English subtitles for clip: File:5-1-15- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Earnest: Good
afternoon, everybody.

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Happy Friday.

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I don't have
anything at the top,

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other than you've already
heard from the President

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today about -- with his
reaction to the announcement

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from the State's
Attorney up in Baltimore.

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The Press: Thank you,
Mr. Bill Plante.

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Mr. Earnest: Exactly.

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Thank you, Mr. Bill Plante.

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And the President genuinely
enjoyed the opportunity that

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he had to visit with some
of your colleagues who are

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working overseas, sometimes
in -- in the case of these

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three journalists, and under
very difficult circumstances

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to do the important work
that they're doing.

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So with that, Jim, let's
go straight to questions.

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The Press: Thanks, Josh.

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A couple foreign
policy things.

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U.S. officials say Secretary
Kerry is going to visit

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Saudi Arabia next week to
discuss apparent concerns

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over the supply of arms to
pro-government forces in

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Yemen by Saudi Arabia
and its coalition.

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Is there evidence that those
weapons are falling into

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terrorist hands?

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And does the President worry
about the Saudi intervention

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in Yemen?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Jim,
the thing that we have

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articulated is that we
strongly support the efforts

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of the Saudis who are
reacting to legitimate

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concerns that they have
about the security situation

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along their border.

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The Saudis have indicated a
willingness and a desire to

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begin to deescalate
their operations,

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but they have not seen a
corresponding commitment to

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de-escalation on the
part of the Houthis.

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In fact, we see the Houthis
continue to carry out

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offensive military
operations,

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particularly in the
neighborhoods of Aden and in

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places like Marib and Taiz.

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We continue to be
concerned about that,

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because it's the view of
the United States that this

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violence needs to stop
so that we can do two

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critically important things.

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The first is to respond
to the dire humanitarian

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situation that exists
in Yemen right now.

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There are millions of people
who are caught in the

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crossfire, and we continue
to be very concerned about

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their wellbeing.

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We know that the supply
of food and fuel,

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and other critical needs
had been interrupted,

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and we're concerned about
the impact that's having on

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the local population there.

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The second -- and this is
also critically important --

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is we understand that this
situation will not be

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resolved militarily, and
it's why we're calling for

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the rapid and unconditional
resumption of all-party

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negotiations in Yemen.

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But that obviously is going
to require all parties in

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Yemen to demonstrate a
commitment to those talks.

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And as long as the Houthis
continue to engage in

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violence and other
military actions,

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it's going to prevent these
two important things

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from happening.

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The Press: I wanted to come
back to a question that Jon

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Karl asked you the other day
regarding Iranian vessels in

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the Strait of Hormuz.

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Yesterday and today
we've had U.S.

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ships accompanying
U.S.-flagged ships through

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the strait.

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Apparently that offer is
being extended to

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other countries.

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There was an incident
last Friday where a U.S.

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vessel was approached by
Iranian vessels without

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incident, but nevertheless
they surrounded the ship.

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I wonder if those are the
kinds of -- you've tried to

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separate the nuclear talks
from other issues with Iran.

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But isn't what's going on in
the strait suggest that kind

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of lack of trust that is
absolutely necessary to

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carry out the nuclear talks?

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And has the administration
communicated to the Iranians

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that that kind of activity
actually jeopardizes the

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nuclear talks themselves?

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Mr. Earnest: Jim, I think
what we've communicated both

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publicly and privately is
that the United States and

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the international community
is not at all willing to

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trust the Iranians.

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That's why we
will insist upon,

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in the context of
these ongoing nuclear

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negotiations, a set of
historically

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intrusive inspections.

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In fact, what President
Obama has indicated must be

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part of any
nuclear agreement,

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if one can be reached, is
the most intrusive set of

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inspections that have ever
been imposed on a country's

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nuclear program.

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And that's precisely because
Iran has a long history of

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trying to circumvent these
kinds of agreements and

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these kinds of
inspections programs.

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So we're going to
insist on, again,

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a set of historically
intrusive inspections to

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their nuclear program
that doesn't just involve

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inspections of their
nuclear facilities;

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it's going to require
inspections of other

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facilities that are even
tangentially related to

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their nuclear facilities.

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So, for example, one of the
things that we'll insist on

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in the context of these
talks is access for our

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inspectors to manufacturing
facilities that we know have

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in the past manufactured
critical components of their

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nuclear program.

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So again, we're not just
going to be in the nuclear

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facilities inspecting to
make sure that they haven't,

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for example, improperly
installed new centrifuges.

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We're actually going to
go to the manufacturing

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facility where the
centrifuges are made,

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and make sure that nothing
that is being produced at

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that facility is
inconsistent with the

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broader agreement.

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So that's just one example
to illustrate what makes

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this set of inspections
so intrusive,

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and is I think a legitimate
response to Iran's lack of

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candor around these
issues in the past.

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Now, the other thing that's
true is we do not anticipate

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that these nuclear
negotiations will resolve

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the long list of concerns
that we have with

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Iranian behavior.

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I think some of the behavior
that we've seen in this

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region over the last couple
of weeks -- and it certainly

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applies to the situation in
Yemen -- we know that Iran

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acts in a destabilizing way
in an already very volatile

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region of the world.

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We continue to be
concerned about that.

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That's not good for global
peace and security.

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It certainly isn't good for
the ability of commerce to

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flow on the open seas in
that region of the world.

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And we continue to be
concerned about it.

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That said, one of the
reasons that we -- and when

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I say we, I mean the United
States and the international

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community -- are so focused
on this nuclear issue is we

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know that it would be even
more difficult to resolve

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our concerns about Iran's
nuclear -- about Iran's

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destabilizing activities
is if Iran had a

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nuclear weapon.

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That would make them
even more destabilizing,

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and it would make their
threats and, in some cases,

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their irresponsible behavior
even more dangerous.

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I mean, you could only
imagine the kinds of

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conversations and concerns
that we would have about

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Iran's ongoing support for
the Houthis if we knew that

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Iran had the potential to
transfer a nuclear weapon to

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the Houthis.

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The Press: But what leverage
do you have to alter that

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behavior if, on
the one hand,

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you're telling them that
you're willing to remove

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sanctions -- whether
immediately or over time,

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depending on who's defining
it -- and altering the

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behavior that you're
expressing concern

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about now?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, let me
take that in two ways.

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The first is, we've been
crystal clear -- and this is

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not going to change --
sanctions relief will not be

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granted to the Iranians
until they have taken

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specific, verifiable
steps to comply

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with the agreement.

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That's the first thing.

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The second thing is that
Iran's compliance with the

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nuclear agreement would
allow them to benefit from

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some sanctions relief.

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But that sanctions relief
would only be granted from

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sanctions that are targeting
their nuclear program.

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The United States and the
international community has

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a set of sanctions in place
against Iran because of

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their support for terrorism,
because of their weapons

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proliferation activity, and
for a variety of -- for

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human rights violations,
and for a variety of

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other things.

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Those sanctions are
unaffected by our ongoing

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nuclear talks, and that is
indicative of the list of

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concerns that we have
with Iranian behavior,

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and I think is an indication
of the kind of leverage that

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the international community
still has over Iran as it

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relates to other concerning
activities in which

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they engage.

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The Press: On a
more local subject,

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the President lately,
including yesterday,

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has been talking about the
end of his presidency.

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He talked about it with the
young town hall meeting

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yesterday, that his
presidency is going to going

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to be ending, and he talked
about what he would be

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doing afterward.

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Yesterday, we had news about
his library being located

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in Chicago.

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So I'm wondering if you
could talk a little bit

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about what the President is
thinking about in terms of

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how he establishes a legacy,
a legacy that would be

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promoted in this
library and so forth.

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He's talked about staying
involved in My Brother's

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Keeper program,
for instance.

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Can you give us a sense of
how actively the President

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thinks of his legacy as the
plans around the library

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starting taking shape?

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Mr. Earnest: Jim, there's a
reason that the President

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has asked some close
supporters and friends of

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his to take on the
responsibility of

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establishing a foundation
and a library in his name.

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That's principally because
the President is so focused

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on the job that he has now
that he is going to rely on

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a handful of individuals
that he trusts to begin to

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carry out that work.

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Now, it is true that the
President has had a number

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of conversations with
those individuals,

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so I'm not going to stand up
here and tell you that the

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President hasn't given
some thought to this.

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But the fact is, given the
long list of priorities that

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are on his plate right now,
those things take precedence

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over the design and
establishment of

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his library.

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Speaking more generally,
I can tell you that the

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President is so focused on
those priorities that are on

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his desk right now because
he is committed to making

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sure that he squeezes every
last bit of opportunity that

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he has in his remaining
days in the Oval Office.

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And there is still a
tremendous amount of work

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that needs to be done, and
there's still a tremendous

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amount that the President
would like to do to advance

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the agenda and the vision
that he has for the country.

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And I would expect
that at some point,

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at the end of
the presidency,

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that people --
observers, historians,

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commentators -- will take a
look at the progress that

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the President has
been able to make.

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And that is how an analysis
of his legacy will get

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started, and that's all the
more reason the President is

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so focused on
the task at hand.

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Julia.

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The Press: Josh, on trade,
Congressman James Cliburn,

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the assistant
Democratic Leader,

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has said that he doesn't
know if TPA will get 20

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votes from Democrats.

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Is the President more
optimistic than that?

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And can you give us a
readout of the President's

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meeting yesterday with the
new Democrats around this?

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Mr. Earnest: I don't have an
updated whip count to share

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with you.

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Somebody like Mr. Cliburn
would have much more insight

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into that than I would.

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I can tell you that, as
evidenced by the President's

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meeting yesterday, he is
personally involved in

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making the case to Democrats
and Republicans on Capitol

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00:12:21,474 --> 00:12:23,514
Hill, in both the
House and the Senate,

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00:12:23,509 --> 00:12:25,509
about why they should
be supportive of trade

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00:12:25,511 --> 00:12:26,951
promotion authority.

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00:12:26,946 --> 00:12:28,946
That would make it easier
for the President to

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00:12:28,948 --> 00:12:31,818
negotiate in complete a
Trans-Pacific Partnership

254
00:12:31,817 --> 00:12:33,817
agreement that he believes
is clearly in the best

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00:12:33,819 --> 00:12:34,789
interest of middle-class
families in the

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00:12:34,787 --> 00:12:36,557
United States.

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That is the baseline case
that the President makes in

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00:12:39,625 --> 00:12:43,665
private to Democratic and
Republican members

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00:12:43,662 --> 00:12:45,532
of Congress.

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In the context of the
meeting they had yesterday,

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00:12:47,566 --> 00:12:49,836
they obviously spent a
substantial period of time

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00:12:49,835 --> 00:12:51,835
-- substantial amount of
time talking about

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00:12:51,837 --> 00:12:52,837
this issue.

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But there were other
legislative priorities that

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00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:56,410
merited some
attention as well.

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00:12:56,408 --> 00:12:57,378
The Press: Okay.

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00:12:57,376 --> 00:12:59,446
Also, today the Justice
Department said that it

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00:12:59,445 --> 00:13:02,385
would be making $20 million
available for the purchase

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00:13:02,381 --> 00:13:07,251
of body cameras, and this is
part of the $75 million that

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00:13:07,253 --> 00:13:09,053
Obama announced in December
to be rolled out over

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three years.

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00:13:09,922 --> 00:13:13,062
But given everything that's
happened in North Charleston

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00:13:13,058 --> 00:13:16,298
and Baltimore, and the
events of 2014 as well,

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00:13:16,295 --> 00:13:18,965
is there a push to try to
roll out more body cameras

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00:13:18,964 --> 00:13:20,164
this year?

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00:13:20,166 --> 00:13:22,136
Hillary Clinton just said on
Wednesday that she thought

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00:13:22,134 --> 00:13:25,134
that every police officer,
every department should have

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00:13:25,137 --> 00:13:27,077
body cameras.

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00:13:27,072 --> 00:13:31,072
Mr. Earnest: Well, Julia,
included in that funding is

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00:13:31,076 --> 00:13:35,286
an amount of money that is
earmarked for further study

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00:13:35,281 --> 00:13:40,821
of the impact of body-worn
cameras by police officers.

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00:13:40,819 --> 00:13:43,289
There is some preliminary
evidence to indicate that

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00:13:43,289 --> 00:13:46,589
police officers wearing body
cameras leads to lower rates

284
00:13:46,592 --> 00:13:51,962
of conflict between police
officers and citizens of the

285
00:13:51,964 --> 00:13:55,264
community that
they're serving.

286
00:13:55,267 --> 00:13:57,907
There is some evidence to
indicate that it's also led

287
00:13:57,903 --> 00:14:00,903
to fewer acts of violence
being carried out.

288
00:14:00,906 --> 00:14:03,576
That's a good thing.

289
00:14:03,576 --> 00:14:07,146
But there's an additional
study that's needed,

290
00:14:07,146 --> 00:14:11,546
and that will be part of
what this money will be

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00:14:11,550 --> 00:14:12,790
focused on.

292
00:14:12,785 --> 00:14:15,025
You'll also note that in the
President's budget proposal

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00:14:15,020 --> 00:14:18,660
for the next fiscal year,
it included an increase in

294
00:14:18,657 --> 00:14:23,597
funding for local police
agencies to get support from

295
00:14:23,596 --> 00:14:26,696
the federal government to
purchase body-worn cameras.

296
00:14:26,699 --> 00:14:28,899
So we're certainly open to
the idea that additional

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00:14:28,901 --> 00:14:31,901
funds can and should be used
by local law enforcement

298
00:14:31,904 --> 00:14:35,804
agencies to purchase
body-worn cameras.

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00:14:35,808 --> 00:14:38,308
But we'll have to wait and
see if there is agreement on

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00:14:38,310 --> 00:14:41,950
Capitol Hill in pursuit
of that priority.

301
00:14:41,947 --> 00:14:42,947
Sunlen.

302
00:14:42,948 --> 00:14:44,388
The Press: I wanted to ask
you about the White House's

303
00:14:44,383 --> 00:14:47,423
engagement with what's
going on in Baltimore.

304
00:14:47,419 --> 00:14:49,359
There's reports that the
White House has reached out

305
00:14:49,355 --> 00:14:51,825
to specific sports
figures and celebrities,

306
00:14:51,824 --> 00:14:54,324
like Ray Lewis, like
Carmelo Anthony,

307
00:14:54,326 --> 00:14:57,726
to try to ease tensions on
the grounds in some of their

308
00:14:57,730 --> 00:14:59,300
hometowns of Baltimore.

309
00:14:59,298 --> 00:15:01,968
How broad and extensive
is this outreach?

310
00:15:01,967 --> 00:15:03,637
Is this something that
also the White House will

311
00:15:03,636 --> 00:15:05,706
continue in the
days going forward?

312
00:15:05,704 --> 00:15:06,844
Mr. Earnest: Well, Sunlen,
I don't have any individual

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00:15:06,839 --> 00:15:08,539
phone calls to
tell you about,

314
00:15:08,540 --> 00:15:12,140
but there are obviously a
number of prominent citizens

315
00:15:12,144 --> 00:15:14,744
or former citizens of
Baltimore that have

316
00:15:14,747 --> 00:15:16,747
relationships in the
administration and here at

317
00:15:16,749 --> 00:15:18,119
the White House.

318
00:15:18,117 --> 00:15:20,617
And there is an important
role for leaders in that

319
00:15:20,619 --> 00:15:25,629
community to stand up and
to encourage their fellow

320
00:15:25,624 --> 00:15:29,124
Baltimore residents to
express their legitimate

321
00:15:29,128 --> 00:15:32,098
concerns publicly
but peacefully.

322
00:15:32,097 --> 00:15:34,267
And there's a role for
people like Ray Lewis,

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00:15:34,266 --> 00:15:37,706
who is obviously a very
well-respected member of the

324
00:15:37,703 --> 00:15:39,073
Baltimore community.

325
00:15:39,071 --> 00:15:42,541
And it means a lot to have
somebody like him standing

326
00:15:42,541 --> 00:15:45,181
up and saying, I'm concerned
about this incident too,

327
00:15:45,177 --> 00:15:49,177
but I'm also committed
to making sure that if I

328
00:15:49,181 --> 00:15:51,851
communicate my
concerns in public,

329
00:15:51,850 --> 00:15:52,950
that I do so peacefully.

330
00:15:52,951 --> 00:15:59,491
And I think that serves as a
useful way for us to get the

331
00:15:59,491 --> 00:16:01,461
message out to the
people of Baltimore.

332
00:16:01,460 --> 00:16:03,560
Now, the good news is that
the vast majority of the

333
00:16:03,562 --> 00:16:05,532
people of Baltimore have
heard that message.

334
00:16:05,531 --> 00:16:07,531
And we've heard that the
vast majority of people in

335
00:16:07,533 --> 00:16:10,003
Baltimore are doing the
right thing and are acting

336
00:16:10,002 --> 00:16:14,602
responsibly, and are raising
legitimate concerns that are

337
00:16:14,606 --> 00:16:18,106
worthy of our attention.

