English subtitles for clip: File:3-8-12- White House Press Briefing.webm
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1 00:00:00,500 --> 00:00:02,567 Mr. Carney: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. 2 00:00:02,567 --> 00:00:05,333 Thanks for being here on this magnificently beautiful 3 00:00:05,333 --> 00:00:10,734 winter's day. 4 00:00:10,734 --> 00:00:12,600 I'm just sorry we're not in the Rose Garden. 5 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:15,133 That would be -- maybe in the spring. 6 00:00:15,133 --> 00:00:16,467 (laughter) 7 00:00:16,467 --> 00:00:17,266 The Press: There is still time. 8 00:00:17,266 --> 00:00:18,099 The Press: Did it once. 9 00:00:18,100 --> 00:00:19,266 The Press: Gibbs did it once. 10 00:00:19,266 --> 00:00:20,099 (laughter) 11 00:00:20,100 --> 00:00:21,200 The Press: It's pretty windy. 12 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:22,266 The Press: Did he get grief? 13 00:00:22,266 --> 00:00:23,400 Mr. Carney: Did you guys give him grief? 14 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:24,599 The Press: No, we didn't. 15 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:25,433 Us? 16 00:00:25,433 --> 00:00:30,900 We didn't. 17 00:00:30,900 --> 00:00:33,400 Mr. Carney: And hence, we're here today, inside -- 18 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:35,033 (laughter) 19 00:00:35,033 --> 00:00:37,433 -- a kind of musty briefing room. 20 00:00:37,433 --> 00:00:38,467 (laughter) 21 00:00:38,467 --> 00:00:41,199 Be that as it may, let me, before I take your questions, 22 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:45,000 give you a readout of President Obama's video conference earlier 23 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:47,200 today with President Karzai. 24 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:49,867 Earlier today, the President held a video conference with 25 00:00:49,867 --> 00:00:52,099 President Karzai of Afghanistan, as part of their 26 00:00:52,100 --> 00:00:54,333 regular consultations. 27 00:00:54,333 --> 00:00:56,833 President Karzai updated the President on the security 28 00:00:56,834 --> 00:01:00,100 situation in Afghanistan, which has calmed since the events of 29 00:01:00,100 --> 00:01:01,100 recent weeks. 30 00:01:01,100 --> 00:01:03,700 The two Presidents discussed a range of issues of mutual 31 00:01:03,700 --> 00:01:07,400 interest, including U.S.-Afghan Strategic Partnership 32 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:10,266 negotiations; Afghan-led reconciliation; 33 00:01:10,266 --> 00:01:12,433 and regional matters. 34 00:01:12,433 --> 00:01:15,333 The leaders noted progress toward concluding a Strategic 35 00:01:15,333 --> 00:01:18,300 Partnership that reinforces Afghan sovereignty while 36 00:01:18,300 --> 00:01:21,200 addressing the practical requirements of transition. 37 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:24,200 President Karzai updated the President on developments toward 38 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:26,700 Afghan-led reconciliation talks. 39 00:01:26,700 --> 00:01:29,834 Finally, the President and President Karzai agreed that it 40 00:01:29,834 --> 00:01:32,734 is in both our interest to continue a partnership that is 41 00:01:32,734 --> 00:01:36,467 based on mutual respect, and they agreed to stay in close 42 00:01:36,467 --> 00:01:40,367 touch in the lead-up to the NATO Summit in Chicago. 43 00:01:40,367 --> 00:01:42,934 And with that, I will -- I'll get to you, Connie. 44 00:01:42,934 --> 00:01:47,899 Let me start with the Associated Press's, Ben Feller. 45 00:01:47,900 --> 00:01:48,567 The Press: Thanks, Jay. 46 00:01:48,567 --> 00:01:50,232 Two questions on Iran and Israel. 47 00:01:50,233 --> 00:01:52,834 There is a report from Iranian state television, 48 00:01:52,834 --> 00:01:54,734 quoting the top leader, the Ayatollah, 49 00:01:54,734 --> 00:01:58,433 as praising President Obama about his comments on a "window 50 00:01:58,433 --> 00:02:00,233 of opportunity" for diplomacy. 51 00:02:00,233 --> 00:02:02,533 And the quote is, "This expression is a good word. 52 00:02:02,533 --> 00:02:07,066 This is a wise remark indicating taking distance from illusion." 53 00:02:07,066 --> 00:02:09,734 I'm wondering if the White House sees this as a positive sign and 54 00:02:09,734 --> 00:02:11,867 sees it as credible. 55 00:02:11,867 --> 00:02:15,166 Mr. Carney: Ben, as you know, the President's policy toward Iran 56 00:02:15,166 --> 00:02:19,633 is focused in a very clear-eyed way on Iranian behavior, 57 00:02:19,633 --> 00:02:24,000 certainly not on rhetoric of any kind. 58 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:27,567 We are determined to prevent Iran from acquiring 59 00:02:27,567 --> 00:02:28,734 nuclear weapons. 60 00:02:28,734 --> 00:02:30,867 And Iran continues to violate its obligations, 61 00:02:30,867 --> 00:02:34,132 and has demonstrated -- and has not yet demonstrated the 62 00:02:34,133 --> 00:02:36,834 peaceful intent of its nuclear program. 63 00:02:36,834 --> 00:02:41,834 And that's why we have, over the past three years, 64 00:02:41,834 --> 00:02:46,667 led the effort to organize the international community in a 65 00:02:46,667 --> 00:02:53,500 broad consensus effort to pressure Iran, to isolate Iran, 66 00:02:53,500 --> 00:03:01,600 to impose sanctions on Iran that, in an ever-increasing way, 67 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:04,900 put real strain on its economy and real strain on its 68 00:03:04,900 --> 00:03:06,367 political leadership. 69 00:03:06,367 --> 00:03:09,767 That effort continues. 70 00:03:09,767 --> 00:03:12,367 The President has made clear since the day he took office 71 00:03:12,367 --> 00:03:17,533 that there is an alternative path available to Iran, 72 00:03:17,533 --> 00:03:23,466 through negotiations, that is available if Iran makes the 73 00:03:23,467 --> 00:03:26,066 decision to live up to its international obligations, 74 00:03:26,066 --> 00:03:36,333 to forsake its nuclear weapons ambitions, and by doing so, 75 00:03:36,333 --> 00:03:40,633 rejoin the international community of nations. 76 00:03:40,633 --> 00:03:45,433 We are, as you know, with our P5-plus-1 partners, 77 00:03:45,433 --> 00:03:50,333 embarking upon a process to begin again talks with Iran, 78 00:03:50,333 --> 00:03:53,300 but again, in a very clear-eyed way. 79 00:03:53,300 --> 00:03:55,867 The pressure on Iran will continue. 80 00:03:55,867 --> 00:04:00,966 The ratcheting up of sanctions will continue, 81 00:04:00,967 --> 00:04:04,567 because the only change in that effort will come -- 82 00:04:04,567 --> 00:04:09,333 if it comes -- with a change in Iranian behavior with regards to 83 00:04:09,333 --> 00:04:11,200 its nuclear programs. 84 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,966 The Press: One point I didn't hear the other day when the President was 85 00:04:13,967 --> 00:04:18,033 talking about Israel and Iran was whether he had actually made 86 00:04:18,033 --> 00:04:22,266 any progress in persuading Prime Minister Netanyahu to give more 87 00:04:22,266 --> 00:04:28,166 time for diplomacy and to hold off on a preemptive attack. 88 00:04:28,166 --> 00:04:30,834 Does he feel like he made progress on either 89 00:04:30,834 --> 00:04:32,500 of those fronts? 90 00:04:32,500 --> 00:04:40,433 Mr. Carney: Ben, I would say simply that the Israelis, as I understand it, 91 00:04:40,433 --> 00:04:43,933 made clear that they have not made a decision about taking 92 00:04:43,934 --> 00:04:46,934 that kind of action, which is something that the President had 93 00:04:46,934 --> 00:04:50,800 said previously. 94 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:55,066 There is agreement between this administration, 95 00:04:55,066 --> 00:05:00,566 this government and the Israeli government on what Iran is doing 96 00:05:00,567 --> 00:05:06,934 and where it is in the process of its nuclear program. 97 00:05:06,934 --> 00:05:09,000 We have inspectors on the ground, as you know -- 98 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:12,934 the IAEA does -- so we have visibility into what 99 00:05:12,934 --> 00:05:14,633 they're doing. 100 00:05:14,633 --> 00:05:18,967 And there is great coordination between this government and the 101 00:05:18,967 --> 00:05:21,200 Israeli government, between our militaries and between our 102 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:22,834 intelligence officials. 103 00:05:22,834 --> 00:05:26,033 And that will continue. 104 00:05:26,033 --> 00:05:27,066 Yes. 105 00:05:27,066 --> 00:05:31,166 The Press: Also on Iran, you mentioned the P5-plus-1 group. 106 00:05:31,166 --> 00:05:34,767 They demanded today that Iran fulfill a promise to let 107 00:05:34,767 --> 00:05:37,834 international inspectors visit the Parchin military 108 00:05:37,834 --> 00:05:42,567 installation where the IAEA believes explosives tests were 109 00:05:42,567 --> 00:05:46,500 being conducted geared to developing atomic weaponry and 110 00:05:46,500 --> 00:05:47,700 may have taken place. 111 00:05:47,700 --> 00:05:54,866 And is there any concern that this is being delayed -- 112 00:05:54,867 --> 00:05:59,033 the access by the IAEA, is being delayed by the Iranians to clear 113 00:05:59,033 --> 00:06:00,667 any evidence of this sort? 114 00:06:00,667 --> 00:06:06,667 And is the access of IAEA inspectors a condition for going 115 00:06:06,667 --> 00:06:08,265 ahead with the talks that have been planned? 