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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 have a couple of
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announcements to make.
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First, as you know, the
President had been scheduled to
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speak at the Planned Parenthood
National Conference in
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Washington on Thursday evening.
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That has been rescheduled for
Friday morning in order to allow
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him to spend more time with
those injured and the loved ones
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of those lost in the deadly
explosion in West Texas.
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As you know, he'll be at a
memorial service for those who
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were lost on Thursday.
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Separately, I'd like to read a
statement from the President on
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the confirmation of
Sylvia Mathews Burwell.
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This is the President: "I am
pleased that the Senate took
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"bipartisan action today to
confirm Sylvia Matthews Burwell
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"as the Director of the Office
of Management and Budget.
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"Sylvia shares my commitment
to growing our economy,
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"shrinking our deficits
in a balanced way,
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"and reigniting a rising,
thriving middle class.
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"Sylvia has spent a career
fighting for working families,
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"and she was part of an OMB team
that presided over three budget
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"surpluses in a row.
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"Her experience will be
especially important as we
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"continue our efforts to replace
the indiscriminate budget cuts
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"that are already starting to
cost jobs, hurt families,
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"and inconvenience Americans.
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"Sylvia will be a key
member of my economic team,
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"and I look forward to working
with her in the years ahead."
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Separately -- this is not
from the President --
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but I noted on my way out
here that the Senate Finance
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Committee had moved forward
unanimously on the nomination of
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Marilyn Tavenner to head the
U.S. Centers for Medicare and
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Medicaid Services.
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We obviously welcome
that development.
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I will take your questions.
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The Press:
Thank you.
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I wanted to get your assessment
on some of the things we're
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starting to hear from U.S.
officials about the two suspects
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of the Boston bombing.
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Should the public look at this
as sort of a good development
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that it appears as though
these brothers didn't have any
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connection to sort of a major
foreign terrorist operation?
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Or is it more troubling that
they appear to be what people
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are saying is self-radicalized?
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Mr. Carney:
Well, I appreciate the question.
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As you know, because you
heard it from the President,
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he believes it's essential that
a complete and comprehensive
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investigation answer all the
questions that we have about how
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this terrorist attack happened,
what motivated the suspects whom
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we believe perpetrated
the terrorist attack.
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Everything we can learn about
them and what inspired them,
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and how they developed the
explosive devices that were used
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-- these are all matters that
are under investigation right
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now as part of the case
against the second suspect,
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Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and the
overall investigation into the
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bombings themselves.
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I don't think we have all
the answers yet and we won't
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for some time.
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That's why we need a
comprehensive investigation.
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As the President
said on Friday night,
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we need to know whether they
acted alone or whether they
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had associations.
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We need to know
what inspired them,
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how they came about possessing
or developing the weapons and
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explosive devices
that they used.
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On the issue of -- separate from
this case, because I think we
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haven't gotten the answers
to these questions;
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that's why we have a full
investigation into the matter.
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On the issue of
self-radicalization,
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especially online
radicalization,
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and radicalization
that leads to violence,
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this has been a concern and it
has been an issue in the past.
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We have seen it in the past
in very well-known cases.
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And this is a problem that the
President has talked about and
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leaders of his national security
team have talked about.
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And as I said I think yesterday,
the threat that faces us as a
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nation has evolved.
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We continue to face a threat
from al Qaeda central,
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even though we have met with
significant progress in the
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fight against al Qaeda central,
beginning with the elimination
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of Osama bin Laden.
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We have offshoots of al Qaeda in
various parts of the region and
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the world, and we have other
terrorist threats and the threat
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posed by independent actors.
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We don't know yet whether the
independent actor prism is the
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one that will fit
this particular case.
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I would refer you to
the investigators,
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but I suspect that they're
focused on the case itself.
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The Press:
Is there any discussion that's
happening here though about how
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sort of procedures and protocols
need to possibly be readjusted
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to account for
self-radicalization and not
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people who may have links
to any overseas groups?
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Mr. Carney:
I think the threat -- and you've
heard John Brennan and others
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talk about this -- John, when he
was in his previous position --
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is one we assess and
reassess all the time,
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and that all the agencies
charged with protecting the
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United States and the American
people assess and reassess all
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the time, and they evaluate how
best to counter the threat that
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can be posed from
different corners.
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The issues related to this case
and procedures and how they
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worked, what we learned
in a warning from Russia,
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for example, and the action that
sparked the FBI to take and to
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looking into
Tamerlan Tsarnaev --
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all of these issues are
obviously under investigation.
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What we do know is that the FBI
took action in response to that
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notification, investigated
the elder brother --
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investigated thoroughly -- and
came to the conclusion that
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there was no
derogatory information,
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no indication of terrorist
activity or associations either
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foreign or domestic
at that time.
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But this is a matter of
investigation, and we will --
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we look forward to the results
of that investigation.
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The Press:
Quickly, on a separate topic.
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I know the White House had
purposely kept the President a
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little more on the backburner on
immigration while the Gang of
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Eight got its draft
bill together.
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Now that that draft
bill is public,
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are we going to see the
President taking a more public
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role on the immigration
issue going forward?
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Mr. Carney:
I think it's fair to say that we
have made the progress we have
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made as a country, or at
least here in Washington,
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towards comprehensive
immigration reform in no small
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measure because of the
President's leadership.
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He made this an issue.
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He has supported
this for a long time.
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He has had his principles
available to the public now
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for some time.
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It was his judgment that the
best avenue for achieving broad,
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comprehensive immigration reform
that had bipartisan support and
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could pass the Senate and the
House, and meet his principles,
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and be signed into law by him
was to encourage a process that
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was emerging in the Senate and
that has produced the bill that
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you mentioned.
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And that is welcome progress.
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And we are evaluating
the legislation,
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but the bill does meet the
principles that the President
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laid forward -- laid out.
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So you can expect the President
to continue to speak about the
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need for comprehensive
immigration reform --
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why it's good for our economy;
why it's good for our national
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security; why it's good and
better for the middle class --
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in days and weeks ahead.
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And he will continue to work
with members of Congress who are
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engaged in this
bipartisan effort.
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It is one of the topics that he
frequently discusses when he has
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meetings with lawmakers, both
Democrats and Republicans.
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As you know, he had a meeting --
a dinner last night here at the
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White House with a bipartisan
group of female U.S. senators.
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He has had meals with groups of
Republican lawmakers as well as
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Democratic lawmakers.
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And those conversations
will continue.
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And in every one of
those conversations,
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immigration reform is a topic.
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Yes.
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The Press:
Jay, as I'm sure you're aware,
and you touched on this
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yesterday, the President is
accused of making the effects of
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the sequester as disruptive as
possible to score political
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points, particularly with regard
to the air traffic controllers.
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Is the White House doing
everything it can to minimize
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these disruptions?
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Or does it feel in some way that
the discomfort helps to make his
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point about the sequester?
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Mr. Carney:
Let's be clear: The sequester
was a law written by Congress.
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Congress wrote the law.
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Congress passed the law.
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Members of Congress
should read the law.
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The law does not allow for the
kind of flexibility when it
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comes to the FAA budget that
some of these members --
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Republicans, principally
-- all claim it has.
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They should read the law.
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They wrote it, they
should know what's in it.
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They passed it,
they voted for it,
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they should know what's in it.
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The fact is the FAA has
initiated a series of
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cost-saving measures, both
personnel and non-personnel
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related, including a hiring
freeze, restrictions on travel,
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termination of certain
temporary employees,
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and reductions to contracts.
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But the law specifically walls
off three-quarters of the
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department's budget from
sequestration and does not give
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the department any flexibility
to mitigate the impact on
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the FAA.
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Why?
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Because it was written
to be a bad law.
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It was written to be
as onerous as possible.
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And this is a truth that applies
all across the impacts of
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the sequester.
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Seventy percent, as I
said, of the FAA's budget,
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operations budget, is personnel.
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So even after taking all of the
measures that the FAA took to
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cut costs, they have to furlough
47,000 employees for up to 11
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days between now and the
end of the fiscal year.
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Now, look, when it comes to the
FAA and the travel delays that
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we have seen, we are absolutely
concerned about this terrible
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effect of the sequester.
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That's why two months ago the
Secretary of Transportation
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stood before you in this room
and warned of these looming
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effects and called on Congress
to act to avert them.
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Unfortunately, instead of acting
to avert them and to delay the
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sequester or eliminate it
through the kind of broad-based,
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bipartisan, balanced deficit
reduction that the country
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supports, Republicans in
Congress made a political,
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tactical decision to
embrace the sequester.
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They did and they
declared it a victory.
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They said it's a victory
for the tea party.
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It's a home run for
the Republican Party.
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It's slightly ironic that -- and
you never hear them mention this
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-- but they should also read the
budget that they passed in the
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House of Representatives.
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The Ryan budget cuts
-- if the dramatic,
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non-defense discretionary cuts
envisioned in that budget were
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applied across the board --
because of course they're not
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identified in the Ryan budget --
but if they were just applied
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across the board, the cuts to
the FAA would be three times the
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size of the sequester
budget reductions.
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Three times.
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That's what they voted for.
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That's what they want to
become the law of the land.
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And it's not just the FAA.
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The same dramatic, steep cuts
in services for children,
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for seniors; the same kind of
harm that we're seeing from the
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sequester -- eliminating
children from Head Start,
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eliminating access to Meals on
Wheels programs for seniors --
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just multiplied and made worse.
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That's the budget
they voted for.
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Now, when Secretary LaHood
was out here warning of these
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problems, the Republicans
instead in Congress were saying,
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you know what, no, the
sequester is a good thing.
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We want it.
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We would rather have the
sequester take effect than ask
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millionaires and billionaires to
pay a little bit more to help
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reduce our deficit
in a balanced way.
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That was the choice they made.
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Now, we share the frustration,
and we warned about these
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very problems.
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And we think those members of
Congress who haven't read the
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law that they voted for and
passed ought to read it.
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But they also, more importantly,
ought to take action to do away
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00:12:32,433 --> 00:12:36,500
with the sequester so that we
don't suffer these consequences.
241
00:12:36,500 --> 00:12:40,033
The Press:
On the budget, the House
Republicans say they're going to
242
00:12:40,033 --> 00:12:44,734
hold off naming conferees on a
budget resolution while Ryan and
243
00:12:44,734 --> 00:12:48,166
Murray work separately
to come to details.
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00:12:48,166 --> 00:12:51,033
Is the White House
content with that process?
245
00:12:51,033 --> 00:12:53,967
And is the White House
aiming to involve itself?
246
00:12:53,967 --> 00:12:57,433
Is the President aiming to
involve himself in the budget
247
00:12:57,433 --> 00:13:02,633
negotiations in any
way to speed them up?
