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1 00:00:00,667 --> 00:00:02,300 Mr. Carney: I do have one quick announcement before 2 00:00:02,300 --> 00:00:04,233 I take your questions. 3 00:00:04,233 --> 00:00:07,433 The President just concluded a call with Prime Minister Rajoy 4 00:00:07,433 --> 00:00:08,633 of Spain. 5 00:00:08,633 --> 00:00:11,500 They discussed economic conditions in the eurozone. 6 00:00:11,500 --> 00:00:14,100 And we will have a further readout later 7 00:00:14,100 --> 00:00:16,433 today of that call. 8 00:00:16,433 --> 00:00:18,367 With that, I'll go to your questions. 9 00:00:18,367 --> 00:00:19,667 Associated Press. 10 00:00:19,667 --> 00:00:20,266 The Press: Thank you. 11 00:00:20,266 --> 00:00:21,467 A couple things on Syria. 12 00:00:21,467 --> 00:00:24,700 I'm wondering if the U.S. has been able to independently 13 00:00:24,700 --> 00:00:28,099 confirm the defections of the Syrian prime minister and other 14 00:00:28,100 --> 00:00:29,166 government officials there. 15 00:00:29,166 --> 00:00:33,200 And also, if you could give me an assessment of what type of 16 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:35,233 impact you think these defections are having on the 17 00:00:35,233 --> 00:00:37,099 Syrian government, because they obviously get a lot of 18 00:00:37,100 --> 00:00:40,200 attention and it's clear that there is some instability 19 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:42,834 within the regime, but that doesn't necessarily seem to 20 00:00:42,834 --> 00:00:47,066 translate into a lessening of the violence. 21 00:00:47,066 --> 00:00:50,266 Mr. Carney: Well, we have no reason to doubt the reports about the 22 00:00:50,266 --> 00:00:53,367 defection of the prime minister or other members 23 00:00:53,367 --> 00:00:55,166 of the government. 24 00:00:55,166 --> 00:00:57,867 That the titular head of the Syrian government has rejected 25 00:00:57,867 --> 00:01:00,532 the ongoing slaughter being carried out at Assad's 26 00:01:00,533 --> 00:01:04,266 direction only reinforces that the Assad regime is crumbling 27 00:01:04,266 --> 00:01:07,100 from within and that the Syrian people believe that 28 00:01:07,100 --> 00:01:10,500 Assad's days are numbered. 29 00:01:10,500 --> 00:01:13,100 To go to your question about the implications, as we've 30 00:01:13,100 --> 00:01:17,000 said repeatedly as we've seen more and more high-level 31 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:22,867 defections, this is a sign that Assad's grip on power 32 00:01:22,867 --> 00:01:25,567 is loosening. 33 00:01:25,567 --> 00:01:31,166 If he cannot maintain cohesion within his own inner circle, 34 00:01:31,166 --> 00:01:37,967 it reflects on his inability to maintain any following 35 00:01:37,967 --> 00:01:41,900 among the Syrian people that isn't brought about at the 36 00:01:41,900 --> 00:01:43,834 point of a gun. 37 00:01:43,834 --> 00:01:46,834 The momentum is with the opposition and with the 38 00:01:46,834 --> 00:01:47,834 Syrian people. 39 00:01:47,834 --> 00:01:49,367 It's clear that these defections are reaching the 40 00:01:49,367 --> 00:01:52,100 highest levels of the Syrian government and Assad cannot 41 00:01:52,100 --> 00:01:55,532 restore his control over the country because the Syrian 42 00:01:55,533 --> 00:01:57,433 people will not allow it. 43 00:01:57,433 --> 00:02:00,233 The quickest way to end the bloodshed and suffering of the 44 00:02:00,233 --> 00:02:03,233 Syrian people is for Assad to step aside to enable a 45 00:02:03,233 --> 00:02:05,967 peaceful political transition to a government that is 46 00:02:05,967 --> 00:02:09,866 responsive to the aspirations of the Syrian people. 47 00:02:09,866 --> 00:02:12,966 The Press: What's the latest U.S. intelligence on where 48 00:02:12,967 --> 00:02:15,166 Assad is right now? 49 00:02:15,166 --> 00:02:19,166 Mr. Carney: Well, you know I wouldn't talk about issues of intelligence. 50 00:02:19,166 --> 00:02:26,800 But we monitor the situation in Syria very closely. 51 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:32,600 I have no specific information to give you about Assad. 52 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:36,934 I can simply say that what we are seeing, as is evidenced by 53 00:02:36,934 --> 00:02:40,966 these latest reports, is increasing instability within 54 00:02:40,967 --> 00:02:48,567 his leadership and I think increasing desperation in 55 00:02:48,567 --> 00:02:52,433 his efforts to wage war against his own people. 56 00:02:52,433 --> 00:02:55,367 The Press: On another topic, we had another horrific shooting, 57 00:02:55,367 --> 00:02:56,733 this one in Wisconsin. 58 00:02:56,734 --> 00:03:00,066 And after the Aurora shooting, the President said in his 59 00:03:00,066 --> 00:03:03,533 speech to the Urban League that he would talk to anybody, 60 00:03:03,533 --> 00:03:07,100 any party, about issues of gun violence and gun control. 61 00:03:07,100 --> 00:03:10,400 I'm wondering if there are any plans for him to actually do 62 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:13,500 something about that, now that we've had a second shooting in 63 00:03:13,500 --> 00:03:15,767 a couple of weeks here. 64 00:03:15,767 --> 00:03:19,966 Mr. Carney: Well, let me say at the top that the President and the 65 00:03:19,967 --> 00:03:24,166 First Lady, as was noted yesterday, were deeply 66 00:03:24,166 --> 00:03:27,000 saddened to learn of this tragic shooting that took 67 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:29,700 so many lives. 68 00:03:29,700 --> 00:03:31,600 The President made clear that his administration will 69 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:33,733 provide whatever support is necessary to the officials 70 00:03:33,734 --> 00:03:37,133 responding to this event and to the investigation, 71 00:03:37,133 --> 00:03:38,834 which the FBI, as you know, is involved in. 72 00:03:38,834 --> 00:03:41,800 The President also made clear -- and this is important -- 73 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:45,967 how much our country has been enriched by Sikhs, who are a 74 00:03:45,967 --> 00:03:48,767 part of our broader American family. 75 00:03:48,767 --> 00:03:50,900 As you know, the President was notified shortly before 76 00:03:50,900 --> 00:03:53,000 1:00 p.m. by his Homeland Security Advisor, 77 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:54,667 John Brennan, yesterday. 78 00:03:54,667 --> 00:03:56,633 Later in the afternoon, the President convened a call with 79 00:03:56,633 --> 00:04:00,133 FBI Director Bob Mueller, Chief of Staff Jack Lew, 80 00:04:00,133 --> 00:04:03,033 and Homeland Security Advisor Brennan to receive an update. 81 00:04:03,033 --> 00:04:05,466 Following that briefing, the President called the Governor 82 00:04:05,467 --> 00:04:09,266 of Wisconsin, Scott Walker, Oak Creek Mayor Steve 83 00:04:09,266 --> 00:04:14,033 Scaffidi, and Trustee of the Sikh Temple Charanjeet Singh 84 00:04:14,033 --> 00:04:17,466 to express his condolences for the lives lost and his concern 85 00:04:17,466 --> 00:04:19,933 for those who were injured. 86 00:04:19,934 --> 00:04:22,333 On the broader issue that you mentioned, I think what the 87 00:04:22,333 --> 00:04:25,667 President said is still the case. 88 00:04:25,667 --> 00:04:32,299 He believes that we have a broader issue with violence 89 00:04:32,300 --> 00:04:37,400 in America that needs to be addressed from a variety of 90 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:40,734 angles, including efforts that this administration has 91 00:04:40,734 --> 00:04:48,734 undertaken to work with local communities to try to get 92 00:04:48,734 --> 00:04:52,299 children out of gangs, to get kids out of gangs, to get kids 93 00:04:52,300 --> 00:04:55,834 back in school, working with local law enforcement in their 94 00:04:55,834 --> 00:04:57,934 efforts to fight crime. 95 00:04:57,934 --> 00:05:01,066 Incidents like this are horrific, and our hearts go 96 00:05:01,066 --> 00:05:03,265 out to the victims and their families, and to the Sikh 97 00:05:03,266 --> 00:05:07,033 community in Wisconsin. 98 00:05:07,033 --> 00:05:09,066 But we cannot lose sight of the fact that there is 99 00:05:09,066 --> 00:05:11,866 violence all the time in America and that we need 100 00:05:11,867 --> 00:05:14,967 to take concerted action to deal with it. 101 00:05:14,967 --> 00:05:16,532 The Press: But no specific plans -- 102 00:05:16,533 --> 00:05:18,200 Mr. Carney: I have nothing new to announce. 103 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:21,400 I mean, he did very recently give those remarks at the 104 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:27,133 Urban League and he'll continue to instruct his 105 00:05:27,133 --> 00:05:35,166 administration to take action towards common-sense measures 106 00:05:35,166 --> 00:05:39,033 that protect the Second Amendment rights of 107 00:05:39,033 --> 00:05:44,233 law-abiding citizens, but make it harder and harder for those 108 00:05:44,233 --> 00:05:46,166 who should not have weapons under existing 109 00:05:46,166 --> 00:05:47,967 law to obtain them. 110 00:05:47,967 --> 00:05:53,166 Some progress has been made on those instructions with 111 00:05:53,166 --> 00:05:54,567 regards to our background check system. 