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1 00:00:02,202 --> 00:00:03,303 Mr. Earnest: Good afternoon, everybody. 2 00:00:03,303 --> 00:00:06,205 Nice to see you all. 3 00:00:06,206 --> 00:00:08,041 I do not have any opening remarks, so we can go 4 00:00:08,041 --> 00:00:09,042 straight to questions. 5 00:00:09,042 --> 00:00:10,009 Mark, would you like to get us started today? 6 00:00:10,009 --> 00:00:10,477 The Press: Thanks. 7 00:00:10,477 --> 00:00:13,279 If I may, can we start with the debate, and can I ask if 8 00:00:13,279 --> 00:00:16,216 the President is planning to watch any part of the debate 9 00:00:16,216 --> 00:00:18,618 tonight and whether he is rooting for Donald Trump or 10 00:00:18,618 --> 00:00:19,586 against Donald Trump? 11 00:00:19,586 --> 00:00:22,287 (laughter) 12 00:00:22,288 --> 00:00:24,624 Mr. Earnest: I don't think the President will have a 13 00:00:24,624 --> 00:00:26,625 rooting interest in the debate tonight. 14 00:00:26,626 --> 00:00:29,562 I think he'll be -- to the extent that he watches it, 15 00:00:29,562 --> 00:00:33,700 and I'm not sure that he will -- I do think, though, 16 00:00:33,700 --> 00:00:35,702 that he will be interested in the coverage of the 17 00:00:35,702 --> 00:00:37,904 debate, and I'm confident that he will be interested 18 00:00:37,904 --> 00:00:40,740 in the arguments that are presented in the context of 19 00:00:40,740 --> 00:00:43,176 the first debate on the Republican side. 20 00:00:43,176 --> 00:00:48,381 And I expect that he, like many Americans, will find 21 00:00:48,381 --> 00:00:51,217 the values and priorities that are articulated in that 22 00:00:51,217 --> 00:00:54,387 debate to be rather illuminating, particularly 23 00:00:54,387 --> 00:00:57,223 when you contrast them with the values and priorities 24 00:00:57,223 --> 00:01:00,593 that this administration has been advocating for, for 25 00:01:00,593 --> 00:01:03,396 coming on seven years now, and certainly when you 26 00:01:03,396 --> 00:01:06,666 compare them to the values and priorities that will be 27 00:01:06,666 --> 00:01:10,270 championed by Democrats when those candidates get 28 00:01:10,270 --> 00:01:11,271 together for their own debates. 29 00:01:11,271 --> 00:01:14,340 The Press: Is he prepared to hear his Iran deal take a 30 00:01:14,340 --> 00:01:15,341 beating tonight? 31 00:01:15,341 --> 00:01:18,478 And is he prepared for some umbrage that, frankly, even 32 00:01:18,478 --> 00:01:21,214 some Democrats who have doubts about the Iran deal 33 00:01:21,214 --> 00:01:25,485 have expressed that the President was, in effect, 34 00:01:25,485 --> 00:01:27,787 calling them warmongers yesterday with his argument 35 00:01:27,787 --> 00:01:30,957 that there really is no alternative to this deal but 36 00:01:30,957 --> 00:01:32,791 a march to war? 37 00:01:32,792 --> 00:01:34,060 Mr. Earnest: Well, Mark, I think the President was 38 00:01:34,060 --> 00:01:36,963 pointing out a simple fact, and I think the President 39 00:01:36,963 --> 00:01:39,532 went on at some length to explain how he arrived at 40 00:01:39,532 --> 00:01:41,134 that conclusion. 41 00:01:41,134 --> 00:01:44,003 And the fact is, if Congress were to take the unthinkable 42 00:01:44,003 --> 00:01:50,543 step of killing this deal, it would end up being a good 43 00:01:50,543 --> 00:01:52,078 deal for Iran. 44 00:01:52,078 --> 00:01:54,080 What would happen is Iran would get billions in 45 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:56,649 sanctions relief, but they would not be required to 46 00:01:56,649 --> 00:01:59,352 remove 13,000 centrifuges; they would not be required 47 00:01:59,352 --> 00:02:02,522 to reduce their stockpile by 98 percent; they would not 48 00:02:02,522 --> 00:02:05,225 be required to gut their plutonium heavy-water 49 00:02:05,225 --> 00:02:08,094 reactor in Arak; and they would not be required to 50 00:02:08,094 --> 00:02:11,464 submit to the most intrusive set of inspections that have 51 00:02:11,464 --> 00:02:13,533 ever been imposed on a country's nuclear program. 52 00:02:13,533 --> 00:02:16,503 And what would happen is Iran would go back to doing 53 00:02:16,503 --> 00:02:19,539 what they did before when the international community 54 00:02:19,539 --> 00:02:25,278 was previously fractured, and that is pursuing a 55 00:02:25,278 --> 00:02:26,078 nuclear weapon. 56 00:02:26,079 --> 00:02:33,920 And it's not a significant leap at all -- in fact, I 57 00:02:33,920 --> 00:02:37,823 think it follows rather logically -- that there will 58 00:02:37,824 --> 00:02:41,861 be members of Congress who will then be calling on the 59 00:02:41,861 --> 00:02:46,065 Commander-in-Chief to take action to prevent Iran from 60 00:02:46,065 --> 00:02:47,734 obtaining a nuclear weapon. 61 00:02:47,734 --> 00:02:50,203 And the fact of the matter is -- and this is even a 62 00:02:50,203 --> 00:02:53,139 fact that is acknowledged by the people who would be 63 00:02:53,139 --> 00:02:58,578 comfortable being described as proponents of military 64 00:02:58,578 --> 00:03:02,448 action against Iran -- they acknowledge that military 65 00:03:02,448 --> 00:03:05,685 action would only have the effect of setting back 66 00:03:05,685 --> 00:03:08,621 Iran's nuclear program for two or three or maybe four 67 00:03:08,621 --> 00:03:12,425 years, when the fact is this diplomatic agreement is 68 00:03:12,425 --> 00:03:16,262 going to set back Iran's nuclear program by more than 10. 69 00:03:16,262 --> 00:03:19,465 So it's not just that the President wants to try to 70 00:03:19,465 --> 00:03:22,535 avoid another war in the Middle East -- he does; it's 71 00:03:22,535 --> 00:03:26,139 that diplomacy is the best way for us to prevent Iran 72 00:03:26,139 --> 00:03:27,206 from obtaining a nuclear weapon. 73 00:03:27,206 --> 00:03:28,708 The Press: Does he think those Democrats who have 74 00:03:28,708 --> 00:03:32,345 looked at the deal and said, you know, I think there's 75 00:03:32,345 --> 00:03:34,380 still a better deal to be had out there, that they're 76 00:03:34,380 --> 00:03:36,482 also pursuing a fantasy, as he put it yesterday? 77 00:03:36,482 --> 00:03:39,252 Mr. Earnest: The suggestion that there is a better deal 78 00:03:39,252 --> 00:03:41,220 is a fantasy. 79 00:03:41,220 --> 00:03:43,289 The President stands by those remarks entirely. 80 00:03:43,289 --> 00:03:45,257 The Press: Let me just ask generally about the 81 00:03:45,258 --> 00:03:46,259 state of play. 82 00:03:46,259 --> 00:03:48,560 Frankly, the speech yesterday sounded like a 83 00:03:48,561 --> 00:03:50,029 summing up to the jury. 84 00:03:50,029 --> 00:03:52,665 And here we have Congress now, all of it out on 85 00:03:52,665 --> 00:03:54,968 vacation; the President is about to go on vacation. 86 00:03:54,968 --> 00:03:58,304 Does the President think there's any way of avoiding 87 00:03:58,304 --> 00:04:01,174 him having to use his veto? 88 00:04:01,174 --> 00:04:04,510 Does he think he has the votes to sustain a veto? 89 00:04:04,510 --> 00:04:07,547 Mr. Earnest: Well, Mark, I have previously expressed 90 00:04:07,547 --> 00:04:11,851 some confidence -- a lot of confidence in the ability to 91 00:04:11,851 --> 00:04:14,454 sustain a veto in the House of Representatives. 92 00:04:14,454 --> 00:04:16,489 The reason for that is we saw back in the first week 93 00:04:16,488 --> 00:04:20,592 of May, a group of about 150 House Democrats -- that's 94 00:04:20,593 --> 00:04:23,296 enough to sustain a presidential veto -- 95 00:04:23,296 --> 00:04:26,933 indicate that they would be supportive of a 96 00:04:26,933 --> 00:04:29,569 comprehensive final agreement that was 97 00:04:29,569 --> 00:04:31,037 consistent with the parameters that had been 98 00:04:31,037 --> 00:04:36,241 agreed to in the Lausanne political discussions. 99 00:04:36,242 --> 00:04:38,811 And the fact is the final agreement that has been 100 00:04:38,811 --> 00:04:43,049 produced doesn't just fit the parameters of the 101 00:04:43,049 --> 00:04:46,385 previous agreement, it actually exceeds them in a 102 00:04:46,386 --> 00:04:48,321 few key areas. 103 00:04:48,321 --> 00:04:52,925 And I think the best way that I can document that to 104 00:04:52,925 --> 00:04:55,728 you is that we've actually seen a couple of Democrats 105 00:04:55,728 --> 00:04:57,730 in the House of Representatives who didn't 106 00:04:57,730 --> 00:05:00,600 sign the letter the first week in May who have come 107 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:04,971 out indicating their support for the final agreement and 108 00:05:04,971 --> 00:05:09,976 indicating that they would join an effort to sustain 109 00:05:09,976 --> 00:05:12,045 the President's veto if it became necessary. 110 00:05:12,045 --> 00:05:15,181 So we do have a lot of confidence that, at a 111 00:05:15,181 --> 00:05:18,450 minimum, that a veto could be sustained in the House. 112 00:05:18,451 --> 00:05:20,453 The Press: Do you really still harbor any hopes that 113 00:05:20,453 --> 00:05:22,188 you can avoid having to exercise that veto? 114 00:05:22,188 --> 00:05:25,258 Mr. Earnest: Well, it's too soon to tell at this point. 115 00:05:25,258 --> 00:05:27,126 The Press: Let me ask you just real briefly about a 116 00:05:27,126 --> 00:05:32,364 report based on satellite imagery that the Iranians 117 00:05:32,365 --> 00:05:35,935 have been doing some work in recent weeks in Parchin that 118 00:05:35,935 --> 00:05:38,938 indicates -- that involve crates, trucks, 119 00:05:38,938 --> 00:05:41,274 construction, et cetera -- that might indicate yet 120 00:05:41,274 --> 00:05:43,643 another attempt to cover up whatever has been going 121 00:05:43,643 --> 00:05:44,710 on there. 122 00:05:44,711 --> 00:05:45,545 Have you guys seen that? 123 00:05:45,545 --> 00:05:48,981 Can you confirm that you're -- are you troubled by it? 124 00:05:48,981 --> 00:05:51,651 Mr. Earnest: Well, I can't talk about any specific 125 00:05:51,651 --> 00:05:53,186 intelligence matters. 126 00:05:53,186 --> 00:05:58,758 What I can tell you is that we know that more than a 127 00:05:58,758 --> 00:06:02,228 decade ago we had significant concerns about 128 00:06:02,228 --> 00:06:05,531 some of the activities that the Iranians were conducting 129 00:06:05,531 --> 00:06:07,200 at Parchin. 130 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:12,572 And for more than a decade, the Iranians have gone to 131 00:06:12,572 --> 00:06:15,641 great lengths to try to cover it up. 132 00:06:15,641 --> 00:06:17,643 And we're not particularly concerned that over the 133 00:06:17,643 --> 00:06:19,746 course of the next couple of weeks that they're going to 134 00:06:19,746 --> 00:06:22,181 succeed in covering up something that they haven't 135 00:06:22,181 --> 00:06:24,082 been able to cover up over the last decade. 136 00:06:24,083 --> 00:06:25,118 Jeff. 137 00:06:25,118 --> 00:06:27,920 The Press: Josh, the President is going on 138 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:29,555 vacation tomorrow. 139 00:06:29,555 --> 00:06:32,792 Does he -- will he be engaged with lawmakers 140 00:06:32,792 --> 00:06:34,727 during that time about Iran? 141 00:06:34,727 --> 00:06:35,794 Do you have any particular -- Mr. Earnest: I doubt it. 142 00:06:35,795 --> 00:06:38,731 I doubt it. 143 00:06:38,731 --> 00:06:41,334 The Press: Are there any other plans generally for 144 00:06:41,334 --> 00:06:45,071 the administration to lobby or engage with people over 145 00:06:45,071 --> 00:06:46,572 the next couple weeks? 146 00:06:46,572 --> 00:06:47,507 Mr. Earnest: Well, I certainly wouldn't be 147 00:06:47,507 --> 00:06:49,642 surprised if other senior administration officials -- 148 00:06:49,642 --> 00:06:51,811 either on the President's national security team or 149 00:06:51,811 --> 00:06:55,080 officials here at the White House -- that they may be 150 00:06:55,081 --> 00:06:57,083 engaged in conversations with members of Congress. 151 00:06:57,083 --> 00:07:01,053 And there has been a robust dialogue back and forth. 152 00:07:01,053 --> 00:07:03,055 And there have been a number of members of Congress that 153 00:07:03,055 --> 00:07:06,092 have sought one-on-one briefings with senior 154 00:07:06,092 --> 00:07:08,227 national security officials, that have sought classified 155 00:07:08,227 --> 00:07:10,929 briefings, that have participated in all-member 156 00:07:10,930 --> 00:07:14,700 classified briefings that our negotiators have hosted 157 00:07:14,700 --> 00:07:15,935 on Capitol Hill. 158 00:07:15,935 --> 00:07:18,304 I know a number of members participated in or closely 159 00:07:18,304 --> 00:07:21,440 watched open hearings in which our negotiators 160 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:24,343 testified under oath about the facts of the deal. 161 00:07:24,343 --> 00:07:26,479 So the administration has gone to great lengths to 162 00:07:26,479 --> 00:07:29,916 provide a lot of information about the substance 163 00:07:29,916 --> 00:07:31,284 of the agreement. 164 00:07:31,284 --> 00:07:34,719 And I'm confident that those kinds of conversations and 165 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:38,991 that kind of exchange of information will continue 166 00:07:38,991 --> 00:07:39,991 throughout the month of August. 167 00:07:39,992 --> 00:07:43,095 The Press: A couple weeks ago we talked in this room 168 00:07:43,095 --> 00:07:46,566 about a plan on Guantanamo coming shortly. 169 00:07:46,566 --> 00:07:49,501 Can you give us an update on the status of that and the 170 00:07:49,502 --> 00:07:51,103 timing of it? 171 00:07:51,103 --> 00:07:53,639 Mr. Earnest: Well, Jeff, I don't have much of an update 172 00:07:53,639 --> 00:07:56,008 on the timing. 173 00:07:56,008 --> 00:08:02,548 The President has made clear that he is firmly committed 174 00:08:02,548 --> 00:08:05,551 to reducing the detainee population at the prison at 175 00:08:05,551 --> 00:08:08,187 Guantanamo Bay so that we can succeed in eventually 176 00:08:08,187 --> 00:08:09,755 closing it. 177 00:08:09,755 --> 00:08:15,361 And this administration is working diligently to finish 178 00:08:15,361 --> 00:08:18,631 a plan to safely and responsibly close the 179 00:08:18,631 --> 00:08:21,566 detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, and we've 180 00:08:21,567 --> 00:08:24,070 made a commitment to share that plan with Congress. 181 00:08:26,239 --> 00:08:31,310 I would point out that Congress has left for the 182 00:08:31,310 --> 00:08:36,048 August recess, as you point out, and it's unlikely that 183 00:08:36,048 --> 00:08:41,888 we'd be in a position to provide that plan to them 184 00:08:41,888 --> 00:08:45,725 when they're not in session and in Washington D.C. But 185 00:08:45,725 --> 00:08:49,896 certainly the work on this plan continues here inside 186 00:08:49,896 --> 00:08:50,896 the administration. 187 00:08:50,897 --> 00:08:53,966 And I'd remind you that the work on a plan like this 188 00:08:53,966 --> 00:08:59,972 involves consultation with the Department of Defense, 189 00:08:59,972 --> 00:09:02,507 the intelligence community, certainly the State 190 00:09:02,508 --> 00:09:05,111 Department, and other agencies that have to work 191 00:09:05,111 --> 00:09:08,381 in a coordinated fashion to put together and then 192 00:09:08,381 --> 00:09:10,949 eventually, hopefully, implement the plan. 193 00:09:10,950 --> 00:09:12,385 But the work on that is ongoing, and I don't have a 194 00:09:12,385 --> 00:09:14,553 specific timeline for you at this point. 