English subtitles for clip: File:20160916 Press Briefing HD.webm

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Mr. Earnest: Alright, good
morning, everybody.

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It's nice to see you all.

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As advertised, and as you
can see, I'm joined at the

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podium today by Mayor
Kasim Reed from the great

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city of Atlanta, Georgia,
and by Governor John

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Kasich of Ohio.

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Both of them have
indicated their strong

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support and their strong
belief that Congress

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should approve the
Trans-Pacific Partnership,

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and they had an
opportunity to discuss

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that with the President in
the Oval Office for about

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an hour or so
this morning.

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And I invited them to
discuss it here this

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morning with all
of you, as well.

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Each of them has prepared
some brief opening remarks.

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We'll give them a chance
to have their say briefly,

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and then we'll open
it up to questions.

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So, Mayor Reed, do you
want to start, or

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Governor Kasich?

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Mayor Reed: Good morning.

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I want to begin by
thanking President Obama

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for giving us the
opportunity to join us in

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expressing our
enthusiastic support for

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the Trans-Pacific
Partnership today.

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I'm honored to be among
the bipartisan gathering

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of leaders that included
governors, CEOs, financial

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individuals from the
financial sector, former

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Treasury Secretary.

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Last fall, I was honored
that the city of Atlanta

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was selected to host
the final round of

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negotiations for the
Trans-Pacific Partnership.

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In our judgment, it's the
most progressive trade

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agreement in U.S. history.

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I'm also proud that more
than 100 mayors

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have stayed
shoulder-to-shoulder with

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the President in the
effort to pass TPP.

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In Atlanta, small
businesses are the

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backbone of our local
economy and the primary

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drivers of growth
and innovation.

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Nationally, we all know
that they represent more

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than 98 percent of
businesses in our country.

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But only about 1 percent
of those businesses --

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small businesses are
engaged in

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international trade.

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When we pass TPP, I'm
confident that that

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number will increase.

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The TPP, which was
finalized in February

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2016, will reduce barriers
and focus on small

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business exports by
cutting tariffs and

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reducing non-tariff
barriers, opening the

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fast-growing Pacific Rim
region of the world.

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The 12 countries in the
TPP represent about 40

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percent of global GDP
and account for about

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one-third of global trade.

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Metro Atlanta right now is
already the 13th largest

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exporter in the U.S.

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with more than 150,000
jobs in the metropolitan

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Atlanta region that is
supported by the TPP.

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Georgia exported 37
percent of its goods,

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about $14.4 billion to TPP
countries in 2011, and we

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expect that number to
continue to climb.

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Nationally, 11.7 million
jobs are supported by

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countries that make
up the TPP market.

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And we came today because
we intend to see that

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this bill is passed.

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And the President asked
for our thinking on how it

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will get passed.

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One of the best quotes
that I've heard around TPP

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came from a former U.S.

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ambassador, and he said
something that I think

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resonates certainly
with our group.

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What he said was, is that
people who run for office

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often campaign against
trade, but people who

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become President of the
United States end up

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supporting trade.

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There are a number of very
important reasons for us

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not to let this matter
fail, and the most

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important in my mind
really is determining

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who's going to set the
rules of the road.

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We have been working on
this transaction for more

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than five years.

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The President and
Ambassador Furman have

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done an exceptional
job negotiating a very

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favorable agreement that
is now becoming

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known to the world.

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If we want to make sure
that the United States

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continues to lead and
continues to set the rules

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of the road with 40
percent of the global GDP,

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we need to get
this deal done.

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One of the other factors
that isn't mentioned

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enough is that the TPP
group also forms the basis

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for more than 40 percent
of future GDP growth.

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And so, once again, we
think that it is in

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America's vital interest
and in the interest of

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small towns across the
United States of America

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to see that this
bill is passed.

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Businesses that engage in
international trade are

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more successful, pay
higher wages to their workers.

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And so we have come
together to make sure that

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in this season, with so
much political noise and

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gamesmanship, that a bill
that is vital to the

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United States long-term
interest doesn't

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get left aside.

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And with that, I would
like to bring forward the

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Governor of Ohio,
Governor Kasich.

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Thank you.

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Governor Kasich:
Thank you, Mayor.

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I think the Mayor has done
a great job of laying out

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the economics implications
of this agreement.

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I think we now have a
unique opportunity, again,

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to put country in
front of politics.

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I think many of the people
that are in the Congress

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of the United States
understand what

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this is all about.

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They understand the
implications of trade.

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But there's one other
thing that I think they

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all understand, and all of
us in this room need

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to reflect on this.

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The two nations that most
vociferously oppose this

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agreement are China
-- you look at Xi.

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I'm astounded every day
about another repressive

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technique that he uses to
control his people, even

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going so far as to try to
regulate or dismantle the

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youth involvement in
politics in China.

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Xi has been very
repressive.

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And not only that.

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We're all clearly aware
that it's been the

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reluctance of Xi and
the Chinese to put the

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pressure that needs to
be put on North Korea.

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They walked away from it,
leaving the rest of the

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world wondering what to
do, and bringing up issues

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about mutual security.

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Vladimir Putin probably
wakes up every day

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thinking about how he
can complete the work he

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started in the Crimea,
thinks about Ukraine and

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how much he'd like to
gobble it up, or even the

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kind of actions he's now
taking that threatens the

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Balkans -- I'm sorry
-- the Baltics.

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So, folks, it's
really pretty simple.

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Economically, trade
always makes sense.

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Are there losers in trade?

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Yes, there are.

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And that's why it's
important that we have a

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system that can retrain
people for the

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jobs of the future.

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Frankly, if you don't
trade, you hurt consumers.

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If you don't trade,
you hurt innovation.

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If you don't trade, you
withdraw from the world.

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But from the geopolitical
sense, it is absolutely

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critical that the United
States stand with many of

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these nations that are, in
some ways, economically

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weak -- including a nation
like Vietnam, that is now

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asking us to work with
them to develop a strong

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partnership that would
have an economic underpinning.

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But that economic
underpinning is absolutely

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going to lead to a
strengthened

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sense of America's
influence in Asia.

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Could you imagine if the
United States of America

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decided, as I told one
congressman this morning,

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if we turned our back on
those nations in Asia that

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are looking to us in a
great sense of partnership

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to give them the courage
and the strength to stand

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against a rising China?

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So both from an economic
point of view and a

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geopolitical point of
view, where would we be if

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we turned this down?

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This is what gives us a
unique opportunity again

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in this city -- that
I've come to not quite

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understand -- that these
kinds of issues is where

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politics goes out the
window and where the good

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of America has to be
represented and has

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to be respected.

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I appreciate the President
inviting the group that we

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had in there this morning.

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He's very passionate about
the need to do this.

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He's willing to work with
those who were both for

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and against, and he's
willing to really put his

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shoulder to the wheel.

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For me, I've got two
16-year-old daughters.

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I worry about the
future of this country.

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America can't afford to
lock the doors and lower

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the blinds and ignore
the rest of the world.

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We're a force for good.

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And this TPP will help us
not only on the economic

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side, but will also allow
us to continue to

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be a strong world
leader for good.

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Repression, lack of human
rights, lack of democracy

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that some of these
opponents to this deal

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support is not something
that the United States

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should take lightly.

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I would call on my former
colleagues in the House

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and the Senate to think
here over the next couple

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weeks about the
implications of saying no,

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and what it will mean for
our future, and the fact

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that they can cast a vote
that can strengthen our

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country and our alliances
around the world.

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To me, that's
what's at stake.

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And, frankly, that's
why I'm here today.

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Mr. Earnest: Thank
you, Governor.

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Scott, do you
want to start?

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The Press: The President
described it as a

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strategizing session.

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Can you guys talk a little
bit about what strategy

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you've come up with, since
I don't think politics is

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going to go out the
window, how you're going

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to put political pressure
on the House and Senate?

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Governor Kasich: Well, I
think part of it is the

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President of the United
States, in a quiet way,

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without press conferences
or blaring trumpets, needs

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to meet with a group of
people who we know are not

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likely to support this but
they don't want to see it die.

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I understand politics.

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Sometimes people can just
sort of register their

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objection and kind of
leave the floor or leave

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the meetings and let
matters proceed.

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I think that's part of it.

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I also think that the
business community -- I

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was never a big fan of
this Import-Export Bank,

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but the business community
did a very effective job

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in talking about the fact
that this is about jobs.

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We had a great, brilliant
woman in there today, the

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head of IBM, and I think
the suggestion to her is

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to make sure that the
employees of IBM let

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members of Congress know
that this is about my job,

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this is about my family,
this is about my community.

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So I think there's
multiple ways in which

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this message can get out,
but I also happen to think

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the national security
message is something that

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should resonate with every
single member of Congress.

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So I think there will be
an aggressive move on this.

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I guess I'm an optimist --
I kind of think that at

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the end of the day, with
the right appeals, people

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put their country ahead
of political concerns.

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And I saw it the entire
time I was here for 18

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years, and I've seen it in
the state of Ohio -- with

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the right group of people
being involved, you can

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pull things out and
have a good victory.

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Mr. Earnest: Mayor Reed,
do you want to add to that?

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Mayor Reed: I do.

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We think a few things.

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One, we think that this is
a country-first moment,

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and we believe that if you
have a strong feeling and

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belief in American
exceptionalism that you

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need to be a part
of this effort.

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And we think that that is
going to help us

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00:12:38,557 --> 00:12:40,192
carry the day.

247
00:12:40,192 --> 00:12:43,195
We also happen to believe
that there are a number of

248
00:12:43,195 --> 00:12:47,800
folks who should
demonstrate and have great

249
00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:50,468
affection for this
President, certainly at

250
00:12:50,469 --> 00:12:53,005
this point in his tenure,
and we intend to

251
00:12:53,005 --> 00:12:57,309
compete vigorously for
their support.

252
00:12:57,309 --> 00:13:00,379
And so there will be the
strategy of the facts,

253
00:13:00,379 --> 00:13:03,716
which is that this is the
right thing for America.

254
00:13:03,716 --> 00:13:08,787
We cannot leave 40 percent
of future GDP growth to

255
00:13:08,787 --> 00:13:11,624
the whims and fortunes
of the Chinese.

256
00:13:11,624 --> 00:13:14,460
We don't think that that's
the smart approach.

257
00:13:14,460 --> 00:13:18,030
And we think that that
will move us part of the way.

258
00:13:18,030 --> 00:13:20,366
And then we think that
another part of the way

259
00:13:20,366 --> 00:13:23,802
will be with those
individuals who are loyal

260
00:13:23,802 --> 00:13:26,438
to the President and who
want to help him get this

261
00:13:26,438 --> 00:13:28,040
bill across the line.

262
00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:30,675
And there is a very strong
feeling that there will be

263
00:13:30,676 --> 00:13:33,979
a moment when that
vote is appropriate.

264
00:13:33,979 --> 00:13:36,282
What we can't do is be
sitting on our hands

265
00:13:36,282 --> 00:13:37,917
and be on our heels.

266
00:13:37,917 --> 00:13:40,286
And so that's why we're
here today, to start

267
00:13:40,286 --> 00:13:43,289
having a very detailed
approach to how we're

268
00:13:43,289 --> 00:13:46,492
going to get this done at
the right moment with a

269
00:13:46,492 --> 00:13:49,161
broad, bipartisan
coalition.

270
00:13:49,161 --> 00:13:50,563
Mr. Earnest: Josh.

271
00:13:50,563 --> 00:13:53,465
The Press: Governor
Kasich, we couldn't help

272
00:13:53,465 --> 00:13:55,367
but notice in the Oval
Office earlier that you

273
00:13:55,367 --> 00:13:57,468
were shaking your head
when the question came up

274
00:13:57,469 --> 00:14:01,140
about your party's
presidential nominee

275
00:14:01,140 --> 00:14:03,008
reinjecting the
birther-ism issue

276
00:14:03,008 --> 00:14:04,310
into the election.

277
00:14:04,310 --> 00:14:06,311
Could you take a little
into what was going

278
00:14:06,312 --> 00:14:07,313
through your mind?

279
00:14:07,313 --> 00:14:09,314
Governor Kasich: Well,
what I was really thinking

280
00:14:09,315 --> 00:14:11,884
is that Bruce Springsteen
has to be really happy,

281
00:14:11,884 --> 00:14:13,886
because "Born in the
U.S.A." is probably going

282
00:14:13,886 --> 00:14:14,853
to sell a lot more albums.

283
00:14:14,853 --> 00:14:16,287
That's as far
as I would go.

284
00:14:16,288 --> 00:14:18,290
I mean, what am I
thinking about it?

285
00:14:18,290 --> 00:14:20,291
I'm here for TPP and
what's happening in the

286
00:14:20,292 --> 00:14:22,561
world, not talking about
where somebody was born.

287
00:14:22,561 --> 00:14:24,263
Mr. Earnest: Ron.

288
00:14:24,263 --> 00:14:28,067
The Press: Can I just ask
-- when you were talking

289
00:14:28,067 --> 00:14:31,237
about how politicians run
against trade but then

290
00:14:31,237 --> 00:14:33,539
change their position,
essentially, are you

291
00:14:33,539 --> 00:14:36,074
saying that both of the
leading candidates for

292
00:14:36,075 --> 00:14:39,345
President are now doing
something disingenuous and

293
00:14:39,345 --> 00:14:42,581
that they are both wanting
to flip their position at

294
00:14:42,581 --> 00:14:45,618
some point, regardless
of the outcome of

295
00:14:45,618 --> 00:14:46,285
this election?

296
00:14:46,285 --> 00:14:47,719
What does it say about our
politics and what

297
00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:49,054
does it say about --

298
00:14:49,054 --> 00:14:51,790
Mayor Reed: Oh, no, I'm
not casting aspersions on

299
00:14:51,790 --> 00:14:52,790
either of the candidates.

300
00:14:52,791 --> 00:14:55,694
What I'm saying is, if
you just look at history,

301
00:14:55,694 --> 00:14:58,764
despite what has happened
in the campaign process,

302
00:14:58,764 --> 00:15:01,734
when people actually
occupy the office and look

303
00:15:01,734 --> 00:15:04,837
at the data and see what
it does for the American

304
00:15:04,837 --> 00:15:08,207
people, the 11.7 million
jobs that are being

305
00:15:08,207 --> 00:15:11,110
supported and the 11
partner countries here,

306
00:15:11,110 --> 00:15:13,946
that once people are
in office and have the

307
00:15:13,946 --> 00:15:15,948
awesome responsibility
of the presidency,

308
00:15:15,948 --> 00:15:17,116
they change.

309
00:15:17,116 --> 00:15:21,053
That said, to get to your
question, my sense isn't

310
00:15:21,053 --> 00:15:23,789
that either of these
candidates would flip,

311
00:15:23,789 --> 00:15:25,991
which is why I think it's
so important that we

312
00:15:25,991 --> 00:15:28,294
pass TPP right now.

313
00:15:28,294 --> 00:15:31,530
Because I actually don't
believe that it will flip.

314
00:15:31,530 --> 00:15:34,600
But this needs to get done
for the United States of

315
00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:38,070
America, and there will be
a moment to get it done.

316
00:15:38,070 --> 00:15:41,106
And as you know from being
in this town for a long

317
00:15:41,106 --> 00:15:44,176
time, you can't just jump
up and try to engage in

318
00:15:44,176 --> 00:15:46,145
this process -- you've
got to stay at it.

319
00:15:46,145 --> 00:15:48,146
The Press: Right, if you
don't think they'll flip

320
00:15:48,147 --> 00:15:50,149
-- this is a concern that
a lot of leaders in Asia

321
00:15:50,149 --> 00:15:51,350
expressed, the President
acknowledged

322
00:15:51,350 --> 00:15:52,384
that in his comments.

323
00:15:52,384 --> 00:15:54,386
They wonder what the
future is, and

324
00:15:54,386 --> 00:15:56,722
America's credibility is
on the line here.

325
00:15:56,722 --> 00:15:59,324
So what do you say to them
when, admittedly, you

326
00:15:59,325 --> 00:16:01,694
think there's going to be
a problem for this

327
00:16:01,694 --> 00:16:03,695
deal, even if it passes,
come January?

328
00:16:03,696 --> 00:16:05,664
Mayor Reed: Here's what
I think will happen.

329
00:16:05,664 --> 00:16:08,534
I think if we pass this
deal, it will be honored

330
00:16:08,534 --> 00:16:10,703
by the next President
of the United States.

331
00:16:10,703 --> 00:16:13,072
And I think it's very
important that we pass

332
00:16:13,072 --> 00:16:15,874
this deal, and it's
a priority for the President.

333
00:16:15,874 --> 00:16:19,011
What the President made
clear in no uncertain

334
00:16:19,011 --> 00:16:21,947
terms was that this was
a priority and he was

335
00:16:21,947 --> 00:16:23,849
willing to work
very hard on it.

336
00:16:23,849 --> 00:16:27,386
Governor Kasich: I want
to say something

337
00:16:27,386 --> 00:16:31,990
that concerns me.

338
00:16:31,990 --> 00:16:35,828
We had an article today in
The Wall Street Journal.

339
00:16:35,828 --> 00:16:39,398
I get reactions like,
well, you're a Republican,

340
00:16:39,398 --> 00:16:41,400
why are you supporting
something that the

341
00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:42,735
President wants?

342
00:16:42,735 --> 00:16:48,874
We cannot get to the point
in America that because a

343
00:16:48,874 --> 00:16:51,176
Democrat wants something
that you happen to agree

344
00:16:51,176 --> 00:16:52,378
with, you can't
agree with him.

345
00:16:52,378 --> 00:16:54,380
There's plenty of things
that I disagree with

346
00:16:54,380 --> 00:16:56,548
President Obama on.

347
00:16:56,548 --> 00:17:00,052
But the idea that I'm a
Republican and, therefore,

348
00:17:00,052 --> 00:17:02,054
I can't work with
Democrats; or you're a

349
00:17:02,054 --> 00:17:04,889
Democrat, and you can't
work with Republicans --

350
00:17:04,890 --> 00:17:09,194
how does anybody think
that the issues of debt,

351
00:17:09,194 --> 00:17:13,098
Social Security, Medicare,
health care, any of these

352
00:17:13,098 --> 00:17:15,533
issues are going to be
resolved when we spend all

353
00:17:15,534 --> 00:17:18,370
of our time fighting
with one another?

354
00:17:18,369 --> 00:17:23,074
You see, I don't recognize
this town much anymore.

355
00:17:23,075 --> 00:17:26,545
Because now it's become
so much about politics.

356
00:17:26,545 --> 00:17:29,748
And when politics is the
order of the day, and

357
00:17:29,748 --> 00:17:34,953
partisanship trumps
country, we drift.

