English subtitles for clip: File:2-11-13- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Carney:
Good afternoon,
ladies and gentlemen.

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Good afternoon.

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Welcome to the White House
for your daily briefing.

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I know there's a call time for
the Medal of Honor ceremony,

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so we're going to have to keep
this quick so everybody who

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wants to attend, or is scheduled
to attend, can do that.

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I just wanted to note at the top
-- and I'll do this quickly --

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that you probably saw a blog
post by Senior Advisor Dan

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Pfeiffer over the weekend that
makes clear a couple of points,

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and that is that, first, there
is no reason why we should allow

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the sequester, with its
indiscriminate cuts,

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to take effect.

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It is wholly false that the
President has not put forward

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proposals that would
eliminate the sequester.

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In fact, he's done
it three times --

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first, with his proposal
to the super committee,

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which would have eliminated
the sequester entirely.

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That was the whole idea behind
the super committee's work.

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Second, with his budget.

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And third, in his proposal
to Speaker Boehner,

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which met Republicans more than
halfway on spending cuts and

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entitlement reforms and
revenues late last year.

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We call on Congress -- as
you heard the President do --

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to allow itself the time and
space to work together towards

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a broader budget agreement
that eliminates the sequester

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entirely and reduces our deficit
further by passing a short-term

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delay in the sequester in a
balanced, responsible way --

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without drama, without delay,
without inflicting the kind of

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unnecessary wound on our economy
that we should absolutely not be

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allowing to happen at this time.

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So I would also like to
address briefly the fallacious

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assertions that Republicans have
been making about who wants the

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sequester and who doesn't.

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Let's just be clear: When the
Budget Control Act passed on

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August 11th, 2011, through
the House of Representatives,

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it passed by a
vote of 269 to 161.

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Based on statements
by Republicans today,

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you would have thought that the
vast majority of that vote was

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from Democrats.

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Well, in fact, 174 of
the 269 were Republicans,

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House Republicans.

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Only 95 Democrats
voted for that bill.

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And that included every
Republican leader --

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Speaker Boehner, Majority Leader
Cantor, Congressman McCarthy,

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Congressman Ryan.

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The Speaker of the House, John
Boehner, that day told CBS,

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"I got 98% of what I wanted.

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I'm pretty happy."

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So I'm not sure how that
squares with some of the

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commentary we've seen
in the last few weeks.

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With that, I'll
take your questions.

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Jim.

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The Press:
Thanks, Jay.

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On that issue, particularly
on the short-term solution

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that buys time and space, some
lawmakers are suggesting that

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Congress could give the
President authority to

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better target some of these
cuts in the short term.

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Would the President
be amenable to that?

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That would be one way to avoid
the kind of meat-cleaver

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approach that you say that
sequester imposes on the budget.

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Mr. Carney:
Well, Jim, I'm not sure if
you were in the seat on Friday;

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we had a pretty
lengthy briefing --

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gaggle with some
experts on this.

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There is simply --

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there is no convenient exit ramp
to the punitive nature of these

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across-the-board cuts.

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They would have a devastating
effect on our economy.

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They would threaten
the jobs of hundreds

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of thousands of Americans.

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They would severely affect
middle-class Americans.

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They would harm our
national security.

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There is no means by
which you can avoid that.

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The issue here is we don't
have to have it happen.

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The Congress passed on January
1st a measure that extended the

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sequester by two months,
that bought it down,

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that delayed it to
allow for more time

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and congressional consideration.

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We need to do that again.

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When the Congress did it
just a few months ago,

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they did it in a way
that was balanced.

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They ought to do that again.

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There is simply no reason that
we should inflict this kind of

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direct harm on our economy when
we don't have to; when, in fact,

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what we're trying to do here
is, as the President said,

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embrace the fact that in
Congress there is a movement

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towards returning to so-called
regular order when it comes to

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budget processes, and to allow
that process to move forward,

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allow it to generate, hopefully,
a balanced deficit reduction

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plan that continues to invest in
our economy in the right areas

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to help it grow; and
let that produce --

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that process produce a
result that the President

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hopefully can sign.

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In the meantime, we ought to
take the common-sense measure to

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buy down the sequester without
drama so that we don't have,

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in the midst of a year when we
are poised for further economic

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growth and job creation, a
real setback to our economy.

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The Press:
But I don't think they're
-- I don't think I see this

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as an offering.

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It's just placing
the authority --

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some would say the
responsibility --

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on the White House to
just identify where those

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short-term cuts could --

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Mr. Carney:
Well, and first of
all, the -- as again,

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I would point you to the
detailed briefing that was

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given here on Friday from
some of the experts and this

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question was asked.

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The law is written
as it's written.

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It's punitive, it's
across the board.

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The way that it would have
negative impacts would be felt

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in manners that would do
great harm to our economy.

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And when you're talking about
$85 billion over the short

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period of time that
we're talking about,

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the impact would be significant
no matter how you applied it.

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The Press:
Real quick -- on the State
of the Union, a lot of us

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are reporting about the emphasis
on job creation and the economy.

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The President is going to
talk about infrastructure,

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public works, emphasis on
educational opportunities.

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Those are things that he
emphasized in his first term

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and, to some degree,
they sound recycled.

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And I'm wondering what's going
to be new about them this time,

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and does the President need to
emphasize that the economy is

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perhaps in a worse place
than it was before in order

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to make that case?

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Mr. Carney:
Well, the economy is not in a
worse place than it was before.

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If you talk about the comparison
between now and when he gave his

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first State of the Union
address, there is no comparison.

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We were in economic freefall.

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What the President has been
saying and I'm sure will say

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again is that we are at a moment
when the economy is poised to

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continue to grow, to continue
to build on the progress we've

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made, to continue to build on
the job creation that we've

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achieved -- over 6.

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1 million jobs created by
our businesses over the past

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35 or 36 months.

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What is also true -- I mean,
the idea that his emphasis

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on the need to continue to
create jobs or to continue

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to have our manufacturing sector
expand -- that work isn't done.

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So you can believe that he will
continue to focus on that.

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I've said many times that his
principal preoccupation as

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President has been the need to
first reverse the devastating

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decline in our economy and then
set it on a trajectory where

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it's growing in a way that
helps the middle class,

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makes it more secure, and makes
it expand so that those who are

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trying to reach
into the middle --

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to climb the ladder, if you
will, into the middle class --

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have that opportunity.

