English subtitles for clip: File:12-9-11- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Carney:
Good afternoon.

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Welcome to the White House.

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Thanks for coming to
your daily briefing.

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Before I get started, I just
wanted to mention that I saw

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a report this morning that
caught my attention for a

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couple reasons.

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Throughout this
payroll tax cut debate,

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and through the debate
over the American Jobs Act,

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one of the consistent points
that Republicans have made --

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in fact, their number-one
talking point about why they

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refuse to go along with asking
millionaires and billionaires,

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the wealthiest Americans to pay
a little bit more in order to

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put Americans back to work,
get a tax cut for 160 million

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working Americans -- is
because they don't want

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to hurt job creators.

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That's their phrase; it's what
they go to every time they're

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asked about it.

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And it's what you all write
in your stories when you say,

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the President and Democrats
support this surtax,

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or this way of paying for
job-creating measures or tax

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cuts; Republicans say no because
it will hurt small business.

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Well, one news organization
decided to ask the leadership

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offices of the Republicans on
the Hill whether or not -- or

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just to give them an example of
the small businesses that would

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be affected.

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And for three days
they got nothing.

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And there's a reason for that.

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Because, as the Treasury
Department has done in its

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study, the simple
fact of the matter is,

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is that less than 1 percent of
all small businesses would be

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affected by this kind of
request that millionaires

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and billionaires pay
a little bit more.

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That's just a fact.

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So next time you write a story,
or produce a spot that cites

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that opposition, I think
a second sentence might

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be worth adding, which
is that it's bogus.

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With that, I'll
take your questions.

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(laughter)

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The Press:
Just saying. Just saying.

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Mr. Carney:
Just had something I had
to get off my chest today.

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(laughter)

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The Press:
Copy editor Jay Carney.

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(laughter)

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Mr. Carney:
Ben Feller.

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The Press:
Thank you. Two topics.

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On the National Labor Relations
Board decision on Boeing --

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to drop that case -- I'm
wondering if the President's

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fingerprints are on that at all.

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In any way, did he
directly or indirectly

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influence that decision?

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Mr. Carney:
Well, Ben, as you know, the
NLRB is an independent board.

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And as he has said previously,
the President thinks labor and

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management should find ways to
work together to preserve and

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create jobs, and
we are -- he is --

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glad they have reached
a resolution here.

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But this was not something
the President was involved in.

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The Press:
So the White House is glad
the resolution was reached.

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But what about the
substance of the case?

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Is it something that the
White House is supportive of,

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the pulling back on the case
and letting it go forward?

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Mr. Carney:
Well, this was the action of an
independent enforcement agency,

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and our comment on it today
is the same as it was before

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in terms of the case itself.

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What I will say is
what I just did,

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which is the President
believes that, in general,

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labor and management ought to
find ways to work together to

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preserve and create jobs,
and in this case we're glad

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there's a resolution.

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The Press:
The President is also
lobbying senators on

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the defense bill as it
relates to the detainment

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of terrorism suspects.

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Obviously there's a
veto threat out there.

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But can you tell us how his
personal efforts are going,

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and what's his message on that?

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Mr. Carney:
With regard to the defense
authorization bill,

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our position is the
same as it has been.

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We're continuing to discuss
this with members of Congress.

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But our position
has not changed.

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I mean, it's very important that
our counterterrorism folks have

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flexibility in dealing with and
doing their jobs effectively.

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And there's a whole range
of people in this field from

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previous administrations,
Democratic and Republican,

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as well as, obviously,
current, who believe that that

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flexibility must be maintained.

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The Press:
So can you give us any update,
as we're quickly running out of

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time here on how that effort
is going to try to win over

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some minds on that?

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Mr. Carney:
Just that we're
continuing in the effort.

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Yes.

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The Press:
Jay, what's the President's
reaction to the agreement by

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most European leaders
in Brussels today?

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Mr. Carney:
I knew if I called on
Reuters that you'd ask

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me about Europe.

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(laughter)

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Yes. Sorry.

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The Press:
That's all right.

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What's your reaction?

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And what does the
President think?

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Mr. Carney:
Look, we think that signs
of progress are good,

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that this is a sign of
progress, but work still

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needs to be done, obviously.

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Our position hasn't changed.

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We are offering our
advice and counsel.

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We have a great deal
of experience in this

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kind of situation.

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Secretary Geithner has
been very engaged in this;

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the President himself has been
engaged with his counterparts.

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But in the end, it is a European
problem that needs a European

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solution, and we believe that
they need to act conclusively

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and decisively to resolve it.

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But there has been
some progress,

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and that's a good thing.

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The Press:
Does the President have
any sympathy for David

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Cameron, who was the one
EU leader out of 27 who

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did not agree to --

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Mr. Carney:
I haven't talked
about that with him,

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so I'm not going to comment
on that at that level of

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specificity about it beyond
what I've said in terms of the

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progress that has been made and
the need to keep it up and deal

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with remaining issues, including
ensuring that a firewall is

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built that is
adequate to the task.

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The Press:
Will the President hold any
calls with any of those leaders

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in the coming
days about this?

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Mr. Carney:
Well, I can safely predict that
the President will be talking to

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European leaders,
including Chancellor Merkel,

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President Sarkozy and Prime
Minister Cameron, because he

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does all the time.

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But when those
calls might happen,

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I don't have that information
for you at this time.

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Cheryl.

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The Press:
House Republican leaders have
introduced a payroll extension

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with the Keystone
pipeline project in it.

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Would the President
veto that bill?

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Mr. Carney:
I'm glad you asked about the
House GOP payroll tax cut plan

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because I have a statement
here that I'll read to you:

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"With only 22 days before taxes
go up an average of $1,000 for

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160 million
hardworking Americans,

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Republican leaders in Congress
are still playing politics at

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the expense of
middle-class families.

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Their proposal breaks the
bipartisan agreement on spending

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cuts that we reached
just a few months ago,

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and makes harmful cuts to things
like education that strengthen

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middle-class security.

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"Their plan seeks to put the
burden on working families while

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giving a free pass to the
wealthiest and big corporations

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by protecting their
loopholes and subsidies.

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Instead of working together to
find a balanced approach that

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will actually pass, Republican
leaders in Congress are instead

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choosing to re-fight old
political battles over health

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care, and introduce ideological
issues into what should be a

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simple debate about cutting
taxes for the middle class.

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"As one leading Republican said
-- you probably saw this in the

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newspaper -- quote, 'Frankly,
the fact that the President

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doesn't like it makes
me like it even more.'

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That is precisely why Americans
are fed up with Congress.

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"This shouldn't be about scoring
political points against the

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President -- it's not about him.

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This should be about cutting
taxes for the middle class.

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It's time for Congress to
keep its word and do its job."

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The Press:
What about the payroll --

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(laughter)

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The Press:
Anything in there that the
President could work with --

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Mr. Carney:
Well, there are pieces of
it, as I understand it --

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this fairly recently
put forward proposal --

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that are things that we
have supported in the past.

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But the proposal in its entirety
is objectionable for the reasons

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I just explained.

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I mean, it's what people
hate about Congress.

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Oh, they work all summer,
they get to this deal,

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everybody says fine, we got
a deal, it's a compromise;

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it wasn't entirely what we
should have gotten or could have

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gotten, it wasn't the grand
bargain, but Budget Control Act,

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sign it into law.

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And ever since, all we've heard
from some folks in Congress is,

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gee, we ought to break that
agreement; we didn't mean it.

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Let's go back on our word.

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And no wonder people give
Congress 10% approval

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ratings, right?

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So that's a problem.

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And asking people -- asking
middle-class Americans,

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who need assistance with
education or who benefit from

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key investments, to bear the
burden of this deal is punishing

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the people you're trying to help
with the middle-class tax cut to

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begin with.

