English subtitles for clip: File:2-10-14- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Carney: Good
afternoon,

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ladies and gentlemen.

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I hope you had a terrific
weekend,

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and I welcome you here back at
the White House.

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Before I take your
questions, I wanted

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to highlight something that's
happening in the

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House of Representatives, where
instead of ensuring that

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our bills are paid and
obligations met

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and that we do not default, and
instead of helping achieve

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opportunity for all
Americans by extending

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emergency unemployment
insurance or by raising

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the minimum wage, creating
new jobs and promoting

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growth, this week, House
Republicans are trying to

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move a bill that would
weaken the Consumer

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Financial Protection
Bureau and hurt consumers

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who finally have a
watchdog looking

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out for them.

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THE CFPB's sole mission is
to protect consumers from

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the abuses of the past
and to help people not get

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cheated on their finances,
on their credit cards,

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on their student loans,
and on their car loans.

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Since its creation, the
CFPB has put in place

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safer national mortgage
standards to protect

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borrowers; begun to
implement protections

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governing non-mortgage
products; improved

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disclosure requirements so
that consumers are better

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informed; created
a national consumer

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complaint center that has
handled nearly 270,000

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consumer complaints to
date; secured more than

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$3 billion in relief
for nearly 10 million

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consumers through
enforcement actions

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against bad actors who
violated the law;

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and established federal
oversight of important

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financial industries for
the first time, including

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non-bank mortgage lenders,
payday lenders,

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debt collectors, and
credit-reporting agencies.

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Now, what we're seeing in
the House is part

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of an ongoing tired and partisan
Republican agenda

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to unwind the protections
that were put in place

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to protect our economy and
consumers

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from another economic crisis.

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And of course, if the
President were

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to see this bill come to his
desk, he would veto it.

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We should be working
together to continue the

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progress that we've made.

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Right now, we could be
working together

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to help create more good
manufacturing jobs.

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We could be working
together to help

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our economy by passing patent
reform, by passing housing

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finance reform -- not by
engaging

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in the same old tired debates
that do nothing

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to build on that progress.

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The CFPB was and is an
extremely important piece

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of the Wall Street reform
agenda the President

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pressed hard for against
some very powerful vested

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interests, and it is
vital that Republicans

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in Congress keep in mind the
consumers

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out there who need what the CFPB
provides,

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which is protection.

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With that, I take
your questions.

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Julie.

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The Press: Thanks, Jay.

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A couple different topics.

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U.S. officials have told the AP that

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the administration is at least

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considering using
a drone strike

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to take out an American al Qaeda
operative overseas.

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Has the President
been involved

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in these discussions?

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And what would the legal
rationale

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for taking that action be?

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Mr. Carney: Well,
Julie, as you know,

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I would not comment on
something like that --

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an alleged specific
operation.

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And I would not discuss
particular targets

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that may or may not be
under consideration.

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I would, of course, be
able to point you

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to what the President said
about the issue of the

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government taking lethal
action against an American

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citizen in his speech
in May of 2013 at NDU.

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In that speech, he said
that he does not believe

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it would be constitutional
for the government

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to target and kill any U.S.

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citizen without due
process,

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nor should any President deploy
armed

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drones over U.S. soil.

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But he also said
that when a U.S. citizen

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goes abroad to
wage war against

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the United States, and is
actively plotting

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to kill U.S. citizens,

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and when neither
the United States nor our

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partners are in a position
to capture him before

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he carries out a plot, his
citizenship should

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not serve as a shield.

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But beyond that I'm
not going to comment

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on alleged specific
plans or operations.

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The Press: Can you
say whether

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he has been involved in the
discussions?

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Mr. Carney: Well, that
would be commenting

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on an alleged specific
plan or operation.

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The Press: On a
separate topic, Michael Sam,

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who is an
all-American college

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football player, announced
over the

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weekend that he's gay.

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The First Lady and the
Vice President

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I think have both commented
on Twitter.

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Does the President
have any response?

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Mr. Carney: Well, I
have nothing specifically

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from the President at this
time except to say that

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he shares the sentiments
expressed by the First Lady

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and the Vice
President and so many

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others in marveling at his
courage and congratulating

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him on the decision he
made, on the support

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he's had from his team, and
wishing him well

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in the future, including in
professional football.

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The Press: There's been
a lot of discussion that

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this could affect his
standing in the NFL draft,

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which is coming up in the
next couple of months.

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I don't know if you've
talked to the

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President about this, but do you
know if he would think

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that this announcement
should affect his standing

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in the draft and how NFL
teams might look at him?

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Mr. Carney: Well,
without having this

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be a reflection of a
conversation with the

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President, I can tell you
that in general that

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it is his view that it should
not have an effect.

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I mean, any athlete's
abilities should be

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measured by what -- in the
traditional way, in terms

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of how he or she performs
in the sport and on the

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field, in this case.

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And in this case, his
performance

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has been exceptional.

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So I think that would be
the President's view,

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but I haven't talked
to him about it.

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The Press: Thanks, Jay.

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The Republicans are
meeting to talk about how

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to proceed on
the debt ceiling.

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Apparently one of the
plans is to link raising

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the debt ceiling to
restoration of retired

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military personnel
benefits that were cut.

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How does the President
feel about that?

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Would he sign
such an increase?

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Mr. Carney: Our
position on the

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responsibility of Congress
to ensure that our debts

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are paid, that the bills
that Congress racked

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up are paid has not changed.

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We're not going to pay
a ransom of any kind

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in return for Congress
doing its job.

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So we'll take Republican
leaders at their word when

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they say that they won't
let the United States

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default, and they will
not play the kind

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of brinksmanship that led to
a shutdown last fall

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and to doubts about whether
or not we might default.

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That did great harm to
the economy,

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to the middle class, and to the
Republican Party.

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So we're confident that
Republicans will

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be true to their word here and
simply take care of their

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business, do the right
thing and ensure

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that that ceiling is lifted.

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The Press: But does
that mean that

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he would not sign a bill --

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Mr. Carney: You're
speculating --

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I'm not going to get into a
"what if this were the bill

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or that were the bill."

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Our position
has not changed.

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It hasn't changed for
a long, long time.

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We're not negotiating over
Congress's responsibility

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to pay its bills.

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The Press: On
immigration, Senator

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Schumer said over the
weekend, or suggested

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that perhaps one way to get the
bill done would be to put

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off the affected
implementation date

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of any immigration reform until
after the 2016 election.

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Would that be acceptable
to the President?

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Mr. Carney: We've
put out our principles.

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The President has strongly
supported a bipartisan

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bill that passed the
Senate

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that reflects those principles.

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We're now at a stage of
waiting to see what

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the House can produce.

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There's been
significant progress.

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Amid a lot of other
discussion and debate,

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the fact is House Republicans
and House Republican

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leaders have made
progress on this issue.

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They've put forward
standards and principles

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of their own, and those
principles contrast pretty

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significantly with the
de facto position held

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by Republicans as recently
of last year,

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which was self-deportation.

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So we will wait to see
what the House produces.

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The need for comprehensive
immigration reform

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is stronger every day.

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The benefit that it would
provide to our economy,

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to our middle class, to the
security of our borders,

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and to our capacity to be
a magnet for innovative

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entrepreneurs is as great
today --

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and greater today -- as it has ever been.

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So we believe the
consensus here

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is significant and growing
that the House will act

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and do the right thing,
not because the President

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says it should, but
because so many voices

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out there are joined in unison
calling

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on Congress to act.

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If there's anything that
the American people want

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and agree on when it comes
to Washington

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it's action as opposed to
obstruction or inertia.

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And here's an opportunity
for a bipartisan effort

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that by every outside
economic analysis would

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do enormous good to our
economy, for our middle

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class and for our
businesses,

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as well as our security.

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So there are solid reasons
for Republicans as well

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as Democrats to move forward
on this,

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and we look forward to that happening.

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The Press: If I could
ask one last

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question on Cuba.

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The European Union has
apparently agreed

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to launch negotiations with
Cuba to increase trade,

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investment, and dialogue
on human rights.

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How does the United States
feel about

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this warming of ties?

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Has the United States
consulted with

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the E.U., or vice versa,
on this matter?

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Mr. Carney: I'm not
aware of that report.

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I would refer you to
the State Department.

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Move around -- yes, ma'am.

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The Press:
Thank you, Jay.

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I have a few questions.

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Does the President have
any schedule

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to visit South Korea on his
upcoming trip

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to Asia in April?

