English subtitles for clip: File:8-4-09- White House Press Briefing.webm

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♪♪ Happy birthday dear Helen.
Happy Birthday to you. ♪♪

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(applause)

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The Press:
There's no (inaudible).

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The President:
That's wonderful. Thank you.

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Well, you got to blow it
out to make it come true.

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(applause)

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The Press:
Happy Birthday to
you, Mr. President.

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The Press:
Mr. President, Happy
Birthday to you.

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President Obama:
Picture -- birthday kiss.

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(laughter)

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The Press:
How's you birthday going
so far, Mr. President?

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The Press:
Will you tell us
your birthday wish?

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(laughter)

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President Obama:
Well, Helen wished for
world peace no -- prejudice.

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But she and I also had
a common birthday wish,

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she said she hopes for a real
health care reform bill.

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(laughter)

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I will leave it
up to you, Helen,

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how you want to
distribute the cupcakes.

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(laughter)

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(cross talk)

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Mr. Gibbs:
All right.

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(cross talk)

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Mr. Gibbs:
You a little overwhelmed there,
Chip? You're just sort of --

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(cross talk)

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We didn't tell her
a head of time.

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We don't tell people
a head of time.

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The Press:
Certainly not Helen.

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Mr. Gibbs:
Right, we didn't call tell Helen
and tell her we were coming out here.

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Mr. Gibbs:
All right, now that we've had the main event, let's get to the

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more mundane topics like whatever you all want

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to ask about today.

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The Press:
President Clinton's trip to North Korea, is it fair and

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accurate to say that President Obama supports this move?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Phil, we put out a statement this morning -- I put

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out a statement that this was a
private mission that we weren't

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I mean, we're having --

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going to comment on while the
former President was on the

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ground in North Korea. And as a result of that I don't have

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anything more to add on
this at this time.

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The Press:
But you can understand why people could see this as a

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possible opening for further discussions with North Korea.

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You understand why that's there.

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Mr. Gibbs:
I can understand a lot. Again --

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The Press:
Are we over-jumping that --

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Mr. Gibbs: This obviously is a
very sensitive topic.

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We will hope to provide some
more detail at a later point.

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Our focus right now is on
ensuring the safety of two

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journalists that are in
North Korea right now.

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The Press:
Okay. Then I'm going to be selfish and take a

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second question then.

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Mr. Gibbs:
It's more like your third,
but go ahead.

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(laughter)

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The Press:
It appears the unemployment rate, where the President is

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going tomorrow in Indiana, has actually worsened since the

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last time the President was there. Why is the White House

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going there and what do you hope to accomplish with the trip?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, the unemployment rate has gotten worse in Elkhart since

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the President was there in February.

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It's gotten -- I think you could probably count on one or two hands the places where

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the unemployment rate has improved in those few months.

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Obviously we have seen -- and
you saw this in the GDP figures

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-- a tremendous downturn in our
economy over the past many

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quarters. You saw a revision of even quarters where there was

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some modest growth, now there
was a decline in the economy.

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The President will use this event, and a number of Cabinet

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Secretaries and the Vice President will use tomorrow's

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events, to make some announcements on battery

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technology, electric battery technology and capability in

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cars, and we'll have some more
information on that later today.

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But obviously this is an area
of the country that's been

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particularly hard-hit as a
result of the economic downturn.

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You've got a city that relied
heavily on the manufacture and

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production of RVs.

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Obviously in a severe economic downturn like this, you've

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seen, as you have in the automobile market,

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tremendous pullback
in demand for these.

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So the President, I think,

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will not just make this particular announcement about

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recovery dollars, but talk about what we're seeing more broadly

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in the economy, and some ways that we -- some innovative ways

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that we can address creating jobs over the long term.

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I think, as we've said before, I
think the unemployment rate is

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likely to get worse on Friday
when the new economic
figures come out.

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We have seen some good signs.

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The GDP figures from last Friday, I think, are
certainly one of them.

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But I think the President will use the occasion to discuss the steps that have

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been taken to pull the economy back from the brink and to lay

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out what he's continuing to work on in order to get the

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economy back on track.

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And obviously the people in Elkhart know firsthand

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what the economic -- the type of economic devastation that this

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country has seen over the past
many, many months.

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I mean, if you look at --
if you go back and look
at those -- don't just

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look at the economic figures since the last time the

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President was there.

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If you go back a year
or so, you've got an

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unemployment rate in
the 5 and 6 percent.

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I think, if I'm not mistaken,

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the unemployment rate in Elkhart is somewhere between 16

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and 17 percent right now.

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You see the degree to which the

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economy has slid in only a very short period of time, and I

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think that's what the President will focus on tomorrow.

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Yes, sir.

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The Press:
A couple of questions -- one on North Korea and one on Iran.

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I'm trying to take North Korea
from a slightly different angle.

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The President --

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Mr. Gibbs: Good try.

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(laughter)

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The Press:
Former President Clinton is there, a very high-ranking

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former U.S. official.

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Some analysts are
saying that his

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mere presence there can be seen as a reward for bad behavior,

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and that's something that
President Obama has made clear

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that he does not want to do
in dealings with Pyongyang.

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What's your -- what's the
administration view on that?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I'm not going to get deep into this issue at this point, like I

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said to Phil. I do think we have looked at -- as I said a few

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months ago, we're not equating -- we look at detainment and

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other issues separately.

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We always hope that the North

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Koreans would look at
it the same way.

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That's how this administration has approached this.

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The Press:
You want to keep those completely de-linked as issues.

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Mr. Gibbs:
That's what we talked about.

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The Press:
And on Iran, President Ahmadinejad will be sworn in

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tomorrow. Some of the U.S. allies will be sending

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representatives to attend that ceremony. The administration is

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not. Does the U.S. absence in any way indicate that it is not,

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shall we say, does not recognize the legitimacy of

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Ahmadinejad's reelection?

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Mr. Gibbs:
No, I -- let me get some larger guidance on our participation.

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Look, I think we have said
throughout this that this was a

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decision and a debate that was
on going in Iran by Iranians.

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That they were going to
choose their leadership.