338
00:16:18,110 --> 00:16:20,980
But we also want to make
sure that we build on the

339
00:16:20,979 --> 00:16:25,849
momentum that we're seeing
in terms of the lessening of

340
00:16:25,851 --> 00:16:29,521
the violence and disruption
and criminal activity,

341
00:16:29,521 --> 00:16:33,991
frankly, that characterized
some evenings in Baltimore

342
00:16:33,992 --> 00:16:34,992
earlier this week.

343
00:16:34,993 --> 00:16:35,863
The Press: So that wasn't
something that the White

344
00:16:35,861 --> 00:16:38,231
House specifically asked
of these two

345
00:16:38,230 --> 00:16:41,630
particular individuals?

346
00:16:41,633 --> 00:16:43,603
Mr. Earnest: The White
House and other senior

347
00:16:43,602 --> 00:16:45,072
administration officials
have been in touch with

348
00:16:45,070 --> 00:16:48,340
other prominent
Baltimore residents.

349
00:16:48,340 --> 00:16:50,340
Because there is an
opportunity for those

350
00:16:50,342 --> 00:16:52,342
Baltimore residents
to speak out,

351
00:16:52,344 --> 00:16:54,384
to make their
concerns known,

352
00:16:54,380 --> 00:16:58,480
but also to encourage the
public to relay their own

353
00:16:58,484 --> 00:17:01,424
concerns in a peaceful
fashion that's appropriate,

354
00:17:01,420 --> 00:17:03,420
that's constructive,
and that's what we're

355
00:17:03,422 --> 00:17:04,422
encouraging everybody to do.

356
00:17:04,423 --> 00:17:07,293
And if there's an
opportunity for us to rely

357
00:17:07,292 --> 00:17:09,892
on particularly
well-respected voices in

358
00:17:09,895 --> 00:17:12,065
Baltimore to deliver
that message,

359
00:17:12,064 --> 00:17:14,064
then we're going to
encourage them to do so and

360
00:17:14,066 --> 00:17:15,066
that's exactly
what we've done.

361
00:17:15,067 --> 00:17:17,067
The Press: Earlier today
in the Roosevelt Room the

362
00:17:17,069 --> 00:17:18,469
President indicated he had a
conference call with mayors

363
00:17:18,470 --> 00:17:20,010
scheduled for later today.

364
00:17:20,005 --> 00:17:21,645
Is that something that was
previously scheduled

365
00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:25,210
before Baltimore?

366
00:17:25,210 --> 00:17:25,840
Mr. Earnest: That's
something that was

367
00:17:25,844 --> 00:17:26,814
previously scheduled.

368
00:17:26,812 --> 00:17:30,382
This is the Cities
United convening.

369
00:17:30,382 --> 00:17:33,222
The President -- there
are a number of mayors,

370
00:17:33,218 --> 00:17:36,418
I think a dozen or so,
who are meeting up in

371
00:17:36,422 --> 00:17:38,892
Philadelphia this weekend
to talk about a range of

372
00:17:38,891 --> 00:17:41,331
issues, including the
President's My Brother's

373
00:17:41,326 --> 00:17:43,296
Keeper initiative.

374
00:17:43,295 --> 00:17:47,535
So this is an annual event
that happens to be occurring

375
00:17:47,533 --> 00:17:50,273
at a rather timely moment.

376
00:17:50,269 --> 00:17:54,239
This group first convened
last year in New Orleans.

377
00:17:54,239 --> 00:17:56,709
The President called into
that meeting as well.

378
00:17:56,708 --> 00:17:58,708
And the President is
looking forward to having a

379
00:17:58,710 --> 00:18:01,610
conversation with the mayors
and police chiefs from these

380
00:18:01,613 --> 00:18:03,913
cities to talk about the My
Brother's Keeper initiative

381
00:18:03,916 --> 00:18:08,956
and to talk about the 21st
century policing taskforce

382
00:18:08,954 --> 00:18:14,294
that's generated so much
good work and good ideas for

383
00:18:14,293 --> 00:18:18,093
how local law enforcement
agencies and cities can do a

384
00:18:18,096 --> 00:18:21,596
better job of building some
trust between those law

385
00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:23,770
enforcement officers and the
communities that they serve.

386
00:18:23,769 --> 00:18:26,069
This is a bipartisan group
of mayors and it's an

387
00:18:26,071 --> 00:18:31,311
opportunity for us to make
clear what a priority this

388
00:18:31,310 --> 00:18:32,580
is to the President.

389
00:18:32,578 --> 00:18:34,048
The Press: And one other
about My Brother's Keeper,

390
00:18:34,046 --> 00:18:37,116
but I just want to ask about
the President's engagement

391
00:18:37,115 --> 00:18:37,955
in Baltimore.

392
00:18:37,950 --> 00:18:39,920
We know that he has been
getting regular briefings at

393
00:18:39,918 --> 00:18:42,858
least once a day, we know --
according to Valerie Jarrett

394
00:18:42,855 --> 00:18:44,855
-- that he is watching
this very carefully,

395
00:18:44,857 --> 00:18:47,627
but how would you describe
his personal engagement,

396
00:18:47,626 --> 00:18:50,096
behind the scenes, on this?

397
00:18:50,095 --> 00:18:52,495
Mr. Earnest: I think the
best way to describe it to

398
00:18:52,498 --> 00:18:54,498
you is that the President is
concerned about what we've

399
00:18:54,500 --> 00:18:56,840
seen in Baltimore and he is
concerned in a couple of

400
00:18:56,835 --> 00:18:57,835
different ways.

401
00:18:57,836 --> 00:19:02,906
One is that over the last
week or two we have seen

402
00:19:02,908 --> 00:19:07,918
exposed that the police
department in a major U.S.

403
00:19:14,052 --> 00:19:19,062
city has some important work
to do to build trust with

404
00:19:22,361 --> 00:19:24,361
some of the citizens that
they're sworn to serve

405
00:19:24,363 --> 00:19:25,963
and protect.

406
00:19:25,964 --> 00:19:30,504
And there we have
seen, I think,

407
00:19:30,502 --> 00:19:34,242
a commitment from the mayor
and the police commissioner,

408
00:19:34,239 --> 00:19:36,939
and other leaders in that
community to doing the

409
00:19:36,942 --> 00:19:40,182
important work of trying to
rebuild that trust where

410
00:19:40,178 --> 00:19:41,178
it's necessary.

411
00:19:41,179 --> 00:19:45,319
I think the President
I think was obviously

412
00:19:45,317 --> 00:19:47,317
concerned when he talked
about this on Tuesday in the

413
00:19:47,319 --> 00:19:50,659
Rose Garden about the
criminal actions of a small

414
00:19:50,656 --> 00:19:55,056
minority who were
stirring up violence.

415
00:19:55,060 --> 00:19:57,230
And I think he was concerned
that that was overshadowing

416
00:19:57,229 --> 00:20:01,569
the legitimate concerns
that were being properly

417
00:20:01,567 --> 00:20:04,307
expressed by the vast
majority of the people -- by

418
00:20:04,303 --> 00:20:06,603
the citizens of Baltimore.

419
00:20:06,605 --> 00:20:07,775
So there are a couple of
different reasons why the

420
00:20:07,773 --> 00:20:09,773
President has been focused
on this and it certainly is,

421
00:20:09,775 --> 00:20:14,785
as the President mentioned,
consistent with a cycle that

422
00:20:19,418 --> 00:20:22,518
we've seen all too often
over the last not just few

423
00:20:22,521 --> 00:20:25,561
months but last years.

424
00:20:25,557 --> 00:20:30,627
And the President believes
that we all need to take

425
00:20:30,629 --> 00:20:33,199
some responsibility for
trying to address some of

426
00:20:33,198 --> 00:20:35,698
these problems that have
been unearthed in such

427
00:20:35,701 --> 00:20:37,801
graphic fashion
in Baltimore.

428
00:20:37,803 --> 00:20:39,073
The Press: And on My
Brother's Keeper,

429
00:20:39,071 --> 00:20:41,241
that initiative announcement
from the White House that on

430
00:20:41,239 --> 00:20:43,579
Monday the President will
travel to the Bronx to talk

431
00:20:43,575 --> 00:20:46,145
about how this is being
morphed or changed into his

432
00:20:46,144 --> 00:20:47,944
outside foundation.

433
00:20:47,946 --> 00:20:49,516
What's the President's
role in that?

434
00:20:49,514 --> 00:20:52,314
And will that be a role that
he continues to have after

435
00:20:52,317 --> 00:20:53,917
he leaves the White House?

436
00:20:53,919 --> 00:20:55,289
Mr. Earnest: Well, we'll
have some more details about

437
00:20:55,287 --> 00:20:58,527
the My Brother's Keeper
alliance next week,

438
00:20:58,523 --> 00:21:01,463
but the general idea here
is that there will be this

439
00:21:01,460 --> 00:21:04,530
outside organization that's
formed to serve essentially

440
00:21:04,529 --> 00:21:08,069
as a structure that can
support the ongoing work of

441
00:21:08,066 --> 00:21:09,766
the My Brother's
Keeper initiative.

442
00:21:09,768 --> 00:21:14,108
And while I would not --
while I'm not in a position

443
00:21:14,106 --> 00:21:17,546
to describe the specific,
detailed relationship

444
00:21:17,542 --> 00:21:21,012
between the President and
this alliance that will

445
00:21:21,013 --> 00:21:22,313
continue after
his presidency,

446
00:21:22,314 --> 00:21:24,854
I can tell you that this is
an issue that the President

447
00:21:24,850 --> 00:21:27,490
intends to continue
to be focused on,

448
00:21:27,486 --> 00:21:30,726
long after he has
left the Oval Office.

449
00:21:30,722 --> 00:21:31,422
Julie.

450
00:21:31,423 --> 00:21:32,053
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

451
00:21:32,057 --> 00:21:33,697
I have a couple on trade
but I want to first clarify

452
00:21:33,692 --> 00:21:35,562
something you said on Iran.

453
00:21:35,560 --> 00:21:37,030
You seem to be
making the argument,

454
00:21:37,029 --> 00:21:38,459
and we heard you make
it earlier this week,

455
00:21:38,463 --> 00:21:41,463
that the more Iran does to
add to the United States

456
00:21:41,466 --> 00:21:43,566
long list of concerns
about their destabilizing

457
00:21:43,568 --> 00:21:47,468
behavior, the more important
it is to get a nuclear deal.

458
00:21:47,472 --> 00:21:50,312
I'm just wondering, is that
not a dangerous message to

459
00:21:50,308 --> 00:21:53,108
be sending to Iran and
the region at this point?

460
00:21:53,111 --> 00:21:55,581
Is there anything that Iran
could do that would cause

461
00:21:55,580 --> 00:21:58,220
the United States to say we
shouldn't be negotiating

462
00:21:58,216 --> 00:22:01,616
with them, no matter what
the importance is of getting

463
00:22:01,620 --> 00:22:02,790
a nuclear deal?

464
00:22:02,788 --> 00:22:04,758
Mr. Earnest: Well, Julie, I
don't think I'm making the

465
00:22:04,756 --> 00:22:07,526
case that it's even
more important.

466
00:22:07,526 --> 00:22:09,766
I think I'm making the case
that it highlights why it's

467
00:22:09,761 --> 00:22:13,061
so important for us to
prevent Iran from obtaining

468
00:22:13,065 --> 00:22:15,505
a nuclear weapon and that
they engage in these

469
00:22:15,500 --> 00:22:18,840
destabilizing activities,
they support terrorism,

470
00:22:18,837 --> 00:22:21,477
that's why preventing them
from obtaining a nuclear

471
00:22:21,473 --> 00:22:23,873
weapon is such a top
national security priority

472
00:22:23,875 --> 00:22:25,875
of the United States.

473
00:22:27,446 --> 00:22:29,946
I mean, as it relates to the
messages that we're sending

474
00:22:29,948 --> 00:22:33,388
to Iran, there's also some
danger in the message of

475
00:22:33,385 --> 00:22:36,725
suggesting that there might
be something that Iran could

476
00:22:36,722 --> 00:22:40,522
do that would cause us to
step away from the talks.

477
00:22:40,525 --> 00:22:43,195
We know that there are some
people in Iran who certainly

478
00:22:43,195 --> 00:22:46,935
don't support the effort
to try to resolve this

479
00:22:46,932 --> 00:22:50,132
situation diplomatically.

480
00:22:50,135 --> 00:22:53,275
So that's not a message that
I'm going to send from here.

481
00:22:53,271 --> 00:22:55,171
But what I will say is
consistent with I think the

482
00:22:55,173 --> 00:22:57,643
views of our partners who
are around the negotiating

483
00:22:57,642 --> 00:23:00,882
table, which is that this
is a clear priority for the

484
00:23:00,879 --> 00:23:03,719
world, it's clearly in the
best interest of trying to

485
00:23:03,715 --> 00:23:06,755
achieve some regional
stability in already -- or

486
00:23:06,752 --> 00:23:09,492
at least add some stability
to an already very volatile

487
00:23:11,690 --> 00:23:13,690
region of the world that is
experiencing some pretty

488
00:23:13,692 --> 00:23:14,762
significant
turmoil right now.

489
00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:20,430
And there is no one who is
out there suggesting -- it's

490
00:23:20,432 --> 00:23:22,402
not just me and it's not
just the United States --

491
00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:24,400
there's no one that's out
there suggesting that this

492
00:23:24,402 --> 00:23:27,742
is the only concern that
they have with Iran.

493
00:23:27,739 --> 00:23:29,739
And there's no one who
is suggesting that the

494
00:23:29,741 --> 00:23:34,651
successful resolution of
this diplomatic opportunity

495
00:23:34,646 --> 00:23:38,316
is going to ease their
concerns about many of the

496
00:23:38,316 --> 00:23:40,386
other things that Iran does
that people around the world

497
00:23:40,385 --> 00:23:44,585
find objectionable
and even dangerous.

498
00:23:44,589 --> 00:23:49,299
So our priorities
here are clear.

499
00:23:49,294 --> 00:23:52,264
And I think they absolutely
are consistent with the

500
00:23:52,264 --> 00:23:53,804
broader international
security priorities of the

501
00:23:53,799 --> 00:23:55,169
United States.

502
00:23:55,167 --> 00:23:57,367
The Press: On trade, the
President has also been

503
00:23:57,369 --> 00:24:00,669
saying that part of the
reason TPP is so essential

504
00:24:00,672 --> 00:24:04,972
is because NAFTA had
problems and caused issues

505
00:24:04,976 --> 00:24:08,046
for American workers that
would be fixed under TPP.

506
00:24:08,046 --> 00:24:10,746
So does he agree with the
finding in the Council of

507
00:24:10,749 --> 00:24:13,549
Economic Adviser's
report today that U.S.

508
00:24:13,552 --> 00:24:16,452
trade deals have not
actually caused outsourcing

509
00:24:16,454 --> 00:24:18,394
of jobs?

510
00:24:18,390 --> 00:24:20,960
Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't
know that that's -- I think

511
00:24:20,959 --> 00:24:22,959
the way that I've heard the
President talk about this in

512
00:24:22,961 --> 00:24:25,901
the past -- I'll let the CEA
talk about the specifics of

513
00:24:25,897 --> 00:24:30,437
their findings, I didn't see
that specific finding in

514
00:24:30,435 --> 00:24:33,475
their report but I could
have missed it, and if so,

515
00:24:33,471 --> 00:24:35,311
then I'm happy to have
somebody talk to you about

516
00:24:35,307 --> 00:24:36,577
it in more detail.

517
00:24:36,575 --> 00:24:38,615
What I've heard the
President talk about is that

518
00:24:38,610 --> 00:24:43,620
the case that others
have made is that trade

519
00:24:45,784 --> 00:24:49,754
agreements in the past have
had a disproportionately bad

520
00:24:49,754 --> 00:24:54,564
impact on some cohort of
blue-collar and middle-class

521
00:24:54,559 --> 00:24:56,459
workers in this country.

522
00:24:56,461 --> 00:25:02,171
And the President's view is
that a large part of that is

523
00:25:02,167 --> 00:25:04,267
attributable to the
fact that there haven't

524
00:25:04,269 --> 00:25:08,339
previously been the kind
of enforceable labor and

525
00:25:08,340 --> 00:25:11,380
environmental standards that
are so critical to a level

526
00:25:11,376 --> 00:25:13,116
playing field.

527
00:25:13,111 --> 00:25:15,281
And that's a lesson that
we can learn from previous

528
00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:18,350
trade agreements; that
in NAFTA, for example,

529
00:25:18,350 --> 00:25:22,190
labor protections were
included in a side letter

530
00:25:22,187 --> 00:25:25,127
accompanying the
broader agreement.

531
00:25:25,123 --> 00:25:27,123
The President believes that
we should have enforceable

532
00:25:27,125 --> 00:25:29,965
provisions written into the
agreement that will ensure

533
00:25:29,961 --> 00:25:35,031
that all parties to the
trade deal would live up to

534
00:25:35,033 --> 00:25:38,373
the high standards that
we're all agreeing to,

535
00:25:38,370 --> 00:25:40,370
and that by doing so, we're
going to level the playing

536
00:25:40,372 --> 00:25:44,172
field and open up a wide
variety of opportunities for

537
00:25:44,175 --> 00:25:46,915
American businesses to
compete on that level

538
00:25:46,912 --> 00:25:49,852
playing field, and to
do so in one of the most

539
00:25:49,848 --> 00:25:52,518
economically dynamic
regions of the world.

