English subtitles for clip: File:2-4-10- White House Press Briefing.webm
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1 00:00:00,770 --> 00:00:01,770 The Press: We want Bill! We want Bill! 2 00:00:01,770 --> 00:00:02,770 The Press: Bill! Bill! 3 00:00:02,770 --> 00:00:03,820 Mr. Gibbs: Hey, I'm all for it, man. 4 00:00:03,820 --> 00:00:04,820 (laughter) 5 00:00:04,820 --> 00:00:13,120 I've got a -- I've got a couple margaritas getting warm right now anyway, so I'm happy 6 00:00:13,120 --> 00:00:14,190 to -- that's actually -- 7 00:00:14,190 --> 00:00:16,150 The Press: That's how you prep? 8 00:00:16,150 --> 00:00:17,560 The Press: That's how you do it? 9 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:19,680 Mr. Gibbs: Yes, actually -- same as you guys, right? 10 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:20,680 The Press: What? 11 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:21,680 (laughter) 12 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:22,680 Mr. Gibbs: That's just a joke, Mom. We're not doing that 13 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:23,680 at work. All right, so, take us away. Sorry. 14 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:24,680 The Press: There's been some criticism from Democrats 15 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:25,680 on the Hill, particularly Sherrod Brown, that the President has been even less involved 16 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:31,460 in negotiations on health care since the Massachusetts elections. Is it true? Is that a strategy? 17 00:00:31,460 --> 00:00:39,720 Or are you taking that criticism seriously? 18 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:45,350 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, obviously, as the President has 19 00:00:45,350 --> 00:00:52,130 said in the State of the Union and you heard the President say yesterday, obviously the 20 00:00:52,130 --> 00:01:01,370 problem exists. It continues -- the problem that did exist on high costs, small businesses 21 00:01:01,370 --> 00:01:07,920 struggling, that was the case before Massachusetts; it was the case after Massachusetts. I still 22 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:15,050 think that a process is working its way through Capitol Hill to figure out the best way forward. 23 00:01:15,049 --> 00:01:18,429 The Press: But has the President been less involved than 24 00:01:18,429 --> 00:01:20,119 he was even last year? 25 00:01:20,119 --> 00:01:23,319 Mr. Gibbs: I didn't believe that the President was less 26 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:26,839 involved last year since we wouldn't have gotten to where we were if the President hadn't 27 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:27,840 been involved. 28 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:28,840 The Press: What would be making people like Sherrod Brown 29 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:30,220 say this then? There's got to be some reason. 30 00:01:30,220 --> 00:01:32,850 Mr. Gibbs: That's a better question for him. 31 00:01:32,849 --> 00:01:37,979 The Press: And is there any details you can share on 32 00:01:37,979 --> 00:01:38,979 the meeting this afternoon with Democratic leadership? 33 00:01:38,979 --> 00:01:39,979 Mr. Gibbs: I know the meeting was rescheduled, I think 34 00:01:39,979 --> 00:01:50,089 until 3:45 p.m. It's a meeting to go through the legislative agenda for 2010. First and 35 00:01:50,090 --> 00:01:57,850 foremost, there will be a discussion on jobs and the economy. Financial regulatory reform 36 00:01:57,849 --> 00:02:04,029 will also be a topic. They will talk about energy and health care. Many of the topics 37 00:02:04,030 --> 00:02:10,220 that the President discussed in the State of the Union will be discussed in the meeting. 38 00:02:10,220 --> 00:02:18,810 And then, as you all know, next week, next Tuesday, will begin the President's bipartisan 39 00:02:18,810 --> 00:02:26,950 leadership meetings, also something he called for in the State of the Union. 40 00:02:26,950 --> 00:02:27,950 The Press: The Chinese are dismissing the President's 41 00:02:27,950 --> 00:02:35,670 comments on China about exchange rates and trade yesterday, and I'm wondering, is the 42 00:02:35,670 --> 00:02:38,890 administration concerned that by pressuring the Chinese, you're running the risk of disrupting 43 00:02:38,890 --> 00:02:39,980 currency markets, antagonizing a very important creditor and thereby driving up borrowing 44 00:02:39,980 --> 00:02:45,270 costs that could hurt the U.S. economy? 45 00:02:45,270 --> 00:02:52,770 Mr. Gibbs: No, Matt, because there's nothing -- there's 46 00:02:52,770 --> 00:02:57,610 nothing that -- I know there's been a flurry of stories about our relationship with China, 47 00:02:57,610 --> 00:03:02,930 whether it's issues surrounding our meeting with the Dalai Lama or issues surrounding 48 00:03:02,930 --> 00:03:11,720 currency or trade. None of these issues that have been written or discussed about in the 49 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:18,590 last two weeks weren't discussed face to face between President Obama and President Hu when 50 00:03:18,590 --> 00:03:25,780 they met in Beijing. I cannot remember a time in which the President came out of a meeting 51 00:03:25,780 --> 00:03:34,760 with President Hu and those topics hadn't come up. So as I said here a few days ago, 52 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:42,960 there are -- we envision this relationship as one where we can work together on issues 53 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:50,080 of mutual concern. We've worked together on stabilizing the world economy. We've worked 54 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:58,840 together on issues of proliferation, particularly around North Korea. I think it's safe to assume 55 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:04,870 that only through the important cooperation that we received with the Chinese that we 56 00:04:04,870 --> 00:04:11,490 were able to get some very strict sanctions through the United Nations Security Council 57 00:04:11,490 --> 00:04:16,820 on a unanimous vote several months ago, based on the actions the North Koreans had taken 58 00:04:16,819 --> 00:04:23,539 late last spring. There will be issues that we will disagree on, and we will disagree 59 00:04:23,539 --> 00:04:26,099 on them both in private and in public. 60 00:04:26,099 --> 00:04:29,119 The Press: While the Chinese have been fulminating about 61 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:38,530 the President's plan to meet with the Dalai Lama and also now this pressure about exchange 62 00:04:38,530 --> 00:04:42,320 rates, they were saying today that they don't want to talk about further sanctions on Iran, 63 00:04:42,319 --> 00:04:43,559 that that would be counterproductive. Is there any concern that the Chinese are becoming 64 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:47,290 obstructionist in a kind of retaliation on other related -- on unrelated issues? 65 00:04:47,289 --> 00:04:49,869 Mr. Gibbs: There are issues that are of mutual concern 66 00:04:49,871 --> 00:04:55,061 and then there are issues that are of great concern to each of the individual countries. 67 00:04:55,060 --> 00:05:01,560 A nuclear Iran is not in the interest of the American government or the Chinese government. 68 00:05:01,559 --> 00:05:08,679 An arms race in the Middle East is not a good thing for us or for them. And a worldwide 69 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:14,460 arms race and the destabilizing nature that that could have throughout the world is not 70 00:05:14,460 --> 00:05:19,950 a good thing for the American government or for the Chinese government. I think that the 71 00:05:19,949 --> 00:05:28,299 Chinese will continue to work with us on the important next steps that we have to take 72 00:05:28,300 --> 00:05:34,990 relating to Iran because it's not just in our interest or in other's interest, it's 73 00:05:34,990 --> 00:05:37,790 quite clearly in their interest as well. 74 00:05:37,789 --> 00:05:38,809 The Press: Robert, a quick follow? 75 00:05:38,810 --> 00:05:39,810 Mr. Gibbs: What's that? 76 00:05:39,810 --> 00:05:41,810 The Press: A quick follow. Is the Dalai Lama still coming 77 00:05:41,810 --> 00:05:45,180 to meet with the President at the White House or not? 78 00:05:45,180 --> 00:05:46,480 Mr. Gibbs: I'm sorry? 79 00:05:46,479 --> 00:05:48,019 The Press: If the Dalai Lama is still coming to meet 80 00:05:48,020 --> 00:05:50,010 with the President at the White House? 81 00:05:50,009 --> 00:05:54,109 Mr. Gibbs: He will be here later this month, yes. Again, 82 00:05:54,110 --> 00:06:04,280 just let me say, again, that we told President Hu in November in Beijing. The President told 83 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:10,169 him that. The President discussed each of these issues -- Iranian sanctions, larger 84 00:06:10,169 --> 00:06:11,169 proliferation, and currency. 85 00:06:11,169 --> 00:06:13,659 The Press: Just to follow on the earlier question about 86 00:06:13,659 --> 00:06:19,709 the meeting with the Dems, is the message or will the message also be from the President 87 00:06:19,710 --> 00:06:26,760 sort of can't we all get along, in light of the fact that we're hearing that there's disagreement 88 00:06:26,759 --> 00:06:27,759 and discontent on some of these issues, like health care? 89 00:06:27,759 --> 00:06:29,849 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I think they will discuss a strategy 90 00:06:29,849 --> 00:06:36,439 moving forward to implement many of the ideas that are of concern to Democrats in the Senate 91 00:06:36,439 --> 00:06:41,959 and the House that are also on the policy agenda of the President of the United States. 