195 00:09:14,553 --> 00:09:17,823 The Press: And lastly, a migrant ship carrying as 196 00:09:17,823 --> 00:09:23,262 many as 600 Syrian refuges sunk yesterday. 197 00:09:23,262 --> 00:09:25,830 About at least 200 people appear to have died. 198 00:09:25,831 --> 00:09:27,667 Is the White House following that? 199 00:09:27,667 --> 00:09:30,503 Does it believe Europe is doing enough to make sure 200 00:09:30,503 --> 00:09:34,774 these types of tragedies don't happen, and is there 201 00:09:34,774 --> 00:09:36,409 more the U.S. can do as well? 202 00:09:36,409 --> 00:09:38,511 Mr. Earnest: Jeff, I haven't seen much more about this 203 00:09:38,511 --> 00:09:41,646 incident other than the reports that you're citing. 204 00:09:41,647 --> 00:09:45,851 I will say that it is just the latest example of the 205 00:09:45,851 --> 00:09:50,856 terrible humanitarian situation that's been caused 206 00:09:50,856 --> 00:09:53,859 by the ongoing violence in Syria. 207 00:09:53,859 --> 00:09:57,430 And the United States has offered significant 208 00:09:57,430 --> 00:09:59,431 financial support to other countries that are bearing 209 00:09:59,432 --> 00:10:05,671 the brunt of a broader humanitarian and refugee crisis. 210 00:10:05,671 --> 00:10:09,742 And it's why the administration is redoubling 211 00:10:09,742 --> 00:10:13,679 our efforts to try to broker some kind of political 212 00:10:13,679 --> 00:10:18,317 situation -- or political resolution in Syria, that 213 00:10:18,317 --> 00:10:20,319 even if it doesn't bring the violence all the way to an 214 00:10:20,319 --> 00:10:24,189 end, to try to find a way to reduce that violence and try 215 00:10:24,190 --> 00:10:30,830 to reduce the terrible humanitarian tool that this 216 00:10:30,830 --> 00:10:32,932 conflict has already taken on the people of Syria. 217 00:10:32,932 --> 00:10:34,166 The Press: Thanks. 218 00:10:34,166 --> 00:10:35,134 Mr. Earnest: Jim. 219 00:10:35,134 --> 00:10:37,870 The Press: Josh, yesterday the President said that the 220 00:10:37,870 --> 00:10:41,741 hardliners chanting "Death to America" are making 221 00:10:41,741 --> 00:10:44,343 common cause with the Republicans. 222 00:10:44,343 --> 00:10:45,911 Was that a little over the top? 223 00:10:45,911 --> 00:10:48,981 Mr. Earnest: Jim, I think it was a statement of fact. 224 00:10:48,981 --> 00:10:55,588 That you have in Iran a group of hardliners who are 225 00:10:55,588 --> 00:10:58,357 strongly opposed to the deal and advocating for 226 00:10:58,357 --> 00:10:59,925 its defeat. 227 00:10:59,925 --> 00:11:01,926 And here in the United States you have Republicans 228 00:11:01,927 --> 00:11:06,365 in Congress who are advocating against the deal 229 00:11:06,365 --> 00:11:07,366 and urging its defeat. 230 00:11:07,366 --> 00:11:10,603 And in fact, you saw some of those same Republicans in 231 00:11:10,603 --> 00:11:13,638 Congress actually write a letter to the Supreme Leader 232 00:11:13,639 --> 00:11:17,209 of Iran advocating for the defeat of the deal, or at 233 00:11:17,209 --> 00:11:19,277 least promising to do so. 234 00:11:19,278 --> 00:11:22,114 So the fact is they've taken the same position. 235 00:11:22,114 --> 00:11:25,751 The Press: But they're not working with the hardliners 236 00:11:25,751 --> 00:11:27,053 chanting "Death to America." 237 00:11:27,053 --> 00:11:28,054 Mr. Earnest: Certainly not. 238 00:11:28,054 --> 00:11:30,488 The Press: They don't share that same spirit -- 239 00:11:30,489 --> 00:11:33,492 Mr. Earnest: No, but they share the same position on 240 00:11:33,492 --> 00:11:34,492 the deal. 241 00:11:34,493 --> 00:11:36,629 And there's an element of it that's a little ironic 242 00:11:36,629 --> 00:11:39,632 because one of the arguments that's made by Republicans 243 00:11:39,632 --> 00:11:44,569 is that the deal will only strengthen the hand -- will 244 00:11:44,570 --> 00:11:48,107 strengthen the hand and benefit hardliners in Iran. 245 00:11:48,107 --> 00:11:50,376 The fact is, we see hardliners in Iran making 246 00:11:50,376 --> 00:11:52,778 the same argument that Republicans are that the 247 00:11:52,778 --> 00:11:54,213 deal should be defeated. 248 00:11:54,213 --> 00:11:57,348 The Press: So no regret whatsoever about that? 249 00:11:57,349 --> 00:11:58,818 Mr. Earnest: And so I guess it is -- somebody asked me 250 00:11:58,818 --> 00:12:00,386 about irony earlier. 251 00:12:00,386 --> 00:12:03,155 This actually would be a pretty good definition of irony. 252 00:12:03,155 --> 00:12:07,393 And the fact is, Republicans in Congress have the same 253 00:12:07,393 --> 00:12:09,795 position on the Iran deal as the hardliners in Iran, 254 00:12:09,795 --> 00:12:12,665 despite the fact that Republicans say they have 255 00:12:12,665 --> 00:12:15,434 that position claiming that they actually disagree with 256 00:12:15,434 --> 00:12:16,435 those hardliners in Iran. 257 00:12:16,435 --> 00:12:18,436 But the fact of the matter is they have the same 258 00:12:18,437 --> 00:12:19,438 position on this. 259 00:12:19,438 --> 00:12:21,439 The Press: And Senator McConnell has asked that the 260 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:22,575 President retract that comment. 261 00:12:22,575 --> 00:12:23,742 I guess that's not coming? 262 00:12:23,742 --> 00:12:25,111 He's not going to retract that comment. 263 00:12:25,111 --> 00:12:25,644 Mr. Earnest: That's correct. 264 00:12:25,644 --> 00:12:29,281 The Press: And how is rhetoric like that supposed 265 00:12:29,281 --> 00:12:33,252 to get Republicans who may be undecided on this 266 00:12:33,252 --> 00:12:34,719 off the fence? 267 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:37,256 Senator Jeff Flake, who accompanied the President to 268 00:12:37,256 --> 00:12:41,794 Africa, on that recent trip to Africa, he has said 269 00:12:41,794 --> 00:12:43,562 publicly that he's undecided on this. 270 00:12:43,562 --> 00:12:45,764 How is that kind of rhetoric supposed to bring him to 271 00:12:45,764 --> 00:12:48,534 your side? 272 00:12:48,534 --> 00:12:51,003 Mr. Earnest: Well, Jim, Senator Flake is going to 273 00:12:51,003 --> 00:12:52,004 make his own decision. 274 00:12:52,004 --> 00:12:53,072 I know that there were some previously undecided 275 00:12:53,072 --> 00:12:55,107 Democrats that after the -- The Press: You don't think 276 00:12:55,107 --> 00:12:58,077 he's in common cause with the hardliners, I suppose. 277 00:12:58,077 --> 00:12:59,445 Mr. Earnest: Well, he is not advocated aggressively for 278 00:12:59,445 --> 00:13:03,315 the defeat of the deal, as hardliners in Iran have and 279 00:13:03,315 --> 00:13:07,186 as some Republicans in Congress have. 280 00:13:07,186 --> 00:13:09,989 But, Jim, as it relates to the impact of the speech, I 281 00:13:09,989 --> 00:13:13,993 leave it to Senator Flake to make a decision based on his 282 00:13:13,993 --> 00:13:18,330 own thinking about the agreement, and I'm confident 283 00:13:18,330 --> 00:13:19,865 that that's what he'll do. 284 00:13:19,865 --> 00:13:24,170 I think Democrats who are on the fence will do the same. 285 00:13:24,170 --> 00:13:27,872 And I know of at least five Democrats who were on the 286 00:13:27,873 --> 00:13:31,143 fence before the President gave the speech and within 287 00:13:31,143 --> 00:13:33,245 24 hours have announced their support for the deal. 288 00:13:33,245 --> 00:13:35,915 So, apparently, at least a handful of Democrats found 289 00:13:35,915 --> 00:13:37,882 the President's speech to be remarkably persuasive. 290 00:13:37,883 --> 00:13:41,153 The Press: And Senator Cardin said earlier this 291 00:13:41,153 --> 00:13:43,389 morning that he does not see a comparison between this 292 00:13:43,389 --> 00:13:45,724 vote on the Iran deal and the vote to authorize 293 00:13:45,724 --> 00:13:47,459 war in Iraq. 294 00:13:47,459 --> 00:13:50,362 Might that have been a comparison that was just a 295 00:13:50,362 --> 00:13:53,365 bit overwrought? 296 00:13:53,365 --> 00:13:56,735 Mr. Earnest: Again, we're hearing the same kinds of 297 00:13:56,735 --> 00:13:59,738 arguments from the same people. 298 00:13:59,738 --> 00:14:02,174 So back in -- The Press: Senator Cardin is not one of 299 00:14:02,174 --> 00:14:03,175 those people. 300 00:14:03,175 --> 00:14:05,411 Mr. Earnest: Again, Senator Cardin is not actively 301 00:14:05,411 --> 00:14:07,845 advocating the defeat of the -- he's not actively 302 00:14:07,846 --> 00:14:10,449 advocating the defeat of the Iran agreement. 303 00:14:10,449 --> 00:14:13,017 But those who are are suggesting things like, 304 00:14:13,018 --> 00:14:15,788 well, we can't trust Iran and we shouldn't do any kind 305 00:14:15,788 --> 00:14:18,524 of -- engage in any kind of diplomacy with Iran. 306 00:14:18,524 --> 00:14:21,060 Some of them are promising that military action against 307 00:14:21,060 --> 00:14:24,396 Iran would be really easy and almost painless. 308 00:14:24,396 --> 00:14:26,397 There are others who suggest that we shouldn't really 309 00:14:26,398 --> 00:14:30,035 worry about the fact that 99 percent of the international 310 00:14:30,035 --> 00:14:32,404 community is supportive of the agreement. 311 00:14:32,404 --> 00:14:36,742 We should sort of neglect the concerns or opinions 312 00:14:36,742 --> 00:14:39,245 that are expressed by some of our closest allies 313 00:14:39,245 --> 00:14:40,379 in the world. 314 00:14:40,379 --> 00:14:43,716 Those are the same arguments that led us to war in 2003 315 00:14:43,716 --> 00:14:45,351 in Iraq -- the same arguments. 316 00:14:45,351 --> 00:14:48,821 And the irony is, it's the same people. 317 00:14:48,821 --> 00:14:51,323 And that's the argument that the President is making. 318 00:14:51,323 --> 00:14:52,391 And it's a fact. 319 00:14:52,391 --> 00:14:55,728 The Press: And so what was he after then in that 320 00:14:55,728 --> 00:14:56,728 speech yesterday? 321 00:14:56,729 --> 00:14:58,631 Was he trying to convince anybody? 322 00:14:58,631 --> 00:15:01,132 Or does he just think that people are in their camps, 323 00:15:01,133 --> 00:15:04,169 they're not going to be moved, and that's that? 324 00:15:04,169 --> 00:15:06,538 Mr. Earnest: Jim, as I mentioned, there were five 325 00:15:06,538 --> 00:15:08,774 Democrats in the House of Representatives after the 326 00:15:08,774 --> 00:15:10,809 President's speech who, within 24 hours since the 327 00:15:10,809 --> 00:15:13,545 President gave his speech, have announced their support 328 00:15:13,545 --> 00:15:14,813 for the agreement. 329 00:15:14,813 --> 00:15:17,783 So, again, I do think that there are at least some 330 00:15:17,783 --> 00:15:20,686 Democrats and one independent senator that 331 00:15:20,686 --> 00:15:22,688 announced their support for the deal after the 332 00:15:22,688 --> 00:15:23,689 President's speech. 333 00:15:23,689 --> 00:15:26,425 The Press: The message to Democrats being that we 334 00:15:26,425 --> 00:15:29,594 don't want to go down the road with the Iraq war, that 335 00:15:29,595 --> 00:15:31,597 some Democrats made the wrong choice. 336 00:15:31,597 --> 00:15:33,598 The President was saying yesterday, look at the 337 00:15:33,599 --> 00:15:36,769 people who made the wrong choice in Iraq in 2003. 338 00:15:36,769 --> 00:15:39,972 He didn't mention the fact that his Vice President, 339 00:15:39,972 --> 00:15:41,507 Secretary of State, former Secretary of State, all cast 340 00:15:41,507 --> 00:15:43,375 votes in favor of the Iraq war. 341 00:15:43,375 --> 00:15:45,177 Mr. Earnest: Jim, I think this was a message to the 342 00:15:45,177 --> 00:15:48,147 country that we shouldn't go down this path again, that 343 00:15:48,147 --> 00:15:50,582 we need to learn from mistakes that were made in 2003. 344 00:15:50,582 --> 00:15:53,319 And when people say it's not worth it to waste our time 345 00:15:53,319 --> 00:15:56,689 with diplomacy, and that military action is easy and 346 00:15:56,689 --> 00:15:59,290 painless, and that we should neglect and even ignore the 347 00:15:59,291 --> 00:16:01,827 opinions of our closest allies in the world, that's 348 00:16:01,827 --> 00:16:04,697 the same argument that was made in 2003, and that's the 349 00:16:04,697 --> 00:16:06,699 argument that we're hearing from many Republicans who 350 00:16:06,699 --> 00:16:09,300 are advocating against the deal here in 2015. 351 00:16:09,301 --> 00:16:12,171 The Press: Lastly, totally different subject. 352 00:16:12,171 --> 00:16:14,340 The Democratic National Committee announced that 353 00:16:14,340 --> 00:16:15,541 there will be six debates. 354 00:16:15,541 --> 00:16:18,677 Is that enough? 355 00:16:18,677 --> 00:16:21,180 The President, when he was running for President back 356 00:16:21,180 --> 00:16:27,853 in 2008, was involved in something like 26 or 27 debates. 357 00:16:27,853 --> 00:16:31,357 It was a wild and wooly race. 358 00:16:31,357 --> 00:16:33,791 This sounds like the party really doesn't want much of 359 00:16:33,792 --> 00:16:35,928 a debate here -- six debates and then that's it. 360 00:16:35,928 --> 00:16:38,063 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I leave it to the DNC to 361 00:16:38,063 --> 00:16:40,833 decide the appropriate number of debates. 362 00:16:40,833 --> 00:16:43,401 But I'm confident that six debates would give the 363 00:16:43,402 --> 00:16:48,073 candidates ample opportunity to make a direct 364 00:16:48,073 --> 00:16:50,576 presentation to the country and to Democratic voters 365 00:16:50,576 --> 00:16:52,644 across the country about what they're values and 366 00:16:52,644 --> 00:16:54,513 priorities would be if they were elected President of 367 00:16:54,513 --> 00:16:55,781 the United States. 368 00:16:55,781 --> 00:16:57,049 April. 369 00:16:57,049 --> 00:16:58,884 The Press: Josh, I want to ask you some questions on 370 00:16:58,884 --> 00:17:02,187 two different subjects -- one, on the debate. 371 00:17:02,187 --> 00:17:05,691 They're expecting a very, very large crowd to tune in 372 00:17:05,691 --> 00:17:08,894 tonight -- in the millions, could be 15 million, give or 373 00:17:08,894 --> 00:17:14,767 take a few million -- but around that number. 374 00:17:14,767 --> 00:17:16,735 Mr. Earnest: The phrase that comes to mind is, be careful 375 00:17:16,734 --> 00:17:17,602 what you wish for. 376 00:17:17,603 --> 00:17:19,338 The Press: I didn't say I was wishing for it, 377 00:17:19,338 --> 00:17:19,805 I'm saying -- 378 00:17:19,805 --> 00:17:20,305 Mr. Earnest: I'm not suggesting that you were 379 00:17:20,305 --> 00:17:21,206 wishing for it. 380 00:17:21,205 --> 00:17:23,442 I think there might be some Republican candidates who 381 00:17:23,442 --> 00:17:24,443 are wishing for it. 382 00:17:24,443 --> 00:17:29,348 The Press: Well, even with that, they are going to be 383 00:17:29,348 --> 00:17:31,183 trying to vie for attention and there are expected to be 384 00:17:31,183 --> 00:17:32,551 attacks on this President. 385 00:17:32,551 --> 00:17:36,822 How is this White House expected to react and come 386 00:17:36,822 --> 00:17:42,460 back to correct what I'm sure this administration 387 00:17:42,461 --> 00:17:49,301 would be considering misspeak, misinterpretation 388 00:17:49,301 --> 00:17:53,138 of the Iran deal or ACA or anything else? 389 00:17:53,138 --> 00:17:55,006 How is this administration planning on coming back to 390 00:17:55,007 --> 00:17:57,209 fight back after tonight's debate? 