English subtitles for clip: File:7-12-12- White House Press Briefing.webm
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1 00:00:00,700 --> 00:00:03,166 Mr. Carney: How is everyone today? 2 00:00:03,166 --> 00:00:05,066 Welcome to the White House. 3 00:00:05,066 --> 00:00:08,533 Thanks for being here, as ever. 4 00:00:08,533 --> 00:00:10,834 I have no announcements to make at the top, 5 00:00:10,834 --> 00:00:15,266 so I'll go straight to Ben Feller of the Associated Press. 6 00:00:15,266 --> 00:00:15,934 The Press: Thanks, Jay. 7 00:00:15,934 --> 00:00:18,866 I had a question that I think carries over from the campaign 8 00:00:18,867 --> 00:00:21,066 to the White House, so I'll give it a try here. 9 00:00:21,066 --> 00:00:26,333 The campaign said today in a call that Governor Romney has 10 00:00:26,333 --> 00:00:31,232 either misrepresented himself on his SEC filings and committed a 11 00:00:31,233 --> 00:00:34,233 felony, or if not, he's not being honest with the American 12 00:00:34,233 --> 00:00:36,433 people about when he left Bain. 13 00:00:36,433 --> 00:00:40,000 And I'm wondering, just as a matter of principle and 14 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:43,033 character, whether President Obama stands by that position, 15 00:00:43,033 --> 00:00:47,800 that he thinks Governor Romney is dishonest. 16 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:49,433 Mr. Carney: Well, I would say a couple of things. 17 00:00:49,433 --> 00:00:52,233 One, the campaign I think did address this, 18 00:00:52,233 --> 00:00:57,766 so this is a campaign-specific question and I would direct most 19 00:00:57,767 --> 00:00:59,767 of your inquiries to the campaign. 20 00:01:02,767 --> 00:01:08,100 The President feels very strongly that we need to take 21 00:01:08,100 --> 00:01:13,399 action in Washington to reward companies that insource, 22 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:15,600 that bring jobs back to the United States, 23 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:19,032 that build industries here in the United States, 24 00:01:19,033 --> 00:01:25,533 and to eliminate incentives that exist in our tax code that -- 25 00:01:25,533 --> 00:01:27,166 incentives to companies to outsource, 26 00:01:27,166 --> 00:01:29,066 to move jobs overseas. 27 00:01:29,066 --> 00:01:31,533 That's his position, and his record, his commitment, 28 00:01:31,533 --> 00:01:33,633 is demonstrated throughout his presidency to this 29 00:01:33,633 --> 00:01:35,633 general principle. 30 00:01:37,500 --> 00:01:39,533 There's been some discussion about the Recovery Act. 31 00:01:39,533 --> 00:01:45,033 The entire purpose of the Recovery Act was to grow the 32 00:01:45,033 --> 00:01:49,934 American economy and grow American jobs here at home, 33 00:01:49,934 --> 00:01:50,934 and that's what it did. 34 00:01:50,934 --> 00:01:53,000 It's widely recognized to have broken the back of the 35 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:56,266 recession, to have reversed the situation where we were losing 36 00:01:56,266 --> 00:02:02,367 jobs at a rate of 750,000 per month to one where we've created 37 00:02:02,367 --> 00:02:05,834 over 4.2 million private sector jobs. 38 00:02:05,834 --> 00:02:10,834 The Recovery Act alone is viewed by outside economists as having 39 00:02:10,834 --> 00:02:14,000 saved or created over 3 million jobs. 40 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:19,266 And it was one of the principles -- the Recovery Act had many 41 00:02:19,266 --> 00:02:24,166 components, but one was to provide direct relief to states 42 00:02:24,166 --> 00:02:30,400 to stop the hemorrhaging of jobs in areas like public schools and 43 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:31,400 police and fire departments. 44 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:35,667 Another was to give the middle class a tax cut to help it 45 00:02:35,667 --> 00:02:38,400 weather this terrible recession. 46 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:40,934 And another was to make some long-term investments in 47 00:02:40,934 --> 00:02:43,033 industries that would help the economy grow in the future, 48 00:02:43,033 --> 00:02:44,966 and that includes in the clean energy industry. 49 00:02:44,967 --> 00:02:50,500 And one of the successes of the Recovery Act was getting 50 00:02:50,500 --> 00:02:55,333 companies that had the choice of building facilities in China or 51 00:02:55,333 --> 00:03:00,133 India or Europe or the United States to make the choice to 52 00:03:00,133 --> 00:03:01,133 build in the United States. 53 00:03:01,133 --> 00:03:03,734 And there is example after example of that -- the advanced 54 00:03:03,734 --> 00:03:06,834 battery industry is a good one. 55 00:03:06,834 --> 00:03:10,066 It was virtually nonexistent, when this President took office, 56 00:03:10,066 --> 00:03:13,467 in this country, had about 3 -- U.S. companies, 57 00:03:13,467 --> 00:03:15,200 U.S. facilities had about 3 percent of the market, 58 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:18,533 and we're well on our way to having a substantial portion 59 00:03:18,533 --> 00:03:20,632 of that market because of the investments in the Recovery Act. 60 00:03:20,633 --> 00:03:24,200 So I can talk about the President's position on 61 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:29,367 insourcing versus outsourcing, his demand that Congress act to 62 00:03:29,367 --> 00:03:34,299 end incentives that encourage companies to outsource. 63 00:03:34,300 --> 00:03:36,033 But for campaign-related specifics, 64 00:03:36,033 --> 00:03:37,566 I'd refer you to the campaign. 65 00:03:37,567 --> 00:03:38,367 The Press: Okay. 66 00:03:38,367 --> 00:03:41,466 One quick follow on that before going on to another subject. 67 00:03:41,467 --> 00:03:43,567 Again, I think this goes straight to the President, 68 00:03:43,567 --> 00:03:48,200 so I'll try -- when Romney became the presumptive nominee, 69 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:51,232 the President called him and -- I'm paraphrasing here but 70 00:03:51,233 --> 00:03:53,166 essentially said, congratulations, 71 00:03:53,166 --> 00:03:55,600 and we ought to have a big debate about the future 72 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:56,233 of the country. 73 00:03:56,233 --> 00:03:59,333 Does the President think that what's happening right now, 74 00:03:59,333 --> 00:04:02,966 this debate about who's telling the truth, who's lying, 75 00:04:02,967 --> 00:04:05,967 is this befitting of a presidential campaign? 76 00:04:05,967 --> 00:04:10,000 Mr. Carney: The President believes that there is a great deal at stake 77 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:10,734 in this election. 78 00:04:10,734 --> 00:04:16,100 You hear him say often that this election in many ways might be 79 00:04:16,100 --> 00:04:20,033 more consequential than the last one. 80 00:04:20,033 --> 00:04:24,100 What we have now is a situation where there are two starkly 81 00:04:24,100 --> 00:04:26,233 different visions about how we need to move the country 82 00:04:26,233 --> 00:04:28,300 forward economically. 83 00:04:28,300 --> 00:04:30,667 He remarks -- and I think it is remarkable, 84 00:04:30,667 --> 00:04:35,700 as somebody who covered it -- that the President succeeded a 85 00:04:35,700 --> 00:04:41,300 Republican who believed in immigration reform. 86 00:04:41,300 --> 00:04:45,400 He ran against a Republican who believed that climate 87 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:47,500 change was real. 88 00:04:47,500 --> 00:04:53,166 There has been a -- the differences between the two 89 00:04:53,166 --> 00:04:55,300 parties and their positions and their visions have become more 90 00:04:55,300 --> 00:04:58,000 and more stark in a short period of time. 91 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:08,633 The matter of tax fairness, the issue of what you would do to 92 00:05:08,633 --> 00:05:12,265 encourage the development of economic -- the development of 93 00:05:12,266 --> 00:05:14,433 industries here in the United States to create jobs for 94 00:05:14,433 --> 00:05:16,266 American workers here in the United States, 95 00:05:16,266 --> 00:05:18,900 and what you would do to prevent or discourage companies from 96 00:05:18,900 --> 00:05:23,633 outsourcing -- those are fundamental matters of debate, 97 00:05:23,633 --> 00:05:27,332 because, as the President said, he could not agree more with the 98 00:05:27,333 --> 00:05:32,900 idea that the economy is the number-one issue in this debate. 99 00:05:32,900 --> 00:05:36,099 And he is very interested in having that discussion. 100 00:05:36,100 --> 00:05:39,200 I mean, if you're referring to the article in the Boston Globe, 101 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:46,800 that was a piece of reporting by your colleagues that -- it's not 102 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:48,433 something the campaign produced. 103 00:05:48,433 --> 00:05:54,166 So it's an interesting read, but beyond that, 104 00:05:54,166 --> 00:05:57,133 I would refer you to the campaign. 105 00:05:57,133 --> 00:05:59,866 The Press: The other topic is the Penn State report. 106 00:05:59,867 --> 00:06:03,667 I'm wondering if the President has been made aware of the 107 00:06:03,667 --> 00:06:06,933 findings or -- and if the White House has a reaction. 108 00:06:06,934 --> 00:06:10,667 Mr. Carney: I haven't spoken with him about that today, 109 00:06:10,667 --> 00:06:13,734 but I suspect he is aware. 110 00:06:13,734 --> 00:06:18,834 He addressed this not long ago and I think he made an 111 00:06:18,834 --> 00:06:21,033 observation that I know he feels deeply, 112 00:06:21,033 --> 00:06:25,900 which is that what happened at Penn State is a reminder that 113 00:06:25,900 --> 00:06:32,866 institutions have -- individuals and institutions have grave 114 00:06:32,867 --> 00:06:35,767 responsibilities to make sure that our children are taken care 115 00:06:35,767 --> 00:06:36,867 of and protected. 