540
00:25:52,517 --> 00:25:55,317
That is going to be good
for our broader economy,

541
00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:57,760
it's going to be good
for American businesses,

542
00:25:57,756 --> 00:25:59,856
and it's going to be good
for the vast majority of

543
00:25:59,858 --> 00:26:00,688
American workers.

544
00:26:00,692 --> 00:26:06,002
What's also true is that the
President is mindful of the

545
00:26:05,997 --> 00:26:07,997
kinds of benefits that
are included with trade

546
00:26:07,999 --> 00:26:09,369
adjustment assistance.

547
00:26:09,367 --> 00:26:11,367
And this is one of the
things that the President

548
00:26:11,369 --> 00:26:13,069
has aggressively
advocated for,

549
00:26:13,071 --> 00:26:16,671
and the Congress as well --
that if there are situations

550
00:26:16,675 --> 00:26:19,215
where there are some workers
who are adversely affected,

551
00:26:19,210 --> 00:26:22,410
we want to make sure that
we're ready to step in,

552
00:26:22,414 --> 00:26:25,814
get the kind of training and
skills that they need so

553
00:26:25,817 --> 00:26:27,957
that they can capitalize on
the opportunities that

554
00:26:27,953 --> 00:26:29,153
are created.

555
00:26:29,154 --> 00:26:32,094
And there's no doubting that
there are a wide -- as I

556
00:26:32,090 --> 00:26:34,830
mentioned earlier, a wide
variety of opportunities

557
00:26:34,826 --> 00:26:35,826
that are created.

558
00:26:35,827 --> 00:26:38,867
And we want to make sure
that our workers in this

559
00:26:38,863 --> 00:26:41,603
country have access to the
skills that they need to

560
00:26:41,599 --> 00:26:43,599
capitalize on those
opportunities.

561
00:26:43,601 --> 00:26:45,601
After all, that's also
going to be good for the

562
00:26:45,603 --> 00:26:47,603
businesses that are also
-- that are trying to

563
00:26:47,605 --> 00:26:49,605
capitalize on these overseas
opportunities, as well.

564
00:26:49,607 --> 00:26:53,977
If there's additional work
that needs to be done,

565
00:26:53,979 --> 00:26:56,379
if there are additional
goods or services that are

566
00:26:56,381 --> 00:26:57,951
going to be
shipped overseas,

567
00:26:57,949 --> 00:26:59,949
then they're going to need
to add to their payroll.

568
00:26:59,951 --> 00:27:01,951
And we need to make sure
that they have available

569
00:27:01,953 --> 00:27:04,993
skilled workers that
can do those jobs.

570
00:27:04,990 --> 00:27:07,230
And the other
thing that I know,

571
00:27:07,225 --> 00:27:09,325
that I think is
included in here,

572
00:27:09,327 --> 00:27:11,827
is that there's plenty
of economic evidence to

573
00:27:11,830 --> 00:27:16,200
indicate that those American
jobs that are directly

574
00:27:16,201 --> 00:27:21,311
related to exports on
average pay more than the

575
00:27:21,306 --> 00:27:23,346
average job in
the job market.

576
00:27:23,341 --> 00:27:26,581
And that's yet another
reason that the President

577
00:27:26,578 --> 00:27:29,018
believes that a trade
agreement that levels the

578
00:27:29,014 --> 00:27:31,514
playing field in an
economically dynamic region

579
00:27:31,516 --> 00:27:33,616
of the world is
good for businesses,

580
00:27:33,618 --> 00:27:35,618
it's good for our
broader economy.

581
00:27:35,620 --> 00:27:37,620
It also creates really
important opportunities for

582
00:27:37,622 --> 00:27:39,592
middle-class families
all across the country.

583
00:27:39,591 --> 00:27:41,291
The Press: Just one more
quickly on Nike next week.

584
00:27:41,292 --> 00:27:43,892
I'm curious how the White
House or the President

585
00:27:43,895 --> 00:27:46,895
selected that company to
visit to talk about the

586
00:27:46,898 --> 00:27:48,368
benefits of trade.

587
00:27:48,366 --> 00:27:50,266
Nike has had some pretty
high-profile problems with

588
00:27:50,268 --> 00:27:53,468
overseas manufacturing
operations,

589
00:27:53,471 --> 00:27:55,911
low labor standards,
low wages.

590
00:27:55,907 --> 00:27:57,907
And it's sort of seen as
something of a poster child,

591
00:27:57,909 --> 00:28:01,049
or has been in the past for
the ills of globalization

592
00:28:01,046 --> 00:28:02,246
for American workers.

593
00:28:02,247 --> 00:28:04,587
So I'm just
wondering why Nike.

594
00:28:04,582 --> 00:28:06,382
Mr. Earnest: Well, we'll
have a lot more to say about

595
00:28:06,384 --> 00:28:09,854
the President's visit to the
Nike headquarters next week,

596
00:28:09,854 --> 00:28:11,954
when the President
travels out to Oregon.

597
00:28:11,956 --> 00:28:15,426
Let me just say as a general
matter that the President

598
00:28:15,427 --> 00:28:19,127
believes that by raising
labor standards and raising

599
00:28:19,130 --> 00:28:25,470
environmental standards in
Southeast Asia principally,

600
00:28:25,470 --> 00:28:28,210
but all throughout the
Asia Pacific region,

601
00:28:28,206 --> 00:28:30,206
that will level the
playing field for

602
00:28:30,208 --> 00:28:31,208
American businesses.

603
00:28:31,209 --> 00:28:33,209
And no longer will companies
be able to gain an unfair

604
00:28:33,211 --> 00:28:37,581
advantage by capitalizing on
those low labor standards.

605
00:28:37,582 --> 00:28:40,852
And the case the President
has made is that if the

606
00:28:40,852 --> 00:28:43,392
United States doesn't engage
in this region of the world,

607
00:28:43,388 --> 00:28:45,728
and we don't take advantage
of the opportunity to reach

608
00:28:45,723 --> 00:28:48,163
an agreement that will raise
labor and environmental

609
00:28:48,159 --> 00:28:50,399
standards, then what we're
likely to see is we're

610
00:28:50,395 --> 00:28:52,095
likely to see China step in.

611
00:28:52,097 --> 00:28:56,737
And China, seeking an
advantage for their economy,

612
00:28:56,734 --> 00:28:59,574
will seek to lower
environmental standards,

613
00:28:59,571 --> 00:29:02,641
and lower labor standards
in a way that will put U.S.

614
00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:06,040
companies at an even greater
disadvantage than they

615
00:29:06,044 --> 00:29:07,614
already face.

616
00:29:07,612 --> 00:29:09,582
So in the mind
of the President,

617
00:29:09,581 --> 00:29:11,581
there is a pretty clear
choice to be made,

618
00:29:11,583 --> 00:29:13,283
and it's -- again, this is
the case that the President

619
00:29:13,284 --> 00:29:17,954
makes to Democrats and to
progressives who say that

620
00:29:17,956 --> 00:29:20,596
they are more concerned
about the impact of these

621
00:29:20,592 --> 00:29:24,432
trade agreements in
middle-class workers.

622
00:29:24,429 --> 00:29:27,469
The President says he's got
exactly the same concern.

623
00:29:27,465 --> 00:29:30,365
And his concern is failing
to engage in this region of

624
00:29:30,368 --> 00:29:33,608
the world essentially
ratifies the status quo and

625
00:29:33,605 --> 00:29:36,905
puts the United States and
our economy at risk of being

626
00:29:36,908 --> 00:29:40,778
further undermined by our
economic competitors that

627
00:29:40,778 --> 00:29:42,778
don't have an incentive
in raising labor and

628
00:29:42,780 --> 00:29:43,780
environmental standards.

629
00:29:43,781 --> 00:29:48,621
So that's why the President
-- that's why you see so

630
00:29:48,620 --> 00:29:51,020
much passion from the
President on this issue.

631
00:29:51,022 --> 00:29:52,992
It's principally because
there is an important

632
00:29:52,991 --> 00:29:58,031
opportunity for us
to capitalize on.

633
00:29:58,029 --> 00:30:01,629
And failing to do so doesn't
just mean that there's a

634
00:30:01,633 --> 00:30:05,103
missed opportunity, it means
that there is a significant

635
00:30:05,103 --> 00:30:09,943
downside, as well --
which is that failing to

636
00:30:09,941 --> 00:30:11,781
capitalize on
this opportunity,

637
00:30:11,776 --> 00:30:16,316
as the President said,
essentially puts into place

638
00:30:16,314 --> 00:30:19,054
the status quo,
cements the status quo,

639
00:30:19,050 --> 00:30:22,320
and in the future could
expose the United States and

640
00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:25,820
our economy to a
significant downside risk.

641
00:30:25,823 --> 00:30:26,923
Alexis.

642
00:30:26,925 --> 00:30:27,625
The Press: I just want to
follow up on the question

643
00:30:27,625 --> 00:30:28,725
about Nike.

644
00:30:28,726 --> 00:30:34,536
There's been a suggestion
that perhaps Nike has been

645
00:30:34,532 --> 00:30:38,032
selected to be the site
because it committed $50

646
00:30:38,036 --> 00:30:40,306
million to Let's Move.

647
00:30:40,305 --> 00:30:44,475
Can you comment on whether
Nike is going to get a visit

648
00:30:44,475 --> 00:30:46,375
from the President related
to that

649
00:30:46,377 --> 00:30:47,817
substantial commitment?

650
00:30:47,812 --> 00:30:50,552
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
President's event next week

651
00:30:50,548 --> 00:30:51,888
will not be focused
on Let's Move.

652
00:30:51,883 --> 00:30:54,183
It will actually be focused
on the benefits of the

653
00:30:54,185 --> 00:30:57,525
Trans-Pacific Partnership
and the opportunity that

654
00:30:57,522 --> 00:31:02,692
exists for companies to
benefit from expanded access

655
00:31:02,694 --> 00:31:04,024
to overseas markets.

656
00:31:04,028 --> 00:31:06,828
The President believes that
that expanded access is good

657
00:31:06,831 --> 00:31:09,471
for American workers, and
that will be part of the

658
00:31:09,467 --> 00:31:11,467
message that the
President will deliver.

659
00:31:11,469 --> 00:31:12,639
But we'll have more
details on that next week.

660
00:31:12,637 --> 00:31:14,177
The Press: So there's no
connection to the generosity

661
00:31:14,172 --> 00:31:17,512
of Nike to the First
Lady's initiative?

662
00:31:17,508 --> 00:31:19,648
Mr. Earnest: Well,
not that I'm aware of.

663
00:31:19,644 --> 00:31:22,744
I don't know if the First
Lady has been out there to

664
00:31:22,747 --> 00:31:25,047
visit Nike in conjunction
with the Let's Move campaign

665
00:31:25,049 --> 00:31:26,589
or not.

666
00:31:26,584 --> 00:31:28,354
But, no -- what the
President is going out there

667
00:31:28,353 --> 00:31:29,993
to talk about
specifically is trade.

668
00:31:29,988 --> 00:31:30,758
The Press: Two other
questions related

669
00:31:30,755 --> 00:31:31,755
to the library.

670
00:31:31,756 --> 00:31:34,696
Because the foundation
will be established in the

671
00:31:34,692 --> 00:31:37,562
President's name
-- not unusual;

672
00:31:37,562 --> 00:31:40,332
that's been done in the past
-- can you comment on the

673
00:31:40,331 --> 00:31:43,401
President's direction to
those who are going to be

674
00:31:43,401 --> 00:31:46,041
doing that in terms
of the fundraising,

675
00:31:46,037 --> 00:31:48,437
how the fundraising will
be conducted while he's

676
00:31:48,439 --> 00:31:51,979
President, and how much
disclosure he wants to have

677
00:31:51,976 --> 00:31:55,016
behind that fundraising
for those donations?

678
00:31:55,013 --> 00:31:56,813
Mr. Earnest: I'd refer you
to a spokesperson for the

679
00:31:56,814 --> 00:31:58,414
foundation who can tell you
about their

680
00:31:58,416 --> 00:31:59,816
fundraising policies.

681
00:31:59,817 --> 00:32:00,917
The Press: But I asked
you what the President's

682
00:32:00,918 --> 00:32:02,418
direction to them was.

683
00:32:02,420 --> 00:32:03,990
Mr. Earnest: And I don't
have anything to -- I don't

684
00:32:03,988 --> 00:32:05,528
have any private
conversations to share with

685
00:32:05,523 --> 00:32:06,453
you at this point.

686
00:32:06,457 --> 00:32:08,597
The Press: And also
related to this,

687
00:32:08,593 --> 00:32:10,493
the President's legacy or
what he'd like to do after

688
00:32:10,495 --> 00:32:14,165
his presidency, he's talked
about his enjoyment and his

689
00:32:14,165 --> 00:32:15,535
success in writing.

690
00:32:15,533 --> 00:32:19,533
Will the President -- has he
or will he sign any kind of

691
00:32:19,537 --> 00:32:23,107
contract to write in his
post-presidency while

692
00:32:23,107 --> 00:32:24,447
he's President?

693
00:32:24,442 --> 00:32:25,442
Has he done that already?

694
00:32:25,443 --> 00:32:27,643
Will he do that, sign a
contract for a book while

695
00:32:27,645 --> 00:32:28,715
he's President?

696
00:32:28,713 --> 00:32:31,683
Mr. Earnest: I don't know
of any contract that he has

697
00:32:31,683 --> 00:32:34,953
signed while President
related to his

698
00:32:34,952 --> 00:32:36,222
writing activities.

699
00:32:36,220 --> 00:32:41,190
But, yes, I wouldn't be
surprised if the President

700
00:32:41,192 --> 00:32:42,962
considers writing a book
after leaving the

701
00:32:42,960 --> 00:32:43,490
White House.

702
00:32:43,494 --> 00:32:44,764
(laughter)

703
00:32:44,762 --> 00:32:45,362
I'm going to
go out on a limb there.

704
00:32:45,363 --> 00:32:48,003
(laughter)

705
00:32:47,999 --> 00:32:48,799
Lynn.

706
00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:50,300
The Press: Thank you.

707
00:32:50,301 --> 00:32:52,801
Last week, President
Obama did call Illinois

708
00:32:52,804 --> 00:32:55,474
legislative leaders after a
bill passed Illinois general

709
00:32:55,473 --> 00:32:59,443
assembly, making it harder
to legally challenge

710
00:32:59,444 --> 00:33:02,344
building the Obama library
on city park land.

711
00:33:02,347 --> 00:33:05,287
Can you give me a
readout on that call?

712
00:33:05,283 --> 00:33:07,683
And could you tell me
how closely has he been

713
00:33:07,685 --> 00:33:11,225
monitoring these discussions
over the use of city park

714
00:33:11,222 --> 00:33:14,092
land for the Obama complex?

715
00:33:14,092 --> 00:33:15,122
Mr. Earnest: I've heard
about this

716
00:33:15,126 --> 00:33:16,126
telephone conversation.

717
00:33:16,127 --> 00:33:20,097
I have not gotten a
detailed readout of it.

718
00:33:20,098 --> 00:33:22,438
If there are more details
for us to share about the

719
00:33:22,433 --> 00:33:26,473
conversation, I will have
somebody follow up with you.

720
00:33:26,471 --> 00:33:30,741
I can say that the President
has been getting updates on

721
00:33:30,742 --> 00:33:31,742
this situation.

722
00:33:31,743 --> 00:33:33,813
Again, he has been in
touch with those who are

723
00:33:33,811 --> 00:33:37,281
responsible for leading the
efforts of the foundation to

724
00:33:37,281 --> 00:33:39,881
get the library
process off the ground.

725
00:33:39,884 --> 00:33:43,454
But I don't think I would
describe it as the President

726
00:33:43,454 --> 00:33:45,454
closely following
the situation.

727
00:33:45,456 --> 00:33:47,456
He's got a lot of other
things on his plate.

728
00:33:47,458 --> 00:33:49,128
The Press: But he was aware
then of the controversy over

729
00:33:49,127 --> 00:33:51,067
the use of park land?

730
00:33:51,062 --> 00:33:53,262
Mr. Earnest: I would say
that the President has been

731
00:33:53,264 --> 00:33:56,264
regularly updated on
the activities of the

732
00:33:56,267 --> 00:33:59,367
foundation, and obviously
updated on the kinds of

733
00:33:59,370 --> 00:34:05,940
conversations that they're
having with the cities who

734
00:34:05,943 --> 00:34:11,213
have applied, or who
have bid on the library.

735
00:34:11,215 --> 00:34:11,945
Ali.

736
00:34:11,949 --> 00:34:14,389
The Press: Just to be clear,
has the President made a

737
00:34:14,385 --> 00:34:16,585
decision to base his
library in Chicago?

738
00:34:16,587 --> 00:34:17,187
Mr. Earnest: No.

739
00:34:17,188 --> 00:34:19,858
No decision on the library
has been announced

740
00:34:19,857 --> 00:34:20,687
at this point.

