English subtitles for clip: File:6-11-15- White House Press Briefing.webm

1
00:00:01,568 --> 00:00:03,336
Mr. Earnest: Good
afternoon, everybody.

2
00:00:03,336 --> 00:00:05,170
It's nice to see you all.

3
00:00:05,171 --> 00:00:06,272
I do not have any
announcements to make at the

4
00:00:06,272 --> 00:00:08,108
top, Jim, so we can go
straight to questions, if

5
00:00:08,108 --> 00:00:09,242
you'd like to start.

6
00:00:09,242 --> 00:00:10,477
The Press: Thank you, Josh.

7
00:00:10,477 --> 00:00:12,479
I'd like to ask
you about trade.

8
00:00:12,479 --> 00:00:17,517
You said that it's an ugly
process but it can yield a

9
00:00:17,517 --> 00:00:19,185
good result.

10
00:00:19,185 --> 00:00:21,788
I'm wondering if you
still think that today.

11
00:00:21,788 --> 00:00:23,556
Mr. Earnest: Hope
springs eternal.

12
00:00:23,556 --> 00:00:27,193
The Press: This Medicare
offset in the trade

13
00:00:27,193 --> 00:00:29,429
adjustment assistance
component of the bill seems

14
00:00:29,429 --> 00:00:32,766
to be a major sticking point
that Boehner and Ryan have

15
00:00:32,766 --> 00:00:38,405
attempted to fix, that
Leader Pelosi today said

16
00:00:38,405 --> 00:00:41,074
that had been fixed.

17
00:00:41,074 --> 00:00:44,943
However, that still seems
to be a sticking point.

18
00:00:44,944 --> 00:00:48,381
Secretary of Labor Tom
Perez sent a letter today

19
00:00:48,381 --> 00:00:50,383
supporting that TAA package.

20
00:00:50,383 --> 00:00:53,853
Does the President that
Democrats simply don't want

21
00:00:53,853 --> 00:00:57,757
to vote for, even
temporarily, for something

22
00:00:57,757 --> 00:00:59,893
that would cut Medicare?

23
00:00:59,893 --> 00:01:02,061
Or does he think they want
to use this to keep that

24
00:01:02,061 --> 00:01:04,030
fast track for a period?

25
00:01:04,030 --> 00:01:06,065
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jim,
I'd refer you to those

26
00:01:06,065 --> 00:01:08,468
congressional Democrats to
determine their motive.

27
00:01:08,468 --> 00:01:10,570
But there are two things
that I think are

28
00:01:10,570 --> 00:01:14,339
worth clarifying.

29
00:01:14,340 --> 00:01:18,778
And the first is, as a
strictly legislative

30
00:01:18,778 --> 00:01:21,948
procedural matter, it's my
understanding that the vote

31
00:01:21,948 --> 00:01:26,386
is structured in such a way
that anyone who supports --

32
00:01:26,386 --> 00:01:28,955
who essentially votes
for the trade adjustment

33
00:01:28,955 --> 00:01:31,423
assistance package on the
floor of the House, when it

34
00:01:31,424 --> 00:01:34,027
comes up for a vote
tomorrow, will not have to

35
00:01:34,027 --> 00:01:37,430
vote for that
Medicare offset.

36
00:01:37,430 --> 00:01:39,432
Based on the way that
they've structured it,

37
00:01:39,432 --> 00:01:41,434
there's a -- you guys know
more about this than I do --

38
00:01:41,434 --> 00:01:43,402
but there is a rule that has
been put in place that, if

39
00:01:43,403 --> 00:01:48,041
passed, would prevent any
member of Congress -- and I

40
00:01:48,041 --> 00:01:50,410
think it's Democrats who are
most concerned about this --

41
00:01:50,410 --> 00:01:52,744
from having to vote for
the Medicare offset.

42
00:01:52,745 --> 00:01:56,382
And I think that is what led
Leader Pelosi to conclude

43
00:01:56,382 --> 00:02:01,187
that this particular concern
that she has raised had been

44
00:02:01,187 --> 00:02:02,222
effectively addressed.

45
00:02:02,222 --> 00:02:04,756
And this goes to something
that I described yesterday,

46
00:02:04,757 --> 00:02:11,364
which is this is the kind
of bipartisan effort that

47
00:02:11,364 --> 00:02:13,333
typically does yield
success in the House.

48
00:02:13,333 --> 00:02:16,369
And this is an effort from
Democrats and Republicans to

49
00:02:16,369 --> 00:02:18,872
sit down at the table, try
to identify common ground,

50
00:02:18,872 --> 00:02:21,875
address mutual concerns,
and try to move forward.

51
00:02:21,875 --> 00:02:24,978
And so that's why, as I
mentioned earlier, hope does

52
00:02:24,978 --> 00:02:26,279
continue to spring eternal.

53
00:02:26,279 --> 00:02:29,015
Now, there's a second piece
to this that's also really

54
00:02:29,015 --> 00:02:31,250
important for people to
understand, and this has

55
00:02:31,251 --> 00:02:33,253
gotten lost in the
debate a little bit.

56
00:02:35,455 --> 00:02:38,858
Trade adjustment assistance
-- the trade adjustment

57
00:02:38,858 --> 00:02:41,661
assistance program that
currently exists is

58
00:02:41,661 --> 00:02:43,663
scheduled to expire at
the end of the year.

59
00:02:45,798 --> 00:02:47,800
I'm confident that the
Speaker of the House, if he

60
00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,570
hasn't said so already,
would be happy to tell you

61
00:02:50,570 --> 00:02:54,374
that if trade adjustment
assistance doesn't pass this

62
00:02:54,374 --> 00:02:58,177
week, it's very unlikely to
pass before the end of the year.

63
00:02:58,177 --> 00:03:00,179
And what that means is it
means that if you're a

64
00:03:00,179 --> 00:03:02,181
member of Congress and
you vote against trade

65
00:03:02,181 --> 00:03:06,452
adjustment assistance this
week, you are adding your

66
00:03:06,452 --> 00:03:08,454
name to the death
certificate of trade

67
00:03:08,454 --> 00:03:11,558
adjustment assistance --
because it will go away.

68
00:03:11,558 --> 00:03:13,560
And that is a source of
significant concern to the

69
00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:15,762
President and, I know, many
other Democrats on Capitol

70
00:03:15,762 --> 00:03:19,132
Hill, because we know how
critically important trade

71
00:03:19,132 --> 00:03:21,301
adjustment assistance is to
middle-class families all

72
00:03:21,301 --> 00:03:23,369
across the country.

73
00:03:23,369 --> 00:03:27,674
This is a program that, over
its life, has served 2.2

74
00:03:27,674 --> 00:03:29,642
million American workers.

75
00:03:29,642 --> 00:03:32,845
And the good news, Jim, is
that this is not just an

76
00:03:32,845 --> 00:03:35,582
extension of the already
existing program; it

77
00:03:35,582 --> 00:03:38,384
represents a
significant expansion.

78
00:03:38,384 --> 00:03:41,853
It nearly doubles the cap of
money that's allowed to be

79
00:03:41,854 --> 00:03:43,723
spent on these programs.

80
00:03:43,723 --> 00:03:47,193
It makes a large number of
American workers eligible

81
00:03:47,193 --> 00:03:49,162
once again for trade
adjustment assistance,

82
00:03:49,162 --> 00:03:51,831
including more than 17,000
workers who'd previously had

83
00:03:51,831 --> 00:03:53,899
their application denied
over the last 18 months.

84
00:03:53,900 --> 00:03:55,969
They can now have their
application reconsidered

85
00:03:55,969 --> 00:03:57,269
for eligibility.

86
00:03:57,270 --> 00:04:00,873
So there are a lot of
reasons for Democrats and

87
00:04:00,873 --> 00:04:04,777
Republicans to support trade
adjustment assistance when

88
00:04:04,777 --> 00:04:06,779
it's on the floor at
the end of the week.

89
00:04:06,779 --> 00:04:09,048
The Press: Now, even as
Leader Pelosi said that she

90
00:04:09,048 --> 00:04:12,619
thought that the Medicare
issue had been fixed, she

91
00:04:12,619 --> 00:04:16,189
still also raised the
concern regarding public

92
00:04:16,189 --> 00:04:18,992
employees not being
included in the TAA.

93
00:04:18,992 --> 00:04:20,994
And I'm wondering, are
Democrats moving the goal

94
00:04:20,994 --> 00:04:21,861
post here?

95
00:04:21,861 --> 00:04:24,864
Is that a potential
problem for you guys?

96
00:04:24,864 --> 00:04:33,039
Mr. Earnest: Well, what we
have indicated is that the

97
00:04:33,039 --> 00:04:36,442
last TAA bill that I
referred to earlier -- the

98
00:04:36,442 --> 00:04:40,680
one that passed in 2011 --
was supported unanimously

99
00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:43,916
by Democrats.

100
00:04:43,916 --> 00:04:45,385
And it didn't include
eligibility, specific

101
00:04:45,385 --> 00:04:48,388
eligibility for public
sector workers.

102
00:04:48,388 --> 00:04:49,921
And there were no
significant concerns that

103
00:04:49,922 --> 00:04:52,325
were raised at that time.

104
00:04:52,325 --> 00:04:54,426
So the fact is, this piece
of legislation is consistent

105
00:04:54,427 --> 00:04:59,399
with that, and it would
significantly expand those

106
00:04:59,399 --> 00:05:00,867
workers who are eligible.

107
00:05:00,867 --> 00:05:05,038
It would expand eligibility
to those workers that may

108
00:05:05,038 --> 00:05:08,708
have been affected by trade
with non-FTA countries, like

109
00:05:08,708 --> 00:05:09,709
India or China.

110
00:05:09,709 --> 00:05:15,048
And again, according to
the statistics from the

111
00:05:15,048 --> 00:05:17,917
Department of Labor, that
would affect up to 30,000

112
00:05:17,917 --> 00:05:18,950
American workers.

113
00:05:18,951 --> 00:05:23,389
And the fact is that when
public sector workers were

114
00:05:23,389 --> 00:05:28,294
eligible between 2009 and
2011, do you know how many

115
00:05:28,294 --> 00:05:31,563
public sector workers
actually were certified as

116
00:05:31,564 --> 00:05:35,768
eligible to apply for trade
adjustment assistance benefits?

117
00:05:35,768 --> 00:05:36,535
Zero.

118
00:05:36,536 --> 00:05:37,670
None.

119
00:05:37,670 --> 00:05:39,172
Not a single one.

120
00:05:39,172 --> 00:05:42,975
So that is why -- again,
when you consider the

121
00:05:42,975 --> 00:05:46,446
opportunity that exists for
the United States Congress

122
00:05:46,446 --> 00:05:51,250
to pass legislation that
would make up to 30,000

123
00:05:51,250 --> 00:05:53,786
workers, who were affected
by trade with non-FTA

124
00:05:53,786 --> 00:05:56,055
countries, eligible for
trade adjustment assistance,

125
00:05:56,055 --> 00:06:02,528
and another 17,000 workers
who have previously been

126
00:06:02,528 --> 00:06:04,664
denied over the last 18
months, and would have the

127
00:06:04,664 --> 00:06:08,134
opportunity to have their
application reconsidered.

128
00:06:08,134 --> 00:06:11,170
The expansion of this trade
adjustment assistance that's

129
00:06:11,170 --> 00:06:15,608
included in this bill far
outweighs any concerns about

130
00:06:15,608 --> 00:06:18,878
the inclusion of public
sector workers, principally

131
00:06:18,878 --> 00:06:21,247
because when public sector
workers were included in the

132
00:06:21,247 --> 00:06:23,683
legislation, none of them
were deemed eligible.

133
00:06:23,683 --> 00:06:27,653
The Press: So this issue
that Ms. Pelosi is raising

134
00:06:27,653 --> 00:06:29,522
is a false argument?

135
00:06:29,522 --> 00:06:30,923
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
I wouldn't say that.

136
00:06:30,923 --> 00:06:35,828
What I would say is we have
a very strong case to make

137
00:06:35,828 --> 00:06:38,231
about why Democrats and
Republicans should be able

138
00:06:38,231 --> 00:06:41,200
to act in bipartisan fashion
to make sure that trade

139
00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:43,202
adjustment assistance
doesn't expire.

140
00:06:43,202 --> 00:06:45,204
And, in fact, they can
actually be a part of making

141
00:06:45,204 --> 00:06:47,306
sure that these important
benefits are expanding.

142
00:06:47,306 --> 00:06:48,907
The Press: Can you tell us
a little bit about what the

143
00:06:48,908 --> 00:06:50,510
President has
been doing today?

144
00:06:50,510 --> 00:06:55,681
His conversation with the
Speaker and the advocacy

145
00:06:55,681 --> 00:07:00,186
that Denis McDonough, Tom
Perez and Secretary Lew are

146
00:07:00,186 --> 00:07:02,455
making on the Hill?

147
00:07:02,455 --> 00:07:03,890
Mr. Earnest: Jim, I think
you've about covered it.

148
00:07:03,890 --> 00:07:05,157
(laughter)

149
00:07:05,158 --> 00:07:08,561
The fact is, everybody from
the President on down,

150
00:07:08,561 --> 00:07:11,830
including many members of
his team here at the White

151
00:07:11,831 --> 00:07:14,333
House and his economic team
across the administration,

152
00:07:14,333 --> 00:07:17,637
are making an aggressive
case to members of Congress

153
00:07:17,637 --> 00:07:21,507
about why they should
support this trade package

154
00:07:21,507 --> 00:07:23,810
that is scheduled for
a vote in the House of

155
00:07:23,810 --> 00:07:25,812
Representatives over the
next couple of days.

156
00:07:25,812 --> 00:07:29,081
And the President did have
an opportunity to call

157
00:07:29,081 --> 00:07:31,984
Speaker Boehner today.

158
00:07:31,984 --> 00:07:33,986
I don't have details of that
conversation to share with you.

159
00:07:33,986 --> 00:07:35,988
They talked about this
particular issue.

160
00:07:35,988 --> 00:07:38,858
And again, I think it is
indicative of the kind of

161
00:07:38,858 --> 00:07:41,194
bipartisan cooperation
that we know is ultimately

162
00:07:41,194 --> 00:07:44,897
successful to passing
meaningful legislation in

163
00:07:44,897 --> 00:07:45,897
the House of
Representatives.

164
00:07:45,898 --> 00:07:48,367
And this is the kind of
template that we have long

165
00:07:48,367 --> 00:07:50,770
sought and we have long
encouraged Republicans who

166
00:07:50,770 --> 00:07:52,772
are in the majority
to engage in.

167
00:07:52,772 --> 00:07:54,774
And we're pleased
to do our part.

168
00:07:54,774 --> 00:07:56,776
Again, it doesn't mean
that a perfect piece of

169
00:07:56,776 --> 00:07:57,777
legislation is
going to pass.

170
00:07:57,777 --> 00:07:59,878
But it does mean that
Democrats and Republicans

171
00:07:59,879 --> 00:08:02,748
should be able to seize
common ground to advance

172
00:08:02,748 --> 00:08:03,748
values that they share.

173
00:08:03,749 --> 00:08:06,152
And in this case, we're
talking about trying to

174
00:08:06,152 --> 00:08:09,021
expand economic opportunity
for everybody American.

