. Gibbs: In this event the President went right around 402 00:32:31,590 --> 00:32:32,080 me and said it himself. 403 00:32:32,080 --> 00:32:33,900 The Press: Okay, but is this sort of a second-best to 404 00:32:33,899 --> 00:32:37,489 the public option? I mean, he did support a public option. Is this something that he's 405 00:32:37,490 --> 00:32:39,740 willing to accept, or would he rather have had -- 406 00:32:39,740 --> 00:32:42,530 Mr. Gibbs: Not only would he -- I quote the spokesperson 407 00:32:42,529 --> 00:32:49,529 who as recently as 45 seconds ago said he supports it. 408 00:32:49,559 --> 00:32:50,469 The Press: Would he rather have had a public option -- 409 00:32:50,470 --> 00:32:51,890 Mr. Gibbs: You know, you ask me if the President would 410 00:32:51,889 --> 00:32:55,019 rather have won the lottery. It's an interesting hypothetical that -- 411 00:32:55,019 --> 00:32:58,669 The Press: We do hypotheticals now -- (laughter) 412 00:32:58,669 --> 00:33:02,389 Mr. Gibbs: He'd disagree with you on that. 413 00:33:02,389 --> 00:33:05,199 The Press: It's not hypothetical; it's in the House bill. I mean, does he support that -- 414 00:33:05,200 --> 00:33:09,050 Mr. Gibbs: We're making progress. The President supports 415 00:33:09,049 --> 00:33:13,649 this process in terms of both good policy and as a way of moving that process forward. 416 00:33:13,649 --> 00:33:14,839 The Press: To follow, now that the Democratic senators 417 00:33:14,840 --> 00:33:19,800 have reached this compromise on the public option, does the President feel that he did 418 00:33:19,799 --> 00:33:20,339 everything he could to push specifically for a public option -- 419 00:33:20,340 --> 00:33:21,690 Mr. Gibbs: Yes. 420 00:33:21,690 --> 00:33:25,550 The Press: -- especially since that was his preferred 421 00:33:25,549 --> 00:33:27,409 measure of choice and competition? 422 00:33:27,409 --> 00:33:33,509 Mr. Gibbs: Yes. And he's continued to meet with senators 423 00:33:33,509 --> 00:33:35,509 in order to make progress. Absolutely. 424 00:33:35,509 --> 00:33:41,239 The Press: I'm following up, too. I read his comments 425 00:33:41,240 --> 00:33:46,000 and heard his comments from the community health care thing, but is he saying that he 426 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:51,140 supports this as a vehicle to a conference committee product, or is he saying as a final 427 00:33:51,139 --> 00:33:52,879 product that he would support this? 428 00:33:52,879 --> 00:33:55,779 Mr. Gibbs: Look, it is hard for me to deign what is going 429 00:33:55,779 --> 00:34:01,259 to happen a week from now. I can't even tell you what I'm going to have for dinner. So 430 00:34:01,259 --> 00:34:07,209 instead of projecting and predicting the outcome of a conference committee, just quote the 431 00:34:07,210 --> 00:34:14,210 President on what he said in terms of supporting both the policy and the moving forward notion 432 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:22,000 in progress. But understand, again, sometimes we miss it. Sometimes we focus on the twigs 433 00:34:22,620 --> 00:34:29,260 in the forest, not even the trees, to understand that we're, again, likely one step closer 434 00:34:29,260 --> 00:34:33,570 to seeing comprehensive health care reform that we've had Presidents talk about for 70 435 00:34:33,570 --> 00:34:35,330 years. That's important. 436 00:34:35,330 --> 00:34:35,700 The Press: Without a public option. 437 00:34:35,700 --> 00:34:36,130 Mr. Gibbs: With increased choice and competition. 438 00:34:36,130 --> 00:34:41,570 The Press: But you're not saying you approve the Senate 439 00:34:41,570 --> 00:34:44,600 over the House version? 440 00:34:44,600 --> 00:34:45,290 Mr. Gibbs: I'm sorry? 441 00:34:45,290 --> 00:34:46,550 The Press: But you're not saying you prefer the Senate over the House version. 442 00:34:46,550 --> 00:34:47,620 Mr. Gibbs: I'm just trying to get the bill through the Senate. 443 00:34:47,620 --> 00:34:47,870 (laughter) 444 00:34:47,710 --> 00:34:48,790 The Press: Since you guys were not in the room when it 445 00:34:48,790 --> 00:34:53,840 actually came down, do you feel that -- does the White House feel that it has a clear understanding 446 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:55,700 of what is actually in the Senate deal? 447 00:34:55,700 --> 00:34:56,650 Mr. Gibbs: Say again? 