English subtitles for clip: File:4-26-10- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Gibbs:
Good afternoon.
Sorry for my lateness.

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Let me do two quick
announcements, readouts,

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before I take your questions.

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The President dropped by a
meeting between General Jones

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and Israeli Defense Minister
Ehud Barak this morning.

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The President reaffirmed our
unshakeable commitment to

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Israel's security and our
determination to achieve

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comprehensive peace
in the Middle East,

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including a two-state solution
with a secure Jewish state of

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Israel living side by side in
peace and security with a viable

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and independent
Palestinian state.

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He and President Barak
discussed challenges to regional

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security, how to deal with
threats that both the U.S.

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and Israel face, and how to move
forward toward a comprehensive peace.

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Also this morning, the President
called Egyptian President Hosni

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Mubarak to extend his best
wishes for a healthy recovery

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from early March surgery and to
congratulate him on the birth of

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his first granddaughter.

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They discussed the importance of
creating an atmosphere for peace

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in the Middle East and agreed to
follow up in the near future on

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a broad range of issues
of mutual interests.

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And with that, Mr. Babington.

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The Press:
Thank you. A two-part
question on immigration.

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The new Arizona law,
when it takes effect,

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will obviously require some
federal partnership -- some of

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these people who are detained
can be turned over to the Feds

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immediately, I believe, and
certainly any deportation would

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have to be done by the
federal government.

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What level of cooperation does
the administration plan to give

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in this new law?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Chuck, I would refer you
to the comments that the

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President made on Friday, where
he has asked the Department of

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Justice to examine and evaluate
the impacts -- potential impacts

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of this law, those impacts
on a citizen's civil rights.

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We're in the process of
evaluating what the law means.

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The Press:
So there is a possibility,

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given what you get
back from Justice,

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that there might not
be full cooperation --

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Mr. Gibbs:
I don't want to get ahead
of Justice's read of what's

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in the law.

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I don't expect that to
come in the next day or so.

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They're obviously looking
through this to examine,

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as the President mentioned,
the impacts on civil rights

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and other implications.

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So I will -- we will wait
for that readout from the

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Department of Justice.

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The Press:
And if I could, on
a related question,

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you've said that you want to do
an energy bill and immigration

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bill this year.

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Given the time frame in
Congress, is that feasible?

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And which of those
two is the priority?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, Chuck, I think that
we have seen progress made

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on both issues.

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I think it's possible to
continue to make progress on

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both those issues.

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I know we had -- there were
some statements this weekend by

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Senator Graham and others
that have been working

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on this legislation.

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The Chief of Staff talked with
Senator Graham on Friday.

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I think when I look at both of
those issues and look at the

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United States Senate, obviously
there's a crowded calendar,

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but I would say that our
dependence on foreign oil,

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the national security
problem it creates,

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the environmental
problem that it creates,

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the economic problem
that it creates,

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demonstrates that it
has to be a priority.

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I would say if you look at what
has happened in Arizona and the

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implications that that type of
law would naturally -- could

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naturally drive each state to
creating its own immigration

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laws -- that's because the
United States at the federal

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level has failed to act.

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So I think there is room for
progress on both issues.

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The President will continue
to work with members of both

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parties to see that happen.

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Yes, sir.

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The Press:
Sorry, just to follow
up on that quickly,

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which is the higher legislative
priority for the President to

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push at this moment: climate
change or immigration?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Matt, I don't -- I think
when whichever bill has

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the support it
needs to be passed,

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that's what will move first.

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But I would say to you I think
we can make progress on more

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than just one issue.

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Senator Graham, Senator Kerry
and Senator Lieberman all spent

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time here at the White House
just last Tuesday with the Chief

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of Staff on trying to work
through many of those issues.

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So I don't -- you all
see this as an either/or,

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but this administration
does not.

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The Press:
But the President said very
clearly passing health

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care reform was his top
legislative priority,

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and that's been done.

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Now what's next?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Financial reform.

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The Press:
Is the next one.

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And once that's done?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Then once that's done, we
can move on to the next one.

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The Press:
Okay, so no Republicans
are showing any signs

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of voting to move ahead
with a formal debate on

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financial regulatory reform, so that
vote looks likely to fail tonight.

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What's the
administration's next step,

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and what are the
red lines that --

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Mr. Gibbs:
I think the next
step, quite honestly,

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is going to be a vote a
couple of days after that.

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Matt, there are -- as
you rightly point out,

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there will be a vote tonight.

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It appears as if all the
Republicans have decided that

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the rules in place now are the
rules we should have going forward.

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That's what happens if
we don't do anything.

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So let's be clear about the
consequences of not moving this

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proposal forward.

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The same rules of the road that
got us into this mess -- the

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same rules of the road that let
banks and financial institutions

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make their own decisions --
they're still the rules of the road.

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Washington is a very
poll-driven city.

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I note today that there's a poll
out that shows two-thirds of the

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American public for stronger
regulation over Wall Street.

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I don't think it's a tenable
political position for the

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Republicans to be in to continue
to say the rules of the road we

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have for Wall Street should be
as they were when the economy

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collapsed and nearly
ruined everybody.

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So we're -- the Secretary
of Treasury, Dr. Summers,

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and others have met
over and over and over

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again with Republicans.

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I think in the end we're going
to get a bipartisan vote because

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I think the position they're in
right now is just simply untenable.

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The Press:
But not tonight?

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Mr. Gibbs:
That's a better
question for them.

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Yes, sir.

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The Press:
Robert, the White House
released video of the

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President urging supporters to
prepare for the midterm elections.

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Was this in part because there's
deep concern of losing a lot of

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seats and losing
control of Congress?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, we'll have
plenty of time to debate

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what the outcome of, or why
those elections went whatever

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way they went.

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They're many months away.

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Obviously more campaigns are
gearing up and the President

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wanted to speak directly
to his supporters.

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The Press:
So was there any concern at all, though?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, Dan, they're elections
that are going to be

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held in November and
I can assure you the

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President will participate.

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The Press:
In the SCOTUS nomination,
any progress?

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Is the President making any
progress on that front?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Yes.

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The Press:
Any time this week perhaps?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I don't expect any
announcements this week.

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The Press:
Robert, two questions on
the General Jones joke.

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I've seen the apology now.

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Does the White House have a
problem with what he had said

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and did the White House
urge him to apologize?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I think, Yunji, I
think the apology rightly

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speaks for itself.

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The Press:
Let me ask you this.

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Why was the -- why were his
remarks omitted from the

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official transcript?

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Usually you guys
include everything.

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, this was obviously
not a presidential event.

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There was no attempt -- it was
obviously an on-camera speech.

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There was no attempt to deceive.

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There's not a stenographer at
most non-presidential events.

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So I think the remarks that were
put out were put out as the text

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of the speech was
to be delivered.

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The Press:
But there was no
purposeful reason --

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Mr. Gibbs:
No.

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The Press:
On the financial regulation,

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the $50 billion resolution fund
is still one of the sticking

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points there and it's not
something the President,

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as you have made
clear, really supports.

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So has he gotten involved in
this to try to reach -- you said

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the Republicans want the rules
of the road that are now in place.

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That's not really true.

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Mr. Gibbs:
It is.

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The Press:
They want a -- no, they don't.

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They want a compromise.

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Mr. Gibbs:
If you don't have a new --
if you don't have a new

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bill -- the only way you
compromise is to get on the bill.

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The only way we can make
progress is to get on the bill.

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So if you're going to vote to --
if you're going to vote not to

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get on the bill which is going
to change the rules of the road,

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then you're for the rules of the
road that we have right now.

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The Press:
The Democrats are going
to make some compromises

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eventually anyway.

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Why not do it now to get the --
so that the Republicans will

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vote with them?

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I mean, it's like a political
game going on, on both sides.

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Mr. Gibbs:
No, Chip, I don't think
it's a political game.

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We have met -- administration
officials have met over and over

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again with Republicans.

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The Press:
Has the President
been talking to them?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Chairman Dodd -- as
we read out last week,

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the President talked to
a number of Republicans,

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including Scott Brown
on financial reform.

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The Press:
But to say that the
Republicans want the --

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Mr. Gibbs:
I think that Senator Dodd
has met over and over and

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over again with Republicans.

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I now see there's discussion on
the Republican side of putting

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out their own bill.

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I can't imagine that anybody
believes that that's going to be

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a stronger reform product; that
what they're going to have in

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there, what is going to be
contained on a whole host of

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issues, is seen as something
that's regulating Wall Street

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more strongly.

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The Press:
Would the President consider
talking to them and

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trying to get them to drop the
$50 billion fund and to get the

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Republicans on board?

