English subtitles for clip: File:5-14-14- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Carney: Good
morning, everyone.

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Thanks for being here.

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Or maybe that explains
the empty seats.

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This might be early
for some journalists.

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The Press: Well, well.

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(Laughter)

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Mr. Carney: I didn't mean
it that way, but the

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adjustment I had to make
from my previous life --

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this doesn't apply to
those of you who do morning

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TV, which I know
is brutal --

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is that I definitely had to
reorient my daily clock.

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Before I get started,
I wanted to say

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a couple of things.

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First of all, there's a
very important birthday

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today, and that is Connie
Lawn is celebrating.

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And Connie has been doing
this for a long time,

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and doing it well.

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And on behalf of myself
and the press office,

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we have some cupcakes
for Connie.

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The Press: Thank
you so much.

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(Applause.)

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Mr. Carney: I'd also like
to mention, if I might,

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another milestone that's
being reached later

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this week, and that
is the retirement

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of Barbara Walters.

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I was emailing with
a colleague of hers

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who told me that she has
interviewed every

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President and First Lady
since Richard Nixon,

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been on television for
more than five decades,

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and claims she's
retiring on Friday.

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I don't believe it.

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I expect we'll be
getting an interview

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request within weeks.

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But given that, at
least officially,

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Barbara Walters is retiring
and she's an institution,

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I'd like to offer her
the congratulations

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of everyone here at
the White House,

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including President Obama
and the First Lady.

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One more item, on a much
more somber note --

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it's a statement from me
that you'll be receiving

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in your inboxes about the
Turkish mining collapse.

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Our thoughts and prayers
are with the people

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of Turkey today in the wake
of a coal mine explosion

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in Soma in which some
200 have been killed

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and hundreds more
remain trapped.

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On behalf of the American
people, we extend

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our heartfelt condolences
to the families

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of the victims, and our best
wishes for the safe exit

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of the remaining miners.

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Turkey is a close and
longstanding friend

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and ally of the United States.

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We are ready to assist
the Turkish government

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if necessary, and we will
continue to stand together

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in this time of tragedy.

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Now I'm ready for
your questions.

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Nedra.

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The Press: Jay, on that
point, there are some

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protests there -- people
are really angry

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at the government.

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And I wonder if part
of the assistance that

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the United States
wants to provide

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is better mine safety.

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Have you talked to them
about that over there?

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Mr. Carney: I am not
aware of conversations

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of that nature at this point,
given how recent

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the tragedy was and the fact
that there are still

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miners that are trapped.

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The State Department may
have more on the kinds

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of conversations and the
kinds of assistance

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that we might be offering --
the kinds of conversations

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we might be having and the
assistance we might be offering.

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But at this point, I
don't have anything more.

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The Press: And in Ukraine,
the government

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is holding talks as part of
the OSCE process.

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They don't include
the separatists.

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Should they be included in
this to make some progress?

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Mr. Carney: Well, we
commend the Ukrainian

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government on their efforts
to hold roundtables,

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beginning today, on
constitutional reform

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and national unity facilitated

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by the OSCE -- including with
Ukrainians from

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the eastern and
southern regions.

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And we call on Russia
to support this effort.

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Now, we understand,
certainly,

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the unwillingness of the
Ukrainian government

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to have participants in these
roundtables who literally

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have blood on their hands.

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But those who represent
the regions where there

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are issues that merit
serious dialogue around

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constitutional reform and
levels of autonomy

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for different regions as it
relates to the center

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are certainly part of this
effort, and we commend it.

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The Press: On another
domestic issue --

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does the White House support
Private Chelsea Manning's

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request to be transferred
to a civilian prison

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so that she can
live as a woman?

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Mr. Carney: That's
not a conversation

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I think that takes place here.

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I have not heard anyone
discuss that here.

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Yes.

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The Press: Jay, thanks.

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Tensions are rising in the
Southeast Asia region over

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China's construction
of a drilling rig

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in the South China Sea area.

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That's something that
the President sought

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to address in his trip.

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Is there anything the
United States can

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do to diffuse tensions there?

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Mr. Carney: Well, we've
made our views clear,

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most recently and publicly in
the various instances

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during the President's
trip to Asia where

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he was asked about
these tensions

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and addressed these matters.

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And our view has always
been that these are

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disputes that need to be
resolved through dialogue,

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not through intimidation.

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And we are not party to
the specific disputes,

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but we again urge dialogue in
their resolution,

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and that would
apply in this case.

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The Press: On a
domestic issue --

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the President tomorrow is
visiting the ceremonial opening

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of the memorial museum
for September 11th.

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This is obviously
a deep wound

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in the American psyche, a
relatively recent event.

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What, without asking
you to talk about

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exactly what he's
going to say tomorrow,

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what does the President hope
to achieve or communicate

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to the American people
with this visit?

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Mr. Carney: Well,
I think you spoke

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to it in your question.

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9/11 is an event that I
think every American

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who's old enough to
remember the day remembers

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with searing clarity.

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And we lost a lot of
Americans on that day,

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that horrible day.

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We also saw extraordinary
feats of heroism

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and selflessness on that day.

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And we as a nation, and
New York as a city,

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demonstrated a capacity
for resilience

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and unity that I think made
everyone proud here

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and was noticed around the world
-- including by those

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who sought and seek to
do Americans harm.

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So I think the President
and First Lady look

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forward to this event,
are especially mindful

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in their positions, but also
as citizens,

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about the need to remember and
the power of memory

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in a nation's history, as well
as the need

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to properly grieve and rebuild
and move forward.

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The Press: And if I could
just get back

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to a much more mundane
matter, Democrats in Congress

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are introducing legislation
making a push

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for refinancing student
loans at lower rates.

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Has the White House
expressed

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support for this measure?

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Can you tell us where
you stand on that?

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Mr. Carney: I don't have a
position at this point

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on that to provide to you.

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I'll have to take
the question,

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and we'll get back to you on it.

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Jim.

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The Press: Jay, getting
back to the 9/11 Memorial

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Museum and its ceremonial
opening tomorrow

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morning -- Mayor de Blasio in
New York City has called

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for federal funding of that
museum, saying that

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there is no federal funding for
that museum at this point;

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that it exists and it's
going to operate basically

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through the admission fees
that people pay

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to visit that site.

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Is that something that

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the White House would consider?

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Mr. Carney: I haven't
heard discussion

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of that request or that
observation by the mayor.

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I thinktomorrow the
President and the

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First Lady will be focused on
the opening of the museum

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and all that it means to
the people of New York,

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the people of the country.

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So I just don't have a
view of the White House

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to express on that point.

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The Press: And jumping
to the Nigerian girls,

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Senator McCain, as I'm
sure you saw, is making

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a call for special
forces to be used --

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U.S. special forces to be used
to rescue those girls.

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What's the White House
take on that today?

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Is that something that
might be examined

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as we get closer to
finding them?

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Mr. Carney: Well, I
think -- two points.

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First, let's not get
ahead of ourselves.

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We are actively advising,
including through military

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personnel, the Nigerian
government as it seeks

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to find, to locate and to
rescue these girls.

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Finding them is
the first step.

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Our military personnel
at the embassy,

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and any additional military
personnel we may deploy,

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will be in Nigeria in
an advisory capacity.

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And at this point, we've
not actively considering

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the deployment of U.S. forces

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to participate in a
combined rescue mission.

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And again, I think it's
important to be mindful

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of where we are in this
process

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and not get ahead of ourselves.

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We're engaged at many
levels now as part

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of this group that's been stood
up at the embassy

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with personnel from the embassy
as well as from

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AFRICOM and elsewhere, including
military, state and FBI,

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to assist the government
in the effort underway

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to find the kidnapped girls.

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That effort includes

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manned fixed-wing
reconnaissance flights.

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It also includes now
unmanned reconnaissance --

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unmanned, unarmed
reconnaissance flights

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in the effort to find them.

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And I would note that even
the narrowly drawn

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area where there is the
greatest suspicion

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that the girls might be is an
area that is something

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along the size of West
Virginia,

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the state of West Virginia.