112 00:05:54,567 --> 00:05:57,467 And the President will continue to press that, 113 00:05:57,467 --> 00:06:00,866 as well as pressing the variety of ways that this 114 00:06:00,867 --> 00:06:02,834 administration is assisting local communities in their 115 00:06:02,834 --> 00:06:04,633 efforts to combat violence. 116 00:06:04,633 --> 00:06:05,767 The Press: Can I just follow? 117 00:06:05,767 --> 00:06:08,433 The Press: Has the President, or will the President be speaking 118 00:06:08,433 --> 00:06:11,667 to Indian Prime Minister Singh about the shooting at the Sikh 119 00:06:11,667 --> 00:06:13,700 temple in Wisconsin? 120 00:06:13,700 --> 00:06:17,500 And what, if any, assurances can the President or federal 121 00:06:17,500 --> 00:06:21,700 law enforcement authorities give to the Sikh community 122 00:06:21,700 --> 00:06:24,000 in America that they will be protected from 123 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:26,667 this kind of atrocity? 124 00:06:26,667 --> 00:06:30,967 Mr. Carney: Well, on the first part of the question, I have no other 125 00:06:30,967 --> 00:06:35,400 foreign leader calls to read out to you at this time. 126 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:40,000 The President and the First Lady yesterday and again, 127 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:42,500 through me today, expressed their deep condolences to 128 00:06:42,500 --> 00:06:46,233 the families of the victims and to the community that 129 00:06:46,233 --> 00:06:46,867 was affected. 130 00:06:46,867 --> 00:06:50,400 And the President noted yesterday, as I am today, 131 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:54,332 the important contribution that Sikhs have made and continue 132 00:06:54,333 --> 00:06:58,100 to make to the broader American community. 133 00:06:58,100 --> 00:06:59,233 And we need to remember that. 134 00:06:59,233 --> 00:07:05,567 The specifics of this particular incident are under 135 00:07:05,567 --> 00:07:11,867 investigation, so questions that go to motive, to the 136 00:07:11,867 --> 00:07:15,633 perpetrator, those kinds of things, I would have to refer 137 00:07:15,633 --> 00:07:19,567 to the FBI, which has a role in this investigation, as well 138 00:07:19,567 --> 00:07:21,133 to local law enforcement. 139 00:07:21,133 --> 00:07:23,500 The Press: Can you talk about any special security measures that might -- 140 00:07:23,500 --> 00:07:26,834 Mr. Carney: Well, again, I think that goes to motive about -- and 141 00:07:26,834 --> 00:07:29,700 I wouldn't want to speculate at this time. 142 00:07:29,700 --> 00:07:31,800 And I think that I would refer you to the FBI and 143 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:33,667 to local law enforcement. 144 00:07:33,667 --> 00:07:34,967 The Press: Jay, can I follow up? 145 00:07:34,967 --> 00:07:37,300 The Press: I'll get to you, but let me go here. 146 00:07:37,300 --> 00:07:39,433 The Press: Does the President share Minority Leader Pelosi's 147 00:07:39,433 --> 00:07:42,433 view that even if Democrats controlled Congress, there 148 00:07:42,433 --> 00:07:45,099 still wouldn't be the votes for significant 149 00:07:45,100 --> 00:07:46,300 gun legislation? 150 00:07:46,300 --> 00:07:49,300 And is that why the White House hasn't pushed for new 151 00:07:49,300 --> 00:07:51,900 or tougher legislation more strongly? 152 00:07:51,900 --> 00:07:54,633 Mr. Carney: Well, I think the President has made his views plain on 153 00:07:54,633 --> 00:07:57,799 this, which is that he is for common-sense measures that 154 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:00,667 protect Second Amendment rights -- very important 155 00:08:00,667 --> 00:08:03,767 Second Amendment rights that American citizens have, but 156 00:08:03,767 --> 00:08:08,967 that make it harder and harder for those who should not have 157 00:08:08,967 --> 00:08:13,567 weapons under existing law from obtaining them. 158 00:08:13,567 --> 00:08:17,266 There is no question that there has been a reluctance 159 00:08:17,266 --> 00:08:21,700 to act in Congress on these issues. 160 00:08:21,700 --> 00:08:25,433 Whether that will continue to be the case in the future is 161 00:08:25,433 --> 00:08:26,433 anyone's prediction. 162 00:08:26,433 --> 00:08:33,100 The President is focused on the progress we can make along 163 00:08:33,100 --> 00:08:34,900 the lines I just described. 164 00:08:34,900 --> 00:08:37,766 So again, his positions on various issues I think we've 165 00:08:37,767 --> 00:08:39,400 talked about. 166 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:42,400 He believes that we can take action within the existing 167 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:45,500 environment that moves the ball forward in terms of 168 00:08:45,500 --> 00:08:49,433 enforcement, that enhances background checks, that makes 169 00:08:49,433 --> 00:08:52,766 it harder for those who shouldn't have weapons under 170 00:08:52,767 --> 00:08:56,433 existing law -- makes it harder for them to obtain 171 00:08:56,433 --> 00:08:59,800 weapons, but continues to ensure that Second Amendment 172 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:00,934 rights are protected. 173 00:09:00,934 --> 00:09:03,199 The Press: But does anything -- either one of these incidents suggest 174 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:05,867 that there need to be new gun control legislation? 175 00:09:05,867 --> 00:09:07,599 Mr. Carney: I think the President addressed this at the 176 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:09,500 Urban League, John. 177 00:09:09,500 --> 00:09:14,900 And his view is, as I've said, that we need to take 178 00:09:14,900 --> 00:09:17,766 common-sense measures that protect Second Amendment 179 00:09:17,767 --> 00:09:23,467 rights and make it harder for those who should not have 180 00:09:23,467 --> 00:09:25,734 weapons under existing law from obtaining weapons. 181 00:09:25,734 --> 00:09:30,133 I think he made clear, too, in his speech in New Orleans that 182 00:09:30,133 --> 00:09:35,033 violence in America is a problem that is greater than 183 00:09:35,033 --> 00:09:38,066 just the issue of gun laws. 184 00:09:38,066 --> 00:09:44,066 And he talked very clearly about the prevalence of 185 00:09:44,066 --> 00:09:49,533 violence in America, that even as overall statistics show 186 00:09:49,533 --> 00:09:52,700 that crime has gone down over these last many years 187 00:09:52,700 --> 00:09:55,100 but there is still too much violence. 188 00:09:55,100 --> 00:10:01,266 And incidents like the ones you mentioned are horrific, 189 00:10:01,266 --> 00:10:10,266 and our hearts go out to the victims of such appalling acts 190 00:10:10,266 --> 00:10:13,699 of violence, but we should not forget that there are victims 191 00:10:13,700 --> 00:10:16,533 of violence every day in America, and we need to 192 00:10:16,533 --> 00:10:22,266 address that problem in a concerted way that deals with 193 00:10:22,266 --> 00:10:27,433 education and summer jobs and other ways to help address the 194 00:10:27,433 --> 00:10:29,533 violence problem in America. 195 00:10:29,533 --> 00:10:33,867 The Press: On another front, Leader Reid-Governor Romney story 196 00:10:33,867 --> 00:10:35,367 continues to percolate. 197 00:10:35,367 --> 00:10:37,900 Does the President think that it's appropriate for Leader 198 00:10:37,900 --> 00:10:40,233 Reid to be making these, some would say, unsubstantiated 199 00:10:40,233 --> 00:10:42,699 charges on the Senate floor? 200 00:10:42,700 --> 00:10:45,000 And has the White House spoken to him about it? 201 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:46,667 Mr. Carney: I'm not aware of the White House speaking to Senator 202 00:10:46,667 --> 00:10:47,834 Reid about this issue. 203 00:10:47,834 --> 00:10:50,766 I would simply say that you all probably know Senator 204 00:10:50,767 --> 00:10:59,834 Reid well, and he speaks for himself, and he has 205 00:10:59,834 --> 00:11:01,000 addressed this issue. 206 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:05,967 I think that the broader question, as it relates 207 00:11:05,967 --> 00:11:12,199 to the President's view, is that he thinks the tradition that has 208 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:18,266 been in place since 1968 of candidates for President 209 00:11:18,266 --> 00:11:20,967 releasing multiple years of their tax returns is an 210 00:11:20,967 --> 00:11:22,766 important one. 211 00:11:22,767 --> 00:11:25,433 It's not always every candidate's favorite part 212 00:11:25,433 --> 00:11:29,233 of the process, but it's a tradition that's important. 213 00:11:29,233 --> 00:11:31,400 It's valuable to the American people as they decide who 214 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:32,967 should be President. 215 00:11:32,967 --> 00:11:37,000 So that's why the President has put forward his financial 216 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:40,500 information, his tax returns when he was a candidate, and 217 00:11:40,500 --> 00:11:42,767 believes that that's an important tradition. 218 00:11:42,767 --> 00:11:45,467 The Press: I don't recall him pushing John McCain to release more 219 00:11:45,467 --> 00:11:48,266 than two years of his tax returns four years ago. 220 00:11:48,266 --> 00:11:50,467 Mr. Carney: Well, I think the issue of Senator McCain -- but I would 221 00:11:50,467 --> 00:11:54,133 refer you to, obviously, his office for prior runs where he 222 00:11:54,133 --> 00:11:58,133 had released information -- the question here is not -- 223 00:11:58,133 --> 00:12:00,600 again, this is a question for the -- and I would refer you 224 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:01,700 to our campaign -- but it's a question 225 00:12:01,700 --> 00:12:02,900 for Governor Romney, right? 