English subtitles for clip: File:7-14-16- White House Press Briefing.webm

1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,170
Mr. Earnest: Good
afternoon, everybody.

2
00:00:03,169 --> 00:00:05,169
I do not have any
announcements to make at

3
00:00:05,171 --> 00:00:07,171
the top, so we can go
straight to whatever

4
00:00:07,173 --> 00:00:09,173
questions may be
on your mind today.

5
00:00:09,175 --> 00:00:09,945
Darlene, why don't
you kick us off?

6
00:00:09,943 --> 00:00:11,113
The Press: Sure, thanks.

7
00:00:11,111 --> 00:00:13,781
Do you have anything to
add at the top here to

8
00:00:13,780 --> 00:00:17,050
Justice Ginsburg's apology
for her comments about

9
00:00:17,050 --> 00:00:18,550
Donald Trump?

10
00:00:18,551 --> 00:00:21,421
Mr. Earnest: I do not.

11
00:00:21,421 --> 00:00:23,491
Over the last few days,
she's spoken at length,

12
00:00:23,490 --> 00:00:28,700
and I'll leave her to
characterize her comments

13
00:00:28,695 --> 00:00:30,795
and her views.

14
00:00:30,797 --> 00:00:34,637
The Press: Secondly, there
are reports about the U.S.

15
00:00:34,634 --> 00:00:38,904
offering Russia some sort
of military deal to go

16
00:00:38,905 --> 00:00:42,345
after the Islamic State
group and al Qaeda in Syria.

17
00:00:42,342 --> 00:00:44,042
Is that something
you can comment on?

18
00:00:44,043 --> 00:00:47,513
Or is something like
that in the works?

19
00:00:47,514 --> 00:00:58,354
Mr. Earnest: Well, let me
say a couple of things.

20
00:00:58,358 --> 00:01:00,358
The first is that, at
present, the United States

21
00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:02,360
is not conducting or
coordinating military

22
00:01:02,362 --> 00:01:03,362
operations with Russia.

23
00:01:03,363 --> 00:01:05,363
I know there's some
speculation that an

24
00:01:05,365 --> 00:01:09,035
agreement may be reached
to do so, but it's not

25
00:01:09,035 --> 00:01:11,905
clear that that
will happen.

26
00:01:11,905 --> 00:01:15,475
Many of you have written
about the extensive

27
00:01:15,475 --> 00:01:17,475
diplomatic consultations
between the United States

28
00:01:17,477 --> 00:01:22,747
and Russia not just over
the last several weeks,

29
00:01:22,749 --> 00:01:26,749
but over the last several
weeks or more about the

30
00:01:26,753 --> 00:01:30,953
situation inside of Russia
-- about the situation

31
00:01:30,957 --> 00:01:34,357
inside of Syria.

32
00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:39,570
The case that we have made
for more than a year now,

33
00:01:39,566 --> 00:01:46,876
or at least a year now, is
that Russia should use the

34
00:01:46,873 --> 00:01:51,783
influence they have with
the Assad regime to

35
00:01:51,778 --> 00:01:56,118
expedite a political
solution to the situation

36
00:01:56,115 --> 00:01:58,815
inside of Syria.

37
00:01:58,818 --> 00:02:03,688
That political solution
involves a transition --

38
00:02:03,690 --> 00:02:06,060
moving Assad out
of power in Syria.

39
00:02:06,059 --> 00:02:12,429
That's something that will
only happen once we have

40
00:02:12,432 --> 00:02:20,072
been able to bring some
stability to the rampant

41
00:02:20,073 --> 00:02:22,173
violence on the ground.

42
00:02:22,175 --> 00:02:25,975
And earlier this year,
there was some progress

43
00:02:25,979 --> 00:02:30,319
made in getting many
parties to agree to a

44
00:02:30,316 --> 00:02:33,486
Cessation of Hostilities.

45
00:02:33,486 --> 00:02:37,426
And at the beginning of
the implementation of that

46
00:02:37,423 --> 00:02:47,233
deal, it exceeded our
expectations in terms of

47
00:02:47,233 --> 00:02:49,233
the security situation
on the ground.

48
00:02:49,235 --> 00:02:51,235
That was a positive
development.

49
00:02:51,237 --> 00:02:53,237
Since that time, we
have seen the security

50
00:02:53,239 --> 00:02:56,179
situation and
stability erode.

51
00:02:56,175 --> 00:03:01,585
And that has dealt a
setback to efforts to

52
00:03:01,581 --> 00:03:06,121
reach a political
agreement.

53
00:03:06,119 --> 00:03:12,089
As it relates to our
military coordination,

54
00:03:12,091 --> 00:03:18,361
we've always made clear
that we would welcome a

55
00:03:18,364 --> 00:03:23,604
contribution -- a military
contribution from Russia,

56
00:03:23,603 --> 00:03:30,513
as long as they were
focused on ISIL and al

57
00:03:30,510 --> 00:03:33,610
Qaeda's presence in Syria.

58
00:03:33,613 --> 00:03:36,713
Unfortunately, we've seen
them devote too much of

59
00:03:36,716 --> 00:03:39,516
their attention to using
their military might to

60
00:03:39,519 --> 00:03:43,989
prop up the Assad regime.

61
00:03:43,990 --> 00:03:46,290
I think this illustrates
the contradiction that

62
00:03:46,292 --> 00:03:47,792
I've discussed before.

63
00:03:47,794 --> 00:03:49,794
There's a clear
contradiction in Russia's

64
00:03:49,796 --> 00:03:51,026
approach to
this situation.

65
00:03:51,030 --> 00:03:53,930
They say that they want a
political transition, and

66
00:03:53,933 --> 00:03:56,203
they say that they're
concerned about the

67
00:03:56,202 --> 00:04:00,972
presence of extremists
inside of Syria, but yet

68
00:04:00,974 --> 00:04:04,574
they actually use their
military might to prop up

69
00:04:04,577 --> 00:04:09,117
the Assad regime at the
expense of -- or, in some

70
00:04:09,115 --> 00:04:11,715
cases, even to the
detriment of -- our effort

71
00:04:11,718 --> 00:04:15,118
to go after extremists.

72
00:04:15,121 --> 00:04:22,491
So the situation that we
find ourselves in now is

73
00:04:22,495 --> 00:04:24,995
Russia is at a crossroads.

74
00:04:24,998 --> 00:04:28,298
Russia has to decide for
themselves if they're

75
00:04:28,301 --> 00:04:35,971
prepared to take the kinds
of actions that we've been

76
00:04:35,975 --> 00:04:38,545
hoping they would take
for quite some time now.

77
00:04:38,544 --> 00:04:42,544
And the consequences for
Russia are quite grave.

78
00:04:42,548 --> 00:04:46,348
The security situation
inside of Syria continues

79
00:04:46,352 --> 00:04:47,992
to erode.

80
00:04:47,987 --> 00:04:49,987
That's a problem for
Russia for two reasons.

81
00:04:49,989 --> 00:04:52,559
The first is, they've got
a substantial military

82
00:04:52,558 --> 00:05:00,338
investment inside of
Syria, and the pressure

83
00:05:00,333 --> 00:05:03,773
and stress that their host
government is under right

84
00:05:03,770 --> 00:05:06,970
now is not good for their
strategic interests in the

85
00:05:06,973 --> 00:05:09,613
country or in the
broader region.

86
00:05:09,609 --> 00:05:13,849
There also is a persistent
extremist threat inside of

87
00:05:13,846 --> 00:05:16,116
Syria that we know is
capitalizing on the chaos

88
00:05:16,115 --> 00:05:17,785
in that country.

89
00:05:17,784 --> 00:05:23,324
And that chaos poses a
significant threat to

90
00:05:23,322 --> 00:05:28,062
Russia's security
situation.

91
00:05:28,061 --> 00:05:30,831
So it's in their interest
to begin pursuing a

92
00:05:30,830 --> 00:05:34,530
strategy that
addresses that.

93
00:05:34,534 --> 00:05:36,704
That's certainly what the
United States has done --

94
00:05:36,703 --> 00:05:38,703
because we're aware of the
threat that is posed by

95
00:05:38,705 --> 00:05:41,745
extremists inside of Syria
that emanates not just

96
00:05:41,741 --> 00:05:46,081
from ISIL, but also al
Qaeda's presence there.

97
00:05:46,079 --> 00:05:48,449
Russia faces that same
threat; in some ways, it

98
00:05:48,448 --> 00:05:52,588
could be even
described as worse.

99
00:05:52,585 --> 00:05:55,855
But their approach has
been different than ours.

100
00:05:55,855 --> 00:06:00,965
And that's why it's time
for Russia to make some

101
00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:03,130
serious decisions about
how they want to use their

102
00:06:03,129 --> 00:06:06,699
influence inside of Syria,
both when it comes to

103
00:06:06,699 --> 00:06:08,839
their diplomatic
influence, but also when

104
00:06:08,835 --> 00:06:11,375
it comes to their
military capabilities.

105
00:06:11,370 --> 00:06:13,740
So that was a long answer
to your question, Darlene.

106
00:06:13,740 --> 00:06:17,410
But the situation there is
complicated, and I want to

107
00:06:17,410 --> 00:06:19,410
try to give you a detailed
understanding of what our

108
00:06:19,412 --> 00:06:22,212
approach has been and the
basic questions -- the

109
00:06:22,215 --> 00:06:25,315
strategic questions that
Russia is facing right now.

110
00:06:25,318 --> 00:06:28,318
The Press: Wouldn't such
a partnership between the U.S.

111
00:06:28,321 --> 00:06:30,861
and Russia sort of
undercut everything the U.S.

112
00:06:30,857 --> 00:06:33,527
has been saying all along
about Russia's military

113
00:06:33,526 --> 00:06:35,726
involvement in Syria
in the first place?

114
00:06:35,728 --> 00:06:37,728
Mr. Earnest: What we've
been saying about Russia's

115
00:06:37,730 --> 00:06:40,630
military involvement in
Syria in the first place,

116
00:06:40,633 --> 00:06:42,803
from the beginning, has
been that they have to

117
00:06:42,802 --> 00:06:45,572
decide if they're going to
use that military to prop

118
00:06:45,571 --> 00:06:49,071
up the Assad regime, or if
they're going to use their

119
00:06:49,075 --> 00:06:51,075
military to go
after extremists.

120
00:06:51,077 --> 00:06:59,957
And our case is that
you can't do both.

121
00:06:59,952 --> 00:07:02,952
In some cases, Russia -- I
guess to be fair to them

122
00:07:02,955 --> 00:07:06,025
-- they have
tried to do both.

123
00:07:06,025 --> 00:07:09,495
But trying to do both --
trying to go after both,

124
00:07:09,495 --> 00:07:15,305
trying to accomplish both
goals -- is a

125
00:07:15,301 --> 00:07:16,771
fundamental contradiction.

126
00:07:16,769 --> 00:07:19,869
Because to prop up the
Assad regime worsens the

127
00:07:19,872 --> 00:07:23,212
chaos inside of Syria, and
extremist organizations

128
00:07:23,209 --> 00:07:29,049
rely on that
chaos to thrive.

129
00:07:29,048 --> 00:07:33,288
So this is the strategy
that contains this glaring

130
00:07:33,286 --> 00:07:36,156
contradiction that Russia
has pursued for more

131
00:07:36,155 --> 00:07:37,155
than a year.

132
00:07:37,156 --> 00:07:41,526
And we've seen in that
time the security

133
00:07:41,527 --> 00:07:50,137
situation in Syria
deteriorate.

134
00:07:50,136 --> 00:07:54,706
We've made progress
against ISIL in that time,

135
00:07:54,707 --> 00:08:01,977
but it's been in spite
of Russia's presence and

136
00:08:01,981 --> 00:08:05,851
actions -- not
because of them.

137
00:08:05,852 --> 00:08:09,852
And we are still quite
concerned about the

138
00:08:09,856 --> 00:08:11,856
broader threat that is
posed by ISIL and by al

139
00:08:11,858 --> 00:08:13,858
Qaeda extremists
inside of Syria.

140
00:08:13,860 --> 00:08:17,630
And that threat is not
just limited to Western targets.

141
00:08:17,630 --> 00:08:22,240
It's not just limited to
targets in NATO countries.

142
00:08:22,235 --> 00:08:28,405
There's a persistent
threat in Russia that they

143
00:08:28,407 --> 00:08:37,447
risk exacerbating as
long as they use their

144
00:08:37,450 --> 00:08:41,320
influence to prop
up the Assad regime.

145
00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:45,060
The Press: Finally, really
quickly, has the President

146
00:08:45,057 --> 00:08:46,727
-- or do you know when he
will call Theresa May to

147
00:08:46,726 --> 00:08:48,726
congratulate her on
becoming Prime Minister

148
00:08:48,728 --> 00:08:49,758
of Britain?

149
00:08:49,762 --> 00:08:51,762
Mr. Earnest: The President
had an opportunity earlier

150
00:08:51,764 --> 00:08:55,564
this morning to telephone
the new Prime Minister of

151
00:08:55,568 --> 00:08:57,108
the UK, Theresa May.

152
00:08:57,103 --> 00:09:00,673
The President called to
offer his congratulations

153
00:09:00,673 --> 00:09:07,143
to her on her new
leadership position.

154
00:09:07,146 --> 00:09:11,786
The President reiterated
our oft-stated commitment

155
00:09:11,784 --> 00:09:14,554
to not just protecting
but deepening the special

156
00:09:14,553 --> 00:09:17,353
relationship between the
United States and the UK.

157
00:09:17,356 --> 00:09:21,426
And the President
certainly looks forward to

158
00:09:21,427 --> 00:09:23,467
working with Prime
Minister May in the six

159
00:09:23,462 --> 00:09:26,162
months that he has
remaining in office to

160
00:09:26,165 --> 00:09:27,165
advance that goal.

161
00:09:27,166 --> 00:09:31,976
We'll see later today
if we can provide you a

162
00:09:31,971 --> 00:09:34,271
little bit more detail
about their call.

163
00:09:34,273 --> 00:09:36,913
Jeff.

164
00:09:36,909 --> 00:09:38,109
The Press: Josh, sort of
a continuation on that.

165
00:09:38,110 --> 00:09:41,250
How does the White House
feel about Prime Minister

166
00:09:41,247 --> 00:09:43,817
May's selection of Boris
Johnson as the

167
00:09:43,816 --> 00:09:45,986
foreign secretary?

168
00:09:45,985 --> 00:09:48,725
He's been fairly critical
of President Obama and

169
00:09:48,721 --> 00:09:50,621
made some controversial
remarks about him.

170
00:09:50,623 --> 00:09:53,063
Is that an individual
that you see this

171
00:09:53,059 --> 00:09:56,129
administration being
able to work well with?

172
00:09:56,128 --> 00:09:59,298
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jeff,
let me start by saying

173
00:09:59,298 --> 00:10:04,768
that I got questions of
this variety when Prime

174
00:10:04,770 --> 00:10:07,610
Minister Netanyahu had
announced that Ambassador

175
00:10:07,606 --> 00:10:10,146
Dermer would be the
Israeli envoy to the

176
00:10:10,142 --> 00:10:11,442
United States.

177
00:10:11,444 --> 00:10:15,244
And what I said in that
situation is a thing that

178
00:10:15,247 --> 00:10:17,887
I -- the same thing that
I'll say here, which is to

179
00:10:17,883 --> 00:10:19,623
restate a principle about
the importance of the

180
00:10:19,618 --> 00:10:26,828
U.S.-UK special
relationship.

181
00:10:26,826 --> 00:10:29,066
That relationship
transcends any single

182
00:10:29,061 --> 00:10:36,301
personality, and choices
that are made by the

183
00:10:36,302 --> 00:10:39,572
British government about
who will represent them on

184
00:10:39,572 --> 00:10:42,072
the international stage
are rightly choices that

185
00:10:42,074 --> 00:10:46,614
should be made by British
leaders, and British

186
00:10:46,612 --> 00:10:47,612
leaders alone.

187
00:10:47,613 --> 00:10:55,853
But whomever they
choose is up to them.

188
00:10:55,855 --> 00:11:01,365
The decision that we will
make is to seek to deepen

189
00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:04,660
and strengthen our special
relationship with the UK,

190
00:11:04,663 --> 00:11:07,763
regardless of who serves
in a position as prominent

191
00:11:07,767 --> 00:11:10,807
as foreign minister.

192
00:11:10,803 --> 00:11:12,973
The Press: But they have
chosen, and they chose

193
00:11:12,972 --> 00:11:14,942
someone who has said some
pretty controversial

194
00:11:14,940 --> 00:11:16,940
things about
the President.

195
00:11:16,942 --> 00:11:19,582
Is that awkward for
the White House?

196
00:11:19,578 --> 00:11:23,278
Would you like to hear
words of apology, perhaps,

197
00:11:23,282 --> 00:11:27,482
from the new foreign
secretary before starting fresh?

198
00:11:27,486 --> 00:11:33,496
How do you
respond to that?

199
00:11:33,492 --> 00:11:36,092
Mr. Earnest: No, I did not
come out here prepared to

200
00:11:36,095 --> 00:11:37,765
demand an apology.

201
00:11:37,763 --> 00:11:41,603
I came out here to express
our firm commitment to

202
00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:45,600
moving forward with the
new leadership of the UK,

203
00:11:45,604 --> 00:11:49,204
to further strengthen
and deepen the special

204
00:11:49,208 --> 00:11:51,208
relationship that exists
between the UK and the

205
00:11:51,210 --> 00:11:52,340
United States.

206
00:11:52,344 --> 00:11:54,744
And the President is
committed to that

207
00:11:54,747 --> 00:11:56,817
relationship and believes
it is possible for us to

208
00:11:56,816 --> 00:12:00,156
strengthen that
relationship because of

209
00:12:00,152 --> 00:12:03,092
the collective and
historic commitment by

210
00:12:03,089 --> 00:12:06,529
leaders in the UK and
by the UK people and by

211
00:12:06,525 --> 00:12:08,525
leaders in the United
States and by the

212
00:12:08,527 --> 00:12:10,067
American people.

213
00:12:10,062 --> 00:12:15,272
So we're confident that we
can do this work and we'll

214
00:12:15,267 --> 00:12:20,207
pursue it, irrespective of
specific personalities.

215
00:12:20,206 --> 00:12:21,846
The Press: All right.

216
00:12:21,841 --> 00:12:23,141
And one follow up on the
question that Darlene

217
00:12:23,142 --> 00:12:25,012
asked about Russia.