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That is absolutely going to be
his focus in the second term as

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it was in the first term.

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The Press:
So if that's his focus, in
the speech are we going to

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hear specifics about new
plans for manufacturing,

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new plans for these
areas of economic growth?

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Can we expect to hear that?

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Mr. Carney:
Well, I obviously will
not get into specifics.

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But you will hear in the
President's State of the

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Union an outline from him for
his plan to create jobs and grow

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the middle class.

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The President has always
viewed the two speeches,

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the Inaugural Address and
the State of The Union,

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as two acts in the same play.

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And the fact is, while there
was a focus on some of the

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other elements of
the Inaugural Address,

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that the core emphasis that he
has always placed in these big

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speeches remains the same
and will remain the same,

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which is the need to make the
economy work for the middle

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class, because the middle class
is the engine that drives this

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country forward and which will,
if it is given the right tools

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and the right opportunities,
will drive us forward in the

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21st century.

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I'm not going to get into
specifics in terms of my preview

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here of the State of the Union.

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But he will focus on the
proposals that are necessary

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to help the middle class grow
and help the economy grow.

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The Press:
Does the President plan to call
for cuts in nuclear arms in his

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speech, as the New York
Times has reported?

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Mr. Carney:
Well, I would say that the
President made clear publicly

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his desire to further
reduce nuclear arms.

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I don't think there was anything
new in the story that suggested

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to the contrary.

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His commitment to arms
control and nuclear reductions

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is well known.

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But I do not anticipate a new
announcement in the State of

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the Union address.

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Dan.

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The Press:
Thanks, Jay.

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Some Republicans are being
critical of the President's

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focus, what's expected to happen
during the State of the Union on

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jobs and the economy, saying
that he's now pivoting back to

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jobs and dropped the ball
during his Inaugural Address.

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Do they have a point there
that the President hasn't been

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emphasizing job creation over
the last few months and now is

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suddenly turning back to it?

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Mr. Carney:
Well, I would argue that all
the time we collectively spent

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at the end of the year right up
until New Year's Day focused on

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a fiscal cliff deal was very
much about the need to take

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action to ensure that we didn't
inflict harm on our economy,

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to take action to ensure
that regular folks out there,

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middle-class Americans, had tax
cuts extended to allow them to

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make ends meet and to avoid
the so-called fiscal cliff.

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I don't have the
numbers for you,

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but it is simply a fact that
while the Inaugural Address

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contained within it very
powerful lines from the

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President about issues like
comprehensive immigration reform

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or the need to address climate
change or gun violence,

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all of those issues combined
got less space, if you will,

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in the Inaugural Address
than the economy and jobs.

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And that reflects the
overall approach that

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the President takes.

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It also reflects the fact that
when you talk about an issue

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like comprehensive
immigration reform,

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we're talking about an economic
issue as businesses large and

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small will tell you.

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And that is why we've been
seeing so much support for

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bipartisan efforts from the
business community to push

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forward comprehensive
immigration reform.

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So there's no pivot here.

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The President's principal
preoccupation since he ran for

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this office, beginning in 2007,
has been what we need to do to

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make our economy work
for the middle class,

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to help expand the middle class;
to give average Americans the

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opportunities they need to help
this economy grow and to help it

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be as strong and dominant
in the 21st century as it

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was in the 20th.

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You'll hear that again
in the State of the Union

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Address tomorrow night.

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The Press:
And how do you answer the
critics who say despite all

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of what the President has done,
or what the White House has --

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this administration
has been pushing,

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that unemployment
still remains near 8%,

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and they see that as a failure?

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Mr. Carney:
Well, I see it as a challenge,
and I know the President does.

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You've always heard
from the President,

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every time he
addresses this issue,

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that while we have come far from
the catastrophe that faced this

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country in January of 2009, we
have come not nearly far enough.

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We have not reached
where we need to be.

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The fact is that
terrible recession,

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00:12:17,233 --> 00:12:20,333
the Great Recession -- the worst
economy that we've faced in our

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00:12:20,333 --> 00:12:24,900
lifetimes -- took
nearly 9 million jobs.

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00:12:24,900 --> 00:12:26,033
That is an enormous hole.

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00:12:26,033 --> 00:12:29,033
And because of the efforts
of the President and this

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00:12:29,033 --> 00:12:31,967
administration and
Congress, we have --

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00:12:31,967 --> 00:12:34,467
and our businesses and the
grit and determination of

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00:12:34,467 --> 00:12:37,567
the American people --
we have dug ourselves

244
00:12:37,567 --> 00:12:40,400
out partway of that hole,
but we're not there yet.

245
00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:43,433
And we need to get even beyond
digging ourselves out of the

246
00:12:43,433 --> 00:12:44,834
hole created by the
Great Recession.

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00:12:44,834 --> 00:12:46,400
We need to build beyond that.

248
00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:49,800
We need a foundation for our
economy that doesn't rely on

249
00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:56,099
bubbles, that doesn't rely
on insubstantial things,

250
00:12:56,100 --> 00:13:00,734
but is founded on good jobs
with good industries and sound

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00:13:00,734 --> 00:13:03,934
economic policy going
forward in the 21st century.

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00:13:03,934 --> 00:13:06,666
I would -- if the critics
happen to be those who

253
00:13:06,667 --> 00:13:11,600
supported adamantly, fervently,
with a gleam in their eye,

254
00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:13,433
the policies that helped
contribute to the worst

255
00:13:13,433 --> 00:13:15,600
economic crisis
in our lifetimes,

256
00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:19,734
I would ask them to examine that
record and compare it to the

257
00:13:19,734 --> 00:13:22,767
record of job creation and
economic growth that we have

258
00:13:22,767 --> 00:13:25,967
seen under this President since
that terrible recession was

259
00:13:25,967 --> 00:13:29,333
ended and our economy and our
economic fortunes were reversed.

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00:13:29,333 --> 00:13:32,266
The Press:
And quickly on the Pope -- when
did the President find out that

261
00:13:32,266 --> 00:13:34,834
the Pope would be retiring?

262
00:13:34,834 --> 00:13:37,733
And anything more to add to
that statement that was sent

263
00:13:37,734 --> 00:13:38,967
out earlier?

264
00:13:38,967 --> 00:13:40,033
Mr. Carney:
I have nothing more to add.

265
00:13:40,033 --> 00:13:44,700
I think the President found out
this morning, as we all did,

266
00:13:44,700 --> 00:13:48,500
about this decision, and that
statement I think went out not

267
00:13:48,500 --> 00:13:50,934
long before I took the podium.