226 00:12:02,900 --> 00:12:08,199 He, as recently as last week, I think on ABC, said that he 227 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:13,400 would be happy to check if he paid a lower effective tax 228 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:16,900 rate in previous years than the 13.9 percent that he paid 229 00:12:16,900 --> 00:12:21,900 in the year related to the tax return that he did release. 230 00:12:21,900 --> 00:12:24,766 And I think the only -- the reason why this is an issue 231 00:12:24,767 --> 00:12:26,567 at a policy level is the President believes very 232 00:12:26,567 --> 00:12:29,100 strongly -- and this is central to the debate we're 233 00:12:29,100 --> 00:12:30,333 having in this country -- that we need to have greater tax 234 00:12:30,333 --> 00:12:38,199 fairness and that we need to make sure that we're passing 235 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:45,934 laws that protect the middle class, that specifically give 236 00:12:45,934 --> 00:12:50,567 the middle class a tax cut extension, and that we're not 237 00:12:50,567 --> 00:12:54,066 passing laws that give tax breaks to millionaires and 238 00:12:54,066 --> 00:12:58,667 billionaires who have already enjoyed substantial tax breaks 239 00:12:58,667 --> 00:13:01,467 in the past, and who enjoy legal loopholes like the 240 00:13:01,467 --> 00:13:05,367 carried interest law that allow a Warren Buffett or a 241 00:13:05,367 --> 00:13:11,132 hedge fund manager or other very affluent Americans to pay 242 00:13:11,133 --> 00:13:16,567 taxes at a much lower rate than a factory worker at a 243 00:13:16,567 --> 00:13:21,800 plant -- a GM plant in Michigan or Ohio, or a 244 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:25,632 hardworking member of the White House press corps. 245 00:13:25,633 --> 00:13:30,834 It's just about making our tax code more fair and making our 246 00:13:30,834 --> 00:13:36,266 tax code more helpful to the middle class, which is the 247 00:13:36,266 --> 00:13:39,333 backbone of our country and backbone of economic security 248 00:13:39,333 --> 00:13:40,900 and economic growth in our country. 249 00:13:40,900 --> 00:13:41,867 The Press: But, Jay, it's been charged -- 250 00:13:41,867 --> 00:13:44,199 Mr. Carney: Let me -- I promised him a question. 251 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:47,266 Tejinder, please go ahead. 252 00:13:47,266 --> 00:13:50,165 The Press: First of all, I'd like to thank the President and First 253 00:13:50,166 --> 00:13:53,333 Lady for their kind words to the community. 254 00:13:53,333 --> 00:13:56,300 But the way you said it, that there is violence on 255 00:13:56,300 --> 00:13:59,800 the streets of U.S. every day -- this is a particular 256 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:03,467 peace-loving community who has been targeted, 257 00:14:03,467 --> 00:14:06,433 and they have been targeted since 9/11. 258 00:14:06,433 --> 00:14:10,800 Where is the education of the general public? 259 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:14,532 It has been going on for 11 years, culminating in 260 00:14:14,533 --> 00:14:16,100 what happened. 261 00:14:16,100 --> 00:14:19,400 And is the President going to travel to that community, 262 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:23,165 in that area, soon? 263 00:14:23,166 --> 00:14:26,500 And following up on that question, Prime Minister 264 00:14:26,500 --> 00:14:30,133 Singh has said that -- ensure conditions that such violent 265 00:14:30,133 --> 00:14:34,100 acts are not repeated in the future -- what are we 266 00:14:34,100 --> 00:14:35,767 going to do? 267 00:14:35,767 --> 00:14:40,700 Mr. Carney: Well, let me take your question apart a little bit. 268 00:14:40,700 --> 00:14:49,100 I can't address the motivation behind the specific incident 269 00:14:49,100 --> 00:14:52,934 that happened just 24 hours ago. 270 00:14:52,934 --> 00:14:58,600 It is certainly the case that Sikhs have been targeted in 271 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:03,233 America in the past, since 9/11, because they have been 272 00:15:03,233 --> 00:15:06,867 believed to be Muslims, and that has been a tragic event 273 00:15:06,867 --> 00:15:08,733 -- I mean, a violent -- whether it's against Sikhs 274 00:15:08,734 --> 00:15:15,533 or Muslims, this is clearly horrible and unacceptable. 275 00:15:15,533 --> 00:15:20,400 But I can't address the motivation behind yesterday's 276 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:24,066 attack because it's under investigation by the FBI 277 00:15:24,066 --> 00:15:26,266 and by local law enforcement. 278 00:15:26,266 --> 00:15:28,567 As for the President's schedule, I don't have any 279 00:15:28,567 --> 00:15:32,767 announcements to make about upcoming travel. 280 00:15:32,767 --> 00:15:39,233 If I do, I will certainly make everyone aware of that travel. 281 00:15:39,233 --> 00:15:42,065 But I just want to be clear and to reiterate, the 282 00:15:42,066 --> 00:15:46,300 President feels very strongly that we need to remember on a 283 00:15:46,300 --> 00:15:51,199 day like today the profound contributions that the Sikh 284 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:55,800 community has made in this country. 285 00:15:55,800 --> 00:16:02,733 And as you note, this is a very peaceful community, and 286 00:16:02,734 --> 00:16:08,900 it is a horrific thing when this kind of event takes place 287 00:16:08,900 --> 00:16:11,533 in and around a house of worship of any kind. 288 00:16:11,533 --> 00:16:14,967 And our hearts go out to the victims and to their families. 289 00:16:14,967 --> 00:16:15,699 Ed. 290 00:16:15,700 --> 00:16:17,834 The Press: I just want to follow on taxes because the charge is not just 291 00:16:17,834 --> 00:16:21,566 that maybe Mitt Romney paid less than a factory worker or 292 00:16:21,567 --> 00:16:23,934 whoever, but it's a bit more vicious than 293 00:16:23,934 --> 00:16:25,300 that from Harry Reid. 294 00:16:25,300 --> 00:16:27,867 He's saying that he didn't pay -- he has an anonymous source 295 00:16:27,867 --> 00:16:30,967 telling him that he paid no taxes for something 296 00:16:30,967 --> 00:16:32,199 like 10 years. 297 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:34,567 So the President has talked a lot about changing the tone in 298 00:16:34,567 --> 00:16:35,667 this town. 299 00:16:35,667 --> 00:16:38,500 Why hasn't he picked up the phone and asked Harry Reid 300 00:16:38,500 --> 00:16:40,633 to stop making a charge like that? 301 00:16:40,633 --> 00:16:44,600 Mr. Carney: Again, I think the idea that people tell Harry Reid what 302 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:49,033 to do is inconsistent with what everyone here understands 303 00:16:49,033 --> 00:16:49,867 to be -- 304 00:16:49,867 --> 00:16:51,599 The Press: But you can express your opinion that maybe that's 305 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:52,433 below the belt. 306 00:16:52,433 --> 00:16:53,900 Mr. Carney: Look, I think that the President -- you hear 307 00:16:53,900 --> 00:16:56,333 the President going out and talking about the important 308 00:16:56,333 --> 00:16:59,199 issues facing the American people every day. 309 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:06,700 And he talks about those issues in terms that reflect 310 00:17:06,700 --> 00:17:12,266 the importance of economic matters like our tax code and 311 00:17:12,266 --> 00:17:18,266 how our tax code, for example, currently benefits companies 312 00:17:18,266 --> 00:17:20,166 that ship jobs overseas. 313 00:17:20,165 --> 00:17:24,833 He would change that so that it ceases encouraging 314 00:17:24,834 --> 00:17:27,300 investment overseas and outsourcing of jobs, and 315 00:17:27,300 --> 00:17:30,834 encourages insourcing of investment and jobs. 316 00:17:30,834 --> 00:17:35,467 He talks about that in terms of, as I was saying earlier, 317 00:17:35,467 --> 00:17:40,633 a tax code that allows in totally legal fashion hedge 318 00:17:40,633 --> 00:17:45,200 fund managers to pay an effective tax rate that's 319 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:50,333 significantly lower than most Americans -- or many Americans 320 00:17:50,333 --> 00:17:53,633 -- and that that is not reflective of a system that 321 00:17:53,633 --> 00:17:56,700 we need to have in place that helps the American middle 322 00:17:56,700 --> 00:18:00,200 class grow, helps enhance its security. 323 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:01,000 The Press: Right, but that's not the charge. 324 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:03,500 The charge is that Mitt Romney didn't pay taxes for 10 years. 325 00:18:03,500 --> 00:18:05,100 Does the White House believe that allegation? 