92 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:47,600 I also think, Dan, there's great overlap between what those interests are and what the American 93 00:06:47,599 --> 00:06:52,809 people want to see their Congress deal with -- first and foremost, a robust discussion 94 00:06:52,809 --> 00:06:58,929 on how to move forward on jobs and the economy. 95 00:06:58,930 --> 00:07:01,770 The Press: The President has of late gone into the lion's 96 00:07:01,770 --> 00:07:03,060 den, taken questions from Republicans; he's taken questions from Democrats. He hasn't 97 00:07:03,060 --> 00:07:10,260 taken questions from the press in a prime-time forum since last summer, I believe in July. 98 00:07:10,259 --> 00:07:11,419 Why not? 99 00:07:11,419 --> 00:07:14,659 Mr. Gibbs: Look, the President has, as you mentioned, 100 00:07:14,659 --> 00:07:20,979 taken questions from members of Congress. He has taken questions at different press 101 00:07:20,979 --> 00:07:26,449 avails from a whole host of reporters. We've done countless numbers -- 102 00:07:26,449 --> 00:07:28,119 The Press: One or two. 103 00:07:28,119 --> 00:07:32,539 Mr. Gibbs: Right, one or two, several times. We have 104 00:07:32,539 --> 00:07:37,159 done countless number of interviews -- I think more interviews in the first year than any 105 00:07:37,159 --> 00:07:41,979 President certainly in recent memory. He enjoys the format, we just haven't done one in a 106 00:07:41,979 --> 00:07:42,979 while. 107 00:07:42,979 --> 00:07:43,979 The Press: Anything soon? 108 00:07:43,979 --> 00:07:49,869 Mr. Gibbs: None that I'm aware of. 109 00:07:49,870 --> 00:07:51,130 The Press: In the supplemental document "Analytical Perspectives" 110 00:07:51,129 --> 00:07:53,289 of the President's budget, unemployment figures that the administration is projecting are 111 00:07:53,289 --> 00:08:00,929 pretty bleak. It's 10 percent for the rest of this year, 9.2 percent next year, 8.2 percent 112 00:08:00,930 --> 00:08:08,320 in 2012. First of all, these are pretty bleak figures. I'm wondering if you have a response 113 00:08:08,319 --> 00:08:15,439 to these numbers. And then second of all, is this count factoring in a jobs bill or 114 00:08:15,439 --> 00:08:16,439 not? 115 00:08:16,439 --> 00:08:17,959 Mr. Gibbs: Let met ask specifically the second part of 116 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:26,160 your question to OMB and CEA. Jake, they are sad and sobering numbers felt each and every 117 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:35,830 day by the American people. We'll get new jobs numbers tomorrow. There will be a jobs 118 00:08:35,830 --> 00:08:47,950 revision, I'm told, tomorrow that's likely to show additional job loss at the first part 119 00:08:47,950 --> 00:08:54,380 of the recession that started in December 2007, making the hole that -- the hole of 120 00:08:54,380 --> 00:09:02,930 job loss that we've dealt with even deeper. We didn't -- as I've said here countless times, 121 00:09:02,930 --> 00:09:08,050 we didn't get here overnight. We won't get out of that hole overnight. It will take a 122 00:09:08,050 --> 00:09:14,700 concerted effort by the President and Congress working together, both parties, to strengthen 123 00:09:14,700 --> 00:09:24,100 our foundation and to create jobs moving forward that's not predicated on risky lending or 124 00:09:24,100 --> 00:09:29,910 housing speculation or running up massive debt on credit cards. We've got to create 125 00:09:29,910 --> 00:09:38,060 jobs in the new industries of clean energy -- clean energy manufacturing so that we 126 00:09:38,060 --> 00:09:43,630 don't finish second place to the Chinese or the Indians in creating those new jobs. 127 00:09:43,630 --> 00:09:46,630 The Press: Also, the numbers don't show the unemployment 128 00:09:46,630 --> 00:09:52,600 rate over the next decade going to even where they were in 2007 when the President announced 129 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:59,180 he was running for this office, at all, ever. They stop at 5.2 percent but they never get 130 00:09:59,180 --> 00:10:03,020 down to below 5 percent, which is where they were when the President announced. Why -- I 131 00:10:03,020 --> 00:10:08,830 mean, this just seems an incredibly bleak outlook on the unemployment problems in this 132 00:10:08,830 --> 00:10:09,830 country. 133 00:10:09,830 --> 00:10:14,450 Mr. Gibbs: Well, again, Jake, we've lost -- before the 134 00:10:14,450 --> 00:10:20,060 statistic -- before any revisions tomorrow, the recession has cost us 7 million jobs. 135 00:10:20,060 --> 00:10:25,080 I'll bring an update, the graph that I've brought out here a few times that show the 136 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:31,950 sheer depth of job loss over the many months of the recession. Look, I think if you go 137 00:10:31,950 --> 00:10:38,340 back and look at -- there was an article I think around the Christmas holidays that demonstrated 138 00:10:38,340 --> 00:10:44,680 that roughly there had been very little to no job growth in the past decade. So we've 139 00:10:44,680 --> 00:10:52,250 got to figure out how to create economic growth and ultimately create jobs in an economy that 140 00:10:52,250 --> 00:10:59,550 isn't dependent upon the examples that I used a minute ago -- easy credit that allows housing 141 00:10:59,550 --> 00:11:07,310 speculation for people that can get but shouldn't get loans to buy houses. 142 00:11:07,310 --> 00:11:10,210 The Press: But these numbers are more bleak than other 143 00:11:10,210 --> 00:11:13,200 numbers you guys have put out before. I mean, these are much more pessimistic than previous 144 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:14,200 predictions. 145 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:16,090 Mr. Gibbs: Well, again, Jake, understand that when we 146 00:11:16,090 --> 00:11:23,490 walked in the beginning of the administration, no one presumed that 741,000 would be the 147 00:11:23,490 --> 00:11:33,070 number of jobs lost in January of 2009. And certainly if you average what happened in 148 00:11:33,070 --> 00:11:43,940 that first quarter of 2009, an average of about 700,000 jobs -- 700,000 jobs a month 149 00:11:43,940 --> 00:11:48,110 for each of the three months of that quarter -- understanding this, that the -- and I 150 00:11:48,110 --> 00:11:52,740 don't have the figures right in front of me, but the economic growth for that first quarter 151 00:11:52,740 --> 00:12:00,450 was -6.4 percent. The previous quarter was I believe -- and I'm doing this largely off 152 00:12:00,450 --> 00:12:09,050 the top of my head -- -5.5 percent. We hadn't had consecutive quarters of such economic 153 00:12:09,050 --> 00:12:17,600 retraction since the Great Depression. So we've got a tremendous hole to fill in. And 154 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:24,140 I think that's why the President spent a majority of his State of the Union speech asking that 155 00:12:24,140 --> 00:12:31,670 Congress, each party work together with the other to move forward on creating -- helping 156 00:12:31,670 --> 00:12:37,670 to create jobs, on assuring that stronger and new foundation. And I think that's most 157 00:12:37,670 --> 00:12:43,490 what the American people want to see out of their government right now. 158 00:12:43,490 --> 00:12:51,230 The Press: And just a follow-up. I've asked you guys 159 00:12:51,230 --> 00:12:53,860 a few times what the President was referring to when he spoke to the Republican conference 160 00:12:53,860 --> 00:12:59,160 on Friday and he talked about stray cats and dogs getting into the health care reform legislation 161 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:01,710 that would prevent patients from being able to choose their plan, choose their doctor, 162 00:13:01,710 --> 00:13:03,240 even though that had been a White House pledge. Have you guys made any progress on finding 163 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:04,240 out what he was talking about? 164 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:06,040 Mr. Gibbs: I don't know if Bill got that question yesterday. 165 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:07,220 I'll have to look through it. 166 00:13:07,220 --> 00:13:08,350 The Press: You didn't watch Bill, when he did his briefing? 167 00:13:08,350 --> 00:13:11,170 Mr. Gibbs: I did watch most of it. I couldn't -- I noticed 168 00:13:11,170 --> 00:13:13,400 when you watch it on TV you can't always hear the questions. 169 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:14,560 The Press: How did he do? 170 00:13:14,560 --> 00:13:20,380 Mr. Gibbs: Quite well. Quite well. What did you think? 171 00:13:20,380 --> 00:13:24,380 The Press: I'm neutral on the issue. 172 00:13:24,380 --> 00:13:25,380 (laughter) 173 00:13:25,380 --> 00:13:26,380 The Press: That's not what you told me. 174 00:13:26,380 --> 00:13:27,380 Mr. Gibbs: I was going to say, that's -- yes, that's 175 00:13:27,380 --> 00:13:28,380 -- 176 00:13:28,380 --> 00:13:29,380 The Press: I was actually surprised to see you -- well, 177 00:13:29,380 --> 00:13:33,300 anyway, no -- he did a good job, very good job. Toyota -- yesterday Ray LaHood kind of 178 00:13:33,301 --> 00:13:39,861 stepped in it when he mistakenly said that people should stop driving them and then backtracked 179 00:13:39,860 --> 00:13:44,550 a little while later, caused quite a big hubbub. Has the President been in touch with him? 180 00:13:44,550 --> 00:13:50,690 Is the President personally involved in this issue? And is he satisfied with the job Ray 181 00:13:50,690 --> 00:13:51,690 LaHood is doing? 