218
00:12:25,010 --> 00:12:26,610
Are the White House, the
Pentagon, and the State

219
00:12:26,612 --> 00:12:29,682
Department all on the same
page about what Secretary

220
00:12:29,682 --> 00:12:34,352
Kerry is bringing to
those talks in Moscow?

221
00:12:34,353 --> 00:12:36,623
Mr. Earnest: Jeff, the
President and his national

222
00:12:36,622 --> 00:12:42,032
security team -- well,
let me say it this way.

223
00:12:42,027 --> 00:12:44,967
When the President is
making important decisions

224
00:12:44,964 --> 00:12:47,034
about our foreign policy,
he elicits people with

225
00:12:47,032 --> 00:12:50,372
different perspectives and
encourages them to share

226
00:12:50,369 --> 00:12:52,209
their opinion.

227
00:12:52,204 --> 00:12:57,244
And that's the most
effective way to make

228
00:12:57,243 --> 00:13:00,213
complicated decisions, is
to draw upon the advice

229
00:13:00,212 --> 00:13:02,952
and insight of people
with different areas of

230
00:13:02,948 --> 00:13:05,888
expertise and people
that have

231
00:13:05,885 --> 00:13:08,955
different perspectives.

232
00:13:08,954 --> 00:13:14,024
At the same time, I can
tell you that when the

233
00:13:14,026 --> 00:13:20,036
President makes a
decision, that the

234
00:13:20,032 --> 00:13:23,572
institutions of our
country's national

235
00:13:23,569 --> 00:13:30,779
security are fully aligned
and focused on achieving

236
00:13:30,776 --> 00:13:34,376
the objective that the
President has laid out.

237
00:13:34,380 --> 00:13:36,650
And the President has got
complete confidence in

238
00:13:36,649 --> 00:13:39,419
people like Secretary
Kerry and Secretary Carter

239
00:13:39,418 --> 00:13:43,218
and the men and women who
serve this country, under

240
00:13:43,222 --> 00:13:50,132
their leadership, to
address these impossibly

241
00:13:50,129 --> 00:13:51,999
complex problems.

242
00:13:51,997 --> 00:13:53,997
The President has a lot of
confidence and is deeply

243
00:13:53,999 --> 00:13:56,939
appreciative of the
service of the men and

244
00:13:56,936 --> 00:14:02,376
women in the intelligence
community and the

245
00:14:02,374 --> 00:14:04,444
Department of Defense and
at the State Department.

246
00:14:04,443 --> 00:14:05,643
The Press: Is the
President concerned that

247
00:14:05,644 --> 00:14:08,984
opposition to this
proposal from the military

248
00:14:08,981 --> 00:14:12,621
might be undermining the
ability to make it happen?

249
00:14:12,618 --> 00:14:15,988
Mr. Earnest: No, the
President is -- again, the

250
00:14:15,988 --> 00:14:23,658
President is confident
that he's getting good

251
00:14:23,662 --> 00:14:28,132
advice, that the efforts
that are being undertaken

252
00:14:28,133 --> 00:14:30,703
by national security
professionals -- our

253
00:14:30,703 --> 00:14:33,773
diplomats, military
leaders, intelligence

254
00:14:33,772 --> 00:14:36,812
officials and other parts
of his national security

255
00:14:36,809 --> 00:14:40,449
team -- are focused
on the right things.

256
00:14:40,446 --> 00:14:44,446
And they've got the right
priorities; they're loyal

257
00:14:44,450 --> 00:14:46,820
to their country.

258
00:14:46,819 --> 00:14:55,459
These are professionals
who are grappling with a

259
00:14:55,461 --> 00:14:58,501
difficult problem
that's got significant

260
00:14:58,497 --> 00:15:01,337
consequences -- not just
for the millions of people

261
00:15:01,333 --> 00:15:05,203
inside of Syria who have
been displaced, but also

262
00:15:05,204 --> 00:15:08,274
for broader
questions about U.S.

263
00:15:08,274 --> 00:15:11,344
national security,
particularly as it relates

264
00:15:11,343 --> 00:15:13,343
to the extremists inside
of Syria that are trying

265
00:15:13,345 --> 00:15:14,745
to capitalize
on the chaos.

266
00:15:14,747 --> 00:15:20,817
So, look, I got asked this
line of questioning a few

267
00:15:20,819 --> 00:15:24,359
weeks ago when there was
the leak of a so-called

268
00:15:24,356 --> 00:15:28,666
dissent cable from
the State Department.

269
00:15:28,661 --> 00:15:30,661
You heard me say at that
point that the President

270
00:15:30,663 --> 00:15:32,463
welcomes dissenting views.

271
00:15:32,464 --> 00:15:34,204
The President believes
that there should be a

272
00:15:34,199 --> 00:15:37,099
channel where people who
may disagree can express

273
00:15:37,102 --> 00:15:39,442
their opinion.

274
00:15:39,438 --> 00:15:41,878
That is a valuable thing
to somebody like the

275
00:15:41,874 --> 00:15:43,874
President of the United
States who is interested

276
00:15:43,876 --> 00:15:45,846
in trying to make
the right decision.

277
00:15:45,844 --> 00:15:50,014
He wants to hear the
informed perspective, even

278
00:15:50,015 --> 00:15:54,455
of people who may
not agree with him.

279
00:15:54,453 --> 00:15:57,493
So that's, again, that's
particularly true when

280
00:15:57,489 --> 00:15:59,489
you're dealing with a
problem as complex and as

281
00:15:59,491 --> 00:16:03,261
difficult as the
situation in Syria.

282
00:16:03,262 --> 00:16:03,632
April.

283
00:16:03,629 --> 00:16:06,929
The Press: Josh, I want to
go back to the issue of

284
00:16:06,932 --> 00:16:08,932
race that the President
dealt with for a very long

285
00:16:08,934 --> 00:16:11,534
time yesterday --
almost five hours.

286
00:16:11,537 --> 00:16:15,277
There are expected to be
more protests --

287
00:16:15,274 --> 00:16:16,774
protests continue.

288
00:16:16,775 --> 00:16:23,285
What's the President's
thought about that as he

289
00:16:23,282 --> 00:16:25,982
had Black Lives Matter,
police, civil rights,

290
00:16:25,984 --> 00:16:29,754
faith leaders, local and
state officials at that

291
00:16:29,755 --> 00:16:33,995
table who were said
to have had real

292
00:16:33,992 --> 00:16:36,862
conversations -- and at
sometimes very pointed

293
00:16:36,862 --> 00:16:38,432
and tense?

294
00:16:38,430 --> 00:16:40,800
What are his thoughts
about these protests that

295
00:16:40,799 --> 00:16:42,839
continue after this
conversation, and the

296
00:16:42,835 --> 00:16:45,335
conversations -- and the
others that are supposed

297
00:16:45,204 --> 00:16:48,204
Mr. Earnest: Well, let me
start out by reiterating

298
00:16:45,337 --> 00:16:46,807
to follow next week?

299
00:16:48,207 --> 00:16:50,207
something that the
President said on a number

300
00:16:50,209 --> 00:16:51,209
of occasions.

301
00:16:51,210 --> 00:16:53,210
The President believes
that those demonstrations

302
00:16:53,212 --> 00:16:58,052
and those expressions
of protest should be peaceful.

303
00:16:58,050 --> 00:17:04,090
There's no justification
for carrying out an act of

304
00:17:04,089 --> 00:17:06,859
violence against a police
officer just because that

305
00:17:06,859 --> 00:17:07,929
person is wearing
the badge.

306
00:17:07,926 --> 00:17:11,466
As it relates to the
conversation that the

307
00:17:11,463 --> 00:17:13,463
President had last night,
you heard the President

308
00:17:13,465 --> 00:17:16,735
himself describe it as
thoughtful and respectful,

309
00:17:16,735 --> 00:17:18,735
and the kind of
conversation that people

310
00:17:18,737 --> 00:17:21,207
across the country
could be proud of.

311
00:17:21,206 --> 00:17:24,546
This was a roomful of
people with a variety of

312
00:17:24,543 --> 00:17:29,713
viewpoints on a very
different but similarly

313
00:17:29,715 --> 00:17:32,755
complex topic.

314
00:17:32,751 --> 00:17:41,361
And if we're going to make
progress on this issues,

315
00:17:41,360 --> 00:17:43,360
we're going to have to
have conversations like

316
00:17:43,362 --> 00:17:45,362
the one the President
convened yesterday -- a

317
00:17:45,364 --> 00:17:48,304
conversation that's not
focused on winning a

318
00:17:48,300 --> 00:17:53,370
contest of talking points;
a conversation that's not

319
00:17:53,372 --> 00:17:56,572
just rooted in giving
people an opportunity to

320
00:17:56,575 --> 00:17:58,545
voice the particular
emotion that they may be

321
00:17:58,544 --> 00:18:02,944
feeling at that point, but
rather a laser-like focus

322
00:18:02,948 --> 00:18:04,288
on solutions.

323
00:18:04,283 --> 00:18:07,953
And that certainly is the
focus that the President has.

324
00:18:07,953 --> 00:18:10,593
And you'll have an
opportunity to hear more

325
00:18:10,589 --> 00:18:12,589
from the President tonight
when he talks about this

326
00:18:12,591 --> 00:18:15,661
at a town hall meeting
hosted by ABC.

327
00:18:15,661 --> 00:18:17,701
The Press: We would love
to have a town hall

328
00:18:17,696 --> 00:18:20,096
meeting for American Urban
Radio networks, as well.

329
00:18:20,098 --> 00:18:22,298
Mr. Earnest: Okay.

330
00:18:22,301 --> 00:18:23,501
Thank you for
the invitation.

331
00:18:23,502 --> 00:18:24,502
The Press: You're
very welcome.

332
00:18:24,503 --> 00:18:25,473
I hope you accept it.

333
00:18:25,471 --> 00:18:28,971
Now, going in a little
deeper on this -- so we're

334
00:18:28,974 --> 00:18:30,574
told by some of the
participants that there

335
00:18:30,576 --> 00:18:32,646
are going to be
more conversations.

336
00:18:32,644 --> 00:18:34,684
Will the President
be leading these conversations?

337
00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:36,550
Will it be led by
White House officials?

338
00:18:36,548 --> 00:18:41,658
How far is he willing to
lean in on this himself?

339
00:18:41,653 --> 00:18:47,563
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
over the last week now,

340
00:18:47,559 --> 00:18:49,559
you've seen the
President's willingness to

341
00:18:49,561 --> 00:18:51,161
lean in pretty
significantly.

342
00:18:51,163 --> 00:18:52,433
But this is not something
the President is going to

343
00:18:52,431 --> 00:18:54,231
do on his own.

344
00:18:54,233 --> 00:18:56,473
This is not the kind of
thing that we accomplish

345
00:18:56,468 --> 00:18:58,638
through the sheer force
of will of one person.

346
00:18:58,637 --> 00:19:02,777
This is the only thing
that's accomplished when

347
00:19:02,774 --> 00:19:06,714
men and women -- black,
white, brown -- in

348
00:19:06,712 --> 00:19:11,522
communities all across the
country respond to their

349
00:19:11,517 --> 00:19:15,587
own conscience.

350
00:19:15,587 --> 00:19:19,357
And that's where solutions
are going to come from.

351
00:19:19,358 --> 00:19:27,738
And there has be a courage
and an openness to hearing

352
00:19:27,733 --> 00:19:31,233
the perspectives of others
and expressing one's own

353
00:19:31,236 --> 00:19:33,236
perspective in a
thoughtful way.

354
00:19:33,238 --> 00:19:35,238
And that has to take place
in conversations that

355
00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:37,840
aren't just led
by the President.

356
00:19:37,843 --> 00:19:39,843
So one example of that
is, we saw yesterday an

357
00:19:39,845 --> 00:19:41,845
announcement, I
believe from the U.S.

358
00:19:41,847 --> 00:19:43,847
Conference of Mayors,
indicating that they

359
00:19:43,849 --> 00:19:45,849
expect over the course of
the next month or two to

360
00:19:45,851 --> 00:19:48,751
host 100 conversations
all across the country.

361
00:19:48,754 --> 00:19:49,954
That's a start.

362
00:19:49,955 --> 00:19:51,825
That's something.

363
00:19:51,823 --> 00:19:58,433
And if those conversations
are convened in the spirit

364
00:19:58,430 --> 00:20:00,470
of the meeting that the
President had in the EEOB

365
00:20:00,465 --> 00:20:04,465
yesterday, then that
will be a good thing.

366
00:20:04,469 --> 00:20:08,009
That will be an
opportunity for some progress.

367
00:20:08,006 --> 00:20:10,206
And as I noted yesterday,
each community is a little

368
00:20:10,208 --> 00:20:13,548
different, and so the
kinds of solutions -- the

369
00:20:13,545 --> 00:20:15,545
kinds of perspectives that
are offered, the kinds of

370
00:20:15,547 --> 00:20:19,957
solutions that are found
are going to vary by community.

371
00:20:19,952 --> 00:20:23,822
But ultimately, the
prescription for making

372
00:20:23,822 --> 00:20:26,822
that progress is
the same everywhere.

373
00:20:26,825 --> 00:20:36,035
And it's rooted in empathy
and a commitment to

374
00:20:36,034 --> 00:20:39,734
understanding the
perspective of human

375
00:20:39,738 --> 00:20:42,778
beings that look and think
differently than we do.

376
00:20:42,774 --> 00:20:48,084
But trying to doggedly
find that common ground is

377
00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:49,410
what will be required.

378
00:20:49,414 --> 00:20:51,654
And that's not something
that the President of the

379
00:20:51,650 --> 00:20:54,550
United States is
going to do alone.

380
00:20:54,553 --> 00:20:56,553
It's not something that
the President of the

381
00:20:56,555 --> 00:20:58,555
United States is going
to be able to do just by

382
00:20:58,557 --> 00:21:00,557
delivering a thoughtful,
eloquent, powerful speech.

383
00:21:00,559 --> 00:21:01,629
It's not something that
the President of the

384
00:21:01,627 --> 00:21:02,857
United States is going to
be able to do in a

385
00:21:02,861 --> 00:21:04,031
secret meeting.

386
00:21:04,029 --> 00:21:05,199
It's not something that
the President of the

387
00:21:05,197 --> 00:21:06,567
United States is going
to be able to do in a

388
00:21:06,565 --> 00:21:11,205
nationally televised town
hall meeting, whether it's

389
00:21:11,203 --> 00:21:13,503
on television
or the radio.

390
00:21:13,505 --> 00:21:15,505
This is something that
people across the country

391
00:21:15,507 --> 00:21:17,507
-- people of goodwill,
people who have had their

392
00:21:17,509 --> 00:21:21,379
conscience aroused -- are
going to have to engage in.

393
00:21:21,380 --> 00:21:25,780
The Press: So what you
just said -- and you gave

394
00:21:25,784 --> 00:21:30,024
a lot, but I'm picking out
a piece to the question I asked.

395
00:21:30,022 --> 00:21:31,662
So this could possibly be
-- this meeting could be

396
00:21:31,657 --> 00:21:35,627
it for the President
actually leaning in,

397
00:21:35,627 --> 00:21:39,197
actually convening and
talking himself when it

398
00:21:39,197 --> 00:21:40,797
comes to issues of
race, having these

399
00:21:40,799 --> 00:21:42,069
race discussions.

400
00:21:42,067 --> 00:21:44,407
Is this right now where
you are leaving it?

401
00:21:44,403 --> 00:21:45,373
Mr. Earnest: No.

402
00:21:45,370 --> 00:21:47,940
I think the President has
shown -- one of the things

403
00:21:47,939 --> 00:21:50,639
the President understands
is that -- and he noted

404
00:21:50,642 --> 00:21:52,642
this in his remarks to all
of you at the end of the

405
00:21:52,644 --> 00:21:55,184
meeting yesterday --
follow-through is going to

406
00:21:55,180 --> 00:21:57,280
be required.

407
00:21:57,282 --> 00:21:59,282
Again, this is not
something that we're going

408
00:21:59,284 --> 00:22:01,284
to be able to solve in the
context of one meeting or

409
00:22:01,286 --> 00:22:04,356
one speech, or one
nationally televised

410
00:22:04,356 --> 00:22:07,226
primetime event.

411
00:22:07,225 --> 00:22:11,265
This is going to require
the dogged, persistent

412
00:22:11,263 --> 00:22:14,933
follow-up and
follow-through of people

413
00:22:14,933 --> 00:22:15,933
all across the country.

414
00:22:15,934 --> 00:22:18,534
So the President
will do his part.

415
00:22:18,537 --> 00:22:22,477
And he's the President of
the United States, so his

416
00:22:22,474 --> 00:22:24,474
share is bigger than
anybody else's.

417
00:22:24,476 --> 00:22:30,716
But he's not at all going
to be able to do this alone.

418
00:22:30,716 --> 00:22:33,186
He's not even going to be
able to do most of it.

419
00:22:33,185 --> 00:22:36,055
This is mostly going to
fall on the shoulders of

420
00:22:36,054 --> 00:22:40,054
men and women of good will
-- in law enforcement, in

421
00:22:40,058 --> 00:22:46,768
elected office, in faith
communities, churches and

422
00:22:46,765 --> 00:22:51,235
mosques and synagogues,
at universities, at high

423
00:22:51,236 --> 00:22:55,306
schools, in homes.

424
00:22:55,307 --> 00:23:01,317
And that's what
will be required.

425
00:23:01,313 --> 00:23:07,553
This is not the President
is staying up all night to

426
00:23:07,552 --> 00:23:08,822
work on a speech.

427
00:23:08,820 --> 00:23:12,590
This is going to require
the action of

428
00:23:12,591 --> 00:23:13,721
big-hearted Americans.

429
00:23:13,725 --> 00:23:15,695
And the good news is,
is there are a lot of

430
00:23:15,694 --> 00:23:17,694
big-hearted
Americans out there.

431
00:23:17,696 --> 00:23:20,236
And that's what gives the
President some confidence

432
00:23:20,232 --> 00:23:23,172
that while this problem
is not going to be solved

433
00:23:23,168 --> 00:23:25,438
next week or next month or
next year, or by the next

434
00:23:25,437 --> 00:23:27,937
President -- maybe
not even in the next

435
00:23:27,939 --> 00:23:32,409
generation -- but over a
period of time, we surely

436
00:23:32,410 --> 00:23:34,410
are going to make
some progress.