248
00:13:02,633 --> 00:13:04,934
Mr. Carney:
Republicans called
for regular order.
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00:13:04,934 --> 00:13:08,065
They said the Senate
ought to pass a budget;
250
00:13:08,066 --> 00:13:11,433
we ought to have regular order
in a way that we have not had in
251
00:13:11,433 --> 00:13:12,900
previous years.
252
00:13:12,900 --> 00:13:15,100
The Senate passed a budget.
253
00:13:15,100 --> 00:13:18,300
The House passed a budget.
254
00:13:18,300 --> 00:13:21,834
The normal regular order
process here would then demand
255
00:13:21,834 --> 00:13:23,666
leadership to appoint conferees.
256
00:13:23,667 --> 00:13:27,533
Senator Reid has attempted to
move forward on that and has
257
00:13:27,533 --> 00:13:30,734
been blocked by
Republicans in the Senate.
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00:13:30,734 --> 00:13:35,033
We call on Republicans to adopt
the regular order that they said
259
00:13:35,033 --> 00:13:38,333
they wanted, and that
would require conferees to
260
00:13:38,333 --> 00:13:40,600
be appointed.
261
00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:42,667
The President is broadly
interested, as you know,
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00:13:42,667 --> 00:13:44,533
in finding common ground.
263
00:13:44,533 --> 00:13:46,333
That's why he has had these
meetings with Republican
264
00:13:46,333 --> 00:13:50,233
lawmakers and bipartisan groups
of lawmakers to see and explore
265
00:13:50,233 --> 00:13:52,934
the possibility of finding
common ground on a range of
266
00:13:52,934 --> 00:13:55,100
issues, but in
particular, in many ways,
267
00:13:55,100 --> 00:13:57,967
on these budget challenges
that confront us.
268
00:13:57,967 --> 00:14:00,766
Finding common ground means
agreeing to the basic principle
269
00:14:00,767 --> 00:14:03,266
that we need a balanced approach
to our deficit reduction.
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00:14:03,266 --> 00:14:05,467
That's the principle that
has been embraced by every
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00:14:05,467 --> 00:14:10,133
bipartisan group that has made a
proposal on deficit reduction.
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00:14:10,133 --> 00:14:13,834
It's the principle embodied
in the President's budget.
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00:14:13,834 --> 00:14:17,900
It's the principle embodied in
the Senate budget proposal.
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00:14:17,900 --> 00:14:19,132
It's the right way to go.
275
00:14:19,133 --> 00:14:23,600
So the President is interested
in speaking with any Republican
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00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:26,600
in Congress who is interested in
trying to find common ground on
277
00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:30,200
these issues, who is open
to the idea of balanced
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00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:31,200
deficit reduction.
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00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:32,667
So those conversations
will continue.
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00:14:32,667 --> 00:14:36,433
Meanwhile, we certainly believe
that Republicans ought to
281
00:14:36,433 --> 00:14:38,934
embrace the regular order that
they demanded and move forward
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00:14:38,934 --> 00:14:40,632
with appointing conferees.
283
00:14:40,633 --> 00:14:44,333
The Press:
And lastly, Senator Baucus in
announcing his retirement said
284
00:14:44,333 --> 00:14:47,533
he wanted to focus on
comprehensive tax reform.
285
00:14:47,533 --> 00:14:51,633
Would the White House be open to
tax reform independent of the
286
00:14:51,633 --> 00:14:53,000
grand bargain process?
287
00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:55,700
And if so, what kinds
of conditions would it
288
00:14:55,700 --> 00:14:57,500
set for that?
289
00:14:57,500 --> 00:15:01,166
Mr. Carney:
We believe that tax reform
is essential as part of a
290
00:15:01,166 --> 00:15:04,266
comprehensive, balanced
approach to deficit reduction.
291
00:15:04,266 --> 00:15:07,433
We do not believe what the
Republicans believe in their
292
00:15:07,433 --> 00:15:10,533
proposals, which we ought to
reform our tax code in order to
293
00:15:10,533 --> 00:15:12,667
give more tax cuts to
millionaires and billionaires.
294
00:15:12,667 --> 00:15:15,734
That's obviously not the
President's approach.
295
00:15:15,734 --> 00:15:17,467
And I'm not suggesting that
that's the Senator's approach;
296
00:15:17,467 --> 00:15:20,300
I'm just saying that the
President has put forward a
297
00:15:20,300 --> 00:15:24,699
broad comprehensive budget
that reduces our deficit
298
00:15:24,700 --> 00:15:27,400
significantly and does
so in a balanced way,
299
00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:31,533
and it includes within it
revenue achieved through closing
300
00:15:31,533 --> 00:15:34,934
loopholes in our tax code,
capping deductions for wealthy
301
00:15:34,934 --> 00:15:39,300
individuals, eliminating special
interest clauses in our tax code
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00:15:39,300 --> 00:15:43,165
that benefit industries
or individuals,
303
00:15:43,166 --> 00:15:47,533
and using that money to help
reduce our deficit as well as
304
00:15:47,533 --> 00:15:51,834
make key investments in our
economy so that it grows and
305
00:15:51,834 --> 00:15:54,099
creates jobs.
306
00:15:54,100 --> 00:15:56,100
That overall balanced approach
is the one the President
307
00:15:56,100 --> 00:15:57,133
believes we ought to take.
308
00:15:57,133 --> 00:16:00,700
The Press:
But just to be clear, tax reform
separate from a grand bargain
309
00:16:00,700 --> 00:16:03,400
deficit reduction
package is a non-starter?
310
00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:05,300
Mr. Carney:
Again, the President
believes -- I mean,
311
00:16:05,300 --> 00:16:06,733
you're just sort of speaking
very hypothetically --
312
00:16:06,734 --> 00:16:11,000
but the President believes that
tax reform needs to be part of a
313
00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:13,867
budget process that produces
revenue so that we can reduce
314
00:16:13,867 --> 00:16:17,367
our deficit in a balanced
and fair way, not --
315
00:16:17,367 --> 00:16:21,632
again, the only proposal on the
table is the House Republican
316
00:16:21,633 --> 00:16:25,633
budget, which reforms the tax
code in a way to give additional
317
00:16:25,633 --> 00:16:29,100
massive tax breaks to the rich
while raising taxes on the
318
00:16:29,100 --> 00:16:30,100
middle class.
319
00:16:30,100 --> 00:16:32,967
And that is wholly unacceptable,
not just to the President,
320
00:16:32,967 --> 00:16:33,967
but to the American people.
321
00:16:33,967 --> 00:16:36,000
Yes, Jim.
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00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:39,433
The Press:
It appears that Tamerlan
Tsarnaev's name appears in two
323
00:16:39,433 --> 00:16:42,700
separate government databases
for potential terrorists,
324
00:16:42,700 --> 00:16:46,800
and that he pinged the system
when he traveled to Russia last
325
00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:52,367
year, but there was no follow-up
by the FBI following that.
326
00:16:52,367 --> 00:16:55,467
Is this administration fully
confident that these databases
327
00:16:55,467 --> 00:16:57,333
are providing adequate
protection for the
328
00:16:57,333 --> 00:16:58,467
American people?
329
00:16:58,467 --> 00:17:00,633
And what do you make of some
of these concerns expressed by
330
00:17:00,633 --> 00:17:03,333
lawmakers yesterday that
there perhaps is not enough
331
00:17:03,333 --> 00:17:06,165
information-sharing going on
between the various agencies,
332
00:17:06,165 --> 00:17:08,233
and that kind of
information-sharing should have
333
00:17:08,233 --> 00:17:11,700
been improved dramatically
after September 11?
334
00:17:11,700 --> 00:17:14,333
There are concerns that
that's not the case.
335
00:17:14,333 --> 00:17:15,333
Mr. Carney:
Well, I'd say a
couple of things.
336
00:17:15,333 --> 00:17:17,800
As Secretary Napolitano
testified yesterday,
337
00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:23,666
Tamerlan Tsarnaev did ping in
our systems when he traveled.
338
00:17:23,666 --> 00:17:26,800
But we also know that the FBI
did a thorough investigation in
339
00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:30,133
2011 and did not find
any terrorism activity,
340
00:17:30,133 --> 00:17:33,066
foreign or domestic.
341
00:17:33,066 --> 00:17:36,734
Broadly, the questions that you
ask and Julie asked before you
342
00:17:36,734 --> 00:17:40,899
are ones that this
investigation seeks to answer.
343
00:17:40,900 --> 00:17:47,166
And as the President made clear
when he spoke before you on
344
00:17:47,166 --> 00:17:51,600
Friday night, he wants every
agency involved in this to do a
345
00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:56,199
broad investigation into
what happened, what we knew,
346
00:17:56,200 --> 00:18:00,467
what inspired and motivated
these two individuals,
347
00:18:00,467 --> 00:18:04,000
and the steps that they took
that led to the terrorist
348
00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:07,200
attacks in Boston
a week ago Monday.
349
00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:08,533
That process needs
to take place,
350
00:18:08,533 --> 00:18:13,065
and it's being undertaken now in
an investigation led by the FBI
351
00:18:13,066 --> 00:18:15,900
and a prosecution, obviously,
led by the Justice Department.
352
00:18:15,900 --> 00:18:19,967
The Press:
But has the administration heard
anything that's developed with
353
00:18:19,967 --> 00:18:22,834
respect to whether or not
there was enough sharing of
354
00:18:22,834 --> 00:18:25,700
information and
data in this case --
355
00:18:25,700 --> 00:18:29,200
I mean, that concerns the
administration at this point?
356
00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:33,066
Mr. Carney:
Well, again, I'm not going to
give assessments, day by day,
357
00:18:33,066 --> 00:18:36,266
of the little bits of
information that emerge in
358
00:18:36,266 --> 00:18:38,767
reports about the investigation.
359
00:18:38,767 --> 00:18:42,166
We want to let the
investigation proceed.
360
00:18:42,166 --> 00:18:44,767
What we do know, because it was
publicly stated by the FBI,
361
00:18:44,767 --> 00:18:48,233
and what we can share is the
actions that they took in 2011
362
00:18:48,233 --> 00:18:51,399
in response to information
provided to them by a foreign
363
00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:54,667
government, and the conclusions
that they reached then and the
364
00:18:54,667 --> 00:18:58,233
nature of the investigation
they conducted then.
365
00:18:58,233 --> 00:19:09,767
It is certainly the case that
the FBI conducted a series of
366
00:19:09,767 --> 00:19:13,333
actions looking into
Tamerlan Tsarnaev.