116 00:06:08,266 --> 00:06:09,533 Mr. Carney: Well, I'll make two points. 117 00:06:09,533 --> 00:06:14,467 One, as you know, twice requests by the IAEA to send inspectors 118 00:06:14,467 --> 00:06:18,233 to this facility have been rejected by the Iranians in the 119 00:06:18,233 --> 00:06:24,800 past -- most recent -- I think once fairly recently. 120 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:26,767 And the reason why the inspectors want to visit that 121 00:06:26,767 --> 00:06:34,000 facility is because we do -- or the IAEA does suspect the kind 122 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:36,700 of activity that you discussed. 123 00:06:36,700 --> 00:06:41,099 As for the reports that you mention about activity at the 124 00:06:41,100 --> 00:06:45,467 facility, I don't have any comment on intelligence matters. 125 00:06:45,467 --> 00:06:48,700 I would simply say that the reports in and of themselves 126 00:06:48,700 --> 00:06:54,599 underscore the importance that the IAEA attaches to being able 127 00:06:54,600 --> 00:07:00,233 to visit this site because of the kinds of activity that they 128 00:07:00,233 --> 00:07:02,233 suspect has taken place there. 129 00:07:02,233 --> 00:07:03,266 The Press: And one other subject. 130 00:07:03,266 --> 00:07:06,667 The Attorney General today said that the administration's oil 131 00:07:06,667 --> 00:07:10,866 and gas working group was going to be meeting this week to talk 132 00:07:10,867 --> 00:07:14,834 about high -- the rise in gas prices as it investigates 133 00:07:14,834 --> 00:07:18,433 possible manipulation, speculation in the 134 00:07:18,433 --> 00:07:19,433 energy markets. 135 00:07:19,433 --> 00:07:22,467 Is there -- will this group -- what is the goal of this 136 00:07:22,467 --> 00:07:24,400 group this week? 137 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:30,099 And have they identified areas of speculation and actions that 138 00:07:30,100 --> 00:07:31,467 might be taken to stamp that out? 139 00:07:31,467 --> 00:07:33,800 Mr. Carney: Well, I would refer you to the Department of Justice for 140 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:37,100 specifics about their work. 141 00:07:37,100 --> 00:07:44,967 The working group was first set up last year when we saw a spike 142 00:07:44,967 --> 00:07:49,734 in oil prices and prices at the pump for Americans. 143 00:07:49,734 --> 00:07:52,599 And the President, as I think he noted from this podium, 144 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:55,800 has asked the Attorney General to reconstitute that working 145 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:58,834 group for the same reason -- which is he wants to make sure 146 00:07:58,834 --> 00:08:01,600 -- he wants the Justice Department to make sure that 147 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:07,500 there are no cases of fraud taking place when it comes to 148 00:08:07,500 --> 00:08:09,600 the rising price of gasoline. 149 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:12,333 But I don't have any information as to the work that they're 150 00:08:12,333 --> 00:08:15,266 doing right now, but I would send you to the Department of 151 00:08:15,266 --> 00:08:16,867 Justice for that. 152 00:08:16,867 --> 00:08:19,233 Jake. 153 00:08:19,233 --> 00:08:21,734 The Press: A few months ago, with very little fanfare, 154 00:08:21,734 --> 00:08:24,366 the administration announced that it was sending some special 155 00:08:24,367 --> 00:08:31,033 forces to Central Africa to help African troops target Joseph 156 00:08:31,033 --> 00:08:33,834 Kony and the Lord's Resistance Army. 157 00:08:33,833 --> 00:08:40,032 There's this remarkable viral video that you may have seen 158 00:08:40,033 --> 00:08:44,667 about who Joseph Kony is, and I was wondering if the 159 00:08:44,667 --> 00:08:50,734 administration was planning on talking about this video at all, 160 00:08:50,734 --> 00:08:53,333 responding -- given that obviously we have troops in 161 00:08:53,333 --> 00:08:55,867 harm's way in I think four different countries in Africa 162 00:08:55,867 --> 00:08:58,800 going after Kony and the Lord's Resistance Army. 163 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:01,733 I guess the first question is, have you or the President, 164 00:09:01,734 --> 00:09:03,667 or has anybody in the White House seen this video? 165 00:09:03,667 --> 00:09:05,767 And the second question is, what's the status of our troops 166 00:09:05,767 --> 00:09:08,533 there and the war -- and the fight there? 167 00:09:08,533 --> 00:09:09,367 Mr. Carney: I have not seen it. 168 00:09:09,367 --> 00:09:13,400 I'm aware of it and have been briefed on it. 169 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:14,766 I don't know whether the President has, 170 00:09:14,767 --> 00:09:18,567 but certainly members of the broader National Security staff 171 00:09:18,567 --> 00:09:21,033 are aware of it, and I'm sure some of them have seen it. 172 00:09:21,033 --> 00:09:22,600 I know they have. 173 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:27,900 As President Obama said upon signing the Lord's Resistance 174 00:09:27,900 --> 00:09:31,400 Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act last 175 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:35,066 October, we, "Congratulate the hundreds of thousands of 176 00:09:35,066 --> 00:09:38,333 Americans who have mobilized to respond to this unique crisis 177 00:09:38,333 --> 00:09:40,433 of conscience." 178 00:09:40,433 --> 00:09:43,934 And I think that this viral video that you mention is part 179 00:09:43,934 --> 00:09:46,567 of that response -- raising awareness about the horrific 180 00:09:46,567 --> 00:09:50,533 activities of the LRA. 181 00:09:50,533 --> 00:09:53,100 And consistent with the bipartisan legislation passed by 182 00:09:53,100 --> 00:09:55,900 our Congress in 2010, the United States continues to pursue a 183 00:09:55,900 --> 00:09:59,333 comprehensive, multifaceted strategy to help the governments 184 00:09:59,333 --> 00:10:02,467 and people of central Africa in their efforts to end the threat 185 00:10:02,467 --> 00:10:05,100 posed by the LRA and reduce the human consequences of the 186 00:10:05,100 --> 00:10:06,200 LRA's atrocities. 187 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:10,266 I would point out, when you mention the U.S. military 188 00:10:10,266 --> 00:10:15,099 personnel who are in the region, it's approximately 100 U.S. 189 00:10:15,100 --> 00:10:17,033 military personnel. 190 00:10:17,033 --> 00:10:22,400 The Press: And then a question about the Netanyahu visit. 191 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:26,733 Apparently he gave the President a gift of the Book of Esther. 192 00:10:26,734 --> 00:10:32,934 And some aides to Netanyahu told The Jewish Daily Forward that it 193 00:10:32,934 --> 00:10:35,033 was background reading for the President, 194 00:10:35,033 --> 00:10:39,333 given the crisis with Iran, and the Book of Esther is about -- 195 00:10:39,333 --> 00:10:41,967 I guess it was called Persia at the time. 196 00:10:41,967 --> 00:10:44,567 What was the President's response to getting that book? 197 00:10:44,567 --> 00:10:49,633 And did the President have a gift for the Prime Minister that 198 00:10:49,633 --> 00:10:51,033 we don't know about yet? 199 00:10:51,033 --> 00:10:57,433 Mr. Carney: I have not discussed with the President that subject or the 200 00:10:57,433 --> 00:10:58,433 subject of gifts. 201 00:10:58,433 --> 00:11:03,333 I would -- the Office of Protocol might have an answer 202 00:11:03,333 --> 00:11:04,333 for you in terms of gifts. 203 00:11:04,333 --> 00:11:07,632 I just don't know about it and I haven't had a discussion 204 00:11:07,633 --> 00:11:08,633 about it. 205 00:11:08,633 --> 00:11:12,967 But I'm sure the President welcomes any gift he might 206 00:11:12,967 --> 00:11:16,367 receive from the Prime Minister of Israel. 207 00:11:16,367 --> 00:11:18,233 Yes, Politico. 208 00:11:18,233 --> 00:11:21,065 The Press: My question is actually about a story that Politico reported on 209 00:11:21,066 --> 00:11:24,000 today, which is that the President was making calls on 210 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:30,333 Keystone, encouraging Democratic members in the Senate to not 211 00:11:30,333 --> 00:11:31,800 vote in favor of it. 212 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:35,467 And why did the President think that that was necessary to get 213 00:11:35,467 --> 00:11:37,834 involved at this point yet again? 214 00:11:37,834 --> 00:11:42,099 Does he not think that they agree with his position, 215 00:11:42,100 --> 00:11:45,533 the State Department's position, and so on? 216 00:11:45,533 --> 00:11:51,967 Mr. Carney: The President believes that it is wrong to play politics with a 217 00:11:51,967 --> 00:11:55,266 pipeline project whose route has yet to be proposed -- 218 00:11:55,266 --> 00:11:59,632 a fact that the company involved affirmed again this week that 219 00:11:59,633 --> 00:12:03,200 they have not yet identified a route for this 220 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:04,900 possible pipeline. 