741
00:34:20,691 --> 00:34:23,361
But when it is announced, my
colleagues who are working

742
00:34:23,361 --> 00:34:25,361
on this particular
initiative will have

743
00:34:25,363 --> 00:34:26,363
responsibility
for doing that.

744
00:34:26,364 --> 00:34:27,234
And those are not colleagues
who work at the White House,

745
00:34:27,231 --> 00:34:28,601
by the way.

746
00:34:28,599 --> 00:34:29,669
The Press: And do you have
any guidance on when that

747
00:34:29,667 --> 00:34:31,567
decision might be made that
you can share from here?

748
00:34:31,569 --> 00:34:33,169
Mr. Earnest: No, they've
obviously been working on

749
00:34:33,171 --> 00:34:35,811
this for some time,
and it does appear,

750
00:34:35,807 --> 00:34:38,207
according to news reports,
that they are closing in on

751
00:34:38,209 --> 00:34:41,379
a decision and
final announcement.

752
00:34:41,379 --> 00:34:43,919
The Press: On a different
topic -- guns on Capitol

753
00:34:43,915 --> 00:34:46,855
Hill; literally actual guns.

754
00:34:46,851 --> 00:34:49,151
Since January, there was a
report that there have been

755
00:34:49,153 --> 00:34:52,523
three cases of firearms
left in bathrooms,

756
00:34:52,523 --> 00:34:56,523
twice including protective
detail for Senator McConnell

757
00:34:56,527 --> 00:34:58,697
and House Speaker Boehner.

758
00:34:58,696 --> 00:35:03,436
One of those guns, Glocks,
was found by a young child.

759
00:35:03,434 --> 00:35:06,974
So I'm just wondering if the
White House has any opinion

760
00:35:06,971 --> 00:35:12,141
on these three incidents
in the past five months.

761
00:35:12,143 --> 00:35:16,043
Mr. Earnest: I don't know
anything about those reports

762
00:35:16,047 --> 00:35:18,947
other than what I've seen
about them in

763
00:35:18,950 --> 00:35:20,050
public reporting.

764
00:35:20,051 --> 00:35:24,861
But obviously this is
something that has drawn the

765
00:35:24,856 --> 00:35:26,856
attention of investigators
on Capitol Hill,

766
00:35:26,858 --> 00:35:30,258
and that seems like a
reasonable response.

767
00:35:30,261 --> 00:35:33,001
The Press: The Congressional
Office of Professional

768
00:35:32,997 --> 00:35:35,867
Responsibility has
recommended six days of

769
00:35:35,867 --> 00:35:38,507
suspension without pay for
one of the officers involved

770
00:35:38,503 --> 00:35:40,303
in one of the incidents.

771
00:35:40,304 --> 00:35:44,714
Does the President think
that's adequate punishment?

772
00:35:44,709 --> 00:35:45,839
Mr. Earnest: The President
thinks that it's the

773
00:35:45,843 --> 00:35:47,143
responsibility of that
oversight board to make

774
00:35:47,144 --> 00:35:47,844
that decision.

775
00:35:47,845 --> 00:35:51,645
The Press: And just in terms
of the -- this seems to be

776
00:35:51,649 --> 00:35:53,719
something that if it
happened at the White House,

777
00:35:53,718 --> 00:35:56,688
if a Secret Service member
left a gun in the bathroom

778
00:35:56,687 --> 00:35:57,587
-- maybe that's happened.

779
00:35:57,588 --> 00:35:58,788
Mr. Earnest: Not
that I'm aware of.

780
00:35:58,789 --> 00:36:00,589
(laughter)

781
00:36:00,591 --> 00:36:01,661
The Press: Okay.

782
00:36:01,659 --> 00:36:04,299
But I would imagine the
President would be pretty

783
00:36:04,295 --> 00:36:06,795
upset, especially given all
of the news surrounding the

784
00:36:06,797 --> 00:36:07,737
Secret Service.

785
00:36:07,732 --> 00:36:10,232
So what would be his
reaction if something like

786
00:36:10,234 --> 00:36:12,404
this -- it's happened at the
Capitol three times this

787
00:36:12,403 --> 00:36:14,603
year -- happened here
at the White House?

788
00:36:14,605 --> 00:36:16,075
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
what the President would say

789
00:36:16,073 --> 00:36:18,143
is that it merits the
attention of the appropriate

790
00:36:18,142 --> 00:36:20,382
authorities on Capitol Hill,
and it sounds like that's

791
00:36:20,378 --> 00:36:21,648
what's happened.

792
00:36:21,646 --> 00:36:23,386
The Press: I want to ask
you about one other topic.

793
00:36:23,381 --> 00:36:26,721
Over the past week, given
the events in Baltimore,

794
00:36:26,717 --> 00:36:29,487
some conservatives,
including declared and

795
00:36:29,487 --> 00:36:30,857
likely presidential
candidates,

796
00:36:30,855 --> 00:36:33,095
have accused the President
of inflaming

797
00:36:33,090 --> 00:36:34,490
racial tensions.

798
00:36:34,492 --> 00:36:35,962
That was the word used
by Senator Ted Cruz.

799
00:36:35,960 --> 00:36:38,900
I'm just wondering if you
have any response to those

800
00:36:38,896 --> 00:36:40,336
kinds of comments.

801
00:36:40,331 --> 00:36:41,901
Mr. Earnest: I don't.

802
00:36:41,899 --> 00:36:42,529
Ed.

803
00:36:42,533 --> 00:36:43,773
The Press: Josh, when you
were talking about the

804
00:36:43,768 --> 00:36:46,338
library and My Brother's
Keeper, as well,

805
00:36:46,337 --> 00:36:48,577
some of the reports about
the foundation that will be

806
00:36:48,573 --> 00:36:51,073
set up in the days ahead
to continue the work of My

807
00:36:51,075 --> 00:36:53,075
Brother's Keeper has
suggested it would be

808
00:36:53,077 --> 00:36:55,417
modeled in part on the
Clinton Foundation,

809
00:36:55,413 --> 00:36:57,983
a former President devoting
a lot of time to an

810
00:36:57,982 --> 00:36:59,322
important cause.

811
00:36:59,317 --> 00:37:00,987
Given the questions about
the Clinton Foundation in

812
00:37:00,985 --> 00:37:04,285
recent days, I know you kind
of deflected to library

813
00:37:04,288 --> 00:37:06,058
people and to the My
Brother's Keeper,

814
00:37:06,057 --> 00:37:09,157
but will the President put
some sort of rules of the

815
00:37:09,160 --> 00:37:12,100
road in place in terms of
what his role will be while

816
00:37:12,096 --> 00:37:13,866
he's still President?

817
00:37:13,864 --> 00:37:16,404
Will there be transparent
rules that the public can

818
00:37:16,400 --> 00:37:19,340
see about what kind of
fundraising he will do for

819
00:37:19,337 --> 00:37:20,637
these important causes?

820
00:37:20,638 --> 00:37:23,338
Mr. Earnest: Well, Ed, as it
relates to the foundation,

821
00:37:23,341 --> 00:37:25,241
I would encourage you to
contact my colleagues and

822
00:37:25,242 --> 00:37:28,242
they can explain to you what
policies they have put in

823
00:37:28,245 --> 00:37:29,645
place to guide the
fundraising activities of

824
00:37:29,647 --> 00:37:32,187
the foundation.

825
00:37:32,183 --> 00:37:34,283
As it relates to the My
Brother's Keeper Alliance,

826
00:37:34,285 --> 00:37:37,585
we'll have more news on
that once that alliance is

827
00:37:37,588 --> 00:37:38,258
announced next week.

828
00:37:38,255 --> 00:37:39,155
The Press: -- in general,
the President will want to

829
00:37:39,156 --> 00:37:41,856
have some sort of
transparent approach

830
00:37:41,859 --> 00:37:43,729
to this?

831
00:37:43,728 --> 00:37:45,728
I understand the
specific rules,

832
00:37:45,730 --> 00:37:47,730
but is there -- there's
nothing you can say from

833
00:37:47,732 --> 00:37:49,702
here at the White House
about what the President's

834
00:37:49,700 --> 00:37:50,700
principles are
on this issue?

835
00:37:50,701 --> 00:37:52,701
Mr. Earnest: Well, at
this point I want the

836
00:37:52,703 --> 00:37:55,273
announcement to be made
before I start opining on

837
00:37:55,272 --> 00:37:56,272
those kinds of details.

838
00:37:56,273 --> 00:37:58,673
The Press: On Baltimore
-- Hillary Clinton,

839
00:37:58,676 --> 00:38:00,676
Dick Durbin, and other
prominent Democrats in the

840
00:38:00,678 --> 00:38:03,478
last few days have said they
feel that they overreached

841
00:38:03,481 --> 00:38:06,021
and Republicans on the
Hill may have overreached,

842
00:38:06,017 --> 00:38:09,157
as well, when they supported
President Clinton's crime

843
00:38:09,153 --> 00:38:12,223
bill, and that that has
led to these high rates

844
00:38:12,223 --> 00:38:13,663
of incarceration.

845
00:38:13,658 --> 00:38:14,888
Does President Obama agree?

846
00:38:14,892 --> 00:38:15,922
I know he gave a
very long answer,

847
00:38:15,926 --> 00:38:17,996
but he didn't get into
incarceration as much in the

848
00:38:17,995 --> 00:38:19,265
Rose Garden a
couple days ago.

849
00:38:19,263 --> 00:38:21,763
Does he agree that the
Clinton crime bill went

850
00:38:21,766 --> 00:38:23,196
too far?

851
00:38:23,200 --> 00:38:24,770
Mr. Earnest: Well, Ed, I
think what the President

852
00:38:24,769 --> 00:38:29,839
would say is that there
is good reason for us to

853
00:38:29,840 --> 00:38:35,110
consider some of the aspects
of the criminal justice

854
00:38:35,112 --> 00:38:39,752
system right now that raise
concerns in many communities

855
00:38:39,750 --> 00:38:43,620
across the country about
whether the principles and

856
00:38:43,621 --> 00:38:47,191
precepts of our legal system
are fairly applied to

857
00:38:47,191 --> 00:38:49,261
everyone across the country.

858
00:38:49,260 --> 00:38:54,270
And there are some
common-sense things that,

859
00:38:54,265 --> 00:38:57,135
again, have sort of
attracted bipartisan support

860
00:38:57,134 --> 00:39:00,334
around things like
sentencing laws for

861
00:39:00,337 --> 00:39:02,577
individuals who have been
convicted of nonviolent

862
00:39:02,573 --> 00:39:04,313
drug offenses.

863
00:39:04,308 --> 00:39:06,308
I think people have raised
legitimate concerns about

864
00:39:06,310 --> 00:39:08,310
whether or not those
individuals are best served,

865
00:39:08,312 --> 00:39:10,312
and whether our country
is best served by those

866
00:39:10,314 --> 00:39:14,414
individuals spending decades
in prison when -- for

867
00:39:14,418 --> 00:39:17,218
essentially not for
committing a violent crime,

868
00:39:17,221 --> 00:39:19,921
but for being
addicted to drugs.

869
00:39:19,924 --> 00:39:23,424
The question, I think, in
the minds of a lot of people

870
00:39:23,427 --> 00:39:25,667
-- again, Democrats and
Republicans -- is there a

871
00:39:25,663 --> 00:39:27,863
better way for us to
address this problem.

872
00:39:27,865 --> 00:39:30,605
Certainly there need to be
stiff punishments in place,

873
00:39:30,601 --> 00:39:33,971
but the question is how
can we orient our criminal

874
00:39:33,971 --> 00:39:36,411
justice system to
both be more fair,

875
00:39:36,407 --> 00:39:38,407
but also to produce outcomes
that are in the best

876
00:39:38,409 --> 00:39:39,479
interest of the country.

877
00:39:39,477 --> 00:39:41,777
So this is something that
has attracted a lot of

878
00:39:41,779 --> 00:39:44,119
attention recently, and the
President has been gratified

879
00:39:44,115 --> 00:39:46,115
by the kind of discussion
that he has already been

880
00:39:46,117 --> 00:39:48,817
able to have with Democrats
and Republicans on Capitol

881
00:39:48,819 --> 00:39:51,689
Hill, including some
Republicans that don't often

882
00:39:51,689 --> 00:39:53,689
agree with the President's
approach to things.

883
00:39:53,691 --> 00:39:56,061
And I think that is
indicative of the fact that

884
00:39:56,060 --> 00:39:58,260
there is a lot of common
ground that can be seized

885
00:39:58,262 --> 00:40:02,262
here, that could succeed
in making our country more

886
00:40:02,266 --> 00:40:04,936
fair, more just, and to
generate the kinds of

887
00:40:04,935 --> 00:40:06,935
outcomes that are clearly in
the best interests of the

888
00:40:06,937 --> 00:40:09,437
country, but also of
individual communities all

889
00:40:09,440 --> 00:40:10,440
across the country.

890
00:40:10,441 --> 00:40:12,411
The Press: This is one of
those issues where Hillary

891
00:40:12,409 --> 00:40:14,379
Clinton seems to be carving
out her own approach,

892
00:40:14,378 --> 00:40:15,478
different from her husband.

893
00:40:15,479 --> 00:40:18,149
What is President Obama's
approach to the fact that

894
00:40:18,149 --> 00:40:20,449
Hillary Clinton is go to be
carving out her own approach

895
00:40:20,451 --> 00:40:22,651
on a lot of these issues
where she may separate

896
00:40:22,653 --> 00:40:23,653
herself from this President?

897
00:40:23,654 --> 00:40:25,824
Mr. Earnest: Well,
I think, in general,

898
00:40:25,823 --> 00:40:29,563
what I would expect and I
think what we've seen so far

899
00:40:29,560 --> 00:40:33,760
throughout her short
campaign is that many of the

900
00:40:33,764 --> 00:40:37,034
values and priorities that
she has identified in the

901
00:40:37,034 --> 00:40:39,704
context of her campaign
are exactly the values and

902
00:40:39,703 --> 00:40:41,703
priorities that President
Obama has championed while

903
00:40:41,705 --> 00:40:44,045
he's served in
the White House.

904
00:40:44,041 --> 00:40:46,111
That said, I'm confident
that there will be

905
00:40:46,110 --> 00:40:48,250
situations where
Secretary Clinton,

906
00:40:48,245 --> 00:40:50,445
who is running her own
presidential campaign,

907
00:40:50,447 --> 00:40:54,147
will have a different
perspective on an important

908
00:40:54,151 --> 00:40:56,821
issue and a different
approach than one that

909
00:40:56,821 --> 00:40:59,221
President Obama has pursued.

910
00:40:59,223 --> 00:41:04,893
But I don't think that that
will result in exposing

911
00:41:04,895 --> 00:41:07,895
significant differences when
it comes to the basic values

912
00:41:07,898 --> 00:41:09,998
and priorities that seem
to be fundamental to her

913
00:41:10,000 --> 00:41:15,740
campaign and that certainly
have been animating to this

914
00:41:15,739 --> 00:41:17,739
President while he's
served in the White House.

915
00:41:17,741 --> 00:41:18,811
The Press: Last one on Iran.

916
00:41:18,809 --> 00:41:21,109
Vice President Biden gave a
speech last night where he

917
00:41:21,111 --> 00:41:23,681
said in part, "There is
nothing simple, minimal,

918
00:41:23,681 --> 00:41:25,651
or predictable about
a war with Iran.

919
00:41:25,649 --> 00:41:28,349
If required, it
will happen."

920
00:41:28,352 --> 00:41:30,622
When Republicans like John
McCain have raised the

921
00:41:30,621 --> 00:41:33,521
specter of war with Iran,
from that podium you've

922
00:41:33,524 --> 00:41:36,224
suggested that
they're going too far,

923
00:41:36,227 --> 00:41:37,297
that it's bellicose
rhetoric.

924
00:41:37,294 --> 00:41:39,764
Why would the Vice President
raise the specter of a

925
00:41:39,763 --> 00:41:41,863
possible war with Iran?

926
00:41:41,866 --> 00:41:43,166
Mr. Earnest: I think what
the Vice President was

927
00:41:43,167 --> 00:41:45,607
making clear is that every
option is on the table.

928
00:41:45,603 --> 00:41:47,773
That's been true all along.

929
00:41:47,771 --> 00:41:50,711
And what the Vice President
and the President both have

930
00:41:50,708 --> 00:41:53,748
invested significant time in
pursuing is an opportunity

931
00:41:53,744 --> 00:41:56,184
for us to resolve
our concerns and the

932
00:41:56,180 --> 00:41:59,850
international community's
concerns through diplomacy;

933
00:41:59,850 --> 00:42:02,350
that by -- through the
effective use of negotiation

934
00:42:02,353 --> 00:42:04,693
and diplomacy, we can shut
down every pathway that Iran

935
00:42:04,688 --> 00:42:08,958
has to a nuclear weapon,
and we can impose a set of

936
00:42:08,959 --> 00:42:11,699
inspections that will verify
their compliance with

937
00:42:11,695 --> 00:42:12,695
the agreement.

938
00:42:12,696 --> 00:42:16,836
And that is the approach
that we hope will succeed.