367
00:19:13,333 --> 00:19:18,667
They interviewed Mr. Tsarnaev
and his family and reached the
368
00:19:18,667 --> 00:19:21,332
conclusions that they reached,
which is they had no derogatory
369
00:19:21,333 --> 00:19:25,033
information, no associations
with terrorism or terrorists,
370
00:19:25,033 --> 00:19:27,367
foreign or domestic.
371
00:19:27,367 --> 00:19:33,466
But beyond that, I think we need
to let the investigation unfold
372
00:19:33,467 --> 00:19:36,400
and make assessments when
we know all the facts.
373
00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:37,367
The Press:
And a political question.
374
00:19:37,367 --> 00:19:39,600
Yesterday, Senator Max Baucus
announced that he's retiring,
375
00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:41,033
he's not running for reelection.
376
00:19:41,033 --> 00:19:45,833
And given the fact that he voted
against Manchin and Toomey,
377
00:19:45,834 --> 00:19:50,066
given the fact that recently
he described Obamacare as a
378
00:19:50,066 --> 00:19:53,734
potential train wreck, are
you glad to see him go?
379
00:19:53,734 --> 00:19:58,699
Mr. Carney:
The President put out a
statement in reaction to Senator
380
00:19:58,700 --> 00:20:01,967
Baucus's decision not
to seek reelection.
381
00:20:01,967 --> 00:20:03,066
I would say a couple of things.
382
00:20:03,066 --> 00:20:07,633
One, he made clear his views on
and his disappointment over the
383
00:20:07,633 --> 00:20:12,133
failure of the Senate to
support a proposition --
384
00:20:12,133 --> 00:20:14,367
the expansion of
background checks --
385
00:20:14,367 --> 00:20:17,133
that 90% of the
American people support.
386
00:20:17,133 --> 00:20:19,800
I think he was very clear and
concise in his language and how
387
00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:21,265
he viewed that.
388
00:20:21,266 --> 00:20:24,333
On the other matter, I think
it's important to note that the
389
00:20:24,333 --> 00:20:29,000
Senator was referring to an
implementation process that has
390
00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:34,200
been -- which Republicans
have again and again attempted
391
00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:35,633
to disrupt.
392
00:20:35,633 --> 00:20:38,567
In addition to the 30 or 40
votes they've taken to do away
393
00:20:38,567 --> 00:20:42,467
with Obamacare, you would think
they would find time to do
394
00:20:42,467 --> 00:20:43,500
other, more productive work.
395
00:20:43,500 --> 00:20:45,333
But implementation
proceeds apace,
396
00:20:45,333 --> 00:20:50,133
and we are on track and we will
be implementing the Affordable
397
00:20:50,133 --> 00:20:51,133
Care Act.
398
00:20:51,133 --> 00:20:52,166
Yes.
399
00:20:52,166 --> 00:20:55,265
The Press:
Jay, the White House
has officially --
400
00:20:55,266 --> 00:20:58,700
just a few moments ago, you
didn't want to get involved in
401
00:20:58,700 --> 00:21:02,000
deciding at this point whether
or not the two terrorists were
402
00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:06,000
in fact foreign-inspired
or if they were homegrown,
403
00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:07,066
domestic terrorists.
404
00:21:07,066 --> 00:21:11,567
But the Vice President seems to
have already made that decision.
405
00:21:11,567 --> 00:21:15,567
Just a few moments ago, he
called the accused bombers
406
00:21:15,567 --> 00:21:19,266
"two cowardly, twisted,
perverted, knockoff jihadis."
407
00:21:19,266 --> 00:21:20,934
Mr. Carney:
So, I'm sorry, that's a
conclusion that doesn't track --
408
00:21:20,934 --> 00:21:24,033
I mean, that's a statement that
doesn't track with what you said
409
00:21:24,033 --> 00:21:26,300
in the top of your question.
410
00:21:26,300 --> 00:21:28,066
The Press:
Well, it does seem as though
if he's saying they're
411
00:21:28,066 --> 00:21:29,066
"knockoff jihadis" --
412
00:21:29,066 --> 00:21:30,066
Mr. Carney:
I think the act was cowardly
and it was terrorism.
413
00:21:30,066 --> 00:21:31,400
But --
414
00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:34,166
The Press:
But doesn't "knockoff jihadis"
seem to indicate that he doesn't
415
00:21:34,166 --> 00:21:36,934
believe they're connected
to a large, foreign --
416
00:21:36,934 --> 00:21:40,567
Mr. Carney:
Seem to -- I'm sorry, you're
making assessments that I'm not
417
00:21:40,567 --> 00:21:43,767
going to engage in.
418
00:21:43,767 --> 00:21:45,967
There's an
investigation underway.
419
00:21:45,967 --> 00:21:46,967
We know some things.
420
00:21:46,967 --> 00:21:48,233
There's a lot more to learn.
421
00:21:48,233 --> 00:21:50,200
And that's why the
investigation is taking place.
422
00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:55,200
We have seen a remarkable period
from the moment the bombings
423
00:21:55,200 --> 00:22:00,367
occurred through last week and
Friday night when Dzhokhar
424
00:22:00,367 --> 00:22:05,500
Tsarnaev was put in custody,
and now, through to this day,
425
00:22:05,500 --> 00:22:08,200
only a few days later as the
investigation proceeds and he's
426
00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:09,400
been charged.
427
00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:11,467
But this is a short
period of time.
428
00:22:11,467 --> 00:22:15,600
And it should be noted that
federal law enforcement,
429
00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:17,867
led by the FBI, working with
state and local authorities,
430
00:22:17,867 --> 00:22:23,066
did a remarkable job last week
from the moment of the bombings
431
00:22:23,066 --> 00:22:27,600
through to the arrest
of Mr. Tsarnaev.
432
00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:30,667
And now the process
of investigation and
433
00:22:30,667 --> 00:22:32,800
prosecution moves on.
434
00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:37,265
So I think we saw last week that
there is some danger in making
435
00:22:37,266 --> 00:22:41,166
-- jumping to conclusions,
making judgments based on new
436
00:22:41,166 --> 00:22:43,500
information that may
or may not be true,
437
00:22:43,500 --> 00:22:46,800
or partial information that
will be developed further as
438
00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:47,899
time goes on.
439
00:22:47,900 --> 00:22:53,266
I think it's important to allow
the investigation to proceed and
440
00:22:53,266 --> 00:22:58,100
for us to make assessments about
all of these questions once we
441
00:22:58,100 --> 00:22:59,265
have more facts.
442
00:22:59,266 --> 00:23:01,834
The Press:
But just follow up on that --
but you don't see the term
443
00:23:01,834 --> 00:23:07,467
"knockoff jihadis" as minimizing
any connection to a foreign,
444
00:23:07,467 --> 00:23:09,333
larger group like al Qaeda?
445
00:23:09,333 --> 00:23:11,867
Mr. Carney:
I'm saying that the question
of whether or not they had any
446
00:23:11,867 --> 00:23:15,466
associations is one under
investigation by the
447
00:23:15,467 --> 00:23:17,133
proper authorities.
448
00:23:17,133 --> 00:23:19,500
And we obviously have
some information;
449
00:23:19,500 --> 00:23:23,467
some has made its way
into press reports.
450
00:23:23,467 --> 00:23:27,367
But that investigation
is not complete,
451
00:23:27,367 --> 00:23:30,300
and we're not going to make
any conclusions until we have
452
00:23:30,300 --> 00:23:31,300
all the facts.
453
00:23:31,300 --> 00:23:33,966
The Press:
Can I just follow up on
the FAA sequestration?
454
00:23:33,967 --> 00:23:36,600
It does appear as
though, moving forward --
455
00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:40,699
rather than talking about what
had happened and how we got here
456
00:23:40,700 --> 00:23:44,166
-- but moving forward, it does
seem as though the Secretary of
457
00:23:44,166 --> 00:23:47,600
Transportation may be meeting
with some senators about a new
458
00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:51,533
law that would reduce
the effects on the FAA.
459
00:23:51,533 --> 00:23:55,600
Does the White
House support that?
460
00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:58,466
Mr. Carney:
What I think I said yesterday
and what I'll say again today is
461
00:23:58,467 --> 00:24:01,200
the best way to deal with the
sequester is to eliminate it
462
00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:04,934
through broad, balanced deficit
reduction along the lines that
463
00:24:04,934 --> 00:24:07,633
the President has put forward,
that bipartisan panels have put
464
00:24:07,633 --> 00:24:09,233
forward, and that the
American people support,
465
00:24:09,233 --> 00:24:10,433
and that the Senate passed.
466
00:24:10,433 --> 00:24:16,767
But the fact is, on
dealing with the sequester,
467
00:24:16,767 --> 00:24:18,066
Congress has to act.
468
00:24:18,066 --> 00:24:21,300
The law was written in a way
that prevents the kind of
469
00:24:21,300 --> 00:24:24,633
actions that could mitigate,
that some outside observers and
470
00:24:24,633 --> 00:24:27,200
lawmakers suggest are available.
471
00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:28,200
Congress has to act.
472
00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:32,433
Now, if Congress wants to
address specifically the
473
00:24:32,433 --> 00:24:35,567
problems caused by the
sequester with the FAA,
474
00:24:35,567 --> 00:24:37,400
we would be open
to looking at that.
475
00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:39,633
But that would be
a band-aid measure.
476
00:24:39,633 --> 00:24:46,433
And it would not deal with the
many other negative effects of
477
00:24:46,433 --> 00:24:49,533
the sequester: the kids
kicked off of Head Start;
478
00:24:49,533 --> 00:24:51,199
the seniors who aren't
getting Meals on Wheels;
479
00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:54,433
and the up to three-quarter of a
million Americans who will lose
480
00:24:54,433 --> 00:24:58,333
their jobs, or will not have
jobs created for them because of
481
00:24:58,333 --> 00:25:01,767
the sequester; and the reduction
by a full half of a percentage
482
00:25:01,767 --> 00:25:05,800
point in GDP that will be a
result of the sequester if it's
483
00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:07,867
allowed to continue.
484
00:25:07,867 --> 00:25:10,800
The right thing to do would
have been never to allow the
485
00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:12,966
sequester to take effect at all.
486
00:25:12,967 --> 00:25:15,467
But Republicans made a choice,
decided that it was good for
487
00:25:15,467 --> 00:25:19,667
their internal politics
to embrace it, call it a
488
00:25:19,667 --> 00:25:22,800
"tea party victory," a "victory
for the Republican Party,"
489
00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:26,233
"a homerun" -- these
are all quotes --
490
00:25:26,233 --> 00:25:29,265
rather than worry about the
effects on the American people.
491
00:25:29,266 --> 00:25:32,033
And we're seeing those effects
in airports and we're seeing
492
00:25:32,033 --> 00:25:37,367
those effects on the families
who are not able to send their
493
00:25:37,367 --> 00:25:39,567
kids to Head Start programs.