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That's not how we should do it.

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And reopening old
political fights --

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I think everybody's organization
here that does polling will tell

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you that Americans really don't
like reopening old -- like,

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let's go refight the
health care battle,

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let's go -- when we have 22
days before their taxes go up.

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That's the battle that some in
Congress want to have right now.

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Or they want to have fights over
an oil pipeline that has nothing

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to do with whether or not
Americans, on average,

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ought to see their taxes
go up $1,000 in 2012.

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That's what gives
Washington a bad name.

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The Press:
So what happens now?

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Mr. Carney:
We keep working towards
finding a solution.

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What the President
has said is that --

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and what I have said
on his behalf --

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is that we are open to looking
at other ways to pay for this,

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but they have to be economically
responsible and fair.

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So we'll continue to do that.

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The President has put
forward a way to pay for it;

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Senate Democrats have now put
forward two different proposals

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for paying for it
-- in all cases,

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broadly supported by
the American people.

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There are avenues here that
are available to reaching

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an agreement.

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And for the sake of
the American people,

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we certainly hope that
that agreement is reached.

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And this President, as he
said yesterday and last week,

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will insist that Congress stay
here -- and he will stay here --

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through Christmas, if
necessary, to get it done.

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Because it is not fair to raise
taxes on the American people at

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this time in our
economic recovery.

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So we hope that reasonableness
prevails here and we

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get this done.

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Brianna.

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The Press:
The unemployment insurance
extension is abbreviated

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under the plan.

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Are you open to that?

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Mr. Carney:
Well, I'm not going to negotiate
the elements of what a final

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compromise might look like.

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The fact is that this
proposal is objectionable.

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And again, why is it that
unemployment insurance,

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which is a good example of
something that economists

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everywhere agree is highly
beneficial to economic growth in

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a time like this because
that assistance to people who

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desperately need it goes right
back into the economy and

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results in job growth and job --
economic growth and job creation

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-- everybody agrees on that.

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So why ask them -- shortchange
those Americans who need that

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assistance, reduce that
assistance that most helps the

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economy just so we can protect
corporations and their loopholes

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and subsidies, just so we can
not have to ask millionaires and

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billionaires -- not
small businesses --

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to pay a little bit extra.

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I think that's
just wrong-headed.

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I'm not going to negotiate the
details of a provision or take

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single provisions out of this
proposal and say this one's

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acceptable, that one's not.

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00:12:13,867 --> 00:12:17,300
But I think the principles here
that are guiding the President

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00:12:17,300 --> 00:12:23,834
are important to enumerate and
repeat, and I think, again,

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00:12:23,834 --> 00:12:25,733
this is about helping the
economy and helping the

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American people.

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00:12:27,233 --> 00:12:28,699
The Press:
But you're not saying
absolutely not,

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00:12:28,700 --> 00:12:29,967
it has to be 99 weeks.

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00:12:29,967 --> 00:12:32,333
I mean, is that an
indication that you might --

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00:12:32,333 --> 00:12:33,033
Mr. Carney:
I know you want --

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00:12:33,033 --> 00:12:33,900
The Press:
-- there might be wiggle room?

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00:12:33,900 --> 00:12:35,066
Mr. Carney:
I know you want me to
negotiate the elements.

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00:12:35,066 --> 00:12:38,867
I think that the package
altogether that we have that's a

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00:12:38,867 --> 00:12:40,033
worthwhile compromise --

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00:12:40,033 --> 00:12:41,367
The Press:
I'm just wondering if it's a
nonstarter to be shorter than

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00:12:41,367 --> 00:12:42,433
99 weeks.

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00:12:42,433 --> 00:12:45,333
Mr. Carney:
I'm not going to negotiate
the individual elements.

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00:12:45,333 --> 00:12:49,666
But it is important that
the overall package meet the

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00:12:49,667 --> 00:12:53,300
standards the President has set,
and those standards are simply

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00:12:53,300 --> 00:12:57,900
about making sure that what we
do here actually has the maximum

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00:12:57,900 --> 00:12:59,800
amount of benefit possible
to the American people,

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00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:01,733
to middle-class Americans,
to working Americans,

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00:13:01,734 --> 00:13:04,567
folks who need a tax cut,
and should not be laden --

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larded up with measures that are
either totally extraneous or

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designed to refight old
ideological battles or actually

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00:13:10,734 --> 00:13:15,367
harm the people that the
tax cut is supposed to help.

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00:13:15,367 --> 00:13:17,967
That doesn't seem unreasonable
to have a position like that.

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00:13:17,967 --> 00:13:18,900
The Press:
On Russia real quick?

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00:13:18,900 --> 00:13:19,533
Mr. Carney:
Sure.

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00:13:19,533 --> 00:13:22,233
The Press:
Prime Minister Putin said
that Secretary Clinton --

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00:13:22,233 --> 00:13:25,000
he essentially said that she
incited unrest in Russia.

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00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:27,667
He said that "gave a signal."

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00:13:27,667 --> 00:13:31,767
What did the President think of
that and sort of in the context

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00:13:31,767 --> 00:13:34,767
of resetting
relations with Russia?

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00:13:34,767 --> 00:13:40,667
Mr. Carney:
Well, as you know -- or you may
know, I think you were here,

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00:13:40,667 --> 00:13:42,333
I addressed this
question yesterday,

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and our position hasn't changed.

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00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:45,699
Secretary Clinton spoke to this.

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00:13:45,700 --> 00:13:46,900
I spoke to it.

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00:13:46,900 --> 00:13:49,867
The United States and Russia
have many common interests.

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That's why the President -- it
was the result of the President

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00:13:52,367 --> 00:13:55,699
pursuing the reset that we were
able to get a significant amount

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00:13:55,700 --> 00:13:59,734
of things done with Russia over
these past three years and our

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relations have improved.

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00:14:01,567 --> 00:14:03,667
And that's important, and we
continue to seek opportunities

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00:14:03,667 --> 00:14:08,367
for cooperation with Russia
based on mutual respect and our

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00:14:08,367 --> 00:14:09,367
common interest.

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00:14:09,367 --> 00:14:13,400
Now, it is also true that
we have sought to deepen our

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00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:16,934
engagement with Russian
civil society and with --

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00:14:16,934 --> 00:14:22,934
and organizations that
promote universal values.

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00:14:22,934 --> 00:14:27,733
We support democracy, and so
speaking out in support of

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00:14:27,734 --> 00:14:31,467
democracy should not surprise --
the fact that we do that should

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00:14:31,467 --> 00:14:35,233
not surprise anyone around the
world because that's a hard and

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00:14:35,233 --> 00:14:38,099
fast position of this
administration and of

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00:14:38,100 --> 00:14:40,433
this country.

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00:14:40,433 --> 00:14:44,433
So we are encouraged by
President Medvedev's commitment

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00:14:44,433 --> 00:14:46,600
to have the Central Election
Commission investigate all

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00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:49,734
election violations and we
welcome his acknowledgment that

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00:14:49,734 --> 00:14:53,133
the demonstrations in Moscow and
in other cities are part of the

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00:14:53,133 --> 00:14:56,000
democratic process.

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00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:57,000
Cecilia.

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00:14:57,000 --> 00:14:58,000
Welcome, Cecilia.

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00:14:58,000 --> 00:14:58,667
How are you?

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00:14:58,667 --> 00:14:59,400
The Press:
Fine, thanks.

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00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:01,233
Yesterday you said
that, on Plan B,

305
00:15:01,233 --> 00:15:03,733
communication between the
White House and agencies in

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00:15:03,734 --> 00:15:05,800
decision-making
processes like this,

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00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:07,099
that there is communication.

308
00:15:07,100 --> 00:15:08,133
Can you elaborate on that?