358
00:17:34,953 --> 00:17:36,155
We drift as a nation.

359
00:17:36,155 --> 00:17:39,625
And I'm extremely
concerned about what I see.

360
00:17:39,625 --> 00:17:42,828
This is a moment for
people to begin to reverse

361
00:17:42,828 --> 00:17:46,231
that, to think deep inside
of themselves about what

362
00:17:46,231 --> 00:17:48,467
matters when it comes
to public service.

363
00:17:48,467 --> 00:17:49,435
The Press: But,
Governor Kasich --

364
00:17:49,435 --> 00:17:53,038
Mr. Earnest: Hold
on, hold on, hold on.

365
00:17:53,038 --> 00:17:53,539
Margaret.

366
00:17:53,539 --> 00:17:54,673
The Press: You're probably
not going to want to hear

367
00:17:54,673 --> 00:17:56,809
this, but I'd like to take
what you just said and

368
00:17:56,809 --> 00:17:59,478
segue back to the
2016 race then.

369
00:17:59,478 --> 00:18:01,480
I think the issue is not
that everyone is trying to

370
00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:03,348
drag you away from TPP
and into a

371
00:18:03,348 --> 00:18:04,550
different conversation.

372
00:18:04,550 --> 00:18:06,318
It's that the dominant
conversation is the one

373
00:18:06,318 --> 00:18:08,020
about the election
that's about to happen.

374
00:18:08,020 --> 00:18:10,489
You're now a month and a
half, two months

375
00:18:10,489 --> 00:18:11,457
before the election.

376
00:18:11,457 --> 00:18:14,126
Donald Trump just came out
and did like a "drop the

377
00:18:14,126 --> 00:18:16,195
mic" moment where he said
that he's the one who

378
00:18:16,195 --> 00:18:18,429
resolved the birther
controversy; it was

379
00:18:18,430 --> 00:18:20,132
Hillary Clinton's fault
that there ever was one.

380
00:18:20,132 --> 00:18:23,168
Does this go to your
point about partisanship

381
00:18:23,168 --> 00:18:25,236
trumping -- trumping?

382
00:18:25,237 --> 00:18:26,405
-- the good of
the country.

383
00:18:26,405 --> 00:18:28,040
I think -- we're not
trying to distract you from --

384
00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:30,274
Governor Kasich: Look, in
a presidential campaign --

385
00:18:30,275 --> 00:18:33,312
we've seen a lot of them
and every one, of course,

386
00:18:33,312 --> 00:18:34,913
is always defined as the
most important one we've

387
00:18:34,913 --> 00:18:35,981
ever had in our history.

388
00:18:35,981 --> 00:18:39,751
But the fact of the matter
is, is that that goes on.

389
00:18:39,751 --> 00:18:43,455
But this vote, ultimately,
by the current Congress of

390
00:18:43,455 --> 00:18:46,390
the United States gets
decided by the current

391
00:18:46,391 --> 00:18:48,360
makeup of the United
States Senate and the

392
00:18:48,360 --> 00:18:50,329
United States House.

393
00:18:50,329 --> 00:18:53,732
And I happen to believe --
well, I don't want to try

394
00:18:53,732 --> 00:18:55,601
to ever project how
anybody else is thinking.

395
00:18:55,601 --> 00:18:58,303
But this is a
serious matter.

396
00:18:58,303 --> 00:19:02,107
And when I see the
presidential campaign

397
00:19:02,107 --> 00:19:04,476
going on -- it's almost
a surreal 21st century

398
00:19:04,476 --> 00:19:06,845
presidential election,
that if you and I had

399
00:19:06,845 --> 00:19:09,314
drafted a movie script
about everything that was

400
00:19:09,314 --> 00:19:11,483
going to be happening
on both sides with both

401
00:19:11,483 --> 00:19:14,186
candidates, or even the
whole process, they would

402
00:19:14,186 --> 00:19:16,487
have thrown us out of
their offices out in

403
00:19:16,488 --> 00:19:18,290
Hollywood because they
would said, this is a

404
00:19:18,290 --> 00:19:20,792
fiction that goes well
beyond any fiction that

405
00:19:20,792 --> 00:19:22,159
would be acceptable.

406
00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:23,662
So I understand that.

407
00:19:23,662 --> 00:19:25,130
But we have to stay
focused on the

408
00:19:25,130 --> 00:19:26,865
things that matter.

409
00:19:26,865 --> 00:19:28,534
And I'm focused very much
on the things that

410
00:19:28,534 --> 00:19:29,801
matter in my state.

411
00:19:29,801 --> 00:19:31,937
And now with this, I'm
focused not only on

412
00:19:31,937 --> 00:19:33,772
something that affects my
state, but something that

413
00:19:33,772 --> 00:19:35,741
affects my country.

414
00:19:35,741 --> 00:19:39,511
So I watch with
some surprise.

415
00:19:39,511 --> 00:19:43,682
But I also have to tell
you how amazed I am with

416
00:19:43,682 --> 00:19:46,485
the fascination of the
media on really easy

417
00:19:46,485 --> 00:19:50,088
stories, things that get
eyeballs and generates

418
00:19:50,088 --> 00:19:53,992
ratings, and therefore
generates money.

419
00:19:53,992 --> 00:19:56,928
Look, I like the media.

420
00:19:56,929 --> 00:19:58,196
I was once in the media.

421
00:19:58,196 --> 00:20:00,264
I may be back in
the media again.

422
00:20:00,265 --> 00:20:03,635
But there's a point
at which I think that

423
00:20:03,635 --> 00:20:05,971
journalists need to -- you
have to be responsible.

424
00:20:05,971 --> 00:20:09,341
You report whatever story
you want, any story you

425
00:20:09,341 --> 00:20:10,442
feel strongly about.

426
00:20:10,442 --> 00:20:14,179
But if the issue is how
many clicks can I get, and

427
00:20:14,179 --> 00:20:17,883
how much can I get paid,
then that drifts into an

428
00:20:17,883 --> 00:20:19,985
area that I think we all
have to think about,

429
00:20:19,985 --> 00:20:21,620
because I believe we all
have to live a

430
00:20:21,620 --> 00:20:23,554
life a little bigger
than ourselves.

431
00:20:23,555 --> 00:20:27,726
And so, food for thought.

432
00:20:27,726 --> 00:20:28,961
The Press: But, Governor,
I got to ask you.

433
00:20:28,961 --> 00:20:33,098
Respectfully, you ran for
President on this issue --

434
00:20:33,098 --> 00:20:34,032
other issues, as well.

435
00:20:34,032 --> 00:20:35,033
And you lost.

436
00:20:35,033 --> 00:20:35,766
Governor Kasich: Yes.

437
00:20:35,767 --> 00:20:37,636
The Press: Donald Trump
ran opposing this, calling

438
00:20:37,636 --> 00:20:39,004
it the worst trade deal in
the history of

439
00:20:39,004 --> 00:20:40,138
mankind or something.

440
00:20:40,138 --> 00:20:41,206
And he won.

441
00:20:41,206 --> 00:20:42,373
Hillary Clinton
opposed it.

442
00:20:42,374 --> 00:20:43,842
Bernie Sanders opposed it.

443
00:20:43,842 --> 00:20:47,713
How is it right for
Congress in a lame duck

444
00:20:47,713 --> 00:20:50,014
session to go against what
was clearly the will of

445
00:20:50,015 --> 00:20:52,317
the voters through the
elections process?

446
00:20:52,317 --> 00:20:55,354
And I've got to just ask
you one more

447
00:20:55,354 --> 00:20:56,622
thing on Donald Trump.

448
00:20:56,622 --> 00:21:01,026
Do you agree with Hillary
Clinton that he owes the

449
00:21:01,026 --> 00:21:05,664
President an apology for
five years denying that he

450
00:21:05,664 --> 00:21:07,866
was born in America, for
denying the obvious?

451
00:21:07,866 --> 00:21:09,801
Governor Kasich: I'm the
person that's usually

452
00:21:09,801 --> 00:21:11,436
pretty direct, but I'm not
stepping on my own

453
00:21:11,436 --> 00:21:13,071
message today by talking
about that.

454
00:21:13,071 --> 00:21:14,740
Now, number two.

455
00:21:14,740 --> 00:21:18,176
The Press: It's got
to bug you, right?

456
00:21:18,176 --> 00:21:19,578
Governor Kasich: Oh,
there's a lot of

457
00:21:19,578 --> 00:21:20,579
things that bug me.

458
00:21:20,579 --> 00:21:23,948
The chili dip shot on
the 15th hole bugs me.

459
00:21:23,949 --> 00:21:24,950
(laughter)

460
00:21:24,950 --> 00:21:25,384
This is just life.

461
00:21:25,384 --> 00:21:26,284
This is politics.

462
00:21:26,284 --> 00:21:31,690
But, look, Jon, I don't
happen to believe that

463
00:21:31,690 --> 00:21:35,961
with these specific issues
-- whether it's the wall,

464
00:21:35,961 --> 00:21:39,464
or whether it's trade --
you give me $2 billion

465
00:21:39,464 --> 00:21:41,600
worth of publicity, and I
probably could

466
00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:43,001
even beat you, Jon.

467
00:21:43,001 --> 00:21:46,271
But here's the thing
that I want to suggest.

468
00:21:46,271 --> 00:21:50,075
I have never been an
ideological supporter

469
00:21:50,075 --> 00:21:50,909
of free trade.

470
00:21:50,909 --> 00:21:54,646
The ideologues used to
come to me and were

471
00:21:54,646 --> 00:21:55,813
frustrated with me.

472
00:21:55,814 --> 00:21:57,582
David Dreier is one of
them -- from California.

473
00:21:57,582 --> 00:21:58,684
Well, what's
wrong with you?

474
00:21:58,684 --> 00:22:00,351
Or Kemp, or any
of these people.

475
00:22:00,352 --> 00:22:04,156
But when you look at these
agreements in a real sense

476
00:22:04,156 --> 00:22:07,091
-- and this one, much
different than even NAFTA.

477
00:22:07,092 --> 00:22:09,528
Because, Jon,
this is China.

478
00:22:09,528 --> 00:22:10,762
This is Russia.

479
00:22:10,762 --> 00:22:13,999
These are fledgling
countries in Asia, and we

480
00:22:13,999 --> 00:22:16,168
want to pivot to Asia,
we're going to

481
00:22:16,168 --> 00:22:17,302
have to do this.

482
00:22:17,302 --> 00:22:20,138
I think there's something
that the Mayor said

483
00:22:20,138 --> 00:22:21,473
that's fairly accurate.

484
00:22:21,473 --> 00:22:24,509
You know, sometimes in
campaigns people will say

485
00:22:24,509 --> 00:22:27,279
things only to find
out later, oops.

486
00:22:27,279 --> 00:22:30,315
I used to say during the
campaign, do you know how

487
00:22:30,315 --> 00:22:31,683
many promises people
make when they run for

488
00:22:31,683 --> 00:22:33,518
President and they
never carry them out?

489
00:22:33,518 --> 00:22:36,655
But, look, this is an
opportunity for the

490
00:22:36,655 --> 00:22:38,690
Congress to carry out
its responsibility.

491
00:22:38,690 --> 00:22:41,426
And because somebody
didn't support a trade

492
00:22:41,426 --> 00:22:44,929
agreement who's running
for President -- so what?

493
00:22:44,930 --> 00:22:46,398
We disagree with
Presidents.

494
00:22:46,398 --> 00:22:48,132
I disagree with this
President on a lot

495
00:22:48,133 --> 00:22:49,101
of things, okay?

496
00:22:49,101 --> 00:22:50,669
But I happen to agree
with him strongly

497
00:22:50,669 --> 00:22:51,670
on this thing.

498
00:22:51,670 --> 00:22:55,474
So I don't think because
we have this presidential

499
00:22:55,474 --> 00:22:57,743
election that somehow the
Congress that's sitting

500
00:22:57,743 --> 00:22:59,444
there shouldn't be able
to move forward on this

501
00:22:59,444 --> 00:23:01,513
agreement, particularly
when I think it's vital.

502
00:23:01,513 --> 00:23:05,250
And I don't think it's
those issues that really

503
00:23:05,250 --> 00:23:07,085
are the ones that -- I
think there are a lot of

504
00:23:07,085 --> 00:23:09,921
people in America who feel
very frustrated, they

505
00:23:09,921 --> 00:23:11,022
feel very vulnerable.

506
00:23:11,022 --> 00:23:13,191
You know how I
understand it?

507
00:23:13,191 --> 00:23:15,227
Because I grew up in it.

508
00:23:15,227 --> 00:23:17,796
Where I grew up, in McKees
Rocks, was a town if the

509
00:23:17,796 --> 00:23:19,231
wind blew the wrong way
people found

510
00:23:19,231 --> 00:23:20,232
themselves out of work.

511
00:23:20,232 --> 00:23:22,501
And sometimes simple
proposals to solve

512
00:23:22,501 --> 00:23:25,937
difficult problems sell,
but they never work.

513
00:23:25,937 --> 00:23:27,706
Then never work.

514
00:23:27,706 --> 00:23:32,377
Blaming somebody's loss
of a job on somebody from

515
00:23:32,377 --> 00:23:37,081
Mexico that came in and
took your job -- that's a

516
00:23:37,082 --> 00:23:39,618
simple way to scapegoat.

517
00:23:39,618 --> 00:23:40,385
No matter who they are.

518
00:23:40,385 --> 00:23:41,086
Whether it's

519
00:23:41,086 --> 00:23:42,754
-- or Bernie and his
business of the only

520
00:23:42,754 --> 00:23:44,356
reason why you don't have
something, because all the

521
00:23:44,356 --> 00:23:47,259
rich people in the world,
they took what you had --

522
00:23:47,259 --> 00:23:48,493
I just think
that's just wrong.

523
00:23:48,493 --> 00:23:51,929
And I know it's boring to
have complicated solutions

524
00:23:51,930 --> 00:23:54,733
to complicated problems,
but we'll end up back there.

525
00:23:54,733 --> 00:23:57,002
We will end up back there,
mark my words,

526
00:23:57,002 --> 00:23:59,236
or we will drift.

527
00:23:59,237 --> 00:24:00,872
The Press: Who is --

528
00:24:00,872 --> 00:24:01,273
Mr. Earnest: Hold on.

529
00:24:01,273 --> 00:24:01,740
Hold on.

530
00:24:01,740 --> 00:24:02,707
Are you on the ballot?

531
00:24:02,707 --> 00:24:03,875
(laughter)

532
00:24:03,875 --> 00:24:04,876
Go ahead.

533
00:24:04,876 --> 00:24:07,745
The Press: Governor
Kasich, to follow up on

534
00:24:07,746 --> 00:24:10,081
what you were just laying
out, are you saying, then,

535
00:24:10,081 --> 00:24:12,551
as the Mayor suggested,
that this is just pure

536
00:24:12,551 --> 00:24:15,287
political expediency on
the part of both the

537
00:24:15,287 --> 00:24:17,823
Democratic and the
Republican presidential

538
00:24:17,823 --> 00:24:21,159
nominees to oppose
this free trade deal?

539
00:24:21,159 --> 00:24:24,863
And what do you think that
streak of protectionism in

540
00:24:24,863 --> 00:24:27,866
both parties is
being fed off of?

541
00:24:27,866 --> 00:24:29,835
Governor Kasich: Well, I
think Hillary was once

542
00:24:29,835 --> 00:24:31,236
for it, until she
was against it.

543
00:24:31,236 --> 00:24:33,772
I think that's a -- is
that a quote from some

544
00:24:33,772 --> 00:24:34,606
other campaign?

545
00:24:34,606 --> 00:24:35,140
(laughter)

546
00:24:35,140 --> 00:24:36,441
So she moved there.

547
00:24:36,441 --> 00:24:39,311
The Press: And you (inaudible.)

548
00:24:39,311 --> 00:24:39,945
Governor Kasich:
Oh, I have no idea.

549
00:24:39,945 --> 00:24:41,913
That's why I want to do
this now, because you've

550
00:24:41,913 --> 00:24:42,981
got to get this done.

551
00:24:42,981 --> 00:24:45,884
I'd love to think it
could happen next year.

552
00:24:45,884 --> 00:24:48,854
I'm not convinced it can
happen after this year.

553
00:24:48,854 --> 00:24:51,356
No, what I'm suggesting --
and I'm not questioning

554
00:24:51,356 --> 00:24:54,092
where either of the
candidates' real heart is.

555
00:24:54,092 --> 00:24:56,194
I can't discern where
their heart is.

556
00:24:56,194 --> 00:24:59,697
But what I can say is
oftentimes when people run

557
00:24:59,698 --> 00:25:02,067
-- you know, when I ran
for governor there were a

558
00:25:02,067 --> 00:25:03,468
lot of things that I
thought I could do -- when

559
00:25:03,468 --> 00:25:06,204
I got in there, I said,
oh, you know what, it's

560
00:25:06,204 --> 00:25:06,972
not that simple.

561
00:25:06,972 --> 00:25:09,241
I can actually tell you
I remember saying I was

562
00:25:09,241 --> 00:25:11,176
going to abolish the
Highway Patrol -- they're

563
00:25:11,176 --> 00:25:13,245
like armed revenue agents
-- until I figured out

564
00:25:13,245 --> 00:25:14,279
what they did.

565
00:25:14,279 --> 00:25:18,483
So sometimes as you run,
you don't have the sense

566
00:25:18,483 --> 00:25:22,354
of the heaviness,
the gravity of

567
00:25:22,354 --> 00:25:23,855
decision-making.

568
00:25:23,855 --> 00:25:26,625
As the Mayor will tell
you, it's very hard to be

569
00:25:26,625 --> 00:25:27,692
the mayor of Atlanta.

570
00:25:27,692 --> 00:25:30,962
You know, when you run for
mayor of Atlanta, I'll bet

571
00:25:30,962 --> 00:25:33,198
he said I'm going to do
this and do that, and then

572
00:25:33,198 --> 00:25:35,567
you get in and you still
stick to your principles,

573
00:25:35,567 --> 00:25:39,804
but with sophistication
and understanding,

574
00:25:39,804 --> 00:25:41,172
leaders evolve.

575
00:25:41,172 --> 00:25:42,007
They don't change.

576
00:25:42,007 --> 00:25:45,043
I mean, this is not like
you change colors or

577
00:25:45,043 --> 00:25:46,710
anything like that.

578
00:25:46,711 --> 00:25:48,113
But you learn
more and you lead.

579
00:25:48,113 --> 00:25:50,949
And so I don't know where
these candidates will

580
00:25:50,949 --> 00:25:53,084
ultimately be, but what I
know is there's a chance

581
00:25:53,084 --> 00:25:54,786
for the House and the
Senate to actually

582
00:25:54,786 --> 00:25:55,287
do something.