494
00:25:39,567 --> 00:25:45,333
So we'd be open to something
if they wanted to propose it,
495
00:25:45,333 --> 00:25:47,333
but it would just be a band-aid
approach and we would continue
496
00:25:47,333 --> 00:25:49,700
to have these other problems
that need to be addressed by
497
00:25:49,700 --> 00:25:53,934
sensible deficit reduction
that's balanced and fair.
498
00:25:53,934 --> 00:25:56,800
Senator Reid has proposed
a method of postponing and
499
00:25:56,800 --> 00:26:00,834
delaying the sequester to
allow time for broad-based,
500
00:26:00,834 --> 00:26:03,934
balanced deficit reduction along
the lines that the President
501
00:26:03,934 --> 00:26:05,633
has proposed.
502
00:26:05,633 --> 00:26:08,467
The obstacle thus far has
been Republican refusal,
503
00:26:08,467 --> 00:26:11,934
Republican intransigence to
accept the basic principle that
504
00:26:11,934 --> 00:26:14,600
we should ask millionaires and
billionaires to give up some
505
00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:18,399
special-interest tax breaks, the
benefits that they enjoy in our
506
00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:21,233
tax code that
others don't enjoy,
507
00:26:21,233 --> 00:26:24,000
in order to avoid all
these negative impacts.
508
00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:25,667
The Press:
Jay, just to follow
up on that thread --
509
00:26:25,667 --> 00:26:28,132
does the White House support
Senator Reid's approach?
510
00:26:28,133 --> 00:26:30,633
Because it does not include
taxes, it looks to --
511
00:26:30,633 --> 00:26:33,900
oversees contingency operations
and other funding that's
512
00:26:33,900 --> 00:26:38,300
possibly available for
working out this problem.
513
00:26:38,300 --> 00:26:40,367
Does the White House support
that approach with this
514
00:26:40,367 --> 00:26:41,800
problem right now?
515
00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:44,633
Mr. Carney:
Well, Leader Reid's proposal
allows for the sequester to be
516
00:26:44,633 --> 00:26:47,367
turned off for a temporary
period and in a way that does
517
00:26:47,367 --> 00:26:50,066
not hurt seniors, does not hurt
the middle class and does not
518
00:26:50,066 --> 00:26:51,066
hurt students.
519
00:26:51,066 --> 00:26:54,367
And we support this effort to
allow both sides to find a
520
00:26:54,367 --> 00:26:56,533
longer-term solution that
replaces the sequester
521
00:26:56,533 --> 00:26:59,966
permanently in a balanced way so
we can stop these harmful cuts
522
00:26:59,967 --> 00:27:02,433
that are hurting our economy and
middle-class families across
523
00:27:02,433 --> 00:27:03,433
the country.
524
00:27:03,433 --> 00:27:06,667
This would be a temporary
solution, and we support it.
525
00:27:06,667 --> 00:27:08,734
But it does not deal
-- it would not --
526
00:27:08,734 --> 00:27:11,466
it would only deal temporarily
with the bigger problem,
527
00:27:11,467 --> 00:27:13,500
which is the need for
Republicans to go along with the
528
00:27:13,500 --> 00:27:15,266
principle endorsed
by the public,
529
00:27:15,266 --> 00:27:19,867
endorsed by bipartisan panels
that we ought to reduce our
530
00:27:19,867 --> 00:27:21,399
deficit in a balanced way.
531
00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:24,500
It wasn't that many months ago
that the Speaker of the House
532
00:27:24,500 --> 00:27:28,767
said that he could find a
trillion dollars in revenue from
533
00:27:28,767 --> 00:27:34,200
tax reform -- revenue gained
from closing loopholes and
534
00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:37,533
capping deductions on
the wealthiest Americans,
535
00:27:37,533 --> 00:27:39,367
and that he could apply
that to deficit reduction.
536
00:27:39,367 --> 00:27:44,100
But suddenly, that policy is no
longer relevant to the Speaker
537
00:27:44,100 --> 00:27:48,100
now; he's more focused on
pointing fingers about the
538
00:27:48,100 --> 00:27:50,867
sequester that his party
embraced and he said was a
539
00:27:50,867 --> 00:27:52,734
political tactic he
had in his back pocket.
540
00:27:52,734 --> 00:27:57,367
The Press:
Right, but for the here and now,
you're willing to support --
541
00:27:57,367 --> 00:27:58,633
Mr. Carney:
Yes.
542
00:27:58,633 --> 00:28:01,233
The Press:
-- an approach that does not
include tax increases for the
543
00:28:01,233 --> 00:28:03,033
moment for a temporary
resolution of this
544
00:28:03,033 --> 00:28:04,300
problem, correct?
545
00:28:04,300 --> 00:28:06,800
Mr. Carney:
We support Senator's
Reid's effort to reduce --
546
00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:11,800
to postpone the sequester
temporarily to allow for time
547
00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:16,367
for the Congress to adopt a
balanced approach to permanently
548
00:28:16,367 --> 00:28:18,700
get rid of the sequester
and reduce our deficit.
549
00:28:18,700 --> 00:28:21,100
The Press:
And to the charge made by some
budget analysts who have no
550
00:28:21,100 --> 00:28:23,600
partisan interest in this one
way or another that using
551
00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:27,567
overseas contingency operations
as a means to finance this is
552
00:28:27,567 --> 00:28:30,967
kind of a gimmick, because it
is accounting for savings that,
553
00:28:30,967 --> 00:28:32,767
in the case of Iraq
and Afghanistan,
554
00:28:32,767 --> 00:28:35,500
wouldn't be spent
in the first place?
555
00:28:35,500 --> 00:28:39,300
Mr. Carney:
Those savings are the result
of policy decisions made by
556
00:28:39,300 --> 00:28:40,500
President Obama.
557
00:28:40,500 --> 00:28:41,900
That is a fact.
558
00:28:41,900 --> 00:28:47,100
It was his policy promise in
2008 to end the war in Iraq and
559
00:28:47,100 --> 00:28:49,332
to wind down and end
the war in Afghanistan.
560
00:28:49,333 --> 00:28:51,333
And he is fulfilling
those promises,
561
00:28:51,333 --> 00:28:57,200
and there are policy results and
financial savings, cost savings,
562
00:28:57,200 --> 00:28:59,700
that flow from those
policy decisions.
563
00:28:59,700 --> 00:29:03,600
The fact is previous Republican
budgets have accounted for those
564
00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:07,766
savings from OCO -- overseas
contingency operations.
565
00:29:07,767 --> 00:29:11,934
The previous Paul Ryan
budgets have contained OCO
566
00:29:11,934 --> 00:29:13,166
savings in them.
567
00:29:13,166 --> 00:29:15,533
And the CBO counts OCO savings.
568
00:29:15,533 --> 00:29:18,600
These are real policy choices
that produce savings.
569
00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:23,867
We believe that Senator Reid's
proposal is a good one in that
570
00:29:23,867 --> 00:29:27,367
it would temporarily delay the
sequester and all the negative
571
00:29:27,367 --> 00:29:30,100
effects that we're talking
about now to air travelers and
572
00:29:30,100 --> 00:29:34,500
families and seniors, as well as
the job loss and the drag on our
573
00:29:34,500 --> 00:29:37,433
economy, in order to allow
for the discussions that the
574
00:29:37,433 --> 00:29:40,300
President is engaged in to try
to find common ground with
575
00:29:40,300 --> 00:29:43,000
Republicans to bear fruit so
that we can reduce our deficit
576
00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:45,967
in a balanced way and eliminate
the sequester entirely.
577
00:29:45,967 --> 00:29:46,800
The Press:
On Boston real quick.
578
00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:49,033
You have been understandably
cautious from this podium about
579
00:29:49,033 --> 00:29:51,466
what is known and what is not
known and advised all of us not
580
00:29:51,467 --> 00:29:52,767
to jump to conclusions.
581
00:29:52,767 --> 00:29:55,533
Earlier this morning,
Secretary of State Kerry said,
582
00:29:55,533 --> 00:29:58,899
and I quote him directly here,
"We [just] had a young Russian
583
00:29:58,900 --> 00:30:00,934
"person who went to
Russia, Chechnya,
584
00:30:00,934 --> 00:30:02,000
"who blew people up in Boston.
585
00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:03,433
"So he didn't stay
where he went,
586
00:30:03,433 --> 00:30:05,734
"but he learned something where
he went and he came back with
587
00:30:05,734 --> 00:30:07,699
"a willingness to kill people."
588
00:30:07,700 --> 00:30:10,367
Are those remarks consistent
with the caution you've urged of
589
00:30:10,367 --> 00:30:12,466
everyone in the administration
and everyone dealing with
590
00:30:12,467 --> 00:30:13,567
this story?
591
00:30:13,567 --> 00:30:16,400
Or do they reflect something
that's known but not yet
592
00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:17,633
disclosed by the administration?
593
00:30:17,633 --> 00:30:18,867
Mr. Carney:
The answer to that
second question is no.
594
00:30:18,867 --> 00:30:21,667
And the State Department has
clarified that Secretary Kerry
595
00:30:21,667 --> 00:30:25,233
was not reflecting any new
information or conclusion about
596
00:30:25,233 --> 00:30:26,233
the individuals involved.
597
00:30:26,233 --> 00:30:29,700
He was speaking generally
about the nature of terrorism.
598
00:30:29,700 --> 00:30:31,834
But we are in the process
of an investigation.
599
00:30:31,834 --> 00:30:33,600
Those comments don't
reflect any new information.
600
00:30:33,600 --> 00:30:35,800
The fact is there are a lot
of questions that need to
601
00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:37,800
be answered.
602
00:30:37,800 --> 00:30:39,934
We, broadly -- the
federal government,
603
00:30:39,934 --> 00:30:42,233
the FBI and the Department
of Justice are investigating
604
00:30:42,233 --> 00:30:43,233
this matter.
605
00:30:43,233 --> 00:30:47,966
I think it is known that our
embassy in Moscow sent a team
606
00:30:47,967 --> 00:30:52,567
down to Dagestan to interview
the Tsarnaevs' parents.
607
00:30:52,567 --> 00:30:54,734
And that is part of an
investigation into both the
608
00:30:54,734 --> 00:31:01,300
broad question about these two
young men and what motivated
609
00:31:01,300 --> 00:31:03,567
them, and their past
and their history,
610
00:31:03,567 --> 00:31:05,734
and also the specific visit
that the elder brother
611
00:31:05,734 --> 00:31:07,466
made last year.
612
00:31:07,467 --> 00:31:10,266
But this investigation
is proceeding apace,
613
00:31:10,266 --> 00:31:11,667
and we're still in the phase
of getting questions answered.