116 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:46,000 And it is an indication perhaps that -- well, 117 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:49,767 it is a clear indication that that responsibility was not 118 00:06:49,767 --> 00:06:53,066 taken with the seriousness that it needs to be taken by 119 00:06:53,066 --> 00:06:56,099 institutions across the country. 120 00:06:56,100 --> 00:07:03,133 So as you know, he's a devoted sports fan so 121 00:07:03,133 --> 00:07:04,099 followed this story. 122 00:07:04,100 --> 00:07:06,867 And again, I haven't spoken with him about it yet today but I'm 123 00:07:06,867 --> 00:07:09,934 sure he's aware of it. 124 00:07:09,934 --> 00:07:11,000 Yes, Jeff. 125 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:14,500 The Press: Jay, can the President do more to show leadership on being 126 00:07:14,500 --> 00:07:19,800 transparent with regard to documents, records, 127 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:21,200 his own background? 128 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:23,700 That's another sort of underlying theme here that the 129 00:07:23,700 --> 00:07:26,366 campaigns are clearly going at. 130 00:07:26,367 --> 00:07:27,333 Mr. Carney: Are you talking about Donald Trump? 131 00:07:27,333 --> 00:07:28,333 (laughter) 132 00:07:28,333 --> 00:07:31,567 The Press: Not talking about Donald Trump. 133 00:07:31,567 --> 00:07:33,567 Mr. Carney: Well, you'd have to ask me a specific question. 134 00:07:33,567 --> 00:07:39,100 I think the President's record of unprecedented levels of 135 00:07:39,100 --> 00:07:42,700 transparency in the White House is well established. 136 00:07:42,700 --> 00:07:49,433 His record as a candidate, both when he ran for the Senate and 137 00:07:49,433 --> 00:07:51,900 when he ran for President in 2008 and now as a candidate 138 00:07:51,900 --> 00:07:58,900 for reelection, in terms of transparency is a solid one and 139 00:07:58,900 --> 00:08:02,400 reflects a long tradition of being an open book, 140 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:05,133 as I think he described it when he was asked this question not 141 00:08:05,133 --> 00:08:06,299 long ago. 142 00:08:06,300 --> 00:08:07,233 That's part of the process. 143 00:08:07,233 --> 00:08:09,633 It's not always pleasant or comfortable, 144 00:08:09,633 --> 00:08:14,066 but it has become a well-established tradition 145 00:08:14,066 --> 00:08:19,967 in our country to make available information about 146 00:08:19,967 --> 00:08:21,567 one's private dealings. 147 00:08:21,567 --> 00:08:24,767 That just comes with the territory. 148 00:08:24,767 --> 00:08:29,467 So he not only accepts that but practices and believes that it's 149 00:08:29,467 --> 00:08:31,000 the right thing. 150 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:32,332 The Press: I know this has been asked for years, 151 00:08:32,332 --> 00:08:35,567 but one thing that people -- at least on the -- among his 152 00:08:35,567 --> 00:08:40,000 opponents, continue to bring up is the -- his college records. 153 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:40,400 Mr. Carney: Right. 154 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:42,066 This is a Donald Trump question, which I think -- 155 00:08:42,066 --> 00:08:43,367 The Press: That's the Donald Trump. 156 00:08:43,366 --> 00:08:44,367 Mr. Carney: -- he's the one who brings it up the most. 157 00:08:44,367 --> 00:08:45,666 The Press: But what's the answer to that particular question? 158 00:08:45,667 --> 00:08:46,433 Mr. Carney: I would refer you to the campaign. 159 00:08:46,433 --> 00:08:51,900 It is preposterous -- this is from the guy who insisted that 160 00:08:51,900 --> 00:08:54,800 he didn't believe the President was born in the United States. 161 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:58,300 And it is funny, every once in a while when I sit back in my 162 00:08:58,300 --> 00:09:01,532 office and remember all the things that seemed to be the 163 00:09:01,533 --> 00:09:04,000 most important issue of the day, and there were briefings after 164 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:06,834 briefings where that was the most important issue of the day, 165 00:09:06,834 --> 00:09:12,367 to the point where we had to solicit the long form of the 166 00:09:12,367 --> 00:09:13,632 President's birth certificate. 167 00:09:13,633 --> 00:09:21,700 And again, the President's record on transparency is 168 00:09:21,700 --> 00:09:24,433 extremely sound. 169 00:09:24,433 --> 00:09:26,766 He has provided the kind of documentation that candidates 170 00:09:26,767 --> 00:09:29,266 for President have now, by tradition, 171 00:09:29,266 --> 00:09:31,632 provided for 30 years. 172 00:09:31,633 --> 00:09:34,400 And he believes it's the right thing to do. 173 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:38,033 The Press: All right, swapping to one -- sorry -- last non-campaign or 174 00:09:38,033 --> 00:09:39,767 transparency-related question. 175 00:09:39,767 --> 00:09:43,266 Yesterday you couldn't confirm that this ambassador 176 00:09:43,266 --> 00:09:44,500 had defected. 177 00:09:44,500 --> 00:09:51,066 Mr. Carney: I can confirm that the Syrian ambassador to Iraq defected. 178 00:09:51,066 --> 00:09:57,200 And I think the Syrian government's response was, 179 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:01,033 "you can't quit, you're fired" -- which is another sign of the 180 00:10:01,033 --> 00:10:06,467 desperation, I think, that is enveloping the Assad regime. 181 00:10:06,467 --> 00:10:12,900 We are seeing daily now more and more indications that Assad is 182 00:10:12,900 --> 00:10:16,367 losing his grip, that those around him, 183 00:10:16,367 --> 00:10:19,500 both in his inner circle and more broadly in the military and 184 00:10:19,500 --> 00:10:24,033 governmental leadership, are beginning to assess Assad's 185 00:10:24,033 --> 00:10:31,633 chances of remaining in power, and hopefully beginning to 186 00:10:31,633 --> 00:10:38,400 assess Assad's legacy -- his legacy of brutality -- and 187 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:43,233 making the choice that they will abandon him in favor of 188 00:10:43,233 --> 00:10:45,699 the Syrian people. 189 00:10:45,700 --> 00:10:47,900 So this is another example of that. 190 00:10:49,734 --> 00:10:50,467 Kristen. 191 00:10:50,467 --> 00:10:52,300 The Press: Following up on that, can you confirm the 192 00:10:52,300 --> 00:10:53,400 ambassador's location? 193 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:55,600 There are reports that he's in Qatar. 194 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:57,133 Mr. Carney: I cannot confirm that. 195 00:10:57,133 --> 00:10:58,300 I don't know. 196 00:10:58,300 --> 00:10:58,834 The Press: Okay. 197 00:10:58,834 --> 00:11:02,666 And going back to some of the questions yesterday about the 198 00:11:02,667 --> 00:11:05,533 President not speaking to the NAACP -- you referred most of 199 00:11:05,533 --> 00:11:09,400 those questions to the campaign, and yet President Obama 200 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:13,199 delivered a videotaped message that seemed to have been taped 201 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:14,400 in the White House. 202 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:18,132 So why does this fall under the umbrella of the campaign? 203 00:11:18,133 --> 00:11:21,066 Mr. Carney: Well, the campaign is handling a lot of his scheduling for 204 00:11:21,066 --> 00:11:22,266 campaign-related events. 205 00:11:22,266 --> 00:11:25,934 Again, I think the President's opponent appeared, and -- 206 00:11:25,934 --> 00:11:27,266 The Press: You think? 207 00:11:27,266 --> 00:11:28,599 Mr. Carney: I'm told. 208 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:30,233 (laughter) 209 00:11:30,233 --> 00:11:34,500 The President films a lot of videos -- I haven't seen this 210 00:11:34,500 --> 00:11:40,200 one -- but to events that he cannot attend or is not able 211 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:44,066 to attend for scheduling reasons or whatever reason. 212 00:11:44,066 --> 00:11:46,867 So I'll have to get back to you. 213 00:11:46,867 --> 00:11:49,065 I'm not even sure what room he filmed it in. 214 00:11:49,066 --> 00:11:52,667 The Press: Do you know when he filmed it, and was it because there were a 215 00:11:52,667 --> 00:11:55,367 lot of questions about the fact that he was not going 216 00:11:55,367 --> 00:11:55,967 to be attending -- 217 00:11:55,967 --> 00:11:56,800 Mr. Carney: Absolutely not. 218 00:11:56,800 --> 00:11:57,567 I can't remember exactly when he filmed it. 219 00:11:57,567 --> 00:11:58,433 I'm sure it was recently. 220 00:11:58,433 --> 00:12:03,800 He, as you know, films his weekly address and other video 221 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:09,132 messages every week, and it is absolutely routine when he does 222 00:12:09,133 --> 00:12:12,767 not -- or is not able to attend an event, 223 00:12:12,767 --> 00:12:14,934 but wants to be able to send a message, 224 00:12:14,934 --> 00:12:19,165 that he will videotape that message and provide it to 225 00:12:19,166 --> 00:12:23,967 the convention or conference or gathering in his stead. 226 00:12:23,967 --> 00:12:26,199 The Press: So why not announce yesterday, when you got all of these 227 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:30,133 questions about it, he would be delivering a videotaped address? 228 00:12:30,133 --> 00:12:36,934 Mr. Carney: I think you're reading something into this that there isn't. 229 00:12:36,934 --> 00:12:39,533 The issue was would he attend and why didn't he attend. 