English subtitles for clip: File:4-30-15- White House Press Briefing.webm

1
00:00:01,067 --> 00:00:03,367
Mr. Earnest: Good afternoon,
everybody.

2
00:00:03,370 --> 00:00:05,840
Nice to see you all.

3
00:00:05,839 --> 00:00:06,969
Let me do one quick thing 
at the top, Jim,

4
00:00:06,973 --> 00:00:09,473
and then we'll 
go to your questions.

5
00:00:09,476 --> 00:00:11,476
As you may have seen 
in the statement from the

6
00:00:11,478 --> 00:00:14,148
President, earlier today he
had the great pleasure of

7
00:00:14,147 --> 00:00:15,997
nominating Gayle Smith 
to be the next 

8
00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:20,190
Administrator of the U.S. Agency
for International Development.

9
00:00:20,199 --> 00:00:22,559
Those of us within and
outside government who have

10
00:00:22,555 --> 00:00:25,095
had an opportunity to get 
to know Gayle recognize that

11
00:00:25,091 --> 00:00:28,231
her knowledge, experience
and passion render her

12
00:00:28,228 --> 00:00:31,068
uniquely qualified for this
important role.

13
00:00:31,064 --> 00:00:33,064
In her current position as
Senior Director for

14
00:00:33,066 --> 00:00:35,996
Development and Democracy at
the National Security Council,

15
00:00:35,999 --> 00:00:37,869
Gayle has been instrumental 
in guiding our

16
00:00:37,871 --> 00:00:39,871
international 
development policy,

17
00:00:39,873 --> 00:00:41,913
responding to a record
number of humanitarian

18
00:00:41,908 --> 00:00:44,708
crises worldwide, and
ensuring that development

19
00:00:44,711 --> 00:00:46,711
remains at the forefront 
of our national

20
00:00:46,713 --> 00:00:48,013
security agenda.

21
00:00:48,014 --> 00:00:50,014
If confirmed -- maybe I
should say,

22
00:00:50,016 --> 00:00:52,756
when confirmed -- Gayle
would bring this same drive

23
00:00:52,752 --> 00:00:55,692
and conviction to USAID,
whose mission and unique

24
00:00:55,688 --> 00:00:59,328
capabilities are now more
indispensable than ever.

25
00:00:59,325 --> 00:01:01,565
As the President noted, we
encourage the Senate to act

26
00:01:01,561 --> 00:01:06,801
swiftly on this 
important nomination.

27
00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:08,940
So, with that, Jim, let's 
go to your questions.

28
00:01:08,935 --> 00:01:10,275
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

29
00:01:10,270 --> 00:01:14,270
The President is hosting the
New Democrat Coalition from

30
00:01:14,274 --> 00:01:17,314
Congress today, a group that
he particularly needs for

31
00:01:17,310 --> 00:01:20,110
support on trade.

32
00:01:20,113 --> 00:01:23,583
And last time trade
promotion authority or fast

33
00:01:23,583 --> 00:01:28,053
track passed in 2002, it
only garnered about 25

34
00:01:28,054 --> 00:01:29,894
Democratic votes.

35
00:01:29,889 --> 00:01:31,929
I'm wondering if the
President thinks that he can

36
00:01:31,925 --> 00:01:36,395
reach that threshold this
time, or improve on it.

37
00:01:36,396 --> 00:01:38,966
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jim, the
President is looking forward

38
00:01:38,965 --> 00:01:40,905
to the meeting that he'll
have with members of the New

39
00:01:40,900 --> 00:01:44,040
Democrat Coalition here in
the White House complex

40
00:01:44,037 --> 00:01:46,037
this afternoon.

41
00:01:47,373 --> 00:01:49,373
The President intends to
speak with them about a

42
00:01:49,375 --> 00:01:51,345
range of legislative
priorities,

43
00:01:51,344 --> 00:01:55,514
but everyone in this room
understands that building

44
00:01:55,515 --> 00:01:59,155
support for trade promotion
authority is among the top

45
00:01:59,152 --> 00:02:01,152
priorities that the
President has when it comes

46
00:02:01,154 --> 00:02:03,824
to his legislative agenda.

47
00:02:03,823 --> 00:02:06,293
At this point, I would not
hazard a guess about the

48
00:02:06,292 --> 00:02:09,532
number of Democrats who will
ultimately support

49
00:02:09,529 --> 00:02:10,629
this proposal.

50
00:02:10,630 --> 00:02:16,440
The President has made clear
I think in a variety of

51
00:02:16,436 --> 00:02:20,236
settings how strong an
argument he can make to

52
00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:26,550
Democrats about why the
proposal that he is pleased

53
00:02:26,546 --> 00:02:31,016
to see moving currently
through Congress is one that

54
00:02:31,017 --> 00:02:33,117
would allow him to reach an
agreement that is clearly in

55
00:02:33,119 --> 00:02:35,119
the best interest of
American businesses and

56
00:02:35,121 --> 00:02:36,121
American workers.

57
00:02:36,122 --> 00:02:38,122
Now, there is still
important work that needs to

58
00:02:38,124 --> 00:02:39,124
get done.

59
00:02:39,125 --> 00:02:41,095
Obviously, the President had
the opportunity to discuss

60
00:02:41,094 --> 00:02:43,094
this with Prime Minister Abe
here at the White House

61
00:02:43,096 --> 00:02:44,096
this week.

62
00:02:44,097 --> 00:02:46,367
But there is still important
work that needs to get done

63
00:02:46,366 --> 00:02:47,336
in pursuit of this effort.

64
00:02:47,333 --> 00:02:50,903
The Press: Now, the New
Democrat Coalition has about

65
00:02:50,904 --> 00:02:55,914
40 or so members, but only
about a dozen of them signed

66
00:02:55,909 --> 00:03:01,049
on to a letter supporting
the TPA agreement that

67
00:03:01,047 --> 00:03:05,447
Senator Wyden, Senator Hatch
and Paul Ryan came up with.

68
00:03:05,451 --> 00:03:08,021
Does that suggest that
there's some real problem of

69
00:03:08,021 --> 00:03:10,961
even getting moderates who
typically support these

70
00:03:10,957 --> 00:03:12,757
kinds of things?

71
00:03:12,759 --> 00:03:16,099
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jim, I
think one clear way for us

72
00:03:16,095 --> 00:03:19,495
to measure this is to take a
look at the one committee in

73
00:03:19,499 --> 00:03:21,599
the United States Congress
that's voted on this so

74
00:03:21,601 --> 00:03:23,941
far*, and in the Senate
Finance Committee,

75
00:03:23,937 --> 00:03:26,237
we saw that more Democrats
supported this legislation

76
00:03:26,239 --> 00:03:27,839
that opposed it.

77
00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:29,840
So that's a very early
preliminary measure,

78
00:03:29,842 --> 00:03:32,682
but I think it's one
indication that there's an

79
00:03:32,679 --> 00:03:36,419
opportunity for us to make a
compelling case to Democrats

80
00:03:36,416 --> 00:03:41,386
and get some Democratic
support for this proposal.

81
00:03:41,387 --> 00:03:43,727
There's no denying the
historic,

82
00:03:43,723 --> 00:03:48,993
reflexive opposition that
many Democrats have as soon

83
00:03:48,995 --> 00:03:52,695
as anyone utters the word
"trade."

84
00:03:52,699 --> 00:03:59,409
The President had his
concerns with previous trade

85
00:03:59,405 --> 00:04:01,605
agreements that had been
signed into law because of

86
00:04:01,608 --> 00:04:04,078
the impact that they've had
on some communities across

87
00:04:04,077 --> 00:04:05,077
the country.

88
00:04:05,078 --> 00:04:07,678
That precisely why the
President wants to pursue

89
00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:11,780
this kind of trade agreement
that would build on the

90
00:04:11,784 --> 00:04:13,784
lessons that we've learned
from those previous trade

91
00:04:13,786 --> 00:04:16,686
agreements, modernize them,
update them in a way that

92
00:04:16,689 --> 00:04:20,959
will actually include
enforceable provisions that

93
00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:22,230
will protect American
workers,

94
00:04:22,228 --> 00:04:24,468
that will protect the
environment,

95
00:04:24,464 --> 00:04:28,204
and ultimately level the
playing field in a way that

96
00:04:28,201 --> 00:04:31,801
will open up a variety of
other markets throughout the

97
00:04:31,804 --> 00:04:34,344
Asia Pacific to American
goods and services.

98
00:04:34,340 --> 00:04:36,340
And by leveling that playing
field,

99
00:04:36,342 --> 00:04:38,342
the President is confident
that that will create a

100
00:04:38,344 --> 00:04:40,744
prime opportunity for
American businesses to

101
00:04:40,747 --> 00:04:42,817
succeed in a way that's good
for our economy and good for

102
00:04:42,815 --> 00:04:44,455
middle-class families.

103
00:04:44,450 --> 00:04:46,520
The Press: On another
subject,

104
00:04:46,519 --> 00:04:48,389
the White House today has
agreed to several

105
00:04:48,388 --> 00:04:51,558
recommendations from the
Military Compensation and

106
00:04:51,557 --> 00:04:54,027
Retirement Modernization
Commission.

107
00:04:54,027 --> 00:04:55,767
Mr. Earnest: The MCRMC, as
we call it around here, Jim.

108
00:04:55,762 --> 00:04:56,762
(laughter)

109
00:04:56,763 --> 00:04:59,263
The Press:
That's enough with that.

110
00:04:59,265 --> 00:05:01,865
But the White House rejected
one that perhaps sort of

111
00:05:01,868 --> 00:05:02,998
resulted in the most
savings,

112
00:05:03,002 --> 00:05:05,402
and that was a proposal to
replace the military's

113
00:05:05,405 --> 00:05:07,275
TRICARE health care system.

114
00:05:07,273 --> 00:05:09,643
And I'm wondering if you
could explain that decision,

115
00:05:09,642 --> 00:05:11,482
since that would have been
the biggest

116
00:05:11,477 --> 00:05:14,447
savings available.

117
00:05:14,447 --> 00:05:15,817
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jim,
we're going to have more on

118
00:05:15,815 --> 00:05:20,725
this today as more of the
details of this review

119
00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,160
comes forward.

120
00:05:23,156 --> 00:05:27,296
But I can just say as a
general matter that the

121
00:05:27,293 --> 00:05:29,763
administration has accepted
10 of the 15 recommendations

122
00:05:29,762 --> 00:05:34,772
that have been put forward
by the MCRMC.

123
00:05:34,767 --> 00:05:39,407
And the administration did
acknowledge that some of the

124
00:05:39,405 --> 00:05:42,075
other ideas they put forward
that we haven't at this

125
00:05:42,075 --> 00:05:46,045
point fully supported do
merit additional study.

126
00:05:46,045 --> 00:05:50,315
These are proposals that do
address concerns I think

127
00:05:50,316 --> 00:05:52,156
that everybody acknowledges
-- I guess they address

128
00:05:52,151 --> 00:05:59,091
challenges that everybody
acknowledges that our armed

129
00:05:59,092 --> 00:06:01,292
forces are facing right now.

130
00:06:01,294 --> 00:06:05,964
And that includes the growth
in retirement benefits in a

131
00:06:05,965 --> 00:06:09,835
way that has significant
budgetary impacts on the

132
00:06:09,836 --> 00:06:10,836
armed forces.

133
00:06:10,837 --> 00:06:15,707
So we're mindful of this
challenge and are serious

134
00:06:15,708 --> 00:06:19,548
about considering thoughtful
proposals to try to

135
00:06:19,545 --> 00:06:20,885
address them.

136
00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:21,780
The Press: I'm wondering if
a decision, though,

137
00:06:21,781 --> 00:06:25,851
is based mostly on policy
considerations and some of

138
00:06:25,852 --> 00:06:28,292
those apprehensions, or
whether it was because you

139
00:06:28,287 --> 00:06:30,757
recognize that there was no
support for it in Congress

140
00:06:30,757 --> 00:06:33,427
and it was not a worthwhile
effort to pursue.

141
00:06:33,426 --> 00:06:38,836
Mr. Earnest: Well, we'll
have more on this today.

142
00:06:38,831 --> 00:06:47,441
I would say that the dynamic
that you have outlined is

143
00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:49,540
one I think that can be
reconciled.

144
00:06:49,542 --> 00:06:52,642
I think that there is a
legitimate policy reason to

145
00:06:52,645 --> 00:06:54,815
build strong support in
Congress for a proposal

146
00:06:54,814 --> 00:06:57,084
before putting it forward.

147
00:06:57,083 --> 00:07:00,683
I think it depends on the
specific policy matter

148
00:07:00,686 --> 00:07:04,326
that's at hand, but
particularly when you're

149
00:07:04,323 --> 00:07:07,593
considering something as
serious as this,

150
00:07:07,593 --> 00:07:10,893
we'd like to see some
bipartisan support build in

151
00:07:10,897 --> 00:07:14,997
Congress as we try to
advance a proposal.

152
00:07:15,001 --> 00:07:17,501
But, again, the proposals
that we've seen from the

153
00:07:17,503 --> 00:07:22,373
MCRMC are proposals that do
confront legitimate

154
00:07:22,375 --> 00:07:25,475
challenges that we know are
facing our armed forces and

155
00:07:25,478 --> 00:07:27,118
our men and women in
uniform,

156
00:07:27,113 --> 00:07:30,053
and the administration is
supportive of additional

157
00:07:30,049 --> 00:07:33,789
study to review the
recommendations that they've

158
00:07:33,786 --> 00:07:38,856
made to evaluate how those
recommendations would apply

159
00:07:38,858 --> 00:07:41,228
in terms of solving the
problem and what broader

160
00:07:41,227 --> 00:07:43,227
impact they would have on
the system.

161
00:07:45,898 --> 00:07:47,898
But stay tuned for a little
bit more on this today.

162
00:07:47,900 --> 00:07:49,900
The Press: Finally, can you
comment on the defense

163
00:07:49,902 --> 00:07:52,242
authorization bill that came
out of the House Armed

164
00:07:52,238 --> 00:07:53,708
Services Committee today?

165
00:07:53,706 --> 00:07:58,006
It has a lot of restrictions
on the movement of detainees

166
00:07:58,010 --> 00:07:59,380
at Guantanamo.

167
00:07:59,378 --> 00:08:08,558
It provides funding to
Kurdish fighters in Iraq and

168
00:08:08,554 --> 00:08:10,694
provides for lethal
assistance to Ukrainian

169
00:08:10,690 --> 00:08:14,060
forces, all policies that
the White House opposes.

170
00:08:14,060 --> 00:08:15,530
Is that veto bait?

171
00:08:15,528 --> 00:08:17,068
Mr. Earnest: Well, there are
a number of proposals in the

172
00:08:17,063 --> 00:08:23,433
NDAA that we are strongly
concerned about.

173
00:08:23,436 --> 00:08:26,206
And this was true of the
chairman's mark that was put

174
00:08:26,205 --> 00:08:27,845
forward a couple of days
ago.

175
00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:29,480
I think our top concern,
Jim,

176
00:08:29,475 --> 00:08:33,885
actually is focused on some
of the budgetary impacts of

177
00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:36,050
this particular NDAA.

178
00:08:36,048 --> 00:08:44,358
Specifically it envisions a
funding gimmick -- "gimmick"

179
00:08:44,357 --> 00:08:46,457
is the word that's been used
by members in both parties

180
00:08:46,459 --> 00:08:49,699
to describe this proposal --
that would essentially fund

181
00:08:49,695 --> 00:08:54,305
the day-to-day operations of
the Department of Defense

182
00:08:54,300 --> 00:08:56,970
using an emergency fund.

183
00:08:56,969 --> 00:08:58,969
That's not a responsible
budget practice and it

184
00:08:58,971 --> 00:09:01,111
certainly is not consistent
with what the President

185
00:09:01,107 --> 00:09:06,477
believes in necessary to
protect the country.

