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Mr. Carney:
Good afternoon,
ladies and gentlemen.
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Thank you for being here.
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Before I take your questions I
wanted to let you know that on
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Thursday afternoon, after
the formal opening of the
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George W. Bush Presidential
Library and Museum,
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the President and First Lady
will travel to Baylor University
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in Waco, Texas, to attend the
memorial service for those lost
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and injured in the deadly
explosion at the fertilizer
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plant there.
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With that, I will
take your questions.
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The Press:
Thanks, Jay.
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It appears as though the suspect
in the Boston bombings is having
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some level of communication
with investigators.
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Can you give us any sense about
how much information he's been
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able to provide to authorities,
and are they getting any closer
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to being able to identify a
motivation in the attacks?
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Mr. Carney:
Let me say a few things.
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First of all, at the
request of the hospital,
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the FBI did put out a release
this morning on the suspect's
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condition and that is that he
remains in serious condition.
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When it comes to the ongoing
investigation and the
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prosecution of the suspect, I am
not going to give a play-by-play
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-- for obvious reasons.
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There is a comprehensive
investigation underway.
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As you heard the
President say on Friday,
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we need to know everything we
can about why this happened,
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what the motivation
was, how it happened,
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and all of those issues
are under investigation.
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As for the process that the
Department of Justice and the
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FBI are using to move
forward in the investigation,
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they can comment on that.
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But I think it is entirely
appropriate when you have an
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investigation like this into a
terrorist act that that process
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be protected so that it is
as effective as possible.
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The Press:
Is the President, though,
getting a play-by-play briefing
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on what authorities are able to
get from this man at this point?
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Mr. Carney:
Well, as you saw on Saturday,
President Obama convened the
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National Security Council here
in the Situation Room to review
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the events in Boston and he was
updated on the apprehension of
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Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and the
related investigation.
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He was also briefed by the
leadership of the intelligence
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community about our ongoing
efforts to combat terrorism
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and protect the American people.
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He commended the work done.
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And it is extraordinary work and
worth noting the work done by
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law enforcement officials
at the state, local,
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and federal level last week, the
remarkable period from Monday to
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Friday night, in the act of
terrorism in the terrible
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bombings and the tragedy, the
immediate coming together of all
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relevant authorities
at the state, local,
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and federal level to
investigate these acts;
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the ability through remarkable
work to provide to the public
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video and photographic
images of the suspects;
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and then the successful
apprehension of and bringing
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to justice of the suspects on
Friday night -- that really is
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quite remarkable.
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And so the President commended
the work that was done and
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underscored the need to continue
gathering intelligence to answer
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the remaining questions
about this terrorist attack
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going forward.
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And the President has been and
will continue to be updated
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regularly on the progress
of the investigation and
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related matters.
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But as I said in answer
to your first question,
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this is an ongoing investigation
that is really still in its
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early stages.
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The Press:
There are some questions
being raised by lawmakers
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about whether the FBI was
thorough enough as it looked
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into the older brother in 2011.
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Is the President comfortable
with that review that the FBI
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did at that point?
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Has he asked for there to be
any further review of what
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the FBI did at that point?
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Mr. Carney:
Well, let me say, first of
all, as you heard the President
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comment on Friday, the FBI
did extraordinary work in
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responding to this attack --
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identifying the suspects,
and working with state and
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local authorities to
bring them to justice.
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With respect to the events
in 2011 that you mentioned,
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the FBI has spoken about
this and put out a statement.
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It is clear from that, that
the FBI followed up on the
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information that it received
about Tamerlan Tsarnaev,
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the older brother.
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They investigated it thoroughly
and did not find terrorist
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activity, domestic or foreign.
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As for the President, you
heard him say on Friday,
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and I think it
merits repeating --
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I don't have it here, but it
merits repeating in that he
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called for answers to
a number of questions,
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as I said earlier: why this was
done, what the motivations were,
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how it was done, any possible
associations that the suspects
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may have had.
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And all of this is
being investigated.
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And I think that you absolutely
can expect that all the agencies
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involved as part of the broader
investigation are examining
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these issues.
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Yes.
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The Press:
There's some chatter now that
the immigration reform effort
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could be derailed because
of what happened in Boston.
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What's the White
House view on this?
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Mr. Carney:
Well, I think we agree with
what some of the coauthors
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of the bill --
including, I believe,
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Senators McCain and
Graham and Rubio --
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have said, which is that one of
the positive effects and one of
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the reasons why we need
comprehensive immigration
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reform is because it will
enhance when implemented
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our national security.
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And it is another reason why
we need to move forward with
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this very important
bipartisan legislation.
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That is certainly our view.
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The Press:
Are you worried that the
effort may lose some momentum
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now because of this?
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Mr. Carney:
Well, I will simply say that
it should not because of the
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reasons I just mentioned, and
that Republican authors of the
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legislation as well as
Democratic authors of The
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legislation I think have said,
which is that one of the reasons
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why we need comprehensive
immigration reform is we
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need to bring out of the shadows
the roughly 11 million residents
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of this country who
are here illegally.
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The process of moving along the
earned path to citizenship and
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the various hurdles that have
to be cleared in that process
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allows for much more information
to be known by the relevant
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authorities and agencies
about these individuals.
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And that's very important.
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It also enhances the entry and
exit procedures that are part
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of the immigration process.
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So we will continue to press
forward in a bipartisan way with
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Congress to move this
legislation because it's
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the right thing to do
for the middle class,
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for our security
and for our economy.
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The Press:
Some Senate Republicans --
lastly, Jay -- are saying that
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the Boston suspect should be
treated like an enemy combatant.
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Is that something that you
guys have looked at or made
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a determination on?
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Mr. Carney:
He will not be treated
as an enemy combatant.
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We will prosecute this
terrorist through our
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civilian system of justice.
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Under U.S. law, United States
citizens cannot be trialed --
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tried, rather, in
military commissions.
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And it is important to
remember that since 9/11,
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we have used the federal
court system to convict and
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incarcerate hundreds
of terrorists.
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The effective use of the
criminal justice system has
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resulted in the interrogation,
conviction and detention of both
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U.S. citizens and noncitizens
for acts of terrorism committed
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inside the United States
and around the world.
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The system has repeatedly proven
that it can successfully handle
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the threat that we
continue to face.
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And there are a number
of examples of this --
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high-profile: the Times
Square Bomber, Faisal Shahzad,
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pleaded guilty and was
sentenced to life in prison.
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Abdulmutallab, the
so-called Underwear Bomber,
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was sentenced to life in prison.
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Warsame, a Somali national who
was a member of Al Shabaab and
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has close associations with Al
Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula,
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is now currently in this system
and we have acquired valuable
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intelligence from him through
the process that is allowed in
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the system.
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So this is absolutely
the right way to go and
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the appropriate way to go.
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And when it comes to
United States citizens,
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it is against the law to try
them in military commissions.
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The Press:
Does the President believe
that there is a system in place
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to adequately target and
deal with lone operators,
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those who may not be
tied to some kind of
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larger extremist organization?
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Mr. Carney:
You have heard the President and
many others address the evolving
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threats that we
have as a nation.
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As we have taken the fight
to al Qaeda and have met with
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significant progress in removing
from the battlefield senior
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members of al Qaeda Central,
we have seen other threats
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develop and emerge.
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And John Brennan, the
President, many others,
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the Attorney General have
spoken about those threats.
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I would not in any way
characterize the suspects
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in this investigation in any way
with regards to that question
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because that is something
that is being determined by
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investigators and prosecutors.
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But there is no question
that the threat remains.
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It remains from
al Qaeda Central,
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even though it's been decimated.
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It remains from affiliates of al
Qaeda, as we've talked about --
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AQAP and the like.
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And it remains within the
context of your question,
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self-radicalized actors,
individual actors who
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pose a threat.
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We have to remain vigilant in
the face of all those threats.
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And the President, of course,
expects our various agencies
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within the national security
apparatus to do just that.
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The Press:
I want to follow up on an
earlier question about whether
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or not the President feels
like law enforcement, the FBI,
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adequately dealt with
this issue back in 2011.
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During his briefings, has he
been asking specific questions
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about what law enforcement knew
and is he comfortable with the
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answers that he's getting?
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Mr. Carney:
Without getting into specifics
of the meetings he has had,
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he has been thoroughly briefed
and has asked a host of
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questions, as you would expect.
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And what I can tell
you is that the FBI --
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as the FBI itself has said --
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thoroughly investigated
the information that it
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had received in 2011.
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That included checking U.S.
government databases and other
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information to look for
such things as derogatory
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telephone communications,
possible use of online sites
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associated with the promotion of
radical activity, associations
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with other persons of interest,
travel history and plans,
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and education history.
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And the FBI, as you know,
interviewed Tamerlan Tsarnaev
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and family members and at the
time did not find any terrorism
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activity, domestic or foreign.
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As part of the overall
investigation into these two
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individuals, into the bombings
in Boston and obviously the
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events later in Watertown, there
will be a whole picture I think
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put together to find out exactly
what led to these bombings,
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the motivations that
were behind them,
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any associations that may
have existed if they did.
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And that is part of the process
that's being undertaken now,
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now that these suspects --
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one is obviously deceased
and one is in custody --
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there is a process underway
to thoroughly investigate
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the whole matter.
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The Press:
And as that picture is being
painted and put together at
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this stage, is there any
indication at all that,
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looking back on it now, there
are some things that pointed
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to what happened?
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00:11:56,033 --> 00:11:58,567
Mr. Carney:
Well, I would point you to the
statement the FBI made and that
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00:11:58,567 --> 00:12:00,834
I just repeated, which is,
looking back on it now at this
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time, the FBI did thoroughly
investigate this matter when it
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received information from a
foreign government and went
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through the process
that I just described.