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The President has discussed our
goals for reaching out in order

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to ensure that they don't
develop a nuclear weapons

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program. Those continue to be our goals.

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The Press:
But does the administration recognize Ahmadinejad as the

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legitimate President in Iran?

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Mr. Gibbs:
He's the elected leader. Yes, sir.

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The Press:
A couple questions. One, is it your contention -- is it the

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White House contention that the anger that some members of

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Congress are experiencing at town hall meetings, especially

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over health care reform, is manufactured?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I think some of it is, yes. In fact, I think you've had groups

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today, Conservatives for Patients' Rights that have

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bragged about organizing and
manufacturing that anger.

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The Press:
How is their organizing and getting people to

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come to town hall meetings and
express their feelings any

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different from a liberal
group doing the same thing?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I think what
you've seen is they have bragged

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about manufacturing to
some degree that anger.

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I think you've got somebody
who's very involved,

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a leader of that group that's
very involved in the status

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quo, a CEO that used to run
a health care company that was

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fined by the federal
government $1.7 billion for

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fraud. I think that's a lot of what you need to know about the

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motives of that group.

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The Press:
And AIPAC just issued a statement saying they're

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deeply disappointed by the Obama
administration's choice to award

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a Presidential Medal of
Freedom to Mary Robinson,

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and they respectfully call on
the administration to firmly,

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fully, and publicly repudiate
her views on Israel and her

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long-public record of hostility
and one-sided bias against the

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Jewish state. Do you guys have any comment about that or any

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other protest you've heard from Jewish groups?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Look, Mary Robinson was the first female President

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of Ireland, and she is somebody
whom we are honoring as a

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prominent crusader of women's
rights in Ireland and
throughout the world.

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There are statements that obviously she has made that

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the President doesn't agree with
and that's probably true for a

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number of the people that the
President is recognizing for

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their lifetime contributions. Yes, ma'am.

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The Press:
On North Korea, I know you said that you don't want to get too

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deep into it, but can you at least tell us how is the White

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House, or how is President Obama getting updates on negotiations

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if this is a private mission?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I will hopefully be freer to talk about some of this

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stuff later on.

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The Press:
But you can't even tell us who it is that -- I

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mean, is it the National
Security Advisor?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I'm not going to get into it.

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The Press:
Robert, the North Koreans say that they got an

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informal message
from the President.

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Can you at least say whether
that was the case or not?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I spoke to that this morning and said that wasn't true.

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The Press:
Written or oral?

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Mr. Gibbs:
Written or oral.

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The Press:
When was the last time President Obama spoke with President Clinton?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I think the last time they spoke was when former President

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Clinton visited the White House in March, I believe.

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The Press:
They haven't spoken since then?

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Mr. Gibbs:
No.

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The Press:
What's the relationship like?

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How would you characterize
the relationship?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I think they have a very good relationship.

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I think they -- look, President and former President
is a pretty small

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club. There aren't many who have done that job who understand the

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pressures and the issues that
confront a chief executive.

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Obviously they talked during the
campaign some and have talked a

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couple of times since he's been in here. But as I said to Chuck,

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not since he visited a few months ago.

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Yes, sir.

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The Press:
On the meeting with the Democratic senators,

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some of those senators made it
sound like there was nothing but

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happy talk in there
-- a symphony,

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as it was described --

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The Press:
Coach Lombardi --

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(laughter)

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Mr. Gibbs:
I don't disagree.

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(laughter)

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The Press:
Were there disagreements
in there?

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Mr. Gibbs:
I was not in the luncheon.

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I know that there were basically
two primary topics that were

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discussed at some length: all
that had been accomplished over

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the course of the first
six-and-a-half months and

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particularly, as I just
talked about a minute ago,

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in pulling back from the edge of
an economic depression and the

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importance of continuing to work
together to ensure that we get a

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strong health care reform bill
to the President's desk by the

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end of the year.

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The Press:
And you've been asked this before, but I just want to see

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if there's any update.

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There still are a lot of Democrats up

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there saying we want more information, more details from

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the President on what he wants in this bill.

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Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I think Harry Reid answered this at the

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stakeout by saying he talks to
the people at the White House

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two or three times a
day on this subject.

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The Press:
Right, but the
President hasn't publicly said,

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here's what I want in this bill.

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Mr. Gibbs:
I think the President has been very clear about the

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principles that he sees involved
in health care reform and we're

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very comfortable
with where we are.

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The Press:
Any change at all on the part of the discussion --

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Mr. Gibbs:
I can check. Josh Earnest was in there; I can check with him and

239
00:13:44,533 --> 00:13:46,503
see to what degree that came up.

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The Press:
One quick one on Cash for Clunkers.

241
00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:51,330
What's the status on releasing sales data that Ray LaHood has

242
00:13:51,333 --> 00:13:52,763
said that the administration --

243
00:13:52,767 --> 00:13:55,497
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, we released some -- I need to check with the guys

244
00:13:55,500 --> 00:13:57,470
on the economic team.

245
00:13:57,467 --> 00:13:59,567
I know we released -- the figures that I

246
00:13:59,567 --> 00:14:03,567
released yesterday were sales
data through, I believe,

247
00:14:03,567 --> 00:14:07,297
Saturday or Sunday. But I don't know what the status

248
00:14:07,300 --> 00:14:10,100
is on the rest of it.

249
00:14:10,100 --> 00:14:11,730
The Press:
Is the administration releasing it as fast as it can,

250
00:14:11,734 --> 00:14:12,164
as fast as it gets it? Or are you holding that?

251
00:14:12,166 --> 00:14:17,536
Mr. Gibbs:
We're focusing first on -- you know, the way the program works

252
00:14:17,533 --> 00:14:26,703
is dealers give, based on the mileage difference in what

253
00:14:26,700 --> 00:14:29,930
you're trading in -- whether you qualify for a $3,500 or

254
00:14:29,934 --> 00:14:34,634
a $4,500 rebate. So dealers are out there making those

255
00:14:34,633 --> 00:14:36,903
commitments, filing the certificates.

