English subtitles for clip: File:2-25-14- White House Press Briefing.webm
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1 00:00:03,461 --> 00:00:08,061 Mr. Carney: I don't have any specific announcements to make, 2 00:00:08,061 --> 00:00:10,261 but I can -- as you know, the President 3 00:00:10,261 --> 00:00:14,494 met with Speaker of the House John Boehner here earlier. 4 00:00:14,494 --> 00:00:16,126 They had a good and constructive meeting 5 00:00:16,126 --> 00:00:18,160 of about an hour where they discussed 6 00:00:18,161 --> 00:00:19,161 a range of issues. 7 00:00:19,994 --> 00:00:23,494 You also saw I think a readout of a conversation 8 00:00:23,494 --> 00:00:27,061 the President had earlier with President Karzai of 9 00:00:27,061 --> 00:00:32,094 Afghanistan, which I don't have a duration on that 10 00:00:32,094 --> 00:00:34,695 call, but it was a fairly substantive call, 11 00:00:34,695 --> 00:00:36,027 as described in the readout. 12 00:00:36,761 --> 00:00:38,961 Beyond that, I have no other announcements. 13 00:00:38,961 --> 00:00:39,961 So I'll go to Jim Kuhnhenn. 14 00:00:40,761 --> 00:00:41,761 The Press: Thanks, Jay. 15 00:00:41,761 --> 00:00:43,861 So I wanted to ask you about 16 00:00:43,861 --> 00:00:45,794 those two conversations. 17 00:00:45,795 --> 00:00:48,695 With Karzai, he hasn't spoken 18 00:00:48,695 --> 00:00:51,795 to him since June, I believe. 19 00:00:51,795 --> 00:00:55,961 Should we read some kind of significance to the 20 00:00:55,961 --> 00:00:58,728 call coming at this particular time? 21 00:00:58,728 --> 00:01:01,494 And given that the discussion centered 22 00:01:01,494 --> 00:01:06,661 a little bit on giving some space for signing of the 23 00:01:06,661 --> 00:01:10,461 BSA after the elections, is there a tipping point 24 00:01:10,461 --> 00:01:12,795 where it becomes impossible 25 00:01:12,795 --> 00:01:15,895 to make any kind of commitment about U.S. 26 00:01:15,895 --> 00:01:17,461 troops on the ground? 27 00:01:18,695 --> 00:01:19,695 Mr. Carney: On the first part of your 28 00:01:19,695 --> 00:01:21,494 question, the answer is yes. 29 00:01:21,494 --> 00:01:25,027 The President called President Karzai 30 00:01:25,027 --> 00:01:28,695 today in order to discuss preparations for 31 00:01:28,695 --> 00:01:31,026 Afghanistan's upcoming elections, 32 00:01:31,027 --> 00:01:33,861 the Afghan-led peace and reconciliation efforts, 33 00:01:33,861 --> 00:01:37,994 and specifically, the bilateral security agreement. 34 00:01:37,994 --> 00:01:41,528 And as you know, we have been calling 35 00:01:41,528 --> 00:01:46,861 on the Afghan government to complete that process, 36 00:01:46,861 --> 00:01:50,795 to sign that agreement, which was negotiated in good faith, 37 00:01:50,795 --> 00:01:52,194 and to do so promptly. 38 00:01:53,628 --> 00:01:55,561 President Obama told President Karzai 39 00:01:55,561 --> 00:01:57,994 that because he has demonstrated -- 40 00:01:57,994 --> 00:02:00,094 he, being President Karzai -- that it is unlikely that 41 00:02:00,094 --> 00:02:02,494 he will sign the BSA, the United States 42 00:02:02,494 --> 00:02:06,294 is moving forward with additional contingency planning. 43 00:02:06,294 --> 00:02:08,428 So in terms of the timing of the call, 44 00:02:08,428 --> 00:02:11,294 I think you can look at it in that context. 45 00:02:12,261 --> 00:02:16,027 When it comes to the potential 46 00:02:16,027 --> 00:02:22,861 for a post-2014 troop presence, two things are happening. 47 00:02:22,861 --> 00:02:24,761 One, as we made clear would be the case, the 48 00:02:24,761 --> 00:02:30,894 President has tasked the Pentagon with preparing 49 00:02:30,895 --> 00:02:33,328 for the contingency that there 50 00:02:33,328 --> 00:02:38,761 will be no troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014. 51 00:02:38,761 --> 00:02:43,094 But we are also remaining open to the possibility 52 00:02:43,094 --> 00:02:48,293 of a post-2014 troop presence should a bilateral 53 00:02:48,294 --> 00:02:50,661 security agreement be signed -- or the bilateral 54 00:02:50,661 --> 00:02:53,728 security agreement be signed later in the year. 55 00:02:54,628 --> 00:02:56,361 But the longer we go without a BSA -- 56 00:02:56,361 --> 00:02:59,094 and we've been making this clear -- the more challenging 57 00:02:59,094 --> 00:03:01,094 it will be to plan and to execute 58 00:03:01,094 --> 00:03:03,361 any U.S. mission. 59 00:03:03,361 --> 00:03:06,428 Furthermore, the longer we go without a signed BSA 60 00:03:06,428 --> 00:03:10,928 the more likely it will be that any post-2014 61 00:03:10,928 --> 00:03:14,895 U.S. mission will be smaller in scale and ambition. 62 00:03:14,895 --> 00:03:19,061 So I don't have a specific point 63 00:03:19,061 --> 00:03:22,795 to identify for you, except to say that the further 64 00:03:22,795 --> 00:03:27,528 we go without a signed BSA, any contemplative post-2014 65 00:03:27,528 --> 00:03:29,960 mission would be necessarily limited 66 00:03:29,961 --> 00:03:33,328 in scale and ambition because of the requirements 67 00:03:33,328 --> 00:03:35,828 of planning for that troop presence. 68 00:03:36,261 --> 00:03:37,361 The Press: Did the President provide 69 00:03:37,361 --> 00:03:40,628 any kind of timeframe to Karzai as to when -- 70 00:03:41,127 --> 00:03:42,194 Mr. Carney: He provided the timeframe 71 00:03:42,194 --> 00:03:43,861 I just read out to you, which is -- 72 00:03:43,861 --> 00:03:46,494 The Press: Any specific time when by -- need 73 00:03:46,494 --> 00:03:49,628 something by the spring, need something by the fall 74 00:03:49,628 --> 00:03:51,827 -- and that would result in what difference? 75 00:03:51,994 --> 00:03:53,828 Mr. Carney: I think -- or I know that the 76 00:03:53,828 --> 00:03:56,194 President was very explicit about what we've 77 00:03:56,194 --> 00:03:58,994 just read out, which is that the fact that 78 00:03:58,994 --> 00:04:00,728 President Karzai has indicated that 79 00:04:00,728 --> 00:04:05,261 it is unlikely he will sign the BSA means that if he 80 00:04:05,261 --> 00:04:08,628 doesn't sign it, it is at least possible that 81 00:04:08,628 --> 00:04:11,994 a successor Afghan government might sign it, 82 00:04:11,994 --> 00:04:13,728 but that pushes us later into the year. 83 00:04:13,728 --> 00:04:17,594 And the longer we go without a signed BSA, 84 00:04:17,594 --> 00:04:23,760 by necessity, the more narrow in size and ambition 85 00:04:23,761 --> 00:04:28,695 the mission for a post-2014 force would be. 86 00:04:28,728 --> 00:04:32,428 So this is about essentially planning 87 00:04:32,428 --> 00:04:34,061 for a post-2014 mission. 88 00:04:34,061 --> 00:04:37,394 And there are a lot of complexities involved 89 00:04:37,394 --> 00:04:42,428 in asking the Defense Department to plan 90 00:04:42,428 --> 00:04:44,828 for a zero option -- that is a full withdrawal, in 91 00:04:44,828 --> 00:04:46,494 keeping with the President's promise to end 92 00:04:46,494 --> 00:04:49,895 the war in Afghanistan by the end of 2014, and he 93 00:04:49,895 --> 00:04:50,960 will keep that promise -- and then, 94 00:04:50,961 --> 00:04:54,127 also to plan for a contingency 95 00:04:54,127 --> 00:04:59,695 of a post-2014 smaller troop presence. 96 00:04:59,695 --> 00:05:05,661 And in the President's view, it is necessary 97 00:05:05,661 --> 00:05:12,528 to plan for that force against the clock here, 98 00:05:12,528 --> 00:05:16,795 in the sense that the longer we go without a BSA the 99 00:05:16,795 --> 00:05:18,795 smaller in scale and ambition the mission would 100 00:05:18,795 --> 00:05:19,194 have to be. 101 00:05:19,761 --> 00:05:20,994 The Press: In a conversation with the 102 00:05:20,994 --> 00:05:24,461 Speaker, it's been since December of 2012 103 00:05:24,461 --> 00:05:27,461 that they had a face-to-face alone session. 104 00:05:27,461 --> 00:05:30,461 Why has it taken so long? 105 00:05:30,461 --> 00:05:33,061 I mean, this is the leader of the congressional 106 00:05:33,061 --> 00:05:33,828 opposition; he is the President 107 00:05:33,828 --> 00:05:34,828 of the United States. 108 00:05:35,328 --> 00:05:36,561 Mr. Carney: Well, I'd say a couple of things, 109 00:05:36,561 --> 00:05:38,428 Jim. 110 00:05:38,428 --> 00:05:43,761 The President has conversations with leaders 111 00:05:43,761 --> 00:05:47,261 of Congress, not all of which 112 00:05:47,261 --> 00:05:49,394 are read out to the press -- one. 113 00:05:49,394 --> 00:05:54,895 Two, today's meeting was good and constructive. 114 00:05:54,895 --> 00:06:01,161 It covered a range of issues and it was, 115 00:06:01,661 --> 00:06:04,695 in the President's view, a useful conversation. 116 00:06:04,695 --> 00:06:09,528 Three, I think you recall the Speaker of the House 117 00:06:09,528 --> 00:06:11,695 as reported having said that he would not ever 118 00:06:11,695 --> 00:06:12,695 negotiate with the 119 00:06:12,695 --> 00:06:13,861 President of the United States again. 120 00:06:13,861 --> 00:06:18,795 So the point is that the President's position 121 00:06:18,795 --> 00:06:20,594 on these issues and his communication with 122 00:06:20,594 --> 00:06:23,194 Congress I think has been robust. 123 00:06:23,194 --> 00:06:28,328 And we're looking for ways to move an agenda forward 124 00:06:28,328 --> 00:06:31,861 that expands opportunity and rewards hard work 125 00:06:31,861 --> 00:06:34,161 and responsibility for the American people. 126 00:06:34,161 --> 00:06:36,928 We are looking for a partner in Congress 127 00:06:36,928 --> 00:06:38,761 to advance part of that agenda. 128 00:06:38,761 --> 00:06:42,628 But the President won't stand still just because 129 00:06:42,628 --> 00:06:44,695 Congress is standing still, if Congress decides 130 00:06:44,695 --> 00:06:47,561 or if Republicans decide not to take action. 131 00:06:47,561 --> 00:06:50,727 So that's been our explicit approach this 132 00:06:50,728 --> 00:06:52,861 year, and that's the approach the President has 133 00:06:52,861 --> 00:06:54,194 been taking thus far and will take 134 00:06:54,194 --> 00:06:55,194 for the rest of the year. 135 00:06:55,561 --> 00:06:56,661 The Press: Any softening on point three 136 00:06:56,661 --> 00:06:58,895 that he won't negotiate with the President? 137 00:06:58,895 --> 00:06:59,895 Mr. Carney: Again, I think it was a good 138 00:06:59,895 --> 00:07:01,628 and constructive meeting. 139 00:07:01,628 --> 00:07:05,193 I'm not going to read out any more detail beyond 140 00:07:05,194 --> 00:07:09,594 sort of the general topic areas that included the 141 00:07:09,594 --> 00:07:13,861 ACA, Afghanistan, appropriations, 142 00:07:13,861 --> 00:07:19,260 manufacturing, trade, the drought in California, 143 00:07:19,261 --> 00:07:21,094 wildfire suppression -- which we talked about 144 00:07:21,094 --> 00:07:23,528 yesterday -- other issues, infrastructure 145 00:07:23,528 --> 00:07:25,628 and highway funding. 146 00:07:25,628 --> 00:07:26,828 But that's just a partial list. 147 00:07:26,828 --> 00:07:30,695 So I think we're talking about a range of topics 148 00:07:30,695 --> 00:07:33,127 that reflect the things that we in Washington are 149 00:07:33,127 --> 00:07:37,061 working on both here at the White House 150 00:07:37,061 --> 00:07:38,460 and in the administration, and hopefully 151 00:07:38,461 --> 00:07:42,728 and potentially in Congress as well. 152 00:07:42,728 --> 00:07:43,728 Jeff. 153 00:07:45,194 --> 00:07:47,094 The Press: Following up on that meeting as well, 154 00:07:47,094 --> 00:07:48,728 the Speaker's office mentioned that trade 155 00:07:48,728 --> 00:07:50,895 was one of the issues that they discussed. 156 00:07:50,895 --> 00:07:53,561 Speaker Boehner has said before that it's up to the 157 00:07:53,561 --> 00:07:55,727 President to work on getting his own party 158 00:07:55,728 --> 00:07:57,161 behind supporting Trade Promotion Authority. 159 00:07:57,161 --> 00:07:58,994 Did the President make any commitments about that 160 00:07:58,994 --> 00:08:00,795 or did they discuss strategy for doing 161 00:08:00,795 --> 00:08:01,461 that in their meeting? 