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Mr. Gibbs:
The President's
administration has, Chip,

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spent a huge amount of time
talking with Republicans.

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The Press:
Is the President
talking to them now?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, the President,
through the Secretary of

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Treasury, as his chief
person on financial reform.

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The Press:
It hasn't gotten to the
point where he personally is

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talking to them?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Again, we made a couple
of calls last week.

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Chip, I will say this: I think
if there's anybody that's

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playing a game here, it's the
Republican Party that, again,

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seems to think that the best way
forward is to keep what we have

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in place now, which led us to
the brink of economic collapse

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just a few years ago.

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The Press:
Why does the President
not support the $50

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billion fund?

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What is his policy
problem with that?

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Mr. Gibbs:
It is not in our
original proposal.

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I think there are a number of
different ways to deal with the

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possibility of needing
resolution authority.

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Resolution authority is
contained in the bill.

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But again, Chip, the best way to
get -- the best way to move this

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forward, the best way to
make progress is to get the

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legislation, is to get --

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The Press:
They could get on
legislation if the Democrats

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would give on a couple
of these issues.

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Mr. Gibbs:
I'm not sure that's true.

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I'm not sure that that's borne
out by anything that they've said.

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The Press:
Okay.

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00:11:26,033 --> 00:11:29,833
Has the President seen Mr.
Blankfein's e-mail or had it

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00:11:29,834 --> 00:11:31,664
read that the --
where he said that,

237
00:11:31,667 --> 00:11:33,967
"We made more than we lost by
betting against the housing

238
00:11:33,967 --> 00:11:35,937
market," and did he have
any reaction to that?

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00:11:35,934 --> 00:11:36,864
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know, honestly,

240
00:11:36,867 --> 00:11:41,667
if he -- the degree to which he
saw some of that that's been

241
00:11:41,667 --> 00:11:43,437
reported over the weekend.

242
00:11:43,433 --> 00:11:44,803
I will check in on that.

243
00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:47,930
But, Chip, I hate to marry your
second question with your first

244
00:11:47,934 --> 00:11:53,934
question, but I'm
going to do it anyway.

245
00:11:53,934 --> 00:11:57,764
The rules of the road that
allowed people to do what you

246
00:11:57,767 --> 00:12:01,797
just asked me and is alleged to
have happened is as a result of

247
00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:06,700
the fact that the rules of the
road put Wall Street in charge

248
00:12:06,700 --> 00:12:09,000
of Main Street.

249
00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:13,970
If you want to change that, then
you have to support real reform.

250
00:12:13,967 --> 00:12:16,697
That's the choice in front
of everybody at 5:00 p.m.

251
00:12:16,700 --> 00:12:17,900
tonight in the U.S. Senate.

252
00:12:17,900 --> 00:12:19,530
The Press:
I just think it's a
mischaracterization to say the

253
00:12:19,533 --> 00:12:22,303
Republicans want the rules of
the road that are in place now.

254
00:12:22,300 --> 00:12:23,900
Mr. Gibbs:
Based on what?

255
00:12:23,900 --> 00:12:25,170
The Press:
Based on everything
they've said.

256
00:12:25,166 --> 00:12:25,736
They clearly want --

257
00:12:25,734 --> 00:12:26,404
Mr. Gibbs:
Like what?

258
00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:27,530
The Press:
They just don't want
exactly what the

259
00:12:27,533 --> 00:12:28,633
Democrats are pushing now.

260
00:12:28,633 --> 00:12:29,833
They want a compromise.

261
00:12:29,834 --> 00:12:32,934
Nobody up there is saying,
we don't want any change.

262
00:12:32,934 --> 00:12:35,034
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, then, vote
to get on the bill,

263
00:12:35,033 --> 00:12:39,533
and then we'd be on the floor and
we could find out about amendments.

264
00:12:39,533 --> 00:12:42,563
But simply saying no over
and over and over again,

265
00:12:42,567 --> 00:12:46,337
keeping the rules of
the road in place,

266
00:12:46,333 --> 00:12:51,033
leads you to where we were
when we got into this mess. Chuck.

267
00:12:51,033 --> 00:12:52,763
The Press:
Just a few follow-ups.

268
00:12:52,767 --> 00:12:55,667
So is it officially -- were you
officially saying no SCOTUS

269
00:12:55,667 --> 00:12:56,637
announcement this week?

270
00:12:56,633 --> 00:12:57,663
Mr. Gibbs:
I was.

271
00:12:57,667 --> 00:13:00,637
The Press:
Okay, so that's -- no SCOTUS
announcement this week.

272
00:13:00,633 --> 00:13:06,063
Second, on the financial bill,
if this isn't a done bill --

273
00:13:06,066 --> 00:13:07,636
they're still negotiating
between, for instance,

274
00:13:07,633 --> 00:13:10,363
Senator Dodd and Senator Lincoln
about derivatives -- then why

275
00:13:10,367 --> 00:13:12,667
not wait -- why not
wait a day or two?

276
00:13:12,667 --> 00:13:14,997
I mean, when they're still
trying to figure out what the --

277
00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:16,530
because they're still
negotiating about what's going

278
00:13:16,533 --> 00:13:19,633
to be in the main bill, then this
idea of the derivatives being --

279
00:13:19,633 --> 00:13:21,403
Mr. Gibbs:
Again, I think that
they've made -- Chuck,

280
00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:25,000
I think they've made a tremendous
amount of progress on that.

281
00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:25,530
My sense is --

282
00:13:25,533 --> 00:13:27,333
The Press:
Do you expect an announcement
before 5:00 p.m. today on that?

283
00:13:27,333 --> 00:13:29,233
Mr. Gibbs:
That's a better question
for Senator Dodd and

284
00:13:29,233 --> 00:13:30,603
Senator Lincoln.

285
00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:33,070
The Press:
You mentioned another vote.

286
00:13:33,066 --> 00:13:35,296
Do you expect, if
this goes down,

287
00:13:35,300 --> 00:13:37,130
it to be right -- brought
right back to the floor --

288
00:13:37,133 --> 00:13:38,033
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, this isn't going away.

289
00:13:38,033 --> 00:13:38,863
This issue isn't going away --

290
00:13:38,867 --> 00:13:39,667
The Press:
I understand.

291
00:13:39,667 --> 00:13:41,467
Mr. Gibbs:
-- because we can't
let this issue go away.

292
00:13:41,467 --> 00:13:42,897
The Press:
What is the timing that
you understand it to be?

293
00:13:42,900 --> 00:13:45,470
Mr. Gibbs:
I would assume that we
would come back somewhat

294
00:13:45,467 --> 00:13:46,567
quickly to this.

295
00:13:46,567 --> 00:13:48,637
The Press:
This week?

296
00:13:48,633 --> 00:13:50,763
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know that -- I
have not been told that as a

297
00:13:50,767 --> 00:13:55,097
matter of course from the
Majority Leader's office, but,

298
00:13:55,100 --> 00:14:01,230
Chuck, we have a window of time
to change the rules of the road;

299
00:14:01,233 --> 00:14:05,833
to have real, genuine Wall
Street reform passed into law so

300
00:14:05,834 --> 00:14:09,464
that we don't find ourselves at
the two-year anniversary of a

301
00:14:09,467 --> 00:14:14,637
dramatic economic collapse
created by risky decisions

302
00:14:14,633 --> 00:14:19,403
repeated; and that we haven't
taken the common-sense steps to

303
00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:23,100
change how we
govern Wall Street.

304
00:14:23,100 --> 00:14:25,800
The Press:
You said twice -- on the
immigration/energy issue,

305
00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:27,830
you said twice, well, there's no
reason why progress couldn't be made.

306
00:14:27,834 --> 00:14:30,364
But there's a difference between
progress and a finished piece of

307
00:14:30,367 --> 00:14:33,267
legislation this year.

308
00:14:33,266 --> 00:14:37,296
Your assumption is -- is it fair
to say that you believe only one

309
00:14:37,300 --> 00:14:38,470
can get done this year?

310
00:14:38,467 --> 00:14:41,267
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know the
answer to how many can.

311
00:14:41,266 --> 00:14:48,336
I know that on energy,
Senators Graham, Kerry,

312
00:14:48,333 --> 00:14:53,903
Lieberman have spent an awful
lot of time working through an

313
00:14:53,900 --> 00:14:56,270
awful lot of issues.

314
00:14:56,266 --> 00:15:00,336
They've spent time with the
President on this bill;

315
00:15:00,333 --> 00:15:03,133
just last week were in Rahm's
office for a considerable period

316
00:15:03,133 --> 00:15:06,563
of time working through issues.