182 00:13:51,690 --> 00:13:52,690 Mr. Gibbs: Absolutely satisfied with the job Ray LaHood 183 00:13:52,690 --> 00:13:58,030 is doing, and I think it's important, understanding, Chip, after making a misstatement, he do what's 184 00:13:58,029 --> 00:14:03,489 -- did what's not done a lot in this town and said he made a misstatement and then corrected 185 00:14:03,490 --> 00:14:10,030 what he had said and was clear that if -- and if you go on certain Web sites, if you go 186 00:14:10,030 --> 00:14:18,600 on NHTSA's Web site -- nhtsa.gov -- or if you go on Toyota's Web site, you'll see which 187 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:27,690 cars are impacted and affected by safety concerns. And has been said, if you're driving one of 188 00:14:27,690 --> 00:14:30,370 those cars, you should go see your dealer. 189 00:14:30,370 --> 00:14:33,540 The Press: Is the President involved in any way, or has 190 00:14:33,536 --> 00:14:34,536 this not risen to his level? 191 00:14:34,536 --> 00:14:37,706 Mr. Gibbs: No, he's certainly seen reports and been briefed 192 00:14:37,710 --> 00:14:46,410 on what's going on, simply based on the breadth of what we're talking about. 193 00:14:46,410 --> 00:14:49,530 The Press: There have been a number of reports that what's 194 00:14:49,530 --> 00:14:50,530 bad for Toyota is good for GM and Ford. Any thoughts on that? 195 00:14:50,530 --> 00:14:52,510 Mr. Gibbs: Well, what's bad for Toyota is bad for anybody 196 00:14:52,510 --> 00:15:00,500 that's driving a Toyota. And safety and security are the primary concerns of the National -- of 197 00:15:00,500 --> 00:15:02,840 NHTSA, the Department of Transportation, and the President of the United States. 198 00:15:02,844 --> 00:15:07,054 The Press: What does all this mean for GM and Ford, which 199 00:15:07,050 --> 00:15:09,350 are both still at pretty precarious moments in their history? 200 00:15:09,350 --> 00:15:14,490 Mr. Gibbs: Well, Ford I think last quarter reported a 201 00:15:14,490 --> 00:15:22,480 profit. I think GM is taking steps to turn around from the bankruptcy that they went 202 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:25,920 through earlier. But -- 203 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:28,500 The Press: Do you expect them to aggressively try to 204 00:15:28,500 --> 00:15:31,800 take advantage of this weakness on Toyota's part? I mean, it's a cutthroat world out there 205 00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:32,800 in the car business. 206 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:34,460 Mr. Gibbs: That's a good question for the men and women 207 00:15:34,460 --> 00:15:36,070 that run both of those car companies. 208 00:15:36,070 --> 00:15:37,990 The Press: On the jobs bill, Harry Reid says he wants 209 00:15:37,990 --> 00:15:43,460 to bring it up on Monday and he is hoping for Republican support. If they structure 210 00:15:43,460 --> 00:15:46,850 this in a certain way they could almost assure themselves of getting some Republican support. 211 00:15:46,850 --> 00:15:52,410 Is the President going to insist on that, that there be Republican support? 212 00:15:52,410 --> 00:15:54,260 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think the President could not have 213 00:15:54,260 --> 00:16:02,420 been clearer in the State of the Union, in the -- in speaking to both Democrats and Republicans, 214 00:16:02,420 --> 00:16:12,100 that we have to work together to get our economy moving again. I think there are ideas in helping 215 00:16:12,100 --> 00:16:19,780 small business and cutting their taxes, in increasing our investment in infrastructure, 216 00:16:19,779 --> 00:16:28,089 several ideas that Republicans have supported at various points in the past and pointed 217 00:16:28,090 --> 00:16:34,270 to as ways to help the economy recover and hopefully over the medium to long term create 218 00:16:34,270 --> 00:16:42,150 jobs. So our strong hope, Chip, is that Democrats and Republicans can and will work together 219 00:16:42,150 --> 00:16:46,390 to move this important issue forward and get something to his desk quickly. 220 00:16:46,390 --> 00:16:48,720 The Press: But when he meets with them later today he 221 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:51,370 could say, no ifs, ands or buts, I want this structured in a way that you get Republican 222 00:16:51,370 --> 00:16:53,510 support on this thing or I won't sign it. 223 00:16:53,510 --> 00:16:57,360 Mr. Gibbs: Look, Chip, he told that to Democrats and 224 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:03,420 Republicans over the past week, that we should work together. But, Chip, this isn't just 225 00:17:03,420 --> 00:17:09,420 a question for the Democratic leadership or for a Democratic President. We also have to 226 00:17:09,420 --> 00:17:15,550 have, as I think you heard the President outline when he spoke with Republicans last Friday 227 00:17:15,550 --> 00:17:22,770 in Baltimore -- and I think this is true going back to your question -- I doubt that everybody 228 00:17:22,770 --> 00:17:28,380 has liked every word of every piece of legislation that the President has watched go through 229 00:17:28,380 --> 00:17:33,000 Congress and sign. And it's not likely that he liked every word in every one of those 230 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:38,630 pieces of legislation. But the key is do we have and share enough in common; are these 231 00:17:38,630 --> 00:17:44,560 ideas good ideas to get the economy moving again, to stop playing partisan political 232 00:17:44,559 --> 00:17:51,959 games and work on behalf of the American people. Given what the President outlined in cutting 233 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:57,820 taxes for small businesses, in increasing investment in infrastructure -- both things 234 00:17:57,820 --> 00:18:03,290 that Republicans have talked about -- I have no doubt that there will be plenty in each 235 00:18:03,290 --> 00:18:09,230 -- plenty in any package that can and should garner support from the Democratic side as 236 00:18:09,230 --> 00:18:11,040 well as the Republican side. Chuck. 237 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:14,000 The Press: Business leaders today giving the President 238 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:18,500 advice on what should be on job creation. Did he take any? 239 00:18:18,500 --> 00:18:21,630 Mr. Gibbs: I have not gotten a readout from -- I think 240 00:18:21,630 --> 00:18:29,750 the lunch started at noon. You all should have gotten lists of who was there and we'll 241 00:18:29,750 --> 00:18:33,170 -- I'll try to glean some from the President at the conclusion of the lunch. 242 00:18:33,170 --> 00:18:36,470 The Press: All right, back to health care and your answer 243 00:18:36,470 --> 00:18:40,380 on Sherrod Brown -- he's not alone. I mean, there's a lot of Democrats on Capitol Hill 244 00:18:40,380 --> 00:18:47,430 who regularly say the President -- the perception is the President hasn't pushed hard enough 245 00:18:47,430 --> 00:18:52,970 on this bill publicly, whatever it is, leaned his shoulder in more. If that's not true, 246 00:18:52,970 --> 00:18:55,450 why is that perception there? 247 00:18:55,450 --> 00:19:00,300 Mr. Gibbs: I would just say, Chuck -- 248 00:19:00,300 --> 00:19:01,300 The Press: -- these are not -- they're not bomb-throwers. 249 00:19:01,300 --> 00:19:02,300 Sherrod Brown is not a bomb-thrower. 250 00:19:02,300 --> 00:19:03,880 Mr. Gibbs: I would just say, Chuck, we've gone over the 251 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:08,630 question of the President's involvement in health care for six months. I think as the 252 00:19:08,630 --> 00:19:14,390 President said last Friday, it's pretty clear he's not doing this for sheer political gain. 253 00:19:14,390 --> 00:19:22,060 I doubt that we would be continuing to do this if it weren't a key priority of his. 254 00:19:22,059 --> 00:19:25,099 The Press: But it seems to be that where the message 255 00:19:25,100 --> 00:19:30,240 is getting lost there, apparently, he uses the word "hope" to get this done; that there 256 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:34,860 isn't this idea that he's there, pulling an LBJ or something like that. 257 00:19:34,860 --> 00:19:37,500 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think there's -- 258 00:19:37,500 --> 00:19:45,850 The Press: I'm not asking him to lift Bo by the ears. 259 00:19:45,850 --> 00:19:46,850 (laughter) 260 00:19:46,850 --> 00:19:48,620 Mr. Gibbs: I was going to say -- (laughter) -- there 261 00:19:48,620 --> 00:19:50,060 were many possible answers that went through my head with -- 262 00:19:50,060 --> 00:19:53,140 The Press: But that's what these guys are talking about. 263 00:19:53,140 --> 00:19:57,530 Mr. Gibbs: Look, again, LBJ added seniors into those 264 00:19:57,530 --> 00:20:05,940 that were assured that they would always have the safety net of quality health care. We've 265 00:20:05,941 --> 00:20:13,891 not gotten -- we've added since LBJ different efforts -- in the Clinton administration we 266 00:20:13,890 --> 00:20:18,660 added additional efforts through kids. That effort was expanded under President Obama 267 00:20:18,660 --> 00:20:25,980 at the beginning of our administration. We've gotten farther than seven Presidents who've 268 00:20:25,980 --> 00:20:32,840 worked on this issue intently. We're close, the President remains very involved and engaged 269 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:48,590 in this, and it's our strong hope to continue to get this done. 270 00:20:48,590 --> 00:20:49,590 The Press: One last question. At 5:00 p.m. today you 271 00:20:49,590 --> 00:20:52,020 have 59 Democratic senators rather than 60. Does that change your legislative agenda? 