221 00:12:04,900 --> 00:12:08,300 Therefore, it cannot possibly be reviewed adequately since it 222 00:12:08,300 --> 00:12:10,000 does not exist. 223 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:12,600 And that, despite claims that this would somehow -- 224 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:14,834 this pipeline would somehow solve the pain that families are 225 00:12:14,834 --> 00:12:17,733 feeling at the pump today, the company itself has said it would 226 00:12:17,734 --> 00:12:21,300 take years before a single drop of oil would flow through 227 00:12:21,300 --> 00:12:23,165 that pipeline. 228 00:12:23,166 --> 00:12:29,967 And we have made clear that the decision made by the 229 00:12:29,967 --> 00:12:36,199 administration in January with regards to the Keystone proposal 230 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:37,867 in reaction to the legislation -- 231 00:12:37,867 --> 00:12:42,400 the legislative political initiative taken by Republicans 232 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:47,100 in no way judged a possible proposed pipeline on its merits. 233 00:12:47,100 --> 00:12:49,033 It was simply because the Republicans decided to play 234 00:12:49,033 --> 00:12:53,667 politics with a completely unrelated issue, 235 00:12:53,667 --> 00:12:56,233 in terms of the extension of the payroll tax cut, 236 00:12:56,233 --> 00:13:03,065 to try to I guess curry favor with some political constituency 237 00:13:03,066 --> 00:13:06,700 or the other when there was no way to, 238 00:13:06,700 --> 00:13:11,066 in accordance with tradition and regulation, 239 00:13:11,066 --> 00:13:15,633 to adequately and properly review a pipeline that would 240 00:13:15,633 --> 00:13:17,700 cross an international border. 241 00:13:17,700 --> 00:13:23,066 Again, that -- there is no proposal to review, 242 00:13:23,066 --> 00:13:26,767 and that's because the one that was originally proposed that 243 00:13:26,767 --> 00:13:31,166 went through Nebraska was opposed by many stakeholders, 244 00:13:31,166 --> 00:13:33,033 including the governor of Nebraska, 245 00:13:33,033 --> 00:13:34,633 the Republican governor of Nebraska. 246 00:13:34,633 --> 00:13:37,967 And his concerns and the concerns of others were viewed 247 00:13:37,967 --> 00:13:41,066 by the State Department, which was reviewing the pipeline, 248 00:13:41,066 --> 00:13:47,500 as legitimate; and thus the need to delay the project so that it 249 00:13:47,500 --> 00:13:50,300 could -- an alternate route could be sought. 250 00:13:50,300 --> 00:13:55,967 That route has not been identified yet. 251 00:13:55,967 --> 00:13:58,433 Norah. 252 00:13:58,433 --> 00:14:04,600 The Press: There are -- there's a report in an Israeli newspaper that the 253 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:08,367 Israelis asked the U.S. to provide them advanced 254 00:14:08,367 --> 00:14:11,900 bunker-buster bombs and refueling planes. 255 00:14:11,900 --> 00:14:17,867 Was that a request made by the Israelis? 256 00:14:17,867 --> 00:14:21,699 Mr. Carney: In the meetings the President had there was no such agreement 257 00:14:21,700 --> 00:14:24,066 proposed or reached. 258 00:14:24,066 --> 00:14:29,934 We have obviously, as we've discussed, 259 00:14:29,934 --> 00:14:32,333 high-level cooperation between the Israeli military and the 260 00:14:32,333 --> 00:14:39,233 U.S. military and at other levels in -- 261 00:14:39,233 --> 00:14:42,500 with other agencies within their government and our government. 262 00:14:42,500 --> 00:14:45,700 But that was not a subject of discussion in the 263 00:14:45,700 --> 00:14:47,233 President's meetings. 264 00:14:47,233 --> 00:14:49,132 The Press: There was no request by the Israelis for this advanced 265 00:14:49,133 --> 00:14:50,000 military equipment? 266 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:50,800 Mr. Carney: Correct. 267 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:52,266 And in terms of the President's meetings, 268 00:14:52,266 --> 00:14:53,567 that's my understanding. 269 00:14:53,567 --> 00:14:55,333 The Press: So there is -- and so there is no -- 270 00:14:55,333 --> 00:14:59,733 Mr. Carney: So it's possible that there is a report out there in a news 271 00:14:59,734 --> 00:15:01,567 outlet that might not be accurate. 272 00:15:01,567 --> 00:15:04,433 The Press: So the U.S. is not providing its Massive Ordnance Penetrator to 273 00:15:04,433 --> 00:15:05,934 the Israelis? 274 00:15:05,934 --> 00:15:08,400 Mr. Carney: I am simply saying that it is my understanding that there was no 275 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:11,967 such agreement discussed or reached in the meetings the 276 00:15:11,967 --> 00:15:13,633 President had. 277 00:15:13,633 --> 00:15:16,934 We have a lot of cooperation with the Israeli military. 278 00:15:16,934 --> 00:15:24,367 We have provided materiel to the Israeli military in the past, 279 00:15:24,367 --> 00:15:27,834 and I'm sure we will continue to do that as part of our 280 00:15:27,834 --> 00:15:31,967 cooperation with and partnership with the Israeli military. 281 00:15:31,967 --> 00:15:33,100 But -- 282 00:15:33,100 --> 00:15:34,767 The Press: I believe the President himself has said there's never been 283 00:15:34,767 --> 00:15:38,834 closer military-to-military ties or intelligence ties between the 284 00:15:38,834 --> 00:15:40,099 U.S. and Israel. 285 00:15:40,100 --> 00:15:41,200 Mr. Carney: Yes, he has. 286 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:43,633 The Press: And Israel has expressed publicly that they are concerned 287 00:15:43,633 --> 00:15:45,300 about the window closing, certainly given 288 00:15:45,300 --> 00:15:46,766 their technology. 289 00:15:46,767 --> 00:15:49,266 Why not provide them that technology? 290 00:15:49,266 --> 00:15:51,033 Mr. Carney: Well, again, I don't have anything more to tell you about 291 00:15:51,033 --> 00:15:55,367 that except what I did, which is it was not discussed -- 292 00:15:55,367 --> 00:15:59,500 not -- no such agreement was discussed or reached in the 293 00:15:59,500 --> 00:16:00,834 meetings the President had. 294 00:16:00,834 --> 00:16:02,800 The Press: And just finally, because we -- I mean, 295 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:08,599 they did meet for almost three hours, 90 minutes together, 296 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:10,033 30 minutes alone. 297 00:16:10,033 --> 00:16:11,500 What did they talk then? 298 00:16:11,500 --> 00:16:13,967 Did the Israelis make any requests? 299 00:16:13,967 --> 00:16:17,766 Mr. Carney: Well, I think the -- your noting of the amount of time the 300 00:16:17,767 --> 00:16:20,233 President spent in his meetings with -- 301 00:16:20,233 --> 00:16:22,367 his one-on-one with the Prime Minister and then the broader 302 00:16:22,367 --> 00:16:28,400 bilateral meeting, I think appropriately highlights the 303 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:35,900 fact that President Obama has had extraordinary amounts of 304 00:16:35,900 --> 00:16:39,266 contact with his Israeli counterpart. 305 00:16:39,266 --> 00:16:43,567 In fact, I think he has met with Prime Minister Netanyahu more 306 00:16:43,567 --> 00:16:45,867 than any other foreign leader. 307 00:16:45,867 --> 00:16:49,967 And I think that simply speaks to the relationship that we have 308 00:16:49,967 --> 00:16:56,300 with Israel; the support we feel for and provide to Israel for 309 00:16:56,300 --> 00:16:59,666 its security, and the unshakeable commitment we have 310 00:16:59,667 --> 00:17:05,467 to Israeli security; and the unprecedented level of direct 311 00:17:05,467 --> 00:17:09,433 support we have provided to Israel. 312 00:17:09,433 --> 00:17:12,733 So there was much to discuss, as there always is, 313 00:17:12,733 --> 00:17:14,867 in the meetings that the President has with the 314 00:17:14,867 --> 00:17:16,367 Prime Minister. 315 00:17:16,367 --> 00:17:21,500 Iran was a major topic of discussion as the President 316 00:17:21,500 --> 00:17:23,967 himself has said and I'm sure Prime Minister Netanyahu has 317 00:17:23,967 --> 00:17:27,333 said, and I think is obvious because of the prominence of 318 00:17:27,333 --> 00:17:30,200 that issue right now, but there are other issues that they 319 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:34,600 always discuss -- the Middle East peace process among them. 320 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:38,867 So I'm sure when they meet again they'll have no shortage of 321 00:17:38,867 --> 00:17:40,600 topics to discuss at that time. 322 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:44,667 Let me -- Laura Meckler. 323 00:17:44,667 --> 00:17:45,800 I haven't seen you in a while. 324 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:46,834 How are you? 325 00:17:46,834 --> 00:17:48,266 The Press: Well, this is the only briefing of the week. 326 00:17:48,266 --> 00:17:50,300 That's why you haven't seen me. 327 00:17:50,300 --> 00:17:55,100 (laughter) 328 00:17:55,100 --> 00:17:56,433 Mr. Carney: I'm doing a little traveling. 329 00:17:56,433 --> 00:17:57,867 The President came out -- 330 00:17:57,867 --> 00:17:58,800 The Press: Hey, you started it. 331 00:17:58,800 --> 00:17:59,767 Mr. Carney: -- took some questions. 