256
00:14:36,900 --> 00:14:39,100
We're trying to process those as
quickly as possible and

257
00:14:39,100 --> 00:14:47,730
ensure that car dealers get that
money that they're forwarding on

258
00:14:47,734 --> 00:14:53,304
as rebates. And we'll certainly provide the information that we

259
00:14:53,300 --> 00:14:56,500
can in a timely basis. Yes, ma'am.

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00:14:56,500 --> 00:15:01,370
The Press:
In the interest of transparency why did you allow the North

261
00:15:01,367 --> 00:15:04,597
Koreans to announce this trip? We know that Clinton didn't

262
00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:08,070
sneak across the border. Why did they announce it --

263
00:15:08,066 --> 00:15:09,566
Mr. Gibbs:
You don't think he went hiking and --

264
00:15:09,567 --> 00:15:13,597
The Press:
Or did he? I mean, isn't this an opening now with

265
00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:15,000
the relations with --

266
00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:19,730
Mr. Gibbs:
You know, Helen, I don't want to belabor this, but I am hopeful

267
00:15:19,734 --> 00:15:21,934
that at a later point we can have a more fulsome

268
00:15:21,934 --> 00:15:23,364
conversation on this.

269
00:15:23,367 --> 00:15:25,097
The Press:
Would you say "later" -- today?

270
00:15:25,100 --> 00:15:26,970
I mean, do you have
an idea, is it today?

271
00:15:26,967 --> 00:15:28,967
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm just not going to get into that right now.

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00:15:28,967 --> 00:15:30,237
The Press:
Well, when you have information you guys are going

273
00:15:30,233 --> 00:15:31,733
to -- pretty quickly?

274
00:15:31,734 --> 00:15:33,904
The Press:
How about if we talk about a part that's already over?

275
00:15:33,900 --> 00:15:35,070
What parameters were provided
to President Clinton

276
00:15:35,066 --> 00:15:36,366
before he left?

277
00:15:36,367 --> 00:15:37,997
Mr. Gibbs:
Nice try.

278
00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:42,100
The Press:
Going back to Elkhart, obviously today you had a pep talk a

279
00:15:42,100 --> 00:15:44,130
little bit it sounded like with the Senate Democrats -- that's

280
00:15:44,133 --> 00:15:46,163
what they described it
as, a pep talk.

281
00:15:46,166 --> 00:15:49,736
How much of tomorrow is a pep talk -- to Elkhart you're bringing some largesse, you're

282
00:15:49,734 --> 00:15:52,234
bringing some stimulus dollars -- and how much of it is sort

283
00:15:52,233 --> 00:15:57,233
of a reality check -- hey, this is what we can do, but this

284
00:15:57,233 --> 00:15:59,703
is what it's going to take, it's going to take a while to --

285
00:15:59,700 --> 00:16:02,570
Mr. Gibbs:
Chuck, the President has always
discussed the fact that this was

286
00:16:02,567 --> 00:16:09,737
going to take a lot of time. You know, if you look back at --

287
00:16:09,734 --> 00:16:14,764
you've got a recession that started in December of 2007,

288
00:16:14,767 --> 00:16:22,597
which I don't know how many months, that's, what,
21 months ago.

289
00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:27,230
So we didn't get here over the course of a couple month

290
00:16:27,233 --> 00:16:28,133
period of time.

291
00:16:28,133 --> 00:16:29,903
And let's understand
that many communities

292
00:16:29,900 --> 00:16:34,230
in the Midwest, some of whom are dependent upon auto

293
00:16:34,233 --> 00:16:38,303
manufacturing, part supplying,
general manufacturing,

294
00:16:38,300 --> 00:16:47,000
felt job loss certainly
dating back well before
December of 2007.

295
00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:50,070
So I think the President will bring -- continue to bring

296
00:16:50,066 --> 00:16:56,636
the message that he has, that it is going to take some time to

297
00:16:56,633 --> 00:17:00,303
move away from where we are, to get our economy back on track.

298
00:17:00,300 --> 00:17:03,000
The President won't be satisfied
until we're creating jobs.

299
00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:08,670
But I think if you look at
where we were in January,

300
00:17:08,667 --> 00:17:13,567
what we now know was
happening to economic output,

301
00:17:13,567 --> 00:17:19,837
measured by GDP, we certainly
discussed in this room not just

302
00:17:19,834 --> 00:17:21,534
jobs but we discussed
economic output,

303
00:17:21,533 --> 00:17:23,863
we discussed
financial stability,

304
00:17:23,867 --> 00:17:28,167
we discussed regulatory
reform, we discussed housing

305
00:17:28,166 --> 00:17:35,166
foreclosures, and I think --
I do think if you look at --

306
00:17:35,166 --> 00:17:41,336
certainly nobody predicted that
we would be standing here today,

307
00:17:41,333 --> 00:17:55,063
providing that almost every bank
that is part of the TARP program

308
00:17:55,066 --> 00:18:03,566
got funding not from additional
public sources but through the raising of private capital.

309
00:18:03,567 --> 00:18:07,637
We are on pace to, by November,

310
00:18:07,633 --> 00:18:14,233
modify the mortgages of half a million Americans that need

311
00:18:14,233 --> 00:18:19,033
help as part of the home affordability program.

312
00:18:19,033 --> 00:18:22,603
We're going to -- we've seen
some progress that the economy

313
00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:28,370
has not retracted at nearly the
pace that it was just a

314
00:18:28,367 --> 00:18:29,997
quarter ago. But it will be quite some time

315
00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:30,870
before we add jobs.

316
00:18:30,867 --> 00:18:33,237
The Press:
But is it the President's responsibility to tell a

317
00:18:33,233 --> 00:18:35,703
community like that, you know what, these jobs

318
00:18:35,700 --> 00:18:36,630
aren't coming back?

319
00:18:36,633 --> 00:18:38,263
Mr. Gibbs:
No, I think the President's responsibility is to

320
00:18:38,266 --> 00:18:40,366
talk about all the things
that we're doing to lay the

321
00:18:40,367 --> 00:18:46,467
foundation for job growth and to
lay the foundation for continued

322
00:18:46,467 --> 00:18:48,497
economic success
in this country.