309
00:15:08,133 --> 00:15:09,400
What communication was
had and between whom?

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00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:14,433
And also, what do you say now
to these women's groups who were

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00:15:14,433 --> 00:15:17,600
strong supporters of the
President in 2008 who say now

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00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:21,266
they may sit this election
out because of this decision?

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00:15:21,266 --> 00:15:23,666
Mr. Carney:
Well, let me go to
your first question,

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00:15:23,667 --> 00:15:27,533
or the first part of your
question, which is, broadly,

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00:15:27,533 --> 00:15:31,467
in these kinds of decisions
there is communication between

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00:15:31,467 --> 00:15:34,600
-- or there usually is
communication between the White

317
00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:36,166
House and an agency.

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00:15:36,166 --> 00:15:42,000
I don't have a list of
communications between folks at

319
00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:46,834
the White House and HHS on this,
but it stands to reason that

320
00:15:46,834 --> 00:15:49,467
there were or might have been.

321
00:15:49,467 --> 00:15:51,433
What the President said, and I
think what is essential here,

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00:15:51,433 --> 00:15:52,667
is that he did not intervene.

323
00:15:52,667 --> 00:15:54,734
He did not get involved
in this decision.

324
00:15:54,734 --> 00:15:58,600
This was a decision made
by Secretary Sebelius.

325
00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:05,900
It's also a decision
that he supports.

326
00:16:05,900 --> 00:16:09,199
And I think that's just --
that's the answer to the second

327
00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:12,867
part of your question, too, is
that some decisions that we make

328
00:16:12,867 --> 00:16:16,834
at this level of government, and
especially that secretaries of

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00:16:16,834 --> 00:16:20,165
agencies make and certainly
decisions a President has to

330
00:16:20,166 --> 00:16:22,100
make, while this
was not one of them,

331
00:16:22,100 --> 00:16:24,467
the President -- the decisions
that a President does have to

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00:16:24,467 --> 00:16:25,934
make, none of them are easy.

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00:16:25,934 --> 00:16:28,300
There are always
arguments on all sides.

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00:16:28,300 --> 00:16:30,934
That's why they end up on
a Secretary's desk or a

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00:16:30,934 --> 00:16:33,065
President's desk.

336
00:16:33,066 --> 00:16:35,734
But in this case, the
Secretary made a decision.

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00:16:35,734 --> 00:16:37,667
The President supports it.

338
00:16:37,667 --> 00:16:38,533
Norah.

339
00:16:38,533 --> 00:16:42,266
The Press:
Let me ask you about this
videotape from the former FBI

340
00:16:42,266 --> 00:16:46,000
agent Robert Levinson
that his family released.

341
00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:49,166
They received it a while ago
and have just released it.

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00:16:49,166 --> 00:16:54,433
What was the -- how has the
White House been involved?

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00:16:54,433 --> 00:16:57,165
Mr. Carney:
Well, the
administration obviously

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00:16:57,166 --> 00:16:58,266
monitors these things.

345
00:16:58,266 --> 00:17:00,567
The government continues,
the U.S. government,

346
00:17:00,567 --> 00:17:04,532
to work to find Robert Levinson
and to safely bring him home.

347
00:17:04,532 --> 00:17:07,766
We have worked on his case since
he disappeared and will continue

348
00:17:07,767 --> 00:17:11,767
to do so until he is
reunited with his family.

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00:17:11,767 --> 00:17:14,066
As you probably recall,
Secretary Clinton said in March

350
00:17:14,066 --> 00:17:16,066
of this year that we have
received indications that

351
00:17:16,066 --> 00:17:20,066
Mr. Levinson is being
held in Southwest Asia,

352
00:17:20,066 --> 00:17:22,733
and anyone with information that
might lead to Mr. Levinson's

353
00:17:22,733 --> 00:17:26,466
safe return should contact
the FBI or his family,

354
00:17:26,467 --> 00:17:33,066
which has a website at
www.HelpBobLevinson.com.

355
00:17:33,066 --> 00:17:34,734
But this is an
ongoing investigation,

356
00:17:34,734 --> 00:17:36,867
and that's really all
I can say about it.

357
00:17:36,867 --> 00:17:38,633
The Press:
Can I follow on --

358
00:17:38,633 --> 00:17:40,333
The Press:
As long as you come
back to me, I'll let --

359
00:17:40,333 --> 00:17:42,266
Mr. Carney:
Okay, you wanted
to follow, Connie?

360
00:17:42,266 --> 00:17:43,767
The Press:
On the two other
American hostages, too,

361
00:17:43,767 --> 00:17:47,467
is the U.S. now negotiating with
terrorists, with hostage-takers?

362
00:17:47,467 --> 00:17:48,800
What kind of work --

363
00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:50,867
Mr. Carney:
I'm not sure what the
basis of that question is,

364
00:17:50,867 --> 00:17:55,100
but I don't have anything beyond
what I said on Bob Levinson.

365
00:17:55,100 --> 00:17:57,100
The Press:
The one in Cuba and
the one in Pakistan?

366
00:17:57,100 --> 00:18:00,367
Mr. Carney:
We put out a statement and I
addressed the questions about

367
00:18:00,367 --> 00:18:05,966
Mr. Gross, and again with Mr.
Levinson, that's all I can say.

368
00:18:05,967 --> 00:18:08,500
The Press:
Can I return to the
payroll tax cut extension?

369
00:18:08,500 --> 00:18:11,900
You mentioned we're looking
at ways to pay for it.

370
00:18:11,900 --> 00:18:17,200
So the President -- I know we've
gone over this before but the

371
00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:20,100
President would be willing to
sign an extension that does not

372
00:18:20,100 --> 00:18:26,065
include a tax increase
on millionaires, correct?

373
00:18:26,066 --> 00:18:29,300
Mr. Carney:
Well, again, I'm not going to
negotiate either/ors or what

374
00:18:29,300 --> 00:18:31,767
provisions have to be in
or what have to be out.

375
00:18:31,767 --> 00:18:35,767
There are some principles
here that need to be observed.

376
00:18:35,767 --> 00:18:45,033
One is it makes no sense to pass
into law a payroll tax cut for

377
00:18:45,033 --> 00:18:48,600
working and middle-class
Americans and have it paid for

378
00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:52,500
in a way that hurts working
and middle-class Americans.

379
00:18:52,500 --> 00:18:58,066
That's just bad policy and
the President would not

380
00:18:58,066 --> 00:19:00,233
support that.

381
00:19:00,233 --> 00:19:02,867
The Press:
You mentioned principles at
stake and I'm just curious now,

382
00:19:02,867 --> 00:19:05,567
I mean, the President was
willing to sign a two-year

383
00:19:05,567 --> 00:19:07,567
extension of the Bush tax
cuts, which benefit the

384
00:19:07,567 --> 00:19:09,000
wealthiest Americans.

385
00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:12,066
You're now sort of -- you
continue to push the door open

386
00:19:12,066 --> 00:19:16,100
-- wider open to allowing a
pay-for that does not include

387
00:19:16,100 --> 00:19:17,300
taxing millionaires.

388
00:19:17,300 --> 00:19:19,767
If the President is
willing to give up on that,

389
00:19:19,767 --> 00:19:22,233
what principle are you
holding fast and firm on?

390
00:19:22,233 --> 00:19:24,233
Mr. Carney:
Give up on what?

391
00:19:24,233 --> 00:19:30,433
Here's the thing, it bears
remembering that last year the

392
00:19:30,433 --> 00:19:34,600
President and Congress reached
an agreement that included

393
00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:39,766
extension of the Bush tax cuts,
because the only deal that was

394
00:19:39,767 --> 00:19:42,734
available to the President
included extending all of the

395
00:19:42,734 --> 00:19:44,667
Bush tax cuts, including
the ones for the wealthy.