317
00:15:06,567 --> 00:15:08,637
We have, with Senator
Graham and Senator Schumer,

318
00:15:08,633 --> 00:15:12,903
worked on a number of issues
relating to immigration reform.

319
00:15:12,900 --> 00:15:13,900
The Press:
Can you point to the
same level -- I mean,

320
00:15:13,900 --> 00:15:16,070
it does feel like you're
pointing -- you feel like a lot

321
00:15:16,066 --> 00:15:17,766
more has been accomplished
on the energy side --

322
00:15:17,767 --> 00:15:18,537
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I would say this --

323
00:15:18,533 --> 00:15:19,263
The Press:
-- than on the immigration side.

324
00:15:19,266 --> 00:15:21,296
Mr. Gibbs:
As I said last week,
Senator Graham and Senator

325
00:15:21,300 --> 00:15:24,770
Schumer came in here and asked
the President to do some

326
00:15:24,767 --> 00:15:28,237
specific things to move
immigration reform forward --

327
00:15:28,233 --> 00:15:32,533
signaling his support for
moving it forward via an op-ed,

328
00:15:32,533 --> 00:15:36,733
which we did; asking that the
President himself reach out to

329
00:15:36,734 --> 00:15:40,834
five Republicans to try to
garner additional Republican

330
00:15:40,834 --> 00:15:43,434
support for moving
immigration forward,

331
00:15:43,433 --> 00:15:51,463
which those calls
we made last week.

332
00:15:51,467 --> 00:15:55,497
I will say this -- I think we
have a very good relationship on

333
00:15:55,500 --> 00:16:03,600
those two issues and in working
through issues like Guantanamo

334
00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:07,500
Bay with Senator Lindsey Graham.

335
00:16:07,500 --> 00:16:09,600
I think Rahm has a good
relationship with him;

336
00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:11,730
the President has a good
relationship with him;

337
00:16:11,734 --> 00:16:14,334
many folks here do.

338
00:16:14,333 --> 00:16:21,503
I don't know the degree to which
that has complicated his life,

339
00:16:21,500 --> 00:16:28,430
that -- in working with this
administration to solve problems.

340
00:16:28,433 --> 00:16:34,663
I think there's no doubt that he
has heard from Republicans in

341
00:16:34,667 --> 00:16:40,737
the leadership and in his home
state in not wanting that

342
00:16:40,734 --> 00:16:42,334
progress to be made with us.

343
00:16:42,333 --> 00:16:45,103
The Press:
You had said that the Chief
of Staff had spoken with

344
00:16:45,100 --> 00:16:46,170
Senator Graham on Friday --

345
00:16:46,166 --> 00:16:46,996
Mr. Gibbs:
Friday.

346
00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:49,070
The Press:
Did Senator Graham tell him,

347
00:16:49,066 --> 00:16:53,036
I'm yanking my support on energy
because of Senator Reid's push

348
00:16:53,033 --> 00:16:53,603
on immigration?

349
00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:57,370
Mr. Gibbs:
I think this had
percolated for a while.

350
00:16:57,367 --> 00:16:59,697
The Press:
So you guys had gotten a
heads-up that he could

351
00:16:59,700 --> 00:17:00,870
be doing something like this?

352
00:17:00,867 --> 00:17:03,137
Mr. Gibbs:
I think things had
percolated, yes.

353
00:17:03,133 --> 00:17:05,203
Yes, ma'am.

354
00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:08,030
The Press:
When the President travels
to the Midwest, Robert,

355
00:17:08,033 --> 00:17:12,233
will he be putting financial
regulation on the agenda?

356
00:17:12,233 --> 00:17:13,833
Is that something
he will talk about?

357
00:17:13,834 --> 00:17:18,264
Mr. Gibbs:
I do anticipate that the
President will mention it at

358
00:17:18,266 --> 00:17:23,796
one of the town hall meetings and
over the course of the time, yes.

359
00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:26,470
The Press:
Okay, but just a
mention rather than a full

360
00:17:26,467 --> 00:17:27,567
speech on this, or --

361
00:17:27,567 --> 00:17:28,667
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't think -- look,

362
00:17:28,667 --> 00:17:35,167
I think he laid out a pretty
comprehensive speech just last

363
00:17:35,166 --> 00:17:40,966
week on the need for
moving this thing forward.

364
00:17:40,967 --> 00:17:45,037
I think the time for the
delay on this has passed.

365
00:17:45,033 --> 00:17:49,103
The time for moving this
forward, having some action,

366
00:17:49,100 --> 00:17:51,030
is where we're at right now.

367
00:17:51,033 --> 00:17:54,103
The Press:
So he'll be more focused
on jobs and the economy

368
00:17:54,100 --> 00:17:54,930
while he's there?

369
00:17:54,934 --> 00:17:56,834
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I've got to tell
you I don't -- I think

370
00:17:56,834 --> 00:18:00,564
anybody that lost -- any of one
of the 8.4 million people that

371
00:18:00,567 --> 00:18:02,997
lost their jobs since
this recession started,

372
00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:07,130
I don't think in their world
they can divorce the risky

373
00:18:07,133 --> 00:18:10,463
behavior of Wall Street that
caused the massive economic

374
00:18:10,467 --> 00:18:13,167
downturn that led
to 8.5 million jobs.

375
00:18:13,166 --> 00:18:17,636
So maybe if you have the luxury
of not having lost your job it's

376
00:18:17,633 --> 00:18:19,803
easier to bifurcate
those two issues.

377
00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:22,300
I'm pretty sure that this
administration and many that

378
00:18:22,300 --> 00:18:24,970
lost their jobs don't
necessarily see those

379
00:18:24,967 --> 00:18:26,867
as two different issues.

380
00:18:26,867 --> 00:18:29,467
The Press:
Unless you're talking about
job creation, of course.

381
00:18:29,467 --> 00:18:32,967
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, the reason we're
talking about job creation

382
00:18:32,967 --> 00:18:36,837
so much is because we're talking about
8.5 million jobs that were lost.

383
00:18:36,834 --> 00:18:42,964
Again, I have a hard time
separating a financial collapse

384
00:18:42,967 --> 00:18:46,797
that led to so many of those
jobs being lost with those jobs

385
00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:47,970
being lost.

386
00:18:47,967 --> 00:18:48,837
Yes, sir.

387
00:18:48,834 --> 00:18:51,704
The Press:
Robert, what led to
General Jones's decision to

388
00:18:51,700 --> 00:18:52,970
issue this apology?

389
00:18:52,967 --> 00:18:56,337
Did the President, the Chief of
Staff, or anyone else ask him?

390
00:18:56,333 --> 00:18:57,233
Mr. Gibbs:
Not that I'm aware of.

391
00:18:57,233 --> 00:18:58,033
Not that I'm aware of.

392
00:18:58,033 --> 00:18:59,503
I think he -- there
were inquiries,

393
00:18:59,500 --> 00:19:03,000
and understanding
that, as he said,

394
00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:05,870
he wishes he hadn't
told the joke.

395
00:19:05,867 --> 00:19:08,197
The Press:
Going back to your opening
statement on the Middle

396
00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:12,770
East, is there a Middle
East peace process now?

397
00:19:12,767 --> 00:19:13,797
Mr. Gibbs:
An active one.

398
00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:19,270
I think -- I would say that we
are encouraged by the productive

399
00:19:19,266 --> 00:19:23,396
nature of the meetings that
Senator Mitchell has had in the

400
00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:26,370
region, beginning late
last week and into now.

401
00:19:26,367 --> 00:19:27,837
So, absolutely.

402
00:19:27,834 --> 00:19:29,704
The Press:
What have those
meetings produced?

403
00:19:29,700 --> 00:19:36,300
Mr. Gibbs:
We are -- the meetings
have been productive in

404
00:19:36,300 --> 00:19:39,330
moving this process forward, as
we've talked about for the past

405
00:19:39,333 --> 00:19:43,863
many weeks, in getting these
two parties to the table.

406
00:19:43,867 --> 00:19:47,367
The Press:
You mentioned the need
for an atmosphere for peace

407
00:19:47,367 --> 00:19:48,997
in your opening statement.

408
00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:52,930
What does the President feel
right now are the prerequisites

409
00:19:52,934 --> 00:19:55,164
for that?

410
00:19:55,166 --> 00:19:56,696
Mr. Gibbs:
Most of all, the
President has discussed that

411
00:19:56,700 --> 00:20:04,530
each side has to take steps to
build confidence that we can get

412
00:20:04,533 --> 00:20:06,163
to the table and,
most importantly,

413
00:20:06,166 --> 00:20:08,896
that when we get there we
can make some progress.