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So this is a pretty vast
expanse of territory.

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The Press: And it could
get complicated if they've

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been broken apart
and split up.

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Mr. Carney: Well, there's
no question -- we don't

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have intelligence to share
about the location of the

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girls or whether
they're all together.

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But the time is of the
essence,

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as we've been saying.

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That's why we were so
eager to assist the

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Nigerian government in
this effort that

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the Nigerian government,
of course, is leading.

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But it's important to
note to step back

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and understand the challenges
that this search

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effort is facing.

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The Press: And I know it's
difficult to respond

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to tweets and news that's
just broken

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in the last several minutes
and so forth and so on,

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but just before you
came out, Bill Clinton,

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at an event this morning, said
that -- he said several things,

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but one thing he said about
the Affordable Care Act

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is that perhaps a
"long-term repair process"

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would be needed over the coming
years; that Democrats

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shouldn't run away from
it, they should talk

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about it, not be afraid
to talk about it,

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but that they should
also say a long-term

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repair process is needed.

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What do you make of that?

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Mr. Carney: I didn't see
that particular tweet,

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but I think what former
President Clinton

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is reflecting is a view held
here at the White House

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and among Democrats -- and
among the majority

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of the American people
-- which is that we need

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to move forward
with implementation

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of the Affordable Care
Act and improve it where

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00:11:55,967 --> 00:11:58,165
improvements are
necessary;

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00:11:58,166 --> 00:12:04,367
that there is no program of this
scope in American history

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00:12:04,367 --> 00:12:07,967
that has not required
adjustments along the way.

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00:12:07,967 --> 00:12:11,400
And we have, as you know,
instituted adjustments

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00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:15,400
and fixes when necessary
in this early stage

256
00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:17,834
of implementation, and that
is absolutely

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00:12:17,834 --> 00:12:18,834
the right approach to take.

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00:12:18,834 --> 00:12:22,099
Unfortunately, we have
seen in the now more than

259
00:12:22,100 --> 00:12:26,300
50 efforts by Republicans
on Capitol Hill to repeal,

260
00:12:26,300 --> 00:12:29,099
in essence, the Affordable
Care Act, an interest

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00:12:29,100 --> 00:12:32,000
in re-litigating those
battles against the will

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00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:34,367
of the majority of the
American people instead

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00:12:34,367 --> 00:12:42,165
of focusing on how we can
make even better a system

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00:12:42,166 --> 00:12:45,633
that allows for access
to private insurance

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00:12:45,633 --> 00:12:47,734
for millions and millions of
Americans

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00:12:47,734 --> 00:12:49,967
who need it -- private, quality,

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00:12:49,967 --> 00:12:52,000
affordable health insurance.

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00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:57,300
So that's certainly a
perspective that we share.

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00:12:57,300 --> 00:12:58,300
Yes, Mary.

270
00:12:58,300 --> 00:12:59,834
The Press: Getting back
to Jim's question about

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00:12:59,834 --> 00:13:01,467
funding for the 9/11
Memorial Museum --

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00:13:01,467 --> 00:13:03,967
many of the victims'
families have objected

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00:13:03,967 --> 00:13:06,400
to the entrance fee,
which I believe is $24.

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00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:07,733
Does the President
believe those

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00:13:07,734 --> 00:13:09,066
objections are justified?

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00:13:09,066 --> 00:13:10,233
Should families
be required to --

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00:13:10,233 --> 00:13:11,733
Mr. Carney: I just haven't
spoken to him about that,

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00:13:11,734 --> 00:13:16,033
and I don't have any eyes
into the debate, if you

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00:13:16,033 --> 00:13:19,433
will, about the funding
for the museum.

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00:13:19,433 --> 00:13:20,633
Right now, I think the
President and the

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00:13:20,633 --> 00:13:24,467
First Lady look forward to the
opening of it and what

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00:13:24,467 --> 00:13:26,633
it means for the city and
the American people.

283
00:13:26,633 --> 00:13:33,333
I'm not saying that those
questions and debates

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00:13:33,333 --> 00:13:39,467
and concerns aren't valid,
but at this point the

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00:13:39,467 --> 00:13:41,967
President and First Lady
will be focused

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00:13:41,967 --> 00:13:45,800
on the memorial itself -- not
the memorial,

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00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:53,132
but the museum itself and the
events that it will provide

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00:13:53,133 --> 00:13:59,834
an opportunity for so many
people to recall because

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00:13:59,834 --> 00:14:02,733
of the significance of
that moment

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00:14:02,734 --> 00:14:05,433
and its aftermath to our history
and

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00:14:05,433 --> 00:14:06,700
to so many people around the world.

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00:14:06,700 --> 00:14:07,700
Major.

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00:14:07,700 --> 00:14:10,934
The Press: On the
veterans question --

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00:14:10,934 --> 00:14:14,033
it seems to be really gaining a
lot of momentum on the Hill;

295
00:14:14,033 --> 00:14:16,300
questions are being raised
not just about Phoenix.

296
00:14:16,300 --> 00:14:18,800
On our broadcast last
night, Wyatt Andrews

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00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:21,099
talked about a secret wait
list in Chicago where

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00:14:21,100 --> 00:14:25,200
it would mask the wait lists
for those seeking care.

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00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:27,567
Both Republican and
Democratic senators

300
00:14:27,567 --> 00:14:29,433
in Missouri are
now asking the

301
00:14:29,433 --> 00:14:30,934
same questions of St. Louis.

302
00:14:30,934 --> 00:14:33,467
You said before that
Veterans Secretary

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00:14:33,467 --> 00:14:35,066
Shinseki has the
President's confidence.

304
00:14:35,066 --> 00:14:37,233
Two questions: Why does
he retain

305
00:14:37,233 --> 00:14:39,132
the President's confidence?

306
00:14:39,133 --> 00:14:42,300
And does the confidence
stem from an analysis

307
00:14:42,300 --> 00:14:44,934
the President has made that
the VA bureaucracy

308
00:14:44,934 --> 00:14:48,000
is simply too impenetrable
for any secretary

309
00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:53,066
to get his or her arms around
and that these problems

310
00:14:53,066 --> 00:14:55,533
are embedded, and
Shinseki needs to stay

311
00:14:55,533 --> 00:14:58,533
on the job to fix them?

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00:14:58,533 --> 00:15:04,133
Mr. Carney: Secretary
Shinseki is a West Point

313
00:15:04,133 --> 00:15:10,767
graduate, decorated
retired military officer

314
00:15:10,767 --> 00:15:17,967
who has worked diligently
as VA Secretary to better

315
00:15:17,967 --> 00:15:22,133
serve our veterans, both
now and in the future.

316
00:15:22,133 --> 00:15:23,567
He would be the first to
tell you that there

317
00:15:23,567 --> 00:15:26,533
is more work to do.

318
00:15:26,533 --> 00:15:33,533
The stress on the system
that two additional wars

319
00:15:33,533 --> 00:15:37,500
-- long wars --
caused is something

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00:15:37,500 --> 00:15:42,000
that the Secretary and the
President recognize very

321
00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:44,166
keenly, and that's why the
President has insisted

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00:15:44,166 --> 00:15:48,400
on increased funding for the
VA throughout his time

323
00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:52,967
in office, even as we
deal with the need

324
00:15:52,967 --> 00:15:57,900
for maintaining tight budgets
as a general matter.

325
00:15:57,900 --> 00:16:02,199
It's why we've enrolled
at the VA under

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00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:05,066
Secretary Shinseki's
leadership 2 million veterans

327
00:16:05,066 --> 00:16:07,767
in high-quality VA health
care, reducing veterans'

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00:16:07,767 --> 00:16:10,934
homelessness by 24
percent, providing

329
00:16:10,934 --> 00:16:13,800
post-9/11 GI Bill
educational benefits

330
00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:16,433
to more than 1 million
students, and decreasing

331
00:16:16,433 --> 00:16:19,766
the disability claims
backlog by 50 percent.