583
00:25:55,287 --> 00:25:56,288
And here's what
I do believe.

584
00:25:56,288 --> 00:25:59,190
I believe there are people
both in the House and the

585
00:25:59,190 --> 00:26:01,826
Senate that will play pure
politics with our

586
00:26:01,826 --> 00:26:04,763
future to take care
of themselves.

587
00:26:04,763 --> 00:26:08,233
And let me also suggest to
you, when that's what you

588
00:26:08,233 --> 00:26:11,903
do, when you leave
Washington you didn't

589
00:26:11,903 --> 00:26:14,239
accomplish anything
other than -- what?

590
00:26:14,239 --> 00:26:15,240
Obstruct?

591
00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:18,944
Look, I've been involved
in more fights on Capitol

592
00:26:18,944 --> 00:26:21,513
Hill than about anybody --
within my party and with

593
00:26:21,513 --> 00:26:22,547
the other party.

594
00:26:22,547 --> 00:26:25,750
But at the end, you have
to accomplish something.

595
00:26:25,750 --> 00:26:28,286
And sometimes politics
today in this town,

596
00:26:28,286 --> 00:26:28,987
it's overwhelming.

597
00:26:28,987 --> 00:26:29,621
As we all know.

598
00:26:29,621 --> 00:26:30,789
What, are we
kidding ourselves?

599
00:26:30,789 --> 00:26:32,657
There's too much politics
and not enough caring

600
00:26:32,657 --> 00:26:33,992
about being an American.

601
00:26:33,992 --> 00:26:35,159
Am I right?

602
00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:37,295
Thank you.

603
00:26:37,295 --> 00:26:38,964
The Press: If I could
just follow, Governor.

604
00:26:38,964 --> 00:26:42,667
Whether you're in Parma
or mayor in Dunwoody

605
00:26:42,667 --> 00:26:45,370
somewhere, I just want you
to make it really simple

606
00:26:45,370 --> 00:26:48,806
for the guys driving the
pickup truck who just

607
00:26:48,807 --> 00:26:51,343
wants to understand why
this matters -- because I

608
00:26:51,343 --> 00:26:54,245
think when you're awash in
it, it's easy, maybe, to

609
00:26:54,245 --> 00:26:56,648
make the compelling
argument in a room like this.

610
00:26:56,648 --> 00:26:59,451
But for people who are not
dealing with this day to

611
00:26:59,451 --> 00:27:01,886
day, they want to know how
is this going to affect my

612
00:27:01,886 --> 00:27:03,421
life, this TPP.

613
00:27:03,421 --> 00:27:05,290
Mayor Reed: Well, I'l
tell you, there is a

614
00:27:05,290 --> 00:27:08,326
receptionist that I think
we almost got disciplined

615
00:27:08,326 --> 00:27:12,731
because the Republican
governor of the state of

616
00:27:12,731 --> 00:27:14,799
Georgia and I showed up
to urge the President to

617
00:27:14,799 --> 00:27:16,701
support funding of the
deepening of the Port of

618
00:27:16,701 --> 00:27:19,237
Savannah, which happens
to be one of the

619
00:27:19,237 --> 00:27:21,339
fastest-growing
ports in America.

620
00:27:21,339 --> 00:27:23,108
And ultimately,
it was funded.

621
00:27:23,108 --> 00:27:25,110
You go to the Port of
Savannah, you see those

622
00:27:25,110 --> 00:27:27,879
jobs that everybody in
America is talking about.

623
00:27:27,879 --> 00:27:31,049
You see a longshoreman
that can put his kids

624
00:27:31,049 --> 00:27:33,852
through school and know
that his children are

625
00:27:33,852 --> 00:27:35,120
going to go to college.

626
00:27:35,120 --> 00:27:37,856
And so the kind and
quality of jobs that

627
00:27:37,856 --> 00:27:41,259
everybody is talking about
in America comes

628
00:27:41,259 --> 00:27:44,262
from investments in
international trade.

629
00:27:44,262 --> 00:27:47,399
The Port of Savannah
supports 150,000 jobs in

630
00:27:47,399 --> 00:27:48,632
the metropolitan region.

631
00:27:48,633 --> 00:27:51,002
That's why I was sitting
next to a Republican

632
00:27:51,002 --> 00:27:54,272
governor, asking that the
Port of Savannah receive

633
00:27:54,272 --> 00:27:56,474
support -- not Atlanta.

634
00:27:56,474 --> 00:27:59,677
So I think what we have to
do is to go back to jobs.

635
00:27:59,677 --> 00:28:03,048
All of this is a
competition for talent.

636
00:28:03,048 --> 00:28:05,183
I happen to believe that
technology is a far more

637
00:28:05,183 --> 00:28:08,653
destructive force in many
areas than global trade.

638
00:28:08,653 --> 00:28:11,589
Global trade is just more
convenient to whack at

639
00:28:11,589 --> 00:28:15,260
because you don't want to
beat up on your iPad or

640
00:28:15,260 --> 00:28:17,362
your computer, because we
love them all so much.

641
00:28:17,362 --> 00:28:18,897
So it's easy to talk
about global trade.

642
00:28:18,897 --> 00:28:21,066
I go back to
jobs, jobs, jobs.

643
00:28:21,066 --> 00:28:24,502
Businesses that engage in
international trade, we're

644
00:28:24,502 --> 00:28:27,405
only 1 percent of
small businesses.

645
00:28:27,405 --> 00:28:30,208
Just imagine if we take
our small businesses and

646
00:28:30,208 --> 00:28:33,945
move them from 1 to 4, to
5 percent -- the

647
00:28:33,945 --> 00:28:36,915
impact it has on our GDP.

648
00:28:36,915 --> 00:28:38,983
And finally, I'll
close with this.

649
00:28:38,983 --> 00:28:41,019
I love America.

650
00:28:41,019 --> 00:28:43,421
And right now, America
makes up somewhere

651
00:28:43,421 --> 00:28:46,424
between 21 to 23 percent
of global GDP.

652
00:28:46,424 --> 00:28:48,093
What are we going to do to
make sure that

653
00:28:48,093 --> 00:28:49,694
that stays the case?

654
00:28:49,694 --> 00:28:53,565
To the extent that we
maintain the influence and

655
00:28:53,565 --> 00:28:56,668
America's wealth, we
ensure that our values

656
00:28:56,668 --> 00:29:00,104
can be shared across
the country.

657
00:29:00,105 --> 00:29:04,342
So, one, I think a deep
love of country, and where

658
00:29:04,342 --> 00:29:07,779
are we generating the
highest quality of jobs

659
00:29:07,779 --> 00:29:10,915
that are exactly the kind
that we've been talking

660
00:29:10,915 --> 00:29:13,351
about over the last
12 to 16 months.

661
00:29:13,351 --> 00:29:15,353
Governor Kasich:
Good job Mayor.

662
00:29:15,353 --> 00:29:20,592
Look, I mean, first of
all, for the consumer, you

663
00:29:20,592 --> 00:29:22,727
shut down trade, you will
get products that

664
00:29:22,727 --> 00:29:25,930
cost more and don't
have quality.

665
00:29:25,930 --> 00:29:29,033
So to the truck driver,
I mean, you want to have

666
00:29:29,033 --> 00:29:32,003
textiles or cars or
whatever it is that are

667
00:29:32,003 --> 00:29:34,038
not as good and cost
you more, go ahead.

668
00:29:34,038 --> 00:29:37,876
Secondly, I know
those truck drivers.

669
00:29:37,876 --> 00:29:40,411
I grew up in a
blue-collar town.

670
00:29:40,411 --> 00:29:41,613
They love our country.

671
00:29:41,613 --> 00:29:44,482
Our folks in the
truck-driving, blue-collar

672
00:29:44,482 --> 00:29:48,019
world don't want to turn
power over to the Chinese

673
00:29:48,019 --> 00:29:49,154
or the Russians.

674
00:29:49,154 --> 00:29:50,021
They love America.

675
00:29:50,021 --> 00:29:52,423
That's another given.

676
00:29:52,423 --> 00:29:53,992
Let me tell you
one other thing.

677
00:29:53,992 --> 00:29:58,062
We are a country -- we are
now a knowledge nation.

678
00:29:58,062 --> 00:30:05,536
We supply the ideas, the
brainpower to move things

679
00:30:05,537 --> 00:30:07,238
to bring about progress.

680
00:30:07,238 --> 00:30:09,340
Progress defined is
improving our

681
00:30:09,340 --> 00:30:11,042
standard of living.

682
00:30:11,042 --> 00:30:15,746
That truck driver is
worried about his or her kids.

683
00:30:15,747 --> 00:30:19,717
The biggest problem we
have today is that our

684
00:30:19,717 --> 00:30:23,788
education system at all
levels is not preparing

685
00:30:23,788 --> 00:30:27,559
our children for the jobs
of today and the

686
00:30:27,559 --> 00:30:28,560
jobs of tomorrow.

687
00:30:28,560 --> 00:30:32,129
Furthermore, we also don't
have the capability

688
00:30:32,130 --> 00:30:33,731
to retrain somebody.

689
00:30:33,731 --> 00:30:35,366
And we want to talk about
somebody left behind?

690
00:30:35,366 --> 00:30:41,072
Yeah, a 53-year-old man or
woman who one day heard

691
00:30:41,072 --> 00:30:42,540
they were out of work and
now they don't

692
00:30:42,540 --> 00:30:43,408
know what to do.

693
00:30:43,408 --> 00:30:46,744
You see, the whole
system has broken down.

694
00:30:46,744 --> 00:30:49,714
We have an education
system that reflects the

695
00:30:49,714 --> 00:30:51,282
way we lived a
hundred years ago.

696
00:30:51,282 --> 00:30:53,685
We've got a higher
education system that

697
00:30:53,685 --> 00:30:56,754
costs too much and doesn't
appropriately provide kids

698
00:30:56,754 --> 00:30:58,188
with the skills
that they need.

699
00:30:58,189 --> 00:31:00,225
And we do not have a
job-retraining

700
00:31:00,225 --> 00:31:01,658
system in this country.

701
00:31:01,659 --> 00:31:04,629
That should come with any
trade deal because there

702
00:31:04,629 --> 00:31:06,531
will be some people
who will be displaced.

703
00:31:06,531 --> 00:31:09,334
But, you know, where I
grew up in Pittsburgh,

704
00:31:09,334 --> 00:31:10,301
we had steel mills.

705
00:31:10,301 --> 00:31:13,471
For anybody that reads The
New York Times, on Sunday,

706
00:31:13,471 --> 00:31:17,242
there was an incredible
article about 500 people

707
00:31:17,242 --> 00:31:21,913
in Pittsburgh growing to a
thousand who are

708
00:31:21,913 --> 00:31:24,983
involved with Uber in
autonomous vehicles.

709
00:31:24,983 --> 00:31:28,418
We may no longer make
the iPhone -- we don't

710
00:31:28,419 --> 00:31:32,190
manufacture the iPhone,
but we created the iPhone,

711
00:31:32,190 --> 00:31:35,526
and these knowledge
jobs pay a lot more.

712
00:31:35,526 --> 00:31:38,329
So to that truck driver,
you're going to get your

713
00:31:38,329 --> 00:31:40,531
children a good education.

714
00:31:40,531 --> 00:31:42,367
We're going to train them
for an entire lifetime,

715
00:31:42,367 --> 00:31:44,502
and they're going to be
living in an exciting

716
00:31:44,502 --> 00:31:47,639
world of drones and
autonomous vehicles and

717
00:31:47,639 --> 00:31:51,341
iPhones and Skype and all
this incredible stuff that

718
00:31:51,342 --> 00:31:52,977
we see every single day.

719
00:31:52,977 --> 00:31:55,680
We can't go backwards
to buggy whips.

720
00:31:55,680 --> 00:31:58,750
We have to go forward
to these exciting, new

721
00:31:58,750 --> 00:32:03,021
innovations that will mean
more wages, better jobs,

722
00:32:03,021 --> 00:32:06,424
more consistent work,
but we need to

723
00:32:06,424 --> 00:32:07,759
change everything.

724
00:32:07,759 --> 00:32:09,661
I mentioned to the
President before I -- he

725
00:32:09,661 --> 00:32:11,129
and I had a little
bit of time together.

726
00:32:11,129 --> 00:32:18,069
The whole education system
-- it all needs to be changed.

727
00:32:18,069 --> 00:32:21,739
I want to ask you -- you
all have children -- I

728
00:32:21,739 --> 00:32:24,208
think Josh is going to
wrap this up -- do you

729
00:32:24,208 --> 00:32:27,245
think we're training your
children for the jobs

730
00:32:27,245 --> 00:32:29,981
of today, the jobs
of tomorrow?

731
00:32:29,981 --> 00:32:32,250
Most young people will
have between five and 10

732
00:32:32,250 --> 00:32:33,885
jobs in a lifetime.

733
00:32:33,885 --> 00:32:35,953
Are we giving them the
resilience, the knowledge,

734
00:32:35,953 --> 00:32:40,224
and the capability to be
flexible and to

735
00:32:40,224 --> 00:32:41,192
have a great life?

736
00:32:41,192 --> 00:32:43,328
We need to do
that for our kids.

737
00:32:43,328 --> 00:32:46,164
We need to forget about
politics and everything

738
00:32:46,164 --> 00:32:47,532
else, and start to do it.

739
00:32:47,532 --> 00:32:48,533
Josh, thank you.

740
00:32:48,533 --> 00:32:50,601
The Press: If you were
the nominee, would you be

741
00:32:50,601 --> 00:32:51,936
endorsing TPP, sir?

742
00:32:51,936 --> 00:32:53,404
Governor Kasich: I was fo
it when I was running.

743
00:32:53,404 --> 00:32:54,706
The Press: Will you
endorse Donald Trump?

744
00:32:54,706 --> 00:32:56,407
The Press: But at
the White House?

745
00:32:56,407 --> 00:32:56,841
Governor Kasich:
Of course.

746
00:32:56,841 --> 00:33:01,012
(laughter)

747
00:33:01,012 --> 00:33:04,682
Mr. Earnest: I'm happy
to talk about TPP at

748
00:33:04,682 --> 00:33:05,416
additional length --

749
00:33:05,416 --> 00:33:07,251
(laughter)

750
00:33:07,251 --> 00:33:09,053
-- I've got some of my own
thoughts to get off my

751
00:33:09,053 --> 00:33:10,455
chest -- or anything else
that may be on

752
00:33:10,455 --> 00:33:11,054
your mind today.

753
00:33:11,055 --> 00:33:12,490
Josh, do you want
to get us started?

754
00:33:12,490 --> 00:33:12,990
The Press: Sure.

755
00:33:12,990 --> 00:33:15,326
Let's go to the Syria
deal, actually, since

756
00:33:15,326 --> 00:33:17,195
we're getting closer to
the end of this test

757
00:33:17,195 --> 00:33:19,197
period for the ceasefire.

758
00:33:19,197 --> 00:33:22,033
And I'm wondering if
you can comment on the

759
00:33:22,033 --> 00:33:24,702
perception that's out
there now that the State

760
00:33:24,702 --> 00:33:27,271
Department and the
Pentagon are basically

761
00:33:27,271 --> 00:33:30,575
taking public their strong
disagreement about whether

762
00:33:30,575 --> 00:33:34,879
this deal with Russia is a
good idea, whether we can

763
00:33:34,879 --> 00:33:38,349
cooperate with Russia,
the Pentagon publically

764
00:33:38,349 --> 00:33:41,351
threatening not to even
implement it, the State

765
00:33:41,352 --> 00:33:43,521
Department essentially
saying, well, look,

766
00:33:43,521 --> 00:33:44,455
Obama agrees with Kerry.

767
00:33:44,455 --> 00:33:47,492
Is part of the President's
goal today to try and say

768
00:33:47,492 --> 00:33:50,995
to the heads of those two
agencies, like, look, you

769
00:33:50,995 --> 00:33:52,830
need to kind of
get along on this?

770
00:33:52,830 --> 00:33:56,033
Mr. Earnest: Well,
there's a lot there.

771
00:33:56,033 --> 00:33:57,802
Let's start with the
President's meeting

772
00:33:57,802 --> 00:33:58,468
later today.

773
00:33:58,469 --> 00:34:00,738
As all of you know, the
President every couple of

774
00:34:00,738 --> 00:34:03,241
weeks gathers his national
security team together to

775
00:34:03,241 --> 00:34:07,545
discuss the effectiveness
and progress of our

776
00:34:07,545 --> 00:34:09,514
strategy to degrade and
ultimately destroy ISIL.

777
00:34:09,514 --> 00:34:13,351
The next installment of
those meetings will take

778
00:34:13,351 --> 00:34:15,620
place later today
at the White House.

779
00:34:15,620 --> 00:34:18,455
And this is consistent
with the kinds of

780
00:34:18,456 --> 00:34:20,191
meetings that you've
covered before.

781
00:34:20,190 --> 00:34:24,060
This is one that had long
been planned, and it's

782
00:34:24,061 --> 00:34:26,364
been on the books, in
fact, before the agreement

783
00:34:26,364 --> 00:34:29,567
that Secretary Kerry
reached with his Russian

784
00:34:29,567 --> 00:34:31,803
counterpart at the
end of last week.

785
00:34:31,803 --> 00:34:34,337
As it relates to the
President's national

786
00:34:34,338 --> 00:34:36,441
security team, as I
mentioned earlier this

787
00:34:36,440 --> 00:34:39,042
week, the President didn't
staff up his national

788
00:34:39,043 --> 00:34:43,514
security team with
yes men and yes women.

789
00:34:43,514 --> 00:34:46,250
The President staffed his
national security team

790
00:34:46,250 --> 00:34:50,487
with experts who are
determined to offer the

791
00:34:50,487 --> 00:34:53,223
President their best
judgement about the best

792
00:34:53,224 --> 00:34:55,893
way to protect the
American people and

793
00:34:55,893 --> 00:34:58,830
to protect our
national security.

794
00:34:58,830 --> 00:35:04,902
The President expects to
receive advice based on

795
00:35:04,902 --> 00:35:06,971
their differing
perspectives, their

796
00:35:06,971 --> 00:35:10,074
different experiences, and
their different expertise.

797
00:35:10,074 --> 00:35:12,443
What the President also
expects is that once he

798
00:35:12,443 --> 00:35:16,681
has made a decision that
his team -- all components

799
00:35:16,681 --> 00:35:20,651
of the team -- move out to
execute that strategy

800
00:35:20,651 --> 00:35:22,386
with excellence.