939
00:42:16,834 --> 00:42:18,834
There's still a lot of
important work that remains

940
00:42:18,836 --> 00:42:19,836
to be done.

941
00:42:19,837 --> 00:42:22,737
And I think what the Vice
President is highlighting is

942
00:42:22,740 --> 00:42:25,880
that every option
remains on the table,

943
00:42:25,876 --> 00:42:29,916
and that includes military
action because the President

944
00:42:29,914 --> 00:42:31,914
remains committed to
ensuring that Iran does not

945
00:42:31,916 --> 00:42:33,486
obtain an nuclear weapon.

946
00:42:33,484 --> 00:42:34,414
Luke.

947
00:42:34,418 --> 00:42:36,618
The Press: Thank you.

948
00:42:36,620 --> 00:42:39,360
Loretta Lynch, her first
week on the job -- how does

949
00:42:39,356 --> 00:42:41,356
the White House
feel she's done?

950
00:42:41,358 --> 00:42:43,358
And will she do
more in Baltimore?

951
00:42:43,360 --> 00:42:45,600
Mr. Earnest: It's difficult
to think of a Cabinet member

952
00:42:45,596 --> 00:42:47,836
-- with the possible
exception of maybe Timothy

953
00:42:47,831 --> 00:42:53,701
Geithner -- who has stepped
into that job at a more

954
00:42:53,704 --> 00:42:55,874
volatile time.

955
00:42:55,873 --> 00:42:59,443
And I think that in her four
or five days in office,

956
00:42:59,443 --> 00:43:02,813
she has exhibited exactly
the kinds of leadership

957
00:43:02,813 --> 00:43:06,353
skills, the kind of
character that the President

958
00:43:06,350 --> 00:43:09,750
envisioned to replace
Eric Holder in the job.

959
00:43:09,753 --> 00:43:11,923
And I think that her
professionalism and the

960
00:43:11,922 --> 00:43:13,922
respect that she has from
both the civil rights

961
00:43:13,924 --> 00:43:16,364
community and from law
enforcement have really

962
00:43:16,360 --> 00:43:17,630
shone through.

963
00:43:17,628 --> 00:43:19,898
And she's gotten a lot of
important work done here in

964
00:43:19,897 --> 00:43:21,267
this first week.

965
00:43:21,265 --> 00:43:24,065
But I don't think there's
any doubt in her mind that

966
00:43:24,068 --> 00:43:25,398
in the first
week in this job,

967
00:43:25,402 --> 00:43:28,602
she has gotten a very
clear understanding of the

968
00:43:28,605 --> 00:43:29,705
important work
that lies ahead.

969
00:43:29,707 --> 00:43:31,977
The Press: Is improving
relations between law

970
00:43:31,976 --> 00:43:33,976
enforcement and minority
communities -- is that sort

971
00:43:33,978 --> 00:43:36,548
of going to be her issue in
the short time she has as

972
00:43:36,547 --> 00:43:37,547
Attorney General?

973
00:43:37,548 --> 00:43:39,788
Mr. Earnest: Well, she's got
a long list of issues that

974
00:43:39,783 --> 00:43:41,783
she's going to
have to confront.

975
00:43:41,785 --> 00:43:43,785
But there is no doubt that
this is an important one.

976
00:43:43,787 --> 00:43:45,687
It's an issue that's
important to the President.

977
00:43:45,689 --> 00:43:52,959
And Attorney General Holder
filled this role admirably.

978
00:43:52,963 --> 00:43:55,963
And he did incredibly
important work in Ferguson

979
00:43:55,966 --> 00:43:58,406
in working with local
communities there,

980
00:43:58,402 --> 00:44:00,442
using the resources of the
Department of Justice to try

981
00:44:00,437 --> 00:44:02,507
to address some of the
concerns that were on

982
00:44:02,506 --> 00:44:04,206
display in that community.

983
00:44:04,208 --> 00:44:07,008
And I would anticipate that
given the solid credentials

984
00:44:07,011 --> 00:44:10,151
and reputation that Attorney
General Lynch has earned

985
00:44:10,147 --> 00:44:12,917
throughout her career
as a federal prosecutor,

986
00:44:12,916 --> 00:44:16,356
that she is well positioned
to effectively try to

987
00:44:16,353 --> 00:44:20,093
address some of the very
serious concerns that have

988
00:44:20,090 --> 00:44:21,090
arisen in Baltimore.

989
00:44:21,091 --> 00:44:23,431
The Press: On the library,
I did some research -- and

990
00:44:23,427 --> 00:44:25,727
when Senator Obama was
running against Senator

991
00:44:25,729 --> 00:44:27,369
Clinton, he brought up
the need for greater

992
00:44:27,364 --> 00:44:29,864
transparency when it comes
to presidential libraries

993
00:44:29,867 --> 00:44:33,207
because of issues such as
Marc Rich and the Clinton

994
00:44:33,203 --> 00:44:35,603
Foundation library
back in 2000.

995
00:44:35,606 --> 00:44:39,246
Will he commit to being 100
percent transparent when it

996
00:44:39,243 --> 00:44:42,043
comes to donors to his
library, do you think?

997
00:44:42,046 --> 00:44:43,716
Mr. Earnest: Well, Luke,
I would refer you to my

998
00:44:43,714 --> 00:44:46,814
colleagues who are much more
steeped in the details of

999
00:44:46,817 --> 00:44:49,917
the fundraising guidelines
and practices of the

1000
00:44:49,920 --> 00:44:50,890
Obama library.

1001
00:44:50,888 --> 00:44:52,158
The Press: But just
from knowing him,

1002
00:44:52,156 --> 00:44:53,526
do you think he'd want
to commit to 100

1003
00:44:53,524 --> 00:44:55,294
percent transparency?

1004
00:44:55,292 --> 00:44:57,962
Mr. Earnest: Well, I know
that my colleagues at the

1005
00:44:57,961 --> 00:45:00,331
foundation can do a better
job of answering that

1006
00:45:00,330 --> 00:45:01,730
question than I can.

1007
00:45:01,732 --> 00:45:02,802
The Press: And on
foreign policy,

1008
00:45:02,800 --> 00:45:05,340
the AUMF -- it seems not
to be going anywhere.

1009
00:45:05,335 --> 00:45:07,705
There's talk of the
coalition against ISIS

1010
00:45:07,704 --> 00:45:11,104
perhaps intensifying,
diversifying their strategy.

1011
00:45:11,108 --> 00:45:13,308
John Boehner says the
President is trying to

1012
00:45:13,310 --> 00:45:14,140
restrict himself.

1013
00:45:14,144 --> 00:45:15,584
Democrats say that the
President has too

1014
00:45:15,579 --> 00:45:16,549
much power.

1015
00:45:16,547 --> 00:45:18,717
What is the White House
doing to try and get an AUMF

1016
00:45:18,715 --> 00:45:20,655
against ISIS through
this Congress?

1017
00:45:20,651 --> 00:45:22,921
Mr. Earnest: Well, Luke, I
think we've done just about

1018
00:45:22,920 --> 00:45:25,990
everything that is
imaginable that an executive

1019
00:45:25,989 --> 00:45:29,589
branch can do to try to move
a law through the Congress.

1020
00:45:29,593 --> 00:45:32,693
And the fact is, Congress is
a separate but equal branch

1021
00:45:32,696 --> 00:45:33,996
of government.

1022
00:45:33,997 --> 00:45:37,937
And we have not seen a
willingness by very many

1023
00:45:37,935 --> 00:45:40,405
people in Congress to
actually trying to

1024
00:45:40,404 --> 00:45:42,874
responsibly fill the role --
the proper role that they

1025
00:45:42,873 --> 00:45:45,613
have, as it relates to the
foreign policy of the

1026
00:45:45,609 --> 00:45:47,049
United States.

1027
00:45:47,044 --> 00:45:49,344
And that's been a pretty
grave disappointment to the

1028
00:45:49,346 --> 00:45:51,346
President and to everybody
that works here at the

1029
00:45:51,348 --> 00:45:52,348
White House.

1030
00:45:52,349 --> 00:45:55,189
The President worked
diligently, even personally,

1031
00:45:55,185 --> 00:45:57,225
with Democrats and
Republicans to try to cobble

1032
00:45:57,221 --> 00:46:00,061
together a starting
point for negotiations.

1033
00:46:00,057 --> 00:46:02,557
The White House put together
our own specific proposal,

1034
00:46:02,559 --> 00:46:05,259
we sent it up
to Capitol Hill.

1035
00:46:05,262 --> 00:46:07,862
We have sent senior members
of this administration,

1036
00:46:07,865 --> 00:46:09,865
the Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff,

1037
00:46:09,867 --> 00:46:11,867
the Secretary of Defense,
the Secretary of State,

1038
00:46:11,869 --> 00:46:15,039
all to go and testify in
support of congressional

1039
00:46:15,038 --> 00:46:16,978
action in this regard.

1040
00:46:16,974 --> 00:46:22,244
And the call from this
administration to leaders in

1041
00:46:22,246 --> 00:46:25,286
Congress to do their jobs
has for some reason fallen

1042
00:46:25,282 --> 00:46:28,722
on deaf ears, and that's
been a disappointment to

1043
00:46:28,719 --> 00:46:29,719
the President.

1044
00:46:29,720 --> 00:46:34,490
Now, it has not impacted the
ability of the President,

1045
00:46:34,491 --> 00:46:37,291
as the Commander-in-Chief,
or any senior members of our

1046
00:46:37,294 --> 00:46:39,764
military from ordering
the operations that are

1047
00:46:39,763 --> 00:46:41,163
necessary to protect the
national security of the

1048
00:46:41,165 --> 00:46:42,635
United States.

1049
00:46:42,633 --> 00:46:44,103
That's the good news.

1050
00:46:44,101 --> 00:46:47,071
The bad news is that the
United States Congress has

1051
00:46:47,070 --> 00:46:50,810
been essentially AWOL when
it comes to that debate.

1052
00:46:50,807 --> 00:46:52,807
And I think the American
people certainly have higher

1053
00:46:52,809 --> 00:46:54,809
expectations for their
elected leaders

1054
00:46:54,811 --> 00:46:55,811
in Washington.

1055
00:46:55,812 --> 00:46:58,012
I can tell you the President
has higher expectations for

1056
00:46:58,015 --> 00:46:59,445
elected leaders in Congress.

1057
00:46:59,449 --> 00:47:02,719
And we're hopeful that
they'll actually try to get

1058
00:47:02,719 --> 00:47:04,159
something done.

1059
00:47:04,154 --> 00:47:07,754
And I can tell you that the
Obama administration stands

1060
00:47:07,758 --> 00:47:10,228
ready to try to work with
Congress -- if there are

1061
00:47:10,227 --> 00:47:13,027
changes they want to make to
the proposal that we've put

1062
00:47:13,030 --> 00:47:16,430
forward, we're open
to negotiation,

1063
00:47:16,433 --> 00:47:20,173
we view that as a starting
point for a discussion.

1064
00:47:20,170 --> 00:47:25,080
But even that has not been
answered by members of

1065
00:47:25,075 --> 00:47:27,075
Congress who had previously
talked about just how

1066
00:47:27,077 --> 00:47:30,947
important it was for
Congress to play their

1067
00:47:30,948 --> 00:47:34,548
important role when it comes
to the fight against ISIL.

1068
00:47:34,551 --> 00:47:36,651
The last thing I'll say is
-- and this is something

1069
00:47:36,653 --> 00:47:39,623
I've said before, so I'll
keep it brief -- there's a

1070
00:47:39,623 --> 00:47:42,263
bitter irony associated
with all of this,

1071
00:47:42,259 --> 00:47:48,469
that members of Congress in
both parties have gone to

1072
00:47:48,465 --> 00:47:52,465
pretty substantial lengths
to undermine the President's

1073
00:47:52,469 --> 00:47:57,439
ability to conduct diplomacy
and avoid a war with Iran

1074
00:48:00,177 --> 00:48:03,117
while at the same time,
Congress is not willing to

1075
00:48:03,113 --> 00:48:06,813
do anything while the
President bears the burden

1076
00:48:06,817 --> 00:48:09,187
of leading our men and
women in uniform who have

1077
00:48:09,186 --> 00:48:12,826
performed admirably under
very difficult circumstances

1078
00:48:12,823 --> 00:48:15,063
as they try to protect
the country from ISIL.

1079
00:48:15,058 --> 00:48:18,228
And that is, as I mentioned,
that's been a grave

1080
00:48:18,228 --> 00:48:21,268
disappointment on the
part of the President and

1081
00:48:21,265 --> 00:48:23,265
everybody who works here
at the administration.

1082
00:48:23,267 --> 00:48:25,637
The Press: And lastly,
on this day in 2003,

1083
00:48:25,636 --> 00:48:27,406
President Bush declared
mission accomplished

1084
00:48:27,404 --> 00:48:28,904
in Iraq.

1085
00:48:28,905 --> 00:48:32,475
Is it fair to say that
American presence and

1086
00:48:32,476 --> 00:48:35,616
American money will be
in Iraq indefinitely?

1087
00:48:35,612 --> 00:48:40,382
Mr. Earnest: Well, that's
a -- I don't think I would

1088
00:48:40,384 --> 00:48:43,054
hazard a prediction
like that.

1089
00:48:43,053 --> 00:48:48,193
I think that what the
President envisioned and I

1090
00:48:48,191 --> 00:48:53,161
think what our national
security team has long hoped

1091
00:48:53,163 --> 00:48:58,173
to do is to have a
solid, productive,

1092
00:49:01,938 --> 00:49:04,938
cooperative security
relationship with Iraq.

1093
00:49:04,941 --> 00:49:11,511
And we've talked a lot about
how -- a lot over the summer

1094
00:49:11,515 --> 00:49:16,755
about how the inability of
Iraq's political leadership

1095
00:49:16,753 --> 00:49:19,453
over the last several years
to successfully unify that

1096
00:49:19,456 --> 00:49:23,256
country and govern in an
inclusive fashion did have a

1097
00:49:23,260 --> 00:49:25,100
very negative impact on the
security situation in

1098
00:49:25,095 --> 00:49:27,235
that country.

1099
00:49:27,230 --> 00:49:29,830
That's why the President has
been and other members of

1100
00:49:29,833 --> 00:49:32,233
his team have been so
gratified by the performance

1101
00:49:32,235 --> 00:49:34,235
of Prime Minister
Abadi in Iraq;

1102
00:49:34,237 --> 00:49:36,437
that even in his short time
in office that he has taken

1103
00:49:36,440 --> 00:49:39,540
some important steps
to unite that country,

1104
00:49:39,543 --> 00:49:46,483
to govern in an inclusive
way that has allowed them to

1105
00:49:46,483 --> 00:49:47,953
confront the
threat from ISIL.

1106
00:49:47,951 --> 00:49:50,251
There's obviously much more
important work that needs to

1107
00:49:50,253 --> 00:49:51,723
get done there.

1108
00:49:51,722 --> 00:49:53,722
And the United States
has had to make a more

1109
00:49:53,724 --> 00:49:56,024
substantial security
contribution to that effort

1110
00:49:56,026 --> 00:49:58,066
than, frankly, we
would have liked,

1111
00:49:58,061 --> 00:50:03,531
but we're hopeful that this
contribution can be used to

1112
00:50:03,533 --> 00:50:06,573
not just meet the -- help
the Iraqis meet the urgent

1113
00:50:06,570 --> 00:50:09,070
security situation that
they face right now,

1114
00:50:09,072 --> 00:50:12,342
but also to bolster the
capacity and strength of the

1115
00:50:12,342 --> 00:50:15,582
Iraqi central government so
that they can go back to a

1116
00:50:15,579 --> 00:50:18,249
situation where they're
taking responsibility for

1117
00:50:18,248 --> 00:50:20,248
the security situation in
their own country and that

1118
00:50:20,250 --> 00:50:24,450
they can do so in a way that
doesn't allow extremists

1119
00:50:24,454 --> 00:50:27,494
like ISIL to overrun their
border and overrun

1120
00:50:27,491 --> 00:50:28,491
their territory.

1121
00:50:28,492 --> 00:50:32,992
Now, Iraq is obviously
located in a very volatile

1122
00:50:32,996 --> 00:50:34,596
region of the world.

1123
00:50:34,598 --> 00:50:36,698
They continue to face pretty
significant threats from

1124
00:50:36,700 --> 00:50:38,700
extremist groups that are
operating throughout the

1125
00:50:38,702 --> 00:50:42,102
region, including in
countries just on the other

1126
00:50:42,105 --> 00:50:43,805
side of their border.

1127
00:50:43,807 --> 00:50:48,047
So they certainly have a
tall order when it comes to

1128
00:50:48,044 --> 00:50:50,484
trying to meet these
challenges but I would

1129
00:50:50,480 --> 00:50:53,980
envision a future where the
United States is able to

1130
00:50:53,984 --> 00:50:56,124
work cooperatively and
productively with the Iraqis

1131
00:50:56,119 --> 00:50:58,689
as they meet
those challenges.

1132
00:50:58,688 --> 00:50:59,888
Chris.

1133
00:50:59,890 --> 00:51:01,390
The Press: Josh, I want
to take a crack at the

1134
00:51:01,391 --> 00:51:02,261
presidential library.

