English subtitles for clip: File:2-6-13- White House Press Briefing.webm
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1 00:00:00,433 --> 00:00:01,934 Mr. Carney: Hello, everyone. 2 00:00:01,934 --> 00:00:03,966 Thanks for being here. 3 00:00:03,967 --> 00:00:06,433 Before I take your questions, I just wanted to mention that 4 00:00:06,433 --> 00:00:10,466 earlier today, at the White House, Valerie Jarrett, 5 00:00:10,467 --> 00:00:12,734 Senior Advisor; Gene Sperling, Director of the National 6 00:00:12,734 --> 00:00:16,100 Economic Council; Jeff Zients, Director of OMB; 7 00:00:16,100 --> 00:00:18,934 and Alan Krueger, the President's chief economist met 8 00:00:18,934 --> 00:00:20,567 with the following business leaders in the defense 9 00:00:20,567 --> 00:00:25,033 contracting industry: Wes Bush, Chairman, CEO and President of 10 00:00:25,033 --> 00:00:27,834 Northrop Grumman Corporation; David P. Hess, 11 00:00:27,834 --> 00:00:30,633 President of Pratt & Whitney; Linda Parker Hudson, 12 00:00:30,633 --> 00:00:34,333 President and CEO of BAE Systems Inc.; 13 00:00:34,333 --> 00:00:37,166 John S. Langford, Chairman and CEO of Aurora Flight Sciences 14 00:00:37,166 --> 00:00:41,632 Corporation; David F. Melcher, CEO and President of ITT Exelis; 15 00:00:41,633 --> 00:00:45,133 Mike Petters, President and CEO, Huntington Ingalls Industries; 16 00:00:45,133 --> 00:00:50,233 and Marion C. Blakey, President and CEO, Aerospace 17 00:00:50,233 --> 00:00:51,567 Industries Association. 18 00:00:51,567 --> 00:00:56,767 The focus of the conversation was the potential devastating 19 00:00:56,767 --> 00:01:03,600 impacts of the sequester going into effect as a number of the 20 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:07,967 participants noted the notion that allowing the sequester to 21 00:01:07,967 --> 00:01:12,867 take effect would someone have limited effect or would be 22 00:01:12,867 --> 00:01:17,100 reversible, that notion was disputed heavily in the meeting. 23 00:01:17,100 --> 00:01:18,967 For some of these major companies, 24 00:01:18,967 --> 00:01:21,233 the impacts would be long lasting, 25 00:01:21,233 --> 00:01:25,633 as they would have to make decisions about programmatic 26 00:01:25,633 --> 00:01:28,433 changes they would make and therefore contractual changes. 27 00:01:28,433 --> 00:01:30,867 A company like Northrop Grumman, I believe, would have, 28 00:01:30,867 --> 00:01:33,667 for example, something like 20,000 small businesses in their 29 00:01:33,667 --> 00:01:38,500 pipeline that would be severely affected by implementation of 30 00:01:38,500 --> 00:01:40,500 the sequester. 31 00:01:40,500 --> 00:01:42,367 And a lot of these companies, while they are defense 32 00:01:42,367 --> 00:01:46,266 contractors, also have a significant civilian side 33 00:01:46,266 --> 00:01:52,200 business operations that would be negatively affected by the 34 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:54,633 impacts on their R&D budgets, for example. 35 00:01:54,633 --> 00:01:57,000 So this is a very serious matter. 36 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:02,433 I would also note that the participants did not support 37 00:02:02,433 --> 00:02:05,767 proposals thrown out there that we could somehow address only 38 00:02:05,767 --> 00:02:08,900 the defense spending side of the sequester, take care of that, 39 00:02:08,900 --> 00:02:13,333 but let the nondefense cuts kick in, across-the board cuts, 40 00:02:13,333 --> 00:02:15,500 or double up on the nondefense across-the-board cuts, 41 00:02:15,500 --> 00:02:19,600 because these companies depend for their workforces of their 42 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:23,433 future on investments in education and in STEM education 43 00:02:23,433 --> 00:02:28,600 in particular, and in other areas of investment that this 44 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:31,767 government makes to help build the foundation for our 45 00:02:31,767 --> 00:02:32,767 future economy. 46 00:02:32,767 --> 00:02:35,433 So it was a very good meeting and about a very 47 00:02:35,433 --> 00:02:36,433 important topic. 48 00:02:36,433 --> 00:02:38,233 And with that, I go to the Associated Press. 49 00:02:38,233 --> 00:02:39,200 The Press: Thank you. 50 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:41,033 Does the White House have any response to the Boy Scouts 51 00:02:41,033 --> 00:02:43,666 delaying their decision on allowing gay members 52 00:02:43,667 --> 00:02:45,500 and leaders? 53 00:02:45,500 --> 00:02:46,967 Mr. Carney: We have no response. 54 00:02:46,967 --> 00:02:50,033 I don't have a response to their process. 55 00:02:50,033 --> 00:02:53,000 You know that the President believes the Boy Scouts is a 56 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,133 valuable organization that has helped educate and build 57 00:02:55,133 --> 00:02:57,667 character in American boys for more than a century. 58 00:02:57,667 --> 00:03:00,333 He also, as you know, opposes discrimination in all forms, 59 00:03:00,333 --> 00:03:03,600 and as such believes, as he said just on Sunday, 60 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:08,400 that gay Americans ought to be able to participate in 61 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:10,033 the Boy Scouts. 62 00:03:10,033 --> 00:03:13,899 But in terms of the process of their evaluation of their 63 00:03:13,900 --> 00:03:15,367 policies, I don't have a comment. 64 00:03:15,367 --> 00:03:18,700 The Press: The President obviously is in Annapolis talking to Senate 65 00:03:18,700 --> 00:03:23,667 Democrats, and there's no press access to that event, which, 66 00:03:23,667 --> 00:03:26,066 first, we just want to register our complaint on that. 67 00:03:26,066 --> 00:03:29,266 Second of all, can you give us any readout of what the 68 00:03:29,266 --> 00:03:31,733 President's message was going to be to Senate Democrats, 69 00:03:31,734 --> 00:03:38,266 particularly on his priorities for immigration and gun control? 70 00:03:38,266 --> 00:03:42,899 Mr. Carney: The President will talk about all the work that the Senate is 71 00:03:42,900 --> 00:03:45,033 doing -- Senate Democrats are doing with the administration in 72 00:03:45,033 --> 00:03:50,132 a coordinated way, whether it's on addressing the sequester that 73 00:03:50,133 --> 00:03:53,967 I just talked about and our fiscal challenges; 74 00:03:53,967 --> 00:03:57,433 the balanced approach we need to take towards further deficit 75 00:03:57,433 --> 00:04:00,867 reduction; the investments we need to make to ensure our 76 00:04:00,867 --> 00:04:03,632 economy grows and continues to create jobs. 77 00:04:03,633 --> 00:04:06,734 On immigration, there has been -- 78 00:04:06,734 --> 00:04:07,800 and the President will note this -- 79 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:12,567 significant progress made with the participation of Senate 80 00:04:12,567 --> 00:04:18,600 Democrats towards a bipartisan piece of legislation that would 81 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:20,700 meet the standards and principles the President has put 82 00:04:20,700 --> 00:04:25,366 forward in his blueprint, and hopefully would pass the Senate 83 00:04:25,367 --> 00:04:29,100 and the House and get the President's signature. 84 00:04:29,100 --> 00:04:32,033 That's a very high priority of the President's and of 85 00:04:32,033 --> 00:04:33,300 the nation's. 86 00:04:33,300 --> 00:04:36,934 And on other issues, whether it's taking actions to reduce 87 00:04:36,934 --> 00:04:42,533 gun violence in America, or dealing with a variety of other 88 00:04:42,533 --> 00:04:44,567 issues that confront us, the President looks forward to 89 00:04:44,567 --> 00:04:46,734 meeting with Senate Democrats because they play such an 90 00:04:46,734 --> 00:04:49,299 important role in moving this agenda forward. 91 00:04:49,300 --> 00:04:52,300 The Press: What's his message specifically on the assault weapons ban? 92 00:04:52,300 --> 00:04:56,333 That's an issue that several Democrats have refrained from 93 00:04:56,333 --> 00:04:59,033 voicing their support or opposition to. 94 00:04:59,033 --> 00:05:03,100 Is he going to push them to take this to the floor and have a 95 00:05:03,100 --> 00:05:04,934 vote on it? 96 00:05:04,934 --> 00:05:07,600 Mr. Carney: The President firmly supports reinstatement of the assault 97 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:09,300 weapons ban. 98 00:05:09,300 --> 00:05:12,500 He has long supported that. 99 00:05:12,500 --> 00:05:19,233 He understands that these issues are difficult, 100 00:05:19,233 --> 00:05:22,633 that achieving them will not be easy, 101 00:05:22,633 --> 00:05:27,900 but he is committed to pressing forward on them and to enlisting 102 00:05:27,900 --> 00:05:31,734 the support of lawmakers in both the House and the Senate of both 103 00:05:31,734 --> 00:05:33,166 parties in the effort. 104 00:05:33,166 --> 00:05:35,033 As for the assault weapons ban, in particular, 105 00:05:35,033 --> 00:05:38,567 I think he said on Sunday and I know he believes that this needs 106 00:05:38,567 --> 00:05:40,500 to come to a vote. 107 00:05:40,500 --> 00:05:42,367 The American people actually, by most polls, 108 00:05:42,367 --> 00:05:44,867 support passage of the assault weapons ban. 109 00:05:44,867 --> 00:05:47,633 The President certainly does, and he believes it should 110 00:05:47,633 --> 00:05:48,667 come to a vote. 111 00:05:48,667 --> 00:05:51,066 The Press: Even if that means putting members of his own party in the 112 00:05:51,066 --> 00:05:54,599 position to vote against something that he supports or 113 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:56,066 take a vote that could hurt them politically? 