English subtitles for clip: File:2-23-10- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Gibbs:
Two quick announcements before we take your questions here.

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The President and First Lady
will welcome President Sarkozy

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of France to the White House
on Tuesday, March 30th,

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for a meeting and
a private dinner.

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France is an invaluable partner
and ally of the United States in

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our shared efforts
to promote peace,

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security and prosperity
around the world.

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And the French and the American
people share deep cultural

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and historic ties.

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The President looks forward
to consulting with President

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Sarkozy on a broad range of
strategic issues of mutual

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concern, including Afghanistan
and Pakistan, Iran,

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Middle East peace efforts,
European security cooperation,

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and sustaining global
economy recovery.

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Secondly, today the President
announced the administration's

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strong support for repealing the
antitrust exemption currently

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enjoyed by health insurers.

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At its core, health reform is
all about ensuring that American

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families and businesses
have more choices,

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benefit from more competition,
and have greater control over

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their own health care.

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Repealing this exemption is an
important part of that effort.

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Today there are no rules
outlawing bid rigging,

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price fixing, and other
insurance company practices that

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will drive up health care costs,
and often drive up their own

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profits as well.

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That was transmitted to Congress
in a statement of administration

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policy as the House considers
that legislation over the next

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couple of days.

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Yes, ma'am.

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The Press:
Robert, a lot of members
of your own party on the

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Hill are wondering how
aggressive the President is

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going to get in
selling this latest,

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last-ditch effort at
comprehensive reform.

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So what are his plans?

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Is he going to
talk to the public?

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Are we going to hear him talking
frequently about the need

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to do this?

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What's the sort of rollout
campaign for his plan?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, I'm not
going to get too far ahead of

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the next thing that's
on the calendar, and

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that's the importance of -
important events

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of Thursday in --

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The Press:
Democrats are saying
that this kind of an effort

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would be just as important as
sitting down around the table.

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You also have to sell it to a
public that's skeptical and to

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Democrats on the Hill
who are skeptical.

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, but I think
before we get there the

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President has wanted to and will
sit down with Democrats and

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Republicans to
discuss their ideas,

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to go through the plans that had
been put forward and to find

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agreement where that's possible.

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I think that's the next step,
and I don't think the President

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wants to get too far
ahead on that process.

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The Press:
But how are they --
I don't see how they have to be

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separate from one another.

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Why do you have to separate
one out from the other?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I'm not discussing
whether or not they're separate.

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The President is not
focused on Friday.

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The President ultimately
is focused on Thursday.

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The Press:
But Democrats are
saying he needs to be focused on

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Friday if there's any chance
of this thing succeeding.

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, we have been
focused on getting health

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care reform this far.

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We're focused on
getting it done.

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And we look forward to what we
hope is a robust exchange of

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ideas on Thursday.

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The President --

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The Press:
I hate to drag
this out even further,

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but it sounds like what you're
-- it sounds like you're not

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willing to say that he's going
to make an aggressive

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sales effort --

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Mr. Gibbs:
You want to take
this in a different direction.

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The President is focused
-- the President is focused

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on Thursday. Yes.

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The Press:
Shifting gears a little bit,

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can you talk about where things
stand with the Volcker rule?

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It's being watered
down by lawmakers.

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Treasury put out a statement
today talking about wanting

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limits for banks on
proprietary trading.

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The President's original
announcement was an outright

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ban, and that's what
Chairman Volcker supports.

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Are you softening your position?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Absolutely not.

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The administration remains as
committed today to what was

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outlined that day with Chairman
Volcker and members

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of the economic team.

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We're as committed to that
now as we were on that day.

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This was a proposal that
was developed by -- at the

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President's behest
with Chairman Volcker,

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with Secretary Geithner
and with Director Summers,

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and outlined and announced by
the President with all

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three at his side.

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We have -- we're not walking
away from and we're not watering

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down that proposal one bit.

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The Press:
But are you signaling
that you'd be willing to accept

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less than what the
President initially --

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Mr. Gibbs:
We're as committed towhat the President outlined that day.

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We're as committed to that
now as we were on that day.

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We're not walking away from what
the President outlined

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on the Volcker rule.

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The Press:
You've taken a pretty
strong stand on

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the consumer agency.

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Do you feel as strongly about
the Volcker rule as that?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Absolutely.

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Absolutely.

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The Press:
Just one other question.

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Can you talk about tonight's
dinner with the

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business leaders?

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What does the President
want to talk to them about?

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And what is he going
to talk about tomorrow?

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You mentioned the
international tax provisions,

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but what other topics --

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Mr. Gibbs:
I was asked that yesterday.

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Look, I think the President will
outline a vision for a more

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competitive America.

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The President looks forward to
sitting down with executive

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community members from the
Business Roundtable this evening

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and having a free-flowing
conversation about their ideas

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-- we'll have -- I think we've
put out some of those names,

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we'll put out the remainder of
those names at the beginning of

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the dinner -- to discuss where
the interests of workers,

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business and government
intersect in creating a new

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foundation for ensuring
incentives for continued hiring;

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to talk about the need to export
more of our goods overseas and

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open up markets; to discuss
the steps that we've taken to

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stabilize the economy
and the financial system;

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and discuss what his
vision is moving forward.

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So I think that will all be what
he outlines tomorrow

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at the speech.

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Yes, sir.

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The Press:
Can you tell us a
little bit more about this

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statement of administration
policy regarding the

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antitrust exemption?

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Why specifically now?

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How long has the President been
planning on coming out

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in favor of this?

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He's been hinting about
it for quite some time.

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, the House is
considering in their legislative

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vehicle -- this legislation goes
to the Rules Committee today;

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as my understanding, goes to the
floor either tomorrow

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or the day after that.

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We typically weigh in at this
part -- point in the process

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with a statement of
administration policy.

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It's been evaluated by a number
of departments throughout

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government, and believe that
this -- removing this exemption

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will allow appropriate
enforcement and examination of

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potential policies that
might prove uncompetitive,

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might stifle competition, and
we think this better promotes

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affordability and innovation
through greater choice and less

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market concentration.

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The Press:
I think it was either a few weeks ago or a few months

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ago the President said, I think
in one of the weekly addresses,

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that it was time for Congress to
consider repealing the

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antitrust exemption.

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Do you have evidence that
there is any, as you put it,

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bid rigging or price fixing?

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Is that why he came out more
solidly in favor of this?

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Mr. Gibbs:
We do know this, Jake,

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that the AMA studied the market
concentration of health insurers

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and found that 94
percent of the U. S.

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health insurance markets
were highly concentrated,

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meaning one or only a few health
insurers offering policies in,

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as I said, almost all the
markets in the country.

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This allows DOJ and FTC
the ability to look into,

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in complement with state
insurance regulations,

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to ensure competitiveness.

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The Press:
Okay.

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And about Thursday's summit, it
doesn't really seem like it's

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shaping up right now to seem all
that bipartisan on Thursday.

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You have Republicans saying
it's going to be a

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Democratic infomercial.

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The fact that the President
posted his plan on whitehouse.

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gov is indicative of a lack of
sincerity on his part, they say,

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because he's -- and then,
for your guy's part,

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the bill that you've posted is
not just a bill the President

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supports; it's also a vehicle
to get this through Congress

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without any Republican support.

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Mr. Gibbs:
Again, Jake, the bill
is a starting point for what

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Congress had spent many
months considering.

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What we get out of Thursday
will be, as I said yesterday,

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based on the willingness of
those participating to come in

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with an open mind and discuss
the ideas and the

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plans that they have.

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Was it disappointing that Senate
Republicans appear to have

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decided not to post their plan
on the Internet for discussion,

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or for Republicans to come
with a more consensus plan?

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Sure, that's disappointing.

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I hope that doesn't wipe away
their willingness to actively

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discuss the ideas that they have
to cut costs for those that are

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drowning -- small businesses and
families -- government budgets,

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and those that are being
discriminated against

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by the practices of
insurance companies.

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The Press:
But doesn't the fact
that you've posted it in the

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form that you've posted it,
which is not just a list of

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principles or a statement
of legislation -

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well --

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The Press:
-- but, I mean,
look, we all know that --

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Mr. Gibbs:
No, no. In fairness --

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The Press:
-- for reconciliation
if it comes to that.

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Mr. Gibbs:
Jake, in fairness,
I can assume if we would have

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simply posted principles
they would have said,

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why isn't there
more information?

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Look, semantics aside, the
President looks forward to

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discussing actively for several
hours with members of his

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administration, Democrats
and Republicans,

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their ideas for
health care reform.

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I think -- again, I can't stress
enough, I think the product,

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the output of six hours of
discussion will be based on

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every participant's willingness
to come and have an honest and

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frank discussion.

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I don't think it does any
good if somebody says,

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we're not going there
to offer our ideas,

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we're just going there to help
people understand how bad the

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other guys' ideas are.

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That's not what the American
people are looking for.

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They're looking for Democrats
and Republicans who are willing

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to sit around a table and work
together to provide solutions to

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problems like health care, the
rising cost of health care.

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That's what the President sees
as his hope for what

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happens on Thursday.

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The Press:
One last thing, I'm sorry.

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Congressman Jeff Sestak last
week said that the White House

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offered him a high ranking job
in the administration to not

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run against Arlen Specter.

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Do you guys have
any comment on that?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I was traveling for
a couple of days, as you know.

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I have seen some
stuff that he said, but I

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have not looked into this.

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Jake.

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The Press:
Just to follow
on Jake's question,

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is the White House optimistic
that on Friday health care will

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be in a different place
than it is right now,

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that something will actually --

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Mr. Gibbs:
Hopefully Thursday afternoon.

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Again, I think the President
wants to sit down and discuss

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ways to move forward,
ideas of common interest.

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The Press:
-- from Republicans
are you confident,

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are you optimistic that this --

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Mr. Gibbs:
I am, because, look,
I think this is -- you always

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00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:54,630
have a little bit
of pre-game chatter.