326 00:18:05,100 --> 00:18:08,734 Mr. Carney: Again, I would refer you to Senator Reid for -- I can't -- 327 00:18:08,734 --> 00:18:11,466 only Senator Reid knows his source, which he has 328 00:18:11,467 --> 00:18:13,433 discussed, and I would refer you to that. 329 00:18:13,433 --> 00:18:17,700 I think it is a fair point to make that this is an issue 330 00:18:17,700 --> 00:18:20,467 that was not originated during the general election campaign, 331 00:18:20,467 --> 00:18:23,467 did not start with the President's campaign or with 332 00:18:23,467 --> 00:18:26,533 Senator Reid, it started in the Republican primary when 333 00:18:26,533 --> 00:18:31,100 Governor Romney's opponents brought up this issue and the 334 00:18:31,100 --> 00:18:34,632 fact that Governor Romney's father began a tradition in 335 00:18:34,633 --> 00:18:38,900 1968 of major candidates for President releasing multiple 336 00:18:38,900 --> 00:18:41,934 years of their tax returns, and that that is a tradition 337 00:18:41,934 --> 00:18:44,600 that has been adhered to by major candidates for President 338 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:45,533 ever since. 339 00:18:45,533 --> 00:18:47,766 The Press: Nancy Pelosi today said, "Harry Reid made a statement 340 00:18:47,767 --> 00:18:48,867 that is true. 341 00:18:48,867 --> 00:18:49,834 Somebody told him. 342 00:18:49,834 --> 00:18:51,400 It is a fact." 343 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:53,133 Do you agree with that rationale? 344 00:18:53,133 --> 00:18:54,266 Mr. Carney: I haven't seen that statement. 345 00:18:54,266 --> 00:19:00,066 But again, I would refer you to Nancy Pelosi and 346 00:19:00,066 --> 00:19:00,567 Harry Reid -- 347 00:19:00,567 --> 00:19:01,433 The Press: But if someone just made an allegation that he didn't pay 348 00:19:01,433 --> 00:19:02,667 taxes for 10 years, that's just a fact? 349 00:19:02,667 --> 00:19:04,332 Mr. Carney: I think the President is focused on -- and you hear 350 00:19:04,333 --> 00:19:08,333 him talk about this every day -- issues that matter to the 351 00:19:08,333 --> 00:19:12,700 American people that have to do with both tax fairness, but 352 00:19:12,700 --> 00:19:15,800 also actions that we need to be taking to grow the economy, 353 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:20,466 that we need to be taking to increase job creation here in 354 00:19:20,467 --> 00:19:23,233 the United States, that we need to take in order to bring 355 00:19:23,233 --> 00:19:26,100 jobs back from overseas and have companies invest here in 356 00:19:26,100 --> 00:19:27,166 the United States. 357 00:19:27,166 --> 00:19:29,700 Those are the issues the President is talking about. 358 00:19:29,700 --> 00:19:33,000 And you'll continue to hear him talk about those issues 359 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:35,300 tonight and every day when he's out there, making the 360 00:19:35,300 --> 00:19:38,166 case to the American people about his agenda. 361 00:19:38,166 --> 00:19:38,767 Go ahead, John. 362 00:19:38,767 --> 00:19:40,700 The Press: And one more on Harry Reid. 363 00:19:40,700 --> 00:19:44,500 It's a simple question: Does the President think that this 364 00:19:44,500 --> 00:19:48,000 allegation coming from Harry Reid, without any evidence, 365 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:51,033 made on the Senate floor, is that below the belt? 366 00:19:51,033 --> 00:19:52,033 Does that cross the line? 367 00:19:52,033 --> 00:19:54,800 Mr. Carney: Again, I have not -- the President has not expressed 368 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:56,100 an opinion to me on this. 369 00:19:56,100 --> 00:20:00,166 I can tell you that the President is focused on 370 00:20:00,166 --> 00:20:01,567 the issues that I've just talked about. 371 00:20:01,567 --> 00:20:05,033 And again, he believes in the tradition of releasing 372 00:20:05,033 --> 00:20:06,033 tax returns. 373 00:20:06,033 --> 00:20:09,766 I mean, this is an issue that was raised by contenders for 374 00:20:09,767 --> 00:20:11,967 President in a Republican primary. 375 00:20:11,967 --> 00:20:17,133 And just on your air a number of days ago, former Governor 376 00:20:17,133 --> 00:20:20,300 Romney said that he would go back and look at the effective 377 00:20:20,300 --> 00:20:22,600 tax rate he paid in previous years, and then his campaign 378 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:23,699 said, oh, no, no, we won't do that. 379 00:20:23,700 --> 00:20:28,467 And this is -- the issue here is one of transparency and 380 00:20:28,467 --> 00:20:32,900 again, as the President sees it with regards to his 381 00:20:32,900 --> 00:20:37,900 candidacy, one that is an important tradition, that 382 00:20:37,900 --> 00:20:39,600 allows the American people to get a sense 383 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:42,600 of a candidate's background. 384 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:47,399 Again, I don't have a -- you can talk to Senator Reid. 385 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:51,800 He, I'm sure, will address this issue if you ask him. 386 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:54,367 He certainly speaks for himself. 387 00:20:54,367 --> 00:20:58,133 The President is focused on the issues that matter most 388 00:20:58,133 --> 00:20:59,333 to the American people. 389 00:20:59,333 --> 00:21:06,767 And we now have a situation where Congress has left town 390 00:21:06,767 --> 00:21:12,266 for a number of weeks, where instead of passing legislation 391 00:21:12,266 --> 00:21:15,734 that would extend a tax cut for 98 percent of the American 392 00:21:15,734 --> 00:21:18,332 people, the House left town refusing to do that. 393 00:21:18,333 --> 00:21:20,333 Look at the overlap between the measure the Senate passed 394 00:21:20,333 --> 00:21:21,734 and the measure the House passed. 395 00:21:21,734 --> 00:21:24,800 There's only 2 percent disagreement with -- and 396 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:27,433 some of the other tax issues that the President put on the 397 00:21:27,433 --> 00:21:29,233 table and are part of the Senate version. 398 00:21:29,233 --> 00:21:32,600 Why can't we -- if Washington were to function effectively, 399 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:34,934 if Republicans were to simply accept the principle that we 400 00:21:34,934 --> 00:21:37,899 should act on behalf of 98 percent of the American 401 00:21:37,900 --> 00:21:42,300 people, we could have taken care of the matter of a 402 00:21:42,300 --> 00:21:45,800 middle-class tax cut before they went on recess, and that 403 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:48,000 security would be in place for 98 percent of the American 404 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:53,700 people -- 114 million Americans, taxpaying Americans 405 00:21:53,700 --> 00:21:55,900 -- before the fall campaign even began. 406 00:21:55,900 --> 00:21:58,066 Instead, we didn't get action on that. 407 00:21:58,066 --> 00:22:01,367 And that's the kind of craziness we have in 408 00:22:01,367 --> 00:22:04,399 Washington now, where even where we agree completely on 409 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:07,967 an issue, there's a refusal to say, okay, let's get it done. 410 00:22:07,967 --> 00:22:10,433 The Press: I was just asking if it was inappropriate for Harry Reid 411 00:22:10,433 --> 00:22:11,266 to go out and make an -- 412 00:22:11,266 --> 00:22:13,834 Mr. Carney: I think I just answered this question three or four times. 413 00:22:13,834 --> 00:22:16,867 And I think I would ask your question of Senator Reid. 414 00:22:16,867 --> 00:22:20,800 The President you've heard on numerous occasions talk about 415 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:24,667 the issues that he believes are central in the minds of 416 00:22:24,667 --> 00:22:31,500 the American people, as they make up their minds about the 417 00:22:31,500 --> 00:22:33,567 candidates for office in the presidential election. 418 00:22:33,567 --> 00:22:34,433 The Press: Well, let me ask you about something else. 419 00:22:34,433 --> 00:22:37,633 David Plouffe, it's been reported today, gave a speech 420 00:22:37,633 --> 00:22:40,934 in Nigeria to this -- paid for by a company that had some 421 00:22:40,934 --> 00:22:42,633 business dealings with Iran. 422 00:22:42,633 --> 00:22:46,700 The RNC is out condemning this, accusing the White House 423 00:22:46,700 --> 00:22:51,533 of hypocrisy, for profiting handsomely by speaking to a 424 00:22:51,533 --> 00:22:53,766 company doing business with a radical, anti-government 425 00:22:53,767 --> 00:22:57,033 nation of Iran -- anti-American government 426 00:22:57,033 --> 00:22:58,000 of Iran. 427 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:01,233 Is the White House concerned about Mr. Plouffe getting 428 00:23:01,233 --> 00:23:04,433 $100,000 for a speech like this so close before he came 429 00:23:04,433 --> 00:23:05,800 to work here again? 430 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:08,100 Mr. Carney: Well, David Plouffe was invited to speak in Africa by 431 00:23:08,100 --> 00:23:10,332 an affiliate company of the company you mentioned in the 432 00:23:10,333 --> 00:23:11,867 spring of 2010. 433 00:23:11,867 --> 00:23:13,934 He gave two speeches on mobile technology and digital 434 00:23:13,934 --> 00:23:16,300 communications, and had no separate meetings with the 435 00:23:16,300 --> 00:23:17,767 company's leadership. 436 00:23:17,767 --> 00:23:20,367 Even the most zealous watchdog group on this issue did not 437 00:23:20,367 --> 00:23:24,667 start their campaign on the host company's holding company 438 00:23:24,667 --> 00:23:25,966 until years later. 439 00:23:25,967 --> 00:23:29,266 Criticism of Mr. Plouffe now for issues and controversies 440 00:23:29,266 --> 00:23:31,200 that developed much later are simply misplaced. 