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Mr. Carney: I don't
have any scheduling

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announcements to make
today beyond those

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that we've already made
for upcoming travel.

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The Press: One
more question.

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Last week at the National
Prayer Breakfast,

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President Obama mentioned
about that he was working

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on the release of Kenneth
Bae from North Korea.

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Do you have any
specific plan to do?

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Mr. Carney: Well, I
can tell you that we are

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deeply disappointed by the
DPRK decision

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for a second time to rescind its
invitation

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for Ambassador King to travel to
Pyongyang to discuss

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Kenneth Bae's release.

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The DPRK announced
publicly in May of 2013

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that it would not use the
fate of Kenneth Bae

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as a political bargaining chip.

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We remind the DPRK that
the U.S.-ROK military

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exercises are transparent,
regularly scheduled

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and defense-oriented.

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00:11:20,667 --> 00:11:22,667
These exercises are in no
way linked

252
00:11:22,667 --> 00:11:25,533
to Mr. Bae's case, and we
believe they know that.

253
00:11:26,066 --> 00:11:29,133
We, again, call on the
DPRK to grant Mr. Bae

254
00:11:29,133 --> 00:11:31,633
special amnesty and
immediate release

255
00:11:31,633 --> 00:11:34,834
as a humanitarian gesture so
that he may reunite with

256
00:11:34,834 --> 00:11:38,233
his family and
seek medical care.

257
00:11:38,233 --> 00:11:40,867
We will continue to
work actively to secure

258
00:11:40,867 --> 00:11:43,533
Mr. Bae's release.

259
00:11:43,533 --> 00:11:45,834
Per our longstanding
offer, we remain prepared

260
00:11:45,834 --> 00:11:48,867
to send Ambassador King to
North Korea

261
00:11:48,867 --> 00:11:50,233
in support of that effort.

262
00:11:50,233 --> 00:11:53,233
The Press: Yesterday,
North Korean government

263
00:11:53,233 --> 00:11:55,032
announced that they
cancelled

264
00:11:55,033 --> 00:11:57,400
the Robert King visit to North Korea.

265
00:11:57,400 --> 00:11:58,567
How did you
respond to that?

266
00:11:58,567 --> 00:12:00,967
Mr. Carney: Yes, I just
said that we are deeply

267
00:12:00,967 --> 00:12:06,433
disappointed by that
decision and would point

268
00:12:06,433 --> 00:12:09,200
to what the DPRK said in
May of 2013 that

269
00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:12,166
it would not use the fate of
Kenneth Bae

270
00:12:12,166 --> 00:12:14,166
as a political bargaining chip.

271
00:12:14,166 --> 00:12:16,266
And we are very
disappointed

272
00:12:16,266 --> 00:12:20,033
by the cancellation of the
invitation

273
00:12:20,033 --> 00:12:26,066
to Ambassador King on this issue
and we stand ready per our

274
00:12:26,066 --> 00:12:28,533
longstanding offer to
dispatch Ambassador King

275
00:12:28,533 --> 00:12:29,967
to North Korea

276
00:12:29,967 --> 00:12:31,967
to help secure Kenneth Bae's release.

277
00:12:31,967 --> 00:12:32,967
Ann.

278
00:12:32,967 --> 00:12:34,033
The Press: Thank
you very much.

279
00:12:34,033 --> 00:12:37,600
Following on Julie's
question on the drones,

280
00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:40,867
the President clearly
feels very deeply about

281
00:12:40,867 --> 00:12:42,266
the drone policy.

282
00:12:42,266 --> 00:12:44,632
Is this the kind of
decision that would need

283
00:12:44,633 --> 00:12:47,166
to rise to the
level of his desk?

284
00:12:47,166 --> 00:12:48,600
Mr. Carney: I
appreciate the effort

285
00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:50,567
to ask the same question
about a specific

286
00:12:50,567 --> 00:12:56,300
particular alleged
reported action,

287
00:12:56,300 --> 00:12:59,666
but I'm not going to be able
to discuss

288
00:12:59,667 --> 00:13:00,734
that kind of activity.

289
00:13:00,734 --> 00:13:03,467
I can point you to what
the President said and

290
00:13:03,467 --> 00:13:07,734
I think he spoke quite
forthrightly

291
00:13:07,734 --> 00:13:11,300
about these issues in May
of 2013 at NDU.

292
00:13:11,300 --> 00:13:13,532
The Press: At the
University of Arkansas,

293
00:13:13,533 --> 00:13:16,900
archives have opened up
records of a good friend,

294
00:13:16,900 --> 00:13:20,433
close friend of Bill and Hillary Clinton's -- Diane Blair.

295
00:13:20,500 --> 00:13:24,166
And it talks a lot about
her personal notes,

296
00:13:24,166 --> 00:13:26,934
considerable notes about
her discussions and

297
00:13:26,934 --> 00:13:28,632
friendship with them, and
what they said during

298
00:13:28,633 --> 00:13:30,900
the times they were in
the White House.

299
00:13:30,900 --> 00:13:32,500
I don't know that you've
discussed that with the

300
00:13:32,500 --> 00:13:33,767
President, some of the
interesting comments.

301
00:13:33,767 --> 00:13:35,033
Mr. Carney:
No, I have not.

302
00:13:35,033 --> 00:13:38,033
The Press: But at the
time that those documents

303
00:13:38,033 --> 00:13:40,333
-- the information was not
accessible

304
00:13:40,333 --> 00:13:42,699
was during the 2008 campaign.

305
00:13:42,700 --> 00:13:45,433
And Senator Obama held
Hillary Clinton

306
00:13:45,433 --> 00:13:48,934
to account, saying that the
very time she was using

307
00:13:48,934 --> 00:13:52,100
those records as a basis
to demonstrate

308
00:13:52,100 --> 00:13:56,433
her own experience for office
that they weren't accessible,

309
00:13:56,433 --> 00:13:57,567
and he said, and "I
think, Hillary,

310
00:13:57,567 --> 00:13:58,567
that's a problem."

311
00:13:58,567 --> 00:14:00,433
Does the President have a
different perspective

312
00:14:00,433 --> 00:14:05,867
now that perhaps now that
he's been in office that

313
00:14:05,867 --> 00:14:07,834
private records and
rememberances

314
00:14:07,834 --> 00:14:11,300
for a political figure,
especially a candidate,

315
00:14:11,300 --> 00:14:13,766
ought to be kept private?

316
00:14:13,767 --> 00:14:16,233
Mr. Carney: That's a
long windup to a question

317
00:14:16,233 --> 00:14:18,733
I'm not sure I understand.

318
00:14:18,734 --> 00:14:19,867
You're saying, does the
President have

319
00:14:19,867 --> 00:14:23,333
a view on Diane Blair's personal
reminiscences?

320
00:14:23,333 --> 00:14:25,632
I have not discussed that
with him

321
00:14:25,633 --> 00:14:26,900
or how it would apply to him.

322
00:14:26,900 --> 00:14:28,834
But I'm sure that I would
point you to what he's

323
00:14:28,834 --> 00:14:29,834
said in the past.

324
00:14:29,834 --> 00:14:31,132
The Press: Have you
seen the information that --

325
00:14:31,133 --> 00:14:32,166
Mr. Carney:
I have not, no.

326
00:14:32,166 --> 00:14:33,166
Major.

327
00:14:33,166 --> 00:14:34,166
The Press: Jay, I know
you can't and don't want

328
00:14:34,166 --> 00:14:37,433
to talk about the AP story
on an operational basis

329
00:14:37,433 --> 00:14:38,633
or even to confirm it.

330
00:14:38,633 --> 00:14:40,533
But is there a protocol
established since

331
00:14:40,533 --> 00:14:42,967
the President's speech that
establishes

332
00:14:42,967 --> 00:14:46,600
a due process review within the
various agencies involved --

333
00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:49,133
Defense, CIA, the White
House, NSC --

334
00:14:49,133 --> 00:14:53,000
on cases like this where there's
an ongoing war on terrorism

335
00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:55,266
or effort to deal with a
potential

336
00:14:55,266 --> 00:14:58,099
terrorist threat that does
involve an American?

337
00:14:58,100 --> 00:14:59,600
And how does that process
-- can you give

338
00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:01,934
us any idea about how that
process works

339
00:15:01,934 --> 00:15:04,433
and how it changed after the
marker the President

340
00:15:04,433 --> 00:15:06,867
laid down in that National
Defense University speech?