332 00:17:59,767 --> 00:18:00,700 (laughter) 333 00:18:00,700 --> 00:18:01,867 Fair enough. 334 00:18:01,867 --> 00:18:04,000 The Press: My question is a follow-up on the Keystone question, 335 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:06,200 which I didn't feel like you answered sort of the nub of 336 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:09,433 Jennifer's question, which was why did he feel the need to 337 00:18:09,433 --> 00:18:10,266 make these calls? 338 00:18:10,266 --> 00:18:12,333 He obviously doesn't make calls on every piece of legislation 339 00:18:12,333 --> 00:18:13,066 that's up there. 340 00:18:13,066 --> 00:18:13,867 We understand -- 341 00:18:13,867 --> 00:18:15,867 Mr. Carney: Well, maybe he does and you just don't hear about it. 342 00:18:15,867 --> 00:18:17,000 The Press: -- his view. 343 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:18,133 Does he? 344 00:18:18,133 --> 00:18:19,734 Mr. Carney: Look, the President obviously has communications with members 345 00:18:19,734 --> 00:18:23,399 of Congress with some regularity. 346 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:27,734 We have made our position clear about purely ideological and 347 00:18:27,734 --> 00:18:30,699 political efforts to attach legislation regarding the 348 00:18:30,700 --> 00:18:38,567 Keystone Pipeline to whatever some members of Congress fancy 349 00:18:38,567 --> 00:18:39,567 at the time, right? 350 00:18:39,567 --> 00:18:46,867 So it is not -- it is a false -- a piece of false advertising to 351 00:18:46,867 --> 00:18:51,200 suggest that somehow passing legislation and having it made 352 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:54,800 law, that Keystone ought to be approved is somehow, A, 353 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:58,300 going to have any impact on the price of gas at the pump, 354 00:18:58,300 --> 00:19:01,633 which is very high, and which Americans are having to endure 355 00:19:01,633 --> 00:19:05,400 right now; or, B, is responsible policy in any way when there 356 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:10,100 isn't even a proposed route for that pipeline to travel. 357 00:19:10,100 --> 00:19:13,966 The Press: So does he believe that there is some risk that the Senate 358 00:19:13,967 --> 00:19:16,433 Democrats do not understand those points? 359 00:19:16,433 --> 00:19:22,000 Mr. Carney: I think that we have made these points very clear. 360 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:24,667 We will continue to make these points very clear. 361 00:19:24,667 --> 00:19:31,500 And we certainly expect that the Congress will -- 362 00:19:31,500 --> 00:19:34,700 or at least we hope that the Congress will act in an 363 00:19:34,700 --> 00:19:40,166 appropriate fashion and not waste its time with ineffectual, 364 00:19:40,166 --> 00:19:48,667 sham legislation that has no impact on the price of gas and 365 00:19:48,667 --> 00:19:53,734 is irresponsible because it, as we've said before, 366 00:19:53,734 --> 00:20:01,132 tries to legislate the approval of a pipeline for which there is 367 00:20:01,133 --> 00:20:02,133 not even a route. 368 00:20:02,133 --> 00:20:06,066 And so we'll keep making that point in telephone calls from 369 00:20:06,066 --> 00:20:11,433 the podium, maybe fly a Cessna overhead with a banner -- 370 00:20:11,433 --> 00:20:12,633 something like that. 371 00:20:12,633 --> 00:20:14,400 The Press: And how many senators did he call? 372 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:18,367 Mr. Carney: I don't have specifics for you on the phone calls the President 373 00:20:18,367 --> 00:20:19,399 may have made. 374 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:20,800 The Press: That he may have made? 375 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:21,399 Mr. Carney: He did. 376 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:21,934 Yes, he made some calls. 377 00:20:21,934 --> 00:20:22,767 Sure. 378 00:20:22,767 --> 00:20:24,600 I'll confirm that. 379 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:26,433 Yes, Margaret. 380 00:20:26,433 --> 00:20:28,100 The Press: I was going to ask you who he called. 381 00:20:28,100 --> 00:20:29,000 Can you give us some -- 382 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:32,600 Mr. Carney: I don't have a -- no, I don't have any names to give you. 383 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:34,399 The Press: Would you have any names to give us later if we followed 384 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:35,367 up with you? 385 00:20:35,367 --> 00:20:36,133 Mr. Carney: No. 386 00:20:36,133 --> 00:20:36,867 Not necessarily. 387 00:20:36,867 --> 00:20:38,133 I mean, the President makes a lot of phone -- 388 00:20:38,133 --> 00:20:41,333 this one happened to be -- the fact that he made some calls 389 00:20:41,333 --> 00:20:44,500 happened to make it into a press report, 390 00:20:44,500 --> 00:20:46,266 and I'm confirming that he did. 391 00:20:46,266 --> 00:20:48,834 But I'm not going to get into individual names or length 392 00:20:48,834 --> 00:20:50,467 of conversation. 393 00:20:50,467 --> 00:20:52,400 The Press: Can you tell us whether other administration officials also 394 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:53,400 had made calls? 395 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:54,633 In other words, did Joe Biden make calls? 396 00:20:54,633 --> 00:20:55,700 Who else in the administration made calls? 397 00:20:55,700 --> 00:20:58,467 Mr. Carney: I don't have any readouts of phone calls to give you beyond 398 00:20:58,467 --> 00:20:59,867 what I just said. 399 00:20:59,867 --> 00:21:02,100 The Press: Can I ask you about the Virginia trip as well? 400 00:21:02,100 --> 00:21:04,265 Could you just sort of put a little meat on the bone? 401 00:21:04,266 --> 00:21:06,800 What is the point of that trip, the nature of the discussions? 402 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:12,800 And the Texas part -- is it just a fundraising thing, 403 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:16,265 or does the President think that he's postured to win Texas 404 00:21:16,266 --> 00:21:17,133 any time soon? 405 00:21:17,133 --> 00:21:18,233 And why does he keep going back? 406 00:21:18,233 --> 00:21:19,734 He's done a lot of Texas stuff. 407 00:21:19,734 --> 00:21:23,367 Mr. Carney: Well, I think -- I mean, I would refer you to the campaign for 408 00:21:23,367 --> 00:21:24,700 the political component of this. 409 00:21:24,700 --> 00:21:28,867 I would say broadly that there are many supporters of the 410 00:21:28,867 --> 00:21:30,600 President in the great state of Texas, 411 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:34,667 and he always looks forward to meeting with as many of them 412 00:21:34,667 --> 00:21:36,100 as possible. 413 00:21:36,100 --> 00:21:39,600 In terms of Virginia, he will be speaking broadly about the 414 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:44,966 economy, about reinforcing the trend towards a growing 415 00:21:44,967 --> 00:21:47,166 manufacturing sector in this country, 416 00:21:47,166 --> 00:21:52,133 and also reinforcing a trend that is very positive that has 417 00:21:52,133 --> 00:21:55,433 seen companies bring jobs back to the United States -- 418 00:21:55,433 --> 00:21:56,433 the insourcing trend. 419 00:21:56,433 --> 00:21:57,467 So those will be the topics. 420 00:21:57,467 --> 00:22:00,467 But we'll get more specifics to you later. 421 00:22:00,467 --> 00:22:01,500 Ed. 422 00:22:01,500 --> 00:22:03,633 The Press: Jay, I want to follow up on Norah because you seemed to be 423 00:22:03,633 --> 00:22:06,567 very specific in saying, on the bunker-busting bombs, 424 00:22:06,567 --> 00:22:09,100 they were not discussed in the President's meetings. 425 00:22:09,100 --> 00:22:11,265 Prime Minister Netanyahu met with Secretary Panetta -- 426 00:22:11,266 --> 00:22:12,934 Mr. Carney: Well, I have no information regarding -- 427 00:22:12,934 --> 00:22:14,266 The Press: Other officials maybe talked to -- 428 00:22:14,266 --> 00:22:15,934 Mr. Carney: I mean, I would refer you to other officials. 429 00:22:15,934 --> 00:22:19,800 This was not a discussion -- no agreements of that 430 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:20,899 kind were reached. 431 00:22:20,900 --> 00:22:23,400 I don't -- nothing was -- 432 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:24,767 The Press: Nothing was discussed -- 433 00:22:24,767 --> 00:22:26,600 Mr. Carney: -- in the President's meetings, yes. 434 00:22:26,600 --> 00:22:28,367 I mean, that's who I speak for here, so -- 435 00:22:28,367 --> 00:22:29,466 The Press: Okay. 436 00:22:29,467 --> 00:22:31,200 Trip in North Carolina yesterday -- 437 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:32,834 we've been through this before about official trips, 438 00:22:32,834 --> 00:22:33,834 campaign trips. 439 00:22:33,834 --> 00:22:35,200 It was an official trip yesterday; 440 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:36,567 he was talking about energy. 