437
00:23:34,412 --> 00:23:37,712
Based on the amount of
progress that we've made

438
00:23:37,716 --> 00:23:42,286
thus far, there's the
opportunity for us to

439
00:23:42,287 --> 00:23:46,927
continue the effort to
form a more perfect union.

440
00:23:46,925 --> 00:23:47,695
The Press: And
last question.

441
00:23:47,692 --> 00:23:49,692
I talked to Marc Morial,
one of the participants

442
00:23:49,694 --> 00:23:52,364
yesterday -- the head of
the National Urban League.

443
00:23:52,364 --> 00:23:54,634
He deals with economics
and civil rights.

444
00:23:54,633 --> 00:23:57,473
And that's another
component when you deal

445
00:23:57,469 --> 00:23:59,509
with this broader
race issue.

446
00:23:59,504 --> 00:24:03,744
And I asked him -- I said,
did you talk about that

447
00:24:03,742 --> 00:24:06,382
piece, and is that piece
something that this

448
00:24:06,378 --> 00:24:08,248
administration will
be able to tackle?

449
00:24:08,246 --> 00:24:11,446
He said he
doesn't think so.

450
00:24:11,449 --> 00:24:13,389
He said it will come to
the next President who

451
00:24:13,385 --> 00:24:15,985
will have to deal with
that, because right now we

452
00:24:15,987 --> 00:24:17,827
have to deal
with this issue.

453
00:24:17,823 --> 00:24:19,823
Is that the case?

454
00:24:19,825 --> 00:24:21,965
Is it right now we just
have to focus on this

455
00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:25,660
piece versus bringing it
all in and putting it all

456
00:24:25,664 --> 00:24:26,934
on the table?

457
00:24:26,932 --> 00:24:28,202
Mr. Earnest: Well, April,
I think the President

458
00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:30,740
alluded to this in his
remarks on Tuesday in

459
00:24:30,735 --> 00:24:34,535
Dallas -- that right now
we're asking our police

460
00:24:34,539 --> 00:24:45,689
officers to do a lot.

461
00:24:45,684 --> 00:24:47,684
We're asking them to
do too much in many communities.

462
00:24:47,686 --> 00:24:49,686
There are too many
communities that have been

463
00:24:49,688 --> 00:24:51,688
neglected and they don't
have access to the kinds

464
00:24:51,690 --> 00:24:53,690
of schools and health
care facilities and job

465
00:24:53,692 --> 00:24:55,692
training facilities, drug
treatment facilities that

466
00:24:55,694 --> 00:24:57,694
other communities
have the access to.

467
00:24:57,696 --> 00:24:59,696
And the people who live in
those communities don't

468
00:24:59,698 --> 00:25:01,698
have access to the kind of
economic opportunity that

469
00:25:01,700 --> 00:25:03,640
many other people do.

470
00:25:03,635 --> 00:25:06,705
And those are the problems
that we ask our police

471
00:25:06,705 --> 00:25:09,445
officers to solve.

472
00:25:09,441 --> 00:25:11,041
And that's not fair.

473
00:25:11,042 --> 00:25:13,412
And there needs to be a
concerted effort to try to

474
00:25:13,411 --> 00:25:20,281
address the root causes
of inequality that many

475
00:25:20,285 --> 00:25:22,725
communities across the
country suffer from.

476
00:25:22,721 --> 00:25:26,221
And again, when the
President made that

477
00:25:26,224 --> 00:25:31,394
observation in Dallas on
Tuesday, he didn't get

478
00:25:31,396 --> 00:25:34,836
disagreement from a
lot of police officers.

479
00:25:34,833 --> 00:25:40,303
There were a lot
of nodding heads.

480
00:25:40,305 --> 00:25:43,845
So I guess the point is, I
think it's unwise to try

481
00:25:43,842 --> 00:25:45,012
to separate
those two things.

482
00:25:45,010 --> 00:25:50,420
Now, Congress hasn't
demonstrated the capacity

483
00:25:50,415 --> 00:25:52,455
to do much of anything.

484
00:25:52,450 --> 00:25:56,790
So if the question you're
asking me is, does the

485
00:25:56,788 --> 00:25:58,888
President expect to be
able to pass a significant

486
00:25:58,890 --> 00:26:01,430
legislative package that
would begin addressing

487
00:26:01,426 --> 00:26:03,866
these inequities -- no, I
don't think that's going

488
00:26:03,862 --> 00:26:05,502
to happen in
his presidency.

489
00:26:05,497 --> 00:26:07,637
That is something that
hopefully the next

490
00:26:07,632 --> 00:26:10,572
President will prioritize.

491
00:26:10,568 --> 00:26:15,238
Maybe that's what Mayor
Morial was referring to.

492
00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:15,970
Olivier.

493
00:26:15,974 --> 00:26:16,574
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

494
00:26:16,574 --> 00:26:18,774
Two questions for you.

495
00:26:18,576 --> 00:26:23,346
principle, does the
President believe that

496
00:26:18,777 --> 00:26:21,777
Regarding the fate of
Assad, as a matter of

497
00:26:23,348 --> 00:26:25,588
Bashar al-Assad should
be tried for war crimes?

498
00:26:25,583 --> 00:26:28,083
Mr. Earnest: I haven't
heard the President

499
00:26:28,086 --> 00:26:29,186
express a view on this.

500
00:26:29,187 --> 00:26:33,427
Obviously, the position of
the United States is that

501
00:26:33,425 --> 00:26:37,765
it's quite obvious that
the Assad regime has lost

502
00:26:37,762 --> 00:26:42,202
the legitimacy to lead
Syria because of their

503
00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:44,270
willingness to use that
country's military might

504
00:26:44,269 --> 00:26:46,369
against innocent
civilians.

505
00:26:46,371 --> 00:26:49,611
And that is morally
reprehensible.

506
00:26:49,607 --> 00:26:55,147
It is a failed
leadership strategy.

507
00:26:55,146 --> 00:27:01,386
And it is what has caused
Syria to devolve into the

508
00:27:01,386 --> 00:27:03,386
condition that
it's in right now.

509
00:27:03,388 --> 00:27:07,558
And it's exacerbated a
terrible humanitarian situation.

510
00:27:07,559 --> 00:27:12,899
It's prompted millions
of Syrians to flee their homes.

511
00:27:12,897 --> 00:27:15,397
That has destabilized
other countries not just

512
00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:18,940
in the region, but even in
countries farther away.

513
00:27:18,937 --> 00:27:23,577
It has created -- it has
sown sufficient chaos that

514
00:27:23,575 --> 00:27:27,315
extremist organizations
like ISIL and al Qaeda

515
00:27:27,312 --> 00:27:31,952
have sought to establish a
safe haven in a way that,

516
00:27:31,950 --> 00:27:33,950
again, threatens other
countries in the region

517
00:27:33,952 --> 00:27:38,622
but also threatens
people around the world.

518
00:27:38,623 --> 00:27:44,663
So there are a lot of
concerns, significant

519
00:27:44,662 --> 00:27:48,232
concerns, about what
Bashar al-Assad has done

520
00:27:48,233 --> 00:27:53,043
and what the consequences
of his actions have been.

521
00:27:53,038 --> 00:27:55,278
But I haven't heard the
President render an

522
00:27:55,273 --> 00:27:57,273
opinion on this
specific question.

523
00:27:57,275 --> 00:27:59,545
The Press: And on a
different subject.

524
00:27:59,544 --> 00:28:02,214
Our diligent colleagues at
CNN are reporting that as

525
00:28:02,213 --> 00:28:04,683
early as Friday, the
administration will be

526
00:28:04,682 --> 00:28:08,482
releasing the so-called
28 pages, the classified

527
00:28:08,486 --> 00:28:10,956
section of one of
the 9/11 reports.

528
00:28:10,955 --> 00:28:12,955
How is the White House
preparing for the

529
00:28:12,957 --> 00:28:14,327
potential fallout
from that decision

530
00:28:14,325 --> 00:28:16,165
diplomatically
with the Saudis?

531
00:28:16,161 --> 00:28:18,961
Mr. Earnest: Well,
Olivier, I don't have a

532
00:28:18,963 --> 00:28:20,963
specific date to
confirm for you.

533
00:28:20,965 --> 00:28:25,105
The Director of National
Intelligence has obviously

534
00:28:25,103 --> 00:28:28,273
been leading a process
to consider the

535
00:28:28,273 --> 00:28:30,613
declassification of
some of that material.

536
00:28:30,608 --> 00:28:34,248
Once that process has been
completed, then the DNI

537
00:28:34,245 --> 00:28:37,245
will provide the
declassified document

538
00:28:37,248 --> 00:28:38,888
to Congress.

539
00:28:38,883 --> 00:28:43,423
Obviously, this is a
congressional document.

540
00:28:43,421 --> 00:28:45,521
And then ultimately
leaders in Congress will

541
00:28:45,523 --> 00:28:47,893
have to determine how
to make it public.

542
00:28:47,892 --> 00:28:52,432
But the question that the
DNI was focused on was

543
00:28:52,430 --> 00:28:54,500
administering an
interagency process to

544
00:28:54,499 --> 00:28:57,439
determine what could be
released if leaders in

545
00:28:57,435 --> 00:29:01,775
Congress so chose.

546
00:29:01,773 --> 00:29:04,573
Obviously, any time
we're talking about

547
00:29:04,576 --> 00:29:06,546
declassifying and
releasing sensitive

548
00:29:06,544 --> 00:29:08,544
national security
information, we want to

549
00:29:08,546 --> 00:29:12,686
make sure that we factor
in the diplomatic equities

550
00:29:12,684 --> 00:29:15,254
into a decision like that.

551
00:29:15,253 --> 00:29:18,923
So when that process is
completed, we'll obviously

552
00:29:18,923 --> 00:29:21,923
coordinate not just with
the DNI, but also with the

553
00:29:21,926 --> 00:29:25,366
Congress to make sure that
the diplomatic equities

554
00:29:25,363 --> 00:29:27,133
are properly factored in.

555
00:29:27,132 --> 00:29:28,202
The Press: So if you know
that it's not complete,

556
00:29:28,199 --> 00:29:30,269
can you say what remaining
steps there are?

557
00:29:30,268 --> 00:29:32,468
Mr. Earnest: As it relates
to the process, I'm not

558
00:29:32,470 --> 00:29:34,770
even in a position to
confirm that it's not complete.

559
00:29:34,772 --> 00:29:38,672
I'd just refer you
to DNI for an update.

560
00:29:38,676 --> 00:29:39,976
Ron.

561
00:29:39,978 --> 00:29:42,418
The Press: Just to
clarify, Secretary Kerry

562
00:29:42,413 --> 00:29:45,213
-- is there an agreement?

563
00:29:45,216 --> 00:29:47,216
Is he negotiating an
agreement with the

564
00:29:47,218 --> 00:29:49,658
Russians about military
-- what exactly -- I'm a

565
00:29:49,654 --> 00:29:53,824
little bit confused about
where things stand.

566
00:29:53,825 --> 00:29:55,265
Mr. Earnest: Where things
stand is that, right now,

567
00:29:55,260 --> 00:29:57,860
the United States is not
conducting or coordinating

568
00:29:57,862 --> 00:30:04,302
military operations
with Russia in Syria.

569
00:30:04,302 --> 00:30:06,402
It's also not clear at
this point whether or not

570
00:30:06,404 --> 00:30:09,704
we'll be able to reach an
agreement to begin doing that.

571
00:30:09,707 --> 00:30:12,107
The Press: -- he's
involved in a process now

572
00:30:12,110 --> 00:30:14,210
of trying to work
out an agreement.

573
00:30:14,212 --> 00:30:17,652
Mr. Earnest: Well, there's
been extensive diplomatic

574
00:30:17,649 --> 00:30:20,849
outreach for more than a
year now with the Russians

575
00:30:20,852 --> 00:30:24,652
about the situation
inside of Syria.

576
00:30:24,656 --> 00:30:26,656
Obviously we read out
phone calls that the

577
00:30:26,658 --> 00:30:28,658
President has with
President Putin with

578
00:30:28,660 --> 00:30:29,660
some regularity.

579
00:30:29,661 --> 00:30:32,101
One took place within the
last couple of weeks.

580
00:30:32,096 --> 00:30:34,536
So I'll leave it to State
Department officials to

581
00:30:34,532 --> 00:30:36,702
describe in more detail
exactly what Secretary

582
00:30:36,701 --> 00:30:39,101
Kerry expects to
do in his meetings.

583
00:30:39,103 --> 00:30:45,373
But I can tell you in
general that diplomatic

584
00:30:45,376 --> 00:30:52,286
conversations with the
Russians about Syria are

585
00:30:52,283 --> 00:30:54,283
the kinds of conversations
that have been going on

586
00:30:54,285 --> 00:30:55,285
for quite some time.

587
00:30:55,286 --> 00:30:57,286
The Press: Did you see the
interview that President

588
00:30:57,288 --> 00:30:58,288
Assad did with NBC?

589
00:30:58,289 --> 00:30:59,659
Mr. Earnest: I
saw parts of it.

590
00:30:59,657 --> 00:31:01,297
The Press: The whole thing
is available on the Web.

591
00:31:01,292 --> 00:31:03,292
Mr. Earnest: Okay,
I'll take a look.

592
00:31:03,294 --> 00:31:07,464
The Press: One thing he
said is that he believes

593
00:31:07,465 --> 00:31:09,565
that the war can be won in
a few months, and that he

594
00:31:09,567 --> 00:31:11,037
will remain in power.

595
00:31:11,035 --> 00:31:12,075
Does that sound
about right?

596
00:31:12,070 --> 00:31:14,070
Mr. Earnest: Well, our
view has been for quite

597
00:31:14,072 --> 00:31:16,172
some time that there is no
military solution to the

598
00:31:16,174 --> 00:31:18,144
situation inside of Syria.

599
00:31:18,142 --> 00:31:23,252
And as long as Assad tries
to hang on to power, there

600
00:31:23,248 --> 00:31:26,248
will still be chaos and
violence inside of Syria

601
00:31:26,251 --> 00:31:28,251
that's destabilizing to
the broader region and

602
00:31:28,253 --> 00:31:30,353
that creates an
opening for extremist

603
00:31:30,355 --> 00:31:33,995
organizations to establish
a safe haven and propagate

604
00:31:33,992 --> 00:31:35,122
their hateful ideology.

605
00:31:35,126 --> 00:31:40,036
So we're quite concerned
about Assad remaining in

606
00:31:40,031 --> 00:31:41,231
power for those reasons.

607
00:31:41,232 --> 00:31:43,232
And that's why we have
made such a strong case to

608
00:31:43,234 --> 00:31:45,604
the Russians to use their
influence with the Assad

609
00:31:45,603 --> 00:31:48,273
regime to get him to
step down so that we can

610
00:31:48,273 --> 00:31:50,273
effectuate the kind of
political transition

611
00:31:50,275 --> 00:31:52,745
inside of Syria that can
begin to stabilize the

612
00:31:52,744 --> 00:31:53,744
situation there.

613
00:31:53,745 --> 00:31:55,715
The Press: So he pointed
out that the reason that's

614
00:31:55,713 --> 00:31:58,113
going to happen, that he's
going to stay in power and

615
00:31:58,116 --> 00:32:00,016
war will be won, in his
view, is because of

616
00:32:00,018 --> 00:32:00,718
the Russians.

617
00:32:00,718 --> 00:32:02,718
Mr. Earnest: Yeah, and I
think it's understandable

618
00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:04,720
why he might be getting
some mixed signals from

619
00:32:04,722 --> 00:32:06,722
them -- because there
continues to be an

620
00:32:06,724 --> 00:32:08,724
inherent contradiction
in their approach.

621
00:32:08,726 --> 00:32:10,726
On the one hand, they say
they're concerned about

622
00:32:10,728 --> 00:32:14,498
extremists inside of
Syria, but yet they use --

623
00:32:14,499 --> 00:32:17,699
devote significant
resources to propping up

624
00:32:17,702 --> 00:32:21,602
Bashar al-Assad, whose
mere presence exacerbates

625
00:32:21,606 --> 00:32:25,206
the kind of chaos that
we know these extremist

626
00:32:25,209 --> 00:32:26,209
organizations thrive on.

627
00:32:26,210 --> 00:32:28,210
The Press: But what's in
the use about what Russia

628
00:32:28,212 --> 00:32:29,212
is doing there?

629
00:32:29,213 --> 00:32:31,213
It's been pretty clear
that you've said, others,

630
00:32:31,215 --> 00:32:33,385
the Defense Department --
they clearly have been

631
00:32:33,384 --> 00:32:36,154
supporting the regime,
they have not been

632
00:32:36,154 --> 00:32:37,954
attacking ISIL -- ISIS.

633
00:32:37,955 --> 00:32:40,355
I mean, there's no
ambiguity about what the

634
00:32:40,358 --> 00:32:41,958
Russians have been doing.

635
00:32:41,959 --> 00:32:44,929
Mr Earnest: Well, I think there is.
Because what the Russians
say, at least, is that

636
00:32:44,929 --> 00:32:47,829
they are quite interested
in a political transition.

637
00:32:47,832 --> 00:32:51,532
They acknowledge that that
is necessary inside of Syria.

638
00:32:51,536 --> 00:32:53,806
To Russia's credit -- I
alluded to this earlier --

639
00:32:53,805 --> 00:32:57,805
we have seen incidents,
isolated situations, in

640
00:32:57,809 --> 00:33:00,879
which Russia has taken
strikes against

641
00:33:00,878 --> 00:33:02,178
extremist organizations.

642
00:33:02,180 --> 00:33:10,620
But that's undermined by
the way that they either

643
00:33:10,621 --> 00:33:12,661
carry out their own
military operations or

644
00:33:12,657 --> 00:33:16,697
support Syrian operations
that are focused on

645
00:33:16,694 --> 00:33:19,534
opposition fighters
because they're trying to

646
00:33:19,530 --> 00:33:21,000
prop up the Assad regime.

647
00:33:20,998 --> 00:33:23,298
So again, this is an
inherent contradiction in

648
00:33:23,301 --> 00:33:24,601
the Russian strategy.

649
00:33:24,602 --> 00:33:26,202
It's not a new
contradiction, but it is

650
00:33:26,204 --> 00:33:28,504
one that is starting
to come to a head.

651
00:33:28,506 --> 00:33:30,606
Because ultimately, Russia
needs to make a decision

652
00:33:30,608 --> 00:33:33,978
about how they want to
confront a situation that

653
00:33:33,978 --> 00:33:36,618
has serious consequences
for their own security.