341
00:15:06,867 --> 00:15:09,433
Mr. Carney: Well, what
I can tell you

342
00:15:09,433 --> 00:15:12,533
is the President laid out in
pretty explicit detail his

343
00:15:12,533 --> 00:15:14,700
approach to these
issues at that speech.

344
00:15:14,700 --> 00:15:15,867
I can tell you that the
targeting

345
00:15:15,867 --> 00:15:18,266
of any American raises
constitutional issues that are

346
00:15:18,266 --> 00:15:20,533
not present in other strikes.

347
00:15:20,533 --> 00:15:23,433
But the high threshold
that we have set for

348
00:15:23,433 --> 00:15:26,600
taking lethal action
applies to all potential

349
00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:28,767
terrorist targets,
regardless of whether

350
00:15:28,767 --> 00:15:30,467
or not they are
American citizens.

351
00:15:30,467 --> 00:15:32,333
And I would remind you
that we take extraordinary

352
00:15:32,333 --> 00:15:35,367
care to make sure that our
counterterrorism actions

353
00:15:35,367 --> 00:15:37,733
are in accordance with all
applicable domestic

354
00:15:37,734 --> 00:15:38,834
and international law, and
that

355
00:15:38,834 --> 00:15:40,199
they are consistent with

356
00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:42,200
U.S. values and policy.

357
00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:43,767
Of particular note,
before we take any

358
00:15:43,767 --> 00:15:46,800
counterterrorism strike
outside areas of active

359
00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:49,199
hostilities there must
be near certainty that

360
00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:51,533
no civilians will be killed
or injured -- the highest

361
00:15:51,533 --> 00:15:52,533
standard we can set.

362
00:15:54,367 --> 00:15:57,533
So, again, I can't talk
about specific alleged

363
00:15:57,533 --> 00:15:59,233
or possible operations.

364
00:15:59,233 --> 00:16:02,032
I can point you to what
the President said in,

365
00:16:02,033 --> 00:16:06,867
I think, fairly deep
granularity back in May

366
00:16:06,867 --> 00:16:09,733
of 2013 about the approach
he takes and the

367
00:16:09,734 --> 00:16:12,400
administration takes and
the changes that

368
00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:13,500
he's made in policy.

369
00:16:13,500 --> 00:16:15,033
The Press: On
immigration, I want

370
00:16:15,033 --> 00:16:17,567
to give you a chance to
respond to something that

371
00:16:17,567 --> 00:16:19,633
is becoming a bit more
thematic for Republicans

372
00:16:19,633 --> 00:16:21,667
in the House as they
approach this issue

373
00:16:21,667 --> 00:16:23,967
and as they deal with their own
internal divisions

374
00:16:23,967 --> 00:16:25,500
about it, this question
of trust.

375
00:16:25,500 --> 00:16:28,834
The Speaker said on Friday
that, if the President

376
00:16:28,834 --> 00:16:31,800
uses executive orders that
could be a deterrent

377
00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:34,333
for House Republicans to press
forward in the sense

378
00:16:34,333 --> 00:16:39,333
that this administration to the
minds of House Republicans

379
00:16:39,333 --> 00:16:41,533
enforces law in a bit
of an arbitrary fashion.

380
00:16:41,533 --> 00:16:43,233
I want you to address
that, take that head

381
00:16:43,233 --> 00:16:45,632
on, and respond to that in the
context

382
00:16:45,633 --> 00:16:47,967
not of how this administration
views its actions,

383
00:16:47,967 --> 00:16:50,500
but whether or not it should be
linked in any way

384
00:16:50,500 --> 00:16:51,633
to this immigration debate.

385
00:16:51,633 --> 00:16:52,834
And does it pressurize
the President

386
00:16:52,834 --> 00:16:53,834
to change behavior?

387
00:16:53,834 --> 00:16:55,132
Mr. Carney: Major, I
appreciate the question

388
00:16:55,133 --> 00:16:58,967
and I am glad
to answer it.

389
00:16:58,967 --> 00:17:02,100
First of all, the
struggles the Republican

390
00:17:02,100 --> 00:17:04,900
Party has with this issue
have nothing

391
00:17:04,900 --> 00:17:08,300
to do with the President.

392
00:17:08,300 --> 00:17:10,200
This is a tough issue
for Republicans,

393
00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:14,734
as Republicans themselves
acknowledge on the record

394
00:17:14,733 --> 00:17:17,099
all the time.

395
00:17:17,099 --> 00:17:18,433
It's certainly -- those
troubles --

396
00:17:18,433 --> 00:17:24,700
I don't think it stands up to
scrutiny to suggest

397
00:17:24,700 --> 00:17:27,800
that the troubles Republicans
have on this issue are the

398
00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:32,633
President's fault, nor
could they be attributed

399
00:17:32,633 --> 00:17:35,500
to a lack of trust.

400
00:17:35,500 --> 00:17:38,333
After all, when
comprehensive immigration

401
00:17:38,333 --> 00:17:44,033
reform came up as an issue
in 2006,

402
00:17:44,033 --> 00:17:45,466
when President George W. Bush

403
00:17:45,467 --> 00:17:47,800
was in office,
Republicans killed

404
00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:50,500
it because of their
internal divisions.

405
00:17:50,500 --> 00:17:51,767
Do you know how
we know that?

406
00:17:51,767 --> 00:17:53,367
Because John Boehner
said so on the record.

407
00:17:55,166 --> 00:18:01,233
So, again, we understand
and are even sympathetic

408
00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:07,467
to the fact that this
is a tough

409
00:18:07,467 --> 00:18:10,934
issue for Republicans.

410
00:18:10,934 --> 00:18:16,767
But nobody buys that
Republican reluctance

411
00:18:16,767 --> 00:18:20,834
to deal with and pass
comprehensive immigration

412
00:18:20,834 --> 00:18:24,300
reform has to do with the
issues that you lay out.

413
00:18:24,300 --> 00:18:26,066
It wasn't the case in
2006;

414
00:18:26,066 --> 00:18:27,500
it's not the case now.

415
00:18:27,500 --> 00:18:29,633
The reason -- we
need to get this done

416
00:18:29,633 --> 00:18:35,633
legislatively in a
bipartisan way because

417
00:18:35,633 --> 00:18:38,467
of all the benefits that
passing comprehensive

418
00:18:38,467 --> 00:18:41,834
immigration reform would
provide to our economy,

419
00:18:41,834 --> 00:18:45,033
to our border security
and to our businesses.

420
00:18:45,033 --> 00:18:48,567
And as I said earlier,
we're confident this

421
00:18:48,567 --> 00:18:49,567
is going to happen.

422
00:18:49,567 --> 00:18:52,233
We remain optimistic that
2014 is the year that

423
00:18:52,233 --> 00:18:58,233
it will happen, but not
because I'm saying it

424
00:19:00,700 --> 00:19:02,000
should happen or the
President says it should

425
00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:05,400
happen, but because there
are so many voices in this

426
00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:08,600
coalition and in this
consensus that are making

427
00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:11,300
clear that it's the right
thing to do, and including

428
00:19:11,300 --> 00:19:15,667
voices that not just
Democrats but Republicans

429
00:19:15,667 --> 00:19:16,667
tend to listen to.

430
00:19:16,667 --> 00:19:19,533
The Press: So what does
it tell this White House

431
00:19:19,533 --> 00:19:21,367
when Charles Schumer, who
is an ally of this

432
00:19:21,367 --> 00:19:23,332
White House, who works very hard
on this issue,

433
00:19:23,333 --> 00:19:26,000
has had negotiations with House
Republicans behind the

434
00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:29,000
scenes, wants to get this
done, suggests a way

435
00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:31,600
to take open this pressure
valve would be not

436
00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:33,466
to implement some of it until
after this

437
00:19:33,467 --> 00:19:34,834
President has left office?

438
00:19:34,834 --> 00:19:36,166
What does that tell you?

439
00:19:36,166 --> 00:19:39,166
Mr. Carney: I'm not
going to speak

440
00:19:39,166 --> 00:19:40,166
for any individual lawmaker.

441
00:19:40,166 --> 00:19:41,166
I think that the
issue itself --

442
00:19:41,166 --> 00:19:43,233
The Press: Does that
say that a Democrat who

443
00:19:43,233 --> 00:19:46,367
wants this to happen sees
this as a problem also?