242
00:11:54,633 --> 00:11:59,163
I think the -- again, the
willingness of individuals and

243
00:11:59,166 --> 00:12:05,766
groups to discuss these ideas I
think will change when the -- I

244
00:12:05,767 --> 00:12:08,237
think the American people want
to see that two parties can sit

245
00:12:08,233 --> 00:12:15,233
around a table and coherently
discuss solutions to the

246
00:12:15,233 --> 00:12:17,003
problems that the
American people face.

247
00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:19,770
I think that's what the American
people want to see as well.

248
00:12:19,767 --> 00:12:20,567
The Press:
One other question.

249
00:12:20,567 --> 00:12:25,067
Yesterday after the jobs bill,
the Republicans supporting the

250
00:12:25,066 --> 00:12:27,736
jobs bill, did the President
directly reach out to them,

251
00:12:27,734 --> 00:12:29,204
thank them for --

252
00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:30,930
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know that
the President made any calls.

253
00:12:30,934 --> 00:12:33,364
Obviously you saw our statement.

254
00:12:33,367 --> 00:12:41,097
Look, I think this is a good
example and a good lead-in to

255
00:12:41,100 --> 00:12:49,730
Thursday, and that is there's a
willingness for members to put

256
00:12:49,734 --> 00:12:56,034
aside partisan games and to
move ahead with what we know is

257
00:12:56,033 --> 00:12:59,463
important for the American
people and for the growth and

258
00:12:59,467 --> 00:13:02,297
the stabilization
of our economy.

259
00:13:02,300 --> 00:13:07,570
My sense is that this will pass
fairly overwhelmingly either

260
00:13:07,567 --> 00:13:09,567
later today or tomorrow.

261
00:13:09,567 --> 00:13:15,267
And I think that's an important
step on the road to each party

262
00:13:15,266 --> 00:13:19,136
working together on solutions
for the American people.

263
00:13:19,133 --> 00:13:20,903
Chip.

264
00:13:20,900 --> 00:13:22,900
The Press:
On the health care,
supporters of the public option

265
00:13:22,900 --> 00:13:25,700
are making another push in
preparation for Thursday's

266
00:13:25,700 --> 00:13:28,270
meeting to try to get
it back on the agenda.

267
00:13:28,266 --> 00:13:30,536
By not including it in
the President's proposal,

268
00:13:30,533 --> 00:13:33,303
is the President saying as far
as he's concerned it's dead?

269
00:13:33,300 --> 00:13:39,300
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, I think
that we have seen obviously --

270
00:13:39,300 --> 00:13:42,800
and I talked about this some
yesterday -- that there are some

271
00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:48,070
that are supportive of this.

272
00:13:48,066 --> 00:13:52,236
There isn't enough political
support in a majority

273
00:13:52,233 --> 00:13:55,403
to get this through.

274
00:13:55,400 --> 00:14:00,330
The President wanted to find --
took the Senate bill as a base,

275
00:14:00,333 --> 00:14:08,263
and looks forward to discussing
consensus ideas on Thursday.

276
00:14:08,266 --> 00:14:13,096
The Press:
A question that
I -- on Wall Street bonuses.

277
00:14:13,100 --> 00:14:15,730
The New York State Comptroller
just released its

278
00:14:15,734 --> 00:14:17,464
report for 2009.

279
00:14:17,467 --> 00:14:21,467
It says pay was up
17 percent over 2008.

280
00:14:21,467 --> 00:14:26,897
The average taxable bonus on
Wall Street rose to $123,850,

281
00:14:26,900 --> 00:14:29,770
and pay was probably even higher
than that because it didn't

282
00:14:29,767 --> 00:14:32,367
include deferred compensation
or stock options.

283
00:14:32,367 --> 00:14:36,967
First of all, any comment from
the administration that has at

284
00:14:36,967 --> 00:14:39,197
least talked a lot and done some
hard work to try to get these

285
00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:41,870
bonuses to go down
instead of up?

286
00:14:41,867 --> 00:14:45,497
And secondly, is the White House
satisfied with regulators in

287
00:14:45,500 --> 00:14:47,930
Congress and what they're
doing to curb these bonuses?

288
00:14:47,934 --> 00:14:51,934
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, Chip, obviously
you've heard the President on a

289
00:14:51,934 --> 00:14:56,404
number of occasions voice his
frustration and outright shock

290
00:14:56,400 --> 00:15:02,830
at the pay practices of Wall
Street at a time in which the

291
00:15:02,834 --> 00:15:08,434
American people were rushing
directly to their financial aid

292
00:15:08,433 --> 00:15:14,403
to prevent a further
collapse of the economy.

293
00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:24,200
The President in the Recovery
Act appointed Ken Feinberg to

294
00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:27,230
review the bonus and
compensation structure of firms

295
00:15:27,233 --> 00:15:30,203
that had received extraordinary
governmental assistance,

296
00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:34,100
and he's pleased with the
efforts that Ken has

297
00:15:34,100 --> 00:15:35,730
made thus far.

298
00:15:35,734 --> 00:15:41,834
We pushed for in the House a
provision providing shareholders

299
00:15:41,834 --> 00:15:45,564
with a say on executive pay
that did pass the House and is

300
00:15:45,567 --> 00:15:47,267
certainly pending in the Senate.

301
00:15:47,266 --> 00:15:52,366
And the President has long
advocated that in lieu of cash,

302
00:15:52,367 --> 00:15:57,737
any bonus that is given ought to
be given in long-term stock that

303
00:15:57,734 --> 00:16:01,164
does not, again, reward
short-term risk taking,

304
00:16:01,166 --> 00:16:03,736
but rewards long-term success.

305
00:16:03,734 --> 00:16:06,334
We've seen some
progress on that front.

306
00:16:06,333 --> 00:16:09,503
But, Chip, I think it's safe to
say that the President remains

307
00:16:09,500 --> 00:16:14,770
frustrated and believes that the
compensation practices of Wall

308
00:16:14,767 --> 00:16:17,567
Street have a long way to go.

309
00:16:17,567 --> 00:16:19,437
The Press:
And despite all his
efforts it seems that they just

310
00:16:19,433 --> 00:16:21,033
kind of shrug off the criticism.

311
00:16:21,033 --> 00:16:23,263
I mean, isn't there something
beyond frustration?

312
00:16:23,266 --> 00:16:24,866
Isn't there more he can do here?

313
00:16:24,867 --> 00:16:28,997
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, look, we
have instituted important rules

314
00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:32,370
for the firms that directly
received extraordinary

315
00:16:32,367 --> 00:16:35,997
assistance to keep them afloat.

316
00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:43,930
I think the American people are
equally outraged and shocked by

317
00:16:43,934 --> 00:16:51,904
what appears to be a
carelessness about the way the

318
00:16:51,900 --> 00:16:57,600
people of this country -- a
carelessness about the way the

319
00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:01,330
people of this country loaned
Wall Street money to ensure it

320
00:17:01,333 --> 00:17:09,103
didn't collapse, all while Wall
Street appears not to hear the

321
00:17:09,100 --> 00:17:14,200
outrage and the frustration each
day on the pay practices that

322
00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:17,830
we've seen thus far.

323
00:17:17,834 --> 00:17:19,434
The Press:
Robert, the CBO
says it doesn't have enough

324
00:17:19,433 --> 00:17:22,533
information on this new
health care plan to score it.

325
00:17:22,533 --> 00:17:24,333
Are you going to provide that
info so it's scored

326
00:17:24,333 --> 00:17:25,303
before tomorrow?

327
00:17:25,300 --> 00:17:27,470
Mr. Gibbs:
The plan wasn't put
up in order to score it

328
00:17:27,467 --> 00:17:29,567
before tomorrow, no.

329
00:17:29,567 --> 00:17:32,567
The Press:
I thought you guys wanted
the -- what is going on?

330
00:17:32,567 --> 00:17:33,467
Yesterday --

331
00:17:33,467 --> 00:17:36,497
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, we --

332
00:17:36,500 --> 00:17:37,300
The Press:
-- do you still
want to have the CBO there?

333
00:17:37,300 --> 00:17:38,930
Mr. Gibbs:
There were folks
that mentioned that might be

334
00:17:38,934 --> 00:17:41,534
uncomfortable for --
congressional leaders that

335
00:17:41,533 --> 00:17:43,563
mentioned that might be
uncomfortable for CBO based on

336
00:17:43,567 --> 00:17:48,467
executive and congressional -- I
think we'll have access to OMB.

337
00:17:48,467 --> 00:17:51,497
Suffice to say we have
a rough sense of --

338
00:17:51,500 --> 00:17:52,670
The Press:
-- said don't bring the CBO?

339
00:17:52,667 --> 00:17:54,397
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm not going to get into that.

340
00:17:54,400 --> 00:18:02,330
The proposal that the
President put online, again,

341
00:18:02,333 --> 00:18:03,563
is a starting point.

342
00:18:03,567 --> 00:18:07,037
This wasn't something that
we ever believed would be a

343
00:18:07,033 --> 00:18:09,103
proposal that would
be fully scored.

344
00:18:09,100 --> 00:18:13,430
Our hope is that we can add some
ideas for a broader-consensus

345
00:18:13,433 --> 00:18:15,103
legislation that
could go to CBO.

346
00:18:15,100 --> 00:18:16,970
The Press:
Do you plan on
getting it fully scored?

347
00:18:16,967 --> 00:18:18,537
Do you guys plan on asking the
Congressional Budget Office

348
00:18:18,533 --> 00:18:19,603
to do that?

349
00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:20,370
Mr. Gibbs:
Not before Thursday.

350
00:18:20,367 --> 00:18:21,497
The Press:
No, but after Thursday,

351
00:18:21,500 --> 00:18:23,030
what you come up with -- because
it's never going to be a full

352
00:18:23,033 --> 00:18:25,463
bill, I understand that, because
you still have the Senate bill

353
00:18:25,467 --> 00:18:26,997
on one hand and the
fixes on the other hand.