175
00:08:09,021 --> 00:08:11,691
And that should be an
area where Democrats and

176
00:08:11,691 --> 00:08:14,460
Republicans can
find common ground.

177
00:08:14,460 --> 00:08:16,829
In the past, we often
haven't been able to, but

178
00:08:16,829 --> 00:08:19,031
here's a prime opportunity
for us to do it entirely

179
00:08:19,031 --> 00:08:22,768
consistent with the kinds of
progressive values that the

180
00:08:22,768 --> 00:08:25,104
President has championed
throughout his time here at

181
00:08:25,104 --> 00:08:26,671
the White House.

182
00:08:26,672 --> 00:08:27,340
Roberta.

183
00:08:27,340 --> 00:08:28,774
The Press: I want to
ask about the Senate.

184
00:08:28,774 --> 00:08:31,777
And I'm wondering, does the
White House support Senator

185
00:08:31,777 --> 00:08:34,145
Burr's cyber
information-sharing bill?

186
00:08:34,145 --> 00:08:38,083
Mr. Earnest: Well, I haven't
seen the details of the

187
00:08:38,083 --> 00:08:39,751
particular bill.

188
00:08:39,751 --> 00:08:44,189
The President put forward
his own legislative language

189
00:08:44,190 --> 00:08:49,228
at the beginning of this
year that we believe would

190
00:08:49,228 --> 00:08:52,698
make it easier for the
federal government to

191
00:08:52,698 --> 00:08:57,036
effectively respond to
intrusions when they occur.

192
00:08:57,036 --> 00:08:59,671
It also will allow both
government and private

193
00:08:59,672 --> 00:09:03,943
sector websites -- or
private sector servers to

194
00:09:03,943 --> 00:09:10,216
better protect their
networks from cyber intrusions.

195
00:09:10,216 --> 00:09:12,451
And that's why we have
pretty aggressively

196
00:09:12,451 --> 00:09:16,355
advocated congressional
passage of that

197
00:09:16,355 --> 00:09:17,356
legislative language.

198
00:09:17,356 --> 00:09:18,824
It shouldn't be
controversial.

199
00:09:18,824 --> 00:09:21,026
It certainly isn't
partisan in nature.

200
00:09:21,027 --> 00:09:24,430
But it's technical enough
that it would make sure that

201
00:09:24,430 --> 00:09:28,233
federal authorities have
what they need to try to

202
00:09:28,234 --> 00:09:32,772
protect not just government
computer networks but also

203
00:09:32,772 --> 00:09:38,210
taking steps that would help
the private sector protect

204
00:09:38,210 --> 00:09:40,413
their networks from cyber
intrusions, as well.

205
00:09:40,413 --> 00:09:43,282
The Press: So Senator Burr
and some other Republicans

206
00:09:43,282 --> 00:09:44,717
are trying to move some
cyber

207
00:09:44,717 --> 00:09:46,452
information-sharing legislation.

208
00:09:46,452 --> 00:09:49,522
And there's been a
suggestion that it be

209
00:09:49,522 --> 00:09:51,557
attached to the NDAA.

210
00:09:51,557 --> 00:09:54,026
What does the White House
make of that approach?

211
00:09:54,026 --> 00:09:56,362
Mr. Earnest: Well, we take
a pretty dim view of that

212
00:09:56,362 --> 00:09:57,896
approach, to be
blunt about it.

213
00:09:57,897 --> 00:10:00,566
The fact is we want the
Senate to pass cybersecurity

214
00:10:00,566 --> 00:10:03,035
legislation, not
play games with it.

215
00:10:03,035 --> 00:10:05,036
And the suggestion that
they're going to attach it

216
00:10:05,037 --> 00:10:07,273
to a piece of legislation
that the President has

217
00:10:07,273 --> 00:10:10,109
already indicated he opposed
is an indication that

218
00:10:10,109 --> 00:10:12,111
they're interested -- more
interested in playing

219
00:10:12,111 --> 00:10:14,880
politics than they are in
actually making sure that we

220
00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:17,883
have all the tools we need
to protect the American

221
00:10:17,883 --> 00:10:22,855
people from cyber hacks,
either emanating inside the

222
00:10:22,855 --> 00:10:25,057
United States or, more
commonly, abroad.

223
00:10:25,057 --> 00:10:27,159
The Press: But the White
House -- correct me if I'm

224
00:10:27,159 --> 00:10:29,762
wrong -- but the White House
seems to regularly issue

225
00:10:29,762 --> 00:10:32,832
veto threats for the NDAA.

226
00:10:32,832 --> 00:10:36,702
But when it comes down to
it, the President signs

227
00:10:36,702 --> 00:10:41,007
these large defense spending
bills, authorization bills.

228
00:10:41,007 --> 00:10:44,343
So how serious is the White
House this time around about

229
00:10:44,343 --> 00:10:46,779
this veto threat
for the NDAA?

230
00:10:46,779 --> 00:10:47,813
Mr. Earnest: Very serious.

231
00:10:47,813 --> 00:10:53,652
And I would -- we're
obviously talking about some

232
00:10:53,652 --> 00:10:55,721
weighty policy matters when
we're talking about the

233
00:10:55,721 --> 00:10:58,124
National Defense
Authorization Act.

234
00:10:58,124 --> 00:11:01,227
And the President has in
the past expressed serious

235
00:11:01,227 --> 00:11:04,329
concerns with some of the
things that members of

236
00:11:04,330 --> 00:11:07,066
Congress have sought to
add to this legislation.

237
00:11:07,066 --> 00:11:14,473
But the concerns that the
President has are serious.

238
00:11:14,473 --> 00:11:19,277
And we have seen so far in
the House that there are

239
00:11:19,278 --> 00:11:21,313
enough votes in the House of
Representatives to sustain a

240
00:11:21,313 --> 00:11:22,314
presidential veto.

241
00:11:22,314 --> 00:11:25,885
And I think that's an
indication that the

242
00:11:25,885 --> 00:11:27,953
President's veto threat
should be taken quite seriously.

243
00:11:30,189 --> 00:11:31,189
Jim.

244
00:11:31,190 --> 00:11:33,626
The Press: Josh, on the Hill
today, Lieutenant Colonel

245
00:11:33,626 --> 00:11:37,496
Jason Amerine testified that
chaos and friction within

246
00:11:37,496 --> 00:11:40,900
the Obama administration
between the FBI and the DOD

247
00:11:40,900 --> 00:11:43,702
led to a failure to gain the
release of at least five

248
00:11:43,702 --> 00:11:47,373
civilian hostages, including
Warren Weinstein and an

249
00:11:47,373 --> 00:11:50,042
American, Caitlin Coleman,
and the child she gave birth

250
00:11:50,042 --> 00:11:52,478
to in captivity
of the Taliban.

251
00:11:52,478 --> 00:11:56,748
His direct quote was, "Our
nation lacks an organization

252
00:11:56,749 --> 00:11:59,118
that can synchronize
the efforts of all our

253
00:11:59,118 --> 00:12:02,054
government agencies to
get our hostages home."

254
00:12:02,054 --> 00:12:03,389
Is that true?

255
00:12:03,389 --> 00:12:04,790
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jim, what
I would say, first of all,

256
00:12:04,790 --> 00:12:08,861
is that the President has
talked extensively about the

257
00:12:08,861 --> 00:12:12,598
great lengths that the U.S.

258
00:12:12,598 --> 00:12:15,935
government has gone to try
to secure the safe return of

259
00:12:15,935 --> 00:12:18,871
American hostages
being held overseas.

260
00:12:18,871 --> 00:12:22,942
The President has on a
number of occasions ordered

261
00:12:22,942 --> 00:12:27,046
special operators to go into
dangerous places, including

262
00:12:27,046 --> 00:12:30,583
into Syria, to try to
secure the release of

263
00:12:30,583 --> 00:12:31,750
U.S. hostages.

264
00:12:31,750 --> 00:12:35,154
The President has also
ordered similar raids in Yemen.

265
00:12:35,154 --> 00:12:38,390
And I think that is an
indication that the

266
00:12:38,390 --> 00:12:42,561
President is willing
to take some big risks.

267
00:12:42,561 --> 00:12:44,697
And our men and women in
uniform are willing to put

268
00:12:44,697 --> 00:12:48,501
themselves in harm's way
to try to secure the safe

269
00:12:48,501 --> 00:12:50,336
return of American hostages.

270
00:12:50,336 --> 00:12:52,705
I think that is a pretty
clear demonstration of this

271
00:12:52,705 --> 00:12:54,673
President and this
administration's and this

272
00:12:54,673 --> 00:12:56,675
country's commitment to
securing the release of

273
00:12:56,675 --> 00:12:58,810
American hostages.

274
00:12:58,811 --> 00:13:03,048
Now, what I will also say
is that I can't talk about

275
00:13:03,048 --> 00:13:08,487
individual cases from up
here, either of previous --

276
00:13:08,487 --> 00:13:10,723
I'm not going to talk about
any individual cases.

277
00:13:10,723 --> 00:13:13,925
But what the President has
acknowledged, and what his

278
00:13:13,926 --> 00:13:18,030
team is diligently working
on, is a review of the

279
00:13:18,030 --> 00:13:21,266
process that the
administration carries out

280
00:13:21,267 --> 00:13:25,304
for handling these cases
and communicating with the

281
00:13:25,304 --> 00:13:27,706
families of those who
are being held hostage.

282
00:13:27,706 --> 00:13:29,708
And there are a number of
proposals that have

283
00:13:29,708 --> 00:13:30,709
been circulated.

284
00:13:30,709 --> 00:13:32,744
I would anticipate that we
would have some more details

285
00:13:32,745 --> 00:13:38,050
soon as it relates to some
policy changes that we

286
00:13:38,050 --> 00:13:41,252
believe would make our
government even more

287
00:13:41,253 --> 00:13:46,192
effective in leveraging all
of our assets to try to

288
00:13:46,192 --> 00:13:48,194
secure the return of
American hostages.

289
00:13:48,194 --> 00:13:50,195
The Press: But it does
sound as though you're not

290
00:13:50,196 --> 00:13:52,298
disagreeing that there
are some problems about

291
00:13:52,298 --> 00:13:56,368
communication between the
FBI, the DOD, when these

292
00:13:56,368 --> 00:13:57,870
things happen.

293
00:13:57,870 --> 00:13:59,838
Mr. Earnest: I think what we
have acknowledged is that

294
00:13:59,838 --> 00:14:02,040
there are some reforms that
we could put in place that

295
00:14:02,041 --> 00:14:05,444
would better integrate the
elements of the federal

296
00:14:05,444 --> 00:14:07,445
government that are working
so hard to secure the

297
00:14:07,446 --> 00:14:09,782
release of
American hostages.

298
00:14:09,782 --> 00:14:11,850
The Press: On another
subject, if I could.

299
00:14:11,850 --> 00:14:22,928
ABC News has been reporting
that the administration,

300
00:14:22,928 --> 00:14:25,064
according to one
person -- a U.S.

301
00:14:25,064 --> 00:14:27,967
official -- are familiar
with the OPM hack.

302
00:14:27,967 --> 00:14:30,936
Says the hack itself is
far deeper and far more

303
00:14:30,936 --> 00:14:33,405
problematic than
administration officials

304
00:14:33,405 --> 00:14:34,839
have been admitting.

305
00:14:34,840 --> 00:14:39,411
That there is, in fact, an
effort by the White House to

306
00:14:39,411 --> 00:14:43,949
tell other agencies not to
release full information to

307
00:14:43,949 --> 00:14:48,087
reporters about the
extent of this hack.

308
00:14:48,087 --> 00:14:53,092
Is this hack more deep and
more wide than what the

309
00:14:53,092 --> 00:14:54,660
administration has told us?

310
00:14:54,660 --> 00:14:58,063
Mr. Earnest: Jim, what I can
tell you is that the precise

311
00:14:58,063 --> 00:15:00,933
scope of this particular
intrusion is one that

312
00:15:00,933 --> 00:15:03,902
continues to be under
investigation by the FBI and

313
00:15:03,902 --> 00:15:09,908
other technical experts that
have the knowledge necessary

314
00:15:09,908 --> 00:15:14,213
to try to figure out what
exactly has occurred.

315
00:15:14,213 --> 00:15:18,784
And I think we have been
clear since this news broke

316
00:15:18,784 --> 00:15:21,120
that this is a matter that
we take very seriously.

317
00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:24,590
And we do -- we are
concerned that this could --

318
00:15:24,590 --> 00:15:30,663
again, based on an early
review of what's transpired,

319
00:15:30,663 --> 00:15:34,433
could potentially have
affected more than 4 million

320
00:15:34,433 --> 00:15:37,069
federal employees.

321
00:15:37,069 --> 00:15:40,339
We've also been blunt about
the fact that we know that

322
00:15:40,339 --> 00:15:43,309
the Office of Personnel
Management maintains

323
00:15:43,309 --> 00:15:45,978
sensitive data and sensitive
information about

324
00:15:45,978 --> 00:15:47,945
federal employees.

325
00:15:47,946 --> 00:15:52,751
Again, the precise scope of
how much and what type of

326
00:15:52,751 --> 00:15:56,422
data has been exfiltrated
is something that, again,

327
00:15:56,422 --> 00:16:00,592
continues to be investigated
by the FBI and other

328
00:16:00,592 --> 00:16:01,627
technical experts.

329
00:16:01,627 --> 00:16:08,132
But we have already begun
the process of contacting

330
00:16:08,133 --> 00:16:12,104
those that we thus far
believe could potentially

331
00:16:12,104 --> 00:16:14,773
have been affected
in a serious way.

332
00:16:14,773 --> 00:16:17,476
And if additional
notifications are necessary,

333
00:16:17,476 --> 00:16:20,379
that's something that we
will -- that responsibility

334
00:16:20,379 --> 00:16:21,547
is one that we
take seriously.

335
00:16:21,547 --> 00:16:24,149
As additional notifications
are necessary, we'll make them.

336
00:16:24,149 --> 00:16:26,852
The Press: But do we have
the whole story now about

337
00:16:26,852 --> 00:16:28,620
what the White
House does know?

338
00:16:28,620 --> 00:16:31,357
Or are you holding back
information about the extent

339
00:16:31,357 --> 00:16:32,458
of this hack?

340
00:16:32,458 --> 00:16:34,526
In fact, we're being told
that it's much more than

341
00:16:34,526 --> 00:16:35,593
4 million people.

342
00:16:35,594 --> 00:16:37,029
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jim, the
thing that we have been

343
00:16:37,029 --> 00:16:39,465
clear about is that there
are certain elements of the

344
00:16:39,465 --> 00:16:41,500
investigation that we are
reluctant to talk about

345
00:16:41,500 --> 00:16:44,737
publicly because the
disclosure of some pieces of

346
00:16:44,737 --> 00:16:47,639
information could inhibit
the ongoing investigation.

347
00:16:47,639 --> 00:16:50,609
And that's been true --
that's limited our ability

348
00:16:50,609 --> 00:16:51,510
to talk about other cyber

349
00:16:51,510 --> 00:16:53,412
intrusions when they've occurred.

350
00:16:53,412 --> 00:16:56,849
So this is a hallmark of these kinds of investigations.