444
00:19:46,367 --> 00:19:47,533
Mr. Carney: No, I
think that that discussion

445
00:19:47,533 --> 00:19:50,833
highlights the fact that
that excuse is bogus

446
00:19:50,834 --> 00:19:56,266
and that the issues here have
to do with longstanding

447
00:19:56,266 --> 00:19:58,633
tension within the
Republican Party about the

448
00:19:58,633 --> 00:20:01,166
need for immigration
reform --

449
00:20:01,166 --> 00:20:03,633
tensions that predate this
President's arrival

450
00:20:03,633 --> 00:20:05,934
in office by quite some time.

451
00:20:05,934 --> 00:20:06,934
Brianna.

452
00:20:06,934 --> 00:20:09,734
The Press: Thanks, Jay.

453
00:20:09,734 --> 00:20:12,033
On the debt ceiling, if
House Republicans were

454
00:20:12,033 --> 00:20:16,000
to wrap the increase in with
some other measures that

455
00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:17,934
both Democrats and
Republicans are amenable

456
00:20:17,934 --> 00:20:19,300
to, is there really a
problem with that

457
00:20:19,300 --> 00:20:21,000
from the White House's perspective?

458
00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:23,467
Mr. Carney: That's
a whole bunch of "ifs."

459
00:20:23,467 --> 00:20:24,467
Our position has
not changed --

460
00:20:24,467 --> 00:20:25,734
The Press: Is that an
issue, though,

461
00:20:25,734 --> 00:20:28,533
if it's kind of squished
together with things that the

462
00:20:28,533 --> 00:20:29,533
White House doesn't oppose?

463
00:20:29,533 --> 00:20:32,667
Mr. Carney: I would
suggest that you look

464
00:20:32,667 --> 00:20:35,265
at previous instances that
the debt ceiling has been

465
00:20:35,266 --> 00:20:39,767
raised where there hasn't
been brinksmanship

466
00:20:39,767 --> 00:20:44,333
or the threat of default, and
note that Republicans were

467
00:20:44,333 --> 00:20:45,800
able to do it in the past
and they should

468
00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:47,100
be able to do it this time.

469
00:20:47,100 --> 00:20:48,800
Republican leaders have
said they will do it.

470
00:20:49,166 --> 00:20:51,466
So I'm not going to
speculate about how that

471
00:20:51,467 --> 00:20:53,567
process works except to
say that we're not going

472
00:20:53,567 --> 00:20:56,567
to pay ransom on behalf
of the American people

473
00:20:56,567 --> 00:20:58,700
to Republicans in Congress
so that Republicans

474
00:20:58,700 --> 00:20:59,934
in Congress fulfill

475
00:20:59,934 --> 00:21:01,767
their constitutional responsibilities.

476
00:21:05,100 --> 00:21:08,166
This one is easy because
our position is clear

477
00:21:08,166 --> 00:21:10,899
and it has not and
will not change.

478
00:21:10,900 --> 00:21:15,734
And it is simply not
necessarily a pleasant

479
00:21:15,734 --> 00:21:18,600
responsibility but one
that Congress has to own,

480
00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:22,399
and that Republicans in
Congress have to accept.

481
00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:26,233
They appropriate, they
pass bills that require

482
00:21:26,233 --> 00:21:29,433
funding, they need
to pay those bills.

483
00:21:29,433 --> 00:21:32,567
And that's what raising
the debt ceiling is about.

484
00:21:32,567 --> 00:21:34,367
It's not about new
spending; it's about the

485
00:21:36,767 --> 00:21:39,700
money you put on a credit
card and the bill that

486
00:21:39,700 --> 00:21:41,333
comes every month.

487
00:21:41,333 --> 00:21:43,333
And this is basic stuff.

488
00:21:43,333 --> 00:21:46,033
The Press: If I can ask
you about something that

489
00:21:46,033 --> 00:21:47,734
some are saying should
be discussed

490
00:21:47,734 --> 00:21:50,934
by President Obama and President
Hollande --

491
00:21:50,934 --> 00:21:54,033
there's a rail company that is
owned primarily

492
00:21:54,033 --> 00:21:58,265
by the French government owned
-- its parent company SNCF.

493
00:21:58,266 --> 00:22:01,500
It's bidding on the Purple
Line project in Maryland,

494
00:22:01,500 --> 00:22:04,800
huge transportation
contract with the state.

495
00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:08,133
And historians say that
SNCF carried Jews and

496
00:22:08,133 --> 00:22:11,700
other Nazi prisoners to
the French-German border

497
00:22:11,700 --> 00:22:13,867
on the way to
concentration camps,

498
00:22:13,867 --> 00:22:16,800
and now there's critics --
Democrats and Republicans

499
00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:20,066
in Congress in the state
of Maryland as well

500
00:22:20,066 --> 00:22:23,734
who say that the rail company
under this company --

501
00:22:23,734 --> 00:22:25,934
I know it's somewhat
convoluted --

502
00:22:25,934 --> 00:22:29,533
should be paying restitution to
the victims if it's going

503
00:22:29,533 --> 00:22:32,867
to be allowed to bid on a
contract because

504
00:22:32,867 --> 00:22:34,966
it's U.S. taxpayer money.

505
00:22:34,967 --> 00:22:37,767
Is this something that
President Obama will

506
00:22:37,767 --> 00:22:40,000
address with
President Hollande?

507
00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:42,667
Mr. Carney: I'll have
to take the question.

508
00:22:42,667 --> 00:22:47,399
Generally, and when it
comes to the specific

509
00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:48,934
question about what
they're going to discuss,

510
00:22:48,934 --> 00:22:53,300
I would wait for both
Presidents to read out

511
00:22:53,300 --> 00:22:55,133
their discussions to you.

512
00:22:55,133 --> 00:22:56,400
So I don't have a preview.

513
00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:59,133
Obviously, we have a broad
and deep relationship with

514
00:22:59,133 --> 00:23:02,000
our oldest ally, and there
will be many issues

515
00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:03,367
that the two leaders
will discuss.

516
00:23:03,700 --> 00:23:06,066
On the broader question,
it sounds like maybe

517
00:23:06,066 --> 00:23:07,900
Department of
Transportation and others

518
00:23:07,900 --> 00:23:08,900
may be of more help to you,

519
00:23:08,900 --> 00:23:11,200
but I'll have to look into it.

520
00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:12,500
The Press: I mean, it's
actually

521
00:23:12,500 --> 00:23:13,467
a state issue, but now --

522
00:23:13,467 --> 00:23:14,967
Mr. Carney: I just --
Brianna, I just confess

523
00:23:14,967 --> 00:23:17,066
I'm not familiar with the
details of it so I would

524
00:23:17,066 --> 00:23:20,133
hesitate to provide an
answer,

525
00:23:20,133 --> 00:23:21,300
and I'll take the question.

526
00:23:21,300 --> 00:23:22,300
Ed.

527
00:23:22,300 --> 00:23:24,466
The Press: Jay, in
the op-ed today

528
00:23:24,467 --> 00:23:26,900
the two Presidents start off by
talking about Iran

529
00:23:26,900 --> 00:23:30,367
and they hail success in what
they call rolling back

530
00:23:30,367 --> 00:23:32,600
elements of Iran's
nuclear program.

531
00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:34,500
But today there are
reports about

532
00:23:34,500 --> 00:23:35,934
Iranian warships moving
closer

533
00:23:35,934 --> 00:23:37,100
to U.S. borders.

534
00:23:37,100 --> 00:23:39,632
There's also reports where
Iran is claiming

535
00:23:39,633 --> 00:23:42,633
that they successfully tested
two missiles.

536
00:23:42,633 --> 00:23:44,100
I wonder if you could
react to those

537
00:23:44,100 --> 00:23:48,734
reports and answer whether or
not that casts more doubt

538
00:23:48,734 --> 00:23:50,867
on Iran's intentions in these talks.

539
00:23:50,867 --> 00:23:52,133
Mr. Carney: Well,
first of all,

540
00:23:52,133 --> 00:23:53,500
there was an Iranian
announcement

541
00:23:53,500 --> 00:23:54,934
that they are moving ships

542
00:23:54,934 --> 00:23:58,100
close to the United States
and we have no evidence

543
00:23:58,100 --> 00:23:59,833
that Iran is, in fact,
sending ships

544
00:23:59,834 --> 00:24:01,967
close to the U.S. border.