332
00:16:19,767 --> 00:16:22,000
I know you were here the
other day when the issue

333
00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:26,600
of the investigation in
Phoenix and the lists

334
00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:29,066
for care were discussed
within the context

335
00:16:29,066 --> 00:16:31,667
of the reduction in the
disability claims backlog,

336
00:16:31,667 --> 00:16:33,533
and I wanted to make
clear that these

337
00:16:33,533 --> 00:16:37,367
are two different issues, and
it's important to note that.

338
00:16:37,367 --> 00:16:39,199
And the specific
investigation that's

339
00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:42,934
underway is one that we
have to allow to take

340
00:16:42,934 --> 00:16:46,600
place before we understand
fully what happened

341
00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:48,867
there and what action
needs to be taken.

342
00:16:48,867 --> 00:16:55,967
The Secretary has begun
an investigation and made

343
00:16:55,967 --> 00:16:58,967
clear to the independent
inspector general

344
00:16:58,967 --> 00:17:02,333
at VA that he would like
to see a comprehensive

345
00:17:02,333 --> 00:17:05,433
review conducted of the
situation in Phoenix.

346
00:17:05,433 --> 00:17:07,467
The Press: Jay, on that
comprehensive review,

347
00:17:07,467 --> 00:17:09,333
you have a Republican, Jeff
Miller, who chairs

348
00:17:09,333 --> 00:17:10,934
the Veterans' Committee, wrote
a letter to the President

349
00:17:10,934 --> 00:17:12,966
I believe late yesterday
saying he wants

350
00:17:12,967 --> 00:17:14,700
a bipartisan outside
commission

351
00:17:14,700 --> 00:17:16,165
to investigate this.

352
00:17:16,165 --> 00:17:20,066
How can you trust that
the VA IG and others

353
00:17:20,066 --> 00:17:21,834
can investigate this
when it's been going

354
00:17:21,834 --> 00:17:24,300
on we don't know how long?

355
00:17:24,300 --> 00:17:26,867
Like, isn't it clear that
as these allegations

356
00:17:26,867 --> 00:17:30,000
pile up that maybe an outside
panel needs to review it?

357
00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:31,533
Is that something the
President will consider?

358
00:17:31,533 --> 00:17:34,699
Mr. Carney: Well, let me
say a couple of things.

359
00:17:34,700 --> 00:17:37,834
Inspectors general are
independent and are

360
00:17:37,834 --> 00:17:43,834
cited as such when -- should be
cited as such because

361
00:17:46,266 --> 00:17:48,500
they are, and then sometimes
they're cited as such

362
00:17:48,500 --> 00:17:53,834
only when it is politically
expedient for someone

363
00:17:53,834 --> 00:17:57,400
on Capitol Hill to do so.

364
00:17:57,400 --> 00:18:01,800
But the fact is inspectors
general are by their

365
00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:03,834
constitutional
makeup independent

366
00:18:03,834 --> 00:18:07,166
from the agencies that
they oversee.

367
00:18:07,166 --> 00:18:11,533
Secondly, I would say,
about the letter itself,

368
00:18:11,533 --> 00:18:13,667
the White House has
received the chairman's

369
00:18:13,667 --> 00:18:15,466
letter and we are
reviewing it,

370
00:18:15,467 --> 00:18:18,767
but at this point we
don't have any assessment

371
00:18:18,767 --> 00:18:23,967
to make about his suggestion
or recommendation.

372
00:18:23,967 --> 00:18:25,200
But we are reviewing
the letter.

373
00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:26,066
The Press: But he says he
wrote a letter

374
00:18:26,066 --> 00:18:29,200
a year ago to the President,
and he says he got,

375
00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:31,533
"disturbing silence
from the White House,"

376
00:18:31,533 --> 00:18:34,966
and "one excuse after
another from the VA."

377
00:18:34,967 --> 00:18:37,734
So what's been done?

378
00:18:37,734 --> 00:18:40,867
Mr. Carney: Well, I mean,
I can cite you what's

379
00:18:40,867 --> 00:18:43,433
been done, including
the increases

380
00:18:43,433 --> 00:18:47,166
in spending for VA services
that this President

381
00:18:47,166 --> 00:18:49,800
has insisted on, often
not always with --

382
00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:52,633
The Press: So then why did
40 people in Phoenix die?

383
00:18:52,633 --> 00:18:54,934
Mr. Carney: Well, Ed, as
you know, that's under

384
00:18:54,934 --> 00:18:57,367
investigation, and we will
assess what happened

385
00:18:57,367 --> 00:18:59,500
there when the facts
are fully known.

386
00:18:59,500 --> 00:19:03,367
We take that situation and
the allegations around

387
00:19:03,367 --> 00:19:04,800
it very seriously; the
President does --

388
00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:06,934
he's made that clear
himself, I've made it clear

389
00:19:06,934 --> 00:19:09,500
on his behalf, and certainly
Secretary Shinseki

390
00:19:09,500 --> 00:19:12,133
has made it clear
on his behalf

391
00:19:12,133 --> 00:19:14,400
and on the behalf of the VA.

392
00:19:15,300 --> 00:19:18,133
So the fact of the
matter is we are working

393
00:19:18,133 --> 00:19:20,900
aggressively to better
serve our veterans,

394
00:19:20,900 --> 00:19:25,500
provide them more care,
and to take care

395
00:19:25,500 --> 00:19:31,033
of them not just when it comes
to their health needs

396
00:19:31,033 --> 00:19:36,265
but also through the GI --
Post-9/11 GI Educational

397
00:19:36,266 --> 00:19:39,367
Bill that has provided
opportunities

398
00:19:39,367 --> 00:19:43,500
to returning vets from Iraq
and Afghanistan through

399
00:19:43,500 --> 00:19:46,166
the efforts like
Joining Forces that the

400
00:19:46,166 --> 00:19:51,600
First Lady and Dr.
Biden have helped head

401
00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:56,433
up to make sure that the
private sector is focused

402
00:19:56,433 --> 00:19:59,767
on the extraordinary talent
pool that our veterans

403
00:19:59,767 --> 00:20:02,800
represent and that
they are looking

404
00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:05,332
to veterans when they're
looking to fill positions.

405
00:20:05,333 --> 00:20:06,700
And this is a
comprehensive effort

406
00:20:06,700 --> 00:20:08,533
to make sure that those
who have sacrificed

407
00:20:08,533 --> 00:20:14,166
so much for all of us
get the assistance

408
00:20:14,166 --> 00:20:17,100
and the service and the
respect that they deserve.

409
00:20:17,100 --> 00:20:19,065
The Press: Jay, you're
sort of talking around --

410
00:20:19,066 --> 00:20:21,367
I mean, the central issue
is the services veterans

411
00:20:21,367 --> 00:20:24,433
are receiving for care
they're seeking,

412
00:20:24,433 --> 00:20:28,367
and what we're driving
at is increased evidence

413
00:20:28,367 --> 00:20:30,767
that it's not happening
-- secret wait lists,

414
00:20:30,767 --> 00:20:33,033
the bonuses paid so
people get things

415
00:20:33,033 --> 00:20:34,399
when the services
aren't being rendered.

416
00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:36,266
I know you would
acknowledge --

417
00:20:36,266 --> 00:20:37,266
Mr. Carney: Major, I'm not
going to quibble

418
00:20:37,266 --> 00:20:39,000
with you about allegations
about one office

419
00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:41,867
and an allegation now
about another.

420
00:20:41,867 --> 00:20:45,166
I would urge you to note
how many Veterans' Affairs

421
00:20:45,166 --> 00:20:49,066
offices there are around
the country and simply

422
00:20:49,066 --> 00:20:51,700
state that what is
required in circumstances

423
00:20:51,700 --> 00:20:56,200
like this is a clear-eyed,
focused investigation

424
00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:59,100
and review, the likes of
which are underway now.

425
00:20:59,100 --> 00:21:00,166
And, again, we will look

426
00:21:00,166 --> 00:21:03,066
at the chairman's
letter and review it.