114 00:05:56,066 --> 00:06:01,500 Mr. Carney: I think he thinks that the American people, understandably, 115 00:06:01,500 --> 00:06:05,600 expect Congress to vote on these important matters, 116 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:07,967 to vote yes or no. 117 00:06:07,967 --> 00:06:12,834 And he would hope that the Senate has an opportunity 118 00:06:12,834 --> 00:06:14,100 to do that. 119 00:06:14,100 --> 00:06:16,000 The Press: Finally, I wonder if you have any update on the President's 120 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,567 State of the Union, how he's going through the process of 121 00:06:18,567 --> 00:06:21,433 working on that; if there's any sort of message or theme that 122 00:06:21,433 --> 00:06:23,867 you can tell us about at this point. 123 00:06:23,867 --> 00:06:26,066 Mr. Carney: Well, I don't have a preview of the speech itself for you. 124 00:06:26,066 --> 00:06:32,667 It's a collaborative process between the President and his 125 00:06:32,667 --> 00:06:35,099 speechwriter -- in this case, Cody Keenan, 126 00:06:35,100 --> 00:06:41,166 as I think it's been noted is taking the lead on the 127 00:06:41,166 --> 00:06:45,734 speechwriting team for this and will be getting a higher profile 128 00:06:45,734 --> 00:06:49,166 in the weeks to come -- internally, anyway. 129 00:06:49,166 --> 00:06:55,200 But these are speeches that the President takes very seriously. 130 00:06:55,200 --> 00:07:00,500 He's a writer himself, so he engages at a very deep level on 131 00:07:00,500 --> 00:07:03,533 the framing of a speech, on the writing of it and the editing of 132 00:07:03,533 --> 00:07:05,400 it and the shaping of it. 133 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:08,433 So that process continues. 134 00:07:08,433 --> 00:07:09,567 Jeff. 135 00:07:09,567 --> 00:07:13,633 The Press: Jay, Speaker Boehner said today that he would not support a 136 00:07:13,633 --> 00:07:16,532 delay in the sequester without further spending cuts. 137 00:07:16,533 --> 00:07:19,367 And the reaction yesterday from Republicans, 138 00:07:19,367 --> 00:07:22,734 largely to what the President said, was negative. 139 00:07:22,734 --> 00:07:26,166 How do you plan to overcome that opposition? 140 00:07:26,166 --> 00:07:29,667 And more specifically, will the President give any details about 141 00:07:29,667 --> 00:07:33,866 what spending cuts he would like to see in a short-term package? 142 00:07:33,867 --> 00:07:37,967 Mr. Carney: Well, the President was clear yesterday that he believes if we 143 00:07:37,967 --> 00:07:42,332 don't have the time, or the Republicans are not inclined in 144 00:07:42,333 --> 00:07:46,000 the short term to accept the offer that he put forward to 145 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:48,767 Speaker Boehner that would resolve the sequester and then 146 00:07:48,767 --> 00:07:51,967 some when it comes to deficit reduction in a balanced way, 147 00:07:51,967 --> 00:07:55,500 that we should at the very least take action for a temporary 148 00:07:55,500 --> 00:07:58,734 buy-down just as we did at the end of the year of the sequester 149 00:07:58,734 --> 00:08:03,400 in order to prevent the terrible impact of the sequester if it 150 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:06,532 were to take place, and to give Congress the time to continue to 151 00:08:06,533 --> 00:08:11,100 work on a budget process that the President hopes and others 152 00:08:11,100 --> 00:08:16,066 hope will produce a balanced approach towards further 153 00:08:16,066 --> 00:08:17,866 deficit reduction. 154 00:08:17,867 --> 00:08:23,633 So a balanced approach means spending cuts as well as revenue 155 00:08:23,633 --> 00:08:25,332 through tax reform. 156 00:08:25,333 --> 00:08:30,500 So we would work with -- we will work with Congress on a package 157 00:08:30,500 --> 00:08:32,000 that would do that. 158 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:36,467 So if Speaker Boehner is saying that spending cuts have to be 159 00:08:36,467 --> 00:08:39,433 part of that, the President believes that, too. 160 00:08:39,433 --> 00:08:42,033 But it cannot be spending cuts alone. 161 00:08:42,033 --> 00:08:45,967 The balance is what the American people support. 162 00:08:45,967 --> 00:08:49,867 And whether it's proposals, as the Republicans have put 163 00:08:49,867 --> 00:08:53,733 forward, that achieve significant deficit reduction 164 00:08:53,734 --> 00:08:57,300 over 10 years only through spending cuts and therefore 165 00:08:57,300 --> 00:09:01,032 borne almost entirely by senior citizens and struggling 166 00:09:01,033 --> 00:09:03,934 middle-class families and others or proposals for short-term 167 00:09:03,934 --> 00:09:11,699 buying down of the sequester or other measures that would reduce 168 00:09:11,700 --> 00:09:15,867 the deficit, it has to be balanced because it's -- 169 00:09:15,867 --> 00:09:18,000 the principle is broadly supported by the 170 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:19,000 American people. 171 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:21,233 It's the right economic principle to apply. 172 00:09:21,233 --> 00:09:23,733 And the argument that Republicans seem to be making is 173 00:09:23,734 --> 00:09:34,567 that the choice here should be unbalanced spending cuts that 174 00:09:34,567 --> 00:09:39,867 adversely affect Americans who are trying to get by, 175 00:09:39,867 --> 00:09:44,533 but hold harmless corporations that enjoy tax breaks for jets 176 00:09:44,533 --> 00:09:50,333 or subsidies for oil and gas industry, for example; 177 00:09:50,333 --> 00:09:58,266 hedge fund managers who pay a much lower tax rate through the 178 00:09:58,266 --> 00:10:04,033 carried interest provision than average folks who drive a bus or 179 00:10:04,033 --> 00:10:07,100 walk the beat in a municipal police department or teach our 180 00:10:07,100 --> 00:10:11,834 kids -- that that's a better -- that he see that's the choice, 181 00:10:11,834 --> 00:10:16,566 or we let the sequester kick, in thousands of upon thousands 182 00:10:16,567 --> 00:10:20,266 Americans lose their jobs as a result, 183 00:10:20,266 --> 00:10:22,699 and the economy takes a severe blow. 184 00:10:22,700 --> 00:10:25,834 That's a terrible choice, and it's not an option the -- 185 00:10:25,834 --> 00:10:27,433 it's not a choice that has to be made. 186 00:10:27,433 --> 00:10:30,133 If we do it in a balanced way -- and again, 187 00:10:30,133 --> 00:10:32,633 we've done this before, so why was buying down the sequester 188 00:10:32,633 --> 00:10:38,567 for a temporary period of time to allow for congressional work 189 00:10:38,567 --> 00:10:41,200 to be done on this issue for broader deficit reduction, 190 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:43,433 why was it okay to do it in a balanced way two months ago but 191 00:10:43,433 --> 00:10:45,600 it's not okay now? 192 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:46,633 It's the right thing to do. 193 00:10:46,633 --> 00:10:48,734 The President made that clear yesterday. 194 00:10:48,734 --> 00:10:50,467 The Press: And you may pose that question, but, 195 00:10:50,467 --> 00:10:51,967 as I said in the original question, 196 00:10:51,967 --> 00:10:53,400 the response has been -- 197 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:54,632 Mr. Carney: Right, well, they will have to explain. 198 00:10:54,633 --> 00:10:58,533 The Press: But how will you -- will you try to overcome that? 199 00:10:58,533 --> 00:11:01,834 Or is the President willing to accept the fact that on March 200 00:11:01,834 --> 00:11:04,400 1st the sequester would just go in and the people who he met 201 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:07,834 with this morning and their companies and employees 202 00:11:07,834 --> 00:11:08,934 will suffer? 203 00:11:08,934 --> 00:11:13,934 Mr. Carney: Well, the President came out here yesterday in part to 204 00:11:13,934 --> 00:11:20,367 challenge the growing conventional wisdom among 205 00:11:20,367 --> 00:11:25,266 Republicans in Congress that the sequester is somehow acceptable; 206 00:11:25,266 --> 00:11:30,333 it's somehow a useful political play for them, 207 00:11:30,333 --> 00:11:34,065 because the effects of the sequester on average Americans 208 00:11:34,066 --> 00:11:36,633 out there would be very negative. 209 00:11:36,633 --> 00:11:43,333 And he put forward a proposal for avoiding that outcome while 210 00:11:43,333 --> 00:11:48,132 Congress continues to work on longer-term deficit reduction. 211 00:11:48,133 --> 00:11:50,033 That's the sensible thing to do. 212 00:11:50,033 --> 00:11:52,633 Why make -- why punish the American people because you 213 00:11:52,633 --> 00:11:55,600 haven't been able to achieve your ideological objectives 214 00:11:55,600 --> 00:12:00,500 through other means? 215 00:12:00,500 --> 00:12:03,133 They pass budgets that are wholly objectionable to most 216 00:12:03,133 --> 00:12:06,834 Americans; they didn't become law because of that, 217 00:12:06,834 --> 00:12:09,599 because they don't have the support of the American people. 218 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:14,400 Compromise solutions have the support of the American people, 219 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:19,400 solutions that involve some revenues through tax reform -- 220 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:21,600 the kinds of tax reform -- closures of loopholes and 221 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:24,834 capping of deductions that, supposedly, 222 00:12:24,834 --> 00:12:27,132 Republicans supported a few months ago, 223 00:12:27,133 --> 00:12:28,834 but don't support now. 224 00:12:28,834 --> 00:12:31,467 And then combined with spending cuts and entitlement reforms, 225 00:12:31,467 --> 00:12:34,467 we can achieve what has long been this President's goal and 226 00:12:34,467 --> 00:12:38,000 the goal of many others, which is significant deficit reduction 227 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:42,633 on the order of $4 trillion over a decade that would put us on a 228 00:12:42,633 --> 00:12:45,333 fiscally sustainable path and allow our economy to grow and 229 00:12:45,333 --> 00:12:46,900 continue to create jobs. 230 00:12:46,900 --> 00:12:48,967 The Press: And we know what the proposal is for $4 trillion, 231 00:12:48,967 --> 00:12:52,165 and he referred to it yesterday, but the reaction, as I've said, 232 00:12:52,166 --> 00:12:54,834 is they want to see -- the Republicans who would need to 233 00:12:54,834 --> 00:12:58,000 agree to this want to see what the specific spending cuts would 234 00:12:58,000 --> 00:12:59,433 be in the short-term deal. 235 00:12:59,433 --> 00:13:03,066 Mr. Carney: Look, I think that we would work with Congress on whatever a 236 00:13:03,066 --> 00:13:04,667 short-term deal would look like. 237 00:13:04,667 --> 00:13:06,300 It has to be balanced. 