354
00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:30,430
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm not going to get past where we're going on Thursday.

355
00:18:30,433 --> 00:18:33,363
The Press:
Yesterday on the job's bill,

356
00:18:33,367 --> 00:18:35,897
you guys had endorsed one bill,
then it got yanked and Reid put

357
00:18:35,900 --> 00:18:38,600
out this very -- this
smaller $15 billion bill.

358
00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:41,600
Do you expect to see the Senate
do a series of these now?

359
00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:43,130
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, we said that then.

360
00:18:43,133 --> 00:18:45,503
We said that -- I mean,
for instance, we've --

361
00:18:45,500 --> 00:18:46,970
The Press:
What do you guys want
to see the Senate tackle next?

362
00:18:46,967 --> 00:18:49,637
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I think what
you'll see -- what I know has to

363
00:18:49,633 --> 00:18:51,163
happen by the end of
the month, obviously,

364
00:18:51,166 --> 00:18:54,196
is an extension of long-term
unemployment benefits and an

365
00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:58,230
extension of health care and
COBRA benefits that many would

366
00:18:58,233 --> 00:19:00,563
see expire at the
end of the month.

367
00:19:00,567 --> 00:19:05,097
Obviously, there are
additional tax ideas,

368
00:19:05,100 --> 00:19:09,430
and the President outlined a
series of small business ideas

369
00:19:09,433 --> 00:19:11,033
that he hopes that the
Senate will take up.

370
00:19:11,033 --> 00:19:14,063
The Press:
There's one in this --

371
00:19:14,066 --> 00:19:16,736
Mr. Gibbs:
Look, we said then
and it's certainly true now that

372
00:19:16,734 --> 00:19:20,764
legislation making its way
through the Senate will -- this

373
00:19:20,767 --> 00:19:23,737
legislation that they're now
considering will not be the

374
00:19:23,734 --> 00:19:27,534
first -- oh, I'm sorry, is the
first but won't be the last

375
00:19:27,533 --> 00:19:30,833
proposal that the Senate
will likely take up.

376
00:19:30,834 --> 00:19:32,334
The Press:
Do you think this is
turning out to be a better way

377
00:19:32,333 --> 00:19:34,503
to get through -- things through
the Senate, these small chunks?

378
00:19:34,500 --> 00:19:35,500
Or just --

379
00:19:35,500 --> 00:19:44,070
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I think it
is encouraging that you had

380
00:19:44,066 --> 00:19:45,966
bipartisan support yesterday for
moving these ideas

381
00:19:45,967 --> 00:19:49,137
forward for debate.

382
00:19:49,133 --> 00:19:53,263
My prediction is that you will
have -- this is something that

383
00:19:53,266 --> 00:19:59,396
despite the threat of -- the
threat of filibuster and the

384
00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:06,670
need to end that threat, my
guess is you'll have pretty

385
00:20:06,667 --> 00:20:07,997
broad bipartisan support.

386
00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:14,070
What that means is -- again, I
think there's -- I think the

387
00:20:14,066 --> 00:20:17,696
American people want to
see us end the game play.

388
00:20:17,700 --> 00:20:21,730
I'll let each individual member
decide how they want to respond

389
00:20:21,734 --> 00:20:23,834
to a constituent who says, why
did you oppose moving forward

390
00:20:23,834 --> 00:20:29,234
with it on Monday and support
it on Wednesday or Thursday?

391
00:20:29,233 --> 00:20:33,263
Look, again, I think there are
-- many of these -- there will

392
00:20:33,266 --> 00:20:35,996
be several avenues which to
take up ideas in the Senate.

393
00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:38,400
I think it's important that
we get them done quickly.

394
00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:41,070
The Press:
Very quick clarification on the Republican health care.

395
00:20:41,066 --> 00:20:43,666
Do you guys not -- the House
Republicans yesterday responded

396
00:20:43,667 --> 00:20:45,567
to your comment saying that they
didn't have a health care plan

397
00:20:45,567 --> 00:20:47,567
saying, hey, no, we
have a health care plan.

398
00:20:47,567 --> 00:20:50,537
Mr. Gibbs:
What I was talking
about was a consensus -- were

399
00:20:50,533 --> 00:20:52,633
consensus ideas -- was
a consensus set of --

400
00:20:52,633 --> 00:20:54,833
The Press:
So you don't believe
the House Republican plan is

401
00:20:54,834 --> 00:20:55,764
the consensus Republican plan?

402
00:20:55,767 --> 00:21:00,797
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I don't know if -- I will assume, in lieu of Mitch

403
00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:02,800
McConnell posting a plan,

404
00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:07,170
that Mitch McConnell is quite
pleased with Congressman

405
00:21:07,166 --> 00:21:08,566
Boehner's plan.

406
00:21:08,567 --> 00:21:13,767
I think we'll assume that the
plan that the House Republicans

407
00:21:13,767 --> 00:21:18,767
have speaks for the Senate
Republicans in lieu of the

408
00:21:18,767 --> 00:21:22,397
Senate Republicans themselves
posting their ideas.

409
00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:24,200
Yes, sir.

410
00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:26,000
The Press:
What do you make
of the characterizations of

411
00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:29,570
Thursday as "last best hope,
" "last ditch" on

412
00:21:29,567 --> 00:21:30,737
health care reform?

413
00:21:30,734 --> 00:21:38,364
Mr. Gibbs:
Look, I think it is
-- I think this is an important

414
00:21:38,367 --> 00:21:43,937
avenue for each party to get
together and seek consensus.

415
00:21:43,934 --> 00:21:48,164
I think it's easier to fire away
at each other when you're not in

416
00:21:48,166 --> 00:21:50,736
the same room and you're not
having to sit down and

417
00:21:50,734 --> 00:21:51,634
talk to each other.

418
00:21:51,633 --> 00:21:54,433
So I think this provides an
important avenue for us,

419
00:21:54,433 --> 00:22:00,503
for members of Congress,
and, quite frankly,

420
00:22:00,500 --> 00:22:03,770
for the American people
to see us work together,

421
00:22:03,767 --> 00:22:05,097
and I think that's what the
President hopes to

422
00:22:05,100 --> 00:22:06,670
see on Thursday.

423
00:22:06,667 --> 00:22:08,137
The Press:
Is it the last avenue?

424
00:22:08,133 --> 00:22:10,463
Mr. Gibbs:
I hope not.

425
00:22:10,467 --> 00:22:12,937
The Press:
And what can you tell
us about the negotiations -- or

426
00:22:12,934 --> 00:22:16,664
are there negotiations --
on format, on table size,

427
00:22:16,667 --> 00:22:19,097
on cameras?

428
00:22:19,100 --> 00:22:20,670
Who's making the calls on this?

429
00:22:20,667 --> 00:22:26,397
It almost sounds like a G8
summit negotiation with

430
00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:28,030
sherpas or something.

431
00:22:28,033 --> 00:22:31,963
Mr. Gibbs:
No, I have -- you know,

432
00:22:31,967 --> 00:22:35,637
I can't imagine that we couldn't
find a few tables to put

433
00:22:35,633 --> 00:22:40,203
together and somebody can write
out some rudimentary name cards

434
00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:43,000
and we can all
find places to sit.

435
00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:44,700
Look, I mean, I -- you know --

436
00:22:44,700 --> 00:22:46,900
The Press:
That's not the House being --

437
00:22:46,900 --> 00:22:48,700
Mr. Gibbs:
Is it beingcharacterized as something far more

438
00:22:48,700 --> 00:22:49,700
complex than that?

439
00:22:49,700 --> 00:22:50,400
The Press:
Oh, yes.

440
00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:51,030
The Press:
Seems like it.

441
00:22:51,033 --> 00:22:52,703
Mr. Gibbs:
How so?

442
00:22:52,700 --> 00:22:55,870
The Press:
Well, the shape of the
table has changed --

443
00:22:55,867 --> 00:22:59,067
Mr. Gibbs:
Let me tell you, if
the biggest thing that we debate

444
00:22:59,066 --> 00:23:00,466
on Thursday is the
shape of the table,

445
00:23:00,467 --> 00:23:04,597
then I could understand the
utter disgust and contempt that

446
00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:08,700
the American people might have.

447
00:23:08,700 --> 00:23:12,270
The Press:
Chalkboard or PowerPoint?

448
00:23:12,266 --> 00:23:14,396
Mr. Gibbs:
Look, I think that
the American people will see

449
00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:16,870
that we can get past discussing
-- I don't know who's discussing

450
00:23:16,867 --> 00:23:19,867
the size and the
shape of the table.

451
00:23:19,867 --> 00:23:22,967
I think that is somewhat
immaterial to the solutions that

452
00:23:22,967 --> 00:23:25,567
will be discussed.

453
00:23:25,567 --> 00:23:28,567
The President is not -- the
President is interested in

454
00:23:28,567 --> 00:23:31,067
having a balanced conversation
and hearing from

455
00:23:31,066 --> 00:23:36,096
Republicans and Democrats.

456
00:23:36,100 --> 00:23:38,300
I don't know what the shape of
the table was in Baltimore.

457
00:23:38,300 --> 00:23:40,900
That seemed to be a process
that worked quite well for --

458
00:23:40,900 --> 00:23:43,600
The Press:
I don't think there was a table.

459
00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:45,070
Mr. Gibbs:
There wasn't a table.

460
00:23:45,066 --> 00:23:47,096
Maybe we'll just -- you know,
maybe those little desks they

461
00:23:47,100 --> 00:23:49,470
give you in like elementary
school that would otherwise be

462
00:23:49,467 --> 00:23:51,097
uncomfortable and hard to fit
into might be the

463
00:23:51,100 --> 00:23:52,830
best way forward.

464
00:23:52,834 --> 00:23:54,904
The Press:
Is there going
to be a lunch break?

465
00:23:54,900 --> 00:23:55,570
(laughter).

466
00:23:55,567 --> 00:23:56,237
The Press:
Maybe no desks, no chairs?

