English subtitles for clip: File:4-8-13- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Carney:
Welcome.

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Good afternoon,
ladies and gentlemen.

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Thanks for being here.

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I hate to startle to you
with my relative punctuality,

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but I do have to --

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(laughter)

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I have to leave
at 1:45-ish, 1:50,

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so I want to go straight
to your questions.

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Julie.

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The Press:
Five Americans were killed in
Afghanistan over the weekend,

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including a
25-year-old diplomat.

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Did that incident or any of the
other recent violence we've seen

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in Afghanistan color the
President's decision-making as

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he's looking to settle
on a post-2014 force?

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Mr. Carney:
Well, first of all, our thoughts
and prayers go out to those who

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lost their lives, both military
personnel as well as civil

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personnel, as well as to
those who were wounded.

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What is absolutely the case
is Afghanistan remains a very

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violent place.

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It is also true that we have
made great strides in our

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efforts to train up the
Afghanistan National Security

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Forces as they take increasing
responsibility for the security

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in their country, and
that process continues.

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So, broadly, in answer to your
question, the answer is no,

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that no specific incident is
affecting a decision-making

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process in a policy that the
President is convinced is the

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correct one and that he is
engaged in with his national

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security team and
military commanders.

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The Press:
General Dempsey said that the
U.S. should wait until the

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summer or perhaps even later
to make the decision on the

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post-2014 force.

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Is that the timeline that the
President is operating on --

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summer or perhaps later?

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Mr. Carney:
I don't have any preview to give
you of that process except that

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the President is committed to
it as in keeping with the stated

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policy objectives
he's made in the past,

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as well as our coordination
with our allies.

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But I have nothing
further for you on that.

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The Press:
And then, just quickly, this is
sort of a big week on a lot of

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different fronts -- guns,
immigration, the budget.

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How does the White House view
this week in terms of the

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President's second-term agenda?

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Do you see it as a
pivotal week for him?

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Mr. Carney:
I wouldn't distinguish this
particular week from ones that

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have led to it or that will come
after it except to say that we

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have a lot of work to do on
behalf of the American people.

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The President set forth in his
State of the Union address and

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in his inaugural address a
vision and a policy agenda that

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demonstrates his commitment in
his second term to continue to

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build on the progress
we made in the first.

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When it comes to jobs
and economic growth,

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that remains his
number-one priority.

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The middle class, growing
it and expanding it;

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providing ladders of
opportunity to the middle class,

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for those who aspire to it
-- that's his North Star.

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He is also committed
to comprehensive

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immigration reform.

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And you've seen the efforts
that he's made and we've made in

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concert with those working on
it in Congress to help bring

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that about.

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And we've been encouraged
by the progress,

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the bipartisan progress
on that effort.

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Actions to reduce
gun violence --

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very much a priority.

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The President, as you know,
is traveling later today to

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Connecticut to talk about
the need for Congress to act,

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to vote on common-sense
measures to reduce gun violence.

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And at that event he will
meet with families of Newtown

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victims, as you would expect.

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These are all very
important priorities.

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And the President believes that
he was sent back to this office

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and that lawmakers on the Hill
were elected, or reelected,

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to do the business of
the American people,

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and there's no time to waste
in getting about doing

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that business.

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So every one of these weeks
is full of the possibility for

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progress on a range of fronts,
and this is not unique

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in that case.

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Certainly, Congress is back, and
that affects what's happening on

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Capitol Hill.

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But the President,
the White House,

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the administration are
constantly trying to move

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forward on all of these issues.

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The Press:
So on the subject of guns, as
I'm sure I don't have to tell

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you, there's some sense that
momentum may have stalled a

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little bit on the legislation.

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And there are also reports that
Senators Toomey and Manchin may

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be working towards a compromise
on a background check --

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that would focus on background
checks but with some exemptions.

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Would that be enough
for the White House,

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or are you simply encouraged
that there's forward progress?

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Mr. Carney:
Well, I'll say a few things.

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One, we are working with those
on Capitol Hill who are working

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towards solutions to the
legislative priorities the

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President laid out.

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Closing the loopholes in our
background check system is a

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major priority, and it is
something that we should be able

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to achieve; after all, more
than 90% of the American people

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support universal
background checks.

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Democrats, Republicans,
independents;

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Americans from across the
country, every region;

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gun owners, a majority
-- a large majority --

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support background checks.

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It is a common-sense
thing to do --

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to take the system that exists
and improve it so that those who

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should not obtain or be able to
obtain a weapon under existing

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law cannot obtain them because
of the loopholes that exist.

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So we are working with those who
are trying to make progress on

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this issue of both parties on
Capitol Hill and we'll continue

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to do so.

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You've seen the
President's proposals,

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or his ideas on this issue, and
I would just say on the issue of

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background checks the
President's ideas include

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exemptions for family-to-family
transfer or a loan of weapon,

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a firearm, between
hunters who are friends.

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So this is not -- I mean, I
wouldn't want to cabin that

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issue as particularly problematic.

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But I'm not going to get into
details about the negotiations

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going on between individual
senators or groups of senators

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except to say that we continue
to press for action by Congress.

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And we continue to press for,
as my colleague, Dan Pfeiffer,

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said yesterday, the absolute
obligation of Congress to vote

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on each one of these proposals.

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I recently watched the State
of the Union address again,

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and it is a powerful moment,
it is worth reviewing when the

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President called on Congress to
vote on each of these measures

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because Gabby
Giffords deserves it;

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because Hadiya
Pendleton deserves it;

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because the children
of Newtown deserve it.

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And members of both parties
stood and applauded.

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So they ought to fulfill the
message they sent by applauding

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by allowing a vote on
every one of these issues.

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The Press:
Can you confirm, too, that, as
a distinguished colleague is

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reporting, that parents of the
victims of Newtown are traveling

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with him on Air Force One?

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Mr. Carney:
I can tell you two things,
which is -- regarding that.

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First, prior to
delivering his remarks,

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the President will meet
with families of victims and

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survivors of the tragedy
at Sandy Hook Elementary in

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Newtown, Connecticut, as well
as with first responders.

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Following the remarks, 11 family
members of victims will return

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to Washington, D.C. with the
President onboard Air Force One.

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These are family members who are
planning to be in Washington to

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speak with Congress about the
importance of taking action to

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reduce gun violence.

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And in order to make sure they
were able to attend the event in

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Connecticut and still be in
Washington when they needed to

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be, we invited those family
members to fly back with

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the President.