272 00:20:52,020 --> 00:20:55,130 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I think it changes everybody's calculus 273 00:20:55,130 --> 00:21:01,550 as to taking responsibility for governing this country. 274 00:21:01,550 --> 00:21:04,040 The Press: But it changes your -- changes the Republicans, 275 00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:05,040 changes -- 276 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:08,190 Mr. Gibbs: I think the President acknowledged as much 277 00:21:08,190 --> 00:21:20,480 during the State of the Union. No longer can one party alone, assuming that what is insisted 278 00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:27,150 upon is 60 votes in the United States Senate -- no longer can one party alone hold its 279 00:21:27,150 --> 00:21:34,220 members and make progress on important issues for the American people. That's why the President 280 00:21:34,220 --> 00:21:38,580 has asked again that Democrats and Republicans work together to make that progress. Yes, 281 00:21:38,580 --> 00:21:39,580 ma'am. 282 00:21:39,580 --> 00:21:41,130 The Press: On the jobs package in the Senate, it doesn't 283 00:21:41,130 --> 00:21:42,660 appear to include, at least initially, a $30 billion lending -- 284 00:21:42,660 --> 00:21:44,030 Mr. Gibbs: I'm sorry, say this one more time. 285 00:21:44,030 --> 00:21:45,560 The Press: The jobs package in the Senate doesn't appear 286 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:47,540 to include initially the $30 billion lending provision through community banks for small 287 00:21:47,540 --> 00:21:49,870 businesses. How hard will the White House press on this? It's obviously the most controversial 288 00:21:49,870 --> 00:21:58,550 piece in the package as announced so far. 289 00:21:58,550 --> 00:22:04,880 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I don't think loaning money through 290 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:06,570 community banks to small business is -- 291 00:22:06,570 --> 00:22:08,170 The Press: Well, for the Senate it's controversial. 292 00:22:08,170 --> 00:22:13,130 Mr. Gibbs: -- is controversial. I think there are thousands 293 00:22:13,130 --> 00:22:20,460 and thousands of small business people around this country, some of whom write the President 294 00:22:20,460 --> 00:22:29,970 and say even as the stock market grows, our access to capital to either continue our small 295 00:22:29,970 --> 00:22:39,320 business, meet a payroll, or expand our small business, is still hard to come by. The President 296 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:46,760 outlined the specifics of this proposal just this week in New Hampshire and believes that 297 00:22:46,760 --> 00:22:52,710 in order to get our country moving again and creating jobs, the best way to do this is, 298 00:22:52,710 --> 00:23:00,460 one, through cutting taxes for those that hire additional employees and providing additional 299 00:23:00,460 --> 00:23:06,220 access to capital through money that has been given back from bigger banks through TARP, 300 00:23:06,220 --> 00:23:08,540 loaned through community banks to small businesses. That's -- this will be a priority -- 301 00:23:08,540 --> 00:23:09,540 The Press: So you're saying that lending is a vital part 302 00:23:09,540 --> 00:23:10,540 of this package for this White House? 303 00:23:10,540 --> 00:23:14,420 Mr. Gibbs: Lending is a vital part of this package and 304 00:23:14,420 --> 00:23:20,480 it is a extremely vital part of any business being successful. We have discussed -- 305 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:22,780 The Press: Is there some flexibility on the use of TARP 306 00:23:22,780 --> 00:23:23,780 funds? 307 00:23:23,780 --> 00:23:26,570 Mr. Gibbs: I don't want to get into a legislative negotiation 308 00:23:26,570 --> 00:23:33,140 from here. I think what's important for -- any small businesses will tell you that access 309 00:23:33,140 --> 00:23:39,020 to capital is their lifeblood. We've spent quite a bit of time discussing the lending 310 00:23:39,020 --> 00:23:45,430 practices of banks, and certainly as it relates to economic growth the President is -- believes 311 00:23:45,429 --> 00:23:47,219 this has to be a key priority. 312 00:23:47,220 --> 00:23:49,790 The Press: Okay. One more on the debt commission, Robert. 313 00:23:49,790 --> 00:23:53,180 Are you getting any Republican cooperation on that, and when will that commission be 314 00:23:53,179 --> 00:23:54,179 named? 315 00:23:54,179 --> 00:23:56,849 Mr. Gibbs: The President is working on some of the specifics 316 00:23:56,850 --> 00:24:02,850 of the executive order. I believe if the economic team hasn't already, it was discussed this 317 00:24:02,850 --> 00:24:11,300 morning making phone calls to Republican leaders about how this will be structured. It's our 318 00:24:11,299 --> 00:24:19,839 strong hope that Republicans would agree to participate in a commission that many of their 319 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:27,750 members strongly advocate. Granted, seven of their members had strongly advocated and 320 00:24:27,750 --> 00:24:32,990 then unadvocated for the creation of that commission when we were trying to do this 321 00:24:32,990 --> 00:24:45,420 legislatively. But I have not noticed in the intervening weeks anything less than pretty 322 00:24:45,420 --> 00:24:56,790 vociferous comments about our fiscal situation. I can't imagine that Republicans would at 323 00:24:56,790 --> 00:25:03,880 one minute say this is such an important issue, and then at the next minute say we can't participate 324 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:09,300 in a commission to help solve what I said a minute ago was an extremely important issue. 325 00:25:09,299 --> 00:25:14,599 I think the American people are smart enough to understand that's Washington game playing; 326 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:15,600 that's not problem solving. 327 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:18,160 The Press: So you're thinking maybe the next week or 328 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:19,160 so? 329 00:25:19,160 --> 00:25:21,020 Mr. Gibbs: I think very shortly. 330 00:25:21,020 --> 00:25:27,420 The Press: One follow-up on just a related issue, something 331 00:25:27,420 --> 00:25:30,640 the President said to Republicans last week. He repeated it when he spoke with Democratic 332 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:34,470 senators, and he also repeated it when he spoke at the town halls in Florida and New 333 00:25:34,470 --> 00:25:41,940 Hampshire. He said that there were some members of either the House or the Senate Republican 334 00:25:41,940 --> 00:25:47,360 members that voted against the economic Recovery Act and then attended some ribbon-cutting 335 00:25:47,360 --> 00:25:51,750 ceremonies. Were there a lot of members? Do you know which members the President was referring 336 00:25:51,750 --> 00:25:52,750 to? 337 00:25:52,750 --> 00:25:55,260 Mr. Gibbs: I don't have the stuff with me, but I'll circulate 338 00:25:55,260 --> 00:25:56,260 to everybody as soon as I get out of here. 339 00:25:56,260 --> 00:25:57,260 The Press: Great, thank you. 340 00:25:57,260 --> 00:25:58,260 Mr. Gibbs: Sure, absolutely. 341 00:25:58,260 --> 00:25:59,260 The Press: On the same lines, Robert, did you look at 342 00:25:59,260 --> 00:26:02,440 the Republican comments, statements, news releases that have been made subsequent to 343 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:10,360 the Friday meeting with the House GOP members? Do you see more of, well, to use the President's 344 00:26:10,360 --> 00:26:16,360 formulation, more of a hand of cooperation from them or a fist? 345 00:26:16,360 --> 00:26:17,360 Mr. Gibbs: Based on -- 346 00:26:17,360 --> 00:26:22,840 The Press: On their statements, news releases, comments 347 00:26:22,840 --> 00:26:26,610 on just the wide scope of issues -- jobs and health care and everything else. 348 00:26:26,610 --> 00:26:30,280 Mr. Gibbs: Look, I think as the President said on Friday, 349 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:34,950 there will always be differences between the two parties, and that's an important part 350 00:26:34,950 --> 00:26:47,610 of our process. I think that when the rubber has to meet the road, when 351 00:26:47,610 --> 00:26:53,290 legislation comes before the Senate, hopefully next week, that begins to cut taxes for small 352 00:26:53,290 --> 00:27:00,450 business and increase our investment in infrastructure as a way of moving our economy forward, I 353 00:27:00,450 --> 00:27:08,530 think we'll get a chance to see whether not just the statements of any criticism but the 354 00:27:08,530 --> 00:27:16,200 statements of what this President should do are backed up by strong action. A lot of people 355 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:22,930 said after Massachusetts that the President had to act in a more bipartisan way. I think 356 00:27:22,929 --> 00:27:27,349 the President has been pretty clear about wanting to ensure that the two parties work 357 00:27:27,350 --> 00:27:34,130 together. We'll get a chance to see whether working together is something that people 358 00:27:34,130 --> 00:27:39,980 are serious about doing or whether it's something that a pollster told them to say. 359 00:27:39,980 --> 00:27:44,290 The Press: Well, beyond, say, the National Prayer Breakfast, 360 00:27:44,290 --> 00:27:48,780 have you seen any bipartisanship from the other side at all? 361 00:27:48,780 --> 00:27:52,040 Mr. Gibbs: Look, the games of Washington, unlike the 362 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:58,930 Olympic Games, don't open and close. They happen on a continual basis. I think the American 363 00:27:58,929 --> 00:28:03,039 people will be watching what happens first and foremost on the floor of the Senate next 364 00:28:03,040 --> 00:28:06,760 week on getting our economy moving again. 