801
00:35:22,386 --> 00:35:23,788
And the President has no
doubt that that's exactly

802
00:35:23,788 --> 00:35:27,625
what will happen as it
relates to our latest

803
00:35:27,625 --> 00:35:31,896
effort to reduce the
violence in Syria, address

804
00:35:31,896 --> 00:35:34,999
the terrible humanitarian
situation, continue to

805
00:35:34,999 --> 00:35:38,336
pressure ISIL, and
facilitate the kind of

806
00:35:38,336 --> 00:35:39,736
political transition
inside of Syria

807
00:35:39,737 --> 00:35:41,372
that is long overdue.

808
00:35:41,372 --> 00:35:45,176
In terms of those goals
that I just articulated,

809
00:35:45,176 --> 00:35:49,212
those are widely shared
across the administration,

810
00:35:49,213 --> 00:35:51,282
including at the
Department of Defense and

811
00:35:51,282 --> 00:35:52,316
at the State Department.

812
00:35:52,316 --> 00:35:59,457
And both sides -- I would
say everybody who is

813
00:35:59,457 --> 00:36:00,892
sitting around that table
in the Situation Room

814
00:36:00,892 --> 00:36:04,194
today understands the
situation inside of

815
00:36:04,195 --> 00:36:05,730
Syria is extraordinarily
complicated.

816
00:36:05,730 --> 00:36:07,632
And there aren't a lot of
good options available to

817
00:36:07,632 --> 00:36:08,499
the United States.

818
00:36:08,499 --> 00:36:12,803
But the option that has
been made available at the

819
00:36:12,803 --> 00:36:15,373
President's direction,
thanks largely to the

820
00:36:15,373 --> 00:36:19,176
tenacity of Secretary
Kerry, is this effort to

821
00:36:19,176 --> 00:36:23,281
apply pressure to the
Russians to see if they

822
00:36:23,281 --> 00:36:26,017
will use the influence
that they have with the

823
00:36:26,017 --> 00:36:32,656
Assad regime to reduce the
violence, allow for the

824
00:36:32,657 --> 00:36:36,894
free flow of humanitarian
assistance, and facilitate

825
00:36:36,894 --> 00:36:40,131
negotiations around a
political transition.

826
00:36:40,131 --> 00:36:44,167
There are no other
legitimate options that

827
00:36:44,168 --> 00:36:45,102
have been presented.

828
00:36:45,102 --> 00:36:48,638
And it's not as if there
is an alternative that's

829
00:36:48,639 --> 00:36:50,775
been presented by somebody
inside the administration

830
00:36:50,775 --> 00:36:53,811
or outside, for that
matter, that anybody

831
00:36:53,811 --> 00:36:56,347
thinks is actually an
alternative, long-term

832
00:36:56,347 --> 00:36:57,481
solution to this problem.

833
00:36:57,481 --> 00:37:02,119
So what the President is
pursuing, with the support

834
00:37:02,119 --> 00:37:06,257
of this national security
team, is the best option

835
00:37:06,257 --> 00:37:08,459
that is available to
advance the interests of

836
00:37:08,459 --> 00:37:10,328
the United States, to
reduce violence in Syria,

837
00:37:10,328 --> 00:37:11,629
to address the
humanitarian situation

838
00:37:11,629 --> 00:37:14,198
inside of Syria, and
bring about the kind of

839
00:37:14,198 --> 00:37:15,933
political transition that
would address the root

840
00:37:15,933 --> 00:37:19,403
causes of the chaos and
violence inside of Syria.

841
00:37:19,403 --> 00:37:21,404
The Press: And the
Associated Press, along

842
00:37:21,405 --> 00:37:24,375
with our colleagues at
Gannett and Vice, sued the

843
00:37:24,375 --> 00:37:30,948
FBI today over our request
for contracts related to

844
00:37:30,948 --> 00:37:33,384
the FBI getting into that
iPhone that was used in

845
00:37:33,384 --> 00:37:35,453
the San Bernardino case.

846
00:37:35,453 --> 00:37:38,823
You've spoken quite a bit
about the administration's

847
00:37:38,823 --> 00:37:41,926
pride in its record with
compliance with Freedom of

848
00:37:41,926 --> 00:37:43,094
Information Act requests.

849
00:37:43,094 --> 00:37:46,330
Would the White House like
to see the FBI comply with

850
00:37:46,330 --> 00:37:49,799
the FOIA request
related to this case?

851
00:37:49,800 --> 00:37:52,003
Mr. Earnest: Well, Josh,
I'm just not going to be

852
00:37:52,003 --> 00:37:54,905
able to comment on what
you acknowledge is the

853
00:37:54,905 --> 00:37:58,342
subject of litigation
as of today.

854
00:37:58,342 --> 00:38:02,079
The FBI and the
administration have tried

855
00:38:02,079 --> 00:38:04,181
to be as transparent
as possible

856
00:38:04,181 --> 00:38:07,251
about this situation.

857
00:38:07,251 --> 00:38:12,223
Given the sensitive nature
of the topic, we've been

858
00:38:12,223 --> 00:38:14,892
quite limited in what
we've been able

859
00:38:14,892 --> 00:38:16,460
to discuss publicly.

860
00:38:16,460 --> 00:38:22,299
But at this point, there
is a process that has been

861
00:38:22,299 --> 00:38:24,168
initiated by your news
organization and others,

862
00:38:24,168 --> 00:38:28,806
and I'm confident that the
Obama administration will

863
00:38:28,806 --> 00:38:30,941
comply with the law.

864
00:38:30,941 --> 00:38:32,042
Roberta.

865
00:38:32,043 --> 00:38:35,613
The Press: Josh, Vietnam
had been expected to

866
00:38:35,613 --> 00:38:39,183
quickly ratify the TPP.

867
00:38:39,183 --> 00:38:41,919
But earlier today, Vietnam
indicated that it would

868
00:38:41,919 --> 00:38:44,388
not be -- it would hold
off on that ratification.

869
00:38:44,388 --> 00:38:48,526
And we saw during the Asia
trip President Obama spent

870
00:38:48,526 --> 00:38:50,995
a lot of time talking with
the leader of Vietnam

871
00:38:50,995 --> 00:38:53,197
at the dinner and
other meetings.

872
00:38:53,197 --> 00:38:56,934
I'm wondering if he had
a head's up that this

873
00:38:56,934 --> 00:38:59,403
wouldn't be happening, and
what your assessment is of

874
00:38:59,403 --> 00:39:04,040
the implications for where
-- TPP on a broader scale.

875
00:39:04,041 --> 00:39:05,342
Mr. Earnest: Well,
Roberta, I can't speak to

876
00:39:05,342 --> 00:39:08,312
any of the private
conversations that the

877
00:39:08,312 --> 00:39:10,181
President had with his
Vietnamese counterpart.

878
00:39:10,181 --> 00:39:13,050
I know that he did not
have an opportunity to

879
00:39:13,050 --> 00:39:16,353
have a detailed discussion
with his Vietnamese

880
00:39:16,353 --> 00:39:19,056
counterpart at the
ASEAN meetings.

881
00:39:19,056 --> 00:39:24,462
I think what I can say in
general is, in the context

882
00:39:24,462 --> 00:39:29,100
of the Trans-Pacific
Partnership, Vietnam, as a

883
00:39:29,100 --> 00:39:31,035
country, has made some
rather substantial

884
00:39:31,035 --> 00:39:34,605
commitments that are
consistent with American

885
00:39:34,605 --> 00:39:37,641
values and with America's
economic interests in

886
00:39:37,641 --> 00:39:39,076
Southeast Asia.

887
00:39:39,076 --> 00:39:41,679
These reforms include
significant human rights

888
00:39:41,679 --> 00:39:46,417
and labor reforms that
would lead to a more level

889
00:39:46,417 --> 00:39:48,819
playing field for U.S.

890
00:39:48,819 --> 00:39:53,157
businesses that are
interested in selling

891
00:39:53,157 --> 00:39:55,259
goods in Vietnam.

892
00:39:55,259 --> 00:40:00,331
Critics of the
Trans-Pacific Partnership

893
00:40:00,331 --> 00:40:03,033
and trade agreements like
this often cite Vietnam as

894
00:40:03,033 --> 00:40:06,337
exactly the kind of
country that engages in

895
00:40:06,337 --> 00:40:08,539
unfair trading practices
that disadvantages

896
00:40:08,539 --> 00:40:12,009
American workers and has
a negative impact

897
00:40:12,009 --> 00:40:13,911
on our economy.

898
00:40:13,911 --> 00:40:18,149
They have not -- those
critics have not presented

899
00:40:18,149 --> 00:40:22,419
an effective strategy
for countering Vietnam's

900
00:40:22,419 --> 00:40:24,388
unfair trading practices.

901
00:40:24,388 --> 00:40:26,891
President Obama has.

902
00:40:26,891 --> 00:40:29,226
That's exactly what the
Trans-Pacific

903
00:40:29,226 --> 00:40:31,295
Partnership is about.

904
00:40:31,295 --> 00:40:35,332
Vietnam, in the context
of the Trans-Pacific

905
00:40:35,332 --> 00:40:38,002
Partnership, has agreed
to raise their labor

906
00:40:38,002 --> 00:40:40,504
standards and to better
protect human rights.

907
00:40:40,504 --> 00:40:44,408
That's exactly the outcome
that we're looking for.

908
00:40:44,408 --> 00:40:48,045
That's why the President
is such an ardent

909
00:40:48,045 --> 00:40:48,679
advocate of this.

910
00:40:48,679 --> 00:40:50,481
And you had an opportunity
to hear from Governor

911
00:40:50,481 --> 00:40:53,350
Kasich and Mayor Reed to
talk about how do you make

912
00:40:53,350 --> 00:40:54,618
the case to the American
public about why

913
00:40:54,618 --> 00:40:55,886
this is important.

914
00:40:55,886 --> 00:40:57,822
My version of that
argument is I think

915
00:40:57,822 --> 00:40:58,656
it's pretty simple.

916
00:40:58,656 --> 00:41:02,526
There's widespread
acknowledgement that the U.S.

917
00:41:02,526 --> 00:41:03,359
economy and U.S.

918
00:41:03,360 --> 00:41:04,195
businesses and U.S.

919
00:41:04,195 --> 00:41:06,764
workers are under
increasing pressure and

920
00:41:06,764 --> 00:41:08,199
increasing competition
from overseas.

921
00:41:08,199 --> 00:41:12,469
And the question really
for policymakers in the

922
00:41:12,469 --> 00:41:14,872
United States is what are
we going to do about it.

923
00:41:14,872 --> 00:41:16,674
And critics of the
Trans-Pacific Partnership

924
00:41:16,674 --> 00:41:18,876
have not put forward
any solutions.

925
00:41:18,876 --> 00:41:21,946
They don't have a
strategy, aside from

926
00:41:21,946 --> 00:41:25,915
complaining, bemoaning
the situation.

927
00:41:25,916 --> 00:41:28,452
The President has put
forward a very specific

928
00:41:28,452 --> 00:41:30,754
strategy that has the
potential to show very

929
00:41:30,754 --> 00:41:33,324
tangible benefits about
the very concerns

930
00:41:33,324 --> 00:41:36,026
identified by the
self-proclaimed champions

931
00:41:36,026 --> 00:41:38,361
of America's workers.

932
00:41:38,362 --> 00:41:39,897
So the President has a
solution that will work,

933
00:41:39,897 --> 00:41:42,433
but it's going to require
Congress's agreement to

934
00:41:42,433 --> 00:41:48,439
implement the deal because
-- news flash -- people

935
00:41:48,439 --> 00:41:49,707
around the world expect
the United States

936
00:41:49,707 --> 00:41:51,508
to lead the way.

937
00:41:51,508 --> 00:41:53,544
And President Obama
has lead the way by

938
00:41:53,544 --> 00:41:55,746
negotiating a trade
agreement that is in the

939
00:41:55,746 --> 00:41:57,214
economic and strategic
interests of

940
00:41:57,214 --> 00:41:58,315
the United States.

941
00:41:58,315 --> 00:42:00,384
And now it's time for
Congress to show some

942
00:42:00,384 --> 00:42:02,753
leadership -- both when it
comes to looking out for

943
00:42:02,753 --> 00:42:04,221
our interests overseas,
but also when it comes to

944
00:42:04,221 --> 00:42:05,256
looking out for the
interests of

945
00:42:05,256 --> 00:42:06,457
America's workers.

946
00:42:06,457 --> 00:42:07,591
The Press: The decision by
Vietnam then, how big a

947
00:42:07,591 --> 00:42:09,359
setback is it?

948
00:42:09,360 --> 00:42:10,694
Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't
think it's a setback yet.

949
00:42:10,694 --> 00:42:12,997
I think the real
stumbling block, the real

950
00:42:12,997 --> 00:42:15,265
impediment, the obstacle
here is Congress.

951
00:42:15,266 --> 00:42:19,336
And I don't think there's
any indication that --

952
00:42:19,336 --> 00:42:23,339
well, let me say it
in the affirmative.

953
00:42:23,340 --> 00:42:27,244
There's every indication
that Vietnam will move

954
00:42:27,244 --> 00:42:29,179
forward with these
critically important

955
00:42:29,179 --> 00:42:33,651
reforms once Congress
has approved the deal.

956
00:42:33,651 --> 00:42:34,952
The Press: Do you have any
other -- do you have any

957
00:42:34,952 --> 00:42:38,022
insight on when the
President is going to veto

958
00:42:38,022 --> 00:42:39,757
the JASTA legislation?

959
00:42:39,757 --> 00:42:45,296
And can you talk at all
about what kind of work is

960
00:42:45,296 --> 00:42:48,198
underway to maybe kind of
adjust the bill or tweak

961
00:42:48,198 --> 00:42:49,933
the bill, tweak the
legislation to make it --

962
00:42:49,934 --> 00:42:51,869
to address some of the
concerns that the White

963
00:42:51,869 --> 00:42:53,537
House has expressed?

964
00:42:53,537 --> 00:42:54,738
Mr. Earnest: I don't have
an update for you on timing.

965
00:42:54,738 --> 00:42:56,874
Once the President has
vetoed the bill, we'll be

966
00:42:56,874 --> 00:42:58,741
sure to let all
of you know.

967
00:42:58,742 --> 00:43:01,612
We continue to make our
forceful, principled

968
00:43:01,612 --> 00:43:03,013
argument to members
of Congress.

969
00:43:03,013 --> 00:43:06,183
There's openness to our
argument; there's even

970
00:43:06,183 --> 00:43:09,253
sympathy for our argument.

971
00:43:09,253 --> 00:43:11,322
We just need to turn that
into votes, and we'll

972
00:43:11,322 --> 00:43:13,791
continue to make the case.

973
00:43:13,791 --> 00:43:14,391
Joe.

974
00:43:14,391 --> 00:43:17,528
The Press: Josh, now that
Donald Trump has said

975
00:43:17,528 --> 00:43:21,464
President Obama was born
in the United States, do

976
00:43:21,465 --> 00:43:24,034
you see that as a
disavowal of the

977
00:43:24,034 --> 00:43:25,769
birther movement?

978
00:43:25,769 --> 00:43:29,406
And do you think, as
Hillary Clinton has said,

979
00:43:29,406 --> 00:43:33,877
the President is owed an
apology, or the voters are

980
00:43:33,877 --> 00:43:36,046
owed an apology?

981
00:43:36,046 --> 00:43:38,182
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
I'll leave it to other

982
00:43:38,182 --> 00:43:42,486
people to analyze and
evaluate the comments of

983
00:43:42,486 --> 00:43:44,989
the Republican nominee.

984
00:43:44,989 --> 00:43:48,325
There are plenty of people
who are eager to do that

985
00:43:48,325 --> 00:43:49,893
-- I'm not one of them.

986
00:43:49,893 --> 00:43:54,098
With regard to an apology,
I don't think the

987
00:43:54,098 --> 00:43:56,734
President much cares.

988
00:43:56,734 --> 00:43:59,169
The Press: Hillary Clinton
has called this

989
00:43:59,169 --> 00:44:00,437
whole business bigoted.

990
00:44:00,437 --> 00:44:03,140
Are you willing
to go that far?

991
00:44:03,140 --> 00:44:05,209
Are you willing
to call it racist?

992
00:44:05,209 --> 00:44:06,176
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
Secretary Clinton is

993
00:44:06,176 --> 00:44:09,880
somebody who, I think for
understandable reasons, is

994
00:44:09,880 --> 00:44:18,188
commenting on and
giving voice to her own

995
00:44:18,188 --> 00:44:20,691
conclusions about the
comments of her opponent.

996
00:44:20,691 --> 00:44:22,058
There are plenty of other
people who also are

997
00:44:22,059 --> 00:44:24,161
interested in doing that,
but I'm not one of them.

998
00:44:24,161 --> 00:44:25,662
The Press: Should the
country move on from this

999
00:44:25,662 --> 00:44:28,332
issue, or do you think
it's appropriate for it to

1000
00:44:28,332 --> 00:44:32,102
remain a political matter
up to the election?

1001
00:44:32,102 --> 00:44:33,504
Mr. Earnest: I think when
the President released the

1002
00:44:33,504 --> 00:44:36,140
long-form version of his
birth certificate in this

1003
00:44:36,140 --> 00:44:37,508
room five years ago, he
was hoping that

1004
00:44:37,508 --> 00:44:38,741
people would move on.

1005
00:44:38,742 --> 00:44:40,878
The Press: But should
Donald Trump's positions

1006
00:44:40,878 --> 00:44:44,081
on this through the years
remain an issue

1007
00:44:44,081 --> 00:44:45,716
through the election?

1008
00:44:45,716 --> 00:44:48,252
Mr. Earnest: Well, when it
comes to their support for

1009
00:44:48,252 --> 00:44:51,488
-- when it comes to voters
making a decision about

1010
00:44:51,488 --> 00:44:52,656
who they're going
to support in the

1011
00:44:52,656 --> 00:44:54,758
presidential campaign,
they'll use their own

1012
00:44:54,758 --> 00:44:57,528
criteria, including the
comments and positions of

1013
00:44:57,528 --> 00:45:00,830
the individual candidates,
in determining who they're

1014
00:45:00,831 --> 00:45:02,332
going to support
in the election.

1015
00:45:02,332 --> 00:45:05,134
The Press: Is the
issue settled?

1016
00:45:05,135 --> 00:45:05,803
And what was the effect?

1017
00:45:05,803 --> 00:45:06,770
(laughter)

1018
00:45:06,770 --> 00:45:08,972
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
when the President

1019
00:45:08,972 --> 00:45:10,574
released the long-form
version of his birth

1020
00:45:10,574 --> 00:45:13,243
certificate five years
ago, he expected that the

1021
00:45:13,243 --> 00:45:14,678
issue was settled.