186
00:09:06,479 --> 00:09:09,449
And so we've raised those
concerns before,

187
00:09:09,448 --> 00:09:16,518
and certainly any proposal
that only funds our national

188
00:09:16,522 --> 00:09:20,822
security agencies at the
sequester level and seeks to

189
00:09:20,826 --> 00:09:23,466
circumvent the sequester
through this accounting

190
00:09:23,462 --> 00:09:26,132
gimmick is not consistent
with an approach that takes

191
00:09:26,132 --> 00:09:29,272
very seriously our national
security priorities.

192
00:09:29,268 --> 00:09:32,168
And that's our principal
concern.

193
00:09:32,171 --> 00:09:36,271
We've raised previous
concerns about efforts of

194
00:09:36,275 --> 00:09:40,685
the Congress to prevent the
administration from closing

195
00:09:40,680 --> 00:09:42,680
Guantanamo Bay -- the prison
at Guantanamo Bay,

196
00:09:42,682 --> 00:09:44,082
for instance.

197
00:09:44,083 --> 00:09:46,483
And so some of those policy
riders continue to be

198
00:09:46,485 --> 00:09:48,655
concerns that we also have.

199
00:09:48,654 --> 00:09:50,224
The Press: Is that something
the President could avoid

200
00:09:50,222 --> 00:09:53,262
with a signing statement?

201
00:09:53,259 --> 00:09:56,899
Mr. Earnest: Well, we will
-- I know that in signing

202
00:09:56,896 --> 00:10:01,636
previous NDAA bills, the
President has included

203
00:10:01,634 --> 00:10:04,604
signing statements and has
raised concerns with some of

204
00:10:04,603 --> 00:10:07,303
the proposals that were
included in the bill.

205
00:10:07,306 --> 00:10:09,306
But this is just the
beginning of the process,

206
00:10:09,308 --> 00:10:11,448
and we're going to continue
to make clear the concerns

207
00:10:11,444 --> 00:10:12,444
that we have on this.

208
00:10:12,445 --> 00:10:14,415
And again, the kinds of
concerns that you're hearing

209
00:10:14,413 --> 00:10:16,413
from me are representative
concerns that are held

210
00:10:16,415 --> 00:10:18,415
across the administration,
but are also concerns that

211
00:10:18,417 --> 00:10:20,417
have previously been
articulated by Democrats and

212
00:10:20,419 --> 00:10:23,289
Republicans on Capitol Hill,
specifically as it relates

213
00:10:23,289 --> 00:10:26,159
to this funding gimmick.

214
00:10:26,158 --> 00:10:27,028
Jeff.

215
00:10:27,026 --> 00:10:28,696
The Press: Josh, how many
Democrats are coming to the

216
00:10:28,694 --> 00:10:30,134
White House for the meeting
today?

217
00:10:30,129 --> 00:10:31,199
Mr. Earnest: I don't have a
full tally.

218
00:10:31,197 --> 00:10:35,667
But you certainly can deploy
the ample resources that

219
00:10:35,668 --> 00:10:38,238
Reuters devotes to covering
Capitol Hill to calling the

220
00:10:38,237 --> 00:10:40,437
members of the New Democrat
Coalition and finding out

221
00:10:40,439 --> 00:10:41,439
who's going to be here.

222
00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:42,440
The Press: I'm asking you.

223
00:10:42,441 --> 00:10:44,441
Can you give me even a rough
number?

224
00:10:44,443 --> 00:10:46,443
Mr. Earnest: I don't have
that number.

225
00:10:46,445 --> 00:10:47,785
Each of these members of
Congress will set their

226
00:10:47,780 --> 00:10:48,280
own schedule.

227
00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:50,920
But, again, I think there
are 40 or so members of the

228
00:10:50,916 --> 00:10:53,016
New Democrat Coalition so
you've got a pretty good

229
00:10:53,019 --> 00:10:53,849
head start.

230
00:10:53,853 --> 00:10:54,983
The Press: Okay.

231
00:10:54,987 --> 00:10:57,157
The President met with
Leader Pelosi yesterday.

232
00:10:57,156 --> 00:11:00,456
She has said that she hopes
accommodations can be made

233
00:11:00,459 --> 00:11:02,859
to the trade agreements to
get to yes.

234
00:11:02,862 --> 00:11:05,362
Are you actively looking at
accommodations like that?

235
00:11:05,364 --> 00:11:07,634
And can you give us a little
bit more of a readout of how

236
00:11:07,633 --> 00:11:09,203
that meeting went yesterday?

237
00:11:09,201 --> 00:11:10,301
Mr. Earnest: I don't have a
detailed readout of

238
00:11:10,302 --> 00:11:11,002
the meeting.

239
00:11:11,003 --> 00:11:12,773
But the President is
interested in having

240
00:11:12,772 --> 00:11:16,072
conversations with Democrats
in Congress about why they

241
00:11:16,075 --> 00:11:19,515
can be supportive of the
kind of trade agreement that

242
00:11:19,512 --> 00:11:22,352
he's hoping to reach with 10
or 11 other Asia

243
00:11:22,348 --> 00:11:25,318
Pacific countries.

244
00:11:25,317 --> 00:11:27,317
Again, the case that the
President makes to them in

245
00:11:27,319 --> 00:11:29,819
private is very similar to
the one that you've heard

246
00:11:29,822 --> 00:11:31,822
from him directly in public.

247
00:11:31,824 --> 00:11:33,894
The Press: I guess I'm
asking whether or not the

248
00:11:33,893 --> 00:11:35,633
President is willing to make
some accommodations that

249
00:11:35,628 --> 00:11:38,128
Leader Pelosi and other
Democrats are asking in

250
00:11:38,130 --> 00:11:39,900
order to get their support?

251
00:11:39,899 --> 00:11:41,099
Mr. Earnest: Well, I haven't
heard of any specific

252
00:11:41,100 --> 00:11:43,640
proposals that Leader Pelosi
has put forward,

253
00:11:43,636 --> 00:11:46,676
but the reason that we're
actively engaged in having a

254
00:11:46,672 --> 00:11:51,712
conversation with them is to
both make the case to them

255
00:11:51,710 --> 00:11:54,610
about why we believe they
and other Democrats should

256
00:11:54,613 --> 00:11:58,183
be supportive of trade
promotion authority,

257
00:11:58,184 --> 00:12:00,184
but also to hear from them
their reaction to the

258
00:12:00,186 --> 00:12:02,156
proposal and, where
possible,

259
00:12:02,154 --> 00:12:03,694
to incorporate their
feedback.

260
00:12:03,689 --> 00:12:04,759
The Press: On a separate
issue.

261
00:12:04,757 --> 00:12:06,757
Speaker Boehner has said
he's open to letting the

262
00:12:06,759 --> 00:12:10,399
Ex-Im Bank expire.

263
00:12:10,396 --> 00:12:13,066
How big of a concern is
that, now, again,

264
00:12:13,065 --> 00:12:15,005
for the White House?

265
00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:16,970
Mr. Earnest: That continues
to be a concern.

266
00:12:16,969 --> 00:12:19,009
We've talked in previous
settings -- I didn't bring

267
00:12:19,004 --> 00:12:21,774
the statistics out with me
-- in previous settings

268
00:12:21,774 --> 00:12:24,214
about the number of times
that Democratic and

269
00:12:24,210 --> 00:12:27,350
Republican Presidents have
signed into law legislation

270
00:12:27,346 --> 00:12:30,716
reauthorizing the Ex-Im
Bank.

271
00:12:30,716 --> 00:12:33,186
I know that even President
Reagan spoke powerfully

272
00:12:33,185 --> 00:12:36,925
about the economic benefits
of the Ex-Im Bank.

273
00:12:36,922 --> 00:12:41,832
Those are benefits that have
benefitted our economy for

274
00:12:41,827 --> 00:12:43,097
more than a generation.

275
00:12:43,095 --> 00:12:47,365
The President believes that
those are benefits that we

276
00:12:47,366 --> 00:12:48,806
should continue to enjoy.

277
00:12:48,801 --> 00:12:53,301
And we're going to strongly
push Congress,

278
00:12:53,305 --> 00:12:55,205
Democrats and Republicans,
to work together to figure

279
00:12:55,207 --> 00:12:58,477
out how to reauthorize the
Ex-Im Bank.

280
00:12:58,477 --> 00:13:00,347
The Press: And lastly, any
reaction to the Bernie

281
00:13:00,346 --> 00:13:01,746
Sanders announcement today
that he's running

282
00:13:01,747 --> 00:13:02,987
for President?

283
00:13:02,982 --> 00:13:04,212
Mr. Earnest: No.

284
00:13:04,216 --> 00:13:07,116
The Press: Josh, no reaction
to Bernie Sanders running

285
00:13:07,119 --> 00:13:08,559
for President?

286
00:13:08,554 --> 00:13:10,094
Mr. Earnest: No specific
reaction, no.

287
00:13:10,089 --> 00:13:11,059
The Press: What does the
President think of

288
00:13:11,056 --> 00:13:12,296
Bernie Sanders?

289
00:13:12,291 --> 00:13:13,021
Mr. Earnest: I haven't had a
conversation with him

290
00:13:13,025 --> 00:13:13,795
about it.

291
00:13:13,792 --> 00:13:15,932
They obviously served
together in the United

292
00:13:15,928 --> 00:13:19,568
States Congress, and Senator
Sanders is somebody that has

293
00:13:19,565 --> 00:13:24,305
a strong track record of
fighting for progressive

294
00:13:24,303 --> 00:13:26,643
values and middle-class
families.

295
00:13:26,639 --> 00:13:28,809
And he'll have an
opportunity to make a case

296
00:13:28,807 --> 00:13:32,147
for his own presidential
campaign.

297
00:13:32,144 --> 00:13:33,714
The Press: The President
has, in quite strong terms,

298
00:13:33,712 --> 00:13:39,352
made the case that this
trade agreement is a much

299
00:13:39,351 --> 00:13:42,621
better trade agreement than,
for instance, NAFTA.

300
00:13:42,621 --> 00:13:44,861
I'm wondering, is it the
President's view that the

301
00:13:44,857 --> 00:13:47,927
United States negotiated a
bad agreement with NAFTA?

302
00:13:47,927 --> 00:13:50,497
Mr. Earnest: Well, it is the
President's view -- and he's

303
00:13:50,496 --> 00:13:53,396
talked about this publicly
-- that there are some

304
00:13:53,399 --> 00:13:55,399
lesson that we can learn
from NAFTA.

305
00:13:55,401 --> 00:13:58,101
For example, NAFTA did not
include enforceable

306
00:13:58,103 --> 00:14:00,173
labor protections.

307
00:14:00,172 --> 00:14:02,172
It includes some labor
protections,

308
00:14:02,174 --> 00:14:04,174
but they're included in
essentially a side agreement

309
00:14:04,176 --> 00:14:06,076
that was not enforceable.

310
00:14:06,078 --> 00:14:08,178
NAFTA did not include
enforceable

311
00:14:08,180 --> 00:14:09,980
environmental protections.

312
00:14:09,982 --> 00:14:11,452
And again, there's a similar
mechanism where they were

313
00:14:11,450 --> 00:14:14,790
included in the side letter
that wasn't enforceable.

314
00:14:14,787 --> 00:14:21,297
And the fact is that both
Canada and Mexico are among

315
00:14:21,293 --> 00:14:23,733
the countries that are
negotiating this

316
00:14:23,729 --> 00:14:24,859
Trans-Pacific Partnership.

317
00:14:24,863 --> 00:14:29,073
So it does give us an
opportunity to modernize and

318
00:14:29,068 --> 00:14:32,708
improve NAFTA based on the
higher enforceable standards

319
00:14:32,705 --> 00:14:35,005
that would be put in place
through TPP,

320
00:14:35,007 --> 00:14:36,247
if we're able to reach an
agreement.

321
00:14:36,242 --> 00:14:37,072
The Press: Okay.

322
00:14:37,076 --> 00:14:37,946
And then I want to ask you
this.

323
00:14:37,943 --> 00:14:42,113
Yet more relations about the
Clinton Foundation,

324
00:14:42,114 --> 00:14:45,114
the Clintons' network of
charities,

325
00:14:45,117 --> 00:14:49,687
this latest involving their
health initiative,

326
00:14:49,688 --> 00:14:52,288
Health Access Initiative.

327
00:14:52,291 --> 00:14:57,231
Once again, we're learning
that the Clinton Foundation

328
00:14:57,229 --> 00:15:01,939
did not disclose foreign
donors as they had assured

329
00:15:01,934 --> 00:15:04,834
the President -- as
Secretary Clinton had

330
00:15:04,837 --> 00:15:07,507
assured the President she
would.

331
00:15:07,506 --> 00:15:08,436
So I have to ask you again.

332
00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:12,610
Is the President
disappointed that Secretary

333
00:15:12,611 --> 00:15:16,751
Clinton apparently did not
live up to the very promises

334
00:15:16,749 --> 00:15:19,519
of transparency that she
promised the President

335
00:15:19,518 --> 00:15:21,218
she would?

336
00:15:21,220 --> 00:15:22,520
Mr. Earnest: Jon, the
President continues to be

337
00:15:22,521 --> 00:15:24,861
very proud of the exemplary
service that Secretary

338
00:15:24,857 --> 00:15:26,057
Clinton performed at the
State Department.

339
00:15:26,058 --> 00:15:26,628
The Press: I know he's proud
of her service.

340
00:15:26,625 --> 00:15:28,395
But I'm asking -- she said
she was going to disclose

341
00:15:28,394 --> 00:15:31,894
foreign donors to her
family's charities and she

342
00:15:31,897 --> 00:15:35,267
did not -- time and time
again.

343
00:15:35,267 --> 00:15:37,767
Mr. Earnest: Well, I see
that there have been some

344
00:15:37,770 --> 00:15:39,770
statements from the Clinton
Foundation about their

345
00:15:39,772 --> 00:15:44,242
intent to correct some
previous errors that had

346
00:15:44,243 --> 00:15:46,243
been made in previous tax
filings and things.

347
00:15:46,245 --> 00:15:48,985
But I'm, frankly, not aware
of all the details.

348
00:15:48,981 --> 00:15:51,351
The Press: Well, I mean,
I'll give you just one.

349
00:15:51,350 --> 00:15:55,950
I mean, the Clinton Health
Access Initiative -- while

350
00:15:55,954 --> 00:15:59,624
she was Secretary of State,
their contributions from

351
00:15:59,625 --> 00:16:01,695
governments, almost all of
them foreign governments --

352
00:16:01,694 --> 00:16:04,664
this is in the Boston Globe
story today -- doubled from

353
00:16:04,663 --> 00:16:07,803
$26.7 million to $55.9
million.

354
00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:10,170
While she was Secretary of
State,

355
00:16:10,169 --> 00:16:12,839
foreign governments doubling
the amount of money that was

356
00:16:12,838 --> 00:16:16,738
going to this Clinton
charity and none of

357
00:16:16,742 --> 00:16:17,642
it disclosed.

358
00:16:17,643 --> 00:16:19,043
Mr. Earnest: Right.

359
00:16:19,044 --> 00:16:21,184
But also no evidence to
indicate that those

360
00:16:21,180 --> 00:16:24,120
contributions had any impact
on any policy decisions that

361
00:16:24,116 --> 00:16:24,786
she made.

362
00:16:24,783 --> 00:16:26,023
The Press: Is that the law?

363
00:16:26,018 --> 00:16:26,888
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
that -- The Press: But do

364
00:16:26,885 --> 00:16:27,585
you have to prove bribery?

365
00:16:27,586 --> 00:16:29,226
Is that the only thing that
would be a problem is

366
00:16:29,221 --> 00:16:30,521
out-and-out bribery?

367
00:16:30,522 --> 00:16:32,422
I mean, if the President
came in -- Mr. Earnest: The

368
00:16:32,424 --> 00:16:34,724
lack of evidence certainly
hasn't prevented others --

369
00:16:34,727 --> 00:16:36,127
her political opponents from
making those kinds

370
00:16:36,128 --> 00:16:37,598
of accusations.

371
00:16:37,596 --> 00:16:38,966
The Press: But is that the
bar the President set?

372
00:16:38,964 --> 00:16:40,734
Mr. Earnest: I think the
point is that we have seen

373
00:16:40,733 --> 00:16:43,103
those accusations flying
pretty fast and furious,

374
00:16:43,102 --> 00:16:44,072
and that's -- The Press:
didn't ask you about

375
00:16:44,069 --> 00:16:44,799
that accusation.