427
00:21:03,066 --> 00:21:06,000
I think we all share a
concern, extreme concern

428
00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:07,066
when it comes to
making sure that

429
00:21:07,066 --> 00:21:09,467
our veterans are getting the
care they deserve.

430
00:21:09,467 --> 00:21:12,667
And when they're not, and
certainly when there's --

431
00:21:12,667 --> 00:21:16,265
if there's inappropriate
conduct involved

432
00:21:16,266 --> 00:21:18,300
in preventing them
from getting care,

433
00:21:18,300 --> 00:21:20,000
the President and the
Secretary will

434
00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:21,734
be the first to insist
that action be taken.

435
00:21:21,734 --> 00:21:23,766
The Press: In general,
though, Democratic Senator

436
00:21:23,767 --> 00:21:26,734
Jon Tester today said on
MSNBC that he thinks VA --

437
00:21:26,734 --> 00:21:30,966
the VA Department is doing
a "pretty darn good job."

438
00:21:30,967 --> 00:21:33,100
Do you think overall they're
doing a "pretty darn

439
00:21:33,100 --> 00:21:34,100
good job?"

440
00:21:34,100 --> 00:21:38,300
Mr. Carney: Well, Ed, I'll
deliver the sound bite

441
00:21:38,300 --> 00:21:40,166
you're looking for -- I
think the VA has, under

442
00:21:40,166 --> 00:21:43,332
Secretary Shinseki,
aggressively focused on

443
00:21:43,333 --> 00:21:46,467
the need to provide better
care to our veterans,

444
00:21:46,467 --> 00:21:51,200
aggressively attacked the
disability claims backlog

445
00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:55,767
that exists and was
expanded before it came

446
00:21:55,767 --> 00:21:58,266
down by 50 percent because
of the decision to make

447
00:21:58,266 --> 00:22:01,767
sure that those who had
claims related to exposure

448
00:22:01,767 --> 00:22:05,734
to Agent Orange and those
who had claims related to

449
00:22:05,734 --> 00:22:11,734
post-traumatic stress
disorder were prejudged as

450
00:22:15,333 --> 00:22:17,200
likely to receive
disability because of

451
00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:18,200
those claims.

452
00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:19,200
And that was the
right thing to do.

453
00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:23,367
It also put added stress
on the system and created

454
00:22:23,367 --> 00:22:26,100
an additional backlog,
which the VA under

455
00:22:26,100 --> 00:22:27,600
Secretary Shinseki

456
00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:28,600
has been aggressively addressing.

457
00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:29,600
The Press: One last topic.

458
00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:31,033
Can you address this
report by the Center

459
00:22:31,033 --> 00:22:33,734
for Immigration Studies that
claims that more than

460
00:22:33,734 --> 00:22:37,066
36,000 illegal aliens who
were criminals and were

461
00:22:37,066 --> 00:22:39,734
being processed for
deportation were released

462
00:22:39,734 --> 00:22:40,734
by the administration?

463
00:22:40,734 --> 00:22:42,766
This report is claiming
some of them were violent

464
00:22:42,767 --> 00:22:45,934
offenders; 200 of them
had homicide convictions,

465
00:22:45,934 --> 00:22:48,700
close to 500 had sexual
assault convictions.

466
00:22:48,700 --> 00:22:52,834
Mr. Carney: I haven't seen
the study or heard of it,

467
00:22:52,834 --> 00:22:53,900
Ed, so I'll take
the question.

468
00:22:53,900 --> 00:22:57,900
I think that our record
on making sure that

469
00:22:57,900 --> 00:23:02,800
enforcement is focused on
those who have committed

470
00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:06,667
crimes, felonies, is one
that we've discussed quite

471
00:23:06,667 --> 00:23:09,433
a lot as it relates
to deportations.

472
00:23:09,433 --> 00:23:12,300
But in terms of that
specific document

473
00:23:12,300 --> 00:23:13,332
or study, I haven't seen

474
00:23:13,333 --> 00:23:14,967
it so I don't have a reaction.

475
00:23:14,967 --> 00:23:15,567
Yes.

476
00:23:15,567 --> 00:23:17,300
The Press: Jay, I want to
go back to Jim's question

477
00:23:17,300 --> 00:23:19,734
about sending special
forces to Nigeria.

478
00:23:19,734 --> 00:23:21,399
You said that the
administration is not

479
00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:24,000
actively considering
sending special forces.

480
00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:25,133
Does that mean that that
option

481
00:23:25,133 --> 00:23:26,200
is off the table completely?

482
00:23:26,734 --> 00:23:30,199
Mr. Carney: What I said
is that we shouldn't get

483
00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:32,266
ahead of ourselves.

484
00:23:32,266 --> 00:23:36,500
We are involved right
now with the Nigerian

485
00:23:36,500 --> 00:23:40,633
government, advising the
Nigerian government

486
00:23:40,633 --> 00:23:46,667
as they seek to find the
girls so that they can

487
00:23:46,667 --> 00:23:49,265
be secured and returned
to their families.

488
00:23:49,266 --> 00:23:52,133
So I would say at this
point we're not actively

489
00:23:52,133 --> 00:23:54,433
considering the
deployment

490
00:23:54,433 --> 00:23:57,533
of U.S. military personnel in a
combined rescue attempt.

491
00:23:57,533 --> 00:24:00,833
We would have to know
where the girls are

492
00:24:00,834 --> 00:24:02,066
as a simple proposition before

493
00:24:02,066 --> 00:24:04,033
we could discuss rescue attempts.

494
00:24:04,467 --> 00:24:06,233
At this point, we're
not considering,

495
00:24:06,233 --> 00:24:08,966
as I mentioned earlier, the
deployment

496
00:24:08,967 --> 00:24:09,967
of U.S. military personnel.

497
00:24:09,967 --> 00:24:11,266
The military personnel
who are involved in this

498
00:24:11,266 --> 00:24:14,667
effort are involved in
an advisory capacity.

499
00:24:15,066 --> 00:24:15,633
The Press: Understood.

500
00:24:15,633 --> 00:24:17,066
Senator McCain's argument,
just to flesh

501
00:24:17,066 --> 00:24:19,333
it out a little bit more, is
that they should be in place

502
00:24:19,333 --> 00:24:22,266
so that once the girls are
found -- whenever that

503
00:24:22,266 --> 00:24:24,133
should happen -- once
their location

504
00:24:24,133 --> 00:24:26,333
is determined, those forces
are at the ready.

505
00:24:26,333 --> 00:24:28,133
Is there some validity to
that argument, or do you --

506
00:24:29,133 --> 00:24:30,633
Mr. Carney: I haven't seen
the specific comments.

507
00:24:30,633 --> 00:24:33,300
I mean, I'm aware that
he talked about sending

508
00:24:33,300 --> 00:24:35,367
Special Forces personnel.

509
00:24:35,367 --> 00:24:40,367
I would say that, in terms
of readiness of personnel,

510
00:24:40,367 --> 00:24:42,899
that's a question
better addressed to the

511
00:24:42,900 --> 00:24:43,934
Department of Defense.

512
00:24:44,166 --> 00:24:45,899
Right now, we're working
with the Nigerian

513
00:24:45,900 --> 00:24:48,533
government on their
efforts to find the girls,

514
00:24:48,533 --> 00:24:55,000
and if there's a
discussion about having

515
00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:58,300
found them, how to
retrieve them, we'll get

516
00:24:58,300 --> 00:24:59,300
to that discussion.

517
00:24:59,300 --> 00:25:03,800
But I'm not going to get
ahead of the process right

518
00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:05,433
now that's taking
place in Nigeria.

519
00:25:05,433 --> 00:25:08,900
And I would point out, as
I did earlier but I'll

520
00:25:08,900 --> 00:25:12,433
emphasize it again, we're
talking in the narrowest

521
00:25:12,433 --> 00:25:16,333
terms about a search area
that's roughly the size of

522
00:25:16,333 --> 00:25:19,533
the state of West Virginia
-- and that's the narrow

523
00:25:19,533 --> 00:25:20,533
search area.

