English subtitles for clip: File:7-19-10- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Gibbs:
Lester, is this for me? Is this
signed? Your book is up here.

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The Press:
I didn't put it up there

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Mr. Gibbs:
All right. I'm going to --

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The Press:
It's not his book.

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The Press:
Thank you.

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The Press:
Just read from it.

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Mr. Gibbs:
I'm sorry. Yes. It's your
daughter's book about you.

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The Press:
I didn't put it up there, but
somebody else did. I did not.

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The Press:
But you didn't discourage
anybody from putting it up there.

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The Press:
What do you want me to do?

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(laughter)

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The Press:
You're in it -- as a
matter of fact you're in it.

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Mr. Gibbs:
I am or Chuck is?

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The Press:
No, no. You.

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Mr. Gibbs:
Not Chuck. All right.

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The Press:
It's all you, buddy.

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Mr. Gibbs:
Take us away, Mr. Feller, please.

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The Press:
Thanks. Two topics.

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On unemployment, on the
extension of the benefits,

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it looks like the Democrats will
certainly have the 60 votes they

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need tomorrow to get
past filibuster and

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move this into law.

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So with that being known, I'm
trying to understand why the

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President did what he did today.

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What's the point of calling out
the Republicans if you know

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you're going to have the votes?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, Ben, we're obviously
hopeful that we have the votes.

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Obviously, with the appointment
of a senator -- a new senator

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from West Virginia, that's
certainly important.

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We have the support of
Senator Collins and

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Senator Snowe from Maine.

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But I don't think you would
take -- we certainly don't take

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anything for granted given the
fact that this will be the

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fourth vote on extending
unemployment benefits,

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when if you look, I think, at
the past this has tended not to

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be a confrontational -- or
controversial thing to do.

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We have hundreds of thousands
of Americans each week that

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exhaust whatever stage
of their unemployment

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benefits they're in.

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For many of them -- and you
heard the President tell

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some stories today -- these
are people that are having

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to make decisions not just
this month, but next month,

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on how to pay the bills and
how to pay the mortgage.

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We don't take any of that for
granted in trying to ensure

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that we have in place the
type of emergency benefits

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that are necessary.

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The Press:
But does giving a statement
like this in the Rose Garden,

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is it intended in any way
to actually try to win one

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of the lawmakers' support?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, it's to ensure I think
that people are clear where

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the President is.

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We did this -- look, the
President in June talked

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about this in the radio address.

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Again, we've tried on three
occasions to get what I don't

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think, as I said, Ben,
in the past has been

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that controversial.

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If you had 8.5 million people
that had lost their jobs in the

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deepest recession that this
country has faced since the

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Great Depression, extending
unemployment benefits you would

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not normally think of would be
something that would require a

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filibuster attempt.

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It certainly hasn't in the past.

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And the President wants to
make sure that tomorrow that,

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although in recent past you
haven't needed 60 votes,

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that we have 60
there to clear it.

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The Press:
Well, I guess that's -- just
to wrap up on this point --

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I guess that's my point, is
that it seemed extremely clear

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what the President's
view is on this.

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He talked about it
over the weekend;

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he's talked about
it in the past --

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Mr. Gibbs:
It's important to the President;

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it's important to the 2.5
million Americans who have

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already seen their
benefits disappear.

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That number would grow to 2.8
million by the end of the week.

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This obviously has to go --
understand this is not the

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end of the road.

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This piece of legislation, if
the Senate passes it tomorrow,

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goes back to the House.

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We hope to get it back to the
President's desk as quickly as

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possible so that we don't see
that number of 2.5 million

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Americans go to 2.8 million.

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The Press:
So you don't see this as
the kind of political theater,

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the back-and-forth that the
President was elected to stop?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Ben, I would love to sit
up here and tell you that

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when the vote first came to the
floor of the Senate -- I don't

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have the date with me --
that something, again,

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that if you look back certainly
as far as I can remember,

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has tended not to be
controversial -- that

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it would have passed.

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I don't think -- I think if you
would have stopped people in

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this town six weeks ago or two
months ago or six months ago,

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and said, do you think it would
take four different votes -- do

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you think it would take the
expiration of 2.5 million

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Americans in their unemployment
benefits to see this go through

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the Senate -- I hazard a guess
that most people would not think

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that's a common-sense way of
legislating economic policy.

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The Press:
Let me, again, a quick
one, please, on BP.

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Can you give us an update on
how -- from the White House

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perspective, how
the cap is working?

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Is containment still
the way to go here,

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and are you concerned about
these reports of seeps or leaks?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, as you hear
Carol Browner and you heard

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Thad Allen yesterday, there are
certainly a couple of -- well,

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three different areas that we
continue to closely monitor.

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There is seepage about
three kilometers away

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from the wellhead.

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There are bubbles that are
visible on the underwater

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camera, which we
continue to monitor.

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And there are some leaks from
the upper part of the wellhead

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where the shear ram has closed.

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Those all bear
special monitoring.

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There's a NOAA ship in the area
that has also detected some

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anomalies that we want
continued monitoring on.

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Obviously, we asked for
additional testing,

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as you well know, last week
because when you cap this well,

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you want to continue to take
those pressure readings to see

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if you are -- obviously, the
pressure is going to rise,

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and then that
pressure should be,

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if the well is completely
secure, sustained.

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If the well -- if the pressure
gets only to a certain point and

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then begins to drop, the concern
is that somewhere in that well

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bore, there's a ruptured disc or
there's some structural damage

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that would lead to seepage out
through the strata and then

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ultimately up into the Gulf of
Mexico through rocks and such

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on the floor of the Gulf.

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That's what we're
closely monitoring.

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We had some concerns,
I think as you heard,

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over the past 24 hours about
commitments that BP had made

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that we did not feel that they
were adequately living up to

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in terms of that monitoring.

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That was dealt with last night
on a call that lasted late into

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the evening where we believe
that we're getting the type of

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overall monitoring, particularly
the seismic and the monitoring

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with the remotely
operated vehicle,

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so that we can look at each
of these different steps.

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The original intention
of this test was,

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engaging that pressure you
could make a few different

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determinations, first and
foremost, in bad weather,

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which we've seen more of earlier
than we have in recent memory.

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Could you temporarily
cap the well?

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Would the pressure sustain
itself to temporarily cap the

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well in the event that boats had
to be moved out for a hurricane?

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To what degree is the structure
and the integrity of the well --

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how can that -- can that sustain
either assisting with a kill

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operation as it relates
to the relief well,

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or can you try a separate kill
operation using this cap and

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this blowout preventer?

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That monitoring continues.

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And we will continue
that each day.

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About 1:00 p.m., there is
a conference call with the

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scientists -- I don't know if
it's still going on -- where

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they will determine
whether or not,

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based on the pressure
readings that they're seeing,

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are we okay to move to an
additional 24 hours of testing

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-- again, to make these
determinations -- all the

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while monitoring to ensure,
as I said last week,

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that we do not do any
harm to the well itself.

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The Press:
Is it frustrating to the
President that after all

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this time, the government
still has to get on BP to

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uphold its word?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Sure, sure.

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But that's the role that we have
to play -- to ensure that when

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the federal on-scene coordinator
and our national incident

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commander make decisions that
authorize BP to do different

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things that the conditions
at which that authorization

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is given are met.

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We'll continue to do
that and monitor that.

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Secretary Chu is closely
monitoring the situation,

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along with the other
members of the science team,

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in order to make sure that
we have the best available

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information as soon as possible.

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We do know that in the event
that there is something wrong

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with the pressurization, we do
have a containment apparatus and

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architecture in place -- albeit
it would take some time to get

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those boats moved back
and everything hooked up.

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The good news is we have a
containment architecture

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that we believe is likely to
contain all of what could

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come out of that well.

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The Press:
When the President meets
with the Prime Minister

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tomorrow will he bring up the
case of the Lockerbie bomber and

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questions about BP's role in it?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Let me say this: Our viewpoint
on this case last year was well

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known, and that was we
opposed the release of

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the Lockerbie bomber.

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We made that opinion known.

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I think the government that will
visit from -- Prime Minister

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Cameron's government also
opposed that release.

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I anticipate that
in some form, yes,

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this will probably
come up tomorrow.

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The Press:
And should there be an

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investigation into what happened?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I think -- look,

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I think in many ways that
will be up to the British

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government to determine.

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I know that whatever -- I do not
know the role that BP played.

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It certainly -- we were unaware
of any role that they played in

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rendering an opinion.

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If they did, we certainly didn't
agree with the opinion that he

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should be released, and
that's what we enunciated

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to the government.

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The Press:
And separately, the Treasury
Department's watchdog group

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says the administration
may have acted hastily

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in demanding that GM and
Chrysler speed up the

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closing of dealerships.

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Do you agree with
this conclusion?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Steve, I don't think it's
-- I think it's important

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to look at the decision to put
into bankruptcy and restructure

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both Chrysler and GM, because I
think it is safe to say without

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that decision that the President
and the auto team made,

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it is likely that neither
of those two auto companies

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would exist today.

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And I think if you listen
to the CEO of Ford,

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it's not likely that that auto
company would exist today either

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-- because you have auto
dealerships that sell the

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cars that are produced
by auto manufacturers;

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auto manufacturers build
cars that are supplied by

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auto part suppliers.

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If an auto part supplier is
building steering wheels for

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three different companies
and two of them disappear,

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it's not likely that even --
that where we were economically,

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that that third company could in
any way make up for the market

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share decline of the
two that were lost,

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and it's likely that that auto
part supplier, in and of itself,

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would likely have disappeared.

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So because of the
President's action today,

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there are tens of
thousands of auto jobs,

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auto manufacturing
jobs that exist,

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jobs that exist.