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The Press:
I just had a question
about North Korea as well.

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Over the weekend, some
senior Chinese officials,

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Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister
Wang made comments alluding to

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North Korea.

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It seemed to be statements that
were encouraging North Korea to

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stand down a little bit.

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Is the United States
encouraged by those statements?

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Do you have any
reaction to that?

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Mr. Carney:
I can tell you that we welcome
efforts by Beijing and Moscow to

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encourage Pyongyang to
refrain from provocative

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rhetoric and threats.

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We will continue to
work with our Chinese,

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Russian and other partners to
get North Korea to abide by its

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international obligations.

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As we've said in the past,
we have been working with the

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Chinese and the Russians, and
encouraging those nations and

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those governments to use their
influence with the North Koreans

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to persuade the North Koreans to
cease these provocative actions

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and this provocative rhetoric,
because stability in the region

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is obviously in the interest
of every country in the region.

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The Press:
Jay, these 11 family members
that will be coming back with

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the President and lobbying
members of Congress this week,

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how important is their role?

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And what kind of an impact do
you think they can have up on

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Capitol Hill?

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Mr. Carney:
I think those family members who
have felt the pain of the Sandy

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Hook tragedy most keenly
are important voices in

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this discussion.

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I think it's almost
self-evident.

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When the President recently held
a roundtable in Denver at the

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police academy there last
week, there were family --

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there was parents of
a victim in Aurora,

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and they spoke passionately
about how their lives had been

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torn apart and turned
upside-down by the loss of their

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child in that movie theater, and
how they were then committed for

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the rest of their lives to work
for improvements in our laws

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that can reduce gun violence.

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And I think that that
message is very powerful.

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So it's been stated in recent
weeks that somehow the memory of

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Newtown has faded, at
least in Washington,

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and I think it's important to
remember for those families and

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for everyone in that community
and for so many people across

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America, those memories
will never fade.

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The pain will never go away.

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And it is the obligation of the
members of Congress who stood

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and applauded when the President
called on them to vote on these

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issues to live up to that
applause when the cameras were

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on, and not to take the less
courageous route by using

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procedural measures
to block a vote.

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Imagine that.

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Imagine what would they say to
the families of the victims of

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Newtown about why a certain
measure never came to a vote

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because they filibustered it or
used other procedural measures

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to block it.

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That would certainly
be inappropriate.

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The Press:
It seems the key players
right now are Pat Toomey and

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Joe Manchin.

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Has the President been in
touch with either of them or

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both of them?

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Mr. Carney:
I will simply say that at the
White House we have been in

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contact with all of those who
are working towards solutions to

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making progress on these issues.

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I don't want to get into
specific conversations with

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anyone here at the White House
and those lawmakers involved in

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that process.

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There are a number of fronts
in this effort, as you know.

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And we are engaged with
everyone involved in the effort,

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in a good-faith effort, to try
to accomplish the goals the

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President set out.

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The Press:
And will the President, lastly,
be satisfied if at the end of

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this process, all he is
able to accomplish --

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and even this is in doubt -- but
all that he's able to accomplish

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is improving the
background check system?

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Mr. Carney:
Well, I would say
a couple of things.

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The President supports every
element in the comprehensive

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proposal he put forward,
every legislative piece of

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those proposals.

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And he supports
them all strongly,

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and he urges Congress to vote
on all of them because it is the

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right thing to do, in the memory
at least of the victims of

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Newtown and Aurora and
Tucson and Oak Creek.

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The idea that passing
significant legislation to

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improve background checks would
be something you would describe

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as "only," when if you would
imagine the prospects that

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political prognosticators would
have given such legislation six

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months ago, I think says
something about the road we've

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traveled since then.

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And the fact is there
are a number of elements,

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legislative elements, that have
moved forward and we hope will

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00:13:21,133 --> 00:13:22,133
move forward.

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00:13:22,133 --> 00:13:26,000
And the President hopes that
every one of these bills,

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00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:31,734
that every piece of this
legislative package is voted on

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00:13:31,734 --> 00:13:33,000
and passed.

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00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:34,767
But he has also said from the
beginning that this would be

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00:13:34,767 --> 00:13:36,533
hard and every element
of it would be hard.

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00:13:36,533 --> 00:13:42,700
It was wrong to suggest, as
some did a month or two ago,

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00:13:42,700 --> 00:13:45,667
that somehow background checks,
getting universal background

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00:13:45,667 --> 00:13:47,367
checks would be a cakewalk.

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00:13:47,367 --> 00:13:50,099
I think that might even
be a quote from someone.

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00:13:50,100 --> 00:13:52,066
That was never going
to be the case.

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00:13:52,066 --> 00:13:54,533
If it were the case, if
it had been the case,

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00:13:54,533 --> 00:13:57,066
it would have happened long
ago, and that's true with every

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00:13:57,066 --> 00:13:58,066
piece of this.

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00:13:58,066 --> 00:14:00,867
The Press:
But you seem to be suggesting
if the background checks are all

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00:14:00,867 --> 00:14:03,500
you get, the glass
is still half full.

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00:14:03,500 --> 00:14:06,133
Mr. Carney:
I'm saying that we need to
take action everywhere we can.

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00:14:06,133 --> 00:14:09,200
And the President will implement
all 23 of the executive actions

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00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:11,967
that were part of his proposal,
and he is pushing for every

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00:14:11,967 --> 00:14:14,900
piece of the legislative agenda
that he's put forward and that

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00:14:14,900 --> 00:14:17,132
Congress is deliberating
on right now.

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00:14:17,133 --> 00:14:19,767
They are all important and
they all should be voted on,

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00:14:19,767 --> 00:14:24,333
and they all, in the President's
view, should be passed.

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00:14:24,333 --> 00:14:27,733
The Press:
Governor Bill Richardson was on
"Meet the Press," yesterday --

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00:14:27,734 --> 00:14:29,433
this is on the issue
of the budget --

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00:14:29,433 --> 00:14:32,133
and he was discussing
the sequester and saying,

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00:14:32,133 --> 00:14:37,667
"at least in the hinterlands, it
has not been that devastating."

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00:14:37,667 --> 00:14:39,133
Would the President agree
with that assessment?

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00:14:39,133 --> 00:14:40,500
Mr. Carney:
With former Governor Richardson?

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00:14:40,500 --> 00:14:42,467
I didn't see those comments.