391 00:17:57,209 --> 00:18:00,479 Mr. Earnest: April, there's no war room or 392 00:18:00,479 --> 00:18:02,848 rapid-response team that's been assembled by the 393 00:18:02,848 --> 00:18:04,316 White House. 394 00:18:04,316 --> 00:18:06,552 The Press: DNC has one. 395 00:18:06,552 --> 00:18:08,587 Mr. Earnest: Well, then you can talk to them about what 396 00:18:08,587 --> 00:18:10,254 they may be planning. 397 00:18:10,255 --> 00:18:15,828 I suspect that they may be spending some time trying to 398 00:18:15,828 --> 00:18:20,132 pull the truth out of the thicket of overheated 399 00:18:20,132 --> 00:18:23,735 rhetoric that we can expect to see tonight. 400 00:18:23,735 --> 00:18:26,737 But I'm not aware of any plan here at the White House 401 00:18:26,738 --> 00:18:30,309 to respond to the Republican debate tonight. 402 00:18:30,309 --> 00:18:34,913 The Press: And also, today, on this big day for the GOP, 403 00:18:34,913 --> 00:18:37,816 it's also a huge day in this country -- 50th anniversary 404 00:18:37,816 --> 00:18:40,986 of the signing of the Voting Rights Act into law. 405 00:18:40,986 --> 00:18:42,654 Why is it still needed today? 406 00:18:42,654 --> 00:18:46,391 Because originally, it was for Southern states who had 407 00:18:46,391 --> 00:18:52,297 obstacles in helping blacks vote. 408 00:18:52,297 --> 00:18:54,099 They were trying to get the -- make sure that -- 409 00:18:54,099 --> 00:18:55,766 clearing the obstacles for blacks to vote. 410 00:18:55,767 --> 00:18:58,504 Why today are we still saying, 50 years later, in 411 00:18:58,504 --> 00:19:00,738 2015, that we need a Voting Rights Act? 412 00:19:00,739 --> 00:19:03,442 Mr. Earnest: Well, April, because I think for a couple 413 00:19:03,442 --> 00:19:04,443 of reasons. 414 00:19:04,443 --> 00:19:08,013 The first is there are documented instances where 415 00:19:08,013 --> 00:19:11,015 Republicans have acknowledged that they could 416 00:19:11,016 --> 00:19:14,219 seek a political advantage based on the way that 417 00:19:14,219 --> 00:19:16,755 elections are administered. 418 00:19:16,755 --> 00:19:21,593 And that certainly is not in keeping with the values that 419 00:19:21,593 --> 00:19:24,296 are enshrined in our Constitution or the kinds of 420 00:19:24,296 --> 00:19:26,632 values that make our country great. 421 00:19:26,632 --> 00:19:30,168 And I would point out that even just yesterday, the 5th 422 00:19:30,168 --> 00:19:37,642 Circuit Court of Appeals that's based in New Orleans 423 00:19:37,643 --> 00:19:41,580 issued a ruling raising concerns about the 424 00:19:41,580 --> 00:19:46,351 discriminatory impact of a Texas voting law. 425 00:19:46,351 --> 00:19:48,186 That occurred just yesterday. 426 00:19:48,186 --> 00:19:52,724 So that's a case that is still going through the 427 00:19:52,724 --> 00:19:55,127 legal process, so I can't talk about it too 428 00:19:55,127 --> 00:19:57,763 extensively other than acknowledging that this 429 00:19:57,763 --> 00:20:00,465 decision was handed down, and I think it's an 430 00:20:00,465 --> 00:20:05,571 indication that there continues to be a need for 431 00:20:05,571 --> 00:20:08,506 laws that protect the right of every eligible American 432 00:20:08,507 --> 00:20:09,808 to vote. 433 00:20:09,808 --> 00:20:12,377 And the President -- I think, as you'll hear him 434 00:20:12,377 --> 00:20:14,713 say a little bit later today, but as he certainly 435 00:20:14,713 --> 00:20:18,850 said in the past -- has been quite disappointed at the 436 00:20:18,850 --> 00:20:22,553 amount of energy and effort that's been expended by 437 00:20:22,554 --> 00:20:25,591 Republicans to make it harder for eligible 438 00:20:25,591 --> 00:20:28,327 Americans to cast a vote. 439 00:20:28,327 --> 00:20:31,763 And that's why -- that's in part why you've seen the 440 00:20:31,763 --> 00:20:35,167 Department of Justice go to such great lengths to try to 441 00:20:35,167 --> 00:20:39,538 protect the voting rights of veterans and Spanish 442 00:20:39,538 --> 00:20:43,108 speakers and elderly Americans who may not have 443 00:20:43,108 --> 00:20:47,546 driver's licenses -- and, yes, even African Americans. 444 00:20:47,546 --> 00:20:54,086 And this principle of ensuring that eligible 445 00:20:54,086 --> 00:20:57,489 Americans have the opportunity to vote is one 446 00:20:57,489 --> 00:20:59,491 that this administration has gone to great lengths to 447 00:20:59,491 --> 00:21:00,492 aggressively defend. 448 00:21:00,492 --> 00:21:02,094 The Press: So what is the President going to do and 449 00:21:02,094 --> 00:21:04,329 what is he going to say about restoration? 450 00:21:04,329 --> 00:21:06,531 We've heard him talk before -- is he going to say 451 00:21:06,531 --> 00:21:08,000 something new today about restoring the 452 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:09,101 Voting Rights Act? 453 00:21:09,101 --> 00:21:14,439 Because there's a different, I guess, problem when it 454 00:21:14,439 --> 00:21:17,109 comes to voting issues in this country versus 455 00:21:17,109 --> 00:21:17,943 50 years ago. 456 00:21:17,943 --> 00:21:19,711 What is he going to say today that's new as it 457 00:21:19,711 --> 00:21:21,713 relates to voting rights? 458 00:21:21,713 --> 00:21:22,681 Mr. Earnest: Well, April, I think you heard the 459 00:21:22,681 --> 00:21:24,282 President speak quite powerfully about this issue 460 00:21:24,282 --> 00:21:27,386 in Selma, Alabama, earlier this year. 461 00:21:27,386 --> 00:21:30,155 And the President at that time used that rather 462 00:21:30,155 --> 00:21:33,725 significant platform to urge Democrats and Republicans -- 463 00:21:33,725 --> 00:21:35,394 everybody who says they're concerned about voting 464 00:21:35,394 --> 00:21:38,397 rights -- to act together and to find common ground 465 00:21:38,397 --> 00:21:42,000 and advance and renew the Voting Rights Act. 466 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:44,936 And the President will repeat that call today. 467 00:21:44,936 --> 00:21:47,139 Pam. 468 00:21:47,139 --> 00:21:49,306 The Press: Thank you. 469 00:21:49,307 --> 00:21:51,376 Following up on Jim's line of questioning, do the 470 00:21:51,376 --> 00:21:55,013 Democrats who oppose the Iranian nuclear deal also 471 00:21:55,013 --> 00:21:58,316 have common cause with the Iranian hardliners? 472 00:21:58,316 --> 00:22:03,388 Mr. Earnest: Well, Pam, the thing that I would say is 473 00:22:03,388 --> 00:22:07,292 that we have seen Republicans, even before the 474 00:22:07,292 --> 00:22:10,995 deal was announced, proclaim it a bad deal. 475 00:22:10,996 --> 00:22:14,232 I'd point you back to Sunday, July 12 -- not a 476 00:22:14,232 --> 00:22:17,803 particularly notable day in American political history, 477 00:22:17,803 --> 00:22:21,773 but it is a day when several members of the Republican 478 00:22:21,773 --> 00:22:24,576 congressional leadership took to the airwaves -- 479 00:22:24,576 --> 00:22:27,679 including the airwaves on your network -- to proclaim 480 00:22:27,679 --> 00:22:30,949 the Iran agreement a bad deal, even though the Iran 481 00:22:30,949 --> 00:22:32,984 agreement hadn't been agreed to yet. 482 00:22:32,984 --> 00:22:35,620 It wasn't rolled out until two days later. 483 00:22:35,620 --> 00:22:42,427 And that is consistent with the views that are even more 484 00:22:42,427 --> 00:22:46,564 colorfully expressed on the streets of Iran by 485 00:22:46,565 --> 00:22:49,601 hardliners in Iran who are strongly opposed to the deal. 486 00:22:49,601 --> 00:22:51,770 The Press: But the difference is a rush to 487 00:22:51,770 --> 00:22:54,940 judgment -- the Democrats took longer to decide they 488 00:22:54,940 --> 00:22:56,942 didn't think it was a good deal? 489 00:22:56,942 --> 00:22:58,944 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think that there are a number of 490 00:22:58,944 --> 00:23:03,281 Democrats who at least considered the deal and at 491 00:23:03,281 --> 00:23:06,717 least listened to the President and his national 492 00:23:06,718 --> 00:23:07,953 security team make the case. 493 00:23:07,953 --> 00:23:11,389 Now, I certainly disagree with the conclusion that 494 00:23:11,389 --> 00:23:13,492 they've reached, but at least they took their 495 00:23:13,492 --> 00:23:17,428 responsibilities seriously and didn't just respond out 496 00:23:17,429 --> 00:23:20,499 of an ideological or political or partisan 497 00:23:20,499 --> 00:23:22,501 opportunity to the leader of the country. 498 00:23:22,501 --> 00:23:25,637 The Press: The President has said that he wants members 499 00:23:25,637 --> 00:23:28,506 of Congress to judge the deal on its merits, 500 00:23:28,507 --> 00:23:29,508 on the facts. 501 00:23:29,508 --> 00:23:33,011 Is that kind of rhetoric, putting Republicans in with 502 00:23:33,011 --> 00:23:36,848 Iranian hardliners, keeping the debate on the facts? 503 00:23:36,848 --> 00:23:39,851 Mr. Earnest: I think, Pam, the other observation I 504 00:23:39,851 --> 00:23:42,654 would have for you is that we haven't had a lot -- an 505 00:23:42,654 --> 00:23:45,590 extensive debate about the facts, that there's been a 506 00:23:45,590 --> 00:23:48,126 desire on the part of opponents of this deal to 507 00:23:48,126 --> 00:23:50,796 not really hone in on the details of the agreement, 508 00:23:50,796 --> 00:23:54,299 but to make broader rhetorical arguments, in 509 00:23:54,299 --> 00:23:56,902 some cases, even critiquing the tone of the President's 510 00:23:56,902 --> 00:24:01,039 speech about the deal -- not actually raising any 511 00:24:01,039 --> 00:24:04,342 legitimate concerns about the substance of the deal. 512 00:24:04,342 --> 00:24:06,344 I think that adds some weight to the President's 513 00:24:06,344 --> 00:24:09,481 argument that there is no legitimate alternative 514 00:24:09,481 --> 00:24:11,917 that's being put forward by the other side. 515 00:24:11,917 --> 00:24:15,387 What's being put forward by the other side is advocating 516 00:24:15,387 --> 00:24:19,890 killing a deal that would leave military action as the 517 00:24:19,891 --> 00:24:21,893 only alternative to prevent Iran from obtaining a 518 00:24:21,893 --> 00:24:22,894 nuclear weapon. 519 00:24:22,894 --> 00:24:23,895 The Press: One more. 520 00:24:23,895 --> 00:24:26,565 In Selma and in his op-ed this morning, the President 521 00:24:26,565 --> 00:24:29,734 talked both about efforts to make it harder for some 522 00:24:29,734 --> 00:24:32,404 people to vote, and the fact that so many Americans 523 00:24:32,404 --> 00:24:34,105 choose not to vote. 524 00:24:34,105 --> 00:24:36,274 Which would he say is a bigger threat to the 525 00:24:36,274 --> 00:24:39,511 exercise of democracy, the efforts to restrict voter 526 00:24:39,511 --> 00:24:41,913 rights, or the fact that people are just apathetic? 527 00:24:41,913 --> 00:24:44,516 Mr. Earnest: Well, Pam, the President has made the 528 00:24:44,516 --> 00:24:50,856 observation that people do have a choice when they walk 529 00:24:50,856 --> 00:24:54,359 into the voting booth of voting for one candidate or 530 00:24:54,359 --> 00:24:57,829 another, and it is a choice to say that you're not going 531 00:24:57,829 --> 00:24:58,830 to cast a ballot. 532 00:24:58,830 --> 00:25:00,831 It certainly is not a choice that the President agrees with. 533 00:25:03,802 --> 00:25:06,538 But I think that is materially different than 534 00:25:06,538 --> 00:25:09,307 people who expend significant time and energy, 535 00:25:09,307 --> 00:25:12,177 and in some cases, significant sums of money, 536 00:25:12,177 --> 00:25:16,715 to actually deprive eligible Americans of the right to vote. 537 00:25:16,715 --> 00:25:18,683 So I would describe that as worse. 538 00:25:18,683 --> 00:25:22,454 But people who choose not to engage in their democracy, 539 00:25:22,454 --> 00:25:23,154 that's a problem, too. 540 00:25:23,154 --> 00:25:24,923 Jim. 541 00:25:24,923 --> 00:25:27,492 The Press: Let me start with Iran, if I could. 542 00:25:27,492 --> 00:25:30,495 It does seem as if the public still, beyond the 543 00:25:30,495 --> 00:25:33,398 Congress, the public seems to be divided, at least 544 00:25:33,398 --> 00:25:38,102 according to polls -- very closely divided. 545 00:25:38,103 --> 00:25:41,406 And one of the key questions that seems to be out there 546 00:25:41,406 --> 00:25:45,911 is the administration has said that war there or an 547 00:25:45,911 --> 00:25:50,415 attack on Iran is not simple and, in fact, would be more 548 00:25:50,415 --> 00:25:54,019 difficult, and you relate it to what happened in Iraq. 549 00:25:54,019 --> 00:25:59,224 But isn't it different, and won't people see it as 550 00:25:59,224 --> 00:26:04,095 different -- isn't it simple to -- how different is it 551 00:26:04,095 --> 00:26:06,631 to, instead of -- you're not trying to overthrow a 552 00:26:06,631 --> 00:26:08,466 government in this case. 553 00:26:08,466 --> 00:26:12,870 You would be trying to just knock out their nuclear 554 00:26:12,871 --> 00:26:17,042 sites, which Israel has done on occasion, and why can't 555 00:26:17,042 --> 00:26:18,243 the United States do that? 556 00:26:18,243 --> 00:26:20,245 Mr. Earnest: You think that's how they'd see it, 557 00:26:20,245 --> 00:26:20,879 Jim? 558 00:26:20,879 --> 00:26:22,112 The Press: Pardon? 559 00:26:22,113 --> 00:26:22,948 Mr. Earnest: You think that's how they would see it? 560 00:26:22,948 --> 00:26:25,583 I think the point is I don't think that the Iranians 561 00:26:25,583 --> 00:26:27,018 would see it that way. 562 00:26:27,018 --> 00:26:32,290 And I think it is entirely logical and even 563 00:26:32,290 --> 00:26:39,164 constructive, responsible, to assume that a military 564 00:26:39,164 --> 00:26:42,834 action against what the Iranian regime has called a 565 00:26:42,834 --> 00:26:46,972 national priority would provoke a significant 566 00:26:46,972 --> 00:26:51,676 reaction from the Iranian regime. 567 00:26:51,676 --> 00:26:53,678 The President talked about this a little bit in the 568 00:26:53,678 --> 00:26:55,680 conversation he had with some columnists in the 569 00:26:55,680 --> 00:27:01,152 Roosevelt Room yesterday, that given the significant 570 00:27:01,152 --> 00:27:04,889 military advantage that the United States has, it might 571 00:27:04,889 --> 00:27:08,193 be a little unlikely that the Iranians would respond 572 00:27:08,193 --> 00:27:13,231 directly by attacking the United States. 573 00:27:13,231 --> 00:27:17,869 But we know that Iran and their proxies have a 574 00:27:17,869 --> 00:27:19,870 significant number of missiles that are aimed 575 00:27:19,871 --> 00:27:21,806 at Israel. 576 00:27:21,806 --> 00:27:25,110 We know right now that Iran is providing at least some 577 00:27:25,110 --> 00:27:31,582 support to Shia militia that are operating inside of Iraq 578 00:27:31,583 --> 00:27:36,488 -- in some cases in rather close proximity to U.S. 579 00:27:36,488 --> 00:27:38,123 military trainers. 580 00:27:38,123 --> 00:27:40,959 So there is some vulnerability. 581 00:27:40,959 --> 00:27:47,399 And you can only imagine -- the other example, we saw 582 00:27:47,399 --> 00:27:51,168 reports just earlier today that the Iranian military 583 00:27:51,169 --> 00:27:54,105 had undertaken some provocative action against U.S. 584 00:27:54,105 --> 00:27:57,375 military personnel that were operating in international 585 00:27:57,375 --> 00:27:59,811 waters around the Strait of Hormuz. 