396
00:19:44,667 --> 00:19:46,966
He was for extending the ones
for the middle class and he was

397
00:19:46,967 --> 00:19:50,533
not willing to see
middle-class Americans,

398
00:19:50,533 --> 00:19:53,166
as we were in a very
fragile period economically,

399
00:19:53,166 --> 00:19:55,433
have their taxes
raised substantially.

400
00:19:55,433 --> 00:19:58,800
That's a principle he's
applying in this case, too,

401
00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:02,332
to not wanting 160 million
Americans to see their taxes go

402
00:20:02,333 --> 00:20:04,967
up by on average
$1,000 next year.

403
00:20:04,967 --> 00:20:07,467
The Press:
But the President is making
a big show of his principles.

404
00:20:07,467 --> 00:20:11,266
I mean, he gave a big speech
-- as you well know -- about

405
00:20:11,266 --> 00:20:13,867
fairness, asking the
wealthier to pay more.

406
00:20:13,867 --> 00:20:17,767
What actions has he taken that
show that he is standing on that

407
00:20:17,767 --> 00:20:21,233
principle if he's going to sign
a payroll tax cut extension that

408
00:20:21,233 --> 00:20:23,899
the Republicans will not
include increasing taxes

409
00:20:23,900 --> 00:20:24,700
on millionaires?

410
00:20:24,700 --> 00:20:27,467
Mr. Carney:
First of all, you're projecting
into the future something that

411
00:20:27,467 --> 00:20:28,867
I have not said.

412
00:20:28,867 --> 00:20:31,533
All I have said is I'm not going
to negotiate the particulars of

413
00:20:31,533 --> 00:20:34,600
a potential agreement
except to say that --

414
00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:35,734
The Press:
Why won't you say the
President would veto --

415
00:20:35,734 --> 00:20:39,033
Mr. Carney:
-- to make clear the proposal
that the House Republicans put

416
00:20:39,033 --> 00:20:42,332
forward is objectionable, not
acceptable for a variety of

417
00:20:42,333 --> 00:20:45,033
reasons, including that it
violates the very budget

418
00:20:45,033 --> 00:20:48,166
agreement that we reached in
October -- in August rather,

419
00:20:48,166 --> 00:20:53,533
which, by the way, brings us
down to the lowest level of

420
00:20:53,533 --> 00:20:55,966
non-defense discretionary
spending since Eisenhower was

421
00:20:55,967 --> 00:21:02,033
President, substantial
discretionary spending cuts,

422
00:21:02,033 --> 00:21:05,332
and that he's not going to
accept a deal that puts all the

423
00:21:05,333 --> 00:21:07,767
onus -- or puts the onus on the
very middle-class and working

424
00:21:07,767 --> 00:21:12,900
Americans who we're trying to
help with this tax cut and only

425
00:21:12,900 --> 00:21:15,433
would do that because
Republicans refuse to ask

426
00:21:15,433 --> 00:21:18,900
corporations to give up their
subsidies or their loopholes or

427
00:21:18,900 --> 00:21:21,300
the wealthiest to pay
a little bit extra.

428
00:21:21,300 --> 00:21:26,166
So these are very important
principles that go right to the

429
00:21:26,166 --> 00:21:31,833
heart of why we are even
talking about cutting taxes for

430
00:21:31,834 --> 00:21:32,700
middle-class America.

431
00:21:32,700 --> 00:21:33,734
The Press:
If it's such an
important principle,

432
00:21:33,734 --> 00:21:35,367
why doesn't the President issue
a veto threat that he will not

433
00:21:35,367 --> 00:21:39,433
sign a payroll tax cut extension
that does not include a tax

434
00:21:39,433 --> 00:21:40,667
on millionaires?

435
00:21:40,667 --> 00:21:42,500
Mr. Carney:
Well, I understand that you want
to maybe get this wrapped up

436
00:21:42,500 --> 00:21:47,600
quickly so we can all go on
vacation or that there are a lot

437
00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:50,632
of unknowns here in terms of
how this endgame will play out.

438
00:21:50,633 --> 00:21:52,934
The President has enunciated
his principles very clearly.

439
00:21:52,934 --> 00:21:57,399
He's made clear what he will not
sign and what he will reject.

440
00:21:57,400 --> 00:21:59,967
Senator Reid has made clear
that this thing has no chance of

441
00:21:59,967 --> 00:22:01,033
getting through the Senate.

442
00:22:01,033 --> 00:22:04,433
It's very important that the
Congress get down to serious

443
00:22:04,433 --> 00:22:08,834
business to ensure that they
don't go home having to explain

444
00:22:08,834 --> 00:22:12,033
why they just raised
everybody's taxes.

445
00:22:12,033 --> 00:22:14,332
So the President
is going to make --

446
00:22:14,333 --> 00:22:16,200
going to adhere to his
principles and ensure that

447
00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:17,900
this gets done.

448
00:22:17,900 --> 00:22:22,367
The Press:
And then, on the
small businesses,

449
00:22:22,367 --> 00:22:26,166
the 1% of small businesses
that would be affected by the

450
00:22:26,166 --> 00:22:29,600
increased tax on millionaires,
would the President then be

451
00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:34,332
willing to support Senator
Claire McCaskill's provision

452
00:22:34,333 --> 00:22:37,667
that would exempt that 1% of
small businesses who would be

453
00:22:37,667 --> 00:22:38,800
taxed additionally?

454
00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:42,200
Mr. Carney:
Well, I think, again, rather
than me negotiate individual

455
00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:47,200
elements of a compromise that
does not at this point exist,

456
00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:51,934
I would go back to what I said
about how thin a reed that is as

457
00:22:51,934 --> 00:22:57,533
a reason to oppose what the
American people broadly support.

458
00:22:57,533 --> 00:23:01,966
And the irony of the 1% of
-- the less than 1% of small

459
00:23:01,967 --> 00:23:06,600
businesses who might be affected
by asking millionaires and

460
00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:09,233
billionaires to pay a little bit
more is that that's including a

461
00:23:09,233 --> 00:23:10,567
broad definition
of small businesses,

462
00:23:10,567 --> 00:23:15,367
which means law partnerships or
hedge fund managers or things

463
00:23:15,367 --> 00:23:18,834
like that who file business
income as personal income.

464
00:23:18,834 --> 00:23:25,166
So these are not mom-and-pop
businesses we're talking about.

465
00:23:25,166 --> 00:23:26,033
On Main Street --

466
00:23:26,033 --> 00:23:28,065
The Press:
There are law firms that are
filing as sub-chapter S's?

467
00:23:28,066 --> 00:23:31,233
Mr. Carney:
Partnerships as
sub-chapter something, yes.

468
00:23:31,233 --> 00:23:33,332
(laughter)

469
00:23:33,333 --> 00:23:37,767
I didn't take the
accounting class, but...

470
00:23:37,767 --> 00:23:38,867
Victoria.

471
00:23:38,867 --> 00:23:43,500
The Press:
When the President said
yesterday kind of dismissively,

472
00:23:43,500 --> 00:23:48,834
"Ask Osama and the 22 of 30 al
Qaeda leaders who I've taken off

473
00:23:48,834 --> 00:23:52,767
the playing field" in response
to a question, was that game on?

474
00:23:52,767 --> 00:23:56,166
Was that the beginning
of the campaign?

475
00:23:56,166 --> 00:24:00,133
Mr. Carney:
He was answering a question
about a charge that he had

476
00:24:00,133 --> 00:24:04,800
somehow acted as an appeaser
in the conduct of his foreign

477
00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:07,734
policy, and I think it
was an appropriate response.