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All of this obviously will be
part of an investigation into an
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ongoing matter, and that is the
investigation and prosecution of
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the suspect in custody.
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Jon.
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The Press:
Jay, I've got two things.
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First, a quick follow
on immigration.
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00:12:28,867 --> 00:12:31,367
Senator Rand Paul is saying at
the very least that the process
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should be slowed down.
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We understand what
happened in Boston.
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00:12:34,867 --> 00:12:39,165
And he wrote a letter saying,
"Why did the current system
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00:12:39,166 --> 00:12:41,500
allow two individuals to
immigrate to the United
243
00:12:41,500 --> 00:12:43,767
States from the Chechen
Republic in Russia,
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00:12:43,767 --> 00:12:46,300
an area known as a
hotbed of extremism,
245
00:12:46,300 --> 00:12:48,032
who then committed
acts of terrorism?
246
00:12:48,033 --> 00:12:49,100
Were there any safeguards?
247
00:12:49,100 --> 00:12:50,100
Could this have been prevented?"
248
00:12:50,100 --> 00:12:54,233
My question to you is: Do you
think Rand Paul has a point at
249
00:12:54,233 --> 00:12:58,032
all, that what happened in
Boston reflects something wrong
250
00:12:58,033 --> 00:13:00,300
with the current system of
immigration that should
251
00:13:00,300 --> 00:13:02,900
cause us to slow down a
little bit and figure it out?
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00:13:02,900 --> 00:13:05,165
Mr. Carney:
We believe that we need to
move forward with comprehensive
253
00:13:05,166 --> 00:13:09,600
immigration reform for a whole
host of reasons and the benefits
254
00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:14,100
that reform will provide to
our country, to our economy,
255
00:13:14,100 --> 00:13:15,600
to our security.
256
00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:20,900
And we agree with those
coauthors of the legislation
257
00:13:20,900 --> 00:13:25,500
in the Senate who have made
the point in recent days that
258
00:13:25,500 --> 00:13:27,734
enhancing our security is one of
the reasons why we should press
259
00:13:27,734 --> 00:13:30,000
forward with comprehensive
immigration reform.
260
00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:36,200
Speculation about this
particular matter is fine,
261
00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:37,533
but this is under investigation.
262
00:13:37,533 --> 00:13:40,133
The fact is that comprehensive
immigration reform,
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00:13:40,133 --> 00:13:42,767
as anybody who has looked
into it and can attest,
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00:13:42,767 --> 00:13:44,834
would enhance our security for
all the reasons that I talked
265
00:13:44,834 --> 00:13:46,099
about at the top.
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00:13:46,100 --> 00:13:47,934
The Press:
Okay. Now I'll ask
about the FAA furloughs,
267
00:13:47,934 --> 00:13:49,699
which started yesterday.
268
00:13:49,700 --> 00:13:54,734
A group of almost the
entire airline industry,
269
00:13:54,734 --> 00:13:58,834
including air traffic controller
unions, flight attendants,
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00:13:58,834 --> 00:14:01,632
pilot unions, and
the industry itself,
271
00:14:01,633 --> 00:14:04,567
have written Denis McDonough and
the White House a letter saying
272
00:14:04,567 --> 00:14:08,033
that the FAA should be granted
flexibility so they don't have
273
00:14:08,033 --> 00:14:11,500
to furlough the air
traffic controllers.
274
00:14:11,500 --> 00:14:13,400
What do you say to
this broad coalition?
275
00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:15,900
They say that other agencies
have been given such flexibility
276
00:14:15,900 --> 00:14:18,467
and they believe the FAA should
have the same flexibility.
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00:14:18,467 --> 00:14:19,734
Mr. Carney:
Let me give you some facts.
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00:14:19,734 --> 00:14:24,066
The Department of Transportation
is required by law to cut about
279
00:14:24,066 --> 00:14:27,266
$1 billion between now
and the end of September;
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00:14:27,266 --> 00:14:30,900
$637 million of that
comes from the FAA.
281
00:14:30,900 --> 00:14:34,800
The FAA has initiated a
series of cost-saving measures
282
00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:37,165
for personnel and
non-personnel related,
283
00:14:37,166 --> 00:14:39,633
including a hiring freeze,
restrictions on travel,
284
00:14:39,633 --> 00:14:41,633
termination of certain
temporary employees,
285
00:14:41,633 --> 00:14:44,967
and reductions to contracts,
among other savings.
286
00:14:44,967 --> 00:14:47,433
But furloughs cannot be avoided.
287
00:14:47,433 --> 00:14:51,867
Seventy percent of the FAA's
operations budget is personnel.
288
00:14:51,867 --> 00:14:55,567
The FAA must furlough 47,000
employees for up to 11 days
289
00:14:55,567 --> 00:14:57,533
between now and the
end of the fiscal year.
290
00:14:57,533 --> 00:15:01,867
And that's why Secretary LaHood,
here in this room two months
291
00:15:01,867 --> 00:15:06,099
ago, called on Congress to
replace these dumb sequester
292
00:15:06,100 --> 00:15:11,800
cuts and put instead in
place a smarter approach
293
00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:12,532
to deficit reduction.
294
00:15:12,533 --> 00:15:15,000
Remember, this is a result of
sequester that was never meant
295
00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:16,100
to be law.
296
00:15:16,100 --> 00:15:19,200
And it was never meant to be
law for reasons like this --
297
00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:21,934
because the across-the-board
nature of cuts.
298
00:15:21,934 --> 00:15:24,367
And in an agency
like DOT and the FAA,
299
00:15:24,367 --> 00:15:27,934
because they're personnel-heavy,
the effect of these cuts
300
00:15:27,934 --> 00:15:31,199
inevitably will be felt
at the personnel level.
301
00:15:33,133 --> 00:15:34,767
Congress can act.
302
00:15:34,767 --> 00:15:36,033
It could have acted in the past.
303
00:15:36,033 --> 00:15:38,000
It could have brought
down the sequester and
304
00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:39,767
avoided it entirely.
305
00:15:39,767 --> 00:15:41,333
Congress could act
now to do that.
306
00:15:41,333 --> 00:15:46,699
Republicans in Congress could
decide that the victory party
307
00:15:46,700 --> 00:15:50,433
is over and it's time to get
serious about the economy,
308
00:15:50,433 --> 00:15:56,633
get serious about the effects
of the sequester on Americans
309
00:15:56,633 --> 00:15:58,600
across the country
in a variety of ways,
310
00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:05,066
and either postpone it by
buying it down or take up the
311
00:16:05,066 --> 00:16:08,200
President's balanced approach
to broader deficit reduction
312
00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:10,367
that would eliminate the
sequester entirely.
313
00:16:10,367 --> 00:16:13,400
The Press:
But this coalition,
again, it's the industry,
314
00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:14,533
it's all the unions.
315
00:16:14,533 --> 00:16:16,166
I mean, theoretically, they
know a little something about
316
00:16:16,166 --> 00:16:17,333
how the FAA operates.
317
00:16:17,333 --> 00:16:21,600
They point out that the Bureau
of Prisons, the meat inspectors,
318
00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:24,233
other agencies have been able
to figure out another way.
319
00:16:24,233 --> 00:16:25,300
Are they just wrong?
320
00:16:25,300 --> 00:16:30,834
Mr. Carney:
I think I enumerated the ways
in which the FAA has already
321
00:16:30,834 --> 00:16:35,566
done what it could to mitigate
the effects of the sequester.
322
00:16:35,567 --> 00:16:39,800
The FAA, unlike other
agencies, is personnel-heavy,
323
00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:42,266
and in the end,
you cannot avoid --
324
00:16:42,266 --> 00:16:45,900
when 70% of your budget, of your
operating budget, is personnel,
325
00:16:45,900 --> 00:16:48,800
you cannot avoid, when the cuts
are as deep as they are in the
326
00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:50,567
sequester, the kinds of
actions that are taken.
327
00:16:50,567 --> 00:16:54,900
These furloughs, that's the
unfortunate fact of arbitrary,
328
00:16:54,900 --> 00:16:57,467
across-the-board cuts like this.
329
00:16:57,467 --> 00:17:02,133
They affect agencies differently
depending on the makeup of an
330
00:17:02,133 --> 00:17:05,233
agency's budget, what kinds of
actions they can take within the
331
00:17:05,233 --> 00:17:07,834
law to mitigate the
impacts of the sequester.
332
00:17:07,834 --> 00:17:11,266
In this case, those actions
have already been taken.
333
00:17:11,266 --> 00:17:14,633
So it's an unfortunate result.
334
00:17:14,633 --> 00:17:18,133
And it is unfortunate, just as
those families whose children
335
00:17:18,133 --> 00:17:20,700
are no longer on Head Start
or will not be on Head Start
336
00:17:20,700 --> 00:17:23,867
because of the arbitrary nature
of the sequester's impact,
337
00:17:23,867 --> 00:17:27,399
those seniors who are not
getting Meals on Wheels
338
00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:30,200
because they can't participate
anymore because funding cuts.
339
00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:31,800
There are a variety
of effects of this,
340
00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:36,066
and none of this was necessary,
nor should it be necessary going
341
00:17:36,066 --> 00:17:42,000
forward if Republicans would
simply revert to their previous
342
00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:44,400
position that they
held vociferously,
343
00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:46,500
which is that the sequester was
terrible policy that shouldn't
344
00:17:46,500 --> 00:17:48,467
become law, that would do
damage to our economy and
345
00:17:48,467 --> 00:17:49,900
to job creation.