230 00:12:39,533 --> 00:12:43,867 He provides a video as a matter of routine to events 231 00:12:43,867 --> 00:12:45,165 he doesn't attend. 232 00:12:45,166 --> 00:12:48,100 The Press: And just following up also on the discussions about the 233 00:12:48,100 --> 00:12:51,133 sequester -- you said yesterday that the OMB is developing an 234 00:12:51,133 --> 00:12:54,800 analysis in case the sequester should be put in place. 235 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:57,000 Can you give us a sense of where specifically they are 236 00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:58,333 in that analysis? 237 00:12:58,333 --> 00:13:02,100 And at what point do they begin to contact other departments? 238 00:13:02,100 --> 00:13:05,800 Mr. Carney: I don't have a date-specific for that. 239 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:09,900 Obviously you know the sequester is written not to take effect 240 00:13:09,900 --> 00:13:16,600 until the beginning of next year, as I understand it. 241 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:21,400 As we have made clear, should it get to the point where Congress 242 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:25,766 has failed to do its job, as dictated by Congress, 243 00:13:25,767 --> 00:13:28,400 and the sequester may take effect, 244 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:31,400 OMB and DOD and the various agencies will be ready. 245 00:13:35,333 --> 00:13:37,467 But we do not believe that should come to pass. 246 00:13:37,467 --> 00:13:44,500 The whole point of the Budget Control Act was to create a 247 00:13:44,500 --> 00:13:50,333 trigger, a forcing mechanism that was so onerous that nobody 248 00:13:50,333 --> 00:13:51,800 wanted it to come to pass. 249 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:56,099 The defense cuts, the President agrees, are too steep; 250 00:13:56,100 --> 00:13:58,734 the non-defense cuts, the President believes, 251 00:13:58,734 --> 00:14:01,400 are too steep. 252 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:07,033 That is why Congress needs to come together and make some hard 253 00:14:07,033 --> 00:14:10,166 choices around the kind of balanced proposal that the 254 00:14:10,166 --> 00:14:14,000 President and every other person who has looked at this 255 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:15,967 seriously, including bipartisan commissions, 256 00:14:15,967 --> 00:14:19,934 agrees must be taken in order to deal with our long-term deficit 257 00:14:19,934 --> 00:14:20,934 and debt challenges. 258 00:14:20,934 --> 00:14:25,834 We've accomplished, in spite of all the rancor and disagreement, 259 00:14:29,367 --> 00:14:31,934 close to $2 trillion -- I think $2 trillion in non-defense 260 00:14:31,934 --> 00:14:33,266 discretionary cuts. 261 00:14:33,266 --> 00:14:34,766 There is more that needs to be done, 262 00:14:34,767 --> 00:14:40,400 and we need to address that through a balanced approach 263 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:41,766 that Congress needs to take up. 264 00:14:41,767 --> 00:14:43,834 And that's how we avoid the sequester, 265 00:14:43,834 --> 00:14:46,834 which was never meant to be implemented. 266 00:14:46,834 --> 00:14:47,766 Bill. 267 00:14:47,767 --> 00:14:50,133 The Press: Jay, in talking yesterday about tax cuts, 268 00:14:50,133 --> 00:14:52,633 you mentioned that the President was always open to compromise. 269 00:14:52,633 --> 00:14:57,533 So I want to ask you, how locked in is the $250,000 ceiling? 270 00:14:57,533 --> 00:15:01,166 I mean, could it be adjusted to $500,000 or $1 million? 271 00:15:01,166 --> 00:15:02,400 Is there some play? 272 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:03,867 Mr. Carney: Bill, what I've said -- and I appreciate the question -- the 273 00:15:03,867 --> 00:15:07,233 President's position is what it has always been. 274 00:15:07,233 --> 00:15:12,934 He will not extend tax cuts to the wealthiest 2 percent of the 275 00:15:12,934 --> 00:15:14,065 American people. 276 00:15:14,066 --> 00:15:16,300 He is committed to extending, and believes we should make 277 00:15:16,300 --> 00:15:21,699 permanent, tax cuts for 98 percent of taxpaying Americans 278 00:15:21,700 --> 00:15:27,800 -- a middle-class tax cut for Americans who need it. 279 00:15:29,934 --> 00:15:35,567 And this is because we simply can't afford to spend another 280 00:15:35,567 --> 00:15:38,900 close to a trillion dollars over 10 years on tax cuts for the 281 00:15:38,900 --> 00:15:42,132 wealthiest 2 percent of American earners. 282 00:15:42,133 --> 00:15:49,867 One of the reasons why we have the fiscal situation that led to 283 00:15:49,867 --> 00:15:52,733 the super committee and the Budget Control Act and the 284 00:15:52,734 --> 00:15:58,133 negotiations last year is because those two tax cuts were 285 00:15:58,133 --> 00:16:00,700 promoted by the previous President, 286 00:16:00,700 --> 00:16:02,300 passed through Congress and signed into law, 287 00:16:02,300 --> 00:16:03,733 and were totally unpaid for. 288 00:16:03,734 --> 00:16:09,934 And what we saw, as a result in part of those policies and many 289 00:16:09,934 --> 00:16:11,199 other policies that were implemented, 290 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:17,867 was the slowest job creation of any expansion in recent memory. 291 00:16:17,867 --> 00:16:22,367 We saw the middle class put under even greater stress and 292 00:16:22,367 --> 00:16:29,165 saw its incomes stagnate and shrink while more affluent 293 00:16:29,166 --> 00:16:32,133 Americans saw their wealth increase. 294 00:16:34,900 --> 00:16:37,967 And if all that weren't bad enough, 295 00:16:37,967 --> 00:16:41,533 we had the great recession, the worst financial and economic 296 00:16:41,533 --> 00:16:43,133 crisis of our lifetimes. 297 00:16:43,133 --> 00:16:49,333 So it's not that hard to deduce that we shouldn't do that again. 298 00:16:49,333 --> 00:16:52,834 What we should do, since we all agree it's the right thing to do 299 00:16:52,834 --> 00:16:56,400 -- Republicans and Democrats alike -- is extend the tax cuts 300 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:59,967 for 98 percent of the American people. 301 00:16:59,967 --> 00:17:02,633 Pass it now -- the President will sign it right away. 302 00:17:02,633 --> 00:17:06,567 And then we can continue to debate whether or not the right 303 00:17:06,567 --> 00:17:09,934 economic policy, the right policy to improve job creation, 304 00:17:09,934 --> 00:17:13,899 to improve economic growth in our country is to give more tax 305 00:17:13,900 --> 00:17:16,633 cuts to the wealthiest Americans. 306 00:17:16,633 --> 00:17:21,066 And I understand that there are people in Washington who believe 307 00:17:21,066 --> 00:17:22,533 that is the right policy. 308 00:17:22,532 --> 00:17:25,199 There are candidates for office who believe that is the right 309 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:28,667 policy, that that is the ticket -- that is the key to future 310 00:17:28,667 --> 00:17:29,833 economic growth. 311 00:17:29,834 --> 00:17:31,567 And that is a debate we should have. 312 00:17:31,567 --> 00:17:35,934 But we should not hold 98 percent of American 313 00:17:35,934 --> 00:17:37,934 taxpayers hostage. 314 00:17:37,934 --> 00:17:41,734 We should not say you're not going to get a tax hike unless 315 00:17:41,734 --> 00:17:43,300 the wealthiest 2 percent get a tax cut. 316 00:17:43,300 --> 00:17:45,966 We should all agree on the idea that 98 percent of American 317 00:17:45,967 --> 00:17:50,500 taxpayers should get a tax cut, get that security and certainty, 318 00:17:50,500 --> 00:17:53,233 and then debate the issue of tax cuts for the wealthy. 319 00:17:53,233 --> 00:17:55,000 The Press: But as you know, there are supporters of the President, 320 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:58,100 Democratic leaders who think they can -- who calculated they 321 00:17:58,100 --> 00:18:00,632 could go up to a million dollars and still have sufficient 322 00:18:00,633 --> 00:18:02,934 revenue to -- 323 00:18:02,934 --> 00:18:06,433 Mr. Carney: The President firmly believes that we cannot afford to extend 324 00:18:06,433 --> 00:18:09,300 tax cuts over $250,000. 325 00:18:09,300 --> 00:18:10,265 He has made his position clear. 326 00:18:10,266 --> 00:18:14,934 I think you've seen broad support from Democrats for the 327 00:18:14,934 --> 00:18:16,667 President's position. 328 00:18:16,667 --> 00:18:22,065 And we certainly hope to see the Senate given the opportunity to 329 00:18:22,066 --> 00:18:25,834 vote on that proposal in the near future. 330 00:18:25,834 --> 00:18:26,533 Yes, Ann. 331 00:18:26,533 --> 00:18:27,166 The Press: Thanks. 332 00:18:27,166 --> 00:18:29,700 Was the President serious on Monday when he said -- 333 00:18:29,700 --> 00:18:32,100 challenged Congress for an immediate vote on this? 334 00:18:32,100 --> 00:18:36,600 Because yesterday in the Senate, twice during floor action, 335 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:39,433 that was proposed so long as they voted on something else as 336 00:18:39,433 --> 00:18:41,233 well, a different version as well. 337 00:18:41,233 --> 00:18:44,533 And both times it was -- did the President discuss that with the 338 00:18:44,533 --> 00:18:45,367 Democratic leaders? 339 00:18:45,367 --> 00:18:46,000 And did -- 340 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:46,667 Mr. Carney: The President was deadly serious. 341 00:18:46,667 --> 00:18:49,833 And as I said yesterday -- and as I think if you dig into it 342 00:18:49,834 --> 00:18:53,200 will recognize what was proposed in a gimmick by Senator Hatch 343 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:54,767 was not the President's proposal. 