376
00:16:44,803 --> 00:16:50,443
I asked about her promise to
be transparent with the

377
00:16:50,442 --> 00:16:52,412
donors from foreign
governments while she was

378
00:16:52,411 --> 00:16:53,581
Secretary of State.

379
00:16:53,579 --> 00:16:55,549
This was a promise she made
to the President.

380
00:16:55,547 --> 00:16:57,447
It was part of her
confirmation process.

381
00:16:57,449 --> 00:16:58,919
The senators that voted for
her confirmation were

382
00:16:58,917 --> 00:17:01,417
reassured by this.

383
00:17:01,420 --> 00:17:03,820
Now we're looking back and
see that that promise was

384
00:17:03,822 --> 00:17:04,822
not kept.

385
00:17:04,823 --> 00:17:06,093
And I'm asking, does the
President have any concern

386
00:17:06,091 --> 00:17:06,921
about that?

387
00:17:06,925 --> 00:17:07,895
Mr. Earnest: Well, based
only on what I read in the

388
00:17:07,893 --> 00:17:10,733
public reports, it's
apparent to me that the

389
00:17:10,729 --> 00:17:14,069
Clinton Foundation is going
back to remedy the mistakes

390
00:17:14,066 --> 00:17:15,736
that they have acknowledged
that they've made in the

391
00:17:15,734 --> 00:17:17,574
past when it comes to
reporting.

392
00:17:17,569 --> 00:17:19,869
The Press: Is that enough
for the President?

393
00:17:19,872 --> 00:17:22,072
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
we'll have to see what steps

394
00:17:22,074 --> 00:17:24,414
the Clinton Foundation
intends to take.

395
00:17:24,410 --> 00:17:26,850
But based on what they have
said publicly,

396
00:17:26,845 --> 00:17:29,285
it sounds like they are
serious about correcting

397
00:17:29,281 --> 00:17:31,481
those mistakes.

398
00:17:31,483 --> 00:17:32,483
Okay.

399
00:17:32,484 --> 00:17:33,484
J.C.

400
00:17:33,485 --> 00:17:35,055
The Press: This week -- in
fact, today,

401
00:17:35,053 --> 00:17:35,793
we marked the 40th
anniversary of the fall of

402
00:17:35,788 --> 00:17:36,918
Saigon and the end of the
U.S.

403
00:17:36,922 --> 00:17:38,892
war effort in Vietnam.

404
00:17:38,891 --> 00:17:41,731
What lessons from that
experience might you think

405
00:17:41,727 --> 00:17:45,227
have guided President Obama
as he ends the U.S.

406
00:17:45,230 --> 00:17:49,500
involvement in Afghanistan?

407
00:17:49,501 --> 00:17:51,201
Mr. Earnest: That's not
where I thought you were

408
00:17:51,203 --> 00:17:52,743
taking that question.

409
00:17:52,738 --> 00:17:53,738
That's why I'm pausing.

410
00:17:53,739 --> 00:17:55,739
Well, let me tell you the
first thing that popped into

411
00:17:55,741 --> 00:17:57,941
my head as you were talking
about this, that,

412
00:17:57,943 --> 00:18:02,453
obviously one of the reasons
the President is pursuing

413
00:18:02,448 --> 00:18:04,888
this Trans-Pacific
Partnership agreement is it

414
00:18:04,883 --> 00:18:09,353
is an opportunity for the
United States to more deeply

415
00:18:09,354 --> 00:18:13,124
engage in the Asia Pacific
region and the President

416
00:18:13,125 --> 00:18:15,495
sees a clear economic
benefit for the American

417
00:18:15,494 --> 00:18:19,434
people in doing so; that
there continues to be a risk

418
00:18:19,431 --> 00:18:21,431
that as the United States
were to disengage from that

419
00:18:21,433 --> 00:18:25,033
region that we would see
China move aggressively into

420
00:18:25,037 --> 00:18:28,107
what they consider to be
their sphere of influence

421
00:18:28,106 --> 00:18:33,646
and essentially write rules
of the road that would put

422
00:18:33,645 --> 00:18:35,645
American businesses and
American workers at a

423
00:18:35,647 --> 00:18:37,647
significant disadvantage.

424
00:18:38,750 --> 00:18:40,750
Of course, the reason they
would write the rules of the

425
00:18:40,752 --> 00:18:43,052
road that way is it would
significantly advantage

426
00:18:43,055 --> 00:18:44,895
Chinese economic
opportunities.

427
00:18:44,890 --> 00:18:48,290
And that's, frankly, not
what the President wants

428
00:18:48,293 --> 00:18:49,293
to see.

429
00:18:49,294 --> 00:18:51,434
And that's part of the case
that he's going to make to

430
00:18:51,430 --> 00:18:54,570
Democrats, which is that if
you're concerned about the

431
00:18:54,566 --> 00:18:58,106
status quo, if you're
concerned about the

432
00:18:58,103 --> 00:19:00,843
significant number of
countries and companies that

433
00:19:00,839 --> 00:19:06,379
try to capitalize on cheap
labor to gain an unfair

434
00:19:06,378 --> 00:19:10,348
advantage over American
businesses and American

435
00:19:10,349 --> 00:19:12,919
goods and services, that we
need to change that.

436
00:19:12,918 --> 00:19:15,058
And one important way we can
change that is to go in and

437
00:19:15,053 --> 00:19:18,223
raise standards in an
enforceable way both when it

438
00:19:18,223 --> 00:19:20,923
comes to worker protections
and

439
00:19:20,926 --> 00:19:22,796
environmental protections.

440
00:19:22,794 --> 00:19:24,894
And that's exactly what's
contemplated in the

441
00:19:24,897 --> 00:19:26,897
Trans-Pacific Partnership
agreement.

442
00:19:26,899 --> 00:19:29,039
And what's important about
this is that when we're

443
00:19:29,034 --> 00:19:32,504
talking about the Asia
Pacific region,

444
00:19:32,504 --> 00:19:36,474
we're talking about some of
the most dynamic,

445
00:19:36,475 --> 00:19:39,015
populated markets anywhere
in the world,

446
00:19:39,011 --> 00:19:41,011
which means that there's a
tremendous

447
00:19:41,013 --> 00:19:42,013
economic opportunity.

448
00:19:42,014 --> 00:19:44,014
We're talking about large
markets where the United

449
00:19:44,016 --> 00:19:46,956
States can more effectively
do business.

450
00:19:46,952 --> 00:19:49,492
And that would be good for
the American economy.

451
00:19:49,488 --> 00:19:51,558
And I guess as it relates to
your question,

452
00:19:51,557 --> 00:19:58,197
I think it's a testament to
how much progress we've made

453
00:19:58,196 --> 00:20:01,966
in just the last four
decades in terms of

454
00:20:01,967 --> 00:20:03,967
representing American
interests and creating

455
00:20:03,969 --> 00:20:06,609
opportunities for the
American people in a region

456
00:20:06,605 --> 00:20:09,475
of the world that not too
long ago we were fighting a

457
00:20:09,474 --> 00:20:11,614
very bloody war.

458
00:20:11,610 --> 00:20:13,550
The Press: And including the
historical reference to

459
00:20:13,545 --> 00:20:15,515
Afghanistan and extricating
U.S.

460
00:20:15,514 --> 00:20:18,914
forces from there as well,
the lessons learned

461
00:20:18,917 --> 00:20:20,357
from Vietnam.

462
00:20:20,352 --> 00:20:23,722
I'm specifically thinking in
terms of the vets,

463
00:20:23,722 --> 00:20:26,962
how much different vets are
treated now than they were

464
00:20:26,959 --> 00:20:28,729
back 40 years ago.

465
00:20:28,727 --> 00:20:29,967
Mr. Earnest: Well, there is
no question in the mind of

466
00:20:29,962 --> 00:20:31,702
the President -- and I think
this is a testament to the

467
00:20:31,697 --> 00:20:37,237
way the President conducts
himself -- that we are

468
00:20:37,235 --> 00:20:42,705
deeply indebted and we
deeply honor the service of

469
00:20:42,708 --> 00:20:45,108
American men and women who
have served overseas in our

470
00:20:45,110 --> 00:20:46,480
armed forces.

471
00:20:46,478 --> 00:20:48,378
Obviously, just yesterday
the President traveled to

472
00:20:48,380 --> 00:20:52,280
Walter Reed to visit some of
our men and women in uniform

473
00:20:52,284 --> 00:20:54,554
who were wounded overseas.

474
00:20:54,553 --> 00:20:57,553
And again, I think that is a
testament to the service and

475
00:20:57,556 --> 00:21:01,596
sacrifice of American
military personnel.

476
00:21:01,593 --> 00:21:04,263
And the President, as the
Commander-in-Chief,

477
00:21:04,262 --> 00:21:06,262
looks forward to the
opportunity that he has

478
00:21:06,264 --> 00:21:10,264
every quarter to extend in
person his gratitude to

479
00:21:10,268 --> 00:21:15,308
those Americans who have
paid such a deep sacrifice

480
00:21:15,307 --> 00:21:16,237
for their country.

481
00:21:16,241 --> 00:21:16,941
Okay.

482
00:21:16,942 --> 00:21:17,412
Julie.

483
00:21:17,409 --> 00:21:18,209
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

484
00:21:18,210 --> 00:21:19,410
I want to go back to trade.

485
00:21:19,411 --> 00:21:22,081
Republicans on the Hill are
suggesting that they're just

486
00:21:22,080 --> 00:21:24,650
not going to be able to
carry the weight of getting

487
00:21:24,650 --> 00:21:26,220
the trade promotion
authority bill through

488
00:21:26,218 --> 00:21:28,488
Congress and that the
President has to step up and

489
00:21:28,487 --> 00:21:30,887
do more to persuade his own
members.

490
00:21:30,889 --> 00:21:32,629
Based on what you said about
the historical,

491
00:21:32,624 --> 00:21:35,494
kind of reflexive resistance
in the Democratic Party to

492
00:21:35,494 --> 00:21:38,034
these agreements and TPA in
general,

493
00:21:38,030 --> 00:21:40,630
does he share that view that
he is really going to need

494
00:21:40,632 --> 00:21:42,172
to change a lot of minds
here?

495
00:21:42,167 --> 00:21:44,167
Does he feel like he's
making progress in that?

496
00:21:44,169 --> 00:21:45,839
And to go back to what Jeff
asked you,

497
00:21:45,837 --> 00:21:47,877
are their specific
adjustments he's willing to

498
00:21:47,873 --> 00:21:50,973
make to the negotiations or
the legislation itself to

499
00:21:50,976 --> 00:21:53,476
try to persuade more
Democrats they need to

500
00:21:53,478 --> 00:21:55,948
vote yes?

501
00:21:55,947 --> 00:21:58,047
Mr. Earnest: First, let me
point out the irony of

502
00:21:58,050 --> 00:22:01,390
Republicans campaigning very
aggressively to win a

503
00:22:01,386 --> 00:22:03,956
majority in both Houses of
Congress so that they could

504
00:22:03,955 --> 00:22:08,165
advance their policy agenda,
and three months later,

505
00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:10,600
turn around to all of you in
asking what the President is

506
00:22:10,595 --> 00:22:11,835
going to do to help them get
their work done.

507
00:22:11,830 --> 00:22:14,530
The Press: This is part of
the President's agenda.

508
00:22:14,533 --> 00:22:15,633
Mr. Earnest: Well, but on a
priority that they

509
00:22:15,634 --> 00:22:17,574
themselves have identified.

510
00:22:17,569 --> 00:22:19,139
I would acknowledge that,
yes,

511
00:22:19,137 --> 00:22:21,007
it is also part of the
President's agenda,

512
00:22:21,006 --> 00:22:24,206
which is why he is going to
do his part to make a very

513
00:22:24,209 --> 00:22:27,479
aggressive case to the
American public and to

514
00:22:27,479 --> 00:22:31,379
Democrats and Republicans on
Capitol Hill about why the

515
00:22:31,383 --> 00:22:33,953
agreement that he is trying
to broker with these Asia

516
00:22:33,952 --> 00:22:37,392
Pacific countries is clearly
in the best interest of the

517
00:22:37,389 --> 00:22:39,489
United States, our
businesses, our workers,

518
00:22:39,491 --> 00:22:41,091
and our broader economy.

519
00:22:41,093 --> 00:22:44,633
And I do believe that the
President -- and I think the

520
00:22:44,629 --> 00:22:46,929
President feels good about
the case that he has to

521
00:22:46,932 --> 00:22:49,872
make, and I think that he
feels good about the way

522
00:22:49,868 --> 00:22:52,938
that it has been received on
Capitol Hill.

523
00:22:52,938 --> 00:22:58,278
We're under no illusions
about changing every single

524
00:22:58,276 --> 00:23:00,646
mind on Capitol Hill in both
parties,

525
00:23:00,645 --> 00:23:02,645
but we do believe that we
have a strong case to make.

526
00:23:02,647 --> 00:23:04,647
And the President has
invested his own time to

527
00:23:04,649 --> 00:23:07,219
making that case in person,
as evidenced by the fact

528
00:23:07,219 --> 00:23:08,919
that this will be among the
things that he'll discuss

529
00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:12,520
with Democrats that he's
meeting with today.

530
00:23:12,524 --> 00:23:15,094
Again, I would just point
back to there's only been

531
00:23:15,093 --> 00:23:19,063
one vote on TPA in the
Congress so far*,

532
00:23:19,064 --> 00:23:21,934
and it took place in the
Senate Finance Committee.

533
00:23:21,933 --> 00:23:24,073
And even though there's a
minority of Democrats that

534
00:23:24,069 --> 00:23:26,909
serve on that committee,
more Democrats voted for it

535
00:23:26,905 --> 00:23:28,145
than against it.

536
00:23:28,140 --> 00:23:30,310
And that's a very early
indication -- I'm not sure

537
00:23:30,308 --> 00:23:32,308
that's what the situation is
going to look like on the

538
00:23:32,310 --> 00:23:35,480
floor, and in fact, I'm
pretty sure it won't,

539
00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:37,880
but I think it is an
indication that Democrats

540
00:23:37,883 --> 00:23:39,883
who do spend a lot of time
thinking about this issue

541
00:23:39,885 --> 00:23:43,985
and looking at it, that
there are plenty of reasons

542
00:23:43,989 --> 00:23:47,859
for them to support the
President's position.

543
00:23:47,859 --> 00:23:49,359
The Press: -- there are a
lot of political

544
00:23:49,361 --> 00:23:51,501
crosscurrents here -- there
are Democrats who are

545
00:23:51,496 --> 00:23:54,066
already criticizing
pro-trade Republicans in

546
00:23:54,065 --> 00:23:57,665
battleground states like
Ohio and Pennsylvania for

547
00:23:57,669 --> 00:24:00,709
their support or anticipated
support for fast track

548
00:24:00,705 --> 00:24:01,875
trade authority.

549
00:24:01,873 --> 00:24:03,373
Will the President tell them
to stop making

550
00:24:03,375 --> 00:24:04,175
that argument?

551
00:24:04,176 --> 00:24:06,316
And if not, isn't that going
to undermine his push to get

552
00:24:06,311 --> 00:24:09,851
votes -- Republican votes to
get this through?

553
00:24:09,848 --> 00:24:11,818
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
the more effective way for

554
00:24:11,817 --> 00:24:13,817
the President to rebut that
argument is not to tell them

555
00:24:13,819 --> 00:24:15,819
to stop doing something, but
to actually make the

556
00:24:15,821 --> 00:24:19,191
affirmative case about why
so clearly an agreement like

557
00:24:19,191 --> 00:24:21,461
the one the President is
trying to broker is in the

558
00:24:21,459 --> 00:24:23,799
best interest of American
middle-class families.

559
00:24:23,795 --> 00:24:27,765
And he will do that here in
Washington D.C. He'll do

560
00:24:27,766 --> 00:24:29,836
that in interviews with some
of you.

561
00:24:29,835 --> 00:24:32,135
He'll do that in the context
of private meetings with

562
00:24:32,137 --> 00:24:33,237
members of Congress.