586 00:27:59,811 --> 00:28:02,379 You can only imagine what the reaction in the United 587 00:28:02,380 --> 00:28:08,286 States will be if Iran did any one of those things or 588 00:28:08,286 --> 00:28:10,588 their proxies did one of those things. 589 00:28:10,588 --> 00:28:13,124 And that's where the march to war begins. 590 00:28:13,124 --> 00:28:18,229 And so there are some, including Tom Cotton, 591 00:28:18,229 --> 00:28:22,200 Senator Cotton, who suggests that -- again, as I alluded 592 00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:25,203 to earlier -- that military action would be easy. 593 00:28:25,203 --> 00:28:28,039 But that's exactly the kind of thinking that got us in 594 00:28:28,039 --> 00:28:31,743 trouble in Iraq in 2003 -- that the first month or so 595 00:28:31,743 --> 00:28:35,513 of that war did live up to the hype; that there was 596 00:28:35,513 --> 00:28:38,149 shock and awe, and that there was a rapid advance of 597 00:28:38,149 --> 00:28:42,419 U.S. forces across the desert in Iraq. 598 00:28:42,420 --> 00:28:45,824 But 12 years later, we're still dealing with the 599 00:28:45,824 --> 00:28:49,527 consequences of that seemingly simply 600 00:28:49,527 --> 00:28:50,862 military operation. 601 00:28:50,862 --> 00:28:54,466 And again, I think the parallels of these two 602 00:28:54,466 --> 00:28:56,033 situations are undeniable. 603 00:28:56,034 --> 00:28:58,670 The Press: Changing the subject to the Voting Rights 604 00:28:58,670 --> 00:29:00,972 Act, a couple quick questions on this. 605 00:29:00,972 --> 00:29:06,978 Just if you could -- you've said that the voter I.D. 606 00:29:06,978 --> 00:29:10,615 laws discriminate against older people who don't have 607 00:29:10,615 --> 00:29:13,118 licenses; you mentioned Spanish speakers. 608 00:29:13,118 --> 00:29:16,254 What protection -- if, in fact, voter I.D. 609 00:29:16,254 --> 00:29:19,657 laws were to be eliminated, what protections would we 610 00:29:19,657 --> 00:29:22,894 have that only those who were supposed to vote 611 00:29:22,894 --> 00:29:25,096 would vote? 612 00:29:25,096 --> 00:29:29,200 And does the President support making it easier to 613 00:29:29,200 --> 00:29:32,437 vote on the other end by having -- by moving the 614 00:29:32,437 --> 00:29:36,274 election from Tuesday during the work day to days when 615 00:29:36,274 --> 00:29:40,245 people are not at work, or evenings, where people could 616 00:29:40,245 --> 00:29:44,081 vote, as is done in some other places? 617 00:29:44,082 --> 00:29:48,219 Mr. Earnest: Well, Jim, as you know, the election rules 618 00:29:48,219 --> 00:29:53,224 are written by states and administered by local officials. 619 00:29:53,224 --> 00:29:55,994 And the goal of the Voting Rights Act was to try to 620 00:29:55,994 --> 00:30:01,399 provide some uniformity of access to the ballot box for 621 00:30:01,399 --> 00:30:02,399 many Americans. 622 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:06,404 And so in terms of the protections, we obviously 623 00:30:06,404 --> 00:30:09,307 are going to rely on state and local officials to put 624 00:30:09,307 --> 00:30:12,544 those protections in place and to enforce them. 625 00:30:12,544 --> 00:30:14,779 There are a variety of ideas that people have come up 626 00:30:14,779 --> 00:30:19,884 with to make it easier or to somehow encourage more 627 00:30:19,884 --> 00:30:23,087 people to participate in the electoral process. 628 00:30:23,087 --> 00:30:27,225 And I know that some who have taken a close look at 629 00:30:27,225 --> 00:30:29,226 this issue, for example, have found that there might 630 00:30:29,227 --> 00:30:32,697 be some downsides to moving Election Day to a weekend 631 00:30:32,697 --> 00:30:35,199 instead of a weekday. 632 00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:38,136 But the President did announce a blue-ribbon 633 00:30:38,136 --> 00:30:42,907 commission that included political operatives and 634 00:30:42,907 --> 00:30:47,412 attorneys from both parties to take a look at this and 635 00:30:47,412 --> 00:30:49,647 to put forward some recommendations about how 636 00:30:49,647 --> 00:30:52,250 the process of registering to vote and casting a ballot 637 00:30:52,250 --> 00:30:56,254 could be made more convenient for voters. 638 00:30:56,254 --> 00:30:58,255 And we certainly would encourage states to take a 639 00:30:58,256 --> 00:31:00,825 look at the results of that blue-ribbon commission and 640 00:31:00,825 --> 00:31:02,827 even implement some of those ideas. 641 00:31:02,827 --> 00:31:03,795 The Press: If I could just turn to immigration for a 642 00:31:03,795 --> 00:31:07,966 moment -- does the administration believe -- 643 00:31:07,966 --> 00:31:13,604 continue to believe that these private prisons for 644 00:31:13,605 --> 00:31:17,775 families, including children, are a good idea, 645 00:31:17,775 --> 00:31:24,148 even though a judge has said that you need to move on this? 646 00:31:24,148 --> 00:31:25,882 Does the administration believe it's a good idea to 647 00:31:25,883 --> 00:31:28,386 be on the same side as Chairman Bob Goodlatte, who 648 00:31:28,386 --> 00:31:33,224 has urged you to continue to -- urged the DHS to continue 649 00:31:33,224 --> 00:31:36,159 to fight to keep detaining women and children? 650 00:31:36,160 --> 00:31:37,829 Is that a good idea? 651 00:31:37,829 --> 00:31:40,632 Mr. Earnest: Well, Jim, I'm limited in what I can say 652 00:31:40,632 --> 00:31:42,634 about this because of the court case that 653 00:31:42,634 --> 00:31:45,036 you referenced. 654 00:31:45,036 --> 00:31:46,904 We have acknowledged from the very beginning that this 655 00:31:46,904 --> 00:31:49,874 is a very complicated and even difficult policy 656 00:31:49,874 --> 00:31:52,343 problem to confront. 657 00:31:52,343 --> 00:31:55,947 And the best way to confront this policy is to try to 658 00:31:55,947 --> 00:31:57,881 prevent this occurrence from happening in the 659 00:31:57,882 --> 00:31:59,317 first place. 660 00:31:59,317 --> 00:32:02,553 And that's why you've seen the administration do a 661 00:32:02,553 --> 00:32:06,224 variety of things with our partners in Mexico and in 662 00:32:06,224 --> 00:32:09,193 Central America to try to stem the flow of women and 663 00:32:09,193 --> 00:32:11,429 children who are seeking to illegally enter 664 00:32:11,429 --> 00:32:14,098 this country. 665 00:32:14,098 --> 00:32:16,334 So that's sort of where this starts. 666 00:32:16,334 --> 00:32:18,336 There are some investments that we've made in these 667 00:32:18,336 --> 00:32:20,338 individual countries; there are steps that we've 668 00:32:20,338 --> 00:32:23,107 encouraged our Mexican partners to take, and to 669 00:32:23,107 --> 00:32:25,109 their credit, they've followed through on some of 670 00:32:25,109 --> 00:32:29,580 those commitments to try to stem the flow of 671 00:32:29,580 --> 00:32:33,551 undocumented workers northward. 672 00:32:33,551 --> 00:32:36,587 But what's also true is we need to enforce the laws 673 00:32:36,587 --> 00:32:40,158 that are on the books, and we do need to have a process 674 00:32:40,158 --> 00:32:41,158 for -- 675 00:32:41,159 --> 00:32:43,461 The Press: But, Josh, the law that's on the books 676 00:32:43,461 --> 00:32:48,232 says that women and children should be put in places not 677 00:32:48,232 --> 00:32:52,570 like prisons and, in fact, places that are certified to 678 00:32:52,570 --> 00:32:54,072 care for children, or with relatives. 679 00:32:54,072 --> 00:32:56,440 And that's not what the administration is doing. 680 00:32:56,441 --> 00:32:57,408 That is against the law. 681 00:32:57,408 --> 00:33:00,812 Does the administration feel as though -- that it 682 00:33:00,812 --> 00:33:04,048 should change? 683 00:33:04,048 --> 00:33:06,684 Wouldn't it be better to put that money you're spending 684 00:33:06,684 --> 00:33:09,787 on private prisons -- millions and millions of 685 00:33:09,787 --> 00:33:11,823 dollars -- into the court system to process these 686 00:33:11,823 --> 00:33:14,959 people faster and get them where they belong? 687 00:33:14,959 --> 00:33:17,729 Mr. Earnest: Well, some of these specific proposals, 688 00:33:17,729 --> 00:33:19,731 I'd refer you to the Department of Homeland 689 00:33:19,731 --> 00:33:22,433 Security for the feasibility of implementing them. 690 00:33:22,433 --> 00:33:25,069 But all I can tell you is that this is a difficult 691 00:33:25,069 --> 00:33:30,174 policy problem that we have worked very hard to address. 692 00:33:30,174 --> 00:33:32,176 But in terms of weighing the pros and cons here, it's 693 00:33:32,176 --> 00:33:34,178 hard for me to do that because that's something 694 00:33:34,178 --> 00:33:37,014 that's being done in a court of law right now. 695 00:33:37,014 --> 00:33:38,014 JC. 696 00:33:38,015 --> 00:33:40,852 The Press: How closely do you think the American 697 00:33:40,852 --> 00:33:43,154 people are really paying attention to this Iran 698 00:33:43,154 --> 00:33:45,390 nuclear debate? 699 00:33:45,390 --> 00:33:48,593 Mr. Earnest: I think it's hard to tell -- particularly 700 00:33:48,593 --> 00:33:49,494 at this time of year. 701 00:33:49,494 --> 00:33:52,362 But that's certainly not going to stop the 702 00:33:52,363 --> 00:33:57,168 administration or the President himself from 703 00:33:57,168 --> 00:33:59,370 making the case publicly. 704 00:33:59,370 --> 00:34:01,805 And it's not going to stop the opponents of this deal 705 00:34:01,806 --> 00:34:04,008 from making their case to the public, as well. 706 00:34:04,008 --> 00:34:08,513 And I would expect that this debate -- even in a month 707 00:34:08,513 --> 00:34:12,482 when many Americans are not paying close attention to 708 00:34:12,483 --> 00:34:15,119 public policy issues like this, where I think this is 709 00:34:15,119 --> 00:34:16,120 a debate that will continue. 710 00:34:16,120 --> 00:34:18,221 The Press: Speaking about an opponent to the debate, how 711 00:34:18,222 --> 00:34:20,458 concerned is this administration that Prime 712 00:34:20,458 --> 00:34:23,261 Minister Netanyahu will be making additional overtures 713 00:34:23,261 --> 00:34:25,563 to defeat this bill to Congress, in fact, maybe 714 00:34:25,563 --> 00:34:27,265 even in person? 715 00:34:27,264 --> 00:34:30,201 Mr. Earnest: Well, JC, I'm not aware of any plans that 716 00:34:30,201 --> 00:34:32,870 the Prime Minister has, but it's difficult for me to 717 00:34:32,870 --> 00:34:35,639 imagine that he would have a more significant platform 718 00:34:35,639 --> 00:34:37,908 than he ascended back in March when he spoke to a 719 00:34:37,909 --> 00:34:39,010 joint session of Congress. 720 00:34:39,010 --> 00:34:41,312 So he certainly has had ample opportunity to make 721 00:34:41,312 --> 00:34:43,480 his views of this deal known. 722 00:34:43,481 --> 00:34:44,248 The Press: Thank you. 723 00:34:44,248 --> 00:34:45,883 Mr. Earnest: David. 724 00:34:45,882 --> 00:34:47,118 The Press: Just a follow-up. 725 00:34:47,118 --> 00:34:49,587 Do you feel that -- the President had Jewish 726 00:34:49,587 --> 00:34:51,556 American groups over to the White House the other night, 727 00:34:51,556 --> 00:34:53,057 and he spoke publicly on the deal, and I think he's 728 00:34:53,056 --> 00:34:54,759 giving an interview today for a Sunday show for 729 00:34:54,759 --> 00:34:56,461 Fareed Zakaria. 730 00:34:56,460 --> 00:34:58,328 Does he believe that -- you said he's not going to 731 00:34:58,329 --> 00:35:00,331 engage with lawmakers during this two-week vacation. 732 00:35:00,331 --> 00:35:02,333 Does he believe he's gotten his arguments out now, that 733 00:35:02,333 --> 00:35:05,436 they're out there, he himself has ticked off the 734 00:35:05,436 --> 00:35:07,472 criticisms and kind of rebutted them already -- 735 00:35:07,472 --> 00:35:09,240 does he feel confident that he's okay to go off on the 736 00:35:09,240 --> 00:35:11,609 vacation and not have to speak publicly and sell this 737 00:35:11,609 --> 00:35:14,078 deal for two weeks, and that he's done all he can? 738 00:35:14,078 --> 00:35:16,514 Mr. Earnest: I think the President has had ample 739 00:35:16,514 --> 00:35:20,218 opportunity -- both in the context of the speech that 740 00:35:20,218 --> 00:35:21,519 he gave the morning after the deal was announced, and 741 00:35:21,519 --> 00:35:24,321 the news conference that he did with all of you where he 742 00:35:24,322 --> 00:35:26,858 spent more than an hour answering questions and 743 00:35:26,858 --> 00:35:30,361 taking on directly many of the criticisms of the deal, 744 00:35:30,361 --> 00:35:32,763 and of course, he had a sizeable platform yesterday 745 00:35:32,763 --> 00:35:35,967 where he delivered the speech at American University. 746 00:35:35,967 --> 00:35:38,436 So the President will do an interview with Fareed 747 00:35:38,436 --> 00:35:41,906 Zakaria from CNN today, and I think this will be the 748 00:35:41,906 --> 00:35:43,140 focus of most of the interview. 749 00:35:43,140 --> 00:35:45,243 The Press: His opponents tonight are going to be on 750 00:35:45,243 --> 00:35:47,411 national television talking about their criticisms 751 00:35:47,411 --> 00:35:50,314 potentially of this deal, and the next two weeks maybe 752 00:35:50,314 --> 00:35:52,316 making other statements, and lawmakers back home hearing 753 00:35:52,316 --> 00:35:55,151 from their constituents. 754 00:35:55,152 --> 00:35:56,587 The President doesn't feel he has to be out there 755 00:35:56,587 --> 00:35:57,855 during his vacation time to weigh in on this? 756 00:35:57,855 --> 00:35:58,523 Mr. Earnest: He does not. 757 00:35:58,523 --> 00:36:01,559 But I wouldn't rule out that other senior administration 758 00:36:01,559 --> 00:36:04,161 officials, however, over the course of the next couple of 759 00:36:04,161 --> 00:36:06,297 weeks might be publicly making the case. 760 00:36:06,297 --> 00:36:07,465 The Press: One other thing. 761 00:36:07,465 --> 00:36:09,367 This is the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. 762 00:36:09,367 --> 00:36:14,238 Has the President ever considered going to Hiroshima? 763 00:36:14,238 --> 00:36:16,307 If so, why has he not? 764 00:36:16,307 --> 00:36:18,341 If not, does he not believe that such a visit would 765 00:36:18,342 --> 00:36:19,744 be appropriate? 766 00:36:19,744 --> 00:36:22,046 I believe there was a WikiLeaks cable a few years 767 00:36:22,046 --> 00:36:26,384 ago that had some discussions about U.S. 768 00:36:26,384 --> 00:36:29,120 diplomat John Roos talking about the Japanese feelings 769 00:36:29,120 --> 00:36:30,354 about such a visit. 770 00:36:30,354 --> 00:36:32,356 Has the President considered it? 771 00:36:32,356 --> 00:36:34,358 Is it a nonstarter at this point? 772 00:36:34,358 --> 00:36:35,226 And what is his thinking about whether it's 773 00:36:35,226 --> 00:36:38,229 appropriate for a sitting President to visit? 774 00:36:38,229 --> 00:36:41,365 Mr. Earnest: Well, David, I think it's first important 775 00:36:41,365 --> 00:36:45,703 to reflect on the 70th anniversary of the end of 776 00:36:45,703 --> 00:36:48,873 WWII and the enduring bilateral partnership that's 777 00:36:48,873 --> 00:36:50,875 been built between the United States and Japan. 