1135
00:51:02,259 --> 00:51:04,759
Is it likely that the
President's advancement of

1136
00:51:04,761 --> 00:51:07,061
LGBT rights under his
administration and his

1137
00:51:07,063 --> 00:51:09,533
evolution on same-sex
marriage will be

1138
00:51:09,533 --> 00:51:10,603
fundamentally on
display there?

1139
00:51:10,600 --> 00:51:12,870
Mr. Earnest: Well, Chris, in
terms of those decisions,

1140
00:51:12,869 --> 00:51:14,869
I'd refer you to my
colleagues who are working

1141
00:51:14,871 --> 00:51:17,541
on this library project.

1142
00:51:17,541 --> 00:51:20,211
Obviously at some point the
President and people who are

1143
00:51:20,210 --> 00:51:23,610
working directly with him
will turn our attention to

1144
00:51:23,613 --> 00:51:26,413
the library's activities
more directly,

1145
00:51:26,416 --> 00:51:27,516
but that won't occur while
the President is still

1146
00:51:27,517 --> 00:51:28,487
in office.

1147
00:51:28,485 --> 00:51:31,625
So there is some planning
that's underway,

1148
00:51:31,621 --> 00:51:33,621
but that's taking place
outside the White House.

1149
00:51:33,623 --> 00:51:35,623
And so I direct you to
those officials for a more

1150
00:51:35,625 --> 00:51:37,625
specific answer
to your question.

1151
00:51:37,627 --> 00:51:39,627
The Press: But is it true
that the President sees the

1152
00:51:39,629 --> 00:51:41,869
advancement of LGBT rights
under his administration as

1153
00:51:41,865 --> 00:51:44,165
a fundamental part
of his legacy?

1154
00:51:44,167 --> 00:51:46,307
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
the President sees the

1155
00:51:46,303 --> 00:51:51,073
advancement of LGBT rights
as an example of this

1156
00:51:51,074 --> 00:51:54,674
significant progress that's
been made while he served in

1157
00:51:54,678 --> 00:51:55,678
the Oval Office.

1158
00:51:55,679 --> 00:52:00,419
But during the year and a
half or so that remains in

1159
00:52:00,417 --> 00:52:03,157
his presidency, I think the
President is hoping to make

1160
00:52:03,153 --> 00:52:04,283
progress in a
variety of areas,

1161
00:52:04,287 --> 00:52:07,727
including seeking more
equality for every American,

1162
00:52:07,724 --> 00:52:09,724
including LGBT Americans.

1163
00:52:09,726 --> 00:52:11,726
The Press: Just to
back up on that,

1164
00:52:11,728 --> 00:52:13,728
can you identify some
other things he wants

1165
00:52:13,730 --> 00:52:14,730
to accomplish?

1166
00:52:14,731 --> 00:52:15,461
Mr. Earnest: I don't have
anything specific to lay out

1167
00:52:15,465 --> 00:52:17,005
at this point, but that's
obviously something that

1168
00:52:17,000 --> 00:52:20,240
we'll be mindful of over the
next year and a half or so.

1169
00:52:20,237 --> 00:52:21,907
Steve.

1170
00:52:21,905 --> 00:52:24,375
The Press: On Russia, the
sanctions need to be renewed

1171
00:52:24,374 --> 00:52:27,314
sometime soon and there
still seems to be quite a

1172
00:52:27,310 --> 00:52:29,380
bit of violence in Ukraine.

1173
00:52:29,379 --> 00:52:32,479
What's the administration
going to try to do to get

1174
00:52:32,482 --> 00:52:34,882
its European allies to do?

1175
00:52:34,885 --> 00:52:38,455
And what sort of comment do
you have on the continuing

1176
00:52:38,455 --> 00:52:40,795
friction along that border
in eastern Ukraine?

1177
00:52:40,790 --> 00:52:42,190
Mr. Earnest: Well,
Steve, unfortunately,

1178
00:52:42,192 --> 00:52:47,932
we have seen the Russians
continue to fail to live up

1179
00:52:47,931 --> 00:52:50,801
to the obligations that they
have made in the context of

1180
00:52:50,800 --> 00:52:53,200
the Minsk agreements.

1181
00:52:53,203 --> 00:52:55,073
These are commitments that
they made not just to the

1182
00:52:55,071 --> 00:52:58,471
Ukrainians but in the
presence of both the French

1183
00:52:58,475 --> 00:53:00,815
and German leaders as well.

1184
00:53:00,810 --> 00:53:04,550
We're disappointed by
that, but that has been a

1185
00:53:04,548 --> 00:53:10,058
consistent pattern over the
last year or so since Russia

1186
00:53:10,053 --> 00:53:14,123
so flagrantly violated the
territorial integrity of the

1187
00:53:14,124 --> 00:53:16,194
independent
nation of Ukraine.

1188
00:53:16,192 --> 00:53:18,832
And the United States
continues to stand closely

1189
00:53:18,828 --> 00:53:22,398
with our European partners
to isolate Russia,

1190
00:53:22,399 --> 00:53:25,099
to impose economic costs
on that country for their

1191
00:53:25,101 --> 00:53:27,501
destabilizing
activity in Ukraine.

1192
00:53:27,504 --> 00:53:29,504
There are very specific
steps that are laid out in

1193
00:53:29,506 --> 00:53:33,176
the Minsk agreement that
would allow them to

1194
00:53:33,176 --> 00:53:34,716
deescalate the
situation there,

1195
00:53:34,711 --> 00:53:41,221
that would hasten a
political resolution,

1196
00:53:41,217 --> 00:53:43,817
or at least a political
discussion to try to resolve

1197
00:53:43,820 --> 00:53:46,120
the differences of
opinion inside Ukraine.

1198
00:53:46,122 --> 00:53:48,122
And we would like to see
Russia use their influence

1199
00:53:48,124 --> 00:53:54,094
to be encouraging of that
political negotiation rather

1200
00:53:54,097 --> 00:53:57,267
than continue to take steps
that escalate the situation

1201
00:53:57,267 --> 00:54:00,707
and ultimately undermine the
effort to reach a political

1202
00:54:00,704 --> 00:54:02,174
resolution to that conflict.

1203
00:54:02,172 --> 00:54:05,342
And as we move forward,
we're going to continue to

1204
00:54:05,342 --> 00:54:08,712
work closely with our
European partners to apply

1205
00:54:08,712 --> 00:54:10,712
additional
pressure to Russia,

1206
00:54:12,082 --> 00:54:16,322
and continue to keep them
isolated until they start to

1207
00:54:16,319 --> 00:54:18,059
take the steps that
they've committed to take.

1208
00:54:18,054 --> 00:54:22,254
The Press: So
increase in sanctions?

1209
00:54:22,258 --> 00:54:25,528
Mr. Earnest: Nothing to
announce from here at

1210
00:54:25,528 --> 00:54:27,298
this point.

1211
00:54:27,297 --> 00:54:29,437
The case that we have made,
and I think this is borne

1212
00:54:29,432 --> 00:54:32,072
out in the evidence, that
the longer that these

1213
00:54:32,068 --> 00:54:36,168
sanctions remain in place,
the worse the impact is.

1214
00:54:36,172 --> 00:54:42,082
And so we can further
pressure Russia by keeping

1215
00:54:42,078 --> 00:54:45,078
our sanctions
regime in place;

1216
00:54:45,081 --> 00:54:47,081
that as Russia
becomes more isolated,

1217
00:54:47,083 --> 00:54:49,753
the negative consequences
of that isolation

1218
00:54:49,753 --> 00:54:52,493
only compound.

1219
00:54:52,489 --> 00:54:54,859
And, again, we continue to
be in close touch with our

1220
00:54:54,858 --> 00:54:57,528
European partners because
what's been critical to our

1221
00:54:57,527 --> 00:55:01,567
ability to apply that
pressure has been the

1222
00:55:01,564 --> 00:55:03,734
unanimity of this effort.

1223
00:55:03,733 --> 00:55:06,503
And so we're obviously going
to continue to stay in close

1224
00:55:06,503 --> 00:55:07,973
touch and continue to
closely monitor the

1225
00:55:07,971 --> 00:55:10,141
situation in Ukraine.

1226
00:55:10,140 --> 00:55:11,240
Go ahead, Andrei.

1227
00:55:11,241 --> 00:55:12,981
The Press: Thank you, Josh.

1228
00:55:12,976 --> 00:55:15,276
The follow-up is are
you willing to use your

1229
00:55:15,278 --> 00:55:18,078
political influence on Kyiv?

1230
00:55:18,081 --> 00:55:22,081
To make Kyiv fulfill their
commitments under the

1231
00:55:22,085 --> 00:55:25,485
Minsk agreements?

1232
00:55:25,488 --> 00:55:27,958
Because they are
not doing it.

1233
00:55:27,957 --> 00:55:29,257
Mr. Earnest: Andrei, what we
have seen is we've seen a

1234
00:55:29,259 --> 00:55:31,129
clear willingness on the
part of the Ukrainian

1235
00:55:31,127 --> 00:55:34,197
government to abide by the
commitments that they

1236
00:55:34,197 --> 00:55:35,197
have made.

1237
00:55:35,198 --> 00:55:39,268
And there have been no
shortage of written

1238
00:55:39,269 --> 00:55:41,269
read-outs that you have
received from the White

1239
00:55:41,271 --> 00:55:44,141
House Press Office
documenting telephone calls,

1240
00:55:44,140 --> 00:55:47,540
principally between the Vice
President and senior members

1241
00:55:47,544 --> 00:55:49,914
in the Ukrainian government
but occasionally from the

1242
00:55:49,913 --> 00:55:51,913
President to senior members
of the Ukrainian government,

1243
00:55:51,915 --> 00:55:54,255
and what they have made
clear in those conversations

1244
00:55:54,250 --> 00:55:56,850
is that the United States
and our European allies

1245
00:55:56,853 --> 00:55:59,693
stand squarely behind the
efforts of the Ukrainian

1246
00:55:59,689 --> 00:56:02,989
government to withstand the
destabilizing impact that

1247
00:56:02,992 --> 00:56:05,662
they're seeing from the
Russian-backed separatists

1248
00:56:05,662 --> 00:56:06,892
in eastern Ukraine.

1249
00:56:06,896 --> 00:56:08,996
We continue to see Russia
provide weapons and

1250
00:56:08,998 --> 00:56:11,198
materiel, and
even personnel,

1251
00:56:11,201 --> 00:56:14,471
to aid the violence
of those separatists.

1252
00:56:14,471 --> 00:56:18,611
And that's put enormous
pressure on the Ukrainian

1253
00:56:18,608 --> 00:56:20,608
people and the
Ukrainian government,

1254
00:56:20,610 --> 00:56:21,610
and on the
Ukrainian economy.

1255
00:56:21,611 --> 00:56:23,981
And we have provided
significant economic

1256
00:56:23,980 --> 00:56:26,150
assistance to the
people of Ukraine.

1257
00:56:26,149 --> 00:56:28,689
The United States has
provided some training and

1258
00:56:28,685 --> 00:56:31,725
other forms of support to
the Ukrainian military as

1259
00:56:31,721 --> 00:56:34,161
they've confronted the
security threat and those

1260
00:56:34,157 --> 00:56:35,157
efforts are going
to continue.

1261
00:56:35,158 --> 00:56:38,528
The Press: My real question
was about history, though.

1262
00:56:38,528 --> 00:56:41,828
(laughter)

1263
00:56:41,831 --> 00:56:44,101
This year marks
the 75th anniversary of

1264
00:56:44,100 --> 00:56:46,340
victory in World War II.

1265
00:56:46,336 --> 00:56:50,076
My question is, does
the President intend to

1266
00:56:50,073 --> 00:56:52,743
personally reach out to
American veterans of

1267
00:56:52,742 --> 00:56:54,482
that war?

1268
00:56:54,477 --> 00:56:58,217
And generally, how does
the White House view the

1269
00:56:58,214 --> 00:56:59,614
significance of
that victory?

1270
00:56:59,616 --> 00:57:04,116
When I talk to my American
friends, I often hear that,

1271
00:57:04,120 --> 00:57:08,290
you Russians are obsessed
with that particular war,

1272
00:57:08,291 --> 00:57:11,361
with that victory, you
should look forward,

1273
00:57:11,361 --> 00:57:12,391
don't look back.

1274
00:57:12,395 --> 00:57:17,165
I don't agree with that --
27 million people that the

1275
00:57:17,167 --> 00:57:18,907
Russians lost in that war.

1276
00:57:18,902 --> 00:57:22,372
It's 27 million people.

1277
00:57:22,372 --> 00:57:24,012
They basically won the war.

1278
00:57:24,007 --> 00:57:25,877
Americans won the war, too.

1279
00:57:25,875 --> 00:57:27,975
And, frankly, when
I look back now,

1280
00:57:27,977 --> 00:57:32,047
you wage wars almost
continuously but there are

1281
00:57:32,048 --> 00:57:35,648
few, few victories that I
can remember that you

1282
00:57:35,652 --> 00:57:36,852
can celebrate.

1283
00:57:36,853 --> 00:57:37,783
So, basically, will the
President -- Mr. Earnest:

1284
00:57:37,787 --> 00:57:40,127
Obviously, Andrei, I don't
have a -- you're not going

1285
00:57:40,123 --> 00:57:42,093
to find me agreeing with
your version of history.

1286
00:57:42,091 --> 00:57:43,391
(laughter)

1287
00:57:43,393 --> 00:57:44,623
But what I can
tell you is that there is a

1288
00:57:44,627 --> 00:57:49,167
very powerful monument just
a stone's throw away from

1289
00:57:49,165 --> 00:57:52,935
here dedicated to the
Americans who bravely served

1290
00:57:52,936 --> 00:57:56,606
this country and who bravely
served the interests of the

1291
00:57:56,606 --> 00:58:03,216
world both in Europe and in
Asia to bring World War II

1292
00:58:03,213 --> 00:58:07,413
to an end, and to bring
freedom to so many people

1293
00:58:07,417 --> 00:58:09,857
across the country who had
-- or across the world,

1294
00:58:09,853 --> 00:58:12,653
who had that
freedom threatened.

1295
00:58:12,655 --> 00:58:18,525
And that is a testament
to the commitment of the

1296
00:58:18,528 --> 00:58:21,868
citizens of this country to
those kinds of principles.

1297
00:58:21,865 --> 00:58:25,605
And the United States has
demonstrated a willingness

1298
00:58:25,602 --> 00:58:27,032
to fight for
those principles.

1299
00:58:27,036 --> 00:58:31,036
And there have been brave
men and women who have

1300
00:58:31,040 --> 00:58:33,040
served our country
in the Armed Forces,

1301
00:58:33,042 --> 00:58:35,112
who have fought and died
for those principles.

1302
00:58:35,111 --> 00:58:37,981
And that is something that
the President is enormously

1303
00:58:37,981 --> 00:58:40,681
proud of, and he's
enormously grateful for

1304
00:58:40,683 --> 00:58:41,683
their sacrifice.

1305
00:58:41,684 --> 00:58:43,824
The Press: But specifically,
will the President be doing

1306
00:58:43,820 --> 00:58:49,560
anything to mark the VE Day
in May or the overall -- the

1307
00:58:49,559 --> 00:58:53,199
victory in the Pacific
theater later in the year?

1308
00:58:53,196 --> 00:58:54,766
Mr. Earnest: I don't have
any scheduling announcements

1309
00:58:54,764 --> 00:58:56,164
to announce at this point,
but we'll keep you posted

1310
00:58:56,165 --> 00:58:57,505
on that.

1311
00:58:57,500 --> 00:58:58,230
Bill.

1312
00:58:58,234 --> 00:58:59,474
The Press: This will take
you right to the week ahead.

1313
00:58:59,469 --> 00:59:02,439
When is the President
going to Baltimore?

1314
00:59:02,438 --> 00:59:03,708
Mr. Earnest: I do have a
week --

1315
00:59:03,706 --> 00:59:05,476
(laughter)

1316
00:59:05,475 --> 00:59:07,215
-- I do have a week ahead.

1317
00:59:07,210 --> 00:59:09,350
Baltimore does not appear on
the week ahead this week,

1318
00:59:09,345 --> 00:59:10,685
but we'll keep you posted.

1319
00:59:10,680 --> 00:59:12,220
The Press: Will he have
anything more to say after

1320
00:59:12,215 --> 00:59:14,385
he's had a chance
to see the charges?

1321
00:59:14,384 --> 00:59:15,384
Mr. Earnest: I don't
anticipate that he'll have

1322
00:59:15,385 --> 00:59:17,285
more to say today.

1323
00:59:17,287 --> 00:59:19,187
But as you already know,
next week the President is

1324
00:59:19,188 --> 00:59:21,558
traveling to New York where
he'll spend some time

1325
00:59:21,557 --> 00:59:25,057
talking about his My
Brother's Keeper initiative.

1326
00:59:25,061 --> 00:59:27,061
And I would not be surprised
if in the context of those

1327
00:59:27,063 --> 00:59:30,503
remarks the President says
something relevant to the

1328
00:59:30,500 --> 00:59:33,270
ongoing situation
in Baltimore.