441 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:33,700 And I think you noted where the criticism is coming from 442 00:23:33,700 --> 00:23:35,867 -- the RNC. 443 00:23:35,867 --> 00:23:39,100 I certainly -- I don't recall similar criticism from the RNC 444 00:23:39,100 --> 00:23:42,867 when senior members of the George W. Bush 445 00:23:42,867 --> 00:23:45,800 administration, prior to taking office, had given paid 446 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:49,700 speeches to companies that, in the case of Credit Suisse and 447 00:23:49,700 --> 00:23:56,567 UVS, were cited for violations regarding financing in Iran. 448 00:23:56,567 --> 00:24:00,934 And I think that this is clearly politics, which I 449 00:24:00,934 --> 00:24:03,800 think is reflected by the citation in your question. 450 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:07,433 The Press: But President Obama came into office talking about 451 00:24:07,433 --> 00:24:08,734 a higher standard. 452 00:24:08,734 --> 00:24:14,132 I mean, is there any concern about this kind of -- I mean, 453 00:24:14,133 --> 00:24:18,533 $100,000 in Nigeria to a South African company. 454 00:24:18,533 --> 00:24:21,899 I mean, it was widely reported. 455 00:24:21,900 --> 00:24:23,433 I mean, it had been reported even in The New York Times 456 00:24:23,433 --> 00:24:25,300 that they had business dealings with Iran. 457 00:24:25,300 --> 00:24:27,899 I mean, is there any concern at all about this? 458 00:24:27,900 --> 00:24:28,633 Is this -- 459 00:24:28,633 --> 00:24:31,100 Mr. Carney: I'm not sure I understand the nature of your question. 460 00:24:31,100 --> 00:24:33,766 This was prior to David Plouffe coming to office -- 461 00:24:33,767 --> 00:24:35,300 here to work in the White House. 462 00:24:35,300 --> 00:24:40,033 It was before the watchdog group had even made an issue 463 00:24:40,033 --> 00:24:42,766 of this particular holding company. 464 00:24:42,767 --> 00:24:50,100 And again, this is political criticism after the fact 465 00:24:50,100 --> 00:24:56,800 that's clearly designed to try to score some points when this 466 00:24:56,800 --> 00:25:00,600 was several years ago, prior to this dynamic we have now 467 00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:05,132 with regards to sanctions and companies like this. 468 00:25:05,133 --> 00:25:11,934 And I would point out that the same source of criticism was I 469 00:25:11,934 --> 00:25:15,200 believe silent when it involved senior administration 470 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:18,000 officials in the previous administration. 471 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:18,633 Dan. 472 00:25:18,633 --> 00:25:21,967 The Press: Just to follow on an earlier question, putting aside what 473 00:25:21,967 --> 00:25:24,400 may have motivated the shooting over the weekend, 474 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:27,433 given the fact that you yourself admitted that this 475 00:25:27,433 --> 00:25:30,467 is a community that has been targeted in the past, is it 476 00:25:30,467 --> 00:25:35,100 time for the administration to step up with some kind of 477 00:25:35,100 --> 00:25:40,265 educational campaign, something to help 478 00:25:40,266 --> 00:25:41,166 this community? 479 00:25:41,166 --> 00:25:44,133 Because there is a lot of concern among that community, 480 00:25:44,133 --> 00:25:46,767 the Sikhs, that they've been unfairly targeted and will 481 00:25:46,767 --> 00:25:48,533 continue to be targeted in the future. 482 00:25:48,533 --> 00:25:50,899 So is there anything that the administration should 483 00:25:50,900 --> 00:25:52,100 be doing? 484 00:25:52,100 --> 00:25:55,533 Mr. Carney: Well, Dan, I appreciate the question, but I think it's 485 00:25:55,533 --> 00:25:57,065 safe to say that you wouldn't have asked me 486 00:25:57,066 --> 00:25:58,367 this question on Friday. 487 00:25:58,367 --> 00:26:01,466 And I think that reflects that it relates specifically to 488 00:26:01,467 --> 00:26:02,500 this incident. 489 00:26:02,500 --> 00:26:09,000 And because I can't address or speculate about motivation in 490 00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:12,066 this incident because it's under investigation, I can't 491 00:26:12,066 --> 00:26:14,333 -- I think it would be inappropriate for me to 492 00:26:14,333 --> 00:26:21,300 talk more broadly about that issue because you would be 493 00:26:21,300 --> 00:26:24,533 understandably making assumptions about our 494 00:26:24,533 --> 00:26:27,367 conclusions about this specific incident that we 495 00:26:27,367 --> 00:26:29,600 can't make when the FBI and the local law enforcement are 496 00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:30,567 still investigating. 497 00:26:30,567 --> 00:26:32,100 And it's only been 24 hours. 498 00:26:32,100 --> 00:26:34,000 I think it's important to note that. 499 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:37,433 The Press: Can I get your reaction to this new ad that Mayor 500 00:26:37,433 --> 00:26:40,934 Bloomberg and other mayors have put out asking for the 501 00:26:40,934 --> 00:26:45,133 President and Mitt Romney to come up with a plan to combat 502 00:26:45,133 --> 00:26:46,300 gun violence? 503 00:26:46,300 --> 00:26:47,100 Have you seen this ad? 504 00:26:47,100 --> 00:26:48,600 Any reaction to it? 505 00:26:48,600 --> 00:26:49,899 Mr. Carney: I haven't. 506 00:26:49,900 --> 00:26:54,834 I would simply point you to what I said earlier in answer 507 00:26:54,834 --> 00:26:56,967 to other questions about the President's views on this, 508 00:26:56,967 --> 00:27:00,834 which he expressed in New Orleans at the Urban League, 509 00:27:00,834 --> 00:27:04,800 and the broader issue of violence in America that needs 510 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:08,533 to be addressed, and addressed from a variety of angles, 511 00:27:08,533 --> 00:27:13,699 because it's an issue that transcends these incidents 512 00:27:13,700 --> 00:27:18,166 of horrific violence that we see periodically, and it's an 513 00:27:18,166 --> 00:27:20,767 issue that transcends legislation passed by 514 00:27:20,767 --> 00:27:24,066 Congress with regards to firearms. 515 00:27:24,066 --> 00:27:29,367 And we need to go after it on every front. 516 00:27:29,367 --> 00:27:32,265 And that's why the President has instructed his Justice 517 00:27:32,266 --> 00:27:37,633 Department to make progress in enforcing existing law and 518 00:27:37,633 --> 00:27:40,834 enhancing background checks to make it harder for those who 519 00:27:40,834 --> 00:27:43,166 should not have weapons under existing law from 520 00:27:43,166 --> 00:27:44,166 obtaining them. 521 00:27:44,166 --> 00:27:47,433 It's why he has, since he took office, instructed his 522 00:27:47,433 --> 00:27:51,600 administration to work with local communities in combating 523 00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:55,766 violence from a variety of different approaches. 524 00:27:55,767 --> 00:28:01,900 The Press: I have one more on Syria, one final thing on Syria. 525 00:28:01,900 --> 00:28:05,533 You have talked now for months that Assad's days are 526 00:28:05,533 --> 00:28:09,399 numbered, yet he continues to be in power and people 527 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:12,767 continue to get -- innocent people continue to get killed. 528 00:28:12,767 --> 00:28:16,700 Is there anything that can speed this process along? 529 00:28:16,700 --> 00:28:21,033 Because this sort of slow-drip approach is costing a lot of 530 00:28:21,033 --> 00:28:23,533 innocent people their lives. 531 00:28:23,533 --> 00:28:27,667 Mr. Carney: Well, the responsibility for the appalling violence against 532 00:28:27,667 --> 00:28:32,100 civilians in Syria lies with President Assad. 533 00:28:32,100 --> 00:28:41,667 He has systematically attacked his own people, attacked 534 00:28:41,667 --> 00:28:47,533 civilian population centers, and periodically through this 535 00:28:47,533 --> 00:28:53,132 period he has made promises about ceasing the violence, 536 00:28:53,133 --> 00:28:55,667 promises to abide by the principles of the Kofi Annan 537 00:28:55,667 --> 00:28:58,600 plan and has refused -- or has not lived up 538 00:28:58,600 --> 00:28:59,600 to those promises. 539 00:28:59,600 --> 00:29:02,399 The responsibility is with Assad. 540 00:29:02,400 --> 00:29:07,333 And the quickest way to end the violence and to bring 541 00:29:07,333 --> 00:29:11,767 about the transition that the Syrian people so deserve and 542 00:29:11,767 --> 00:29:14,700 desire is for Assad to step aside. 543 00:29:14,700 --> 00:29:18,233 Now, we have worked in a variety of different ways 544 00:29:18,233 --> 00:29:23,867 to help bring about that eventuality -- not just 545 00:29:23,867 --> 00:29:25,934 through the United Nations, where our efforts and the 546 00:29:25,934 --> 00:29:29,834 efforts of the vast majority of the countries with an 547 00:29:29,834 --> 00:29:33,133 interest in this have been thwarted by the refusal to go 548 00:29:33,133 --> 00:29:37,066 along with meaningful measures at the Security Council by 549 00:29:37,066 --> 00:29:40,567 Russia and China, but our efforts are not limited to 550 00:29:40,567 --> 00:29:42,700 the United Nations Security Council or the United Nations. 551 00:29:42,700 --> 00:29:45,133 They include working with the "Friends of Syria." 