English subtitles for clip: File:2-17-10- White House Press Briefing.webm
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1 00:00:35,166 --> 00:00:39,196 Mr. Gibbs: Let me give you guys a quick readout of the 2 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:42,300 President's meeting in the Situation Room to get an update 3 00:00:42,300 --> 00:00:44,330 on Afghanistan and Pakistan. 4 00:00:44,333 --> 00:00:46,363 And obviously throughout the course of this, 5 00:00:46,367 --> 00:00:51,097 I'm happy to go through what questions I can answer. 6 00:00:51,100 --> 00:00:53,730 President Obama met with his national security team and chain 7 00:00:53,734 --> 00:00:55,834 of command for his regular update on Afghanistan 8 00:00:55,834 --> 00:00:58,234 and Pakistan. 9 00:00:58,233 --> 00:00:59,933 The meeting began with a briefing on the situation in 10 00:00:59,934 --> 00:01:03,364 Pakistan from Ambassador Patterson, 11 00:01:03,367 --> 00:01:06,297 including a discussion of the progress made in building a 12 00:01:06,300 --> 00:01:10,370 strong partnership with the Pakistani government and people 13 00:01:10,367 --> 00:01:13,297 on behalf of our mutual interests. 14 00:01:13,300 --> 00:01:16,270 The President then received a briefing from General McChrystal 15 00:01:16,266 --> 00:01:19,696 on the status of the offensive in southern Afghanistan and from 16 00:01:19,700 --> 00:01:21,970 Ambassador Eikenberry on our civilian efforts. 17 00:01:21,967 --> 00:01:25,267 Both noted the leading role that the Afghan government and 18 00:01:25,266 --> 00:01:28,496 security forces are playing alongside the international 19 00:01:28,500 --> 00:01:31,400 community in the current offensive. 20 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:33,200 And with that, Mr. Elliott. 21 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:33,870 The Press: Thanks, Robert. 22 00:01:33,867 --> 00:01:37,197 Pakistan has confirmed it has Baradar in custody. 23 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:40,000 Do you know if he's providing actionable intelligence or if 24 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:43,630 he's still just negotiating on what -- the terms of what, 25 00:01:43,633 --> 00:01:44,863 where and how he would talk? 26 00:01:44,867 --> 00:01:47,267 Mr. Gibbs: Look, I didn't talk about this yesterday. 27 00:01:47,266 --> 00:01:54,036 Obviously the Pakistani government has confirmed that 28 00:01:54,033 --> 00:01:56,633 Mullah Baradar is in custody. 29 00:01:56,633 --> 00:02:03,363 I am not going to get into information that we are getting 30 00:02:03,367 --> 00:02:06,837 from those interrogations. 31 00:02:06,834 --> 00:02:14,364 I do think obviously this was the number two Afghan Taliban 32 00:02:14,367 --> 00:02:18,797 and the operational chief, and it's a big success for our 33 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:25,200 mutual efforts in the region. 34 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:28,270 The Press: And Holbrooke today, before the meeting with the President, 35 00:02:28,266 --> 00:02:32,996 said that Taliban in and around Marja were talking about 36 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:36,300 switching sides perhaps, talking to their Afghan counterparts. 37 00:02:36,300 --> 00:02:38,870 What evidence about this did the President receive during his 38 00:02:38,867 --> 00:02:40,597 meeting in the Situation Room? 39 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:44,470 Mr. Gibbs: Well, General McChrystal began in walking the President through 40 00:02:44,467 --> 00:02:49,367 an update of the situation in Marja. 41 00:02:49,367 --> 00:02:54,897 As you know, this was highly planned and orchestrated. 42 00:02:54,900 --> 00:03:04,930 The effort was shaped by Afghan forces and ISAF forces with 43 00:03:04,934 --> 00:03:09,604 those on the ground, which is a key in our efforts. 44 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:15,200 It's clear that a lot of individuals with the Taliban 45 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:17,570 decided that they did not want to stay in this stronghold and 46 00:03:17,567 --> 00:03:19,367 had left. 47 00:03:19,367 --> 00:03:21,467 And without getting into specifics, 48 00:03:21,467 --> 00:03:26,467 obviously the President heard from Ambassador Eikenberry and 49 00:03:26,467 --> 00:03:31,097 General McChrystal about our continued efforts at 50 00:03:31,100 --> 00:03:37,300 reintegration, assuming that, as always, 51 00:03:37,300 --> 00:03:42,070 there's a renouncement of the violent extremists that they're 52 00:03:42,066 --> 00:03:45,466 tied to, a renouncement of violence, 53 00:03:45,467 --> 00:03:48,537 and that they agree to uphold the Afghan constitution and 54 00:03:48,533 --> 00:03:51,163 Afghan laws. 55 00:03:51,166 --> 00:03:55,336 Obviously that's part of what's going on in southern 56 00:03:55,333 --> 00:03:59,933 Afghanistan, in the Helmand province right now. 57 00:03:59,934 --> 00:04:04,504 The Press: On the arrest of the Afghan Taliban commander, does the U.S. 58 00:04:04,500 --> 00:04:07,130 believe that this might be the start of deeper Pakistani 59 00:04:07,133 --> 00:04:11,833 cooperation in this area? 60 00:04:11,834 --> 00:04:16,034 And will they be helping in the arrest of and pursuit of other 61 00:04:16,033 --> 00:04:16,803 militants on the 62 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:17,930 U.S. hit list? 63 00:04:17,934 --> 00:04:26,034 Mr. Gibbs: Well, one of the updates that the President got today was a 64 00:04:26,033 --> 00:04:31,303 discussion about our military cooperation with Pakistan and 65 00:04:31,300 --> 00:04:40,730 the recognition on the Pakistani military side that extremists in 66 00:04:40,734 --> 00:04:46,264 their country posed not simply a threat to us but an existential 67 00:04:46,266 --> 00:04:49,866 threat to them. 68 00:04:49,867 --> 00:04:53,637 They have been working productively and cooperatively 69 00:04:53,633 --> 00:05:02,063 for more than a year now in assisting international efforts, 70 00:05:02,066 --> 00:05:08,496 and cooperating in an effort to rid that area of violent 71 00:05:08,500 --> 00:05:09,570 extremists. 72 00:05:09,567 --> 00:05:12,467 Matt, I don't want to get into operationally what might or 73 00:05:12,467 --> 00:05:14,837 might not come next. 74 00:05:14,834 --> 00:05:20,404 But obviously the capture of Mullah Baradar is a 75 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:24,200 significant win. 76 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:27,600 The Press: Well, officials in Kabul and the Maldives said that the 77 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:30,900 Taliban-allied representatives and members of Afghanistan's 78 00:05:30,900 --> 00:05:35,130 parliament met there secretly at the resort in -- at a resort in 79 00:05:35,133 --> 00:05:37,533 the Maldives in January. 80 00:05:37,533 --> 00:05:39,363 Can you confirm that, whether the U.S. 81 00:05:39,367 --> 00:05:41,167 had any involvement in that, or has the U.S. 82 00:05:41,166 --> 00:05:42,666 had any contacts with moderate Taliban elements? 83 00:05:42,667 --> 00:05:45,667 Mr. Gibbs: I don't have information on that. 84 00:05:45,667 --> 00:05:48,497 I could -- I would direct you to NSC on that. 85 00:05:48,500 --> 00:05:49,370 The Press: Is the U.S. 86 00:05:49,367 --> 00:05:50,897 talking to the Taliban at any level? 87 00:05:50,900 --> 00:05:54,830 Mr. Gibbs: Well, you've heard -- again, you've heard and the President 88 00:05:54,834 --> 00:05:59,664 received updates today about efforts on reintegration. 89 00:05:59,667 --> 00:06:06,197 You've heard General Petraeus talk about efforts -- again, 90 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:11,130 assuming the renunciation of violence, extremist ties, 91 00:06:11,133 --> 00:06:14,903 and an acceptance of the Afghan constitution and the laws that 92 00:06:14,900 --> 00:06:19,570 govern the country of Afghanistan -- the efforts that 93 00:06:19,567 --> 00:06:30,167 were undertaken in parts of Iraq and the benefits that he saw if 94 00:06:30,166 --> 00:06:32,336 he found willing members also in Afghanistan. 95 00:06:32,333 --> 00:06:34,803 The Press: Robert, is that authoritative, the way you're pronouncing his 96 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:36,230 name, Baradar? 97 00:06:36,233 --> 00:06:39,063 Mr. Gibbs: That's the way it's been pronounced to me, yes, 98 00:06:39,066 --> 00:06:39,866 Mullah Baradar. 99 00:06:39,867 --> 00:06:41,097 The Press: Thanks. 100 00:06:41,100 --> 00:06:42,300 Mr. Gibbs: Yes, sir. 101 00:06:42,300 --> 00:06:47,400 The Press: What does the President think most Americans feel about the 102 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:50,030 stimulus package on this one-year anniversary? 103 00:06:50,033 --> 00:06:53,933 He seemed a little -- he has seemed a little frustrated in 104 00:06:53,934 --> 00:06:56,034 comments he's made, including today, 105 00:06:56,033 --> 00:07:01,203 about depictions of the stimulus package. 106 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:03,830 Mr. Gibbs: I haven't talked to him recently about that. 107 00:07:03,834 --> 00:07:09,104 Jake, I know that -- I would describe it the way I described 108 00:07:09,100 --> 00:07:10,000 it yesterday. 109 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:13,400 It's understandable the frustration that the American 110 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:18,630 people feel about the direction of their economy based on what 111 00:07:18,633 --> 00:07:23,603 we've gone through since December 2007 in losing more 112 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:24,970 than 8 million jobs, and 113 00:07:24,967 --> 00:07:27,797 what we've gone through over the past decade where there was 114 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:30,730 virtually no job growth and in many cases people working harder 115 00:07:30,734 --> 00:07:36,234 and bringing home less. 116 00:07:36,233 --> 00:07:41,163 We're at 9% unemployment -- 9.7 unemployment. 