351
00:16:56,849 --> 00:16:58,851
Frankly, I think it's
a hallmark of a lot of

352
00:16:58,851 --> 00:17:01,920
criminal investigations that
even don't involve crimes

353
00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:03,921
committed in cyberspace.

354
00:17:06,692 --> 00:17:08,926
But what is also true is
there's also a reluctance to

355
00:17:08,926 --> 00:17:11,763
talk in a lot of detail
while the investigation

356
00:17:11,763 --> 00:17:13,464
is ongoing.

357
00:17:13,464 --> 00:17:15,934
And I certainly wouldn't
want to say something that

358
00:17:15,934 --> 00:17:20,873
would be contradicted by our
investigators once they've

359
00:17:20,873 --> 00:17:22,875
obtained additional
information.

360
00:17:22,875 --> 00:17:27,780
So I think we certainly are
being cautious in terms of

361
00:17:27,780 --> 00:17:29,782
what information we are
communicating, but we have

362
00:17:29,782 --> 00:17:32,684
also been pretty direct
about living up to our

363
00:17:32,684 --> 00:17:35,154
commitment to make sure that
we're communicating directly

364
00:17:35,154 --> 00:17:38,490
with those that need to be
notified about a potential

365
00:17:38,490 --> 00:17:41,160
breach of their
sensitive data.

366
00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:43,695
And this is walking a fine
line; I would acknowledge

367
00:17:43,695 --> 00:17:45,264
that as well.

368
00:17:45,264 --> 00:17:47,265
But if there's an
opportunity for us to share

369
00:17:47,266 --> 00:17:49,268
additional information about
this ongoing investigation

370
00:17:49,268 --> 00:17:53,105
in the future, then we will
try to do that given the

371
00:17:53,105 --> 00:17:55,941
limitations that
I've just described.

372
00:17:55,941 --> 00:17:56,675
Kristen.

373
00:17:56,675 --> 00:17:57,776
The Press: Josh, thanks.

374
00:17:57,776 --> 00:17:59,778
We learned today that
General Dempsey told

375
00:17:59,778 --> 00:18:04,149
reporters that the
administration is open to

376
00:18:04,149 --> 00:18:06,552
opening up more
bases in Iraq.

377
00:18:06,552 --> 00:18:08,219
Is that the President's
thinking -- is that

378
00:18:08,220 --> 00:18:09,955
consistent with the
President's thinking?

379
00:18:09,955 --> 00:18:12,558
And are there any immediate
or specific plans to do that

380
00:18:12,558 --> 00:18:14,159
beyond what we
learned yesterday?

381
00:18:14,159 --> 00:18:15,727
Mr. Earnest: There are no
immediate or specific plans

382
00:18:15,727 --> 00:18:16,962
to do that.

383
00:18:16,962 --> 00:18:20,098
As my colleagues in the
Pentagon will tell you, that

384
00:18:20,098 --> 00:18:24,636
they devote significant time
and energy and resources to

385
00:18:24,636 --> 00:18:26,437
contingency planning.

386
00:18:26,438 --> 00:18:29,041
And the President relies on
his military advisors in

387
00:18:29,041 --> 00:18:32,144
particular to spend a lot of
time thinking ahead about

388
00:18:32,144 --> 00:18:35,747
what could lie
ahead in the future.

389
00:18:35,747 --> 00:18:37,850
But as I mentioned earlier,
there is no immediate plan

390
00:18:37,850 --> 00:18:38,917
to do this.

391
00:18:38,917 --> 00:18:41,687
What I will say, though,
is that if a kind of

392
00:18:41,687 --> 00:18:45,224
recommendation like this did
come from the President's

393
00:18:45,224 --> 00:18:47,559
national security team and
from his military advisors

394
00:18:47,559 --> 00:18:52,664
in particular, it would be a
recommendation that is made

395
00:18:52,664 --> 00:18:55,601
-- it would be a
recommendation that reflects

396
00:18:58,136 --> 00:19:02,341
that the ongoing training
efforts have been useful.

397
00:19:02,341 --> 00:19:05,244
That the reason that we
would consider expanding the

398
00:19:05,244 --> 00:19:08,880
training operation, and the
advise-and-assist operation

399
00:19:08,881 --> 00:19:13,385
that's underway, would
be because it's been an

400
00:19:13,385 --> 00:19:15,854
effective element
of our strategy.

401
00:19:15,854 --> 00:19:18,724
Now, it doesn't necessarily
mean, however, that it would

402
00:19:18,724 --> 00:19:21,059
require the additional
deployment of American

403
00:19:21,059 --> 00:19:22,494
military personnel.

404
00:19:22,494 --> 00:19:23,896
The Press: But it could
include the deployment of

405
00:19:23,896 --> 00:19:24,696
American military personnel.

406
00:19:24,696 --> 00:19:25,863
Mr. Earnest: Well,
but it might not.

407
00:19:25,864 --> 00:19:27,666
So again, this is all
very hypothetical.

408
00:19:27,666 --> 00:19:29,467
But it might not.

409
00:19:29,468 --> 00:19:30,969
This is all very
hypothetical because this is

410
00:19:30,969 --> 00:19:33,705
not a recommendation that
the President's military

411
00:19:33,705 --> 00:19:35,706
advisors have offered.

412
00:19:35,707 --> 00:19:39,678
And so we'll have to see.

413
00:19:39,678 --> 00:19:41,313
The Press: The point speaks
to a concern -- and we

414
00:19:41,313 --> 00:19:43,682
talked about this yesterday
among two of the President's

415
00:19:43,682 --> 00:19:46,084
Democratic colleagues
-- that we are seeing

416
00:19:46,084 --> 00:19:48,620
increasingly more
troops, more U.S.

417
00:19:48,620 --> 00:19:51,523
forces going to Iraq.

418
00:19:51,523 --> 00:19:52,957
Representative Charlie
Rangel said -- and I'm

419
00:19:52,958 --> 00:19:56,228
quoting him -- "This
is exactly how Vietnam started."

420
00:19:56,228 --> 00:19:59,197
Your response to that
broader concern that this

421
00:19:59,197 --> 00:20:00,998
is, in fact, mission creep?

422
00:20:00,999 --> 00:20:02,868
Mr. Earnest: Well, Kristen,
as I think I tried to point

423
00:20:02,868 --> 00:20:07,906
out, if a decision were
made to open an additional

424
00:20:07,906 --> 00:20:13,245
facility to offer training
and advice and assistance to

425
00:20:13,245 --> 00:20:15,447
fighters fighting under the
command and control of the

426
00:20:15,447 --> 00:20:18,483
Iraqi central government,
that would be a very clear

427
00:20:18,483 --> 00:20:21,520
indication that previous
efforts -- or currently

428
00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:26,858
ongoing efforts to do
that -- have been useful.

429
00:20:26,858 --> 00:20:31,530
And it would -- rather than
being evidence of mission

430
00:20:31,530 --> 00:20:36,535
creep, it would be evidence
of some progress in the

431
00:20:36,535 --> 00:20:40,973
ongoing mission to support
the Iraqis as they take the

432
00:20:40,973 --> 00:20:45,077
fight to ISIL on the ground
in their own country.

433
00:20:45,077 --> 00:20:49,715
What also is undeniable
are the numbers.

434
00:20:49,715 --> 00:20:51,716
You'll recall that when the
President took office in

435
00:20:51,717 --> 00:20:55,988
2009, there were
about 150,000 U.S.

436
00:20:55,988 --> 00:21:00,759
military personnel in
Iraq in a combat role.

437
00:21:00,759 --> 00:21:06,365
The current situation is
that there are about 3,500 U.S.

438
00:21:06,365 --> 00:21:12,638
military personnel in Iraq
not in a combat role -- in a

439
00:21:12,638 --> 00:21:15,907
variety of roles that
includes military advisors,

440
00:21:15,907 --> 00:21:18,577
force protection,
intelligence officers, those

441
00:21:18,577 --> 00:21:22,447
who are staffing joint
operations centers, and others.

442
00:21:22,447 --> 00:21:24,081
The Press: Isn't that, to
some extent, semantics to

443
00:21:24,082 --> 00:21:25,984
say that they're not
in a combat role?

444
00:21:25,984 --> 00:21:26,418
I mean, again --

445
00:21:26,418 --> 00:21:27,519
Mr.
Earnest: It's not.

446
00:21:27,519 --> 00:21:29,221
The Press: Charlie Rangel
says, if you don't think

447
00:21:29,221 --> 00:21:31,356
you're putting them in
harm's way, you're not

448
00:21:31,356 --> 00:21:32,824
living in the real world.

449
00:21:32,824 --> 00:21:35,527
And they are going into a
very dangerous situation.

450
00:21:35,527 --> 00:21:39,031
Mr. Earnest: It is very
clear what the President has

451
00:21:39,031 --> 00:21:42,434
asked them to do and what
their commanders have asked

452
00:21:42,434 --> 00:21:43,769
them to do.

453
00:21:43,769 --> 00:21:49,107
And the President does not,
and has not, put currently

454
00:21:49,107 --> 00:21:54,680
deployed military personnel
in Iraq to go and directly

455
00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:56,515
engage the ISIL enemy.

456
00:21:56,515 --> 00:21:59,051
They are there to support
the Iraqi people to do for

457
00:21:59,051 --> 00:22:04,755
them what they must do for
themselves -- or to support

458
00:22:04,756 --> 00:22:07,159
them in what they must
do for themselves.

459
00:22:07,159 --> 00:22:11,430
And that is to support
Iraqis, who are under the

460
00:22:11,430 --> 00:22:13,865
command and control of the
Iraqi central government, as

461
00:22:13,865 --> 00:22:16,234
they take the fight on the
ground to ISIL in their

462
00:22:16,234 --> 00:22:17,235
own country.

463
00:22:17,235 --> 00:22:19,236
The United States and our
coalition partners have

464
00:22:19,237 --> 00:22:21,907
deployed military personnel
to support them in that effort.

465
00:22:21,907 --> 00:22:24,643
And that means, in some
cases, doing training; in

466
00:22:24,643 --> 00:22:26,912
some cases offering advice
and assistance; in some

467
00:22:26,912 --> 00:22:29,281
cases providing military
equipment; in some cases

468
00:22:29,281 --> 00:22:31,383
staffing a joint
operations center.

469
00:22:31,383 --> 00:22:33,385
But ultimately, this will be
the responsibility of the

470
00:22:33,385 --> 00:22:35,520
Iraqi people, and it's
something that they must do

471
00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:36,187
for themselves.

472
00:22:36,188 --> 00:22:37,289
The Press: And just to
close the loop, Josh.

473
00:22:37,289 --> 00:22:39,725
Is there any timeline by
which the President will sit

474
00:22:39,725 --> 00:22:43,495
down and decide whether or
not to open up another base?

475
00:22:43,495 --> 00:22:47,064
Mr. Earnest: Again, Kristen,
the President will be

476
00:22:47,065 --> 00:22:50,502
relying on the advice of
his national security team,

477
00:22:50,502 --> 00:22:52,504
including senior
members of the Pentagon.

478
00:22:52,504 --> 00:22:54,505
And this is not something
that they have recommended,

479
00:22:54,506 --> 00:22:56,508
and I think that's something
that even General Dempsey said.

480
00:22:56,508 --> 00:23:02,814
So I think it's important to
understand the context in

481
00:23:02,814 --> 00:23:04,783
which General Dempsey made
those comments and to

482
00:23:04,783 --> 00:23:06,784
understand the role that he
has, which is to spend a lot

483
00:23:06,785 --> 00:23:08,987
of time thinking ahead and
doing contingency planning.

484
00:23:08,987 --> 00:23:14,126
And I think that's pretty
clear from the comments that

485
00:23:14,126 --> 00:23:15,127
he shared today.

486
00:23:15,127 --> 00:23:17,129
The Press: Just one on
the trade deal, Josh.

487
00:23:17,129 --> 00:23:19,030
There is some concern among
lawmakers that the trade

488
00:23:19,030 --> 00:23:22,501
deal could impact, could
in some ways threaten

489
00:23:22,501 --> 00:23:23,668
food safety.

490
00:23:23,668 --> 00:23:25,736
Is the President confident
that that won't happen?

491
00:23:25,737 --> 00:23:27,706
Can he assure Americans
that that won't happen?

492
00:23:27,706 --> 00:23:28,840
Mr. Earnest: Yes.

493
00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:31,208
He can assure Americans
that that will not happen.

494
00:23:31,209 --> 00:23:33,345
Principally -- there are
a variety of reasons.

495
00:23:33,345 --> 00:23:35,347
I know that The Washington
Post has taken a look at

496
00:23:35,347 --> 00:23:39,017
this and has been pretty
harshly critical of the

497
00:23:39,017 --> 00:23:41,019
arguments that have been
made by some who've raised

498
00:23:41,019 --> 00:23:43,021
this concern because it
just didn't stand up to

499
00:23:43,021 --> 00:23:44,022
any scrutiny.

500
00:23:44,022 --> 00:23:46,024
The fact of the matter is
the reason that we engage in

501
00:23:46,024 --> 00:23:47,993
these kinds of trade
agreements is because we

502
00:23:47,993 --> 00:23:48,994
want to raise standards.

503
00:23:48,994 --> 00:23:55,332
And that's exactly what this
trade agreement would do,

504
00:23:55,333 --> 00:23:59,604
even when it comes
to food safety.

505
00:23:59,604 --> 00:24:00,038
Cheryl.

506
00:24:00,038 --> 00:24:02,073
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

507
00:24:02,073 --> 00:24:04,776
My favorite subject -- today
on Capitol Hill, Speaker

508
00:24:04,776 --> 00:24:07,279
Boehner was asked about
the spending bills and the

509
00:24:07,279 --> 00:24:09,781
possibility of
budget negotiations.

510
00:24:09,781 --> 00:24:12,884
And he again said he was
open to that, but said the

511
00:24:12,884 --> 00:24:16,855
White House needs to go
first, needs to initiate those.

512
00:24:16,855 --> 00:24:20,091
Would you be open
to doing that?

513
00:24:20,091 --> 00:24:24,662
Mr. Earnest: Well, Cheryl,
as you know, in the wisdom

514
00:24:24,663 --> 00:24:27,999
of our forefathers, it
meant that they wrote the

515
00:24:27,999 --> 00:24:30,468
Constitution of the United
States to give the power of

516
00:24:30,468 --> 00:24:32,804
the purse to the United
States Congress.

517
00:24:32,804 --> 00:24:36,408
It means that Congress,
individuals who decide to

518
00:24:36,408 --> 00:24:40,544
run for Congress are signing
up for the responsibility of

519
00:24:40,545 --> 00:24:42,480
doing what I would
acknowledge is difficult

520
00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:44,516
work, which is making very
difficult, critically

521
00:24:44,516 --> 00:24:47,819
important decisions about
our priorities, and about

522
00:24:47,819 --> 00:24:52,924
how the resources of the
American people are properly

523
00:24:52,924 --> 00:24:57,295
used to advance the interest
of our country and all of

524
00:24:57,295 --> 00:24:58,897
our citizens.

525
00:24:58,897 --> 00:25:05,736
And what we have been clear
about is that Congress

526
00:25:05,737 --> 00:25:11,810
identified a pretty
effective process for

527
00:25:11,810 --> 00:25:15,447
resolving differences and
trying to come to agreement

528
00:25:15,447 --> 00:25:20,017
on some of these difficult
issues when Senator Patty

529
00:25:20,018 --> 00:25:22,988
Murray and Congressman
Paul Ryan sat down at the

530
00:25:22,988 --> 00:25:25,957
negotiating table and
hammered out an agreement.