654
00:33:36,614 --> 00:33:42,084
We know there are a
significant number of ISIL

655
00:33:42,086 --> 00:33:47,756
extremists inside of Syria
that travel to Syria from

656
00:33:47,759 --> 00:33:55,169
Russia or from areas
around Russia.

657
00:33:55,166 --> 00:33:58,736
So they are rightly
concerned about the

658
00:33:58,736 --> 00:34:03,176
extremist situation in
Syria, as is the United States.

659
00:34:03,174 --> 00:34:07,074
And that's why Russia has
to sort of decide what

660
00:34:07,078 --> 00:34:09,078
approach they want to take
and what approach is going

661
00:34:09,080 --> 00:34:11,150
to be in their best
national security interest.

662
00:34:11,149 --> 00:34:13,289
The Press: What about
Assad more generally?

663
00:34:13,284 --> 00:34:14,954
He seemed very
comfortable, he was very

664
00:34:14,952 --> 00:34:17,392
confident, he was very
dismissive of the American

665
00:34:17,388 --> 00:34:21,458
role in Syria --
involvement in Syria.

666
00:34:21,459 --> 00:34:22,759
He said that the U.S.

667
00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:24,060
wasn't serious about
going after ISIS.

668
00:34:24,061 --> 00:34:28,931
He was watching the
presidential elections, so

669
00:34:28,933 --> 00:34:30,333
on and so forth.

670
00:34:30,334 --> 00:34:32,774
What were your -- has
the President seen this?

671
00:34:32,770 --> 00:34:33,810
I would think --

672
00:34:33,805 --> 00:34:34,605
Mr. Earnest: I don't know.

673
00:34:34,605 --> 00:34:36,145
I doubt if the President
has seen the interview.

674
00:34:36,140 --> 00:34:39,240
I'm sure he is aware of
the news that was reported

675
00:34:39,243 --> 00:34:41,343
out based on
the interview.

676
00:34:41,345 --> 00:34:42,215
The Press: What is
the White House, the

677
00:34:42,213 --> 00:34:44,983
President's reaction to
what Mr. Assad has been

678
00:34:44,982 --> 00:34:46,582
saying generally?

679
00:34:46,584 --> 00:34:49,584
Mr. Earnest: I guess I
would just say that this

680
00:34:49,587 --> 00:34:53,227
is not the first interview
that he's done with a

681
00:34:53,224 --> 00:35:00,764
Western news organization
to talk about these issues.

682
00:35:00,765 --> 00:35:03,235
I did not hear him say
anything that is going to

683
00:35:03,234 --> 00:35:05,834
give anybody confidence
that he will

684
00:35:05,837 --> 00:35:12,407
constructively contribute
to a solution inside of

685
00:35:12,410 --> 00:35:15,110
Syria that ends the chaos,
that ends the bloodshed,

686
00:35:15,112 --> 00:35:20,982
and that addresses the
extremist threat that is

687
00:35:20,985 --> 00:35:21,985
present there.

688
00:35:21,986 --> 00:35:25,656
The Press: And just on
other -- this whole issue

689
00:35:25,656 --> 00:35:26,926
of policing and so forth.

690
00:35:26,924 --> 00:35:29,064
The President, as you say,
has invested a lot of time

691
00:35:29,060 --> 00:35:32,760
over the last week or so
into this -- the town hall

692
00:35:32,763 --> 00:35:35,533
tonight, the trip to
Dallas, the cutting short

693
00:35:35,533 --> 00:35:39,333
the European vacation, the
unusual meeting of the

694
00:35:39,337 --> 00:35:40,507
length and breadth
yesterday.

695
00:35:40,505 --> 00:35:44,075
What is -- if you could --
what is the President's

696
00:35:44,075 --> 00:35:48,575
state of mind about where
-- why is he doing this now?

697
00:35:48,579 --> 00:35:49,779
Perhaps this is an obvious
question, but why is he

698
00:35:49,780 --> 00:35:51,980
investing so
much in this now?

699
00:35:51,983 --> 00:35:57,653
And is he frustrated,
is he hopeful?

700
00:35:57,655 --> 00:36:00,195
It sounds like he's --
he's talked about the

701
00:36:00,191 --> 00:36:01,221
limits of his rhetoric.

702
00:36:01,225 --> 00:36:03,165
He's talked about how
these problems are going

703
00:36:03,160 --> 00:36:07,000
to endure -- not going to
be solved, not close to

704
00:36:06,998 --> 00:36:08,228
resolving the tension.

705
00:36:08,232 --> 00:36:10,772
It sounds like he's rather
frustrated and it sounds

706
00:36:10,768 --> 00:36:13,008
like he felt like this was
a particular moment where

707
00:36:13,004 --> 00:36:18,044
he really needed to invest
a lot of himself in this.

708
00:36:18,042 --> 00:36:20,482
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
Ron, I think people across

709
00:36:20,478 --> 00:36:27,718
the country have been
troubled, frustrated,

710
00:36:27,718 --> 00:36:33,858
concerned, scared about
the kind of violence that

711
00:36:33,858 --> 00:36:37,198
we've seen over the last
week and a half or so.

712
00:36:37,194 --> 00:36:41,934
And the President felt it
was important to cut short

713
00:36:41,933 --> 00:36:44,933
his trip to Europe and
come back and address it.

714
00:36:44,936 --> 00:36:46,936
Now, the President
proactively addressed it

715
00:36:46,938 --> 00:36:50,438
while he was in Europe
as well, even before the

716
00:36:50,441 --> 00:36:53,481
terrible tragic shooting
of five Dallas police

717
00:36:53,477 --> 00:36:56,577
officers last
Thursday night.

718
00:36:56,581 --> 00:36:58,581
So this is something that
the President has been

719
00:36:58,583 --> 00:36:59,583
focused on.

720
00:36:59,584 --> 00:37:02,354
This is an issue that,
as a public servant, the

721
00:37:02,353 --> 00:37:05,493
President has devoted a
lot of time and expertise to.

722
00:37:05,489 --> 00:37:10,799
As a state legislator,
state senator in Illinois,

723
00:37:10,795 --> 00:37:12,795
one of the President's
landmark legislative

724
00:37:12,797 --> 00:37:14,797
achievements was being
able to work effectively

725
00:37:14,799 --> 00:37:16,799
with law enforcement
organizations -- Democrats

726
00:37:16,801 --> 00:37:21,341
and Republicans -- and
civil rights activists, to

727
00:37:21,339 --> 00:37:23,339
address some of the
concerns that had been

728
00:37:23,341 --> 00:37:25,341
raised in his home state
about racial profiling.

729
00:37:25,343 --> 00:37:28,313
So this is something the
President has been focused

730
00:37:28,312 --> 00:37:32,452
on intellectually and as a
public servant for decades now.

731
00:37:32,450 --> 00:37:35,650
Some of that is based on
his own experience and

732
00:37:35,653 --> 00:37:38,423
based on his own
relationships with law

733
00:37:38,422 --> 00:37:44,232
enforcement officials
and with leaders in the

734
00:37:44,228 --> 00:37:45,798
African American
community.

735
00:37:45,796 --> 00:37:46,896
The Press: But does he
feel pressure because his

736
00:37:46,897 --> 00:37:48,497
time in office is running
out and he really needs to

737
00:37:48,499 --> 00:37:49,969
do something now?

738
00:37:49,967 --> 00:37:52,767
Mr. Earnest: I think the
President is responding to

739
00:37:52,770 --> 00:37:58,510
I think a lot of emotions
that are being expressed

740
00:37:58,509 --> 00:38:01,109
by Americans
across the country.

741
00:38:01,112 --> 00:38:05,252
And that's what he's been
responding to over the

742
00:38:05,249 --> 00:38:06,249
course of the last week.

743
00:38:06,250 --> 00:38:10,490
And many of those emotions
that are being expressed

744
00:38:10,488 --> 00:38:13,388
across the country --
profound sadness about the

745
00:38:13,391 --> 00:38:18,661
killing of five Dallas
police officers, profound

746
00:38:18,663 --> 00:38:20,803
concern about persistent
racial disparities in our

747
00:38:20,798 --> 00:38:26,268
law enforcement -- those
are concerns that the

748
00:38:26,270 --> 00:38:29,410
President shares.

749
00:38:29,407 --> 00:38:30,777
Margaret.

750
00:38:30,775 --> 00:38:32,105
The Press: Josh, on Syria.

751
00:38:32,109 --> 00:38:34,479
With Secretary Kerry
meeting with Vladimir

752
00:38:34,478 --> 00:38:36,448
Putin -- I mean, the State
Department and Secretary

753
00:38:36,447 --> 00:38:39,587
Kerry himself will say
Syria has broken every

754
00:38:39,583 --> 00:38:41,483
single diplomatic
agreement that the U.S.

755
00:38:41,485 --> 00:38:45,055
has helped broker, even
those that Russia has

756
00:38:45,056 --> 00:38:47,656
tried to midwife and
agreed to on its own behalf.

757
00:38:47,658 --> 00:38:50,828
So why does the
administration put any

758
00:38:50,828 --> 00:38:54,198
faith in trying to
negotiate with Putin,

759
00:38:54,198 --> 00:38:57,838
given that he has given
absolutely no reason for

760
00:38:57,835 --> 00:38:59,675
-- no good-faith
effort thus far?

761
00:38:59,670 --> 00:39:05,780
Mr. Earnest: Well, let
me break that apart.

762
00:39:05,776 --> 00:39:11,816
Yes, it is true that Assad
has time and time again

763
00:39:11,816 --> 00:39:14,016
broken commitments that
either they had made or

764
00:39:14,018 --> 00:39:19,058
Russia had made
on their behalf.

765
00:39:19,056 --> 00:39:22,256
I think that would explain
why, just one example or

766
00:39:22,259 --> 00:39:25,599
one reason why Secretary
Kerry is not in Damascus

767
00:39:25,596 --> 00:39:27,596
negotiating with President
Assad right now.

768
00:39:27,598 --> 00:39:32,768
It's not worth the time --
setting aside the morally

769
00:39:32,770 --> 00:39:35,110
reprehensible actions that
he's undertaken in the

770
00:39:35,106 --> 00:39:38,576
last several years.

771
00:39:38,576 --> 00:39:39,806
What's true of
the Russians --

772
00:39:39,810 --> 00:39:40,480
The Press:

773
00:39:40,478 --> 00:39:41,178
(inaudible)

774
00:39:41,178 --> 00:39:44,018
Mr. Earnest: Well, so what
we have seen from the

775
00:39:44,014 --> 00:39:48,724
Russians has been
intermittent.

776
00:39:48,719 --> 00:39:52,189
Russia did act
constructively in helping

777
00:39:52,189 --> 00:39:54,529
to stand up the Cessation
of Hostilities.

778
00:39:54,525 --> 00:39:56,525
And for the first several
weeks that that was in

779
00:39:56,527 --> 00:40:03,437
effect, that did mitigate
significant security

780
00:40:03,434 --> 00:40:05,734
concerns inside of Syria.

781
00:40:05,736 --> 00:40:09,136
It did open the door for
extensive humanitarian

782
00:40:09,140 --> 00:40:15,280
relief to be provided to
innocent Syrians who had

783
00:40:15,279 --> 00:40:19,819
been suffering
for a long time.

784
00:40:19,817 --> 00:40:24,487
The point is, we know that
the Russian government has

785
00:40:24,488 --> 00:40:26,928
influence with the Assad
regime in a way that can

786
00:40:26,924 --> 00:40:29,924
have a tangible
impact on the ground.

787
00:40:29,927 --> 00:40:36,167
It's just a matter of
President Putin deciding

788
00:40:36,167 --> 00:40:38,167
whether or not he cares
enough about his own

789
00:40:38,169 --> 00:40:40,569
integrity to use it.

790
00:40:40,571 --> 00:40:45,741
And that's the question
that they face.

791
00:40:45,743 --> 00:40:49,183
There's also a question
related not just to their

792
00:40:49,180 --> 00:40:51,750
influence with the Assad
regime but also to their

793
00:40:51,749 --> 00:40:53,519
own national
security concerns.

794
00:40:53,517 --> 00:40:57,057
There's a significant
extremist threat inside of

795
00:40:57,054 --> 00:40:58,054
Syria.

796
00:40:58,055 --> 00:41:00,425
We've talked about the
risks associated with

797
00:41:00,424 --> 00:41:06,534
Russia walking
into a quagmire.

798
00:41:06,530 --> 00:41:10,730
And that could have the
potential of enhancing the

799
00:41:10,734 --> 00:41:14,174
risk back home.

800
00:41:14,171 --> 00:41:21,611
So the incentives are
pretty clear for the Russians.

801
00:41:21,612 --> 00:41:27,922
Our willingness to work
with them effectively on

802
00:41:27,918 --> 00:41:34,558
shared interests
is pretty clear.

803
00:41:34,558 --> 00:41:38,968
That's why you hear me say
that the time has come for

804
00:41:38,963 --> 00:41:47,373
Russia to decide whether
or not they're going to

805
00:41:47,371 --> 00:41:49,511
focus on the kinds of
solutions that will

806
00:41:49,506 --> 00:41:52,946
address the situation in
Syria and address the

807
00:41:52,943 --> 00:41:55,313
significant threat that
the Russians face back home.

808
00:41:55,312 --> 00:41:57,182
The Press: So just a few
weeks of compliance under

809
00:41:57,181 --> 00:41:59,181
the Cessation of
Hostilities is a reason

810
00:41:59,183 --> 00:42:00,053
to continue?

811
00:42:00,050 --> 00:42:04,420
I mean, we then saw the
regime break the Cessation

812
00:42:04,421 --> 00:42:05,891
of Hostilities.

813
00:42:05,890 --> 00:42:09,990
So as you just said, just
a few weeks of resolve

814
00:42:09,994 --> 00:42:12,464
that you're saying is
enough to stand on their

815
00:42:12,463 --> 00:42:14,933
-- I mean, what is the
consequence to Russia?

816
00:42:14,932 --> 00:42:16,332
Will the U.S.

817
00:42:16,333 --> 00:42:18,233
continue to provide
diplomatic cover or

818
00:42:18,235 --> 00:42:20,905
political cover with --
continue to say we're

819
00:42:20,905 --> 00:42:22,805
going to keep trying to
get him to do the right

820
00:42:22,806 --> 00:42:23,976
thing here?

821
00:42:23,974 --> 00:42:25,974
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
I think that the several

822
00:42:25,976 --> 00:42:29,976
weeks of the
over-performance of the

823
00:42:29,980 --> 00:42:33,350
Cessation of Hostilities,
if you will, demonstrate

824
00:42:33,350 --> 00:42:35,920
that Russia has the
capacity to use that

825
00:42:35,920 --> 00:42:37,920
influence with
the Assad regime.

826
00:42:37,922 --> 00:42:39,922
They just have to decide
whether or not they want

827
00:42:39,924 --> 00:42:40,924
to use it.

828
00:42:40,925 --> 00:42:42,925
So that's the illustration
that I'm trying to provide here.

829
00:42:42,927 --> 00:42:44,927
I'm not suggesting that
this means that they can

830
00:42:44,929 --> 00:42:47,029
be necessarily counted
on to keep a commitment.

831
00:42:47,031 --> 00:42:49,031
I'm suggesting that that
is an illustration that

832
00:42:49,033 --> 00:42:51,973
they have the capacity
to keep that commitment.

833
00:42:51,969 --> 00:42:56,109
The Press: And then,
yesterday, an appointee

834
00:42:56,106 --> 00:42:59,106
that President Obama named
-- Jeff Shell -- to the

835
00:42:59,109 --> 00:43:01,679
Broadcasting Board of
Governors was briefly

836
00:43:01,679 --> 00:43:03,949
detained and then
deported from Russia.

837
00:43:03,948 --> 00:43:05,888
This is just a string of
recent incidents where

838
00:43:05,883 --> 00:43:07,723
American diplomats and
personnel have been

839
00:43:07,718 --> 00:43:09,618
harassed --
high-profile incidents.

840
00:43:09,620 --> 00:43:12,220
Is this something that
the President would like

841
00:43:12,222 --> 00:43:14,492
Secretary Kerry to
raise in the meeting?

842
00:43:14,491 --> 00:43:18,961
And given the harassment
of Americans, that doesn't

843
00:43:18,963 --> 00:43:20,663
set a good table
for the U.S.

844
00:43:20,664 --> 00:43:22,734
to go in and negotiate
with Russia right now if

845
00:43:22,733 --> 00:43:25,373
they feel that willing to
assault American diplomats

846
00:43:25,369 --> 00:43:25,569
in the street.

847
00:43:25,569 --> 00:43:28,669
Mr. Earnest: Well, I can't
speak to any individual case.

848
00:43:28,672 --> 00:43:32,412
And I'll let my colleagues
at the State Department

849
00:43:32,409 --> 00:43:34,409
provide a readout of
Secretary Kerry's

850
00:43:34,411 --> 00:43:37,711
discussions with
leaders in Russia.

851
00:43:37,715 --> 00:43:39,685
I'll just say in general,
as it relates to U.S.

852
00:43:39,683 --> 00:43:43,453
diplomats, that we
regularly remind leaders

853
00:43:43,454 --> 00:43:45,494
in countries around the
world where our diplomats

854
00:43:45,489 --> 00:43:49,659
are stationed that
those countries have a

855
00:43:49,660 --> 00:43:52,600
responsibility, they have
made a commitment to

856
00:43:52,596 --> 00:43:54,596
ensure the safety
and security of U.S.

857
00:43:54,598 --> 00:43:56,598
diplomats that are
serving around the world.

858
00:43:56,600 --> 00:43:58,940
We expect every country,
including Russia, to live

859
00:43:58,936 --> 00:44:00,476
up to that commitment.

860
00:44:00,471 --> 00:44:02,371
The Press: Is the
President aware that Jeff

861
00:44:02,373 --> 00:44:04,613
Shell was detained and
deported yesterday?

862
00:44:04,608 --> 00:44:06,608
Mr. Earnest: Again, I'm
just not in a position to

863
00:44:06,610 --> 00:44:08,310
speak to any
individual cases.

864
00:44:08,312 --> 00:44:15,882
The President is certainly
aware of specific concerns

865
00:44:15,886 --> 00:44:17,886
about mistreatment of U.S.

866
00:44:17,888 --> 00:44:18,888
diplomats in Russia.