778 00:36:50,875 --> 00:36:57,348 And today, August 6th and August 9th, remain days for 779 00:36:57,348 --> 00:37:00,817 somber reflection and a renewed commitment to 780 00:37:00,818 --> 00:37:02,286 building a more peaceful world. 781 00:37:02,286 --> 00:37:06,057 The United States looks forward to continued work 782 00:37:06,057 --> 00:37:08,959 with Japan to advance the goal that the President 783 00:37:08,960 --> 00:37:11,862 himself has articulated of a world without 784 00:37:11,862 --> 00:37:13,164 nuclear weapons. 785 00:37:13,164 --> 00:37:17,735 You mentioned the ceremony that took place at 786 00:37:17,735 --> 00:37:18,970 Hiroshima today. 787 00:37:18,970 --> 00:37:23,908 The United States Ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, 788 00:37:23,908 --> 00:37:25,910 as well as the Under Secretary for Arms Control 789 00:37:25,910 --> 00:37:29,779 and International Security Affairs, Rose Gottemoeller, 790 00:37:29,780 --> 00:37:32,583 attended that ceremony and they're planning to attend 791 00:37:32,583 --> 00:37:35,152 the Nagasaki Peace memorial service that's scheduled for 792 00:37:35,152 --> 00:37:36,821 later this week. 793 00:37:36,821 --> 00:37:38,923 The Press: But that didn't answer -- does the President 794 00:37:38,923 --> 00:37:41,792 believe it's not appropriate for him to visit as a 795 00:37:41,792 --> 00:37:43,894 sitting President because it would look like some sort of 796 00:37:43,894 --> 00:37:45,796 apology, or sort of a contrite sort of position 797 00:37:45,796 --> 00:37:51,234 for -- obviously a decision that killed a lot of 798 00:37:51,235 --> 00:37:52,903 Japanese but maybe ended the war more quickly for 799 00:37:52,903 --> 00:37:54,671 U.S. military? 800 00:37:54,672 --> 00:37:57,341 I mean, does he think that at some point we have to get 801 00:37:57,341 --> 00:37:59,844 past that and maybe a visit would be appropriate at some 802 00:37:59,844 --> 00:38:01,846 point, whether him or a future President? 803 00:38:01,846 --> 00:38:04,982 Mr. Earnest: Well, I certainly wouldn't rule out 804 00:38:04,982 --> 00:38:07,718 that kind of possibility into the future. 805 00:38:07,718 --> 00:38:10,421 But there has been a robust debate particularly 806 00:38:10,421 --> 00:38:14,725 surrounding the President's previous visits to Japan. 807 00:38:14,725 --> 00:38:17,094 He's been there three or four times now, and I think 808 00:38:17,094 --> 00:38:19,563 in the context of each trip there has been sort of this 809 00:38:19,563 --> 00:38:25,336 public debate and discussion about the propriety of a 810 00:38:25,336 --> 00:38:26,803 presidential visit. 811 00:38:26,804 --> 00:38:30,241 And I don't have a lot of internal thinking to share 812 00:38:30,241 --> 00:38:30,908 with you. 813 00:38:30,908 --> 00:38:32,276 The Press: Can you say whether the President or his 814 00:38:32,276 --> 00:38:34,678 advisors came down basically against it? 815 00:38:34,679 --> 00:38:37,114 I mean, in Burma he's done a lot of things to make -- get 816 00:38:37,114 --> 00:38:41,385 past the sticking points; Cuba, and so on. 817 00:38:41,385 --> 00:38:43,554 Does he just come down on the other side on this one? 818 00:38:43,554 --> 00:38:46,524 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think the fact that he didn't go 819 00:38:46,524 --> 00:38:50,594 to either Hiroshima or Nagasaki on his three or 820 00:38:50,594 --> 00:38:53,364 four previous visits to Japan I think does give you 821 00:38:53,364 --> 00:38:55,833 an indication of where the President and his team 822 00:38:55,833 --> 00:38:57,868 ultimately came down on this. 823 00:38:57,868 --> 00:39:02,306 But I think the other thing that warrants mentioning is 824 00:39:02,306 --> 00:39:04,775 what Prime Minister Abe said when he visited the United 825 00:39:04,775 --> 00:39:08,145 States earlier this year -- and I think you covered this 826 00:39:08,145 --> 00:39:11,582 news conference in the Rose Garden, David, where Prime 827 00:39:11,582 --> 00:39:14,685 Minister Abe relayed a constructive message in 828 00:39:14,685 --> 00:39:16,654 Washington about reconciliation and 829 00:39:16,654 --> 00:39:19,123 U.S.-Japan relations including his tribute to 830 00:39:19,123 --> 00:39:22,560 Americans who lost their lives in the war. 831 00:39:22,560 --> 00:39:25,362 And we certainly take note of Prime Minister Abe's 832 00:39:25,362 --> 00:39:28,199 expression of deep remorse over the war and his 833 00:39:28,199 --> 00:39:30,201 reference to Japanese actions that brought 834 00:39:30,201 --> 00:39:33,671 suffering to people in countries throughout Asia. 835 00:39:33,671 --> 00:39:37,908 And it is in the interest of all parties in that old 836 00:39:37,908 --> 00:39:40,911 conflict to address and transcend the lingering 837 00:39:40,911 --> 00:39:43,547 historical issues of that war era. 838 00:39:43,547 --> 00:39:44,615 Toluse. 839 00:39:44,615 --> 00:39:46,616 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 840 00:39:46,617 --> 00:39:48,252 The President in his speech yesterday saved some of his 841 00:39:48,252 --> 00:39:51,522 harshest criticism for people who had not -- or who 842 00:39:51,522 --> 00:39:55,125 came out against the deal before actually reading it. 843 00:39:55,126 --> 00:39:57,094 You've done the same thing today. 844 00:39:57,094 --> 00:39:59,530 I want to ask you about Prime Minister Netanyahu. 845 00:39:59,530 --> 00:40:01,966 He has been a constant opponent of the deal before 846 00:40:01,966 --> 00:40:06,237 the initial agreement, before the final agreement. 847 00:40:06,237 --> 00:40:09,240 Do you put him in that same category as -- do you 848 00:40:09,240 --> 00:40:11,808 believe he's done enough to actually read the deal and 849 00:40:11,809 --> 00:40:15,179 make a decision based on the merits? 850 00:40:15,179 --> 00:40:19,650 Mr. Earnest: Well, Toluse, I think the President -- you 851 00:40:19,650 --> 00:40:21,652 were referring to his remarks yesterday to the 852 00:40:21,652 --> 00:40:24,221 fact that he respects Prime Minister Netanyahu and that 853 00:40:24,221 --> 00:40:27,792 he comes by his views on this topic honestly, but the 854 00:40:27,792 --> 00:40:30,060 President does think that he's wrong. 855 00:40:30,060 --> 00:40:35,399 And I think one illustration I would remind you of is 856 00:40:35,399 --> 00:40:37,567 that when an interim agreement was announced, I 857 00:40:37,568 --> 00:40:41,906 believe sort of at the end of November of 2013 -- this 858 00:40:41,906 --> 00:40:45,409 was essentially the agreement that predicated 859 00:40:45,409 --> 00:40:48,145 Iran rolling back key aspects of their nuclear 860 00:40:48,145 --> 00:40:50,681 program in exchange for a limited amount of sanctions 861 00:40:50,681 --> 00:40:54,485 relief while broader negotiations took place to 862 00:40:54,485 --> 00:40:56,020 reach a final agreement. 863 00:40:56,020 --> 00:40:58,788 When that agreement was announced, Prime Minster 864 00:40:58,789 --> 00:41:02,560 Netanyahu called it a historic mistake. 865 00:41:02,560 --> 00:41:05,262 And yet in the run-up to the completion to the final 866 00:41:05,262 --> 00:41:07,665 agreement, Prime Minister Netanyahu was actually 867 00:41:07,665 --> 00:41:10,768 advocating that we just leave that interim agreement 868 00:41:10,768 --> 00:41:13,103 in place permanently rather than trying to reach a 869 00:41:13,103 --> 00:41:14,371 final deal. 870 00:41:14,371 --> 00:41:16,373 So something that Prime Minister Netanyahu had 871 00:41:16,373 --> 00:41:19,677 previously called a historic mistake 18 months later he 872 00:41:19,677 --> 00:41:23,414 was advocating remain in place permanently. 873 00:41:23,414 --> 00:41:29,753 So, again, I think that is why there's been some 874 00:41:29,753 --> 00:41:33,657 frustration that you've seen from the White House and 875 00:41:33,657 --> 00:41:35,860 even from the President about some of the Prime 876 00:41:35,860 --> 00:41:36,861 Minister's comments. 877 00:41:36,861 --> 00:41:39,930 But at the same time, the President I think readily 878 00:41:39,930 --> 00:41:44,067 acknowledged the serious responsibility that Prime 879 00:41:44,068 --> 00:41:46,570 Minster Netanyahu has to provide for the national 880 00:41:46,570 --> 00:41:49,073 security of the nation that he leads and for the people 881 00:41:49,073 --> 00:41:50,374 of that country. 882 00:41:50,374 --> 00:41:54,178 And that's what he should do. 883 00:41:54,178 --> 00:41:58,214 And the commitment that this President and this 884 00:41:58,215 --> 00:42:04,321 administration and this country feel to cooperating 885 00:42:04,321 --> 00:42:08,058 and even strengthening the security relationship 886 00:42:08,058 --> 00:42:11,695 between the United States and Israel has never 887 00:42:11,695 --> 00:42:12,696 been stronger. 888 00:42:12,696 --> 00:42:14,999 And Prime Minister Netanyahu himself has described the 889 00:42:14,999 --> 00:42:18,002 security cooperation between United States and Israel 890 00:42:18,002 --> 00:42:20,704 under President Obama's leadership as unprecedented. 891 00:42:20,704 --> 00:42:24,508 And the President has made clear that his commitment to 892 00:42:24,508 --> 00:42:27,745 Israel's security is as strong as ever, and that's 893 00:42:27,745 --> 00:42:31,448 why he sought to engage in conversations with Prime 894 00:42:31,448 --> 00:42:34,317 Minster Netanyahu directly about how to even further 895 00:42:34,318 --> 00:42:36,887 deepen our security relationship. 896 00:42:36,887 --> 00:42:39,356 And I think that's an indication of the amount of 897 00:42:39,356 --> 00:42:42,459 respect that President Obama has for Prime Minister 898 00:42:42,459 --> 00:42:47,064 Netanyahu and for the nation of Israel despite our 899 00:42:47,064 --> 00:42:49,600 legitimate and vigorous disagreement about 900 00:42:49,600 --> 00:42:50,401 this one issue. 901 00:42:50,401 --> 00:42:52,703 The Press: Sort of following up on the security relationship. 902 00:42:52,703 --> 00:42:57,207 The President mentioned the idea of an additional 903 00:42:57,207 --> 00:42:58,776 10-year security pact. 904 00:42:58,776 --> 00:43:01,812 Do you have any information about when we might hear 905 00:43:01,812 --> 00:43:06,116 more about that, what it might entail, and what the 906 00:43:06,116 --> 00:43:09,753 conversations have been so far between the U.S. 907 00:43:09,753 --> 00:43:11,021 and Israel on it? 908 00:43:11,021 --> 00:43:12,957 Mr. Earnest: Well, mostly they've been pretty 909 00:43:12,957 --> 00:43:15,259 one-sided because the United States has indicated our 910 00:43:15,259 --> 00:43:22,166 desire to try to deepen that security relationship and 911 00:43:22,166 --> 00:43:26,370 there's been a reluctance on the part of many of our 912 00:43:26,370 --> 00:43:28,872 national security team's counterparts to engage in 913 00:43:28,872 --> 00:43:30,674 that discussion at this point. 914 00:43:30,674 --> 00:43:33,143 But the fact is, there is a memorandum of understanding 915 00:43:33,143 --> 00:43:39,249 that is in place and will remain in place through, I 916 00:43:39,249 --> 00:43:40,484 believe, 2018. 917 00:43:40,484 --> 00:43:44,555 But the President and Prime Minister Netanyahu indicated 918 00:43:44,555 --> 00:43:47,691 a desire to begin conversations about 919 00:43:47,691 --> 00:43:50,493 extending that memorandum of understanding when the 920 00:43:50,494 --> 00:43:52,997 President traveled to Israel back in 2013. 921 00:43:52,997 --> 00:43:55,132 So the desire and commitment to strengthen that 922 00:43:55,132 --> 00:43:57,134 relationship exists on the U.S. side. 923 00:43:57,134 --> 00:44:04,608 And we look forward to -- and I'm confident that we'll 924 00:44:04,608 --> 00:44:08,145 have at some point -- constructive conversations 925 00:44:08,145 --> 00:44:14,852 with the Israelis to complete that agreement. 926 00:44:14,852 --> 00:44:15,419 The Press: One more. 927 00:44:15,419 --> 00:44:19,022 The Senate went on its vacation without addressing 928 00:44:19,023 --> 00:44:20,224 the cybersecurity bill. 929 00:44:20,224 --> 00:44:23,460 I'm wondering if you have any reaction to that. 930 00:44:23,460 --> 00:44:26,563 And also sort of the idea that -- for things that 931 00:44:26,563 --> 00:44:29,666 don't have a deadline -- cybersecurity, AUMF, 932 00:44:29,666 --> 00:44:33,937 different nominations -- that when there's not a hard 933 00:44:33,937 --> 00:44:35,939 deadline some of these things may get kicked so far 934 00:44:35,939 --> 00:44:38,075 down the road that we may get to a point where the 935 00:44:38,075 --> 00:44:41,044 President is almost out of office before those things 936 00:44:41,045 --> 00:44:42,980 get addressed. 937 00:44:42,980 --> 00:44:45,049 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think our concern is less about 938 00:44:45,049 --> 00:44:51,321 the President and more about the impact of Congress not 939 00:44:51,321 --> 00:44:53,190 taking care of business before leaving on vacation. 940 00:44:53,190 --> 00:44:57,494 And I think what is true is I think we can count on that 941 00:44:57,494 --> 00:44:59,596 even if Congress has delayed consideration of the cyber 942 00:44:59,596 --> 00:45:01,598 bill that our adversaries in cyberspace aren't going to 943 00:45:01,598 --> 00:45:03,333 take August off. 944 00:45:03,333 --> 00:45:05,502 And even though Congress has delayed consideration of the 945 00:45:05,502 --> 00:45:09,006 AUMF almost indefinitely, I don't think, unfortunately, 946 00:45:09,006 --> 00:45:12,209 that ISIL is going to take August off. 947 00:45:12,209 --> 00:45:17,681 That being said, the administration is encouraged 948 00:45:17,681 --> 00:45:20,250 that the Senate has agreed to a path forward to 949 00:45:20,250 --> 00:45:23,253 consider important cybersecurity legislation. 950 00:45:23,253 --> 00:45:26,056 And while there are still some areas of concern that 951 00:45:26,056 --> 00:45:30,794 we hope to address, the bill's sponsors have made a 952 00:45:30,794 --> 00:45:33,663 good-faith effort to address some of our biggest concerns 953 00:45:33,664 --> 00:45:36,333 and have demonstrated their intent to make further 954 00:45:36,333 --> 00:45:38,402 important changes. 955 00:45:38,402 --> 00:45:41,205 And there is no reason that cyber legislation, 956 00:45:41,205 --> 00:45:43,507 particularly when it comes to something as critical as 957 00:45:43,507 --> 00:45:46,577 information-sharing, should be a partisan issue. 958 00:45:46,577 --> 00:45:48,779 We should have an opportunity to work together 959 00:45:48,779 --> 00:45:49,780 in bipartisan fashion. 960 00:45:49,780 --> 00:45:52,449 And at least when it comes to the bill's sponsors, 961 00:45:52,449 --> 00:45:54,451 there have been some constructive conversations. 962 00:45:54,451 --> 00:46:01,158 And hopefully when Congress does return in September, 963 00:46:01,158 --> 00:46:03,993 they'll be able to take some steps down that path forward 964 00:46:03,994 --> 00:46:06,463 that now has been created. 965 00:46:06,463 --> 00:46:07,197 Margaret. 966 00:46:07,197 --> 00:46:08,699 The Press: Thanks. 967 00:46:08,699 --> 00:46:11,201 On Syria, the Pentagon said today that it has lost track 968 00:46:11,201 --> 00:46:14,138 of the 50-odd rebels it trained. 969 00:46:14,138 --> 00:46:16,840 They've scattered since coming under attack. 970 00:46:16,840 --> 00:46:18,742 Has the President been briefed? 