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00:14:42,467 --> 00:14:47,800
On that, I would simply say,
ask the families who have lost a

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00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:52,367
slot in Head Start, or the
families of the individuals

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00:14:52,367 --> 00:14:54,467
themselves who have been
furloughed or lost their jobs,

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00:14:54,467 --> 00:15:01,266
and then ask those economists
who have said quite clearly that

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00:15:01,266 --> 00:15:03,433
if the sequester
remains in place,

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00:15:03,433 --> 00:15:05,667
our economy will
grow more slowly,

275
00:15:05,667 --> 00:15:08,133
it will create up to
three-quarters of a million

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00:15:08,133 --> 00:15:14,133
fewer jobs, and then assess
whether or not it's being felt,

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00:15:14,133 --> 00:15:15,133
or it will be felt.

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00:15:15,133 --> 00:15:16,900
I mean, these are simple facts.

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00:15:16,900 --> 00:15:18,000
It's bad policy.

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00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:20,433
It was designed as bad policy,
although it has been embraced as

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00:15:20,433 --> 00:15:23,133
a political victory, a tea party
victory by Republicans in the

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00:15:23,133 --> 00:15:27,600
House who only a few months ago
decried the horror that would

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00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:29,967
come with imposition
of the sequester.

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00:15:29,967 --> 00:15:33,300
The fact is what was
true then is true now.

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00:15:33,300 --> 00:15:37,333
It was never meant
to become law.

286
00:15:37,333 --> 00:15:39,934
It's arbitrary by
nature and by design.

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00:15:39,934 --> 00:15:42,199
It's not the way to go
about reducing our deficit,

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00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:46,834
as Republicans and Democrats
made clear when it was crafted.

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00:15:46,834 --> 00:15:49,699
And it achieves none of the
goals that those who now embrace

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00:15:49,700 --> 00:15:52,500
it say they want when it comes
to long-term deficit and

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00:15:52,500 --> 00:15:54,600
debt reduction.

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00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:58,900
It does almost no good,
and it does a lot of harm.

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00:15:58,900 --> 00:16:00,900
The Press:
Jay, on the background
checks, as you know,

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00:16:00,900 --> 00:16:02,900
The Washington Post has now
given the President three

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00:16:02,900 --> 00:16:05,165
Pinocchios for
using a statistic:

296
00:16:05,166 --> 00:16:09,333
About 40%, I believe, of all
gun purchases, he has said,

297
00:16:09,333 --> 00:16:11,333
are done without
background checks.

298
00:16:11,333 --> 00:16:13,766
And it turns out that's a study
from a couple of decades ago.

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00:16:13,767 --> 00:16:15,734
Is the White House pulling
back from using that?

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00:16:15,734 --> 00:16:17,900
Do you have any regrets in
making your case that this was a

301
00:16:17,900 --> 00:16:19,300
bogus stat?

302
00:16:19,300 --> 00:16:27,500
Mr. Carney:
Look, I think that a substantial
number of purchases of weapons

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00:16:27,500 --> 00:16:29,467
are achievable without
background checks.

304
00:16:29,467 --> 00:16:30,467
I mean, that's a fact.

305
00:16:30,467 --> 00:16:31,567
Everybody who has
worked on this issue,

306
00:16:31,567 --> 00:16:34,700
Republicans and Democrats
alike, understand that.

307
00:16:34,700 --> 00:16:40,667
And simply making sure that the
background check system does not

308
00:16:40,667 --> 00:16:45,500
have loopholes -- giant
loopholes that allow criminals

309
00:16:45,500 --> 00:16:49,333
and others who should not by law
be permitted to buy a weapon to

310
00:16:49,333 --> 00:16:54,800
buy them -- that is a basic,
common-sense proposal that has

311
00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:59,733
enjoyed the support, at least
rhetorically of legislators of

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00:16:59,734 --> 00:17:01,734
both parties, in other
words Republicans,

313
00:17:01,734 --> 00:17:06,367
not just Democrats, that is
supported by more than 90% of

314
00:17:06,367 --> 00:17:13,532
the American people, and that
must be voted on and must be

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00:17:13,532 --> 00:17:15,367
passed and signed into law.

316
00:17:15,367 --> 00:17:18,133
This is a common-sense measure
that takes not a single firearm

317
00:17:18,133 --> 00:17:21,433
away from a law-abiding citizen,
that protects our Second

318
00:17:21,433 --> 00:17:27,666
Amendment rights, and that will
help in the cause of reducing

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00:17:27,666 --> 00:17:31,100
gun violence in America so
that what happened in --

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00:17:31,100 --> 00:17:33,433
that lives are saved -- the
kinds of lives that were lost in

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00:17:33,433 --> 00:17:34,600
Newtown and Aurora
and elsewhere.

322
00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:37,399
And the President made clear in
the State of the Union address

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00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:39,133
-- in his State of the Union
address that we will not --

324
00:17:39,133 --> 00:17:41,467
nothing we can do now will
prevent all senseless acts

325
00:17:41,467 --> 00:17:42,467
of violence.

326
00:17:42,467 --> 00:17:45,233
And there's no question that
there will be victims of gun

327
00:17:45,233 --> 00:17:48,834
violence even if all of
these measures are enacted.

328
00:17:48,834 --> 00:17:54,100
But that number will be reduced
and those lives saved are

329
00:17:54,100 --> 00:17:55,533
worth saving.

330
00:17:55,533 --> 00:17:57,632
The Press:
A moment ago you said the
President is pushing for all of

331
00:17:57,633 --> 00:17:59,900
his legislative
proposals on this.

332
00:17:59,900 --> 00:18:02,533
On January 16th, he mentioned
-- when he took those executive

333
00:18:02,533 --> 00:18:05,466
actions that you've noted -- he
talked about wanting Congress to

334
00:18:05,467 --> 00:18:08,066
fund research into the effect
of violent video games.

335
00:18:08,066 --> 00:18:09,934
Why don't we hear him
talking about that?

336
00:18:09,934 --> 00:18:12,266
When you're asked about this
issue, you don't talk about it.

337
00:18:12,266 --> 00:18:14,600
Mental health, as well, at the
beginning of this was talked a

338
00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:15,533
lot about.

339
00:18:15,533 --> 00:18:17,766
I know the President took
some executive action on that.

340
00:18:17,767 --> 00:18:20,266
But why does it appear that
you're not pushing Congress on

341
00:18:20,266 --> 00:18:23,367
violent video games, violent
movies, and mental health?