467
00:23:56,233 --> 00:23:57,333
The Press:
Recess?

468
00:23:57,333 --> 00:23:59,863
Mr. Gibbs:
You know, just
sitting on the floor and

469
00:23:59,867 --> 00:24:00,997
figuring it all out.

470
00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:02,870
The Press:
Crisscross, apple sauce?

471
00:24:02,867 --> 00:24:05,137
The Press:
Robert, can the White
House point to any evidence for

472
00:24:05,133 --> 00:24:08,433
its optimism that this ball --
health care ball is going to get

473
00:24:08,433 --> 00:24:10,503
moved by the end of Thursday?

474
00:24:10,500 --> 00:24:11,730
And what would that be?

475
00:24:11,734 --> 00:24:13,434
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, I can't
prejudge what

476
00:24:13,433 --> 00:24:15,803
happens on Thursday.

477
00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:22,070
I take any member that wants
to come and have an honest

478
00:24:22,066 --> 00:24:24,236
discussion -- you take them at
their word that that's

479
00:24:24,233 --> 00:24:27,133
what they want to do.

480
00:24:27,133 --> 00:24:31,003
We'll get a chance to see
the motivations behind any

481
00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:36,630
participation on Thursday.

482
00:24:36,633 --> 00:24:39,833
I sent this out Thursday.

483
00:24:39,834 --> 00:24:43,304
I think many of you all saw that
the Republican ideas that are

484
00:24:43,300 --> 00:24:46,170
included in the President's
proposal -- the President is

485
00:24:46,166 --> 00:24:50,896
open to discussion on issues
relating to cost and insurance

486
00:24:50,900 --> 00:24:55,100
reforms to how we save money for
the federal government as it

487
00:24:55,100 --> 00:24:59,230
relates to our deficit, and
to improving -- to coverage.

488
00:24:59,233 --> 00:25:03,503
So those are roughly -- to get
back to some of the formatting

489
00:25:03,500 --> 00:25:06,200
questions, there will be
discussions on each of the four

490
00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:09,300
of those things as the President
-- or as the administration

491
00:25:09,300 --> 00:25:16,270
outlined in their letter to
Congress that I think we'll

492
00:25:16,266 --> 00:25:18,436
spend a good amount
of time discussing.

493
00:25:18,433 --> 00:25:23,033
And, again, the President is
looking forward to hearing from

494
00:25:23,033 --> 00:25:26,663
members and having
an honest discussion.

495
00:25:26,667 --> 00:25:29,197
The Press:
Does the President buy into
the conventional wisdom

496
00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:32,970
that with each passing day,
as the midterm elections come

497
00:25:32,967 --> 00:25:36,897
around, doing some heavy
lifting like this health care

498
00:25:36,900 --> 00:25:38,970
legislation becomes harder?

499
00:25:38,967 --> 00:25:42,637
Mr. Gibbs:
Look, obviously I think
when we get later into the

500
00:25:42,633 --> 00:25:44,563
summer that's probably
likely the case.

501
00:25:44,567 --> 00:25:48,737
But I think we understand that
there's a number of things that

502
00:25:48,734 --> 00:25:51,304
we have on our plate that are
going to have to get done before

503
00:25:51,300 --> 00:25:55,470
-- and what the President wants
to see get done before those

504
00:25:55,467 --> 00:26:01,737
elections in November, including
not just health care but

505
00:26:01,734 --> 00:26:08,134
continued effort on jobs and
employment, financial reform,

506
00:26:08,133 --> 00:26:10,063
and other important things that
have to get done between

507
00:26:10,066 --> 00:26:11,036
now and November.

508
00:26:11,033 --> 00:26:16,033
The Press:
So no deadline for
congressional -- and on the

509
00:26:16,033 --> 00:26:21,603
antitrust exemption, does the
President think that that can be

510
00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:25,400
a stand-alone action that takes
care of some of the health

511
00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:28,630
insurance problems, or does it
have to be a part of

512
00:26:28,633 --> 00:26:29,433
the larger package?

513
00:26:29,433 --> 00:26:31,903
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, I think this certainly complements what

514
00:26:31,900 --> 00:26:35,600
-- this will ultimately
complement health care reform in

515
00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:39,430
ensuring the changes that you
make in the market -- that the

516
00:26:39,433 --> 00:26:44,603
ability to look into potential
anti-competitive practices,

517
00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:49,100
that that's not, quite
frankly, illegal to do.

518
00:26:49,100 --> 00:26:56,330
This is not in lieu of something
to make broader changes in the

519
00:26:56,333 --> 00:26:58,003
insurance market.

520
00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:02,270
This is a complementary
step along the way.

521
00:27:02,266 --> 00:27:03,566
The Press:
Finally, as I understand it,

522
00:27:03,567 --> 00:27:07,537
the participants are going to
have lunch on site on Thursday.

523
00:27:07,533 --> 00:27:08,503
Does the President --

524
00:27:08,500 --> 00:27:09,970
Mr. Gibbs:
I have no idea what
they're going to eat.

525
00:27:09,967 --> 00:27:10,967
(laughter).

526
00:27:10,967 --> 00:27:11,797
The Press: --
planning to join them?

527
00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:12,400
The Press:
Something healthy.

528
00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:13,170
A box lunch?

529
00:27:13,166 --> 00:27:14,196
Is it going to be in a bag?

530
00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:15,670
Mr. Gibbs:
I think there was some discussion of a box lunch.

531
00:27:15,667 --> 00:27:17,537
The Press:
Will the President participate?

532
00:27:17,533 --> 00:27:21,833
Mr. Gibbs:
I will check on that.

533
00:27:21,834 --> 00:27:23,004
The Press:
Yes, is he staying the whole time or is he dipping

534
00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:23,900
in and dipping out?

535
00:27:23,900 --> 00:27:24,530
Mr. Gibbs:
He'll be there.

536
00:27:24,533 --> 00:27:25,003
The Press:
The whole time?

537
00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:26,200
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes.

538
00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:26,870
The Press:
Okay.

539
00:27:26,867 --> 00:27:29,767
The Press:
Robert, I'd like to
give you a chance to respond to

540
00:27:29,767 --> 00:27:30,967
a couple things that House
Republicans said today.

541
00:27:30,967 --> 00:27:32,767
First, Eric Cantor,
quoting him directly,

542
00:27:32,767 --> 00:27:35,137
"They say the definition of
insanity is continuing to do the

543
00:27:35,133 --> 00:27:38,203
same thing and expect
a different result.

544
00:27:38,200 --> 00:27:39,530
And the President clearly seems
to be trying to prove

545
00:27:39,533 --> 00:27:41,533
that that is true.

546
00:27:41,533 --> 00:27:42,333
" That's Eric Cantor.

547
00:27:42,333 --> 00:27:46,203
John Boehner, regarding the
President: "He has basically

548
00:27:46,200 --> 00:27:49,030
crippled the summit that's
expected on Thursday by coming

549
00:27:49,033 --> 00:27:52,703
in with a rerun of the same
failed bill that couldn't pass

550
00:27:52,700 --> 00:27:54,470
the House or the Senate.

551
00:27:54,467 --> 00:27:55,367
" Could you respond
to those two --

552
00:27:55,367 --> 00:27:58,567
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, the bill passed
-- one bill actually did pass

553
00:27:58,567 --> 00:28:00,837
the House and one bill
actually did pass the Senate.

554
00:28:00,834 --> 00:28:04,134
This is a -- in many
ways a consensus plan

555
00:28:04,133 --> 00:28:06,403
around those ideas.

556
00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:11,700
Look, again, as I
likened a minute ago,

557
00:28:11,700 --> 00:28:16,370
you can put your -- tape your
quotes up on the locker room

558
00:28:16,367 --> 00:28:18,167
wall and put on your --

559
00:28:18,166 --> 00:28:19,736
The Press:
It's locker room material?

560
00:28:19,734 --> 00:28:21,534
Mr. Gibbs:
I think it is.

561
00:28:21,533 --> 00:28:24,303
I think it's -- you hit my
shoulder pads, I'll hit yours,

562
00:28:24,300 --> 00:28:28,800
and we'll go running
off through the tunnel.

563
00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:30,630
The Press:
But that's on the
same team, though, Robert.

564
00:28:30,633 --> 00:28:31,563
Mr. Gibbs:
I know.

565
00:28:31,567 --> 00:28:33,267
They're all going to --

566
00:28:33,266 --> 00:28:34,296
The Press:
Among themselves?

567
00:28:34,300 --> 00:28:35,570
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes, that's the --

568
00:28:35,567 --> 00:28:36,067
The Press:
Oh, I see.

569
00:28:36,066 --> 00:28:37,666
Mr. Gibbs:
I lost you on the
football analogy, didn't I?

570
00:28:37,667 --> 00:28:38,997
(laughter).

571
00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:41,100
It was very clear up here,
Major, it just apparently
didn't get --

572
00:28:41,100 --> 00:28:43,470
The Press:
He's mourning LT.

573
00:28:43,467 --> 00:28:45,597
(laughter).

574
00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:47,600
Mr. Gibbs:
So I read.

575
00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:54,830
But, again, look, we can play
games about the President's proposal --

576
00:28:54,834 --> 00:28:57,304
The Press:
So they're just trying to hype themselves up in anticipation?

577
00:28:57,300 --> 00:28:59,130
Mr. Gibbs:
Look, I think -- if the President hadn't put

578
00:28:59,133 --> 00:29:02,263
anything on there,
wouldn't you guess, Major,

579
00:29:02,266 --> 00:29:04,496
that we would hear, well, is the
President not bringing any

580
00:29:04,500 --> 00:29:06,070
ideas to the summit?

581
00:29:06,066 --> 00:29:09,066
I mean, are we not going to --
do we not have a document with

582
00:29:09,066 --> 00:29:11,596
which we're working on
to start this proposal?

583
00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:14,370
Of course you would have.