563
00:24:33,238 --> 00:24:36,308
And he'll go on the road and
make that case to business

564
00:24:36,308 --> 00:24:41,718
leaders across the country
that this is an agreement

565
00:24:41,713 --> 00:24:44,653
that is clearly in the both
short-term and long-term

566
00:24:44,649 --> 00:24:49,419
best interest of our economy
and middle-class families.

567
00:24:49,421 --> 00:24:50,421
Michelle.

568
00:24:50,422 --> 00:24:52,422
The Press: The last couple
of days we heard the

569
00:24:52,424 --> 00:24:54,424
President speak directly on
racial tension in America.

570
00:24:54,426 --> 00:24:56,426
And at times, it almost
seemed like he was

571
00:24:56,428 --> 00:25:02,868
admonishing the press or the
public for just reacting to

572
00:25:02,868 --> 00:25:04,868
unrest or spots of trouble.

573
00:25:04,870 --> 00:25:09,140
But hasn't his reaction and
his response to race mostly

574
00:25:09,140 --> 00:25:10,310
been reactionary as well?

575
00:25:10,308 --> 00:25:13,078
I mean, the task force was
in response to Ferguson.

576
00:25:13,078 --> 00:25:16,748
Some of his most pointed
statements on race have only

577
00:25:16,748 --> 00:25:18,818
been because things have
happened.

578
00:25:18,817 --> 00:25:21,687
So is this going to be a
turning point for the

579
00:25:21,686 --> 00:25:23,686
President to speak more
about race,

580
00:25:23,688 --> 00:25:25,958
or hasn't he been
reactionary as well?

581
00:25:25,957 --> 00:25:27,957
The Press: Well, Michelle, I
think it's certainly

582
00:25:27,959 --> 00:25:31,499
appropriate for you to note
that the President himself

583
00:25:31,496 --> 00:25:34,866
has chosen to publicly speak
out when there have been

584
00:25:34,866 --> 00:25:38,436
flashpoints in these kinds
of debates.

585
00:25:38,436 --> 00:25:42,476
What's also true, however,
is that the President has

586
00:25:42,474 --> 00:25:47,514
been focused on these issues
for quite some time,

587
00:25:47,512 --> 00:25:51,682
particularly in ways that
may not necessarily get the

588
00:25:51,683 --> 00:25:54,453
active attention of even the
press corps that follows him

589
00:25:54,452 --> 00:25:56,592
every day.

590
00:25:56,588 --> 00:25:59,528
So I have one good example
of this.

591
00:25:59,524 --> 00:26:04,294
May 17th, 2013 -- some of
you may have been there to

592
00:26:04,296 --> 00:26:08,436
cover it -- the President
traveled to -- you guessed

593
00:26:08,433 --> 00:26:09,433
it -- Baltimore.

594
00:26:09,434 --> 00:26:15,074
And the President visited an
organization called the

595
00:26:15,073 --> 00:26:18,513
Center for Urban Families
where he had the opportunity

596
00:26:18,510 --> 00:26:21,110
to meet with fathers and
families who are working

597
00:26:21,112 --> 00:26:23,612
hard to get job-training
skills,

598
00:26:23,615 --> 00:26:26,015
who are working hard to make
sure that their kids were

599
00:26:26,017 --> 00:26:29,357
going to a good school, and
were looking for some

600
00:26:29,354 --> 00:26:33,624
support from the local
economy and from other local

601
00:26:33,625 --> 00:26:37,425
elected officials as they
try to do the right thing

602
00:26:37,429 --> 00:26:39,869
and do right by their
families.

603
00:26:39,864 --> 00:26:42,234
And the President, over the
course of that day that he

604
00:26:42,233 --> 00:26:45,403
spent in Baltimore, went to
an elementary school where

605
00:26:45,403 --> 00:26:48,543
he learned about some early
childhood education programs

606
00:26:48,540 --> 00:26:52,540
that were working to great
effect in that city.

607
00:26:52,544 --> 00:26:55,084
He spent time at Ellicott
Dredges,

608
00:26:55,080 --> 00:26:57,220
a local business in
Baltimore that does a lot of

609
00:26:57,215 --> 00:26:59,815
business at the port, and
then he finished his visit

610
00:26:59,818 --> 00:27:02,388
that day by going to the
Center for Urban Families.

611
00:27:02,387 --> 00:27:06,227
And my point here is to
indicate that, yes,

612
00:27:06,224 --> 00:27:09,064
the President is very
visible when we have these

613
00:27:09,060 --> 00:27:11,860
flashpoints, when the media
is paying attention,

614
00:27:11,863 --> 00:27:17,173
for a good reason, to some
of the very significant,

615
00:27:17,168 --> 00:27:20,368
entrenched challenges in
communities across

616
00:27:20,372 --> 00:27:21,372
the country.

617
00:27:21,373 --> 00:27:24,673
But what's also true, and
what is undeniable,

618
00:27:24,676 --> 00:27:26,846
is that the President is
focused on these issues even

619
00:27:26,845 --> 00:27:28,245
when you guys aren't.

620
00:27:28,246 --> 00:27:30,516
And I don't say that as a
criticism;

621
00:27:30,515 --> 00:27:31,545
I just say it as a fact.

622
00:27:31,549 --> 00:27:33,949
The Press: Okay.

623
00:27:33,952 --> 00:27:36,552
I mean, there's always this
call whenever something does

624
00:27:36,554 --> 00:27:38,124
happen for him to go
somewhere.

625
00:27:38,123 --> 00:27:40,923
I mean, and it's getting to
be kind of on repeat now and

626
00:27:40,925 --> 00:27:43,795
the response is, well,
that's just going to cause a

627
00:27:43,795 --> 00:27:45,165
bigger scene.

628
00:27:45,163 --> 00:27:47,203
But he talked about it
yesterday in saying that he

629
00:27:47,198 --> 00:27:49,468
wants to go there when
things calm down.

630
00:27:49,467 --> 00:27:51,607
And does this mean that he
-- when things happen,

631
00:27:51,603 --> 00:27:54,273
he actually wants to go and
the scene that he would

632
00:27:54,272 --> 00:27:56,312
cause is preventing him from
going?

633
00:27:56,307 --> 00:27:58,507
Or does he feel like it's
not productive?

634
00:27:58,510 --> 00:28:01,550
Or what's his real take on
this whole call for him to

635
00:28:01,546 --> 00:28:03,516
show up places when there's
trouble?

636
00:28:03,515 --> 00:28:05,515
Mr. Earnest: The concern
that he has right now is a

637
00:28:05,517 --> 00:28:06,517
very practical one.

638
00:28:06,518 --> 00:28:08,518
It's simply that right now
we're seeing that

639
00:28:08,520 --> 00:28:10,860
significant law enforcement
resources in Baltimore are

640
00:28:10,855 --> 00:28:14,495
being deployed to try to
address some of the

641
00:28:14,492 --> 00:28:17,032
instability we've seen in
that community over the last

642
00:28:17,028 --> 00:28:18,028
few days.

643
00:28:18,029 --> 00:28:19,029
The Press: But he wants to
go?

644
00:28:19,030 --> 00:28:20,030
Is that what he was saying?

645
00:28:20,031 --> 00:28:20,831
Mr. Earnest: And the fact is
that when the President

646
00:28:20,832 --> 00:28:23,402
travels to those kinds of --
when the President travels

647
00:28:23,401 --> 00:28:26,071
anywhere, significant law
enforcement resources are

648
00:28:26,071 --> 00:28:30,041
dedicated to protecting him,
directing traffic around his

649
00:28:30,041 --> 00:28:33,411
motorcade that can sometimes
be pretty inconvenient.

650
00:28:33,411 --> 00:28:37,551
And the President's concern
is about drawing resource

651
00:28:37,549 --> 00:28:39,749
away from the urgent
priority that they have

652
00:28:39,751 --> 00:28:41,951
right now to allow him to
travel somewhere.

653
00:28:41,953 --> 00:28:45,923
So I am confident, as the
President expressed in his

654
00:28:45,924 --> 00:28:48,864
interview with Steve Harvey,
that at some point he would

655
00:28:48,860 --> 00:28:52,230
like to have the opportunity
to go back to Baltimore and

656
00:28:52,230 --> 00:28:56,430
to continue the discussion
that he -- frankly,

657
00:28:56,434 --> 00:28:58,434
that he was having with
people in Baltimore two

658
00:28:58,436 --> 00:29:01,006
years ago -- to talk about
what additional things can

659
00:29:01,005 --> 00:29:03,675
be done to address so many
of the entrenched problems

660
00:29:03,675 --> 00:29:04,805
in that community.

661
00:29:04,809 --> 00:29:06,979
The Press: And this
reporting that we saw

662
00:29:06,978 --> 00:29:09,818
yesterday in the Wall Street
Journal about the FBI's

663
00:29:09,814 --> 00:29:11,984
facilitating a ransom
payment.

664
00:29:11,983 --> 00:29:13,983
I know you don't talk about
specific instances,

665
00:29:13,985 --> 00:29:17,055
but I mean, don't you want
to say something about this

666
00:29:17,055 --> 00:29:22,065
when you've so many times
spoken out again and again,

667
00:29:22,060 --> 00:29:24,060
strenuously, on ransom
payments?

668
00:29:24,062 --> 00:29:25,332
Mr. Earnest: That's right.

669
00:29:25,330 --> 00:29:27,630
Well, Michelle, let me just
start by saying that there

670
00:29:27,632 --> 00:29:30,702
is a review, a hostage
policy review that's

671
00:29:30,702 --> 00:29:32,302
underway right now.

672
00:29:32,303 --> 00:29:35,273
And that review illustrates
a couple of things.

673
00:29:35,273 --> 00:29:37,943
The first is it illustrates
what a priority it is for

674
00:29:37,942 --> 00:29:40,212
this President to try to
rescue Americans who are

675
00:29:40,211 --> 00:29:42,951
being held hostage around
the world.

676
00:29:42,947 --> 00:29:48,457
It also illustrates that the
kind of support that is

677
00:29:48,453 --> 00:29:51,893
provided to families who are
in this unthinkably tragic

678
00:29:51,890 --> 00:29:55,730
situation is also a priority
for him.

679
00:29:55,727 --> 00:29:58,467
And we go to great lengths
-- and when I say we,

680
00:29:58,463 --> 00:30:01,833
I mean our law enforcement
experts,

681
00:30:01,833 --> 00:30:05,203
our intelligence officers,
even the military go to

682
00:30:05,203 --> 00:30:09,303
great lengths to both
support those families and

683
00:30:09,307 --> 00:30:11,947
to try to rescue their loved
ones.

684
00:30:11,943 --> 00:30:13,943
Now, you're right, I'm not
going to be in a position to

685
00:30:13,945 --> 00:30:17,115
go into private
conversations that take

686
00:30:17,115 --> 00:30:20,285
place between the FBI or
other law enforcement

687
00:30:20,285 --> 00:30:23,225
agencies, or intel officials
and the families.

688
00:30:23,221 --> 00:30:25,921
I'm not going to be in a
position to talk in any

689
00:30:25,924 --> 00:30:29,124
detail about the tactics or
tools that are employed by

690
00:30:29,127 --> 00:30:31,227
the FBI, or the intelligence
community,

691
00:30:31,229 --> 00:30:34,029
or our counterterrorism
professionals as they

692
00:30:34,032 --> 00:30:35,832
support these families.

693
00:30:35,833 --> 00:30:38,233
But what's also true, what's
undeniable,

694
00:30:38,236 --> 00:30:42,776
is that the families, again,
that are in this terrible

695
00:30:42,774 --> 00:30:46,744
situation are relying
heavily on these

696
00:30:46,744 --> 00:30:48,744
government experts.

697
00:30:50,248 --> 00:30:52,318
Now, what's also true -- and
this is where you started

698
00:30:52,317 --> 00:30:56,687
with your question -- is
that we've been definitive

699
00:30:56,688 --> 00:31:00,688
about our no ransom, no
concessions policy,

700
00:31:00,692 --> 00:31:03,932
and it's one that is not
subject to this ongoing

701
00:31:03,928 --> 00:31:05,928
hostage policy review.

702
00:31:07,031 --> 00:31:09,031
And that's because that
policy is clearly in our

703
00:31:09,033 --> 00:31:11,533
national security interest,
that we know that extremist

704
00:31:11,536 --> 00:31:14,906
organizations only use
ransoms to fund their

705
00:31:14,906 --> 00:31:15,906
terror activities.

706
00:31:15,907 --> 00:31:18,077
The Press: But to put this
in very simple terms,

707
00:31:18,076 --> 00:31:22,016
non-specifically, isn't
facilitating a ransom

708
00:31:22,013 --> 00:31:25,413
payment tantamount to
okaying it?

709
00:31:25,416 --> 00:31:28,286
And is this a practice that
is not going to happen in

710
00:31:28,286 --> 00:31:30,026
the future?

711
00:31:30,021 --> 00:31:32,721
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I
can't talk about specific

712
00:31:32,724 --> 00:31:35,564
tools or tactics that are
used by the FBI or our

713
00:31:35,560 --> 00:31:36,960
intelligence community --
The Press: In a

714
00:31:36,961 --> 00:31:40,531
philosophical, general sense
of looking at two things,

715
00:31:40,531 --> 00:31:44,701
isn't helping with a ransom
payment tantamount to saying

716
00:31:44,702 --> 00:31:46,402
it's okay?

717
00:31:46,404 --> 00:31:49,804
Mr. Earnest: Well, speaking
generally,

718
00:31:49,807 --> 00:31:52,347
helping with a ransom
payment, to use your word,

719
00:31:52,343 --> 00:31:57,653
is not tantamount to paying
a ransom.

720
00:31:57,649 --> 00:32:03,459
And what we are trying to do
is to aggressively enforce

721
00:32:03,454 --> 00:32:07,324
this policy -- which we do
-- while also supporting

722
00:32:07,325 --> 00:32:11,665
these families that are
relying on the expert advice

723
00:32:11,663 --> 00:32:16,873
and support of the FBI,
other law enforcement

724
00:32:16,868 --> 00:32:20,938
agencies, and other national
security officials that are

725
00:32:20,938 --> 00:32:23,508
trying to secure the safe
return of their loved one.

726
00:32:23,508 --> 00:32:25,608
The Press: So we can't say
that this won't happen again

727
00:32:25,610 --> 00:32:26,610
in the future?

728
00:32:26,611 --> 00:32:28,611
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
I'm not going to talk about

729
00:32:28,613 --> 00:32:31,013
any individual conversations
that take place between the

730
00:32:31,015 --> 00:32:32,955
FBI and individual families.

731
00:32:32,950 --> 00:32:36,420
I'm not going to walk
through -- and I think for

732
00:32:36,421 --> 00:32:40,961
obvious reasons, I'm
unwilling to talk about the

733
00:32:40,958 --> 00:32:44,898
tactics and tools that the
FBI and our military and our

734
00:32:44,896 --> 00:32:49,236
intelligence professionals
use to try to secure the

735
00:32:49,233 --> 00:32:50,733
safe return of their loved
one.

736
00:32:50,735 --> 00:32:51,205
Okay.

737
00:32:51,202 --> 00:32:52,602
Jordan.

738
00:32:52,603 --> 00:32:53,773
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

739
00:32:53,771 --> 00:32:56,411
Iranian Foreign Minister
Zarif said yesterday that

740
00:32:56,407 --> 00:32:58,977
the United Nations Security
Council will need to lift

741
00:32:58,976 --> 00:33:02,216
sanctions within a few days
of a final agreement

742
00:33:02,213 --> 00:33:03,713
being reached.

743
00:33:03,715 --> 00:33:05,145
I assume the White House
doesn't view that as a

744
00:33:05,149 --> 00:33:07,449
realistic timeline.

745
00:33:07,452 --> 00:33:10,552
Mr. Earnest: Well, let me
just say that when the

746
00:33:10,555 --> 00:33:14,855
President has talked about
these ongoing negotiations

747
00:33:14,859 --> 00:33:22,429
with Iran we've made clear
that any sanctions relief

748
00:33:22,433 --> 00:33:23,433
from U.S.