531
00:25:25,957 --> 00:25:31,563
And they did that to build
a bipartisan agreement that

532
00:25:31,563 --> 00:25:33,565
both Democrats and
Republicans in both houses

533
00:25:33,565 --> 00:25:35,901
of Congress could support.

534
00:25:35,901 --> 00:25:38,069
And the White House was, of
course, involved

535
00:25:38,069 --> 00:25:39,070
in that process.

536
00:25:39,070 --> 00:25:41,072
We were aware of
what was going on.

537
00:25:41,072 --> 00:25:43,073
We, in some cases, offered
some technical assistance

538
00:25:43,074 --> 00:25:45,043
about helping them
understand what impact

539
00:25:45,043 --> 00:25:49,246
certain budgetary
decisions would have.

540
00:25:49,247 --> 00:25:51,249
But ultimately, this is
something that Congress

541
00:25:51,249 --> 00:25:52,884
must resolve.

542
00:25:52,884 --> 00:25:56,655
What I will also say,
though, is that the

543
00:25:56,655 --> 00:25:58,423
President put
forward a budget.

544
00:25:58,423 --> 00:26:00,425
The President has actually
been very clear about what

545
00:26:00,425 --> 00:26:03,294
direction he thinks
that we should go.

546
00:26:03,295 --> 00:26:07,265
It's a common-sense,
fiscally responsible plan

547
00:26:07,265 --> 00:26:09,801
that puts the interests of
middle-class families first,

548
00:26:09,801 --> 00:26:12,270
and makes expanding economic
opportunity for every

549
00:26:12,270 --> 00:26:15,674
American the top priority.

550
00:26:15,674 --> 00:26:19,110
So we believe that there's a
clear template for how this

551
00:26:19,110 --> 00:26:20,611
can get resolved.

552
00:26:20,612 --> 00:26:22,814
We have been clear, and
we've demonstrated a

553
00:26:22,814 --> 00:26:26,418
willingness to play a
supportive role

554
00:26:26,418 --> 00:26:28,053
in those conversations.

555
00:26:28,053 --> 00:26:30,055
And the President has
actually put forward

556
00:26:30,055 --> 00:26:33,024
already, months ago, a
specific template for the

557
00:26:33,024 --> 00:26:35,827
direction that he believes
those conversations should go.

558
00:26:35,827 --> 00:26:40,198
Now it's time for Congress
to step up and do their job.

559
00:26:40,198 --> 00:26:41,199
Hopefully they will.

560
00:26:41,199 --> 00:26:42,233
Olivier.

561
00:26:42,233 --> 00:26:43,301
The Press: A couple
for you, Josh.

562
00:26:43,301 --> 00:26:46,204
You said that everybody from
the President on down is

563
00:26:46,204 --> 00:26:47,405
making calls on trade.

564
00:26:47,405 --> 00:26:49,407
Does that include
the Vice President?

565
00:26:49,407 --> 00:26:51,408
Mr. Earnest: I would check
with the Vice President's

566
00:26:51,409 --> 00:26:52,410
office about that.

567
00:26:52,410 --> 00:26:53,345
I don't know whether or not
he's making calls today.

568
00:26:53,345 --> 00:26:58,149
The Press: And in your back
and forth with Kristen, you

569
00:26:58,149 --> 00:27:03,388
suggested that this
hypothetical future opening

570
00:27:03,388 --> 00:27:08,525
of other facilities in Iraq
would be a sign of progress.

571
00:27:08,526 --> 00:27:09,561
Did I hear that correctly?

572
00:27:09,561 --> 00:27:12,330
Mr. Earnest: Well, the point
that I'm trying to make,

573
00:27:12,330 --> 00:27:14,532
Olivier, I think what I
described is -- I described

574
00:27:14,532 --> 00:27:15,533
it as useful.

575
00:27:15,533 --> 00:27:20,538
And the reason is simply
this: that if -- if, again,

576
00:27:20,538 --> 00:27:23,641
hypothetically -- the
President were to make a

577
00:27:23,641 --> 00:27:25,643
decision at the
recommendation of his

578
00:27:25,643 --> 00:27:27,812
national security team
to open up an additional

579
00:27:27,812 --> 00:27:31,049
facility in Iraq where
training, advising and

580
00:27:31,049 --> 00:27:35,120
assisting could occur,
he would only do that if

581
00:27:35,120 --> 00:27:39,390
already open facilities
where training, advising and

582
00:27:39,391 --> 00:27:45,497
assisting of Iraqi fighters
is occurring was useful.

583
00:27:45,497 --> 00:27:48,967
And so the point is, it
was an effort -- I was

584
00:27:48,967 --> 00:27:51,236
anticipating Kristen's
question -- this question

585
00:27:51,236 --> 00:27:53,238
about mission creep, which I
think is a legitimate

586
00:27:53,238 --> 00:27:54,239
one to raise.

587
00:27:54,239 --> 00:27:56,574
I think the point is that
if an additional base were

588
00:27:56,574 --> 00:27:57,942
opened at the recommendation
of the President's national

589
00:27:57,942 --> 00:28:00,545
security team, it would be
entirely consistent and,

590
00:28:00,545 --> 00:28:04,482
frankly, even an endorsement
of the strategy moving forward.

591
00:28:04,482 --> 00:28:08,319
But again, at this point,
that is a theoretical,

592
00:28:08,319 --> 00:28:09,320
hypothetical exercise.

593
00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:11,389
The Press: I recognize the
difference between a sign of

594
00:28:11,389 --> 00:28:12,389
progress and useful.

595
00:28:12,390 --> 00:28:14,392
I recognize there's
a distinction there.

596
00:28:14,392 --> 00:28:18,229
On the mission creep issue,
you don't have to give me a

597
00:28:18,229 --> 00:28:20,231
number, but does the
President have a number in

598
00:28:20,231 --> 00:28:23,268
mind of troops above which
he's not willing to go?

599
00:28:23,268 --> 00:28:26,504
You've at least said he's
not going to send 150,000

600
00:28:26,504 --> 00:28:27,504
American troops back.

601
00:28:27,505 --> 00:28:29,507
So is there some number
below that where he would

602
00:28:29,507 --> 00:28:32,444
say, no, forget it -- this
is just not worth doing?

603
00:28:32,444 --> 00:28:35,447
Mr. Earnest: Not one
that I'm aware of.

604
00:28:35,447 --> 00:28:39,716
But I think the context for
this debate is important,

605
00:28:39,717 --> 00:28:41,719
and you just laid it out,
which is that there is a

606
00:28:41,719 --> 00:28:44,055
significant difference
between 150,000 troops in a

607
00:28:44,055 --> 00:28:46,658
combat role and 3,500 U.S.

608
00:28:46,658 --> 00:28:50,160
troops in roles not in a
combat role -- in a variety

609
00:28:50,161 --> 00:28:51,629
of other roles.

610
00:28:51,629 --> 00:28:54,466
That is not in any way to
downplay the kind of risk

611
00:28:54,466 --> 00:28:57,668
that these military
servicemembers are assuming

612
00:28:57,669 --> 00:28:59,270
on behalf of our nation.

613
00:28:59,270 --> 00:29:01,272
I certainly don't
take that lightly.

614
00:29:01,272 --> 00:29:02,040
I can guarantee you that
the President of the United

615
00:29:02,040 --> 00:29:04,676
States does not
take that lightly.

616
00:29:04,676 --> 00:29:07,912
But the way that the
President makes decisions

617
00:29:07,912 --> 00:29:15,253
about the number of military
personnel that are necessary

618
00:29:15,253 --> 00:29:21,693
in Iraq are not driven by an
arbitrary consideration of

619
00:29:21,693 --> 00:29:27,465
round numbers, but rather
are driven by the number of

620
00:29:30,001 --> 00:29:34,072
military personnel required
to carry out what the

621
00:29:34,072 --> 00:29:36,073
President has ordered.

622
00:29:36,074 --> 00:29:39,377
So in this most recent case
of expanding our training,

623
00:29:39,377 --> 00:29:45,149
advising and assisting
mission to Taqaddum Air

624
00:29:45,150 --> 00:29:51,055
Base, the military planners
put together essentially the

625
00:29:51,055 --> 00:29:53,458
scope of what the operation,
that mission would look like

626
00:29:53,458 --> 00:29:54,826
at that air base.

627
00:29:54,826 --> 00:29:57,295
And then they put forward
what they believe was the

628
00:29:57,295 --> 00:30:00,999
necessary number of military
personnel that would allow

629
00:30:00,999 --> 00:30:04,802
that operation to be --
or that mission to be

630
00:30:04,802 --> 00:30:06,704
successfully executed.

631
00:30:06,704 --> 00:30:13,544
And it also factored in the
number of support personnel,

632
00:30:13,545 --> 00:30:15,547
the number of security
personnel and others that

633
00:30:15,547 --> 00:30:16,881
would be required there.

634
00:30:16,881 --> 00:30:19,717
And that number is a little
over 400 that would need to

635
00:30:19,717 --> 00:30:20,718
be at the base.

636
00:30:20,718 --> 00:30:22,854
And that's ultimately the
way these decisions are made.

637
00:30:22,854 --> 00:30:25,356
So it's not driven by the
numbers on the front end.

638
00:30:25,356 --> 00:30:27,859
It rather is a consideration
of the policy recommendation

639
00:30:27,859 --> 00:30:30,061
that's been put forward by
the national security team,

640
00:30:30,061 --> 00:30:33,063
and then the consideration
about the number of military

641
00:30:33,064 --> 00:30:36,367
personnel that would be
required to successfully and

642
00:30:36,367 --> 00:30:39,571
as safely as possible
complete that mission.

643
00:30:39,571 --> 00:30:41,139
Jim.

644
00:30:41,139 --> 00:30:43,675
The Press: Josh, just to
follow up on that, when you

645
00:30:43,675 --> 00:30:47,078
talk about opening up a base
at Taqaddum or the prospect

646
00:30:47,078 --> 00:30:51,081
of opening up further bases
around Iraq, these would be

647
00:30:51,082 --> 00:30:52,717
Iraqi bases, would they not?

648
00:30:52,717 --> 00:30:54,485
These would not be U.S. bases.

649
00:30:54,485 --> 00:30:57,621
Mr. Earnest: Yes, these are
bases that are in Iraq.

650
00:30:57,622 --> 00:31:01,259
And we do not envision the
establishment of a military

651
00:31:01,259 --> 00:31:02,660
base in Iraq at this point.

652
00:31:02,660 --> 00:31:04,662
The Press: Right, because
legally that would not be

653
00:31:04,662 --> 00:31:05,663
possible, correct?

654
00:31:05,663 --> 00:31:06,931
You don't have a status
of forces agreement.

655
00:31:06,931 --> 00:31:10,969
You don't have the legal
architecture in place to

656
00:31:10,969 --> 00:31:13,438
open up U.S. bases in Iraq.

657
00:31:13,438 --> 00:31:15,473
So you're basically
using their space?

658
00:31:15,473 --> 00:31:17,475
Or -- Mr. Earnest: I would
acknowledge that I'm not

659
00:31:17,475 --> 00:31:20,278
familiar with the legal
requirements of these kinds

660
00:31:20,278 --> 00:31:21,946
of agreements.

661
00:31:21,946 --> 00:31:24,148
But again, to answer your
question as precisely as I

662
00:31:24,148 --> 00:31:29,419
can, yes, these are Iraqi
facilities where U.S.

663
00:31:29,420 --> 00:31:35,159
military personnel would go
to carry out a train, advise

664
00:31:35,159 --> 00:31:36,194
and assist mission.

665
00:31:36,194 --> 00:31:40,632
And there are five of those
bases where that mission is

666
00:31:40,632 --> 00:31:42,767
taking place right
now, inside of Iraq.

667
00:31:42,767 --> 00:31:45,637
The Press: Because when the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs

668
00:31:45,637 --> 00:31:48,505
was talking about the
prospect of opening up bases

669
00:31:48,506 --> 00:31:51,376
around Iraq, I suppose
that some Americans may be

670
00:31:51,376 --> 00:31:53,244
confused as to what he was
talking about, because

671
00:31:53,244 --> 00:31:54,445
you're not talking
about opening up U.S.

672
00:31:54,445 --> 00:31:56,347
military bases.

673
00:31:56,347 --> 00:31:57,715
Mr. Earnest: That's correct.

674
00:31:57,715 --> 00:31:59,716
I didn't see the exact
transcript of his remarks.

675
00:31:59,717 --> 00:32:02,520
It may be that he meant
opening up those bases to U.S.

676
00:32:02,520 --> 00:32:04,555
military personnel where
this training, advising and

677
00:32:04,555 --> 00:32:06,291
assisting operation
could be carried out.

678
00:32:06,291 --> 00:32:07,859
The Press: But you're not
talking about getting in the

679
00:32:07,859 --> 00:32:09,827
business of opening up U.S.

680
00:32:09,827 --> 00:32:10,628
military bases.

681
00:32:10,628 --> 00:32:11,162
Mr. Earnest: That's not something

682
00:32:11,162 --> 00:32:12,297
that's been contemplated.

683
00:32:12,297 --> 00:32:14,599
The Press: And I wanted to
ask you about the Affordable

684
00:32:14,599 --> 00:32:16,000
Care Act.

685
00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:17,368
I know the President has an
interview today with the

686
00:32:17,368 --> 00:32:19,203
program, Extra.

687
00:32:19,203 --> 00:32:22,407
And he's also been making
some remarks -- he made some

688
00:32:22,407 --> 00:32:25,009
remarks yesterday in his
speech and talked about this

689
00:32:25,009 --> 00:32:29,180
during the news
conference in Germany.

690
00:32:29,180 --> 00:32:34,419
And I was just curious, are
you trying to communicate to

691
00:32:34,419 --> 00:32:38,356
the Supreme Court justices
about what's at risk if the

692
00:32:38,356 --> 00:32:42,960
Affordable Care Act
is gutted in King vs. Burwell?

693
00:32:42,960 --> 00:32:44,829
It just almost feels like
you jumped into campaign

694
00:32:44,829 --> 00:32:46,831
mode all of a
sudden on Obamacare.

695
00:32:46,831 --> 00:32:49,833
And so I'm just curious, are
you trying to reach to the

696
00:32:49,834 --> 00:32:52,203
justices there
with some of this?

697
00:32:52,203 --> 00:32:53,471
Mr. Earnest: No.

698
00:32:53,471 --> 00:32:54,972
And I think there are a
couple of reasons for that.

699
00:32:54,972 --> 00:32:57,775
The first is, the President
has, I think on a number of

700
00:32:57,775 --> 00:32:59,177
occasions, even in the
context of some of his

701
00:32:59,177 --> 00:33:02,112
recent remarks, acknowledged
that the decision in the

702
00:33:02,113 --> 00:33:05,249
King v. Burwell case will be a
decision that's made by a

703
00:33:05,249 --> 00:33:07,952
separate but equal
branch of government.

704
00:33:07,952 --> 00:33:12,457
Those are the nine justices
of the Supreme Court.