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I will point out that since
2007, since mid-2007,

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auto dealership jobs that exist,
and auto parts manufacturing

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the decline in auto dealership
employment is about half the

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decline in auto
manufacturing employment.

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So what has taken a greater hit
in that supply structure are the

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manufacturers and
the parts suppliers.

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The Press:
Robert, I want to follow up on
Prime Minister Cameron coming,

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because obviously one of
the topics they'll discuss,

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I would assume, a lot
would be Afghanistan.

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On the eve of the visit you have
this cover story in Newsweek by

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00:13:00,133 --> 00:13:03,033
Richard Haass who's got real
credentials on national security

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00:13:03,033 --> 00:13:06,203
and as President of Council
on Foreign Relations,

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00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:09,130
and saying basically in the
piece that the U.S. is not

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00:13:09,133 --> 00:13:12,663
winning in Afghanistan and it's
not worth the fight anymore.

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00:13:12,667 --> 00:13:15,767
How does the President convince
the American people it's still

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00:13:15,767 --> 00:13:16,797
worth fighting?

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00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:23,300
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, Ed, as you know,
on September 11, 2001,

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00:13:23,300 --> 00:13:27,400
the attacks on our homeland
originated from that area.

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00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:31,530
We know the extremist
elements that exist.

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00:13:31,533 --> 00:13:34,003
We know what their intentions
are as it relates to the

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00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:36,400
Afghan government.

250
00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:41,470
And we know the potential for
the creation of a terrorist safe

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00:13:41,467 --> 00:13:46,297
haven if their intentions
to the Afghan government

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00:13:46,300 --> 00:13:47,670
were to come true.

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00:13:47,667 --> 00:13:50,597
I think the President has on
a number of occasions laid

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00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:54,600
out why what he's doing
in Afghanistan is in our

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national security interests.

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00:13:57,066 --> 00:13:59,336
We will continue to
make that case tomorrow.

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00:13:59,333 --> 00:14:04,133
Obviously we have in both this
administration and in the

258
00:14:04,133 --> 00:14:10,003
previous administration had the
help of the British government.

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00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:12,300
I think both they and we have
said we will not be there

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00:14:12,300 --> 00:14:15,800
forever; we have to stand up an
Afghan national security force,

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00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:17,230
an army and a police.

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00:14:17,233 --> 00:14:20,803
We have to improve governance, a
lot of which will be discussed

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00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:23,000
this week at the
Kabul conference,

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00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:31,130
which builds off of a whole host
of events around making sure

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00:14:31,133 --> 00:14:33,763
that we sustain our
progress in Afghanistan.

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00:14:33,767 --> 00:14:34,797
The Press:
So when the Vice
President, though,

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00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:38,400
on ABC suggests that next
summer troops are coming out,

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00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:40,600
essentially regardless of the
conditions on the ground,

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00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,330
doesn't that send a signal
the U.S. may not be in it

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00:14:43,333 --> 00:14:44,063
for the long haul?

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00:14:44,066 --> 00:14:46,566
Mr. Gibbs:
No, it sends the signal that
those that are involved in

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00:14:46,567 --> 00:14:49,067
getting the Afghan
national security forces

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00:14:49,066 --> 00:14:52,836
trained, that those that are
involved in ensuring that we

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00:14:52,834 --> 00:14:58,004
have the type of governance
that is necessary to sustain

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00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:04,000
areas that are cleared
have to get on with it.

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00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:07,330
No one should doubt
this President's

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00:15:07,333 --> 00:15:09,633
resolve in Afghanistan.

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00:15:09,633 --> 00:15:12,163
And if you have any doubt,
simply look at the resources

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00:15:12,166 --> 00:15:17,566
that were allocated to this
battle prior to him coming here

280
00:15:17,567 --> 00:15:20,437
and the decisions -- the real,
tough decisions that he's had to

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00:15:20,433 --> 00:15:25,803
make to add forces into what he
believes is the central front

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00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:26,730
in the war on terror.

283
00:15:26,734 --> 00:15:29,634
The Press:
Does he believe we now are
winning in Afghanistan?

284
00:15:29,633 --> 00:15:33,803
Mr. Gibbs:
I think he would tell you
that we are in a better --

285
00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:37,800
in better shape than we were,
that we have -- and we are

286
00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:43,800
constantly evaluating the
resources that we've added.

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00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:45,570
As you know, there will be
a White House-led review in

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00:15:45,567 --> 00:15:48,837
December on where we
are on the strategy.

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00:15:48,834 --> 00:15:51,434
I don't think anybody in this
building or anybody in the

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00:15:51,433 --> 00:15:58,663
Pentagon or anybody in this town
that is aware of the decisions

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00:15:58,667 --> 00:16:01,167
that we've had to make, that
anybody that thought this was

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00:16:01,166 --> 00:16:06,966
going to be quick, anybody that
thought this wasn't going to be

293
00:16:06,967 --> 00:16:10,097
a tough slog each and every bit
of the way -- and I think it's

294
00:16:10,100 --> 00:16:10,930
proved to be that.

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00:16:10,934 --> 00:16:13,764
The Press:
You mentioned 9/11 earlier
obviously in this context.

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00:16:13,767 --> 00:16:17,397
The Washington Post has a series
suggesting that the intelligence

297
00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:21,270
community has grown
exponentially since 9/11.

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00:16:21,266 --> 00:16:23,636
I know a lot of that happened
before this administration,

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00:16:23,633 --> 00:16:27,563
but obviously now you've been on
the job for a year and a half.

300
00:16:27,567 --> 00:16:31,867
And in the time of deficits now,
what is the administration doing

301
00:16:31,867 --> 00:16:34,967
to ensure that this money
is being spent wisely?

302
00:16:34,967 --> 00:16:37,737
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, first and foremost, we owe
a debt of gratitude to everybody

303
00:16:37,734 --> 00:16:41,064
in the intelligence community.

304
00:16:41,066 --> 00:16:45,496
They work day and night
to keep our country safe.

305
00:16:45,500 --> 00:16:49,970
Obviously after September 11th,
and with the advent of wars in

306
00:16:49,967 --> 00:16:52,967
both Iraq and Afghanistan,
you're going to have an increase

307
00:16:52,967 --> 00:16:59,937
in the capability that's
required to fight that.

308
00:16:59,934 --> 00:17:02,164
That is not to say that
anybody in this country,

309
00:17:02,166 --> 00:17:04,836
and I don't think anybody in
the intelligence community,

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00:17:04,834 --> 00:17:12,604
would have bet excessive waste.

311
00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:20,770
We have to balance the necessity
of the resources needed to fight

312
00:17:20,767 --> 00:17:24,267
our adversaries and,
at the same time,

313
00:17:24,266 --> 00:17:27,796
balancing that against waste.

314
00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:33,130
Look, in some ways, you want --
the 9/11 Commission spoke fairly

315
00:17:33,133 --> 00:17:37,763
effectively to this -- you
want some redundancy built

316
00:17:37,767 --> 00:17:41,137
into that system.

317
00:17:41,133 --> 00:17:45,533
The President talked about
contracting during the campaign;

318
00:17:45,533 --> 00:17:52,933
in March of 2009, issued a
memorandum giving guidance

319
00:17:52,934 --> 00:17:57,004
on how to manage
non-competitive contracts;

320
00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:01,100
expanded that in
January of this year,

321
00:18:01,100 --> 00:18:06,300
issuing a memorandum
to agencies detailing

322
00:18:06,300 --> 00:18:10,030
that contracts should not be
given to companies delinquent

323
00:18:10,033 --> 00:18:14,933
in paying their taxes.

324
00:18:14,934 --> 00:18:18,734
I would point out that in the
first two quarters of fiscal

325
00:18:18,734 --> 00:18:24,134
year 2010, the percentage of
dollars awarded in new contracts

326
00:18:24,133 --> 00:18:27,863
without competition dropped by
10 percent compared to the same

327
00:18:27,867 --> 00:18:30,597
period in fiscal year 2009.

328
00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:34,700
So obviously this is something
that all of us have to continue

329
00:18:34,700 --> 00:18:42,700
to monitor the capabilities
necessary with ensuring that no

330
00:18:42,700 --> 00:18:46,730
taxpayer dollars are wasted.

331
00:18:46,734 --> 00:18:50,304
The Press:
The President said Republican
leaders in the Senate were

332
00:18:50,300 --> 00:18:53,970
advancing the misguided
notion that the unemployment

333
00:18:53,967 --> 00:18:56,137
benefits discourage people
from looking for a job,

334
00:18:56,133 --> 00:18:58,863
but the Republican leaders from
Mitch McConnell on down have

335
00:18:58,867 --> 00:19:02,997
said that they are in favor of
extending unemployment benefits

336
00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:06,570
but that they want the cost of
that extension to be paid for

337
00:19:06,567 --> 00:19:08,467
with cuts to other programs.

338
00:19:08,467 --> 00:19:10,337
What's wrong with that?

339
00:19:10,333 --> 00:19:14,963
Mr. Gibbs:
In a time of great
economic emergency,

340
00:19:14,967 --> 00:19:18,597
as we have seen in the past,
it's necessary that we get the

341
00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:21,470
benefits that millions
of Americans deserve

342
00:19:21,467 --> 00:19:24,097
that are out of work.

343
00:19:24,100 --> 00:19:28,030
We can't -- you heard the
stories today of people that are

344
00:19:28,033 --> 00:19:31,403
going to have to figure out how
to pay their mortgage in August

345
00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:33,900
when their benefits expire.

346
00:19:33,900 --> 00:19:36,730
Now, I don't think that
individual or any individual

347
00:19:36,734 --> 00:19:38,834
wants to watch while
Washington does its

348
00:19:38,834 --> 00:19:41,264
normal back-and-forth, right?