867
00:44:18,889 --> 00:44:23,529
The Press: And then a
Russian national from

868
00:44:23,527 --> 00:44:26,567
Gitmo who was sanctioned
yesterday by the State

869
00:44:26,563 --> 00:44:29,733
Department for recruiting
militants to fight in

870
00:44:29,733 --> 00:44:32,073
Syria, or links to a
terror group that has I

871
00:44:32,069 --> 00:44:35,169
guess at least in the past
had ties to ISIS -- the U.S.

872
00:44:35,172 --> 00:44:37,242
sanctioned him as a
terrorist today -- or

873
00:44:37,241 --> 00:44:38,841
yesterday, I should say.

874
00:44:38,842 --> 00:44:41,142
Does the White House
believe that this

875
00:44:41,145 --> 00:44:42,785
particular case, given
that he's a former

876
00:44:42,780 --> 00:44:47,620
Guantanamo detainee, makes
it more difficult for the

877
00:44:47,618 --> 00:44:51,988
already difficult task of
closing down that prison?

878
00:44:51,989 --> 00:44:53,789
Mr. Earnest: Well, no.

879
00:44:53,791 --> 00:44:57,191
And the reason is simply
this: This individual that

880
00:44:57,194 --> 00:45:01,264
you're referring to,
this Gitmo detainee, was

881
00:45:01,265 --> 00:45:08,075
released by the previous
administration prior to

882
00:45:08,072 --> 00:45:12,342
the new regime that
President Obama instituted

883
00:45:12,342 --> 00:45:15,112
on his second full day in
office to more thoroughly

884
00:45:15,112 --> 00:45:20,382
screen detainees before
their release and to more

885
00:45:20,384 --> 00:45:22,884
effectively work with the
countries that agreed to

886
00:45:22,886 --> 00:45:28,456
take these individuals
in prescribing specific

887
00:45:28,459 --> 00:45:31,459
security constraints that
could be applied to them

888
00:45:31,462 --> 00:45:33,462
to mitigate the risk that
they would pose to the

889
00:45:33,464 --> 00:45:34,464
United States.

890
00:45:34,465 --> 00:45:40,835
So our process has been
much more rigorous, and

891
00:45:40,838 --> 00:45:52,448
the number of former Gitmo
detainees that have been

892
00:45:52,449 --> 00:45:56,689
released after this regime
was imposed, who have then

893
00:45:56,687 --> 00:46:02,127
been confirmed to reengage
in the fight, is much,

894
00:46:02,126 --> 00:46:06,996
much smaller because of
the newly instituted

895
00:46:06,997 --> 00:46:10,667
process that the newly
elected President

896
00:46:10,667 --> 00:46:11,667
Obama instituted.

897
00:46:11,668 --> 00:46:14,068
The Press: Am
understanding that to mean

898
00:46:14,071 --> 00:46:16,611
that -- you're talking
about the 500 or so

899
00:46:16,607 --> 00:46:19,007
detainees that the Bush
administration released,

900
00:46:19,009 --> 00:46:21,179
and comparing them to the
standards that you have now.

901
00:46:21,178 --> 00:46:23,618
So should this individual
not have been released?

902
00:46:23,614 --> 00:46:25,414
Or are you just saying
that the standards at the

903
00:46:25,415 --> 00:46:26,115
time were not adequate?

904
00:46:26,116 --> 00:46:28,116
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
haven't looked at this

905
00:46:28,118 --> 00:46:29,118
individual's case.

906
00:46:29,119 --> 00:46:31,119
I don't know that anybody
has looked carefully

907
00:46:31,121 --> 00:46:33,421
enough to second-guess a
decision about whether or

908
00:46:33,423 --> 00:46:35,923
not to release this
person and what security

909
00:46:35,926 --> 00:46:37,896
precautions should
have been in place.

910
00:46:37,895 --> 00:46:39,895
I just don't know that
there have been a lot of

911
00:46:39,897 --> 00:46:41,897
Monday-morning
quarterbacking that's gone

912
00:46:41,899 --> 00:46:42,899
on here.

913
00:46:42,900 --> 00:46:45,100
But it is clear that the
process that has been put

914
00:46:45,102 --> 00:46:47,302
in place by President
Obama is one that has

915
00:46:47,304 --> 00:46:50,704
enhanced our national
security and enhanced our

916
00:46:50,707 --> 00:46:53,047
ability to make progress
in closing the prison at

917
00:46:53,043 --> 00:46:57,113
Guantanamo Bay a goal that
would ultimately take away

918
00:46:57,114 --> 00:47:01,384
a recruiting tool that is
used by terrorists and

919
00:47:01,385 --> 00:47:04,585
save taxpayers some money.

920
00:47:04,588 --> 00:47:05,518
Suzanne.

921
00:47:05,522 --> 00:47:06,562
The Press: I want to
follow up on something Ron

922
00:47:06,557 --> 00:47:08,727
had asked about the
meeting yesterday with

923
00:47:08,725 --> 00:47:10,325
the President.

924
00:47:10,327 --> 00:47:11,767
It was really an
extraordinary set of

925
00:47:11,762 --> 00:47:14,202
circumstances to bring
more than 40 people in the

926
00:47:14,198 --> 00:47:15,298
same room with
the President.

927
00:47:15,299 --> 00:47:17,469
And you talked about a lot
of Americans who are in

928
00:47:17,467 --> 00:47:21,467
pain, who are angry, who
are saddened, even loss of

929
00:47:21,471 --> 00:47:24,011
life, before you could
get these individuals together.

930
00:47:24,007 --> 00:47:26,807
One of the things that
they talked about that was

931
00:47:26,810 --> 00:47:29,350
breaking ground was the
fact that they were there

932
00:47:29,346 --> 00:47:31,886
in a format where they
could hear each other,

933
00:47:31,882 --> 00:47:35,082
they could speak openly,
and they could listen.

934
00:47:35,085 --> 00:47:38,925
I wonder if the President
sees this model as

935
00:47:38,922 --> 00:47:42,462
something that he could
use for literally members

936
00:47:42,459 --> 00:47:44,859
of Congress, who the
American people are so

937
00:47:44,861 --> 00:47:47,731
frustrated with, in terms
of getting them in a room,

938
00:47:47,731 --> 00:47:52,201
in a format in which they
could express their views,

939
00:47:52,202 --> 00:47:55,072
express their differences,
and listen -- if it was

940
00:47:55,072 --> 00:47:58,442
Nancy Pelosi, a Paul Ryan.

941
00:47:58,442 --> 00:48:01,342
Is that something that
the President has done

942
00:48:01,345 --> 00:48:03,445
previously, or he's felt
that he's attempted to do?

943
00:48:03,447 --> 00:48:08,217
What do you think of that
in terms of moving the

944
00:48:08,218 --> 00:48:13,088
ball forward on
his own agenda?

945
00:48:13,090 --> 00:48:15,290
Mr. Earnest: Well, there
are certainly a number of

946
00:48:15,292 --> 00:48:18,092
occasions where the
President has convened

947
00:48:18,095 --> 00:48:21,635
meetings with bipartisan
groups of members of Congress.

948
00:48:21,632 --> 00:48:24,432
The most memorable of
those would be the meeting

949
00:48:24,434 --> 00:48:26,734
that the President
convened at Blair House

950
00:48:26,737 --> 00:48:28,737
with Democrats and
Republicans to talk about

951
00:48:28,739 --> 00:48:30,009
health care reform.

952
00:48:30,007 --> 00:48:32,647
I also remember that
early in his first term,

953
00:48:32,643 --> 00:48:39,683
President Obama attended
a working conference of

954
00:48:39,683 --> 00:48:43,253
House Republicans, and the
President didn't just give

955
00:48:43,253 --> 00:48:45,893
remarks, he actually
engaged in a

956
00:48:45,889 --> 00:48:49,029
question-and-answer
session with them.

957
00:48:49,026 --> 00:48:53,526
So the President has
certainly sought to engage

958
00:48:53,530 --> 00:48:56,630
members of Congress
in a variety of ways.

959
00:48:56,633 --> 00:49:02,943
I think the real challenge
with members of Congress

960
00:49:02,939 --> 00:49:07,149
is that it's a little
harder to discern the true

961
00:49:07,144 --> 00:49:09,544
motive of members
of Congress.

962
00:49:09,546 --> 00:49:12,146
And I say that with a
particular focus on

963
00:49:12,149 --> 00:49:15,649
Republicans, of course.

964
00:49:15,652 --> 00:49:20,662
And let me just
explain to you why.

965
00:49:20,657 --> 00:49:25,667
After the midterm
elections in 2014,

966
00:49:25,662 --> 00:49:27,662
Republicans claimed to
have a big governing

967
00:49:27,664 --> 00:49:30,904
mandate --
understandably so.

968
00:49:30,901 --> 00:49:33,141
They had a historically
large Republican majority

969
00:49:33,136 --> 00:49:35,406
in the House of
Representatives.

970
00:49:35,405 --> 00:49:38,175
They had a Republican --
a substantial Republican

971
00:49:38,175 --> 00:49:40,375
majority in the United
States Senate for the

972
00:49:40,377 --> 00:49:43,677
first time in -- just
doing the math in my head

973
00:49:43,680 --> 00:49:45,820
-- eight years.

974
00:49:45,816 --> 00:49:47,786
And the Speaker of the
House and the Senate

975
00:49:47,784 --> 00:49:50,584
Majority Leader wrote an
op-ed in the Wall Street

976
00:49:50,587 --> 00:49:54,857
Journal saying, now we can
get Congress moving again.

977
00:49:54,858 --> 00:49:57,958
But they haven't.

978
00:49:57,961 --> 00:50:01,861
On a whole variety of
metrics, they failed to do

979
00:50:01,865 --> 00:50:05,405
hardly anything.

980
00:50:05,402 --> 00:50:08,842
It might lead one to
conclude that their

981
00:50:08,839 --> 00:50:11,009
interest is not in trying
to get something done or

982
00:50:11,007 --> 00:50:16,447
to pass legislation or
advance an agenda; they'd

983
00:50:16,446 --> 00:50:21,586
rather engage in a
political fight.

984
00:50:21,585 --> 00:50:23,585
And I think what the
President noted about

985
00:50:23,587 --> 00:50:26,087
yesterday's meeting is
that there is a genuine

986
00:50:26,089 --> 00:50:30,129
willingness on the part of
all of the participants to

987
00:50:30,127 --> 00:50:32,527
not just give voice to
whatever emotion they were

988
00:50:32,529 --> 00:50:36,729
feeling at the time, to
not just try to win a

989
00:50:36,733 --> 00:50:41,243
contest of talking points,
but to actually open up

990
00:50:41,238 --> 00:50:44,138
and to hear the
perspective of someone

991
00:50:44,141 --> 00:50:50,111
else, to accomplish a
goal that they share.

992
00:50:50,113 --> 00:50:52,113
Republicans haven't even
been able to do that

993
00:50:52,115 --> 00:50:55,185
among themselves.

994
00:50:55,185 --> 00:50:57,185
It's not as if Republicans
are getting together,

995
00:50:57,187 --> 00:50:59,227
passing all kinds of
legislation that they're

996
00:50:59,222 --> 00:51:01,922
sending up to the desk of
the Democratic President,

997
00:51:01,925 --> 00:51:04,695
and he has to veto them.

998
00:51:04,694 --> 00:51:08,734
That's not at
all the case.

999
00:51:08,732 --> 00:51:11,372
It's very unusual for the
President to veto pieces

1000
00:51:11,368 --> 00:51:13,368
of legislation because
very few bills are getting

1001
00:51:13,370 --> 00:51:15,070
to his desk.

1002
00:51:15,071 --> 00:51:19,641
And the ones that the
President has vetoed have

1003
00:51:19,643 --> 00:51:24,783
almost all been bills
seeking to specifically

1004
00:51:24,781 --> 00:51:27,081
undo something that
the President did.

1005
00:51:27,083 --> 00:51:29,153
That's not an
affirmative agenda.

1006
00:51:29,152 --> 00:51:33,492
That's not a vision for
governing the country.

1007
00:51:33,490 --> 00:51:38,360
That is a majority party
that is focused on nothing

1008
00:51:38,361 --> 00:51:42,131
or hardly anything other
than obstructing the

1009
00:51:42,132 --> 00:51:47,942
Democratic President.

1010
00:51:47,938 --> 00:51:49,108
They can do that
if they want.

1011
00:51:49,105 --> 00:51:54,115
I'm not suggesting that
somehow that is -- I don't

1012
00:51:54,110 --> 00:51:56,110
know, I don't really know
what I'm saying about it.

1013
00:51:56,112 --> 00:51:58,112
I guess what I'm saying
is it's something I think

1014
00:51:58,114 --> 00:52:02,924
that most Americans think
is irresponsible, and it's

1015
00:52:02,919 --> 00:52:05,559
something that they don't
support and contributes

1016
00:52:05,555 --> 00:52:09,725
significantly to the
sense of dysfunction in

1017
00:52:09,726 --> 00:52:12,166
Washington, D.C. And I
think it explains why

1018
00:52:12,162 --> 00:52:15,802
Congress is polling
in the teens.

1019
00:52:15,799 --> 00:52:17,799
And I think that's
got to be particularly

1020
00:52:17,801 --> 00:52:19,801
disappointing to
Republican voters across

1021
00:52:19,803 --> 00:52:23,203
the country who had been
waiting for years to

1022
00:52:23,206 --> 00:52:25,206
capitalize on the
opportunity of finally

1023
00:52:25,208 --> 00:52:27,208
having a majority in
Congress where they could

1024
00:52:27,210 --> 00:52:29,950
start passing bills.

1025
00:52:29,946 --> 00:52:33,446
But that's not at all what
Republicans have done,

1026
00:52:33,450 --> 00:52:35,450
even on bills that they
themselves say that

1027
00:52:35,452 --> 00:52:36,452
they support.

1028
00:52:36,453 --> 00:52:38,893
So it's not even a matter
of why can't Democrats and

1029
00:52:38,889 --> 00:52:41,729
Republicans get along;
why can't Democrats and

1030
00:52:41,725 --> 00:52:43,725
Republicans try to find
common ground to

1031
00:52:43,727 --> 00:52:44,727
advance something.

1032
00:52:44,728 --> 00:52:47,528
Republicans don't
stand for anything --

1033
00:52:47,531 --> 00:52:49,531
Republicans who have their
own affirmative agenda

1034
00:52:49,533 --> 00:52:51,673
that they're
repeatedly passing.

1035
00:52:51,668 --> 00:52:52,638
The Press: Has the
President given up on

1036
00:52:52,636 --> 00:52:55,276
working with Republicans?

1037
00:52:55,272 --> 00:52:55,872
Mr. Earnest: Well,
considering that

1038
00:52:55,872 --> 00:52:57,412
Republicans are leaving
a day early for their

1039
00:52:57,407 --> 00:53:00,407
seven-week recess -- maybe
we'll talk to them when

1040
00:53:00,410 --> 00:53:01,850
they get back.

1041
00:53:01,845 --> 00:53:03,815
But they're very eager
to rush off to that

1042
00:53:03,813 --> 00:53:05,253
convention in Cleveland
that everybody is so

1043
00:53:05,248 --> 00:53:06,818
excited about.

1044
00:53:06,816 --> 00:53:08,416
The Press: I want to
turn to the convention.

1045
00:53:08,418 --> 00:53:11,288
DHS head, Jeh Johnson,
said he is going to be

1046
00:53:11,288 --> 00:53:12,758
heading to Cleveland
tomorrow and on to

1047
00:53:12,756 --> 00:53:15,056
Philadelphia to personally
take a look at the sites.

1048
00:53:15,058 --> 00:53:17,458
What is the
administration's hope and

1049
00:53:17,460 --> 00:53:20,400
expectations as they watch
these two parties in the

1050
00:53:20,397 --> 00:53:23,767
process of selecting their
nominees, especially in

1051
00:53:23,767 --> 00:53:25,637
light of the fact that
we've seen racial strife,

1052
00:53:25,635 --> 00:53:29,005
we've seen violence, we've
seen protests around some

1053
00:53:29,005 --> 00:53:30,305
of these large gatherings?

1054
00:53:30,307 --> 00:53:33,147
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
President has a lot of

1055
00:53:33,143 --> 00:53:34,513
confidence in the
professionals of the

1056
00:53:34,511 --> 00:53:36,281
United States Secret
Service who will be

1057
00:53:36,279 --> 00:53:40,479
responsible for providing
security for this

1058
00:53:40,483 --> 00:53:42,723
significant
national event.

1059
00:53:42,719 --> 00:53:45,389
I know that Secret Service
officials have been on the

1060
00:53:45,388 --> 00:53:48,088
ground in Cleveland and
Philadelphia for more than

1061
00:53:48,091 --> 00:53:52,901
a year now to coordinate
with state and local

1062
00:53:52,896 --> 00:53:55,166
officials and ensure that
the proper precautions are

1063
00:53:55,165 --> 00:53:58,435
in place to ensure the
safety of not just the

1064
00:53:58,435 --> 00:54:01,075
candidates but of
the delegates to the

1065
00:54:01,071 --> 00:54:02,611
convention and to the
reporters who will be

1066
00:54:02,606 --> 00:54:04,376
covering it.

1067
00:54:04,374 --> 00:54:15,724
As it relates to protests,
there are protests at

1068
00:54:15,719 --> 00:54:17,719
every political convention
-- and there should be.

1069
00:54:17,721 --> 00:54:19,721
People should have an
opportunity to express

1070
00:54:19,723 --> 00:54:21,723
their view, particularly
if it's a view that is in

1071
00:54:21,725 --> 00:54:22,725
disagreement with
other people.

1072
00:54:22,726 --> 00:54:24,696
The President's
expectation is that people

1073
00:54:24,694 --> 00:54:26,694
should exercise those
rights to freedom of

1074
00:54:26,696 --> 00:54:28,696
speech and freedom of
assembly peacefully.

1075
00:54:28,698 --> 00:54:33,168
And that's true of
Democrats and Republicans.

1076
00:54:33,169 --> 00:54:34,909
The Press: Are the
preparations ongoing in

1077
00:54:34,904 --> 00:54:37,674
anticipation of
problems of violence?

1078
00:54:37,674 --> 00:54:39,744
I mean, is that something
that they're expecting?

1079
00:54:39,743 --> 00:54:41,913
Mr. Earnest: I'm confident
that law enforcement

1080
00:54:41,911 --> 00:54:45,151
officials are prepared
for a variety of contingencies.

1081
00:54:45,148 --> 00:54:47,918
But I'd refer you to those
local law enforcement

1082
00:54:47,917 --> 00:54:49,917
agencies for contingency
plans that they may

1083
00:54:49,919 --> 00:54:51,289
have in place.