1022
00:45:14,678 --> 00:45:15,446
Jon.

1023
00:45:15,446 --> 00:45:16,313
The Press: But I have
a question on this.

1024
00:45:16,313 --> 00:45:18,882
So the President may not
care what Donald Trump

1025
00:45:18,882 --> 00:45:22,486
did, and I can tell he
doesn't care at all, but

1026
00:45:22,486 --> 00:45:24,520
there are a lot of people
in this country that are

1027
00:45:24,521 --> 00:45:27,858
deeply offended that for
five years, Donald Trump

1028
00:45:27,858 --> 00:45:31,028
questioned whether or
not the President of the

1029
00:45:31,028 --> 00:45:33,330
United States was actually
an American citizen, that

1030
00:45:33,330 --> 00:45:34,798
he was actually born
in this country.

1031
00:45:34,798 --> 00:45:36,200
They were offended
by that behavior.

1032
00:45:36,200 --> 00:45:40,136
They felt it was driven by
either racism or bigotry

1033
00:45:40,137 --> 00:45:42,306
or whatever else.

1034
00:45:42,306 --> 00:45:45,476
Shouldn't Donald Trump be
held to account for that?

1035
00:45:45,476 --> 00:45:47,711
Is that -- I think that's
what Joe is asking.

1036
00:45:47,711 --> 00:45:50,314
Is that an issue that
should be over, that

1037
00:45:50,314 --> 00:45:51,615
people should move on?

1038
00:45:51,615 --> 00:45:53,817
Or should Donald Trump be
called to account for what

1039
00:45:53,817 --> 00:45:55,119
he has said for the
past five years?

1040
00:45:55,119 --> 00:45:56,386
Mr. Earnest: I think in a
variety of contexts I have

1041
00:45:56,386 --> 00:45:59,490
readily acknowledged
that elections are

1042
00:45:59,490 --> 00:46:00,756
about accountability.

1043
00:46:00,757 --> 00:46:05,696
And so if there are people
who have the views that

1044
00:46:05,696 --> 00:46:07,231
you've described --

1045
00:46:07,231 --> 00:46:09,433
The Press: Do you not
acknowledge that?

1046
00:46:09,433 --> 00:46:10,734
I mean, do you think
people have those views?

1047
00:46:10,734 --> 00:46:13,670
Mr. Earnest: I'm confident
there are plenty of people

1048
00:46:13,670 --> 00:46:14,872
with a variety of
views out there.

1049
00:46:14,872 --> 00:46:16,106
So I guess --

1050
00:46:16,106 --> 00:46:16,807
The Press: (inaudible)

1051
00:46:16,807 --> 00:46:17,508
Mr. Earnest: It
is, isn't it?

1052
00:46:17,508 --> 00:46:20,577
My point is, if there are
people that do have strong

1053
00:46:20,577 --> 00:46:22,613
feelings about this, they
have a unique opportunity

1054
00:46:22,613 --> 00:46:25,515
to make those feelings
known at the ballot box if

1055
00:46:25,516 --> 00:46:27,084
they choose to do so.

1056
00:46:27,084 --> 00:46:29,019
But, ultimately, people
are going to have to make

1057
00:46:29,019 --> 00:46:31,087
up their own
minds about this.

1058
00:46:31,088 --> 00:46:32,856
The Press: Now, Trump
said two other things.

1059
00:46:32,856 --> 00:46:35,459
He first acknowledged the
President was born in the

1060
00:46:35,459 --> 00:46:38,028
United States, but he
also said that it was the

1061
00:46:38,028 --> 00:46:41,497
Hillary Clinton campaign
in 2008 that started

1062
00:46:41,498 --> 00:46:42,633
this whole thing.

1063
00:46:42,633 --> 00:46:44,468
Mr. Earnest: There's no
evidence to support that.

1064
00:46:44,468 --> 00:46:47,004
The Press: And he said
that he is the one that

1065
00:46:47,004 --> 00:46:48,138
ended it all.

1066
00:46:48,138 --> 00:46:49,773
Is Donald Trump the one
that finally ended all this?

1067
00:46:49,773 --> 00:46:52,943
Is Donald Trump the reason
why the world now knows

1068
00:46:52,943 --> 00:46:55,145
the President was born
in the United States?

1069
00:46:55,145 --> 00:46:56,980
Mr. Earnest: No, I don't
think that's the case, either.

1070
00:46:56,980 --> 00:46:58,282
(laughter)

1071
00:46:58,282 --> 00:46:59,049
The Press: So
one for three?

1072
00:46:59,049 --> 00:47:01,351
(laughter)

1073
00:47:01,351 --> 00:47:03,187
Mr. Earnest: Ron.

1074
00:47:03,187 --> 00:47:05,556
The Press: Just to follow
up, if I can, can you take

1075
00:47:05,556 --> 00:47:08,458
a step back and why do
you think that

1076
00:47:08,458 --> 00:47:10,827
this issue resonated?

1077
00:47:10,827 --> 00:47:12,396
And will you accept that
there are a significant

1078
00:47:12,396 --> 00:47:14,231
number of people in this
country who agreed with

1079
00:47:14,231 --> 00:47:17,401
Donald Trump and who
still may question the

1080
00:47:17,401 --> 00:47:19,803
President's -- you've seen
these polls that suggested

1081
00:47:19,803 --> 00:47:23,140
there are people who still
think the President

1082
00:47:23,140 --> 00:47:24,975
is Muslim, so on
and so forth.

1083
00:47:24,975 --> 00:47:27,778
What accounts for
that in this country?

1084
00:47:27,778 --> 00:47:29,346
Mr. Earnest: Look, there
have been people who have

1085
00:47:29,346 --> 00:47:31,648
been speculating and even
writing books on this

1086
00:47:31,648 --> 00:47:33,884
question for years.

1087
00:47:33,884 --> 00:47:39,223
So, again, people are
welcome to formulate

1088
00:47:39,223 --> 00:47:40,023
their own analysis.

1089
00:47:40,023 --> 00:47:47,331
But the President, as he
said in the Oval Office,

1090
00:47:47,331 --> 00:47:48,865
he's hopeful that people
are going to be focused on

1091
00:47:48,865 --> 00:47:50,933
the most important issues
facing the country.

1092
00:47:50,934 --> 00:47:53,670
And this isn't
one of them.

1093
00:47:53,670 --> 00:47:56,106
The Press: Well, I guess
some people would argue

1094
00:47:56,106 --> 00:47:58,208
that it is one of the most
important political issues

1095
00:47:58,208 --> 00:48:00,010
facing the country -- not
the question of where the

1096
00:48:00,010 --> 00:48:03,814
President was born or not,
but the fact that there

1097
00:48:03,814 --> 00:48:05,449
are a significant number
of people in the country

1098
00:48:05,449 --> 00:48:10,487
who this whole argument
resonates with, and that

1099
00:48:10,487 --> 00:48:14,057
these are, in large part,
the people who have made

1100
00:48:14,057 --> 00:48:17,526
Donald Trump the nominee
of the party, to some extent.

1101
00:48:17,527 --> 00:48:20,197
That's the issue.

1102
00:48:20,197 --> 00:48:23,066
And does the President or
you -- does the President

1103
00:48:23,066 --> 00:48:25,702
not think that this is a
significant issue that

1104
00:48:25,702 --> 00:48:27,704
needs to be addressed
in this country?

1105
00:48:27,704 --> 00:48:29,139
And why does
this still exist?

1106
00:48:29,139 --> 00:48:32,542
Mr. Earnest: Well,
look, the beauty of our

1107
00:48:32,542 --> 00:48:34,911
democracy is there is
ample opportunity for

1108
00:48:34,911 --> 00:48:36,146
there to be a
vigorous debate.

1109
00:48:36,146 --> 00:48:38,849
And there is an
opportunity for people to

1110
00:48:38,849 --> 00:48:41,418
debate those issues, the
issues that you've just

1111
00:48:41,418 --> 00:48:42,886
raised, if they so choose.

1112
00:48:42,886 --> 00:48:45,555
The President is going to
be making a forceful case

1113
00:48:45,555 --> 00:48:48,625
for Secretary Clinton on
the campaign trail because

1114
00:48:48,625 --> 00:48:51,428
of his belief that she
is going to fight for

1115
00:48:51,428 --> 00:48:53,263
middle-class workers in
this country; that she has

1116
00:48:53,263 --> 00:48:55,399
the temperament and
judgement and experience

1117
00:48:55,399 --> 00:48:57,467
to lead the country and
ensure that our national

1118
00:48:57,467 --> 00:49:00,570
security interests are
represented and

1119
00:49:00,570 --> 00:49:02,172
advanced and protected
around the world.

1120
00:49:02,172 --> 00:49:05,342
And the President is
able to speak to those

1121
00:49:05,342 --> 00:49:08,679
qualities based on his
personal relationship with

1122
00:49:08,679 --> 00:49:09,880
Secretary Clinton, and
based on the fact that

1123
00:49:09,880 --> 00:49:10,947
he's the one that's been
responsible for

1124
00:49:10,947 --> 00:49:12,516
doing the job over the
last eight years.

1125
00:49:12,516 --> 00:49:15,285
So he's got a cogent,
forceful case that he'll

1126
00:49:15,285 --> 00:49:18,321
make based on the issues
that he believes are most

1127
00:49:18,322 --> 00:49:20,357
important in the election.

1128
00:49:20,357 --> 00:49:23,125
And he certainly is
hopeful that people across

1129
00:49:23,126 --> 00:49:25,128
the country will be
persuaded by that case.

1130
00:49:25,128 --> 00:49:28,231
But, look, people will
have an opportunity to

1131
00:49:28,231 --> 00:49:31,468
draw their own conclusions
and cast a vote based on

1132
00:49:31,468 --> 00:49:33,803
whatever criteria they
determine is most important.

1133
00:49:33,804 --> 00:49:35,806
The Press: And you said
there's a National

1134
00:49:35,806 --> 00:49:37,140
Security Council meeting
this afternoon -- is that

1135
00:49:37,140 --> 00:49:41,511
-- it's not on the
schedule, is it?

1136
00:49:41,511 --> 00:49:42,346
Mr. Earnest: Yes, it
is on the schedule.

1137
00:49:42,346 --> 00:49:44,214
The President will be --

1138
00:49:44,214 --> 00:49:45,382
The Press: Not on
the public guidance.

1139
00:49:45,382 --> 00:49:46,350
Mr. Earnest: It was not on
the guidance last night,

1140
00:49:46,350 --> 00:49:48,752
but there won't be public
access to the meeting.

1141
00:49:48,752 --> 00:49:50,354
They'll just be meeting
in the Situation Room.

1142
00:49:50,354 --> 00:49:53,689
But this is part of the
regular series of meetings

1143
00:49:53,690 --> 00:49:55,158
that the President
has done.

1144
00:49:55,158 --> 00:49:56,159
The Press: So is th
President going to make

1145
00:49:56,159 --> 00:49:57,527
remarks, as he has after
the meeting at the

1146
00:49:57,527 --> 00:49:58,829
Pentagon and Treasury?

1147
00:49:58,829 --> 00:49:59,896
Mr. Earnest: No,
he will not today.

1148
00:49:59,896 --> 00:50:04,334
The Press: And just
lastly, the question I

1149
00:50:04,334 --> 00:50:05,067
asked you yesterday about
Syria -- obviously that

1150
00:50:05,068 --> 00:50:08,105
will come up in this
meeting I would think,

1151
00:50:08,105 --> 00:50:08,705
to some extent.

1152
00:50:08,705 --> 00:50:10,073
Mr. Earnest: It
certainly will.

1153
00:50:10,073 --> 00:50:14,044
The Press: Beyond this
meeting, is there anything

1154
00:50:14,044 --> 00:50:18,181
else that the President is
doing that -- where he is

1155
00:50:18,181 --> 00:50:21,952
personally engaged in
trying to break this

1156
00:50:21,952 --> 00:50:24,121
impasse that still has
humanitarian aid that

1157
00:50:24,121 --> 00:50:25,589
is not getting through?

1158
00:50:25,589 --> 00:50:27,491
I think we're at four or
five days now into

1159
00:50:27,491 --> 00:50:30,026
this seven-day window.

1160
00:50:30,026 --> 00:50:35,265
Mr. Earnest: Listen, the
situation on the ground in

1161
00:50:35,265 --> 00:50:40,770
Syria is deeply
concerning.

1162
00:50:40,771 --> 00:50:42,906
There continue to be
populations of innocent

1163
00:50:42,906 --> 00:50:47,644
Syrians who are not
receiving the humanitarian

1164
00:50:47,644 --> 00:50:49,645
assistance that
they badly need.

1165
00:50:49,646 --> 00:50:51,615
The United States
has fulfilled our

1166
00:50:51,615 --> 00:50:55,452
responsibility to ensure
that those opposition

1167
00:50:55,452 --> 00:51:00,524
forces have complied with
the request to ensure that

1168
00:51:00,524 --> 00:51:03,058
that humanitarian
assistance can flow to

1169
00:51:03,059 --> 00:51:05,061
the areas where it's
needed most.

1170
00:51:05,061 --> 00:51:08,064
The Assad regime,
however, has not.

1171
00:51:08,064 --> 00:51:16,873
They have not complied
with the requests to do

1172
00:51:16,873 --> 00:51:21,912
what's necessary to
allow that aid to move.

1173
00:51:21,912 --> 00:51:26,649
And that is squarely
the responsibility

1174
00:51:26,650 --> 00:51:28,652
of President Putin
and the Russians.

1175
00:51:28,652 --> 00:51:30,787
The Russians are the ones
that are party

1176
00:51:30,787 --> 00:51:32,055
to this agreement.

1177
00:51:32,055 --> 00:51:34,924
They are the ones that
have made a commitment to

1178
00:51:34,925 --> 00:51:37,561
use their influence with
the Assad regime to reduce

1179
00:51:37,561 --> 00:51:40,997
the violence and allow
humanitarian access.

1180
00:51:40,997 --> 00:51:46,203
And either the Russians
are unable to live up to

1181
00:51:46,203 --> 00:51:48,605
the agreement -- maybe
they don't have the juice

1182
00:51:48,605 --> 00:51:50,640
and influence that they
claim to have and that we

1183
00:51:50,640 --> 00:51:52,776
all thought they had,
or maybe they're

1184
00:51:52,776 --> 00:51:53,777
just unwilling.

1185
00:51:53,777 --> 00:51:59,216
But in either case, it
means that they're not

1186
00:51:59,216 --> 00:52:00,450
living up to the terms
of the arrangement.

1187
00:52:00,450 --> 00:52:01,585
The Press: Is this
arrangement just crumbling

1188
00:52:01,585 --> 00:52:03,019
before our eyes?

1189
00:52:03,019 --> 00:52:04,154
Mr. Earnest: No, I don't
think that's the case

1190
00:52:04,154 --> 00:52:05,355
because part of the
arrangement has --

1191
00:52:05,355 --> 00:52:07,090
The Press: Is there
anything that you've seen

1192
00:52:07,090 --> 00:52:08,558
over the past couple of
days that gives you hope

1193
00:52:08,558 --> 00:52:11,328
that something positive is
going to happen here --

1194
00:52:11,328 --> 00:52:15,832
the trucks can
start rolling?

1195
00:52:15,832 --> 00:52:17,834
Mr. Earnest: Well, first
of all, I think the

1196
00:52:17,834 --> 00:52:19,836
immediate impact has been
that there has been a

1197
00:52:19,836 --> 00:52:22,772
significant reduction in
violence across Syria.

1198
00:52:22,772 --> 00:52:24,007
That's a positive
development.

1199
00:52:24,007 --> 00:52:30,013
But we have not seen the
corresponding freedom of

1200
00:52:30,013 --> 00:52:33,783
movement for trucks
delivering

1201
00:52:33,783 --> 00:52:35,317
humanitarian assistance.

1202
00:52:35,318 --> 00:52:38,221
And that is also
a high priority.

1203
00:52:38,221 --> 00:52:39,589
That's something that we
also need to see happen.

1204
00:52:39,589 --> 00:52:42,993
And we haven't because
it's been blocked

1205
00:52:42,993 --> 00:52:44,227
by the Assad regime.

1206
00:52:44,227 --> 00:52:48,231
And that is something
that is the direct

1207
00:52:48,231 --> 00:52:53,703
responsibility of the
Russian government.

1208
00:52:53,703 --> 00:52:54,771
Margaret Brennan.

1209
00:52:54,771 --> 00:52:58,875
The Press: Josh, did the
President make a decision

1210
00:52:58,875 --> 00:53:01,344
earlier this week
to allow U.S.

1211
00:53:01,344 --> 00:53:03,580
forces to work alongside
the Turks in

1212
00:53:03,580 --> 00:53:05,115
northern Syria, as is
being reported?

1213
00:53:05,115 --> 00:53:09,419
Mr. Earnest: Well,
Margaret, what the United

1214
00:53:09,419 --> 00:53:15,825
States has committed to do
is to support efforts of

1215
00:53:15,825 --> 00:53:24,500
the Turkish government to
clear ISIL from what had

1216
00:53:24,501 --> 00:53:29,773
recently been a previously
contested area

1217
00:53:29,773 --> 00:53:30,774
along their border.

1218
00:53:30,774 --> 00:53:35,779
And a month or so ago, the
Turks took action, with

1219
00:53:39,783 --> 00:53:41,785
the support of the United
States and our coalition

1220
00:53:41,785 --> 00:53:46,323
partners, to launch an
offensive against ISIL

1221
00:53:46,323 --> 00:53:47,924
forces along the border.

1222
00:53:47,924 --> 00:53:50,794
And they're continuing --
those efforts along the

1223
00:53:50,794 --> 00:53:53,462
border are continuing, and
those efforts continue

1224
00:53:53,463 --> 00:53:55,532
with the support of
the United States.

1225
00:53:55,532 --> 00:53:58,234
The Press: But that's not
just from the air anymore.

1226
00:53:58,234 --> 00:54:00,502
That is on the
ground, U.S.

1227
00:54:00,503 --> 00:54:02,072
forces on the ground,
alongside the Turks.

1228
00:54:02,072 --> 00:54:03,607
That is what
you're addressing?

1229
00:54:03,607 --> 00:54:05,375
Mr. Earnest:
That's correct.

1230
00:54:05,375 --> 00:54:06,810
I'm not going to be able
to provide a detailed,

1231
00:54:06,810 --> 00:54:10,380
operational status update
in terms of exactly where

1232
00:54:10,380 --> 00:54:12,983
they are and what they're
doing, but there are a

1233
00:54:12,983 --> 00:54:14,718
variety of ways that the
United States can provide

1234
00:54:14,718 --> 00:54:18,821
support to Turkish forces
that are doing this work,

1235
00:54:18,822 --> 00:54:20,190
and that includes U.S.