545
00:24:01,967 --> 00:24:04,433
On the second issue,
I don't have anything

546
00:24:04,433 --> 00:24:06,734
specific on that, but I
can tell you that we have

547
00:24:06,734 --> 00:24:12,899
been clear that even as we
work with the P5-plus-1

548
00:24:12,900 --> 00:24:16,467
to test the hypothesis that
Iran is ready

549
00:24:16,467 --> 00:24:20,200
to meet its obligations to the
international community

550
00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:22,333
with regards to its
nuclear program,

551
00:24:22,333 --> 00:24:26,333
that we are at odds with Iran on
a number of issues

552
00:24:26,333 --> 00:24:33,667
and we continue to press hard
both directly

553
00:24:33,667 --> 00:24:36,533
as the United States and with
our international partners

554
00:24:36,533 --> 00:24:37,533
on those issues.

555
00:24:37,533 --> 00:24:40,265
And that includes matters
regarding missiles.

556
00:24:40,266 --> 00:24:42,300
But I don't have a
specific response to that.

557
00:24:42,300 --> 00:24:43,300
Maybe State does.

558
00:24:43,300 --> 00:24:44,767
The Press: But you
don't have any --

559
00:24:44,767 --> 00:24:46,300
you're raising doubt about
whether they're moving

560
00:24:46,300 --> 00:24:48,066
warships closer
to the U.S.

561
00:24:48,066 --> 00:24:50,266
Do you have any
reason to believe --

562
00:24:50,266 --> 00:24:51,667
Mr. Carney: Is FOX
reporting that

563
00:24:51,667 --> 00:24:53,300
they're moving warships
closer to the U.S.?

564
00:24:53,300 --> 00:24:55,133
The Press: It was
reported over the weekend

565
00:24:55,133 --> 00:24:56,767
that, as you say,
they claim that.

566
00:24:56,767 --> 00:24:59,066
They also claimed today --
and it's reported by AFP

567
00:24:59,066 --> 00:25:00,767
and many other wires
-- that they

568
00:25:00,767 --> 00:25:01,934
say they successfully
tested missiles.

569
00:25:01,934 --> 00:25:03,767
Do you believe
them or do you --

570
00:25:03,767 --> 00:25:06,934
Mr. Carney: Again,
I don't have a specific

571
00:25:06,934 --> 00:25:08,200
answer to that report.

572
00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:09,500
I'm sure we can get it to
you and I'm sure

573
00:25:09,500 --> 00:25:10,500
State has it.

574
00:25:10,500 --> 00:25:15,800
What I can tell you is
that we continue to have

575
00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:19,066
major disagreements with
Iran and we press

576
00:25:19,066 --> 00:25:21,066
very hard -- whether it's their
support for international

577
00:25:21,066 --> 00:25:24,367
terrorism, for Hezbollah,
or whether it's

578
00:25:24,367 --> 00:25:26,433
enforcement of existing
sanctions,

579
00:25:26,433 --> 00:25:32,433
we are not letting up on Iran on
a wide variety of issues

580
00:25:33,934 --> 00:25:38,233
where we are profoundly
in disagreement with them,

581
00:25:38,233 --> 00:25:40,066
and have rallied an
international

582
00:25:40,066 --> 00:25:42,367
consensus around that fact.

583
00:25:42,367 --> 00:25:45,700
The Press: Can you also
comment on -- you spoke

584
00:25:45,700 --> 00:25:47,233
earlier about Michael
Sam's announcement.

585
00:25:47,233 --> 00:25:49,033
Eric Holder, the
Attorney General,

586
00:25:49,033 --> 00:25:51,332
made a substantive policy
announcement over

587
00:25:51,333 --> 00:25:53,767
the weekend about making
sure all employees

588
00:25:53,767 --> 00:25:55,166
of the Justice Department,
anyone representing

589
00:25:55,166 --> 00:25:59,300
the U.S. government in court,
other arenas, are making sure

590
00:25:59,300 --> 00:26:02,433
that same-sex marriage
benefits go to as many

591
00:26:02,433 --> 00:26:03,433
people as possible.

592
00:26:03,433 --> 00:26:05,500
How far-reaching do
you think this will be?

593
00:26:05,500 --> 00:26:06,800
Mr. Carney: I
would refer you to the

594
00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:08,533
Department of Justice
for specifics about

595
00:26:08,533 --> 00:26:09,533
the Attorney General.

596
00:26:09,533 --> 00:26:11,466
The Press: I mean,
well, sorry, I don't want

597
00:26:11,467 --> 00:26:14,266
to get into every count of
it, but it would seem

598
00:26:14,266 --> 00:26:15,967
to be this is a pretty
important policy

599
00:26:15,967 --> 00:26:17,533
pronouncement from
the President's

600
00:26:17,533 --> 00:26:19,300
administration, beyond
just what Justice

601
00:26:19,300 --> 00:26:20,934
is technically going to do.

602
00:26:20,934 --> 00:26:24,000
I guess I'm trying to get
at how important

603
00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:25,734
is this to the President.

604
00:26:25,734 --> 00:26:27,699
Mr. Carney: That
American citizens

605
00:26:27,700 --> 00:26:29,300
enjoy equal rights?

606
00:26:29,300 --> 00:26:31,433
Pretty important;
profoundly so.

607
00:26:31,433 --> 00:26:32,433
Chuck.

608
00:26:32,433 --> 00:26:34,800
The Press: Jay, going
back to this AP drone

609
00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:37,133
story, I guess the part
I'm confused about

610
00:26:37,133 --> 00:26:40,433
is the President laid out that
he wanted to shift the

611
00:26:40,433 --> 00:26:42,734
decision-making process
from the CIA

612
00:26:42,734 --> 00:26:45,166
to the Defense Department.

613
00:26:45,166 --> 00:26:47,800
In the budget agreement
that the House

614
00:26:47,800 --> 00:26:51,066
and Senate came up -- it
specifically blocked money

615
00:26:51,066 --> 00:26:53,300
from being used to do just that.

616
00:26:53,300 --> 00:26:56,867
What is the status
of the drone?

617
00:26:56,867 --> 00:26:59,300
Can you at least say who's
running

618
00:26:59,300 --> 00:27:00,367
America's drone wars?

619
00:27:00,367 --> 00:27:01,899
Is it the CIA or is it
the Defense Department?

620
00:27:01,900 --> 00:27:04,667
Mr. Carney: Again, I
think I would point

621
00:27:04,667 --> 00:27:06,867
you to what the President
actually said,

622
00:27:06,867 --> 00:27:13,899
and repeat what I said earlier
about the President's views

623
00:27:13,900 --> 00:27:18,800
on how we reach near
certainty when it comes

624
00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:21,500
to civilian casualties not
occurring in targeted

625
00:27:21,500 --> 00:27:25,834
strikes, and his views
and our views on matters

626
00:27:25,834 --> 00:27:29,533
surrounding American
citizens who may have

627
00:27:29,533 --> 00:27:31,433
taken up arms against the
United States

628
00:27:31,433 --> 00:27:35,567
and who pose a direct threat to U.S. citizens.

629
00:27:35,567 --> 00:27:41,133
On the issues that you
raise I would refer you

630
00:27:41,133 --> 00:27:42,133
to the content of the speech.

631
00:27:42,133 --> 00:27:43,734
I don't have anything
more for you.

632
00:27:43,734 --> 00:27:47,066
The Press: Well, I know
the content of the speech

633
00:27:47,066 --> 00:27:48,600
said that, but then there
was what Congress passed

634
00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:49,600
in the budget bill, which
was, among other things,

635
00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:51,800
also had Gitmo not being
allowed any -- does this

636
00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:53,367
mean the change happened
or didn't happen?

637
00:27:53,367 --> 00:27:55,066
Mr. Carney: I just
don't have anything more

638
00:27:55,066 --> 00:27:56,066
for you on it, Chuck.

639
00:27:56,066 --> 00:28:00,066
The Press: Second,
Senator Menendez is being

640
00:28:00,066 --> 00:28:06,633
investigated about whether
he has intervened

641
00:28:06,633 --> 00:28:09,367
on behalf of these fugitive
brothers from Ecuador,

642
00:28:09,367 --> 00:28:10,700
the Isaias brothers.

643
00:28:10,700 --> 00:28:13,100
He told a colleague
of mine on Friday that

644
00:28:13,100 --> 00:28:15,367
because the White House
-- because the Obama

645
00:28:15,367 --> 00:28:17,934
administration has not
pursued extradition

646
00:28:17,934 --> 00:28:21,399
of these brothers back to
Ecuador that it means

647
00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:23,233
the Obama administration
agrees with Senator

648
00:28:23,233 --> 00:28:25,600
Menendez and that the
White House agrees

649
00:28:25,600 --> 00:28:28,766
with Senator Menendez that they
should not be extradited.

650
00:28:28,767 --> 00:28:32,333
Do you have any way that
you can characterize this?