614
00:31:11,667 --> 00:31:15,699
We're not making
final assessments.
615
00:31:15,700 --> 00:31:19,000
The Press:
Does this indicate
the need for everyone,
616
00:31:19,000 --> 00:31:23,367
including Cabinet
secretaries, to be careful?
617
00:31:23,367 --> 00:31:27,133
Mr. Carney:
Look, I think that in a
situation like this we ought to
618
00:31:27,133 --> 00:31:32,000
let the investigators do
their work and not jump to
619
00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:36,467
conclusions, as the
President said on Friday.
620
00:31:36,467 --> 00:31:40,700
The Press:
A House committee is considering
legislation that would basically
621
00:31:40,700 --> 00:31:44,066
take the decision-making about
the Keystone XL pipeline out of
622
00:31:44,066 --> 00:31:47,066
the hands of the State
Department and the EPA.
623
00:31:47,066 --> 00:31:48,433
What's your reaction to that?
624
00:31:48,433 --> 00:31:50,667
Mr. Carney:
Well, I'm not aware
of considerations in a
625
00:31:50,667 --> 00:31:51,667
House committee.
626
00:31:51,667 --> 00:31:56,533
But we have seen action taken by
Republicans in Congress in the
627
00:31:56,533 --> 00:31:59,567
past of demands made to
politicize this decision,
628
00:31:59,567 --> 00:32:03,367
a decision that's housed in the
State Department appropriately
629
00:32:03,367 --> 00:32:06,033
as it has been through
previous administrations,
630
00:32:06,033 --> 00:32:08,934
Democratic and Republican --
and that's where it ought to be.
631
00:32:08,934 --> 00:32:11,834
Rather than politicize it, which
when Republicans did this the
632
00:32:11,834 --> 00:32:16,100
first time caused a delay in the
consideration of the Keystone
633
00:32:16,100 --> 00:32:20,500
pipeline, they ought to let
the process proceed in its
634
00:32:20,500 --> 00:32:22,734
appropriate place in an
appropriate and timely manner.
635
00:32:22,734 --> 00:32:24,500
And that's what's happening
now in the State Department.
636
00:32:24,500 --> 00:32:27,900
The Press:
The EPA has also found the State
Department's initial review to
637
00:32:27,900 --> 00:32:33,433
be insufficient, citing among
other things the high-carbon
638
00:32:33,433 --> 00:32:36,900
production involved in
just extracting the crude
639
00:32:36,900 --> 00:32:40,900
from oil sands.
640
00:32:40,900 --> 00:32:43,433
Does it concern you that two
parts of the administration
641
00:32:43,433 --> 00:32:45,066
appear to be on
different pages here?
642
00:32:45,066 --> 00:32:47,333
Mr. Carney:
There is a process underway
at the State Department.
643
00:32:47,333 --> 00:32:49,900
As part of that process, they
ask for comment both from
644
00:32:49,900 --> 00:32:52,967
stakeholders and other agencies.
645
00:32:52,967 --> 00:32:55,033
The letter that you mentioned,
the assessment that you
646
00:32:55,033 --> 00:32:58,367
mentioned from the EPA is part
of that process, appropriately.
647
00:32:58,367 --> 00:32:59,734
And that process
is now continuing.
648
00:32:59,734 --> 00:33:03,699
The State Department runs these
assessments when you have a
649
00:33:03,700 --> 00:33:11,367
pipeline that crosses
international borders.
650
00:33:11,367 --> 00:33:14,667
That has been the case now for
successive administrations of
651
00:33:14,667 --> 00:33:15,899
both parties.
652
00:33:15,900 --> 00:33:20,133
It has been the case in previous
consideration of pipelines in
653
00:33:20,133 --> 00:33:22,700
this administration and
it's the process now.
654
00:33:22,700 --> 00:33:24,300
And they run a process,
they oversee it.
655
00:33:24,300 --> 00:33:27,100
But it obviously includes
input from other agencies,
656
00:33:27,100 --> 00:33:31,667
as well as the public
and stakeholders.
657
00:33:31,667 --> 00:33:35,233
The Press:
To press you on that, though,
it's not just the pipeline
658
00:33:35,233 --> 00:33:38,700
itself, which the EPA also
found some concern about the
659
00:33:38,700 --> 00:33:40,033
safety of.
660
00:33:40,033 --> 00:33:45,199
But it's the carbon footprint of
the production of crude from oil
661
00:33:45,200 --> 00:33:50,800
sands that they said the
State Department did not
662
00:33:50,800 --> 00:33:52,399
consider adequately.
663
00:33:52,400 --> 00:33:57,667
Do you feel that that should be
the State Department's concern,
664
00:33:57,667 --> 00:34:00,466
the carbon footprint
of production of oil?
665
00:34:00,467 --> 00:34:07,300
Mr. Carney:
The State Department, again,
evaluates comment and
666
00:34:07,300 --> 00:34:10,300
information provided to it by
agencies across the government
667
00:34:10,300 --> 00:34:15,266
with relevant interest in
the pipelines that cross
668
00:34:15,266 --> 00:34:16,867
international boundaries.
669
00:34:16,867 --> 00:34:18,767
And that's the case here.
670
00:34:18,766 --> 00:34:21,165
And then it evaluates that
information as it moves forward
671
00:34:21,166 --> 00:34:22,166
in the process.
672
00:34:22,166 --> 00:34:23,767
And that's what's happening.
673
00:34:23,766 --> 00:34:27,734
I'm not going to make judgments
about a process that's underway
674
00:34:27,734 --> 00:34:31,000
now at the State Department
that has not produced a result.
675
00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:34,100
The Press:
Republicans are concerned
that this is, as they see it,
676
00:34:34,100 --> 00:34:37,833
another attempt to basically
delay the construction of
677
00:34:37,833 --> 00:34:38,667
the pipeline.
678
00:34:38,667 --> 00:34:40,533
Mr. Carney:
I was wondering where you
were coming from, Wendell.
679
00:34:40,533 --> 00:34:41,500
For a minute there, I thought
you were worried about
680
00:34:41,500 --> 00:34:42,300
the environment.
681
00:34:42,300 --> 00:34:45,300
(laughter)
682
00:34:45,300 --> 00:34:47,567
Look, I understand
Republicans have a political
683
00:34:47,567 --> 00:34:48,600
interest in this.
684
00:34:48,600 --> 00:34:51,000
They have demonstrated
it in the past.
685
00:34:51,000 --> 00:34:55,900
This is a process that needs
to be allowed to proceed,
686
00:34:55,900 --> 00:35:01,100
as it historically has at
the State Department --
687
00:35:01,100 --> 00:35:05,467
a process that incorporates the
information provided to the
688
00:35:05,467 --> 00:35:07,467
State Department and the
assessments provided to the
689
00:35:07,467 --> 00:35:09,000
State Department
by other agencies,
690
00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:13,066
as well as assessments and
opinions and concerns expressed
691
00:35:13,066 --> 00:35:15,366
by the public, and state
and local governments.
692
00:35:15,367 --> 00:35:20,266
If you evaluate the history of
this particular decision-making
693
00:35:20,266 --> 00:35:25,367
process, you'll note that all of
these inputs have had an impact
694
00:35:25,367 --> 00:35:27,066
on the process.
695
00:35:27,066 --> 00:35:28,200
That's how it should be.
696
00:35:28,200 --> 00:35:31,700
What it shouldn't be is
politicized in the way that it
697
00:35:31,700 --> 00:35:35,734
has been periodically by
Republicans in Congress.
698
00:35:35,734 --> 00:35:37,700
The Press:
If I can ask you
briefly about --
699
00:35:37,700 --> 00:35:40,033
following up on the hacking of
the Associated Press's tweet
700
00:35:40,033 --> 00:35:42,834
yesterday -- and they're not the
only major media organization to
701
00:35:42,834 --> 00:35:45,366
have been hacked in
recent days or weeks.
702
00:35:45,367 --> 00:35:48,934
What does the White House
know about said Syrian
703
00:35:48,934 --> 00:35:51,600
Electronic Army?
704
00:35:51,600 --> 00:35:55,433
Mr. Carney:
We've seen those reports, but
this is a matter that's under
705
00:35:55,433 --> 00:35:59,200
investigation by the FBI, and
I would refer you to them.
706
00:35:59,200 --> 00:36:02,066
I don't have anything
more than that.
707
00:36:02,066 --> 00:36:03,834
The Press:
Nothing more on the
Syrian army in particular?
708
00:36:03,834 --> 00:36:04,834
Okay.
709
00:36:04,834 --> 00:36:06,265
Then let me ask you then --
710
00:36:06,266 --> 00:36:08,033
Mr. Carney:
I mean, let me just
say, broadly --
711
00:36:08,033 --> 00:36:11,333
not in response to that specific
allegation or assessment --
712
00:36:11,333 --> 00:36:13,433
the threats in
cyberspace, as you know,
713
00:36:13,433 --> 00:36:15,266
are a serious and
growing concern,
714
00:36:15,266 --> 00:36:17,367
and cyber security is
a national priority.
715
00:36:17,367 --> 00:36:21,166
In this case, the misinformation
was corrected very quickly,
716
00:36:21,166 --> 00:36:22,633
which was a good thing.
717
00:36:22,633 --> 00:36:26,033
But obviously, this incident is
an example of why the public and
718
00:36:26,033 --> 00:36:28,734
private sector must continue to
work together to promote norms
719
00:36:28,734 --> 00:36:32,133
of behavior in cyberspace and
to protect ourselves against
720
00:36:32,133 --> 00:36:33,966
malicious actions.
721
00:36:33,967 --> 00:36:36,900
As I said, it's our
understanding the FBI has opened
722
00:36:36,900 --> 00:36:39,166
an investigation into this
matter, so we can't --
723
00:36:39,166 --> 00:36:41,533
or I can't get into any
specifics about this case.
724
00:36:41,533 --> 00:36:44,600
But as you know, the President
is very concerned about
725
00:36:44,600 --> 00:36:45,600
this issue.
726
00:36:45,600 --> 00:36:47,500
He has called on Congress to
take action on cyber security.
727
00:36:47,500 --> 00:36:50,233
He has taken executive action
and will continue to look at
728
00:36:50,233 --> 00:36:52,266
ways to take executive action.
729
00:36:52,266 --> 00:36:56,700
Part of what we need to do
as a nation is work together,
730
00:36:56,700 --> 00:36:58,734
both public and private
sector, on this issue,
731
00:36:58,734 --> 00:37:00,799
and this administration
has done that.