749
00:33:23,434 --> 00:33:29,804
sanctions would only be
provided once Iran had taken

750
00:33:29,807 --> 00:33:32,047
verifiable steps to comply
with the agreement.

751
00:33:36,547 --> 00:33:40,217
Obviously the United Nations
Security Council -- and it's

752
00:33:40,218 --> 00:33:42,218
the permanent members of the
Security Council that are

753
00:33:42,220 --> 00:33:44,860
engaged in these
negotiations with Iran --

754
00:33:44,856 --> 00:33:48,496
will have to decide for
themselves the appropriate

755
00:33:48,493 --> 00:33:55,163
pace of offering relief from
sanctions that are imposed

756
00:33:55,166 --> 00:33:58,166
by the United Nations
Security Council.

757
00:33:58,169 --> 00:34:04,579
That said, the United States
has been clear about how we

758
00:34:04,575 --> 00:34:05,745
think that should proceed.

759
00:34:05,743 --> 00:34:10,453
There seems to be a lot of
agreement around the

760
00:34:10,448 --> 00:34:12,988
negotiating table about how
that should work,

761
00:34:12,984 --> 00:34:16,354
but at the same time, it's
also part of the

762
00:34:16,354 --> 00:34:17,794
ongoing negotiations.

763
00:34:17,789 --> 00:34:20,229
So I don't want to get ahead
of where the negotiations

764
00:34:20,224 --> 00:34:25,764
are, but we have been
definitive about our view

765
00:34:25,763 --> 00:34:32,303
that Iran will benefit from
some sanctions relief only

766
00:34:32,303 --> 00:34:35,603
when they've taken some
verifiable steps to

767
00:34:35,606 --> 00:34:38,046
implement the agreement in a
verifiable way.

768
00:34:38,042 --> 00:34:39,142
The Press: But even if the
U.S.

769
00:34:39,143 --> 00:34:43,653
waits and, I guess, reduces
the sanctions gradually,

770
00:34:43,648 --> 00:34:44,348
if the U.N.

771
00:34:44,348 --> 00:34:46,688
sanctions are lifted, that
would essentially provide

772
00:34:46,684 --> 00:34:50,084
Iran with a lot of sanctions
relief given that sanctions

773
00:34:50,087 --> 00:34:52,327
from a lot of these nations
would pretty much

774
00:34:52,323 --> 00:34:53,463
disappear automatically.

775
00:34:53,458 --> 00:34:55,088
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
I'm not going to prejudge

776
00:34:55,092 --> 00:34:58,592
sort of how that sanctions
relief would be granted,

777
00:34:58,596 --> 00:35:04,836
what pace or at what stage
that decision would be made.

778
00:35:04,836 --> 00:35:07,006
This is a subject of ongoing
negotiations and will

779
00:35:07,004 --> 00:35:10,204
ultimately have to be a
decision that's made by the

780
00:35:10,208 --> 00:35:13,778
members of the United
Nations Security Council.

781
00:35:13,778 --> 00:35:18,488
But the other thing that
will also be included in

782
00:35:18,483 --> 00:35:22,353
these negotiations are
snapback provisions that

783
00:35:22,353 --> 00:35:26,353
would allow certainly the
United States but also the

784
00:35:26,357 --> 00:35:31,427
United Nations to snap the
sanctions back into place on

785
00:35:31,429 --> 00:35:36,939
very short notice if it's
detected that Iran is not

786
00:35:36,934 --> 00:35:38,134
complying with the
agreement.

787
00:35:38,135 --> 00:35:42,875
And if they're not complying
with the agreement,

788
00:35:42,874 --> 00:35:46,144
based on the onerous set of
inspections that the

789
00:35:46,143 --> 00:35:48,283
President will insist upon
including in the final

790
00:35:48,279 --> 00:35:50,479
agreement, we'll have a lot
of insight into their

791
00:35:50,481 --> 00:35:54,551
nuclear program and we'll
use that insight to both

792
00:35:54,552 --> 00:35:57,392
verify Iran's compliance
with the agreement,

793
00:35:57,388 --> 00:36:03,558
but also enforce the
agreement if we suspect --

794
00:36:03,561 --> 00:36:05,761
enforce the agreement by
snapping back in place

795
00:36:05,763 --> 00:36:08,333
sanctions if we suspect that
Iran is not living up to

796
00:36:08,332 --> 00:36:10,332
their commitments.

797
00:36:10,334 --> 00:36:11,334
Cheryl.

798
00:36:11,335 --> 00:36:12,305
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

799
00:36:12,303 --> 00:36:14,303
A question about the Highway
Trust Fund,

800
00:36:14,305 --> 00:36:16,305
which expires at the end of
May.

801
00:36:16,307 --> 00:36:19,147
The current thinking on
Capitol Hill is to have a

802
00:36:19,143 --> 00:36:22,183
patch through the end of the
year while negotiations

803
00:36:22,179 --> 00:36:24,749
continue on tax reform and
repatriation.

804
00:36:24,749 --> 00:36:26,989
Is that an acceptable plan
to the White House?

805
00:36:26,984 --> 00:36:29,784
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'm not
going to render final

806
00:36:29,787 --> 00:36:33,287
judgment on a proposal
that's still being debated

807
00:36:33,291 --> 00:36:36,191
and we haven't seen on the
House floor -- or on the

808
00:36:36,193 --> 00:36:39,733
floor of either House of
Congress at this point.

809
00:36:39,730 --> 00:36:41,730
As a general matter, I can
tell you that the

810
00:36:41,732 --> 00:36:43,732
administration believes that
a longer-term solution is

811
00:36:43,734 --> 00:36:47,904
one that is far better for
the economy -- this is an

812
00:36:47,905 --> 00:36:50,075
argument that you hear from
Republicans that a

813
00:36:50,074 --> 00:36:52,874
longer-term commitment to
funding something like the

814
00:36:52,877 --> 00:36:55,617
Highway Trust Fund would
give our businesses the kind

815
00:36:55,613 --> 00:36:57,883
of certainty they need to
make the kinds of

816
00:36:57,882 --> 00:37:00,582
investments that are
critical to the dynamism of

817
00:37:00,585 --> 00:37:01,585
our economy.

818
00:37:01,586 --> 00:37:07,126
And for a long time the
President has talked about

819
00:37:07,124 --> 00:37:10,894
the need for Congress to put
in place policies that will

820
00:37:10,895 --> 00:37:17,065
actually strengthen our
economic recovery as opposed

821
00:37:17,068 --> 00:37:20,968
to undermine our economic
recovery.

822
00:37:20,972 --> 00:37:25,572
And short-term proposals to
avert disaster is not a

823
00:37:25,576 --> 00:37:27,216
responsible way to govern.

824
00:37:27,211 --> 00:37:30,111
Now, in many situations,
those short-term proposals

825
00:37:30,114 --> 00:37:32,614
are better than the
alternative.

826
00:37:32,617 --> 00:37:35,287
So that's why we'll evaluate
the situation as it moves

827
00:37:35,286 --> 00:37:38,786
forward, but it is our
strong view -- a strongly

828
00:37:38,789 --> 00:37:41,759
held view -- that Congress,
as they're contemplating

829
00:37:41,759 --> 00:37:44,329
something like funding the
Highway Trust Fund,

830
00:37:44,328 --> 00:37:47,598
should consider a long-term
solution and not just fall

831
00:37:47,598 --> 00:37:49,898
back on the kind of
short-term solutions that

832
00:37:49,900 --> 00:37:55,870
has been characterized -- or
that has characterized the

833
00:37:55,873 --> 00:37:59,013
strategy previously employed
by the Republican Congress.

834
00:37:59,010 --> 00:37:59,910
Kevin.

835
00:37:59,910 --> 00:38:01,110
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

836
00:38:01,112 --> 00:38:04,812
Nancy Pelosi today said that
the bill was supposed to

837
00:38:04,815 --> 00:38:08,955
improve NAFTA, and yet
fellow Democrat Alan Grayson

838
00:38:08,953 --> 00:38:12,053
has said this would
essentially be NAFTA 2.0.

839
00:38:12,056 --> 00:38:14,456
And I'm just curious, can
the White House guarantee

840
00:38:14,458 --> 00:38:18,058
that if TPP goes through,
the American workers won't

841
00:38:18,062 --> 00:38:21,262
suffer the sort of losses of
jobs that they suffered

842
00:38:21,265 --> 00:38:22,265
under NAFTA?

843
00:38:22,266 --> 00:38:25,266
Mr. Earnest: Kevin, what the
President can guarantee will

844
00:38:25,269 --> 00:38:29,069
be included in a TPP
agreement,

845
00:38:29,073 --> 00:38:33,073
if one can be reached, are
enforceable labor

846
00:38:33,077 --> 00:38:36,117
protections that were not
included in NAFTA.

847
00:38:36,113 --> 00:38:38,983
TPP would include
enforceable environmental

848
00:38:38,983 --> 00:38:42,323
protections that were not
included in NAFTA.

849
00:38:42,319 --> 00:38:46,489
The President will insist
that they include some human

850
00:38:46,490 --> 00:38:49,960
rights protections that have
not previously been included

851
00:38:49,960 --> 00:38:51,630
in trade agreements.

852
00:38:51,629 --> 00:38:54,999
And that is an indication of
the President's commitment

853
00:38:54,999 --> 00:38:57,039
to making sure that we're
modernizing the

854
00:38:57,034 --> 00:38:58,034
NAFTA agreement.

855
00:38:58,035 --> 00:39:00,075
And again, I can say that
because both Canada and

856
00:39:00,071 --> 00:39:02,471
Mexico are part of the TPP
negotiations.

857
00:39:02,473 --> 00:39:04,473
So if we can reach an
agreement,

858
00:39:04,475 --> 00:39:09,685
we will reach an agreement
that would strengthen the

859
00:39:09,680 --> 00:39:14,590
kinds of protections that
will make it clear that an

860
00:39:14,585 --> 00:39:17,785
agreement like this would be
in the best interest of the

861
00:39:17,788 --> 00:39:19,788
American economy, of
American businesses,

862
00:39:19,790 --> 00:39:20,790
and American workers.

863
00:39:20,791 --> 00:39:22,791
The Press: Other Democrats
are concerned about

864
00:39:22,793 --> 00:39:23,793
fast track.

865
00:39:23,794 --> 00:39:26,034
Elizabeth Warren had a
letter to the President with

866
00:39:26,030 --> 00:39:28,730
Sherrod Brown saying that
fast track as currently

867
00:39:28,733 --> 00:39:31,033
written would preclude
Congress from amending or

868
00:39:31,035 --> 00:39:33,605
filibustering any trade
agreement submitted to this

869
00:39:33,604 --> 00:39:36,044
Congress or any future
Congress,

870
00:39:36,040 --> 00:39:38,510
potentially through 2021.

871
00:39:38,509 --> 00:39:39,949
Is she wrong?

872
00:39:39,944 --> 00:39:41,274
Mr. Earnest: Well, I haven't
seen the entirety of

873
00:39:41,278 --> 00:39:42,278
the letter.

874
00:39:42,279 --> 00:39:46,719
What is envisioned in the
trade promotion authority

875
00:39:46,717 --> 00:39:52,427
legislation is essentially
the most progressive trade

876
00:39:52,423 --> 00:39:54,663
promotion authority bill
that's ever been passed.

877
00:39:54,658 --> 00:39:58,098
As I mentioned, it includes
ensuring that we will have

878
00:39:58,095 --> 00:40:01,235
enforceable labor provisions
-- or enforceable labor

879
00:40:01,232 --> 00:40:03,802
protections, enforceable
environmental protections,

880
00:40:03,801 --> 00:40:05,641
human rights provisions.

881
00:40:05,636 --> 00:40:07,636
These are the kinds of
things that are consistent

882
00:40:07,638 --> 00:40:11,208
with the President's view
that a properly crafted

883
00:40:11,208 --> 00:40:14,178
trade agreement is one that
is clearly in the best

884
00:40:14,178 --> 00:40:15,518
interest of American
workers.

885
00:40:15,513 --> 00:40:19,213
The Press: Because we
already have -- the American

886
00:40:19,216 --> 00:40:21,316
public already has trade
deals with some of the

887
00:40:21,318 --> 00:40:24,858
countries that are included
in the TPP,

888
00:40:24,855 --> 00:40:27,855
if it doesn't work out and
you're unable to secure the

889
00:40:27,858 --> 00:40:30,898
votes to get this worked
out,

890
00:40:30,895 --> 00:40:33,065
is that a huge loss for the
President in one of his

891
00:40:33,063 --> 00:40:34,203
signature priorities?

892
00:40:34,198 --> 00:40:36,198
Mr. Earnest: Well, Kevin,
the President has not been

893
00:40:36,200 --> 00:40:39,700
shy about the fact that
moving trade promotion

894
00:40:39,703 --> 00:40:40,843
authority through the
Congress,

895
00:40:40,838 --> 00:40:43,978
and if we can reach a
Trans-Pacific Partnership

896
00:40:43,974 --> 00:40:46,414
agreement, that we'd like to
move that through the

897
00:40:46,410 --> 00:40:47,710
Congress, too, because,
again,

898
00:40:47,711 --> 00:40:50,151
we believe that that's
clearly in the best interest

899
00:40:50,147 --> 00:40:51,147
of the U.S.

900
00:40:51,148 --> 00:40:53,648
economy and that failing to
act on this kind of an

901
00:40:53,651 --> 00:40:55,651
agreement, if we can reach
one,

902
00:40:55,653 --> 00:40:58,053
would be to essentially
ratify the status quo.

903
00:40:58,055 --> 00:41:03,025
And that, I know, to many
Democrats is unacceptable,

904
00:41:03,027 --> 00:41:05,527
that there are concerns
about the way that companies

905
00:41:05,529 --> 00:41:09,599
benefit from the lower labor
standards that exist in

906
00:41:09,600 --> 00:41:11,700
other countries in a way
that puts American

907
00:41:11,702 --> 00:41:13,772
businesses at a significant
disadvantage.

908
00:41:13,771 --> 00:41:15,941
The best way to change that
is to enter into a trade

909
00:41:15,940 --> 00:41:19,140
agreement that will raise
standards and include

910
00:41:19,143 --> 00:41:21,143
enforceable provisions that
will level the

911
00:41:21,145 --> 00:41:22,145
playing field.

912
00:41:22,146 --> 00:41:24,116
And by leveling the playing
field,

913
00:41:24,114 --> 00:41:26,114
the President is confident
that American businesses and

914
00:41:26,116 --> 00:41:28,116
American workers can't just
compete but they can win in

915
00:41:28,118 --> 00:41:30,458
that kind of competition.

916
00:41:30,454 --> 00:41:32,454
And that's what the
President is fighting hard

917
00:41:32,456 --> 00:41:34,456
to set up, because he knows
that, again,

918
00:41:34,458 --> 00:41:36,458
if the United States doesn't
engage we're going to find

919
00:41:36,460 --> 00:41:39,660
China stepping in and
tilting the playing field in

920
00:41:39,663 --> 00:41:41,663
a way that will put American
workers and American

921
00:41:41,665 --> 00:41:44,105
businesses at an even more
significant disadvantage.

922
00:41:44,101 --> 00:41:45,501
The Press: You need about 17
or 18.

923
00:41:45,502 --> 00:41:47,442
Do you like your odds of
getting the votes?

924
00:41:47,438 --> 00:41:49,038
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'm not
going to -- I wouldn't want

925
00:41:49,039 --> 00:41:50,909
to hazard a guess from here.

926
00:41:50,908 --> 00:41:53,278
But I believe that we have a
very strong case to make to

927
00:41:53,277 --> 00:41:55,247
both Democrats and
Republicans.

928
00:41:55,246 --> 00:41:56,846
And it's one that I think
the President has

929
00:41:56,847 --> 00:41:59,687
demonstrated he's willing to
make in person.

930
00:41:59,683 --> 00:42:00,653
Bill.

931
00:42:00,651 --> 00:42:02,391
The Press: When does the
administration plan to make

932
00:42:02,386 --> 00:42:06,326
good on its promise of about
more than a year ago of

933
00:42:06,323 --> 00:42:10,293
raising the overtime pay
limit?