1084
00:54:51,287 --> 00:54:51,987
Julie.

1085
00:54:51,988 --> 00:54:53,028
The Press: Thanks.

1086
00:54:53,023 --> 00:54:54,423
Just some more follow-up
on the meeting yesterday.

1087
00:54:54,424 --> 00:54:57,894
You've noted many times in
this room that -- you put

1088
00:54:57,894 --> 00:55:01,134
out the 21st Century
Policing Task Force -- put

1089
00:55:01,131 --> 00:55:04,571
out recommendations, but
you can't tell forces

1090
00:55:04,567 --> 00:55:06,407
around the country
to implement them.

1091
00:55:06,403 --> 00:55:07,373
Mr. Earnest: That's right.

1092
00:55:07,370 --> 00:55:08,540
The Press: I know there
have been calls on the

1093
00:55:08,538 --> 00:55:11,508
President to tie federal
funding and federal grants

1094
00:55:11,508 --> 00:55:14,108
that go to these
local forces to the

1095
00:55:14,110 --> 00:55:16,650
implementation of some of
these recommendations and

1096
00:55:16,646 --> 00:55:17,686
that that came up
in the meeting.

1097
00:55:17,681 --> 00:55:19,721
Is that the sort of thing
that the President is open

1098
00:55:19,716 --> 00:55:21,456
to, and is it something
that he could do himself

1099
00:55:21,451 --> 00:55:23,221
without Congress?

1100
00:55:23,219 --> 00:55:30,799
Mr. Earnest: Well, let me
start by saying that there

1101
00:55:30,794 --> 00:55:36,534
is a challenge in terms of
the way that the federal

1102
00:55:36,533 --> 00:55:40,303
government interacts with
the 18,000 different local

1103
00:55:40,303 --> 00:55:42,803
law enforcement agencies
across the country.

1104
00:55:42,806 --> 00:55:46,376
Each of these local law
enforcement agencies

1105
00:55:46,376 --> 00:55:57,016
confronts a
unique challenge.

1106
00:55:57,020 --> 00:56:01,730
Each of these local law
enforcement agencies has

1107
00:56:01,725 --> 00:56:07,065
different capabilities to
meet those challenges.

1108
00:56:07,063 --> 00:56:09,733
It's why this problem is
so -- it's one of the

1109
00:56:09,733 --> 00:56:11,303
reasons that his problem
is so resistant to a

1110
00:56:11,301 --> 00:56:14,441
cookie-cutter solution.

1111
00:56:14,437 --> 00:56:16,607
So the President
acknowledged in his

1112
00:56:16,606 --> 00:56:20,246
remarks to all of you
yesterday that one of the

1113
00:56:20,243 --> 00:56:22,243
challenges for the federal
government is to look at

1114
00:56:22,245 --> 00:56:24,245
ways that the federal
government can be a more

1115
00:56:24,247 --> 00:56:26,417
effective partner with law
enforcement organizations

1116
00:56:26,416 --> 00:56:27,816
across the country.

1117
00:56:27,817 --> 00:56:33,527
The President was pretty
forthright about that.

1118
00:56:33,523 --> 00:56:41,233
As it relates to questions
with regard to how we can

1119
00:56:41,231 --> 00:56:44,231
encourage or even compel
local law enforcement

1120
00:56:44,234 --> 00:56:47,004
agencies to pursue these
best practices, there's a

1121
00:56:47,003 --> 00:56:52,013
reason that we allow
citizens to organize

1122
00:56:52,008 --> 00:56:56,308
themselves at the local
level to provide policing.

1123
00:56:56,312 --> 00:56:57,582
And there's a long
tradition of that in our

1124
00:56:57,580 --> 00:56:59,580
country, and that's
not something that the

1125
00:56:59,582 --> 00:57:03,052
President is
seeking to overturn.

1126
00:57:03,052 --> 00:57:06,222
The President is very
respectful of local

1127
00:57:06,222 --> 00:57:10,392
law enforcement.

1128
00:57:10,393 --> 00:57:12,393
There's a reason that the
President says that he's

1129
00:57:12,395 --> 00:57:14,395
such a believer in
community-oriented

1130
00:57:14,397 --> 00:57:18,437
policing, because we
know that crime-fighting

1131
00:57:18,434 --> 00:57:22,544
efforts are going to be
more effective if law

1132
00:57:22,539 --> 00:57:26,139
enforcement organizations
and the officers that wear

1133
00:57:26,142 --> 00:57:29,442
the badge have a good
working knowledge and a

1134
00:57:29,445 --> 00:57:31,585
good working relationship
with citizens in

1135
00:57:31,581 --> 00:57:34,481
those communities.

1136
00:57:34,484 --> 00:57:39,224
So I'm not aware of any
specific executive actions

1137
00:57:39,222 --> 00:57:41,322
that are under
consideration that would

1138
00:57:41,324 --> 00:57:42,894
do something like that.

1139
00:57:42,892 --> 00:57:44,892
But the President is
certainly interested in

1140
00:57:44,894 --> 00:57:54,104
considering, within those
bounds, what we can do to

1141
00:57:54,103 --> 00:57:58,673
encourage more political
leaders and law

1142
00:57:58,675 --> 00:58:03,845
enforcement officials
to consider these best

1143
00:58:03,847 --> 00:58:07,087
practices that have been
used so effectively in

1144
00:58:07,083 --> 00:58:10,353
other communities to
address concerns in

1145
00:58:10,353 --> 00:58:12,253
those communities.

1146
00:58:12,255 --> 00:58:13,855
There's an opportunity
here; it's just a matter

1147
00:58:13,857 --> 00:58:21,497
of leaders showing some
leadership and deciding to

1148
00:58:21,497 --> 00:58:22,897
make this a priority.

1149
00:58:22,899 --> 00:58:27,809
There is an all-too-common
of a tendency to have

1150
00:58:27,804 --> 00:58:30,644
these problems bubble up,
for there to be an intense

1151
00:58:30,640 --> 00:58:33,810
focus on these issues for
a couple of weeks while

1152
00:58:33,810 --> 00:58:36,410
they're being debated in
the media, and then they

1153
00:58:36,412 --> 00:58:39,152
have a tendency to fall
down the priority list.

1154
00:58:39,148 --> 00:58:41,448
And this is one of those
problems that is only

1155
00:58:41,451 --> 00:58:47,061
going to be solved with
sustained commitment and

1156
00:58:47,056 --> 00:58:50,956
tenacity to a
following-through.

1157
00:58:50,960 --> 00:58:54,730
The Press: Just on the
broader question, at this

1158
00:58:54,731 --> 00:58:56,601
meeting yesterday and in
the wake of these recent

1159
00:58:56,599 --> 00:58:59,869
incidents with race and
policing, and also in the

1160
00:58:59,869 --> 00:59:02,139
wake of Ferguson, the
Black Lives Matter

1161
00:59:02,138 --> 00:59:05,138
activists and a lot of
civil rights activists

1162
00:59:05,141 --> 00:59:06,841
have asked quite a bit of
the President in terms of

1163
00:59:06,843 --> 00:59:08,883
things he should do,
places he should visit,

1164
00:59:08,878 --> 00:59:11,748
legislation that he should
pass, or executive orders

1165
00:59:11,748 --> 00:59:13,688
that he should consider.

1166
00:59:13,683 --> 00:59:16,683
Does he feel that those
expectations that they

1167
00:59:16,686 --> 00:59:19,686
have of what he can do in
this situation are out of

1168
00:59:19,689 --> 00:59:21,089
line with reality?

1169
00:59:21,090 --> 00:59:23,330
Does he feel like that is
in any way related to the

1170
00:59:23,326 --> 00:59:25,296
fact that he is obviously
the first African

1171
00:59:25,295 --> 00:59:26,695
American President?

1172
00:59:26,696 --> 00:59:28,396
Does he believe they're
placing expectations on

1173
00:59:28,398 --> 00:59:32,898
him that he can't
really live up to?

1174
00:59:32,902 --> 00:59:34,772
Mr. Earnest: Well, that's
a hard question for me to

1175
00:59:34,771 --> 00:59:40,581
answer for him.

1176
00:59:40,576 --> 00:59:49,386
I think I'll acknowledge
the obvious fact, which is

1177
00:59:49,385 --> 00:59:57,895
I think every American,
regardless of race,

1178
00:59:57,894 --> 01:00:01,694
understands the unique
perspective that President

1179
01:00:01,698 --> 01:00:05,238
Obama has on these issues.

1180
01:00:05,234 --> 01:00:07,474
He's talked about
that before.

1181
01:00:07,470 --> 01:00:13,480
President Obama has also
acknowledged that all too

1182
01:00:13,476 --> 01:00:23,416
often his words alone
have been inadequate to

1183
01:00:23,419 --> 01:00:29,529
facilitating the kind of
understanding that he'd

1184
01:00:29,525 --> 01:00:31,365
like to see.

1185
01:00:31,361 --> 01:00:35,831
That's not going to
prevent him from trying.

1186
01:00:35,832 --> 01:00:40,002
And the President has been
quite forceful, time and

1187
01:00:40,003 --> 01:00:43,073
time again, in making a
case based on his own

1188
01:00:43,072 --> 01:00:48,912
perspective about the
outstanding work that the

1189
01:00:48,911 --> 01:00:50,551
vast majority of law
enforcement officers

1190
01:00:50,546 --> 01:00:52,986
across this country
do every single day.

1191
01:00:52,982 --> 01:00:56,582
He's talked about how law
enforcement officers have

1192
01:00:56,586 --> 01:00:58,586
the right to come home at
night at the end of their

1193
01:00:58,588 --> 01:01:07,468
shift; that it is grossly
unfair to cast aspersions

1194
01:01:07,463 --> 01:01:13,673
and scorn on all police
officers because of the

1195
01:01:13,669 --> 01:01:17,339
illegal conduct of a few.

1196
01:01:17,340 --> 01:01:22,580
The President has made
a similar point as it

1197
01:01:22,578 --> 01:01:25,448
relates to protestors and
people who are concerned

1198
01:01:25,448 --> 01:01:28,518
about persistent racial
disparities in our

1199
01:01:28,518 --> 01:01:30,318
criminal justice system.

1200
01:01:30,319 --> 01:01:38,029
The President has made
clear that it is unfair to

1201
01:01:38,027 --> 01:01:44,567
judge every protestor
based on the intemperate

1202
01:01:44,567 --> 01:01:50,537
remarks or
actions of a few.

1203
01:01:50,540 --> 01:01:53,780
President Bush actually
had a nice turn of phrase

1204
01:01:53,776 --> 01:01:58,486
in his remarks in Dallas
on Tuesday, where he

1205
01:01:58,481 --> 01:02:00,151
talked about the need
for us -- I'll probably

1206
01:02:00,149 --> 01:02:02,319
butcher the line now, so
go back and look at it for

1207
01:02:02,318 --> 01:02:04,088
yourself -- but where he
talked about how important

1208
01:02:04,087 --> 01:02:05,357
yourself -- but where he
talked about how important

1209
01:02:05,354 --> 01:02:11,164
it is for us to not judge
other people by the worst

1210
01:02:11,160 --> 01:02:13,800
examples of some people in
their group, and to judge

1211
01:02:13,796 --> 01:02:20,736
ourselves by the best
intentions of our group.

1212
01:02:20,736 --> 01:02:32,616
That distorted evaluation
is part of what stands in

1213
01:02:32,615 --> 01:02:36,555
the way of our ability
to solve this problem.

1214
01:02:36,552 --> 01:02:38,552
And again, this sort of
goes to the core of the

1215
01:02:38,554 --> 01:02:42,624
speech that the President
gave in Dallas, which is,

1216
01:02:42,625 --> 01:02:44,625
empathy will be required
to solve this problem.

1217
01:02:44,627 --> 01:02:47,267
And the President read
that Scripture from

1218
01:02:47,263 --> 01:02:50,003
Ezekiel about turning
our hearts of stone into

1219
01:02:49,999 --> 01:02:55,409
hearts of flesh, and being
open to and being able to

1220
01:02:55,404 --> 01:02:59,774
feel the perspective of a
fellow human being, even

1221
01:02:59,775 --> 01:03:02,645
if that fellow human
being looks or thinks

1222
01:03:02,645 --> 01:03:05,815
differently than we do.

1223
01:03:05,815 --> 01:03:10,015
And again, the historic
nature of this presidency

1224
01:03:10,019 --> 01:03:13,559
is part of the reason that
the President's comments

1225
01:03:13,556 --> 01:03:16,556
about all of these
things are so powerful.

1226
01:03:16,559 --> 01:03:18,559
And the President
certainly does want to use

1227
01:03:18,561 --> 01:03:20,561
that influence in the last
six months that he has

1228
01:03:20,563 --> 01:03:23,263
remaining in office to
move the ball forward.

1229
01:03:23,266 --> 01:03:28,506
But as I was describing to
April, the President knows

1230
01:03:28,504 --> 01:03:33,344
this is not something that
he's going to do alone.

1231
01:03:33,342 --> 01:03:35,812
He'll do his fair share,
and his fair share is

1232
01:03:35,811 --> 01:03:39,311
bigger than
everyone else's.

1233
01:03:39,315 --> 01:03:41,455
But collectively, as a
country, we have to make a

1234
01:03:41,450 --> 01:03:43,450
decision about whether or
not we're prepared to make

1235
01:03:43,452 --> 01:03:44,922
this a priority.

1236
01:03:44,921 --> 01:03:46,921
People of good faith have
to decide if they're

1237
01:03:46,923 --> 01:03:48,923
willing to make
this a priority.

1238
01:03:48,925 --> 01:03:49,925
And that will be hard.

1239
01:03:49,926 --> 01:03:51,396
It will require courage.

1240
01:03:51,394 --> 01:03:54,264
But it's something that
we'll all have to

1241
01:03:54,263 --> 01:03:56,663
decide to do.

1242
01:03:56,666 --> 01:03:57,396
Jordan.

1243
01:03:57,400 --> 01:03:58,200
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1244
01:03:58,201 --> 01:04:00,941
When does the President
plan to sign the opioid

1245
01:04:00,937 --> 01:04:03,607
legislation that the
Senate passed last night?

1246
01:04:03,606 --> 01:04:05,646
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jordan,
as you may have seen in

1247
01:04:05,641 --> 01:04:08,341
the statement that we
issued shortly after that

1248
01:04:08,344 --> 01:04:12,784
bill was passed by the
Congress, the President

1249
01:04:12,782 --> 01:04:14,182
will sign the bill.

1250
01:04:14,183 --> 01:04:18,223
But the bill falls far
short of what is required

1251
01:04:18,221 --> 01:04:22,791
to address the opioid
epidemic all across the country.

1252
01:04:22,792 --> 01:04:26,592
There are Americans right
now who are addicted to

1253
01:04:26,596 --> 01:04:32,336
heroin or opioids who are
desperate for treatment,

1254
01:04:32,335 --> 01:04:37,005
but can't get it because
beds aren't available.

1255
01:04:37,006 --> 01:04:38,546
That shouldn't happen in
the greatest country

1256
01:04:38,541 --> 01:04:39,981
in the world.

1257
01:04:39,976 --> 01:04:42,516
That should not happen in
a country that is founded

1258
01:04:42,511 --> 01:04:54,461
on our values about
looking out for one another.

1259
01:04:54,457 --> 01:05:00,967
And that's why it's such
a shame that Republicans

1260
01:05:00,963 --> 01:05:05,733
have passed a bill that
will give them talking

1261
01:05:05,735 --> 01:05:12,175
points on the campaign
trail, but not give money

1262
01:05:12,174 --> 01:05:14,544
to the doctors and
nurses and patients that

1263
01:05:14,543 --> 01:05:22,583
desperately need it.

1264
01:05:22,585 --> 01:05:23,815
The Press: Is there a --
so no exact timing yet on

1265
01:05:23,653 --> 01:05:25,953
Mr. Earnest: I don't know
what day he'll sign it but

1266
01:05:23,819 --> 01:05:25,119
the bill signing?

1267
01:05:25,955 --> 01:05:26,955
we'll --

1268
01:05:26,956 --> 01:05:30,826
The Press: That
was the question.

1269
01:05:30,826 --> 01:05:32,296
And you said in the
statement that you're

1270
01:05:32,295 --> 01:05:35,065
going to continue to press
Republican leaders in

1271
01:05:35,064 --> 01:05:37,064
Congress to pass
some sort of funding.

1272
01:05:37,066 --> 01:05:38,066
Mr. Earnest: We will.

1273
01:05:38,067 --> 01:05:40,067
The Press: Can you explain
how you're going to do that?

1274
01:05:40,069 --> 01:05:41,869
Is there some legislative
vehicle that you're

1275
01:05:41,871 --> 01:05:44,071
looking at to include
that sort of funding?

1276
01:05:44,073 --> 01:05:46,073
Mr. Earnest: We'll
consider all available

1277
01:05:46,075 --> 01:05:47,075
opportunities.

1278
01:05:47,076 --> 01:05:49,076
I mean, what's so
dishonest about what

1279
01:05:49,078 --> 01:05:51,248
Republicans are saying is
they say, well, this is a

1280
01:05:51,247 --> 01:05:57,957
bill that will provide a
structure for the funding

1281
01:05:57,953 --> 01:06:01,793
that we promise that we'll
include in future budget bills.

1282
01:06:01,791 --> 01:06:03,961
They haven't passed
a budget bill.

1283
01:06:03,959 --> 01:06:06,799
They haven't even passed
a budget, let alone a

1284
01:06:06,796 --> 01:06:08,696
spending bill.

1285
01:06:08,698 --> 01:06:11,498
So I guess the question I
would ask is, what is the

1286
01:06:11,500 --> 01:06:13,870
plan that
Republicans have?

1287
01:06:13,869 --> 01:06:16,069
In all their wisdom, the
Founding Fathers gave the

1288
01:06:16,072 --> 01:06:20,042
United States Congress
the power of the purse.

1289
01:06:20,042 --> 01:06:22,382
Nobody forced these
Republicans to serve

1290
01:06:22,378 --> 01:06:23,378
in Congress.

1291
01:06:23,379 --> 01:06:25,249
They ran for the job.

1292
01:06:25,247 --> 01:06:27,847
Presumably, at least some
of them were familiar with

1293
01:06:27,850 --> 01:06:32,660
the Constitution when they
took office, and would

1294
01:06:32,655 --> 01:06:34,925
understand the
responsibilities that they have.