705
00:33:12,457 --> 00:33:16,094
I'm certainly no Supreme
Court watcher or expert, but

706
00:33:16,094 --> 00:33:17,395
my understanding about
the way that these things

707
00:33:17,395 --> 00:33:21,199
typically go is that the
opinions are typically

708
00:33:21,199 --> 00:33:24,969
written a number of days in
advance of their

709
00:33:24,969 --> 00:33:26,404
eventual release.

710
00:33:26,404 --> 00:33:30,074
So I think it's -- again, I
say this not based on my own

711
00:33:30,074 --> 00:33:32,410
personal knowledge, but
based on the advice that

712
00:33:32,410 --> 00:33:35,380
I've received that, in all
likelihood, the decision in

713
00:33:35,380 --> 00:33:38,816
this case has already been
reached and written, and the

714
00:33:38,816 --> 00:33:40,818
Supreme Court is merely
waiting for the day that

715
00:33:40,818 --> 00:33:43,287
they choose to announce the
decision that they have made.

716
00:33:43,287 --> 00:33:45,289
The Press: And so why is
there such a focus on

717
00:33:45,289 --> 00:33:46,357
defending the program?

718
00:33:46,357 --> 00:33:47,392
It's five years old now.

719
00:33:47,392 --> 00:33:48,393
It's up and running.

720
00:33:48,393 --> 00:33:52,130
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
the President views this as

721
00:33:52,130 --> 00:33:57,602
a significant element -- or
a significant achievement of

722
00:33:57,602 --> 00:33:59,003
his presidency.

723
00:33:59,003 --> 00:34:03,541
And it has had an impact
on millions of Americans.

724
00:34:03,541 --> 00:34:07,311
And I'm not just referring
to the 16 million Americans

725
00:34:07,311 --> 00:34:09,913
who received health care
after the Affordable Care

726
00:34:09,914 --> 00:34:13,484
Act took effect; I'm
actually referring also to

727
00:34:13,484 --> 00:34:16,654
the millions of other
Americans across the country

728
00:34:16,654 --> 00:34:18,656
who benefit from the
consumer protections that

729
00:34:18,656 --> 00:34:19,824
are included in the law.

730
00:34:19,824 --> 00:34:21,793
That includes every single
woman who has health

731
00:34:21,793 --> 00:34:23,795
insurance in the United
States; they no longer have

732
00:34:23,795 --> 00:34:25,930
to be worried about being
charged more just because

733
00:34:25,929 --> 00:34:26,931
they're a woman.

734
00:34:26,931 --> 00:34:28,933
I'm talking about every
American in the United

735
00:34:28,933 --> 00:34:31,201
States that has a so-called
preexisting condition; they

736
00:34:31,202 --> 00:34:33,504
never again have to be
worried about being

737
00:34:33,504 --> 00:34:35,505
discriminated against
because they have a

738
00:34:35,505 --> 00:34:36,507
preexisting condition.

739
00:34:36,507 --> 00:34:38,509
I'm talking about every
single American who

740
00:34:38,509 --> 00:34:40,511
previously worried about
hitting their lifetime cap

741
00:34:40,511 --> 00:34:42,846
because the Affordable Care
Act -- an insurance company

742
00:34:42,847 --> 00:34:44,849
can no longer say that
they're going to stop paying

743
00:34:44,849 --> 00:34:46,851
your benefits because
you've been too sick.

744
00:34:46,851 --> 00:34:51,456
And I think reminding people
of that progress and those

745
00:34:51,456 --> 00:34:53,925
important benefits is
something that the President

746
00:34:53,925 --> 00:34:54,826
feels strongly about.

747
00:34:54,826 --> 00:34:59,363
And even if there are no
more Supreme Court cases

748
00:34:59,363 --> 00:35:02,567
between now and January of
2017, I would anticipate

749
00:35:02,567 --> 00:35:04,969
you'll hear the President
make that case at least one

750
00:35:04,969 --> 00:35:05,536
more time.

751
00:35:05,536 --> 00:35:10,842
The Press: And finally,
Senator Lindsey Graham told

752
00:35:10,842 --> 00:35:13,544
CNN that he's considering
the idea of a rotating First

753
00:35:13,544 --> 00:35:15,779
Lady should he
become President.

754
00:35:15,780 --> 00:35:17,515
(laughter)

755
00:35:17,515 --> 00:35:20,518
And I'm not going to ask you
to weigh in on that idea --

756
00:35:20,518 --> 00:35:25,056
unless you would like to --
but to get at that question,

757
00:35:25,056 --> 00:35:27,658
I'm just kind of curious
what it would be like at the

758
00:35:27,658 --> 00:35:29,660
White House without
a First Lady.

759
00:35:29,660 --> 00:35:33,964
And would you be able to
do everything that a White

760
00:35:33,965 --> 00:35:36,234
House does without
a First Lady?

761
00:35:36,234 --> 00:35:40,238
She's a huge -- the current
First Lady has a very large

762
00:35:40,238 --> 00:35:44,008
ceremonial role and policy
role at this White House.

763
00:35:44,008 --> 00:35:45,576
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
that's what occurs to me,

764
00:35:45,576 --> 00:35:48,012
Jim, is it's hard to -- at
least it's hard to imagine

765
00:35:48,012 --> 00:35:50,848
this White House without
this First Lady.

766
00:35:50,848 --> 00:35:54,886
She obviously has played
such an important role not

767
00:35:54,886 --> 00:35:57,755
just in carrying out the
ceremonial aspects of her

768
00:35:57,755 --> 00:36:01,392
job, but also in advocating
for the kinds of things that

769
00:36:01,392 --> 00:36:03,794
she and the President
believe should be

770
00:36:03,794 --> 00:36:04,795
national priorities.

771
00:36:04,795 --> 00:36:07,298
And these are things about
making sure that our kids

772
00:36:07,298 --> 00:36:10,634
get off to a healthy start
in life, and making sure

773
00:36:10,635 --> 00:36:13,871
that our military families
have felt the full weight of

774
00:36:13,871 --> 00:36:16,641
support and gratitude that
the American people have for

775
00:36:16,641 --> 00:36:20,144
the sacrifices that they
have made for our country.

776
00:36:20,144 --> 00:36:27,785
So it's hard for me to
imagine both a Graham White

777
00:36:27,785 --> 00:36:30,687
House and what a Graham
White House would be without

778
00:36:30,688 --> 00:36:31,689
a First Lady.

779
00:36:31,689 --> 00:36:34,591
But I would obviously defer
to the Senator to describe

780
00:36:34,592 --> 00:36:36,494
what that would be.

781
00:36:36,494 --> 00:36:37,895
Chris.

782
00:36:37,895 --> 00:36:39,096
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

783
00:36:39,096 --> 00:36:41,933
Among the opponents of the
Trans-Pacific Partnership

784
00:36:41,933 --> 00:36:47,004
are LGBT advocates who say
the deal improperly opens up

785
00:36:47,004 --> 00:36:48,339
trade for countries that
criminalize being LGBT.

786
00:36:48,339 --> 00:36:52,410
In Malaysia, LGBT people can
be imprisoned for 20 years

787
00:36:52,410 --> 00:36:53,009
or more.

788
00:36:53,010 --> 00:36:56,013
In Brunei, the country
recently enacted Sharia law

789
00:36:56,013 --> 00:36:58,215
which calls for
death by stoning.

790
00:36:58,215 --> 00:37:02,453
In an op-ed today in the
Advocate, long-time LGBT

791
00:37:02,453 --> 00:37:06,657
rights activist Lee Jones
and Pride at Work Director

792
00:37:06,657 --> 00:37:09,327
Jerame Davis said signing
this deal will send a

793
00:37:09,327 --> 00:37:12,263
message to the world that
you can abuse, imprison and

794
00:37:12,263 --> 00:37:15,066
kill LGBT people and still
have preferential access to

795
00:37:15,066 --> 00:37:16,133
coveted U.S. markets.

796
00:37:16,133 --> 00:37:17,268
What's your
response to that?

797
00:37:17,268 --> 00:37:19,937
Mr. Earnest: Chris, I think
the response that I would

798
00:37:19,937 --> 00:37:21,939
share with you is that
we, obviously -- and the

799
00:37:21,939 --> 00:37:26,042
President has spoken
publicly about the concerns

800
00:37:26,043 --> 00:37:29,714
that we have in terms of the
way that other countries

801
00:37:29,714 --> 00:37:32,250
discriminate against people
because of who they love.

802
00:37:32,250 --> 00:37:34,652
And in some cases, these
people aren't just

803
00:37:34,652 --> 00:37:38,122
discriminated against, they
are subjected to terrible

804
00:37:38,122 --> 00:37:39,991
acts of violence.

805
00:37:39,991 --> 00:37:44,996
And the President has used
his moral authority to speak

806
00:37:44,996 --> 00:37:47,832
out against this
rather aggressively.

807
00:37:47,832 --> 00:37:50,468
And in some cases, we know
that there are countries

808
00:37:50,468 --> 00:37:54,437
where these kinds of
conditions are in place.

809
00:37:54,438 --> 00:37:56,440
And I think in the mind of
the President, the question

810
00:37:56,440 --> 00:37:59,944
simply is, what are we
going to do about it?

811
00:37:59,944 --> 00:38:04,281
And there are some who
legitimately advocate that

812
00:38:04,281 --> 00:38:06,283
we should try to isolate
those countries and we

813
00:38:06,283 --> 00:38:08,285
should not talk to them,
and we should not do any

814
00:38:08,285 --> 00:38:10,287
business with them, and
we should not engage them

815
00:38:10,287 --> 00:38:11,756
because of those practices.

816
00:38:11,756 --> 00:38:14,524
The President merely has a
different approach, which is

817
00:38:14,525 --> 00:38:19,664
that the more successful we
can be in engaging them both

818
00:38:19,664 --> 00:38:22,667
economically and culturally,
and politically, and

819
00:38:22,667 --> 00:38:25,603
diplomatically, and
militarily, in some cases

820
00:38:25,603 --> 00:38:29,073
the more effective we can be
in advocating for the kinds

821
00:38:29,073 --> 00:38:31,142
of values that we prioritize
in this country, and

822
00:38:31,142 --> 00:38:33,144
certainly the kinds of
values the President has

823
00:38:33,144 --> 00:38:35,513
championed while sitting
in the Oval Office.

824
00:38:35,513 --> 00:38:38,249
And I think that principle
would apply in this case,

825
00:38:38,249 --> 00:38:39,250
as well.

826
00:38:39,250 --> 00:38:41,252
The Press: If you're so
confident that opening up

827
00:38:41,252 --> 00:38:44,455
this deal could lead to
improvement on the LGBT

828
00:38:44,455 --> 00:38:47,758
rights issues in these
countries, why do you think

829
00:38:47,758 --> 00:38:49,894
these advocates are so
steadfast against it?

830
00:38:49,894 --> 00:38:51,895
Mr. Earnest: Well, Chris, I
think the argument that I'm

831
00:38:51,896 --> 00:38:58,002
making is that I'm confident
that doing nothing is not

832
00:38:58,002 --> 00:39:00,705
the most effective way
for us to press our case.

833
00:39:00,705 --> 00:39:03,307
And that's the argument
that I'm making.

834
00:39:03,307 --> 00:39:04,642
And that, frankly, is the

835
00:39:04,642 --> 00:39:06,644
approach that some are advocating.

836
00:39:06,644 --> 00:39:08,611
And again, I'm not going
to question their motives.

837
00:39:08,612 --> 00:39:11,248
I know that they share the
President's view about these

838
00:39:11,248 --> 00:39:14,185
kinds of cherished values
and ensuring that people

839
00:39:14,185 --> 00:39:16,187
shouldn't be discriminated
against or subjected to

840
00:39:16,187 --> 00:39:18,189
violence just because
of who they love.

841
00:39:18,189 --> 00:39:24,095
But the President's approach
to trying to pressure other

842
00:39:24,095 --> 00:39:26,964
countries to live up to the
kinds of values that we hold

843
00:39:26,964 --> 00:39:29,299
dear in this country is
that we can do that more

844
00:39:29,300 --> 00:39:31,802
effectively by
engaging them.

845
00:39:31,802 --> 00:39:32,470
Major.

846
00:39:32,470 --> 00:39:39,176
The Press: Josh, on TPP and
TAA, the House Republicans

847
00:39:39,176 --> 00:39:42,779
say they made several
changes, which we've just

848
00:39:42,780 --> 00:39:47,818
gone over, in consultation
with Leader Pelosi, and that

849
00:39:47,818 --> 00:39:52,423
what is needed now is for
Leader Pelosi to endorse

850
00:39:52,423 --> 00:39:56,560
those changes, be a public
advocate on behalf of both

851
00:39:56,560 --> 00:40:01,932
TAA and TPA, and a stronger
signal from this White House

852
00:40:01,932 --> 00:40:04,535
that all underlying issues
have been dealt with and

853
00:40:04,535 --> 00:40:07,671
this is something that
should go forward as is and

854
00:40:07,671 --> 00:40:09,439
Pelosi should
lead that charge.

855
00:40:09,440 --> 00:40:11,575
Are you prepared to do that?

856
00:40:11,575 --> 00:40:15,078
They have a very good
relationship, historically,

857
00:40:15,079 --> 00:40:17,681
the President and
Minority Leader Pelosi.

858
00:40:17,681 --> 00:40:20,117
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'll say
a couple things about that.

859
00:40:20,117 --> 00:40:22,319
One of the foundations of
that relationship is an

860
00:40:22,319 --> 00:40:26,624
acknowledgement that Leader
Pelosi is going to vote her

861
00:40:26,624 --> 00:40:28,625
conscience and do what she
thinks is right, and she

862
00:40:28,626 --> 00:40:31,061
knows the President is
going to do the same thing.

863
00:40:31,061 --> 00:40:33,731
And I think what has
been a hallmark of that

864
00:40:33,731 --> 00:40:36,066
relationship is that their
values and their vision for

865
00:40:36,066 --> 00:40:39,837
the country are so often, on
a wide range of issues, very

866
00:40:39,837 --> 00:40:41,839
closely shared.

867
00:40:45,142 --> 00:40:49,446
And I will also say -- so
I guess the point is that

868
00:40:49,446 --> 00:40:53,750
Speaker Boehner is welcome
to make that case, but he

869
00:40:53,751 --> 00:40:55,753
should do that directly
to Leader Pelosi.

870
00:40:55,753 --> 00:40:57,755
And based on the kinds
of conversations that is

871
00:40:57,755 --> 00:40:59,757
apparent that they've had
over the last few days, it

872
00:40:59,757 --> 00:41:01,759
sounds like that's
what he's doing.

873
00:41:01,759 --> 00:41:03,761
When it comes to the
President, we have -- I

874
00:41:03,761 --> 00:41:06,630
think as is evident from the
list of engagements that Jim

875
00:41:06,630 --> 00:41:08,265
ran through --

876
00:41:08,265 --> 00:41:09,165
The Press:
They're going on right now.

877
00:41:09,166 --> 00:41:10,467
Mr. Earnest: Yes, they're
going on right now.

878
00:41:10,467 --> 00:41:13,237
So you've got the Chief of
Staff of the White House

879
00:41:13,237 --> 00:41:16,574
along with members of the
Cabinet who are up on

880
00:41:16,574 --> 00:41:17,775
Capitol Hill.