971 00:46:18,742 --> 00:46:21,845 And is he disappointed at the outcome of the mission? 972 00:46:21,845 --> 00:46:25,015 Mr. Earnest: Well, Margaret, the thing that I would tell 973 00:46:25,015 --> 00:46:27,984 you is that the Department of Defense is responsible 974 00:46:27,985 --> 00:46:31,989 for this train-and-equip mission. 975 00:46:31,989 --> 00:46:35,058 And we've acknowledged that it has been an effort that's 976 00:46:35,058 --> 00:46:38,061 been quite challenging for a variety of reasons, 977 00:46:38,061 --> 00:46:41,165 including the need to conduct thorough background 978 00:46:41,165 --> 00:46:44,067 investigations on those individuals before they 979 00:46:44,067 --> 00:46:45,235 enter the program. 980 00:46:45,235 --> 00:46:47,237 We certainly -- we don't want to be in the business 981 00:46:47,237 --> 00:46:49,606 of training and equipping someone who could end up on 982 00:46:49,606 --> 00:46:52,109 the other side of the fight. 983 00:46:52,109 --> 00:46:54,444 The United States and our coalition partners has 984 00:46:54,444 --> 00:47:00,183 already taken military action to actively defend 985 00:47:00,184 --> 00:47:02,219 those individuals who have gone through the training 986 00:47:02,219 --> 00:47:05,956 program from aggression perpetrated by extremists 987 00:47:05,956 --> 00:47:07,958 inside of Syria. 988 00:47:07,958 --> 00:47:13,597 And we continue to be pleased with the important 989 00:47:13,597 --> 00:47:17,668 progress that's been made in northern Syria since May -- 990 00:47:17,668 --> 00:47:20,771 so just three months -- over the course of the last three 991 00:47:20,771 --> 00:47:25,776 months, we've seen anti-ISIL forces, whose efforts have 992 00:47:25,776 --> 00:47:28,611 been supported by more than 2,200 coalition airstrikes, 993 00:47:28,612 --> 00:47:31,682 and backed by those airstrikes, they've made 994 00:47:31,682 --> 00:47:34,384 significant progress across northern Syria. 995 00:47:34,384 --> 00:47:39,756 They've regained more than 5,300 square kilometers 996 00:47:39,756 --> 00:47:40,757 from ISIL. 997 00:47:40,757 --> 00:47:46,430 And these are essentially forces that liberated Kobani 998 00:47:46,430 --> 00:47:48,232 from ISIL. 999 00:47:48,232 --> 00:47:52,002 They have connected with other forces that liberated 1000 00:47:52,002 --> 00:47:55,572 Tal Abyad from ISIL. 1001 00:47:55,572 --> 00:47:59,543 And just in the last month, they've actually cleared 1002 00:47:59,543 --> 00:48:04,281 ISIL from the major city of Hasakah. 1003 00:48:04,281 --> 00:48:06,883 So we know that scores of ISIL fighters have been 1004 00:48:06,883 --> 00:48:09,852 killed in these airstrikes, and we know that this 1005 00:48:09,853 --> 00:48:14,224 anti-ISIL fighting coalition has made important progress, 1006 00:48:14,224 --> 00:48:19,596 including advancing to within 30 miles of the 1007 00:48:19,596 --> 00:48:23,267 self-proclaimed ISIL capital of Raqqa. 1008 00:48:23,267 --> 00:48:25,301 We know that those significant gains have also 1009 00:48:25,302 --> 00:48:29,239 prompted some defections from ISIL. 1010 00:48:29,239 --> 00:48:31,341 So that's an indication that there is some progress 1011 00:48:31,341 --> 00:48:34,810 that's being made in northern Syria, despite the 1012 00:48:34,811 --> 00:48:37,314 significant challenges that our train-and-equip 1013 00:48:37,314 --> 00:48:38,915 operation has encountered. 1014 00:48:38,915 --> 00:48:39,850 The Press: But when it comes to that specific 1015 00:48:39,850 --> 00:48:42,319 train-and-equip program that the President authorized a 1016 00:48:42,319 --> 00:48:45,656 year ago, is he getting briefed on specifically 1017 00:48:45,656 --> 00:48:47,791 what's happening with those rebels who were vetted, who 1018 00:48:47,791 --> 00:48:49,893 have gone through training -- millions of dollars' 1019 00:48:49,893 --> 00:48:52,596 worth of training -- and have been in theater, 1020 00:48:52,596 --> 00:48:53,630 now lost? 1021 00:48:53,630 --> 00:48:55,966 Mr. Earnest: Well, the President has been regularly 1022 00:48:55,966 --> 00:49:01,337 updated on the efforts to stand up and implement this 1023 00:49:01,338 --> 00:49:04,174 train-and-equip mission. 1024 00:49:04,174 --> 00:49:06,276 And we've been pretty forthright -- particularly 1025 00:49:06,276 --> 00:49:08,278 the Department of Defense has been pretty forthright 1026 00:49:08,278 --> 00:49:10,279 about the significant challenges that that 1027 00:49:10,280 --> 00:49:11,715 operation has faced. 1028 00:49:11,715 --> 00:49:17,220 But it has not significantly encumbered the other aspects 1029 00:49:17,220 --> 00:49:20,589 of our strategy that are yielding important results 1030 00:49:20,590 --> 00:49:21,591 in northern Syria. 1031 00:49:21,591 --> 00:49:23,527 The Press: But is there anything specific to this 1032 00:49:23,527 --> 00:49:25,896 train-and-equip mission that's informative for the 1033 00:49:25,896 --> 00:49:29,866 other efforts in Jordan, in Turkey, and Qatar? 1034 00:49:29,866 --> 00:49:32,602 I mean, how is the White House viewing this specific 1035 00:49:32,602 --> 00:49:34,870 instance of what happened to those who've gone through 1036 00:49:34,871 --> 00:49:36,406 that American program? 1037 00:49:36,406 --> 00:49:38,642 I mean, how is it going to change things going forward? 1038 00:49:38,642 --> 00:49:40,944 Mr. Earnest: I would encourage you to ask that 1039 00:49:40,944 --> 00:49:42,946 question to DOD because they're the ones that are 1040 00:49:42,946 --> 00:49:44,948 responsible for implementing the deal -- or implementing 1041 00:49:44,948 --> 00:49:46,083 this mission. 1042 00:49:46,083 --> 00:49:48,485 But the President certainly does have the expectation 1043 00:49:48,485 --> 00:49:56,526 that the United States and our coalition partners learn 1044 00:49:56,526 --> 00:49:59,162 from the significant challenges that we have 1045 00:49:59,162 --> 00:50:04,401 encountered in trying to train, equip and empower 1046 00:50:04,401 --> 00:50:07,738 these Syrian opposition fighters on the ground in Syria. 1047 00:50:07,738 --> 00:50:09,740 The Press: But you wouldn't say at this point that the 1048 00:50:09,740 --> 00:50:11,640 White House is disappointed, that the President is 1049 00:50:11,641 --> 00:50:13,443 disappointed with the mission thus far? 1050 00:50:13,443 --> 00:50:15,879 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think we've been pretty forthright 1051 00:50:15,879 --> 00:50:17,881 about the significant challenges that they've 1052 00:50:17,881 --> 00:50:21,118 encountered and I know that the Department of Defense is 1053 00:50:21,118 --> 00:50:24,988 working to improve our performance here. 1054 00:50:24,988 --> 00:50:27,924 The Press: Is there a decision at this point from 1055 00:50:27,924 --> 00:50:30,192 this building at least whether there's a 1056 00:50:30,193 --> 00:50:33,864 responsibility to go in and rescue or account for those 1057 00:50:33,864 --> 00:50:36,767 who have been scattered and lost, and have been through 1058 00:50:36,767 --> 00:50:37,768 that training program? 1059 00:50:37,768 --> 00:50:40,170 Mr. Earnest: I'm not aware of any policy decision 1060 00:50:40,170 --> 00:50:42,372 that's been made on that kind of question. 1061 00:50:42,372 --> 00:50:44,374 I'd encourage you to check with the Department of 1062 00:50:44,374 --> 00:50:45,375 Defense on that. 1063 00:50:45,375 --> 00:50:47,377 The policy decision that we have announced and that was 1064 00:50:47,377 --> 00:50:50,180 announced I believe earlier this week is that the United 1065 00:50:50,180 --> 00:50:53,149 States and our coalition partners would not hesitate 1066 00:50:53,150 --> 00:50:57,087 to use military airpower to defend those anti-ISIL 1067 00:50:57,087 --> 00:51:00,824 fighters if they come under attack from extremists that 1068 00:51:00,824 --> 00:51:01,858 are operating in Syria. 1069 00:51:01,858 --> 00:51:04,494 And that is a step that the United States and our 1070 00:51:04,494 --> 00:51:06,963 coalition partners has already taken at least once, 1071 00:51:06,963 --> 00:51:08,965 and we're prepared to do it again. 1072 00:51:08,965 --> 00:51:10,934 The Press: One more on Syria, a different 1073 00:51:10,934 --> 00:51:11,935 matter, though. 1074 00:51:11,935 --> 00:51:14,203 Secretary Kerry said today that the U.S. 1075 00:51:14,204 --> 00:51:15,939 and Russia have come to an agreement on how to 1076 00:51:15,939 --> 00:51:21,310 establish accountability for the continued use of 1077 00:51:21,311 --> 00:51:23,213 chemicals as weapons in Syria. 1078 00:51:23,213 --> 00:51:26,149 And that's going to the U.N. tomorrow. 1079 00:51:26,149 --> 00:51:27,784 Would the White House like to see a consequence for the 1080 00:51:27,784 --> 00:51:30,420 use of those weapons if the U.N. 1081 00:51:30,420 --> 00:51:34,057 does find what the United States already believes, 1082 00:51:34,057 --> 00:51:35,959 which is that Assad is continuing to use 1083 00:51:35,959 --> 00:51:38,861 chemical weapons? 1084 00:51:38,862 --> 00:51:41,998 Mr. Earnest: Well, the President, on a variety of 1085 00:51:41,998 --> 00:51:46,837 occasions, has made clear his concern about the use of 1086 00:51:46,837 --> 00:51:48,672 chemical weapons in Syria. 1087 00:51:48,672 --> 00:51:52,108 And the administration did work effectively with the 1088 00:51:52,108 --> 00:51:56,580 Russians to remove Assad's declared chemical 1089 00:51:56,580 --> 00:51:58,048 weapons stockpile. 1090 00:51:58,048 --> 00:52:01,484 But there are ongoing concerns based on reports 1091 00:52:01,485 --> 00:52:05,422 that you've cited that are now being closely examined 1092 00:52:05,422 --> 00:52:07,657 by the United Nations, and we certainly are supportive 1093 00:52:07,657 --> 00:52:08,658 of that process. 1094 00:52:08,658 --> 00:52:12,596 And I think I can say in general that the United 1095 00:52:12,596 --> 00:52:15,899 States, using some of our own resources and 1096 00:52:15,899 --> 00:52:19,502 capabilities, is also monitoring those reports, 1097 00:52:19,503 --> 00:52:20,504 as well. 1098 00:52:20,504 --> 00:52:21,471 Kevin. 1099 00:52:21,471 --> 00:52:24,074 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 1100 00:52:24,074 --> 00:52:25,275 It's housekeeping. 1101 00:52:25,275 --> 00:52:26,943 I got to do it. 1102 00:52:26,943 --> 00:52:29,546 Give me a percent chance that the President is not 1103 00:52:29,546 --> 00:52:30,881 going to be watching tonight. 1104 00:52:30,881 --> 00:52:32,048 He's got to watch, right? 1105 00:52:32,048 --> 00:52:35,118 I mean a couple days ago there was a letter sent to 1106 00:52:35,118 --> 00:52:38,020 supporters that said, "The other side is counting on 1107 00:52:38,021 --> 00:52:40,156 folks like you sitting this one out, so I need you to 1108 00:52:40,156 --> 00:52:42,558 say that you'll be watching on Thursday." 1109 00:52:42,559 --> 00:52:46,463 So unless this is a "do as I say and not as I do," he's 1110 00:52:46,463 --> 00:52:47,497 got to be watching, right? 1111 00:52:47,497 --> 00:52:48,498 (laughter) 1112 00:52:48,498 --> 00:52:50,500 Can we just say he's going to be watching? 1113 00:52:50,500 --> 00:52:52,502 Mr. Earnest: I think it's fair to say that the 1114 00:52:52,502 --> 00:52:54,504 Democratic National Committee has got a lot of 1115 00:52:54,504 --> 00:52:56,506 political junkies on their email list, and I think 1116 00:52:56,506 --> 00:52:58,508 there will be, as a result, a lot of Democrats that are 1117 00:52:58,508 --> 00:53:00,509 tuning into the Republican debate, even if they're not 1118 00:53:00,510 --> 00:53:02,546 planning to cast a vote in the Republican primary. 1119 00:53:02,546 --> 00:53:06,448 Again, I'd be surprised if the President spent a lot of 1120 00:53:06,449 --> 00:53:08,585 his evening devoted to watching the debate. 1121 00:53:08,585 --> 00:53:11,154 But I'm confident that the highlights -- or the 1122 00:53:11,154 --> 00:53:18,428 lowlights, as you might describe them - (laughter) 1123 00:53:18,428 --> 00:53:18,895 The Press: You might. 1124 00:53:18,895 --> 00:53:20,063 The Press: As you might describe them. 1125 00:53:20,063 --> 00:53:20,630 Mr. Earnest: Or as I might describe them -- that the 1126 00:53:20,630 --> 00:53:20,997 President will get a chance to take a look at those, too. 1127 00:53:20,997 --> 00:53:21,431 The Press: All right. 1128 00:53:21,431 --> 00:53:22,132 I appreciate that. 1129 00:53:22,132 --> 00:53:25,869 Wendy Sherman told the Senate banking folks 1130 00:53:25,869 --> 00:53:31,408 yesterday that she didn't see the final documents on 1131 00:53:31,408 --> 00:53:33,410 the -- and I know you've pushed back on this example 1132 00:53:33,410 --> 00:53:36,011 of using the phrase "side agreements" or "side deals" 1133 00:53:36,012 --> 00:53:38,048 -- how much of a concern is it to you if she didn't even 1134 00:53:38,048 --> 00:53:41,283 see the final documents? 1135 00:53:41,284 --> 00:53:43,353 Mr. Earnest: We're not concerned about this because 1136 00:53:43,353 --> 00:53:46,423 the United States and our negotiating team is aware of 1137 00:53:46,423 --> 00:53:48,857 what's included in those agreements, and our 1138 00:53:48,858 --> 00:53:51,661 negotiating team has taken the extraordinary step of 1139 00:53:51,661 --> 00:53:55,265 actually convening classified sessions with the 1140 00:53:55,265 --> 00:53:57,866 entire membership of the House and the entire 1141 00:53:57,867 --> 00:53:59,869 membership of the United States Senate in separate 1142 00:53:59,869 --> 00:54:03,239 sessions to describe to them the contents of 1143 00:54:03,239 --> 00:54:04,240 those agreements. 1144 00:54:04,240 --> 00:54:06,810 And that's why members of Congress can be confident 1145 00:54:06,810 --> 00:54:08,812 that they know what's in those agreements. 1146 00:54:08,812 --> 00:54:10,814 And to the extent that that factors into their ultimate 1147 00:54:10,814 --> 00:54:13,350 decision about whether or not to approve the deal, 1148 00:54:13,350 --> 00:54:15,352 they have the information that they need to make 1149 00:54:15,352 --> 00:54:16,353 that decision. 1150 00:54:16,353 --> 00:54:18,355 The Press: But that's information not based on the 1151 00:54:18,355 --> 00:54:20,323 final documents, is that correct? 1152 00:54:20,323 --> 00:54:22,459 Mr. Earnest: That information is based on an 1153 00:54:22,459 --> 00:54:24,461 accurate accounting on what's included in the 1154 00:54:24,461 --> 00:54:26,462 agreement between the IAEA and Iran. 1155 00:54:26,463 --> 00:54:30,667 The Press: Speaking of the IAEA and Iran, there are 1156 00:54:30,667 --> 00:54:32,836 some reports out there that suggest that the Iranians 1157 00:54:32,836 --> 00:54:35,772 will be able to submit their own soil samples 1158 00:54:35,772 --> 00:54:38,674 for testing. 1159 00:54:38,675 --> 00:54:42,278 Doesn't that again lend the argument -- lend to the 1160 00:54:42,278 --> 00:54:45,247 argument that perhaps we should have others on the 1161 00:54:45,248 --> 00:54:47,584 ground to actually observe this because if they're 1162 00:54:47,584 --> 00:54:50,520 cleaning up past facilities, if they're sort of 1163 00:54:50,520 --> 00:54:53,623 cherry-picking their own soil samples and providing 1164 00:54:53,623 --> 00:54:56,059 them to the IAEA, can you see how that would be a 1165 00:54:56,059 --> 00:54:58,361 major concern to many on Capitol Hill? 1166 00:54:58,361 --> 00:55:01,364 Mr. Earnest: Not really, principally because the IAEA 1167 00:55:01,364 --> 00:55:04,200 is an international, impartial association of 1168 00:55:04,200 --> 00:55:06,535 nuclear experts -- The Press: They may be 1169 00:55:06,536 --> 00:55:09,239 impartial, but if the Iranians are giving 1170 00:55:09,239 --> 00:55:12,409 cherry-picked samples, how can they be assured of 1171 00:55:12,409 --> 00:55:13,410 their authenticity? 