552 00:29:45,133 --> 00:29:47,300 They include working with the Arab League, and working 553 00:29:47,300 --> 00:29:49,367 directly with the opposition. 554 00:29:49,367 --> 00:29:52,600 And we will continue to do that. 555 00:29:52,600 --> 00:29:56,100 And we will -- I think your point is well taken, but it is 556 00:29:56,100 --> 00:30:00,699 also true, as we discussed at the top of the briefing, that 557 00:30:00,700 --> 00:30:06,767 Assad's grip on power is clearly loosening, that he 558 00:30:06,767 --> 00:30:10,700 seems incapable of preventing senior members of his 559 00:30:10,700 --> 00:30:13,834 government and his military from defecting. 560 00:30:13,834 --> 00:30:22,633 And I think that indicates a situation where the 561 00:30:22,633 --> 00:30:27,233 eventuality of Assad leaving power comes closer and closer. 562 00:30:27,233 --> 00:30:29,500 It's impossible to predict when that will happen, but 563 00:30:29,500 --> 00:30:34,467 Syria's future must not, and will not, include Bashar 564 00:30:34,467 --> 00:30:37,700 al-Assad because the Syrian people simply won't stand for 565 00:30:37,700 --> 00:30:39,967 it and they absolutely do not deserve it. 566 00:30:39,967 --> 00:30:40,967 The Press: May I follow up on that? 567 00:30:40,967 --> 00:30:42,100 Mr. Carney: Sure. 568 00:30:42,100 --> 00:30:47,766 The Press: The current situation that's so deteriorating could have a 569 00:30:47,767 --> 00:30:50,533 negative effect on the stability of the state 570 00:30:50,533 --> 00:30:51,233 of Israel. 571 00:30:51,233 --> 00:30:52,734 Has the President been in touch with Prime Minister 572 00:30:52,734 --> 00:30:54,699 Netanyahu over the last few days? 573 00:30:54,700 --> 00:30:58,700 Mr. Carney: I have no other foreign leader communications to read out to 574 00:30:58,700 --> 00:31:00,934 you at this time. 575 00:31:00,934 --> 00:31:03,700 The Press: Jay, I want to ask you about Friday's mixed jobs report. 576 00:31:03,700 --> 00:31:07,033 On the one hand, the economy had 163,000 jobs; on the other 577 00:31:07,033 --> 00:31:10,300 hand, the unemployment rate ticked up to 8.3 percent. 578 00:31:10,300 --> 00:31:13,200 To what extent does that 8.3 percent undermine the 579 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:15,900 President's argument now, just three months until election 580 00:31:15,900 --> 00:31:18,667 day, that he is moving the economy in the right 581 00:31:18,667 --> 00:31:20,667 direction, albeit not quickly enough? 582 00:31:20,667 --> 00:31:22,399 Mr. Carney: Well, the President makes clear every time he talks 583 00:31:22,400 --> 00:31:25,333 about this issue that we are not where we need to be. 584 00:31:25,333 --> 00:31:28,533 That is why he has urged Congress again and again to 585 00:31:28,533 --> 00:31:31,934 pass measures that independent economists have judged would 586 00:31:31,934 --> 00:31:35,734 add a million-plus jobs right now. 587 00:31:35,734 --> 00:31:38,199 But Republicans in Congress have refused. 588 00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:41,200 That's why he has urged Congress to give economic 589 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:43,834 security to the middle class, to 98 percent of taxpaying 590 00:31:43,834 --> 00:31:48,266 Americans, by extending tax cuts for the middle class now, 591 00:31:48,266 --> 00:31:50,033 because we all agree on it. 592 00:31:50,033 --> 00:31:51,966 We all agree on extending those tax cuts, Republicans 593 00:31:51,967 --> 00:31:53,333 and Democrats alike. 594 00:31:53,333 --> 00:31:57,734 But Republicans in Congress have refused, insisting that 595 00:31:57,734 --> 00:32:01,399 millionaires and billionaires, the top 2 percent of wage 596 00:32:01,400 --> 00:32:05,266 earners in this country -- that the tax cuts of 597 00:32:05,266 --> 00:32:08,367 middle-class Americans should be held hostage to tax breaks 598 00:32:08,367 --> 00:32:10,767 for the wealthiest 2 percent. 599 00:32:10,767 --> 00:32:14,900 The President believes that absolutely the wrong policy. 600 00:32:14,900 --> 00:32:18,734 What is true is that while there is still more work to 601 00:32:18,734 --> 00:32:21,199 do, the economy has added private sector jobs now for 602 00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:24,834 29 straight months, for a total of 4.5 million jobs 603 00:32:24,834 --> 00:32:26,333 during that period. 604 00:32:26,333 --> 00:32:29,567 And just this year, the economy has added over 1.1 605 00:32:29,567 --> 00:32:32,066 million private sector jobs. 606 00:32:32,066 --> 00:32:34,600 Friday's report shows that private sector payrolls 607 00:32:34,600 --> 00:32:38,265 increased by 172,000 in July. 608 00:32:38,266 --> 00:32:42,567 And while that is not enough, it is progress in the right 609 00:32:42,567 --> 00:32:44,500 direction, which is continued job creation. 610 00:32:44,500 --> 00:32:47,533 But you will never hear this President say that he is 611 00:32:47,533 --> 00:32:52,000 satisfied, and that is why he is focused overwhelmingly on 612 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:53,767 the things that he can do as President and the things he 613 00:32:53,767 --> 00:32:57,333 can do working with Congress to increase economic growth, 614 00:32:57,333 --> 00:32:59,333 to increase job creation, to increase 615 00:32:59,333 --> 00:33:01,834 middle-class security. 616 00:33:01,834 --> 00:33:05,333 That is his legislative message, his policy message, 617 00:33:05,333 --> 00:33:07,200 as well as his campaign message. 618 00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:09,433 The Press: No President has gotten reelected with an unemployment 619 00:33:09,433 --> 00:33:10,734 rate this high. 620 00:33:10,734 --> 00:33:12,966 So how concerned is the President about 621 00:33:12,967 --> 00:33:14,400 that 8.3 percent -- 622 00:33:14,400 --> 00:33:15,000 Mr. Carney: Well, I think the -- 623 00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:17,700 The Press: -- the fact that it remains stuck above 8 percent? 624 00:33:17,700 --> 00:33:21,934 Mr. Carney: It's a random factoid that's thrown out a lot because of 625 00:33:21,934 --> 00:33:23,867 the limited empirical pool here. 626 00:33:23,867 --> 00:33:25,500 And what is true is nobody -- no President has been 627 00:33:25,500 --> 00:33:28,300 reelected with a rate that high since FDR. 628 00:33:28,300 --> 00:33:30,233 And I think that's an instructive comparison, 629 00:33:30,233 --> 00:33:33,399 because, as you all know, this President came into office 630 00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:35,767 during the worst economic crisis since Franklin 631 00:33:35,767 --> 00:33:36,767 Roosevelt was in power. 632 00:33:36,767 --> 00:33:44,300 And the fact is, when he took the oath of office, we were in 633 00:33:44,300 --> 00:33:47,934 the process of losing 800,000 jobs that month. 634 00:33:47,934 --> 00:33:51,500 We had just witnessed an economic contraction in the 635 00:33:51,500 --> 00:33:55,233 fourth quarter of 2008, the final quarter of his 636 00:33:55,233 --> 00:33:59,600 predecessor's term in office, of nearly 9 percent. 637 00:33:59,600 --> 00:34:03,500 That great recession cost the economy close 638 00:34:03,500 --> 00:34:05,867 to 9 million jobs. 639 00:34:05,867 --> 00:34:10,199 That is a very deep hole out of which to climb. 640 00:34:10,199 --> 00:34:12,667 Since this President's policies have taken effect -- 641 00:34:12,667 --> 00:34:17,699 and if we take the advice of some leading Republicans that 642 00:34:17,699 --> 00:34:20,799 we should measure performance after someone -- after a 643 00:34:20,800 --> 00:34:23,533 President is in office for six months or a year -- if 644 00:34:23,533 --> 00:34:25,699 you look at what has happened in this economy since this 645 00:34:25,699 --> 00:34:31,966 President's policies have taken effect, we have seen, as 646 00:34:31,967 --> 00:34:34,967 I said, 29 straight months of private sector job growth, for 647 00:34:34,967 --> 00:34:36,667 a total of 4.5 million jobs. 648 00:34:36,667 --> 00:34:41,266 We have seen economic growth, as opposed to contraction, for 649 00:34:41,266 --> 00:34:43,100 quarter after quarter after quarter. 650 00:34:43,100 --> 00:34:45,132 But we still have a long way to go. 651 00:34:45,132 --> 00:34:49,065 And what we cannot afford, what we simply cannot afford 652 00:34:49,065 --> 00:34:53,632 is to adopt the same policies that got us into this mess. 653 00:34:53,632 --> 00:34:57,065 I mean, we've tried the prescription that Republicans 654 00:34:57,065 --> 00:34:58,834 are offering. 655 00:34:58,834 --> 00:35:04,734 And when a doctor offers you a prescription for an illness, 656 00:35:04,734 --> 00:35:06,734 it shouldn't make the illness worse. 657 00:35:06,734 --> 00:35:09,000 It shouldn't -- if you're recovering from a sickness, 658 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:10,500 you don't want a doctor to give you something that's 659 00:35:10,500 --> 00:35:13,567 going to make you even sicker than you were before. 660 00:35:13,567 --> 00:35:14,633 But that's what they're offering. 661 00:35:14,633 --> 00:35:18,133 They're offering the same economic prescriptions that 662 00:35:18,133 --> 00:35:23,133 were introduced in 2001, 2002, 2003. 663 00:35:23,133 --> 00:35:24,399 And we know what happened. 