117 00:07:41,166 --> 00:07:46,196 So, look, it's -- the President is frustrated with where this 118 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:47,700 economy is, as well. 119 00:07:47,700 --> 00:07:51,430 That's not to mention housing, the financial system, 120 00:07:51,433 --> 00:07:58,033 and a whole host of other events that we encountered at the 121 00:07:58,033 --> 00:07:59,863 beginning of our administration. 122 00:07:59,867 --> 00:08:02,567 The Press: What does he think Americans think about the stimulus 123 00:08:02,567 --> 00:08:05,697 package, though -- specifically about the -- you guys are 124 00:08:05,700 --> 00:08:08,230 obviously very proud of it. 125 00:08:08,233 --> 00:08:10,433 What do you think the American people feel about it? 126 00:08:10,433 --> 00:08:12,663 Mr. Gibbs: Well, let me explain what I think we believe the Recovery 127 00:08:12,667 --> 00:08:14,897 Act has begun to do. 128 00:08:14,900 --> 00:08:21,600 I think it is undeniable that the Recovery Act has increased 129 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:24,970 and added to the economic growth that's been reported in the 130 00:08:24,967 --> 00:08:29,467 third quarter and the fourth quarter of 2009. 131 00:08:29,467 --> 00:08:37,867 Maybe the best way to look at this is absent what was pumped 132 00:08:37,867 --> 00:08:39,967 into the economy by the recovery plan, economic growth, 133 00:08:39,967 --> 00:08:46,567 rather than being plus 2.2% for the third quarter of 2009 -- 134 00:08:46,567 --> 00:08:49,137 which was, by the way, the first positive economic growth we'd 135 00:08:49,133 --> 00:08:55,233 had in a year -- estimates range from negative 0.6 to negative 136 00:08:55,233 --> 00:08:56,663 1.1%. 137 00:08:56,667 --> 00:08:59,867 So the economy is actually contracting -- would have been 138 00:08:59,867 --> 00:09:04,697 contracting for a fifth quarter, fifth consecutive quarter. 139 00:09:04,700 --> 00:09:06,570 In the fourth quarter, the economy grew by 5.7%. 140 00:09:06,567 --> 00:09:15,767 Economists believe that that number would be 3 to 3.7% where 141 00:09:15,767 --> 00:09:17,237 it not for the recovery plan. 142 00:09:17,233 --> 00:09:23,003 We know that 2 million people would not be receiving paychecks 143 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:26,800 that are now. 144 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,170 And I think, most importantly, and what the President discussed 145 00:09:29,166 --> 00:09:34,796 today, and what you've seen -- would have seen when Vice 146 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:37,800 President Biden traveled to Saginaw, Michigan, 147 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:42,730 is that we have begun to invest in and lay the new foundation 148 00:09:42,734 --> 00:09:47,434 for creating jobs in the future. 149 00:09:47,433 --> 00:09:51,903 The President used today the example of domestic electric 150 00:09:51,900 --> 00:09:53,400 battery capability in autos, something that -- the United 151 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:59,830 States was largely responsible for 2% of the world's output the 152 00:09:59,834 --> 00:10:02,964 year before the Recovery Act; next year we'll be responsible 153 00:10:02,967 --> 00:10:07,637 for 20% of the world's output, and by 2015 40%, 154 00:10:07,633 --> 00:10:11,303 based on the investments through the recovery plan in clean 155 00:10:11,300 --> 00:10:15,200 energy jobs and in laying that foundation for long-term 156 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:16,330 economic growth. 157 00:10:16,333 --> 00:10:23,533 Again, it is understandable I think that people are frustrated 158 00:10:23,533 --> 00:10:25,603 with where they are economically, 159 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:27,970 with their personal economic situation. 160 00:10:27,967 --> 00:10:34,097 And it's also understandable that despite the impact of or 161 00:10:34,100 --> 00:10:38,570 the effects of individual components of the Recovery Act, 162 00:10:38,567 --> 00:10:43,097 it's likely that because one of the components of the Recovery 163 00:10:43,100 --> 00:10:46,670 Act was to stem the bleeding in state and local government 164 00:10:46,667 --> 00:10:49,097 budgets, that actions that have had to be taken at that level 165 00:10:49,100 --> 00:10:54,000 have impacted the way people feel about what happened at a 166 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:57,630 national one. 167 00:10:57,633 --> 00:11:01,203 All of that is an exceedingly long way -- 168 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:07,430 The Press: What do you mean by that last part? 169 00:11:07,433 --> 00:11:08,603 I'm afraid I don't understand. 170 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:09,970 Mr. Gibbs: For instance, if you got a tax cut at the federal level, 171 00:11:09,967 --> 00:11:13,337 but because of record budget shortfalls in state and local 172 00:11:13,333 --> 00:11:16,163 government budgets they may have had to raise taxes, 173 00:11:16,166 --> 00:11:22,336 so your net impact may be that not only did you feel, 174 00:11:22,333 --> 00:11:26,303 but you got -- because of shortfalls -- a change in your 175 00:11:26,300 --> 00:11:29,300 taxes in a way that you didn't feel was positive. 176 00:11:29,300 --> 00:11:32,430 You know, Chip is not here today, 177 00:11:32,433 --> 00:11:34,003 but Chip mentioned the poll yesterday, 178 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:37,300 the CBS/New York Times poll -- I do think one thing -- one of the 179 00:11:37,300 --> 00:11:40,630 numbers that stands out is if you ask the American people, 180 00:11:40,633 --> 00:11:44,503 "How long do you think this recovery is going to take, 181 00:11:44,500 --> 00:11:49,000 " 70% of the American people said two years or more. 182 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:53,100 I think they get that this current recession started in 183 00:11:53,100 --> 00:11:54,700 December 2007. 184 00:11:54,700 --> 00:11:59,130 Economic anxiety probably dates back a good full 10 years. 185 00:11:59,133 --> 00:12:02,203 It's going to take quite some time to dig out of that hole. 186 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:04,170 The Press: Is that the same poll that shows that half the American people -- 187 00:12:04,166 --> 00:12:11,236 almost half, 48% -- think that the stimulus package will never 188 00:12:11,233 --> 00:12:12,963 create jobs when -- I mean, it's just an empirical fact that even 189 00:12:12,967 --> 00:12:17,767 if they're government jobs, it's clearly created jobs. 190 00:12:17,767 --> 00:12:21,937 Do you think it's just because it's almost 10% unemployment 191 00:12:21,934 --> 00:12:25,264 that the American people are so sour on the stimulus? 192 00:12:25,266 --> 00:12:26,966 Mr. Gibbs: I think that's a huge weight on all this. 193 00:12:26,967 --> 00:12:29,767 I don't think there's any doubt that -- do I think when the 194 00:12:29,767 --> 00:12:33,537 economy does recover that people will view the efforts to help 195 00:12:33,533 --> 00:12:35,563 the economy recover in a different way? 196 00:12:35,567 --> 00:12:37,467 Absolutely. 197 00:12:37,467 --> 00:12:40,297 The Press: Robert, following on that, one of the criticisms Republicans 198 00:12:40,300 --> 00:12:43,100 keep harping on is that the President promised that the jobs 199 00:12:43,100 --> 00:12:46,700 that would be saved or created would be about 90% private 200 00:12:46,700 --> 00:12:50,300 sector, and Republicans keep pointing out that it's woefully 201 00:12:50,300 --> 00:12:52,100 inadequate in that department; it's mostly been 202 00:12:52,100 --> 00:12:54,400 government-related jobs, public sector jobs, 203 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:56,630 not private sector jobs. 204 00:12:56,633 --> 00:13:00,463 And it's important obviously to save public sector jobs as well. 205 00:13:00,467 --> 00:13:02,797 It's nowhere near what the President promised. 206 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:04,130 How do you account for that? 207 00:13:04,133 --> 00:13:07,733 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I don't have the latest figures in front of me. 208 00:13:07,734 --> 00:13:12,834 Obviously a big chunk of jobs that did result in unemployment 209 00:13:12,834 --> 00:13:19,164 last year -- the biggest chunk was teachers, which, 210 00:13:19,166 --> 00:13:23,036 regardless of what category you put that in, 211 00:13:23,033 --> 00:13:25,233 I think there are very few parents in this country that 212 00:13:25,233 --> 00:13:28,233 don't value a good teacher. 213 00:13:28,233 --> 00:13:30,433 The Press: Absolutely, but the President sold it as private sector -- I 214 00:13:30,433 --> 00:13:32,633 don't disagree on the teachers, obviously, but -- 215 00:13:32,633 --> 00:13:35,003 Mr. Gibbs: So they admit that jobs have been created? 216 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:36,930 The Press: Well, I don't think they'd go that far. 217 00:13:36,934 --> 00:13:38,434 I'll let them make their argument, 218 00:13:38,433 --> 00:13:41,333 but my point is that they are saying the President -- I'm not 219 00:13:41,333 --> 00:13:45,433 -- the President sold it -- it's what the President sold it as, 220 00:13:45,433 --> 00:13:46,703 90% private sector. 221 00:13:46,700 --> 00:13:49,770 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, again, I don't have the figures in front of me. 222 00:13:49,767 --> 00:13:55,297 Obviously the impact on job creation will -- 70% of the 223 00:13:55,300 --> 00:13:57,630 money will be spent by September 30, 2010. 224 00:13:57,633 --> 00:14:00,363 That means we've still got money that goes -- extends 225 00:14:00,367 --> 00:14:01,097 through that. 226 00:14:01,100 --> 00:14:03,200 I don't know what the final -- so I don't know what the final 227 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:05,500 figures would be. 228 00:14:05,500 --> 00:14:12,870 Look, I think what is undeniable is about 2 million people that 229 00:14:12,867 --> 00:14:18,167 are currently getting paychecks wouldn't be. 230 00:14:18,166 --> 00:14:23,236 What they would be doing is getting unemployment benefits. 