346
00:17:49,900 --> 00:17:51,266
They were right then.
347
00:17:51,266 --> 00:17:54,767
When they called it a political
victory and a tea party victory,
348
00:17:54,767 --> 00:17:58,066
they were wrong -- at least
wrong when it comes to the
349
00:17:58,066 --> 00:18:00,734
American people and the economy.
350
00:18:00,734 --> 00:18:01,199
Bill.
351
00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:03,400
The Press:
When the Russian government
asked the FBI or the U.S.
352
00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:07,900
government and the FBI to check
on the activities of Tamerlan
353
00:18:07,900 --> 00:18:12,700
and the FBI reported back they
had no evidence of terrorism,
354
00:18:12,700 --> 00:18:16,500
there was also a report that
the FBI asked the Russians
355
00:18:16,500 --> 00:18:19,834
for further information,
which was not forthcoming.
356
00:18:19,834 --> 00:18:21,900
Is there going to be an
attempt to find out what
357
00:18:21,900 --> 00:18:24,133
else was in the pipeline?
358
00:18:24,133 --> 00:18:27,000
Mr. Carney:
Well, as you know, the President
spoke with President Putin on
359
00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:32,633
Friday and we have a useful,
cooperative relationship with
360
00:18:32,633 --> 00:18:35,700
the Russians when it comes to
matters of counterterrorism.
361
00:18:35,700 --> 00:18:40,200
That has been true in the past
and will be true going forward
362
00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:41,200
we expect.
363
00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:44,567
And that coordination and
cooperation is ongoing,
364
00:18:44,567 --> 00:18:47,934
and I think that that applies
specifically to this matter and
365
00:18:47,934 --> 00:18:50,600
broadly on a host of issues.
366
00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:53,367
It also applies to our
counterterrorism cooperation
367
00:18:53,367 --> 00:18:56,033
with a number of countries,
which is very similar.
368
00:18:56,033 --> 00:18:57,632
The Press:
Do we know why their
cooperation apparently
369
00:18:57,633 --> 00:18:59,800
failed in this earlier request?
370
00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:02,834
Mr. Carney:
Well, the FBI has put out a
fairly detailed statement about
371
00:19:02,834 --> 00:19:09,400
those -- that time period and
its investigation into the elder
372
00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:13,066
Tsarnaev, and I would refer
you to that statement.
373
00:19:13,066 --> 00:19:17,000
What is and was the case is
that we have a cooperative
374
00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:19,000
relationship with the Russians.
375
00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:24,567
It is also certainly the case
that information passed on by
376
00:19:24,567 --> 00:19:27,934
a foreign government would not
necessarily lead to the arrest
377
00:19:27,934 --> 00:19:28,867
of an individual.
378
00:19:28,867 --> 00:19:31,500
We have a process in this
country where we have to find
379
00:19:31,500 --> 00:19:35,433
grounds for action, and the FBI
did an investigation and did not
380
00:19:35,433 --> 00:19:38,433
find grounds for
action at the time.
381
00:19:38,433 --> 00:19:39,200
Yes, Wendell.
382
00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:43,200
The Press:
On another subject, what gives
you confidence the agreement
383
00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:46,767
reached by the core group of the
Friends of Syria this weekend
384
00:19:46,767 --> 00:19:50,200
will actually keep weapons out
of the hands of extremists in
385
00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:52,166
that country?
386
00:19:52,166 --> 00:19:59,899
Mr. Carney:
Well, Wendell, as you know,
we have upped our provision
387
00:19:59,900 --> 00:20:03,600
of nonlethal assistance
to the Syrian opposition.
388
00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:08,132
We have increased our
humanitarian assistance
389
00:20:08,133 --> 00:20:10,533
to the Syrian people.
390
00:20:10,533 --> 00:20:13,800
I would also, since
I'm discussing Syria,
391
00:20:13,800 --> 00:20:17,533
be remiss if I did not note
that we are appalled by horrific
392
00:20:17,533 --> 00:20:20,166
reports that hundreds of Syrians
were killed over the weekend in
393
00:20:20,166 --> 00:20:21,399
a Damascus suburb.
394
00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:25,600
And as the violence drags out
while President Assad clings
395
00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:28,399
to power, we cannot
lose sight of the men,
396
00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:31,300
women and children whose lives
are being so brutally cut short.
397
00:20:31,300 --> 00:20:34,700
And we reinforce our solidarity
with the Syrian people,
398
00:20:34,700 --> 00:20:37,033
even as we strongly
condemn this massacre.
399
00:20:39,133 --> 00:20:42,066
At the President's directive, we
will continue to work with the
400
00:20:42,066 --> 00:20:45,600
coalition and other opposition
representatives to determine
401
00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:49,567
how the new $123 million in
nonlethal assistance can best
402
00:20:49,567 --> 00:20:51,467
support their efforts to
accelerate a political
403
00:20:51,467 --> 00:20:53,266
transition and
build the inclusive,
404
00:20:53,266 --> 00:20:55,600
democratic Syria that
its people deserve.
405
00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:58,600
This new pledge brings our total
nonlethal assistance to the
406
00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:03,899
Syrian opposition and civil
society groups to $250 million.
407
00:21:03,900 --> 00:21:05,800
A portion of this nonlethal
assistance will be used to
408
00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:08,300
implement the President's
directive to provide an
409
00:21:08,300 --> 00:21:12,100
expanded range of support to
the Supreme Military Council.
410
00:21:12,100 --> 00:21:15,065
We intend to expand our support
beyond military food rations and
411
00:21:15,066 --> 00:21:18,934
medical kits to include other
types of nonlethal supplies,
412
00:21:18,934 --> 00:21:21,500
which will be determined
in collaboration with the
413
00:21:21,500 --> 00:21:23,734
SMC leadership.
414
00:21:23,734 --> 00:21:26,899
Now, this is a process that we
have engaged in now for some
415
00:21:26,900 --> 00:21:28,867
time where we have
increased our aid.
416
00:21:28,867 --> 00:21:30,767
As we make assessments
about the opposition,
417
00:21:30,767 --> 00:21:35,834
we have recognized the Syria
Opposition Coalition and we have
418
00:21:35,834 --> 00:21:39,100
been increasing our
nonlethal assistance.
419
00:21:39,100 --> 00:21:43,100
And together with our
international partners we
420
00:21:43,100 --> 00:21:46,466
are working to bring about the
day when the Syrian people can
421
00:21:46,467 --> 00:21:49,867
decide their future, and that
future cannot and will not
422
00:21:49,867 --> 00:21:52,133
include President Assad.
423
00:21:52,133 --> 00:21:54,667
The Press:
Can I ask the question again?
424
00:21:54,667 --> 00:21:59,033
The agreement itself, what about
that gives you confidence that
425
00:21:59,033 --> 00:22:02,734
other countries' lethal
assistance will not fall
426
00:22:02,734 --> 00:22:05,066
into the hands of
extremists in Syria?
427
00:22:05,066 --> 00:22:09,400
Mr. Carney:
Well, we work with the
Syrian opposition and
428
00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:18,300
we have recognized the coalition
because we recognize their
429
00:22:18,300 --> 00:22:23,899
assertions about democracy
for the Syria people and their
430
00:22:23,900 --> 00:22:26,667
intentions to bring about a
more democratic and prosperous
431
00:22:26,667 --> 00:22:28,899
and freer Syria.
432
00:22:28,900 --> 00:22:32,734
This is an issue that we have
discussed repeatedly over the
433
00:22:32,734 --> 00:22:37,867
last many months
now, and it's one --
434
00:22:37,867 --> 00:22:41,332
it's the kind of assessment
we make all the time about
435
00:22:41,333 --> 00:22:46,133
providing assistance to
the Syrian opposition.
436
00:22:46,133 --> 00:22:50,266
We obviously make the decisions
that we make based on the aid
437
00:22:50,266 --> 00:22:51,266
that we provide.
438
00:22:51,266 --> 00:22:54,367
We work with our partners
and allies in this matter.
439
00:22:54,367 --> 00:22:56,500
Other countries obviously have
to make the decisions that they
440
00:22:56,500 --> 00:22:59,767
make based on the
assessments that they have.
441
00:22:59,767 --> 00:23:06,467
The Press:
A lot of the criticism
of Friends of Syria of
442
00:23:06,467 --> 00:23:11,867
the Syrian government, of Bashar
al-Assad, has fallen on Russia.
443
00:23:11,867 --> 00:23:15,767
But Xinhua this weekend said
that the meeting of the Friends
444
00:23:15,767 --> 00:23:18,233
of Syria further
complicates the crisis.
445
00:23:18,233 --> 00:23:25,200
Is China equally culpable
as Moscow in holding back
446
00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:27,600
the effort to get rid
of Bashar al-Assad?
447
00:23:29,867 --> 00:23:34,700
Mr. Carney:
We pursued a process through the
United Nations Security Council
448
00:23:34,700 --> 00:23:38,367
with regards to Syria
that was, unfortunately,
449
00:23:38,367 --> 00:23:43,166
not successful because of
actions and vetoes taken by
450
00:23:43,166 --> 00:23:44,166
the Russians and the Chinese.
451
00:23:44,166 --> 00:23:47,367
We were very clear about our
disappointment in that and our
452
00:23:47,367 --> 00:23:51,033
frustration in that, and we
discussed with both countries --
453
00:23:51,033 --> 00:23:53,199
in particular the Russians
because of their relationship
454
00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:57,767
with the Syrian government,
the Assad government --
455
00:23:57,767 --> 00:24:04,266
why we believe it is essential
to bring about a future in Syria
456
00:24:04,266 --> 00:24:07,567
without Assad because Assad
has so much blood on his hands,
457
00:24:07,567 --> 00:24:11,300
the blood of his own people;
because there is no possible
458
00:24:11,300 --> 00:24:13,934
better, democratic, more
prosperous future for the
459
00:24:13,934 --> 00:24:16,667
Syrian people as long
as Assad is there.