1236
00:54:20,190 --> 00:54:21,191
forces on the ground.

1237
00:54:21,191 --> 00:54:24,694
I'll just point out that
the actions that the Turks

1238
00:54:24,694 --> 00:54:27,163
are taking are consistent
with the request that we

1239
00:54:27,163 --> 00:54:30,700
have been making to the
Turks for more than a year.

1240
00:54:30,700 --> 00:54:35,305
And we have been pleased
to see the Turks pursue

1241
00:54:35,305 --> 00:54:39,042
this kind of decisive,
strategically significant

1242
00:54:39,042 --> 00:54:41,944
action that will aid our
efforts to degrade and

1243
00:54:41,945 --> 00:54:43,213
ultimately destroy ISIL.

1244
00:54:43,213 --> 00:54:46,049
It also will enhance
security along the

1245
00:54:46,049 --> 00:54:50,987
Turkish-Syria border and
hopefully put an end to

1246
00:54:50,987 --> 00:54:54,224
the kind of violence that
has spilled over into Turkey.

1247
00:54:54,224 --> 00:54:56,493
I know the Turkish
government and the Turkish

1248
00:54:56,493 --> 00:54:58,495
people have been deeply
concerned about some of

1249
00:54:58,495 --> 00:55:01,131
the terrorist attacks that
they had seen, and the

1250
00:55:01,131 --> 00:55:04,533
United States has been
deeply concerned about

1251
00:55:04,534 --> 00:55:05,535
that violence as well.

1252
00:55:05,535 --> 00:55:09,272
And that's yet another
reason why we are

1253
00:55:09,272 --> 00:55:11,708
supporting their efforts
to eradicate ISIL from

1254
00:55:11,708 --> 00:55:14,544
this border region, to
secure that border, and

1255
00:55:14,544 --> 00:55:16,546
better protect the
Turkish people.

1256
00:55:16,546 --> 00:55:18,548
The Press: You
acknowledged Syria is

1257
00:55:18,548 --> 00:55:20,417
going to be part of the
conversation during the

1258
00:55:20,417 --> 00:55:21,651
NSC meeting today.

1259
00:55:21,651 --> 00:55:24,721
The State Department said
earlier that John Kerry

1260
00:55:24,721 --> 00:55:28,091
told his Russian
counterpart that the

1261
00:55:28,091 --> 00:55:29,325
idea of the U.S.

1262
00:55:29,325 --> 00:55:32,828
and Russian military
working together would not

1263
00:55:32,829 --> 00:55:35,131
happen until aid
flows through.

1264
00:55:35,131 --> 00:55:38,134
Are you revisiting --
is the administration

1265
00:55:38,134 --> 00:55:41,071
revisiting that decision
to establish the joint

1266
00:55:41,071 --> 00:55:41,938
operations center?

1267
00:55:41,938 --> 00:55:44,541
Mr. Earnest: No, there's
no revisiting of the

1268
00:55:44,541 --> 00:55:47,811
arrangement that was
reached and announced

1269
00:55:47,811 --> 00:55:49,079
last week.

1270
00:55:49,079 --> 00:55:52,816
The arrangement is quite
clear that the kind of

1271
00:55:52,816 --> 00:55:57,986
military cooperation that
the Russians have been

1272
00:55:57,987 --> 00:56:01,157
desperately seeking for
quite some time will not

1273
00:56:01,157 --> 00:56:05,662
occur until they follow
through on their

1274
00:56:05,662 --> 00:56:09,064
commitment to persuade the
Assad regime to reduce

1275
00:56:09,065 --> 00:56:12,802
violence and allow
humanitarian assistance to

1276
00:56:12,802 --> 00:56:15,638
reach populations in need.

1277
00:56:15,638 --> 00:56:17,906
The Press: So President
Obama still is willing to

1278
00:56:17,907 --> 00:56:21,544
partner with Vladimir
Putin on this?

1279
00:56:21,544 --> 00:56:24,748
Mr. Earnest: Only in the
context of the

1280
00:56:24,748 --> 00:56:25,915
agreement, though.

1281
00:56:25,915 --> 00:56:29,252
So, as we've been saying
since last week, the

1282
00:56:29,252 --> 00:56:31,621
Russians need to deliver
on their commitments.

1283
00:56:31,621 --> 00:56:36,760
The Russians are the ones
who are most interested

1284
00:56:36,760 --> 00:56:40,196
in enhanced military
cooperation.

1285
00:56:40,196 --> 00:56:42,999
That's the Russian ask.

1286
00:56:42,999 --> 00:56:46,502
But that Russian request
will not be granted until

1287
00:56:46,503 --> 00:56:48,505
they fulfill the
commitments that they have

1288
00:56:48,505 --> 00:56:50,774
made in the context of
getting the Assad regime

1289
00:56:50,774 --> 00:56:55,145
to reduce violence and
allow for humanitarian

1290
00:56:55,145 --> 00:56:59,048
assistance to reach the
populations that

1291
00:56:59,048 --> 00:57:00,049
need it the most.

1292
00:57:00,049 --> 00:57:02,218
The Press: John Kerry said
earlier this week that

1293
00:57:02,218 --> 00:57:06,256
this was the last shot,
diplomatically, for the

1294
00:57:06,256 --> 00:57:08,558
White House to try to
persuade Assad to

1295
00:57:08,558 --> 00:57:10,393
do all these things.

1296
00:57:10,393 --> 00:57:13,429
Do you see us at that
point, that at this

1297
00:57:13,429 --> 00:57:16,566
meeting today, President
Obama would look at

1298
00:57:16,566 --> 00:57:20,002
whether his premise of
finding a way to talk him

1299
00:57:20,003 --> 00:57:22,605
into doing the right thing
is just not worth it?

1300
00:57:22,605 --> 00:57:26,376
I mean, is it truly the
last shot at a

1301
00:57:26,376 --> 00:57:29,412
diplomatic deal under this
administration?

1302
00:57:29,412 --> 00:57:32,080
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
Secretary Kerry -- I

1303
00:57:32,081 --> 00:57:34,751
referred earlier to his
tenacious efforts to

1304
00:57:34,751 --> 00:57:36,553
broker this agreement.

1305
00:57:36,553 --> 00:57:38,555
And in the months that
he's been trying to do

1306
00:57:38,555 --> 00:57:41,691
that, he and I and others
have been asked

1307
00:57:41,691 --> 00:57:43,593
about a Plan B.

1308
00:57:43,593 --> 00:57:46,495
And I haven't seen anybody
articulate what a

1309
00:57:46,496 --> 00:57:47,931
Plan B would look like.

1310
00:57:47,931 --> 00:57:49,499
The Press: And he
said there was none.

1311
00:57:49,499 --> 00:57:50,500
Mr. Earnest: Right.

1312
00:57:50,500 --> 00:57:56,873
So I guess the point is
that this is why you've

1313
00:57:56,873 --> 00:57:59,576
heard me say many times
that Russia's credibility

1314
00:57:59,576 --> 00:58:01,344
is on the line here.

1315
00:58:01,344 --> 00:58:05,748
The world is watching, and
we're going to find out if

1316
00:58:05,748 --> 00:58:08,251
Russia has the kind of
influence with the Assad

1317
00:58:08,251 --> 00:58:10,820
regime that they
claim to have.

1318
00:58:10,820 --> 00:58:16,426
And we'll find out if they
are willing to use that

1319
00:58:16,426 --> 00:58:19,194
influence to protect their
integrity and to live

1320
00:58:19,195 --> 00:58:21,197
up to the terms of
the arrangement.

1321
00:58:21,197 --> 00:58:24,901
And if not, if they are
unwilling to do so, it's

1322
00:58:24,901 --> 00:58:26,903
unclear what the
alternatives are.

1323
00:58:26,903 --> 00:58:28,904
The Press: But, arguably,
American credibility is

1324
00:58:28,905 --> 00:58:30,273
also at risk here if
you continue to provide

1325
00:58:30,273 --> 00:58:32,675
diplomatic cover when it
appears that Assad has no

1326
00:58:32,675 --> 00:58:35,211
intention to follow
through this deal, nor

1327
00:58:35,211 --> 00:58:37,346
does Russia have the
ability, as you've

1328
00:58:37,347 --> 00:58:38,715
suggested, to follow
through to this deal.

1329
00:58:38,715 --> 00:58:41,050
So do you see American
credibility now at risk?

1330
00:58:41,050 --> 00:58:43,620
Is there reason for this
to be the last shot?

1331
00:58:43,620 --> 00:58:45,955
Mr. Earnest: No, I don't
see American credibility

1332
00:58:45,955 --> 00:58:48,324
on the line, because the
United States of America

1333
00:58:48,324 --> 00:58:50,393
has lived up to our
commitments, and our

1334
00:58:50,393 --> 00:58:53,830
commitment has been to
look for a way to reduce

1335
00:58:53,830 --> 00:58:56,499
the violence in Syria, to
enhance the provision of

1336
00:58:56,499 --> 00:58:58,500
humanitarian assistance
to those who need it the

1337
00:58:58,501 --> 00:59:01,638
most, and to expedite
a political transition

1338
00:59:01,638 --> 00:59:03,640
inside of Syria that
everybody acknowledges is

1339
00:59:03,640 --> 00:59:05,642
necessary -- with the
possible exception of

1340
00:59:05,642 --> 00:59:06,942
Bashar al-Assad himself.

1341
00:59:06,943 --> 00:59:09,412
At the same time, we have
also been making important

1342
00:59:09,412 --> 00:59:13,383
progress against ISIL --
both in Iraq and in Syria.

1343
00:59:13,383 --> 00:59:15,551
And that includes
continuing to take back

1344
00:59:15,551 --> 00:59:19,355
territory from ISIL,
continuing to support

1345
00:59:19,355 --> 00:59:22,525
Iraqi forces as they do
so, continuing to support

1346
00:59:22,525 --> 00:59:25,261
opposition forces in Syria
who take back

1347
00:59:25,261 --> 00:59:26,262
territory from ISIL.

1348
00:59:26,262 --> 00:59:28,898
We continue to enjoy
success in taking senior

1349
00:59:28,898 --> 00:59:31,935
ISIL figures off
the battlefield.

1350
00:59:31,935 --> 00:59:34,137
Earlier this week, the
Department of Defense

1351
00:59:34,137 --> 00:59:37,774
confirmed that they had
succeeded in carrying out

1352
00:59:37,774 --> 00:59:45,915
a strike against a senior
ISIL plotter, Adnani, who

1353
00:59:45,915 --> 00:59:48,183
was a senior figure
in that

1354
00:59:48,184 --> 00:59:49,185
terrorist organization.

1355
00:59:49,185 --> 00:59:51,554
As we continue to apply
pressure to their

1356
00:59:51,554 --> 00:59:53,756
leadership, and continue
to make progress on the

1357
00:59:53,756 --> 01:00:00,096
ground against ISIL, we
are making important

1358
01:00:00,096 --> 01:00:04,267
progress even as we try
to deal with the

1359
01:00:04,267 --> 01:00:06,269
terribly thorny situation
inside of Syria.

1360
01:00:06,269 --> 01:00:08,270
The Press: So you're not
at the point of

1361
01:00:08,271 --> 01:00:09,172
calling off this deal?

1362
01:00:09,172 --> 01:00:10,273
You're not at the point
-- even though the U.N.

1363
01:00:10,273 --> 01:00:15,378
has said that they're not
getting any compliance

1364
01:00:15,378 --> 01:00:17,914
from the Assad regime in
letting in aid trucks?

1365
01:00:17,914 --> 01:00:20,817
You are willing to just
let the clock keep ticking

1366
01:00:20,817 --> 01:00:25,955
on this, the only leverage
being the possibility of

1367
01:00:25,955 --> 01:00:27,790
future military operations
with the Russians?

1368
01:00:27,790 --> 01:00:29,859
Mr. Earnest: Well, we know
that that's significant

1369
01:00:29,859 --> 01:00:31,861
leverage because we know
that the Russians have

1370
01:00:31,861 --> 01:00:36,265
been publicly asking for
that for more than a year.

1371
01:00:36,265 --> 01:00:39,602
The second thing is that
leverage has succeeded in

1372
01:00:39,602 --> 01:00:43,573
reducing violence inside
of Syria since this

1373
01:00:43,573 --> 01:00:46,542
arrangement was announced
and went into effect.

1374
01:00:46,542 --> 01:00:49,379
But we haven't gotten
everything that Russia

1375
01:00:49,379 --> 01:00:51,547
committed to provide,
which is sufficient

1376
01:00:51,547 --> 01:00:54,083
leverage on the Assad
regime to allow for the

1377
01:00:54,083 --> 01:00:56,085
delivery of humanitarian
assistance.

1378
01:00:56,085 --> 01:00:58,521
And that is a critical
part of this arrangement.

1379
01:00:58,521 --> 01:01:02,125
And military cooperation
will not go forward until

1380
01:01:02,125 --> 01:01:03,426
that element of the
arrangement

1381
01:01:03,426 --> 01:01:05,694
has been completed.

1382
01:01:05,695 --> 01:01:08,598
The Press: Will President
Obama speak to President

1383
01:01:08,598 --> 01:01:09,632
Putin at any
point about this?

1384
01:01:09,632 --> 01:01:12,735
Or is this left to
their chief diplomats?

1385
01:01:12,735 --> 01:01:15,872
Mr. Earnest: I'm not aware
of any conversations that

1386
01:01:15,872 --> 01:01:18,540
are planned at this point.

1387
01:01:18,541 --> 01:01:21,210
If there is a conversation
like that, we typically

1388
01:01:21,210 --> 01:01:22,211
let you know about it.

1389
01:01:22,211 --> 01:01:28,750
But right now, there is
nothing to be negotiated.

1390
01:01:28,751 --> 01:01:30,920
It's clear what
everybody has agreed to.

1391
01:01:30,920 --> 01:01:31,988
It's also clear who hasn't
lived up to their end of

1392
01:01:31,988 --> 01:01:33,189
the bargain, and
that's the Russians.

1393
01:01:33,189 --> 01:01:34,690
The Press: It's not that
clear what everyone has

1394
01:01:34,690 --> 01:01:35,925
agreed to because there's
actually no text

1395
01:01:35,925 --> 01:01:36,826
that's been released.

1396
01:01:36,826 --> 01:01:37,827
But that's another matter.

1397
01:01:37,827 --> 01:01:42,932
When do you think
you could do that?

1398
01:01:42,932 --> 01:01:44,933
Mr. Earnest: I think
there's been a rather

1399
01:01:44,934 --> 01:01:46,936
clear description of
exactly what the stages

1400
01:01:46,936 --> 01:01:47,937
are in this arrangement.

1401
01:01:47,937 --> 01:01:49,939
And it's not as if --
I guess to that point,

1402
01:01:49,939 --> 01:01:51,941
Margaret, it's not as if
the Russians are claiming

1403
01:01:51,941 --> 01:01:53,942
somehow that they've done
everything that

1404
01:01:53,943 --> 01:01:54,944
they agreed to do.

1405
01:01:54,944 --> 01:01:56,946
In the readout of his
telephone call with

1406
01:01:56,946 --> 01:01:58,915
Secretary Kerry,
Foreign Minister Lavrov

1407
01:01:58,915 --> 01:02:00,917
acknowledged that they had
not yet fulfilled their

1408
01:02:00,917 --> 01:02:02,919
responsibilities to get
the Assad regime to

1409
01:02:02,919 --> 01:02:04,921
provide that
humanitarian assistance.

1410
01:02:04,921 --> 01:02:06,923
So it's not as if the
Russians are claiming that

1411
01:02:06,923 --> 01:02:08,924
they lived up to
their end of the deal.

1412
01:02:08,925 --> 01:02:11,160
So, again, I think there
is a lot of clarity around

1413
01:02:11,160 --> 01:02:15,464
what the arrangement looks
like even though the

1414
01:02:15,465 --> 01:02:17,834
paperwork has not
been released.

1415
01:02:17,834 --> 01:02:18,835
Margaret Talev.

1416
01:02:18,835 --> 01:02:20,403
The Press: Thank you.

1417
01:02:20,403 --> 01:02:22,238
Josh, President Obama, of
course, is going up to New

1418
01:02:22,238 --> 01:02:25,308
York for the UNGA next
week and will have leaders

1419
01:02:25,308 --> 01:02:27,176
-- meetings with leaders.

1420
01:02:27,176 --> 01:02:29,779
Hillary Clinton also has
I think what her campaign

1421
01:02:29,779 --> 01:02:31,114
called bilats.

1422
01:02:31,114 --> 01:02:32,048
I don't know if it's a
bilat if they're not --

1423
01:02:32,048 --> 01:02:35,017
anyway, with at least the
Egyptian leader, and the

1424
01:02:35,017 --> 01:02:37,086
Ukrainian, probably some
others to be announced.

1425
01:02:37,086 --> 01:02:40,723
Is it appropriate for a
presidential nominee to

1426
01:02:40,723 --> 01:02:42,959
have meetings on the
sidelines at the U.N.

1427
01:02:42,959 --> 01:02:44,060
with world leaders?

1428
01:02:44,060 --> 01:02:46,328
Would it be appropriate
also if Donald Trump did it?

1429
01:02:46,329 --> 01:02:49,365
And can you talk about to
what extent the President

1430
01:02:49,365 --> 01:02:53,069
maybe is coordinating with
the administration on some

1431
01:02:53,069 --> 01:02:55,071
of these meetings and
what gets discussed?

1432
01:02:55,071 --> 01:02:56,339
Mr. Earnest: Well,
Margaret, it certainly is

1433
01:02:56,339 --> 01:02:58,174
not uncommon for
presidential candidates to

1434
01:02:58,174 --> 01:02:59,809
travel overseas.

1435
01:02:59,809 --> 01:03:01,644
President Obama did that
when he was running for

1436
01:03:01,644 --> 01:03:04,013
this office in 2008, and
while he was traveling

1437
01:03:04,013 --> 01:03:06,149
overseas he had the
opportunity to have

1438
01:03:06,149 --> 01:03:08,518
meetings with the
elected leaders of

1439
01:03:08,518 --> 01:03:09,552
other countries.

1440
01:03:09,552 --> 01:03:12,622
So I don't think that
there's anything

1441
01:03:12,622 --> 01:03:14,156
significantly different
about doing that when

1442
01:03:14,157 --> 01:03:15,992
those foreign leaders
travel to the United States.

1443
01:03:15,992 --> 01:03:20,029
I can't speak to the
degree of coordination

1444
01:03:20,029 --> 01:03:21,831
between the administration
and the Clinton campaign

1445
01:03:21,831 --> 01:03:23,533
with regard to setting
up those meetings.