365 00:28:06,760 --> 00:28:09,000 The Press: Thank you for the Olympics plug. 366 00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:10,000 (laughter) 367 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:11,000 The Press: Not C-SPAN. 368 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:12,000 The Press: All the channels of NBC. 369 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:13,000 (laughter) 370 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:15,110 The Press: Just to go back to the jobs revision stuff 371 00:28:15,110 --> 00:28:17,040 -- just avoid any confusion -- have you seen the revisions yet, or are you basing your 372 00:28:17,040 --> 00:28:19,980 assumptions on publicly available data? 373 00:28:19,980 --> 00:28:24,350 Mr. Gibbs: I read a news report, I think, on CNN. 374 00:28:24,350 --> 00:28:26,980 The Press: You have not seen the January -- 375 00:28:26,980 --> 00:28:30,700 Mr. Gibbs: I should preface for my mother again, I do 376 00:28:30,701 --> 00:28:34,731 not see this data before you do. 377 00:28:34,730 --> 00:28:43,490 The Press: And then on this -- the report that Google 378 00:28:43,493 --> 00:28:44,493 is working with the National Security Agency on plugging any cyber-security holes -- any 379 00:28:44,493 --> 00:28:45,493 other companies have gone to the NSA on that? 380 00:28:45,493 --> 00:28:48,173 Mr. Gibbs: I would -- let me specifically point you to 381 00:28:48,170 --> 00:28:52,640 NSA on -- what's that? 382 00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:55,900 The Press: That will do a lot of good. Gee, thanks. 383 00:28:55,900 --> 00:28:56,900 (laughter) 384 00:28:56,900 --> 00:28:58,830 Mr. Gibbs: But I would say this, that as was noted by 385 00:28:58,830 --> 00:29:06,700 the President in discussing cyber-security, that we have -- we believe that information 386 00:29:06,700 --> 00:29:17,120 sharing and cooperation between the government and the private sector is important -- ensuring 387 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:26,100 obviously that privacy and civil liberties are protected -- and have asked that if companies 388 00:29:26,100 --> 00:29:31,830 are dealing with what they perceive to be cyber-security threats, that they go and work 389 00:29:31,830 --> 00:29:33,030 with the authorities on that. 390 00:29:33,030 --> 00:29:36,860 The Press: The Dalai Lama meeting that you said will 391 00:29:36,860 --> 00:29:38,890 be here at the White House, will that be in the Oval? Will that be in the Residence? 392 00:29:38,890 --> 00:29:40,770 Mr. Gibbs: I do not know where the location of the meeting 393 00:29:40,770 --> 00:29:41,770 will be. 394 00:29:41,770 --> 00:29:43,130 The Press: Will cameras be allowed in, or will the pool 395 00:29:43,130 --> 00:29:44,130 be brought in? 396 00:29:44,130 --> 00:29:47,600 Mr. Gibbs: I don't have any coverage information on that 397 00:29:47,600 --> 00:29:48,630 right now. Major. 398 00:29:48,630 --> 00:29:49,790 The Press: Sixteenth and 17th for that? 399 00:29:49,790 --> 00:29:51,320 Mr. Gibbs: I don't have a date either. 400 00:29:51,320 --> 00:29:53,510 The Press: You don't have a date? Okay. And just to go 401 00:29:53,510 --> 00:29:57,620 back to what Jake was talking about and this revision, are you talking about historical 402 00:29:57,620 --> 00:30:01,640 data that talks about the job losses during the course of this recession or something 403 00:30:01,640 --> 00:30:03,440 relative to the January numbers? 404 00:30:03,442 --> 00:30:06,112 Mr. Gibbs: The story I read -- the story I read -- there 405 00:30:06,110 --> 00:30:10,220 are typical revisions to data that comes out. 406 00:30:10,220 --> 00:30:11,220 The Press: Sure. 407 00:30:11,220 --> 00:30:15,970 Mr. Gibbs: Take, for instance, I think GDP data is released 408 00:30:15,970 --> 00:30:22,790 and then revised at least twice. These are last year -- 409 00:30:22,790 --> 00:30:24,240 The Press: Certain numbers were revised downward twice. 410 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:27,220 Mr. Gibbs: Right, right. Last year there were -- there 411 00:30:27,220 --> 00:30:34,780 was a several-decade-long revision of jobs figures. The story, again, I read this morning 412 00:30:34,780 --> 00:30:35,780 -- 413 00:30:35,780 --> 00:30:36,780 The Press: So that's what you're talking about, not something 414 00:30:36,780 --> 00:30:37,980 relative to what we're going to read and see tomorrow? 415 00:30:37,980 --> 00:30:42,610 Mr. Gibbs: No, no, no, no. This dates back from governing 416 00:30:42,610 --> 00:30:46,900 months from -- again, the story said I think April 2008 through March 2009. 417 00:30:46,900 --> 00:30:48,580 The Press: Earlier you said 2007. Did you mean 2008? 418 00:30:48,580 --> 00:30:54,490 Mr. Gibbs: Well, no, no, I said that this governs the 419 00:30:54,490 --> 00:31:05,680 total job loss over the period that begins in December 2007 at the beginning of the recession. 420 00:31:05,679 --> 00:31:09,019 The Press: So the additional job losses -- you expect 421 00:31:09,020 --> 00:31:10,020 the revision to show began 2007 not 2008. 422 00:31:10,020 --> 00:31:11,020 Mr. Gibbs: No, no, no, no. Again, I should just send 423 00:31:11,020 --> 00:31:13,600 you the story I read. The revisions -- 424 00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:14,760 The Press: Maybe the NSA can. 425 00:31:14,760 --> 00:31:15,760 (laughter) 426 00:31:15,760 --> 00:31:17,320 Mr. Gibbs: The revisions -- they wrote it. 427 00:31:17,320 --> 00:31:18,320 The Press: They already did. 428 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:21,160 Mr. Gibbs: The recession began officially, as per the 429 00:31:21,160 --> 00:31:30,180 board, in December of 2007. The revisions, in the story I read, cover April of 2008 through 430 00:31:30,180 --> 00:31:38,360 March of 2009. Those months obviously are encompassed in what we broadly know as the 431 00:31:38,360 --> 00:31:39,720 time period during the recession. 432 00:31:39,720 --> 00:31:42,590 The Press: You don't have to yell at me now. That's great. 433 00:31:42,590 --> 00:31:43,590 (laughter) 434 00:31:43,590 --> 00:31:44,590 Mr. Gibbs: Yes, sir. 435 00:31:44,590 --> 00:31:46,360 The Press: Okay, following up -- 436 00:31:46,360 --> 00:31:51,060 Mr. Gibbs: I don't know if that counts as your time or 437 00:31:51,060 --> 00:31:52,060 Hans -- 438 00:31:52,060 --> 00:31:57,980 The Press: It counts as his time. I assure you -- 439 00:31:57,980 --> 00:32:00,440 The Press: It's fine. 440 00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:01,440 (laughter) 441 00:32:01,440 --> 00:32:02,440 Mr. Gibbs: Wow. Now he's yelling at you, Hans. 442 00:32:02,440 --> 00:32:03,440 (laughter) 443 00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:04,440 The Press: The President often talks, and you did a minute 444 00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:06,230 ago in talking to Jake, about the boom and bust cycles. Is one of the downsides, is one 445 00:32:06,230 --> 00:32:09,250 of the things the American public needs to appreciate, looking at these unemployment 446 00:32:09,250 --> 00:32:13,130 numbers that you projected out, is that it's a slower climb out when you have a scenario 447 00:32:13,130 --> 00:32:19,500 that the President wants to have, if he achieves it, of a non-boom-type recovery. Is that something 448 00:32:19,500 --> 00:32:25,940 the American people need to either prepare themselves for or be ready to expect, that 449 00:32:25,940 --> 00:32:28,510 this unemployment process is going to be a very slow heal. 450 00:32:28,510 --> 00:32:31,010 Mr. Gibbs: Major, I think many people that are dealing 451 00:32:31,010 --> 00:32:36,530 with the unemployment process have been dealing with it for quite some time. Long-term unemployment 452 00:32:36,530 --> 00:32:40,240 is at one of its highest points ever. 453 00:32:40,240 --> 00:32:47,280 The Press: And let me ask the question, when is the turn, 454 00:32:47,280 --> 00:32:48,280 and are you -- one of the things you're trying to say is the turn is going to be slow? 455 00:32:48,280 --> 00:32:49,280 Mr. Gibbs: Well, what I'm saying is that this will take 456 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:56,830 time, but most importantly, what the President has talked about, not just throughout the 457 00:32:56,830 --> 00:33:03,990 campaign and not just throughout his first year in office, is we have to create a new 458 00:33:03,990 --> 00:33:11,460 foundation for job creation for the future; that if what we do is go back to boom and 459 00:33:11,460 --> 00:33:13,460 bust economies where we're -- 460 00:33:13,460 --> 00:33:14,460 The Press: Right, I understand -- 461 00:33:14,460 --> 00:33:15,460 Mr. Gibbs: Hold on, let me -- 462 00:33:15,460 --> 00:33:16,460 The Press: What I'm asking is -- 463 00:33:16,460 --> 00:33:17,520 Mr. Gibbs: Can I reclaim some of my time? The boom and 464 00:33:17,520 --> 00:33:22,810 bust economies, what you're going to end up with is -- again, going back to what I talked 465 00:33:22,809 --> 00:33:27,989 about as what happened in the last decade -- you had times of job growth, you had times 466 00:33:27,990 --> 00:33:33,940 of job loss, but over the course of the decade you were basically flat. If we're going