448 00:34:56,650 --> 00:34:59,640 The Press: Does the White House feel that you all have 449 00:34:59,640 --> 00:35:04,350 a clear understanding of what's in this deal? We're waiting to hear from CBO. We're not 450 00:35:04,350 --> 00:35:06,950 going to see anything on paper until CBO gets more involved, but do you understand -- 451 00:35:06,950 --> 00:35:09,370 Mr. Gibbs: I don't think anybody is going to see a full 452 00:35:09,370 --> 00:35:14,430 set of details until -- obviously, a series of points have gone to CBO to make some estimates 453 00:35:14,430 --> 00:35:20,080 and some predictions on a full range of things, and we certainly will await that, as well. 454 00:35:20,080 --> 00:35:22,770 The Press: Your general sense is it -- is what the President 455 00:35:22,770 --> 00:35:28,690 saying is he supports in concept the notion of making available to the public something 456 00:35:28,690 --> 00:35:30,650 akin to what government employees have an option of? 457 00:35:30,650 --> 00:35:33,500 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, the President certainly talked about that. 458 00:35:33,500 --> 00:35:36,440 The Press: Is that what this is? Is that what you think -- 459 00:35:36,440 --> 00:35:38,140 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think that's certainly part of it. 460 00:35:38,140 --> 00:35:43,900 I mean, again, as Jonathan said, there's two different -- as I understand it and as I think 461 00:35:43,900 --> 00:35:49,100 people here understand it, there's two different aspects to it that would increase choice and 462 00:35:49,100 --> 00:35:55,820 competition. Obviously one part of that is something akin to what is set up under FEHPB. 463 00:35:55,820 --> 00:36:00,010 The Press: And is this akin to -- would this turn health 464 00:36:00,010 --> 00:36:04,540 care into something like a regulated utility? Is that a good comparison? Is that how much regulation -- 465 00:36:04,540 --> 00:36:07,850 Mr. Gibbs: I'd be out of my depth to discuss the -- 466 00:36:07,850 --> 00:36:13,850 the truth is I don't know enough about the regulation of utilities. Bill, and then I'll come back. 467 00:36:13,850 --> 00:36:14,540 The Press: Robert, again, we don't know all the details, 468 00:36:14,540 --> 00:36:18,530 but it seems -- not talking about the Medicare part of it, but the other part that you were 469 00:36:18,530 --> 00:36:23,990 just discussing with Margaret -- that it offers a choice among another whole set of private 470 00:36:23,990 --> 00:36:28,500 insurance plans. So how does that offer the competition that the President was talking 471 00:36:28,500 --> 00:36:32,260 about if it's just more private insurance plans on top of the 1,300 they already have? 472 00:36:32,260 --> 00:36:34,650 Mr. Gibbs: Well, understand, Bill, that somebody is going 473 00:36:34,650 --> 00:36:41,650 to -- there's going to be 30-some-million people that will go into -- have access to 474 00:36:44,890 --> 00:36:51,890 different plans. The person that puts together the best plan that's the most affordable is 475 00:36:52,030 --> 00:36:59,030 what people are going to buy. That's the incentive of a system that allows increased choice and 476 00:37:01,100 --> 00:37:08,100 competition. I think it's clear people will have more choices than they have now; that 477 00:37:10,690 --> 00:37:17,690 that competition, as we've talked about in here, will foster progress and costs. As I 478 00:37:18,040 --> 00:37:24,110 read I think in the morning papers, there are even incentives -- not incentives, there's 479 00:37:24,110 --> 00:37:29,990 a mandate for the fact that a certain percentage of money involved in health insurance has 480 00:37:29,990 --> 00:37:35,260 to be actually spent on -- can't be spent on paperwork. That's what drives up a lot 481 00:37:35,260 --> 00:37:41,410 of these costs. Obviously that's a series of different incentives that will improve the system. 