460
00:24:16,667 --> 00:24:18,132
But these are conversations
we have all the time.
461
00:24:18,133 --> 00:24:21,200
It goes to the point I've made
previously about the fact that
462
00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:21,633
we have an important
relationship with Russia.
463
00:24:21,633 --> 00:24:25,867
We have our disagreements and
we have areas where we can
464
00:24:25,867 --> 00:24:29,934
cooperate, and we are clear
and candid about both of them.
465
00:24:29,934 --> 00:24:31,266
The Press:
One final question.
466
00:24:31,266 --> 00:24:34,967
The North Koreans apparently
had moved a missile near the
467
00:24:34,967 --> 00:24:36,800
coast in preparation for a test.
468
00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:40,966
We haven't heard much from them
in the past couple of days.
469
00:24:40,967 --> 00:24:45,600
Do you feel that
the crisis is --
470
00:24:45,600 --> 00:24:49,199
I won't say over, but
tempers have cooled?
471
00:24:51,667 --> 00:24:54,567
Mr. Carney:
We monitor this situation
very closely and carefully.
472
00:24:54,567 --> 00:24:59,367
We have said for some time we
would not be surprised if there
473
00:24:59,367 --> 00:25:02,633
were a missile launch because it
is in keeping with a pattern of
474
00:25:02,633 --> 00:25:05,000
behavior that we
have seen before.
475
00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:10,567
Unfortunately, that pattern of
behavior is one that flies in
476
00:25:10,567 --> 00:25:14,333
the face of North Korea's
commitments to the United
477
00:25:14,333 --> 00:25:17,433
Nations, its commitment
to denuclearization,
478
00:25:17,433 --> 00:25:21,533
its commitment not to pursue the
kind of missile development that
479
00:25:21,533 --> 00:25:22,867
it has pursued.
480
00:25:22,867 --> 00:25:25,899
And we are working with our
partners and allies to isolate
481
00:25:25,900 --> 00:25:31,734
and pressure North Korea to get
it to cease and desist this kind
482
00:25:31,734 --> 00:25:36,033
of provocative behavior, to
dial back the provocative and
483
00:25:36,033 --> 00:25:40,699
unhelpful rhetoric, and instead
to choose the path open to it --
484
00:25:40,700 --> 00:25:42,867
the path that is best for
the North Korean people --
485
00:25:42,867 --> 00:25:46,867
and that is one that recognizes
the need to denuclearize the
486
00:25:46,867 --> 00:25:50,667
Korean Peninsula and for
North Korea to verifiably
487
00:25:50,667 --> 00:25:52,332
abide by its commitments.
488
00:25:52,333 --> 00:25:55,500
The Press:
Does the lack of recent
rhetoric suggest it's working?
489
00:25:55,500 --> 00:26:00,433
Mr. Carney:
Again, we would not be surprised
if action of the like that
490
00:26:00,433 --> 00:26:03,734
you've asked about were to be
taken by the North Koreans.
491
00:26:03,734 --> 00:26:07,766
And we remain in a state
of constant monitoring and
492
00:26:07,767 --> 00:26:11,867
vigilance with regards to all
the developments that we have
493
00:26:11,867 --> 00:26:13,600
seen in recent weeks.
494
00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:17,065
So we're not in any way
prepared to say that this
495
00:26:17,066 --> 00:26:18,367
episode or period is over.
496
00:26:18,367 --> 00:26:22,133
The fact is North Korea
remains out of compliance.
497
00:26:22,133 --> 00:26:28,667
It continues to say and do
things that serve no other
498
00:26:28,667 --> 00:26:32,966
purpose than to heighten
tensions and to further isolate
499
00:26:32,967 --> 00:26:37,333
the North Korean people and
the North Korean regime with
500
00:26:37,333 --> 00:26:40,266
negative consequences for
the North Korean economy and,
501
00:26:40,266 --> 00:26:42,300
as I said, the
North Korean people.
502
00:26:42,300 --> 00:26:44,767
So we'll continue
to monitor this.
503
00:26:44,767 --> 00:26:45,367
Peter.
504
00:26:45,367 --> 00:26:47,767
The Press:
Jay, I want to ask you, ahead of
the President's trip on Thursday
505
00:26:47,767 --> 00:26:50,934
to Waco, Texas -- ask you
specifically about the deadly
506
00:26:50,934 --> 00:26:52,166
explosion that took place there.
507
00:26:52,166 --> 00:26:56,567
That facility was last
inspected by OSHA in 1985.
508
00:26:56,567 --> 00:26:59,767
The risk plan, we're learning,
filed with regulators listed
509
00:26:59,767 --> 00:27:01,233
no flammable chemicals.
510
00:27:01,233 --> 00:27:04,300
It was cleared to hold many
times more ammonium nitrate
511
00:27:04,300 --> 00:27:07,300
than was used in the
Oklahoma City bombing.
512
00:27:07,300 --> 00:27:08,834
As a result of some
of these findings,
513
00:27:08,834 --> 00:27:10,567
there are a lot of
safety advocates,
514
00:27:10,567 --> 00:27:13,567
work-safety advocates who
have been saying that the U.S.
515
00:27:13,567 --> 00:27:17,266
government needs to better crack
down on facilities like this,
516
00:27:17,266 --> 00:27:19,400
citing some stats about
OSHA in particular,
517
00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:22,000
and sort of the ratio of
OSHA employees has dropped
518
00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:24,100
dramatically in the number of
employees in sites that they're
519
00:27:24,100 --> 00:27:25,100
checking these days.
520
00:27:25,100 --> 00:27:28,433
Is the White House satisfied
that there is sufficient --
521
00:27:28,433 --> 00:27:30,834
that the regulators are doing
sufficient work right now and
522
00:27:30,834 --> 00:27:33,000
that there's a sufficient
number of people doing this?
523
00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:34,667
Mr. Carney:
Let me say a few things.
524
00:27:34,667 --> 00:27:38,500
First of all, as I think many
of you noted on Friday night,
525
00:27:38,500 --> 00:27:40,400
shortly after 10 p.m. when the
President came to the briefing
526
00:27:40,400 --> 00:27:45,133
room to discuss the apprehension
of the Boston Marathon bombing
527
00:27:45,133 --> 00:27:49,500
suspect, he made also the
point that our thoughts and
528
00:27:49,500 --> 00:27:52,800
our prayers are with the people
of West, Texas, where so many
529
00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:55,667
good people lost their
lives, some lost their homes,
530
00:27:55,667 --> 00:27:59,300
and many were injured
and are still missing.
531
00:27:59,300 --> 00:28:02,399
As you know, the President has
spoken with Governor Perry and
532
00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:03,900
the Mayor of West, Texas.
533
00:28:03,900 --> 00:28:06,300
The President has directed his
administration to make sure that
534
00:28:06,300 --> 00:28:08,734
the people of West have the
resources that they need to
535
00:28:08,734 --> 00:28:10,766
recover and rebuild.
536
00:28:10,767 --> 00:28:12,633
On Friday, the President
approved an emergency
537
00:28:12,633 --> 00:28:15,433
declaration under the Stafford
Act for the state of Texas,
538
00:28:15,433 --> 00:28:17,867
including public assistance for
emergency protective measures
539
00:28:17,867 --> 00:28:19,700
and direct federal assistance.
540
00:28:19,700 --> 00:28:23,166
On the issue that you raise,
this is currently, obviously,
541
00:28:23,166 --> 00:28:24,466
an active investigation.
542
00:28:24,467 --> 00:28:26,433
The cause is still unknown.
543
00:28:26,433 --> 00:28:29,333
And it is still too early to
point to specific violations,
544
00:28:29,333 --> 00:28:30,400
if any.
545
00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:33,200
The National Response Team of
the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
546
00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:35,934
Firearms, and Explosives along
with the National Criminal
547
00:28:35,934 --> 00:28:39,332
Enforcement Response Team and a
criminal investigative team from
548
00:28:39,333 --> 00:28:41,567
the Environmental Protection
Agency are on scene to
549
00:28:41,567 --> 00:28:45,000
investigate the explosion
at the fertilizer plant.
550
00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:46,500
Let's be clear, though.
551
00:28:46,500 --> 00:28:49,367
Chemical plant safety is a high
priority and all of the relevant
552
00:28:49,367 --> 00:28:51,834
departments and agencies,
including the Department of
553
00:28:51,834 --> 00:28:55,467
Homeland Security, the EPA,
the Department of Labor,
554
00:28:55,467 --> 00:28:57,233
including OSHA within
the Department of Labor,
555
00:28:57,233 --> 00:28:58,533
the Department of
Transportation and the
556
00:28:58,533 --> 00:29:01,332
U.S. Department of Agriculture
and the Chemical Safety Board
557
00:29:01,333 --> 00:29:04,600
continue to work together within
their authorities to assess this
558
00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:07,934
tragic situation on the ground
and provide technical assistance
559
00:29:07,934 --> 00:29:10,266
as requested.
560
00:29:10,266 --> 00:29:12,300
The Press:
I just want to
follow up if I can.