344 00:18:54,767 --> 00:18:56,900 In fact, it left out the extension of the American 345 00:18:56,900 --> 00:19:00,834 Opportunity Tax Credit and other tax provisions that would have 346 00:19:00,834 --> 00:19:04,633 resulted, if that were passed, in a tax hike for 18 or 25 347 00:19:04,633 --> 00:19:06,433 million American families. 348 00:19:06,433 --> 00:19:08,600 So that was a gimmick. 349 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:13,833 The Senate is in a process of considering very important tax 350 00:19:13,834 --> 00:19:16,467 relief for small businesses that the President has 351 00:19:16,467 --> 00:19:18,400 initiated and supports. 352 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:20,133 And there will be a vote, we hope, 353 00:19:20,133 --> 00:19:24,066 on the President's proposal, which includes all the 354 00:19:24,066 --> 00:19:28,400 middle-class tax cuts that were part of the President's plan. 355 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:33,834 And he believes that there will be strong support from the 356 00:19:33,834 --> 00:19:39,100 Democratic Party for that -- and that there should be 100 percent 357 00:19:39,100 --> 00:19:41,833 support in the Senate, because -- I don't know, 358 00:19:41,834 --> 00:19:44,934 go to their websites -- doesn't everybody in the Republican 359 00:19:44,934 --> 00:19:46,834 Party support tax cuts for the middle class? 360 00:19:46,834 --> 00:19:49,333 And if so, they should vote for it. 361 00:19:49,333 --> 00:19:54,033 The Press: On the NAACP speech, the Vice President's office says that 362 00:19:54,033 --> 00:19:57,500 that was a political appearance of his today. 363 00:19:57,500 --> 00:20:01,100 And I assume that the President's video was a 364 00:20:01,100 --> 00:20:01,899 political one -- 365 00:20:01,900 --> 00:20:06,333 Mr. Carney: I have to -- the problem is I haven't seen it as I was just 366 00:20:06,333 --> 00:20:07,033 asked about this. 367 00:20:07,033 --> 00:20:08,766 The Press: It looked like a radio -- a weekend address. 368 00:20:08,767 --> 00:20:11,567 Mr. Carney: But I think we were referring to the campaign on this because 369 00:20:11,567 --> 00:20:12,734 this is a question. 370 00:20:12,734 --> 00:20:13,466 The Press: My question is this. 371 00:20:13,467 --> 00:20:16,900 The Vice President used the official presidential seal on 372 00:20:16,900 --> 00:20:20,600 his podium, as the President did on Friday at Carnegie Mellon, 373 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:23,265 using the presidential seal, at what was clearly announced 374 00:20:23,266 --> 00:20:24,233 as a campaign. 375 00:20:24,233 --> 00:20:26,399 Is he changing the policy now? 376 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:28,200 Is he going to start using the presidential seal -- 377 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:29,467 Mr. Carney: You've covered a number of Presidents, Ann, 378 00:20:29,467 --> 00:20:31,300 and you will find that many Presidents running for 379 00:20:31,300 --> 00:20:35,200 reelection have, when they stand in front of that particular 380 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:36,867 podium, used the presidential seal. 381 00:20:36,867 --> 00:20:39,533 It's government -- that podium is government property. 382 00:20:39,533 --> 00:20:42,033 We don't hang campaign signs on it. 383 00:20:42,033 --> 00:20:43,699 We use the presidential seal. 384 00:20:43,700 --> 00:20:47,767 The Press: And in almost every one of President Obama's campaign 385 00:20:47,767 --> 00:20:50,934 appearances during this cycle, he has not. 386 00:20:50,934 --> 00:20:54,133 Mr. Carney: I think if you look at -- again, we can have this discussion in 387 00:20:54,133 --> 00:20:58,266 more detail, but if you pay close attention to it and you 388 00:20:58,266 --> 00:21:02,667 look at the podium, you'll recognize that when that 389 00:21:02,667 --> 00:21:04,766 podium is used that we use the presidential seal. 390 00:21:04,767 --> 00:21:08,300 Margaret. 391 00:21:08,300 --> 00:21:10,934 The Press: I'm going to ask another question since Bill Press 392 00:21:10,934 --> 00:21:13,767 took mine. 393 00:21:13,767 --> 00:21:16,600 Mr. Carney: I'll give you a little time while -- 394 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:17,466 (laughter) 395 00:21:17,467 --> 00:21:19,166 The Press: No, that's okay. I got it. I got it. 396 00:21:19,166 --> 00:21:21,966 So, number one, should we expect some of the Iran 397 00:21:21,967 --> 00:21:23,133 sanctions to be coming today? 398 00:21:23,133 --> 00:21:24,533 And since we're here now and they haven't yet, 399 00:21:24,533 --> 00:21:26,399 can you tell us, if so, what they are? 400 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:30,266 And also, can you talk to us a little bit about tomorrow's trip 401 00:21:30,266 --> 00:21:32,767 and any travel next week in terms of what he wants to 402 00:21:32,767 --> 00:21:34,934 accomplish from a policy perspective, 403 00:21:34,934 --> 00:21:40,567 as well as the politics of the travel? 404 00:21:40,567 --> 00:21:42,467 Mr. Carney: I have no announcements to make on sanctions. 405 00:21:42,467 --> 00:21:49,800 I can tell you that we have seen that the actions taken by this 406 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:54,734 administration and with a great deal of unanimity around the 407 00:21:54,734 --> 00:22:01,033 world in isolating and pressuring Iran have had an 408 00:22:01,033 --> 00:22:06,399 impact, an economic impact on the regime in Tehran, 409 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:11,333 which the leaders there have themselves acknowledged and 410 00:22:11,333 --> 00:22:12,700 spoken about. 411 00:22:12,700 --> 00:22:15,166 And we will continue to put pressure, 412 00:22:15,166 --> 00:22:19,033 working unilaterally and with our partners, 413 00:22:19,033 --> 00:22:24,699 on the Iranian regime until they make the right choice, 414 00:22:24,700 --> 00:22:28,166 which is to abide by their obligations to the United 415 00:22:28,166 --> 00:22:30,367 Nations, to the international community, 416 00:22:30,367 --> 00:22:32,367 with regards to their nuclear ambitions. 417 00:22:34,233 --> 00:22:37,466 I believe that the upcoming travel that you're referring 418 00:22:37,467 --> 00:22:39,367 to is campaign travel. 419 00:22:39,367 --> 00:22:41,100 But I think the point you make is a good one, 420 00:22:41,100 --> 00:22:45,166 which is that the President has been and will continue to talk 421 00:22:45,166 --> 00:22:50,767 about -- as well as his broader message that the campaign can 422 00:22:50,767 --> 00:22:54,300 discuss with you in more detail -- some very specific things 423 00:22:54,300 --> 00:22:56,466 that have to do with what Congress can do now, 424 00:22:56,467 --> 00:22:59,200 what we can do now to help the American economy grow 425 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:00,533 and create jobs. 426 00:23:00,533 --> 00:23:05,800 And that I think begins with what we've been discussing 427 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:08,834 already today, which is the need to have Congress extend 428 00:23:08,834 --> 00:23:12,233 the middle-class tax cuts. 429 00:23:12,233 --> 00:23:13,399 I think I mentioned yesterday -- people -- 430 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:15,433 "oh, isn't that just a political issue, 431 00:23:15,433 --> 00:23:17,467 because the Republicans aren't going to go along with it? 432 00:23:17,467 --> 00:23:20,934 Republicans are complaining that you're trying to beat them over 433 00:23:20,934 --> 00:23:23,399 the head with this by supporting middle class tax cuts." 434 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:30,033 And my answer to that is if that is what you fear, 435 00:23:30,033 --> 00:23:33,466 then take the opportunity away from him by extending 436 00:23:33,467 --> 00:23:34,667 the middle-class tax cuts. 437 00:23:34,667 --> 00:23:35,833 That's what he wants. 438 00:23:35,834 --> 00:23:37,033 He thinks it's right for the economy, 439 00:23:37,033 --> 00:23:40,567 he thinks it's right for the middle class, 440 00:23:40,567 --> 00:23:46,667 and would not be happier to sign that thing -- that bill right 441 00:23:46,667 --> 00:23:49,065 away if the opportunity presented itself. 442 00:23:49,066 --> 00:23:52,367 The Press: And just a quick follow-up -- since it's turning into that 443 00:23:52,367 --> 00:23:55,133 season where so many days now he'll be on the road, 444 00:23:55,133 --> 00:23:57,867 and many of these days will be almost entirely campaign days 445 00:23:57,867 --> 00:24:03,567 for schedule purposes, how is he -- how have you guys broken out 446 00:24:03,567 --> 00:24:06,033 how he manages the time that he needs for policy stuff? 447 00:24:06,033 --> 00:24:08,033 I mean, obviously you can do all that stuff. 448 00:24:08,033 --> 00:24:09,233 There's communication on the plane. 