482 00:37:41,410 --> 00:37:41,730 The Press: And just a quick follow-up. You mentioned 483 00:37:41,730 --> 00:37:47,630 that the President does call some members of the Congressional Black Caucus. According 484 00:37:47,630 --> 00:37:51,370 to the Hill, John Conyers said the President called him, concerned that he had made some 485 00:37:51,370 --> 00:37:53,100 demeaning comments about him on a certain radio show. How would you describe the relationship 486 00:37:53,100 --> 00:37:59,330 between Congressman Conyers and the President? 487 00:37:59,330 --> 00:38:05,570 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think the President has respect for 488 00:38:05,570 --> 00:38:10,350 Congressman Conyers. I think the President -- I don't know the exact word the President 489 00:38:10,350 --> 00:38:17,350 used. I think the President believed the criticism was untrue. Suffice to say he reached out 490 00:38:18,910 --> 00:38:25,630 and touched someone. Peter. Only like the older people in the room got that joke. 491 00:38:25,630 --> 00:38:25,880 (laughter) 492 00:38:25,650 --> 00:38:29,740 And I just realized that I've suddenly dated myself with something that a healthy number 493 00:38:29,740 --> 00:38:30,120 of people -- 494 00:38:30,120 --> 00:38:31,440 The Press: You're talking about landlines. 495 00:38:31,440 --> 00:38:33,300 Mr. Gibbs: I know, I know. 496 00:38:33,300 --> 00:38:33,770 (laughter) 497 00:38:33,770 --> 00:38:36,130 I'm trying, you know? Peter. 498 00:38:36,130 --> 00:38:38,890 The Press: Robert, on the issue of jobs in the African 499 00:38:38,890 --> 00:38:43,330 American community, obviously the jobless rate among blacks is much more severe than 500 00:38:43,330 --> 00:38:49,250 among white Americans. In the President's job bill, apart from shoring up the social 501 00:38:49,250 --> 00:38:53,590 safety net, is there anything he'd like to see done, particularly targeted at helping 502 00:38:53,590 --> 00:38:54,520 the black community? 503 00:38:54,520 --> 00:38:56,860 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I think what the President believes 504 00:38:56,860 --> 00:39:03,860 is that the plans that he outlined will help white America, black America, Hispanic America, 505 00:39:07,570 --> 00:39:14,570 Asian America. Go through the weatherization, the retrofitting alone, we believe that policy 506 00:39:17,840 --> 00:39:24,840 like this creates a huge incentive that will increase jobs, that hopefully will begin to 507 00:39:26,750 --> 00:39:33,750 provide important training and the development of a skill that is obviously desperately needed 508 00:39:35,640 --> 00:39:41,630 not simply to jumpstart an economy, but also to meet our goals for energy efficiency and 509 00:39:41,630 --> 00:39:48,630 clean energy. So whether it is the unemployment rate in all of America, whether it's the unemployment 510 00:39:49,040 --> 00:39:56,040 rate in black America, Hispanic America, or whether it's the under-employment rate, the 511 00:39:56,810 --> 00:39:57,990 President believes the ideas that he outlined are targeted and responsible in addressing those problems. 512 00:39:57,990 --> 00:40:04,860 The Press: Just a quick follow-up. Does he have any 513 00:40:04,860 --> 00:40:09,530 -- as the first African American President, the President received strong support from 514 00:40:09,530 --> 00:40:13,300 the black community. Does he feel any special sense that the black community unemployment 515 00:40:13,300 --> 00:40:16,600 rate is something that he wants to make a special focus? 516 00:40:16,600 --> 00:40:19,760 Mr. Gibbs: Look, Peter, I don't think the President believes 517 00:40:19,760 --> 00:40:26,360 that we should address only one part of the unemployment rate. I think this is a graph 518 00:40:26,360 --> 00:40:33,360 that impacts us all. As you mentioned, there's a greater number of unemployment African Americans 519 00:40:35,750 --> 00:40:41,130 than the national rate. There's a greater number of unemployed Hispanic Americans than 520 00:40:41,130 --> 00:40:47,140 the national rate. The President believes that the plans that he outlined have the ability 521 00:40:47,140 --> 00:40:52,890 to address both the national as well as the black and the Hispanic community. 522 00:40:52,890 --> 00:40:55,620 The Press: Robert, a follow-up on that. 523 00:40:55,620 --> 00:40:58,120 Mr. Gibbs: I'll get back to you in a second. 