934
00:42:10,294 --> 00:42:12,934
Now at about $23,600.

935
00:42:12,930 --> 00:42:16,330
Mr. Earnest: I don't have an
update for you on

936
00:42:16,333 --> 00:42:17,333
any timing.

937
00:42:17,334 --> 00:42:19,334
I know that there's been a
lot of speculation about

938
00:42:19,336 --> 00:42:21,336
this particular policy
proposal,

939
00:42:21,338 --> 00:42:22,338
but I don't have any update.

940
00:42:22,339 --> 00:42:23,339
The Press: A lot, indeed.

941
00:42:23,340 --> 00:42:24,540
And people are kind of
waiting,

942
00:42:24,541 --> 00:42:25,381
expecting it to happen soon.

943
00:42:25,376 --> 00:42:26,876
Mr. Earnest: Well, we'll
keep you posted.

944
00:42:26,877 --> 00:42:27,877
If we have an announcement
on this to make,

945
00:42:27,878 --> 00:42:29,148
I'll be sure you're among
the first to know.

946
00:42:29,146 --> 00:42:29,816
The Press: You got nothing?

947
00:42:29,813 --> 00:42:31,053
I mean, is it coming soon?

948
00:42:31,048 --> 00:42:33,018
Mr. Earnest: I don't have
any timing update at

949
00:42:33,017 --> 00:42:34,317
this point.

950
00:42:34,318 --> 00:42:35,148
The Press: Gee, you're
usually better.

951
00:42:35,152 --> 00:42:36,822
(laughter)

952
00:42:36,820 --> 00:42:38,160
Mr. Earnest: But
even you have to admit,

953
00:42:38,155 --> 00:42:40,125
that was a little out of
left field.

954
00:42:40,124 --> 00:42:40,654
The Press: I had nothing
else.

955
00:42:40,658 --> 00:42:43,998
(laughter)

956
00:42:43,994 --> 00:42:45,064
Mr. Earnest: I
didn't say it was

957
00:42:45,062 --> 00:42:46,362
inappropriate, just that it
was a little out of

958
00:42:46,363 --> 00:42:47,703
left field.

959
00:42:47,698 --> 00:42:49,268
Chris.

960
00:42:49,266 --> 00:42:51,936
The Press: I don't know if I
can top that.

961
00:42:51,936 --> 00:42:53,706
There are a number of
Republican governors and

962
00:42:53,704 --> 00:42:59,014
some Republican state
legislatures that seem to

963
00:42:59,009 --> 00:43:01,279
indicate that they would be
able to get behind the

964
00:43:01,278 --> 00:43:03,778
Obamacare Medicaid expansion
if there was some sort of

965
00:43:03,781 --> 00:43:05,051
work requirement.

966
00:43:05,049 --> 00:43:07,919
And I'm wondering if there's
any form of that at all that

967
00:43:07,918 --> 00:43:09,858
the administration would
consider if it meant that

968
00:43:09,853 --> 00:43:12,793
thousands, if not millions,
of low-income Americans

969
00:43:12,790 --> 00:43:14,860
would then be covered.

970
00:43:14,858 --> 00:43:16,598
The Press: Well, Chris, the
administration has

971
00:43:16,593 --> 00:43:19,233
demonstrated a willingness
in a variety of settings

972
00:43:19,229 --> 00:43:22,399
with Democratic and
Republican governors to try

973
00:43:22,399 --> 00:43:26,099
to tailor agreements that
meet the needs of the

974
00:43:26,103 --> 00:43:29,903
population in individual
states.

975
00:43:29,907 --> 00:43:34,147
So whether it is -- one
example that I can think of

976
00:43:34,144 --> 00:43:38,514
is, in Arkansas, that there
was a lot of resistance in

977
00:43:38,515 --> 00:43:40,715
the state legislature to
expanding Medicaid;

978
00:43:40,718 --> 00:43:42,718
that this administration
worked closely with the

979
00:43:42,720 --> 00:43:47,660
Democratic governor to reach
a bipartisan compromise that

980
00:43:47,658 --> 00:43:49,758
had the approval of the
Democratic governor,

981
00:43:49,760 --> 00:43:53,030
that earned the support and
approval of Republicans in

982
00:43:53,030 --> 00:43:55,870
the state legislature, and
ultimately benefitted

983
00:43:55,866 --> 00:43:58,636
thousands of people in the
state of Arkansas.

984
00:43:58,635 --> 00:44:03,205
And I know that that
agreement has been used as a

985
00:44:03,207 --> 00:44:07,747
template in our negotiations
with other states.

986
00:44:07,745 --> 00:44:11,745
And I think that is
indicative of the commitment

987
00:44:11,749 --> 00:44:14,149
that the administration has
to working with individual

988
00:44:14,151 --> 00:44:16,291
states to do something
really important,

989
00:44:16,286 --> 00:44:18,456
which is to make sure that
thousands of people who

990
00:44:18,455 --> 00:44:22,325
currently do not have health
care coverage could get it

991
00:44:22,326 --> 00:44:24,366
because of this expanded
Medicare proposal that was

992
00:44:24,361 --> 00:44:26,361
embedded in the Affordable
Car Act.

993
00:44:26,363 --> 00:44:27,833
The Press: So work
requirements are not

994
00:44:27,831 --> 00:44:29,131
a problem?

995
00:44:29,133 --> 00:44:31,003
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
this is something -- this is

996
00:44:31,001 --> 00:44:32,841
part of individual
conversations that we have

997
00:44:32,836 --> 00:44:35,606
with states all across the
country.

998
00:44:35,606 --> 00:44:39,306
And I'm not aware of any
state that reached an

999
00:44:39,309 --> 00:44:41,379
agreement with the
administration to put in

1000
00:44:41,378 --> 00:44:45,418
place a work requirement,
but these are the kinds of

1001
00:44:45,416 --> 00:44:47,516
conversations that the
administration has

1002
00:44:47,518 --> 00:44:49,518
demonstrated a willingness
to have,

1003
00:44:49,520 --> 00:44:51,520
and demonstrated that
willingness to have those

1004
00:44:51,522 --> 00:44:53,692
conversations in a way that
has yielded significant

1005
00:44:53,690 --> 00:44:56,290
benefits for hundreds of
thousands, if not millions,

1006
00:44:56,293 --> 00:44:58,463
of people across the country
who have benefitted from

1007
00:44:58,462 --> 00:44:59,462
Medicaid expansion.

1008
00:44:59,463 --> 00:45:01,463
The Press: And if can just
follow up on Michelle's

1009
00:45:01,465 --> 00:45:02,465
question.

1010
00:45:02,466 --> 00:45:04,266
The President did say to
Steve Harvey,

1011
00:45:04,268 --> 00:45:06,608
and you reiterated at the
podium yesterday,

1012
00:45:06,603 --> 00:45:09,573
that there is a resource
diversion that happens if

1013
00:45:09,573 --> 00:45:11,613
the President goes into a
situation that is

1014
00:45:11,608 --> 00:45:14,878
incendiary, difficult.

1015
00:45:14,878 --> 00:45:19,048
And he's said that before
when there were questions

1016
00:45:19,049 --> 00:45:22,189
raised about why he didn't
go to North Charleston or to

1017
00:45:22,186 --> 00:45:25,056
Sanford or to Ferguson, and
yet he did not go to

1018
00:45:25,055 --> 00:45:26,055
those places.

1019
00:45:26,056 --> 00:45:29,256
And he has also said that --
and other members of his

1020
00:45:29,259 --> 00:45:31,899
administration have talked
about how important it is

1021
00:45:31,895 --> 00:45:33,595
for him when he gets out and
he meets people

1022
00:45:33,597 --> 00:45:35,467
face-to-face, and he goes
into communities and he

1023
00:45:35,466 --> 00:45:36,366
talks to them.

1024
00:45:36,366 --> 00:45:41,276
And there's also an optical
power to that, as well.

1025
00:45:41,271 --> 00:45:43,811
So why has he never gone to
any of those places?

1026
00:45:43,807 --> 00:45:47,447
And what of the criticism
that it is a reluctance to

1027
00:45:47,444 --> 00:45:50,384
wade deeper into the race
issue?

1028
00:45:50,380 --> 00:45:51,850
Mr. Earnest: Well, let me
just start out by pointing

1029
00:45:51,849 --> 00:45:54,589
out one other fact, that
this phenomenon that we've

1030
00:45:54,585 --> 00:45:59,755
seen in terms of the impact
that a presidential visit

1031
00:45:59,756 --> 00:46:04,026
has on a local community is
something that we've cited

1032
00:46:04,027 --> 00:46:05,597
in a variety of
circumstances;

1033
00:46:05,596 --> 00:46:07,596
that oftentimes people will
say, well,

1034
00:46:07,598 --> 00:46:09,598
how come the President
hasn't had a chance to go

1035
00:46:09,600 --> 00:46:11,600
and view the damage from the
forest fire firsthand,

1036
00:46:11,602 --> 00:46:13,602
or why hasn't he visited
this community that was

1037
00:46:13,604 --> 00:46:15,144
struck yesterday by a
tornado,

1038
00:46:15,139 --> 00:46:17,139
and the fact is that in
those scenarios,

1039
00:46:17,141 --> 00:46:19,941
there is significant police
presence required to respond

1040
00:46:19,943 --> 00:46:22,743
to whatever significant
event has occurred in that

1041
00:46:22,746 --> 00:46:25,946
local community, and the
President's reluctance to

1042
00:46:25,949 --> 00:46:29,089
draw resources away from
that immediate response is

1043
00:46:29,086 --> 00:46:31,956
the reason that he doesn't
often go right away.

1044
00:46:31,955 --> 00:46:39,535
So this is a familiar
phenomenon and experience --

1045
00:46:39,530 --> 00:46:45,900
the point I'm trying to make
here it that's not just an

1046
00:46:45,903 --> 00:46:49,003
excuse, that's an actual
fact about what happens when

1047
00:46:49,006 --> 00:46:50,476
the President travels
somewhere.

1048
00:46:50,474 --> 00:46:52,344
The Press: But there are
instances,

1049
00:46:52,342 --> 00:46:54,882
absolute instances where
this President and other

1050
00:46:54,878 --> 00:46:58,218
Presidents have traveled to
the scene of whether it's a

1051
00:46:58,215 --> 00:47:03,525
fire or a natural disaster
or instances where you --

1052
00:47:03,520 --> 00:47:05,490
Mr. Earnest: But not the day
after the tornado.

1053
00:47:05,489 --> 00:47:06,519
Not the day after.

1054
00:47:06,523 --> 00:47:09,463
And what we're talking about
in Baltimore is a couple of

1055
00:47:09,459 --> 00:47:11,559
days after we've seen a
significant incident.

1056
00:47:11,562 --> 00:47:14,702
Now, I don't have any -- I
don't want to leave you with

1057
00:47:14,698 --> 00:47:16,698
the impression that in a
week or two,

1058
00:47:16,700 --> 00:47:18,700
we're going to wait for
things to calm down,

1059
00:47:18,702 --> 00:47:20,702
the President is
automatically going to go.

1060
00:47:20,704 --> 00:47:22,144
That's not the current plan.

1061
00:47:22,139 --> 00:47:22,869
It could be added to the
schedule,

1062
00:47:22,873 --> 00:47:24,673
but that's not the current
plan.

1063
00:47:24,675 --> 00:47:27,675
And the fact is I think the
President has demonstrated a

1064
00:47:27,678 --> 00:47:29,678
willingness -- and this is
what -- I think this is the

1065
00:47:29,680 --> 00:47:32,220
substance of the question
that Michelle was asking,

1066
00:47:32,216 --> 00:47:34,356
which is the President has
been very visible in talking

1067
00:47:34,351 --> 00:47:36,751
about these incidents when
they've cropped up in ways

1068
00:47:36,753 --> 00:47:38,923
that have been very powerful
and resonated deeply within

1069
00:47:38,922 --> 00:47:41,422
these communities, even if
the President himself hasn't

1070
00:47:41,425 --> 00:47:42,995
set foot in them.

1071
00:47:42,993 --> 00:47:45,593
And I think that is an
indication of the power of

1072
00:47:45,596 --> 00:47:46,866
the presidency.

1073
00:47:46,863 --> 00:47:49,763
And it certainly doesn't
rule out a presidential

1074
00:47:49,766 --> 00:47:52,336
visit to a community like
Baltimore or Ferguson

1075
00:47:52,336 --> 00:47:54,176
sometime in the future.

1076
00:47:54,171 --> 00:47:55,401
Lesley.

1077
00:47:55,405 --> 00:47:56,375
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1078
00:47:56,373 --> 00:47:58,573
I wanted to kind of stay on
Baltimore.

1079
00:47:58,575 --> 00:48:00,415
Yesterday you were asked
about the President's use of

1080
00:48:00,410 --> 00:48:03,680
the word "thug," and you
said he wasn't going to walk

1081
00:48:03,680 --> 00:48:04,720
it back.

1082
00:48:04,715 --> 00:48:07,985
But I'm just wondering
whether the President or his

1083
00:48:07,985 --> 00:48:11,325
staff have been aware of the
racial connotations of that.

1084
00:48:11,321 --> 00:48:14,021
You had -- Richard Sherman
sort of famously talked

1085
00:48:14,024 --> 00:48:18,564
about it back a year ago or
so.

1086
00:48:18,562 --> 00:48:24,432
Did nobody think about that?

1087
00:48:24,434 --> 00:48:28,174
Larry Wilmore last night
was, "Et tu, Obama?"

1088
00:48:28,171 --> 00:48:29,371
-- raising that.

1089
00:48:29,373 --> 00:48:32,713
It doesn't usually happen
when it's like riots of

1090
00:48:32,709 --> 00:48:35,979
school kids, or sport teams
reaction vociferously to

1091
00:48:35,979 --> 00:48:40,119
losses or wins sometimes, so
I'm just wondering why you

1092
00:48:40,117 --> 00:48:43,817
haven't acknowledged that
the word might not have been

1093
00:48:43,820 --> 00:48:44,820
well received.

1094
00:48:44,821 --> 00:48:47,091
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think,
Lesley,

1095
00:48:47,090 --> 00:48:52,600
that the President was
trying to draw a very clear

1096
00:48:52,596 --> 00:48:56,766
distinction between
individuals who engaged in

1097
00:48:56,767 --> 00:49:01,067
criminal acts like burning a
CVS,

1098
00:49:01,071 --> 00:49:03,871
or throwing a cinder block
at a police officer,

1099
00:49:03,874 --> 00:49:10,084
from the vast majority of
people in the city of

1100
00:49:10,080 --> 00:49:12,880
Baltimore who found a
constructive and appropriate

1101
00:49:12,883 --> 00:49:16,183
way to publicly raise their
concerns about the treatment

1102
00:49:16,186 --> 00:49:19,326
of Freddie Gray by the
Baltimore Police Department.

1103
00:49:19,323 --> 00:49:23,063
And the President is wholly
supportive of those citizens

1104
00:49:23,060 --> 00:49:26,260
who, now not just in
Baltimore but in places like

1105
00:49:26,263 --> 00:49:28,563
New York and Houston and
even here in Washington,

1106
00:49:28,565 --> 00:49:31,005
D.C., where people have
taken to the streets in a

1107
00:49:31,001 --> 00:49:35,541
genuinely peaceful fashion
to make their voice heard,

1108
00:49:35,539 --> 00:49:39,479
and to call for change and
to insist for justice for

1109
00:49:39,476 --> 00:49:40,746
Freddie Gray.

1110
00:49:40,744 --> 00:49:45,244
That is a legitimate and
even honorable expression of

1111
00:49:45,248 --> 00:49:49,218
one's views in a responsible
fashion and the President

1112
00:49:49,219 --> 00:49:50,389
strongly supported that.

1113
00:49:50,387 --> 00:49:54,287
The President also went the
next step of praising those

1114
00:49:54,291 --> 00:49:57,531
individuals who actually
sought to defuse the

1115
00:49:57,527 --> 00:50:01,327
violence, that we did see
leaders in the community --

1116
00:50:01,331 --> 00:50:05,231
many of them were members of
the clergy -- who did try to

1117
00:50:05,235 --> 00:50:08,435
confront those who were
engaged in criminal acts and

1118
00:50:08,438 --> 00:50:10,238
get them to stop.