449 00:24:09,233 --> 00:24:11,966 But if a foreign leader calls, the briefing is on actual issues 450 00:24:11,967 --> 00:24:14,734 and what's going on -- how do you schedule time into those 451 00:24:14,734 --> 00:24:16,567 days for him to do that? 452 00:24:16,567 --> 00:24:18,900 Mr. Carney: Well, that's a good question and it's obviously one that every 453 00:24:18,900 --> 00:24:24,767 incumbent President must confront if he or she is 454 00:24:24,767 --> 00:24:27,567 running for reelection, as the President is. 455 00:24:27,567 --> 00:24:34,767 We, as previous Presidents have, benefited from the 456 00:24:34,767 --> 00:24:37,734 sophistication of the operations here in the White House that 457 00:24:37,734 --> 00:24:40,600 provides the kinds of communication capabilities that 458 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:45,600 a President requires when he or she travels and that allows for 459 00:24:45,600 --> 00:24:51,934 the kind of instantaneous communications needs that a 460 00:24:51,934 --> 00:24:54,466 President has on the road. 461 00:24:54,467 --> 00:24:56,967 But he gets, as you know -- I think you and I talked about 462 00:24:56,967 --> 00:25:00,967 this a little either earlier this week or last week -- a 463 00:25:00,967 --> 00:25:03,367 President of the United States, even when he or she is running 464 00:25:03,367 --> 00:25:07,200 for reelection, is President of the United States 24 hours a day 465 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:08,200 and seven days a week. 466 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:14,166 And, therefore, the presidency travels with him or her wherever 467 00:25:14,166 --> 00:25:15,166 he goes. 468 00:25:15,166 --> 00:25:19,600 And that requires a national security staff and obviously -- 469 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:23,132 Secret Service and other staff -- but other White House staff 470 00:25:23,133 --> 00:25:25,667 that travel with him, in addition to campaign staff who 471 00:25:25,667 --> 00:25:29,600 are helping him manage the events that he is engaged in. 472 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:34,100 So it's no different from President George W. 473 00:25:34,100 --> 00:25:37,166 Bush when he ran for reelection or President Bill Clinton when 474 00:25:37,166 --> 00:25:41,399 he ran, and I'm sure Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush 475 00:25:41,400 --> 00:25:42,633 before them. 476 00:25:42,633 --> 00:25:47,400 But I remember some stories a few months ago that talked about 477 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:49,367 how we were not ramping up quick enough. 478 00:25:49,367 --> 00:25:54,033 And the President is committed to -- when I say "we", 479 00:25:54,033 --> 00:25:56,367 I mean that the campaign was not ramping up quick enough. 480 00:25:56,367 --> 00:25:59,600 And the President's first commitment is to his 481 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:01,332 responsibilities in office. 482 00:26:01,333 --> 00:26:10,300 And that is just a reality that you have to accept if you're 483 00:26:10,300 --> 00:26:16,265 President, that there are going to be times when the campaign 484 00:26:18,467 --> 00:26:22,266 has to wait because he has to make important decisions, 485 00:26:22,266 --> 00:26:24,533 have important conversations with foreign leaders, 486 00:26:24,533 --> 00:26:30,065 or meetings with staff and others -- members of Congress -- 487 00:26:30,066 --> 00:26:33,500 to get the work done that needs to be done. 488 00:26:33,500 --> 00:26:35,500 Yes, give me one second. 489 00:26:35,500 --> 00:26:36,033 Go ahead. 490 00:26:36,033 --> 00:26:37,300 The Press: Did the President discuss -- 491 00:26:37,300 --> 00:26:38,466 Mr. Carney: You have to tell me who you are first. 492 00:26:38,467 --> 00:26:39,633 The Press: Yes. I'm Tamara Keith, from NPR. 493 00:26:39,633 --> 00:26:40,100 Mr. Carney: Oh, yes. 494 00:26:40,100 --> 00:26:42,033 Sorry, somebody emailed me about that and then I blew it -- nice 495 00:26:42,033 --> 00:26:42,667 to see you. 496 00:26:42,667 --> 00:26:43,433 Thank you for being here. 497 00:26:43,433 --> 00:26:44,333 The Press: It's nice to see you. 498 00:26:44,333 --> 00:26:47,767 Did the President, when meeting with the congressional leaders 499 00:26:47,767 --> 00:26:50,867 yesterday, discuss any sort of a timeline for a vote on the 500 00:26:50,867 --> 00:26:53,399 middle-class tax cut proposal? 501 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:54,500 Mr. Carney: Well, I think we provided a readout. 502 00:26:54,500 --> 00:26:55,967 I don't have a date specific for you. 503 00:26:55,967 --> 00:26:57,567 They discussed a number of issues, 504 00:26:57,567 --> 00:27:00,967 including the middle-class tax cut, 505 00:27:00,967 --> 00:27:03,333 other items on the congressional agenda, 506 00:27:03,333 --> 00:27:06,233 actions that Congress can take to help small businesses, 507 00:27:06,233 --> 00:27:09,899 actions that Congress can take to put construction workers and 508 00:27:09,900 --> 00:27:11,700 teachers back to work. 509 00:27:11,700 --> 00:27:14,800 But I don't have a specific date for you. 510 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:17,000 I tend to leave Senate scheduling up to the 511 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:17,900 Majority Leader. 512 00:27:17,900 --> 00:27:18,867 The Press: Absolutely. 513 00:27:18,867 --> 00:27:22,000 The criticism is that there isn't even language yet. 514 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:25,400 And I don't know -- 515 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:26,533 Mr. Carney: I don't think it's that complicated. 516 00:27:26,533 --> 00:27:32,500 The President wants to extend the so-called Bush tax cuts as 517 00:27:32,500 --> 00:27:34,533 well as the other middle-class tax cuts the President put into 518 00:27:34,533 --> 00:27:37,233 place for a year. 519 00:27:37,233 --> 00:27:40,300 And these tax cuts go to 98 percent of American taxpayers. 520 00:27:40,300 --> 00:27:44,200 He does not support and does not believe we can afford extending 521 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:48,233 tax cuts for the top 2 percent in this country. 522 00:27:48,233 --> 00:27:49,633 And that is his position. 523 00:27:49,633 --> 00:27:54,667 There will be an opportunity for the Senate to vote on that, 524 00:27:54,667 --> 00:27:58,233 as Majority Leader Reid has said, 525 00:27:58,233 --> 00:28:00,934 but I will leave it to him to announce when 526 00:28:00,934 --> 00:28:02,867 that's going to happen. 527 00:28:02,867 --> 00:28:03,700 Laura. 528 00:28:03,700 --> 00:28:06,000 The Press: Just following up on Margaret's line of questioning, 529 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:09,533 I have no doubt that when there are urgent priorities that in 530 00:28:09,533 --> 00:28:12,934 his job as President he makes the time to make that happen. 531 00:28:12,934 --> 00:28:16,300 But when it gets to the point where he's campaigning almost 532 00:28:16,300 --> 00:28:20,033 every day on the road, what goes? 533 00:28:20,033 --> 00:28:23,632 I mean, there's only so many hours in the day and he does 534 00:28:23,633 --> 00:28:27,000 still have to sleep, so where -- what is it that he has been 535 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:30,367 doing all along that he won't have time for when he's in 536 00:28:30,367 --> 00:28:31,934 intensive campaign mode? 537 00:28:31,934 --> 00:28:36,466 Mr. Carney: Well, I think as you might expect, 538 00:28:36,467 --> 00:28:38,567 and you have seen in previous administrations, 539 00:28:38,567 --> 00:28:40,700 that there is less foreign travel in a 540 00:28:40,700 --> 00:28:42,800 campaign reelection year. 541 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:47,100 Foreign travel tends to take up a great deal of time; 542 00:28:47,100 --> 00:28:48,265 it's very important. 543 00:28:48,266 --> 00:28:51,667 This President has traveled widely in pursuit of American 544 00:28:51,667 --> 00:28:53,632 interests around the globe. 545 00:28:53,633 --> 00:29:00,767 But it is certainly the case that there will, I'm sure, 546 00:29:00,767 --> 00:29:03,934 be fewer days out of the country this year for the President than 547 00:29:03,934 --> 00:29:05,633 in previous years. 548 00:29:05,633 --> 00:29:09,967 I think that's a result of the reality of the campaign year. 549 00:29:09,967 --> 00:29:13,066 But other than that, I think that there really is the 550 00:29:13,066 --> 00:29:16,867 opportunity between the days he's here and his capabilities 551 00:29:16,867 --> 00:29:22,867 when he's traveling, the opportunity to get the briefings 552 00:29:22,867 --> 00:29:26,600 he needs, have the interactions with foreign leaders that he 553 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:29,734 needs, and congressional leaders that he needs. 554 00:29:29,734 --> 00:29:33,800 And as I mentioned before, there will be times, I'm sure, 555 00:29:33,800 --> 00:29:42,533 when a planned stop on a campaign -- for a campaign event 556 00:29:42,533 --> 00:29:46,033 has to be delayed or postponed or cancelled because of some 557 00:29:46,033 --> 00:29:47,966 pressing business of the presidency. 558 00:29:47,967 --> 00:29:53,734 And that's just how it is. 559 00:29:53,734 --> 00:29:55,734 But it's nothing to complain about, right? 560 00:29:55,734 --> 00:29:58,066 I mean, he's running for reelection and that's part 561 00:29:58,066 --> 00:30:00,166 of the process. 562 00:30:00,166 --> 00:30:01,166 Mark. 563 00:30:01,166 --> 00:30:04,500 The Press: Jay, on the seal, can you say why there was a change of policy 564 00:30:04,500 --> 00:30:08,133 in using the seal on lecterns at political events? 565 00:30:08,133 --> 00:30:11,500 Your predecessor made it clear during the midterms 566 00:30:11,500 --> 00:30:14,667 that President Obama would not use the seal at purely 567 00:30:14,667 --> 00:30:16,233 political events. 568 00:30:16,233 --> 00:30:19,867 Mr. Carney: Mark, I would just refer you to past practice of 569 00:30:19,867 --> 00:30:21,800 previous Presidents. 570 00:30:21,800 --> 00:30:27,000 When this President is at campaign events that involve 571 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:33,133 raising funds for the campaign, he uses campaign -- depending 572 00:30:33,133 --> 00:30:35,333 on the event, whether there's a podium or not. 573 00:30:37,834 --> 00:30:42,633 In this case, as has been the practice of his predecessors 574 00:30:42,633 --> 00:30:48,767 running for reelection, there are times when it's entirely -- 575 00:30:48,767 --> 00:30:53,233 it is certainly in keeping with past precedent and appropriate 576 00:30:53,233 --> 00:30:57,399 to have the presidential seal on the podium behind which he 577 00:30:57,400 --> 00:31:00,934 is standing because he is actually the President of 578 00:31:00,934 --> 00:31:02,066 the United States. 