561
00:29:12,300 --> 00:29:14,166
I want to move quickly back to
the conversation we're having
562
00:29:14,166 --> 00:29:17,300
about what took place in Boston
and on the issue of guns that
563
00:29:17,300 --> 00:29:20,600
was in many ways sort of lost in
the conversations about Boston
564
00:29:20,600 --> 00:29:21,600
last week.
565
00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:23,466
We're learning more details
about the firearms and at least
566
00:29:23,467 --> 00:29:26,834
one rifle that was being carried
by these two men during the
567
00:29:26,834 --> 00:29:29,667
firefight that took place
Thursday night into Friday.
568
00:29:29,667 --> 00:29:31,833
The Cambridge Police Department
just said recently that there
569
00:29:31,834 --> 00:29:35,367
was no record of Tamerlan
Tsarnaev having a license
570
00:29:35,367 --> 00:29:37,466
to carry, among other things.
571
00:29:37,467 --> 00:29:39,100
What, if anything,
does this reflect?
572
00:29:39,100 --> 00:29:39,966
Obviously they don't have --
573
00:29:39,967 --> 00:29:42,300
law doesn't give them the
right to carry explosives,
574
00:29:42,300 --> 00:29:44,966
but about guns in particular,
the fact that they had access
575
00:29:44,967 --> 00:29:45,700
to these weapons --
576
00:29:45,700 --> 00:29:47,700
does that demonstrate anything
that underscores the message
577
00:29:47,700 --> 00:29:50,300
you're trying to send?
578
00:29:50,300 --> 00:29:53,767
Mr. Carney:
This is an active investigation
that's just still in its early
579
00:29:53,767 --> 00:29:56,367
stages with regards to
the Boston bombings.
580
00:29:56,367 --> 00:29:59,332
There's no question that in the
bombings themselves and in the
581
00:29:59,333 --> 00:30:03,367
events in Watertown on
Friday that there was a
582
00:30:03,367 --> 00:30:09,433
lot of firepower deployed.
583
00:30:09,433 --> 00:30:13,233
But beyond that, which is
information that's obvious to
584
00:30:13,233 --> 00:30:16,800
anyone who was paying attention,
I'm not going to characterize
585
00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:18,867
the investigation and I'm
not going to characterize
586
00:30:18,867 --> 00:30:23,399
what weapons may or may
not have been recovered.
587
00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:28,467
On the separate matter of the
efforts that the President spoke
588
00:30:28,467 --> 00:30:33,734
about last week, which is
the need to continue to take
589
00:30:33,734 --> 00:30:36,433
common-sense measures and make
them law to reduce gun violence
590
00:30:36,433 --> 00:30:38,834
in America, the President
remains committed to that.
591
00:30:38,834 --> 00:30:43,767
And it was a sad day,
as the President said,
592
00:30:43,767 --> 00:30:48,300
in Washington when a minority
of United States senators voted
593
00:30:48,300 --> 00:30:52,133
against -- not just against
the majority of the American
594
00:30:52,133 --> 00:30:54,734
people, not even a
large majority --
595
00:30:54,734 --> 00:30:59,567
90% of the American people
who understand that expanded
596
00:30:59,567 --> 00:31:03,834
background checks, making better
the system that already exists
597
00:31:03,834 --> 00:31:07,834
to prevent people who by law
should not have access to
598
00:31:07,834 --> 00:31:10,667
weapons was the right thing
to do and remains the right
599
00:31:10,667 --> 00:31:11,934
thing to do.
600
00:31:11,934 --> 00:31:13,966
Peter.
601
00:31:13,967 --> 00:31:15,400
The Press:
This is a different issue.
602
00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:17,834
Does the President support
legislation allowing states
603
00:31:17,834 --> 00:31:21,166
to require Internet retailers
to collect sales taxes?
604
00:31:21,166 --> 00:31:25,800
And if that were to pass,
would he sign that into law?
605
00:31:25,800 --> 00:31:30,166
Mr. Carney:
We believe that the Marketplace
Fairness Act will level the
606
00:31:30,166 --> 00:31:32,734
playing field for local small
business retailers who are
607
00:31:32,734 --> 00:31:36,934
undercut every day by out-of
state online companies.
608
00:31:36,934 --> 00:31:39,899
Today, while local small
business retailers follow the
609
00:31:39,900 --> 00:31:43,033
law and collect sales taxes from
customers who make purchases in
610
00:31:43,033 --> 00:31:46,367
their stores, many big business
online and catalogue retailers
611
00:31:46,367 --> 00:31:48,533
do not collect the same taxes.
612
00:31:48,533 --> 00:31:51,166
This puts local
neighborhood-based small
613
00:31:51,166 --> 00:31:53,500
businesses at a disadvantage
to big, out-of-state,
614
00:31:53,500 --> 00:31:54,400
online companies.
615
00:31:54,400 --> 00:31:56,633
And because these out-of-state
companies are able to cut
616
00:31:56,633 --> 00:31:59,000
corners and play by a
different set of rules,
617
00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:02,600
cities and states lose out on
funding for K-12 education,
618
00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:04,867
police and fire protection,
access to affordable health
619
00:32:04,867 --> 00:32:07,066
care and funding for
roads and bridges.
620
00:32:07,066 --> 00:32:08,734
This administration has
carefully considered the
621
00:32:08,734 --> 00:32:11,433
legislation and our team has met
with a broad array of people on
622
00:32:11,433 --> 00:32:14,467
the issue, and we have heard
overwhelmingly from governors,
623
00:32:14,467 --> 00:32:16,500
mayors and the business
community on the need for
624
00:32:16,500 --> 00:32:19,800
federal legislation to level the
playing field for our businesses
625
00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:21,899
and address sales tax fairness.
626
00:32:21,900 --> 00:32:25,100
The bill also provides an
important exception for small
627
00:32:25,100 --> 00:32:26,934
business and has
bipartisan support,
628
00:32:26,934 --> 00:32:27,934
which I'm sure you know.
629
00:32:27,934 --> 00:32:30,133
It is broadly supported
on a bipartisan basis.
630
00:32:30,133 --> 00:32:34,633
This is simply about leveling
the playing field so that
631
00:32:34,633 --> 00:32:40,867
bricks-and-mortar businesses
that depend on customers to
632
00:32:40,867 --> 00:32:45,667
survive are not playing
at a disadvantage,
633
00:32:45,667 --> 00:32:48,600
competing at a disadvantage, and
selling products that others are
634
00:32:48,600 --> 00:32:52,265
selling online but
not collecting taxes.
635
00:32:52,266 --> 00:32:53,333
The Press:
You were ready for the question.
636
00:32:53,333 --> 00:32:56,834
Mr. Carney:
I was brilliantly
prepared for the question.
637
00:32:56,834 --> 00:33:02,233
The Press:
Jay, whose decision was it to
try this terror suspect the way
638
00:33:02,233 --> 00:33:06,633
he is going to be tried,
in the civilian courts?
639
00:33:06,633 --> 00:33:10,033
Mr. Carney:
This is a matter that is decided
by the Department of Justice and
640
00:33:10,033 --> 00:33:12,199
the Attorney General,
obviously, at the top of that.
641
00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:16,100
The whole national security
team supports this decision.
642
00:33:16,100 --> 00:33:19,233
And let's be clear, there is
not an alternative for a U.S.
643
00:33:19,233 --> 00:33:22,834
citizen to be tried in a
military commission by law.
644
00:33:22,834 --> 00:33:24,734
The Press:
Did the President
weigh in on this, too?
645
00:33:24,734 --> 00:33:29,132
Mr. Carney:
The President has had many
briefings on the Boston
646
00:33:29,133 --> 00:33:32,433
bombings, on the investigation,
on the progress being made thus
647
00:33:32,433 --> 00:33:34,834
far, and he has been
an active participant.
648
00:33:34,834 --> 00:33:37,700
But I'm not going to
characterize his specific
649
00:33:37,700 --> 00:33:40,834
comments within those meetings
except to say that the entire
650
00:33:40,834 --> 00:33:43,767
national security team that
he leads is in agreement on
651
00:33:43,767 --> 00:33:44,767
this approach.
652
00:33:44,767 --> 00:33:47,967
The Press:
Now, looking ahead on the
Bush Library dedication,
653
00:33:47,967 --> 00:33:51,934
can you characterize what
President Obama's relationship
654
00:33:51,934 --> 00:33:54,133
is with George W. Bush?
655
00:33:54,133 --> 00:33:59,567
Mr. Carney:
I think that there is, and he
believes that there is a special
656
00:33:59,567 --> 00:34:05,433
bond between those who have
served their country from
657
00:34:05,433 --> 00:34:07,033
the Oval Office.
658
00:34:07,033 --> 00:34:12,033
There's no job like it and there
are very few in our history who
659
00:34:12,033 --> 00:34:13,266
have held it.
660
00:34:13,266 --> 00:34:17,934
And there are, fortunately, a
number of living ex-Presidents
661
00:34:17,934 --> 00:34:21,233
and the President looks forward
to meeting with all of them.
662
00:34:21,233 --> 00:34:26,333
And he is firmly of the
view that every one of his
663
00:34:26,333 --> 00:34:31,200
predecessors that he will be
seeing in Dallas approached
664
00:34:31,199 --> 00:34:36,567
their job trying to do the
very best for the country,
665
00:34:36,567 --> 00:34:37,632
that they all love
their country,
666
00:34:37,632 --> 00:34:41,433
and they're all patriots, and
they made policy decisions based
667
00:34:41,433 --> 00:34:44,300
on what they thought was
the right thing to do.
668
00:34:44,300 --> 00:34:46,834
The Press:
How much has he relied on
Mr. Bush for any advice?
669
00:34:46,833 --> 00:34:48,165
How often are they in touch?