881
00:41:17,775 --> 00:41:20,277
The President had a
conversation with

882
00:41:20,277 --> 00:41:21,278
Speaker Boehner.

883
00:41:21,278 --> 00:41:23,314
I'm confident that is not
the only telephone call that

884
00:41:23,314 --> 00:41:26,549
the President will have with
a member of Congress today.

885
00:41:26,550 --> 00:41:30,154
So we will make our case
to Democrats about --

886
00:41:30,154 --> 00:41:32,556
principally to Democrats,
but not exclusively to

887
00:41:32,556 --> 00:41:35,659
Democrats -- about why we
believe this is the right

888
00:41:35,659 --> 00:41:39,663
approach, consistent with
the President's effort to

889
00:41:39,663 --> 00:41:41,832
champion economic
opportunity for

890
00:41:41,832 --> 00:41:42,833
middle-class families.

891
00:41:42,833 --> 00:41:46,136
The Press: How comfortable
are you and is the President

892
00:41:46,136 --> 00:41:49,907
with Leader Pelosi
withholding her public

893
00:41:49,907 --> 00:41:52,776
position on this until
tomorrow on the House floor?

894
00:41:52,776 --> 00:41:57,481
Would not it be more helpful
to what you just outlined,

895
00:41:57,481 --> 00:42:01,619
the cause of this advocacy,
to have Leader Pelosi -- if,

896
00:42:01,619 --> 00:42:04,622
in fact, she's going to
say yes -- say so now?

897
00:42:04,622 --> 00:42:06,656
Mr. Earnest: Well, it is
entirely within her rights to --

898
00:42:06,657 --> 00:42:07,892
The Press: I
do acknowledge that.

899
00:42:07,892 --> 00:42:09,627
That's not the question.

900
00:42:09,627 --> 00:42:13,596
Would it be helpful to you
if what her conscience tells

901
00:42:13,597 --> 00:42:17,001
her were more clear to those
in her caucus and in the

902
00:42:17,001 --> 00:42:17,735
White House?

903
00:42:17,735 --> 00:42:19,803
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'll just
say as -- again, Major, it

904
00:42:19,803 --> 00:42:21,739
is entirely within her right
to decide when she's ready

905
00:42:21,739 --> 00:42:24,341
to make public her
position on these issues.

906
00:42:24,341 --> 00:42:28,712
And the President and
everyone here at the White

907
00:42:28,712 --> 00:42:32,316
House welcomes the support
of everybody that we can get.

908
00:42:32,316 --> 00:42:35,519
And that's any Republicans
we can go to support this,

909
00:42:35,519 --> 00:42:37,787
as many Democrats as we can
get to support this, up to

910
00:42:37,788 --> 00:42:40,491
and including the
Democratic Leader.

911
00:42:40,491 --> 00:42:43,794
The Press: General Odierno
said this morning that the

912
00:42:43,794 --> 00:42:46,763
battle against ISIS is a
three-, five-, seven-, to

913
00:42:46,764 --> 00:42:49,366
10-year project.

914
00:42:49,366 --> 00:42:53,604
Is that a timeline the
President believes in or the

915
00:42:53,604 --> 00:42:56,073
country should
be prepared for?

916
00:42:56,073 --> 00:42:57,441
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
haven't seen -- I think the

917
00:42:57,441 --> 00:42:59,542
President has been as clear
about this as he possibly

918
00:42:59,543 --> 00:43:01,912
can based on his own
assessment of the situation,

919
00:43:01,912 --> 00:43:04,114
which is that this is not
a short-term proposition.

920
00:43:04,114 --> 00:43:06,383
It will require a
long-term commitment.

921
00:43:06,383 --> 00:43:07,250
The Press: But I've never
heard someone who is as

922
00:43:07,251 --> 00:43:09,186
close to this as the Army
Chief of Staff quite

923
00:43:09,186 --> 00:43:11,555
obviously is -- he's not the
only one who's close to it,

924
00:43:11,555 --> 00:43:14,959
but he's pretty close to it
-- be that specific about

925
00:43:14,959 --> 00:43:18,294
the kind of timeline he
believes this country ought

926
00:43:18,295 --> 00:43:19,797
to prepare itself for.

927
00:43:19,797 --> 00:43:21,832
I'm just curious if the
President thinks that's

928
00:43:21,832 --> 00:43:24,268
within the ballpark; that's
something the country ought

929
00:43:24,268 --> 00:43:25,369
to brace for.

930
00:43:25,369 --> 00:43:27,504
Mr. Earnest: And General
Odierno obviously has spent

931
00:43:27,504 --> 00:43:32,942
not time -- not just time in
his current role, but he's

932
00:43:32,943 --> 00:43:35,813
also spent a lot of time on
the ground in Iraq, in the

933
00:43:35,813 --> 00:43:39,283
previous campaign in Iraq.

934
00:43:39,283 --> 00:43:41,285
And so he is somebody
that brings

935
00:43:41,285 --> 00:43:42,553
significant knowledge.

936
00:43:42,553 --> 00:43:44,555
So I obviously wouldn't be
in a position to contradict him.

937
00:43:44,555 --> 00:43:48,424
But I think the best way
that I can describe to you

938
00:43:48,425 --> 00:43:50,427
the President's view of the
situation is to point you to

939
00:43:50,427 --> 00:43:53,430
what he said about it, which
is that he does not believe

940
00:43:53,430 --> 00:43:55,566
-- or he thinks it's
important for the American

941
00:43:55,566 --> 00:43:57,301
people to understand that
this is not a short-term

942
00:43:57,301 --> 00:43:59,370
proposition and it will
require a long-term

943
00:43:59,370 --> 00:44:00,837
commitment on the part of
the United States and our

944
00:44:00,838 --> 00:44:02,406
coalition partners.

945
00:44:02,406 --> 00:44:03,841
But the President has been
just as clear about the fact

946
00:44:03,841 --> 00:44:09,013
that he does not envision a
scenario where it is in the

947
00:44:09,013 --> 00:44:11,015
best interest of our country
to engage in another

948
00:44:11,015 --> 00:44:13,017
large-scale ground operation
-- ground combat operation

949
00:44:13,017 --> 00:44:14,018
inside of Iraq.

950
00:44:14,018 --> 00:44:15,986
The Press: So without
endorsing it specifically,

951
00:44:15,986 --> 00:44:17,988
you're not going to disagree
with General Odierno?

952
00:44:17,988 --> 00:44:19,990
Mr. Earnest: General
Odierno, again, based on his

953
00:44:19,990 --> 00:44:23,794
own personal experience and
expertise, has a lot of

954
00:44:23,794 --> 00:44:25,496
credibility when talking
about these issues.

955
00:44:25,496 --> 00:44:28,065
But the best way I can
describe to you the

956
00:44:28,065 --> 00:44:30,067
President's position
is what he said.

957
00:44:30,067 --> 00:44:32,069
The Press: General Odierno
also said that this cannot

958
00:44:32,069 --> 00:44:35,572
be solved, the ISIS problem
and the Iraq problem, until

959
00:44:35,572 --> 00:44:40,210
political reconciliation in
the country takes hold, and

960
00:44:40,210 --> 00:44:42,479
that nothing really the
Americans can do is going to

961
00:44:42,479 --> 00:44:46,116
solve that problem unless
the Iraqis are prepared and

962
00:44:46,116 --> 00:44:50,387
willing to solve
it themselves.

963
00:44:50,387 --> 00:44:52,356
I presume you
agree with that.

964
00:44:52,356 --> 00:44:56,026
And I wonder if you consider
that problem bigger than

965
00:44:56,026 --> 00:44:57,027
ISIS itself.

966
00:44:57,027 --> 00:45:01,732
Because General Odierno said
one of the reasons ISIS

967
00:45:01,732 --> 00:45:04,435
exists is because of so many
decisions made by the Maliki

968
00:45:04,435 --> 00:45:07,137
government and the inability
of Iraq to pull itself

969
00:45:07,137 --> 00:45:09,106
together after the
United States left.

970
00:45:09,106 --> 00:45:10,841
So what's the
bigger problem here?

971
00:45:10,841 --> 00:45:15,679
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
the point -- again, I think

972
00:45:15,679 --> 00:45:18,415
you were probably faithful
in your paraphrasing

973
00:45:18,415 --> 00:45:19,716
of his comments.

974
00:45:19,716 --> 00:45:22,352
I have confidence in that.

975
00:45:22,352 --> 00:45:24,555
It seems to me the point
that he's making and I think

976
00:45:24,555 --> 00:45:28,591
illustrating pretty clearly
is it is impossible to

977
00:45:28,592 --> 00:45:33,297
separate the failed
political leadership and

978
00:45:33,297 --> 00:45:37,301
divisive governing strategy
of Prime Minister Maliki

979
00:45:37,301 --> 00:45:38,936
from the growth of ISIL.

980
00:45:38,936 --> 00:45:44,541
And these are two problems
that are interrelated.

981
00:45:44,541 --> 00:45:48,879
And we have identified --
and this is something that

982
00:45:48,879 --> 00:45:51,415
shaped our involvement
in this matter

983
00:45:51,415 --> 00:45:52,416
from the beginning.

984
00:45:52,416 --> 00:45:56,153
You'll recall that when ISIL
made their rapid, stark

985
00:45:56,153 --> 00:46:01,491
advance across the desert
from Syria into Iraq, there

986
00:46:01,492 --> 00:46:03,494
were many who were
suggesting that the

987
00:46:03,494 --> 00:46:06,663
President should be
aggressively engaged in the

988
00:46:06,663 --> 00:46:08,999
effort to try to prevent
that, to try to blunt that

989
00:46:08,999 --> 00:46:12,269
advance, and urged an
aggressive commitment of

990
00:46:12,269 --> 00:46:13,971
resources to do that.

991
00:46:13,971 --> 00:46:18,008
And the President was very
limited in doing that for a

992
00:46:18,008 --> 00:46:19,009
couple of reasons.

993
00:46:19,009 --> 00:46:21,011
He did prioritize the
protection of military

994
00:46:21,011 --> 00:46:23,013
personnel in Iraq, and so
we did take steps to ensure

995
00:46:23,013 --> 00:46:24,915
their safety.

996
00:46:24,915 --> 00:46:27,084
But the President also said
I'm not willing to make a

997
00:46:27,084 --> 00:46:29,886
more significant commitment
in Iraq until it's clear

998
00:46:29,887 --> 00:46:33,123
that the Iraqi central
government is willing to

999
00:46:33,123 --> 00:46:36,126
commit to govern that
country in an inclusive way.

1000
00:46:36,126 --> 00:46:39,062
And that's why we have been
gratified to see Prime

1001
00:46:39,062 --> 00:46:41,365
Minister Abadi, at least in
the first 10 months or so

1002
00:46:41,365 --> 00:46:43,834
that he's been in office,
live up to the kind of

1003
00:46:43,834 --> 00:46:47,037
commitment that he made on
the front end to unify Iraq,

1004
00:46:47,037 --> 00:46:49,740
to face down the
threat from ISIL.

1005
00:46:49,740 --> 00:46:51,741
He has committed to
governing the country in a

1006
00:46:51,742 --> 00:46:53,443
multi-sectarian way.

1007
00:46:53,443 --> 00:46:56,847
That's clear from the way
that his cabinet has been

1008
00:46:56,847 --> 00:46:59,783
assembled and the way that
they have governed the country.

1009
00:46:59,783 --> 00:47:02,152
It's been clear from the way
that he has attempted to

1010
00:47:02,152 --> 00:47:06,223
build a multi-sectarian
force to take on ISIL.

1011
00:47:06,223 --> 00:47:09,026
So he's living up to
those early promises.

1012
00:47:09,026 --> 00:47:13,663
Now, what's also true is you
demonstrate your commitment

1013
00:47:13,664 --> 00:47:16,300
to these kinds of principles
not just in the matter of

1014
00:47:16,300 --> 00:47:19,770
weeks or months, but over a
sustained period of time.

1015
00:47:19,770 --> 00:47:21,905
So we're going to continue
to watch closely the

1016
00:47:21,905 --> 00:47:24,174
commitment of the Iraqi
central government to

1017
00:47:24,174 --> 00:47:25,842
unifying the country.

1018
00:47:25,842 --> 00:47:32,216
But there is no doubt
that an inclusive central

1019
00:47:32,216 --> 00:47:37,421
government in Baghdad is
integral to their ability to

1020
00:47:37,421 --> 00:47:38,955
deal with the ISIL problem.

1021
00:47:38,956 --> 00:47:40,357
There is no
denying that fact.

1022
00:47:40,357 --> 00:47:43,227
And that's why the
administration is going to

1023
00:47:43,227 --> 00:47:47,998
continue to be supportive
of steps that the Iraqi

1024
00:47:47,998 --> 00:47:51,268
government takes to try
to unify that country.

1025
00:47:51,268 --> 00:47:52,970
The Press: Last question.

1026
00:47:52,970 --> 00:47:55,973
The new plan yesterday, or
the retooled plan envisions

1027
00:47:55,973 --> 00:48:00,644
trying to tighten the border
of Syria and Turkey to

1028
00:48:00,644 --> 00:48:03,479
prevent the flow of -- or
at least slow the flow of

1029
00:48:03,480 --> 00:48:05,415
foreign fighters.

1030
00:48:05,415 --> 00:48:08,418
There are many who are
familiar with that situation

1031
00:48:08,418 --> 00:48:11,388
who believe the Erdogan
government has given the U.S.

1032
00:48:11,388 --> 00:48:14,156
almost no assistance, has
turned a blind eye to this

1033
00:48:14,157 --> 00:48:18,128
entire issue, people who
are very close to it.

1034
00:48:18,128 --> 00:48:19,930
There was obviously a
parliamentary election that

1035
00:48:19,930 --> 00:48:21,832
was a setback for the
Erdogan government earlier

1036
00:48:21,832 --> 00:48:23,066
this week.

1037
00:48:23,066 --> 00:48:24,468
There's talk about a
coalition government.

1038
00:48:24,468 --> 00:48:26,569
In general, does this
administration believe that

1039
00:48:26,570 --> 00:48:30,073
election result will make
Erdogan more or less

1040
00:48:30,073 --> 00:48:33,477
compliant as this new phase
of trying to stop foreign

1041
00:48:33,477 --> 00:48:35,112
fighters begins?

1042
00:48:35,112 --> 00:48:36,680
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
think we'll see, Major.

1043
00:48:36,680 --> 00:48:39,283
And I think the President
took this on pretty directly

1044
00:48:39,283 --> 00:48:42,185
in the news conference that
he did in Germany on Monday,

1045
00:48:42,185 --> 00:48:45,221
where he indicated that
there's more that we would

1046
00:48:45,222 --> 00:48:48,959
like to see Turkey do to
coordinate with our broader

1047
00:48:48,959 --> 00:48:50,794
international coalition
to shut down the flow of

1048
00:48:50,794 --> 00:48:55,165
foreign fighters to
ISIL and to Syria.

1049
00:48:55,165 --> 00:48:56,767
The Press: By more,
you mean something.

1050
00:48:56,767 --> 00:49:01,171
Mr. Earnest: Well, there are
steps that Turkey has taken

1051
00:49:01,171 --> 00:49:02,739
to demonstrate their
willingness to be

1052
00:49:02,739 --> 00:49:04,808
constructive here, but
there is a lot more that we

1053
00:49:04,808 --> 00:49:07,311
believe they can
and should do.