584
00:29:14,367 --> 00:29:15,897
The Press:
Are you saying that no matter what you did,

585
00:29:15,900 --> 00:29:16,670
Republicans will criticize?

586
00:29:16,667 --> 00:29:19,867
Mr. Gibbs:
I mean, it is hard
to say -- I will say this,

587
00:29:19,867 --> 00:29:23,597
it is hard to take into -- it is
hard to listen to, on one hand,

588
00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:26,800
"I can't believe they're
prejudging the outcome of this

589
00:29:26,800 --> 00:29:29,400
by laying out a plan, " and
then in the next breath saying,

590
00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:32,930
"the plan doesn't have enough
detail to be scored by the CBO.

591
00:29:32,934 --> 00:29:35,764
" How do you rationalize -- I
don't know how they

592
00:29:35,767 --> 00:29:36,297
rationalize it.

593
00:29:36,300 --> 00:29:38,400
It's probably taped up
somewhere in the locker room.

594
00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:39,530
The Press:
It's irrational.

595
00:29:39,533 --> 00:29:42,563
Mr. Gibbs:
It appears to be.

596
00:29:42,567 --> 00:29:44,367
The Press:
When the President
came here about a week and a

597
00:29:44,367 --> 00:29:47,637
half ago, he said that what
shouldn't happen is this

598
00:29:47,633 --> 00:29:50,203
shouldn't all go back to the
congressional committees for

599
00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:52,600
rewrites, the health
care legislation.

600
00:29:52,600 --> 00:29:55,570
So what I'm curious about is,
let's just say for the sake of

601
00:29:55,567 --> 00:29:58,237
argument something miraculous
happens Thursday and you get

602
00:29:58,233 --> 00:30:00,863
something that's akin to a deal.

603
00:30:00,867 --> 00:30:01,397
Who writes it?

604
00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:03,030
I mean, does it go
back to committee?

605
00:30:03,033 --> 00:30:04,833
Do you go straight to the
House floor, the Senate floor?

606
00:30:04,834 --> 00:30:07,804
I mean, these kinds of things
are not insignificant to

607
00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:09,030
achieving a health care result.

608
00:30:09,033 --> 00:30:10,963
Mr. Gibbs:
No, they're not insignificant, but I'll be honest with you,

609
00:30:10,967 --> 00:30:15,967
Major, leaving the table and the lunch structure aside, I

610
00:30:15,967 --> 00:30:19,237
think if we come out of there with an agreement on some ideas --

611
00:30:19,233 --> 00:30:20,833
The Press:
Which you would
probably concede would

612
00:30:20,834 --> 00:30:21,564
be near miraculous.

613
00:30:21,567 --> 00:30:22,467
Mr. Gibbs:
Not necessarily.

614
00:30:22,467 --> 00:30:25,097
Again, I don't want to prejudge
the outcome based on people's

615
00:30:25,100 --> 00:30:27,370
willingness to come in
there with an open mind.

616
00:30:27,367 --> 00:30:30,297
But I don't think the largest
impediment to getting something

617
00:30:30,300 --> 00:30:36,200
done is, is does the Legislative
Counsel for the Ways and Means

618
00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:42,300
Committee write down our final
ideas or do we send it to larger

619
00:30:42,300 --> 00:30:45,900
-- I think those
are -- well, again,

620
00:30:45,900 --> 00:30:47,800
once we get past the
size of the table,

621
00:30:47,800 --> 00:30:51,230
I think we can come to --
I think we can come to an

622
00:30:51,233 --> 00:30:53,403
agreement and an
understanding of that.

623
00:30:53,400 --> 00:30:56,830
I think what we lack
right now appears to be,

624
00:30:56,834 --> 00:30:58,734
based on some of the quotes
that you just read me,

625
00:30:58,734 --> 00:31:02,104
is a willingness to come
and discuss these issues.

626
00:31:02,100 --> 00:31:03,430
The Press:
Let me give you a
chance to answer a question on

627
00:31:03,433 --> 00:31:04,863
the minds of some progressives.

628
00:31:04,867 --> 00:31:06,867
If you are open to the
idea of reconciliation,

629
00:31:06,867 --> 00:31:09,097
why not put public option
in it and go all the way?

630
00:31:09,100 --> 00:31:15,470
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, the
President simply believes that

631
00:31:15,467 --> 00:31:17,667
we ought to have an up or
down vote on health care.

632
00:31:17,667 --> 00:31:20,137
Again, I'm not going to get
into the structure of how

633
00:31:20,133 --> 00:31:20,963
things would look.

634
00:31:20,967 --> 00:31:24,837
The President is focused on what
he hopes will be a productive

635
00:31:24,834 --> 00:31:26,504
conversation on Thursday.

636
00:31:26,500 --> 00:31:27,700
The Press:
I want to follow
up on Jake's question,

637
00:31:27,700 --> 00:31:31,370
because on Friday, unnamed
officials of this building did

638
00:31:31,367 --> 00:31:35,167
vociferously deny Representative
Sestak's assessment that he had

639
00:31:35,166 --> 00:31:35,966
been offered a job.

640
00:31:35,967 --> 00:31:38,437
And I just want to say, when you
said, "I haven't looked at this,

641
00:31:38,433 --> 00:31:39,563
" I want to make sure you're
not contradicting that denial.

642
00:31:39,567 --> 00:31:41,397
Mr. Gibbs:
I just -- because I
was on the road and dealing with

643
00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:46,530
different things on the road,
I've not had a chance

644
00:31:46,533 --> 00:31:48,163
to delve into this.

645
00:31:48,166 --> 00:31:49,436
The Press:
Would there be anything inappropriate about a

646
00:31:49,433 --> 00:31:50,763
discussion like that?

647
00:31:50,767 --> 00:31:55,097
Mr. Gibbs:
Let me have somebody
look into -- like I said,

648
00:31:55,100 --> 00:31:57,570
I was on the road and I don't
really have a whole lot of

649
00:31:57,567 --> 00:32:01,667
knowledge on this.

650
00:32:01,667 --> 00:32:04,597
Yes.

651
00:32:04,600 --> 00:32:06,630
The Press:
Can I ask on the --
not to prolong the table/boxed

652
00:32:06,633 --> 00:32:08,563
lunch questions, but the
President will be out on

653
00:32:08,567 --> 00:32:11,197
national television for
hours and hours and hours.

654
00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:12,800
Usually, when a President
goes out that long,

655
00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:14,670
there is some sort of
preparation for that.

656
00:32:14,667 --> 00:32:18,767
Is there any kind of rehearsal
or discussion or briefing

657
00:32:18,767 --> 00:32:20,237
or any kind of practice?

658
00:32:20,233 --> 00:32:24,803
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, he and
Nancy-Ann have gone through

659
00:32:24,800 --> 00:32:25,730
ideas and proposals.

660
00:32:25,734 --> 00:32:35,564
He's gotten a longer memo on
what ideas are out there and --

661
00:32:35,567 --> 00:32:41,967
in hopes of, again, finding
some common agreement on this.

662
00:32:41,967 --> 00:32:46,897
The Press:
But would you do any
kind of mock session in which

663
00:32:46,900 --> 00:32:49,730
somebody would say, "Sir,
somebody might ask you -- what

664
00:32:49,734 --> 00:32:51,034
would you respond? "

665
00:32:51,033 --> 00:32:55,303
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm not going to say that.

666
00:32:55,300 --> 00:32:58,500
(laughter).

667
00:32:58,500 --> 00:33:00,830
I don't know of any
structure like that.

668
00:33:00,834 --> 00:33:01,964
The Press:
Whatever it was, please say it.

669
00:33:01,967 --> 00:33:02,767
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes.

670
00:33:02,767 --> 00:33:03,167
(laughter).

671
00:33:03,166 --> 00:33:03,996
Yes, ma'am.

672
00:33:04,000 --> 00:33:05,100
The Press:
I have a question just to --

673
00:33:05,100 --> 00:33:06,130
The Press:
Wait, I'm sorry, I'm sorry --

674
00:33:06,133 --> 00:33:07,063
The Press:
Oh, sorry, go ahead.

675
00:33:07,066 --> 00:33:07,736
The Press:
One last one, sorry.

676
00:33:07,734 --> 00:33:09,234
On the President's
exemption part,

677
00:33:09,233 --> 00:33:12,433
a lot of Democrats would like
that to be in the bill you

678
00:33:12,433 --> 00:33:13,403
posted yesterday,
and yet it's not.

679
00:33:13,400 --> 00:33:16,600
Why support it separately
and not as part of it?

680
00:33:16,600 --> 00:33:20,670
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, this was
going through a House process.

681
00:33:20,667 --> 00:33:25,097
We had certainly known
for I don't know how long,

682
00:33:25,100 --> 00:33:27,500
but we've known that this was
going to Rules Committee today.

683
00:33:27,500 --> 00:33:30,870
Typically the administration
weighs in with a statement

684
00:33:30,867 --> 00:33:33,667
on administration
policy at this point.

685
00:33:33,667 --> 00:33:34,437
The Press: --
propose it yesterday?

686
00:33:34,433 --> 00:33:37,003
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes, I mean, I think
it's -- I think there's a belief

687
00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:44,000
that we can get a bipartisan
majority that can support

688
00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:49,200
ensuring that type of
competition without putting

689
00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:50,500
it into legislation.

690
00:33:50,500 --> 00:33:51,070
Mara.

691
00:33:51,066 --> 00:33:53,736
The Press:
Robert, just to
follow up on Jennifer's

692
00:33:53,734 --> 00:33:58,504
question, when you first got
your plan the leadership in

693
00:33:58,500 --> 00:34:00,070
Congress was fairly
non-committal.

694
00:34:00,066 --> 00:34:02,266
They said they wanted to take a
look at it and discuss it with

695
00:34:02,266 --> 00:34:02,766
their members.

696
00:34:02,767 --> 00:34:04,137
Now it's been more
than 48 hours.

697
00:34:04,133 --> 00:34:04,733
What in the --

698
00:34:04,734 --> 00:34:05,434
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, not 48.