1295
01:06:34,924 --> 01:06:37,864
So it will be up to
Republicans to put forward

1296
01:06:37,860 --> 01:06:41,560
a specific proposal, and
to pass it, for how they

1297
01:06:41,564 --> 01:06:45,034
want to fund drug
treatment programs in

1298
01:06:45,034 --> 01:06:46,034
this country.

1299
01:06:46,035 --> 01:06:49,035
I'll just remind you,
President Obama put

1300
01:06:49,038 --> 01:06:52,708
forward his own specific
plan back in February in

1301
01:06:52,708 --> 01:06:56,978
his budget for a billion
dollars, fully paid for,

1302
01:06:56,979 --> 01:07:01,889
that would expand and
enhance drug treatment

1303
01:07:01,884 --> 01:07:03,884
programs all
across the country.

1304
01:07:03,886 --> 01:07:05,886
And you'll recall, Jordan,
that for the first time in

1305
01:07:05,888 --> 01:07:10,498
40 years, Republicans in
Congress refused to even

1306
01:07:10,493 --> 01:07:12,833
have a hearing to
discuss that proposal.

1307
01:07:12,828 --> 01:07:13,828
They refused.

1308
01:07:13,829 --> 01:07:15,829
It's not just that they
came out and trashed the

1309
01:07:15,831 --> 01:07:17,831
proposal right when it was
issued, they refused to

1310
01:07:17,833 --> 01:07:19,733
even talk about it.

1311
01:07:19,735 --> 01:07:25,775
And I think that is a
damning assessment of

1312
01:07:25,775 --> 01:07:28,015
their failure to
fulfill their basic

1313
01:07:28,010 --> 01:07:30,010
responsibilities to
the American people.

1314
01:07:30,012 --> 01:07:33,312
And it's only one;
there are many others.

1315
01:07:33,315 --> 01:07:37,115
But it certainly
is a good one.

1316
01:07:37,119 --> 01:07:38,089
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1317
01:07:38,087 --> 01:07:42,387
Does the White House agree
with Justice Ginsburg that

1318
01:07:42,391 --> 01:07:44,131
her comments were "out
of line," and would just

1319
01:07:44,126 --> 01:07:46,496
agree on the principle of
the matter that justices

1320
01:07:46,495 --> 01:07:49,135
have no place weighing
in on the presidential campaign?

1321
01:07:49,131 --> 01:07:52,631
Mr. Earnest: I'm not going
to comment on Justice

1322
01:07:52,635 --> 01:07:57,575
Ginsburg's interviews or
the written statement that

1323
01:07:57,573 --> 01:08:00,313
the Supreme Court
apparently issued earlier today.

1324
01:08:00,309 --> 01:08:04,079
I'll let her comments
stand for themselves.

1325
01:08:04,079 --> 01:08:04,609
The Press: Okay.

1326
01:08:04,613 --> 01:08:06,153
And the White House
Correspondents Association

1327
01:08:06,148 --> 01:08:08,448
put out a column
expressing concern about

1328
01:08:08,451 --> 01:08:10,491
both campaigns'
treatment of the press.

1329
01:08:10,486 --> 01:08:14,426
Does the White House share
the press corps' concern

1330
01:08:14,423 --> 01:08:16,363
that Hillary Clinton
hasn't held a press

1331
01:08:16,358 --> 01:08:18,328
conference this
entire calendar year?

1332
01:08:18,327 --> 01:08:23,197
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
what you've often heard me

1333
01:08:23,199 --> 01:08:26,469
say in the context of
assessing relations

1334
01:08:26,469 --> 01:08:28,469
between the White House
and the White House press

1335
01:08:28,471 --> 01:08:35,941
corps is that there is
built-in tensions in those

1336
01:08:35,945 --> 01:08:38,345
relationships; that if
there weren't some concern

1337
01:08:38,347 --> 01:08:43,157
on the part of reporters
agitating for more access,

1338
01:08:43,152 --> 01:08:45,152
then you'd be falling
down on the job.

1339
01:08:45,154 --> 01:08:47,524
That same dynamic applies
to covering

1340
01:08:47,523 --> 01:08:49,193
presidential campaigns.

1341
01:08:49,191 --> 01:08:59,601
So I'm hesitant to
backseat drive for other

1342
01:08:59,602 --> 01:09:01,942
campaigns that are
implementing a

1343
01:09:01,937 --> 01:09:05,837
communications strategy
and navigating their own

1344
01:09:05,841 --> 01:09:07,841
relationship with the
reporters that cover them

1345
01:09:07,843 --> 01:09:08,843
every day.

1346
01:09:08,844 --> 01:09:13,214
But I think what I can
say, as a general matter,

1347
01:09:13,215 --> 01:09:19,355
is that it's a good thing
that that tension exists,

1348
01:09:19,355 --> 01:09:21,425
but it also needs to
be followed up by a

1349
01:09:21,423 --> 01:09:26,533
constructive dialogue on
the parts of both the

1350
01:09:26,529 --> 01:09:28,529
reporters who are covering
the campaign and the

1351
01:09:28,531 --> 01:09:34,101
campaigns themselves to
try to address those concerns.

1352
01:09:34,103 --> 01:09:36,103
I can't speak to whether
or not that's

1353
01:09:36,105 --> 01:09:37,105
actually happening.

1354
01:09:37,106 --> 01:09:39,106
I think all of you would
probably know better than I.

1355
01:09:39,108 --> 01:09:40,978
The Press: But as a
general matter, isn't it

1356
01:09:40,976 --> 01:09:42,516
fair to say that the White
House would agree that a

1357
01:09:42,511 --> 01:09:44,511
presidential candidate
should hold at least one

1358
01:09:44,513 --> 01:09:46,653
press conference over the
course of seven months?

1359
01:09:46,649 --> 01:09:49,089
Isn't that a reasonable
expectation, wouldn't you agree?

1360
01:09:49,084 --> 01:09:51,084
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
I'm not going to weigh in

1361
01:09:51,086 --> 01:09:53,956
on the specific tactical
decisions that are made by

1362
01:09:53,956 --> 01:09:56,696
either campaign
at this point.

1363
01:09:56,692 --> 01:09:58,992
The President has stood at
this podium and certainly

1364
01:09:58,994 --> 01:10:02,194
talked quite a bit about
how important it is he

1365
01:10:02,197 --> 01:10:08,407
believes for journalists
to thoroughly evaluate the

1366
01:10:08,404 --> 01:10:09,634
positions that are
taken by the

1367
01:10:09,638 --> 01:10:12,178
individual candidates.

1368
01:10:12,174 --> 01:10:14,774
The process of running for
President is hard, and one

1369
01:10:14,777 --> 01:10:17,677
thing that makes that
process hard is you're

1370
01:10:17,680 --> 01:10:20,020
scrutinized by the media
-- your statements, and

1371
01:10:20,015 --> 01:10:26,655
your positions, and your
past, and your plans are

1372
01:10:26,655 --> 01:10:29,455
all carefully scrutinized.

1373
01:10:29,458 --> 01:10:34,328
That makes the job of
candidate for President of

1374
01:10:34,330 --> 01:10:36,570
the United States really
hard, but it's also

1375
01:10:36,565 --> 01:10:40,935
critically important
to the success of our democracy.

1376
01:10:40,936 --> 01:10:43,706
So, again, I'm not going
to speak to the specific

1377
01:10:43,706 --> 01:10:47,176
tactical decisions that
either campaign is making,

1378
01:10:47,176 --> 01:10:49,176
but I will just say as
a general matter, the

1379
01:10:49,178 --> 01:10:54,148
President believes that
thorough, even aggressive

1380
01:10:54,149 --> 01:10:57,089
coverage of the candidates
and their positions and

1381
01:10:57,086 --> 01:11:00,226
their statements and their
record and their agenda is

1382
01:11:00,222 --> 01:11:02,622
critically important
to the success of our

1383
01:11:02,625 --> 01:11:04,625
democracy and to the
ability of voters to make

1384
01:11:04,627 --> 01:11:09,737
a good decision when they
step in the voting booth

1385
01:11:09,732 --> 01:11:11,062
in November.

1386
01:11:11,066 --> 01:11:11,736
The Press: Okay.

1387
01:11:11,734 --> 01:11:13,734
And following up on the
President's meeting

1388
01:11:13,736 --> 01:11:15,506
yesterday, clearly an
issue the President cares

1389
01:11:15,504 --> 01:11:18,104
deeply about, what can we
expect the President's

1390
01:11:18,107 --> 01:11:22,077
role to be going forward,
even beyond this administration?

1391
01:11:22,077 --> 01:11:24,517
Do you have any insight
into what the President's

1392
01:11:24,513 --> 01:11:28,753
post-presidency role on
this topic might look like?

1393
01:11:28,751 --> 01:11:30,921
Mr. Earnest: I don't have
a lot to say about the

1394
01:11:30,919 --> 01:11:38,559
President's plans
after January 20th.

1395
01:11:38,560 --> 01:11:40,860
I talked a little bit
yesterday and you've heard

1396
01:11:40,863 --> 01:11:43,333
the President talk before
about his intention to be

1397
01:11:43,332 --> 01:11:45,332
involved in the My
Brother's Keeper

1398
01:11:45,334 --> 01:11:48,504
initiative once
he leaves office.

1399
01:11:48,504 --> 01:11:51,274
This is an issue that is
close to the President's

1400
01:11:51,273 --> 01:11:55,543
heart, based on his
experience growing up

1401
01:11:55,544 --> 01:12:00,054
without a father.

1402
01:12:00,049 --> 01:12:03,019
So that certainly is
a part of the broader

1403
01:12:03,018 --> 01:12:05,758
discussion that we're
having about race and the

1404
01:12:05,754 --> 01:12:08,894
criminal justice system
and the persistent racial

1405
01:12:08,891 --> 01:12:12,391
disparities in our
criminal justice system.

1406
01:12:12,394 --> 01:12:15,464
But beyond that, it's hard
for me to give you much

1407
01:12:15,464 --> 01:12:18,034
insight into what the
President's plans are for

1408
01:12:18,033 --> 01:12:19,833
once he leaves office.

1409
01:12:19,835 --> 01:12:20,665
Kevin.

1410
01:12:20,669 --> 01:12:21,099
The Press: Thanks.

1411
01:12:21,103 --> 01:12:24,573
Just maybe he saw it,
maybe he didn't -- did the

1412
01:12:24,573 --> 01:12:27,113
President at least hear
about Senator Tim Scott's

1413
01:12:27,109 --> 01:12:29,849
comments yesterday about
how he's been profiled

1414
01:12:29,845 --> 01:12:33,545
before, pulled over as
many as seven times in one year.

1415
01:12:33,549 --> 01:12:35,119
And if he did hear about
that, what did he think

1416
01:12:35,117 --> 01:12:36,347
about it?

1417
01:12:36,351 --> 01:12:38,751
Mr. Earnest: Kevin, I
haven't had an -- I have

1418
01:12:38,754 --> 01:12:41,024
not talked to him
about that today.

1419
01:12:41,023 --> 01:12:44,893
So I presume that he has
seen those comments.

1420
01:12:44,893 --> 01:12:49,933
The Press: Would that
surprise him, do you think?

1421
01:12:49,932 --> 01:12:51,932
Mr. Earnest: I'm confident
that it would not.

1422
01:12:51,934 --> 01:12:57,204
I think that the kind of
experience that Senator

1423
01:12:57,206 --> 01:13:03,576
Scott relayed from the
Senate floor yesterday I

1424
01:13:03,579 --> 01:13:08,789
think was notable not
because of what he said

1425
01:13:08,784 --> 01:13:10,784
but because of
where he said it.

1426
01:13:10,786 --> 01:13:11,986
It took a lot of courage
from him to walk out on

1427
01:13:11,987 --> 01:13:15,757
the floor of the United
States Senate and talk so

1428
01:13:15,758 --> 01:13:17,758
candidly about his own
personal experience.

1429
01:13:17,760 --> 01:13:19,760
But I think the kind of
personal experience that

1430
01:13:19,762 --> 01:13:24,462
he relayed is all too
common across our country.

1431
01:13:24,466 --> 01:13:29,636
So I guess that
reflects my views.

1432
01:13:29,638 --> 01:13:30,808
I don't know if it
reflects the President's or not.

1433
01:13:30,806 --> 01:13:31,576
The Press: Understood.

1434
01:13:31,573 --> 01:13:34,343
I'm sure you're aware that
there are a number of

1435
01:13:34,343 --> 01:13:37,283
protests that are
scheduled for -- or

1436
01:13:37,279 --> 01:13:39,779
planned, at least
-- for tomorrow.

1437
01:13:39,782 --> 01:13:43,182
There has also been some
talk that the Pentagon is

1438
01:13:43,185 --> 01:13:45,755
suggesting that DOD
members stay away and

1439
01:13:45,754 --> 01:13:49,124
avoid at any cost
these circumstances.

1440
01:13:49,124 --> 01:13:52,794
Is the White House
concerned about these protests?

1441
01:13:52,795 --> 01:13:56,865
And if so, what steps is
the President encouraging

1442
01:13:56,865 --> 01:13:59,665
not just the security
staff around here at the

1443
01:13:59,668 --> 01:14:01,408
White House but, more
broadly speaking,

1444
01:14:01,403 --> 01:14:03,773
encouraging law
enforcement and others to

1445
01:14:03,772 --> 01:14:05,742
consider as these
events are planned?

1446
01:14:05,741 --> 01:14:08,241
Mr. Earnest: Listen, no,
I would not describe the

1447
01:14:08,243 --> 01:14:10,243
White House as concerned
about these protests.

1448
01:14:10,245 --> 01:14:17,685
I think what we have seen
over the last couple of

1449
01:14:17,686 --> 01:14:20,156
weeks is many Americans
coming to the streets to

1450
01:14:20,155 --> 01:14:24,225
peacefully express
their concerns.

1451
01:14:24,226 --> 01:14:26,226
They're exercising their
freedom of speech, they're

1452
01:14:26,228 --> 01:14:30,328
exercising their freedom
of assembly, and that's a

1453
01:14:30,332 --> 01:14:31,432
good thing.

1454
01:14:31,433 --> 01:14:34,903
That reflects some
engagement in the system.

1455
01:14:34,903 --> 01:14:37,173
That's a good start.

1456
01:14:37,172 --> 01:14:43,082
Again, people responding
to their conscience is

1457
01:14:43,078 --> 01:14:47,248
important, but it's not
going to be sufficient.

1458
01:14:47,249 --> 01:14:49,589
We're also going to have
to be able to not just

1459
01:14:49,585 --> 01:14:53,225
protest, but also to
engage in a dialogue, and

1460
01:14:53,222 --> 01:14:57,962
to engage in the kind of
conversations that open up

1461
01:14:57,960 --> 01:15:00,960
our own perspective to the
views of someone who may

1462
01:15:00,963 --> 01:15:05,733
look and think
differently than we do.

1463
01:15:05,734 --> 01:15:11,074
But look, the President
has been complimentary of

1464
01:15:11,073 --> 01:15:14,473
the vast majority of
protestors that are making

1465
01:15:14,476 --> 01:15:19,086
their views known in a
way that's peaceful and

1466
01:15:19,081 --> 01:15:21,621
reflects the proper
exercise of their

1467
01:15:21,617 --> 01:15:22,617
constitutional rights.

1468
01:15:22,618 --> 01:15:25,088
The Press: Quick follow on
Olivier's question about

1469
01:15:25,087 --> 01:15:26,757
the so-called 28 pages.

1470
01:15:26,755 --> 01:15:31,595
I guess the question is
that the Saudis have been

1471
01:15:31,593 --> 01:15:35,763
saying since 2003, release
them all unredacted; we

1472
01:15:35,764 --> 01:15:38,634
want them out there
because we're that

1473
01:15:38,634 --> 01:15:41,534
confident that we
have nothing to hide.

1474
01:15:41,536 --> 01:15:43,406
The American people
probably wonder two

1475
01:15:43,405 --> 01:15:44,475
basic things.

1476
01:15:44,473 --> 01:15:49,283
One, is there something
there that is making the

1477
01:15:49,278 --> 01:15:51,578
administration and
others hold it back?

1478
01:15:51,580 --> 01:15:54,350
And given that it will
very likely be released --

1479
01:15:54,349 --> 01:15:56,719
at least reportedly
-- perhaps as soon as

1480
01:15:56,718 --> 01:15:58,888
tomorrow or Monday, is
there anything that we

1481
01:15:58,887 --> 01:16:02,157
should expect in terms of
the White House reaction

1482
01:16:02,157 --> 01:16:06,867
to what will be
then made public?

1483
01:16:06,862 --> 01:16:10,162
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
the Director of National

1484
01:16:10,165 --> 01:16:12,135
Intelligence has been
undertaking a process to

1485
01:16:12,134 --> 01:16:14,804
declassify these documents
because of the intense

1486
01:16:14,803 --> 01:16:17,843
public interest in them.

1487
01:16:17,839 --> 01:16:19,839
And they're working
through that process.

1488
01:16:19,841 --> 01:16:21,841
You can check with them
for a status update.

1489
01:16:21,843 --> 01:16:24,813
But ultimately, once
they've completed that

1490
01:16:24,813 --> 01:16:27,613
process, the American
people will have a chance

1491
01:16:27,616 --> 01:16:33,856
to see what's in them,
and they can judge

1492
01:16:33,855 --> 01:16:34,825
for themselves.

1493
01:16:34,823 --> 01:16:36,893
The Press: No concern on
the White House's part.

1494
01:16:36,892 --> 01:16:37,822
Mr. Earnest: I can tell
you that the White House

1495
01:16:37,826 --> 01:16:40,526
has confidence in the
ability of ODNI to

1496
01:16:40,529 --> 01:16:44,599
administer this process
and strike the appropriate

1497
01:16:44,599 --> 01:16:46,599
balance between protecting
our national security

1498
01:16:46,601 --> 01:16:49,201
equities and being as
transparent as possible

1499
01:16:49,204 --> 01:16:50,874
with the American people.

1500
01:16:50,872 --> 01:16:54,842
They may conclude that
there are some elements of

1501
01:16:54,843 --> 01:16:58,013
those documents that
cannot be safely released,

1502
01:16:58,013 --> 01:17:01,883
but let's see them do
their work and then we can

1503
01:17:01,883 --> 01:17:02,883
discuss it after that.

1504
01:17:02,884 --> 01:17:05,984
Other than that, I would
not expect a specific or

1505
01:17:05,988 --> 01:17:09,188
proactive announcement
from the White House.