323
00:18:48,500 --> 00:18:53,570
I think the President has always
understood -- and he's believed

324
00:18:53,567 --> 00:18:59,297
this a lot longer than some of
us have -- that it's important

325
00:18:59,300 --> 00:19:02,000
to be upfront and straight with
the American people about where

326
00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:04,130
we are, about where
we need to go,

327
00:19:04,133 --> 00:19:05,963
and some of the decisions that
we're going to have to make to

328
00:19:05,967 --> 00:19:09,397
put our country back on that
secure economic footing.

329
00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:13,500
And I think that's some
of what he'll do tomorrow.

330
00:19:13,500 --> 00:19:14,430
Yes, sir.

331
00:19:14,433 --> 00:19:17,133
The Press:
Robert, back on North Korea, I think everybody understands the

332
00:19:17,133 --> 00:19:20,603
sensitivity of this issue, given the personal stakes.

333
00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:24,100
But there is the geopolitics
overlay to this.

334
00:19:24,100 --> 00:19:27,130
At what point is the White House
-- and under what circumstances

335
00:19:27,133 --> 00:19:30,963
will the White House be willing
to share with the American

336
00:19:30,967 --> 00:19:32,997
public what is happening?

337
00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:35,130
Mr. Gibbs:
When we feel
comfortable doing so.

338
00:19:35,133 --> 00:19:36,233
The Press:
When would that be?

339
00:19:36,233 --> 00:19:38,633
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I think that -- my statement made mention of the

340
00:19:38,633 --> 00:19:41,033
fact that we weren't going to
talk about this while former

341
00:19:41,033 --> 00:19:43,363
President Clinton
was in North Korea.

342
00:19:43,367 --> 00:19:46,597
The Press:
Is it your expectation, Robert, that he will leave North Korea

343
00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:48,570
with the two American journalists?

344
00:19:48,567 --> 00:19:50,767
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm not going to prejudge the outcome of the trip.

345
00:19:50,767 --> 00:19:52,867
The Press:
Is the fate of the two American journalists and

346
00:19:52,867 --> 00:19:59,297
your ability to talk about this
more openly, publicly, linked?

347
00:19:59,300 --> 00:20:03,300
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm going to ensure that I don't do or the administration doesn't

348
00:20:03,300 --> 00:20:05,430
do anything that would jeopardize that.

349
00:20:05,433 --> 00:20:07,633
The Press:
Why would you believe that speaking about this trip

350
00:20:07,633 --> 00:20:09,603
would in any way jeopardize or
enhance their

351
00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:12,000
ability to be released?

352
00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:14,730
Mr. Gibbs:
Safety is the best policy.

353
00:20:14,734 --> 00:20:16,304
The Press:
The BBC is actually reporting that the two

354
00:20:16,300 --> 00:20:17,800
journalists have been
released to Clinton.

355
00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:19,670
Do you have any comment?

356
00:20:19,667 --> 00:20:21,797
Mr. Gibbs:
Surprisingly no.

357
00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:25,270
The Press:
Can I carry on, Robert, on Cash for Clunkers?

358
00:20:25,266 --> 00:20:27,266
Mr. Gibbs:
No. (laughter)

359
00:20:27,266 --> 00:20:29,036
Goahead, I'm sorry.

360
00:20:29,033 --> 00:20:30,403
The Press:
Ask a stupid question.

361
00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:31,700
(laughter)

362
00:20:31,700 --> 00:20:33,970
The Press:
He's going to put it under the umbrella of North Korea.

363
00:20:33,967 --> 00:20:35,697
Mr. Gibbs:
He is.

364
00:20:35,700 --> 00:20:39,530
The Press:
Where does the administration believe the $2 billion should

365
00:20:39,533 --> 00:20:42,563
come from within the stimulus package? Does it have a

366
00:20:42,567 --> 00:20:45,767
preference? There are a couple of energy-related --

367
00:20:45,767 --> 00:20:52,697
Mr. Gibbs:
I owe this to Jon Ward, the House -- I need to

368
00:20:52,700 --> 00:20:54,470
look up the legislation and I'll get it for Jon and for you, as

369
00:20:54,467 --> 00:20:57,767
well. The money comes from an energy efficiency program

370
00:20:57,767 --> 00:20:59,067
previously approved --

371
00:20:59,066 --> 00:21:00,336
The Press:
Yes.

372
00:21:00,333 --> 00:21:01,763
Mr. Gibbs:
That's what the House legislation states.

373
00:21:01,767 --> 00:21:03,137
The Press:
And that's what the administration supports and

374
00:21:03,133 --> 00:21:04,433
that's where it should come?

375
00:21:04,433 --> 00:21:05,803
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes.

376
00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:07,070
The Press:
Does the administration categorically

377
00:21:07,066 --> 00:21:08,166
reject the notion that this
money could in any way, shape,

378
00:21:08,166 --> 00:21:09,936
or form come from
the TARP allocations?

379
00:21:09,934 --> 00:21:12,934
Mr. Gibbs:
In order for that to happen you'd have to have -- you

380
00:21:12,934 --> 00:21:15,964
couldn't do that without a
change in the law or the

381
00:21:15,967 --> 00:21:19,467
approval of Congress.

382
00:21:19,467 --> 00:21:20,537
The Press:
It couldn't be done by Friday,

383
00:21:20,533 --> 00:21:23,603
therefore you oppose it.

384
00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:24,730
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, right, with the House out of town. But it could

385
00:21:24,734 --> 00:21:26,034
not be done unilaterally.

386
00:21:26,033 --> 00:21:27,833
The Press:
Right. So therefore
you oppose it.

387
00:21:27,834 --> 00:21:31,104
Mr. Gibbs:
Makes it more difficult to effectualize.

388
00:21:31,100 --> 00:21:32,200
(laughter)

389
00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:34,170
The Press:
How comfortable is the administration with the

390
00:21:34,166 --> 00:21:34,766
statistics released so far?

391
00:21:34,767 --> 00:21:36,067
I know these are incomplete

392
00:21:36,066 --> 00:21:38,466
because DOD hasn't released all the available data.