238 00:13:06,300 --> 00:13:07,367 The reaction I've heard -- 239 00:13:07,367 --> 00:13:08,266 The Press: That's clear. 240 00:13:08,266 --> 00:13:10,367 But are there any -- do you have any meat on the bone for that 241 00:13:10,367 --> 00:13:12,433 right now -- for either side? 242 00:13:12,433 --> 00:13:14,000 Mr. Carney: We haven't -- we will work with Congress. 243 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:17,300 The meat on the bone in terms of what balance would look like is 244 00:13:17,300 --> 00:13:18,567 available in the bigger plan. 245 00:13:18,567 --> 00:13:20,166 And obviously, you would take -- 246 00:13:20,166 --> 00:13:21,834 The Press: But he's proposing the shorter plan. 247 00:13:21,834 --> 00:13:24,733 Mr. Carney: Jeff, I think -- here are the facts: 248 00:13:24,734 --> 00:13:28,633 We proposed a specific option for the Speaker of the House. 249 00:13:28,633 --> 00:13:30,900 It was a compromise that was far more detailed than anything we 250 00:13:30,900 --> 00:13:32,632 ever saw from the Republicans in that process, 251 00:13:32,633 --> 00:13:35,166 both on the spending cuts side and on the revenue side. 252 00:13:35,166 --> 00:13:37,633 The President made clear yesterday and I've made clear 253 00:13:37,633 --> 00:13:39,166 that deal is still available. 254 00:13:39,166 --> 00:13:43,533 If you want to pursue balance in a short-term deal, 255 00:13:43,533 --> 00:13:48,533 then you can look to the options provided in the President's 256 00:13:48,533 --> 00:13:54,600 proposal for both spending cuts and reforms and revenues. 257 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:57,133 And you can -- when it comes to revenues, 258 00:13:57,133 --> 00:14:00,467 you can look to the language that Republicans used when they 259 00:14:00,467 --> 00:14:03,699 talked about how we could achieve significant revenue 260 00:14:03,700 --> 00:14:07,767 increases from wealthy Americans through tax reform alone. 261 00:14:07,767 --> 00:14:10,533 So if it was true then, it must be true now. 262 00:14:10,533 --> 00:14:11,734 The Press: Jay, follow? 263 00:14:11,734 --> 00:14:14,467 Mr. Carney: Let me -- I'm going to go a little to the right here and 264 00:14:14,467 --> 00:14:15,467 then to the left. 265 00:14:15,467 --> 00:14:16,467 The Press: Jay, thanks. 266 00:14:16,467 --> 00:14:17,433 I want to go back to the drone strikes. 267 00:14:17,433 --> 00:14:19,934 The New York Times is pointing out that a number of military 268 00:14:19,934 --> 00:14:22,967 and intelligence officials have expressed concern that the drone 269 00:14:22,967 --> 00:14:25,967 strikes might actually be creating more militants in areas 270 00:14:25,967 --> 00:14:28,165 like Yemen than they're killing. 271 00:14:28,166 --> 00:14:29,900 Is that one of the effects? 272 00:14:29,900 --> 00:14:31,699 Are they having the reverse impact? 273 00:14:31,700 --> 00:14:35,066 Mr. Carney: Well, I would -- in terms of the broader effort, 274 00:14:35,066 --> 00:14:36,800 I would refer you to the Pentagon -- 275 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:43,433 the broader effort in terms of dealing with al Qaeda. 276 00:14:43,433 --> 00:14:49,967 But the fact is, as John Brennan and others have made clear, 277 00:14:49,967 --> 00:14:53,467 our counterterrorism efforts are designed -- 278 00:14:53,467 --> 00:14:55,233 including our targeted efforts -- 279 00:14:55,233 --> 00:14:59,733 to limit civilian casualties. 280 00:14:59,734 --> 00:15:05,767 And I think any fair assessment of those efforts would draw you 281 00:15:05,767 --> 00:15:09,567 to the conclusion that they have significantly limited civilian 282 00:15:09,567 --> 00:15:10,433 casualties, I think. 283 00:15:10,433 --> 00:15:14,000 The Press: Civilians have been killed. 284 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:16,300 Mr. Carney: Well, again I'm not disputing that necessarily, 285 00:15:16,300 --> 00:15:19,099 although I won't talk about specific instances. 286 00:15:19,100 --> 00:15:25,133 But the fact is, is that the methods that we use are designed 287 00:15:25,133 --> 00:15:28,467 specifically to avoid civilian casualties. 288 00:15:28,467 --> 00:15:33,133 I think it's fair to say that far fewer civilians lose their 289 00:15:33,133 --> 00:15:39,333 lives in an effort to go after senior leadership in al Qaeda 290 00:15:39,333 --> 00:15:42,400 along the lines that we are discussing here as opposed to an 291 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:45,199 effort to invade a country with hundreds of thousands of troops 292 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:50,433 and take cities and towns. 293 00:15:50,433 --> 00:15:54,300 So I think that these are issues that obviously concern everyone 294 00:15:54,300 --> 00:15:59,967 involved in the effort to combat al Qaeda and to deal with the 295 00:15:59,967 --> 00:16:01,066 region as a whole. 296 00:16:01,066 --> 00:16:05,767 So that aspect of it is one that is very much in the front of 297 00:16:05,767 --> 00:16:08,400 everybody's minds when they make these decisions and move forward 298 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:10,600 with actions. 299 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:13,133 The Press: Stanley McChrystal was quoted as saying that these strikes 300 00:16:13,133 --> 00:16:16,100 contribute to a perception of "American arrogance." 301 00:16:16,100 --> 00:16:18,633 How concerned is the President about that, 302 00:16:18,633 --> 00:16:20,166 that these strikes are making America seem arrogant? 303 00:16:20,166 --> 00:16:24,400 Mr. Carney: Well, I think that the President takes a very serious approach to 304 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:29,667 these matters and has, as I said yesterday, 305 00:16:29,667 --> 00:16:35,066 two responsibilities in mind, and that is his absolute 306 00:16:35,066 --> 00:16:37,700 responsibility under the Constitution to protect the 307 00:16:37,700 --> 00:16:41,333 United States and to protect American citizens, 308 00:16:41,333 --> 00:16:47,300 and his responsibility in carrying out the first to do so 309 00:16:47,300 --> 00:16:50,867 in a way that's consistent with our Constitution and our laws 310 00:16:50,867 --> 00:16:54,000 and our values. 311 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:57,800 And on the broader objectives, we obviously take the fight to 312 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:02,599 al Qaeda in a way that we believe serves our national 313 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:04,133 security objectives. 314 00:17:04,133 --> 00:17:08,900 And that means eliminating senior al Qaeda leadership, 315 00:17:08,900 --> 00:17:14,066 and it also means working with countries around the region to 316 00:17:14,066 --> 00:17:17,133 encourage a process whereby the populations in some of these 317 00:17:17,133 --> 00:17:21,767 countries recognize that choosing the ideology of al 318 00:17:21,767 --> 00:17:25,767 Qaeda is ultimately disastrous for them and their futures and 319 00:17:25,767 --> 00:17:26,734 their country's future. 320 00:17:26,733 --> 00:17:33,332 And so it's an effort that includes a lot of different 321 00:17:33,333 --> 00:17:35,934 elements to it that is not just military. 322 00:17:35,934 --> 00:17:38,200 The Press: And just shifting to the President's trip to Israel 323 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:42,533 quickly, does he plan to bring any concrete proposals to his 324 00:17:42,533 --> 00:17:44,100 trip to advance the peace talks? 325 00:17:44,100 --> 00:17:48,233 Has Netanyahu offered any proposals ahead of the visit? 326 00:17:48,233 --> 00:17:53,600 Mr. Carney: As I said yesterday, this is a trip the President looks forward 327 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:57,632 to making that is timed in part because we have here obviously a 328 00:17:57,633 --> 00:18:00,567 second term for the President, a new administration, 329 00:18:00,567 --> 00:18:05,367 and a new government in Israel, and that's an opportune time for 330 00:18:05,367 --> 00:18:10,265 a visit like this that is not focused on specific Middle East 331 00:18:10,266 --> 00:18:11,967 peace process proposals. 332 00:18:11,967 --> 00:18:16,333 I'm sure that any time the President and Prime Minister 333 00:18:16,333 --> 00:18:19,100 have a discussion, certainly any time the President has a 334 00:18:19,100 --> 00:18:21,000 discussion with leaders of the Palestinian Authority, 335 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:22,900 that those issues are raised. 336 00:18:22,900 --> 00:18:28,066 But that is not the purpose of this visit. 337 00:18:28,066 --> 00:18:31,967 Our views and our efforts on Middle East peace are clear and 338 00:18:31,967 --> 00:18:34,233 they're continuing. 339 00:18:34,233 --> 00:18:38,233 And I think as I said yesterday, the visit will include travel to 340 00:18:38,233 --> 00:18:41,265 the West Bank as well as to Jordan. 341 00:18:41,266 --> 00:18:46,000 The Press: Jay, on the drones, why are you dancing around the question of 342 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:47,667 whether or not we kill civilians? 343 00:18:47,667 --> 00:18:49,667 Why can't the government at least admit that civilians 344 00:18:49,667 --> 00:18:50,800 have been killed? 