651
00:28:32,333 --> 00:28:33,367
Mr. Carney: No.

652
00:28:33,367 --> 00:28:34,367
(laughter)

653
00:28:34,367 --> 00:28:35,367
Does
anyone else?

654
00:28:35,367 --> 00:28:37,265
No, I mean, on issues of
extradition

655
00:28:37,266 --> 00:28:40,500
I would refer you to State and
Justice,

656
00:28:40,500 --> 00:28:41,533
but I don't have any -

657
00:28:41,533 --> 00:28:43,567
The Press: Do you have
any specific information

658
00:28:43,567 --> 00:28:44,600
on the Isaias brothers?

659
00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:45,632
Mr. Carney: I don't.

660
00:28:45,633 --> 00:28:46,633
I do not.

661
00:28:46,633 --> 00:28:48,200
The Press: Speaking of
Attorney General Holder,

662
00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:50,500
he told The New Yorker
today he is going

663
00:28:50,500 --> 00:28:52,033
to step down sometime this year.

664
00:28:52,033 --> 00:28:53,567
What's the President's
reaction to that?

665
00:28:53,567 --> 00:28:55,533
Mr. Carney: I haven't
spoken to the President

666
00:28:55,533 --> 00:28:56,966
about that report.

667
00:28:56,967 --> 00:28:59,700
The Press: Does
the White House or the

668
00:28:59,700 --> 00:29:01,600
administration have a
position on whether

669
00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:04,632
it was rebels or Syrian
government that

670
00:29:04,633 --> 00:29:07,266
was behind the attacks this
week

671
00:29:07,266 --> 00:29:08,567
on U.N. envoys?

672
00:29:08,567 --> 00:29:10,266
Mr. Carney: That's
a good question.

673
00:29:10,266 --> 00:29:11,600
What I can tell you is
that

674
00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:12,734
we're following developments and

675
00:29:12,734 --> 00:29:16,899
reports from Homs extremely closely.

676
00:29:16,900 --> 00:29:21,667
And we are aware of the
conflicting reporting,

677
00:29:21,667 --> 00:29:23,966
but we're not -- in terms of
who is responsible,

678
00:29:23,967 --> 00:29:26,500
we're not in a position to
confirm or corroborate

679
00:29:26,500 --> 00:29:28,533
these reports
at this time.

680
00:29:28,533 --> 00:29:30,367
We are looking for further
clarity and additional

681
00:29:30,367 --> 00:29:31,367
information as well.

682
00:29:31,633 --> 00:29:33,667
However, it does appear
that whoever targeted

683
00:29:33,667 --> 00:29:35,734
the humanitarian aid convoys
deliberately

684
00:29:35,734 --> 00:29:38,500
did not want the food and other
assistance

685
00:29:38,500 --> 00:29:40,333
to get into Homs.

686
00:29:40,333 --> 00:29:41,834
What does that tell you?

687
00:29:41,834 --> 00:29:43,800
Based off of past words
and actions,

688
00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:47,166
we all know which side in this
conflict was in the past

689
00:29:47,166 --> 00:29:49,332
opposed to getting
aid into Homs.

690
00:29:49,333 --> 00:29:52,934
So, again, we're
investigating conflicting

691
00:29:52,934 --> 00:29:57,166
reports, so we cannot
confirm one way

692
00:29:57,166 --> 00:30:00,133
or the other at this time,
but there is some past

693
00:30:00,133 --> 00:30:03,400
practice here and past
rhetoric here that

694
00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:07,000
suggests who might
be responsible.

695
00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:08,467
The Press: And there's
some discussion

696
00:30:08,467 --> 00:30:10,233
of a potential U.N. resolution

697
00:30:10,233 --> 00:30:12,633
to make sure
the aid does

698
00:30:12,633 --> 00:30:13,834
get into Homs.

699
00:30:13,834 --> 00:30:16,667
Is that something the U.S. would support?

700
00:30:16,667 --> 00:30:19,332
Mr. Carney: We support
a humanitarian resolution

701
00:30:19,333 --> 00:30:21,533
in principle,
as do other U.N.

702
00:30:21,533 --> 00:30:24,033
Security Council
member states.

703
00:30:24,033 --> 00:30:25,966
The Security Council
must actively support the

704
00:30:25,967 --> 00:30:27,734
principle that all
barriers preventing

705
00:30:27,734 --> 00:30:30,066
humanitarian access to all
parts of the country and

706
00:30:30,066 --> 00:30:33,333
all civilians be
removed immediately.

707
00:30:33,333 --> 00:30:35,066
The United States has
worked with our partners

708
00:30:35,066 --> 00:30:36,066
on the U.N.

709
00:30:36,066 --> 00:30:38,000
Security Council to
develop a draft resolution

710
00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:39,967
that we feel includes
provisions that

711
00:30:39,967 --> 00:30:43,166
go beyond the October 2nd
Security Council Presidential

712
00:30:43,166 --> 00:30:44,934
statement to address
the need

713
00:30:44,934 --> 00:30:47,300
for greater humanitarian access.

714
00:30:47,300 --> 00:30:49,966
So we're continuing to
work with Security Council

715
00:30:49,967 --> 00:30:50,967
member states
on this issue.

716
00:30:50,967 --> 00:30:52,233
The Press: Thanks.

717
00:30:52,233 --> 00:30:53,500
Mr. Carney: Leslie.

718
00:30:53,500 --> 00:30:57,300
The Press: Jay, going
back to Eric Holder --

719
00:30:57,300 --> 00:31:00,767
a public advocacy group
today filed a lawsuit

720
00:31:00,767 --> 00:31:04,600
in D.C. seeking to block the
agreement between Justice

721
00:31:04,600 --> 00:31:07,766
and JPMorgan Chase, saying
that it was an overreach

722
00:31:07,767 --> 00:31:08,900
of executive power.

723
00:31:08,900 --> 00:31:11,133
Given the President was
a constitutional scholar,

724
00:31:11,133 --> 00:31:13,967
would he agree that this
case didn't go before

725
00:31:13,967 --> 00:31:15,900
a court or a judge --

726
00:31:15,900 --> 00:31:18,100
Mr. Carney: I think
I would refer

727
00:31:18,100 --> 00:31:21,265
you to the Justice Department
for that kind of ruling.

728
00:31:21,266 --> 00:31:22,266
Andrei.

729
00:31:22,266 --> 00:31:23,266
The Press:
Thank you, Jay.

730
00:31:23,266 --> 00:31:25,834
Obviously the Olympics --
what can you tell us about

731
00:31:25,834 --> 00:31:27,633
the President following
the Olympics

732
00:31:27,633 --> 00:31:29,433
or not following the Olympics?

733
00:31:29,433 --> 00:31:31,600
Did he watch the
opening ceremony?

734
00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:33,033
What did he think?

735
00:31:33,033 --> 00:31:35,567
Any other highlights
you want to share?

736
00:31:35,567 --> 00:31:36,567
(laughter)

737
00:31:36,567 --> 00:31:38,600
Mr. Carney: Well, I
can tell you that the

738
00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:43,332
President is very excited
by the fact that

739
00:31:43,333 --> 00:31:44,633
the games are underway.

740
00:31:44,633 --> 00:31:47,066
And there's been some
terrific competition

741
00:31:47,066 --> 00:31:49,834
already, some amazing
performances

742
00:31:49,834 --> 00:31:55,300
including by some American
snowboarders.

743
00:31:55,300 --> 00:31:57,500
But I have not gotten a
detailed readout from

744
00:31:57,500 --> 00:32:00,100
the President yet as to which
events he was able to

745
00:32:00,100 --> 00:32:03,399
catch and which he
has just caught up on.

746
00:32:03,400 --> 00:32:07,200
But I think everyone here
is thrilled that

747
00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:12,166
the games are underway and that
the competition

748
00:32:12,166 --> 00:32:14,833
has been exciting thus far.

749
00:32:14,834 --> 00:32:17,000
The Press: Thank you.

750
00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:21,567
And on the other issue,
the history --

751
00:32:21,567 --> 00:32:24,800
May was before Snowden
came out, right?

752
00:32:24,800 --> 00:32:29,700
And basically my question
is if Snowden

753
00:32:29,700 --> 00:32:34,367
is an American citizen free from
the threat of physical

754
00:32:34,367 --> 00:32:36,600
harm from his government?