1329
00:59:33,269 --> 00:59:34,269
Mark.

1330
00:59:34,270 --> 00:59:35,640
The Press: Josh,
on the library,

1331
00:59:35,638 --> 00:59:38,708
can you at least confirm
that the President has made

1332
00:59:38,708 --> 00:59:40,748
a decision on the
venue for the library?

1333
00:59:40,743 --> 00:59:41,613
Mr. Earnest: I'm
not able to do that.

1334
00:59:41,611 --> 00:59:44,381
I haven't spoken
to him about it.

1335
00:59:44,380 --> 00:59:46,380
The Press: Has it been a
difficult decision for it?

1336
00:59:46,382 --> 00:59:50,822
Mr. Earnest: Well, I know
that the President has had a

1337
00:59:50,820 --> 00:59:52,920
number of conversations with
his friends and trusted

1338
00:59:52,922 --> 00:59:55,462
advisors who are working
on the efforts of the

1339
00:59:55,458 --> 00:59:58,798
foundation to get the
library up and running.

1340
00:59:58,795 --> 01:00:00,835
But I'm not aware of
the substance of

1341
01:00:00,830 --> 01:00:01,830
those conversations.

1342
01:00:01,831 --> 01:00:03,801
I think it's something that
the President obviously

1343
01:00:03,800 --> 01:00:04,800
takes seriously.

1344
01:00:04,801 --> 01:00:10,341
That's why he's asked people
that he trusts to be in

1345
01:00:10,340 --> 01:00:12,340
charge of that effort, and
that's why he's gotten

1346
01:00:12,342 --> 01:00:14,012
regular updates.

1347
01:00:14,010 --> 01:00:16,680
But I don't know whether
there have been a lot of

1348
01:00:16,679 --> 01:00:18,679
people agonizing over
this decision or not.

1349
01:00:18,681 --> 01:00:21,551
The Press: On another issue
-- has the White House been

1350
01:00:21,551 --> 01:00:25,221
satisfied with the answers
given this week at a

1351
01:00:25,221 --> 01:00:28,461
congressional hearing
by NORAD, the FAA,

1352
01:00:28,458 --> 01:00:31,758
the Secret Service, on the
gyrocopter that flew across

1353
01:00:31,761 --> 01:00:33,131
Washington a few weeks ago?

1354
01:00:33,129 --> 01:00:35,899
Mr. Earnest: I haven't read
the transcript from

1355
01:00:35,898 --> 01:00:36,898
that hearing.

1356
01:00:36,899 --> 01:00:41,139
I know that there has been
an effort by our security

1357
01:00:41,137 --> 01:00:43,207
officials to cooperate with
congressional oversight and

1358
01:00:43,206 --> 01:00:46,106
to answer as many
questions as possible.

1359
01:00:46,109 --> 01:00:48,549
But ultimately that's the
responsibility of Congress

1360
01:00:48,544 --> 01:00:50,744
to get those answers, and I
know that they've been hard

1361
01:00:50,747 --> 01:00:51,877
at work doing that.

1362
01:00:51,881 --> 01:00:54,521
And I don't know if there
are additional hearings on

1363
01:00:54,517 --> 01:00:55,517
that planned or not.

1364
01:00:55,518 --> 01:00:58,558
The Press: Is anyone at the
White House looking into it?

1365
01:00:58,554 --> 01:01:00,554
Lisa Monaco or -- Mr.
Earnest: I'm not aware

1366
01:01:00,556 --> 01:01:04,596
of any specific review
or investigation that's

1367
01:01:04,594 --> 01:01:06,334
underway on this matter.

1368
01:01:06,329 --> 01:01:07,099
Toluse.

1369
01:01:07,096 --> 01:01:07,826
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1370
01:01:07,830 --> 01:01:10,600
On trade -- yesterday, House
Speaker John Boehner said

1371
01:01:10,600 --> 01:01:14,100
that the White House and the
President needs to step up

1372
01:01:14,103 --> 01:01:16,273
its game in terms of
garnering support

1373
01:01:16,272 --> 01:01:17,202
among Democrats.

1374
01:01:17,206 --> 01:01:18,346
And I was hoping you could
-- Mr. Earnest: I sort of

1375
01:01:18,341 --> 01:01:19,211
laughed about
that yesterday.

1376
01:01:19,208 --> 01:01:21,408
The Press: Well, I also
wanted you to talk about

1377
01:01:21,411 --> 01:01:23,981
that specifically, because
you have in the past

1378
01:01:23,980 --> 01:01:26,180
criticized John Boehner
for not being able to get

1379
01:01:26,182 --> 01:01:29,282
control of his caucus, and
now it seems like the tables

1380
01:01:29,285 --> 01:01:30,685
have turned a little bit.

1381
01:01:30,686 --> 01:01:31,786
Does it have anything to do
with -- Mr. Earnest: Well --

1382
01:01:31,788 --> 01:01:33,158
(laughter)

1383
01:01:33,156 --> 01:01:34,456
-- I don't think
that's the way I would

1384
01:01:34,457 --> 01:01:36,497
describe it.

1385
01:01:36,492 --> 01:01:40,162
Obviously, Speaker Boehner
led a partisan campaign last

1386
01:01:40,163 --> 01:01:44,403
fall to retake -- or to
preserve the majority in

1387
01:01:44,400 --> 01:01:45,300
the House.

1388
01:01:45,301 --> 01:01:47,941
And I think he was
interested in trying to help

1389
01:01:47,937 --> 01:01:49,977
his Republican colleagues in
the Senate and try to take

1390
01:01:49,972 --> 01:01:52,572
over the majority in
the Republican Senate.

1391
01:01:52,575 --> 01:01:55,975
And they did so because they
believed that would improve

1392
01:01:55,978 --> 01:01:59,218
their chances of
advancing their agenda.

1393
01:01:59,215 --> 01:02:01,215
One of the top things
on the agenda -- again,

1394
01:02:01,217 --> 01:02:03,217
according to statements that
they made immediately after

1395
01:02:03,219 --> 01:02:08,159
the election -- was trying
to move trade legislation.

1396
01:02:08,157 --> 01:02:10,457
And so it's more than a
little ironic that less than

1397
01:02:10,460 --> 01:02:12,560
four months after retaking
the majority in the Senate,

1398
01:02:12,562 --> 01:02:15,962
and preserving the majority
and expanding the majority

1399
01:02:15,965 --> 01:02:19,435
in the House, that you
have Republican leaders in

1400
01:02:19,435 --> 01:02:22,235
Congress saying they need
the President's help.

1401
01:02:22,238 --> 01:02:27,248
So the good news in this
scenario is that there does

1402
01:02:29,612 --> 01:02:33,352
seem to be some bipartisan
common ground in terms of

1403
01:02:33,349 --> 01:02:36,419
what that trade
legislation looks like.

1404
01:02:36,419 --> 01:02:39,689
There has been a proposal
that's gone through the

1405
01:02:39,689 --> 01:02:43,329
Senate Finance Committee
that's attracted the support

1406
01:02:43,326 --> 01:02:45,326
of both the majority
of Republicans,

1407
01:02:45,328 --> 01:02:47,868
and a majority of Democrats
on that committee were

1408
01:02:47,864 --> 01:02:48,864
gratified by that.

1409
01:02:48,865 --> 01:02:52,205
There's a similar proposal
that's moving through the

1410
01:02:52,201 --> 01:02:59,141
House that got less
support from Democrats.

1411
01:02:59,142 --> 01:03:02,142
And we're going to continue
-- the President is going to

1412
01:03:02,145 --> 01:03:05,345
continue to invest his time
and attention to building a

1413
01:03:05,348 --> 01:03:08,988
bipartisan majority in
both houses of Congress to

1414
01:03:08,985 --> 01:03:10,215
advance trade legislation.

1415
01:03:10,219 --> 01:03:12,419
And he's going to do that
because he believes that the

1416
01:03:12,421 --> 01:03:16,321
Trans-Pacific Partnership
would clearly be in the best

1417
01:03:16,325 --> 01:03:18,795
interest of middle-class
families all across the

1418
01:03:18,794 --> 01:03:19,894
United States of America.

1419
01:03:19,896 --> 01:03:21,226
The Press: And in
terms of the strategy,

1420
01:03:21,230 --> 01:03:23,330
he has spent a lot of time
over the last few weeks

1421
01:03:23,332 --> 01:03:27,542
making the case on the
merits of this deal.

1422
01:03:27,537 --> 01:03:30,007
Is there something more that
he should be doing in terms

1423
01:03:30,006 --> 01:03:33,806
of the politics, in terms
of sort of making sure that

1424
01:03:33,809 --> 01:03:35,649
Democrats feel safe
about supporting this?

1425
01:03:35,645 --> 01:03:37,685
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'll say
that if there are people

1426
01:03:37,680 --> 01:03:39,020
that have ideas,
we're open to them.

1427
01:03:39,015 --> 01:03:42,555
But as far as I can tell,
the President has had

1428
01:03:42,552 --> 01:03:44,592
private meetings with
members of Congress.

1429
01:03:44,587 --> 01:03:46,657
He's talked this over with
Democratic and

1430
01:03:46,656 --> 01:03:47,956
Republican leaders.

1431
01:03:47,957 --> 01:03:50,657
He's had the opportunity to
speak publicly on this issue

1432
01:03:50,660 --> 01:03:56,470
on a number of occasions.

1433
01:03:56,465 --> 01:03:59,665
He's conducted
one-on-one interviews.

1434
01:03:59,669 --> 01:04:01,469
Next week, the President
will travel to Oregon to

1435
01:04:01,470 --> 01:04:03,970
make the case out in Oregon
about the benefits of

1436
01:04:03,973 --> 01:04:05,343
this bill.

1437
01:04:05,341 --> 01:04:08,281
So I think it's clear that
the President has invested

1438
01:04:08,277 --> 01:04:12,017
significant time and
attention to try to advance

1439
01:04:12,014 --> 01:04:13,514
bipartisan trade
legislation.

1440
01:04:13,516 --> 01:04:15,656
The President is
committed to this,

1441
01:04:15,651 --> 01:04:18,851
and he's going to
continue to work on it.

1442
01:04:18,854 --> 01:04:22,694
We're hopeful that those
gentlemen that are

1443
01:04:22,692 --> 01:04:25,062
responsible for the
Republican majorities in the

1444
01:04:25,061 --> 01:04:29,301
House and the Senate will
use their influence in

1445
01:04:29,298 --> 01:04:32,868
Congress and those
majorities to work with us

1446
01:04:32,868 --> 01:04:34,408
to advance this bill.

1447
01:04:34,403 --> 01:04:35,373
The Press: And just
one other question.

1448
01:04:35,371 --> 01:04:40,441
I wanted to see if you had a
reaction to Democrats filing

1449
01:04:40,443 --> 01:04:41,743
the KOCH bill.

1450
01:04:41,744 --> 01:04:45,744
It's called the "Keeping
Our Campaigns Honest" bill.

1451
01:04:45,748 --> 01:04:50,188
It's a bill that would
require the FCC to force

1452
01:04:50,186 --> 01:04:53,726
folks who are putting ads on
the air to disclose

1453
01:04:53,723 --> 01:04:54,893
their donors.

1454
01:04:54,890 --> 01:04:56,990
Is that something the
White House would support?

1455
01:04:56,993 --> 01:04:58,833
Mr. Earnest: I'm not
familiar with the details of

1456
01:04:58,828 --> 01:05:01,898
that cleverly named bill,
but we'll see if we can

1457
01:05:01,897 --> 01:05:03,797
collect some more
information about it and

1458
01:05:03,799 --> 01:05:05,539
maybe get a reaction to you.

1459
01:05:05,534 --> 01:05:06,334
Tamara.

1460
01:05:06,335 --> 01:05:08,135
The Press: You talk a lot
about the President making

1461
01:05:08,137 --> 01:05:13,377
the case; he's been making
the case on trade a lot.

1462
01:05:13,376 --> 01:05:14,746
Is he willing to get
beyond making the case,

1463
01:05:14,744 --> 01:05:17,714
and sort of dig in and say,
"All right, Democrats,

1464
01:05:17,713 --> 01:05:19,683
what's it going to take --
let's change this

1465
01:05:19,682 --> 01:05:20,782
thing slightly"?

1466
01:05:20,783 --> 01:05:25,623
Or is he saying, "Here's the
product, I think it's great;

1467
01:05:25,621 --> 01:05:27,561
I'm going to keep talking to
you until you believe it's

1468
01:05:27,556 --> 01:05:28,856
great too"?

1469
01:05:28,858 --> 01:05:33,868
Mr. Earnest: Well, we still
are in that phase of this

1470
01:05:33,863 --> 01:05:35,903
process where I think
Democrats and Republicans

1471
01:05:35,898 --> 01:05:41,868
are both taking a look at
the bill that's -- I guess

1472
01:05:41,871 --> 01:05:43,971
the bills that are making
their way through the House

1473
01:05:43,973 --> 01:05:45,443
and the Senate.

1474
01:05:45,441 --> 01:05:47,841
And we continue to be open
to suggestions and input

1475
01:05:47,843 --> 01:05:49,613
from people on both sides of
the aisle about ways that

1476
01:05:49,612 --> 01:05:51,852
that legislation that could
-- ways that legislation

1477
01:05:51,847 --> 01:05:54,747
could be improved.

1478
01:05:54,750 --> 01:05:57,120
And that, ultimately, will
be the responsibility of the

1479
01:05:57,119 --> 01:05:59,859
committee chairs who are
shepherding those bills on

1480
01:05:59,855 --> 01:06:01,255
the floor.

1481
01:06:01,257 --> 01:06:03,357
But obviously the President
believes that the bills,

1482
01:06:03,359 --> 01:06:08,669
as they exist now, merit the
support of Democrats in

1483
01:06:08,664 --> 01:06:09,664
the Congress.

1484
01:06:09,665 --> 01:06:13,035
And the simple reason is
this is the most progressive

1485
01:06:13,035 --> 01:06:15,475
trade promotion authority
bill that the Congress has

1486
01:06:15,471 --> 01:06:16,911
ever tried to pass.

1487
01:06:16,906 --> 01:06:20,176
It includes,
written into it,

1488
01:06:20,176 --> 01:06:24,246
provisions that will ensure
that we're enforcing labor

1489
01:06:24,246 --> 01:06:26,486
protections, that's we're
enforcing

1490
01:06:26,482 --> 01:06:27,612
environmental protections.

1491
01:06:27,616 --> 01:06:29,656
It includes, for
the first time,

1492
01:06:29,652 --> 01:06:32,622
a mention of the importance
of human rights.

1493
01:06:32,621 --> 01:06:37,631
And if necessary, Democrats
could even view this as

1494
01:06:42,565 --> 01:06:45,435
holding the President
accountable for making sure

1495
01:06:45,434 --> 01:06:47,434
that these progressive
priorities are included in

1496
01:06:47,436 --> 01:06:49,936
the trade bill -- or in the
final trade agreement when

1497
01:06:49,939 --> 01:06:51,039
it's reached.

1498
01:06:51,040 --> 01:06:54,140
So again, this is something
that each member of Congress

1499
01:06:54,143 --> 01:06:56,143
will have to consider
on their own,

1500
01:06:56,145 --> 01:06:58,145
but the President continues
to believe that there is a

1501
01:06:58,147 --> 01:07:01,147
very powerful case for
Democrats to make about how

1502
01:07:01,150 --> 01:07:04,090
advancing this legislation,
passing this legislation,

1503
01:07:04,086 --> 01:07:07,326
and ultimately trying to
reach a Trans-Pacific

1504
01:07:07,323 --> 01:07:09,293
Partnership agreement
is consistent with this

1505
01:07:09,291 --> 01:07:12,361
legislation that would be
clearly in the best interest

1506
01:07:12,361 --> 01:07:14,361
and would actually
advance the interests of

1507
01:07:14,363 --> 01:07:16,363
middle-class families
all across the country.

1508
01:07:16,365 --> 01:07:18,365
The Press: In these meetings
that he has had with

1509
01:07:18,367 --> 01:07:19,507
Democrats, have they
suggested changes,

1510
01:07:19,502 --> 01:07:21,872
improvements? And has he been receptive?

1511
01:07:21,871 --> 01:07:25,241
I mean, he could take it to
the committee chairs and

1512
01:07:25,241 --> 01:07:27,911
say, "Hey, you know, I could
bring you 20 more Democrats

1513
01:07:27,910 --> 01:07:30,250
if we could just
work on this."

1514
01:07:30,246 --> 01:07:32,146
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'm not
aware of any provision like

1515
01:07:32,148 --> 01:07:35,088
that that's been floated.

1516
01:07:35,084 --> 01:07:37,454
But I think it's fair to
say that those kinds of

1517
01:07:37,453 --> 01:07:40,623
discussions have already
taken place over the last

1518
01:07:40,623 --> 01:07:42,463
several months.

1519
01:07:42,458 --> 01:07:44,598
I think that's the only
reason that you could

1520
01:07:44,593 --> 01:07:46,593
explain that you get to
a place where you have a

1521
01:07:46,595 --> 01:07:48,595
majority of Democrats on the
Senate Finance Committee

1522
01:07:48,597 --> 01:07:51,567
supporting the bill, that
it reflects a genuine,

1523
01:07:51,567 --> 01:07:52,807
bipartisan compromise.