1119
00:50:10,240 --> 00:50:12,710
And the President certainly
believes that their courage

1120
00:50:12,709 --> 00:50:17,119
in speaking out and trying
to prevent that kind of

1121
00:50:17,114 --> 00:50:20,184
violence and criminal
behavior is also worthy of

1122
00:50:20,183 --> 00:50:23,883
our praise and recognition.

1123
00:50:23,887 --> 00:50:28,597
And the fact is the
President did use some tough

1124
00:50:28,592 --> 00:50:32,992
language to differentiate
between the responsible

1125
00:50:32,996 --> 00:50:36,266
actions of the vast majority
from the criminal actions of

1126
00:50:36,266 --> 00:50:39,706
a very small group of
individuals.

1127
00:50:39,703 --> 00:50:40,703
The Press: Right.

1128
00:50:40,704 --> 00:50:42,704
But as the nation's first
black President,

1129
00:50:42,706 --> 00:50:44,746
did he not realize that
there might be some --

1130
00:50:44,741 --> 00:50:46,811
people would hear it in a
different way,

1131
00:50:46,810 --> 00:50:49,510
in a different context, and
not listen as soon as that

1132
00:50:49,513 --> 00:50:50,413
word was used?

1133
00:50:50,414 --> 00:50:52,554
Mr. Earnest: Well, Lesley, I
think it is entirely

1134
00:50:52,549 --> 00:50:54,049
understandable that when
you're talking about a

1135
00:50:54,050 --> 00:50:58,360
subject as complicated as
this one,

1136
00:50:58,355 --> 00:51:02,555
that there might be a few
people who get offended by

1137
00:51:02,559 --> 00:51:04,459
one word or two.

1138
00:51:04,461 --> 00:51:06,461
What the President was
focused on is making sure

1139
00:51:06,463 --> 00:51:09,763
that his message was
delivered.

1140
00:51:09,766 --> 00:51:11,406
And I don't think there was
any misunderstanding what

1141
00:51:11,401 --> 00:51:13,371
the President was trying to
communicate.

1142
00:51:13,370 --> 00:51:15,770
And I think that, if
anything else,

1143
00:51:15,772 --> 00:51:20,312
is a strong endorsement of
the words he chose in

1144
00:51:20,310 --> 00:51:25,380
answering the question in
the Rose Garden on Tuesday

1145
00:51:25,382 --> 00:51:27,922
or whatever day that was.

1146
00:51:27,918 --> 00:51:28,918
Victoria.

1147
00:51:28,919 --> 00:51:32,359
The Press: Does the
President feel that he is

1148
00:51:32,355 --> 00:51:34,525
just going to get
mischaracterized?

1149
00:51:34,524 --> 00:51:38,564
If he speaks with passion on
an issue like this,

1150
00:51:38,562 --> 00:51:41,662
he is dubbed an angry black
man, and yet,

1151
00:51:41,665 --> 00:51:47,605
if he doesn't engage, he is
aloof, he is disengaged.

1152
00:51:47,604 --> 00:51:50,074
And so it doesn't matter
what he does,

1153
00:51:50,073 --> 00:51:52,073
he's going to be
mischaracterized.

1154
00:51:52,075 --> 00:51:55,815
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I
think that the strongest

1155
00:51:55,812 --> 00:52:01,422
endorsement of the way that
the President spoke at the

1156
00:52:01,418 --> 00:52:06,728
news conference on Tuesday
is that his powerful message

1157
00:52:06,723 --> 00:52:10,293
I think was received and I
think has resonated across

1158
00:52:10,293 --> 00:52:11,293
the country.

1159
00:52:11,294 --> 00:52:13,694
And, yes, there have been
some people, frankly,

1160
00:52:13,697 --> 00:52:15,537
on a variety of sides of
this issue who have

1161
00:52:15,532 --> 00:52:18,602
complained about something
that the President says.

1162
00:52:18,602 --> 00:52:20,132
But people complain about
what the President says all

1163
00:52:20,136 --> 00:52:23,506
the time for a variety of
reasons.

1164
00:52:23,507 --> 00:52:25,777
What the President is most
interested in is trying to

1165
00:52:25,775 --> 00:52:29,375
communicate as forcefully
and directly and as clearly

1166
00:52:29,379 --> 00:52:32,019
as he can to the vast
majority of the country,

1167
00:52:32,015 --> 00:52:33,955
and I think in this
instance,

1168
00:52:33,950 --> 00:52:38,590
in making clear that there
is a world's worth of

1169
00:52:38,588 --> 00:52:42,658
difference between the
criminal actions of a small

1170
00:52:42,659 --> 00:52:46,959
minority and the responsible
public expressions of

1171
00:52:46,963 --> 00:52:50,133
concern by the vast majority
of people who are on the

1172
00:52:50,133 --> 00:52:53,473
streets of Baltimore over
the last few days.

1173
00:52:53,470 --> 00:52:54,470
John.

1174
00:52:54,471 --> 00:52:55,841
The Press: I wanted to ask
you about something that you

1175
00:52:55,839 --> 00:52:58,809
said very definitively
earlier in the briefing.

1176
00:52:58,808 --> 00:53:02,608
You said that "facilitating
a ransom payment is not

1177
00:53:02,612 --> 00:53:04,952
tantamount to paying the
ransom."

1178
00:53:04,948 --> 00:53:08,988
And I wanted you to explain
that a little bit further.

1179
00:53:08,985 --> 00:53:11,585
Mr. Earnest: Well, it's
difficult for me to spend --

1180
00:53:11,588 --> 00:53:15,058
to explain that in a lot of
detail simply because I

1181
00:53:15,058 --> 00:53:17,698
can't talk about all of the
tactics and tools that are

1182
00:53:17,694 --> 00:53:20,294
employed by our law
enforcement and intelligence

1183
00:53:20,297 --> 00:53:23,567
professionals when they take
steps to try rescue

1184
00:53:23,567 --> 00:53:27,067
American hostages.

1185
00:53:27,070 --> 00:53:31,610
But what I can tell you is
that our policy about not

1186
00:53:31,608 --> 00:53:35,308
paying ransoms or making
concessions to terrorists is

1187
00:53:35,312 --> 00:53:37,312
one that has been in place
for decades,

1188
00:53:37,314 --> 00:53:39,314
and it's not going to change
under this President.

1189
00:53:39,316 --> 00:53:41,286
And the reason for that, as
painful as it is,

1190
00:53:41,284 --> 00:53:44,054
which I've acknowledged in
the past,

1191
00:53:44,054 --> 00:53:48,524
is we know that terrorist
organizations use ransom

1192
00:53:48,525 --> 00:53:51,825
payments to fund additional
terror activities,

1193
00:53:51,828 --> 00:53:56,698
and shutting down that
financing method is a

1194
00:53:56,700 --> 00:53:57,700
top priority.

1195
00:53:57,701 --> 00:54:00,401
A few months ago we had
David Cohen,

1196
00:54:00,403 --> 00:54:02,403
who was then a senior
official at the Treasury

1197
00:54:02,405 --> 00:54:06,375
Department responsible for
our counterterror finance

1198
00:54:06,376 --> 00:54:08,946
operations, and he
identified in the context of

1199
00:54:08,945 --> 00:54:11,645
that briefing that ransom
payments were a significant

1200
00:54:11,648 --> 00:54:14,818
concern of ours as it
relates to ISIL.

1201
00:54:14,818 --> 00:54:18,258
But this is true -- we know
this applies to other

1202
00:54:18,254 --> 00:54:20,254
terrorist organizations, as
well,

1203
00:54:20,256 --> 00:54:22,256
that they rely on that
source of funding to carry

1204
00:54:22,258 --> 00:54:26,258
out their acts of violence.

1205
00:54:26,262 --> 00:54:28,632
And we're focused on trying
to shut that down.

1206
00:54:28,632 --> 00:54:32,402
Now, what's also true is
that this administration --

1207
00:54:32,402 --> 00:54:34,402
and this is true of previous
administrations,

1208
00:54:34,404 --> 00:54:38,274
too -- that the FBI, other
law enforcement agencies,

1209
00:54:38,274 --> 00:54:40,774
intelligence agencies and
the military go to great

1210
00:54:40,777 --> 00:54:43,447
lengths to try to rescue
Americans.

1211
00:54:43,446 --> 00:54:46,646
And those same agencies are
also involved in doing

1212
00:54:46,650 --> 00:54:49,450
everything they can to try
to support the families that

1213
00:54:49,452 --> 00:54:50,852
are in this terrible
situation.

1214
00:54:50,854 --> 00:54:58,224
And that is something that
the President also considers

1215
00:54:58,228 --> 00:54:59,458
to be a priority.

1216
00:54:59,462 --> 00:55:02,532
And the best evidence I have
for that is that as much

1217
00:55:02,532 --> 00:55:06,532
effort as we devote to
supporting those families,

1218
00:55:06,536 --> 00:55:10,076
we're currently engaged in a
review process to see what

1219
00:55:10,073 --> 00:55:12,613
more we can do and how we
can better support those

1220
00:55:12,609 --> 00:55:15,149
families that are in that
awful situation.

1221
00:55:15,145 --> 00:55:19,385
And we've solicited feedback
from the families themselves

1222
00:55:19,382 --> 00:55:21,382
in response to some of the
recommendations that have

1223
00:55:21,384 --> 00:55:22,784
been put forward.

1224
00:55:22,786 --> 00:55:25,826
And I would anticipate that
we'll some more details on

1225
00:55:25,822 --> 00:55:27,122
that review relatively soon.

1226
00:55:27,123 --> 00:55:31,323
But that is the policy of
the United States.

1227
00:55:31,327 --> 00:55:35,567
And I think it's one that's
also pretty consistent with

1228
00:55:35,565 --> 00:55:36,705
common sense.

1229
00:55:36,700 --> 00:55:39,070
There's a clear reason why
we don't want to -- why we

1230
00:55:39,069 --> 00:55:41,069
don't pay ransoms.

1231
00:55:43,173 --> 00:55:47,973
But there's also a clear
reason why the President and

1232
00:55:47,977 --> 00:55:49,977
the law enforcement agencies
that are involved in these

1233
00:55:49,979 --> 00:55:53,019
situations feel an
obligation to the families

1234
00:55:53,016 --> 00:55:55,016
of those who are being held
hostage overseas.

1235
00:55:55,018 --> 00:55:56,958
The Press: So it is okay to
facilitate paying a ransom?

1236
00:55:56,953 --> 00:55:58,253
The Press: Thank you.

1237
00:55:58,254 --> 00:55:58,924
If this was -- The Press: I
it okay then to facilitate

1238
00:55:58,922 --> 00:56:01,692
paying a ransom?

1239
00:56:01,691 --> 00:56:02,161
Mr. Earnest: Go ahead, John.

1240
00:56:02,158 --> 00:56:05,258
The Press: If this was a
criminal setting and someone

1241
00:56:05,261 --> 00:56:09,871
paid ransom to get a
hostage,

1242
00:56:09,866 --> 00:56:12,966
and someone then also
facilitated the payment of

1243
00:56:12,969 --> 00:56:16,409
that ransom payment, the
person who is the

1244
00:56:16,406 --> 00:56:20,946
facilitator would be guilty
of a criminal conspiracy.

1245
00:56:20,944 --> 00:56:22,074
And that's why I asked that
question,

1246
00:56:22,078 --> 00:56:25,548
to explain why you don't
think it is tantamount to

1247
00:56:25,548 --> 00:56:28,618
paying ransom for a hostage.

1248
00:56:28,618 --> 00:56:31,018
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
it's hard for me to follow

1249
00:56:31,020 --> 00:56:32,420
the analogy that you drew
up.

1250
00:56:32,422 --> 00:56:39,792
I will acknowledge generally
speaking that -- look,

1251
00:56:39,796 --> 00:56:41,796
we've talked about this
quite a bit in the past.

1252
00:56:41,798 --> 00:56:43,168
These are difficult
situations.

1253
00:56:43,166 --> 00:56:46,036
And it's particularly
painful for the families

1254
00:56:46,035 --> 00:56:49,175
that are in this unthinkable
position.

1255
00:56:49,172 --> 00:56:54,442
And the FBI, our
intelligence community,

1256
00:56:54,444 --> 00:56:57,614
our military, State
Department all feel an

1257
00:56:57,614 --> 00:57:00,754
obligation to try to support
these families.

1258
00:57:00,750 --> 00:57:06,320
But at the same time, there
is a common-sense,

1259
00:57:06,322 --> 00:57:10,392
I think easily
understandable law that it's

1260
00:57:10,393 --> 00:57:16,863
in place that does not allow
the U.S.

1261
00:57:16,866 --> 00:57:20,136
government to pay a ransom
or make concessions to

1262
00:57:20,136 --> 00:57:21,276
terrorist organizations.

1263
00:57:21,271 --> 00:57:27,881
And that is a challenge to
reconcile those

1264
00:57:27,877 --> 00:57:29,547
two policies.

1265
00:57:29,546 --> 00:57:32,846
But on one hand, you have a
definitive policy that I've

1266
00:57:32,849 --> 00:57:36,189
spoken out clearly about
many times,

1267
00:57:36,186 --> 00:57:39,026
and it's a policy that's not
going to change.

1268
00:57:39,022 --> 00:57:42,892
And the question is how do
you try to do everything you

1269
00:57:42,892 --> 00:57:48,002
can to rescue an American
that's being held hostage

1270
00:57:47,997 --> 00:57:50,797
and support their family
that's going through living

1271
00:57:50,800 --> 00:57:53,040
hell at the same time?

1272
00:57:53,036 --> 00:57:55,806
And that's something that
our law enforcement

1273
00:57:55,805 --> 00:57:58,675
agencies, our intel
community, our military,

1274
00:57:58,675 --> 00:58:01,845
and our diplomats go to
great lengths to try to do.

1275
00:58:01,845 --> 00:58:02,515
The Press: Can I follow up
on that?

1276
00:58:02,512 --> 00:58:03,282
Mr. Earnest: Jerry, go
ahead.

1277
00:58:03,279 --> 00:58:07,349
The Press: Josh, earlier you
suggested that it's a

1278
00:58:07,350 --> 00:58:10,420
Republican priority -- House
and Senate Republican

1279
00:58:10,420 --> 00:58:12,890
priority to pass the TPP.

1280
00:58:12,889 --> 00:58:15,989
I know that the President
met with Democratic Leader

1281
00:58:15,992 --> 00:58:17,862
in the House Nancy Pelosi
yesterday.

1282
00:58:17,861 --> 00:58:20,101
He's meeting with the New
Democrat Coalition today.

1283
00:58:20,096 --> 00:58:23,936
What kind of outreach,
coordination,

1284
00:58:23,933 --> 00:58:26,133
consolidation of whip counts
is the President doing with

1285
00:58:26,135 --> 00:58:30,275
Republicans in both houses
of -- chambers of Congress?

1286
00:58:30,273 --> 00:58:31,503
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jerry, we
continue to stay in touch

1287
00:58:31,507 --> 00:58:33,877
with Democrats and
Republicans on Capitol Hill

1288
00:58:33,877 --> 00:58:37,177
on this important policy
priority.

1289
00:58:37,180 --> 00:58:39,120
There is a bipartisan
proposal that's moved

1290
00:58:39,115 --> 00:58:42,315
through the Senate Finance
Committee that has earned

1291
00:58:42,318 --> 00:58:44,718
strong support from both
Democrats and Republicans.

1292
00:58:44,721 --> 00:58:47,791
We're gratified by that
initial step.

1293
00:58:47,790 --> 00:58:50,290
We were certainly pleased to
see bipartisan support for

1294
00:58:50,293 --> 00:58:53,263
the most progressive trade
promotion authority bill

1295
00:58:53,263 --> 00:58:55,433
that has ever advanced
through the Congress.