664 00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:27,533 President Bush came into office in January of 2001; 665 00:35:27,533 --> 00:35:32,900 handed to him were the significant surpluses by Bill 666 00:35:32,900 --> 00:35:39,600 Clinton; handed to him was a situation where the economy 667 00:35:39,600 --> 00:35:42,667 had just produced nearly 24 million jobs, for the largest 668 00:35:42,667 --> 00:35:48,000 period of sustained economic expansion since -- a peacetime 669 00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:53,166 economic expansion since World War II; and eight years later, 670 00:35:53,166 --> 00:35:57,066 after these policies were tried, we had the slowest 671 00:35:57,066 --> 00:36:02,433 growth during an expansion in history, I believe, and we had 672 00:36:02,433 --> 00:36:05,200 a cascading economic collapse like we hadn't 673 00:36:05,200 --> 00:36:06,799 seen in our lifetimes. 674 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:07,834 So we shouldn't go back. 675 00:36:07,834 --> 00:36:10,265 We shouldn't adopt those policies again. 676 00:36:10,266 --> 00:36:13,033 We are not where we need to be, but we're headed in the 677 00:36:13,033 --> 00:36:14,333 right direction. 678 00:36:14,333 --> 00:36:15,667 The Press: Jay, I want to ask you one on Pakistan. 679 00:36:15,667 --> 00:36:20,033 The new ISI chief visited Washington last week, met with 680 00:36:20,033 --> 00:36:23,100 Director Petraeus as well with other top officials. 681 00:36:23,100 --> 00:36:25,633 Was the President kept abreast of those meetings, and was 682 00:36:25,633 --> 00:36:28,700 there a sense that they in any way moved the needle 683 00:36:28,700 --> 00:36:30,734 forward in terms of creating progress with 684 00:36:30,734 --> 00:36:32,467 Pakistani-U.S. relations? 685 00:36:32,467 --> 00:36:34,266 Mr. Carney: I don't have anything specific on the meetings 686 00:36:34,266 --> 00:36:36,567 that you ask about. 687 00:36:36,567 --> 00:36:38,300 I can simply say that our relationship with Pakistan 688 00:36:38,300 --> 00:36:39,767 is very important. 689 00:36:39,767 --> 00:36:41,466 It can be a difficult relationship, but it is 690 00:36:41,467 --> 00:36:44,900 very important to our national security. 691 00:36:44,900 --> 00:36:50,000 We have shared interests in terms of combating extremism 692 00:36:50,000 --> 00:36:54,467 in the region, and we work with the Pakistanis on those 693 00:36:54,467 --> 00:36:56,500 shared interests all the time. 694 00:36:56,500 --> 00:36:58,433 And the President is constantly kept abreast 695 00:36:58,433 --> 00:36:59,934 of those efforts. 696 00:36:59,934 --> 00:37:00,934 Laura. 697 00:37:00,934 --> 00:37:02,834 The Press: Just returning to guns for a moment. 698 00:37:02,834 --> 00:37:06,834 You've said, in response to a bunch of questions, that he 699 00:37:06,834 --> 00:37:10,700 supports enforcing -- better enforcing existing laws. 700 00:37:10,700 --> 00:37:13,500 His position in the past has been in favor of renewing the 701 00:37:13,500 --> 00:37:15,500 assault weapons ban, which would, at this point, 702 00:37:15,500 --> 00:37:16,333 be a new law. 703 00:37:16,333 --> 00:37:18,867 He also said in New Orleans that AK-47s belong on the 704 00:37:18,867 --> 00:37:20,867 battlefield, not on the streets. 705 00:37:20,867 --> 00:37:23,400 Does he still support that legislation? 706 00:37:23,400 --> 00:37:23,967 Mr. Carney: He does. 707 00:37:23,967 --> 00:37:25,734 And I've said that before from the podium in the last week, 708 00:37:25,734 --> 00:37:29,100 that he does support renewing the assault weapons ban. 709 00:37:29,100 --> 00:37:32,033 I think what I've noted in the past, and what I noted here, 710 00:37:32,033 --> 00:37:37,299 is that there has been reluctance by Congress to 711 00:37:37,300 --> 00:37:39,000 pass that renewal. 712 00:37:39,000 --> 00:37:42,033 The Press: What's considered sort of an update of that legislation is 713 00:37:42,033 --> 00:37:45,100 the amendment that you were asked about a couple of times 714 00:37:45,100 --> 00:37:47,799 last week, which was to ban high-capacity magazines. 715 00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:51,433 That's viewed by advocates as essentially accomplishing the 716 00:37:51,433 --> 00:37:52,667 same thing in a better way. 717 00:37:52,667 --> 00:37:55,767 And when you were asked about that in the past, you didn't 718 00:37:55,767 --> 00:37:56,667 have a position. 719 00:37:56,667 --> 00:37:58,299 Do you have -- does the administration have a 720 00:37:58,300 --> 00:37:58,934 position on that? 721 00:37:58,934 --> 00:38:01,200 Mr. Carney: Well, I think the legislation on this issue broadly, whether 722 00:38:01,200 --> 00:38:06,600 it's the specific piece of legislation that you mention 723 00:38:06,600 --> 00:38:09,366 -- if such legislation emerges, the President will 724 00:38:09,367 --> 00:38:14,266 evaluate it, the White House will evaluate it, guided by 725 00:38:14,266 --> 00:38:18,400 the principles that I talked about earlier, which is his 726 00:38:18,400 --> 00:38:21,934 desire to make it harder for people who should not have 727 00:38:21,934 --> 00:38:24,900 weapons under existing law from getting them, and under 728 00:38:24,900 --> 00:38:28,500 the principle that we should not infringe upon the Second 729 00:38:28,500 --> 00:38:32,033 Amendment rights of American citizens. 730 00:38:32,033 --> 00:38:34,000 But I'm not going to speculate about pieces 731 00:38:34,000 --> 00:38:38,533 of suggested legislation. 732 00:38:38,533 --> 00:38:40,200 If something emerges from Congress we'll certainly 733 00:38:40,200 --> 00:38:41,332 evaluate it. 734 00:38:41,333 --> 00:38:43,400 The Press: Well, it's introduced; it wasn't just -- 735 00:38:43,400 --> 00:38:47,500 Mr. Carney: Well, I know, but -- and I think we've noted where 736 00:38:47,500 --> 00:38:49,333 Congress is on these issues. 737 00:38:49,333 --> 00:38:50,967 If something emerges from Congress we'll 738 00:38:50,967 --> 00:38:52,066 certainly evaluate it. 739 00:38:52,066 --> 00:38:54,466 The Press: And the other thing you talk about on this issue is the 740 00:38:54,467 --> 00:38:57,333 national dialogue on issues beyond just gun control, but 741 00:38:57,333 --> 00:39:00,333 violence, and you point out that he gave that speech. 742 00:39:00,333 --> 00:39:02,834 Does he feel like that speech has sort of accomplished his 743 00:39:02,834 --> 00:39:04,966 part of this dialogue, and now it's up to others? 744 00:39:04,967 --> 00:39:07,333 Mr. Carney: I'm sure he will discuss these issues again in the future. 745 00:39:07,333 --> 00:39:10,033 I think you've asked on a number of occasions for 746 00:39:10,033 --> 00:39:12,266 specific dates when he might speak again. 747 00:39:12,266 --> 00:39:14,700 I don't have any announcements to make on that. 748 00:39:14,700 --> 00:39:17,466 But the President has addressed this on several 749 00:39:17,467 --> 00:39:19,700 occasions and I'm sure will again in the future. 750 00:39:19,700 --> 00:39:21,734 The Press: Does he feel like that speech accomplished its purpose? 751 00:39:21,734 --> 00:39:28,299 Mr. Carney: I don't think he does feel that the goal of addressing 752 00:39:28,300 --> 00:39:31,633 violence in America has been achieved, and that's why we 753 00:39:31,633 --> 00:39:37,433 need to continue to work collectively on efforts across 754 00:39:37,433 --> 00:39:39,767 the board to reduce violence in America. 755 00:39:39,767 --> 00:39:40,767 Christi. 756 00:39:40,767 --> 00:39:43,165 The Press: Jay, when the President disagrees with Congress's 757 00:39:43,166 --> 00:39:45,734 decision not to take up legislation like this, he goes 758 00:39:45,734 --> 00:39:48,866 out in the country and tries to pressure them publicly, and 759 00:39:48,867 --> 00:39:50,467 even shame them into doing that. 760 00:39:50,467 --> 00:39:52,800 Is this -- does this fall under the same category, 761 00:39:52,800 --> 00:39:55,567 the assault weapons ban, or some version of it? 762 00:39:55,567 --> 00:39:57,767 Mr. Carney: There's a lot of legislation the President has a position on. 763 00:39:57,767 --> 00:40:02,332 He believes -- his support for renewal hasn't changed. 764 00:40:02,333 --> 00:40:07,700 I think we all recognize the situation in Congress with 765 00:40:07,700 --> 00:40:12,332 regards to that particular proposal as well as others. 766 00:40:12,333 --> 00:40:14,734 The President is focused, as he talked about in New 767 00:40:14,734 --> 00:40:19,667 Orleans, on doing what he can, through his Department of 768 00:40:19,667 --> 00:40:24,533 Justice, to take common- sense measures that will enhance our 769 00:40:24,533 --> 00:40:28,767 security by improving background checks and making 770 00:40:28,767 --> 00:40:30,600 it harder for those who should not have weapons under 771 00:40:30,600 --> 00:40:34,100 existing law from obtaining them, and working more broadly 772 00:40:34,100 --> 00:40:37,133 to address the issue of violence in America. 773 00:40:37,133 --> 00:40:40,767 Because, as I've said now on a couple of occasions, the 774 00:40:40,767 --> 00:40:45,332 issue, as the President sees it, transcends legislation 775 00:40:45,333 --> 00:40:48,700 relating to guns; it has to do with a whole variety of 776 00:40:48,700 --> 00:40:50,500 factors, and should be addressed accordingly. 777 00:40:50,500 --> 00:40:52,734 The Press: But he's been successful at pressuring Congress to take 778 00:40:52,734 --> 00:40:54,366 up specific legislation. 779 00:40:54,367 --> 00:40:56,734 Does he view this as less possible? 