393
00:21:38,467 --> 00:21:39,437
But based on what we know

394
00:21:39,433 --> 00:21:42,803
so far, four of the five top-selling models come

395
00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:44,370
from Toyota and Honda.

396
00:21:44,367 --> 00:21:48,137
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, again, the statistics that I had mentioned yesterday, I

397
00:21:48,133 --> 00:21:56,903
mean, 47 percent of the cars sold were from the Big Three,

398
00:21:56,900 --> 00:22:02,200
which was slightly larger than their current market
share of 45 percent.

399
00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:09,800
And I think the top-selling car through this program is
the Ford Focus.

400
00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:11,530
I think what you've seen is --

401
00:22:11,533 --> 00:22:14,863
The Press:
Soyou are comfortable?

402
00:22:14,867 --> 00:22:17,837
Mr. Gibbs:
We're comfortable because what we've seen is, one, people are

403
00:22:17,834 --> 00:22:22,504
making decisions to buy cars for the first time in a long time.

404
00:22:22,500 --> 00:22:30,730
And two, this program is also
designed to take cars that get

405
00:22:30,734 --> 00:22:33,834
far worse gas mileage,
which pollute more,

406
00:22:33,834 --> 00:22:38,004
off of the road for something
that's more fuel-efficient,

407
00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:42,230
safer for our environment,
and protects our security.

408
00:22:42,233 --> 00:22:47,563
I think the statistics that we
have show a 61 percent increase

409
00:22:47,567 --> 00:22:51,537
in fuel mileage, which lets
people know the

410
00:22:51,533 --> 00:22:52,903
program is working.

411
00:22:52,900 --> 00:22:55,800
The Press:
Betty Sutton's original legislation sought a

412
00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:57,470
"Buy America" provision.

413
00:22:57,467 --> 00:22:58,637
It was dropped in the negotiations.

414
00:22:58,633 --> 00:23:00,733
I don't remember this ever
coming up in the briefings

415
00:23:00,734 --> 00:23:03,004
previously -- if it did, I apologize -- did the

416
00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:05,500
administration actively seek the
removal of that

417
00:23:05,500 --> 00:23:07,030
"Buy America" provision?

418
00:23:07,033 --> 00:23:10,733
Mr. Gibbs:
I can check. I know that some of those provisions, as I've

419
00:23:10,734 --> 00:23:15,564
talked about in some of
the The Press:uestions on this

420
00:23:15,567 --> 00:23:18,567
in the morning, there was
concern about violating

421
00:23:18,567 --> 00:23:19,967
international trade.

422
00:23:19,967 --> 00:23:22,637
The Press:
True. But there's concerns about that in defense appropriations

423
00:23:22,633 --> 00:23:24,333
legislation, as well, and there
are "Buy America" provisions in

424
00:23:24,333 --> 00:23:28,263
some defense contracting
legislation that balance

425
00:23:28,266 --> 00:23:29,166
both these issues.

426
00:23:29,166 --> 00:23:32,566
Mr. Gibbs:
Again, I think the statistics denote that the Big Three

427
00:23:32,567 --> 00:23:36,197
automakers have been represented well in this program because

428
00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:40,070
they're building cars that Americans want to buy. Yes, sir.

429
00:23:40,066 --> 00:23:42,066
The Press:
Robert, can you tell us a little more about the lunch, kind of

430
00:23:42,066 --> 00:23:44,366
the form -- were there questions offered by the senators?

431
00:23:44,367 --> 00:23:46,867
Mr. Gibbs:
Yes, let me get a -- we'll provide a little bit further

432
00:23:46,867 --> 00:23:51,797
readout. But I know the President did a little Q&A after

433
00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:55,600
they ate, and then they discussed a number of topics.

434
00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:58,070
I don't have any more
information on that.

435
00:23:58,066 --> 00:23:59,036
Yes, sir.

436
00:23:59,033 --> 00:24:01,603
The Press:
Robert, if I could go back to something you said yesterday.

437
00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:03,900
We were talking about the
deficit and you said obviously

438
00:24:03,900 --> 00:24:06,100
we were going to have to make
some decisions down the road on

439
00:24:06,100 --> 00:24:08,330
some of the President's
legislative priorities and some

440
00:24:08,333 --> 00:24:10,933
of the things Congress wants to do, evaluate how we move back on

441
00:24:10,934 --> 00:24:13,364
a path towards fiscal sustainability.

442
00:24:13,367 --> 00:24:13,997
What are we talking about here?

443
00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:15,870
Could you elaborate
about what legislative

444
00:24:15,867 --> 00:24:17,237
priorities the President might be willing to talk

445
00:24:17,233 --> 00:24:19,003
about down the road?

446
00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:22,070
Mr. Gibbs:
Look, I think -- I didn't have anything specific in

447
00:24:22,066 --> 00:24:26,866
mind except to say, obviously --
as we've discussed much in this

448
00:24:26,867 --> 00:24:33,667
room -- we have big structural
deficits that are going to be --

449
00:24:33,667 --> 00:24:36,667
that if we're going to
be serious about fiscal

450
00:24:36,667 --> 00:24:39,037
responsibility have
to be looked at.

451
00:24:39,033 --> 00:24:45,503
That's going to mean we're
probably not going to be able to

452
00:24:45,500 --> 00:24:50,900
continue -- we're not going to
be able to continue to spend

453
00:24:50,900 --> 00:24:52,330
like we always have.

454
00:24:52,333 --> 00:24:53,963
And I think the President has
talked about throughout the

455
00:24:53,967 --> 00:24:56,797
campaign and his time here being
serious about getting our fiscal

456
00:24:56,800 --> 00:25:01,330
house in order and making
cuts in our budget.

457
00:25:01,333 --> 00:25:07,563
That's what in many ways led the
President to -- with Senators

458
00:25:07,567 --> 00:25:12,497
Levin and McCain, with the
backing of Secretary Gates and

459
00:25:12,500 --> 00:25:18,530
the Joint Chiefs -- to go after
the additional F-22 plane money

460
00:25:18,533 --> 00:25:22,833
that the Pentagon said wasn't needed. That's the type of thing

461
00:25:22,834 --> 00:25:29,434
that -- the type of vote that we're going to have to work

462
00:25:29,433 --> 00:25:31,763
through in order to make some of these tough decisions.