1054
00:49:07,311 --> 00:49:07,911
Kevin.

1055
00:49:07,911 --> 00:49:08,779
The Press: Josh, thanks.

1056
00:49:08,779 --> 00:49:10,447
I want to kind of follow
up on something Major was

1057
00:49:10,447 --> 00:49:14,685
talking about, and refer you
to another military leader

1058
00:49:14,685 --> 00:49:16,987
who obviously is intimately
aware of what's been

1059
00:49:16,987 --> 00:49:19,356
happening on the ground
vis-à-vis the battle with ISIS.

1060
00:49:19,356 --> 00:49:22,025
General Michael Flynn who
was on with Neil Cavuto

1061
00:49:22,025 --> 00:49:23,860
yesterday, said some
pretty interesting things.

1062
00:49:23,860 --> 00:49:27,064
Among them, he was asked if
he thought ISIS was winning

1063
00:49:27,064 --> 00:49:29,866
and he said, "Yes, I think
ISIS is achieving the

1064
00:49:29,866 --> 00:49:31,868
objectives they have
set out to achieve.

1065
00:49:31,868 --> 00:49:35,005
I think they feel probably
very emboldened, they feel

1066
00:49:35,005 --> 00:49:36,973
pretty good."

1067
00:49:36,973 --> 00:49:39,241
I'm just curious, when you
hear something like that

1068
00:49:39,242 --> 00:49:41,578
from someone who is so
intimately aware of what's

1069
00:49:41,578 --> 00:49:45,148
happening there in Iraq,
how do you absorb that?

1070
00:49:45,148 --> 00:49:46,383
Do you dismiss it outright?

1071
00:49:46,383 --> 00:49:48,752
Or do you simply take
information like that and

1072
00:49:48,752 --> 00:49:50,754
say, well, that's somewhat
of a reflection of

1073
00:49:50,754 --> 00:49:51,755
what's happening.

1074
00:49:51,755 --> 00:49:53,757
Mr. Earnest: Well, Kevin, I
think that we've been very

1075
00:49:53,757 --> 00:49:55,759
blunt about what our
assessment is of the

1076
00:49:55,759 --> 00:49:57,094
situation on the
ground there.

1077
00:49:57,094 --> 00:49:59,262
And specifically, there have
been areas where we've made

1078
00:49:59,262 --> 00:50:02,933
some important progress, and
that includes retaking the

1079
00:50:02,933 --> 00:50:05,736
Anbar town of Baghdadi to
retaking -- driving ISIL out

1080
00:50:05,736 --> 00:50:10,006
of Tikrit.

1081
00:50:10,006 --> 00:50:12,375
Even thinking back to last
summer, there was a rapid

1082
00:50:12,376 --> 00:50:15,112
advance of ISIL fighters
across the desert in Iraq

1083
00:50:15,112 --> 00:50:17,114
where they appeared to be
encroaching on Erbil, and

1084
00:50:17,114 --> 00:50:19,216
that was an offensive
that was blunted.

1085
00:50:19,216 --> 00:50:22,652
And principally by working
with Kurdish security forces

1086
00:50:22,652 --> 00:50:25,188
and being backed by
coalition military airpower,

1087
00:50:25,188 --> 00:50:27,424
they haven't just blunted
that offensive but they've

1088
00:50:27,424 --> 00:50:29,759
started to roll back
many of those gains.

1089
00:50:29,760 --> 00:50:33,029
So at the same time, we've
also been pretty forthright

1090
00:50:33,029 --> 00:50:35,599
in acknowledging that there
have been areas where we and

1091
00:50:35,599 --> 00:50:38,468
the Iraqis have sustained
setbacks, and Ramadi is the

1092
00:50:38,468 --> 00:50:40,537
best example of that.

1093
00:50:40,537 --> 00:50:42,538
But that is the nature
of any kind of military

1094
00:50:42,539 --> 00:50:44,841
conflict and it's certainly
been the nature of this

1095
00:50:44,841 --> 00:50:46,042
conflict as well.

1096
00:50:46,042 --> 00:50:50,247
And what the President
has directed his national

1097
00:50:50,247 --> 00:50:52,281
security team to focus on is
to make sure that we have a

1098
00:50:52,282 --> 00:50:55,819
strategy that reflects that
environment on the ground.

1099
00:50:55,819 --> 00:51:00,724
And that's why you saw this
announcement yesterday about

1100
00:51:00,724 --> 00:51:05,996
the decision to open up an
additional Iraqi base in

1101
00:51:05,996 --> 00:51:11,401
Anbar Province where
American military personnel

1102
00:51:11,401 --> 00:51:15,071
would go about carrying out
a mission to train, advise

1103
00:51:15,071 --> 00:51:17,040
and assist Iraqi fighters.

1104
00:51:17,040 --> 00:51:21,511
And that's what they're
prepared to do, and that's

1105
00:51:21,511 --> 00:51:23,747
consistent with our
assessment of what's

1106
00:51:23,747 --> 00:51:26,515
happening on the ground and
consistent with the kinds of

1107
00:51:26,516 --> 00:51:29,152
strategic choices the
President believes are most

1108
00:51:29,152 --> 00:51:30,420
likely to yield success.

1109
00:51:30,420 --> 00:51:32,756
The Press: I've heard you
use the expression "train"

1110
00:51:32,756 --> 00:51:34,758
primarily, although today,
you say, "train,

1111
00:51:34,758 --> 00:51:35,759
advise and assist."

1112
00:51:35,759 --> 00:51:38,595
The Pentagon, for the most
part, has simply been saying

1113
00:51:38,595 --> 00:51:39,895
they are there to advise.

1114
00:51:39,896 --> 00:51:43,433
Is there any space between
the two descriptions, or is

1115
00:51:43,433 --> 00:51:46,403
it all one fell swoop of a
description of what they'll

1116
00:51:46,403 --> 00:51:49,406
be doing on the 450
additional U.S. personnel?

1117
00:51:49,406 --> 00:51:53,543
Mr. Earnest: Well, Kevin,
what I can say is that the

1118
00:51:53,543 --> 00:51:57,047
mission that the President
authorized is a mission to

1119
00:51:57,047 --> 00:52:01,885
train, advise and assist
those forces that are

1120
00:52:01,885 --> 00:52:03,787
fighting under the command
and control of the Iraqi

1121
00:52:03,787 --> 00:52:05,288
central government.

1122
00:52:05,288 --> 00:52:08,425
And that means both members
of the Iraqi security

1123
00:52:08,425 --> 00:52:12,429
forces; it also means those
Sunni tribal fighters that

1124
00:52:12,429 --> 00:52:15,532
had been recruited into the
fight to fight under the

1125
00:52:15,532 --> 00:52:17,534
command and control of the
Iraqi central government.

1126
00:52:17,534 --> 00:52:19,536
And that's what
their mission is.

1127
00:52:19,536 --> 00:52:21,538
And that's the way that it's
been described by both the

1128
00:52:21,538 --> 00:52:23,607
Pentagon and the White House
and the State Department,

1129
00:52:23,607 --> 00:52:24,608
for that matter.

1130
00:52:24,608 --> 00:52:27,043
And it's consistent with
what we have broadly said

1131
00:52:27,043 --> 00:52:29,045
about the commitment of
the United States and our

1132
00:52:29,045 --> 00:52:31,114
coalition partners to
support the efforts of the

1133
00:52:31,114 --> 00:52:34,284
Iraqis to take the fight on
the ground to ISIL in their

1134
00:52:34,284 --> 00:52:35,285
own country.

1135
00:52:35,285 --> 00:52:37,821
The Press: Lastly, I'd like
to ask you about the idea of

1136
00:52:37,821 --> 00:52:41,558
using grants, essentially to
help diversity some

1137
00:52:41,558 --> 00:52:42,559
affluent areas.

1138
00:52:42,559 --> 00:52:43,660
I was reading
about that today.

1139
00:52:43,660 --> 00:52:45,895
Can you tell me what the
President's position is on

1140
00:52:45,896 --> 00:52:49,065
that and why that seems like
a good idea to sort of give

1141
00:52:49,065 --> 00:52:51,701
communities, if nothing
else, an opportunity to

1142
00:52:51,701 --> 00:52:52,602
advance and move up?

1143
00:52:52,602 --> 00:52:53,670
Mr. Earnest: Are you
talking about the U.N.

1144
00:52:53,670 --> 00:52:54,504
Stabilization Fund?

1145
00:52:54,504 --> 00:52:55,372
The Press: Yes.

1146
00:52:55,372 --> 00:52:57,908
Mr. Earnest: The idea here
is essentially that there is

1147
00:52:57,908 --> 00:53:00,610
more support that we
need to offer those Iraqi

1148
00:53:00,610 --> 00:53:05,115
communities that have driven
out ISIL and that if we want

1149
00:53:05,115 --> 00:53:07,783
to make sure that we
can prevent ISIL from

1150
00:53:07,784 --> 00:53:09,786
encroaching on those cities,
we don't need to just be

1151
00:53:09,786 --> 00:53:13,189
able to provide security to
those cities or those towns

1152
00:53:13,189 --> 00:53:15,325
-- we do -- we also need
to make sure that we're

1153
00:53:15,325 --> 00:53:18,495
building up the capacity of
local governance structures

1154
00:53:18,495 --> 00:53:20,830
to govern those areas.

1155
00:53:20,830 --> 00:53:24,401
And again, our strategy is
predicated on this idea that

1156
00:53:24,401 --> 00:53:28,504
we want to build up the
capacity of Iraqis to do for

1157
00:53:28,505 --> 00:53:32,108
themselves what we will not
do for them, and that is to

1158
00:53:32,108 --> 00:53:35,312
govern and provide security
for the communities and

1159
00:53:35,312 --> 00:53:36,580
their country.

1160
00:53:36,580 --> 00:53:39,249
The Press: Lastly, when you
say "we want to help them

1161
00:53:39,249 --> 00:53:42,519
win their fight for their
country" and others argue

1162
00:53:42,519 --> 00:53:46,323
sometimes, well, you're not
in it to win it -- is that a

1163
00:53:46,323 --> 00:53:48,725
frustration for the White
House when you hear that?

1164
00:53:48,725 --> 00:53:51,761
Because it seems to me
you're trying to help them,

1165
00:53:51,761 --> 00:53:53,763
but you're not trying
to win it yourself.

1166
00:53:53,763 --> 00:53:54,764
Is that what
you're telling me?

1167
00:53:54,764 --> 00:53:56,733
Mr. Earnest: What I'm
telling you, Kevin, is that

1168
00:53:56,733 --> 00:53:59,502
the fight against ISIL is
one that the Iraqi people

1169
00:53:59,502 --> 00:54:01,204
must do for themselves.

1170
00:54:01,204 --> 00:54:04,007
They can do that with the
strong support of the United

1171
00:54:04,007 --> 00:54:06,009
States and our coalition
partners, and there are a

1172
00:54:06,009 --> 00:54:08,011
variety of ways that we can
support them, whether it's

1173
00:54:08,011 --> 00:54:11,081
with military coalition
airstrikes, or offering

1174
00:54:11,081 --> 00:54:14,718
training, advising, and
assisting of Iraqi fighters

1175
00:54:14,718 --> 00:54:17,020
that are operating under the
Iraqi central government.

1176
00:54:17,020 --> 00:54:20,090
It also is engaging in an
effort to shut down the flow

1177
00:54:20,090 --> 00:54:24,227
of foreign fighters that are
filling the ranks of ISIL.

1178
00:54:24,227 --> 00:54:27,196
It also is undertaking
efforts with our coalition

1179
00:54:27,197 --> 00:54:29,966
partners to try to shut down
ISIL's efforts to finance

1180
00:54:29,966 --> 00:54:30,967
their operations.

1181
00:54:30,967 --> 00:54:33,703
All of those are things that
will eventually benefit the

1182
00:54:33,703 --> 00:54:37,407
Iraqis as they fight a war
that they must fight

1183
00:54:37,407 --> 00:54:39,976
for themselves.

1184
00:54:39,976 --> 00:54:40,710
Angela.

1185
00:54:40,710 --> 00:54:42,012
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1186
00:54:42,012 --> 00:54:45,715
The President obviously had
some sharp words to say

1187
00:54:45,715 --> 00:54:48,451
about Greece in his press
conference on Monday.

1188
00:54:48,451 --> 00:54:49,586
And today, U.N.

1189
00:54:49,586 --> 00:54:51,187
President Donald Tusk seems
to have finally reached a

1190
00:54:51,187 --> 00:54:54,691
tipping point on Greece --
his very, very harsh words.

1191
00:54:54,691 --> 00:54:57,593
And the IMF negotiating team
left Brussels with no deal.

1192
00:54:57,594 --> 00:55:00,196
Are we likely to hear any
more from the President

1193
00:55:00,196 --> 00:55:01,364
on Greece?

1194
00:55:01,364 --> 00:55:03,166
Is there anything he's
doing behind the scenes?

1195
00:55:03,166 --> 00:55:05,735
And what does he see as
his role in that crisis?

1196
00:55:05,735 --> 00:55:07,537
Mr. Earnest: Angela, I don't
anticipate that you'll

1197
00:55:07,537 --> 00:55:09,906
necessarily see the
President weigh in on this

1198
00:55:09,906 --> 00:55:11,674
again -- although, it's
certainly possible that one

1199
00:55:11,675 --> 00:55:13,376
of you could ask him.

1200
00:55:13,376 --> 00:55:17,514
But our view -- and it's a
view that we have pretty

1201
00:55:17,514 --> 00:55:22,218
consistently articulated --
is that we want all sides to

1202
00:55:22,218 --> 00:55:25,422
continue to focus on finding
pragmatic solutions that

1203
00:55:25,422 --> 00:55:28,558
will allow Greece to
chart a path to recovery.

1204
00:55:28,558 --> 00:55:33,163
Now, that also means that
Greece must pursue some of

1205
00:55:33,163 --> 00:55:34,330
the kinds of structural
reforms that they've

1206
00:55:34,330 --> 00:55:37,333
committed to.

1207
00:55:37,333 --> 00:55:40,103
And this is part of the --
this is the essence of the

1208
00:55:40,103 --> 00:55:43,873
negotiation that's ongoing
right now between Greece and

1209
00:55:43,873 --> 00:55:46,009
their creditors.

1210
00:55:46,009 --> 00:55:48,712
And the role of the United
States -- and this is

1211
00:55:48,712 --> 00:55:54,818
something that Secretary Lew
has been leading on the part

1212
00:55:54,818 --> 00:55:59,122
of the United States -- is
to encourage all sides to

1213
00:55:59,122 --> 00:56:05,462
come to an agreement in
order to prevent some kind

1214
00:56:05,462 --> 00:56:08,431
of broader default that
would destabilize the global

1215
00:56:08,431 --> 00:56:11,034
economy and have a possible
negative impact on the

1216
00:56:11,034 --> 00:56:12,702
U.S. economy.