579 00:31:02,066 --> 00:31:03,333 The Press: Well, I'm not saying he shouldn't use it. 580 00:31:03,333 --> 00:31:06,633 I'm just saying that two years ago you said one thing and now 581 00:31:06,633 --> 00:31:07,633 you're saying another. 582 00:31:07,633 --> 00:31:10,066 Mr. Carney: Well, I don't know that comment specifically, 583 00:31:10,066 --> 00:31:14,967 but I can tell you that this is in keeping with past precedent. 584 00:31:14,967 --> 00:31:20,734 And I would point you to photographs of previous 585 00:31:20,734 --> 00:31:22,166 Presidents running for reelection -- 586 00:31:22,166 --> 00:31:22,767 The Press: Oh, yes. 587 00:31:22,767 --> 00:31:24,967 Mr. Carney: You understand that, right? 588 00:31:24,967 --> 00:31:28,300 You seem doubtful, but I can find photos for you. 589 00:31:28,300 --> 00:31:29,533 The Press: It's a change for you now. 590 00:31:29,533 --> 00:31:31,466 This is the first -- as far as we know, 591 00:31:31,467 --> 00:31:34,100 the first campaign event President Obama has done 592 00:31:34,100 --> 00:31:38,000 all year, at Carnegie Mellon he used the seal on a podium 593 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:39,600 he uses all the time. 594 00:31:39,600 --> 00:31:42,300 Mr. Carney: I think I've addressed this in detail. 595 00:31:42,300 --> 00:31:44,133 Let me get to Brianna. 596 00:31:44,133 --> 00:31:47,166 The Press: Did the President watch Vice President Biden's 597 00:31:47,166 --> 00:31:49,533 address to the NAACP? 598 00:31:49,533 --> 00:31:50,766 Mr. Carney: I think he was in meetings. 599 00:31:50,767 --> 00:31:53,500 He doesn't have a TV in the Oval. 600 00:31:53,500 --> 00:31:57,467 The Press: And was it the CBS interview, is that why he couldn't go -- 601 00:31:57,467 --> 00:31:59,367 the scheduling conflict? 602 00:31:59,367 --> 00:32:00,633 Mr. Carney: It hasn't happened yet. 603 00:32:00,633 --> 00:32:02,800 The Press: But I mean preparation for it or something -- is that -- 604 00:32:02,800 --> 00:32:04,200 Mr. Carney: That hasn't happened either. 605 00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:06,767 The Press: Did that -- somehow did that figure into it? 606 00:32:06,767 --> 00:32:08,433 So I mean, what was it? 607 00:32:08,433 --> 00:32:10,066 What was the scheduling -- 608 00:32:10,066 --> 00:32:11,767 Mr. Carney: There are meetings all the time. 609 00:32:11,767 --> 00:32:15,300 I don't know who he's meeting -- he has the presidential daily 610 00:32:15,300 --> 00:32:18,100 briefing; he has -- as much as he would like to, 611 00:32:18,100 --> 00:32:21,766 he doesn't get to watch often me at the podium or -- maybe 612 00:32:21,767 --> 00:32:26,066 he wouldn't like that -- or members of his administration, 613 00:32:26,066 --> 00:32:28,433 Cabinet members speak. 614 00:32:28,433 --> 00:32:31,800 So I can't guarantee you he didn't watch it because I wasn't 615 00:32:31,800 --> 00:32:34,233 in whatever meeting he was in, but I'm pretty 616 00:32:34,233 --> 00:32:36,767 confident he didn't. 617 00:32:36,767 --> 00:32:39,000 The Press: And on the tax cuts, the President has said that 618 00:32:39,000 --> 00:32:41,233 he would veto an across-the-board extension. 619 00:32:41,233 --> 00:32:46,367 Would he veto anything over the $250,000 threshold? 620 00:32:46,367 --> 00:32:50,332 Mr. Carney: This is the reincarnation of you from yesterday and 621 00:32:50,333 --> 00:32:54,033 Bill from today. 622 00:32:54,033 --> 00:32:58,166 He does not believe and it is not his position that we should 623 00:32:58,166 --> 00:33:01,867 extend tax cuts beyond the 98 percent who fall 624 00:33:01,867 --> 00:33:03,265 under the $250,000. 625 00:33:03,266 --> 00:33:04,000 The Press: He will veto -- 626 00:33:04,000 --> 00:33:06,500 Mr. Carney: He will veto, as I've said and he has said, 627 00:33:06,500 --> 00:33:09,800 any extension of the high-end Bush tax cuts. 628 00:33:09,800 --> 00:33:10,600 The Press: -- across the board. 629 00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:14,332 Mr. Carney: Again, it is -- there are no proposals for that. 630 00:33:14,333 --> 00:33:18,834 Because then we could go, well, what about $251,000? 631 00:33:18,834 --> 00:33:23,133 Or $332,000? Or $723,000? 632 00:33:23,133 --> 00:33:25,734 His position is -- look, and there's a reason for it, right? 633 00:33:25,734 --> 00:33:31,899 I mean, I think that's generous in terms of the definition of 634 00:33:31,900 --> 00:33:32,900 middle class, right? 635 00:33:32,900 --> 00:33:34,834 It's certainly -- $250,000, it's only -- 636 00:33:34,834 --> 00:33:35,967 The Press: It just makes -- 637 00:33:35,967 --> 00:33:37,700 Mr. Carney: -- hold on -- there's only 2 percent of American earners who 638 00:33:37,700 --> 00:33:38,967 make more than that, first of all. 639 00:33:38,967 --> 00:33:42,934 That 2 percent accounts for -- in the Bush tax cuts -- nearly a 640 00:33:42,934 --> 00:33:46,133 trillion dollars over 10 years, a trillion dollars that we 641 00:33:46,133 --> 00:33:49,600 cannot afford as we try to get our fiscal house in order. 642 00:33:49,600 --> 00:33:52,966 Two, it is important because sometimes when the questions are 643 00:33:52,967 --> 00:33:57,533 asked and this policy is explained, 644 00:33:57,533 --> 00:34:01,934 it is important to remember that everybody under this proposal 645 00:34:01,934 --> 00:34:05,867 gets a tax cut on their first $250,000 in earnings. 646 00:34:05,867 --> 00:34:08,900 So maybe some TV folks here -- I don't know -- who make more than 647 00:34:08,900 --> 00:34:11,300 that, you'll get -- if you make $500,000, 648 00:34:11,300 --> 00:34:12,433 you get a tax cut -- 649 00:34:12,433 --> 00:34:13,766 (laughter) 650 00:34:13,766 --> 00:34:19,132 -- on your first $250,000 of income. 651 00:34:19,132 --> 00:34:21,766 It's not that if you're one of the wealthiest Americans 652 00:34:21,766 --> 00:34:23,299 you don't get any tax cut. 653 00:34:23,300 --> 00:34:24,433 The Press: I'm not asking about that. 654 00:34:24,433 --> 00:34:27,867 Mr. Carney: No, I know, but I wanted to take this opportunity to explain that 655 00:34:27,867 --> 00:34:34,734 everyone -- every taxpaying American gets a benefit from 656 00:34:34,734 --> 00:34:35,500 this extension. 657 00:34:35,500 --> 00:34:36,833 The Press: But when he laid down the gauntlet on the 658 00:34:36,833 --> 00:34:41,699 across-the-board, and then you won't say veto -- you just say 659 00:34:41,699 --> 00:34:43,299 that's his position, you're not saying veto, it's just -- 660 00:34:43,300 --> 00:34:43,867 Mr. Carney: I said veto. 661 00:34:43,867 --> 00:34:47,767 The Press: Above the $250,000 threshold. 662 00:34:47,766 --> 00:34:49,433 Mr. Carney: I'm not aware of any proposals -- I can't -- 663 00:34:49,433 --> 00:34:52,632 The Press: Anything between -- somewhere between -- it makes it seem like 664 00:34:52,632 --> 00:34:54,933 you're aware that you're asking for something you're 665 00:34:54,934 --> 00:34:55,600 not going to get. 666 00:34:55,600 --> 00:34:56,533 Mr. Carney: Where is there some bill that you were talking about before 667 00:34:56,533 --> 00:34:59,600 that's being written perhaps as we speak that has it at $250,000 668 00:34:59,600 --> 00:35:02,200 and 50 cents -- then I said he would veto 669 00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:04,033 it if it's over that. 670 00:35:04,033 --> 00:35:09,066 He will not support legislation that extends tax cuts for the 671 00:35:09,066 --> 00:35:10,200 wealthiest 2 percent. 672 00:35:10,200 --> 00:35:15,066 The 2 percent threshold is a $250,000 threshold. 673 00:35:15,066 --> 00:35:16,700 Alexis. 674 00:35:17,367 --> 00:35:20,133 The Press: Jay, I want to take you to an obscure topic but it's 675 00:35:20,133 --> 00:35:20,966 an important one. 676 00:35:20,967 --> 00:35:22,433 I'm not sure it's actually been discussed in the 677 00:35:22,433 --> 00:35:23,900 briefing room -- Libor. 678 00:35:23,900 --> 00:35:28,800 So my question to you is what lessons is the President taking 679 00:35:28,800 --> 00:35:35,066 from the trail that the Libor manipulation is leaving us with 680 00:35:35,066 --> 00:35:38,399 the CFTC's investigation of this bank and other banks 681 00:35:38,400 --> 00:35:39,834 that may be implicated? 682 00:35:39,834 --> 00:35:40,734 What lesson is he taking? 683 00:35:40,734 --> 00:35:43,967 I know we talked about -- 684 00:35:43,967 --> 00:35:53,567 Mr. Carney: I'm trying to -- London -- I was trying to pass 685 00:35:53,567 --> 00:35:56,100 that test this morning. 686 00:35:56,100 --> 00:35:59,933 I would refer you and your questions to the Federal 687 00:35:59,934 --> 00:36:01,834 Reserve Bank of New York. 688 00:36:01,834 --> 00:36:03,700 I have not had this conversation with the President, 689 00:36:03,700 --> 00:36:05,834 so I cannot address that. 690 00:36:05,834 --> 00:36:08,100 I can tell you that, as I understand it, 691 00:36:08,100 --> 00:36:11,066 they issued a statement the other day noting that after 692 00:36:11,066 --> 00:36:12,933 they received reports of problems with Libor, 693 00:36:12,934 --> 00:36:16,200 they shared suggestions with Libor -- this goes to the 694 00:36:16,200 --> 00:36:18,033 New York Fed part of this. 695 00:36:18,033 --> 00:36:20,266 But in terms of the broader implications, 696 00:36:20,266 --> 00:36:21,900 I haven't had that conversation with him. 697 00:36:21,900 --> 00:36:30,033 But I think, broadly speaking, this President took up the issue 698 00:36:30,033 --> 00:36:33,133 of Wall Street reform and is committed to its implementation 699 00:36:33,133 --> 00:36:37,332 because it's important that everybody play by the same set 700 00:36:37,333 --> 00:36:42,900 of rules and that -- not just because that's how it should be, 701 00:36:42,900 --> 00:36:45,734 but because it's important for our economy and it's important 702 00:36:45,734 --> 00:36:46,667 for the global economy. 