162 00:08:01,928 --> 00:08:04,428 Mr. Carney: Trade was one of the many topics 163 00:08:04,428 --> 00:08:05,628 that were discussed. 164 00:08:05,628 --> 00:08:06,895 I don't have a further readout 165 00:08:06,895 --> 00:08:07,960 on the conversation. 166 00:08:07,961 --> 00:08:09,594 I wouldn't expect a more detailed readout 167 00:08:09,594 --> 00:08:10,461 on the conversation. 168 00:08:10,461 --> 00:08:13,661 The President's views on why it is good for the 169 00:08:13,661 --> 00:08:16,127 American economy and good for American workers 170 00:08:16,127 --> 00:08:21,294 to negotiate trade agreements that expand American 171 00:08:21,294 --> 00:08:24,561 exports are well known. 172 00:08:24,561 --> 00:08:26,193 And he has expressed them, I have expressed them, 173 00:08:26,194 --> 00:08:28,928 others have expressed them, and he has made 174 00:08:28,928 --> 00:08:32,061 clear that moving forward on those trade 175 00:08:32,061 --> 00:08:35,027 agreements is a priority for him. 176 00:08:35,027 --> 00:08:36,861 It is also the case that this is an ongoing 177 00:08:36,861 --> 00:08:39,193 conversation that we're having with members 178 00:08:39,193 --> 00:08:40,394 of Congress in both parties. 179 00:08:40,394 --> 00:08:46,828 The difference of opinion that exists in both 180 00:08:46,828 --> 00:08:49,761 parties on these issues is not something that 181 00:08:49,761 --> 00:08:51,461 suddenly sprang up in 2014. 182 00:08:51,461 --> 00:08:56,361 These are issues that have long fostered different 183 00:08:56,361 --> 00:08:57,361 views, and that's something 184 00:08:57,361 --> 00:08:58,361 we take into account. 185 00:08:58,361 --> 00:09:00,628 But we believe very strongly, as the President 186 00:09:00,628 --> 00:09:05,994 said just last week in Mexico, that having 187 00:09:05,994 --> 00:09:09,528 agreements that expand trade and, in particular, 188 00:09:09,528 --> 00:09:11,528 when we are talking about the Pacific region, the 189 00:09:13,394 --> 00:09:17,994 fastest-growing emerging economies in the world, 190 00:09:17,994 --> 00:09:20,294 opening those markets to American goods is good for 191 00:09:20,294 --> 00:09:22,828 the economy, and doing so in a way that 192 00:09:22,828 --> 00:09:25,161 protects American workers and protects the environment 193 00:09:25,161 --> 00:09:27,560 is good for the United States and the world. 194 00:09:27,561 --> 00:09:30,428 So that's why we're continuing to negotiate 195 00:09:30,428 --> 00:09:32,594 agreements, and we will work with Congress 196 00:09:32,594 --> 00:09:36,094 to try to bring those agreements into effect. 197 00:09:36,994 --> 00:09:38,194 The Press: You referenced the Speaker's 198 00:09:38,194 --> 00:09:40,261 comments about not negotiating with the 199 00:09:40,261 --> 00:09:42,328 President, but isn't it also the President's job 200 00:09:42,328 --> 00:09:44,093 to build that relationship and 201 00:09:44,094 --> 00:09:45,594 to create meetings like -- 202 00:09:46,127 --> 00:09:46,527 Mr. Carney: Absolutely, and he has. 203 00:09:46,528 --> 00:09:48,227 Again, you are under -- 204 00:09:48,528 --> 00:09:49,261 The Press: But wouldn't you agree that a 205 00:09:49,261 --> 00:09:51,728 year is a long time not to have a one-on-one meeting with 206 00:09:51,728 --> 00:09:52,328 the Speaker of the House? 207 00:09:52,761 --> 00:09:53,560 Mr. Carney: I would simply say that 208 00:09:53,561 --> 00:09:55,928 we do not read out every conversation and meeting 209 00:09:55,928 --> 00:09:57,361 that the President has with members of Congress. 210 00:09:57,761 --> 00:10:00,194 The Press: Are you implying with that there 211 00:10:00,194 --> 00:10:01,161 have been other one-on-ones? 212 00:10:01,361 --> 00:10:01,895 Mr. Carney: I would simply say that we do not 213 00:10:01,895 --> 00:10:03,895 read out every conversation and meeting 214 00:10:03,895 --> 00:10:05,227 that the President, the Vice President, 215 00:10:05,227 --> 00:10:07,093 or other senior members of the White House 216 00:10:07,094 --> 00:10:07,795 has with Congress. 217 00:10:08,594 --> 00:10:09,728 The Press: Let me ask you one other question. 218 00:10:09,728 --> 00:10:12,627 Reuters reported yesterday that Iran signed 219 00:10:12,628 --> 00:10:15,895 a deal to sell Iraq arms and ammunition 220 00:10:15,895 --> 00:10:17,928 worth $195 million. 221 00:10:17,928 --> 00:10:21,861 Has Iran informed the United States about that? 222 00:10:21,861 --> 00:10:23,227 And does the White House have a problem 223 00:10:23,227 --> 00:10:25,294 with that contract? 224 00:10:25,561 --> 00:10:28,861 Mr. Carney: We raised our concerns about this 225 00:10:28,861 --> 00:10:31,461 matter at the highest levels with the government 226 00:10:31,461 --> 00:10:35,061 of Iraq and reiterated that any transfer or sale 227 00:10:35,061 --> 00:10:38,361 of arms from Iran is in direct violation 228 00:10:38,361 --> 00:10:41,093 of the United Nations Security Council resolutions. 229 00:10:41,094 --> 00:10:43,461 The government of Iraq assured us that it would 230 00:10:43,461 --> 00:10:44,695 look into the matter. 231 00:10:44,695 --> 00:10:46,828 Today, we have seen the press release issued 232 00:10:46,828 --> 00:10:49,528 by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense denying that any 233 00:10:49,528 --> 00:10:50,928 contracts for military equipment 234 00:10:50,928 --> 00:10:52,728 were signed with Iran. 235 00:10:52,728 --> 00:10:55,627 We will follow up with the government 236 00:10:55,628 --> 00:10:57,161 of Iraq on that matter. 237 00:10:57,161 --> 00:10:58,161 Jim. 238 00:10:58,461 --> 00:11:00,027 The Press: Getting back to the President's meeting 239 00:11:00,027 --> 00:11:02,061 with the Speaker, it's been reported and I think 240 00:11:02,061 --> 00:11:03,561 it's a general feeling here in Washington 241 00:11:03,561 --> 00:11:05,061 that the Speaker has been standing 242 00:11:05,061 --> 00:11:06,428 up to conservative groups, whether 243 00:11:06,428 --> 00:11:08,328 it be on the budget or the debt ceiling. 244 00:11:08,328 --> 00:11:11,494 Did the President thank the Speaker for that when 245 00:11:11,494 --> 00:11:13,994 they met for sticking his neck out for him? 246 00:11:14,828 --> 00:11:16,494 Mr. Carney: I don't have a more detailed 247 00:11:16,494 --> 00:11:17,594 readout for you, Jim. 248 00:11:17,594 --> 00:11:18,728 I can tell you that the President has noted 249 00:11:18,728 --> 00:11:22,627 generally, as have I and others, that despite the 250 00:11:22,628 --> 00:11:24,127 differences that exist in Washington, 251 00:11:24,127 --> 00:11:26,928 we have managed to move forward when it comes to the 252 00:11:26,928 --> 00:11:29,194 budget agreement and the regular order established 253 00:11:29,194 --> 00:11:31,961 by it, first negotiated by Senator Murray 254 00:11:31,961 --> 00:11:38,461 and Chairman Ryan, and then passed, and then followed 255 00:11:38,461 --> 00:11:40,027 through on with the funding 256 00:11:40,027 --> 00:11:41,695 bill that was passed. 257 00:11:41,695 --> 00:11:43,261 That's a positive development. 258 00:11:43,261 --> 00:11:48,261 The fact that Republicans decided not to put the 259 00:11:48,261 --> 00:11:50,428 full faith and credit of the United States 260 00:11:50,428 --> 00:11:53,227 to the test again with the brinksmanship over the 261 00:11:53,227 --> 00:11:56,593 necessity of paying the bills that Congress racks 262 00:11:56,594 --> 00:11:57,828 up, that was a good thing. 263 00:11:57,828 --> 00:12:01,026 And that's good for the economy. 264 00:12:01,027 --> 00:12:02,027 It's good for the middle class. 265 00:12:02,027 --> 00:12:05,061 It's not about winners and losers here in Washington. 266 00:12:05,061 --> 00:12:10,027 It's simply a fact that when the opposite approach 267 00:12:10,027 --> 00:12:11,761 has been taken in the past it's done harm 268 00:12:11,761 --> 00:12:13,661 to the American people, harm to job creation. 269 00:12:13,661 --> 00:12:14,661 So those are positives. 270 00:12:14,661 --> 00:12:16,928 I just don't -- again, I'm not going to get into 20 271 00:12:16,928 --> 00:12:18,561 questions about, was this said, and was that asked. 272 00:12:19,428 --> 00:12:21,795 The Press: You would hope that perhaps 273 00:12:21,795 --> 00:12:24,294 a breakthrough has been made in this relationship 274 00:12:24,294 --> 00:12:26,494 between the President and the Speaker, and that 275 00:12:26,494 --> 00:12:28,661 perhaps more meetings like this might take place that 276 00:12:28,661 --> 00:12:29,661 could be made public. 277 00:12:29,661 --> 00:12:30,828 Mr. Carney: I think it's a press misconception 278 00:12:30,828 --> 00:12:33,060 that success or failure of legislation in Congress 279 00:12:33,061 --> 00:12:35,328 depends on the relationship between 280 00:12:35,328 --> 00:12:37,661 a President and a Speaker, or a President and 281 00:12:37,661 --> 00:12:39,161 a leader in Congress. 282 00:12:39,161 --> 00:12:41,527 The President's relationship with the 283 00:12:41,528 --> 00:12:42,661 Speaker, as the Speaker has said 284 00:12:42,661 --> 00:12:46,493 and the President has said, has always been solid. 285 00:12:46,494 --> 00:12:50,761 And the problem we've had in the past here 286 00:12:50,761 --> 00:12:56,493 in Washington has been often the dictation 287 00:12:56,494 --> 00:12:59,328 that has been provided by a segment of the House Republican 288 00:12:59,328 --> 00:13:02,461 Congress over what the House of Representatives 289 00:13:02,461 --> 00:13:04,795 would or would not do. 290 00:13:04,795 --> 00:13:06,527 And that hasn't necessarily been a 291 00:13:06,528 --> 00:13:09,828 reflection of what the Speaker would hope 292 00:13:09,828 --> 00:13:11,461 for in a perfect world, but what he is able 293 00:13:11,461 --> 00:13:14,928 to get his conference to do. 294 00:13:14,928 --> 00:13:21,628 So again -- and I think going back to the broader 295 00:13:21,628 --> 00:13:23,127 implication from Jeff's question and some 296 00:13:23,127 --> 00:13:26,127 of the other questions, you saw last year coming 297 00:13:26,127 --> 00:13:29,993 out of the 2012 elections, the President and his team 298 00:13:29,994 --> 00:13:32,394 very aggressively engage with Congress, including 299 00:13:32,394 --> 00:13:34,528 Republicans in Congress, in an effort 300 00:13:34,528 --> 00:13:37,494 to try to move forward on some of the issues that have 301 00:13:37,494 --> 00:13:41,695 divided Washington, most especially the possibility 302 00:13:41,695 --> 00:13:44,361 of a broader budget agreement that would 303 00:13:47,161 --> 00:13:49,227 require compromise from both sides but would move 304 00:13:49,227 --> 00:13:52,728 the country forward by making necessary 305 00:13:52,728 --> 00:13:54,895 investments and reducing the deficit 306 00:13:54,895 --> 00:13:56,928 and debt for the medium and long term. 307 00:13:56,928 --> 00:14:00,394 The President put forward a good-faith offer that 308 00:14:00,394 --> 00:14:02,461 everyone on both sides recognized 309 00:14:02,461 --> 00:14:06,094 as a compromise, and despite all the meetings 310 00:14:06,094 --> 00:14:09,194 and dinners and coffees and engagements, we could not 311 00:14:09,194 --> 00:14:11,961 get a similar counteroffer from the Republicans. 312 00:14:11,961 --> 00:14:18,261 So we're going to continue to engage with Congress, 313 00:14:18,261 --> 00:14:20,761 with Republicans, in an effort to see where we can 314 00:14:20,761 --> 00:14:22,394 find common ground to move the ball forward 315 00:14:22,394 --> 00:14:23,795 for the American people. 316 00:14:23,795 --> 00:14:25,895 Where Congress refuses to act, 317 00:14:25,895 --> 00:14:30,661 the President is going to use every authority available to him 318 00:14:30,661 --> 00:14:33,328 to advance an agenda that expands opportunity 319 00:14:33,328 --> 00:14:34,328 and rewards hard work. 320 00:14:34,895 --> 00:14:36,261 The Press: And I just want to get back 321 00:14:36,261 --> 00:14:39,795 to the President's call to President Karzai. 