1446
01:03:23,533 --> 01:03:30,573
But there's nothing about
the occurrence of those

1447
01:03:30,573 --> 01:03:32,908
meetings that we
find objectionable.

1448
01:03:32,909 --> 01:03:40,149
After all, Mr. Trump flew
to Mexico a few weeks ago

1449
01:03:40,149 --> 01:03:41,116
to meet with the
Mexican President.

1450
01:03:41,117 --> 01:03:44,921
And again, as I noted
at the time, it was

1451
01:03:44,921 --> 01:03:49,658
consistent with what other
candidates for President

1452
01:03:49,659 --> 01:03:51,360
have done in the past.

1453
01:03:51,360 --> 01:03:52,929
The Press: I wanted to
ask you also a follow-up

1454
01:03:52,929 --> 01:03:55,264
question about
earlier today.

1455
01:03:55,264 --> 01:04:00,603
If we could get like the
Colin Powell email version

1456
01:04:00,603 --> 01:04:02,471
of what President Obama
was actually thinking --

1457
01:04:02,471 --> 01:04:03,839
(laughter)

1458
01:04:03,839 --> 01:04:06,976
-- when he saw Donald
Trump's statement today --

1459
01:04:06,976 --> 01:04:08,978
which we're obviously
not going to.

1460
01:04:08,978 --> 01:04:11,414
It might be different than
what he wanted to

1461
01:04:11,414 --> 01:04:13,115
disclose publicly.

1462
01:04:13,115 --> 01:04:18,221
What I'm wondering is are
you kind of holding back

1463
01:04:18,221 --> 01:04:20,523
kind of an emotional
response to this because

1464
01:04:20,523 --> 01:04:23,392
the President has
specifically said that he

1465
01:04:23,392 --> 01:04:25,794
doesn't want that to be
the White House's posture?

1466
01:04:25,795 --> 01:04:28,598
Or is it a strategic issue
that President Obama

1467
01:04:28,598 --> 01:04:31,334
actually thinks it's not
good for Hillary Clinton's

1468
01:04:31,334 --> 01:04:34,102
prospects to focus
on the birther issue?

1469
01:04:34,103 --> 01:04:37,406
Is it more like a personal
request like this just

1470
01:04:37,406 --> 01:04:41,277
needs to stop, or is
it more of a strategic

1471
01:04:41,277 --> 01:04:42,511
statement that --

1472
01:04:42,511 --> 01:04:43,713
Mr. Earnest: Well, I did
have an opportunity to

1473
01:04:43,713 --> 01:04:45,615
talk to the President
about this issue

1474
01:04:45,615 --> 01:04:46,281
earlier today.

1475
01:04:46,282 --> 01:04:49,619
It was not -- it was prior
to Mr. Trump's brief

1476
01:04:49,619 --> 01:04:57,860
statement earlier today.

1477
01:04:57,860 --> 01:04:59,862
And, look, I think the
President -- what the

1478
01:04:59,862 --> 01:05:01,864
President told all of you
in the Oval Office is

1479
01:05:01,864 --> 01:05:03,866
consistent with what he
told me in the Oval Office

1480
01:05:03,866 --> 01:05:05,868
a few minutes before,
which is that this is

1481
01:05:05,868 --> 01:05:07,870
serious business that
we're engaged in here

1482
01:05:07,870 --> 01:05:08,871
today at the White House.

1483
01:05:08,871 --> 01:05:10,840
The President believes
that it's important for us

1484
01:05:10,840 --> 01:05:12,842
-- for the Congress to
follow through and approve

1485
01:05:12,842 --> 01:05:13,843
the Trans-Pacific
Partnership.

1486
01:05:13,843 --> 01:05:15,845
And there are strong
bipartisan agreement

1487
01:05:15,845 --> 01:05:16,846
about that.

1488
01:05:16,846 --> 01:05:18,848
We have leading figures
in the Republican Party,

1489
01:05:18,848 --> 01:05:20,850
including Governor Kasich,
who stood here with

1490
01:05:20,850 --> 01:05:22,852
leading figures in the
Democratic Party to

1491
01:05:22,852 --> 01:05:24,854
advocate for the
completion of this

1492
01:05:24,854 --> 01:05:26,856
agreement -- not just for
economic reasons,

1493
01:05:26,856 --> 01:05:29,825
but also for strategic
ones as well.

1494
01:05:29,825 --> 01:05:33,796
That's where the President
believes the attention of

1495
01:05:33,796 --> 01:05:35,998
the country should be
because of the significant

1496
01:05:35,998 --> 01:05:38,868
consequences for our
country's future.

1497
01:05:38,868 --> 01:05:41,604
The Press: Are you saying
that your reluctance is

1498
01:05:41,604 --> 01:05:44,106
more about keeping the
message on TPP today, and

1499
01:05:44,106 --> 01:05:46,342
you may well in the days
to come hear much more

1500
01:05:46,342 --> 01:05:49,445
about precisely what
he thinks about this?

1501
01:05:49,445 --> 01:05:52,415
Mr. Earnest: No, I would
not expect -- I would not

1502
01:05:52,415 --> 01:05:55,117
clear your calendar in
anticipation of a lengthy

1503
01:05:55,117 --> 01:05:57,586
presidential discourse
on this topic.

1504
01:05:57,586 --> 01:05:58,587
Francesca.

1505
01:05:58,587 --> 01:06:00,856
The Press: Speaking of
meeting, President Obama

1506
01:06:00,856 --> 01:06:02,725
met with Secretary Clinton
last night, the White

1507
01:06:02,725 --> 01:06:03,592
House has confirmed --

1508
01:06:03,592 --> 01:06:06,829
Mr. Earnest:
That's correct.

1509
01:06:06,829 --> 01:06:08,731
The Press: Did he have an
opportunity to talk her

1510
01:06:08,731 --> 01:06:10,733
about the situation in
Syria last night, or

1511
01:06:10,733 --> 01:06:12,435
perhaps the trade deal,
which she says she

1512
01:06:12,435 --> 01:06:13,769
disagrees with him on?

1513
01:06:13,769 --> 01:06:16,238
Maybe gave her
a get-well card?

1514
01:06:16,238 --> 01:06:18,240
Mr. Earnest: In the
conversation I had with

1515
01:06:18,240 --> 01:06:20,241
him this morning, I asked
him about his conversation

1516
01:06:20,242 --> 01:06:21,310
with Secretary Clinton.

1517
01:06:21,310 --> 01:06:23,312
They did have an
opportunity to visit for

1518
01:06:23,312 --> 01:06:24,846
about 15 minutes or so.

1519
01:06:24,847 --> 01:06:30,086
The President -- it was
a casual conversation so

1520
01:06:30,086 --> 01:06:36,892
there was not a detailed
policy discussion on Syria

1521
01:06:36,892 --> 01:06:37,893
or anything else, frankly.

1522
01:06:37,893 --> 01:06:42,231
But, look, they do what
old friends do when they

1523
01:06:42,231 --> 01:06:44,233
run into each other after
not having seen each other

1524
01:06:44,233 --> 01:06:47,370
in a while, which is that
President Obama asked

1525
01:06:47,370 --> 01:06:49,971
Secretary Clinton
about her grandkids.

1526
01:06:49,972 --> 01:06:53,576
She gave him an update and
showed him some pictures.

1527
01:06:53,576 --> 01:06:57,713
And I think it's an
indication of exactly

1528
01:06:57,713 --> 01:06:59,715
what their relationship
is like.

1529
01:06:59,715 --> 01:07:02,084
The President also told
her about how much fun he

1530
01:07:02,084 --> 01:07:05,721
had on the campaign trail
earlier this week and that

1531
01:07:05,721 --> 01:07:07,723
he's really looking
forward to spending more

1532
01:07:07,723 --> 01:07:14,196
time over the course of
the fall campaigning in

1533
01:07:14,196 --> 01:07:18,033
support of her effort
to take the presidency.

1534
01:07:18,033 --> 01:07:22,037
And he's excited about
that prospect because

1535
01:07:22,037 --> 01:07:24,240
he's enthusiastic about
her candidacy.

1536
01:07:24,240 --> 01:07:27,575
And he told her that, and
presumably she was

1537
01:07:27,576 --> 01:07:29,078
glad to hear that.

1538
01:07:29,078 --> 01:07:31,080
And then she went to
deliver her remarks.

1539
01:07:31,080 --> 01:07:33,182
The Press: How many more
times can we expect him to

1540
01:07:33,182 --> 01:07:35,183
be so enthusiastic
for her on the trail?

1541
01:07:35,184 --> 01:07:37,620
Mr. Earnest: We'll give
you an update about the

1542
01:07:37,620 --> 01:07:40,656
President's planned
travels over the

1543
01:07:40,656 --> 01:07:42,224
course of the fall.

1544
01:07:42,224 --> 01:07:43,893
The President certainly
has some significant

1545
01:07:43,893 --> 01:07:45,528
responsibilities here
at the White House.

1546
01:07:45,528 --> 01:07:47,930
So, for example, next week
he's going to be devoting

1547
01:07:47,930 --> 01:07:52,268
most of his time in New
York to meeting with world

1548
01:07:52,268 --> 01:07:54,437
leaders and participating
in the activities that

1549
01:07:54,437 --> 01:07:55,538
are part of the U.N.

1550
01:07:55,538 --> 01:07:56,138
General Assembly.

1551
01:07:56,138 --> 01:08:00,875
But the President will
leave Washington on late

1552
01:08:00,876 --> 01:08:04,046
Sunday afternoon because
he's going to spend some

1553
01:08:04,046 --> 01:08:07,649
time Sunday evening in
New York helping to raise

1554
01:08:07,650 --> 01:08:10,052
money for the Democratic
Party in pursuit of -- in

1555
01:08:10,052 --> 01:08:13,222
support of Secretary
Clinton's

1556
01:08:13,222 --> 01:08:14,957
presidential campaign.

1557
01:08:14,957 --> 01:08:15,758
The Press: Just to
follow up on that.

1558
01:08:15,758 --> 01:08:18,426
Would you say maybe one
more time, two more times?

1559
01:08:18,426 --> 01:08:21,496
Could you give us a range
of how many more times?

1560
01:08:21,497 --> 01:08:23,933
Mr. Earnest: How many more
times that he'll be --

1561
01:08:23,933 --> 01:08:25,935
The Press: That the
President will campaign

1562
01:08:25,935 --> 01:08:27,937
for her, not necessarily
fundraising, but doing the

1563
01:08:27,937 --> 01:08:30,038
sort of events that we
saw him do this week.

1564
01:08:30,038 --> 01:08:32,041
Mr. Earnest: Well,
certainly more

1565
01:08:32,041 --> 01:08:33,042
than one or two.

1566
01:08:33,042 --> 01:08:35,044
We've got about seven or
eight weeks to go here.

1567
01:08:35,044 --> 01:08:38,346
Next week, again, will be
consumed primarily with

1568
01:08:38,346 --> 01:08:40,349
the President's official
responsibilities as

1569
01:08:40,349 --> 01:08:41,417
President of the
United States.

1570
01:08:41,417 --> 01:08:43,419
But after that, the
President will be able to

1571
01:08:43,419 --> 01:08:47,223
devote more time to
another priority of his,

1572
01:08:47,223 --> 01:08:52,394
which is advocating for
Secretary Clinton's election.

1573
01:08:52,394 --> 01:08:53,395
Chris.

1574
01:08:53,395 --> 01:08:55,397
The Press: Josh, I asked
you a lot of questions a

1575
01:08:55,397 --> 01:08:57,131
while back about the
administration guidance

1576
01:08:57,131 --> 01:08:59,033
regarding discrimination
against transgender

1577
01:08:59,033 --> 01:09:02,036
students in schools and
litigation against that

1578
01:09:02,037 --> 01:09:03,472
guidance by the
Attorney General.

1579
01:09:03,471 --> 01:09:06,341
That issue has now reached
the Supreme Court in the

1580
01:09:06,341 --> 01:09:10,112
form -- as a result of
a separate but related

1581
01:09:10,112 --> 01:09:11,480
lawsuit (inaudible.)

1582
01:09:11,479 --> 01:09:15,483
The ACLU has called on the
Court to not take

1583
01:09:15,484 --> 01:09:17,152
up that case.

1584
01:09:17,152 --> 01:09:19,488
But where does the
administration stand?

1585
01:09:19,488 --> 01:09:21,557
Would the White House
welcome the Supreme Court

1586
01:09:21,557 --> 01:09:24,126
taking up this issue?

1587
01:09:24,126 --> 01:09:28,531
Mr. Earnest: Well, Chris,
I have to admit, I'm not

1588
01:09:28,531 --> 01:09:30,533
aware of the latest step
in the process that you're

1589
01:09:30,533 --> 01:09:31,934
referring to here.

1590
01:09:31,934 --> 01:09:34,136
Given the fact that this
is an issue that's being

1591
01:09:34,136 --> 01:09:36,572
litigated in the courts,
there's not much that I

1592
01:09:36,572 --> 01:09:38,574
can say beyond what we've
already said, which is

1593
01:09:38,573 --> 01:09:41,042
that in offering the
guidance that was provided

1594
01:09:41,042 --> 01:09:43,045
by the United States
Department of Education,

1595
01:09:43,045 --> 01:09:45,648
they were being responsive
to requests that they had

1596
01:09:45,648 --> 01:09:47,650
received from school
administrators, teachers

1597
01:09:47,649 --> 01:09:49,684
and parents from all
across the country.

1598
01:09:49,685 --> 01:09:54,590
And in an effort to
provide professional,

1599
01:09:54,590 --> 01:09:57,393
expert advice, based on
the best practices of

1600
01:09:57,393 --> 01:10:01,697
other education
professionals, they

1601
01:10:01,697 --> 01:10:04,733
offered some advice and
they issued some guidance.

1602
01:10:04,733 --> 01:10:06,735
But this is something
that's being discussed

1603
01:10:06,735 --> 01:10:07,736
in the courts.

1604
01:10:07,736 --> 01:10:11,640
The administration's top
priority is the safety,

1605
01:10:11,640 --> 01:10:14,577
security and dignity
of every single kid in

1606
01:10:14,577 --> 01:10:17,079
American schools, and
that's going to continue

1607
01:10:17,079 --> 01:10:19,348
to be our priority.

1608
01:10:19,348 --> 01:10:20,382
The Press: But the
President, when that

1609
01:10:20,382 --> 01:10:21,482
guidance came out,
predicted that the courts

1610
01:10:21,483 --> 01:10:22,151
would resolve the issue.

1611
01:10:22,151 --> 01:10:24,253
Wouldn't a decision from
the Supreme Court indicate

1612
01:10:24,253 --> 01:10:26,054
that that guidance
enhanced the

1613
01:10:26,055 --> 01:10:27,556
safety and security --

1614
01:10:27,556 --> 01:10:29,558
Mr. Earnest: When it comes
to our legal strategy, I'd

1615
01:10:29,558 --> 01:10:31,560
refer you to the
Department of Justice.

1616
01:10:31,560 --> 01:10:32,561
Cheryl.

1617
01:10:32,561 --> 01:10:33,562
Mr. Earnest: Thanks, Josh.

1618
01:10:33,562 --> 01:10:36,131
On TPP, when the President
goes to New York next week

1619
01:10:36,131 --> 01:10:40,202
for the U.N., will he be
meeting with leaders or

1620
01:10:40,202 --> 01:10:41,904
holding any sort of
meetings specifically to

1621
01:10:41,904 --> 01:10:43,205
discuss TPP?

1622
01:10:43,205 --> 01:10:45,274
Mr. Earnest: We'll have
some additional details

1623
01:10:45,274 --> 01:10:47,610
about the President's
schedule in New York later

1624
01:10:47,610 --> 01:10:49,612
this afternoon -- a couple
of my colleagues will be

1625
01:10:49,612 --> 01:10:51,280
convening a conference
call to discuss

1626
01:10:51,280 --> 01:10:52,281
the President's schedule
in New York.

1627
01:10:52,281 --> 01:10:55,951
The Press: And then, real
quick, does the White

1628
01:10:55,951 --> 01:10:58,587
House have any date in
mind that it would like to

1629
01:10:58,587 --> 01:11:01,590
submit the actual TPP for
ratification to Congress?

1630
01:11:01,590 --> 01:11:04,393
Mr. Earnest: Listen, as
we've said in the past,

1631
01:11:04,393 --> 01:11:09,064
we're going to continue to
coordinate with Speaker

1632
01:11:09,064 --> 01:11:13,736
Ryan's office and Leader
McConnell's office to

1633
01:11:13,736 --> 01:11:15,804
design the best path
forward here when it comes

1634
01:11:15,804 --> 01:11:18,140
to securing legislative
approval of the

1635
01:11:18,140 --> 01:11:19,908
Trans-Pacific Partnership.

1636
01:11:19,908 --> 01:11:21,910
So I don't have any
updates in terms of

1637
01:11:21,910 --> 01:11:23,912
timing, but once a
decision like that is

1638
01:11:23,912 --> 01:11:26,415
made, it will be made in
coordination with Leader

1639
01:11:26,415 --> 01:11:27,816
McConnell's office and
Speaker Ryan's office.

1640
01:11:27,816 --> 01:11:29,885
The Press: And did they
give you any guidance yet

1641
01:11:29,885 --> 01:11:31,420
that you can discuss?

1642
01:11:31,420 --> 01:11:33,422
Mr. Earnest: We've ha
some conversations about

1643
01:11:33,422 --> 01:11:34,723
it, but I don't have any
details to announce

1644
01:11:34,723 --> 01:11:35,290
at this point.

1645
01:11:35,290 --> 01:11:35,758
Kevin.

1646
01:11:35,758 --> 01:11:36,592
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1647
01:11:36,592 --> 01:11:38,626
I want to circle back on
TPP for just a second

1648
01:11:38,627 --> 01:11:40,663
and some of the
comparisons to NAFTA.

1649
01:11:40,663 --> 01:11:44,833
Previously, you have
suggested that some of the

1650
01:11:44,833 --> 01:11:47,335
provisions in TPP would
sort of eradicate some of

1651
01:11:47,336 --> 01:11:49,338
the problems that were
borne out of NAFTA, but I

1652
01:11:49,338 --> 01:11:53,075
distinctly remember the
sale of NAFTA was it will

1653
01:11:53,075 --> 01:11:56,545
be great for you,
trust us, Americans.

1654
01:11:56,545 --> 01:11:59,748
The American people
remember that.

1655
01:11:59,748 --> 01:12:00,949
How is this not different?