463
00:25:31,767 --> 00:25:34,597
The Press:
But that F-22 was not, of course, one of President Obama's

464
00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:37,530
legislative priorities. Are there things of his own he'd be

465
00:25:37,533 --> 00:25:39,803
willing to give up if the tax cut, for instance, you put in

466
00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:41,300
the stimulus is only a two-year

467
00:25:41,300 --> 00:25:42,530
Mr. Gibbs:
It's a two-year --

468
00:25:42,533 --> 00:25:44,363
The Press:
-- temporary thing.Is that something he would give up?

469
00:25:44,367 --> 00:25:45,837
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, I don't want to get ahead two years ahead of the

470
00:25:45,834 --> 00:25:46,464
legislative process.

471
00:25:46,467 --> 00:25:50,667
Again, our focus in terms of that tax cut, one,

472
00:25:50,667 --> 00:25:54,537
is to finally put some money back in the pockets of the middle class.

473
00:25:54,533 --> 00:25:56,463
I mean, I talked yesterday
about the fact that

474
00:25:56,467 --> 00:25:59,437
for a long, long time the middle class has borne the brunt of

475
00:25:59,433 --> 00:26:03,203
some bad economic decisions.

476
00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:04,500
Throughout many years, even

477
00:26:04,500 --> 00:26:08,470
while the economy grew,
wages declined.

478
00:26:08,467 --> 00:26:08,997
That's one of the

479
00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:12,230
reasons the President sought to run for this office, to protect

480
00:26:12,233 --> 00:26:17,463
those hard-working,
middle-class Americans.

481
00:26:17,467 --> 00:26:20,297
But, look, I think

482
00:26:20,300 --> 00:26:23,370
the President -- the President is aware and understands, and

483
00:26:23,367 --> 00:26:29,167
will -- understands that we're going to have to take some

484
00:26:29,166 --> 00:26:31,366
action in order to get the deficit under control.

485
00:26:31,367 --> 00:26:32,997
The Press:
Last The question
on this, sorry.

486
00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:35,500
You said we should have this conversation down the road.

487
00:26:35,500 --> 00:26:36,670
Shouldn't people think about

488
00:26:36,667 --> 00:26:38,867
that now so they can understand the tradeoffs when they are

489
00:26:38,867 --> 00:26:41,337
talking about all these different big expenditures that

490
00:26:41,333 --> 00:26:43,863
you're talking about putting the country on? Shouldn't we be able

491
00:26:43,867 --> 00:26:45,797
to have a debate about which of these things is a priority that

492
00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:46,300
they want to --

493
00:26:46,300 --> 00:26:48,170
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, I think in
some ways we're having

494
00:26:48,166 --> 00:50:48,696
those debates right now.

495
00:26:50,633 --> 00:26:52,063
The Press:
We'll get -- we'll have tradeoffs, even though --

496
00:26:52,066 --> 00:26:54,536
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, but I think we're talking -- I think when we talk about

497
00:26:54,533 --> 00:26:57,663
the priority of health care, I think there are those debates.

498
00:26:57,667 --> 00:27:00,337
I think there have certainly
been those that argued we didn't

499
00:27:00,333 --> 00:27:03,663
need to stimulate our economy,
or we didn't need to stimulate

500
00:27:03,667 --> 00:27:06,737
our economy to the degree
to which we stimulated it.

501
00:27:06,734 --> 00:27:10,534
It's hard for me to get,
though, to this point, Peter,

502
00:27:10,533 --> 00:27:20,233
without mentioning that we
got to this point after many,

503
00:27:20,233 --> 00:27:24,033
many years, and we got to this
point with the President walking

504
00:27:24,033 --> 00:27:26,963
into office with a budget
deficit that exceeded,

505
00:27:26,967 --> 00:27:34,397
or is headed north of a
trillion-and-a-half dollars.

506
00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:37,570
He understands he was elected to
make decisions to get our fiscal

507
00:27:37,567 --> 00:27:39,297
house back in order. Jon.

508
00:27:39,300 --> 00:27:42,600
The Press:
I just wanted to clarify the manufactured outrage

509
00:27:42,600 --> 00:27:45,270
issue, because this morning
you said it was pretty -- just

510
00:27:45,266 --> 00:27:46,896
manufactured outrage, full stop.

511
00:27:46,900 --> 00:27:49,630
And then when Jake
asked you about it,

512
00:27:49,633 --> 00:27:52,503
you said that some of
it is manufactured. So --

513
00:27:52,500 --> 00:27:55,000
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, I -- well, go ahead, ask your The Press:uestion.

514
00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:57,430
The Press:
Well, I mean there's a difference between -- or maybe

515
00:27:57,433 --> 00:28:00,103
there's different levels of
orchestration or manufacturing,

516
00:28:00,100 --> 00:28:04,130
because if they're busing people
in and planting people at these

517
00:28:04,133 --> 00:28:07,903
rallies, that's one level. And if they're posting a list on

518
00:28:07,900 --> 00:28:10,400
their Web site, a D.C. organization, and people from

519
00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:13,900
that area are going to the rally, that's orchestrated to a

520
00:28:13,900 --> 00:28:17,470
degree, but it's far more authentic in an organic sense.

521
00:28:17,467 --> 00:28:19,567
So what do you guys
think is happening here?

522
00:28:19,567 --> 00:28:22,997
Mr. Gibbs:
Look, I don't doubt that there are people that come to ask

523
00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:28,070
their members of Congress honest questions about the direction
of the country.

524
00:28:28,066 --> 00:28:32,596
I also have no doubt that
there are groups that

525
00:28:32,600 --> 00:28:37,100
have spread out people across the country to go to these

526
00:28:37,100 --> 00:28:41,800
things and to specifically generate videos that can be

527
00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:47,500
posted on Internet sites, so that people can watch what's

528
00:28:47,500 --> 00:28:49,430
happening in America.