755
00:32:36,600 --> 00:32:39,533
Mr. Carney: The
position of the

756
00:32:39,533 --> 00:32:42,265
administration is that
Mr. Snowden has been

757
00:32:42,266 --> 00:32:44,633
charged with felony
offenses and ought

758
00:32:44,633 --> 00:32:47,867
to be returned to the United
States where he will

759
00:32:47,867 --> 00:32:50,466
be accorded the full rights
and benefits

760
00:32:50,467 --> 00:32:53,533
and due process of those who are
accused

761
00:32:53,533 --> 00:32:55,934
in our system of justice.

762
00:32:55,934 --> 00:32:56,934
Chris.

763
00:32:56,934 --> 00:32:58,667
The Press: Thanks, Jay.

764
00:32:58,667 --> 00:33:00,367
Three topics, one
question each.

765
00:33:00,367 --> 00:33:02,834
You've said before, the
White House expects --

766
00:33:02,834 --> 00:33:04,667
Mr. Carney: At least
he's honest

767
00:33:04,667 --> 00:33:05,667
about it, right?

768
00:33:05,667 --> 00:33:06,667
(laughter)

769
00:33:06,667 --> 00:33:07,667
The Press: You said
before the White House

770
00:33:07,667 --> 00:33:08,966
expects Russia to conduct
the Olympics

771
00:33:08,967 --> 00:33:10,367
in a way that welcomes everyone.

772
00:33:10,367 --> 00:33:12,000
According to The New York
Times over the weekend,

773
00:33:12,000 --> 00:33:14,433
at least 61 protestors were
arrested nationwide,

774
00:33:14,433 --> 00:33:15,834
some over LGBT rights.

775
00:33:15,834 --> 00:33:18,300
Is that in line with
the President's

776
00:33:18,300 --> 00:33:19,734
view for welcoming --

777
00:33:19,734 --> 00:33:22,300
Mr. Carney: I think
broadly speaking, in terms

778
00:33:22,300 --> 00:33:26,934
of the matter of LGBT
rights in Russia,

779
00:33:26,934 --> 00:33:30,100
the President has been very
clear, and I think he was

780
00:33:30,100 --> 00:33:32,265
clear in his interview
with Bob Costas of NBC

781
00:33:32,266 --> 00:33:35,033
on the evening of the
opening ceremonies.

782
00:33:35,033 --> 00:33:39,600
So we strongly express our
views when it comes

783
00:33:39,600 --> 00:33:46,934
to any crackdown on those who
are expressing

784
00:33:46,934 --> 00:33:48,066
their opinions peacefully.

785
00:33:48,066 --> 00:33:51,934
But I don't have anything
specific with regards

786
00:33:51,934 --> 00:33:54,633
to the games themselves
on these matters.

787
00:33:54,633 --> 00:33:56,633
But our views on
them haven't changed.

788
00:33:56,633 --> 00:33:58,400
The Press: And on
Michael Sam, I gather from

789
00:33:58,400 --> 00:33:59,800
what you said that the
President hasn't reached

790
00:33:59,800 --> 00:34:00,966
out to him in the wake

791
00:34:00,967 --> 00:34:01,567
of his announcement last night.

792
00:34:01,567 --> 00:34:03,033
Mr. Carney: I just
don't have any updates

793
00:34:03,033 --> 00:34:03,833
for you on the President.

794
00:34:03,834 --> 00:34:06,700
The Press: I'm just
wondering because

795
00:34:06,700 --> 00:34:08,199
Jason Collins -- he called Jason
Collins when

796
00:34:08,199 --> 00:34:09,399
he came out last year.

797
00:34:09,400 --> 00:34:10,300
I'm just wondering why he
didn't

798
00:34:10,300 --> 00:34:11,800
do the same thing for Michael.

799
00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:13,867
Mr. Carney: Again, I
don't have anything

800
00:34:13,867 --> 00:34:14,967
on the President's
schedule right now.

801
00:34:14,967 --> 00:34:16,700
The Press: Also, Eric
Holder's announcement over

802
00:34:16,699 --> 00:34:18,199
the weekend regarding
the extension of same-sex

803
00:34:18,199 --> 00:34:20,265
rights -- there was a lot
of media attention

804
00:34:20,266 --> 00:34:22,633
and sort of reaction to that
over the weekend

805
00:34:22,632 --> 00:34:24,232
for an announcement that
basically amounted

806
00:34:24,233 --> 00:34:27,233
to complying with a court
order so that a spouse

807
00:34:27,233 --> 00:34:29,900
wouldn't be forced to
testify against their

808
00:34:29,900 --> 00:34:32,000
spouse in federal court.

809
00:34:32,000 --> 00:34:32,967
I'm just wondering if
you were surprised

810
00:34:32,967 --> 00:34:35,734
by the reaction about that
over the weekend.

811
00:34:35,734 --> 00:34:39,567
Mr. Carney: I
mean, I don't have

812
00:34:39,567 --> 00:34:43,233
a characterization to make
about the coverage

813
00:34:43,233 --> 00:34:44,967
or the reaction except to
say that the President

814
00:34:44,967 --> 00:34:47,133
believes every American
ought

815
00:34:47,132 --> 00:34:48,866
to be afforded equal rights.

816
00:34:48,867 --> 00:34:56,667
And he certainly supports
that instance of his view

817
00:34:56,667 --> 00:34:58,033
-- or actions taken that
reflect

818
00:34:58,033 --> 00:34:59,066
his view in this case.

819
00:35:00,133 --> 00:35:02,332
The Press: As you know,
the second round

820
00:35:02,333 --> 00:35:04,133
of the Geneva talks
started today.

821
00:35:04,133 --> 00:35:06,000
The expectation
is pretty low.

822
00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:08,033
How do you expect it to be
different from

823
00:35:08,033 --> 00:35:09,100
the first round?

824
00:35:09,100 --> 00:35:11,933
And also, it was reported
over the weekend

825
00:35:11,934 --> 00:35:15,367
that Iran has been supporting
ISIS-al Qaeda in northern

826
00:35:15,367 --> 00:35:17,667
Syria, and they give
some details of names

827
00:35:17,667 --> 00:35:19,967
and operatives and some
kind of evidence.

828
00:35:19,967 --> 00:35:22,200
Can you share some
information

829
00:35:22,200 --> 00:35:22,633
with us on that?

830
00:35:22,633 --> 00:35:23,100
Mr. Carney: I'm going
to ask you to repeat

831
00:35:23,100 --> 00:35:24,232
the second question
in a minute.

832
00:35:24,233 --> 00:35:28,834
I can tell you that
the second round

833
00:35:28,967 --> 00:35:31,867
of discussions did begin
today in Geneva and Joint

834
00:35:31,867 --> 00:35:37,633
Special Representative
Brahimi

835
00:35:37,633 --> 00:35:38,633
met with the two sides separately

836
00:35:38,633 --> 00:35:39,633
to discuss the agenda of the second round.

837
00:35:39,633 --> 00:35:40,799
And we are pleased that
these talks will continue,

838
00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:45,433
but there is obviously
a lot of work ahead.

839
00:35:45,433 --> 00:35:47,433
We recognize that this
will be a long

840
00:35:47,433 --> 00:35:49,633
and difficult process.

841
00:35:50,500 --> 00:35:54,066
I don't have any more
detail about the agenda.

842
00:35:54,066 --> 00:35:59,133
We obviously are pressing,
together with our partners

843
00:35:59,133 --> 00:36:03,232
on this issue, for a
negotiated political

844
00:36:03,233 --> 00:36:04,333
settlement to
the conflict.

845
00:36:04,333 --> 00:36:07,533
It's the only way to
end this conflict.

846
00:36:07,533 --> 00:36:11,767
And it is certainly a good
thing that

847
00:36:11,767 --> 00:36:15,299
the two sides are sitting down
together in Geneva.

848
00:36:15,300 --> 00:36:16,834
And the second question?

849
00:36:16,834 --> 00:36:18,332
The Press: First on
the first one --

850
00:36:18,333 --> 00:36:21,066
so the success to you is
basically both sides

851
00:36:21,066 --> 00:36:23,100
are staying in the same
room and negotiating?

852
00:36:23,100 --> 00:36:24,799
Mr. Carney: I
didn't say that.

853
00:36:24,800 --> 00:36:25,600
I said progress.

854
00:36:25,600 --> 00:36:32,000
It is important that
they are sitting down

855
00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:34,967
and together, but there
is a long way to go.

856
00:36:34,967 --> 00:36:39,100
There is no alternative
to a negotiated political

857
00:36:39,100 --> 00:36:42,100
settlement in this case.