322 00:14:39,795 --> 00:14:42,861 It is a fact that if this bilateral security 323 00:14:42,861 --> 00:14:44,027 agreement is not signed that there 324 00:14:44,027 --> 00:14:45,194 will be no troops? 325 00:14:45,328 --> 00:14:46,328 Mr. Carney: Yes, correct. 326 00:14:46,328 --> 00:14:47,761 The Press: By December 31st, they'll all be gone? 327 00:14:47,761 --> 00:14:48,761 Mr. Carney: Absolutely. 328 00:14:49,828 --> 00:14:50,828 The Press: No wavering on that? 329 00:14:51,027 --> 00:14:52,127 Mr. Carney: Absent a BSA, 330 00:14:52,127 --> 00:14:54,460 there will not be any U.S. 331 00:14:54,461 --> 00:14:55,695 troops on the ground beyond 332 00:14:55,695 --> 00:14:56,428 the end of the year. 333 00:14:56,795 --> 00:14:57,828 The Press: And did the President -- 334 00:14:57,828 --> 00:15:00,795 his instructions to the Defense Secretary 335 00:15:00,795 --> 00:15:03,294 to initiate contingency planning, 336 00:15:03,294 --> 00:15:04,328 that started today? 337 00:15:04,761 --> 00:15:05,928 Mr. Carney: No, no, no -- 338 00:15:06,261 --> 00:15:07,227 The Press: -- or had that already 339 00:15:07,227 --> 00:15:07,928 been looked at previously? 340 00:15:08,094 --> 00:15:08,994 Mr. Carney: What we had been saying for some time 341 00:15:08,994 --> 00:15:12,461 now is that we wanted to see the BSA signed; 342 00:15:12,461 --> 00:15:16,494 that it was negotiated in good faith by both sides; 343 00:15:16,494 --> 00:15:19,961 it was endorsed by the loya jirga in Afghanistan; 344 00:15:19,961 --> 00:15:21,294 the end-of-the-year deadline was one 345 00:15:21,294 --> 00:15:23,828 that was agreed to by both sides. 346 00:15:23,828 --> 00:15:26,026 Afghanistan failed to -- the Afghan government 347 00:15:26,027 --> 00:15:28,027 failed to meet that deadline. 348 00:15:28,027 --> 00:15:31,594 And we have been pressing in the early part of this 349 00:15:31,594 --> 00:15:35,027 year for President Karzai to take action so that 350 00:15:35,027 --> 00:15:37,261 that BSA can be completed. 351 00:15:37,261 --> 00:15:39,428 He has indicated that he's not likely to sign the 352 00:15:39,428 --> 00:15:43,127 BSA, and so we have to reevaluate where we are. 353 00:15:43,628 --> 00:15:46,027 As we've been saying since the beginning of the year, 354 00:15:46,027 --> 00:15:49,695 the longer we wait the more likely the 355 00:15:49,695 --> 00:15:52,895 possibility is that we end up a zero option with no 356 00:15:52,895 --> 00:15:55,093 troops at all beyond 2014 because 357 00:15:55,094 --> 00:15:59,094 we cannot and will not have U.S. 358 00:15:59,094 --> 00:16:00,928 troops on the ground without a signed BSA. 359 00:16:00,928 --> 00:16:03,795 The Press: A former Guantanamo detainee has 360 00:16:03,795 --> 00:16:05,328 been arrested in Britain on suspicion 361 00:16:05,328 --> 00:16:08,961 of terror offenses in Syria. 362 00:16:08,961 --> 00:16:10,528 When you see these incidences pop 363 00:16:10,528 --> 00:16:12,461 up does it give the White House any pause 364 00:16:12,461 --> 00:16:14,127 on a policy for closing Guantanamo? 365 00:16:15,194 --> 00:16:16,795 Mr. Carney: I haven't seen that specific report. 366 00:16:16,795 --> 00:16:18,560 What I can tell you is that there is a thorough 367 00:16:18,561 --> 00:16:21,828 review process on every individual, 368 00:16:21,828 --> 00:16:24,361 every detainee who's being considered for transfer 369 00:16:24,361 --> 00:16:30,328 that takes all of these issues into account. 370 00:16:30,594 --> 00:16:31,594 Margaret. 371 00:16:33,194 --> 00:16:35,461 The Press: Did the President, 372 00:16:35,461 --> 00:16:40,461 in his instructions to the Pentagon, give them 373 00:16:40,461 --> 00:16:43,328 a timeline to provide him with a zero option? 374 00:16:43,328 --> 00:16:45,928 I know it's been under discussion for a while, 375 00:16:45,928 --> 00:16:48,528 but now he's saying, do this; 376 00:16:48,528 --> 00:16:49,695 tell me how it would work. 377 00:16:49,695 --> 00:16:51,628 When do you expect to get that from them, 378 00:16:51,628 --> 00:16:54,227 even if you don't need to use it until August or September? 379 00:16:54,394 --> 00:16:57,428 And I also wanted to ask you, when the President 380 00:16:57,428 --> 00:17:01,294 and Speaker Boehner spoke about Afghanistan, 381 00:17:01,294 --> 00:17:05,227 as the readout reflects, can you give us some 382 00:17:05,227 --> 00:17:07,628 kind of a sense about whether Boehner will support 383 00:17:07,627 --> 00:17:09,261 Obama on this BSA thing? 384 00:17:09,261 --> 00:17:12,795 It seems to me like you see a lot of calls from 385 00:17:12,795 --> 00:17:14,928 Republican leadership or committee leadership, 386 00:17:14,928 --> 00:17:17,227 like the President really needs to get onboard 387 00:17:17,227 --> 00:17:18,528 and get serious about the BSA. 388 00:17:18,528 --> 00:17:21,060 But it seems like from the White House's perspective, 389 00:17:21,060 --> 00:17:23,293 you guys are saying, look, we're doing this; 390 00:17:23,294 --> 00:17:25,528 it's the Afghan government that's not signing it. 391 00:17:25,528 --> 00:17:28,294 Did the President and the Speaker sort of get square 392 00:17:28,294 --> 00:17:31,094 on that, or are you still concerned that you have 393 00:17:31,094 --> 00:17:32,761 political undercurrents on the Republican side 394 00:17:32,761 --> 00:17:35,261 that are hurting you in your posture on Afghanistan? 395 00:17:36,127 --> 00:17:37,561 Mr. Carney: Let me take a crack 396 00:17:37,561 --> 00:17:40,194 at the second part there. 397 00:17:40,194 --> 00:17:44,061 It's inconceivable, I think, to us that leaders 398 00:17:44,061 --> 00:17:48,226 in Congress would allow for a U.S. 399 00:17:48,227 --> 00:17:51,194 troop presence without a signed bilateral security 400 00:17:51,194 --> 00:17:54,961 agreement in Afghanistan. 401 00:17:54,961 --> 00:17:58,227 It is a simple fact that the bilateral security 402 00:17:58,227 --> 00:18:00,728 agreement was negotiated over a prolonged period of 403 00:18:00,728 --> 00:18:03,361 time in good faith. 404 00:18:03,361 --> 00:18:05,328 The agreement was reached. 405 00:18:05,328 --> 00:18:08,094 It was endorsed by the representatives 406 00:18:08,094 --> 00:18:10,127 of the Afghan people. 407 00:18:10,127 --> 00:18:13,027 It is not subject to renegotiation. 408 00:18:13,027 --> 00:18:14,628 I'm not sure I've heard members of Congress 409 00:18:14,628 --> 00:18:15,660 suggest that it should be. 410 00:18:16,961 --> 00:18:20,261 What I think has been amply demonstrated is that 411 00:18:20,261 --> 00:18:24,461 we've been pressing very hard for the Karzai 412 00:18:24,461 --> 00:18:27,961 government to complete the process by signing the 413 00:18:27,961 --> 00:18:28,961 BSA. 414 00:18:28,961 --> 00:18:31,394 Since it is now unlikely, it has been indicated that 415 00:18:31,394 --> 00:18:33,461 it is unlikely by President Karzai that he 416 00:18:33,461 --> 00:18:36,561 will sign it, the President made clear in 417 00:18:36,561 --> 00:18:43,093 his call today that we are preparing for the 418 00:18:43,094 --> 00:18:47,094 possibility of no troops in Afghanistan beyond the 419 00:18:47,094 --> 00:18:52,628 end of the year, and that any -- we are open to the 420 00:18:52,628 --> 00:18:55,860 signing of a bilateral security agreement later 421 00:18:55,861 --> 00:18:59,194 in the year, but the longer it takes to get 422 00:18:59,194 --> 00:19:01,795 there, by necessity because of the planning, 423 00:19:01,795 --> 00:19:06,494 the smaller the mission will be beyond 2014 both 424 00:19:06,494 --> 00:19:07,794 in size and ambition. 425 00:19:08,661 --> 00:19:10,928 And the mission, in any case, as you know -- to 426 00:19:10,928 --> 00:19:13,194 clarify since I haven't said it today -- 427 00:19:13,194 --> 00:19:18,061 will be focused solely on counterterrorism and the 428 00:19:18,061 --> 00:19:20,794 training and support of Afghan security forces. 429 00:19:20,795 --> 00:19:26,461 The war ends this year, at the end of this year, 430 00:19:26,461 --> 00:19:29,695 regardless, as the President and NATO decided 431 00:19:29,695 --> 00:19:30,695 some time ago. 432 00:19:30,961 --> 00:19:32,528 The Press: But did the President ask Speaker 433 00:19:32,528 --> 00:19:38,194 Boehner, hey, can you please support me on this 434 00:19:38,194 --> 00:19:41,226 BSA stuff rather than have Republican members 435 00:19:41,227 --> 00:19:45,394 in your caucus making it sound like I'm not pushing hard 436 00:19:45,394 --> 00:19:46,528 enough to get the BSA signed? 437 00:19:46,528 --> 00:19:48,027 Did this come up as a part of their conversations? 438 00:19:48,194 --> 00:19:49,328 Mr. Carney: I don't have a more detailed 439 00:19:49,328 --> 00:19:50,661 readout to provide to you. 440 00:19:50,661 --> 00:19:57,294 What I can tell you is that that was a subject 441 00:19:57,294 --> 00:20:00,695 of -- a conversation that included 442 00:20:00,695 --> 00:20:02,160 many subjects and that -- 443 00:20:02,928 --> 00:20:03,928 The Press: Afghanistan or -- 444 00:20:04,528 --> 00:20:05,528 Mr. Carney: Afghanistan. 445 00:20:05,528 --> 00:20:07,661 And I think -- the BSA is part of Afghanistan -- 446 00:20:07,661 --> 00:20:10,127 that is certainly the focus at this time. 447 00:20:10,127 --> 00:20:13,161 The President had, just prior to meeting with 448 00:20:13,161 --> 00:20:14,895 Speaker Boehner, had spoken with President 449 00:20:14,895 --> 00:20:19,561 Karzai, so this was certainly a fresh 450 00:20:19,561 --> 00:20:23,261 development to discuss with the Speaker. 451 00:20:23,261 --> 00:20:26,261 But I'm not -- maybe I'm missing something. 452 00:20:26,261 --> 00:20:32,226 I'm not aware of to any great degree the critique 453 00:20:35,994 --> 00:20:39,428 about pushing for the signing of the BSA because 454 00:20:39,428 --> 00:20:42,127 I think we have been quite aggressive in doing that. 455 00:20:43,061 --> 00:20:45,494 The Press: And on the question of -- I know you 456 00:20:45,494 --> 00:20:47,428 don't have more to read out than what's in the 457 00:20:47,428 --> 00:20:51,895 readout, but is the Pentagon going to present 458 00:20:51,895 --> 00:20:53,094 now the President with a plan that they have not 459 00:20:53,094 --> 00:20:54,361 yet presented him with, which is, this is how zero 460 00:20:54,361 --> 00:20:55,194 option would work? 461 00:20:55,194 --> 00:20:56,994 And when do you expect him to get that plan? 462 00:20:57,194 --> 00:20:58,293 Mr. Carney: Look, I think that the answer 463 00:20:58,294 --> 00:21:00,161 to that question is I don't have a specific 464 00:21:00,161 --> 00:21:00,795 date for you. 465 00:21:00,795 --> 00:21:06,294 The fact is it has always been envisioned 466 00:21:06,294 --> 00:21:07,294 by the U.S. 467 00:21:07,294 --> 00:21:11,561 and our NATO allies that we would draw down to zero 468 00:21:11,561 --> 00:21:12,593 by the end of this year. 469 00:21:12,594 --> 00:21:19,761 The prospect of a force beyond 2014 has always 470 00:21:19,761 --> 00:21:27,094 been a goal, a policy goal dependent 471 00:21:27,094 --> 00:21:29,795 upon a BSA being signed. 472 00:21:29,795 --> 00:21:35,961 And what I think the conversation today and the 473 00:21:35,961 --> 00:21:37,661 message conveyed today by the President 474 00:21:37,661 --> 00:21:41,561 to President Karzai was about is the acknowledgement that 475 00:21:41,561 --> 00:21:44,360 President Karzai, despite our efforts, has indicated 476 00:21:44,361 --> 00:21:48,328 he is unlikely to sign the BSA, and the consequences 477 00:21:48,328 --> 00:21:51,928 of that in terms of planning going forward on, 478 00:21:51,928 --> 00:21:54,561 with each passing day, more realistically, on the 479 00:21:54,561 --> 00:21:59,328 prospect of a full withdrawal, and the 480 00:21:59,328 --> 00:22:02,194 acknowledgment that we're making today and the 481 00:22:02,194 --> 00:22:03,728 President made to President Karzai that we 482 00:22:03,728 --> 00:22:06,728 would be open to the BSA being signed later in the 483 00:22:06,728 --> 00:22:11,661 year, but that as time passes, by necessity 484 00:22:11,661 --> 00:22:14,528 because of the complexities of planning 485 00:22:14,528 --> 00:22:16,261 withdrawal -- and it's not just troops, we're talking 486 00:22:16,261 --> 00:22:20,127 about equipment and closing of bases -- that 487 00:22:20,127 --> 00:22:23,661 the mission beyond 2014 should a BSA be signed 488 00:22:23,661 --> 00:22:26,528 would, by necessity, if it happens late in the year, 489 00:22:26,528 --> 00:22:28,227 be smaller in scale and ambition. 