732
00:37:00,800 --> 00:37:02,300
The Press:
And there may not be
a specific proposal,
733
00:37:02,300 --> 00:37:04,900
but can you explain sort of the
concern that exists within this
734
00:37:04,900 --> 00:37:07,066
administration, given the fact
that yesterday was perhaps the
735
00:37:07,066 --> 00:37:10,633
best example of the real
consequences of even
736
00:37:10,633 --> 00:37:12,000
cyber-terror or cyber-hacking?
737
00:37:12,000 --> 00:37:15,633
Yesterday more than $137
billion, I think it was,
738
00:37:15,633 --> 00:37:18,767
was lost from the DOW in a
matter of moments before being
739
00:37:18,767 --> 00:37:22,133
regained because of systems that
exist in place in Wall Street
740
00:37:22,133 --> 00:37:24,700
that are computerized,
not done manually?
741
00:37:24,700 --> 00:37:26,433
Does that concern the
administration in some way?
742
00:37:26,433 --> 00:37:27,834
Is this something that
could be addressed?
743
00:37:27,834 --> 00:37:30,299
Mr. Carney:
Well, again, without getting
into the specifics of this
744
00:37:30,300 --> 00:37:32,367
incident, beyond saying that
it's under investigation,
745
00:37:32,367 --> 00:37:36,333
appropriately, broadly speaking,
cyber security is a concern and
746
00:37:36,333 --> 00:37:45,066
a growing concern, and for the
reasons that you just mentioned,
747
00:37:45,066 --> 00:37:49,600
but for a variety of reasons, as
we become a more digital world
748
00:37:49,600 --> 00:37:53,633
and digital country and more of
our systems are dependent upon
749
00:37:53,633 --> 00:37:56,332
computer systems
and cyber systems.
750
00:37:56,333 --> 00:37:59,233
These are stating
obvious and layman facts,
751
00:37:59,233 --> 00:38:02,867
but that is why it has received
so much focus from this
752
00:38:02,867 --> 00:38:04,300
administration;
why, appropriately,
753
00:38:04,300 --> 00:38:09,133
it should be receiving focus
and consideration in Congress;
754
00:38:09,133 --> 00:38:12,165
and why we need to take
considerate action both as a
755
00:38:12,166 --> 00:38:14,633
government but also working with
the private sector to address
756
00:38:14,633 --> 00:38:15,633
cyber security.
757
00:38:15,633 --> 00:38:17,533
The Press:
Under current laws right now
-- on a separate topic --
758
00:38:17,533 --> 00:38:22,133
if a background check reveals
that your name is on a terror
759
00:38:22,133 --> 00:38:24,232
watchlist, is on a
terrorism watchlist,
760
00:38:24,233 --> 00:38:26,633
you can still walk into a gun
dealership in this country,
761
00:38:26,633 --> 00:38:28,966
purchase a gun, assuming you
don't have a criminal record or
762
00:38:28,967 --> 00:38:31,600
a mental health
record in some forms.
763
00:38:31,600 --> 00:38:33,900
Does the White House
think that's okay?
764
00:38:33,900 --> 00:38:36,533
That there should be more done
to prevent people whose names
765
00:38:36,533 --> 00:38:39,200
are on the terror
watchlist, or lists?
766
00:38:39,200 --> 00:38:42,366
Mr. Carney:
Well, I appreciate the angle
at which you're coming at this.
767
00:38:42,367 --> 00:38:45,500
But the fact is I'm not going
to comment on a specific matter
768
00:38:45,500 --> 00:38:47,467
that relates to the case
under investigation.
769
00:38:47,467 --> 00:38:49,900
The Press:
In general -- it's not about
these guys -- in general,
770
00:38:49,900 --> 00:38:51,667
it could happen today
elsewhere in the country.
771
00:38:51,667 --> 00:38:55,400
Mr. Carney:
We can pretend that it's
not about these guys.
772
00:38:55,400 --> 00:38:58,066
The procedures that are
in place with regards --
773
00:38:58,066 --> 00:39:00,633
The Press:
But you guys had already brought
the gun issue up in general of
774
00:39:00,633 --> 00:39:02,567
saying, across America there
could be people on a terror
775
00:39:02,567 --> 00:39:04,500
watchlist who could
purchase a gun today.
776
00:39:04,500 --> 00:39:06,266
Mr. Carney:
When it comes to our procedures
for identifying potential
777
00:39:06,266 --> 00:39:08,834
terrorists, I would refer you
to the agencies that oversee
778
00:39:08,834 --> 00:39:10,433
that process.
779
00:39:10,433 --> 00:39:14,800
And when it comes to the need
for expanded background checks,
780
00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:18,767
I am more than willing to
expound on why that is the
781
00:39:18,767 --> 00:39:21,033
common-sense thing to do that
protects our Second Amendment
782
00:39:21,033 --> 00:39:24,500
rights, and for that reason,
why the vast majority of the
783
00:39:24,500 --> 00:39:27,000
American people support
that common-sense action,
784
00:39:27,000 --> 00:39:31,200
and why a minority of the United
States Senate rebuffed the will
785
00:39:31,200 --> 00:39:33,165
of the vast majority of the
American people in their
786
00:39:33,166 --> 00:39:34,166
vote last week.
787
00:39:34,166 --> 00:39:36,433
Steve, and then April.
788
00:39:36,433 --> 00:39:41,333
The Press:
I just wanted to follow up on
the sequester and get a little
789
00:39:41,333 --> 00:39:46,233
bit more clarity on where the
White House is as far as vetoing
790
00:39:46,233 --> 00:39:49,266
a sequester replacement that
doesn't have revenue attached.
791
00:39:49,266 --> 00:39:53,800
Is that still the White House's
view on a long-term plan?
792
00:39:53,800 --> 00:39:56,667
Could somebody, the House
Republicans for example,
793
00:39:56,667 --> 00:40:00,533
come up with a version of a
sequester replacement for the
794
00:40:00,533 --> 00:40:03,734
next five months just with
cuts, just like Harry Reid did,
795
00:40:03,734 --> 00:40:07,366
that could pass muster
with the White House?
796
00:40:07,367 --> 00:40:09,834
Mr. Carney:
I'm not going to engage
in hypotheticals.
797
00:40:09,834 --> 00:40:14,466
I will say that we support the
effort that Senator Reid is
798
00:40:14,467 --> 00:40:18,834
making to temporarily buy down
or postpone the sequester to
799
00:40:18,834 --> 00:40:23,133
allow for time for these
conversations that the President
800
00:40:23,133 --> 00:40:26,133
is engaged in and lawmakers up
on the Hill are engaged in about
801
00:40:26,133 --> 00:40:29,533
can we find common ground to
reduce our deficit in a balanced
802
00:40:29,533 --> 00:40:31,834
way, in a way that
would eliminate the
803
00:40:31,834 --> 00:40:32,866
sequester entirely.
804
00:40:32,867 --> 00:40:38,667
If your question is would the
President support the House
805
00:40:38,667 --> 00:40:42,033
Republican approach
to deficit reduction,
806
00:40:42,033 --> 00:40:47,633
which is to voucherize Medicare
or institute across-the-board
807
00:40:47,633 --> 00:40:51,567
dramatic cuts to programs that
help children and seniors and
808
00:40:51,567 --> 00:40:55,266
middle-class families,
the answer is no.
809
00:40:55,266 --> 00:40:59,467
He is very clear in his budget
what he believes the right
810
00:40:59,467 --> 00:41:02,934
course of action is to take, and
he has been very clear about the
811
00:41:02,934 --> 00:41:07,233
fact that -- and it is
reflected it in his budget --
812
00:41:07,233 --> 00:41:10,000
that he's willing to make tough
decisions as part of a balanced
813
00:41:10,000 --> 00:41:11,900
approach to deficit reduction.
814
00:41:11,900 --> 00:41:14,467
And that willingness is
demonstrated in the fact that,
815
00:41:14,467 --> 00:41:15,767
when it comes to
entitlement reforms,
816
00:41:15,767 --> 00:41:20,066
he has included items that were
part of what Republicans said
817
00:41:20,066 --> 00:41:24,000
they would want in return for
their acceptance of balanced
818
00:41:24,000 --> 00:41:25,900
deficit reduction.
819
00:41:25,900 --> 00:41:27,266
So they ought to embrace that.
820
00:41:27,266 --> 00:41:29,934
That offer has been on
the table since last year,
821
00:41:29,934 --> 00:41:31,767
and they ought to embrace it
so we can move forward as
822
00:41:31,767 --> 00:41:32,767
a country.
823
00:41:32,767 --> 00:41:36,633
The Press:
He's also been clear up until
today that even on a short-term
824
00:41:36,633 --> 00:41:41,066
sequester bill he
wanted revenue.
825
00:41:41,066 --> 00:41:42,165
He got some revenue in
the fiscal cliff for that
826
00:41:42,166 --> 00:41:43,667
short-term, two-month period.
827
00:41:43,667 --> 00:41:47,066
The White House was very clear
they sought it as a precedent.
828
00:41:47,066 --> 00:41:50,000
They wanted revenue for
short-term bills as well as
829
00:41:50,000 --> 00:41:51,734
long-term bills until today.
830
00:41:51,734 --> 00:41:53,600
It seems like
there's now a shift.
831
00:41:53,600 --> 00:41:56,533
Mr. Carney:
What I'm saying is that we
support Senator Reid's effort.
832
00:41:56,533 --> 00:41:59,633
Using the savings from the
decisions that President Obama
833
00:41:59,633 --> 00:42:03,000
has made to end the wars
in Iraq and Afghanistan,
834
00:42:03,000 --> 00:42:05,066
and the savings
generated from that,
835
00:42:05,066 --> 00:42:06,433
only a portion of
those savings --
836
00:42:06,433 --> 00:42:10,233
I believe less than a tenth --
to temporarily postpone the
837
00:42:10,233 --> 00:42:15,200
sequester precisely to allow
for consideration of a balanced
838
00:42:15,200 --> 00:42:18,667
deficit reduction approach that
the President supports and can
839
00:42:18,667 --> 00:42:20,133
sign into law.
840
00:42:20,133 --> 00:42:22,700
It remains to be seen whether
Republicans are willing to cross
841
00:42:22,700 --> 00:42:26,966
that threshold, which is to
agree with the vast majority of
842
00:42:26,967 --> 00:42:28,033
the American people who believe
we should approach this in a
843
00:42:28,033 --> 00:42:33,333
balanced way, who think it's not
the right way to go to reduce
844
00:42:33,333 --> 00:42:36,800
our deficit in a way that raises
taxes on the middle class;
845
00:42:36,800 --> 00:42:40,533
voucherizes Medicare; and
gives huge tax breaks --
846
00:42:40,533 --> 00:42:45,066
I think $5.3 trillion, $5.7
trillion in tax breaks --
847
00:42:45,066 --> 00:42:47,433
almost entirely to the wealthy.