441 00:22:36,567 --> 00:22:38,800 The Charlotte Observer had a story saying that on Sunday 442 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:41,734 night a teacher got a call -- this is a teacher who has been 443 00:22:41,734 --> 00:22:45,033 active in Democratic politics -- got a call from an Obama for 444 00:22:45,033 --> 00:22:48,600 America official saying, can you come to the event, 445 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:50,166 the President wants to talk to you there. 446 00:22:50,166 --> 00:22:53,800 My question is -- obviously the President can talk to Americans, 447 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:57,433 he can talk to supporters, but if it's OFA that's reaching out 448 00:22:57,433 --> 00:22:59,633 to people and it's an official trip, 449 00:22:59,633 --> 00:23:02,433 why is it not the White House staff that's saying, hey, 450 00:23:02,433 --> 00:23:03,533 do you want to meet with the President? 451 00:23:03,533 --> 00:23:06,567 And if it is OFA doing it, should they be reimbursing 452 00:23:06,567 --> 00:23:08,367 the taxpayers? 453 00:23:08,367 --> 00:23:09,600 Mr. Carney: For the meeting with the President? 454 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:11,367 I mean, I haven't seen the report. 455 00:23:11,367 --> 00:23:12,700 The Press: I don't know how many others -- this is the only one we're 456 00:23:12,700 --> 00:23:13,767 aware of. 457 00:23:13,767 --> 00:23:15,633 But if OFA is reaching out to people before his official trips 458 00:23:15,633 --> 00:23:16,567 and saying -- 459 00:23:16,567 --> 00:23:17,900 Mr. Carney: I don't think it would be a surprise -- 460 00:23:17,900 --> 00:23:20,200 I'm not aware of this report, but it certainly would not be 461 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:23,567 surprising if the President met with supporters when he travels 462 00:23:23,567 --> 00:23:25,367 around the country. 463 00:23:25,367 --> 00:23:28,433 After all, he did win substantially more than half the 464 00:23:28,433 --> 00:23:29,767 vote in 2008. 465 00:23:29,767 --> 00:23:34,934 So I think you can safely assume that when the President travels 466 00:23:34,934 --> 00:23:38,166 around the country, as President and in his official capacity, 467 00:23:38,166 --> 00:23:40,767 that he'll be meeting with supporters when he does -- 468 00:23:40,767 --> 00:23:43,100 as well as people who aren't supporters, 469 00:23:43,100 --> 00:23:47,433 a point he made in his speech yesterday in North Carolina 470 00:23:47,433 --> 00:23:50,967 about how much he likes the Tar Heel state, 471 00:23:50,967 --> 00:23:53,300 not least because of the hospitality of its people, 472 00:23:53,300 --> 00:23:56,133 even those who don't necessarily support him politically. 473 00:23:56,133 --> 00:23:56,867 The Press: Last thing. 474 00:23:56,867 --> 00:23:59,966 The President spoke out in the news conference about how people 475 00:23:59,967 --> 00:24:01,767 need to be careful with their language in general, 476 00:24:01,767 --> 00:24:05,500 and he spoke about his own daughters and setting 477 00:24:05,500 --> 00:24:06,600 an example. 478 00:24:06,600 --> 00:24:08,500 I know he's not the language police, 479 00:24:08,500 --> 00:24:10,667 you're not the language police from this podium to pick on 480 00:24:10,667 --> 00:24:12,300 people on the left or the right. 481 00:24:12,300 --> 00:24:15,867 But there is a letter that went to the Chief of Staff today from 482 00:24:15,867 --> 00:24:18,433 a conservative group, Concerned Women for America, 483 00:24:18,433 --> 00:24:23,066 saying that the President should direct this super PAC, 484 00:24:23,066 --> 00:24:26,066 on the Democratic side, that took a million-dollar check from 485 00:24:26,066 --> 00:24:28,700 Bill Maher, who has had some pretty coarse things to say 486 00:24:28,700 --> 00:24:31,400 about conservative women. 487 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:33,934 And I understand the President can't -- 488 00:24:33,934 --> 00:24:35,867 he's not in charge of the super PAC, it's an outside thing. 489 00:24:35,867 --> 00:24:39,000 But he did bless that PAC and say to his supporters, 490 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:40,867 you should give to this PAC if you want to. 491 00:24:40,867 --> 00:24:44,433 So can he also say, give a million-dollar check back if 492 00:24:44,433 --> 00:24:46,033 it's from somebody who said these things? 493 00:24:46,033 --> 00:24:51,934 Mr. Carney: I think the points that you made as you were asking your question 494 00:24:51,934 --> 00:24:54,300 are the ones that I will make, which is that we are not, 495 00:24:54,300 --> 00:24:58,100 and cannot be, the arbitrator of every statement that everybody 496 00:24:58,100 --> 00:25:05,233 makes in the policy and political arena. 497 00:25:05,233 --> 00:25:13,899 As a general matter, obviously language that denigrates women 498 00:25:13,900 --> 00:25:16,033 is inappropriate. 499 00:25:16,033 --> 00:25:19,065 And I think I would point you to what the President said when he 500 00:25:19,066 --> 00:25:22,033 was asked about this during his press conference, 501 00:25:22,033 --> 00:25:27,600 which is that he chooses to lead by example, or to try to. 502 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:37,000 He chooses to, in the pursuit of a more civil discourse in our 503 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:40,467 public space, he chooses to try to practice that 504 00:25:40,467 --> 00:25:41,567 civility himself. 505 00:25:41,567 --> 00:25:47,967 And he calls on everybody to do just that. 506 00:25:47,967 --> 00:25:50,133 Chuck. 507 00:25:50,133 --> 00:25:55,166 The Press: A couple of -- it's fair to say your denial is being very 508 00:25:55,166 --> 00:25:57,633 specific on this report about the bunker, right? 509 00:25:57,633 --> 00:25:58,767 Mr. Carney: Well, I just don't have any -- 510 00:25:58,767 --> 00:26:00,300 The Press: It's simply about the President and -- 511 00:26:00,300 --> 00:26:03,500 Mr. Carney: Well, I'm just saying that I'm the President's Press Secretary. 512 00:26:03,500 --> 00:26:06,734 The President had a lot of meetings with the Prime Minister 513 00:26:06,734 --> 00:26:10,734 of Israel that included first -- it was first a one-on-one, 514 00:26:10,734 --> 00:26:14,166 and then a broader staff, including other senior officials 515 00:26:14,166 --> 00:26:15,700 from his administration. 516 00:26:15,700 --> 00:26:21,166 And that's what I know about the meetings the President had. 517 00:26:21,166 --> 00:26:23,233 The Press: Yesterday there seemed to be some confusion about what 518 00:26:23,233 --> 00:26:26,600 Secretary Panetta said on the Hill about military options 519 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:29,766 regarding Syria and then you guys pushing -- 520 00:26:29,767 --> 00:26:33,667 can you clarify what you were pushing back on and sort of the 521 00:26:33,667 --> 00:26:36,899 interpretation of what Secretary Panetta said on the Hill? 522 00:26:36,900 --> 00:26:38,633 Mr. Carney: Well, you'd have to give me a specific. 523 00:26:38,633 --> 00:26:39,667 I mean, I'm aware of -- 524 00:26:39,667 --> 00:26:40,533 The Press: That's what I mean. 525 00:26:40,533 --> 00:26:42,166 Secretary Panetta said military options are being put together, 526 00:26:42,166 --> 00:26:45,000 and then there's a White House official that's quoted as 527 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:49,600 saying, no, no, no, no, no, not specific military plans being 528 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:50,466 put into place. 529 00:26:50,467 --> 00:26:51,400 I'm just trying to understand -- 530 00:26:51,400 --> 00:26:52,433 Mr. Carney: Fair point. 531 00:26:52,433 --> 00:26:53,533 It might have been me, actually. 532 00:26:53,533 --> 00:26:58,734 But the Pentagon, the Department of Defense is always reviewing 533 00:26:58,734 --> 00:27:01,632 contingencies and putting together contingencies. 534 00:27:01,633 --> 00:27:04,200 And I believe the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the 535 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:09,367 Secretary of Defense discussed that in their testimony, 536 00:27:09,367 --> 00:27:13,233 and that is obviously true as they discussed it. 537 00:27:13,233 --> 00:27:17,033 It is not our policy right now -- we are not -- 538 00:27:17,033 --> 00:27:21,199 we have made very clear that we do not believe that it is right 539 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:24,533 at this time to contribute to the further militarization of 540 00:27:24,533 --> 00:27:25,667 the situation in Syria. 541 00:27:25,667 --> 00:27:32,966 We are pursuing a path with the "Friends of Syria" that we hope 542 00:27:32,967 --> 00:27:36,567 will bring a political resolution to the 543 00:27:36,567 --> 00:27:38,000 situation there. 544 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:40,900 So I think both are accurate. 545 00:27:40,900 --> 00:27:43,467 The Press: So what you're saying is the White House has not directed the 546 00:27:43,467 --> 00:27:46,967 Pentagon to come up with some military contingency plan? 547 00:27:46,967 --> 00:27:50,867 Mr. Carney: Well, I would say that it is a matter of course in 548 00:27:50,867 --> 00:27:55,300 circumstances like this for the Defense Department to look at 549 00:27:55,300 --> 00:27:56,899 potential contingencies. 