345 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:52,399 Mr. Carney: I don't think that I'm dancing around it. 346 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:53,266 I didn't dispute it. 347 00:18:53,266 --> 00:18:54,667 The Press: You said I'm not necessarily disputing it. 348 00:18:54,667 --> 00:18:55,899 Mr. Carney: Well, I'm just not going to -- what I can't do or 349 00:18:55,900 --> 00:18:56,800 what I'm not -- 350 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:57,734 The Press: Civilians have been killed, right? 351 00:18:57,734 --> 00:18:58,867 Mr. Carney: I don't disagree with that. 352 00:18:58,867 --> 00:19:00,667 The Press: Okay. 353 00:19:00,667 --> 00:19:02,300 Do you think this is going to imperil John 354 00:19:02,300 --> 00:19:03,800 Brennan's nomination? 355 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:07,367 Mr. Carney: The President believes that John Brennan is uniquely qualified as 356 00:19:07,367 --> 00:19:10,567 a 25-year veteran of intelligence work -- 357 00:19:10,567 --> 00:19:15,767 a 25-year veteran at the CIA -- to lead that agency. 358 00:19:15,767 --> 00:19:19,166 And as the President's top counterterrorism advisor these 359 00:19:19,166 --> 00:19:23,633 past four years, he's done extraordinary work in the effort 360 00:19:23,633 --> 00:19:29,934 to combat al Qaeda, and through that work we have seen a 361 00:19:29,934 --> 00:19:33,767 significant decimation of senior al Qaeda leadership, 362 00:19:33,767 --> 00:19:38,667 including the elimination of Osama bin Laden. 363 00:19:38,667 --> 00:19:44,399 Mr. Brennan brings I think not only a vast amount of experience 364 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:50,200 but a significant perspective on the battles that we wage in this 365 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:53,333 effort and the right way to conduct them. 366 00:19:53,333 --> 00:19:59,200 So the President believes that the Senate should and will 367 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:01,834 confirm John Brennan expeditiously. 368 00:20:01,834 --> 00:20:02,834 The Press: Two quick questions. 369 00:20:02,834 --> 00:20:05,300 CBO yesterday in a report said that the President's health care 370 00:20:05,300 --> 00:20:08,233 law is going to push 7 million people out of their job-based 371 00:20:08,233 --> 00:20:09,500 insurance coverage. 372 00:20:09,500 --> 00:20:12,000 That's nearly twice the previous estimate. 373 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:15,300 In fairness, it seems like it's not because of the original 374 00:20:15,300 --> 00:20:18,667 health care law, it's because of some tax changes in the fiscal 375 00:20:18,667 --> 00:20:21,500 cliff talks that in part is causing this change. 376 00:20:21,500 --> 00:20:24,433 But since it's happening, how can the President still claim 377 00:20:24,433 --> 00:20:26,233 that people are going to get to keep their coverage, 378 00:20:26,233 --> 00:20:28,899 keep their doctor, if 7 million people are going to be thrown 379 00:20:28,900 --> 00:20:29,900 off their insurance? 380 00:20:29,900 --> 00:20:33,033 Mr. Carney: Well, I think that the report is oversimplified in a number of 381 00:20:33,033 --> 00:20:36,100 areas, and HHS can provide you more details, 382 00:20:36,100 --> 00:20:37,766 more information about that. 383 00:20:37,767 --> 00:20:40,233 The bottom line here is that no matter where you live, 384 00:20:40,233 --> 00:20:44,500 on January 1st, 2014, an insurance marketplace will be up 385 00:20:44,500 --> 00:20:46,867 and running, and consumers will have more access to quality, 386 00:20:46,867 --> 00:20:48,200 affordable health insurance coverage. 387 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:51,800 We've seen just in recent days and weeks, 388 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:57,033 states led by both Democrats and Republicans stepping forward to 389 00:20:57,033 --> 00:20:59,300 implement the Affordable Care Act. 390 00:20:59,300 --> 00:21:02,500 We now have approximately 25 states, again, 391 00:21:02,500 --> 00:21:06,533 led by members of both parties, that will operate their own 392 00:21:06,533 --> 00:21:08,833 health insurance marketplace either on their own or in 393 00:21:08,834 --> 00:21:10,667 partnership with the federal government. 394 00:21:10,667 --> 00:21:14,233 And as I said, in 2014 consumers in all 50 states will have 395 00:21:14,233 --> 00:21:16,867 access to a marketplace where they can afford -- 396 00:21:16,867 --> 00:21:19,066 where they can access, rather, affordable private health 397 00:21:19,066 --> 00:21:21,233 insurance coverage. 398 00:21:21,233 --> 00:21:22,600 The Press: Last thing is on the Boy Scouts. 399 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:24,166 When you were asked about it before you said that the 400 00:21:24,166 --> 00:21:26,833 President was motivated in large part because he opposes 401 00:21:26,834 --> 00:21:29,500 discrimination in all forms, of course. 402 00:21:29,500 --> 00:21:33,400 He believed the same about discrimination in 2009, 403 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:36,967 I assume, and yet was against same-sex marriage. 404 00:21:36,967 --> 00:21:41,367 What has driven his evolution on issues like same-sex marriage? 405 00:21:41,367 --> 00:21:44,567 Mr. Carney: I think the President gave a lengthy interview about just 406 00:21:44,567 --> 00:21:48,300 this very topic to Robin Roberts last year, 407 00:21:48,300 --> 00:21:51,100 so I would point you to his comments about his evolution. 408 00:21:51,100 --> 00:21:52,934 The Press: But he opposed discrimination -- is it because of public 409 00:21:52,934 --> 00:21:54,700 sentiment changing so much over the last decade? 410 00:21:54,700 --> 00:21:58,166 Mr. Carney: Well, again, I would -- for his personal evolution -- 411 00:21:58,166 --> 00:22:00,833 a term that he used -- I would point you to his words. 412 00:22:00,834 --> 00:22:02,133 I think that there's no question, 413 00:22:02,133 --> 00:22:04,600 as many have written about and commented on, 414 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:13,632 that our country has as a whole evolved significantly in our 415 00:22:13,633 --> 00:22:15,633 view, the public's view, of these matters. 416 00:22:15,633 --> 00:22:19,967 And the President believes that's a very good thing. 417 00:22:19,967 --> 00:22:21,967 Dan. 418 00:22:21,967 --> 00:22:25,133 The Press: Does the President owe the American people a clearer 419 00:22:25,133 --> 00:22:29,734 explanation about the standard or the threshold for killing 420 00:22:29,734 --> 00:22:32,399 Americans overseas? 421 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:35,066 Mr. Carney: I think it's an excellent question and it's the one the 422 00:22:35,066 --> 00:22:38,533 President -- and it is one that the President takes very much to 423 00:22:38,533 --> 00:22:39,533 heart and very seriously. 424 00:22:39,533 --> 00:22:45,166 He thinks that it is legitimate to ask questions about how we 425 00:22:45,166 --> 00:22:49,433 prosecute the war against al Qaeda. 426 00:22:49,433 --> 00:22:55,967 It is something that he has discussed internally. 427 00:22:55,967 --> 00:22:58,567 It is his belief in these issues, 428 00:22:58,567 --> 00:23:01,900 his belief that we need to move forward with more transparency 429 00:23:01,900 --> 00:23:06,533 as well as create, in his words, a "legal framework" around how 430 00:23:06,533 --> 00:23:11,533 these decisions are made that has led to, I think, 431 00:23:11,533 --> 00:23:15,466 unprecedented levels of information provided to the 432 00:23:15,467 --> 00:23:18,767 public about how we do this, including the speeches that I 433 00:23:18,767 --> 00:23:21,500 talked about yesterday from John Brennan and the Attorney General 434 00:23:21,500 --> 00:23:23,900 and others -- Jeh Johnson and others. 435 00:23:23,900 --> 00:23:28,700 And the President fully expects that that process will continue, 436 00:23:28,700 --> 00:23:30,600 because these are issues that he believes are very important. 437 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:35,132 As I said before, his high responsibility here as 438 00:23:35,133 --> 00:23:38,033 Commander-in-Chief is to protect the American people and to 439 00:23:38,033 --> 00:23:43,199 protect the United States from threats like the threats posed 440 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:44,633 by al Qaeda. 441 00:23:44,633 --> 00:23:49,333 It is also his high responsibility to perform that 442 00:23:49,333 --> 00:23:52,900 function in a way that is consistent with who we are, 443 00:23:52,900 --> 00:23:54,400 our values and the Constitution. 444 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:59,834 And he believes that it's wholly legitimate to examine these 445 00:23:59,834 --> 00:24:02,967 issues and to have conversations about them. 446 00:24:02,967 --> 00:24:09,734 And he is engaged here internally in a process that I 447 00:24:09,734 --> 00:24:11,300 think reflects his views on this. 448 00:24:11,300 --> 00:24:13,667 I think he said late last year, in the fall, 449 00:24:13,667 --> 00:24:15,899 one of the things -- this was in an interview, 450 00:24:15,900 --> 00:24:18,000 and I'm quoting the President -- "One of the things that we've 451 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:20,867 got to do is put a legal architecture in place, 452 00:24:20,867 --> 00:24:22,767 and we need congressional help to do that, 453 00:24:22,767 --> 00:24:25,667 to make sure that not only am I reined in, 454 00:24:25,667 --> 00:24:27,632 but any President is reined in, in terms of some of the 455 00:24:27,633 --> 00:24:28,633 decisions that we're making." 456 00:24:28,633 --> 00:24:32,166 So we're talking -- he's talking about this in a very 457 00:24:32,166 --> 00:24:34,667 deliberative and thoughtful way about how we move forward as a 458 00:24:34,667 --> 00:24:38,667 nation on these issues, because, obviously, this is a -- 459 00:24:38,667 --> 00:24:42,300 these are questions that will be with us long after he is 460 00:24:42,300 --> 00:24:45,332 President and long after the people who are in the seats that 461 00:24:45,333 --> 00:24:47,433 they're in now have left the scene. 