231 00:14:23,233 --> 00:14:26,303 So, look, there will be plenty of time for the political 232 00:14:26,300 --> 00:14:28,800 sparring and the back-and-forth. 233 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:33,500 Everyone has noticed that more and more Republicans are writing 234 00:14:33,500 --> 00:14:37,670 letters for, showing up at, as the President said, 235 00:14:37,667 --> 00:14:41,267 ribbon-cutting activities for these projects. 236 00:14:41,266 --> 00:14:47,336 So, look, I still think there's hope to win people over. 237 00:14:47,333 --> 00:14:49,703 The Press: Last thing is a quick follow related to the economy. 238 00:14:49,700 --> 00:14:51,670 Las Vegas, one of the hardest hit cities in the country in 239 00:14:51,667 --> 00:14:53,797 terms of unemployment, foreclosures -- some of the 240 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:57,630 President's fellow Democrats, like Harry Reid, Oscar Goodman, 241 00:14:57,633 --> 00:14:58,703 the mayor, have been upset about the President's 242 00:14:58,700 --> 00:15:00,230 comments about Vegas. 243 00:15:00,233 --> 00:15:01,403 There are others who are saying they've been taken out of 244 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:02,600 context, it's sort of unfair. 245 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:05,530 But Mayor Goodman has been saying he wants an apology when 246 00:15:05,533 --> 00:15:06,863 the President goes to the city tomorrow. 247 00:15:06,867 --> 00:15:09,737 How does the President view it? 248 00:15:09,734 --> 00:15:11,604 How is he approaching it? 249 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:12,770 Should we expect an apology from him or -- 250 00:15:12,767 --> 00:15:14,737 Mr. Gibbs: I have not seen the remarks for tomorrow, 251 00:15:14,734 --> 00:15:23,904 but whether the President wants to put in -- help people in 252 00:15:23,900 --> 00:15:27,770 Nevada understand the context of what he said, we'll wait, 253 00:15:27,767 --> 00:15:30,337 give us something to look forward to for tomorrow. 254 00:15:30,333 --> 00:15:32,763 The Press: In spite of those 2 million jobs and in spite of all the talking 255 00:15:32,767 --> 00:15:36,567 you've done about the opportunities the stimulus 256 00:15:36,567 --> 00:15:40,637 spending has created, the fact remains, 257 00:15:40,633 --> 00:15:41,633 as we discussed about the poll, people don't see it. 258 00:15:41,633 --> 00:15:45,233 They don't see $800 billion worth of job creation. 259 00:15:45,233 --> 00:15:47,633 Mr. Gibbs: Well, we haven't spent $800 billion yet. 260 00:15:47,633 --> 00:15:50,433 The Press: Well, you've spent -- depending on where you allocate the money, 261 00:15:50,433 --> 00:15:51,363 that much has gone out. 262 00:15:51,367 --> 00:15:54,967 Mr. Gibbs: Yes, between obligation -- right. 263 00:15:54,967 --> 00:15:55,967 Look -- 264 00:15:55,967 --> 00:15:57,597 The Press: Why don't they get it? 265 00:15:57,600 --> 00:15:59,100 Mr. Gibbs: Well, understand, again -- 266 00:15:59,100 --> 00:15:59,970 The Press: What's their problem? 267 00:15:59,967 --> 00:16:01,167 Mr. Gibbs: No, I don't think it's their problem, Bill. 268 00:16:01,166 --> 00:16:05,336 Understand this: 2 million jobs fill in a hole that was 8.4 269 00:16:05,333 --> 00:16:08,663 million jobs deep, right? 270 00:16:08,667 --> 00:16:12,397 One of the things you never heard was anybody in this room 271 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:15,730 -- meaning me -- say that this was going to be a dollar for 272 00:16:15,734 --> 00:16:19,304 dollar -- that dollar for dollar we were going to meet the 273 00:16:19,300 --> 00:16:24,730 downturn in overall loss of GDP. 274 00:16:24,734 --> 00:16:28,334 In fact, we said this would provide some dirt to 275 00:16:28,333 --> 00:16:29,233 fill that hole. 276 00:16:29,233 --> 00:16:32,103 But again, I think as I told Chip yesterday, 277 00:16:32,100 --> 00:16:37,430 I think if a pollster calls you, and you have been laid off and 278 00:16:37,433 --> 00:16:40,463 your wife has been laid off, and you're having trouble finding 279 00:16:40,467 --> 00:16:45,567 money to pay for college, your neighbor has been foreclosed on, 280 00:16:45,567 --> 00:16:48,967 I don't think it's surprising if they ask you about the Recovery 281 00:16:48,967 --> 00:16:51,737 Act that you're a little sour on it. 282 00:16:51,734 --> 00:16:56,664 I do know this, that -- again, this is undeniable -- there are 283 00:16:56,667 --> 00:17:00,367 about 2 million that are getting paychecks that wouldn't be. 284 00:17:00,367 --> 00:17:06,497 That's not 8.4, but that's 2 million more than would 285 00:17:06,500 --> 00:17:08,130 otherwise be getting that. 286 00:17:08,133 --> 00:17:12,763 It has led to the first quarter of positive economic growth in a 287 00:17:12,767 --> 00:17:15,497 year and now we've had consecutive positive quarters. 288 00:17:15,500 --> 00:17:18,370 We are not going to have job growth in our economy unless or 289 00:17:18,367 --> 00:17:23,437 until we have positive economic growth. 290 00:17:23,433 --> 00:17:30,003 So this is not -- this was not a full cure for what 291 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:31,400 ailed our economy. 292 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:34,770 It is a way of putting people back to work, 293 00:17:34,767 --> 00:17:40,467 creating positive economic growth, and importantly, Bill, 294 00:17:40,467 --> 00:17:45,437 laying that foundation for long-term investments in jobs. 295 00:17:45,433 --> 00:17:48,103 The example I used yesterday was wind energy. 296 00:17:48,100 --> 00:17:52,170 In 2009, the Wind Energy Association believed that, 297 00:17:52,166 --> 00:17:55,696 in comparison to 2008, there would be -- the growth in wind 298 00:17:55,700 --> 00:17:59,500 energy would be about half what it had been in 2008 based on the 299 00:17:59,500 --> 00:18:01,400 availability of credit. 300 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:04,570 What we saw was not a 50% reduction, 301 00:18:04,567 --> 00:18:09,267 but in fact a 39% increase, because investment in wind 302 00:18:09,266 --> 00:18:13,436 energy through the Recovery Act fixed the credit market as it 303 00:18:13,433 --> 00:18:16,963 related to investment in those long-term energy jobs. 304 00:18:16,967 --> 00:18:20,137 The Press: The wind energy people ought to come in here, 305 00:18:20,133 --> 00:18:21,703 might find some energy. 306 00:18:21,700 --> 00:18:23,070 Mr. Gibbs: Set up right here and just let it blow? 307 00:18:23,066 --> 00:18:24,896 Is that what you're -- (laughter) You said it, not me. 308 00:18:24,900 --> 00:18:27,070 (laughter) 309 00:18:27,066 --> 00:18:32,566 The Press: Did you start tweeting because you felt that you needed some 310 00:18:32,567 --> 00:18:34,737 further response to all of the social media out there, 311 00:18:34,734 --> 00:18:36,964 that your message wasn't getting across? 312 00:18:36,967 --> 00:18:38,667 Mr. Gibbs: I had all this free time on my hands. 313 00:18:38,667 --> 00:18:39,337 (laughter) 314 00:18:39,333 --> 00:18:40,403 The Press: Oh, no, come on, give me a real reason. 315 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:43,370 Mr. Gibbs: No, I said this earlier -- the truth is it was 316 00:18:43,367 --> 00:18:44,767 fascinating to watch. 317 00:18:44,767 --> 00:18:47,297 It was fascinating to watch you all in real time -- 318 00:18:47,300 --> 00:18:48,600 The Press: -- your voice wasn't being heard? 319 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:49,600 Mr. Gibbs: No, I didn't. 320 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:52,300 I felt like -- did I feel like it was a good avenue for our 321 00:18:52,300 --> 00:18:54,100 voice to be heard in? 322 00:18:54,100 --> 00:18:56,870 Sure. 323 00:18:56,867 --> 00:19:01,597 I thought it was -- all of you are on and I'm reading now all 324 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:04,670 of what you're writing; I'm reading what you're reading; 325 00:19:04,667 --> 00:19:08,997 you're reading what I'm reading. 326 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:10,400 The Press: It's going to take up most of your day. 327 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:14,330 Mr. Gibbs: I have noticed that it takes up -- it can be addictive. 328 00:19:14,333 --> 00:19:16,063 Trying to keep up, like I said yesterday, 329 00:19:16,066 --> 00:19:19,866 with everyone's Olympic emails is a task that simply 330 00:19:19,867 --> 00:19:21,097 prepares me for college 331 00:19:21,100 --> 00:19:23,270 and professional football season. 332 00:19:23,266 --> 00:19:26,696 I will say this, one of the -- I obviously spent time with the 333 00:19:26,700 --> 00:19:28,570 lawyers yesterday based on questions we got about the 334 00:19:28,567 --> 00:19:32,067 Presidential Record Act of 1978. 335 00:19:32,066 --> 00:19:35,736 And I know Mark wrote specifically on this. 336 00:19:35,734 --> 00:19:41,404 What I write and what I tweet is archived as a part of this 337 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:45,370 Presidential Records Act of 1978 because it is work product 338 00:19:45,367 --> 00:19:49,367 created as part of my job at the White House. 339 00:19:49,367 --> 00:19:52,097 People that follow me, people that read that, 340 00:19:52,100 --> 00:19:57,230 people that retweet that, none of that goes into or is archived 341 00:19:57,233 --> 00:19:59,863 as a result of the Presidential Records Act. 342 00:19:59,867 --> 00:20:02,297 The only thing that would be archived other than what I 343 00:20:02,300 --> 00:20:09,070 produce is if you respond directly to me, and only me. 344 00:20:09,066 --> 00:20:12,996 It's analogous to sending an email to the White House, 345 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:14,200 which is already archived. 346 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:19,830 So if anybody believed that -- mentioning me, 347 00:20:19,834 --> 00:20:26,264 mentioning the White House, mentioning the President in any 348 00:20:26,266 --> 00:20:31,836 of the normal tweets that they do is of course not subject to 349 00:20:31,834 --> 00:20:33,764 the Presidential Records Act. 350 00:20:33,767 --> 00:20:35,737 The Press: What if you send something and someone retweets it and 351 00:20:35,734 --> 00:20:38,104 comments, like, "I agree," or "I disagree"? 