490 00:22:28,227 --> 00:22:29,895 Does that make sense? 491 00:22:29,895 --> 00:22:30,895 Jon. 492 00:22:31,328 --> 00:22:33,360 The Press: On the meeting with Speaker 493 00:22:33,361 --> 00:22:35,928 Boehner, in the readout that the Speaker's office 494 00:22:35,928 --> 00:22:38,828 provided is a long, long list of topics -- 495 00:22:38,828 --> 00:22:41,961 droughts, floods, fires, Afghanistan -- 496 00:22:41,961 --> 00:22:44,895 no mention of long-term budget, entitlements, tax reform. 497 00:22:44,895 --> 00:22:48,360 So what I'm wondering, given that and given the 498 00:22:48,361 --> 00:22:51,728 fact that the entitlement reforms were taken out of 499 00:22:51,728 --> 00:22:54,027 the President's budget, or are going to be taken out 500 00:22:54,027 --> 00:22:56,194 of the President's budget, could we now put the last 501 00:22:56,194 --> 00:22:59,695 nail in the coffin of the idea of a grand bargain? 502 00:23:00,628 --> 00:23:02,127 Mr. Carney: I'd say two things. 503 00:23:02,127 --> 00:23:05,328 First of all, the list that I've seen from the 504 00:23:05,328 --> 00:23:08,961 Speaker's office and the one that I've provided 505 00:23:08,961 --> 00:23:11,294 more or less off the cuff just now I don't think 506 00:23:11,294 --> 00:23:14,528 represents a complete -- 507 00:23:15,361 --> 00:23:16,428 The Press: But they weren't bangings 508 00:23:16,428 --> 00:23:18,294 out a grand bargain, is that right? 509 00:23:19,127 --> 00:23:20,728 Mr. Carney: Well, I don't think we suggested 510 00:23:20,728 --> 00:23:22,928 that they were or that that was even possible 511 00:23:22,928 --> 00:23:24,795 in the time that they met. 512 00:23:24,795 --> 00:23:29,394 What remains absolutely the case is that the 513 00:23:29,394 --> 00:23:36,161 President is ready and willing to negotiate a 514 00:23:36,161 --> 00:23:39,795 balanced deficit reduction deal, long-term deficit 515 00:23:39,795 --> 00:23:44,928 reduction deal, if Republicans are willing 516 00:23:44,928 --> 00:23:49,027 to meet him halfway and are willing 517 00:23:49,027 --> 00:23:50,961 to commit to balance. 518 00:23:50,961 --> 00:23:54,027 That's what the inclusion of so-called chained 519 00:23:54,027 --> 00:23:56,194 CPI in his budget last year was about. 520 00:23:56,194 --> 00:23:59,795 It was the exception to the rule, when it comes 521 00:23:59,795 --> 00:24:02,361 to the presentation by Presidents of their 522 00:24:02,361 --> 00:24:05,027 budgets, in that it included not a priority 523 00:24:05,027 --> 00:24:08,394 for him, but a priority for Republicans, because 524 00:24:08,394 --> 00:24:13,461 that was an effort to make clear in the presentation 525 00:24:13,461 --> 00:24:15,261 of his budget that the offer he had made to the 526 00:24:15,261 --> 00:24:17,795 Speaker of the House in negotiations at the end 527 00:24:17,795 --> 00:24:20,194 of the previous year was still on the table and 528 00:24:20,194 --> 00:24:21,328 that it was a good-faith offer, 529 00:24:21,328 --> 00:24:24,528 and that he believed, based on those negotiations, there was 530 00:24:24,528 --> 00:24:26,428 the possibility that Republicans might be 531 00:24:26,428 --> 00:24:31,194 willing to meet him halfway in achieving that 532 00:24:31,194 --> 00:24:33,795 grand bargain, if you will, or even a mid-sized 533 00:24:33,795 --> 00:24:37,094 bargain that was based on a balanced approach to 534 00:24:37,094 --> 00:24:38,795 dealing with our deficit challenge -- an approach 535 00:24:38,795 --> 00:24:41,594 that allowed us, because of the balance, to make 536 00:24:41,594 --> 00:24:44,961 sure that we weren't achieving that deficit 537 00:24:44,961 --> 00:24:48,528 reduction solely on the backs of the middle class, 538 00:24:48,528 --> 00:24:52,094 that we are asking everybody to participate, 539 00:24:52,094 --> 00:24:54,661 and that we would be able to make the necessary 540 00:24:54,661 --> 00:24:59,428 investments in our economy in innovation and job 541 00:24:59,428 --> 00:25:01,628 creation that would secure the foundation 542 00:25:01,628 --> 00:25:02,628 for growth in the future. 543 00:25:03,094 --> 00:25:05,161 So that's a long way of saying the offer, as I 544 00:25:05,161 --> 00:25:08,795 said last week, is on the table, but we have not, 545 00:25:08,795 --> 00:25:12,361 despite our, I think, persistent efforts last 546 00:25:12,361 --> 00:25:15,294 year -- all the meetings and coffees and dinners 547 00:25:15,294 --> 00:25:18,695 and the like to try to test the theory that 548 00:25:18,695 --> 00:25:20,961 Republicans were willing to have discussions about 549 00:25:20,961 --> 00:25:25,027 this -- despite those efforts producing nothing 550 00:25:25,027 --> 00:25:26,027 out of the Republicans. 551 00:25:26,027 --> 00:25:29,294 The Press: So whoever's fault it is, 552 00:25:29,294 --> 00:25:33,428 has the President come to terms with the likelihood, maybe 553 00:25:33,428 --> 00:25:37,695 even certainty, that he will leave office having 554 00:25:37,695 --> 00:25:40,994 been unable to achieve an agreement that will even 555 00:25:40,994 --> 00:25:44,093 address the long-term challenges facing Social 556 00:25:44,094 --> 00:25:45,094 Security and Medicare? 557 00:25:45,094 --> 00:25:47,294 That is just something that he will have left and 558 00:25:47,294 --> 00:25:50,895 left the problem for his successors to deal with? 559 00:25:50,994 --> 00:25:53,360 Mr. Carney: The President has nearly three 560 00:25:53,361 --> 00:25:54,561 years remaining in his term. 561 00:25:54,561 --> 00:25:57,528 And he believes that there's enormous 562 00:25:57,528 --> 00:26:01,961 opportunity for progress in a range of areas with 563 00:26:01,961 --> 00:26:03,761 Congress and through the use 564 00:26:03,761 --> 00:26:04,795 of his executive authority. 565 00:26:04,795 --> 00:26:09,728 And he would not say that there's no chance of that 566 00:26:09,728 --> 00:26:15,027 effort being rewarded with success, but it requires a 567 00:26:15,027 --> 00:26:20,294 willingness by Republicans to compromise, to agree to 568 00:26:20,294 --> 00:26:22,695 the basic principle that if we're going to tackle 569 00:26:22,695 --> 00:26:25,494 our longer-term deficit and debt challenges, that 570 00:26:25,494 --> 00:26:26,860 we have to do it in a balanced way. 571 00:26:26,861 --> 00:26:31,227 And you've seen kind of the schizophrenia among 572 00:26:31,227 --> 00:26:34,795 Republicans on this issue where they criticize the 573 00:26:34,795 --> 00:26:39,561 President for taking CPI out when they refuse to 574 00:26:39,561 --> 00:26:44,561 deal in good faith on a compromise -- 575 00:26:44,561 --> 00:26:48,928 a negotiation built around compromise last year when 576 00:26:48,928 --> 00:26:50,428 the President explicitly made clear 577 00:26:50,428 --> 00:26:52,628 it was on the table and put it in his budget. 578 00:26:52,628 --> 00:26:59,461 You see it where they try to hammer Democrats over 579 00:26:59,461 --> 00:27:01,661 savings and entitlements that have been in the 580 00:27:01,661 --> 00:27:03,795 Republican budget for three straight years. 581 00:27:05,828 --> 00:27:08,695 I think it doesn't reflect well on their seriousness 582 00:27:08,695 --> 00:27:12,428 when it comes to trying to reach a compromise 583 00:27:12,428 --> 00:27:15,094 bipartisan long-term deficit reduction plan. 584 00:27:15,094 --> 00:27:18,127 I would also say that the President remains hopeful 585 00:27:18,127 --> 00:27:21,027 that that can be achieved during his time in office. 586 00:27:21,027 --> 00:27:25,227 He will, regardless, based on projections and based 587 00:27:25,227 --> 00:27:27,161 on where we are now, have presided 588 00:27:27,161 --> 00:27:30,227 over the steepest deficit reduction since World War II. 589 00:27:30,227 --> 00:27:34,528 He will have presided over deficit reduction that 590 00:27:34,528 --> 00:27:37,928 brings in the next 10-year window, based on our 591 00:27:37,928 --> 00:27:40,994 projections, the deficit-to-GDP below 592 00:27:40,994 --> 00:27:43,695 2 percent, which is significantly lower than 593 00:27:43,695 --> 00:27:47,194 the projections under the much celebrated 594 00:27:47,194 --> 00:27:50,261 Simpson-Bowles goal. 595 00:27:50,261 --> 00:27:51,961 And he will have done that having inherited the 596 00:27:51,961 --> 00:27:53,961 largest deficits in history when he took 597 00:27:53,961 --> 00:27:55,394 office in January of 2009. 598 00:27:56,594 --> 00:27:58,561 The Press: And then quickly on Afghanistan. 599 00:27:58,561 --> 00:28:00,428 Obviously, this is a big deal -- 600 00:28:00,428 --> 00:28:03,394 I mean, the frustration of not being able to get the BSA 601 00:28:03,394 --> 00:28:06,061 signed; enormous consequences if the United 602 00:28:06,061 --> 00:28:07,895 States has to pull out every last troop 603 00:28:07,895 --> 00:28:09,161 at the end of the year. 604 00:28:09,161 --> 00:28:12,061 And yet, the President hasn't had a conversation 605 00:28:12,061 --> 00:28:16,561 with President Karzai since July until today. 606 00:28:16,561 --> 00:28:18,360 I mean, why that level of detachment? 607 00:28:18,361 --> 00:28:20,828 With the stakes so high, why did the President 608 00:28:20,828 --> 00:28:24,461 go so long without picking up the phone and talking 609 00:28:24,461 --> 00:28:27,294 to Karzai and personally urging him 610 00:28:27,294 --> 00:28:28,294 to sign this agreement? 611 00:28:28,428 --> 00:28:30,761 Mr. Carney: Jon, I think it's a preposterous 612 00:28:30,761 --> 00:28:34,293 suggestion that when you have prolonged negotiation 613 00:28:34,294 --> 00:28:36,394 with the Afghan government that produces the 614 00:28:36,394 --> 00:28:38,394 Bilateral Security Agreement, you have the 615 00:28:38,394 --> 00:28:40,061 commitment through the loya jirga 616 00:28:40,061 --> 00:28:43,394 of the Afghan people to support it, you have a deadline set 617 00:28:43,394 --> 00:28:44,394 by both the U.S. 618 00:28:44,394 --> 00:28:45,994 and Afghan government that it should be signed 619 00:28:45,994 --> 00:28:48,127 by the end of the year, and you have all of the 620 00:28:48,127 --> 00:28:51,194 interlocutors that we have on the U.S. 621 00:28:51,194 --> 00:28:53,127 side engaging with the Afghan government, 622 00:28:53,127 --> 00:28:54,928 including with the President on a regular 623 00:28:54,928 --> 00:28:59,261 basis, that the message that it needs to be signed 624 00:28:59,261 --> 00:29:02,561 was not abundantly clear to President Karzai. 625 00:29:02,561 --> 00:29:05,860 The decision of President Karzai to indicate that it 626 00:29:05,861 --> 00:29:09,361 is unlikely that he'll sign the BSA that his 627 00:29:09,361 --> 00:29:11,928 government negotiated is obviously his decision, 628 00:29:11,928 --> 00:29:14,895 but it's not because we haven't made clear 629 00:29:14,895 --> 00:29:15,895 that it ought to be signed. 630 00:29:17,127 --> 00:29:20,628 The Press: I mean, what do you make -- again, 631 00:29:20,628 --> 00:29:21,628 you've got many -- you've got 632 00:29:21,628 --> 00:29:23,293 the Secretary of State, you've got many people 633 00:29:23,294 --> 00:29:24,294 raising this issue. 634 00:29:24,294 --> 00:29:25,528 But this is the President of the United States. 635 00:29:25,528 --> 00:29:28,261 This is a high-stakes situation. 636 00:29:28,261 --> 00:29:30,994 And he decided obviously it was important 637 00:29:30,994 --> 00:29:32,093 to make the call today. 638 00:29:32,094 --> 00:29:34,428 I'm just wondering why not as the deadline 639 00:29:34,428 --> 00:29:36,127 approached, or as the deadline passed? 