414
00:20:08,900 --> 00:20:11,400
We understand this
won't be easy.

415
00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:16,230
We understand that where --
when we came into office,

416
00:20:16,233 --> 00:20:21,733
where this issue was, where the
headlines and the news were.

417
00:20:21,734 --> 00:20:30,764
The President has decided that
this country and our government

418
00:20:30,767 --> 00:20:34,437
being actively involved in this
process has tended historically

419
00:20:34,433 --> 00:20:38,563
to push this process forward
in a way that's positive.

420
00:20:38,567 --> 00:20:42,767
And that's why our government
will continue to do so.

421
00:20:42,767 --> 00:20:44,367
The Press:
Can I ask you just one more
question about -- going

422
00:20:44,367 --> 00:20:46,667
back to Elizabeth's questions
about tomorrow's tour,

423
00:20:46,667 --> 00:20:52,297
will the President in any way go
back to the health care reform pitch?

424
00:20:52,300 --> 00:20:54,570
Will that be a theme
at any of the stops?

425
00:20:54,567 --> 00:20:58,397
Mr. Gibbs:
You know, I have not
seen the final remarks.

426
00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:00,230
Let me take a look at
those and get back to you.

427
00:21:00,233 --> 00:21:04,833
Again, I imagine that it's
a topic that will come up.

428
00:21:04,834 --> 00:21:08,504
Whether or not that's a specific
focus of one of the stops,

429
00:21:08,500 --> 00:21:09,600
let me double-check.

430
00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:10,600
The Press:
If you guys could
we'd appreciate it.

431
00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:11,770
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes.

432
00:21:11,767 --> 00:21:13,867
The Press:
Staying with the Midwest,

433
00:21:13,867 --> 00:21:18,737
the unemployment rate nationally
has been stuck at 9.7 percent

434
00:21:18,734 --> 00:21:20,304
the last three months.

435
00:21:20,300 --> 00:21:24,030
Is there any -- will we hear any
new language tomorrow on him

436
00:21:24,033 --> 00:21:28,663
reassuring people out there on
his jobs and economic policies?

437
00:21:28,667 --> 00:21:32,667
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, Roger, let's,
with all due respect,

438
00:21:32,667 --> 00:21:36,097
understand that I think in the
last -- I don't have my chart

439
00:21:36,100 --> 00:21:39,570
with me -- I think if you look
at the last three to five

440
00:21:39,567 --> 00:21:43,667
months, that we've had the best
three to five months since the

441
00:21:43,667 --> 00:21:47,367
beginning of -- the technical
beginning of the recession in

442
00:21:47,367 --> 00:21:48,667
December of 2007.

443
00:21:48,667 --> 00:21:51,267
That's not to say the
President is satisfied.

444
00:21:51,266 --> 00:21:55,336
But I think to just simply say
that the rate is at a certain

445
00:21:55,333 --> 00:22:00,303
level doesn't quite do justice
to the fact that when we walked

446
00:22:00,300 --> 00:22:04,830
into the White House in
January of 2009, nearly

447
00:22:04,834 --> 00:22:09,904
800,000, jobs were
lost that month.

448
00:22:09,900 --> 00:22:13,230
Last month, 162,000
jobs were created.

449
00:22:13,233 --> 00:22:14,603
Now, as I mentioned
to Elizabeth,

450
00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:18,100
we've got a tremendous
hole to fill.

451
00:22:18,100 --> 00:22:21,130
That's not going to be filled
-- it wasn't filled last month;

452
00:22:21,133 --> 00:22:23,463
it won't be filled this month.

453
00:22:23,467 --> 00:22:27,267
But this President made a
conscious decision from the very

454
00:22:27,266 --> 00:22:30,136
beginning of his administration
to focus on getting our economy

455
00:22:30,133 --> 00:22:31,703
back on track.

456
00:22:31,700 --> 00:22:33,370
We are making progress.

457
00:22:33,367 --> 00:22:37,797
The economy is moving in
a more positive direction.

458
00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:41,570
We'll get GDP figures at the end
of the week that will give us a

459
00:22:41,567 --> 00:22:49,037
sense of whether or not -- are
we where we were in 2008 and

460
00:22:49,033 --> 00:22:52,903
2009 with an economy that's
contracted or one that's

461
00:22:52,900 --> 00:22:55,000
continuing to grow?

462
00:22:55,000 --> 00:23:03,770
And I think by all accounts that
is growth that has been greatly

463
00:23:03,767 --> 00:23:07,367
aided by the President's
recovery plan.

464
00:23:07,367 --> 00:23:11,337
The Press:
Mr. Biden, last Friday
in Pennsylvania,

465
00:23:11,333 --> 00:23:16,303
predicted job growth next
month -- 100,000 to 200,000.

466
00:23:16,300 --> 00:23:18,130
Does that sound about right?

467
00:23:18,133 --> 00:23:21,263
Mr. Gibbs:
He's an optimistic man,
and that's why we like him.

468
00:23:21,266 --> 00:23:23,866
(laughter)

469
00:23:23,867 --> 00:23:26,067
The Press:
And he further said 500,000

470
00:23:26,066 --> 00:23:28,336
in the next
couple of months.

471
00:23:28,333 --> 00:23:29,633
Mr. Gibbs:
See previous statement.

472
00:23:29,633 --> 00:23:32,103
(laughter)

473
00:23:32,100 --> 00:23:32,930
The Press:
Fair enough.

474
00:23:32,934 --> 00:23:34,704
On one other question
-- for SCOTUS,

475
00:23:34,700 --> 00:23:37,600
you said nothing this week.

476
00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:41,770
Can you say the same for Fed
governors as well as a TSA nominee?

477
00:23:41,767 --> 00:23:43,867
Mr. Gibbs:
You know, I don't have
a planning schedule in

478
00:23:43,867 --> 00:23:48,467
front of me, so let
me -- Fed and TSA,

479
00:23:48,467 --> 00:23:52,197
let me check on whether I can make
a similarly Shermanesque statement.

480
00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:52,730
The Press:
Can you --

481
00:23:52,734 --> 00:23:53,634
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes, let me figure that out.

482
00:23:53,633 --> 00:23:54,303
Yes, sir.

483
00:23:54,300 --> 00:23:56,230
The Press:
You said the President
and the Israeli President

484
00:23:56,233 --> 00:23:57,663
discussed how to --

485
00:23:57,667 --> 00:23:58,937
Mr. Gibbs:
Defense Minister.

486
00:23:58,934 --> 00:24:01,904
The Press:
I'm sorry, Defense Minister
Barak -- discussed how

487
00:24:01,900 --> 00:24:03,170
to move the --

488
00:24:03,166 --> 00:24:04,396
Mr. Gibbs:
That's just a lot of
Baracks in one room, right?

489
00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:05,770
(laughter)

490
00:24:05,767 --> 00:24:07,597
The Press:
-- how to move the
peace process forward.

491
00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:10,330
The Israeli press says they
reached an agreement on doing so.

492
00:24:10,333 --> 00:24:14,263
Is the Israeli press
out ahead of things?

493
00:24:14,266 --> 00:24:16,366
Mr. Gibbs:
I certainly don't want to
-- I don't want to say that.

494
00:24:16,367 --> 00:24:18,937
Let me see what they're saying,
and let me get back to you on

495
00:24:18,934 --> 00:24:20,264
where everything is.

496
00:24:20,266 --> 00:24:22,466
The Press:
Well, the presumption is
that if they have reached an

497
00:24:22,467 --> 00:24:26,637
agreement on that, they've found
a way to deal with the Israeli

498
00:24:26,633 --> 00:24:28,833
settlement construction
in East Jerusalem,

499
00:24:28,834 --> 00:24:31,464
and that's precisely
where my question goes to.

500
00:24:31,467 --> 00:24:33,137
Have the Israelis
agreed to suspend?

501
00:24:33,133 --> 00:24:37,103
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't have
anything new on that.

502
00:24:37,100 --> 00:24:39,130
I would simply
point you, Wendell,

503
00:24:39,133 --> 00:24:42,233
to where we've been and what
we've said on that in the past.

504
00:24:42,233 --> 00:24:44,403
The Press:
On financial regulatory reform,

505
00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:48,470
should banks be
allowed to, in effect,

506
00:24:48,467 --> 00:24:52,167
bet against the financial
instruments they sell -- they

507
00:24:52,166 --> 00:24:55,566
encourage their investors
to buy, as apparently --

508
00:24:55,567 --> 00:24:58,667
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, I will say this.

509
00:24:58,667 --> 00:25:07,967
I think that there are a whole
host of provisions in these new

510
00:25:07,967 --> 00:25:11,397
rules obviously that will have
to be married up with what the

511
00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:17,470
House passed that will change the
way business and Wall Street work.