462 00:24:47,433 --> 00:24:49,834 The Press: And can we expect him to address this in a public way 463 00:24:49,834 --> 00:24:51,033 any time soon? 464 00:24:51,033 --> 00:24:53,300 Mr. Carney: Well, I don't have any scheduling announcements to make 465 00:24:53,300 --> 00:24:56,567 or remarks to preview. 466 00:24:56,567 --> 00:25:01,433 But I just wanted to convey to you the seriousness with which 467 00:25:01,433 --> 00:25:03,000 the President approaches these issues, 468 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:07,533 and he respects the questions being asked. 469 00:25:07,533 --> 00:25:12,300 I think, again, while the white paper that was produced by the 470 00:25:12,300 --> 00:25:15,700 Department of Justice for senators was not a public 471 00:25:15,700 --> 00:25:18,467 document, as I noted yesterday, it does -- 472 00:25:18,467 --> 00:25:26,633 it did represent an effort in our providing of information to 473 00:25:26,633 --> 00:25:31,300 the applicable members of Congress to explain the legal 474 00:25:31,300 --> 00:25:36,233 concepts and legal theories that undergird the decisions that are 475 00:25:36,233 --> 00:25:37,265 being made. 476 00:25:37,266 --> 00:25:38,433 The Press: Jay on that question -- 477 00:25:38,433 --> 00:25:39,600 Mr. Carney: Can I just -- I'm still with Dan. 478 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:40,934 The Press: I just have one more thing on the budget. 479 00:25:40,934 --> 00:25:45,000 We're at a place now that we've been at several times over the 480 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:47,567 last few years when it comes to fiscal matters, 481 00:25:47,567 --> 00:25:50,567 and that is there is a looming deadline, 482 00:25:50,567 --> 00:25:53,834 and then the White House will have meetings with people who 483 00:25:53,834 --> 00:25:56,533 are talking about dire consequences if something 484 00:25:56,533 --> 00:25:57,533 doesn't happen. 485 00:25:57,533 --> 00:26:00,399 What do you say to the American people who are just simply 486 00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:04,233 frustrated with the cycle that they've sort of gotten used to 487 00:26:04,233 --> 00:26:05,966 now for several years? 488 00:26:05,967 --> 00:26:07,467 Mr. Carney: We agree with their frustration. 489 00:26:07,467 --> 00:26:09,867 The President understands that frustration. 490 00:26:09,867 --> 00:26:16,800 The dysfunction that often dominates the way we govern here 491 00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:20,433 in Washington is a source of frustration to every American 492 00:26:20,433 --> 00:26:23,367 who is paying attention and every American for whom the 493 00:26:23,367 --> 00:26:27,934 dysfunction has an adverse effect on how they live their 494 00:26:27,934 --> 00:26:30,266 lives, and maybe their livelihoods. 495 00:26:30,266 --> 00:26:33,900 That would certainly be the case if political calculations were 496 00:26:33,900 --> 00:26:38,967 the result of -- resulted in the sequester kicking in because of 497 00:26:38,967 --> 00:26:44,266 a desire to achieve some sort of ideological objectives in a way 498 00:26:44,266 --> 00:26:47,767 that would throw a lot of Americans out of work and do 499 00:26:47,767 --> 00:26:49,700 obvious harm to our economy. 500 00:26:49,700 --> 00:26:51,433 The President talked about this I think on a couple 501 00:26:51,433 --> 00:26:52,433 of occasions. 502 00:26:52,433 --> 00:26:55,533 He said we have to get out from under the cloud of crises, 503 00:26:55,533 --> 00:26:59,867 this mode of governing where we sort of go from, 504 00:26:59,867 --> 00:27:04,066 as you described it, crisis to crisis in these confrontations. 505 00:27:04,066 --> 00:27:10,033 We need to go about our business in a way that allows for 506 00:27:10,033 --> 00:27:16,065 compromise, that rejects sort of absolutist positions that have 507 00:27:16,066 --> 00:27:19,667 no -- adherence to absolutist positions that won't become law 508 00:27:19,667 --> 00:27:22,399 and that only drive us to brinksmanship. 509 00:27:22,400 --> 00:27:25,100 The President has practiced that in his approach, 510 00:27:25,100 --> 00:27:29,800 sometimes causing himself political peril, 511 00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:32,966 but he has believed that that's the right way to do this. 512 00:27:32,967 --> 00:27:41,066 And going to the aspect of this that involves reaching out to 513 00:27:41,066 --> 00:27:43,567 people like defense contractors or traveling around the country 514 00:27:43,567 --> 00:27:49,066 to engage, it's a reminder that what happens here and the 515 00:27:49,066 --> 00:27:51,734 decisions made, or the failure to act, 516 00:27:51,734 --> 00:27:56,399 all of this has an effect on people around the country; 517 00:27:56,400 --> 00:27:58,834 it's not just a parlor game here in Washington. 518 00:27:58,834 --> 00:28:02,900 These are real-world decisions that significantly affect our 519 00:28:02,900 --> 00:28:04,667 economy and the American people. 520 00:28:04,667 --> 00:28:08,000 So he would whole-heartedly agree with the sense of 521 00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:12,600 frustration Americans have about this kind of governance, 522 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:17,100 and he hopes that we can move beyond that and return, 523 00:28:17,100 --> 00:28:19,899 if you will, to sort of more regular order when it comes to 524 00:28:19,900 --> 00:28:21,767 how we deliberate about our budget process, 525 00:28:21,767 --> 00:28:25,567 how we move forward on reducing our deficit. 526 00:28:25,567 --> 00:28:28,767 The options for that -- that path is open and available. 527 00:28:28,767 --> 00:28:31,333 Compromise is the way to achieve it. 528 00:28:31,333 --> 00:28:33,200 The Press: And so is the White House just pointing the finger -- 529 00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:34,567 the blame at Republicans? 530 00:28:34,567 --> 00:28:35,567 Mr. Carney: No, not at all. 531 00:28:35,567 --> 00:28:38,200 I mean, again, I think if you saw in the President's 532 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:41,767 proposals, as he made clear yesterday, 533 00:28:41,767 --> 00:28:48,400 are on the table to be taken up, you saw tough decisions for a 534 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:50,200 Democrat -- a Democratic President, 535 00:28:50,200 --> 00:28:54,800 you saw a willingness to compromise in the scope of 536 00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:58,300 revenue that he believes should be included in a big package, 537 00:28:58,300 --> 00:29:01,867 you saw significant spending cuts on top of the already 538 00:29:01,867 --> 00:29:05,300 significant spending cuts this President has signed into law -- 539 00:29:05,300 --> 00:29:10,066 that's the kind of spirit of compromise that he believes is 540 00:29:10,066 --> 00:29:12,367 required when we're just trying to get work done for the 541 00:29:12,367 --> 00:29:16,332 American people and trying not to do harm to the economy, 542 00:29:16,333 --> 00:29:18,633 let alone help the economy, which is what we should 543 00:29:18,633 --> 00:29:19,633 be doing. 544 00:29:19,633 --> 00:29:22,233 The Press: Jay, on that question of the drone strikes, 545 00:29:22,233 --> 00:29:26,633 Senator Wyden today is saying he's going to "pull out all the 546 00:29:26,633 --> 00:29:29,667 stops" to force the administration to turn over the 547 00:29:29,667 --> 00:29:31,033 actual legal analysis behind the justification for the drone 548 00:29:31,033 --> 00:29:35,100 strikes -- not the much discussed white paper, 549 00:29:35,100 --> 00:29:37,632 but the actual legal memos. 550 00:29:37,633 --> 00:29:43,200 That sounds to me like a senator raising the possibility of 551 00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:44,367 a filibuster. 552 00:29:44,367 --> 00:29:46,200 What is your answer to Senator Wyden? 553 00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:50,100 Will the Intelligence Committee, will the Congress get the actual 554 00:29:50,100 --> 00:29:53,132 legal analysis used to justify those strikes? 555 00:29:53,133 --> 00:29:57,033 Mr. Carney: Well, without discussing specific actions or cases or 556 00:29:57,033 --> 00:30:01,000 memos, I can say that the President has been and is 557 00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:04,200 committed to working with Congress on these matters and to 558 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:06,233 providing information to Congress, 559 00:30:06,233 --> 00:30:08,300 and that process continues. 560 00:30:08,300 --> 00:30:09,466 I think it's important to note -- 561 00:30:09,467 --> 00:30:10,900 and I should have said this yesterday -- 562 00:30:10,900 --> 00:30:14,033 that when it comes to some of these matters, 563 00:30:14,033 --> 00:30:20,399 the information that is kept secret is kept secret for 564 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:22,533 national security reasons not to keep it from the American 565 00:30:22,533 --> 00:30:27,466 people, but to keep it from those who plot daily and 566 00:30:27,467 --> 00:30:30,000 continually to do harm to the United States and do harm to the 567 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:31,533 American people. 568 00:30:31,533 --> 00:30:35,033 That is the premise behind which decisions like that are made. 569 00:30:35,033 --> 00:30:36,966 Having said that, again, broadly speaking -- 570 00:30:36,967 --> 00:30:44,300 not referring to any specific operation or possible memo or 571 00:30:44,300 --> 00:30:48,100 memos -- the President is committed to continuing to work 572 00:30:48,100 --> 00:30:51,966 with Congress to provide Congress information on these 573 00:30:51,967 --> 00:30:54,900 important matters as he has been in the past. 574 00:30:54,900 --> 00:30:57,734 The Press: So Wyden will get his -- the information he wants -- 575 00:30:57,734 --> 00:31:02,066 Mr. Carney: Again, I'm not going to -- I can't and won't talk about 576 00:31:02,066 --> 00:31:05,033 specific operations or specific memos that may or may not exist. 