640 00:29:36,127 --> 00:29:37,161 I mean, why -- 641 00:29:37,161 --> 00:29:39,528 Mr. Carney: Jon, I just think that it has been 642 00:29:39,528 --> 00:29:40,961 communicated directly and indirectly -- 643 00:29:41,795 --> 00:29:43,528 The Press: But not by the President himself. 644 00:29:43,528 --> 00:29:44,661 You know how -- 645 00:29:45,494 --> 00:29:47,194 Mr. Carney: Well, no, the President has stood 646 00:29:47,194 --> 00:29:49,194 up and said it publicly many times. 647 00:29:49,194 --> 00:29:49,528 I think it's sort of a preposterous notion that 648 00:29:49,528 --> 00:29:51,928 somehow President Karzai until today didn't know 649 00:29:51,928 --> 00:29:56,261 that it was absolutely our view that he ought to sign 650 00:29:56,261 --> 00:29:58,094 the BSA quickly. 651 00:29:58,094 --> 00:29:58,828 Steve. 652 00:29:58,828 --> 00:30:00,428 The Press: Does the White House have any 653 00:30:00,428 --> 00:30:02,994 assurances or reason to believe that some 654 00:30:02,994 --> 00:30:05,994 or all of the Presidential candidates in Afghanistan 655 00:30:05,994 --> 00:30:07,360 would sign the BSA if they were elected? 656 00:30:07,628 --> 00:30:09,628 Mr. Carney: I don't think we would, 657 00:30:12,994 --> 00:30:16,794 given the experience we've had, predict with any great 658 00:30:16,795 --> 00:30:18,261 certainty what might happen. 659 00:30:18,261 --> 00:30:20,994 I would note that those who cover these issues 660 00:30:20,994 --> 00:30:25,428 have reported that candidates have suggested 661 00:30:25,428 --> 00:30:26,428 they support it. 662 00:30:26,428 --> 00:30:31,861 But we will obviously wait to see what happens. 663 00:30:31,861 --> 00:30:34,561 And mindful of the fact that the longer 664 00:30:34,561 --> 00:30:37,895 we go without a signed BSA the more likely a zero option 665 00:30:37,895 --> 00:30:43,895 becomes, and the more -- even if a BSA is signed, 666 00:30:46,127 --> 00:30:48,594 the smaller the mission will have to be, 667 00:30:48,594 --> 00:30:50,628 by necessity, in scale and ambition. 668 00:30:50,628 --> 00:30:52,494 And by necessity, I mean in the President's 669 00:30:52,494 --> 00:30:59,127 view when it comes to the planning involved and the 670 00:30:59,127 --> 00:31:01,661 safety and security of our troops, 671 00:31:01,661 --> 00:31:06,361 that we have to have a sort of sliding scale as the year 672 00:31:06,361 --> 00:31:09,594 progresses when it comes to what that post-2014 673 00:31:09,594 --> 00:31:11,928 mission would look like in terms 674 00:31:11,928 --> 00:31:12,928 of size and ambition. 675 00:31:12,928 --> 00:31:13,928 Peter. 676 00:31:14,294 --> 00:31:16,561 The Press: Jay, if I can, Jan Brewer is 677 00:31:16,561 --> 00:31:18,226 expected by the end of this week to weigh 678 00:31:18,227 --> 00:31:21,227 in on a controversial measure in her state, SB 1062. 679 00:31:21,227 --> 00:31:22,294 We asked you about this yesterday 680 00:31:22,294 --> 00:31:24,461 and you didn't have an official statement then, 681 00:31:24,461 --> 00:31:27,828 but this would allow businesses to refuse service to gays and 682 00:31:27,828 --> 00:31:30,328 lesbians because of religious beliefs. 683 00:31:30,328 --> 00:31:33,027 And we've now heard from the NFL, Apple, 684 00:31:33,027 --> 00:31:34,328 both senators from that state. 685 00:31:34,328 --> 00:31:36,328 Does the President have any thoughts on this? 686 00:31:37,094 --> 00:31:38,094 Mr. Carney: Well, my suggestion 687 00:31:38,094 --> 00:31:41,594 yesterday that it sounded like a pretty intolerant proposed law 688 00:31:41,594 --> 00:31:43,161 I think reflects our views. 689 00:31:43,161 --> 00:31:44,994 As a practice, we don't generally weigh 690 00:31:44,994 --> 00:31:48,226 in on every piece of legislation under consideration 691 00:31:48,227 --> 00:31:49,227 in the states. 692 00:31:49,227 --> 00:31:50,728 But I think the President's position 693 00:31:50,728 --> 00:31:54,494 on equality for LGBT Americans and opportunity 694 00:31:54,494 --> 00:31:57,093 for all is very well known and he believes that all 695 00:31:57,094 --> 00:31:59,394 of us, regardless of sexual orientation 696 00:31:59,394 --> 00:32:02,061 or gender identity, should be treated fairly 697 00:32:02,061 --> 00:32:05,261 and equally with dignity and respect. 698 00:32:05,261 --> 00:32:09,226 And that view would govern our disposition 699 00:32:09,227 --> 00:32:11,895 toward a state law under consideration. 700 00:32:12,194 --> 00:32:13,528 The Press: When Jan Brewer was in Washington, 701 00:32:13,528 --> 00:32:14,994 the President didn't have any exchange 702 00:32:14,994 --> 00:32:16,160 with her on this topic? 703 00:32:16,494 --> 00:32:17,561 Mr. Carney: Not that I'm aware of. 704 00:32:17,928 --> 00:32:18,928 The Press: President Clinton right now 705 00:32:18,928 --> 00:32:19,994 is campaigning in the state of Kentucky 706 00:32:19,994 --> 00:32:22,494 for Alison Lumdergan Grimes. 707 00:32:22,494 --> 00:32:26,226 I'm curious if the President has plans or has 708 00:32:26,227 --> 00:32:29,127 spoken to her about plans to come out to Kentucky on 709 00:32:29,127 --> 00:32:30,127 her behalf as well. 710 00:32:30,861 --> 00:32:32,127 Mr. Carney: I don't have any scheduling 711 00:32:32,127 --> 00:32:33,628 announcements to make involving the President. 712 00:32:34,361 --> 00:32:36,127 The Press: In terms of your schedule, later today 713 00:32:36,127 --> 00:32:37,628 the President has two OFA events. 714 00:32:37,628 --> 00:32:40,127 The DNC is the only major political entity that has 715 00:32:40,127 --> 00:32:43,428 not outraised its Republican counterparts. 716 00:32:43,428 --> 00:32:44,728 Some Democrats have been critical, 717 00:32:44,728 --> 00:32:48,161 complaining that the OFA is diverting funds away 718 00:32:48,161 --> 00:32:49,861 from the DNC. 719 00:32:49,861 --> 00:32:52,127 Because you speak on behalf of the President 720 00:32:52,127 --> 00:32:53,328 and it's his schedule, any 721 00:32:53,328 --> 00:32:54,328 thoughts on that complaint? 722 00:32:55,094 --> 00:32:56,428 Mr. Carney: I think you can expect, as you've seen 723 00:32:56,428 --> 00:32:59,361 already, the President to be very engaged 724 00:32:59,361 --> 00:33:02,294 in an effort to support Democratic candidates in 725 00:33:02,294 --> 00:33:04,795 the Democratic Party through the course of this 726 00:33:04,795 --> 00:33:06,961 year, and I think that will be seen 727 00:33:06,961 --> 00:33:09,261 in the schedule as it is unveiled. 728 00:33:10,394 --> 00:33:11,428 The Press: Jay, following on what 729 00:33:11,428 --> 00:33:14,161 you told Peter about the Arizona law, you said you don't 730 00:33:14,161 --> 00:33:15,361 weigh in on every state law. 731 00:33:15,361 --> 00:33:18,061 Why then is the Attorney General telling state 732 00:33:18,061 --> 00:33:20,428 attorneys general today, you do not have to defend 733 00:33:20,428 --> 00:33:23,394 laws banning same-sex 734 00:33:23,394 --> 00:33:25,194 marriage in individual states. 735 00:33:25,194 --> 00:33:27,928 If those laws are onerous, discriminatory, you don't 736 00:33:27,928 --> 00:33:30,361 like them, why don't you work to overturn them? 737 00:33:30,361 --> 00:33:32,194 Why is the Attorney General telling other 738 00:33:32,194 --> 00:33:33,994 attorneys general, don't defend the law? 739 00:33:34,928 --> 00:33:35,928 Mr. Carney: Well, two things. 740 00:33:35,928 --> 00:33:37,594 The Attorney General was clear that any decision 741 00:33:37,594 --> 00:33:40,628 not to defend individual laws must be "exceedingly 742 00:33:40,628 --> 00:33:43,226 rare," in his quotes, and be based 743 00:33:43,227 --> 00:33:45,127 on "firm constitutional grounds". 744 00:33:45,528 --> 00:33:50,628 As you know -- and I think this goes to the first 745 00:33:50,628 --> 00:33:53,961 part of your question -- prior to the Supreme Court 746 00:33:53,961 --> 00:33:56,494 on DOMA, the President determined that 747 00:33:56,494 --> 00:33:59,428 Section 3 of DOMA is unconstitutional and that 748 00:33:59,428 --> 00:34:03,294 his administration would no longer defend equal 749 00:34:03,294 --> 00:34:06,895 protection challenges against it in the courts. 750 00:34:06,895 --> 00:34:10,094 So the Attorney General's views -- 751 00:34:10,460 --> 00:34:12,293 The Press: So can't individual states decide 752 00:34:12,293 --> 00:34:13,393 whether they think it's 753 00:34:13,393 --> 00:34:14,393 constitutional or unconstitutional? 754 00:34:15,094 --> 00:34:18,261 Mr. Carney: I'm not aware that -- while I'm 755 00:34:18,261 --> 00:34:20,960 not a lawyer, but I'm not sure that states decide 756 00:34:20,960 --> 00:34:21,960 what's constitutional. 757 00:34:21,960 --> 00:34:22,960 The Press: Can I ask you about health care? 758 00:34:22,960 --> 00:34:25,928 Secretary Sebelius was on HuffPost Live today, was 759 00:34:25,928 --> 00:34:28,261 asked about the original goal of 7 million new 760 00:34:28,261 --> 00:34:30,895 enrollees by the end of March, would you still hit 761 00:34:30,895 --> 00:34:33,293 that, and she said, "Certainly hope so." 762 00:34:33,293 --> 00:34:36,194 So I wonder -- she wouldn't give 763 00:34:36,194 --> 00:34:37,194 a specific number. 764 00:34:37,194 --> 00:34:39,293 But she said I hope we hit that target. 765 00:34:39,293 --> 00:34:42,060 Is 7 million still the goal, or the 5 million, 766 00:34:42,061 --> 00:34:44,561 6 million goal that the Vice President said? 767 00:34:45,494 --> 00:34:46,728 Mr. Carney: I'd say a couple of things, Ed. 768 00:34:46,728 --> 00:34:50,027 I think what Secretary Sebelius was reflecting 769 00:34:50,027 --> 00:34:53,428 is that we don't have a specific numerical 770 00:34:53,428 --> 00:34:54,627 goal in the sense that -- 771 00:34:54,895 --> 00:34:55,895 The Press: You did months ago. 772 00:34:55,895 --> 00:34:56,895 Mr. Carney: Well, I'm happy 773 00:34:56,895 --> 00:34:58,194 to go through 774 00:34:58,194 --> 00:34:59,895 that again, but the -- 775 00:34:59,895 --> 00:35:00,895 The Press: And you put out a -- 776 00:35:00,895 --> 00:35:01,895 Mr. Carney: Hold on, hold on, Ed, let me get through 777 00:35:01,895 --> 00:35:02,895 my sentence. 778 00:35:02,895 --> 00:35:05,194 That there's not a specific number that we 779 00:35:05,194 --> 00:35:06,895 hit and suddenly it's a success, 780 00:35:06,895 --> 00:35:10,561 and below that by one or five or 20 and it doesn't work. 781 00:35:10,561 --> 00:35:14,895 The important factors here are that there's 782 00:35:14,895 --> 00:35:17,328 a substantial number of people, 783 00:35:17,328 --> 00:35:19,861 in the millions, who enroll. 784 00:35:19,861 --> 00:35:24,728 We are very confident we will reach that goal. 785 00:35:24,728 --> 00:35:26,928 Also important is that there's a good mix 786 00:35:26,928 --> 00:35:31,361 demographically who have enrolled, and we believe 787 00:35:31,361 --> 00:35:33,728 based on the data we've seen thus far, and based 788 00:35:33,728 --> 00:35:35,795 on the experience that Massachusetts had, the 789 00:35:35,795 --> 00:35:39,394 closest thing to a model and precursor to the 790 00:35:39,394 --> 00:35:41,861 Affordable Care Act at a state level, that we will 791 00:35:41,861 --> 00:35:45,227 achieve that necessary demographic mix for the 792 00:35:45,227 --> 00:35:46,461 exchanges to work effectively. 793 00:35:46,461 --> 00:35:51,493 When it comes to the 7 million target that CBO 794 00:35:51,494 --> 00:35:53,394 simply said was what they believed based on their 795 00:35:53,394 --> 00:35:56,961 analysis we would reach, and that it's true other 796 00:35:56,961 --> 00:35:58,993 administration officials then said we hoped 797 00:35:58,994 --> 00:36:00,428 we would achieve that, I think what 798 00:36:00,428 --> 00:36:03,694 the Vice President said reflects our basic view 799 00:36:03,695 --> 00:36:08,194 that we're going to get a lot of folks 800 00:36:08,194 --> 00:36:09,895 by the March 31st deadline. 801 00:36:10,127 --> 00:36:12,094 You won't hear me or the Secretary or anybody else 802 00:36:12,094 --> 00:36:13,695 say it's going to be this number 803 00:36:13,695 --> 00:36:14,795 or over that number. 