478
00:24:07,734 --> 00:24:10,166
And let us know if you get an
answer from those gentlemen.

479
00:24:10,166 --> 00:24:10,966
Bill.

480
00:24:10,967 --> 00:24:11,734
(laughter)

481
00:24:11,734 --> 00:24:15,199
The Press:
Jay, I wasn't here yesterday, so
I'm sorry if you covered this,

482
00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:17,834
but as Commander-in-Chief
has the President issued any

483
00:24:17,834 --> 00:24:19,834
directive to deal with
the situation at Dover

484
00:24:19,834 --> 00:24:22,233
Air Force Base?

485
00:24:22,233 --> 00:24:23,100
Mr. Carney:
I'll have to take that question.

486
00:24:23,100 --> 00:24:24,667
Not that I'm aware of.

487
00:24:24,667 --> 00:24:26,300
The Press:
But, I mean, you know
what I'm talking about?

488
00:24:26,300 --> 00:24:28,667
The remains that
were incinerated --

489
00:24:28,667 --> 00:24:31,000
Mr. Carney:
Yes, I know that -- I've
seen the news reports.

490
00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:32,000
I haven't discussed it with him.

491
00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:34,000
I don't know that the White
House is taking action.

492
00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:36,867
I certainly think the Department
of Defense is probably taking

493
00:24:36,867 --> 00:24:38,633
questions on this matter.

494
00:24:38,633 --> 00:24:39,767
Toshi.

495
00:24:39,767 --> 00:24:40,600
The Press:
Thank you, Jay.

496
00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:44,100
On the European situation,
European leaders expressed their

497
00:24:44,100 --> 00:24:49,800
intention to contribute -- lend
200 billion euro or $270 billion

498
00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:51,100
to the IMF.

499
00:24:51,100 --> 00:24:54,966
Is the United States open to a
similar kind of contribution to

500
00:24:54,967 --> 00:24:59,533
the IMF beyond giving advice
or beyond a common commitment,

501
00:24:59,533 --> 00:25:01,132
which was agreed on --

502
00:25:01,133 --> 00:25:03,867
Mr. Carney:
Our position hasn't changed,
which is that the IMF has

503
00:25:03,867 --> 00:25:08,332
substantial resources and that
American taxpayers are not

504
00:25:08,333 --> 00:25:13,100
going to have to make any
more commitments to the IMF.

505
00:25:13,100 --> 00:25:16,433
Ken, and then Wendell.

506
00:25:16,433 --> 00:25:19,834
The Press:
Jay, on China, Congressman
Frank Wolf and Chris Smith have

507
00:25:19,834 --> 00:25:23,500
written to the President asking
him or urging him to make a

508
00:25:23,500 --> 00:25:26,333
public statement pressing
for the immediate release of

509
00:25:26,333 --> 00:25:30,166
Liu Xiaobo and for the Chinese
government to release his wife

510
00:25:30,166 --> 00:25:32,600
from house arrest and
stop harassing her.

511
00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:34,433
Will the President
make such a statement?

512
00:25:34,433 --> 00:25:36,533
Mr. Carney:
I'll have to take that question.

513
00:25:36,533 --> 00:25:38,567
I have not seen that report.

514
00:25:38,567 --> 00:25:39,567
Wendell, and then Chris.

515
00:25:39,567 --> 00:25:40,567
The Press:
A couple of questions.

516
00:25:40,567 --> 00:25:43,700
First of all, the President has
made clear he doesn't like the

517
00:25:43,700 --> 00:25:51,767
idea of attaching the
Keystone XL pipeline to the

518
00:25:51,767 --> 00:25:52,767
payroll tax cut.

519
00:25:52,767 --> 00:25:57,000
So I'm interested to know why
you won't just issue a veto

520
00:25:57,000 --> 00:25:59,233
threat on that.

521
00:25:59,233 --> 00:26:01,633
Mr. Carney:
The President said -- I think
the President's language was

522
00:26:01,633 --> 00:26:04,500
pretty clear about what he would
accept and what he would reject.

523
00:26:04,500 --> 00:26:07,367
And this just goes right
back to adding extraneous,

524
00:26:07,367 --> 00:26:09,100
ideological elements --

525
00:26:09,100 --> 00:26:12,699
The Press:
Can we just take that
as a veto threat, then?

526
00:26:12,700 --> 00:26:15,100
Mr. Carney:
Well, I personally don't
issue veto threats,

527
00:26:15,100 --> 00:26:16,966
I don't have a statement
of administration policy,

528
00:26:16,967 --> 00:26:19,533
but I would point you to
the President's words.

529
00:26:19,533 --> 00:26:25,399
And I would make -- the
broader point here is,

530
00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:31,033
why do Republicans think they're
doing President Obama a favor by

531
00:26:31,033 --> 00:26:32,899
going along with
the payroll tax cut?

532
00:26:32,900 --> 00:26:35,500
Why do they think it is
the right move for their

533
00:26:35,500 --> 00:26:41,567
constituents to try to exact
a political price by adding

534
00:26:41,567 --> 00:26:44,867
extraneous things to what
should be a very simple matter?

535
00:26:44,867 --> 00:26:49,066
Do you want Americans' taxes
to go up next year or would you

536
00:26:49,066 --> 00:26:50,834
like to reduce them?

537
00:26:50,834 --> 00:26:53,800
They used to be for tax cuts.

538
00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:55,867
Ohio Representative Jim
Jordan says, "Frankly,

539
00:26:55,867 --> 00:26:58,265
the fact that the President
doesn't like it makes me like it

540
00:26:58,266 --> 00:27:01,767
even more" -- which suggest that
maybe President Obama should

541
00:27:01,767 --> 00:27:05,100
come out and say, "I'm against
investment in education,

542
00:27:05,100 --> 00:27:07,699
I'm against investment
in infrastructure,

543
00:27:07,700 --> 00:27:09,433
I'm not for the
payroll tax cut" --

544
00:27:09,433 --> 00:27:11,667
because then maybe Republicans
would support those things.

545
00:27:11,667 --> 00:27:14,766
The Press:
Have him do that.

546
00:27:14,767 --> 00:27:18,734
On U.S.-Russia relations, you
and Andrei discussed yesterday

547
00:27:18,734 --> 00:27:23,699
aid that Putin calls "meddling"
in his country's internal

548
00:27:23,700 --> 00:27:26,767
affairs -- aid for
democratic elections.

549
00:27:26,767 --> 00:27:29,367
What does our $9 million buy us?

550
00:27:29,367 --> 00:27:33,767
Mr. Carney:
I haven't examined the
particular programs here.

551
00:27:33,767 --> 00:27:35,867
I know that, broadly,
the United States,

552
00:27:35,867 --> 00:27:40,265
through the State Department,
supports efforts to help

553
00:27:40,266 --> 00:27:44,767
democratic organizations and
democracy around the world,

554
00:27:44,767 --> 00:27:48,900
as we should, as administrations
of both parties have.

555
00:27:48,900 --> 00:27:52,900
And I would -- going
back to that point,

556
00:27:52,900 --> 00:27:58,000
I will say quite affirmatively
that the number here that the

557
00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:00,133
State Department has put
forward is the correct number,

558
00:28:00,133 --> 00:28:01,700
in terms of money spent.

559
00:28:01,700 --> 00:28:09,266
And again, no one should be
surprised that we speak out for

560
00:28:09,266 --> 00:28:13,033
and work for democracy
around the world.

561
00:28:13,033 --> 00:28:14,332
We think it's the right thing.

562
00:28:14,333 --> 00:28:15,600
We think that --

563
00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:17,399
The Press:
Does that mean providing aid
to opposition groups in Russia?

564
00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:18,700
Mr. Carney:
Again, I would refer you to
the State Department for the

565
00:28:18,700 --> 00:28:24,700
specifics of the programs here.