268
00:13:50,934 --> 00:13:51,867
The Press:
Can I follow on that?

269
00:13:51,867 --> 00:13:52,433
Mr. Carney:
Jon.

270
00:13:52,433 --> 00:13:53,033
The Press:
Jay --

271
00:13:53,033 --> 00:13:54,033
The Press:
The President's
statement mentioned --

272
00:13:54,033 --> 00:13:55,100
Mr. Carney:
Jon Karl from ABC.

273
00:13:55,100 --> 00:13:58,767
The Press:
Jay, yes, can you just
clarify for me very clearly --

274
00:13:58,767 --> 00:14:02,066
is the President open to
raising the eligibility

275
00:14:02,066 --> 00:14:03,233
age for Medicare?

276
00:14:03,233 --> 00:14:04,165
Mr. Carney:
No.

277
00:14:04,166 --> 00:14:04,867
The Press:
Absolutely not?

278
00:14:04,867 --> 00:14:06,800
Mr. Carney:
The President has made clear
that we don't believe that

279
00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:08,199
that's the right policy to take.

280
00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:12,033
The President has made clear in
the proposals he put forward to

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00:14:12,033 --> 00:14:15,233
John Boehner, that John Boehner
walked away from late last year,

282
00:14:15,233 --> 00:14:18,233
that he's willing to make
tough choices with regards

283
00:14:18,233 --> 00:14:19,599
to entitlement reform.

284
00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:20,600
The Press:
But not that choice?

285
00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:21,467
Mr. Carney:
That's correct.

286
00:14:21,467 --> 00:14:25,066
The Press:
What about reducing the annual
cost of living increases for

287
00:14:25,066 --> 00:14:26,433
Social Security recipients?

288
00:14:26,433 --> 00:14:29,433
Mr. Carney:
Again, as part of a big deal,
part of a comprehensive package

289
00:14:29,433 --> 00:14:33,367
that reduces our deficit and
achieves that $4-trillion goal

290
00:14:33,367 --> 00:14:36,367
that was set out by so many
people in and outside of

291
00:14:36,367 --> 00:14:39,367
government a number
of years ago,

292
00:14:39,367 --> 00:14:41,533
he would consider that the
hard choice that includes the

293
00:14:41,533 --> 00:14:44,700
so-called chain CPI, in fact,
he put that on the table in

294
00:14:44,700 --> 00:14:48,633
his proposal, but not in a
cherry-picked or piecemeal way.

295
00:14:48,633 --> 00:14:51,967
That's got to be part of a
comprehensive package that

296
00:14:51,967 --> 00:14:55,233
asks that the burden be
shared; that we don't,

297
00:14:55,233 --> 00:15:00,367
as some in Congress want, ask
seniors to bear the burden of

298
00:15:00,367 --> 00:15:03,199
further deficit reduction alone,
or middle-class families who are

299
00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:05,000
struggling to send
their kids to college,

300
00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:09,367
or parents of children who are
disabled who rely on programs

301
00:15:09,367 --> 00:15:10,599
to help them get through.

302
00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:13,100
That's just not fair and it
doesn't make economic sense --

303
00:15:13,100 --> 00:15:15,500
because the choice
would be, let's do that,

304
00:15:15,500 --> 00:15:18,600
but hold harmless the
wealthy; let's do that,

305
00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:23,900
put the burden on seniors alone,
but not close loopholes in our

306
00:15:23,900 --> 00:15:28,100
tax code that are available
to wealthy individuals or

307
00:15:28,100 --> 00:15:30,767
corporations, but not to average
folks or small businesses.

308
00:15:30,767 --> 00:15:32,300
And that doesn't make any sense.

309
00:15:32,300 --> 00:15:34,032
How do you explain to a
senior that we're doing this,

310
00:15:34,033 --> 00:15:37,500
asking you to sacrifice, but
we're not saying that corporate

311
00:15:37,500 --> 00:15:41,734
jet owners should lose their
special tax incentive;

312
00:15:41,734 --> 00:15:45,300
we're not saying to oil and gas
companies who are making record

313
00:15:45,300 --> 00:15:50,467
profits that they should forego
these huge subsidies that

314
00:15:50,467 --> 00:15:51,633
taxpayers provide?

315
00:15:51,633 --> 00:15:55,066
That's not fair and
it's not good economics.

316
00:15:55,066 --> 00:15:56,633
The Press:
But I just want to be clear
what you said at the beginning

317
00:15:56,633 --> 00:15:58,533
of that answer, which
is the President --

318
00:15:58,533 --> 00:15:59,166
Mr. Carney:
It is not our --

319
00:15:59,166 --> 00:16:02,000
The Press:
-- as part of an overall
balanced approach,

320
00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:05,433
he does not rule out effectively
reducing benefits for Social

321
00:16:05,433 --> 00:16:06,333
Security recipients?

322
00:16:06,333 --> 00:16:10,666
Mr. Carney:
He has put forward a technical
change as part of a big deal --

323
00:16:10,667 --> 00:16:11,867
and it's on the table
-- that he put forward

324
00:16:11,867 --> 00:16:12,800
to the Speaker of the House.

325
00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:13,934
The Speaker of the
House, by the way,

326
00:16:13,934 --> 00:16:16,400
walked away from that deal even
though it met the Republicans

327
00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:20,667
halfway on revenues and halfway
on spending cuts and included

328
00:16:20,667 --> 00:16:25,734
some tough decisions by the
President on entitlements.

329
00:16:25,734 --> 00:16:27,266
The Speaker walked
away from that deal.

330
00:16:27,266 --> 00:16:29,033
But as part of that deal,
the technical change in the

331
00:16:29,033 --> 00:16:33,700
so-called CPI is possible in his
own offer as part of a big deal.

332
00:16:33,700 --> 00:16:35,133
The Press:
And just a quick
question on the Pope.

333
00:16:35,133 --> 00:16:39,200
The statement that you put out
a short while ago said that --

334
00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:42,667
from the President said, "I have
appreciated our work together

335
00:16:42,667 --> 00:16:44,300
over these last four years.

336
00:16:44,300 --> 00:16:47,367
" What work together with the
Pope over the last four years

337
00:16:47,367 --> 00:16:48,367
was he referring to?