524
00:25:20,533 --> 00:25:21,533
Some estimates have placed
the possible location of

525
00:25:21,533 --> 00:25:27,533
the girls in an even more
vast expanse of territory.

526
00:25:30,300 --> 00:25:33,166
So this is not an easy
piece of business that

527
00:25:33,166 --> 00:25:35,633
we're talking about, and
we're focused right now in

528
00:25:35,633 --> 00:25:38,100
our assistance to the
Nigerian government as

529
00:25:38,100 --> 00:25:39,433
they seek those girls.

530
00:25:39,433 --> 00:25:42,133
The Press: I wanted to ask
-- I guess there's a new

531
00:25:42,133 --> 00:25:45,066
report today that France
has in fact decided to

532
00:25:45,066 --> 00:25:47,633
move forward with selling
warships to Russia.

533
00:25:47,633 --> 00:25:49,600
Secretary Hagel got a
question about that just

534
00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:51,667
today; I know you were
asked about it earlier.

535
00:25:51,667 --> 00:25:52,766
Can you update us?

536
00:25:52,767 --> 00:25:54,967
Can you confirm
those reports?

537
00:25:54,967 --> 00:25:56,066
And has the U.S.

538
00:25:56,066 --> 00:25:56,967
spoken to France
about that?

539
00:25:58,333 --> 00:26:01,567
Mr. Carney: We have, as I
think I said yesterday,

540
00:26:01,567 --> 00:26:06,700
conveyed our concerns,
but I have not seen

541
00:26:06,700 --> 00:26:08,900
information to suggest
that they've made an

542
00:26:08,900 --> 00:26:11,233
announcement -- the French
have made an announcement

543
00:26:11,233 --> 00:26:13,233
about a formal decision.

544
00:26:13,233 --> 00:26:18,667
So we've conveyed our
concerns and will --

545
00:26:18,667 --> 00:26:20,699
I'll take the question or
I'm sure we'll get the

546
00:26:20,700 --> 00:26:24,300
question if there's
further development on it.

547
00:26:24,734 --> 00:26:25,265
April.

548
00:26:25,467 --> 00:26:27,133
The Press: Jay, I want to
follow up on Kristen and

549
00:26:27,133 --> 00:26:28,200
about another subject.

550
00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:30,033
I want to get in the
weeds a little bit about

551
00:26:30,033 --> 00:26:30,667
Nigeria.

552
00:26:30,667 --> 00:26:37,100
Is there an issue with the
Nigerian government when

553
00:26:37,100 --> 00:26:38,833
it comes to the
Nigerian girls?

554
00:26:38,834 --> 00:26:41,767
Because we've understood
in the past that when

555
00:26:41,767 --> 00:26:44,133
African countries have
issues and the United States

556
00:26:44,133 --> 00:26:46,233
or other countries
come in, they like to say

557
00:26:46,233 --> 00:26:48,700
this is an African problem
and you can assist.

558
00:26:48,700 --> 00:26:50,300
Is that some of the
issue right here?

559
00:26:50,934 --> 00:26:55,233
Mr. Carney: I guess,
April, what I would say is

560
00:26:55,233 --> 00:27:00,367
that, as would be the
case in any country in a

561
00:27:00,367 --> 00:27:05,300
situation like this,
Nigeria and the Nigerian

562
00:27:05,300 --> 00:27:08,567
government is leading the
effort to search for these

563
00:27:08,567 --> 00:27:09,767
girls.

564
00:27:09,767 --> 00:27:13,667
And we are offering
assistance -- specific,

565
00:27:13,667 --> 00:27:17,600
tangible assistance in
personnel and materiel --

566
00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:21,734
as part of our effort to
advise them in that effort

567
00:27:21,734 --> 00:27:23,766
and assist them
in that effort.

568
00:27:23,767 --> 00:27:29,233
And that is entirely
appropriate.

569
00:27:29,233 --> 00:27:30,934
And I think it's important
to note that that includes

570
00:27:30,934 --> 00:27:33,533
the personnel I think I
listed the other day as

571
00:27:33,533 --> 00:27:36,699
well as the assets that
I talked about just in

572
00:27:36,700 --> 00:27:41,100
answer to Jim's question
-- fixed-wing aircraft,

573
00:27:41,100 --> 00:27:43,667
unmanned aerial
vehicles -- part of the

574
00:27:43,667 --> 00:27:45,300
reconnaissance
surveillance effort to

575
00:27:45,300 --> 00:27:47,200
search for the girls.

576
00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:49,233
And that's what we're
focused on right now.

577
00:27:49,233 --> 00:27:53,100
We have personnel who are
experienced in hostage

578
00:27:53,100 --> 00:27:56,199
negotiations, who are
experienced in law

579
00:27:56,200 --> 00:27:59,133
enforcement aspects
around matters like this,

580
00:27:59,133 --> 00:28:06,400
kidnappings, as well as in
the reconnaissance effort.

581
00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:07,867
And we're not the only
country, obviously,

582
00:28:07,867 --> 00:28:09,867
assisting the Nigerians
in this effort.

583
00:28:10,300 --> 00:28:15,133
We noted early on as we
started discussing this

584
00:28:15,133 --> 00:28:19,066
terrible situation in this
briefing room that there

585
00:28:19,066 --> 00:28:23,266
isn't time to waste here,
and it is now more than

586
00:28:23,266 --> 00:28:26,700
25 or 26 days I believe since
the girls were kidnapped.

587
00:28:26,700 --> 00:28:29,467
And it's certainly
incumbent upon the

588
00:28:29,467 --> 00:28:32,200
Nigerian government, as
well as those nations

589
00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:34,700
like the United States that are
assisting the Nigerian

590
00:28:34,700 --> 00:28:37,667
government, to work
overtime

591
00:28:37,667 --> 00:28:38,632
in the search for them.

592
00:28:39,700 --> 00:28:42,300
The Press: It is clear
when you have the United States

593
00:28:42,300 --> 00:28:47,100
and other countries
who have -- who are much

594
00:28:47,100 --> 00:28:48,934
more equipped, better
equipped with intelligence

595
00:28:48,934 --> 00:28:53,399
and security matters than
Nigeria, why wouldn't

596
00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:56,800
there be more of a
presence from the world

597
00:28:56,800 --> 00:28:59,066
body than Nigeria --
Nigeria might take a

598
00:28:59,066 --> 00:29:00,133
backseat more so.

599
00:29:00,133 --> 00:29:01,600
Why is this
still the case?

600
00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:04,800
Nigeria is leading this
when the United States has

601
00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:09,700
more of a professional
point of view when

602
00:29:09,700 --> 00:29:11,367
it comes to -- or a more
engaged point of view when

603
00:29:11,367 --> 00:29:13,367
it comes to terrorism and
al Qaeda and things

604
00:29:13,367 --> 00:29:15,100
of that nature than
Nigeria has had.

605
00:29:15,100 --> 00:29:18,567
Why not let other world
bodies come in and say,

606
00:29:18,567 --> 00:29:21,567
Nigeria, let us take care
of this, sit back, we have

607
00:29:21,567 --> 00:29:22,567
more expertise in this?

608
00:29:22,567 --> 00:29:25,600
I mean, this has prolonged
for this long because

609
00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:27,800
they're doing it by
themselves pretty much.

610
00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:29,767
Mr. Carney: Well, I guess
I'd say a couple of

611
00:29:29,767 --> 00:29:30,734
things.

612
00:29:30,734 --> 00:29:32,734
Nigeria is a
sovereign nation.

613
00:29:32,734 --> 00:29:36,132
The girls were
abducted in Nigeria.

614
00:29:36,133 --> 00:29:37,166
They are Nigerian.

615
00:29:37,166 --> 00:29:38,899
And it's entirely
appropriate that Nigeria

616
00:29:38,900 --> 00:29:42,200
would lead the
effort to find them.