512
00:25:17,467 --> 00:25:25,297
The President put a tremendous
amount of effort behind a

513
00:25:25,300 --> 00:25:26,930
consumer finance
protection agency.

514
00:25:26,934 --> 00:25:29,434
We've talked about,
through the Volcker rule,

515
00:25:29,433 --> 00:25:36,403
ensuring that the size
of banks is limited,

516
00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:39,100
and a whole host of other tools
and protections that we need for

517
00:25:39,100 --> 00:25:41,130
the American people.

518
00:25:41,133 --> 00:25:46,663
I don't want to get into the
specifics of a pending inquiry

519
00:25:46,667 --> 00:25:51,067
from an independent agency
like Goldman and the SEC.

520
00:25:51,066 --> 00:25:53,836
The Press:
Will the rules
grandfather some of these

521
00:25:53,834 --> 00:25:58,164
practices that may -- existing
contracts and some of these

522
00:25:58,166 --> 00:25:59,096
practices that may change?

523
00:25:59,100 --> 00:26:02,570
Mr. Gibbs:
I'd have to look up how
that's handled in the

524
00:26:02,567 --> 00:26:03,637
current legislation.

525
00:26:03,633 --> 00:26:04,103
I don't know --

526
00:26:04,100 --> 00:26:05,700
The Press:
You don't want to address
whether it should be?

527
00:26:05,700 --> 00:26:08,070
Because apparently that's part
of the negotiations right now --

528
00:26:08,066 --> 00:26:11,166
Republicans saying let's
preserve existing contracts.

529
00:26:11,166 --> 00:26:15,796
Mr. Gibbs:
Let me see where
that is on the bill.

530
00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:17,070
The Press:
Robert, on the Supreme Court,

531
00:26:17,066 --> 00:26:19,196
will the President be
interviewing folks this week?

532
00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:21,370
And do you want to tell us which
door you're going to sneak

533
00:26:21,367 --> 00:26:22,597
people in and out of?

534
00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:25,070
(laughter)

535
00:26:25,066 --> 00:26:26,736
Mr. Gibbs:
There's a good story I can
hardly wait to tell at the

536
00:26:26,734 --> 00:26:28,334
whole end of this,
but I'll wait on that.

537
00:26:28,333 --> 00:26:29,533
The Press:
Oh, come on.

538
00:26:29,533 --> 00:26:30,563
(laughter)

539
00:26:30,567 --> 00:26:31,567
Mr. Gibbs:
No, no, no --

540
00:26:31,567 --> 00:26:32,267
The Press:
Go ahead.

541
00:26:32,266 --> 00:26:32,936
(laughter)

542
00:26:32,934 --> 00:26:33,834
The Press:
-- don't allow torture.

543
00:26:33,834 --> 00:26:34,604
(laughter)

544
00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:40,630
Mr. Gibbs:
It provides me endless delight.

545
00:26:40,633 --> 00:26:43,803
There won't be any announcements
this week because the process

546
00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:45,670
will continue.

547
00:26:45,667 --> 00:26:47,567
The Press:
And that process will
include interviews this week?

548
00:26:47,567 --> 00:26:50,067
Mr. Gibbs:
Likely will include the
President continuing to talk

549
00:26:50,066 --> 00:26:52,296
to prospective candidates, yes.

550
00:26:52,300 --> 00:26:53,730
The Press:
In person?

551
00:26:53,734 --> 00:26:56,934
Mr. Gibbs:
There are many ways to talk
to prospective candidates.

552
00:26:56,934 --> 00:26:58,834
The Press:
And might some of those
be on the road this week?

553
00:26:58,834 --> 00:26:59,364
Mr. Gibbs:
No.

554
00:26:59,367 --> 00:27:02,497
No, you guys don't -- as much as
I would love for you to set up a

555
00:27:02,500 --> 00:27:04,170
ring around the hotel --

556
00:27:04,166 --> 00:27:05,266
The Press:
Are you ruling that out?

557
00:27:05,266 --> 00:27:09,096
Mr. Gibbs:
-- for sheer folly, I would
-- no, maybe you should --

558
00:27:09,100 --> 00:27:10,130
(laughter)

559
00:27:10,133 --> 00:27:11,903
-- now that I think about it.

560
00:27:11,900 --> 00:27:18,970
No, I know of no -- why, when
we could just do it right here

561
00:27:18,967 --> 00:27:21,737
would we go all the way
to -- go to Des Moines?

562
00:27:21,734 --> 00:27:25,104
The Press:
I'll admit that Des
Moines is an easy --

563
00:27:25,100 --> 00:27:27,600
The Press:
Just one quick question
on General Jones.

564
00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:30,770
Did the subject of the Taliban
joke come up during his meeting

565
00:27:30,767 --> 00:27:32,737
with Defense Minister Barak?

566
00:27:32,734 --> 00:27:33,504
Mr. Gibbs:
Not that I'm aware of, no.

567
00:27:33,500 --> 00:27:35,130
Not that I'm aware of, no.

568
00:27:35,133 --> 00:27:36,763
The Press:
So he didn't apologize to him?

569
00:27:36,767 --> 00:27:39,397
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't think it came up.

570
00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:40,770
The Press:
Is the President still
meeting with the debt

571
00:27:40,767 --> 00:27:42,097
commission tomorrow?

572
00:27:42,100 --> 00:27:45,900
Mr. Gibbs:
He is, and I will have
a statement after that

573
00:27:45,900 --> 00:27:48,070
meeting for you all
to cover tomorrow.

574
00:27:48,066 --> 00:27:48,766
The Press:
Okay.

575
00:27:48,767 --> 00:27:51,597
And is his charge to them still
that everything is on the table,

576
00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:53,730
from Social Security to --

577
00:27:53,734 --> 00:27:56,264
Mr. Gibbs:
See, this is -- I get
to do my now weekly thing,

578
00:27:56,266 --> 00:27:59,096
which is all of you are now --
you've gripped your computers

579
00:27:59,100 --> 00:28:02,800
and your Blackberrys to quickly
Twitter that Robert Gibbs,

580
00:28:02,800 --> 00:28:07,130
per the Washington game, didn't
rule out that Barack Obama has

581
00:28:07,133 --> 00:28:10,363
said X, Y, Z is on the table.

582
00:28:10,367 --> 00:28:14,737
Again, I appreciate this --
apparently it keeps us

583
00:28:14,734 --> 00:28:16,434
all quite busy.

584
00:28:16,433 --> 00:28:22,333
We can tweet all Twitter,
but I would simply say --

585
00:28:22,333 --> 00:28:24,633
The Press:
You really don't see
the significance of that?

586
00:28:24,633 --> 00:28:26,033
(laughter)

587
00:28:26,033 --> 00:28:27,863
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm glad I got somebody
to play along with my

588
00:28:27,867 --> 00:28:29,697
Washington game.

589
00:28:29,700 --> 00:28:32,900
The Press:
The President is saying
that he may break his

590
00:28:32,900 --> 00:28:35,000
most fundamental promise,
and that's a big deal.

591
00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:36,570
Mr. Gibbs:
And he may not.

592
00:28:36,567 --> 00:28:38,367
Story at 11:00 p.m.

593
00:28:38,367 --> 00:28:40,967
The Press:
But he may.

594
00:28:40,967 --> 00:28:43,767
Mr. Gibbs:
I have caught a large
fish on my troll of the

595
00:28:43,767 --> 00:28:44,767
Washington game.

596
00:28:44,767 --> 00:28:46,767
The Press:
No, but the thing is,
when you're definitive

597
00:28:46,767 --> 00:28:48,197
you're definitive.

598
00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:49,770
And then when you're not,
we're playing the game?

599
00:28:49,767 --> 00:28:50,567
I mean, come on.

600
00:28:50,567 --> 00:28:51,437
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes, you're playing the game --

601
00:28:51,433 --> 00:28:52,203
The Press:
We're playing the
game whenever you --

602
00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:52,800
Mr. Gibbs:
-- every single day.

603
00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:53,930
The Press:
-- don't come out
there and be definitive?

604
00:28:53,934 --> 00:28:54,664
Mr. Gibbs:
Every single day.

605
00:28:54,667 --> 00:28:55,237
The Press:
All right.

606
00:28:55,233 --> 00:28:56,133
But you never play the game?

607
00:28:56,133 --> 00:28:57,833
Mr. Gibbs:
Not nearly as well
as you do, Chuck.

608
00:28:57,834 --> 00:29:01,664
You got a whole cable
show to do it with.