577 00:31:05,033 --> 00:31:07,600 What I can say is that the President and this 578 00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:12,100 administration will continue to work with Congress, as it has, 579 00:31:12,100 --> 00:31:19,132 to consult with and provide information to appropriate 580 00:31:19,133 --> 00:31:22,000 members about these important, weighty matters. 581 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:26,900 The Press: An entirely different subject: The post office is saying it's 582 00:31:26,900 --> 00:31:28,900 going to do away with Saturday delivery. 583 00:31:28,900 --> 00:31:31,834 Does the President have a problem with that decision? 584 00:31:31,834 --> 00:31:33,633 Mr. Carney: Well, a couple of things. 585 00:31:33,633 --> 00:31:37,767 One, this is a decision -- it's an independent agency, 586 00:31:37,767 --> 00:31:40,533 as you know, the Postal Service, and this is a decision that 587 00:31:40,533 --> 00:31:43,132 we found out about here just yesterday. 588 00:31:43,133 --> 00:31:44,967 And I'm looking -- I have a little more information for 589 00:31:44,967 --> 00:31:50,433 you on it. 590 00:31:50,433 --> 00:31:52,166 So let me just make that point. 591 00:31:52,166 --> 00:31:57,899 The second point is that we put forward a year and a half ago a 592 00:31:57,900 --> 00:32:01,900 series of proposals for reform of the Postal Service that would 593 00:32:01,900 --> 00:32:09,600 put it on much more firm financial ground and it passed 594 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:10,567 the Senate. 595 00:32:10,567 --> 00:32:13,700 Unfortunately, the House failed to take it up. 596 00:32:13,700 --> 00:32:18,066 So it would be our preference that that comprehensive package 597 00:32:18,066 --> 00:32:23,667 of reforms be implemented for the sake of a stronger future 598 00:32:23,667 --> 00:32:24,667 Postal Service. 599 00:32:24,667 --> 00:32:27,766 But we're looking at this particular action now and can't 600 00:32:27,767 --> 00:32:29,867 really evaluate it yet since we just found out about 601 00:32:29,867 --> 00:32:31,200 it yesterday. 602 00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:32,233 Yes. 603 00:32:32,233 --> 00:32:33,767 The Press: You mentioned a minute ago that the President wants to put a 604 00:32:33,767 --> 00:32:37,500 legal architecture in place for the drone strikes. 605 00:32:37,500 --> 00:32:39,166 What steps is he taking to do that? 606 00:32:39,166 --> 00:32:40,966 Is he proposing something to Congress? 607 00:32:40,967 --> 00:32:43,533 Is he asking them to come up with it? 608 00:32:43,533 --> 00:32:46,399 Mr. Carney: Again, I think this is -- I was quoting the President and this 609 00:32:46,400 --> 00:32:49,900 is something that he and others have talked about. 610 00:32:49,900 --> 00:32:53,467 Mr. Brennan has said in the past that we're trying to right now 611 00:32:53,467 --> 00:32:54,900 -- "What we're trying to do right now is to have a set of 612 00:32:54,900 --> 00:32:57,834 standards, a set of criteria and have a decision-making process 613 00:32:57,834 --> 00:33:00,633 that will govern our counterterrorism actions so that 614 00:33:00,633 --> 00:33:02,734 irrespective of the venue where they're taking place, 615 00:33:02,734 --> 00:33:04,567 we have a high confidence that they're being done for the 616 00:33:04,567 --> 00:33:06,433 rights reasons in the right way." 617 00:33:06,433 --> 00:33:07,433 So this -- 618 00:33:07,433 --> 00:33:09,033 The Press: Would you agree to getting Congress involved in it? 619 00:33:09,033 --> 00:33:11,934 Mr. Carney: Well, I think that the answer is yes. 620 00:33:11,934 --> 00:33:16,233 Again, quoting the President, he said last fall that there is a 621 00:33:16,233 --> 00:33:20,133 -- that it requires consultations with Congress that 622 00:33:20,133 --> 00:33:22,700 this -- and that's why going to Jon's question, 623 00:33:22,700 --> 00:33:26,767 that we have been and will continue to be engaging with 624 00:33:26,767 --> 00:33:28,600 Congress on these important matters. 625 00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:32,867 What that structure looks like and timelines on it, 626 00:33:32,867 --> 00:33:35,399 I don't have information for you today about, 627 00:33:35,400 --> 00:33:39,266 but it is something that the President considers a lot and 628 00:33:39,266 --> 00:33:40,166 takes very seriously. 629 00:33:40,166 --> 00:33:41,767 The Press: But are these deliberations underway? 630 00:33:41,767 --> 00:33:43,066 Mr. Carney: Yes, they are. 631 00:33:43,066 --> 00:33:44,166 The Press: I mean, have you gone to Congress and opened 632 00:33:44,166 --> 00:33:45,300 these discussions? 633 00:33:45,300 --> 00:33:46,966 Mr. Carney: Well, again, I don't have any modalities to report to you in 634 00:33:46,967 --> 00:33:49,266 terms of specific conversations or meetings. 635 00:33:49,266 --> 00:33:53,500 But as Mr. Brennan and the President have discussed, 636 00:33:53,500 --> 00:34:00,600 this is something that has been underway and will continue to 637 00:34:00,600 --> 00:34:03,800 occupy a fair amount of time for people involved here, 638 00:34:03,800 --> 00:34:06,834 because it is the desire of this President to make sure that we 639 00:34:06,834 --> 00:34:13,300 have an architecture in place that governs these issues not 640 00:34:13,300 --> 00:34:15,000 just for this President and this administration, 641 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:16,100 but for the future. 642 00:34:16,100 --> 00:34:19,500 The Press: But just to clear, he wants to write rules for this kind of -- 643 00:34:19,500 --> 00:34:21,600 Mr. Carney: Again, I don't have -- to use that fancy word, 644 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:23,533 I don't have the modalities here. 645 00:34:23,533 --> 00:34:28,033 I don't know -- or I don't have for you today what 646 00:34:28,033 --> 00:34:30,199 that looks like. 647 00:34:30,199 --> 00:34:32,332 It has been described as a playbook. 648 00:34:32,333 --> 00:34:34,500 It has been described as a set of standards. 649 00:34:34,500 --> 00:34:39,333 But what it does represent, the effort itself represents I think 650 00:34:39,333 --> 00:34:42,667 the thoughtfulness and seriousness with which this 651 00:34:42,667 --> 00:34:46,065 administration, led by this President, 652 00:34:46,065 --> 00:34:47,899 approaches these issues. 653 00:34:47,900 --> 00:34:49,066 The Press: Just one other question here. 654 00:34:49,065 --> 00:34:52,299 A few days ago you were asked about the -- 655 00:34:52,300 --> 00:34:54,834 Mr. Carney: You're not going to throw my words back on me? 656 00:34:54,833 --> 00:34:57,299 The Press: -- remodeling of the West Wing and temporary quarters for 657 00:34:57,300 --> 00:34:58,300 the President. 658 00:34:58,300 --> 00:34:59,934 You referred us to GSA. 659 00:34:59,934 --> 00:35:02,433 They have been completely uncommunicative on the issue. 660 00:35:02,433 --> 00:35:04,734 Do you have anything more on it? 661 00:35:04,734 --> 00:35:07,500 And should we expect something from them? 662 00:35:07,500 --> 00:35:10,800 Mr. Carney: Well, let me just say that as a rule with renovations and things 663 00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:14,934 like that and just work being done on this complex, 664 00:35:14,934 --> 00:35:17,500 we do refer reporters to the GSA. 665 00:35:17,500 --> 00:35:18,400 That's their -- 666 00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:19,500 The Press: Yes, well, it doesn't do us any good. 667 00:35:19,500 --> 00:35:20,700 Mr. Carney: But I can say specifically there -- 668 00:35:20,700 --> 00:35:26,133 the reports about a replica Oval Office are false, 669 00:35:26,133 --> 00:35:29,567 and no one is moving from the West Wing. 670 00:35:29,567 --> 00:35:33,266 Certainly, no decisions about that have been made and not in 671 00:35:33,266 --> 00:35:35,266 any timeframe that -- 672 00:35:35,266 --> 00:35:36,467 The Press: You're saying that no one is moving from the West Wing, 673 00:35:36,467 --> 00:35:37,867 you mean including the President? 674 00:35:37,867 --> 00:35:39,200 Mr. Carney: Including the President. 675 00:35:39,200 --> 00:35:40,866 The Press: Even though renovations may be made? 676 00:35:40,867 --> 00:35:43,133 Mr. Carney: Well, again, I don't have -- for what kinds of renovations -- 677 00:35:43,133 --> 00:35:44,700 I mean, you guys have looked around and seen that there's 678 00:35:44,700 --> 00:35:48,399 constant work being undertaken here on the overall campus, 679 00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:50,367 but I don't have anything specific. 680 00:35:50,367 --> 00:35:53,667 But because this issue, because of the description of an alleged 681 00:35:53,667 --> 00:35:57,700 replica Oval Office was reported out, 682 00:35:57,700 --> 00:35:59,366 I can tell you that that is false. 683 00:35:59,367 --> 00:36:00,800 The Press: Temporary office quarters for him? 684 00:36:00,800 --> 00:36:02,633 Mr. Carney: Again, I just don't have any more information for you. 685 00:36:02,633 --> 00:36:05,667 It's not something that's on my radar. 686 00:36:05,667 --> 00:36:08,433 I would refer you for more details to the GSA. 687 00:36:08,433 --> 00:36:09,700 The Press: That hasn't worked. 688 00:36:09,700 --> 00:36:12,500 Perhaps you could ask them to help us out? 689 00:36:12,500 --> 00:36:15,867 Mr. Carney: I will -- I'm sure they know now, 690 00:36:15,867 --> 00:36:18,266 because they're probably watching, that this has come up. 691 00:36:18,266 --> 00:36:19,266 (laughter) 692 00:36:19,266 --> 00:36:20,066 The Press: Let's hope. 693 00:36:20,066 --> 00:36:21,100 Mr. Carney: So we'll see what happens. 