699
00:34:05,433 --> 00:34:06,203
The Press:
I'm sorry, 24.

700
00:34:06,200 --> 00:34:07,970
Mr. Gibbs:
Right.

701
00:34:07,967 --> 00:34:09,797
The Press:
What indication do
you have that at least in the

702
00:34:09,800 --> 00:34:13,470
House of Representatives there
is support for -- majority

703
00:34:13,467 --> 00:34:15,467
support for this?

704
00:34:15,467 --> 00:34:22,197
Mr. Gibbs:
Look, I don't want to
get ahead of announcing for them

705
00:34:22,200 --> 00:34:24,870
where all of their members are.

706
00:34:24,867 --> 00:34:27,097
I know they're --
as I understand it,

707
00:34:27,100 --> 00:34:31,730
they're going to have a caucus
today to discuss some of these

708
00:34:31,734 --> 00:34:35,434
ideas, and they also
met last night, and --

709
00:34:35,433 --> 00:34:38,363
The Press:
You haven't gotten
any feedback in the --

710
00:34:38,367 --> 00:34:39,997
The Press:
Look, I got to tell you,

711
00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:42,970
I thought the statements
yesterday by a number of

712
00:34:42,967 --> 00:34:46,497
members were indeed
quite positive.

713
00:34:46,500 --> 00:34:47,430
The Press:
Do you think this
could pass the

714
00:34:47,433 --> 00:34:48,333
House of Representatives?

715
00:34:48,333 --> 00:34:53,033
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm not a vote
counter on Capitol Hill,

716
00:34:53,033 --> 00:34:59,063
but I do believe that this
represents among Democratic

717
00:34:59,066 --> 00:35:03,436
ideas a good starting point
based on where the Senate was,

718
00:35:03,433 --> 00:35:07,263
with some tweaks in
that legislation.

719
00:35:07,266 --> 00:35:11,066
Again, this is a starting point
for our discussions on Thursday

720
00:35:11,066 --> 00:35:15,636
that we hope will be fruitful.

721
00:35:15,633 --> 00:35:17,533
The Press:
But doesn't it
go to Congress after that?

722
00:35:17,533 --> 00:35:19,903
I mean, don't you want them
to do something with it,

723
00:35:19,900 --> 00:35:21,570
even if there's not some
kind of bipartisan miracle?

724
00:35:21,567 --> 00:35:22,497
I mean, you're --

725
00:35:22,500 --> 00:35:29,130
Mr. Gibbs:
Again, I know it's
only Tuesday and I'm focused on

726
00:35:29,133 --> 00:35:33,033
Thursday and we want to
look beyond Thursday.

727
00:35:33,033 --> 00:35:35,403
I'm focused on Thursday;
I know that's where the

728
00:35:35,400 --> 00:35:38,430
President is focused on.

729
00:35:38,433 --> 00:35:44,363
Our intention is to have an
honest discussion and hopefully

730
00:35:44,367 --> 00:35:50,667
find continued support for ideas
on both sides of the aisle.

731
00:35:50,667 --> 00:35:52,237
The Press:
I'm just talking
about your side of the aisle.

732
00:35:52,233 --> 00:35:53,033
Mr. Gibbs:
I understand.

733
00:35:53,033 --> 00:35:55,003
I know there's -- again, there's
a willingness to want to get

734
00:35:55,000 --> 00:35:57,700
well ahead of the process.

735
00:35:57,700 --> 00:36:02,470
The President is
focused on Thursday.

736
00:36:02,467 --> 00:36:05,997
As I said earlier, the bill
wasn't sent to CBO to get scored

737
00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:09,800
because our hope is that we're
going to add ideas from both

738
00:36:09,800 --> 00:36:13,570
sides of the aisle that
have common support.

739
00:36:13,567 --> 00:36:17,897
I think there are overlaps if
people come with a willingness

740
00:36:17,900 --> 00:36:22,070
to make progress on an issue.

741
00:36:22,066 --> 00:36:23,466
The Press:
Let me try another way.

742
00:36:23,467 --> 00:36:24,397
(laughter).

743
00:36:24,400 --> 00:36:26,670
Have you had conversations
with Democrats since you

744
00:36:26,667 --> 00:36:29,097
put this thing online?

745
00:36:29,100 --> 00:36:31,130
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes, we've briefed Congress.

746
00:36:31,133 --> 00:36:33,063
The Press:
What's been the response?

747
00:36:33,066 --> 00:36:34,466
Mr. Gibbs:
Again, I don't -- Mara,

748
00:36:34,467 --> 00:36:36,697
you guys are normally quite good
at getting quotes from them.

749
00:36:36,700 --> 00:36:40,930
I've seen many positive
quotes on this.

750
00:36:40,934 --> 00:36:46,904
Again, our focus is not on what
happens Friday, next week,

751
00:36:46,900 --> 00:36:48,570
two weeks from now
or what have you.

752
00:36:48,567 --> 00:36:53,097
Our focus is on a
starting point --

753
00:36:53,100 --> 00:36:54,130
The Press:
It has to be, Robert --

754
00:36:54,133 --> 00:36:54,963
Mr. Gibbs:
But it's not.

755
00:36:54,967 --> 00:36:56,397
The Press:
The White House does
not sit still and wait for

756
00:36:56,400 --> 00:36:57,470
Friday to come before --

757
00:36:57,467 --> 00:36:59,837
Mr. Gibbs:
We're focused on Thursday.

758
00:36:59,834 --> 00:37:00,704
We're focused on --

759
00:37:00,700 --> 00:37:01,630
The Press:
But that doesn't make any sense.

760
00:37:01,633 --> 00:37:03,103
Don't you want to pass a bill?

761
00:37:03,100 --> 00:37:05,300
Mr. Gibbs:
And that's why we're doing
this on Thursday.

762
00:37:05,300 --> 00:37:07,270
The Press:
I mean, if this is an urgent need for the American

763
00:37:07,266 --> 00:37:09,266
public to address all sorts
of things -- economic,

764
00:37:09,266 --> 00:37:11,896
regulatory and everything else,
all the things you have said a

765
00:37:11,900 --> 00:37:15,400
hundred times if not more from
this podium -- how could you not

766
00:37:15,400 --> 00:37:16,570
be thinking past Thursday?

767
00:37:16,567 --> 00:37:18,367
Mr. Gibbs:
Major, I'm not going
to prejudge the outcome of

768
00:37:18,367 --> 00:37:20,897
Thursday by telling you what's
going to happen Friday based on

769
00:37:20,900 --> 00:37:24,070
an outcome of Thursday
that I don't know about,

770
00:37:24,066 --> 00:37:27,036
based on the fact that I think
the willingness -- or the

771
00:37:27,033 --> 00:37:30,363
product that ultimately comes
out of 4:00 o'clock on Thursday

772
00:37:30,367 --> 00:37:33,197
will be based on people's
willingness to come with

773
00:37:33,200 --> 00:37:34,370
an open mindset.

774
00:37:34,367 --> 00:37:36,937
That's what the President --

775
00:37:36,934 --> 00:37:38,434
The Press:
-- not to say you
don't have contingency plans?

776
00:37:38,433 --> 00:37:40,103
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm focused on Thursday;

777
00:37:40,100 --> 00:37:41,630
the White House is
focused on Thursday;

778
00:37:41,633 --> 00:37:43,903
the President is
focused on Thursday.

779
00:37:43,900 --> 00:37:46,870
As luck would have it, you all
probably have a chance to ask me

780
00:37:46,867 --> 00:37:49,467
questions on Friday, and
we can get to Friday.

781
00:37:49,467 --> 00:37:53,537
The Press:
But Leg Affairs might
be focused on a different day.

782
00:37:53,533 --> 00:37:55,803
The Press:
Is there a plan
A, plan B, plan C, possibly?

783
00:37:55,800 --> 00:37:56,770
Mr. Gibbs:
We're focused on Thursday.

784
00:37:56,767 --> 00:37:58,797
The Press:
Is there a plan
A, plan B, plan C, possibly?

785
00:37:58,800 --> 00:38:00,970
The Press:
What if nothing
comes out of Thursday that --

786
00:38:00,967 --> 00:38:02,597
Mr. Gibbs:
Then you could
ask me that on Friday.

787
00:38:02,600 --> 00:38:07,470
The Press:
All evidence out
there points to them showing up

788
00:38:07,467 --> 00:38:09,297
and not wanting
to make this deal.

789
00:38:09,300 --> 00:38:12,830
But is it not naĂŻve to think
that -- if your overall goal --

790
00:38:12,834 --> 00:38:14,034
Mr. Gibbs:
No.

791
00:38:14,033 --> 00:38:15,303
The Press:
-- but it just
seems naĂŻve to think --

792
00:38:15,300 --> 00:38:17,000
Mr. Gibbs:
Can I just say this?

793
00:38:17,000 --> 00:38:20,270
I don't know -- I get
one question that says,

794
00:38:20,266 --> 00:38:22,266
I can't believe by putting out a
plan you've completely prejudged

795
00:38:22,266 --> 00:38:24,036
and corrupted and polluted the
process of what's going to

796
00:38:24,033 --> 00:38:25,163
happen on Thursday.

797
00:38:25,166 --> 00:38:27,836
So if I then start describing
what's going to happen on

798
00:38:27,834 --> 00:38:30,704
Friday, based on what
may happen on Thursday,

799
00:38:30,700 --> 00:38:33,570
aren't you going to certainly --
aren't certainly people going to

800
00:38:33,567 --> 00:38:35,397
come back and say you've already
prejudged the outcome of

801
00:38:35,400 --> 00:38:37,700
Thursday by discussing what's
going to happen on Friday?

802
00:38:37,700 --> 00:38:39,200
The Press:
Robert, we're not
asking you about Friday.

803
00:38:39,200 --> 00:38:41,530
We're asking you if you feel
confident that you will have

804
00:38:41,533 --> 00:38:44,033
Democratic support for this
plan today or tomorrow?