804 00:36:14,795 --> 00:36:18,795 We're confident that the website has been working 805 00:36:18,795 --> 00:36:21,094 effectively for the vast majority of the American 806 00:36:21,094 --> 00:36:23,261 people who want to avail themselves of it in order 807 00:36:23,261 --> 00:36:29,461 to purchase insurance, and that the numbers 808 00:36:29,461 --> 00:36:33,428 that we've seen put us on track, 809 00:36:33,428 --> 00:36:38,694 as long as we do our jobs well, to achieve the goal 810 00:36:38,695 --> 00:36:40,928 of a substantial number in the millions of Americans. 811 00:36:41,661 --> 00:36:43,628 The Press: Last one: CMS had a report from the 812 00:36:43,628 --> 00:36:45,828 administration in the last few days about the impact 813 00:36:45,828 --> 00:36:48,294 on small businesses of the health care law, and they 814 00:36:48,294 --> 00:36:50,227 pointed out that the impact on large companies 815 00:36:50,227 --> 00:36:52,694 will be negligible, there will not be a huge impact. 816 00:36:52,695 --> 00:36:55,027 But on small businesses, they said nearly 817 00:36:55,027 --> 00:36:57,394 two-thirds of them will pay more for coverage. 818 00:36:57,394 --> 00:36:59,227 Since this is the administration saying 819 00:36:59,227 --> 00:37:00,728 this, is that not concerning? 820 00:37:01,628 --> 00:37:03,461 Mr. Carney: Well, of course, the truth about 821 00:37:03,461 --> 00:37:06,993 what the CMS evaluated was one provision 822 00:37:06,994 --> 00:37:10,061 or one of three -- they looked at three provisions within 823 00:37:10,061 --> 00:37:12,061 the law, just three, not the rest. 824 00:37:12,061 --> 00:37:14,027 And only one of them has a measurable 825 00:37:14,027 --> 00:37:15,161 impact on premiums. 826 00:37:15,161 --> 00:37:16,661 So they didn't look at the whole impact 827 00:37:16,661 --> 00:37:18,695 of the law and on the one provision, 828 00:37:18,695 --> 00:37:26,161 they showed the result that you just mentioned. 829 00:37:26,161 --> 00:37:28,628 But this is another Republicans cherry-picking 830 00:37:28,628 --> 00:37:29,828 data to tell half the story 831 00:37:29,828 --> 00:37:31,194 about the Affordable Care Act. 832 00:37:31,895 --> 00:37:32,428 The Press: But it's an administration report. 833 00:37:32,428 --> 00:37:32,627 Why wouldn't they look at the whole law? 834 00:37:33,294 --> 00:37:34,094 Mr. Carney: Well, I think 835 00:37:34,094 --> 00:37:36,261 it was an administration report requested and now 836 00:37:36,261 --> 00:37:38,194 highlighted by Republicans, again 837 00:37:38,194 --> 00:37:39,361 narrowly looking at one provision, 838 00:37:39,361 --> 00:37:44,661 which was the requirement that insurance companies no longer, 839 00:37:44,661 --> 00:37:47,728 in terms of setting their premiums, advantage 840 00:37:47,728 --> 00:37:50,628 seniors over young people and the like. 841 00:37:50,628 --> 00:37:55,828 So the fact is the net impact, we believe, 842 00:37:55,828 --> 00:37:56,828 will be positive. 843 00:37:56,828 --> 00:37:58,294 And the report itself clearly states several 844 00:37:58,294 --> 00:38:01,493 times that its results are incomplete and overstated, 845 00:38:01,494 --> 00:38:03,194 only looks at the impact of certain parts 846 00:38:03,194 --> 00:38:04,628 of the law, not the law as a whole. 847 00:38:04,928 --> 00:38:07,060 Other studies that did look at the impact 848 00:38:07,061 --> 00:38:09,961 of the law as a whole found that the impact on premiums 849 00:38:09,961 --> 00:38:12,428 would be minimal and the benefits to employers 850 00:38:12,428 --> 00:38:14,261 and to workers would be significant -- here are 851 00:38:14,261 --> 00:38:17,161 some examples of provisions in the ACA that 852 00:38:17,161 --> 00:38:19,261 help to lower costs. 853 00:38:19,261 --> 00:38:20,761 In other words, I mean, the point is they looked 854 00:38:20,761 --> 00:38:24,194 at one thing that in isolation would have 855 00:38:24,194 --> 00:38:27,761 the effect of raising premiums for some individuals 856 00:38:27,761 --> 00:38:29,161 without looking at all the other aspects 857 00:38:29,161 --> 00:38:32,528 of the law that would actually produce a downward effect 858 00:38:32,528 --> 00:38:35,227 on premiums -- tax credits for small businesses, 859 00:38:35,227 --> 00:38:37,493 the medical loss ratio, rate review, more purchasing 860 00:38:37,494 --> 00:38:39,761 power, more competition between insurers -- all of 861 00:38:39,761 --> 00:38:43,127 those elements of the law have the opposite effect. 862 00:38:43,127 --> 00:38:45,328 So again, when looked at in whole, 863 00:38:45,328 --> 00:38:47,594 which is how we tend to do it, as opposed to those who want 864 00:38:47,594 --> 00:38:52,061 to repeal the law or sabotage it or undermine it -- 865 00:38:52,061 --> 00:38:55,828 looked at a whole, we believe the impact on 866 00:38:55,828 --> 00:38:58,094 premiums would be minimal and the benefits to 867 00:38:58,094 --> 00:39:00,461 employers would be and will be significant. 868 00:39:01,561 --> 00:39:04,461 The Press: You just told Ed that the ACA was 869 00:39:04,461 --> 00:39:06,660 achieving a good demographic mix, which 870 00:39:06,661 --> 00:39:09,161 runs counter to everything we've heard -- skewing 871 00:39:09,161 --> 00:39:10,461 older, we understand. 872 00:39:10,461 --> 00:39:12,993 And you've got people out there pushing very hard to 873 00:39:12,994 --> 00:39:14,795 get younger people in is because they're 874 00:39:14,795 --> 00:39:15,795 underrepresented. 875 00:39:16,094 --> 00:39:17,094 Mr. Carney: Well, actually that's a 876 00:39:17,094 --> 00:39:19,561 misrepresentation of the facts so far. 877 00:39:19,561 --> 00:39:21,394 Where we are in terms of -- based on the data 878 00:39:21,394 --> 00:39:24,560 that's come out in terms of young Americans, young 879 00:39:24,561 --> 00:39:26,828 people signing up for ACA, is consistent with where 880 00:39:26,828 --> 00:39:28,795 Massachusetts was, A. 881 00:39:28,795 --> 00:39:32,328 B, consistent with where Massachusetts was, young 882 00:39:32,328 --> 00:39:35,194 people tend to be late signers-up, 883 00:39:35,194 --> 00:39:36,761 they tend to come at this very late. 884 00:39:36,761 --> 00:39:39,361 And hence, as we telegraphed way 885 00:39:39,361 --> 00:39:41,161 in advance, there is an enormous effort 886 00:39:41,161 --> 00:39:45,294 aimed at reaching young people to make sure they are aware 887 00:39:45,294 --> 00:39:46,661 of all the options available to them, 888 00:39:46,661 --> 00:39:49,761 make sure they are aware of the wisdom of having health 889 00:39:49,761 --> 00:39:52,227 insurance and aware of the fact that they're not 890 00:39:52,227 --> 00:39:55,294 invincible just because they sometimes feel like 891 00:39:55,294 --> 00:39:58,161 they are because they're young and they don't have 892 00:39:58,161 --> 00:40:00,594 the aches and pains that you and I have some days. 893 00:40:00,594 --> 00:40:03,361 They're going to need health insurance and some 894 00:40:03,361 --> 00:40:05,094 of them will need it right away. 895 00:40:05,094 --> 00:40:06,594 So that campaign is underway. 896 00:40:06,594 --> 00:40:09,628 But we feel, based on the data that we've seen and 897 00:40:09,628 --> 00:40:12,094 has been released, that we are on track 898 00:40:12,094 --> 00:40:13,795 to have the demographic mix that we need. 899 00:40:14,294 --> 00:40:15,461 The Press: That means you don't have it yet. 900 00:40:15,994 --> 00:40:16,994 Mr. Carney: Well, no. 901 00:40:16,994 --> 00:40:18,728 It's February and the deadline is March 31st. 902 00:40:18,728 --> 00:40:19,728 The Press: Young people are all going 903 00:40:19,728 --> 00:40:20,728 to sign up later? 904 00:40:20,728 --> 00:40:26,061 Mr. Carney: I think that it is -- I can say 905 00:40:26,061 --> 00:40:29,494 with great confidence, based on an enormous body 906 00:40:29,494 --> 00:40:32,695 of evidence when it comes to deadlines of this 907 00:40:32,695 --> 00:40:35,461 nature and open enrollment periods for a general 908 00:40:35,461 --> 00:40:39,895 population, that people tend to sign up in surges 909 00:40:39,895 --> 00:40:43,194 towards the end of open enrollment periods. 910 00:40:43,194 --> 00:40:44,194 That's just a fact. 911 00:40:44,194 --> 00:40:45,361 We saw that at the end of December. 912 00:40:45,361 --> 00:40:47,428 And young people in particular are more prone 913 00:40:47,428 --> 00:40:49,027 to wait until the last minute. 914 00:40:49,027 --> 00:40:51,394 I think you don't have to be a sociologist 915 00:40:51,394 --> 00:40:52,394 to know that. 916 00:40:52,394 --> 00:40:53,394 You just have to be a parent. 917 00:40:53,394 --> 00:40:56,961 The Press: Chairman Camp either has or is 918 00:40:56,961 --> 00:41:02,461 about to release his tax program, which, as we've 919 00:41:02,461 --> 00:41:05,493 heard, two brackets, 10 and 25 percent, 920 00:41:05,494 --> 00:41:08,895 with a 10 percent surtax on large earners. 921 00:41:08,895 --> 00:41:11,027 Is this something that the White House has seen, 922 00:41:11,027 --> 00:41:13,127 is interested in, could get behind? 923 00:41:14,161 --> 00:41:16,227 Mr. Carney: Well, we haven't seen the proposal. 924 00:41:16,227 --> 00:41:18,828 We've certainly seen a couple of news articles 925 00:41:18,828 --> 00:41:20,661 about it or reports about it. 926 00:41:20,661 --> 00:41:21,961 So I don't have a comment on something 927 00:41:21,961 --> 00:41:22,961 we haven't seen. 928 00:41:22,961 --> 00:41:24,861 But what I can say is that the President has been 929 00:41:24,861 --> 00:41:26,728 clear about his principles. 930 00:41:26,728 --> 00:41:28,094 He fought to keep taxes low 931 00:41:28,094 --> 00:41:29,628 for 98 percent of Americans. 932 00:41:29,628 --> 00:41:32,761 He fought and succeeded in making permanent a tax cut 933 00:41:32,761 --> 00:41:35,094 for middle-class Americans. 934 00:41:35,094 --> 00:41:39,728 He fought and succeeded to return marginal rates for 935 00:41:39,728 --> 00:41:41,461 millionaires and billionaires back to what 936 00:41:41,461 --> 00:41:44,660 they were under President Clinton, and he succeeded 937 00:41:44,661 --> 00:41:45,661 in doing that. 938 00:41:45,661 --> 00:41:48,594 He laid out a corporate tax reform plan that would 939 00:41:48,594 --> 00:41:50,594 close loopholes to make our businesses more 940 00:41:50,594 --> 00:41:52,628 competitive and use savings through the 941 00:41:52,628 --> 00:41:54,761 process of closing loopholes to modernize our 942 00:41:54,761 --> 00:41:58,661 infrastructure and invest in what we need to grow. 943 00:41:58,661 --> 00:42:01,361 He will continue to take steps to promote economic 944 00:42:01,361 --> 00:42:03,294 security for the middle class and opportunity for 945 00:42:03,294 --> 00:42:04,294 all. 946 00:42:04,294 --> 00:42:05,294 That's the President's approach. 947 00:42:05,294 --> 00:42:07,728 I don't have a response to a tax proposal 948 00:42:07,728 --> 00:42:08,728 that we haven't seen. 949 00:42:08,728 --> 00:42:09,728 Alexis. 950 00:42:09,728 --> 00:42:10,728 The Press: Jay, last year the President was 951 00:42:10,728 --> 00:42:16,127 sensitive publicly to Speaker Boehner's -- 952 00:42:16,127 --> 00:42:19,328 I guess, the pressure on him 953 00:42:19,328 --> 00:42:21,661 if the two of them met publicly or were seen publicly. 954 00:42:21,661 --> 00:42:23,895 The President actually even joked about it and he 955 00:42:23,895 --> 00:42:25,861 wanted to give the Speaker some running room 956 00:42:25,861 --> 00:42:27,594 especially on immigration reform. 957 00:42:27,594 --> 00:42:30,227 The fact that the two of them met today, 958 00:42:30,227 --> 00:42:33,094 does it signal that the President believes the Speaker 959 00:42:33,094 --> 00:42:36,194 is in a stronger place to work together on legislation, 960 00:42:36,194 --> 00:42:38,594 or that immigration reform is going to have 961 00:42:38,594 --> 00:42:40,094 to wait for a new Congress? 