694 00:36:21,100 --> 00:36:23,165 The Press: Come on, guys. 695 00:36:23,166 --> 00:36:24,767 Mr. Carney: Sorry, who do I have here? 696 00:36:24,767 --> 00:36:25,767 Yes, Peter. 697 00:36:25,767 --> 00:36:26,533 The Press: Thank you, Jay. 698 00:36:26,533 --> 00:36:29,400 The President is making a Cabinet appointment today. 699 00:36:29,400 --> 00:36:32,633 Does he feel now that he has a team in place in the Cabinet and 700 00:36:32,633 --> 00:36:36,232 senior staff that reflects the gender balance and racial 701 00:36:36,233 --> 00:36:39,467 balance that he wants to see in his senior team? 702 00:36:39,467 --> 00:36:44,033 And does he have a team that looks like America, so to speak? 703 00:36:44,033 --> 00:36:45,433 Mr. Carney: Well, I think the President has addressed this, 704 00:36:45,433 --> 00:36:48,834 and his views are quite clear, which he believes that diversity 705 00:36:48,834 --> 00:36:56,933 is important because it improves the quality of debate and 706 00:36:56,934 --> 00:37:01,233 therefore the quality of decision-making. 707 00:37:01,233 --> 00:37:09,834 And he seeks excellent personnel to fill all of these positions, 708 00:37:09,834 --> 00:37:15,066 and he certainly believes he has found an excellent candidate in 709 00:37:15,066 --> 00:37:17,633 Sally Jewell, who will be announced as the Interior 710 00:37:17,633 --> 00:37:20,366 Secretary later today. 711 00:37:20,367 --> 00:37:22,700 She is uniquely qualified for that job. 712 00:37:22,700 --> 00:37:24,834 With years of experiencing managing a nearly 713 00:37:24,834 --> 00:37:27,466 $2 billion-a-year company, she will bring to the position 714 00:37:27,467 --> 00:37:29,467 integrity, keen management skills, 715 00:37:29,467 --> 00:37:31,600 as well as dedication to the Department's mission of 716 00:37:31,600 --> 00:37:33,734 managing our nation's lands. 717 00:37:33,734 --> 00:37:37,232 Trained as an engineer, Jewell has broad private sector 718 00:37:37,233 --> 00:37:39,367 experience in energy and finance, 719 00:37:39,367 --> 00:37:41,700 as well as a commitment to conservation. 720 00:37:41,700 --> 00:37:43,866 So the President looks forward to making that announcement 721 00:37:43,867 --> 00:37:45,066 later today. 722 00:37:45,066 --> 00:37:46,133 Ari. 723 00:37:46,133 --> 00:37:48,332 The Press: The Pentagon is expected this week to announce same-sex -- 724 00:37:48,333 --> 00:37:51,200 benefits for same-sex spouses, rather. 725 00:37:51,200 --> 00:37:53,866 A group in Congress has been open about pushing the Defense 726 00:37:53,867 --> 00:37:55,367 Secretary to do this. 727 00:37:55,367 --> 00:37:57,467 Was the White House involved in pushing the Pentagon to do this, 728 00:37:57,467 --> 00:38:00,433 and do you have any reaction to the step that is expected? 729 00:38:00,433 --> 00:38:05,433 Mr. Carney: I think I would refer you to the Pentagon for an announcement 730 00:38:05,433 --> 00:38:06,433 that they haven't made yet. 731 00:38:06,433 --> 00:38:09,934 So I don't have anything for you on that at this point. 732 00:38:09,934 --> 00:38:11,367 The Press: Are you pleased to hear that it's going to happen? 733 00:38:11,367 --> 00:38:13,066 Mr. Carney: Well, I think in answer to questions I've had previously, 734 00:38:13,066 --> 00:38:15,366 the President has been very attentive to this issue and 735 00:38:15,367 --> 00:38:18,767 believes that it needs to be addressed. 736 00:38:18,767 --> 00:38:22,066 So I don't want to get ahead of any announcements, 737 00:38:22,066 --> 00:38:26,466 but it is certainly something that has been on the President's 738 00:38:26,467 --> 00:38:30,233 radar and that he believes needed to be and needs to 739 00:38:30,233 --> 00:38:31,433 be addressed. 740 00:38:31,433 --> 00:38:32,533 The Press: A follow on Middle East? 741 00:38:32,533 --> 00:38:33,433 Mr. Carney: Okay. 742 00:38:33,433 --> 00:38:34,500 Connie. 743 00:38:34,500 --> 00:38:35,700 The Press: I've got three. 744 00:38:35,700 --> 00:38:37,232 First on Israel, does the President expect to put any 745 00:38:37,233 --> 00:38:39,633 pressure on the settlements issue? 746 00:38:39,633 --> 00:38:43,866 Mr. Carney: Again, I don't have a preview this many weeks in advance of 747 00:38:43,867 --> 00:38:49,066 the conversations that he will have with officials in Israel. 748 00:38:49,066 --> 00:38:51,265 I think that, as we said yesterday, 749 00:38:51,266 --> 00:38:55,967 we expect that Iran and Syria will be topics of conversation, 750 00:38:55,967 --> 00:39:00,133 but I'm sure a variety of issues will be discussed, 751 00:39:00,133 --> 00:39:03,133 as they always are, when the President meets with Prime 752 00:39:03,133 --> 00:39:06,500 Minister Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders. 753 00:39:06,500 --> 00:39:09,567 And that is certainly the case when he meets with Palestinian 754 00:39:09,567 --> 00:39:10,700 Authority officials. 755 00:39:10,700 --> 00:39:14,165 But I don't have a -- it's far too early to give you a 756 00:39:14,166 --> 00:39:16,834 tick-tock in advance of a meeting that won't happen for a 757 00:39:16,834 --> 00:39:18,066 number of weeks. 758 00:39:18,066 --> 00:39:19,399 The Press: Two on Iran. 759 00:39:19,400 --> 00:39:24,400 What are your thoughts about Ahmadinejad's visit to Egypt? 760 00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:26,367 Mr. Carney: What are my thoughts about it? 761 00:39:26,367 --> 00:39:28,633 Do you have a broader -- or more specific question, rather? 762 00:39:28,633 --> 00:39:30,433 The Press: Does the U.S. still plan to support Egypt with military and 763 00:39:30,433 --> 00:39:31,700 financial aid? 764 00:39:31,700 --> 00:39:36,866 Mr. Carney: Well, our position on support for Egypt is a support for an 765 00:39:36,867 --> 00:39:44,734 ally that is in the process of a transition from years of 766 00:39:44,734 --> 00:39:48,400 autocratic rule to democracy. 767 00:39:48,400 --> 00:39:50,100 We made clear our views on these issues, 768 00:39:50,100 --> 00:39:54,700 as we have recently during some of the protests and unrest 769 00:39:54,700 --> 00:39:55,700 in Egypt. 770 00:39:55,700 --> 00:40:03,700 And we believe that Egypt's commitment to its obligations 771 00:40:03,700 --> 00:40:06,433 and its treaties are very important and that the process 772 00:40:06,433 --> 00:40:10,367 needs to continue in Egypt so that Egyptians are allowed to 773 00:40:10,367 --> 00:40:14,700 realize a future that is democratic and more prosperous. 774 00:40:14,700 --> 00:40:16,399 The Press: But is the U.S. still going to give several billion dollars in 775 00:40:16,400 --> 00:40:18,467 aid to Egypt? 776 00:40:18,467 --> 00:40:23,333 Mr. Carney: We're making no changes in our aid program based on a visit by 777 00:40:23,333 --> 00:40:24,333 a foreign leader. 778 00:40:24,333 --> 00:40:25,467 The Press: One more on Iran. 779 00:40:25,467 --> 00:40:27,533 As I was walking here, there's a small group of demonstrators who 780 00:40:27,533 --> 00:40:31,400 are demonstrating for the pastor who's been put in jail for eight 781 00:40:31,400 --> 00:40:33,400 years, chanting "Christianity is not a crime." 782 00:40:33,400 --> 00:40:36,834 Does the U.S. have any leverage at all to try to get this man 783 00:40:36,834 --> 00:40:38,000 out of jail? 784 00:40:38,000 --> 00:40:40,400 Mr. Carney: Well, the State Department has been taking the lead on 785 00:40:40,400 --> 00:40:41,400 this matter. 786 00:40:41,400 --> 00:40:43,200 I've answered questions about this several times in the last 787 00:40:43,200 --> 00:40:48,366 couple of weeks, and it is of concern to the President, 788 00:40:48,367 --> 00:40:50,533 to the White House, to the administration, 789 00:40:50,533 --> 00:40:52,700 and we have made clear our view on this. 790 00:40:52,700 --> 00:40:58,100 But for specifics in terms what we're doing, 791 00:40:58,100 --> 00:41:00,967 I would refer you to the State Department. 792 00:41:00,967 --> 00:41:02,133 Phil. 793 00:41:02,133 --> 00:41:04,332 The Press: As a follow-up to the question about the Cabinet, 794 00:41:04,333 --> 00:41:08,100 you mentioned Sally Jewell's experience in the private sector 795 00:41:08,100 --> 00:41:10,799 and business, and I'm wondering if the President feels that 796 00:41:10,800 --> 00:41:13,533 that's enough private sector experience in his Cabinet, 797 00:41:13,533 --> 00:41:16,967 or if he's looking to fill some of these other positions with 798 00:41:16,967 --> 00:41:18,000 business leaders -- 799 00:41:18,000 --> 00:41:22,166 Mr. Carney: I have no announcements or hints to give about future 800 00:41:22,166 --> 00:41:23,667 personnel decisions. 801 00:41:23,667 --> 00:41:26,133 The Press: But is that a satisfactory amount of business experience? 802 00:41:26,133 --> 00:41:27,966 Mr. Carney: The President doesn't look at it that way. 803 00:41:27,967 --> 00:41:31,800 He looks at finding the best people with the best experience 804 00:41:31,800 --> 00:41:34,467 possible for each position. 805 00:41:34,467 --> 00:41:37,133 He, as I said in answer to the question earlier, 806 00:41:37,133 --> 00:41:42,299 believes that diversity is an important goal because diversity 807 00:41:42,300 --> 00:41:46,000 enhances debate and enhances the decision-making process. 808 00:41:46,000 --> 00:41:52,233 But I don't have any previews to provide on future 809 00:41:52,233 --> 00:41:53,567 personnel decisions. 810 00:41:53,567 --> 00:41:55,900 The Press: And any kind of timeframe for how quickly he's going to -- 811 00:41:55,900 --> 00:41:58,100 Mr. Carney: I don't have that either. 812 00:41:58,100 --> 00:41:59,066 Roger. 813 00:41:59,066 --> 00:42:00,332 The Press: Thank you. 814 00:42:00,333 --> 00:42:02,700 Back to the Postal Service for a moment. 815 00:42:02,700 --> 00:42:06,433 The budget last year endorsed an end to Saturday 816 00:42:06,433 --> 00:42:07,934 delivery of mail. 817 00:42:07,934 --> 00:42:09,500 Is that the administration's -- still the 818 00:42:09,500 --> 00:42:10,967 administration's position? 