to 467 00:33:33,940 --> 00:33:41,810 continue to make progress economically, we have to put ourselves on a far different path. 468 00:33:41,809 --> 00:33:45,749 The Press: Right, but as the numbers indicate, when it 469 00:33:45,750 --> 00:33:51,530 was flat, the unemployment rate was lower when the President decided to run for this 470 00:33:51,530 --> 00:33:57,740 office than he's projecting it will be at the end of the actuarial tables of his newest 471 00:33:57,740 --> 00:33:58,960 budget. And many Americans would agree it may have been flat, but at least it was a 472 00:33:58,960 --> 00:34:00,510 lot lower. And what I'm getting at is, in this process of averting a boom and bust economy, 473 00:34:00,510 --> 00:34:02,130 do you have a slower term? 474 00:34:02,130 --> 00:34:06,260 Mr. Gibbs: Major, what we've gone through is an economic 475 00:34:06,260 --> 00:34:15,210 downturn that we haven't seen since the Great Depression of the late 1920s and 1930s. Look, 476 00:34:15,210 --> 00:34:16,210 the American -- 477 00:34:16,210 --> 00:34:17,210 The Press: I'm not criticizing, I'm just asking you -- 478 00:34:17,210 --> 00:34:18,760 Mr. Gibbs: No, no, no, I'm saying the American people 479 00:34:18,760 --> 00:34:24,150 understand. Many of them have been out of work for a long, long time. They understand 480 00:34:24,149 --> 00:34:32,209 that far before any board declared the beginning of a recession that they were working longer, 481 00:34:32,210 --> 00:34:36,950 they were working harder, they were increasing their productivity, yet at the same time their 482 00:34:36,950 --> 00:34:43,360 wages either were on that flat line or going down. They understood that their costs got 483 00:34:43,359 --> 00:34:47,869 more expensive. The cost of energy got more expensive. The cost of health care got more 484 00:34:47,869 --> 00:34:55,119 expensive. The cost of college got more expensive. So, look, there's no -- that was even before 485 00:34:55,119 --> 00:35:01,669 the official recession began and certainly before a series of excessive risk-taking by 486 00:35:01,670 --> 00:35:06,680 a few nearly dragged the economy back to a period of a great depression. 487 00:35:06,680 --> 00:35:11,290 The Press: Right. And all I'm asking is, do the American 488 00:35:11,290 --> 00:35:16,180 people need to appreciate, as they look at the economic future, as charted by this administration, 489 00:35:16,180 --> 00:35:19,120 that it's going to be slower for unemployment to come down -- 490 00:35:19,119 --> 00:35:20,599 Mr. Gibbs: Major, I think I started to say, I think the 491 00:35:20,600 --> 00:35:24,670 American people understand that because they've been dealing with this far longer than the 492 00:35:24,670 --> 00:35:30,770 -- than this administration occupying this White House. 493 00:35:30,770 --> 00:35:33,690 The Press: On trade, the President has talked about it 494 00:35:33,690 --> 00:35:35,480 more aggressively lately. Gary Locke is giving a speech right now at the National Press Club. 495 00:35:35,480 --> 00:35:36,620 In that speech I didn't find any specific reference to a time for approving the pending 496 00:35:36,620 --> 00:35:48,070 South Korean, Colombian, or Panama trade agreements. For those nations who are now perhaps enthusiastic 497 00:35:48,070 --> 00:35:52,900 the President is talking about trade, what can you tell them about when the President 498 00:35:52,900 --> 00:35:57,010 and this White House is going to push those agreements and get them through Congress? 499 00:35:57,010 --> 00:35:59,840 When I talked to the President about South Korea in Beijing he said, "I want that done 500 00:35:59,840 --> 00:36:00,840 in 2010," either -- 501 00:36:00,840 --> 00:36:03,470 Mr. Gibbs: Well, there you go. What are you asking me 502 00:36:03,470 --> 00:36:04,470 for? 503 00:36:04,470 --> 00:36:05,470 The Press: Well, but nothing has happened. You can't 504 00:36:05,470 --> 00:36:06,470 find any -- 505 00:36:06,470 --> 00:36:07,470 Mr. Gibbs: Well, it's only February, Major. 506 00:36:07,470 --> 00:36:08,470 The Press: I know. But he said it was going to happen 507 00:36:08,470 --> 00:36:09,470 either early or late, which I interpreted meaning early in 2010 or after the midterm 508 00:36:09,470 --> 00:36:10,470 elections. 509 00:36:10,470 --> 00:36:12,030 Mr. Gibbs: Well -- 510 00:36:12,030 --> 00:36:14,980 The Press: So for those three deals -- 511 00:36:14,980 --> 00:36:16,560 Mr. Gibbs: Let me say, it would not be good for my job 512 00:36:16,560 --> 00:36:20,550 security to go out right now and contradict the three answers you've just given me on 513 00:36:20,550 --> 00:36:23,110 behalf of your question that the President gave you in November. 514 00:36:23,110 --> 00:36:24,510 The Press: Even better for Bill's. 515 00:36:24,510 --> 00:36:25,510 (laughter) 516 00:36:25,510 --> 00:36:28,420 Mr. Gibbs: I would simply say that -- look, the President 517 00:36:28,420 --> 00:36:30,730 was very clear and specific in the State of the Union -- 518 00:36:30,730 --> 00:36:32,380 The Press: I'm not saying it's not happening. I'm trying 519 00:36:32,380 --> 00:36:34,860 to understand the explanation of him saying he'd prefer to have it happen and nothing 520 00:36:34,859 --> 00:36:35,859 being done. 521 00:36:35,859 --> 00:36:38,179 Mr. Gibbs: Well, Major, you just noted that a speech 522 00:36:38,180 --> 00:36:43,620 has been given where the Secretary -- where the Secretary of Commerce -- no, hold on -- where 523 00:36:43,619 --> 00:36:49,149 the Secretary of Commerce is laying out the President's vision for doubling exports in 524 00:36:49,150 --> 00:36:58,520 five years, okay? So though an individual FTA may not be mentioned in that speech, the 525 00:36:58,520 --> 00:37:03,390 President obviously envisions the increase of those exports through a whole host of things, 526 00:37:03,390 --> 00:37:08,700 including the free trade agreements that he outlined quite specifically in the State of 527 00:37:08,700 --> 00:37:14,630 the Union. He did not outline and I don't have to outline a specific timeline for that, 528 00:37:14,630 --> 00:37:21,180 understanding that the President has laid out a very aggressive goal on increasing exports, 529 00:37:21,180 --> 00:37:31,490 partly through the trade agreements that you mentioned. 530 00:37:31,490 --> 00:37:33,350 The Press: One last -- one question on security -- one 531 00:37:33,350 --> 00:37:34,950 question, it's important. Senator Bond wrote a letter to the President today about a conversation 532 00:37:34,950 --> 00:37:39,250 that we had here in the briefing room yesterday and Bill gave a couple of answers -- many 533 00:37:39,250 --> 00:37:46,450 answers, really -- on there was no political nature to the White House explanation of the 534 00:37:46,450 --> 00:37:48,680 dealing with Abdulmutallab. What Bond says in his letter is that the senators on the 535 00:37:48,680 --> 00:37:53,900 Intelligence Committee were briefed specifically earlier this week that the disclosure of Abdulmutallab's 536 00:37:53,900 --> 00:38:01,770 cooperation should not be revealed because it was -- he says in this letter -- "Doing 537 00:38:01,770 --> 00:38:10,860 so would threaten ongoing efforts to stop operations the intelligence community thought 538 00:38:10,859 --> 00:38:14,779 were possibly happening against the United States." He writes in this letter, "Distortion 539 00:38:14,780 --> 00:38:19,110 of the congressional notification process suggests that other considerations are taking 540 00:38:19,109 --> 00:38:23,239 precedence over keeping timely and sensitive information away from our enemies" -- I know 541 00:38:23,240 --> 00:38:26,480 a charge you would fundamentally reject, but I want to get your response to that. 542 00:38:26,480 --> 00:38:29,940 Mr. Gibbs: Well, first and foremost, I don't want to 543 00:38:29,940 --> 00:38:38,140 speak for Senator Bond, who, if the timeline you outlined -- a Monday briefing for a Tuesday 544 00:38:38,140 --> 00:38:47,360 hearing -- why he would in his Tuesday hearing use the statement that the subject refused 545 00:38:47,359 --> 00:38:55,849 to cooperate after he was Mirandized. So I don't want to speak for the senator who didn't 546 00:38:55,850 --> 00:39:00,090 certainly use any of that information to correct what he said in public in a hearing that happens 547 00:39:00,090 --> 00:39:12,410 a day after. I would say this, having read the letter. During a hearing on Tuesday, information 548 00:39:12,410 --> 00:39:24,180 was released that clearly showed that Mr. Abdulmutallab was indeed talking again to 549 00:39:24,180 --> 00:39:31,600 interrogators. For those of you that participated in the background briefing, you know that 550 00:39:31,599 --> 00:39:37,819 was not something that was timed purposefully. 551 00:39:37,820 --> 00:39:42,790 The Press: Were they not supposed to reveal it? 552 00:39:42,790 --> 00:39:46,820 Mr. Gibbs: It was not timed purposefully. Soon after 553 00:39:46,820 --> 00:39:55,950 that -- soon after that, media reported -- we felt it important to contextualize, because 554 00:39:55,950 --> 00:40:04,030 many of you were e-mailing us, what this testimony meant. I would say, again, having read the 555 00:40:04,030 --> 00:40:11,750 letter, no briefing is done here or anywhere in this administration where classified information 556 00:40:11,750 --> 00:40:17,410 is used in a place where it shouldn't be. And I would suggest that somebody that alleges 557 00:40:17,410 --> 00:40:25,090 that when they know it doesn't happen owe people an apology. Any briefing that's done 558 00:40:25,089 --> 00:40:34,069 here in order to ensure that the information that's in the public is correct is done in 559 00:40:34,070 --> 00:40:42,990 conjunction with many agencies and done so so that information that is classified and 560 00:40:42,990 --> 00:40:48,640 shouldn't be released isn't released. And in this case obviously it was not. 561 00:40:48,640 --> 00:40:52,470 The Press: So Bond owes you an apology? Bond owes the 562 00:40:52,470 --> 00:40:53,520 President an apology? 