617
00:29:42,233 --> 00:29:43,767
What you talk about in
terms of the unique

618
00:29:43,767 --> 00:29:46,300
capacities that the United
States can bring to bear

619
00:29:46,300 --> 00:29:49,633
is absolutely true, and
that's why the assistance

620
00:29:49,633 --> 00:29:52,667
that we're offering is of
the nature that in many

621
00:29:52,667 --> 00:29:55,667
cases only the United
States can offer or of the

622
00:29:55,667 --> 00:29:59,233
kind that the United
States has the most

623
00:29:59,233 --> 00:30:01,332
experience or the best
insight or the best

624
00:30:01,333 --> 00:30:06,000
equipment.

625
00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:09,066
And we're actively engaged
in deploying those

626
00:30:09,066 --> 00:30:10,767
resources on behalf
of this search.

627
00:30:11,967 --> 00:30:17,567
I also think -- and I
think I was hoping to send

628
00:30:17,567 --> 00:30:20,200
that message when I was
describing the scope of

629
00:30:20,200 --> 00:30:25,000
the search -- that it's
probably not the case that

630
00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:29,367
the United States or
any other country with

631
00:30:29,367 --> 00:30:33,200
sophisticated means would
have an easy time finding

632
00:30:35,266 --> 00:30:36,867
girls who had been
kidnapped, individuals who

633
00:30:36,867 --> 00:30:39,265
had been kidnapped in an
area as large as West

634
00:30:39,266 --> 00:30:41,300
Virginia or perhaps
even larger.

635
00:30:41,300 --> 00:30:46,399
This is a big challenge no
matter how you come at it.

636
00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:49,567
And that's why it is
involving so many nations

637
00:30:49,567 --> 00:30:50,500
and the assistance that
they're providing

638
00:30:50,500 --> 00:30:51,300
to the Nigerians.

639
00:30:51,967 --> 00:30:54,200
The Press: And then
lastly, on Brown v.

640
00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:57,900
Board, the anniversary
is Saturday.

641
00:30:57,900 --> 00:31:00,066
Eric Holder will be
speaking

642
00:31:00,066 --> 00:31:03,300
at Morgan State University on
the actual anniversary.

643
00:31:03,300 --> 00:31:05,166
Could you talk to us about
the significance

644
00:31:05,166 --> 00:31:06,265
of Brown v. Board,

645
00:31:06,266 --> 00:31:08,266
as this
administration has been

646
00:31:08,266 --> 00:31:09,300
marking many of the

647
00:31:09,300 --> 00:31:12,466
civil rights landmark anniversaries?

648
00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:14,367
Mr. Carney: Well, sure.

649
00:31:14,367 --> 00:31:15,966
I don't have any
announcements to make

650
00:31:15,967 --> 00:31:19,467
in terms of how the
anniversary is being

651
00:31:19,467 --> 00:31:25,200
marked here at the White
House, but I can certainly

652
00:31:25,200 --> 00:31:27,066
tell everyone here what
they already know, which

653
00:31:27,066 --> 00:31:33,600
is this was a landmark
decision that went at one

654
00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:38,899
of the core issues around
civil rights and access

655
00:31:38,900 --> 00:31:42,433
to education for African
Americans, and it's one

656
00:31:42,433 --> 00:31:46,467
of the most important
decisions that the Supreme

657
00:31:46,467 --> 00:31:49,834
Court ever issued.

658
00:31:49,834 --> 00:31:52,367
So it's obviously an
important anniversary.

659
00:31:52,367 --> 00:31:54,500
The Press: Can I
follow up on that, Jay?

660
00:31:54,500 --> 00:31:55,500
Mr. Carney: Sure.

661
00:31:55,500 --> 00:31:57,867
The Press: What does the
President think about what

662
00:31:57,867 --> 00:32:01,066
many see as de facto
segregation that continues

663
00:32:01,066 --> 00:32:04,200
on many levels in many
school districts?

664
00:32:04,667 --> 00:32:08,000
Mr. Carney: The President
has addressed I think

665
00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:09,700
these issues in general,
and I would point you to

666
00:32:09,700 --> 00:32:13,367
the variety of times he
has spoken about the

667
00:32:13,367 --> 00:32:17,667
importance of education
for every American child.

668
00:32:17,667 --> 00:32:19,466
I haven't had a specific
conversation with him

669
00:32:19,467 --> 00:32:20,467
about those issues.

670
00:32:20,734 --> 00:32:21,533
The Press: I mean
in relation

671
00:32:21,533 --> 00:32:22,000
to this anniversary.

672
00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:25,500
Mr. Carney: I would point
you to what the President

673
00:32:25,500 --> 00:32:27,734
has discussed on these
matters in the past.

674
00:32:27,734 --> 00:32:30,567
I want to go to Connie
Lawn, birthday girl.

675
00:32:30,567 --> 00:32:31,300
The Press: Thank you.

676
00:32:31,300 --> 00:32:32,367
Getting older every day.

677
00:32:32,367 --> 00:32:34,633
(laughter) Thank you, Jay.

678
00:32:34,633 --> 00:32:34,900
Mr. Carney:
You're not alone.

679
00:32:34,900 --> 00:32:36,266
The Press: It has been an
honor to work with

680
00:32:36,266 --> 00:32:36,967
you all these years.

681
00:32:36,967 --> 00:32:37,567
Mr. Carney: Thank you.

682
00:32:38,133 --> 00:32:39,467
The Press: Susan Rice said
the other night at the

683
00:32:39,467 --> 00:32:41,734
Israeli 66th birthday that
the peace talks

684
00:32:41,734 --> 00:32:42,533
are at a pause.

685
00:32:42,533 --> 00:32:44,533
How long will
the pause last?

686
00:32:44,533 --> 00:32:47,966
And what do you expect out
of the visit by Shimon Peres?

687
00:32:53,767 --> 00:32:56,200
Mr. Carney: The first
question, obviously,

688
00:32:56,200 --> 00:32:59,233
is one that depends on the
willingness of both sides

689
00:32:59,233 --> 00:33:04,700
to come back to the
negotiating table, if you

690
00:33:04,700 --> 00:33:09,333
will, and focus on the
differences between them,

691
00:33:09,333 --> 00:33:13,767
because in the end, the
best possible solution

692
00:33:13,767 --> 00:33:20,700
here is a peace agreement
in which the Palestinians

693
00:33:20,700 --> 00:33:25,367
have a sovereign state
and Israel is a Jewish

694
00:33:25,367 --> 00:33:29,066
democratic state
that has security.

695
00:33:29,066 --> 00:33:31,033
And I think that that has
always been the bedrock

696
00:33:31,033 --> 00:33:33,033
principle that has driven
this administration's

697
00:33:33,033 --> 00:33:35,265
focus and previous
administration focus --

698
00:33:35,266 --> 00:33:37,033
the previous
administration's focus

699
00:33:37,033 --> 00:33:41,100
when approaching the very
difficult

700
00:33:41,100 --> 00:33:42,600
issue of Middle East peace.

701
00:33:42,633 --> 00:33:43,734
So there's that.

702
00:33:43,734 --> 00:33:46,367
What was the
second question?

703
00:33:46,367 --> 00:33:47,667
The Press: Shimon Peres.

704
00:33:47,667 --> 00:33:49,332
Mr. Carney: Well, I don't
have any scheduling

705
00:33:49,333 --> 00:33:50,233
announcements to make.

706
00:33:50,233 --> 00:33:54,867
Obviously, President Peres
is a remarkable figure

707
00:33:54,867 --> 00:34:00,399
in Israel's history and a
friend to the United States,

708
00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:04,600
and any encounter
with him is one that this

709
00:34:04,600 --> 00:34:05,600
President would welcome.

710
00:34:05,600 --> 00:34:08,900
Jen.

711
00:34:08,900 --> 00:34:09,467
The Press: Thanks, Jay.

712
00:34:09,467 --> 00:34:11,133
I wanted to ask you about
Michael Boggs,

713
00:34:11,132 --> 00:34:13,100
Obama's judicial nominee.