1217
00:56:12,702 --> 00:56:15,972
So Secretary Lew, over the
last couple of weeks, has

1218
00:56:15,972 --> 00:56:19,342
met with his G7 finance
minister counterparts to

1219
00:56:19,342 --> 00:56:21,544
discuss this issue;
Secretary Lew had the

1220
00:56:21,544 --> 00:56:24,881
opportunity to talk to Prime
Minister Tsipras of Greece

1221
00:56:24,881 --> 00:56:27,484
about some of these issues.

1222
00:56:27,484 --> 00:56:30,286
But that essentially is
our view of the situation.

1223
00:56:30,286 --> 00:56:32,689
The Press: On a lighter
question, the President

1224
00:56:32,689 --> 00:56:35,325
taped an interview earlier
today with -- I get this

1225
00:56:35,325 --> 00:56:37,192
right -- Extra TV.

1226
00:56:37,193 --> 00:56:38,862
It airs at
apparently 2:07 a.m.

1227
00:56:38,862 --> 00:56:41,531
Eastern time tonight,
tomorrow morning.

1228
00:56:41,531 --> 00:56:43,366
Just curious, how does this
fit into the

1229
00:56:43,366 --> 00:56:44,968
communications strategy?

1230
00:56:44,968 --> 00:56:47,504
Who is the President trying
to reach by doing that kind

1231
00:56:47,504 --> 00:56:48,304
of show?

1232
00:56:48,304 --> 00:56:48,972
(laughter)

1233
00:56:48,972 --> 00:56:49,706
Mr. Earnest: Insomniacs.

1234
00:56:49,706 --> 00:56:51,508
(laughter)

1235
00:56:51,508 --> 00:56:53,109
The Press: You said it.

1236
00:56:53,109 --> 00:56:56,479
Mr. Earnest: The fact is
that this is part of our

1237
00:56:56,479 --> 00:57:00,415
sustained effort to try to
use a variety of channels to

1238
00:57:00,416 --> 00:57:02,919
communicate with the
American public.

1239
00:57:02,919 --> 00:57:06,022
And there's an opportunity
-- I would encourage you to

1240
00:57:06,022 --> 00:57:07,490
take a look at
the interview.

1241
00:57:07,490 --> 00:57:09,491
Maybe there's a way for you
to get it from a different

1242
00:57:09,492 --> 00:57:12,228
market so you don't have
to stay up until 2:07 a.m.

1243
00:57:12,228 --> 00:57:15,064
here in East Coast.

1244
00:57:15,064 --> 00:57:17,066
But this is something --
this is an opportunity for

1245
00:57:17,066 --> 00:57:19,067
the President to deliver
a message about just how

1246
00:57:19,068 --> 00:57:21,070
valuable the Affordable Care
Act has been not just to the

1247
00:57:21,070 --> 00:57:24,140
16 million Americans who
got health care after the

1248
00:57:24,140 --> 00:57:26,142
Affordable Care Act, but
from the millions, hundreds

1249
00:57:26,142 --> 00:57:29,412
of millions of Americans who
have benefitted from the

1250
00:57:29,412 --> 00:57:31,413
critically important
consumer protections that

1251
00:57:31,414 --> 00:57:33,416
were included in the
Affordable Care Act.

1252
00:57:33,416 --> 00:57:35,418
And that's everything from
ensuring that women can't be

1253
00:57:35,418 --> 00:57:37,420
charged more for their
health insurance just

1254
00:57:37,420 --> 00:57:38,421
because they're a woman.

1255
00:57:38,421 --> 00:57:40,423
You can't be discriminated
against because you have a

1256
00:57:40,423 --> 00:57:41,424
preexisting condition.

1257
00:57:41,424 --> 00:57:43,793
And you no longer have to be
worried about hitting your

1258
00:57:43,793 --> 00:57:46,196
lifetime limit that would
essentially result in the

1259
00:57:46,196 --> 00:57:48,298
insurance company kicking
you off your insurance

1260
00:57:48,298 --> 00:57:50,232
because you got really sick.

1261
00:57:50,233 --> 00:57:51,234
April.

1262
00:57:51,234 --> 00:57:53,236
The Press: Josh, I want to
ask you about a question and

1263
00:57:53,236 --> 00:57:56,471
the White House response
to the GOP threatening to

1264
00:57:56,472 --> 00:57:59,475
withhold $700 million in
funding for the State

1265
00:57:59,475 --> 00:58:02,645
Department because they feel
that information is not

1266
00:58:02,645 --> 00:58:05,448
being given quick enough
and effectively enough in

1267
00:58:05,448 --> 00:58:08,585
reference to Hillary
Clinton's documentation.

1268
00:58:08,585 --> 00:58:10,420
Mr. Earnest: April, I think
what it does is it just

1269
00:58:10,420 --> 00:58:12,155
calls into question
the sincerity of those

1270
00:58:12,155 --> 00:58:14,624
Republicans who are
advocating for additional

1271
00:58:14,624 --> 00:58:15,725
security at U.S.

1272
00:58:15,725 --> 00:58:17,727
diplomatic facilities
around the world.

1273
00:58:17,727 --> 00:58:19,962
The fact is if they believe
that's a priority, then you

1274
00:58:19,963 --> 00:58:24,033
would think that they would
want to ensure that those

1275
00:58:24,033 --> 00:58:26,069
security operations and
those security measures are

1276
00:58:26,069 --> 00:58:29,239
properly and fully funded.

1277
00:58:29,239 --> 00:58:31,474
I'm no budgetary expert,
but it seems hard for me to

1278
00:58:31,474 --> 00:58:34,143
believe that taking that big
of a chunk out of the State

1279
00:58:34,143 --> 00:58:36,746
Department's budget is not
going to have an impact on

1280
00:58:36,746 --> 00:58:38,615
the safety and
security at U.S.

1281
00:58:38,615 --> 00:58:40,582
diplomatic facilities
around the globe.

1282
00:58:40,583 --> 00:58:42,719
After all, the only reason
that they claim that they've

1283
00:58:42,719 --> 00:58:44,921
engaged in this debate --
I've suggested that politics

1284
00:58:44,921 --> 00:58:49,725
are chiefly to blame -- they
claim that they care about

1285
00:58:49,726 --> 00:58:53,596
making security for our
diplomats a priority.

1286
00:58:53,596 --> 00:58:55,598
But if they actually cared
about that they wouldn't be

1287
00:58:55,598 --> 00:58:57,600
threatening to withhold
funding for security

1288
00:58:57,600 --> 00:58:58,835
for our diplomats.

1289
00:58:58,835 --> 00:59:00,169
So anyway, I guess
that's my reaction.

1290
00:59:00,169 --> 00:59:03,673
The Press: Thank you
for your reaction.

1291
00:59:03,673 --> 00:59:05,841
Seven hundred million
dollars is a lot of money.

1292
00:59:05,842 --> 00:59:07,110
You say safety and security.

1293
00:59:07,110 --> 00:59:10,113
Specifically, would it
really -- would it actually

1294
00:59:10,113 --> 00:59:13,316
take security officers away
from embassies, away from

1295
00:59:13,316 --> 00:59:14,917
diplomats and things
of that nature?

1296
00:59:14,918 --> 00:59:17,020
Mr. Earnest: I'm not sure
of the precise budgetary impact.

1297
00:59:17,020 --> 00:59:18,888
I think what I've said is
that -- what I was trying to

1298
00:59:18,888 --> 00:59:20,890
convey is it's hard to
imagine it wouldn't have

1299
00:59:20,890 --> 00:59:23,459
some kind of impact on the
efforts to provide security

1300
00:59:23,459 --> 00:59:25,495
at diplomatic installations
around the world.

1301
00:59:25,495 --> 00:59:26,663
But for those kinds of
details, I'd refer you to

1302
00:59:26,663 --> 00:59:27,463
the State Department.

1303
00:59:27,463 --> 00:59:28,865
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1304
00:59:28,865 --> 00:59:30,633
Mr. Earnest: Bill Press,
I'll give you the last one.

1305
00:59:30,633 --> 00:59:32,669
The Press: I'll take a
couple of quick ones.

1306
00:59:32,669 --> 00:59:35,337
First, who are the top three
leading candidates for the

1307
00:59:35,338 --> 00:59:36,472
new Librarian of Congress?

1308
00:59:36,472 --> 00:59:37,907
(laughter)

1309
00:59:37,907 --> 00:59:39,909
Mr. Earnest: That's
a good question.

1310
00:59:39,909 --> 00:59:40,843
I don't have any personnel
announcements to make at

1311
00:59:40,843 --> 00:59:43,379
this time.

1312
00:59:43,379 --> 00:59:50,319
But maybe that's something
-- well, I was going to

1313
00:59:50,320 --> 00:59:51,621
suggest that might be
something you could check

1314
00:59:51,621 --> 00:59:52,889
out later.

1315
00:59:52,889 --> 00:59:54,424
The Press: Ooooh --

1316
00:59:54,424 --> 00:59:55,525
Mr.
Earnest: See, I tried to

1317
00:59:55,525 --> 00:59:59,295
stop, and you guys
were all goading me.

1318
00:59:59,295 --> 01:00:02,899
(laughter)

1319
01:00:02,899 --> 01:00:03,499
The Press: You were
looking forward to that.

1320
01:00:03,499 --> 01:00:03,966
(laughter)

1321
01:00:03,967 --> 01:00:04,834
Mr. Earnest: Yes, well,
it just came to me.

1322
01:00:04,834 --> 01:00:07,203
(laughter)

1323
01:00:07,203 --> 01:00:08,538
The Press: Let's go back
to the trade for a second.

1324
01:00:08,538 --> 01:00:12,408
The Democratic members that
I've talked to say that the

1325
01:00:12,408 --> 01:00:15,912
vote on Medicare is not as
simple as you described it

1326
01:00:15,912 --> 01:00:17,513
at the top of the briefing.

1327
01:00:17,513 --> 01:00:21,817
Yes, there's a process by
which once they vote to cut

1328
01:00:21,818 --> 01:00:24,253
Medicare, then there's a
process by which their vote

1329
01:00:24,253 --> 01:00:25,254
won't really count.

1330
01:00:25,254 --> 01:00:28,424
So that leaves them in the
position of going to voters

1331
01:00:28,424 --> 01:00:32,161
next year and saying, yes, I
voted to cut Medicare, but I

1332
01:00:32,161 --> 01:00:34,163
was promised that
vote wouldn't count.

1333
01:00:34,163 --> 01:00:36,232
Is that a fair place
to put Democrats?

1334
01:00:36,232 --> 01:00:38,835
Mr. Earnest: That's not a
fair description of what

1335
01:00:38,835 --> 01:00:40,570
exactly would
happen on the floor.

1336
01:00:40,570 --> 01:00:43,373
And I am, by no means, a
legislative expert, but I

1337
01:00:43,373 --> 01:00:45,241
asked this direct question
to somebody who is a

1338
01:00:45,241 --> 01:00:47,310
legislative expert
on our staff.

1339
01:00:47,310 --> 01:00:49,779
And what they were able to
confirm to me is, based on

1340
01:00:49,779 --> 01:00:52,448
the way the rule is
structured -- I'm looking at

1341
01:00:52,448 --> 01:00:54,917
some self-described
legislative experts down

1342
01:00:54,917 --> 01:00:58,921
here -- the way that the
rule is structured, that it

1343
01:00:58,921 --> 01:01:02,125
would not force Democrats
to take a vote that could

1344
01:01:02,125 --> 01:01:05,895
legitimately be described
as cutting Medicare.

1345
01:01:05,895 --> 01:01:07,964
The Press: That's not what
these Democratic members,

1346
01:01:07,964 --> 01:01:09,766
who are experts, told me.

1347
01:01:09,766 --> 01:01:11,467
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'll say
that this is actually the

1348
01:01:11,467 --> 01:01:12,835
nature of a number of the
conversations that we're

1349
01:01:12,835 --> 01:01:14,670
having with members of
Congress on Capitol Hill to

1350
01:01:14,670 --> 01:01:17,340
make sure that they actually
understand the way that this

1351
01:01:17,340 --> 01:01:20,043
rule works, and the way that
they understand how their

1352
01:01:20,043 --> 01:01:21,344
vote can be described.

1353
01:01:21,344 --> 01:01:22,945
They have strongly
held views on this.

1354
01:01:22,945 --> 01:01:24,781
That's certainly
understandable.

1355
01:01:24,781 --> 01:01:28,317
That's why -- because of
the aggressive advocacy of

1356
01:01:28,317 --> 01:01:31,087
Leader Pelosi and because of
the reasonableness, frankly,

1357
01:01:31,087 --> 01:01:34,390
of Speaker Boehner in this
instance, that they went to

1358
01:01:34,390 --> 01:01:38,194
great lengths to address
this particular concern.

1359
01:01:38,194 --> 01:01:40,196
The Press: And one with
strong views on that,

1360
01:01:40,196 --> 01:01:42,799
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro,
told members, "If you vote

1361
01:01:42,799 --> 01:01:46,002
for this you could
lose your job.

1362
01:01:46,002 --> 01:01:46,636
Period.

1363
01:01:46,636 --> 01:01:47,537
End of story."

1364
01:01:47,537 --> 01:01:48,671
Is she wrong?

1365
01:01:48,671 --> 01:01:50,106
Mr. Earnest: What the
President has said is that

1366
01:01:50,106 --> 01:01:51,974
members of Congress should
be more concerned about the

1367
01:01:51,974 --> 01:01:54,143
jobs of Americans
than their own jobs.

1368
01:01:54,143 --> 01:01:58,081
And that's exactly why the
President has sought to

1369
01:01:58,081 --> 01:02:00,149
advance this trade
legislation, because he

1370
01:02:00,149 --> 01:02:02,151
believes it is clearly
in the best interest of

1371
01:02:02,151 --> 01:02:04,720
middle-class families and
middle-class workers.

1372
01:02:04,720 --> 01:02:06,988
And that's particularly true
when we're talking about

1373
01:02:06,989 --> 01:02:09,192
trade adjustment
assistance legislation.

1374
01:02:09,192 --> 01:02:11,761
As I mentioned earlier,
those members of Congress

1375
01:02:11,761 --> 01:02:15,364
who vote against this trade
adjustment assistance bill

1376
01:02:15,364 --> 01:02:18,000
are adding their name to the
death certificate for trade

1377
01:02:18,000 --> 01:02:19,202
adjustment assistance.

1378
01:02:19,202 --> 01:02:21,204
Trade adjustment assistance
will expire at the end of

1379
01:02:21,204 --> 01:02:23,773
the year, and Speaker
Boehner has made clear --

1380
01:02:23,773 --> 01:02:26,943
again, he has made clear,
and I think for good reason

1381
01:02:26,943 --> 01:02:29,312
-- most Republicans don't
support trade adjustment

1382
01:02:29,312 --> 01:02:32,080
assistance -- he's made
clear that this is the best

1383
01:02:32,081 --> 01:02:34,517
chance that Democrats will
have, probably the only

1384
01:02:34,517 --> 01:02:37,419
chance Democrats will have,
to renew this critically

1385
01:02:37,420 --> 01:02:39,789
important piece of
legislation before it expires.

1386
01:02:39,789 --> 01:02:42,291
And that's the nature of
the conversations that are

1387
01:02:42,291 --> 01:02:44,293
ongoing at the White
House here today.

1388
01:02:44,293 --> 01:02:45,294
All right?

1389
01:02:45,294 --> 01:02:46,261
Thanks, everybody.