609
00:29:01,667 --> 00:29:03,397
The Press:
Robert, two quick questions.

610
00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:06,700
One, as far as this
entrepreneurial conference is

611
00:29:06,700 --> 00:29:11,400
going on at the Reagan Building
and also at the same time BBC

612
00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:14,600
world opinion poll, what they're
saying is that the United

613
00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:19,730
States' image has grown upwards
during President's first year.

614
00:29:19,734 --> 00:29:23,934
And also, President Obama's
image also has been up around

615
00:29:23,934 --> 00:29:28,134
the globe, including it's very
much high in India but very low

616
00:29:28,133 --> 00:29:29,963
in Pakistan.

617
00:29:29,967 --> 00:29:32,437
What I'm asking you as far as
this entrepreneurial conference

618
00:29:32,433 --> 00:29:37,033
is going on and also World Bank
and IMF meetings just ended,

619
00:29:37,033 --> 00:29:39,863
do you think that this is
another message from the

620
00:29:39,867 --> 00:29:44,237
President to these people who
have come from around the globe?

621
00:29:44,233 --> 00:29:48,803
And also, many -- for many, many
years Africa was ignored and

622
00:29:48,800 --> 00:29:53,370
U.S. was not paying much
attention to Africa,

623
00:29:53,367 --> 00:29:55,697
which has so much minerals, oil.

624
00:29:55,700 --> 00:29:57,570
Now China is getting into it.

625
00:29:57,567 --> 00:30:01,397
Where do we go from here?

626
00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:03,570
Mr. Gibbs:
That's -- you left me a lot
of running room there, Goyal.

627
00:30:03,567 --> 00:30:04,497
The Press:
Just say yes.

628
00:30:04,500 --> 00:30:07,970
(laughter)

629
00:30:07,967 --> 00:30:10,137
Mr. Gibbs:
No, look, I will say this.

630
00:30:10,133 --> 00:30:14,763
Obviously the conference that's
going on today is a commitment

631
00:30:14,767 --> 00:30:19,997
that the President made
out of the speech in Cairo.

632
00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:23,600
Obviously this President has
dedicated a lot of time to

633
00:30:23,600 --> 00:30:28,270
repairing and restoring our
image around the world;

634
00:30:28,266 --> 00:30:34,436
being seen as constructive,
willing to engage.

635
00:30:34,433 --> 00:30:36,533
I think that's why we've made
progress on issues like North

636
00:30:36,533 --> 00:30:41,703
Korea and Iran in the
international community.

637
00:30:41,700 --> 00:30:44,800
And there's no
doubt that, Goyal,

638
00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:47,130
the poll that you referred to,
more and more people around the

639
00:30:47,133 --> 00:30:50,263
world view the United
States more positively.

640
00:30:50,266 --> 00:30:55,336
Even though we've got a ways to
go in a place like Pakistan,

641
00:30:55,333 --> 00:31:00,433
there's also, over the course
of the past many months,

642
00:31:00,433 --> 00:31:03,033
an increase in how we're viewed.

643
00:31:03,033 --> 00:31:10,903
And I think all of that makes
the job that the President has

644
00:31:10,900 --> 00:31:14,800
to do internationally
that much easier to do.

645
00:31:14,800 --> 00:31:15,970
The Press:
And finally on immigration,

646
00:31:15,967 --> 00:31:20,767
now it has become also a really
global image or issue for the

647
00:31:20,767 --> 00:31:25,697
U.S. because -- like what is
happening in Arizona -- an issue

648
00:31:25,700 --> 00:31:29,030
also of human rights
and civil rights.

649
00:31:29,033 --> 00:31:33,263
And many illegal immigrants now
wish -- they are hoping that

650
00:31:33,266 --> 00:31:35,966
President Obama will bring
this issue to an end,

651
00:31:35,967 --> 00:31:37,067
so to make them legal --

652
00:31:37,066 --> 00:31:38,066
Mr. Gibbs:
Let me just say this.

653
00:31:38,066 --> 00:31:42,096
I think that whether --
regardless of which side of this

654
00:31:42,100 --> 00:31:46,070
issue that you're on, I think
that we all agree that something

655
00:31:46,066 --> 00:31:48,066
has to be done.

656
00:31:48,066 --> 00:31:51,636
Something has to be done that
addresses the comprehensive set

657
00:31:51,633 --> 00:31:53,463
of concerns.

658
00:31:53,467 --> 00:32:01,497
That's why the only thing that
will work on this is to address

659
00:32:01,500 --> 00:32:04,630
what is going on in our borders,
what is going on in our

660
00:32:04,633 --> 00:32:09,263
workplaces, and what is going
on in and out of the shadows.

661
00:32:09,266 --> 00:32:14,096
And I think by working on this
and seeking a comprehensive

662
00:32:14,100 --> 00:32:20,600
solution in a bipartisan way, we
have the opportunity to not just

663
00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:23,330
make progress, but I will say
this, it's important -- again,

664
00:32:23,333 --> 00:32:27,233
I think one of the things that
the Arizona law highlights is

665
00:32:27,233 --> 00:32:30,303
without the United States
from the federal level being

666
00:32:30,300 --> 00:32:36,670
involved, you have very much
what could be 50 immigration

667
00:32:36,667 --> 00:32:41,567
laws, because without us acting,
we've deferred to the states.

668
00:32:41,567 --> 00:32:44,367
I think the President has said,
and I think leaders in Arizona

669
00:32:44,367 --> 00:32:46,667
certainly on both sides
of this issue have said,

670
00:32:46,667 --> 00:32:54,797
that this is a wake-up call for
the federal government to act.

671
00:32:54,800 --> 00:32:57,200
The Press:
As you may know,
Robert, the U.K.

672
00:32:57,200 --> 00:33:01,030
is in the middle of the
first-time-ever live televised

673
00:33:01,033 --> 00:33:02,833
leaders' debates.

674
00:33:02,834 --> 00:33:05,434
And someone who has emerged
victoriously from a mind-numbing

675
00:33:05,433 --> 00:33:08,933
30-plus debates, does the
President or yourself have

676
00:33:08,934 --> 00:33:11,364
anything, any comments,
without getting political

677
00:33:11,367 --> 00:33:13,137
or picking any candidates --

678
00:33:13,133 --> 00:33:14,003
Mr. Gibbs:
Or playing the game?

679
00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:16,430
The Press:
-- any advice or
any thoughts, in fact,

680
00:33:16,433 --> 00:33:19,833
if any of you here in the
White House has seen it?

681
00:33:19,834 --> 00:33:20,864
The Press:
They call them London games.

682
00:33:20,867 --> 00:33:22,767
(laughter)

683
00:33:22,767 --> 00:33:23,637
Mr. Gibbs:
I will say this.

684
00:33:23,633 --> 00:33:25,603
Obviously we spent
a lot of time --

685
00:33:25,600 --> 00:33:27,730
The Press:
Is this good for democracy?

686
00:33:27,734 --> 00:33:29,634
Mr. Gibbs:
I tend to believe it is.

687
00:33:29,633 --> 00:33:36,103
I don't know whether -- I don't
know what the inflection point

688
00:33:36,100 --> 00:33:40,870
between three and 30
is, but I will say this.

689
00:33:40,867 --> 00:33:45,237
Look, obviously, there is a
process that everyone can see

690
00:33:45,233 --> 00:33:49,403
that requires each candidate
to ask and answer questions,

691
00:33:49,400 --> 00:33:51,200
or be asked and
answer questions.

692
00:33:51,200 --> 00:33:56,500
Look, the President will return
this week to Iowa where the

693
00:33:56,500 --> 00:34:01,370
process begins with a series of
community meetings that helps

694
00:34:01,367 --> 00:34:02,537
you build support.

695
00:34:02,533 --> 00:34:04,033
But I will say this.

696
00:34:04,033 --> 00:34:07,633
I watched a little of
last week's debate;

697
00:34:07,633 --> 00:34:10,403
they're fascinating to watch.

698
00:34:10,400 --> 00:34:12,800
They remind me of how
nerve-wracking I thought the

699
00:34:12,800 --> 00:34:16,070
entire process was when we
got to the general election,

700
00:34:16,066 --> 00:34:19,266
and I think they're valuable and
I'm glad somebody else besides

701
00:34:19,266 --> 00:34:20,496
me is going through them.

702
00:34:20,500 --> 00:34:21,930
The Press:
Did you watch the
Sky News debate?

703
00:34:21,934 --> 00:34:26,304
Mr. Gibbs:
Whatever one that -- nice
shameless product plug.

704
00:34:26,300 --> 00:34:27,300
Thank you.