352 00:20:38,100 --> 00:20:39,170 That doesn't go there? 353 00:20:39,166 --> 00:20:44,296 Mr. Gibbs: If it only goes to me -- 354 00:20:44,300 --> 00:20:44,730 The Press: -- direct back to you. 355 00:20:44,734 --> 00:20:45,834 Mr. Gibbs: If it only goes to me then it would be archived because it 356 00:20:45,834 --> 00:20:48,264 would be the equivalent of an email. 357 00:20:48,266 --> 00:20:55,366 But let's say both of Mike's followers -- (laughter) -- if 358 00:20:55,367 --> 00:21:01,197 you retweeted something I said and sent them to both of his, 359 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:04,070 that would -- neither of those two people would fall 360 00:21:04,066 --> 00:21:05,566 into the archives. 361 00:21:05,567 --> 00:21:10,467 I say this because Mike poked me a little bit yesterday for not 362 00:21:10,467 --> 00:21:13,337 having enough followers and -- 363 00:21:13,333 --> 00:21:16,533 The Press: That's kind of a violation of the ethics -- (laughter) 364 00:21:16,533 --> 00:21:19,463 -- say things like that. 365 00:21:19,467 --> 00:21:22,137 Mr. Gibbs: Bill, I have to say this, Wendell had by far the best 366 00:21:22,133 --> 00:21:23,303 line, as we all know, yesterday. 367 00:21:23,300 --> 00:21:24,670 So that's -- yes. 368 00:21:24,667 --> 00:21:28,297 The Press: What lessons have you guys learned and the President 369 00:21:28,300 --> 00:21:33,100 learned from this stimulus, from not just selling it -- which it 370 00:21:33,100 --> 00:21:39,700 seems that there's even plenty of people here acknowledging 371 00:21:39,700 --> 00:21:40,670 that there are different ways you guys could have sold this to 372 00:21:40,667 --> 00:21:42,597 the public -- but also in how it was put together by Congress and 373 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:47,070 your -- are there things that the White House learned from 374 00:21:47,066 --> 00:21:50,166 dealing with this Recovery Act that they will do differently in 375 00:21:50,166 --> 00:21:52,536 trying to put together big legislation, 376 00:21:52,533 --> 00:21:55,033 in try to work with Congress? 377 00:21:55,033 --> 00:21:59,703 Mr. Gibbs: If you look at the speed in which -- well, first of all, 378 00:21:59,700 --> 00:22:02,270 let's go back to a little -- 379 00:22:02,266 --> 00:22:05,196 The Press: But you acknowledge that you guys could have done better 380 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:06,870 on the PR front? 381 00:22:06,867 --> 00:22:11,697 Mr. Gibbs: Again, I acknowledge that it is -- I acknowledge that at 9.7% 382 00:22:11,700 --> 00:22:18,370 unemployment there are a terrific amount of economic -- 383 00:22:18,367 --> 00:22:19,897 The Press: But you didn't anticipate at the beginning -- 384 00:22:19,900 --> 00:22:24,270 Mr. Gibbs: No, I -- I'm not going to spend a ton of time thinking -- 385 00:22:24,266 --> 00:22:28,666 speaking -- that would take up far more time than the computer. 386 00:22:28,667 --> 00:22:32,997 But again, Chuck, I think a lot of this derives from the fact 387 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:37,030 that people are in this country, as the President hears from each 388 00:22:37,033 --> 00:22:39,503 and every day, hurting economically. 389 00:22:39,500 --> 00:22:41,130 That's understandable. 390 00:22:41,133 --> 00:22:45,203 But let's go back a year or so ago. 391 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:49,330 Economists -- liberal, conservative, left, right, 392 00:22:49,333 --> 00:22:56,203 the economists that advised John McCain's presidential campaign 393 00:22:56,200 --> 00:23:03,770 -- believed what we needed was a robust Recovery Act. 394 00:23:03,767 --> 00:23:07,937 It was put together and passed in I think -- put together, 395 00:23:07,934 --> 00:23:13,434 passed, and signed by the President in three weeks, 396 00:23:13,433 --> 00:23:17,663 because what we needed was to begin to get investment and 397 00:23:17,667 --> 00:23:19,297 money into this economy quickly. 398 00:23:19,300 --> 00:23:22,600 That's what happened. 399 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:30,270 The effects were felt quickly because of that. 400 00:23:30,266 --> 00:23:33,066 Look, from a pure PR perspective, 401 00:23:33,066 --> 00:23:38,836 you could break out everything into its 25 component parts, 402 00:23:38,834 --> 00:23:43,004 spent several weeks selling the component parts of wind energy, 403 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:46,630 and passing it -- would it have made a PR difference? 404 00:23:46,633 --> 00:23:48,133 Who knows? 405 00:23:48,133 --> 00:23:52,563 The Press: How about in your interaction with Congress in how you guys 406 00:23:52,567 --> 00:23:53,837 largely let them write big pieces of this? 407 00:23:53,834 --> 00:23:55,534 I mean, is that -- are you going to change -- 408 00:23:55,533 --> 00:23:58,603 Mr. Gibbs: Do I think that impacts the way people see it? 409 00:23:58,600 --> 00:23:59,500 I don't. 410 00:23:59,500 --> 00:24:04,000 I think -- again, I think, understandably, 411 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:10,330 9.7% unemployment is -- sours your look on the economy. 412 00:24:10,333 --> 00:24:14,563 It naturally would for anyone. 413 00:24:14,567 --> 00:24:15,867 The Press: You indicated that at the beginning of the AfPak meeting 414 00:24:15,867 --> 00:24:18,397 that's happening now that it was the Pakistan -- our ambassador 415 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:20,100 to Pakistan gave the first update? 416 00:24:20,100 --> 00:24:20,670 Mr. Gibbs: Yes. 417 00:24:20,667 --> 00:24:21,967 The Press: Okay. 418 00:24:21,967 --> 00:24:23,567 Did he indicate what the -- 419 00:24:23,567 --> 00:24:25,697 Mr. Gibbs: She. Anne Patterson. 420 00:24:25,700 --> 00:24:26,500 The Press: My apologies. 421 00:24:26,500 --> 00:24:29,930 Did she indicate what motivation -- why the Pakistani government 422 00:24:29,934 --> 00:24:33,964 suddenly now decided to cooperate and get Baradar, 423 00:24:33,967 --> 00:24:35,837 I guess we're calling him now -- sorry, 424 00:24:35,834 --> 00:24:37,904 everybody -- we're all -- we've all got our different 425 00:24:37,900 --> 00:24:38,730 pronunciations -- 426 00:24:38,734 --> 00:24:41,834 Mr. Gibbs: Mullah Baradar was what -- 427 00:24:41,834 --> 00:24:43,634 The Press: Did she get into the -- what is it about -- 428 00:24:43,633 --> 00:24:45,103 Mr. Gibbs: We discussed -- 429 00:24:45,100 --> 00:24:45,870 The Press: And you're not going to tell us. 430 00:24:45,867 --> 00:24:46,737 Mr. Gibbs: But I can't get into that. 431 00:24:46,734 --> 00:24:48,534 The Press: Okay, so you did discuss the motivation? 432 00:24:48,533 --> 00:24:53,303 Mr. Gibbs: Well, no, I don't want to say -- we discussed his 433 00:24:53,300 --> 00:24:54,430 capture broadly. 434 00:24:54,433 --> 00:24:56,433 I don't want to get into operational details. 435 00:24:56,433 --> 00:24:57,963 The Press: -- the dynamics going on inside Pakistan's -- 436 00:24:57,967 --> 00:25:08,467 Mr. Gibbs: Look, Ambassador Patterson gave a robust update on both the 437 00:25:08,467 --> 00:25:11,297 governmental and military side of Pakistan. 438 00:25:11,300 --> 00:25:13,430 The Press: And when are we going to get the details of how this debt 439 00:25:13,433 --> 00:25:16,563 commission is being -- I mean, we were discussing this 440 00:25:16,567 --> 00:25:17,397 earlier and -- 441 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:19,870 Mr. Gibbs: Probably either later today or first thing tomorrow I know the 442 00:25:19,867 --> 00:25:23,197 President will sign the executive order. 443 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:24,900 The Press: Rules of the game, who appoints who, all that stuff? 444 00:25:24,900 --> 00:25:26,770 Mr. Gibbs: The President will sign the executive order tomorrow and 445 00:25:26,767 --> 00:25:30,797 I'll figure out when those details are going to be -- 446 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:31,930 The Press: With remarks? 447 00:25:31,934 --> 00:25:32,764 Mr. Gibbs: Yes. 448 00:25:32,767 --> 00:25:36,637 The Press: Is this before or after the Dalai Lama meeting? 449 00:25:36,633 --> 00:25:38,403 Mr. Gibbs: I think it's before but I will double-check. 450 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:41,570 Jonathan. 451 00:25:41,567 --> 00:25:45,937 The Press: The Dalai Lama is also meeting with Secretary Clinton, 452 00:25:45,934 --> 00:25:48,104 as I understand. 453 00:25:48,100 --> 00:25:50,900 The White House has said that the President is meeting the 454 00:25:50,900 --> 00:25:53,200 Dalai Lama as a spiritual leader. 455 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:55,770 What does it say to have the Secretary of State also 456 00:25:55,767 --> 00:25:58,967 meeting with him? 457 00:25:58,967 --> 00:26:00,667 Mr. Gibbs: I will direct you to the Department of State to 458 00:26:00,667 --> 00:26:02,037 answer that question. 459 00:26:02,033 --> 00:26:04,933 The Press: But the White House didn't have any consultations on who in the 460 00:26:04,934 --> 00:26:07,434 administration would be meeting with him? 461 00:26:07,433 --> 00:26:10,063 Mr. Gibbs: I'd point you to the Department of State on that. 462 00:26:10,066 --> 00:26:14,166 The Press: And so the President is going to have two events tomorrow? 463 00:26:14,166 --> 00:26:15,866 He's going to be meeting with the Dalai Lama and he's going to 464 00:26:15,867 --> 00:26:18,337 be doing an actual event around the commission? 465 00:26:18,333 --> 00:26:20,433 So could you tell us about the choice of Alan 466 00:26:20,433 --> 00:26:26,563 Simpson, what you are trying to project and what it might do -- 467 00:26:26,567 --> 00:26:28,137 what you hope it will do to get Republicans onboard 468 00:26:28,133 --> 00:26:30,603 with this thing? 469 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:34,630 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, we have -- we confirmed obviously co-chairs 470 00:26:34,633 --> 00:26:40,633 for this bipartisan commission on the debt and the deficit. 