670
00:34:48,166 --> 00:34:52,567
Mr. Carney:
Well, I'm not going to get into
private conversations that the
671
00:34:52,567 --> 00:34:56,033
President has had with any of
his predecessors except to say
672
00:34:56,033 --> 00:34:58,033
that he looks
forward to the event.
673
00:34:58,033 --> 00:35:04,066
And he had a nice, obviously,
conversation with and meeting
674
00:35:04,066 --> 00:35:06,667
with former President George
W. Bush when he was here for
675
00:35:06,667 --> 00:35:08,500
the portrait unveiling.
676
00:35:08,500 --> 00:35:09,967
But beyond that, I'm not
going to characterize
677
00:35:09,967 --> 00:35:11,467
their conversations.
678
00:35:11,467 --> 00:35:11,967
Yes, Roger.
679
00:35:11,967 --> 00:35:13,100
The Press:
Yes, just a quick
follow-up on that.
680
00:35:13,100 --> 00:35:16,165
What is the President's role
on Thursday at the dedication?
681
00:35:16,166 --> 00:35:17,967
Mr. Carney:
We'll get more
details for you on that.
682
00:35:17,967 --> 00:35:19,633
The Press:
Will he be speaking?
683
00:35:19,633 --> 00:35:21,600
Mr. Carney:
Let me find out
and get that for you.
684
00:35:21,600 --> 00:35:23,700
The Press:
Quick follow-up on the
immigration question's
685
00:35:23,700 --> 00:35:27,966
relationship to Boston: What is
it about immigration reform that
686
00:35:27,967 --> 00:35:30,700
might have had a connection
to a case like this?
687
00:35:30,700 --> 00:35:33,734
I mean, how are these -- these
two men don't seem to have been
688
00:35:33,734 --> 00:35:34,933
in the shadows at all.
689
00:35:34,934 --> 00:35:41,066
Mr. Carney:
I'm not making any assertions
about this case with regards to
690
00:35:41,066 --> 00:35:41,799
immigration reform.
691
00:35:41,800 --> 00:35:44,300
I'm simply saying
that it is a fact --
692
00:35:44,300 --> 00:35:48,533
as Senator Rubio, McCain
and Graham have been saying,
693
00:35:48,533 --> 00:35:53,033
and others -- that our nation
will be more secure if we enact
694
00:35:53,033 --> 00:35:55,467
comprehensive immigration
reform, that there is a
695
00:35:55,467 --> 00:35:59,300
national security benefit from
implementing this legislation.
696
00:35:59,300 --> 00:36:00,533
It will bring --
697
00:36:00,533 --> 00:36:01,600
The Press:
You don't think it
would have made any --
698
00:36:01,600 --> 00:36:02,333
Mr. Carney:
Again, I'm not --
699
00:36:02,333 --> 00:36:08,166
I have tried hard, in answer to
some of these questions about
700
00:36:08,166 --> 00:36:11,133
specific matters related
to this investigation,
701
00:36:11,133 --> 00:36:18,299
to back up and not characterize
or color anyone's views,
702
00:36:18,300 --> 00:36:19,767
at least with regards
to the White House,
703
00:36:19,767 --> 00:36:23,567
on that investigation, but
to make broader points about,
704
00:36:23,567 --> 00:36:24,834
in this case,
immigration reform,
705
00:36:24,834 --> 00:36:32,700
about the need to look into
the whole array of questions
706
00:36:32,700 --> 00:36:34,366
that are raised by
the Boston bombings,
707
00:36:34,367 --> 00:36:37,834
including motivations and
possible associations, again,
708
00:36:37,834 --> 00:36:41,533
without making assertions
specific to this case.
709
00:36:41,533 --> 00:36:42,533
Zach.
710
00:36:42,533 --> 00:36:45,033
The Press:
Jay, last week at this time,
there still seemed to be some
711
00:36:45,033 --> 00:36:47,533
hope in the White House
that the background check
712
00:36:47,533 --> 00:36:49,100
bill could pass.
713
00:36:49,100 --> 00:36:50,667
Since the failure of
the bill, have you --
714
00:36:50,667 --> 00:36:53,433
has the White House done any
kind of look-back at what went
715
00:36:53,433 --> 00:36:55,367
wrong, what could
have been done better?
716
00:36:55,367 --> 00:36:59,467
And a second question related to
that: What's the next concrete
717
00:36:59,467 --> 00:37:04,066
step the President will take to
try to revive this legislation?
718
00:37:04,066 --> 00:37:11,500
Mr. Carney:
I don't have a legislative
plan to present to you.
719
00:37:11,500 --> 00:37:13,500
If I did, I might
not present it.
720
00:37:15,667 --> 00:37:18,799
But let's be clear
what happened.
721
00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:20,834
Ninety percent of the American
people were in favor of one
722
00:37:20,834 --> 00:37:28,466
thing; a minority of United
States senators derailed that.
723
00:37:28,467 --> 00:37:30,800
What the President made clear
in the Rose Garden is that
724
00:37:30,800 --> 00:37:33,500
this will happen.
725
00:37:33,500 --> 00:37:35,667
The time will come when
this legislation passes,
726
00:37:35,667 --> 00:37:38,600
when we expand and improve
our background check system,
727
00:37:38,600 --> 00:37:39,600
because it has to be done.
728
00:37:39,600 --> 00:37:41,600
It is common sense.
729
00:37:43,033 --> 00:37:45,633
Americans across the country
from different regions,
730
00:37:47,667 --> 00:37:50,900
rural and urban, red,
blue and purple states,
731
00:37:50,900 --> 00:37:52,900
support this approach.
732
00:37:55,600 --> 00:37:56,600
And it will happen.
733
00:37:56,600 --> 00:37:58,333
As we have seen in our history,
sometimes Congress takes a
734
00:37:58,333 --> 00:38:00,834
little bit of time to catch
up to the American people.
735
00:38:00,834 --> 00:38:02,933
This is one of those times.
736
00:38:02,934 --> 00:38:07,500
I don't have a specific
next step to tell you about.
737
00:38:07,500 --> 00:38:08,934
I know that we are
continuing, obviously,
738
00:38:08,934 --> 00:38:12,567
to implement the 23 executive
actions that the President made
739
00:38:12,567 --> 00:38:16,333
part of his comprehensive
proposal to reduce gun violence.
740
00:38:16,333 --> 00:38:20,066
But we will clearly, as Senators
Reid and Manchin and others have
741
00:38:20,066 --> 00:38:26,667
said, continue to pursue
legislative remedies that
742
00:38:26,667 --> 00:38:29,700
are common sense, that respect
our Second Amendment rights,
743
00:38:29,700 --> 00:38:32,033
that have the support of the
American people because they are
744
00:38:32,033 --> 00:38:35,433
very common sense about this,
including gun owners who support
745
00:38:35,433 --> 00:38:36,700
expanding background checks.
746
00:38:36,700 --> 00:38:41,700
I think you heard
from, in an editorial,
747
00:38:43,834 --> 00:38:50,133
Gabrielle Giffords a remarkable
expression of disappointment and
748
00:38:50,133 --> 00:38:51,133
commitment to action.
749
00:38:51,133 --> 00:38:54,633
And those are sentiments
that the President shares.
750
00:38:54,633 --> 00:38:58,000
The Press:
On the legislative
strategy component of this,
751
00:38:58,000 --> 00:39:01,533
is there any look-back at why
the President was unable to
752
00:39:01,533 --> 00:39:04,400
convince enough members
of his own party,
753
00:39:04,400 --> 00:39:07,934
as well as Republicans
to vote for the bill?
754
00:39:07,934 --> 00:39:13,767
Mr. Carney:
We are absolutely -- well,
let me say two things.
755
00:39:13,767 --> 00:39:17,232
One is this just
happened, and we --
756
00:39:17,233 --> 00:39:19,934
everybody here worked,
from the President on down,
757
00:39:19,934 --> 00:39:25,300
worked hard to bring about this
action on legislation that in
758
00:39:25,300 --> 00:39:28,767
the end Congress has to vote on.
759
00:39:28,767 --> 00:39:31,033
The fact is, and I've noted
it and the President noted it,
760
00:39:31,033 --> 00:39:36,100
and it is I think essential
to recall that this is an
761
00:39:36,100 --> 00:39:38,232
issue that 90% of the
American people support.
762
00:39:38,233 --> 00:39:41,500
It is an issue that 90% of
Democrats voted for and one
763
00:39:41,500 --> 00:39:43,367
that 90% of Republicans
voted against.
764
00:39:43,367 --> 00:39:47,700
So 90% of Republicans voted
with 10% of the American people.
765
00:39:47,700 --> 00:39:50,200
So there is no question the
President is disappointed with
766
00:39:50,200 --> 00:39:53,133
all those who did not vote yes.
767
00:39:53,133 --> 00:39:58,667
But the fact is there was a
decision made largely within
768
00:39:58,667 --> 00:40:02,299
the Republican Party that they
did not need to listen to the
769
00:40:02,300 --> 00:40:05,133
majority of the American people.
770
00:40:05,133 --> 00:40:11,500
And for whatever reason --
and there was no plausible
771
00:40:11,500 --> 00:40:15,700
reason laid out at a policy
level for why we should not
772
00:40:15,700 --> 00:40:18,066
simply make better a background
check system that has been in
773
00:40:18,066 --> 00:40:21,033
existence for a long time now,
that has been effective where
774
00:40:21,033 --> 00:40:24,333
it is in place in preventing
criminals from getting weapons,
775
00:40:24,333 --> 00:40:26,667
which should be a goal
that we all share --
776
00:40:26,667 --> 00:40:29,633
why not make that system better
in a way that does no harm to
777
00:40:29,633 --> 00:40:32,133
Second Amendment rights, in a
way that 90% of the American
778
00:40:32,133 --> 00:40:35,265
people support, that
gun owners support,
779
00:40:35,266 --> 00:40:40,066
that avid sportsmen
and women support?