819 00:42:10,967 --> 00:42:15,500 Mr. Carney: Well, I was referring to a package of provisions and 820 00:42:15,500 --> 00:42:21,233 reforms that we put forward; the Senate passed a version of this. 821 00:42:21,233 --> 00:42:23,000 But the package is what's important. 822 00:42:23,000 --> 00:42:26,500 It is true that as part of these reforms that we've proposed, 823 00:42:26,500 --> 00:42:28,400 that change in delivery service was included. 824 00:42:28,400 --> 00:42:31,066 But the overall package is what's important because the 825 00:42:31,066 --> 00:42:35,966 issue is -- again, I'm not judging at this point because 826 00:42:35,967 --> 00:42:38,734 we're reviewing the action announced by the Postal Service, 827 00:42:38,734 --> 00:42:44,533 but our view was that there need to be a series of actions taken 828 00:42:44,533 --> 00:42:50,066 to help make the Postal Service more financially sound. 829 00:42:50,066 --> 00:42:52,433 And that's why we put together that package of proposals. 830 00:42:52,433 --> 00:42:58,166 So it was one element of a more complete set of actions that we 831 00:42:58,166 --> 00:43:01,266 regret the House failed to act on. 832 00:43:01,266 --> 00:43:02,300 The Press: A follow-up. 833 00:43:02,300 --> 00:43:06,900 The Postal Service says that it has its own authority to decree 834 00:43:06,900 --> 00:43:08,800 an end to Saturday mail delivery, 835 00:43:08,800 --> 00:43:12,133 but legislation on the Hill is split. 836 00:43:12,133 --> 00:43:14,265 Does the administration take a position on that? 837 00:43:14,266 --> 00:43:16,600 Mr. Carney: Again, this is related to a decision they just announced and 838 00:43:16,600 --> 00:43:18,633 we just found out about, and we're reviewing it. 839 00:43:18,633 --> 00:43:20,133 The Press: How did you find out about it? 840 00:43:20,133 --> 00:43:21,000 The Press: Yesterday. 841 00:43:21,000 --> 00:43:21,934 You said yesterday. 842 00:43:21,934 --> 00:43:23,066 Mr. Carney: It was yesterday. 843 00:43:23,066 --> 00:43:25,700 I'm not sure through what means, but it was only yesterday. 844 00:43:25,700 --> 00:43:28,834 The Press: But does the White House agree with the Postal Service 845 00:43:28,834 --> 00:43:30,799 that it has -- 846 00:43:30,800 --> 00:43:33,867 Mr. Carney: Again, you're asking me for a legal judgment here that we 847 00:43:33,867 --> 00:43:34,800 have not made. 848 00:43:34,800 --> 00:43:37,300 We're reviewing the decision -- or the announcement. 849 00:43:37,300 --> 00:43:38,533 April. 850 00:43:38,533 --> 00:43:41,165 The Press: Jay, on immigration, there is a longstanding issue about the 851 00:43:41,166 --> 00:43:44,767 Haitian immigrants who were turned away from U.S. shores. 852 00:43:44,767 --> 00:43:47,299 Wade Henderson was part of the group meeting with the President 853 00:43:47,300 --> 00:43:48,934 yesterday, a group of progressives, 854 00:43:48,934 --> 00:43:51,467 and he said that issue is on the table about the 855 00:43:51,467 --> 00:43:53,333 Haitian immigrants. 856 00:43:53,333 --> 00:43:56,800 They've been turned away from U.S. shores when Cuban 857 00:43:56,800 --> 00:43:58,533 immigrants are allowed to come. 858 00:43:58,533 --> 00:44:00,066 What is on the table? 859 00:44:00,066 --> 00:44:01,966 What is the President considering when he deals with 860 00:44:01,967 --> 00:44:04,967 the issue of the Haitian immigrants? 861 00:44:04,967 --> 00:44:08,600 Mr. Carney: You've seen what the President's comprehensive immigration reform 862 00:44:08,600 --> 00:44:09,700 package looks like. 863 00:44:09,700 --> 00:44:11,265 I haven't had that discussion with him, 864 00:44:11,266 --> 00:44:14,066 so I would have to take the question. 865 00:44:14,066 --> 00:44:18,567 Obviously, this is a process that we're hoping will continue 866 00:44:18,567 --> 00:44:20,300 in the Senate in a bipartisan way. 867 00:44:20,300 --> 00:44:26,100 The President has made clear that he wants to give the Senate 868 00:44:26,100 --> 00:44:29,299 space here and time here to continue the progress they've 869 00:44:29,300 --> 00:44:33,867 made, but that he will also, if he perceives that action is 870 00:44:33,867 --> 00:44:37,533 stalling or not happening at all in the Congress, 871 00:44:37,533 --> 00:44:40,100 that he is prepared to submit his own legislation. 872 00:44:40,100 --> 00:44:42,165 I just don't have anything for you on that specific issue. 873 00:44:42,166 --> 00:44:44,033 The Press: And a follow-up on that, though. 874 00:44:44,033 --> 00:44:46,799 For such a long time, the face of immigration -- 875 00:44:46,800 --> 00:44:50,633 or immigration reform has been the Hispanic community. 876 00:44:50,633 --> 00:44:54,366 We see that the Asian community is involved now and the African 877 00:44:54,367 --> 00:44:56,133 American community is involved now, 878 00:44:56,133 --> 00:44:57,433 and there is that component. 879 00:44:57,433 --> 00:45:01,734 What else is the President willing to give to those 880 00:45:01,734 --> 00:45:03,799 communities -- the Asian or the black communities -- 881 00:45:03,800 --> 00:45:06,767 in the way of immigration reform along with the 882 00:45:06,767 --> 00:45:09,433 Hispanic community? 883 00:45:09,433 --> 00:45:12,066 Mr. Carney: April, I think comprehensive immigration reform is not about 884 00:45:12,066 --> 00:45:17,366 a specific community, it's about a problem that we need to 885 00:45:17,367 --> 00:45:18,934 address as a whole. 886 00:45:18,934 --> 00:45:24,500 We have a system that is broken, and there have been bipartisan 887 00:45:24,500 --> 00:45:27,233 efforts in the past to address it. 888 00:45:27,233 --> 00:45:31,333 We hope that we are at a point now where a bipartisan effort 889 00:45:31,333 --> 00:45:33,800 can move forward again to address it; 890 00:45:33,800 --> 00:45:38,834 that follows the principles and the specifics that the President 891 00:45:38,834 --> 00:45:40,332 has laid out. 892 00:45:40,333 --> 00:45:42,867 So, again, this is not about one community here, 893 00:45:42,867 --> 00:45:45,900 this is about an American problem that affects all of us. 894 00:45:45,900 --> 00:45:51,233 It affects our economy, it affects fairness for the middle 895 00:45:51,233 --> 00:45:54,800 class, it affects our businesses directly, 896 00:45:54,800 --> 00:45:59,000 and it affects those who don't have legal status here in the 897 00:45:59,000 --> 00:46:05,800 United States, and with all the impacts that that fact has on 898 00:46:05,800 --> 00:46:07,100 our economy and our nation. 899 00:46:07,100 --> 00:46:13,232 So we need to address this comprehensively, not narrowly, 900 00:46:13,233 --> 00:46:18,133 precisely because of the scope of the challenge. 901 00:46:18,133 --> 00:46:21,165 And that's the best way to get something done in Congress. 902 00:46:21,166 --> 00:46:22,533 The Press: But just to be clear, the reason why I asked that, 903 00:46:22,533 --> 00:46:24,933 he did have the Asian community and the black community, 904 00:46:24,934 --> 00:46:27,233 and the Hispanic community out there represented, 905 00:46:27,233 --> 00:46:30,333 coming together because each community has a large number of 906 00:46:30,333 --> 00:46:32,934 undocumenteds in this country. 907 00:46:32,934 --> 00:46:35,266 So you're saying you're not -- 908 00:46:35,266 --> 00:46:39,900 Mr. Carney: I think your question reflects my answer, 909 00:46:39,900 --> 00:46:43,000 which is that this is a -- when it comes to immigration in this 910 00:46:43,000 --> 00:46:44,500 country, it's not about a specific community, 911 00:46:44,500 --> 00:46:47,000 it's about a broader issue. 912 00:46:47,000 --> 00:46:48,700 The Press: Thanks, Jay. 913 00:46:48,700 --> 00:46:51,033 Mr. Carney: Kathleen, I think I was going to call on you, and then I'll go. 914 00:46:51,033 --> 00:46:53,000 The Press: Just one more on the announcement later today. 915 00:46:53,000 --> 00:46:57,367 I think Bruce Babbitt is quoted in the Times this morning or 916 00:46:57,367 --> 00:46:59,433 today criticizing the administration, 917 00:46:59,433 --> 00:47:03,934 saying that in the tug-of-war over opening lands to oil and 918 00:47:03,934 --> 00:47:07,333 gas and protecting lands, that industry has been winning 919 00:47:07,333 --> 00:47:08,400 too often. 920 00:47:08,400 --> 00:47:09,900 I'm wondering what you'd say to that. 921 00:47:09,900 --> 00:47:13,934 And then if his nominee -- the choice of nominee signals any 922 00:47:13,934 --> 00:47:16,166 change in policy on that front? 923 00:47:16,166 --> 00:47:23,133 The Press: I think the President is rightly proud about the fact that oil 924 00:47:23,133 --> 00:47:26,133 and gas production since he's taken office here at home has 925 00:47:26,133 --> 00:47:29,633 increased each year, and domestic oil production is 926 00:47:29,633 --> 00:47:32,866 currently higher than at any time in nearly a decade, 927 00:47:32,867 --> 00:47:35,867 and natural gas production is at an all-time high. 928 00:47:35,867 --> 00:47:40,433 The United States is less dependent on foreign oil than at 929 00:47:40,433 --> 00:47:43,367 any time in nearly two decades. 930 00:47:43,367 --> 00:47:48,633 Those are very important developments for our economy and 931 00:47:48,633 --> 00:47:52,100 our energy security. 932 00:47:52,100 --> 00:47:56,133 It is also the case that this President has pursued 933 00:47:56,133 --> 00:48:02,000 development of energy at home in a responsible and safe way. 934 00:48:02,000 --> 00:48:09,066 He believes that that is vital as we continue to make ourselves 935 00:48:09,066 --> 00:48:10,767 more energy independent. 936 00:48:10,767 --> 00:48:15,966 So both of these principles are -- 937 00:48:15,967 --> 00:48:17,100 move forward together. 938 00:48:17,100 --> 00:48:21,900 And the President believes that in implementing our approach to 939 00:48:21,900 --> 00:48:24,800 conservation as well as implementing our approach to 940 00:48:24,800 --> 00:48:29,200 energy, Sally Jewell will be an excellent Secretary of the 941 00:48:29,200 --> 00:48:32,299 Interior in carrying that agenda forward. 942 00:48:32,300 --> 00:48:33,300 Thanks all.