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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.