529
00:28:49,433 --> 00:28:51,003
The Press:
But you're not calling
all of this emotion on

530
00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:53,870
the videos that were -- you're
not saying that all of it is

531
00:28:53,867 --> 00:28:55,197
feigned or --

532
00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:57,700
Mr. Gibbs:
No, no, no, I'm not calling all of it. I think there is no doubt

533
00:28:57,700 --> 00:29:01,470
that there's some of it. I think some of it is genuine, I think

534
00:29:01,467 --> 00:29:04,297
some of it -- I think we've all seen videos over the past couple

535
00:29:04,300 --> 00:29:09,800
of days that leave you
somewhat speechless.

536
00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:10,970
The Press:
And are you -- what is
the White House doing to

537
00:29:10,967 --> 00:29:14,037
counter this effort?

538
00:29:14,033 --> 00:29:15,403
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, look, most of all,

539
00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:19,900
I think the President would tell
any of his friends or supporters

540
00:29:19,900 --> 00:29:24,800
that go to town hall meetings
that first and foremost we can

541
00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:26,330
disagree -- as
you heard him say,

542
00:29:26,333 --> 00:29:29,333
we can disagree without
being disagreeable,

543
00:29:29,333 --> 00:29:33,003
and that we can have a debate in
this country that affords those

544
00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:37,200
that disagree with us the
respect that each and

545
00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:38,330
every one of them deserve.

546
00:29:38,333 --> 00:29:40,403
The Press:
Sorry, Robert, what about the videos that leaves the

547
00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:41,500
White House speechless?

548
00:29:41,500 --> 00:29:43,030
Mr. Gibbs:
I'll point you out a few videos.

549
00:29:43,033 --> 00:29:46,633
The Press:
Robert, regarding your commendable statement

550
00:29:46,633 --> 00:29:48,133
yesterday, and I quote --

551
00:29:48,133 --> 00:29:48,903
Mr. Gibbs:
Which one?

552
00:29:48,900 --> 00:29:49,970
(laughter)

553
00:29:49,967 --> 00:29:54,867
THE PRESS:
"We're already looking at ways to cut wasteful spending."

554
00:29:54,867 --> 00:29:59,167
First, can you name any other
President in history who had in

555
00:29:59,166 --> 00:30:04,366
the old and new media offices
66 staffers who were paid $4

556
00:30:04,367 --> 00:30:07,467
million a year, as reported
by Accuracy In Media?

557
00:30:07,467 --> 00:30:09,437
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know what list you're talking about, Lester.

558
00:30:09,433 --> 00:30:11,363
The Press:
Well, 66 --

559
00:30:11,367 --> 00:30:14,397
Mr. Gibbs:
I know that there are hardworking members that respond

560
00:30:14,400 --> 00:30:18,630
to questions throughout the political spectrum each and

561
00:30:18,633 --> 00:30:22,763
every day in a quest for information that provide

562
00:30:22,767 --> 00:30:27,197
your listeners with only the most accurate information

563
00:30:27,200 --> 00:30:30,900
possible, including maintaining a Web site that millions of

564
00:30:30,900 --> 00:30:36,730
Americans go to, to get information on from things like

565
00:30:36,734 --> 00:30:39,964
recovery dollars to H1N1.

566
00:30:39,967 --> 00:30:42,967
The Press:
And since -- Canada's
Free Press reports the First

567
00:30:42,967 --> 00:30:48,597
Lady's staff of 21 costs the
taxpayers $1,256,000 a year.

568
00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:51,470
Has there ever before been
such a First Lady expense,

569
00:30:51,467 --> 00:30:57,797
to your knowledge?

570
00:30:57,800 --> 00:31:00,730
Mr. Gibbs:
Lester, I only play a reporter on TV. I'm sure that

571
00:31:00,734 --> 00:31:04,264
WorldNetDaily has afforded you either a calculator or some sort

572
00:31:04,266 --> 00:31:07,266
of abacus that could figure out the same information you're

573
00:31:07,266 --> 00:31:08,936
asking me. Yes, sir.

574
00:31:08,934 --> 00:31:13,104
The Press:
Thanks, Robert. This is
sort of a follow-up from

575
00:31:13,100 --> 00:31:14,530
the tax discussion yesterday.

576
00:31:14,533 --> 00:31:15,833
Mr. Gibbs:
You said "sort of a
follow-up," be careful.

577
00:31:15,834 --> 00:31:18,664
(laughter)

578
00:31:18,667 --> 00:31:20,337
The Press:
You funny man.

579
00:31:20,333 --> 00:31:24,363
(laughter)

580
00:31:24,367 --> 00:31:26,397
The Press:
Well, first of all, from yesterday, but not exactly to

581
00:31:26,400 --> 00:31:28,500
belabor the point about the middle-class tax cut, but the

582
00:31:28,500 --> 00:31:31,530
President has talked about -- during his campaign also -- about --

583
00:31:31,533 --> 00:31:33,533
Mr. Gibbs:
My mom wouldn't think so --

584
00:31:33,533 --> 00:31:34,633
(laughter)

585
00:31:34,633 --> 00:31:36,063
Go ahead, I'm sorry.

586
00:31:36,066 --> 00:31:38,496
The Press:
The President had talked about during the campaign

587
00:31:38,500 --> 00:31:40,100
about middle-class
tax cuts, as well.

588
00:31:40,100 --> 00:31:42,170
Mr. Gibbs:
Right.

589
00:31:42,166 --> 00:31:46,796
The Press:
And during the stimulus bill, there were reports -- the Make

590
00:31:46,800 --> 00:31:48,870
Work Pay tax credits. Is that going to be the extent of

591
00:31:48,867 --> 00:31:50,367
middle-class tax cuts?

592
00:31:50,367 --> 00:31:56,167
Mr. Gibbs:
Well, that, for this budget year, obviously, and

593
00:31:56,166 --> 00:32:00,996
understand it is a two year program for middle

594
00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:05,100
class tax cuts for 95 percent of working Americans as the

595
00:32:05,100 --> 00:32:13,370
President campaigned
on for two years.

596
00:32:13,367 --> 00:32:19,037
It was important because as I said earlier, we've got a middle class that for years and

597
00:32:19,033 --> 00:32:26,333
years watched the benefits of a growing economy accrue to people other than them.