349
00:19:41,266 --> 00:19:44,266
I don't -- I think you could
look at the voting records of

350
00:19:44,266 --> 00:19:46,766
every one of those that just
made the same statement that you

351
00:19:46,767 --> 00:19:51,737
read to me that in the past have
done directly the opposite.

352
00:19:51,734 --> 00:19:56,204
We are in an economic emergency
that we have not seen since the

353
00:19:56,200 --> 00:19:59,070
late 1920s and the early 1930s.

354
00:19:59,066 --> 00:20:03,896
We ought not be playing politics
with the unemployment benefits

355
00:20:03,900 --> 00:20:07,930
of those that have lost their
jobs and are in an economy

356
00:20:07,934 --> 00:20:12,234
where there are five job
applicants for every opening.

357
00:20:12,233 --> 00:20:15,033
The Press:
But couldn't Democrats have
solved this instantly by simply

358
00:20:15,033 --> 00:20:18,003
saying, we're going to extend
unemployment benefits and we're

359
00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:19,830
going to pay for it
with offsetting cuts?

360
00:20:19,834 --> 00:20:21,434
Mr. Gibbs:
We could have done this
-- we could have done this

361
00:20:21,433 --> 00:20:24,003
if the people that were
playing games in 2010,

362
00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:27,370
despite their voting
records in years past,

363
00:20:27,367 --> 00:20:30,437
decided not to play
political games.

364
00:20:30,433 --> 00:20:34,003
Jonathan, the people in America
that have lost their jobs are

365
00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:38,330
tired of the back-and-forth
where people say one thing one

366
00:20:38,333 --> 00:20:41,233
day and do something
totally different today.

367
00:20:41,233 --> 00:20:44,863
We have voted three times -- and
tomorrow we will vote a fourth

368
00:20:44,867 --> 00:20:49,837
-- to simply extend the benefits
for those that are unemployed

369
00:20:49,834 --> 00:20:55,334
for a long term, simply to
extend them a few more weeks.

370
00:20:55,333 --> 00:20:57,303
That's what the
American people deserve.

371
00:20:57,300 --> 00:21:00,400
The Press:
But "pay as you go" is the
very principle the President

372
00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:01,600
has put forward himself.

373
00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:03,130
They're saying that now
because of big deficits

374
00:21:03,133 --> 00:21:04,633
we need to pay our way.

375
00:21:04,633 --> 00:21:10,963
Mr. Gibbs:
And I think this President
has backed up that rhetoric

376
00:21:10,967 --> 00:21:14,197
by introducing a three-year
ban -- or a three-year freeze

377
00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:16,770
on non-security spending.

378
00:21:16,767 --> 00:21:21,267
But there are certain things
that are and always have been

379
00:21:21,266 --> 00:21:24,066
considered emergency spending,
and extending unemployment

380
00:21:24,066 --> 00:21:27,536
benefits to those who have lost
their jobs in the worst economic

381
00:21:27,533 --> 00:21:30,333
recession since the Great
Depression certainly

382
00:21:30,333 --> 00:21:31,603
qualifies for that.

383
00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:33,300
The Press:
And let me just ask you
one other thing on this.

384
00:21:33,300 --> 00:21:37,500
The so called "99ers," people
who have been unemployed for 99

385
00:21:37,500 --> 00:21:39,830
weeks or more, their
benefits are not going

386
00:21:39,834 --> 00:21:41,734
to be extended under this.

387
00:21:41,734 --> 00:21:43,734
Is the President
aware of their plight?

388
00:21:43,734 --> 00:21:45,204
And does the President
favor doing something

389
00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:47,130
to help them out?

390
00:21:47,133 --> 00:21:51,163
Mr. Gibbs:
Obviously, we are aware
of and concerned about.

391
00:21:51,166 --> 00:21:54,366
I think, first and
foremost, Jonathan,

392
00:21:54,367 --> 00:21:58,197
we've got to figure out how to
get those that are currently

393
00:21:58,200 --> 00:22:05,430
unemployed to a position where
they can even get close to being

394
00:22:05,433 --> 00:22:07,563
covered for that long.

395
00:22:07,567 --> 00:22:09,967
I think it is safe to assume
that based on the games are

396
00:22:09,967 --> 00:22:14,697
going up on Capitol Hill, we
are not at this point going

397
00:22:14,700 --> 00:22:18,130
to see an increase in
extending those 99 weeks.

398
00:22:18,133 --> 00:22:22,603
And our focus right now is
getting those individuals

399
00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:23,500
to that level.

400
00:22:23,500 --> 00:22:27,900
Right now if you're now on --
you could be somebody who is in

401
00:22:27,900 --> 00:22:32,970
the 25th of their 26 weeks of
state unemployment who finds

402
00:22:32,967 --> 00:22:37,667
themselves about to be
left hung out to dry by

403
00:22:37,667 --> 00:22:39,297
the political games in this town.

404
00:22:39,300 --> 00:22:43,300
So our focus is on extending
what we currently have.

405
00:22:43,300 --> 00:22:46,270
The Press:
So you say that we ought
not to be playing politics,

406
00:22:46,266 --> 00:22:49,466
and yet it seems that the
President himself was suggesting

407
00:22:49,467 --> 00:22:51,297
that the Republicans
were playing politics.

408
00:22:51,300 --> 00:22:53,500
He said, it was time to
look past the election

409
00:22:53,500 --> 00:22:55,500
out there this morning.

410
00:22:55,500 --> 00:22:59,230
And yet when everybody knows
this is going to pass tomorrow,

411
00:22:59,233 --> 00:23:01,103
how can you say that the
President is not indulging

412
00:23:01,100 --> 00:23:02,900
in a little politics?

413
00:23:02,900 --> 00:23:05,500
Mr. Gibbs:
Because, Bill, if I would
have stopped you six months

414
00:23:05,500 --> 00:23:08,830
ago or six weeks ago, as
I said earlier, and said,

415
00:23:08,834 --> 00:23:13,334
do you think it will take four
chances to simply pass the type

416
00:23:13,333 --> 00:23:16,833
of unemployment extensions that
you've covered in this town for

417
00:23:16,834 --> 00:23:20,834
decades, I doubt you
would have said, yes.

418
00:23:20,834 --> 00:23:26,564
But, surprisingly to
everyone in this town,

419
00:23:26,567 --> 00:23:29,937
political games have come even
to extending unemployment

420
00:23:29,934 --> 00:23:33,864
benefits to those that through
no fault of their own find

421
00:23:33,867 --> 00:23:35,697
themselves unemployed
in this economy.

422
00:23:35,700 --> 00:23:40,600
The President will ensure that
when the Senate votes that we

423
00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:43,370
have 60 votes and, as I said,
when this bill goes back to the

424
00:23:43,367 --> 00:23:47,297
House, that the votes are there
to extend employment, Bill.

425
00:23:47,300 --> 00:23:49,100
The Press:
But it's not political
to talk about it for the

426
00:23:49,100 --> 00:23:52,930
last four days knowing that
you're going to get it anyway?

427
00:23:52,934 --> 00:23:55,404
Mr. Gibbs:
Let me tell you, if there's
anything that's truly knowable

428
00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:58,930
in this town, it is that
nothing is truly knowable.

429
00:23:58,934 --> 00:24:00,804
I will be happy to put the
President out each and every

430
00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:03,870
day to talk about the fights that he's going to wage on

431
00:24:03,867 --> 00:24:06,937
behalf of those in this economy.

432
00:24:06,934 --> 00:24:07,534
The Press:
Well, bring him out.

433
00:24:07,533 --> 00:24:10,263
We'd love to --

434
00:24:10,266 --> 00:24:11,536
Mr. Gibbs:
I think you saw him today.

435
00:24:11,533 --> 00:24:16,003
The Press:
Yes, do you have any problem
with what the Post published?

436
00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:18,200
Did it, in your view, compromise
national security at all?

437
00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:20,670
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I'm not going to get
into some of the discussions

438
00:24:20,667 --> 00:24:21,297
that we had.

439
00:24:21,300 --> 00:24:22,970
Obviously, there
were some concerns,

440
00:24:22,967 --> 00:24:25,867
and I think the Post covered
that there were some concerns

441
00:24:25,867 --> 00:24:32,567
about certain data and
the availability of some

442
00:24:32,567 --> 00:24:34,737
of that data.

443
00:24:34,734 --> 00:24:38,734
Again, we are in a balancing
act, as one should be,

444
00:24:38,734 --> 00:24:41,834
in ensuring that we have both
the best capabilities in the

445
00:24:41,834 --> 00:24:43,564
world, but we're not
wasting taxpayer dollars.

446
00:24:43,567 --> 00:24:45,367
The Press:
Did you ask them not to
publish certain things?

447
00:24:45,367 --> 00:24:47,597
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm not going to get into
the discussions that we had

448
00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:50,330
with them over some of
the concerns that we had.

449
00:24:50,333 --> 00:24:52,303
The Press:
I want to go on to BP here.

450
00:24:52,300 --> 00:24:55,230
Today, for the first time in
what's felt like weeks for our

451
00:24:55,233 --> 00:24:59,603
folks down there, BP didn't do a
technical briefing -- a couple

452
00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:01,700
of technical briefings.

453
00:25:01,700 --> 00:25:05,770
Are you guys going to encourage
them that they come back and

454
00:25:05,767 --> 00:25:06,797
brief the public again?

455
00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:07,770
Because it does seems that --

456
00:25:07,767 --> 00:25:08,397
Mr. Gibbs:
Chuck, I would --

457
00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:10,500
The Press:
-- whatever happened last
night suddenly spooked them

458
00:25:10,500 --> 00:25:12,000
from giving a briefing
to the public.