550 00:27:56,900 --> 00:27:59,066 And I would point you to the Chairman's testimony, 551 00:27:59,066 --> 00:28:01,667 to the Secretary's testimony, and also to the Defense 552 00:28:01,667 --> 00:28:02,966 Department in general, about that. 553 00:28:02,967 --> 00:28:05,633 But I think as Secretary Panetta made clear, 554 00:28:05,633 --> 00:28:09,400 and I've certainly made clear, and the President has made 555 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:11,767 clear, we do not think that is -- 556 00:28:11,767 --> 00:28:15,200 that further militarizing the situation in Syria is the right 557 00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:16,367 course of action. 558 00:28:16,367 --> 00:28:18,300 The Press: Speaking of military options, Secretary Panetta was now quoted 559 00:28:18,300 --> 00:28:20,734 today in an interview with the National Journal, 560 00:28:20,734 --> 00:28:27,500 saying that plans to -- potential plans to strike Iran 561 00:28:27,500 --> 00:28:29,433 have already been drawn up and are being -- 562 00:28:29,433 --> 00:28:30,867 and different options are being drawn up. 563 00:28:30,867 --> 00:28:32,700 Mr. Carney: Well, I think I would give you the same answer, 564 00:28:32,700 --> 00:28:38,500 which is that the Pentagon, as I understand it -- 565 00:28:38,500 --> 00:28:40,800 and there are better experts than I on this -- 566 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:43,966 but as I understand it, the Pentagon is, 567 00:28:43,967 --> 00:28:46,567 as a matter of course, frequently examining 568 00:28:46,567 --> 00:28:50,467 contingencies and preparing contingency plans for 569 00:28:50,467 --> 00:28:51,734 different possibilities. 570 00:28:51,734 --> 00:28:54,000 It would be irresponsible -- perfectly appropriate -- 571 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:55,800 it would be irresponsible not to. 572 00:28:55,800 --> 00:29:00,300 The President's policy is clear, and it has been clearly stated 573 00:29:00,300 --> 00:29:04,367 and restated by the President and others in the past week as 574 00:29:04,367 --> 00:29:08,066 we've been discussing the situation in Iran and the visit 575 00:29:08,066 --> 00:29:09,600 of the Prime Minister of Israel. 576 00:29:09,600 --> 00:29:11,699 The Press: So to have a plan -- I just want to clarify because the President 577 00:29:11,700 --> 00:29:15,800 was very critical of people talking publicly about war, 578 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:18,166 but here -- also the administration is saying, 579 00:29:18,166 --> 00:29:19,767 we have a war plan. 580 00:29:19,767 --> 00:29:21,333 Mr. Carney: Well, I think he was asked about it, 581 00:29:21,333 --> 00:29:25,567 and that's a lot different from loose talk of war, 582 00:29:25,567 --> 00:29:30,734 beating the drums of war, without talking about the 583 00:29:30,734 --> 00:29:34,766 reasons why you would go to war or the consequences of doing 584 00:29:34,767 --> 00:29:36,734 that, which is the point the President made from the 585 00:29:36,734 --> 00:29:38,699 podium here. 586 00:29:38,700 --> 00:29:46,066 And again, Chuck, I think we've been exceptionally clear about 587 00:29:46,066 --> 00:29:49,467 what our policy is, why we believe and we know there is the 588 00:29:49,467 --> 00:29:52,734 time and space to pursue -- to continue to pursue the 589 00:29:52,734 --> 00:29:57,800 diplomatic option with regards to Iran as we continue to put 590 00:29:57,800 --> 00:30:01,966 pressure on Tehran through sanctions and other measures 591 00:30:01,967 --> 00:30:08,633 because that is the best option if we hope to completely resolve 592 00:30:08,633 --> 00:30:09,667 this problem. 593 00:30:09,667 --> 00:30:11,399 The Press: Do you think it's useful that the Iranians know that there are 594 00:30:11,400 --> 00:30:13,400 these military options, publicly? 595 00:30:13,400 --> 00:30:14,667 Do they now know publicly that -- 596 00:30:14,667 --> 00:30:18,466 Mr. Carney: I would not speculate about the kinds of insights that other 597 00:30:18,467 --> 00:30:23,934 countries might have, but I would be shocked if it came as a 598 00:30:23,934 --> 00:30:33,133 surprise to anyone who pays attention to our system of 599 00:30:33,133 --> 00:30:34,600 government and the way the Pentagon operates -- 600 00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:37,800 that they would be surprised to know that the Pentagon 601 00:30:37,800 --> 00:30:41,899 constantly plans for different kinds of contingencies. 602 00:30:41,900 --> 00:30:43,033 Steve. 603 00:30:43,033 --> 00:30:44,433 The Press: Russia. 604 00:30:44,433 --> 00:30:47,567 Is the President going to be able to have the same kind of 605 00:30:47,567 --> 00:30:51,100 relationship with Vladimir Putin that he had with 606 00:30:51,100 --> 00:30:53,233 Dimitri Medvedev? 607 00:30:53,233 --> 00:30:57,934 And is such a relationship viable or even desirable given 608 00:30:57,934 --> 00:31:01,100 the questions that were raised about Putin's election, 609 00:31:01,100 --> 00:31:05,300 his legitimacy, and some of his anti-U.S. rhetoric? 610 00:31:05,300 --> 00:31:06,700 Mr. Carney: Well, I would say a couple of things. 611 00:31:06,700 --> 00:31:12,333 One is our policy towards Russia is based on our interests and 612 00:31:12,333 --> 00:31:13,867 not on personalities. 613 00:31:13,867 --> 00:31:17,533 And the reset policy that the President pursued after he took 614 00:31:17,533 --> 00:31:23,766 office with Russia produced benefits for U.S. national 615 00:31:23,767 --> 00:31:27,266 security interests, U.S. commercial interests, 616 00:31:27,266 --> 00:31:32,500 and that is why he launched that reset and why he pursued it. 617 00:31:32,500 --> 00:31:35,433 We obviously look forward to continuing to cooperate and work 618 00:31:35,433 --> 00:31:37,433 with Russia where we agree on issues, 619 00:31:37,433 --> 00:31:42,533 and that's regardless of who the President is. 620 00:31:42,533 --> 00:31:45,100 Now, I think we had a statement -- 621 00:31:45,100 --> 00:31:47,033 the State Department did, I can't remember if I did or not 622 00:31:47,033 --> 00:31:48,567 -- about the Russia election. 623 00:31:48,567 --> 00:31:55,066 But I believe the international observers noted that Mr. Putin 624 00:31:55,066 --> 00:32:01,100 won a majority of the vote, but we also note the irregularities 625 00:32:01,100 --> 00:32:04,433 that have been reported. 626 00:32:04,433 --> 00:32:05,834 I don't have anything more for you on it. 627 00:32:05,834 --> 00:32:08,700 Again, this is not a personality-based policy. 628 00:32:08,700 --> 00:32:15,266 It's a policy based on -- an approach based on U.S. national 629 00:32:15,266 --> 00:32:20,500 interests and the areas where we can reach and agreement with 630 00:32:20,500 --> 00:32:29,700 Russia on things like Iran, on trade and other matters. 631 00:32:29,700 --> 00:32:30,867 Connie. 632 00:32:30,867 --> 00:32:32,000 The Press: Thank you. 633 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:34,767 On the conversation with Karzai, did Karzai ever express 634 00:32:34,767 --> 00:32:37,166 condolences for the British soldiers killed, 635 00:32:37,166 --> 00:32:41,399 and did he explicitly apologize for American soldiers 636 00:32:41,400 --> 00:32:42,633 who were killed? 637 00:32:42,633 --> 00:32:45,033 And what does the White House want to see done with the 638 00:32:45,033 --> 00:32:48,766 Americans who inadvertently burned the Koran? 639 00:32:48,767 --> 00:32:50,567 Mr. Carney: Well, I think there's an investigation into that. 640 00:32:50,567 --> 00:32:53,867 You surely would understand that I wouldn't make any statements 641 00:32:53,867 --> 00:32:56,700 about the disposition of that investigation or how it 642 00:32:56,700 --> 00:32:57,867 should turn out. 643 00:32:57,867 --> 00:33:01,734 Secondly, I don't have any more detail for you on the call that 644 00:33:01,734 --> 00:33:03,800 the President had with President Karzai. 645 00:33:03,800 --> 00:33:08,066 I would point you to the statements by Minister Wardak 646 00:33:08,066 --> 00:33:13,200 about the incident and his expressions of regret and 647 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:18,800 condolences in the matter of the servicemen who were killed in 648 00:33:18,800 --> 00:33:20,800 the Interior Ministry. 649 00:33:20,800 --> 00:33:22,567 But I don't have anything more for you on the specific 650 00:33:22,567 --> 00:33:24,734 conversation the President had. 651 00:33:24,734 --> 00:33:26,166 The Press: -- do you have any comment -- 652 00:33:26,166 --> 00:33:29,066 Mr. Carney: Again, I don't have any more detail for the -- 653 00:33:29,066 --> 00:33:30,633 about the President's conversation. 654 00:33:30,633 --> 00:33:33,166 The Press: Can Karzai guarantee the safety of the American troops who they 655 00:33:33,166 --> 00:33:34,899 are training? 656 00:33:34,900 --> 00:33:39,834 Mr. Carney: I would ask you to refer that question to either the Afghan 657 00:33:39,834 --> 00:33:42,667 government or ISAF. 658 00:33:42,667 --> 00:33:43,899 Yes. 659 00:33:43,900 --> 00:33:44,967 The Press: Thank you. 660 00:33:44,967 --> 00:33:47,533 You mentioned keeping in touch with President Karzai before the 661 00:33:47,533 --> 00:33:48,632 NATO summit. 