342
00:18:23,367 --> 00:18:24,367
Mr. Carney:
Well, I'd say a
couple of things.

343
00:18:24,367 --> 00:18:26,066
One is we're pushing
on all fronts.

344
00:18:26,066 --> 00:18:27,900
These are very important issues.

345
00:18:27,900 --> 00:18:33,633
It is a fact that there were
efforts in the past to prevent

346
00:18:33,633 --> 00:18:37,233
-- supported by the
usual suspects --

347
00:18:37,233 --> 00:18:39,867
to prevent the federal
government from doing research,

348
00:18:39,867 --> 00:18:43,867
the CDC and others from doing
research on the impacts of

349
00:18:43,867 --> 00:18:48,399
violent video games, for
example, on violence.

350
00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:51,266
And the President is committed
to making sure that that

351
00:18:51,266 --> 00:18:52,266
research is done.

352
00:18:52,266 --> 00:18:53,900
It is very important.

353
00:18:53,900 --> 00:18:56,934
He is also committed -- mental
health is an important aspect of

354
00:18:56,934 --> 00:18:57,934
this problem.

355
00:18:57,934 --> 00:19:00,433
And he's committed, as
evidenced by his proposal,

356
00:19:00,433 --> 00:19:05,166
and you will see in a variety
ways in the coming days and

357
00:19:05,166 --> 00:19:07,300
weeks, how strong
that commitment is.

358
00:19:07,300 --> 00:19:12,433
So I think it's a good question,
because it's a reminder that the

359
00:19:12,433 --> 00:19:19,300
legislative action taking
place around gun trafficking,

360
00:19:19,300 --> 00:19:21,233
banning military-style
assault weapons,

361
00:19:21,233 --> 00:19:24,399
or limiting the capacity
of ammunition magazines,

362
00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:28,266
or closing the loopholes in
our background checks systems,

363
00:19:28,266 --> 00:19:30,467
those are all very important
but they're not the whole story.

364
00:19:30,467 --> 00:19:33,133
And what we said from the
beginning and the President said

365
00:19:33,133 --> 00:19:36,100
from the beginning that this is
a problem that a single piece of

366
00:19:36,100 --> 00:19:39,433
legislation will not resolve
and a gun law alone will

367
00:19:39,433 --> 00:19:40,433
not resolve.

368
00:19:40,433 --> 00:19:42,000
There are many aspects
to this problem.

369
00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:43,000
The Press:
So last thing on that.

370
00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:45,233
When Jon asked you, I believe
you said that on the gun part of

371
00:19:45,233 --> 00:19:47,433
this, we've talked to
all parties, lawmakers,

372
00:19:47,433 --> 00:19:48,533
whether it's Pat
Toomey, whatever --

373
00:19:48,533 --> 00:19:51,000
without specific names,
he's talked to everyone.

374
00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:53,233
Has he talked to Chris Dodd at
the Motion Picture Association,

375
00:19:53,233 --> 00:19:56,399
any of his friends in
Hollywood about violent movies?

376
00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:58,367
I know the Vice President I
believe met with the Motion

377
00:19:58,367 --> 00:20:00,700
Picture Association
January 10th or so,

378
00:20:00,700 --> 00:20:03,133
or early part of this year, but
has the President gotten these

379
00:20:03,133 --> 00:20:04,367
folks on the phone?

380
00:20:04,367 --> 00:20:06,233
Mr. Carney:
Again, I'm not going to read out
specific conversations of the

381
00:20:06,233 --> 00:20:09,133
President or any others that
we haven't already made public.

382
00:20:09,133 --> 00:20:10,800
The fact is we're
pushing on all fronts.

383
00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:15,966
Part of the process that led to
the set of proposals that the

384
00:20:15,967 --> 00:20:19,033
Vice President provided to the
President and the President

385
00:20:19,033 --> 00:20:23,300
presented to the public was a
look at that particular aspect

386
00:20:23,300 --> 00:20:27,633
of it and included meetings with
representatives of industry,

387
00:20:27,633 --> 00:20:30,300
and we will continue
on that front.

388
00:20:30,300 --> 00:20:31,200
Yes, Peter.

389
00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:32,767
The Press:
Jay, you spoke a minute
ago about the potential

390
00:20:32,767 --> 00:20:33,667
for filibuster.

391
00:20:33,667 --> 00:20:35,600
Right now we've heard from
a series of Republicans that

392
00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:36,734
that's something they're
considering very

393
00:20:36,734 --> 00:20:37,766
seriously right now.

394
00:20:37,767 --> 00:20:40,667
Is the White House
considering a plan B of sorts,

395
00:20:40,667 --> 00:20:44,132
if that is to be the case?

396
00:20:44,133 --> 00:20:48,467
Mr. Carney:
I would simply say that if
there's a member of Congress

397
00:20:48,467 --> 00:20:50,934
who's contemplating
filibustering some of this,

398
00:20:50,934 --> 00:20:54,000
it would be interesting to see
if they stood and applauded at

399
00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:57,200
the State of the Union address
when the President said that

400
00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:01,300
these victims deserve a vote.

401
00:21:01,300 --> 00:21:05,466
And regardless, if they
oppose this legislation,

402
00:21:05,467 --> 00:21:08,400
have the courage to say so
on the floor and vote no.

403
00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:10,000
Don't block it.

404
00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:14,033
Don't hide behind a procedural
action to prevent a vote.

405
00:21:14,033 --> 00:21:15,899
That's the wrong thing to do.

406
00:21:15,900 --> 00:21:17,967
And that's how the
President clearly feels.

407
00:21:17,967 --> 00:21:20,967
The Press:
If that happens, as they
continue to threaten,

408
00:21:20,967 --> 00:21:22,200
then what happens?

409
00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:23,266
What does the White
House plan to do?

410
00:21:23,266 --> 00:21:29,266
Mr. Carney:
Well, I don't want to predict an
outcome like that or to engage

411
00:21:29,266 --> 00:21:32,166
in hypothetical strategic
planning from the podium.

412
00:21:32,166 --> 00:21:36,567
I would simply say that the
President believes it is vitally

413
00:21:36,567 --> 00:21:43,066
important and a matter of
honoring the memory of these

414
00:21:43,066 --> 00:21:45,700
victims to allow votes
on all of these issues.

415
00:21:45,700 --> 00:21:47,734
The Press:
I want to ask you about
immigration, briefly, if I can.

416
00:21:47,734 --> 00:21:50,667
There appears to be some bit
of inconsistency on that.