1172 00:55:13,410 --> 00:55:15,412 Mr. Earnest: The point is these nuclear experts know 1173 00:55:15,412 --> 00:55:18,481 exactly what information and access they need in order to 1174 00:55:18,481 --> 00:55:20,850 write a report about the possible military dimensions 1175 00:55:20,850 --> 00:55:22,018 of Iran's nuclear program. 1176 00:55:22,018 --> 00:55:24,354 And what the United States and our international 1177 00:55:24,354 --> 00:55:26,556 partners have done is actually made clear to the 1178 00:55:26,556 --> 00:55:30,593 Iranians that they need to follow through on the 1179 00:55:30,593 --> 00:55:33,997 requests made by the IAEA for all of the information 1180 00:55:33,997 --> 00:55:35,330 and access that they need. 1181 00:55:35,331 --> 00:55:37,701 And if Iran fails to do that, they will not get any 1182 00:55:37,701 --> 00:55:38,702 sanctions relief. 1183 00:55:38,702 --> 00:55:41,771 And that's why, as you point out, I've quibbled with the 1184 00:55:41,771 --> 00:55:44,774 description that others have had in labeling these 1185 00:55:44,774 --> 00:55:46,375 agreements side agreements. 1186 00:55:46,376 --> 00:55:49,779 The fact is no aspect of this agreement moves forward 1187 00:55:49,779 --> 00:55:52,449 unless Iran complies with the request for information 1188 00:55:52,449 --> 00:55:54,651 and access that the IAEA has submitted. 1189 00:55:54,651 --> 00:55:56,653 The other thing that the United States has done is 1190 00:55:56,653 --> 00:55:59,589 we've actually -- with our coalition partners -- we've 1191 00:55:59,589 --> 00:56:01,157 actually put a timeline on it. 1192 00:56:01,157 --> 00:56:03,159 We have said that this information and access has 1193 00:56:03,159 --> 00:56:04,994 to be provided by October 15th. 1194 00:56:04,994 --> 00:56:07,363 And that's what our expectation is, and if it's 1195 00:56:07,363 --> 00:56:09,832 not provided, all of that access and information is 1196 00:56:09,833 --> 00:56:13,603 not provided by the deadline, Iran won't get any 1197 00:56:13,603 --> 00:56:14,604 sanctions relief. 1198 00:56:14,604 --> 00:56:17,307 The Press: I want to ask you again on D.C. statehood. 1199 00:56:17,307 --> 00:56:19,843 I know we talked a bit about it the other day. 1200 00:56:19,843 --> 00:56:23,879 When you're talking about a city with more people than 1201 00:56:23,880 --> 00:56:28,017 two states at least, and probably a third, given the 1202 00:56:28,017 --> 00:56:30,986 growth in this area, and yet they don't have 1203 00:56:30,987 --> 00:56:33,490 representation -- and the President has the 1204 00:56:33,490 --> 00:56:36,526 opportunity to really be someone who can use the 1205 00:56:36,526 --> 00:56:39,828 platform to really not only defend but also support the 1206 00:56:39,829 --> 00:56:42,165 idea that hundreds of thousands of American 1207 00:56:42,165 --> 00:56:44,300 citizens don't have the opportunity to be properly 1208 00:56:44,300 --> 00:56:48,071 represented, and yet he hasn't done so forcefully -- 1209 00:56:48,071 --> 00:56:49,105 and I'm just curious why. 1210 00:56:49,105 --> 00:56:50,607 Mr. Earnest: I think the President has. 1211 00:56:50,607 --> 00:56:52,575 The President does support statehood. 1212 00:56:52,575 --> 00:56:54,109 The President supports home rule in D.C. And we can 1213 00:56:54,110 --> 00:56:56,012 pull you the examples where the President has done that. 1214 00:56:56,012 --> 00:56:57,280 I think you're right, I don't think that he's done 1215 00:56:57,280 --> 00:56:58,281 that recently. 1216 00:56:58,281 --> 00:56:59,883 But certainly the President's views on this 1217 00:56:59,883 --> 00:57:01,084 topic have not changed. 1218 00:57:01,084 --> 00:57:02,752 The Press: Thanks. 1219 00:57:02,752 --> 00:57:03,586 Mr. Earnest: Chris. 1220 00:57:03,586 --> 00:57:05,654 The Press: If I can follow up on that, the Iran stuff. 1221 00:57:05,655 --> 00:57:09,192 You talked about the robust briefings, and there's no 1222 00:57:09,192 --> 00:57:11,094 doubt -- John Kerry has been out there, the Vice 1223 00:57:11,094 --> 00:57:13,196 President, Wendy Sherman was on Capitol Hill yesterday. 1224 00:57:13,196 --> 00:57:16,598 Secretary Moniz, who is well-respected on the Hill, 1225 00:57:16,599 --> 00:57:20,670 was involved in those classified briefings. 1226 00:57:20,670 --> 00:57:23,807 And yet there does seem to be an indication that this 1227 00:57:23,807 --> 00:57:25,475 is very close. 1228 00:57:25,475 --> 00:57:28,278 And even though you've expressed confidence that 1229 00:57:28,278 --> 00:57:33,316 you'll hold the third -- maybe uncomfortably close -- 1230 00:57:33,316 --> 00:57:38,221 it would seem to me that the options for why this is, is 1231 00:57:38,221 --> 00:57:41,291 that either something in these extensive amount of 1232 00:57:41,291 --> 00:57:46,196 briefings, including the President's own speeches, is 1233 00:57:46,196 --> 00:57:50,567 lacking; that Bibi Netanyahu and AIPAC are out-lobbying 1234 00:57:50,567 --> 00:57:53,203 you; that the clarity that the President says he has on 1235 00:57:53,203 --> 00:57:56,840 this deal is not so clear to a lot of other smart people, 1236 00:57:56,840 --> 00:57:58,107 including Democrats. 1237 00:57:58,107 --> 00:58:02,145 Why is it at this stage that a number of Democrats who 1238 00:58:02,145 --> 00:58:04,547 are undecided have said that it's because they need 1239 00:58:04,547 --> 00:58:07,183 more information? 1240 00:58:07,183 --> 00:58:09,786 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think there's a lot there. 1241 00:58:09,786 --> 00:58:11,754 Let me start by saying I don't know if the 1242 00:58:11,754 --> 00:58:13,756 administration has been out-lobbied. 1243 00:58:13,756 --> 00:58:15,758 We certainly have been outspent. 1244 00:58:15,758 --> 00:58:18,060 And we expected that that will be true over the course 1245 00:58:18,061 --> 00:58:19,095 of August. 1246 00:58:19,095 --> 00:58:20,263 That's just a fact. 1247 00:58:20,263 --> 00:58:24,500 And there are a lot of details in this agreement 1248 00:58:24,500 --> 00:58:25,869 to consider. 1249 00:58:25,869 --> 00:58:28,605 And I'm not surprised that there are a lot of members 1250 00:58:28,605 --> 00:58:31,374 of Congress that are taking a thoughtful approach to 1251 00:58:31,374 --> 00:58:34,843 this, that are taking their time to consider all of the 1252 00:58:34,844 --> 00:58:37,981 details of the agreement, to benefit from extensive 1253 00:58:37,981 --> 00:58:39,983 briefings from senior administration officials, 1254 00:58:39,983 --> 00:58:42,352 including those who negotiated the agreement. 1255 00:58:42,352 --> 00:58:44,354 I would expect that there are even some members of 1256 00:58:44,354 --> 00:58:46,522 Congress that are taking some time to talk to some 1257 00:58:46,522 --> 00:58:48,524 outside sources, maybe even some of their constituents 1258 00:58:48,524 --> 00:58:49,525 about this. 1259 00:58:49,525 --> 00:58:50,660 That's perfectly appropriate. 1260 00:58:50,660 --> 00:58:55,031 As you'll recall, Congress has given themselves 60 days 1261 00:58:55,031 --> 00:58:58,500 with which to consider this agreement, and I'm not 1262 00:58:58,501 --> 00:59:00,503 surprised to hear that it looks like some of them may 1263 00:59:00,503 --> 00:59:02,772 take almost all of those 60 days. 1264 00:59:02,772 --> 00:59:05,308 That seems like an understandable approach. 1265 00:59:05,308 --> 00:59:08,811 We certainly welcome those who have already decided and 1266 00:59:08,811 --> 00:59:12,081 come forward with their public view of this. 1267 00:59:12,081 --> 00:59:14,083 But if there are other members of Congress who say, 1268 00:59:14,083 --> 00:59:16,085 I want to take my time and I want to look carefully at 1269 00:59:16,085 --> 00:59:18,054 this and benefit from all the briefings and talk to my 1270 00:59:18,054 --> 00:59:20,056 constituents, that's perfectly appropriate as well. 1271 00:59:20,056 --> 00:59:22,058 And I don't think it indicates any sort of 1272 00:59:22,058 --> 00:59:24,060 weakness on either the President's pitch or the 1273 00:59:24,060 --> 00:59:25,061 substance of the deal. 1274 00:59:25,061 --> 00:59:26,996 The Press: So how important is that final number? 1275 00:59:26,996 --> 00:59:30,500 If it's breathtakingly close -- for lack of a better 1276 00:59:30,500 --> 00:59:34,203 adjective -- if it's really razor thin, what kind of 1277 00:59:34,203 --> 00:59:35,905 message does that send? 1278 00:59:35,905 --> 00:59:38,808 And how much do the numbers matter to the President and 1279 00:59:38,808 --> 00:59:40,143 to the White House? 1280 00:59:40,143 --> 00:59:41,010 Mr. Earnest: Not at all. 1281 00:59:41,010 --> 00:59:42,078 And let me tell you why. 1282 00:59:42,078 --> 00:59:44,447 The fact is we don't need Congress to approve this 1283 00:59:44,447 --> 00:59:48,117 deal; we just need Congress not to screw it up. 1284 00:59:48,117 --> 00:59:50,119 So Congress has an opportunity to play spoiler 1285 00:59:50,119 --> 00:59:52,989 here, and if they fail on that effort, this deal will 1286 00:59:52,989 --> 00:59:53,990 move forward. 1287 00:59:53,990 --> 00:59:55,124 It will be implemented. 1288 00:59:55,124 --> 00:59:58,093 And we will have taken the most important step we can 1289 00:59:58,094 --> 01:00:00,363 -- the best step we can -- to prevent Iran from 1290 01:00:00,363 --> 01:00:01,263 obtaining a nuclear weapon. 1291 01:00:01,264 --> 01:00:04,901 The Press: Let me go to the debate and the questions 1292 01:00:04,901 --> 01:00:07,736 about whether or not you will react in any way. 1293 01:00:07,737 --> 01:00:09,806 I know you don't have a rapid-response team, but I 1294 01:00:09,806 --> 01:00:12,308 wonder how the White House sees its role. 1295 01:00:12,308 --> 01:00:16,112 Because whoever the nominee may be -- and let's assume 1296 01:00:16,112 --> 01:00:18,848 that it is either Secretary Clinton or Vice President 1297 01:00:18,848 --> 01:00:20,683 Biden, both of whom have, obviously, a close 1298 01:00:20,683 --> 01:00:24,420 association with this White House, and the status of 1299 01:00:24,420 --> 01:00:26,889 this White House and this President could play a role 1300 01:00:26,889 --> 01:00:31,294 in how voters view them and consider their vote. 1301 01:00:31,294 --> 01:00:34,096 What do you see the White House role -- how does the 1302 01:00:34,097 --> 01:00:36,833 President view his role as this campaign goes on in 1303 01:00:36,833 --> 01:00:39,068 terms of responding to attacks that are inevitable 1304 01:00:39,068 --> 01:00:40,236 from the Republicans? 1305 01:00:40,236 --> 01:00:43,106 Mr. Earnest: Well, there have been a couple of 1306 01:00:43,106 --> 01:00:46,209 occasions where you all have had the opportunity to ask 1307 01:00:46,209 --> 01:00:48,911 questions of the President about comments that have 1308 01:00:48,911 --> 01:00:52,448 been made by Republicans, and there are a couple of 1309 01:00:52,448 --> 01:00:56,051 times where the President has responded quite directly 1310 01:00:56,052 --> 01:00:57,587 and forcefully. 1311 01:00:57,587 --> 01:01:00,089 And there have been other times where the President 1312 01:01:00,089 --> 01:01:03,558 has gotten those kinds of questions and waved them off. 1313 01:01:03,559 --> 01:01:06,529 So I think we'll do this on a case-by-case basis. 1314 01:01:06,529 --> 01:01:10,500 And I think the fact is -- here's the thing that I 1315 01:01:10,500 --> 01:01:13,036 think will -- this is the other -- to the extent that 1316 01:01:13,036 --> 01:01:15,304 I have commentary in the Republican debate -- this is 1317 01:01:15,304 --> 01:01:17,807 the other thing that I think is illuminating. 1318 01:01:20,676 --> 01:01:24,013 I think it is -- while I hesitate to speculate or 1319 01:01:24,013 --> 01:01:26,382 predict -- 1320 01:01:26,382 --> 01:01:27,750 The Press: Come on, come on. 1321 01:01:27,750 --> 01:01:28,184 Mr. Earnest: -- what the debate is likely to include, 1322 01:01:28,184 --> 01:01:29,652 I will say this. 1323 01:01:29,652 --> 01:01:34,190 I feel confident in saying that the Republicans 1324 01:01:34,190 --> 01:01:36,192 candidates are going to spend more time talking 1325 01:01:36,192 --> 01:01:39,695 about the President's plans than they are about their own. 1326 01:01:39,695 --> 01:01:44,000 And that's an indication of the political capital and 1327 01:01:44,000 --> 01:01:47,837 influence that the President still wields not just in 1328 01:01:47,837 --> 01:01:50,106 Washington D.C. but across the country; that there are 1329 01:01:50,106 --> 01:01:52,075 going to be extensive discussions in the debate 1330 01:01:52,075 --> 01:01:55,044 certainly about the Iran deal, certainly about our 1331 01:01:55,044 --> 01:02:00,316 efforts to counter ISIL, but also about the President's 1332 01:02:00,316 --> 01:02:03,252 executive action to do the most significant thing we've 1333 01:02:03,252 --> 01:02:05,555 ever done to try to fight the causes of climate 1334 01:02:05,555 --> 01:02:08,991 change, or the President's executive actions to address 1335 01:02:08,991 --> 01:02:10,293 our broken immigration system. 1336 01:02:10,293 --> 01:02:13,930 There's going to be a lot of discussion tonight -- I 1337 01:02:13,930 --> 01:02:15,932 think the debate is going to go on two hours. 1338 01:02:15,932 --> 01:02:18,234 But I think most of the debate is going to be about 1339 01:02:18,234 --> 01:02:20,436 the President and the influence that he wields. 1340 01:02:20,436 --> 01:02:21,737 The Press: -- in relation to the Iran deal, just 1341 01:02:21,737 --> 01:02:24,707 yesterday, the President gave a major speech, but in 1342 01:02:24,707 --> 01:02:26,475 the afternoon, so most people will have only 1343 01:02:26,476 --> 01:02:28,044 seen clips. 1344 01:02:28,044 --> 01:02:30,246 In the meantime, you may get 13 million or however many 1345 01:02:30,246 --> 01:02:32,348 people they think might watch this debate tonight 1346 01:02:32,348 --> 01:02:36,219 hearing all of it, and hearing the other side in a 1347 01:02:36,219 --> 01:02:37,787 more extensive way. 1348 01:02:37,787 --> 01:02:40,823 Is that a problem, especially as members of 1349 01:02:40,823 --> 01:02:43,158 Congress go back to their constituents? 1350 01:02:43,159 --> 01:02:44,293 Mr. Earnest: If it is a problem, it's not one that 1351 01:02:44,293 --> 01:02:46,863 we're worried about, primarily because I do think 1352 01:02:46,863 --> 01:02:49,397 the American people will consider the source. 1353 01:02:49,398 --> 01:02:51,067 The Press: And I have to ask you, finally, so if -- it's 1354 01:02:51,067 --> 01:02:53,069 unclear exactly how much time the President might be 1355 01:02:53,069 --> 01:02:55,204 spending watching the debate tonight. 1356 01:02:55,204 --> 01:02:57,940 Any interest in the happy hour debate? 