598
00:32:26,333 --> 00:32:31,033
They didn't just see their
wages flat line; they saw
their wages decline.

599
00:32:31,033 --> 00:32:32,463
The President believed it was

600
00:32:32,467 --> 00:32:35,567
important to protect those middle-class families and to put

601
00:32:35,567 --> 00:32:39,967
money directly back
into their pockets.

602
00:32:39,967 --> 00:32:40,337
And that's what he

603
00:32:40,333 --> 00:32:45,063
thought is important and that's what he's done. Yes, sir.

604
00:32:45,066 --> 00:32:47,896
The Press:
At some point in the legislative process will the President read

605
00:32:47,900 --> 00:32:50,900
the entire health care bill?

606
00:32:50,900 --> 00:32:56,230
Mr. Gibbs:
I assume the President will study the details of the

607
00:32:56,233 --> 00:33:03,733
proposal, and will be -- he's a highly informed individual.

608
00:33:03,734 --> 00:33:16,404
The Press:
But he won't take time to read it front to back --

609
00:33:10,333 --> 00:33:14,033
The Press:
Well, Robert, back on Bill Clinton, how does this --

610
00:33:14,033 --> 00:33:16,803
Mr. Gibbs:
Will you read the health
care bill cover to cover?

611
00:33:16,400 --> 00:33:26,530
Mr. Gibbs:
I don't know what his vacation plans are currently.

612
00:33:16,800 --> 00:33:18,000
The Press:
Yes.

613
00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:20,170
Mr. Gibbs:
Excellent. Well, great.

614
00:33:20,166 --> 00:33:22,766
I'm right up the
hall to the left. Go ahead.

615
00:33:22,767 --> 00:33:26,437
The Press:
Okay, back on Bill Clinton, how does this administration view

616
00:33:26,433 --> 00:33:30,063
Bill Clinton beyond being President? How does this

617
00:33:30,066 --> 00:33:35,096
administration view him? What -- who is he, in your opinion?

618
00:33:35,100 --> 00:33:36,330
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm sorry?

619
00:33:36,333 --> 00:33:39,203
The Press:
Beyond him being a President. No, this is a serious question.

620
00:33:39,200 --> 00:33:40,230
Mr. Gibbs:
I feel like I should be lying down for this.

621
00:33:40,233 --> 00:33:43,133
(laughter)

622
00:33:43,133 --> 00:33:44,703
The Press: Go ahead.

623
00:33:44,700 --> 00:33:47,700
(laughter)

624
00:33:47,700 --> 00:33:51,930
Mr. Gibbs:
April, I described I think they have a very good relationship.

625
00:33:51,934 --> 00:33:56,064
They have, as I talked about,
they have -- very few people

626
00:33:56,066 --> 00:34:01,466
have done this. Very few people have the type of direct knowledge --

627
00:34:01,467 --> 00:34:03,167
The Press:
I didn't ask about the
relationship with the President.

628
00:34:03,166 --> 00:34:05,536
I asked how does the administration view Bill

629
00:34:05,533 --> 00:34:08,863
Clinton. Who is he to this
administration? Who does he --

630
00:34:08,867 --> 00:34:14,867
who -- what does he represent to you? Who is he?

631
00:34:14,867 --> 00:34:17,167
Mr. Gibbs:
He's the 42nd President of the United States.

632
00:34:17,166 --> 00:34:18,766
The Press:
I think you know where
I'm going.

633
00:34:18,767 --> 00:34:20,667
Mr. Gibbs:
You know, honestly, April, I've got to tell you, I don't have

634
00:34:20,667 --> 00:34:26,697
the slightest idea. We have tremendous respect for what

635
00:34:26,700 --> 00:34:30,130
President Clinton accomplished in eight years in office.

636
00:34:30,133 --> 00:34:39,703
Obviously there are people that
worked for him that now work for President Obama.

637
00:34:39,700 --> 00:34:43,270
He's somebody that the
President has talked to

638
00:34:43,266 --> 00:34:49,166
and asked advice from, and somebody who the President

639
00:34:49,166 --> 00:34:56,196
believes contributed enormously to the security of the middle

640
00:34:56,200 --> 00:35:02,700
class, to making our country safer, and to accomplishing

641
00:35:02,700 --> 00:35:06,470
things stretching from a strong economy to providing children

642
00:35:06,467 --> 00:35:07,697
with health care.

643
00:35:07,700 --> 00:35:12,370
The Press:
Now, okay, what's the
benefit of a private citizen --

644
00:35:12,367 --> 00:35:13,837
Mr. Gibbs:
I'm not --

645
00:35:13,834 --> 00:35:15,634
The Press:
No, no, no, what is the benefit -- let me finish, let me finish,

646
00:35:15,633 --> 00:35:17,263
then shoot me down, okay?

647
00:35:17,266 --> 00:35:18,396
Mr. Gibbs:
Okay, go ahead.

648
00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:21,700
The Press:
What is the benefit of a
private citizen going to

649
00:35:21,700 --> 00:35:25,400
talk to a country like
North Korea or Iran?

650
00:35:25,400 --> 00:35:27,600
I mean, in the past, other
Presidents have dealt with this

651
00:35:27,600 --> 00:35:30,330
issue with private citizens to
try to hold communication with

652
00:35:30,333 --> 00:35:34,203
other countries that this
country is not friendly with.

653
00:35:34,200 --> 00:35:36,530
What is the benefit of a private
citizen's conversation with

654
00:35:36,533 --> 00:35:40,063
another country like those
countries I mentioned?

655
00:35:40,066 --> 00:35:41,596
Mr. Gibbs:
Can I shoot it down now?

656
00:35:41,600 --> 00:35:44,200
The Press:
Shoot it down. I
wanted to get it out.

657
00:35:44,200 --> 00:35:47,600
Mr. Gibbs:
I never doubted you would. I'm not going to get into this at

658
00:35:47,600 --> 00:35:52,000
this point. Like I said, I hope to be able to do so soon.

659
00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:52,970
The Press:
Thank you.

660
00:35:52,967 --> 00:35:54,567
Mr. Gibbs: Thanks, guys.