338
00:16:48,367 --> 00:16:49,367
Mr. Carney:
Well, look, I don't --

339
00:16:49,367 --> 00:16:51,867
I think it is not a mystery to
anybody who knows about the

340
00:16:51,867 --> 00:16:53,900
extraordinary good works that
the Catholic Church does around

341
00:16:53,900 --> 00:16:58,033
the globe in so many ways.

342
00:16:58,033 --> 00:16:59,800
So I think that was part
of a broader effort.

343
00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:01,834
This administration,
this country,

344
00:17:01,834 --> 00:17:07,000
this government works closely
with the Catholic Church on

345
00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:09,233
some of these issues, and
I believe that's what he

346
00:17:09,233 --> 00:17:10,466
was talking about.

347
00:17:10,467 --> 00:17:13,734
The Press:
Do we expect to hear from the
President on cybersecurity in

348
00:17:13,733 --> 00:17:15,032
the State of the Union?

349
00:17:15,032 --> 00:17:19,666
Mr. Carney:
I'm not going to preview
sections, sentences, paragraphs,

350
00:17:19,666 --> 00:17:21,599
phrases from the speech.

351
00:17:21,599 --> 00:17:23,532
You know that the President
believes that cybersecurity

352
00:17:23,532 --> 00:17:25,399
is a very important issue.

353
00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:27,900
It represents a huge
challenge for our country.

354
00:17:27,900 --> 00:17:29,800
He has called on
Congress to take action.

355
00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:33,033
Unfortunately, Congress has
thus far refused legislatively.

356
00:17:33,033 --> 00:17:35,065
But I don't have any
previews to provide.

357
00:17:35,066 --> 00:17:37,700
The Press:
So it would be reasonable to
expect him to do so again?

358
00:17:37,700 --> 00:17:40,767
Mr. Carney:
I leave it to you to
judge what's reasonable,

359
00:17:40,767 --> 00:17:44,400
but I will simply say that
this is an important issue.

360
00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:48,767
The Press:
Jay, on jobs -- in Dan's
question about the pivot back,

361
00:17:48,767 --> 00:17:52,233
et cetera, you said it was
two acts in the same play --

362
00:17:52,233 --> 00:17:54,100
the Inaugural Address and
the State of the Union.

363
00:17:54,100 --> 00:17:56,033
When you go back to the
Inaugural Address the word

364
00:17:56,033 --> 00:17:59,233
"economy" was used once, the
word "jobs" was used twice.

365
00:17:59,233 --> 00:18:02,166
So if there's this big emphasis
on jobs and the economy in the

366
00:18:02,166 --> 00:18:04,367
State of the Union, how
could they be two acts in

367
00:18:04,367 --> 00:18:05,066
the same play?

368
00:18:05,066 --> 00:18:06,033
Mr. Carney:
I don't think you
heard what I just said.

369
00:18:06,033 --> 00:18:09,533
If you actually look at the
Inaugural in its totality there

370
00:18:09,533 --> 00:18:13,300
is as much on -- or more on the
overall need to grow our economy

371
00:18:13,300 --> 00:18:17,265
and create jobs, diction
aside, than on some of these

372
00:18:17,266 --> 00:18:18,600
other issues combined.

373
00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:21,233
That does not take away
from these other issues.

374
00:18:21,233 --> 00:18:23,734
You've seen the President act
aggressively on comprehensive

375
00:18:23,734 --> 00:18:24,699
immigration reform.

376
00:18:24,700 --> 00:18:26,867
You've seen the President
put forward a series of

377
00:18:26,867 --> 00:18:30,367
comprehensive proposals to
reduce gun violence in this

378
00:18:30,367 --> 00:18:32,100
country in the recent weeks.

379
00:18:32,100 --> 00:18:34,466
These are important
priorities of the President

380
00:18:34,467 --> 00:18:35,467
and of the nation.

381
00:18:35,467 --> 00:18:39,200
But what remains his number-one
priority is what it has been

382
00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:43,033
since he took office, which is
to get this economy growing,

383
00:18:43,033 --> 00:18:44,899
get it creating jobs,
strengthening the middle class,

384
00:18:44,900 --> 00:18:48,900
and expanding the
middle class --

385
00:18:48,900 --> 00:18:53,400
allowing those who seek and
aspire to the middle class to

386
00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:55,433
get there, giving them
the tools to do that.

387
00:18:55,433 --> 00:18:57,333
The Press:
But haven't we been seeing
him in recent weeks -- and

388
00:18:57,333 --> 00:18:59,300
even after the State of the
Union with some of his travel

389
00:18:59,300 --> 00:19:01,233
he's going to be going to places
where he's talking about gun

390
00:19:01,233 --> 00:19:03,734
control, not talking about
jobs and the economy.

391
00:19:03,734 --> 00:19:05,166
Mr. Carney:
The President will be traveling
in the wake of the State of the

392
00:19:05,166 --> 00:19:08,367
Union on three separate days
talking about the economy and

393
00:19:08,367 --> 00:19:11,332
the need to create jobs at
every location he goes to.

394
00:19:11,333 --> 00:19:11,767
The Press:
Okay.

395
00:19:11,767 --> 00:19:14,000
Last thing -- Quinnipiac had a
poll last week on the economy

396
00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:16,200
that found 53% of the
country still believes

397
00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:17,500
we're in recession.

398
00:19:17,500 --> 00:19:19,967
What can he say
then, tomorrow night,

399
00:19:19,967 --> 00:19:22,233
to sort of put those people
who still feel like we're in

400
00:19:22,233 --> 00:19:24,332
a recession, even if
technically we're not --

401
00:19:24,333 --> 00:19:26,533
what can he say that's
new, that's different,

402
00:19:26,533 --> 00:19:28,100
that can make them feel better?

403
00:19:28,100 --> 00:19:32,934
Mr. Carney:
Well, I would suggest that he
would address those Americans

404
00:19:32,934 --> 00:19:37,899
directly and talk about the need
for Washington to take positive

405
00:19:37,900 --> 00:19:41,300
action to help the economy
grow, to help it create jobs;

406
00:19:41,300 --> 00:19:46,966
the need for Washington to
refrain from taking negative

407
00:19:46,967 --> 00:19:50,467
action by allowing, for example,
the sequester to kick in,

408
00:19:50,467 --> 00:19:53,266
which would do direct
harm to Americans,

409
00:19:53,266 --> 00:19:57,867
direct harm to the middle class,
direct harm to our defense

410
00:19:57,867 --> 00:20:01,166
industries and national
security interests.