417
00:21:50,667 --> 00:21:52,233
Chuck Schumer,
Senator from New York,

418
00:21:52,233 --> 00:21:55,133
just said that the Gang of Eight
was hoping to have legislation

419
00:21:55,133 --> 00:21:56,934
brought to the floor by
the end of this week.

420
00:21:56,934 --> 00:21:59,300
Lindsey Graham said it would
likely be longer than that --

421
00:21:59,300 --> 00:22:01,133
two, perhaps three weeks.

422
00:22:01,133 --> 00:22:03,600
What's the White House's
expectation on when immigration

423
00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:07,000
is taken up in earnest here?

424
00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:08,633
Mr. Carney:
Soon.

425
00:22:08,633 --> 00:22:11,066
I would simply say that
we are encouraged by the

426
00:22:11,066 --> 00:22:12,633
progress we've seen.

427
00:22:12,633 --> 00:22:17,467
We are working with those of
both parties who are making

428
00:22:17,467 --> 00:22:21,300
progress on this issue and
putting together legislation.

429
00:22:21,300 --> 00:22:25,867
The President made clear at the
beginning of this process that

430
00:22:25,867 --> 00:22:30,200
he thought the best way to
create success was for the

431
00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:32,400
Senate to take the lead
through the Gang of Eight.

432
00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:34,433
And there has been
significant progress,

433
00:22:34,433 --> 00:22:37,333
and I don't think
anybody can contest that.

434
00:22:37,333 --> 00:22:40,200
The President still believes
that we should not waste time;

435
00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:46,066
that this is an issue that
is essential to act on,

436
00:22:46,066 --> 00:22:50,300
where there should be and has
been substantial bipartisan

437
00:22:50,300 --> 00:22:53,567
agreement, and there is
evidence that bipartisan

438
00:22:53,567 --> 00:22:54,600
agreement is there.

439
00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:57,766
And we are encouraged
by what we have seen.

440
00:22:57,767 --> 00:23:00,233
But we're not there yet, so
we're not going to prejudge

441
00:23:00,233 --> 00:23:02,767
legislation or the language
contained in it before

442
00:23:02,767 --> 00:23:03,767
it arrives.

443
00:23:03,767 --> 00:23:08,033
But whether it's Senator
Schumer's comments or Senator

444
00:23:08,033 --> 00:23:12,600
Graham's comments, the fact is
most of what we are seeing are

445
00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:14,100
comments that
reflect the progress,

446
00:23:14,100 --> 00:23:15,667
the positive progress
that's been made.

447
00:23:15,667 --> 00:23:17,867
And the President is
encouraged by that.

448
00:23:17,867 --> 00:23:20,133
The Press:
And then, finally, acknowledging
that the White House put out a

449
00:23:20,133 --> 00:23:22,333
statement for the President a
short time ago regarding the

450
00:23:22,333 --> 00:23:24,767
passing of the former Prime
Minister, Margaret Thatcher,

451
00:23:24,767 --> 00:23:28,200
I'm just curious for some of the
thoughts that you can share in

452
00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:30,467
terms of the President's
view of Margaret Thatcher,

453
00:23:30,467 --> 00:23:34,467
the impact she had, and
his thoughts on this day.

454
00:23:34,467 --> 00:23:37,367
Mr. Carney:
Well, I think the statement
reflects the President's views.

455
00:23:37,367 --> 00:23:41,834
I mean, this is a loss
certainly for Great Britain,

456
00:23:41,834 --> 00:23:43,600
but also for the world.

457
00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:45,667
Baroness Thatcher,
former Prime Minister,

458
00:23:45,667 --> 00:23:49,533
was one of the great champions
of freedom and liberty,

459
00:23:49,533 --> 00:23:52,500
and a true friend of
the United States.

460
00:23:52,500 --> 00:23:55,600
She forged an important and
special relationship with her

461
00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:59,466
counterpart in President Reagan.

462
00:23:59,467 --> 00:24:04,734
And she was an unapologetic
supporter of the transatlantic

463
00:24:04,734 --> 00:24:06,166
alliance between
our two nations,

464
00:24:06,166 --> 00:24:13,066
which has continued to be so
unique and vital to the United

465
00:24:13,066 --> 00:24:15,000
States, as well as
to Great Britain.

466
00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:19,033
So he is certainly
saddened by her passing,

467
00:24:19,033 --> 00:24:21,300
and I think there are a great
many Americans who feel

468
00:24:21,300 --> 00:24:22,800
the same way.

469
00:24:22,800 --> 00:24:26,800
The Press:
Has the President offered his
condolences to Prime Minister

470
00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:28,367
Cameron to this point?

471
00:24:28,367 --> 00:24:33,834
Mr. Carney:
I don't have a conversation
to read out at this time.

472
00:24:33,834 --> 00:24:36,433
The Press:
Jay, two members of Congress
have written to the Treasury

473
00:24:36,433 --> 00:24:39,667
Department expressing concern
about the trip to Cuba last week

474
00:24:39,667 --> 00:24:41,132
by Beyoncé and Jay-Z.

475
00:24:41,133 --> 00:24:44,533
Does the White House share the
concerns that somehow the travel

476
00:24:44,533 --> 00:24:48,065
restrictions have been
pulled out a little bit;

477
00:24:48,066 --> 00:24:52,834
that people-to-people travel
is not allowed for tourism?

478
00:24:52,834 --> 00:24:56,367
Mr. Carney:
Well, I would say
a couple of things.

479
00:24:56,367 --> 00:25:01,399
Decisions made about cultural
travel and academic travel are

480
00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:04,367
made by the Treasury Department,
and I would refer you for

481
00:25:04,367 --> 00:25:06,399
specific cases to the
Treasury Department.

482
00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:09,367
It is certainly the case that
under this administration we

483
00:25:09,367 --> 00:25:14,300
have eased the ability to travel
to Cuba for those purposes.

484
00:25:14,300 --> 00:25:17,533
But the decisions at the
individual level are made at the

485
00:25:17,533 --> 00:25:19,233
Treasury Department, not here.

486
00:25:19,233 --> 00:25:21,899
The Press:
But the trip was sort of
built by them and by the Cuban

487
00:25:21,900 --> 00:25:23,467
government as a tourism trip.

488
00:25:23,467 --> 00:25:24,734
Mr. Carney:
Again, that's not a
White House matter.

489
00:25:24,734 --> 00:25:27,766
That's a Treasury matter, and
I would refer you to Treasury.