566
00:28:24,700 --> 00:28:26,000
All we're about here
-- and this -- I mean,

567
00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:29,000
look at the Middle East, look
at other parts of the world --

568
00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:34,700
is support for democracy and
holding those who participate in

569
00:28:34,700 --> 00:28:40,934
the democratic process around
the world to standards of action

570
00:28:40,934 --> 00:28:44,066
as opposed to rhetoric, which
is that they have to support the

571
00:28:44,066 --> 00:28:45,767
democratic process,
renounce violence,

572
00:28:45,767 --> 00:28:51,967
vow to protect minority
rights, and then participate in

573
00:28:51,967 --> 00:28:56,667
elections, because we believe
that democracy is a good thing.

574
00:28:56,667 --> 00:28:57,300
Kristen.

575
00:28:57,300 --> 00:28:58,300
The Press:
Thanks, Jay.

576
00:28:58,300 --> 00:29:01,533
Going back to China for a moment
-- some financial analysts have

577
00:29:01,533 --> 00:29:04,766
said that there are fresh
signs that China might halt the

578
00:29:04,767 --> 00:29:06,667
appreciation of its currency.

579
00:29:06,667 --> 00:29:09,766
Given that President Obama
recently met with the President

580
00:29:09,767 --> 00:29:12,500
of China and urged him
not to manipulate --

581
00:29:12,500 --> 00:29:15,033
or officials there not to
manipulate the Chinese currency,

582
00:29:15,033 --> 00:29:18,100
is there a concern that
his words may have fallen

583
00:29:18,100 --> 00:29:20,033
on deaf ears?

584
00:29:20,033 --> 00:29:21,867
Mr. Carney:
I don't have anything
new to say about that.

585
00:29:21,867 --> 00:29:28,500
We obviously have made clear
our position on this issue.

586
00:29:28,500 --> 00:29:30,600
And while there has been
some modest progress,

587
00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:32,399
it has not been enough.

588
00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:34,100
And that continues
to be our position,

589
00:29:34,100 --> 00:29:37,500
and it's something that we raise
with Chinese officials every

590
00:29:37,500 --> 00:29:40,000
time we meet with them,
including recent meetings that

591
00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:45,333
the President had with Chinese
leaders on his recent trip.

592
00:29:45,333 --> 00:29:48,967
So, beyond that, I don't have
anything new for you on it.

593
00:29:48,967 --> 00:29:52,400
The Press:
In light of these reports, will
the administration take any

594
00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:53,066
actions in the days, weeks --

595
00:29:53,066 --> 00:29:56,200
Mr. Carney:
Again, I don't have
anything new for you on it,

596
00:29:56,200 --> 00:29:57,200
Kristen.

597
00:29:57,200 --> 00:30:00,533
The Press:
And also, Jay, the U.S. trade
deficit narrowed in October to

598
00:30:00,533 --> 00:30:02,265
its lowest point of the year.

599
00:30:02,266 --> 00:30:05,400
What do you make of that figure
and recent figures that we've

600
00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:11,000
seen -- the unemployment
rate that's dropped to 8.6%?

601
00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:16,567
Mr. Carney:
We don't overreact to
good news or bad news;

602
00:30:16,567 --> 00:30:19,533
we work on the things
we can control.

603
00:30:19,533 --> 00:30:26,233
There have been some
signs of progress,

604
00:30:26,233 --> 00:30:29,800
and there is no question that
over nine straight quarters now

605
00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:32,966
the economy has been growing;
over 21 straight months it's

606
00:30:32,967 --> 00:30:34,500
been creating private
sector jobs --

607
00:30:34,500 --> 00:30:36,934
now nearly 3 million
private sector jobs.

608
00:30:36,934 --> 00:30:40,899
And there are other
signs of progress.

609
00:30:40,900 --> 00:30:45,400
But we are a long way
from where we need to be.

610
00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:48,400
And that's why the President is
so focused on the provisions of

611
00:30:48,400 --> 00:30:51,100
the American Jobs Act, why
he's so focused on getting the

612
00:30:51,100 --> 00:30:54,934
payroll tax cut extended to
ensure that Americans don't have

613
00:30:54,934 --> 00:30:57,233
their taxes go up
on January 1st,

614
00:30:57,233 --> 00:31:04,500
and why he will continue to
fight for the programs within

615
00:31:04,500 --> 00:31:06,567
the American Jobs Act that
have not succeeded thus far,

616
00:31:06,567 --> 00:31:09,900
including investments in
infrastructure that would put

617
00:31:09,900 --> 00:31:11,200
construction workers
back to work,

618
00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:15,867
and assistance to states to put
teachers back in the classroom.

619
00:31:15,867 --> 00:31:19,033
It's why he will continue
to push for and will urge

620
00:31:19,033 --> 00:31:22,332
Republicans to take up
his plan for sensible,

621
00:31:22,333 --> 00:31:25,500
balanced medium- and long-term
deficit and debt reduction,

622
00:31:25,500 --> 00:31:27,767
because it's the right thing to
do for our economy and will put

623
00:31:27,767 --> 00:31:33,533
this economy on solid
ground for the future.

624
00:31:33,533 --> 00:31:36,265
But we have a lot of work to do.

625
00:31:36,266 --> 00:31:38,266
Modest signs of progress
notwithstanding,

626
00:31:38,266 --> 00:31:40,600
we have a lot of work to do.

627
00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:41,533
Chris.

628
00:31:41,533 --> 00:31:44,199
The Press:
In the past week, Rick Perry has
taken it upon himself to attack

629
00:31:44,200 --> 00:31:46,734
the President for his LGBT
advocacy over the course of

630
00:31:46,734 --> 00:31:47,734
his first term.

631
00:31:47,734 --> 00:31:50,265
After the administration
unveiled its new strategy on

632
00:31:50,266 --> 00:31:53,000
Tuesday to combat
anti-gay abuses overseas,

633
00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:54,867
Perry issued a statement
saying, "It's an example of the

634
00:31:54,867 --> 00:31:57,166
President being at war
with people of faith."

635
00:31:57,166 --> 00:32:01,033
And there's a widely spread TV
ad circulating on the web in

636
00:32:01,033 --> 00:32:03,132
which Perry says, "There's
something wrong in this country

637
00:32:03,133 --> 00:32:05,133
when gays can serve
openly in the military,

638
00:32:05,133 --> 00:32:07,433
but our kids can't openly
celebrate Christmas or

639
00:32:07,433 --> 00:32:08,533
pray in school."

640
00:32:08,533 --> 00:32:11,632
Does the President object to
these accusations that his LGBT

641
00:32:11,633 --> 00:32:13,900
advocacy is inconsistent
with principles of faith?

642
00:32:13,900 --> 00:32:15,700
Mr. Carney:
I'm fairly certain the
President is not even aware of

643
00:32:15,700 --> 00:32:16,633
those accusations.

644
00:32:16,633 --> 00:32:23,133
And I think that I'll limit my
comment on the struggling state

645
00:32:23,133 --> 00:32:26,266
of some presidential campaigns.

646
00:32:26,266 --> 00:32:29,934
I will say that the President is
a man of faith, as you all know,

647
00:32:29,934 --> 00:32:32,667
and I will also say that our
record on LGBT issues is one

648
00:32:32,667 --> 00:32:35,300
that we're very proud of.

649
00:32:35,300 --> 00:32:36,867
Mark.

650
00:32:36,867 --> 00:32:38,233
The Press:
Back to Europe for a second.

651
00:32:38,233 --> 00:32:41,667
The President yesterday
acknowledged the progress that

652
00:32:41,667 --> 00:32:44,766
Europeans are making
toward a fiscal compact,

653
00:32:44,767 --> 00:32:49,100
but he made a point of saying
there's a shorter-term crisis in

654
00:32:49,100 --> 00:32:51,867
the markets that
needs to be addressed.