524 00:40:58,120 --> 00:40:58,370 The Press: Earlier this year, the President didn't seem 525 00:40:58,300 --> 00:40:59,950 too thrilled when he had to sign the omnibus for fiscal 2009. Is he at all upset now that 526 00:40:59,950 --> 00:41:06,040 the Congress is poised to pass another and has only gone through, I think, five of the 527 00:41:06,040 --> 00:41:08,010 12 individual bills, despite being under total Democratic control? 528 00:41:08,010 --> 00:41:10,890 Mr. Gibbs: I don't know that we have -- I don't know 529 00:41:10,890 --> 00:41:16,940 the degree to which the omnibus as it is presently constituted -- let me get some guidance from 530 00:41:16,940 --> 00:41:23,510 Legislative Affairs on sort of where we are. Obviously the President believed and was hopeful 531 00:41:23,510 --> 00:41:29,670 that we could get a budget and a series of appropriations bills on time, and believes 532 00:41:29,670 --> 00:41:35,730 we should continue to do that. I think that anybody would say that the process of either 533 00:41:35,730 --> 00:41:41,660 omnibus legislation or continuing resolutions that fund the government are not the ideal 534 00:41:41,660 --> 00:41:45,630 way to go about doing this. 535 00:41:45,630 --> 00:41:47,390 The Press: But he will sign -- 536 00:41:47,390 --> 00:41:48,500 Mr. Gibbs: Let me get some guidance from Legislative Affairs. April. 537 00:41:48,500 --> 00:41:49,430 The Press: Robert, back on the issue of jobs and the 538 00:41:49,430 --> 00:41:55,820 black and brown community -- there's some advocacy groups that are wondering if this 539 00:41:55,820 --> 00:42:01,160 administration will be working with SBA, because there seems to be a problem -- the federal 540 00:42:01,160 --> 00:42:06,680 government is not meeting its goal of minority set-aside procurement contracts. And with 541 00:42:06,680 --> 00:42:11,540 that, they say if the federal government were to do that, that would create jobs. 542 00:42:11,540 --> 00:42:15,680 Mr. Gibbs: I'm happy to look at what those statements 543 00:42:15,680 --> 00:42:19,960 are and get an answer from folks at SBA on the exact -- 544 00:42:19,960 --> 00:42:24,280 The Press: A follow-up. Again, on the issue of jobs in 545 00:42:24,280 --> 00:42:30,060 the black and brown community -- and the numbers are much higher than the average -- there 546 00:42:30,060 --> 00:42:33,580 are unique circumstances to be detailed. Is the White House trying to push more of a green 547 00:42:33,580 --> 00:42:39,060 economy -- caulking for cash, and things of that nature? Black and browns are not jumping 548 00:42:39,060 --> 00:42:44,460 for these green jobs. They're not rushing to get training for this. How is the administration 549 00:42:44,460 --> 00:42:47,820 going to afford that, as they're trying to balance out unemployment rate in those communities 550 00:42:47,820 --> 00:42:48,670 and push this project? 551 00:42:48,670 --> 00:42:51,610 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I'll tell you what he has told people 552 00:42:51,610 --> 00:42:58,560 that have asked him this specifically in regards to the African American unemployment rate 553 00:42:58,560 --> 00:43:03,490 is what I said in here earlier. Somebody is going to build these wind turbines. Somebody 554 00:43:03,490 --> 00:43:10,440 is going to build these solar panels. Somebody is going to be involved in the skills necessary 555 00:43:10,440 --> 00:43:17,440 to retrofit individual houses, apartment buildings, businesses, and what have you, in order to 556 00:43:17,720 --> 00:43:24,550 make them more efficient. We have to decide as a country that we're going to do that 557 00:43:24,550 --> 00:43:31,550 -- not import wind turbines, not import solar panels, and not seek somebody else to do the 558 00:43:33,350 --> 00:43:39,350 type of skilled retrofitting that's necessary to meet our clean energy goals, to save individuals 559 00:43:39,350 --> 00:43:44,960 and businesses money on their heating and cooling bills, as well as creating jobs. I 560 00:43:44,960 --> 00:43:49,500 think the President believes that that is a special challenge that we have and a special 561 00:43:49,500 --> 00:43:52,170 challenge that all of us must meet. Thanks, guys.