1357 01:02:57,940 --> 01:03:01,210 Mr. Earnest: Oh, right, the "undercard" I think as some 1358 01:03:01,210 --> 01:03:02,345 people have described it. 1359 01:03:02,345 --> 01:03:03,011 (laughter) 1360 01:03:03,012 --> 01:03:05,414 The Press: We won't be back in there watching the 1361 01:03:05,414 --> 01:03:07,583 undercard at 5 o'clock -- Mr. Earnest: I doubt it. 1362 01:03:07,583 --> 01:03:09,418 I doubt it. 1363 01:03:09,418 --> 01:03:10,953 The Press: More importantly, is Jon Stewart -- is he 1364 01:03:10,953 --> 01:03:12,155 going to stay up and watch that? 1365 01:03:12,155 --> 01:03:14,790 Mr. Earnest: That might get the President's attention. 1366 01:03:14,790 --> 01:03:15,525 Julie. 1367 01:03:15,525 --> 01:03:16,492 The Press: Thanks. 1368 01:03:16,492 --> 01:03:18,127 The President alluded in his speech yesterday to the 1369 01:03:18,127 --> 01:03:19,629 millions of dollars of advertising you just 1370 01:03:19,629 --> 01:03:21,330 mentioned -- you expect to be outspent. 1371 01:03:21,330 --> 01:03:23,933 Is it a secret that AIPAC is the group that has formed 1372 01:03:23,933 --> 01:03:29,105 the outlet that's going to be running most of these ads 1373 01:03:29,105 --> 01:03:32,341 that members will see when they're home for August? 1374 01:03:32,341 --> 01:03:34,477 Was he specifically talking about AIPAC? 1375 01:03:34,477 --> 01:03:36,245 And does he think that what they're doing is somehow 1376 01:03:36,245 --> 01:03:39,281 inappropriate, or that the approach they've taken is 1377 01:03:39,282 --> 01:03:42,919 out of line in advocating against the deal? 1378 01:03:42,919 --> 01:03:45,821 Mr. Earnest: Well, Julie, I think there are some other 1379 01:03:45,821 --> 01:03:50,793 organizations that have pledged to spend money 1380 01:03:50,793 --> 01:03:54,263 criticizing the deal. 1381 01:03:54,263 --> 01:03:56,365 I don't think AIPAC is the only one. 1382 01:03:56,365 --> 01:03:58,533 But I haven't taken a close look at this -- I wouldn't 1383 01:03:58,534 --> 01:04:01,170 be surprised if they are the organization that's 1384 01:04:01,170 --> 01:04:03,773 committed to spending the most amount of money on this. 1385 01:04:05,875 --> 01:04:09,111 I do think the President is disappointed that too often 1386 01:04:12,615 --> 01:04:17,720 critically important policy issues like this get reduced 1387 01:04:17,720 --> 01:04:21,424 to whoever can spend the most amount of money 1388 01:04:21,424 --> 01:04:24,192 advocating for or against it. 1389 01:04:24,193 --> 01:04:26,295 That's probably not the healthiest way for us to 1390 01:04:26,295 --> 01:04:28,598 engage in this political debate. 1391 01:04:28,598 --> 01:04:33,669 But given the rules of our system, that's what people 1392 01:04:33,669 --> 01:04:38,007 are allowed to do, and I certainly wouldn't raise 1393 01:04:40,443 --> 01:04:45,715 questions about the right of anyone to express their 1394 01:04:45,715 --> 01:04:48,684 views, whether they're an office holder or merely an 1395 01:04:48,684 --> 01:04:50,152 interested observer. 1396 01:04:50,152 --> 01:04:54,523 And I think the President was direct in his speech 1397 01:04:54,523 --> 01:04:59,161 yesterday, and the President was pretty direct in the 1398 01:04:59,161 --> 01:05:01,230 meeting that he had with Jewish American leaders here 1399 01:05:01,230 --> 01:05:05,234 at the White House a couple of days ago. 1400 01:05:05,234 --> 01:05:09,205 The concerns that some of the strongest supporters of 1401 01:05:09,205 --> 01:05:16,612 Israel have about Iran are entirely justified. 1402 01:05:16,612 --> 01:05:19,382 The President has those concerns. 1403 01:05:19,382 --> 01:05:25,655 The President is concerned about the offensive -- to 1404 01:05:25,655 --> 01:05:29,925 put it mildly -- anti-Semitic rhetoric that's 1405 01:05:29,925 --> 01:05:34,063 propagated by the Iranian government. 1406 01:05:34,063 --> 01:05:36,866 He's got deep concerns about the frequency with which 1407 01:05:36,866 --> 01:05:38,701 Iran threatens Israel. 1408 01:05:38,701 --> 01:05:43,039 He's got significant concerns about the way that 1409 01:05:43,039 --> 01:05:53,849 Iran supports proxies in the region that threaten Israel 1410 01:05:53,849 --> 01:05:57,086 -- I'm referring to Hezbollah. 1411 01:05:57,086 --> 01:05:57,553 That's why the President makes the case that 1412 01:05:57,553 --> 01:05:59,288 preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon 1413 01:05:59,288 --> 01:06:04,393 is so important and so clearly in the national 1414 01:06:04,393 --> 01:06:05,895 security interest of Israel. 1415 01:06:05,895 --> 01:06:13,336 I guess that's how it's possible for people to have 1416 01:06:13,336 --> 01:06:18,774 such starkly different views of the deal, but to do so 1417 01:06:18,774 --> 01:06:22,411 respectfully -- because the concerns that are expressed 1418 01:06:22,411 --> 01:06:25,481 by many of those who are supporters of Israel are 1419 01:06:25,481 --> 01:06:28,351 concerns that the President shares, but the fact is that 1420 01:06:28,351 --> 01:06:30,353 leads them to different conclusions. 1421 01:06:30,353 --> 01:06:33,923 The degree to which Iran is able to threaten Israel is 1422 01:06:33,923 --> 01:06:36,459 precisely why the President is pursuing what he believes 1423 01:06:36,459 --> 01:06:38,928 is the best way for us to prevent Iran from obtaining 1424 01:06:38,928 --> 01:06:40,261 a nuclear weapon. 1425 01:06:40,262 --> 01:06:41,263 Not the only reason. 1426 01:06:41,263 --> 01:06:43,265 The main reason is that he believes it's in the 1427 01:06:43,265 --> 01:06:45,234 national security interest of the United States. 1428 01:06:45,234 --> 01:06:47,236 But there is no denying that Israel's national security 1429 01:06:47,236 --> 01:06:49,238 is a priority for the President as well. 1430 01:06:49,238 --> 01:06:51,240 And that's one of the important reasons that he's 1431 01:06:51,240 --> 01:06:53,241 pursuing this diplomatic agreement from preventing 1432 01:06:53,242 --> 01:06:54,677 Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. 1433 01:06:54,677 --> 01:06:56,545 The Press: But he seemed to suggest in his speech and, 1434 01:06:56,545 --> 01:06:58,247 to some extent, in that meeting that you referenced, 1435 01:06:58,247 --> 01:07:01,216 that he believes that the claims that are being spread 1436 01:07:01,217 --> 01:07:04,120 by some of these groups are inaccurate -- 1437 01:07:04,120 --> 01:07:05,520 and willfully inaccurate. 1438 01:07:05,521 --> 01:07:07,423 Does he think that they're lying about the deal? 1439 01:07:07,423 --> 01:07:09,625 Does he think that they are making charges that simply 1440 01:07:09,625 --> 01:07:10,826 aren't true? 1441 01:07:10,826 --> 01:07:13,896 Not to say whether their concept of what the deal 1442 01:07:13,896 --> 01:07:16,532 will or will not do isn't right, but just that they're 1443 01:07:16,532 --> 01:07:18,834 making false claims? 1444 01:07:18,834 --> 01:07:21,069 Mr. Earnest: Well, I haven't done a specific fact check 1445 01:07:21,070 --> 01:07:24,306 of any television ads that have run, so let me just say 1446 01:07:24,306 --> 01:07:27,710 in general -- and I don't have anything specific in 1447 01:07:27,710 --> 01:07:30,146 mind when I say this -- but I think, in general, there 1448 01:07:30,146 --> 01:07:37,420 have been a significant number of criticisms lodged 1449 01:07:37,420 --> 01:07:43,325 against the deal that don't stand up to scrutiny, and 1450 01:07:43,325 --> 01:07:46,261 that's been the source of some frustration on the part 1451 01:07:46,262 --> 01:07:49,865 of the President, there's no doubt about that. 1452 01:07:49,865 --> 01:07:50,832 Sarah. 1453 01:07:50,833 --> 01:07:51,834 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 1454 01:07:51,834 --> 01:07:53,935 Another question on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 1455 01:07:53,936 --> 01:07:55,971 A lot of the coverage is focused on the fact that the 1456 01:07:55,971 --> 01:07:58,607 victims -- the average age is 80 years old -- they are 1457 01:07:58,607 --> 01:08:02,044 the only generation of people who have been the 1458 01:08:02,044 --> 01:08:04,013 victims of a nuclear attack. 1459 01:08:04,013 --> 01:08:08,284 And this is an issue that has long been important to 1460 01:08:08,284 --> 01:08:11,587 the President since even before he became President. 1461 01:08:11,587 --> 01:08:13,122 And I'm just curious if you happen to know if their 1462 01:08:13,122 --> 01:08:17,026 stories have had any particular impact on his own 1463 01:08:17,026 --> 01:08:20,162 conviction that nonproliferation is a very 1464 01:08:20,162 --> 01:08:23,999 important goal? 1465 01:08:23,999 --> 01:08:27,670 Mr. Earnest: Well, Sarah, I would say that there are a 1466 01:08:27,670 --> 01:08:29,672 number of American officials, including 1467 01:08:29,671 --> 01:08:33,442 Ambassador Kennedy, that have had the opportunity to 1468 01:08:33,442 --> 01:08:38,447 hear the experiences and testimony of survivors. 1469 01:08:38,447 --> 01:08:43,618 And I think to a person, each of those officials, has 1470 01:08:43,618 --> 01:08:46,322 found those survivors' stories to be quite moving 1471 01:08:46,322 --> 01:08:48,324 and poignant. 1472 01:08:50,792 --> 01:08:52,795 And I don't know if the President has engaged in any 1473 01:08:52,795 --> 01:08:53,796 of those conversations. 1474 01:08:53,796 --> 01:08:56,599 Presumably the possibility that he would have had to 1475 01:08:56,599 --> 01:08:58,601 have those kinds of conversations would have 1476 01:08:58,600 --> 01:09:00,603 come up during his trip to -- one of his trips to 1477 01:09:00,603 --> 01:09:03,105 Japan, and I don't know if that occurred or not. 1478 01:09:03,104 --> 01:09:05,241 But certainly the President is a student of history, as 1479 01:09:05,241 --> 01:09:11,580 you all know, and there has been extensive historic 1480 01:09:11,580 --> 01:09:16,050 discussion and review about the consequences of 1481 01:09:16,051 --> 01:09:18,888 President Truman's fateful decision that brought the 1482 01:09:18,888 --> 01:09:22,323 Second World War to an end. 1483 01:09:22,323 --> 01:09:26,261 And these are, to put it mildly, weighty issues to 1484 01:09:26,261 --> 01:09:31,700 scrutinize and to discuss and to, in some cases, even 1485 01:09:31,700 --> 01:09:34,470 debate, and people have been doing it for 70 years. 1486 01:09:34,470 --> 01:09:39,074 I suspect that people will be doing it for at least 1487 01:09:39,073 --> 01:09:41,143 another 70. 1488 01:09:41,143 --> 01:09:49,084 And there's no doubt that at least some of this has 1489 01:09:49,084 --> 01:09:52,854 influenced the view, not just of President Obama but 1490 01:09:52,854 --> 01:09:56,692 of many previous Presidents, to set a goal of a world 1491 01:09:56,692 --> 01:09:58,327 without nuclear weapons. 1492 01:09:58,327 --> 01:10:00,329 And it certainly is a goal that this administration and 1493 01:10:00,329 --> 01:10:02,331 this President is committed to pursuing. 1494 01:10:02,331 --> 01:10:05,501 The President has convened a couple of national 1495 01:10:05,501 --> 01:10:07,436 security summits. 1496 01:10:07,436 --> 01:10:11,874 The first one was here in Washington D.C. and I 1497 01:10:11,874 --> 01:10:14,710 believe there's slated to be another one next year, and 1498 01:10:14,710 --> 01:10:16,712 we'll have some more details on that soon. 1499 01:10:16,712 --> 01:10:20,049 The Press: Thank you, Josh. 1500 01:10:20,049 --> 01:10:22,551 The Press: So do you foresee any -- what's the next step? 1501 01:10:22,551 --> 01:10:27,823 He laid out a very ambitious agenda in his Prague speech 1502 01:10:27,823 --> 01:10:29,024 in 2009. 1503 01:10:29,024 --> 01:10:32,461 Do you see us being able to check anything else off of that? 1504 01:10:32,461 --> 01:10:34,330 And I have one more question also. 1505 01:10:34,330 --> 01:10:38,267 His peace prize -- his Nobel Peace Prize was based sort 1506 01:10:38,267 --> 01:10:41,570 of prospectively in part on that speech and other things. 1507 01:10:41,570 --> 01:10:44,206 And in light of securing this Iran deal, do you know 1508 01:10:44,206 --> 01:10:46,442 if the President has gotten a chance to reflect a little 1509 01:10:46,442 --> 01:10:50,379 more on that prize and if he feels that it's now 1510 01:10:50,379 --> 01:10:55,284 vindicated or anything like that? 1511 01:10:55,284 --> 01:11:01,223 Mr. Earnest: In terms of our ongoing nonproliferation 1512 01:11:01,223 --> 01:11:03,425 efforts, let me see if I can have somebody follow up with 1513 01:11:03,425 --> 01:11:05,427 you -- if you're working on a specific story, there may 1514 01:11:05,427 --> 01:11:07,429 be some additional facts about our record and our 1515 01:11:07,429 --> 01:11:09,431 plans that we can share with you for that story. 1516 01:11:09,431 --> 01:11:13,936 As it relates to the President's Nobel Peace 1517 01:11:13,936 --> 01:11:17,139 Prize, I think what I can say about that is I know 1518 01:11:17,139 --> 01:11:21,143 that the speech that the President gave when he 1519 01:11:21,143 --> 01:11:26,649 received the prize back in December of 2009 was on his 1520 01:11:26,649 --> 01:11:29,985 mind as he was writing the speech that he delivered 1521 01:11:29,985 --> 01:11:35,290 yesterday, and I do think that there are some rather 1522 01:11:35,290 --> 01:11:38,861 distinctive parallels between those two speeches. 1523 01:11:38,861 --> 01:11:39,995 Rebecca, I'll give you the last one. 1524 01:11:39,995 --> 01:11:41,530 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 1525 01:11:41,530 --> 01:11:43,565 In his speech yesterday, the President chided opponents 1526 01:11:43,565 --> 01:11:45,668 of the Iran deal, saying it's easy to play on 1527 01:11:45,668 --> 01:11:47,201 people's fears. 1528 01:11:47,202 --> 01:11:50,572 But isn't that what he's doing in warning of war with 1529 01:11:50,572 --> 01:11:53,442 Iran as the only realistic alternative to this deal? 1530 01:11:53,442 --> 01:11:56,445 Mr. Earnest: No. 1531 01:11:56,445 --> 01:11:58,813 I think what the President is actually doing is the 1532 01:11:58,814 --> 01:12:05,087 President delivered a powerful argument to give 1533 01:12:05,087 --> 01:12:07,956 diplomacy a chance to work, because the President 1534 01:12:07,956 --> 01:12:10,059 believes that diplomacy is the best way for us to 1535 01:12:10,059 --> 01:12:12,094 prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. 1536 01:12:12,094 --> 01:12:16,532 That is, after all, why the President is pursuing this path. 1537 01:12:16,532 --> 01:12:22,805 And it is merely a fact that if Congress kills this 1538 01:12:22,805 --> 01:12:28,977 diplomatic opening that a military conflict becomes 1539 01:12:28,977 --> 01:12:33,415 much more likely and is, in fact, the only alternative 1540 01:12:33,415 --> 01:12:34,883 to this diplomatic agreement. 1541 01:12:34,883 --> 01:12:39,054 And I say that because we're now 18 days or so into this 1542 01:12:39,054 --> 01:12:44,093 debate and we've yet to hear the alternative that many of 1543 01:12:44,093 --> 01:12:50,199 our opponents swear exists but it hasn't actually 1544 01:12:50,199 --> 01:12:51,633 materialized. 1545 01:12:51,633 --> 01:12:54,937 So I don't think it's a stretch for the President to 1546 01:12:54,937 --> 01:13:00,909 point out the consequences of Congress acting to kill 1547 01:13:00,909 --> 01:13:01,710 the deal. 1548 01:13:01,710 --> 01:13:02,644 Okay. 1549 01:13:02,644 --> 01:13:03,212 Thanks, everybody. 1550 01:13:03,212 --> 01:13:04,113 We'll see you tomorrow. 1551 01:13:04,113 --> 01:13:04,880 Enjoy the debate. 1552 01:13:04,880 --> 01:13:05,647 The Press: As you. 1553 01:13:05,647 --> 01:13:06,949 Mr. Earnest: Yes.