655
00:32:51,867 --> 00:32:54,166
In the meantime, the European
Central Bank seems to have

656
00:32:54,166 --> 00:32:58,433
signaled that it's not yet
willing to step in in a decisive

657
00:32:58,433 --> 00:33:02,066
way, in terms of shoring up
the firewall you alluded to.

658
00:33:02,066 --> 00:33:04,467
So I'm just wondering --
the President sounded

659
00:33:04,467 --> 00:33:05,567
frustrated with that.

660
00:33:05,567 --> 00:33:06,633
Is he frustrated?

661
00:33:06,633 --> 00:33:09,266
Does he think the
Europeans need to step up,

662
00:33:09,266 --> 00:33:11,967
not so much on the longer-term
issue but on the immediate issue

663
00:33:11,967 --> 00:33:15,133
of restoring market confidence?

664
00:33:15,133 --> 00:33:16,600
Mr. Carney:
Well, we've made clear,
and he's made clear,

665
00:33:16,600 --> 00:33:20,632
that he believes the Europeans
need to act decisively and

666
00:33:20,633 --> 00:33:25,734
conclusively on -- putting
aside issues of the markets --

667
00:33:25,734 --> 00:33:32,934
but on a plan to resolve
this debt crisis.

668
00:33:32,934 --> 00:33:38,500
And that includes ensuring that
a firewall that is up to the

669
00:33:38,500 --> 00:33:42,400
task in constructed.

670
00:33:42,400 --> 00:33:44,800
Having said that, the President
understands that these are

671
00:33:44,800 --> 00:33:45,966
hard issues.

672
00:33:45,967 --> 00:33:48,100
He should know.

673
00:33:48,100 --> 00:33:52,533
And he knows that there are
difficult decisions that

674
00:33:52,533 --> 00:33:57,065
European leaders have to make as
they work through these issues

675
00:33:57,066 --> 00:34:02,100
and deal with the problem
conclusively and decisively.

676
00:34:02,100 --> 00:34:05,934
He does not imagine that
any of this is easy.

677
00:34:05,934 --> 00:34:07,466
Leadership is not easy.

678
00:34:07,467 --> 00:34:09,600
Leadership in difficult
economic times,

679
00:34:09,600 --> 00:34:13,766
with daunting economic
challenges, is not easy.

680
00:34:13,766 --> 00:34:16,734
And the decisions that leaders
make in those circumstances are

681
00:34:16,734 --> 00:34:20,533
often not very popular.

682
00:34:20,533 --> 00:34:24,933
He gets that; he knows
it from experience.

683
00:34:24,934 --> 00:34:27,233
But it needs to be done.

684
00:34:27,233 --> 00:34:32,700
And that's why he has offered
his advice and counsel,

685
00:34:32,699 --> 00:34:35,100
that's why he is in regular
contact with his European

686
00:34:35,100 --> 00:34:37,400
counterparts, that's why
Secretary Geithner has been in

687
00:34:37,400 --> 00:34:40,467
Europe this week and many
times in the recent past,

688
00:34:40,467 --> 00:34:44,100
and is in regular consultation
with his counterparts,

689
00:34:44,100 --> 00:34:46,266
as well as other officials
across our government.

690
00:34:46,266 --> 00:34:48,533
And we'll continue to work on
this with our European allies

691
00:34:48,533 --> 00:34:55,366
and friends as they move towards
a conclusive and decisive

692
00:34:55,367 --> 00:34:56,800
solution to this.

693
00:34:56,800 --> 00:34:59,000
The Press:
Has he seen evidence --
as he said yesterday,

694
00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:00,700
the question is
whether they'll muster the

695
00:35:00,700 --> 00:35:02,332
political will to confront it.

696
00:35:02,333 --> 00:35:04,400
Has he seen evidence
that they're mustering

697
00:35:04,400 --> 00:35:05,533
political will?

698
00:35:05,533 --> 00:35:10,933
Mr. Carney:
Well, I would simply say that we
have seen European leaders take,

699
00:35:10,934 --> 00:35:12,533
over the course of the
last weeks and months,

700
00:35:12,533 --> 00:35:15,767
some important steps.

701
00:35:15,767 --> 00:35:19,834
Progress has been made, and we
continue to consult with them

702
00:35:19,834 --> 00:35:22,299
and advise them --
or offer our advice,

703
00:35:22,300 --> 00:35:27,100
rather -- and urge them to take
the continued steps that are

704
00:35:27,100 --> 00:35:31,165
necessary to finish the job.

705
00:35:31,166 --> 00:35:32,633
Yes, and then Mark.

706
00:35:32,633 --> 00:35:33,734
The Press:
Thank you, Jay.

707
00:35:33,734 --> 00:35:36,200
If you can clear something up
from last week: When you talk

708
00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:38,265
about the Defense
Authorization Act,

709
00:35:38,266 --> 00:35:41,300
you keep pointing to the
November 17th, I believe,

710
00:35:41,300 --> 00:35:43,934
statement of
administration policy,

711
00:35:43,934 --> 00:35:47,734
but neither that nor the
Feinstein compromise amendment

712
00:35:47,734 --> 00:35:50,366
that allowed it to pass the
Senate answers a fundamental,

713
00:35:50,367 --> 00:35:54,233
constitutional question, which
is: Does the President believe

714
00:35:54,233 --> 00:35:57,433
or think that the military or
the Commander-in-Chief should

715
00:35:57,433 --> 00:36:03,033
have the authority to be able to
imprison U.S. citizens arrested

716
00:36:03,033 --> 00:36:05,400
on American soil for an
indefinite period of time

717
00:36:05,400 --> 00:36:08,000
without trial?

718
00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:09,934
Mr. Carney:
I feel like we have
addressed this issue,

719
00:36:09,934 --> 00:36:12,633
but I don't have anything
for you right now.

720
00:36:12,633 --> 00:36:18,633
I know it's not in the SAP, but
this is a broader discussion

721
00:36:18,633 --> 00:36:21,265
that this administration
has had, I think,

722
00:36:21,266 --> 00:36:23,333
and this President engaged
in in the campaign,

723
00:36:23,333 --> 00:36:24,600
and certainly had in
the first two years,

724
00:36:24,600 --> 00:36:26,734
prior to my assuming
the role here.

725
00:36:26,734 --> 00:36:29,700
The Press:
If Congress is considering this
issue right now in legislation,

726
00:36:29,700 --> 00:36:30,332
he has to --

727
00:36:30,333 --> 00:36:34,200
Mr. Carney:
Well, and our objection to the
legislation is well established,

728
00:36:34,200 --> 00:36:38,667
especially as regards the
limits on the flexibility of our

729
00:36:38,667 --> 00:36:44,299
professionals in dealing --
in carrying out their job.

730
00:36:44,300 --> 00:36:48,500
But I'm not going to get more
broad than where we've been on

731
00:36:48,500 --> 00:36:50,033
this specific piece
of legislation.

732
00:36:50,033 --> 00:36:51,366
The Press:
But it seems like one
of the most fundamental,

733
00:36:51,367 --> 00:36:53,767
constitutional questions that
any President would ever have to

734
00:36:53,767 --> 00:36:57,033
face -- whether a U.S. citizen
can be arrested on American soil

735
00:36:57,033 --> 00:36:58,232
and detained without trial --

736
00:36:58,233 --> 00:37:00,734
Mr. Carney:
And what I'm telling you is
that this question has been

737
00:37:00,734 --> 00:37:02,000
addressed broadly.

738
00:37:02,000 --> 00:37:04,467
I don't have anything to say
to you from this podium about

739
00:37:04,467 --> 00:37:05,734
it right now.