471 00:26:40,633 --> 00:26:44,233 You have in -- look, you all should be thankful. 472 00:26:44,233 --> 00:26:48,033 He is a guy with a sense of humor in a town that 473 00:26:48,033 --> 00:26:51,233 often lacks one. 474 00:26:51,233 --> 00:26:55,263 And I think that will be fun for you all. 475 00:26:55,266 --> 00:26:59,036 I think it is a great service for -- 476 00:26:59,033 --> 00:27:00,663 The Press: A personality. 477 00:27:00,667 --> 00:27:01,267 (laughter) 478 00:27:01,266 --> 00:27:05,836 Mr. Gibbs: No, no, no, I say that -- I think he is somebody who has 479 00:27:05,834 --> 00:27:09,404 dealt with many of these issues throughout his tenure in 480 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:13,030 Washington in a serious way. 481 00:27:13,033 --> 00:27:18,533 I think having Erskine Bowles, the former chief of staff to the 482 00:27:18,533 --> 00:27:21,603 President, who helped negotiate a balanced budget agreement in 483 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:29,370 1997 -- I think having these two individuals work together 484 00:27:29,367 --> 00:27:32,897 demonstrates the seriousness with which the President looks 485 00:27:32,900 --> 00:27:37,870 at the commission and this issue. 486 00:27:37,867 --> 00:27:43,737 Now, Jonathan, what the Republicans decide to do is 487 00:27:43,734 --> 00:27:47,604 largely up to them. 488 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:55,130 Senator McConnell spent a lot of time on cable television lauding 489 00:27:55,133 --> 00:27:57,563 the Conrad-Gregg commission until it voted against 490 00:27:57,567 --> 00:28:01,037 what he lauded. 491 00:28:01,033 --> 00:28:04,833 John Boehner was a cosponsor of the House version of the 492 00:28:04,834 --> 00:28:08,564 Conrad-Gregg commission. 493 00:28:08,567 --> 00:28:12,437 We'll see -- I think they understand the seriousness with 494 00:28:12,433 --> 00:28:16,703 which the President looks at this effort and attaches 495 00:28:16,700 --> 00:28:21,100 bipartisan leadership to, and we'll see where they 496 00:28:21,100 --> 00:28:22,470 go from here. 497 00:28:22,467 --> 00:28:23,797 The Press: Has there been any consultation today, 498 00:28:23,800 --> 00:28:26,730 any progress in getting -- 499 00:28:26,734 --> 00:28:29,204 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I don't know what calls have been made today. 500 00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:34,430 I know that last week calls were made to -- I believe to Leader 501 00:28:34,433 --> 00:28:35,763 Boehner and Senator 502 00:28:35,767 --> 00:28:39,067 Mitchell -- Senator McConnell, excuse me -- to 503 00:28:39,066 --> 00:28:39,866 talk about this. 504 00:28:39,867 --> 00:28:44,467 Obviously in the bipartisan meeting last -- it all sort of 505 00:28:44,467 --> 00:28:46,367 blurs together -- I guess it was last Tuesday, 506 00:28:46,367 --> 00:28:51,997 this was extensively discussed. 507 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:56,270 We'll wait to see what their response is. 508 00:28:56,266 --> 00:28:57,396 Mark. 509 00:28:57,400 --> 00:29:00,500 The Press: Robert, why shouldn't the commission be seen as a device 510 00:29:00,500 --> 00:29:03,200 by which the President and Congress are being let off the 511 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:07,700 hook from making tough decisions they were elected to make? 512 00:29:07,700 --> 00:29:15,200 Mr. Gibbs: Because what this commission will do is, in a bipartisan way, 513 00:29:15,200 --> 00:29:19,800 recommend to Congress ways, tough ways in which to 514 00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:20,630 solve this problem. 515 00:29:20,633 --> 00:29:23,003 Mark, you've been around this town long enough to understand 516 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:30,070 that only by working together are we going to be able to find 517 00:29:30,066 --> 00:29:32,596 solutions to difficult problems such as this. 518 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:40,870 This is a way of creating a bipartisan vehicle for making 519 00:29:40,867 --> 00:29:42,597 that discussion serious. 520 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:47,370 The Press: Will the President bind himself to accept the recommendations? 521 00:29:47,367 --> 00:29:51,167 Mr. Gibbs: We'll go through the makeup of and the rules governing 522 00:29:51,166 --> 00:29:53,566 recommendations. 523 00:29:53,567 --> 00:29:56,267 As you've heard, the President is not going to prejudge where 524 00:29:56,266 --> 00:30:01,466 the commission lands and hopes that recommendations will be 525 00:30:01,467 --> 00:30:04,067 forwarded to and acted on by Congress. 526 00:30:04,066 --> 00:30:07,596 The Press: You could fill a library with commissions' reports 527 00:30:07,600 --> 00:30:10,100 that have gone nowhere. 528 00:30:10,100 --> 00:30:11,830 Mr. Gibbs: You could. 529 00:30:11,834 --> 00:30:20,504 I think the President, though, discussed and has discussed 530 00:30:20,500 --> 00:30:24,500 throughout his tenure here having to get serious with our 531 00:30:24,500 --> 00:30:33,670 budget situation, and had hoped that a statutory commission 532 00:30:33,667 --> 00:30:37,467 would be set up. 533 00:30:37,467 --> 00:30:40,167 That, for political reasons, failed. 534 00:30:40,166 --> 00:30:42,736 He's taken the step of setting this up through an executive 535 00:30:42,734 --> 00:30:46,734 order because he's serious about making progress on this issue. 536 00:30:46,734 --> 00:30:49,934 The Press: Will there be any coverage of the meeting with the Dalai Lama? 537 00:30:49,934 --> 00:30:52,864 Mr. Gibbs: The meeting will happen, as you know, 538 00:30:52,867 --> 00:30:54,967 in the residence -- in the Map Room. 539 00:30:54,967 --> 00:30:59,067 There will be an official photo released out of that. 540 00:30:59,066 --> 00:31:03,036 Whether the Dalai Lama goes to the stakeout or what have 541 00:31:03,033 --> 00:31:06,833 you is up to him. 542 00:31:06,834 --> 00:31:10,264 The Press: Wait, the stakeout is up to the Dalai Lama? 543 00:31:10,266 --> 00:31:11,636 Okay. 544 00:31:11,633 --> 00:31:12,633 The Press: He's done it before. 545 00:31:12,633 --> 00:31:13,203 Mr. Gibbs: Right. 546 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:14,870 I mean, I wouldn't -- 547 00:31:14,867 --> 00:31:15,837 The Press: I heard that's on the table. 548 00:31:15,834 --> 00:31:23,434 Mr. Gibbs: It would be a little more than awkward to restrict the right of 549 00:31:23,433 --> 00:31:24,933 speech to -- (laughter) And he just signed up for Twitter. 550 00:31:24,934 --> 00:31:26,764 (laughter) 551 00:31:26,767 --> 00:31:27,897 The Press: You know, you laugh. 552 00:31:27,900 --> 00:31:31,870 I think the Pope tweets. 553 00:31:31,867 --> 00:31:34,897 The Press: Is the President ready to meet Dalai Lama and, let's say, 554 00:31:34,900 --> 00:31:38,300 he asks for freedom or independence or more autonomy 555 00:31:38,300 --> 00:31:39,700 for his people? 556 00:31:39,700 --> 00:31:43,030 Mr. Gibbs: We will give you guys a readout for what they talk 557 00:31:43,033 --> 00:31:44,933 about tomorrow. 558 00:31:44,934 --> 00:31:49,004 The Press: The President keeps referring to the $787 billion stimulus, 559 00:31:49,000 --> 00:31:52,030 but the CBO has said it was $862 billion. 560 00:31:52,033 --> 00:31:54,633 Why doesn't he use that number? 561 00:31:54,633 --> 00:31:59,403 Mr. Gibbs: That's, again, an estimate based on economic circumstances that 562 00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:03,400 change as a result of safety net programs like COBRA and 563 00:32:03,400 --> 00:32:05,870 unemployment extension. 564 00:32:05,867 --> 00:32:08,937 What that number ends up being at the end of the bill will be 565 00:32:08,934 --> 00:32:10,834 determined largely at the end of the bill. 566 00:32:10,834 --> 00:32:16,604 The $787 billion is obviously what passed Congress. 567 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:20,530 We've asked for extensions of unemployment benefits, 568 00:32:20,533 --> 00:32:25,863 of health care, so I don't think anybody is confused about that. 569 00:32:25,867 --> 00:32:27,397 The Press: Is the $862 [billion] wrong? 570 00:32:27,400 --> 00:32:30,300 I mean, how should we be referring to it then? 571 00:32:30,300 --> 00:32:32,770 Mr. Gibbs: By crediting the CBO. 572 00:32:32,767 --> 00:32:35,197 The Press: And what will be discussed at the meeting with 573 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:37,030 General Odierno today? 574 00:32:37,033 --> 00:32:40,233 Mr. Gibbs: General Odierno and Ambassador Hill are both in town. 575 00:32:40,233 --> 00:32:44,633 The Vice President, who has been deeply involved with the 576 00:32:44,633 --> 00:32:48,533 political situation and the upcoming elections in Iraq, 577 00:32:48,533 --> 00:32:51,733 and the President will meet with those two to get an update on 578 00:32:51,734 --> 00:32:55,404 where we are, again, as we head toward these important 579 00:32:55,400 --> 00:33:03,100 elections; as we transition our combat forces out of Iraq ahead 580 00:33:03,100 --> 00:33:07,000 of August and then ultimately ahead of what the status of 581 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:11,700 forces agreement requires next year. 582 00:33:11,700 --> 00:33:14,570 The Press: On the stimulus, I want to give you a chance to respond to 583 00:33:14,567 --> 00:33:17,197 something that Michael Steele, the RNC chairman, 584 00:33:17,200 --> 00:33:19,000 said this morning about the Recovery Act, 585 00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:20,570 and I'm quoting him directly here now: "The other fiction we 586 00:33:20,567 --> 00:33:24,667 need to dispense with is this 'saved and created' nonsense." 587 00:33:24,667 --> 00:33:26,897 I'm still quoting: "I don't know what that is. 588 00:33:26,900 --> 00:33:28,500 I don't know what that looks like. 589 00:33:28,500 --> 00:33:31,070 And if I can't put my fingers on it, if I can't touch it, 590 00:33:31,066 --> 00:33:33,236 and if I can't get up at 6:00 in the morning and go to work 591 00:33:33,233 --> 00:33:35,763 there, then it's not happening. 