1506
01:17:09,191 --> 01:17:10,091
The Press: Last one.

1507
01:17:10,092 --> 01:17:13,162
I want to play out the
Assad-Russia circumstance.

1508
01:17:13,161 --> 01:17:18,131
Given what we've seen
previously in Iraq with

1509
01:17:18,133 --> 01:17:22,743
Hussein and in Libya with
Qaddafi, how does the

1510
01:17:22,738 --> 01:17:25,508
White House, in working
with Russia, prevent, in

1511
01:17:25,507 --> 01:17:28,477
the case of a removal
of Assad from a similar

1512
01:17:28,477 --> 01:17:31,647
circumstance, not
gripping that country?

1513
01:17:31,646 --> 01:17:37,886
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
focus of our diplomatic

1514
01:17:37,886 --> 01:17:40,226
efforts to reach a
political transition has

1515
01:17:40,222 --> 01:17:42,562
been to work closely with
a variety of opposition

1516
01:17:42,557 --> 01:17:47,497
elements inside of Syria
to answer this very question.

1517
01:17:47,496 --> 01:17:51,096
It's not just a matter of
President Assad leaving;

1518
01:17:51,099 --> 01:17:56,969
it's just as important
that whatever structure is

1519
01:17:56,972 --> 01:18:00,072
put in place to replace
him reflects the will and

1520
01:18:00,075 --> 01:18:03,315
ambition of the
Syrian people.

1521
01:18:03,311 --> 01:18:05,851
And working that out is
no small matter, either.

1522
01:18:05,847 --> 01:18:09,517
The opposition groups
represent a variety of

1523
01:18:09,518 --> 01:18:13,518
perspectives, and
certainly have their own

1524
01:18:13,522 --> 01:18:15,792
feelings that are shaped
by some of the atrocities

1525
01:18:15,791 --> 01:18:18,231
that have been committed
by the Assad regime.

1526
01:18:18,226 --> 01:18:22,066
So this is hard work, and
this is why it's not going

1527
01:18:22,064 --> 01:18:23,064
to be solved overnight.

1528
01:18:23,065 --> 01:18:28,975
But a system can only be
erected to replace Bashar

1529
01:18:28,970 --> 01:18:33,710
al Assad once he's
committed to leave.

1530
01:18:33,708 --> 01:18:35,748
And obviously that is not
something that he's done

1531
01:18:35,744 --> 01:18:36,974
at this point.

1532
01:18:36,978 --> 01:18:37,748
Mike.

1533
01:18:37,746 --> 01:18:39,946
The Press: What's the
President's opinion of

1534
01:18:39,948 --> 01:18:43,948
Mike Pence and what kind
of Vice President he might make?

1535
01:18:43,952 --> 01:18:47,052
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'm
not sure to what extent

1536
01:18:47,055 --> 01:18:49,055
President Obama has had an
opportunity to interact

1537
01:18:49,057 --> 01:18:50,257
with Governor Pence.

1538
01:18:50,258 --> 01:18:54,698
I know that Governor Pence
did do some important work

1539
01:18:54,696 --> 01:18:57,766
with the administration
to expand Medicaid in his state.

1540
01:18:57,766 --> 01:18:59,766
That's something that
President Obama has been

1541
01:18:59,768 --> 01:19:01,768
encouraging Democratic
and Republican governors

1542
01:19:01,770 --> 01:19:02,770
across the country to do.

1543
01:19:02,771 --> 01:19:09,011
But look, I'll leave it to
the individual candidates

1544
01:19:09,010 --> 01:19:12,210
to determine who they
believe would best

1545
01:19:12,214 --> 01:19:15,084
complement their skills
and could lead their party

1546
01:19:15,083 --> 01:19:16,223
on the national ticket.

1547
01:19:16,218 --> 01:19:18,418
The Press: Mor
specifically, what's his

1548
01:19:18,420 --> 01:19:22,060
assessment of Governor
Pence's handling of the

1549
01:19:22,057 --> 01:19:24,497
religious freedom law,
which he signed, and

1550
01:19:24,493 --> 01:19:27,733
allowed businesses in
Indiana to reject gays

1551
01:19:27,729 --> 01:19:28,729
as customers?

1552
01:19:28,730 --> 01:19:31,570
That's been an area
of interest for the President.

1553
01:19:31,566 --> 01:19:33,706
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen
this is something that we

1554
01:19:33,702 --> 01:19:37,772
talked about when this
situation first emerged a

1555
01:19:37,772 --> 01:19:40,112
year or so ago.

1556
01:19:40,108 --> 01:19:43,548
Obviously the President
has had a pretty strong

1557
01:19:43,545 --> 01:19:47,715
negative reaction to state
laws that are focused on

1558
01:19:47,716 --> 01:19:48,886
taking rights
away from people.

1559
01:19:48,884 --> 01:19:56,054
But other than that, I
think Governor Pence is

1560
01:19:56,057 --> 01:19:58,057
chosen, these are the
kinds of questions that

1561
01:19:58,059 --> 01:20:00,829
he'll have to answer under
the national spotlight.

1562
01:20:00,829 --> 01:20:04,429
And again, based on my
answer to Jordan, that's

1563
01:20:04,432 --> 01:20:05,632
a good thing.

1564
01:20:05,634 --> 01:20:07,674
The records of the
candidates and their

1565
01:20:07,669 --> 01:20:09,669
running mates should be
scrutinized by the media

1566
01:20:09,671 --> 01:20:11,671
-- not just in terms of
what they're promising to

1567
01:20:11,673 --> 01:20:15,043
do, but also in terms of
what they've done in the past.

1568
01:20:15,043 --> 01:20:16,073
John.

1569
01:20:16,077 --> 01:20:19,117
The Press: The President
has called his selection

1570
01:20:19,114 --> 01:20:23,754
of Joe Biden one of the
best decisions he's ever made.

1571
01:20:23,752 --> 01:20:25,852
I'm not going to get into
names, and I don't think

1572
01:20:25,854 --> 01:20:27,724
you would either, but as
it relates to Hillary

1573
01:20:27,722 --> 01:20:31,262
Clinton, what quality do
you think -- based upon

1574
01:20:31,259 --> 01:20:35,399
the President's
relationship -- she should

1575
01:20:35,397 --> 01:20:37,997
be looking for in terms of
choosing her number two?

1576
01:20:37,999 --> 01:20:40,739
Mr. Earnest: I think the
President would say that

1577
01:20:40,735 --> 01:20:42,705
-- well, let me just couch
it in terms of why the

1578
01:20:42,704 --> 01:20:45,044
President chose Vice
President Biden.

1579
01:20:45,040 --> 01:20:47,040
I think generally I could
put it in two categories.

1580
01:20:47,042 --> 01:20:51,412
The first is, President
Obama trusts his Vice

1581
01:20:51,413 --> 01:20:55,483
President implicitly, that
Vice President Biden has

1582
01:20:55,483 --> 01:20:59,053
been exceedingly loyal to
the President and to

1583
01:20:59,054 --> 01:21:00,954
the country.

1584
01:21:00,956 --> 01:21:04,326
And being able to trust
that person who's helping

1585
01:21:04,326 --> 01:21:06,466
you make these weighty
decisions has been

1586
01:21:06,461 --> 01:21:09,961
critical to President
Obama's success.

1587
01:21:09,965 --> 01:21:12,265
The second thing is, Vice
President Biden obviously

1588
01:21:12,267 --> 01:21:15,237
brought to the ticket and
to the White House a set

1589
01:21:15,237 --> 01:21:17,237
of complementary skills
and experiences that have

1590
01:21:17,239 --> 01:21:20,179
served the American people
and President Obama quite well.

1591
01:21:20,175 --> 01:21:22,675
Vice President Biden has
extensive relationships on

1592
01:21:22,677 --> 01:21:23,747
Capitol Hill, for example.

1593
01:21:23,745 --> 01:21:28,255
He served in the United
States Senate for more

1594
01:21:28,250 --> 01:21:29,250
than 30 years.

1595
01:21:29,251 --> 01:21:32,251
So that extensive
experience and those

1596
01:21:32,254 --> 01:21:35,324
relationships were useful
in advancing some elements

1597
01:21:35,323 --> 01:21:37,663
of the administration's
legislative agenda.

1598
01:21:37,659 --> 01:21:41,829
Vice President Biden
served in the Senate

1599
01:21:41,830 --> 01:21:48,670
foreign affairs committee
and, based on his service

1600
01:21:48,670 --> 01:21:51,410
in that committee, formed
personal relationships

1601
01:21:51,406 --> 01:21:56,846
with leaders
across the globe.

1602
01:21:56,845 --> 01:21:59,915
So his ability to use
those relationships in

1603
01:21:59,914 --> 01:22:03,314
negotiations have been
helpful to advancing U.S.

1604
01:22:03,318 --> 01:22:05,618
interests and advancing
Obama administration

1605
01:22:05,620 --> 01:22:08,420
policies in places as
far-flung as Ukraine,

1606
01:22:08,423 --> 01:22:16,403
Iraq, Central America, and
even some places in Asia.

1607
01:22:16,398 --> 01:22:20,468
The Press: You've seen
the names that have been

1608
01:22:20,468 --> 01:22:23,408
mentioned in terms of the
possibilities for Hillary

1609
01:22:23,405 --> 01:22:25,745
Clinton's number-two
spot on the ticket.

1610
01:22:25,740 --> 01:22:27,410
Strong bench?

1611
01:22:27,409 --> 01:22:29,049
How would you classify
some of the names that

1612
01:22:29,044 --> 01:22:31,514
you've seen over the
course of the past few weeks?

1613
01:22:31,513 --> 01:22:33,713
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
Secretary Clinton will

1614
01:22:33,715 --> 01:22:35,715
have to make her own
decision about which

1615
01:22:35,717 --> 01:22:39,157
person fits the criteria
that she had laid out for

1616
01:22:39,154 --> 01:22:41,654
her running mate.

1617
01:22:41,656 --> 01:22:45,696
Obviously the President
has got warm feelings

1618
01:22:45,694 --> 01:22:50,804
about any number of the
individuals that have

1619
01:22:50,799 --> 01:22:54,899
their names bandied
about in the media.

1620
01:22:54,903 --> 01:22:58,873
But I think the President
is going to be respectful

1621
01:22:58,873 --> 01:23:01,243
of the personal decision
that Secretary Clinton has

1622
01:23:01,242 --> 01:23:03,782
to make about who to
add to the ticket.

1623
01:23:03,778 --> 01:23:06,748
Chris, I'll give
you the last one.

1624
01:23:06,748 --> 01:23:10,588
The Press: Josh, the
Republican platform -- the

1625
01:23:10,585 --> 01:23:13,555
draft Republican platform
released by the RNC's

1626
01:23:13,555 --> 01:23:16,855
platform committee this
week is seen as veering

1627
01:23:16,858 --> 01:23:17,488
toward the far right.

1628
01:23:17,492 --> 01:23:19,592
In addition to anti-LGBT
language that calls for

1629
01:23:19,594 --> 01:23:21,634
overturning a Supreme
Court decision in favor of

1630
01:23:21,629 --> 01:23:24,229
marriage equality, and
rescinding President

1631
01:23:24,232 --> 01:23:27,272
Obama's guidance in favor
of transgender students in

1632
01:23:27,268 --> 01:23:30,438
schools, it also
identifies coal as a clean

1633
01:23:30,438 --> 01:23:31,408
energy source.

1634
01:23:31,406 --> 01:23:33,706
It calls pornography a
public health crisis, and

1635
01:23:33,708 --> 01:23:35,208
other things.

1636
01:23:35,210 --> 01:23:38,680
Does the draft platform
present a threat to the

1637
01:23:38,680 --> 01:23:42,120
progress seen in
the President's administration?

1638
01:23:42,117 --> 01:23:44,117
Mr. Earnest: Well, Chris,
I don't think I have a

1639
01:23:44,119 --> 01:23:46,189
specific reaction to the
Republican platform.

1640
01:23:46,187 --> 01:23:48,187
They obviously have their
own process, and they'll

1641
01:23:48,189 --> 01:23:53,029
consider whether to ratify
the platform at the convention.

1642
01:23:53,027 --> 01:23:55,167
I think I'd just point
you back to some of the

1643
01:23:55,163 --> 01:23:57,163
comments that I had in
response to Suzanne's

1644
01:23:57,165 --> 01:24:00,105
question earlier about,
there's a real question

1645
01:24:00,101 --> 01:24:02,101
inside the Republican
Party about what it is

1646
01:24:02,103 --> 01:24:03,103
that they stand for.

1647
01:24:03,104 --> 01:24:07,574
And it's not clear what
they stand for because

1648
01:24:07,575 --> 01:24:10,515
they've had Republicans in
Congress for the last year

1649
01:24:10,512 --> 01:24:14,552
and a half that haven't
advanced their own agenda.

1650
01:24:14,549 --> 01:24:16,549
They've been much more
focused on just trying to

1651
01:24:16,551 --> 01:24:20,851
throw sand in the gears of
the President's agenda.

1652
01:24:20,855 --> 01:24:22,825
And that's rather
unfortunate when you

1653
01:24:22,824 --> 01:24:25,224
consider that so many
elements of the agenda

1654
01:24:25,226 --> 01:24:30,696
that President Obama is
advancing are things that

1655
01:24:30,698 --> 01:24:32,698
Republicans at one time
or another have said

1656
01:24:32,700 --> 01:24:35,200
they supported.

1657
01:24:35,203 --> 01:24:37,973
So I used to keep here a
list of all the things

1658
01:24:37,972 --> 01:24:40,872
that Republicans say
that they support that

1659
01:24:40,875 --> 01:24:44,275
President said that he
wants to make a priority too.

1660
01:24:44,279 --> 01:24:48,519
These are things like
funding for medical R&D

1661
01:24:48,516 --> 01:24:51,756
that could advance our
cancer initiative, funding

1662
01:24:51,753 --> 01:24:54,893
for opioid addition.

1663
01:24:54,889 --> 01:24:59,059
At one point, Speaker Ryan
indicated support for

1664
01:24:59,060 --> 01:25:02,000
poverty programs that
would expand the earned

1665
01:25:01,996 --> 01:25:04,736
income tax credit in a way
that would strengthen the

1666
01:25:04,732 --> 01:25:06,732
economy and improve the
standard of living for

1667
01:25:06,734 --> 01:25:11,744
Americans across
the country.

1668
01:25:11,739 --> 01:25:14,079
The last time the minimum
wage was increased, it was

1669
01:25:14,075 --> 01:25:16,275
signed into law by a
Republican President.

1670
01:25:16,277 --> 01:25:18,277
That should be something
we should be able to find

1671
01:25:18,279 --> 01:25:19,279
some common ground on.

1672
01:25:19,280 --> 01:25:21,280
But Republicans haven't
moved on any of that, and

1673
01:25:21,282 --> 01:25:24,282
that's been disappointing.

1674
01:25:24,285 --> 01:25:26,285
What's most disappointing,
though, is that they

1675
01:25:26,287 --> 01:25:27,687
haven't moved on anything.

1676
01:25:27,689 --> 01:25:29,689
So again, it's not just a
matter of finding common

1677
01:25:29,691 --> 01:25:31,691
ground, it's that
Republicans don't

1678
01:25:31,693 --> 01:25:35,033
themselves know what they
stand for or don't have

1679
01:25:35,029 --> 01:25:37,129
the courage or the
support to advance it.

1680
01:25:37,131 --> 01:25:46,411
And that, I think, is the
most significant factor in

1681
01:25:46,407 --> 01:25:48,747
the dysfunction that we
see in Washington, D.C.

1682
01:25:48,743 --> 01:25:50,743
It's not a matter of
Democrats and Republicans

1683
01:25:50,745 --> 01:25:52,385
not being able
to get along.

1684
01:25:52,380 --> 01:25:54,750
It's a matter of
Republicans not being able

1685
01:25:54,749 --> 01:25:59,049
to advance even the things
that they claim to believe in.

1686
01:25:59,053 --> 01:26:01,993
And to try to cover that
up, they spend all their

1687
01:26:01,990 --> 01:26:03,990
time trying to sabotage
the things that President

1688
01:26:03,992 --> 01:26:06,632
Obama strongly believes
in, even if there are

1689
01:26:06,628 --> 01:26:08,628
things that Republicans
themselves have previously

1690
01:26:08,630 --> 01:26:09,630
said they believe in.

1691
01:26:09,631 --> 01:26:15,701
So I guess that would
certainly explain the

1692
01:26:15,703 --> 01:26:21,843
public's view of
Congress right now.

1693
01:26:21,843 --> 01:26:26,813
And it will be something
that I suspect will be a

1694
01:26:26,814 --> 01:26:28,814
subject of some discussion
at the Republican

1695
01:26:28,816 --> 01:26:30,616
Convention in
Cleveland next week.

1696
01:26:30,618 --> 01:26:31,958
The Press: But if you
won't comment on the

1697
01:26:31,953 --> 01:26:35,193
platform itself, aren't
things that are in it,

1698
01:26:35,189 --> 01:26:40,159
like opposition of
same-sex marriage and now

1699
01:26:40,161 --> 01:26:42,431
discrimination for
transgender people seeking

1700
01:26:42,430 --> 01:26:44,470
restroom use -- aren't
those things that

1701
01:26:44,465 --> 01:26:46,505
President Obama
disagrees with?

1702
01:26:46,501 --> 01:26:49,401
Mr. Earnest: They are.

1703
01:26:49,404 --> 01:26:53,844
And again, I think it is
indicative of Republicans'

1704
01:26:53,841 --> 01:26:56,641
inability or refusal to
put forward their own

1705
01:26:56,644 --> 01:26:58,844
proactive agenda.

1706
01:26:58,846 --> 01:27:01,686
Instead -- again, based
just on what you've said

1707
01:27:01,683 --> 01:27:03,683
-- it sounds like even
their party platform is

1708
01:27:03,685 --> 01:27:06,085
focused on just trying
to tear down a bunch of

1709
01:27:06,087 --> 01:27:09,457
things that President
Obama believes in.

1710
01:27:09,457 --> 01:27:12,197
Again, I think the
American people have

1711
01:27:12,193 --> 01:27:15,493
higher expectations for
their leaders who are

1712
01:27:15,496 --> 01:27:18,636
entrusted with so
much responsibility.

1713
01:27:18,633 --> 01:27:19,133
Thanks, everybody.

1714
01:27:19,133 --> 01:27:20,273
We'll see you tomorrow.