662 00:33:48,633 --> 00:33:50,400 Has the President invited President Karzai to come and 663 00:33:50,400 --> 00:33:53,133 tell NATO in person what the progress is? 664 00:33:53,133 --> 00:33:55,467 Mr. Carney: I don't have anything on that. 665 00:33:55,467 --> 00:33:57,066 I'm not sure about that. 666 00:33:57,066 --> 00:34:00,800 The Press: And does -- was the President satisfied with the progress that 667 00:34:00,800 --> 00:34:04,567 he heard from President Karzai this morning? 668 00:34:04,567 --> 00:34:08,433 Mr. Carney: Well, I think I read you a pretty full description of 669 00:34:08,433 --> 00:34:12,100 the conversation. 670 00:34:12,100 --> 00:34:16,500 The fact is that there has been some progress towards the 671 00:34:16,500 --> 00:34:18,333 Strategic Partnership Agreement that they've -- 672 00:34:18,333 --> 00:34:20,333 that's been under discussion. 673 00:34:20,333 --> 00:34:24,700 There has been some calming of the situation in the wake of the 674 00:34:24,699 --> 00:34:26,332 Koran burning incident. 675 00:34:26,333 --> 00:34:28,133 They discussed that. 676 00:34:28,132 --> 00:34:32,699 And the President of Afghanistan updated President Obama on the 677 00:34:32,699 --> 00:34:35,399 Afghan-led reconciliation process, which, 678 00:34:35,400 --> 00:34:40,934 as we've noted many times, is essential to the ultimate 679 00:34:40,934 --> 00:34:43,834 resolution of the conflict in Afghanistan. 680 00:34:43,833 --> 00:34:47,000 So it was a wide-ranging conversation that covered 681 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:48,233 many topics. 682 00:34:48,233 --> 00:34:50,700 The Press: You've been very forthcoming with President Obama and the 683 00:34:50,699 --> 00:34:53,833 administration's apologies for the Koran burning. 684 00:34:53,833 --> 00:34:56,699 Would you just take the question on whether President Obama has 685 00:34:56,699 --> 00:34:59,500 ever received an apology or condolences from 686 00:34:59,500 --> 00:35:00,734 President Karzai? 687 00:35:00,734 --> 00:35:02,967 Mr. Carney: I'm happy to take that question. 688 00:35:02,967 --> 00:35:03,967 The Press: Thank you. 689 00:35:03,967 --> 00:35:05,600 Mr. Carney: And I think, Ann, just to take your point, 690 00:35:05,600 --> 00:35:10,133 the President issued that apology in a letter about a 691 00:35:10,133 --> 00:35:12,332 number of subjects to President Karzai because he's 692 00:35:12,333 --> 00:35:16,100 Commander-in-Chief, and his interest in is in the safety and 693 00:35:16,100 --> 00:35:18,933 security of American personnel, both military and 694 00:35:18,934 --> 00:35:20,633 civilian, overseas. 695 00:35:20,633 --> 00:35:22,700 And it was absolutely the recommendation of the commanding 696 00:35:22,700 --> 00:35:25,700 general, as well as the ambassador that that 697 00:35:25,700 --> 00:35:27,066 apology be issued. 698 00:35:27,066 --> 00:35:27,966 Brianna. 699 00:35:27,967 --> 00:35:33,667 The Press: Jay, the President's campaign is putting out this 17-minute film, 700 00:35:33,667 --> 00:35:37,333 I guess you could say, very polished and cinematic. 701 00:35:37,333 --> 00:35:39,767 I'm just wondering why does the President think that that 702 00:35:39,767 --> 00:35:41,000 approach is necessary? 703 00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:42,000 Mr. Carney: I would refer you to the campaign. 704 00:35:42,000 --> 00:35:44,000 I haven't discussed that. 705 00:35:44,000 --> 00:35:45,000 I saw the trailer. 706 00:35:45,000 --> 00:35:46,000 I thought it was pretty good. 707 00:35:46,000 --> 00:35:47,000 (laughter) 708 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:49,233 I agree with its sentiments entirely. 709 00:35:49,233 --> 00:35:50,433 (laughter) 710 00:35:50,433 --> 00:35:51,667 The Press: Glad to hear you watched it. 711 00:35:51,667 --> 00:35:52,700 Mr. Carney: The two minutes of it -- I haven't seen the 712 00:35:52,700 --> 00:35:54,033 whole thing yet. 713 00:35:54,033 --> 00:35:55,866 But it's good. 714 00:35:55,867 --> 00:35:57,667 The Press: But I mean, it's narrated by Tom Hanks. 715 00:35:57,667 --> 00:36:00,467 It's an Oscar-winning director. 716 00:36:00,467 --> 00:36:03,100 Is the everyday defense of the President's record not 717 00:36:03,100 --> 00:36:04,066 getting through? 718 00:36:04,066 --> 00:36:05,734 Mr. Carney: Are you suggesting that I'm no Tom Hanks? 719 00:36:05,734 --> 00:36:11,667 (laughter) 720 00:36:11,667 --> 00:36:12,834 I would refer you to the campaign. 721 00:36:12,834 --> 00:36:16,533 I think as a matter of broad principle, 722 00:36:16,533 --> 00:36:20,567 as someone in the communications business, as you are, 723 00:36:20,567 --> 00:36:28,066 that we take advantage of every opportunity we can to explain 724 00:36:28,066 --> 00:36:30,567 the President's policies, explain his positions, 725 00:36:30,567 --> 00:36:33,900 describe his vision for the country moving forward. 726 00:36:33,900 --> 00:36:39,967 And that would apply both as I discuss those matters of policy 727 00:36:39,967 --> 00:36:42,467 from here, and I'm sure -- not speaking for the campaign, 728 00:36:42,467 --> 00:36:44,266 but I'm just taking a wild guess here -- 729 00:36:44,266 --> 00:36:47,033 that I'm sure that's the approach they take. 730 00:36:47,033 --> 00:36:48,165 The Press: It's pretty extraordinary. 731 00:36:48,166 --> 00:36:49,266 I mean, the -- 732 00:36:49,266 --> 00:36:51,900 Mr. Carney: I don't know that it is, but if you say so. 733 00:36:51,900 --> 00:36:54,667 I mean, I think there have been those kinds of things in 734 00:36:54,667 --> 00:36:56,165 campaigns in the past, but -- 735 00:36:56,166 --> 00:36:58,200 The Press: But for here -- 736 00:36:58,200 --> 00:37:00,600 Mr. Carney: Maybe just because I've been around a little longer than you. 737 00:37:00,600 --> 00:37:04,000 But I am willing to accept that there has never been one as good 738 00:37:04,000 --> 00:37:08,700 with a better told or more compelling story as this video 739 00:37:08,700 --> 00:37:09,734 that I have not yet seen. 740 00:37:09,734 --> 00:37:13,033 (laughter) 741 00:37:13,033 --> 00:37:17,000 Is that okay? 742 00:37:17,000 --> 00:37:18,533 Leslie, and then Andrei. 743 00:37:18,533 --> 00:37:21,834 The Press: Jay, can you clarify a little bit on the task force? 744 00:37:21,834 --> 00:37:23,399 I know that you had said that -- 745 00:37:23,400 --> 00:37:24,333 Mr. Carney: I'm sorry on the what? 746 00:37:24,333 --> 00:37:26,934 The Press: On the task force, on the oil prices and 747 00:37:26,934 --> 00:37:28,200 speculation task force. 748 00:37:28,200 --> 00:37:29,133 Because it was my understanding that -- 749 00:37:29,133 --> 00:37:30,633 Mr. Carney: I think I might have tapped out on that, but -- 750 00:37:30,633 --> 00:37:32,866 The Press: Oooh -- 751 00:37:32,867 --> 00:37:35,500 The Press: It was my understanding that it had never really been -- 752 00:37:35,500 --> 00:37:37,834 it has not been un-constituted. 753 00:37:37,834 --> 00:37:39,600 The President, in fact, said the other day that it 754 00:37:39,600 --> 00:37:40,900 was reconstituted. 755 00:37:40,900 --> 00:37:43,333 Why did it ever stop? 756 00:37:43,333 --> 00:37:45,767 Mr. Carney: Well, I would refer you to the Justice Department. 757 00:37:45,767 --> 00:37:54,366 And I think the point is that it was constituted in response to 758 00:37:54,367 --> 00:37:59,934 the sharp rises -- a sharp rise in the price of gasoline a year 759 00:37:59,934 --> 00:38:03,700 ago, roughly. 760 00:38:03,700 --> 00:38:06,466 The Justice Department can give you more details about its 761 00:38:06,467 --> 00:38:11,300 activity in response to that price surge. 762 00:38:11,300 --> 00:38:14,633 What we are seeing now in the last several weeks and months is 763 00:38:14,633 --> 00:38:18,399 a new surge in the price of oil, for a variety of reasons that 764 00:38:18,400 --> 00:38:21,900 have to do with the oil -- the global oil market. 765 00:38:21,900 --> 00:38:26,667 We are seeing then the concurrent spike in the price of 766 00:38:26,667 --> 00:38:29,700 gasoline that Americans pay at the pump. 767 00:38:29,700 --> 00:38:34,899 And the President believes that it's important to be sure that 768 00:38:34,900 --> 00:38:39,767 there's no fraudulent speculation involved in those 769 00:38:39,767 --> 00:38:41,033 spikes in the price. 770 00:38:41,033 --> 00:38:43,967 The Press: Do you think it should have anything to show given that it 771 00:38:43,967 --> 00:38:46,834 hasn't until now? 772 00:38:46,834 --> 00:38:50,165 Mr. Carney: Well, I don't think you can -- I would urge you to discuss this 773 00:38:50,166 --> 00:38:52,400 with the Department of Justice, but I don't think you can credit 774 00:38:52,400 --> 00:38:56,467 -- you can't say simply -- you don't know until you investigate 775 00:38:56,467 --> 00:39:02,367 what you might find -- and if whatever they found or didn't 776 00:39:02,367 --> 00:39:04,967 find a year ago is not dispositive towards what they 777 00:39:04,967 --> 00:39:08,800 might find or might not find as they investigate going forward. 778 00:39:08,800 --> 00:39:14,233 So the President feels that it's in the interest of Americans who 779 00:39:14,233 --> 00:39:18,734 are having to endure these price hikes that his administration 780 00:39:18,734 --> 00:39:22,266 investigate to make sure that there's not fraud involved. 781 00:39:22,266 --> 00:39:25,333 The Press: But is there some sense that it just sort of dropped off the 782 00:39:25,333 --> 00:39:27,200 radar screen for -- 783 00:39:27,200 --> 00:39:30,033 Mr. Carney: Well, I would refer for the details on their activity to the 784 00:39:30,033 --> 00:39:31,667 Justice Department. 