714
00:34:13,100 --> 00:34:15,799
He's gotten a lot of
attacks from progressive

715
00:34:15,800 --> 00:34:18,233
groups and some Democratic
lawmakers over his votes

716
00:34:18,233 --> 00:34:21,867
on gay rights, and
abortion, and a vote

717
00:34:21,867 --> 00:34:23,500
to keep the confederate
insignia

718
00:34:23,500 --> 00:34:24,632
on the Georgia state flag.

719
00:34:24,632 --> 00:34:29,332
I just wanted to see if --
does the President support

720
00:34:29,333 --> 00:34:31,900
Senate Democrats voting
their conscience

721
00:34:31,900 --> 00:34:32,867
on this nominee?

722
00:34:34,632 --> 00:34:35,600
Mr. Carney: I think the
President supports voting

723
00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:39,333
your conscience as
a general matter.

724
00:34:39,333 --> 00:34:41,500
What I would say is that
the President believes

725
00:34:41,500 --> 00:34:44,600
that Judge Boggs is
qualified

726
00:34:44,600 --> 00:34:45,967
for the federal bench.

727
00:34:45,967 --> 00:34:48,800
The criticisms of him are
not based on his 10-year

728
00:34:48,800 --> 00:34:50,200
track record as a state
trial

729
00:34:50,199 --> 00:34:51,199
and appellate court judge.

730
00:34:51,199 --> 00:34:54,265
That's one point
I would make.

731
00:34:54,734 --> 00:34:57,165
The second point I would
make is a reiteration

732
00:34:57,166 --> 00:34:59,433
of what I said yesterday,
which -- it's important

733
00:34:59,433 --> 00:35:04,100
when you cover this issue
that you inform your

734
00:35:04,100 --> 00:35:06,366
readers, in your case, or
your viewers and listeners

735
00:35:06,367 --> 00:35:09,166
in other cases, of the
context

736
00:35:09,166 --> 00:35:10,333
of how these nominations come about.

737
00:35:10,333 --> 00:35:14,400
The President, as a former
senator,

738
00:35:14,400 --> 00:35:16,567
agrees that home-state senators
should be consulted

739
00:35:16,567 --> 00:35:18,800
in the judicial nomination
process.

740
00:35:18,800 --> 00:35:20,767
But problems arise when
senators abuse the

741
00:35:20,767 --> 00:35:23,165
blue-slip system, either
by vetoing nominees and

742
00:35:23,166 --> 00:35:25,133
potential candidates
without explanation

743
00:35:25,133 --> 00:35:28,500
or by refusing to engage in our
efforts at consultation

744
00:35:28,500 --> 00:35:30,166
in a timely manner.

745
00:35:30,166 --> 00:35:32,600
This abuse is a
significant constraint

746
00:35:32,600 --> 00:35:35,400
on the President's selection
of potential nominees and

747
00:35:35,400 --> 00:35:37,533
on his ability to quickly
nominate individuals

748
00:35:37,533 --> 00:35:39,165
to fill long-term vacancies.

749
00:35:39,700 --> 00:35:45,433
In the case of Georgia,
this nominee, supported

750
00:35:45,433 --> 00:35:48,700
by the Republican senators
of Georgia -- we've been

751
00:35:48,700 --> 00:35:51,000
trying to fill these
judicial vacancies in that

752
00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:53,400
state for more than three
years, but two of the

753
00:35:53,400 --> 00:35:55,700
President's nominees were
blocked for nearly

754
00:35:55,700 --> 00:35:58,000
11 months, and returned
at the end of 2011.

755
00:35:59,100 --> 00:36:00,799
So the choice is clear in
a circumstance like this

756
00:36:00,800 --> 00:36:03,600
-- and this is what I mean
about the context

757
00:36:03,600 --> 00:36:06,633
around how a nomination
like this is made.

758
00:36:06,633 --> 00:36:09,000
Do we work with Republican
senators to find

759
00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:11,066
a compromise, or do we
leave the seats vacant?

760
00:36:11,066 --> 00:36:13,667
What is the better option?

761
00:36:13,667 --> 00:36:16,366
And I'm sure there are
arguments on both sides,

762
00:36:16,367 --> 00:36:20,500
but you're talking about
seats that are vacant

763
00:36:20,500 --> 00:36:23,700
in four cases where you have
judicial emergencies

764
00:36:23,700 --> 00:36:26,200
because of the vacancies.

765
00:36:26,200 --> 00:36:29,000
And we believe it would be
grossly irresponsible

766
00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:31,033
for the President to leave
those seats vacant.

767
00:36:32,633 --> 00:36:34,366
As I mentioned before,
Judge Boggs was

768
00:36:34,367 --> 00:36:36,600
recommended to the
President by Senators

769
00:36:36,600 --> 00:36:39,633
Isakson and Chambliss as
part of a compromise

770
00:36:39,633 --> 00:36:41,933
to fill six judicial
vacancies in Georgia.

771
00:36:41,934 --> 00:36:46,834
The two senators have now
also agreed to support the

772
00:36:46,834 --> 00:36:49,567
President's nomination of
Leslie Abrams

773
00:36:49,567 --> 00:36:51,266
to fill a seventh vacancy.

774
00:36:51,266 --> 00:36:53,033
So again, the
context is important.

775
00:36:53,033 --> 00:36:57,200
Seven nominees, of them
five are women; one who

776
00:36:57,200 --> 00:36:58,966
would be the first female
district judge on her

777
00:36:58,967 --> 00:37:01,367
court and two who would be
the first African American

778
00:37:01,367 --> 00:37:04,700
female lifetime-appointed
judges ever in Georgia.

779
00:37:06,133 --> 00:37:09,200
So again, based on his
tenure trial record and

780
00:37:09,200 --> 00:37:11,500
appellate -- and state
trial and appellate court

781
00:37:11,500 --> 00:37:13,200
judge record, the
President believes that

782
00:37:13,200 --> 00:37:17,734
Judge Boggs is qualified
and should be confirmed.

783
00:37:17,734 --> 00:37:23,033
But it is important to
note, as you inform your

784
00:37:23,033 --> 00:37:27,200
readers about the debate
on this nomination,

785
00:37:27,200 --> 00:37:32,232
the full context for how these
decisions are made and the

786
00:37:32,233 --> 00:37:34,300
essential compromise that
is at the heart

787
00:37:34,300 --> 00:37:35,066
of this nomination.

788
00:37:35,567 --> 00:37:36,800
The Press: Right, and so
the White House did make

789
00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:38,333
a compromise; it's a deal
between

790
00:37:38,333 --> 00:37:39,600
the White House and the two
Republican senators.

791
00:37:39,600 --> 00:37:41,900
The White House kept up
its end of the deal.

792
00:37:41,900 --> 00:37:44,967
It supported this package;
the two Republican

793
00:37:44,967 --> 00:37:46,367
senators turned in
their blue slips.

794
00:37:46,367 --> 00:37:49,033
So the deal that was
created there is done,

795
00:37:49,033 --> 00:37:50,133
so now it's --

796
00:37:50,333 --> 00:37:51,066
Mr. Carney: And we think
he ought to be confirmed.

797
00:37:51,233 --> 00:37:52,533
The Press: -- in the hands
of Senate Democrats.

798
00:37:52,533 --> 00:37:53,734
And do you --

799
00:37:53,934 --> 00:37:54,867
Mr. Carney: Well, I think
it's in the hands of the

800
00:37:54,867 --> 00:37:55,600
United States Senate.

801
00:37:56,266 --> 00:37:57,166
The Press: Which is
run by Democrats.

802
00:37:57,166 --> 00:37:59,900
So do you -- does the
President support

803
00:37:59,900 --> 00:38:02,266
Democrats voting against
Michael Boggs if they

804
00:38:02,266 --> 00:38:04,333
believe that he's not
the right candidate --

805
00:38:04,333 --> 00:38:05,734
Mr. Carney: Well, the
President would disagree

806
00:38:05,734 --> 00:38:11,900
with an assessment by
anyone that reaches the

807
00:38:11,900 --> 00:38:14,500
conclusion that Judge
Boggs is not qualified for

808
00:38:14,500 --> 00:38:16,133
this post.