459
00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:17,600
Mr. Gibbs:
Look, I have -- and I would
encourage BP at every step

460
00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:23,230
of this to brief you and to
brief the public on the steps

461
00:25:23,233 --> 00:25:26,663
that are being taken, the
steps that have been taken,

462
00:25:26,667 --> 00:25:30,237
and the steps that they're
looking to take in the future.

463
00:25:30,233 --> 00:25:33,903
Look, from the very
beginning of this,

464
00:25:33,900 --> 00:25:36,800
we encouraged greater transparency.

465
00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:43,030
We encouraged that footage be
made available of the camera

466
00:25:43,033 --> 00:25:48,033
at the spill site, and have
believed at every turn that more

467
00:25:48,033 --> 00:25:49,563
information is certainly better.

468
00:25:49,567 --> 00:25:54,997
I hope that, for whatever reason
BP decided not to brief today,

469
00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:58,000
that they come to the conclusion
that the American people are

470
00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:02,670
owed information on this and
rightly answer those questions.

471
00:26:02,667 --> 00:26:05,667
What we will do, Chuck, though,
is to ensure that if there are

472
00:26:05,667 --> 00:26:09,297
conditions with which the
federal on-scene coordinator and

473
00:26:09,300 --> 00:26:12,130
the national incident commander
authorize BP to take certain

474
00:26:12,133 --> 00:26:16,463
actions, we will make
sure that those are met,

475
00:26:16,467 --> 00:26:20,367
that they're living up to what
they have agreed to do in terms

476
00:26:20,367 --> 00:26:23,497
-- and I think this is clear
-- in terms of the monitoring

477
00:26:23,500 --> 00:26:26,900
that's necessary, either at
that well site or within a few

478
00:26:26,900 --> 00:26:32,230
kilometers, to ensure that all
the steps that we are taking now

479
00:26:32,233 --> 00:26:36,863
are done so not to do any
harm with what we know is

480
00:26:36,867 --> 00:26:39,037
a very fragile environment.

481
00:26:39,033 --> 00:26:42,303
The Press:
Would the government
hesitate in ordering BP to

482
00:26:42,300 --> 00:26:44,830
basically unseal this cap right
now if they believe it's doing

483
00:26:44,834 --> 00:26:46,304
damage to the sea floor?

484
00:26:46,300 --> 00:26:47,170
Mr. Gibbs:
If we thought that it was --

485
00:26:47,166 --> 00:26:49,136
The Press:
-- if you believed
it's causing this leak?

486
00:26:49,133 --> 00:26:54,133
Mr. Gibbs:
If we thought that the
pressurization test itself

487
00:26:54,133 --> 00:26:56,863
potentially did damage to
the sea floor, obviously,

488
00:26:56,867 --> 00:26:59,797
we would stop that immediately.

489
00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:05,530
That's why there are calls that
happen several times a day,

490
00:27:05,533 --> 00:27:13,133
but each day at 1:00 p.m.,
on whether or not this test

491
00:27:13,133 --> 00:27:13,833
should be extended.

492
00:27:13,834 --> 00:27:18,034
Look, I think we are gaining
valuable information in

493
00:27:18,033 --> 00:27:23,233
determining the structure of the
well and our ability to -- even

494
00:27:23,233 --> 00:27:26,333
if we had to go back to
a strictly containment

495
00:27:26,333 --> 00:27:30,263
architecture -- that we had the
capability in the event that

496
00:27:30,266 --> 00:27:33,736
there was either a
large tropical storm,

497
00:27:33,734 --> 00:27:37,204
or -- God forbid -- a
hurricane in the Gulf,

498
00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:40,600
that we would have the ability
to for a short period of time,

499
00:27:40,600 --> 00:27:43,300
a number of days, cap that well.

500
00:27:43,300 --> 00:27:45,630
And I think we're learning some
of that valuable information.

501
00:27:45,633 --> 00:27:49,903
The Press:
Do you guys -- are you
confident that BP is going

502
00:27:49,900 --> 00:27:50,900
about this with an open mind?

503
00:27:50,900 --> 00:27:53,300
Or are they're trying to look
for any reason why not to uncap

504
00:27:53,300 --> 00:27:54,900
this well at this point
because of the monetary costs?

505
00:27:54,900 --> 00:27:57,600
Mr. Gibbs:
I can say this,
Chuck -- I can say this.

506
00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:01,600
We will ensure that
at every step of this,

507
00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:04,230
that they are taking the steps
that our scientific team

508
00:28:04,233 --> 00:28:09,163
believes is necessary to
ensure the safety of the area,

509
00:28:09,166 --> 00:28:12,436
to ensure the safety of
the well and the well bore,

510
00:28:12,433 --> 00:28:16,063
and that no extra harm is done
in what we already understand

511
00:28:16,066 --> 00:28:17,966
is a catastrophic situation.

512
00:28:17,967 --> 00:28:18,667
The Press:
Can you share with us,

513
00:28:18,667 --> 00:28:20,597
is Secretary Chu -- I know
is sort of the leader on the

514
00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:25,900
scientific team -- is it
his belief that this leak,

515
00:28:25,900 --> 00:28:28,030
this methane leak is related
to the capping of the well?

516
00:28:28,033 --> 00:28:29,533
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, that's what we're
trying to figure out.

517
00:28:29,533 --> 00:28:35,103
I will -- I was not a physics
major in college and if you

518
00:28:35,100 --> 00:28:36,170
spend about an hour --

519
00:28:36,166 --> 00:28:37,436
The Press:
Last week we were
discussing economics --

520
00:28:37,433 --> 00:28:42,363
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, which -- at least
that's a social science.

521
00:28:42,367 --> 00:28:44,497
I was in a meeting with him once
for about an hour and a half,

522
00:28:44,500 --> 00:28:49,800
and I felt as if I should
have been at least given

523
00:28:49,800 --> 00:28:54,800
a minor in physics.

524
00:28:54,800 --> 00:29:03,270
Look, they're monitoring the
pressure and we have -- we are

525
00:29:03,266 --> 00:29:07,336
still continuing to monitor that
pressure and are not -- want to

526
00:29:07,333 --> 00:29:13,633
continue doing so because what
some have been -- what some

527
00:29:13,633 --> 00:29:17,133
assumed would happen on paper
we're trying to make sure

528
00:29:17,133 --> 00:29:20,203
matches up with the pressure
readings that are being taken

529
00:29:20,200 --> 00:29:24,970
at the site now, in order
to fully understand, again,

530
00:29:24,967 --> 00:29:27,937
the condition of the well
bore, both of the structure,

531
00:29:27,934 --> 00:29:34,134
maybe of the reservoir, a whole
host of different scenarios.

532
00:29:34,133 --> 00:29:38,533
That's why; again, they
were on the phone very,

533
00:29:38,533 --> 00:29:40,933
very late last night going
through and continue to go

534
00:29:40,934 --> 00:29:44,004
through detailed monitoring.

535
00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:47,170
The Press:
Quickly on unemployment,
is there a line,

536
00:29:47,166 --> 00:29:49,736
once we drop below 9 percent the
administration is not going to

537
00:29:49,734 --> 00:29:50,834
push for extending unemployment?

538
00:29:50,834 --> 00:29:52,764
When do you stop extending
unemployment benefits?

539
00:29:52,767 --> 00:29:54,667
I mean, where's that line?

540
00:29:54,667 --> 00:29:56,367
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know the answer to that.

541
00:29:56,367 --> 00:30:01,937
I know that historically I think
9 percent would be considered,

542
00:30:01,934 --> 00:30:07,704
rightly so, unemployment that
-- an unemployment rate that we

543
00:30:07,700 --> 00:30:09,670
were not comfortable with.

544
00:30:09,667 --> 00:30:11,267
I will say, as a result of --

545
00:30:11,266 --> 00:30:13,596
The Press:
So if it drops below --

546
00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:18,670
Mr. Gibbs:
Look, I'm not even sure
you'd be comfortable at 8.8.

547
00:30:18,667 --> 00:30:20,637
Certainly, historically,
you certainly wouldn't,

548
00:30:20,633 --> 00:30:22,403
and it's understandable why.

549
00:30:22,400 --> 00:30:25,700
I think what you see as a result
of this recession, again,

550
00:30:25,700 --> 00:30:29,570
you see people that are out of
work longer and you see that the

551
00:30:29,567 --> 00:30:36,267
recession affects not just, say,
lower-skilled manufacturing jobs

552
00:30:36,266 --> 00:30:39,666
as you might have been
in previous recessions,

553
00:30:39,667 --> 00:30:45,797
but you see the impact across
the economic spectrum,

554
00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:52,630
those that have a college
education, which, in many ways,

555
00:30:52,633 --> 00:30:59,033
you would normally think would
ensure that in a recession you

556
00:30:59,033 --> 00:31:05,103
would not likely to be seen as
somebody who is unemployed for

557
00:31:05,100 --> 00:31:08,330
a long period of time.

558
00:31:08,333 --> 00:31:11,803
We see more and more of that
happening now, this time.

559
00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:13,530
The Press:
Do you anticipate in three
months you're going to be

560
00:31:13,533 --> 00:31:14,903
asking for another extension?

561
00:31:14,900 --> 00:31:18,000
Mr. Gibbs:
If the unemployment rate
stays where I think we all

562
00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:24,570
expect it to, it is --
it may be we may need to

563
00:31:24,567 --> 00:31:25,967
extend those benefits, yes.

564
00:31:25,967 --> 00:31:29,937
The Press:
Only two questions that
I know -- I think you

565
00:31:29,934 --> 00:31:32,064
will enjoy answering.

566
00:31:32,066 --> 00:31:33,596
Mr. Gibbs:
That's awfully optimistic
of you, Lester.

567
00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:35,530
The Press:
You'll come back to me?

568
00:31:35,533 --> 00:31:36,763
Mr. Gibbs:
I may, yes.