805
00:38:44,033 --> 00:38:47,563
Mr. Gibbs:
We have discussed
this plan with Democrats.

806
00:38:47,567 --> 00:38:51,267
I know that they're evaluating
parts of the legislation.

807
00:38:51,266 --> 00:38:54,436
The Press:
But you said -- there
was a bill that passed the House

808
00:38:54,433 --> 00:38:56,003
and a bill that
passed the Senate,

809
00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:57,270
but if I understood your
answer to Mara correctly --

810
00:38:57,266 --> 00:38:58,596
Mr. Gibbs:
No, I said that
-- apparently I said that to

811
00:38:58,600 --> 00:39:01,030
Congressman Boehner, who
didn't think that happened.

812
00:39:01,033 --> 00:39:03,163
The Press:
But if I understand
your answer to Mara,

813
00:39:03,166 --> 00:39:05,796
you can't say now if this
proposal of the President could

814
00:39:05,800 --> 00:39:09,330
even pass the House, which is
the first step to getting a bill --

815
00:39:09,333 --> 00:39:11,033
Mr. Gibbs:
No, I said I wasn't a
vote counter and I don't have --

816
00:39:11,033 --> 00:39:15,063
The Press:
Do you have some confidence it could pass the House?

817
00:39:15,066 --> 00:39:17,066
Mr. Gibbs:
I have confidence that,

818
00:39:17,066 --> 00:39:19,936
based on the quotes
that I've seen,

819
00:39:19,934 --> 00:39:23,164
this has been received warmly
by Democrats on Capitol Hill.

820
00:39:23,166 --> 00:39:26,866
The Press:
-- 39 Democrats who
voted no for the House health

821
00:39:26,867 --> 00:39:29,537
care bill back in November
indicated that they'd vote yes

822
00:39:29,533 --> 00:39:30,903
the next go-round?

823
00:39:30,900 --> 00:39:32,700
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know the
answer to that question.

824
00:39:32,700 --> 00:39:36,430
One of you ask a question.

825
00:39:36,433 --> 00:39:38,463
The Press:
Okay.

826
00:39:38,467 --> 00:39:40,797
I'll go first.

827
00:39:40,800 --> 00:39:43,970
This is health care-related,
but going back to August,

828
00:39:43,967 --> 00:39:46,697
just clarifying some
Sunday talk show chatter --

829
00:39:46,700 --> 00:39:49,170
Mr. Gibbs:
I guess -- yes.

830
00:39:49,166 --> 00:39:51,196
I don't know what the resistance
is to talking about now.

831
00:39:51,200 --> 00:39:52,230
(laughter).

832
00:39:52,233 --> 00:39:52,533
Go ahead.

833
00:39:52,533 --> 00:39:55,833
The Press:
You said that the
-- "the President's clear

834
00:39:55,834 --> 00:39:57,564
commitment is not to raise
taxes on those making less

835
00:39:57,567 --> 00:40:00,067
than $250,000 a year.

836
00:40:00,066 --> 00:40:03,696
" The President's proposal out
yesterday actually would raise

837
00:40:03,700 --> 00:40:07,870
the Medicare payroll or hospital
insurance tax on households

838
00:40:07,867 --> 00:40:09,737
making less than $250,000.

839
00:40:09,734 --> 00:40:11,204
Wouldn't that --

840
00:40:11,200 --> 00:40:12,630
Mr. Gibbs:
I'd have to
look through the proposal.

841
00:40:12,633 --> 00:40:14,963
I'm not sure that's correct.

842
00:40:14,967 --> 00:40:16,167
The Press:
Thank you, Robert.

843
00:40:16,166 --> 00:40:18,036
Excuse me.

844
00:40:18,033 --> 00:40:22,163
This morning Governor Daniels
of Indiana was asked about

845
00:40:22,166 --> 00:40:27,096
reconciliation which comes
up with regulatory here,

846
00:40:27,100 --> 00:40:32,870
and he said that when the tax
cuts were passed in the previous

847
00:40:32,867 --> 00:40:35,467
administration, where he
served as OMB director,

848
00:40:35,467 --> 00:40:40,167
it was meant to be applied only
to taxes and budget matters,

849
00:40:40,166 --> 00:40:45,766
but never to matters such as
revolutionary changes in policy

850
00:40:45,767 --> 00:40:49,397
that would affect 16 percent of
the government -- or 16 percent

851
00:40:49,400 --> 00:40:50,500
of the economy.

852
00:40:50,500 --> 00:40:53,630
Mr. Gibbs:
How much does -- $1. 35 trillion

853
00:40:53,633 --> 00:41:00,303
worth of tax cuts in 2001, $350
billion in tax cuts in 2003 --

854
00:41:00,300 --> 00:41:02,600
for $1. 65 trillion in tax

855
00:41:02,600 --> 00:41:05,830
cuts over two votes,

856
00:41:05,834 --> 00:41:10,364
is what measure of -- that's a
price tag that exceeds what the

857
00:41:10,367 --> 00:41:12,637
President is talking about.

858
00:41:12,633 --> 00:41:14,763
And differently than that, the
proposal that the President has

859
00:41:14,767 --> 00:41:16,267
is indeed paid for.

860
00:41:16,266 --> 00:41:16,996
The Press:
But --

861
00:41:17,000 --> 00:41:18,000
Mr. Gibbs:
I knew there
was a "but" in there.

862
00:41:18,000 --> 00:41:22,970
I just had to get my broader --

863
00:41:22,967 --> 00:41:23,637
The Press:
Right.

864
00:41:23,633 --> 00:41:26,263
It did deal with tax and
budget matters, which under --

865
00:41:26,266 --> 00:41:28,036
Mr. Gibbs:
Again, there --

866
00:41:28,033 --> 00:41:29,363
The Press:
-- which was
with reconciliation --

867
00:41:29,367 --> 00:41:32,697
Mr. Gibbs:
Welfare was another
example of something that had

868
00:41:32,700 --> 00:41:35,230
passed based on reconciliation.

869
00:41:35,233 --> 00:41:38,403
I can certainly get a list of, I
think many of you can get a list

870
00:41:38,400 --> 00:41:43,300
of, ideas that have gone through
the process of that that up

871
00:41:43,300 --> 00:41:47,800
until recently didn't
seem to be abnormal.

872
00:41:47,800 --> 00:41:52,330
The Press:
After you gave 13
questions to one reporter,

873
00:41:52,333 --> 00:41:53,103
I just have --

874
00:41:53,100 --> 00:41:54,170
Mr. Gibbs:
Who asked 13 questions?

875
00:41:54,166 --> 00:41:55,796
The Press:
-- one two-parter.

876
00:41:55,800 --> 00:41:58,130
Mr. Gibbs:
One two-parter.

877
00:41:58,133 --> 00:41:59,363
(laughter).

878
00:41:59,367 --> 00:41:59,637
I like your new
packaging, Lester.

879
00:41:59,633 --> 00:42:00,463
Who asked 13 questions, though?

880
00:42:00,467 --> 00:42:01,337
The Press:
FOX.

881
00:42:01,333 --> 00:42:03,803
(laughter).

882
00:42:03,800 --> 00:42:05,970
Mr. Gibbs:
Wow, that's wkward, isn't it?

883
00:42:05,967 --> 00:42:06,737
The Press:
-- even sk your question.

884
00:42:06,734 --> 00:42:08,364
(laughter).

885
00:42:08,367 --> 00:42:08,937
Mr. Gibbs:
All right,
all right, easy.

886
00:42:08,934 --> 00:42:13,234
This locker room talk is getting
a little out of hand, isn't it?

887
00:42:13,233 --> 00:42:14,233
The Press:
You started it.

888
00:42:14,233 --> 00:42:14,963
Mr. Gibbs:
I know, I did.

889
00:42:14,967 --> 00:42:16,897
I'll come over there, Connie.

890
00:42:16,900 --> 00:42:18,870
The Press:
The nonpartisan,
nonprofit Judicial Watch has

891
00:42:18,867 --> 00:42:23,097
named Nevada's Republican
Senator John Ensign as one of

892
00:42:23,100 --> 00:42:28,770
Washington's 10 most corrupt
politicians for 2009.

893
00:42:28,767 --> 00:42:31,537
Does the White House
agree with that?

894
00:42:31,533 --> 00:42:33,003
Mr. Gibbs:
I have not seen
Judicial Watch's list.

895
00:42:33,000 --> 00:42:35,100
The Press:
They also named the
President as one of these.

896
00:42:35,100 --> 00:42:38,030
I presume you don't
agree with that.

897
00:42:38,033 --> 00:42:41,803
Mr. Gibbs:
I have no basis for
which they would come up with

898
00:42:41,800 --> 00:42:43,530
something like that.

899
00:42:43,533 --> 00:42:48,233
I have not seen
their 2009 report.

900
00:42:48,233 --> 00:42:49,933
April, and then Connie.

901
00:42:49,934 --> 00:42:53,334
The Press:
Robert, one
on the public option.

902
00:42:53,333 --> 00:42:55,403
You say that it's not in this,
but are there any components of

903
00:42:55,400 --> 00:42:58,330
the public option that will be
taken and transplanted into this

904
00:42:58,333 --> 00:43:02,563
proposal that the
President has for Thursday?

905
00:43:02,567 --> 00:43:07,537
Mr. Gibbs:
Again, this is a
debate that was largely ended

906
00:43:07,533 --> 00:43:12,033
with the notion that it's not
going to make it through the

907
00:43:12,033 --> 00:43:13,603
legislative process.

908
00:43:13,600 --> 00:43:17,500
The proposal that the President
put online was where he believed

909
00:43:17,500 --> 00:43:24,270
was a good starting point at the
end of the debate that had been

910
00:43:24,266 --> 00:43:26,766
had on Capitol Hill.