740
00:37:05,734 --> 00:37:08,100
I've been looking at the
legislation and the statement of

741
00:37:08,100 --> 00:37:10,133
administration policy
with regards to it,

742
00:37:10,133 --> 00:37:12,133
things that we've said about it.

743
00:37:12,133 --> 00:37:13,767
But our broader position
on these issues is

744
00:37:13,767 --> 00:37:14,767
pretty well known.

745
00:37:14,767 --> 00:37:15,767
Mark.

746
00:37:15,767 --> 00:37:18,500
The Press:
Just to follow up on
Wendell's question,

747
00:37:18,500 --> 00:37:22,533
when the President said the
other day that he would reject

748
00:37:22,533 --> 00:37:26,799
efforts to tie the Keystone
pipeline to the payroll tax cut,

749
00:37:26,800 --> 00:37:29,367
can we -- does
"reject" mean "veto"?

750
00:37:29,367 --> 00:37:34,934
Some of our colleagues said it
did, and it's not clear to me.

751
00:37:34,934 --> 00:37:36,367
Mr. Carney:
"Reject" means reject.

752
00:37:36,367 --> 00:37:37,233
The Press:
Does it mean veto?

753
00:37:37,233 --> 00:37:40,033
Mr. Carney:
He thinks it's rejection-worthy.

754
00:37:40,033 --> 00:37:41,866
The Press:
Of a veto?

755
00:37:41,867 --> 00:37:48,500
Mr. Carney:
Look, it's not going to --
Senator Reid has said this thing

756
00:37:48,500 --> 00:37:54,867
has no chance in the
Senate, so it's not --

757
00:37:54,867 --> 00:37:58,266
there's not a viable bill
here over which to issue a

758
00:37:58,266 --> 00:37:59,967
veto threat.

759
00:37:59,967 --> 00:38:04,100
But his position on adding
that kind of thing in that way,

760
00:38:04,100 --> 00:38:05,866
and in the manner -- remember,
the way we were talking about it

761
00:38:05,867 --> 00:38:09,233
at the time was efforts to jam
through a decision that should

762
00:38:09,233 --> 00:38:14,900
be part of a process that's
enshrined in many decades of

763
00:38:14,900 --> 00:38:16,667
precedent over at
the State Department,

764
00:38:16,667 --> 00:38:19,533
the proper reviews that are
necessary to make sure that all

765
00:38:19,533 --> 00:38:25,400
the criteria are evaluated and
all the impacts are taken into

766
00:38:25,400 --> 00:38:27,367
consideration -- and
that's important.

767
00:38:27,367 --> 00:38:28,967
The Press:
Thanks, Jay.

768
00:38:28,967 --> 00:38:29,767
The Press:
Week ahead?

769
00:38:29,767 --> 00:38:35,000
Mr. Carney:
Yes, the week ahead.

770
00:38:35,000 --> 00:38:36,700
What a week it will be.

771
00:38:36,700 --> 00:38:37,700
(laughter)

772
00:38:37,700 --> 00:38:38,700
Here we go.

773
00:38:38,700 --> 00:38:40,399
This is the schedule for
the week of December 12,

774
00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:45,166
2011: On Monday, the President
looks forward to welcoming Iraqi

775
00:38:45,166 --> 00:38:48,333
Prime Minister Nouri
al-Maliki to the White House.

776
00:38:48,333 --> 00:38:51,200
The two leaders will hold talks
on the removal of U.S. military

777
00:38:51,200 --> 00:38:54,600
forces from Iraq, and our
efforts to start a new chapter

778
00:38:54,600 --> 00:38:56,734
in the comprehensive strategic
partnership between the

779
00:38:56,734 --> 00:38:58,667
United States and Iraq.

780
00:38:58,667 --> 00:39:01,600
The President honors the
sacrifices and achievements of

781
00:39:01,600 --> 00:39:05,900
all those who have served in
Iraq, and of the Iraqi people,

782
00:39:05,900 --> 00:39:08,734
to reach this moment full
of promise for an enduring

783
00:39:08,734 --> 00:39:13,467
U.S.-Iraq friendship, as we
end America's war in Iraq.

784
00:39:13,467 --> 00:39:15,700
On Tuesday, the President will
conduct interviews with local

785
00:39:15,700 --> 00:39:18,500
television anchors from across
the country about the end of the

786
00:39:18,500 --> 00:39:22,533
war in Iraq, and the importance
of ensuring that taxes do not go

787
00:39:22,533 --> 00:39:25,734
up on middle-class
families next year.

788
00:39:25,734 --> 00:39:28,734
On Wednesday, the President and
the First Lady will travel to

789
00:39:28,734 --> 00:39:31,633
Fort Bragg, North Carolina,
where they will deliver

790
00:39:31,633 --> 00:39:33,100
remarks to troops.

791
00:39:33,100 --> 00:39:34,467
The Press:
Both of them?

792
00:39:34,467 --> 00:39:35,500
Mr. Carney:
Yes, the President
and the First Lady.

793
00:39:35,500 --> 00:39:39,333
As we definitively end America's
war in Iraq this month,

794
00:39:39,333 --> 00:39:42,266
the President wanted to speak
directly to the troops at Fort

795
00:39:42,266 --> 00:39:45,200
Bragg, and to members of
the armed forces and their

796
00:39:45,200 --> 00:39:46,700
families everywhere.

797
00:39:46,700 --> 00:39:49,466
The President will speak about
the enormous sacrifices and

798
00:39:49,467 --> 00:39:53,166
achievements of the brave
Americans who served in the Iraq

799
00:39:53,166 --> 00:39:56,667
war, and he will speak about
the extraordinary milestone of

800
00:39:56,667 --> 00:39:58,967
bringing the war
in Iraq to an end.

801
00:39:58,967 --> 00:40:01,200
Like many other military
installations across this

802
00:40:01,200 --> 00:40:04,633
nation, during the war in Iraq,
service members from Fort Bragg

803
00:40:04,633 --> 00:40:07,700
and their families have provided
remarkable service to our

804
00:40:07,700 --> 00:40:10,667
country through their
deployments to Iraq.

805
00:40:10,667 --> 00:40:12,633
On Thursday, the President
will attend meetings here at

806
00:40:12,633 --> 00:40:13,633
the White House.

807
00:40:13,633 --> 00:40:16,466
And on Friday, the President
will deliver remarks at the

808
00:40:16,467 --> 00:40:20,600
biennial convention of the
Union for Reform Judaism.

809
00:40:20,600 --> 00:40:22,366
That's your week ahead.

810
00:40:22,367 --> 00:40:24,500
The Press:
Jay, just to follow
up on Monday,

811
00:40:24,500 --> 00:40:25,800
are they going to Arlington?

812
00:40:25,800 --> 00:40:28,867
I heard that they might
lay a wreath at Arlington.

813
00:40:28,867 --> 00:40:34,734
Mr. Carney:
I have nothing beyond what I
shared with you just now in my

814
00:40:34,734 --> 00:40:40,165
reading -- my mellifluous
reading of the week ahead.

815
00:40:40,166 --> 00:40:40,700
The Press:
Thank you.

816
00:40:40,700 --> 00:40:41,366
Mr. Carney:
Thanks, guys.

817
00:40:41,367 --> 00:40:44,934
The Press:
And next Saturday,
departure for Honolulu?

818
00:40:44,934 --> 00:40:46,600
Mr. Carney:
Are you asking for odds?

819
00:40:46,600 --> 00:40:48,400
The Press:
I am asking.

820
00:40:48,400 --> 00:40:49,400
Mr. Carney:
We'll see.

821
00:40:49,400 --> 00:40:50,333
It's up to Congress, isn't it?