592 00:33:35,767 --> 00:33:37,637 And that's the reality of a lot of people right now." 593 00:33:37,633 --> 00:33:43,933 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I can find a school that Chairman Steele can 594 00:33:43,934 --> 00:33:46,304 go to at 6:00 a.m. 595 00:33:46,300 --> 00:33:50,570 and put his fingers on -- (laughter) -- an elementary 596 00:33:50,567 --> 00:33:56,497 school teacher who -- (laughter) -- no, no, no, hold on, come on. 597 00:33:56,500 --> 00:34:04,930 A little bit of decorum -- that he can look at as somebody who, 598 00:34:04,934 --> 00:34:11,404 as a result of the economic downturn did not lose their job 599 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:17,730 as a result of the recovery plan. 600 00:34:17,734 --> 00:34:22,164 I'm happy to find you -- the President has visited businesses 601 00:34:22,166 --> 00:34:24,696 in Maryland that have created jobs. 602 00:34:24,700 --> 00:34:27,430 He should come to the White House and talk to the solar 603 00:34:27,433 --> 00:34:34,233 energy company executive today who's added jobs. 604 00:34:34,233 --> 00:34:40,963 Continuing to deny what is undeniable leads one only to 605 00:34:40,967 --> 00:34:45,967 believe that Chairman Steele is far more interested in playing 606 00:34:45,967 --> 00:34:52,467 politics than he is in fixing what was broken in this country 607 00:34:52,467 --> 00:34:54,167 over the past eight years. 608 00:34:54,166 --> 00:34:58,866 The Press: When CBO looked at the five largest categories of Recovery 609 00:34:58,867 --> 00:35:00,737 Act spending so far, it broke down along the Social Security 610 00:35:00,734 --> 00:35:04,834 payroll tax refund -- the tax cut, unemployment insurance, 611 00:35:04,834 --> 00:35:07,434 Medicaid, state -- emergency aid to the states, 612 00:35:07,433 --> 00:35:09,403 and student loans. 613 00:35:09,400 --> 00:35:14,770 Would you say, therefore, that a big part of the initial benefit 614 00:35:14,767 --> 00:35:19,537 of the Recovery Act or stimulus was to rescue people from 615 00:35:19,533 --> 00:35:22,763 situations that would have been far worse than had it not been 616 00:35:22,767 --> 00:35:25,037 there, and that these five categories of spending are now 617 00:35:25,033 --> 00:35:27,263 what we would traditionally regard as job creating but 618 00:35:27,266 --> 00:35:30,336 saving people from dire -- more dire circumstances -- a rescue 619 00:35:30,333 --> 00:35:33,333 component as opposed to reinvestment or recovery? 620 00:35:33,333 --> 00:35:38,733 Mr. Gibbs: Well, understand that one of the hallmarks of a bill that has not 621 00:35:38,734 --> 00:35:48,904 seen fraud and abuse is that you have to set up a system where an 622 00:35:48,900 --> 00:35:53,000 investment in an energy company is -- through a grant -- is 623 00:35:53,000 --> 00:35:55,430 going to have to be a system that's going to have 624 00:35:55,433 --> 00:35:56,333 to be set up. 625 00:35:56,333 --> 00:35:57,903 Cutting somebody's payroll tax can be done by changing the rate 626 00:35:57,900 --> 00:36:06,200 at which that tax is levied. 627 00:36:06,200 --> 00:36:11,600 Being able to go to a facility that provides you unemployment 628 00:36:11,600 --> 00:36:17,300 benefits and extend those benefits because you've lost 629 00:36:17,300 --> 00:36:21,600 them is not something that requires additional setup. 630 00:36:21,600 --> 00:36:24,930 So obviously the pacing of different activities has 631 00:36:24,934 --> 00:36:30,764 happened at varying times based largely on how those services 632 00:36:30,767 --> 00:36:32,067 are delivered. 633 00:36:32,066 --> 00:36:34,066 The Press: But so far what's happened has been mostly rescue as opposed 634 00:36:34,066 --> 00:36:36,766 to a hard-core jobs creation kind of thing -- 635 00:36:36,767 --> 00:36:38,667 Mr. Gibbs: I don't have the chart that I had earlier this morning with 636 00:36:38,667 --> 00:36:39,567 me; it's on my desk. 637 00:36:39,567 --> 00:36:49,967 But I think that -- obviously a cut in taxes, AMT relief, 638 00:36:49,967 --> 00:36:54,937 unemployment benefits, extending health care for those that have 639 00:36:54,934 --> 00:36:59,064 lost their job happens pretty quickly. 640 00:36:59,066 --> 00:37:03,136 And quarter by quarter, we've seen an increase in different 641 00:37:03,133 --> 00:37:08,403 investments to -- different investments in different sectors 642 00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:12,500 of what the recovery plan invested in -- understanding, 643 00:37:12,500 --> 00:37:17,630 Major, that one of the primary things that -- probably one of 644 00:37:17,633 --> 00:37:24,463 the three main components of the legislation was, as you said, 645 00:37:24,467 --> 00:37:28,297 aid to states, that also goes out quite quickly. 646 00:37:28,300 --> 00:37:36,900 And you've seen the impact of state and local employment on 647 00:37:36,900 --> 00:37:39,130 the overall jobs numbers. 648 00:37:39,133 --> 00:37:41,503 Were it not for state -- I think this is true; 649 00:37:41,500 --> 00:37:44,570 I forget the exact number of jobs lost last month, 650 00:37:44,567 --> 00:37:49,167 but I know that state and local I believe was 41,000. 651 00:37:49,166 --> 00:37:53,136 So removing that you I think would have had -- again, 652 00:37:53,133 --> 00:37:54,533 I don't have the number in front of me, 653 00:37:54,533 --> 00:37:56,733 but I'm pretty sure you would have positive economic growth -- 654 00:37:56,734 --> 00:37:58,604 positive job growth for that month. 655 00:37:58,600 --> 00:38:02,300 So, again, there's not one -- as I said yesterday, 656 00:38:02,300 --> 00:38:08,770 there's not one single thing that any piece of legislation 657 00:38:08,767 --> 00:38:14,197 can do, because we faced problems on any number of 658 00:38:14,200 --> 00:38:14,970 significant fronts. 659 00:38:14,967 --> 00:38:21,667 The Press: Austan Goolsbee told me this morning one of the problems he 660 00:38:21,667 --> 00:38:23,837 thinks this recovery has had is that too many Americans confuse 661 00:38:23,834 --> 00:38:24,634 it with TARP or bank bailouts. 662 00:38:24,633 --> 00:38:25,803 Do you think that you've failed to make a communications 663 00:38:25,800 --> 00:38:27,700 distinction between the two and that's one of the problems you 664 00:38:27,700 --> 00:38:29,770 face as people try to decide whether this was good 665 00:38:29,767 --> 00:38:31,067 for them or not? 666 00:38:31,066 --> 00:38:33,836 Mr. Gibbs: Look, I think -- I'm not sure how we would have 667 00:38:33,834 --> 00:38:36,004 done it differently. 668 00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:37,730 Instead of calling it the Recovery Act, 669 00:38:37,734 --> 00:38:39,304 we could have called it the not-TARP act. 670 00:38:39,300 --> 00:38:52,400 But, I mean, look, I think that people have conflated money lent 671 00:38:52,400 --> 00:38:58,430 to banks, much of it paid back with interest, 672 00:38:58,433 --> 00:39:00,833 to stabilize the financial system, 673 00:39:00,834 --> 00:39:03,934 or investments that had to be made in restructuring auto 674 00:39:03,934 --> 00:39:07,704 companies with the recovery plan. 675 00:39:07,700 --> 00:39:11,600 I'm not sure exactly what could have been done to rectify that. 676 00:39:11,600 --> 00:39:14,400 The Press: Is Mullah Baradar an enemy combatant? 677 00:39:14,400 --> 00:39:18,100 Mr. Gibbs: Mullah Baradar is in Pakistani custody. 678 00:39:18,100 --> 00:39:20,400 The Press: And will remain? 679 00:39:20,400 --> 00:39:22,500 Mr. Gibbs: I don't have an update that he won't. 680 00:39:22,500 --> 00:39:27,300 The Press: So there's nothing with his status in Pakistani custody that 681 00:39:27,300 --> 00:39:29,530 either the Justice Department or the White House has to weigh 682 00:39:29,533 --> 00:39:30,903 as far as his status? 683 00:39:30,900 --> 00:39:37,130 Mr. Gibbs: Well, he's in Pakistan custody; he's an Afghan national. 684 00:39:37,133 --> 00:39:38,103 Yes, sir. 685 00:39:38,100 --> 00:39:40,130 The Press: Two quick questions. 686 00:39:40,133 --> 00:39:42,133 Tomorrow I gather, when he goes to Colorado and Las Vegas, 687 00:39:42,133 --> 00:39:43,633 it's fundraisers. 688 00:39:43,633 --> 00:39:45,733 Can you talk a little bit about Friday morning and 689 00:39:45,734 --> 00:39:47,834 what event that's -- 690 00:39:47,834 --> 00:39:49,764 Mr. Gibbs: Let me -- I don't have that all in front of me, 691 00:39:49,767 --> 00:39:51,297 but I'll be happy to get it to you. 692 00:39:51,300 --> 00:39:54,530 I know he's going to do a couple different events, 693 00:39:54,533 --> 00:39:57,903 one of which I believe is a town hall. 694 00:39:57,900 --> 00:40:00,300 The Press: And for my colleagues on Metro, he's now been to Lanham, 695 00:40:00,300 --> 00:40:01,800 Maryland, three times. 696 00:40:01,800 --> 00:40:05,270 Does he have something he particularly likes about Lanham? 697 00:40:05,266 --> 00:40:08,166 Mr. Gibbs: No, but apparently we should bring Michael Steele next time. 698 00:40:08,166 --> 00:40:09,666 (laughter) 699 00:40:09,667 --> 00:40:12,467 The Press: Robert, are Republicans winning the message war over the 700 00:40:12,467 --> 00:40:15,667 stimulus bill? 701 00:40:15,667 --> 00:40:18,597 Mr. Gibbs: I don't think so because quite a few of them are, like I said, 702 00:40:18,600 --> 00:40:22,300 showing up at ribbon cuttings. 703 00:40:22,300 --> 00:40:26,030 I don't know whether they have decided that it's good to make 704 00:40:26,033 --> 00:40:33,063 sure that you are seen being an active participant in trying to 705 00:40:33,066 --> 00:40:37,496 get the economy growing again rather than sitting on the 706 00:40:37,500 --> 00:40:39,630 sidelines and saying no. 707 00:40:39,633 --> 00:40:44,403 Again, look at where -- the unemployment rate today would 708 00:40:44,400 --> 00:40:47,530 probably be 11% or higher were it not for the recovery plan. 709 00:40:47,533 --> 00:40:50,603 Two million people who are getting paychecks today wouldn't 710 00:40:50,600 --> 00:40:52,130 be getting paychecks. 