911
00:43:26,767 --> 00:43:32,767
We think that the way exchanges
are structured and other

912
00:43:32,767 --> 00:43:36,467
components of the legislation
will increase the amount of

913
00:43:36,467 --> 00:43:40,497
choice and competition that
people have in picking

914
00:43:40,500 --> 00:43:42,600
health insurance.

915
00:43:42,600 --> 00:43:45,770
The Press:
Also on another question,

916
00:43:45,767 --> 00:43:49,637
Democrats concerned about the
fact that this administration --

917
00:43:49,633 --> 00:43:52,233
they are just not listening to
what constituents have to say,

918
00:43:52,233 --> 00:43:54,963
and also amongst ranks.

919
00:43:54,967 --> 00:43:58,767
You have people like Ed Rendell,
governor of Pennsylvania,

920
00:43:58,767 --> 00:44:01,797
you also have Doug Wilder,
former governor of Virginia,

921
00:44:01,800 --> 00:44:03,730
former mayor of Richmond.

922
00:44:03,734 --> 00:44:06,634
What are your thoughts about
the issues of listening,

923
00:44:06,633 --> 00:44:09,633
about the fact that people are
saying, in your own party,

924
00:44:09,633 --> 00:44:12,133
that this administration
is just not listening?

925
00:44:12,133 --> 00:44:13,133
Mr. Gibbs:
In what way?

926
00:44:13,133 --> 00:44:16,863
The Press:
On strategic -- on
strategic avenues to include how

927
00:44:16,867 --> 00:44:20,667
to campaign for the upcoming
election, midterms,

928
00:44:20,667 --> 00:44:24,537
as well as just the
top echelon here,

929
00:44:24,533 --> 00:44:28,003
some of the reasons why things
-- including Massachusetts --

930
00:44:28,000 --> 00:44:31,030
were lost; this administration
is just not listening to people

931
00:44:31,033 --> 00:44:35,933
on the ground, to fellow
Democrats about what to do next.

932
00:44:35,934 --> 00:44:41,904
Mr. Gibbs:
Again, I'm sure
people's advice on the November

933
00:44:41,900 --> 00:44:45,270
elections -- there will
certainly be plenty of time to

934
00:44:45,266 --> 00:44:47,766
listen to anybody's advice
on the November elections,

935
00:44:47,767 --> 00:44:52,467
since we're only
comfortably in mid-February.

936
00:44:52,467 --> 00:44:56,637
The President's focus isn't
on the elections in November;

937
00:44:56,633 --> 00:45:00,663
it's on getting this
economy started again,

938
00:45:00,667 --> 00:45:03,437
on passing comprehensive
health care reform,

939
00:45:03,433 --> 00:45:08,063
on prosecuting a war in Iraq
and a war in Afghanistan.

940
00:45:08,066 --> 00:45:09,796
The Press:
Do you think this
administration has a good track

941
00:45:09,800 --> 00:45:11,670
record on listening
to its own party?

942
00:45:11,667 --> 00:45:14,497
Mr. Gibbs:
Absolutely.

943
00:45:14,500 --> 00:45:16,730
But I also know that the
President has a good track

944
00:45:16,734 --> 00:45:22,304
record on making decisions that
he believes are in the best

945
00:45:22,300 --> 00:45:23,430
interest of the country.

946
00:45:23,433 --> 00:45:30,233
Again, I think if you look back
at some of the decisions that

947
00:45:30,233 --> 00:45:35,303
were made in terms of continuing
support for helping banks that

948
00:45:35,300 --> 00:45:38,700
might collapse, or helping
auto companies that were near

949
00:45:38,700 --> 00:45:43,570
bankruptcy, I don't imagine
that there were majorities of

950
00:45:43,567 --> 00:45:45,797
Democrats or Republicans that
might have thought that was a

951
00:45:45,800 --> 00:45:49,900
good idea or something that
they readily supported.

952
00:45:49,900 --> 00:45:53,000
But understanding that without
taking some extraordinary steps

953
00:45:53,000 --> 00:45:56,800
to deal with that, we would have
had tens of thousands of more

954
00:45:56,800 --> 00:45:59,430
people unemployed in the
case of auto companies;

955
00:45:59,433 --> 00:46:02,733
we'd have -- we wouldn't have a
domestic auto industry except

956
00:46:02,734 --> 00:46:09,134
for one company; and it's likely
that had we seen additional bank

957
00:46:09,133 --> 00:46:13,833
failures, we would have seen
what many have called a Great

958
00:46:13,834 --> 00:46:18,364
Recession become a
Great Depression.

959
00:46:18,367 --> 00:46:22,067
Governing a country isn't always
about making the easiest,

960
00:46:22,066 --> 00:46:25,396
most popular decisions.

961
00:46:25,400 --> 00:46:28,030
Governor Rendell talked about
the selling of the stimulus.

962
00:46:28,033 --> 00:46:34,433
The stimulus plan was about
ensuring that we got the type of

963
00:46:34,433 --> 00:46:38,933
support that the economy needed
into the economy as

964
00:46:38,934 --> 00:46:40,834
quickly as possible.

965
00:46:40,834 --> 00:46:44,234
I don't have any doubt that the
polling on the stimulus might be

966
00:46:44,233 --> 00:46:47,303
different if instead of doing it
in three weeks and getting the

967
00:46:47,300 --> 00:46:50,300
money quickly into the economy
so that we could see people put

968
00:46:50,300 --> 00:46:54,070
back to work and see economic
growth happen faster -- I have

969
00:46:54,066 --> 00:46:56,696
no doubt that we could
have taken eight months,

970
00:46:56,700 --> 00:47:01,700
fueled up Air Force One, flown
hither and yon and broken out

971
00:47:01,700 --> 00:47:07,970
each component part to where it
was 80 percent and ultimately

972
00:47:07,967 --> 00:47:09,697
gotten Congress to pass that.

973
00:47:09,700 --> 00:47:12,700
The problem with that is I don't
think the President believed

974
00:47:12,700 --> 00:47:16,370
that when we were losing close
to 800,000 jobs in a month,

975
00:47:16,367 --> 00:47:18,997
that his biggest job was PR.

976
00:47:19,000 --> 00:47:20,900
I think it was getting
the economy moving again.

977
00:47:20,900 --> 00:47:26,170
We've seen as a result of that
increased economic growth for

978
00:47:26,166 --> 00:47:29,136
the first time in a year, and
now we've seen it for two

979
00:47:29,133 --> 00:47:30,633
consecutive quarters.

980
00:47:30,633 --> 00:47:35,003
We can't have job growth before
we have economic growth.

981
00:47:35,000 --> 00:47:37,970
So we've laid a foundation,
particularly in the investments

982
00:47:37,967 --> 00:47:41,197
that have been made, for
creating the jobs of the future.

983
00:47:41,200 --> 00:47:42,630
The Press:
But PR is part
of it, don't you think?

984
00:47:42,633 --> 00:47:43,903
Especially serving
your own party.

985
00:47:43,900 --> 00:47:46,730
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't -- trust me, as
somebody who's somebody who's

986
00:47:46,734 --> 00:47:49,734
somewhat intimately involved in
the PR part of the operation,

987
00:47:49,734 --> 00:47:52,804
it's not the first and foremost
thing that gets this President

988
00:47:52,800 --> 00:47:54,170
up in the morning.

989
00:47:54,166 --> 00:47:57,096
What gets him up is taking the
steps that are necessary

990
00:47:57,100 --> 00:48:00,200
to fix this economy.

991
00:48:00,200 --> 00:48:02,470
Obviously explaining to the
American people what we're doing

992
00:48:02,467 --> 00:48:05,997
is important and I don't want
to give that short shrift.

993
00:48:06,000 --> 00:48:09,170
But at the same time, if it's
explaining to the American

994
00:48:09,166 --> 00:48:14,496
people what's -- explaining to
them what's going on, as I said,

995
00:48:14,500 --> 00:48:18,770
is important, but so, too, in
the case of getting this economy

996
00:48:18,767 --> 00:48:22,497
stabilized and moving again, it
was important to get that done

997
00:48:22,500 --> 00:48:23,470
and get that done quickly.

998
00:48:23,467 --> 00:48:24,367
The Press:
On Iran --

999
00:48:24,367 --> 00:48:25,067
Mr. Gibbs:
Connie.

1000
00:48:25,066 --> 00:48:25,866
I'll take one more.

1001
00:48:25,867 --> 00:48:27,697
The Press:
It's becoming more
precarious every day with Iran.

1002
00:48:27,700 --> 00:48:30,930
Does the United States have
a deadline for the

1003
00:48:30,934 --> 00:48:31,964
sanctions proposed?

1004
00:48:31,967 --> 00:48:33,237
And would the U.S.

1005
00:48:33,233 --> 00:48:36,103
impose a unilateral
boycott or embargo of Iran?

1006
00:48:36,100 --> 00:48:39,530
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, the Treasury
Department outlined additional

1007
00:48:39,533 --> 00:48:45,063
sanctions on the
IRGC a few weeks ago.

1008
00:48:45,066 --> 00:48:49,936
It is clear that the continuing
announcements and pronouncements

1009
00:48:49,934 --> 00:48:54,564
that are made in Iran
demonstrate that they have no

1010
00:48:54,567 --> 00:48:57,797
interest in building
international confidence that

1011
00:48:57,800 --> 00:49:01,600
their nuclear program
is for peaceful means.

1012
00:49:01,600 --> 00:49:03,630
Continuing to take those
steps and shirk their

1013
00:49:03,633 --> 00:49:07,603
responsibilities, the President
and our allies have said will

1014
00:49:07,600 --> 00:49:09,400
lead to consequences.

1015
00:49:09,400 --> 00:49:12,070
That is a process
that's ongoing.

1016
00:49:12,066 --> 00:49:17,236
I think you've seen comments
by -- you've certainly seen

1017
00:49:17,233 --> 00:49:22,333
comments by us, you've seen
comments by the Russians and

1018
00:49:22,333 --> 00:49:28,533
others about the fact that time
and patience is running out.

1019
00:49:28,533 --> 00:49:29,463
Thanks, guys.