1656
01:12:00,949 --> 01:12:03,285
Mr. Earnest: Well, it is
different, and the reason

1657
01:12:03,285 --> 01:12:07,356
it's different is that
the improved labor and

1658
01:12:07,356 --> 01:12:09,258
environmental standards
that were side agreements

1659
01:12:09,258 --> 01:12:15,630
to NAFTA are enforceable
in the context of TPP.

1660
01:12:15,631 --> 01:12:19,902
So these core components
that level the playing

1661
01:12:19,902 --> 01:12:21,904
field for American
businesses and American

1662
01:12:21,904 --> 01:12:24,406
workers are fully
enforceable, which means --

1663
01:12:24,406 --> 01:12:25,441
The Press: -- skepticism,
though, because people are

1664
01:12:25,441 --> 01:12:27,076
like, look, they promised
us a bunch of stuff

1665
01:12:27,076 --> 01:12:30,412
with NAFTA, and it
didn't pan out.

1666
01:12:30,412 --> 01:12:32,414
Mr. Earnest: Well, I guess
the President has raised

1667
01:12:32,414 --> 01:12:34,950
his own concerns about
NAFTA, and it included the

1668
01:12:34,950 --> 01:12:36,952
fact that some of those
key provisions

1669
01:12:36,952 --> 01:12:38,954
that are important to
protecting U.S.

1670
01:12:38,954 --> 01:12:39,955
businesses and U.S.

1671
01:12:39,955 --> 01:12:40,956
workers were not
enforceable.

1672
01:12:40,956 --> 01:12:43,525
In this agreement, in the
Trans-Pacific Partnership,

1673
01:12:43,525 --> 01:12:45,527
they are enforceable,
which means that if other

1674
01:12:45,527 --> 01:12:47,529
countries aren't living
up to their terms of the

1675
01:12:47,529 --> 01:12:49,531
agreement when it comes
to leveling the playing

1676
01:12:49,531 --> 01:12:51,533
field, then they're in
violation of the agreement

1677
01:12:51,533 --> 01:12:52,534
and can be kicked out.

1678
01:12:52,534 --> 01:12:55,771
The Press: Are you
familiar with TISA?

1679
01:12:55,771 --> 01:12:58,674
Mr. Earnest: I am not.

1680
01:12:58,674 --> 01:13:01,643
The Press: It's part of
the services agreement

1681
01:13:01,643 --> 01:13:03,746
that's being negotiated
right now between the

1682
01:13:03,746 --> 01:13:06,048
United States, the EU,
and 22 other nations.

1683
01:13:06,048 --> 01:13:09,718
It's sort of an Uber
TPP if you will.

1684
01:13:09,718 --> 01:13:13,255
Can you give me sort of an
administration update on

1685
01:13:13,255 --> 01:13:15,491
how those negotiations
are going?

1686
01:13:15,491 --> 01:13:16,892
Mr. Earnest: I'd refer you
to my colleagues at USTR.

1687
01:13:16,892 --> 01:13:18,559
We'll see if we can get
you some additional

1688
01:13:18,560 --> 01:13:20,796
information about it,
but I'm not aware of the

1689
01:13:20,796 --> 01:13:22,798
status of the ongoing
negotiations.

1690
01:13:22,798 --> 01:13:23,197
The Press: Okay.

1691
01:13:23,198 --> 01:13:26,368
Last one.

1692
01:13:26,368 --> 01:13:28,103
We've talked previously
about Syria being

1693
01:13:28,103 --> 01:13:31,206
effectively this mash-up.

1694
01:13:31,206 --> 01:13:34,743
We've talked about
de-confliction, because

1695
01:13:34,743 --> 01:13:36,211
there's so many different
interests that are there

1696
01:13:36,211 --> 01:13:37,980
-- more than 60 countries
apparently working with

1697
01:13:37,980 --> 01:13:39,815
the U.S., you have the
U.S., you have the

1698
01:13:39,815 --> 01:13:40,715
Russians, you
have the Syrians.

1699
01:13:40,716 --> 01:13:43,552
As we continue to work now
with the Turks and others

1700
01:13:43,552 --> 01:13:46,355
in this environment,
what's the President's

1701
01:13:46,355 --> 01:13:49,124
level of concern that
American lives are

1702
01:13:49,124 --> 01:13:52,059
increasingly at risk
without an agreement

1703
01:13:52,060 --> 01:13:54,263
forged with the Russians?

1704
01:13:54,263 --> 01:13:56,932
Mr. Earnest: Well, Kevin,
what we have been able to

1705
01:13:56,932 --> 01:14:00,434
work with the Russians is
to effectively de-conflict

1706
01:14:00,435 --> 01:14:03,071
their military
activities with ours.

1707
01:14:03,071 --> 01:14:05,073
So that's different
than coordination and

1708
01:14:05,073 --> 01:14:08,143
cooperation, because we're
not sharing intelligence

1709
01:14:08,143 --> 01:14:09,578
information in a way that
allows us to

1710
01:14:09,578 --> 01:14:10,078
coordinate our activities.

1711
01:14:10,078 --> 01:14:14,082
But what we are is sharing
enough information to make

1712
01:14:14,082 --> 01:14:17,519
sure that the Russian
military, when they're

1713
01:14:17,519 --> 01:14:19,788
operating either in the
skies or on the ground in

1714
01:14:19,788 --> 01:14:23,025
Syria, are steering clear
of the United States

1715
01:14:23,025 --> 01:14:24,559
and our coalition partners.

1716
01:14:24,560 --> 01:14:25,861
With regard to
coordinating our

1717
01:14:25,861 --> 01:14:28,730
activities with Turkey and
others, Turkey is part of

1718
01:14:28,730 --> 01:14:33,735
our 65-member coalition
that is effectively

1719
01:14:33,735 --> 01:14:34,803
coordinating all
of our efforts.

1720
01:14:34,803 --> 01:14:40,242
So Turkey and the United
States, for example, are

1721
01:14:40,242 --> 01:14:44,880
working together and that
only enhances

1722
01:14:44,880 --> 01:14:46,148
the security of U.S.

1723
01:14:46,148 --> 01:14:48,150
forces that are
operating there.

1724
01:14:48,150 --> 01:14:54,255
But I've not heard anyone
downplay the risk that our

1725
01:14:54,256 --> 01:14:56,992
men and women in uniform
are assuming in carrying

1726
01:14:56,992 --> 01:14:59,828
out counter-ISIL
operations against targets

1727
01:14:59,828 --> 01:15:02,164
in Iraq, or in Syria,
for that matter.

1728
01:15:02,164 --> 01:15:04,199
Our men and women in
uniform are bearing a

1729
01:15:04,199 --> 01:15:06,268
significant burden.

1730
01:15:06,268 --> 01:15:08,270
They are putting their
lives on the line for

1731
01:15:08,270 --> 01:15:09,271
our national security.

1732
01:15:09,271 --> 01:15:11,273
We owe them a deep
debt of gratitude.

1733
01:15:11,273 --> 01:15:15,244
The Commander-in-Chief
is keenly aware of that.

1734
01:15:15,244 --> 01:15:18,480
He talked about it at the
news conference in Laos at

1735
01:15:18,480 --> 01:15:22,049
the end of his trip a
little over a week ago,

1736
01:15:22,050 --> 01:15:24,786
and he talked about his
deep admiration for the

1737
01:15:24,786 --> 01:15:26,989
sacrifice that our men and
women in uniform make.

1738
01:15:26,989 --> 01:15:30,525
And one of those
sacrifices that thousands

1739
01:15:30,525 --> 01:15:33,929
of Americans are making
right now is to serve our

1740
01:15:33,929 --> 01:15:36,465
country in Iraq and in
Syria in support of our

1741
01:15:36,465 --> 01:15:38,734
counter-ISIL campaign and
in support of the strategy

1742
01:15:38,734 --> 01:15:40,802
that the President has
laid out to degrade and

1743
01:15:40,802 --> 01:15:41,870
ultimately destroy ISIL.

1744
01:15:41,870 --> 01:15:43,839
It's dangerous work.

1745
01:15:43,839 --> 01:15:45,841
They're putting
themselves at risk.

1746
01:15:45,841 --> 01:15:48,810
And we are deeply grateful
for the responsibility

1747
01:15:48,810 --> 01:15:52,180
that they've assumed that
makes our country safer.

1748
01:15:52,180 --> 01:15:53,181
Okay?

1749
01:15:53,181 --> 01:15:54,182
Thanks.

1750
01:15:54,182 --> 01:15:55,250
J.C., I'll give
you the last one.

1751
01:15:55,250 --> 01:15:56,718
The Press: For some
obvious reasons, my

1752
01:15:56,718 --> 01:15:58,487
students from Catholic
University are here today

1753
01:15:58,487 --> 01:16:01,590
joining this briefing.

1754
01:16:01,590 --> 01:16:03,825
The question is, do
millennials really hold

1755
01:16:03,825 --> 01:16:07,262
the key to this election
and will they

1756
01:16:07,262 --> 01:16:09,197
get out and vote?

1757
01:16:09,197 --> 01:16:11,366
The youth, the young
voters, the first-time voters.

1758
01:16:11,366 --> 01:16:13,635
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
when President Obama ran

1759
01:16:13,635 --> 01:16:20,042
for this job in 2008, his
candidacy and his message

1760
01:16:20,042 --> 01:16:23,111
inspired millions of young
people all across the

1761
01:16:23,111 --> 01:16:25,113
country to get engaged in
our political process

1762
01:16:25,113 --> 01:16:26,848
for the first time.

1763
01:16:26,848 --> 01:16:29,451
One of the real legacies
of President Obama's

1764
01:16:29,451 --> 01:16:31,620
campaign and tenure here
in the White House is the

1765
01:16:31,620 --> 01:16:34,756
degree to which he
succeeded in engaging the

1766
01:16:34,756 --> 01:16:40,796
youngest generation of
Americans in questions of

1767
01:16:40,796 --> 01:16:43,799
politics and in the
broader public debate.

1768
01:16:43,799 --> 01:16:46,468
So there's no denying how
important a role young

1769
01:16:46,468 --> 01:16:48,971
people play in
American politics.

1770
01:16:48,971 --> 01:16:52,307
And that certainly is --
they'll continue to play

1771
01:16:52,307 --> 01:16:54,309
that role in this
presidential election.

1772
01:16:54,309 --> 01:16:56,378
And I know that there is a
lot of thought and effort

1773
01:16:56,378 --> 01:17:01,249
and energy that's going
into persuading them to

1774
01:17:01,249 --> 01:17:03,585
support Secretary
Clinton's campaign.

1775
01:17:03,585 --> 01:17:06,054
The Press: President Obama
was a unique individual

1776
01:17:06,054 --> 01:17:08,457
with a certain energy that
really inspired young people.

1777
01:17:08,457 --> 01:17:11,727
Do you believe that either
candidate can have the

1778
01:17:11,727 --> 01:17:14,529
same kind of influence
on the youth vote?

1779
01:17:14,529 --> 01:17:18,266
Mr. Earnest: Well, look, I
think what President Obama

1780
01:17:18,266 --> 01:17:22,838
often -- the case that
President Obama repeatedly

1781
01:17:22,838 --> 01:17:27,175
made in the context of the
election was that he was

1782
01:17:27,175 --> 01:17:30,445
eager to give voice
to a new generation of

1783
01:17:30,445 --> 01:17:36,751
Americans and fight for
the kinds of priorities

1784
01:17:36,752 --> 01:17:39,054
that they've identified
in their own lives --

1785
01:17:39,054 --> 01:17:42,324
reducing the cost of a
college education, making

1786
01:17:42,324 --> 01:17:44,326
sure that people in the
United States of America

1787
01:17:44,326 --> 01:17:46,328
aren't discriminated
against just because of

1788
01:17:46,328 --> 01:17:48,330
who they love, making sure
that the United States

1789
01:17:48,330 --> 01:17:50,332
continues to play a
leading role in fight

1790
01:17:50,332 --> 01:17:52,401
climate change and
fighting carbon pollution.

1791
01:17:52,401 --> 01:17:57,973
The President also made
commitment to go in and

1792
01:17:57,973 --> 01:17:59,975
enhance the national
security of the United

1793
01:17:59,975 --> 01:18:03,645
States, and reduce the
number of young people

1794
01:18:03,645 --> 01:18:06,214
from the United States
that were serving in

1795
01:18:06,214 --> 01:18:07,649
Iraq and Afghanistan.

1796
01:18:07,649 --> 01:18:11,920
And more than 90 percent
of the troops that were

1797
01:18:11,920 --> 01:18:13,922
serving our country
overseas in Iraq and

1798
01:18:13,922 --> 01:18:17,192
Afghanistan when he took
office have come home.

1799
01:18:17,192 --> 01:18:21,530
So the President has made
good on a lot of promises,

1800
01:18:21,530 --> 01:18:24,199
and I think he made good
on the promises that he

1801
01:18:24,199 --> 01:18:28,335
made to America's
young people.

1802
01:18:28,336 --> 01:18:31,006
Hopefully both candidates
will be making a forceful

1803
01:18:31,006 --> 01:18:34,342
case to pursuing the kinds
of priorities that young

1804
01:18:34,342 --> 01:18:38,914
people are still concerned
about, and, like I said,

1805
01:18:38,914 --> 01:18:41,683
I'm confident that
Secretary Clinton's team

1806
01:18:41,683 --> 01:18:43,285
is very focused on making
that precise case.

1807
01:18:43,285 --> 01:18:44,052
Okay?

1808
01:18:44,052 --> 01:18:46,822
So I don't have a written
week ahead in front

1809
01:18:46,822 --> 01:18:48,790
of me but --

1810
01:18:48,790 --> 01:18:49,424
The Press: You do now.

1811
01:18:49,424 --> 01:18:50,659
(laughter)

1812
01:18:50,659 --> 01:18:53,327
Mr. Earnest: Well if I
can read Eric Schultz's

1813
01:18:53,328 --> 01:18:55,497
handwriting then I
will try to do it.

1814
01:18:55,497 --> 01:18:57,666
As I mentioned earlier,
the President will depart

1815
01:18:57,666 --> 01:18:59,968
the White House late
Sunday afternoon, headed

1816
01:18:59,968 --> 01:19:02,471
for New York, and he
will participate in a

1817
01:19:02,471 --> 01:19:04,505
fundraiser in New York in
support of the Democratic

1818
01:19:04,506 --> 01:19:05,774
Party and Secretary
Clinton's

1819
01:19:05,774 --> 01:19:07,409
presidential campaign.

1820
01:19:07,409 --> 01:19:09,411
On Monday, the President
-- this is late morning --

1821
01:19:09,411 --> 01:19:13,248
the President will
participate in a

1822
01:19:13,248 --> 01:19:15,817
roundtable fundraising
event to benefit the

1823
01:19:15,817 --> 01:19:18,386
Democratic Senatorial
Campaign Committee.

1824
01:19:18,386 --> 01:19:20,422
On Tuesday, the President
will deliver remarks at

1825
01:19:20,422 --> 01:19:22,824
the opening session of the
United Nations

1826
01:19:22,824 --> 01:19:24,625
General Assembly.

1827
01:19:24,626 --> 01:19:26,628
After his remarks, he'll
attend a luncheon that's

1828
01:19:26,628 --> 01:19:27,629
hosted by U.N.

1829
01:19:27,629 --> 01:19:29,397
Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon.

1830
01:19:29,397 --> 01:19:32,467
That afternoon, he'll
attend a CEO roundtable

1831
01:19:32,467 --> 01:19:35,202
and participate in
a refugee summit.

1832
01:19:35,203 --> 01:19:39,141
This, of course, are a set
of activities that the

1833
01:19:39,141 --> 01:19:41,343
United States has
organized to focus

1834
01:19:41,343 --> 01:19:44,679
international attention on
the plight of refugees and

1835
01:19:44,679 --> 01:19:47,883
to get other countries
around the world focused

1836
01:19:47,883 --> 01:19:50,352
on what kind of
commitments they can make

1837
01:19:50,352 --> 01:19:53,054
to supporting the needs
of people who have

1838
01:19:53,054 --> 01:19:54,923
had to flee violence.

1839
01:19:54,923 --> 01:19:55,924
Late Tuesday afternoon,
the President will

1840
01:19:55,924 --> 01:19:57,159
participate in a family
photo with other world

1841
01:19:57,159 --> 01:19:58,727
leaders who are
attending the U.N.

1842
01:19:58,727 --> 01:20:02,731
General Assembly.

1843
01:20:02,731 --> 01:20:04,733
And then that evening, he
will deliver remarks at a

1844
01:20:04,733 --> 01:20:06,735
reception for the heads
of delegations who are

1845
01:20:06,735 --> 01:20:08,702
attending the United
Nations General Assembly.

1846
01:20:08,703 --> 01:20:10,705
On Wednesday, in New
York, the President will

1847
01:20:10,705 --> 01:20:13,642
participate in the
U.S.-Africa Forum, and

1848
01:20:13,642 --> 01:20:16,945
then return to D.C. late
Wednesday afternoon.

1849
01:20:16,945 --> 01:20:19,181
I should point out that,
over the course of his

1850
01:20:19,181 --> 01:20:21,916
three days in New York
-- Monday, Tuesday, and

1851
01:20:21,917 --> 01:20:24,152
Wednesday -- the President
will have a couple of

1852
01:20:24,152 --> 01:20:26,154
bilateral meetings,
and we'll have more

1853
01:20:26,154 --> 01:20:29,257
information on those
meetings later today.

1854
01:20:29,257 --> 01:20:31,425
On Thursday, the President
will award the 2015

1855
01:20:31,426 --> 01:20:34,162
National Medal of Arts and
National Humanities Medal

1856
01:20:34,162 --> 01:20:36,364
here in the East Room
of the White House.

1857
01:20:36,364 --> 01:20:38,900
And then on Friday, he'll
host a reception for the

1858
01:20:38,900 --> 01:20:41,503
opening of the African
American Museum

1859
01:20:41,503 --> 01:20:43,605
in the East Room of
the White House.

1860
01:20:43,605 --> 01:20:45,574
And then next Saturday, a
week from tomorrow, the

1861
01:20:45,574 --> 01:20:47,576
President and First Lady
will attend the opening

1862
01:20:47,576 --> 01:20:51,713
ceremony of the African
American History

1863
01:20:51,713 --> 01:20:53,148
on the National Mall.

1864
01:20:53,148 --> 01:20:55,483
The President will deliver
remarks at that ceremony.

1865
01:20:55,483 --> 01:20:56,484
So, with that, I hope you
all have great weekend,

1866
01:20:56,484 --> 01:20:58,053
and I look forward to
seeing many of

1867
01:20:58,053 --> 01:20:58,486
you in New York.

1868
01:20:58,486 --> 01:20:59,019
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1869
01:20:59,020 --> 01:20:59,788
Mr. Earnest: Thanks.