809
00:38:16,133 --> 00:38:18,633
The President believes he
is, or he would not have

810
00:38:18,633 --> 00:38:20,299
nominated him.

811
00:38:20,300 --> 00:38:22,867
But the President of
course believes that each

812
00:38:22,867 --> 00:38:28,000
senator should vote
as he or she sees fit.

813
00:38:28,000 --> 00:38:31,367
He believes that all of
the nominees he sends

814
00:38:31,367 --> 00:38:36,233
up are qualified, and that
includes Judge Boggs.

815
00:38:36,233 --> 00:38:37,800
Yes.

816
00:38:37,800 --> 00:38:40,033
The Press: Just back
on Ukraine briefly.

817
00:38:40,033 --> 00:38:44,000
Does the United States
agree with Russian Foreign

818
00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:48,567
Minister Lavrov that the
deteriorating situation in

819
00:38:48,567 --> 00:38:51,800
Ukraine has now brought it
to the brink of civil war?

820
00:38:52,333 --> 00:38:55,834
Mr. Carney: Well, Foreign
Minister Lavrov said that

821
00:38:55,834 --> 00:39:00,866
in the context of saying
that elections should not

822
00:39:00,867 --> 00:39:04,533
go forward, which is a
convenient position to

823
00:39:04,533 --> 00:39:09,967
take when you've actively
exacerbated and stoked

824
00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:15,467
tensions and instability
within Ukraine clearly

825
00:39:15,467 --> 00:39:18,967
in an effort to undermine
those free

826
00:39:18,967 --> 00:39:19,967
and fair elections.

827
00:39:20,166 --> 00:39:23,166
But I would note that
not only does the

828
00:39:23,166 --> 00:39:26,633
United States disagree with his
view, but the OSCE

829
00:39:26,633 --> 00:39:28,933
has said that Ukraine's
preparations

830
00:39:28,934 --> 00:39:32,533
for a free and fair Presidential
election are on track,

831
00:39:32,533 --> 00:39:34,533
and they are consistent with
preparations in other

832
00:39:34,533 --> 00:39:36,000
countries where recent
elections have gone

833
00:39:36,000 --> 00:39:40,500
forward and been successful
despite violence.

834
00:39:40,500 --> 00:39:43,834
So it is not just our
view, it is the view of

835
00:39:43,834 --> 00:39:46,399
the OSCE that would be
monitoring --

836
00:39:46,400 --> 00:39:48,734
sending in monitors for these
elections --

837
00:39:48,734 --> 00:39:52,200
for this election on May 25,
that that election would

838
00:39:52,200 --> 00:39:54,433
be free and fair and
should go forward.

839
00:39:54,433 --> 00:39:57,066
That has been the
focus of our attention.

840
00:39:57,066 --> 00:40:01,366
That has been the focus
of the attentions of our

841
00:40:01,367 --> 00:40:04,066
European partners
and our G7 partners.

842
00:40:04,066 --> 00:40:07,700
It's essential that the
Ukrainian people be

843
00:40:07,700 --> 00:40:10,834
allowed the opportunity to
vote in a free and fair

844
00:40:10,834 --> 00:40:14,200
election for their next
President, and we look

845
00:40:14,200 --> 00:40:15,500
forward to them
being able to do it.

846
00:40:15,500 --> 00:40:17,700
And Russia ought to
support that process

847
00:40:17,700 --> 00:40:22,734
instead of taking
steps to undermine it.

848
00:40:22,734 --> 00:40:23,866
Yes, last one -- sorry.

849
00:40:23,867 --> 00:40:26,467
The Press: Thank you.

850
00:40:26,467 --> 00:40:28,767
Quick question on
Turkey mine explosion.

851
00:40:28,767 --> 00:40:31,265
I know you already issued
a statement, but I'm

852
00:40:31,266 --> 00:40:34,200
wondering whether the
President will call either

853
00:40:34,200 --> 00:40:36,433
President Gül or Prime
Minister Erdogan

854
00:40:36,433 --> 00:40:38,200
later on today.

855
00:40:38,200 --> 00:40:40,000
Mr. Carney: I don't have
any calls

856
00:40:40,000 --> 00:40:41,400
to preview for you.

857
00:40:41,400 --> 00:40:44,467
As I noted at the top, our
thoughts and prayers are

858
00:40:44,467 --> 00:40:48,166
with the families of the
victims and with those

859
00:40:48,166 --> 00:40:49,633
who are still trapped.

860
00:40:49,633 --> 00:40:53,399
And our condolences go out
to the Turkish people

861
00:40:53,400 --> 00:40:55,700
and the Turkish government

862
00:40:55,700 --> 00:40:56,700
during this difficult time.

863
00:40:56,700 --> 00:40:57,700
Yes.

864
00:40:57,700 --> 00:40:58,834
The Press: Thank you, Jay.

865
00:40:58,834 --> 00:41:01,834
The government of Pakistan
has asked two Indian

866
00:41:01,834 --> 00:41:03,899
journalists based in
Islamabad -- there are

867
00:41:03,900 --> 00:41:06,700
only two Indian
journalists they allow to

868
00:41:06,700 --> 00:41:08,966
report from Islamabad
-- to leave the country

869
00:41:08,967 --> 00:41:10,200
in one week's time.

870
00:41:10,200 --> 00:41:12,066
What do you
make out of it?

871
00:41:12,066 --> 00:41:14,033
Mr. Carney: Well, I'm
not familiar with the

872
00:41:14,033 --> 00:41:16,400
specifics, and I don't
know all of the details.

873
00:41:16,400 --> 00:41:22,500
As a general principle,
we support the ability

874
00:41:22,500 --> 00:41:27,667
of journalists to freely
report on countries around

875
00:41:27,667 --> 00:41:29,232
the world, every country,
and that would include

876
00:41:29,233 --> 00:41:30,900
Pakistan, and that would
include Indian journalists

877
00:41:30,900 --> 00:41:32,900
in Pakistan or Pakistani
journalists in India.

878
00:41:34,934 --> 00:41:36,800
So that would be our
general view, but I don't

879
00:41:36,800 --> 00:41:38,000
know the specifics
of the case.

880
00:41:38,000 --> 00:41:41,266
The Press: Do you have
anything on the freedom of

881
00:41:41,266 --> 00:41:42,533
press inside Pakistan?

882
00:41:42,533 --> 00:41:44,066
Last month a senior
Pakistani journalist was

883
00:41:44,066 --> 00:41:46,767
shot at, and last year a
New York Times journalist

884
00:41:46,767 --> 00:41:48,265
was expelled
from the country.

885
00:41:48,266 --> 00:41:53,867
Mr. Carney: There are
heroic reports prepared

886
00:41:53,867 --> 00:41:59,133
by international bodies that
monitor the circumstances

887
00:41:59,133 --> 00:42:02,767
confronting journalists
around the world,

888
00:42:02,767 --> 00:42:05,933
and it is often worth noting
that in a country

889
00:42:05,934 --> 00:42:09,800
like the United States where we
rightly debate issues

890
00:42:09,800 --> 00:42:15,100
related to freedom of
the press that there are

891
00:42:15,100 --> 00:42:22,799
places around the world
where the attempts

892
00:42:22,800 --> 00:42:29,467
to squelch that freedom too
often include homicide,

893
00:42:29,467 --> 00:42:34,767
murder of journalists, and
other steps that are taken

894
00:42:34,767 --> 00:42:38,299
to silence free and
independent journalists

895
00:42:38,300 --> 00:42:41,166
and prevent them from
reporting on the facts

896
00:42:41,166 --> 00:42:42,166
around the world.

897
00:42:42,166 --> 00:42:44,867
And that is something that
we take very seriously

898
00:42:44,867 --> 00:42:48,166
here in this country,
and sometimes take for

899
00:42:48,166 --> 00:42:49,567
granted, and we shouldn't.

900
00:42:49,567 --> 00:42:50,600
Thanks very much.