563 00:40:53,520 --> 00:40:56,490 Mr. Gibbs: No, I don't think Bond is alleging that the 564 00:40:56,491 --> 00:40:58,101 President was in the briefing. 565 00:40:58,099 --> 00:40:59,499 The Press: On the -- on the -- two questions. 566 00:40:59,500 --> 00:41:01,220 Mr. Gibbs: Hold on, hold on -- just hold on, just -- this 567 00:41:01,220 --> 00:41:02,430 is an important question, Lester. 568 00:41:02,430 --> 00:41:04,620 The Press: Oh, sure, okay. 569 00:41:04,619 --> 00:41:09,349 Mr. Gibbs: The notion that somehow the White House, in 570 00:41:09,350 --> 00:41:14,740 conjunction with agencies involved in this interrogation, gave out classified information 571 00:41:14,740 --> 00:41:23,620 -- yes, I think an apology on that is owed because it's not true. And I think anybody 572 00:41:23,620 --> 00:41:30,110 that was involved in knowing in the Senate Intelligence Committee what was briefed and 573 00:41:30,109 --> 00:41:36,109 what was reported would know that that wasn't violated. Again, Major, I don't want to speak 574 00:41:36,109 --> 00:41:42,799 for Senator Bond in why, if he was briefed on Monday, why on Tuesday, why does he say 575 00:41:42,800 --> 00:41:50,370 that Abdulmutallab -- the result of his refusal to cooperate after he was Mirandized? Why 576 00:41:50,370 --> 00:42:00,830 does Senator Bond continue to knowingly not have information curb what he's saying, or 577 00:42:00,830 --> 00:42:02,340 is this a bunch of politics? 578 00:42:02,339 --> 00:42:03,939 The Press: So he owes an apology to whom? 579 00:42:03,940 --> 00:42:06,420 Mr. Gibbs: I think he owes an apology to the professionals 580 00:42:06,420 --> 00:42:12,140 in the law enforcement community and those that work in this building, not for Democrats 581 00:42:12,140 --> 00:42:16,760 and Republicans, but who work each and every day to keep the American people safe and would 582 00:42:16,760 --> 00:42:25,260 never, ever, ever knowingly release -- or unknowingly release -- classified information 583 00:42:25,260 --> 00:42:31,900 that could endanger an operation or an interrogation. Again, I think that the reason that charge 584 00:42:31,900 --> 00:42:38,490 is made is only to play politics. I actually don't believe that that -- that he thinks 585 00:42:38,490 --> 00:42:45,050 that's a serious allegation. I think that is -- I think if you look at the letter, it's 586 00:42:45,050 --> 00:42:49,950 clearly -- this is about politics. Michael. 587 00:42:49,950 --> 00:42:51,910 The Press: What message does the President plan to deliver 588 00:42:51,910 --> 00:42:53,220 tonight at the two DNC fundraisers? 589 00:42:53,220 --> 00:42:58,780 Mr. Gibbs: I think he'll continue to talk about some 590 00:42:58,780 --> 00:43:02,390 of what he's talking to the leaders today, some of what he's talking to -- he's talked 591 00:43:02,390 --> 00:43:09,030 to Democrats and Republicans about: the need to continue to push forward on an agenda to 592 00:43:09,030 --> 00:43:15,310 get our economy moving again, to make our country safer. He will also take some questions 593 00:43:15,310 --> 00:43:19,010 at one of these events from folks from Organizing For America. 594 00:43:19,010 --> 00:43:21,740 The Press: Is he going to suggest a best way forward 595 00:43:21,740 --> 00:43:24,460 on his agenda or just talk about the need for it? 596 00:43:24,460 --> 00:43:26,730 Mr. Gibbs: Well, the best way forward is to get it through 597 00:43:26,730 --> 00:43:31,030 the House and the Senate. Jeff. 598 00:43:31,030 --> 00:43:36,870 The Press: Robert, do you know if the President has submitted 599 00:43:36,870 --> 00:43:39,520 a statement on behalf of his aunt, who's in a deportation hearing for the second time 600 00:43:39,520 --> 00:43:40,520 today in a Boston courtroom? 601 00:43:40,520 --> 00:43:44,260 Mr. Gibbs: The President learned of this information, 602 00:43:44,260 --> 00:43:50,320 as you probably know, on the campaign trail I think in early November of 2008 when it 603 00:43:50,320 --> 00:44:00,290 came out. We said then and we would continue to say that everybody in this country should 604 00:44:00,290 --> 00:44:07,310 and must follow the law. We have not been involved at all in that hearing, and we'll 605 00:44:07,310 --> 00:44:13,900 let the law play out as it should. And I would refer you to ICE for any other comments on 606 00:44:13,900 --> 00:44:16,920 what happens with the hearing. 607 00:44:16,920 --> 00:44:17,920 The Press: On that question, though, he did not submit 608 00:44:17,920 --> 00:44:18,920 a statement to -- 609 00:44:18,920 --> 00:44:23,680 Mr. Gibbs: No, no. He has not -- this information came 610 00:44:23,680 --> 00:44:27,220 to light, again, I believe -- I don't have the exact date -- early November of 2008 -- he 611 00:44:27,220 --> 00:44:29,770 has not spoken with her. 612 00:44:29,770 --> 00:44:32,950 The Press: Did he help at all with the -- with her legal 613 00:44:32,950 --> 00:44:34,290 representation or did anyone in his family help with -- 614 00:44:34,290 --> 00:44:35,290 Mr. Gibbs: He did not. 615 00:44:35,290 --> 00:44:36,290 The Press: Mrs. Obama or -- 616 00:44:36,290 --> 00:44:40,220 Mr. Gibbs: He has -- he has not, the family has not. 617 00:44:40,220 --> 00:44:47,850 This is an issue -- this is a legal issue and the President strongly believes that the 618 00:44:47,849 --> 00:44:50,909 law must be followed by everyone. 619 00:44:50,910 --> 00:44:53,980 The Press: Two real quick ones, Robert. Are we going 620 00:44:53,980 --> 00:44:55,000 to hear from the President tomorrow about jobs? 621 00:44:55,000 --> 00:44:56,000 Mr. Gibbs: Yes. I think I was supposed to announce that 622 00:44:56,000 --> 00:45:03,610 we are -- around noon tomorrow will travel to a small business in Maryland to talk about 623 00:45:03,609 --> 00:45:08,429 some of the issues that we've talked about relating to small business -- tax cuts, increased 624 00:45:08,430 --> 00:45:11,980 lending, getting our economy moving again -- and he'll make remarks there. 625 00:45:11,980 --> 00:45:13,240 The Press: Robert, a question on jobs -- 626 00:45:13,240 --> 00:45:14,360 The Press: I'm sorry, can I -- 627 00:45:14,359 --> 00:45:15,359 Mr. Gibbs: I'll get there, don't worry. I'm going to 628 00:45:15,359 --> 00:45:16,359 go twice as long as Bill. 629 00:45:16,359 --> 00:45:17,359 (laughter) 630 00:45:17,359 --> 00:45:19,759 The Press: I want to come back to the Abdulmutallab issue. 631 00:45:19,760 --> 00:45:27,410 You spoke of the inadvertent release of the fact that the suspect was now cooperating. 632 00:45:27,410 --> 00:45:30,260 Is the President upset that that happened? 633 00:45:30,260 --> 00:45:35,680 Mr. Gibbs: I don't want to characterize information that 634 00:45:35,680 --> 00:45:36,680 -- 635 00:45:36,680 --> 00:45:50,390 The Press: Has he had any words with the people who were 636 00:45:50,390 --> 00:45:51,390 responsible for it having been disclosed? 637 00:45:51,390 --> 00:45:53,390 Mr. Gibbs: Not that I'm aware of, but I can check. Ann. 638 00:45:53,390 --> 00:45:55,720 The Press: The Dalai Lama is not a leader of a foreign 639 00:45:55,720 --> 00:45:56,720 power. What is the nature of his invitation here? Is he invited in as a personal guest? 640 00:45:56,720 --> 00:45:57,870 Mr. Gibbs: I can check with NSC. I don't -- the President 641 00:45:57,869 --> 00:46:03,509 meets with folks in the White House all the time that aren't foreign leaders. 642 00:46:03,510 --> 00:46:05,660 The Press: -- whether it's an Oval Office visit or whether 643 00:46:05,660 --> 00:46:06,660 he stops -- 644 00:46:06,660 --> 00:46:09,760 Mr. Gibbs: Yes, and I honestly -- I don't have any information 645 00:46:09,760 --> 00:46:10,850 on where the meeting will take place. Mara. 646 00:46:10,850 --> 00:46:14,780 The Press: I have a question about OFA. One of the striking 647 00:46:14,780 --> 00:46:24,320 features of all of the off-year elections we've had so far is the absence of the -- what 648 00:46:24,320 --> 00:46:27,070 you might call the Obama voters or emergent voters, all those people that he brought into 649 00:46:27,070 --> 00:46:30,000 the electorate in 2008 and that OFA was going to try to keep energized and active. I'm wondering 650 00:46:30,000 --> 00:46:31,600 what his message is going to be to them tonight. 651 00:46:31,599 --> 00:46:33,549 Mr. Gibbs: Look, I think he will talk about what we have 652 00:46:33,550 --> 00:46:39,190 at stake, what we -- the important progress that we have made in the first year and the 653 00:46:39,190 --> 00:46:44,650 steps that we must continue to take on a whole host of issues that he campaigned on for more 654 00:46:44,650 --> 00:46:50,620 than two years. In terms of specifics for OFA I'd point you over to the DNC. Lester, 655 00:46:50,620 --> 00:46:55,780 let's take a crack. 656 00:46:55,780 --> 00:46:58,550 The Press: Thank you so much. In his commendable concern 657 00:46:58,550 --> 00:47:07,320 for the unemployed, the President would be gratified if Katie Couric would share 14.5 658 00:47:07,320 --> 00:47:14,790 of her widely reported $15 million salary to rescue those hundreds of CBS employees 659 00:47:14,790 --> 00:47:20,230 laid off, so she would still have an income similar to the President's, wouldn't he? 660 00:47:20,230 --> 00:47:21,490 Mr. Gibbs: Chip -- 661 00:47:21,490 --> 00:47:22,490 The Press: Oooh! 662 00:47:22,490 --> 00:47:23,490 (laughter) 663 00:47:23,490 --> 00:47:30,730 Mr. Gibbs: Chip is -- no. Look, Lester, Lester, I'm -- Lester, 664 00:47:30,730 --> 00:47:34,380 I'm happy to answer questions on policies that the government -- 665 00:47:34,380 --> 00:47:39,010 The Press: This is unemployment. This is unemployment. 