962 00:42:40,461 --> 00:42:46,493 Mr. Carney: I would say, Alexis, that the 963 00:42:46,494 --> 00:42:49,461 President asked for the meeting with the Speaker 964 00:42:49,461 --> 00:42:51,060 and was glad to have the meeting with the Speaker. 965 00:42:51,061 --> 00:42:52,461 It was a good and constructive meeting in 966 00:42:52,461 --> 00:42:54,828 which they discussed a range of topics, 967 00:42:54,828 --> 00:43:00,628 focused on those areas where here in Washington we either 968 00:43:00,628 --> 00:43:04,094 need to take action or where we should take 969 00:43:04,094 --> 00:43:06,895 action in order to expand opportunity 970 00:43:06,895 --> 00:43:10,027 and reward hard work for middle-class Americans. 971 00:43:10,027 --> 00:43:13,194 I don't think the more nuanced analysis 972 00:43:13,194 --> 00:43:14,194 of that played into the meeting. 973 00:43:14,194 --> 00:43:15,428 It was just a meeting. 974 00:43:15,428 --> 00:43:20,294 And I think there is -- going to my response 975 00:43:20,294 --> 00:43:24,795 to a question earlier, whether it's the Speaker 976 00:43:24,795 --> 00:43:29,094 or another Republican leader, there has not been a lack 977 00:43:29,094 --> 00:43:32,928 of conversations and meetings between the 978 00:43:32,928 --> 00:43:35,394 President and Republican leaders, or senior members 979 00:43:35,394 --> 00:43:38,895 of the President's team and Republican leaders 980 00:43:38,895 --> 00:43:44,194 that is the cause for our failure to achieve 981 00:43:44,194 --> 00:43:45,194 everything we need to achieve 982 00:43:45,194 --> 00:43:46,194 here in Washington. 983 00:43:46,194 --> 00:43:49,027 I think as many of you in this room have amply 984 00:43:49,027 --> 00:43:51,594 documented in your reporting, there has been 985 00:43:51,594 --> 00:43:59,194 enormous resistance to compromise, largely driven 986 00:43:59,194 --> 00:44:02,795 by one faction of one House -- of one party in 987 00:44:02,795 --> 00:44:03,861 one House of Congress. 988 00:44:03,861 --> 00:44:06,428 But even when it comes to the so-called grand 989 00:44:06,428 --> 00:44:08,728 bargain that Jon was asking about earlier, the 990 00:44:08,728 --> 00:44:12,394 President -- we spend a lot of time meeting with 991 00:44:12,394 --> 00:44:14,660 Republican senators -- so not even in the House, but 992 00:44:14,661 --> 00:44:19,928 Republican senators -- that we and you had hoped 993 00:44:19,928 --> 00:44:24,227 would be open to taking a compromise approach, and 994 00:44:24,227 --> 00:44:26,560 all those efforts resulted 995 00:44:26,561 --> 00:44:28,594 in not a single proposal from Republicans. 996 00:44:28,628 --> 00:44:32,494 So the President's good-faith proposal 997 00:44:32,494 --> 00:44:35,994 remains on the table on that broader issue. 998 00:44:35,994 --> 00:44:38,194 And meanwhile, we're just going to continue to work 999 00:44:38,194 --> 00:44:39,761 with Congress to get the things done that we can 1000 00:44:39,761 --> 00:44:40,761 get done. 1001 00:44:40,761 --> 00:44:43,895 And when Congress won't, or where the President has 1002 00:44:43,895 --> 00:44:48,761 unique powers or authority to advance an agenda using 1003 00:44:48,761 --> 00:44:50,194 his pen or his phone, he's going to do that. 1004 00:44:51,294 --> 00:44:52,828 The Press: Can I just follow up and ask you, 1005 00:44:52,828 --> 00:44:54,461 in all seriousness, when you say it was just 1006 00:44:54,461 --> 00:44:57,928 a meeting but you also say it was a very useful conversation, 1007 00:44:57,928 --> 00:45:01,094 what was particularly useful about 1008 00:45:01,094 --> 00:45:03,094 the two of them meeting face to face? 1009 00:45:03,361 --> 00:45:09,194 Mr. Carney: Alexis, I would simply 1010 00:45:09,194 --> 00:45:10,227 say two things. 1011 00:45:10,227 --> 00:45:13,828 As I noted earlier, we don't read out every 1012 00:45:13,828 --> 00:45:17,061 meeting and conversation that the President has. 1013 00:45:17,061 --> 00:45:19,895 And two, this particular meeting was 1014 00:45:19,895 --> 00:45:22,961 good and constructive and it, as I think both sides have 1015 00:45:22,961 --> 00:45:24,660 said, covered a range of topics. 1016 00:45:25,695 --> 00:45:27,027 The Press: Were there other people 1017 00:45:27,027 --> 00:45:28,094 in the meeting? 1018 00:45:28,094 --> 00:45:30,061 Who else was in the meeting? 1019 00:45:30,061 --> 00:45:31,061 Where did they get together? 1020 00:45:31,061 --> 00:45:32,528 Mr. Carney: I believe Katie Beirne Fallon, 1021 00:45:32,528 --> 00:45:34,461 our Legislative Affairs Director, 1022 00:45:34,461 --> 00:45:35,461 was in the meeting. 1023 00:45:35,461 --> 00:45:36,993 I'm not sure if anybody else was. 1024 00:45:36,994 --> 00:45:38,728 But we'll get that for you. 1025 00:45:38,728 --> 00:45:39,728 The Press: In the Oval? 1026 00:45:39,728 --> 00:45:40,728 Mr. Carney: In the Oval, yes. 1027 00:45:42,027 --> 00:45:43,027 The Press: Jay, a couple questions. 1028 00:45:43,027 --> 00:45:45,361 On demographics for young people, I just wanted to 1029 00:45:45,361 --> 00:45:46,361 get a sense. 1030 00:45:46,361 --> 00:45:48,428 So right now, according to the most recent stats, I 1031 00:45:48,428 --> 00:45:50,861 think we stand around 27 percent of the enrollees. 1032 00:45:50,861 --> 00:45:52,261 General experts have talked about needing 1033 00:45:52,261 --> 00:45:54,294 40 percent of enrollees to be young people. 1034 00:45:54,294 --> 00:45:55,594 Could you just define success? 1035 00:45:56,361 --> 00:45:58,127 Mr. Carney: No, I think that the general experts 1036 00:45:58,127 --> 00:45:59,928 have said that 40 percent of people 1037 00:45:59,928 --> 00:46:01,461 who are uninsured are young people. 1038 00:46:01,461 --> 00:46:03,828 That's a little different from what you would need 1039 00:46:03,828 --> 00:46:06,027 for the exchanges to have the demographic 1040 00:46:06,027 --> 00:46:08,261 mix that's necessary for them to function effectively. 1041 00:46:08,261 --> 00:46:10,861 So if you look at the Massachusetts experience, 1042 00:46:10,861 --> 00:46:13,194 the fact that 27 percent, as you identify, 1043 00:46:13,194 --> 00:46:15,394 is roughly where we are now, that is entirely 1044 00:46:15,394 --> 00:46:18,727 consistent with where Massachusetts was. 1045 00:46:18,728 --> 00:46:19,728 And we remain -- 1046 00:46:19,728 --> 00:46:22,027 The Press: At the end of the process or at this 1047 00:46:22,027 --> 00:46:23,027 point in the process? 1048 00:46:23,461 --> 00:46:24,694 Mr. Carney: At this point in the process. 1049 00:46:24,695 --> 00:46:28,661 And we remain hopeful and optimistic that, not least 1050 00:46:28,661 --> 00:46:30,361 because of the efforts that are being undertaken 1051 00:46:30,361 --> 00:46:33,294 to reach out to folks around the country, 1052 00:46:33,294 --> 00:46:38,060 that come March 31st, we will have a demographic mix 1053 00:46:38,061 --> 00:46:41,494 that will meet the criteria necessary 1054 00:46:41,494 --> 00:46:42,594 to have effective exchanges. 1055 00:46:42,594 --> 00:46:44,594 The Press: And then on wildfires, I was just 1056 00:46:44,594 --> 00:46:46,328 wondering, given that you have a new budgetary 1057 00:46:46,328 --> 00:46:48,194 proposal and that came up at the meeting 1058 00:46:48,194 --> 00:46:51,127 with the Speaker, can you describe to what extent 1059 00:46:51,127 --> 00:46:53,027 he seemed open to that proposal, which obviously would 1060 00:46:53,027 --> 00:46:54,027 require action by Congress? 1061 00:46:54,494 --> 00:46:56,428 Mr. Carney: I wouldn't characterize on behalf of 1062 00:46:56,428 --> 00:46:57,528 the Speaker his views. 1063 00:46:57,528 --> 00:47:01,194 I would simply concur that it came up in the meeting. 1064 00:47:01,194 --> 00:47:05,795 I laid out in some detail yesterday in the briefing 1065 00:47:05,795 --> 00:47:10,561 what the President's approach is, essentially 1066 00:47:10,561 --> 00:47:16,528 acknowledging that these severe wildfires create 1067 00:47:16,528 --> 00:47:19,895 extraordinary emergencies and that we have been 1068 00:47:19,895 --> 00:47:22,594 in funding suppression efforts -- 1069 00:47:22,594 --> 00:47:27,661 basically stealing from one fund in order to deal 1070 00:47:27,661 --> 00:47:30,294 with suppression -- and therefore leaving us short 1071 00:47:30,294 --> 00:47:31,294 in a fund that is meant 1072 00:47:31,294 --> 00:47:33,560 to provide mitigation efforts. 1073 00:47:33,561 --> 00:47:36,294 So because of that, the President is taking the 1074 00:47:36,294 --> 00:47:37,895 approach that he is taking. 1075 00:47:37,895 --> 00:47:39,928 Yes, Peter. 1076 00:47:39,928 --> 00:47:41,161 The Press: Back on Afghanistan 1077 00:47:41,161 --> 00:47:42,795 and the call today. 1078 00:47:42,795 --> 00:47:46,494 To what extent was it timed to allow Defense 1079 00:47:46,494 --> 00:47:49,795 Secretary Hagel to put the zero option more fully on 1080 00:47:49,795 --> 00:47:53,328 the table when he meets with his fellow NATO 1081 00:47:53,328 --> 00:47:54,361 colleagues in Brussels? 1082 00:47:55,494 --> 00:47:56,561 Mr. Carney: Well, I think part of that 1083 00:47:56,561 --> 00:47:59,828 sentence reflects the timing. 1084 00:47:59,828 --> 00:48:03,528 One of the reasons for the call earlier this week 1085 00:48:03,528 --> 00:48:05,694 is because Secretary Hagel will be participating 1086 00:48:05,695 --> 00:48:08,428 in the NATO Defense Ministerial later this 1087 00:48:08,428 --> 00:48:13,227 week, and obviously planning for a potential 1088 00:48:13,227 --> 00:48:16,728 post-2014 force is something that 1089 00:48:16,728 --> 00:48:20,328 will be on the agenda at that NATO Defense Ministerial. 1090 00:48:20,328 --> 00:48:23,294 So that relates to the timing. 1091 00:48:23,294 --> 00:48:30,361 Again, the prospect of no troops beyond the end of 1092 00:48:30,361 --> 00:48:36,094 this year has been on the table in the sense that 1093 00:48:36,094 --> 00:48:39,294 for these past weeks President Karzai 1094 00:48:39,294 --> 00:48:41,828 has been indicating that he's unlikely to sign the BSA, 1095 00:48:41,828 --> 00:48:45,861 and absent a signed BSA, we cannot 1096 00:48:45,861 --> 00:48:47,060 and will not have U.S. 1097 00:48:47,061 --> 00:48:49,728 or NATO troops in Afghanistan and the longer 1098 00:48:49,728 --> 00:48:55,494 we go without the BSA being signed the more real 1099 00:48:55,494 --> 00:48:56,795 that prospect becomes. 1100 00:48:56,795 --> 00:49:00,461 The planning for that contingency is underway, 1101 00:49:00,461 --> 00:49:04,794 and I think that was one of the messages 1102 00:49:04,795 --> 00:49:07,561 the President sought to convey today to President Karzai. 1103 00:49:07,861 --> 00:49:09,161 The Press: Did he also send him a message 1104 00:49:09,161 --> 00:49:10,528 about U.S. aid, 1105 00:49:10,528 --> 00:49:11,861 the future of U.S. 1106 00:49:11,861 --> 00:49:15,627 aid being contingent on signing a BSA, as some in 1107 00:49:15,628 --> 00:49:16,761 Congress have demanded? 1108 00:49:17,261 --> 00:49:19,628 Mr. Carney: We gave a fairly strong readout 1109 00:49:19,628 --> 00:49:21,027 and full readout of the call. 1110 00:49:21,027 --> 00:49:25,528 I think that we have made clear that our commitment 1111 00:49:25,528 --> 00:49:30,328 to Afghanistan separate from a potential troop 1112 00:49:30,328 --> 00:49:33,728 presence beyond 2014 is in our national security 1113 00:49:33,728 --> 00:49:37,895 interests and continues. 1114 00:49:37,895 --> 00:49:42,394 So I don't have anything further 1115 00:49:42,394 --> 00:49:49,261 as it relates to non-military aid or funding that isn't 1116 00:49:49,261 --> 00:49:50,728 related to a military presence. 1117 00:49:51,227 --> 00:49:52,227 Jon-Christopher. 1118 00:49:52,361 --> 00:49:54,861 The Press: Jay, what is the White House anxiety 1119 00:49:54,861 --> 00:49:56,627 level when it comes to the next move 1120 00:49:56,628 --> 00:49:59,094 that President Putin may take regarding Ukraine? 