705
00:34:27,300 --> 00:34:28,700
The Press:
Robert, on the deficit
commission tomorrow,

706
00:34:28,700 --> 00:34:31,430
what does the President think
of the Senate budget committee?

707
00:34:31,433 --> 00:34:34,903
Kent Conrad and Democrats have
passed a budget that would get

708
00:34:34,900 --> 00:34:37,830
to the President's target
faster than he would,

709
00:34:37,834 --> 00:34:39,664
or the commission would.

710
00:34:39,667 --> 00:34:43,597
Mr. Gibbs:
I have not -- let me get
something from OMB on that.

711
00:34:43,600 --> 00:34:46,900
I have not -- I've not spent a
lot of time setting what their

712
00:34:46,900 --> 00:34:48,300
target was.

713
00:34:48,300 --> 00:34:49,430
Oh, I'm sorry, David --

714
00:34:49,433 --> 00:34:51,333
The Press:
Robert, what -- they're
getting some lawsuits

715
00:34:51,333 --> 00:34:52,333
filed against Arizona.

716
00:34:52,333 --> 00:34:54,403
What are the chances that the
Obama administration will join

717
00:34:54,400 --> 00:34:55,670
in these lawsuits?

718
00:34:55,667 --> 00:34:57,497
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, David, again, the
Department of Justice,

719
00:34:57,500 --> 00:35:05,770
per the President's request, is
looking into and studying the

720
00:35:05,767 --> 00:35:09,097
implications of the law.

721
00:35:09,100 --> 00:35:10,830
And as soon as we have
something on that,

722
00:35:10,834 --> 00:35:14,834
as soon as that review is
done, we'll have more on that.

723
00:35:14,834 --> 00:35:15,534
But I don't want to --

724
00:35:15,533 --> 00:35:16,663
The Press:
Can you assess the political
impact of joining such

725
00:35:16,667 --> 00:35:17,937
a lawsuit?

726
00:35:17,934 --> 00:35:22,864
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I think the
President believes,

727
00:35:22,867 --> 00:35:24,867
as you heard him say
just last Friday,

728
00:35:24,867 --> 00:35:28,767
that this is a -- the President
simply believes this is a

729
00:35:28,767 --> 00:35:33,797
fundamentally unfair law and has
asked the Department of Justice

730
00:35:33,800 --> 00:35:35,230
to look into it.

731
00:35:35,233 --> 00:35:38,803
So I don't -- I think the
President has weighed in on what

732
00:35:38,800 --> 00:35:41,000
he thinks is right, which
is what he tends to do.

733
00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:41,970
Stephen.

734
00:35:41,967 --> 00:35:44,567
The Press:
The South Korean minister
said that a torpedo

735
00:35:44,567 --> 00:35:48,597
likely caused the
sinking of a ship.

736
00:35:48,600 --> 00:35:52,400
Has the White House been in
touch with the South Korea

737
00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:53,430
government over this?

738
00:35:53,433 --> 00:35:57,233
And if it turns out that it
was a North Korean torpedo,

739
00:35:57,233 --> 00:35:58,963
how would the White
House respond,

740
00:35:58,967 --> 00:36:01,037
and how would you advise the
South Koreans to respond?

741
00:36:01,033 --> 00:36:05,263
Mr. Gibbs:
Stephen, the United
States has been

742
00:36:05,266 --> 00:36:09,036
assisting in the investigation.

743
00:36:09,033 --> 00:36:13,463
I don't want to get into
hypotheticals at this point.

744
00:36:13,467 --> 00:36:18,267
We obviously would look -- refer
you to them on the current

745
00:36:18,266 --> 00:36:25,896
investigation and we'll have
more to say when they have

746
00:36:25,900 --> 00:36:27,300
completed that investigation.

747
00:36:27,300 --> 00:36:29,500
The Press:
Robert, just two questions?

748
00:36:29,500 --> 00:36:30,430
The Press:
Excuse me, Les.

749
00:36:30,433 --> 00:36:31,703
The Press:
Oh, sure, I'm sorry.

750
00:36:31,700 --> 00:36:32,630
The Press:
Thank you.

751
00:36:32,633 --> 00:36:34,503
I just have one question.

752
00:36:34,500 --> 00:36:35,730
The Press:
I just have two.

753
00:36:35,734 --> 00:36:38,004
(laughter)

754
00:36:38,000 --> 00:36:39,500
Mr. Gibbs:
And you don't have
a big microphone,

755
00:36:39,500 --> 00:36:41,900
so I'm -- I'm going to stick
with you, though, David.

756
00:36:41,900 --> 00:36:44,830
The Press:
Thank you.

757
00:36:44,834 --> 00:36:48,104
Last week in the speech that the
President gave up at New York

758
00:36:48,100 --> 00:36:51,230
City at Cooper Union, he talked
about how Republicans were

759
00:36:51,233 --> 00:36:53,703
saying things about the
financial reform bill that were

760
00:36:53,700 --> 00:36:56,700
not true involving the
bailout, in his perspective,

761
00:36:56,700 --> 00:36:59,970
and he also decried the
battalions of lobbyists that

762
00:36:59,967 --> 00:37:02,267
have been sent to
defeat the bill.

763
00:37:02,266 --> 00:37:05,666
Is it the White House position
that the Republicans in Congress

764
00:37:05,667 --> 00:37:09,197
are actively in league with Wall
Street lobbyists to try to just

765
00:37:09,200 --> 00:37:11,300
block the bill altogether?

766
00:37:11,300 --> 00:37:16,530
Mr. Gibbs:
Look, I think you know
where the President stands

767
00:37:16,533 --> 00:37:24,103
on moving forward
with this legislation.

768
00:37:24,100 --> 00:37:29,370
Whether you're -- for whatever
reason you're blocking stronger

769
00:37:29,367 --> 00:37:33,297
rules from going into effect,
you're not acting -- the

770
00:37:33,300 --> 00:37:36,800
President would believe not
acting in the public's interest,

771
00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:42,330
whatever -- for whatever
motive you might have.

772
00:37:42,333 --> 00:37:49,363
We saw the effects of what
happens when we don't have

773
00:37:49,367 --> 00:37:51,667
strong regulation in place.

774
00:37:51,667 --> 00:37:56,567
We're at the mercy of
decision-making that isn't

775
00:37:56,567 --> 00:37:59,597
always in our own best interest.

776
00:37:59,600 --> 00:38:05,170
Wall Street reform
will change that.

777
00:38:05,166 --> 00:38:07,436
And that's what the
President is focused on.

778
00:38:07,433 --> 00:38:09,733
The Press:
Robert, yes, you
were coming back to me.

779
00:38:09,734 --> 00:38:10,564
Mr. Gibbs:
Lester.

780
00:38:10,567 --> 00:38:11,537
The Press:
Thank you.

781
00:38:11,533 --> 00:38:17,333
National Review reports that
there are now 41 Republican

782
00:38:17,333 --> 00:38:21,463
candidates for
Congress who are black.

783
00:38:21,467 --> 00:38:23,067
Is the President aware of this?

784
00:38:23,066 --> 00:38:25,196
And if so, what is his reaction?

785
00:38:25,200 --> 00:38:27,830
Mr. Gibbs:
Lester, I am not aware
that his National Review

786
00:38:27,834 --> 00:38:29,164
has been delivered, so --

787
00:38:29,166 --> 00:38:30,666
(laughter)

788
00:38:30,667 --> 00:38:37,997
-- it's unclear whether
he's aware of that fact.

789
00:38:38,000 --> 00:38:42,770
The Press:
The Boston Herald has
deplored the fact that liberal

790
00:38:42,767 --> 00:38:48,467
Democrats in Congress have
earmarked over $68 million in

791
00:38:48,467 --> 00:38:54,437
taxpayers' money for a Boston
memorial to Senator Ted Kennedy.

792
00:38:54,433 --> 00:38:56,763
Does the President
support this expenditure?

793
00:38:56,767 --> 00:38:59,537
Mr. Gibbs:
I have not seen any
information on that but I'd

794
00:38:59,533 --> 00:39:00,663
happy to take a look at it.

795
00:39:00,667 --> 00:39:02,297
The Press:
But it's there in
the Boston Herald.

796
00:39:02,300 --> 00:39:04,130
(laughter)

797
00:39:04,133 --> 00:39:05,863
Mr. Gibbs:
And I'd be happy to
take a look at it.

798
00:39:05,867 --> 00:39:09,497
The Press:
Thank you, Robert.

799
00:39:09,500 --> 00:39:14,130
Then-senator Obama filibustered
or supported a filibuster of

800
00:39:14,133 --> 00:39:15,863
Judge Sam Alito.