490
00:25:27,767 --> 00:25:31,433
The Press:
But you guys wrote the rules
that prohibit tourism from --

491
00:25:31,433 --> 00:25:32,233
Mr. Carney:
Right.

492
00:25:32,233 --> 00:25:36,166
And there's a process in place
where those who would like to

493
00:25:36,166 --> 00:25:39,500
travel seek a license to
travel, and that's done through

494
00:25:39,500 --> 00:25:40,734
Treasury, it's not
done through here.

495
00:25:40,734 --> 00:25:44,833
So it's not something we have
any insight into or comment on.

496
00:25:44,834 --> 00:25:47,033
The Press:
Jay, you talked a lot
about judicial nominees.

497
00:25:47,033 --> 00:25:51,367
Harry Reid on Friday said that
he's prepared to go ahead with

498
00:25:51,367 --> 00:25:54,834
the nuclear option -- change the
rules of the simple majority if

499
00:25:54,834 --> 00:25:58,467
Republicans keep on delaying
it, blocking nominations.

500
00:25:58,467 --> 00:26:03,000
Is the President prepared to
support Reid on that if he goes

501
00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:04,700
ahead and uses that
nuclear option?

502
00:26:04,700 --> 00:26:09,500
Mr. Carney:
Well, you've heard me in recent
days and weeks express the

503
00:26:09,500 --> 00:26:15,166
President's view and our
view here that it is highly

504
00:26:15,166 --> 00:26:22,667
unfortunate that the President's
nominees have been delayed

505
00:26:22,667 --> 00:26:25,332
considerably longer -- three
or four times longer --

506
00:26:25,333 --> 00:26:27,800
than President W.
Bush's nominees,

507
00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:32,265
and that we consistently see a
pattern where a nominee who is

508
00:26:32,266 --> 00:26:36,633
cleared out of committee
unanimously is then blocked for

509
00:26:36,633 --> 00:26:40,433
months or longer.

510
00:26:40,433 --> 00:26:46,500
And then, when that
obstacle is removed,

511
00:26:46,500 --> 00:26:49,500
an obstacle that often
had nothing to do with the

512
00:26:49,500 --> 00:26:53,166
qualifications of the nominee or
even with the nominee himself or

513
00:26:53,166 --> 00:26:57,533
herself, that nominee is
confirmed by the Senate 91 to

514
00:26:57,533 --> 00:27:00,065
nothing, or 93 to 2,
or something like that.

515
00:27:00,066 --> 00:27:03,934
And that's just -- it's a
problem for our judicial system,

516
00:27:03,934 --> 00:27:06,867
and it's I think a source of
immense frustration for those

517
00:27:06,867 --> 00:27:08,466
who work within it.

518
00:27:08,467 --> 00:27:12,333
So having said that, I also have
noted that there have been some

519
00:27:12,333 --> 00:27:18,600
signs of improvement, and we
acknowledge that improvement and

520
00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:20,600
hope that it continues.

521
00:27:20,600 --> 00:27:23,600
The Press:
But a nuclear option, is that
something that the White House

522
00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:24,600
is considering?

523
00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:28,699
Mr. Carney:
Again, I think I will simply
say that we share Senator Reid's

524
00:27:28,700 --> 00:27:36,467
frustration and we hope that the
Senate continues to improve in

525
00:27:36,467 --> 00:27:38,734
its consideration of and
confirmation of the President's

526
00:27:38,734 --> 00:27:40,300
judicial nominees.

527
00:27:40,300 --> 00:27:41,166
Yes, Alexis.

528
00:27:41,166 --> 00:27:42,166
The Press:
Jay, I want to follow up on
something you were saying

529
00:27:42,166 --> 00:27:46,367
earlier about reviewing the
State of the Union video.

530
00:27:46,367 --> 00:27:49,700
You mentioned the range of
lawmakers who stood up during

531
00:27:49,700 --> 00:27:50,900
the President's speech.

532
00:27:50,900 --> 00:27:54,633
Were you trying to draw our
attention to the forthcoming

533
00:27:54,633 --> 00:27:56,734
video advertising the Newtown --

534
00:27:56,734 --> 00:27:57,899
Mr. Carney:
No, no, no.

535
00:27:57,900 --> 00:28:04,800
I'm simply saying that it was a
memorable moment for those of us

536
00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:06,800
who were in the hall or
watched it on television.

537
00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:13,800
And we have spoken of late about
the President's call at that

538
00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:16,567
time to allow a vote on
all of these measures.

539
00:28:16,567 --> 00:28:18,567
In other words, do not
block them procedurally;

540
00:28:18,567 --> 00:28:21,433
do not prevent them
from coming to a vote.

541
00:28:21,433 --> 00:28:24,867
If you feel that
you have to vote no,

542
00:28:24,867 --> 00:28:27,066
vote no and explain why.

543
00:28:27,066 --> 00:28:31,433
Don't hide behind procedure.

544
00:28:31,433 --> 00:28:34,233
Vote your conscience and explain
why you're against universal

545
00:28:34,233 --> 00:28:37,500
background checks, if you are.

546
00:28:37,500 --> 00:28:38,500
That's all.

547
00:28:38,500 --> 00:28:40,867
And I just think -- because it
had been talked about recently,

548
00:28:40,867 --> 00:28:44,667
I took a look, and I was
reminded of how powerful a

549
00:28:44,667 --> 00:28:47,367
moment it was.

550
00:28:47,367 --> 00:28:48,500
Chris.

551
00:28:48,500 --> 00:28:51,967
The Press:
Jay, in recent weeks, we've seen
an avalanche of support for

552
00:28:51,967 --> 00:28:53,400
marriage equality
on Capitol Hill.

553
00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:56,000
Just last week, six new senators
announced their support for

554
00:28:56,000 --> 00:28:57,500
same-sex marriage.

555
00:28:57,500 --> 00:28:59,200
It's easy to forget that it
hasn't even been a year since

556
00:28:59,200 --> 00:29:02,000
the President himself came out
in support of the right for gay

557
00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:03,367
couples to get married.

558
00:29:03,367 --> 00:29:05,166
By making that
announcement in May,

559
00:29:05,166 --> 00:29:07,466
does the President deserve
credit for setting the stage for

560
00:29:07,467 --> 00:29:09,400
seeing the announcements
that we're seeing now?

561
00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:10,700
Mr. Carney:
The country deserves credit.