848
00:42:47,433 --> 00:42:50,900
I mean, that is a proposal that
is so far out of the mainstream
849
00:42:50,900 --> 00:42:54,700
that you would think it couldn't
possibly be tabled and passed in
850
00:42:54,700 --> 00:43:00,933
2013, after it had been
rejected several times over,
851
00:43:00,934 --> 00:43:02,333
including in the
election last year.
852
00:43:02,333 --> 00:43:04,767
But that is the current proposal
on the table from House
853
00:43:04,767 --> 00:43:07,265
Republicans.
854
00:43:07,266 --> 00:43:08,633
April, yes.
855
00:43:08,633 --> 00:43:12,000
The Press:
Jay, could you talk to me about
the White House's push on this
856
00:43:12,000 --> 00:43:13,200
diversity lottery issue?
857
00:43:13,200 --> 00:43:17,299
For the last couple weeks, we've
heard that White House officials
858
00:43:17,300 --> 00:43:21,667
have been calling on members of
the Senate to make sure that the
859
00:43:21,667 --> 00:43:25,467
diversity lottery is back
in the immigration bill,
860
00:43:25,467 --> 00:43:29,433
or maybe part of
an amendment to it,
861
00:43:29,433 --> 00:43:34,567
because it was taken
out in their proposal.
862
00:43:34,567 --> 00:43:38,300
Mr. Carney:
As I said when we first
discussed the proposal put
863
00:43:38,300 --> 00:43:43,367
forward by the Gang of Eight, it
broadly reflects the principles
864
00:43:43,367 --> 00:43:47,333
that the President
has long endorsed.
865
00:43:47,333 --> 00:43:50,800
It is not word for word in
keeping with what the President
866
00:43:50,800 --> 00:43:54,266
supports, and we obviously will
work with the Congress going
867
00:43:54,266 --> 00:44:02,000
forward on this legislation to
adjust it in ways that we think
868
00:44:02,000 --> 00:44:03,000
are correct.
869
00:44:03,000 --> 00:44:04,266
But I want to be clear.
870
00:44:04,266 --> 00:44:08,433
This is significant progress and
we commend the bipartisan Group
871
00:44:08,433 --> 00:44:11,000
of Eight for the work
they have done thus far,
872
00:44:11,000 --> 00:44:13,767
and we look forward to working
with the Senate as the
873
00:44:13,767 --> 00:44:16,767
legislation moves
through that body.
874
00:44:16,767 --> 00:44:17,533
The Press:
Okay.
875
00:44:17,533 --> 00:44:20,500
How can it be -- and this
is just asking a question --
876
00:44:20,500 --> 00:44:23,400
how can it be significant
progress when you have a
877
00:44:23,400 --> 00:44:25,100
minority group, the
Congressional Black Caucus,
878
00:44:25,100 --> 00:44:28,033
very, very, very upset
because it's now --
879
00:44:28,033 --> 00:44:31,633
they're looking at possibilities
of a point or merit system which
880
00:44:31,633 --> 00:44:37,332
they say will not allow for
the 55,000 immigrants to come
881
00:44:37,333 --> 00:44:41,266
through a year, and you're
taking out the lottery that
882
00:44:41,266 --> 00:44:45,033
affects the African Diaspora to
include the Caribbean and Haiti,
883
00:44:45,033 --> 00:44:47,600
but you still have in place
the guest worker program for
884
00:44:47,600 --> 00:44:51,734
Mexicans as well as the
skills-based program for Asians,
885
00:44:51,734 --> 00:44:56,400
and the people of -- the black
people around the world are not
886
00:44:56,400 --> 00:44:58,834
taken care of in this
program, in this bill?
887
00:44:58,834 --> 00:45:01,133
The Press:
April, as I think I've said,
this bill does not contain every
888
00:45:01,133 --> 00:45:04,066
specific element that the
President has supported,
889
00:45:04,066 --> 00:45:06,734
but it does represent an
important step towards the broad
890
00:45:06,734 --> 00:45:08,900
principles the President has
made clear need to be part of
891
00:45:08,900 --> 00:45:10,467
common-sense immigration reform.
892
00:45:10,467 --> 00:45:13,867
We are early in the process, and
this is an effort that we're
893
00:45:13,867 --> 00:45:17,800
engaged in with the Senate as
it considers this legislation.
894
00:45:17,800 --> 00:45:19,900
The administration has made
clear that improving our legal
895
00:45:19,900 --> 00:45:24,066
immigration system does not
have to be a zero-sum game.
896
00:45:24,066 --> 00:45:26,633
And we can increase employer-
and family-sponsored green card
897
00:45:26,633 --> 00:45:29,767
numbers without taking away
from other categories of visas.
898
00:45:29,767 --> 00:45:32,466
Now, that's our position, and
that's a position that we have
899
00:45:32,467 --> 00:45:33,834
held and will hold
moving forward.
900
00:45:33,834 --> 00:45:40,066
But I'm not going to presume
outcomes of deliberations that
901
00:45:40,066 --> 00:45:44,700
are underway or
haven't concluded yet.
902
00:45:44,700 --> 00:45:47,700
This is a significant piece
of business and a significant
903
00:45:47,700 --> 00:45:53,533
amount of progress that's been
made in a bipartisan away by
904
00:45:53,533 --> 00:45:56,000
this Group of Eight that
reflects the President's
905
00:45:56,000 --> 00:45:57,667
principles, and we
are encouraged by it.
906
00:45:57,667 --> 00:46:01,834
But we are still in the process
of hopefully making this bill
907
00:46:01,834 --> 00:46:02,834
become law.
908
00:46:02,834 --> 00:46:03,966
The Press:
Well, let me rephrase
my question;
909
00:46:03,967 --> 00:46:05,533
maybe I'll get an answer.
910
00:46:05,533 --> 00:46:08,600
How important is it
for the President --
911
00:46:08,600 --> 00:46:11,299
because we understand that many
people in the White House are
912
00:46:11,300 --> 00:46:12,934
trying to help push
this through --
913
00:46:12,934 --> 00:46:15,300
how important is this
one piece for him,
914
00:46:15,300 --> 00:46:17,100
especially since he
voted for it in 2006?
915
00:46:17,100 --> 00:46:22,333
Mr. Carney:
Again, April, I think -- I can
say that this bill reflects the
916
00:46:22,333 --> 00:46:23,333
President's broad principles.
917
00:46:23,333 --> 00:46:27,433
It's not word for word exactly
as he would have written it,
918
00:46:27,433 --> 00:46:30,433
and it does not contain every
specific element at this point
919
00:46:30,433 --> 00:46:32,700
that the President
has supported.
920
00:46:32,700 --> 00:46:35,299
We'll see how this
process moves forward.
921
00:46:35,300 --> 00:46:39,867
But I don't have anything
specific on an item within the
922
00:46:39,867 --> 00:46:42,834
piece of legislation or an
omission within the legislation
923
00:46:42,834 --> 00:46:43,834
at this time.
924
00:46:43,834 --> 00:46:47,834
The Press:
Jay, yesterday the White House
neglected to send witnesses to a
925
00:46:47,834 --> 00:46:51,466
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
hearing on the use of drones.
926
00:46:51,467 --> 00:46:52,467
Can you explain whether this
comports with the White House
927
00:46:52,467 --> 00:46:59,033
and the President's promise in
the State of the Union and at
928
00:46:59,033 --> 00:47:02,900
other times to have
transparency on this issue?
929
00:47:02,900 --> 00:47:06,266
Mr. Carney:
We have been in regular contact
with the committee about how we
930
00:47:06,266 --> 00:47:09,266
can best provide them the
information that they require.
931
00:47:09,266 --> 00:47:11,567
As the President has indicated,
we will continue to engage
932
00:47:11,567 --> 00:47:14,467
Congress and to ensure that our
counterterrorism efforts are not
933
00:47:14,467 --> 00:47:17,300
only consistent with our laws
and system of checks and
934
00:47:17,300 --> 00:47:19,300
balances, but even more
transparent to the American
935
00:47:19,300 --> 00:47:23,000
people and the world.
936
00:47:23,000 --> 00:47:25,934
The Press:
Right, but I'm not talking about
transparency to the committee as
937
00:47:25,934 --> 00:47:27,600
much as the American
people and the world.
938
00:47:27,600 --> 00:47:31,333
How does not putting witnesses
in a public forum for the world
939
00:47:31,333 --> 00:47:35,000
to see and to hear and
to actually present in a
940
00:47:35,000 --> 00:47:36,834
public forum --
941
00:47:36,834 --> 00:47:38,033
Mr. Carney:
I understand the question.
942
00:47:38,033 --> 00:47:40,799
And what is the fact is
that this administration,
943
00:47:40,800 --> 00:47:43,834
beginning with the President
and including some of the most
944
00:47:43,834 --> 00:47:45,066
senior national
security principals,
945
00:47:45,066 --> 00:47:46,866
have been enormously
transparent about our
946
00:47:46,867 --> 00:47:47,867
counterterrorism efforts.
947
00:47:47,867 --> 00:47:50,533
And that process, as promised by
the President, will continue.
948
00:47:50,533 --> 00:47:53,266
And it is not specific
to one committee hearing.
949
00:47:53,266 --> 00:47:56,934
It is specific to a broad array
of actions that the President
950
00:47:56,934 --> 00:47:58,333
and the administration
have taken;
951
00:47:58,333 --> 00:48:01,333
a broad array of communications,
some of them unprecedented,
952
00:48:01,333 --> 00:48:04,500
that the administration has
engaged in with members of
953
00:48:04,500 --> 00:48:07,667
Congress who have an
interest in this issue.
954
00:48:07,667 --> 00:48:10,266
And it will be consistent with
actions that we take in the
955
00:48:10,266 --> 00:48:13,100
future to provide even more
information both to the Congress
956
00:48:13,100 --> 00:48:14,100
and the public.
957
00:48:14,100 --> 00:48:15,700
The Press:
But the number-two
Senate democrat,
958
00:48:15,700 --> 00:48:18,100
chairman of that subcommittee,
says it's not good enough.
959
00:48:18,100 --> 00:48:20,333
He says he's disappointed
with the White House.
960
00:48:20,333 --> 00:48:22,767
He says that this is a
frustrating thing to not have
961
00:48:22,767 --> 00:48:23,866
this public forum --
962
00:48:23,867 --> 00:48:24,867
Mr. Carney:
I understand.
963
00:48:24,867 --> 00:48:27,900
And I'm saying that the process
of providing more information --
964
00:48:27,900 --> 00:48:30,600
again, unprecedented levels thus
far from the highest levels of
965
00:48:30,600 --> 00:48:33,366
government -- and the process
of providing more information,
966
00:48:33,367 --> 00:48:35,266
both to Congress
and to the public,
967
00:48:35,266 --> 00:48:36,600
is ongoing and will continue.