711 00:40:52,133 --> 00:40:54,833 Economic growth would be decidedly different in quarters 712 00:40:54,834 --> 00:40:59,534 three and four than they were in quarters three and four as a 713 00:40:59,533 --> 00:41:00,903 result of what's happening on the recovery plan. 714 00:41:00,900 --> 00:41:04,530 The Press: But, Robert, we know that the Republicans are saying things 715 00:41:04,533 --> 00:41:07,963 like -- Eric Cantor said today, "Still no job creation." 716 00:41:07,967 --> 00:41:12,937 John Boehner called it the one year of bloated -- broken 717 00:41:12,934 --> 00:41:15,834 promises, bloated government, et cetera. 718 00:41:15,834 --> 00:41:19,934 They're arguing no jobs have been created. 719 00:41:19,934 --> 00:41:20,964 And we also know -- 720 00:41:20,967 --> 00:41:22,267 Mr. Gibbs: What's weird is that Eric Cantor -- 721 00:41:22,266 --> 00:41:24,736 The Press: Wait, and we also know -- 722 00:41:24,734 --> 00:41:27,334 Mr. Gibbs: No, no, it's weird that Eric Cantor was trying to get some 723 00:41:27,333 --> 00:41:29,833 high-speed rail money to Virginia to create jobs. 724 00:41:29,834 --> 00:41:30,504 The Press: Okay, fine. 725 00:41:30,500 --> 00:41:32,000 We're talking about -- but we also know that he was 726 00:41:32,000 --> 00:41:33,000 confused about this bill. 727 00:41:33,000 --> 00:41:33,670 Mr. Gibbs: No, no, no, no, no. 728 00:41:33,667 --> 00:41:34,437 Hold on. 729 00:41:34,433 --> 00:41:36,963 Let's not say "fine," let's not say "fine." 730 00:41:36,967 --> 00:41:39,367 When you're trying to create jobs through high-speed rail and 731 00:41:39,367 --> 00:41:43,937 then you're telling you that it's not creating jobs, 732 00:41:43,934 --> 00:41:48,704 it's hard to kind of square the circle between the rhetoric of 733 00:41:48,700 --> 00:41:51,130 what somebody says in Washington to a New York Times reporter and 734 00:41:51,133 --> 00:41:52,703 what they tell their constituents in their 735 00:41:52,700 --> 00:41:54,400 district in Virginia. 736 00:41:54,400 --> 00:41:56,370 The Press: If you would let me finish -- they are making the case that 737 00:41:56,367 --> 00:41:59,637 jobs were saved or created, and we also know from polls that 738 00:41:59,633 --> 00:42:03,703 we've discussed here today that many Americans are confused 739 00:42:03,700 --> 00:42:06,400 about what this bill has achieved and whether or not it 740 00:42:06,400 --> 00:42:09,200 in fact has created any jobs. 741 00:42:09,200 --> 00:42:11,400 So I'm asking again, are they winning the message war? 742 00:42:11,400 --> 00:42:11,900 Mr. Gibbs: No. 743 00:42:11,900 --> 00:42:12,800 The answer is no. 744 00:42:12,800 --> 00:42:17,130 Again, I don't know what message Eric Cantor delivers when he 745 00:42:17,133 --> 00:42:19,803 tells you in Washington that it hasn't, 746 00:42:19,800 --> 00:42:21,730 but then tells his constituents, gee, 747 00:42:21,734 --> 00:42:24,164 I hope we get this grant to build high-speed rail in the 748 00:42:24,166 --> 00:42:26,496 district and create jobs. 749 00:42:26,500 --> 00:42:29,270 In Alabama, we call that hypocrisy. 750 00:42:29,266 --> 00:42:33,566 In Washington, we call that par for the course. 751 00:42:33,567 --> 00:42:34,437 Yes, sir. 752 00:42:34,433 --> 00:42:36,363 The Press: Debt commission -- how many people are going to be on it? 753 00:42:36,367 --> 00:42:39,267 And does the President have commitments to serve from all 754 00:42:39,266 --> 00:42:41,566 the people he's going to name tomorrow? 755 00:42:41,567 --> 00:42:47,537 Mr. Gibbs: The two that he'll name tomorrow are locked and loaded. 756 00:42:47,533 --> 00:42:49,233 The Press: So those are the only two people he's naming tomorrow? 757 00:42:49,233 --> 00:42:49,903 Mr. Gibbs: Yes. 758 00:42:49,900 --> 00:42:52,170 The Press: So he still doesn't have the full complement? 759 00:42:52,166 --> 00:42:55,596 Mr. Gibbs: We're not announcing the full complement. 760 00:42:55,600 --> 00:42:56,770 The Press: Have you convinced them? 761 00:42:56,767 --> 00:42:57,667 Mr. Gibbs: Convinced who? 762 00:42:57,667 --> 00:42:58,297 The Press: To join. 763 00:42:58,300 --> 00:42:59,030 Mr. Gibbs: Who? 764 00:42:59,033 --> 00:43:00,133 The Press: The rest of the complement. 765 00:43:00,133 --> 00:43:01,403 Mr. Gibbs: We just haven't announced them. 766 00:43:01,400 --> 00:43:08,370 But we will -- we're waiting to see what -- it will be 767 00:43:08,367 --> 00:43:10,937 interesting to see what the Republican reaction is. 768 00:43:10,934 --> 00:43:12,634 The Press: In other words, he's got Republican members that he has 769 00:43:12,633 --> 00:43:14,263 in mind or has asked Boehner about? 770 00:43:14,266 --> 00:43:17,066 You said before that -- 771 00:43:17,066 --> 00:43:18,966 Mr. Gibbs: We had members -- members of the economic team, 772 00:43:18,967 --> 00:43:22,537 and I think Tim and Larry talked to -- I'll find out exactly who 773 00:43:22,533 --> 00:43:29,703 made calls to who -- walking them through a commission, 774 00:43:29,700 --> 00:43:35,930 and then again in the Cabinet Room there was a discussion 775 00:43:35,934 --> 00:43:41,834 about -- the President asking Senator McConnell and 776 00:43:41,834 --> 00:43:46,634 Congressman Boehner directly to appoint members. 777 00:43:46,633 --> 00:43:48,433 I think Senator Simpson was quite eloquent on this 778 00:43:48,433 --> 00:43:51,703 yesterday, too. 779 00:43:51,700 --> 00:43:53,930 The Press: So tomorrow he's going to announce -- 780 00:43:53,934 --> 00:43:55,564 Mr. Gibbs: He'll announce the co-chairs, the structure of the commission, 781 00:43:55,567 --> 00:43:57,667 sign the executive order. 782 00:43:57,667 --> 00:43:58,267 The Press: But he won't -- 783 00:43:58,266 --> 00:44:00,766 The Press: But he still doesn't have names for the rest of them and he's -- 784 00:44:00,767 --> 00:44:05,867 Mr. Gibbs: We will announce additional names tomorrow. 785 00:44:05,867 --> 00:44:06,967 The Press: Meaning that they have agreed? 786 00:44:06,967 --> 00:44:07,967 I don't -- 787 00:44:07,967 --> 00:44:09,397 The Press: Is the Dalai Lama one of them? 788 00:44:09,400 --> 00:44:10,030 (laughter) 789 00:44:10,033 --> 00:44:12,433 The Press: He does not have agreement from the rest of the 790 00:44:12,433 --> 00:44:13,463 commission that he -- 791 00:44:13,467 --> 00:44:15,637 Mr. Gibbs: We're not announcing additional names tomorrow. 792 00:44:15,633 --> 00:44:17,203 The Press: Presidential travel is expensive. 793 00:44:17,200 --> 00:44:20,500 Will you provide to us the breakdown when the President, 794 00:44:20,500 --> 00:44:22,400 on a political trip like the one this week, 795 00:44:22,400 --> 00:44:26,570 how much the local campaigns pay for, for instance, 796 00:44:26,567 --> 00:44:27,697 a visit to Colorado? 797 00:44:27,700 --> 00:44:31,270 Mr. Gibbs: I believe the campaigns and the DNC -- I don't know how all that 798 00:44:31,266 --> 00:44:33,266 works, but we will certainly -- 799 00:44:33,266 --> 00:44:35,396 The Press: The DNC or is it Senator Reid's campaign? 800 00:44:35,400 --> 00:44:38,400 Mr. Gibbs: There's a -- 801 00:44:38,400 --> 00:44:39,000 The Press: A formula. 802 00:44:39,000 --> 00:44:39,500 Mr. Gibbs: Right. 803 00:44:39,500 --> 00:44:42,500 The Press: Are you using the Bush administration formula? 804 00:44:42,500 --> 00:44:46,100 Mr. Gibbs: I'm not in charge of reimbursements for Air Force One 805 00:44:46,100 --> 00:44:47,770 so I honestly don't know the answer. 806 00:44:47,767 --> 00:44:50,067 The Press: Well, but it's a legitimate White House issue. 807 00:44:50,066 --> 00:44:50,896 Would you be able -- 808 00:44:50,900 --> 00:44:53,330 Mr. Gibbs: No, no, no, I'm not saying it's not a -- you just asked me -- I 809 00:44:53,333 --> 00:44:56,033 don't know what the mileage reimbursement is so let me have 810 00:44:56,033 --> 00:44:57,563 somebody check on that. 811 00:44:57,567 --> 00:44:58,197 The Press: Would you be able to provide that? 812 00:44:58,200 --> 00:44:59,000 Thank you. 813 00:44:59,000 --> 00:45:01,330 The Press: If the congressional Republicans don't name members to this 814 00:45:01,333 --> 00:45:05,963 commission, is the President -- does he have a plan B? 815 00:45:05,967 --> 00:45:09,397 Mr. Gibbs: I don't want to get ahead of what I assume will be them 816 00:45:09,400 --> 00:45:12,170 naming members to the commission. 817 00:45:12,166 --> 00:45:14,736 The Press: Thanks, Robert. 818 00:45:14,734 --> 00:45:17,764 I had a question, but first I wanted to get an update. 819 00:45:17,767 --> 00:45:19,737 You had said a couple weeks back that you would check the 820 00:45:19,734 --> 00:45:22,504 timeline as to whether the President knew in advance 821 00:45:22,500 --> 00:45:27,200 whether Abdulmutallab had been or would be Mirandized. 822 00:45:27,200 --> 00:45:28,070 Mr. Gibbs: I did not. 823 00:45:28,066 --> 00:45:29,866 I don't know the answer to that. 824 00:45:29,867 --> 00:45:32,837 The Press: And a follow-up question. 825 00:45:32,834 --> 00:45:36,364 The Vice President said on "Meet the Press" that he guarantees 826 00:45:36,367 --> 00:45:39,567 that KSM would not be acquitted. 827 00:45:39,567 --> 00:45:40,037 Isn't part 828 00:45:40,033 --> 00:45:42,333 of a civilian trial presumed innocent -- 829 00:45:42,333 --> 00:45:43,433 Mr. Gibbs: Yes. 830 00:45:43,433 --> 00:45:44,533 The Press: -- and does the administration believe that he is 831 00:45:44,533 --> 00:45:46,033 presumed innocent? 832 00:45:46,033 --> 00:45:50,033 Mr. Gibbs: The administration is in charge of presenting the case against 833 00:45:50,033 --> 00:45:54,763 an individual that killed 3,000 people on American soil. 834 00:45:54,767 --> 00:45:57,167 I not only think he'll be convicted, 835 00:45:57,166 --> 00:46:00,136 I think he'll be executed for his crimes. 836 00:46:00,133 --> 00:46:02,903 The Press: Can you make that guarantee, though? 837 00:46:02,900 --> 00:46:06,330 Mr. Gibbs: I think he's going to be executed for his crimes. 838 00:46:06,333 --> 00:46:09,363 The Press: Quickly, a little more on Tibet. 839 00:46:09,367 --> 00:46:12,237 The Chinese have made clear they're not delighted about 840 00:46:12,233 --> 00:46:15,403 tomorrow's meeting, but does the administration have any sense 841 00:46:15,400 --> 00:46:17,200 that this meeting is going to substantively set back 842 00:46:17,200 --> 00:46:22,200 U.S.-China relations or -- not really? 