411
00:20:01,166 --> 00:20:04,265
The President understands
fully that we have work to

412
00:20:04,266 --> 00:20:05,633
do on the economy.

413
00:20:05,633 --> 00:20:07,500
We are not done, not even close.

414
00:20:07,500 --> 00:20:09,967
We need this economy
to continue to grow.

415
00:20:09,967 --> 00:20:11,066
We need it to grow faster.

416
00:20:11,066 --> 00:20:12,767
We need it to create more jobs.

417
00:20:12,767 --> 00:20:15,567
We need more investments that
help the key industries of the

418
00:20:15,567 --> 00:20:18,600
21st century take root
here in the United States,

419
00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:20,065
a process that we have seen.

420
00:20:20,066 --> 00:20:23,500
We need more companies to do --
to continue the trend that we've

421
00:20:23,500 --> 00:20:26,333
seen already in the last
several years of repatriating

422
00:20:26,333 --> 00:20:29,667
their industries and jobs
here in the United States.

423
00:20:29,667 --> 00:20:33,734
We need more expansion of
our manufacturing sector.

424
00:20:33,734 --> 00:20:36,533
A remarkable turnaround in
our manufacturing sector --

425
00:20:36,533 --> 00:20:40,533
over half a million jobs in the
last several years created in

426
00:20:40,533 --> 00:20:43,899
manufacturing after
steep, steep decline.

427
00:20:43,900 --> 00:20:48,100
These are positive trends but
they are not irreversible and

428
00:20:48,100 --> 00:20:49,567
they are not completed.

429
00:20:49,567 --> 00:20:52,433
So the President will talk to
the American people tonight

430
00:20:52,433 --> 00:20:56,200
about the things we need to do
together to have the economy

431
00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:58,300
create more jobs, have
it continue to grow,

432
00:20:58,300 --> 00:21:06,667
have it create a foundation
that allows for steady,

433
00:21:06,667 --> 00:21:08,766
further expansion
in the 21st century,

434
00:21:08,767 --> 00:21:12,667
well beyond our time
here -- both ours and

435
00:21:12,667 --> 00:21:16,600
this administration, and
even yours in your seats --

436
00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:20,100
so that we're making the right
choices now for our children

437
00:21:20,100 --> 00:21:22,833
and grandchildren and
great-grandchildren.

438
00:21:22,834 --> 00:21:23,934
Peter.

439
00:21:23,934 --> 00:21:26,867
The Press:
Jay, a question about House
Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi

440
00:21:26,867 --> 00:21:29,300
on one of the Sunday broadcasts
speaking specifically about the

441
00:21:29,300 --> 00:21:32,734
risk of cuts, referring to the
sequester on the future of the

442
00:21:32,734 --> 00:21:34,567
United States -- she was
talking about education

443
00:21:34,567 --> 00:21:35,934
and scientific research.

444
00:21:35,934 --> 00:21:39,667
She said, "It is almost a
false wrong to say we have

445
00:21:39,667 --> 00:21:40,766
a spending problem."

446
00:21:40,767 --> 00:21:43,567
Does the President think
we have a spending problem?

447
00:21:43,567 --> 00:21:46,166
Mr. Carney:
You know, I feel like this is
a little bit of déjà vu here.

448
00:21:46,166 --> 00:21:48,399
Of course, the President
believes that we have a

449
00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:51,900
spending problem that is
specifically driven by --

450
00:21:51,900 --> 00:21:54,200
and I think every
economist worth this --

451
00:21:54,200 --> 00:22:01,467
whose insights into this area
are worth the paper on which his

452
00:22:01,467 --> 00:22:04,133
or her Ph.D. is printed,
would tell you that the

453
00:22:04,133 --> 00:22:06,800
principal driver when it
comes to spending of our

454
00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:10,700
deficits and debt is
health care spending.

455
00:22:10,700 --> 00:22:12,100
And that's just a fact.

456
00:22:12,100 --> 00:22:15,632
What is also a fact is that
we have reduced nondefense

457
00:22:15,633 --> 00:22:19,233
discretionary spending to its
lowest level as a percentage

458
00:22:19,233 --> 00:22:22,233
of our economy since Dwight
Eisenhower was President.

459
00:22:22,233 --> 00:22:25,100
And I think only some of you
here were covering Eisenhower.

460
00:22:25,100 --> 00:22:26,966
So that is a long time.

461
00:22:26,967 --> 00:22:28,100
(laughter)

462
00:22:28,100 --> 00:22:29,667
The Press:
(inaudible)

463
00:22:29,667 --> 00:22:37,433
Mr. Carney:
That doesn't meant that we can't
-- (laughter) -- so maybe Tom?

464
00:22:37,433 --> 00:22:38,333
No?

465
00:22:38,333 --> 00:22:39,567
The Press:
Not me.

466
00:22:39,567 --> 00:22:43,266
Mr. Carney:
No, there are people who have
spent a long time covering and

467
00:22:43,266 --> 00:22:44,934
know this stuff
back and forward,

468
00:22:44,934 --> 00:22:47,533
and they know this fact that
nondefense discretionary

469
00:22:47,533 --> 00:22:51,567
spending has not been
this low for generations.

470
00:22:51,567 --> 00:22:54,033
That doesn't mean that there
aren't programs that should be

471
00:22:54,033 --> 00:22:56,632
eliminated -- and this President
has been aggressive in finding

472
00:22:56,633 --> 00:23:00,867
them and taking action --
or that programs cannot be

473
00:23:00,867 --> 00:23:02,800
reformed in a way
that save money.

474
00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:04,466
It doesn't mean that we
can't reform government

475
00:23:04,467 --> 00:23:05,467
in a way that saves money.

476
00:23:05,467 --> 00:23:08,000
In fact, the President has put
forward to Congress exactly that

477
00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:11,333
in a proposal that would
consolidate agencies and

478
00:23:11,333 --> 00:23:13,567
save taxpayers money.

479
00:23:13,567 --> 00:23:15,400
But the fact of the matter
is we need to reduce our

480
00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:16,166
health care costs.

481
00:23:17,300 --> 00:23:19,567
Funnily enough,
recognizing that fact,

482
00:23:19,567 --> 00:23:21,934
the President took action to do
just that through the Affordable

483
00:23:21,934 --> 00:23:25,734
Care Act, which has been scored
by the CBO to significantly

484
00:23:25,734 --> 00:23:28,433
reduce our health care
costs going forward.