569
00:31:36,767 --> 00:31:37,737
(laughter)

570
00:31:37,734 --> 00:31:38,434
Mark.

571
00:31:38,433 --> 00:31:41,803
The Press:
Robert, if the President
pushed for the reinstatement

572
00:31:41,800 --> 00:31:45,370
of "pay as you go," what point
was it if he is going to allow

573
00:31:45,367 --> 00:31:47,837
or go along with exemptions
or exceptions for something

574
00:31:47,834 --> 00:31:49,364
like unemployment?

575
00:31:49,367 --> 00:31:54,137
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, emergency
spending has been exempted

576
00:31:54,133 --> 00:31:55,933
from "pay as you go."

577
00:31:55,934 --> 00:31:56,604
The Press:
But it's spending.

578
00:31:56,600 --> 00:31:58,730
It goes on the deficit
and in the debt.

579
00:31:58,734 --> 00:31:59,204
Mr. Gibbs:
I understand.

580
00:31:59,200 --> 00:32:00,530
The Press:
And he talks about --

581
00:32:00,533 --> 00:32:08,403
Mr. Gibbs:
But that's why -- look,
we passed a recovery plan.

582
00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:14,230
And you pass emergency spending
much like a family sitting

583
00:32:14,233 --> 00:32:15,303
around a kitchen table.

584
00:32:15,300 --> 00:32:18,170
You make an investment in a
college education not because

585
00:32:18,166 --> 00:32:21,836
you may have four years of
tuition sitting in your savings

586
00:32:21,834 --> 00:32:24,064
account, but because you
understand that it's a better

587
00:32:24,066 --> 00:32:27,136
investment for the next day.

588
00:32:27,133 --> 00:32:33,633
Or if you came home and you
had a leak in your roof,

589
00:32:33,633 --> 00:32:37,703
but you didn't have the money
to pay for it and the only

590
00:32:37,700 --> 00:32:41,130
thing you could do was
borrow the money, Mark,

591
00:32:41,133 --> 00:32:43,563
would you argue at the kitchen
table that we ought to just --

592
00:32:43,567 --> 00:32:47,297
everybody ought to just get wet
until we can scrape together the

593
00:32:47,300 --> 00:32:50,170
money to pay for it, or should
we deal with the emergency as it

594
00:32:50,166 --> 00:32:53,636
exists so that everybody
doesn't get rained on?

595
00:32:53,633 --> 00:32:56,163
I think that might be a
good lesson for Washington,

596
00:32:56,166 --> 00:32:59,666
that we all don't just get
rained on as 8.5 million

597
00:32:59,667 --> 00:33:01,067
people are out of work.

598
00:33:01,066 --> 00:33:04,866
The Press:
Could you apply PAYGO to
unemployment benefits as

599
00:33:04,867 --> 00:33:06,367
quickly as not?

600
00:33:06,367 --> 00:33:07,837
Or are you saying it
would take much longer?

601
00:33:07,834 --> 00:33:17,764
Mr. Gibbs:
Again, extending unemployment
benefits in a recession has I

602
00:33:17,767 --> 00:33:20,067
think in virtually every
instance been considered,

603
00:33:20,066 --> 00:33:22,136
rightly so, emergency spending.

604
00:33:22,133 --> 00:33:23,063
Roger.

605
00:33:23,066 --> 00:33:24,396
The Press:
A follow-up again.

606
00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:26,570
Last month, when the issue
came up in the Senate,

607
00:33:26,567 --> 00:33:31,037
the Republicans pointed to $50
billion in un-obligated stimulus

608
00:33:31,033 --> 00:33:35,033
money to pay for it, but
Senator Reid objected.

609
00:33:35,033 --> 00:33:38,503
What would be wrong with taking
that un-obligated money?

610
00:33:38,500 --> 00:33:41,630
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, it may be
un-obligated as yet,

611
00:33:41,633 --> 00:33:46,333
but it is -- Roger, there is not
$50 billion in the stimulus that

612
00:33:46,333 --> 00:33:49,733
isn't programmed to go somewhere
in order to dig us out of the

613
00:33:49,734 --> 00:33:53,364
enormous economic hole that we
found ourselves in as a result

614
00:33:53,367 --> 00:33:57,067
of a recession started in
December of 2007, and,

615
00:33:57,066 --> 00:34:00,466
as I have said here today, is
the greatest economic recession

616
00:34:00,467 --> 00:34:06,267
that our country has faced
since the Great Depression.

617
00:34:06,266 --> 00:34:11,296
The Recovery Act was intended
to spur economic growth,

618
00:34:11,300 --> 00:34:15,000
invest in the industries that we
know can create jobs and create

619
00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:16,970
the jobs of tomorrow.

620
00:34:16,967 --> 00:34:20,297
And it would be enormously
short-sighted to take money

621
00:34:20,300 --> 00:34:26,130
from that type of job
creation to cover this now.

622
00:34:26,133 --> 00:34:31,503
It's just a game that
Washington likes to play.

623
00:34:31,500 --> 00:34:34,130
The Press:
Let me shift to
another topic here.

624
00:34:34,133 --> 00:34:37,063
For the Obama-Cameron
meeting tomorrow,

625
00:34:37,066 --> 00:34:39,196
there are a lot of topics that
are going to be coming up.

626
00:34:39,200 --> 00:34:42,500
What is uppermost on the
President's mind that he wants

627
00:34:42,500 --> 00:34:44,870
to speak with Mr. Cameron about?

628
00:34:44,867 --> 00:34:47,697
Is it Afghanistan, or
is it deficits, or --

629
00:34:47,700 --> 00:34:52,400
Mr. Gibbs:
I think that on the
list tomorrow will be

630
00:34:52,400 --> 00:35:00,600
Afghanistan certainly, no doubt
our global economic recovery,

631
00:35:00,600 --> 00:35:03,470
the Middle East.

632
00:35:03,467 --> 00:35:08,767
All of those topics I think will
be something that these two

633
00:35:08,767 --> 00:35:14,697
leaders spoke about in Canada
just a few weeks ago and will

634
00:35:14,700 --> 00:35:17,830
likely continue
those conversations.

635
00:35:17,834 --> 00:35:20,264
I would say Afghanistan is
probably first and foremost

636
00:35:20,266 --> 00:35:20,996
on that list.

637
00:35:21,000 --> 00:35:23,570
The Press:
And the UK says they want
to be -- have their troops

638
00:35:23,567 --> 00:35:26,497
out of Afghanistan by 2015.

639
00:35:26,500 --> 00:35:30,170
Will the President try to
dissuade them from naming

640
00:35:30,166 --> 00:35:31,536
any date or something?

641
00:35:31,533 --> 00:35:35,533
Mr. Gibbs:
Look, again, it is hard to
look that far into the future.

642
00:35:35,533 --> 00:35:40,033
Obviously, the President
has committed to July of

643
00:35:40,033 --> 00:35:47,703
2011 as the date of our
transition and begin to,

644
00:35:47,700 --> 00:35:50,800
based on -- judging that rate
based on the conditions on the

645
00:35:50,800 --> 00:35:56,100
ground, to begin removing some
of the troops that the President

646
00:35:56,100 --> 00:36:00,230
added as a part of our increased
resources there over the past

647
00:36:00,233 --> 00:36:01,433
couple of years.

648
00:36:01,433 --> 00:36:02,063
The Press:
And one last thing.

649
00:36:02,066 --> 00:36:07,266
On Lockerbie, the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee wants the UK

650
00:36:07,266 --> 00:36:10,166
to conduct an investigation.

651
00:36:10,166 --> 00:36:12,166
Is the President going to
raise that in support --

652
00:36:12,166 --> 00:36:14,896
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't want to get ahead
of what the President and

653
00:36:14,900 --> 00:36:17,330
the Prime Minister
might talk about.

654
00:36:17,333 --> 00:36:20,663
Obviously, I think this
issue will come up.

655
00:36:20,667 --> 00:36:27,697
And, again, I would reiterate
that it was our strong belief

656
00:36:27,700 --> 00:36:33,630
then and it continues to be
our strong belief now that

657
00:36:33,633 --> 00:36:35,703
the Lockerbie bomber should
not have been released.

658
00:36:35,700 --> 00:36:39,400
The Press:
Does he think BP
played a role in this?

659
00:36:39,400 --> 00:36:45,330
Mr. Gibbs:
We know of no information
inside this building that

660
00:36:45,333 --> 00:36:49,163
somebody got as a result of
an effort by them to weigh in.

661
00:36:49,166 --> 00:36:51,996
It wouldn't have made a
difference anyway given

662
00:36:52,000 --> 00:36:54,030
where we ended up on the issue.

663
00:36:54,033 --> 00:36:56,863
The Press:
Will they do a press conference
or just an Oval Office?

664
00:36:56,867 --> 00:37:01,537
Mr. Gibbs:
I believe -- I think because of
the heat we're in the East Room

665
00:37:01,533 --> 00:37:02,763
for two and two.

666
00:37:02,767 --> 00:37:05,837
The Press:
One on Afghanistan?

667
00:37:05,834 --> 00:37:07,604
The Press:
Following up on Bill's
question, Robert,

668
00:37:07,600 --> 00:37:10,800
do you believe the extensive
coverage in the Post today

669
00:37:10,800 --> 00:37:14,170
enhanced or undermined the
public's awareness of national

670
00:37:14,166 --> 00:37:18,096
security and intelligence
operations since 9/11?

671
00:37:18,100 --> 00:37:23,400
Mr. Gibbs:
Look, it's not for me to
judge the news coverage of --

672
00:37:23,400 --> 00:37:24,770
The Press:
But if you could, though --

673
00:37:24,767 --> 00:37:25,397
Mr. Gibbs:
Sure --

674
00:37:25,400 --> 00:37:27,400
The Press:
-- for you and for the public
as it tries to understand

675
00:37:27,400 --> 00:37:30,230
what's happened and how effectively it's happening.