703 00:36:46,667 --> 00:36:49,834 So that's a broad statement about his position on things. 704 00:36:49,834 --> 00:36:52,500 I don't want to get too involved in Libor because I know it's 705 00:36:52,500 --> 00:36:53,967 under investigation. 706 00:36:53,967 --> 00:36:57,600 Yes, and then Mark. 707 00:36:57,600 --> 00:36:59,366 Well, I'm sorry. I called on this gentleman here who 708 00:36:59,367 --> 00:37:06,967 wants to say -- 709 00:37:06,967 --> 00:37:08,834 The Press: This week you have criticized, and at times, 710 00:37:08,834 --> 00:37:15,533 kind of gently mocked Republicans' definition 711 00:37:15,533 --> 00:37:18,165 in some cases of small businesses as including 712 00:37:18,166 --> 00:37:20,834 some hedge fund managers and lawyers and so forth. 713 00:37:20,834 --> 00:37:25,966 Republicans, in turn, criticize the President's plan that his 714 00:37:25,967 --> 00:37:30,233 tax cut plan would benefit 97 percent of small businesses. 715 00:37:30,233 --> 00:37:31,600 So here's my question -- 716 00:37:31,600 --> 00:37:33,366 Mr. Carney: Let me just be clear -- it's not a claim. 717 00:37:33,367 --> 00:37:35,400 It's been established by the Joint Tax Center; 718 00:37:35,400 --> 00:37:38,266 it's been well documented by outside -- in fact, 719 00:37:38,266 --> 00:37:43,266 we're being kind in our definition of it because I 720 00:37:43,266 --> 00:37:46,600 believe the JTC said it was only 2.7 percent. 721 00:37:46,600 --> 00:37:50,933 So it's really 97.3 percent of small businesses would fall 722 00:37:50,934 --> 00:37:54,633 under the -- even under the definition that the Republicans 723 00:37:54,633 --> 00:38:02,066 put forward do not have more than $250,000 in revenue. 724 00:38:02,066 --> 00:38:04,265 So, to your question. 725 00:38:04,266 --> 00:38:07,133 The Press: Thank you. 726 00:38:07,133 --> 00:38:08,332 Mr. Carney: It's not just our claim. 727 00:38:08,333 --> 00:38:10,834 I mean, we are citing -- I think Ann asked me where did that come 728 00:38:10,834 --> 00:38:12,500 from, and we provided that information -- we even put 729 00:38:12,500 --> 00:38:14,200 it on the briefing. 730 00:38:14,200 --> 00:38:17,866 The Press: For a couple decades, under various presidential 731 00:38:17,867 --> 00:38:21,166 administrations, the Small Business Administration has 732 00:38:21,166 --> 00:38:27,266 been at times criticized by journalists for giving money to 733 00:38:27,266 --> 00:38:30,133 companies that are really not small businesses -- they're 734 00:38:30,133 --> 00:38:31,232 larger than small businesses. 735 00:38:31,233 --> 00:38:34,400 This is an ongoing kind of dispute. 736 00:38:34,400 --> 00:38:38,200 What is the President's definition of a small business? 737 00:38:38,200 --> 00:38:40,133 Is it based on the number of employees? 738 00:38:40,133 --> 00:38:42,799 Is it based on the annual revenue? 739 00:38:42,800 --> 00:38:46,467 What is it based -- does he have a definition? 740 00:38:46,467 --> 00:38:48,934 Mr. Carney: Well, I haven't had a -- I'm not sure that he has his own 741 00:38:48,934 --> 00:38:49,800 personal definition. 742 00:38:49,800 --> 00:38:54,867 I'm sure that he looks to the SBA and the SBA Administrator 743 00:38:54,867 --> 00:38:55,400 for that. 744 00:38:55,400 --> 00:39:00,066 But the fact of the matter is, and I think the point that we 745 00:39:00,066 --> 00:39:03,000 are making here when we talk about this debate with 746 00:39:03,000 --> 00:39:08,300 Republicans who sort of ignore the fact that -- or try to 747 00:39:08,300 --> 00:39:12,533 ignore the fact that included in their definition of small 748 00:39:12,533 --> 00:39:17,165 businesses are hedge fund managers and law partners and 749 00:39:17,166 --> 00:39:26,233 others -- is that 97.3 percent of small businesses benefit from 750 00:39:26,233 --> 00:39:29,133 the extension of the tax cut who file in this way -- S corps who 751 00:39:29,133 --> 00:39:32,066 file in this way benefit from the extension of the 752 00:39:32,066 --> 00:39:33,399 middle-class tax cuts. 753 00:39:33,400 --> 00:39:38,800 It is simply not a viable claim to say that this is going after 754 00:39:38,800 --> 00:39:42,200 small businesses -- unless you want to argue that Warren 755 00:39:42,200 --> 00:39:45,232 Buffett and other folks, and hedge fund managers 756 00:39:45,233 --> 00:39:46,567 are small businesses. 757 00:39:46,567 --> 00:39:48,533 Did you know that by the Republican definition of small 758 00:39:48,533 --> 00:39:53,933 business, half of the Forbes 400 wealthiest individuals are 759 00:39:53,934 --> 00:39:56,767 small businesses? 760 00:39:56,767 --> 00:40:01,567 I don't think that's what most Americans have in mind when they 761 00:40:01,567 --> 00:40:04,667 think about -- when they hear politicians talk about -- and 762 00:40:04,667 --> 00:40:08,533 politicians of both parties talk about this that small business 763 00:40:08,533 --> 00:40:10,767 is the economic engine of economic growth. 764 00:40:10,767 --> 00:40:18,066 They think of small businesses that hire a handful of employees 765 00:40:18,066 --> 00:40:20,133 -- or perhaps scores of employees -- but they don't 766 00:40:20,133 --> 00:40:22,700 think hedge funds, and they don't think of law firms. 767 00:40:22,700 --> 00:40:26,834 They think of the kinds of small businesses that they see when 768 00:40:26,834 --> 00:40:35,667 they walk through their towns, and maybe the kinds of small 769 00:40:35,667 --> 00:40:38,200 businesses that they themselves own. 770 00:40:38,200 --> 00:40:42,000 So this is the debate we're happy to have 771 00:40:42,000 --> 00:40:43,967 because we're right. 772 00:40:43,967 --> 00:40:44,934 The Press: Jay, can I follow? 773 00:40:44,934 --> 00:40:47,300 Mr. Carney: Yes. Sorry. 774 00:40:47,300 --> 00:40:49,900 The Press: The SBA's definition of small businesses, 775 00:40:49,900 --> 00:40:53,633 depending upon what it's doing, from a manufacturing concern, 776 00:40:53,633 --> 00:40:55,633 have 1,500 workers. 777 00:40:55,633 --> 00:41:00,232 And the criticism of the impact of the tax cuts is they would 778 00:41:00,233 --> 00:41:05,600 impact while only 2-and-change percent of the small businesses, 779 00:41:05,600 --> 00:41:08,933 nearly half the small business income -- and that's where the 780 00:41:08,934 --> 00:41:09,934 jobs are being created. 781 00:41:09,934 --> 00:41:12,867 Mr. Carney: But again, that is, again, with a measure of -- do you know why 782 00:41:12,867 --> 00:41:14,033 there's a lot of income in that? 783 00:41:14,033 --> 00:41:16,100 Because there's hedge fund managers and law partners who 784 00:41:16,100 --> 00:41:17,533 are making millions -- right? 785 00:41:17,533 --> 00:41:23,299 And again, if you're a small business and you file under the 786 00:41:23,300 --> 00:41:25,867 personal income tax code, if you're an S corps, 787 00:41:25,867 --> 00:41:32,066 and you make $275,000, you get a tax cut on $250,000. 788 00:41:32,066 --> 00:41:34,567 And you benefit from every other tax cuts for small businesses 789 00:41:34,567 --> 00:41:36,700 that this President has passed and signed into law. 790 00:41:36,700 --> 00:41:39,433 And if you're a small business that's willing to make the 791 00:41:39,433 --> 00:41:41,800 investment in hiring a new worker or expanding your wage 792 00:41:41,800 --> 00:41:43,867 base, you'll benefit from the tax cut that the President is 793 00:41:43,867 --> 00:41:46,600 pushing Congress to pass this week. 794 00:41:46,600 --> 00:41:50,066 The Press: I think the argument, though, is the tiny small businesses 795 00:41:50,066 --> 00:41:51,667 are not hiring. 796 00:41:51,667 --> 00:41:54,333 What we don't really want to think of is a small business 797 00:41:54,333 --> 00:41:58,767 concern with a thousand workers -- they are. 798 00:41:58,767 --> 00:42:00,299 Mr. Carney: I'm not sure what the point of your question is. 799 00:42:00,300 --> 00:42:06,133 Again, 97.3 percent, 97 percent of small businesses unaffected. 800 00:42:06,133 --> 00:42:08,033 By the Republican definition of a small business, 801 00:42:08,033 --> 00:42:12,500 the hedge fund managers would get a big tax cut, 802 00:42:12,500 --> 00:42:14,667 law partners would get a big tax cut. 803 00:42:14,667 --> 00:42:16,700 The Press: But also a concern, a manufacturing -- 804 00:42:18,100 --> 00:42:22,299 Mr. Carney: You would have to cite me real examples, 805 00:42:22,300 --> 00:42:24,467 instead of hypothetical ones, and perhaps there are. 806 00:42:24,467 --> 00:42:27,333 But those businesses would benefit not just from, 807 00:42:27,333 --> 00:42:31,700 if they file this way, from a tax cut for the first $250,000, 808 00:42:31,700 --> 00:42:33,966 but from every other tax cut that the President has passed 809 00:42:33,967 --> 00:42:36,834 into law -- 18 and counting -- and from a tax -- and when you 810 00:42:36,834 --> 00:42:40,767 talk about hiring, that's why Congress ought to pass the 811 00:42:40,767 --> 00:42:43,000 provision the President supports -- actually initiated -- that 812 00:42:43,000 --> 00:42:47,467 would reward small businesses if they hire more. 813 00:42:47,467 --> 00:42:48,767 The Press: A company with a thousand workers, 814 00:42:48,767 --> 00:42:52,433 $250,000 tax cut means nothing to them. 815 00:42:52,433 --> 00:42:54,600 Mr. Carney: Wendell, you're talking about a hypothetical that I don't even 816 00:42:54,600 --> 00:42:55,734 know if it exists. 817 00:42:55,734 --> 00:42:58,400 If you want to come to me with -- or come to our economists 818 00:42:58,400 --> 00:43:02,233 with an example of a company with a thousand workers that 819 00:43:02,233 --> 00:43:07,200 files on personal income tax -- files under the personal income, 820 00:43:07,200 --> 00:43:09,933 is an S corps -- because we're talking -- I think you may be 821 00:43:09,934 --> 00:43:12,767 confused here with the corporate tax rate here and the individual 822 00:43:12,767 --> 00:43:13,299 tax rate. 823 00:43:13,300 --> 00:43:15,734 The Press: I'm talking about the SBA's definition of a small business, 824 00:43:15,734 --> 00:43:16,567 which for -- 825 00:43:16,567 --> 00:43:20,967 Mr. Carney: Wendell, the issue is how do they file their taxes. 