785 00:39:31,667 --> 00:39:33,333 The Press: Jay? 786 00:39:33,333 --> 00:39:34,333 Mr. Carney: Andrei, I promised you -- yes. 787 00:39:34,333 --> 00:39:35,333 And then Jared. 788 00:39:35,333 --> 00:39:36,667 The Press: Thank you. 789 00:39:36,667 --> 00:39:39,133 If I'm not mistaken, the President has not reached out 790 00:39:39,133 --> 00:39:41,700 yet personally to President-elect Putin. 791 00:39:41,700 --> 00:39:43,200 Does he intend to do so? 792 00:39:43,200 --> 00:39:46,165 If not, is this sort of a signal -- 793 00:39:46,166 --> 00:39:48,100 should we read it as a signal? 794 00:39:48,100 --> 00:39:50,165 Mr. Carney: I don't believe they have spoken yet. 795 00:39:50,166 --> 00:39:52,633 I'm confident they will speak. 796 00:39:52,633 --> 00:39:57,232 I would not read anything into it beyond the busy 797 00:39:57,233 --> 00:39:59,100 schedules of two -- 798 00:39:59,100 --> 00:40:00,433 The Press: Did you guys even put a statement out congratulating -- 799 00:40:00,433 --> 00:40:01,667 the way you do for other world -- 800 00:40:01,667 --> 00:40:02,834 other leaders that get elected? 801 00:40:02,834 --> 00:40:04,232 Mr. Carney: Did we? 802 00:40:04,233 --> 00:40:06,100 I think there was something from State. 803 00:40:06,100 --> 00:40:07,500 The Press: Something from the White House -- 804 00:40:07,500 --> 00:40:08,233 Mr. Carney: There may have been. 805 00:40:08,233 --> 00:40:09,367 Let me check on that. 806 00:40:09,367 --> 00:40:14,266 I think I was -- I had at one point in -- 807 00:40:14,266 --> 00:40:18,333 I paraphrased a statement that I had from a previous briefing. 808 00:40:18,333 --> 00:40:20,367 I can't remember if I delivered it or not. 809 00:40:20,367 --> 00:40:21,367 The Press: Right. 810 00:40:21,367 --> 00:40:24,100 But when State was making their statement -- 811 00:40:24,100 --> 00:40:29,533 I was there at the briefing -- they said that when the results 812 00:40:29,533 --> 00:40:32,333 of the elections are certified, there will be a different 813 00:40:32,333 --> 00:40:35,600 statement with names with proper congratulations coming from 814 00:40:35,600 --> 00:40:37,232 higher up. 815 00:40:37,233 --> 00:40:38,400 You are the higher up. 816 00:40:38,400 --> 00:40:39,200 (laughter) 817 00:40:39,200 --> 00:40:40,600 So when is that coming? 818 00:40:40,600 --> 00:40:41,600 Mr. Carney: I'm not sure about that. 819 00:40:41,600 --> 00:40:45,366 But since you're referring to a State Department briefing I 820 00:40:45,367 --> 00:40:47,500 would refer you back to them on that. 821 00:40:47,500 --> 00:40:51,033 I will certainly report out to you any conversation the 822 00:40:51,033 --> 00:40:57,299 President has with the new President of Russia when 823 00:40:57,300 --> 00:40:58,467 it happens. 824 00:40:58,467 --> 00:40:59,467 Chris. 825 00:40:59,467 --> 00:41:00,533 The Press: Thanks, Jay. 826 00:41:00,533 --> 00:41:03,000 Democrats in support of same-sex marriage are speaking more 827 00:41:03,000 --> 00:41:04,433 loudly on the issue. 828 00:41:04,433 --> 00:41:06,667 Twenty-two U.S. senators have told me they support the idea of 829 00:41:06,667 --> 00:41:08,933 including a marriage equality plank in a Democratic 830 00:41:08,934 --> 00:41:09,967 Party platform. 831 00:41:09,967 --> 00:41:12,500 And yesterday, Democratic National Convention Chair 832 00:41:12,500 --> 00:41:17,066 Antonio Villaraigosa also said he backs such language, saying, 833 00:41:17,066 --> 00:41:19,165 "I think it's basic to who we are." 834 00:41:19,166 --> 00:41:22,100 By being in a state of evolution now on this issue for nearly 17 835 00:41:22,100 --> 00:41:23,900 months, is the President deferring leadership in his 836 00:41:23,900 --> 00:41:25,433 own party? 837 00:41:25,433 --> 00:41:29,567 Mr. Carney: No, Chris, I can tell you that he is not engaged in the very 838 00:41:29,567 --> 00:41:32,700 early stages of what I understand to be the platform 839 00:41:32,700 --> 00:41:37,799 development, and I would refer you simply to discussions that 840 00:41:37,800 --> 00:41:39,400 the folks you mentioned are having. 841 00:41:39,400 --> 00:41:41,100 But the President's position hasn't changed. 842 00:41:41,100 --> 00:41:42,967 I certainly have no new announcement to make on it. 843 00:41:42,967 --> 00:41:44,433 The Press: But by being in a state of evolution, I mean, 844 00:41:44,433 --> 00:41:46,266 the President is missing an opportunity to lead not just the 845 00:41:46,266 --> 00:41:47,934 Democratic Party but for the country as a whole. 846 00:41:47,934 --> 00:41:48,633 So I -- 847 00:41:48,633 --> 00:41:49,500 Mr. Carney: I appreciate the question. 848 00:41:49,500 --> 00:41:52,734 I just don't have anything new to report to you on it. 849 00:41:52,734 --> 00:41:55,066 The Press: Just to follow up on that -- can you identify what is obstructing 850 00:41:55,066 --> 00:41:57,265 the President from completing his evolution on this issue? 851 00:41:57,266 --> 00:41:59,433 Is there some sort of fear of political backlash during an 852 00:41:59,433 --> 00:42:00,333 election year? 853 00:42:00,333 --> 00:42:02,233 You mentioned something before about this process involving the 854 00:42:02,233 --> 00:42:03,700 President's faith. 855 00:42:03,700 --> 00:42:05,000 Mr. Carney: I'm sorry, the last part of your question? 856 00:42:05,000 --> 00:42:06,333 The Press: You mentioned something about this process involving the 857 00:42:06,333 --> 00:42:07,467 President's faith. 858 00:42:07,467 --> 00:42:09,900 Mr. Carney: Well, now, look, I would leave it to the President. 859 00:42:09,900 --> 00:42:12,600 Perhaps he wasn't asked about this. 860 00:42:12,600 --> 00:42:14,433 Maybe the next time he gives a press conference one of you can 861 00:42:14,433 --> 00:42:15,433 ask him about it. 862 00:42:15,433 --> 00:42:18,934 It's entirely up to you if you want to be told, 863 00:42:18,934 --> 00:42:21,333 which you might be, that he doesn't have any news to 864 00:42:21,333 --> 00:42:22,100 make on it. 865 00:42:22,100 --> 00:42:23,232 But -- 866 00:42:23,233 --> 00:42:24,066 (laughter) 867 00:42:24,066 --> 00:42:25,600 -- I really have no update for you. 868 00:42:25,600 --> 00:42:26,667 The Press: One last question on this. 869 00:42:26,667 --> 00:42:28,767 Marriage is going to be on the ballot and it's become -- 870 00:42:28,767 --> 00:42:31,667 it's going to be in the ballot for voters in as many as five 871 00:42:31,667 --> 00:42:33,000 states this year. 872 00:42:33,000 --> 00:42:34,333 In North Carolina, that's going to happen -- 873 00:42:34,333 --> 00:42:36,967 for voters in May. 874 00:42:36,967 --> 00:42:39,000 Will the President announce same-sex marriage before it's 875 00:42:39,000 --> 00:42:41,500 too late to help -- to start conversations that help gay and 876 00:42:41,500 --> 00:42:43,900 lesbian couples who are seeking to get married in these states? 877 00:42:43,900 --> 00:42:48,000 Mr. Carney: That's a circuitous way of asking the same question, 878 00:42:48,000 --> 00:42:51,667 and I just don't have any updates for you on the 879 00:42:51,667 --> 00:42:53,200 President's position. 880 00:42:53,200 --> 00:42:55,066 Last one, yes, Peter. 881 00:42:55,066 --> 00:42:56,165 The Press: Thanks. 882 00:42:56,166 --> 00:42:58,867 At the time of the Shirley Sherrod case at the Agriculture 883 00:42:58,867 --> 00:43:02,533 Department, we were consistently told that there was no White 884 00:43:02,533 --> 00:43:03,533 House involvement. 885 00:43:03,533 --> 00:43:06,299 Now the AP has, through a FOIA request, 886 00:43:06,300 --> 00:43:08,233 come up with emails that contradicts that. 887 00:43:08,233 --> 00:43:09,934 Do you know where the disconnect was? 888 00:43:09,934 --> 00:43:11,934 Mr. Carney: Yes, the disconnect is in the reporting by the Associated 889 00:43:11,934 --> 00:43:13,033 Press, which is inaccurate. 890 00:43:13,033 --> 00:43:15,500 The emails confirm what we said at the time, 891 00:43:15,500 --> 00:43:17,867 which is that the White House had no involvement in the 892 00:43:17,867 --> 00:43:22,033 decision made regarding Ms. Sherrod's employment or her 893 00:43:22,033 --> 00:43:26,200 firing, but were made aware of the decision that had been made 894 00:43:26,200 --> 00:43:27,500 by the Department of Agriculture. 895 00:43:27,500 --> 00:43:28,300 The Press: So the White House -- 896 00:43:28,300 --> 00:43:29,300 Mr. Carney: There's nothing in those emails -- 897 00:43:29,300 --> 00:43:32,033 The Press: -- not in touch with the counsel at the Agriculture Department 898 00:43:32,033 --> 00:43:33,033 at the time? 899 00:43:33,033 --> 00:43:36,433 Mr. Carney: The issue is, was the White House involved in the decision 900 00:43:36,433 --> 00:43:38,567 made, and they were not. 901 00:43:38,567 --> 00:43:39,667 The White House was not. 902 00:43:39,667 --> 00:43:43,834 I was not in this position then, but we made clear at the time 903 00:43:43,834 --> 00:43:46,567 that there was discussion about the decision after it had been 904 00:43:46,567 --> 00:43:50,333 made, but not -- no involvement in the decision itself, 905 00:43:50,333 --> 00:43:52,834 which I think even the organization that made the FOIA 906 00:43:52,834 --> 00:43:57,033 request noted in its preamble, if you will. 907 00:43:57,033 --> 00:43:58,033 Thanks very much.