676
00:37:30,233 --> 00:37:31,333
Mr. Gibbs:
And I think that again,

677
00:37:31,333 --> 00:37:34,903
we owe a great debt of gratitude
to those in the intelligence

678
00:37:34,900 --> 00:37:40,900
committee, as I said --
intelligence community -- that

679
00:37:40,900 --> 00:37:46,430
work extremely long hours,
that we rarely, if ever,

680
00:37:46,433 --> 00:37:54,533
see their good work, but it
keeps us safe day and night.

681
00:37:54,533 --> 00:38:02,203
It's not, Major, for me to
get up here and discuss my

682
00:38:02,200 --> 00:38:05,430
viewpoints on that except to
say that, as I said earlier,

683
00:38:05,433 --> 00:38:08,803
I think it is important that we
have the capabilities that are

684
00:38:08,800 --> 00:38:14,170
necessary, while ensuring, as
the President has on contracting

685
00:38:14,166 --> 00:38:19,366
reform, that we take the
necessary steps to ensure that

686
00:38:19,367 --> 00:38:20,867
taxpayer dollars aren't wasted.

687
00:38:20,867 --> 00:38:23,197
The Press:
Did anything published today
undercut those priorities or

688
00:38:23,200 --> 00:38:24,630
those efforts?

689
00:38:24,633 --> 00:38:27,863
Mr. Gibbs:
I think I gave that answer earlier.

690
00:38:27,867 --> 00:38:30,397
The Press:
I just want to make sure
I understood what you were

691
00:38:30,400 --> 00:38:32,000
saying to Chuck
about unemployment.

692
00:38:32,000 --> 00:38:35,300
You -- the team essentially
assumes right now -- things

693
00:38:35,300 --> 00:38:37,370
could change -- that
unemployment is likely

694
00:38:37,367 --> 00:38:39,767
to be at 9 percent or higher
by the end of this year?

695
00:38:39,767 --> 00:38:42,597
Mr. Gibbs:
No, no, no, I think Chuck
-- correct me if I'm wrong

696
00:38:42,600 --> 00:38:44,570
-- I think 9 percent
was a number --

697
00:38:44,567 --> 00:38:45,967
The Press:
I threw that out
to you -- I said,

698
00:38:45,967 --> 00:38:48,367
is 9 percent the line with
which you guys would stop

699
00:38:48,367 --> 00:38:49,267
asking for extensions?

700
00:38:49,266 --> 00:38:50,836
The Press:
You said, it might be the
line where we would stop,

701
00:38:50,834 --> 00:38:51,504
and then --

702
00:38:51,500 --> 00:38:53,630
Mr. Gibbs:
No, no, no, no, no.

703
00:38:53,633 --> 00:38:56,603
First of all, I think Chuck
largely picked a line.

704
00:38:56,600 --> 00:39:00,070
I don't know that 9 was, based
on what Chuck's economic

705
00:39:00,066 --> 00:39:00,966
analysis denotes that --

706
00:39:00,967 --> 00:39:02,667
The Press:
-- the arbiter here.

707
00:39:02,667 --> 00:39:10,467
Mr. Gibbs:
Right. So all I said was that
I think by any fair estimation,

708
00:39:10,467 --> 00:39:17,097
I doubt either 9 or 8.9 would be
considered something where you

709
00:39:17,100 --> 00:39:21,230
would decide not to continue
to extend unemployment.

710
00:39:21,233 --> 00:39:22,263
I will say this, Major.

711
00:39:22,266 --> 00:39:25,466
First and foremost, we're
focused on the vote tomorrow in

712
00:39:25,467 --> 00:39:28,197
the Senate and then ultimately
this going back to the House to

713
00:39:28,200 --> 00:39:30,800
ensure that we have the votes
necessary to get that extension

714
00:39:30,800 --> 00:39:31,970
to the President's desk.

715
00:39:31,967 --> 00:39:34,197
The Press:
And it is still an open question
whether at the end of this year,

716
00:39:34,200 --> 00:39:35,830
at the end of November 30th,
when these, if you get them,

717
00:39:35,834 --> 00:39:37,734
are due to expire, if
you get them again?

718
00:39:37,734 --> 00:39:39,204
Mr. Gibbs:
It's certainly an open
question, but again,

719
00:39:39,200 --> 00:39:44,570
I think it is fair and safe to
assume that we are not going to

720
00:39:44,567 --> 00:39:48,667
wake up at the end of November
and find ourselves at a rate of

721
00:39:48,667 --> 00:39:53,297
employment that one
would consider not

722
00:39:53,300 --> 00:39:55,470
to be still an emergency.

723
00:39:55,467 --> 00:39:57,867
The Press:
And just to follow up
on Jonathan's question,

724
00:39:57,867 --> 00:40:01,267
to Republicans who argue, yes,
historically we have paid for

725
00:40:01,266 --> 00:40:03,966
these through deficit spending
but we've never before had

726
00:40:03,967 --> 00:40:06,867
$13 trillion in the debt,
we've never had a fiscal year

727
00:40:06,867 --> 00:40:09,237
situation except for last year
where nine months into the

728
00:40:09,233 --> 00:40:11,433
fiscal year we're already at
a deficit of $1 trillion --

729
00:40:11,433 --> 00:40:14,903
conditions have changed and they
require a different look and a

730
00:40:14,900 --> 00:40:17,100
different approach -- to
that you would say what?

731
00:40:17,100 --> 00:40:20,230
Mr. Gibbs:
I would say that I doubt
that they would make that

732
00:40:20,233 --> 00:40:22,363
argument -- I doubt they'd
make that same argument if a

733
00:40:22,367 --> 00:40:25,337
Republican was in this
White House, which --

734
00:40:25,333 --> 00:40:28,533
The Press:
So it's purely political?

735
00:40:28,533 --> 00:40:30,533
Mr. Gibbs:
Given their history on this,

736
00:40:30,533 --> 00:40:35,803
given their votes on this, given
their rhetoric on this, yes.

737
00:40:35,800 --> 00:40:38,800
The Press:
Coming at this from
another direction,

738
00:40:38,800 --> 00:40:43,270
you described the unemployment
situation as an emergency.

739
00:40:43,266 --> 00:40:45,666
Most economists don't think
we're going to come rebounding

740
00:40:45,667 --> 00:40:47,397
out of this recession
very quickly.

741
00:40:47,400 --> 00:40:51,530
Is there a point at which
this relatively high level of

742
00:40:51,533 --> 00:40:56,233
unemployment becomes more of a
chronic condition and therefore

743
00:40:56,233 --> 00:41:00,133
does in fact have to
be paid for out of a

744
00:41:00,133 --> 00:41:02,003
regular budgeting process?

745
00:41:02,000 --> 00:41:05,500
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know if that number
has been derived by the economic

746
00:41:05,500 --> 00:41:08,100
team, or that date has.

747
00:41:08,100 --> 00:41:13,270
I think it is -- I think you are
correct to assume that -- and I

748
00:41:13,266 --> 00:41:15,496
don't have my -- I should just
bring my handy graph and load it

749
00:41:15,500 --> 00:41:19,800
every day -- that given the
depth of our economic downturn,

750
00:41:19,800 --> 00:41:24,330
that it's going to take some
time to turn that around.

751
00:41:24,333 --> 00:41:28,903
And, look, there are
different benefit ranges

752
00:41:28,900 --> 00:41:30,400
for different states.

753
00:41:30,400 --> 00:41:36,230
High-unemployment states
have a different benefit

754
00:41:36,233 --> 00:41:42,863
structure and award than
lower-unemployment states do.

755
00:41:42,867 --> 00:41:45,897
So, obviously, it
varies somewhat.

756
00:41:45,900 --> 00:41:50,030
But I don't know if the
economic team has derived

757
00:41:50,033 --> 00:41:52,603
the number it would take.

758
00:41:52,600 --> 00:41:57,070
The Press:
Could they envision a
time coming where they do,

759
00:41:57,066 --> 00:41:58,466
in fact, start --

760
00:41:58,467 --> 00:42:03,667
Mr. Gibbs:
If they -- I don't
know the answer to that.

761
00:42:03,667 --> 00:42:06,237
The Press:
Robert, quickly, on the
Vice President's comments

762
00:42:06,233 --> 00:42:08,763
on Afghanistan over the weekend.

763
00:42:08,767 --> 00:42:10,537
Talking about the
withdrawal next summer,

764
00:42:10,533 --> 00:42:14,503
he said that it could be as
a few as a couple thousand.

765
00:42:14,500 --> 00:42:15,630
That doesn't sound
like very much.

766
00:42:15,633 --> 00:42:17,203
Like 2 percent of the force.

767
00:42:17,200 --> 00:42:20,030
I mean, that would be like a
token withdrawal at that point.

768
00:42:20,033 --> 00:42:23,403
Is that really a deadline
if you're going to pull

769
00:42:23,400 --> 00:42:24,730
out as few as 2,000?

770
00:42:24,734 --> 00:42:28,634
Mr. Gibbs:
Again, what we've said
is that marks a period

771
00:42:28,633 --> 00:42:33,103
of transition that will -- that
conditions on the ground will

772
00:42:33,100 --> 00:42:37,000
determine the slope
of that withdrawal.

773
00:42:37,000 --> 00:42:41,070
The Press:
But if the slope
is that shallow,

774
00:42:41,066 --> 00:42:42,296
does that even count
as a withdrawal?

775
00:42:42,300 --> 00:42:47,130
Mr. Gibbs:
I would say this, Mark.

776
00:42:47,133 --> 00:42:53,603
Getting into hypotheticals
almost a year away from now

777
00:42:53,600 --> 00:42:54,600
-- I will say this.