1524
01:07:52,802 --> 01:07:55,142
And the President was
heartened by that.

1525
01:07:55,137 --> 01:07:57,337
Again, I don't think we're
going to see that same kind

1526
01:07:57,339 --> 01:08:00,409
of ratio when it reaches the
floor of the United States

1527
01:08:00,409 --> 01:08:02,879
Senate, but I think it is
an indication that there is

1528
01:08:02,878 --> 01:08:06,618
ample reason for Democrats
to be supportive of

1529
01:08:06,615 --> 01:08:10,455
this legislation.

1530
01:08:10,453 --> 01:08:11,553
John, I'll give you the last
one and we'll do the

1531
01:08:11,554 --> 01:08:12,684
week ahead.

1532
01:08:12,688 --> 01:08:14,888
The Press: I wanted to know
if you could give an update

1533
01:08:14,890 --> 01:08:18,630
regarding that seized Maersk
cargo ship earlier in

1534
01:08:18,627 --> 01:08:19,127
the week.

1535
01:08:19,128 --> 01:08:20,798
You admitted to not
knowing all the facts and

1536
01:08:20,796 --> 01:08:22,466
circumstances
regarding that,

1537
01:08:22,465 --> 01:08:26,405
including whether the
crew members onboard are

1538
01:08:26,402 --> 01:08:29,142
considered by the U.S.

1539
01:08:29,138 --> 01:08:29,638
as hostages.

1540
01:08:29,638 --> 01:08:31,138
Can you update us a
little bit on that?

1541
01:08:31,140 --> 01:08:32,680
Mr. Earnest: John, this is
a situation that the United

1542
01:08:32,675 --> 01:08:35,215
States continues
to closely monitor.

1543
01:08:35,211 --> 01:08:36,611
This is a *U.S.

1544
01:08:36,612 --> 01:08:38,482
Marshall
Islands-flagged vessel.

1545
01:08:38,481 --> 01:08:39,911
According to the crew,
there are no U.S.

1546
01:08:39,915 --> 01:08:42,055
personnel, U.S.

1547
01:08:42,051 --> 01:08:44,921
citizens, onboard the ship.

1548
01:08:44,920 --> 01:08:46,920
We haven't seen any evidence
that indicate -- that

1549
01:08:46,922 --> 01:08:48,922
contradict that statement.

1550
01:08:50,960 --> 01:08:55,230
But we obviously have a
vested interest in the free

1551
01:08:55,231 --> 01:08:57,571
flow of commerce in this
region of the world,

1552
01:08:57,566 --> 01:09:01,466
and in this situation, you
see at least one example of

1553
01:09:01,470 --> 01:09:03,470
commerce that's
been interrupted.

1554
01:09:03,472 --> 01:09:06,042
So this is something that
we're watching carefully and

1555
01:09:06,041 --> 01:09:08,041
we'll continue to do
so in the days ahead.

1556
01:09:08,043 --> 01:09:10,043
The Press: That's
not really an update.

1557
01:09:10,045 --> 01:09:12,315
I mean, everything you just
said are things that you

1558
01:09:12,314 --> 01:09:13,654
said earlier in the week.

1559
01:09:13,649 --> 01:09:16,089
I mean, for instance, do you
not have an answer as to

1560
01:09:16,085 --> 01:09:18,755
whether you consider those
crew members hostages?

1561
01:09:18,754 --> 01:09:22,724
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
for the latest status of the

1562
01:09:22,725 --> 01:09:24,725
individuals who
are on the ship,

1563
01:09:24,727 --> 01:09:26,727
I'd refer you to the
Department of Defense.

1564
01:09:26,729 --> 01:09:28,729
They're obviously the ones
who are tracking this the

1565
01:09:28,731 --> 01:09:29,731
most closely.

1566
01:09:29,732 --> 01:09:31,732
The Press: As far as the
Iranians go -- and this

1567
01:09:31,734 --> 01:09:33,334
question was asked just a
little bit earlier in the

1568
01:09:33,335 --> 01:09:37,135
briefing in a different
way -- the Iranians,

1569
01:09:37,139 --> 01:09:39,609
over the course of just
the past few months,

1570
01:09:39,608 --> 01:09:44,748
they've detained and
seized this cargo ship,

1571
01:09:44,747 --> 01:09:47,487
they've detained and
jailed Americans,

1572
01:09:47,483 --> 01:09:52,253
they've armed Houthi rebels.

1573
01:09:52,254 --> 01:09:54,524
Is there no red
line for them?

1574
01:09:54,523 --> 01:09:58,223
Can they essentially do
whatever they wish to do

1575
01:09:58,227 --> 01:10:02,497
without there being any
ramifications as it relates

1576
01:10:02,498 --> 01:10:04,968
to the nuclear
talks with Iran?

1577
01:10:04,967 --> 01:10:05,897
Do they have a free hand?

1578
01:10:05,901 --> 01:10:08,541
Mr. Earnest: Well,
John, Julie and I had a

1579
01:10:08,537 --> 01:10:10,937
conversation like this
earlier in the briefing --

1580
01:10:10,940 --> 01:10:11,870
it seems like a
long time ago now.

1581
01:10:11,874 --> 01:10:13,774
(laughter)

1582
01:10:13,776 --> 01:10:14,506
I guess it
was a long time ago now.

1583
01:10:14,510 --> 01:10:16,280
(laughter)

1584
01:10:16,278 --> 01:10:17,748
So I don't
think I would say anything

1585
01:10:17,746 --> 01:10:19,846
different than what I
said to her earlier,

1586
01:10:19,848 --> 01:10:22,648
that we have a long list
of concerns with Iranian

1587
01:10:22,651 --> 01:10:25,221
behavior and we're under
no illusions that the

1588
01:10:25,220 --> 01:10:29,290
successful resolution of the
ongoing talks that would

1589
01:10:29,291 --> 01:10:31,761
prevent Iran from obtaining
a nuclear weapon would

1590
01:10:31,760 --> 01:10:33,660
resolve all those concerns.

1591
01:10:33,662 --> 01:10:37,032
And that's why, even if we
are able to reach a nuclear

1592
01:10:37,032 --> 01:10:39,702
agreement that shuts down
every pathway that Iran has

1593
01:10:39,702 --> 01:10:41,942
to a nuclear weapon, that
we're going to continue to

1594
01:10:41,937 --> 01:10:44,737
have sanctions in place
that are related to their

1595
01:10:44,740 --> 01:10:46,940
flagrant violation
of human rights.

1596
01:10:46,942 --> 01:10:48,912
We're going to continue to
have sanctions in place that

1597
01:10:48,911 --> 01:10:51,511
relate to their
destabilizing activities in

1598
01:10:51,513 --> 01:10:54,153
the region, including
proliferation of

1599
01:10:54,149 --> 01:10:55,949
some weapons.

1600
01:10:55,951 --> 01:11:00,421
And we're going to continue
to express strong concerns

1601
01:11:00,422 --> 01:11:02,762
about the threats that they
direct toward our closest

1602
01:11:02,758 --> 01:11:04,758
ally in the region, Israel.

1603
01:11:05,861 --> 01:11:08,961
And the President is going
to convene a meeting here in

1604
01:11:08,964 --> 01:11:12,404
a couple of weeks with the
GCC countries in the Middle

1605
01:11:12,401 --> 01:11:15,701
East who are concerned
about Iran's destabilizing

1606
01:11:15,704 --> 01:11:17,704
activities in that
region of the world.

1607
01:11:17,706 --> 01:11:19,706
And that will be an
opportunity for the

1608
01:11:19,708 --> 01:11:22,408
President to make clear that
we're going to continue to

1609
01:11:22,411 --> 01:11:25,151
be committed to the close
security relationship that

1610
01:11:25,147 --> 01:11:27,647
we have with so many
of those countries,

1611
01:11:27,650 --> 01:11:29,650
and that will
continue to be true,

1612
01:11:29,652 --> 01:11:31,822
even if we are able to
successfully resolve the

1613
01:11:31,820 --> 01:11:33,820
international community's
concerns with their

1614
01:11:33,822 --> 01:11:34,822
nuclear program.

1615
01:11:34,823 --> 01:11:37,993
And, in fact, we'll make the
case to them again that the

1616
01:11:37,993 --> 01:11:40,133
reason that we're trying to
prevent Iran from obtaining

1617
01:11:40,129 --> 01:11:42,499
a nuclear weapon through
diplomacy is because we

1618
01:11:42,498 --> 01:11:44,768
don't believe that's just in
the best national security

1619
01:11:44,767 --> 01:11:46,137
interest of the
United States;

1620
01:11:46,135 --> 01:11:48,135
it's also in the best
national security interests

1621
01:11:48,137 --> 01:11:51,007
of our allies and partners
in the Middle East as well.

1622
01:11:51,006 --> 01:11:55,076
The Press: Perhaps I can
segue you along to the

1623
01:11:55,077 --> 01:11:56,177
week ahead.

1624
01:11:56,178 --> 01:11:58,778
The President is traveling
to his 50th state

1625
01:11:58,781 --> 01:12:00,851
as President.

1626
01:12:00,849 --> 01:12:03,889
Give me a little bit of the
President's thoughts about

1627
01:12:03,886 --> 01:12:06,356
traveling to South Dakota.

1628
01:12:06,355 --> 01:12:08,255
Mr. Earnest: Why don't I do
the week ahead and then I'll

1629
01:12:08,257 --> 01:12:11,527
do that at the end, because
it comes at the end of

1630
01:12:11,527 --> 01:12:12,527
next week.

1631
01:12:12,528 --> 01:12:16,368
On Monday, the President
will travel to New York City

1632
01:12:16,365 --> 01:12:18,965
to deliver remarks at an
event at Lehman College,

1633
01:12:18,967 --> 01:12:21,437
launching the My Brother's
Keeper Alliance,

1634
01:12:21,437 --> 01:12:23,807
a new nonprofit
organization.

1635
01:12:23,806 --> 01:12:26,376
And as I mentioned, we'll
have some more details about

1636
01:12:26,375 --> 01:12:29,575
that organization next week.

1637
01:12:29,578 --> 01:12:31,578
The other interesting thing
the President is going to do

1638
01:12:31,580 --> 01:12:33,580
when he is in New York
is he is going to tape an

1639
01:12:33,582 --> 01:12:35,582
appearance on "The Late
Show with David Letterman."

1640
01:12:35,584 --> 01:12:36,614
So I know the President is
looking forward to going

1641
01:12:36,618 --> 01:12:39,458
back to the Ed Sullivan
Theater for that.

1642
01:12:39,455 --> 01:12:40,685
While in New York, at
the end of the day,

1643
01:12:40,689 --> 01:12:41,929
the President will
participate in a couple of

1644
01:12:41,924 --> 01:12:43,994
DNC events.

1645
01:12:43,992 --> 01:12:45,792
On Tuesday, the President
will host a Cinco de Mayo

1646
01:12:45,794 --> 01:12:48,064
reception at
the White House.

1647
01:12:48,063 --> 01:12:50,903
On Wednesday, the President
will attend meetings at the

1648
01:12:50,899 --> 01:12:52,199
White House.

1649
01:12:52,201 --> 01:12:54,341
On Thursday, the President
will welcome the United

1650
01:12:54,336 --> 01:12:56,336
States Air Force Academy
football team to the White

1651
01:12:56,338 --> 01:12:58,478
House to present
them with the 2014

1652
01:12:58,474 --> 01:13:00,244
Commander-in-Chief's Trophy.

1653
01:13:00,242 --> 01:13:02,242
In the afternoon, the
President will travel to

1654
01:13:02,244 --> 01:13:05,784
Portland, Oregon -- or the
Portland, Oregon area,

1655
01:13:05,781 --> 01:13:07,251
where he'll attend
a DNC event.

1656
01:13:07,249 --> 01:13:11,049
And then the President will
remain overnight in Oregon.

1657
01:13:11,053 --> 01:13:13,053
On Friday morning, the
President will attend an

1658
01:13:13,055 --> 01:13:15,555
event at Nike headquarters
to discuss how workers will

1659
01:13:15,557 --> 01:13:17,827
benefit from progressive,
high-standards trade

1660
01:13:17,826 --> 01:13:20,366
agreements that would open
up new markets and support

1661
01:13:20,362 --> 01:13:23,402
high-quality jobs, both for
Oregon small businesses and

1662
01:13:23,398 --> 01:13:25,198
large companies like Nike.

1663
01:13:25,200 --> 01:13:27,200
The President will also
make the case that strong

1664
01:13:27,202 --> 01:13:29,642
bipartisan trade promotion
authority legislation

1665
01:13:29,638 --> 01:13:32,478
introduced this month by
Oregon's own Senator Ron

1666
01:13:32,474 --> 01:13:34,874
Wyden, and Senator
Orrin Hatch,

1667
01:13:34,877 --> 01:13:37,177
is an important step to
ensure our trade policy

1668
01:13:37,179 --> 01:13:39,479
works for the middle class
through strong enforcement

1669
01:13:39,481 --> 01:13:42,251
provisions, transparency,
and the requirement that our

1670
01:13:42,251 --> 01:13:44,491
trade agreements include
high standards to bring

1671
01:13:44,486 --> 01:13:47,126
greater opportunity to
American businesses.

1672
01:13:47,122 --> 01:13:49,492
Afterward, the President
will travel to Watertown,

1673
01:13:49,491 --> 01:13:52,161
South Dakota, to deliver the
commencement address for the

1674
01:13:52,161 --> 01:13:56,601
graduating class at Lake
Area Technical Institute.

1675
01:13:56,598 --> 01:13:58,598
Lake Area Technical
Institute is one of the top

1676
01:13:58,600 --> 01:14:01,340
community colleges in the
nation and is recognized for

1677
01:14:01,336 --> 01:14:03,336
rigorously preparing its
students with the skills

1678
01:14:03,338 --> 01:14:06,308
they need to compete in
the 21st century economy.

1679
01:14:06,308 --> 01:14:08,508
With a two-year graduation
rate more than twice the

1680
01:14:08,510 --> 01:14:11,580
national average, Lake Area
Technical Institute focuses

1681
01:14:11,580 --> 01:14:14,520
on providing its graduates
with smooth pathways to

1682
01:14:14,516 --> 01:14:17,016
high-skilled careers with
private-sector businesses.

1683
01:14:17,019 --> 01:14:19,419
So we'll have more details
about next week's trip

1684
01:14:19,421 --> 01:14:20,591
next week.

1685
01:14:20,589 --> 01:14:22,589
But South Dakota, as
you point out, John,

1686
01:14:22,591 --> 01:14:25,331
is the 50th state that the
President will visit as

1687
01:14:25,327 --> 01:14:27,267
President of the
United States.

1688
01:14:27,262 --> 01:14:29,532
The President did have the
opportunity to visit a lot

1689
01:14:29,531 --> 01:14:32,401
of the country when he
participated in his rather

1690
01:14:32,401 --> 01:14:36,101
historic presidential
campaign back in 2008.

1691
01:14:36,104 --> 01:14:38,104
And I think throughout
his travels,

1692
01:14:38,106 --> 01:14:40,676
the President has continued
to be energized and

1693
01:14:40,676 --> 01:14:44,146
invigorated by the spirit of
the American people and to

1694
01:14:44,146 --> 01:14:48,046
visit with Americans who are
doing their best for their

1695
01:14:48,050 --> 01:14:50,050
families and for their
community and for the

1696
01:14:50,052 --> 01:14:52,052
country is something
that the President finds

1697
01:14:52,054 --> 01:14:53,054
genuinely inspiring.

1698
01:14:53,055 --> 01:14:55,055
And I know that he'll look
forward to having that

1699
01:14:55,057 --> 01:14:56,557
opportunity in both Oregon
and South Dakota at the end

1700
01:14:56,558 --> 01:14:57,858
of next week.

1701
01:14:57,860 --> 01:14:58,560
Thanks, everybody.

1702
01:14:58,560 --> 01:14:59,430
Have a great weekend.

1703
01:14:59,428 --> 01:15:02,768
The Press: Josh, is hitting
number 50 why he chose to go

1704
01:15:02,764 --> 01:15:04,504
to Lake Area
Technical College?

1705
01:15:04,500 --> 01:15:07,200
Mr. Earnest: No, that
statistic I cited about

1706
01:15:07,202 --> 01:15:09,502
their high graduation rate
is principally the reason

1707
01:15:09,504 --> 01:15:11,504
the President is going
to give the commencement

1708
01:15:11,506 --> 01:15:12,506
address there.

1709
01:15:12,507 --> 01:15:14,507
The Press: So it's
coincidental but it's also

1710
01:15:14,509 --> 01:15:16,509
the 50th state of
his presidency.

1711
01:15:16,511 --> 01:15:17,711
Mr. Earnest: Well, no, the
President wanted to visit

1712
01:15:17,713 --> 01:15:19,453
all 50 states while
he was President, too.

1713
01:15:19,448 --> 01:15:21,648
Thanks, guys.