801
00:39:15,867 --> 00:39:19,037
Some Republicans have cited that
as justification for a possible

802
00:39:19,033 --> 00:39:21,963
filibuster against his nominee.

803
00:39:21,967 --> 00:39:26,867
Is that fair?

804
00:39:26,867 --> 00:39:29,367
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm not going to -- the
President is in the process

805
00:39:29,367 --> 00:39:34,067
right now of picking a nominee.

806
00:39:34,066 --> 00:39:40,036
I think our hope is that,
just like Justice Sotomayor,

807
00:39:40,033 --> 00:39:46,533
we'll have a nominee that will
enjoy bipartisan support from a

808
00:39:46,533 --> 00:39:50,933
great number in
total on both sides.

809
00:39:50,934 --> 00:39:53,564
And we'll get into tactics and
such when we get closer to that.

810
00:39:53,567 --> 00:39:55,067
The Press:
But you've expressed
frustration about Republican

811
00:39:55,066 --> 00:39:58,536
filibusters of candidates
who were then confirmed on a

812
00:39:58,533 --> 00:40:00,463
bipartisan basis, which is --

813
00:40:00,467 --> 00:40:03,537
Mr. Gibbs:
I think we're going to pick
somebody -- my sense is

814
00:40:03,533 --> 00:40:07,103
the President is going to
pick somebody that can garner

815
00:40:07,100 --> 00:40:08,430
bipartisan support, that --

816
00:40:08,433 --> 00:40:10,003
The Press:
So you don't anticipate a battle?

817
00:40:10,000 --> 00:40:12,800
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, that's not to say
that there aren't going to

818
00:40:12,800 --> 00:40:17,000
be those, regardless of who's
picked, that won't fight.

819
00:40:17,000 --> 00:40:21,770
I think the President will
pick somebody, though,

820
00:40:21,767 --> 00:40:27,767
that can garner broad
bipartisan support.

821
00:40:27,767 --> 00:40:31,597
The Press:
Robert, two quick questions
on the climate change issue.

822
00:40:31,600 --> 00:40:35,300
Just before, you mentioned that
the Senate Republican leadership

823
00:40:35,300 --> 00:40:37,970
has been pressuring
Senator Graham, I assume,

824
00:40:37,967 --> 00:40:40,397
on a number of issues not to
work with the White House and

825
00:40:40,400 --> 00:40:41,600
other Democrats.

826
00:40:41,600 --> 00:40:44,000
Can you give me a sense of what
evidence you have that that's

827
00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:45,170
the case?

828
00:40:45,166 --> 00:40:48,096
Mr. Gibbs:
No, no, I said I think
he's taken a lot of heat

829
00:40:48,100 --> 00:40:51,200
for -- both in Washington
and in South Carolina,

830
00:40:51,200 --> 00:41:01,630
for trying to work on a set of
issues in a bipartisan way.

831
00:41:01,633 --> 00:41:07,503
Look, last fall one of the
largest county Republican

832
00:41:07,500 --> 00:41:11,070
parties in all of South Carolina
-- I forget the exact term that

833
00:41:11,066 --> 00:41:13,696
they used -- "rebuked"
or what have you,

834
00:41:13,700 --> 00:41:20,770
his participation on some
of these bipartisan issues.

835
00:41:20,767 --> 00:41:26,037
I think that demonstrates
that there are those that,

836
00:41:26,033 --> 00:41:29,703
regardless of the willingness of
people like Lindsey Graham to

837
00:41:29,700 --> 00:41:33,400
courageously make progress and
work with the other side of the

838
00:41:33,400 --> 00:41:36,430
aisle on a host of issues,
don't want to see that happen.

839
00:41:36,433 --> 00:41:37,803
The Press:
And the other question
is just about -- it's

840
00:41:37,800 --> 00:41:40,500
my understanding that the real
hang-up here in the Senate has

841
00:41:40,500 --> 00:41:43,870
to do with Senator Reid, who has
made it pretty clear to people

842
00:41:43,867 --> 00:41:46,737
internally that he's not
intending on putting immigration

843
00:41:46,734 --> 00:41:48,564
reform at the head of the queue.

844
00:41:48,567 --> 00:41:49,597
Has the President
or any of the --

845
00:41:49,600 --> 00:41:50,700
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm sorry, not putting it at the --

846
00:41:50,700 --> 00:41:52,500
The Press:
He's not planning on
putting -- I'm sorry,

847
00:41:52,500 --> 00:41:55,400
planning on putting climate
change in front of immigration

848
00:41:55,400 --> 00:41:56,700
reform at the head of the queue.

849
00:41:56,700 --> 00:41:57,530
Have you guys --

850
00:41:57,533 --> 00:41:58,703
Mr. Gibbs:
I would just say this
-- I think the President

851
00:41:58,700 --> 00:42:02,470
believes strongly that we can
make good progress on each one

852
00:42:02,467 --> 00:42:03,837
of those issues.

853
00:42:03,834 --> 00:42:04,964
The Press:
But that seems
to be the impasse.

854
00:42:04,967 --> 00:42:06,937
Has there been any discussion
with Senator Reid about --

855
00:42:06,934 --> 00:42:09,564
Mr. Gibbs:
Not that I'm aware
of, but I can see.

856
00:42:09,567 --> 00:42:10,537
Bill.

857
00:42:10,533 --> 00:42:13,633
The Press:
Robert, Friday at the
gaggle the question came up

858
00:42:13,633 --> 00:42:15,503
about the oilrig in the Gulf.

859
00:42:15,500 --> 00:42:17,170
And you said it
had been plugged,

860
00:42:17,166 --> 00:42:18,166
which it had at the time.

861
00:42:18,166 --> 00:42:20,596
It's since come unplugged; it's
leaking from two different places.

862
00:42:20,600 --> 00:42:23,930
Does this give the White House
pause about the President's

863
00:42:23,934 --> 00:42:25,404
offshore oil drilling program?

864
00:42:25,400 --> 00:42:26,970
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, Bill, let me say this.

865
00:42:26,967 --> 00:42:31,637
First and foremost, we have
-- the Coast Guard has been

866
00:42:31,633 --> 00:42:40,503
directing the response
to the leaking.

867
00:42:40,500 --> 00:42:46,970
We -- that's our foremost
priority at this point,

868
00:42:46,967 --> 00:42:54,437
is doing all that we can to
prevent further leaking and to

869
00:42:54,433 --> 00:43:02,033
stop any environmental impacts,
obviously that getting to shore,

870
00:43:02,033 --> 00:43:07,563
a host of other things that are
complicated by things like the weather.

871
00:43:07,567 --> 00:43:12,237
The President
outlined a plan that,

872
00:43:12,233 --> 00:43:16,403
as a result of the end of
the moratorium on the Outer

873
00:43:16,400 --> 00:43:25,230
Continental Shelf, to set forth
areas that can be examined for

874
00:43:25,233 --> 00:43:26,263
further drilling.

875
00:43:26,266 --> 00:43:32,136
As part of that process, a whole
host of issues like whether it's

876
00:43:32,133 --> 00:43:37,003
environmentally feasible will be
looked at and undertaken as part

877
00:43:37,000 --> 00:43:40,370
of that process.

878
00:43:40,367 --> 00:43:45,567
The type of accident that we're
seeing, the magnitude of it,

879
00:43:45,567 --> 00:43:52,997
is something that is rare,
but demands our attention.

880
00:43:53,000 --> 00:43:56,930
And that's the focus of
our efforts right now.

881
00:43:56,934 --> 00:43:58,764
The Press:
Just to follow up again,

882
00:43:58,767 --> 00:44:04,237
would you agree that opening the
coast from Delaware to Florida,

883
00:44:04,233 --> 00:44:08,903
the Atlantic Coast, would appear
to be less environmentally sure

884
00:44:08,900 --> 00:44:10,630
or safe because
of this accident?

885
00:44:10,633 --> 00:44:13,763
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, I think you'd
have to balance that on a

886
00:44:13,767 --> 00:44:20,567
whole host of things like what's
the impact of getting more oil

887
00:44:20,567 --> 00:44:23,237
from dangerous
parts of the world;

888
00:44:23,233 --> 00:44:27,103
what are the environmental
impacts of all of that?

889
00:44:27,100 --> 00:44:32,670
Again, Bill, that's to say that
the plan that the President

890
00:44:32,667 --> 00:44:38,297
outlined will examine a whole
host of issues in areas that are

891
00:44:38,300 --> 00:44:44,930
designated to be -- that have
been re-designated for the

892
00:44:44,934 --> 00:44:47,804
possibility of
increased drilling.

893
00:44:47,800 --> 00:44:48,470
Thank you.