485
00:23:28,433 --> 00:23:29,433
We need to do more.

486
00:23:29,433 --> 00:23:32,033
The President has put forward
entitlement reforms that would

487
00:23:32,033 --> 00:23:34,100
further reduce our
health care costs.

488
00:23:34,100 --> 00:23:38,867
What he doesn't believe is that
we need to simply shift our

489
00:23:38,867 --> 00:23:41,166
health care costs
onto seniors --

490
00:23:41,166 --> 00:23:45,934
basically say we've got a
problem that is now yours,

491
00:23:45,934 --> 00:23:49,867
Mr. 75-year-old American, or
Mrs. 75-year-old American.

492
00:23:49,867 --> 00:23:53,033
He believes that we ought
to reduce these costs and

493
00:23:53,033 --> 00:23:54,833
not shift them onto seniors.

494
00:23:54,834 --> 00:23:57,967
The Press:
And then, finally, on
Sunday, there was a LGBT rally,

495
00:23:57,967 --> 00:23:59,467
some groups
protesting out front.

496
00:23:59,467 --> 00:24:03,533
They felt that the President
did not properly address their

497
00:24:03,533 --> 00:24:05,734
issues, as they believe he had
promised in the course of his

498
00:24:05,734 --> 00:24:07,000
first term.

499
00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:09,333
Given Congress's apparent
willingness to move on the

500
00:24:09,333 --> 00:24:12,533
issue of ending discrimination
against same-sex couples in the

501
00:24:12,533 --> 00:24:14,800
workplace, would the President
issue an executive order

502
00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:17,332
prohibiting federal
contractors --

503
00:24:17,333 --> 00:24:19,233
Mr. Carney:
I appreciate the question and
I've gotten it periodically.

504
00:24:19,233 --> 00:24:20,367
We believe, the
President believes,

505
00:24:20,367 --> 00:24:23,066
that we ought to move forward
with congressional comprehensive

506
00:24:23,066 --> 00:24:27,066
action on this issue, and
we will continue to press

507
00:24:27,066 --> 00:24:28,266
Congress to do that.

508
00:24:28,266 --> 00:24:29,633
The Press:
But it appears clear
that that hasn't happened.

509
00:24:29,633 --> 00:24:30,800
It hasn't happened
to this point.

510
00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:32,100
Would he be willing to
pursue executive action?

511
00:24:32,100 --> 00:24:35,567
Mr. Carney:
What has happened dramatically
is a series of changes when it

512
00:24:35,567 --> 00:24:39,433
comes to LGBT rights
that reflect not just,

513
00:24:39,433 --> 00:24:43,266
but importantly, this
President's action and

514
00:24:43,266 --> 00:24:45,967
influence and the pressure
he has placed on --

515
00:24:45,967 --> 00:24:47,867
and importance he's
placed on these issues,

516
00:24:47,867 --> 00:24:53,000
but also a welcome change in the
views held around the country on

517
00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:54,000
these issues.

518
00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:57,233
And we're going to keep pressing
for action from Congress on this

519
00:24:57,233 --> 00:24:58,966
very important issue.

520
00:24:58,967 --> 00:25:02,266
The Press:
Jay, is the Hagel
nomination in trouble?

521
00:25:02,266 --> 00:25:05,967
Mr. Carney:
We believe firmly that Senator
Hagel will be confirmed as the

522
00:25:05,967 --> 00:25:07,367
next Secretary of Defense.

523
00:25:07,367 --> 00:25:10,667
Since his hearing, we have seen
an increase in the number of

524
00:25:10,667 --> 00:25:13,265
senators who have come
out and said that they

525
00:25:13,266 --> 00:25:14,734
will vote to confirm him.

526
00:25:14,734 --> 00:25:17,600
That includes Republicans
as well as Democrats.

527
00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:20,300
And we look forward
to his hearing and to

528
00:25:20,300 --> 00:25:21,367
a vote on the floor.

529
00:25:21,367 --> 00:25:24,200
The Press:
What do you make of the
threats from Lindsey Graham,

530
00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:27,633
Inhofe and other Republicans?

531
00:25:27,633 --> 00:25:29,367
Mr. Carney:
The threats to do what?

532
00:25:29,367 --> 00:25:33,200
The Press:
The threats to
filibuster his nomination,

533
00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:36,533
to put it on hold until they get
more information on Benghazi?

534
00:25:36,533 --> 00:25:39,367
Mr. Carney:
Well, I would point you to
what Senator McCain said,

535
00:25:39,367 --> 00:25:43,066
who obviously has been very
vocal in his views on a number

536
00:25:43,066 --> 00:25:46,800
of these issues where he said,
"We have never filibustered a

537
00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:50,066
Cabinet appointee and I do not
believe we should filibuster his

538
00:25:50,066 --> 00:25:52,500
nomination" -- speaking
of Senator Hagel.

539
00:25:52,500 --> 00:25:54,967
Look, the bottom
line is we have 66,000

540
00:25:54,967 --> 00:25:57,333
troops serving in
Afghanistan and Iraq --

541
00:25:57,333 --> 00:26:01,166
sorry, in Afghanistan rather,
and significant issues to deal

542
00:26:01,166 --> 00:26:02,667
with internationally.

543
00:26:02,667 --> 00:26:05,199
It is clear that Senator Hagel
is uniquely qualified to be

544
00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:10,166
Secretary of Defense, and
it is clear that he has at

545
00:26:10,166 --> 00:26:12,433
least a substantial -- a
majority of senators who

546
00:26:12,433 --> 00:26:14,166
would vote to confirm him.

547
00:26:14,166 --> 00:26:17,399
We need to move forward with
this nomination and make sure we

548
00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:19,700
have a Secretary of Defense,
which is a key post when it

549
00:26:19,700 --> 00:26:22,433
comes to our national
security interests.

550
00:26:22,433 --> 00:26:24,467
Margaret and then Jon.

551
00:26:24,467 --> 00:26:25,867
The Press:
Two quick ones on
foreign policy.

552
00:26:25,867 --> 00:26:30,433
To follow on this one, I
believe what Senator Graham has

553
00:26:30,433 --> 00:26:34,033
indicated is that he wants to
try to block both Hagel and

554
00:26:34,033 --> 00:26:37,934
Brennan until the White House
answers questions about

555
00:26:37,934 --> 00:26:40,834
President Obama's direct
involvement in Benghazi,

556
00:26:40,834 --> 00:26:44,567
including whether he called
Libya to try to get the rescue

557
00:26:44,567 --> 00:26:48,333
crew moving and stuff about
his conversations with the

558
00:26:48,333 --> 00:26:50,567
Joint Chiefs or the
Secretary of Defense on

559
00:26:50,567 --> 00:26:51,467
the day of the attacks.