666 00:47:39,010 --> 00:47:44,270 Mr. Gibbs: Lester, I don't think it's appropriate for 667 00:47:44,270 --> 00:47:51,500 me to get into the compensation of a network any more than it is for me to get into your 668 00:47:51,500 --> 00:47:53,320 compensation. 669 00:47:53,320 --> 00:47:56,280 The Press: In this time of such financial problems, though, 670 00:47:56,280 --> 00:48:01,810 why does the President believe that all taxpayers should have to pay $420 million a year, or 671 00:48:01,810 --> 00:48:10,240 more than $8 million a week, to subsidize public broadcasting, whether or not they watch 672 00:48:10,240 --> 00:48:11,300 or listen? 673 00:48:11,300 --> 00:48:15,420 Mr. Gibbs: Public broadcasting provides a great service 674 00:48:15,420 --> 00:48:24,020 to people who, in times of economic downturn, don't listen to the radio or can't buy cable 675 00:48:24,020 --> 00:48:25,020 TV in order -- 676 00:48:25,020 --> 00:48:26,050 The Press: They all listen to the radio. 677 00:48:26,050 --> 00:48:30,470 Mr. Gibbs: I know you think that. Yes, go ahead. 678 00:48:30,470 --> 00:48:37,090 The Press: Just a clarification on the Abdulmutallab 679 00:48:37,089 --> 00:48:41,349 issue. Did the President know in advance Abdulmutallab would be Mirandized? 680 00:48:41,349 --> 00:48:42,609 Mr. Gibbs: I'm sorry? 681 00:48:42,609 --> 00:48:44,029 The Press: Did the President know in advance that Abdulmutallab 682 00:48:44,030 --> 00:48:45,030 would be Mirandized? 683 00:48:45,030 --> 00:48:52,380 Mr. Gibbs: I'll go back and look at the timeline. Those 684 00:48:52,380 --> 00:48:58,340 decisions were made, as you know, by the Attorney General, by the FBI, and done so in conjunction 685 00:48:58,339 --> 00:49:02,079 and in accordance with agencies throughout the government. 686 00:49:02,079 --> 00:49:03,439 The Press: I understand he was notified before they indicted 687 00:49:03,440 --> 00:49:06,380 him, but before the Mirandizing on Christmas Day was -- 688 00:49:06,380 --> 00:49:10,410 Mr. Gibbs: The answer that I have is -- I don't have 689 00:49:10,410 --> 00:49:15,420 the timeline with me. April. 690 00:49:15,420 --> 00:49:17,580 The Press: Robert, on an issue that's been since -- 691 00:49:17,580 --> 00:49:20,200 Mr. Gibbs: Don't worry, we're far afield on issues today. 692 00:49:20,200 --> 00:49:21,500 So fire away, my friend. 693 00:49:21,500 --> 00:49:22,500 (laughter) 694 00:49:22,500 --> 00:49:30,000 The Press: On an issue from way back in the Clinton administration, 695 00:49:30,000 --> 00:49:32,600 the black farmers, President Obama put in for a settlement of $1.2 billion. We understand 696 00:49:32,600 --> 00:49:37,140 today that the White House has been informed that a settlement is very close for the black 697 00:49:37,140 --> 00:49:40,400 farmers, and the Justice Department is working it out. Does this end the whole dispute after 698 00:49:40,400 --> 00:49:43,330 all these years if this is approved? 699 00:49:43,330 --> 00:49:46,490 Mr. Gibbs: April, let me get information on where the 700 00:49:46,490 --> 00:49:53,150 settlement is before I talk on it. 701 00:49:53,150 --> 00:49:54,150 The Press: But wait a minute, I want to ask one thing, 702 00:49:54,150 --> 00:49:58,580 though. The President did propose this for the 2010 budget. How important is this for 703 00:49:58,579 --> 00:50:00,689 this President to rectify this situation? 704 00:50:00,690 --> 00:50:10,000 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, obviously -- clearly, April, it's 705 00:50:10,000 --> 00:50:15,260 something that's important to him. It's been an issue that, as you mentioned, has been 706 00:50:15,260 --> 00:50:20,020 worked on by the federal government now in several different administrations and dating 707 00:50:20,020 --> 00:50:30,040 back many years. Obviously ensuring that justice is done is important in this situation. Bill. 708 00:50:30,040 --> 00:50:32,030 The Press: Robert, following the loss of three American 709 00:50:32,030 --> 00:50:39,240 soldiers in Pakistan, can you tell us how many American troops are on the ground in 710 00:50:39,240 --> 00:50:40,240 Pakistan and what their mission is? 711 00:50:40,240 --> 00:50:41,240 Mr. Gibbs: Well, obviously there were those that were 712 00:50:41,240 --> 00:50:49,900 -- had been invited by the Pakistanis that, along with schoolchildren, were cowardly killed 713 00:50:49,900 --> 00:50:58,110 by terrorists in Pakistan. 714 00:50:58,109 --> 00:50:59,739 The Press: Do you know the extent or the number of troops? 715 00:50:59,740 --> 00:51:05,220 And I guess if you add the increased drone flights and the American troops on the ground, 716 00:51:05,220 --> 00:51:09,250 is there a third war? Are we at war in Pakistan? If not, what do you call it? 717 00:51:09,250 --> 00:51:15,840 Mr. Gibbs: We provide assistance to the Pakistanis as 718 00:51:15,840 --> 00:51:25,030 they increase their efforts in regions of their country along the Afghanistan border 719 00:51:25,030 --> 00:51:31,410 that harbor those that seek to do ill to Pakistanis, Afghans, and Americans. Sam. 720 00:51:31,410 --> 00:51:34,890 The Press: Going back to Chuck's question, you said you 721 00:51:34,890 --> 00:51:40,380 were talking about a change in calculus because of the seating of Scott Brown. Can you expand 722 00:51:40,380 --> 00:51:46,220 on that? And particularly, can you address two nominees -- Craig Becker to the National 723 00:51:46,220 --> 00:51:52,250 Labor Relations Board, and Dawn Johnson to OLC -- who now seem to lack the 60 votes needed 724 00:51:52,250 --> 00:51:55,060 to cut off cloture? How do you see this playing out? 725 00:51:55,060 --> 00:51:57,660 Mr. Gibbs: I don't have specific information on each 726 00:51:57,660 --> 00:52:03,620 of those two nominees. I would simply point you to what the President said in the State 727 00:52:03,619 --> 00:52:08,429 of the Union about the change in number requiring that Democrats and Republicans work together. 728 00:52:08,430 --> 00:52:15,160 I think you've got nominees that have passed out of committee that deserve -- that deserve 729 00:52:15,160 --> 00:52:19,470 support. I think the Senate, if they haven't already, are going to vote on the head of 730 00:52:19,470 --> 00:52:27,270 the GSA, which has been held up since June, since she cleared the committee in June. The 731 00:52:27,270 --> 00:52:39,720 head of the GSA -- I mean, a completely non-controversial appointment held up for months because of 732 00:52:39,720 --> 00:52:45,110 the type of partisan political games that the American people continue to be tired of. 733 00:52:45,109 --> 00:52:48,849 The Press: Well, do you want to see actual filibusters 734 00:52:48,850 --> 00:52:53,400 from the Republican Party, force them to actually talk through these filibusters that they're 735 00:52:53,400 --> 00:52:54,400 launching? 736 00:52:54,400 --> 00:52:57,700 Mr. Gibbs: What I'd like to see is that whether you agree 737 00:52:57,700 --> 00:53:04,730 or disagree with the nominee, that they receive an up or down vote so that they can begin 738 00:53:04,730 --> 00:53:11,070 to do the work of the American people on important jobs that can and should be done and filled 739 00:53:11,070 --> 00:53:12,070 quickly. 740 00:53:12,070 --> 00:53:15,480 The Press: Regarding reports out of Romania today, that 741 00:53:15,480 --> 00:53:22,670 elements of an American defense shield might be placed there, what is your reaction to 742 00:53:22,670 --> 00:53:30,120 that? And also, there might be the inevitable negative reaction by Russia and other countries 743 00:53:30,120 --> 00:53:32,600 in that region regarding the presence of an American defense shield in Romania. 744 00:53:32,597 --> 00:53:35,007 Mr. Gibbs: The President outlined in September a new 745 00:53:35,010 --> 00:53:41,450 approach on missile defense that provided greater coverage to threats for Europe and 746 00:53:41,450 --> 00:53:51,500 for this country. We're pleased that Romania has agreed to participate in that defense 747 00:53:51,500 --> 00:53:58,860 shield that, again, will provide greater security for those that could be threatened there or 748 00:53:58,859 --> 00:54:08,649 here. What the President outlined was something that would -- that would work better, work 749 00:54:08,650 --> 00:54:16,920 faster, and provide greater levels of protection, and that's what we've seen in Romania's agreement 750 00:54:16,920 --> 00:54:19,490 today, and we're quite thankful. Thanks, guys. 751 00:54:19,490 --> 00:54:21,530 The Press: Could you correct your statement about public 752 00:54:21,530 --> 00:54:25,020 broadcasting? I'm sure you didn't mean to say it's for people who don't listen to the 753 00:54:25,020 --> 00:54:26,020 radio. 754 00:54:26,020 --> 00:54:27,020 (laughter) 755 00:54:27,020 --> 00:54:28,910 Mr. Gibbs: No, no, no, I think I might be taking -- I 756 00:54:28,910 --> 00:54:31,440 said for people that might not listen to the radio -- 757 00:54:31,440 --> 00:54:33,270 The Press: Public broadcasting is on the radio. 758 00:54:33,270 --> 00:54:35,860 Mr. Gibbs: Well, right. I think -- right, okay. 759 00:54:35,859 --> 00:54:38,969 The Press: It's paid for by the government. 760 00:54:38,970 --> 00:54:41,580 Mr. Gibbs: Let me say, if you listen to NPR on the radio, 761 00:54:41,579 --> 00:54:47,559 like my mother does, like I do, you could listen to that, you could watch public television 762 00:54:47,559 --> 00:54:48,559 -- 763 00:54:48,559 --> 00:54:51,189 The Press: Well, Lester needs a job. 764 00:54:51,190 --> 00:54:53,190 Mr. Gibbs: Thanks, guys.