778
00:42:54,600 --> 00:42:58,800
I think that we are on the
verge of marking a considerable

779
00:42:58,800 --> 00:43:03,600
drawdown in Iraq that,
if I recall correctly,

780
00:43:03,600 --> 00:43:07,930
a year before that, many said
wasn't going to happen either,

781
00:43:07,934 --> 00:43:09,504
and certainly two
years before that,

782
00:43:09,500 --> 00:43:14,730
said that that wasn't
likely to happen as well.

783
00:43:14,734 --> 00:43:21,534
It has because of the hard work
to build up the Iraqi security

784
00:43:21,533 --> 00:43:26,803
forces and to sustain
that involvement.

785
00:43:26,800 --> 00:43:31,900
Again, the President I think has
been very clear about what July

786
00:43:31,900 --> 00:43:34,930
2011 means and what it starts.

787
00:43:34,934 --> 00:43:35,764
The Press:
Follow on Afghanistan.

788
00:43:35,767 --> 00:43:37,067
Mr. Gibbs:
Mara.

789
00:43:37,066 --> 00:43:38,536
The Press:
Just to clarify that.

790
00:43:38,533 --> 00:43:40,333
So there's going to be a
withdrawal no matter what,

791
00:43:40,333 --> 00:43:43,533
but the pace of the withdrawal
is conditions-based -- is that

792
00:43:43,533 --> 00:43:44,263
what you're saying?

793
00:43:44,266 --> 00:43:45,796
Mr. Gibbs:
Again -- that's not
just what I said;

794
00:43:45,800 --> 00:43:48,470
that is what the President said
in December at West Point.

795
00:43:48,467 --> 00:43:50,697
The Press:
Because when he said
that -- you just said he's

796
00:43:50,700 --> 00:43:54,200
pretty clear about
what July 2011 means.

797
00:43:54,200 --> 00:43:57,970
Mr. Gibbs:
It means we begin the
transition out of Afghanistan.

798
00:43:57,967 --> 00:44:00,467
Again, let me be --
I want to be clear,

799
00:44:00,467 --> 00:44:03,737
just so -- I think if you go
back and read the President's

800
00:44:03,734 --> 00:44:09,134
speech of December 9th or
10th or 11th at West Point,

801
00:44:09,133 --> 00:44:11,133
I think --

802
00:44:11,133 --> 00:44:12,233
The Press:
December 1st.

803
00:44:12,233 --> 00:44:12,933
Mr. Gibbs:
December 1st?

804
00:44:12,934 --> 00:44:13,964
The Press:
Thank you, Mark.

805
00:44:13,967 --> 00:44:18,067
Mr. Gibbs:
I was -- did you just make
that up or is that right?

806
00:44:18,066 --> 00:44:18,736
(laughter)

807
00:44:18,734 --> 00:44:20,604
The Press:
Are you sure about that?

808
00:44:20,600 --> 00:44:22,770
Mr. Gibbs:
Last week you slipped a little
bit and I didn't know if you

809
00:44:22,767 --> 00:44:27,697
were the -- sports bureau
for press room briefings.

810
00:44:27,700 --> 00:44:29,570
Yes, ma'am.

811
00:44:29,567 --> 00:44:33,167
The Press:
But the question that was
raised earlier about whether

812
00:44:33,166 --> 00:44:34,766
-- the fact that there's going
to be a withdrawal even though

813
00:44:34,767 --> 00:44:37,167
it will be conditions-based is
an incentive for, as you said,

814
00:44:37,166 --> 00:44:39,996
the Afghan security forces
to get on with it --

815
00:44:40,000 --> 00:44:41,000
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, not just the
security forces --

816
00:44:41,000 --> 00:44:42,300
The Press:
-- or whether it's an
incentive for people to hunker

817
00:44:42,300 --> 00:44:45,470
down and not align with us
because they're afraid the

818
00:44:45,467 --> 00:44:47,767
Taliban might take
over if we leave.

819
00:44:47,767 --> 00:44:50,137
You think that this
formula fixes that?

820
00:44:50,133 --> 00:44:54,363
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I have -- if the
question I got earlier --

821
00:44:54,367 --> 00:44:56,597
which was, based on the
conditions on the ground,

822
00:44:56,600 --> 00:44:59,930
are we making any progress --
it doesn't appear as if this

823
00:44:59,934 --> 00:45:02,764
mysterious "everybody
hunker down,

824
00:45:02,767 --> 00:45:05,697
be real quiet because
if we do, then, shh,

825
00:45:05,700 --> 00:45:07,170
they'll leave" doesn't --

826
00:45:07,166 --> 00:45:08,036
The Press:
No, no, that's not
what I'm saying.

827
00:45:08,033 --> 00:45:09,503
I'm talking about people
who are trying to decide,

828
00:45:09,500 --> 00:45:13,330
should I align myself with the
Americans and may be at risk to

829
00:45:13,333 --> 00:45:15,863
my family later if they
leave, or should I just

830
00:45:15,867 --> 00:45:17,037
hedge my bets --

831
00:45:17,033 --> 00:45:21,303
Mr. Gibbs:
Again, that's why the --
that's why we're taking the

832
00:45:21,300 --> 00:45:24,330
actions we are in Marja and
Kandahar and throughout the

833
00:45:24,333 --> 00:45:26,803
country to make the
environment safer.

834
00:45:26,800 --> 00:45:31,300
Look, if a bunch of people
want to hide, that's great.

835
00:45:31,300 --> 00:45:33,900
Then you go figure out
what they've left and

836
00:45:33,900 --> 00:45:35,230
you go control it.

837
00:45:35,233 --> 00:45:36,303
The Press:
I'm not talking about
the Taliban hiding,

838
00:45:36,300 --> 00:45:37,600
I'm talking about
ordinary Afghans.

839
00:45:37,600 --> 00:45:39,130
But that satisfies me.

840
00:45:39,133 --> 00:45:41,433
I just have a question about
the unemployment benefits.

841
00:45:41,433 --> 00:45:44,063
I think they're worth $35
billion, is that correct?

842
00:45:44,066 --> 00:45:45,766
Mr. Gibbs:
I think that's right.

843
00:45:45,767 --> 00:45:47,937
The Press:
I'm wondering if it's --
and I understand what you're

844
00:45:47,934 --> 00:45:50,734
saying, in the past it's always
been understood that in this

845
00:45:50,734 --> 00:45:53,064
kind of a recession it's okay to
add to the deficit for something

846
00:45:53,066 --> 00:45:54,266
like unemployment insurance.

847
00:45:54,266 --> 00:45:57,566
But if you can't
find $35 billion,

848
00:45:57,567 --> 00:45:59,767
how can the American people be
confident that when it comes

849
00:45:59,767 --> 00:46:02,797
time to really solving the
deficit and debt problem you'll

850
00:46:02,800 --> 00:46:03,770
be able to find what you need?

851
00:46:03,767 --> 00:46:10,537
Mr. Gibbs:
I appreciate the sort of
game we're playing here.

852
00:46:10,533 --> 00:46:13,363
First and foremost, I think it's
important to understand that if

853
00:46:13,367 --> 00:46:17,697
you don't have a job and we
give you unemployment benefits,

854
00:46:17,700 --> 00:46:21,100
it's not as if you're investing
that in your mutual fund, okay?

855
00:46:21,100 --> 00:46:23,730
That's money that goes
back into the economy.

856
00:46:23,734 --> 00:46:28,904
So there are distinct economic
benefits to ensuring that those

857
00:46:28,900 --> 00:46:33,230
that have lost their jobs have
the benefits that they need.

858
00:46:33,233 --> 00:46:38,303
The President has identified
a whole host of measures -- a

859
00:46:38,300 --> 00:46:45,570
non-security spending freeze
for three years, programs that,

860
00:46:45,567 --> 00:46:47,167
OMB having gone
through the budget,

861
00:46:47,166 --> 00:46:48,466
can and should be eliminated.

862
00:46:48,467 --> 00:46:52,097
But, again, Mara, I think it is
important to understand that we

863
00:46:52,100 --> 00:46:55,330
are in a time of
economic emergency.

864
00:46:55,333 --> 00:47:01,303
That economic emergency, as I --
the example I used with Mark --

865
00:47:01,300 --> 00:47:03,930
maybe we should just
wait to patch the roof,

866
00:47:03,934 --> 00:47:06,934
even though it rains.

867
00:47:06,934 --> 00:47:08,104
The Press:
Are you talking about
patching the roof with

868
00:47:08,100 --> 00:47:09,730
borrowed money or cash?

869
00:47:09,734 --> 00:47:10,804
That's all.

870
00:47:10,800 --> 00:47:13,270
We're not questioning whether
you should patch the roof.

871
00:47:13,266 --> 00:47:14,896
It's just how are you going
to pay for it -- with a credit

872
00:47:14,900 --> 00:47:16,270
card or with cash?

873
00:47:16,266 --> 00:47:18,496
Mr. Gibbs:
In my house, we're going
to borrow the money so we

874
00:47:18,500 --> 00:47:19,900
don't get wet tonight.

875
00:47:19,900 --> 00:47:21,830
The Press:
You're saying there's no
alternative to borrowing?

876
00:47:21,834 --> 00:47:25,334
Mr. Gibbs:
I think that given the
economic emergency that

877
00:47:25,333 --> 00:47:30,603
we're in, why we are rewriting
the rules -- I appreciate the

878
00:47:30,600 --> 00:47:34,800
great concern of all of those
on Capitol Hill who have found

879
00:47:34,800 --> 00:47:38,930
in a different political
administration a difference of

880
00:47:38,934 --> 00:47:41,534
views that is not backed up
by either their rhetoric or

881
00:47:41,533 --> 00:47:44,533
their votes for years
and years and years.