826 00:43:20,967 --> 00:43:23,133 So we're talking about personal income tax rates. 827 00:43:23,133 --> 00:43:25,767 We're talking about extending tax cuts for 98 percent of 828 00:43:25,767 --> 00:43:29,000 Americans, individuals, and how they file. 829 00:43:29,000 --> 00:43:31,734 The issue -- the canard the Republicans put out there is 830 00:43:31,734 --> 00:43:36,133 that a lot of small businesses file as S corps, 831 00:43:36,133 --> 00:43:41,633 I believe it's called, and under the individual income tax code, 832 00:43:41,633 --> 00:43:46,433 97 percent of them would not be affected by this. 833 00:43:46,433 --> 00:43:49,066 Mark Landler of The New York Times. 834 00:43:49,066 --> 00:43:49,734 The Press: Thank you, Jay. 835 00:43:49,734 --> 00:43:53,000 You addressed the issue of sequesters earlier, 836 00:43:53,000 --> 00:43:55,233 but I wanted to put it in a different context. 837 00:43:55,233 --> 00:43:58,533 Tomorrow the President is going to Virginia, 838 00:43:58,533 --> 00:44:02,734 a state that's economically dependent on military contracts. 839 00:44:02,734 --> 00:44:05,767 What should or will the President say to people 840 00:44:05,767 --> 00:44:10,500 in Hampton Roads and that area who don't understand the ins and 841 00:44:10,500 --> 00:44:12,333 outs and mysteries of sequesters; 842 00:44:12,333 --> 00:44:14,000 all they know is what they're hearing, 843 00:44:14,000 --> 00:44:17,100 which is that next year they could face these devastating 844 00:44:17,100 --> 00:44:21,299 cuts in military contracts -- what message would the President 845 00:44:21,300 --> 00:44:22,700 have for those people? 846 00:44:22,700 --> 00:44:30,133 Mr. Carney: Well, I think you would make clear that what he supports, 847 00:44:30,133 --> 00:44:33,500 what he signed into law, what bipartisan majorities of both 848 00:44:33,500 --> 00:44:40,867 parties passed last year, was a legislative commitment by 849 00:44:40,867 --> 00:44:45,567 Congress to take action to avoid the sequester. 850 00:44:45,567 --> 00:44:48,233 The Secretary of Defense, the President and others have made 851 00:44:48,233 --> 00:44:55,100 clear they do not support cuts in defense spending that would 852 00:44:55,100 --> 00:44:58,232 be called for in the sequester, as well as the President made 853 00:44:58,233 --> 00:45:00,767 clear cuts in non-defense in spending that's called for in 854 00:45:00,767 --> 00:45:01,299 the sequester. 855 00:45:01,300 --> 00:45:03,667 The cuts were -- the across-the-board cuts were 856 00:45:03,667 --> 00:45:06,866 objectionable and onerous to both sides for a reason. 857 00:45:09,166 --> 00:45:10,867 That's why Congress has to act. 858 00:45:10,867 --> 00:45:15,834 And I think for defense industries and others, 859 00:45:15,834 --> 00:45:19,767 that there is -- for everybody who cares about this issue, 860 00:45:19,767 --> 00:45:23,265 and everybody should, it's a reminder of why we need to -- 861 00:45:23,266 --> 00:45:27,367 we, the American people, need to remind Congress that it's 862 00:45:27,367 --> 00:45:31,867 important to compromise and take a balanced approach here; 863 00:45:31,867 --> 00:45:42,767 that it is not the right policy to balance our -- or get our 864 00:45:42,767 --> 00:45:46,600 fiscal house in order and deal with our deficits and debt by 865 00:45:46,600 --> 00:45:51,366 asking only senior citizens, only the middle class, 866 00:45:51,367 --> 00:45:57,633 only parents with children with disabilities to bear the burden. 867 00:45:57,633 --> 00:46:00,966 And that's what the bottom line is. 868 00:46:00,967 --> 00:46:02,834 I mean, that has been the stoppage, the stalemate, 869 00:46:02,834 --> 00:46:07,533 that's been created by the Republican insistence that 870 00:46:07,533 --> 00:46:11,900 there be no revenues as part of a balanced approach. 871 00:46:11,900 --> 00:46:15,033 And that's unsustainable. 872 00:46:15,033 --> 00:46:20,066 And in the end, the President believes, 873 00:46:20,066 --> 00:46:23,700 we will get that balanced approach because it is what the 874 00:46:23,700 --> 00:46:29,866 American people support and it's the right thing for our economy. 875 00:46:29,867 --> 00:46:30,533 The Press: Thanks, Jay. 876 00:46:30,533 --> 00:46:31,533 Mr. Carney: All right. Yes, sorry. 877 00:46:31,533 --> 00:46:32,299 The Press: Can I ask one -- 878 00:46:32,300 --> 00:46:33,433 Mr. Carney: I thought there might be one. 879 00:46:33,433 --> 00:46:34,166 The Press: Yes. 880 00:46:34,166 --> 00:46:37,266 I mean, the President's message for the last two or three trips 881 00:46:37,266 --> 00:46:40,233 outside of Washington has been, let's give the middle class some 882 00:46:40,233 --> 00:46:42,233 certainty, let's give them a tax cut. 883 00:46:42,233 --> 00:46:45,734 So the certainty in a time of economic uneasiness is a key 884 00:46:45,734 --> 00:46:46,834 part of his message. 885 00:46:46,834 --> 00:46:48,899 Now he's going to Virginia and saying, on the one hand, 886 00:46:48,900 --> 00:46:51,433 I want to give you certainty, but on the other hand, 887 00:46:51,433 --> 00:46:55,333 I can give you no certainty on a key component of your local 888 00:46:55,333 --> 00:46:58,233 economy, which is the military contracting business. 889 00:46:58,233 --> 00:47:00,200 Doesn't that sort of complicate his message? 890 00:47:00,200 --> 00:47:02,332 Mr. Carney: Well, I'm not -- he can't give -- I mean, here's the thing. 891 00:47:02,333 --> 00:47:04,400 Congress passed a law. 892 00:47:04,400 --> 00:47:06,700 The point he's making with extending the middle-class tax 893 00:47:06,700 --> 00:47:11,767 cuts is that here is something, amidst all this stalemate, 894 00:47:11,767 --> 00:47:14,734 that Democrats and Republicans all agree we should do, 895 00:47:14,734 --> 00:47:20,133 which is extend tax cuts for 98 percent of the American people 896 00:47:20,133 --> 00:47:21,899 -- American taxpayers. 897 00:47:21,900 --> 00:47:28,433 So amidst -- this is the little diamond in the sand, right, 898 00:47:28,433 --> 00:47:31,100 that let's do that, we all agree on it, let's do that. 899 00:47:31,100 --> 00:47:33,799 And let's create -- and that does create an important amount 900 00:47:33,800 --> 00:47:37,166 of economic certainty not just for the recipients of that tax 901 00:47:37,166 --> 00:47:39,767 cut but for the broader economy. 902 00:47:39,767 --> 00:47:42,567 It addresses a portion of the so-called fiscal cliff. 903 00:47:42,567 --> 00:47:44,100 Let's do it now. 904 00:47:44,100 --> 00:47:48,667 Let's continue to debate the issues where we -- where there 905 00:47:48,667 --> 00:47:56,967 is contention and disagreement. 906 00:47:56,967 --> 00:47:58,767 But it is not the answer to simply say, 907 00:48:01,133 --> 00:48:03,366 we didn't mean it -- we, Congress -- when we signed 908 00:48:03,367 --> 00:48:04,033 this into law. 909 00:48:04,033 --> 00:48:07,299 We didn't -- I mean, the point is Congress needs to make some 910 00:48:07,300 --> 00:48:10,233 tough choices and deal with our deficit and 911 00:48:10,233 --> 00:48:11,567 debt in a balanced way. 912 00:48:11,567 --> 00:48:17,367 And if the answer is, well, we don't really want to do that 913 00:48:17,367 --> 00:48:21,867 after all, then that takes away the very purpose of the 914 00:48:21,867 --> 00:48:24,800 sequester, which was to force Congress to make 915 00:48:24,800 --> 00:48:26,266 some tough calls. 916 00:48:26,266 --> 00:48:28,867 The Press: But he's not saying with the same urgency, 917 00:48:28,867 --> 00:48:30,600 let's deal with the sequester issue now, 918 00:48:30,600 --> 00:48:33,400 let's get this settled now before we get to January, 919 00:48:33,400 --> 00:48:35,300 that he's saying the tax cuts, which -- so are you at all 920 00:48:35,300 --> 00:48:36,133 worried that -- 921 00:48:36,133 --> 00:48:37,232 Mr. Carney: Well, first of all, you're saying "this week." 922 00:48:37,233 --> 00:48:39,200 I mean, the President has been talking about the urgency to 923 00:48:39,200 --> 00:48:44,700 deal with our deficit and debt in a balanced way all year. 924 00:48:44,700 --> 00:48:49,433 And last fall -- it is embodied in his several budget proposals, 925 00:48:49,433 --> 00:48:51,400 and embodied -- he talked about it in the State of the Union, 926 00:48:51,400 --> 00:48:52,600 he talked about it in his budget proposal, 927 00:48:52,600 --> 00:48:55,366 he talked about it all spring -- winter and spring. 928 00:48:55,367 --> 00:48:57,934 And you'll continue to hear him talk about it. 929 00:48:57,934 --> 00:49:02,166 It was disappointing that the super committee didn't get its 930 00:49:02,166 --> 00:49:04,300 act together, that Congress didn't do the right thing. 931 00:49:04,300 --> 00:49:09,867 It was disappointing that an unelected person who passes out 932 00:49:09,867 --> 00:49:13,000 petitions seems to have more power and authority in Congress 933 00:49:13,000 --> 00:49:19,233 with the Republican Party than its leaders. 934 00:49:19,233 --> 00:49:26,133 But we need to break that logjam so that that balanced approach 935 00:49:26,133 --> 00:49:33,399 is adopted to create the kind of foundation for future economic 936 00:49:33,400 --> 00:49:36,066 growth that the President believes we need to do. 937 00:49:36,066 --> 00:49:36,933 Thanks, all. 938 00:49:36,934 --> 00:49:38,600 The Press: Jay, week ahead? 939 00:49:38,600 --> 00:49:40,500 Mr. Carney: Sorry -- it's Thursday, isn't it? 940 00:49:40,500 --> 00:49:41,367 (laughter) 941 00:49:41,367 --> 00:49:41,867 The Press: Yes. 942 00:49:41,867 --> 00:49:43,266 Mr. Carney: So I don't have a week ahead. Okay.