780
00:40:40,066 --> 00:40:41,133
We should do that.
781
00:40:41,133 --> 00:40:42,265
And the President believes
we should do that.
782
00:40:42,266 --> 00:40:49,233
And the fact that a minority in
the Senate disagreed with not
783
00:40:49,233 --> 00:40:51,367
just the President -- it's not
about the President -- disagreed
784
00:40:51,367 --> 00:40:56,166
with 90% of the American people
is I think unfortunate and will
785
00:40:56,166 --> 00:40:59,266
-- they will go down, I think,
as being wrong on this because
786
00:40:59,266 --> 00:41:00,367
it will happen.
787
00:41:00,367 --> 00:41:02,500
The Press:
Did he speak individually
to the Democrats who voted
788
00:41:02,500 --> 00:41:03,834
no before the vote?
789
00:41:03,834 --> 00:41:05,667
Did he lobby each one
of them personally?
790
00:41:05,667 --> 00:41:06,500
Mr. Carney:
The President,
the Vice President,
791
00:41:06,500 --> 00:41:08,633
everybody here was
involved in this effort,
792
00:41:08,633 --> 00:41:12,767
and everybody here was having
conversations with lawmakers
793
00:41:12,767 --> 00:41:13,799
and other stakeholders.
794
00:41:13,800 --> 00:41:16,100
I'm not going to -- some of
these conversations that the
795
00:41:16,100 --> 00:41:18,700
President had haven gotten
out, but I'm not going to
796
00:41:18,700 --> 00:41:19,700
detail every one of them.
797
00:41:19,700 --> 00:41:22,265
You can believe that he was
engaged in this process,
798
00:41:22,266 --> 00:41:23,567
as was the Vice President.
799
00:41:23,567 --> 00:41:25,567
The Press:
You don't think he could have
twisted more arms or done more
800
00:41:25,567 --> 00:41:27,967
personal one-on-one
lobbying for this?
801
00:41:27,967 --> 00:41:34,000
Mr. Carney:
I think the President spoke
to this issue numerous times,
802
00:41:34,000 --> 00:41:34,500
as you know --
803
00:41:34,500 --> 00:41:35,100
The Press:
We know that, but --
804
00:41:35,100 --> 00:41:37,600
Mr. Carney:
-- and he made numerous phone
calls and had numerous meetings,
805
00:41:37,600 --> 00:41:40,900
and his entire team here
engaged in this process
806
00:41:40,900 --> 00:41:42,767
completely and thoroughly.
807
00:41:42,767 --> 00:41:49,667
And I think it is -- the fact is
a phone call from the President
808
00:41:49,667 --> 00:41:52,266
in this case matters.
809
00:41:52,266 --> 00:41:54,700
The fact that 90% of your
constituents support something
810
00:41:54,700 --> 00:41:57,700
and you vote against it
should matter even more.
811
00:41:57,700 --> 00:42:03,133
And there are those who
chose to ignore the 90%.
812
00:42:03,133 --> 00:42:05,033
Alexis, and then Peter.
813
00:42:05,033 --> 00:42:09,967
The Press:
Jay, the Boston suspect has been
charged while in the hospital.
814
00:42:09,967 --> 00:42:14,033
Can you clarify why the
indictment is sealed?
815
00:42:14,033 --> 00:42:18,333
When the public safety
exception actually expired,
816
00:42:18,333 --> 00:42:23,567
can you confirm that he has been
Mirandized, told his rights?
817
00:42:23,567 --> 00:42:24,934
And can you offer
any information --
818
00:42:24,934 --> 00:42:27,133
Mr. Carney:
As you can imagine, there is
a firewall here on this matter.
819
00:42:27,133 --> 00:42:31,000
I was not aware that that
indictment had been announced.
820
00:42:31,000 --> 00:42:33,567
If you're -- I'll take you at
your word, so I would have to
821
00:42:33,567 --> 00:42:35,967
say that these are matters
that the Department of Justice,
822
00:42:35,967 --> 00:42:42,300
rightly, both evaluates
and answers questions on.
823
00:42:42,300 --> 00:42:46,567
So we'll have to point you to
the Justice Department on that.
824
00:42:46,567 --> 00:42:51,400
What I can tell you is that
we have a long history here
825
00:42:51,400 --> 00:42:54,533
of successfully prosecuting
terrorists and bringing them
826
00:42:54,533 --> 00:42:57,066
to justice.
827
00:42:57,066 --> 00:43:03,667
And the President fully believes
that that process will work in
828
00:43:03,667 --> 00:43:04,834
this case.
829
00:43:04,834 --> 00:43:06,466
The Press:
I have a quick follow-up.
830
00:43:06,467 --> 00:43:11,000
The FBI statement that was put
out about the 2011 investigation
831
00:43:11,000 --> 00:43:14,934
talked about searching for
derogatory information through
832
00:43:14,934 --> 00:43:18,567
telephone conversations
and also Internet websites.
833
00:43:18,567 --> 00:43:22,300
Can you tell us whether the
government used the FISA Court
834
00:43:22,300 --> 00:43:28,433
to eavesdrop on the family's
phone conversations or their
835
00:43:28,433 --> 00:43:32,867
website use before
interviewing them?
836
00:43:32,867 --> 00:43:35,567
Mr. Carney:
The FBI conducted a
thorough investigation.
837
00:43:35,567 --> 00:43:37,533
It made inquiries.
838
00:43:37,533 --> 00:43:40,567
It had interviews with --
839
00:43:40,567 --> 00:43:45,400
interrogated both Tamerlan
Tsarnaev and his family members,
840
00:43:45,400 --> 00:43:49,233
and did a search for derogatory
information and any connection
841
00:43:49,233 --> 00:43:51,033
to terrorism,
foreign or domestic.
842
00:43:51,033 --> 00:43:53,066
And it made the
assessment that it made.
843
00:43:53,066 --> 00:43:54,933
For more than
those many details,
844
00:43:54,934 --> 00:43:57,133
I would refer you to the FBI.
845
00:43:57,133 --> 00:43:58,966
The Press:
Jay, can I just follow up
on that on the Miranda issue?
846
00:43:58,967 --> 00:43:59,867
Mr. Carney:
Yes. And then, sorry, Peter --
847
00:43:59,867 --> 00:44:02,433
The Press:
Did you say you don't
know if the suspect has
848
00:44:02,433 --> 00:44:03,300
been Mirandized yet?
849
00:44:03,300 --> 00:44:05,200
Mr. Carney:
Again, this happened
while I was up here.
850
00:44:05,200 --> 00:44:08,100
The Press:
Okay. And can you also say has
the President been personally
851
00:44:08,100 --> 00:44:11,834
involved in conversations
about when that should happen?
852
00:44:11,834 --> 00:44:14,366
Mr. Carney:
I can tell you a
couple of things.
853
00:44:14,367 --> 00:44:17,066
One, the President has
been regularly updated.
854
00:44:17,066 --> 00:44:23,933
Two, not commenting
on this specific case,
855
00:44:23,934 --> 00:44:26,867
it is a fact that the public
safety exception to Miranda
856
00:44:26,867 --> 00:44:30,233
allows for law enforcement to
quickly interrogate a suspected
857
00:44:30,233 --> 00:44:33,166
terrorist without giving
Miranda warnings under certain
858
00:44:33,166 --> 00:44:36,667
circumstances to gain critical
intelligence and national
859
00:44:36,667 --> 00:44:38,866
security information.
860
00:44:38,867 --> 00:44:41,800
Again, it is not for me to
characterize the specific
861
00:44:41,800 --> 00:44:45,266
procedures in place in this
investigation in its early
862
00:44:45,266 --> 00:44:48,266
stages, in this prosecution
in its early stages.
863
00:44:48,266 --> 00:44:52,000
But it is important to note that
that public safety exception
864
00:44:52,000 --> 00:44:56,200
exists and why it exists.
865
00:44:56,200 --> 00:44:58,232
Peter -- change your mind?
866
00:44:58,233 --> 00:45:00,333
The Press:
No, no --
867
00:45:00,333 --> 00:45:01,500
Mr. Carney:
Are you coming to Texas?
868
00:45:01,500 --> 00:45:02,567
The Press:
I am coming to Texas.
869
00:45:02,567 --> 00:45:05,367
Mr. Carney:
It's a perfect
confluence for you.
870
00:45:05,367 --> 00:45:06,300
The Press:
Perfect storm.
871
00:45:06,300 --> 00:45:07,467
Mr. Carney:
Yes -- I wasn't
going to say storm.
872
00:45:07,467 --> 00:45:09,800
The Press:
Did you say that -- you probably
said this and I missed it.
873
00:45:09,800 --> 00:45:11,633
Did you say he's going to
speak at Baylor at the service,
874
00:45:11,633 --> 00:45:12,899
or attend?
875
00:45:12,900 --> 00:45:15,433
Mr. Carney:
I simply said he
was going to attend.
876
00:45:15,433 --> 00:45:18,967
We'll get back to you about
how he's participating.
877
00:45:18,967 --> 00:45:19,467
The Press:
All right.
878
00:45:19,467 --> 00:45:21,667
And on the gun thing, the
discussion we were just having
879
00:45:21,667 --> 00:45:23,967
now, you rightly point out that
90% of the public in the polls
880
00:45:23,967 --> 00:45:27,333
suggest they support
background check expansion.