560
00:26:51,467 --> 00:26:54,000
Are those specific questions,
questions that the White House

561
00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:55,800
is going to answer
publicly or --

562
00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:57,200
Mr. Carney:
We have answered
these questions.

563
00:26:57,200 --> 00:27:01,900
The President found out about
the attack in Benghazi in a

564
00:27:01,900 --> 00:27:04,166
meeting with his Secretary of
Defense and Chairman of the

565
00:27:04,166 --> 00:27:06,265
Joint Chiefs from his
National Security Advisor.

566
00:27:06,266 --> 00:27:09,767
He immediately ordered those two
leaders to take every action

567
00:27:09,767 --> 00:27:13,233
necessary to try to position
forces in a way that could

568
00:27:13,233 --> 00:27:17,700
assist in Benghazi and also
potentially take action if

569
00:27:17,700 --> 00:27:20,500
necessary elsewhere because
of all that was unfolding

570
00:27:20,500 --> 00:27:21,900
around the region.

571
00:27:21,900 --> 00:27:26,000
He was regularly updated and
kept apprised of events in

572
00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:29,300
Benghazi and in the region
throughout that evening and

573
00:27:29,300 --> 00:27:30,966
into the night.

574
00:27:30,967 --> 00:27:32,233
Those are the facts.

575
00:27:32,233 --> 00:27:36,265
What is unfortunate here is the
continuing attempt to politicize

576
00:27:36,266 --> 00:27:39,700
an issue -- in this case,
through nominees that

577
00:27:39,700 --> 00:27:42,533
themselves had nothing
to do with Benghazi --

578
00:27:42,533 --> 00:27:47,033
and to do so in a way that
only does harm to our national

579
00:27:47,033 --> 00:27:49,399
security interests.

580
00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:52,133
Senator Hagel, Mr. Brennan
-- they need to be confirmed.

581
00:27:52,133 --> 00:27:55,367
They're highly-qualified
candidates for their posts,

582
00:27:55,367 --> 00:27:58,867
and we call on the Senate to
act quickly to do just that.

583
00:27:58,867 --> 00:28:02,667
The Press:
Also, ahead of the President's
trip to Israel there is now a

584
00:28:02,667 --> 00:28:07,934
renewed push by people who feel
that Jonathan Pollard's sentence

585
00:28:07,934 --> 00:28:10,567
should be commuted and to ask
the President to do that.

586
00:28:10,567 --> 00:28:12,867
Is that something that the
White House is now or will

587
00:28:12,867 --> 00:28:15,399
be considering before
the trip to Israel?

588
00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:17,066
Mr. Carney:
No, our position
has not changed.

589
00:28:17,066 --> 00:28:18,767
Could I just say on
the matter of Benghazi,

590
00:28:18,767 --> 00:28:23,567
let's just not forget about
this: First, they demanded --

591
00:28:23,567 --> 00:28:25,400
the critics, Senator
Graham and others --

592
00:28:25,400 --> 00:28:28,500
that Secretary Clinton testify,
and she did for five hours.

593
00:28:28,500 --> 00:28:31,967
Then Republicans demanded that
Secretary Panetta testify before

594
00:28:31,967 --> 00:28:34,233
they could move on
confirmation of a successor.

595
00:28:34,233 --> 00:28:36,700
He did for many
hours, as you know.

596
00:28:36,700 --> 00:28:39,000
Now they are moving the
goal posts yet again.

597
00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:42,367
Senior administration officials
participated in 20 member and

598
00:28:42,367 --> 00:28:45,166
staff briefings on this issue,
10 congressional hearings,

599
00:28:45,166 --> 00:28:48,300
6 witness interviews, and
they responded to over 40

600
00:28:48,300 --> 00:28:51,700
Benghazi-related inquiries
from Congress, producing 10,000

601
00:28:51,700 --> 00:28:53,400
pages of documents.

602
00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:56,367
The agencies have permitted
members to view classified video

603
00:28:56,367 --> 00:28:58,367
footage from the night of
the attacks and provided,

604
00:28:58,367 --> 00:29:01,000
again, as I said, over 10,
000 pages of documents.

605
00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:05,367
And, fundamentally, they
have focused on, as a rule,

606
00:29:05,367 --> 00:29:10,500
on an appearance on the
Sunday shows in which a

607
00:29:10,500 --> 00:29:14,900
top administration official
conveyed information that was,

608
00:29:14,900 --> 00:29:20,567
as she made clear, limited and
based on our early understanding

609
00:29:20,567 --> 00:29:23,567
of what had happened, and could
and would be subject to change,

610
00:29:23,567 --> 00:29:27,033
some of which turned out to
be not precisely accurate.

611
00:29:27,033 --> 00:29:30,734
That is not a reason to hold up
the nominee for Secretary of

612
00:29:30,734 --> 00:29:33,699
Defense or the nominee
for CIA Director.

613
00:29:33,700 --> 00:29:34,400
The Press:
Jay?

614
00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:35,100
Mr. Carney:
Yes, sir.

615
00:29:35,100 --> 00:29:38,199
The Press:
To follow up on my colleague
Ed Henry's question,

616
00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:40,600
not only will Americans be
watching tomorrow night,

617
00:29:40,600 --> 00:29:41,667
but the world will be watching.

618
00:29:41,667 --> 00:29:44,667
What comforting message can
the President send the global

619
00:29:44,667 --> 00:29:46,934
financial community
that, in fact,

620
00:29:46,934 --> 00:29:49,200
we will get through this
particular period and the

621
00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:51,033
U.S. will not go
back into recession,

622
00:29:51,033 --> 00:29:53,332
taking the whole world with it?

623
00:29:53,333 --> 00:29:55,567
Mr. Carney:
Well, I didn't realize
that was a follow-up on Ed.

624
00:29:55,567 --> 00:29:57,200
(laughter)

625
00:29:57,200 --> 00:30:00,266
I know he's concerned
about international viewers.

626
00:30:00,266 --> 00:30:01,600
The Press:
He dresses --

627
00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:03,466
(laughter)

628
00:30:03,467 --> 00:30:04,867
Mr. Carney:
That's very good.