780 00:40:56,734 --> 00:40:59,700 Mr. Carney: Well, I'm not going to grade possibilities here. 781 00:40:59,700 --> 00:41:05,866 I think the President believes that we should -- with 782 00:41:05,867 --> 00:41:09,700 Congress where possible, but administratively where allowed 783 00:41:09,700 --> 00:41:14,767 -- take measures that enhance security by making it harder 784 00:41:14,767 --> 00:41:16,734 for those who should not have these weapons under existing 785 00:41:16,734 --> 00:41:19,500 law from obtaining them, but also protect our Second 786 00:41:19,500 --> 00:41:20,500 Amendment rights. 787 00:41:20,500 --> 00:41:23,800 And he'll continue to do that. 788 00:41:23,800 --> 00:41:24,500 April. 789 00:41:24,500 --> 00:41:25,867 The Press: Thank you. 790 00:41:25,867 --> 00:41:29,533 Going back to the gun issue, what is the threshold when 791 00:41:29,533 --> 00:41:33,066 this administration will say when it's time to take the gun 792 00:41:33,066 --> 00:41:37,734 issue out of that broad basket of violence and focus straight 793 00:41:37,734 --> 00:41:40,633 on -- I mean, in recent weeks we've had two fatal, 794 00:41:40,633 --> 00:41:42,265 horrific shootings. 795 00:41:42,266 --> 00:41:44,533 When does this administration take it out of that violence 796 00:41:44,533 --> 00:41:48,799 basket and put a spotlight specifically on it? 797 00:41:48,800 --> 00:41:53,700 Mr. Carney: Well, I think, April, the question, as the President 798 00:41:53,700 --> 00:41:57,866 discussed in New Orleans, is not one of specific 799 00:41:57,867 --> 00:41:59,834 high-profile incidents alone. 800 00:41:59,834 --> 00:42:05,265 And the unfortunate reality is that while these terrible 801 00:42:05,266 --> 00:42:09,433 incidents get a lot of headlines, there is violence 802 00:42:09,433 --> 00:42:10,734 in America every day. 803 00:42:11,533 --> 00:42:14,232 The Press: And a lot of it is gun violence. 804 00:42:14,233 --> 00:42:15,166 Mr. Carney: No question. 805 00:42:15,166 --> 00:42:18,600 But that's why we have to work collectively towards 806 00:42:18,600 --> 00:42:24,700 addressing these issues in ways that reduce violence and 807 00:42:24,700 --> 00:42:28,834 include efforts to keep kids in school, keep them off the 808 00:42:28,834 --> 00:42:34,500 streets and from joining gangs, in efforts to, as the 809 00:42:34,500 --> 00:42:37,734 President has done through his Department of Justice, make it 810 00:42:37,734 --> 00:42:40,400 harder for criminals and others who should not have 811 00:42:40,400 --> 00:42:42,867 weapons under existing law from obtaining them. 812 00:42:42,867 --> 00:42:44,333 That's the kind of comprehensive approach the 813 00:42:44,333 --> 00:42:47,133 President thinks we ought to adopt, and that he has adopted 814 00:42:47,133 --> 00:42:48,066 in office. 815 00:42:48,066 --> 00:42:50,000 The Press: But, Jay, many of these acts you can't police against -- 816 00:42:50,000 --> 00:42:52,967 many in law enforcement say you can't police against them. 817 00:42:52,967 --> 00:42:54,934 So when you can't police against something like that, 818 00:42:54,934 --> 00:42:58,700 it would seem that the other half would deal with issues of 819 00:42:58,700 --> 00:43:02,466 gun control, of the assault weapons ban being -- not 820 00:43:02,467 --> 00:43:04,967 renewing, but creating a new assault weapons ban. 821 00:43:04,967 --> 00:43:08,133 Why not now? Why not now? 822 00:43:08,133 --> 00:43:09,933 Mr. Carney: Again, I think I've answered this question a bunch, but the 823 00:43:09,934 --> 00:43:13,000 President's approach is that we should work with Congress 824 00:43:13,000 --> 00:43:14,934 where possible, and administratively where 825 00:43:14,934 --> 00:43:19,000 allowed, to advance common-sense measures that 826 00:43:19,000 --> 00:43:21,467 enhance our security, that keep weapons out of the hands 827 00:43:21,467 --> 00:43:23,200 of criminals and others who shouldn't have them under 828 00:43:23,200 --> 00:43:26,265 existing law, but that protect Second Amendment rights, which 829 00:43:26,266 --> 00:43:30,200 the President thinks is an important goal as well. 830 00:43:30,200 --> 00:43:33,667 I think that I can say that that's the 831 00:43:33,667 --> 00:43:34,333 President's approach. 832 00:43:34,333 --> 00:43:36,967 You heard it recently in New Orleans. 833 00:43:36,967 --> 00:43:40,033 I'm sure you'll hear from him again on this issue. 834 00:43:40,033 --> 00:43:45,633 But I don't expect his broader view here about the broader 835 00:43:45,633 --> 00:43:47,734 problem with violence in America is going to change 836 00:43:47,734 --> 00:43:50,400 because of a specific incident. 837 00:43:50,400 --> 00:43:52,834 It's a broader problem that needs to be addressed from a 838 00:43:52,834 --> 00:43:54,500 variety of fronts. 839 00:43:54,500 --> 00:43:57,000 The Press: My last question -- so is the White House Office of 840 00:43:57,000 --> 00:43:59,133 Legislative Affairs actively working with congressional 841 00:43:59,133 --> 00:44:02,466 leaders, congressional staffers, now on issues 842 00:44:02,467 --> 00:44:07,433 of gun control and a new assault weapons ban? 843 00:44:07,433 --> 00:44:09,600 Mr. Carney: I don't have any legislative update for you. 844 00:44:09,600 --> 00:44:13,232 I think Congress is out of session at the moment. 845 00:44:13,233 --> 00:44:14,200 Olivier. 846 00:44:14,200 --> 00:44:15,366 The Press: Yes, I've got a couple for you. 847 00:44:15,367 --> 00:44:19,800 Has the President seen the images beamed back from Mars? 848 00:44:19,800 --> 00:44:21,834 Mr. Carney: I didn't ask him. 849 00:44:21,834 --> 00:44:23,799 I think that was -- you saw the statement that we put out. 850 00:44:23,800 --> 00:44:27,734 It's a remarkable achievement and I think is testimony to 851 00:44:27,734 --> 00:44:36,400 the ingenuity of the American people and American companies, 852 00:44:36,400 --> 00:44:37,600 and of NASA in particular. 853 00:44:37,600 --> 00:44:39,600 But I haven't talked to him about whether 854 00:44:39,600 --> 00:44:40,900 he's seen these images. 855 00:44:40,900 --> 00:44:42,467 It really is quite remarkable. 856 00:44:42,467 --> 00:44:45,734 The Press: And given the weeks and months in which you've said that 857 00:44:45,734 --> 00:44:48,567 Assad's days are numbered, does the United States today 858 00:44:48,567 --> 00:44:51,100 have a plan for the post-Assad Syria? 859 00:44:51,100 --> 00:44:51,933 Mr. Carney: Does the United States have what? 860 00:44:51,934 --> 00:44:53,800 The Press: A plan for post-Assad Syria -- 861 00:44:53,800 --> 00:44:54,567 Mr. Carney: That's a great question. 862 00:44:54,567 --> 00:44:55,367 We are working -- 863 00:44:55,367 --> 00:44:57,667 The Press: -- chemical weapons, making sure that violence doesn't 864 00:44:57,667 --> 00:44:59,232 spill over, that kind of thing. 865 00:44:59,233 --> 00:45:03,834 Mr. Carney: We very much are focused on, with our partners and the 866 00:45:03,834 --> 00:45:07,600 "Friends of Syria," with the opposition directly, with the 867 00:45:07,600 --> 00:45:11,600 Arab League, on what a post-Assad Syria will look 868 00:45:11,600 --> 00:45:18,000 like, and on the opportunity for the Syrian people to enjoy 869 00:45:18,000 --> 00:45:22,700 a better life in a post-Assad world, under a government that 870 00:45:22,700 --> 00:45:28,232 would be inclusive and that would give voice 871 00:45:28,233 --> 00:45:29,934 to their aspirations. 872 00:45:29,934 --> 00:45:34,533 There are a lot of issues involved that would have to 873 00:45:34,533 --> 00:45:36,967 be resolved, principally by the Syrian people, in terms 874 00:45:36,967 --> 00:45:39,433 of achieving that better future. 875 00:45:39,433 --> 00:45:43,233 But there is no question that the first step towards that 876 00:45:43,233 --> 00:45:47,266 better future is Assad's departure from the scene, 877 00:45:47,266 --> 00:45:50,300 because the longer he stays in power, the worst 878 00:45:50,300 --> 00:45:52,266 the situation gets. 879 00:45:52,266 --> 00:45:53,333 We have seen that repeatedly. 880 00:45:53,333 --> 00:45:57,834 And those who have suggested that, in explaining their 881 00:45:57,834 --> 00:46:03,066 continued support for Assad, that somehow having him in 882 00:46:03,066 --> 00:46:06,232 power is a better alternative to having him leave power, I 883 00:46:06,233 --> 00:46:11,533 think that argument is disproved daily by the 884 00:46:11,533 --> 00:46:14,799 appalling violence Assad brings to bear against 885 00:46:14,800 --> 00:46:19,433 his own people. 886 00:46:19,433 --> 00:46:20,367 One more. Ann. 887 00:46:20,367 --> 00:46:23,400 The Press: American athletes are coming back with more than 60 medals 888 00:46:23,400 --> 00:46:24,433 from the Olympics. 889 00:46:24,433 --> 00:46:27,433 Does the President think that they should pay taxes, since 890 00:46:27,433 --> 00:46:31,000 in some cases, $9,000 for not only the medal but the cash 891 00:46:31,000 --> 00:46:32,934 awards they bring home? 892 00:46:32,934 --> 00:46:36,600 Mr. Carney: Well, the President believes that we should support 893 00:46:36,600 --> 00:46:39,066 efforts, like I think the bill you're referencing, to ensure 894 00:46:39,066 --> 00:46:41,567 that we are doing everything we can to honor and support 895 00:46:41,567 --> 00:46:43,900 our Olympic athletes who have volunteered to represent our 896 00:46:43,900 --> 00:46:45,834 nation at the Olympic Games. 897 00:46:45,834 --> 00:46:49,500 So he supports that bill. 898 00:46:49,500 --> 00:46:52,800 If it were to get to his desk, he would support it. 899 00:46:52,800 --> 00:46:53,567 Thank you.