881
00:45:27,333 --> 00:45:30,633
What does it say, though, about
the President's future ability
882
00:45:30,633 --> 00:45:32,700
to get legislation through
-- other than, say.
883
00:45:32,700 --> 00:45:35,834
immigration where there's an
obvious Republican response at
884
00:45:35,834 --> 00:45:39,399
this point -- if he can't
convince Congress to pass
885
00:45:39,400 --> 00:45:42,066
something where 90% -- what
is the future for him in the
886
00:45:42,066 --> 00:45:45,299
next three years legislatively
if on something like this he's
887
00:45:45,300 --> 00:45:46,433
unable to do it?
888
00:45:46,433 --> 00:45:48,066
Mr. Carney:
Well, let me say a few things.
889
00:45:48,066 --> 00:45:50,866
One, we made clear from the
beginning that this would be
890
00:45:50,867 --> 00:45:54,567
difficult, that all of these
pursuits legislatively had not
891
00:45:54,567 --> 00:45:57,633
come to pass, had not been
successful in the past precisely
892
00:45:57,633 --> 00:46:01,232
because of the obstacles that
exist and, unfortunately,
893
00:46:01,233 --> 00:46:04,333
continue to exist, and
presumably led a minority
894
00:46:04,333 --> 00:46:07,600
of United States senators to
vote against the vast majority
895
00:46:07,600 --> 00:46:09,066
of the American people.
896
00:46:09,066 --> 00:46:13,000
But this President will
continue to push on that front,
897
00:46:13,000 --> 00:46:15,867
as well as on all the
initiatives that he has
898
00:46:15,867 --> 00:46:18,700
put forward to help our
economy grow and create jobs,
899
00:46:18,700 --> 00:46:22,667
as well as on comprehensive
immigration reform,
900
00:46:22,667 --> 00:46:27,100
which we are very pleased
with the progress.
901
00:46:27,100 --> 00:46:31,533
But nobody should be making any
assumptions about the fact that
902
00:46:31,533 --> 00:46:34,533
this, too, is challenging work.
903
00:46:34,533 --> 00:46:38,033
And we remain committed to
working with the Congress
904
00:46:38,033 --> 00:46:40,366
to bring it about.
905
00:46:40,367 --> 00:46:44,433
It was the case during the
discussions about legislation
906
00:46:44,433 --> 00:46:47,133
to reduce gun violence
that at various times
907
00:46:47,133 --> 00:46:52,799
it was conventional wisdom
that one of at least two --
908
00:46:52,800 --> 00:46:56,700
the background checks or
limiting the capacity of
909
00:46:56,700 --> 00:46:58,700
ammunition clips
-- would be easy.
910
00:47:01,533 --> 00:47:02,633
And you're shaking
your head, Mara,
911
00:47:02,633 --> 00:47:04,933
but I got those questions
-- "well, that's in the bag,
912
00:47:04,934 --> 00:47:06,700
but what about the
assault weapons ban?"
913
00:47:06,700 --> 00:47:10,899
So the fact is this is hard
because there are institutional
914
00:47:10,900 --> 00:47:14,667
reasons, there are political
reasons, and there are other,
915
00:47:14,667 --> 00:47:18,433
I'm sure, personal reasons
for why senators chose to vote
916
00:47:18,433 --> 00:47:20,867
against the vast majority
of the American people.
917
00:47:20,867 --> 00:47:22,667
But we will continue
to press the case.
918
00:47:22,667 --> 00:47:25,767
And this President made clear on
Friday that this is just round
919
00:47:25,767 --> 00:47:29,000
one of this fight, that this
will happen because it's the
920
00:47:29,000 --> 00:47:31,500
right thing to do and it's
entirely common sense,
921
00:47:31,500 --> 00:47:36,000
and it would result
in lives being saved.
922
00:47:36,000 --> 00:47:37,300
And that's what we
should be about.
923
00:47:37,300 --> 00:47:38,667
The Press:
What's round two?
924
00:47:38,667 --> 00:47:41,933
Mr. Carney:
Well, as I said before, I don't
have a legislative strategy to
925
00:47:41,934 --> 00:47:43,500
lay out to you today.
926
00:47:43,500 --> 00:47:46,633
But there will be a round two
and there will be a continued
927
00:47:46,633 --> 00:47:49,466
effort by this administration
-- and more importantly, by the
928
00:47:49,467 --> 00:47:53,066
American people who want this
done, and by advocates like the
929
00:47:53,066 --> 00:47:55,667
Newtown families and
Gabrielle Giffords --
930
00:47:55,667 --> 00:47:57,933
to make it clear that it is
unacceptable when the United
931
00:47:57,934 --> 00:48:02,000
States Senate defies the will
of the American people in the
932
00:48:02,000 --> 00:48:02,633
way that they have.
933
00:48:02,633 --> 00:48:04,399
The Press:
Do we have to wait until
after the midterm, though?
934
00:48:04,400 --> 00:48:04,900
Mr. Carney:
I'm sorry?
935
00:48:04,900 --> 00:48:06,266
The Press:
Is that something we have
to wait until after the
936
00:48:06,266 --> 00:48:06,967
next midterm or --
937
00:48:06,967 --> 00:48:09,367
Mr. Carney:
I would not predict that at all.
938
00:48:09,367 --> 00:48:17,734
I think that we need to press
forward and make it clear that,
939
00:48:17,734 --> 00:48:19,967
most importantly, through the
voices of the American people
940
00:48:19,967 --> 00:48:23,000
who support this
sensible action,
941
00:48:23,000 --> 00:48:25,000
that they are not
happy with the result.
942
00:48:25,000 --> 00:48:31,433
They are not happy with a Senate
that entirely dismissed the
943
00:48:31,433 --> 00:48:34,100
position of the vast
majority of the people.
944
00:48:34,100 --> 00:48:38,066
(cross talk)
945
00:48:38,066 --> 00:48:40,667
The Press:
Continuing on the gun issue,
does the President have a
946
00:48:40,667 --> 00:48:45,900
philosophical objection to using
his power of the presidency --
947
00:48:45,900 --> 00:48:49,133
as the American public has just
been educated by the Lincoln
948
00:48:49,133 --> 00:48:53,332
film where President Lincoln
used those threats almost
949
00:48:53,333 --> 00:48:58,400
against people in Congress --
does the President object to --
950
00:48:58,400 --> 00:49:01,867
Mr. Carney:
The President promised to
use every tool in his toolbox,
951
00:49:01,867 --> 00:49:04,700
every lever available with him
and the power that comes with
952
00:49:04,700 --> 00:49:08,366
the office that he holds to try
to make this happen, and he did.
953
00:49:08,367 --> 00:49:12,000
And part of that resulted in the
fact that the American people
954
00:49:12,000 --> 00:49:13,834
was engaged and made clear --
955
00:49:13,834 --> 00:49:15,966
in red states and blue
states and purple states --
956
00:49:15,967 --> 00:49:17,000
that they wanted this done.
957
00:49:17,000 --> 00:49:19,333
And there was a decision by
a minority of United States
958
00:49:19,333 --> 00:49:22,533
senators to buck the will
of the American people.
959
00:49:22,533 --> 00:49:25,400
And as the President made
clear in I think remarks that
960
00:49:25,400 --> 00:49:28,367
reflected his passion on this
issue in the Rose Garden,
961
00:49:28,367 --> 00:49:29,834
this fight is not over.
962
00:49:29,834 --> 00:49:33,332
Nor should it be, because we
need to do common-sense things
963
00:49:33,333 --> 00:49:34,400
to reduce gun violence.
964
00:49:34,400 --> 00:49:42,233
And those who decide that it's
politically safer to flout the
965
00:49:42,233 --> 00:49:47,367
will of the vast majority of
their constituents we hope will
966
00:49:47,367 --> 00:49:48,967
reconsider that position.
967
00:49:48,967 --> 00:49:51,166
(cross talk)
968
00:49:51,166 --> 00:49:51,800
The Press:
One more.
969
00:49:51,800 --> 00:49:54,400
Mr. Carney:
All right. Connie.
970
00:49:54,400 --> 00:49:56,633
The Press:
Does the President have any
stand on capital punishment
971
00:49:56,633 --> 00:49:57,399
in this case?
972
00:49:57,400 --> 00:49:58,867
(indiscernible)
973
00:49:58,867 --> 00:50:00,934
And also do you think
this case make it more
974
00:50:00,934 --> 00:50:03,767
difficult for Muslims
to emigrate into America?
975
00:50:03,767 --> 00:50:07,100
Mr. Carney:
On the first part, I will
obviously not characterize
976
00:50:07,100 --> 00:50:10,633
any potential outcome
to a prosecution that
977
00:50:10,633 --> 00:50:12,834
has not yet taken place.
978
00:50:12,834 --> 00:50:16,767
The President's views on capital
punishment are known and his
979
00:50:16,767 --> 00:50:21,000
support for it in particularly
heinous instances is known.
980
00:50:21,000 --> 00:50:23,033
But I won't comment
beyond on that.
981
00:50:23,033 --> 00:50:26,000
And obviously, we need an
effective comprehensive
982
00:50:26,000 --> 00:50:29,266
immigration system that is
functional both for dealing
983
00:50:29,266 --> 00:50:32,734
with legal immigration, as well
as dealing with the 11 million
984
00:50:32,734 --> 00:50:34,400
illegal immigrants who
are in this country.
985
00:50:34,400 --> 00:50:34,867
Thanks, all.
986
00:50:34,867 --> 00:50:35,467
The Press:
Thank you.