629
00:30:04,867 --> 00:30:06,367
He could be British,
the way he --

630
00:30:06,367 --> 00:30:09,500
(laughter)

631
00:30:09,500 --> 00:30:10,767
I meant that as a compliment.

632
00:30:10,767 --> 00:30:14,467
(scattered chatter and laughter)

633
00:30:14,467 --> 00:30:19,967
You'll hear from the President a
very clear call for the need to

634
00:30:19,967 --> 00:30:23,567
take action to help our economy
grow and help it create jobs.

635
00:30:23,567 --> 00:30:25,467
You will hear from
him, a call --

636
00:30:25,467 --> 00:30:27,934
as you have heard in the
past, recently from him --

637
00:30:27,934 --> 00:30:33,266
on Congress not to shoot
the economy in the foot

638
00:30:33,266 --> 00:30:37,467
unnecessarily, to allow the
sequester to kick in when it

639
00:30:37,467 --> 00:30:40,867
is wholly unnecessary to do
that, when there is easy --

640
00:30:40,867 --> 00:30:44,100
let's scratch easy -- but
simple action that can be

641
00:30:44,100 --> 00:30:48,466
taken for which there is a
template in the recent past.

642
00:30:48,467 --> 00:30:51,834
And Congress ought to do that to
give itself the time and space

643
00:30:51,834 --> 00:30:56,734
necessary to move forward on a
broader budgetary process that

644
00:30:56,734 --> 00:31:00,934
produces balanced deficit reform
that completely eliminates the

645
00:31:00,934 --> 00:31:05,133
sequester for good; the kind
of action that the President

646
00:31:05,133 --> 00:31:08,700
supports, the kind of action
that he has provided guidance

647
00:31:08,700 --> 00:31:11,100
for in detail -- far more detail
than we've seen from Republicans

648
00:31:11,100 --> 00:31:15,033
when it comes to broad-based,
significant deficit reduction

649
00:31:15,033 --> 00:31:16,033
in a balanced way.

650
00:31:16,033 --> 00:31:22,899
So I think he is absolutely
concerned that Congress do the

651
00:31:22,900 --> 00:31:29,066
right thing here, because it
would be a very bad thing if

652
00:31:29,066 --> 00:31:31,834
Congress did not because of
the impact on the economy,

653
00:31:31,834 --> 00:31:35,367
because of the impact
on American workers and

654
00:31:35,367 --> 00:31:36,767
the middle class.

655
00:31:36,767 --> 00:31:40,300
And I'm sure that that is a
concern shared globally because

656
00:31:40,300 --> 00:31:43,767
of the importance that the
American economy plays in

657
00:31:43,767 --> 00:31:45,066
the global economy.

658
00:31:45,066 --> 00:31:45,600
The Press:
Thanks, Jay.

659
00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:46,500
Mr. Carney:
All right, guys.

660
00:31:46,500 --> 00:31:48,200
I know you got a --

661
00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:50,100
The Press:
Third row?

662
00:31:50,100 --> 00:31:51,033
Mr. Carney:
Okay, third row.

663
00:31:51,033 --> 00:31:52,699
April, last one.

664
00:31:52,700 --> 00:31:53,834
The Press:
Thank you.

665
00:31:53,834 --> 00:31:57,934
On the issue of jobs, you're
talking about the expansion of

666
00:31:57,934 --> 00:32:01,066
the middle class for employment,
things of that nature.

667
00:32:01,066 --> 00:32:04,600
What about sectors that have
not seen the light of day,

668
00:32:04,600 --> 00:32:06,867
in some instances the
black unemployment rate,

669
00:32:06,867 --> 00:32:10,466
the Hispanic unemployment rate,
and also maybe even the teen

670
00:32:10,467 --> 00:32:11,233
unemployment rate?

671
00:32:11,233 --> 00:32:13,466
Where is he going
to weigh in on that?

672
00:32:13,467 --> 00:32:17,533
Mr. Carney:
Well, I'm not going to preview
specific proposals or sections

673
00:32:17,533 --> 00:32:18,233
of the speech.

674
00:32:18,233 --> 00:32:22,399
This is obviously an important
component of the broader

675
00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:24,133
challenge here, which is
that we need to further

676
00:32:24,133 --> 00:32:26,133
reduce unemployment.

677
00:32:26,133 --> 00:32:30,367
There are areas of unemployment
that pose specific challenges,

678
00:32:30,367 --> 00:32:32,332
and we need to take
action to address those.

679
00:32:32,333 --> 00:32:36,800
But I'm not going to preview
presidential proposals from

680
00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:39,433
today, or the future,
today here at the podium.

681
00:32:39,433 --> 00:32:41,200
The Press:
The best of times and
the worst of times --

682
00:32:41,200 --> 00:32:43,367
normally the State of the Union,
the tone of the State of the

683
00:32:43,367 --> 00:32:44,966
Union is optimistic.

684
00:32:44,967 --> 00:32:47,266
It's always the State of the
Union is strong pretty much.

685
00:32:47,266 --> 00:32:51,000
Where is the state of our union
as we're talking about jobs and

686
00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:51,600
the economy?

687
00:32:51,600 --> 00:32:55,667
Mr. Carney:
Well, it's for the President to
address that specifically in the

688
00:32:55,667 --> 00:32:59,265
forum that is afforded to
Presidents annually at Congress.

689
00:32:59,266 --> 00:33:01,900
I would simply make the point
that I've made before: We have

690
00:33:01,900 --> 00:33:06,033
come far since the depths of
the worst recession in our

691
00:33:06,033 --> 00:33:08,734
lifetimes, but we still
have a ways to go and we

692
00:33:08,734 --> 00:33:10,265
need to act accordingly.

693
00:33:10,266 --> 00:33:11,934
We need to make
the right choices,

694
00:33:11,934 --> 00:33:16,899
the right investments together
with Congress to move our

695
00:33:16,900 --> 00:33:20,734
economy forward to help the
middle class be more secure

696
00:33:20,734 --> 00:33:21,600
and expand.

697
00:33:21,600 --> 00:33:22,367
Got to run. Thanks.

698
00:33:22,367 --> 00:33:23,133
The Press:
Will you brief tomorrow?

699
00:33:23,133 --> 00:33:24,934
Will there be any
backgrounders on the address?

700
00:33:24,934 --> 00:33:26,332
Mr. Carney:
We'll have more for you on that.