562
00:29:10,700 --> 00:29:18,734
It's been a remarkable evolution
and represents an embrace of the

563
00:29:18,734 --> 00:29:22,699
basic principles of equality
that the President feels

564
00:29:22,700 --> 00:29:25,200
strongly about but Americans
across the country feel

565
00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:26,633
strongly about.

566
00:29:26,633 --> 00:29:31,133
And I think I can safely say
that the President hopes

567
00:29:31,133 --> 00:29:32,266
it continues.

568
00:29:32,266 --> 00:29:34,700
The Press:
There are still four Democratic
senators who don't support

569
00:29:34,700 --> 00:29:37,633
marriage equality: Mary
Landrieu, Tim Johnson,

570
00:29:37,633 --> 00:29:39,567
Joe Manchin, and Mark Pryor.

571
00:29:39,567 --> 00:29:41,000
Does the President want them
to make similar announcements

572
00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:41,934
in favor?

573
00:29:41,934 --> 00:29:45,667
Mr. Carney:
Obviously, each individual --
whether an elected lawmaker or

574
00:29:45,667 --> 00:29:50,033
anyone else -- makes this
evaluation, decision,

575
00:29:50,033 --> 00:29:51,033
himself or herself.

576
00:29:51,033 --> 00:29:56,265
So the President spoke about his
views in that interview that you

577
00:29:56,266 --> 00:29:59,934
made reference to, and other
lawmakers have been doing so

578
00:29:59,934 --> 00:30:04,633
recently as there have been
other issues related to this

579
00:30:04,633 --> 00:30:07,767
being debated and discussed.

580
00:30:07,767 --> 00:30:09,500
But I wouldn't --
he's not here --

581
00:30:09,500 --> 00:30:12,633
he was not and is not in a
position to pass judgment on

582
00:30:12,633 --> 00:30:17,333
others simply to say what
he believes very strongly.

583
00:30:17,333 --> 00:30:18,934
Andrei.

584
00:30:18,934 --> 00:30:20,567
The Press:
Thank you.

585
00:30:20,567 --> 00:30:23,033
Mr. Donilon is
scheduled to Moscow,

586
00:30:23,033 --> 00:30:25,533
so can you tell us
anything about the trip;

587
00:30:25,533 --> 00:30:28,399
whether he's bringing a
message from the President,

588
00:30:28,400 --> 00:30:30,233
anything at all?

589
00:30:30,233 --> 00:30:34,066
Mr. Carney:
I'm afraid I don't have anything
more for you beyond the fact

590
00:30:34,066 --> 00:30:37,033
that obviously the National
Security Advisor travels

591
00:30:37,033 --> 00:30:41,100
frequently to meet with his
counterparts around the world,

592
00:30:41,100 --> 00:30:42,899
and I know he's looking
forward to this meeting.

593
00:30:42,900 --> 00:30:46,533
We have a very important
relationship with Russia.

594
00:30:46,533 --> 00:30:50,233
We have a number of issues,
including North Korea,

595
00:30:50,233 --> 00:30:54,567
as I mentioned earlier, that are
subjects of discussion right now

596
00:30:54,567 --> 00:30:56,767
with the Russian leadership.

597
00:30:56,767 --> 00:31:00,500
So I'm sure that that will be
one of the many subjects that

598
00:31:00,500 --> 00:31:04,000
Mr. Donilon will discuss with
his counterparts on this visit.

599
00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:05,000
Yes, Victoria.

600
00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:07,667
The Press:
Jay, there have been a couple
of oil spills just in the last

601
00:31:07,667 --> 00:31:10,100
week, and there was
one in Canada as well.

602
00:31:10,100 --> 00:31:14,734
Are these impacting or factoring
into the President's decision

603
00:31:14,734 --> 00:31:16,899
on Keystone?

604
00:31:16,900 --> 00:31:19,500
Mr. Carney:
I got this question last week,
and I would simply say that,

605
00:31:19,500 --> 00:31:26,900
as you know, the process of
evaluating an application for a

606
00:31:26,900 --> 00:31:29,767
pipeline like Keystone because
it crosses international

607
00:31:29,767 --> 00:31:33,500
boundaries is something that
is undertaken by the State

608
00:31:33,500 --> 00:31:37,967
Department in keeping with
longstanding procedures under

609
00:31:37,967 --> 00:31:39,333
administrations of both parties.

610
00:31:39,333 --> 00:31:42,066
And that process is underway.

611
00:31:42,066 --> 00:31:46,500
For status updates on it, I
would refer you to the State

612
00:31:46,500 --> 00:31:51,433
Department, but I have nothing
further for you on it from here.

613
00:31:51,433 --> 00:31:57,033
The Press:
And also on the
question of immigration,

614
00:31:57,033 --> 00:32:02,132
Senator Grassley and some other
senators have said that they

615
00:32:02,133 --> 00:32:06,400
want to know from the Gang
of Eight by the end of today

616
00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:07,567
exactly what's going on.

617
00:32:07,567 --> 00:32:09,433
They say that it's
time for transparency.

618
00:32:09,433 --> 00:32:13,166
They don't want anything more
to be behind closed doors.

619
00:32:13,166 --> 00:32:15,966
Are you concerned that if
everything gets out into the

620
00:32:15,967 --> 00:32:20,166
open too quickly that the cat
could be out of the bag and that

621
00:32:20,166 --> 00:32:22,633
the whole thing
could get derailed?

622
00:32:22,633 --> 00:32:25,166
Mr. Carney:
Well, I would simply point to
the fact that the Gang of Eight,

623
00:32:25,166 --> 00:32:30,700
the so-called Gang of Eight,
is comprised of an even mix of

624
00:32:30,700 --> 00:32:34,567
Democrats and Republicans who
I'm quite sure are reporting and

625
00:32:34,567 --> 00:32:37,500
discussing issues -- reporting
to and discussing issues with

626
00:32:37,500 --> 00:32:40,633
their leadership, and
that they've made progress,

627
00:32:40,633 --> 00:32:44,633
as I think members of the Gang
of Eight have stated clearly

628
00:32:44,633 --> 00:32:46,500
and publicly.

629
00:32:46,500 --> 00:32:49,834
The procedures that take place
on Capitol Hill and how this

630
00:32:49,834 --> 00:32:52,900
bill moves forward, I'll
leave to leaders there --

631
00:32:52,900 --> 00:32:55,400
committee chairmen and the like.