858
00:36:42,100 --> 00:36:45,133
And that is what the
Geneva process

859
00:36:45,133 --> 00:36:49,100
is all about, is trying to reach
that negotiated political

860
00:36:49,100 --> 00:36:51,734
settlement on behalf
of the Syrian people.

861
00:36:51,734 --> 00:36:53,900
The Press: Second
question is, there were

862
00:36:53,900 --> 00:36:57,700
reports that Iran has
been supporting ISIS

863
00:36:57,700 --> 00:37:02,466
in northern Syria and al
Qaeda and they have some

864
00:37:02,467 --> 00:37:04,467
detailed information about

865
00:37:04,467 --> 00:37:07,166
operatives' names, et cetera.

866
00:37:07,166 --> 00:37:09,000
Can you shed some
information, how does this

867
00:37:09,000 --> 00:37:13,133
affect the relationship
with Iran and the nuclear

868
00:37:13,133 --> 00:37:14,100
five, or even separately?

869
00:37:14,467 --> 00:37:16,867
Mr. Carney: What I can
tell you is that

870
00:37:16,867 --> 00:37:23,166
on all the broader issues that
we have with Iran we maintain

871
00:37:23,166 --> 00:37:26,100
the exact posture that we
did in the past,

872
00:37:26,100 --> 00:37:31,299
and that includes Iran's support
for its destabilizing

873
00:37:31,300 --> 00:37:35,133
efforts in the region, its
support for Hezbollah

874
00:37:35,133 --> 00:37:39,133
and terrorism and terrorist
organizations in general,

875
00:37:39,133 --> 00:37:41,899
and it also includes the
enforcement of existing

876
00:37:41,900 --> 00:37:47,367
sanctions when it comes
to its nuclear program.

877
00:37:47,367 --> 00:37:52,533
So we're very clear-eyed
about Iranian behavior.

878
00:37:52,533 --> 00:37:55,700
We are also working
with our international

879
00:37:55,700 --> 00:37:59,366
partners, the so-called
P5-plus-1, to see whether

880
00:37:59,367 --> 00:38:03,834
or not we can resolve this
major challenge to the

881
00:38:03,834 --> 00:38:06,466
international community
and to the safety and

882
00:38:06,467 --> 00:38:08,800
security of the people in
the region and the world,

883
00:38:08,800 --> 00:38:11,867
and that's Iran's nuclear
weapons program,

884
00:38:11,867 --> 00:38:14,967
through peaceful diplomacy
because it is in everyone's

885
00:38:14,967 --> 00:38:17,367
interests to see whether
or not it can

886
00:38:17,367 --> 00:38:20,734
be resolved through diplomacy.

887
00:38:20,734 --> 00:38:25,066
But we're very clear-eyed
about that process and

888
00:38:25,066 --> 00:38:26,799
certainly about the
broader issues

889
00:38:26,800 --> 00:38:31,200
we have with Iran's conduct
around the region and the world.

890
00:38:31,200 --> 00:38:33,767
The Press: My question
is if there is clear

891
00:38:33,767 --> 00:38:35,466
evidence that actually
they are supporting

892
00:38:35,467 --> 00:38:37,166
al Qaeda and ISIS, would
there

893
00:38:37,166 --> 00:38:38,300
be consequences for it?

894
00:38:38,300 --> 00:38:39,734
I'm not talking about --

895
00:38:39,734 --> 00:38:40,933
Mr. Carney: First of all,

896
00:38:40,934 --> 00:38:41,934
you're saying "if, if."

897
00:38:41,934 --> 00:38:48,734
What I can say is that our
support for a very tough

898
00:38:48,734 --> 00:38:51,232
approach to Iran when
it supports terrorist

899
00:38:51,233 --> 00:38:54,033
organizations will not
and has not changed.

900
00:38:54,033 --> 00:39:00,366
And separately, we
are pursuing with

901
00:39:00,367 --> 00:39:07,033
our P5-plus-1 partners the
potential for a negotiated

902
00:39:07,033 --> 00:39:10,533
resolution to the issue
and the challenges posed

903
00:39:10,533 --> 00:39:16,667
by Iran's nuclear program,
a verifiable resolution

904
00:39:16,667 --> 00:39:19,633
that would reassure the
international community

905
00:39:19,633 --> 00:39:22,700
that Iran does not and
will not obtain --

906
00:39:22,700 --> 00:39:24,834
does not have and will not
obtain a nuclear weapon.

907
00:39:24,834 --> 00:39:25,933
The Press: Jay.

908
00:39:25,934 --> 00:39:27,400
Mr. Carney: Yes, Goyal.

909
00:39:27,400 --> 00:39:29,233
The Press:
Thanks very much.

910
00:39:29,233 --> 00:39:30,233
Two questions.

911
00:39:30,233 --> 00:39:32,533
One, India is going
through major national

912
00:39:32,533 --> 00:39:35,700
elections in the next few
months, and the ruling

913
00:39:35,700 --> 00:39:38,200
party may not be very
favorable in the future,

914
00:39:38,200 --> 00:39:40,899
but the major candidate is
Mr. Narenda Modi,

915
00:39:40,900 --> 00:39:43,967
who is a very famous from
the BJP party.

916
00:39:43,967 --> 00:39:47,033
But his visa has been
a problem for the U.S.

917
00:39:47,033 --> 00:39:50,200
He is not getting a visa
to visit the U.S., even

918
00:39:50,200 --> 00:39:54,299
though he's President and
other party leaders --

919
00:39:54,300 --> 00:39:55,066
Mr. Carney: Do you
have a question, Goyal?

920
00:39:55,066 --> 00:39:57,265
The Press: My question
is that, the President

921
00:39:57,266 --> 00:39:59,467
has been briefed on this
because since

922
00:39:59,467 --> 00:40:01,433
he may be the next Prime
Minister of India?

923
00:40:01,433 --> 00:40:03,100
Mr. Carney: I would
refer questions about

924
00:40:03,100 --> 00:40:04,567
visas to the
State Department.

925
00:40:04,567 --> 00:40:06,834
The Press: Second,
as far as immigration

926
00:40:06,834 --> 00:40:09,700
is concerned, millions of
people are living -- are

927
00:40:09,700 --> 00:40:12,500
underpaid and living under
sweatshops and all that,

928
00:40:12,500 --> 00:40:13,600
and they are paying taxes.

929
00:40:13,600 --> 00:40:14,600
And they're asking if they
are eligible

930
00:40:14,600 --> 00:40:21,933
for the Obama -- this health
care program.

931
00:40:21,934 --> 00:40:25,100
And also what message the
President has for those

932
00:40:25,100 --> 00:40:29,333
people who have been
paying taxes and living

933
00:40:29,333 --> 00:40:30,667
really under the
sweatshops

934
00:40:30,667 --> 00:40:31,667
and so forth?

935
00:40:31,667 --> 00:40:32,667
Mr. Carney: I'm sorry?

936
00:40:32,667 --> 00:40:33,734
Are you speaking about
the United States?

937
00:40:33,734 --> 00:40:35,533
The Press: Here,
yes, in the U.S.

938
00:40:35,533 --> 00:40:36,266
-- illegal immigrants.

939
00:40:36,266 --> 00:40:38,467
They're paying
taxes and also --

940
00:40:38,467 --> 00:40:39,633
Mr. Carney: The
Affordable Care Act does

941
00:40:39,633 --> 00:40:42,633
not extend benefits
to non-U.S.

942
00:40:42,633 --> 00:40:42,966
citizens undocumented
immigrants.

943
00:40:42,967 --> 00:40:45,333
The Press: So what
they're asking really that

944
00:40:45,333 --> 00:40:47,166
they've been hoping that
the President will come

945
00:40:47,166 --> 00:40:49,367
out and support this
immigration issue,

946
00:40:49,367 --> 00:40:53,400
and they're relying on him for
the last five plus years.

947
00:40:53,400 --> 00:40:54,567
Mr. Carney: Well,
the President believes

948
00:40:54,567 --> 00:40:56,700
strongly that working with
Democrats

949
00:40:56,700 --> 00:40:57,700
and Republicans in Congress,

950
00:40:57,700 --> 00:40:59,399
we need to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

951
00:40:59,400 --> 00:41:01,667
But the Affordable Care
Act

952
00:41:01,667 --> 00:41:03,133
is very clear on this issue.

953
00:41:03,133 --> 00:41:04,133
The Press: Thanks, Jay.

954
00:41:04,133 --> 00:41:05,165
Mr. Carney:
Thanks, everybody.