968
00:48:36,600 --> 00:48:39,266
And it's not limited to or
specific to a single hearing.
969
00:48:39,266 --> 00:48:41,200
The Press:
And when can that be something
that we see in public?
970
00:48:41,200 --> 00:48:42,200
Mr. Carney:
I don't have any
updates for you.
971
00:48:42,200 --> 00:48:43,500
Yes.
972
00:48:43,500 --> 00:48:46,333
The Press:
Fisker Automotive -- there
are reports that the Energy
973
00:48:46,333 --> 00:48:49,800
Department was warned as early
as June 2010 that the electric
974
00:48:49,800 --> 00:48:51,467
carmaker wasn't
meeting its goals,
975
00:48:51,467 --> 00:48:54,033
but didn't suspend the loan
until about a year later.
976
00:48:54,033 --> 00:48:55,967
Did the administration
drop the ball on this?
977
00:48:55,967 --> 00:48:57,200
What happened?
978
00:48:57,200 --> 00:48:59,799
Mr. Carney:
Well, I know there was a GOP
document dump and I would refer
979
00:48:59,800 --> 00:49:01,967
you to the Department of
Energy for more information.
980
00:49:01,967 --> 00:49:04,266
But you know from their
statement that the committee's
981
00:49:04,266 --> 00:49:07,567
efforts to stoke false
controversy by selectively
982
00:49:07,567 --> 00:49:10,834
leaking a few out-of-context
documents just do not stand up
983
00:49:10,834 --> 00:49:11,834
to scrutiny.
984
00:49:11,834 --> 00:49:13,799
In the case that you refer to,
the document shows that one
985
00:49:13,800 --> 00:49:16,500
person at a meeting discussed
the possibility that Fisker
986
00:49:16,500 --> 00:49:18,367
might not meet a
financial commitment,
987
00:49:18,367 --> 00:49:21,166
which had to be certified as
met by the company before a
988
00:49:21,166 --> 00:49:22,300
loan disbursement.
989
00:49:22,300 --> 00:49:24,333
Absent from that document was
the fact that the department
990
00:49:24,333 --> 00:49:27,467
received that certification five
days later and subsequently
991
00:49:27,467 --> 00:49:28,767
disbursed on the loan.
992
00:49:28,767 --> 00:49:31,299
The Press:
Is there any concern
that this story,
993
00:49:31,300 --> 00:49:32,934
when combined with
Solyndra, of course,
994
00:49:32,934 --> 00:49:36,500
could undermine the President's
own efforts to push
995
00:49:36,500 --> 00:49:38,734
alternative energy?
996
00:49:38,734 --> 00:49:43,834
Mr. Carney:
Look, I think that the necessity
that we have as a nation to move
997
00:49:43,834 --> 00:49:46,966
forward on investments in
alternative energy to make sure
998
00:49:46,967 --> 00:49:52,533
that we develop the industries
of the future in this country
999
00:49:52,533 --> 00:49:54,900
that provide jobs of the
future in this country,
1000
00:49:54,900 --> 00:49:58,767
as opposed to importing
alternative energy in the manner
1001
00:49:58,767 --> 00:50:02,366
that we for so long imported
fossil fuel energy is absolutely
1002
00:50:02,367 --> 00:50:03,367
the right thing to do.
1003
00:50:03,367 --> 00:50:07,467
And this President
is committed to it.
1004
00:50:07,467 --> 00:50:11,567
And the program, as you know,
when it was created in 2007
1005
00:50:11,567 --> 00:50:15,166
before this President
took office,
1006
00:50:15,166 --> 00:50:18,200
was understood to
contain risk within it.
1007
00:50:18,200 --> 00:50:21,133
But the fact is the broad
array of investments have been
1008
00:50:21,133 --> 00:50:22,332
positive and necessary.
1009
00:50:22,333 --> 00:50:26,100
And the overall need to invest
in alternative technologies in
1010
00:50:26,100 --> 00:50:30,000
the energy field is essential
for our energy independence in
1011
00:50:30,000 --> 00:50:33,066
the future and our national
security interests.
1012
00:50:33,066 --> 00:50:34,366
Last one, yes.
1013
00:50:34,367 --> 00:50:35,333
The Press:
Thanks, Jay.
1014
00:50:35,333 --> 00:50:40,633
I wanted to bring up the House
report yesterday on Benghazi.
1015
00:50:40,633 --> 00:50:45,966
They point to cables that
reportedly had Secretary --
1016
00:50:45,967 --> 00:50:48,233
technically then-Secretary
Clinton's signature on it that
1017
00:50:48,233 --> 00:50:52,033
referenced a request for
additional security and in which
1018
00:50:52,033 --> 00:50:54,165
instead cuts were made.
1019
00:50:54,166 --> 00:50:56,834
And some members are saying
that this shows administration
1020
00:50:56,834 --> 00:50:59,466
culpability in the
security problems there,
1021
00:50:59,467 --> 00:51:03,533
and some have gone so far as
to say signs of a cover-up.
1022
00:51:03,533 --> 00:51:05,366
I just wanted to get
your response on that.
1023
00:51:05,367 --> 00:51:06,300
Mr. Carney:
I bet you do.
1024
00:51:06,300 --> 00:51:08,200
First of all, I would draw your
attention to the letter that the
1025
00:51:08,200 --> 00:51:10,667
Democratic members of the same
committee sent to Speaker
1026
00:51:10,667 --> 00:51:13,100
Boehner yesterday strongly
objecting to what is an
1027
00:51:13,100 --> 00:51:15,834
obviously partisan
Republican staff report.
1028
00:51:15,834 --> 00:51:17,767
Now, it seems to me that if
these members of Congress were
1029
00:51:17,767 --> 00:51:19,633
genuinely interested
in getting information,
1030
00:51:19,633 --> 00:51:22,734
they would not have abandoned
the customary oversight process
1031
00:51:22,734 --> 00:51:25,734
and excluded Democratic members
from the entire process,
1032
00:51:25,734 --> 00:51:27,433
which is what they did.
1033
00:51:27,433 --> 00:51:30,100
As these ranking members said
last night, these Republicans,
1034
00:51:30,100 --> 00:51:33,000
"sacrificed accuracy in
favor of partisanship,"
1035
00:51:33,000 --> 00:51:36,100
unnecessarily politicizing our
national security and casting
1036
00:51:36,100 --> 00:51:39,066
aside the system used by the
House for generations to avoid
1037
00:51:39,066 --> 00:51:41,500
making obvious mistakes,
errors, and omissions.
1038
00:51:41,500 --> 00:51:43,900
And on the issue
of the signature,
1039
00:51:43,900 --> 00:51:48,266
you have to be factual and
acknowledge reality here.
1040
00:51:48,266 --> 00:51:51,200
It is standard protocol that
cables originating from the
1041
00:51:51,200 --> 00:51:54,066
department in Washington go
out under the authority of the
1042
00:51:54,066 --> 00:51:57,799
current Secretary of State
with their signature,
1043
00:51:57,800 --> 00:51:59,967
i.e. their name,
typed at the bottom.
1044
00:51:59,967 --> 00:52:02,166
This practice has been in place
throughout this administration
1045
00:52:02,166 --> 00:52:03,567
and across prior
administrations,
1046
00:52:03,567 --> 00:52:05,600
both Democratic and Republican.
1047
00:52:05,600 --> 00:52:07,834
Additionally, all cables
originating from our overseas
1048
00:52:07,834 --> 00:52:11,232
posts are similarly signed,
i.e. have the name at the
1049
00:52:11,233 --> 00:52:16,100
bottom, by the ambassador and
are addressed to the Secretary.
1050
00:52:16,100 --> 00:52:19,232
In this way, this Secretary --
Secretary Clinton and others
1051
00:52:19,233 --> 00:52:22,266
before her -- signed hundred of
thousands of cables during their
1052
00:52:22,266 --> 00:52:23,734
tenures as Secretary.
1053
00:52:23,734 --> 00:52:25,500
And as Secretary
Clinton testified,
1054
00:52:25,500 --> 00:52:28,000
the security cables related
to Benghazi did not come to
1055
00:52:28,000 --> 00:52:29,000
her attention.
1056
00:52:29,000 --> 00:52:31,033
These cables were
review as appropriate --
1057
00:52:31,033 --> 00:52:32,700
were reviewed, rather,
as appropriate,
1058
00:52:32,700 --> 00:52:34,633
at the Assistant
Secretary level.
1059
00:52:34,633 --> 00:52:36,799
And as the chairman
of the ARB explained,
1060
00:52:36,800 --> 00:52:39,867
accountability was fixed at
the assistant secretary level,
1061
00:52:39,867 --> 00:52:44,000
"where the decision-making takes
place, where, if you like,
1062
00:52:44,000 --> 00:52:45,600
"the rubber hit the road."
1063
00:52:45,600 --> 00:52:49,633
Now, the concerted efforts by
Republicans to politicize this
1064
00:52:49,633 --> 00:52:53,100
have distracted from the real
work that's been done through
1065
00:52:53,100 --> 00:52:56,866
the ARB to find out what
happened and what steps need to
1066
00:52:56,867 --> 00:53:01,734
be taken to improve the security
at our embassy facilities.
1067
00:53:01,734 --> 00:53:06,100
That report was very
clear and very direct,
1068
00:53:06,100 --> 00:53:09,000
and went right at the
issues of concern.
1069
00:53:09,000 --> 00:53:12,367
Meanwhile, the effort to find
out who was responsible for
1070
00:53:12,367 --> 00:53:14,433
those attacks and who was
responsible for the deaths of
1071
00:53:14,433 --> 00:53:17,200
Americans is ongoing, and that
is a commitment the President
1072
00:53:17,200 --> 00:53:18,966
made, that we would find those
responsible and bring them
1073
00:53:18,967 --> 00:53:19,967
to justice.
1074
00:53:19,967 --> 00:53:23,367
Efforts to politicize this
have failed in the past,
1075
00:53:23,367 --> 00:53:27,266
and they are not helpful to the
broad national security interest
1076
00:53:27,266 --> 00:53:29,967
that we should share together.
1077
00:53:29,967 --> 00:53:34,400
And, again, the signature thing
is a perfect example of an
1078
00:53:34,400 --> 00:53:38,000
attempt to politicize something
when it's wholly unnecessary.
1079
00:53:38,000 --> 00:53:40,433
The Press:
And the charge of a cover-up?
1080
00:53:40,433 --> 00:53:41,567
Mr. Carney:
I think I've answered that.
1081
00:53:41,567 --> 00:53:42,767
Thanks very much, guys.