632
00:32:55,400 --> 00:33:00,467
Our focus is on helping
that progress continue,

633
00:33:00,467 --> 00:33:09,000
to nudging it forward and having
it conclude in a bill that

634
00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:12,567
represents or reflects the
President's principles and that

635
00:33:12,567 --> 00:33:17,033
can earn the support of
Democrats and Republicans.

636
00:33:17,033 --> 00:33:20,300
And again, as I've said earlier,
we are encouraged by the

637
00:33:20,300 --> 00:33:22,200
progress that's
been made thus far.

638
00:33:22,200 --> 00:33:27,967
And we are urging those senators
involved in the process to keep

639
00:33:27,967 --> 00:33:31,300
it up and to bring
it to conclusion.

640
00:33:31,300 --> 00:33:32,633
Donovan, last one.

641
00:33:32,633 --> 00:33:33,667
The Press:
Thanks, Jay.

642
00:33:33,667 --> 00:33:34,867
Quick question.

643
00:33:34,867 --> 00:33:37,934
McClatchy has reported,
citing Israeli and Palestinian

644
00:33:37,934 --> 00:33:40,667
officials, that the President
when he was in the Middle East

645
00:33:40,667 --> 00:33:44,934
was able to persuade Israel to
stop announcing new settlement

646
00:33:44,934 --> 00:33:48,966
activities, and also to persuade
the Palestinians to stop taking

647
00:33:48,967 --> 00:33:51,500
unilateral actions at
the U.N., for example,

648
00:33:51,500 --> 00:33:54,300
for two months to create a
diplomatic window for Secretary

649
00:33:54,300 --> 00:33:58,899
of State Kerry to possibly renew
talks based on the Saudi Arabia

650
00:33:58,900 --> 00:34:01,433
initiative from 11 years ago.

651
00:34:01,433 --> 00:34:04,100
And I was curious if you
could confirm those reports,

652
00:34:04,100 --> 00:34:07,367
and also talk to us about what
he hopes to achieve there.

653
00:34:07,367 --> 00:34:10,100
Mr. Carney:
Well, I cannot confirm
that specific report,

654
00:34:10,100 --> 00:34:14,199
because I think what is true is
simply what the President has

655
00:34:14,199 --> 00:34:16,366
long said and others
have long said,

656
00:34:16,367 --> 00:34:22,967
which is that we discourage
actively both sides from taking

657
00:34:22,967 --> 00:34:26,934
unilateral action that makes it
more difficult to come together

658
00:34:26,934 --> 00:34:31,767
to negotiate over the
issues that divide them,

659
00:34:31,766 --> 00:34:34,966
and to negotiate in a way
that can bring them to peace.

660
00:34:34,967 --> 00:34:37,800
That has long been the case, and
I can absolutely confirm that

661
00:34:37,800 --> 00:34:44,767
the President repeated that
message to both parties --

662
00:34:44,766 --> 00:34:49,466
that unilateral actions are not
helpful to moving towards peace.

663
00:34:49,467 --> 00:34:53,000
But a specific construct
like that, I cannot confirm.

664
00:34:53,000 --> 00:34:55,500
I can simply say that that is
our position, and remain --

665
00:34:55,500 --> 00:34:56,833
has been and is our position.

666
00:34:56,833 --> 00:34:59,066
The Press:
Did they agree, though,
to this two-month window?

667
00:34:59,066 --> 00:35:00,667
Mr. Carney:
I would let the parties
speak for themselves.

668
00:35:00,667 --> 00:35:06,500
And again, I'm trying to
be relatively clear here,

669
00:35:06,500 --> 00:35:09,333
which is that the -- I can't
confirm a construct like that.

670
00:35:09,333 --> 00:35:11,000
I can simply confirm
that it is our position,

671
00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:12,834
and it is a position the
President reflected in his

672
00:35:12,834 --> 00:35:17,033
conversations, that it is
counterproductive for either

673
00:35:17,033 --> 00:35:19,500
side -- whether it's the
Palestinians through the U.N.,

674
00:35:19,500 --> 00:35:23,400
or the Israelis through
settlement construction --

675
00:35:23,400 --> 00:35:26,600
to take unilateral action that
makes it more difficult to

676
00:35:26,600 --> 00:35:30,000
engage in constructive
negotiations towards peace.

677
00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:30,967
Thanks, everybody.

678
00:35:30,967 --> 00:35:32,266
The Press:
Jay, we may have missed
it -- North Korea.

679
00:35:32,266 --> 00:35:34,700
Does the White House see any
imminent threat of a nuclear

680
00:35:34,700 --> 00:35:37,332
missile launch at some
point from North Korea?

681
00:35:37,333 --> 00:35:44,200
Mr. Carney:
Well, we have been taking
prudent measures in response to

682
00:35:44,200 --> 00:35:47,533
the increased provocative
behavior and rhetoric emanating

683
00:35:47,533 --> 00:35:52,100
from Pyongyang.

684
00:35:52,100 --> 00:35:55,066
That is a matter of concern,
and it is something that we

685
00:35:55,066 --> 00:35:58,133
obviously are in regular
consultation about with our

686
00:35:58,133 --> 00:36:01,933
allies in Seoul and Tokyo, as
well as with our partners around

687
00:36:01,934 --> 00:36:03,367
the region and the world.

688
00:36:03,367 --> 00:36:05,633
I spoke earlier about our
conversations with the Chinese

689
00:36:05,633 --> 00:36:10,232
and the Russians, asking them
to use their influence with the

690
00:36:10,233 --> 00:36:15,033
North Koreans to get them to --
to persuade them to cease this

691
00:36:15,033 --> 00:36:16,866
kind of provocative behavior.

692
00:36:16,867 --> 00:36:18,600
Having said that, I think
it's important to note,

693
00:36:18,600 --> 00:36:22,700
as veterans of this issue from
past administrations have made

694
00:36:22,700 --> 00:36:27,834
clear, that this is a pattern
of behavior we have seen before.

695
00:36:27,834 --> 00:36:32,399
And it has never achieved
anything substantial for the

696
00:36:32,400 --> 00:36:36,800
North Korean people who continue
to suffer from the decisions

697
00:36:36,800 --> 00:36:42,834
made by the regime to pursue
a path that is in direct

698
00:36:42,834 --> 00:36:45,933
contradiction with their
international obligations,

699
00:36:45,934 --> 00:36:48,400
and that comes at the expense
of the health and welfare of the

700
00:36:48,400 --> 00:36:49,767
North Korean people.

701
00:36:49,767 --> 00:36:51,767
Thanks, everybody.