843 00:46:22,200 --> 00:46:25,470 Mr. Gibbs: I don't want to speak for the Chinese government. 844 00:46:25,467 --> 00:46:33,237 I think, Margaret, when the President met with President Hu 845 00:46:33,233 --> 00:46:37,233 and other officials in Beijing in November he was clear that 846 00:46:37,233 --> 00:46:41,733 this meeting would happen. 847 00:46:41,734 --> 00:46:43,864 Before we announced it we reiterated that the meeting was 848 00:46:43,867 --> 00:46:47,167 going to happen. 849 00:46:47,166 --> 00:46:51,796 And in response to questions that I've gotten on whether the 850 00:46:51,800 --> 00:46:55,070 meeting will still happen, we've said yes. 851 00:46:55,066 --> 00:47:00,536 The Chinese officials have known about this and their reaction is 852 00:47:00,533 --> 00:47:01,733 their reaction. 853 00:47:01,734 --> 00:47:03,834 Again, I think a mature relationship between two 854 00:47:03,834 --> 00:47:06,264 countries allows you to do things like working on 855 00:47:06,266 --> 00:47:10,436 nonproliferation on North Korea, or working on a response to the 856 00:47:10,433 --> 00:47:14,263 global economic crisis, but also have disagreements. 857 00:47:14,266 --> 00:47:18,436 The Press: And then, quickly, also, is there any sort of subject matter 858 00:47:18,433 --> 00:47:21,203 that is from the get-go off the table in tomorrow's meeting, 859 00:47:21,200 --> 00:47:24,600 or could anything be discussed? 860 00:47:24,600 --> 00:47:25,700 There's no pre-agreement not to discuss certain things? 861 00:47:25,700 --> 00:47:28,100 Mr. Gibbs: I imagine anything could be discussed. 862 00:47:28,100 --> 00:47:30,200 And we'll provide a readout afterwards. 863 00:47:30,200 --> 00:47:35,300 The Press: You said that General McChrystal briefed the President on the 864 00:47:35,300 --> 00:47:36,300 progress of the offensive in the south. 865 00:47:36,300 --> 00:47:39,130 Could you -- I noticed you didn't offer any sort 866 00:47:39,133 --> 00:47:40,363 of public assessment. 867 00:47:40,367 --> 00:47:42,797 Could you possibly do that now? 868 00:47:42,800 --> 00:47:46,170 There's been some reports that the soldiers have been slowed up 869 00:47:46,166 --> 00:47:49,536 by human shields, the use of human shields, perhaps IEDs, 870 00:47:49,533 --> 00:47:50,203 that kind of stuff. 871 00:47:50,200 --> 00:47:53,770 Mr. Gibbs: All I'll say is that the response that we got from 872 00:47:53,767 --> 00:47:59,097 General McChrystal today was that the operation was going 873 00:47:59,100 --> 00:48:02,700 well, that the operation -- that he believed the operation was 874 00:48:02,700 --> 00:48:08,070 going well because of the time that had been taken to shape it 875 00:48:08,066 --> 00:48:21,666 with local authorities; that extra caution was being paid to 876 00:48:21,667 --> 00:48:26,337 preventing civilian casualties. 877 00:48:26,333 --> 00:48:29,963 And both, as I said earlier, Ambassador Eikenberry and 878 00:48:29,967 --> 00:48:31,637 General McChrystal lauded not just the size of this offensive 879 00:48:31,633 --> 00:48:38,903 but that for the first time Afghan national security forces 880 00:48:38,900 --> 00:48:41,600 were in the lead. 881 00:48:41,600 --> 00:48:45,900 The President, after getting the update, 882 00:48:45,900 --> 00:48:50,070 said to General McChrystal to tell all of the men and women 883 00:48:50,066 --> 00:48:55,366 that are under his command how proud he is of their efforts and 884 00:48:55,367 --> 00:49:02,567 how heartened we all are to see Afghans in the lead in this 885 00:49:02,567 --> 00:49:04,567 important offensive. 886 00:49:04,567 --> 00:49:08,167 The Press: But the Marines are doing the lion's share of the fighting, 887 00:49:08,166 --> 00:49:09,336 are they not, Robert? 888 00:49:09,333 --> 00:49:12,333 Mr. Gibbs: Again, alongside -- alongside and training -- 889 00:49:12,333 --> 00:49:15,033 The Press: I mean the tactical and the movements -- it's basically 890 00:49:15,033 --> 00:49:16,203 led by the U.S. 891 00:49:16,200 --> 00:49:17,600 Marines. 892 00:49:17,600 --> 00:49:21,430 Mr. Gibbs: And I'm not in any way minimizing the role that 893 00:49:21,433 --> 00:49:26,863 ISAF is playing, but they're fighting alongside Afghans at a 894 00:49:26,867 --> 00:49:33,067 scale not seen at any point in our involvement in Afghanistan 895 00:49:33,066 --> 00:49:35,736 dating back to the beginning of the war in Afghanistan. 896 00:49:35,734 --> 00:49:36,764 April. 897 00:49:36,767 --> 00:49:40,267 The Press: Robert, I want to go back to the anniversary of the stimulus 898 00:49:40,266 --> 00:49:42,666 package, and also the issue about throwing some dirt 899 00:49:42,667 --> 00:49:44,767 in a hole. 900 00:49:44,767 --> 00:49:48,737 The Advancement Project has come out with a statement saying 901 00:49:48,734 --> 00:49:50,234 communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by 902 00:49:50,233 --> 00:49:53,263 the recession, and they say states with greater racial and 903 00:49:53,266 --> 00:50:03,066 ethnic diversity received less ARRA funds in 2009. 904 00:50:03,066 --> 00:50:03,896 Mr. Gibbs: I would have to look at the statistics. 905 00:50:03,900 --> 00:50:06,830 Some of that may have to do with the size of the state; 906 00:50:06,834 --> 00:50:10,764 some of that may have to do with formula grants. 907 00:50:10,767 --> 00:50:14,967 I hate to just, without having seen what backs that 908 00:50:14,967 --> 00:50:16,537 information up -- 909 00:50:16,533 --> 00:50:19,203 The Press: But the President has said -- he's talked about this universal 910 00:50:19,200 --> 00:50:24,800 approach, and it's almost the rising tide lifts all boats. 911 00:50:24,800 --> 00:50:27,300 What does this administration say to hearing things like that? 912 00:50:27,300 --> 00:50:31,430 Is there going to be an effort to try to make sure more money 913 00:50:31,433 --> 00:50:35,403 is funneled into certain areas, particularly after some of the 914 00:50:35,400 --> 00:50:37,500 civil rights leaders came up saying they want urban 915 00:50:37,500 --> 00:50:38,730 communities to be targeted? 916 00:50:38,734 --> 00:50:45,704 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, when we -- one of the things that we have seen in 917 00:50:45,700 --> 00:50:51,270 this dramatic downturn in our economy is that it affects -- 918 00:50:51,266 --> 00:50:55,466 the effects of this are wide and great; 919 00:50:55,467 --> 00:50:59,937 that it is not something that in earlier recessions you've seen 920 00:50:59,934 --> 00:51:06,034 has not affected, say, white-collar jobs or -- and only 921 00:51:06,033 --> 00:51:09,233 affected sort of manufacturing and blue-collar jobs. 922 00:51:09,233 --> 00:51:15,103 You've seen -- I don't have the statistic in front of me, 923 00:51:15,100 --> 00:51:18,500 but the degree to which, say, college-educated individuals 924 00:51:18,500 --> 00:51:22,330 have lost their jobs in this is far greater than we've seen in 925 00:51:22,333 --> 00:51:23,903 other recessions. 926 00:51:23,900 --> 00:51:27,430 I think the Recovery Act was intended to, 927 00:51:27,433 --> 00:51:32,163 and has done what it's intended to, 928 00:51:32,166 --> 00:51:37,596 to jumpstart economic growth, save jobs, and, 929 00:51:37,600 --> 00:51:40,730 more importantly, invest in new jobs for the future. 930 00:51:40,734 --> 00:51:42,564 The Press: And another question, on another note, on the snow. 931 00:51:42,567 --> 00:51:46,637 Is the federal government looking at pumping in some 932 00:51:46,633 --> 00:51:49,663 monies into communities -- Washington, D.C.; Baltimore, 933 00:51:49,667 --> 00:51:53,137 Maryland; up north -- that are impacted by the snow? 934 00:51:53,133 --> 00:51:56,463 Many streets are still snow- and ice-laden. 935 00:51:56,467 --> 00:51:57,297 Mr. Gibbs: Right. 936 00:51:57,300 --> 00:52:03,430 If localities like the District or if states like Virginia, 937 00:52:03,433 --> 00:52:09,063 Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, 938 00:52:09,066 --> 00:52:11,336 if they want to seek a disaster declaration from the federal 939 00:52:11,333 --> 00:52:15,833 government, those requests are made by those 940 00:52:15,834 --> 00:52:18,164 states and localities. 941 00:52:18,166 --> 00:52:22,236 They go to FEMA, and then FEMA makes a determination about a 942 00:52:22,233 --> 00:52:23,603 disaster declaration. 943 00:52:23,600 --> 00:52:25,730 The Press: Any requests yet? 944 00:52:25,734 --> 00:52:27,734 Mr. Gibbs: I will go back and check. 945 00:52:27,734 --> 00:52:32,934 I think -- well, let me not guess what I think I've seen. 946 00:52:32,934 --> 00:52:34,304 The Press: Thanks, Robert. 947 00:52:34,300 --> 00:52:39,530 Yesterday Senator Bayh said, "If I could create one job in the 948 00:52:39,533 --> 00:52:40,633 private sector by helping to grow a business, 949 00:52:40,633 --> 00:52:42,763 that would be one more than Congress has created in the last 950 00:52:42,767 --> 00:52:43,767 six months." 951 00:52:43,767 --> 00:52:44,837 Is he right? 952 00:52:44,834 --> 00:52:51,634 Mr. Gibbs: I answered yesterday that obviously the Recovery Act was 953 00:52:51,633 --> 00:52:55,003 something that passed legislatively, as we know, 954 00:52:55,000 --> 00:52:58,700 a year ago, and the President -- I think the President and 955 00:52:58,700 --> 00:53:06,300 Senator Bayh both agree that now is the time to act accordingly 956 00:53:06,300 --> 00:53:10,370 in passing additional measures to create an environment for 957 00:53:10,367 --> 00:53:11,067 additional hiring. 958 00:53:11,066 --> 00:53:13,396 The Press: Thank you. 959 00:53:13,400 --> 00:53:14,570 Mr. Gibbs: Go ahead. 960 00:53:14,567 --> 00:53:17,137 The Press: One other quick thing. 961 00:53:17,133 --> 00:53:19,003 When Mr. Brennan briefed us last month, he said, 962 00:53:19,000 --> 00:53:21,600 "I told the President today I let him down." 963 00:53:21,600 --> 00:53:23,570 Did he tender his resignation? 964 00:53:23,567 --> 00:53:24,797 Mr. Gibbs: No. 965 00:53:24,800 --> 00:53:25,430 The Press: Did he offer it? 966 00:53:25,433 --> 00:53:27,333 Mr. Gibbs: No. 967 00:53:27,333 --> 00:53:30,763 And I can't imagine that the President would under any 968 00:53:30,767 --> 00:53:33,167 circumstance accept it. 969 00:53:33,166 --> 00:53:33,896 Thanks, guys.