882
00:47:44,533 --> 00:47:48,603
I think that is the type of
games that the American people

883
00:47:48,600 --> 00:47:52,130
have come simply to
expect from this town but,

884
00:47:52,133 --> 00:47:54,733
in times of great
economic emergency,

885
00:47:54,734 --> 00:47:58,934
would hope that this town would
put aside in order on the fourth

886
00:47:58,934 --> 00:48:04,834
time to extend unemployment
benefits to those that have

887
00:48:04,834 --> 00:48:05,364
lost their job.

888
00:48:05,367 --> 00:48:06,537
The Press:
But do you think it's
possible that even people

889
00:48:06,533 --> 00:48:08,833
on Capitol Hill who are being
hypocritical have the support

890
00:48:08,834 --> 00:48:10,504
of the public in this because
the public has this --

891
00:48:10,500 --> 00:48:11,170
Mr. Gibbs:
No, I don't.

892
00:48:11,166 --> 00:48:12,966
The Press:
-- has this feeling
about the deficit?

893
00:48:12,967 --> 00:48:15,067
Mr. Gibbs:
Look, this is not
to minimize people's

894
00:48:15,066 --> 00:48:16,536
feeling about the deficit.

895
00:48:16,533 --> 00:48:24,863
But, again, I don't know when
the last time NPR polled on

896
00:48:24,867 --> 00:48:29,367
this, but my sense is that
most people support extending

897
00:48:29,367 --> 00:48:31,067
unemployment benefits.

898
00:48:31,066 --> 00:48:34,196
There are a few people on
Capitol Hill that don't.

899
00:48:34,200 --> 00:48:40,330
But, again, I think after a
series of votes this week and

900
00:48:40,333 --> 00:48:43,503
landing on the side of
those that need help,

901
00:48:43,500 --> 00:48:46,870
the President and Congress will
deliver extended benefits.

902
00:48:46,867 --> 00:48:48,267
The Press:
Robert?

903
00:48:48,266 --> 00:48:49,396
Mr. Gibbs:
Hold on one second.

904
00:48:49,400 --> 00:48:51,700
The Press:
Yes, Robert --

905
00:48:51,700 --> 00:48:52,830
Mr. Gibbs:
Hold on a second.

906
00:48:52,834 --> 00:48:55,034
The Press:
Robert, when? When?

907
00:48:55,033 --> 00:48:56,003
Mr. Gibbs:
Soon, maybe.

908
00:48:56,000 --> 00:48:58,070
The Press:
Thank you.

909
00:48:58,066 --> 00:48:58,966
Mr. Gibbs:
Stephen.

910
00:48:58,967 --> 00:49:01,937
The Press:
BP is obviously a very
politically sensitive issue

911
00:49:01,934 --> 00:49:05,634
for both the U.S. government and
the U.K. government right now.

912
00:49:05,633 --> 00:49:08,303
Is there any concern in the
White House that those political

913
00:49:08,300 --> 00:49:12,470
pressures on both the leaders
tomorrow will sort of hamper

914
00:49:12,467 --> 00:49:17,537
their ability to sort of forge
a strong personal relationship?

915
00:49:17,533 --> 00:49:19,433
Mr. Gibbs:
Stephen, I certainly
don't believe so.

916
00:49:19,433 --> 00:49:25,703
I think that if you look at the
comments I think by either of

917
00:49:25,700 --> 00:49:33,770
these two leaders -- look, I
think Prime Minister Cameron

918
00:49:33,767 --> 00:49:40,167
said things when there were --
when some in Great Britain were

919
00:49:40,166 --> 00:49:45,736
concerned about, for instance,
the holdings and the pension

920
00:49:45,734 --> 00:49:51,834
that he said he expected,
as President Obama expects,

921
00:49:51,834 --> 00:49:56,164
that BP will meet its
responsibilities and

922
00:49:56,166 --> 00:49:59,936
its obligations for the
damage that it has done.

923
00:49:59,934 --> 00:50:05,364
I think there is agreement
on both sides on that issue.

924
00:50:05,367 --> 00:50:10,867
I don't think it will hamper
any of our discussions.

925
00:50:10,867 --> 00:50:15,537
We are -- the President is
certainly looking for BP to live

926
00:50:15,533 --> 00:50:21,103
up to its monetary obligations
to pay the damages and the fines

927
00:50:21,100 --> 00:50:27,230
that it will be assessed as
a result of this disaster.

928
00:50:27,233 --> 00:50:30,703
And I think that's what the
Prime Minister said as well.

929
00:50:30,700 --> 00:50:31,370
April.

930
00:50:31,367 --> 00:50:33,937
The Press:
Robert, two questions.

931
00:50:33,934 --> 00:50:36,604
Some House Democrats are still
very miffed at some things that

932
00:50:36,600 --> 00:50:41,370
you said recently and they
want to know -- they want

933
00:50:41,367 --> 00:50:42,467
answers from you.

934
00:50:42,467 --> 00:50:45,037
And has Nancy Pelosi
talked to you as of yet,

935
00:50:45,033 --> 00:50:47,263
or anyone in the
House leadership?

936
00:50:47,266 --> 00:50:51,366
Mr. Gibbs:
No, and I think we tilled this
ground pretty well last week.

937
00:50:51,367 --> 00:50:54,897
The Press:
No, but -- they clearly -- the
people I talked to this week,

938
00:50:54,900 --> 00:50:57,730
House leaders said that
they want answers from this

939
00:50:57,734 --> 00:51:00,334
President as to why you would
say something like that,

940
00:51:00,333 --> 00:51:01,363
and to put something
out there --

941
00:51:01,367 --> 00:51:03,267
Mr. Gibbs:
April, I would refer
you to any of the four

942
00:51:03,266 --> 00:51:09,196
transcripts from these august
briefings just last week.

943
00:51:09,200 --> 00:51:09,930
The Press:
Wait a minute, hold on.

944
00:51:09,934 --> 00:51:13,234
Also, and Joe Biden --
Vice President Joe Biden.

945
00:51:13,233 --> 00:51:17,303
Why did -- why is it that the
President or the Vice President,

946
00:51:17,300 --> 00:51:22,700
why don't they consider racist
the activities in the Tea Party?

947
00:51:22,700 --> 00:51:27,930
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, I would refer you
to what the Vice President said.

948
00:51:27,934 --> 00:51:37,404
I am not going to add to it and
I'm not going to broadly brush

949
00:51:37,400 --> 00:51:41,630
the activities of some
for the activities of all.

950
00:51:41,633 --> 00:51:44,803
The Press:
But race is being played
in this political game.

951
00:51:44,800 --> 00:51:46,630
I mean, it's being pushed
forward and you're not

952
00:51:46,633 --> 00:51:47,963
considering this racist.

953
00:51:47,967 --> 00:51:50,997
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm not getting into that.

954
00:51:51,000 --> 00:51:54,570
The Press:
The President has said that
capping carbon emissions is

955
00:51:54,567 --> 00:51:58,367
critical to achieving his goals
environmentally, on energy,

956
00:51:58,367 --> 00:52:00,097
and on the economy.

957
00:52:00,100 --> 00:52:02,070
Does he feel strongly
enough about that,

958
00:52:02,066 --> 00:52:05,836
that he's committed to using his
executive authority to the EPA

959
00:52:05,834 --> 00:52:08,464
if Congress will not
cap carbon emissions,

960
00:52:08,467 --> 00:52:09,937
which is now very much in doubt?

961
00:52:09,934 --> 00:52:15,504
Mr. Gibbs:
Let me get some
updated guidance.

962
00:52:15,500 --> 00:52:18,930
I will say obviously that
this entire debate, John,

963
00:52:18,934 --> 00:52:25,034
is based on -- not on some
grander policy design,

964
00:52:25,033 --> 00:52:32,233
but because a group of states
sued the Environmental

965
00:52:32,233 --> 00:52:37,103
Protection Agency and the court
said that the issue needed to

966
00:52:37,100 --> 00:52:38,030
be dealt with.

967
00:52:38,033 --> 00:52:41,533
The question the President has
asked and believes, rightly so,

968
00:52:41,533 --> 00:52:45,263
is that whether or not
we're going to do that

969
00:52:45,266 --> 00:52:48,066
indiscriminately or whether or
not we can get everybody at the

970
00:52:48,066 --> 00:52:52,896
table and come up with some
genuine common-sense ideas

971
00:52:52,900 --> 00:52:56,830
that create a path towards
energy independence,

972
00:52:56,834 --> 00:52:59,864
that improve our national
security so we can -- we stop

973
00:52:59,867 --> 00:53:06,597
exporting hundreds of millions
of dollars a day overseas,

974
00:53:06,600 --> 00:53:12,900
and to create a market for the
very jobs that the President

975
00:53:12,900 --> 00:53:16,170
both highlighted last week in
Michigan and that we have seen

976
00:53:16,166 --> 00:53:18,996
created as a result of
some of the investments

977
00:53:19,000 --> 00:53:20,470
in the Recovery Act.

978
00:53:20,467 --> 00:53:22,737
The Press:
But does he think the use
of the regulatory authority

979
00:53:22,734 --> 00:53:26,564
is better than nothing if
Congress can't pass it?

980
00:53:26,567 --> 00:53:30,967
Mr. Gibbs:
Look, I think we -- our
great hope is still that

981
00:53:30,967 --> 00:53:34,937
Congress won't find
itself in that situation,

982
00:53:34,934 --> 00:53:39,764
but instead will do what
is necessary to meet the

983
00:53:39,767 --> 00:53:45,397
obligations of the court suit
and do so in a way that gives

984
00:53:45,400 --> 00:53:48,500
everybody input
on that decision.

985
00:53:48,500 --> 00:53:49,470
Thanks, guys.