1121 00:50:00,928 --> 00:50:02,528 Mr. Carney: Jon-Christopher, our views 1122 00:50:02,528 --> 00:50:07,394 on this remain what they have been, which is that 1123 00:50:07,394 --> 00:50:14,026 we strongly believe that it is in both Russia's and 1124 00:50:14,027 --> 00:50:18,227 Europe's interest that there be a de-escalation 1125 00:50:18,227 --> 00:50:22,428 of violence in Ukraine; that there be stability 1126 00:50:22,428 --> 00:50:26,795 restored in Ukraine; that there be steps taken 1127 00:50:26,795 --> 00:50:30,194 to establish a unity government, a multiparty 1128 00:50:30,194 --> 00:50:34,494 government, a technocratic government that reflects 1129 00:50:34,494 --> 00:50:37,294 all sectors of Ukrainian society; and that there 1130 00:50:37,294 --> 00:50:40,493 be early elections, which would allow the country 1131 00:50:40,494 --> 00:50:44,094 to have a government that broadly reflects 1132 00:50:44,094 --> 00:50:45,361 the will of the Ukrainian people. 1133 00:50:45,361 --> 00:50:46,828 In the meantime, obviously, decisions need 1134 00:50:46,828 --> 00:50:51,928 to be made to ensure that the economic piece 1135 00:50:51,928 --> 00:50:54,361 of that stability is achieved. 1136 00:50:54,361 --> 00:50:58,294 And we are, as I said yesterday, working with 1137 00:50:58,294 --> 00:51:03,394 our partners and allies to look at ways that we could 1138 00:51:03,394 --> 00:51:07,761 complement a potential IMF effort along those lines. 1139 00:51:08,127 --> 00:51:11,227 When it comes to Russia, as I said, we don't view 1140 00:51:11,227 --> 00:51:14,328 this as a binary proposition. 1141 00:51:14,328 --> 00:51:18,294 The fact is Ukrainians have expressed very 1142 00:51:18,294 --> 00:51:19,993 clearly over the past weeks and months 1143 00:51:19,994 --> 00:51:26,328 that they desire greater integration with Europe. 1144 00:51:26,328 --> 00:51:30,227 And if that is what they desire, no other entity 1145 00:51:30,227 --> 00:51:33,895 should deny them that opportunity -- no state or 1146 00:51:33,895 --> 00:51:36,661 other entity should deny them that opportunity. 1147 00:51:36,661 --> 00:51:42,728 But it is not a contradiction to say that 1148 00:51:42,728 --> 00:51:45,027 Ukraine can achieve that further integration with 1149 00:51:45,027 --> 00:51:48,628 Europe that the Ukrainian people desire while still 1150 00:51:48,628 --> 00:51:52,961 maintaining close, historic and cultural and 1151 00:51:52,961 --> 00:51:55,593 economic ties to Russia. 1152 00:51:55,594 --> 00:51:59,795 We believe both are possible and both reflect 1153 00:51:59,795 --> 00:52:02,628 Ukraine's history and the desires today 1154 00:52:02,628 --> 00:52:03,695 of Ukraine's people. 1155 00:52:04,127 --> 00:52:05,394 The Press: Jay, as you know -- 1156 00:52:05,394 --> 00:52:08,761 you've spent a lot of time in this region -- the Ukrainian 1157 00:52:08,761 --> 00:52:11,761 people are not solidified on exactly which 1158 00:52:11,761 --> 00:52:12,828 way they want to go. 1159 00:52:12,828 --> 00:52:16,361 So where does the White House -- 1160 00:52:16,361 --> 00:52:18,461 Mr. Carney: Well, I'm not sure -- 1161 00:52:18,461 --> 00:52:20,361 The Press: There's the East and there's 1162 00:52:20,361 --> 00:52:21,428 the West concept. 1163 00:52:21,561 --> 00:52:22,061 Mr. Carney: Sure. 1164 00:52:22,061 --> 00:52:22,928 I would say a couple of things. 1165 00:52:22,928 --> 00:52:26,394 One, we strongly believe, and believe that Europe 1166 00:52:26,394 --> 00:52:31,227 and Ukraine and Russia do or ought 1167 00:52:31,227 --> 00:52:37,261 to share the view that Ukraine's independence and 1168 00:52:37,261 --> 00:52:39,795 territorial integrity and unity 1169 00:52:39,795 --> 00:52:42,261 needs to be preserved. 1170 00:52:42,261 --> 00:52:44,994 I would note that in the actions taken 1171 00:52:44,994 --> 00:52:49,728 by parliament in the last several days, the 1172 00:52:49,728 --> 00:52:53,661 substantial majorities have included votes from 1173 00:52:53,661 --> 00:52:57,094 parliamentarians of President Yanukovych's 1174 00:52:57,094 --> 00:52:58,227 party. 1175 00:52:58,227 --> 00:53:00,694 And that's not an insignificant development. 1176 00:53:01,361 --> 00:53:05,328 So what is important going forward is that Ukraine 1177 00:53:05,328 --> 00:53:06,861 take steps both in the establishment 1178 00:53:06,861 --> 00:53:09,661 of a technocratic unity government and then 1179 00:53:09,661 --> 00:53:13,628 through the process of free and fair elections 1180 00:53:13,628 --> 00:53:17,061 that ensure that the government of Ukraine in 1181 00:53:17,061 --> 00:53:19,994 the future reflects the will of all the Ukrainian 1182 00:53:19,994 --> 00:53:23,928 people and allows for the voices of all the people 1183 00:53:23,928 --> 00:53:25,694 of Ukraine to be heard. 1184 00:53:25,695 --> 00:53:27,361 Jessica. 1185 00:53:27,361 --> 00:53:30,661 The Press: The State Department has confirmed 1186 00:53:30,661 --> 00:53:33,027 that the United States has expelled three Venezuelan 1187 00:53:33,027 --> 00:53:35,027 diplomats to the embassy here. 1188 00:53:35,027 --> 00:53:37,861 President Maduro says he plans to nominate a new 1189 00:53:37,861 --> 00:53:40,627 ambassador to Washington and improve the American 1190 00:53:40,628 --> 00:53:41,961 perception of him. 1191 00:53:41,961 --> 00:53:44,127 Does the White House welcome that, especially 1192 00:53:44,127 --> 00:53:45,728 given the enormous oil trade relationship? 1193 00:53:45,728 --> 00:53:48,194 And of course, with all the protests there, 1194 00:53:48,194 --> 00:53:48,828 does the U.S. 1195 00:53:48,828 --> 00:53:50,728 want the relationship diplomatically? 1196 00:53:51,795 --> 00:53:53,194 Mr. Carney: Well, I appreciate the question. 1197 00:53:53,194 --> 00:53:54,194 I'd say a couple of things. 1198 00:53:54,194 --> 00:53:56,328 One, the United States did declare three Venezuelan 1199 00:53:56,328 --> 00:54:00,027 diplomats PNG yesterday evening. 1200 00:54:00,027 --> 00:54:02,428 That was a reciprocal move. 1201 00:54:02,428 --> 00:54:03,694 This action was taken, as I said, based on 1202 00:54:03,695 --> 00:54:07,761 reciprocity for the February 17 expulsion of 1203 00:54:07,761 --> 00:54:08,828 three U.S. 1204 00:54:08,828 --> 00:54:10,828 consular officials from Venezuela. 1205 00:54:12,261 --> 00:54:14,261 On the broader matter, I would simply say that 1206 00:54:14,261 --> 00:54:17,561 President Maduro needs to focus on addressing the 1207 00:54:17,561 --> 00:54:20,461 legitimate grievances of the Venezuelan people 1208 00:54:20,461 --> 00:54:23,660 through meaningful dialogue with them, 1209 00:54:23,661 --> 00:54:25,661 not through dialogue with the United States. 1210 00:54:25,661 --> 00:54:27,861 Despite what the Venezuelan government 1211 00:54:27,861 --> 00:54:29,795 would like to lead people to believe, 1212 00:54:29,795 --> 00:54:32,061 this is not a U.S.-Venezuela issue. 1213 00:54:32,061 --> 00:54:35,127 It is an issue between Venezuela and its people. 1214 00:54:35,127 --> 00:54:36,928 We've been clear all along that the future 1215 00:54:36,928 --> 00:54:38,928 of Venezuela is for the Venezuelan 1216 00:54:38,928 --> 00:54:39,895 people to decide. 1217 00:54:39,895 --> 00:54:41,328 And we have indicated our readiness 1218 00:54:41,328 --> 00:54:43,761 to develop a more constructive relationship with 1219 00:54:43,761 --> 00:54:44,861 Venezuela. 1220 00:54:44,861 --> 00:54:47,328 As we said many months ago, 1221 00:54:47,328 --> 00:54:49,928 that could include an exchange of ambassadors. 1222 00:54:49,928 --> 00:54:52,394 Venezuela, however, needs to show seriousness 1223 00:54:52,394 --> 00:54:55,694 for us to be able to move forward. 1224 00:54:55,695 --> 00:54:57,394 Recent actions, including expelling 1225 00:54:57,394 --> 00:55:00,060 three of our diplomats, continue to make that difficult. 1226 00:55:00,094 --> 00:55:02,528 So I think the issues right now for the 1227 00:55:02,528 --> 00:55:06,928 Venezuelan government have to do with establishing 1228 00:55:06,928 --> 00:55:08,594 a dialogue with the Venezuelan people. 1229 00:55:08,594 --> 00:55:10,227 This is not a U.S.-Venezuelan issue. 1230 00:55:10,994 --> 00:55:11,994 I'll do that last one. 1231 00:55:11,994 --> 00:55:12,994 Dan, did you have any? 1232 00:55:13,461 --> 00:55:14,461 The Press: Yes, on Iran. 1233 00:55:14,461 --> 00:55:16,928 I just wanted to ask you about a couple statements 1234 00:55:16,928 --> 00:55:18,528 by Netanyahu before the Merkel visit 1235 00:55:18,528 --> 00:55:20,394 and during the Merkel visit. 1236 00:55:20,394 --> 00:55:22,794 Before it, he said -- again, he said this before 1237 00:55:22,795 --> 00:55:24,761 that he believes Iran has set out 1238 00:55:24,761 --> 00:55:27,027 to become a threshold power with 1239 00:55:27,027 --> 00:55:28,661 continuing enrichment capabilities. 1240 00:55:28,661 --> 00:55:34,194 And today I believe he said that he's spoken 1241 00:55:34,194 --> 00:55:37,061 to -- all Middle East leaders he's spoken to agree that 1242 00:55:37,061 --> 00:55:38,994 it was a mistake to go on the course that the 1243 00:55:38,994 --> 00:55:39,961 P5-plus-1 have gone on. 1244 00:55:39,961 --> 00:55:40,761 Does the U.S. 1245 00:55:40,761 --> 00:55:43,628 disagree with that, that Middle East leaders think 1246 00:55:43,628 --> 00:55:44,728 it was a mistake? 1247 00:55:44,728 --> 00:55:48,061 Has there been any headway in some of the concerns 1248 00:55:48,061 --> 00:55:49,394 that the Gulf and Saudis have, 1249 00:55:49,394 --> 00:55:50,493 with the Saudi Arabia trip coming up? 1250 00:55:51,494 --> 00:55:53,461 Mr. Carney: I hadn't taken a survey 1251 00:55:53,461 --> 00:55:56,593 of Middle East opinion or the opinion 1252 00:55:56,594 --> 00:55:58,461 of all Middle Eastern leaders. 1253 00:55:58,461 --> 00:56:04,093 I would say that, first, the Joint Plan of Action 1254 00:56:04,094 --> 00:56:05,394 is an interim agreement reached 1255 00:56:05,394 --> 00:56:11,361 by the P5-plus-1 that commits Iran to freeze or roll back 1256 00:56:14,194 --> 00:56:18,294 aspects of its program that allows 1257 00:56:18,294 --> 00:56:23,761 over a six-month period for the negotiations towards 1258 00:56:23,761 --> 00:56:27,695 a comprehensive solution to take place. 1259 00:56:27,695 --> 00:56:31,294 Getting that comprehensive solution will surely 1260 00:56:31,294 --> 00:56:35,694 be difficult and it is far from a guarantee, 1261 00:56:35,695 --> 00:56:38,928 but is absolutely the right thing to do, 1262 00:56:38,928 --> 00:56:43,461 especially given the commitments Iran had to make as part of the 1263 00:56:43,461 --> 00:56:46,361 Joint Plan of Action to test whether or not Iran 1264 00:56:46,361 --> 00:56:50,294 is now ready to get right with the international 1265 00:56:50,294 --> 00:56:52,394 community, comply with the United Nations Security 1266 00:56:52,394 --> 00:56:56,627 Council resolutions, and take steps to, 1267 00:56:56,628 --> 00:56:59,094 in a transparent and verifiable way, 1268 00:56:59,094 --> 00:57:01,795 make clear to the world that it is not pursuing 1269 00:57:01,795 --> 00:57:03,795 a nuclear weapon. 1270 00:57:03,795 --> 00:57:06,661 Our bottom-line proposal, our position 1271 00:57:06,661 --> 00:57:09,795 is that Iran cannot have -- cannot acquire a nuclear weapon. 1272 00:57:09,795 --> 00:57:15,127 So the best way to achieve that for the long term is 1273 00:57:15,127 --> 00:57:17,394 for Iran itself to give up the effort. 1274 00:57:20,061 --> 00:57:24,428 But the President takes no options off the table. 1275 00:57:24,428 --> 00:57:27,694 He simply believes that given the commitments that 1276 00:57:27,695 --> 00:57:30,928 Iran has made and the enforcement mechanisms and 1277 00:57:30,928 --> 00:57:33,361 verification mechanisms in place that 1278 00:57:33,361 --> 00:57:36,161 we need to test whether or not a comprehensive 1279 00:57:36,161 --> 00:57:37,161 solution is possible. 1280 00:57:37,161 --> 00:57:40,494 Because obviously achieving 1281 00:57:40,494 --> 00:57:45,027 a nuclear-weapon-free Iran through diplomatic 1282 00:57:45,027 --> 00:57:48,428 agreement that is verifiable and transparent 1283 00:57:48,428 --> 00:57:55,761 is a far better outcome than alternatives. 1284 00:57:55,761 --> 00:57:57,661 Thanks, all