1296
00:58:55,431 --> 00:58:57,431
We're hopeful that that
won't just advance through

1297
00:58:57,433 --> 00:58:59,433
the Senate Finance
Committee* but that it will

1298
00:58:59,435 --> 00:59:04,875
actually advance through the
entire United States Senate.

1299
00:59:04,874 --> 00:59:06,374
And that process is
underway.

1300
00:59:06,376 --> 00:59:10,976
And the White House and the
administration is engaged

1301
00:59:10,980 --> 00:59:12,980
with Democrats and
Republicans to try to

1302
00:59:12,982 --> 00:59:15,122
facilitate that effort.

1303
00:59:15,118 --> 00:59:19,458
The Press: Despite having
some specific conversations

1304
00:59:19,455 --> 00:59:21,895
and meetings with Democrats,
I'm guessing you don't have

1305
00:59:21,891 --> 00:59:23,761
any specific meetings or
conversations with

1306
00:59:23,760 --> 00:59:25,760
Republican leaders to read
out?

1307
00:59:25,762 --> 00:59:26,662
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
President,

1308
00:59:26,663 --> 00:59:27,663
over the last three or four
months,

1309
00:59:27,664 --> 00:59:30,104
has had a number of meetings
with Republicans -- most of

1310
00:59:30,099 --> 00:59:32,969
which you know about -- in
which we acknowledged that

1311
00:59:32,969 --> 00:59:37,809
the President was talking to
them about his legislative

1312
00:59:37,807 --> 00:59:41,777
priorities that include
trade legislation.

1313
00:59:41,778 --> 00:59:44,978
So I don't think it's
surprising to anybody to

1314
00:59:44,981 --> 00:59:48,981
know that the President has
had those conversations

1315
00:59:48,985 --> 00:59:51,125
already, and he's going to
continue to have them with

1316
00:59:51,120 --> 00:59:52,360
both Democrats and
Republicans.

1317
00:59:52,355 --> 00:59:55,355
The Press: In your answer
earlier you seemed to almost

1318
00:59:55,358 --> 00:59:59,198
say that it would be -- you
said that since they

1319
00:59:59,195 --> 01:00:00,965
campaigned to get the
majority in both chambers of

1320
01:00:00,964 --> 01:00:04,064
Congress that it would be on
Republicans in Congress if

1321
01:00:04,067 --> 01:00:05,907
the TPP doesn't go through.

1322
01:00:05,902 --> 01:00:07,232
Is that what you were trying
to say?

1323
01:00:07,236 --> 01:00:08,606
Or am I mischaracterizing
that?

1324
01:00:08,604 --> 01:00:10,974
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think I
was just pointing out that

1325
01:00:10,974 --> 01:00:13,114
there is a little irony
associated with the new

1326
01:00:13,109 --> 01:00:16,209
Republican majority asking
the Democratic President for

1327
01:00:16,212 --> 01:00:18,882
help in passing one of their
legislative priorities.

1328
01:00:18,881 --> 01:00:21,481
Now, this President is going
to be willing to work with

1329
01:00:21,484 --> 01:00:24,854
those Republicans to try to
advance that specific

1330
01:00:24,854 --> 01:00:26,554
proposal because it happens
to be one of his priorities,

1331
01:00:26,556 --> 01:00:28,096
as well.

1332
01:00:28,091 --> 01:00:33,701
But again, presumably
Republicans in Congress ran

1333
01:00:33,696 --> 01:00:37,896
for that job because -- and
tried to get the majority

1334
01:00:37,900 --> 01:00:43,840
because they're interested
in trying to speed the

1335
01:00:43,840 --> 01:00:46,210
passage of their agenda
through both houses

1336
01:00:46,209 --> 01:00:47,339
of Congress.

1337
01:00:47,343 --> 01:00:49,913
And in this case, we can
hopefully work together to

1338
01:00:49,912 --> 01:00:52,852
do something that both the
Democratic President and the

1339
01:00:52,849 --> 01:00:56,089
Republican leadership in the
Congress acknowledge should

1340
01:00:56,085 --> 01:00:57,055
be a priority.

1341
01:00:57,053 --> 01:00:59,653
The Press: Is he leaning on
maybes or nos to try to make

1342
01:00:59,655 --> 01:01:01,925
them into yeses the same way
he's doing on the Democratic

1343
01:01:01,924 --> 01:01:03,324
side of the aisle?

1344
01:01:03,326 --> 01:01:04,896
Mr. Earnest: The President,
again,

1345
01:01:04,894 --> 01:01:06,294
is having a wide range of
conversations with both

1346
01:01:06,295 --> 01:01:08,195
Democrats and Republicans.

1347
01:01:08,197 --> 01:01:09,097
In the back.

1348
01:01:09,098 --> 01:01:11,298
The Press: Yes, thank you
very much.

1349
01:01:11,300 --> 01:01:12,300
Two questions.

1350
01:01:12,301 --> 01:01:14,301
First one, back on Bernie
Sanders.

1351
01:01:14,303 --> 01:01:16,843
Do you think that we can
expect the kind of public

1352
01:01:16,839 --> 01:01:18,879
support from the President
as he did for

1353
01:01:18,875 --> 01:01:19,875
Hillary Clinton?

1354
01:01:19,876 --> 01:01:23,816
Mr. Earnest: I think I've
indicated that the President

1355
01:01:23,813 --> 01:01:26,513
does not -- I don't have any
sort of endorsement to offer

1356
01:01:26,516 --> 01:01:28,516
in the presidential race at
this point.

1357
01:01:28,518 --> 01:01:32,858
So I don't anticipate that
the President has an

1358
01:01:32,855 --> 01:01:35,495
endorsement to share any
time soon.

1359
01:01:35,491 --> 01:01:39,291
But if that changes, I'm
aware of the intense

1360
01:01:39,295 --> 01:01:41,295
interest among the White
House press corps for that

1361
01:01:41,297 --> 01:01:43,297
kind of news and I'll make
sure that it's shared

1362
01:01:43,299 --> 01:01:44,299
promptly with all of you.

1363
01:01:44,300 --> 01:01:47,200
The Press: Second question,
about Charlie Hebdo -- one

1364
01:01:47,203 --> 01:01:49,803
of the cartoonists of
Charlie Hebdo said in an

1365
01:01:49,806 --> 01:01:52,046
interview that he was
offered a meeting at the

1366
01:01:52,041 --> 01:01:53,741
White House and he declined.

1367
01:01:53,743 --> 01:01:56,313
Was there any kind of
official invitation from the

1368
01:01:56,312 --> 01:01:57,142
White House?

1369
01:01:57,146 --> 01:02:00,386
Are you aware of that?

1370
01:02:00,383 --> 01:02:01,283
Mr. Earnest: I'm not aware
of that.

1371
01:02:01,284 --> 01:02:03,984
We can check the veracity of
that report for you.

1372
01:02:03,986 --> 01:02:05,856
Ali, I'll give you the last
one.

1373
01:02:05,855 --> 01:02:06,955
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1374
01:02:06,956 --> 01:02:09,326
I wanted to return to the
hostage policy one

1375
01:02:09,325 --> 01:02:09,855
more time.

1376
01:02:09,859 --> 01:02:11,199
Mr. Earnest: Okay.

1377
01:02:11,194 --> 01:02:14,094
The Press: The family of
James Foley, back in 2014,

1378
01:02:14,097 --> 01:02:15,667
cited threats by the U.S.

1379
01:02:15,665 --> 01:02:19,305
government in relation to
them trying to raise money

1380
01:02:19,302 --> 01:02:21,142
to pay for a ransom.

1381
01:02:21,137 --> 01:02:23,407
So I'm wondering how does
that -- how do you reconcile

1382
01:02:23,406 --> 01:02:30,276
those allegations with the
idea that the FBI or other

1383
01:02:30,279 --> 01:02:32,849
government agencies may have
been trying to facilitate a

1384
01:02:32,849 --> 01:02:37,019
ransom payment in the case
of the Weinstein family?

1385
01:02:37,019 --> 01:02:39,259
Mr. Earnest: As I've said
many times when asked this

1386
01:02:39,255 --> 01:02:40,755
question, I just am not
going to go through the

1387
01:02:40,756 --> 01:02:44,226
understandably confidential
conversations that occurred

1388
01:02:44,227 --> 01:02:46,997
between any of the families
that have been in this

1389
01:02:46,996 --> 01:02:51,166
situation in recent months
and the law enforcement and

1390
01:02:51,167 --> 01:02:53,167
counterterrorism
professionals that have

1391
01:02:53,169 --> 01:02:56,109
worked with them to try to
secure the rescue of their

1392
01:02:56,105 --> 01:02:57,105
loved one.

1393
01:02:57,106 --> 01:02:59,106
The Press: And I know a lot
of people have asked

1394
01:02:59,108 --> 01:03:00,108
you this.

1395
01:03:00,109 --> 01:03:02,079
I don't mean to belabor it,
but I'm going to anyway.

1396
01:03:02,078 --> 01:03:03,548
Mr. Earnest: That's sort of
what we do around here.

1397
01:03:03,546 --> 01:03:05,846
(laughter)

1398
01:03:05,848 --> 01:03:07,788
The Press: It's a
crass analogy,

1399
01:03:07,783 --> 01:03:10,323
but isn't this kind of an
attempt to split the baby in

1400
01:03:10,319 --> 01:03:13,189
terms of you have one
official policy which is you

1401
01:03:13,189 --> 01:03:15,689
don't offer ransoms but that
at the other time,

1402
01:03:15,691 --> 01:03:17,761
you have these things which
you understandably say you

1403
01:03:17,760 --> 01:03:20,860
can't get into but that may
be somewhat contradictory to

1404
01:03:20,863 --> 01:03:23,533
that official position.

1405
01:03:23,533 --> 01:03:27,473
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
-- I guess what I will

1406
01:03:27,470 --> 01:03:33,140
acknowledge is that these
are the kinds of policy

1407
01:03:33,142 --> 01:03:36,612
dilemmas that crop up on a
-- basically on a daily

1408
01:03:36,612 --> 01:03:37,612
basis around here.

1409
01:03:37,613 --> 01:03:39,613
Sometimes it seems like
hourly.

1410
01:03:41,184 --> 01:03:44,754
In this case, we're talking
about a particularly

1411
01:03:44,754 --> 01:03:50,294
challenging one given the
emotions that involved;

1412
01:03:50,293 --> 01:03:52,293
that we're talking about a
very human situation when

1413
01:03:52,295 --> 01:03:56,765
you have families who are
waiting on pins and needles,

1414
01:03:56,766 --> 01:03:59,866
worried to death about the
safety and well-being of

1415
01:03:59,869 --> 01:04:03,139
their loved one who is being
held hostage overseas.

1416
01:04:03,139 --> 01:04:07,039
And again, I think it is a
credit to our law

1417
01:04:07,043 --> 01:04:09,983
enforcement officials and to
our counterterrorism

1418
01:04:09,979 --> 01:04:15,089
officials that they feel an
obligation to use their

1419
01:04:15,084 --> 01:04:18,584
expertise and their
capabilities to support

1420
01:04:18,588 --> 01:04:20,328
these families.

1421
01:04:20,323 --> 01:04:21,323
That's what they should do.

1422
01:04:21,324 --> 01:04:23,424
That's what the President
wants them to do.

1423
01:04:23,426 --> 01:04:26,766
And in fact, that's why the
President ordered a review,

1424
01:04:26,762 --> 01:04:29,032
is to see what more we can
do and how we can better

1425
01:04:29,031 --> 01:04:31,701
support them.

1426
01:04:31,701 --> 01:04:33,241
The President has also
demonstrated his own

1427
01:04:33,236 --> 01:04:35,736
willingness to go to great
lengths to try to rescue

1428
01:04:35,738 --> 01:04:37,538
American hostages.

1429
01:04:37,540 --> 01:04:43,380
So we obviously have the
example from last summer,

1430
01:04:43,379 --> 01:04:45,219
where the President, as you
all know now,

1431
01:04:45,214 --> 01:04:47,214
and as has been widely
reported,

1432
01:04:47,216 --> 01:04:53,056
ordered a raid into Syria,
to put boots on the ground

1433
01:04:53,055 --> 01:04:59,765
in Syria to try to rescue
American hostages there.

1434
01:04:59,762 --> 01:05:03,962
Unfortunately, that raid,
while conducted consistent

1435
01:05:03,966 --> 01:05:08,306
with the strategy, didn't
result in the rescue of

1436
01:05:08,304 --> 01:05:09,304
American hostages.

1437
01:05:09,305 --> 01:05:13,305
But there have been other
situations where there have

1438
01:05:13,309 --> 01:05:16,449
been daring raids undertaken
and have resulted in the

1439
01:05:16,445 --> 01:05:20,045
rescue of Americans who were
being held hostage.

1440
01:05:20,049 --> 01:05:22,219
I'll remind you of the
situation of Jessica

1441
01:05:22,218 --> 01:05:26,388
Buchanan, who was held in
Africa.

1442
01:05:26,389 --> 01:05:29,829
And the President ordered a
military operation to put

1443
01:05:29,825 --> 01:05:33,025
boots on the ground in a
foreign land in a dangerous

1444
01:05:33,029 --> 01:05:35,999
place to secure her rescue.

1445
01:05:35,998 --> 01:05:38,538
And the President was
delighted,

1446
01:05:38,534 --> 01:05:40,534
and I think the American
people were delighted,

1447
01:05:40,536 --> 01:05:42,806
that that rescue was
successful and allowed her

1448
01:05:42,805 --> 01:05:44,275
to safely return.

1449
01:05:44,273 --> 01:05:47,013
Unfortunately, each of these
situations haven't ended

1450
01:05:47,009 --> 01:05:48,679
that way.

1451
01:05:48,678 --> 01:05:54,218
But against all of that is a
policy that's been in place

1452
01:05:54,216 --> 01:05:58,426
for decades that is clearly
in the best interest of our

1453
01:05:58,421 --> 01:06:02,521
national security, and that
is a policy that does not

1454
01:06:02,525 --> 01:06:05,995
allow the federal government
to pay ransom or otherwise

1455
01:06:05,995 --> 01:06:09,235
make concessions to hostages
[sic].

1456
01:06:09,231 --> 01:06:15,171
And again, I think people
who take sort of an unbiased

1457
01:06:17,973 --> 01:06:24,143
look at this do acknowledge
that this is a thorny policy

1458
01:06:24,146 --> 01:06:29,086
problem and one that has
significant implications for

1459
01:06:29,085 --> 01:06:33,625
our broader national
security, but in some cases,

1460
01:06:33,622 --> 01:06:36,592
the life of an American
citizen who is in a very

1461
01:06:36,592 --> 01:06:38,332
vulnerable situation.

1462
01:06:38,327 --> 01:06:42,227
And the President certainly
takes this seriously,

1463
01:06:42,231 --> 01:06:45,301
but just as importantly, our
law enforcement officials,

1464
01:06:45,301 --> 01:06:47,301
our military officials and
our intelligence officials

1465
01:06:47,303 --> 01:06:50,203
who are responsible for
reacting to these kinds 

1466
01:06:50,206 --> 01:06:52,976
of situations take 
it seriously as well.

1467
01:06:52,975 --> 01:06:57,415
And we're talking about this
particular instance today

1468
01:06:57,413 --> 01:06:59,683
because of a 
Wall Street Journal report,

1469
01:06:59,682 --> 01:07:03,482
but I would anticipate that
once we have completed this

1470
01:07:03,486 --> 01:07:06,556
hostage policy review that
we'll have an opportunity to

1471
01:07:06,555 --> 01:07:09,425
consider some of the
recommendations of that

1472
01:07:09,425 --> 01:07:11,865
review and we'll have
another briefing like this

1473
01:07:11,861 --> 01:07:15,061
one where we'll have an
opportunity to weigh the

1474
01:07:15,064 --> 01:07:18,604
pros and cons of the way
that this is implemented.

1475
01:07:18,601 --> 01:07:21,171
But I can tell you that even
after that review has been

1476
01:07:21,170 --> 01:07:25,560
completed, one thing that
will not change is our

1477
01:07:25,555 --> 01:07:28,615
no ransom, 
no concessions policy.

1478
01:07:28,611 --> 01:07:29,111
Thanks, everybody.